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#study accelerated learning
metamindsblog · 1 month
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A Guide on Accelerated Learning and its Benefits
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A Guide on Accelerated Learning and its Benefits
In this fast-paced era, traditional teaching methods are evolving to meet the demands of modern education. Accelerated Learning in Canberra, Sydney stands at the forefront of this transformation, offering dynamic strategies to enhance student engagement, understanding, and success.
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illustratelaw · 10 months
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At some point, I hit a wall. I didn't mean or plan to - but I took a break. I started playing video games again and just trying to get as much dopamine as possible. This felt like such a backwards step and I was beyond disappointed in myself. I'm so hard headed and stubborn at times! But, at the time - when you're in it, you can't see a way out, and the frustration and negativity just seeps in - it's an old evolutionary response and survival mechanism that us humans just can't seem to shake off, even in the modern world when it no longer really serves us. I felt particularly bad playing video games again - as this was something that Angel had shared with us - he used to play video games too - but gave up and then was massively successful with his art - this was so inspiring for me! And at that time, I began to see anything that wasn't drawing as a waste of time (this reminds me of the time I thought that if I wasn't doing something to make money - or creating something that I could eventually monetize - then it was a waste of time? Such a toxic mindset and not at all a balanced way to live - Hussle and grind culture really do be fucking us neurodivergent up!) I info dumped how I was feeling into the "mindset" channel of the discord and then just RAGE quit. Eventually - after around a 2-4 weeks - my curiosity got the better of me and I checked the discord... Sammie - another neuro-spicy individual like myself, from America - had read my message and taken the time to write a lovely reply to me, and had offered to be a sort of study buddy for me as she was a few lessons ahead. <3 Her message was JUST the thing I needed. It really perked me up and gave me hope!!! After speaking to a few other people in the separate study buddies discord, I learnt that not everyone was following the course to a T as I was attempting to do. (I'm sure this comes from some sort of childhood trauma of not wanting to get into trouble!) Once I learned that, actually - I could just go through the whole course, download everything - and then, take a sneak peak at the next lesson, lesson two? THAT CHANGED THINGS!!! It might be that I have a little bit of the 'tism - and seeing / hearing - WHY we were doing things, helped to really solidify the things being taught into my brain. I started to see the lay ins differently - I could now envision what the lesson 2 lay in would look like over the top of the lesson 1 lay in - and I understood what the initial guidelines where there for! Admittedly this is kind of a backwards way of approaching things but, as someone who's neurodivergent and struggles with learning difficulties - I should have been kinder to myself. No one told me that this was okay until now, turns out I just needed permission from someone else to experiment. And MAN, what a massive difference it made for my mental health! Now - I was starting to have fun again, the studies didn't feel like a chore or homework and - just for fun - I'd practice turning my lesson 1 studies into lesson 2 studies. This motivated me to get the lesson 1 study 100% right and just levelled up the end result? I can't quite explain it but - it worked for me.
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lxndonorris · 7 months
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kisses and stubbles - Lando Norris
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Y/N x Lando Norris Theme: Smutish, Teasing, Touching prompt: "why are you looking at me like that? Are you planning to kiss me?" You're with Lando before qualifying begins, and he won't stop teasing you x word count: 1500+
It's always a pleasure to accompany Lando, your boyfriend, during race weekends, especially after he's been performing very well. This year has been a steady up and down, like an actual rollercoaster, but for a few races now, the Mclaren is pretty competitive, leading to more and more podiums for both Lando and his teammate Oscar.
Right now, it's Friday, testing day, and you're sitting inside Lando's private motorhome, a place you've learned to appreciate. You're wearing your boyfriend's merchandise—actually, his worn clothes; they're a bit too large for you, but you don't mind. After all, he loves you in those clothes.
With a coy smile, you're watching him put his racing gear on. One leg at a time, he slides into the lower half of the fireproofs. Its fabric flatters his body perfectly—tight yet flexible.
Lando's back is turned toward you, exposing his firm back, with all of its muscles tensing more and more. He runs both of his hands along his thighs, down to his toes, as he bends down. It is not only an easy exercise to stretch, preparing his body for the upcoming session, but also an excellent way to show off his beautiful physique.
Without turning around and looking at you, he knows that you're enjoying the show. Licking your lips, you watch him grab the upper half of his undergarments. In one swift movement, he slips inside it and adjusts himself and his body to the tight fabric.
You stare, transfixed, as he lunges, stretching his legs, his arms, and his back. He grunts barely, and as he exhales, he lets out a long sigh.
Before putting on his racing suit, however, he runs both of his hands across his entire body, including his chest, arms, thighs, and waist. Lando purrs happily as he touches himself gently. A shy smirk forms in the corner of your lips as you hold back a soft, breathless giggle. However, it seems like he might have heard you.
Letting out a low grunt, Lando turns around, running both of his hands across his firm chest. Again, on the one hand, it's to simply straighten his clothes, but he wouldn't deny teasing you at the same time.
With one eyebrow raised, he studies you. With the feeling of his burning gaze on your skin, you shudder, but try to keep a straight face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" He bites his lower lip and subconsciously brushes over his crotch with one of his hands, while the other strokes his chest again and again.
Blushing slightly, you just admire his well-formed body and that he is willingly showing off again. Your eyes wander across his chest—his abs are slightly visible through the white fabric, as are his pecs and nipples—down to his thighs and right back to his gorgeous face.
Lando tilts his head slightly, still waiting for the answer he already knows. He's still trying to read you, knowing very well the effect that wearing his racing gear has on you.
"Why? Can't I look at my beautiful man?" You smirk, crossing your arms in front of your chest as your entire body starts to heat up.
He runs a hand through his hair and lets his eyes wander all over your body again, looking for anything that could give you away.
There is that special kind of tingling spreading through your chest. Any time he looks at you like that, it feels like your heart is accelerating at an immense speed, and your breath is barely able to keep up.
Mirroring you, he crosses his arms as well. Your eyes can't help straying to the strong flex of his biceps straining under the sleeves of his shirt before you pull away, meeting his gaze once more.
"I guess that's fair." He growls, but there is that spark hidden beneath his beautiful eyes that you know all too well. Your face heats as you imagine him pressing his bare chest against yours every time you lie in bed with one another.
Lando opens his mouth slightly and approaches you. When he stands right in front of you, he bends down so that your faces are just inches apart.
"I was just wondering." He lets out a guttural growl. "Are you planning to kiss me, or what?"
As he breathes into your mouth, your face flushes with color, and you feel drawn toward him, drawn to his soft lips. Your lips meet, and it's giving you goosebumps right away.
It's a mixture of his familiar sweet scent, the feeling of his soft lips on yours, and the excitement of being here in the paddock with him. Enjoying his light stubble as well, a smile forms on your lips.
You steady yourself against his firm chest and feel his firm body through the thin fabric of his clothes. Your thumb brushes over his nipple, causing him to take a deep breath before purring right into your mouth.
Once, then twice, you kiss him back, craving much more, but yet he pulls away.
"Mhmmm." He growls, one hand on his chest, the other gently on your thighs.
"That felt good." You smile shyly, feeling his hand gently pet your thighs.
"Just give me a moment." He smiles warmly. "Let me put on that suit, and we can go for another."
Leaning in, he breathes down your neck, sending shivers down your spine. "Many more."
Straightening your back, you take in a deep breath, enjyoing the scent of his cologne tingling in your nose.
With anticipation building up inside your chest, you watch him put on his racing suit. He looks so good in his racing gear, and he knows it.
His suit is still unzipped, exposing the dark fireproofs underenath, but he turns his attention back toward you and sits down right next to you on the sofa.
Lando puts his arm around you, pulling you into him. You can feel the heat radiating from his body through his clothes, and right away, you let one of your hands slide inside his open suit, stroking his firm chest once more.
Enjoying this, he tilts his head again, biting his lower lip.
"I'm glad you could come this weekend." He growls and lets his fingers run down your arm, and even though his fingertips just barely brush over your skin, it feels so good.
"Me too." You say it softly and lean into him again.
His intense gaze ignites a spark in you. You can't explain it, but you know you want more. Lando's entire body is drawing you in, and it doesn't take long for you to give in to the tug.
Right away, he embraces your lips on his own, and as he opens his mouth to let out a soft moan, he breathes right down your throat. Waves of shivers run down your entire back, and you give in to him.
With a little help from him, you climb on top of him. He holds you close with both of his hands on your waist while you steady yourself against his strong chest.
Using both of your hands, you touch him and feel all of his muscles tense more and more, causing Lando to turn his head slightly to catch his breath.
"Y/N." He moans audibly and starts to stroke the small of your back, feeling your hands run down his chest, further down inside his suit.
Bending his back, he tries to make room for his ever-growing excitement inside his trousers.
"Lando. Fuck." You breathe deeply.
As you grind on him, he easily matches your pace and intensity. With one hand still inside his suit, stroking his chest and focusing on his pecs and nipples, you let the other hand slide right between the two of you, feeling a tent building up underneath his clothes.
Lando chuckles a low, husky sound that echoes through every fiber of your body, sending heat flaring in
your belly. His hips roll against your own as he adjusts to the rhythm of your hand now stroking his bulge through his suit.
"Mhmm." Drawing an unsteady breath, you lean closer to him, fitting the curves of your body against his.
You can feel the shudder of his own breath speeding up and the tightening of his body against yours as he desires you so much more.
"Fuck." He growls, leaning his head back against the sofa, giving in to your firm touch.
You begin to place kisses all over his neck and his jaw, enjoying how his light stubble tingles your skin.
Then, however, the alarm on his phone goes off, catching both of you off guard.
You pull away to let him check his phone, and with a huge sigh, he shows you the screen. It's time for them to join the others inside the Mclaren garage; it's training day after all.
"Two more minutes." You pout, and a wicked smile spreads across his face.
"Two more minutes." He growls and leans in to you, kissing you again.
---
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vavandeveresfan · 4 months
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Jenny Watson: "We can do it, so let's do it." Jenny outlines her plan for a female-only, lesbian space.
For my lesbian, bisexual women, and radfem Followers. Via Graham Linehan's Substack.
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For many decades, London was considered the global capital for lesbian nightlife. But you’d never know it if you visited the UK today. It’s not for a lack of British lesbian culture: I’m a lesbian, I’m involved in our country’s lesbian social scene, and I can assure you, it’s alive and well. What we lack at the moment are our own dedicated spaces. I think the UK needs once more to have lesbian-run, female-only community spaces. 
I’ve got an idea about how to make one such space a reality. And I believe I'm in a position to make it happen.
Over the past seven years, I've had the privilege of organising a range of lesbian social events in London. Throughout this time, I've made many connections in our community, gained an increasing understanding of our needs, and created social spaces that I hope go some way to meeting them. 
And in those seven years working to coordinate part of the the UK’s lesbian social scene, I’ve come to see how badly we need a dedicated, strictly female-only event space — now more than ever. 
Men have been encroaching on the lesbian community, and the problem is only getting worse. There’s been a sense of inevitability, that this is just something we have to learn to live with.
But I’ve had it.
