#wide faced darner

[chlorophyll-and-chitin]

Dendroaeschna conspersa

09-MAR-2023

Melbourne, Vic

[across-violet-skies]

Febuwhump day 10: killing in self-defense

Whumpee: Sky

Whump Rating: 5/10

TWs: mild violence, blood, murder, panic, vomiting

They were in Wild’s Hyrule, meandering in the general direction of a stable. It was a beautiful day, sunny and warm and perfect. Gentle breezes ruffled healthy green grass, and dragonflies– Wild called them darners, but either way– zipped through the air, hovering peacefully over the ground.

Sky smiled up at… well, the sky. He closed his eyes, relishing the way the sun beat down on his skin. It reminded him of Skyloft, with the blue skies and the warm sun uninterrupted by clouds. Sky liked Wild’s Hyrule a lot.

A man was standing near the bridge, watching as they approached. Wild narrowed his eyes, tilting his head down so his hair covered his face. Maybe he recognized the person standing there?

“Hey! Aren’t you the hero?” The man shouted, grinning.

Wild lifted his head with a furious scowl. “No,” he spat, wrinkling his nose at the man. “Leave us alone.”

“Right, Link!” Sky watched as the man stepped to the side, squatting down slightly as his grin turned more wicked. “I will take your life!” He shouted. With a puff of smoke and paper scraps, a red, Hylian-like monster appeared, wearing a white mask with an inverted Sheikah symbol covering its face.

Sky, one of the closest people to the monster, wasted no time. Before the monster even had a chance to look at him, Sky was already aiming straight for its chest. The Master Sword sunk into flesh with ease, halting the monster’s attack as blood– red, so not infected– seeped from the fatal wound.

“SKY!” Wild screamed, eyes wide with horror.

Sky ripped the Master Sword out of the monster’s chest, letting it fall limp. “What? What’s going on?”

“It’s dead, Wild, what’s the problem?” Hyrule wondered, just as confused. He hummed, staring at the monster’s body. “Your aches look a lot different than mine.”

Wild shook his head, still shocked. “That’s a Yiga,” he explained. “They’re not… they’re evil, but not… they’re not monsters.”

“...What?” Sky felt his blood run cold as he stared at the body. “No. You don’t mean…”

Wild nodded. “I do.”

Sky dropped his beloved Master Sword, backing away in horror. He collapsed, vomiting into the perfect green grass. He had just killed a person. He was a murderer.

Much like the traveler, Sky had assumed– shouldn’t assume, never assume– that the thing attacking was a monster. Even if it had looked Hylian… no. That was a Hylian person that Sky had killed without a second thought.

The Skyloftian dry heaved, on his hands and knees in the grass. He had murdered an innocent– well, maybe not innocent, but certainly not deserving of death– person! Goddess, he was the monster!

“Sky, Sky, calm down,” Warriors soothed, grimacing. “You’re okay.”

“Warriors,” Sky shook his head, choking on a wet sob. “I killed him!”

The Captain cringed, patting Sky’s back. “It’s okay,” he repeated.

“It’s not! I didn’t- I didn’t know, Wars!” He sucked in frantic breaths, gripping Warriors’ tunic with both hands. “How would I have known? How would I-” He hiccuped, shaking his head. “Wars, I… I…”

“Sky.” Warriors sighed, grabbing both of the knight’s shoulders to ground him. “Listen to me. You didn’t know. You couldn’t’ve known. A lot of us would probably react the same way if we got ambushed like that.”

Wind sat down beside Sky, nodding. “Yeah. I mean, it was pretty awesome how quickly you took him down, too.”

“Wind!” Warriors hissed, shooing the teenager away. “Not helpful!”

“It’s fine,” Sky breathed, closing his eyes. “It’s fine; I’m fine. Let’s just…” He opened his eyes, staring up at the clear blue skies as he blinked tears away.

The beautiful weather felt more mocking than breathtaking, now. How could such terrible events occur on a day like this?

Warriors helped Sky up, and Twilight handed over the discarded Master Sword. Sky gagged, staring at the slick red blood that coated the end of the blade. Hylian blood. A Hylian he had killed.

Sick to his stomach, Sky weakly rubbed the blade in the grass– perfect no longer, lively green dampened by the soul-sucking red of Hylian blood– for once not caring for his beloved sword. He wasn’t sure if he could even stand to wield her again after this. After he had taken a life.

Legend stopped his attempts to remove the blood, silently offering a piece of cloth. Sky accepted it with trembling hands, returning the Vet’s solemn nod.

Four laid a hand on Sky’s back, pressing his lips into a thin smile. “You didn’t know,” he said simply. “You didn’t know.”

“It was just self-defense,” Twilight agreed, approaching the knight with a comforting smile. “Now we know, and it won’t happen again.”

Sky broke down, hugging both Four and Twilight close. He sobbed into the rancher’s shoulder, wetting the thick fur of his wolf pelt. “I’m so sorry,” he murmured, shaking his head. “I don’t want to be a murderer.”

“You’re not, you just…” Four trailed off, shrugging. “It was in self-defense. He attacked first, and you reacted. That’s all.”

“And I killed him,” Sky whispered, gripping Twilight’s tunic. “You saw, you all saw… I’m a monster.”

“No,” the rancher stated firmly. “No, Sky, you’re not. You could never be a monster.”

“I killed a man!”

“In self-defense!” The smithy added. “Which is legal, by the way. It’s more common than you’d think.”

Sky looked at Four miserably, shaking his head. “Doesn’t change the fact that I took a life.”

“It weighs on you,” Legend agreed, sighing. Sky turned to him with red rimmed eyes and skin stained with tears. “It’s not easy to forgive yourself, even when it’s unintentional.”

Sky nodded, both confused and upset by Legend’s insight. “Yeah… it’s a lot different than killing a monster.”

“It aches, doesn’t it?” The Veteran continued, now staring Sky down. “It’s a lot to carry, living with the reality of what you’ve done.” He glanced down at his hands, clenching his fists. “It never really goes away, either.” Legend sighed, closing his eyes.

