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where-i-overanalyze · 1 year

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religious symbolism in Soul Eater (Crona specifically)

okay hello, i am one of those people who experiences tumblr posts through pinterest, so idrk how to use tumblr. this is gonna be a learning curve, but i've got shit ton to say about Soul Eater (specifically the manga) and this can be my inaugural post. i use religious terms in this post loosely, it's just for parallels, i think too much about religious symbolism. spoilers for the Soul Eater manga, it's old but for the majority population who hasn't read the manga, be wary ig

Crona Soul Eater and religious symbolism and trauma! let's begin with the fact that Crona is simply born to be in Medusa's grand plan of world domination. Medusa never truly sees Crona as her own child; she only sees them as an experimental opportunity. she never lets them experience anything outside of their life as her experiment. thinking about religious undertones here, this is how a lot of people are born into religion. people just spawn in religious families when their religious parents have kids and a lot of the time there is very little chance to explore other beliefs.

Crona themself is also literally fused with the experiments Medusa has put them through. there is no separating them from Ragnarok and he constantly bombards them physically and mentally. he serves as a constant nagging in Crona's mind of where they come from, what has happened to them, and what Medusa actually thinks about them. she literally planted those constant thoughts and worries in them that they cannot escape from. Crona has been conditioned to think that this experiment, this "religion," is all about them serving Medusa and her wishes. whether this comparison works better with the experiment or Medusa herself being the "religion" doesn't really matter, it's mainly just the fact that Crona was brought up and trained to not doubt what Medusa told them to do. Crona cannot bring themself to question this truth they've been told their whole life because, up until a certain point, Medusa was never wrong. there is even this sort of "chosen one" language used around and referring to Crona because of this experiment, much like the language christians use when talking about how they are god's children and all that. there's this pride in "bringing up" a child that serves some sort of purpose, the greater order, a "miracle" even.

despite all Medusa's hard work of preventing Crona from seeing any life without her, the arc after her "defeat" (when she slithers away and possesses little girl Rachel) allows Crona to experience the world. for a brief month or so, Crona is able to be "of the world" and realizes that there are people out there that aren't using them for an experiment, that they're allowed to be their own person without Medusa's influence.

they make progress!!! they make friends!!! they actually start liking the academy and experience a life that isn't full of Medusa's demands in the name of the experiment to create a Kishin (or worse)!!!

but, of course, Crona cannot "be of the world" because they are just "Medusa's experiment." after finally experiencing the joys of a normal and non-toxic environment, Medusa returns and provides a horrible reminder that Crona is different from their friends. they can't possibly be more important than what Medusa's bigger plan has in store for them. of course they must choose between the two, of course they must be a spy on shibusen, it's what they were made to do!!! (god i hate Medusa)

though, Crona has already "tasted the fruit" so to speak. Crona knows that this shit for Medusa is wrong to do, but all they can do is fall back into the one thing they've known their whole life: they're Medusa's experiment and they must not fail. they've strayed from the path that was set out for them, so when they start doing things for Medusa again, the internal conflict has set in. they are following the destiny Medusa has laid out for them and she is glad that Crona's listening to her again, so why does it all feel wrong? it feels wrong because they left the path, they stopped living for the "religion" and now everything is falling apart around them when they try to live in both realities. it's just like Medusa told them, they cannot exist in the world because they do not understand the world, so they must continue being Medusa's experiment.

the praise doesn't feel good anymore, these promises of something greater don't seem worth the sacrifice if it means Crona must give up the glimpse of happiness they've finally experienced. and yet, despite all of their conflict and turmoil about betraying everyone, they return to Medusa because it's all they feel that they truly know; she's the only thing that can provide them with any sense of normalcy though they know something about it is wrong and cold. the torture is normal.

after Crona's return to Medusa and the experiments continue, Crona is essentially going through the motions for her grand plan. they're in too deep now, they've devoted their whole life to her because that's all they've ever known. maybe they do want to get out, but who would understand their purpose like Medusa does? even when they're presented with opportunities to be snapped out of it, they can't break free. they've given up every chance to live a regular life, but of course, they're part of a bigger plan, something that will put them above everyone else, and it will all be because of what Medusa has done to prepare them.

all the sacrifice, knowing that they are past the point of return, they're finally ready to finish what Medusa started.

and then Medusa shatters everything Crona's founded themself on. this belief that Medusa treated them this way because it was part of the plan, that Medusa had to be cruel in order for everything to work out, it initiates a crisis when Medusa suddenly dons the appearance of a loving mother. up until then, Medusa only refers to herself as Crona's mother as a way to manipulate them, to spur them to action because she is their mother and she deserves their loyalty. Crona's suffering and success was based on the fact that Medusa was treating them harshly, abusing them, experimenting on them, and the reality comes crashing down that this was never about Crona, it was always about Medusa's sick game to see how much they could get out of Crona. this "religion" has only been torture with the promise of . . . something good at the end. Crona hasn't gotten that "something" yet, so why has the "religion" stopped being cruel?

in her final moments, Medusa no longer resembles the mother Crona knew, and Crona kills her as they (probably) hear her say "I love you, Crona" for the first time. from this point on, Crona makes a desperate attempt to reclaim this purpose, this "religion" they've founded their whole life on. they are ready to meet the Kishin, to become the entirety of evil and madness and fear, and yet they return to the church.

the fact that Maka and Crona meet in a church is too easy of a symbol, that the first and (almost) last time Crona sees Maka is in a place where someone can find salvation, but i love it nonetheless. other than the fact that it is literally a church, there is a Lot to think about with the doors that only open inward. the church lets people in, it's welcoming, they're for the lost and the broken to come inside, but those doors are made for the people coming in, not the people coming out. obviously, doors are still doors, you can still open doors from the inside, but Maka gets stuck on them the first time they meet. it makes it hard for, oh idk, people getting attacked from the inside to escape. if you're trapped in that church for so long, used to getting worn down and used, maybe you give up on trying to open those doors.

like, you've gotta be kidding me. it's their choice to keep going with all of this, it's their choice to continue despite salvation standing right next to them, it's their choice to break down those doors and make this their own path. it's evil, it's horrible, but it's a last ditch effort to reform the broken foundation they were raised to believe.

but then it doesn't work. they obtain that horrible, promised power for a while, but it swallows them whole. it was never something they could handle because they were the test subject, the experiment to see how far someone could devote their life to this cause, only for it to not work out in the end. their religion has been crumbling for a while, but now it's turned to dust. they are no longer needed for its agenda, so it has abandoned them.

a quick return to the "place of salvation" point i made earlier, i think it's insanely interesting that the church is where all of the violence takes place when Maka and Crona interact, but it is actually inside the soul that Crona's redemption happens (i know they're technically like in the Kishin at the end, but still). there could be some stuff said about the corruption of the church, how a physical place that is deemed holy could never truly cause someone to reach any sort of salvation. salvation and peace is someone who extends their hand out to someone who is suffering, not a building or mantras or enduring torture in promise of a greater reward.

Crona's redemption, salvation, it all comes from abandoning what Medusa told them to do. they've technically done it all; they perfected the black blood, they became one with the Kishin, and now they can go on to choose a path that is entirely their own. they actively choose to counteract their past actions, to "atone for their sins" and fix everything for everyone else. they become a sacrificial lamb in the act, or even a christ figure in terms of dying for the safety of everyone else. and i mean, this entire time Crona was obeying their mother, and who was jesus but a man who was obeying his father?

i have to give my gf credit for that last line, she sent me that and i lost my mind. i will also give her credit for pointing out the fact that Crona's theme in the anime is literally a prayer to Saint Mary for forgiveness.

