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beanjang-draws · 2 months

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Plague Ponies - At the Barn

CONTENT WARNING: blood, gore

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Summary:

Twilight has decided to check on Apple Bloom’s new project! The innovative young filly has combined her lessons from Twilight and Zecora to make something new: a potion of duplication.

While they discuss Apple Bloom’s ingenuity, they’re interrupted by a strange sound and the sudden appearance of Big Macintosh. Big Mac should be in bed, but it looks like he has something urgent to discuss in private with Twilight. How out of character….

Transcript below:

Twilight: I’ll come along for a quick peek.

Apple Bloom: You won’t regret it! It’ll be super amazing!~

Apple Bloom: You know that potion of fruitfulness you showed me last time? I thought it was awfully similar to something Zecora taught me, so…

Twilight Sparkle: …You’ve been experimenting with pony and zebra magic! This is so exciting, Apple Bloom! This could be brand new magic!

Twilight Sparkle and Apple Bloom enter the Apple family barn, where Apple Bloom presents Twilight with a jam jar full of a strange liquid sitting on a stool, along with an apple.

Apple Bloom: Ta-da! I call it the Super-Duper Duplication Potion! It’s a bit of a mouthful, so SDDP works too.

Twilight Sparkle, smiling: I think that initialism will definitely be helpful.

Twilight Sparkle: How does it work?

Apple Bloom: If you just sprinkle a little bit on…

Apple Bloom tips the jar until a single drop of potion lands on the apple, which then begins to glow with a bright light.

Apple Bloom: Oh please work please work please work please work please—

The Apple begins to smoke, becoming obscured in white. With a sizzle and a pop, the smoke clears to reveal the duplicated apples. Twilight turns to look at Apple Bloom with awe in her eyes.

Twilight Sparkle: Two perfectly identical apples….Apple Bloom…

Apple Bloom: What? What is it?—

Apple Bloom lets out an excited gasp.

Apple Bloom: Oh oh oh is it my cutie mark?

Twilight Sparkle: I’m sorry, sweetie.

Apple Bloom: If…if even creating new potions ain’t enough, what if I never—

Twilight Sparkle stops Apple Bloom, raising her chin with her wing.

Twilight Sparkle: Apple Bloom, even if your cutie mark isn’t in potions, you are an incredible scientist. I hope you’ll continue your studies. I certainly look forward to what you’ll develop next.

Apple Bloom: Thanks, Twilight. I really do like studying with you and Zecora even if it ain’t my special talent.

Apple Bloom: I’m just glad I haven’t disappointed you, Twilight.

Twilight: Of course not!—

A strange groan suddenly interrupts their conversation, startling Twilight and Apple Bloom. Twilight, particularly jumpy ever since the Changeling attack at the royal wedding, screams and instinctively readies an offensive spell. Apple Bloom screams because Twilight is screaming. Big Macintosh reveals himself, looking awful.

Apple Bloom: Big Mac! What happened? You should be in bed! Is everything alright?

Big Mac: Nope.

Big Mac: Apple Bloom, leave out the side door and head straight to the house.

Apple Bloom: Wha—

Big Mac: Straight. To. The. House.

Apple Bloom: …Alright…

Big Mac: Good. And Twilight, a word? P-please.

Twilight Sparkle: Of course. See you later, Apple Bloom!

Apple Bloom: See ya, Twilight!

Out of sight for Twilight and Apple Bloom, beyond the barn door lies the crumpled body of a strange pony. Their face is disfigured. The skin of the face is torn and bleeding, and their jaw is broken. Their tongue lolls out limp, broken teeth and saliva mixed blood. Big Mac’s hind legs are bloody, and he stands favoring one leg, which appears to be wounded.

End of transcript.

#my art #fanart #mlp #my writing #mlp fim #mlp infection au #mlp grimdark #plague ponies #mlp comic #twilight sparkle #apple bloom #cw blood #cw gore

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skyscrapergods · 3 months

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in your au is zecora an earth pony, or does a different species such as a zebra or something closer to donkeys/asses exist? how does zecora, coming from a foreign land, feel about giant gods walking around everywhere - is this a new sight for her, a complete surprise or perhaps something whispered about in tales in her lands, or is there something similar to living, giant where she is from and in other regions as well?

There are many sentient species in the world beyond the main 3 "ponies" which are not all equines. Earth ponies are horses, unicorns are a species of deer, and pegasus share a common ancestor with griffins.

Horses, pegasus, and unicorns are only considered one species socially, because they can interbreed due to compatible chromosomes. However, the foal will always be either a horse, pegasus, or unicorn with no physical traits from the other species. It will be fully one thing or another, as will its children.

Zebras and donkeys are not earth ponies (horses) but they are closely related enough that they can hybridize with them. Non-horse "ponies" (pegasus and unicorns) cannot hybridize with zebras/donkeys. Hybrid offspring within the equines are sterile.

Unicorns can breed freely with horses and pegasus, as well as their relatives, the Kirin. Kirin/unicorn hybrids are sterile. They cannot breed with zebras/donkeys/griffins.

Pegasus can breed freely with horses and unicorns, but cannot breed with kirin, zebras, or donkeys. Pegasus can breed with griffins, and their offspring are known as hippogriffs, which are not sterile and have grown to create an entire new species. They have hybrid vigor and grow larger than either of their ancestor species.

Zecora is not surprised to see Celestia, as she carries the sun around the entire planet, including her home continent. Celestia is known through the world, and worshiped in some way or another through most of it.

Before and after her imprisonment in the moon, Luna is also known throughout the world as the bringer of night and keeper of dreams.

There are other gods besides alicorns. In Zecora's homeland, there are four great trees that stretch into the sky. These trees are actually the legs of Boabab, God of Life. Many thousand years ago, Boabab walked among Zecora's people, before its long neck stretched into the heavens to look for life among the stars. This god is much older and taller than Celestia, so Zecora was not particularly overwhelmed upon seeing her or any of the smaller princesses.

Other regions also have gods, but ponies tend to only care about equestria and often do not believe other species are important enough to become gods.

