#Special education day care center

[jimblejamblewritings]

love letters and second sons | part 1.

Summary: The princess is finally ready to debut in society. But before she does, she decides to disguise herself and see the true faces of the ton.

Author's Note: Hello! Yes, I'm here with a wip before finishing my other stuff. The Bridgerton girlies have got me. Congratulations to you all. So before you read this, please read: I Hate Accidents by @i-hate-accidents AND Over The Garden Wall by @homeofthepeculiar AND The Ultimate Deception by @maximoff-pan. These stories are some of my favorites and really inspired this fic.

Warnings for the Series: light sexism in line with the times, light classism in line with the times, mental health stigma, shitty doctor care, smut, suicide attempt (will get it's own warning when the time comes),

Pairing: Benedict Bridgerton x princess!reader

Word Count: 5.4k

Author's Note: To those who have read my other works, you'll notice that the author Mercutio's stories are something special

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

I am pleased to welcome you all to the start of another social season. Of course, people love and look for love all year round but each year the season just seems to invite love to blossom. I hope all of you find the match to your souls. Marriage is a business but can it not have love as well? A business built with love surely must be a business that tries to last. I ask our respectful citizens and subjects of the United Kingdom to make love a part of their search. 

I would also like to ask about businesses that do not involve marriage or love. How are you? In the business of health, is everyone safe from all sickness? In the business of finance, does everyone have enough to eat and clothe themselves without falling into poverty? Are businesses afloat even if only by a small margin? How are you? Truly, I want to know. If you would like to write to me, please do so. The royal mailboxes should still be in perfect condition. 

Of course, if you have something urgent then I am sorry but you must come to the palace and request an audience. My valets hold all letters for a day or a few out of safety for everyone. But rest assured, I read every letter once received. 

I would also like to say that I can feel the winds of the ton calling me to grace their presence and to stop being rude by ignoring them. Naturally, the wind is very rude to say this and then cut through my dress and chill my bones even when it is snowing. But I digress, the wind is right. The time for introduction must be soon. And a lovely time that will be. I cannot wait to meet you all. 

Yours truly, 

A Not So Young Anymore Youngest Princess Y/N Hanover (Truly, I need a proper surname and not just the name of my father’s house)

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

Would you like to know what I have learned yesterday? I know the Americas are still a touchy subject for some but I hope you don’t mind me talking about it, just to share my studies. Philadelphia is the center of American debate. So many great men (and women that have probably gone unnamed but aided their counterparts in their quest of education) have lived and are currently still living there. 

Going to America simply for a debate sounds terribly dreadful. But what if we had one here that wasn’t relegated to just the universities. An entire city becoming a center of debate seems incredibly foolish, not to mention disruptive to its current residents, but buildings of debate do not seem like a bad idea. 

Even if some feel like they aren’t smart enough, they should participate. Ideas are nurtured by sharing them. May some debates lead to great compromise and understanding and maybe even propositions for laws. 

I, for one, debate with my father every day on which science is the most important to teach to young children and which science can wait until university should they like to pursue that path. He believes all of it. I believe that medicinal science is too much for a young mind and they only need to be taught how to mind their health until they can understand better. What do you think? I am delighted to hear your opinions. Maybe mine will be swayed. 

Yours Truly,

Youngest Princess Y/N Buckingham (I am trying out new surnames until one I like sticks)

My Dearest Ton and Wonderful United Kingdom, 

I apologize if my stance may be radical but nothing in society ever got done if the start wasn’t a little radical. I believe that young women should be properly taught about relations… let me just say it, sex. Not when they are children, no, but when they are about to debut. Consider it. You all know that as a royal, despite being a woman, I have been taught all things. Everyone is aware that I know what sex is. But if I and my sisters were taught sex so that we may be aware of malicious advances and be able to protect our virtue first rather than waiting for our virtues to be saved by someone and risk them being too late, then others should as well. Therefore, I implore all mothers and governesses to teach their young ladies about to debut what sex is. And to fathers who may be without wives, please find any woman to teach your daughters.

I shall return with more radical ideas for a better and more prosperous United Kingdom. 

Yours truly, 

Youngest Princes Y/N Kew 

The printed letters delivered to London, had everyone enthralled in the early morning. Some people that lived close enough to the central town square didn’t bother with the prints and went straight to the wooden pin board there to look at the princess’ handwriting on the original letters. Whenever the Young Princess or the author Mercutio Quick wrote, people stopped and paid attention. 

Princess Y/N was the people’s princess. The one who listened to their complaints and wasn’t cheap on her charitable acts. She was so much like her father, Farmer George. Even with his illness he still ran a good country… when he was in charge. So much better than her eldest brother, George IV. Then again, any royal sibling was better than their eldest brother, even if only by a very small percentage. Everyday the public hoped another child would challenge George the Younger. They would rally their support behind them. 

They were hoping that any day George IV’s daughter, Charlotte, would have an heir. If she was pregnant then it would be so easy for the public to support her and convince either George IV to step down or convince Parliament to present a motion to King George. They would have a ruler and an heir. Charlotte the Younger would be the easiest transition for George IV to understand.

But neither her father nor husband seemed to care about the lack of heir. But the thought of succession and coups and duels was forgotten for a moment to read the Young Princess’ letters welcoming them to the new social season with new balls, debutantes, and drama. 

In the Bridgerton house, the family ran around like chickens with their heads cut off. They were trying to get ready to present Daphne to the Queen while also trying to read the Young Princess’ letters. Benedict laughed as he slapped his copy of the letters. 

“Mother would have a fit if she had to speak with Daphne about sex.” 

“I’m surprised she would even suggest such a thing,” Colin said as he returned to reading the first letter, thinking he might actually write to the Young Princess about his familial concerns and wanting to travel desperately but being unsure about leaving them. 

