#Nature and Nurture

[ghost-bxrd]

You guys ever think about an AU where Jason goes to hound Tim through Titans Tower, and, mid pursuit—while Tim is screaming at him about the second Robin being his hero, tryin to crawl away in a trail of blood—realizes he’s become an even worse version of his own mother, who sold him out to the Joker?

Because I do.

[lurkinglurkerwholurks]

—Nature and Nurture

[earlgreytea68]

Advent Drabble 3 - Driving

For anonymous

“I don’t see why he even needs to know how to drive,” Sherlock proclaims.  

“It’s a useful life skill. You never know when it might come in handy. Plus, he isn’t Mycroft. He won’t be driven around by dodgy black cars for the rest of his life.”

Sherlock considers. “He could be. I could talk to Mycroft about it. He’d support it.”

“Nope.” Sometimes the simplest way to put his foot down is the best, John has found.

“Well. Don’t think you’re teaching him. You’re a terrible driver. You miss everything important on the road. You’ll give him bad habits.”

[sits-bound]

Bound: Nature and Nurture by @earlgreytea68

What an utterly fantastic fic! I'm happy with how the bind came out, but I have a few things I'd change if I did it again:

I wouldn't forget to put the ribbon in before the endbands

I would make the style more consistent. The chapter headings and the cover do not match at all.

I would be more careful when ironing the HTV on the spine

Not put a dang ampersand in the title on the header and the cover page. Argh.

I WOULD NOT MISSPELL THE AUTHOR'S NAME wow this is embarrassing

Also to note about this bind:

I was going to print the chapter pages in color. I used this lovely graphic and beautiful drop caps, but a 57 chapter fic when you don't have a color printer is maybe not the best choice. Half the sheets would have had color on them, and it would have cost a fortune to print.

I scavenged the end bands and the boards from a book I bought at a library sale. Just to see. I feel like the glue didn't stick as well to the smooth cover as it does to bare chipboard.

The HTV on the spine got messed up a little bit when I was ironing it on, but I was able to pick off the bits that were messed up and iron on a fresh set of lettering/graphic and you really can't even tell now! Whew. (Note to self: Cricut brand metallic htv has been the best of all the brands I've used as far as application goes.)

But all in all, I'm happy with it. It's just for me, after all, so it's okay if it's not perfect. That said, if I do this one again, I'd make a different cover that's more consistent with the chapter headers. (Like, if the author wants a copy?)

Bookcloth: Allure Bookcloth Indigo Body Text: Corundum Text Light Chapter Headings: MrKeningbeck Pro Drop Caps: FLOWER Inside title: FLOWER and MrKeningbeck Pro and Filson Pro Cover: Filson Pro All icons from The Noun Project

[ghostincorrectinternetedition]

Terzo: Don’t you just love that mental disorders are basically buy one get seven free?

Primo: I didn’t even want the first one! Dad made me get it!

Secondo: Mine was a family heirloom from my mother passed down for generations.

[lazypanartist]

Nature and Nurture

Learning Beliefs

Robotnik and Stone (child reader)

Hey, y'all! Haven't gotten a ton of interaction on the ficlet this is related to, but hey! Currently planning on turning it into a series for my sake if nothing else. The Brainrot is strong here.

Notes: OoC but whatevs, reader is Robotnik's bio kid but the premise is that of co-parenting

-----

Nature - Robotnik

Ivo believes that you're destined for greatness, just because you're his flesh and blood

He doesn't truly have a basis for his argument but hey, his subconscious is saying you'll be fine, and thin-splicing isn't exactly unreliable

Because of this gut feeling, he does his best to raise you for this greater purpose

Because ofc you're going to do perfectly

You're his!

Whatever he finds to be your strongest suits?

That's your lifeline basis now

Writing?

Courses, editing classes, seminars

Science?

Keeps you in his lab with him to teach you himself

Cooking?

Finds the best youth cooking teacher and bullies them into teaching you, even if they have to start from the ground up

Coffee?

"Oh, go tag around with Agent Stone, he's the best at making coffee!

"Have you tried his lattes?"

