#and guess what? this study plan is nothing like the other one ToT

[jadespeedster17]

Research Purposes

Summary: Cub has been working with HEP for a while now. Trying to help find what this Spore Infestation actually is. As Head of the department, it’s his job to ensure everything is in order and record his findings. Working mostly with those infected in the hopes of finding a cure and how best to combat it. Yet, the more he finds, the more he wonders if ‘in the name of science’ means the death of those he cares about.

Warnings: Body Horror, Mind Control, Unethical Practices, Mentions of Assault.

Notes: Takes place in @all54321 universe of Father Spore Spy AU. Asked them if I could write this and got the okay :D

-

“Recording 10,” Cub spoke as the recorder whirled on in the background. “Given that computers were wiped last time I’ve decided to use an old school method again to keeping records. Best solution I have up until now.” 

Placing down his clip board Cub hummed, “Studies today will mostly consist of blood samples taken from the Infected. Infected individuals don’t seem to require food as a normal human, but do need at least small amounts of shaded sunlight and water. Indicating my theory might be correct, and all Infected are more plant like than before.”

Scribbling down something Cub looked at the board of post-it notes and pinned up papers. “HEP has been asking for more results as of lately, which has required me to take up more of a personal approach. Lucky enough, most ways to ensure not to be infected is through non-skin to skin contact. Very few Infected beings release a cloud of spores, and at best it’s minimum exposure.” 

He huffed looking back at the clip board again. Today he was to work with 3 individuals of different types. “each infected individual seems to embody at least a form of Fungal Types. The most common seem to be Molds, Mushrooms, and Mildews.” a tap of the pen, “however we have started to seem forms of Smuts as well, which are proving to be resistant to frosts and colds.”

“Today I’m working with 3 people to gain what samples I can from the without harm. Two female and one male, all of the Mushroom category. Low level infection rate, only through skin to skin contact. But they have been more than cooperative with me more than others. I do not think I’ll need more than gloves and a lab coat.”

Walking back over tot he recorder Cub looked at it, “I plan to record findings once I get the samples I need. Today is mostly finding out what makes these beings what they are, as though sentient, they are far for human. End of Recording.” he click the tape off again. 

Shaking his head, Cub gather up the things he needed and headed out to the containment area outside in ‘greenhouse’ looking things. The lab itself was much more fortified than the last one that was taken over my Father Spore with the help of Grian. That left a icky feeling, Cub has been susceptive of Grian for some time to be infected, having worked around them as often as he did he noticed the subtle signs, but had opted to think it was nothing. A regret and mistake he’ll have to live with he supposed.

Cub looked at the paper again, three beings who had all been infected early and been captured before they could be fully turned. Now fully changed into ‘Sporelings’ they were connected to what was known as the ‘Hivemind’. From his guesses, it was a connection of which all the Infected being shared. Much like actual shrooms, fascinating. 

Lily McLaren, she was the youngest at only age 16, and had a thin frame. Hers was a mushroom known as the Blue Ink Cap. Parents wanted nothing to do with her now that she was infected unless it was a cure, and had signed over rights to her to the facility. Cub hated to read that, made his stomach curl in knots.

Amber Davis, she was a college student, age 24, and had been studying to be a mechanic. Bigger set woman, who had hurt the last scientist who tried to cut off a part of her skin (fired), whose shrooms were that of the Moral and Fake Moral. One edible, one very poisonous. She had the most strangest changes to her skin and mouth. Cub was hoping to get skin samples from her. 

And finally Mark Clair, his were the most deadly, the Destroying Angel, large white shrooms that were very much not edible. He was also a thin twig boy, big into philosophy and had a retail job before this. Age was 25, and had weird morphs along his hands and eyes. 

Cub decided to try with Mark first, given he was the closet one and said to be the calmest of the three. Preferring to talk your ear off over doing anything. Most found him very annoying, and dislike the large death white shrooms on his shoulders and back.  Opening the area with his keycard, Cub clicked in his time he went in. Safety precautions, to limit exposure and see how long each person was in and out for. The rooms were basic enough, a bed, desk, and place to use the bathroom. Mayor Mumbo wanted at least to make the infected not feel like prisoners. Books on Philosophy were open on the desk and some notes taken here and there. 

Turning to look over, Cub met the dark brown eyes of the infected, the brown glowed in a pool of blackness, bioluminescent almost. Mark smiled brightly, messy, curly brown hair pulled back into a small pony tail. “Hello Cub!” he said cheerfully with a grin. “Wondered when you’d be back, the last guy was not much of a talker at all.” the infected boy said.

Cub gave a pleasant smile, research did find that infect beings liked to be talked to and treated as human beings. “suppose not everyone is looking to ask themselves about the ten second theory.”

Mark cackled laughter at that, rocking where he sat, “that last guy near had a meltdown when I explained it to him.” he grinned widely. Eyes peering at the scientist setting down the bag, “So what we doing today?”

“Just some blood samples again, and hoping to take clipped tables of your shrooms that are falling off.” Cub only ever took the ones on infected beings that were ‘over mature’.  Mark and other infected explained when a shroom reached it’s full maturity it became uncomfortable on their skin. And had to be ‘picked’. To allow new ones to grow. 

Beaming widely Mark let his feet dangle over the edge of the bed, “Sure thing, a few on my back are rather itchy and trying to pull off, but I can’t reach them.” he said holding out his arm for Cub to stick the needle in.  The infected watched Cub work, disinfecting the arms area and carefully taking out the purple blood from him. A week ago Mark’s was a deep red color, and now the infection had fully taken root. 

Sliding out the needle, Cub watched the wound heal rather quickly and not even let out a drop of the purple blood. Another thing they found, Infected Ones were able to heal at a rather fast rate, though still could feel pain. 

“Come close to finding anything?” Mark asked him, the glowing eyes looking at him as he messed with the frills on the tips of his fingers. Mushrooms had gills normally on the bottom of their caps. Mark has some on his fingers and under his chin. Sometimes, when startled, he let out a cloud of spores from his fingers and neck. 

Cub shook his head, “Not much that we don’t already know, you’re siblings have been quiet stubborn about info.” he comments on the off hand.

Mark snickers a bit, “Father Spore and Mother Spore don’t really like snitches.” he said cheerfully, almost in a sing song tone. 

Scar and Grian... Grian they found out much later was Mother Spore. At least Cub won the bet of Scar having ‘asked Grian out’. Even if the circumstances was strange and no one thought it funny... Mumbo at least gave him the 20 bucks he owed. 

“Snitches get stiches.” Cub muttered, remembering Scar used that phrase alot.

“exactly!” Mark chirped, “At least you get it unlike the others.”

Oh he sure did, Scar would often say that to him when teasing him with something he knew and Cub didn’t. It was a game of sorts between the two of them, on who could find out the others ‘secret’. Which was why when a Infected said that to him in the same tone Scar used, it made Cub wondered for a moment if Scar was... well if Scar was playing a ‘game’ with him. 

Far fetched really, Scar was known now as Father Spore. And though findings suggested that willing transformation meant you weren’t mindless. That didn’t mean that the guy that was once Cub’s friend was the ‘Father Spore’ they knew now. 

Shaking off the thought, Cub took out the 3 shrooms that were loose on Mark’s back. Being sure to be careful when touching these deadly shrooms with gloves. And so not to tug or yank on any that weren’t ready to be ‘picked’.  Mark however hummed happily when they were taken off, possibly happy the ‘itch’ was gone on his back. “Hope you do find what you’re looking for Cub.” the guy told him happily.

The smile felt real and genuine from the creature, as Cub bid his goodbye and left Mark’s room. He was in for 18 minuets, no spores were released and Mark was mostly calm. Putting everything in a bag and sending it to the labs for later. 

Next area was Amber’s, aggressive to any who came at her too fast and once force fed one of her shrooms to her attacker. Mans was still in the hospital as the effects of the shrooms growing on people were ten times stronger. Lucky to be alive that idiot was, and he was fired for his actions. 

Cub opened the door, and walked in, “Amber? it’s Dr. Cub.” he said announcing he was there in the dim room. Amber was watching a video on a DVD player of How Thing Work, and looked over at him. 

“Hello Cub.” she said in a calm tone, though she was eyeing him warily and his bag.

Setting it down Cub smiled, “Just here for some skin samples and saliva, nothing painful I promise.” he reassured her getting the things out carefully for her to see. 

He did watch her shoulders relax and she took a moment before nodding. “Alright, but... don’t tug on anything.” Amber near growled, her red hair almost seemed to glow with her anger. Dark green eyes glowing also as she watcher him come over to her at a steady pace, making sure she could see everything he had. 

Cub smiled at her, “The skin sample might hurt a bit, but I promise you’ll be fine.” he reassured her, exposure to her was to be limited. When angry she could let out a spore cloud to confuse people.  Her skin was like that of the fake moral, having reddish patches and winkles and divots in her skin. her tongue was also a deep purple color with gills inside her mouth to expel spores through saliva. 

“Open up.” Cub said holding up the cotton swab, she did so letting him taking some from under her tongue and cheeks. Making a face after as she moved her tongue around not liking the dry feeling.

He got the tool ready needed, “ready?” he asked her as she nodded gripping the chair as he took a sample needed. Normally after stiches were needed, but she healed also at a fast rate as the hole closed.

Amber made a face, “I hate that.” she muttered, “I hate the pain of this.” she rubs the area where he took the top later of skin off.

“I’m sorry Amber,” Cub told her softly, with a sympathetic tone. He knew these tests and people coming for more could get tedious. Some weren’t as kind as him about it.

Shaking her head, Amber sighed, “You’re kinder to me than others Cub, Father Spore says you’re one of the rare few to be nice to us.” she admits thumbing her arm lightly with a frown. 

That caught Cub’s attention, “He does?” he asked her confused, Amber only nodded saying nothing more. No use in trying, once they clamed up they wouldn’t talk for anything. Apparently Father Spore wouldn’t let them talk. 

Sighing, Cub smiled again, “Well that’s all, I’ll leave you to it Amber.” he said, finding Infected beings liked to be called by their names still.

This did etch a smile from her as she watched him go before going back to her movie. Amber wasn’t a bad person, she, like others, was just scared. For good reason, Cub had been finding out and reprimanding those who had been doing more... unethical practices. These beings were still capable of feeling pain adn emotions, and treating them like mindless beasts was a sure way to end up near dead. Which a few had been.

Sometimes, Father Spore would take control of their bodies directly. Something that only recently found out. When Lily, his newest charge, had lashed out at a man who tried to see if she could still experience uh... certain desires. Her eyes had turned a green color, and Father Spore had used her body to rip the man apart. 

He didn’t survive long, not that Cub cared for the scumbag. Lily since then had been jumpy and didn’t trust any male workers besides him. Only female staff could really get her to open up. She was the one who Father Spore talked with the most when people were in the room.  Lily said he comforted her when they were there. He was fatherly to her, or so she says, and is much nicer than her actual dad. 

Cub clocked into the room and walked in to see Lily on the bed, she had already been told he’d be coming. She was playing a game it seemed on a DS that was from her house.  Lily looked over at the door and tensed for a moment, before slowly relaxing. “Hi...” she said shyly, eyes looking far away for a moment before she untensed again. “Cub right?” she asked in a timid tone.

“Yeah,’ Cub said casually with a kind smile, “Just a check up today, you told the last female worker that some of your shrooms were ready to be picked?” he asked her.

A nod as Lily looked upset, “She didn’t trust me enough to do it herself... and well... said she’d get you to do so but...” she messed with her long black hair running her clawed fingers through it.

Cub nodded, “I know, I promise, I won’t touch you anywhere that isn’t your shrooms.” he promised her, which did seem to help reassure her. 

Lily’s blue eyes looked at him and she nodded slowly allowing him closer. “Father says you’re a kind man, and knows you won’t hurt me but... it’s still scary.” she admits looking at her hands. “Understandable that it is, what you went through isn’t okay.” Cub said firmly, and he stood by that. Happy the bastard that made her like this was dead.

A small smile was seen, “He said you’d say that, Father talks about you open to me.” Lily said allowing him to get off the larger blue shrooms that were already starting to wilt. Those had to be very uncomfortable on her skin, from what was explained it’s like something biting you over and over and you can’t scratch it.  Lily had gotten the ones on front but had a hard time with the ones on her back side.

“Does he?’ Cub asked curiously as he was careful and slow making sure not to startle or scare her.

“Uh-huh.” Lily said messing with her nails, “He likes to tell me stories about you two and the things you did. His favorite is when you tried to cook for them both.”

Cub snorted laughter at that, he remembered that one, nearly burnt down Scar’s kitchen, and Jellie ate the good bacon. Jellie had been staying with him since Scar vanished, and missed him dearly. Sitting by the window and seemed ot be waiting for him. 

Laughing lightly Cub shook his head, “It wasn’t that bad,” he commented to her, “Just some smoke was all.” he said finished up the last of the dead shrooms.

“Not that bad?” Cub froze at the voice overlaying Lily’s own. “Cubby it was bad, you burnt and ruined my good pan.” Scar said with a look at him, the blue eyes on the girl now a deep green. The smile on her face was Scar’s own, was Father Spore.

Shifting a bit, Cub schooled his shock, “Father Spore.” he said shortly. Remaining calm, Lily often could be controlled by Father Spore since that time. He didn’t do it though to talk with people before, mostly to protect her from other people. 

“Oh come on now Cub, it’s just an old friend.” Father Spore said with a bright smile, the green eyes gleaming. “No need to be formal with me friend, just wanted to talk to you.”

Making a face Cub walked away, “I’m not here to listen to you try and convince me to join you.” his tone was clipped and to the point.

A huffing whine followed that statement, “Cub, why do you keep insisting to not join?” Father Spore asked him, “My Sporeling adore you, you’re like a favorite uncle to them. They love to chat about you, and want you to join so you can be their uncle.” 

A cold chill at the words, the idea of turning could be scary of a thought. But Cub held back the urge to shiver, “I’m just not interested in becoming a shroom.” he told Father Spore.

“Well, not everyone becomes a shroom, you know that.” his voice teased lightly, “it’s not so bad, makes me wonder what mutation you’ll show!” excitement that was so much like Scar made Cub’s heart hurt.  Father Spore continued, “Grian misses you, he misses Mumbo as well, all his friends. Just wants you guys to know how much he cares.”

A glare at that, “Cares? Scar you killed people in the lab that didn’t want to be turned. They are now mindless as it wasn’t willing and...” he was afraid he’d end up like that. Theory it was, there was still a chance he could lose himself. Dread pooling in his stomach.

The green eyes soften, “Oh Cubby, you’d be so much more than that to me, to Grian. You’re our friend, who cared about me after I lost, who made sure I wasn’t alone for long to my thoughts. Who also took in Jellie, which I thank you for that, I haven’t had time to pick her up as you live so close in town.” the voice was light again, talking about his cat always made Scar smile. 

“How is Jellie doing?” Father Spore asks happily, green eyes gleaming again, trying to get off sad topics.

Shifting again, Cub sighed, “She misses you, sits by the window watching for you.” he tells the other, as the spore creature hums sadly to that.

“I’ll be sure to give her extra love when she’s returned.” Father Spore said firmly, “Jellie deserves nothing less.” the tone was firm on that as a fact. Which did made Cub want to smile at how painfully familiar it was.

Looking away Cub shook his head, he couldn’t let himself feel that though. Scar wasn’t Scar, he was Father Spore. That man who turned people against their will, who has blood on his hands from those he’s killed. The one who was seeking to turn this island into a mushroom and spore infected ‘home’. 

Sighing sadly himself, Father Spore watched him go. “Cubby, please just consider my offer. Joining the Mycelium is a good thing. I’d never lead you astray Cub, we are partners after all was fellow Vex.” he teased lightly.

Cub gripped the keycard in his hand, Vex was what he and Scar called each other when they were kids together. Pranksters who liked to mess with people. Cub felt tears, he missed his friend, “If you really want me, why not tell me anything to convince me? I’m a man science Father Spore, tell me the facts.” he said looking back at Lily’s green eyes.

The smile grew as Father Spore snickered, “Snitches get Stiches, Cubby~!” he said in a sing song voice, one that Scar would use when the game was on. 

Scowling, Cub left the room to Father Spore and Lily’s humming. 

Leaning up against the wall, Cub looked up at the sunny sky and felt some tears fall down. He missed his friend dearly, he missed Scar’s laugh, the others teasing remarks, he missed their plots to mess with people, and Scar’s clear crush on Grian as he talked about the man all night. He missed his friends so much. 

Cub was determined to find a cure, to find any shred of evidence he could on if this was a threat or not. Part of him wanted to take Scar’s word for it. To believe what he offered, that his friend and partner wouldn’t lie to him. But, Scar also was known to have a silver tongue, known to only give half truths. Father Spore was a creature of the mycelium, and thus had Scar’s tendencies to half truth things. 

It hurt to think that Scar would lie to him, infected by fungus like thing. Cub scowled again and brushed away the tears as he sat on the ground to compose himself. 

His resistance was thinning, he knew that much, the ache for his friends grew, and the more cruelty he watched here, the more he wondered if Scar was nicer. Lily believed so, as did Amber and Mark. All promised him that Father Spore was a kind father to his Sporelings, that Mother Spore was protective of them. 

Cub took a breath in and out slowly, Snitches get Stiches. If Scar wanted him to find out, Cub would find out. And pry out the mans secrets to find the truth one way or another. 

#tw mind control #tw body horror #tw mentions of assault #father spore au #goodtimeswithscar #gtws #cubfan135 #convex #platonic love #they are partners nothing more #tw unethical practices

[o-sahiba]

help me understand the framework and logistics of studyblr? TOT i wanna start one but i really dont understand how it works.. please please please enlighten me <(＿　＿)> i would try to bribe you over with a cute sloth but cant share images in anon mode so im sorryyy

I'm no expert here in studyblr as I'm not much into it but hey I'm glad to help! And as of bribe.. I'll do it for free🤧 But if you can, pray for me to get what I'm manifesting lol (don't worry I'm not planning on to kill someone👀)

Concept : Studyblr is nothing but a core or a subculture here on tumblr where people motivate each other by posting pictures of their notes, homework, grades, study material and things like that.

You can also use studyblr to keep a track or record of your study routine and your student life journey by posting about the amount of work/study you've done on a particular day or during a particular time period say, a week or month or the amount of work you've ticked off your 'to do' list or about how your student life is going and just things like that.

You can blog here daily, weekly, monthly or just anytime you feel like.

For some people, studyblr is a way to feel accomplished and organized.

Pictures : You can post the simplest of pictures you took with your moblie camera of your notes or to do list. It doesn't have to be aesthetic at all. But major part of studyblr thrives with aesthetic notes and pictures of things you've done or achieved during the day.

But solely 'being aesthetic' shouldn't be a goal here. Rather it should be used to stay organized and ahead of others in studies by working as hard as you can.

Format : There is no specific format to blog under 'studyblr'. Just post as you like about your studies. However, you can look up to specific studyblr blogs and get an idea of how to structure the content for your blog.

Challenges : You can also take up challenges like '50 days of productivity' or '100 days of productivity' challenge under the same hash tag where you try to be productive and finish as much work as you can during these days. It could be related to your school work, completing your assignments or just you studying for your exams.

Community : Well, studyblr community is really nice and welcoming. You won't find it hard to fit in. But yes, don't get discouraged seeing the extremely productive and hardworking people here and the aestbetics they study and live with. Remember, the goal is to get motivated and inspired.

Umm.. I guess I've explained everything that you might need. If you have any queries just lemme know. I'll try to answer each and everything.

Hope you'll find it useful.

#anon #ask #idk #studyblr #studyblr motivation

[sundrop-tetsu]

Hi can I request a match up? It looked like a really cute idea!

I'm 5'2, female leaning nonbinary college student. I'm a daycare teacher for tots so I really like kids and really love taking care of people, both kids and adults, and try to stay positive (not in a toxic way just in a "I have to be everyone's ray of sunshine so they don't get depressed or upset" way) I've dealt with some trauma so I tend to be a people pleaser and in relationships I have a pretty low self esteem, but I try to remain positive to not worry people. I tend to baby my romantic partners alot and try to be a caretaker for everyone, but I kind of neglect myself. I really love music and singing. I also like to study ancient history, true crime, early medicine, and psychology/the brain (Especially things about autism and adhd since I'm autistic and have adhd). I stress clean and stress shop, but I'm trying to switch that with baking lol.

“you’re the only one who can make me feel.. loved” - michael

first meeting

the only reason michael had even stepped foot into your daycare was because he needed to pick henry’s little nephew, who michael was babysitting

it’s not that mike doesn’t like kids, no the guy adores children, he’s literally obsessed with thomas (henry’s nephew)

but.. most of the workers there knew michael from when he was younger. and they knew what he had done

so due to that issue, they often glared at mike and his anxiety would skyrocket, what he did to evan caused him to not be attended to whenever henry asked him to pick up thomas

as predicted, the other workers ignored him and would scoff when he tried to get their attention ; he badly just wanted to sign thomas out and leave already

“here to kill another child?”

wow.. now that one.. that one hit hard.

it wasn’t until you, a new daycare teacher who had just transferred, finally noticed him

“here to pick someone up?” you asked him, a pretty smile in place

he happily nodded at you, “yes, finally. thank you so much. I’m here to pick up thomas emily”

asking you out

going to the daycare wasn’t so bad anymore

and he had you to thank for that. the only worker who was both kind and always helped him when he entered the daycare

he would often talk to you when he was waiting for thomas to come out, your voice was so pretty and you seemed so interesting

yea so michael developed a small crush-

you often seemed so bright, so positive. he was quite curious to know why you hid your sadness through pretty smiles and positive sunlight

it wasn’t until he was constantly noticing little things about you that he decided he wanted to go out with you. he held so much hope that you would say yes, that maybe you felt that same connection between you two

“don’t be serious,” you laughed at michael’s story

“no I have videos,” he laughed as well, “we were really stupid kids, I promise”

“now that, I believe” you playfully teased

he gave you a small smile. today was the day he was going to ask you out, he was determined!

“hey um, y/n,” you looked at him and he panicked, calming down before he changed his mind, “any.. plans this weekend?”

“I don’t believe so, no. other than staying at home and studying true crime. I’m extremely excited for that” you chuckled, “why are you asking?”

“oh! uh, I was wondering if..”

he couldn’t do it

michael paused and stopped himself from asking you. who was he kidding anyway? you were this wonderful person in his eyes who had some scars hidden but at least you didn’t kill your little brother

he shook his head, “nothing. never mind”

you nodded disappointingly. you thought maybe.. maybe he did like you. but, false hope I guess

“thomas,” michael called out happily to him, ready to leave this awkward situation, “ready to go, bud?”

the small child softly shook his head, grabbing onto mike’s hand, smiling as he felt happy to see michael

“umm, I’ll see you tomorrow then, nice talking to you” mike gave you a little wave as he began walking off

you bit your lip. this was going to become a wasted opportunity. you shook your head, you deserved this, you needed to know

“michael!” you called to him. he turned to you with an adorable titled puppy look which made your heart swoon, “would you.. would you like to go with me on saturday?”

his eyes widen before a precious smile was placed on his face, “definitely. I would love to”

that works! he just wanted to go out with you, he didn’t care who asked so this went wonderful

things he loves about you

your much shorter than mike. like this guy is over six feet tall- he’s one of those weirdos who likes putting their stuff in high places even though their partner is literally much shorter. you often have to call him for help. he also adoresss setting his chin on your head and hugging you from behind; he loves your precious height

you and mike live in his old family’s house. he forgot his father had set up cameras around the house so when he finally took them down, he went through the feed to make sure there wasn’t anything he needed in his case. he caught you singing while cleaning on multiple videos. mike smiled and awwed at the situation; he loves hearing you sing

sometimes michael can be stubborn and when that happens, you like babying him since he’s already acting like a cute child. it makes him feel silly but he really likes the affection you give him, it’s a very adorable scene; he loves that you baby him

on your lunch breaks or during nap time, michael comes around and eats with you so you aren’t lonely, you don’t really get along with the other workers, no matter how much you tried (it’s cause you’re dating mike T ^ T) you tend to get messy sometimes when eating and you tell him a lot that his cooking is good in the most cutest ways; he loves how adorable you are

michael didn’t attend college and didn’t plan to after deciding to fix.. things. so knowing that you go to college, he admires how strong you are and not to mention smart. mike’s often very supportive, he can’t help you with homework- but he’ll provide snacks and extra affection; he loves your determination at completing college for your future

when you’re strsssed, he’s noticed that you tend to stress shop or stress clean. michael’s worried about you a lot when it happens but he knows he can be supportive and help at the same time. so when you’re stressed, he takes you out on a shopping spree. literally don’t even worry about money, his father left him a successful company and millions of dollars, I think he’s got you covered; he loves spoiling you to ease the stress

you’ve told michael about being autistic and having adhd. he’s very new to such topics so he asks you questions and researches things on his own to see how he can help you. he likes to believe that his priority as your boyfriend is to help you not only feel better about things that identify you but to help you find that inner self love that took him long to find as well; he loves learning new things about you, makes him love you even more

meeting his family; alive au

we’re doing another alive au because of course- this anon deserves to meet his actual family- (not that the others didn’t T ^ T I just didn’t have ideas for this one other than the alive au)

mrs. afton adoressssss you. the woman looks at you and thinks god material. she’s happy you want to start getting into baking, in the next minutes of talking to her, she tells you many family recipes. in all, she hopes to see you more often and admires your hard work as a student and a daycare teacher since she knows kids can be difficult at times

sooo.. william. uhhh…

yea I don’t even know what to say. will doesn’t really like you.. he thinks you’re too soft. but then he notices the times your smile falters and he becomes interested. a person who presents themselves in a sunshine filled personality but hides their scars within. alright, he accepts you. but only because he’s a sadistic piece of shit who likes seeing people such as yourself breakdown

evan thinks you’re so cool !! you’re really pretty to him and he’s curious about your autism since a friend of his also has it. he often asks you questions on how he can help his friend since evan enjoys helping others like you. evan has caught you crying sometimes. he’s fallen asleep when you were sleeping over with mike and when he wakes up randomly, he catches you crying outside. evan likes wiping your tears away before praising you. his kind heart tells him someone so beautiful and wonderful doesn’t deserve such pain

elizabeth really likes you as well!! she as an issue with stress shopping as well so she likes that she can relate to you. hearing that you’re trying to replace stress shopping with baking, she decides to do it along with you! while you guys baked cookies once, you told her a story about your trauma which made you end up in tears. like evan, she held your pretty face in her hands before praising you and comforting you. she likes that you aren’t perfect, it lets her know that it’s okay to be hurt and cry

seems the afton family are very loving and supportive people (except will- fuck will-) (not sexually but-)

after scooping

michael had been gone for a few days and you had lost hope when it got to the second week

you didn’t want to accept it for a while

deciding instead to stare at the ceiling as you laid in your shared bed, thinking about the possibilities of what could’ve happened

the day michael finally came home.. he was nervous. he was sure you wouldn’t love him anymore. but he was more worried about you

had you been taking care of yourself..? he hoped you weren’t increasing your negligence on yourself

you looked up upon hearing the bedroom door open, begging for it to be michael

and there he was

standing there in the dark, soft moonlight rays shining onto him, stood your boyfriend. you shot up and quickly engulfed him into a hug, those tears that had been stuck for two weeks.. finally flowing through

“baby..” you whispered sobbing, “you’re back. you’re okay… are you into much pain?”

