#well armed with camouflage abilities

[montereybayaquarium]

Little red octopus 🐙❤️

These little red octopus are sea-ternly the masters of disguise, thanks to their ability to change color and texture to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Check out those inkredible hiding skills!

[misfitwashere]

TIMOTHY SNYDER

FEB 5

Imagine if it had gone like this. 

Ten Tesla cybertrucks, painted in camouflage colors with a giant X on each roof, drive noisily through Washington DC. Tires screech. Out jump a couple of dozen young men, dressed in red and black Devil’s Champion armored costumes. After giving Nazi salutes, they grab guns and run to one government departmental after another, calling out slogans like “all power to Supreme Leader Skibidi Hitler.”

Historically, that is what coups looked like. The center of power was a physical place. Occupying it, and driving out the people who held office, was to claim control. So if a cohort of armed men with odd symbols had stormed government buildings, Americans would have recognized that as a coup attempt. 

And that sort of coup attempt would have failed. 

Now imagine that, instead, the scene goes like this.

A couple dozen young men go from government office to government office, dressed in civilian clothes and armed only with zip drives. Using technical jargon and vague references to orders from on high, they gain access to the basic computer systems of the federal government. Having done so, they proceed to grant their Supreme Leader access to information and the power to start and stop all government payments.

That coup is, in fact, happening. And if we do not recognize it for what it is, it could succeed.

In the third decade of the twenty first century, power is more digital than physical. The buildings and the human beings are there to protect the workings of the computers, and thus the workings of the government as a whole, in our case an (in principle) democratic government which is organized and bounded by a notion of individual rights.

The ongoing actions by Musk and his followers are a coup because the individuals seizing power have no right to it. Elon Musk was elected to no office and there is no office that would give him the authority to do what he is doing. It is all illegal. It is also a coup in its intended effects: to undo democratic practice and violate human rights. 

In gaining data about us all, Musk has trampled on any notion of privacy and dignity, as well as on the explicit and implicit agreements made with our government when we pay our taxes or our student loans. And the possession of that data enables blackmail and further crimes.

In gaining the ability to stop payments by the Department of the Treasury, Musk would also make democracy meaningless. We vote for representatives in Congress, who pass laws that determine how our tax money is spent. If Musk has the power to halt this process at the level of payment, he can make laws meaningless. Which means, in turn, that Congress is meaningless, and our votes are meaningless, as is our citizenship.

Resistance to the coup is the defense of the human against the digital and the democratic against the oligarchic. If Musk controls these digital systems, Republican elected officials will be just as helpless as Democratic ones. The institutions that they voted to create can also be “deleted,” as Musk puts it. 

President Trump, for that matter, will also perform at Musk’s pleasure. There is not much he can do without the use of the federal government’s computers. No one will explain this to Trump or to his supporters, of course. 

A coup is underway, against Americans as possessors of human rights and dignities, and against Americans as citizens of a democratic republic. Each hour this goes unrecognized makes the success of the coup more likely.

[artechoceneexplorer]

Dungeon Meshi Encyclopaedia: The Mermaid

Another finished piece of my Dungeon Meshi Encyclopaedia like illustrations, this time, creature adventures need to be wary of when near deep bodies of water: the Mermaid (Sirena uroscelis).

Full piece view

Close-ups and notes on the design choices:

The scientific name is pretty simple, as it is composed of the Latin word for mermaid (sirena) for the genus name, and the words for tail (uro-) and leg (-scelis).

The teeth are similar to those of other aquatic predators like otters and seals, with conical pointed teeth on the front to help it grab onto slippery aquatic prey, and sharp, serrated teeth on the back for slicing the meat of said prey. The laryngeal anatomy is similar to that of humans, which can already create very complex sounds compared to other apes, maybe slightly modified with the added ability to produce sounds outside of the human hearing range, helping spread their songs (which might have some biological explanation but they also might be just spells in a language humans can't understand or imitate well enough).

Similarly to many cetaceans (in particular belugas, which were the main inspiration for this part of the design) they have fat pockets not only for insulation, but also for tucking in their arms when swimming to be more hydrodynamic and reduce drag.

Close-up of the upper body, head morphology and cranial anatomy

The face is flatter than a human's, and like the rest of the upper half of the body, it is hairless, further aiding in hydrodynamics, compensating the drag produced by the long head of hair.

This hair has a purpose, as I'd imagine it would be useful to camouflage in between aquatic vegetation while they stalk for prey, hiding until it is close enough to strike. To help with gripping prey underwater, they have not only a permanent wrinkling of the fingertips, similar to what happens in humans, but the wrinkles are reinforced with small keratinous tubercles, and the nails are sharp and curve inward, forming a slight hook shape.

Like most aquatic animals, and unlike other apes, the genitals are internal, hidden behind a genital slit.

Close-up of the upper body and a mermaid hunting a merman fry

One of the most unique characteristics of this mermaid is the "tail". At first I considered an actual tail for them, but the original design had a tail clearly inspired by the lower body of seals, with the tail flukes being back flippers and even a small tail like structure (which wouldn't make sense with the anatomy I chose so it's now a fatty outgrowth derived from the metatarsus); so instead of an actual tail it is actually a fusion of the two hind legs, which would make sense as a descendant of a hominid (which famously lack tails). It has large webbed feet acting as a fluke, and strong leg bones with bony crests to anchor very strong muscles.

Close-up of the "tail" anatomy, showing the leg bones that comprise it

Another very unique feature of this species, responsible for the appearance of an "all female" species. In reality, when maturing, males start producing excess testosterone both sexes start producing estrogens, which affects the development of an externally feminine appearance. Thanks to a very localised reception of testosterone on the gonads, the estrogen has no effect on their reproductive capabilities. The only way to tell the difference between sexes is by a small difference in size, as adult females are slightly larger and have slightly more fat because of the extra effort of carrying the young.

Close-up of the sexual dimorphism of the mermaids

Hope you enjoyed this new dungeon meshi piece, feel free to suggest what the next one will be :>

[base0h]

Smoker, Luffy and croco boy with a s/o who has the same devil fruit as them and uses it to annoy/prank them constantly.

Crack fic pls

Take care love<3

not me starting to laugh like doffy when I saw this💀💀 ew. anon thank you for allowing me to showcase my endless amount of crack in my mind 💜

warnings ⚠️ - g/n reader, crack

- the amount of times you’ve scared the shit out of this man is kind of sad. I’m assuming poor smoker gets spooked a lot because of your abilities, and sometimes you’re not even trying to scare him 💀

- you could be minding your own business, floating around and flying around the room during a break with a face mask on. Bro walks in and just dies bec the first thing he sees is a detached floating head with a white face

- “WHAT THE FU-?!”

- and when he gets scared he sets off a bunch of “traps” aka stubbing his toe on a chair that was clearly out of the way, and hitting his head on the doorway

- “IT’S ME!” -you

- I mean- what the fuck were you supposed to do? The man just kept falling backwards into things! He thought you were some kind of monster so he just kept running as he tripped over everything in his way 💀

- this is what he thought was happening:

- “SMOKER. IT’S LITERALLY ME STOP RUNNING!”

- “WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY GIRLFRIEND?!”

- Tashigi started chasing after him too because she was wondering something abt navy stuff so he kept getting more scared since he couldn’t see what was chasing him😭he just thought you were multiplying 💀

- I’d be scared too if some Smokey person is literally floating after me with a face mask 😂😂😂

- man smoked 56 cigarettes before finally calming down

- “I wish you didn’t have the same devilfruit as me y/n.”

- “OH COME ON I WASNT EVEN TRYING TO SCARE YOU!”

- “IT WORKED!” -him

- “Do you still love me tho?” -you

- “..yeah.”

- on your birthday he blew himself into a balloon and camouflaged into the numerous balloons you got from the crew before you woke up

- when you finally woke up (keep in mind, Luffy was so determined that he woke up early for this prank :0) you stared at the balloons with a smile, the crew was so nice!

- “Hey thanks guys!”

- you walked over to them and took the string of one of them in your hand. It’s amazing how you didn’t hear Luffy giggling like a maniac 😭

- he scooted behind you, making himself lose a bit of air so his blown up face was right behind your head, tapping your shoulder with his long arm

- “BOOO!”