#skyscraper gods #skyscraper gods lore #ask #genetics #giraffe god canon #boabab #zecora lore #ssg zecora #ssg boabab #ssg gods #ssg genetics

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fangirltothefullest · 1 month

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Hey. Hey you. Yes you! If you are planning on having kids or if you already do and they are young (as in they're 3rd grade and younger) read your kids stories. Stop handing them the internet and READ THEM STORIES.

Bored? Grab a book.

Don't know what to do? Give them a book.

Read to them while they draw or colour.

Still little? Read to them while they are taking a bath.

Read to them once a week on Fridays for Story Night.

Read to them before bed.

Read to them at breakfast.

Whenever you can, read to them!

Curriculum doesn't teach your children how to have morals and how to problem solve, books with interesting stories do. Parents are super busy and juggling all the moral teaching is hard when you're busy- have them read! It does some of it for you!

Want your kids to do better than the generation I'm teaching? Read to them. Read to them whenever you can so they learn to love it. Make books of all kinds available. Make them read fantasy, make them read fiction, make them read science fiction, make them read realistic fiction, make them read about dragons and heroes, friends and dilemmas, make them read about warrior cats and the children of gods, heroic mice and people overcoming bullies, teen dramas and kid crushes, knights and cursed princes, faerietales and stories about princesses saving their brothers from being swans. Books with worm professors and spooky stories for the campfire that walk about lawn weenies and plonking children down the slide, stories of British children stranded on an island, and people cursed being set free with true loves kiss. Stories with mermaids and krackens or a dog thats a cowboy who saves the day. Stories of small mice having adventures or people with hidden secrets. Stories of children going through tough childhoods and children finding themselves or new understanding. Stories of funny little women who defeat the oni with laughter or what's beyond Z for Zebra.

Children are force-fed information-based/fact-based readings in their classrooms, filling their minds with the ability to parse data from what they read and answer it word for word on a test.

But the morals, the learning how to navigate life with each other, the building of relationships ships be it friend or foe, context ans meaning come from reading stories and relating to or understanding the characters, context and subtleties of emotions they face in books.

It's been this way since the dawn of time.

Please for the love of all that is good, don't slap a screen in front of your child to occupy them. Give them a book and let them get lost in a story. It's way healthier and helps them read better, helps them understand speech patterns, helps them understand spelling intuitively, helps them problem solve, helps them understand how to people, helps them with right and wrong, helps with morality, helps with contextualizing, helps them differentiate between real vs fake people and how to empathise with something even if its not real, helps them navigate the world with a broader and more open mind.

All tiktok and the internet/social media does is provide eons of the worst unfiltered, non-kid-friendly drivel and cruelty you could ever imagine.

I'm begging you to please think of their future because I'm teaching children raised on screens and so few books and they do not know how to people and they're so far behind in literacy at all and they open a book and if it's not immediately interesting on the first sentence it's "boring" and ignored.

I sound like a boomer but please I'm begging you make your kids read books from the time they are little.

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woncoyo · 22 days

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☁️⠀࣭ 𝗌𝗍𝗈𝗉 𝖻𝖾𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝖼𝖺𝗋𝖾𝗅𝖾𝗌𝗌, 𝗅𝗈𝗏𝖾.

pairing: rival bf!sunghoon + gn!reader genres: fluff. warnings: kissing word count: 816. the one where you and sunghoon are rivals on the field, but lovers outside of it.

author's note: if this story seems familiar to you, it's likely because you came across it on my old blog (chacottone). i'm reposting it with a few changes, as my writing has evolved since its initial publication.

Droplets of sweat gather on Sunghoon's hands that he never gets them dry, no matter how much he wipes them off; his heart occasionally finds its way to his throat and threatens to burst out, as Sunghoon hopes the butterflies in his stomach will stop dancing before he pukes them on the floor.

It is a typical scenario before an important game, especially when the rivalry goes beyond the soccer field. However, the boy believes this craving does not concern today's match.

The first day of the soccer championship begins in an hour, and the reason why Sunghoon has arrived so early has yet to appear, so he waits eagerly behind the science lab. His face gets a worried look from the possible reasons for such a long wait, but the brunette tries to keep calm, as dying of anxiety is not in his plans.

"I know. I'm sorry!" You say once you spot the boy nervously shaking his hands against the wall.

"'Holy shit, Y/N! I thought someone caught you." Sunghoon utters, loosening the breath he was holding.

"Someone did." You smother your lips, stopping in front of him, who glares at you with wide eyes. "Your teammate, Heeseung, saw me in the hallways and practically interrogated me. I suppose he thought I had an evil plan against your school. I don't know."

Sunghoon runs his hand between strands of his hair.

"But don't worry, I managed it perfectly well." You snap back, noticing his nervousness.

"What did you tell him?"

"I said I was looking for the bathroom." The smug smile that lights up your face as you say it makes Sunghoon bow one of his eyebrows. "What?" you ask.

"Is that the best you got?"

"He believed me!" You insist, but Sunghoon rolls his eyes, still hesitant. "Look, everything is under control. Don't get stressed, or I'll get stressed too, and if that happens, I'll end you in today's match."

Two furrowed lines appear between your eyebrows as you shoot Sunghoon a furious yet playful glance, eliciting a laugh from him.

"Fine." The boy leans his shoulder against the wall, not moving his eyes from you. He pulls you by the shirt until you're both near enough to feel each other's breath. "Risky dates make me nervous. I'm sorry." Sunghoon holds the tip of your chin. "But you need to stop being careless, love."

"I know..." You smile, kissing the tip of your boyfriend's nose.

"Heeseung is waiting for the perfect timing to get me out of the captain's position, you know?"

"He'll never make it, anyway." You reassure him, intertwining your arms around his torso. "You are a wonderful and tremendously hard-working captain. No one could ever replace you!"

Sunghoon cracks a smile. "A wonderful captain wouldn't date someone from the opposing team."

"Details, baby. Details." You hum against his chest. "By the way," you raise your head to glare at him. "You look ridiculous in that outfit."

