#otter 47

[sour-patch-kid]

June 1, 2024

[ellenchain]

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🥺♥️ significant Otter

[uss-edsall]

The crash of the Lady Be Good is fascinating to me. cursed ass plane

This is a B-24 Liberator in desert paint much like the B-24D Liberator Lady Be Good.

On April 4, 1943, the Lady Be Good took off with 25 other B-24s from Soluch, Libya to bomb Naples, Italy. 24 returned - Lady Be Good did not.

In November 1958, an air survey by British geologists sighted a crashed WWII-era bomber from the air.

Four months later, a ground search party found the plane and identified her as a B-24 Liberator, the Lady Be Good.

The nine crewmembers aboard had bailed out when the plane ran low on fuel, and they all perished in the desert. Eight bodies have been discovered; the ninth has never been found.

Much of the Lady Be Good was salvaged, some for study, some for museum use, and others were reused in other planes. Most of these planes proceeded to have faults and crashed of their own. A C-47 in which a Lady Be Good radio was installed crashed in the Mediterranean; an de Havilland Otter with an armrest from Lady Be Good crashed into the Gulf of Sidra killing all ten aboard, and one of the few pieces that washed ashore from the wreck was the armrest; and a C-54 with several transmitters from Lady Be Good only avoided crashing by dumping all of its cargo overboard.

An episode of the original Twilight Zone that aired in 1960, the first of the second season named King Nine Will Not Return, is based on the Lady Be Good. It's the first episode where Rod Serling appears on screen as the narrator instead of just a voice (or getting poof'd in the first season finale).

Last but not least there's a painting I adore related to Lady Be Good:

"The Lady Be Good Dies Alone" painted by Willard Fleming

[chic-a-gigot]

La Mode nationale, no. 47, 22 novembre 1902, Paris. Groupe de toilettes d'hiver pour dames et jeunes filles. Bibliothèque nationale de France

(1.) — Robe de visite pour jeune femme ou jeune fille, en zibeline mélangée café au lait. Empiècement de plis en forme sur les hanches ou de biais très rapprochés. Le bas de la jupe est garni de même; cette jupe se monte à plis couchés au-dessous de l'empiècement.

Corsage-blouson en peluche ou en panne loutre orné de pampilles vieux bleu. Manche très évasée et fendue, garnie de pampilles; bouffant de soie blanche dans un poignet de taffetas fleur; même ceinture; guimpe plissée en soie rubis; berthe de taffetas blanc incrustée de fleurs rebrodées.

(1.) — Visiting dress for young woman or girl, in mixed sable coffee with milk. Yoke of shaped pleats on the hips or very close bias. The bottom of the skirt is trimmed in the same way; this skirt is assembled with flat pleats below the yoke.

Bodice-blouson in plush or otter panne decorated with old blue tassels. Very flared and slit sleeve, trimmed with tassels; white silk bouffant in a flower taffeta cuff; same belt; pleated wimple in ruby ​​silk; berthe of white taffeta inlaid with embroidered flowers.

Matériaux: 4 mètres de zibeline; 3 mètres de peluche; 2 mètres de soie blanche; 1 mètres de soie rubis.

—

(2.) — Toilette de visite pour jeune femme ou dame d'un certain âge, en ure mousseuse rainette. Jupe unie plissée derrière et un peu longue. Longue jaquette serrée à la taille par une ceinture de cuir repoussé.

Grands revers de martre. Plastron et rabat de dentelle. Manche pagode à parement religieuse, ourlé de fourrure.

Manchon de martre.

(2.) — Visiting dress for a young woman or lady of a certain age, in frothy rainette ure. Plain skirt pleated behind and a little long. Long jacket tightened at the waist by a belt of embossed leather.

Large marten lapels. Lace plastron and flap. Pagoda sleeve with religious facing, hemmed with fur.

Marten sleeve.

Matériaux: 7 mètres de bure.

Capeline de velours émeraude; devant, boucle de strass; sur les cheveux, roses de velours noir.

Emerald velvet capeline; front, rhinestone buckle; on the hair, black velvet roses.

[readytoplaygod]

1. selfie 56. favorite foods 57. favorite animals 47. turn ons. 48. turn offs.

56. Anything with rice and chicken

57. Gibbons, red pandas, otters

47. Kindness, being silly, eye contact 🤷🏽‍♂️

48. Rudeness, presumption

[bookish-bogwitch]

Thank you everybody who's tagged me over the past couple of weeks. I've been picking away at BPD but not quite feeling like I had anything to share--stuff felt either too spoiler-y or too unpolished. But I finally, FINALLY have a first draft done of chapter 10. The first real edit is my favorite stage of writing--it's when I start actually liking the thing I wrote--so, no coincidence that I actually have something for you. Snippet and tags below the cut.

Here's our hero out for a stroll.

5:47 p.m. Wavering Wood. Usual hunting grounds full of squirrels but think will go deeper into forest for variety. Is spice of life. 5:50 p.m. Found brace of pheasants in Wood’s southeast quarter. Game fowl delicious but always reminds me of upstairs-downstairs dramas with everyone constantly changing clothes, lamenting feudal collapse, being secretly gay etc. I get enough of that at home. 6:02 p.m. Would not actually mind the changing, though. All those waistcoats and ascots and spats and everyone just agreeing you needed at least four outfits to get through day. Clothes almost worth criminalisation of sodomy. 6:08 p.m. Except fucking fox-hunting kit. Stupid fuzzy helmet and world’s dullest breeches and jackets designed to turn vampire complexions green. 6:14 p.m. Whole fox-hunting concept idiotic. Galloping around, trampling countryside, tally-hoing like idiots, for what—two blood units? 6:15 p.m. The horse is right there.

By the way, I am not going to get this chapter posted by July 12 like I'd hoped, but I WILL get it posted by July 26, when I'll be heading out of town for three weeks.

