#polar bear dip

[astralwhat]

enthusiastic about many 'ologies!

[annastrxng]

Anna jumping into a FREEZING cold Sound is always so underestimated

[atlaculture]

Favorite Foods: Sokka

Since Sokka is almost always shown shoveling food down his gullet during meal scenes, I figured he prefers foods that he can stuff into his mouth quickly and in large quantities. Like Katara, I also feel his favorite foods would tie back to key memories in his life.

Sea Prunes (Row 1) - Sokka likes eating sea prunes even more than his sister does. Being Hakoda's favorite food, I think eating sea prunes allows Sokka to feel closer to his father. I think he prefers eating them either stewed in five-spice (five flavor soup) or just blanched and paired with a dipping sauce. Real-life sea prunes are small, leathery mollusks traditionally eaten by First Nation and Alaska Native groups along the west coast.

Muktuk - Muktuk is whale skin and whale blubber served raw, like sashimi. It's typically snacked on as the rest of the whale is being butchered for later consumption. Sokka has fond memories of his father's hunting crew bringing home a whale and his father offering him the first bite of muktuk.

Seal Jerky - Sokka's favorite portable snack. Seals are the largest animal that Sokka has ever successfully hunted on his own, so he feels a real sense of pride when he eats this jerky.

Polar Bear Stew - Stew made from polar bear meat. Polar bears are revered in Inuit culture as the greatest of all bears, so successfully hunting one is a considered an impressive feat. As such, polar bear stew is considered quite a delicacy in the SWT. Sokka has only had the dish once, thanks to the bravery and skill of his father's hunting team, and dreams of one day bringing home another polar bear for the whole village to enjoy.

Fermented Eider Egg - Eider is a species of arctic duck. Their eggs are buried underground and left to ferment. They're said to taste like a strong cheese. There's no deep reason why Sokka loves them, he just likes that he can stuff a bunch into his cheeks like a squirrel. ^_^

Green Kasha - Green Kasha refers to a mash of different tundra greens such as sourdock, rhodiola leaves, arctic willow, and mountain sorrel mixed with rendered blubber oil. The oil acts as an emulsifier as it slowly gets incorporated into the mash of greens. Green kasha is used as a dipping condiment for various types of arctic meat. Sokka likes it because it gives him a whole new way of enjoying his favorite foods.

Kumis - Kumis is a fermented dairy product traditionally made from mare’s milk. Sokka was introduced to the drink by Yue and the two often enjoyed the drink together--- the mild alcoholic content made them feel rather grown-up. The color of the drink also reminds Sokka of Yue's hair, so the drink is tied to Sokka's bittersweet memories of her.

Like what I’m doing? Tips always appreciated, never expected. ^_^

https://ko-fi.com/atlaculture

[roriaa]

When Sun and Moon meet - S1

Zuko x Fem!WaterBender!Reader Enemies to Lovers

As one of the Princesses of the Northern Water tribe, you were blessed with a gift by the moon. However you were permitted to be allowed to use the gift at all costs. From many hidden waterbending usages, the aftermath of the avatar visiting the Northern Tribe had led to your beginning journey, hiding yourself as a water bender as a princess from the Northern water tribe

Warnings: None

Masterlist

҉ * ‧͙ ⋆ ⁺ ༓ ☾ Prologue

“We announce the birth of a healthy girl…Princess Y/N!” Chief Arnook announced as the crowd cheered for their new princes alongside Yue. What the crowd didn't know was the difficulties of even keeping her a healthy princess. Once the baby was born, she couldn't stop wailing and crying. It was like every bone of her body was in pain. All the medical help didn't do anything, they didnt know why the Chief’s daughter was in so much pain. Yagoda suggests going to the Spirit Oasis, it's their only chance. Chief Arnook sweats as well as his wife, as if they're bound to be unlucky for every life they give. The royal parents of this princess used the same technique as they did with their previous daughter. Dipping her in the Spirit Oasis while praying for her life to the moon spirit, the color of the girl's hair turned from brown to a graceful white. Silent cheers and cries as they held their newest child close to them, happy the moon spirit gave another one of their daughters a second chance.

“Stop touching the edge of your coat” My mother instructed as she pulled my hand from the cuffs. I whined but one stern look from my mother stopped me. I huffed as I stood up straight leaning more so to my sister, Yue who took my hand graciously. In books and stories becoming a princess sounds like a dream. You have money, attention and you could do whatever you want. Everything is accurate except the last one, I couldn't do everything I wanted. I had to be restrained to the guards and my parents eye, even Yue doesnt get this treatment as much as I do. However I forgot to mention how I even got into strict confinement in the first place. “What are you doing?” My father grabbed my hand making the water orb splash at both of our feet. “She's a water bender…” My mom whispered as my dad's eyes widened. “Y/N…” He spoke softly as he held both of my shoulders in a kindly manner. “Do not water bend, it's not allowed for people like you”. I furrowed my eyebrows as I looked at him confused. He sighed as he took my hand. “Y/N, where we live only men are allowed to use waterbending, that's their job…to protect” My father shows me to the boys training their bending. “Especially people like you and your sister, you're both very important to this nation”. I didn't listen, it's not like I didn't understand what he was saying, I just didnt understand why it had to be like this. I zoned off as I saw the male benders. Envying that they can use their gift while I couldn't use mine. I snapped out of my zoned out space with a little pinch given by my sister. I flinched lightly as she slightly giggled earning a hush from our mother. I don't understand us needing to come to these royalty meetings, neither Yue and I are close to 16. Well she is closer to 16 by what? 6 years? That's still a whole 6 years till 16! I'm only younger than Yue by a year, however people treat me like a polar bear dog, cooing at me constantly for doing the littlest task while Yue gets treated so much more maturely. Some might say I have it easier but honestly I just feel dumb. Once the meeting ended we respectfully bowed and got up following our father. I held back my yawn as I saw the now night sky, looking how beautiful the moon is. ҉ ☾ I woke up in the middle of the night, groaning as I looked at the moon. I brush through my tangled hair with my hand while walking outside near the river. Is anyone there? I internally thought as I scavenged the area to see if there were any witnesses. I double checked and took a deep breath. Opening my eyes I hold the water orb, feeling the calming air around me. “You're going to get caught if you keep doing that”. I yelped and dropped my water orb. I turn around immediately with widened eyes meeting Yue. “Oh Yue” I sigh in relief as she glared at me. “You could've gotten caught by the guards and gotten in more trouble then you already have”. I sigh in understanding but also in annoyance. This isn't the first time I have snuck out to try out waterbending. Some days I have been caught but some days I haven't. “I'm going back to bed” I sigh with my head down “Are you?” “Yes, I am” Yue giggled as she patted me on the back. “I believe you can use it one day Y/N, I really you” She whispered sweetly as I nodded. “Thank you”

Next ->

a/n: This is my first fic im starting and im getting brainrott from avatar :) im still learning how to write so if there is any suggestions please share. Im like half asleep while writing this authors note so I know it wont make any sense when I wake up lmao Also feel free to tell me if you want to be added in the taglist!

---

[nomercymaster11]

Turbulent Currents

Author's note: I've been trying to divert myself from unnecessary emotions, so I attempted to craft a lengthy story. So, basically, the story will once again revolve around the Heart Pirates, joined by the Straw Hat Pirates. It's an open narrative, and I'm not adhering to any timeline from the original One Piece story. I've been contemplating various scenarios that have been on my mind for quite some time, and I aim to connect them into a cohesive storyline. The story below has a sad tone. I suggest to play "The World's Continuation" by Ado while reading.

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the Heart Pirates' ship as it anchored near a secluded island. Tension lingered in the air, palpable and suffocating. The crew moved about the deck; their usual camaraderie replaced by an unsettling quiet. Among them, you stood, your eyes locked in a fierce gaze with Trafalgar Law.

The argument had been fierce, echoing through the ship like a tempest. It all revolved around a perilous mission, an expedition into a dangerous territory to retrieve a mystical artifact crucial for the Heart Pirates' plans. You, a key member of the crew, held the key to success. Yet, your disagreement with Law had escalated beyond the realm of a mere difference in strategy. It became a clash of ideologies, a storm of conflicting opinions.

The scene was set on the deck, a battleground where words were the weapons of choice. Law, his demeanor usually composed, couldn't contain the frustration in his eyes. His gestures were sharp, hands punctuating each argument as he tried to make you see reason.

"You're jeopardizing the entire mission with your reckless ideas! This artifact is our only chance," Law exclaimed, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.

Your response was equally defiant, fueled by a sense of principle. "I won't compromise our morals for the sake of some artifact. There has to be another way."