Eloise finally smiled as she came downstairs with the rest of her siblings. “I for one think it’s rather refreshing. She is right. Our mamas should be teaching us more than just how to meet the Queen… Daphne! You must make haste! Do you think she heard me?” 

Colin rolled his eyes. “She most certainly did. But on the matter of the princess, what is wrong with a woman’s husband teaching her about sex?” 

“Everything is wrong with that.” 

“Hmm.” 

He looked down to reread the paper, wondering if he could understand what the princess actually meant. Even though the letters were left at home, talk of the princess never ceased. How could it? The monarchy’s youngest princess might actually be joining them. Everyone wanted to know what she would look like, not in the face of course. Even her fourth brother didn’t take off his mask until after five months of being introduced to society and he was the shortest time it took to see the royal children’s face. 

“Do you think she will be tall like her eldest sister or short? Plump?” Eloise asked as their carriages started their way towards the palace. “I’d imagine I’d be very lovely and plump if I could be stuck in a palace all day with the most wonderful food imaginable. Not that anyone should ever value a woman based on her body but Penelope has stated that her sisters are terribly upset because all the dress makers have started saying that plump is going to be in fashion once again in only a few years time and by the time they become plump it’ll be out of fashion again.” 

Daphne looked out the window. “I wonder if she’ll look like the Queen or the King. Oh, what makeup do you think she’ll wear? What mask did she have created for herself? When do you think we’ll actually see her face?” 

Violet touched the knees of all her girls. “Whatever she is like, do not be rude and gawk. The poor thing will already have the vultures’ eyes on her all night. If she even comes out tonight. Perhaps it will be at a ball this week. That would be quite a fantastic introduction. I do hope she at least meets us this season.” 

Francesca smiled. “I imagine her dance card would be quite full.” 

“She’d have bracelets of dance cards going up to her arm,” Daphne agreed.  

“But she isn’t coming into society yet. She’s just introducing herself to us,” Eloise said. 

“She’s still a princess royal. A very well-known one at that. There’s no way the men would pass on an opportunity to dance with her. They’d want to start making their intentions known now, get ahead of everyone else.” 

The boys’ carriage was speaking of a different matter entirely. The princess and Mercutio had written to the ton at the same time. With the presentation to the Queen taking up so much of the day, most people wouldn’t be able to read his work until later that evening. Colin and Benedict simply couldn’t wait. Colin sat with his brother as he drove the carriage and read the story out loud: 

“Arsehole,” Cecilia muttered. 

Ignoring the sharp stinging of her backside, she hopped off the bed to find something to put on. All she needed to accomplish was getting back to her room, clothed. She knew there must have been some spare clothes in their dressers. It was just a matter of sorting through which garments were hers and which belonged to the others. She had been sorely mistaken to ignore the three members of nobility behind her, thinking they hadn’t heard her. 

Lovell scrunched up his face, resembling a rat. “Is receiving another punishment something you really care for? Because this attitude you’ve acquired is going to earn you one.” 

“Piss off.” 

“Is that any way to talk to your dominants?” Madison asked, adjusting herself in Tommy’s arms. 

Cecilia scoffed as she walked towards the door, placing one hand on the doorknob. “Lavender.” 

The other three faces fell at the use of that forbidden word. Cecilia’s hand reached up ever so gently and wiped away tears. She wondered if the tears were for her former lovers or for finally realizing her mind was deluded to think she would be with anyone above her station such as Lovell. 

“I don’t want this anymore.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“You never believe that I don’t enjoy breaking our established rules. You only listen to Madison.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“It is clear you both like her more than you desire me. I am down.” 

“Cecilia.” 

“You shall see me around this manor, doing my job as I always have. But that is the extent of our relationship.” 

“Please, just give u—” 

“Good day, Lord Parham. Lord Newall, Lady Wilcher.” 

“Riveting,” Colin said as he finished reading. “Mr. Mercutio has done it again.” 

Benedict nodded. “Indeed he has. I was a bit worried when he announced that he wanted to dabble in the themes of erotic pleasures in his stories but this was just as enjoyable as all the others.”

“Agree… Oh, it says here that they have earned a publishing deal. The penny stories will still come out once a week, chapter by chapter but readers can also purchase a book if they would like to keep the story properly or are in a rush to read it. I for one will be buying the books.” 

“I second that.” 

“I wonder what his next story will be about. Actually, no, I wonder what our dear sisters and mothers can be talking about.” 

“The princess, no doubt.”

”Do you think any of our brothers will approach?” Eloise asked in the women’s carriage, more to herself than anything. 

That made Hyacinth’s face light up. “If one of them marries the princess does that mean we get to be princesses too?” 

“As if any of our brothers even could or want to.” Francesca pulled her face away from the window.

“If anyone is going to bring them to the marriage mart,” Daphne started as she fanned herself. “It would be the princess. Anthony would be a good match for her.” 

Violet laughed, thinking of the idea. “A viscount and a princess are a perfect match.” 

All talk of the princess stopped as they approached. The worst thing that could happen could be a footman overhearing them and mistaking their speech for malicious gossip rather than light-natured and report it to the princess or the queen or even worse, King George himself. They would forever be ostracized from society. 

From upstairs, you watched from a window where you knew no one could see you even if they looked up. How you desperately wanted to be down there. All the men were dressed up and looking like penguins. Handsome they were but still penguin-like in silhouette. And the women’s dresses. Some, while upper class, were of a lower social standing and wore older dresses that looked just as gorgeous as the empire and rather shapeless dresses of today. 

But today was not your day. You actually weren’t sure when your day would be. Your mother and father let their children choose when they would be introduced to society. Of course you all had to wait for a certain age and it had to be a date at the start of the social season but you could pick the day. And unlike your last sibling, you wanted it to be at a ball instead of the selection of the Diamonds. You didn’t even care which ball it would be. Perhaps it was selfish but you did want a day all to yourself or at least a day with you as the main focus. But that wasn’t this year. Or any year perhaps. 