Overall, his goal is to try and nurture your natural talents and interests..

Even if he is somewhat overbearing

---

Nurture - Stone

Fortunately, Stone is competent and intelligent

Even if he's not as much so as Robotnik

He knows what's he's doing based on real-world experience and 14 YouTube videos

He knows that kids need emotional development as well as intellectual, and does his best to stimulate you both ways

So ofc he can parent

You like drawing?

"Cool! Here are some video clips I stumbled across, I hope you find them useful!"

Cooking?

"I'm not the best.. we could learn together if you'd like to try!"

Anything to do with coffee?

"Really? A kid after my own heart! Let me try and teach you what I know."

Science?

"You should probably talk to your father about that, then.. I could call him, if you'd like?"

Overall, 10/10, best semi parental

He tries to help you with whatever you're interested in

Fully believes that because of how you're responding to your surroundings, you'll nurture your own interests with the curiosity nature supplied you with

[stars-a-n-d-scars]

Nature and Nurture is the greatest literary masterpiece of our time. I will not be taking criticism. @earlgreytea68

[andrew-03-minyard]

it's always "nature vs nurture this" or "nature or nurture that" what about nature and nurture huh? ever thought about that? "why am I the way I am?" bc your parents passed on their genes and therefore traits to you, but growing up in that environment also fucked you up. because you were surrounded by those traits and personalities, and it sprinkled your own personality with theirs and it festered and grew

[pseudo-hero]

Kid!Clark Refused to Protect Kid!Lex?

You know I’ve seen a slight pattern between certain Superman-related stories whereby it’s been implied or outright stated that Clark Kent and Lex Luthor not only both grew up together/both lived in Smallville, but at times were actual close friends there too, yet Lex is beaten and abused (possibly at random) by his horrendous father/parents and Clark, even while dressed as Superboy...does nothing to stop it...? 

I don’t know if it’s a case of me misunderstanding the situations or if Clark just always thought there was nothing he could do about it; however, the idea that he literally heard Lex in pain as he was tormented everyday, but refused to help him in anyway—refused to lift a finger for him or do literally anything at all for Lex when Lex was a child—is such a deeply disturbing one for me (made worse when you consider how many other cases like this involving other children that Clark may have ignored the plight of over the years) that it pushes me to put their entire relationship in the stories where it happens, under the microscope. 

In a way, it could be argued that Clark inadvertently helped instigate Lex’s narcissistic, cynical and (sometimes self-) destructive ways. After all, if not even the angelic, protector-of-all that was Superboy would come to his rescue...then who would? And what’s stopping that protector from failing other children the world over? Why even stop at extreme child abuse? Why not let everything but the most destructive of acts go unpunished, huh, Superman? (Keep in mind that I’m not the only one who has taken note of this probably-accidental flaw of Superman’s morality/character.)

Even as recently as one of the recent issues of Action Comics from this year, Lex berates Superman for not revealing his identity to him which Lex claimed would have helped him by making him feel less alone. I interpreted that to be a reference to how a lot of versions of Lex grew up feeling ‘like an alien’ on their own planet, but come to think of it, what if Lex was implying in that moment of the comic that he was abused for being different/extremely intelligent? I don’t think there’s any main-storyline version of Lex from the past 20 - 35 years that hasn’t been horribly mistreated by their parents so it’s safe to assume that he was referencing this in particular, if not a combination of it and the aforementioned and or other things too, I reckon.

And you know what answer Clark gives after Lex calls him out on that? None!  He doesn’t even give an explanation! Is it because he doesn’t think Lex deserves one, or that they both know that’s just the excuse Lex is giving for his continued sickening actions? Or...could it be because Clark himself doesn’t know why he (when he was admittedly younger and more vulnerable himself, though never to the point of human weakness) abandoned Lex to his parents’ cruelty and expected the poor boy to fend for himself? If Clark knew what was going on then why didn’t he protect Lex when they were children? Why didn’t he at least fly up to Lionel as Superboy and yell at him to never hurt Lex again or else? Why didn’t he do anything? Why, why, WHY?