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there is definitely something to be said about the fact that Mary and Marie are very similar names, Marie provides Crona a healthy mother-type figure while they're at the academy, and that Crona betrays her and she's the only other person who Crona somewhat remembers in their madness haze. i'd say that role is stronger in the anime than the manga since the anime gives Crona way more of a redemption arc and they interact with Marie much more. it still totally works, Crona is just riddled with religious symbolism there's no escaping it.

anyways, idk how to end a post. if anyone is reading it and you made it through all of that, good job!!! i've been dying to say this shit somewhere and i will definitely continue to do this because it is cathartic.

#soul eater #crona #crona soul eater #crona gorgon #soul eater manga #religious symbolism #religious trauma #medusa gorgon #medusa soul eater #maka soul eater #idk how to use tags #do i just keep adding tags?#manga #anime #crona x maka #kind of #overanalyzing #english major things #Youtube

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littleuglytoad · 2 years

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Post war Levi x reader.

Warnings : none (let me know, if I missed anything)

• It's been a while since the war and you have been taking care of Levi now.

• You two had finally managed to scrape together just enough money to open a tea shop where you'd also serve the cookies and cakes you bake.

• The two of you lived right next to the tea shop.

• Your friends and brother had come from Paradis for the inauguration too.

• Your brother wanted to talk to you in private so you took him to the house.

• "Hey y/n, maybe you should come back to Paradis and start a family there"

• "What about Levi and the tea shop ?" You frown at your brother.

• " Don't get me wrong y/n, he's not your superior any more plus he can't even walk, he's of no use to you now. You can start a new bakery at home"

• "Well, if it isn't my lovely brother thinking of people as commodities to be used and thrown at will" you lower your voice further to stop anyone, especially Levi from hearing this.

• "I'm saying this for your own good y/n"

• You sigh " the door is that way", you gesture for him to leave.

• "I'm leaving now, the doors to our home in Paradis is always open for you" He says as he puts his coat back on.

• "Good bye" you bite down your anger.

• Unbeknownst to you Levi had come in because you were taking so long, and overheard everything.

• Finally, everyone has left and you two are by yourself.

• You are having dinner together. Since your brother left, Levi hasn't said a word to you yet.

• "Is something wrong, Levi?"

• "Y/n your brother's right, you deserve someone better"

• "What?!" You almost spit out the food.

• "Just ignore him" you say holding back your tears.

• "Why would you want to waste your time and energy on a cripple unless its out if pity?"

• "Because I have always been in love with you!"

• "Everyone that loved me has left me"

• "I'm still here, and I'm not going anywhere, the war is over now and we have a chance at life". You speak through your tears.

• "Why didn't you tell me this before?" His eyes soften.

• "I wasn't sure I'd make it out alive, I didn't want you to burden you with my death." You wipe off your tears

• "I'm sorry y/n, I love you too".

• You walk over to Levi, kneel and whisper "thank you".

• He cups your face, and plants a kiss on your forehead and then on your lips, "no y/n, thank you for being there for me".

• You stand up, he wraps his arms across your waist and holds you tightly, and whispers " Don't ever leave me."

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bxldrsdraumar · 5 months

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As the evening has progressed and the entertainment has been had, either by you or your hosts, you eventually find your way to your seat (assigned or stolen) - the table has been set with all manner of lush dishes in a family style setting, and you sneak glimpses of portions of the foods that you all have prepared dotting the tables. But the chef and your hosts have been hard at work preparing the main course for you, and when there is the slightest lull in conversation Sigurd gently taps the tines of his fork against his glass and stands, clearing his throat.

'Greetings, all! To begin, I want to ensure you all know how grateful I am to have you here - my sister and I both. We thank you, truly. This would not have been possible without all of you.'

The shining man seems born to be in the spotlight, and his face is all smiles as he looks about the room, raising his glass in toast to all of the faces looking back at him.

'Secondly, we have a further surprise for you - a dish! The main dish, in fact, that we've remembered from our own childhood. Why, I remember our steward made the most delectable spread, but one year our father Byron - bless his heart, the man - attempted to deep fry the thing in oil as one might a besieging army!' He laughs for a moment as though this is the height of comedy before he sees some distant looks of horror, clears his throat, smiles charmingly. 'But I digress.

"This is a delicacy that some might remember from harvest feasts of their own, or something new to them entirely - oh, and fear not! Those who have indicated to us their dietary preferences, we are not here to exclude you, or trick you. Our chef is a genius, and has recreated this in *plant form* - it's truly the most astounding thing, I believe he's taken - oh no, my apologies, there I go again.' He laughs again.

'I will pass it off to my sister to say a few words, and then she and I would like to give back as you have given us - and we will be going around to all guests to serve, and in our turn, to remind you for all that we are grateful.'

Ethlyn rolls her eyes as Sigurd finally finishes his speech and the attention of the room is directed toward her.

“Don’t worry,” she teases, “I won’t keep you long. My brother has always been the more long winded of the two of us.

“I might not be a Chalphy anymore,” she takes a moment to smile at the man seated to her left and gives his hand a quick squeeze, “but I hold the traditions of the land of my birth close to my heart. It means the world that I am able to share them again with both of my families and also with you, my dear friends. So, please, enjoy! And, for Baldr’s sake, eat! There is so much food here!”

A Big Thanks!

Today is the final day of the inaugural Baldrs Bounty feast!

As a special thank you to all who replied to the interest check, tches and Erica will have Sigurd and Ethlyn going around - so check your inboxes! Feel free to continue with your threads at your leisure, but the event post with prompts will no longer be pinned on Sigurd's page as off 11.59 EST to mark the end of the event.

We'd really like to thank everyone who participated in this, our first event! We learned so much, and we really couldn't have pulled this off without you guys. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, feel free to contact tches or Erica!

#out of character #toabaldrsbounty

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princesscatherinemiddleton · 1 year

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The Princess of Wales' Year in Review: March

March 1st - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Wales and carried out a number of engagements. They started their day at Pant Farm, before visiting Abergavenny Market. Later, the couple visited the Hwb Torfaen before finally planting a tree at Blaenavon World Heritage Centre for The Queen’s Green Canopy

March 3rd - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, held a Centre for Early Childhood Meeting at Kensington Palace. On the same day, the Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room released a post sharing Catherine's top five children's books: The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark, Stig of the Dump, Charlotte's Web, the Katie Morag series, and Feelings

March 8th - The Duchess of Cambridge, Patron of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, held a Centre for Early Childhood Meeting at Kensington Palace

March 9th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, received Lord Hague. That afternoon, William and Catherine visited the Ukrainian Cultural Centre

March 14th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Commonwealth Observation Day service at Westminster Abbey

March 17th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge presented shamrocks to the Irish Guards on St Patrick's Day

March 19th - On behalf of HM Queen Elizabeth II in her Platinum Jubilee year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge departed from Royal Air Force Brize Norton for Belize, arriving at Philip S W Goldson International Airport. Later, the couple met with Juan Antonio Briceño (the Prime Minister of Belize) and Rossana Briceño (his wife)

March 20th - William and Catherine visited Che’il Mayan Chocolate Factory, before attending a festival of Garifuna culture at Hopkins Football Square. Later, the couple met marine conservation experts at Hopkins Dock

March 21st - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Caracol Natural Monument Reservation. Later, they attended a training session of the British Army Training Support Unit Belize in the Chiquibul Forest. That evening, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a Reception to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee at Cahal Pech ruins

