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ladykailitha · 2 months ago

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You're a Dream to Me Part 2

Woohoo! I love the response the first part got for this! Keep it up! I loved every like, comment, and reblog!

In this one we have the only chapter without a dream at the start, but we get see Eddie and Steve's lives without each other.

Part 1

To say Steve hadn’t ended up where he thought he would when he was in high school was an understatement. He had imagined working for his dad at the consulting firm he owned. But when he hit college and met Robin working at the on campus ice cream shop. The school’s mascot was the Buccaneers and so the place was called Scoop’s Ahoy.

They hadn’t started off as friends, but after being locked together in the back of the shop when a bomb threat had been called into the school, they came out of it as best buds.

He had decided after that that he didn’t want to do work for someone else, he wanted to own his own business and like the universe was looking out for him, after he had graduated from college he had come home and learned that the local bookstore was looking to sell.

And as much as Clint Harrington would have preferred his son with him, owning his own business was still in line with what he wanted for his son, so he didn’t think anything of it. That was until Steve turned it into a liberal arts bookstore with a strong leaning toward the LGBTQ+ community.

That was the final straw for the elder Harrington, cutting Steve off without a thought or so much as a backward glance. But what Clint hadn’t realized was that the trust fund had been setup by his grandparents and that the only access Clint had to it was to put money in and not take anything out, so Steve took the money from the trust fund and built the bookstore to what it was now, a thriving hub for the lost souls of Hawkins.

So when he said he loved his job, he meant it. But it wasn’t easy. He had a constantly revolving door of high schoolers who worked for him in the afternoons. But the mornings were tended to by Robin or him. Today it was him.

She would be by around ten coffee and donuts in hand. Vickie was a fifth grade social studies and band teacher. Which is why she hadn’t been grumpy with the wake up call this morning. She had already been at work for an hour by the time Steve had called.

He got to work opening up his store, happily humming some tune that was always playing in the background of his soulmate dreams.

The bell above the door rang out signaling his first customer. Steve looked up and died a little inside. It wasn’t a customer, because that implied the person might make a purchase and this one never would.

“Mrs. O’Donnell,” Steve said warningly. “I’m pretty sure that Chief Hopper told you to stay out of my shop, so don’t make me call him.”

The old English teacher had retired the year prior and made her mission to terrorize the bookshop about the books they sold. She stopped in her tracks when she saw who was manning the shop today. “Where’s the girl?”

A sudden chill slid down his spine. “If you aren’t out of my shop by the time I finish dialing the cops, you’re going to regret that statement.” He picked up the phone and started dialing from memory.

She continued to stare him down. “This is public property, I can come and go as I wish. You can’t stop me.” She gathered her purse to her chest like a shield and stepped further into the store.

Steve raised an eyebrow. “One, stores are private property and two, you started throwing books off the shelves the last time you were here, and that’s destruction of property.”

The old bat stopped in her tracks for the second time and turned to him with an evil grin. “They’d be my property if I bought them, right?”

Steve snorted and ignored her. If she was really that stupid, he wasn’t going to correct her. “Hello, yes, this is Steve Harrington from Coming of Page. Yes, I’d like to report a trespass. That’s right. Kathleen O’Donnell is back. Mhmm...of course I’ll wait.”

He waited, but Mrs. O’Donnell did not. But according to Officer Callahan, they had picked her up only a couple of blocks from the shop.

“Are you really going to press charges against an old woman?” he asked when Steve brought it up.

“It’s either this or you find another way to keep her out of my shop,” he snapped. “Because it’s a bookshop. It’s not even the only bookshop in town there are three other small bookshops and a Waldon’s Bookseller in the mall. I’m not making bank and it was lucky insurance paid out for the damage she did last time. An actual fucking crime, no less!”

Callahan grumbled but was duty bound to arrest her. So when Robin came in with her coffee and donuts he was already ready to throw in the towel.

“I’m sorry, Steve,” she murmured after she heard about his morning. “I should have told you she was harassing me when you weren’t there, but I didn’t want to make a bid deal out of it.”

Steve gave her a hug. “I understand that, but with you not telling anyone it just gave her permission to keep doing it, okay?”

She nodded sadly. “I’ll be sure to call you the next time it happens.” She wrapped her arms around him and settled into the hug.

“Hopefully there won’t be a next time because the old bat will be in jail,” he said fiercely. “People are just so bigoted these days.”

She raised her head. “That certainly true. Let’s eat these donuts and drink this coffee and you can tell all about your dream hunk.”

Steve laughed. Then they did just that. They talked about the sound of his voice and the feeling of his broad chest pressed against back.

“Well it sounds like he’s finally coming around to the idea of you as his soulmate,” she said when he had finished telling her about every detail of the dream.

“Yeah,” Steve sighed wistfully. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

Later that day, Steve was humming a little tune and bopping to the music in his head when Dustin came in. Dustin still worked at the bookstore during his breaks from school for what Dustin called D&D money.

“Hey, I didn’t know you knew Corroded Coffin,” Dustin said as he clocked himself in at the computer. “That’s one of my favorites.”

Steve stopped what he was doing and turned to him. “I hear it in my soulmate dreams. My soulmate must be a huge fan.”

“Your soulmate is a metal fan?” Dustin said brightly. “That’s so cool!”

Steve just shook his head. Now that he knew the band his future soulmate liked, he would have to look them up to see what other songs might have been playing during his dreams.

“I’ll send you a link to all my favorites,” Dustin was saying. “And some other bands too, so that when you two finally meet, you aren’t totally a fish out of water with his tastes.”

“Thanks, bud!”

All the kids knew that Steve strongly suspected that his soulmate was a man. It made things easier for Mike and Will to get together as Mike had Steve to help work out his internalized homophobia.

He pulled out his phone when it went off to see that Dustin had done what he said he was going to do. He smiled fondly. Yeah, Mrs. O’Donnell could go kick rocks for all he cared, because he had his people.

Eddie was a professional above all else, especially when it came to his music, but there were days when he didn’t feel the music. Like he had been disconnected from the mainframe or like a puppet with its strings cut.

Jeff noticed it first. But that was because being on rhythm guitar he took his cues from Eddie so when the energy didn’t match their opening song he knew something was up. Brian and Gareth didn’t notice until about halfway through the third song when Eddie actually fucking missed a chord.

Gareth called a halt with his sticks, crossing them like an X to get the techs to stop, too.

“Okay, man,” Brian huffed, “what is with you today?”

“‘Cause if this about us teasing you about Steve,” Jeff said, gripping the body of his guitar, “we’re sorry. You are usually right there with us laughing about it.”

Eddie let out a long shuddering sigh and rubbed his chin. “It not just that. Because yeah, today I wasn’t in the mood to be teased about my long standing crush, but it was sleeping through my alarm, too. Getting yelled at first thing in the morning is exactly a recipe for a good day, you know?”

“Yeah,” Gareth said, “I’d be in a pretty shit mood, too.” The other two members nodded. “So why don’t we take a break, grab a smoke and clear our heads a bit?”

Eddie ran his fingers through his hair and let his eyes flutter shut. A cigarette did sound really good right now. “Yeah, and have one of the PAs run and get us some burgers. I didn’t have time to eat, so that might be affecting my mood too.”

So they took a break, had a smoke, got some food in their bellies and cleared their heads. They were all feeling a little better as they got on back on the stage to finish the sound check.

As Eddie was plugging in his guitar, Chrissy came up to him.

“Hey, you got a minute?” she asked. Eddie half shrugged, so she took that as sign a to continue. “I wanted to apologize for this morning. I heard a couple of the guys talking about how much it upset you and I shouldn’t have came in like a bull in a china shop, no matter how late you were.”

Eddie half shrugged again. “I’m an adult, Chris and you treated me like a child who was late for school. And I checked, no one had even tried calling me or texting me to see where I was. So yeah, I think I have a right to be pissed.”

Chrissy sighed. “I know. When I arrived and saw that you weren’t there I just stormed up on the war path and that wasn’t fair to you. So this me apologizing for it and I promise it won’t happen again, okay?”

Eddie nodded and then turned to Gareth and jutted his chin up to indicate that he was ready to go. Gareth counted out time on his sticks as Chrissy stepped back, chewing on her thumbnail.

She had royally fucked up this morning because she had a fight with Georgia this morning about how the two tours were going on at the same time and that it had been a deliberate choice for Chrissy to join Corroded Coffin instead of Lilith’s Little Monsters.

