#sailor knot

[artbymyth]

“First you will reach the Sirens, who bewitch all passerby…Around about them lie great heaps of men, flesh rotting from their bones, their skin shriveled up.” -Odyssey, Book 12

“We have lingered in the chambers of sea By sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown Till human voices wake us, and we drown” -T.S. Eliot

The many interpretations of the Sirens! A temptress mermaid with wings, the traditional ancient Greek bird woman with her standard courtesan hairstyle (also I made her bird body an Albatross for Rime of the Ancient Mariner vibes), and two more monstrous versions in mermaid and bird beast forms.

[felidaefatigue]

Doodled myself a quick nona to cheer myself up

[puppppppppy]

modern au ft @crow-cap's oc sailor <3

the wood markings on xins face were inspired by @zah-likes-tea's art of them hehe

[invisibleintrovertartist]

This might as well be a neonnova blog now...

(Also thank you all the people who leave nice comments in the tags. I read them all and they really cheer me up and make me smile <3).

Also sorry about the bad quality of some of the pictures (again). The winter season isn't kind on natural sunlight here.

[ltwilliammowett]

Wind Knots

Knots have long been thought to have magical properties, including the power to control the wind. So called wind knots were tied into a piece of rope or a rag and sold by so called wichtes to superstitious sailors, especially captains, who would untie the three knots they contained to release the wind. The 17th century Norwegian Poet Petter Dass explained what happend next:

" Untie but the one for a gentle, good breeze, The sails will be filled, you make progress with ease; But if you the second will loosen, You pull in the canvas to barely half mast. The third will send wind that will race you so fast that pumps you will have to resort it."

So be very careful with your wind knots and use them wisely.

[boricuacherry-blog]

That's crazy that Iowa has not released the full investigative file on Johnny Gosh. It's been how many years since he went missing?? Saying it's still an open case could be bec they don't want more info getting out [that's the only way the full file would be made public].

Everything should be made public atp IMO about a case like Johnny Gosch.

I think that's the same thing going on with JonBenet's dad. He keeps going on hobo tours and doing talks about JonBenet bec he wants the case to remain open ...bec then the full file won't be released.

All signs point to JonBenet Ramsey's father knowing how she died. And even if he didn't, at the very least, he heavily obstructed justice in finding out who did.

Let's be fr...no one broke in that house. And how did John automatically know his daughter's still warm body was laying in that room down in the basement? Why did he and Patsy move? Why did they keep stonewalling police? Also, Patsy wrote that ransom note. It's wild that he's out here smirking about how he can't find the killer, and ppl believe him. I believe there was a pattern of abuse taking place before JonBenet's death, based on her doctor visits. They can absolve him of all the wrongdoing they want, shit, they can absolve deez nuts..it doesn't change the facts of the case.

[lightoutage]

i cooked

[dozydawn]

hmm, do i actually think the disappearance of rope from rhythmic gymnastics was a blow to the sport (like how i think the elimination of compulsory dance really hurt ice dancing) or do i just always want what i can’t have? or alternatively, am i just feeling sorry for inanimate objects again?

the “official” reason for rope being demoted from the other apparatuses was: too many injuries. it doesn’t hold much water though. yes, rope routines contained more leaps & jumps which took a toll on gymnasts, but those weren’t so heavily required by the time rope was phased out. in terms of hits & bruising, most gymnasts say the clubs are the most injurious apparatus. also the idea that fig cares about injuries🥴you have to laugh.

the much more widely-accepted rumor for its elimination: rope did not film well on television & was the least impressive & exciting apparatus to watch. this is much easier to believe, because it’s the same reason compulsory dance was nixed from ice dance: casual audiences were bored.