March 22nd - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge departed from Philip S W Goldson International Airport, and arrived at Kingston Norman Manley International Airport, where they were met by - amongst others - Kamina Johnson Smith (Representative of the Prime Minister of Jamaica). After that, Wiliam and Catherine met with the Governor-General of Jamaica and Lady Allen at King’s House. Finally, they attended a Sports and Cultural Event at Trench Town Culture Yard

March 23rd - William and Catherine met with Andrew Holness (Prime Minister of Jamaica). The couple - in their role as joint Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge - visited Shortwood Teachers’ College, where Catherine gave a speech. Later, they visited Spanish Town Hospital, before visiting the Caribbean Military Technical Training Institute. Finally, the Cambridges attended a dinner to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee given by the Governor-General of Jamaica

March 24th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the Commissioning Parade for the inaugural Initial Officer Training Programme at the Caribbean Military Academy. They then departed Norman Manley International Airport before arriving at Lynden Pindling International Airport, where they were greeted by Sir Cornelius Smith (Governor-General of the Bahamas). William and Catherine later visited Philip Davis (Prime Minister of the Bahamas) and his wife

March 25th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Sybil Strachan School, where Catherine gave a speech. They then attended a celebration for key workers at the Garden of Remembrance, before visiting Parliament Square. William and Catherine then participated in a Platinum Jubilee Sailing Regatta, before attending a reception at the Baha Mar Hotel to mark The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee

March 26th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Daystar Church, before unveiling a memorial at Memorial Garden, to commemorate those who lost their lives in Hurricane Dorian. William and Catherine later visited a beach area in Abaco to meet local stall holders. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited Grand Bahama Children’s Home. Before finally, in their roles as joint Patrons of the Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visiting Coral Vita, winners of the 2021 Earthshot Prize. The couple departed Lynden Pindling International Airport for the UK that evening

March 27th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Royal Air Force Brize Norton

March 29th - The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, along with Prince George and Princess Charlotte, attended the Service of Thanksgiving for The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at Westminster Abbey

#mine #royaltyedit #yearreview #kate #will #wales22 #centre for early childhood meeting 22 3 #centre for early childhood meeting 22 4 #hague22 1 #ukrainian cultural centre #commonwealth 22 #irish guards 22 #2022 tour #service of thanksgiving 2022

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vibrantbirdy · 9 months

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Fingertips: A Cassian Andor x Jyn Erso Fic

Title: Fingertips Fandom: Star Wars: Rogue One Genres: Sci-Fi; Romance; Soft smut with feelings; slight angst Setting: Post events of Rogue One - canon divergence, you know the drill #everybodylives Pairings: Cassian Andor x Jyn Erso Warnings: 18 + ONLY - Explicit sexual content This is mostly smut, but it's romantic smut I hope - oral f!receiving, riding p in v sex (unprotected - please be sensible irl); brief, mild mentions of injury and recovery (unlikely to be medically accurate, sorry); strong language. Word Count: c. 2.5k

Summary: Told from Cassian's POV. After surviving events on the planet Scarif, the crew of Rogue One have spent the past two months on Yavin 4 recuperating. With Sergeant Jyn Erso cleared for duty and her inaugural mission fast approaching, Captain Cassian Andor is still recovering from his injuries, and he can't let her go without attempting to tell her how he feels.

Author's note: This is my first rebelcaptain fic and I'm kinda nervous about it, hah! It's inspired by Newton Faulkner's song, Fingertips. I've not done a song/lyric fic like this before, but if people like it I might try something similar with a different song from Jyn's POV. (My fic masterlist is here.)

Fic and link to song under the cut.

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Final A/N: You can also find the song on Spotify, I don't know what works best for folks...

Fingertips

On his worst days, Rebel spy, Captain Cassian Andor, felt as if he were reliving that moment of indescribable agony as his ribs broke on impact with the support beams of Scarif's Citadel tower. Sometimes, he even imagined that he could hear the sickening clang of his body each time it slammed heavily against solid metal before he blacked out.

Cassian knew he was lucky not to have broken his back. He knew he was lucky to be alive. More medical treatments and physical therapy appointments than he could count had worked wonders, but although he tried to hide it and although he was healing, Cassian still spent many of his days in pain.

Meanwhile, cleared for duty with a clean bill of health, and with hasty field promotion during the battle of Scarif officially sanctioned by Alliance Command, Sergeant Jyn Erso was on the eve of her inaugural mission as a Rebel Intelligence Officer. Cassian couldn't have been prouder of her.

He had hoped that during their recovery time on Yavin 4, he and Jyn would have been able to build on what he was sure they had started before and during the mission to steal the plans of the Empire's planet-killing superweapon.

But when they'd returned to Alliance Headquarters with the rest of the crew of Rogue One, miraculously alive, but battered and bruised and exhausted beyond all measure, the memory of Scarif seemed to plant itself like an unscalable obstacle, opaque and solid, between them.

It was as if all that had passed between them was simply too insurmountable to verbalise. As if putting words to the experience might break the hallowed spell cast by their willingness to sacrifice themselves for the Cause, frightened and agonised though they were, to a fate made bearable only because they were facing it together. And so in the months following, Cassian and Jyn had broken up that intangible, unnameable feeling between them into little pieces, replicating it only in stolen glances across meeting rooms and brief, lingering touches, barely there, as they brushed past each other in corridors and stood too close together in dark corners of the base.

But over the past few days, the reality that Jyn might leave without her knowing all the things Cassian had left unsaid had started to sink in. It had driven him to distraction, so much so that when he arrived at the door of Jyn's quarters the night before she left for the unknown, heart racing, adrenaline coursing through his body as if he were about to head into battle, Cassian hadn't a clue what he planned to say.

He needn't have worried. The doors had barely hissed open wide enough for a person to pass through when Jyn's eyes widened in an expression of recognition that could almost have been relief. Wordlessly, she grabbed Cassian roughly by the front of his shirt, and dragged him through the doorway where they collided into a clumsy, frenzied kiss.

Make no mistake, I'm only sane when you say my name, Oh, you're on my fingertips like holy water

Any semblance of restraint that they had worked to maintain over the time they had known each other fell away as instinct took over. The two tore at each other's clothes, fumbling at buttons and belts and zippers until, naked seemingly in mere moments, Jyn's back was up against the nearest durasteel wall with Cassian pressing himself hungrily against her body.

Unable to resist any longer, he broke away from her lips, and allowed his mouth to graze across her skin, kissing a feverish descent down her neck and collarbone, over her breasts and across her abdomen, savouring every little noise she made until he found himself on his knees in front on her.

Cassian hooked one of Jyn's lithe legs over his shoulder and looked up, taking a moment to drink in the sight of her. She was the most enchanting thing he'd ever seen. He knew that already, of course, but here and now, the planes and curves of her warrior's body seemed to belong to some timeless, unknowable being, a goddess sculpted in marble and come to life above him. It seemed only natural that he should be kneeling in capitulation before her alter.

Trying to ignore the aching hardness between his legs, cruelly restricted by the increasingly tight material of his pants - the only item of clothing either of them had retained - Cassian traced his fingers up the inside of Jyn's thigh until he reached the well of her arousal. He marvelled at the elixir of desire that had already formed there, hot and wet, before he brushed the pads of his fingertips, feather light, across her sensitive bud.

As he did so, Jyn arched towards his touch and said his name as she never had before, keening and full of longing, the way he'd only imagined she might utter it on long, dark nights in secret when he was alone. To Cassian's ears, it was a sacred sound and he clung to the memory of it even as it dissipated into the air. It was as if his name falling from her lips had finally granted him release from the temporary madness of not having her which had been all-consuming since their return from Scarif. And now, that strange, unnatural distance that had crept between them, insidious and unintentional, was suddenly obliterated in one glorious instant. As Cassian pressed the flat of his tongue against the pearl at her core, and curled it slowly upwards, Jyn's hands flew to his head and she twisted her strong, slender fingers so tightly in his hair that it was almost painful. They stayed there, woven in his dark locks, until he brought her to a convulsing oblivion against his mouth and he heard her cry out his name again and again.