You were excited to finally leave the walls of the palace if you were allowed, having proven yourself capable of not causing an incident. Unfortunately, you couldn’t say you had proven yourself without illness. You weren’t that lucky. You and all your siblings were locked inside until the royal physicians could observe and confirm that you weren’t sick with whatever madness your father had. They didn’t have to observe you. That was also why you picked a ball instead of today. You wanted to prove you didn’t need a chaperone literally holding your elbow. You wanted freedom like your siblings. Freedom to explore that you weren’t sure would get because of your illness. 

After a nearly fatal drowning in the lake — an event your siblings still get chewed out for at least once a month — you started showing symptoms like George did. For you it wasn’t about if you would be as sick like your father. It was about how bad and how quickly the illness would get. 

You didn’t get to see George as often as the others. The doctors thought you shouldn’t be around him for prolonged periods of time unless it was after an episode. They thought that too much exposure would make you more like him instead of better. They wanted to send him to Kew but you promised that you wouldn’t go to his quarters as long as he got to stay at Buckingham. 

Charlotte, silly as it may have been, had hope. They caught your sickness early. Nine was a very young age to almost go mad. Maybe you could be saved from a cruel fate unlike George. They were too late for him but not for you. Of course this only brought jealousy from your siblings who didn’t feel like they got as much affection anymore. Every time you even twitched, it became about you. They could never hate you. It wasn’t like you asked to be sick. But it was hard to be around you. Everyday visits became once a week. Still, you cherished those visits. Like the one yesterday. They expressed their sympathies and hopefulness that you would get to introduce yourself and maybe it could even be this year or maybe this month. 

You could have scoffed. After what you did just two days ago, you were unsure. The daylight came into your room before you were prepared for it and you had been convinced that Buckingham was on fire. You couldn’t be calmed down until you jumped into the water fully clothed. Immediately, you pulled yourself out of the trance but no one really cared. The royal physician had been called anyway and you had ruined all chances of attending the presentation to the Queen. 

“Your Highness!” a voice disturbed your thoughts and your eyes from looking at your siblings’ carriages leave in the morning. Your lady-in-waiting approached you with a paper, an entire pamphlet. “It’s already spread through the ton like a fire. We haven’t read it yet. We figured new literature would be a treat for you.” 

“Thank you, Pandora. Shall we read it in the kitchens this morning when we return home?” 

“Not your room?” 

“I’m so terribly sick of my room and the washroom and the balcony and the bedroom.” 

“You are getting restless.” 

“It’s only a matter of time. Maybe even tomorrow it’ll happen. And soon it will only be a couple of years at most before the mask is gone. By the way,” you said as the two started to leave. “Did you hear about the Feather girl that fainted? Is she alright?” 

“Oh yes, she’s fine.” 

“Good. Have someone send flowers to her tomorrow with an inquiry about her wellbeing after taking such a tumble. Oh and no flowers to the Diamond. I want to meet her myself one day. Now, let’s read about this… Lady Whistledown. She already sounds like an interesting woman.” 

Interesting it was indeed. The maids and kitchen staff hung onto your every word as you read the pamphlet. You weren’t exactly sure how you felt about the pamphlet yet but Pandora was right about one thing. It was literature. Lady Whistledown seemed bold enough to list subjects by name. By their entire name as if she wasn’t afraid of any repercussions. You supposed she wouldn’t be since Whistledown was obviously not her real name. 

It wasn’t the subject of what she published that bothered you. A lot of it was standard gossip that goes around during the social season but it was her personal opinion. She almost seemed to want the ladies she wrote about to have miserable ends like inquiring about Daphne Bridergton’s flame burning out quickly. The lady must know that what she published could ruin a reputation. Gossip is no longer gossip when publicly written down. It has the potential to become fact. 

You slapped the pamphlet against your hand. “Well, I suppose Mercutio Quick from York will no longer be the entertainment of the ton. Sad, and right as I earned a publishing deal too. Perhaps, I should take up a different art. Like making dresses for all my days or learning to play the harp and cello properly so it sounds better than a dying whale according to my brothers.” 

The cook shook his head. “Your stories are very entertaining. Even Lady Whistledown couldn’t stop that.” 

“Thank you for saying that. I am rather jealous that she is penning under a woman.” 

“But you have chosen a name based on your favorite characters, have you not?” 

“I have but maybe I should’ve chosen better. This Lady Whistledown might be making more change for women then I hope to accomplish.” 

At this, the staff scoffed. Pandora cleaned up your dishes from the kitchen island in front of you. 

“Your Highness, with the utmost respect, you are the one who is going to do more for women than this Whistledown. Everybody already wants someone other than your kind brother on the throne. They’re all praying your niece gives them any child so they may protest for her with the added benefit of an heir. They love her and what you write about in your letters make her seem even better. Hell, they love you and they don’t even know you. They listen to you. And with your words, Princess Charlotte the Younger will be on the throne and you will prove women are more than capable of whatever and we might have real change. Is she still on board?” 

“Yes. She hates her father as much as anyone else does. George is nice once you get to know him… sort of. But Lettie approves as long as I agree to be in her court. I said yes of course.” 

“Then it is settled. Thank God we might actually get change in our wretched lives. Now you must wash up and oversee the Bridgerton gowns before they are sent off. Shall we pick certain ones from your wardrobe?” 

“Give the Diamond the one with lace and her family’s colors. Pick whatever you want for the rest of them. Oh and patterns must be on the Feather mother’s dress. I noticed she wears the most ill-favored ornamented dresses but she seems to like them. And put in an order with the modiste, I should like to do this often if this first gesture goes well and the gift wardrobe will need more clothes than it has at present. Clothes for the lower classes as well, nothing that could get them attacked and the clothes stolen off their bodies.” 

“Yes, Your Highness.”  

“And, by the way, I already washed up.” 

“Yes, but now you’ve been sitting amongst smoke and smells.” 

