#that you can prevent or eliminate by using aggression

[shego1142]

This video is in many ways the best documented real life example of exactly everything discussed in this post!

People talk all the time about “facts over feelings” on every side of the political spectrum, but yeah, in actual practice, feelings will win out every single time.

This video is actually very dear to me in many ways because I believe that if we all go into a situation with the approach of attempting to make friends, even with people we may perceive as enemies, we’d be happier as a collective.

Changing people's minds on major things is actually a very long and difficult process for both parties. I didn't actually believe that pedestrian-centric city design would be better for people that drive cars until I spent almost a year living without a car and watched hours of youtube videos explaining the issue to me. Turns out that traffic actually does go down and driving does become more pleasant if you make it harder to drive a car and easier to walk. I just straight-up refused to believe that for years. Because people just talked about it like it was obvious. But it wasn't. Because I had spent my whole life in a car-centric city going around in a car and also I was an English major in college who did not study urban planning. You can't expect me to change my entire mindset around transportation all at once. I did reach a eureka moment like two weeks ago but that was after like three years of getting exposed to these ideas periodically and living without a car for 11 months.

And yeah this post is about my big dumb animal brain accepting the science behind narrow roads and the evils of certain types of zoning laws, but it's also about stuff in general. If you don't know why someone isn't changing their mind on something, it's probably because the information they're getting hasn't reached a critical mass in their monkey brain yet. Whenever you hear stories about people changing their minds on things or leaving a certain ideology the story never goes "A person on the internet did a slam dunk on me and then I changed my mind."

It's usually a long process that happens over the course of months or years. Seeds planted here and there that coalesce eventually into a new thought or ideology over the course of years or snap together or send someone down a new path after a certain event. Same with me about pedestrian-centric cities. For me the tipping point was finding this video, which isn't necessarily super special or the best and the guy who runs the channel, in my opinion, isn't the most qualified or the most sympathetic towards every city in every situation, but it was the feather that tipped the scales in my brain to "Oh, wait. Maybe everything I thought I knew about how cities work is wrong actually." But that video alone didn't change my mind. With the amount of stuff and people that have gradually and gently been giving me information over the past couple years, something else was bound to eventually change my mind.

People on Tumblr yelling about abolishing the car, if anything, slowed down me changing my mind. Every time I saw a person saying that driving cars is stupid and that cars are bad I took a step back into my old way of thinking in defense. Because I grew up only ever using a car to get around. Rhetoric like that felt like a direct attack on my family, who I know to be loving people who care about other human beings and who drive cars literally everywhere.

And you might say, posts and videos like that aren't actually an attack on people that drive or have to drive. Okay then. Why are they phrased like that? Because that makes you feel good? Because you're angry? Alright, your anger at how it's currently impossible to get around if you don't own a car and how people who don't actually want to drive are being forced to drive is reasonable. And now I understand why it exists. I'm kind of angry too now that I get how this stuff works. However, is calling the people you're trying to convince stupid to their face and immediately bombarding them with your most radical ideas that might be completely detached from their reality and how they understand the world really the most productive way to channel your anger?

What about a guy with a knee problem that lives in rural Appalachia? Do you think he is gonna be convinced by your angry rants about bike lanes? No. He lives on a mountain that he can't climb or bike up because he's disabled and has only ever known getting around in a car. What about a person who overheats easily living in a suburb in the middle of the desert? Do you think she is inspired by your green lush pictures of trolleys running through parks in The Netherlands? No. If she leaves her house for too long without ice water she could literally die and you're going on about getting rid of, in her mind, the only thing that lets her go to the grocery store and not faint.

And again, this post is about my inability to comprehend walkable cities, but it's also about everything else you might ever want to convince someone of. The way you talk about things with your in-group that knows exactly what you're talking about should not be the same way you talk about that thing with people that you're genuinely trying to convince of something.

[zaczenemiji]

absolutely no rush if you're occupied with other asks :D!! I love your writing so so much your descriptions and dialogue are so good 😭💓 could I possibly request a scenario where the reader (working alongside kenji as ultraman/on the sidelines as a civilian, whatever you desire!!) unexpectedly throws herself in front of kenji and takes a hit for him (bonus points of they had unresolved tension before [argument, interrupted confession, one character was sick and rejecting help etc etc; no pressure at all and pls write whatever you'd like i'm just throwing out random suggestions!!]) + the hurt/comfort to follow after? thank you so much! ☺️ i wish you the best!

In the Heart of Danger

Kenji Sato x Reader

Synopsis: As tensions between Kenji and the KDF rise, you become entangled in the conflict, leading to a dangerous confrontation that puts your life at risk.

Word Count: 2,710

Genre/Warning: Action, Angst, Drama, Established Relationship, Hurt/Comfort, Injury, Sacrifice, Violence

Author’s Note: Slight mention of themes from Too Good, Too True

MASTERLIST

For many years, Ultraman and the Kaiju Defense Force worked in harmony. But as KDF evolved under different leadership, so did its philosophy. Their arsenal grew more lethal, their strategies more aggressive. Dr. Onda's vision was clear: the complete eradication of all kaiju was the only path to true safety.

Ultraman held a different perspective. Those magnificent creatures had their own place in the natural order. He believed in protecting life; only fending them off to prevent destruction, not to annihilate them.

KDF’s methods became increasingly ruthless. Where Ultraman sought balance, KDF saw only the necessity of total elimination. The final straw came when KDF started viewing Ultraman's reluctance to kill as a liability, a hindrance to their ultimate goal of eradication.

Thus, the Kaiju Defense Force turned their attention to identifying Ultraman's human form, intent on neutralizing this perceived threat.

"Kenji, you can't keep dismissing this," you said, frustration lacing your voice. "The KDF is closing in on you. They know something's up, and they're not going to stop until they confirm you're Ultraman."

The evening air was thick with tension as you and Kenji sat across from each other in his house. It started with a simple disagreement but it had escalated so quickly.

Kenji ran a hand through his hair, his expression one of exasperation. "I know the risks, (y/n),” he replied. “But I can handle it. I've been doing this for a while now."

"Handling it?" you echoed, incredulous. "You've barely been able to stay one step ahead of them. They've got advanced technology, Kenji. They're not just going to give up."

You remember the incidents with Gigantron, how KDF was willing to get rid of Ultraman, so as to obtain Emi. And for what reasons? To use a frikking baby to lead them to Kaiju Island—to massacre, for the mass murder of those misunderstood creatures.

Kenji sighed heavily, his eyes meeting yours with a mix of determination and fatigue. "I can't stop,” he said. “If I don't transform, people will die."

"I'm not asking you to stop," you said, your voice softening. "I'm asking you to be more careful—to consider the danger you're putting yourself in."

Kenji's jaw tightened and he looked away, the weight of your words settling heavily on his shoulders, “I know you're worried about me. But I can't just sit back and do nothing."

"Then let me help," you pleaded, reaching out to touch his arm. "We're a team, remember? You don't have to do this alone."

"I can't put you in danger, too,” he pulled away slightly, his expression hardening. “It's bad enough that I have to deal with this. I don't want you getting hurt because of me."

"Kenji," you said, your voice firm. "I'm already involved. Whether you like it or not, I'm in this with you. And I'm not just going to stand by and watch you risk your life without doing anything."

He shook his head, his frustration evident. "You don't understand,” he said. “If something happened to you... I wouldn't be able to live with myself."

"And what about me?" You shot back, your eyes filling with tears. "Do you think I could live with myself if something happened to you, and I did nothing to stop it?"

There came a long silence.

He never asked for any of this—you know that firsthand. You didn’t want this either. Only a fool would want to throw away the peaceful life they had in LA, away from the chaos, the danger, and the constant fear of losing their beloved.

But when Emi came and when Kenji reconnected with his dad, you both understood. Ultraman is a vital element, the pinnacle of balance, the one that would keep the world in its equilibrium.

He who holds the scale holds the lives of many. He who carries the burden also carries fear. And with it, the sacrifices to ensure the collective safety of humanity.

Your tears spilled over, and you wiped them away angrily. "You're an idiot, Kenji,” you said. “A noble, self-sacrificing idiot. But I'm not going to let you do this alone. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to help you. And you're just going to have to deal with that."

"No. You don't get it,” Kenji's expression hardened again. “This isn't about what you want. It's about keeping you safe."

"And what if I don't want to be safe?” You demanded, your voice breaking. “What if I want to be there for you?"

"That's not your choice to make!" Kenji shouted, his frustration boiling over. "I can't lose you, (y/n)!”

"And I can't lose you either!" you screamed back. "Why can't you see that?"

Kenji's eyes flashed with anger. "You should have just stayed in LA!" he snapped, his voice cutting through the night. "You're becoming too nosy, and it's dangerous. I can't have you getting involved in this.”

You stared at him, stunned. Kenji never hurt you in any way, especially not physically. But the weight of his words hit you like a punch to the gut.

Without another word, you turned and stormed off, your heart pounding in your chest. You didn't look back, even as the tears blurred your vision.

Kenji stood to follow. But with the way you ran away, he knew you didn’t need him at the moment. Still, he worried for your safety. Quickly, he rode his motorcycle and followed you quietly from a distance to ensure you reached home safely.

Everything that unfolded hurt Kenji as much as it did you, if not more. This was the time he finally truly understood his father—why he let them move to LA, why he had to endure the pain of being separated—all because he wanted them safe.

Kenji loves you more than anything, more than you ever knew. He loved you enough to have the resolve to let you go if you finally wanted to be out of all this. You deserved the best, better than a complicated life with him.

When he had seen to it that you’re home safely, he stayed in front of your house a little longer, wanting to be there in case you needed him.

You knew what he was doing. You knew that he was following you. And you were grateful, truly grateful, that he didn’t let you be out here alone. He understood the space you needed and he respected it. This was just one of the infinite reasons you love him so much.

When you arrived home, you sat by the door, leaning on it as you let your tears flow freely down your cheeks. Kenji is a hero, and heroes need saving, too. You wanted to be the one to do that.