Stay on my fingertips just for a little while, I just want you to know I need it.

As Jyn recovered, breathless and panting from her high, Cassian, still on his knees, rested his cheek on her warm thigh, enjoying the paradoxical sensation of his rough stubble against her soft skin.

Despite his euphoric state, he hated to admit, even to himself, that for the first time in a long time, he was nervous about what happened next.

His body was still healing, and he knew that the lingering pain of his injured back and damaged ribs would undoubtedly restrict his range of movement. His strength, though returning, was still fragile and raw. The thought that his lovemaking might disappoint her was unbearable.

But Cassian should never have doubted that Jyn would consider this - consider him. She was always the first to notice when he was struggling, the first to tell him to rest when his pain flared up, even if he didn't want to hear it.

Removing her hands from his hair, she gripped him lightly under his chin tilting his head up to look at her and guiding him to his feet. She allowed him to press a single, absurdly chaste kiss on her lips before she placed her other hand against his chest and walked him backwards over to her bed, chin still grasped between her forefinger and thumb.

Cassian swallowed, quickly sweeping aside the embarrassing notion that if she carried on like this, he might well finish there and then.

Jyn pushed him down on to the mattress and tugged him free of his pants before climbing astride him with a swift efficiency that made his head spin. Before he knew it, she had positioned herself over his solid shaft, grasping him at his base before sinking her core down around him. As her slight, strong frame came to rest flush upon his, Cassian was sure that the circuits in brain shorted out.

He let his eyes roam over Jyn's body, transfixed and slack-jawed, as she began rocking her hips languidly against him with agonising slowness. Cassian understood that she might be afraid of hurting him, but she moved as if she thought he could break beneath her. Maybe she was right, he thought to himself, but he was sure as hell willing to find out.

He furrowed his brow against the sensation of her heat around and against him, a feeling that was simultaneously, wondrously everything and yet not quite enough. When it finally became too much to bear, Cassian tore his eyes away from Jyn's captivating form and looked up into her face.

She had a look in her eye, wild and wicked, and he realised then she was teasing him, delighting in the way he had started to writhe, almost desperately, underneath her.

How typical of her, Cassian thought, and damned if it didn't make him want her all the more.

He grinned up at her, enjoying the thrill of being at her mercy. He gripped her hips tightly, unable to resist testing to see if he could get away with manoeuvring her body on top of him in the hopes that it might persuade her to move.

With a gentle laugh, mischievous but not cruel - Jyn was obstinate, tempestuous, infuriating, but never cruel - she leant down across his chest to kiss him, pressing her lips hard against his. As she did so, Cassian felt the slow, deliberate pressure of the muscles at her very centre squeezing around him.

Seeing stars, he tore away from her lips and pressed his open mouth against the spot on her neck just below her ear to stifle a groan. The sound he made was long and low and full of pure, unfettered desire. His body responded automatically, hips rising off the mattress, pushing himself up and into her as far as he could.

"Please," Cassian heard himself say, unashamed by the way the word caught in his throat, broken and needful.

He did need her. Fuck, he needed her.

At his plea, Jyn drew herself up and straightened, throwing her head back and shaking away the mess of brown locks that had fallen about her face. There was provocation in her expression, one dark brow cocked and that smirk sitting slightly crookedly on her lips, the way it always did - the way Cassian had grown to adore.

The vision of her glorying in his utter surrender was breath-taking, and it ignited something primal within him as he pictured all the ways he might make her sing that word for him.

Please! Cassian, please!

But tonight, Jyn was the victor and, seemingly satisfied that her triumph was to be uncontested, she took pity on him.

Still, she made a performance of it, raising her eyebrows at him provocatively as if to say, Ready?, and taking the time to blow a stray lock of hair out of her eyes. One after the other, she planted her palms firmly and deliberately against Cassian's chest and only then, finally, did she begin to move.

As her body started to rise and fall around his hard length, Jyn became lost in her passion, and Cassian revelled in every curl of her fingers against his torso as her hands flexed open and shut, her nails dragging across his skin. It was an instinctive, unconscious movement, but to him, it felt as if she were trying to reach into his chest and extract his hammering heart to claim as her prize.

There's no need, Cassian managed to think through his lust-fuelled haze, it already belongs to her.

As Jyn's pace quickened, he thrust up into her, matching the rhythm of her movements with his own. Her hand, the one that didn't have a grip over Cassian's heart, slid slowly down his sweat slick chest until it came to rest at his throat, her thumb exerting a light, tantalising pressure at the hollow just below his adam's apple.

Cassian couldn't tear his eyes away from Jyn's bewitching face. Any guile that had been present in her expression before had been replaced by carnal, elemental lust. Her head rolled languidly back and forth on her shoulders, her mouth hanging slightly open, allowing the most erotic noises of pleasure Cassian had ever heard to escape from deep within her. She kept her eyes squeezed shut for the most part, but every so often, she rewarded her lover with a wanton, piercing look from green, glinting, amorous orbs.

As he moved within her, Cassian wanted to touch every part of her. He ran his hands along her thighs, up and down her back, across her buttocks, her stomach, her breasts, the feeling of her silky skin beneath his fingertips almost transcendental.

Finally, he snaked a hand between their bodies, caressing that sacred spot between Jyn's legs where she needed him the most, determined to give her everything.

At his touch, she cried out, her head flying back to reveal that long, slender neck. The vision sent Cassian into overdrive as he imagined running his tongue up it and tasting the salt of her exertion on her skin.

The sight and sound of Jyn in ecstasy as she reached her peak and the sensation of her body contorting and releasing around him was enough to throw Cassian hurtling uncontrollably towards his own mind-numbing rapture. He bucked up into her in disjointed and desperate movements until her name tumbled from his lips like a prayer over and over.

Love me another day, before it evaporates, Stay on my fingertips like holy water, Stay on my fingertips just for a little while.

When they were both completely spent, Jyn collapsed against Cassian's chest, their heaving bodies hot with sweat. Cassian kissed the top of her head, inhaling the intoxicating wildflower scent of her hair.

After a moment, Jyn let out a soft, breathless laugh that was almost a giggle. Then, she pushed herself up to rest on her elbows just high enough so that she could hover above Cassian and touch the sharp point of her nose against his own.

He smiled up at her and swept back stray tendrils of hair where perspiration had plastered them to her forehead, before trailing his fingers slowly down her flushed face, his hand coming to rest on her rosy cheek where he traced the ridge of her cheekbone with his thumb.

Night on Yavin 4 was dissipating fast, and in the early morning light that crept softly through Jyn's window, Cassian studied her face as she floated like an ethereal vision above him.

Before she left, he wanted to memorise every facet of those perfect features that were all at once both delicate and fierce. The angular contours of her nose and cheeks, the full lips which so often parted slightly to reveal charmingly prominent front teeth, the dark hair which always ended up tousled mess no matter what she did with it.

But most of all, Cassian longed to indulge himself by counting every single fleck of gold in Jyn's otherworldly green eyes. Her irises were the colour of lichen, he decided, the kind that only grows in the forests of the galaxy with freshest, purest air. Cassian suddenly realised that Jyn was engaged in the same undertaking, her brows knitted together in concentration as she appraised his face, her expression quizzical and vulnerable and open.