In June, I skipped London’s official Pride festivities and instead visited an alternative, independent event at the Hampstead Ponds. It was a female-only picnic. Hundreds of women of all ages were gathered, from their teens to their eighties. And the sublime joy that I felt that day led me to a eureka moment:
We need this. We deserve this. This is our right. As lesbians and bisexual women, we have a right to social spaces that are entirely our own.
So, earlier this year, I decided to implement a women-only policy at my events. Although this sparked controversy, we ultimately received recognition from the UK’s largest pub operator that it is legitimate to hold women-only lesbian events - a real victory!
And then it suddenly dawned on me: we need more and not only do we need this, I can do this. I feel I have a good sense of the UK market for lesbian social events. So I crunched some numbers and developed a business proposal. I gauged interest and studied feasibility. And I’m excited to tell you: I believe this can work.
My plan involves establishing a private members’ club and securing a prime physical space in London. By day, this space will operate as a versatile hybrid workspace, becoming a venue hosting various social events in the evenings and weekends. Alongside these, we'll provide online events, and collaborate with service providers for health and wellness advice, fitness guidance, group trips, and more. Revenue will come from the events, partnerships, as well as from membership dues.
To the lesbian and bisexual women reading this: you’re welcome to get in touch with me if you’d like to learn more. There's an opportunity to invest if you’re interested, too. I’ve got a pitch deck I would be happy to show you and a fully fleshed-out, 50-page business plan. And I’m happy to report that there are already investors who have given the thumbs up. 
Following my announcement and inspired by the community's heartwarming response, I decided to introduce an early-bird membership programme. This includes a personalised QR-coded membership card for exclusive updates and access to a members’ discussion space. Joining early also signifies your part in accelerating our community's launch. 
Which brings me to another issue, and it’s a big part of the reason I’m writing this now: online critics. There’s a small but vocal group of people online who’ve been saying some pretty nasty and completely unfounded things about me. This group of people have taken to personal insults, and accusations that I’m a fraudster and a grifter.
I’m not entirely surprised to encounter pushback, but at the same time, the level of vitriol has been eye-opening.
But I try to put it in a bigger context: Lesbians have faced so much abuse, and for so long we’ve had to settle for having social spaces conditionally, on terms set by men. There’s a climate of distrust and fear looming over the lesbian community as a result. So much so that today the idea of even having one single space fully dedicated to lesbian and bisexual women seems so radical, some people’s initial reaction is that there’s got to be a catch.
I completely understand that a good dose of scrutiny, of tempering optimism with some degree of caution, is reasonable. It’s healthy. And it’s entirely welcome.
But personal insults and unfounded accusations are not. I know that emotions are running high, and we as a community are feeling beleaguered right now. But that’s no excuse to target my Irishness in personal attacks, for example. Or to target my business supporters with lies about me.
I'm not here to push or persuade anyone who doesn't feel the spark for this project. However, for those who do, our project investors' safety and security are crucial — capital funds are securely placed in escrow and I've teamed up with a business consultant who's right here supporting us until opening day. We’ve put together a solid business plan.
If anything, the tenor of some of the criticism I’ve faced only hardens my resolve: it just highlights how badly women need a space to unite us, to heal us in this difficult time.
It’s been upsetting to endure the smear campaign that a small online group has thrown at me… but my mind keeps going back to that Edenic afternoon at the Hampstead Ponds, where hundreds of women were gathered in serenity and harmony.
This will heal us. This will unite us. And it will make us all stronger. Lesbian strength comes through unity.
There are various ways you can help, but the most crucial one is spreading the word - our message is the most important part of this project. 
Other than that, as I mentioned earlier, if you are a lesbian/bi woman, there is the option to join as an early-bird member (however, this is not compulsory; you can wait until our opening). Additionally, there's the opportunity for investment or donation. I've prepared a comprehensive 50-page business plan and pitch deck available for those who are interested.
For a deeper understanding of the project, feel free to visit our website or you can email me at [email protected] 
Any form of support you can offer is immensely appreciated as we work towards making this a reality.  
We can do this. So let’s do it!
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comicaurora · 10 months
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Are you willing to make a long personal post about how Math should be presented in an educational environment or in general conversation trying to convince the other participants about its daily usage. How it can advance a person’s problem-solving skills and approach in life.
I’m really good in Mathematics. I’ve given help for my classmates and friends about Math when they are having trouble or ask for it. But I have never been convinced of its importance outside of the classroom, outside of the test papers that gives me the variables to substitute in the given equation of that test of the day.
How can Math and it’s many properties relate back to everyday life in a casual manner?
Hm. Well, as someone who hasn't had to solve an antiderivative in years, my perspective on this is that the most important and widely-applicable skill math can teach you is the stuff behind the math - mostly the muscle-memory you get from proofs.
Math is, at its core, puzzles and logic and pattern-recognition. You learn a set of tools, you practice those tools on a set of simple problems until you get a feel for them, you are presented with a bigger problem, you recall which tools best applied to problems that are shaped like this, you break the problem down using your tools and eventually reduce it to something you know how to solve.
The fact of the matter is, the tools that are specific to branches of math don't really have much widespread use outside pure mathematics, and unless you go out of your way to keep using them you're likely to lose track of them. Studying math is not going to turn you into a super-calculator-wizard who can bounce stuff off the walls at perfect angles and do six-figure arithmetic in seconds, and I think some people feel overwhelmed at the assumption that that's what's expected of them if they learn math, and some other people feel cheated when they learn that that's absolutely not going to happen, because most writers don't know math and when they tell stories with math in them their best guess is it makes you a wizard.
I think the most advanced math I've used lately was trigonometry, and that was just because I was curious about how fast my plane was traveling relative to the sun's apparent movement at my latitude. We were flying back to the US from Iceland and we'd taken off at sunset, and we had been in that sunset for at least an hour by the time I got curious how the math worked out and started estimating our latitude, the circumference of the slice of the earth at that latitude, and correspondingly how fast we were flying vs how fast it was spinning to complete a full rotation in 24 hours. But even if the math involved didn't tap into any of the higher-level stuff I'd learned post-trig, those years doing proofs and figuring out which tools applied to which geometry meant that I could use the tools and my training applying those tools to calculate what I wanted to know, and confirm that our plane was actually outflying the sun when we were at iceland latitude, but as we curved south the sun's apparent relative movement (aka the rotational speed of that latitude of the earth) slowly accelerated until we were falling behind, landing right as the sun finally set. The math involved was high school level, but if I'd been given that problem in high school it would've taken more work and more stress to figure out how the tools I had needed to be applied to the problem I was facing. The years of practice I had tackling much more complicated proofs made the diagnostic process much faster.
I saw someone once analogize studying math to lifting weights. Where am I going to use this in real life? How often will I really be faced with two dumbbells that need to be lifted in three sets of twenty? Where am I going to apply the skill of holding a heavy thing straight out to one side of my body?
You don't lift weights because lifting weights is such a valuable and widely-applicable skillset, you do it because lifting weights makes you better at lifting everything.
You don't study math because math is going to fill your daily life with concepts that you need to prove true for 1 and for n+1 given true for n, or complex solids that you need to sum an approximate volume for, or a surplus of sunset plane flights that demand you calculate a bunch of cosines. You study math because it is the skillset of making things make sense. It trains you to break a huge, incomprehensible problem down into a series of small problems you already know how to solve. It lets you reach true and correct conclusions by starting from facts and transforming them through operations that preserve truth, and correspondingly that if you reach a false conclusion from these methods, then either the methods are flawed or the initial assumption is not as true as you believed. It teaches you to put two and two together and be confident, once you've double-checked your work, that you can say four.
This is stuff I use all the time in both my video research and my freeform writing. Building out a slow picture of how a story was told or changed over time involves finding the context it was created in, and reverse-engineering what parts of that context could have produced what standout portions of the story - what authorial or cultural bias results in this standout story element. Worldbuilding where I take two wildly disparate parts of the world, put them together and see what web of implications springs out of combining them, following the threads to new and interesting concepts that follow from what I've already established. Building a character arc by breaking down exactly what events are happening to them and what transformation each component will apply to the underlying character. If I want the story to go in a certain direction, what transformations do I need to apply to make that happen while still preserving truth? If I'm faced with a seemingly insurmountable problem, what methods can I use to break it down into bite-sized pieces?
This isn't something I think about most of the time. It's just how my brain works at this point, and I can't promise it'd work for anyone else. But thanks to all my years of hard work and training, my brain has been buff enough to solve every problem I've tangled with since graduation, and that feels pretty good.
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jj-the-hobbit171 · 2 months
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Well, today I had this weird idea.yandere Justice league x villain reader. It’s still fresh but I’d try to put me thoughts in words.
So, reader is like a heavy hitter in the villain circle, the one the league spends a whole timespan of a movie defeating. But after a while they starts to see cracks in readers cold and intimidating personality.
They hesitate to attack when in a wild life presivation center. They are found to be heavily analyzing pride and prejudice when their home base is infiltrated for crucial information.
So, they start digging. Batman tracks down their background, while jo’hn tries to read readers mind during battles,and well, they came to find many things:
1. Reader used to want to be a writer. But after becoming a villain, there was no time to put down their thoughts into written words.
2. Reader actually doesn’t like putting animals in danger. They had a ferret when they were little, but their father got rid of it because of a bad grade.
3. Reader can’t be around fire; they have very fire sensitive skin which they have yet to find a way to counteract it.
4. Reader has almost the same powers as deathstroke like Accelerated healing, enhanced senses, mastery of acrobatics and some level of enhanced intelligence
Learning these things and more, the league became obsessed. They start building a containment chamber for you, studying your fighting style, noting your injuries that could be exploited. They learn more and more about reader, Batman was able to, god knows how, install cameras in readers base to watch them, Watching reader at their most valuable.
Tensed shoulders relaxed, menacing amour swapped for a large shirt and dress pants, and their face, while still tense and riddled with scars, is relaxed, and sporting a pair of reading glasses. The league watches them up and about, reading the favorite books( which they note for future actions), fixing their damaged amour or making adjustments to it. Occasionally Staring at their dusty typewriter before shaking their head and walking away. This display make the league more desperate to capture them. You,Their lover should not have to push their dreams away for this fruitless pursuit of power! If they can’t see that and end this madness, then they’ll take reader’s fate into their own hands one way air they the other….
Let the plan commence….
J.J here! I’m thinking of making a part two of this but I’ll be holding off on that for the mean time since I’ll be writing my finals soon. Maybe after I’ll post a part two of this and the cod au. But do send your ideas two me! I’d love two read them in the hobbit hole and expand on the ideas you send.
Thanks
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laxmiree · 2 months
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[CN] MLQC Lucien’s On Fire MQ translation + video with sub EN (Part 3/3)
⚠️ SPOILER ALERT!! ⚠️
This post contains a detailed spoiler for an MQ that has not been released in EN yet! Feel free to notify me if there are any mistakes in the translation~
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On Fire MQ | Part 1 (1-2) | Part 2 (3-4) | Part 3 (5-6) | Moisturize ASMR
[Warning]: The content of this MQ is currently the most explicit compared to other dates and may not be suitable for individuals under the age of 17 (CN server). It is recommended that those who do not meet this age requirement refrain from proceeding beyond this point.
Part 3 & 4-> [Here]
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[Subbed Video, TURN ON CC!]
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—[Part 5]— Video Timestamp [31:11]
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The kitchen is filled with all sorts of ingredients.