& yeah, there’s lots of old rope routines from the 80s and 90s that i haven’t posted, that i can’t fully enjoy because the rope becomes invisible in poor definition. i’ll also admit that in my early days of watching rg, rope was my least favorite. it was on its way out, the least flashy & recognizable apparatus, nobody seemed to care for it.

but the best things are an acquired taste & i’ve come to really appreciate rope & the era of rg it represents. i think it is the most mature apparatus & requires a mature gymnast to truly get the most out it: that’s why it’s a shame rope is only being performed at the junior level. i guess i should just be happy it still exists at all.

rope is also the most malleable and impermanent apparatus, constantly changing. even more so than the ribbon, which becomes useless when it gets tangled. the rope was purposefully knotted, tangled & untangled by the gymnasts as part of the apparatus skillset, which became all the more impressive in the group event.

[practicecourts]

Late Monday, Tuesday Snippet

Thanks for the tag @jamesunderwater

here's a wee snippet (but I think it's familiar to you)

… She takes the sturdy wind-light from where she left it on the floor but before she can light it, she hears footsteps outside. Even with the storm, it’s clear someone’s running up the paved path toward the lighthouse.

For just a moment she hears the pitter-patter of small feet, like a memory, but it’s the sound of a drizzle starting.

The footsteps are heavy and fast.  She wonders who it is. She does not expect any visitors. Apart from the Harbour master the villagers rarely come up here. She always wonders if it could be him. Even when it’s been years her heart still beats faster, every time footsteps come up the hill to the lighthouse.

The door opens a fraction with a creak. It’s jammed, she will have to oil the hinges before they rust completely. The moist sea wind settles on everything. It is patient, with time everything rusts through, everything is worn down, every wall crumbles.

The handle almost slips out of her fingers, the lamp jiggles and she lets the unlit match drop. In the door opening stands a man, he’s staring at her, as if she’s the apparition, instead of him.

“James?” she breathes.

“Lily,” he exhales.

tagging with zero pressure @charmsandtealeaves @nodirectionhome-ao3 @merlinsbbeard @uncertainwallflower @oneofthesirens @mppmaraudergirl @suzyq31

[captainseamech]

... he's never tying sailor knots next to you people.

[ikkaku-of-heart]

@celestiialnotes asked: " Your sail looks good from what I can tell. Nothing else needs to be replaced. Typical wear and tear but nothin' needing immediate attention. " A brief pause as he gently knocks on the metal frame of the Polar Tang. " Seen plenty of different ships but this has gotta be a first for me. Ain't half bad. Looks like it's well taken care of. " - Paulie

The Polar Tang was a unique ship, and Ikkaku was generally considered the best person qualified to fix her after any given attack, accident, or just due to general wear and tear. It was a job the engineer was proud to do, giving her best day in and day out, making sure her beautiful submarine was getting the best care possible.

Yet despite her skills and natural inclination towards all things mechanical, Ikkaku also knew there was always something new to learn. And while traditional shipwrights would likely have nothing useful to add, or even have even the slightest understanding of such a magnificent, highly advanced submarine, the ones on Water 7 were considered the best in the world. If there were anyone who could teach her something, it would be them.

Hell, sometimes just getting an outsider's perspective was useful, so when the Hearts had stopped at the famous Captial of Water, she'd insisted on getting the Tang looked at, just to ensure there was nothing she could improve on or had missed.

The blonde shipwright - Paulie, if she had heard right - had certainly taken his job seriously, which Ikkaku appreciated. And she appreciated the comment about her submarine being well taken care of just as much. "Thanks," she said, beaming with pride. "She's the most beautiful and unique ship I've ever seen. From the moment I first laid eyes on her, I knew she was the best damn vessel in the four Blues. And I can promise she's looked after. I'm the head engineer, so I do my damnedest to keep her in tip-top shape."

Resting a hand on the yellow hull, she hummed in contentment. "I'd be surprised if you'd seen anything like her, but I guess if anyone would have, it'd be you folks. Bet you've seen all kinds of beauties sail in, eh?" she asked, giving the man a playful wink.