It was as if they were seeing each other properly for the first time in months. It reminded Cassian of the look they had shared in the Citadel turbo lift on Scarif - two souls clinging to the safe harbour of the other, suspended in a moment as the world burned around them.

But this time, Cassian felt no fear and no pain, only comfort and something else awakening within him. A stirring deep within his heart. As he gazed up at the woman who had faced death with him and survived, he saw this new hope of his glowing incandescent and warm, reflected back at him through Jyn's eyes.

#rebelcaptain #rebelcaptain fanfiction #cassian andor fanfiction #cassian andor #star wars fanfiction #jyn erso #cassian andor x jyn erso #jyn erso fanfiction #rogue one fanfiction #rebelcaptain fic

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stevetonyhorrorfest · 1 year

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Happy Halloween, everyone! Thank you to all of you who participated in the inaugural Steve/Tony Horror Fest.

Although the event has ended, you can still fill treat bags and communal feast prompts. For treat bags, leave a comment in the recipient's bag and I'll inform the recipient as they may not check their treat bags after reveals. For communal feast fills, email [email protected] or send an ask/DM via Tumblr or DM via Twitter so that I can share the fill on Tumblr and Twitter and update the master list of works. You can also post the fill to the Horror Fest event AO3 collection.

See all the treats and fills below:

ART

“horrors unknowable but fuckable” - @amysnotdeadyet/swtalmnd An 8-bit remix of “horrors unnameable and unaccountable” and The Me You Love in the Dark. When Steve finally overcame his nervousness and asked Tony out, he was somehow not expecting his lover to be an eldritch horror, mutated in the womb by the Tesseract. But that didn't mean he wasn't into it.

Monster Tony and Steve embracing - lomku/@oluka

“The perfect son” - Kota RiverRoad/@unstable-river (also on Twitter) Prompt: "Never satisfied with his disappointing son, Howard experiments on Tony throughout Tony's childhood in his quest to make the perfect son and perfect human being"

“The living animatronic” - Kota RiverRoad/@unstable-river (also on Twitter) Prompt: “SteveTony go to a haunted house for Halloween. The displays make Steve genuinely unsettled, but Tony won't shut up about how badly all of the animatronics are built - until they come across an actual dead body"

Peanuts-inspired Steve and Tony running away a vampire in a cemetery - lomku/@oluka

FIC

- 616

“Elements” - Albuss When Steve Rogers is found in the ice, it isn't pretty. It isn't pretty at all.

“Early Onset” - Albuss It's Halloween. Tony doesn't know that. It's not his fault.

“Mirror Mirror” - ralie Tony and Steve stumble upon a cursed mirror that pulls Tony into its dark interior. Things might be simpler if Steve knew that Tony was Iron Man or if the key to getting Tony out wasn't something Tony wants to avoid at all costs, even if it means he stays inside the mirror forever.

“Puppet Master” - @nostalgicatsea Time flies when you're having fun or so the saying goes, but Tony can't say that he's enjoying himself if he can't remember any of it, even if the way that Steve looks at him now is everything he's dreamed of for years.

Excerpt from a 616 sentient armor and Steve in the ice WIP - ralie Prompts: - The sentient armour can't get Tony to comply to its demands. It realises Tony loves Steve and decides that hurting Steve will make Tony do whatever it wants. - Steve was awake during the ice. Tony finds out in a very bad way.

- MCU

“another look (to know for sure)” - @ishipallthings The first time Steve sees Tony again, he’s in his garden planting daffodils.

“Blood Red, Snow White” - SummerKnight717 Vampires. Of all things it had to be vampires. Mix an ancient artifact, incompetent cultists, and a way too curious playboy-billionaire-genius, and the Avengers are left with a problem that is weird even by their own standards. In which things go surprisingly well...till they really really don't.

Excerpt from “Second Turn of a Broken Clock” - @nostalgicatsea Endgame Steve getting unstuck in time after a confrontation with Loki when he’s returning the stones leads to Loki casting a spell on him that goes awry.

“sometimes it scratches like barbs” - @ishipallthings The back of Steve’s throat tickles in a warning.

“The house on the fifth” - lomku/@oluka Stark Mansion has stood empty since 1991. Decades later, Steve Rogers steps inside, and ends up face-to-face with Tony Stark, who, by all accounts, should be dead.

“these bruises leave a trail” - @ishipallthings Tony pretends he doesn’t think of that night.

HORROR AND OTHER ASSORTED FIC/ART RECS & MISCELLANEOUS TREATS

You can see the treat bag master list here.

#stevetony #stony #superhusbands #steve/tony #stevetonyhorrorfest #stonyhorrorfest

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tallbluelady · 10 months

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29. What are your favorite moments that happen between them? (dealers choice)

ght now I'm thinking Minthe and Ariadne so we'll go with that. And it's between their first meeting and when they're bugging Hades.

When they officially meet, Ariadne pulls out a sample fungus for Minthe to look at a bar/mixer and Minthe is just so entertained by it that she forgets to be miserable that she's not holed up in her apartment doing experiments on various organic molecules growing in plants. It reminds her that interacting with humans in settings other than work can be fun!

Then there's the time where they decided to be as obnoxious as possible at Hades' inauguration as Emet-Selch. Minthe was taking a back seat letting Ariadne go wild, and before she could get a precision "Hades, darling" in, she had to prevent the authorities from getting to Ari before she could escape. It reminds her that being kind can actually be it's own reward.

Thanks for the ask!

Bonus: Their meeting is basically this post:

#ask meme #azem minthe #azem ariadne #plant girlfriends #man #when they're good #they are GOOD

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sphericaldice · 1 year

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Every Part of You

ʕ•́ᴥ•̀ʔっ♡ Ao3

Author’s note: Long time no see tumblr! This ficlet is actually pretty old but I wanted to post it here to revive this account. CW for brief ED mention, otherwise this is pretty fluffy. As usual my askbox is open for requests, prompts, hatemail, whatever. Enjoy!

***

Still in her skivvies, Sonia flopped dejectedly onto the hotel bed, clutching the blue garment against her full chest. It was a trumpet-style gown inspired by Glaceon, aegon with pale blue fringe and an exposed back. She tried to pull up the fond memories of the week before; Gran’s prideful beam when she twirled for her, the way the beautiful dress zipped all the way without incident (Thank Arceus). But then there was that store clerk.

“Just don't feed her any more” The ageing woman with a shoddy green hair dye-job had muttered as she carried off the two other sizes Sonia tried on.

The soon-to-be professor just couldn't muster up those Glaceon Princess vibes anymore without that old woman’s words tagging along to spoil the whole thing, making her chest tighten and her eyes water.

The dress would look awful on her. The sleeveless thing would hug her stomach in all the wrong places and make her arms look like Copperjah’s gigantic trunk. Her butt would stick out and everyone would notice. No one would pay attention to her inauguration speech. They’d just be gawking at the fat redhead, the dolled-up Mamoswine. If Leon weren’t using the shower she’d fly right in and rid herself of the buttered scone she’d had on their way to The Rose of Rondelands. Now more than ever she wished Yamper had been allowed to accompany her, not just to see her sworn in as Galar’s head professor but also to comfort her. That dog always knew what to say.

“How can you name your whole bloody hotel after a Pokemon and not even allow them in?” Sonia wondered aloud, “Snobs.”

At that moment she heard the water switch off, and not long after, her boyfriend emerged from the washroom, garbed in a pair of Yamper-face boxers, (a birthday gift from yours truly).

“What’s up, Son’?” Leon furrowed his brow. After knowing the woman for as long as he had, it was effortless to discern when something was wrong.