"Hey!" Sunghoon nudges your shoulder lightly. "At least I'm not the one looking like a carrot in that orange uniform." He points at you.

"For your information, I picked the colors." You hit back, stepping away from him with your arms crossed. "And I'd rather be a carrot than a goofy zebra."

Sunghoon can't stand your cuteness and gently grabs you by the neck. He touches your lips tenderly, feeling peacefulness in your arms, and with no pretense of pulling away for all the days you couldn't see each other because of the hard training. The constant fear of being caught by your friends doesn't allow you to spend much time together, as the team captain should never date the defender of the rival school. That would be a scandal among the students.

The boy retreats with a silly grin on his lips. "You taste good."

"I had a huge cup of berry smoothie before I came here."

"You didn't even think to get me some?" Sunghoon purses his lips and tries to put on a sad face, even though it only makes him look ridiculous.

"I'll make one for you after the game." You roll your eyes. "You'll need it when your team loses."

"Yeah, you wish." He says, pulling you close to him again. "I'm gonna knock you out, bae."

"You are so delusional."

After leaving one last kiss on your lips, Sunghoon takes a step back. Your heart aches at the prospect of being separated from him, even if it's for a good reason. "I have to go now," he declares, "the team needs some moral support. I've heard the opposing defender is formidable."

Your boyfriend winks at you, revealing the dimple you enjoy poking at unexpected times. He leaves you standing there with a mischievous grin on your lips and your heart racing wildly.

"I knew something was off!" Heeseung exclaims, stunned by the whole scene he just witnessed.

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mollymagician · 1 year

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was thinking today about the well-loved trope “human Dream is just totally thrown by small things like catching a cold” …but what about human Dream having absolutely no frame of reference for how he should react to any level of bodily distress and just consistently underestimating Real Problems?

Boy’s been locked in a bubble for a century. He’s been tossed into a black hole. He’s experienced on-beyond-zebra levels of sensory hell. So now he’s human, and it’s…an interesting situation. It’s an interesting situation followed by a peculiar sensation followed by a perplexing social interaction repeat repeat repeat and Dream has no context for any of it. Some things that other humans don’t seem especially bothered by, he finds wildly overwhelming but then there are days like-

Dream *chopping vegetables, so proud, Hob is teaching him a Useful Human Skill*

Hob: “Perfect! You’re doing wonderfully, duck.”

Dream: “I am glad.”

Hob: 🥰🥰

Dream: “Although I seem to have cut off the tip of my finger.”

Hob: ……

Hob: “You’ve done what now?????”

Dream: “Hmm. This won’t ruin the recipe will it?”

Hob: “BLOODY HELL”

#the sandman netflix #dreamling #retired dream au #poor Dream #someone get him that shirt that says “I Have A Migraine And No Context For Any Of This

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loneliness-suffering · 2 months

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Ran into someone???(they just went through a portal travel beyond the space and time to get ice cream.

follow-up on that last page of hedgehog & zebra's F-UP (wink

thinking of opening a ask,it doesn't necessary has to be about this AU tho,i mean I'm bored as hell,i draw them eventually.

#regular show #mordeson #Regular showAU:new generation #older Benson tend to pull on his hair when his overstressed #that explained why he's hair look messy all the time-the man can't help it #Jeremy Jefferson #that's the hedgehog's name↑

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safety-pin-punk · 11 months

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hey im a baby punk, and i just started making a patch jacket (is that what its called?), its only a couple roller derby patches and a book quote beaded on right now, but what would be some good (preferably subtle, cos parents :\ ) things to add?

-ghostflower

0) HI THIS HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY DRAFTS AND I DONT KNOW WHY IM SO SORRY

1) I absolutely love the name ghostflower

2) patch jacket and battle jacket are interchangeable for the most part. Battle jackets have a bit of history behind them stemming from WW2 (I have a Punk 101 post saved in my drafts about this actually), but in 95% of cases I’d argue patch jacket and battle jacket is interchangeable

3) THINGS TO ADD!!!

I’ve made a post about this before too but hey everyones always looking for more ideas, right?

Sew on random but meaningful/useful objects (bottle opener, festival wristbands, guitar pick, etc)

Sew a pocket for something (like a lighter or tickets you collect)

Its common to see patches that are just a cool pattern of fabric (leopard, zebra, funky 70s looking things)

I’ve seen people wire speakers into their jackets to connect to their phones when they walk around (far beyond my skills but cool nonetheless)

Paint pins out of bottle caps (they can be anything! Maybe even something roller derby related!)

The Union Jack (also known as the British flag) has had a prominent place in punk culture/aesthetic

Black cats are a symbol associated with anarchy movements

The 4 symbols of Led Zeppelin

161 is a code for Anti Fascist Action

Put non-subtle things in ‘secret spots’ on your jacket, such as the interior or under the collar (assuming you know people wont be able to check it out if you dont want them to)

As always, add more in the notes if you have ideas!!!

#mail tag #ghostflower #battle jacket

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peterman-spideyparker · 8 months

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Seven Years (Matt Murdock x fem!Reader) (Horses and Zebras 3/4)

Author’s Note: So I wanted to post this earlier in the month, but my phone just decided it wasn't having it anymore and stopped working, and that old phone was where I had a lot of WIPs, and it's just taken me a bit to find the energy to move it from one phone to another and then edit it, but, it's here! This one is angsty, so strap on your sad pants. Enjoy! :)

Summary: It's been seven years since Matt Murdock broke your heart, and it's taken seven years to push all of the feelings for him away. So when he comes to your apartment out of the blue, it tears those wounds right open again--not to mention the huge secret he brings with him.

Warnings: Angst (seven years of bottle up emotion, hurt, tears, emotional conflict/fighting/shouting, sobbing, two broken hearts breaking) canon typical violence (Matt getting seriously beat up in the black suit and passing out on Reader's floor), sweet delicious tension, swearing

Other Characters: OFC

Word Count: 2,955

You tighten the grip on your bat as you carefully walk from your bedroom down the hall to your main living space. You don’t see anyone, and part of you only thinks you were dreaming of it, but the distinct sound of labored breathing confirms that your was right.