You gave up your fight and nodded as you jumped down from your stool and began the walk to your room. No one was around today. They wouldn’t be for most of the social season as they had other duties, including watching your siblings. Despite your madness, you weren’t the biggest concern at all. It was your rakish brothers in brothels, your sisters constantly leaving their husbands or suitors, and all of them sneaking away. You paused for a moment before walking quicker until you reached your room. 

Why couldn’t you sneak out? Now would be the perfect opportunity. And no one was looking for you. It would be so easy to scale the vines up the garden wall and just have fun for a moment. You washed up quickly and put on a very simple dress — one more like the style of today rather than your father’s time. Grabbing a cloak and your mask, you put them down on the bed before sitting down at your writing desk to pen a letter. The slam of the door nearly made you jump out of your skin. You calmed as you realized it was just Pandora. 

“Oh, good. It is just you.” 

“I have the Bridgerton and Featherington dresses but what do you mean it is just me, Y/N?” 

You stood up, abandoning the letter now that someone was around. “I am going out to see the ton.” 

“What?” 

“It is still dark. I have a map, my cloak, and the mask. And I have a very clear destination with vehicles that will get me back in the most discreet of ways should I need to use them.” 

“Your Highness.” 

“Pandora. I am nearing my introduction to society. You will all have to let me go at some point. I know everyone cares for my wellbeing but my happiness is gone. I am seen as nothing but my illness. Before I have an episode in public like the king, let me meet the ton. Let me not be Farmer Y/N for a brief moment of my life before I am a farmer forever, before I stay in that garden just like Father.” 

Pandora’s mouth shut. She simply locked the door and unlocked the window. “You must return before your midmorning promenade and snack. Since you ate downstairs, I can convince them to overlook your absence of a breakfast request. And don’t take your mask. It’s better if they don’t know who you are at all.” 

She gasped as you hugged her. 

“Thank you, Pandora! Thank you! You are truly the bestest friend a woman could have.” 

“Just go so you can come back quickly and I can have my sanity back.” 

You closed the window, shocking Pandora as you pulled a picture frame off the wall to reveal a staircase that led outside. The door was hidden behind the trellis covered in vines and flowers. You pulled the hood over the cloak over you. The last thing you did was check for your bracelet and if your papers were inside. Until you were introduced to society, all the royal children had bracelets that couldn’t come off unless cut off. There were just in case measures with the eldest two but became necessary after so many nights sneaking out. The bracelet wasn’t going anywhere but you didn’t want to lose your birth certificate. It was your first safety measure. Even if you were kidnapped or harmed, you’d be returned to the palace for a pretty penny. You did pull your sleeves down so your bracelet wouldn’t be noticed.  

You couldn’t contain your smile at the excitement of being out. London was so different without all the noise. The brothels and pubs were starting to close down for their few hours of rest and relaxation. You stuck to streets where you could see all the action but wouldn’t be easily spotted. No one bothered you until you arrived at your destination. 

The footman stood to attention. “May I help you?” 

“Yes, hello. I bring a package from Buckingham House for the Bridgertons, courtesy of Princess Y/N.” You handed him a letter with your official stamp at the end of it. 

The footman’s eyes went wide as he handed you back the letter and ran inside. The Bridgertons looked up at the frantic knocking, pulling slips over Hyacinth and Daphne before telling the footman he could enter. The Bridgerton boys came upstairs after hearing the heavy pounding of their employee’s footsteps running up the multiple stairs. 

“Is there a problem, Marshall?” 

He panted before taking in a deep breath. “The Young Princess’ lady-in-waiting is here, bearing gifts.” 

“WHAT?!” 

The Bridgertons collectively yelled before the scramble happened. You tilted your head when you saw the windows open and a maid shake out some bedsheets. She squeaked when she looked down to see you. You laughed as she ran back inside. It couldn’t have been more than five minutes before you were escorted into the house by a very out of breath footman. The Bridgertons stood on the steps at the end of their entrance hall in chronological order with their mother starting the line at the very bottom step. Nervous smiles graced their faces when you finally reached them. You curtsied to which they curtsied or bowed back. 

You gave them a second to assess you before speaking. Even though it wasn’t true in the slightest, everyone thought the ladies-in-waiting and manservants were reflections of the royals themselves. Not in character or value but in appearance. They figured they could form some sort of picture as to what the young masked royals looked like. If you were ugly then surely the princess was too. You hoped they at least found you to be average looking in appearance. 

Anthony Bridgerton — the new head of house from what you remembered of your studies — stepped from behind his mother to greet you formally. He bowed once again, deeper, before offering up his hand. You settled yours in it to receive a chaste kiss. 

“To what do we owe this sudden pleasure, Mrs…” 

“Beckett,” you lied, just using Pandora’s last name. 

“Mrs. Beckett?” He didn’t recognize the name as one belonging to an upper class member of the ton. He wasn’t sure he recognized the name at all. 

“Apologies, I should explain. The princess doesn’t distinguish in her court, we are all there to work. All women are ladies-in-waitings, all men are valets. Regardless of station, regardless of marriage.” 

“So, I am to take it that my earlier statement was incorrect.” 

You nodded. “Simply Miss Beckett.” 

“Well that sounds like very forward thinking actually. All the same, it is our pleasure to meet anyone in her highness’ court.” 

Violet smiled as she watched the interaction. If her son was close to anyone in the princess’ court, especially someone that seemed so close to the princess as to be sent here, then he would be able to meet the princess with good graces. He’d be ahead of any man by leagues. 

“Princess Y/N has sent me on her behalf. She extends warm greetings to the Bridgertons and the Featheringtons whom I will meet after our encounter. The princess congratulates Miss Daphne Bridgerton for earning Diamond of the Season as well as congratulations to the Dowager Viscountess for raising such a fine woman and to Viscount Bridgerton for chaperoning and keeping the family together therefore allowing his sister to shine.” 