The exchange continued, each word deepening the chasm between you and the captain. As the argument reached its zenith, something inside you snapped. The weight of the disagreement, the burden of being the linchpin in this perilous plan, became too much.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink, you stood at the precipice of a life-altering decision.

Bepo, the polar bear mink and loyal member of the Heart Pirates, approached with a furrowed brow, his usually jovial demeanor replaced by concern.

"Please, don't go," he implored, his voice laced with sincerity.

The deck was crowded with crew members, their gazes shifting uncomfortably between you and Law. Bepo's furry hand gently reached for your shoulder, a plea for reconsideration.

"I can't stay, Bepo. Our ideals are just too different," you replied, your voice betraying the internal turmoil. The moonlit deck became a stage for the silent struggle within the Heart Pirates.

Bepo's eyes held a mixture of sadness and frustration. "But you're family. We need you for this mission. Law needs you."

A heavy sigh escaped your lips, and you shook your head. "I can't compromise who I am for the sake of a mission. There has to be another way, and I can't follow blindly when our principles clash."

As the exchange unfolded, other crew members gathered, their expressions torn between loyalty to their captain and concern for a comrade. The ship, usually alive with the sounds of camaraderie, now bore witness to a somber scene.

In the midst of this, Trafalgar Law remained aloof, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. Bepo, not one to be easily deterred, approached Law with a sense of urgency.

"Captain, please reconsider. We can't afford to lose them," Bepo urged, his tone a blend of respect and desperation.

Law, however, remained stoic, his eyes reflecting the conflict within. "This mission is bigger than any one person. We can't afford distractions."

"But they are not just a distraction! They're a vital part of this crew," Bepo argued, his plea echoing the sentiments of the crew members gathered on the deck.

Law's silence hung heavy, a cold barrier between him and the crew. The ship, once a symbol of unity, now felt divided by a rift that seemed insurmountable. As you turned away, stepping onto the island, the ship's departure signaled the beginning of a solitary chapter, leaving behind a fractured crew grappling with the aftermath of a heated exchange and the departure of a crucial member.

The island embraced you with its tranquil solitude, offering a momentary refuge from the storm of emotions that raged within. As the Heart Pirates' ship vanished over the horizon, the lush foliage and calming sounds of the island became witnesses to your contemplation.

Seeking shelter for the night, you stumbled upon a small, abandoned cottage nestled in the heart of the island. The wooden structure, weathered by time and forgotten by its inhabitants, seemed like a silent companion for your troubled thoughts.

Entering the cottage, the air was thick with a musty scent, a testament to the passage of time. Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the wooden walls, casting ethereal patterns on the dusty floor. The silence within was broken only by the distant rustle of leaves and the occasional night sounds of the island.

Alone with your thoughts, you sank onto a creaky wooden chair, your mind replaying the events on the Heart Pirates' ship. The argument with Law echoed in your ears, and the pain of leaving a crew you considered family weighed heavily on your heart.

In the dim light, you traced the contours of a faded portrait on the wall - a depiction of happier times, the crew united in laughter and camaraderie. The faces of Bepo, Penguin, Shachi, and Law stared back at you, a stark reminder of the bonds that now seemed strained.

The ache in your chest intensified as you recalled the concern in Bepo's eyes, the futile attempts to persuade you to stay. The memory of Law's stoic refusal to reconsider gnawed at you, leaving you feeling adrift in a sea of unresolved emotions.

A heavy sigh escaped your lips as you stared out of a cracked window at the moonlit landscape. The gentle rustling of leaves outside seemed to carry the weight of your contemplation.

"Why does it hurt so much?" you whispered to the empty room, the words hanging in the air.

The sense of loss, not just of a mission but of the camaraderie you had cherished, enveloped you like a shroud. The realization that your principles had driven a wedge between you and the crew you held dear stung deeply.

As the night wore on, the cottage became a haven for your introspection. The pain of departure mingled with the longing for resolution, and the moon cast its soothing light on a soul wrestling with the complexities of loyalty and self-discovery.

In the silence of the abandoned cottage, you found solace amid turmoil, grappling with the echoes of the past and the uncertainty of the future. The island, though a temporary refuge, became a silent witness to the profound journey of introspection that unfolded within the confines of the forgotten dwelling.

-----------------------

The Heart Pirates sailed away from the island, leaving behind the echo of a fractured camaraderie. Onboard, the crew moved about with a palpable heaviness in the air. Bepo, his usually cheerful demeanor replaced by a somber expression, gathered the crew for a discussion in the dimly lit common area.

Penguin and Shachi exchanged glances; their concern mirrored in the eyes of the crew members who had become a tight-knit family. Bepo, as the first mate, cleared his throat, his voice carrying a weight that reflected the gravity of the situation.

"Why does it have to end this way? we really can't just let them go," Bepo stated, his voice a mixture of determination and worry. "They're family."

Law, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, glanced at Bepo with a stoic expression. "We can't afford to let personal feelings interfere with the mission."

Bepo, torn between loyalty to the crew and understanding Law's perspective, finally asked the question that lingered in the air. "Are we continuing without them, Captain?"

Law, his jaw clenched, nodded. "Yes, but we'll need to adjust the plan. We can't let emotions compromise our objective."

With a heavy heart, the crew dispersed, each member grappling with the aftermath of the departure. As Law walked away, his façade of strength began to waver. The weight of the decision, the rift in the crew, burdened his shoulders more than he let on.

He entered his quarters, the dim light revealing the weariness etched on his face. Before going to his desk, Law found himself drawn to the closed door of your room. A moment of hesitation passed before he entered, the air within laden with memories of shared laughter and camaraderie.

The room was a silent testament to the bond that had been fractured. Law sat on the side of the bed, his gloved hands clenching the fabric. In the stillness, he found himself in deep contemplation, the sting of regret piercing through his strong façade.

"I hope you find what you're looking for," Law whispered to the empty room, the words carrying a weight of unspoken emotions. The room, once filled with your presence, now felt hauntingly empty. As Law sat there, surrounded by the echoes of the past, the ship sailed on, carrying the Heart Pirates forward into an uncertain future.

To be continued...

[taurusdaylight]

[1.48am] attention

in the span of three hours, you finished one episode of the drama that you’ve been watching lately, took a shower, and even managed to take a short nap. you’d thought that jeno would be done with his game by then, but he wasn’t. instead, you re-entered his bedroom and saw him still glued to his desk, just as he was a few hours ago. very much immersed in his game, jeno continued to backface you, seemingly not noticing your presence yet.

you walked over to him and stood next to his chair. after a few seconds, jeno finally looked up at you and smiled. however, the attention was short-lived because his gaze soon returned to his desktop screen. 

you made a face at his behaviour. was his computer game seriously more important than you, his girlfriend? you were used to the long hours that jeno spent on his computer, but he should still know his limits. 

“jeno,” you called out.

“hmm?” he replied, eyes still fixed on his desktop.

your frown deepened. “can you look at me when i’m talking to you?”

“give me five minutes, baby. it’s the last round.”

“that’s what you said just now…” the disappointment in your voice was apparent, but it was seemingly unimportant to jeno, who merely said that it was really the last round and that he would be done soon. he went back to shouting over the headset, giving directions to haechan.

letting out a deep sigh, you gave up trying to get his attention and climbed onto his bed. your patience was running thin, and you were so close to turning off the main switch so that jeno would have no choice but to stop his game. perhaps, that was the only way to get him to finally go to bed with you. thankfully, your rationality was still intact so that didn’t progress to anything further than an intrusive thought in your head. as much as you were upset at him, doing that would most likely trigger the start of an ugly fight that you absolutely did not want to partake in.

you tugged the ends of the blanket and tried to make yourself comfortable on his bed. it was difficult to ignore the empty space beside you when usually you’d be enveloped in jeno’s arms, feeling safe in his embrace. even his polar bear plush toy didn’t offer much comfort to you. a part of you knew that you were being a little dramatic, but if jeno wasn’t going to spend time with you, then he shouldn’t have called you over in the first place. there was not much of a difference between this and staying at home, and you’d much rather opt for the latter if you knew that jeno was going to game all night long. 

you continuously tossed and turned in bed, still unable to fall asleep. you don’t even know how much time had passed until jeno finally said goodbye to haechan. not in the mood to talk with him in fear that you might vent your anger on him, you closed your eyes once you heard jeno shut down the desktop, footsteps gliding across the wooden-tiled floor as he approached the bed.

“baby, are you asleep?” jeno asked. 

you kept quiet, hoping that he wouldn’t catch onto your act of pretence. even though it was a petty move on your part, you thought that he deserved it for prioritising his computer game over you. 

jeno’s side of the bed dipped down as he got under the covers. he inched closer to you until his chest was pressed against your back, wrapping his arm around your comparably smaller frame. 