Someone’s in your apartment.

Rounding the corner around your sofa, you see a masked man dressed in all black on your floor. As you raise your bat, ready to swing down on him, he speaks to you.

“Wait!” he pants, feebly holding up a bloody hand in surrender. “It’s me. It’s Matt.”

Matt . . . Columbia Matt?

He grunts and groans as he pulls off his black mask, revealing a face that you worked day after day to forget about. You are beyond confused, but you drop your bat, using all your strength and adrenaline to pick him up and place him on the couch. Once he’s settled, you rush over to where you keep your first aid kit, immediately cutting his shirt open and working to take care of him.

“How did this happen?” you breathe after a long while of concentrated work.

“It’s a long story,” he grunts, his face twisting in pain.

You swallow hard, nervous as you think of my next question. “H-How did you find me?”

“That might be a bit of a longer story.”

“Matt.”

“Just . . . I’ll tell you. I swear. But maybe not while you have a needle in your hand.”

Your lips pull into a tight line as you start to suture a large wound, feeling as if he’s just dodging the question. Doing the best you can to keep down all of the old hurt feelings from college, you finish patching him up and cleaning him.

“Rest here for a while,” you say as you take off your gloves and tie off the bag of supplies waste. “I’ll be back in a few hours to changes some of the bandages.”

“(Y/N), wait,” he starts, but you don’t do as he asks, throwing the bag into your kitchen trash before you rush into your room. Once your door is closed, you start to cry quietly, running your fingers through your hair as you try and figure everything out. Why is he here? What’s going on? Why . . . Why did you help him without a second thought? You’re a doctor, that’s why! But that’s not the whole story, you know that. You helped him so readily because he’s Matt. He’s Matt, for God’s sake. No one ever made you feel like how he did back in college. He was kind, compassionate, warm . . . and a two-timer. But is it two-timing if you weren’t even just a couple but more of a hookup?

“What the fuck?” you whisper, whimpering slightly before you collapse on your bed, tears starting to stream down your cheeks.

As you lie in bed, your mind racing a million miles a minute, something urges you to wipe your eyes dry and sit up, moving back to the living room when you hear him grunt in pain.

“You’re pulling at your stitches,” you say quietly, but it’s clear you’ve been crying. “Lie back down so I can change out the gauze.”

“(Y/N)—.”

“Please.”

He swallows, his eyes blinking fast to fight tears as he does what you ask. Carefully, you pull the paper tape back, using clean gauze and cotton balls to soak up the blood seeping through his wounds. He air is charged with seven years of things unsaid and unresolved feelings, but neither of you dare speak it into existence.

“The stubble is a nice look,” you say quietly as you prepare a needle and some sutures to help reinforce what he’s pulled. “There was something endearing about the smooth baby face, though.”

A small smile pulls at the corners of his mouth. “You’re still using that hand lotion. That special one with the mastic in it your aunt sends you from Greece.”

You’re shocked that he remembers that, but you’re even more taken aback that he can smell it on your skin— you put a little of it on your hands early this morning before your shift today.

“Y-Yeah,” you swallow, doing your best to push down the bubble of emotion ready to burst in your chest. “So . . . Is this a recent hobby of yours? Dressing in black with a mask and getting brutally beat up?”

“(Y/N), you wouldn’t understand.”

“Sure,” you scoff. “What’s another secret, right?”

“Huh?”

You finish tying up his wounds as his brow scrunches.

“Is this . . . This that why you ended things?” he asks quietly. “You thought I was lying to you about something?”

“That’s not a simple question to ask, Matt.”

“But I deserve to know. There were two people in that relationship.”

“I left when there were still two, yeah. It was almost three.”

“What?” he asks with furrowed brows. “Were . . . Were you—?”

“No, Matt, not that,” you say softly, discarding your supplies as you sit down and lean froward, your elbows on your knees whalebone of your thumbs gently strokes the back of your other hand. “There was a girl, she had a really unique rich name . . .”

“Elektra?” Of course he knows. But as soon as the name leaves his lips, his demeanor changes. “What did she do to you?”

“Nothing,” you lie. “I saw the end coming, and I left before I could get burned.”

“You left and you never told me why. Maybe you didn’t get burned, but I did.”

“No, Matt, you didn’t. You didn’t notice. Yes, I completely cut you out, and yes, I stopped talking to you. I didn’t stop talking to Foggy. I heard how you were out gallivanting everywhere with her, throwing everything away for her and the thrill of it. You didn’t miss me for a damn second after I left because I was just a way for you to get an A. You couldn’t have cared less, and I sat and suffered the biggest heartbreak of my life.”

The silence is so thick it could be cut with a butcher’s knife. But you’re not prepared for how fragile Matt sounds when he speaks next.

“You . . . You talked to Foggy?” he cracks.

“I did.”

“Do you still talk to him?”

“S-Sometimes,” you stutter, and you sound just ask broken as he does. “We get coffee now and then.”

You watch as tears glisten in his eyes. “What happened?” he begs softly. “Please, what happened?”

“I told you—.”

“That was a lie, (Y/N). I know it was. Something happened.”

You sigh, wrapping your arms around yourself. “That night, after we slept together, I woke up in the middle of the night. I was so happy, Matt. I was over the moon. Then I saw something out of the corner of my eye, and it was a bright red thong with a note from Elektra for your ‘next adventure’. It was dated two days before we were together.”

Matt’s tongue peaks out over his lips as he works to processes everything you’ve told him. “If . . . if she wrote a note . . .”

“It was in braille, Matt.”

“You . . . You can read braille?”

“We spent so much time together, I learned it for you. You were important to me, Matt, I wanted to be able to be able to share that with you.”

“(Y/N) . . . “

“Please, Matt—.”

“Elektra wasn’t in the picture while we were together. I promise you. After you left, after I couldn’t get in touch with you, that’s when I met Elektra. That’s when that part of my life started.”