He cleared his throat and started to smile. “Please give the princess all of our thanks for the most kind of compliments.” 

“And she would like to assure Miss Bridgerton that I have not been sent on behalf of any princes. Her brothers will not be bothering you today.” 

They all chuckled when you laughed. 

You set the first box down on the table next to you and opened it. “The princess has brought new dresses for the ball. The Diamond and the rest of her family should have the opportunity to shine with the utmost and wholehearted respect and support of the Crown. Please, enjoy them.” 

The family ran to the table, picking out dresses and suits and matching them to the person’s name on the paper pinned to each garment. They kept singing praises and admiring the outfits. Violet turned back to you. 

“When are you planning on visiting the Featheringtons?” 

“In an hour or so, I must be back before the princess’ morning promenade. She has a very busy day afterwards.” 

“Will the princess be introducing herself this season?” 

“Hyacinth!” Anthony and Violet yelled at the same time. 

You laughed. “It is no trouble. I’m at liberty to answer as the princess’ head valet.” 

“Valet? I thought you said they were all men. They are usually all men.” 

“If the princess should become heir to the throne then she will receive a male valet alongside me. For now, it is just me. The Crown believes someone of the same gender should always be with her should she need to confide in someone about very personal matters.” You took a breath before testing the waters. “Such as affections of the heart.” 

It had dawned on you in that moment that you could spy on the ton. When the time came, you would still have to dance with all the bachelors of the United Kingdom but you at least you would have a better picture of them. You’d have to apologize to Pandora for the countless strokes she was about to earn from you but you couldn’t make this your only time sneaking out.  

Violet smiled, knowing she was right. “Well, would you like to stay for breakfast?” 

“Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose.” 

“It would be no trouble at all. We have more than enough room. Eloise, dear, if Penelope is to come over please request that she do so now.”

(part 2)

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Translating all the CATS Asia tour (2017) character descriptions!

Admetus, the Considerate cat is a kind cat who protects kittens. He is a thoughtful and easygoing cat.

Alonzo, the righteous cat. A proud and masculine cat. On the outside, he is lively and dynamic, but deep down, he is still uncertain about himself.

Bill Bailey the acrobatic cat is an adolescent cat who specializes in fluid dance moves and acrobatics, and is tough and confident.

Bombalurina, the sensual cat; she is extremely sensual and sexy, especially popular among the male cats. She shares a special bond of empathy with Demeter.

Bustopher Jones, the rich cat is not a Jellicle cat, but he is an aristocratic cat who is welcomed by all, enjoys golfing in his spare time and loves a big feast of delicious food.

Carbucketty, the reckless cat is a feisty cat that often gets into trouble.

Cassandra the Siamese Cat, she has a four-dimensional spiritual world with a mysterious beauty. As the only hairless Siamese cat, she is always confident and maintains an air of elegance and pride.

(4D is Korean slang for someone who has a weird, eccentric personality. They seem to live in their own strange world, often behaving unusually or unexpectedly. Though it may seem like an insult, calling someone 4D is actually considered a compliment, and 4D idols are loved for their weirdness.) 

Demeter, a sensitive cat, she is anxious and irritable about Macavity, always thinking that Macavity is nearby.

Electra, a busy cat, likes to intervene here and there, so she is always busy and distracted. She is an adorable, fluffy young kitten.

George, a braggart cat. is a spontaneous, stubborn and dignified cat always on the alert.

Tantomile & Coricopat, the twin cats. As feral cats they are wild, have excellent cognitive abilities, and have a sixth sense that other cats do not have.

Grizabella, the Mesmerizing cat, was once a beautiful cat and a member of the Jellicles, but she has gone to the world outside of the Jellicles and has gone through a painful and difficult time, and now she is old and shabby. She wants to come back, but is ostracized.

Gus, the theater cat. The second oldest cat after the prophet cat. He was a famous actor in his younger days, but now suffers from palsy.

Jemima, the curious cat, best friends with Victoria. She is a curious, intelligent, and innocent kitten.

Jennyanydots, the Gumbie cat; She always sits around during the day, seeming lazy, but at night she is busy educating the kittens. She is like a mother to the Jellicle cats.

Jellylorum, the kind cat; she always takes care of old Gus and looks after the young kittens. She is a warm-hearted cat.

Macavity, the villainous cat. The mafia of the cats; he is the center of evil, notorious for committing crimes and kidnapping other cats.

Mr. Mistoffelees, the magician cat; he can make objects disappear and reappear. He can perform various kinds of magic and is very competitive.

Mungojerrie & Rumpleteazer, the thief cat couple; a playful and resourceful burglar cat couple who are always together and get into trouble, but are also fun and lively.

Munkustrap, the Moderator cat. He protects and cares for the Jellicle members. He has a noble, royal-like dignity and serves as the guardian of all the cats.

Old Deuteronomy, the prophet cat. The leader and ancestor of the Jellicle cats. Wise and knowledgeable, he is respected by all. At the Jellicle ball, he chooses one cat to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and begin a new 'Jellicle' life.

Rum Tum Tugger, the rebellious cat. The most popular Jellicle cat. He has strong opinions and likes to be the center of attention. Like the tree-frog, he's opposed to everything, but his presence alone is very charismatic.

(“청개구리” is an idiomatic term which refers to the Korean folktale story of tree-frog / blue frog. In the story, the young frog causes trouble for his mother by always doing the opposite of what he’s told. If you ask him for sugar he’ll give you salt, if you tell him to quiet down for bed, he’ll make a fuss etc.)

Skimbleshanks, the railway cat. A conductor who lives at the train station. He is an organized cat responsible for everything related to the trains.

Victoria, the white cat. The purest and most innocent cat. She performs an enchanting dance for the first time at the Jellicle Ball.