“Oh, Lee,” Sonia groaned, sitting up, “I feel gross all over.”

Leon joined her on the bed, concerned. “Was it something you ate?”

Sonia laughed farcially. “It’s everything I’ve ever eaten.” She took a deep breath and began to explain “I didn't tell anyone, not even Nessa… this woman at the store said something really crummy and I can’t stop thinking about it. It was when I finally found my dress in the perfect size, I was so happy! And then I caught her saying ‘just don’t feed her any more’” She ended the story with a long exhale.

Leon clenched his fists in outrage “Blimey! What did Gran-Gran say to that?”

“That bitch was lucky my Gran didn’t hear her, or there would’ve been real trouble!” Sonia laughed, this time more genuinely before shaking her head, remembering what this was all about, “I’m just so embarrassed now, Lee. My stomach, my thighs, my arms and my chin, there are so many parts of me that I just hate-”

Leon silenced her with a swift kiss before pushing the dress aside and taking her in his arms,“Sonia…I understand you’re feeling bad, seriously, some folks are just plain cruel. But I hate to hear you talk that way about my favourite part.”

“What do you mean?”

The former champion leaned in to his girlfriend until she was pressed against the silk sheets. Sonia giggled as he ran two fingers up her thighs, past her stomach, along her stretch marks and up to her lips where he planted another eager kiss, which she reciprocated,

“All of this,” Leon whispered into her ear, “every part of you is my favourite part. Every part of you is beautiful no matter what some rotten stranger, or anybody in this whole damn region says.”

A tear ran down her flushed face, “Lee! Quit it, you’re getting me all mushy!” She lifted his face to her’s and their eyes met, “I love you so much, Leon.”

“I love you too, Sonia.”

The two kissed deeply as Sonia ran her fingers through Leon’s thick purple locks. “Come now,” she started after they’d broken away, “Time’s-a-wasting and I wanna show you my dress before I show anyone else!”

“Atta girl!”

Leon watched in awe as Sonia stepped in to the the gown and engulfed herself in the sea of blue sparkles. “Give me a hand with the zip?”

“My pleasure, love” He replied as he went to zip her up in the back

Sonia spun around energetically to face him, “Well, what do you think? You’re looking at the hot, new Galar Region Professor!”

Leon wiped a budding tear from his chiselled face. “Goddamn, you look amazing.” He pulled her, embracing her in a tight, muscular hug. “You’re going to do amazing out there, I’m so proud of you.”

Sonia rubbed her boyfriend’s back, “Like, it that much, huh, Lee?” She laughed, sensing his boyish excitement.

“You bet,” Leon whispered, “and I can’t wait to take it off you tonight.”

#pokemon #fanfiction #ficlet #sonia #leon #leon x sonia #pokemon sword #pokemon shield

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kuipernebula · 2 years

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The Animal Strength Immortal Brothers; or, my Monkie Kid OC's and me making a post about them instead of drawing them as a form of procrastination

(For convenience, even though their full names are Tiger Strength Immortal, Deer Strength Immortal, Goat Strength Immortal, and Fox Strength Immortal, they will all be referred to as their animal for brevity's sake.)

As a group, the Animal Strength Immortal Brothers are based on the Tiger, Deer, and Goat Strength Immortals from Journey to the West. They are also inspired by Casper the Friendly Ghost's uncles and the Shadow Sirens from Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door.

All of the following information is predicated on them getting their own sort-of "season" of the show, wherein they'd be the main villains. That season would start with a festival celebrating the inauguration of the new mayor of Megapolis, following the "mysterious disappearance" of the old one. She also announces her new advisors: Tiger, advising in matters of Health and Fitness; Deer, advising in matters of Nature and Recreation; and Goat, advising in matters of Finance. (Also with them is their little brother and intern, Fox.)

Though they act as her advisors, they are in reality demons who are manipulating her to control the city and its vast resources, in particular the powerful Dragon Lines that run through the city. These lines can do a number of things - but for the brothers, it is a fast-track to gaining spiritual strength and godhood. Additionally, they wish to use the resources of the city to get revenge against the Monkey King (and his guilty-by-association protege) for killing the three eldest brothers a thousand-some-odd years ago, and also, set up their own personal empires for when they reach godhood.

In the season this is based on, this is largely done by taking over specific businesses or locations, usually by (secretly) targeting them with monsters made from corrupting the balance and flow of Qi in people, animals, plants, or objects; sometimes this is done indirectly.

However, only their youngest brother, the soft-spoken Fox Strength Immortal, has the necessary spiritual enlightenment to actually do the many immortal abilities the brothers need to pull of their plan. But they have convinced Fox that he is, in fact, the weakest brother, which is why he needs to continue to do these tasks to aid in his enlightenment and training.

All of the brothers where the same clothing, though changed to match their own color schemes. This consists of white pants with a colored stripe down the side, a pair of hanfu shoes (short-rising, revealing the top of the foot and the ankles) in black with a pattern of their color, a black sleeveless undershirt, and a sort-of tunic/over-shirt deal that is tied on the sides and hangs over the crotch. (This is mainly black with their theme color patterned on it.)

The eldest brother, Tiger Strength Immortal, is a large, muscular man ( almost but not quite Sandy's height and width) with black hair and snow-white sideburns. When experiencing strong emotion, his magical disguise slips, revealing his tiger ears and tiger tail (which is a white tiger, not an orange tiger), as well as claws and sharpened teeth. His theme color is red. He is arrogant and self-centered, believing his strength to be the only thing needed to win. In fact, he tells his youngest brother that his strength is a result of his being the most spiritually enlightened of the brothers. He is also short-tempered, and takes his anger out readily on his brothers.

As an advisor to the mayor, Tiger is largely interested in gyms and health shops, and seems oddly neutral-to-negative about hospitals. He believes that most people just shouldn't get sick in the first place by being physically fit. In fact, he claims to have never been sick a day in his life.

The second-eldest brother, Deer Strength Immortal, is a lithe and attractive man with long brown hair (curled over his shoulder most of the time) with a white streak running down the underside. When experiencing strong emotions, he gains deer antlers and ears, freckles on his body, and a deer tail. His theme color is green. He is vain and narcisstic, thinking that beauty, and specifically his own, is the most important thing in the world. In fact, he tells his youngest brother that his beauty is a result of his being the most spiritually enlightened of the brothers. He is often ignoring his brothers needs, especially when its inconvenient for him.

As an advisor to the mayor, Deer is mostly interested in salons, clothing stores, art galleries, and other things that focus on beauty catch his interest. Parks, restaurants, and other factors of his job get neglected, and he believes that people require beauty before all other things. For this reason, he has also positioned himself prominently in all of the city's new tourism advertisements.

The second-youngest brother, Goat Strength Immortal, is a short and scrawny man with very short gray hair, a short gray goatee, and semicircle glasses. When experiencing strong emotions, he gains goat horns and ears, as well as a goat tail. His theme color is blue. He is sneaky and conniving, and very intelligent (if also very foolish, arrogant, and self-centered). In fact, he tells his youngest brother that his intelligence is a result of his being the most spiritually enlightened of the brothers. He will always put himself at an advantage at the expense of his brothers, and will do so at the drop of a hat.

As an advisor to the mayor, Goat is highly interested in investments with short-term payouts, as well as in strong, unregulated banking. He claims to believe these to be better for the long-term, as you can never trust how the system will work and banks will regulate themselves, but in truth he thinks he can game the system on his own end.