Little did you know, you were already doing so. You didn’t know how much you were saving him by being there for him. You have been doing so since day one—since meeting you in LA, losing his mom, coming back to Japan, raising Emi, and fully accepting his role as Ultraman.

Your eyelids became so heavy from all the tears that you didn’t notice that you’d drifted off to a nap. You were awakened by the sound of Kenji’s motorcycle engine as he started it.

You stood to take a peek through your window, careful not to let him see you. He looked your way one last time before driving off into the night.

When he was out of sight, you decided to head on over to your bed but before you could do so, you heard the mechanical sounds of drones.

Your eyes widened as you quickly looked back to see KDF’s drones heading in the direction Kenji went to. With a gasp, you hurriedly slammed the door open and ran out, forgetting about the identical watch you had with Kenji that was repeatedly beeping with an alert of a kaiju attack.

You ran as fast as you could, following the drones as you were sure that they were after Kenji. Suddenly, you heard familiar screams in the distance as the neighborhood awoke to a mundane scene of a kaiju attack.

You looked to your hand only to see an empty wrist. You groaned to yourself, of all the times you could forget it, why now?

Despite being unaware of what was happening or which kaiju was it this time, still you followed the drones. Upon turning the corner, you saw Kenji parking his motorcycle aside so he could transform.

However, this time, KDF came prepared. A squadron of heavily armed soldiers arrived, their weapons calibrated to disrupt his transformation sequence.

As the soldiers closed in on Kenji, one of them set up a cannon, aiming it directly at him. Realizing the gravity of the situation, you sprinted toward the scene, your heart pounding in your chest.

The targeting system locked onto Kenji's energy signature, and the barrel began to glow with a blue hue, signaling the impending shot. Just as the operator pulled the trigger, you threw yourself in front of Kenji.

The concentrated beam of energy hit you with full force, sending a searing pain through your body. You screamed as it disrupted your bio-energy field, causing immediate paralysis and intense agony. You collapsed to the ground, feeling your strength drain away.

The soldiers, momentarily stunned by your intervention, hesitated as Kenji caught you in his arms. "No, (y/n)!" Kenji's voice was filled with anguish as he held you close.

The effects of the cannon had taken their toll on you, but your selfless act had given Kenji the precious seconds he needed. He transformed into Ultraman with a flash of light, creating a barrier to protect you from further harm.

With the kaiju approaching the city, Ultraman's form loomed large, and the soldiers were forced to retreat, their weapons ineffective against his fully transformed state.

Although hesitant he had to make a heart-wrenching decision to choose between being your lover and being Ultraman.

He carried you as gently as he could. In the palm of his hand, your fragile body lay unconscious. He quickly ran back home where Mina awaited him.

Upon arriving, he carefully placed you in the bed Mina took out of the house. “Mina! Emergency analysis, please!” He begged. “Call my dad, do everything to save her! I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

With that, he dashed off to the scene of the kaiju attack. His mind was a mess as he fended it off as quickly as he could, even if it meant hurting it unintentionally, and even if it caused more infrastructural damage.

Ultraman’s heart pounded as he rushed home, the streets blurring past him in a haze of worry and exhaustion. As he reached the familiar door, he transformed back to his human form.

Kenji burst into the house. The scene before him made his heart ache even more. You lay unconscious on the couch, pale and still, with Mina and his father sitting beside you, their faces etched with concern.

Hayao looked up as his son entered. "Kenji," he said, his voice a mix of relief and sorrow. "You're back."

Kenji dropped to his knees beside you, his hand gently brushing a strand of hair from your face. "What happened? How is she?" he asked, his voice breaking.

Mina spoke up. “KDF used a new weapon, something we haven't seen before,” she started. “It emits a high-frequency pulse that disrupts the transformation process. When (y/n) threw herself in front of you, she took the full brunt of the attack."

Hayao nodded solemnly. "It's designed to incapacitate Ultraman before he can fully transform,” he said. “But on a human... it's much more dangerous. It's a miracle she's still alive."

Kenji's hands trembled as he held yours, his eyes never leaving your face. "Is there anything we can do?” He asked, tears racing their way out of his eyes. “Anything at all?"

"We've done what we can for now," Mina said softly. "She needs rest and time to recover. We'll monitor her closely. But Kenji... it's serious. The weapon has caused significant internal damage."

Hayao placed a reassuring hand on Kenji’s shoulder. "You did what you had to do, son. You saved countless lives tonight,” he said. “But we need to be prepared for what comes next. The KDF won't stop now that they know you're Ultraman."

Kenji nodded, his resolve hardening. "I'll protect her. I'll protect all of us,” he said through small sobs. “But right now... I need her to wake up. I need to know she's okay.”

As the night wore on, Kenji stayed by your side, holding your hand and whispering words of encouragement. He thought about all the times you had supported him, how you had insisted on helping despite the danger. The argument from earlier seemed trivial now, overshadowed by the reality of your sacrifice.

"Please wake up," Kenji murmured, his voice thick with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I should've listened to you. I should've protected you better."

The room was filled with the soft hum of medical equipment and Kenji’s quiet sobs that refused to give up on the person he cared about the most.

As the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, Kenji felt a slight movement in your hand. His heart leaped, and he leaned closer, his eyes searching your face for any sign of awakening.

"(Y/n)?" he whispered, his voice trembling with hope. "Can you hear me?"

Your eyelids fluttered, and a faint groan escaped your lips. Slowly, you opened your eyes, blinking against the light. When you saw Kenji's worried face, a weak smile crossed your lips.

"Kenji..." you murmured, your voice barely audible. "You're okay..."

Kenji's eyes once again filled with tears as he nodded, his grip on your hand tightening, "Yeah, I'm okay. Thanks to you. You saved me, (y/n)."

You tried to sit up, but pain shot through your body, and you winced. “What... what happened?” You asked.

Mina quickly intervened, gently pushing you back down with mechanical hands that protruded out of her spherical body. "Don't try to move too much,” she said. “You were hit by a weapon KDF used. It was meant for Ultraman, but you took the hit instead."

Hayao added, "You were incredibly brave, (y/n). You saved Kenji's life."

You looked at Kenji, your eyes filled with concern. "I couldn't let them hurt you,” you said softly. “I had to do something."

Kenji leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead. "And I promise, I'll never let anything happen to you again,” he said, his tears falling down on your face.

The days that followed were a blur of pain, recovery, and quiet moments shared between you and Kenji. True to his word, he never left your side, his worry and guilt evident in every action he took to ensure your comfort and healing.

Each morning, you woke to the smell of freshly brewed tea and the sight of Kenji bustling around the kitchen, preparing breakfast. Despite his own exhaustion, he insisted on doing everything himself.

"Good morning," he greeted softly one morning, bringing a tray of food to your bedside. "How are you feeling today?"

You offered a weak smile, propping yourself up on the pillows. "A little better, I think,” you answered. “Thanks, Kenji."

He set the tray down carefully. "You need to eat,” he said. “You've got to get your strength back."

In the afternoons, when you felt strong enough, Kenji would help you sit up and move around. He'd guide you outside to the lawn, where the sun's warmth and the gentle breeze seemed to hasten your healing. He'd support you with a gentle but firm grip.

"I don't want you to overdo it," he'd say, worry etched on his brow. "Just take it slow."

As the days turned into weeks, your strength gradually returned. The pain lessened, and the color began to return to your cheeks.

The days of your recovery were not just about healing physically but also about rebuilding and strengthening the trust and love between you and Kenji.

You had faced danger and come out stronger, more united. With each passing day, you became more sure than ever that together, your love could overcome anything.

Taglist is open! Comment if u wanna be tagged on future Kenji oneshots

@eternallyvenus @puppyminnnie @wattpadsuckssohard @sakura-onesan @reggies-eyeliner @buggs-1 @miffysoo @spencerrxids @stupidbutsmart @marimargirlies @mixvchelle @lannnu @lailuv21 @christiinee @abracarabbit @youngbananamilkshake @flutterfly365 @o-schist @brazilsho @arrozyfrijoles23 @finestflora @mmeerraa @mianbaobaoo @skyeliteratures @themourningfox @despacito-uwu16 @crimson-mage-02 @vinegarjello @btszn

[msmpictures]

[☬ Ramshackle O.C ☬]

•{☬Basic Data☬}•

[ Name ]

Astrid Voldemort

Storm > Work's Pseudonym

[ Age | Birthday ]

23 - 27 | October 1st

[ Family ]

Robert Voldemort - Father

??? - Step Mother

[ Job ]

Hired murderer.

[ S.O ]

???

[ More detail of the wound ]

Second degree burn | Cuts = Enucleation (Eye removal).

•{☬ Likes - Dis. ☬}•

[ Likes ]

• To sleep [her only one 'escape']

• To draw [In her days of rest, she draws her father to remember him, even if she is not a very good artist] Although she doesn't show anyone her drawings.

• To smoke

• 💐 [She can describe them as the rainbow of her grey, so that relaxes her a bit]

• ☕ [She is addict at the coffe]

• To stare at the stars [ that makes her forget her shit of job for a while ]

• Children [Doesn't show it, but she really likes children.]

• Rural spaces [That relaxes her]

• 'Acid Candies' [I hope you understand what I mean] Although, she doesn't eat them often.

• Boxing [Is not really something that she likes, but she practices boxing often]

• Agriculture (frustrated dream)

[ Dislikes - Hates ]

• [H] HeR bOsS

• [D] To socialize [She can't actually do it, Astrid just talks with the people when it's about the business and when it's her next victim, so it's kinda awkward for her to get a conversation for more than 30 minutes]

• [H] Her own job [ She is forced to do it, she has no other choice. ]

• [D] Alcoholic drinks [ She says that tastes horrible ]

• [D] Her work partners

• [H] Did I say her Boss?

• [H] Her step mother [She is the reason why Astrid is here]

•{☬ Origins ☬}•

Warning: so long xd

( I don't wanna write a shit but this is how u could sorta understand x,d )

- Astrid Lived with her father in the Ramshackle Streets. Robert was a miner, so they were low class, despite that, they always had enough to survive without ever starving.

