Aerial photograph of a beach on Maui, Hawaii 

(by Shawn + Adam Ravazzano) 

juusohd | O'Reilly’s Rainforest Retreat

25: that hum of night

The plan had originally called for Aymeric to travel to Limsa Lominsa by airship. Hanami would meet him at the landing, and whisk them both off on the remainder of the journey to Doma by means of magic. She had been insistent that she could return to Ishgard to meet him instead, but he had a number of reasons to refuse the offer—for one, it seemed foolish to force her to backtrack, and for another he would enjoy the excuse to experience a warmer climate before arriving on her mothers’ doorstep, if only because the last time they had landed in the Enclave’s aetheryte plaza still bundled in their warmer layers the sudden shift to heat and humidity had hit him like walking into a wall.

He hadn’t accounted for the difficulty in finding Hanami—the landing was crowded, the throng of inbound adventurers and merchants much thicker than he remembered from his handful of prior journeys to Limsa—and once he did, he was shocked to find her propped against a wall near the lift, one foot resting on her bag at her feet, by all appearances asleep on her feet.

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J Tribe - Jackal

The Jackal is both guardian and guide to the dead - in their primary role. The Jackal is also a trickster, and a consummate survivor - it's well known on Gyr Abanian sands that a deal with a 'Jackal' must be carefully worded, lest you lose more than you thought you bargained for. The desert is a harsh place - searing days, and frigid nights, ravenous beasts, sandstorms...and in more recent years, the oppressive presence of Garlemald, to top off the more natural threats the desert wields; here, survival of the fittest can often mean 'survival of the cleverest'. The Jackal teaches survival in the face of harsh odds, and it teaches this by virtue of patience, cunning, and intelligence. 'Better to have the last laugh, than the first bite,' being a common anecdote among their people.

In their primary role - when not serving as patron to thieves, travelers, tricksters, desert-dwellers, survivors of every sort, and all those in-between - the Jackal serves as a guide to the departed souls of the tribe, and other of its followers. This belief varies in intensity from one individual to another...some believing this with a real, religious fervor, while others consider tales of the Jackal, be they guardian or trickster, to be fireside tales for kits...mere legends, and nothing more.

Whether guarding the souls of the departed on their way to the life stream, or swindling another to ensure the survival of its own, the Jackal is rarely thought of as a particularly 'savage' being, though that's far from the truth - but survival always takes priority. Why fight, when even a mere injury could spell your demise, in such a harsh land...not to mention risking one's life? Why fight first, when you can manipulate your way out, and come out ahead? When pressed, however, tales speak of the creature's ferocity in sobering tones.

You don't survive such a harsh place without learning all the best ways to survive. You have to be prepared for anything - even to bring death, rather than be its shepherd.

saltswept [1/X] chronicles of a curious chocolatier

see what you have become

When her wanderings brought her back to the Enclave, Hanami came as quietly as she was able—appearing without rhyme or reason or any sort of schedule in a flicker of aether by the tenkonto, ducking into the stall of the Shazenkai or into the Kienkan, head held low to avoid as much notice as she could. She often appeared without armor, preferring plainclothes, most often in the traditions of Yanxian farm-folk, but sometimes in Western garb. For a hero, she seemed bent on avoiding as much notice as she could—and she managed decently well, especially here among her own people.

But Maki was a shinobi, a master of the unseen, and before that, she was Hanami’s mother. Very little could pass her without notice.

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Well someone displeased the sky gods didn’t they

My first thought was someone pleased the sky gods, because this is a SHOW. 

That’s the problem with gods; their pleasure and their wrath often look the same.

why is this fire quote from a tumblr post

the black jaguar

32nd post,

— THROAT OF GOD by Keren Chelsea (via kerenchelsea)

JULY 7TH: Lunya Lanya’s birthday!

—as a second self.

(listen to my voice. listen to our heartbeat.)

inhale || exhale