After studying a few recipes, Lucien starts by cleaning the vegetables one by one, arranging them neatly based on size and color.
I put the excess ingredients into the refrigerator and see him preparing to chop vegetables on the cutting board. His movements are meticulous yet unfamiliar.
MC: Do you want some help?
Lucien arches an eyebrow ever so slightly, then frees up one hand to pull me behind him, his voice gentle.
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Lucien: Yes, then come closer and help me, okay?
I wrap my arms around Lucien from behind, adjusting his hand to control the force and posture of chopping vegetables.
MC: [smiles softly]...Are you sure about this?
Lucien: Mm, I'm not particularly skilled at this. This position makes it easy for you to correct me at any time.
I wrap my arm around him with some struggle. I can feel his heat seeping through our clothes, causing a slight warmth in my ears.
Unwittingly, I remember the first time I spent New Year's Eve with Lucien. He also once stood behind me and wrapped his arm around me under the pretext of learning to make dumplings.
MC: ...Then, I'll make an effort to not get distracted.
MC: It's better to cut in from this angle...
Two people working together noticeably accelerate the process. After the pot is ready, Lucien and I stand on either side of it, seasoning it together.
Seasonal vegetables lose their raw appearance in the sizzling hot oil, transforming into delectable dishes on the dining table.
MC: The colors are right, and the cuts are similar. At least in terms of appearance, we've perfectly replicated these dishes.
MC: I just wonder how they taste. These dishes look so good, they couldn't possibly be bad, right?
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Lucien: They're definitely going to be delicious. After all, we made them together.
Lucien: However, in the coming year, I will try my best to break away from this lady’s help and lead this process independently.
MC: Hehe, it's okay if you don't break away.
MC: I'm happy to accompany you and enjoy this process together. Plus, occasionally being Professor Lucien's "guide", I couldn't ask for more.
Lucien glances at me with a smile on his face, then bends down to kiss me lightly on the eyes.
Lucien: [chuckle then KISS!!!!] Since I have your permission, I won't insist on proving myself anymore.
Lucien: In the days ahead, accompany me to tackle more complex menus.
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At the dining table, Lucien picks up his chopsticks, slowly bringing each dish to his mouth. He chews carefully, seeming to savor the unique taste of each dish
Though it's just an ordinary lunch, he eats with exceptional seriousness.
Lucien: The change in cutting technique has a much greater impact on the crispness of the vegetables than I anticipated.
MC: It's subtle, isn't it? Even though the cooking method remains the same, just changing the cutting technique makes the texture much crispier!
Lucien: Hmm, it's also interesting to stew meat with fruits.
MC: Hehe, that's because fruit acids not only tenderize the muscle tissue but also blend in smoothly with the flavor.
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Lucien: [chuckles] So, although all these dishes are delicious, I particularly enjoy the stew you've added your ingenuity to.
It's rare to see him provide detailed commentary on dishes beyond just "delicious", and I can't help but raise my chin in pride.
MC: I've actually made some observations before when cooking. Just a slight change in the dish can make a huge difference in taste!
MC: It's kind of like the difference between the front leg meat and the hind leg meat, very distinct!
Lucien's gaze, which was originally focused on tasting the dishes, shifts towards me. Under the lamplight, his eyes soften, as gentle as water flowing into a stream.
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Lucien: This classmate's metaphors are always so imaginative.
Lucien: It seems like every inch of the world you perceive is so vibrant and intriguing—
Lucien: Just like these rich dishes, they can evoke a range of emotions and also spark inspiration.
I prop my chin up, looking at him with interest.
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MC: If that's the case, then I also want to be the “fruit” in the stew, making Professor Lucien even "sweeter"~
MC: Every happy and interesting experience in my perception, I want you to experience them together with me~
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Lucien's eyes soften, and he taps his knuckles gently on the table.
Lucien: [whispers] In that case, can we do something fun together right now?
My eyes light up, and I stand up, walking over to his side. I cup his face in my hands, smiling as we lock eyes.
MC: Of course, then... what do you want to do?
Before I finish speaking, Lucien's hand gently lowers my head, and he plants a light kiss on my lips.
Although it's just a gentle touch, and although the atmosphere isn't ambiguous, I feel my heart beating wildly due to the unexpected intimacy.
I look at him with a flushed face, seeing overflowing tenderness in his eyes, and a magnified reflection of myself.
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Lucien: I want to thank this lady who “shares the world” with me.
Then, he leans down, slowly closing the distance between us—
Until our hearts and minds feel the same frequency, melding together into the gentle twilight.
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As the last rays of twilight fall, Lucien invites me to experience the festival in this small town.
Lanterns adorned with festive decorations hang on the streetlights, and the air is filled with the scent of firecrackers.
As New Year's Eve approaches, there are already many stalls in the small night market, with couplets, paper-cut decorations, and various potted plants joyfully arranged together.
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MC: These paper-cut decorations are quite ordinary, yet they're selling for two digits. They're not as pretty as the ones you've made, but I just bought something really nice!
I take out a box of pink, peach-shaped pastries and hand one to Lucien.
MC: "Longevity Peach Buns"~ Would you like to try one?
Lucien takes a bite, his brows furrowing momentarily as he examines the bun in his hand with a hint of skepticism.
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Lucien: [smiles helplessly] I wouldn't recommend it.
Even Lucien, who isn't usually picky about food, expressed dissatisfaction with the bun, which piqued my interest.
I take a bite, and the dry bun with a hint of artificial flavoring fails to satisfy even basic taste expectations.
MC: Uh...!
MC: [unamused] Although it's not tasty, it does look festive... Let's just display it at home when we get back.
Lucien smiles and shakes his head, then picks up a set of spring festival couplets from a nearby stall.
Lucien: The wording on these couplets seems rather ordinary.
Lucien: I'm thinking, why don't we buy some raw materials and try writing our own couplets at home?
MC: Sounds good! Then when the God of Wealth arrives, he'll see that the couplets we've put up are heartfelt and sincere.
MC: If he's in a good mood, who knows, maybe we'll strike it rich~
From the "福" (fortune/blessings) character for the front door to the refrigerator and even the shoe cabinet, to the money tree for the entrance and the glowing little dragon...
As we chat and laugh, the bags we're carrying are already overloaded.
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We load the bags into the car and return to our seats. Just as I start to fasten my seatbelt, Lucien pushes open the car door again.
Lucien: I suddenly remembered there's something else I need to buy.
MC: Then I'll go with you.
Lucien: No need, it's right nearby. I'll be back soon.
Before I could react, Lucien had already closed the car door and disappeared into the bustling crowd once again.
✂———————–
—[Part 6]— Video Timestamp [36:42]
(T/N: if you haven't watched the video, please watch it from this timestamp! The BGM choice + voice acting really help set the mood~)
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MC: What did Lucien go to buy...?
Snacks, or decorations? Before my thoughts can stray any further, Lucien's figure returns to the car with bags in hand.
MC: You're back!
The car door is pulled open, and along with Lucien’s scent, the chilly wind brings in a subtle smell... of gunpowder?
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Lucien: [chuckles] I bought some fireworks...
MC: Oh~
Lucien: And firecrackers.
MC: [surprised] Eh?
I widen my eyes and look into the bag. Besides a few fireworks, there are…
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MC: O- one-thousand-firecrackers-rolls and firework rockets?
Seeing my reaction, Lucien satisfactorily curls up the corners of his lips.
Lucien: As an "experiencer," of course I must try some sufficiently exciting things.
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The car, loaded with goods, returns to our courtyard. Lucien parks the car and, together with me, we unroll the long red firecrackers on the ground.
The long firecrackers snake around like a red dragon lying on the ground, almost covering the entire courtyard.
I hold the lighter, watching the fuse that is about to ignite the firecrackers and can’t help but feel nervous in my heart.
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MC: Lucien, could you, could you wait a moment? I'm not quite mentally prepared yet!
Lucien: [chuckles] Then allow me.
Lucien seems to chuckle softly. Before I can react, he has already struck the match, and the flame dances on his fingertips.
The fuse instantly ignites, speeding forward like a shooting star. I quickly grab Lucien's hand tightly, pulling him away as we run.
The next second, the firecrackers erupt like an awakened dragon, emitting a thrilling roar.
My body instinctively tenses, and I hastily cover Lucien's ears while he does the same for mine.
(the way they instinctively protect each other instead of themselves :”…)
His broad palm reassuringly shields those startling explosions.
Despite the barrier, my hearing becomes even more acute, listening as the firecrackers "rampage" through the courtyard.
I look at Lucien, in the faint red glow, his face is coated with a shimmering warm light, and from beginning to end, his lips are always brimming with a smile.
The bright light swiftly dashes through the dark night. After the long-lasting thousand blasts fade away, the air in the courtyard seems to have turned red.
Lucien waves his hand in front of him, trying to dispel the pungent smell of firecrackers, yet the smile on his lips never falters.
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Lucien: Whether it's from the sense of hearing or the sense of smell... The stimulation I'm receiving is far more excessive than I anticipated.
MC: Many things you just have to experience firsthand to truly feel them!
MC: Just like I've come to realize, besides with the beauty of fireworks, Professor Lucien and the firecrackers are also quite "compatible"!
Lucien raises an eyebrow and takes out all the remaining fireworks and firecrackers from the car.
Lucien: That sentence sounds like a stereotypical impression of "Professor Lucien".
Lucien: Fortunately, tonight happens to be a good opportunity for "out with the old, in with the new."
The night sky stretches endlessly, as dark as a piece of black velvet, while the courtyard ground is scattered with remnants of red firecrackers.
Lucien stands between the darkness of the night and the redness around him, with the match he ignites in his hand being the only source of light around.
This glimmer of light remains silent, yet always manages to ignite clusters of earth-shattering fireworks in my world.
So I walk towards him, and together we light up all these fireworks.
The light flies into the night sky, showering down gently, casting warm hues upon us.
And beside me, Lucien's smiling expression is just like the fireworks filling up the sky.
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In the end, Lucien and I left a few fireworks unlit and returned to the car for warmth.
The distant sound of firecrackers can be faintly heard, with occasional fireworks lighting up the night sky, illuminating the scene inside the car.
We sit side by side in the back seat, enjoying a moment of tranquility after the playful revelry.
Bright light filters through the car window, casting ambiguous light and shadows on Lucien's face. I trace his profile, and my heart is filled with joy.
MC: Looking back, we've had a lot of fun in just a few days.
MC: Going to the home exhibition together, selecting ingredients and cooking together, wandering through the festival night market, and even setting off fireworks and firecrackers...
MC: I wonder how Professor Lucien feels about this "town trip"?
Lucien meets my expectant gaze, but instead of immediately responding, he ponders for a moment.
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Lucien: I've thought of many different answers, many different adjectives.
Lucien: Happiness, warmth, contentment... Each word seems to encapsulate my feelings, yet they all appear a little shallow.
I listen earnestly, reaching out my hand to intertwine with his palm.
Lucien: Whether it's in the warm room, cooking together under the bright lights, or lighting firecrackers together and making "noise".
Lucien: At the moment of accomplishing these things, I have a vague feeling.
Lucien: These seem to be things I've never consciously longed for but deeply desire to do.
