#Just my opinions take them with a grain of salt kiddos.

[baede-6]

Character ask game: Cayde-6 7, 22, & 26 For 26: Stick Cayde, Eris & the Drifter temporarily and accidentally locked in an elevator (pre Excision for continuity reasons). What happens?

*cracks knuckles*

7. What's something the fandom does when it comes to this character that you like?

❤️:I like a lot of the art that people make when it comes to Cayde (and Destiny in general).Some people are so,so talented.Drawings,cosplay,props,figures,blender renderings,what have you,I love it. The more love I see for one of my favorite characters,the better.Cayde deserves all of that love. I've also adored seeing New Lights get to meet Cayde for the first time in The Final Shape and fall in love with his character. It's something special.A whole new generation of Cayde fans.❤️

22. If you're a fic reader, what's something you like in fics when it comes to this character? Something you don't like?

♠️:I'm honestly not as big of a fanfic reader as I used to be.Although,I do like it when people send me fanfics they've written,and I do read those (and if anyone ever wants to recommend fics,feel free and I'll take a look.❤️)

Something I like: 

❤️:In the few fanfics I have read involving Cayde,I like it when he gets to go on a quick adventure outside of the Tower,getting into some shenanigans and gets back in one piece. I also enjoy it if any of the Hunter gang are involved (or at least referenced) in said shenanigans,or if it makes me feel something,a good story should always make you feel something. Whether it makes you laugh or tugs on your heartstrings.

Some things I don't like:

-When people write Cayde where he uses slang like "rizz","babygirl","sigma"or "skibbity" casually in a sentence (yes, I've seen people write him like this,"babygirl" in the romantic sense?Maybe,but in the slang sense,no.I can't see him saying that.),if he were human (and not a centuries old Guardian 😅),I'm fairly certain based on his personality in the game, he'd be somewhere between his mid/late 30's-mid forties (Also basing this a little on both of his V.As who are currently in their 50's,but during most of Cayde's screentime throughout the games,they were in their 40's), he'd have no idea what those words meant.Even if he spent time around younger Guardians,it'd be like your dad using slang to sound cool and failing miserably at it,not to mention literally none of the characters talk like that in the game,which makes it even harder to imagine. (I personally couldn't take a character seriously, if they did.)

-When people write him like he wouldn't know what any real life current pop culture would be.Yes,Destiny takes place hundreds of years in the future,but he literally makes a reference to watching Firefly,a show that came out in 2002,and was cancelled after one season.(Also one of my favorite shows btw.😘)Cayde references it because his V.A is Nathan Fillion,who played the main character,Malcom Reynolds,on the show. It's an Easter egg,but it's still canon. He references it in idle dialogue in D1.

Here's a video I found, if anyone wants to hear him say it.

"Look, I'd love to stand here with you all day, but, um... *tut* I got a... a show I like to binge-watch... it was... cancelled early. Still love it."

So saying he wouldn't at least know what something more popular and super ingrained in our current culture, like Star Trek or Star Wars is, would be a little far fetched in my opinion. Not to mention the people at Bungie are a bunch of nerds and there are literally hundreds of pop culture references throughout the actual games. (This has nothing to do with Cayde,but just further proving my point,one of the ornaments for Malfeasance itself is a Firefly reference. "Aim to misbehave"? Yeah,that line is a direct reference to Firefly.I also kinda wanted an excuse to use one of my favorite gifs of Mal. 👀)

I also understand that not everyone is a massive kriffing nerd like I am,and the likelihood of that being common knowledge is slim,so I at least understand why some people might not know that,but it's just a preference of mine. (Also historically,in real life, we know a lot about events,customs,and trends from hundreds of years ago,so saying the same of the Destiny-verse,which takes place in the future, isn't a stretch. Even if all historical records were destroyed,there would still be word of mouth stories handed down through the centuries.)

Needless to say, people can write and interpret Cayde however they want,I couldn't give a cotton sock,I'm an adult and I'm just answering the question and giving my opinions and preferences.Take them with a grain of salt. 😄

You do you, kiddos. 👈👈😎

Nothing but love.❤️

Go wild, and have fun.😘

26. Freebie Question:

♠️:I know Cayde and Drifter have history, so they would probably be reminiscing the old days,throwing snark at each other,trying to come up with some crazy scheme to get out of the elevator (or y'know,all three at the same time)much to Eris' chagrin. Eris would probably suggest using some kind of magic to get out of the elevator (like how she's pulled the Guardian out of situations before). Any way you go about it,I think Cayde and Drifter would be driving Eris a little nuts. 😅

Thank you so much for the ask! ❤️♠️

If you read this far, you get a gold star sticker. ⭐

[mandragoreos]

A misconception I see often in the Mouthwashing Fandom

Daisuke & Swansea did nothing

I’ve been seeing many posts regarding this topic and it really confuses me on how it’s spread…

SPOILERS AHEAD

Let’s get sweet baby boy out of the way, Daisuke.

Daisuke is the youngest of the Tulpar crew, scene often by Swansea’s side, they are a joint package do not separate (I don��t mean as a ship)

In my honest opinion, I doubt Daisuke knew ANYTHING about what happened to Anya, we have to take the narrative were given with a grain of salt since most of it is through Jimmy’s eyes, but something we can take out of it is Daisuke’s death.

Daisuke before he dies is told to close his eyes, eyes seem to be a very important part of Mouthwashing and the narrative, Curly has one eye visible, Swansea loses an eye and Daisuke is told to close his eyes

With him being the youngest, and the crew looking to him as “the baby” or “kiddo”

Like what children do when scared or are exposed to something they aren’t supposed to see, they’re told to close their eyes, to preserve their innocence

Because of this I don’t think Daisuke knew anything regarding Anya’s situation, we see her tell two people. Curly and Swansea

Why do I think Swansea DID something?

There’s many instances where I believe Swansea was on Anya’s side

1st when the two are talking in the cockpit. Jimmy find the two, almost talking in secrecy, the cockpit being one of the few places that has a lock, a safe place for Anya to be vulnerable, to let someone in.

She allowed herself to be vulnerable with Curly in this room and here she is doing the same with Swansea, there conversation is cut short when Jimmy enters the room. Anya quick to barely utter a word while Swansea stares him down, ax in hand, arms crossed. His body language is guarded. Each time Jimmy talks, Swansea is quick to shut him down, brush him off, dismissing him just as Jimmy does Anya.

2nd instance I feel Swansea did something is after Daisuke and Anya’s death. Swansea is ENRAGED, chasing Jimmy down with an ax while he’s locked away in the cockpit, breaking in even

Some would argue that Swansea only cared for Daisuke, but I don’t think that’s true, he comes off as abrasive and intimidating, but let’s keep in mind too. Swansea is a father who cares deeply for his kids, with Anya and Daisuke being younger than him, probably the same age as his children, the two having moments of nativity, seeking guidance from him, Swansea probably saw his kids in the two.

In each scene with the Tulpar crew, Swansea is shown close to both of them, Jimmy almost isolated or in his own corner

Those are my thoughts so far, there’s definitely a lot more I could add but I’m unfortunately drawing a blank. Please feel free to give your thoughts and opinions on this though!

[kaifish-pond]

CG/Regressor Subtypes!! (Pt. 1)

(Note these are my OWN personal opinions/how I view them! Please take it with a grain of salt!)

Fatherly  CGs (note you are NOT required to ID as He/Him to use these labels!)

Papa CG (one of my favorite CGs)

Papa CGs to me, are sterner than Daddy CGs, but not as rigid as Father CGs. They offer a lot of gentle wisdom, encouragement, and a silent strength. They are prone to setting expectations (not rules) but then sometimes faltering on enforcing them all that much. But when they DO get fed up, OH BOY! 

They never punish or anything of that nature, but they do expect things from you. They are not wholly indulgent like a Daddy CG might be, but are more apt to let you have your own way than a Father CG would. 

They enjoy planning, keeping on a loose schedule, and mealtimes that consist of balance. They always make sure you drink water, but will of course let you have your iced coffee or energy drinks fairly often. 

They love giving treats when you deserve it, and driving you to get ice cream (Even in the middle of winter) is a huge treat even for them, because they love to see you happy! 

They love taking you on day or weekend trips, nothing too expensive but definitely a place that will be memorable! 

Papa CGs DO NOT need to be he/him to call themselves a Papa! Any gender can be a Papa!

Papa CGs are HIGHLY protective over their little one(s) and will never stand for anyone making fun of or bullying. They will also protect littles that aren’t theirs! 

Papa CGs always have your favorite candy on hand to reward you for a good job! 

Daddy CG

Daddy CGs are probably the most chill between Papa & Father CGs. They just want their little one to have the best time ever. They are just as silly and funloving as any little could be. They hardly ever get upset, and when they are the opt to just laugh it off or gently talk to their small one. 

They’ve never met a bad little in their life (except for a*usive littles, which are a thing) only misunderstood ones. They would rather get down to the root cause of what’s causing a little to lash out, then raise their voice

Daddy CGs also have expectations, but the main one is; Have Fun Kiddo! 

Daddy CGs LOVE to spoil you, toys, games, stuffies, colouring books. If you can dream it and its practical a Daddy CG will try and give it to you! 

Daddy CGs can often be taken advantage of because they are just so darn giving, so they have to be on the lookout for things of that nature! 

Daddy CGs will take you on the most amazing roadtrips & drives. They’ll just pick up the car keys and ask “Wanna go for a drive?” And next thing you know you’re two states over having the best pizza you’ve ever eaten (ONLY DRIVE WITH PEOPLE YOU KNOW AND TRUST THO!)

Daddy CGs LOVE to see you smile and will do ANYTHING to make you happy. They shower you in all the best snacks, drinks, etc. 

Father CG

Father CGs are the most stern, and even a bit reserved/hands off. They watch you with loving adoration from afar (But NOT in an inauthentic/uncaring way) 

Father Cgs love their littles just as much as any other Cg, they just love watching you be independent and tackle life’s problems head on! 

Father Cgs are always looking out for their littles in ways that the little one may not even be aware of. Such as keeping receipts for taxes, or making sure their car has a full tank of gas, putting away money to treat them later 

Father Cgs may or may not be big on affection

More often than not Father Cgs have a HUGE well of knowledge to draw on to help out their little one when they’re in a scrape/bad spot and love to give advice

Father Cgs can be a bit rigid in their planning or schedules. “It's time for sleep NOW, Little one.”