“darling..” his own tears began flowing, “I’ve missed you. .. you’re letting me hold you? even though.. I look like this?”

“you look like my beautiful boyfriend,” you cried harder, not believing that he would ever think that for a single second, you would stop loving him

knowing michael’s future plans after he explained the events his father had caused, you told him you would help. because by god, you were not going to love anybody else. so on that fateful day that mike was sent to burn the newest pizzeria by henry, you stood by his side, your arms wrapped around his waist as he laid his hand on your head, allowing the flames to engulf the two of you into the afterlife

☀︎ 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫´𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞: a daycare teacher!! so cool!! anon, I really hope u liked this :3 I loved the ending, shows how powerful love can be at least

haha, fun fact: I’m taller than this anon by an inch

wanna know how I see a relationship with vou and a specific character? :) detailed matchups are now available 😌✨

#amelia’s mike afton matchups <3 #amelia matchups <3 #michael afton #fnaf michael afton #michael afton x you #michael afton x reader #afton fnaf #fnaf x reader #fnaf #afton family #william afton #clara afton #mrs. afton #evan afton #c.c afton #elizabeth afton

[rigelmejo]

7/23/2021 Reading Progress - Almost 2 Years

I know I posted a little about reading progress a few days ago, but it’s really just exciting to me! And really really motivating!

These past few days, I’ve been reading one of my favorite fanfic writers. I started intensively reading, and now I can get by reading faster (which for me is only 140 characters a minute ToT so still quite slow but hey its something) and just looking an ACTUAL only 4-5 new words per chapter (which is 4000-5000 characters).  Just the fact I am ACTUALLY 98% comprehending chinese reading material. And material I actually want to be reading. Goal reading material! Because like? 

Even when I was extensively reading before, I was reading stuff that was ‘hard’ to read extensively (enough that I’d need to think and use any clues from context to guess what’s going on for certain key words and phrases I didn’t know but needed, and there were enough of those that I needed to focus a lot). This is really like the first extensive reading I’ve been able to do where I can actually just relax and speed read the extensive reading if I want to. Where it feels more like reading Lord of the Rings fast, or Dracula (some vocab I don’t know or weird phrasings for me but its fine to get through until I get used to it) - or some stuff easier now like reading Good Omens (where its an easy read where I get comfortable fast). Where it feels much more like reading english, just slower (and with less context hints for new words lol - since english I can sound out and guess if I heard it before and already know all the ‘word stem’ hints of meaning). Now, because of there being less ‘context stuff’ i can rely on compared to english, i do plan to keep using a digital dictionary to read sometimes (especially because it is the FASTEST way for me personally to reinforce new hanzi pronunciations). 

Like. This past week I’ve been following the Silent Reading audiobook along with the novel, and also just reading the Chinese novel. And also just reading some new stuff by one of my favorite fanfic authors. And I’ve been able to. The fanfic story is a bit easier, so I suppose I can read it with no prior context! (That’s what I looked up about 5 new words for - chairman, deputy were the keywords I needed then most of the rest made sense from context lol). And Silent Reading I read in english but like years ago, so many paragraphs felt new to me but they were fine to read except a few description-dense sections where something economic-related was being said (along with some 4-character phrases I wasn’t sure of). I knew lately I’ve been able to read new Guardian chapters while following along with the audiobook without the english translation, if I don’t want to know every single word but just follow the plot/most of it, so its been really cool seeing this week that I can do it with Silent Reading too! 

I’m fairly sure my level of comprehension is like this: the more murder mystery, investigative/detectives, more contemporary, more supernatural, more romantic, more daily life - the more I will comprehend it. 

Those seem to be my more ‘comfortable domains’ vocabulary wise. Specifically mystery/supernatural/contemporary (since most anything I watch or read is in usually at least one of these genres partly). When I get into xianxia, the farther it is from the very joking/basic SVSSS xianxia vocab the less I can comprehend. I did read 28 chapters of Tian Ya Ke before so maybe some of that will help with reading wuxia genre, but I’d argue it was months ago and tyk doesn’t really go very deep into using wuxia genre words compared to some novels. So basically my xianxia and wuxia vocab is very basic main-plot words like you’d hear in show scripts, but not necessarily enough to follow the details of novels - I do think I know enough to follow the overall main plot though. Happily, Tian Ya Ke and Qi Ye are on my reading list in the future, so they may both help more with political/court and wuxia genre words so that those genres get more comprehensible for me. 

I’m really excited about the tyk and qy reads now, since I planned to read them extensively while glancing at the english translation for help if I didn’t understand. And since I’m starting to be able to extensively read some of priest okay, then doing that with a novel while using the translation so its like a bilingual-resource to reference making things easier, should not be as hard/intensive as it might have been a few months ago. 

This is just. For me a very big milestone. I’m at a point where some of my goal reading is something I can extensively read without too much pain, and have enough hanzi-knowledge to guess some new words and phrases from context a decent amount of the time.

Summary: it’ll be 2 years in a month. And I’m officially at a point where some of the goal novels are able to be extensively read, genuinely, and some of the ‘goal other stuff’ is extensively readable now (some fanfics, some easier bl novels, etc). Past me would be really excited. ToT

I plan to: keep reading intensively and extensively (with an emphasis on reading through a lot more characters/words), keep doing L-R Method and listening-only during day (keep working on improving listening). And occasionally shadowing now/repeated listening/practicing speaking. In the long term: I’d like to read my grammar guide and practice writing/speaking from what I learn. 

That plan has worked really well the past few months

-

Related: my japanese reading skill! Because weirdly enough its been seeing improvements too!

So, I already realized me knowing more hanzi definitely helps me ‘guess more japanese words’ from context. Because: 1. its like english-french, while some are false cognates with nothing actually in common I can sometimes figure that out from the fact the scene is ‘wrong’ for the word I would’ve guessed, and I do know the word endings in japanese so that helps guess if its noun/adjective/verb, and I do know around 2000 common japanese words specifically so that also helps me notice what’s not actually similar in meaning. 2. so i’ve got this basic framework to guess stuff from context: 2000 japanese words I do know, some basic grammar recognition, ~2000 hanzi I do know and then however many chinese words I know, rough recognition of some of the katakana words, and then I usually try to read something I have prior context for so I’ve either read/played in english or know the overall plot main points in english. Apparently all of this helps a lot.

Now its not putting me on anything near 98% comprehension lol (except maybe KH2 since I know that story so well I really do figure out a lot but its more like idk 90% and me just very good at telling ‘unknown part’ was ‘probably X’ but not actually able to be sure, so i can follow fully but i’m not able to learn from a certain amount just cause i can’t be sure its not perhaps actually-something-else more nuanced). But whatever comprehension it puts me at, its enough to follow the main plot (better than I could ever do before with japanese lol with anything more than... well anything... i couldn’t follow even simple manga main overall plot unless i had a dictionary at year 2.5... so now the fact i can generally follow main plot of games, and catch a decent amount of details - not a majority but still regularly noticing some details, all without a dictionary, is pretty cool to me). 

Lately I’ve been watching some REALLY old Shin Megami Tensei and related game lets plays in japanese, with the player reading aloud (so hopefully I learn some actual word pronounciations my biggest weak point). Because I understand enough right now that I can pick up a lot more just by continuing to watch. Like, playing KH2 I could pick up the ‘reading’ of some new stuff and grammar. But with a voiced lets play, I can also try to pick up those new words and maybe if I’m lucky how the more common ones are pronounced as they’re said again and again. I figure I can probably learn a lot more words this way, and continue getting used to the grammar, for a while before I see less frequent payoff. For now, I’m seeing constant easy payoff from doing it. I’ve got a lot of grammar I’ve read details on but not seen regularly enough to get used to, so that all gets reinforced and learned better. And I’ve got a lot of hanzi I know, and doing this helps me start learning the similar-cognate kanji and words writing/pronunciation, the slightly different ones and their rougher meaning along with writing/pronunciation, to be aware which ones are totally different (tho depending on scene context i may or may not learn these words at least i’ll know they’re not the same). 

My point is: now engaging with japanese is a lot more relaxing and enjoyable. (I realize lol a few months ago playing in japanese or watching a lets play was doable but exhausting, so perhaps i am getting more used to it or actually have learned a little lol). In the sense that, now it feels a lot more like ‘reading french when i started learning’ - i feel like i have a LOT more scaffolding to lean on and help me when i’m struggling, whereas i know the first 2.5 years i studied japanese i felt drowning since nothing was familiar - not the grammar, not the words, not the sound, not the lack of word-spaces, etc. Now it feels like there’s a lot more i have ‘some prior experience’ with (from grammar being restudied over and over now lol and i still need much more lol, to onyomi kanji pronunciations now being my favorite lol and kanji my favorite part of reading), so when i’m diving into japanese instead of drowning i have some floaties to grab onto usually (unless i go outside of the domains i’m used to).

By domains i mean - if I try listening-only i still drown (since then i only have grammar and 2000 japanese words i’m still rusty on listening to), if i do listening-watching without subs i have fewer floaties to grab (i have my 2000 learned words but am super rusty on hearing them especially without kanji to see for reference), obviously if its an old or technical text i will drown (im used to modern japanese, and very specifically daily life or supernatural/light-fantasy video game stories). So like... nier, kh2, crisis core, persona games, smt games, are much more in my comfort level of following a plot (again with subs, because without subs it HAS to be something i know the english well for if i’m going to follow much besides simple daily life parts since i’ll need the visual context and prior context to guess what’s going on just in general - not understanding those parts of the japanese). 

Long story short, its been super fun for me lately engaging with japanese. Japanese is NOT even in my ‘realistic’ study plan right now lol!

But this month I still: read a chapter of japanese translation of Guardian, played 4 hours KH2, read the opening scenes of the script of FFX (fyi: in Idiom app they made HUGE improvements I can now play the audio line by line and repeat-automatically as much as i want AND the definitions now come from much better dictionaries), watched 40 minutes of SMT game lets plays (both with and without audio - though since my pronunciation info literally doesn't exist for so many words I decided adding audio as often as possible would be better). 

My ultimate goal for japanese was to be able to play the games I like in japanese, and follow them before localization changes. I’m not picking up the level of info necessary to be fully satisfied with how much I’m noticing. But I do follow enough now that I’m able to start practicing/studying japanese BY playing the games I want or engaging with them in lets plays/scripts etc. And its very motivating to know I’m far enough into this goal to be studying by doing (at least for now, if it stops paying off as much I’ll likely need to approach it from new angles for a while). But like? I can taste it! I’m starting to do what I want, not as well as I want but I am starting to be able to do those things. And that’s really exciting. 

Side notes: I still personally want to continue reading my grammar guides until I've finished them (japanese in 30 hours, tae kim, sakubi), and keep going through clozemaster. Both of these were helping, do help, and ensure I’m building the weaknesses (grammar i just need SO much more help with for japanese, and clozemaster gives me actual word definitions and pronunciation and lets me practice listening skills and grammar in context which are ALL weak points for me). So that’s the overall japanese goal for a long while (yes i might also finish Nukemarine’s memrise decks if i ever feel up for flashcards again lol). 

In the LONG long term, i would probably want to move onto my other japanese study books i own while continuing to go through clozemaster - i have two reading-japanese books i think would help a ton especially if i want to speed up reading speed and/or read novels more, a sentence pattern book that for me personally would help with reinforcing and getting comfortable with grammar and common words (particularly for long term active use). I also have a kanji remembering book i probably could go through - although by then idk how many kanji i’ll remember the pronunciations and meanings for by then.

#study plan #july study plan #july progress #july #reading #reading progress

[jinmukangwrites]

Vulnerable

Batfamweek2020 Day 6 / Fluff / @official-batfam-week​

Summary: Jason finds a little intruder in one of his safe houses. He tries to convince himself he doesn’t care until he finds out he really, really cares. 

Yeah I know this is two days late. Listen, time is relative and the week isn’t over until I say it’s over. Also yes, the prompt is fluff and this seems to be mostly angst, but there’s cuddles at the end which is about as fluffy as you guys can get out of me.

AO3

-o-o-o-o-

When Jason entered his safe house, he honestly wasn’t expecting anything to be amiss or out of place, yet here he is, walking up to the run down apartment squished between some Chinese takeout shop and a weird voodoo shop just to see the front door slightly ajar.

On instant high alert, Jason grabs at the gun on his hip and considers digging out a domino mask to hide his identity. He’s in street clothes, a civilian if you will. He’s just gotten back from grocery shopping to fill up his various houses with a resupply of food storage. He’s not really in the mood to fight anyone, and for all he knows whoever is inside his safe house could just be a squatter.

Though, no typical squatter can bypass his security measures. Whoever is here is competent enough to discharge his surplus of alarms and boobytraps.

And besides, whoever went through the trouble of breaking and entering into his safe house wouldn’t be there for Red Hood. They’re here for Jason.

He slowly places his bags of canned goods and such onto the ground and pulls his gun out so it’s held out in front of him. He stalks towards the door and takes a calming breath, not wanting to think about who could possibly be in there but also thinking of the worst case scenario.

Maybe just a smart squatter. Could be the Joker. Maybe Bruce. Jason doesn’t if Bruce falls in the good or bad category, but Jason swears to god if he barges in there and it’s just that stupid bastard Jason will categorize him as the absolute worst and might just shoot the jerk-face anyway.

Jason kicks the door open hard enough to make it’s hinges squeal in protest. His gaze instantly locks on a figure sitting on his moth eaten sofa he placed in front of a display TV that he took from the local Walmart.

What? It was “broken” and they were going to throw it away even though he could easily fix it. No harm no foul.

The figure on his sofa looks up from a phone in their hands with a glare, and Jason lowers his gun with a scoff and returns the narrowed eyes with his own.

“What the heck are you doing here, tater-tot?” He demands.

“Tt,” Damian rolls his eyes and returns to his phone, Jason leans his head forward a little to see what the brat is doing on it and it looks to be... that Animal Crossing app. Huh. “It’s none of your business, Todd.”

Jason scoffs, putting his gun back in his holster. “This is my safe house, to which the door you left open. It’s every ounce of my business.”

“Fine,” Damian snarls, standing up abruptly and shoving his phone inside his jacket pocket. “I’ll leave then.”

Jason has to fight to not make any of his utter bafflement physical as he makes a grab for the kid’s arm before he can retreat through the door. “Oh no you don’t. You’re not leaving until I get a straight answer out of ya-“

Damian jerks his arm violently and Jason just manages to keep a grasp on him. “Unhand me, you imbecile!”

“Ah, nah,” Jason retorts, grabbing his other arm as Damian goes to throw a punch. Damian squirms and Jason fights off a sigh as he has to kneel down and hold the brat in an almost white knuckled grasp so he doesn’t escape. He really hopes no one steals his groceries while it’s just sitting out there ripe for the taking. “You broke into my house, you can leave and go throw a tantrum somewhere else after this, I could seriously care less, but if I have to tie you to a chair and play Justin Bieber until you talk I will.”

Damian shoots Jason a look of pure loathing before he glares at his shoes, no longer struggling but still looking like he’ll dart for the nearest exit the moment Jason lowers his guard. “It’s nothing. I shouldn’t have come here. Let me go.” A second. Then a small: “Please.”

“Okay,” Jason says, and if he didn’t have both his hands keeping Damian still, he would be rubbing the bridge of his nose. Where’s the golden boy when you need him? “Okay, something is clearly up with you. What’s up? Did Titus poo on your bed? Break an expensive pot? Accidentally kill someone-?”

“I don’t kill,” Damian snarls suddenly, and the ferocity of the statement has Jason blinking in shock. Damian is refusing to look up now, eyes blinking quicker than normal. “I don’t. Not anymore. I don’t.”

Jason narrows his eyes and gets down on his knees to become level with the little midget. “Kid. Talk to me. What’s going on?”

Damian sniffs, uses his shoulders to rub at his eyes, and there’s a suspicious glint in his green irises that has Jason suddenly feel a rush of panic. Oh heck nah. This is Goldilocks’ problem. Jason should have just let the kid go. Yeah, he asked what was bothering him but the last thing he expected were tears. However, Damian looks just as shocked with himself as Jason is and quickly bites his lip.

“Can I stay the night?” Damian asks suddenly, throwing another red flag up in Jason’s mind. Whatever is going on, Damian doesn’t want to go home where his daddy-dearest and perfect oldest brother are probably waiting for him in a panic. He know’s Dickhead is in town. He posted a picture of Alfred the Cat on his Instagram just a few hours ago, saying it felt good to be home.

Jason is almost tempted to grab the brat and stuff him a duffel, lock the zippers with a cable tie and drop him at the front gates for Alfred to find, just so he doesn’t have to deal with this, but then he studies the kid for a moment, seeing a vulnerability in him that he can’t say he’s ever seen before. He sighs.

“Fine. Don’t explain. Go to the couch and play your cute game thing. I’ll be back.”

Damian gives him an unimpressed glare. “It’s not a cute game.”

“I know what Animal Crossing is, sweetie-pie,” Jason says back, ruffling the younger’s hair and biting back a chuckle that tries to escape his throat as Damian tries to whack at his hand. “It’s a cute game.”

Jason watches Damian retreat back to the sofa, but this time the brat puts in some earbuds and curls up between the arm and the back of the couch, bringing his knees to his chest and his hoodie over his head. Jason has to gather all his will power to not roll his eyes as he stands up and goes out to grab his—thankfully untouched—groceries.

He walks in and begins to take everything out of the bags. He watches Damian out of the corner of his eyes as he does so, but the brat doesn’t move. Just flicks his finger over the screen, perhaps trying to catch a fish or something. He doesn’t dwell on it though, thinking about the tears that had threatened to fall a moment ago. They could have been a trick, a way for Damian to get Jason off his back because it would undoubtedly make Jason too uncomfortable to push more, but at the same time he knows Damian is awful at fake crying. He has a lot of pride stuffed in that little body.

He shakes his head and begins to sort the cans for storage, leaving a few out for dinner he guesses. He was planning on just going to the Batburger—because the Chinese restaurant next door gave him a night in the bathroom to remember the last time he ate there—and grabbing something filled with carbs, but now that the little bat-brat is here that’s sort of thrown out the window. He’s still hungry though.

Lets see, he has a can of sloppy joe, some buns in the pantry that are hopefully not moldy yet, and some mixed vegetables. Easy.

He begins to pull out various pots and pans to begin the last second dinner. It doesn’t take long for the meat to start sizzling while the vegetables just barely begin to warm. He sets a pan lid over the meat and lets it simmer as he goes to grab the buns and some American cheese slices. He eyes Damian as he does so, noting how the kid hasn’t moved since Jason had told him he could stay.

Whatever. It’s not his problem. He’s not worried about the tyke at all...

When everything is finally heated and warm it suddenly occurs to him that Dick has mentioned here and there that Damian was actually vegetarian. Jason curses and opens the fridge, looking for anything that’s leafy and green. Thankfully, he manages to scrape together a sad amount of green lettuce and half a tomato. He sniffs a bottle of ranch and looks at it’s expiration date and wrinkles his nose. He’ll let Damian choose if he wants ranch or not. He grabs two plastic plates and places his own Joe with cheese down on one plate and scoops out a helping of corn, peas, and carrots while he makes a terribly depressed salad on the other. He sighs and adds double the helping of vegetables onto Damain’s plate. If only he had shredded cheese or croutons or even garbanzo beans...

He plops himself down next to the kid and clears his throat, placing Damian’s sad sad meal down on the coffee table with his bottle of devious ranch and then digs into his sloppy joe, grabbing a remote to turn on the TV to something probably boring and dumb.

He watches as Damian wrinkles his nose slightly at his meal, and Jason almost prepares himself to snap that he did his best, but Damian surprises him and takes the plate into his lap. He takes out his earbuds and clicks his phone off, shifting so he can see the TV better.

Thankfully Jason manages to find a channel that’s replaying Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire so the silence between the two of them isn’t as awkward as it could be. Damian picks at his browning salad and makes a move to communicate.

They watch the movie in silence, and Jason finds himself not being able to actually concentrate as his mind keeps wondering what could be up with Damian.

-o-o-o-o-

“Alrighty,” Jason says, clapping his hands together as the movie credits begin to roll. “Goodnight.”

Damian doesn’t say anything as Jason gets up and gathers the paper plates to throw them away. Jason is determined to just go to bed and not deal with any of this in the morning. Sure, he should go out as Hood and take down some gangs, but Damian doesn’t appear to have his costume—let alone a change of clothes—with him and there’s no way Jason is leaving him here alone.

He should just call Dick. Call him and he’d gladly drop everything he’s doing to take the kid away. However, he can’t help but feel a sense of unity when he notices Damain’s phone ding with a little text notification and Damian quickly sliding it away, not even reading it.

Besides, Jason said he could stay the night. What kind of person would he be if he couldn’t make good on his word? He’s an ex-killer not a complete jackass.

He retreats to his room, releasing a sigh and shutting the door. It’s a small house, nothing but a living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and bathroom. Damian will have to sleep on the couch because there’s no way Jason is letting him take his bed. He takes off his shirt and changes into a pair of looser fitting pants as he crawls into the rickety old bed that was discounted at IKEA because someone broke some pieces. The blankets he slips into are thin but many. Well, three. It’s decent enough, he can survive most cold nights with the warmth three thin, threadbare blankets could scrap up.

He closes his eyes, thinking about nothing other than sleep.

He wonders if he has a blanket out there for-

Woah wait. Hold up. Nooope. Go to bed Jason. Go to bed...

Sleep...

It’s a colder night and the living room gets colder than the bedroom...

But it’s warm in his blankets so he won’t worry about it... sleep... sleep sleep sleep...

He peeks his eye open and looks at his phone sitting on the mattress beside his head.

Not even fifteen minutes has passed. He growls and forces his eyes closed, curling his knees so they’re almost touching his chest. Did he lock the door? He’s pretty sure he locked the door. Though, if he didn’t that would mean someone could barge in and the first thing they’d see was a small kid in his day clothes shivering in the cold of the living room with no pillow.

No, he definitely locked the door. He definitely locked it just like how he definitely doesn’t care if a certain demon brat is crashing on his couch in day old clothes with no pillow or blanket.

He opens his eyes, looks at how only a minute has passed and silently curses to himself.

Shit.

He cares.

He throws the blankets off from his body and slips off the side of his bed to his feet. He looks around his room and grabs at one out of two pillows he was using and then tears off one out of three blankets and stomps towards his door, just to stop and growl as he turns around and finds the smallest shirt and sweats he could find.