- Nah you smacked the shit out of him, screaming as your fists were covered in haki, ready to punch the absolute soul out of him from fear

- “Luffy?! WHAT THE HELL?!”

- “Ow! Why did you punch me?!”

- “BECAUSE YOU SCARED ME!”

- Poor dude’s face was swollen for the whole day, and you apologized for hitting him after he said sorry for scaring you.

- can you imagine a Luffy balloon in your face? No I don’t mean just his stomach blowing up, I mean his fucking face blown up, and the rest of his body looking all skinny as the string 💀💀 pls I’d cry and shit my pants

- you really can’t beat him in pranks because he always seemed to get you better 😭 but you sure tried

- at night when he was snoring away, you attached yourself to the ceiling, your limbs stretching as your head stretched down to him. (You looked like my sleep demon) “Pssst, Luuuuuuffyyy!”

- “Hm???”

- ok when you’re half asleep you can’t really make out anything, so all the poor guy saw was a fucking demon

- the way he screamed and ran was hilarious, he did not sleep well for days, and clung onto you in bed or whenever he got a chance 🥲

- 100% done with your shit :)

- One time you pretended you were a sandcastle on the beach and waited for him to get closer before making your face pop out at him

- he smacked you with his hook. And… broke your nose 💀

- “…Sorry.”

- “…It’s fine. I’m sorry for trying to scare you.”

- you’re literally struggling to hold in your tears with blood pouring from your nose (BRO WHEN YOUR NOSE GETS SMACKED IT HURTS)

- he felt bad because you’re trying not to cry while sobbing. Poor guy didn’t mean to slap you with haki 💀 nor did he mean to break your nose in half

- he gave you a hug, and let you wear his coat as long as you want since it’s super cozy and fluffy. Also made sandcastles with you while you recovered

- after you felt better, and your nose was finally healed, you both went to the beach again to relax.

- He didn’t like going near the water so he just sat on a chair and watched you find seashells, little sea snails, and other stuff. You brought one back for him, and I swear you’re going to kill the poor guy because of how sweet you are 😭

- he found a mound of sand next to his chair and sighed, you’re trying to prank him again? Didn’t you ever learn?

- “y/n I know that’s you.”

- when there was no response, he grumbled and stood up, poking at the mound with a sigh.

- “Y/n. Please stop.”

- “Huh? Crocodile? Why are you poking that mound of sand?” -you

- his eyes widened as he turned around to see you standing there with a couple sea shells. Wait a damn minute, then what the fuck was this mound of sand doing here?!

- “CROCODILE THOSE ARE SAND SNAKES!”

- The snakes poked their heads out and poor Crocodile picked you up bridal style and started running as they chased you two

- “I THOUGHT IT WAS YOU!” -him

- “I’M NOT DUMB ENOUGH TO DO THAT AGAIN!”

- You gotta hand it to him, the first thing he did when he saw those snakes was pick you up and start running as fast as he could 😭 you were glad you had such a caring man :))) because doffy would’ve totally left you to die 💀

a/n - I feel bad for smoker

[kimmie2me]

Hi there! May you pretty please do deku x reader with a deer/fawn quirk! Headcannons or a story is fine you can choose🍒

Marks of a Hero

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀𓂅⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Midoriya Izuku x AFAB!Reader with a fawn Quirk

.....

Izuku’s dorm room was filled with the soft amber glow of his desk lamp, casting a cozy warmth over the walls covered in hero posters and personal memorabilia. You sat cross-legged on his bed, smiling softly as he animatedly flipped through his notes, pointing out drawings and theories with a passion that seemed to set his eyes alight.

“…so, I guess that’s what fascinates me so much about quirks that alter someone’s physical form. Like Tsuyu-chan! She’s developed abilities that make her adaptable to so many situations—on land, underwater, high places,” he gushed, eyes sparkling with admiration. He moved on to mention quirks like Mirko’s remarkable rabbit agility and speed, Hawks’ feathered wings with all their hidden abilities, and finally… he paused, looking over at you, hesitant but with a trace of wonder in his expression.

“…And yours. I just think it’s incredible how graceful you are. There’s something different about the way you move, how attuned you seem to your surroundings. It’s like…” He trailed off, almost bashful, rubbing the back of his neck as he fumbled for words. “It’s like you’re connected to something beyond what we can see. I don’t know, maybe it sounds strange, but I’d love to understand it better. If that’s okay?”

You blinked, heart swelling at his openness and curiosity. His enthusiasm for quirks always inspired you, but hearing him speak so intently about yours had a different effect. You leaned forward, smiling gently.

“Why don’t you explore it yourself?” you offered, the suggestion so natural that it slipped out before you could second-guess it. “It might help your research if you could… well, take a closer look.”

Izuku’s eyes widened, cheeks flooding with color. “W-Wait, really? You’d… let me? I mean, here? Now?”

You nodded, a calm reassurance in your expression. “Yes. I trust you, Izuku. Besides, if it’ll help with your analysis, I’m happy to assist.”

“Right. Right, of course! Purely for research,” he stammered, trying to steady his nerves. With a deep breath, he inched closer, his fingers hovering just above your shoulders, hesitating. “This is… okay?”

You offered him a soft nod, and, at last, he began to reach out, his touch light as a feather at first, as if afraid to disturb something precious. His fingertips traced along the faint contours of your collarbone, where your skin bore subtle markings unique to your quirk. He’d always found these hints of animalistic strength mesmerizing, even in his sketches and notes. Up close, he seemed even more awestruck.

“This is… incredible,” he murmured, voice hushed with reverence. His fingertips followed the delicate tracings of darker pigmentation on your shoulders and arms—markings reminiscent of the patterns found on young fawns, subtle but unmistakably present. “It’s like these patterns… they almost mirror actual fawn spots. I wonder if they have any evolutionary purpose, like camouflage? Have you ever noticed if they shift in different seasons or adapt to your surroundings?”

You chuckled, unable to hide your amusement. “Not that I’ve noticed. But I do have enhanced senses, so maybe it’s just as useful that way.” His fingers brushed over a slight ridge along your shoulder, evidence of a minor quirk-related adjustment beneath the skin, and you saw his gaze sharpen with fascination.

“Your shoulders,” he observed, his voice soft and analytical, “they’re slightly more developed, like there’s an extra layer of muscle. It’s so subtle, but… is that how you can leap as high as you do?”

You nodded, impressed by his insight. “Exactly. I don’t even realize it sometimes, but it’s there. Helps with balance and power.” You could feel his hands relax as he grew more absorbed, each touch more confident, his focus trained on understanding rather than hesitation.

For a moment, he was lost in his analysis, fingertips exploring the faint curve of your spine and the sinewy strength you carried. There was a purity to his admiration—his complete and genuine awe of your abilities—and it warmed you to see him immersed in discovering this side of you.

And then, he stilled, drawing his hands back with a shy laugh. “I, uh… sorry. I got a little carried away.”

You shook your head, still smiling. “I don’t mind. Actually, Izuku, would it be okay if I… looked at you, too?”

His face reddened immediately, and he seemed to shrink back, rubbing the back of his neck in a nervous reflex. “Uh… m-me? I mean… I… I don’t think there’s much to see.” He glanced down, his voice faltering. “It’s mostly just scars. Nothing like… like yours. I mean, there’s not much that’s…”

He trailed off, unable to bring himself to finish, and your heart softened. “Izuku,” you said gently, reaching out to take his hand, “these scars are part of you, too. They’re part of everything that makes you who you are. I’d like to see them, if you’d let me. I promise, I won’t judge. I just… want to understand more about you.”

He looked at you, and in his eyes, there was something so vulnerable, so open that it took your breath away. Slowly, he nodded, taking a shaky breath as he lifted his shirt, revealing the map of scars that crisscrossed his chest and torso—signs of battles and struggles, reminders of his journey.

Your hand hovered just above his skin, taking in the raw evidence of everything he’d been through. Carefully, you let your fingers rest over a thin, jagged scar running along his collarbone.

Izuku’s voice softened, almost as if he were telling you a secret. Maybe because, well, he was. “That one… it’s from the Hero Killer, Stain. When he attacked Iida in Hosu City, I… I knew I couldn’t just stand by. We were just supposed to be training, but I couldn’t let him hurt anyone else.”