“Then how did those panties and note get in your room?”

“I don’t know. But I swear on my life, my law firm, and my vigilante secret that I didn’t know her while we were together and I don’t know how those got into my room.” He takes one of your hands and places it directly over his heart. “I swear. I could never lie to you.”

“But it didn’t take long for you to start seeing her after we—after I left,” you say pulling your hand back. “How can you say you cared about me that much if you went right into her arms?”

His face contorts in pain. “I was heartbroken! I didn’t know what to do! You switched sections of health law, you wouldn’t answer my calls, I couldn’t find you! I thought something awful happened to you! I thought . . .” He starts to cry in frustration. “I was lost, and Elektra was at least something to focus on, because I had an awful feeling in my stomach that I’d never see you again!”

Hurt and rage mix in you as you listen to his words, how he tries to explain it—how he tries to justify it. “You could have tried to find me! You knew where I lived! Hell, you found me tonight, didn’t you? If you could do it tonight, you could’ve done it then! You could have tried to explain things! You would have fought for me if you actually cared about me!”

The silence is deafening, and you shatter as Matt’s face falls with your last sentence. “Sit here and rest,” you say quietly, your tone far different than what it was seconds ago. “Please, don’t move. I’ll be back in a few hours to change the dressing. I don’t want you pulling at more of your stitches. Anymore than you already have, at least.”

Before you can move away, Matt takes your hand in his. Every last function in your body freezes as you stare down at your hand, completely wrapped in his. It’s warm and comforting, and even with the calloused and scars on his hands, they’re so incredibly soft. His face is fragile and vulnerable as he tilts his head toward you.

“This isn’t . . . I-I have a boyfriend,” you breathe as you pull from his touch. “I have a boyfriend.”

“(Y/N)—.”

“I have a boyfriend,” you repeat, but it doesn’t sound like you're trying to tell him a fact. It’s like you’re repeating it to yourself to remind you that you’re seeing someone so you don’t do anything with Matt.

“Do you feel about him how you did about me?”

“That’s not a fair question.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Matt—.”

“Tell me.”

“No.”

“No what? You won’t answer, or you don’t feel that same?”

“I could never feel the same about anyone like I did for you.” You finally pull your hand from his as you wipe away the hot tears that fall from your lashes. “You were the love of my life, and I was a notch in your belt.”

“That’s not true.”

“Don’t tell me how to feel.”

“No—you’re saying I didn’t love you. I loved you more than anything.”

“So you loved me so much you waited seven years to get this all out?”

“(Y/N), I told you, I didn’t know what to do when you weren’t with me in the morning. And then after . . . I didn’t know how to go about it all, and the more time passed, the more it felt like I couldn’t do anything. Stop trying to put this just on me.”

“I’m not trying to, I’m trying to figure this out. Words and actions don’t match up. You’re telling me you were broken and lost when you couldn’t find me. Four days later, Foggy tells me you and him crash a party and then you start doing God knows what with Elektra. I could see you on campus, how you acted with each other. How she looked at you and how you leaned into her. There was affection and tenderness and passion—things that I wanted to have with you. I felt every last strand of my soul shatter when I saw you because every time I did, it told me that I wasn’t enough. That there was someone better suited for you than me. Matt, you have to understand where I’m coming with this.”

He closes his eyes and dips his head. “I do. I . . . I wish I could do it all over. But . . . (Y/N), it’s all so complicated. I want you in my life, and I’ve wanted that since the day we met, but I know the reality. My life—even then—if I kept you in it, you would be hurt far worse than a broken heart. I mean, you saw how I came through your window.”

Your throat is thick as you swallow. “So even then, even in Columbia . . .?”

“No. But my past . . . My past followed me to Columbia. I didn’t know it then, but it’s why Elektra came into the picture. It’s why I’m Daredevil now. If you had been with me for any of that—for a second of that, (Y/N)—you would’ve gotten hurt, I’m sure of it. And if you got hurt . . .” It’s his turn to wipe away tears. “I couldn’t live with myself if you got hurt.”

“But what if you had told me?”

“It’s not that simple, and I know you know that.”

“I don’t mean a casual sentence drop in a conversation, Matt, I mean an actual discussion where we get to talk everything out, and where you can explain things.”

“Even if I had done that—.”

“I swear if you say it’s more complicated that that, I will slap you.”

His eyes flutter shut as he lets out a sigh. “I’ve already told you, though. I’d expose you to the possibility of getting hurt if we did that.”

“How would that be different than what we’re doing right now, Matt?”

He opens his mouth to respond, but his jaw just hangs, unable to form a sentence because he knows you’re right. He lets out a breath, his eyes blinking rapidly as his tongue pokes out to wet his lips.

“I can count on one hand the things in this world that are most precious to me,” he starts softly, holding up the hand on his good arm. “Foggy, helping others, my faith, and you. If I did something to jeopardize any of those in any way . . . I’d be questioning who I am as a person.” He grunts in pain as he sits up, his labored breathing evidence of his determination to get it all out, and for once in his life be vulnerable to someone that matters to him. “I thought that when you left, maybe it was good, you know? That you could see my red flags before . . . Fuck, I don’t know. And then when I started doing this . . . one night, I just remember thinking over and over, ‘I’m so glad (Y/N) can’t see me like this now. It would kill her.’ Not just my bruises and cuts and scars, but what I became—what I am. Part of myself disappeared after you left. The happiness, the light . . . it started to disappear when I woke up without you in my arms one morning, and I’ve never been able to find it since.”

“Matt,” you breathe.

“I want to find it again. I want to find that happiness I had with you in college. But I can’t find it without you. Being here talking with you, I know that, now. I need you. Don’t go,” he say softly as your noses rest together, your lips extremely close together. “Please don’t go.”

As your brain misfires with his words spinning in your head, his touch intoxicating your senses, he squeezes your hand and pulls you close, pressing a deep, tender, urgent kiss to your lips. He’s begging you not to go, silently pleading for you to change your mind about whatever you’re thinking of that doesn’t involve him.