He barges into the living room and Damian practically jumps from his curled up position on the couch. Jason ignores the subject of his lack of sleep as he goes to the door, grabs the handle, and giggles it to make sure it’s locked.

It’s locked.

He turns heel and Damian is watching him as if he’s grown a second head. Jason ignores the stare and dumps the pile of fabric in his arms onto the kid. Damian squawks but Jason ignores that and storms back to his room, trying to ignore the goosebumps on his arms and chest from the cold of the room and how he’s making a thirteen year old kid sleep out here and- NOPE! He’s not worried about it. He gave him a blanket and pillow and even some of his own clothes. Damian will survive and Jason will sleep.

He hits his pillow, trying not to mourn the girth he’s lost beneath his head because he’s too nice of a guy sometimes, and curls up in his two blankets, fighting off the threat of shivers from going out into the chilly air. He eventually warms up, just like actual sleep begins to lure him, and soon he’s not thinking about much of anything...

...

Was that a sniffle?

His eyes creek open against his will. Time has felt like it moved, and when he glares at his phone to see two hours has passed he curses the gods for making this night as difficult as possible. He’s about to close his eyes again when the something that woke him up that he had almost forgot about sounds again.

A sniff. From the other side of the door. It sounds wet, like it belongs to a runny nose and his eyebrows come together. Yeah it’s cold out in the living room but not that cold. He closes his eyes, blaming dramatics, when the sniffle sounds again, but with something else this time that has Jason practically jumping out of his bed like he’s been electrocuted.

A whimper. That was a whimper.

He creeps towards the door, something heavy in his gut, and places his ear on the thin wood.

He can hear it all clearly now. The sniffles, the tiny choked off whimpers of someone trying to not make too much noise, the panting breaths.

Crying. Someone’s crying on the other side of his door and it’s two in the morning and Jason is all of a sudden thinking about the ignored texts, the silent acceptance of not even sub-par food, the cute distracting animal game, the caught in the headlights look when Jason stormed out earlier, the almost desperate way he asked to crash the night here, the angry outburst the he’s not a killer.

Jason doesn’t care. He doesn’t. This is Dick’s job. Not Jason. Jason is the family black sheep who people avoid unless they want something, and Jason avoids them right back. Dick is the big, caring, older brother while Jason is the distant outcast. Jason doesn’t care if Damian is in his living room crying. He really, truly, awfully, lyingly doesn’t care.

Shit.

He cares.

crying opens his door slowly and the sniffling and whimpering instantly cuts off. The door swings slowly open and Jason is left standing in his doorway watching as Damian wipes furiously at his eyes and glares at the opposite side of the room, curling up and biting his lower lip to perhaps stop it from trembling.

“What do you want, Todd,” Damian snarls, but his voice tremors and Jason has to fight down the panic threatening to escape his throat because he has no clue what to do. Here’s some kid who’s legally his youngest brother who’s swimming in his too big clothes with tear tracks down his cheeks and Jason cannot think of a single thing to do.

What would Dick do? Dick would smile and probably gather the kid up in a hug and say everything will be okay and other soppy comforting crap. Jason runs the scenario out in his head, imagines him trying to approach the kid with open arms to give him a hug. Strangely enough, while he can easily imagine Dick and Damian ending up cuddling or whatever, Jason can only see himself writhing on the floor with a knife between his ribs.

So, the Dick-protocol is out. Jason needs to do something else, and quick.

He grinds his jaw and forces himself to leave the safety of the room. Damian watches him warily as he slowly sits up and backs up to the corner of the sofa, furthest from where Jason is approaching from. Jason gives the kid a side eyed glance before he grabs at the remote and turns on the TV.

Jason isn’t the best with cuddles or comfort, but the least he can do is sit it out and let Damian decide what the next step is, even if Jason has to sit here shirtless in the chilly living room with the TV turned low on some Spanish soap channel for the rest of the night.

Somehow, Damian doesn’t fight that. He just wipes his eyes again, getting rid of most evidence of tear tracks, and then settles into his corner, stubbornly watching the TV.

Forty minutes into the soap marathon, right when someone is revealed to not be the father—gasp—something finally happens.

Damian speaks.

“Do you regret it?” Says a small voice in a whisper. Jason turns his head and he almost has to squint his eyes to make sure he’s seeing things correctly. Damian is valiantly avoiding his gaze, staring straight at the TV. His hands are nervously pulling at the strings of his borrowed sweatpants though, which is a sight Jason never thought he’d see.

“Regret what?” He questions.

Damian worries his lip for a second and something shiny swims in his eyes. Jason remains silent until Damian finally speaks. “Killing those people.”

Finally, Damian looks at Jason and he looks so vulnerable and scared and Jason is pretty sure this is all just some sort of fever dream because what the hell. His brain short circuits and restarts as he tries to gather his thoughts, but suddenly all his thoughts are nothing more than green anger as he hacks through the necks of drug dealers and stuffs heads in duffel bags. Thoughts lined with lividity as he shoots at rapists and murderers and gets blood splattered on his red mask. Thoughts of holding the Joker against his chest, pressing the point of his gun against the psychopaths temple and screaming a choice at Bruce.

The Joker, or him.

He absentmindedly reaches for the scar on his neck; it’s a unique one for the fact it’s not one that he gained in death nor in his autopsy. It’s thin and precise and did just enough damage for Jason to accidentally let go of the Joker and grab at the sharp batarang sticking out from his neck, blood already leaking through his fingers. Proof that Bruce would rather slice his neck than let a mindless murderer continue to breathe. A permanent reminder that Jason isn’t as important as some no-kill-rule. A warning he should never attempt something like that ever again.

He’s been doing better. He hasn’t killed anyone since... since forever. His bullets are not ones made to kill. His aims are not lethal. When he shoots he shoots because he has to, and he’s been forcing himself to use his fists first.

Does he regret it? Does he regret getting so angry and hurt and confused that he killed dozens of people just to get Black Mask angry so he could get to Joker and therefore Batman? Does he regret the blood on his hands? The hours clutching his chest in the shower after the first life he took, scrubbing at his skin so it’s red and raw, repeating over and over and over to himself that this will all be worth it. The days avoiding the freezer where he stored the severed heads until he had all of them because he was afraid he’d puke? The months convincing himself that beating his replacement senseless would be worth it?

Does he regret it?

He clutches the material of his pants with one hand and rubs the length of his scar with his other, taking a deep breath.

“No.”

Damian’s eyes widen slightly in shock, and Jason realizes he was expecting a different answer. He clears his throat, fights the urge to hug himself like he’s raw and vulnerable. An animal on display.

“I don’t regret killing those people. But if I was sent back in time and given the option to redo everything... I wouldn’t have done it.”

“I don’t understand,” Damian says and Jason releases a bitter chuckle.

“I’m a different person now, and back then killing those people I felt was the only thing I could do. I used to... sit and wonder about what I could have done differently, what I could have changed, but I decided it isn’t worth it. I killed those people in cold blood, and if I regret it now then I won't be able to move on. So no, I don’t regret it.”

“Oh.”

There’s a moment of silence and Jason sighs. “Look, I enjoy talking about my past as much as the next guy, but why do you bring it up?“

Damian bites his lip again, and Jason almost worries that sooner or later he’s going to draw blood with his sharp canines, but Damian brings his legs to his chest and stars absentmindedly at the TV as some chick slaps another chick for whatever reason.

“I regret them,” Damian whispers, and Jason decides now would be a wise time to remain silent. “I killed people because my mother and grandfather said it was my birthright too. I was superior and they were worthless. I never... thought anything of it. Until now.” He takes a shaky breath and continues, rubbing his eye with his shoulder. “I promised Grayson I would never kill again, and I’ve always intended to keep that promise for myself if not for him. B-but father doesn’t trust me all the time and it’s hard t-to think that I’m ever going to live up to that promise when he’s constantly telling me how I could have slipped up or how I could have killed... killed somebody a-and it’s been three years since- and why doesn’t he trust me? Why does he always think I’m... I’m gonna...”

He breaks off into a painful sounding sob and Jason watches wide eyed, completely at a loss of what to do. He sits there and watches as Damian explains through sobs that someone died yesterday, a criminal he was chasing. The man accidentally slipped off the docks into the freezing, churning, unforgiving water of Gotham Bay and drowned before Robin could safely get down to him. Batman arrived just as Robin pulled his dead body back onto the docks. Batman tried to resuscitate him, but with no luck.

Robin was benched, blamed for his death, and Nightwing didn’t take his side.

Bruce said he could have reacted faster. Dick chose to try and stay in the middle but ended up just getting Bruce mad at both of them and Damian feeling betrayed.

It’s no wonder Damian ran out and was ignoring every text message sent his way. He feels like his whole world has turned against him. Jason is almost tempted to let the kid stay more than the night.

Somehow, Jason’s managed to scoot closer to the crying kid, and somehow, Damian’s ended up under his arms. Leaning against his chest, crying and letting the warm tears run down his cheeks and against Jason’s skin. It feels personal. It feels open. It feels secret and sacred.

Jason clutches the kid closer, and he doesn’t say a thing because he doesn’t know what to say quite yet.

He just holds him, then when Damian tires himself out and his eyes become puffy and half-lidded, Jason gathers him up and carries him to the bedroom, his arms too full to turn off the TV. Damian instantly curls up into his side as he lays them both down onto the bed, dragging the sheets.

People die on patrol, yet Bruce seems to be the hardest on them when it’s the criminals who die. Victims, choking on their own blood and crying, eyes going milky, but Bruce only sees the criminal that Jason aloud to get shot by their own partner, he only sees the thug Jason aloud to get stabbed through the gut when Joker got sick of them. It’s a whole, vile system Bruce has. When victims die, it’s no one’s fault, but when the bad guys die, they should have been strong enough and brave enough and fast enough to stop it.

Jason doesn’t think Bruce will ever trust Jason not to kill. He doesn’t think Bruce will ever trust Damian not to kill.

So the least Jason can do right now while Bruce seethes and Dick tries to mediate is hold Damian a little tighter as a promise that Jason is on his side instead of the people who are supposed to be.

He hopes it’s enough. Because it’s truly the least he can do.

#jason todd #damian wayne #red hood #robin #dc #dc comics #batman comics #fan fic #batfamweek2020 #jin writes

[sheeple]

The intern | 13: Date night

GIFS NOT MINE. THIS IS ALL FICTION. Genre(s): intern!au / fluff / mild angst Group(s): NCT / Red Velvet Pairing(s): Moon Taeil x fem!reader Summary: The new Elysion Publishings intern is the youngest they ever had. It’s not a problem until she grabs the attention of the IT guy. Warning(s): Age-gap of five years / gross amount of fluff this chap [Masterlist] [Mini masterlist]

“So there I was, only in my sneakers and underwear chasing Doyoung into a study hall packed with two-hundred first years. I’m sure Doyoung still has the video on his phone”, chuckles Taeil and I laugh loudly.

“Please remind me to ask Doyoung for that.” I throw Taeil a playful smile and nudge his shoulder.

We’ve decided to park the car three blocks away from the restaurant and walk through the little park that’s a shortcut.

“Oh man”, I shake my head, “my friends once buried a pencil during class because it accidentally snapped in half. They were drunk that day.”

Taeil looks at me weirdly. “Are you allowed to be drunk during schooltime?”

A soft scoff leaves my mouth. “No, but that doesn’t mean they won’t do it. Two of them also drowned Jäger on my birthday. I was pretty pissed that day.”

Taeil shakes his head disappointed. “That’s ridiculous. Couldn’t they do it a day later?”

I look away and shrug. "I can’t tell them what they can and can’t do. They are old and wise─ they are all old enough to know what’s good for them”, I correct myself with a slight smile.

As we near the restaurant, we see red flashing lights and the smell of smoke. 

I put my nose up in the air and sniff. “That doesn’t smell good. Is there a fire?”

Taeil and I lock eyes and quicken our pace. As we reach the end of the park we see a collection of police cars, agents, and a firetruck, all around the restaurant.

“You gotta be kidding me”, whispers Taeil and walks closer towards where the police have drawn a line. “Excuse me, what happened here?”, he asks one of the agents that are close to where we stand. 

The agent looks at both of us. “There was a huge fire that destroyed most of the restaurant."

I look with big eyes towards Taeil and squeeze his hand that I am holding. “We’re so lucky”, I breathe out and pull him away, bowing at the agent.

Taeil looks sadly towards me. “I am so sorry. Now our whole date is ruined and... and I have no backup plan.” He lets go of my hand and runs his own through his hair.

“Hey”, I call out and push his chin up. “Don’t worry, the evening isn’t ruined because a restaurant burned down. There are many more amazing places where we can eat. Come, I know a great place and it’s in walking distance.”

I lead him through the crowd. “It’s an American style diner from the 50′s. It has a jukebox and they make a mean cheesecake. Mark, a couple of his friends, and I once ate there.”

Taeil nods and I pull him away from the crowd, away from the main street. We arrive at the building and I lead him up the stairs to enter the restaurant.

“Hi, darlings! Table for two?”, asks a waitress once we’ve entered the place. She leads us towards a booth and places two menus on the table. “Just press the call button and I’ll be right over.”

We slide into the booth after I’ve shrugged off my jacket.

“Okay, you need to tell me what’s good because I don’t know.” Taeil scoots closer towards me and I start to point out what everything’s like. 

“I personally like the pulled pork burger with bbq sauce and paprika fries to the side. I think you’ll like...” My eyes travel over the menu for something that Taeil will enjoy. 

I point towards the burger with mozzarella, bacon, and Coleslaw. “That’s very nice.”

Taeil pushes on the button to call the waitress. “Then I’ll try it”, he says with a smile. The waitress that greeted us comes and takes our orders and what we want to drink.

“You know what I just realized?”, says Taeil as he plays with the straw, poking the ice. 

I hum as I take a sip from my drink. “That you don’t like cheese?”

“No─ I don’t really know anything about your life back home.” He looks up at me and stops with what he’s doing.

He is right. Taeil has told me many stories about his family, and his sister. I’ve met his best friend a couple of times and still, he only knows so minimal about my life. I feel kinda guilty about it. 

“Well...”, I begin as I take one of Taeil’s hands in mine. “Hi, my name’s (Y/n) (L/n). I am twenty years old and I am an art school kid. The only child within a shitty family so I make my own family with my friends.”

A chuckle leaves his lips as his gaze is fixed on me, playing with my fingers.

“I enjoy writing, making digital art, anything creative really. I prefer staying at home and watching a good movie with some popcorn above going out. Though I have difficulty with asking questions and accepting that I can’t be perfect, I try to work on those points and just generally be happy about myself.”

Taeil’s smile falters a big. “You have difficulty asking questions, how so?”

I shrug my shoulders. “I don’t want to be a burden to anyone. Doesn’t matter if it’s a friend, a colleague or just a random stranger.”

As our food arrives, lets Taeil go of my hands so the waitress can place our plates. “You will never be a burden. Not to me, at least.”

A blush creeps on my cheeks as I look shyly down, unfolding my napkin and placing it over my lap. 

As we start to eat asks Taeil more questions about home. How I met my friends, what I like to do with them, and just general stuff.

“Then, she slams her hands down on the table with this pissed off expression on her face before she points her finger towards her ex and me. ‘Don’t you two lie to me! I know you’ve been mingling with each other behind my back’, she screeched loudly with the nastiest scowl as everyone in the auditorium looks at our table.”

I talk animality about one of my wacky adventures at my school as Taeil and I wait for the bill. The waitress places a plate down with the bill and a couple wrapped candies and before I can reach for it, Taeil has already grabbed it and jogs over towards the register to pay for the meal.

“I could pay for myself though”, I pout as he comes back with our jackets.

“I know”, he says as he holds my jacket up for me to slide my arms into the sleeves. “I know you can but I wanted to, it’s the least I can do.”

We walk down the stairs towards the street and Taeil lays his arm over my shoulders. 

“Let’s walk that way. I heard that the Han river is beautiful at this time.” Taeil’s eyes sparkle in the city lights. He licks his lips as he awaits my answer. 

I nod with a smile and let him lead me down towards it. We chat more about everything and nothing. 

As the Han river comes in view, I rush towards the balustrade and lean on it. “It’s so beautiful”, I whisper in wonder, my eyes twinkle in the city lights in the reflection of the river as I watch the bridge. 

“You like it?”, asks Taeil while he walks towards me with a small smile on his face. 

“I’ve never seen the Han river bridge in the night. Such a shame, really.” I look over my shoulder at him and see that he quickly puts his phone in his pocket. 

“Where do you usually hang out when you’re with your friends?” Taeil stands next to me and leans with his back on the balustrade.

I think deeply. Most of the time I hang out with Mark, Lucas, and Donghyuk at either their place or mine. Or we go to the park, never really going far.

“Oh well, you know... staying home or the mall close to our places. Nothing really big. And I don’t really hang out with Wendy, John, and Tae during the weekends. Seeing them during the week is enough already, especially the boys.” 

Taeil chuckles. “You prefer to be alone above hanging out with friends?”

I hum. “Yeah, sometimes. I really love my friends, all of them. But the people around me can be much sometimes, you know? I’m sure there will be a person one day I never get enough of their company.” 

I close my eyes and breath in deeply, wrapping my arms around myself for some warmth. 

Taeil quickly removes his jacket and places it over my shoulders and I look up with big eyes. 

“Oh no, please don’t put it on me. What if you get cold?” I turn towards him and slowly slide the jacked off my shoulders, neaten it before holding it up for him. 

But Taeil holds his hands up while walking backwards with a smirk. “I don’t mind being cold.”

“No, come back”, I pout while walking after him. But he starts to run and laughs loudly when I follow up and run after him.

We chase each other for a while until I get tired and take place on a bench that outlooks the Han river. Taeil slides next to me and we huff and puff until we breath normally again.

“I... want to... give you... this..”, he huffs between his words and pulls out a small box from the inside pocket of his jacket.

I look in wonder as he brushes a couple of dog hairs off the small box. 

As he opens the box, he says, “I don’t believe I’m going to say it... But be the stars to my moon, please?” Taeil opens the small box and in it, a delicate a crescent moon necklace with stars around it. 

A gasp leaves my lips and I want tot ouch it but stop midway and I look up at Taeil and he nods slightly. I softly trace the outline of the moon and stars. “It’s... beautiful Taeil!”

He takes the necklace out of the box and I turn around, lowering the jacket so it’s out of the way. I feel his hands slightly shake as he puts the necklace around my nack and closes the clasp. 

“Does... this mean you are mine?”, he questions with a shaky voice and I turn back around, taking the necklace in my hand. 

I nod with a smile. “I... guess? Do you want me to be yours?” I look away with a blush and fiddle with the charm.

“Fuck yes”, he breaths out and pulls me closer, engulfing me in the warmest and heartfelt hug I ever had. 

And for the first time in almost four months, I feel at home.

#nct #nct imagine #nct scenario #nct fluff #nct taeil #nct!au #Taeil #taeil scenarios #taeil imagine #taeil au #taeil fluff #moon taeil #moon taeil scenario #moon taeil imagines #moon taeil au #taeil!au #intern!au #the intern

[insanely-creative-things]

Big Hero 7: The Series

www.fanfiction.net

Big Hero 7 S2

Super Sonic Sue and the Sirens’ Return

*Big Hero 7 arrives at the scene where a bank robbery is taking place at night.*

Gogo: What are we looking at?

Cora: Bank Robbery in progress.

Hiro: Omega Danger, scan the perimeter.

*Baymax starts scanning the building and lists off the features the person has.*

Baymax: I detect one suspect. In motion, on wheels.

Hiro: Wait did you say wheels?

*The person zooms out of the bank before they could blink and stops themselves in front of the four.*

Sue: Well, don't you kids look cute in your colorful get up. What are ya? Some kind of circus family?

*Hiro and Cora look at Gogo as Gogo looks at them.*

Baymax: Hello, I am-

Hiro: Omega Danger, you don't need to introduce yourself to the bank robber.

Cora: Seriously, we have secret identities for reasons.

Sue: Didn't your mommy teach you to shut it cyborg?

*The old woman throws out her duffle bag of cash to fight off the four.*

Baymax: I do not have a mommy, I am a robot-

Hiro: Omega Danger look out!-

Cora: Alpha we gotta jump of-!

*But the speed demon zooms past them before she hits Baymax with her speed wheels which results in Hiro and Cora being pinned down by Baymax's own weight.*

Baymax: On a scale of one to ten-

Sue: Its super sonic Sue's famous electric elbow!

*She activates the pads on her elbows to slam dunk the three. Cora starts setting up her own electric gloves to counteract the woman's only for Gogo's disk to knock out her aim, resulting her to miss her targets.*

Gogo: Hey Grandma! Why don't you pick on someone your own speed?!

*The old woman hops over Baymax to face off Gogo.*

Sue: How adorable skater tot!

*Activating her shield visor, she zooms towards the old woman as did the old woman herself. even though Gogo gave her all, she looses balance and falls to the ground, leaving the old woman standing.*

Sue: Deve-skated! Ha ha ha!

Gogo: Whoa... no one's ever out skated me before...

*The old woman zooms out her way to see Baymax with the two teens on his back to stop her.*

Sue: Power Jam!

*Before they could even move an inch, the old woman steals Baymax's rocket fist.*

Baymax: She stole my rocket fist.

Sue: Namaste suckers!

*She zooms out of view of the heroes where she places the fist on a passing trolley as she takes the money with her.*

Cora:.*Low voice*.. Hiro...I think we found Gogo's match...

Baymax: Namaste-

Gogo: Nomaste Omega.

*After that fiasco the four set up a meeting to tell the gang about the old woman. The gang are watching the footage of the woman to see what she's capable of.*

Honey Lemon: She got away with Baymax's rocket fist?

Hiro: Yeah, I had to rush this. Hope its ready.

*Hiro pulls out a new rocket fist for Baymax to put on, hoping it would stick... the fingers fell off.*

Cora: We might need a little more time. Especially since the 3D printer is acting a little wonky right now.

Wasabi: Wow, that lady can skate! Even better than-!

*Honey Lemon places a hand on Wasabi and directs his eyes to Gogo, who's face looks like its about ready to murder him if he completed his sentence.*

Wasabi:...Me?

Honey Lemon: Do we have a file on this new villain?

*Fred scoots his chair over to the gang.*

Fred: I bet her origin story starts with some tragic event, which scars her deeply and still haunts her to this very day! Ooh! I'll start with an in depth, psychological profile!

Cora: Why would you need to do that?

Fred: Callaghan became Yokai because of an accident with the portal which he thought killed his daughter! Also the fact that Obake planned on not only erasing San Fransokyo off the map, but project his dead girlfriend onto you because of brain damage mixed with your abusive, twisted grandmother from your Dad's side of the family!

*The gang stare at Fred in silence, with Hiro giving a face that screams "WTF Fred, seriously?'. Hiro's mind starts racing with memories of Callaghan and the battle on Akuma Island and the portal. Cora has no expression on her mind before she ultimately sighs in exhaustion. Both look at each other to which, Being the good boyfriend he is, goes to hold her close to which the girl hugs him back tight.*

Hiro: Hey, its fine. Kage is not Obake. You've said he's been doing better lately right?

Cora: Yeah... this morning he passed me the salt shaker at breakfast.

Hiro: That's good.

Cora: And as far as we know, Callaghan ain't coming for us...

*Gogo then whacks Fred upside the head, to which he realized what he had done and looks over at Cora and Hiro with guilty eyes.*

Fred: That's my bad! I am so sorry I brought it up!

Cora: No! Its fine, you were too excited, you didn't mean to bring it up to hurt us.

Fred: Whew... thanks...

Hiro: Besides, how about we ask your dad?

Fred: Well he's more of a punch first, psychological analysis later type of guy.

Wasabi: He might know Super Sonic Sue.

*Honey Lemon pulls out information on Super Sonic Sue on the Heropedia page of Boss Awesome.*

Honey Lemon: They do have a 70s retro vibe happening.

*Fred looks at his sketch of Super Sonic Sue and compares it to the picture of Boss Awesome.*

Fred: You have a point.

*Fred pulls out his phone and calls his dad to talk about the new villain they discovered*

Frederickson the III: You've reached the Boss Awesome hotline. Leave a message I'm out roping!

Fred: Must be at the family ranch. I'll try to get him after he fiddles, in the meantime I have a very exciting event to go to! *Pulls out paper* Woo hoo!

Honey Lemon: The dry cleaners?

Fred: Whoops, that's the wrong ticket. *Pulls out the correct ticket*

Wasabi: Noodle Burger cordially invites you for a sneak tasting for our newest creation... the noodle bigger burger?

Fred: Its like a regular noodle burger... but bigger!

*And so Fred heads out his way to Noodle Burger, which leaves the rest of the gang staring at Hiro and Cora working together to create a new rocket fist.*

Honey Lemon: You've mentioned Kage is doing OK right?