Father Cgs are who you call when shit is hitting the fan and you need honest and practical advice 

[goron-king-darunia]

@hannikka Regarding a comment on this post. “i know this ask has nothing to do with me, but i will be honest with you, before you said to take this with a grain of salt i was going to fight you XD (not really, but still XD) because i definitely and actually fell in love as in real lovewhen i was very young and it lasted years, so i was horrified for a moment, but then again like you, said our experiences are not universa” Again, like I said, I have not been a child in a very long time and I am demisexual so my threshold for attraction is VERY different from the standard. I can only speak from my experiences as a child and what I’ve seen regarding other kids I’ve worked with. It’s not impossible to fall in love, real genuine love, as a kid. I just think that’s VERY rare for it to happen and it seems to be the exception rather than the rule. Obviously this is anectdotal rather than data driven and even then, in the USA, narratives involving children and romance are heavily sanitized because in the USA implying that children are people with feelings like adults is very scary strawberry territory for censors because god forbid we imply children are complex people. Even worse if we imply children and adults can be friends, good heavens. The USA tiptoes around intergenerational friendships like a plague corpse in the street because if something even remotely resembles pedophilia, it’s BAD. Like, the USA buries that shit so hard, to the point where when the Professor Layton games came out I was confused for the longest time about what relation Luke had to Layton because in the USA one does not simply just have a grown man mentoring a young boy that isn’t his son or a blood relative of some sort. Like... there were memes about Layton being a guy that kidnaps orphans because that, for some reason, seemed more probable than the actual explanation which is that Luke is the son of one of Latyon’s close friends, and he and Luke bonded over solving a mystery together in town. Hell, even Layton being adopted was kind of a revelation for me when that showed up in the narrative because the USA had a BAD track record of underrepresenting non-traditional family structures. So I’m sure my view on children is partially cultural as well. The USA doesn’t want to admit it but we’re STILL barely out of that old phase of “children should be seen and not heard” bullshit of treating kids like extensions of their parents and swung right around to some weird other extreme of “if we even acknowledge kids at all, we either make them wise beyond their years or infantalize them to hell and back because what even is a child anyway? Baby? Yeah, we know what that is. Helpless cinnamon roll that can never do anything bad ever. Teenager? Yeah we know what that is. That’s like that weird stage of development where you’re like an adult but with now power and lots of feelings and you’re terrible with everything. IDK if I just grew up overly sheltered (which is probably the case) but like... seeing all these new shows on Netflix that acknowledge that teenagers have sex feels... transgressive somehow. Like, I LIKE that we’re acknowledging it. Because we’ve known for ages it happens and clearly doing pearl-clutching and trying to pretend it doesn’t won’t stop teen pregnancy. But it feels so terribly RECENT that we’re actually not actively shoving that under the rug. The Lion King (the good animated one, not the CG one) firmly cemented in my head when I was a wee baby watching it that “friends” and “lovers” were separate categories (even though Nala and Simba are a couple, LOL) because like, yeah, thinking about getting married to my best friends was WEIRD (even at a time in my life when a lot of my friends were boys. XD) So I was totally with Simba when he was like “Ew, I can’t marry her! She’s my friend!” It’s really only been in recent years that the idea of friendship and romantic/sexual relationships aren’t mutually exclusive has become mainstream. Or at least, it’s only recently that I aged into a group where these stories were targeted. IDK, I feel like I’m getting into the weeds here and talking in circles. But the point is YES, I am totally only speaking from my own experiences here, I am 100% not an authority, I am only giving an opinion, and my opinion is largely shaped by experiences and media that are not universal by any means. XD. I was relatively sheltered, have conservative parents, was a neuroatypical child and still am neuroatypical as an adult, turned out to be demisexual which is pretty different considering most of the world is some flavor of allosexual, an I grew up in the USA where basically the only acceptable adult/child relationships are parent/child and teacher/student (and if you’re a teacher you’re on thin fucking ice, fucking YIKES) because the USA treats every other possible interaction between an adult and child as highly suspect. The only factors I have mitigating these views is that I’ve worked with kids and took developmental psychology in college. So I am aware children are a lot more complex than the culture in the USA gives them credit for being. Children aren’t some weird alien species. They’re largely just very tiny adults with very little power/little ability to act on their agency and very little experience. I have met 10 year olds I would trust more than I trust myself, honestly. Kids that are more mature than me and just... understand things I would definitely NOT have at the same age. So, like, again, I’m not saying it’s impossible for kids to fall in love. I’m just saying that usually kids aren’t concerned with that, and when they ARE, they’re usually practicing the particulars of love. but this is just from my own childhood and my limited experience working with grade school kids. Kids I worked with were far more interested in friendships than romances, and as a kid, my romantic interests were, like, Link from Ocarina of Time and I couldn’t decide if I liked fucking Knuckles the Echidna as a dad or as a boyfriend and I think I settled on dad material because I have an old old old illustrated story that I might have even uploaded here where Knuckles is my dad. XD So, like, for real, take my opinions with a FAT grain of salt because I am literally just a goofy goober and have been in exactly 2 romantic relationships and one of them only lasted a year. XD (The other is basically from college until now which is practically 10 years, but also largely long-distance so, like. Definitely not the usual experience. XD) But also, for real, if I say something controversial, weird, or just plain wrong, you can 100% feel free to fight me because I am an idiot and I say dumb shit all the time. That one debunked post that went around about the “Azhar Library bombing” is a big case in this. XD I am basically an educated adult child. I know some things, but more than anything I know enough to realized that I actually know VERY LITTLE and my whole life should be a learning experience. So I am absolutely not opposed to being wrong and getting taught things because that’s honestly half the reason I’m even remotely as good a person as I am today because I was a garbage kiddo and a garbage teenager and still probably a garbage young adult and was educated out of it. I have a lot of internalized beliefs that were changed because of college and listening to people online, and I can only learn more and grow more my having good friends throw down and fight me over stuff when I say a dumb thing. XD Literally I am probably only on the Left because good people educated me on politics when no one else would. I legit could have been one of those awful cases of a disenchanted teen that was led down the alt-right pipeline. Scary to think of but my parents weren’t teaching me so thankfully better people stepped up to do it. So, legit, you are welcome to fight me any time, man. I want to learn. I want to be inoculated against bad ideas and educated away from any bad opinions I hold.

[rubidusmagnet]

THE POSITIVE & NEGATIVE; Mun & Muse - Meme.

fill out & repost ♥ This meme definitely favors canons more, but I hope OC’s still can make it somehow work with their own lore, and lil’ fandom of friends & mutuals. Multi-Muses pick the muse you are the most invested in atm.

My muse is:   canon / oc / au / canon-divergent / fandomless /

Is your character popular in the fandom?  YES? / NO 

Is your character considered hot™ in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK. 

Is your character considered strong in the fandom?  YES / NO / IDK.

Are they underrated?  YES / NO. (Though I do think he is when compared to the other two captains)

Were they relevant for the main story?  YES (With current fight but practically background otherwise) / NO. 

Were they relevant for the main character?  YES? / NO (I personally don’t think Kid has been manga relevant enough to matter like that) 

Are they widely known in their world?  YES / NO. 

How’s their reputation? GOOD / BAD (In terms of in world) / NEUTRAL.

How strictly do you follow canon?  — As much as I possibly can! And that’s really not a lot considering how little beyond his violent personality and care of his crew we’ve seen him express. Hopefully one day he will have more fleshing out by Oda but for now I won’t hold my breathe on him getting the ‘Law’ treatment anytime soon.

SELL YOUR MUSE! Aka try to list everything, which makes your muse interesting in your opinion to make them spicy for your mutuals.  — 

Other than being the most ruthlessly violent of the worst generation, Kiddo has them magneto powers! I’m betting it’s not all about that push and pull and definitely a lot more moves like his massive mech bot! He got that bright red vibrant hair, them cool badass goggles, and a devil may-care attitude! Who doesn’t love a guy like that?

Now the OPPOSITE, list everything why your muse could not be so interesting (even if you may not agree, what does the fandom perhaps think?).  Guess his violence could definitely put off a bunch of people, nad his looks and intelligence may not be the best, but that’s what flaws are! Kid can’t be perfect... Maybe it’s the lack of eyebrows? Dunno, but I’m thinking his craziness could be what’s ‘too much’ to handle for some.

What inspired you to rp your muse?  — It really kinda came outta the blue, technically i could’ve started with any of my six other muses besides him and yet when I did choose him, I couldn’t help but quickly fall in love. Match made in hell I guess! 

What keeps your inspiration going?  — Seeing Kid being able to stick it to the other muses when appropriate. Dude is not just gonna sit still and take it, and the awesome thing is, he is plenty strong enough to back up his bark with his bite. Essentially, I live to see Kid destroy things.

Some more personal questions for the mun.

Give your mutuals some insight about the way you are in some matters, which could lead them to get more comfortable with you or perhaps not.

Do you think you give your character justice? YES / NO.

Do you frequently write headcanons?  YES / NO. (Need to do MOAR)

Do you sometimes write drabbles?  YES (But need more) / NO.

Do you think a lot about your Muse during the day?  YES / NO. (Honestly not really got other muses too ya know?)

Are you confident in your portrayal?   YES / NO.

Are you confident in your writing?  YES? / NO.

Are you a sensitive person?  YES / NO.

Do you accept criticism well about your portrayal?  — Absolutely. So long as it is not a straight up bash all over his character, I’m fine with taking critique, otherwise bashers can be blocked and sent the hell away from me. 

Do you like questions, which help you explore your character?  — Yup! Come at me with anything you want to know about Tulip-ya, I’m always prepared to expand on his emotional development beyond his rage. 

If someone disagrees to a headcanon of yours, do you want to know why?  —  Maybe, that really depends on the situation and if it’s something impactful RP wise.

If someone disagrees with your portrayal, how would you take it?  —  Not everyone is gonna like what I dish out, So I’m gonna just take it with a grain of salt and shrug it off, just don’t get noisy with the disagreement and we good.

If someone really hates your character, how do you take it?  —  If they are in my face about it then that is a fat block right away. They can complain all they want in their own dark corner, I’m not gonna give much of a shit about that.

Are you okay with people pointing out your grammatical errors?  — YES! Please do tell me if there is something either majorly or minorly off about my writing! Sometimes I won’t catch everything even when I check it thrice.  

Do you think you are easy going as a mun?   — I think so! I feel like a big marshmallow and all someone has to do is say hi and we can hit it off! Bonus points though if you’re just as into using memes as I am.  

That’s about it, congrats for filling out!

Tagged by: @xdiez

Tagging: idk seems like a lot of people are already tagged

[hegglespeggles]

How to write an essay you could not care less about in 10 steps

Hello. I have an essay to write.

I am also, (unfortunately) the kind of lazy, apathetic burnout who will only do my FUCKING work if I get really worked up. Usually that ends up meaning all of my papers are spite-fuelled tirades but my profs seem to like them so fine. I hope you find this particular raging tirade useful.

Today, I would like to educate the 4 of you that will actually see this on a fine art I have perfected over the years. Writing a paper, about which, you do not give a single, solitary, crumb of a fuck about. This is (you may have guessed) and excellent way for me to procrastinate doing a paper that *I* do not give a single solitary crumb of a fuck about. For best results, I recommend doing this NIGHT-BEFORE-PANIC like, a week in advance so you can fix all the NONSENSE that your more reasonable brain will undoubtedly find. But if it’s the night before and you are shit outta luck, this will get ‘er done. And with practice, you can even pull good grades outta these bitches.

 Dissociating? I gotchu. Woke up the day of the deadline to feel like absolute utter garbage? Search no more friends.  

  FAILING GRADES ARE BETTER THAN ZEROS JUST FUCKIN DOOOOOO ITTTT

1.    Go get the prompt.

I fucking mean it. Even if you are like 1000% sure you know what the prompt is asking, go to the FUCKING assignment, and copy that shit into your word document. Got the assignment on paper? TYPE THAT SHIT UP MOTHERFUCKER.

(Do you see what I fucking have to deal with)

Boom?

BOOM.

Congratulations, you now have a document, and whats more, there are WORDS in it!! You aren’t starting from scratch anymore kiddo. Fringe benefit, you always know EXACTLY what the assignment wants because its fucking Staring You Down. Not saying you have to do exactly as it says, mama didn’t raise no BITCH and I aint scared of fuckin CALLING PROFS OUT but if you wanna break the rules you gotta know what they are first

(Disclaimer: I have also been kicked out of class on numerous occasions for fighting with the prof and had full classes where the lecture WAS me arguing so maybe take my opinions of conformity with a grain of salt.)

2.    Math THE FIRST

I know, this is an essay and not a fucking calculus test. But some of this shit is USEFUL OKAY

Take the paper in question. How long does it have to be? Mine is 5 pages. A page is generally accepted to be 250 words (double spaced because we FUCKING LOVE OURSELVES) so 5 x 250 = 1250 wds. That’s the goal. That’s the pinnacle. That’s your new holy grail.

Time to split this bitch up

  3.    Yarrrrrr, CONTENT

And finally, we get to the part that is the reason why you are being an absolute bitch baby about this essay (maybe. I might be projecting. Your life is your life and im sure youre doing your best.) I Hate this part, but now with our magic number we don’t need to pull 5 pages out of the ether.

