#...or lack thereof

12:12 p.m. at Shiyuba's Local Park Playground.......

Morgana: (Texts Haru on his Phone While Standing Inside of a Cube Jungle Gym With his Girlfriend) Got......Ourselves.....Stuck......Inside.....the Jungle Gym.......Please.....Come.....and......Get Us......Out......And......Take......The......(Turns to Lavenza Behind Him) What's the book called again?

Lavenza: The Book of Unwavering Spells and Magic.

Morgana: (Continues Texting) Book.....of......Unwavering.......Spells.....and......Magic......With You......annnnnnd sent. (Sighs While Putting his Phone Back.in his Pocket) Okay. Mom's mansion is a few miles away from here, so it's gonna take a while for her and Futuba to come back.

Lavenza: (Frowns Sadly While Bowing Down to Her Boyfriend) I am so sorry for getting us in here, Mona-Chan. Had it not been for my carelessness and my big, fat mouth revealing the name of the spell mid sentence, we wouldn't be in this mess right now....

Morgana: (Gives Lavenza a Reassuring Smile) Hey, Accidents like this happen.....Not too often in a magical sense, but still! There's really no need to beat yourself up over it. I promise.

Lavenza: (Stares at Mona For a Few Seconds Before Calming Herself With a Sigh) I suppose it wouldn't be too much of a hassle to stay calm in a situation like this.......(Smiles Softly) So long as we have each other's company.

Morgana: (Smiles Brightly) That's the spirit! (Pulls Something Out of his Pocket) Want some gum?

Lavenza: Would I?~

Mona tries handing his pack of gum over to his girlfriend only for him to accidentally drop it on the middle of the square cages in front of them, causing the Velvet Girl in question to whimper in sadness.

Two Minutes Later..........

Morgana: (Eyes Widened in Awe at the Sight of his Girlfriend's Sparkly, Painted Finger Nails in Front of Him) Woooooah......You really did them yourself? They look so pretty.

Lavenza: (Smiles Proudly) Why, thank you, my sweet dear~ And Yes. I took the liberties of giving the nails on my fingers the upmost care and glamor, with a bit of practice of course. I could paint yours if you like.

Morgana: Sure. You got any other colors besides blue?

Lavenza: (Happily Nodded) Oh absolutely. (Points Out the Colors' Names By Using her Fingers) I've got Mystique Crimson, Green Apple Smith, Sunlight Yellow, Sensational Blackberry-

Morgana: Ooh, the Blackberry one sounds interesting. I'll take that one.

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) Sensational Blackberry it is then.

Five More Minutes Later..........

Morgana: Out of all the weapons you could've choose: swords, rapiers, sabres, whips, guns....What made you wanna use a chainsaw of all things?

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) I just find every detail and aspect of it to be the most intriguing compared to the rest. The metal chains circling around the blade each time they move, the mechanics on the handle that helps generate the device to it's best capacity, the loud, roaring sound each time you ramp up it's functions to a high enough levdl! ('Sighs Dreamingly') What's not love about this wonderful masterpiece~ Ooh! Did you know that back in the 1700s, there was a handmade, wooded device first created as a medical tool known as the Flewable Saw?~

Morgana: Huh. I....honestly did not know that until now. Do you know that today's National Girlfriend Day?

Lavenza: ('Gasps') No I haven't. A holiday where you celebrate being a girlfriend?

Morgana: (Happily Nodded) Yep! At least that's what Ren told me this morning....(Starta Rubbing the Back of his Head Back and Forth Shyly) I.....haven't really gotten you anything for the occasion yet, but-

Lavenza: (Happily Shakes her Head) There's no need for you to get me anything.

Morgana: (Eyes Widened a Bit in Genuine Surprise) Wait, really? Are you sure?

Lavenza: I am positive. Having someone as wonderful as you as boyfriend is a gift worth cherishing for in a lifetime.

Morgana: (Heart Immediately Starts to Melt in Pure Happiness) Awwwwww~ Lavenza!~ I feel the same way about you too~ I would hug you right now if the....bars weren't in between us right now.

Lavenza: I'm sure we'll have all the time in the world for hugs and affection once we leave out of here.....Hopefully.