“are you mad?” jeno’s voice came out rather timidly. he caressed your arm with his thumb before he said, “i’m really sorry i lost track of time.”

if there was one thing that you hated more than jeno choosing his games over you, it would be going to sleep being angry at him. no matter how big or small, your past arguments were always resolved quickly because the both of you couldn’t stay mad at each other for a long time. this time was no exception. so you opened your eyes and stared at the blank wall for a while before you turned to face jeno.

“make it up to me,” you said, looking him straight in the eye.

jeno made a sound of confusion, so you repeated your words. “make it up to me.”

jeno seemed to have gotten the hint the second time as he tenderly grabbed the side of your face with his free hand. he moved his face closer to yours, slowly tilting his head at an angle before sealing your lips together with a mellow kiss. 

soft. jeno’s lips felt so soft brushing against yours, you found yourself leaning in to lessen the already small gap between the both of you. hand placed at the nape of his neck, you hastily pulled him in as though it would help in getting a closer taste of his lips. you could feel the corners of his mouth curl upwards as he slowed down, but he still made sure that his lips never left yours, giving you the attention that he ought to have given you hours ago. 

after a few moments of back and forth, jeno gradually pulled back. he left one final peck on your lips before he stopped completely. 

“am i forgiven?” jeno breathed.

you shot him a smile, “yes.”

jeno’s hands travelled down to your waist as he hugged you. “thanks, baby. i promise i won’t do it next time.”

“next time?” you glared at him. “what do you mean? i won’t let it go so easily if there’s a next time.”

jeno looked at you with a glint of sheepiness in his gaze. “well, yeah… but you know, i would always make it up to you.”

“that’s not going to work,” you deadpanned.

“you don’t want me to kiss you?” jeno asked with a pout.

“i do, but you can’t just kiss me and expect to get away with it every time.”

“why not? i’ll give you even more kisses,” jeno said as he slightly lifted his head up from the pillow to demonstrate it by peppering your face with small kisses, listing all of the possible places that he could kiss you. 

jeno’s sudden display of affection caused you to let out a long breath. there was no way you could argue against that, he always knew exactly how to appease you. pushing him away slightly to coax him to stop because it was too much for your weak heart to handle, you said, “okay, i got it… just go to sleep.” 

jeno laid back down to his original position, his arm returning to hug your body. “i love you, baby. when we wake up, we can do whatever you want. my entire day is yours,” he promised. 

you snuggled into jeno’s chest, taking in his comforting scent. “i love you too.”

[sitting-on-me-bum]

That Spring Sun Hitting Just Right

The female Polar Bear, Suka, enjoying the early Spring sun after taking a dip in the pool in the Artic Ring of Life exhibit. Nuka, the male is in the background, not visible.

By Jeff Babcock

[naffeclipse]

Apex Polarity Personality Quiz

This is a small little thing for fun I made in order to have an excuse to make more things for Apex Polarity and its wide aurora of AUs and variations on setting and Y/Ns.

1. Claws, teeth, ravenous appetite, equally as devouring gaze.

To you these qualities describe -

A. A dangerous wild animal

B. Potential husband

C. The stalker who keeps leaving dead things at your address

D. All of the above

E. Are you in danger?

F. Circle if you need help

G. Yes

2. What you look for most in a partner

A. Obsessive feral devotion

B. Good with kids

C. Humble

D. Passionate

E. Good hunter

F. Bear trap level cuddler

G. Serial mental note taker on everything you say and do

H. Overprotective to a fault, perhaps very much at a fault.

3. Your favorite pastime.

A. Immersion in nature and being out in the wilderness

B. A cold dip in the sea

C. Basking in the sun

D. Acting like you're a dolphin

E. Curling up in a warm space

F. Spending quality time with your loved ones

G. The joys of parenthood

4. Your preferred superpower (totally not escape methods)

A. Teleportation

B. Super speed

C. Invisibility

D. Shapeshifting

5. Your favorite animal/animal you resonate with the most

A. Arctic fox, phantomlike and swift, hiding behind snowdrifts when danger stirs. Your instinct is to avoid the grip of vices no matter how tempting, except perhaps if your stomach is involved.

B. Penguin, despite the cold weather and unforgiving ice, you are soft at your epicenter, from inside it radiates, and like a mirror you are equally as besotted by that which is as innocent and gentle.

C. Beluga, spun sweet and melodic, on your voice is carried the play of heartstrings like the gentle waver of quivering arctic waters and dancing sunlight. You sing and although it is fearless, the depths do not murmur in vain.

D. Seal, eccentric and woven into everything you do, you tend to stumble over your nerves but when in your element you are freed from all anxieties. The world may have taught you caution but In time you may learn to embody this grace wholly.

E. Narwhal, reclusive but mystical at the same time, perilously shy, and gentle but possessing fierce zeal in dire situations. Unfortunately, your likeness to a unicorn is reflected in others and far from many intentions are pure.

6. What is the most valuable in your eyes

A. Sentimental things even long years after they've run dry of their practical use

B. Shiny objects like rocks and trinkets

C. Natural wonders and displays of the world's phenomena

D. Food and guaranteed survival

E. Companionship

Score

Count how many like numbers you get (aka, all 4s, 2s, etc) and group them to find how many you got each. The highest quantity number is the winner.

(Important!) - Some answers can have multiple numbers assigned to them, in order of most indicative to least. Add these as well, their order has no meaning or weight on the score itself unless a tie occurs.

Further Explanation Guide

- Totaling - Count the amount of each number separately to see which one got the highest amount, if you get 7 4s, 2 3s, 4 1s and 6 2s, 4 is the winning number because there are the most 4s.

Example - Answered D on 1, D has the numbers 1, 4, and 3. Therefore you would add each a 1, 4 and 3 to the pool of numbers for your result.

- Ties - If you get a tie you use the highest favor number of each answer to settle it, or you can enjoy your multiple results. The most favored number is always the first listed.

Answer Guide

- 1. Claws, teeth, ravenous appetite, equally as devouring gaze. To you these qualities describe -

A - 4, 3 | B - 3, 4 | C - 2, 1, 4 | D - 1, 4, 3

E - 4, 1, 2 | F - 1, 2, 4 | G - 4, 3

- 2. What you look for most in a partner

A - 4 | B - 3, 1, 4, 2 | C - 3, 2, 4 | D - 4, 1

E - 3, 1, 2 | F - 3, 2 | G - 4, 1 | H - 2, 1, 3

- 3. Your favorite pastime

A - 4, 3, 1, 2 | B - 3, 2 | C - 2 | D - 3, 1

E - 4, 2, 3 | F - 3 | G - 3

- 4. Your preferred superpower (totally not escape methods)

A - 4 | B - 3 | C - 2 | D - 1

- 5. Your favorite animal/animal you resonate with the most

A - 1 | B - 3 | C - 1, 2| D - 2 | E - 4, 1

- 6. What is the most valuable in your eyes

A - 4, 3 | B - 1, 3 | C - 4 | D - 1, 2, 3 | E - 3, 2, 4

Results

📷 Polar Y/N - Mostly 4s

🐧 Harpy Y/N - Mostly 3s

🦭 Selkie Y/N - Mostly 2s

🧜 Siren Y/N - Mostly 1s

Let me know if anything felt inaccurate or incorrect. I tried my best while still not reading much of AP because of mental health issues making it really too taxing to read a lot like as in books or fanfiction etc. Most of this is based on the various AU posts for Apex Polarity. You can adjust stuff if you feel like it doesn't fit.