This part really requires you to know your vibe. Is this something that you have a lot of little opinions (read: evidence) about or like, only 2 or 3 big bois? Look deep into your soul and figure out which is the easiest for you to shit out, a rant or a list. a  great way to do this is to WRITE ANYTHING YOU GOT OUT

Here you can see I’ve put all of the thoughts I have about the question into a list, slapped some standard “opening” and “closing” shit around it so I can FUCKING FIND IT AGAIN and given it a good hard look. Whats the common thread in all of my opinions? That the prompt is fucking stupid and makes no sense is asking 2 different questions. Congratulations: you found your thesis. This essay, like many of my essays, bears the thesis “this is a weird question to be asking” (which falls under my broader category of “bitches aint shit” essays.)

Congratulations you have the bare bones of your skeleton.

  4.    MATH THE SECOND

 The magic number returns. All hail our glorious leader. 1250 right?

So heres how I break this down. Break off a small chunk at the beginning. For this essay im gonna split off the 250. Split that baby in half. Congratulations, now you have a word count on your opening and closing. Personally, I know I like a lil extra space at the end to get all ranty, so Imma split this puppy up 100 for my opening and 150 for the closing. WARNING: You will think that you will be able to write enough in your opening and closing to take up lots of space. You will feel the urge to give them both the same amount of words that you give your points. This is misguided and foolish. Not only will you 1) not be able to do it but 2) even if you did, that’s like getting a sandwich which is all bread. No one wants that. Don’t be that dude. Fight the urge.

 RIGHT SO. We’re still left on the other 1000 words.

If you have an idea that like, is bigger than the others, go ahead and give that puppy more of the word count than the others, fractions are your friend here and you wanna think about how much of your final product each of these babies will be. If you, like me, are an utter buffoon with no clue what youre doing, open your calculator up. Divide the remaining word count by the number of points you have. Congratulations. Youre doing the essaying.

If this is enough to get you started, GREAT! See you at step seven. BEFORE YOU GO I would like to give you this tip

5.    CITE YOUR INFORMATION AS YOU ADD IT IN.

It doesn’t need to be a full citation, just literally a footnote with something that will help you remember where its from and for the love of god WHAT PAGE IT IS ON. The you of 3 hours from now will thank you.

  6.    Filling in the skeleton

 I don’t know about you, but I cant exactly riff off of a single sentence. Like, I know what the VIBE of my point is, but like, I cant pull it out of a hat. The name of the game here is whittling down your arguments into thinner and thinner chunks that are easier and easier to bullshit. This is how you avoid that “burning building found in flames during Brooklyn fire” bullshit that memes. You don’t wanna meme. You wanna pass. So, figure out what the things you are gonna say and in each bit, keep track of how many words you are gonna write. EITHER

a)      You put how many words you think you can write on any point beside the point as you go and just keep developing points and shuffling word counts around until it matches the total for that section

or

b)     You evenly breakup the word count between all the points and keep breaking them down until you look at a subject and a word count and go “yeah that’s doable. I can do that.”

I prefer the second so LEGGO.

Ta-Da!

7.    Write ‘er up

Ahhh glad to see we’re all back together again. Try-hards who can ACTUALLY bullshit papers, glad to see you’ve rejoined us! This is the part where you take all that shit you’ve broken up into nice little chunks and you turn it into something worth reading. You can do it. I believe in you. Try and keep your citations in place.

I like to do this as a question answer thingy, like an exam, so halfway through writing mine is gonna look like this

 The handy part about the numbers is that it gives you a frame of reference for how your bullshit is going. Realized you had a lot more to say here than you thought? Dope! Less bullshit somewhere else, take it out of a weaker point. This point didn’t give as much as you thought it would? Split the difference elsewhere! This way you have checkpoints and you can see how your essay is going

And then you can go ahead and delete your skeleton work. Its time. Its served you well. For extra drama, whisper menacing nothings to it as you send it into the darkness. Personal favourites include “no one will mourn you,” “your fate belongs to me,” and “so this is what you have come to”

  8.    Citations

Theres like a million ways out there to find out how to do your citations and its gonna depend on what kind of a paper you are writing. I use Chicago most of the time, including here. My advice? Use a site like, bib.me or something to do your bibliography, and then plaster that in the bottom of your document. Use that as the building blocks to do your footnotes. Let Purdue Owl be your guide. Purdue Owl Style Guide Is A Mighty Friend Indeed.

 Also your welcome for that, “putting the page numbers in as you put the info in” shit. That took me alarmingly long to figure out. It’s a wonder theyre giving me a degree.

  9.    Proofread that shit, ya bougie bitch.

If you wanna be time effective, getting a friend to proofread while you do your citations is a great way to go. If you have a few days, put your paper away and come back to it. If you are out of friends and time then https://www.paperrater.com/ is your last hope.

  10.       Slap a title page on that shit and GET IT SUBMITTED

 No joke, I have been using the same template for a coverpage all through highschool and my undergrad. There is only one title page and every time I write an essay I take the title page from the last paper I wrote. There is no beginning. Only title page. Title? Topic of paper: point of paper. For example, If I had to title this screed I’d call it Essay Writing: An exploration of mediocrity. slap the date and your name and the course and instructor on there and BAM. YA DONE.

 Anyway submit that shit an go to bed youre done goodnight

EPILOGUE

I’ve gotten this essay back, and when I wrote it, I was barely a human being. Barely capable of human speech let alone a coherent argument. I would forget the end of the sentence by the time I typed out the beginning. But I still for a 70%! is it the best mark I’ve ever gotten? no! but it is a hell of a lot better than the 0% I would have gotten if i hadnt done this. I get it. And i hope this helps. 

[lesdemonium]

🌻☀️

hey sunshine!!!

so this one is actually a bit of a story mixed in with a bit of a rant.

you should take all theorists with a grain of salt. basically our entire basis for child development is based on white, upper middle class, boys who had educated mothers. that's an EXTREMELY specific demographic, not at all the norm anymore, and while some of it can be generalized to all children, you should ALWAYS question the theories of people like piaget, erikson, etc. I'm not saying they're full of shit--they had extremely beneficial contributions to our understanding of child development! it's important to learn their theories! but too many people fall into the trap of thinking that its 100% applicable to every child when that just isnt realistic. even ones I think are amazing, like bronfenbrenner, I would completely understand if someone had hesitations with his theories.

Most annoying moment of my undergrad was when I took a child development course with a bunch of child and family studies majors. I'm sure they were very smart and knew their theorists well, but they had never actually worked with children, while I had (at that point) 5 years of center-based practical education as well as an educational background. book learning is important! Im sure I could have learned a lot from them in that aspect! but a lot of book learning strategies depend on an absolutely perfect environment which, if you've ever worked with people in general, is rarely the case.

I made the mistake of saying I disagree with Erickson's theory of social-emotional development. What I'm specifically talking about is his idea of the stages in which children have to learn things like trust vs mistrust, autonomy, etc. According to erikson, children have to learn to trust their caregivers by age 2 or they will be mistrustful for the rest of their lives, and same with every other stage (autonomy vs shame, independence, etc). Trust vs mistrust is the one I especially disagree with--if you dont respond to your child's cries in the right amount of time, they will be distrusting the rest of their lives.

obviously I'm not including cases of neglect. if a baby is not taken care of, OF COURSE they're going to be distrusting their whole lives. neglect and abuse literally damage their brains. but aside from cases of neglect, this theory sounds mother-blaming to me, and considering this theory was developed around the same time as "refrigerator mom syndrome" (autism) I dont think I'm being dramatic in feeling this way.

well, long story short, I voiced this opinion on apparently their favorite theorist and they all jumped down my throat, one notable thing was someone literally yelling at me THEY DID A STUDY AND BABIES DONT CRY FOR NO REASON. Ok? first of all, I'd love to read this study, because I dont necessarily trust you unless I can put eyes on it myself because some studies are done very poorly and I dont trust you to have a nuanced read of it. second of all, NO ONE cries for no reason. adults dont cry for no reason, the reason just might not always call for action. sometimes babies cry because they're too tired or they want to look at something else, and I'm not about to bemoan an exhausted mother for letting her baby cry it out in a safe place every once in awhile while she steps away.

bronfenbrenner is cool af though. I forget exactly what his theory is called but it talks about micro and macro systems and how development is affected both by the people around a child, and the structures (schools, governments, weather, etc) in place. I also love anything that talks about zones of proximal development (you need a skill to be challenging enough to pique interest, but not TOO challenging to discourage, so always push babies, kiddos, adults to do something that's just a little bit beyond what they can do already).

send me a 🌻 and I'll tell you about whatever I want

[raptorsandpoultry]

Hey! So you're working to become a bird vet and work with chickens so I wanted to tell you about my neighbor and hear your thoughts... I live in a rural town that does NOT allow roosters within city limits, however my neighbor has one. My neighbor's rooster is a bantam, so he looks super small in comparison with his hens, but if you look at him closely you'll notice he wears a cat collar. I asked one of the kiddos about it and she told me it's to stop him from crowing as loudly as he could...

Hi, thanks for the ask!

I don’t know what the animal cruelty laws are like in your town, and I’m only speaking as a second-year veterinary med student, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt.

Firstly, the fact that your neighbour is keeping a rooster against city bylaw, whether said bylaw is valid or not, is not ideal. Your neighbour is risking a fine/having the rooster confiscated to begin with.

Then there’s the issue of the cat collar. To be fair, he’s a bantam, and even if he was a standard-sized rooster I can’t say for sure whether a cat collar on the tightest loop would restrict his ability to crow (and breathe). A kitten collar might do it, but I’m still skeptical. There’s also the question of whether the kid really knew what she was talking about?

My main concern is that even if the collar was tight enough to keep him quiet, that is, without question, an inhumane way of doing so. If you’ve got something around your neck that’s preventing you from yelling as loudly as you can, I can assure you it’s probably also making it harder for you to breathe comfortably. Crowing is a natural behaviour of roosters that serves a ton of communicative functions; if an owner can’t tolerate it/lives in an environment that cannot tolerate it, they shouldn’t have it.

As for what to do about this situation, I would personally try and find out more about why he’s got a cat collar on, and how tight it is. If it’s the worst-case scenario, I would report it as animal cruelty - after you speak with your neighbour and try to educate them with the points I’ve mentioned above, and if they refuse to remove it. If it’s not causing the rooster any pain or discomfort and if it’s maybe there for some other reason (e.g. it just looks cute), then it’s just a matter of how much the crowing and the fact that your neighbour is breaking city bylaw bothers you, and that’s your call.

I hope this helped, please don’t hesitate to reach out and I can answer any other questions you might have, or even help you find a veterinarian in your area that might be able to help with this as well. It might also be worth having other tumblrs weigh in on this too.

[irish-urn]

Absolutely correct. It’s nice to think that TV shows and movies are written from a creative standpoint where the content and story is what matters, but sadly it’s just not the case anymore. Mostly anything produced these days is put out with one motive behind it and that’s cash. Of course these companies still have to hire artists, writers, and actors to produce so it’s not like things are totally devoid of substance or creativity. because even if you’re breathing down the artists throat telling them exactly what to do they’re still going to leave an individual mark on the result. Like in the series a lot of the Dasey content came from Ashley and Micheal and the way they were portraying their characters. Even though it wasN’t the intentional message of the show.

It’s a huge problem in the entertainment industry and it’s like entertainment is strangling itself. Because I think deep down people don’t really want all this candy coated marketable hooha. People want real shit that reflects the real world.

Buuuut the singing yellow pills make kids ask their parents for minion gummy’s at the grocery store so. That’s what gets paid to put into production.

I think I’m mentally preparing myself to just try and take this new spin off with a grain of salt. Like try to enjoy what is there to enjoy but not take it too seriously because just because this is what has been put in production doesn’t mean it’s gospel. At least in my opinion I think I value the people who really dive deep into these characters and write them with reflection of the real world and their own experiences... like way more than what some rando writing team came up with to market to the kiddos in 2022. It’s just kind of painful to think that that’s what takes precedence.