“It’s terrible. It’s atrocious. It’s… beyond description,” the Skyloftian murmured, shaking his head. “How am I supposed to live with myself knowing what I’ve done?”

Legend shrugged. “You don’t get a choice.”

“You have us for support,” Twilight reminded. “We’ve got your back. It’ll be okay.”

“That guy did try to ambush a group of legendary heroes,” Four pointed out. “Any one of us could’ve done the same thing.”

Sky shrugged. “Maybe. I guess. I just… I feel so guilty, and I know he was evil, but…”

“Yeah,” Legend agreed, interrupting. “It’ll feel like that for a while. You learn to grow around it, though.”

“It’ll be okay,” Twilight added.

Four nodded. “We’ve all got you.”

“Thanks, guys,” Sky murmured, cracking the tiniest of smiles. “I don’t deserve you.”

Twilight slung an arm over the Skyloftian’s shoulder, pulling him in close. “You do. You’re a good person, Sky, and we love you.”

Sky smiled, leaning into his brother. “I love you guys too. Thank you.”

–> support me on ao3!

[kaylakat2]

Now that I've finally gotten around to finishing my saved for later projects, I would like to share my insect pinning magnum opus. A shadow box full of nearly every insect I've ever worked on!

(Close ups and image descriptions below the keep reading. Image description also includes all speculative ids that are present on the labels you can see in the photos, so if you're curious as to what something is check there!)

I started this when I was still super new at the hobby, so some specimens are better preserved than others, but it's nice to see my improvement with all of them together. It's also nice to see a sort of representation of all the insect life around me with them.

A lot of these are also in rough shape since I scavenge all of my specimens (usually dead or dying), or am given scavenged specimens, and very few of them were raised or captured for the purpose of pinning. I think this definitely adds to the fun of the hobby though, since each one has a pretty unique story about how it was found or acquired.

Most ID's are also still subject to change and some are still speculative, since I do all my own research for them and am definitely not perfect.

[Image ID: One wide shot image of a black board with various insects displayed on it, with small hand written labels next to, above, or below each specimen. 8 images follow as close ups of each group of specimens. The first displays a painted lady butterfly, scientific name cynthia, next to two tomato hornworm moths, scientific name Manduca quinquemaculata, with two june beetle, scientific name cotinis nitida, and ten striped june beetle, scientific name polyphylla decemlineata, underneath. The second displays a white lined sphinx moth, scientific name hyles lineata, next to a nevada buckmoth, scientific name hemileaca nevadensis, and a monarch butterfly, scientific name danaus plexippus. The third displays two clear winged grasshoppers, scientific name camnula pellucida. The fourth displays two california mantis, scientific name stagmomantis californica, one is displayed on its back, the other on its belly. The fifth and sixth display two views of two scorpions, both either yellow ground scorpions, scientific name Paravaejovis confusus, or arizona bark scorpions, scientific name centraroides sculpturatus. The seventh displays a common green darner dragonfly, scientific name anax junius, and a shed dragonfly nymph exoskeleton. The eighth displays the exoskeleton of a giant water bug, scientific name abedus indentatus, next to a digger bee, scientific name anthophora spp, with a yellow faced bumble bee, scientific name bombus vosnesenskii, next to the digger bee. Below these three specimen are two other bee specimen, a western carpenter bee, scientific name xylocopa californica, and a valley carpenter bee, scientific name xylocopa varipunctata, as well as a yellow legged mud dauber wasp, scientific name sceliphron caementarium. End ID]

[everystephoftheway]

ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVES BIIIIIITCH YOU KNOW I’M A SLUT FOR IT!!!!

i'm sure this isn't what you imagined when you sent the meme but this is what i came up with sooooo enjoy!

25 ɦσƭ ƭɦเɳɠร σɳℓყ ɦσƭ ૮ɦα૨α૮ƭε૨ร ∂σ

“Link! Link, you must come look!”

The young swordsman is barely awake, head still heavy from a long night’s sleep, but he is not surprised to hear Zelda, bright and chipper, call him from outside. She usually rose with the sun, energized by curiosity and an unending desire to offer aid and support to her kingdom.

It had been just eight months since they finally rid the land of Calamity Ganon, and while Link was ready to rest for another one hundred years, Zelda was ready to put her feet to the ground, begin restoring Hyrule to what it once was. So, of course, he follows her. It is the only thing he knows how to do.

He pulls his Champion’s tunic over his mess of hair, deciding to leave it down today, though his hair band remains on his wrist. The tunic is paired with the pants he has from Kakariko village, fabric tight but easy to move in, secured with a leather brown belt and adorned with Shekiah branded shin guards. 

“Link, hurry!”

There’s an edge in Zelda’s voice that makes Link’s shoulders stiffen. Grabbing the Master Sword in its sheath, he runs out of their tent, eyes frantically scanning the terrain as they adjust to the bright light of the sunrise. Zelda’s standing at the edge of the river, and, without thought, Link grabs the back of her hood and tugs her behind him, stance wide as he looks for whatever danger must be near. 

“Link!” There’s a small huff as Zelda’s bum hits the ground, dirt dusting up her trousers, and a quick shuffling follows as she gets back to her feet. “Link, there’s no danger.” 

It takes him only a moment to realize she is right: other than the quiet shifting of grass in the breeze, the lapping of the river water, and the hum of darners’ wings, there is nothing. Sunrays stretch onto Hyrule Field, warming the ground underneath their feet, the ground that is no longer scourged by Guardians. There are still some monsters here and there, but it seems since Calamity Ganon was vanquished the ones that were left were truly the only ones left; there hadn’t been a single blood moon in months. 

Link puts the Master Sword on his back and turns, slowly, to look at his friend, charge, Queen, and glares at her the way only a friend and protector can. Zelda’s expression is sheepish, though she is still smiling softly, hands cupped together just underneath her chin. 