- She didn't care about her economic status, since she was working by selling lemonade (as a lil child) and saving her cash to buy a little house In the countryside. Besides, her father always loved her, there was nothing that someone could consider a problem between them.

- Although, Robert couldn't help but feel lonely, so he decided to look for a new lover. A woman who appeared in their life, when Astrid was about to 14.

- The woman was an alcoholic one, always spending the cash into whims and useless things, she was kinda aggressive alone and because of that never had a good relationship with Astrid, but Robert never knew about the circumstances, so he didn't do anything.

- Since the woman appeared, The small family began to have debts, so both Robert and Astrid had to work twice as hard, which did not prevent the debts from increasing drastically, in just two years. For this reason Robert decided to go with a 'friend' (who was a member of a criminal association), to request loans with the condition of paying later, but it never happened.

- This 'friend' He decided to collect everything Robert owed, and as a result of having empty pockets, he kidnapped Astrid (she was 16).

- At first they planned to use her as bait to get the money and then kill her, But after pleas from the minor, they decided to recruit her at a low level, as a kind of servant for anything basic, even burying corpses that they eliminated.

- All this in order to be the one to pay Robert's debts. But it would take a long period of time until now.

- As she grew older, the members began to promote Astrid's position, from making her infiltrate meetings to extract information to turning her into a hitman, having to sell this service to others, In order to recover the lost money.

- The rest, is History..

[⛈️] = Sometimes, she pretends to be mute, so she doesn't need to talk with anyone [That's until she finally she likes u]

•{☬Additional Data☬}•

[🌪️] = The grey hairs are sign of her stress x,d

[🌪️] = She could know everything about weapons and how to play them, but she doesn't know how to cook.

[⛈️] = I don't know what to add about her biological mother.. I'll say she divorced Robert and he won the custody of Astrid 👌.

[🌪️] = Astrid just knows Vinnie, and that because she tried to steal her and found a gun in her purse. (In that moment, Astrid was infiltrated, Vinnie too)

[⛈️] = They're not so close friends, but they help each other sometimes. Either to get information or to get beans.

[🌪️] = Once she finished paying the debts, she will go away from Ramshackle, and live her dreamed life in a house in a rural space.

[⛈️] = Astrid doesn't tell her affection with words. She does it with flowers. If she gives you a daisy, she considers you as her family. If she gives you a rose, she loves you <3.

[🌪️] = She is the kind of person who doesn't understand the jokes. She doesn't have a sense of humour. (She tries man, she tries 😞)

[⛈️] = In an attempt to kill A drunk scammer, this one stroke her with a vodka bottle in her face, and as she failed on the floor, he tried to let her blind, burning her face with a lighter.

[🌪️] = Robert doesn't know if Astrid is still alive, but he is still trying to report her missing, no matter what.

[⛈️] = I could tell she is depressed, and because of that she eats the acid candies. I thought, as Stone with Pebble, she could have an 'interior Demon', with a similar appearance to her 14-year-old self. Despite that, I can't find a name for her..

The whole pic

THREE DAYS DOING THIS SHIT I GIVE UP

[smaller-comfort]

So how do you imagine snail love darts and necrontyr working/combining? Cause I am interested~

Aksjdhsk ahahaha oh god okay here we go

(Tumblr crashed on me three times while I tried to write this, but I will not let that stop me from rambling at length about snail sex, speculative xenobiology, and various ways that necrontyr get to be fucked up little guys.)

Okay. Some assumptions/general thoughts: necrontyr do not have "dual-use" reproductive/waste elimination systems (inferred from Trazyn's hilarious disgust at the idea, but honestly it would be entirely believable for him to have completely lost any and all memories of necrontyr biology). A lot of higher order animals do (they're efficient!), but you start to see ones that don't when you get down to bugs and marine creatures, so that's what kicked off this train of thought.

I'm assuming also there is relatively little sexual dimorphism among necrontyr (not for any particular reason, although my understanding is that actual female necrons are a relatively new thing in wh40k lore, so that fits). And finally, everyone constantly dying of turbo cancer has led to a 'throw everything but the kitchen sink at it' evolutionary approach to reproductive strategies.

Okay, now snails: they use the darts during courtship to deliver hormones that increase the likelihood of fertilizing their partner's eggs; after the several-hours-long mating dance, they'll exchange spermatophores. (Fun fact, the penis, copulatory canal, and dart sac are all located inside the genital pore, on the snail's head. Mating dances can involve a lot of biting.) Snails have bad aim, but it's not uncommon for both snails to end up getting stabbed during courtship.

"Copulatory canal" is a deeply unsexy phrase, btw. So are most words we use when talking about sex, unfortunately. *sigh*

Anyway. While many necrontyr do only have one set of functional reproductive organs by the time they reach adulthood (either because the other set was always vestigial or because it gets removed to reduce the spread of cancer), both sets are usually present in some fashion. Sterility would be fairly common, but medical technology is able to mitigate some of that; the lower classes, at least, need to be able to breed like rabbits to feed the war machine. Gender is mostly divorced from reproductive role by the time biotransference happens; in addition to male and female, there would have been at least one other normative gender, possibly two (to account for both null and multimodal genders). Gender fluidity would have been common and largely unremarkable for necrontyr. (It's still largely unremarkable for necrons, but it's not particularly common; they're mostly fixed with whatever gender they had at biotransference.)

Okay, so, love darts. Pretty much only ever used by nobles/the military, because in the upper classes of society, sex isn't about reproduction, it's about reinforcing social hierarchies. And necrontyr social hierarchies tend to be inherently about violence in one way or another. Sexual dominance is generally more about who gets stabbed with the dart than it is about which penis is going where. (That's still a factor, but it's secondary, since genital configurations/functionality can be a bit of a wildcard.) Snails take an egalitarian approach to sex; necrontyr categorically do not. Both parties consenting to be darted would be considered weird and perverted.

Kind of going off ancient greek/roman sexual mores here; it would be entirely unthinkable, for example, for Obyron to be the penetrative partner in either sense with Zahndrekh. (Then again, Zahndrekh is a shameless pervert.) Sex between two social equals is generally accompanied by an agreement- sometimes tacit, sometimes explicit- about not using the darts. Doing so would be an overt act of aggression. Often, to prevent any potential misunderstandings, they'll voluntarily empty their dart sacs ahead of time.

Forcing someone to empty their dart sac prior to sex is a pretty common form of sexual humiliation. When done voluntarily, it's a sign of submission or respect. (Darts usually have a refractory period of a few days, depending on the person's overall health. Single-chambered dart sacs are typical, but multiples aren't unheard of. Leads to occasional 'surprise! You thought I was submitting to you but now you're getting fucked instead' situations.)

The dart sac would be located in their mouths, under the tongue; it's meant to be ejected into the soft tissue of the mouth, but it's sharp enough to pierce the skin anywhere. (This does mean kissing can be Complicated, or at least somewhat subversive, depending on everyone's social standing.) Normally it gets broken down and absorbed by the recipient's body; pulling one out tends to be extremely uncomfortable/painful.

The exact cocktail of hormones and neurochemicals it injects the other person with would vary somewhat between individuals, but can potentially vary widely between dynasties or social classes due to genetic/geographic/cultural differences. Some might include a mild paralytic agent; some sort of euphoric effect is also common. (This is all in addition to the original function, which, uh. Is to make the recipient more likely to get pregnant.) The shape of the dart varies in a similar fashion, ranging from a straight, smooth bone spike to something more elaborate with barbs or fluting.

(A bloody mouth can signify a lot of things to necrontyr- in addition to violence or illness, it's also inherently erotic. Necrons who remember this try very, very hard not to think about it when confronted with Flayed Ones.)

(Yenekh: *very sexily smearing his mouth with blood and draping himself all over Oltyx*

Oltyx: *oblivious, can't stop thinking about how pretty Yenekh is*

The rest of the flayed ones: *still not sure why their king and his consort haven't fucked nasty in a pile of carrion yet. Maybe they need a bigger pile of carrion? Yes, that's probably it. They will take care of this for their beloved king.*)

Crypteks have their own social hierarchies within their conclaves, but they're usually not as concerned with sexual politics as nobles and the military tend to be. Most people believe that crypteks all lace their love darts with poison, and the crypteks don't try to discourage that assumption. Some of them probably do, tbh.

Necrons, of course, don't have genitalia, but they can still stab each other with love dart analogues- this ranges from things like executive buffer override packages sent via interstitial channel, to actually physically jamming a spike of necrodermis into a neural input node. (From a purely aesthetic/romantic standpoint I also like the idea of love darts constructed out of crystallized core flux. The first time Zahndrekh does that to Obyron he goes into complete cascade failure and takes several hours to reboot.)

If Orikan and Trazyn did have sex pre-biotransference, one of them would have darted the other without permission (probably accidentally, being that they are both intensely nerdy losers and thus Bad At Sex by necrontyr standards), setting off a sixty-five million year hate-sex feud that neither of them can even remember the origin of. Orikan would've gone after Trazyn's mouth with a pair of pliers at some point; joke's on him, Trazyn's into that.

(Trazyn does have a collection of necrontyr love darts in the archives- all of them ones he collected personally when he was alive. He has no absolutely no memory of slutting it up back in the day, though, and probably doesn't even realize what they are. Sannet, unfortunately, does remember, and wishes he didn't. He has had to put up with so, so much over the years.)

[donnerpartyofone]

nothing to see here

I have to get over this crippling fear of being misunderstood that makes me angry, paranoid, anti-social, and sometimes even aggressive. It makes me say too much or too little. It makes me a worse writer.

I think that when most people complain about being misunderstood, they are talking about having a bad reputation, being slandered, or having no one who takes the time to get to know them. The latter thing correlates with a false equivalence between being understood and being liked, which is not a necessary product of understanding. Sometimes people also equate being understood with being correct--forgetting that someone can understand what you are saying and still disagree with it. Variations on all of those things have happened to me, just like anybody else, but my anxiety is really about people simply not comprehending the basic things that I am actually saying.