@larkral @thewholelemon @facewithoutheart @cutestkilla @artsyunderstudy

@emeryhall @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @forabeatofadrum @brilla-brilla-estrellita @shrekgogurt

@roomwithanopenfire @run-for-chamo-miles @mooncello @monbons @wellbelesbian

@drowninginships @rimeswithpurple @blackberrysummerblog @comesitintheclover @ebbpettier

@confused-bi-queer @carryonsimoncarryonbaz @aristocratic-otter @youarenevertooold @prettygoododds

@ileadacharmedlife @ivelovedhimthroughworse @skeedelvee @fatalfangirl @katatsumuli

@valeffelees @whogaveyoupermission @whatevertheweather @messofthejess @nightimedreamersworld

@raenestee @wetheformidables @nightimedreamersworld @onepintobean @iamamythologicalcreature

@arthurkko @thehoneyedhufflepuff @beastmonstertitan @stitchy-queerista @ic3-que3n

[thesilliestrovingalive]

Updated: December 24, 2024

Reworked Character #7: Ralf Jones

POTENTIAL TRIGGER WARNING: Viewer discretion is advised due to references to divorce, death, and crime.

Real name: Rafael Paul Jonesbury

Esper title: Avatar of Flaming, Renewal, Forceful Blows, and Physical Destruction

Aliases: One-Man Army and Marauding Lupine Carnivore

Occupation: Colonel of the Ikari Warriors

Retirement plans: To open his own fighting tournament and experience all thrill-seeking activities that society has to offer

Special skills: Driving military vehicles, close quarters combat, orchestrating stress relief programs, proficiency in all weapons, and training recruits

Esper abilities: His go-to esper ability is the Vulcan Punch, a rapid-fire series of punches capable of obliterating everything from humans, riot shields, bulletproof armour and glass, cars, all known Slugs, small to medium-sized tanks, and smaller helicopters. His second go-to esper ability is the Galactica Phantom, which he activates by leaning back, rearing his arm, and then flinging himself forward to unleash an incredibly powerful and explosive haymaker. His arms possess radioactive power, which he can concentrate in his fists. By harnessing this energy, he can unleash an arm-sized nuclear explosion when using his Galactica Phantom ability.

Despite his belly being constantly bloody and inflamed, he experiences surprisingly little pain due to his exceptional pain suppression, increased blood vessel density, resistance to extreme temperatures, and rapidly regenerating organs. This unique combination, coupled with a secondary esophagus lined with razor-sharp, spiky hairs, enables Ralf to harness the inflammation and blood to vomit a controlled stream of scorching, burning red liquid that incinerates his enemies. The sole drawback of his perpetually bloody and inflamed belly is impaired digestion, leading to difficulties in processing food, which in turn causes persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

Ralf can manifest up to twenty quasi-invisible arms composed of solidified telekinetic energy, which can be utilised to move around easily as well as bludgeon and slice through people and objects with precision. These arms can extend up to 20' 5" (622.5 cm) in length, appearing emaciated and twitching with erratic movements. He possesses the durability of a tortoise's shell, the acute hearing and smell of a wolf, and the swift agility of an otter. He can also unleash small, explosive blasts of red and orange flames with a normal punch or the touch of a single finger.

Whenever Ralf is killed, his body rapidly transforms into a cocoon adorned with serrated shell plates, as his corpse dissolves into a mushy, visceral substance. This cocoon then violently pulsates before rupturing, giving birth to a new, fully formed Ralf, covered in bloodied slime and emerging stark naked with no visible injuries or scars on his body. Whenever this occurs, he experiences blindness, dizziness, and intense, bitter coldness for sixteen minutes.

Hobbies: Baseball, participating in the biennial fighting tournaments that the Ikari Warriors host, taking his friends to carnival rides, camping trips, and science and art museums, rewatching his favourite anime movies and shows, and playing arcade games and iconic riffs on the electric guitar

Likes: A medal awarded from the President of the United States, the natural sounds of the jungle, collecting blades that look cool in his eyes, alebrije sculptures, and Clark

Dislikes: False rumours, venomous snakes, abuse of power, children being killed, and people hurting and insulting those he considers as “family”

Favourite food: Intestinal sausages and bubblegum that taste like watermelon and blueberry

Favourite drink: Root beer floats and brandy

Sexuality: Biromantic asexual

Gender: Male

Age: 25 (in 2022), 31 (in 2028), 33 (in 2030), 35 (in 2032), 37 (in 2034), 44 (in 2041), 46 (in 2043), 47 (in 2044), and 50 (in 2047)

Blood type: A+

Weight: 243 lbs. (110 kg)

Design: He's a 6' 2" (187.96 cm) American mesomorph of Latino, Ojibwe, and British descent with a robust build, decently chiselled musculature, broad shoulders, and a bit of a beer belly. He has almond skin, sunburst amber-sage green eyes, toes tipped with black wolf claws, and bear-like teeth. His hair resembles Ralf's from KOF XII and KOF XIII, but it's slightly tousled and a shimmering ash brown, and often tied into a long braid that falls to the middle of his back. His back and armpits are covered in golden brown otter fur, accented with streaks of olive green and tan. Additionally, his back features distinctive white spots outlined in black.

On his left deltoid, he has a tattoo of a stylized red otter playfully escaping the jaws of a black-furred wolf with piercing yellow eyes, clutching a ball of purple fire in its forepaws. On his right forearm, he has a tattoo of an alebrije with undulating cerulean horns, an orchid purple eagle head, languid lavender eyes with aquamarine pupils, a fiery mane, a forest green elk body, and a hot pink salmon tail with red-orange tiger stripes. Sprawled across the right side of the creature in a vertical line is a Spanish phrase in silver: "La sangre nos fortalece", which translates to "Blood strengthens us" in English.

Ralf's military gear consists of a chrome orange bandana with shaky rifle green spots and cinnabar fingerless driving gloves with four ivory spikes on the knuckles. He wears a waterproof dark green vest with the Ikari Warriors logo emblazoned on the back, and a coyote-fur trimmed collar. He wears cargo pants with an army green, brown, and silver-grey camouflage pattern, which aren't tucked into his beige jungle boots. He wears an asparagus-hued sleeveless shirt paired with a yellowish-tan belt featuring four black pouches for bullets and a holster for his handgun.

Attached to his belt are two swords: Harpe, a khopesh-like sickle sword with a flint-encased adamant blade, and Yawarakai-Te, a double-edged katana featuring a green-grey hilt and a hardwood sheath adorned with iridescent crow feathers. When the air gently blows past Yawarakai-Te's blade, it produces a soft hissing sound. Yawarakai-Te's blade is unnaturally frigid, able to cut a leaf in half with ease, and compels its user to spare the innocent and undeserving from attack. Ralf dons a cardinal red waist pack that holds two cans of root beer as well as black elbow and knee pads. On his left, he wears the same drop leg holster as Ralf in The King of Fighters XV, but it holds a Zantetsu sword.