[tiderider]

the little things questionnaire .

repost, don't reblog.

favourite tea . lemongrass ginger tea. given the limited and often contaminated resources brought to the isle, harry had limited options as far as tea went. before the barrier's removal, harry would drink plain fermented dark tea. it was bitter, and leaves a strong and dry aftertaste that lingers for hours. he was introduced to lemongrass ginger tea while in auradon, he considers it a luxury treat.

favourite coffee . he doesn't drink coffee. if he has to he'll have a plain black coffee or a red eye but will suffer for the rest of the day because it makes him overly jittery and hyperactive.

favourite sweet snack . crab cakes. harry doesn't have much of a sweet tooth and eating a lot of sugary things will make him nauseous. but crab meat ( as well as crayfish, lobster, and shrimp meat ) has a natural sweet and savory taste. he also likes chili dark chocolate truffles. they're strong, bitter, and spicy, he considers these a luxury treat too.

favourite savory snack . roasted winged termites. he eats them like trail-mix. most insects and rodents on the isle became an ample food source, most food stalls or carts have roasted, fried, or deep fried insects like spiders, weevils, crickets. the termites have a vegetable-like taste to them and are more of a seasonal luxury on the isle so he will eat them sparingly.

favourite flower . red anemone. harry doesn't spend a lot of time learning or identifying the kinds or types of flora unless absolutely necessary ( or allie's talking ), but he likes red and i can imagine someone telling him the story of adonis and aphrodite. forget-me-nots are a second favourite, he likes the colour.

favourite colours . sea blue / sea green. the water around the isle is dark, muggy, and dirty from trash and pollution but he can see the water past the barrier and he loves the colour. it's calming, the shades remind him of the sea, of the horizon, and of uma. red is his second favourite colour. it's bold and loud, it's an aesthetic warning and is his trademark colour. he prefers darker and more muted shades like wine or oxblood reds.

favourite fruit . lemons. sour and bitter, he'll eat lemons like most people eat apples. he likes citris fruits, feijoa's, grapefruit, tamarillo, dragonfruit, are other fruits he enjoys. he'll eat banana's, oranges, and berries, but he prefers the sour ones.

favourite vegetable . potatoes. they're very versatile and he's most familiar with them. he's not had a bad experience with potatoes, though he did react some kind of way the first time he had sweet potatoes ( not a fan ). he likes peppered hash browns the most.

favourite season . summer. the isle didn't experience the full spectrum of seasons, generally they had storm season and not-storm season. summer on the isle was just a somewhat dryer heat. with the barrier gone, the isle now experiences proper seasons and their summers are hot and breezy given the isle's coasts. sailing during the summer is a favourite pastime, as is visiting the beaches with the crew or attending concerts and summer festivals.

favourite time of day . late afternoon. the isle generally wakes and becomes active in the early afternoon with most businesses opening and schools starting around the same time. 3-6pm is the busiest time of the day and gives harry a lot to do.

favourite kind of weather . cool and slightly cloudy. harry works and moves around a lot so he prefers cool weather. most of his activities are spent outdoors and extreme temperatures can be really annoying and inconvenient. it helps that it's the best kind of weather to go sailing.

love language(s) to give . acts of service. harry is very action and goal orientated. when the people he cares about need or want something done, he does it. whatever shape or form that might take. often harry doesn't need to be asked to do these things, but he does enjoy when his people ask him for favours. in a lot of ways it means his people trust and need him. the flipside of this, is that harry can and does commit acts of service against his people's wishes, sometimes ignoring their objections entirely. it's something he's trying to work on. physical touch. harry is an extremely tactile person, he seeks with his hands, grasping for purchase, holding, squeezing, embracing. he'll often instigate physical contact with others, showing a possessiveness when he does it.

love language(s) to receive . physical touch. harry finds physical touch grounding, physical affection ( especially casual physical affection ) endearing and pleasant, he'll gravitate towards that touch. seeking it out, waiting patiently for it, drowning himself in it when he gets it. he finds the act of physical contact keeps him rooted in reality, it makes him feel real and alive. quality time. harry appreciates spending time with his people almost more than he enjoys touching people. for someone to seek him out, to spend the time with him, whatever he might be doing, makes him feel appreciated, liked, loved ( though he wouldn't use that word himself ), makes him feel that his people want him around, that they value him beyond just what he can do for them.