“There were some staminoka bass just in front of our camp. I was thinking they might make a good breakfast.” 

With his heartbeat starting to slow, the adrenaline fading, Link’s hard exterior starts to melt. She is excited about fish. Fish, such a plentiful resource in Hyrule, something that he doesn’t think twice about when he crosses rivers or stabs a few with a spear for lunch. He turns back to the river and looks into the clear water, seeing that the aforementioned staminoka bass are still there, mindlessly swimming in the gentle currents. Link walks forward, his foot falls extra quiet, almost like he isn’t moving at all, and as his feet enter the water he starts to roll his sleeves up until they reach above his elbow. He wades in until he is knee deep, his eyes trained on the fish swimming around him, hair framing his face but thankfully not blocking his view. 

“Link?”

“Shh.”

He watches for a few seconds more before he strikes both hands in the water, sharp and swift like a spear. When he pulls them out, he is holding a fish in each hand, flopping and trying desperately to jump back into the water. He walks back to land and holds one of the fish out to Zelda who, despite a moment of hesitation, takes it and holds it tight against her chest.

“I’ll get a fire going.”

There’s a smile Link can’t quite resist as he watches Zelda struggle to walk with the fish, and she finally throws it on the ground next to their unlit campfire. With his fish firm in his hand, Link reaches for a spear standing against their tent and makes quick work of putting the fish out of their misery.

“Thank you,” Zelda says and Link nods, twirling the spear a time or two before he cleans the fish blood off with his shin guards. He looks up when he hears Zelda clear her throat and cough, her cheeks a bit red. 

The fire hasn’t started yet, and Link tilts his head, curious what happened.

“Oh, I’m fine,” she assures him. “I was just…You know, that’s quite a good look on you.” She points to his still rolled sleeves, and his toned forearms which are now in view. “It is significantly more practical, I think.” 

Link glances down at his arms, skin wet, gives a little shrug, and sits down to start fileting the fish for their breakfast. He leaves his sleeves as they are, glancing up occasionally to find Zelda staring.

[starsfic]

(More of the Parlay scene) Upon being asked of her name by Toffee, Anne tells him she's a maid in the governor's household and hands over the wand... only to realize that the Winged Darner is about to depart Port Wartwood with her still on it.

"Wait!" Anne yelped, scrambling to the side. The ship was moving! "Wait, I thought-"

"Apologies, miss." the captain called over his shoulder, considering the wand. "But since you aren't the person we're looking for, we're keeping you." At her gape, he shrugged. "To draw them out."

Okay, she was out. Anne yanked herself over the edge, heading for the water. They weren't too far from the port, she could-

Then firm hands grabbed her wrist. She yelped as she was lifted up, face to face with Hater. "Sorry, miss." the skeleton said, dropping her to the deck. Despite his words, he was smirking. Anne bit back a scream.

No. No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening! She was being kidnapped! Oh, why didn’t she think this through? Things couldn’t possibly get worse!

Then Hooty came up behind Anne, wrapping himself around her, and said happily, “Oh boy, oh boy! C’mon, Anne! I’ve always wanted someone to talk with! Hoot hoot!”

She followed, unsure of what else to do.

At the deck, Commodore Sasha Waybright watched with wide eyes. "Commodore!" someone called behind her. She whirled around to stare down Captain Slyvia.

"Get every ship out there!" she ordered.

"Wait, but-"

"No buts! We need to find Anne Boonchuy, now."

[galacticbugman]

Dragonfly Adventures #1

When I am out on an insect adventure I always seem to wind up looking at things that look like they are from a science fiction world. Many of the creatures in the bug world have really peaked my interest but the Dragonflies are one of my absolute favorite insects. We even have a Dragonfly as the Texas Master Naturalist mascot (the Cyrano Darner) I think Dragonflies have a true beauty to them and I love to photograph them. Not only the Dragonflies but their close cousins the Damselflies. Both are in the genus Odonata which translates to “Toothed-ones” Dragonflies come in all different shapes, shades, and sizes and I have been very lucky to meet several of them when on my travels and adventures in nature and I would like for you to meet a few of them so lets see what we can find, shall we.

As the sun sinks low it is time for the Darners to rest after a whole day of hunting on the wing. This guy is called the Swamp Darner. One of the biggest I have seen; the Swamp Darner here was found at a place down in the woodlands of Texas called Jesse H. Jones Nature Center. I went out there a couple of years back and I must say this was a cool place. This guy was spotted by my aunt who has a pretty sharp eye when I don’t notice things. This guy was trying to take a snooze but at one point he took off and buzzed me a couple of times and at one point I thought he was going to land on me. This is a male and he was on a really nice boardwalk trail that was surrounded by tree knees, dense forest, and a lot of Spanish moss. That is one thing I like about south Texas you get to see a lot of nice bits of moss and things that animals can take refuge in. This guy almost blended in perfectly with his surroundings. He was a really dark color with only hints of a blueish green on his abdomen stripes. He is one of the many species I have seen down there. When I am looking for Dragonflies I always like to go near water to look for them but this guy was not anywhere near water. The boardwalk was on a creek system but no recent waters had come in the area so it was pretty dry. This is one of my favorite shots of any dragonfly. This is how they sleep they will latch on to a tree limb or something and just hang around until it is time to hunt again. 

Back up near where I live is a place called Crystal Canyon Natural Area. In that park there is a little creek system that runs through it. On one of the bridges I stopped to look at some of the limbs for Dragonflies. In the hot summer time if you are out in the trail and you come across a tangle of branches out by a pond or water way always keep your eyes peeled for dragonflies perch on the native vegetation. This is called a Great Spreadwing Damselfly. Not a dragonfly but it is pretty large. There are a few things you need to know about Odonata to better understand their physical appearance to distinguish what you are looking at. One is that Dragonflies are more stocky and fatter and tend to fly more strongly in the air; they also have broader wings and more of a rounded head. Damselflies tend to be much more skinny than their bigger cousins, they have a head that is triangulated with two bulbous eyes that stick out on either side of its head they also tend to have more a dance more than just sheer force when they fly. They tend to bounce and twirl around when they take to the sky. Most Damsels sit with their wings closed unlike Dragonflies which when at rest sit with their wings open. Unless you are this guy you have have your cake and eat it too. The Spreadwing is what I call a rule breaker and it is a special kind of Damselfly that sits with its wings at a slight ventricle. The Great Spreadwing is the biggest we have here in Texas and it is my favorite of all the Damselflies I have seen. It is large and has the most remarkable coloration to it. I love the emerald green patches on its back; when the sun hits it just right it shines just like it was metallic. 