Cora: Yup. He's slowly warming up. He's actually going out with my Grandmama for errands!

Wasabi: Huh, so I guess he's OK enough to do errands with your grandmother. That's an improvement.

Cora: Yeah.

*When Fred reaches noodle burger he enters inside with a large smile... until he catches a very familiar... unwelcomed scent.*

Fred: Mole!

Mole: Frederickson.

*The two stare down before a fly lands on Fred's eyes, grossing him out as Mole laughs.*

mole: Weak, I can win a staring contest with my eyes closed.

Fred: *looking around the restaurant* Wait, are we the only ones here?

Mole: I wouldn't wish a dining experience with you on my worst enemy! Which is you...So I'm a little confused about how to feel.

Fred: Look Mole, what do you say we call a truce. You know, so we can enjoy this once in a lifetime experience?

Mole: as soon as the tasting is over, its back to all out war.

Fred: Count on it!

*The two are seated at Fred's reserved seat for their order, prepping themselves for the food as they glare each other down. that's when the server brings out the new item for them to taste: The Noodle Bigger Burger. Its piled with three meat patties and bacon, lettuce and eggs oozing with melted cheddar cheese. After the server places their order in front of them they start eating it.*

Mole; I'm getting a smeck of hickory and uh...*Bites off the burger* what is that?

Fred: Truffle oil.

Mole: Oh! A super taster!

Fred: I give it two thumbs up!

Mole: Ew! Cilantro!

Fred: Cilantro?!

*The two drop their burgers in disgust.*

Fred: There's cilantro in this?! *Chews what food he had* Ugh!

*The two wipe off the taste of cilantro*

Fred: Well that was-

Mole: Upsetting.

Fred: I did not know you were a cilantro hater too.

Mole: It is my number one-

Fred and Mole: Herbal enemy!

Fred: Well, I guess we have

Mole: Somethings

Fred and Mole: in common.

Fred:... this is getting weird.

*Across town Kaguya is on her errands with Baymax 1 and Kage by her side. So far they collected the food off the list. Now they are heading home with the groceries as they enter inside.*

Kaguya: I appreciated you and Baymax accompanying me for my errands Kage.

Kage: Its nothing really.

Kaguya: Of course... put the groceries on the table if you don't mind.

Kage: Understood.

*As Kaguya leaves to enter her room, Kage places the groceries at the table. Once given privacy she looks through her ingredients for the herbal healing tea, the very one that heals all wounds and had turned Globby human again. Since learning that it can help Globby, she started studying the medicine to see if it would help Orso Knox as well. She realizes that she is low on ingredients and sighs in frustration. This meant she would have to find some on land... and others at sea. While the searching the sea was no big issue, since learning of Liv Amara and her actions from her granddaughter and her friends and boyfriend, and how she has an interest in marine bio, this could lead to a risk where she could be spotted or worse, captured by the she-devil and her assistant. Mizuchi would be busy most of the days and there was no way she would expose such secret to her already vulnerable grandchild...which leaves her with only one other person. She goes outside her room to see him putting the groceries in the fridge and pantry as he softly hums to himself, a small and content smile on his face. Hearing it closely it was an Elvis Presely song, Lonesome. She gives a small cough to let him know she's here, to which he stops at his tracks. Blushing at the fact that she saw him hum he turns his head away.*

Kaguya: Its fine Kage… I've heard you have a nice voice... for a human.

Kage: Thank you... especially since this is coming from a mermaid...

*The two chuckle before Kaguya looks at Kage's eyes.*

Kaguya: Kage, there's something very important I need to attend to... and you are gonna help me.

Kage: And what would that be?

Kaguya:... finding ingredients for my healing medicine...

*Meanwhile with the gang, after Fred returns from the taste test and Cora receiving a message that they would be busy and won't return home for a while, they meet up at Boss Awesome's secret lair to talk to Fred's dad... who is wrestling a bull.*

Frederickson the III: Hey gang! Don't mind Benjamin! He likes to tussle. Isn't that right Benjamin?

Wasabi: Looks like more than a tussle.

Cora: Fred, your dad is crazy... in an awesome way that is.

*The doorbell is heard as which alerts them that they have a visitor. Fred answers the door to see Mole there.*

Fred: Oh... its you.

Mole: Hello loser, I was in the neighborhood and... you forgot your souvenir photo.

*Its a photo of them wiping their mouths after tasting the noodle bigger burger. Fred snatches the phot and looks at it.*

Fred: Heh, kinda funny. Looking back at it now.

Mole: *Chuckles* I never thought I meet a fellow cilantrophobic taster. What a glorious time.

Fred: Thanks for bringing the photo by. Very... ugh... I wanna say 'nice'?'

Mole:Yes… it was...Well, back to being enemies.

Fred:... you know..*Takes deep breath* I'm having a Kentucky Kaiju movie marathon..

Mole: All seven?

Fred: Up to and including Son of Kaiju.

Mole: A surprisingly emotional end to the whole saga.

Fred:*Cringes at himself* I can't believe I'm saying this... but mole... Do you wanna join me?... Shall we say tomorrow at sunrise?

Mole:*Cringes at himself* I can't believe I'm going to accept your invitation but I think... I just did?

*After that talk Fred joins back to the lair of Boss Awesome as Cora munches on a bag of strawberries she brought as a snack to share with the gang as they watch Frederickson wrestle the bull.*

Hiro: So Mr. Frederickson, do you remember a Super Sonic Sue?

Frederickson the III: I haven't heard that name in years. She was a roller derby queen till she was kicked for using a performance enhancing rocket skates.

*The Bull keeps hitting Frederickson but he keeps getting back up.*

Cora: So because of that she became a villain?... OK.

Frederickson the III: She broke down a lot of barriers for lady villains.

Honey Lemon: Mr. Frederickson do you know where we might find her?

Frederickson the III: No clue, I don't stay in touch with old foes.

Hiro: But I bet they stay in touch with each other.

Wasabi: You're thinking Baron Von Steamer.

Honey Lemon: Well, its forth a try.

Hiro: Well, looks like we're going to prison.

Cora: Thank you Mr. Frederickson!

*That night; Baymax, Hiro, Cora, Wasabi, and Gogo head to prison to visit Baron Von Steamer in their super suits. When they approach his cell they see that he is strapped to a flat tray on wheels in a upright position and facing away from them.*

Hiro: Ah, Mr. Von Steamer! We, We need your help.

Cora: If you don't mind that is.

*The tray shakes up a few times.*

Hiro:... Baron?

*The tray turns around to show that the baron is asleep and snoring.*

Baymax: Snoring, can be the symptom of sleep apmia.

*An alarm clock starts ringing which jolts the baron awake.*

Steamer: Give me back my pudding!

*That is when he realizes that the company he has is Big Hero 7.*

Steamer: Oh, if it isn't Big Millennial 7. To what do I owe the displeasure?

Cora: Did you know a villain with the name Super Sonic Sue?

Steamer: Oh! That's a name I hadn't heard in years.

Hiro: We're not looking for a long backstory-

Steamer: We were young rouges with an appetite for trouble! She was tough as nails, I was handsome as all get out!

Hiro: Really we just wanna-

Steamer: We became bitter rivals! She wanted to be Boss Awesome's number one enemy, but I had already called dibs!

Wasabi: Couldn't you just be his number two enemy?

Steamer: Second place is first place loser!

Gogo: Yep he's right.

Cora: Look, what we really want to know is if you know where she is!

Steamer: No; but if you see her, tell her I think her catchphrase stinks!

Wasabi: Whats her catchphrase?

*The back of Steamer's cell breaks open to reveal Baymax's rocket fist and Super Sonic Sue. *

Sue: Super Sonic Sue me why don't cha?

Wasabi: Yeah that could use some work.

Cora: I thought it was funny.

*Wasabi pulls out his blades and tries to cut through the glass, but it doesn't even leave a scratch on its field.*

Wasabi: Its reinforced!

Cora: At least the security is actually upgrading for once.

Steamer: Egard! Help!

Sue: Later Skaters!

Steamer: Big Hero 7 save me!

*Sue skates away with Steamer and the rocket fist, with the old man still calling for help.*

Hiro: Baymax! Rocket fist!

*Baymax pulls out his new rocket fist... but it flops spectacularly.*

Baymax: Oh no.

*The team meet up again at Boss Awesome's lair to discuss what happened in their prison visit.*

Wasabi: So I know we're licensed super heroes and all but are we really obligated to rescue steamer?

Gogo: Yeah, I know he's technically a 'victim' but he's also technically annoying.

Frederickson the III: A real hero helps everyone in need! Even your worst enemies! Oh! Hey gang! You forgot to hang up earlier!

Fred: Sorry Dad, love you and WATCH OUT BEHIND YOU!

*Benjamin is behind the retired super and ready for round two.*

Frederickson the III: Thanks son!

Honey Lemon: I guess we're doing night patrol.

Fred: I can't go out tonight, sorry guys. I have to get up early.

Gogo: For something stupid?

Fred: No! Its for my Kentucky Kaiju Movie Marathon!... With Richardson.

Gogo: Called it!

Wasabi: Wait! Richardson Mole?

Fred: It turns out we have a lot in common. Sometimes bitter enemies who disgust you to your core!... Can become...ummm...

Honey Lemon: Friends?

Cora: I wouldn't push to friends Honey Lemon, remember when Mole blackmailed us?

Fred: Exactly! For now its less disgusting enemies. We'll see where this goes.

Hiro: Keep an eye out still. Just in case things go south.

*Around the early dawn Kaguya, Kage, and Baymax 1 had just arrived off the bus nearby the coastal shorelines just outside of San Fransokyo. They had packed enough supplies and a tent for both to sleep as the ingredient search may take days.*

Kaguya: Now remember Kage, have Baymax close to you as you search for these herbs. This is where most of what I need from land grow the best. I will be at sea, I'll call you when I've gathered them all.

Kage: Understood.

*And so, Kaguya walks down the hill to the sandy beach where the moonlight reflects beautifully on the water. She takes a deep breath as she soon runs into the water and dives in; soon her human legs become the elegant green and silver tail, swimming swiftly and carefully through the water. Kage sighs as he starts searching for any of the herbs listed in the paper. But once or twice he would look out the ocean and sigh, a forlorn look in his eyes.*

Baymax 1: You're neurotransmitters are low. Would you like a hug?

*Baymax wraps his arms around Kage as his inner heat monitor rises to warm the man through this cold night.*

Kage: I'm sorry... I was just... lost in thought... the beach was one of our favorite places to go on our dates.

Baymax: Dates?

Kage:... Chara and I. We used to stroll through the sand just talking about our life, the water hitting our feet, and us holding hands...

*Kage looks down at his own hands, remembering how Chara's hands would fit his perfectly.*

Baymax 1: Does being on the beach trouble you Kage?

Kage: Not as much as I thought it would thankfully. Now come on, we better get moving.

*And so they continue to search for the ingredients ahead while Kaguya searches through the fathoms below... unaware of a large figure swimming close by where Kaguya is... and three heads peeking through the water staring at the man and Baymax. Meanwhile Fred is setting up the movie marathon with Mole with snacks and drinks.*

Mole: Whoa! Frederickson, I didn't expect your fancave to be so... dare I say, off the chain? Even your Captain Fancy collection is banging!*Spots the underpants* Wait! Is that?!

Fred: The original underpants Captain Fancy wore in the first Captain Fancy movie! The one and only!

Mole: Oh how did I misjudge you? You're obviously a man of taste and intellect.

Fred: Yes, and you are a boy of taste and intellect, obviously.

Mole: I look forward to this new relationship based on respect and pop culture references.

*And so the two shake hands on it and start up the movies.*

Fred: Now lets do this! See you on the other side!

*Super Sonic Sue pulls up Steamer to a familiar lair so they could talk one on one.*

Steamer: How dare you woman!

Sue: You're a relic Steamer! Ever heard of a little innovation called Electricity?

*She starts up the lights of the lair to brighten the room.*

Steamer: And during the great black out who's operation stayed up and running hmm?! Not the dark Moler I can tell you that.

Sue: Mole was a good bad man. Made me these!

*She shows her electric shoulder pads to demonstrate.*

Steamer: Let me at least sit in my steam room one last time. So I can perish with clear sinuses.

Sue: Perish?

Steamer: Don't you plan to liquidate me and become Boss Awesome's number one nemesis?

Sue: No, don't be stupid. I have a proposition- super villain team up!

Steamer: With you?! Ha! I can defeat Boss Awesome myself... although that has not transpired as of yet admittedly...

Sue: Don't get steamed... get even!

Steamer: Ooh~ That's pretty good can I use it?

Sue: Knock yourself out! Boss Awesome will never see the two of us coming!

*And so the two share a diabolical, most evil laugh together as they think about the final defeat of Boss Awesome.*

Steamer:... You can untie me now...

*Around that time Kaguya had found nearly all the under sea herbs and roots for the medicine, noting how the coral has been inhabiting new fish in the coming season. Along side the herbs and roots were seaweed and kelp along with clams. Those items are gonna be their supper when they return home. She turns around to swim back when she spots a creature swimming through the ocean... the creature that had escaped Sycorax..*

Kaguya: Orso Knox?

*The monster turns his head to see if he had heard correctly. When he sees Kaguya he wiped his eyes before he swims up towards her, unbelieving yet skeptical over how and why a mermaid is here and could understand him.*

Knox: Hello... do I know you?... Miss Mermaid?

Kaguya: You do not, but I do know you from my granddaughter.

Knox: Granddaughter?

Kaguya: Yes. How is your time at the sea?

Knox: Its a lot of getting used to... I almost attracted three different whales with this hum.

*He lets out the same hum to which Kaguya chuckles*

Kaguya: You do realize that is a mating call correct?

Knox: Oh... Oh!... There's also the fact that... you exists...

Kaguya: You know about Oceanus?

Knox: Yes... somewhat... I only got a close look before they could spot me. Its so strange... seeing one in flesh and blood after reading them from myths and legends is quiet the experience.

Kaguya: Of course... now I'm on my to collect the final things I need for a... medicine I am making.

Knox: Would you mind if I accompany you?

Kaguya: Of course... what for?

Knox: There has been other mermaids that had been sneaking around these waters... they've been looking off the water to the small cliff...searching for something...

Kaguya: … how many did you see? And what did they look like?

Knox: Three mermaids, all with silver hair and scales, and have small bags containing what I believe is rope and a net...

Kaguya: And they have been staring at the surface?... Oh no! I have to warn Kage!

*Knox calls out to Kaguya as she speeds her way out of the way, her heart racing a mile a minute.*

Knox: What is going on? What do those mermaids do?

Kaguya: They are sirens who have been kidnapping people and stealing their treasures! And now they're back!

*Kage is resting at his tent, his Baymax already charging down to rest for the time. He looks out the ocean, memories of Chara and himself in their youth start playing. Whether it was funny and playful or romantic and intimate, it always felt that this was their special place, their retreat in this bleak world... He sighs as he lies down to start dozing off... when he heard a small song playing in the distance... getting up he gets from his sleeping bag, listening closely to find the source of the song... only for his eyes to be covered in a blissful haze. Kaguya arrives near the beach where once she sees no other people around, dries herself off and runs up to the tent.*

Kaguya: Baymax! Baymax wake up!

*Their Baymax activates at the sound of Kaguya's voice.*

Baymax 1: Hello, I am Baymax. Kage's personal Healthcare companion. The sound of your voice indicates distress, what seems to be the trouble?

Kaguya: Is Kage nearby? Scan the area.

Baymax 1: Scanning.

*A few minutes pass Baymax finishes his scanning.*

Baymax: I cannot locate Kage.

Kaguya: Oh no!... Alright.. think Kaguya. The sirens would not have gotten far, especially since its near harvest moon...

*She looks out to the sea where she then turns to Baymax. Now her face becomes stern with determination.*

Kaguya: We're gonna need a little help.

*Around that time, the Son of Kaiju finally concludes with a touching ending where the monster carries his newborn baby back to the sea to live in peace, while the man who has a connection to the monster could only smile happily for him and the child, thus concluding his epic saga.*

Fred:*Sniffs and blows nose on tissue* We did it Mole, we watched all-

*But when he turns his head to regard Mole, the young boy is already fast asleep. Fred places a blanket on the sleeping boy as he starts preparing himself for bed.*

Fred: Goodnight Mole.

*But once Mole is left alone, his eyes open to reveal... it was a trap! The next morning Fred comes in with Minimax by his side to greet Mole.*

Fred: Rise and shine Mole. Minimax is gonna make you his famous breakfast burritos.

Minimax: I substitute a pancake for a tortilla!

Fred: Wakey wakey! Who wants pancakeys-

*But when he pulls off the blanket off Mole, all he sees is a stuffed plush replica of the boy.*

Fred: No way! Richardson has a pillow double?

Minimax: Minimaximum suspicious!

*Minimax scans the room to find one thing off connecting to Mole's disappearances.*

Minimax: It appears that your prized undergarments are missing!

Fred: No they aren't there right-

*But a closer look to the case they see its just a pair of boxers with mole's grinning face on it.*

Fred:*Gasp* Mole!

*He pulls out the phone Mole left him and turns it on to see Mole's video message.*

Mole: Thanks to you Frederickson my Captain Fancy Collection just got fancier!

Fred: What?!

Mole: I set up that Noodle Burger tasting to lure you into my trap!

Fred: I thought we were buds?!

Mole: I knew you'd think we were buds! *Laughs*

Fred: You're not gonna get away with this?!

Mole: And I'm gonna get away with this!

Fred: But I have evidence!

Mole: Burn!

*The phone burns itself out to hide all of his messages to Fred to hide away his theft.*

Fred: Ow! *Drops burning phone*

Minimax: I will cool it.

*He sprays water out of his finger to cool it. It explodes to pieces as a result.*

Minimax: I should not have used water.

Fred: No.. probably not.

Minimax: What are you going to do?

Fred: There's only one thing left to do Minimax, Revenge-!

*Just then his TV screen lights up with a message from Hiro.*

Hiro: Fred, we got a message from steamer! Meet us at school!

Fred: Blast! Looks like revenge will have to be served cold.

*Once Fred meets up at school Hiro places the wax cylinder on the phonograph to listen.*

Steamer: Big Hero 7! I'm recording this while Sue is in the potty, I don't think she washes her hands so I have to be quick!

*The entire gang gringes at the info they did not want to hear.*

Wasabi: Not cool Sue, not cool!

Steamer: Take heed heroes, Sue's secret skate lair is in an abandoned factory near the docks. I can't believe I used this precious time to record a wax cylinder instead of escaping! Anyway, Hurry!

Gogo: That is a trap.

Wasabi: Yeah, she probably made him record that.

Cora: Not to mention there's a chance they would team up.

Honey Lemon: But we still have to go to stop them right?

Fred: I put my underpants vengeance on hold for this?!

*The gang stare at him in response, not understanding why Fred would say that.*

Fred: I'll explain on the way.

*And so the supers suit up and start their way to the docks, all the while Hiro and Cora conduct a plan to stop Sue and possibly Steamer.*

Hiro: Gogo will have to go to the back door to skate past Sue to at least knock out her balance at the moment.

Cora: That's when Honey Lemon will join in and dispense her chem balls to glue Sue's skates!

Hiro: Then we look for Steamer and have Fred and Wasabi cut off whatever contraption he made to battle us.

Fred: You know, the way you guys say it sounds a lot sounder.

Hiro: Well we can't just barge in if we suspect there would be a trap right?

*A few moments pass by, with the six of the seven members staring into space.*

Baymax: You all have seem to have lost your train of thought.

Cora: Sorry Baymax! *To Fred* Anyway, I can't believe Mole tricked you to get your collectibles!

Fred: Yeah! And to think I almost considered him a friend. Which is after this I'm gonna set up my revenge and steal my underpants back.

Cora: Just what kind of revenge are you planning? I might have a couple ideas for you to use...

*After hearing Cora's suggestions Fred grins*

Fred: I'll keep that mind.

Hiro: Cora, have you gotten a word from your Grandmother and Kage?

Cora: Their Baymax said that they would be a little busy right now but hopefully should be home by the end of the day.

*As of while the sirens had just surfaced up in an underwater cave after swiftly swimming through the ocean to inspect their new victim. Kage is fast asleep and thankfully did not inhale much water.*

Muya: What do you think Sisters? Is this man something or what?

Lula: He is a little easy on the eyes...

Uma: But he's so scrawny!

Lula: Perhaps, not good enough to be a guard...

*Just behind them Kaguya is swiftly swimming through the water, sneaking behind them as her fingers start to cackle with electricity.*

Uma: Lets take a closer look shall we?

*The three sirens remove the net as the oldest, Muya, leans in to check his health when he eyes widened in recognition.*

Muya: Wait a minute!

Lula: what is it sister?

Muya: This man… he looks like that little boy!

*Kaguya leans in to hear the conversation, her interest peaking when she sees that somehow...Kage is familiar to them.*

Uma: You're right! That's the boy who always spent his time with one of our handmaidens!

Muya: We can't risk the girl recognizing him and plan a escape. Toss him to the waves.

*Handmaidens? Guards?... Did they just say.. that Kage knew one of their handmaidens- A piece of rock fell to the water, alerting the sisters to seeing Kaguya.*

Muya: Oh its you.

Lula: What an unpleasant surprise little sister.

Uma: Last we met you and that machine blasted us out to the middle of the pacific!

Muya: *Grins maliciously* But at least you have no one to help you now!

*The three sirens launch at the elder mermaid, swimming through the water in with ease they all give out their punches and scratches to each other. At one point Kaguya lept out of the water to momentarily escape before diving back. The splash of the water hit Kage's face which knocks him awake. He looks around to find himself in a underwater cave with an air pocket for him to breath. He takes a closer look to the water to see the sirens and Kaguya battling it out. Taking this as a chance to find a way out and get help he looks for any crevice's or cracks that would hopefully lead him to the surface. While he did he found odd trinkets which most certainly did not belong to the sirens. A rose bobby pin, a fishermen's badge, an old music box, and-*

Kage:...It can't be...

*Walking towards it he sees a baby blue hair scrunchie. Picking it up he lightly touches it.. that's when he sees the initials sewn onto the hair scrunchie... C.B... The only one he knew who had a scrunchie with their initials sewn was-*

Kaguya: AAAH!

*Kage snaps out of his thoughts and returns to focus on the fight, to which he sees Kaguya being dragged down by two of the sirens with the one holding what seems to be a large rock. His eyes widening he grabs a sharp piece of stone and dives in. Kaguya is pinned to the ground, her face receiving cuts and bruises. But before the siren could finish the job, a sharp stone slashes her arm, making her drop the stone in pain. She turns her head to see Kage, his eyes furrowed. Taking this time Kaguya snaps out of her sister's hands and quickly grabs Kage to swim as fast as she could, with the sirens hot on their trail.*

Kaguya: Hold on Kage! We're getting out of here!

*Meanwhile, the gang had arrived at the abandoned warehouse where the team take their positions. Once they do Baymax blasts through the wall to enter inside with Hiro and Cora.* Sue comes through to face the three.

Sue: Oh no! The circus is in town, how did you ever find me?

Cora: Lucky guess.

*Gogo zooms into the action but before she could at least even move Steamer comes out with his new steam powered machine to fight them. Taking this as a cue the other three join in only for Sue to zoom past them to knock em out of balance.*

Steamer: You fell for our trap!

Gogo: Just for the record, we already knew.

Sue: Aw, widdle heroes outsmarted by maturity!

Wasabi: Why are you talking like that?

Sue: Cause its funny! Lighten up!

*She hits up her electric pads and slams them to knock them all off balance one more. With that they both rise up to deliver the painful blow to Big Hero 7.*

Cora: Everybody run!

*And so they all split up to get away from the claws of Steamer's machine.*

Sue: Who's ready for a butt to the gut?

Fred: Ready and ooh!

*Sue slams her butt to Fred's gut which knocks him out to the wall and land in the open box crate.*

Steamer: One down, six to go!

*Honey Lemon dodges her way out to the flames to which she quickly pulls out her chem balls to throw at it to burst it to water, distinguishing them before they could hit her. But while she did that Sue takes this opportunity to use the strap of her chem purse to spin her out.*

Sue: Thanks for the whip toothpick!

*And soon Honey Lemon is dunked to the box where Fred is in.*

Honey Lemon; Name calling is totally immature!

Sue: Super Sonic Sue-me why don't cha?

Wasabi: How about this instead?

*Wasabi brings out his laser blades to fight her, but her quick moves soon enough wear him out as he couldn't keep up and exhausts himself.*

Sue: That all you got Laser paws?

Wasabi: *pant*... give me *Pant* a second...

Sue:OK...one.

*She then knocks Wasabi out.*

Sue: Who else wants a shoulder sandwhich!

*Gogo zooms into action to challenge Sue to which the villainous skater happily accepts. This is payback time for Gogo. They skate across the warehouse as Baymax, Hiro, and Cora jump in.*

Hiro: Blades Master watch out!