Which of course it had, Chrissy was their manager, but she wasn’t the one who had set the touring schedule that was the label, but no amount of explaining that did any good. So she had taken Eddie being late as a personal attack and went up there guns blazing. Which she really, really shouldn’t have done no matter what her own morning had been like.

She had known that the boys had gotten in super late and literally crashed into their beds and slept like the dead. She should have set up morning calls for all of them to make sure they were awake in time. But she hadn’t because she relied so heavily on Eddie’s need to be on time.

So she had set the tone for their morning and while their playing was vastly better than it been before the break, it wasn’t their best.

It was time to do some grovelling and not just with her band, but with her soulmate too. Since her boys were currently playing, she was going to start with her soulmate. She pulled out her phone and dialed Georgia.

“Hey, babe,” she murmured softly. “I’m sorry. You were right. I could have pushed a little harder so that the two tours wouldn’t line up, especially with Corroded Coffin having way more control with that sort of thing then most bands.”

“Oh, wow,” Georgia said, “I wasn’t expecting an apology, like ever. Thanks.”

Chrissy winced. “I know. I’m such a bitch. But I’m your bitch and I love you so much.”

“I love you too, honey,” Georgia laughed. “And I do know that it’s your job that you have to be there, I just rolled over in bed this morning and you weren’t there, so I chose violence.”

“I would have too,” Chrissy admitted. “We’re going to be in the same city at the same time for Boston, so I thought I would come woo my pretty wife and bring her flowers and the whole nine yards. How does that sound?”

“Sounds great,” Georgia breathed. “I’ve got to get to my sound check, but I love you.”

“Love you more,” Chrissy replied.

And then they said their goodbyes and hung up. Now to figure out how to make it up to Eddie.

She was going to have to do a lot of groveling to start. but she would figure it out.

Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10

Tag List: FIVE SLOTS REMAINING

1- @itsall-taken @estrellami-1 @zerokrox-blog @sadisticaltarts @dolphincliffs

2- @gregre369 @a-little-unsteddie @irregular-child @cryptid-system @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @forgottenkanji @dreamercec @blondie1006

5- @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @genderless-spoon @fearieshadow @thesecondfate

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @disrespectedgoatman

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8- @gutterflower77 @a-lovely-craziness @just-a-tiny-void @w1ll0wtr33 @beelze-the-bubkiss

9- @themoonagainstmers @eyehartart @tartarusknight @chaotic-waffle @dotdot-wierdlife

#my writing #stranger things #steddie #ladykailtiha writes #soulmate au #rockstar eddie munson #bookstore owner steve harrington

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ladyannemarie5 · 2 years ago

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Jaskier graduated summa cumme laude from the most prestigious university on the continent. He acts like a superficial and disinterested bard all the time, but from time to time he acts like what he is, a master of the 7 liberal arts: Grammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Geometry, Arithmetic, Music and Astronomy.

Geralt doesn't notice this until Radovid shows up.

Every now and then Jaskier would blurt out a nonsensical comment that usually isn't meant for anyone, other than Geralt with his great ear, to hear.

The prince, hears everything that comes out of the bard's mouth and it is surprising when he laughs at whatever Jaskier said to the bard's amazement. Most amazingly, Radovid responds with another nonsensical comment that makes Jaskier laugh.

Geralt looks at them with a frown. Jaskier stops his laughter and eagerly asks the prince if he has read the philosopher he was apparently quoting. Radovid launches into a story of how his private tutor forced him to read the philosopher and he subsequently became enchanted with the man's writings and read his work for his own pleasure.

The more they travel, the more that happens. It turns out that the apparent nonsense Jaskier occasionally spouted is actually quotes, references and facts from philosophers, poets, astronomers, mathematicians, etc., that he was taught in college or read himself. Radovid responds to each of them with charm and delight, because apparently, Radovid has read them all as part of his royal education.

Geralt is not jealous. He isn't. No matter what Ciri and Yennefer say. He just doesn't like being out of the joke, doesn't like both of them acting like others aren't there and having to listen to their academic conversations when no one but them seems to care.

He just doesn't like that Jaskier smiles like never every time Radovid quotes an old poet of yesteryear that no one but them has read, as if it's an inside joke, because there should be no secrets in their group. He also doesn't like it when Jaskier laughs so loud because that can attract monsters. He hates that Jaskier sits next to Radovid every night talking about boring books because they are mere humans and if something attacks them, then both will be in danger and Geralt will only be able to save one (cof cof Jaskier), it's simple strategy. And absolutely not jealous because the bard now asks the prince for his advice when he writes songs, it's just that was something that used to de-stress Geralt and now he can't sleep well anymore. It's simple comfort.

But it all finally goes to shit when Jaskier turns down Geralt's invitation to spend the winter in Kaer Morhen because stupid Radovid invited him to his castle on the coast where he apparently has the best collection of maritime astronomy on the continent.

Geralt spends all that winter stuck in the library of Kaer Morhen reading anything that might interest Jaskier other than bestiaries. He tries very hard not to think about his bard and the prince huddled in front of the fire looking up at the stars until late at night drinking wine, getting closer and closer and closer until…

No. He won't allow it. When he sees Jaskier in the spring, he'll be sure to casually mention everything he read in winter, he'll make a fool of the prince when Geralt shows his bard the ancient books he brought him from the Wolf school library (not that Vesemir needs to know what came out of his precious library).

He'll graduate summa cumme laude from freaking Oxenfurt if it means getting his bard's attention again.

#i love them sooo much #Jasker is a genius #i really believe Radovid is also a nerd #Geralt is jealous #Vesemir does not need to know that Geralt stole important books from the library for his bard.#the witcher #the witcher netflix #jaskier #radovid #geralt of rivia #radskier #geraskier #ficlet #bunny plot #ao3 fanfic

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formosusiniquis · 1 year ago

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Am I the Asshole?

Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington; Robin Buckley/Original Female Character(s); Steve Harrington/Original Character(s); Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson WC: 6052 | Rated: T | Tags: Modern AU, Reddit AU, Some AITA typical terrible people, QPR Steve & Robin, NB Steve, NB Robin AKA the Stobin AITA fic

r/AmITheAssshole u/HufflepuffHero94 9yrs ago AITA for being concerned about my girlfriends living situation?

Context: My (20F) girlfriend (18F) is amazing. She's a polyglot linguistics major, speaks three languages fluently and she's completely self-taught, a genius basically. We go to the same college (Midwestern Liberal Arts college) where we met in the marching band. Now R, my girlfriend, is from a small town. Like the kind of small town that they make jokes about in sitcoms, she isn't really online (so I'm not worried about her seeing this) because she claims they didn't even have the internet until she was in high school. She isn’t really “out” because of this. It’s like she lives in this semi-closeted space like some kind of TV queerbait character. It's not really a problem, I mean she’ll tell people we’re dating if they ask and all of our marching band friends know but when I ask about it she says it’s because it wasn’t really safe in her hometown growing up. But it’s 2014 not 1980…

Even though R is a freshman she’s in special accommodations. Instead of living in the dorms like the school usually requires she’s got a small, studio apartment just off of campus. A perk considering how awful living in the dorms is. R is a pretty private person and super studious. Most of our dates have been in the library or a study date at the coffee place on campus. She’s not big on PDA, she says she’s trying to get better at it but she’s still only sort of out and I’m her first real girlfriend. I was psyched when she asked me if I wanted to go with her to her apartment to study, said her best friend had a never fail study method that she was eager to try (and when she told me what it was I was pretty eager too).

R can’t drive, so when I pull into the parking lot of her complex she notices something and says her roommate hasn’t left for work yet. I’m a little confused because like I said she lives in a studio apartment, but she just brushes it off and says something about asshole parents and this being what they could afford when some money fell through. She’s sent me snaps from her place, so I know it’s pretty cozy so I tell her it’s fine. Obviously I’m concerned about what the set up is going to be like when we get up there but she insists that dingus (her words) will only be there for another couple minutes before they have to leave for work and that Stevie (again her words) is her best friend in the world. They moved here together from the same small town or something.

To give R credit, she’s definitely done the best she can with the space. When I walked it it definitely felt as homey as it does in her pictures. The door opened up into the kitchen and living room and she’s got those spaces divided off from the beds with one of those Chinese paper divider thingies. Anyway to make a long story short it turns out her roommate and best friend Stevie is actually a whole dude (19). He comes out, gives her a look and asks her if “us girls are planning a sleepover” and if he should make himself scarce for the evening. R says she doesn’t give him shit when his “special friends” come over and after that I kinda stopped listening. I slipped off into the apartment looking for the bathroom and that’s when I saw how their “bedroom” was set up. Twin beds INCHES apart, they might as well be sharing the same one.