[vacayisland]

@!; Together. (That's all we need) Trollex / reader . . . art/writing trade with @greaser-wolf

"Tag list"! @storydays @chamille-trash @valvalentine69 @starzwithapen @ykvlanq @apieceofcathair3 @kitthefanfickat @cyb3r-st4r @esterphobic @nevaeh-jasso

ꨄ︎. You honestly wonder how you got here sometimes. It was an odd situation, on the way on how all the stars aligned to create a perfect path for you and Trollex. For as long as you could remember you were friends with him, and later Synth. For as long as you two remember it was a 'us against the world' type of friendship, where you all did the stupidest things together and managed to get away with it (most of the time). You remembered those days all too well, where you three would play at the edge of the reef and race to see who could get to the center first. Where you guys would ponder on ways to get that ever so special dessert of the Techno tribe, not even being able to name it yet. Where life was fun and exciting, a lot less working and a lot less everything in your face.

ꨄ︎. And sure, life is still like that, but everything seemed to turn upon it's head a few years ago; well, five years ago to be exact, when Trollex first told you that he loved you. Then two years later when you guys got married. You never had expected to become a ruler of the Techno Trolls, as you always knew the 'crown' would go to Trollex (by blood).

ꨄ︎. And adjusting to a new life was always hard, especially when it meant into the life of royalty, yet you both managed to stick through it together. Trollex showed you to ropes, explained some costumes, and walked you through everything. He still does, even after all these years,, and that's what makes you hesitant. You both have finally settled down, the reef is in such a serine state of calm (even after sending ambassadors over to the Pop Troll Village) that you didn't want to disturb the waters. No, no it was too soon for that to happen, way too soon!

ꨄ︎. But then again, Trollex deserved to know what was happening! You've both faced everything and anything together so keeping him out of the dark would be a first and probably will educe more anxiety than what you were feeling right now!

ꨄ︎. But waiting a little bit couldn't hurt, right? The thought echoed in your mind as you stared at yourself through a mirror, your eyebrows frowning as you noticed one of the two eggs peaking out from your hair. You would reach up and attempted to cover the egg again, a million thoughts racing through your mind. This would be the hardest part, to tell Trollex about his eggs. How do you even tell your husband about such a thing? Sure, you've been dreaming about this since a year into your relationship with him, yet the moment has come at one of weirdest times that it made you feel a little sick. Surely, Trollex would want kids- his kids! You've seen the way he's acted around the younger Techno Trolls, always so caring and goofy, it's what made you want to have kids in the first place. But-

ꨄ︎. But, but, but, but, BUT! Ugh that stupid word is ringing in your head too much lately, like it always does. It's what Synth liked to call my irrational word, as irrational thoughts always steamed from the word 'but'.

ꨄ︎. Irrational thoughts that were proven irrational time and time again... So I shouldn't listen to those thoughts! At least, that's what Synth would say and Synth is not here right now so I have to just think Synth to be able to have some sort of support. Just thing W.W.S.D.: What Would Synth Do? Which, in hindsight is really bad for most situations because the answer would be rave-

ꨄ︎. A RAVE!

ꨄ︎. Trollex will be DJing at a rave later today and had asked you to be his plus one, which wasn't surprising seeing as you are his wife (but a little goofy upon thinking how there's really no Techno Troll not invited to a rave; But you got a cute date with you husband so he could ask you, so that's a win). But, besides that, maybe you could tell Trollex during the rave? It would be the most low pressure situation, if you forget there are countless of eyes on you both up by the turn tables, but Trollex will be in a good mood. So telling him shouldn't be that stressful?

ꨄ︎. But you could ruin the rave by telling him there; Such as what if he doesn't want the kid and then completely stops in his DJing to stare at you in shock? Then what if he recoils back and slams into the turn tables, causing records to scratch and...

ꨄ︎. Maybe you should go see a therapist... but not now. Right now you had to figure out how to tell your Husband about the eggs that are literally growing in your hair!

ꨄ︎. Ha, no pressure!.. right?

ꨄ︎. Maybe you could have tried harder to tell Trollex about his children during the rave, or maybe you could have done better in masking your nerves during the whole party. You hadn't noticed how badly this was all getting to you despite the countless of Trolls who came up to you, asking if you were alright. One of those Trolls being your husband! He seemed extra worried about your sour attituded during the rave, noticing how you sat off to the side with a scrunched face. He knew that face, he knew it all too well; It was your pensive face, the face you only scrunch when you're in deep contemplation about something. And it worried him to see that you weren't partying like you usually were, as raves usually got you out of your pensive moods. It's what he usually did to help you shake out all the bad feelings, even if you two were at home and all you did was play music and dance around together. So if music wasn't helping than something was wrong. Really, really wrong.

ꨄ︎. And as your husband, Trollex was determined to figure out what it was to be able to help you! With having to pry it out of you.

ꨄ︎. "Alright alright!" Trollex's voice over took the blaring music as he turned it down, purposefully so he could be heard. The Techno Trolls on the floor would turn and face him, if they weren't already, confused on what was happening. The rave had just started! No way it was already over. But Trollex continued, "Don't worry, I'm just passin' off the booth to a good friend of mine and you guys can get right back to partying. I just wanted to introduce DJ Cupcake!" Trollex exclaimed, gesturing to one of his closest friends (out side of Synth and You) as they sawm up to the turn tables. He would nod, giving them a fist bump, before turning back to the Trolls. It wasn't common for Trollex to part from a rave, though it wasn't exactly uncommon either. So while there was questioning looks, no one bothered to ask Trollex about his sudden departure. They just hoped he would be alright. Funny, considering how he was hoping you were alright.