Yeeeup. I mean, I would be fine without a Life with Luca, to be honest. I liked the open-ended way Life with Derek ended, I liked the possibilities for the fans to do what they do best: create. But, I respect Michael and Ashley and appreciate that they need to work, and I also believe that they care about the fans too and know what they want, and that they'll do their best to deliver within the limitations they're given.

I mean, my stance right now is: I am expecting very little, but I'll give it a chance. It's the least I can do for the people putting in the effort to create it. And maybe, just maybe, characterization and creativity will win out over capitalism.

[writing-tips-for-dummies]

How do you write romance? Straight, gay, what have you doesn’t matter, but how do you? I read a lot of snippy fanfic and I am as lost as a bird in a building!

I don’t know how to say this without comingacross as sad, but my only “relationship” was short, complicated, andconfusing. However, I will use my vast knowledge of fanfiction and publishedromance novels to at least get you to a starting point.

Use Clichés

If you’rea beginner as you seem, use clichés they are godsend. There are certain tropesin romance that get used over and over again so you already know the formula towriting it.

Take thetrope friends to lovers. If you readany fanfic or follow people who reblog fanfic, you’ve across this before. It usuallyfollows the formula of one or both realizing they have feelings for the other,another friend/they themselves try to get the other to realize, in the end theyget together.

This formulais simple, full of easy ways to create conflict, and realistic if me and my beauare any indication.

Knowthe Audience

This is important regardless of what you’rewriting, but it’s still worthy of note.

They wayyou would write for a child audience would be wildly different if you werewriting for an adult audience. Understand who your writing for and that willmake it easier to do the little things like plot, making the characters, andthe conflict.

Even ifyou stick to the usual trope and don’t surprise your audience, havinginteresting and dynamic characters will draw them in.

Sex—Yay or Nay

Sex isnot necessarily a super important aspect of romance. On a personal note, I don’tsex has much to do with romance, but that’s just my opinion. It really justdepends on the type of people your characters are.

Now ifyou do decide to include a sex scene, it does not have to fullerotica/smut/every detail about everything. It doesn’t need to be explicitunless you want it to be.

On theother hand, you don’t need to have a sex scene if you don’t want one. If youwant this romance to be fluffy and light and only that, then go for it. There areplenty of stories like that that are just as wonderful.

Writing romance can prove difficult when youaren’t adept at it, but like all things, it gets better with practice. Start withthe easy stuff, then dig deeper.

Take everything with a grain of salt, my ownexperience in romance it lacking. In the meantime,

See Ya, Kiddos

[travelersguidetodisney]

Top 5 Rides and Attractions at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom

***Disclaimer: These are the views and opinions of the author(s). Though many Disney World visitors may share these opinions, they may not apply to the overall general public. All opinions are valid and appreciated.

Hello and welcome to the first blog post by Traveler’s Guide to Disney. This is Disney blog, focusing on helping the reader plan their best Disney vacation. We will also be discussing upcoming changes to the Disney parks and what we would love to seen done. In other words, we will be talking about all things Disney!

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is probably the most iconic Disney Park in the world. Cinderella’s Castle perfectly represents the magic that is Disney, in addition to being one of the most photographed sites across the parks. Not only is Magic Kingdom home to some of the best picture-taking spots at Disney World, but it also hosts many of the park’s most iconic rides–whether that be Space Mountain in Tomorrowland, Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland, and It’s a Small World in Fantasyland. On top of that, what makes Magic Kingdom a great park is its diversity in rides. There are classic dark rides that follow a storyline, like the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh; boat rides like the Jungle Cruise; thrill rides like the new Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. And, of course, you can find blends of these rides around the park. And of course, there are numerous attractions like character meet-and-greets, fireworks shows, and parades! Magic Kingdom has a lot of options that will bring out the inner child in all of us. And since there are so many activities in Magic Kingdom, it is a park that certainly requires more than one day. But if your time is limited, here are the top five rides and attractions that we think you should hit at Magic Kingdom.

5. Strolling Down Main Street USA to Cinderella’s Castle

Like we said before, Magic Kingdom is home to a lot of iconic and scenic places to take pictures of you, your family, and friends. Main Street USA and Cinderella’s Castle are probably the two most popular places to take pictures. And though you can always take your own pictures, there are cast members working with Disney Photo Pass that will be able to take higher quality pictures in the best locations–however, that is not a requirement to have some great pictures.

And though you have to walk down Main Street USA when you first enter the park, I recommend strolling. Not only do they play classic American music, but the atmosphere truly makes you feel like your in a cute, small town. We recommend strolling through Main Street USA earlier in the morning, particularly during the extra magic hours when the park is only open to those staying on Disney property. This is also a perfect time to hit some of the gift shops on Main Street USA, for they will be far less crowded and they sell some of the best souvenirs in Magic Kingdom. Another reason why we recommend the morning is that you’ll be able to spot more characters and get their pictures with them! The characters can range from the classics like Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto, to more rare ones, like Robin Hood.

Overall, some of my best memories come from strolling down Main Street USA, whether that is with my family or friends. It is one “attraction” that I always make sure I do multiple times during my vacations at Walt Disney World! Don’t forget to hit the statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse!

4. Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland

Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland is probably the most popular traditional story-telling dark ride in Disney World. Located towards the end of Fantasyland, across from It’s a Small World and the Tangled Restrooms, Peter Pan’s Flight is a must-hit ride during your time at Magic Kingdom. Not only is the ride itself great, but due to a recent renovations, Peter Pan’s Flight is home to one of the coolest queues in all of the theme parks. The queue used to be majority outside, which, of course, can be problematic with a popular ride that typically has a longer wait-time in a hot climate. Now, a good majority of the queue is inside, so waiting in that hour-long line is not nearly as unbearable. In addition, there is charming music playing making this ride and queue a perfect representation of Disney magic and happiness. Once you to the inside portion of the queue, it takes you through a hallway of pictures from the film, then into their backyard in London with Nana, the children’s bedroom. They queue also incorporates cool shadow and special effects, like Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, and an interactive shadow feature with the audience. The queue itself accurately depicts how Disney is able to stay ahead of their competitors with their impeccable attention-to-detail theming despite the crowds and longer ride wait times. The average wait-time for Peter Pan’s Flight is roughly 60 minutes, however, during busier times of the year, the wait-time can very easily increase to even 120 minutes. If possible, it would be best to get a fast-pass or hit the ride earlier in the morning (especially during extra magic hours) in order to beat the lines. However, even though the ride is two minutes long, it so iconic and soothing that even I would recommend waiting in line for it. Your Disney vacation is surely not complete without a trip to Peter Pan’s Flight.

3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland

Located next to Splash Mountain in the back corner of Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a great rollercoaster that will not only satisfy thrill-seekers, but also kids who are getting ready for the bigger rollercoasters, like Space Mountain or Expedition Everest. The ride time of Big Thunder Mountain railroad is three minutes, while the average wait time can be a little less than an hour. Overall, the wait time for Big Thunder Mountain can be a little confusing and unreliable. With two tracks and, therefore, two vehicles, this coaster is able to cycle through more visitors than a typical ride. However, since it is a rollercoaster and requires cast members to check the safety straps, this can delay the process if there is a problem. In addition, the queue is primarily outside, and when it is inside it is not air conditioned. So, frankly, this may not be the best queue to wait in during a hot summer’s day when you have to kill time before your lunch reservation. During the busy season, the wait time can still be around 35 minutes, while it can also get up to 70 minutes–to be honest, it often depends if Splash Mountain is open or not. That being said, Big Thunder Mountain is so much fun, I would definitely wait in a longer line to ride it. Of course, a fast pass is totally recommended if you want to ride Big Thunder once or even multiple times–my family and I always make sure to get fast passes for this at least twice, since it is one of our favorites.

This coaster takes you on the “wildest ride in the wilderness” with sudden drops, twisty and jerky turns, and fun western theming. If you sit in the front of the vehicle, the ride will be less shaky. However, if you sit in the back, it truly becomes a wild ride. If you’re like my brother and I, be sure to ask a cast member if you can be placed in back. That will ensure that you will TRULY have the “wildest ride in the wilderness.”

Overall, this is a really fun ride that is a classic at Walt Disney’s Magic Kingdom and is a perfect thrill ride for Disney-lovers of all ages!

2. Space Mountain in Tomorrowland

To be quite honest, my picks for number one and two flip flop all the time–so take this with a grain of salt. If I could honestly pick two number ones, then they would be tied. Really, the ONLY reason why Space Mountain is number two and not number one is because the ride, itself, is shorter. I honestly don’t think I can express this enough, Space Mountain is one of my FAVORITE rides at Walt Disney World. With a ride time of three minutes, Space Mountain is a dark, high-speed adventure with a single-seater coaster. If your kiddo is scared of the dark and does not want to sit alone on thrill rides, this may not be the ride for them. The Space Mountain queue is all inside, making it a great way to avoid the heat during the busy summers. The average wait time for Space Mountain is 60 minutes, however, during the busy season and the summer, it can easily increase to well over 120 minutes. Space Mountain is a fantastic ride to hit with fast passes and during extra magic hours–my brother and I love this ride so much, that we get fast passes at least three times in addition to opening the park during extra magic hours to ride this attraction. Since Space Mountain is an older rollercoaster and to amplify the galactic experience, the thrill ride is incredibly jerky. Since it is in the dark and you can’t prepare yourself for what is about to come next, it twists up your stomach more than usual coasters. The only time Space Mountain is not completely in the dark, is the initial take-off sequence, rising up to the main coaster area where you see two astronauts and the People-Mover passes by below, and when an alien is chasing up behind you.

​Space Mountain is one of the best rides in all the parks and is definitely a signature stop on your Disney vacation!

Honorable Mentions

Before I move onto the number one Traveler’s Guide to Disney recommended ride, here are a few honorable mentions that just barely missed this list:

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland: Fast pass recommended if it is a family favorite or you have a Toy Story lovin’ kid to ensure multiple rides.

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in New Fantasyland: Fast pass recommended even if you only want to ride it once–lowest wait time I have seen has been 120 minutes.

The Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square: Fast pass recommended to ensure multiple rides. If you only want to ride it once, a fast pass is most likely not necessary.

The Jungle Cruise in Adventureland: Fast pass recommended even if you only want to ride it once.

Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland: Fast pass recommended to ensure multiple rides. If you only want to ride it once, a fast pass is most likely not necessary.

Happily Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom: Fast pass not required for viewing, but recommended to avoid the crowds and get better seating.

1. Splash Mountain in Frontierland

After seeing a pattern of thrill rides in my top three, I’m sure it comes to no surprise that Splash Mountain has taken the number one spot. To be fair, the only reason why it beats Space Mountain is because its ride time is considerably longer, averaging out at ten minutes. Splash Mountain is my family’s favorite attraction to ride together, and we always book fast passes at least twice to ensure multiple rides. Splash Mountain is one of the rare, popular rides with a wait time that fluctuates on the lower end. Nearly every time I have waited in the queue for Splash Mountain, the wait time has been shorter than predicted. Though in the summer the wait time can surge into 90-130 minutes (it is the best way to cool off in Magic Kingdom), it can waver between 20-60 minutes during any other time of the year. Splash Mountain is a perfect example of the “blend rides” I mentioned earlier. It incorporates elements of a thrill ride, story telling ride, and boat ride, with hints of a dark ride scattered between. Part of the ride itself is outdoor, offering a really breathtaking view of Magic Kingdom. The queue itself is also outside, but the wait is worth it, for it truly is the best way too cool off during a hot summers day and is one of the best rides in Magic Kingdom.