Here’s where I might be the asshole. When her “friend” finally cleared out I told her the truth. I didn’t know how comfortable I was hanging out in her place where she lives with a guy. I do live in the dorms but I’ve got a single right now. I asked her to move in with me so she wouldn’t have to be in this situation. I guess it maybe sounded like I was dissing her friend, which I was but I didn’t mean for it to sound like that. I just think it’s weird that she won’t come out to anyone and is also living with some guy! I told her I wasn’t interested in being an experiment and if things were serious then she would want to move in with me.

That’s when she kicked me out and called me an asshole. But really I don’t think I’m being a dick for being concerned that she might just be jerking me along while she plays lesbian so she can tell her boyfriend about it at home. Even if nothing is going on I'm just worried that living in this kind of environment isn't safe for her. I mean this guy is probably just pretending to be her friend to get in her pants, I think the fact that they're from the same small town means she can't see that. I really think she would be better off if she moved into the dorms with me aita?

u/otpsnotbrotps NTA

u/foreplayisntreal NTA guys and girls can't be friends. If she even is a lez and a katy perry wannabe then roomie is just biding his time til she's ready to be converted

Read the rest on AO3

#stobin month 2024 #day 10 modern #steve and robin #platonic stobin #it's still day 10 somewhere shhh i know it's late #minor steddie #steve harrington #robin buckley #my fic #stobin fic #stranger things fic

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taschamonnii · 2 years ago

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Say Anything Part 2 - Virginity is a Social Construct

You x Zibby (Elizabeth ‘Zibby” Liberal Arts - Elizabeth Olsen)

SMUT 18+

Read Part 1

Summary: This is a sequel to my little story “Say Anything”. I just feel like Zibby deserves to have sex and like a glorious and beautiful first time.

TW: SMUT 18+

Here is the title song: Say Anything by Girl in Red

Read on Ao3

AN: Zibby is way too precious not to get a sweet and romantic first time while also breaking social constructs down because virginity is fucked and that was the only beef I had with Liberal Arts like yes he was older (like way older… too old to be playing with her like that) and I didn’t really want them to have sex but the way he went about it freaking out on her when she told him it would be her first time was shit. I also really wanted to write this for all you girlies who are stuck in your heads about your own virginity, especially the baby gays who are worried about the first time. I promise women are understanding and patient and if they are not then you don’t want to be doing anything with them. Communication is key. Let me start by saying it is your business if you even want to share that information with someone. But if you do share that information it should not be a huge deal like society makes it out to be you don’t lose anything.

Word Count: 3,186

Imagine This:

The kiss you two shared poolside at that party changed your life for the better. You have never been so happy. Dating Zibby was like nothing else. You didn’t even have to think about it. You wanted her and only her. You knew her past experience was limited in both the male and female dating departments. So, you wanted to do things right, you wanted to sweep her off her feet. You wanted to make sure she never felt bad about her lack of experience. She told you about this older guy who freaked out when she told him she was a virgin. You told her that virginity is a bullshit social construct made to make women feel bad about sex. You told her that it was shitty for him to make her feel bad about it even if he thought it was coming from a caring place. You were determined then to make sure she always felt comfortable and to do things on her terms. After a while of dating she hinted at making things official so you planned the perfect date to ask her.

>>>>

Zibby looked at you in awe. Her emerald eyes were full of love for you. Zibby was at a loss for words. The view in front of her was so sweet. A blanket was laid out under a tree, your secret tree. The tree the two of you had found together to hide from the rest of the world and slow down. It was off an old practically abandoned trial on campus. It was hidden from the path and the perfect place for privacy. You studied here, shared sweet kisses, and picnics and it warmed Zibby’s heart. The fake candles illuminated her sweet face and gave her golden skin a beautiful glow.

“Y/N, this is beautiful.”

“Not as beautiful as you.”

“Okay, okay charmer.”

“It’s just the honest truth. I wish I could afford to take you to a fancy restaurant like at a private beach or something but here we are on a college budget.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, I would hate that. This however is so us and I love it.”

She leaned in and kissed you softly and instantly your anxiety eased.

“That’s true. I just think you deserve the best.”

“You are the best, y/n.”

You didn’t have a good response as you blushed so you just kissed her again. As per usual Zibby deepened the kiss.

Lately, she had been showing you all the signs that she was ready for more. She had shared with you that she had never had sex before and was nervous. You had asked her if she ever touched herself and she had said yes. At the time it half melted your brain the way she blushed and admitted she had thought of you while touching herself. Somehow you had managed not to go feral in that moment and you explained that she had more than enough experience if she touched herself she already knew some things she liked and what could feel good to do to someone else. That didn’t fully convince her but it gave her reassurance. You had promised that day that there would be open communication the first time and that you would help each other feel good because it is always a learning curve. Everyone likes different things. You told her that you know how you felt with your first time and you were lucky it had been with a girl who was more experienced and who took her time with you. Now you wanted to be that for Zibby.

You slowly disconnected your lips from the kiss and she leaned towards you following and trying to reconnect your lips. You giggled ��don’t you want to see what all I made for you?”

She shook her head with a smirk “huh-uh”, she licked her lips “I want more kisses.”

“You can have as many as you want in just a little bit.”

Her gaze studied you and she sighed with defeat knowing you had a plan for the night and that her begging wouldn’t break you. You smiled seeing her defeat and pulled her down to sit on the blanket with you.

Light conversation and sharing of food and drinks had you both on cloud nine. It never gets old with her. Anything with her feels like the best thing. Studying together made studying fun and doing nothing together filled you with peace. She felt like your person and you were happy to just soak up her presence.

As much as you loved enjoying the light night with her you had a plan to stick to. You wanted to ask her to be yours officially but that was easier said than done. She is so distracting with her soft smile, lips, skin, hair! Her green vibrant eyes and the way she looked at you with such light in them. She filled you with butterflies and made your head feel light. You stared at her preparing to ask her.

Her short dirty blonde hair fell on her bare shoulders. The tank top and shorts she was wearing were killing you. Her legs were crossed out in front of her as she tilted her head back and looked up at the sky full of stars with a soft smile. “It’s so beautiful.”

You smiled, gaze never leaving her as you breathlessly said “yes it is.”

She turned her gaze landing on you, her green eyes were deep under the glow of fake candlelight. She smiled as she realized you had been staring and talking about her and not the sky.

You bit your bottom lip lightly trying to quiet your nerves and decided it was now or never. “Zibby, will you be my girlfriend?”

Her smile took over her entire face reaching her eyes and filling them with light. “God yes! It took you long enough to ask!”

She quickly shot up onto her knees and faced you. You caressed her cheek softly with a smile so wide your cheeks hurt. “I wanted things to be perfect.”

“Everything with you is perfect. Now can I have those aforementioned and promised kisses, my beautiful perfect girlfriend?”

You smiled wider as you nodded before leaning in and capturing her soft plump lips. She sucked your bottom lip between hers the instant she could and licked it. You opened your mouth and met her tongue softly. You then sucked her tongue lightly as your hands tangled in her hair. She let out a soft moan that vibrated into your mouth. She moved her lips and tongue trying desperately to get more. Her hands grabbed at the back of your neck and shoulders, tugging you closer to her.

She quickly found her way into your lap one leg on each side of you wrapping you up in her long legs. Your hands naturally landed on her hips steadying her against your body. She moved her hips urgently making your hands slip to her ass. She broke the kiss with a groan “please!”

You pulled back and studied her face asking with your eyes and she smiled softly before nodding “Please I want everything with you.”

“I want everything with you too, Zibby.”

She bit her bottom lip and moved her hands to the hem of your shirt. She tugged on it softly, gaze focused on your face, asking permission. You gave her a nod and she lifted your shirt up and over your head.

She ran her hands softly up your abs and palmed your breasts over the fabric of your sports bra. You sighed showing her you liked what she was doing. She pulled on the band of your bra and you nodded again. She made quick work pulling it over your head.

Her gaze fell to your exposed skin and she licked her lips before she started to kiss your neck. She kissed lower and you leaned back to give her room to explore. She kissed down the center of your chest and then across your chest softly.