You nodded, fingers tracing over the scar with gentle reverence. “You were so brave,” you whispered. He blushed, his eyes downcast but a small, almost bashful smile tugging at his lips.

“I didn’t feel brave,” he admitted, glancing up at you. “But in that moment, I just… I knew I had to act. I'm so glad Todoroki-kun came to help us.”

Your hand drifted to another mark, a deeper one just above his ribs, and he inhaled, recognizing the spot immediately. “That was from Overhaul,” he said, voice low. “When I… when I saved Eri. She was so scared. I remember feeling like I had to give everything I had, and then some.”

The memory hung between you both, heavy and sacred. You remembered that battle, the way he’d come back bruised and battered but with that quiet strength that had always set him apart. “Eri’s safe because of you, Izuku,” you murmured, a soft pride in your tone. “You’re a hero to her.”

He looked up, his green eyes softening as he watched you trace each mark with such care. “It wasn’t easy,” he admitted, “but seeing her smile afterward at the school festival… it was worth it.”

You moved lower, touching a scar on his side—a small one, but etched with a memory just as fierce. “This one?”

“That was… from Nine.” Izuku’s voice grew quiet, his gaze distant as he relived the memory. “On Nabu Island. Kacchan and I fought him together. He was so strong, but… I couldn’t let him hurt anyone. I couldn’t let anyone on the island suffer because of us.” He managed a small, shaky laugh. “Kacchan wouldn’t forgive me if I gave up anyway.”

The way he said it made you smile, knowing that even amid chaos and danger, his heart had been focused on protecting others. You took his hand, giving it a light squeeze. “You’re incredible, you know that?”

Izuku’s cheeks flushed as he scratched his neck, embarrassed. “I just… I did what I had to. What any hero would.”

But you shook your head. “No, Izuku. Not everyone would. That’s what makes you so special.”

You continued to explore each mark, reaching one on his upper arm next. He looked at it, a fond smile in his eyes. “This one… it’s from Kota. When we fought Muscular. I thought… I thought I might not make it, but he gave me a reason to fight, you know? He trusted me.” There was a warmth in his gaze, a memory he held dearly.

“He trusted you because he saw how strong you were,” you said, feeling the strength in his arm. “You’re someone people can rely on, Izuku. Kota, Eri… and me.”

He let out a small laugh, nervous but happy, eyes shining as he looked at you. “Thank you.”

You paused on a scar just below his ribs, softer than some of the others, almost hidden against his skin. He placed his hand over yours, looking down at it with a sad smile. “Flect Turn,” he said quietly. “It’s still… hard to think about that one. The way his quirk worked… it felt like I was being forced to face myself. To question everything I was trying to achieve.”

You met his gaze, voice steady. “But you didn’t back down.”

“No,” he said, his voice more certain this time. “I didn’t.”

For a moment, you just sat there, taking in the weight of his story, each scar a part of the journey that had shaped him. You ran your fingers over a few smaller ones, ones he didn’t mention, but you knew from the look in his eyes that each one had a tale to tell.

Finally, he looked up, the tension in his shoulders softened, the vulnerability you’d seen in his eyes replaced with a quiet confidence. “Thank you for… for wanting to know all of this,” he said, voice thick with emotion.

You took his hands, squeezing them gently. “Thank you for letting me in, Izuku. These scars—they’re not weaknesses. They’re your strength. Proof of every battle, every person you’ve helped, and every reason you’ve kept going.”

He looked at you, really looked at you, and in that moment, he felt seen, understood, in a way he never had before. His cheeks flushed again, but there was a warmth in his expression, one you knew he’d carry with him beyond this room, beyond these memories.

“Thank you,” he whispered again, and this time, you knew he meant it in a way only the two of you could understand.

Midoriya Headcanons

...

— Izuku is utterly fascinated by how graceful you are, often catching himself watching you move without realizing it. He’s taken by the way you seem to instinctively navigate through crowds and small spaces with ease, almost like you’re attuned to every small detail around you.

— His notebook is filled with little sketches of your quirk’s features, like the subtle fawn-like markings or unique muscle structure that helps with agility. He’s spent hours researching how animal traits like yours might benefit in hero work, adding little notes like, “Could be useful for enhanced evasion.”

— He’s always mindful about touching you, especially if he’s trying to understand your quirk’s physical differences. His fingers are soft and light, often tracing the markings on your skin with almost scientific reverence, as if he’s afraid to break something delicate.

—Izuku’s attentive enough to notice if your senses seem more heightened in certain seasons or environments. He’ll offer his jacket or scarf in the winter, thinking your quirk might make you more sensitive to cold, and will keep extra snacks on hand in case you need extra energy.

—On days when training has been intense, he’ll suggest taking you to quieter places, like an empty park or a spot on campus where you can unwind. He knows that your heightened senses might make crowded spaces overwhelming, so he loves giving you a peaceful place to recharge.

— IIzuku finds your presence calming in a way he can’t quite explain. When he’s stressed or overthinking, he’s drawn to you because your calm demeanor and gentle movements help him feel grounded, and he’s always grateful for that unspoken support.

— He’s curious about how your quirk can be applied in different scenarios, so you two spend time coming up with unique tactics for you in mock battles. You’ve even managed to startle Bakugou once by sneaking up quietly—Izuku was genuinely impressed because not everyone can just do that!

— Knowing how self-conscious he sometimes feels about his scars, you’ve started a quiet ritual of tracing them gently, assuring him that they’re a testament to his courage and resilience. It’s become one of his favorite gestures, even if he blushes each time you do it.

— Izuku takes notes on exercises that might help you develop your natural abilities even further. He’ll shyly suggest new routines designed specifically with your quirk in mind, encouraging you to experiment and improve in ways that feel uniquely suited to you.

— Some nights, after studying or training, you’ll sit together, sharing stories about your quirks and experiences. Izuku finds himself opening up about his insecurities and struggles, especially around those he’s saved, while you reassure him that he’s helped you feel seen and understood, too.

[monstersdownthepath]

Homebrew Horror: Gremlin, Firgor

(Art by Wayworncrow!)

There are only a handful of items more useful to an adventuring party than Bags of Holding, items so valuable that few adventurers--even ones which tend to travel on their own--would live without for more than a few weeks into their careers for fear of traveling unprepared, or for fear of being forced to leave loot behind. Whenever the opportunity to obtain one arises, most would jump at the chance! And who wouldn't? You never have to worry about encumbrance again with one! The money you'd save hiring carts is astronomical! Unfortunately, nothing so convenient could exist without the whims of some fiend or Fey attempting to make a mockery of it, and these creatures are proof of it.

Without a need for air and having the ability to turn invisible on a whim, Firgor spend the entirety of their lives nesting within Bags of Holding and other extradimensional storage spaces like them, sustained partially by whatever morsels they can rake into their lairs with their long, rubbery arms, and mostly by "sacrifices" delivered right to them by unwitting explorers, adventurers, and merchants. Hidden by ramshackle suits of camouflage built from whatever knickknacks the bag's owner hoards, an unwitting victim may 'host' a Firgor for months or even years without realizing it's even there, and all the while the gremlin wreaks small but meaningful amounts of havoc on their lives.

No one is entirely sure when the first of these strange, alien-looking gremlins began to manifest across the world, and it's entirely by their own design. Firgor possess a small but potent number of psychic abilities granted to them by their unusual nature, chief among them the ability to simply force others to forget their presence. Any creature not looking directly at a Firgor tends to swiftly forget they ever saw it, and any item rendered invisible by the gremlin's spellwork is similarly forgotten until the gremlin decides to give its new 'toy' back for one reason or another. As Firgor age, they gradually leech magical power from the countless items introduced to their homes and gain magical powers of their own, culminating in the awakening of more powerful psychic abilities, such as the ability to temporarily seal away a victim's knowledge and skills. This intangible theft is the ultimate goal of all Firgor, who draw immense joy (and perhaps even psychic sustenance) from the chaos which erupts when someone cannot remember crucial information or access skills they once possessed.