People in my life tell me that I'm very articulate, this is held to be my main quality I think, but that idea is contradicted by the frequency with which I go to great pains to explain something as specifically as possible, only to have people (often the same people who tell me I'm smart and well-spoken) completely misconstrue it, project their own baggage onto it, hold me responsible for assumptions about what I mean that are contradicted by what I just said, repeat back to me what I just said as if it were their own original idea, or even answer questions that I didn't actually ask. Mansplaining is alive and well in 2024 CE, perhaps especially among leftist men who believe they could never personally commit this crime, which presumption leaves them wide open to mansplaining all the time without thinking. But that's only a small part of the story of why so many people never seem to have the slightest idea of what I am saying to them, no matter how specific and detailed I try to be in my quest to say one thing clearly, while eliminating all over possible meanings.

I suppose it is terrifying to be misunderstood because it can make it so that you cannot control your circumstances. Advocating for yourself counts for nothing if people witlessly or willfully fail to understand your words. Language control is a major weapon of authority. I have been in corporate situations where my colleagues and I were prevented from resolving problems because upper management, who were tired of hearing about the problems, instituted language bans that prevented us from even discussing the problems clearly and effectively. I was once at an ayahuasca retreat (don't ask) where the shady organizers banned everyone from using the word "sick", which I guess was contrary to their whole healing ideology; so if you had to "get well" then you would "get well" into your bucket and an attendant would empty the bucket into the "wellness pit". One of the people I was with had grown up in an evangelical environment and went on to study religions and cults, and he pointed out that this form of language control is a classic red flag--and in particular if you are taking away a person's ability to make a critical distinction like the one between sickness and health, that can indicate a pretty dangerous situation. For another, even more obvious example, if you're in a relationship where someone is creating ambiguity around words like "yes" and "no", and inventing all kinds of subtext and context for your words, you're in trouble.

Of course, misunderstanding happens for all kinds of innocent reasons too. People don't listen that well, they don't read that well, they are just waiting for their turn to talk, they're angry and they don't think about what they're really hearing or saying, they are full of subconscious projections, they assume they know what you're talking about without reviewing your whole statement and then they just make their usual foregone conclusions. They have some narrative in mind, often a more optimistic one than whatever you are struggling to describe, and they'll contradict you with this attitude like they're doing you a big favor (like they're not kind of calling you a liar). It's incredibly frightening to be misunderstood. It's like one of those nightmares where you're running away in slow motion, or more aptly you try to scream but nothing comes out. I'm 100% sure this is why I'm so obsessed with language: I think that if I can just figure out how to say things that are always understood, then I will be able to save myself from danger.

But this fear makes me take things seriously when I shouldn't. The internet can help you find your people and it can show and teach you things you didn't know about before, but every time you say anything online, to friends or strangers, you create limitless opportunities to be misunderstood in ways that you have never dreamed possible. It is so hard for me not to correct people. I KNOW that it is not important for internet randos to understand me. I also KNOW that most people still won't understand me even if I correct them. But it is SO HARD not to say "That's not what I said" or "That's exactly what I already said" or "You're making an assumption that isn't based on anything and is also not true" or "I didn't ask" or "That's not even what I was talking about." I KNOW it doesn't matter, and that if I dig in with someone, I am likely to become MORE FRUSTRATED. But when I don't correct the person, this DANGER light goes on in my brain and all day long I have this anxious feeling like I forgot to do something important, like I left the oven on or something, and I had better go back and fix the problem OR ELSE. It's easy to decide intellectually that not everyone's opinions and perceptions matter, and it is obvious that misunderstanding is a common problem that you can never eliminate completely, so the only thing to do is ignore the situation and keep living your life. But if only ignoring the situation were not so emotionally loaded, it would be a lot easier to steer clear of making bad situations worse.

Another option is to just stop saying things altogether, and this is actually an appealing possibility. Unfortunately it comes with just as much emotional difficulty as the fruitless struggle to make oneself understood.

[smile-files]

some great bluish bakeoff stuff!

nickel later apologizes this episode; it's prompted by balloon's confrontation, but clearly nickel was in the mindset to apologize. the fact that he didn't raise the issue himself shows how he's still really afraid of how balloon would react. at the same time, though, he's acknowledging that "standing up for what [is] right" is important and good, even if it doesn't necessarily have the most beneficial outcome; notice how this not only shows how he accepts and understands balloon's anger towards him over the past few episodes (which had the consequence of losing them the challenge and getting bot eliminated), but also suitcase's anger towards him in the latter half of ii2 (which had the consequence of destroying their alliance).

in this episode, blueberry is assuming a role that has previously been taken by nickel and, more recently, silver spoon: he has placed himself at the top of the pecking order, calling all the shots, forcing everyone to roll with his punches. now everyone's in the same position balloon has been for a lot of his time in ii. silver, in throwing the chariot (:nerd emoji: actually a litter, they use the wrong word) at blueberry, is taking a stand against him -- announcing his frustration from being treated poorly.

for the longest time, balloon had "stay[ed] away from the thorns": beating around the bush, not bringing up the hard stuff, so he could maintain his positive relationship with nickel (and by extension his sense of having actually changed, which is linked with that that relationship represents) and not face his inevitable aggressive snap-back. but, though these proverbial thorns are painful, touching them helps him actually move ahead of all of that discomfort. balloon took a stand against nickel recently, which he was justified in doing, expressing his anger at nickel for both what he did and his denial of doing it -- and nickel harshly bit back about what balloon had done a while ago. balloon touched the thorn, and got the pain.

now, when nickel is yet again dancing around the problem, balloon's frustration returns. and, as silver took a stand against blueberry (which nickel supported), balloon channels his frustration and takes his own stand: technically also against blueberry, in trying to get himself and the others to the challenge before blueberry (thereby denying the domination he has imposed), but the drive itself came from nickel. he knows touching the thorns is painful, but that it's important and good. he should stand up for himself, and he does. he literally pokes himself with a thorn, and that literally sends him and the others ahead.

for the sake of this analogy/symbolic framework, it's worth noting how they are pushed forward because of the thorn, but there's still baggage: they fly through the desert only to crash, losing all of their ingredients. at this point, though, balloon's not going to let the pain of the thorn prevent him from touching it. balloon will keep standing up for himself, even if he keeps facing setbacks and pushbacks, because he knows what he deserves.

you can imagine that when balloon confronted nickel in this episode, he was expecting the same old same old: he'd say what he's mad about, and nickel would shut him down. but he doesn't. nickel listens to him. nickel lets balloon be angry at him, lets himself face the guilt he needs to feel. balloon is able to be mad at nickel without their relationship automatically going up in flames like before. and balloon is shocked! but will he forgive nickel? what'll he say? ...well, they're taken by tyler bombard before balloon could say anything...

for all this talk of the thorn, where's the blossom? well, here it is. thematic parallels indeed! recall how balloon misunderstanding "flour" as "flower" contributed to the grand slams losing the cooking challenge in ii2, which likely added fuel to the fire of nickel's hatred towards him -- now that same flower and that same misunderstanding is a representation of their friendship: it is what remains after the pain of the thorn. balloon finding value in this meager flower and presenting it to mephone at all (thereby insisting that it has value) is what wins them all the challenge. the flower and its beauty are not just a reward for the pain of the thorn, but a product of that pain.

balloon still hasn't responded to nickel's apology, because he hasn't had the chance to... but in disputing tyler's happiness about blueberry's death, balloon both recognizes his own attempt to change as well as nickel's: attempting that change is also a thorn, a very painful one (it literally killed blueberry), and both nickel and balloon have recognized the changes the other has tried to make and has succeeded in making. nickel is very reassured by this.

and as a final flower, a final reward for balloon's persistence in standing up for himself and what he believes in, balloon is chosen as the sole recipient of the immunity cookie -- silver spoon, someone with both a history of selfishness and a history of putting others below him, is the one to make this decision. balloon is finally being recognized, genuinely, for the changes he's made.

notably, balloon never accepts nickel's apology: no, he accepts that nickel is trying to make up for what he did. and, knowing from personal experience how hard it is to make that change and be acknowledged for making it, balloon is there to support him through it, and help him realize that he can be better -- and balloon is still on that "trek" himself, as we know balloon still has a lot of flaws to work through. they both know they have to touch the thorn, but they're all the more motivated to do so because they have a beautiful flower as well:

their genuine friendship.

...

balloon continues to be very charitable with blueberry, even as blueberry is critical of himself. nickel is also charitable -- telling blueberry to "just be nicer to people" implies that he believes that such a change is possible -- though of course he expresses this in his typical snarky way.

blueberry, though, doesn't believe that he can change, just like nickel used to. no matter how much balloon and nickel believe in him, he himself has to realize he has the capacity to improve before he can actually do it.

[ms-scarletwings]

A Speculative Analysis about Bliblies No One Asked For

Upon their nature and just where they slot into the chaotic worldbuilding of the Smiling Friends, that is. Written by an actual pest control technician.

Starting off, we know for sure is that they seem to be a highly gregarious, nuisance species of critter.

While it may seem like they could be eusocial organisms, like ants or wasps, I highly doubt they actually follow the structure of such, as it involves a rigid caste hierarchy with one breeding queen.

We’ve only seen regular bliblies that do not behave in a very organized manner, so we can rule out hives and queens. Instead, I think the available evidence suggests that they are a common pest similar to invasive rats (meaning the cheese and mousetrap analogy might actually be intentional), which can live in massive social colonies in the wild.

Like rats, the bliblies also seem to be capable of an impressive amount of intelligence. They are able to cooperate enough to summon help in order to subdue a shared threat (Alan), but also are more than capable of turning on their own. It’s possible they may even become cannibalistic during periods of scarcity/overpopulation, which is a guess going off of the RL behavior of rodents and some insects. The actual hierarchical structure of a biblie nest to what extent it might exist appears to be a matter of might makes right. While active biblie hordes will share territory and behave as an overwhelming collective wave when threatened, the colony members still act as individual units competing for immediate resources such as food and tools.