Lucien: And year after year, in the New Year, you've helped me realize these, even wishes that I myself didn't fully grasp.
Lucien pauses unusually as if carefully considering his words. After a while, he simply casts his gaze toward me.
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Lucien: So if there's anything missing, it's that I want my little lady to feel my happiness.
MC: I've already felt it...
But Lucien gently shakes his head.
Lucien: I want to paint it more vividly for you. Not through carefully crafted rhetoric, perhaps not even by speaking.
(T/N: insert the solemn, melancholic, yet hopeful 5th anniv special theatre BGM 😭 if you've read this far and haven't watched the video, I’d actually beg you to watch 🥺 The timestamp is: [42:09] )
Lucien gently takes my hand and places it over his heart.
In an instant, the world quieted down.
With the familiar heartbeat in my palm, it feels as if the overflowing sense of happiness is also held within my grasp.
"Thump, thump," resounding as if echoing through the entire universe. And it speaks—
Lucien is very happy, very content with life.
And so am I.
At this moment, I seem to also taste the shallowness of "words", for no matter how many words are spoken, they can't fully express the deep love beating in my heart.
So I recklessly approached him, wanting to convey my most profound feelings to him.
Wrapping my arms around his neck, my fingertips threading through his soft hair, as I lean in closer, Lucien gently but firmly pulls me into his embrace.
The smell of gunpowder fills my nostrils, seemingly carrying the heat capable of igniting flames with it.
The lips merely brush against each other, then clinging lovingly and inseparably, unwilling to part ever again.
Our tongues entwine as if thirsting, drawing out every bit of sweetness, until our breaths become so chaotic that they can't be distinguished from each other.
Can a deep kiss express this love? Can a long embrace reveal the yearning in the depths of our hearts?
While thinking about all this in a daze, Lucien's whisper comes to my ear.
Lucien: [whispers breathlessly] Is this kiss enough to explain it all?
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MC: Not enough...
I instinctively spoke out, not knowing whether I was answering him or telling myself.
Upon hearing this, with one arm still around me, Lucien unbuttons his shirt with his other hand, revealing his well-defined physique.
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Lucien: [chuckles and whispers] Then tonight, I will lay bare all of myself to you, okay?
His eyes still carry a faint smile, but they are moist as if they've captured light, burning and deeply sincere.
I nod and kiss the corner of his eye, taking in all of him.
His warm lips carry a slightly wet sensation as they wander over my body, igniting my skin like clusters of flame.
The intimate and meticulous licking makes me feel like I'm about to melt, my body instinctively tensing up, sliding towards the only fulcrum.
Lucien: [noises of him eating… something, and sighs in satisfaction] ….
The fingers holding my calves suddenly tighten, pulling them wider apart. I sit back heavily and then whimper out in pain.
MC: [blushing] Lucien….
My voice comes out sweetly and aggrievedly, elongating the end of his name with a deliberate undertone. It sounds like pleading for mercy yet also carries a tacit demand.
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The sound of muffled laughter reaches my ears, Lucien flips over to be on top of me and presses me down, kissing me on the lips.
Between the disorganized breaths, he murmurs something on the tip of his tongue.
Lucien: [whispers] Sorry, does it hurt a bit?
I nod, but in contrast to my answer, I thrust my hips upward, wanting to fit even closer to him. In the process, I almost hit my head on the car door, but Lucien protected me.
The decorations on my clothes roughly brush against Lucien's exposed skin as he moves, causing him to tremble lightly.
Lucien: [chuckles] These little decorations are a bit in the way.
Those words are much colder than his kisses, and I can't help but watch my heart beat faster as he gently picks at them and lets the decorations fall.
It's just that there seem to be more and more things that get in the way between us… the top, the belt, and the skirt, they all seem a bit unnecessary.
The car's air conditioning blows dry, warm air, dispersing the remaining traces of coldness on our skin.
The moist sensation behind my ears makes me feel like I'm lying on a stream, his voice, hoarse and low, reveals a fervent longing.
Lucien: [hoarsely] Now, can you understand this feeling clearly?
My heart beats fiercely, and within my hazy consciousness, I seem to hear the emotions hidden behind Lucien's questions.
Instinctively, I tighten my arms around his neck and wrap my legs behind his waist. My hand gently caresses him.
MC: I think... I still need more time to understand.
MC: This is what you want too, isn't it?
Lucien’s laughter-tinged voice drifts into my ears.
Lucien:  [whispers followed by more wet kiss noises] The night is still very long.
The ambiguous warmth inside the car envelops us like the steam of a hot spring, carrying us into the clouds.
It seems there are small trinkets on the dashboard that can't withstand the shaking, but we are too preoccupied to notice.
Unintentionally, someone presses the car window button, and the distant sound of fireworks leaps into our ears.
Tiny snowflakes land on my outstretched arms, only to be melted into droplets by the heat.
"Splat," "splat."
This night, when the old days and the new years merge, we seem to need a little more warmth.
--———FIN————–
✂———————
[Bonus: some h-word translation notes before afterword because I don't want to ruin the beautiful smut with my dumb commentary]
Lucien: [whispers] Sorry, does it hurt a bit? I nod, but in contrast to my answer, I thrust my hips upward, wanting to fit even closer to him. In the process, I almost hit my head on the car door, but Lucien protected me.
(T/N: this sentence implies that the pain is not from her sitting back but… him fitting inside *cough*)
The car's air conditioning blows dry, warm air, dispersing the remaining traces of coldness on our skin.
(T/N: this description implies that they are both already completely undressed at that point. To counteract the chill from being unclothed, the warm air conditioner is turned on :>)
✂———————
[Afterword, rambles and highlight(s)]
⎯ Just like how sunlight helps plants to grow, love nurtures Lucien's growth over the years.
Even after 6 years, Love and Producer still have such a talented writing team that never FAILS at making us feel h-word and cry at almost the same time ༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽. This date is not angsty in the traditional sense, in fact, the date in general is so sweet and full of daily life. But the end really punches you just right in the feelings ESPECIALLY with the 5th anniversary special theatre BGM.
Honestly, it’s hard to explain why this date is so good and makes many CN stans cry by the end of the date. It’s… something that you can experience only if you know him for so, so long. It's something that can only be felt by witnessing his growth from the moment you first 'met' him until now. The feelings of observing someone you've ‘nurtured’ with love and care for years finally blossoming into the most colorful and unique 'fireworks' you've ever witnessed… they’re really hard to describe.
But anyway, before this essay turns into an analysis of "The Little Prince" and Lucien, let’s talk about the date, shall we? If last year's date theme was along the lines of "accepting yourself and your emotions from the past," then I predict that this year's theme seems to be about "experiencing and living the present"; and this is such a fitting theme for Lucien. Why? Because as a character, before he met the MC, he was simply an "observer" instead of a “participant”, curiously observing and experimenting on everything around him, and yet never really ‘participates’ and ‘experiences’ in it.  However, thanks to MC, he has begun to actively participate in the hustle and bustle of the world, experiencing many things that have made him more vibrant and ‘alive’. This transition from ‘observer’ to ‘participant’ is cleverly depicted in this date by making him into a participant in the experiments with MC, rather than solely being the experimenter as usual.
This date as a whole centers around two important things, experience and emotions. While the relationship between experience and emotion can be complex and multifaceted, the way I get it from this date is that; if ‘experience’ is more about the ‘input’ that we get from our senses, then ‘emotions’ are the ‘output’ of our experience. In other words, experiences provide the stimuli that trigger emotional responses. Both experience and emotions are important things for us humans; together, they contribute to our ability to fully engage with and appreciate the present moment, rather than simply going through the motions of survival… They’re also two things that Lucien has been learning over the years.
First, let’s talk about experience, when our observer scientist sheds his lab coat and removes his glasses, he transforms into an ordinary person sincerely in love with you and deeply experiencing love. This date depicts how he experiences love in the warmth of everyday life, and amusingly, it almost makes this date feel as if MC and Lucien are newlyweds on their honeymoon ahah. From shopping for furniture for their new home to encountering silly and unexpected problems that the organizer throws at them (just like how everyday lives always throw problems at us lol), to grocery shopping and cooking together, and cough even the fact that they’re basically ‘on fire’ everyday cough— The grocery shopping parts are especially funny (with just Lucien being Lucien lol)... and cooking scene is just chef kiss. It's really endearing to witness how he adapts to homemaking tasks in his unique way, all because of his love for you.
Still on the topic of ‘experience’; do you know that both of the more descriptive spicy scenes are part of the plot? First, the spicy domming ‘guiding’ scene. In that scene, MC guides him to focus on what his senses told him instead of giving processed answers. And this seems to work because, throughout the date, you can notice him developing more opinions on things based on his senses as he experiences everything. Previously, because he never slowed down and always looked far ahead (See also, his Summer UR MQ, recent CN birthday date and story for more in-depth digging about this theme-), he never fully ‘experienced’ life. But with MC's guidance, her “sharing the world” with him, he starts to perceive the world around him more keenly. This transformation is evident in tasting scenes and fireworks scenes, where he earnestly uses his senses to taste their cooking, hearing the loud firecracker noises, and smelling the scent of gunpowder. She doesn’t only ‘bring’ color to his monochrome world, but also the taste, smell and noises of the world around him as he experiences the present. All these stimuli make his world no longer feel ‘silent’ to him. Sometimes, loving him feels like pulling a ‘god’ from his pedestal to experience the lively and ordinary life of mortals. Perhaps he loses some of his ‘invincibility’ (like for example, that causes him to fall for consumerism trap lol), but in this way, he becomes more alive and real.
Then about emotions. The initial discussion about emotions centers around “emotional synchronization” between lovers, setting the stage for exploring how MC and Lucien perceive and handle each other's emotions. Just as MC accepts all of Lucien's emotions, whether they be sadness or happiness [referencing Lucien’s CN birthday date in 2023], Lucien reciprocates by accepting all of her emotions. Lucien demonstrates emotional stability and maturity as a partner, creating an environment where MC feels no need to restrain her emotions in his presence. He is fond of and intrigued by her colorful range of emotions (and a bittersweet reminder of how her moods affect her “color” in his eyes ahah:”””). This highlights their curiosity and fascination with understanding each other on a deeper level.
For them, all human emotions are important, but MC initially wanted Lucien to feel more positive emotions. With the concept of “emotional sync” in mind, she promises to convey more positive emotions for him, inadvertently restraining her own emotions in the process. However, during their time together in the small city, she learns that even so-called “negative emotions” have value. Despite facing challenges or "troubles," both characters find joy and support in each other's company. MC finds Lucien's moments of vulnerability endearing, while Lucien appreciates MC's encouragement and companionship. They both come to acknowledge the natural ebb and flow of emotions in their relationship, realizing that some negative emotions are far from being detrimental; it’s simply part of their day-to-day life. Those emotional fluctuations are just a very small part of their overall happiness~
ALL THE FEELINGS FROM THE SECOND EXPLICIT SPICY SCENES SUCCESSFULLY MADE ME CRY. Experiencing all sorts of things with her during experiments and everyday life … even things and wishes that he never consciously longed for yet always wanted:
许墨很快乐,很幸福
The meaning of these words are difficult to render accurately in English, and my “Xu Mo/Lucien is very happy, very content with his life.” are just barely scratching the surface… While 快乐(kuài lè) refers to a more transient or temporary feeling of happiness and joy, often related to a fun event, 幸福 (xìng fú) encompasses a profound and enduring sense of happiness and contentment in life. It signifies a state of well-being that extends beyond momentary pleasures, often associated with having a loving family, spouse, fulfilling relationships, and a sense of overall satisfaction with one's life. So when combined, it emphasizes the fact that while experiencing all the ups and downs of the world with her, Lucien is not only feeling immediate joy and pleasure ("快乐"), but also enjoying a deeper, more lasting sense of happiness and fulfilment ("幸福"), he is both happy in the moment and all of his life. By slowing down and deeply experiencing each moment of their shared life, he discovers his own happiness and longing that even he himself never knows about. So, he wants her to experience every bit of his happiness and love that has blossomed because of her… candidly and unrestrainedly wants her to experience all of him.