*Wasabi quickly rolls his way out of Steamer's flames. But soon Steamer brings out his hammer to smash him only to be stopped by Baymax. Hiro and Cora quickly get off to help Wasabi out of the way.*

Steamer: This isn't my first rodeo junior!

*As Steamer goes after the four, Gogo zooms after Sue. Cora notices this and soon starts charging up her electric gloves, all the while running for her life from Steamer. But once Sue gets the lead she slams her elbow pad to stun all of them to the ground, making Cora's gloves crackles before they kaput for now.*

Gogo: Omega Danger, Rocket fist!

*Baymax brings out his rocket fist-*

Sue: Taunting* Omega Danger, rocket fist!

*The pushes the position to of the rocket fist to the crates behind Gogo which soon pin her down.*

Sue: *To Baymax* Well, looks like its down to you Fire truck!

Hiro: Baymax, Over Drive mode!

Cora: Wait don't!-

Baymax: Over Drive Mode initiated.

*Baymax obeyed Hiro's command and transformed himself to Over Drive Mode.*

Sue: Hey Steamer! Can your bug thing do that?

Steamer: Of please its all flash.

*Sue tries to slam the bot but is repelled back. Then Steamer tries to take a whack at him but is stopped. Baymax uses his wings to battle them out and cuts out the legs of Steamer's machine.*

Steamer: No! Those were low bearing leds.

Hiro: Nice one!

Cora: Dude! Over Drive mode only lasts a few minutes! And you use it on the one bad guy who outran Velocity?!

Hiro:... Oh no..

Sue: Oh no is right kiddo! He's got the power but does he have the endurance?

Gogo: Crap.

*And sure enough Sue speeds around Baymax, exhausting his battery much faster than normal and reverts to being regular Omega Danger... but now he's a battery deprived, drunk robot.*

Baymax: you're sO FaST… WhER'd sHe go?

*He falls to the ground exhausted.*

Sue: Aw, big foot down.

Baymax: TiMe FoR NaP nAp.

Sue: No Substitute for a bad attitude.

Steamer: We still got it! *Evil Laugh*

Sue: *Evil laugh*

*Soon enough the two villains are competing for the last laugh.*

Wasabi: Are you actually competing for the last laugh?

Sue: Lets finish this later.

Steamer: Agreed.

*She sneaks in her last laugh.*

Sue: I win!

Gogo: I'd give this trap a C minus!

Steamer: Oh we're not through yet! This was just the trap's preamble!

Sue: With Big Hero 7 on the ropes, Boss Awesome will be forced to come here and save you nitwits!

Steamer: But he won't suspect Super Sonic Sue and Baron Von Steamer to be fighting side by side! And finally-

Sue and Steamer: We'll have our revenge!

*The villainous duo laugh until they hear the spingle of a cowboy boot.*

Steamer: Wait, who's the cowboy?

Cora: No way!

Boss Awesome: Hey, this isn't my first rodeo.

Steamer: I said that just five minutes ago! Didn't I just say that?

*Soon Boss Awesome steps out of the shadows to face his two old enemies once more.*

Boss Awesome: But not dressed like this; now the quip has layers.

Sue and Steamer: Boss Awesome!

Fred: Dad!

Boss Awesome: Good to see you too son!... That is you in there right?

Fred: Yeah! Oh and BTdubs, this is a trap.

Sue: I knew you couldn't resist the classic villain team up!

Boss Awesome: You know me too well Susie. So you know I'm not gonna let you win

Sue: Ha! You'll never beat the two of us! Mostly because of me, but also because you've been out of the game Boss Dinosaur!

Fred: She's right Dad! Its been a while since you were in an over the top, climatic super hero fight. Be careful!

Boss Awesome: Thanks kids, but I got this!

*And so the fight between Super Sonic Sue, Baron Von Steamer, and Boss Awesome begins! With Steamer using his steam gun he is able to blind Boss Awesome while Super Sonic Sue zooms in to knock him out. Boss Awesome rolls back up to clash with Super sonic Sue, both determined to pin the other down. And soon enough he picks her up and slam dunks her down to the ground. Soon Steamer joins in the fight as did Sue, with Boss Awesome dodging out of the way and using the classic, come get me hand gesture. The villainous duo punch Boss Awesome to a wall only for his feet to steady himself to crack the wall itself.*

Boss Awesome: I call this one the blender!

*Soon he propels himself, spinning like a blender and a blow to Steamer.*

Sue: Oh yeah? Well I call this one the flying squirrel!

*With that she launches up and slams her whole body to Boss Awesome, pinning him down.*

Sue:*Evil Laugh* Prepare to be defeated by your real number one enemy!

*Suddenly a gust of steam pushes Sue out of the way.*

Steamer: There's only one room for Boss Awesome's number one enemy and that one is me! *Evil laugh*

Boss Awesome: Under swing!

*He kicks Steamer out of the way and into the very crate Fred and Honey Lemon landed on. Soon enough Fred slams the lid and Honey Lemon uses her chem ball to glue it to place.*

Fred: Nice one dad!

Boss Awesome: The inverted hammer! It never fails!

Cora: *helping Hiro up* OK now, lets call the cops and get these baddies to prison retirement!

Hiro: What a crazy time for us huh?

Cora: Yup! I give this super hero climax an A plus!

*As of while Kaguya is zooming through the surface of the ocean with Kage, trying to outswim the sister. Soon enough the two see sharks swimming towards her to which she propels herself through the water while throwing Kage up in the air before she catches him. Kaguya turns her head to see the sisters still after them when she gets an idea. She takes a deep breath before gentle vibrations are felt through the water. Soon enough, an unlikely ally comes to their rescue.*

Knox: *Growl*

*Knox punches out the sharks which causes them to scurry away and see the sirens, now with determined and disgusted looks on their face.*

Muya: So the rumors are true...you are the creature of the world above!

Uma: How disgusting!

Lula: you're even more hideous up close!

*The three sirens swim forward to deliver a triple punch to Knox but he swiftly swims up and launch himself to them. With that Kaguya grabs pushes Kage up to the surface and calls a dolphin to help him swim the rest of the way to shore. Finally Kaguya joins the fight with Knox and soon enough, with Kaguya's trickery and Knox's strength, they manage to trap them all in sea weed with their arms and tails unmovable. *

Kaguya: Thank you Mr. Knox.

Knox; What do you suppose we do to them?

Kaguya: For now I better head back to-

Muya: Orso Knox? The human who had been the monster among the land folk?

Uma: Sickening. So this is what Sycorax is doing!

Knox: Did you just say Sycorax?!

Lula: Yes! Their ship is often found here at night, collecting bits and pieces of the sea.

Muya: Rumors are that they are looking for a certain... beast in the water...

*Kaguya looks at Knox before she thinks over what she overheard at the grotto. At the shore Kage successfully crawls his way back to shore where he sheepishly waves at the dolphin who happily chirps back and swims back home. He then pulls out the scrunchie in his pocket, his eyes glimmering with memories and confusion.*

Baymax: Hello Kage.

Kage: *looks up to see Baymax standing in front of him.* Oh! Baymax!... How do you do?

Baymax: Your body temperature is low, I will warm you up.

*Baymax pulls out a blanket and wraps it around his shoulder and hugs him, using his built in heater to warm him up. Kage sighs at the warmth and at the scrunchie, his thoughts running wildly about all this.*

Kaguya: Kage!

*Kage looks up to see Kaguya crawling up to the sandy beach, which he immediately uses a spare blanket to dry her off before anyone could even see her.*

Kage: Are you alright?

Kaguya: I'm fine Kage, had some help with a friend.

*She turns her head to see the top of Orso Knox wink at the two before swimming off.*

Kage; What happened to the sirens?

Kaguya: Orso Knox is keeping guard of them.

Kage: what? What for?

Kaguya:...It seems like they know something interesting about the woman who has been spinning Big Hero 7 on the ropes... they could have information about Sycorax.

Kage: But how do we know they aren't lying?

Kaguya: I know something that can help us. It is something very powerful that could distinguish a lie from truth. But right now lets just head back home and start assembling the medicine. These questions will have to be answered later.

*With that the three walk off, with Kage staring at the sea then at the scrunchie... yes... later they will talk.*

*Meanwhile the police had arrived and are currently taking the two villains to prison.*

Sue: *To Gogo* You know, I gotta thank you Skater tot?

Gogo: Yeah? For what?

Sue: Inspiring me to lace up after all these years. I saw you tearing it up on the news and knew I had some skate left in me.

Gogo: Super Sonic Sue- me why don't cha?

Sue: Nice.

Boss Awesome: Lets do this again sometime... say ten to twenty years? Haha, classic!

Steamer: Settle one thing: which of us is your arch enemy?

Boss Awesome: My arch enemy?... Cabbage soup! I love it, but it doesn't love me!

*And so Steamer screams to the sky, knowing he is second place to cabbage soup.*

Steamer: NOOOOOO!

Baymax: NOOOOOO!

Cora: Omega Danger whats wrong?!

Baymax: RiGHt?

*Hiro face palms as Cora sighs. That's when she gets a text from her phone.*

Cora: Awesome! Grandmama and Kage are back home! Man I can't wait to tell them about today!

Fred: Well, it looks like there's one more thing to wrap up!

*Later that night Fred dons his chameleon suit to take back his prized collectible from Mole's hands. When he reaches to the Mole Hole however, all he sees is Mole...with just his action figures.*

Mole: I know you guys didn't think I could pull it off, Well get ready to be amazed! Meet the newest addition to my Captain Fancy Collection! OK who's hungry for pizza? Anchovies? Not again Christopher! Oh good idea Hector I'll go see if they have any coupons! Oh don't worry Brittney I'll get a gluten free option.

*Later on Fred returns home.*

Minimax: Was vengeance served? I do not detect your prized undergarments.

Fred: No Minimax, Mole needs those underpants a lot more than I do. Turns out he collects to fill a friendship void. Probably wouldn't have it if he wasn't so creepy and rude, but it definitely cost him company. I felt bad for the little jerk so I let him keep them.

Minimax: Your nobility is immense!

Fred: Its like my dad said, a real hero helps everyone in need. Even his enemies.

Minimax: Help, an enemy? You have blown my mind!*His head bursts into flames to which he puts out*… I'm in need of repair.

Fred: Yeah... but that doesn't mean he isn't exactly off the hook for tricking me. So I placed a little prank.

*The next day, Mole receives a package labeled Captain Fancy Vs Humax fist, a movie that had yet to premier. Mole gasps in excitement and soon starts playing it. The opening credits start with the promise of the epic fight when-*

Singer: Never gonna give you up! Never gonna let you down! Not gonna run around and desert you!~

*The face Mole had spoke volumes in itself. As of while Fred is with his Dad, spending time together in the lair talking about all the adventures they had.*

A.N: Here's Super Sonic Sue! Sorry for the delay, school and such! Didn't expect the sirens or Orso Knox huh? FYW, if you wanna learn more about the Sirens, check out Steamer's Revenge and Oceanic Secrets! Love you all!

#Big Hero 7 #big hero 6 fanfic #Hiro Hamada #Cora Mizichio #hiro hamada x oc #Wasabi #Baymax #Gogo Tomago #Honey lemon #honeygogo #Fred Frederickson IV #fred frederickson iii #Boss Awesome #rip stan lee #Super Sonic Sure #baron von steamer #Kaguya Sakurai #Obake #Kage Mizichio #Bob Aken #The Sirens #orso knox

[recalibr8]

The mEtOHd in my madness

I’d been out with my teen lads on a Friday. We got off the train and there was a young, crumpled woman sat on the platform, fat tears splashing into a puddle of sick on her trench coated lap. I offered her some tissues; I’m a mum, it come with the membership card. After a few sorries she asked “where did you stop?”. It took us a while to realise she meant, ‘where are we?’ She was out by 2 stations which on the face of it wasn’t bad. We pointed her onto the next train, gave her a mint (gold membership benefits) and my youngest shouted “take care of yourself” as we trudged up the platform. We agreed it was probably work drinks getting out of bounds and she’d be ok now she had tissues. But I kept thinking, “where did you stop?”. Where did I stop? Because I’m now AF af.

AF af. That’s alcohol free and doing pretty darn ruddy brilliant. Three months ago I upgraded my BrewDog to NannyState, went Becks Blue and am thinking in an offhand way about brewing Kombucha. I’ve teamed this up with going plasticlite, veganish and kimchi curious. So far, so middle class virtual signalling. But where did I stop?

I’ve been drinking since I was 5. I’d adorably finish up the beer in my parents’ guests glasses and well, kept going. Not in a Drew, Carrie or Liza rehab by 13 sense but I think I’ve probably had my fair share. I’m well aware that I knew, know and don’t know but suspect people who I love who have significant alcohol use problems and this is blog is in no way trying to say my needs are greater than theirs. I know a lot of highly creative endeavours and friendships were found in a gin bottle but also unforgivable abuses. And I know friends whose acts are based around the camaraderie of drinking. And I’d never tell anyone what they *should* do. But like all ex anybodies, I’m annoying about my sobriety journey right now. Bear with me.

But it’s not just me though. I see booze everywhere. For a dose related lethal toxin that’s very effective marketing. There’s a giant ad on Toots Broadway station entreating me to Go Bottomless and every other Facebook ad is for a spirit that promises to make evenings round the back of Catford Lidl magical. And many of these are aimed at women. A recent industry survey found ‘only’ 17% of women drank beer and this needed sorting out. Look out for more lady drinking adverts, they’re coming.

But I wasn’t alcoholic. Was I? Are you? You’re only an alcoholic if you have one more drink than you doctor. I’m

a doctor ... so let’s take a look.

*I’m really low on the alcoholic check list*

I’ve never drank alcohol in the morning, blacked out, been told by others I have a problem, had to apologise...

Ah, I have had to apologise once or twice. Nothing major, just ‘sorry, I was a bit wobbly/silly/rude/loud/insulting/gave you my shoes as a gift’. I once lost my credit and oyster card at the bar of a immersive theatre event though. I don’t know how I got home. I had to find the site manager the next day and he definitely had other things to do. Not long after my bag was stolen in SoHo because I was distracted. Not sure how I got home then either. Friends put me in an Uber after my MA showcase because I wasn’t walking very straight. Or being very nice. So I definitely remember getting home then.

These were all Thursdays or weekends. I’ve always been careful not to have any chance of affecting my work. But yeah, how clear headed was I for my family, myself? And much of this was stress drinking after a week of being a clever doctor. Just loosened up the joints a bit. Particularly if your slightly socially awkward. But I wasn’t a drunk, no. Maybe just a binge drinker. And that’s ok, isn’t it?

*Hangovers are just a thing*.

With only drinking at the end of the week, I was careful not to be hungover at work. But I had a Friday at home hangover where I didn’t get out of bed for the day. I claimed I’d been poisoned. I’d just had one too many Jaegerbombs. I vomited in the taxi. I’ve vomited in several taxis. That’s not a good look at any age. Hangovers are a funny meme, a cartoon of a dog in sunglasses, office banter. It’s your liver crying and your brain folding it’s arms in judgment. It’s not bad wine, it’s bad choices.

*Get kids used to drinking. Like the French. Then they won’t binge*.

My 13 year old buys old vodka bottles from charity shops. Wearing a furry hat, his comedy drunk Russian is not bad I used to have the deepest voice of my friends at 14 so it was my job to buy the booze for house parties. My mother always told me drink a pint of milk before you go out to soak up the booze. At 14. I had a few sexual assaults along the way but if I blame myself that’s victim blaming and I don’t want to be a bad feminist on top of everything. Med school in the 80’s/90’s was all over the drink. Freshers’ week was a booze insurance test. The circle line pub crawl, the Clint Eastwood Appreciation Society, the Med School pub crawl...end at Barts because Smithfield’s liscence meant you’d keep going all night.

*Booze always cheers you up*.

I’ve got to confess, my life has got a lot quieter. I’m going out much less, I leave early, I’m not champagne Charlie any more. I’m always, well, me. My dad was a depressed alcoholic, so was his dad (he ran a tobacconist and offie so that didn’t help) and his dad before him. And I have depression and PTSD. My moods are now not so high, but they are also not so low. This is very strange. I’m hoping this is a good thing. I’ve heard it is. This, this is the mEtOHd in my madness. The mood stabilisation. That’s the plan.

*Being a doctor is just one of those boozey jobs*

Fun quiz! Who do you think drinks the most? Enough to have a problem. Oooh, were good at guessing this in ED. Writers must be bad, farmers, journalists! yes, they’re always drunk, private invsestigators (?), airline pilots (like my dad, I saw what those guys put away). Ok...it’s.

Lawyers - reporting 33% with problematic drinking

Construction workers- 16.5%

Miners -17.5%

Then it’s Healthcare workers, especially doctors (oh no). A. 2012 study of American surgeons published in JAMA Surgery found 15.4 percent had an alcohol use disorder. Female surgeons (25.6 percent) were more likely than male surgeons (13.9 percent) to exhibit symptoms of alcohol addiction. Healthcare professionals in general it’s 10%

https://www.drugrehab.com/addiction/common-professions/

Performing artists and writers - 11.5%

Catering/hospitality -11%

So no pilots then? I think there’s something they’re not telling us or things are much better since the 80’s. 


 A 1998 study of junior doctors in Newcastle-upon-Tyne reported that:

* 60% exceeded the recommended safe limits for alcohol consumption

* 36% of males and 20% of females used cannabis 

The Sick Doctors Trust says “Since our working lives are spent helping others, it is easy to push aside our own problems, in addition to which, denial is quite common in medical staff. This is not deliberate, but a part of the whole illness of addiction. That addiction is a chronic illness which therefore requires treatment as for any other condition, is now well-established but there is still a tendency to feel that it is a sign of weakness, and that maybe things aren't 'that bad'.’

That some individuals are more prone to developing addiction is generally agreed. There is no single determining factor, but usually a combination of biological, psychosocial and environmental factors - a mixture of nature and nurture. There is now much evidence implicating dysfunction in the Dopamine transmitter system & it’s involvement in craving. There is also evidence to suggest that the effect alcohol has on an individual’s brain is genetically determined. A family history is present in many alcoholics- those having direct family affected being more at risk...

*Its a family affair*

I went to Adult Children of Alcoholics once. It wasn’t for me but what they said made total sense. I take responsibility for everyone, I’m primed for betrayal and disaster and I totally thrive in emotional drama. My dad wasn’t a nice drunk. He made my mum drink when pregnant ‘to keep him company’. She in turn gave babies a tot of brandy to keep them quiet as a stewardess and I can’t imagine my permanently shouting parents wouldn’t have liked us to be quiet babies too. So I’ve got pre and postnatal form. But I don’t have to fix them now. Particularly dad. It’s quite hard to fix dead people.

https://adultchildren.org/

*Booze: the solution AND cause of all of life’s difficulties*

Sick Doctors again “ Alcohol is the commonest substance of abuse in all doctors. Drinking will surprisingly continue despite negative consequences such as job difficulties, relationship breakdowns, financial problems, loss of driving licence; the alcoholic is driven by an irrational compulsion to continue, and frequently results in despair to the point of suicide. Fortunately, the depression associated with active alcoholism often abates when sober.”

http://sick-doctors-trust.co.uk/page/addiction

*I’m not an alcoholic*

and you probably aren’t either. But you might have problematic drinking. I did a survey as part of an UCLH research project. You can too. I lied a bit on it and still came out drinking more than 97% of women my age. Now an icon opens up on my phone every day to that says ‘DRINK LESS’. I stopped leaving my phone on meetings tables.

Drink Less. by Robert West

https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/drink-less/id1020579244

If you are thinking about getting help for problematic drinking or any other addictions including workaholism or have any burnout symptoms for more than 3 weeks, you can of course get staff support and occupational health. But/And there is the amazing NHS Practitioner Health Programme where doctors with any addictions are supported https://php.nhs.uk/ DocHealth is another equally good programme https://www.dochealth.org.uk/. I used the latter when it was MedNet.

So, do I feel amazing? Had I got amazing skin, lost weight, feel energised and hopeful. Urg, not really. I feel a bit scared actually. I’ve lost my social crutch and I’ve stopped going out. I’m worried I’m boring and people will think I’m weird. But....I can get up earlier to walk the dog, I’m moderately less tired and although I’m not skipping down the road happy, the depressive moment I had in spring could have been a lot worse. I think that’s actually amazing. And that’s why I’m doing this. I want to face the world honestly and openly. I want to enjoy my kids before they leave home which is frighteningly soon and weirdly, I want to know my liver replaced itself in a year so I’m literally a new person (don’t google Theseus’ Boat Paradox, life is complicated enough). Oddly compelling, that. So where did I stop? I stopped here. In a weird waiting room in my head. But with the promise of a new adventure through the next door.

But don’t stop doing you, babes. Keep telling me your booze bantz. They are hilarious. Any story that starts or ends with Baileys is only going one way. This clearly isn’t a lecture. Most people can do moderation. And do could I, mostly. And it’s the mostly that’s not good enough. Not for me. Not any more.

Online support - https://www.facebook.com/groups/joinclubsoda/?ref=share

Samaritans- https://www.samaritans.org/

BMA wellbeing including 24 hour support - https://www.bma.org.uk/advice/work-life-support/your-wellbeing

Tea and Empathy for doctors’ online support - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1215686978446877/?ref=share

Al Anon for children of alcoholics https://adultchildren.org/

https://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/

Dedicated to my husband who gave up the wine w*nker 6 years ago without any of this mid life crisis fuss. But I gave up meat and caffeine first so I still win.

[talabib]

How To Save Money With A Personal Financial Plan

Even if you’re not a dollar-crazed investor or a gambler, you probably think about money more than you’d like to admit. There’s rent to pay, kids to feed and suddenly your car needs an expensive repair. And at the end of the month there is nothing left over to do the things you want to do.

What you need is a financial plan tailored to your life and needs. It might sound scary or boring, but, as this post will show you, making your own personal financial plan will not only take the stress out of your life, it can also be a lot of fun. And when you notice that a few simple changes will free up money to do the things that you truly value, you’ll find it easy to stick to the program and make even more changes.

First you have to discover why money is important to you.

The foundation of every successful financial plan is the answer to a simple question: Why is money really important for me? Take a moment and think about this question before reading on, and write down your answer at the top of a piece of paper. You’ll need it later.

Asking why money is important to you helps you to define what you value, which in turn will help you develop a financial plan that fits your individual needs.

As an example, think about the last time you went to the doctor. Your doctor doesn’t give every patient the same medication. They first need to ask what’s wrong in order to determine a fitting treatment.

The same goes for financial plans. Knowing why you value money will aid in the examination of your financial situation. Only then can you develop a “treatment” that will work for you.

Someone who wants to save money to travel the world and someone who wants to have a secured pension will likely have financial plans that look totally different from one another. Whereas one might want to invest in an RV, the other might want to invest in a good pension fund.

Knowing why you value money also helps you assess whether the way you spend your time reflects your values. Imagine that you value money because it gives you the financial freedom to spend more time with your family.

Now imagine that you run an independent business and spend all weekend on Twitter trying to increase your followers to grow your personal brand. You spend so much time on Twitter that you interrupt dinnertime conversations with your family to reply to tweets and check your followers. Are you really living according to your values?

Now that you’ve determined why money is important to you, it’s time to formulate some goals to guide your financial future.

Guess what your goals are and fine-tune to reach them.

Think back 20 years: would you ever have predicted that free apps like Skype or WhatsApp would cause your phone bills to plummet? The future is unpredictable. Your financial plan, and the goals that support it, should be flexible enough to cope with this unpredictability.

The first step in developing your goals is accepting that it’s not always possible to predict the future. You can think of financial planning like planning your vacation. Even though you set some goals, like places to see or things to do, you should leave some room for the unexpected. For example, you can’t enjoy a bike ride and a picnic if there’s a storm outside. Why not alter your plan and visit a museum instead?

It’s the same with financial planning. Your goals aren’t set in stone, so be willing to alter them if you ever get off track.

Let’s say that one of your goals is to pay off your $40,000 student loan in three years. Suddenly, there’s a financial crisis that leaves you unable to save as much as you planned. Instead of sticking to your previous plan, you could readjust and settle on paying off $28,000 in the same amount of time.

Once you’ve come to terms with the fact that the future is unpredictable, it’s time to start writing down some goals. But what should your goals be?

Imagine this was your response to the why question: “Money is important because it will help me give my kids the best opportunities and keep them safe.”

Some of your goals could be things like:

·         In two years I want to have set aside enough money to co-finance my son’s studies

·         Next year I’d like to send my daughter on a three-month foreign exchange trip

·         I want to set up some emergency funds in case my kids don’t find a job right out of college

No matter what your goals are, remember: you can always adapt them as your situation changes.

Assess your current financial situation by making a simple balance sheet.

Your values and goals serve as your guide no matter where you want to be financially. However, before you can actually make any decisions about where to take action, you first have to understand your current situation.