Over his shirt, he dons a Soldier Plate Carrier System (SPCS) with a MultiCam pattern, which carries around his walkie-talkie and ammo for other firearms. Above his belt, he has a dark brown bandolier for holding sticks of dynamite. Ralf carries around a yellowish-tan load-bearing backpack that contains camping equipment, tactical explosives, portable ammo boxes, a canteen full of water, maps for all continents, an extra pair of clothes, and a bag of THC-infused box gummies in light orange (mango peach), red (strawberry), and pale yellow (pineapple). His backpack also contains a faded photograph of him and Clark in their twenties, an army Medal of Honor, a silver milagro charm in the shape of a fiery heart for good luck and protection, a bottle of his chosen brandy, an empty spotted turtle shell, and a dreamcatcher adorned with a grey web design, song sparrow feathers, and colourful beads in red, white, yellow, and black.

During downtime on deployment or off-duty hours, he sometimes brings his prized copper-hued Fender Jaguar electric guitar, which is adorned with a curved blue jay tail feather painted on its left side. The guitar's goldenrod-coloured pick holder is stocked with a rainbow of picks—though he jokingly claims to dislike the purple one the most. He wears hook earrings, each featuring three porcupine quills tipped with gaspeite beads, and a Jocla necklace made of alternating white wampum beads, copper beads, and raven feathers.

Thanks to Tarma, he owns a key to access his red-violet Matchless G3/L motorcycle, which has a purplish-black sheen. The gas tank features a sky blue fish scale pattern with malachite green dots at the centre of each scale.

Super Devil form: He's a 15' 7" (474.98 cm) draconic entity with a grotesque musculature and scaly rifle green skin that shimmers with a vibrant hot pink iridescence. He has a cerulean coyote-shaped head with sunburst amber-sage green eyes, hot pink slit pupils, a cardinal red nose, and a wispy ash brown goat's beard. Ralf also has horse ears, an orchid purple snout, two rows of olivine shark teeth, and a slimy, pointed tongue. His arms and legs are enveloped in a thick layer of otter fur, matching the tufts found in the armpits of his human form. He has undulating cerulean horns, a fiery mane, spiked knuckles, eagle-like feet, and razor-sharp wolf claws that tip his fingers and toes.

Three rows of symmetrical, deadly sharp, conical spikes are positioned on his back, running from the base of his neck to just before the start of his tail. He has two massive bat-like wings, boasting an impressive wingspan of 21 ft (640.08 cm). Despite being dull and tattered, the wings' membrane displays silvery spots and a striking gradient from grenadier red to flush orange to selective yellow. Additionally, Ralf has olivine thumbs tipped with copper claws, and his forearms, wrists, and five fingers are dark green. He has a long, winding, serpentine tail, twice his height in length, with fur and colouration matching the fur on his human back. The tail culminates in a silver arrowhead-shaped tip.

Character summary: He's a rowdy and outgoing individual who inspires others to step out of their comfort zones and discover new reasons to live. He's a sassy, stubborn, and refreshingly honest thrill-seeker with an unrelenting passion for action and living dangerously. Unlike Clark, who’s very mature, he tends to act immaturely and come across as arrogant and aggressive, often attacking without thinking. However, he’s self-aware of these tendencies and makes a conscious effort to present himself as more approachable and laid-back. He prioritises relaxation and makes sure those around him take time to unwind and recharge regularly. He strives to maintain an optimistic outlook and is frustrated by pessimism and cynicism, wishing others could focus on the positive and appreciate life's blessings.

After forming a new connection, he rapidly becomes emotionally invested and starts to regard the person as a close family member. He's extremely protective towards new recruits under his command, comrades, and friends, viewing them as family. Thanks to his positive attitude, sense of responsibility, and sincere communication, many people trust him immediately, and he's committed to upholding that trust. Ralf is willing to go to great lengths to ensure their safety and the security of innocent lives, even if it requires taking bold action or putting himself in harm's way. However, he harbours a deep-seated hatred for betrayal, particularly among those in the Regular Army or whom he considers family.

He often enjoys teasing Clark, playfully poking fun at his serious nature while showing him brotherly affection, but also treats him with great respect and compassion. The thought of potentially losing his brother-in-arms, Clark, through unfair circumstances is unbearable to him. He secretly resents being scolded for harmless fun, but Clark's disappointment stings the most, filling him with remorse. Ralf is captivated by Hyakutaro's enigmatic past, pioneering status as the first known esper of contemporary history, and his free-spirited nature. He finds Tarma and Nadia to be absolutely hilarious and has a soft spot for Trevor's nerdy and laid-back demeanour.

He deeply cares about children, recognizing their importance to the growth and future of humanity, and is appalled by those who abuse and harm them. The thought of inadvertently causing harm to a child or being forced to do so is utterly devastating to him. Whenever possible, he enjoys connecting with children through entertaining storytelling sessions and lively games of baseball. Many people describe him as having an "uncle-like" demeanour when interacting with children, yet he can also come across as surprisingly fatherly at times.

Notably, he shares a surprisingly close bond with Heidern, with many speculating that he views him as a father figure. This connection likely stems from Ralf’s gratitude for the opportunity to train under Heidern after being accepted into the Ikari Warriors. He regards Leona as a younger sister, frequently joining her in playful pranks and good-natured teasing of their friends. He goes out of his way to lift her spirits and offer comfort during her most challenging moments.

He’s close friends with Nathalie Neo, and relishes the opportunity to work alongside her on missions. He holds her in high esteem as a skilled and proactive member of the Peregrine Falcons Squad, admiring her willingness to boldly take initiative in battle without hesitation. After discovering that she was the daughter of 2nd Lieutenant Cook, he made a promise to protect her and keep her safe from harm. This was because she was the only thing left that reminded him of one of his deceased superiors and best friends.