All in all they appear to be a fairly dangerous household pest if allowed to take up residence in an area, breeding incredibly fast and nesting in large sacs, possibly for warmth, as small creatures loose body heat quickly.

That said, it’s also possible that they nest together purely as a defense tactic. In the real word we see this in harvestmen, which clump together in huge balls of arachnids in order to ward off larger predators, and also scatter everywhere once disturbed.

Their biggest strength is in numbers and intelligence. They’re clever enough to run from a fight they clearly can’t win and alert the rest of their colony, but are individually quite fragile. They will even use this pathetic appearance to their advantage, feigning cowardice in order to lower their opponent’s guard. Likely, they resort to aggression as a last resort upon discovery, since they spend the earlier parts of an infestation foraging, growing numbers, and trying to avoid detection from their hosts. It’s more than a little concerning that some of them are capable of tool use to the point of arming themselves with improvised weapons AND replicating an execution by crucifixion. The fact that they have a rudimentary understanding of Christianity or at least ancient torture methods is also its own can of worms my biology education ain’t touching.

Now, if you forced me to guess how an infestation starts…. It’s tricky when we have no idea how they even reproduce. Either they don’t display any outward sexual dimorphism, they’re hermaphroditic like snails, or they breed asexually. Whatever the case, I’m willing to bet that they begin a budding invasion like roaches do. See, when one roach finds a great spot for scavenging food, they’ll mark the site with chemical signals that attract others of its kind to the area. Eventually, enough roaches gather in the same place and start spawning young collectively, hiding together in their own filth during the day, and emerging at night to hunt for scraps. And like roach infestations, one of the easiest ways to detect Bliblie harborage is the presence of feces (in their case, taking the form of “mysterious purple shit pellets”).

Likely, the best way to prevent a Bliblie infestation is keeping a clean space, sealing off entry points, and eliminating access to food- as with any similar issues. However, once a large enough nest has been established, the safest solution lies in a complete mechanical extermination of the colony. If they are smart and aggressive enough to nail you to a cross, they are going to be capable of plotting revenge in your sleep if you evict them and don’t finish the job completely. You’ll get a few of them with traps and poison, but the rest of them will only learn and adapt. Directly killing them all in one go, outright warfare, no survivors…. would be the most effective tactic. At bare minimum a decimation of the infesting population could help to break the morale of the survivors, which will be easier to push into vacating a structure once their nest site has been destroyed.

Which above else makes me so just glad we have such dedicated professionals like Desmond around to handle these creatures.

TL/DR: Bliblies are basically a smarter and scarier equivalent of Norway rats, or perhaps cockroaches.

[novankenn]

Freakshow (8)

/==- Chapters -==/

Jaune(Joan): You...

Cinder took a step back away from the growling young man, raising her hands in a show of non-aggression. However Jaune just continued to move forward towards her, his hands flexing as if he was preparing to grab her.

It was about 2 days since Cinder and her crew eliminated the entirety of the Water Street Crew, and now she was cashing in her part of the agreement.

Junior: Jaune...

Jaune(Joan): What?

Junior: Stop.

Jaune(Joan): Why? She grabbed Joan...

Junior: She's here to apologize to Joan. Right Cinder?

Cinder: Yes, I am. I wish to smooth things over between myself your sister and hopeful you as well.

Jaune ceased approaching Cinder and eyed Junior, and then Cinder. His look showing his disbelief in their statements.

Jaune(Joan): Really?

Cinder: Yes really, in FACT... I have a present for Joan. One that I think she'll very much enjoy. So can I speak with her?

Jaune(Joan): Is this... true?

Cinder: Yes it is. So may I speak with your... sister?

Jaune's gaze was still tinted with an aura of distrust, but after a nod from Junior, he relented. Closing his eyes, he let out a slow breath. In a glow of golden white light his body morphed. His shoulders narrowed, his hips rounded and he gained a modest bust. It took let than a second, and Cinder was now face to face with Joan.

The young woman was well aware of what Cinder and Junior had told her brother, but she still glared at Cinder. Her purple nail polished fingers flexing.

Cinder: Joan.

Joan(Jaune):...

Cinder: I wish to say I am sorry for what happened between us, and what I did to you a few days ago. It was... wrong for me to grab you, and I am sorry.

Joan(Jaune)n: Is that all bitch?

Cinder: No. As a show that I am sincere... I have gotten you a... present.

Joan(Jaune): Present? Like what?

Cinder smiled at Joan and then stepped back allowing one of Junior's men to open the door to the "interrogation" room. Inside Joan saw an older faunus man strapped down to the chair. A gag preventing him from saying anything intelligible. She instantly looked at Junior and then Cinder.

Cinder: This man, betrayed me, and the organization he was once part of... he needs to be punished.

Joan(Jaune): This doesn't sound like much of a...

Cinder: I want to you to punish him... in whatever way and for however long you like.

Joan's eyes lit up at that statement, and Cinder forced herself to not shudder when she saw Joan lick her lips, and rub her thighs together.

Joan(Jaune): What's the catch? What do you want to know from him?

Cinder: Nothing. I want nothing from him. I just want him to suffer.

Cinder stepped back further and motioned to the open door, indicating that she wanted Joan to enter the specially prepared room. Joan once again looked at Junior, and after he gave her a slight nod, she moved past Cinder and into the room.

Joan's fingers flexed, in excitement at the prospects of what she would be allowed to do. She flinched when she felt Cinder's warm breath on her ear.

Cinder: You can do whatever you want. For as long as you want. He's yours... to play with.

Joan(Jaune): Really? Anything?

Cinder: Yes, Joan. This is your present. Do your forgive me?

Joan: Yes...

Cinder stepped back a cruel smile on her face, and a sense of satisfaction that she had bridged a gap. A chasm that possibly could lead to her having access to Joan and Jaune at a later date.

Joan(Jaune): What's his name?

Cinder: It's Tuskan.

Joan hesitated, still unsure of the whole situation. She shivered, a sense of glee rising up her spine as she felt Cinder's breath on her ear again.

Cinder: This is not a trick, Joan. He's is yours to do whatever you want with him. I want him to suffer... and suffer for a... long... long time.

Joan gave an inadvertent moan, causing Cinder to grin over her shoulder at the wide eyed Tuskan.

Cinder: Go ahead... enjoy... your present.

Joan once again licked her lips, before moving forward her hips swaying showing her absolute glee in what was before her. Cinder waited for a moment and did her best not to wince as Joan traced a slim finger up Tuskan's arm causing him to screech in agony through his gag. His body twisting and contorting in an attempt to get free and away from the agony currently ripping through him.

Joan(Jaune): (Giggling in a childish way) We're going to have so much... fun.

Cinder said nothing further and left the room, with Junior's man. Tuskan start to shriek in pain as the door slowly closed.

Junior: Happy?

Cinder: Estatic.

[swagtastic-bougie-pompadour]

Are you ever curious what your favorite teachers get up to while all of you shooting stars are on your Treasure Hunt?

Check out today's ✨Faculty Research Spotlight✨, made for all of you science-curious students!

Or, you could just call it...

A scientific Clive Update!

Today's spotlight features Nurse Miriam, discussing her research on Pokerus (and its elimination within the region of Paldea)!

//Art from TCG, by Sanosuke Sakuma!

Clive: Go ahead and "school" us, Miriam!

Miriam: That's Professor Miriam to you, Clive! Ever since I passed my certification exam, hehe.

Clive: Yes, of course! You "popped off". And our students are pumped to have you! Now, if you'd be so kind as to give us the "low-down" on your research?

Miriam: Clive. I promise they'll listen if you're not using all of that... lingo... every five seconds.

Clive: Of course. Apologies.

Miriam: But yeah, I've been researching Pokerus lately! Here in Paldea, we actually ran a pretty aggressive campaign to eliminate it in both wild and domestic populations a few decades ago, and the result's been quite incredible! I've heard they're doing the same in Kitakami, actually...

Clive: So... no more Pokerus. What's that mean, and why'd we dump it like a bad ex?

Miriam: ...Forget it, I'm not saying anything else. Pokerus, historically speaking, has been known as a "harmless" little infection Pokémon receive that boosts their stats. It's incredibly rare, statistically speaking, but with so many Pokémon out there, it's bound to spread!

Miriam: And while we don't see effects of Pokerus on the time scale of a week, a few months, even a year out... instead, later in life, studies have found that Pokerus leads to really high vulnerability to other nasty infections. Think of it like... say, Clive, did you ever get the Torchic pox?

Clive: Of course--everyone did!

Miriam: Exactly. And now that you're a lot older...

Clive: But obviously not that much older.

Miriam: Right, obviously... but like I was saying, the fact you got Torchic pox means you can get shingles. Which is waaaaaay worse. It's like that! Except, it's not exactly the same virus reactivating in the way Torchic pox was...

Clive: So, then, you've been researching what infections these Pokémon wind up getting?

Miriam: Yes, exactly! The Pokémon we research are long past the point of infection, so it's totally safe to have them around others, but we want to see what they're more susceptible to, so we can encourage further prevention, as well as vaccination!

Clive: Fascinating! What would you say to any student interested in doing the research you are?

Miriam: Honestly, volunteering at a Pokémon center or a shelter is a great start! And of course, you're going to need a degree. I recommend Naranja-Uva! Absolutely not because I work here or anything.

Clive: Thank you for the shout-out, Miriam! And "big ups" for being our first research guest!

[mariacallous]

Poland added its voice on Thursday to calls to allow Ukraine to fire Western-supplied missiles deep into Russia as it hosted U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken for talks in Warsaw.

Kyiv has been pressing the Biden administration and other Western governments to authorize long-range strikes that it says will help to counter Russia’s relentless aerial attacks on Ukraine.