In another vein, LOVE IS A VERB, NOT A NOUN!!! It's a continual action, continual choice, continual promise to another person. And no matter how many words are spoken, both of them can't fully express the deep love beating in heart. So, when words are too “shallow” to even capture a fraction of deep love and happiness, he can only confess them through instinctive actions, recklessly pouring out his heart in every embrace, every kiss, and every touch. And yet, the question still stands, Can a deep kiss express this love? Can a long embrace reveal the yearning in the depths of our hearts? They’ve done everything, yet it still feels not enough, and perhaps… it will take a lifetime of shared experiences and ‘confessions’ to fully reveal the depths of his love and longing for her.
AND SPEAKING OF CHOICE(S), the BGM choice for that last spicy scene is freaking genius!!! It comes from 5th-anniversary special theatre“The many choices of life” video (You can check it on my YT!). This special video is all about the power of your/MC’s choice. I want to highlight the first “what if” scenario. The first “what if” is about what would happen if she had chosen to not meet Lucien.
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In this scenario, the narrative explores what would have happened if MC hadn't met Lucien. Without their encounter, Lucien would still be questioning and seeking understanding from the world around him. He would have found another path, albeit one that didn't involve her, dedicating himself to searching for the 'most optimal solution.' However, his world would remain black and white, indifferent to whether there were people who tried to understand him and care for him :”. Anyway, by using this as a BGM choice, it accentuates the power of your/MC’s choice in shaping him being the way he is right now; while still running on the path to explore truth with dedication, he also finds happiness and contentment along the way because of her choice.
In conclusion, Lucien’s writers never fail to captivate us and deliver top-tier writing! This date highlights the importance of experiencing life fully and embracing all emotions, while also underscoring the transformative power of love~ His writers really excel at utilizing his character to its fullest potential. I can go on and on, talking about all the small details and references on this date but this UR won’t be published any time soon if I do LOL. If you’ve read so far, thank you for reading this date and my rambles~
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justabigassnerd · 8 months
Text
Driving Lessons
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Pairing - Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x daughter!reader, Jake 'Hangman' Seresin x Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw
Word count - 2,650
Warnings - probably the worst descriptions of driving lessons ever (I don't know how to drive), Jake's a wee bit mean, angst, fluff
Summary - Jake finally allows you to learn how to drive, however, he's a pretty bad teacher so perhaps Bradley could help
A/N - whoop whoop new Hangman Junior fic time! it's only taken me so long to get a new fic out (which I'm so sorry about it's like every time I go to write in the evening I'm just exhausted and struggle to write anything). I won't ramble anymore but as per y'all, please send in requests, feedback and enjoy!!!
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“Dad, when can I start learning how to drive?” The question that leaves your mouth is one that Jake had been on the receiving end of since you turned sixteen and were now considered old enough to learn how to drive in the state of California. Jake put it off for a while, wanting to make sure you were properly ready for such a big thing as well as wanting to ensure all the paperwork that was needed was completed before he got you on the road.
When the day came that Jake finally dubbed you ready enough to actually get behind the wheel of his truck, you were bouncing off the walls. Jake had told you that you were to listen to his every word, and you had nodded your head wildly to prove to him that you were going to listen.
“Okay, lesson one, starting the car up. This truck is a manual, so you have to deal with all the clutch control stuff.” Jake says as you settle yourself behind the wheel and adjust the mirrors. You nod at Jake’s words, remembering what you read in the book Jake had given to you to study intently before he let you practice driving.
“Walk me through it slowly because the book can only help me so much here.” You say, looking from the steering wheel down to the pedals and trying to figure out what pedal does what.
“Okay, so the pedal on the left, that’s the clutch. The one in the middle is the brakes and the one on the right is the acceleration.” Jake says, pointing out each pedal and explaining what they do before telling you about clutch control and finding the biting point before you release the handbrake. You were nervous as Jake’s explanations were causing your brain to work a million miles an hour as your foot hovered over the pedals. You hesitantly pushed down on the clutch before applying a slight amount of pressure to the acceleration as Jake encouraged you to ease the handbrake off. Instead of smoothly making your way off the driveway, the truck lurched forward and then stopped suddenly, giving away that your clutch control was not great and you had caused the truck to stall.
“Just try it again. Easy on the clutch, okay?” Jake says, looking over at you as you nod, a sense of nervousness creeping over you at your recent mistake. Your nervousness began to take hold, making you stall the truck a few more times, and each time you could sense your dad getting a bit more frustrated with you.
“Maybe you’re not ready yet. You need to study the book a bit more before we do this.” Jake says, sighing and rubbing at his face as you look over at him with mild shock as you switch the engine off.
“What? No dad, I’ve studied that book front to back I can do it.” You argue watching as Jake shakes his head lightly.
“If you keep stalling like this it’s going to mess with the truck. I think we should call it a day.” Jake then says, making you feel like you just got stabbed in the heart.
“I know I can do it though.” You say as Jake begins to unplug his seatbelt.
“You clearly can’t right now. You’re taking a few days to really study and then I’ll decide when I next let you attempt to drive the truck.” Jake says firmly, putting his foot down as you bite your lip, unplugging your own seatbelt and jumping out of the car, immediately making your way back inside the house.
Bradley looked up from where he was looking at his phone, a witty quip about the two of you being gone for barely any time perched on the tip of his tongue but it quickly left when he saw you storm upstairs. Moose, hearing you disappear upstairs launched off the sofa and ran upstairs to be with you. Since the beloved dog had joined the family, he took a shine to you and quickly became your protector, so Bradley was unsurprised when Moose made his way upstairs to check on you. Not long after you and Moose had disappeared upstairs, Jake came back in, muttering under his breath as he closed the door behind him.
“Is everything okay?” Bradley asks cautiously as he gets up from the sofa, meeting Jake in the doorway to the living room.
“She’s not ready. She couldn’t get the truck off the driveway. She’s not driving again until I’m confident she can get the truck to move more than an inch.” Jake says, moving past Bradley to sit himself on the sofa, leaning back into the plush pillows with a sigh.
“Jake, she’s not going to learn if she doesn’t practice.” Bradley says softly, easing himself to sit down next to Jake. Tentatively, Bradley takes Jake’s hand in his own, the coolness of Jake’s wedding ring hitting his hand as he squeezes Jake’s hand softly.
“She’s not driving until I say she’s ready. She’s trying to grow up too quickly.” Jake says, making Bradley realise what the root of the problem is.
“Jake, she’s sixteen and everyone she knows at school will be driving soon. She’s capable of it and I know I’m not the only one who knows that. We’ve both seen her studying that book you got her. I get you don’t want her to grow up but it’s happening whether you’d like it to or not. Her driving will help her gain more independence. She’ll be able to go places with her friends and not worry about whether one of us would be free to take her there.” Bradley argues gently, watching as Jake’s face remains set before he shakes his head softly.
“At least let me try and teach her. She deserves a chance.” Bradley then says, making Jake turn to look at him.
“If you want to try, I won’t stop you.” Jake says with a light shrug, not protesting when Bradley releases his hand and moves to head upstairs to check on you. When he knocks on your door, he’s met with nothing more than a mumble and he opens the door to see you laid on your bed, arm thrown over Moose whose head had shot up to see who dared to enter your room while you buried your face in his fur.
“Moose, it’s just Bradley.” Your muffled voice says as the dog finally lays his head down, tail lightly thumping against the bed as Bradley scratches him behind the ear.
“Comfy there?” Bradley muses lightly as he sits himself at the end of the bed and watches as you lift your head.
“You okay?” He then asks, seeing the forlorn expression on your face as you stroke Moose gently.
“Dad probably told you what happened already.” You say quietly, running your fingers through Moose’s fur and twirling the ends carefully in your fingers.
“We all start somewhere. I wasn’t a good driver when I started learning and I bet your dad was the same. Don’t let his words get to you.” Bradley says softly, watching as your focus remains on Moose who rolls over so you can scratch his belly.
“I don’t understand why he was so mean about it. I was really trying, and he kept making me feel so pressured.” You admit, your softly spoken words make Bradley bite back a frown.
“I’m sorry.” Bradley says quietly, watching as you shake your head lightly.
“You don’t need to apologise. You didn’t do anything. I’ll be okay.” You say, lifting your gaze to send a small smile Bradley’s way.
“Look, I was thinking that I could have a go at teaching you, maybe tomorrow if you’re up for it. I know a place we can go just to get you comfortable with the basics of driving before we get you on any roads. It’s up to you though. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to.” Bradley says, gauging your reaction as you fall silent, glancing down at Moose who licks your hand softly and wags his tail.
“I’ll give it a go.” You mumble, bringing a smile to Bradley’s face as he nods.
“That’s good to hear. Just relax for today. We’ll practice tomorrow.” Bradley says with a smile as he stands up, petting Moose whose tail thumps against the covers.
When tomorrow arrived your nerves were in full drive as you got in the passenger seat of the Bronco as Bradley got behind the wheel. The drive wasn’t too long, and Bradley would tell you what he was doing as he drove to help you understand what goes on when the car is in motion. Having Bradley explain everything helped you to feel a bit more confident as he explained everything in as much detail as he could.
“Is this Mav’s hangar?” You question as Bradley pulls up on a large runway, glancing around.
“Yeah, it is. Mav’s helping Penny with her boat today so I asked if we could use the runway of the hangar to practice. It’s got plenty of space and you don’t need to worry about pulling out onto any roads.” Bradley says with a simple shrug, glancing over at you as you blink back the grateful tears that threaten to emerge.
“Thank you, Bradley.” You say quietly, smiling over at him as he nods lightly.
“Alright, ready to get behind the wheel?” Bradley asks, looking over at you as you look from Bradley to the steering wheel. You hesitate for a moment and just as Bradley preps himself to speak, you nod, looking back at him.
“I’m ready.” You say. You and Bradley swap seats and you adjust your seat and mirrors the second you settle in the seat.
“You know what you’ve got to do. Don’t rush yourself. If you stall, don’t worry, just restart the car, and start again.” Bradley says, his voice soft and gentle as he watches you with a smile. You had never expected Bradley to go out of his way to help you learn how to drive, much less allow you behind the wheel of his beloved Bronco that he barely lets your dad drive. But seeing the way he smiled confidently at you, you felt ready. With a newfound confidence, you nod and go through every step slowly, easing the car into a smooth start as Bradley’s grin grows. He then quickly tells you how to stop the car, although you remembered what he had said on the drive over and were able to stop the car with little issues.