He strongly disapproves of Gimlet's misogynistic behaviour and objectification of women as well as his aggressive tendency to provoke physical confrontations with Tarma and Marco. Ralf has a tendency to speak passionately about his interests, which range from his favourite anime movies to his admiration for Marco's team and Division 6. As a confident, self-sufficient, and resourceful individual, he thrives on hard work, deriving a profound sense of fulfillment from completing challenging tasks. When not fuelled by excitement or anger, he exudes a calming presence, often serving as a mediator to resolve disputes among friends and comrades as he detests conflict. His insatiable curiosity drives him to explore thought-provoking questions and his surroundings, usually alongside those close to him.

Similar to Marco, he has a habit of concealing his deepest emotions, particularly those related to the many people he has lost during countless wars and terrorist attacks. Instead, he often tries to drown his sorrows with a few drinks, seeks comfort in the company of friends or indulges in reckless activities. Whenever he gets drunk, he exhibits forgetfulness, clumsiness, mild paranoia, excessive joviality, and loquaciousness. He has a habit of frequently mistaking people's names, often using similar but incorrect variations (e.g. calling Marco "Mark" and Fio "Fia"), which greatly embarrasses him, prompting him to profusely apologise for the mistake. 

He tries his best to avoid water activities like cruising and canoeing as they make him prone to seasickness. He loves his entire blade collection, but he has a particular fondness for those specialising in combat. Additionally, he enjoys a few multi-functional blades in his collection, which offer versatility. He's a deep sleeper, periodically punctuated by soft snores, but his restlessness is evident in his frequent tossing and turning.

He believes that immortality is unattainable for espers and humans, reserved for the psyche and most powerful deities. He's an animist who believes everything is interconnected, and everyone has a vital role in stewarding the earth. He's a devout believer in manitou, which represents the mysterious power of life and the universe. He loves participating in Talking Circles as it gives him an opportunity to connect with friends and comrades through shared stories. Surprisingly, Ralf is a skilled storyteller, often recounting his past experiences and sharing entertaining moral stories his father once shared with him. Although he's a fun-loving, hot-headed enthusiast of arcades and classic anime with a great sense of humour, he possesses remarkable wisdom and generosity. He dislikes the false rumours that surround global events and people's personal lives.

Backstory: Rafael Paul Jonesbury was born on August 25, 1997 in North Dakota, United States. His father, Gabriel Jonesbury, was an Ojibwe shaman and owner of an arts and crafts shop with a spirit name of Kechewaishke. His mother, Javiera, was a British-Latina mercenary who served in the Regular Army. Like Ralf, she was an esper with the esteemed title of the Avatar of Physical Decay, Luminosity, and Fogginess. Gabriel would often share moral and entertaining stories that connected various figures from Ojibwe spiritual beliefs, such as the Thunderbird, Great Serpent, Mishipeshu, and Nanabozo. He also taught him about other important beliefs valued among First Nations peoples, including the Grandfather Teachings and the Medicine Wheel. He sparked Ralf's love for nature and encouraged him to fearlessly explore his identity and interests.

Javiera taught him numerous Latinx cultural values, the importance of family, and how his faith in God would be greatly rewarded. She often crafted wooden alebrije sculptures for him when she was away from home. She usually encouraged him to be proud of his cultural heritage and not let others bring him down for being different. While she appreciated his fondness for nature, she found his love for arcades and anime perplexing. She would unknowingly spark his interest in the military, particularly the mercenary lifestyle, through her stories and experiences.

At age 7, his parents decided to get a divorce due to their differing spiritual beliefs, which were starting to clash more and more. He lived with his father for the most part but was allowed to visit his mother whenever she was between assignments or not away on mercenary work. He also began to take up baseball, which became his favourite sport to play and watch on the big screen. He also developed a passion for extreme sports, often watching them on TV. Meanwhile, Gabriel would take him on extensive trips across the western, northern, and midwestern United States, exploring America's natural wonders, visiting First Nations communities, and attending conferences focused on Indigenous issues.

At 12, with the support of his father and his Ojibwe community, he embarked on his spiritual quest. Due to the extreme fasting, it put relative strain on his body, which activated his esper abilities. Ralf recalls that it produced visions of his future life as a great warrior and storyteller, revealing that he's an esper and teaching him how to harness his powers and access his Super Devil form. After a period of isolation and fasting, it revealed the spirits of his ancestors and his three guardian animals: the wolf, turtle, and otter. Through this experience, he developed his survival skills, gained maturity, and strengthened his connection with nature and the divine forces of life.

At age 14, before embarking on a mission against mysterious terrorist cultists, Javiera gave him her silver milagro charm for safekeeping, telling him it would bring him good luck and protection. Tragically, that mission proved to be her last, as she was captured and tortured to death. When Ralf received the devastating news, he struggled to come to terms with it and felt overwhelming guilt, as if her fate was his fault because he possessed her milagro charm. Although his parents were divorced, Gabriel was deeply saddened by the news and did his best to support Ralf through his emotional turmoil.

Contrary to rumours, Ralf didn’t drop out of high school and become addicted to LSD after losing his mother. Instead, he channelled his energy into his education, using it as a focus for his future. During this time, Ralf briefly explored dating, going on a few outings with both women and men, but eventually stopped searching for love when he couldn't find the right match. Ralf did experiment with LSD once, but the intense anxiety and hallucinations dissuaded him from ever trying the drug again.

When he turned 20, his father was killed during a robbery at the arts and crafts shop he owned. To make matters worse, he was facing financial difficulties at the time and struggling to find a stable job. In his desperation, he turned to an illegal fighting ring, drawn by the promise of cash prizes likely funded by other criminal activities. He participated in numerous fights, both in the ring and on the streets, for profit, eventually becoming the most skilled fighter among them. Ralf also discovered a fondness for THC-infused gummies, which provided relief from his emotional pain and served as a pleasant indulgence.

All of that changed when the Ikari Warriors discovered the famous street fighter's true identity as an esper after he joined their biennial tournament. With little convincing needed, Ralf joined the Ikari Warriors, driven by a desire to carry on his mother's legacy and explore the world. He excelled in all aspects of his military training, particularly in utilising his esper abilities effectively and mastering hand-to-hand combat techniques. Following a mission against a corrupt politician attempting to seize control of Cambodia, Ralf and Clark formed a strong bond, becoming fast friends. During his time with the Ikari Warriors, he formed close friendships with several comrades, including General Kawasaki, 2nd Lieutenant Cook, Eikichi, Leland, and Byron. Leland gifted Ralf his copper-hued electric guitar, complete with a pick holder, as a birthday present and a symbol of respect—a treasured keepsake Ralf still holds dear.