[madqueenalanna]

so i'm almost done with my "terror" (show) rewatch and just finished reading "terror" (book) yesterday so let me ramble lowkey about the differences

i do love of course the little character details of the book that couldn't possibly make it into the show. sir john's devotion to his "gentleman" status to the point that he stays dead silent during sex, for one, crozier getting jacked off in a pond for another. the book's meandering pace gave us lots of ship descriptions (agonizing) but also lots of time with even minor characters (peglar for one)

and so because of their respective mediums, i like each ending/portrayal of tuunbaq in its own way. in the book, it's a spirit created by a goddess, forced to wander the frozen north and feast. silna and people like her are psychic, marry other psychics to create their own tribe, their own people. this is not to control tuunbaq but simply to communicate; they leave it offerings, it doesn't kill them. the white men have no way to understand this, and so they trespass and are murdered. crozier leaves his identity behind to join these people, loses his tongue, has children by silna, and feels the honor in this choice. tuunbaq's appearance is ephemeral, difficult to explain, almost incorporeal. it isn't a monster, it's a part of the land in the same way winter is. very spiritual

in the show of course it's much more straightforward. it's a beast that can be injured, can eventually be killed, needs to be bound to a shaman that can control it. silna cuts out her own tongue to follow in her father's footsteps, instead of having lost her tongue as a child in this psychic group. it dies, agonizingly, like so many of the polar bears it resembles, yet another victim of british colonialism. silna is ostracized by her people for its death under her watch. crozier joins the netsilik without her, assimilating culturally if not on this secondary spiritual plane. obviously this makes much more sense to see on screen

the other big change is of course the health of the men. sure they SAY in the show the men are failing, and we see some of them, but the book, agonizingly (good), details every mile they haul sledges, every symptom of scurvy, a few violent deaths from botulism, blanky losing first part of his foot, then half his leg, then several wooden legs break and he calls its quits when the stump is gangrenous. the book is so clear that this takes MONTHS, it feels like months, hickey's mutiny is almost a minor footnote because they were all already almost dead by the time it occurs. the cannibalism is such a last resort that they're all half-dead by that point. it's slow, it's painful, so it all makes more... sense, almost. you FEEL their pain, this slow horrific death, the STARVATION

that said i love the death of fitzjames in the show. he's got scurvy and dies of botulism in the book, but i think it's just scurvy in the show. we see his battle scars, obtained in a colonial venture to asia, re-open and suppurate. in a very real, literal way, his past has come to haunt him, to poison him. he dies on another colonial mission, weakened by his former expeditions eating him alive, destroyed by this land that wants them dead

and from researching this show/book i got linked by some very helpful redditors to some very long articles detailing inuit descriptions of finding hms terror before it sank, so i'm excited to dip into those

[pintsizemama]

Polar Bear Plunge

Day 26

Summary: Simon shares a tradition with you

Pairings: Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x You, Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x You x Female Reader

Fandom: Call of Duty

Rating: Mature

Warnings: language, alluding to sex

Word Count: 701

Day 25 Day 27 Christmas Masterlist Main Masterlist AO3 Join my taglist

“Explain to me what we’re doing out in the freezing cold in bathing suits, Simon,” you groused. Simon had woken you up just after dawn and told you to put on your swim suit. You thought maybe he wanted to get a little frisky in the hot tub, but he’d handed you your boots and winter coat and led you out to the lake. You were away for the holiday at a romantic cottage that back up to a lake. You stood there shivering, wondering what had gotten into your boyfriend.

“I thought I’d introduce you to a holiday tradition,” he told you.

“What tradition? Freezing all our fun bits off?” You laughed shakily. You were shaking pretty hard at the moment. You loved the cold, but it didn’t love you.

“Ever heard of the Polar Bear Plunge?” Simon asked with a devilish grin.

“Yes…” you answered warily. You looked at the lake, then back at Simon. “No way! I am not jumping in that water!”

“C’mon, love,” Simon cajoled. “It’ll be fun. Then, when we’re done, we’ll take a nice hot bath and I’ll fuck your brains out in front of the fire.”

“Yeah?” You asked, liking the sound of that.

“Promise.” You chewed on your lip. You really wanted that bath and the mind blowing orgasms he would tear from your body…but you really didn’t want to jump in the water. He stepped closer and bent down to nuzzle your neck.

“How about it, hmm?” He whispered against your skin. “The cold water is great for your health, and I’ll make you feel so good after.”

“Easy for you to say,” you scowled slightly. Simon took ice bath plunges regularly.

“It’s really not that bad,” he insisted. “Plus we won’t stay in nearly as long as I do. Just a quick dip, then back to the house.”

“Just a quick one?” You murmured.

“Cross my heart,” he replied. You sighed deeply.

“Alright,” you gave in. Simon smiled huge and you both stripped off your coats and boots. Simon had the forethought to grab a few towels. He took your hand and led you to the dock. He stopped you right next to the ladder. Part of the lake was iced over, but a good chunk by the dock was open. Simon pointed to the ladder.

“You jump in, then immediately climb up and out,” he instructed. You nodded, your nerves getting the best of you. “On three. One, two, three!” You both jumped in and it felt like a thousand tiny needles hitting your skin. Your breath was literally knocked from your body it was so cold. You broke the surface and were slightly disoriented. It was so damn cold. You shook through the fog in your brain and made for the ladder. Simon was right there to guide you. He looked completely unflustered, and you once again thought he was some kind of super man. You both climbed back onto the dock and wrapped the towels around your shivering bodies. Simon helped you put your coat and boots on over the towel before donning his own.

You hurried back to the house. He pulled your boots off as soon as you were inside. Simon had prepped the fire before you went down to the lake, and he sat you in front of the roaring flames while he went to draw the bath. You threw off the coat and towel, stripped out of your swim suit and wrapped yourself in the blanket from the couch. You huddled in front of the fire, shivering almost violently.

Simon came back in a few minutes later. He smiled when he saw you wrapped up like a burrito. He was already naked, and you couldn’t help but gawk at his beauty. He was a massive man. All muscle and scars and tattoos. You shivered again, this time not from the cold.

“Keep looking at me like that, and I’ll take you in front of the fire right now,” he said heatedly.

“As g-good as that s-sounds, I’m gonna n-need that b-bath first,” you told him. Simon smiled once more and scooped you up into his arms.

“Alright, Princess, let’s warm you up.”

Day 27

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[idalynsskyrimdiaries]

Talking about Taliesin ✨️🗡

Now I haven't fully played out the new update for our favorite charming mer, I'm getting there (new PC has not arrived yet)! I just wanted to ramble a bit about him hehe

I love him! His voice is stellar, and he's very funny! Definitely enjoyed spamming clips of him to my equally as ecstatic (and thirsty) closest friend. Now, that being said...

Me and my friend are completely polarized in our approach to Taliesin. While they want to just shove a wedding ring on his finger, I just wanna fight him 😭

And then shove a wedding ring on his finger! 😃

Here are examples as to why I should have DB characters NOT based on myself:

[Keep in mind I do not have the direct quotes memorized. Bear with me 🙇‍♀️]

__________________

*First encounter near the Falkreath Talos shrine*

"Listen here, you little worm, I survived the Great War! I can survive a simple knife wound. I hope."

Me: *looking around* Oh, he's talking to you, right? *looks over at dead body* He's talking to you like that, right? Because I can't find the person who he just called a 'little worm' while he's bleeding out... Oh, he's talking to me? Really? Ah, I see. Time to finish the job. *pulls out mallet*

__________________

*After Taliesin rambles on about Haskill*

"I've said too much. I'll have to kill you now."

Me: *slowly looks over at the river nearby* The water over there looks so nice! Maybe we can take a dip for a little while! Oh, you can't swim? Ah, I see, I see. Nice to know. Nice to know...

__________________

*Made the mistake of asking him to rest in a freshly purchased Tundra Homestead*

"Is THIS where you live? When was the last time you cleaned this place?!"

Me: I LITERALLY JUST BOUGHT THIS HOUSE. WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!? We didn't even breathe in the air of this place yet, and you're saying it's dirty! If it's that bad, then be a good housewife and sweep the floor!

__________________

*Within foggy areas*

"Don't run too far ahead, I'd hate to lose you in this fog."

Me: *runs faster out of spite* I saw a bear!

__________________

*When Taliesin ran straight into my character without stopping during a crypt exploration*

"You're in MY personal space!"

Me: ... Listen here, Jaundiced Loki. What you are NOT going to do is gaslight me! You ran straight into me like a horse, and you're not small, so that H U R T! Stop shoving yourself into me! My back can take so much stress..! *realized how the last part sounded* Wait, no, not like that-

__________________

*Near the hot springs in Eastmarch*

"Can we please stop by the hot springs? My body aches from carrying your burdens."

Me: *has only given him a few potions to carry* ... You know what, yeah! You can take a nice little break, even take a nap! I'll definitely be by your side when you wake up! I am totally not going to be in Solitude drinking with cute mer who don't drive me insane!

__________________

I swear I love him, I truly do, I just want to fight him one good time to get it out of my system. I don't care if I get my ass handed to me. Just let me climb him like a tree so I can yell "TIMBER!" when he falls down

May make another post like this because there are more moments like this 🤣

[gojo-mochi]

Softy ! My lovely ! I hope you're doing well and staying healthy 💖💞 I have a request, if there's still space !!

I'm requesting some Shachi love, some ooey-gooey sweetness and a little bit of teasing, he's such a goof and I love him so much 😭😭😭 if you're not comfortable with Shachi, then I'll ask for Law, if that's okay !! Soft, tender and sweet 🥺🥺🥺

LOVE YOU BBY thank you for everything you do 💞💞💞💖💖💖💖

HI MANDIE. MY LOVEEE I HOPE YOURE DOING WELL< HAPPY HOLIDAYSSSSSSS

First time writing shachi so i hope you like it! he was a really fun character! (∩｀-´)⊃━☆ﾟ.*･｡ﾟ

WC: 1.3k

TW: Fluff with some lewd jokes

“Psst, Hey bro, I really, really need you to do this huge favor for me. Like, this is the most important thing I ever needed you to do for me. So, please just at least listen to me and-” 

“Oh my goddddddd, just shut up and go already. I know you just wanna go make out with your girlfriend or whatever. I’ll cover for you, but you owe me at least 5 favors after this.”