Two Minutes Later.......

Lavenza: (Stares at Morgana in Curiosity) Hmmmmm.......

Morgana: (Notices the Stare) Is.....something wrong, Lavenza?

Lavenza: (Comes Back to Reality) Oh. (Looks Away a Bit) A-Apologies for the stare. I couldn't help but notice the style of your hair sort of resembles that to a kitten's ear.

Morgana: Wait. I have kitten's ears for a hairstyle?

Lavenza: (Simply Nodded) Mhmm. At least i think you do. (Points her Mini Mirror in Front of Morgana) Take a look for yourself .

Morgana: (Starts Examining the Front of his Hair as his Eyes Begins to Widened at the Reflection of Himself) Oh God, you're right. I do have ears for hair.

Lavenza: You really didn't notice that until now?

Morgana: Not....Really? I mean, I guess I've never really look at myself mirror as much as I used to nowadays. Which reminds me...(Turns Back to Lavenza) You think I should try out a different hairstyle of some kind? See if it suits me or not?

Lavenza: I wouldn't mind seeing you in a different look. But if you ask me personally.....(Smiles Softly) I believe the look you have now defines and represents you just perfectly.

Morgana: (Stares at his Girlfriend For a Few Seconds Before Smiling Back at her) Hm. Thanks, Lavenza. I think your look defines you perfectly too.

Three Minutes Later............

Morgana: So those siblings of yours.....Are they really like you in a way or.....

Lavenza: Oh heavens no. We may have similar mannerisms on a few occasions, but our personalities are far different than anyone gave us credit for. Take our oldest sister, Margaret, for example: The most matured, smartest, and the motherly figure of the family. Her strategic and tactful thinking has always managed to help us on numerous occasions in the past. So much so that it even inspired me to improve on my intellect abilities overtime.

Morgana: Well, given how smart you really are, I say you're improving a lot.

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) Why, thank you, dear!~ Then after her, comes my older brother, Theodore, who is more polite and proactive in comparison. He usually becomes the main target of my sisters' pranks whenever father isn't around the room. And then there's Elizabeth who's curiosity could lead her to many things....mostly trouble. One time, she even got herself trapped in this contraction like we are currently, with no magic or spell in hand.

Morgana: (Eyes Widened a Bit) Seriously?

Lavenza: (Simply Nodded) It's true. It happened during her date with a boy with blue hair. She wanted to know how the Jungle Gym works only to somehow get herself stuck inside. It nearly took the two whole night to get her out of there before the cops arrived.

Morgana: (Snickers a Bit) Yikes. That must've been a real drag for them, huh?

Lavenza: (Giggles Softly) It was. But they still had a wonderful together after that, which is nice to say the least. She speaks very highly of that boy. (Slowly Starts Frowning) Even when she misses him so much....

Morgana: "Misses him"?

Lavenza: The boy in blue was given a terrible fate to be the one thing to save humanity from complete destruction. And my sister has been searching aimlessly to free him from his curse with....very....little to no prevail of course....She'll probably never admit this, but I can tell that it's been taking a toll on her from the very beginning given the two history. My only wish right now is find some way to help her.....(Looks Down the Ground) If she even wants our help........

Morgana: It takes times for someone to admit their own struggles, no matter how big it is.....But...given what you've told me about her....(Gives his Girlfriend a Sad But Reassuring Look on his Face) I'm sure she'll come around someday. You just gotta be ready when the time comes to help, you know?

Lavenza: (Looks Back Up to Mona Before Nodding in Agreement) Yes. You're right. As her faithful little sister, I refuse to stand back any longer! My hands will forever be there to catch her whenever she metaphorically falls in the abyss of stress and heartache. That will be the promise of a lifetime!

Morgana: (Chuckles Very Lightly) That's the spirit!

????: LAVENZAAAAA!!!! MOOOOONAAAAAA!!!!!

The couple turns both of their heads to see Haru and Futuba making their way into the jungle gym with the latter already losing breath from her body.

Haru: We're here, sweethearts!~ Are you two okay!?

Lavenza: (Happily Nodded) Yes. We are okay, Ms. Haru-san?

Morgana: You guys seriously ran your way to get here?