A hum vibrated in your throat. She explored your chest so softly just like your first kiss. She hovered over a hard nibble and kissed it softly before licking it. She tested out different ways to lick you and listened to how you responded. Her teeth grazed your nipple and you moaned. She lightly trapped the stiff bud between her teeth and tugged. Your hands flew into her short hair and tugged.

She hummed against you and then began to lightly suck on your sensitive bud. You moaned breathily. She moved a hand to your other breast and just tested holding it. Then she squeezed it. You softly encouraged her, “pinch that one,” she pinched your hard nipple and sucked on the other one, “AH! Yes, just like that!”

You let her switch her mouth and hand and explore a little longer before you pulled her up to kiss her lips. You could cum just from her learning all the ways to play with your boobs but you want to show her how good what she just did feels.

You kissed down her neck and slid your fingers under her shirt just teasing your thumbs against her hip bones. She moved to take her own shirt off but you stopped her and slowly pulled it over her head. Your gaze fell down her neck to her exposed cleavage and you took note of each adorable freckle. You found several on her neck that you kissed but when you found one on her left breast it instantly became your favorite. You latched onto it making sure to leave a mark. She sighed as she pulled at the back of your neck to keep you close.

You ran your hands around and up her back and found the hooks to her bra. You made quick work of unhooking it. You pulled back slightly as you moved your hands to the straps. You pulled down the straps softly slowly admiring the goosebumps left in your wake before kissing her bare shoulders. You kissed her collar bones and moved both of your hands to squeeze her perky breasts. You rubbed your thumbs over her nipples making them harder. You moved your kisses down her chest and kissed the freckle on her left breast softly before enveloping her nipple in your mouth. You sucked on it and ran your tongue over it before biting lightly. You pinched her other nipple with your fingers and then switched breasts. She threw her head back “Ah! Fuck that feels so good!”

Her hips rutted against you searching for friction as you worshiped her chest. She leaned back forcing your mouth to release her nipple with a pop. She smiled and leaned back more. You got the hint and helped to lay her softly on the blanket.

She moved her hands to your shorts and tugged on the button before quickly undoing it. You helped her push your shorts and underwear down then leaned over her so you could shimmy them off. You got back to your knees and ran your hands up her thighs and unbuttoned her shorts. She lifted herself up and you removed the last of the clothing between you.

You looked down at her in awe. Her soft belly curved at her hips and made your mouth water. She didn’t let you stare for long. She needed you now. She pulled you down on top of her and kissed you hard as she wrapped her long legs around you. She forced you to press your bodyweight down on her and your breath caught in your throat at the feel of her skin against yours. Hard nipples and smooth soft warm skin brushed and then she angled her hips and you felt just how wet she was for you.

A breathy moan left her lips as she moved her hips to get the friction you know she is desperate for. You pecked her lips and pulled yourself up slightly and that instantly got her attention. Her gaze was desperate like she would die if you stopped this now. You smiled reassuringly “I’m not going anywhere. I’m right here but I need you to tell me what you like, okay remember we said we’d help each other.”

You wanted to make sure she knew you were not a master of sex and that you too get nervous about pleasing someone else. She nodded “yes I remember,” she licked her lips as her gaze fell to your breasts that were now just barely grazing against hers, “I um it’s so hard to concentrate with you looking like that.”

You smiled down at her “gawd you are so cute and sexy it is unreal. I’m just going to go slowly okay?”

She quickly nodded “Just touch me please!”

You scooted back on your knees and kissed down her soft belly leaving your marks all over her soft skin. Your dominant hand trailed further down her body and rubbed at her inner thighs. Her hips bucked up and she whined. You wasted no time finally giving in. You pressed your palm flat against her clit firmly and just moved in slow circles at first then slowly down and back up coating your hand and fingers with her slick heat. She moaned softly and you knew she needed more.

You moved a finger to her entrance and slowly slid into her tight center. You kissed her thigh and waited for her hips to move before sliding in and out slowly. You slowly trailed your kisses up from her thigh to her hips down to just under the slight curve of her belly and then pressed your lips softly to her clit. “OH fuck please more of that!”

You hummed against her before you pulled your finger out and added another. You simultaneously parted your lips and slid your tongue flat against her clit. Her back arched and her legs squeezed your head. With your free hand you moved one of her legs to rest on your back and the other you pressed down so you had more access to her center. You curled your fingers finding that sweet spot and then sucked on her clit. “FUCK oh MY Fucking AH! Y/N!”

You tested different pressures of sucking on her clit and soothing it with your tongue while testing different pressure and motions to stimulate her G spot. It’s a hard one to get on your own and you are determined to give her the pleasure of experiencing a G spot and clitoral orgasm as her first with you.

Her hips squirm and her heel digs into your back. The sound of her moans has your clit throbbing. She tastes so fucking good and feels so warm and soft and tight. She tangled her fingers through your hair and you looked up at her with just your eyes to see her watching you. Her mouth was open as she breathed out moaning but her emerald eyes were locked on you. You moved your free hand up and squeezed her breast. She untangled one of her hands from your hair to cup your hand over her breast and lace her fingers with yours. She squeezed your hand hard as her muscles began to tighten. You could feel her approaching that crescendo. The leg that was on your back flexed out and the other began to tremble and press against your head again now that you were not holding it down. You sucked herder on her clit and kept pressing your finger against her G spot, even as her walls tightened around your fingers and made it hard to move.

“Fuck I AH I AH! Ah ah ah AH!”

You felt your own clit throb as you felt her contract around your fingers. You helped her ride out the high until her body went limp and slowly removed yourself from her to crawl up her body and kiss her lips softly. “Are you okay?”

She ran her hands from your cheeks into your hair and pulled you in for a kiss. “I’m fantastic! Wow you are really good at that!”

You smiled, “I just paid attention to how your body reacted.”

“I want to make you feel like this. Seriously, that was incredible!”

You couldn’t stop the soft laughter that escaped your lips at her enthusiasm. I almost came, making you cum, baby it won’t take much for me to feel incredible. I already feel amazing just having you here like this.”

She rolled her eyes before quickly flipping your positions. She pecked your lips before she moved to get on her knees between your legs. She’s so pretty covered in your marks, hair a mess and skin glowing.

Her gaze traveled over your body. Up and down. Her hands caressed you up and down. Heating your skin as she touched you softly. You watched in awe as she leaned down and began to kiss your heated skin. She trailed kisses down your chest and abdomen and back up. She took her time being gentle then marking you as hers on every inch of skin she could get. You sigh and moan when she bites your skin and sucks another mark into your skin. You are already so worked up that you think you might cum from this. “Please, Zibby!”

A smirk formed on her face as she bit her bottom lip. She pressed her palm flat against your heated center and you whimpered at the contact. She spreads your wet heat by rubbing her palm up then down. You need her so badly that you feel like you are going to explode. “Please baby I need please! MORE!”

She leaned down again and kissed your clit softly before slowly tasting you with her tongue. “Oh fuck! Fingers please!”

She moves her hand and you feel her press two fingers against your entrance and then as she slides into you she sucks on your clit and you can’t contain your moans. She curls her fingers inside you and begins to build the pressure. You can feel yourself tighten around her as your legs tremble “AH! There! Yes Oh FUCK YES!”

Zibby is a natural. She pays attention to the hitch in your breath how your hips buck and legs tremble. She loves the way you tighten around her and get wetter. She is filled with confidence as she watches you unravel and feels the effect she has on you. She sucks harder on your clit and presses her tongue to it to sooth it as she moves to hit the spot that is making you tremble faster with more pressure. She can feel you contract and is amazed by it as she watches your back arch. “Im cuming oh Im I cuming AAHHH ZIB!”

You unravel in a beautiful mess and she mimics how you let her ride out her pleasure earlier. You smile at her when you finally recover and pull her down to kiss her soft lips. “That was incredible, baby.”

AN: I hope you guys like this cute little thing. I just felt it was a great opportunity to talk about how ridiculous society is about virginity. I love talking about women and the pleasure they deserve to embrace fully without shame. Here’s to celebrating female pleasure!