Penguin makes a disgusted face over at Shachi but ends it with an endearing smile. Walking over and knocking shoulders with him as he snatched the cleaning tool from his hand.

“Make that like 10 favors, because I’m pretty sure it’s vent cleaning day, and you know how gross Bepo’s fur gets when it gets stuck in there.” Penguin shivers at the memory of pulling out clumps of damp polar bear fur for hours on end. Shachi jumps up with joy and gives his bro a big hug, thanking him profusely. 

Penguin rolls his eyes and playfully shoves Shachi off, shooing him away with a wave of his hand. 

“Now, get out of here, lover boy, before I change my mind.” 

Shachi salutes him as he skips off, happy to be free from his cleaning duties and, more importantly, to be able to spend some time with you. Stuck leagues under the sea for who knows how long can get boring for anyone on board the Polar Tang, people make do with their various hobbies or chores to pass the time. But Shachi's most favorite pastime was spending it with you, mostly teasing you every chance he could get. 

The submarine they called a home wasn’t that big once you had been inside it for long enough. Shachi cheerily hummed a tune as he went to find where you are, probably doing your own set of chores for the day. Well, screw that, Shachi the hero was here to save you from all that boredom. 

Shachi soon finds you all the way down a corridor, with your back turned to him as your hips sway to an imaginary tune in your head.

 Target spotted.

With his action plan ready, Shachi took position and started sprinting down the hallway, sliding at the halfway point with his arms outstretched, getting ready to catch you by the hips and by surprise. 

“Wha-?!” 

One minute you were mopping the hallway, and then the next you were being swept off your feet by an unknown assailant. And just as you were about to bop the head of the attacker, you turned your head to find your boyfriend grinning back at you. Well, you still bopped him with the end of the mop anyway for scaring you like that. 

“Ow-hey!” 

Shachi pouts at you, placing you back down on your feet as you roll your eyes at him. You stick the mop back in the bucket as you question Shachi. 

“What are you doing over here? Didn’t you and Penguin have vent duties today?” 

Shachi smirks at you, dropping a hand down on your shoulder, “Penguin did me a solid and is covering for me.” 

His hand dips down to the small of your back, his fingers sneaking themselves under your shirt. He wiggles his eyebrows at you, his voice dropping an octave lower as he leans in to whisper in your ear. 

“So, how about you let me do you a solid as well?” 

Your face heats up from his comment; you push him away with a huff. Grabbing the mop back in your hand as you start to clean the floors once more. 

“I need to finish this, Shachi, unlike you I can’t put my workload onto someone else.”

“I’ll put a load in you.”

“Shachi!” 

Now, your face was really heated up, Shachi only laughed at your outburst, sneaking back up behind you and wrapping his arms around you. Resting his head on your shoulder as he sways you back and forth. Softly humming a song in your ear, his warmth soon becoming yours as well. 

It didn’t take long for you to give in, leaning back into Shachi’s hold and closing your eyes. Shachi presses his lips on top of your head, lingering there for more than a few beats. 

“...Alright, you win. I’ll come back to this later.”

“Yay!” 

Shachi threw his arms up in the air in celebration. Taking the mop from your hands and putting it away for you, happily skipping his way back to you with a wide grin on his face.

“I knew you couldn’t resist me for long.” 

He links his arm with yours and begins leading you down the corridor. You shake your head softly at his antics, knowing that you couldn’t deny his words. You grab onto his forearm, enjoying the short walk to whatever destination Shachi was taking you to.  

Soon, you arrive at an unsuspecting door in a hallway you weren’t used to. You didn’t travel through this hallway often, so you had no idea what could be behind the door. With Shachi guiding you, it could be anything…

You braced yourself, positioning yourself a little behind Shachi as he goes to open the door, swinging it wide open. As the door swings open, the light inside turns on, blinding your eyes for a bit. You feel Shachi’s hand move to your shoulder, gently guiding you inside the room. 

As you try to correct your vision by rubbing your eyes, you see a tiny room with fairy lights, a small TV huddled in the corner, and numerous blankets and pillows strewn across the floor. The vibes were super cozy and cute; you and Shachi stepped inside as Shachi closed the door behind you. 

“Tada! What do you think?” 

Shachi collapses on one of the makeshift pillow chairs, his legs wide apart, his hands patting the space between them. You wordlessly sit down in front of him, he shimmers up closer to you, pulling you backward into his chest as he rests his chin on top of your head. 

His arms enveloping your body, as he repeats the question from before. 

“So, do you like it? Hate it? Something in between it?”

His tone still sounded chipper, but you could tell that he really wanted you to say that you liked it. 

“It’s so surprising.”

“In..a good way, hopefully?”

You chuckle a bit, cuddling closer to his warmth. Nodding your head as you take another glance around the room. 

“In a good way. I mean, where did you find the time and materials to do all of this?”

Shachi laughs, and you feel the rumbling from his chest vibrate thru your whole body.

“Let’s just say that I owe Penguin a lot of favors.”

You shake your head at that, stretching out your limbs and sighing comfortably. Being in Shachi’s arms and on the cozy, plush pillows was making you a teeny bit sleepy at the moment. 

You close your eyes and just listen to the rhythmic beating of Shachi’s heart, just for a while. 

“Shachi.. Wake me up in a couple of minutes, alright? I still need to finish mopping the hallway.”

“Of course, baby, I’ll wake you up.”

He kisses the back of your head and whispers to you. “Good night, dear~” 

Shachi really was going to wake you up when time was up, he promised! But you were just too cute-looking as you dozed off that he started feeling tired as well. And soon, Shachi fell asleep alongside you. 

Penguin ended up finding you two a couple of hours after, all cuddled up without a care in the world. And, don’t worry, Penguin finished mopping the hallway for you, so you didn’t get into any trouble. So, now you and Shachi both owe him a favor.

[eustasskiddsprosthetic]

Here's a thought. I'm not sure if this is considered a mafia au or whatever but this is the best thing I've thought of.

One day, Doflamingo brings his gang family to a beachside resort, partly to have a vacation and mostly to encourage Law to network.

It's a diplomatic move to pacify Law after killing Corázon. He expects Law to try to murder him just like Corázon but he would rather Law not try anything so soon. Though, Doffy would rather have that than whatever this was. Doffy swore he taught Law better.

Law refuses to look and be nice. He wears the ugliest merchandise tee shirts and hoodies. He plays his horrible rock music out loud. He dances to upbeat girl group pop songs off beat and wears polar bear floaties to the pool without batting an eye.

And to top it all off, all that attracts the attention of this blond young man called Sabo. Sabo looks like those pretty young boys Greeks back in the day idolise for their beauty and Doffy had seen those before. However, there's something about Sabo...

Doffy is aware that Sabo wants to kill him but there's just something so damned wrong about him. It was not his scars or anything like that... It's his eyes...

He observes them from a distance at first, not wanting to get too close because he doesn't want to offend Law's... delicate, asocial sensibilities. He does not like that he cannot control Law more personally but he must tolerate it.

That said, maybe he need not be so worried. Their first meeting went so disastrously Doffy was sure that Blondie would kill Law first.

The blondie is very obviously into Law. Sexually, yes but also because Blondie wants to get into Law's pants to learn more about Doffy's schemes and kill him.

This is your chance, Law, Doffy thinks with some dread... Blondie really was quite handsome. If Doffy were a bit younger he would've gone for him. Damn you, Law! You don't deserve this.

Blondie swam up to the edge of the pool where Law was sitting. Law dipped his legs in the pool and was kicking it around like a child. He was tapping at his phone. He looked busy, but Doffy knew better. The brat was playing Candy Crush to spite him.

"Hey, handsome," Blondie says, tapping on Law's knee. Law glanced up and blinked. "How are you? It's nice today, isn't it?"

Law learned how to read lips from Corázon. He nodded with a polite enough smile that did not mean anything.

"Do you want to get away for a minute?" Blondie said. "We can do something else."

Do what? Law signed. Corázon taught him that too. Blondie was caught off guard but signed back, albeit awkwardly, Whatever you want. Law frowned. Surely, Law was silly but not stupid.

Law must have seen the way Blondie's eyes twinkle. He must have seen the way Blondie delicately used his index and middle finger to tuck some hair behind his ear to look coy and delicate. Blondie gave him a sultry smile, where he only showed one row of teeth.