The youngest brother, Fox Strength Immortal, is about the same size and build as MK or Mei, with scruffy orange hair and just a touch more muscle tone than you'd expect. When experiencing strong emotions, he reveals his fox ears and fox tail, as well as his fanged teeth. His theme color is white. He is a diligent young man who takes his spiritual training very seriously, and wants nothing more than for himself and his brothers to earn their "rightful place" in the world. He's also blinded by his familial obligations to his brothers, and can't see the way they treat him or the evil they inflict on the city. But underneath everything, he is a kind and caring person, and wants the world to be a better place.

Though not an advisor, he acts as a go-between for the brothers, and due to his higher level of enlightenment, is the only one with the spiritual strength and know-how to pull off the mystical abilities they need for their plan. However, every time he has to corrupt something or someone's Qi to create a monster, he must always be convinced that "no one will get hurt." After all, his brothers will never steer him wrong, right?

He also is very strict with his spiritual training, working every second he isn't doing something for his brothers by doing meditation or exercises or studying ancient texts. While he often asks his brothers why they don't do these things, they simply say they have progressed past the need for them, and that he is simply at too remedial a level to see it.

Over time, Fox would slowly come to blows with Team MK, and the plot revealed to them, with Sandy and Tang realizing very quickly that Fox is only being manipulated by his brothers and wants the best for everyone. At the height of the season, someone (possibly Red Son, for full irony) would finally break it to Fox that his brothers are frauds and simply using him, and that they've been the bad guys the whole time.

In a fit of rage, Fox would turn himself into a monster using the fully-realized power of the city's Dragon Lines, all to destroy the miniature empires of his brothers and root them out of the city. This goes... about as well as can be expected.

#monkie kid oc #lego monkie kid oc #lmk oc #i need to draw them but... four characters is a lot ugh

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toast-part-two · 2 years

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Whales of the Great Salt Lake

(TW animal death, animal cruelty, thalassophobia)

[Image ID: A black and white stylized whale image. The whale is breaching the surface of the sea and is blowing a spout of water into the air. Its tail is coming out of the water in the background.]

Hey y’all welcome back to another cryptid post. The cryptid energy of this creature doesn’t come so much from the creature itself, but it’s location, the Great Salt Lake.

As the leftover dregs of the massive prehistoric saltwater Lake Bonneville which drained about 15,000 years ago, Utah’s Great Salt Lake is a natural wonder.

[Image ID: a map of the former Lake Bonneville laid over the state of Utah and spreading into Nevada and Idaho, and about half the size of the state of Utah. It covers the area of the Great Salt Lake, only a fraction of the size in comparison.]

With a salinity six times that of the ocean, the Great Salt Lake is a death trap for anything other than bacteria, a couple algaes, and brine shrimp, aquatic invertebrates the size of a pencil eraser. A few freshwater streams flow into the lake, providing lagoons for select fish and shorebird species, but the lake itself its mostly inhospitable.

This makes the claim that several Australian whales, (known to exceed 50ft in length,) are alive and well in the Great Salt Lake, (about 42 feet at it’s deepest,) pretty hard to believe.

As a Utah resident myself, I’ve always had a soft spot for these whales. We’ve all had an uncle or neighbor spend a night out on the lake looking for them, and occasionally sightings of them still get published on blogs and Facebook posts. They of course never existed in the first place, but it’s still a fun story.

It began way back in 1890, when a local paper called the Utah Enquirer began documenting the efforts of one James Wickham to provide the budding economy of the newly settled Salt Lake Valley both with a novelty tourist attraction, and a cash crop of whale meat and oil. As whales are extremophiles, known to thrive under immense water pressure and in freezing temperatures, James believed the incredibly salty Great Salt Lake to be no match for them. The Utah Enquirer claimed that James began his project back in 1875, but records of this initiation could not be found.

The June 24th, 1890 article goes as follows.

“Intelligent newspaper readers have not forgotten the inauguration 15 years ago by Mr. James Wickham, a scientific English gentleman of the whale industry in the Great Salt Lake. As considerable time was required for the development of the experiment, the subject has passed out of the public mind but it has by no means been forgotten by naturalist or capitalists interested in the whale fishery.

The whale is the largest and probably the longest lived animal. They have been known to grow 100 ft in length and live to the age of 400 years. It is a mammal, or, in other words, suckles it's young. The project of Mr. Wickham was greatly assisted by this fact, for the difficulty that would attend the obtaining of whale eggs in the deep seas is at once apparent. It was only necessary to obtain a pair of whales in order to begin the propagation of animals under domestication. The southern or Australian whale was selected as the best suited to the Great Salt Lake. The greater part of two years were occupied off the coast of Australia by a vessel sent especially for the purpose and continued efforts to capture the young whales without injury. The feet, however, was at least accomplished, and the beasts, each about 35 ft long, were shipped to San Francisco in 1873 in tanks built expressly for them. 50 tanks of seawater accomplished their overland shipment to ensure plentiful supplies of the natural element.

Mr. Wickham came from London in person to superintend the "planting" of his Leviathan pets. He selected a small bay near the mouth of the Bear River connected with the main water by a shallow straight half a mile wide. Across this strait he built a wire fence, and inside the pen so formed he turned the whales loose. After a few minutes inactivity they disported themselves in a lively manner, spouting water as in mid-ocean, but as if taking in by instinct or intention the cramped character of their new home, they suddenly made a beeline for deep water and shot through the wire fence as if it had been made of threads. In twenty minutes they were out of sight, and the chagrined Mr. Wickham stood gazing helplessly at the big salt water.

If the Great Salt Lake were in Asia it would have been called a sea. It is 75 miles long and from 30 to 40 wide, so it is easy to perceive how readily the whales could vanish from sight. Though the enterprising owner was of course, disappointed and doubtful of results he left an agent behind him to look after his floating property.

Six months later Mr. Wickham's representative came upon the whales 15 miles from the bay where they had broken away, and from that time to the present they have been observed in intervals by him and the watermen who [sic]ply the lake spouting and playing.

Within the last few days, however, Mr. Wickham cabled directions to make careful inspection and report the developments, and the agent followed the whales for five successive days and nights. Discovering that the original pair are now 60 ft in length, and followed about by school of several hundred young, varying in length from 3 to 15 ft. The scheme is a surprising and complete success, and Mr. Wickham has earned the thanks of mankind.

Catching whales in the Great Salt Lake and following that business on the dangerous Greenland Coast are two different things. The enormous value of the new industry can be better appropriated by remembering that a single whale produces 20 tons of pure oil."

Article can be found here

[Image ID: A black and white photo of a modified train car. A large window on the side shows a young whale floating inside the train. There is a building behind the train on the left side, and some trees on the right.]

Claims that whales live up to 400 years and also lay eggs notwithstanding, the legend sparked to life again in the twenty-first century with the appearance of the image above. This photo depicts one of the whales in its train car bound for Salt Lake City. I’d love to believe the photographic evidence as much as anybody, but unfortunately this image was debunked in 2019 by the Utah news outlet Deseret News, who tracked down the creators. They revealed in an interview that this image was used to promote their business of preserving old photos.

Further investigation by Deseret News revealed that there never was any Mr. James Wickham or his crew of biologists, no record of them anywhere other than the Utah Enquirer.

And in a final blow to the story’s credibility, the Utah Enquirer published a denouncement on July 22, 1890, about a month after the original story ran, saying “It would be impossible for any whale to exist in the waters of the Great Salt Lake.”

Full text here

Despite the fact that whales do not and cannot exist in the Great Salt Lake, sightings continue to crop up. The most famous instance of this continued phenomenon happened almost a decade ago, when a twelve-foot humpback whale reportedly appeared in a field in Farmington Utah, about ten miles from the Great Salt Lake.