Addressing a joint news conference with Blinken, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said: “I’m of the opinion that Ukraine has the right to use Western weapons to prevent [Russian] war crimes,” adding: “The victim of aggression has the right to defend itself.”

“We should continue to deliver advanced air defense systems (to Ukraine) and lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons,” he continued.

The top U.S. diplomat, meanwhile, said: “I can tell you that as we go forward, we will do exactly what we’ve already done, which is we will adjust, we will adapt as necessary, including with regards to the means that are at Ukraine’s disposal to effectively defend against Russian aggression.”

Blinken, winding up a visit to Europe, said he had held extensive discussions with Ukrainian officials in Kyiv on Wednesday about how they see the war developing and what their needs are, but declined to say whether Washington was ready to approve such strikes.

“What we learned from our Ukrainian partners will inform discussions that we’ll be having with other allies and other partners in the days and weeks ahead, as we work through and think through the coming months,” Blinken said.

Russia has warned that any decision to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with long-range Western missiles would deepen what it called the direct involvement of the U.S. and Europe in the war and would trigger a response from Moscow.

Putin ‘has failed’ to achieve goals in Ukraine

Blinken also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had failed to achieve his objectives in Ukraine.

He told reporters that Putin’s goal was to “erase Ukraine from the map, to eliminate its existence as an independent, sovereign country, to subsume it into Russia for purposes of recreating a Russian empire.”

“That has failed and cannot succeed.”However, Blinken stressed that it is crucial to continue supporting Ukraine so it can fend off aggression.

Blinken, who earlier this week also visited Britain, met Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda as well as Sikorski on Thursday.

Blinken praises Polish support for Ukraine

Blinken highlighted Warsaw’s staunch support for Kyiv since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.He said that more than 80% of all security and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine is flowing through Poland. “And of course, Poland continues to host some 1 million Ukrainian refugees.“This is a remarkable display of generosity and solidarity in a time when it’s most needed,” he added.

[spicedwatermel0n]

I would like to know more details about your "amorous" relationships From the negative V sector (although they are not really loving)

CW// abuse, toxic relationships

Well there's a few "relationships"

-2 & -5, -3 & -4, -2 & -4, and -1 & Eizzil. They all suck to varying degrees.

"Love" is a far different concept in their universe.

The concept of sexual feelings do not exist at ALL and when they do happen in an individual and are expressed, they're deemed mentally ill (although that isn't really key information, it helps you grasp the kind of work they're in). "The need to reproduce is not a feeling, it is a goal".

Romance isn't eliminated, but typical elements of a relationship will not feature the romance we think of. In their universe, lovey-dovey dates and taking care of each other is not the norm. It's responded to with disgust. The way love is shown is through violence, typically. "Romantic masochism" and sadism is present in those with "solid" relationships, and is what the goal is for most. As is in our world, unprompted advances would be considered harassment. The same is still applied to unprompted harm. So yes, they still torture people the way you would in our world.

It's kind of a unique concept. There's still abuse. Same qualifications as in our world. And this is shown with -2 and -5, where Eigaoh tends to abuse Ybba. The difference is the consent of it all. -2 and -4 are """healthy""" (at least in their world...) and the harm they inflict on each other is purely out of... Love? Or something. Instead of going out to eat together, they spend time finding different and creative ways to inflict pain on the other. When the other experiences said pain, they'll feel warm, fuzzy and happy. Like you would if your partner gave you flowers.

Now that I've explained that - I can probably explain the relationships a bit better. Going in order from mentions.

-2 and -5: most abusive. Ybba does everything for Eigaoh, but it doesn't ever prevent his extreme and constant anger from coming out on her. She doesn't like it, but she never voices it. Eigaoh will also do it in a loving way, but Ybba secretly doesn't reciprocate. She doesn't feel happy and fuzzy when he hurts her out of love because she's seen him hurt her out of hate.

-3 and -4: both feel nothing towards each other. The only goal they have being in each other's business is to reproduce. Use each other for their "good genetics". Have some fucked up children, who they can project the same horrible ideology onto. They don't even try to engage in consensual hurting. It's like the couple who never hold hands or spend time together yet claim they're in love because they still want to use the benefits of "being with" the other.

-2 and -4: the one that, in their universe, is considered healthiest (but we all know it isn't). When Eigaoh was 14, he began to fall for Yllaw. He would squeeze Yllaw's wrist to cut off circulation, which made him realize the crush. Eigaoh was really embarrassed about it, but when they were 16 Yllaw started reciprocating the advances. After years of denying, at around 18 Yllaw finally had enough of the "playing around" and properly advanced Eigaoh... By kidnapping him. Kind of. Like, a consensual kidnapping. It's ridiculous - I know. Yllaw drugged the boy, tied him up with the most uncomfortable restraints he could think of by the wrists, arms, ankles, knees, neck and mouth. He held him "captive" for a couple days, in which Eigaoh could do nothing but think about how much overwhelming joy he was experiencing. Yllaw was usually in view from where he was put, so he stared at him whenever he got the chance. At that point Eigaoh told himself that what he felt wouldn't be wrong, as long as it was only between the two of them. When he was finally untied the first thing he did was kiss Yllaw. Aggressively. By biting his lip and gums. And from there, the two would constantly go on dates of masochism or sadism. Either they spend time hurting each other privately so "no one knows", or they go out and torture people who fucked with the DNK together.

-1 and Eizzil: strained relationship. Eizzil wants to engage in romance in the way people in the normal world do. Legin doesn't. He's too afraid of what people would think if he did things like hold hands and cuddle with his "lover". They don't engage in hurting each other. At least not consensually. They occasionally have pathetic hand flap fights.

[the-whumpening]

Worldbuilding Wednesday #4

(Courtesy of the DM of the Tigerverse campaign, with slight edits by me)

CREATURE OF THE REALM SPOTLIGHT

CLIMBING WOLVES: Though impractical, these are a special type of canine with an incredible ability to climb. Using a special thumb-like dew claw and flexible food pads, they can grip trees to ambush prey.

HOW TO DEAL WITH PESTS: As of yet, there is no way to prevent these woody wolfies. However, you can prevent attacks by practicing S.A.F.E.

Search: A careful glance about is not sufficient to stop these starving savages. Searching low will achieve nothing accept assigning aggressive assassination attempts from aggressive attackers.

Agitate: Short of disturbing the tree of the pests, there is no known way to remove them from the property. A fire could be hazardous and harmful to humans humbly hoarded in homes. The best way to remove the reclusive rascals is removing ridiculous ridges of rumpled shrubbery to prevent hunting in your homestead.

unFriendly: Though the cubs may seem sweet, they will grow into vicious ambush killers and will learn the perfect places for ambush. Their mewls will also draw more of the paternal predators promptly putting peasants in perpetual peril.

Eliminate: Exterminate the entire pack, lest they return to familiar hunting grounds.

As long as you stay S.A.F.E., these creatures are no more dangerous than a surprise drizzle . . . of, well, wolves.

Threat Level: 🗡🗡🗡

[Image ID: three sword emojis /End ID]

[puppyexpressions]

How to Get Rid of Dog Fleas

Fleas are a nuisance. These tiny, blood-sucking parasites irritate your dog and infest your home—often before you realize that fleas have moved in. Many dogs are allergic to flea bites, which can cause intense scratching, red and flaky skin, scabs, hot spots, and hair loss. Fleas can also cause tapeworms and anemia.

Fleas prefer animal hosts but will resort to biting people when animals are unavailable. They can transmit germs that cause disease by feeding on hosts or through fecal contamination (when infected flea feces are scratched into an open wound).

If you and your dog are scratching your heads, and you’re wondering how to kill dog fleas, we’ve got you covered. Here are the four steps you need to take to eliminate these unwelcome freeloaders.

1. Understand the Flea’s Life Cycle

The first step is understanding the enemy. Fleas go through four life cycle stages:

Egg

Larva

Pupa

Adult

The adults live on animals like your dog, where they digest blood and lay their eggs. One female flea can lay up to 2,000 eggs. These eggs hatch in 1-10 days and spread throughout your home and yard every time your dog scratches, shakes, or lies down.

They then hatch into larvae that can move on the host and feed on blood and flea dirt (digested blood from the adult fleas). During the pupa stage, they form cocoons, where they wait for several days or up to one year—preferably for the fleas in the comfort of your carpet, sofa, or bed—until a warm-bodied host appears. Then they hatch, become adults, and infest their animal hosts, such as your dog.

It’s important to know about these stages because different flea treatments for dogs address different parts of the flea’s life cycle, so make sure you read the label of any flea elimination products and follow the directions before use.

2. Prevention and Treatment

The best way to deal with fleas is prevention. Flea and tick preventatives kill fleas that come in contact with your dog, preventing your pup from bringing them home in the first place. There are several options out there, from flea collars to topical liquid applicants and pills. Talk to your vet about the flea preventative that is safest and right for your puppy or dog.

If your dog already has fleas, these preventatives will still kill them, but you may need to take more aggressive action, like a prescription preventative. You can also use a flea shampoo or a fast-acting chemical treatment, such as a flea pill that kills the fleas on your dog within hours. Again, it’s important to ask your dog’s veterinarian for recommendations.

3. Get Fleas Out of Your Home

Killing the fleas on your dog is just one part of the problem. You also need to determine how to get rid of fleas in your home. This requires patience. It can take as long as three to four months to get rid of an infestation, as it takes this long for all of the fleas in your home to go through their life stages.

Here are the steps you need to take to eradicate fleas in your home:

Wash all dog beds and soft dog toys in hot, soapy water. Repeat this frequently until the infestation has ended.

Wash your own bedding, throw rugs, bath mats, and any blanket or cushion where your dog likes to sleep in hot water.

Vacuum all carpets, hardwood floors, linoleum and tiled floors, curtains, and upholstered furniture, and throw away the vacuum bag immediately in an outside garbage bin. You will need to vacuum on a regular basis to be sure all of the stages are addressed.

Choose and apply an environmental flea control spray or fogger that will treat all stages of fleas, or call a local exterminator.