Since we are on the topic of Spreadwings here is another one that I photographed on one my recent outings at Elmer W. Oliver Nature Park in Mansfield Texas. This one was on one of the more densely forested areas out by Walnut Creek out by the Bluebonnet patch. This guy flew right in front of me and I knew what it was when it landed. This one is much smaller than the last one; this guy is known as the Southern Spreadwing. It is pretty cool too with a more darker color scheme going on than the Great Spreadwing. This one is just a touch smaller but still a fairly good size and is easily identified when in the good light. I was kind of in a shady area so it took me longer to get a good enough photo to see what kind of Spreadwing he was. 

 Okay so I just post two photos of what look like two different damselflies. Are they different species or are they the same? Well actually these are both American Ruby Spots. The redder one is the male and the more emerald one is the female. Sometime these guys like to throw a curve ball and will make you think that you have another species. We animals that have two different color patterns sexually dimorphic. It is just a fancy way of saying that the males look different than the ladies and the ladies look totally different than the guys. If you ever go out to the Lake Lewisville Environmental Learning Area in Texas take a walk down the Bittern Trail that is right next to the river in the summer time. You can most likely see this species in the sunny patches by the river’s banks. These guys like to dance in the grass and other plants that are around there. There are so many species to talk about on my end. Let us meet one I met in Travis County a couple of years back shall we. 

Here is one I got at one of the Metro Parks outside Austin meet the Flag-tailed Spinyleg. These are one heck of a Dragonfly to look at. This one is in the family of Clubtails. Some of the largest Dragonflies of Texas come from this group including my personal fave the Dragonhunter which I have not photographed yet. There was also another flying about that day as well, observe if you will... 

This one is called the Four-striped Leaftail. I have a hard time with the names of these because they are so close together and I often just have to wait until I get some kind of confirmation on iNaturalist before I am convinced. There are many different kinds of Club Tails most do sport a lot of back and yellow coloration but also notice their tails if you will. At the end of their tail which is their abdomen is a huge knob. These are what gives this type their name. There are a few others like this one for instance I found a little closer to home at a place called Cliff Nelson Recreation Center. 

This is the third Clubtail on my life list and it is a little smaller than the previous two. This one is called the Jade Clubtail. This guy is a little greener than most of its kind but is still just as pretty. I saw this one last summer on one of the hottest days of the year. That is one thing about insects the more hotter and more uncomfortable you are the more they will be out. It is fun to hunt for these guys but you have to have a wide brim hat to keep the sun off of you, a cold bottle of water with you in a canteen or something, then you need sunscreen too. Some times I will bring a bandanna with me or an extra rag to get wet so I can wipe my face and neck when I get too much sweat or when I need to cool off. Insect hunting can be easy but if you are really into it like I am and want to see a lot of species all around then you have to bring along a little gear to make the trip a little more easier on ya. I wouldn’t have it any other way though. Dragonflies are one of my favorite groups of insects and I love to watch them zip around the pond. Lets look at some more of these winged beauties before I close the gate on this blog post. 

One that I always look for on the pond around late summer to early fall are these guys. These winged beauties are one of my all time favorites and they are not even that big. The Halloween Pennant is one of the most beautiful and appealing Dragonflies I have ever come to face to face too. I used to go to TCC South Campus in Arlington and they have a pond out there well in recent years when I have free time I go back to that pond year after year and get observations for it and they get droves of these every year that I have been there. That pond is one of my favorite places to go to at all times of the year. It is great for birds all year round and good for plants in the spring and the insects in the spring, summer and late fall. I spend a lot of time in Arlington since I got to school and live here. I tend to go to a lot of old stomping grounds at many different times of year just to see what I can find during all four seasons. I don’t go to the old campus to often I spend a lot more time at the one I currently go to which is South Campus. There are a lot of Dragonflies there too but not as many as I have seen at Southeast. For some reason they like that pond a lot more than the on at the campus I go to now. Still seeing these in the summer is really neat they are very easy to recognize and come in great numbers. 

One of the coolest and most rewarding Dragonfly chases of my life would have to be when I photographed this guy. It took me about ten minutes to wait until this Twelve-spotted Skimmer got situated for a picture. Sometimes you just have to be patient and wait for your target to land. Sometimes there are some species that just don’t cooperated like your Baskettails and things. The Skimmers are more forgiving and will let you take photo of them landing. This guy was at Elmer W. Oliver at the second pond when I found him. He was flying back and forth and would not settle. I would get my camera in focus but when I would be ready to take the shot he would fly off and then I would have to chase him down again. Normally I give these guys at a fairly good distance. Giving an animal distance is a great way to make them less afraid of you. Sometimes that is all you can do but this guy had too much energy but there was the one point when this photo was taken when he did finally sit still and the reward was the glamour shot. Sometimes patients and persistence does pay off. For me this was the first shot I ever got of this particular species of Dragonfly. It was a really cool capture after a heated chase around the pond. Sometimes in the science field you have to look like an idiot to make some things work. It is something we don’t mind though. Shoot I do all kinds of crazy things to get what I need for citizen science but that is okay. Sure people may think I am weird and crazy like I have lost my gourd but heck I don’t really care what people think of me when I am out doing this stuff. 