“I can’t loose you again,” he says against your lips. “Please. I can’t survive that again.”

“Matt . . . This isn’t the right time.”

“It’ll never be the right time. But there’s a reason that I got hurt near you home. There’s a reason why you helped when you could’ve turned me away. There’s a reason that we’re still talking. Please, please don’t go. Stay with me. Let’s . . . Let’s figure this out. Please.”

“You said that you can’t survive loosing me again. But I gain survive getting hurt like that again.”

“I won’t. I swear I’ll never hurt you like that, I’ll never let you get hurt like that again. I just need you.”

It breaks your heart how the tears stain his face, his eyes even puffier from the drops he refuses to let fall, telling you that you hold the last glimmer of hope he has.

“I . . . I—,” you start when your phone begins to ring. Glancing over, you see your phone light up with your boyfriend’s name on the screen. Pulling your hand from Matt’s, you go into the kitchen and pick up.

“Hey,” you say softly.

“Hey, baby,” he says, his words laced with exhaustion. “ER is short staffed.”

“What else is new?”

He lets out a soft chuckle. “I’m not getting out of here for a long while. I’ll probably be leaving the ER when you walk into the lobby in the morning, in all honesty. But I’ll see you tomorrow night, okay?”

“Yeah, I’ll see you,” you hum. “Remember to try and take a rest if there’s a lull.”

“Always looking out for me. Get some rest yourself, babe. I’ll see you.”

“Night, Chris.”

When you turn around, you see that your couch vacant, Matt absolutely no where to be found. Feeling your lip quiver uncontrollably, you drop your phone and fall to your knees, absolutely blubbering, your heart shattering to pieces just like it did all those years ago. Only this time, you’re the one who is left behind.

Permanent Taglist: @majesticavenger @steampowerednightvaler @themusingsofmany @just-the-hiddles @toozmanykids @dangertoozmanykids101 @clints-worldavengers @theburningbookshop @itwasthereaminuteago @peter1ismybrother@hellskitchens-whore @dpaccione @catnip987

Matt Murdock Taglist: @two-unbeatable-beaters

Fic Taglist: @linasotaaaaaaaa @scarletsloveletter @maladaptivedaydreamingbum

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queering-ecology · 2 months

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Queering the Wild by Micha Rahder (2019) [final]

Queer Intimacy in Non-Human Animals

The author introduces several examples of ‘queerness’ across the animal kingdom—the ‘birds and the bees’, --a lot about birds since we have a lot of research on them. The study on zebra finches reminded me of the concept of ‘naturecultures’; they choose their mates and often do not stray, same-sex or otherwise and so this supports the idea that there is more to ‘bird life than breeding and that the social aspects of bonding might be just as important’ (02).

“The idea that sexual activity might be about more than just making babies is hard for people who were raised in contemporary U.S. American culture in particular, with its focus on abstinence-only sex ed and heavy legislation of uteruses and the people who have them” (02) but finches, bonobos, dolphins or ‘female fish that prefer males that have had sex with other males, all chip away at that anthropocentric frame’ (02).

“Because scientists carry their cultural biases into their work, most research approaches these kinds of queer traits and behaviors as problems to be solved” (02). Heteronormativity has made scientists ‘run in circles’ trying to explain why such ‘maladaptive’, ‘perverted’ traits appear throughout the natural world such as nutritional deficiencies, the stress of captivity, that they’re just ‘dumb’ and can’t tell the difference, it’s a ‘misfire’ attempt at heterosexuality, or they’re just ‘practicing’.

“Evolutionary biologists need to think about same-sex sexual behavior in non-human animals as more than just a problem to be solved” and “same sex sexual behavior is both a trait that is potentially shaped by selection and a force that shapes selection on other traits” or they should “consider how same-sex sexual activities shape ongoing evolutionary processes” (03).

Extending Our Chosen Family

Evolution has no “direction or purpose” and humans are not “the representation of the ultimate expression of life on earth” (03). If we look at microbiology, we can see true diversity. “Only recently have scientists started to pay attention to how much [microbes exchanging DNA] might be driving evolution” (03). Fungi are also an incredible example of sexual diversity; with one species alone having more than 23,000 documented mating types (sexes) and individuals can physically ‘merge or separate in different environmental contexts’ making it difficult to differentiate them.

‘Symbiopoesis’ or “how organisms can be intimately involved in each other’s development” (squid and light emitting bacteria, bees and pollination, acacia trees and ants, wasps and figs).(03) Again this reminds me of the Lakota concept of Mitakuye Oyasin—we are all related, all my relatives.

Competition//Cooperation is another binary that queer ecology can challenge.

“Queering nature means learning about our connectedness with all the living earth. Here, the classic queer recognition of chosen family extends beyond humans, recognizing our kinship and interdependence with our companion animals, the foods we eat, our microbes and others. It means taking pleasure in those connections, learning to recognize pleasure in others and understanding how our human identities, gender expressions and sexual behaviors are only a small piece of the wide, queer living world” (04).

Queer ecology asks us to be curious about the ‘magnificent overabundance of reality’ (Bagemihl). “Breaking free from the historical biases of science allows us to move forward together with other life on earth, rather than thinking ourselves as separate from or above it. That kind of hierarchical thinking has kept queer and other marginalized communities away from the benefits of being outdoors and has led directly to the tangle of global environmental crises in which we find ourselves now. Learning from non-humans is a great way to undo these legacies” (04).

#queering the wild #queer ecology #queer nature #ecofeminism #heteronormativity #queer theory #critical ecology #environmental politics #ecology #queer history #mitakuye oyasin #evolution #naturecultures #Symbiopoesis

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arminreindl · 8 months

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Baru: The Cleaver-Headed Crocodile

Ok back on my croc stuff, today discussing Baru. Like most the other crocs I've been talking about, Baru was a mekosuchine, a member of an endemic radiation of crocodilian native to Australasia. Baru is easily among the largest of this group and among the most robust, with massive curved teeth and almost inflated looking jaws. Left my interpretation of Baru darrowi, right the illustration by Willis et al. from 1990.