Having a clear understanding of your assets and liabilities will help you take the necessary steps to reach your goals.

But imagine that you don’t know – or don’t want to know – your exact financial situation. Without this information, how can you possibly know what you need to do to get where you want to be?

To discern your current financial situation, make a simple balance sheet. Draw a T shape on a piece of paper, putting your assets, such as your investments and savings, on the left, and on the right your liabilities, such as your mortgage and debts. Simply subtract your liabilities from your assets to figure out your net worth. Write that above the T.

Once everything has been laid out on the table, you’ll have a clear view of where you stand and can determine your first steps. For example, if you realize that you owe $5,000 in student loans, your first action might be to make a plan to pay them off.

Aside from being helpful in determining next steps, understanding your financial situation can relieve your financial anxiety and make it possible to take action.

Imagine not being able to pay your mortgage, and hesitating to call your creditors for weeks. But once you finally call them, you discover how much you owe and are able to make a reasonable plan about how to move forward.

Or you might realize that you still owe lots of money on a car you hardly ever use. Selling it could help you inch closer to freedom from debt.

Now that you understand the basics of setting up a financial plan, Let’s look at  practical tips on how to spend and save money efficiently in order to free up resources to invest intelligently and achieve your goals.

Track what you spend using budgeting.

In essence, budgeting is about taking a good look at how you spend money and making adjustments in order to achieve your financial goals. To budget well, it’s crucial that you understand where you’re spending and whether your spending is in line with your goals and your values.

Many of us think that budgeting and tracking expenses is tedious and boring, more like a punishment for those who lack discipline than a tool of the financially successful. In reality, financial success is only really possible if you budget well, tracking how you spend your money, measuring that against your goals and values and adjusting accordingly.

For instance, if one of your goals is to travel more but you spend 30 percent of your income on partying and fine dining, financing your trip to Vietnam is going to be difficult. You’ll have to make some changes to turn this dream into a reality.

Begin by making a list of your fixed monthly expenses, looking for places to cut or shift costs.

Try looking at it as a game or challenge.

Try to make a conscious effort to spend less money. Instead of using public transport, take your bike to work. Instead of eating out for lunch, pack sandwiches. Instead of going to the movies, take a walk through your neighborhood and discover places you’ve never paid attention to before. Once every two months, tot up how many days you were successful.

Another challenge you could try is to make as few transactions as possible in a week. If you have a spouse or partner, you can even compete against each other. If your vice is impulse-buying books on Amazon, then next time you fill your virtual cart, leave it for a few days and then check if you really want those books after all.

Not only are these challenges fun, they also help you to realign your spending habits and make clear which things you really need to spend your money on and which things are superfluous.

Save as much as you can and view paying off debts as a form of investment.

Contrary to popular wisdom, rules of thumb like saving such-and-such a percentage of your income each month aren’t all that useful in achieving your financial goals. In the same way that your financial plan is personal, your savings plan should be too. The goal should be to save as much as you possibly can – an amount that will depend on your unique situation.

Once you’ve determined how much you can save, you can make life a lot simpler by automating the process. Let’s say you can afford to save $300 a month. By automating the transaction, you get to spend less time thinking about whether to spend or save. You might eventually forget about it altogether, and be pleasantly surprised that your savings have grown years later.

In addition to saving, you should be paying off your debts, starting with the one with the highest interest rate.

Paying off debts is essentially an investment in your financial future. If you’re racking up debt on your credit card for things that don’t align with your goals, then you’re ensuring that you’ll be busy paying interest on your debts down the line rather than saving for what you actually want to do.

In essence, you’re saying “no” to the goals you set and “yes” to something else. If this “something else” is really important, you might want to revise your goals.

Make your investments like a scientist and diversify.

There are innumerable businesses, initiatives and institutions that promise a return on investment if you fork out some money. So how should you know where to invest? Should you follow the advice of your friends, family or authoritative-sounding finance people on CNBC?

You could, but then you’d be speculating and not really investing, i.e., making investment decisions with your gut rather than your head. To make the best investments, you need to look at investment as a science.

A good way to avoid financial mistakes and risk is by consulting academic journals and other peer-reviewed publications about investing. People have been trying to make their money grow for a long time, and experts have been studying investment for years. Predicting how a stock will perform in the future is a complex business, certainly not one that intuition alone will help you decipher.

Before you make any investments, study them as if you were a scientist. Otherwise you might make decisions that you later regret.

In addition to treating investment like a science, it’s important to mitigate risk by diversifying your portfolio, or spreading it over many different types of stocks.

No single stock is going to be your golden ticket to wealth, and if such a stock exists, you can’t count on finding it. How many of us could have predicted that Facebook would become this big when it first went public? How many of us could have predicted the financial crisis of 2008?

Instead of trying to find that miracle stock, you should instead spread your risk over as many sectors as possible. While some of them might lose value, others might appreciate, helping to balance out any potential losses.

Your portfolio should be quite mixed, including national and international companies, big and small in many different sectors. This way, you have the best chance of turning a profit and reaching your financial goals.

A financial plan begins when you ask yourself why money is important to you and create goals that reflect your answer. After that, it’s a simple matter of assessing your spending, savings and investment and making adjustments that put you on track to achieve those goals.

#How To Save money with a personal financial plan.

[echelonlab-blog]

Reigning Madness – Chapter 13

Masterlist

Disclaimer: Fiction.

Warnings: None for this chapter

Tagging: @hazeleyedleto @msroxyblog @letojokerownsme @miss-shannanigans @snewsome756   @maliciousalishious   @nikkitasevoli@meghan12151977 @mindlessselfindulgence88 @sanellv@ambolton@jayded-reality @bradlea23 @spillinginkwithlove @alexis7215@dezmarz@pezziecoyote @whoistheprettiest @avaj99

I arrived at Caroline's place and knocked on the door, not expecting what I would see on the other side. She was in jeans and an AC/DC T-shirt. Her long hair was up in a ponytail and she smiled, "Punctual, I like that."

 I tilted my head and stuttered, "Y-you do realize that we have a date tonight?" Normally when I pick up a woman for a date, they are in a dress and are all made up. Care was really throwing me off tonight.

She raised her eyebrows and folded her arms. The black baseball cap hanging from her fingers completed her little outfit. "Uh, yes I do, and if I'm not mistaken, you promised that I get to pick what we are doing. I have quite the date planned, so you better get ready." She snatched the keys from my hand, "Ooh, can I drive?"

  I loved her feisty attitude and I walked back to my truck laughing to myself. "No problem." She buckled up and waited patiently for me to do the same. "You wanna tell me where we're going?"

 She stared straight ahead and grinned. "Not really, but feel free to guess."

 "Honestly, you are so unpredictable, I have no idea." I loved the way she took charge but wasn't bossy about it. Cynnamon liked to call the shots sometimes, but she was a little more hostile than Caroline. Cynn would also never go on a date without wearing some kind of low cut, extremely revealing dress, not that I was complaining, she had a smoking hot body.

 "I promise you will have fun, at least I hope you do." She stared at the road. I was beginning to grow concerned, realizing that we were actually leaving the city. "Relax, I'm not kidnapping you, too many people know about this date."

   I wasn't expecting the almost hour ride and when she pulled into the parking lot of an old-school amusement park, I couldn't hide my excitement. "What? This is where you wanted to come for our date?"

 She slid out and pulled the cap on, tugging her ponytail through the back. "What's wrong, you scared?"

 "Me?" I asked, with a laugh. "Oh, sweetheart, you have no idea how much I love this shit!"

  She smirked, locking the truck and walking around to toss me the keys. "Good, I just hope you can keep up with me." I slid the sunglasses on my face even though it was dark and she nudged me with her elbow. "You don't actually think those are a disguise, do you?"

Shrugging, I took her hand and we entered the park. It was crowded, but dark, so I hoped we wouldn't be stopped much. Surprisingly, I was only recognized a few times and Care patiently stepped aside while I posed for a few photos. I finally took the sunglasses off and shoved them into my pocket. We had a blast, riding each attraction more than once.

  Cynnamon would never want to do anything like this. This was a laid-back and less classy date. Cynnamon was more into fine dining and going places where she could dress up. I didn't mind, but it was nice to do something adventurous for once.

   We stopped on the pier to look at the water and some kids came running by, accidentally shoving Caroline. I caught her in my arms and we locked eyes. The intoxicating scent of her perfume was enough to make my brain swim. It was like slow motion and I swallowed hard, unable to deny my attraction to her. Just as my lips got close enough to touch hers, I came to my senses and backed up, steadying her. Immediately, I regretted what almost happened and watched her turn toward the railing. "I'm sorry, Jared."

  "No, don't be. I had a great time tonight, but it's getting late. We should probably go."

         -Caroline's POV-

   I watched Jared as we stood by the water. He looked completely relaxed and smiling, more than I had seen him in a while. I think that, at least for a little bit, he had forgotten all the drama going on in his life and was just simply in the moment. It was exactly what I wanted to give him with this date. I was about to comment on how happy he looked when something hit me from behind, sending me off balance and knocking the wind out of me. Suddenly I was in Jared's arms, smelling that clean, soapy scent of his as his bright blue eyes stared into my own. There was something in the way he looked at me, the way he swallowed slowly while he looked at my lips that set off alarm bells in my head. He's not yours, Caroline, they told me. You know who he belongs to....

      -flashback to high school-

   “Look out loser!” A gaggle of cheerleaders and their court of popularity drones shoved their way in front of me, apparently to their minds far too important to wait in the lunch line with us unwashed masses. I watched them as they made their way along, giggling and sneering and tossing around ponytails festooned in ridiculous amounts of ribbons. I sighed. It wasn't worth trying to fight them over. Life was easier when I was invisible to their type anyway.

   Once I had my lunch tray I searched the cafeteria for my boyfriend, I located him and sat down across from him with a very different kind of sigh. Jason was probably the cutest boy I had ever seen. He was certainly the cutest boy that had ever paid attention to me. He looked up at me from his sloppy Joes and flashed me a dazzling white smile and I just melted.

   “Are you coming with me to the party tonight?” he asked, popping a tater tot between his perfect lips. Jason was on the football team, it was Homecoming, and the popular crew was throwing a big bash at the home of someone whose parents were out of town. It was every teen cliché in the book. I shrugged and looked over at the table where the psycho pep squad was now sitting. One of the girls, one that I particularly had difficulty with, was already looking my general direction and caught me, making that obnoxious “L” thing on her forehead and sneering. Jason noticed where I was looking. “Pfft,” he said, rolling his eyes. “Don't worry about Susan. She just puts on a show so she can fit in. She's not like them."

   “No,” I said, poking at my fruit cocktail. “She's worse.”

   “I'm telling you, it's all for show. She's just trying to keep up. You know her family doesn't have any money right? Her dad's like some chronically unemployed loser. It's sad really.”

   I remembered all the grief, Susan had given me from the minute she rolled into town. She had just started this year, we weren't even up to Homecoming yet and she had already singled me out for the worst of her treatment. When I tried to ignore her, when I hadn't fought back, she had labeled me a mousy little loser and made sure her entire crew knew it. I wasn't popular, but I wasn't exactly a pariah before either. I was the girl that studied hard, listened to too much music, wore nothing but band t-shirts and jeans and mostly minded my own business. Susan Evans was vain and shallow, never did any homework that I could see, dressed to the nines every single day and chased popularity like it was air. I didn't know how she dressed like that if she was poor, I had heard she had a shoplifting habit, but frankly, I didn't care. Susan's backstory was not my problem. Her treatment of me was. “The only thing sad about Susan is Susan,” I told Jason.

   I don't know what made me decide to go to the party that night. It might have been the cologne Jason was wearing or the way he made my 17-year-old insides melt when he flashed me those big dark blue eyes of his. But I after the game I had given in to his wishes, following along after him, clinging to his side while he talked to his buddies about tricked out Celicas and crappy obscure rap genres. I lost track of how many little red cups of beer he handed me as I lurked but after a while, I wasn't feeling very good, and I went to lay down on one of the lounge chairs by the pool.

   Of course, I wasn't left unmolested. Guy after guy passed by, stopping to hit on me and test my level of drunkenness. When they assessed that I was too sober for date rape or whatever else in the hell these entitled assholes got up to at parties they would wander off, leaving me in peace until the next douchebag played through. After about an hour of this, I'd had enough and went to go find Jason to see if he would take me home.

   For years afterward, I could close my eyes and conjure the next scene perfectly. I had stumbled through the house until I found the kitchen, a traditional affair with white wood cabinets and gray and white granite counter tops. There were bowls of chips and pretzels sitting out on the butcher block island and large bottles of cheap vodka and grain alcohol littering the countertops. There were four different couples in there, all necking. Robbie Fenton had his hands up Teresa Kiplinger's cheerleading sweater, and next to them Kitty Marquez had her hands down Chase Miller's pants. Nadia Keane and Alex Barber were exchanging saliva. And in the corner, Susan Evans had her legs wrapped around the waist of Jason Caldwell, Jason Bradley Caldwell, my Jason, with his number 23 football Jersey and tight blue jeans, while he groped her and ground against her. I ran out of the room and threw up.

    -End of flashback-

   And now here we were. This was Susan's boyfriend. He wasn't mine. And as he blinked his eyes and his lips got closer I realized I had the perfect opportunity for payback. But I didn't want payback. I didn't want to be her. And I didn't want to use Jared like that. I quickly turned away and grabbed the railing. “I'm sorry, Jared,” I told him. I just wanted the past to stay there. I guess was still a mousy little loser after all.

#jared leto fanfiction #jared leto fic #shannon leto fanfiction #shannon leto fic #30 seconds to mars fanfiction #30STM #Reigning Madness

[neioo]

SUMMARY: They thought it was over once the ‘Plan’ was completed. Time had passed. Most of their wounds had healed, but unknown to them, there were still other Nations, forgotten Nations, who continued to be tortured and experimented on.

All until one man, also forgotten, decided to rescue them and craft his revenge.

His actions cause the secrecy of the ‘Plan’ to crumble. Those who were involved are exposed. And as their punishment, they’re forced to work as pawns. Their ideals are again challenged—their humanity put to the test. Are they doing the right thing? Who can they trust? But most importantly:

Are they to blame?

This book is a Sequel to Are we humans? THE BOOK is available for purchase (HERE) or (HERE) as well as can be found (here) on AO3. As it’s a sequel, AWH can also be found (here) on AO3

Thank you so much for sticking with me! A bunch of rambling about this novel and updates on WDWW under the cut ^^

It’s done. It’s finally fucking done.

I mentioned this when I posted the proof, but my spring semester was rough, and then I catapulted myself into a study abroad in China for two months, which was very labor-intensive (10+ hours of work every day, not to mention going to 5 hours of classes)

I’m alive, though, so that’s cool.

I think DFU after being editing is way better than when I started. Are there still mistakes? Probably. Typos? I hope not, but…I was trying to go really fast at the end.

But Maddie, shouldn’t you stay with DFU and release it when it’s perfect?

I’m one person who’s doing this in their free time and at this point, I’ll be pissed if I find something wrong, but I’ve just come to accept it. If you purchase this or read on AO3 and see something, I apologize.

My editor really helped a bunch, so thank you so much. DFU is better because of you ^^

Updates:

Sorry for not touching WDWW in a month (I needed to focus on DFU and I needed a break as people do every now and then). I have an outline for the next two chapters, and I’ve already started writing the next

Ha ha.

I think I planned too many chapters. 6 (yes 6) seem unimportant so I’ll probably be scrapping them, making the total to 15 chapters. idk I’m not sure if this’ll be longer than 45k. That’s either cool or not cool. I’ll be done it soon! But I’ll also be done the AWH AU soon so.

Still gotta edit the fucking thing, though. You’re not free of me quite yet

In all honesty, I want to go back and edit AWH more too (I know jesus), but that’s still up in the air

Once WDWW is edited and done, I’m not writing any more hetalia fanfiction. I’ve done my support for the fandom. 再fucking见

(nah I’ll probably be sad and have an identity crisis but considering I’m only on chapter six as of now, and then I have to edit, we have at least 5 months before that happens)

What’s afterwards then? Probably OC work. I do want to get a novel published one day. And this blog? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ maybe I’ll go into the void like George deValier . you son of a gun George

o/

Goodies! Or whatever. 

Here’s what I posted at the back of DFU that you can read here if ya want:

I was a freshman sitting in my high school’s library, named the ‘Knowledge Commons’ because the school was a newly opened IB only high school within my school district, and I guess the ‘Head Master’ felt the need to be pretentious. I was the only kid in there. It was the first year and there were only two grades, and most kids had class while I opted to take a free period. My friend Simran got out of orchestra early and ran in there to find me.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

I was probably fucking around on YouTube, looking up anime OSTs, but it’s hard to remember. “Nothing.”

“You should watch this new anime I found!”

I frowned. “Yeah, but I’m watching Soul Eater right now.”

“No, trust me. Have you ever heard of Hetalia?”

“Vaguely. I was thinking I might watch it next.”

“Watch it now! The episodes are only 5 minutes, and it’s on YouTube.”

I shrugged. “Okay.”

And that’s the story of how I sold my soul.

Simran left me in the middle of me watching the first episode. I don’t know where she went—the bathroom? But I was left alone and confused as all hell.

But I kept watching.

I never did finish Soul Eater, by the way.

I immediately got sucked into the Hetalia universe, and with the 2012 Olympics approaching; I started daydreaming weird scenarios with the characters. That summer, I was also working at a horse camp, and the times when I was doing mind-numbing manual labor work, I would also daydream.

It was somewhere in late 2013 that Are We Humans? was fully laid out in my head. The universe started with the single scene of Spain and Prussia rescuing France from Nazis (which I’ve never even written yet), and then expanded into…this.

It was in late 2013 when I was taking a shower that I finished daydreaming about how Prussia was rescued and happy, realized that: “I could make this a complete novel,” and then immediately got irrationally angry. I had told myself I would never write fanfiction because then I could never get it published.

So I refused to write it.

I focused on OC work, but then in my junior year of high school, we started learning about the Second World War and the Cold War.

Before this, I never cared for history class, but I started paying attention for the sole fact that I could ‘make my Hetalia daydreams more historically accurate.’

In May 2015, I graduated high school.

And I was bored.

A few weeks passed, and I tried to entertain myself. It was on June 9, 2015 that I dug through my computer to look at my old writings.

On that fateful day, I found something I wrote in 2014.

I was at an internship for school—if you could call it that. It was a three-day thing where I went to a company, interviewed people, then sat around and tried to bide my time. It was in one of those down periods that I desperately tried to entertain myself by writing.

AKA, I wrote the first two chapters to Are We Humans?

It was in first person. The last OC novel I wrote in was that, so it only seemed fitting at the time. But on June 9th, 2015, I knew that people hated reading fanficion in 1st person, so I change it to 3rd, posted it online, and then shut my computer for the rest of the night.

The first comment I ever got, was “Nice drawing :)” back when I posted my own artwork with the fic. I was immediately flabbergasted, thinking no one would ever comment on it, let alone read.

Since then, the entire series grew. I finished Are We Humans? in a little over six months, and after doing so didn’t think I would write a sequel. But then, somewhere in March 2016 I was walking laps outside my dorm, and came up with this entire idea. Honestly, I wasn’t going to write this either until I got bored, yet again, in summer 2016.

Shout out to my job, which was mind numbing but had enough downtime that I could furiously write the chapters to DFU in a notebook.

I’ve singled people out on AO3, so to those who I expressed my gratitude there, thank you so much again. This universe has been enjoyable for me to write. I may never be able to officially publish it, but at this point this project is just a labor of love, and to have these paper copies are enough for me.

Prussia was always going to die. Even if I never wrote the sequel, I was trying to hint at that he would die in Are We Humans? If we’re being real, this universe was invented around him. He may not be the central focus 100% of the time, but nevertheless, I’m happy I got to explore his character.

Er ist mein Sohn, und ich liebe ihn. Vielleicht ist er tot, aber er lebt immer in meinen Herz.

Again, to all those who have read, thank you. It’s your support of the fic that pushed me to finish and expand this universe.

And to my brother, who used to make jokes about how Prussia is dead, look at what you did. If you, dear reader, wanna blame anyone, blame Steven, who’s begrudgingly listened to me ramble about hetalia for 5 years now.

#hetalia fanficion #historical hetalia #aph #hetalia #yeah #miscellaneous #i was gonna post a pic of myself but then didn't feel like doing my makeup. so woo *jazz hands*

[hopeless-knight]

Brothers meeting (Harry Potter OC fic)

[It's finally school vacaion for Hogwarts. It was good to finally take some rest from all the spellcasting, potion-brewing and broom-riding. I wasn't exactly doing something very invigorating though]

[Christopher]: Hmm... it... it should be this building

[I mutter to myself upon reaching an appartment building. He should be living here... my brother that is.]

[Our situation in the family is not the best. although nearly everyone is a wizard in my family, my brother, Adrian, didn't exactly have magic in his blood. He felt very disconnected from everyone in the family, One thing led to another and my father sent him to live with a friend of his that had the same condition as his. It's been a year since that happened]

[Christopher ]: the room is... nearly at the top of the building. well, only one way then

[i didn't keep contact with him unfortunately. School loaded me so much with work that i never found time to send a letterl. His surrogate father tended to send stuff to our father about him though. apparently, he took a real liking to writing and even sent some of his stories to us at home.]

[ Christopher ]: And here it is... hope he's here

[Taking a deep breath, i knock at the door, feeling dread and hope at the same time]

[???]: Who's there?

[the voice is slightly squeaky, even though there was a noticeablee effort to keep it at a low pitch. that's definitely him]

[ Christopher ]: It's your big brother! Chris!

[Adrian]: Ah... um, give me a moment, I need to find the key.

[i hear footsteps from inside the house. I was expecting a more lively reaction but... ah well. A few seconds later and the door is open]

[Adrian]: hello. Dad tol- I mean... Mr. Finnigan told me you would visit

[He stuttered. i don't know if this was just my nostalgia in effect but... he didn't seem to change much. he was wearing a a duster coat and a folded scarf around his neck. he always liked to dress fancy. his hair though was a blonde curly mess that probably didn't see a comb in quite a while. he was only one inch shorter than me but, aside from that, our faces were pretty similar.]

[Adrian]: Come in. I'll see if we have some tea to prepare.

[and as soon as he says that, he leaves, walking back into a door that probably led to the kitchen. I closed the door behind me and headed further into the living room. It was pretty simple stuff. A couch, a table at the center of the room and a small bookshelf cramped full of books that most of the decorative furniture was pointed at. As soon as i take a seat on the couch, Adrian comes back]

[Adrian]: There wasn't any tea but i'm preparing some hot cocoa. Oh and, Mr. Finnigan is working extra today, he won't be back until night

[I nod at him to show that i got the message. he sits down at the couch and says nothing...]

[... I know it's been only a few seconds but it feels a bit awkward... i should think of something to talk about]

[Christopher]: I heard about your writing!

[Saying that seemed to catch his attention, almost like a cat when a bell rings]

[Christopher]: Yeah! Finnigan sent a few of your stories to dad and he even let me read some of them.

[Adrian]: I see... and, what do you think of them?

[Christopher]: They're pretty fun to read! they're short and sweet! My favorite is the story about the alchemist.

[Adrian]: The... alchelmist?

[Christopher]: Yeah! the one of an alchemist that is trying to make a love potion for a princess but falls in love with the girl that sells the ingredient to him

[Adrian]: ah, that one. it's a bit of an old story, really.

[Christopher]: Still, its a good story. and it reminds me of good times! Remember when you and me would sneak into father's room to try and make potions?

[Adrian]: back when... they still didn't know about me?

[oh... i guess the wound is still fresh. I still remember when we found out. i got an invitation to Hogwarts and he didn't, dad pulled some strings to get him in and... when it was his turn with the sorting hat... ... I think one of the teachers had to go search for him after he stormed off]

[Chistopher]: um... yeah... Sorry about that.

[Adrian mumbles something that can't quite make out. I assume its him saying that it's alright... or, well, i hope it is.]

[Adrian]: Well, anyway... how are things back there?

[Adrian says more clearly this time, in his own attempt to change the subject]

[Christopher]: Well, it's... messy. I still have a few arguments with our father, about what i'm going to do once i'm done with education... Mom finally opened her herbology store! it's wild there. you feel like entering a jungle when you step into the store

[Adrian]: eheh. I wish i could see that. It would be fun

[Christopher]: Well... maybe i can bring you there on this vacation

[Adrian]: hmm... maybe

[he didn't sound as crestfallen as before. That's some progress!]

[Adrian]: Is... Is Goldeve still there?

[Oh yeah. Goldeve, our aunt. she lived with everyone to help at the house. She's a very "utilitarian" sort of person, so when she found aout about Adrian, she was rather... cold towards him. She started treating him like a toddler, and when he wasn't around, she would go on rants about what would they do with Adrian, saying that "He was gonna become a burden on the house sooner or later".  It was adrian listening to one of these rants of her that started the whole spiral which ended on him moving away]

[Christopher]: Yeah, she still lives with us

[Adrian]: I see...