How many times has it happened across the world, that otherwise competent and well-trained adventurers simply forget the true extent of their apocalyptic armory, misplace otherwise impossible-to-forget trophies, or lament the loss of a useful tool they should still have? Why do highly-skilled Fighters and raging Barbarians simply lose the ability to use the techniques they've been honing for years? How is it that Wizards and Witches smarter than entire rooms of people put together, alongside Clerics and Paladins who are guided by higher forces, cannot remember what spells they've prepared for the day? How many times has an adventuring party said, with panic tinged by exasperation, "You could DO THAT/You HAD THAT this whole time?!" in response to one of their members producing a heretofore unseen (or forgotten) item or skill?

In many of these cases the next two words out of the victim's mouth are tinged with surprise, then frustrated realization: "I... Firgor."

FIRGOR GREMLIN CR 2

Neutral Evil Tiny Fey Init: +2; Senses: Darkvision 120ft, low-light vision; Perception +6

------ Defense ------

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size) HP 18 (3d6+6) Fort +3 Ref +5 Will +3 Defensive abilities Bag Lair; DR 5/Cold iron; SR 13

------ Offense ------

Speed 10ft, climb 10ft Melee 2 claws +5 (1d2-2), OR improvised weapon +1 (1d4-2), claw +0 (1d2-2) Ranged Improvised weapon -1 (1d4-2) Space 2 1/2ft; Reach 10ft (with claws) Special Attacks Out of Sight, Out of Mind Spell-like Abilities (CL 3; Concentration +5)

3/day--Detect Magic, Mage Hand, Prestidigitation, Read Magic 1/day--Memory Lapse (DC 13)

------ Statistics ------

Str 7 Dex 15 Con 14 Int 12 Wis 11 Cha 15 Base Atk: +1; CMB -3; CMD 9 Feats Deft Hands, Weapon Finesse Skills Bluff +8, Disable Device +5, Escape Artist +8, Perception +6, Knowledge (Arcana) +3, Sleight of Hand +12, Stealth +16 (+18 while inside lair), Use Magic Device +8 Racial Modifiers: +2 to Sleight of Hand, +2 to Stealth while inside its lair Languages Aklo, Common SQ Compression, Longarm, No Breath

------ Ecology ------

Environment: Any Organization: Solitary Treasure: Incidental (and usually yours already)

------

Combat: Firgor are lazy and cowardly, and do not to engage in combat if it can be avoided, preferring to quietly slink into their lairs if danger passes. Their first response to danger is withdrawing into their lair and attempting to become invisible to make everyone forget they saw it. When inside their lairs, they usually forego using their claws and instead will use whatever items they can to attack their enemies, whether it be used as an improvised weapon or a dangerous magic item.

Morale: Firgor always try and retreat into their lairs when possible, but if their enemies follow them into their lairs, they will threaten valuables and heirlooms with destruction if they are not left alone. If this does not work, they have little recourse but to fight to the death.

------ Special Abilities ------

Bag Lair (Ex): Firgor nest inside of Bags of Holding and other small, portable extradimensional spaces, holding onto the insides with their tiny legs while they use their arms to move and attack. Whenever a Firgor moves, it can drag its bag lair with it. While in its lair, a Firgor has cover from everything outside its lair. As a move action, a Firgor can fully withdraw into its lair, making itself impossible to target or affect with anything outside of the lair, often requiring combatants to enter the lair to chase after it. It cannot target or interact with anything outside of its lair until it uses another move action to relocate to the lair's entry.

Longarm (Ex): The long, rubbery arms of a Firgor give it exceptional reach for a Tiny creature. In addition, it possesses an eye in one of its palms, allowing it to perform feats such as making skill checks or attack rolls from cover without penalty and without exposing its body.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind (Sp/Su): As a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity, a Firgor can become invisible, as the spell. While invisible in this way, any creature that saw it within the last minute must succeed a DC 13 Will save or forget what they've seen, retaining only a vague recollection. 1d2 rounds after failing the save, the victim completely forgets about the gremlin's existence. Any item the Firgor carries that is also affected by its invisibility is affected by this memory leakage; any creature searching for such an item forgets they were doing so if they fail the Will save, and forgets the item even existed 1d2 rounds later. If the item was especially important to the creature, or if its existence is reinforced by another creature who succeeded the save (or was just unaffected), an affected creature will rationalize the lost item as simply misplaced. Similarly, a creature that was attacked by the gremlin but was forced to forget about it will believe the wounds were sustained in an unrelated incident. Any creature damaged by the gremlin in the last minute has a +5 to the save against this ability. This is a mind-affecting effect, and its saving throw is Charisma-based.

-------

Firgor Malefactors

Over time, a Firgor gains even greater power due to absorbing latent magic from its surroundings and establishing a deeper connection to the Astral Plane, gaining psychic abilities. A Firgor Malefactor gains 2 to 4 additional racial Hit Dice and the Psychic Magic ability alongside a handful of spells which differ from gremlin to gremlin, typically keeping in line with the theme of its most precious stolen treasures. Some, even rarer specimens instead gain 2 to 4 levels in an occult class, typically Mesmerist or Occultist, and advance from there.

In addition to whatever powers they gain from their advancement, all Malefactors gain the following abilities:

A deflection bonus to their AC equal to their Charisma modifier, minimum 1.

An additional eye in their other palm, granting them All-Around vision.

Both the Catch Off-Guard and Throw Anything feats as bonus feats.

Brain Fog (Su): Once per hour as a standard action, a Firgor Malefactor can force a mental block into a creature's psyche, cutting it off from its own experiences. The target must be within 60ft. The target must succeed a Will saving throw with a DC of 10 + 1/2 the Malefactor's HD + the Malefactor's Charisma modifier or lose access to one of the following: all of the ranks in X of its skills, X of its prepared spells, X of its feats, X of its spell-like abilities, OR one Extraordinary or Supernatural ability it possesses, all chosen by the gremlin. "X" is the Malefactor's Charisma modifier. A creature can only be affected by one instance of Brain Fog at a time (the Malefactor blocking a new ability releases the old one), and its abilities remain locked away for 24 hours or until it receives the benefits of any spell which would cure mental ability score damage or restore memories (such as Modify Memory, Psychic Surgery, or Restoration). Creatures affected by this ability often simply forget they had access to the blocked abilities at all. A creature unaware of the Firgor, such as if it's asleep, takes a -5 penalty to the saving throw against this ability.

[neon-kazoo]

Hey, I hope you have a good day.

I was thinking about a small story with a Hero that has super strength and the muscles to show for it, meanwhile, Villain is in a dark corner, quietly enjoying (swooning over?) the show of strength the Hero displays (it can be whatever you want, the Hero can lift up a heavy wall or even just train).

It is up to you if you want the Hero to know of Villain’s presence or not :)

Of Swooning and Super Strength

(Warning: risk of training accident?)

The gym was closed to the public, but hardly anything was ever closed to the city’s golden savior. All the machines were free, all the weights available for use, and there was no one to protest Hero’s outrageously loud work out playlist.

A private setting, allowing for all the mirror flexing and shirtless benching the hero’s heart desired.

Well, it should have been private. Camouflage abilities certainly had their advantages.

As such, Villain leaned quietly against the wall of lockers with crossed arms and an excellent view.

Sweat dripped down hard and defined muscles, hair slick with the sheen of perspiration, skin so perfectly tanned-

Well, the city didn’t call them ‘golden’ for nothing.

Villain’s eyes traced every movement of the hero’s body as they raised an impressive stack over their head repeatedly. Briefly, they flicked to the weight labels, doing some quick mental math and—wow—if that wasn’t the weight of ten Villains combined.

Villain made a note to add ‘show off’ to hero’s growing list of titles, not that they minded at all.

And then it was off to the bench press, Villain’s personal favorite. Hero loaded on weight after weight, plate after plate until they ran out of room. They laid back and unracked the bar, pumping through at least 50 reps with ease. Villain found themselves a bit breathless with the display.

It wasn’t until Hero started to slow that Villain really started to pay attention, though.

Suddenly Hero was sporting a face Villain had never seen before. They looked…pained. They were struggling.

With a heavy bar above their neck.

Arrogant hero, attempting that much weight without a spot, super strength be damned. How embarrassing it would be for a hero to go down in a training accident, of all things.

For Villain’s hero to go down.