My reconstruction differs subtly in some regards, obviously the jaw material shown is from Ristevski et al. 2023 and elements of the posterior skull are based on the older Baru wickeni. My mandible also turned out slightly different, tho the quality of the images in the original description is not great so that is not guaranteed.

Anyhow, this head likely sat atop the body of what was a decently large crocodilian, with estimates suggesting four or even five meters in length for both currently recognized species Baru wickeni and Baru darrowi. As you can see below, I went for the lower estimate (which is the one given by proper publications), which still renders an immense animal all things considered, certainly holding up with many crocs of today.

Currently, there's two recognized species, one unnamed species and one that has been reassigned. The older of the named species is Baru wickeni, which was found in the Lake Eyre Basin and Riversleigh World Heritage Area during the late Oligocene. Like I already said, it was approximately as large and robust as the later Baru darrowi, but did differ in some regards. The skull had much more prominent crests, the nasal bone extended into the opening for the nares and importantly, the cutting edges of the teeth were smooth.

During the Miocene, Baru wickeni would be replaced by Baru darrowi, known from younger strata of the Riversleigh and the Bullock Creek fauna. Baru darrowi had less prominent crests, but in turn slight serrations on its teeth. Also the nasal bones did not extend into the nares. Baru darrowi is the species shown at the start.

The other two are then the unnamed Baru species from the Alcoota fossil site and "Baru" huberi. I talked about the latter before and how it is now thought to be something else entirely. Which leaves us with the Alcoota form. Generally regarded as a distinct species, fossils of the Alcoota Baru have been found from 2000 onwards near Alice Springs and appear to represent an animal more robust than the other known Baru. Below you can see a skeletal mount on exhibition at the Megafauna Central in Alice Springs (image by Aussie Bucket List) and a skull held by Adam Yates, an important researcher of this animal.

A little side note I want to mention is the name Baru. As you might have guessed from the etymology of various other mekosuchines (Kambara, Mekosuchus, Quinkana, Kalthifrons), the name actually ties into the native People of Australia. Specifically, Baru is a figure in the mythology of the East Arnhem Region, which describes him as a sort of totem crocodile that brought law to the lands he named. Baru also had a fight with Jarkitj (Willy Wagtail) after stealing fire for himself. Sadly I couldn't find much about the mythical Baru beyond a brief summary written up by George Pascoe Gaymarani you can read here.

Returning to the animal, one would suspect that the robust skull meant that it didn't quite hunt like modern crocodiles, especially considering the serrated teeth found in the younger species. Well, tho nothing concrete is known Willis and colleagues speculate that this might have been an adaptation to shallower waters. While modern crocs tend to ambush prey, grab it using a strong bite and conical teeth and then proceed to drown it, Baru may not have had that option. A modern croc can just drag a zebra for instance into deep water, weaken it and let go to adjust its grip without the risk of it getting away. In shallow waters, this may have been too risky and lead to prey escaping. So Baru's robust head and curved, sometimes serrated teeth were built to inflict a lot of damage upon prey when lunging, securing the bite and incapacitating it. Willis estimates that it may have taken prey as heavy as 300 kilos.

There's also the interesting tidbit of Baru wickeni coexisting with a diverse croc fauna, yet being conspicuously absent from more southern regions of Australia despite entering the respective drainage basin. I go into more detail while talking about Australosuchus, but the jist of it is that Baru was likely not as cold resistant as Australosuchus and thus not found as far north.

Alas, as with other mekosuchines, not much art of Baru exists aside from this absolutely fantastic piece by @knuppitalism-with-ue

As per usual, this deep dive is brought to you as part of me redoing the wikipedia page of this genus, which resulted in a major size increase. The image below is just to show the difference, but if you want to read it here's the link: Baru - Wikipedia

#mekosuchinae #wikipedia editing #wikipedia #baru #baru wickeni #baru darrowi #baru huberi #croc #crocodile #paleontology #palaeoblr #prehistory #oligocene #miocene #australia #long post

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abellaheart-blog · 1 year

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Bucci gang x Reader Headcanons

Baking Their S/o A Valentines Surprise

Taglist:

@syntheticseraton1n @danielle-marie @shxftxng @noaltbruh

If you'd like to be added to my taglist, info here

Giorno Giovanna

Giorno would do his best to impress you so he's baking you a four tier double chocolate cake with valentines sprinkle's

He would plan out the sweet treat a week ahead to make sure he bought the best ingredients on the market

He's really good at baking and decorating desserts

He spent two days creating this lovely cake for you

He'll wear a cute pink floral apron with ladybug oven mitts

He got you a gift bag full of items you've had your eyes on for months

Giorno would wear a nice suit since he'd take you to a garden date after you both enjoy the cake

When presenting the cake to you he has a smile on his face and he went above and beyond by growing a vase of red roses too

Your glowing smile made all the time and effort he put into this surprise for you worth it

If you comment how delicious the cake is his eyes gleam with joy as he gives you a charming smile and kiss to your forehead

Narancia Ghirga

Narancia isn't the best cook but he can bake cookies, cakes, and brownies easily. He'll decide to bake you some vanilla cupcakes decorated in pink frosting and topped with conversation heart candies

He'd be rapping while listening to loud rap on his stereo. He'd dance as he's waiting for the cupcakes to bake or cool down.

Since you're not home he'd grab his gift he bought you from a music store. He'll have it ready for you by the cupcakes.

As he is decorating he's hoping for a hug and kiss from you

Once you're home you're greeted by an eager Narancia with a tower of Valentines cupcakes. His lips are puckered up causing you to giggle and kiss him. He combed his hair and wore cologne for you! He's so cute.

He'll watch as you enjoy your cupcake opening his gift for you

Your appreciation means a lot to him so he's so happy when you give him a hug

He's taking you on a movie date so he hopes you're ready for junk food and a movie together

Bruno Bucciarati

Of course he'd be a good baker. He'd bake your favorite type of cake then decorate it in a lovely Valentines theme topping it with a heart shaped store bought cookie

The man may be a capo but he made time for you since its Valentines day

He'll wear a zipper themed apron and his hair is in a bun as he is working on your cake. Smooth jazz is playing on his record player as he thinks about you. He misses you so much.