“y/n, that was incredible!” Bradley gushes, making you smile as you process that you actually did it.
“I did it!” You say happily, looking over at Bradley who nods enthusiastically. He encourages you to have another go and you manage to drive around on the runway for a while, starting and ending smoothly as Bradley watches your confidence grow. When Bradley deems that you’ve driven enough you swap seats once more and Bradley begins the drive back home.
“Bradley, why did dad act the way he did teaching me yesterday?” You ask, looking over at Bradley who spares a quick glance your way before focusing back on the road.
“I think he’s too used to teaching the cadets at work. Most of them don’t listen well and your dad really lays the pressure on them because they need to be able to think quickly while they’re up in the air. And also, between you and me, I think he’s a bit scared because you’re growing up on him. I think if you speak to him, he’ll be able to explain things a lot better than I have.” Bradley says softly, turning down the volume on the radio before he speaks so you can hear him. You furrow your eyebrows in thought as you think about Bradley’s reasonings. The rest of the drive back was silent, and when Bradley parks the Bronco in the driveway, you’re already planning on speaking to your dad. You open the front door and are immediately greeted by Moose who begs for you to pet him as his tail wags madly.
“Has Moose been out for a walk yet?” You call through to your dad as Bradley squeezes in behind you and closes the door to prevent Moose from bolting out the door.
“Not yet, I was just about to take him.” Jake says as he emerges from the kitchen, lead in hand and the bag of essentials clipped around his waist.
“Can I come?” You ask, not missing how your dad’s eyes lit up momentarily before he nods.
“Of course. Bradley, are you coming?” Jake says, glancing from you to Bradley who shakes his head with a fond smile.
“Not this time. I said I’d help Phoenix with her relationship drama so I’m going to swing by hers in a few.” Bradley says, excusing himself to freshen up to head to Phoenix’s while you and your dad exchange a look before your dad shrugs and hooks the lead onto Moose’s collar.
“Alright, let’s make a move.” He says and the three of you make your way out of the house. Most of the walk was silent. Only a couple of words were exchanged between the two of you and it was about your driving lesson with Bradley. When you reached a bench in the shade where the two of you could sit for a while as Moose sat in between your legs, you glanced over at your dad and realised it was just time to get the conversation over and done with.
“Did you hate the idea of me driving because it means I’m growing up?” You ask confidently, noticing how your dad tensed up before glancing over at you.
“Bradley?” He asks, wanting to confirm who told you that.
“Bradley.” You confirm with a slight nod and Jake finds himself holding back a sigh.
“I’ll be honest with you, sweetheart. Yes. You’re growing up on me and I hate that I’m still far behind. You’re wanting to do all these things and to me you’re still my baby girl.” Jake says, watching as you nod at his words, hands running through Moose’s fur as he pants happily.
“I’m not going to stay little forever, dad.” You mutter, looking over at Jake who nods lightly, sadness in his eyes.
“I know. I’m trying to catch up. I’ll try to be better.” Jake says softly, making you shuffle closer to him so you could hug him which meant Moose took that as an invitation to prop his front paws on your lap so he could lick your faces, making the two of you laugh and push him away gently. You then continue on the walk and when you get home, you’re greeted by Bradley who upon questioning says that the moment he arrived at Phoenix’s house, her date also pulled up leaving Bradley to assume that there was never any drama in the first place. You then excuse yourself to head into the back garden with Moose just to go over some training with him while Bradley and Jake watch from the back door. Bradley wraps his arms around Jake’s waist from behind and rests his chin on Jake’s shoulder.
“She’s a really good driver you know? Nailed everything.” Bradley mumbles before pressing a kiss to Jake’s neck.
“I bet. She can show me what she worked on later if she’s up to it.” Jake agrees, smiling as Bradley’s kisses make their way up to his jaw.
“I am also calling it now; she’s passing on her first try.” Bradley then says, watching as Jake nods in agreement, unable to find any way to disagree.
And as it turned out, Bradley was right.
taglist (comment or ask to be added):
@zbeez-outlet @kaceywithak @tsnelf7 @starkleila @cassadilasworld @shanimallina87 @madstxo @chaoticassidy @padsdarlg @lauraseresin @alohastitch0626
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mbari-blog · 8 months
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Secrets of the Octopus Garden revealed!
Just offshore of Central California, deep below the ocean’s surface, thousands of octopus gather near an extinct underwater volcano. Welcome to the Octopus Garden, the largest known aggregation of octopus anywhere in the world.
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In a new study published today in Science Advances, a team of researchers from MBARI, NOAA's Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the University of New Hampshire, and the Field Museum confirmed that deep-sea pearl octopus gather at the Octopus Garden to mate and nest. 
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Female octopus nest in cracks and crevices bathed by warm water. Using high-tech tools, including many instruments designed by MBARI engineers, the team revealed how warmth from deep-sea thermal springs accelerates the development of octopus eggs. Scientists believe the shorter brooding period increases a hatchling octopus’ odds for survival.
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The size of the Octopus Garden—likely more than 20,000 total octopus nests—and the abundance of other marine life that thrives there underscore the need to understand and protect the hotspots of life on the deep seafloor from threats like climate change and seabed mining. Learn more on our website.
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tgmsunmontue · 3 months
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You need to learn how to fall 2/10
Hangster (and IceMav) - Bradley is too tall to be a naval aviator and instead becomes a sky diver, specialising in spin recovery. He is a civilian contractor to the Airforce and Navy to teach pilots how to survive parachute spins from ejections. A more in-depth version of this post.
PROLOGUE
2003-2006 – The early years
                “Your son is very focused. His discipline is admirable. He’s going to go far. He’s going to be our youngest certified tandem skydiver.”
                Pete’s throat works, because it’s not the first time someone has called Bradley his, but hearing someone else talk about his skill… to sound impressed not only with Bradley but also as a reflection of Pete’s own efforts. He didn’t realize he needed someone external telling him he’d done a good job, but here it is anyway.
                “I’m Navy. He’s been brought up in a fairly disciplined household.”
                “He mentioned that actually. He never thought about joining the service?”
                “He’s too tall.”
                “What?”
                “To be a naval aviator. I’m a naval aviator.”
                “Clearly didn’t get his height from you.”
                “No…” Pete says dryly, doesn’t bother mentioning the convoluted relationship that he and Bradley have.
                “So what, he jumps out of planes instead of flying them?”
                “Oh, he can fly them too. He’s been flying since he was 14. Perk of having a whole bunch of honorary uncles willing to fly him up and getting him his flight hours. Unfortunately he can’t both pilot the plane and then jump out of it,” Pete says.
                “He’s a lucky kid.”
                Mav hopes he remains lucky.
…             …             …
                It’s become second nature, either of them able to also carry out the safety checks and make sure that Bradley has definitely done everything. He never misses anything and it soothes a part of Tom, knowing Bradley takes his own health and safety seriously. There is no cutting corners or rushing through anything. They never talk about Goose, but he wonders if he thinks about his father every time he checks the stitching for wear, every time he runs his hands over the fabric and checks for tears before rolling it carefully to ensure it unfurls correctly while he’s plummeting toward the earth.
                They all learn about static lines and accelerated freefall, and things have changed since he was in flight school. The materials they use now are much more durable. All of Bradley’s gifts are centered around skydiving. Tom becomes fairly knowledgeable around the entire process, another set of regulations to add to his already encyclopedic knowledge of Naval regulations. He somehow becomes friendly with a couple of the higher ups in the FAA and he becomes known around the airstrip as Ice, most people not realizing exactly who he is. He admits it to himself that he likes it, that he’s just a guy who knows a lot about planes. Added to that is the US Parachute Association and Tom has a new map in his study showing all the drop zones in the state as well as the neighboring states.
                Neither of them had intended to become this involved but neither of them say anything to each other. Tom has had to check with several people about potential conflicts of interest, but it’s agreed that he is, first and foremost, a naval aviator, so if he wants to fly a private plane on his own time that’s allowable, as long as he’s meeting all the FAA regulations. The FAA make a special dispensation (his new friends doing him this favor), allowing them to sign off flight hours, but neither of them are officially instructors. They do both become FAA-certified parachute riggers though.
                It’s through one guy he knows in the FAA that he acquires the hangar. It’s an old Navy one, but Pete’s been making noises about wanting to renovate a P-51 Mustang he keeps seeing for sale, but how he’s got nowhere to keep it. They could store another plane there too, Bradley’s sky-diving one in the future. It seems like it’s definitely going to happen, Bradley making a business plan and presenting it to them and asking to have his parent’s life insurance money to help him purchase a plane. Tom can give their planes a home, so he purchases the hangar and gives it to them a joint fortieth birthday gift for Mav and graduation present for Bradley.
                A different plane comes into their life a little earlier than anticipated, although none of them have to buy it. Pete comes to an agreement with one of Bradley’s instructors. They’ll store the plane in their currently empty hangar in exchange for being able to use it to take Bradley up for jumps, paying for fuel and carrying out the checks and maintenance. Somehow word gets around – there are two pilots capable of signing off flight hours. They can count as solo flights as they aren’t instructors. Others wanting to jump out of planes arrange times with Bradley.
                He hasn’t spent so much time in the air since flight school and he loves every moment, regardless of whether he’s piloting or doing the checks before Bradley does his jumps. His relationship with Mav has settled into an easier less-volatile thing, maybe his promotion to Rear Admiral has made him feel less threatened by the potential fallout if anyone decides to voice their concerns about his relationship with Pete.
…             …             …
                “I’ve done it. The five-hundred jumps, more than three years in sky diving, done more than fifty jumps in the last year, got my medical and I’ve got more than 8 hours of freefall time logged. I can apply for the Tandem course now…”
                “Proud of you. You’ve been working towards this for a long time.”
                “Thank you! For taking me up and buying the hangar, and just… thank you so much. I know you and Mav both don’t really get it, but you’ve never made me feel like I didn’t have your support this entire time.”
                “It’s what parents do. Good parents that is.”
                He throws his arms around Ice then, hugs him tightly and doesn’t let go.
                “The best parents.”
2007-2010 - The middle years (NEXT PART)
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xx-lemon-drop-xx · 1 year
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Warnings: fem! Reader, mentions of bullying, weight, blood, being punched and getting punched etc.
Request: Yes.
Words: 1,795
-Riddle Rosehearts-
•You dare to bully his s/o? Off with your head! No but literally. Riddle is hunting down the person who did this to you and giving them hell in every way possible that doesn't break the school rules.
•When he'd first gotten a call telling him you were in trouble due to punching someone in the nose, Riddle was seething. Perhaps a suitable punishment would be having you read and write down 400 out of the 810 rules of the queen of hearts. Hmm, yes that sounds excellent.
•His mood got even more sour when he entered the nurses room to see them bandaging your bloodied knuckles with you crying, blabbering about how they said you were fat and how you'd get in trouble with your boyfriend.
•“Who?” It was a simple demand from him for their names or their looks. How dare they hurt his rose. Riddle had grabbed Trey from his activities to sit with you while he tracked down these students to report them to the headmage.
•This red Bakugo had borderline threatened to have Cater post online how bad Crowley was as a principal if he didn't get these students kicked from the school.