specific niche love language . arguing , passionate discussions . harry is very opinionated and very hardheaded. his morals and belief system isn't universial and definitely isn't agreeable with most of the people he cares about. he needs his people to be able to stand up for their own morals or beliefs, he needs them to feel safe enough with him that they can disagree, that they can discuss their own perspective with him even if they differ. being able to have those discussions, being willing to teach or show him something he hadn't or didn't consider before is important to him because he wants to understand where his people are coming from. on the flip side, his people being willing to understand him and where he is coming from is just as important to him.

favourite hobbies . sparring. harry will never turn down an opportunity to spar or train. he enjoys the powerplay, the competition, he enjoys learning new things, new moves, he likes the challenge of finding new ways to beat someone, and he likes teaching others too. sailing. obviously, he's a pirate who loves the sea and seafaring. he'll take any opportunity to take a boat or a ship out. especially now that the barrier is gone. he and the crew disappear for days on end just exploring, he even enjoys teaching and training others how to sail and navigate. drawing. it's more of a relaxing pastime, something stationary that gives him time to sit and focus on something simple and trivial.

favourite book(s) . the velveteen rabbit, margery williams. harry doesn't and won't ever have much interest in reading, beyond not having the skill for reading for leisure or enjoyment, he just doesn't have the patience. harry only really starts to learn to read once the barrier is gone and the velveteen rabbit is a short story. the writing is traditional and easy to read and understand, and the moral / themes of realness, love, and identity are things that harry at least would find compelling. generally, he prefers plays.

favourite movie(s) . the blair witch project, or an in-universe alternative. i see harry being a casual horror / slasher movie fan. enjoying the violence, gore, over-the-top acting, and the audience reactions. given auradon's overall culture, i don't see there being many production companies that cater to that kind of genre and i think any kind of horror / slasher movie would be deep underground indie films, acted, shot, and produced by students and aired in secret or in home movie theaters rather than at any auradon cinemas.

favourite song(s) . before i forget, slipknot, or an in-universe alternative. harry's a metalhead. with the crew it's sea shanties, hip hop, pop, alternative rock with a side of r&b and soul all day every day, but when it's just harry, it's metal. he finds the song as a person breaking the mold, rising above while taking pride in where they came from and staying true to who and what they are.

favourite musician . avenged sevenfold, fire from the gods, iron maiden, bloodbather, or the in-universe alternatives. like i said, he's a metalhead. i see harry being a bit of an isle purest, always preferring isle artists more than artists from anywhere else.

favourite animals . sharks, especially those around fisherman's wharf which were probably bull sharks. while bull sharks are typically solitary creatures, they would have been forced to adapt to isle life and likely began operating and hunting in packs. harry spent a lot of time with the sharks, both on and offshore, studying behaviours and hunting techniques, and like the rest of the crew he learned to swim with them.

favourite insect . longhorn larvae. a fat, white, timber eating grub. the full grown grubs that are preparing to pupate have no undigested wood pulp inside of them, so they taste the best. they taste like peanut butter or buttery chicken. he also thinks the longhorn beetles that they evolve into are neat, he's seen them brawl and they tend to hack off each other's limbs which he finds funny.

favourite terrain . the ocean. harry's explored the majority of the ocean terrain surrounding the isle, both above and below water level. discovering and exploring various caves, tunnels, gorges, and gully's. the removal of the barrier has allowed much of the surrounding isle terrain to thrive and recover, now there are even coral reefs and many new species of sea creatures.

tagged : nada tagging : @memuntos ( ophelia hatter ), @nosestealer , @hadesheiir , @vengefulwins , @jayjayjet

[hervey-gervey-chip]

star knot button fidget stick

[puppppppppy]

Xīn Yá and @crow-cap ‘s Little Sailor

[humaforever]

When Harry has a jacket with draw strings on it, he'll get bored and start tying extremely intricate knots with the draw strings.

[ltwilliammowett]

Sailor's knot board, early 20th century