ꨄ︎. "Trollex, you didn't have to leave the rave because of me!" You would pull your wrists away from Trollex's hands as you two got home, causing him to whip around, startled. You hadn't realized the edge in your tone, nor how loud you had shouted at him so he would take a moment and stop! You didn't mean to, but you needed him to listen. "Starfish-" Trollex would start, hands drawing close to himself as he tried to formulate his words. "I was just worried, you seemed..." "You better not say moody, Trollex!" You snapped crossing your arms as you felt your body become rather on edge. Your brain was on edge. Trollex didn't know but during his rush to get you to your home, in privacy to talk, he had almost knocked out one of the eggs from his hair. Granted, you shouldn't be mad at him for that, seeing as he didn't know they even existed yet. But you couldn't help it! To think Trollex could be so reckless with young lives, it made you bitter despite your reasonable thoughts. "No, no! I wasn't going to say that at all... you just seemed pensive! Like in a seriously deep train of thought and we both know that's usually not good." Trollex backtracked, trying to save himself from your accusation. His face would scrunch a little, noticing how you shot daggers at him and how stiff your body was before you exhaled, allowing it to relax.

ꨄ︎. This only made Trollex alarmed, as he's never seen you like this before. Sure, he's seen you when you were pensive, in deep spiraling thought, but not when like this. This? This was something different.

ꨄ︎. But that didn't make you any less you and he wasn't going to run away from this problem because you were acting differently than what he was used to. Something was wrong, he had to be the husband you needed him to be right now; You needed a shoulder to lean on. And that's what he's going to give you!

ꨄ︎. Gently, as to not startle you or cause you to tense up again, Trollex would reach out and place his hands on your shoulders. He made sure you were comfortable with his touch first, then he slowly guided the two of you to sit on the floor. He didn't want to move to the couch or your shared bedroom, just encase. He needed to be gentle with you right now. "Hey, love, is... everything okay?" He would asked, being weary of his tone; He tried to keep it was soothing and gentle as possible, watching your body language for anything he could pick up on. Anything that would give him a hint as to what you're thinking. No matter how long it took, he would sit here with you until everything was okay again. You were his world, as he knew he was yours, and there was nothing he wouldn't do to make you feel better. As he expected, though, he didn't receive an answer straight away. And he was okay with that. He was glad you trusted him enough to lean your head against his shoulder and allow him to wrap his arms around your waist, silently comforting you through touch. That was something cheesy to be thankful for, especially after three years of marriage, but he was. It gave him some reassurance.

ꨄ︎. You two would sit on that floor, cuddled up in each other's arms, for what felt like (and what was) hours until you would tell Trollex what was bothering you. But Trollex didn't mind. His eyes would glance back at you upon hearing your small sigh, a relieving sound to his ears (as he knew you've come to terms with opening up with him). Trollex would softly rub your back, comfortingly drawing circles, as a silent encouragement. He watched as you chewed over how you were going to formulate your words for a few minutes before he heard your voice. "Trollex.. I have something to tell you." You would mumble out.

ꨄ︎. And he wasn't going to lie, that one sentence made his heart both flip and drop at the same time.

ꨄ︎. "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?" Though Trollex wouldn't tell you that, knowing you already had a lot on your plate. You would probably know later, anyways, when you two look back at this and laugh at it. "I kind of know I should have told you as soon as I found out," You would start, not helping with Trollex's nerves. He felt as you would squeeze your arms around his chest, and he would do the same in turn to your waist. "But I didn't want to ruin anything, with the reef suddenly being so calm after the Rock trolls attacked and Trollstopia starting and..." Your voice would trail off, to which Trollex would pick up, "Hey, hey.. you know it never matters what is happening out in the reef, yeah? Sure, Yeah, I'm their leader but that doesn't mean you're my second priority, Starfish. I'm here for you, okay?" You would nod your head against Trollex's shoulder, staying silent for a few more minutes. Was there any easy way to tell him? Should you just drop the bomb on him now? There wasn't getting around it anyways, so it would be best to be up front, right?

ꨄ︎. "Trollex.. we're having twins."

ꨄ︎. You would squeeze your eyes shut upon telling him, waiting for his reaction. It was the one thing that you were fearing, the one reason you were so scared to tell him about the twins, and now it was something you would have to come to face with. Though, after a minute of complete silence from Trollex, you couldn't help but fear for the worst. "Love?.." Your voice was shaky as you carefully leaned away from his shoulder to catch a look at his face; You needed to know what he was feeling, what was happening, was he freaking out like you had or was he disgusted or?!- You couldn't even see his face before Trollex shot his hands up to cup your cheeks, no longer holding your waist. The sudden movement caught off guard, even more so when Trollex face sudden came closer to yours than you remembered it being. Yet... he had the brightened grin on his face, and you swore his eyes were stars as he stared in to yours. "Tell me that again." He would whisper, the excitement pouring out of him from the truck load. You couldn't help but stifle a giggle, glad he was taking this news so well but also counting his request as slightly strange. Either way, you indulged him. "Trollex, honey, we're having twins..?"

ꨄ︎. You had seen Trollex overly excited before, hell even bouncing off the walls, but his over joyous attituded right now was something that bested all those times easily. You would watch as he was literally throwing fist bumps in the air, zipping around like a little guppy high on sugar while gushing all about how he wanted to be a dad. You were sure, if he could, Trollex would be shouting "I'm a father!" to the whole Techno Village despite not having seen his two eggs yet. "Honey, is this what you were worried for?" He would asked through his excitement, taking your hands to help you off the floor. You would giggle as he picked you up by the waist and began to twirl you around, his grin (which you adored so much) never leaving. "I'm sorry, I thought I made it so clear to you that I wanted a family! You don't understand how long I've waited to be able to have kids with you, and now you're telling me we have twins?? It's like a dream come true for a guy like me!" You couldn't help but laugh, your hands firmly on Trollex's shoulders so you wouldn't fall. All the worried you had gathered were quickly filtering out as Trollex pulled you close for a hug, unable to contain all the emotions that bounced out of him. "Honey, you haven't even met the eggs!" You would shout through your laughter, only knowing that Trollex would grow even more excited upon actually seeing his eggs.