Futuba: (Starts Huffing, Puffing, and Panting While Trying Retain her Posture) Yeah.....we did.....The limo.....we were.....riding on.....was stuck in traffic......so (Pounts at Haru Beside Her) Little Miss Thunder Thighs here......thought.....it would be....a GOOD IDEA.....for us....to run ALL THE WAY FROM THE CITY....TO HERE......Jesus Tap-Dancing Christ.....I HATE running.....With a PASSION!

Haru: Running is good for the body, Futuba. And that's beside the point. (Turns Back to the Children) We-

Futuba: WE!? (Glares at Haru)

Haru: (Sighs While Rolling her Eyes) I thought it would be quicker for us to get here instead for traffic to clear up all day. (Finally Smiles in Relief) We're so glad you two aren't in any too much danger.

Futuba: Yeah. Also.....(Pulls Out the Blue Book From her Book Bag) We got the Magic Spell you asked us to get before we left the house.

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) Splendid!~ The spell's name is on page .167 on section c.

Futuba: (Already Breezes Through the Pages) Page.....1.....67.....Section Cccccccc....(Points on the Destined Page) Got it! You kids ready to get the heck out of that crazy thing?

Morgana: Wait!

Morgana and Lavenza reaches out for each other's hands and holds it before looking back at the ladies.

Morgana: Now we're ready!

Lavenza: (Nodded in Agreement)

Futuba: (Smiles Brightly) Cool! (Reads the Words on the Page) Now, let's see here.......

As Futuba blurts out the name of the spell, a blue aura begins to surround Morgana and Lavenza's body as the two begins to finally teleport out of the jungle gym.

.

.

But rather than appearing in Front of Futuba and Haru.....they just teleported out of sight.

Haru: (Eyes Widened in Horror Along With Futuba) MY BABIES!!

Futuba: OHH NO!

Meanwhile at the LeBlanc Café......

Sojiro: (Prepare a Cup of Latté) So you're really thinking about leaving the whole maverick business behind you, aren't ya?

Cybernetic Swordsman: For some time now, yeah. But I'm not gonna throw in the towel just yet. There's still some loose ends I need to clear up before-

A blue light suddenly appears on the cafe's table stand as it shows Morgana and Lavenza standing on it.

Cybernetic Swordsman: What in the-

Lavenza: (Finally Opens her Eyes) Oh my......(Lools Around the Very Familiar Location) It seems the spell has teleported us back here of all places.

Morgana: (Opens his Eyes as Well) Huh? (Starts Looking the Café as Well) Wow, you're right.....('Sigh') Well, as long as we're not stuck in that gym anymore, I ain't gonna complain.

Lavenza: (Nodded in Agreement) Neither will I.

'Ahem'

The young couple turn their heads to Sojiro staring at them with a tired yet soft smile on his face.

Sojiro: Hey there, kids. Had a good time at the park today?

Morgana: (Smiles Back at Coffee Dad) Yeah, we did. U-Up until we got ourselves trapped in the jungle gym....

Lavenza: (Smiles Brightly) Luckily, Futuba and Ms. Haru-san was arrived at the neck of time to get us out with the teleporting spell!~

Morgana: .....Which brings us here instead by the way.....

Sojiro: Uh-huh. Glad to see you two are alright at least. Also, I like to introduce you to my new customer, Raiden.

Raiden: (Simply Nodded at the Couple) Pleasure to meet you.

Morgana: (Smiles Brightly at the Cybernetic Swordsman) Same. I'm Morgana.

Lavenza: (Politely Bows at Raiden) Lavenza. And I must say, your robotic features looks absolutely intriguing.

Morgana: Yeah and really cool.

Raiden: (Smiles a Little) Thanks. You two are the second and third person to ever complimented my features.

Lavenza: ('Gasps') Mona, did you hear that? We are the second and third!~

Morgana: (Chuckles Lightly) I know, right? I'm already honored!

Sojiro: That's great and all, but do you mind getting off the table now? Kinda running a business here.

Morgana: Oh! (Smiles Sheepishly While Rubbing the Back of his Head Back and Forth) R-Right. We'll....get out of your hair now. (Turns to Lavenza) Ready, Lavenza?