His lips were so nice, so plump and shiny. Nice figure too, toned and clearly a fun-loving person both in life and in bed. His chest was broad, smooth abs and quite tall too. He probably looked good in a suit too... Or lingerie... Law really was a lucky man.

Doffy and Corázon too, actually, taught Law to be disciplined. Theoretically, to prove his loyalty, Law should reject Blondie and move on but Doffy would not blame Law if he accepted.

To his surprise then, Law does... neither?

He leans forward and Blondie thought they would make out. Instead, Law sings, "dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb" while tapping his head. He then stands up, dances off-beat for thirty seconds, apologises for not knowing more and then walks away while humming the rest of the song like that interaction never happened.

Blondie was absolutely flabbergasted, to the point of being offended. Doffy laughed at the murderous look he gave Law. They made eye contact and Doffy laughs harder.

Good fucking luck, young man!

Doffy taught Law well, didn't he!

[serve-corps]

Yuri Plisetsky x hockey reader

~~~°•○•°~~~

Yuri Plisetsky. A sixteen year old with almost no time to spare in his life at all yet he's built himself a large enough ego to be named the 'Russian punk' and the 'Russian fairy'. how? don't fucking ask me. he's got talent on his blades that's only grown since he showed a liking to the sport. his effort increased his skill. That is why he's dedicated himself to figure skating.

(y/n) (l/n) however, is a seventeen year old with plenty of spare time on her hands and an alter ego. She herself is also known as the 'jet of (your country)' as well as 'the bullet' see, she's an ice hockey player. a international one. she was also skilled on her blades, she had such control, she could choose her speed at any point.

never in a million years would they both meet; for their professions may be similar but they hate each other. hockey players are far more aggressive on the ice, usually after an ice hockey game, there are large uneven dips in the ice which is a hazard for figure skaters. hockey prioritizes speed and control rather than figure skating which mostly focuses on spins and jumps. That's the difference between them and their skates. hockey skates are rounded while figure skates are pointy and stabby.

the only reason you play is because you grew up on the ice, your father used to take you to a public skate and get you one of the polar bears to keep yourself up. he taught you by tearing you away from it and pushing it away, forcing you to skate to it by yourself to get back your stability polar bear.

it doesn't help that your older brother was also a very renowned ice hockey player and a few of your friends took up hockey as a hobby, all your life clubs revolved around the sport, and you got annoyed at anyone claiming to be a big shot in the ice world that didn't know the dangers of it. the fist fights, the blades, the ice burns, the breaking of bones, the slamming into the sideboard, and not to mention how FUCKING COMPETITIVE EVERYONE WAS!

you were one of 3 females on your team, out of 18 players, you were the most famous. you kicked your brother's ass in fame, he retired early as he decided to gain another profession, he coached little ones on the side for a job but that was out of loyalty for the sport.

one of the girls was a goalie, someone who defends the net meanwhile the other was a defender, They stay behind close-ish to the goal to keep the puck out of their side of the field. you, however, were centre. one of the most active roles, the person who scores and 'usually' gets into the most fights.

Yuri however, was Russia's national figure skater, he was a young prodigy, who was not only coached by the same coach as Viktor Nikiforov but was acquainted with him. he won gold in the international junior league so he aims to be the same in the senior division, the adult version of that bullshit.

we know what Yuri aims to be, his goals and plans, we don't need to go over that.

lets head to the present.

~~~°•○•°~~~

today you had the skating rink booked with a friend, you came from money as well as your brother trying to encourage your career. your boots were laced as you were on the ice with a stick, puck and a goal. the staff let you borrow a goal for practice.

You two were shooting at the goal left and right, working on perfecting your aim but your friend's stamina dropped after the first 15 minutes. yours, however, was still high and mighty being known as the 'jet' or 'bullet' because of how fast and how long you can go for.

you came off with your friend and handed her a water bottle, casually chatting as she was panting. you heard the doors open and this blonde guy?- girl? you couldn't tell, walked in, and opened the door to the rink.

"Who the fuck brought this shit on the rink?" the words flew out of his mouth harshly with a Russian accent. he hopped onto the ice and you noticed his 'fancy' preppy figure skates.

he skated towards your goal which you set up with a hassle, he started lifting it up with great difficulty and trying to drag it off.

"этот кусок дерьма!- (this piece of shit)" he said, mumbling to himself while grunting.

suddenly, the owners of the rink slammed open the doors and shouted, "YURIII! THE RINK'S BEEN BOUGHT OUT FOR THE NEXT 3 HOURS! I forgot to tell you!!"

she bowed in an apology.

"well, I don't see them. so it doesn't matter-"

at that moment, you stood up and grabbed your stick, you picked up a bag of hockey pucks and threw them on the ice. the bag was now empty and you tossed it aside, stepping onto the ice with accuracy and speed, you dribbled the puck back and forth and shot at the net, close to where Yuri was to scare him off.

he jumped back in fear of getting hit and let out an "ack!-" as he fell onto the cold ice. you sped up your skating and headed straight for him, he tried to scramble out of the way but you were too fast, he braced himself to be a hurdle or something but he ended up getting sprayed by ice. you stopped right in front of him, creating a large wave of shaved ice to flow over him. it got in his hair and face, not to mention his clothes.

he looked up at you and scowled only for his face to change in shock, you were smugly resting your chin on your stick while having one leg crossed behind you. to everyone else, you looked like a stuck up prick.

that applied to Yuri too, but you were beautiful, the lights made you seem angelic while your hair looked almost sexy, up in a ponytail with a few pieces dangling, framing your face. your boots made you seem masculine, your hoodie and leggings didn't help. smash- next question-

his face was slightly dusted pink with a scowl on his face, trying to hide his flusteredness by masking it with being cold. at least you don't have a pretty voice-

"sorry sweetie, but currently this rink is mine! come back in two hours and forty five minuets or stick around and fawn over me until our booking is up.." you said with a sly smirk on your face never leaving once, your voice teasing yet alluring. soft even yet it has a taste of authority.

"черт возьми…(holy shit...)" he breathed out softly with his cheeks going slightly pinker, barley noticeable to everyone.

accept you. you were towering over him see? you could see everything about him. and his steadily growing blush.

however, you're not a ahem- dick so you ignored it and just turned your sly smirk into a genuine soft smile. you dropped your stick to the side by the pile of pucks and knelt next before him.

"ok, sorry. didn't mean to scare you shitless. truce?" you said with a chuckle. Yuri shook his head as if he was ridding himself of thoughts, your chuckle even sounded pretty, no no! You're known as the Russian punk! you can't like someone!

he blinks a few times, trying to calm his panicking mind and he pulls himself up, so do you. "I mean, if you do want to stay, you're more than welcome to take over the music" You shrug at him as your friend joins you on the ice now. he thought she looked mediocre compared to you. but the owner was staring at her and...drooling?

your friend was considered the hot one in the group. You're hot too don't worry, it's just, this one wears makeup and push-up bra's excessively to get everyone's attention. you go natural and your tits are naturally big, you just wear guys clothing.

but not to him. you were the hot friend to him. He couldn't keep his eyes off you for longer than five seconds. honestly? you noticed and thought it was cute, you thought he was cute. every time you caught him oogling, you winked and he scowled looking away.

your friend started gesturing with her hands getting your attention to 'wrap it up', so you did.

"if you couldn't tell, we're training right now, so we sort of need the ice." you said gently only to be cut off by his voice,

"yeah, well I have a championship coming up, its not as important. move."

"I paid for this blondie. I'm not leaving the ice." you said seriously. he doesn't seem to recognize you and you didn't recognise him either so all is fair.

the owner, however, thought differently, she took a photo of you two going face to face with each other, Yuri's face still slightly pink with a scowl and yours with a finger pulling down an eyelid and tongue stuck out of your smiling mouth; leaning towards him.

"ugh. fine. ill wait. but don't think this is me being kind you bitch." he stomped off the ice, purposefully making massive dips with his toe-pick skates.

"alright little mister kitten whiskers." you roll your eyes and chuckle to yourself at his temper tantrum. you don't even know this dude yet you can tell what he's like if he's acting like this. somehow you thought he was cute. shrugging your shoulders, you grabbed a puck and started doing manoeuvres and passes with your friend, trying to figure out what works best for you both, turns out you both excel at passing the puck by throwing it up in the air with your sticks.

it's not an illegal move in hockey but it's very rare and unique, tricky to pull off because you can't hit another player otherwise you get sent to the penalty box.

Yuri watched with interest despite trying to hide it by 'looking' at his phone. after doing a trick shot and succeeding, it was your trick so you started celebrating, jumping on the ice and slowing your skating to dive onto your friend.