#ELIZABETH OLSEN #ZIBBY #FEMALE READER X ZIBBY #FILM: LIBERAL ARTS #LIBERAL ARTS 2012 #FLUFF #HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIZZIE #LIZZIE OLSEN #CUTE #GAY #QUEER #LESBIAN #WLW #FANFICTION #IMAGINE #AO3 #virginity is a social construct #smut

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fairsun · 2 months ago

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a brief history of juliet capuleti, private school edition : before i begin, i just want to say that this is partly credited to @afteriimage for headcanoning this out with me and helping me realize / develop the similarities between a particular xoxo, you know you love me popular tv show and juliet's own life. also, i wanna say that i gave juliet serena as her middle name originally and xera and i only came up with the gg comparisons after juliet's original blog and bio were already made.

so, obviously, per above, juliet attended private schools her entire life. the moment juliet needed to go to school, she was brought into the finest institutions in the city. her teenage years are what we'll focus on as they are the most formative. juliet and serena are kind of alike, in the sense that from the moment school's started, she was thrusted into popularity with her family being who they are. she was someone people knew of but never really knew, she was an enigma to them. this it girl status was placed upon her without her truly wanting it, and juliet always looks for an ' out ' in the same way that serena does because she doesn't actually wanna be hanging out with those people, especially since most of them are her parents' acquaintances' children. but because they're people she's known her entire life, and they all have the same unfortunate background who see each other in all types of events, she's forced to play nice.

she has her own "blair" of sorts, who remains to be named and it remains to be seen if i will have her as a shakespeare based character. but the general gist of her and juliet's relationship is that juliet holds a lot of power in the school due to her family. she's the governor's daughter and even before that, her father makes lots of large donations to the school, and so the staff are expected to treat her well and they do. her "blair" is a social climber, trying to use her connection to jules to win people's favour and get special treatment of her own. the daughter of the attorney general at the time. again, juliet find herself kind of just thrusted into this dynamic, and this person kind of gets the best of her despite her intentions. if one of juliet's other friends made plans with her, this "blair" character would throw juliet and drag her into a different plan and she'd end up ditching the first friend. unfortunately, juliet kind of has tunnel vision (especially heightened as a teen) and tends to forget other things if something comes up that would infringe upon different plans. because this friend's always trying to take up her time and isolate her, juliet's had to go through many apology tours at the end of high school.

it's when they graduate that juliet finally gets rid of said "blair" character. the other girl went off to some ivy league adjacent school while juliet chose to attend a more liberal arts university. they still see each other occasionally during events thrown together by the state or her family, but it's easier to avoid her now, which juliet would often do.

also, in the same line of similarities with that show, juliet is very into fashion. living with a socialite for a mother and being pushed to attend certain events, having a politician for a father and having to present herself a certain way, and living in new york city has that effect on people. juliet's outfits are always trendy or about to be trendy, especially when she goes to college and moves out of her parents' home, allowing her more freedom to dress how she wants. she particularly likes wearing custom pieces as it makes her feel special, and she's always posting her outfits on social media (which is about the only thing she posts on those apps. no one really knows a thing about juliet outside of her family and friends and she curates how you see her when you do. daughter of a public figure trait.)

that's it for now, thanks for coming to my ted talk. if you've read all this, ily. <33

#* ♡ “ study ” … o god‚ i have an ill divining soul.#hi xera <3 #i remembered this while i was remaking the blog and had to make the post

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moonsquaremars · 1 month ago

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Oh, the 12th House.

Sometime between middle and high school, I had a dream. I was using Tumblr, logging on, and seeing what other people were saying. There had been some catastrophe, and not everyone had the internet. It wasn't guaranteed. But I somehow had access to the internet, and I logged onto Tumblr through my TV. People hadn't posted in weeks, months.

I thought it was weird that I was scrolling through Tumblr on my TV. This was 2010. It wasn't a flat screen. It was big and chunky and a box. These days, you can check Tumblr on a TV. Technology has come a long way. Airplay. Screensharing. Smartphones.

Could that dream have been a premonition? Of the decline in use of Tumblr over the years. I had just discovered Tumblr in the 8th grade. I was one of the first users, back when hipsters and mustache and converse pictures were just about to become the rage. Myspace was still around, though becoming a graveyard more and more by the month. Scene kids never die though. Rawr :]

What could the dream have meant? Perhaps that TV would be my own demise? My armageddon?

When I first read about the 12th house, I was a first-year at Centre College. The 'best' college in Kentucky. Private, small, liberal arts college with a hefty endowment. Most people have never heard of it. So much for the prestige and recognition.

I read Liz Green's article about the 12th house. I had just started getting into astrology. I'm smart. Was an IB / International Baccalaureate student at one of the best high school's in the city. But astrology gave my little 18 year old mind & heart some peace of mind. Homework and ambition can only do so much.

Harvard. Thanks to Gossip Girl, Brown University became my dream school. I applied Early Admission, seeing as the acceptance rate was slightly higher, and I thought my desire and longing to be upper class would carry the weight for my acceptance. AAAANNNHHHH!!!! Nope. Try again. You were just an above average student, thought not straight As or rich and well connected. Of course, this got my admittance to other good schools. Just not an Ivy. You probably would have hated it anyway, seeing as you had a nervous breakdown your second semester into college. And that was only two hours away from home! :) Rhode Island? not a chance.

My intuition told me not to go to Centre. But my ego persisted. I wanted to go to the best school in Kentucky, and I wouldn't settle for less.

I got so drunk the weekend I visited campus my senior year. The guy blamed himself for letting me get carried away. But I knew what I was doing. Granted I didn't mean to get that fucked up. But I wanted to get drunk. My bad homes.

So, I wanted the conventionally successful life. I did. Graduate college in four years, maybe be a banker or something. Make money. It really seemed so simple to me. Then my life became a living hell. Torture. I became so reclusive. Would walk around in the night, and miss my classes in the morning. I had no money. No car. Surrounded by strangers, rich strangers, in a small town two hours from home.

I fell apart.

I ended up in the Psych ward for a week. Took the rest of the semester off to join a new religion, the Mormons. Came back the next Fall only to be completely miserable again in a couple weeks time.

I guess I just thought I could handle it. I wasn't disciplined enough to stick it out. I was crazy enough that it became too difficult.

I was in fact crazy. I didn't realize it at the time. I do now. It's why I blacked out all those years.

Thanks, 12th house.

The 12th house in Astrology. The house of Psych wards, Prisons, Monestaries, Rehabs. A single drop of water in the vast vast ocean.

The unconscious. Spirituality. Bipolar disorder. Photography. Drugs. Weird religion. Gay.

Boy, I had it in for me. All things considered.

I realized though, my dad's Sun was also in the 12th house. Mine and his. So I guess we asked for this. We're in this together. Two wackos.

Great.... :(

I guess what they say is true.

The 12th house makes you crazy. I'm living proof. But it also gave me psychic powers. Gifts. The days you feel like you are completely drowning, though, are the worst.

#sun in 12th #12th house #centre college #astrology #brown university #harvard

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careermantradotorg · 6 months ago

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Alliance University Bangalore: A Premier Institution for Higher Learning

Alliance University, located in the vibrant city of Bangalore, is one of India's leading private universities. Established with a vision to provide world-class education and foster academic excellence, Alliance University Bangalore has quickly become a hub for students aspiring to pursue a career in various fields, including management, engineering, law, and more. The university is recognized for its commitment to high academic standards, global exposure, and a strong emphasis on research.

Why Choose Alliance University Bangalore?

1. Top-Notch Academic Programs

Alliance University offers a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across its faculties of Management, Engineering, Law, and Liberal Arts. Some of the flagship courses include:

MBA at Alliance School of Business, which is among the top B-Schools in India.

B.Tech and M.Tech programs at the Alliance College of Engineering and Design.

BA LLB (Hons.) and LLM programs at Alliance School of Law, known for their strong legal curriculum.

2. Highly Qualified Faculty

One of the distinguishing factors of Alliance University Bangalore is its team of distinguished faculty members, who bring a wealth of academic and industry experience. Many of the professors are alumni of prestigious institutions such as IITs, IIMs, and top global universities, offering students the opportunity to learn from the best.

3. State-of-the-Art Campus

The campus of Alliance University in Bangalore is an architectural marvel that provides an ideal learning environment. Spanning over 55 acres, the campus is equipped with modern facilities including:

Smart classrooms with advanced learning aids.

Well-stocked libraries with vast collections of books, journals, and digital resources.

Laboratories with the latest equipment for engineering and science students.

Dedicated moot courts and simulation centers for law students.

In addition, the university has a vibrant campus life with clubs, events, and sports facilities that allow students to maintain a well-balanced lifestyle.