With one, happy nod from his girlfriend, Morgana gets down from the table and then helps Lavenza down as well. It wasn't long before the Velvet Girl in question gives the boy a big, loving hug in the process.

Morgana: (Chuckles Lightly) What's with the sudden hug there?~

Lavenza: Oh no reason other than it's overdue~ As well as this~

Lavenza gives Morgana a big kiss on the cheek, causing the boy to blush instantly.

Morgana: W-Wow~ S-So debt paid then?

Lavenza: Yes, for now~ (Smiles Brightly) Now, come. Let us spend the rest of our day watching a movie in Futuba's Room! (Holds Morgana Hand as She Makes her Way to the Stair Case)

Morgana: (Still Love Strucked, Followed his Lady) S-Sure. Okay~

Raiden: (Watches the Kids Run Up the Stairs Together) Cute kids. (Turns to Sojiro) Been a thing for a while now?

Sojiro: Yep. And it all started during Christmas of all things.....(Smiles Softly) I'm happy for them.

Happy Very Belated National Girlfriend Day, Everybody

@keyenuta

@princekirijo

@cyber-wildcat

@caleb13frede

@albion-93

Also why would they think I’d listen to their advice when half of them are divorced, one lives in a separate house to her husband because they can’t stand each other for long periods of time, a few others spend a significant amount of time bitching and whining (usually justifiably) about their boyfriends/husbands, and a couple of others claim to be better off without men in their lives?

Just...no.

Just no, not a single one of you has a leg to stand on right now.

I’m glad it’s appreciated :)

If you’re taking math classes, this old post is my advice.

Unsolved Paleo Mysteries Month #23 -- Puzzling Proto-Bats

Let’s finish off this month the same way we started: with flying vertebrates without any transitional forms!

Much like the pterosaurs, bats appear suddenly in the fossil record already fully flight-adapted. Despite being the second-largest group of mammals, bats’ small fragile bones and terrestrial habitats make fossils of them incredibly rare, and transitional forms are still entirely unknown. (Even the ancestral form illustrated above is a generic hypothetical mammal!)

The most “primitive” known bats come from the Early Eocene* (~55-52 mya) and various early representatives have been found as far apart as North America, Europe, India, and Australia -- indicating they were already a widespread and diverse group by that time, and making it difficult to pin down just where and when they actually might have originated.

*I’ve seen mentions of a potential bat-like tooth from the Late Cretaceous of South America, but can’t find any actual references for it. So it’s possible bats may even have evolved before the K-Pg extinction.

what is this life but something already manifest,  railcar shunted onto a track not by conductor, divine hand but by virtue of being such - locomotive and bound to tracks.

And thus, through definition, definite, already pronounced dead

there are intersections, stopping points, emergency exits and turns binary, there is the predicted and the accounted-for unknown It is not the engine’s place to long for more. 

Despite this, despite everything 

the concrete on which it all is predicated,  the rail ties and wires and dandelions between rusted struts  the guided walk, slow and steady, towards the inevitable -

There is something violent in me, arsonist of providence, undaunted 

Unsolved Paleo Mysteries Month #06 -- Tricky Trilobites

Trilobites are common and recognizable fossils, found around the world from the Early Cambrian to the Late Permian (521-250 mya), and ranging in size from 1mm to 72cm (0.03″ - 2′4″). They were some of the first organisms on Earth with complex eyes, and some groups also developed ornamentation like spines, horns, and tridents. The image above depicts a particularly elaborate genus known as Dicranurus.

Occasionally fossils have been found showing fine details of trilobite anatomy like antennae, legs, gills, and digestive organs, and we’ve even recently discovered their eggs.

And yet we don’t really know where they came from. Much like the pterosaurs we started the month off with, trilobites appear suddenly in the fossil record with no intermediate or ancestral forms to definitively link them to other groups. We know they were definitely arthropods, but which arthropods they were most closely related to is still uncertain.

They might be related to the chelicerates (arachnids, horseshoe crabs, and eurypterids), or they might be part of the mandibulates (crustaceans, insects, and myriapods). But the exact relationships of these major arthropod groups are still in dispute, too, and phylogenetic results can vary wildly depending on whether trilobites are included in the analysis or not.