Choose and apply a spray, pellet, or nontoxic flea treatment for your yard. Keeping grass and brush short will also make your yard less inviting to fleas and ticks. Patch fences to discourage raccoons, rabbits, and other wildlife that carry fleas from coming into your yard.

If your dog has ridden in your car lately, you should vacuum the seats.

Continue to treat your dog and any other pets with a monthly preventative.

During flea season, don’t let your dog interact with strange dogs. Be sure any puppy playmates are free of fleas.

4. Talk to Your Veterinarian

When in doubt, call in the experts. Ask your veterinarian about how to get rid of fleas on dogs, as vets are up-to-date on the latest flea treatments and preventatives and can help you find the best and safest treatment option for you and your dog.

[moonandris]

Should I go the science fantasy route or the modern fantasy route? Heeeellllpppp meeeeee! Ughhh >:(

I’m going to drop the most basic ideas/tropes/plot points in my WIP below. Could you  P L E A S E  give me some advice and tell me if you think it fits more of  modern fantasy world or a scifi fantasy world? Both ideas are set in a modern, secondary world like ours but obviously different.

Science & Magic Are Intermixed (Certain Humans Have Powers)

I’ll either have espers who have psychokinetic abilities or mages with magic (whatever ‘magic’ looks like/is called by in my world). I just can’t make up my damn mind on what would work better. Technically they both accomplish the ‘humans with powers’ role I want for this story. It’s incredibly rare for a human to be born with these powers/magic, so majority of the population is non-magic.

Post-apocalyptic Event that Changes the World (Demon Apocalypse)

We’re talking thousands and thousands of years after said apocalypse, so humanity/society has had plenty of time to rebuild. This catastrophic event drastically changed how society had to proceed going forward in order to prevent it from happening again. Certain organizations systemically euthanized people who were more at risk for demon possession and created safety measures and magical safeguards (but most of this is not not public knowledge). While mages/espers took control after said event and there’s class issues with magic vs. non-magic folk, it’s not necessarily a dystopian setting. Society is up and is thriving.

Voluntary Games to Increase Status, Wealth, and Quality of Life (Maybe)

Colosseum-style games run by a magical empire that offer life-changing rewards for those who participate. No one is forced, but people are heavily encouraged to enter. Games vary and could be anything from a race to a battle royal to hide and seek to a talent show. All games are pubic and televised and aggressively advertised to those on the lower end of the social hierarchy spectrum (non-magic folk).

If I Go the Modern Fantasy Route (My Original Idea)

I’ll be able to include other immortal species besides in my story, like werewolves, vampires, shapeshifters, etc. There’s not a lot of them because when mages took control after the apocalypse, many were hunted down and eliminated as the posed a risk to the survival of humanity. Common folk believe that there’s no supernatural creatures left other than the mages (this is partially true, as their numbers have dwindled drastically). I also like this idea because HELLOOOO I can you even imagine magical schools? Criminal organizations with magic? Humans using magic technology to get ahead in life because they have no magic of their own??? So many possibilities!

If I Go the Science Fantasy Route (More Recent Idea)

The only species in the story are common humans, elite humans, espers, super soldiers, and demons. There’s no such thing as immortality, though through thousands of years of medical experimentation the lifespan of all types of humans has increased exponentially. I also thought of possibly creating a dystopia disguised as a utopia type setting. ‘Magic’ is not considered magic as it is considered a type of science.

What are your thoughts??

[crystalsbyrob]