 And last but certainly not least I want to draw your attention to this little guy. There are about three species of Dragonfly that are sure to be out any old summer day in North Texas. This guy is one of them; meet the Blue Dasher. Yet small and common they are one that is good to warm up on. There is not a shortage of them at the ponds that I go to. They are out there all the time. There are also Eastern Pondhawks and Eastern Amberwings which are our Smallest Dragonfly which patrol the ponds as often as these guys do. The pond is a great place to visit weather you are having a picnic by one, out doing a bit of fishing, or just enjoying the serenity of it all. As for me I am always out looking at the bugs around the pond because that is what I do best. Dragonflies are predatory insects and eat other bugs but even thought they are said to be the most adaptable predator of the pond they are still very pretty in their own right. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but Dragonflies and Damselflies are some of the ponds most treasured gems. They are a sign of resilience and power. They are a truly remarkable and have been on this planet even when the dinosaurs roamed the earth. They are ancient creatures and are one of nature’s greatest success stories.  For now I am Zachary Chapman I will see you on the trail.     

[minsyal]

[Revali x Reader, Mutual Feelings Pt. 4]

Summary: wtf bro, do you hate me or not?

Part 3

“I’ll miss you.” The meek voice was a deadening unpleasant sound. It was sad and full of dread, as if all the life had been sucked from their being. As if there was nothing left to hold on to, as if there was nothing left worth living for.  

“But I’ll never leave, you know that.”

“The necklace?” They said while reaching up toward their collarbone where the jewelry resided. They fumbled with it for a moment, simply rolling it in their hand. Their eyes closed slowly as if they never intended to open them again.

“As long as you wear it, I swear I’m always here.” The sotto voce voice replied gently, a hand reaching for their forehead. It was burning like a raging fire. Their face was flushed, missing that twinkle that once radiated from their body. It was terrible to see them go through this. It couldn’t-

You woke with a slick line of sweat coating your forehead. Wiping it from your brow, you hastily threw your feet over the side of the bed, quickly stuck them into your shoes and laced your boots. The thin cotton sheet flew like a ghost and landed haphazardly at the foot of the bed. The man behind the counter seemed startled by your sudden outburst, his eyes were wide as he watched curiously with his arms propped on the counter top. Choosing to ignore him, you neatly laid the sheets and comforter down. Then left.

The day was far different from the last. The sun had barely risen over the horizon, the dusk still lingered around like a smog in a polluted city. Rito Village was not lively yet, as the only ones awake were the warriors who were heading out for another day of training. From your spot, you could barely make out the shape of Daruk sleeping soundly in the Inn. At the top of the village, Revali stood in his home with his back facing you. He was awake early, but as he said it, “the early bird gets the worm.” Either that, or he slept in a very odd position.

The temperature had dropped considerably which prompted you to retrieve your gloves and a worn cotton scarf that was red in color. While it would be nice to adorn a blue one with the royal crest on it, you weren’t important enough to receive one. Though, for those who are, it’s a true honor and should be worn proudly. The Champions all wore the cloth, showing that they were of true value to the land. After all, they were supposed to save everyone from the Calamity.

Walking quickly, you made it back to the Village with time to spare. A few others had woken and were making their ways to the various shops around to stock their homes for the coming day. A shopkeeper smiled in your direction, to which you smiled back and gave a curt nod.

A particular bird caught your eye, actually two birds. Two love birds, maybe? Seoi stood on one of the landings, talking lively to a male Rito. He was tall, much taller than Revali. He looked a lot like a bird derived from a parrot. His feathers were bright and colorful, laid against a snow white belly. Like the others, a chest piece and shoulder pads were worn on his torso. A pair of brown trousers were held up by a very stylish golden belt. Seoi was absolutely fawning over him, and he seemed very interested in her as well. A moment later, he bid her farewell and took to the sky.

“I approve.” You said from your spot. Seoi turned on her heel and hid her face behind her wing, embarrassed.

“Have you been watching me the entire time?”

“Just for a second.”

“Hmph.” She rolled her eyes and made her way over, “well how was the Inn last night? Too expensive for my taste, but it’s the only place for travelers.”

“I stayed at the stable. No beds left.”

“You walked all the way to the stable? [Name], you know my door is always open.”

“Wouldn’t that have been breaking and entering? I believe you were sound asleep by the time I finally moved.” You joked, following her as she guided you back toward the staircase.

“Breaking and entering charges,” she held one wing out, “a comfortable place to sleep,” she held out the other. Her arms swayed for a moment like a scale, weighing the options of developing a criminal record or being well rested. “I think… comfortable place to sleep wins.”

The rest of the day carried on like any other, boring. Keumi was off playing with some of her new friends at Warbler’s Nest. Seoi was with them, making sure nobody got into too much trouble. Which meant you were left to aimlessly follow the Champions around as they did nothing particularly interesting.

“We leave in one hour.” Zelda proclaimed. Supposedly there were shrines in the Hebra Mountains that she wanted to seek out and document without the knowledge of her father. You weren’t one to argue, it was going to have to be done anyway.

“[Name]?” Her voice reached out and grabbed you before you could leave.

“Yes?”

“Prepare elixirs. They’ll need to last for a considerable amount of time – two days maybe three.” A fake smile was stapled to her face and her eyes wide as if saying “try me.” It would take more than an hour to brew potions for everyone, let alone to find the ingredients. Your tongue ran roughly across the inside of your cheek then crossed over your teeth. You refrained from rolling your eyes and replied with a strained flat voice, “Alright, princess.”

It would be far more productive to just tailor Snowquill Tunics for everyone, but that was obviously too difficult. Link and Zelda were the only two who had them. Urbosa and Daruk couldn’t fit into them and it would be easier for Mipha to go without. The clothes would just weigh her down in the water.  

“Warm Darner, monster parts, warm darner, monster parts…” repeating the words, you quickly ran for the stable, desperately hoping the merchants were still there. Surely they had some. The grass crunched beneath your boots, leaving small impressions on the ground. Just outside the entrance, a small group of people stood around. Judging by the large backpacks, horses and donkeys piled high with merchandise and the fact that it looked like they were bartering, you determined that they were exactly who you were looking for.