Ralf has been on numerous missions for the Ikari Warriors, rising through the ranks to become a colonel due to his natural leadership skills and courage on the battlefield. He and Clark played a crucial role in defeating a secret society, referred to as the Serapion Fellowship, that had infiltrated and influenced much of Latin America's political and religious landscape, a group that would later evolve into the Ptolemaic Army. During a battle against the Serapion Fellowship on Ilha da Queimada Grande, Ralf narrowly escaped being bitten by a venomous golden lancehead viper. Later, in the Ecuadorian Andes, he had a harrowing encounter with a fer-de-lance, but in a panic, he managed to deflect it towards a group of Ptolemaic Army guerrilla troops. These two chilling incidents instilled in him a deep-seated aversion to venomous snakes.

Rumours have spread that Ralf and Clark might have battled a group of invading Martians in the Baja California desert and emerged victorious. However, they haven't addressed these claims publicly, despite knowing they're entirely false.

In another notable operation, Ralf, Clark, and a few comrades successfully rescued Elise, the U.S. President's daughter, from a massive criminal organisation that had planned to exploit her to gain access to the President's funds and harvest her organs. Ralf fondly recalls this mission, as it earned him a Medal of Honor from the U.S. President. He acquired Harpe during a mission in Greece where terrorists had raided a recently discovered catacomb. Additionally, he obtained Yawarakai-Te during a separate mission in Yamagata, Japan where a cult with illegal weaponry had taken over an old village, intent on instigating a nationwide war. Rumours have spread that Harpe and Yawarakai-Te once belonged to the Tuatha Dé Danann, which he considers to be legitimate, but for the most part, he remains skeptical.

Ralf has endured numerous tragedies, fueling his determination to improve and protect the innocent. He witnessed the devastating loss of General Kawasaki during a battle against a cartel in Mexico, where he was tragically crushed and burned alive by flaming debris from a missile strike. 2nd Lieutenant Cook fell victim to a traitor within the Ikari Warriors, who ratted them to a bioterrorist group during a mission in Czechia, resulting in her assassination. While investigating a town ravaged by a guerrilla army in Saudi Arabia, Byron was horrifically devoured by a swarm of Man Eaters. Leland met a brutal end during a mission on a stolen submarine, where he was fatally gutted by a criminal. Eikichi suffered a terrifying fate when a bomber variant of a Mutated Soldier latched onto him while investigating an abandoned laboratory and exploded, causing him to be torn into a million gory pieces.

During the Great Morden War, Ralf made a name for himself as he single-handedly successfully defended the United States against the Rebel Army's invasion. Notably, he destroyed a massive Rebel aircraft that had been using captured men, women, and children as hostages and human shields. However, upon destroying the aircraft, Ralf was met with devastating news: there were innocent civilians on board, and they had all perished in the attack. This heroic yet tragic act caught the attention of the Regular Army's high command, who subsequently approached the Ikari Warriors to propose a strategic alliance. The offer was readily accepted, and as a result, the Ikari Warriors were integrated as the elite mercenary branch of the Regular Army.

A few months after General Morden formed an alliance with Doctor Amadeus and Rootmars, Ralf was deployed on a mission to assist Nathalie Neo. Their objective was to track down and eliminate a rogue cell of Rebel Army soldiers planning to spark chaos for unknown reasons. During a nighttime operation in a dense forest, they discovered that the Rebel soldiers they had neutralised were, in fact, robotic and biomechanical in nature. Upon inspecting the bodies, they noticed a suspicious logo on the necks of each one, which Ralf recognised from Clark's accounts of being experimented on by a notorious organisation. This revelation led them to realise that the Amadeus Syndicate was behind the sinister operation. They promptly reported their findings to the Regular Army and continued to combat the rogue cell, aiming to disrupt the Amadeus Syndicate's plans.

After Ralf's Vulcan Punch and Galactica Phantom obliterated the Hellfire, their battles raged on through treacherous landscapes. He and Nathalie navigated a jungle waterfall, where they clashed with the Arachnid Bot. They raided an underground base containing numerous cargo crates of trafficked weapons and drugs to launch a daring assault and destroy the Cyclops. Taking to the skies, Ralf and Nathalie eliminated the Mega Laser Turret, cleverly disguised as a Rebel Army plane. While Nathalie fought soldiers on the wing of the plane and attacked the aircraft's weak point, Ralf broke into the aircraft and battled cyborg Rebel Army troops. He stole classified documents, but they turned out to be decoys, containing only basic information on genetics and brain psychology in serial killers and soldiers. This made the reason behind the Amadeus Syndicate's operation a mystery. After destroying the Mega Laser Turret, Ralf swiftly rescued Nathalie using his own Slug Flyer because hers had been obliterated by the aircraft’s laser beam.

As a way to support the Regular Army and show his respect, Ralf frequently trains new cadets to hone their melee combat skills. Due to his mercenary work, he rarely had the opportunity to meet members of the Regular Army's other special forces. He had always heard heroic stories about Hyakutaro and the elite members of the P.F. Squad and S.P.A.R.R.O.W.S., especially those from the Great Morden War and the Extraterrestrial Alliance Clash. He initially hoped to meet them in person, fascinated by their tactical prowess and teamwork. This dream eventually became a reality during a mission against the Invaders.