"100% using that in our game!!!!" you squealed in joy, your friend holding you up from falling was laughing with you and at you for your celebratory, stupid state.

Yuri couldn't help but faintly smile at your joy, he thought it was cute. you seemed to be really good at this, he hoped you were happy with your life. hoped it was better than his at the least.

your eyes flickered to the boy sat on the side, his eyes quickly flicked away from you and back to his phone, you sighed as picked yourself up, skating over to the 'sullen' boy.

Yoinking his phone out of his hand that was unlocked, you turned on Bluetooth and connected it to the speakers of the rink. handing it back to him you grabbed his arm and pulled him so he was standing up.

"the hell?!"

"wanna skate or not pretty boy?" you said bored, pointing at his phone, knowing damn well he was gunna be pissy if he didn't, and you didn't want that for some reason.

he growled and trudged onto the ice, you're still holding onto his arm, dragging him into the middle.

surprisingly you and your friend didn't make much mess of the ice, it was perfect to skate on. he did a test jump and landed it and smirked. You raised an eyebrow at his smugness about something you could do if you wanted to.

you shimmy off your hoodie and throw it over the side, showing a tight compression shirt, it was cropped so it was a very flattering item on you. Yuri's eyes widened then blushed, turning away for a second to mentally prepare himself because you looked fine as fuck.

turning back to you, you gave him a smirk and pulled off the exact same jump as him in harder skates. he stood confused until he realised it was a challenge. and you were so on.

he smirked and started bragging, "haa? someone like you can't compete with a professional! your call тупица~ (dumbass~)" he cackled out.

he started with a single salchow and landed perfectly as its one of the easiest jumps for a skater.

somehow, you watched how he did it and you copied it to the point miraculously without a single slip up. his eyebrows rose at this, he decided to try a Lutz, it would be almost impossible to do it because you don't have a toe pick and you've never done it before. he finished the jump perfectly and looked at you smugly, as if he was rubbing in that he was better than you.

you didn't take that lightly.

as you did before, you watched how he did it, skated backwards on your left foot, used your right foot to stab into the ice and pick you up, kicking you into the air, you turned yourself around in the air in a 360⁰ turn and land on your right foot, still skating backwards. you stumbled on the landing slightly with your skate wobbling but still landed perfectly no less.

Yuri's jaw dropped a little bit only for him to close it quickly. how the fuck could someone in hockey skates do that with no toe pick?!

he coughed into his hand, trying to regain some sense. this time will be an axel. the hardest jump there is.

"i know you won't be able to do this little bitch!" he shouted as he skated and completed the perfect single Axel. he was even going easy!

you watch with intent and intensity once more. so the difference is that he lands skating forward instead of backward like the Lutz? hm okay..

once again, you copy his moves, you struggle a bit now and as you landed, you didn't land straight and went off diagonally, having to use your other leg to keep balanced. "Hold on! let me do it again!!" you shouted annoyed, you thought you could do it!

you took a start and jumped, you ended up over-spinning, deciding quickly to turn again in the air, you twirled twice, and somehow landed straight. "see! I can do it!!! yes!" you did a little celebratory dance once more while Yuri stood there stunned. you don't even know it but you actually did something harder than he just did. you did a double axel while he did a single axel....

Yuri was annoyed no, pissed. he took a start once more and committed himself to a quadruple axel, the hardest jump possible, you saw that it was the same type of jump and tilted your head in confusion, he just span more? does that mean he fucked up too?

"do it exactly like I did it and ill get off!" he snarled with a grin, a grin that annoyed you.

"fine! you span four times, right? watch." you said stretching your arms across your body.

you set yourself up for the jump and it started, you stuck the tip of your toe in the ground, lifting you in the air, you span...and span...and span...and- CRASH "FUCK!"

your body skidded on the ice and your body was skidding toward the dash boards (boundary walls) head first, your leg was in pain as though it was pulled and that distracted you until your head slammed into the wall, the rest of your body following in suit.

"fuckfuckfuck" you mumbled out.

Yuri stood shocked, fuck he was worried, how bad were you hurt?

he sped over to you and got on his knees, "shit are you okay?!" he asked seriously, your friend following after him, she saw you holding your leg and knelt next to it, straightening it out which earned some curses from you but she undid the boot and carefully took it off, making you let out a sigh of relief.

the blonde felt bad, he shouldn't have dared someone who was brand new to do jumps try and copy him like that. his ego got the best of him.

"how bad does it hurt?" he asked, his accent somehow calming you down despite its aggressive nature.

"i just pulled something, I'll be fine just give me a minute...ugh...ow..." you sat yourself up and leaned against the wall. your ass felt numb from how cold it was. using the side to help yourself up, you stood on the leg with the skate still on, you used your loose foot to gently push you forward, gliding on one foot to the door to the benches.

plopping yourself down on the benches with a thump, you massaged your leg gently, you know you'll be able to ignore the pain soon enough, you play professionally for fuck's sake.

five minuets go by and you're no longer feeling much pain, you start lacing up your boot back onto the leg you injured, getting ready to go back on.

about to step onto the ice, you notice how Yuri picked up all the loose pucks that you already had shot at the net and gathered them into a pile, not to mention a frown on his face.

he looked up from picking up pucks and clicked his tongue at you, he spread his arms wide, letting all the pucks he was holding drop back onto the ice and sliding off to different places.

your friend looked at you, flicking her eyes to him quickly then back to you, raising her eyebrows up and down suggestively with a grin. you picked up a stray puck and threw it at her, she ducked just in time as it hit the glass boundary. She snickered at your reaction, your face ever so slightly pink.

you sighed and skated over to the pouting blonde and patted his shoulder. "it was my fault. I tried something I never tried before. I was bound to fall!" you chuckled as he turned away from you, still grumbling.

"alright pissy pants, you can join us on the ice every Tuesday at this time, okay?" you ask gently leaning to go into his field of view, his face slightly red at proximity.

"get away from me you whore!"

"ouchies..." you fake an exaggerated frown, trying to fake being emotionally hurt, his expression faltered for a second, looking back at you to see if you genuinely took offense but then scowled at your face turning into a shit-eating grin at his concern.

"FUCK OFF YOU PRICK" he skated away as you laughed at his flusteredness.

"blondie! do you even know my name?" you said wiping a 'tear' from your eye. he turned his head over his shoulder in your direction, egging you on.

"(y/n). (y/n) (l/n) the hockey player? have you not heard of me?"

"well, how the hell did you not know I'm Yuri Plisetsky?! Russia's national figure skater! haaah?" he said with a snarky attitude.

"hm? oh I think I heard of you! I think my brother's-friend's-dad is your coach! yakil? no- Yakov! how is he? he said this Viktor guy was being a pain in the ass last time I heard." you chuckled to yourself, not seeing Yuri seething quietly, his face going more red with anger.

"don't act like we're on the same level!" he shouted annoyed at how calm you were, he was kind of hoping you'd be excited to know he was famous but-

"I'm (country's) international player who's played in multiple games worldwide and won. I don't care." you said, waving him off as you skated away.

soon enough, your practice was over but he never said no to seeing you every Tuesday.

sooo he showed up nearly every time. in return, you watched him skate, both at practice, and cheered him on at competitions, sitting on the benches only the skaters were allowed on.

your games that were in the same area Yuri was in at the time usually had an extra visitor of the figure skater himself, you made sure he was sat as close as he could be to your bench, and you did try and beg your coach to let him sit with you but he shot you down.

his anger issues helped cheer you on, it was sweet, knowing he was cheering for you, it made you more fired up than before, and nearly everyone on your team noticed, and so did the commentators'. you heard them over the loudspeaker,

"seems the bullet has a special fan she's listening to in her ear ladies and gents!" you stumbled at this and dropped your stick on the rink, snapping your head to the commentators up in the seats. "seems she didn't want that put out there! oops!"

laughing was heard throughout the rink as well as chuckles from your team and the competitors.

these interactions happened more than you liked to admit, you also didn't want to admit that you started to like the obnoxious blonde who you support and supports you.

social media was a nightmare, the owner of the rink where you first met; who took a photo of you two going face to face with each other posted the photo on all types of social media, the caption being 'Yuri plisetsky x (y/n) (l/n)'. this blew up, leading to so many ship names being made, 'the punk x the bullet', 'the fairy and the jet' they were ruthless.

people were making edits of the two of you looking at each other when you accidentally looked at him for a little too long and he did the same, times here he smiled at you softly which is very out of character for him, when you two blushed at each other, the list goes on.