4. Global Collaborations

Alliance University Bangalore has established collaborations with over 45 reputed international universities across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. These partnerships enable students to participate in exchange programs, internships, and research projects with global exposure. Some partner institutions include:

Berlin School of Economics and Law, Germany.

Royal Roads University, Canada.

Nanjing University, China.

Through these collaborations, students can gain international exposure, preparing them to thrive in a globalized world.

5. Impressive Placement Record

Alliance University Bangalore takes pride in its excellent placement record. The Career Advancement and Networking (CAN) Cell works tirelessly to ensure students are well-prepared to enter the job market. The university has strong industry ties, attracting some of the best recruiters from India and abroad. Top companies like Amazon, Google, KPMG, Deloitte, and Infosys have recruited from Alliance University. The placement process includes:

Pre-placement talks.

Internship opportunities.

Grooming sessions to enhance soft skills.

With an average salary package on the rise and top-tier firms participating in the recruitment process, Alliance University is an attractive option for students seeking a promising career.

6. Bangalore: The Ideal Study Location

Bangalore, often referred to as the Silicon Valley of India, provides the perfect backdrop for higher education. The city's thriving economy, home to numerous startups, multinational corporations, and a vibrant tech industry, makes it a great place for internships and networking opportunities. Additionally, the pleasant climate, cosmopolitan culture, and diverse social scene make it an ideal location for students from across the globe.

Conclusion

Alliance University Bangalore is a prestigious institution that stands out for its academic excellence, global collaborations, and strong placement opportunities. Whether you're looking to pursue business, engineering, law, or liberal arts, Alliance University offers a world-class education that will equip you with the skills needed to succeed in today's competitive world.

#Alliance University Bangalore #education #higher education #news #universities #colleges #mba #students #Career Advancement and Networking (CAN)#B.Tech #Silicon Valley of India

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artbyeritza · 1 year ago

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Freedom, Vodka, Videogames, Anarcho-communism and being 26 4/27/2024 I knew I should have written this

a long time ago.

I've had a bad habit these days,

of checking in on people I've let go,

people who don't care about me.

The time I bumped into them,

heading to do fieldwork was my last straw.

I looked at her Facebook

and she went back to Toxic

and then I realized the mere fact

I was not in a dumb, plastic picture

granted me freedom.

I've said it before,

"the best things in life are free"

and that still rings true

but I have a revised version.

The best things in life are free

but you must free yourself first.

Free yourself from the past,

from expectations, from everything and everyone.

I really liked the Zen Buddhist days of my college days

yet my mind is not peaceful for meditation anymore.

These days, I feel like I'm in 4th grade.

A boring, bully-filled private school in Malabon City

before I meet the Toxic girl.

Instead of regrets, I feel more alive,

and more powerful amidst my solitude,

numbness, and madness.

Living in peace will be unsettling

but I've defended my borders.

I really don't fucking care anymore.

At least I know, I may not be gifted in all facets of life...

still, I'm not the one who tried to reconnect

last Christmas and New Year's.

I'm depressed, like vodka-drinking,

queer gacha gamer depressed,

but not Food-named desperation.

I stand my ground - single, untouched, friendless,

stressed out from a 9-5,

and hating the art and writing community

- and I liberate, and emancipate myself

from all nuclear, toxicities.

May they never find their way back into our lives.

Once was enough.

Too many times, friendships

and lovers fooling you is a war crime.

#queer writers #writeblr #poets on tumblr #support small artists #artists on tumblr #my art #eriah art #philippines #spilled ink #queer #gacha games #freedom #emancipation #small artist

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eliteprepsat · 10 months ago

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When it comes to developing a college list, there are seemingly endless factors to consider. Academics, location and cost are often some of the first considerations a student will think about when choosing where to apply. However, one factor that is often overlooked is size.

Most of you are probably accustomed to the size of your high school and the classes you’ve taken there, but think about how the size of your school has affected you academically and socially. Perhaps your school feels too large and you want a smaller setting for college. On the other hand, perhaps your school is much too small and you can’t wait to experience the environment of a large university.

From my experience, most students apply to medium (5,000-15,000 undergraduates) or large (more than 15,000 undergraduates) colleges and universities. Larger schools tend to have more brand-name value and are easily recognizable, but that does not always equate to the best fit.

There are many advantages to attending a small college, so let’s explore how to know if a small college is right for you.

To begin, here are some of the characteristics of a small college:

Typically private, liberal arts schools

Less than 5,000 students

A focus on undergraduate education

Classes taught by professors themselves

Smaller class sizes

More individual attention from advisors

More opportunities for leadership experience

A tight-knit student community

As you can see, small colleges truly cater to their students because most of their resources are dedicated to undergraduate education. Larger colleges and universities tend to devote many of their resources to research and graduate programs, sometimes creating an academic environment where undergraduates are not prioritized. Classes are often taught by inexperienced teaching assistants instead of by the professors themselves, so the quality of instruction can vary widely.

Furthermore, the bureaucracy can make it challenging to sign up for your desired classes or switch academic majors. Small colleges offer much more of an opportunity to get to know your professors on a personal level. If you have close relationships with your teachers in high school, you may find it rewarding to continue developing those types of relationships in college.

You will also find more flexibility with the curriculum at a small college. Advisors who don’t have to manage a large student population are more available to work with you on a specific academic plan that meets your needs. It is important to take all of these considerations into account when deciding where to apply.

In addition to offering an individualized academic experience, small colleges may offer greater on-campus leadership opportunities. A smaller student community means less competition for extracurricular clubs and activities. Depending on your interests, you may find it easier to join organizations and contribute right away at a smaller college. Sure, larger campuses may have more activities to choose from, but rigorous guidelines often dictate membership for many of those clubs. Leadership positions also tend to be held by seniors and juniors who have worked their way up the ranks over the years.

Would you rather be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond? There are merits to both, but consider your particular interests and goals to determine which option would be a better fit for you.

When you reflect on your high school experience, think about the qualities that have meant the most to you and have allowed you to be the most successful. Do you enjoy a close-knit community in which you know many of your fellow peers? Do you cherish the insights found in small class discussions with your teachers? Do you have varied academic interests and aren’t quite ready to pursue one subject for the next four years? If you value community, flexibility and individualized attention, then a small college may be the right fit for you.

#college prep #college admissions #LAC #liberal arts colleges #universities #go to college #high school

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fredfilmsblog · 1 year ago

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Frederator Networks interns, autumn 2015, left to right: Fred, Sam Lee (University of Michigan), Josette Roberts (SVA), Jenny Brent (SUNY Purchase), Judy Tam (SVA), Lisa Franklin (Brown), Liz Chun (RISD), Danielle Ceneta (Syracuse), Peter Carlson (Ringling) Photo by Kirsten Wagstaff

Why I like interns.

This post is from 2015 when I was running Frederator Networks, a much larger company than FredFilms. But most of the sentiments (we now pay interns, when we have them, which is NOT NOW) continue to be true.

And, I have to say, the part I find most unlikely but most true is... interns are our mentors. Seriously.

There’s been a lot of squabbling in the press this year about interns, especially in the media and technology businesses. And since I’ve had rookie programs in place for several decades, it seemed like a good time to weigh in.

Science? Or The Beatles?

For me, it’s personal. Back in the day (my day, that is), there were no organized apprenticeship programs that I knew of to prepare me for the work life I was seeking. But a lot of helpful people gave me guidance, and I want to pay it forward.

I grew up in a science family, knowing I’d be a scientist too. And then The Beatles came to America, and like a lot of other kids, my world got turned upside down. Eventually, I became determined to be in the recording business as a record producer. The problem was I knew no one who could help. And so I started to make my own way, in what to me was an underground, secret society. As full time, liberal arts college student it the 70s, there was no NYU Clive Davis Institute, Full Sail University. No Mix Magazine, noTape Op. I was totally on my own. I found one class taught by an RCA recording engineer and producer, and one highly technical publication. I stumbled into private recording sessions, asked anyone who knew anything, bullied my way into record companies.

There were no internships. I hadn’t even heard the term.

There were dozens of nice people who helped me and taught me things along the way. I worked in hundreds of circumstances for free, making mistakes and successes along the way, basically creating my own training path. I figured things out, started a record company, got a gig here and there. I rubbed shoulders with enough world class experts to figure out I had staked out the wrong direction for myself, and by the time I was 30, found myself in the television business. It all eventually worked out for me.

But, if there had been someplace for me to start fathoming what was going on, somewhere where I could smell what the scene was, I could have learned things a lot faster, and maybe cordoned off my path into the right direction a little sooner.