[swallowtailed]

palisade 47! finalisade part 2!

truly three incredible scenes. also this is not going to be a short finalisade lmfao. probably minimum five more episodes (for a total of seven) but the sky's the limit. if they keep going at this rate of scenes, and presuming interludes/epilogue are each one scene long, that'd already be a nine episode finalisade. very exciting

brnine's scene: so glad we finally got to come back around to their attempt to recruit lattice/refrain. it's a good opener for the finale, too, for brnine to be able to make a more successful argument in favor of fighting with mbreak now that they're in the mirage. also obviously it's excellent to have a nobel ghost literally fully just haunting the blue channel now

refrain flickering between faces was really fun. friends at the table has some excellent genderfluidities. speaking of, my first thought re tm comparisons was polyphony--another town created by a shapeshifter (although changing personality rather than face) who wanted folks to come in and stay. was really interesting to me that refrain accepted the compromise of taking only the willing, which is sort of coming at polyphony's strategy from the opposite direction. refrain as archive was also really compelling to me. i like when an archive is covetous and hungry and persuasive, and constructs morality around/within itself, and is animated by preservation and interment. (chanting: WORST! PARTS! OF! MUSEUMS!)

lastly, the question of "what happens when the war's over" has been a quieter throughline in palisade (highly entangled with the whole blue channel self-sacrifice situation, cf phrygian) and it was interesting that brnine raised it to refrain. i'm curious whether that's going to come to the forefront in p3--really depends on what's going on at the end of the perfect millennium, i think.

august's scene: ahhh what a mess. delicious. really good visuals here as well--steeple catterick, clem on her big dramatic dragon, cori's new mech in action (skeleton covered in blooming flowers!), giant ink ferrets devouring the bilat front line and then vanishing and leaving only bloodstains and echoes behind... love to see it

always fun when fatt discovers an animal on air. i do think we should give the giant prehistoric otters serious consideration and also as many other giant prehistoric creatures as can fit (yes i'm still thinking abt the flash nautilus). it's thematically relevant

what did catch my attention about the ultimate result of the scene, re the iconoclasts turning indiscriminately on anyone military (thus neatly equating the bilats and the cause), is that it immediately shoves august's storyline farther in the direction of "compromised and implicated simply through the use of violence". i do wonder where august's gonna end up by the end of palisade--he's on a similar path, i think, to a couple other characters who have struggled to see beyond the war, but he's in much more of a position to be found guilty for it. does seem like he's set up to fail

cori's scene: YAAAAAAAAAY GO CORI :D what a win, what a legend. finally kissed a girl. good for her. the crumbling ballroom filled with the map of the galaxy was reminiscent of brnine and dahlia in a very fun way. "i didn't want to scare you off with my power" / "you know it's an invitation" / [blushing, stammering] "....for what"

my favorite thing about the scene was cori using perennial magic to show elle a potential future for the two of them, because it's such a perfect mirror to future's visions. like, cori can create that herself, using perennial's magic, when elle asks ("build me another dream, then" was such a tasty line), rather than the aura of future dragging it out of her. and can share it (and shape it, and rewrite it) rather than just envisioning it privately. a really interesting contrast between the two divines and their respective views on possibility

can see a one-way ticket out of the mirage being a really pivotal thing to have on the table in a few episodes. cannot wait :):):)

[openheartfanfics]

Newly Added Fics

May 25 - 31, 2024  

🎭 Angst  |  🦚 Angsty Fluff  |  🛸 AU  |  ☁ Fluff  |  ♥ NSFW  |  📚 Series  |  📷 Edit  |  📱 TextFic  |  Ⓜ Mature

Ethan x F!MC

Crescendo - @coffeeheartaddict2 🎭Ⓜ

After being told about the goings on with Mrs Martinez, Ethan takes Casey to the opera and once again the lines between professional and personal become very blurry. [1.12]

Motivation - @potionsprefect ☁

Victoria finds a new way of working out.

Otterly in Love - @storyofmychoices 📱

Ethan was Ellie's sea otter because he helped keep her from getting lost in the darkness.

Rafael x F!MC

A Brother's Love - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Casey takes a photo of Enrique giving Florence some morning cuddles after her feed.

First Car Ride - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Casey & Raf take Florence for her 5 day check up & then over to Juliana’s for some cuddles.

Moving In - @rafasgirl23415 📚​

[extended: wip] Follow up to We Belong Together. Set a few years into the future. Feat. Sienna Trinh x M!OC

CH 47: Hello, Baby Sister

CH 48: Florence's First Bath

Somebunny Loves You - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Casey takes a photo of Flossy with her bunny stuffie.

Summer Days - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Casey puts Florence down for her nap before Sienna & Lucas arrive to meet her.

Sienna x M!OC

Auntie Sienna Meets Florence For The First Time - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Sienna & Lucas go to visit Casey & Raf four days after Florence is born to finally meet their niece for the first time.

Mama & Me Playtime - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Leaving their boys with Lucas, Sienna takes Meri to the park to play.

You Complete Me - @rafasgirl23415 📸

Sienna celebrates Harry & Tommy turning 1 week old.

Tobias x F!MC

Mostly Pleasant Surprises - @jerzwriter 📚

[mini: complete] It’s been months since the chemical attack. But when a series of events threatens to come between Tobias and Casey, how do they find their way back together?

CH 4: And That's What Happened

_

SUBMIT OPEN HEART FICS & WRITERS HERE

[arianwells]

Palisade 47 - damn they're so right about all Animals...and river otters especially..

Also Clem arriving on her big dramatic edgy dragon.. i honestly think there's not much point in bringing Clementine Kesh as a pc again, especially for the finale but by god I love this horrible, horrible woman .

[artsyape]

My reading list for 2023. * means at least one queer character. GN means Graphic Novel. I think my top three were Welcome to the Monkey House which was short stories by Kurt Vonnegut, Bones Beneath My Skin because TJ Klune writes so gorgeously, and The Skull by Jon Klassen just because it was slightly unhinged and I love kids books like that. Also 7 (7! Like holy cow) were kink novels by my writer friend that I am an arc reader for that were just absolutely perfect.