With a heavy sigh drowned out by the blasting of the Sing 2 soundtrack, Villain crossed the room and stepped up to the bar. The hero was far too busy straining with accompanying grunts in an attempt to re-rack the bar to notice. The villain’s hands hovered under the bar, as close as they dared to Hero’s peripheral vision.

Oddly, the temperature in the room seemed to rise with the proximity.

Regrettably, Villain lost track of the heavy rise and fall of the hero’s chest in favor of tracking the progress of the steel bar. After a tense few seconds, the crime-fighter managed to raise their arms the final inch and slide out from under the press.

Villain stepped back as the hero blew out a breath.

“Phew, close one.”

They sat up and—impossibly— their gaze drifted to where Villain had quickly retreated back to the shadows. Villain held their breath and a second passed before the hero winked and turned around.

The villain was too frozen to do much of anything while the hero pulled their shirt back over their head, grabbed their water bottle, and left.

[ladykissingfish]

Sakura: Sensei … why is Gai-Sensei following us?

Kakashi: *sighs* The Hokage thought that, since I exhaust my chakra so much, it would be prudent for me, for our team, to have a … um, well, a body guard, during more difficult missions.

Sasuke: THAT’S who he assigned to protect us??

Kakashi: Eh? Gai is a splendid ninja! He —

Naruto: Sensei … he’s tripped over a rock like five times in the past hour.

Sakura: He’s been scratching at his arms all morning … do you think he ran into that poison ivy bush a few miles back?

Sasuke: *scoffs* Some body guard … well Naruto, Sakura, it was nice knowing you. But I’m pretty sure this mission will be our last.

Kakashi: Kids … have a little faith, huh? Although I have complete confidence in Gai’s abilities … I DO have a backup. Just in case.

Naruto: A backup? What do you me —

*Rock Lee suddenly falls out of a tree in front of them, decked out in camouflage*

Lee: Oops! Er … pretend you didn’t see me … *hurries away*

Naruto, Sakura and Sasuke:

Sakura: Looks like you were right, Sasuke-kun. This IS our last mission.

Sasuke: Hn.

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

today's fish of the day is the giant pacific octopus!

The giant pacific octopus, also called the North Pacific Octopus, scientific name Enteroctopus dofleini, is known for being the largest species of octopus! Living exclusively in temperate waters, their range stretches from Southern California up to Alaska, and from the West coast of Northern America, to the Aleutian Islands, and East coast of Japan. Giant pacific octopi live along coral ranges, rocky outcroppings, and intertidal zones where catching prey is easier. The bite of the giant pacific octopus contains a venom that breaks down proteins in animals, softening muscle tissues and organs over the course of a few hours. Their diet consists of almost anything they can fit in their beak: fish, crabs, lobster, shrimp, some smaller sharks and dogfish, clams, snails, and seagulls. They can tear apart animals with far tougher skin than their own due to a beak structure that can be found on all octopi, made of chitin. This diet can support them getting sizes as large as 29 feet! Their arm span alone can reach 19 feet across, and the heaviest recorded specimen was almost 200 pounds!

Many scavengers predate on octopi, and the great pacific octopus is no different, even drawing in larger predators due to their size. Many marine mammals, such as harbor seals, sea otters, various dolphins, and sperm whales have been found hunting great pacific octopi, along with large sharks. Humans also hunt great pacific octopi with commercial fishing for consumption across the world, taking 3.3 million tons annually. However, great pacific octopi are especially known for their high intelligence, which is used to avoid many of these predators. Octopi are known for being able to survey their surroundings and camouflage at will in many different ways. These animals have 9 brains, one in each of their 8 arms and a central brain, which does more than the others, each of the arms controlling over 200 suckers, which they have the control over like we do of our individual fingers, giving them high control over their movements. Along with the ability to create havoc in research environments, dissasemling expensive equipment, and escaping. 

Like many other cephalopods, the giant pacific octopus can change colors, using this to blend into the rocks around their hiding caves. This color changing ability is quite interesting for study however, when the octopus is resting they turn a milky white color, and when the octopus is occupied by other worries, they turn a deep red color. However, it is found that throughout an octopus's rest they will change into molted patterns that are also found in alert octopi: leading to the theory that octopi too, can dream. In other situations, these octopi have been known to create molted patterns to seduce partners, and to confuse prey. Other than their color changing abilities, they also have been known to surround themselves in shells and other remains of previous meals, to disguise their body when venturing for food. These animals also possess the well known ability to squirt ink out of their siphon, used to confuse predators. They also have been known for changing the texture of their skin, to blend in better with their surroundings. Their intelligence is so high that it is thought the octopi are some of the only invertebrates that engage in play activities.

Giant pacific octopi spent around 90% of their time inside of dens, venturing out only to find prey, and bringing them back into the den to consume. This creates an 'octopus garden' on the outside of the den, where there are piles of bones and shells piling up. However, depending on population, throughout the year these octopi will migrate, in accordance to seasonal changes. Eastern populations tend to locate new dens when the water experiences temperature changes in summer and winter, whereas western populations will move dens to shallower waters in early summer and winter, and then move to deeper waters in the later summer and winter. Northern populations, both the Alaskan and Northeastern, do not seem to have migration patterns.

Their lifespan is relatively long compared to other octopi. Sexual maturity is achieved at 1-2 years of age, but the giant pacific octopus, with a lifespan of 3-5 years, will wait until it reaches a sufficient body mass. This is because a giant pacific octopus will only ever go through one sexual event in a lifetime. After laying eggs within their den, males will fertilize. The female octopi will then brood over these eggs for 6 months, refusing to leave the den for any purpose, eventually dying of starvation, just as the eggs hatch. Eggs are cared for, by having the mother keep them well aerated with cool water from her siphon, and she'll clean them to ensure algae or parasites wont prey on the eggs. Males will also die after reproduction, although they will do this in their own dens. After hatching, the eggs grow quickly, reaching adult sizes within a year. Thus, continuing the cycle.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

[sonadowwiki]

The Intelligent Shadow

In Shadow Generations from Sonic x Shadow Generations, Shadow has the ability to morph into an octopus through the ability, "Doom Morph."

Though many confuse Shadow turning into a squid due to a meme from Sonic Frontiers with the mini boss "Squid," what Shadow morphs into in Shadow Generations is an octopus, not a squid. The main indicator in noticing this difference is the shape of Doom Morph and in the arms where it resembles more an octopus than a squid. This is also shown in posts from Sonic Team that mention Doom Morph with an octopus emoji, not a squid.

The difference between an octopus' arms and a squid's is that two of a squid's arms are different than the rest of the arms. Another difference is their head where a squid looks more to have an arrow shaped head with fins on the side versus an octopus having a round circular head with no fins. Doom Morph's arms are of all the same shape and Doom Morph has a round head without fins instead of a sharp pointed head with fins on the side.

Octopus vary depending on the species, but they are most well known for their intelligence. It has been studied that octopuses are one of the most intelligent species where they can solve puzzles, do problem solving, solve mazes, know how to use tools, are good at escaping, know how to play/have fun, are observational learners and can experience pain as sentient beings. An octopus could have been chosen for this reason to allude to Shadow being highly intelligent himself.

Octopus are also known for their ability to escape where they are able to create ink clouds to deter predators while they escape at high speed. Some are even known to camouflage to hide from predators or hunt for prey. Some even use deimatic behaviour to deter predators, which is a form of bluffing used to startle predators in order to make an escape. So like octopuses, Shadow is also quick and can even be said to show some signs of bluffing when he at times tries to make himself seem menacing or harsh despite being empathetic and caring deep down. Though Shadow has not shown to camouflage in games, in recent advertisements for the Sonic Movie 3, Shadow was shown to hide in the shadows before Knuckles shines a flashlight on him to which he then proceeds to scare him by saying, "Boo."

Another point about an octopus being used is the fact it relates to the number 8, which is a number that tends to relate to Shadow occasionally. Another place where the number 8 appears is Shadow's symbol where it has 8 points on it, which is also shown in the game Shadow Generations and is even in the title Sonic x Shadow Generations where the "O" for Shadow's name is.

[quietlyimplode]

ignite your bones

After the fall of General Dreykov, and the remnants of the Red Room still at large, Natasha first year at SHIELD is anything but healing. Labeled a traitor and a turncoat, Natasha tries to find her footing in a strange new world.