Interns aren’t easy.

For years it was hard for us to attract interns. Most of my companies have been startups, or below the radar service organizations, not famous ones at that. We really had to search, reaching out to local colleges and putting our best foot forward, hoping to attract minimally interested candidates. (Things have changed dramatically, ever since we produced Adventure Time and started Cartoon Hangover. Now we have to cut things off when we get 250 applications per semester, for less than 10 spots). Occasionally, an eager high school student would show up and ask to stick around, and despite the anxieties of our lawyers and insurance carriers, we worked things out.

I couldn’t tell you the exact criteria we’ve used to select contenders. But, I must say, our highly subjective process has resulted in some stellar colleagues and often, friends.

And intern programs aren’t easy to administer. We’re not heavily staffed, so whomever is responsible for the program is usually fitting it into an already over packed work day. And frankly, most of the students come into our place eager, but really rough around the edges. Many have no real work ethic, daily discipline, or much of an ability to actually interact with the adults in the workplace. I mean, they’re kids, after all.

On balance though, from my limited perspective, while internships sometimes put a burden on our small staff, our company has come out all the richer. Especially these days, as the way young people set the agenda for technology use and innovation, having the innocent perspective of new faces streaming in and out of our offices makes us sharper, smarter, and fresher.

And based on the long term relationship we have with many of our past candidates, the benefit has definitely been in both directions.

Interns are our mentors.

“No one hires interns,” says a disgruntled one in a recent New York Times story in the aftermath of some of the unpaid intern lawsuits.

I’m of two minds about the discontent. On the one hand, it’s clear that many companies are using interns as unpaid labor. Totally unjust. And, there’s a good argument that unpaid internships often favor well off students. But, it’s also true that internship programs can cost companies in real opportunity cost and productivity losses, as time spent away from daily workflow. Definitely, interns can be a double edged sword.

At my company, we don’t pay interns as a matter of policy. [The policy changed at Frederator, and now at FredFilms, we will pay interns.] As a start up we’re thinly resourced as it is, and any extra dollars are needed to keep the wheels on the bus. But, more importantly to me, I want people who actually want to be at Frederator, not someone who just wanted something cool to do for a while. Not for nothing, it’s the same criteria we use for employees. If someone comes into our offices with no clue about who we are, what we do, and what we stand for, we show them the door. We’re not a place for people who work to live, we live to work.

All that being said, we work super hard to be fair. If there’s an intern job in the house that we would pay a freelancer to do, the intern gets paid. We also limit their time at the office to two or three days a week. That gives a chance for more people to get exposure, and it encourages them to be out in the world rather than cooped up with us old working folk.

At the end of the day, some interns are good, and some are really bad. And, it’s true, not all good interns get hired. However, I can say with great assurance that my companies hired interns 30 years ago, and we hired interns 30 days ago. I think it’s safe to say that fully 25% of our current, full time team started in our internship programs.

And honestly, the former interns are some of my very favorite colleagues.

The interns in my shops remind me of why I wanted to get working the minute I was done with schooling (actually, before I finished, but that’s another essay). They’re intelligent, they’re fun, they know things I’ll never know. Sure, I can give them some benefits too, but the thing they don’t realize is that while we’re mentoring them, they’re actually mentoring us.

Fair trade, in my book. I really like interns.

#interns #Frederator #2015

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thewestishharpooners · 2 years ago

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One year ago today* I got the best comment possible on my Moby Dick-focused One Direction fan fiction set at a small, private liberal arts college in the American middle west.

#*I know it says sept 8th but I don’t check that email much #this is perhaps the most Me thing I’ve ever written #this post brought to you by timehop #an app I still actively use

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fistofgaivs · 2 years ago

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Working on a TTRPG which is a sequel to my free suggestion book "Not F.A.T.A.L. but Serious!" both a tip of the hat to a notorious sh-t lord RPG from earlier (zero connection) and a favorite American but Manga comic. Was hoping I could put up the uncensored version here but it seems Tumblr still has blue noses even though it's almost like reading the best of Penthouse magazine again.

In essence it'll be erotic TTRPG play with no holds or holes barred. We are F-cking adults playing the games now, but the core properties were owned and dominated by dry corporations making "Product" that had to be G-rated. Now the "Woke" rated is far far worse. So not for kids but you can download the original here and working cover for the upcoming full RPG later.

Serious - click the link (+18), go to the image of the top left and right click "Save as..." PDF document! - I'm privately hosted and NO ADS no SCRIPTS no GARBAGE. Not a full RPG just a book of suggestions that got the woke tourists invading to ruin TTRPGs to scream. That's their agenda, this is mine... I'll play my F*cking games any F*cking way I want them and I want to be able to buy and sell +18 interest.

The rainbow unicorn snowflakes can have Thirsty Sword Lesbians and Zwei-Hander. I'm not holding my gladius to their soy throats with no chins to play MY stuff but I expect something they are incapable of; respect -and that means for someone who has different views than them. If they can't understand that are their snowflake fake sh-t politics worth ANY respect? Jeebuz, I'm quite "Liberal" not a right winger.

Ai + 3D art by me. She's WAY over 18 like 200+ even in fiction, slime minds...!

Heads up - like any real Indie TTRPG I'll use AI art but still keep the few artists who'll do commissions for me employed like Max here. He can do hundreds of pretty damsels in distress and ribaldry in the time it'd take him to paint a swamp or dungeon Midjourney can do in seconds so why waste the time and money?

Let WotC ruin D&D for Blackrock EFT social credit - though I advise writing your Congress + Senate reps for the tax $ they'll scream to turn a failure into profit. The best out is to support the REAL indies that do NOT Bend the Knee to woke whine-buckets.

DEMAND from your TTRPG maker and game at least one element the "Woke" will NOT tolerate. I'm not for real sexism or racism and don't care who you voted for. The world has (and always will) 1,000,001 problems... Censoring comic books, video games, movies and pandering to rainbow unicorn snowflakes from some 'safe space' at a debt factory (College) does NOTHING to help anything on that list. Here are some statements free to include for free speakers, free thinkers versus "Woke" whine buckets:

Oh and speaking of lists...

One of the BEST things on the internet for RPGs "The List".

They just want you to know if your RPG maker is a rainbow unicorn snowflake who cares their woke fake politics vs anything to do with a RPG at all. Agenda vs product. Invaders. Tourists. Most of these people are vile on Twitter and (Zwei-Hander) demand you do NOT play their game unless you agree 100% with them. How in the world their books sit in PILES at major bookstore chains for years no sales but can NOT fail is beyond me - save knowing about 'short-selling' and corporate EFT.

So I advise looking for GREEN on the list, companies that care about their games and players NOT warmed over re-hashed master of the obvious "Woke" sentiment that preaches to its own choir.

#ttrpgs #indie ttrpg #pichardettes #adult ttrpg #mature ttrpg #non-woke ttrpg

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terrorpenned · 2 years ago

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some collins siblings academia things:

as a boy, Roger was sent to boarding school at Phillips Exter Academy in New Hampshire. He was admitted to Yale, but was stopped from going with the onset of WWII (naturally, he had no intention of serving and managed to get out of the draft on account of his physical insufficiency and occasional homosexual tendencies). Instead, he returned home for a short while, and played reluctant assistant to his father and older sister while the US government's commandeered many of the Collins fishing trawlers for coastal service in the mosquito fleet.

At Yale, he belonged to Branford College "the oldest and most beautiful" of the residential colleges, where he studied business (as opposed to the liberal arts, which he would have preferred). In most respects, he embodied the Branford mien: "Chauncey Tinker commented that Saybrook was like an anthill, but Branford was like an oyster bed. In records of the time, the main thing that stands out about Branford is the lack of activity among its students, and lack of encouragement of activity on the part of Master Mendell, who commented that oyster beds produce pearls."

While at Yale, Roger dabbled in intramural fencing and polo, and as an upperclassman was tapped into Wolf's Head. he tended to frequent the docks as well as the armory, sailing recreationally with friends on many a weekend out to an island in the St. Lawrence river. his longtime Best Friend swam for the college; but the boy drowned, with his society pin still in his mouth. The incident put Roger off swimming permanently, though he would continue to have a fondness for the water - sailing, and fishing, and walks along the shore - the rest of his life.