PEOPLE WERE EVEN WRITING FANFICTION ABOUT IT. Don't ask, you got curious and searched for it. you read them all. just for research purposes. ahem-

other figure skaters and hockey players were calling you out on the ship as well online, what shocked you the most is that Viktor Nikiforov, the famous figure skater reposted some edits, sending them to you and Yuri directly, you did some research about Yuri's world and learned about some large figures. Viktor was apparently the best of the best.

your brother also sent a message to you directly saying, "mother, father, and I all gave our blessing to this boy, bag him (your nickname)"

you threw your phone at the wall to say the least.

after a match where you arose victorious, you went to go see Yuri skate at his competition, it was in Russia and it was the uhm, what was it called? oh yeah, the Grand Prix finals. you knew it was important to him so you had to be there. you just had your final match which coincidently was also in Russia, you made yourself look nice for once.

a dress that can be worn in cold weather with skin-coloured fuzzy thermal tights and white leg warmers. you wore a white dress with embroidered cats going around the bottom of the dress, the cats were white tigers. you wore a red and white jacket, matching Yuri's training one. just for sentimental reasons. you wore red and white Nike trainers to pull it together.

you walked in with a mask on and your hair hid in a white beanie, people couldn't recognise you yet at least, you just looked like a very fashionable fan of the Russian punk.

you waited till it was Yuri's turn on the ice, taking off your mask and beanie, letting your hair frame your face, the people around you took a second glace and started squealing at your appearance.

the commentator instantly caught you in the large crowd, singling you out and saying it over the mic in hopes of getting Yuri to see you just before he got on the ice. he did.

you spotted him on the bench, he was staring right at you with a smile, giving you a wave which you returned.

his turn finally came, he got onto the ice and did a loop of the ice, stopping for a second right in front of you, flashing you a small smile before his performance.

your heart fluttered a bit as you flicked your eyes away for a second, you're not used to that kind of attention.

the music started as you gathered your self respect, only for it to be dropped back into the ground as you infatuation with him grew at how emotional his performance made you feel. all of the passion, the love, the admiration. he was putting all he had into this skate.

his jumps made you wince before your face lit up with joy at it being completely flawless, you hoped he wouldn't get hurt, his performance seemed to be directed in your direction as he kept his eyes focused on you most of the time, he did extreme jumps that looked difficult and made them smooth and flawless. he managed to tug on your heart.

even if you were a hockey player, even if you were supposed to hate figure skaters, even if figure skaters were meant to hate you, you could hear the message his serenade told you, your heart picked up as you heard his music started to slow, his eyes bearing into yours with sincerity that made you choke up.

the performance reached its climax and Yuri was left out of breath, huffing and coughing slightly, he used all of his efforts to send you this message which at this point, if he said it verbally, wouldn't have been as clear as the performance.

you held a hand to your mouth in shock, a singular tear fell from your face at the sheer beauty of his action. you watched as he went to the kiss or cry booth to see his score, it was his own personal record as well as a WORLD FUCKING RECORD!

you walked up to him and stayed silent, just following him, you grabbed the corner of his jacket and smiled, subtly saying "Yes I do too..." with your actions. his attitude raised even more at this, not only did he make a world record, his worries of being rejected flew out of the window.

you followed him to the changing rooms and stood outside the door, silent until there were no more reporters following you and there was nobody in the hallway.

you tugged his jacket again that you didn't let go of. he turned around and raised an eyebrow in confusion, you cut him off before he could say anything.

"I like you too Yuri..." you said with a soft smile, letting go of his jacket as your face warmed slightly. Yuri was worse off than you were, his entire face was bright red and he stumbled a bit. trying to regain himself he coughed into his hand then grabbing yours, he somehow pulled you closer and held your cheek, feeling how warm your face was as he stroked it with his thumb, your breath hitched as your eyes flickered from his to his smiling lips.

he looked so kind smiling at you like this, you liked it, but you liked his attitude as well. As he leaned forward you quickly cupped your hand over his mouth, he let out a surprised noise that sounded an awful lot like a squeak which resulted in a giggle fit from you, he growled slightly and pulled your hand off of his face.

only to grab your head with both hands and smash his lips onto yours, this time making you squeak, he smiled at this and started being more gentle and soft as he pressed his lips against yours with just as much passion as he did on the ice.

you both pulled away, both opening your eyes slowly and both red in the face, you buried your face into the crook of his neck to hide your face from him resulting in him wrapping his arms around your waist, burying his own face in your shoulder.

"I'm so proud of you Yuri..." you muffled against his skin, wrapping your arms around his shoulders and hugging his tightly, "I've liked you for a while..."

"me too милый…(darling)…" he said squeezing your waist a bit tighter. you rocked yourself side to side in the hug, forcing his to do the same.

you eventually left his embrace only to peck his lips again with a smile, if Yuri could melt, he'd be a puddle now but your here, keeping his stable.

this time he leaned forward and pecked your lips but it lasted longer than what you did, he sighed as he finally enjoyed the feeling that he'd been craving for the months you two had been friends.

he pulled away and your lips chased after his as he pulled away, it was cute to him. your eyes slowly opened after the kiss ended and your cheeks were flushed. he thought you looked adorable and he chuckled softly to himself.

"AAWWWEEE!!!" both of your necks snapped to where the voice came from and it was some grey-haired man holding up a phone that seemed to be recording, there was another man wearing glasses and black hair who was pulling on this guy's arm mumbling something about being quiet and leaving them alone.

"I'm sorry yuriiii but I couldn't keep quiet anymore! our little Yurio has gotten himself a girl!!" his voice sounded Russian like your Yuri's. he stopped what he was doing on his phone and then you realised a second too late before he posted the video of the entire interaction onto social media.

soon enough the man's phone was blowing up and the two of you jumped away from each other's hold and were extremely embarrassed. wait a minute.... that's!-…THAT'S VIKTOR!

the black-haired Yuri started dragging him away harder, forcing him out of the room then bowing to the two of you muttering an "IMSOSORRYABOUTHIM" and slamming the door behind him.

silence followed for a bit only for a snort form you to break the quiet,

"what." his Russian accent coming out heavily as he craned his neck to you with a glare.

"nothing....*snort* Yurio~"

"MOTHERFUCKER-"

it may not be common, or socially acceptable but who knew that a famous hockey player would end up being with a famous figure skater? not you two, or the media. you two were a trend from there on, an iconic duo.

[snapthistiger]

exercise 12102024

bike ride to the gym

3 x 10 lat pull

3 x 6 dips

3 x 10 overhead press

45 minute spin class

3 x 10 seated press

3 x 10 tricep press

3 x 10 row

bike ride home

the gym workers received M&Ms

stayed at my Mom's last night. she went to sleep around 9p and slept through the night

called the phone number provided by the jury pool clerk to see if i needed to report for duty today. the message was supposed to be updated after 7p Monday evening but the message was still from the previous week. i called again this morning and the message was updated and all members of the jury pool are released

top left = nice calorie burn in spin class

middle = polar bear challenge flyer at the gym. i signed up!!

bottom = Christmas lights on Pecan Street

hope you have a peaceful afternoon and evening..

[mostly-mundane-atla]

I'm so sorry if you've already answered something like this, the tumblr search function is terrible. in the show of ATLA, the Southern Water Tribe wears blue colors which are pretty hard to obtain. Do you think that comes from trade as certain dyes can last even hundreds of years or another organic material or is it simply unrealistic. I've tried to do some research on similar clothing materials and I've found examples of other colors but not these shades of blue. anyways your world building and research is excellent and I really appreciate the work you do! no pressure to answer, I'll continue to research myself too!

I have mentioned dyes a few times, but never this specific question. If we look at the dyestuffs available to thrive in a tundra setting, I think blue dye or even dyed blue fabrics would have to be imported. Most of the pigments used in irl circumpolar cultures are actually red and black.

I do think there could be an irl cultural precedent for wanting blues and purples, though. Animal skins with black pigment (like polar bears) can look purplish and the black soot ink used for tattooing (and circumpolar women have rich traditions of adorning their bodies with beautiful geometric tattoos) tends to look blue under skin. I think there's also irl cultural precedent to point to the Earth Kingdom having blue dyes. It's very difficult to get a vibrant green dye from a single natural source. A single dip in true indigo, Japanese indigo, or woad can correct a green that's too yellowish for what you want, or can even tint yellow fabric into a lovely emerald shade. I think it stands to reason that Earth Kingdom dyers would have enough blue dye on hand to fill out international orders when they were done with domestic ones. The shades of blue seen in their fabric clothes seem a bit grayish and faded, suggesting the dyers may have used lower concentrations of dye or lower grade mordants that muddy the color.

I've also written a post about potential Water Tribe exports and other things they might be traded for here if you wanna look deeper into what international trade with the Water Tribes might look like

Anyone with a better understanding of natural dyeing, please feel free to add on