Whumptober 2024: Day 27 - Voiceless

Warnings: red room violence, mission like violence

Word Count: 2k (gif not mine - if you know who’s it is pls let me know)

Summary: missions in the red room are a little different - sometimes they lead to other things.

Masterlist

Whumptober Masterlist

.

Fingers thread through braids, Natasha’s hands catching on a knot as the smaller girl turns to protest.

A nudge makes her turn around and they continue until the final braid is tight and pinned in place.

“Are you ready?” she whispers, like she’s not sending the girl into the woods.

Determination seems to fuel the child, hands touching the folds in her hair.

“It’ll be okay,” she says, more for herself than for the girl in front of her.

The forest of looming trees stands tall in front of the group of girls.

One of them adjusts her makeup, the deep browns and greens on her face like war paint.

The guards to the right and left of them stand still, eyes focused ahead, making Natasha feel more nervous.

With the last bits of preparation done, Natasha feels the weight of her own backpack.

She forces herself to take a calming breath and adjusts her gun.

This mission was important.

They had been promised a reward at the end.

Waiting for the starting gun, she glances to her right, and then her left.

Her team of five ranged from eight to ten years old. She knew the strengths and weaknesses of each girl, and as the team leader, she felt confident in their ability.

Capture the flag.

The other team was somewhere in the woods, armed and dangerous, protecting their flag against them.

It was Natasha’s idea to braid their hair, make sure they’d be completely camouflaged when needed and hold them back on purpose.

There was no time limit on the exercise, and she knew better than anyone the sense of foreboding that suspense brought.

The other team were likely to become more on edge the longer this went, the longer they didn’t hear sounds of movement through the woods.

Natasha nods to Iva. The girl moves forward, her sniper rifle armed with a rubber bullet cradled carefully in her arms.

Each of their guns only had a single bullet, so they were cautioned to use it wisely.

Natasha looks around.

She had set a perch the night before.

Sneaking out, and perhaps going against the rules, she knew it was necessary. The tree was the tallest and gave the best view.

She didn’t feel bad; she knew the other team had placed surprises for them too, not authorised, but everyone knew the generals didn’t care.

Three other girls hold their position, waiting for Natasha’s cue.

The two younger girls were small, but Natasha knew they could fight well enough.

Natasha steps forward first. Their formation the shape of a diamond.

Two girls behind her, and Vika behind them.

She motions for the girls behind her to scout left and right, respectively.

Vika winks, catching Natasha’s eye.

Natasha grins back.

This was fun.

She moves slowly forward and hears Iva shoot.

A cry of pain sounds in the woods and Natasha motions for them all to stop.

If one has been tagged, it means there were four left.

She doesn’t hear any noise.

Natasha leads her team forward again.

She knows approximately where the flag is, if they haven’t moved it.

“Two, six clicks left,” Iva shouts down.

Natasha whistles in acknowledgement.

She orders Vika to the right, telling her to sweep the area and circle round, to pick up Iva once she’s done.

She nods, and Natasha leads the other two left.

The youngest girl, Hannah, shoots, their position highlighted as the shot rings out.

She must have hit one of them, as a single bullet whizzes back, narrowly missing the girl to Natasha’s right. She motions for them run in opposite directions, as she looks around, finding the nearest climbing tree.

With two bounds, and a jump, she scales it, climbing up for a better view.

A twig catches her in the thigh, and she winces. Watching from above with her own gun ready, she knows that as soon as she shoots she’s a sitting duck.

She notices them straight away.

They had advanced in pairs.

She watches as Iva neatly disposes of the second girl in the pair, an elbow to the head knocking her down and out.

Two more left.

She whistles sharply, directing Iva and Vika right.

The two young girls hear and follow the direction changing their movement

The girls must see the pair and one shoots, hitting an opponent in the chest and then the other bursts through the brush to surprise the remaining girl.

Natasha takes her shot and hits the enemy square in the chest.

And… only one was left guarding the flag.

Natasha’s own team was working solo now. Five against one.

Hannah shouts as she falls into a trench pit, clearly dug out.

Natasha swears under her breath.

She should have thought of that.

She can’t do anything for her now

The last girl appears in view.

Natasha squats, waiting.

It can’t be this easy.

She whistles low.

Three whistles come back.

With that she judges that the girl is surrounded.

They have one bullet between them, and Natasha gives the order to shoot her.

But the girl doesn’t.

Iva moves to her, annoyed.

She takes the gun off the small girl with wide eyes and apologetic look.

Iva takes the shot.

It hits the girl left, and Iva is the first to move forward.

Natasha shouts for her to stop, but it's too late. She hears the click and then the mine goes off.

It’s not an explosion but gas.

It fills the immediate area, making Natasha’s eyes water.

She covers her mouth with her uniform.

She doesn’t care how many mines they’ve set, the flag wil be hers.

Stepping forward, she triggers another mine, smoke hazing in front of her, but still presses on.

A low whistle sounds in warning and Natasha’s vision blurs.

Another mine goes off.

The air is thick and clotted.

She doesn’t inhale.

It’s not far, she tells herself.

The flag comes into view; its green and red markings make her smile.

The world tips and she growls. Her body is heavy.

Her arm reaches out and her fingers just manage to grasp the material.

Successful mission, she thinks to herself, just before passing out.

.

Natasha wakes, her head strapped to a table.

She tries to call out but nothing happens.

She tries again, but nothing, not even a squeak.

She hears movement above her and she closes her eyes, pretending to be asleep.

If they think she’s asleep, they might just say something, to let her know what they’re planning.

She hears more footsteps.

She desperately wants to open her eyes.

The voices start low. As they move over to her head, she hears Dreykov.

Her body seizes up, and she feels herself holding her breath.

“When will she be ready?” She hears him say, his voice edging on anger.

“We are just planting the tracker now. We’ve numbed her throat.”

“Just get it done. The other one is ready and Melina wants to leave as soon as possible. Alexei is getting antsy.”

Was this her reward?

Her fists curl.

She completed the mission.

She won.

And now they’ve drugged her and taken away her voice.

They’re sending her into the unknown.

Tears of frustration and shame squeeze out her closed eyes.

Natasha can’t even make a noise as she openly cries and they drug her again.

.

[goblin-rights52]

@paladin-of-nerd-fandom65 @pin-crusher2000

So I had a thought. About Cerdian.

In case y'all don't know, "sea-changed" is a term from aquaman lore. It refers to atlanteans who are mutated by their environment. As if their adaptations developed differently from the standard "human-passing" people of Poseidonis. Think like Lagoon Boy, or King Shark sometimes.

The term was technically only established in the rebirth run, but the idea is much older then that. Obviously. Lagoon Boy is from the 90s. They live in the slums outside of the capital city.

But what does this have to do with Cerdian? Well, his mother is the character Dolphin!

Originally, she was a human experimented on by aliens, given abilities similar to atlanteans. But in rebirth, she was retconned to a Sea changed atlantean. Her hands and feet are covered in blue scales, and she's got claws and webbed fingers and toes. But she has this camouflage ability to look human.

She can also produce bright flashes of light, and write in the water with her light like little neon signs (helpful because she's mute again).

Now, of course Cerdian was created before the reboot. As were most of the fan works he's used in. So this wouldn't have been on anyone's mind.

But now he's Canon again. Sorta.

So now I'm wondering... if his mom is sea changed, would Cerdian also be? Or his sister Tula (if she exists in yalls AUs)?

Tula already has a weird then-unexplained green scaly arm in kingdom come. (Though, some sources say she shape-shifts. Either way, theres no explanation).

What if Cerdian has webbed fingers and toes. Scales on his hands and feet, or in other places he's embarrassed about. Weird little fins. Hell, he could even have Dolphin's camouflage ability to hide these weirder features when he feels its necessary.

And I'm also reminded of Teen Titans year one, where Garth has gray skin for some reason.

(Seriously, why did he look like this?)

Maybe Cerdian's scales are gray. Could also be an excuse for abilities completely unique to him, rather then those inherited from his parents. Or he could have Dolphin's rebirth abilities in addition to Garth's magic.

What do yall think?