Elizabeth, in contrast, was kept at home as a girl, but enjoyed the luxury of private tutors and governesses so that she was adequately prepared when she went off to Vassar, where she majored in economics (under Mabel Newcomer, who included sociology and anthropology within the curriculum) with a minor in architecture. her academics were stellar, and she was admitted into Phi Beta Kappa as a senior; she gives money regularly to her alma mater and to the society well into old age, though financial stress on the family has prohibited a donation large enough to see “Collins” written anywhere on campus.

Elizabeth was a member of her class archery team during most of her course of study, and was known to both swim and skate in Vassar lake depending on the season. while not a member herself, she tended to hang around the rowing team practices and enjoy the scenery. she frequented parties and hosted many, and was known as one of the best dancers in her year. she was a regular patron of arts, dramatic, and literary societies on campus: her contributions included a position as secretary to a literary magazine, and exhibition curation for both the department and student arts organizations.

unlike many of her pacifist classmates, Liz supported the US entering WWII. though she was never particularly outspoken politically, she helped ensure that the Collins enterprises, and Collinsport, were put to full use to the cause when she left school. (Which proved to be mutually beneficial: the money from the navy lined the Collins family purse, and vitalized the town economy)

#forgot to post this one whoopsies #hc dump.#roger collins.#elizabeth collins stoddard.

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god-of-this-new-blog · 2 years ago

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hello!! could i ask: ✨ and 💌?

Thanks for the ask!!

✨ what is a fic you posted that you wish you could breath new life into?

Probably Seven Is a Holy Number. Its a bit of a weird one. It focuses on L and Light having a sort of non-sexual type of BDSM relationship. I think it didn't get much traction because well, that's a hard sell haha. I loved writing it and I'm really happy with it. I just don't think it's everyone cup of tea. I keep thinking about expanding on this idea, or writing some sort of spiritual successor...

💌 Share something about your WIP!

Still writing my Lawlight-at-a-weird-liberal-arts-college-in-the-middle-of-the-woods fic. Under the cut is a snippet!

“What do you want me to do with this?” Light pushed the paper back toward L across the vinyl surface of the table. Leaning back in his seat, Light looked through the gaps of the bookshelf behind him, scanning the aisles. He glanced behind L as well to be sure no one was trying to use the study space in good faith.

The two private study rooms were already taken by the time their class met. Still, Light was lucky enough to claim a nice spot; a table for two pressed up against large bay windows looking out on the woods and the mouth of one of the many student-forged hiking trails.

“Well, according to the ‘workshop best practices’ guidelines…” L made an exaggerated show of extracting it from his beat up little backpack slung across the back of his chair, “you are supposed to start with an ‘I like’ statement.”

Light's expression twisted into something like a sneer, “you haven’t even written an essay, L.”

L held out one finger toward Light who was subsequently filled with the urge to reach out and break the digit, “critique happens in the second phase of the workshop process, Light.” And its really starting to sound like L is mocking him.

“Come on, stop it.”

“What.” L pulls his knees up to his chest, pushing against the table’s edge.

“Are you physically incapable of taking anything seriously?”

“What’s unserious about my assignment?” L asked, cocking his head to one side, a fatuous show of sincerity.

“It’s a fucking geometric proof! Did you triple space it or something?”

L pushed the offending paper back toward Light, “shh. We’re in a library, Light.”

Light pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled hard and resigned, air escaping him like the pierced hull of a ship, “I can’t do this.”

“What?”

“Really, I don't care, I’ll take a zero on the review notes. It’s worth what, a sixth of a point?”

L reached out and grabbed Light’s pen laying—untouched—atop the peer-copy of L’s work. “Fine.”

“Give that back.” Light stood abruptly, the back of his knees knocking against his chair. The metal legs scraped unpleasantly against the linoleum. He planted his left hand on the table, and held out his right, palm up.

“It’s a pen.”

“It’s a Pilot Namiki. Give it.”

“Name brand. Look at you.” L pulled away from the table, taking his paper and Light’s pen with him. “If you won't give me critique, I’ll make something up.”

“Give it.” Light leaned over the table to grab at L’s wrist. With a quick twist in his seat L kept himself out of reach.

“If I break your billion dollar pen, I’ll buy you a new one.” Light caught hold of L’s sleeve then, “Really, Light?”

“Fuck you, it was a gift.”

“Well,” L responded flippantly, scribbling away, “the new one will still be a gift. A gift from me.”

#asks #lawlight #my writing

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fshoulders · 8 months ago

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Thought I didn't have anything to add here, but then I pondered. I do have something to add about "what I assume my teachers were trying to teach me with the classics".

I'm not a secondary school English teacher, but I've played one in the past: I used to substitute-teach English at the private high school where I myself matriculated around the time of Jurassic Park. I've taught classes on Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Henry IV Part...mumble, the Iliad, the Ramayana, Their Eyes Were Watching God (if you didn't get taught that as a classic, go enjoy it now, oh my word).... Lots of stuff. And one time, I taught a class on why we take English class.

It was at the end of my first and longest stint as a substitute, when the head of the English department had broken her arm in twelventy places so I ended up teaching 3 or 4 sections of Junior English for several weeks. We'd started and finished Their Eyes Were Watching God, and moved on to something else, and by then I knew I loved these kids. Which was a shock: when I was their age, I was a misanthropic little paladin and did not like most of my peers. But high school juniors (16-17 years old) are whip-smart, but not yet cocky with it like seniors. They like to have fun, but they're easier to get to quiet down and think seriously than sophomores. However, after those weeks, I felt like even the kids who were best at English class -- who did the reading and raised their hands and weren't afraid to make wild, beautiful connections -- didn't really know why they were there.

So I asked their Regular Teacher if I could take one class period in each class and just do a group discusssion about what English class is for. Because the vibe I was getting off them was 'so I have English grades to use to get into college with'. I had 'em write down their answers anonymously to "What is English Class For?"

They handed their answers in, and I read 'em out. And we talked about their answers, and then we talked about my answers. They had some answers I hadn't thought of. And some of my own answers I didn't have to bring up, because that class already had! A lot of them knew they needed to learn to write well, for instance. We talked about the different kind of things they might want to write besides college essays and eventual job 'deliverables'. (I seem to recall telling them that even if they never wanted to try to write original fiction, that didn't mean cribbing techniques off the 'masters' couldn't make their fanfic better. I know I am a dork, but they laughed!) Some of them talked about a sort of cultural acquisition: getting to know exactly the sort of 'great books' and liberal arts touchstones that were getting beaten up in those screenshots at the top of the thread.

But I think maybe one kid in one of the classes, if that, wrote down the thing I really wanted them to take with 'em out of English class -- English class teaches you how to read more skillfully.

And some of the texts they practice reading on are texts they wouldn't have chosen, which makes them surly. (It sure made me surly in middle and high school.) Some of them are difficult to read. But reading is a skill, like any other. Even if they hadn't wanted to read Jane Eyre, or A River Runs Through It, or Elizabeth Bishop's poetry, or Toni Cade Bambara's short fiction, they could use those texts to improve their facility to read deeply, closely, and well. Then they could apply that facility to any text they wanted to read. For academic ambition, for pleasure or self-improvement or curiosity, or to keep up with a crush. And much of that skill is even transferable, out of the English language, out of the written word! They could read into and under horror movies, political ads, rap lyrics, art films, video games! They could notice and name the biases in the things they read, or read the context around a story the way this whole beautiful thread above did with Huckleberry Finn.

Reading deeply and critically is an underrated skill. We don't talk about it enough, we don't practice it enough, and maybe we don't even know when we're supposed to be learning it. Maybe the screenshotted people had terrible teachers who never made it clear that art isn't endorsement, that we can read against the past but still understand it, or indeed why they were sitting in that classroom at all. If you don't hand the student a scalpel, maybe this is what you get: a reader who stared at each book like the outside of a frog and took nothing away but the fact it reeked of formaldehyde. Maybe it's just a series of bad jokes!

But come, for Muses' sake let us sit upon the ground, and tell mad stories of why we hate Gatsby's guts. (With supporting evidence from the text.) Tell me whether you think the narrator of Wuthering Heights wants you to approve of Kathy and Heathcliff's relationship, and why you think that! Is he manipulating you to feel a certain way? What language feels manipulative, or engages you more with one character's emotions than another's? What do you think Jim thinks of Huck in this chapter, and why do you think that? Which racism do you think is the character's, and which is the author's? How do you tease that out?

English Class: You can bear that book a grudge for the rest of your life, but learning a lot from it today is the best revenge.

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