•Lesson learned: Don't mess with Riddle's girlfriend.
•In the aftermath, Riddle will pamper you. He’ll make you some tea, make you some sweets (W/Trey’s help) and take care of your injuries himself. There's a lot of reassurance that leaves your usually hot-headed boyfriend's lips. On how perfect you look, or how cute you look despite his embarrassment of admitting it.
•He’s by your side until he makes sure your mental health is fine and your injuries have healed.
-Leona Kingscholar-
•Literally busts down your door asking if you beat their asses.
•Doesn't matter how you answer. He's sending off some henchmen of his to beat their asses a second time if you've already done so. No one messes with his Herbivor. He’ll make sure to visit them for a third beatdown in his own time.
•Leona doesn't go to the teachers in the school or to Crowley for help. This is between him and the assholes that decided to beat you up and harass you about your looks. He’s giving them hell, regardless of if you wanted him to or not.
•He doesn't pamper you as much as some of the other dorm leaders would. But if you want something he'll send Ruggie out to get it for you.
•Leona cuddles you more than he did before. Fuck school, you can get back onto your studies after your well rested and in a better state of mind. He's not going to let you go anywhere without him for a while.
•Congratulations, you've unlocked grumpy bodyguard Leona. You better make sure people don't look at you for too long at one time.
•If you have any leftover injuries from the fight, Leona is surprisingly good at tending to your wounds and patching you up. Of course, he's not the gentlest person, so don't complain to him if he's holding your tiny wrist a bit too hard while tending to you.
-Azul Ashengrotto-
•Have you ever heard of blackmail? Well, he has, and he knows how to do it at an expert level. Perhaps you should start feeling bad for your bullies.
•It certainly wasn't a fun matter to receive letters stating their name, house address, and their Parents and/or siblings names, including their biggest secret. It was a well written threat: Mess with (Name) and get outed.
•Of course Azul did turn to Idia’s hacking skills to find out where they lived. It was a fun little project for him. Especially for Floyd and Jade when they were sent out by him to deal with some “Funny business.” 
•Azul is also someone who reports these kids to Crowley and gets them kicked out of the school. He understands bullying all too well due to going through it himself and he’d be damned if he sat back and watched it happen.
•He creates a potion that's like a cream to help heal your injuries at an accelerating rate. Of course you need to do nothing in return for him for this cream, think of it as your loving boyfriend helping you get better. 
•If it makes you feel better about your looks or your weight, Azul will go out of his comfort zone and crack open the picture book of him as a child. Once again, he knows how this feels and he wants you to know you are not alone in this struggle.
•Azul definitely pampers you in his own way. He takes care of your homework, makes you food, and hell if you want to see his mer form he's all too happy to let you. For the week you're getting better, if you ask he'll lay off his work for you too for a bit.
-Kalim Al-Asim-
•Why’s his little sunflower crying? 
•Hands down, coddles you. Kalim is up your ass from the moment you walked into the room injured. His little feelings can’t take the fact someone would want to hurt his girl just because of weight or looks. He cries. Immediately.
•Kalim doesn’t hold you, you hold Kalim. It's Jamil that reports the bullies you punched while Kalim Hugs you half to death for the next three days. While he does try his best to wrap up and tend to your injuries it's also clear he doesn't know what the hell he's doing.
•In The end it's Jamil that's correctly tending  to your bloodied knuckles and the bruises and scratches on your body while Kalim grabs you some of the soup Jamil had cooked for dinner. After dinner Kalim presents you with desserts before diving head first into your chest to cuddle you.
•When hearing that Crowley wasn't going to kick out the students that bullied you, that's when things got serious. Kalim, with the help of another dorm head (Azul) Confronted the mage.
•It ended smoothly when they (Mostly Azul), had blackmailed the Headmage to the point where he had no other option but to expel the students. That or be outed on magicam about how horrible of a principal he was.
•Kalim throws a party for you at the end of it all. A “Congratulations on getting rid of your bullies party.” What a kicker.
-Vil Schoenheit-
•Someone hurt his little spuddling??
•Oh, This means war.
•Don't you worry, (Name), Rook will deal and dispose of those poor insignificant worms. Vil busies himself tending to your cuts and bruises, Blowing on the anti-peroxide he’d dripped onto the cuts to disinfect them.
•Ngl, Vil curses those peasants. Every day for the next three weeks they'll be waking up consistently throughout the night unable to get the slightest bit of rest. 
•Vil doesn’t pamper you as much as Kalim or Azul would but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t pamper you. Vil gives you gentle massages and checks up on you in between classes, making sure they don’t mess with you again. He gives you lotion and creams, and he does face masks with you. 
•Obviously those bullies didn’t have any style, because to Vil you drip looks just as much as you seem to drip food crumbs everywhere you go. Though, he doesn’t mind the mess in the end, (As much as he seems to.)
•He also has Rook secretly trail after you when he’s not around, just in case something happens again. Vil likes to be in control of the situation.
-Idia Shroud-
•This man has a set of rules. And those rules are to avoid direct confrontation by all means necessary, and to stay cooped up in his room for as long as humanly possible. In none of those rules was Idia prepared to deal with bullies. Much less bullies that are bullying his s/o.
 •When you come into his room with Ortho following you in with bandages and neosporin, he was shocked. “(N-Name) What happened!?” 
•Bullies- Something he was eerily familiar with. Of course, he won’t be addressing them directly, though hacking their devices and uploading a virus is a wonderful option. A wonderful option he follows out with.
•Idia also leaves Crowley a… less than family friendly email, along with a video of the evidence of you being harassed and being hit first. Crowley can’t pin anything on you for punching your bullies- since yours was in self defense.
•Idia games with you sitting in his lap. While making sure you had plenty of snacks and drinks, he also made sure you were getting an adequate amount of sleep and your injuries were tended too before anything else. It would be inconvenient if the cuts were to get infected.
•He forces you to do online schooling in his room with him for the week while Crowley straightens out this issue.
•Idia is happy with the extra time you both get together, all while tending to you during it. Of course, that doesn't mean he’ll stop gaming for you either.
-Malleus Draconia-
•Those bullies dared to speak bad about his s/o? More so they Touched you? Ohhhh this does not fly with Malleus.
•He doesn’t understand how such imbeciles could even dare to look in your direction. They do know you're dating one of the five most powerful mages known in history, correct?  
•Lilia needed to stop him from murdering those scoundrels, so instead, Malleus has them arrested. Yep, you heard that correctly. They were arrested. Malleus simply heals your wounds with the snap of his fingers. 
•He treats you like a princess. You get what you want and exactly what you want the moment you want it. He pampers you like he's the king of pampering. Only him and Lilia get to tend to any wounds you have.
•If you want, he will have Lilia teach you some things about self defense.
•Please lay with him and give him some nice snuggles. He’ll bring out his tail and wrap the appendage around you while you cuddle up to each other. Doesn’t mind if you hold or feel up his horns either. He’s all yours for the taking.
•Malleus will prepare you a fancy bath with petals, wine and lit candles to help relax and soothe you. This man will do anything for you, even if that's running across the world for you.
•Malleus praises you to be brave enough to punch and fight back against your harassers every day. It's something he wants you to feel proud about and know that he’s proud of you for doing so as well.
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metamindsblog · 1 month
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Accelerated Learning , Study Examination Skills Canberra, Sydney - metamind
Accelerated Learning , Study Examination Skills, Stress and Depression Treatment in Sydney Canberra stands at the forefront - metamind
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normal-horoscopes · 2 years
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The city of Hayek North Dakota does not exist. 
In august of 1909, IRS headquarters in washington D.C. was damaged by fire. No employees were hurt, but important financial archives suffered significant damage. Three years later, construction began on The IRS Archival Warehouse 1 in the city of Hayek North Dakota. As of writing, IRSAW1 spans more than 1.4 Million square feet, with the surrounding town spanning more than 28 square miles. 
Declassification is pending, but modern scholars believe that early experiments into “financial clairvoyance” were conducted at IRSAW1. With the clarity of hindsight, the facility was almost perfectly situated for hypnofinantial experimentation. Not only was the facility one of the first in the US to make use of hypnophone technology for accelerated learning, but the remote location and high security created an atmosphere of monastic isolation and boredom. If this weren’t enough, the nearby illicit pharmaceutical hotspot of White Rapids provided employees with extensive access to psychoactives. Contact with the sub-finantial background grid was all but inevitable. 
Preliminary experiments were conducted in utility closets modified with soundproofing, usually with a large comfortable chair placed at the center. While this method was a serviceable approximation of modern sensory deprivation protocol, researchers quickly noticed a strange pattern: some closets provided significantly more accurate results. 
At first, this was thought to be the result of differences in soundproofing, as the closets themselves were uniform concrete squares. Once soundproofing protocol was standardized, researchers realized that results improved dramatically the closer the subject was to the building’s lobby. The architecture itself was a factor.
It was at this point that the building’s architect was arrested, briefed, and brought onboard as a member of senior research staff. Fredrick Takács, later described by agents as a “quivering little Hungarian” was an urban planner and architect known for his signature gold-and-concrete “deco-haus” style. His input would prove invaluable. Takács’s work would form the bedrock of the field now known as Hypnoarchitecture. 
An incredible breakthrough. In december of 1970, researchers discovered that the unique gold alloy plating favored by Takács acted as a relay for delta-wave radiation. With this knowledge, researchers were able to increase the breadth, accuracy, and stability of hypnofinantial precognition to a level previously thought impossible. In may of 1970, construction began on extensive modifications to IRSAW1.
Hayek North Dakota does not have citizens. Its homes are unfurnished concrete, and were never occupied. The entire “town” of Hayek North Dakota was, in reality, a colossal sub-finantial delta-band antenna built around the former site of IRSAW1. The perimeter of the area now known as the Dakota Exclusion Zone is patrolled 24/7 by the National Guard. Current estimates say that spending even 48 hours inside the EZ would result in lethal psychoeconomic damage.
Study is ongoing. 
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Little Miss Perfect
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TW: Smut. Language. Cheating on Topper. 
Fem!Reader x Sarah Cameron.
SUMMARY: Your lust for Sarah reaches a fever pitch that puts your forbidden relationship at risk of exposure. 
WORD COUNT: 1200
*ORIGINAL CONCEPT*
Little Miss Perfect
She truly was perfect. A quick study that left her acing any test in record time. A fashionista with a tendency to blaze any trail without the means to do so. Passion and drive to any and all endeavors, both socially and professionally. And yet, nobody knew this better than you. Because you had adored her from the moment you met her. But more specifically, you knew that the title of being 'Little Miss Perfect' couldn't have been farther from the truth. 
You learned this in the same way you discovered how she preferred spearmint gum in contrast to any other flavor. And it was a taste you knew well. 
"But Topper is somewhere outside…" You explained as you were taken to an otherwise vacant bedroom where her lips and hands were quick to remind you why you risked everything to begin with. Even if her reputation would wear more of a stain if you were discovered, your own goody-two-shoes existence would certainly be soiled on the exposure. 
"And still, all I want is to feel you…"
She urged as she pushed you softly against the wall beside the bedroom door. Her hands began at your hips and made the slow ascension to your breasts as you moaned against her. 
"Let me see them…" You pulled the straps of your dress loose, exposing your lace clad breasts as she nodded. 