Imagine how great it would be for Lex Luthor’s and especially Clark’s characters, to finally have questions like this answered? Is Superman as super as we thought he was? Does he feel remorse for not being there for his childhood friend when Lex needed him most? I’m sorry but, you can’t just have Superman hear child abuse and do nothing about it without an explanation, writers! I honestly think this is another example of a goldmine of potentially good, compelling story-telling that DC Comics could easily tap into and utilize very well but of course, probably won’t. 

Oh well. AC and especially Superman Comics have been looking mighty interesting lately. It looks as though they have a lot to give in the future, so maybe it’s not such a big loss. Also, they can always go back to a plot idea like this at a later date. The few times they’ve tried to implement this into a Superman book in the last few decades, it more or less hasn’t worked, but I don’t think it’s because it can’t work. Like really, I believe this could be made into an amazing, award-worthy comic story!

[age-ent-of-fangorn]

My second eldest sister has always been my best friend. She no longer wants to be in my life/have me in her life because of something I said to my mom (about childhood neglect with us) or whatever, I'm not sure. I just know I look villainous to her right now, when all I wanted was to be honest and heal relationships.

Anyway, she's having a baby soon. Her first full-term child. And instead of being mostly excited for the fast approaching due date, I'm dreading the day to come because I will not get to see my niece or the look on my sisters face when she holds her finally. Something she's been wanting her whole life. I won't be welcome. Idk man. Being taken away from your sister is another kind of heartbreak and I'm severely tired of waking up to it.

[ithinkdogshouldvote]

Guardian swap au for 4/13 ^ ^

[l33n1s]

Tbh I think one of the reasons why Shen Yuan's pretending (in being SQQ) was so successful (because it largely was. The second in command of a major sect being "replaced" in a way that was noticeable enough to cause concern would have been a big deal) is because Shen Jiu was also pretending. SQQ exists as a character that Both SY and SJ take their turn playing. Both Shens are internally emotional messes playing at being The Untouchable Immortal Master Shen™.

I do think it's funny though that SY frequently refers to SJ as a poser and a hypocrite when SY is also those things.

[meetinginsamarra]

Such a great fic!!! The "Clone Baby" classic!!

COMING SOON!!!!!!!

Prepare your diapers and hold onto your skulls, because little Ollie will be here to make you say “Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!”

[ryanwclement]

Help OUR Children Prepare for Their Exams!

by Ryan Clement That was the week that was! In association with Black Wall St. Media, I wrote a series of articles for Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 in the U.K. (see blogs Mental Health Awareness Week 2023 (BWSM); Mental Health Awareness (Day 1) (BWSM); Knowledge (Day 2) (BWSM);  Discrimination (Day 3 (BWSM); Provision, Criterion or Practice (Day 4) (BWSM); and Remedy (Day…

[lazypanartist]

Dr. Robotnik x Child! Reader x Agent Stone

Nature and Nurture

Note: idk why but that one guy who yelled @ me for not specifying that Larry x Child! Reader was platonic keeps popping into my head. Get fucked.

Ivo's kinda autism coded (canon typical) and Agent Stone is a Decent Man (kind & stupid)

Got kinda long ��� 2 dads, lessgo

-----

Ivo Robotnik is a narcissistic jerk

He cares more about being the smartest person in the room than the lives of those he's outcompeting

Still..

I don't think he'd be a "bad" dad

Ofc he knows how kids are made, how to hold them, bathe them, feed, and generally care for

But he's not an emotional parent by any stretch

He'll try, because you're his! You have so much potential, just because HE'S your father!

Taking you to museums and expos so you can learn while outside of the house

Teaching you as many big words as he can, because extension of vocabulary is VERY good for intellectual growth!

Having any day he wants be "take your kid to work" day so that you can see exactly what your father does, how great he is at it, and what you'll be expected to do..

Seeing a pattern?

He doesn't explicitly believe that nature is a more prominent tool than nurture, but he's trying to raise you to be a mini him

He has high expectations for you, and ofc he'll be disappointed if you can't keep up

And with him being primary caregiver, there's no way you'll grow up with a healthy self-image, or your emotional needs being met.