​The ride takes you through the 1946 Disney film, Song of the South, with characters Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear. The film takes place after the American Civil War, during the Reconstruction Era. It also incorporates the fun and popular song, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” giving it a nice stereotypical Disney twist. There are two-three drops before the iconic large one in order to prepare you and freak you out a little. Make sure to smile on the drop; your picture is going to be taken! Though I would recommend this ride to anyone who meets the high requirement, if your kiddo is a little scared (for the drop does look intimidating), there is a nice viewing area to watch the drop and to see all the smiling visitors laughing from it. At the end of the day, this is by far not the scariest ride in Magic Kingdom, and I highly encourage parents to get their kids on it if they think they can handle it–that’s why my parents did to me (after a lot of fighting on my behalf) and it is now my favorite ride in Magic Kingdom! When I think if Magic Kingdom, I immediately think of Splash Mountain.

[boysinthecity]

Reverse Heroine | III

parts: ➳ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 / ?

a supposedly only 2 part fic ft. fuckboy!jungkook x reader

summary: because platonic love is underrated

genre: college au, fluff/angst idk?

word count: 5.1k

a/n: this update is super delayed ㅠㅠ but i promise you guys, i’ll be updating alot more frequent from now on! anyways, i’m half dreading half excited to write the next few parts because...brace yourselves kiddo, the angst is coming.

               After the very eventful breakfast, you watch as Jungkook hurriedly go up the stairs to return to his room. It was obvious that the boy did not want to be bothered. Quietly, you start collecting the dishes from the boys, stacking them up to bring to the sink. A hand stops you when you reach for Hoseok’s plate, meeting eyes with Yoongi who softly smiles at you. He nods his head in the direction where Jungkook disappeared to, and gently nudges you away from the table.

              “You’ve done enough work already, let us clean up the mess.” Yoongi speaks in a low and calm voice, taking over your position. He grabs the plates away from you, setting them down in front of him. You ponder for a moment before quickly thanking Yoongi and follow Jungkook’s footsteps. Walking up the stairs, you briefly recall what happened during the breakfast.

              There is no doubt that a sudden shift in atmosphere lingers in the air. People would have to be blind – or maybe as dense as Kim Taehyung – to not see the rising tension once Daeun took a seat at the table. Jungkook immediately stops making conversation with the rest of his fraternity and stares hard onto his plate, jaws clenched with an unreadable expression. You notice how Daeun keeps looking in your direction, eyes full of curiously until Jimin whispers into her ear to let her know that it was you who prepared the breakfast for the boys.

              “You’re so impressive, Y/N!” Daeun praises you with eagerness, “Yoongi is so lucky to have a girlfriend like you!”

              The grumpy, dark haired man beside you half grunts and chuckles sarcastically, showing no intention to give a proper reply. Yoongi seriously does not hold back on expressing his detest for the girl.

              Awkwardly returning the smile, you open your mouth to clear up the misunderstanding. “Oh, I’m not-”

              “-Y/N isn’t Yoongi’s girl!” Taehyung exclaims, joining the conversation. “She’s our Jungkookie’s ‘special’ friend.” He wiggles his eyebrows suggestively, earning snickers from the rest of the table.

              You weren’t sure if you just saw Daeun’s smile falter for a second, but she quickly regains her composure, finally looking at Jungkook for the first time since she’s entered the house. “Kookie, you finally got yourself a girlfriend? How come you didn’t tell me…” Her lips curl into a pout, and you swear that half the table of guys starts swooning at how adorable she looks.

              Jungkook remains silent, his chopsticks fiddling with the rice that’s left over in his bowl. Tension starts to build in the atmosphere, with Jungkook showing no signs in responding to Daeun’s comment.

              “What Tae means, is that Y/N is one of the few girls that Jungkook manages to not have a fucked up relationship with, literally.” Hoseok adds in teasingly, earning laughter from the table once again; but you don’t miss the soft glance he throws in your way. It was a relief that Hoseok never fails to read the mood well, preventing awkward situations from lingering on too long. Throughout the rest of the meal, you felt a pair of eyes on you, observing your every move.

              Reaching to Jungkook’s bedroom, you knock twice to let him that you were going in – regardless to whether he liked it or not. Upon entering the room, you immediately find your eyes on the boy lying on his bed, eyes closed with his arm slayed across.

              “Kook,” You close the distance between the two of you, sitting down on the side of his bed. “You know you have to face her at some point. She’s your best friend. You can’t avoid her forever.”

              Jungkook lets out a soft grunt and turns his back away from you, words muffled against his pillow; but you make them out to be something along the lines of “Yes, I can” or “Fresh tuna can”. Betting your hopes that it was not the latter, you pinch his arm playfully to get his attention. “Stop being a baby, you baby.” You pull his arm away in hopes that he would look at you, “The feeling sucks, I know. But you have to stay strong and slowly let your broken heart mend itself, not run away from the problem.”

              Jungkook finally turns around to properly meet your gaze, wavering eyes that showed his fragileness.

              “How?” He whispers. “How am I supposed to get over this?”

              The room enters a static silence. You carefully listen to Jungkook’s breathing, slow and even. The both of you stared at one another, immersed in each other’s presence.

              When you finally speak again, Jungkook’s eyes widen in surprise.

              “Let me help you, Kook.”

              “You know, this is really not what I imagined to be a part of the whole ‘mend your heart’ plan.” His low grumbles echo in the crisp morning air, where the school campus is yet to be awake with bustling students. “And why the fuck is he here?” Jungkook glares at the happy individual beside you.

              You shrug as you continued stretching out your legs. “I know you football jocks probably spend a lot of the time in the gym doing deadlifts and stuff, but let’s see how fit you really are with cardio.” A mischievous and silly grin appears on your lips, which earns another growl from Jeon Jungkook. “You need to start anew, Kook, and the best way is to focus on yourself – some ‘me-time’.”

              “Trust me, Y/N. We spend way more ‘me-time’ than you can-” Taehyung stiffles a giggle in a child-like manner before you silence him with a punch on the arm.

              “And by that, I don’t mean the times you spend on your beds with hands in your pants, okay?” Your lips curl upwards sarcastically while Taehyung smirks at your words.

              “I still don’t get why the fuck he’s here.” Jungkook speaks again, looking like a grumpy toddler who got woken up in his sleep – which, in his defense, was kind of the case.

              “Tae’s eager to help out, okay? Besides, I could use the extra help when I’m dealing with a giant man-baby like you.”

              “Yeah, but I thought it was just gonna be the two of us…” Jungkook mumbles to himself, obviously still unpleased with the appearance of a sudden guest.

              “What did you say?” You raise your head in his direction, in which he just mutters a soft ‘nothing’ and looks away. A quick glance at your phone tells you the time of 7:00am, and the sun was just starting to show its arrival. You watch the boys continue stretching absentmindedly, before you suddenly take off and start running along the tracks.

              “Loser has to buy coffee!” You shout, increasing the distance between you and two confused figures.

              “That wasn’t fair. I even had a head start.” You grumble as you hand your credit card to the barista. “I’m going to sue Mother Nature for this biological inequality.”

              Jungkook happily puts his arm around your shoulders, making you feel his body weight on you. “You asked for it, dude. To go against the two best players on the Football team?” His deep chuckles resonate beside you, putting a smile on your face knowing that he enjoyed his time and was able to momentarily forget about Lee Daeun.

              “Whatever, Jeon. Just wait till we do long distance.” You scoff, jokingly pushing his sweaty arm away. “Sprinting has never been my forte anyways.”

              Jungkook grins brightly, looking much more youthful than he usually appears to be. He was amused at your stupid excuses and competitiveness, in which he found endearing. He doesn’t hesitate to pinch your cheeks while you took a sip of your Americano. “You’re so cute when you get upset like this.”

              His words bring the hairs on your back to rise, as a surge of warmth rush to your cheeks. Flustered, you quickly brush his hand away and mutter a ‘whatever’. It felt weird to suddenly feel shy about what Jungkook said, as you usually take his compliments as a grain of salt. The boy was so used to charming girls to get them into his bed, it was already in his second nature to flirt with every female species like this. But when Jungkook smiles at you so innocently like this, it was just him - Jeon Jungkook, the boy with a deep affinity for anime and Iron man. And it almost, almost, makes your heart skip a beat.

              A voice suddenly interrupts you from your trance, finding your eyes on a familiar smiling face. “Jungkook, Y/N! What are you doing here?” Jimin lightly jogs to you both, looking a bit surprised and excited at coincidence. You give Jimin a small wave before quickly darting your eyes to Jungkook, hoping that his mood was still in good spirits.

              “Hey Hyung.” Jungkook flashed a small smile, acting a little awkward but you felt relieved when he showed no hard feelings towards the older boy.

              “Jeon Jungkook up and awake this early in the morning? I’d never believe it!” Jimin laughs, giving you a thumbs up. “I’m impressed, Y/N. Our Kookie has finally found his opponent.” You let out a small chuckle, shaking your head.

               “It took both me and Tae to wrestle him out his bed this morning.” You playfully glare at Jungkook, massaging your arms as if you were in pain. Jungkook responds to your little complaint with a smug grin on his face, patting your hair and looking satisified.

               “Aigoo, you did such a good job today.” He coos, obviously enjoying himself.

               “Shut up, you brat! Is this how you treat your elders?” Jungkook throws his head back, and continues laughing like this was the funniest thing in the world – which it really wasn’t. From behind, you slowly see Taehyung coming out of the bathroom and walking towards you guys.

                Even from a short distance away, he makes no attempt in concealing his opinions. “You two are being so sickeningly sweet that I could feel myself sugar high from like, a mile away.” He comments, a classic boxy grin on his face when you hand him his sugar-filled coffee, which at this point, wasn’t even coffee anymore – it was just milk and sugar. Jungkook pays no attention to the teasing from his hyung and just pulls you even closer.

                "You’re just feeling sour at the fact that Y/N likes me more than you.” Jungkook bickers, and it still surprises you till this day at how ‘mature�� Jeon Jungkook was.

               “Hey, don’t forget that I was there at the beginning of our budding friendship too!” Taehyung defends himself, as the memory of carrying a drunk Taetae up the stairs pops into your head.

               “Me and Y/N’s budding friendship.” Jungkook argues back, “Hyung was just passed out on the bed like a dead cow.” Taehyung looks like he was about to say something again but stops himself, suddenly moving closer to Jungkook and breathing down his neck. You don’t miss the smirk that he carries.

               “If it weren’t for me, would you even have the courage to face Y/N?” A mischievous smile appears on Taehyung’s lips. “Don’t forget, Kookie. Do you remember what you said in first yea-” Taehyung gets cut off when Jungkook quickly clasps his hand over his mouth, and you see how Taehyung’s eyes forms into a pair of victorious crescent moons, knowing that he has won. On the side, Jimin watches in amusement how this childish argument is unravelling before his eyes.

               First year? Taehyung’s words piques you with curiosity, interested to know what is making Jungkook panic like this. You watch as Jungkook drags a smug Kim Taehyung away into the other side of the coffee shop, leaving you and Jimin alone.

“Hey, Y/N.” Jimin glances at you, “Can I have a word with you?” Nodding your head with a smile, you encourage him to continue. “About Jungkook and Daeun…you know, right?”

The sudden shift in topic catches you off guard, eyes widening at Jimin who chuckles lightly at your reaction. “Yeah, I thought so. Kook really opened up to you about everything, eh?”

              Taking one more sip of your drink, you face Jimin again. “And…this is all alright with you? The fact that one of your best friends is in love with your girlfriend?” Your eyebrows furrow in slight confusion.

              “Actually, I knew before we got together.” He pauses, watching Jungkook and Taehyung playfully wrestle with one another from afar. “Daeun told me.”

              JImin turns back to you with a smile, “Anyways, the point of me telling you this…is that, I hope you make sure that Jungkook is okay. I’d hate to see Jungkook being upset ab-” Jimin halts when he gets interrupted by the sound of your coffee cup slamming against the table, not long before finding your angry eyes directed at him.