"So perfect…and all for me?" You nodded. Nobody else could feel like her. Her kisses were soft at your skin and her touch was ethereal. A contradiction to everything you wanted and didn't know you needed as she knew exactly how to make you tremble for her. 
At a leisurely pace she would fondle your breast as you groaned. 
"Oh God…"
"I haven't even touched you yet…" She smirked against your chest as she teased her tongue along the rim of your bra. Her finger dipped into the rival cup to brush your eager nipple as her grin widened to your body's desperations made against her. 
"Please touch me." 
She taunted a kiss before dipping one hand into your bra as your mouth widened to her touch. As if it has been the heat from fire itself, the intensity of her grip made you mewl beneath her touch. 
"Ahh…" 
"I want to kiss them a little bit…But then I'll take care of you. You know I love feeling how wet you are for me…"
"Sarah, I'm soaked…" You moaned.
"I'd give you my panties to wear home, but your little moans are ruining mine too." She kissed your moans silent as her lips wrapped around your breast. She was tender but teasing pain by the graze of her teeth over your nipple. It was distracting enough to keep from noticing her hand dipping into your shorts. 
"Sarah!"
"I love when you say my name…especially when moaning…" She kissed your breast harder, moving to the other one, as her fingers moved softly between your lower lips. 
"You weren't kidding, you ARE soaked…for me?"
"You're so beautiful…" You confessed as you felt her guide your hand to her. 
"And seeing you like this has made me SO wet…mmm…" She began to groan to the acceleration of your touch. 
"I want a taste…" She withdrew her fingers and brought them to her lips, sucking you from her digits as you swallowed hard. But your reservations melted as she parted from you and sat on the edge of the bed. 
"Seeing you all day in this little bikini has made me think of exactly what I wanted to do to you once we were alone…" She confessed as your eyes remained trained to her. 
"It's enough to make me wanna come right now…Watching everyone look at you like that…knowing I get to feel you…kiss you…oh my god…just thinking about it is gonna make me-" Her full lips parted in awe as her chest began to heave. 
"You want to see?" She asked but you stood between her legs, forcing them wider by your hands, before you lowered to your knees. 
"I want a taste." You didn't give her the benefit of an option before you were buried between her thighs. Just as sweet as she appeared had been that taste. 
"I'm so close already!" She gasped as her name was changed on the other side of the door. 
"Sarah? What are you doing in there?" Topper asked as you hesitated for only a moment before feeling her ride softly against your lips. Using this as a silent confirmation to continue, you pulled the bikini top loose from her chest before kissing her breasts while fingering her within the panties you'd pulled aside to feast. 
"Oh my fucking God!" She mouthed. 
"Are you alone in there?" He pounded on the door. 
"Please…he'll barge in here…" You turned to the door, wiping your mouth before letting out a sigh. 
"What are two doing?" He asked as you flared at him. 
"Girl talk." In his attempt to view her, you blocked the door. 
"Let me in then-"
"She isn't decent."
"She's my girlfriend." He reminded you. 
"I'm not decent!" You explained as his eyes shot to the side. "So unless you want to be scarred for life by seeing your sister-" His hands shot up in surrender. 
"Just finish up whatever you guys are doing." You closed the door before he stopped talking, to turn and find her listing two fingers into herself. 
"Impatient little Sarah?"
"It's so hot how he couldn't have seen this…How wet you make me…how close I am to coming for you right now…"
"How close?" You asked as she already had her legs wider. 
"Oh…"
"I swear I could-" You interrupted her by taking your fingers between her legs to replace her own. But where she was slow to savor each volt, you were more direct. 
"Oh my God! I'm gonna come!"
You kissed her passionately. "And I'm going to get to watch you…feel you…"
"You're next." She groaned as you nodded. 
"I better be." You bit her lip teasingly before feeling her wrap a hand around her wrist. 
"YES! OH FUCK! IM…" Her body released that tension. The unintentional seductions you'd made against her had amounted to this as you relished in her spent appearance. This was how she was perfect to you. Where others saw her flawless skin as desirable, you adored it when it glossed in perspiration from a failed attempt to remain quiet. 
"It's your turn." She moved over you until your back came flat against the bed. 
"YOU are going to come for me now. Maybe twice. Maybe on my face…But first…" She returned the favor of fingers to your sex as your eyes rolled immediately. 
"You're gonna be good for me and be quiet…can't have your brother knowing how well you take my fingers."
"Just like we can't let your boyfriend know how well you bend them-" You gasped. "Just like that!" 
"Then be quiet."
"Then slow down." You whined. 
"Not after having to wait all day. You're mine…"
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MASTERLIST
SARAH CAMERON MASTERLIST
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transmechanicus · 10 months
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Mankind is incapable of sorcery. This is not a value judgement or an act of prideful gatekeeping, but a statement of fact. On levels genetic, morphologic, and cognitive mankind is constrained in ways that prevent their inherent biological application of magic. They lack crucial genes shielding them from the potent radiation of extradimensional forces. Their joints are too restrictive, their number of limbs too few. The spectrum of their senses is far too narrow, and rare is the human mind that can comprehend the complex underlying theorems required to do more than poorly imitate the might of sorcerers of other species. Many a human fool has sought to grasp at magic and has been twisted by bone breaking, gut wrenching gravitic forces as their flesh burns and bleeds from within.
The motions of witches and spellcasters are not entirely an act of control, but also rather the expression of self distorting and intractable forces being exerted in exchange for miracles manifested by complexity of one’s mind. This lesson was slow in taking for humans, but it was one they overcame with typical determination.
First was the creation of the psycho-frame, a device that could divert the locus of magical catalysis to an artificial point, allowing humans to cast magic through more resilient and adaptable proxy constructs. Following several centuries later was mankind’s first artificial witch, an AI synthesis of machine learning and simulated replicas of human brains.
This latter creation revolutionized human control of magic, allowing its use on a significantly expanded and coordinated scale, as well as its study and analysis by their symbiotic machine organisms for the first time. It was not long after that humans began utilizing magic as their primary means of FTL, being less resource intensive than the temporally compressed accelerators they used prior. Now every interstellar ship had a meadow of proxy sorcerers on its bow, exerting the will of a God Machine at the vessels heart, tearing open reality to carry mankind to vistas far and grand.
There upon those distant horizons they found such beauty, but in far greater frequency horrors beyond count. Beings evolved from their first fusing of cells in parts of the galaxy saturated by dimensional bleed and convinced of their cultural and biological supremacy as masters of witch physics. Cities arranged upon worlds for the conduction of sacrificial spells by entire planetary populations. Planetary bodies were torn asunder from systems away, and the flow of time upon stars and their orbits was twisted to send human populated worlds towards disaster at the will of alien cult magi. Moon sized inter-system super predators blasted lightning and neuron burning insanity at any human ship that dared enter their conception of territory, hunting mankind’s vessels like fish in a vast black sea.
There was no counter to such things, not that could be mustered quickly or reliably. Ship designs were altered from the colossal Void Arks carrying entire cities of military, governmental, and civilian crew, to stripped down Witness Frigates run only by a Demigod class AI and a brave few humans to accompany them in mankind’s efforts to chart the stars. Only when a system was thoroughly explored and catalogued directly would any further Arks be sent. So into the black were sent thousands of unblinking mechanical eyes and beating hearts.
What do you think they found?
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umbraastaff · 1 year
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Occasionally, the Starblaster lands in a place that's actually receptive to their dire warnings. On one such world, with their society being accelerated by the Light of Creation, they even began making plans for how to combat the Hunger.
Barry goes to visit a convene a few months into the year, and finds them developing and honing skills they'll need to detect the Hunger - and to fight it when it arrives. To keep its destruction at bay until it follows the ship to the next planar system.
The skills they train are unlike anything he's seen before. Their healing appears as divine as any cleric's, but without the aid of gods - so cutting off the Celestial Plane won't stop their magic. And they fight, too, infusing that same magic into their weapons, powered by the force of their belief. They call themselves Watchers.
Barry trains with them, just the basics. They teach him how to draw power from the force of belief. From the memory of the Hunger consuming his world, and the promise that he'll do anything to stop it consuming others.
Anything.
Lup would do anything. He's sure. They're all incredibly fortunate to have someone like her onboard - someone who wouldn't ever let them destroy a world just to make this easier (and oh, he wasn't there, but he knows he would have been on Davenport's side about destroying the crystal).
He doesn't take the oath. He can see the way it codifies their belief into reality - the way it powers them, makes their souls divine. He wants to be that person, but he isn't. He doesn't put this foreign world above himself.
(But still, the magic takes to him. His senses sharpen to the Hunger's influence, letting him catch sight of the scouts without Blink. He can raise friends from unconscious mid-fight with just enough healing magic. He's dedicated, he believes, even if he won't commit and tie his soul to it.)
--
For a time, he leaves it there. There's so, so much to do and learn and see on this journey. He stays a level one rogue while Magnus trains up more dexterity and stealth, and he stays a level one paladin too, for now.
On Faerûn, Barry commits hard to an imperfect plan. And when he falls, already dead, from the ship, he already knows - on top of finding her - that he's going to have to defend it.
He's trapped in a cave for months at a time. The thing about plans is it doesn't really take three months to concoct one, no matter how granular he gets (and really, he needs to stop himself getting too detailed - it's hard enough getting his living self to follow basic instructions exactly how he wants). So he takes up other studies in the meantime.
He can't use weapons as a ghost, but he can practice the movements, ingrain the knowledge into pockets of 'muscle' memory. He's no cleric, but he can study their magic, see the ways their spells overlap with that training he underwent all that time ago.
He won't risk asking any god on Faerûn for help with the Raven Queen after him - he's not close with one like Merle is - but he already knows he can pull similar magic from inside himself. And some of the most basic spells look really useful, when he's only ever had wizard spells before.
Even when he doesn't remember, when he's just some guy who couldn't cast a spell to save his life, he feels it: the promise, the belief that drives him. He doesn't remember where he learned to fight, but he knows how to move a weapon like it's a part of his body. He knows when he's really, truly desperate, when his adventuring party of the week is on its last legs, his weapon glows with that fury and hits harder than it ever should otherwise.
--
He appears in his workshop feeling sick and furious, lightning lashing off him. All he can hear is their voices, so casually dismissing the dead guy they'd found the umbrastaff on.
Lucretia knows too. She must know, and she hasn't done anything about it -- still leaves Taako without the knowledge of just how fucking important that thing should be to him.
He drags himself back to some semblance of composure, ignoring the new burns and cracks he's put in the walls. Lup is out there somewhere. Lup still exists in this world, along with Merle's children and Magnus'... well, extended in-laws, and--
And she wouldn't let them flee this world, not with their families rooted here, and she wouldn't let Lucretia destroy this world.
And neither will he.
He's going to find her. He's going to bring them all together. He just needs their trust, and he's sure some echo of that century will get them to listen to him. He can bring everyone together, and once he does that, they'll find some way through this. They always do.
The bonds that tether his soul pull taut, burning now with divinity in the heart of an unholy abomination. He knows now how to change the shape of his soul, how to let its form twist around newfound power.
On the discipline of a decade's routine, on sleepless vigilance, on undying loyalty, he swears his oath.
This world will not be consumed.
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