[pandoraouroboros]

[   alex landi,  homosexual,  cis male  +  he/him,  reptile physiology   ]  maxwell  "max"  jang  is  a  true neutral  agent  of  pandora  selected  for  their  capability to blend in unnoticed and ability to strategize several steps ahead, winning him several chess competitions worldwide  and  underwent  the  top-secret  mutation  process.  to  the  rest  of  the  world,  the  thirty-one  year  old  originally  from  seoul,  south  korea  is  deceased  or  missing.  however,  in  atlantis,  they  are  now  known  as  ouroboros  of  gluttony  after  developing  the  ability  to  incorporate  several  reptilian  traits  as  well  as  change  into  a  reptilian  hydrid.  the  agent  has  been  with  pandora  for  seven years  and  is  trusted  for  being  open-minded  &  eloquent,  but  once  reprimanded  for  being  stoic  &  cold-blooded. 

»»»ACCESSING DATABASE«««

»»»PASSWORD REQUIRED«««

»»»CONFIRMED«««

»»»OUROBOROS FILE SELECTED: DO YOU WISH TO PROCEED?«««

»»»Y/N«««

SUBJECT: jang, maxwell CODENAME: Ouroboros

»»» GLUTTONY DIVISION««« Age: Thirty-two DOB: 28th September 1992 Skills: high intelect and capacity to blend in Expertise: investigation, stealth, environment adaptation Proficiencies:  biochemistry and medicine, athletics, perception, acrobatics and evasion, battlefield endurance Substandard areas: intimidation, tactical foresight

Ouroboros possesses the ability to partially or fully change into a reptilian form. While in human form, he has some limited abilities from his reptilian counterpart, such as the ability to camouflage, seek heat signatures, and catch a scent through his tongue.

It is however in his full reptilian form that his powers truly shine, allowing Ouroboros to make use of several different reptilian attributes: ability to fully heal a lost body part, more accurate heat vision, sense of vibrations, scent, full camouflage that turns him virtually invisible, capacity to crush someone in his arms like a boa constrictor, venomous bite like several poisonous snakes, fast reaction to attack and ambushes, ability to remain underwater for long periods like crocodiles, fully extended tongue to capture at a distance , claw retraction, increased resistance and durability due to his scales. Ouroboros is also able to possess the ability to shed his skin in order to fully recover although this appears to leave him vulnerable for a period of time. Other abilities included similar actions taken by different reptile species to ensure their survival.

»»» ACCESSING LIMITATIONS FILE«««

Like all reptilians, Ouroboros is extremely sensitive to cold temperatures, which will render him sluggish if not completely useless under extreme cold weather. Returning to his human form takes longer than going into his reptilian form. Unable to fully vocalize proper words in his reptilian form - thus making communication limited. Shedding his skin leaves him vulnerable for a period of time.

[milk-crater]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY @blizzardsuplex! I hope you had a great day and that the sushi was good! I was too excited to post this, and I can't wait anymore haha. Here's a Roddam fic where the ages are reversed, so a 21-year-old Roddy meets a 27-year-old Adam in ROH. I know when we talked about the idea before we agreed that maybe their friendship would be more of a slowburn in this world, but that didn't exactly pan out--I just like my happy endings :D. I'd also love it if you could help me out with a title so I could post it to AO3 :P Warning for fatphobia.

Roddy’s childhood had engendered him with various gifts. One of them was the ability to be physically present, shoulders square, body language confident, doing whatever it was he needed to do in that space all while his heart and mind were shuttered behind the lead walls of his muscle and bone. This kind of functional detachment had severed him well growing up, especially during those moments when all four members of the household were home and a crackling tension hung in the air. Roddy had learned that to attempt to retreat, to try and make himself small, that would just make him a target. Better to purposefully take up space but in an opaque way, playing with Lego while mom and dad argued.

He used that same air when in the locker room, smiling affably at people who greeted him but never too much too be presumptuous, never too faint to be called unfriendly. He chatted and laughed but that was just audio camouflage. He was still green, still the youngest guy in the company, and he knew that any misstep meant getting some so-called “locker room leader” up in his grill and ready to beat his ass.

Roddy’s stealth work seemed to be paying off. Even most of the ROH hard asses said he was a good worker and “a polite boy.”

But he knew better to relax. So when he heard Chuck Taylor talking shit about him, he didn’t flinch. Didn’t react. But he did listen.

“I’m not saying you’re the chubbiest guy in ROH. That honor goes to Roderick Strong.”

Roderick didn’t react as he pulled kinesiology tape off his own back. He couldn’t help but sneak a glance at the man Chuck was talking to.

Adam Cole. Adam Cole, in Roddy’s eyes, was ROH, the type of cool badass wrestler Roddy aspired to be. The man was only six years older than him, 27 to Roddy’s 21, but he seemed eons older, blue eyes reflecting out a flintiness that was a byproduct of succeeding in the wrestling industry. His had long, brown hair and a thin goatee that just highlighted the fine features of his pretty face.

Adam took Chuck’s comment with a mirthless chuckle, a small sound that hit Roddy like a bullet. He shouldn’t feel so hurt; Cole had barely talked to him aside from welcoming him to the company. But he’d waited so long for further acknowledgement from the man, it seemed like a cruel twist of fate for it to be this.

“But with Roddy, that’s all baby fat,” Chuck said. “It’ll melt off him if he keeps going hard in the gym and in the ring. But you? You’re getting close to thirty, pal. At our age it’s not so easy to lose those pounds once you pick them up.”

It went against every one of his survival instincts, but Roddy couldn’t help but look at Adam again, eyes staying longer this time. It was true that Adam had gained a couple pounds in the last month, and not in the bulking up sense of putting on muscle. He had a bit of a tummy, some love handles, extra flesh that could not be contained by his skimpy wrestling trunks.

Roddy considered his own body. Adam’s fat seemed to pool in ‘problem’ areas: hips, tummy. Roddy just felt big and bloated all over, a layer of flab that covered him like a stifling set of clothes. He figured he wore it well, but now, thanks to Chuck’s comment, he knew that wasn’t the case. Everyone looked at him and saw and fleshy, fat, child. 

“I get it,” Chuck continued, arm on the locker, smile wide and at odds with his sympathetic tone.  “Everyone feels the need to down a pallet of cupcakes after getting dumped. But stuffing your face isn’t going to win back Kevin.”

There was a shift in the room at the comment, and it occurred to Roddy that everyone else had been doing exactly what he was doing, pretending to be busy while listening closely. A month ago, Adam Cole and Kevin Owens had been ROH tag team champs. The two men had met early in their careers and called each other their wrestling soulmate. They formed a tag team called “Beauty and the Beast,” the gimmick being it featured a hot pretty guy and a brawling brute, two opposites. But that was just a feint: the truth was they were the same guy. The same ruthless bastard just in two different shapes. 

And yeah, Roddy had heard they were an item outside of the ring as well. They were pretty blatant about it: when they won the titles, Kevin had carried Adam bridal style out of the ring.

And then they’d lost the titles. And Kevin had won the “who’s a bigger bastard” contest between them by taking a steel chair to Adam’s back.

“But if you want to be ROH world champion, you can’t do it looking like that,” Chuck chided.

Adam had taken this all with a stoicism Roddy admired in an almost academic way, taking mental notes on his posture and expression. Adam nodded as he finished getting dressed. He threw his head back and gathered his hair into a bun.

“Fat or not, Chuck, you’d still hop on my dick if I so much as whistled,” Adam said casually.

Chuck scoffed, looking around the room, trying to make eye contact with someone, anyone, so he could gesture in a Can you believe this guy? way. But no one met his eyes.

Chuck’s smile dropped.

“Ha. You wish, Cole,” Chuck said, but it was weak, a too late kick out. The invisible ref of the locker room had already counted one-two-three, marking this match as a win for Cole. Adam smiled at Chuck, then grabbed his bag and left the locker room, not even glancing Roddy’s way.

For a moment Roddy worried Chuck would switch his focus over to him, but Chuck seemed cowed even with Adam gone. Roddy focused on getting dressed and putting his gear away, saying goodbye to the guys he’d wrestled with that night before leaving the locker room.

Adam Cole was waiting for him outside the building.

“Hey, Roderick,” he said, pushing himself off the brick wall of the armory. “Got a moment?”