“Morning,” You came to a screeching halt, the merchants turned to you waiting to give their pitches. One began to open his mouth before you held out a hand, stopping him. “I’m looking for Warm Darners, Sizzlewing Butterflies, and monster parts. Any and all.”

“Well, I’ve got some!” The man said joyously, his arm immediately plunging into his bag as he retrieved the goods. “I do too!” A woman said while jogging to her donkey. Everyone was frantically investigating their bags one by one in search of the bugs. You fished out a dirty old pouch that contained your savings.

“I’m paying the same amount to everyone. 10 for each bug, 5 for each part, no more no less.” The merchants eagerly nodded before piling you high with the ingredients. By the time you had paid everyone off, you had nearly wiped out your rupee supply, but you had enough for everyone.

There was not enough time to go back, so you opted to just use the cooking pot nearby. Sitting down, you mentally cursed yourself for not picking up any vials. Sighing, you plopped down on the ground and began dumping in the ingredients. You used a stone pestle to mash the ingredients up and a wooden spoon to turn them in the pot. The brew slowly turned from a rancid brown to a more desirable red color. Bubbles surfaced at the top and popped, sending little drops of the steaming liquid straight into your face. Ignoring the searing pain that came with each drop, you continued on. The elixir smelled of pepper, but had pleasing undertones of sugar and nutmeg. It was an odd smell, one that was easily discernable from any other.

“There’s my,” he let out a thundering cough, “the little researcher.” A chipper voice caught your attention. Revali landed on the ground next to you and sat himself on an empty log. He leaned forward, focusing on the bubbling pot. His eyes squinted and he inhaled deeply. Visibly revolted, he jerked backward and began fanning his wing in front of his face. “What on earth is that abomination?”

“It’s the spicy elixir.”

“Are you brewing it incorrectly?”

“No, it’s supposed to smell like that.”

“Like a dying animal?”

“Yes.”  You spun the spoon around in the pot, watching as the bubbles slowed and the liquid slowly became thicker.

“Well,” he stopped fanning himself and stared intently at you, “that,” he pointed at the pot, “is disgusting.”

“Good thing you don’t have to drink it then. It’ll all be for Urbosa, Daruk and Mipha.”

“Oh? You’re making this vile concoction and not even ingesting it yourself? You plan on submitting my acquaintances to that kind of torture?”

“Revali, can you just go away for once?”

All you heard was a simple “hmph” before the sound of flapping wings echoed from the canyon walls. He had left. The brew bubbled and bubbled, and changed colors at an accelerated rate. You watched as the vibrant yellow changed to a fiery orange and finally to a burning red.

“Hey!” Your focus was on the merchants who were still gathered in a circle. A deafening whistle escaped your lips as you waved your arm signaling them to come over.

“I need a bag, and a lot of vials. I have 100 rupees left to my name, and I’ll give them to whoever can give me what I need first.”

Eagerly the merchants dug through their bags again and thrust their arms out to you. You threw over the last of your money and then began spooning the elixir into the vials. Popping the corks into them, you set them neatly into the bag, secured it on your side, and hurriedly made your way back to the Rito Village.

“You’re in a hurry.” Seoi hovered above, speaking with a certain pep in her voice that was not there before.

“I’ll be gone for the next few days, two or three? Who knows?” You continued toward the staircase. “I’ve got to catch up with the Champions before they leave.”

“They just left.” She landed and caught your arm, “Just a little while ago, I saw them heading toward the flight range and Rosopro Pass.”

“Are you kidding me?” You stopped and threw your arms into the air. Nobody had even given you a warning. You didn’t even get to pack your things! “Okay, well then I’ll be running.”

“Just let me take you there. I’ve got wings for a purpose, you know?”

You had never flown with a Rito before, you had actually never flown before. It was an experience. A sense of freedom overcame you. All the troubles of life, the Calamity, the stress, they all seemed to melt into nothingness. For once, you felt at ease. The wind was coasting through your hair causing it to trail behind like a dragon’s tail. Is this how Dinraal, Farosh, and Naydra must feel as they circle around Hyrule.  The ground became a distant memory and all you wanted to do was soar. You almost didn’t want to go back after this. Maybe Seoi would just keep flying forever. This all came to an end when the Champions were within view. They looked like ants, all collected together just below the cliff side. Seoi changed her direction, flying at an angle to eventually come to a stop. She landed gracefully, then knelt down to let you off. The vials in your bag clinked together like wine glasses at a toast. A hand hastily covered them, holding them down until they were settled.

“Have fun.” She smirked. “I’m off!” She went sprinting toward Lake Totori. Her wings pumped up and down, thrusting herself up into the sky.

“Glad you finally made it.” Zelda was the first to speak, she eyed your bag. “Good, you have the potions.” Her eyes glanced backward, looking up the path into the blanket of snow.

“May I suggest we split up?” Revali piped up, only causing Urbosa to groan.

“You know if we do that, somebody is going to end up hurt.” She rolled her eyes, “We should stay together.”

“Are we all supposed to go swim in Lake Kilsie then?” He deadpanned.

“We’re going to stay as a group.” Zelda spoke, “well, as much as we can. For now, let’s go.”

Zelda led the charge, her snow boots leaving imprints in the thick white slush. She and Lin were clad in snow quill attire, seemingly unbothered by the blistering cold that was surrounding the group. Urbosa was wearing something quite different as well. A jacket covered her torso rather than her typical armored bra. Her blue slip skirt had been replaced with a pair of brown pants and her heels were now boots. Mipha had a lined cloak wrapped around her body and a pair of boots protecting her feet. Daruk acted unbothered by the temperature change. Though, he did request a few vials to keep on him in case he got chilly. Revali had a natural resistance, having lived in the Rito Village for his entire life, he was apt to the negative temperatures.

“What’s wrong, scientist? Can’t handle the cold?” Revali brushed past you, knocking your shoulder with his own.

