Ms-scarletwings - Of Carmine Carnations

This whole thing is making me laugh so hard for several reasons but mainly because off the top of my head, if you’ve ever read Moby Dick, there actually is no outright sex scene. BUT. It’s literally one of the most blushingly homoerotic pieces of literature I’ve ever read in my life.

Without exaggeration, Melville crammed it brimming full of cheeky (Very intentional) innuendo enough to make a nun faint. There’s literally one scene that takes its sweet, descriptive time to visually lay out a whole circle of sea men squeezing and wringing the “sperm” (as in the sperm whale grease) out of a harvest, you know all ruggedly and rapturously and sensually, as one does with the sailor homies. I lied actually, it’s not a scene. It’s an entire chapter titled “A Squeeze of the Hand” ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) …

Not getting into the “strangers sharing a hotel bed to unofficially married speedrun” bromance between Ishmael and Queenqueg because we’d be here all day.

brandon sanderson fans

Footnote: Psst, This is my new blog! Due to some technical issues with the old one, I am rblging the original MMM and CFF posts on this account, as well as continuing the future rambles under this handle from here on!

Media Marvel Monday, #5:

The Sweetest Co-Op I’ve Ever Played Solo, Unravel 2

Ever look through the bargain bin or the used game/movie sections while shopping in your youth, and come across an actual masterpiece? Wonderful experience, especially if you didn’t even know you basically found a diamond ring rifling through the sloppy seconds section. It’s why I love thrift thing so much, not just because I’m a cheap ass, but because finding the hidden gems pennies on the dollar is its own fun kind of scavenger hunt.

And on that note, this one time I was looking through the heavy discount section of the E-shop, and let me tell you,

I found something absolutely beautiful, and even better, it’s a charming ditty you can enjoy with a dear friend, or a special someone if you're looking for a good couch co-op recommendation on short notice, Valentine's day being tomorrow and all ;)

I.... freaking love this game, so much. Everything about it. Playing it, looking at it, keeping the soundtrack in my ears as I meditate or draft things such as this out...

The game follows as the spiritual successor of the first Unravel, an atmospheric, side scrolling, puzzle-platformer that had you navigate a voiceless narrative through control of a "Yarny" (which, in this setting are like lil whimsical fellas made entirely of yarn) through beautiful natural landscapes and an underlying story of love, memories, and adventure. Which each step Yarny takes, his own thread spools out behind him, and puzzle-solving through the level sections revolves around creative uses of this trailing string, whether by use of a lasso to climb heights, to swing over gaps, building tightrope trampolines, pulleys, and a number of other ways of interacting with the world. This builds with and upon the smooth physics in action to bring players an engaging and varied way of progressing without being overly complicated. Though some of the challenges can have their moments of frustration, the game is overall a relaxing and visually more artistic than mechanical experience.

All of this carries over into Unravel's sequel, but now with the added spice of two Yarnies in the spotlight, tethered both physically and seemingly spiritually to each other. From the moment they find each other, a spark forms from their connection, and they share a journey to chase that spark as it brings light back to a world with some growing shadows.

Though you can play through the entire game solo for no less satisfaction and no more difficulty with the puzzles (I did, and I was almost tearing up in delight when I reached the final credits), the soul of a thoughtfully crafted, local co-op experience shines through all of Unravel 2.

Something I also rabidly love about the sequel is that you're actually allowed to customize the look of the yarnys' bodies and color! Not only that, but there's a handful of emotes available to really help your little dudes come to life (Media Marvels is all about the joy from the finer details after all). How many co-ops do YOU have where you and the other player's little creature can hold hands and stare into each other's lil yarn eyes after getting through a tough challenge??

I got so attached to my own pair over my first playthrough that I couldn't help myself but go for a trip to the craft store and, well,

More pics of my sons here, but legit, yarnys are pretty fun and easy to make it turns out.

I seriously don't want to understate the beauty of this game, though. The soundtrack is phenomenal, some literally theater worthy stuff at times, and draws a lot of inspiration from Scandinavian folk sounds, which, I shouldn't even have to really explain how that pairs so well with visuals like this

If this all sounds even remotely interesting to you, it's available on PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One, and the Nintendo Switch. The switch's version does take a hit to the graphics, but it's not one that I minded much. Also cool how you can do co-op with a pal with one joycon each, no huge need to have two sets. Anyway, I can't stand by this recommendation much harder. I think I'll close this out with a simple Happy early Valentines Day.

Footnote: Might recognize this? Feel like seeing more? This is my new blog! Due to some technical issues with the old one, I will be rblging the original MMM and CFF posts on this account, as well as continuing both lil series!

Creacher feature friday 1: Let’s talk ladybug 🐞 STDS

That’s right! Oh, you thought the there was somehow an animal phylum that could get into risk-free unprotected hanky panky left and right as they pleased? Think again!

So, why focus on ladybugs? Turns out they’re one of the most promiscuous types of insect out there, like, insanely so, and in being.. that and also swarming our rosebushes every summer, they have notified me of a fun example to share.

Let’s kick off with the reveal of my third favorite parasitic fungus, and the only one I’ve actually been lucky enough to see a case of in person: Hesperomyces virescens

This species is one of quite a few actually that really likes to hang out on the exoskeletons of hard-bodied beetles. It mainly transmits between hosts during the shell-to-shell contact during mating. Predictably so, infected male ladybirds will often end up with a case in their underside, while females will usually catch it on their backs and heads. The success of this disease in their populations makes a lot of sense when you keep in mind that ladybirds go at it for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 entire hours once they find a partner. Two-spot ladybirds have even been reported to be able to engage in copulation for up to around 8 hours on few occasions. And quantity is just as accounted for as quality. Many breeds of ladybug will mate multiple times in a single day, with the females laying eggs several times over the season. Makes you wonder how they have time for anything else, but yes, back to this fungus-

It’s actually not particularly harmful to them in most mild-moderate cases, but it can cause trouble if a really bad infestation damages their eyes or wings. It also technically lives inside the beetle’s own blood once contracted, but emerges on the outside into these contagious (thankfully not to us) yellow patches. Here’s some good photo examples I snatched off of the Google:

Yeesh, this little hardshell horndog seems to have gotten it pretty rough, my respects.

So yeah, just another thing that happens sometimes. My conclusion- awful as human STIs can be I’m just glad that yeast is about the only sort of fungus we gotta look out for in that respect, and not mushrooms in our blood and sprouting out where the sun won’t shine.

Tune in next week, and maybe we will have a chance for a part two where I can get into that OTHER sexually transmitted fungus that hijacks the brains of male cicadas and makes them bottom for other males. You know, neat stuff; Till next time!

The Unfixable Thought Machine | David Firth’s Health Reminder, episode three