[I can see that answer didn't make him too happy. Can't blame him really.]

[Adrian]: She doesn't really say anything about me, does she?

[Christopher]: No, not really.

[Adrian]: Alright.

[there's a moment of silence between us again. i better come up with something else to talk about]

[Christopher]: Well, how are things over here?

[Adrian]: They're quiet enough. Mr. Finnigan works through Morning so... usually he's here by the rest of the day, although, there's a shortage of workers there right now so...

[Adrian]:we tend to spend time reading or playing games together, like chess or cards.

[Christopher]: Mr. Finnigan sounds like a nice person

[Adrian]: He is.

[Adrian's voice sounded a little more cheery when he said that]

[Christopher]: What else do you two do together?

[Adrian]: Nothing much. like I said, it's pretty quiet here.

[Christopher]: Alright.

[Adrian]: ... You said Father keeps nagging you over what you're gonna do after you're done studying.

[Christopher]: yeah. He wants me to apply to be an Auror but i'm not really interested in that. Honestly, if he wanted me to do that he should have sent me to that other wizarding school... you know. the one where that one famous Quiditch player comes from... Viktor Krum.... ah, what's the name.

Adrian: Durmstrang?

[Christopher]: Yeah, that one. Thanks

[Adrian]: well, What do you wanna be then?

[Christopher]: An alchemist

[That perks up his attention again]

[Adrian]: really? Why?

[Christopher]: Well, We're already set up on the ingredients back home really, and i like to throw stuff on a cauldron and mix it. Besides, it... well...

[i was hesitant on finishing the sentence, but it was already too late to back out]

[Christopher]:... It reminds me of good times...

[he looked away again... i couldn't tell if he was upset or not.]

[Adrian]: ... well, what sort of potions are you going to sell then? Love potions?

[the joke wasn't even all that great, but i still couldn't help but laugh at. he had a smile on his face when he said that, i couldn't just ignore it]

[Christopher] Well maybe! I could be a cupid too for all you knew!

[We both ended up laughing at each other's bad jokes]

[Christopher]: Now, you know what i want to do and... this is probably gonna sound like a stupid question but... what about you? what do you wanna do?

[Adrian]: I want to be a writer. And, if that fails, a teacher.

[Christopher]: A teacher or a writer... Why not both?

[Adrian]: Both? I'm not a multitasker!

[Christopher]: But you don't need to! just teach as a job and write on your free-time. you like writing don't you? if you like writing, then it won't feel like work

[Adrian]: ... You make it sound like the perfect plan

[Christopher]: And what if it is?

[Adrian]: Hmm... maybe.

[a high-pitched sound comes out of the kitchen, startling me a bit]

[Adrian]: oh, the water's boiling. just, wait a moment, i'll be back in a minute

[And after saying that, he leaves. there's a minute of silence, until...]

[Adrian]: Aaargh!!

[Almost on reflex, i stand up and rush to the kitchen as well]

[Christopher]: Are you alright?!

[Adrian]: yeah yeah, i just... burned myself.

[Adrian is holding his left hand up. By the looks of it, the side of his hand seemed burned. there were already a blister or two formed there. I had my wand with me and really, i could fix that pretty quickly but... he got upset just by me just mentioning the time he still lived with us. should I?]

[...]

[No. he can deal with it. while i stand there, he quickly fills a bowl with water and sticks his hand in there.]

[Adrian]: I'm sorry for asking but... could you finish the brewing? you know how to do it, right?

[Christopher]: Yeah i do.

[while he treats the accident that just happened, i finish preparing the cups of hot cocoa he was making. we come back tot he living room, i had to carry both mugs since he was still with his hand on the water bowl.]

[Adrian]:... I must look pretty silly now

[Christopher]: Well... i'm not even sure of how you burned yourself

[Adrian]: Uh... I... I kinda forgot that the kettle was... still quite hot

[Christopher]: It just got out of the fire!

[Adrian]: Well it's not fair, i was in a rush.

[he did say that louder than the usual but.... at the same time it sounded more cheery too.]

[Christopher]: heheh. if you say so.

======

[we ended up chatting for a good chunk of the day, he even showed me the other stories that Mr. Finnigan didn't send to us. After that, we read some books together, until finally it was time to take my leave. i was about to go through the door when]

[Adrian]: Hey!

[Christopher]: Yes?

[Adrian]: hmm... send a letter one of these days. i always leave my bedroom window open. Your owl wouldn't have difficulties entering, and i know how to take care of an owl.

[Christopher]: Alright. I promise i'll send you something!

[Adrian smiles and i smile back at him. after that, i close the door and make my way out of the building... funny. i thought that going to talk with him would be a tiresome experience but... i guess i was wrong about that.]

#fanfiction #Harry Potter #script style #long post

[davekatweek]

DaveKatWeek Day 5- Leave it Up to Fate- "Shit....Let's Be Parents

@davekatweek

http://archiveofourown.org/users/Miriage/pseuds/Miriage

Setting: Locker Room

Genre: Fluff

Trope: Soulmates

Prompt: Magically appearing baby

So, this whole “soulmate” thing? This whole “You’re fated to be together because you two fucking match” thing? This “You’re perfect for each other” thing?

Complete and utter bullshit.

It was bullshit!

There was everything working against it, like science and free will and social norms. What made soulmate-ship so damn great and fucking amazing?

This is why you and Dave thanked all amphibious gods above for the special surgery that got rid of the soulmate mark. Because honestly? Fuck all that noise. Fuck all that “destiny” shit that dictated who you had to be with and grow old with and (to a lesser extent) have fucking fucking with.

(Okay, maybe not to a lesser extent per se. Maybe you and Dave had took one look at your formed matching soulmate marks when he turned sixteen and maybe Dave might have said something like “I am not sticking my dick into your troll vag Karks.” And maybe you had said something like, “Nor do I want that human stick you call genitals near my personal fucking equipment Strider!”)

Speaking of Dave, you were happy that he was on board with the whole “get this fucking thing off me” dilemma. Because honestly? You saw Dave as just a friend, just like he saw you as just a friend. You didn’t see him as anything more than a bro who had, once upon a time, dated Terezi, Jade, and John (who were all, ironically, your crushes at one point.) You saw Dave as nothing more than a “Romance Rival Enemy” who somehow morphed and melted into “Number One Human Bro.” Sure, Dave was attractive and any-fucking-one could see it (you once took a trip to the mall with him and he got stopped seven different times by seven different recruitment agents) but that didn’t mean you had to go all goo-goo-gaa-gaa-I-fucking-want-your-panties on him.

(“Briefs Karkat. They’re called briefs. My dick is too strong for all that lacy and see through shit.”).

Maybe, because you had such a long complicated “I hate you, you suck” stage with him and all his pre-soulmate dating that you were immune to his “natural Strider charm.” Or maybe because you two had been forced to grudgingly begin a friendship out of necessity (your other friends had literally threatened to leave the two of you in Feferi’s, possibly haunted, cabin in the woods all “’Parent Trap’ staring Lindsey Lohan” style) then somehow had turned that friendship into a bro-ship, that the thought of anything other than what you had now was unimaginable.

So, two months after Dave turned sixteen (which were a very long two months of awkward conversations, teasing, blushing, and eye contact avoidance) you and Dave decided to go through with the soulmate removing surgery when the two of you turned eighteen.

It seemed like the best course of action: the mark would be gone, you two would just stay bros, and the two of you could choose your own path without conforming to the rules of fucking mother nature.

At least, it was a perfect plan.

Then you two turned seventeen.

It happened when the two of you were alone in the locker room after your respective sports team’s practices. Dave was the star player for Ultimate Frisbee (his flash steps were a good sent for Skaia High) and you were the Track and Field team’s best cheerleader (“RUN YOU PATHETIC NOOKSNIFFER! RUN!”) and most consistent sprinter (meaning you actually showed the fuck up for practice) and the both of you were sweaty, disgusting and gross. Definitely gross.

You had just gotten out of the shower, towel around your waist, trying to dry off your unmanageable hair and also give a middle finger to Dave (who had just playfully and obnoxiously swatted your “Vant-ass”) when suddenly, all at once, out of fucking nowhere with a literal poof noise,

A baby.

A fucking newborn.

A fucking shot-right-out-of-the-egg-vag-womb tiny tot was in your arms.

You instantly yelped like a kicked dog, stumbled over yourself, fell to the ground (towel dipping dangerously too low) to catch/hold/support this fucking baby.

“What…the…fuck….?”

You glared at Dave. “Really? Those are your fucking first words?!” you begin to scream at him because holy hell there is a baby in your hands. Dave suddenly shushes you, eyes wide, but it’s too late. The volume of your monstrous raspy troll voice is too much and the baby grub thing (because holy hell part two, this blob had fucking troll horns and gray skin even though it had a human’s blonde hair, wriggly arms, legs, and fucking bellybutton) began crying.

And cry it did. So fucking loudly.

You instantly recognized the chirping noises of a grub’s cry for “protector” (closest thing to a human’s cry for “mother”) but there were also the human sounds of nothing but gurgles and sobs. And the human screaming.

Did you mention this thing in your arms was so. Fucking. Loud?

“Aw shit! Hey! Be quiet you bag of gray mashed potatoes! Shh! Shh!” you say desperately. You try, clumsily, to bounce the baby but that only makes them cry and chirp even louder for their “protector.” You desperately look at Dave with a “Fuck do I do?” look on your face.

Luckily, your look of total desperation manages to break Dave the fuck out of his stupor and he’s quickly at your side and he’s moving the crying wriggler-babe out of your arms and into his (clothed) arms.

“Hey it’s okay. Shh. Everything’s going to be all right.” he says softly. The baby is still crying but, after a few more minutes of this soft cooing from Dave of all people (you never thought that someone who was so shitty at words could actually use them for fucking good) the little guy (or girl) had finally calmed down.

Dave looks to you and gives you a nervous smile. “Guess they were just scared and shit for, y’know, falling out of the fucking air?”

You can only wordlessly nod.

The two of you take the baby home because really, where the fuck were you two going to put them (the baby)? It didn’t feel right to just stick them into the nearest fucking adoption center or grub center and who would believe you when you told them that it just appear-a-fied out of fucking nowhere? Not to mention that the tiny one looked both human and grub and, even though the culling was long over and done with, there was still that insistent red blooded fear in you that the child would be executed.

So, babe in hand and clothes on your body, you and Dave carpool together and take the wriggler back to your house which you both agreed would be better (“We are not sticking this child into a house where your creepy brother moans into a mic with a puppet shoved up his ass at who knows fucking A.M. Dave!”)

After placing the sleeping baby on the couch (they gurgled softly in their sleep. Aww.) You and Dave sat and just…. looked at them.

The baby.

This weird grub thing.

“They’re cute.” you mumble. Out of the corner or your eye you think you can see Dave nod.

“They’re so tiny too. And soft.” he adds. This time you nod. A silence comes between you two that neither of you want to break because…well…. 

You two had to address the elephant in the room eventually. The “what the fuck’s” in this room eventually. The “what now’s” in the room eventually.

But for now, you two just watch this child.

“What are we going to do about them Dave?”

You don’t know how Dave is going to respond so you press your shoulder into his and ask again, more hushed this time so you could whisper it directly into his fucking earhole, “What the fuck are we going to do?” 

Dave doesn’t say anything, just looks at the sleeping, adorable, drooling mess in front of him and sighs.

“Shit Karkat,” he mumbles. “I guess…. I guess this means were going to be parents.”

Those first few days of juggling the heavy thought of “Holy shit I am now a part of a dad unit with Dave fucking Strider” with school, practice, and the baby (Dave wanted to name it “Nebbie” after some Pokémon shit but after an adamant no from you, Dave had “compromised” and began calling the grub “Nubbie”) were so fucking weird.

Because not only was practice and studying a pain in your ass, but the thought of anything happening to “Nubbie” (fuck it, the name stuck) plagued you like the yellow fucking fever of the eighteenth century.

You knew from your own experience growing up (at least, from what you remembered) that troll grubs didn’t need to be watched twenty four-seven and could fend for themselves. But you also knew from the health class videos your school forced all ninth graders to watch that human babies needed constant attention from at least one parental unit all the time. According to the smiley woman on the grainy VCR tape (who, in Dave’s words, looked like a woman stripper version of Chris Pratt), lack of attention from parents could lead to emotional discrepancies in children later in life. Discrepancies that made the child turn to sex, drugs, alcohol, and various forms of crime. At the time you hadn’t really paid much attention to Woman Chris Pratt and her lecture-y antics.

But now, staring down at Nubbie, those lessons began hitting your thinkpan hard.

So, after spending that first night watching Nubbie on the coach while Dave ransacked your pantry for any “baby-grub food”, you decided that in order to be a good parent-protector-guardian to this baby, you needed back up. You needed someone who could help you. Someone who had the time in their schedule to watch this new child you and Dave were now parents to.

And so, with much, much deliberation, hesitation, and unwillingness (but this was for the grub’s sake you kept telling yourself),

You called Kankri.

With Kankri’s help, being a parent became less conceptual idea and more of a physical one. Despite his annoying tendencies (his talk rambling was definitely not as entertaining to listen to as Dave’s word vomit) Kankri had suggested a couple of good ideas to you and Dave.

Those good ideas being going to the library to actually find fucking books about being a parent, going to the supermarket to get food and diapers for the baby (because apparently apple juice didn’t make the cut for “Best Item to Give to Newborns” and diapers were just a must have in general), and going to the mall to actually get clothes and toys and bedding and strollers and shit for the grub (because currently, said grub was wearing Dave’s red hoodie that, despite looking adorable on Nubbie, wasn’t really “proper” clothes for them).

And each of those shopping trips were so. Fucking. Embarrassing.

For one, you had to go with Dave (because there was no way you could carry all the shit you were about to borrow and buy back to your hive alone and also because you didn’t have your driver’s license yet) and you had to take Nubbie with you (because those thoughts of this cute baby-grub hybrid becoming a pot-smoking, sex-seeking, drug store stealing adult terrified you).

And again, it was fucking embarrassing.

At the library everywhere you walked there would be murmurs and gasps and little “awws” from everyone who looked at you two. You and Dave (and to a lesser extent, Nubbie) were pointed out, gaped at, and talked about very loudly (the librarian had to say  “SHUSH!” at least thirty times) in the whole hour you three were there. You could feel your face coloring when some old guy said that that was what a good soulmate-son-ship was all about (“Kids your age should be bonding within your soulmates, not just texting them!”) and couples came up to you, with wide eyes, asking how the two of you had made a baby (“Because, y’know, he’s like a human and your like a troll.”)

Your face was absolutely burning when Dave, trying to fend off the herds, said, “Fucking leave my family out of this!” at one smirking teenage asking if it hurt when you got fucked in the troll vag because wow those were not words you were expecting.

A fucking family.

Was that what the three of you looked like to others? A family? Did you, Dave, and Nubbie actually look like a fucking family?

(Your cheeks feel warm at just the thought of being “family” with Dave.)

It only got worse as the day continued. More people, more stares, more cooing, and more Nubbie crying. 

When the three of you had finally, finally returned to your hive, you were not only exhausted to the point of hallucination, but also more than a thousand dollars lighter, and covered in baby-troll products for Nubbie.

You and Dave looked at each other then, in perfect harmony, let go of the entire baby shit and, with Nubbie in hand, plopped on the coach, groaning.

“M’ tired…” you mumbled, curling into yourself and holding to your chest Nubbie. “Let me sleep for all eternity Strider.” To your right you could here Dave moan in agreement.

“Let’s take…a power nap…” he mumbled, sleep already clouding his words. “Then we can build…. shit…. up…. from…. IKEA….”

You were asleep before he even finished his sentence.

When you woke up again, the first thing you noticed was that Nubbie was crawling on the ground grub style, all curious and with the troll “exploratory” look in their eyes.

It was adorable and made you smile.

The second thing you noticed was where you were on the coach. Where you were and who was with you. Or really, who was under you.

You and Dave had basically moved into a cuddling position on your fucking coach.

The third thing you noticed was when you moved to push yourself off of sleeping Dave (did he always have freckles or did you never look at his face this closely before?) was that the back of your right hand, your soulmate marked hand, had fucking changed.

For one thing, the soulmate mark no longer held just a cancer symbol enlarged on top of a time gear (like it always had had). Now, there was fucking more. 

There was now a red string-like mark that moved from your hand to a little past your wrist and, sticking out of the string, there were buds that all looked un-bloomed albeit for the first one: A gray daisy with blonde petals.

Your breath catches in your throat and you shake Dave awake (he snorts and raises the glasses onto his head to give you his best grumpy-cat “I hate you for waking me up” look) and you quickly shove your wrist into his face.

“Look.” you say. “Fucking look at my wrist Dave. Fucking look at it and tell me that fucking flower on it isn’t Nubbie.”

Any signs of sleepiness disappears as Dave stares at your wrist then, scrambling from his position still beneath you (because you still haven’t fucking moved off of him since you had gotten up) he raises his own arm to see that, in a perfect matching mirror image to yours, his soulmate mark now also has the same flower. The same gray and blonde colored Nubbie daisy.

“Shit.” he whispers, looking to his wrist and to you and back to his wrist. “Shit Karkles shit.”

You nod. “Now fucking what? It seems that our fucked up little fate marks are trying to bring us even closer together.”

Dave sighs a pathetically weak sounding sigh and motions you to get off of him. You comply and, with slow movements, Dave sits up.

There’s a silence between the two of you as Dave stares into space and you stare at Dave, waiting on some kind of response or comment or even a shitty rap from Dave. But you get nothing from him.

Nothing at all.

It’s when it feels like hours and hours and hours of awkward silence have passed that you realize what you have to do to make this right. What you have to do in order to get Dave out of this twisted, weird fate shit.

So you open your mouth and tell him that you were not getting rid of Nubbie. You were not sending them anywhere that wasn’t the safety of your hive. You were not giving them up.

“But,” you say, “But Dave…if you want to back the fuck out you can.”

Dave’s head whips to yours and he stares at you like you’ve grown twelve fucking dragonheads and asks in a raspy voice what the fuck you just said. 

You sigh. “Look Dave,” you say, “Having Nubbie is…. is only going to bring us closer as ‘more than friends’ than  ‘just friends.’ And we already agreed on that whole ‘get rid of the mark shit’ last year remember? So what I propose,” you stop and let the knot in your throat (which for some reason had formed while you were speaking), “I propose you let me take care of Nubbie alone.”

Dave continues to just fucking stare at you, this time like you grew thirty heads and you have to force yourself to continue (the knot in your throat has since grown bigger.)

“I mean it makes sense doesn’t it? The closer we are…romantically and shit the more difficult it will be for the surgery to work. And having Nubbie…having Nubbie is only going to make us get closer. This flower mark wasn’t even here two weeks ago!”

Dave is still silent but his eyes have since gotten wider and his mouth is hanging open.

“So let me do this for us Dave.” you say, “Let me take care of Nubbie by my fucking self.”

It’s so fucking quiet that you think you can hear a literal pin drop and explode. It’s so quiet that you can hear Dave fucking breathing and Nubbie scratching up the wood floor with their nail-claw hybrids. It’s so quiet that you can hear the cars passing by outside your apartment building.

It’s so quiet…. that it’s almost unsettling.

When Dave finally speaks though, it’s not quiet.

“Bullshit.” he says. “Bullshit Karkat…. That is bullshit. What you just said is bullshit! That’s the shittiest bull that ever shitted!”

Dave is loud. He is very loud. You know he can be very loud, but you’ve never actually heard him be loud before. Usually his remarks were overly long and complicated but they were soft.

Now, Dave is fucking loud.

“Why would you-?! You seriously think-?! That is fucking-?!” Dave groans as the words he’s trying to say (and probably wants to say) keeps getting stuck in his esophagus and choking him. He shakes his head at your (apparent) “bullshittiness” and, grabbing both of your hands, looks you straight in the eyes.

(Your face was not turning red when he did this.)

“When I said we’re going to be parents I meant it Karkat.” he said, his red eyes burning two fucking holes into you. “I’m not going to abandon you and Nubbie because of some soulmate bullshit. I’m not going to turn away when I know you two are right fucking here.”

He grips your hands tighter.

“I want to be part of whatever the fuck is happening right now. I want to raise this weirdly adorable troll human hybrid being and I want to be with you to raise them.”

He leans in closer and says it again.

“I want to fucking be with you Karkat. Fuck whatever predetermined shit is forcing us together. Fuck whatever fate we’re unwillingly falling into. I don’t fucking care anymore! Let me be with you Karkat. Fucking please.”

(He’s very close to you when he says this.)

There’s a warmth that erupts on your wrist (and to a lesser extent, in your heart) and you look down, surprised and confused, only to see that a flower bud is quivering and almost vibrating on your mark.

You watch mesmerized as the flower bud tilts itself up on your skin and then fucking blooms a flower, a new flower, right there on your wrist. You feel your eyes widen at the newly formed petals of a bright red carnation that is sitting right there, right across from the gray and blonde daisy.

“…Wow….” is all you can say, enchanted by the new flower on your wrist. “Holy fucking wow.”

(The two flowers, next to each other, are beautiful.)

You stare at the carnation on your wrist before slowly, slowly looking back up at Dave.

Dave looks up from his own wrist that, just like yours, holds the same carnation. He sheepishly smiles at you.

“Shit…. let’s be parents?” you ask hesitantly. Dave just nods.

“Shit, let’s be parents.” He answers.

#fic #day five #DaveKat Week 2017 #miriage #submission

[radishesx]

September 6 2017 The hurricane is coming and I do plan on staying in my home and not a shelter. I hope you are safe somewhere, wherever you are. My mom doesn't quite understand what intrigues me so much about the stars and the moon and the sun. But somehow she knows that it is important to me. She's already writing my senior ad and putting that I am a star. How does she know that? Is it written on my skin from every time your fingertips have touched me? I'm quite sad tonight is it okay if I talk with you? You don't have a choice you aren't really there. I'm talking to a wall in these letters. I'm wondering if you will ever actually put the time to read them. Sometimes I talk to you in my head, I know it's weird but you bring this calm sense that just really helps me. You were the one person that would always listen to me. And you pretty much constantly reassure me that you're here for me even though I know for fact that you are not. It's kind of a confusing concept about how much I think that you would be a good listener when you never stay long enough to listen. But these letters have become more than just some pathetic love thing, it became my output. And in my letters you are this magnificent person that listens to me and when I talk in my letters you talk back even though you really don't, the person you are in my letters is not the same person that you really are but sometimes I like to pretend that it is. I'll turn 40 years old one day and you might still be the one safe spot for me, God I hope that you aren't because writing letters to someone who never will write back really damages you after while. Schools a blur I only have four classes so I don't really feel like I'm there at all. Most of the time I feel like I'm in summer. I go out all night and it drives my parents crazy because they want me to be home but I'd rather be in hell then be there with them. My mother was talking to me about love the other day. And how sometimes you meet someone and you just connect with them emotionally and physically. She says that even their smell draws you into them and their mind is the only thing you want tot study. And she talked about how sometimes those people are very rare to find and maybe there's only one person that you truly connect with and that's all you get for the rest your life. I talked to her about timing and how I think timing is probably the worst thing in the world. That things happen in the wrong order at the wrong time and it ruins it. Two people may be perfect for each other but with the wrong timing they will fall apart. I think that's devastating. My mom is almost 50 years old and I know that she is unhappy I know that she has had many past lovers that made love to her better than my father and would've been a better father to me. She has met many men who would've been a better man to her but she settled in her 30s because she found a man who promised her many empty promises and even though he didn't make her heart race as much as she would've hoped she took him anyway. And I keep thinking what if that happens to me? No doubt my parents love each other because even though it's so hard they still manage to stay together and try. I mean I'm not 100% sure it's all love and not just because divorce is way too final and has way too much paperwork or maybe it's religion and Jesus says divorce is bad so maybe that's why they don't do it. I'm not sure anymore but I know that when I'm almost 50 I don't want to be like my mom. For many reasons of course but mostly because I don't want to just settle for someone that doesn't make me go crazy inside and brings out the best in me. But I'm always afraid that I might. My best friend; her name is Emma she is pretty much the light of my life and I love her to death but she such an asshole. She puts me down constantly, always gets into my business and well pretty much just treats me like shit on the daily. I let her do this because well she's my best friend and I don't want any other friend. I don't really want to meet someone new and then have them learn all about me. It's so tiring and it takes me so long just open up the slightest bit you know. So I don't like change and I don't really like making new friends. I'd rather just fix the old ones because those people already know me so I won't have to explain myself to new people. I won't have to explain to them all my quirks and all my likes and dislikes and my bad habits and my good ones because they already know either a lot about me or a little bit and sometimes that's why I wish that we were still best friends. Because you knew me and you saw me and you saw right through that hard rock exterior that I put out for everyone because I didn't want anyone to get close but you saw through that and you saw that I wasn't a terrible person. You gave me a lot of chances and I really appreciate that and I know for a fact that we will probably never be friends like we were or even just friends like anything because it's just too hard. I can't bring myself to text you ever because I don't want to be pathetic. I don't want to be the person to message you first because well to be honest I was never trained to be the one to message you first I always had to sit there and wait for you to message me when it was safe which is what I pretty much do every day waiting to see if maybe you'd like to get lunch sometime or that you just wanted to talk at 1 AM. But I can't message you because well I've never been the one to message you and also because I can't be that one that's pathetic I just can't because I'm so afraid of scaring you away. I think you know that you'll never scare me away. There is nothing you could say or do that would make me run away and never want to talk to you again. I would really appreciate if you took that to your advantage. I'd really like to know how you are right now. the moon looks very pretty tonight. A lot of the times when I use this app to write you letters are use the speech to text thing because it actually makes me feel like I'm talking to you. You never answer of course because there really isn't anyone there but it's a nice feeling I guess and sometimes when we do talk or when I do see you I feel like you know everything in these letters and that you're OK with it. I'd love it if you read these letters and then actually talked to me about them. Of course there are over 200 letters so I don't expect you to talk to me about every single one of them. But it would be nice if anything ever stuck out to you for you to ask me about it or talk to me about it. Or just read these and then just give me a nice tight hug. A nice tight long hug is worth billions of words you have no idea. Every time I reach my hand out to shake your hand and you hug me it's probably one of the best feelings ever because you know that I don't just want some stupid handshake. And it's something that's just communicated with our eyes or just by knowing me enough and I really appreciate that. That I never actually had to say anything about it that you just know so thank you. I take showers everyday like twice a day now. And I nap daily too. My cat just shit in my closet. I got a marine corps jacket and to be honest I'm scared shitless. It's getting late I think I should sleep.