Roddy made himself stop and smile. “Sure, Mr. Cole. What can I do for you?”

Adam rolled his eyes. “First off, don’t call me ‘mister.’ I’m not that much older than you.”

Roddy nodded, fidgeting with the strap of his gym bag as he waited for Adam to get to the point.

“Don’t let what Chuck said in there get to you--”

“It didn’t,” Roddy replied, too quick, too cheerful. Adam raised one perfect eyebrow.

“You sure?” Adam said. “Look, Chuck likes to run his mouth. The fact is, he’s really insecure about his own weight, so he’s just loving the fact that I’ve packed on a few pounds lately. That’s the only reason he made a dig at you. It wasn’t personal. You were just caught in the crossfire.”

Roddy let out a huff. “Yeah, well, that doesn’t exactly make me feel any better.”

Adam smiled softly. “I thought it didn’t get to you?”

Roddy shifted his weight from foot to foot, not sure what to say after being caught in a lie.

Adam laughed, an affectionate laugh as if Roddy was his simple but sweet younger brother.

“You’re a nice kid,” Adam said, looking at Roddy with fondness that he suspected was for someone else. Then the smile widened and Adam’s blue eyes sparkled, and it felt like he was actually looking at him. “And you can go in the ring! I watched your match tonight. You were fantastic. Really crisp. The cutter was perfectly executed.”

“You mean it? You actually watched my match?” Roddy said. He hated how nasally his voice got when he was sincere.

“Yeah, of course. I like to keep an eye on my competition. And I keep a real close eye if they’re cute.”

Roddy knew the cute bit was an empty line, just a balm to make Roddy feel better after Chuck’s locker room teasing, but he wasn’t able to withstand the first barrage from Cole’s charm offensive: Adam Cole thinks I’m competition!

“That’s right. Because I’m going after the championship belt too.” He sounded sure of himself, like he was cutting a promo instead of having a friendly chat with a colleague. Roddy was mentally kicking himself for being such a nerd, but Adam just smiled, seemingly pleased by Roddy’s response.

“Glad to hear it.” He gave Roddy a jaunty little salute and started to walk away.

Roddy felt his heart drop. He knew in his bones he couldn’t let it end here. Adam would pat himself on the back for being nice to the newbie and then never think about him again. And that was one of the worst things Roddy could ever imagine.

He wouldn’t let that happen. Even if it meant making himself known, even if it meant stepping up and calling attention to himself.

“Adam!” he called out. “You don’t need Kevin Owens.”

 Adam stopped, the tension in his shoulders the only other indication he’d heard him.

“But if you ever do need someone…maybe I could be that guy.” Roddy didn’t even know what he was saying, what he was pitching.

But Adam seemed to. The older man glanced over his shoulder, a thoughtful smile on his face. He gave Roddy a once over, serious assessment behind his gaze.

“Well, I am down a tag partner, so…I’ll keep you in mind.”

Roddy grinned. In that moment, that’s all he had ever wanted.

“Great, great,” he said, trying to stifle his smile. Adam chuckled and shook his head. Maybe he thought Roddy was a young idiot, but at least now Adam seemed to think of him as a useful idiot. And maybe if they hung out and trained together, who knows?

Adam himself suddenly seemed shy, an out of character look on his face.

“Hey, do you want to come over and do some tape study?” He asked. Roddy straightened up.

“Right now?” he asked incredulously.

Adam waved him off. “Right, stupid idea. You probably already have plans—”

“No, no, I want to do it,” Roddy said. “Let’s go.”

Adam smiled and gave what Roddy thought might be a sigh of relief. “Then let’s hit the road before those other bozos clear out of the locker room.”

Roddy bounded over, a new lightness to his step.

[valve3nthusiast]

Octomer Ratchet is so good. I can imagine any chromatophores he might have going wild while pursuing Drift, if he has any natural camouflage abilities.

Perhaps he plays a game with Drift, hiding among coral and rock formations in order to "sneak up" on him, his usual brights reds and whites distorting to match their environment-- Maybe arousal causes some colour changing as well?

IDK I just really like the idea of Ratchet changing colour (or at least hues) like a mood ring lmao maybe it even frustrates him a bit, like oh no my fucking chromatophores are going to give away this huge crush I have -- he might try to hide in corals or swirl up a bunch of sand with his tentacles initially

If Drift is a land dweller, then maybe they figure out Ratchet is interested in him by studying how Ratch's colours change, and what patterns/colours only appear when Drift is around...

...and maybe Ratchet's attempts at hiding/playing hide and seek (lol) are mistaken for aggression at first, because they don't know why he's doing it

and then they guess it's some kind of broody behaviour, like maybe he's trying to defend a nest or egg clutch that he doesn't really have?? Because Ratchet's grumpy but not usually aggressive and it's weird behaviour from him as far as they're aware. So then he gets a little pity from the facility staff but it's hilarious because he does want to Do It but all the guessing isn't quite right. Like yes it's about Doin It and Eventual Eggs but not in the way they think. Communication Issues lol

"stop giving me extra companion fish out of pity and just give me Drift, do you not see my cream and burgundy-red colouring, is this somehow not clear enough? Oh god here he comes, sand sand sand I need more sand why is this coral so small" no it is not clear to them, Ratchet. lmaooo

Anyway this is earthstellar but Tumblr will only let me send asks from my main blog and not my TF blog lol so ayyy just wanted to say, loving this mer AU situation 🐙💖

This is such a good concept,,, besotted Ratchet accidentally telling on himself with his own colors is genius. Also blushy Ratchet is adorable <3

Hmm a really clear concept just came to me... Security guard Drift at the marine research facility, Ratchet is the only mer there who constantly avoids him, so he just disappointedly assumes he gives Ratchet bad vibes

One night when he's on a skeleton shift, he passes by Ratchet's tank and suddenly notices that something is fucked up with the filtration pumps (or whatever I don't know how aquariums work)

He immediately makes an emergency call to the aquarium techs who are at home. They tell him to get Ratchet moved till someone arrives to fix it. So he's hesitantly going up to the tank like, "hey buddy I know you dont like me, but I gotta pull you out of here for a bit, it's not safe" Ratchet quickly pulls himself right into Drifts arms... and now he's carrying a big squirming octomer. Drift's pretty surprised, but he brushes it off as Ratchet wanting out of his tank

When Drift finally gets to the temporary tank he expects Ratchet to jump from his arms and signal for him to basically fuck off... instead, he goes to put Ratchet down, only to get pulled into the tank with him. Now he's sitting in chest high water, pinned by a heavy wiggling octomer in his lap

For Ratchet, life is good 😎👍

Drift, meanwhile, is mentally repeating "don't get hard" like a mantra, while a purring Ratchet's tentacles caress every inch of his plating. Since it was the middle of the night, they have to wait a good bit for someone who can fix the pumps to get there and make Ratchet's tank safe again...

Maybe, as the hours go on, Ratchet gets a bit friskier... or maybe he just leaves it at intimate exploration, because he's too busy watching Drift whimper and twitch underneath his tentacles <3

[rocklover719]

Redrew my Zorasona, Pebbles!

I see a lot of people saying that Yona’s domain may be a coral reef environment, and I think it would suit Pebbles to be from there as well! She’s a Geologist, and her tentacles (which reach her tailbone) are all functional as individual arms- which is perfect for holding for rocks and tools! I like to think she’s my normal height of 5’2, because octopi can shrink down to squeeze through small cracks. I imagine her small stature would help her hide in the reefs or squeeze around in underwater caves to find the things she’s looking for. I could imagine maybe she has that octopus ability to camouflage ever so slightly.

Perhaps she came to Zora’s Domain with Yona and her entourage. She was definitely convinced because “oooh active continental margin…. subduction zone with resulting volcanic arc ooooh” like any geologist would be. Take a break from the M.O.R.B’s and turbidites, Pebbles. After all, Ledo and Fronk could use some help locating and mining luminous stones.

She also definitely has a thing for guards- wink wink. (But who wouldn’t). And maybe Ledo-

I guess other factors would be she’s a young adult (early 20’s for a Zora), and she’s a biromantic asexual. She’s also afraid of the deep open ocean, the only thing keeping her going down there is the hunt for pillow basalts.