              “I can’t believe you, Park Jimin.” You seethe, “You-you knew how much Jungkook cares about Daeun and the tw- the two of you still did this behind his back?” Your words are coming out as a hiss, getting louder as your anger starts to boil.

              “Wait, Y/N. Let me explain. “Jimin grabs onto your arm, making you look at him properly. “I know. I shouldn’t have done this to Jungkook, but it just wasn’t something I could contro-”

              “Don’t give me these excuses, Jimin.” You pull your arm out of his grasp and glare at him. “If you cared, you would’ve talked to him before walking into that party, hand in hand like you wanted the whole world to see.” The heated discussion was starting to earn curious attention from other students in the coffee shop. A flash of guilt runs across Jimin’s face; he wanted to tell you that it wasn’t true – things weren’t the way you assumed it to be – but the both of you knew.

              “Jimin, I will try my best to make sure Jungkook recovers from his wounds. But no, not for your sake.” You frown at him, who was avoiding your gaze. “I’m doing this because I want to see Jungkook happy.”

              Without another word, you march to the exit and leave the café, leaving Jimin stunned and a confused Taehyung and Jungkook to why you left so abruptly.

               A female scream rings in your ears when you slam the door open, finding a cute brunette in a bra and a half-naked Jeon Jungkook– lips smudged with red and hands lost in somewhere around filmsy skirt of hers.

               You wish you were surprised at the scene before you, but let’s be honest here, nothing compares to your first encounter with the boy.

               You throw your shit-eating grin at their direction, feeling pleasantly smug at your little interruption. “Put on some clothes and meet me downstairs in 15.”

               To your surprise, Jungkook comes down in less than 5 minutes.

               “Whoa, somebody’s looking happy.” Hoseok comments with a smirk, “I’m guessing your little ‘date’ with Hyeri didn’t go so well?”

               Jungkook mumbles something incoherently and takes a seat beside you, who was captivated by the latest photography project that Yoongi is currently working on. “Hey, don’t blame me. I was sent by those smiling idiots over there without any warning.” You defend yourself, hand pointing at Taehyung and Hoseok. “Besides, I gave you time to finish, didn’t I?’

               “How could I finish after your little interruption?” Jungkook frowns, “All I could see in my head was that annoying little smile of yours afterwards.” He leans back onto the sofa, pinching your torso from behind, making you burst into a fit of giggles.

               “You’re saying that you just left Lee Hyeri – one of the hottest girls on campus – on your bed, hungry and unsatisfied?” Taehyung exclaims with his mouth opened wide. “Dude, you’re…you’re a fuckin’ savage.” He turns his head to his friends, waiting for them to continue the bickering. But Instead, Hoseok just wolves down his unfinished pizza in silence like he hasn’t eaten for days, earning the attention of everyone in the common room. “Whoa there, slow down bro. What’s the rush?” Taehyung says, smirk on his lips.

               “Lee Hyeri is currently in my room, half naked and probably pissed to death.” Hoseok whistles suggestively, “I’d be an idiot if I didn’t go up right now.” All the boys in the room starts hooting, giving him fist bumps of all sorts.

               “You guys are disgusting.” You grimace at the topic of the conversation. “I’m out.” You hand back Yoongi, who was sleeping on the sofa, his camera and start heading out the door. And once you’ve stepped outside, you already find Jungkook standing behind you like a lost puppy.

               “So,” He chirps, an excited expression on his face, “where are we going?”

               You give him a side smile, and tugs his arm to start walking. “You’ll find out soon enough.”

               The Matisse Building of Art and Design  – the place where the school’s art students can be found spending their whole 24 hours at. The place where Jeon Jungkook, also an art student, rarely steps into.

               “What are you doing…” His eyes shift around, catching the gazes of the whispering students who had their full attention on the boy. The infamous Golden quarterback slash campus bad boy in the art building? Now that’s something rarer than a blue moon.

               “Step 2 to recovery from a heartbreak – redirect your attention into something new –  well, not exactly new for you. But you get the deal here.” You reply, patting his back encouragingly. When Jungkook opens his mouth to resist, you put your finger against his lips. “Before you reject me and think that this is a ludicrous idea, please – just give me 10 minutes.” You speak calmly, a small smile on your lips. “Look Jeon, I know how good you are, and how much you love draw.” Jungkook squirms uncomfortably under the scorching stares of the crowd, but you tilt his head to face you properly. “The stuff – the drawings in your sketchbook.” A bright smile sits on your lips. “It’s amazing.”

               Jungkook’s cheeks become furiously red at your comment, feeling a little flustered for being praised. Sure, he was used to getting compliments for doing well during football season, or doing anything in general. But something about being praised for his art – or maybe it was just the fact that he was being praised by you – made Jungkook’s heart swell and beam in shyness.

               “Come on, let’s go to your studio.” You pull his arm, and start walking deeper into the building.

               He stops in his footsteps, unsure if he had just heard wrong. “My own…studio? I thought only grad students were allowed-”

               “I talked to the art director,” You slow down to turn around and face him, “and…I might’ve showed him your sketchbook.” You smile sheepishly at him when Jungkook playfully narrows his eyes at your sudden confession.

               “Oh, of course you did. What is the great Y/N not capable of?” He chuckles, shaking his head in disbelief.

               You place your hands on your hips, standing in a very firm stance. “That’s what you get for not telling me that you were the top student of your graduating class!” You defend yourself, finger poking at his chest softly.

               Jungkook’s smile slightly falters, replaced with a grim expression. “Like that matters anymore…” He mumbles, kicking his shoe against the marble floor dejectedly. “If you hadn’t noticed, I’m not very welcomed here. They all just think I’m some basic, talentless jock who’s lacks creativity and character.”

               “And when did you, Jeon Jungkook, started caring about what others thought of you?” Your question makes Jungkook smirk, failing to hide the rising smile on his face. “Anyways, that is why I talked to the Art Director,” You continue on, “and it just so happens that one of the grad students suddenly decided to take a gap year, meaning that there’s an empty studio waiting to be occupied.” You resume in your walking again, tugging the boy behind. “I thought that, maybe you’d might enjoy drawing a lot more if you don’t have to work under the scrutinizing stares of your peers, you know?”  

               Jungkook’s eyebrows furrow in confusion as he looks at you with slight doubt. “Th-that sounds too good to be true. Why would they just give me, an undergrad, the studio?”  

               “Well…there are…some conditions…” You mumble, “And I may or may not have threatened the director about his little affair with one of the TAs…”

               Jungkook cracks in laughter, shaking his head again. “God, I don’t even want know how you got that info.”

               “Anyways, it wasn’t just me that persuaded Mr. Kang.” You briskly walk along the hall, hearing Jungkook’s footsteps following behind. “Professor Hong helped as well – a lot actually.”

               “Prof Hong? As in my current Oil Painting professor? The one that I keep skipping classes of-”

               “This is where the conditions come in, Kook.” You finally come to a stop in front of a sleek black wooden door. “You can’t miss anymore attendances from now on.” Turning around, you meet eyes with Jungkook, a serious expression sitting your face. And behind your back, your fingers runs along to smooth metal doorknob before hearing a click to open the door. “You are also required to hand in a project in every 2 weeks from now on-”

               “Oh, you’re kidding right?”

               “No – not really...”

               Jungkook starts to frown again, looking a bit nervous and anxious at the news. It wasn’t the fact that he had to hand in extra assignments that made him feel like this, it’s just that he hasn’t really been involved with his academic responsibilities ever since he joined Alpha Sigma. It scared him, yes – but Jungkook would be lying to himself if he said that he didn’t miss it at all. Jeon Jungkook was so accustomed to getting approval from everything he did. However, he could not say the same when it comes to his major of study. Art is often viewed based on the individual’s subjective experience, making art the one thing that he had no control over – which is exactly why he’s so mesmerized by it. His thoughts are quickly interrupted when he feels your hand wrap around his own.

               You tug Jungkook into the room, feeling a little excited to see his reaction to the new studio. It was a small space, but you made sure that all the working tables, chairs and easel carried a minimalist design – making the room feel comfortable yet chic at the same time. You glance at Jungkook, who still carries a hint of a frown but finally releases the deep breath that he’s been holding once he enters the studio. And his reaction did not disappoint.

               “D-did you do all this?” He whispers, turning his head to give the place a 360 view.

               You let out an embarrassed laugh, suddenly feeling a little shy. “Not alone, of course.” Jungkook’s gleaming eyes at you make you scratch the back of your ear awkwardly. “Your bros and I, we jus – we kind of just pooled some money together, and – it just happened I guess.”

               Jungkook’s laugh rings in your ears like morning bells, slowly pulling his lips into a smile. “Bullshit. Anyone with a brain would know that this didn’t ‘just happened’, okay?” His fingers quote in the air. “This is- this is great.” He pauses, “No, it’s perfect.” You tense up when Jungkook suddenly walks to your side and throws his arms around you, your head tucking underneath his chin. “You’re the best.”

               You brush off any weird tingly feelings that was bubbling inside of you, and pull apart to meet Jungkook’s bright smile. “To be honest though, Yoongi chipped in the most – ‘to make up for his lack of physical contribution’, he says.”

               This makes Jungkook laugh again. “I wouldn’t expect any less from Yoongi hyung.” Jungkook smiles while walking to his working table, where the smell of fresh paper and various art supplies lingers.

               “Also, about those projects with Professor Hong,” Your fingers play with the cactus plant while your body finds the seat across from Jungkook. “He told me that you should probably go talk to him – the man refused to let me know about any details.”

               “Will do.” Jungkook smiles, “And – thank you so much, Y/N. For everything. I really mean it.”

               You return his smile, watching as the warm sunlight from the ceiling window cast a glow upon his face. And it was at that moment, that you swore to yourself that you’d do anything to protect that smile.

               “No problem. What are friends for?”

               Everything was going well, or at least that’s what you thought. Apart from his football practices, Jungkook would always head straight to the studio whenever he had spare time. And naturally, you found a home in the seat across from him, working on whatever homework you had or sometimes, just sometimes, quietly admire Jeon Jungkook working in concentration while you pretended to be reading your Anatomy textbook. And during your breaks, the two of you would run down to the main street on campus to grab some take-out. Or on the days when you have upcoming exams or Jungkook had to rush an approaching deadline, the pizza delivery guy was the savior of two starving souls.

               It was a Tuesday night when the routine was interrupted.

“Kook, I think I’m in love.” You confess, taking a bite of the fresh slice. “I’ve never been so happy to see another human being.”

               Jungkook snorts, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Y/N, just because Chris is the guy keeping your stomach full every week with fresh, cheesy, goodness – doesn’t mean you can proclaim your love for him like that.” He glares you playfully, “Besides, I didn’t know that the ‘Star Wars fanatic’ type of guy was your cup of tea.”

               “I mean, are you really surprised here? I’m friends with you, Mr. Team Iron Man.” You smirk, feeling the pizza grease drip down your fingers. “I just don’t understand why it’s so hard to admit that Batman is obviously better than that egotistic metal-suit-wearing playboy.”

               “Oh come on, that’s completely bullsh-”

               Jungkook’s yelling gets interrupted midway by a knock on the door, grabbing the attention of you both. Silence lingers in the air for a few more seconds before a voice speaks.

               “Kookie, it’s me.” You can see Jungkook freeze at the sound, eyebrows furrowing in slight annoyance.

               “I’m busy, Daeun.” He sighs, “I got a proje-“

               “Can we talk, please?” Daeun’s voice is laced with desperation, like she was begging for the boy to open the door. Jungkook pauses for a while, eyes on the floor before letting a deep breath and walks to the other side of the room.

               In the moment he opens the door, a pair of arms fly around Jungkook’s shoulders and you can’t help feel slight discomfort sitting in your gut.

               “Kookie, I’ve missed you so much.” Her sounds are muffled by his t-shirt, but she appears to have no intention on letting go. “Do you know how awful I’ve been feeling recent-“

               Daeun widens her eyes when Jungkook gently untangles her arms around himself, stepping away from the girl. Looking behind his tall figure, Daeun finally notices your presence – sitting comfortably in the office chair with a pizza in hand.