His apron is pretty dirty since he made you dinner too. He was sure to make your favorite meal. This man will surprise you with a romantic candle lit dinner with wine glasses and rose petals.

As he waits for the cakes to cool down he gets ready for you. He'll wear a suit and put his best suit on. He wants to impress you so of course he is going above and beyond.

After he is done getting ready the zipper apron is back on and he decorates while his stand cleans up the kitchen

The moment you arrive home Bruno greets you in the sweetest tone with a pet name. As your eyes widen at such a surprise his smile radiates the room.

You're no match against his arms wrapping around you. You thank him for everything with kiss.

He pushes your chair in for you and starts serving you the food he made. He's sure to remind you to leave room for the cake he made you. Your eyes light up seeing your favorite food and such a marvelous cake.

Bruno is happy to see you enjoy his cooking and the slice of cake he served you. You thank him with lots of kisses

Guido Mista

This man is a foodie and sure loves to cook. He will take inspiration from circus animal cookies and recreate them into heart shaped cookies for you. He'll top them with Valentine's sprinkles.

He thought cookies would be best so the leftovers could be easily saved in a cookie jar for later

He's got a chef hat and red zebra print apron whistling as he listens to the radio.

It takes him time to coat the cookies in the melted chocolate but he knows they'll turn out fine

After he is done decorating he'll write you a note, "Happy Valentines, sweetheart I baked you cookies. I'll be in the living room shortly. I have snacks and a movie waiting for you. Be there in a bit. Your man Mista-"

He takes a shower making sure he chose an expensive body wash. He wants cuddles after all

You try some cookies once you arrive home. His note didn't go unnoticed so you head to the living room.

You soon see Mista standing in front of you in a new pair of striped pants. He's shirtless with his arms out wide open for you.

As you're in his arms be sure to compliment him or fondle him. He loves it. He'll hold you in his arms as you both watch movies together.

If you thank him for the cookies or praise his baking he kisses your forehead and sweetly tells you, "Happy Valentines, love you babe"

Fugo Pannacotta

Fugo will choose a difficult dessert such as macaroons but he planned it a week prior so he's prepared

He will want them to be perfect! The heart shapes must be perfect too. He'll even give you three different fillings for each! If the heart shaped macaroons aren't symmetrical then he will redo them as many times as it takes

He bakes in the cutest red strawberry print apron with a small low ponytail showing off his strawberry earrings in the process. He'll also have the cutest matching baking mittens too.

He will read a book as he waits for them to bake and cool down

He'll think of different imagines of you reacting to your surprise. Murmuring responses to himself. "Yes belleza all for you!", "Oh you like my macaroons? What's that? A kiss?"

His favorite are secretly the beige colored macaroons with the red roses and lettering filled with, "I love you". He loves his handwriting and gets bashful about telling you he loves you

He'll neatly place them on a strawberry plate beside a large vase of flowers for you. He'll make sure they're your favorite type of flowers

When you arrive home and see the surprise he has such a pleased expression. His smile is super humble upon hearing your compliments. He hopes you kiss him.

If you do he starts to get love drunk. Half lidded purple eyes with a visible small blush.

He's so happy seeing your reactions to the flowers and dessert he made you

You two will watch a movie together while enjoying the macaroons.

Leone Abbacchio

Abbacchio isn't much of a cook but he's decent when he wants to be. His baking skills are decent too. He desired to make the cookies because acts of service are his love language. He'll decide to make you sugar cookies

He'll make a small batch of the cookies decorating them in a nightmare before Christmas theme. He wants to be a little romantic and reference the couple from the movie. He hopes you understand the implication. He is a man of few words after all

His hair is in a ponytail as he bakes. He won't wear an apron but he will listen to music as he bakes and decorates the cookies

It took him quite a bit of time to decorate so he sure hopes you enjoy them.

He plans to take you to a restaurant when you arrive home

When you arrive and compliment or thank him he's eating up the attention. He will smile if he receives affection from you.

He got you a black rose and compliments you

If he see's you enjoy one he'll be happy. He isn't as into sweets so he won't try one

He'll undo his ponytail and ask you to get ready to go out. He's surprising you with your favorite restaurant

Trish Una

She decides to bake you some pink sugar cookies bars with cream cheese frosting and valentine's sprinkle's.

She has a very girly pink apron with her stereo playing her favorite CD. She sing's along as she bakes. Her sweet voice is so beautiful as she sings.

She'll have a big smile on her face as she thinks about you. She'll ever so often look over to the gift bag she has ready for you. It will have two expensive presents inside

She decides to bake you some pink sugar cookies bars with cream cheese frosting and valentine's sprinkle's.

She has a very girly pink apron with her stereo playing her favorite CD. She sing's along as she bakes. Her sweet voice is so beautiful as she sings.

She'll have a big smile on her face as she thinks about you. She'll ever so often look over to the gift bag she has ready for you. It will have two expensive presents inside

Trish will start singing about romance as she is frosting the cookie bars. She touches up her makeup and changes into a sexy dress.

Her lovely green eyes light up upon hearing you arrive at the door. She greets you by serenading you. She's feeling flirty if you get bashful or in a romantic mood. She will give you a kiss and direct you to her surprise.

Any response from you gives her joy. If you compliment her look she'll want affection. She'll love to see your reaction to the presents she bought you. If you greet her with a bouquet or gift she'll kiss and hug you as thanks

Afterwards you two are going to a high end restaurant in her limo

#buccigang x reader #trish una x reader #trish x reader #team bucciarati x reader #bruno bucciarati x reader #giorno giovanna x reader #narancia ghirga x reader #guido mista x reader smut #fugo pannacotta x reader #leone abbacchio x reader #valentine’s fic #bucci gang headcanon #not my divider

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