Top 25 Stones For Happiness

Top 25 Stones For Happiness

Top 25 Stones For Happiness, Welcome in for a good read on some of the top stones for happiness. 1) Shungite The Shungite is a black and powerful stone that is said to be helpful in promoting balance and harmony. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. Users of shungite say the stone has the ability to shield you from EMF emissions. Many people refer to an old 2003 study, where shungite reportedly protected rats against electromagnetic irradiation. Yet, the study is outdated and only involves animals. This phenomenon has some support theoretically, but more research is needed to see if there’s any benefit for humans. It works to cleanse and align all the particles in the body so that they are open and in alignment with the light. It carries strong purifying, cleansing and detoxifying properties. It can be used to clear your body of any dysfunctional patterns, which in turn can manifest as negativity, emotional difficulties or even certain diseases. Place a couple Shungite stones on an affected area and you will see an accelerated resolution of the problem. If you are looking for a more full body healing, instead of concentrating on a particular area, simply hold or meditate with the stones. Shungite crystals are also very beneficial for relieving stress and anxiety, soothing insomnia and boosting your overall energy level. 2) Bloodstone The Bloodstone is a dark green stone that is said to be helpful in promoting courage and strength. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. It heightens intuition and increases creativity. It is grounding and protecting. Bloodstone draws off negative environmental energy, helping to overcome influences such as geopathic or electromagnetic stress. It stimulates dreaming and is a powerful revitalizer. Gives courage and teaches you how to avoid dangerous situations. Bloodstone encourages selflessness and idealism. Assists in acting in the present moment. Bloodstone calms and revitalizes the mind, dispels confusion and enhances decision-making. Assists in adjusting to unaccustomed circumstances. Reduces irritability, aggressiveness and impatience. Ideal for anemia, Bloodstone purifies and fortifies the blood. It detoxifies the liver, intestines, kidneys, spleen and bladder. Bloodstone regulates and supports blood flow and aids in the circulation. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Emotionally, this stone helps ground the user in their physical body, and enhances feelings of strength and courage. It’s an excellent tool during stressful times, since it helps the user navigate chaos with dignity and determination. These properties make it pretty much ideal for anyone suffering from bullying, a toxic work environment, abuse, or major upheavals. 3) Black Tourmaline The Black tourmaline is a black stone that is said to be helpful in promoting protection and grounding. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. Wherever you happen to be on your spiritual journey, Black Tourmaline crystal stone is an excellent crystal for everyone because it’s the bodyguard stone that provides protection and elimination of negative energy. Wear it as jewelry, keep it in your car, place it all over the house, near computers. Seriously, just put it everywhere because this all-around energy cleanser is a must-have for every gemstone collection. Black Tourmaline is a pyroelectric stone, meaning that it produces electricity when it becomes heated. It’s also piezoelectric, which means that it’s also capable of storing electrical charge. The Black Tourmaline crystal properties work like a sponge, soaking up all the negative energy that surrounds it. Through absorbing negativity, the stone can prevent unwanted energy from entering your home, mind, body, or spirit which gives this stone its protective quality. Because of its powerful ability to clear negativity, Black Tourmaline crystal is also a key component in everyday cleansing rituals and can help to release any unwanted energy already stored in your energy field. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Black Tourmaline healing properties are also highly grounding and stabilizing because of the stone’s association to the lower chakras. By grounding your energy and providing a deeper sense of energetic security, this crystal helps you to feel safe as you move throughout the world. 4) Carnelian The Carnelian is a deep orange stone that is said to be helpful in promoting creativity and individuality. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. It is said to assist in stimulating creativity. It seems to have a clearing effect, dispelling negative energies as it replaces them with positive ones. This can make it easier to find direction, and its grounding effects can make it easier for you to feel in control of your life. This makes carnelian a good stone for people who feel like they are going nowhere. Carnelian applied physically, can promote balanced digestion. For lower abdominal pain, especially in woman and in pregnancy, this stone placed on the pubic bone each day for twenty minutes will reduce the pain. Top 25 Stones For Happiness It is said that this stone will help cleanse and purify the blood, thus giving more physical energy. It balances creative and organization abilities, opens doors and creates a need to follow through on plans. Wear this stone to prevent other people from reading your thoughts or from dark forces attempting to influence your mind. There are quite many ancient beliefs associated with Carnelian, which centered around protection during travels after death and against evil. Carnelian crystal properties go far beyond artistic expression. In fact, this stone empowers your self-confidence in all aspects of your life – from relationships and professional pursuits to personal projects. When you are searching for a stone to help you tap into your passion and inner creativity, look no further than the Carnelian crystal healing properties. 5) Onyx The Onyx is a black stone that is said to be helpful in promoting focus and determination. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. Black has been associated with regeneration and new beginnings. Black onyx is thought by some to have protective qualities, making it advantageous to carry when traveling. It is said to be useful in fighting basic fears and helping to move beyond bad relationships--as well as to heal old emotional wounds. The Romans associated onyx with courage and it is thought to be useful when one is defending him/herself against unfair criticism. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Onyx gives strength. It promotes vigour, steadfastness and stamina. Imparts self-confidence, helping you to be at ease in your surroundings. Onyx banishes grief, enhances self-control and stimulates the power of wise decision-making. It encourages happiness and good fortune. 6) Jasper The Jasper is a deep red stone that is said to be helpful in promoting courage and strength. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. Jasper stimulates the solar plexus, heart and throat chakras with its beneficial vibrations, conveying the urge to feel, speak and act more positively, it supports the expression of love in one’s words and deeds, and it helps one to realize what and whom one truly loves. Ocean jasper helps to bring unresolved emotional issues to the surface so one can accept responsibility for oneself. It also assists one in acquiring and learning patience. Everyone goes through a crisis of faith at some point. We start to question everything, sometimes even the very concept of right and wrong! Hardships push us to see the darker side of things and dwell on the pains rather than embracing the successes.  Jasper provides wisdom and enlightenment. It inspires you to “go with the flow!” Like the ebbs and flows of ocean waves, life is full of ups and downs. The meaning of this stone reminds you that you have to ride things out and embrace everything that comes with the journey. Otherwise, you’ll sink to the bottom and drown! 7) Moonstone The Moonstone is a beautiful stone that is said to be helpful in promoting clarity and vision. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Moonstone helps all be more comfortable with our gentler feminine/yin receiving side. Especially for water signs. Helps one be more conscious of the fact that all things are part of a cycle of constant change. It is a recommended gemstone for farmers and gardeners, artists, dancers and young men. Placed under the pillow it will allow for a more peaceful sleep, and is often used as a cure for insomnia, and used along with the amethyst. It Honors the Goddess in all women. It aids in gardening, psychic awareness and meditation. It soothes stress, anxiety, women’s hormones it enhances intuitive sensitivity via feelings and less overwhelmed by personal feelings. Greater flexibility and flow with life. 8) Malacite The Malachite is a green stone that is said to be helpful in promoting change and transformation. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and joy. As a stone of transformation, Malachite encourages change and emotional risk-taking. It shows what is blocking your spiritual growth, draws out deep feelings and psychosomatic causes, then allows you to break unwanted ties and outworn patterns. It encourages the expression of feelings, alleviating shyness, and teaching the responsibility for one’s own thoughts and actions. It supports friendships and empathy for other people. Malachite helps you connect with life’s sweetness. It is a good stone if you have diabetes or are healing from pancreatic issues or digestive challenges. This copper carbonate mineral aids those suffering from the symptoms of arthritis as well. Malachite can assist in restoring strength and vitality after illness and in rebuilding or repairing tissue after surgery. It supports the formation of red blood cells and hemoglobin—assisting with oxygenation of the body and overall vitality. Malachite is excellent for reducing inflammation due to sprains, strains or other injuries. It can help draw toxins from the body and can be used to support fasting, detoxification and other cleansing rituals. It is a wonderful aid to digestion and it stimulates stomach and colon function. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Malachite clears and activates the chakras and attunes to spiritual guidance. Releases negative experiences and old traumas. Stimulates dreams. Malachite releases inhibitions and develops empathy with others. Malachite is a stone of good fortune and prosperity. Malachite is also a very protective stone. Malachite stimulates inner imagery. Dreams, imagination and memories become alive and real. Suppressed feelings are suddenly brought out into the open. Malachite takes away inhibitions and encourages the expression of feelings. Moods are experienced more intensely and then rapidly dropped again as fast as they arose. Old pain an traumas may surface and be dissolved if we are in a position to face them. Malachite is a stone that helps you get to the heart of a matter. This stone reminds you that patterns that repeat in relationships again and again contain a lesson to be learned. This stone helps you grow emotionally, mentally and spiritually as you recognize emerging patterns. 9) Garnet The Garnet is a deep red stone that is said to be helpful in promoting passion, love, and compassion. It is also known for its ability to increase positive energy and vibes, as well as promote feelings of happiness and inner joy. Garnet is great for welcoming crystal help into your everyday life. A stone that symbolizes physical love and the relationship between loving partners, the Garnet crystal meaning was used as a popular ornamental adornment among royalty and aristocrats. And all the animals of Noah’s Ark can thank a large Garnet stone for providing the only light on their biblical journey and guiding them safely to land. Featured in a range of red colors, which symbolize a deeply vibrant and powerful vibration, each stone possesses a special beauty with shades ranging from ruby red and dark brown to pink and orange. Garnet is said to have been one of the twelve stones in the Breastplate of the High Priest, and has been used as a sacred stone by the Native American Indians, the South American Indians, the Aztecs, the African tribal elders, and the Mayans. It acts with speed to expand one’s awareness due to the flash of lightening contained within, and enhances one’s internal fire to bring creative powers to implementation. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Garnet regenerates the body and stimulates the metabolism. It treats disorders of the spine and spinal fluid, bone, cellular structure and composition. Purifies the heart, lungs, blood and regenerates DNA. Garnet boosts the immune system and energy levels. A stone of commitment, Red Garnet represents love. It revitalizes feelings and enhances sexuality, bringing warmth, devotion, understanding, trust, sincerity and honesty to a relationship. Red Garnet controls anger, especially toward the self. 10) Hematite The Hematite is a grayish-black  and protective stone that is said to be helpful in promoting grounding and stability. It is also known for its ability to increase feelings of happiness and well-being, as well as dispel negative energy and vibes. These healing crystals open the entire body to a healthy state of conscience. The Hematite crystal healing properties stem from the stone’s high iron content, which gives it a heaviness and a weightiness that gives you the feeling of being anchored to the earth. With the simple act of bringing you back down to earth, Hematite calms a troubled mind and puts your spirit at ease so you can release any feelings of stress, tension, worry, or nervousness. The stabilizing effect of the hematite makes it a trusted companion to keep by your side everywhere you go. Hematite is beneficial to those who are nervous or restless for no apparent cause. It aids in the removal of deep-seated anxieties and the maintenance of a person’s calm and cool. Hematite bestows tenacity, resolve, and the bravery to stand up for one’s rights and views to those who wear it. It also assists in the removal of bad ideas and promotes focus and logical thinking. It is also thought to improve relationships by bringing calmness, dissolves negativity and keeps you from absorbing other people’s negativity. Hematite is a powerful stone that may help with shyness, self-esteem, and survival, as well as increasing willpower and dependability and instilling confidence. It aids in the treatment of overeating, smoking, and other kinds of overindulgence, as well as compulsions and addictions. Top 25 Stones For Happiness Hematite helps to absorb negative energy and calms in times of stress or worry. Hematite is a very protective stone and is great to carry to help you stay grounded in many situations. Hematite is also good for working with the Root Chakra, helping to transform negative energies into a more positive vibration. Those in relationships can benefit from the cooperation vibe coming from Hematite. Hematite can help one to find their own, unique gifts and to release self-imposed limitations, while still maintaining a healthy amount of self-control. Hematite aids in the Ascension process, by facilitating the integration of higher spiritual energies into our physical 3-D existence. This allows those who are doing spiritual work to still be able to function in the physical world and relate to others. 11) Clear Quartz The Clear quartz is a clear stone that is said to be helpful in promoting concentration, clarity, and focus. It is also known for its ability to dispel negative energy and promote positive vibes. Clear quartz crystals are gorgeous and great for welcoming all that happiness. Quartz can be used to imprint with any energy or information and helps to focus the mind, aides in concentration and enhances mental ability. This crystal has been used to counter black magic, to perform diagnostic healing, and to communicate with spirits and other worlds. Quartz has the ability to receive, store and send energy, which makes it a powerful manifestation tool. Hold/gaze into the crystal, and put your thought/need (what you wish to manifest) into it. The Quartz Cluster receives the thought (and the feeling behind the thought), then stores and transmits those thoughts and feelings into the ethers. Thus, even while you’re not thinking about that particular manifestation, the Quartz Cluster is still working on your behalf, putting out your thought forms. Crystal Quartz is probably the most versatile, multipurpose, powerful healing stone on the planet due to is unique helical spiral crystalline form. It is a master healer and can be used for any and all conditions. It’s stimulates the immune system and brings the body into balance. It takes the energy to the most perfect state that is possible; going back to before the disease set in. It cleanses and enhances the organs and subtle bodies and acts as a deep soul cleanser, connecting the physical dimension with the mind. One of the most dominant crystals on the planet earth. Clear quartz crystals are ubiquitous and can develop in different common conditions and environments and as such, they can be seen in all the world continents. Hence, they have become integrated into the culture of early civilizations. The name Quartz actually comes from the word “Ice” which formed the basis for some ideologies and meanings. Top 25 Stones For Happiness It is also quite beneficial for clarifying the emotional processes, which in turn will enlighten your creativity and inspiration. Read the full article

[stevishabitat]

It is extremely important though to know what invasive species to look for.

My garden and surrounding homes were neglected for decades as the residents aged and could neither care for the gardens themselves or afford to hire help.

I am now battling four extremely aggressive invasive plant types that literally produce hormones that keep other plants from growing. If left unattended, they would continue to spread & choke out beneficial native species. They themselves aren't preferred by pollinators or wildlife because they aren't a natural part of ecosystem.

They're choking out trees, have almost entirely destroyed the garage, and make the whole area unpleasant due to thorns/bristles, viney trip hazards, rashes/allergic reactions, etc. I have a kiddo and we often have the neighborhood kids in the yard so it has to be usable for play, outdoor cooking, hanging laundry, etc.

So my first task has been aggressive attack against the non-beneficial species. The winter creeper, bush honeysuckle, and English ivy are all very tough once they develop the woody stems, so they have to be mowed down when they first sprout.

Japanese hops isn't as durable, but it's incredibly prickly and causes horrible rashes. I've pulled out what I can, I use "cardboard lasagna" as a weed block to prevent sprouting, copper nails to kill stumps and trunks, but it's a slow process to eliminate it entirely.

And unfortunately, I have to be very careful to only do new plantings in places that aren't at risk of growing the non-beneficials. So places they haven't got into yet (very small areas) or places I've been able to completely eradicate and keep clear for a year.

And because the neighbors yards on all sides are still infested, I'll have to retain a buffer zone all the way around and continue to aggressively mow or weedblock to keep vines & roots from creeping in.

The middle of the yard and kiddo's play area is mostly clover, violets creeping charlie, and henbit. So that's all low-growing ground cover and needs very little attention.

I've added some winter cover crop seeds to keep it from getting muddy in winter, provide winter feed for wildlife, prevent erosion, and prevent the invasives from taking the opportunity to spread while other groundcover is dormant.

I'm going to add some shorter prairie grasses this year as well to try to get deeper root systems established to help with erosion, heat tolerance, and water management.

All this to say, you absolutely cannot just let a piece of land that has already had human intervention be and expect it to somehow revert to healthy native landscape on its own.

Even places that haven't had much human intervention in the last 100 years may have previously been carefully tended by pre-colonial cultures. Humans have always been in some sort of relationship with the land, and the land thrives with proper human care.

Leaving "nature to take its course" can sometimes actually be neglect and bad stewardship. Especially when recently introduced species have changed the ecosystem or if waterways and wetlands have been altered.

I...tried to make a meme and got carried away and made A Thing that is like partially unfinished because i spent like 3 hours on it and then got tired.

I think this is mostly scientifically accurate but truth be told, there seems to be relatively little research on succession in regards to lawns specifically (as opposed to like, pastures). I am not exaggerating how bad they are for biodiversity though—recent research has referred to them as "ecological deserts."

Feel free to repost, no need for credit