She doesn’t look pleased. But of course, Daeun quickly covers up her dissatisfaction and flashes a small smile in your direction.

               “Hey Daeun.” You wave, feeling a bit awkward at the tension in the room.

               “Oh, hey Y/N.” She waves back, “I – uh didn’t know you were here.” Her hands automatically fly to her hair, fixing any loose strands. “Um, is it alright that I have a minute alone with Kookie?”

               You quickly stand up, but it’s hard to ignore the slight jealousy stirring inside of you. “Oh, um – sure, of course-”

               “There’s nothing about what you have to say that Y/N can’t know about.” Jungkook interrupts you, stern gaze at Daeun. And you definitely don’t miss the flash of bitterness running across her eyes when she looks at you again.

               You pat your shirt clean of any pizza crumbs, taking a single step towards the door. ““No, it’s fine. I can leav-”

               “Stay, Y/N.” Jungkook insists, his face showing no signs of jest. You close to mouth shut to stop resisting, staying put at your seat.

               A brief silence sits over the atmosphere, where neither Jungkook or Daeun is starting the conversation. She glances at you, eyes showing discomfort at the fact that you would be here to listen to whatever conversation she would have with Jungkook. No, she wasn’t just uncomfortable – she hated it.

               Finally, her voice breaks the tension running in the air. “Kookie, why have you been ignoring me for the past few weeks?” Daeun takes a step closer, arm reaching out to touch him. “It’s like – you’re a completely new person or something…”

               Jungkook scoffs, meeting her gaze once again. “People change, Daeun. Get over i-”

               “Well I really miss my best friend right now!” She snaps, eyes glistening with tears that were threatening to fall. Jungkook looks a bit stunned at her outburst, his eyes softening with a flash of guilt. “Kookie…” Daeun whispers, “What did I do wrong…please, tell me.”

               You can see Jungkook’s wall of defense slowly crumbling, something that took a whole week to build – easily broken down by her few words. The weeks of your hard efforts to protect Jungkook’s heart is no match against the tears of the girl that he loves. Anger and disappointment starts to stir inside of you, directed towards Jungkook for letting himself be so vulnerable again – but what right did you have?

               It confuses you why you feel the way you do, and when realization hits – you can’t help but feel pathetic and ugly.

              How could you, think that you were enough to replace Lee Daeun’s position in Jungkook’s heart? She was beautiful, smart, popular – the type of girl that no boy could resist, while you are just…you.

              It was difficult to admit, but deep inside, you realized that you’ve developed feelings for the boy that went past the boundaries of friendship– and that is exactly why you feel so ugly right now.

              And all these feelings, these pathetic anticipations – must go away.

              You can feel your heart tugging in slight pain when Jungkook finally gives in and closes the distance between them, enveloping her body with his arms. She leans in to his touch, as if her body had been missing this sense of familiarity. Whispered apologies escapes from his lips like a mantra, hand running through her long hair to soothe her broken sobs.

               “Yo-you lied, Kookie.” Daeun hiccups between soft cries, “You promised that you will never try to hurt me.”

               As a bystander, the air was suffocating. You felt like a fish out of water, interrupting their moment. Catching a glance from Jungkook, it doesn’t take long for you to understand what he was trying to say – he wanted privacy. You force a small smile and soundlessly make your way to the door. Before closing the door behind you, you cast one more glimpse at the couple.

              “This is all my fault, Daeun.” A soft smile sits on Jungkook’s lips as gently brushes the loose strands framing her face, “You know that I’d do anything to make you happy.”

                 Just like how I’d do the same for you.

[saorsayay]

Tag Game

Tagged by @the-awesome-sia (thank you v much lad aayy B))))

1. Post the rules

2. Answer questions by the person that tagged you

3. Write 11 questions of your own

4. Tag 11 people

@the-awesome-sia‘s questions~

1. Do you consider yourself an introvert or an extrovert? Perhaps an ambivert?

Oooh definitely an introvert. I like hanging out w/ friends a lot but I just need my “me-time” pls and thank you.

2. Do you like rice?

I love rice

3. Which movie had you shook for days?

Omg from what I can think of at the moment, probably “The Illusionist” (or “ L'Illusionniste”) (the animated film by Sylvain Chomet, not the other one Jessica Biel and Edward Norton lol) or “When the Wind Blows” shook me to the core.

(and now that I think about it, most of the second half of “Anthrapoid” shook me a bit too)

4.Have you played Undertale? If so, what’s your opinion of the fandom?

No I have not played Undertale (I’m not one for video games in general soz), and when it comes to the fandom, I’ve heard a lot of not-so-nice things about it but I try to just mind my own business. As long as you’re not harming others or yourself. you do you boo.

5. What’s your favourite traditional song from your country?

Ah, either “Bean Pháidín “ (this version of it here has a little animated video that goes with the song, and it kinda gives you an idea of what its about and its *cough* slightly sinister undertones *coUGH*), and I’m also rather fond of  “Óró Mo Bháidín“ :-)) (you might already recognize the melody from the Passion Pit song “Sleepyhead”) 

6. Do you believe in luck?

More often than not, yes (especially when I need it lmao)

7. Which one of the seven deadly sins do you feel closer to (Reminder: Greed, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Gluttony and Pride)

Ugh sLOTH IM THE WORST FOR DOING F*CK ALL  AAAAH

8. Do you believe in love in first sight?

Hmmm I’d say I believe in infatuation at first sight, as I believe that (at least with my definition of “love”) in order to truly love someone, there has to be a sense of mutual trust and understanding on both sides that I think just can’t happen upon first meeting someone. Can you find someone attractive after meeting/seeing them only once? yes. Can you really love someone? I don’t think so nah

(In saying this tho, this is coming from someone who hasn’t really been in love ever, so take it with a grain of salt k? This is only my humble opinion)

9. Are you in the side of science/ technology or art/anthropology?

I am a woman of the arts. I appreciate you scientists, keep doin’ what you’re doin’, but the study of people and the things they do are where its at for me (says the introvert hA)

10. When is your birthday?

17th of August! (I’ve been 17 for a week now and I can’t wrap my head around how I’ll be a legal adult next year help)

11. Do you like yourself?

Well, as of this moment in time, I’d say I’m pretty alright with myself as a whole (this could change at any moment tho stay tuned kiddos)

Tagging: aah idk anyone on this hellsite !! But of the mutuals I do know/ know well enough to tag at least(??) would be @petitebaguette, @sugar-mountain, @interdimensional-cats, aaaand @hibernianbok :-D (its okay if yall don’t wanna answer its all g)

1. How are you? (today, in general, whatever...)

2. One thing you were obsessed with as a child?

3. One thing your obessed with right now?

4. Opinions on Zodiac signs, astrology, etc.?

5. If you could invite one person in the world, dead or alive, to dinner, who would it be?

6. Do you believe in the idea of Karma? (believing that good things happen to good people, and bad things happen to bad people.)

7. What are some of the small things that make you happy?

8. A popular thing that everyone seems to like but you can’t get into/ dislike?

9. What is your personal definition of “home”?

10. TV or films?

11. Give one piece of advice to yourself from 5 years ago.

[dorothydelgadillo]

4 Things They Don't Tell You About Parental Leave - From A First Time Dad

I heard time and time again that nothing prepares you for parenthood.

And boy, was that right!

My wife Victoria and I welcomed our little girl, Madelyn, into the world 3 months ago (September 29th!) and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

But that also brought on the insane stressor of planning my parental leave (I’m fortunate that IMPACT offers employees - both moms and dads - 8 weeks of parental leave). I love my job and the folks I get to work with, so making sure I didn’t leave anyone in the lurch was important to me.

Here are four things I was completely blindsided by during my parental leave - along with some insight from other IMPACT parents on their experiences, both at IMPACT and outside of it.

Hopefully, this will help to prepare you a bit more than I was!

1. Babies Are Amazing!

...and at times, more difficult than your day-to-day job.

I always wanted to be a dad - so I felt somewhat prepared for parenthood. Funnily enough, a lot of the things that I had encountered and learned at IMPACT had set me up for success in being a new parent.

Two things in particular stand out:

Steep Learning Curves

Being Agile and Embracing the Messy.

Steep Learning Curves

The hardest part, for me, in being a new parent was the elements of the unknown.

Can she have milk straight out of the fridge? Is her diaper on right? Is she sleeping too much? Too little? The list goes on and on.

There’s probably a new question every minute running through your head. But being able to slow down, assess the situation, then act on what was going on was absolutely critical.  

One of the “double-edged swords” of the world we live in is the internet. I had so much information and insight at a moment’s notice - which is great at 2:30am when you’re worrying about a stuffy nose.

But the amount of information on the web can also create unnecessary fear and stress - so take everything you’re reading with a grain of salt (easier said than done🤣🤣).

I was shocked at how quickly we both learned the ins and outs of baby care, keeping her happy, and what was likely bothering her based on which cry she’d let out.

The first month of “parent-life” felt like it had a lot of correlations to early start-up life at IMPACT - specifically, needing to learn frequently to thrive in my role, and coping when things go wrong.

Be Agile and Embrace the Messy

Things.Will.Go.Wrong.

That is a fact.

Case in point, the first time we tried to take a family trip to the grocery store.

What’s normally a 20-minute ordeal sans-baby, turned into a 1.5-hour trek that included two outfit changes, a mid-trip feeding, and a forgotten half-gallon of milk.

Be present and understand that even when nothing goes as planned, you’ll get through it with your partner.

I asked our Design Supervisor Jessie-Lee Nichols about her experience with embracing the messy. She told me that “Delegation skills transfer to your home life. You’ll need help and you’ll need to ask for it often to avoid drowning.”

“Delegation skills transfer to your home life. You’ll need help and you’ll need to ask for it often to avoid drowning.”

There are definitely many parallels between what’s successful in the workspace versus the “arena” of having a tiny human at home. To Jessie-Lee’s point, one of the biggest things you don’t want to do is not communicate with your partner (and family) if you need help.

As the saying goes, delegate and elevate!

2. You'll Miss Your Team More Than You’d Think

With all of the prep I had done to ready myself for being out of the office, unplugged, and focused on family time - I was completely unprepared for missing my team as much as I did.

This is especially true if you work at a company that has a very close-knit culture, like we do at IMPACT, and it may be one of the harder things you encounter on parental leave.

After 7+ years here, it’s hard to imagine a week without some of these folks around - let alone two months.

Once the newborn chaos slowed down, and we got into a groove at home, I found myself missing some of the familiar faces and conversations.

That may differ for you based on your company culture, but it can be a real downer when you’re home and missing your team especially since, when you’re passionate about what you do, not being engrained in it every day can be stressful.

My counter to that was to have quick, ad-hoc chats with folks to not feel so left out, and it worked really well!

I found that grabbing 10 to 15 minutes just to say “Hi”, and check in with a small group of folks really helped me stay in the loop and not drive myself crazy.

3. Working Small Amounts Can Keep You (and Your Partner) Sane

Saying that this statement was true for me is a massive understatement.

I love my wife (Hey, honey 👋) but limited sleep, a screaming baby, and scarce contact with other adults can make even the most glued-together couples start to annoy each other.

We realized early on in our parental leave that doing 30 to 60 minutes of work throughout the week helped revitalize us, even if it’s just clearing out your inbox, and marking down things to prioritize upon your return (more on that below), or doing a quick check-in with the team.

Before your head explodes because I just recommended you take time away from your family - hear me out.

It worked for a few reasons, in my opinion.

We had some dedicated “me” time away from each other, and the baby. Plus, it let us shift our mindset back into the things we’re passionate about - aside from the little bundle of joy. 😀

The break from all things baby actually refreshed me, and helped me start to see how I could balance my commitments early on.

