Tag: stephens

  • Aura-Farming

    Aura-Farming

    There’s a brief moment after running a range or strenuous training evolution where, covered in sweat, dirt, and clad in all of your gear, allows for the perfect aura. This is a time when you should take a photo for your profile pic, or maybe just bask in the warmth of looking like a complete and total badass. There are few things more authentically cool than a Marine immediately after doing the hard work of the day.

    “Aura-farming” is a term I have come to really enjoy recently, and I think just by virtue of being in an organization that operates in really cool gear and events, there’s more opportunities than most occupations to exploit the moment.

    Let’s face it: you probably won’t ever be this cool again. Stock up on the photos while you can, it will come in handy when it’s time to impress the boys and girls in your college class while using the GI Bill.

    Watch this comic come to life behind-the-scenes on the official TL Patreon!

    I hate having to upsell you guys on stuff, but I just want to mention that TL has been 100% independent for 15 years, hand-drawn and never AI slop. If you want to support independent artists, subscribe to TL on Patreon or Instagram and help keep things running!

  • The All-Nighter

    The All-Nighter

    There’s no worse feeling than showing up to morning formation after a night of splendorous indulgence into the wee hours of the morning. For many Marines, that will probably involve binge-drinking, vomiting, other bodily fluids, and possibly farm animals.

    Other Marines enjoy different vices, such as staying up all night playing videogames while your roommate is trying to sleep.

    When I was a wee-boot at Mackie Hall, Kaneohe Bay, I recall buying an XBOX 360 and the latest Elder Scrolls game for my room. This made a great distraction while on standby or for some late nights with a locked door and curtains closed.

    However, it attracted some… Unwanted attention. One of my “senior” Lance Corporals discovered my electronic entertainment set up and decided that he was going to spend the next week playing Oblivion every night until it was time for morning PT. I’m not a selfish person, I don’t mind sharing my toys, but this shit got old really quick.

    It wasn’t until I stuffed the setup into my wall-locker and kept it secured that I was able to get a good night’s sleep.

    As far as Final Fantasy VII goes, the answer to who is Cloud’s true love has always been Tifa. I will not be accepting any questions on the matter.