[Image ID: A dead whale lying on its side in a grassy field. Two men in the top left look down at it.]

Inconsistency in whale species aside, the image above brought a renewed fascination and belief in the Whales of the Great Salt Lake, (one I admittedly got caught up in,) before being debunked again by Deseret News in late 2015.

The Great Salt Lake, like most places in the world, is full of oddities and legends both real and made up. The lake boasts tales of pterodactyl sightings and mosquitos the size of helicopters. A troup of animals that escaped their traveling circus and were left to wander the desert. A creature with the head of an alligator and the body of a horse that charges at campers, and Pink Floyd, the flamingo that escaped Salt Lake City’s Tracy Aviary and spent a few seasons on the lake hanging out with swans and seagulls.

[Image ID: A flock of birds on the Great Salt Lake, both in flight and on the water. Most are black and white California Gulls, but there is one pink flamingo flying in the right center of the image. Mountains are visible in the background.]

(You guys should look up the story of Pink Floyd the flamingo it’s pretty great.)

Lake Bonneville is theorized to have been a thousand feet deep, and to have drained into the Pacific Ocean. Fossil evidence suggests that sea life would migrate up the channels and swim above what is now desert and mesa and scrubland, and maybe even down in what would become the Great Salt Lake 15,000 years later. Maybe whales joined them. Maybe, for a brief moment in time, Utah had whales.

But, if that ever was the case, those whales are long dead by now. It is with a heavy heart I must conclude that there are no whales in the Great Salt Lake. Even so, it’ll always be my favorite local legend <3

Source

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helloparent · 7 days

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Tips for Primary School Wall Painting Projects

Creating a stimulating learning environment through wall paintings can significantly impact students' engagement and learning experiences. Here are steps and tips to consider for a successful Primary School Wall Painting project.

Understanding the Impact of Wall Paintings

Enhances Learning Environment: Wall paintings can transform plain school walls into vibrant landscapes of learning and imagination.

Promotes Creativity and Well-being: Colorful and thematic paintings can inspire creativity among students and improve their mental well-being.

Initial Planning Phase

Set Clear Objectives: Define what you want to achieve with your wall painting project. Whether it’s to educate, inspire, or simply beautify, having clear objectives will guide your decisions.

Engage Stakeholders: Involve teachers, students, and parents in the planning process. Using a school parent app can facilitate communication and gather input from the school community.

Choose Themes: Select educational themes for the paintings. Themes related to subjects like science, literature, or local culture can enhance the educational value of the artworks.

Design and Preparation

Hire Professional Artists or Collaborate: Consider hiring artists experienced in Play School Wall Painting or Preschool Wall Painting. Their expertise in creating child-friendly and educational art can be invaluable.

Select Appropriate Paints: Use non-toxic, durable paints suitable for indoor environments, ensuring the safety and longevity of the wall paintings.

Prepare the Walls: Ensure the walls are clean, smooth, and primed before painting begins to achieve the best results.

Execution Tips

Safety First: Ensure the painting area is safe for both the artists and the school's inhabitants. Use barriers or schedule painting sessions during off-hours to avoid disruptions and ensure safety.

Incorporate Educational Elements: Integrate educational content into the designs. For example, a wall painting of a garden can include labels for different plants and insects, turning the wall into a learning tool.

Leveraging Technology

Digital Previews: Use software to create digital mockups of the wall paintings for approval by school administrators and feedback from the school community through platforms like a school parent app.

Augmented Reality: Explore the possibility of incorporating augmented reality with wall paintings to create interactive learning experiences. This technology can bring paintings to life, offering an immersive educational experience.

Post-Painting Care and Maintenance

Protective Coatings: Apply a clear, protective coating over the paintings to protect them from wear and tear, ensuring they remain vibrant for years.

Regular Maintenance: Establish a maintenance schedule to clean and touch up the paintings as necessary, keeping them fresh and engaging for students.

Celebrating and Sharing the Project

Inauguration Event: Organize an event to unveil the new wall paintings, inviting the entire school community to celebrate the project's completion.

Documentation and Sharing: Document the painting process and the finished walls through photos and videos. Share these on the school's website, social media, and through a school parent app to showcase the project's success and inspire other best preschools in India and beyond.

Conclusion

A well-done primary school wall painting project may transform barren walls into vibrant canvases for learning and creativity, greatly enhancing the educational environment. Schools are able to create environments that inspire and educate by carefully organizing, involving the school community, and incorporating educational themes. For many years to come, kids will continue to profit from these exquisite masterpieces provided safe materials are used and upkeep is maintained.

Originally Published Here.

#play school wall painting #preschool wall painting #primary school wall painting #wall painting

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evlithium · 13 days

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CATL Unveils TENER: Zero-Degradation Energy Storage Breakthrough

CATL Introduces TENER: World's First Five-Year Zero-Degradation Energy Storage System with 6.25MWh Capacity

On April 9th, CATL revealed TENER, the world's inaugural mass-producible energy storage system boasting zero degradation within its initial five years of operation, in Beijing, China. With comprehensive safety features, a five-year lifespan free of degradation, and a robust 6.25MWh capacity, TENER is poised to accelerate the widespread adoption of new energy storage technologies and propel the sector toward higher quality standards.

Pioneering Mass-Production of Zero-Degradation Systems

While maintaining capacity over the first five years of use marks a significant leap forward in battery lifespan extension, ensuring zero degradation of power is equally crucial for energy storage power plants seeking to align with the demands of emerging electric power systems. By harnessing biomimetic SEI (solid electrolyte interphase) and self-assembled electrolyte technologies, TENER has overcome barriers to lithium ion movement, achieving zero degradation in both power and capacity. This guarantees consistent auxiliary power consumption levels throughout its entire lifecycle, effectively creating an "ageless" energy storage solution.

Empowered by state-of-the-art technologies and advanced manufacturing capabilities, CATL has addressed challenges posed by highly reactive lithium metals in zero-degradation batteries, thereby mitigating thermal runaway risks stemming from oxidation reactions.

Unmatched Energy Density in a Compact Form: 20-foot Container housing 6.25MWh Capacity

TENER boasts an impressive 6.25MWh capacity within a TEU container, marking a 30% increase in energy density per unit area and a 20% reduction in overall station footprint. This innovative design enhances energy density and efficiency within limited spatial constraints.

CATL's cutting-edge cell technology underpins the system's outstanding performance. TENER is equipped with long-lasting, zero-degradation cells tailored for energy storage applications, achieving an impressive energy density of 430 Wh/L, a significant milestone for LFP batteries used in energy storage.

Dedicated Quality Management for Ultimate Safety

In pursuit of ultimate safety in energy storage, CATL has established an end-to-end quality management system encompassing technology development, proof testing, operation monitoring, and safety failure analysis. Tailored safety goals are set for different scenarios, with corresponding safety technologies developed to meet these objectives. To validate these technologies, CATL has created a validation platform simulating safety tests for energy storage systems across various power grid scenarios. Post-deployment, CATL continuously monitors system operation via AI-powered risk monitoring and intelligent early warning systems, calculating product failure rates throughout their lifecycle to refine safety design goals.

CATL has reduced cell failure rates to parts per billion levels for TENER, translating to lower operating costs and significantly enhanced internal rates of return when extended over the system's full lifecycle.

Energy storage plays a pivotal role in the green energy transition, and CATL is committed to delivering world-class solutions to customers globally. The introduction of TENER marks another milestone in CATL's ongoing commitment to energy transition. Looking ahead, CATL will continue its dedication to open innovation, collaborating with industry partners worldwide to lead the charge in innovation and advanced technology.

#catl battery #lifepo4 battery #energy storage system

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