1. Everleigh’s Ring *

2. Malibu rising *

3. Legends and lattes *

4. One true loves

5. Meet Me By The Fountain

6. An unexpected kind of love*

7. I Exaggerate my brushes with fame

8. Carrie Soto is back

9. Check please books 1 and 2*(GN)

10. The reservoir

11. Teen titans: beast boy (GN)

12. Teen titans: beast boy loves raven (GN)

13. Everything is beautiful and I am not afraid *(GN)

14. Quiet girl in a noisy world(GN)

15. Everything is ok (GN)

16. Ashes(GN)

17. New Kid (GN)

18. Best short stories 2022

19. Mazebook (GN)

20. House of many ways

21. Castle in the air

22. Not If I Save You First

23. Heartbreak Hockey*

24. Lessons

25. Wild Akers *

26. Wild ash *

27. Teen titans: Robin GN

28. My aunt is a monster GN

29. Welcome to the monkey house

30. Rosalin Palmer Takes the Cake *

31. Cats cafe GN

32. Belle of the ball GN *

33. Other Boys GN*

34. Murder most actual *

35. The greatest thing *

36. Gender queer *

37. The tea dragon society GN*

38. The tea dragon festival GN *

39. Hungry Ghost GN

40. The Tea Dragon Tapestry GN*

41. A first time for everything GN

42. The best we could do GN

43. In limbo GN

44. Squire and Knight GN

45. Why Didn’t You Tell Me

46. Snapdragon GN *

47. Anya’s Ghost GN

48. Sensory life on the spectrum GN*

49. The girl and the glim GN

50. Why are you like this GN

51. The Dragon Warlord *

52. Always Never GN

53. In the lives of puppets *

54. Chefs Kiss GN *

55. Moonstruck vol 1 GN *

56. Moonstruck vol 2 GN *

57. Moonstruck vol 3 GN *

58. You Better Be Lightning (poetry)*

59. The Bones Beneath My Skin *

60. Avant Guards vol 1 GN*

61. The language of seabirds*

62. The fiancée farce *

63. Wintering the power of rest and retreat in difficult times

64. Avant Guards vol 2 GN*

65. Avant Guards vol 3 GN*

66. The electricity of every living thing

67. Aquicorn cove GN*

68. Days at the Morisaki Bookshop

69. Nice and accurate good omens tv companion *

70. The Waste Land (ts Elliot)

71. Dodger

72. Unmasking Autism *

73. Brothers of reckoning *

74. Demon Copperhead *

75. Things in the basement GN

76. Paris Dalliencourt is about to crumble *

77. Dr. Who Pest Control

78. Dr. Who The Forever Trap

79. Dr. Who Feast Of The Drowned

80. The skull Jon Klassan

81. The rock from the sky

82. The personality brokers

83. Dr. Who The Resurrection Casket

84. Light carries on* GN

85. Northranger * GN

86. Basil and Oregano * GN

87. Keeping two GN

88. The magic fish * GN

89. Good omens *

90. Dr. Who the last dodo

91. Dr. Who the stone rose

92. Fangirl vol 2 GN

93. Fangirl vol 3 GN

94. My happy marriage Vol 1 GN

95. My happy marriage Vol 2 GN

96. My happy marriage Vol 3 GN

97. Faint of Heart GN

98. Us *GN

99. Four Color Heroes *GN

100. Merry-go-round * GN

101. Hedra GN

102. But you have friends GN

103. Bear otter and the kid *

104. Queer: a graphic history*

105. The Ojja Wojja *GN

106. Across a field of starlight *GN

107. The moth keeper * GN

108. Going remote a teachers journey GN

109. Hot dog (Caldecott winner 2023)

110. Boom box mix tape

111. Haruki murakami’s manga stories

112. Princess princess ever after *

113. All systems red -murderbot

114. The Infinity Particle

115. Famous in a small town

116. Starborn Husbands *

117. Artie and the wolf moon *

[suzuki-sibs-bar-and-grill]

Day 47!

uh

meow

what would snuy do if basil suddenly became a popular idol and made songs like hoshino ai

that song is my mood 24/7 mental stability is at atleast 10% lovely

everyday i find something more about myself which is mostly problematic and im getting more and more disgusted in myself because im getting worse and worse

Sunny would probably figure out how to sneak into all of his shows and all he would do is stand in the crowd and look at basil like:

And basil would probably notice him and just be confused

Also

Try not to focus on all that bad things in your life

Look for the good in it all

And try to improve where you can

[ellenchain]

Good news otter fans! The suspicious looking gift was in fact a new calendar!!

Be prepared for more monthly otter facts! 🦦

Will we get to enjoy another round of monthly otter facts next year? :D

Oh that would be wonderful! I'm not sure yet as I haven't bought a calendar myself, but I see a Christmas present lying around that looks suspiciously like one 🤭

[sdbingo]

WINTER WONDERLAND BINGO QUEUE UPDATE! (NOV 6-10)

❄️WINTER WONDERLAND BINGO❄️

Finished Cards (that were sent out this week) : 11 - Machi, sweetpeapod, NeonCrayons, SundialCat, ChaoticQuill, courtney, sarah, slyth, willow, foxywrites, brilliantdance

Cards (still) in Queue for THIS Week: 00

Total Sign-Up's : 52

💜FNAF BINGO💜

Finished Cards (that were sent out this week) : 07 - Chaos, prettysophist, SundialCat, pxgophagia, slyth, shells, tellmewhatyousee

Cards (still) in Queue for THIS Week: 00

Total Sign-Up's : 18

-

Total of Created Cards Before :❄️47 & 💜16

Sent Out on Nov 1 : 17 ❄️ - 42donotpanic, Sivan325, sis, cywscross, svgurl, endlesstwanted, SubukuNoJess, Flick, Aerica_Menai, Foxywrites, prettysophist, DrElizabethGreene, HadrianPeverellBlack, sweetpeapod, Lupi, ChrissiHR, howtodrawyourdragon

Sent Out on Nov 2 : 07 ❄️ - LyriaBlackFrost, crowbjection, Lychee Jelly, Chaos, 5soshow, Tori, Otter-Love-ASL

Sent Out on Nov 3 : 06 ❄️ - sadbi-hours, The Butcher, Summerwritesfics, Morgana, Alleine Dyren, Chantal Dormand

Sent Out on Nov 4 : 09 💜 - Chaos, Flick, Lupi, Sivan325, SubukuNoJess, Howtowhumpyourdragon, Hadrian, Willow, cywscross

Sent Out on Nov 5 : 05 ❄️ - Winchesterek, shells, seles, Revelations Chapter 6, red_crate

Sent Out on Nov 6 : ❄️07 & 💜06 💜 - Chaos, prettysophist, SundialCat, pxgophagia, slyth, shells, tellmewhatyousee ❄️ - Machi, sweetpeapod, NeonCrayons, SundialCat, ChaoticQuill, Courtney

Sent Out on Nov 7 : 03 ❄️ - sarah, slyth, willow

Sent Out on Nov 8 : 02 ❄️ - foxywrites, brilliantdance

[chic-a-gigot]

Le Petit écho de la mode, no. 51, vol. 18, 20 décembre 1896, Paris. 26. (1) Corsage de théâtre en soie glacée mauve. (2) Toilette en faille et velours glycine. (3) Toilette en satin vert lézard. (4) Robe en drap bison et velours beige foncé. (5) Corsage en satin olive. (6) Robe en moire antique et velours bronze. Modèles de Mlle Thirion, 47, Boulevard Saint-Michel. Ville de Paris / Bibliothèque Forney

(1) Corsage de théâtre en soie glacée mauve. — Devant, blouse serrée à la taille par une ceinture de ruban, plastron garni dentelle entourant le décolleté légèrement en pointe, chute de dentelle de chaque côté des devants. Manche froncée dans la longueur, formant petit ballon dans le haut.