Another thing to consider is there may be times that the team needs you. It may be unavoidable.

Marc Amigone, one of IMPACT’s Client Success Managers and fellow first time dad said, “I was totally out of a work mindset for the first month and totally focused on dad stuff, until someone messaged me to let me know about an internal conversation I should be aware of... then it was like my bubble popped and I had never left.”

“I was totally out of a work mindset for the first month and totally focused on dad stuff, until someone messaged me to let me know about an internal conversation I should be aware of... then it was like my bubble popped and I had never left.”

While it’s extremely important to unplug and dedicate time to the family, it’s equally important, in my mind, to not leave your team high and dry.

I experienced the same thing when getting back into the office. Strangely enough, even after eight weeks, it felt like I had never left. The routine was still there, and I was able to almost jump right back in.

Something that I’ve always battled with when taking time off is the fear of what awaits me upon my return. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has felt this way.

That’s another reason why I worked small amounts on parental leave - so I knew what’d I’d be coming back to. It’s also important to have a solid transition plan - both when you’re leaving and coming back.

4. What You Can Do To Make It Easier

The entire new parent experience is a daunting one, but with a little planning, you can make the transition so much easier.

I recommend planning your exit, and your return, so you know exactly what is expected and so does your team. That way, in all of the chaos that happens in the first couple months of parenthood, there’s some structure to fall back on.

While I was preparing for my parental leave, I did a few things with some guidance from our awesome VP of Talent, Natalie Davis.

Documenting what a typical day looks like for you, what your major responsibilities are, as well as your leave plan, are a few pretty simple things that can help dramatically. They definitely did for me.

I also spent some time recording videos of me giving insight into what things can pop up in my role, how I handle certain conversations, and other tips to help whoever was taking over for me to prepare and get a better understanding of what to expect.

Lastly, that plan I mentioned was extremely helpful in getting both me and my supervisor on the same page regarding my parental leave. I detailed what my rough exit date would be, along with my return date, when I was going to be completely unplugged, and when he could start reaching out if needed.

Things can change quickly when you’re expecting, and they did for us! Our little girl came 3 weeks early, so having a plan documented with dates that could easily be shifted was so helpful.

When you’re starting to transition back into the office (or working remotely), that same type of plan can save your sanity.

During the last two weeks of my parental leave, I started working a 2 to 4 hours, three days a week, to get my mind back into the old habits and shake off the dust.

That type of transition back isn’t ideal for everyone, but it absolutely helped me get back to work and started full steam ahead.

Once I got back to the office, I made sure to keep a few morning hours blocked to dig through any remaining emails as well as have some time to get into the right zone before the meetings and work piled on.

Every little bit helped :)

Jessie-Lee gave me one of the best bite-sized nuggets of knowledge regarding the transition back, especially for remote moms (but it applies to dads too!).

“Be real with your team; tell them you need time to pump/nurse, tell them when emotionally things are a bit too much, and tell them when to expect a sick kiddo strapped to your chest on the next video call. Life is allowed to happen, just as much as work is expected to.”

That level of candor, vulnerability, and as she put it, realness, can make or break your new parent experience as you transition back into the workforce.

Don’t be afraid to let your team know what you’re experiencing and ask for help.

Parental leave is an incredible benefit that can be a daunting thing to plan for. After all, it’s a huge change in your life, plus a transition to account for getting back into the workplace. But with some planning, support and the right mindset - you’ll be burping babies and crushing goals in no time :)

from Web Developers World https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/parental-leave-lessons-learned

[realsimplegood]

This Paleo chocolate chip banana bread is a cozy fall treat the whole family will love! It’s made with a Paleo baking flour that is perfectly balanced to create a buttery texture all while being gluten-free, grain-free, vegan and dairy-free! You will love the savory-sweet combo for a snack, dessert or even for breakfast! 

Disclaimer: We partnered with Bob’s Red Mill to bring you this post. We only work with companies and brands we truly believe in and use ourselves. Therefore, all opinions and recipes are entirely our own. Thank you for supporting Real Simple Good and our partners.

Paleo Baking Made Easy

Using alternative flours can be a little complicated. They often don’t convert with a 1:1 ratio when trying to adapt recipes with traditional wheat flour. Trying to figure out the right flour(s) to use and the proper ratio to get the desired texture and consistency of whatever you are baking can be tricky to say least. That’s why I’ve come to love Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour. This baking mix has the perfect ratio of flours to get amazing texture in baked goods like this Paleo chocolate chip banana bread. And the best part is that all of the thinking is taken out of it – there’s no playing with various flours, making multiple batches to test the ratios. All you need is just one simple blend of gluten-free and Paleo-friendly flours! We could go on and on about why we love Bob’s Red Mill, but ultimately we appreciate their promise to provide high-quality, minimally-processed products from the mill to our table, and it’s pretty great that all of their products are certified Kosher and made with ingredients grown from non-GMO seeds.

Egg-Free + Vegan-Friendly

It’s not that I have anything against eggs. I really don’t. I actually like them, but just seem to feel better when I don’t eat them. And I’ve learned that a lot of other people have intolerances and sensitivities with eggs too, so I continue to teach myself how to bake without them to create recipes for all of us to enjoy whether you eat eggs or not. It just so happens that this recipe is vegan-friendly. We obviously are not vegan eaters (lots of recipes with meats and bacon on our site), but this recipe falls into the vegan category based on the lack of eggs and butter. So, whether you eat eggs, are vegan or not…make this chocolate chip banana bread! It’s bomb. That is really all you need to know!

Family-Friendly

This Paleo chocolate chip banana bread is pretty much guaranteed to be a hit for the whole family! It’s perfect for throwing into your kiddos lunch or snack for the day. I personally enjoy a slice with my coffee in the morning. I won’t lie…I love the little bit of chocolate with my coffee in the morning sometimes. A slice of this chocolate chip banana bread also makes a great afternoon pick-me-up. I love dark chocolate, like the darker the better so that’s what I use for this recipe, but if your kiddos and family prefer a little less dark chocolatey goodness, choose a dairy-free chocolate chip that fits your own preferences.

Some Other Baked Goodies To Try

PALEO CHAI SPICED COOKIES

PALEO PUMPKIN BREAD

APPLE CINNAMON COOKIES

CHOCOLATE CHIP PECAN COOKIES

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE BARS

PALEO PUMPKIN SNICKERDOODLES

Your Turn To Try Our Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Got baking on the brain now that it’s Fall? Pick up some Bob’s Red Mill Paleo Baking Flour, and make this Paleo chocolate chip banana bread. The entire family will enjoy it. Leave a comment below to let us know how it goes. Also, take a pic and share on Instagram. Tag us @realsimplegood, and give us a follow if you don’t already. We’d love to stay connected.

LIKE THIS RECIPE? SHARE IT NOW OR PIN IT FOR LATER!

[social_warfare buttons=”Pinterest, Facebook”]

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (GF + Dairy-Free)

This Paleo chocolate chip banana bread is a family favorite! It has a buttery texture and is gluten-free, grain-free, vegan and dairy-free! 

3 really ripe bananas, mashed ((small to medium in size))

1/4 cup coconut sugar

2 tsp vanilla

1.25 cups Bob's Red Mill Paleo Baking Mix

1/2 tsp sea salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

1/4 cup dairy-free chocolate chips ((plus more for topping))

Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit, and line a standard bread loaf pan with parchment paper. 

In a large mixing bowl, mash up the banana. Add the coconut sugar and vanilla. Stir to thoroughly combine all of the ingredients. 

Add Paleo Baking Mix and sea salt. Stir to combine. 

Add baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Let them react and then mix in. 

Fold chocolate chips into batter. 

Spoon the batter into the lined bread pan, and spread out until it is evenly dispersed. Sprinkle more chocolate chips on top. 

Transfer to oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the top turns brown, cracks and the loaf is firm. 

Once done, use parchment paper to lift the loaf out of the pan and cool. Slice and serve! Store in an airtight container on the counter or in the fridge to keep it fresh longer. 

Paleo Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (GF, Vegan + Dairy-Free) This Paleo chocolate chip banana bread is a cozy fall treat the whole family will love! It's made with a Paleo baking flour that is perfectly balanced to create a buttery texture all while being gluten-free, grain-free, vegan and dairy-free!

[writing-tips-for-dummies]

So I’m in the process of outlining and writing the first draft of my first chapter. Although I feel my first scene is boring and it won’t hook readers. Could you give me some tips on how to write a good first page/chapter to hook readers?

Okay, this first thing I’ll say is onlyloosely based on your question, but I feel it needs to be said: you’re going to think your writing isboring because you wrote it. You’re going to read it and re-read it untilyou can recite it by heart. It’s going to bore you.

On to the actual advice. There are a few waysI’ve seen interesting first chapter hooks done so I’ll list and go throughthree. The first being open using dialogue, the second with action, and thethird with a monologue introduction. Each of these has a different type ofallure, so depending on what kind of start your novel has, each of these canset a different tone.

Dialogue

Dialoguebeginnings are generally one’s that open in conversation. Conversation betweenfriends, enemies, family. It can set the scene for a time and place. Set themood between the characters. Set the time for the start of the story.

The thingabout dialogue scenes that can be captivating is that the reader is in themiddle of something. Be it a confrontation or a mundane exchange between friends.

Example: “What do you mean you can’t come withus?”*

This leadsto more questions: who is the MC talking to? Where are they trying to go? Why can’tthe person they’re talking to go with them? It’s questions like this that leadthe reader to want to know more.

Action

Startingwith an action scene is always an effective way to get readers interested inthe story. Action always leads to either more action or the consequences.

In thecase of more action, action scenes are always fun to read. Not only are theyentertaining, it can give the reader insight as to who the MC is and who the antagonistis. It also gives you are the writer an opportunity to describe the MC iswithout it feeling clunky and forced.

One thingabout action scenes though: they are the definition of show don’t tell.

Example: Ramona slammed her head against the walland she could feel the blood running down the side of her head. Her arm was numbfrom the lacerations littered her forearm—the worst of it was she had just gottenher tattoo done.*

I’m notexactly the best at writing action scenes—mostly fight scene—but in thisexample it leads to more questions and has the readers wondering. Not just that,but action doesn’t necessarily mean fight. It could be the MC cleaning, playinga sport, or walking their dog. Action, in the case, merely refers to movement.

Monologue

In myown opinion (I say as if all of this isn’t my opinion), this is one of the moreentertaining ones. I say this merely because of the novels I’ve read that startwith a monologue, they’re quick, funny, or chocked with information.

Monologuesare kind of like when a movie opens with narration. In How to Train Your Dragon, the MC Hiccup is speaking as the camerashoots over his village. He explains about his village, his people, and himselfwhile making it interesting. However, book aren’t movies and there isn’t actionto focus on as well of words. There are, of course, ways around this. Opening witha monologue often means they’re supposed to be quick and to the point so theydon’t drone on.

Example: As a child, I used to fantasize aboutpirates. But unlike most, I dreamed of clearing my seas of their presence. Oferasing them like a bad dream to never be spoken of again.

They’d pillaged and plundered the seasidevillages for centuries and no one could figure out who they were. Sometimes itwas assumed to be one group. Others it was thought to be several differentcrews. One thing was for certain though: the lead ship was one that sailedunder constant surrender except for when they were docked. This one was alwaysat the scene of the crime. At port, their flag was blood splattered untilthey’d picked the village of anything of worth. Food, clothes, jewelry. Nothingwas safe.

I had dreams about arresting each and everyone of them.

It was an utter nightmare when I became one ofthem. And their leader, no less.*

Long example,I know, but this monologue gives two key things to the reader: where this storyis headed without giving too much information and it gives valuable informationwithout said information crowding the monologue.

Take everything with a grain of salt, this isall my opinion. In the meantime,

See Ya, Kiddo

*Theseare not the best examples, nor may they be entirely accurate representations ofwhat they are examples of, I am not an expert