Still, all of your physical and medical needs are being met, so only the social/emotional aspects of your childhood are being ruined!

Enter Agent Stone

He sees what's going on and resolves to fix it for the good of you, Robotnik, and his own moral conscience

Encourages the doctor to take you to the park, or movies, or, well.. anything that's not *just* math or science related

Your father agrees..

The first few times

Unfortunately, he truly is a busy man with a difficult job (to any lesser man, ofc)

So Stone offers to take you himself.

---

Doctor Robotnik glanced up as the door opened, a quiet laugh meeting his ears. Brow furrowing, he went to investigate..

As he rounded the door into the entrance hallway, he was met with a curious sight, at least to him. His little lab partner, laughing as Agent Stone followed them through the doorway. Stone's hands were occupied with bags printed "THANK YOU" as many smaller businesses have, and Tiny Robotnik kept a tight hold on the man's pant leg, as though trying to pull him into the hall.

"-And then they started making pictures!"

"I know!" Stone's voice was airier than usual, as many adults' seem to be when talking to excited children. "You know, your dad works with laser-produced images all the time."

"Yeah.." (Y/n) stuck their bottom lip out, pouting. "But he only uses them for work! They made stars and planets and animals! Not just.. numbers."

Robotnik frowned slightly. Were they really that impressed with a laser light show? His child had seen what he worked with on the day-to-day, and not to toot his own horn, but his designs were far more functional than any of those moving pictures on the sides of old buildings.

"Doctor?"

He looked up from his thoughts, eyes meeting Stone's. (Y/n) hadn't seemed to notice him until this point, jumping ever so slightly as you turned to grin up at him.

"Papa!"

"Little one!" He picked them up, a smile pulling at the sides of his lips. "Did you enjoy yourself with Agent Stone?"

"Mhhm! We watched the light show, then went and got dinner!"

"Local grocery had a nice selection of hot foods, pick and choose."

Little (Y/n) grinned, turning to flash a smile at the Agent as well. Robotnik chuckled quietly, pulling their attention back to himself.

"Well, I'm glad you had fun. Now, go get yourself cleaned up and into bed, okay?"

Their smile fell slightly. Disappointment, he presumed, quickly flicking the thought out of his mind.

"Okay.."

(Y/n) turned back to Stone. "Night-night, Mister Stone." Back to your father. "Night-night, Papa." And turned to another door, little feet patting on the hardwood floor.

"Goodnight, little one."

A few moments passed as both men watched the child turn the corner, then the door clicked shut. It barely took another heartbeat before Robotnik turned to Stone.

"How are you so good with them?"

The agent turned quickly, brow furrowing.

"What do you mean, Doctor?"

"Little (Y/n). They smile and laugh whenever they're with you.. I haven't seen them laugh like that in a while."

A few beats passed between the two men before Stone chuckled.

"They're human, Doctor. Even though (Y/n) is yours, they're a completely different, unique person from yourself.. even if they have your intellect -"

"They do."

"- They may not necessarily want to get into the sciences like you did. What if they're a lawyer, or teacher, or writer? What if they're an artist or actor? What happens if they don't choose any career at all, and decide they want to live in the woods and play survivalist for the rest of their life?"

Robotnik blanked.

Then he blinked.

"I... Being unsuccessful is completely out of the question!"

"Who defines success?"

"Who.. what?"

Stone took a tentative step closer to the doctor.

"What if their version of success is different from yours?"

He blinked again, heavily, finding it difficult for once in his life to think.

Sighing quietly, he let his eyes meet Stone's again.

"What should I do? To ensure their success.. to ensure their version of success is met?"

Agent Stone smiled gently.

"You nurture them, Doctor."

-----

WOW this got long! I love Stobotnik already (FINALLY watched movie 1), and I kinda feel this could lead to some of That™. Reqs open, sorry I'm not answering any verr fast but I'm tired & finally finished finals. Love y'all, Ciao!

[nerdlingmerchling]

Wooowowowow! It's so nice of you to share this. Asdfghjkl!!!!!

My favourite snippet from Nature and Nurture by @nerdlingmerchling

Give it a read 💜