(1) Mauve glazed silk theater bodice. — Front, blouse tightened at the waist by a ribbon belt, lace-trimmed plastron surrounding the slightly pointed neckline, lace falls on each side of the fronts. Sleeve gathered lengthwise, forming a small balloon at the top.

Matériaux: 5 mètres soie.

—

(2) Toilette en faille et velours glycine. — Cette robe est de forme polonaise, garnie au bas d'un volant de velours et d'une petite bande de vison. Le haut formant corselet est garni fourrure plastron en velours avec col droit; nœud flots en ruban de chaque côté de devants. Manche unie en velours avec petit bouffant en faille, cette polonaise s'agrafe sous le bras.

(2) Faille and wisteria velvet dress. — This dress is in the polonaise style, trimmed at the bottom with a velvet flounce and a small mink strip. The upper part forming a bodice is trimmed with fur, velvet plastron with straight collar; ribbon bow on each side of the front. Plain velvet sleeve with small faille puff, this polonaise dress fastens under the arm.

Matériaux: 12 mètres de soie, 4 mètres de velours.

—

(3) Toilette en satin vert lézard. — Jupe ronde garnie devant de deux galons de jais. Corsage tendu agrafé sur l'épaule et sous le bras garni de jais. Col et collerette en satin. Manche très drapée du haut, le bas uni, garni jais.

(3) Lizard green satin dress. — Round skirt trimmed in front with two jet braids. Tight bodice fastened on the shoulder and under the arm trimmed with jet. Satin collar and ruff. Sleeve very draped at the top, plain bottom, trimmed in jet.

Matériaux: 15 mètres satin.

—

(4) Robe en drap bison et velours beige foncé. — Jupe ronde ouverte sur un tablier de velours garni de castor loutre. Corsage figaro en velours garni fourrure, blouse. de soie crème à l'intérieur, haute ceinture de velours. Col droit garni fourrure. Manche en velours très enlevée du haut. Nœuds de ruban avec revers.

(4) Dress in bison cloth and dark beige velvet. — Round skirt open on a velvet apron trimmed with otter beaver. Figaro bodice in velvet trimmed with fur, blouse. of cream silk inside, high velvet belt. Straight collar trimmed with fur. Velvet sleeve very raised at the top. Ribbon bows with cuffs.

Matériaux: 7 mètres drap, 5 mètres velours.

—

(5) Corsage en satin olive. — Le devant froncé au milieu en deux petits devants rapportés, simulant un figaro, qui sont plissés de mousseline de soie, galon de jais en bretelles. Col droit et ruche de soie. Manche demi-longue, garnie de mousseline de soie plissée, gants longs.

(5) Olive satin bodice. — The front gathered in the middle into two small added fronts, simulating a figaro, which are pleated with chiffon, jet braid on the straps. Straight collar and silk ruche. Half-long sleeve, trimmed with pleated chiffon, long gloves.

Matériaux: 5 mètres satin, 2m50 galon jais, 0m50 plissé, 2 mètres petit plissé.

—

(6) Robe en moire antique et velours bronze. — Jupe toute unie. Corsage avec dos uni devant, haute ceinture. Corselet en velours, grands revers de velours et jabot de dentelle. Col droit et ruché de dentelle. Manche drapée de dentelle.

(6) Dress in antique moire and bronze velvet. — Skirt all plain. Bodice with back plain in front, high belt. Velvet bodice, large velvet lapels and lace jabot. Straight collar and lace ruffle. Sleeve draped with lace.

Matériaux: 15 mètres de soie, 8 mètres dentelle.

[fleurcareil]

Final recap: what a trip!

That's it; after 23,418 kilometers driving across the country, I arrived back home at my dear friends Arpita & Navneet on Sunday 17th September. 🥰 Having left on 1st June, I was on the road for 15.5 weeks, and I'm honestly amazed at how easy it went and how normal it felt! 😊 Apart from the occasional bugs, wasps, snakes 😆 & thunderstorms, I loved every second and made memories that I will cherish forever.

I'm not going to say that this was a trip of a lifetime, as I might do more similar road trips in the future (it has been a longterm bucket list of mine to drive from Ushuaia in South Argentina to the Chilean border with Peru, a mere 6,000 kms 😄) but it was very very special... it was unique to spend so much time discovering the diversity of all that Canada has to offer, nature & people wise, and it felt like one long farewell party! 🤩 I'm proudly Canadian and am very grateful having gotten to know this country more intimately!

I'm not going to repeat all the things I've done, the best experiences etc but just wanted to share the stats that I collected during the trip. I loved writing these posts and hope you enjoyed reading them! 😍

hug, Fleur 💖

SUPs: 19

Hikes: 86

Icebergs: 47

Wildlife:

140 bison

1 grizzly bear with 2 cubs and 4 black bears

4 moose, 39 deer, 1 elk and 5 pronghorn antilopes

21 bighorn sheep

1 fox and 2 coyotes

8 snakes, 2 turtles, tens of tiny frogs and 1 salamander

1000s of grasshoppers & crickets

115 ground squirrels (gophers) and 100 prairie dogs

3 rabbits, 1 marmot and 2 porcupines

148 harbour seals and 7 gray seals

12 humpback whales, 3 mink whales, 7 belugas and 11 harbour porpoises

5 beavers, 1 otter and 1 muskrat

12 bald eagles and 2 golden eagles

2 great grey owls

2 ferruginous hawks, 4 red-tailed hawks, 1 osprey and 1 falcon

8 turkeys and 17 partridges

51 sandhill cranes, 10 blue great herons and 1 green heron

50 puffins

102 Eider ducks, 52 Merganser ducks and 9 loons

thousands of northern gannets, razorbills & other sea birds, 2 sand pipers, and lots of terns

10,000 mosquitos

PS. I did not see a single raccoon during the entire trip!