[3one3]

The Sequel - 889

Eden Hazard Can Really Hurt You

André Schürrle, Juan Mata, other Chelsea/BVB players, and random awesome OC’s (okay they’re less random now but they’re still pretty awesome)

original epic tale

all chapters of The Sequel

“Do you know why Eden is asking Schü if you’re back with Lex?”

“Does anyone know why Eden does things?”

“Well did you mention her, or see her or something?”

“No.”

“Sure?”

“Yes. You sound like a paranoid and untrusting girlfriend right now. Why?”

“I’m not. It’s just weird. Why would he ask him about it out of the blue?”

“I don’t know. Ask Eden.”

“K”

“Why do you care why he asked if I’m telling you it’s not true?”

“I don’t.”

“Sure.”

“Are you seeing someone else, other than Lex?”

“No. You don’t trust me?”

“Of course I do, but I’ve told you so many times that you can do whatever you want, so...It wouldn’t be like you were doing something wrong.”

“And I’ve told you I don’t want anyone else.”

“Ok. I’m sorry. It was just weird.”

“What’s wrong, pretty girl?” André asked his forlorn looking wife after he let the dogs out. She looked all distant and vaguely upset again on the couch, like earlier in the barn. He lifted up her blanket to get back under it.

“Nothing. Can you just- Can you ask Eden why he was asking you about Juan and Lex?” Christina grimaced. “I know you don’t wanna hear that I’m now obsessing over that, but I have to be honest, and-“

“It’s okay.” He inhaled deeply through his nose, which made a rather loud sound. “We can talk about anything. Always. He didn’t really ask me about him and Lex. He asked me if I recognized some girl Juan talked to at a club last night, and then mentioned that he thought he was back with Lex before.”

“Oh.” Christina’s face fell, and she looked even more forlorn than before. I don’t know who I’m more disappointed in right now. Juan might be hiding something, maybe, and this one could have told me this bit of information that he knows I am definitely interested in.

“Okay, before you get all upset with everyone, consider the source,” the footballer warned encouragingly. He put his arm around her head and kissed her temple with the side of his mouth. “Eden never knows what he’s talking about, and guys talk to girls in nightclubs. It just happens. Especially when you’re the only single guy there. Girls come up to you and they’re all sweet, or seductive, or fawning for you. You can’t get upset because Juan conversed with a woman, and you can’t be mad at me for not telling you that Juan did something you can’t get upset about.”

“But-“

“But it hurts you when someone who says you’re special so much as acknowledges the existence of another woman- got it.” André nodded and squeezed her head tighter. This is a bizarre thing. I’m here consoling her like her gay best friend, because she’s brokenhearted over another guy. How did our lives get like this?

“I just- I need to go make a phone call...”

“Yeah. Of course. Tell him I said hi.”

Christina gave him an apologetic peck on the cheek as soon as she was released from the headlock, and then hurried down the hall to the study as fast as her ouchy ankle would take her. She dialed Juan as soon as her butt hit the window seat cushion.

“Yeees?” the Spaniard sighed over the line, clearly having expected her call.

“Don’t get mad at me. I’m not doubting you. I just need an explanation.”

“I can’t explain another person’s ac-“

“Not for Eden. He asked Schü about the girl you were talking to at whatever club you all went to last night. He just mentioned the Lex thing for context, I guess.”

“And you want to know who the girl is.”

“Yes. And if you took her home with you and if she now knows your tongue is as good as your left foot.” Christina cracked jokes when she was nervous. Christina cracked jokes when she thought humor could get her out of trouble. Christina thought her best friend was rightfully going to be furious with her for asking those questions.

“Her name is Jenni, she did not come home with me, and I have no idea how she feels about my tongue. I can tell you I don’t feel good about you losing your mind because you heard I spoke to a girl.” Juan’s response was measured. It was angry, and impatient for sure, but measured. He didn’t lash out, or sigh, or make disgusted sounds. He also didn’t go on to lecture her about what her reaction said about their relationship. He just left it hanging there. She almost couldn’t help herself. She had to dig her hole deeper.

“Did you want her to go home with you? Do you like her?”

“Chris!”

“I’m sorry,” she groaned. Spencer noticed her in the window and was hopping around on the patio on just the other side of the flowerbed under it, trying to get her attention. It wasn’t working. Her mind was fixed on something else, immovably. “I’m jealous. Okay? I’m jealous. I love you and you’re mine and no matter how many times I say you can go fall in love with someone else I obviously don’t want you to do that ever. I’m sorry. I’m a terrible person. I’m the worst. I’m insanely jealous. I’m also so mad at him for not telling me this, and at the same time I feel terrible for letting him see how jealous I am because somebody else talked to a girl. Ugh. I am the worst.”

“Are you drunk?”

“High, I think. I took one of the prescription pain meds for my ankle.”

“Ahhhhhh. That explains it,” the Chelsea man said with an audible smile on the end of his sigh. Christina didn’t know if he was amused by her inability to tolerate serious drugs or by her serious jealousy.

“It still hurts. And I decided to retire Nicky Tater Tots in March. And Dortmund is awful- the team I mean, not the city. Everything sucks and you shouldn’t talk to girls.”

“He told me he wasn’t going to let you take those things anymore.”

“Pharma Schü only dispenses them in extreme circumstances.”

“He shouldn’t give them to you at all.”

“I’m just being silly because I was, like, panicked.” Well this is embarrassing. I tried to cover up the anxiety attack over him flirting with someone and now he thinks I’m under the influence. Great.

“Okay,” Juan yawned.

“What are you doing?”

“Watching television.”

“I showed Lukas the Marvel dog costumes you sent me and he wants Spencer and Lucky to go to the Halloween party with him as Iron Man and Captain America. I had to pay like a gagillion Euros to have them shipped second-day.”

“What is he going to be?”

“I talked him into being a baby dragon. He likes the little wings. I think he thinks it’s actually a dinosaur costume, but whatever.”

“Did you decide which season Daenerys you want to be?”

“Season 7, badass Daenerys with the pointy shoulders and black outfit. I tried to convince Schü to be Jamie Lannister but he wasn’t having it. He’s with the team for Halloween anyway.”

“Did you end up buying the expensive wig?”

“Yes. I’m going to bring it to Doha with me and we’re gonna role-play,” Christina teased, finally feeling like the tension was gone from the conversation. Her friend’s voice was back to normal, without lingering traces of irritation, and she felt less anxious too. They’d been discussing Halloween costumes for a week because he saw a kid on the street in London in really realistic, correct Scuderia Ferrari overalls just like Sebastian and Kimi’s and then went on an Internet hunt to find the suit and suggest it to Christina for Lukas, to go with his battery powered Ferrari. He couldn’t find the exact suit, but he did stumble across the dog costumes, advertised on some pups that looked just like Spencer and Lucky, so he sent those to her just for fun. She wanted Spencer, Lucky, and Lukas to be her three baby dragons, since she was going to be Daenerys Targaryen, Mother of Dragons. The two-thirds of the family was going to a community party and trick-or-treating thing in Marco’s neighborhood. A bunch of André’s other teammates lived there too.

“I’m never fucking you in a wig.”

“Party pooper.”

“Can I go now?”

“Yes. Sorry about before.”

“Goodnight, cariña. Te quiero.”

“Love you too. Byyyyye.”

Christina returned to the couch. André asked her if everything was as it should be. She said it was. He then asked her to let the dogs back in. She did. Then she announced that she was actually going to bed, and he waffled on what to do in response. His first instinct was to talk to Juan and find out what the deal was. She didn’t actually mention what was said about the Jenni girl, or Juan’s conduct, or how she felt about it. In retrospect, asking her if everything was as it “should be” was a foolish question. Christina could have been literally truthful in her answer and theoretically lying. She might have thought the Spaniard should be able to flirt with other girls, or hook up with them, or even begin a relationship, so if he did any of that then it was appropriate for her to answer “yes” even if she were hugely upset about it and didn’t want him to do any of those things. The player wished he’d just asked her how she felt about whatever was discussed on the phone. He thought of following her to bed and just being extra nice to her in case she was upset, or in case she could be indirectly persuaded to explain the situation. He also thought of just giving her space. Her ankle hurt a lot, she had a busy day, the decision to begin planning Nick’s retirement was an immense weight on her, and she’d been running around trying to keep everyone in the family happy despite things like fish deaths, criminally inept football, unwelcome transfer rumors, a brother’s refusal to commit to a visit, and in-laws who wanted to spend more time with their grandson. In the end, he didn’t really choose. He simply stopped trying to decide, and stayed in the living room.

Christina couldn’t sleep. She wanted to text Juan, not about anything specific, just to chat, but she got a “leave me alone” vibe from him on the phone before. Like her, he needed alone time to do nothing too, and he was historically very turned off by her interrogations and distrust, so she didn’t want to dig her hole any deeper with him. She tried browsing Instagram, playing games on her phone, reading, TV, and even masturbating, which she couldn’t get into. Nothing put her to sleep. The rider gave up and texted her husband downstairs to see if he was coming to bed soon. Rather than write her back, he put the house to sleep and went up to talk face to face.

“Were you waiting for me?” he questioned with his typical look of mild confusion. “Was I supposed to come soon?” Christina shook her head on her pillow. It was all he could see of her, but it was evident from the state of all the other pillows and much of the blanket that she hadn’t been sleeping for the hour or so since she said goodnight.

“I can’t sleep,” his girl frowned.

“Juan?”

“Not really.”

“Nick?”

“Not really.”

“Aidan?”

“Okay you’re making it sound like I’m having relationships with a lot of dudes, boyfriend.”

“One is a horse and one is your brother!” André laughed a little, reassured that he didn’t mess up or miss a cue in not initially following her to bed earlier. He ambled over to her side of the mattress and sat on the edge to give her a kiss once she turned over. “Why can’t you sleep, Prinzessin?” he asked in his Sweet Husband voice.

“I don’t know. I tried everything. I even tried my fingers but my vagina is like a desert right now.” Christina tried out Poor Wife, but was hit with a pang of guilt the second she successfully beamed misery from her eyes. “Are you upset that I cared if Juan talked to a girl? I was really inconsiderate of how you’d feel about that.”

“No. I expect as much. I don’t think I’d be okay with your relationship with him if you didn’t care enough about him to have that reaction. I mean, it’s not pleasant for me, but it’s not a big deal. Don’t let that keep you up,” the player stressed with brows pinched for emphasis. His hand rubbing her hip over the comforter felt honest. It wasn’t an empty gesture. I’m grateful that we’re back to where I can tell he’s being real with me just from the weight of his palm, she reflected. We used to talk at each other and step on each other and just keep getting it so fucking wrong. It was like we spoke different languages and knew nothing of each other’s body language either. “Is it that situation that’s keeping you up? You can say,” André added encouragingly. He wasn’t so sure of his ability to hear and read her. “I don’t want him to do things that hurt or upset you either, believe it or not.”

“I believe it, actually.” A little grin made her face look a lot less unhappy and plagued to him. “Are you ready for sleepy time or are you just visiting?”

“Depends. Are you inviting me into the bed to hydrate your desert vagina or-“

“No I just think I have a better chance of falling asleep on you than by myself.”

“Can I brush my teeth and everything or is this an emergency?”

“You may,” Christina nodded. He’s so sweet. Sometimes he gives me those awkward I-wish-he-could-be-my-dad feels I don’t know how to address. Sometimes he takes care of me and he has the loving, dad-like quality in his voice, and in his face too, even. I guess what you do when a guy gives you dad feels is have a kid with him so that you can see him behave like a dad but you can still sleep with him and stuff. Ugh maybe Juanin is right. I shouldn’t take those painkillers. She reached down to rectify a wedgie situation and then waited for her preferred pillow to use the bathroom, brush his teeth, put his shorts and socks away, plug in his phone, fill his water glass, and fluff his regular pillows, which she’d repurposed for herself during her struggles to get to dreamland. He got under the covers and immediately reached over to hug and squeeze her before he was going to get comfortable and prepared to host her in a snuggling capacity.

“You want talking, or just rubbing and petting? Or spoon?”

“Your legs are so hairy,” the filling in his arm and leg taco observed. The outside of his thigh was the only place for her right hand when she found herself squished in the middle of all of his limbs.

“Are they ever not? That part, at least.”

“In the summer when I make you wax.”

“What do you want to have dreams about tonight, pretty girl?” he inquired with his mouth and nose in her freshly shampooed mane. It smelled like lemon. His desire to help her get to sleep, and indeed to have nice dreams when she arrived there, was grounded in a certain relief and satisfaction in the transparency in what unfolded throughout the night. He knew he had to have felt a certain amount of security to be able to say anything at all to her about Juan and Alexis, and then to explain the full context. Not so long in the past, he would have avoided it at all costs, because he would have felt threatened by her reaction. Then Christina was comfortable enough to admit that she needed to go clear up the gaps in the story with Juan rather than keep her anxiety to herself, hidden from her husband for safety’s sake. And she was still forthcoming with the communication after the call, and she was sympathetic to how he could feel about it. The whole episode demonstrated, in André’s view, a comprehensive improvement in the levels of trust and understanding in their marriage.

The fundamentals of the situation were still tough to take- his wife was still in love with another man too, and enough so that she was very upset by literally the rumor of his sharing a conversation with another woman- but that was easier to digest when she wasn’t also lying about it, trying to hide it, pretending, or deflecting, or letting it destroy everything for her and for them. There was a lot less drama surrounding the core issue. André couldn’t do anything about the core issue. He couldn’t make his wife un-love his former teammate. His choice on that was to accept it or walk away. He always felt he could do something about all the nonsense that ruined everything in their relationship though, and it finally felt as if he’d accomplished that, or they’d accomplished it together. Christina’s relationship with Juan was no longer rat poison for her relationship with him. He was finally just getting the benefits of letting her have the arrangement with the Spaniard that she wanted. He got a happier, less stressed, more emotionally fit girl to enjoy sharing his life with, and though he was sure she could be that way without Juan, he was also sure she didn’t believe that, and that it was foolish to keep trying to make her believe it. It felt very, very good to let go of that need to make her believe, and to duly reap the rewards.

“Exotic macaroni and cheese.”

“Exotic?”

“Like smoked Gouda, or a blend of many cheeses...”

“You want to dream about cheese?” the player asked skeptically as he released his strange wife to find a position that offered more long-term comfort.

“Or bread. Bread and cheese. Baguettes and Camembert. With wine, or coffee, even, in a Paris cafe. The kind the locals go to, not tourists. My makeup should be really pretty and effortless- very French- and you should have your sleeves rolled up, and a lovely scarf. And we kiss between every bite of divine bread and cheese, or bread and delicious French butter, and you flirt with your eyes the whole time, and it makes me blush and laugh a lot.” Christina was safely tucked under her favorite gangly arm by the time she was done setting the scene for her dream, and her cheek was resting comfortably on her footballer’s chest. He started thinking about kidnapping her for an overnight in Paris to celebrate his birthday. It was on Monday, and his girl was leaving for Doha on Tuesday. Bayern Munich was due at Signal Iduna Park on Saturday in the early evening. They could use the charter jet to fly after the match and still get to Paris in time for late dessert, spend the night, enjoy the day there together, and come back Sunday evening.

[rigelmejo]

the word brain - summary and notes

the word brain: http://www.amedeo.net/wb/TheWordBrain2015.pdf

It’s a book about how to learn a language. I like the straightforward estimates of time lengths in it. What I’m about to write is gonna have a lot of notes to myself (as usual lol). 

anyway, below is the word brain summary. and my ideas on how to maybe add its ideas to my study plan.

Notes:

Increasing Vocab:

I tend to not do the explicit vocab study the book starts with for very long. I did it for french for around 1000 words (which was apparently enough base), and 2000 words using memrise for chinese. Now for japanese I use memrise to do this step. 

What I learned from this step, is there may still be use in dedicating some time per day to reading my hanzi books and common-word dictionaries - and reading sections over a few times in spaced repetition (like day 1,3,7,13, 30) could work similarly like memrise/anki. So I could still have use for them.

This book mentioned word lookup in novels counts, if you do it often, and so I can see how I usually quickly abandon “this writer’s way” of increasing vocab, and move onto relying nearly entirely on reading and word lookups to learn as soon as I feel reading is doable. So again... I could speed up word acquisition with either: more memrise/anki, or more glancing at my reference texts every so often. Not that much time is needed either - 5 minutes to learn a word (so studied in like 30 sec - 1 minute intervals over multiple sessions). My usual strategy of reading to acquire words definitely works - but I could probably speed it up a bit by a bit more purposeful reviewing. And I could still have a use for my reference books if I use them for hanzi/word learning.

Also - aiming for 5000 words in related languages, 15,000 in very unrelated languages, is usually enough for overall comprehension.

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Listening skills:

Need generally 1,500-2,000 listening hours to parse speech in a language. This time can mostly be done surrounded by language audio. So basically: yes playing your target language in the background does help. And will help for up to about 2,000 hours, at which point it should’ve benefited your ability to parse speech. If you have difficulty parsing speech, listen more.

You can also do shows/audio you intensively listen to/focus on purposefully (like Listening Reading Method, shows, documentaries). The takeaway point is just - there’s actually merit to the suggestion to “listen to target language as often as you can.” (Which I did not know there was any real benefit). And that even if you’re not trying to comprehend it’s content, simply practicing parsing the sounds by listening is beneficial. So I’m gonna start playing more audio in the background more often. 

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Reading:

I basically do the advice. What this book recommends: using audio at first whenever you read, to create the correct ‘inner voice.’ I didn’t do it, do it now sometimes, it is what it is. But probably good advice for new learners to USE their textbook audios, course audios, and graded reader audios when they have them available - since they’ll help. (The sure would’ve helped me in french ToT).

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*Grammar: 

Like my plan to read a grammar guide, this is kind of similar. But this book recommends learning the most common grammar structures just like words - “nailing” them in your memory by reviewing them (in spaced repetition). I think this is probably something I could add to my studies - picking up my grammar books, and reading and re-reading parts of them to help remember them better. So studying them much like words. Or watching grammar videos and rewatching/reviewing in that same kind of sequence to help remember.

I could possibly do a few review grammar guide fast-overviews - where I just reread old grammar guides I read now and then, to reinforce the memory (like spaced repetition). This is something the book recommends.

I don’t think the book mentioned it, but this could be a good place I could add 50-100 hours of producing/practicing grammar structure - at least the main ones.

Basically though - I could do a little grammar-focused study.

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Speaking:

Grammar overview/learning words. Listen, read, first. Then shadow. 

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Summary: could use my reference books by studying similar to how anki/memrise work and just reading/re-reading in spaced review sessions (If I want to increase how fast I learn vocab), reading and looking up words repeatedly to acquire vocab does work though. Listen to more audio in background in general. I could probably use 50 hours of some review of the grammar more (review same as words), and some particular practice on main grammar. I should shadow more.

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Looking at their table, chinese is probably going to take 3-5 years, and if I eventually slow down my study then up to 6 years.

I also think if this book’s definition of fluency is higher than mine like ‘C1′ competency, then I might get away with accomplishing my goals 1-2 years faster than this book’s timeline - since B1-2 is usually enough for me to be happy with what I’m able to do (I would imagine B2 is definitely enough to read/listen for enjoyment and talk to people about general topics with some fumbles?). Anyway... based on their table I would guess it will take me 1-2 more years to do what I want comfortably? At least, if I can keep my reading progress improving at the current rate or throw in some extra hours this year, I think within another year I might get to a point where I can read/listen for enjoyment mainly. At which point, slowing down my progress by studying less wouldn’t bother me as much - then if it took another 1-3 years for improved fluency because I’m studying slower, I wouldn’t mind as much. If this book’s fluency aim is around B2, then I’m probably looking at at least 2 more years. Still not bad ToT I have a bit of a warped perspective, I expected like A2-B1 level reading skill to take 4 years, whereas its taken me more like 2 years, so I’m already way ahead of schedule in how much time I thought chinese improvements would take.

I can at worst *painfully* read most modern things I try to now - so weibo, random literary stories/novels, gu long, webnovels, shows, tests, news. Sometimes I can read much easier than that, but in the worst cases I can take a while and grasp the main ideas and some details (did that with some random novels/news). Which is where my french was at about 1 years in. Chinese, having less cognates, means I’m not going to learn the unknown words fast enough to ease the ‘pain’ unless I keep studying to speed up word-learning. So that’s what I’m doing, still studying much more than I did for french at this level. But as far as milestones, I’m around what I consider A2 pushing into B1 (starting to not find modern material completely impossible) - in chinese I’m even a little better, I can start pretty much whatever new show I want and follow the main story and some details at minimum. I was never able to do that in french. Also I can follow some audiobooks/audiodramas if I have prior context - I have never tried that in french.

My personal “milestones” I go by:

a. can recognize enough common words to start trying to read comics/books with a dictionary (could be very painful lol) - this is when immersion becomes feasible.

b. know enough basic words to start trying to basically express self imperfectly (ideally eventually basically in many ideas) - this is when language exchange becomes realistic/journaling.

c. can recognize enough words and grammar in reading that main idea is generally understood without an aid (main idea understanding without aid might be painful but its possible) - this is when immersion in french I could stop using a dictionary, and in graded reading material i want at least this level of comprehension to start using it, this is when immersion can become pleasant with a dictionary, when info can start being learned from context somewhat more regularly.

d. can start to recognize main idea without aid without it feeling draining, and some amount of detail without aids - immersion now pleasant without a dictionary/aids, can learn more from context alone without feeling drained, with aids i can now pick up new words quicker but without it being draining, comprehension is now enough that depending on material i don’t feel any need/desire for an aid to grasp the missed details.

e. can recognize main idea and nearly all details, the rest mostly clear from context, nothing feels draining (mainly i only have this in graded reading materials - but in chinese daily life manhua i often feel like this now, with french website navigation or informational texts since i use them a lot, etc).

a+b is usually my goal within 5 months to a year - french took me 3-5 months, chinese took me 5-8 months. japanese took me 1.5 years lol. c is my absolute minimum goal - its enough to at least consume media with a dictionary. the beginning of the c stage can still feel ‘painful’ since all reading is ‘painful reading’ or ‘intensive reading.’ But it is comprehensible with a dictionary, so I can start learning that way. d is when I start feeling happier lol, and different areas of comprehension reach d at different points. e is my usual goal but i’ve only really hit it in certain ‘genres’ of content. All these milestones i can also ‘partially hit’ - for example in japanese years ago i hit ‘basic main idea’ milestone c for manga, but not for any other content type. For japanese... it took 2 - 2.5 years to hit c stage, which is where I’m picking back up (I can understand basic main idea with intense draining feeling, but with a dictionary i can follow most things). Now that I’m picking it up, I seem to be c in a few more ‘genres’ - video games I can also follow main idea better, and now novels are more doable with a dictionary (though i would NOT say i could follow even the main idea of a novel chapter without a dictionary). My chinese is sitting at d mostly for reading, at the earlier side of ‘usually I decide to look things up’ for missing details because i don’t want to always rely on context alone (unless its a show or manhua or extensive reading practice).

#the word brain #article #may #may progress #study plan