You groaned. All of your gear was back at the village, your coat, your gloves, your boots, your food rations, they were all left there. What were you supposed to do? Did any of the Champions honestly believe you had anything on your person? Your satchel only consisted of your notebook, a piece of graphite, your now empty coin pouch, and a ribbon to pull your hair back. The bag of elixirs slowly dwindled down as Urbosa and Mipha collected their share to hold onto. You had held a few back for yourself, though you had only made enough for the three of them.

The skin on your exposed arms dried slowly throughout the day, becoming ashy and coated in frost. You had used one elixir, which helped warm you up, but did not protect you from the environment. Little white particles were attached to your skin, building up and eventually looking like you were wearing another shirt beneath your tan one. At this rate, frost bite would set in and you would have to amputate your limbs.

“You seriously could have warned me. Maybe a little heads up?” Your teeth had gone nearly flat from grinding.

“I did come to give you a,” he air quoted, “’heads up.’”

“You call that a warning? Showing up to bother me?”

“Precisely.”

“He packed a bag for you, you know.” Urbosa placed a guiding hand on your shoulder, turning your attention to the bundle that was attached to his shoulder. You had assumed it was his. “Hand it over.” She said calmly, holding her other hand out expectantly.

Given the fact that he did not move, it was quite obvious he had no intention of complying with her request. Instead, he shrugged and twisted his shoulder so the bag disappeared behind his back. A smug grin spread across his face. So he had known you were potentially dying, and did nothing to help?

“Just clarify,” he leaned forward and swiped the rope that held the bag together, “I didn’t pack this for you.”

The small rucksack flew at your face, only to be nixed and caught by Urbosa who had much faster reflexes than you. She reached inside, retrieving your snowquill tunic and offering it to you with an extended arm. It was definitely yours. The shirt was the same pastel white with small scuffs of grey littering its surface. The corset-like chest piece was a dark brown to match the pants. A tiny trinket that Keumi had found was attached to the hip and one of her feathers was sewn into the shoulder. There was no doubt about it.  

“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Revali.” Urbosa strolled away, catching up with the other Champions leaving you alone with the bird. She immediately joined their conversation and tossed you a wink before completely turning around.

“Who did you pack this for then?” A silvery sweet tone danced toward him, causing him to turn up his beak. With no answer, he took off and disappeared into the static white of the Hebra Mountains.

 hoo boy it’s gonna get wild. Sorry in advance, but not really. ;) 

[robertshugartca]

I am, admittedly, a creature of habit. Once I discover something...

I am, admittedly, a creature of habit. Once I discover something that works for my wardrobe, I wear it to death. I personally find this to be a positive trait for a few reasons. First, from an environmental standpoint, if you take the time to invest in pieces you can wear on repeat, you’re reducing potential waste. Second, if you’re interested in cultivating your own personal style, mixing and matching items that speak to your own aesthetic helps build a style uniform . Third, there’s a sense of financial satisfaction that comes from getting a ton of mileage out of your purchases.

All that to say when I buy something you are bound to see me wearing it for many, many months to come. Since January 1, I’ve followed this “habit” and worn a handful of pieces that have made getting dressed every day easier and more fun. They range from essentials like underwear and basic T-shirts to splashier separates including a statement bag by an of-the-moment label to cute sheer socks that can be worn year-round. Ahead, see the 19 items in question, and if any of them stand out to you, join the bandwagon and shop them for your own wardrobe.

When I tell you I wear these khaki pants (pictured above) at least three times I week, I am not exaggerating. The high waist combined with cropped hems and a wide-leg silhouette all come together to make these so flattering and delightfully versatile. Plus, they feel slightly more dressed-up than an everyday pair of jeans. SVNR designer Christina Tung uses found, reused, upcycled, and natural materials to create her vibrant earrings. I’ve swapped out my gold hoops for the time being and replaced them with these beauties. They look like little pieces of rock candy, no? All winter long, I wore my favorite black wool coat from Aritzia. Now that temperatures are cooling down, I’ll be hanging that one in the closet and rotating in this ultra-chic trench. Because I’m a freelance writer, I need a professional bag to keep all of my belongings organized. This polished work tote has been a literal lifesaver. I adore a sheer sock styled with everything from sneakers to penny loafers to strappy sandals; these guys from Darner have been in my drawer for the last several months, and I can’t wait to experiment with more colors and prints. I’ve been really invested in finding sustainable fashion brands lately, and this newly launched unisex sunglasses label crafts eyewear from materials like reforested softwood trees, sand, and minerals. Plus, the shapes and colors are all sleek and versatile, which is always a bonus. I wore Labucq’s snake-effect ankle boots all fall and winter long, and now that spring is finally here, I’ll be trying the texture via the Los Angeles label’s slide sandals. This indie jewelry brand lets you personalize its disc necklaces with your initials—I’ve been wearing mine every day because it layers nicely with other jewelry and stands alone beautifully, too. If you enjoy a nighttime ritual that includes candles, face masks, and other luxurious indulgences, might I suggest adding this silk slip to the mix? I wear it every evening, and simply put, it makes me feel fancy. Madewell has always done a great pair of overalls, and this white iteration is my current favorite. Style them with a puff-sleeve blouse and a pair of low-heel sandals for a dreamy spring look. I’ve only been able to wear this swimsuit to the spa so far, but with hot weather around the corner (not to mention a couple of vacations booked!), I can’t wait to test drive this one-piece under the sun. The fabric is ultra-soft and the silhouette is so flattering. Nanushka is killing the accessory game as of late, and this little pink duffel will continue to accompany me to all dinners, parties, and everything in between. Though I tend to go for a more neutral palette, I strongly believe in a pop of color; right now, it’s this kiwi-green sheer blouse from NEED. I practice yoga around three to four times a week, and up until getting this matching set from Nylora, I never did it without a tank top layered on top. The fit and fabric make me feel comfortable enough to take my classes in just a sports bra and leggings, and I haven’t looked back. I don’t usually go for mesh underwear, but these thongs have changed my mind. They’re ultra soft, and there’s the perfect amount of stretch (aka they don’t cut into the sides of my waist at all).  This affordable chunky ring has been on my right hand for the last several months (through many-a-showers), and it hasn’t turned me green to date. If that’s not a testament to the quality of a piece of jewelry, I don’t know what is! In case you were curious, I’m team fanny pack. If you’re in need of a new everyday white tee, make it this one. It’s lightweight, but the quality of the cotton is delightful. Plus it’s a little boxy, so you can wear it with jeans, over a slip dress, or tucked into a cute skirt. I saw a girl on the subway wearing these sneakers and tapped her on the shoulder to find out who they were by. I had to overcome a bit of shyness, but I’m grateful I did! Hair clips are my favorite accessory trend at the moment, and Valet does a slew of cheeky, playful versions. These seashells are top-notch. If you need to stock up on more essentials for the season, don’t miss the 12 spring items Angelina Jolie’s stylists recommends .

source https://gothify1.tumblr.com/post/184333805485

[irenten]

Too Faced. by trenyce featuring gold home decor ❤ liked on Polyvore

Stella Jean red blouse, 31.400 RUB / Purple top, 5.035 RUB / AlexaChung t shirt, 6.675 RUB / Stripe shirt, 1.695 RUB / Chloé high-waisted pants, 27.775 RUB / Proenza Schouler high-waisted pants, 29.915 RUB / Rejina Pyo wide leg jeans, 17.425 RUB / Missoni socks, 6.780 RUB / Banana Republic white pencil skirt, 5.545 RUB / Chicwish short skirt, 2.245 RUB / Miss Selfridge clothing, 1.980 RUB / Darner ankle socks, 2.355 RUB / Hansel from Basel crew socks, 620 RUB / Yellow shoes, 7.920 RUB / Reebok vintage shoes, 6.930 RUB / Louise et Cie wide shoes, 2.825 RUB / Beige boots, 3.110 RUB / Platform shoes, 2.600 RUB / Louis Vuitton leather man bag, 92.915 RUB / Red backpack, 6.280 RUB / Leather bag, 565 RUB / Valentin Magro drop earrings, 243.270 RUB / Moschino silver chain necklace, 6.255 RUB / Amarilo 14k earrings, 6.815 RUB / Star necklace, 1.300 RUB / Pin brooch, 680 RUB / Nordstrom Rack sterling silver jewellery, 450 RUB / Chanel white belt, 73.265 RUB / Gucci eyeglass, 58.555 RUB / Louis Vuitton silk scarve, 20.660 RUB / Gucci glasses, 14.915 RUB / Diane Von Furstenberg scarve, 2.830 RUB / Beret hat, 1.415 RUB / Cap hat, 790 RUB / Supreme mens white shirt, 116.925 RUB / Eleventy men s scarve, 15.560 RUB / MILK MAKEUP face makeup, 2.435 RUB / Powder blush, 1.810 RUB / Pearl Dragon gold home decor, 6.790 RUB / Vintage Figure Skating Ice Skates - A Pair, 4.810 RUB / Black and white wall art, 745 RUB

[sanngridr-the-cerlean-bard]

I....HATE....BUGS! (Some mature language included).

(In honor of the new Eureka content, I figured I’d write my first writing piece to it. Hope you guys enjoy \^.^/)

“Esuna”!

Lighting shot through the air, followed by the crackle of thunder, as a large crowd of adventurers mass farmed a pesky local fauna known as Darners.

“Esuna!……Raise”!

Darners were flying bug monsters that sting their victims with a venom that would drain the life from them, instantly.

“Raise!……Raise”!

Sanngridr Genova and her husband, Redder, had come all the way to the Island of Eureka, with adventures from all across globe to help Krile with research and to gather materials, for Gerolt, so that he could forge a stronger weapon.

“Esuna!…..Eos come forth!……Esuna”!

Sanng was hyper focused on casting, dodging attacks, and friendly spells since the pests were biting different people, almost every second, which was getting on her last damn nerve. All of the suddenly, Redder who was a tall, gruff, highlander who rocked Dark Knight as his main class, was knocked back into her by a rouge Darner attack.

“Honey! You ok”, Sanng asked as she rushed to her husband’s aid. “I’m fine, stupid bear cleaved me”! And with that, Redder steadied himself up with his club, and charged back into the fray. Sanng gave him a curative before going back to Esuna-ing and raising people.

“Raise!……Esuna”!

“BEEEEEEAAAAARRRR CLLLLLLEEEEAAAVVVE”!!!

Before she could even could even take her next breath, she heard a violent crash in her right ear. Next thing she knew, she was face first into a shallow pond, KO’d. Then there was a warm, tingling sensation that spread throughout her back and before she knew it, she was able to raise her head again.

“What….the hell”? “Seems like someone pulled a bunch bears into the mob”, Her husband said, as he pulled her out of the water and putting her upright again, “Alrighty let’s try this again”.

Yet again before, he could make it too steps, Darners swarmed them, bit them, and KO’d them.

“Shit!”

Sanng raised her hand, letting other healers know she needed to be raised. Seconds later, she and her husband were up again. He rushed back into the fray. Sanng tried to prepare herself with shields and heals but again she was set upon by Darners which caused her to be KO’d. This time she was pissed. Three party members, including Redder, came to her side to raise her.

“You alright”, asked one of the members, an Elezen bard. “I…..HATE….BUUGS!!!”, Sanng growled and tossed a Shadowflare spell into a group of three Darners. All three of the other members looked wide eyed at Sanng. The two other members were not expecting a dainty looking, 5'3" Au Ra to get scary angry: her husband just laughed.

“I guess people are not kidding when the say don’t mess with an angry healer”, retorted the second member, who was a Roe machinist.

“Look alive ladies and gents, the Notorious Monster is arriving! Shields up and get ready to rush it”, Redder shouted, as he prepped his shields and got into tanking stance. And with that the party got to work taking down the Notorious Monster.