ꨄ︎. And you were right. Despite being careful with them, making sure they wouldn't break and they were properly being heated, Trollex was even more esthetic about being a dad he could barely keep it to himself! You had to basically hold him hostage inside your home so he wouldn't shout to the world "I'M A DAD!", as you would like some privilege in having the two kids be a secret for at least a little. But, that then meant you had to deal with his excitement alone. A sacrifice you were willing to make. You would giggle and laugh every time Trollex hugged and cuddled you, nuzzling his head against your shoulder or neck or cheek, exclaiming how he was so lucky; Lucky not only to have kids, but that you were also their parent and you were his and he could not picture his life with anyone else!

ꨄ︎. It took a good few hours before his excitement would wear off, not fully, but to a manageable amount. By that time, you both were laying in your bed with the eggs in between you two. Trollex was just admiring them, like they were the most precious thing in his life, and you couldn't help but smile as you watched him. You weren't sure how you managed to get this lucky, but you were sure thanking everyone who managed to make it happen.

@!; BONUS LITTLE SNIPPETS (things that didn't make it into the full story as well as some 'after math')

ꨄ︎. One of the babies were named Starr, after 'Starfish', and the other was named Pier. Trollex literally adores these kids so much, if you don't stop him he (and his parents) will spoil them rotten while teaching them out to be good people?? You trusted Trollex's parents, you didn't even need to question their ways (seeing how great of a man Trollex ways), but you did have to put a restriction on how much they did spoil Starr and Pier. Mostly you had to restrict Trollex.

ꨄ︎. Trollex and you have a jar of baby names! You had forgotten you two had set up a jar to place slips with baby names in them so when you two did have kids, it would be easy to pick out names. Trollex brought out the jar not even two days after he met the eggs, claiming how they needed names! He couldn't keep calling them eggs and eggie. You two saved the names you didn't pick, took out the two you did, and saved the jar encase you had more kids.

ꨄ︎. Trollex couldn't go two weeks before he spilled the news! You were even surprised that you managed to tell his and your families, and Synth, before he gushed about being a dad while DJing at a rave. Funny, it was the one rave you didn't go to because you were going to spend time with your family! You weren't mad at him, you found it cute how excited he was about being a dad, but it was surely confusing when random Trolls began congratulating you. (He did tell you as soon as he found you and apologize for slipping up :( )

ꨄ︎. No one could buy your babies anything because Trollex was on it first! Man was working on the nursery no less than a week to two after he first bet the eggs, asking for your input and all. He would let you help, but nothing too straining because you were holding the babies in your hair. Literally built the crib and room from the ground up by himself, with you helping where you could. Though the next day his and your parents would come over, asking if there's anything they could help with to pitch in for the baby. As soon as the words nursery left their lips, Trollex just had to show them the room!! Their jaws were on the floor, literally. Didn't expect the nursey to be done so soon. Trollex was very proud of himself.

ꨄ︎. The type of dad to go all out for any holiday, even mothers/fathers day for you! And in turn you do it right back. Y'alls house is so festive and cozy and fun.

ꨄ︎. Synth is like an Uncle to the kids, despite not being blood related to you or Trollex. But not all family had to be blood related, and you had to explain this to the two when they realized that Synth is just a really good friend. Family is chosen, not forced.

ꨄ︎. Overall, he's such a fun and goofy dad!! Will do anything to protect you and the kids. You guys are always his number one priority!

.ᐟ this work is published and owned by @vacayisland. please do not plagiarize, copy, or steal this work; like, reblogs, and saves are appreciated :D

[skepsiss]

Modern problems Modern solution - pt6

Did a little poll and like 60% of you wanted part 6 of this mini-series. So! Here it is! I actually really enjoyed how I ended this part and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

CW: Excessive swearing, lying/betrayal

Pt1 Pt2 Pt3 Pt4 Pt5 Pt6 Pt7

--

Eddie skipped school on Friday. He hadn’t even come up with an excuse and he didn’t want to get up to go outside so Wayne wouldn’t know, that felt like it involved too much energy, and he didn’t have that in him right now. Wayne had tried to talk to him about it but Eddie hadn’t given him anything to work with. He didn’t want to talk about it. He didn’t want to think about it or have to do anything related to Steve or school or D&D. 

He’d felt like this before. He’d felt worn down and dark like there was gauze wrapped around his brain. He didn’t care what his friends thought or about ‘making peace’ with the incident so they could both move on. He just wanted it all to go away. He wanted the world to stop for a while or to let him side-step into a demi-plane so he could recoup; maybe when he came back everyone he had known would be gone and he wouldn’t have to deal with any of this ever again. 

Even in his darkness, Eddie knew that wasn’t what he really wanted. He didn’t want to lose Uncle Wayne or his friends, his shitty grades that would allow him to graduate, or Hellfire. He didn’t want to lose any of it, but everything he cared about seemed to be putting more and more pressure on his mind and it had finally bottomed out. 

He had even gone as far as to turn his phone off and ignore any attempt at texting or messaging. He didn’t want to get overwhelmed again. He didn’t want to make another mistake. He wasn’t moody about it anymore anyway, he didn’t have the energy to stay mad, he was just miserable. 

Eddie wasn’t even upset about his pride being bruised, it didn’t matter if Steve liked him, but everything else that came along with their fight was constantly spiking his fight-or-flight response. It just felt like he was a live-wire and people were constantly throwing water on him; drowning him with words and emotions and things he didn’t want to think about. It was just too much. It was all too much. 

Maybe he was insane. Maybe he was all those drastic and terrible things people said about him after all. 

It all just felt so bleak.

Eddie showered Saturday afternoon and it had helped him feel a bit better. At least he was clean, even if he felt like he wanted a shower for his brain too to clear everything out of there. The wonders of water and the prospect of leaving his mind fresh and new so every bit of bad news could just slide off felt tantalizing.

Eddie had felt childish and he wouldn’t admit to it, but it had helped tremendously when Wayne had walked into his room with from-the-box chicken strips. They always kind of sucked, but there was something comforting about them as he just sat on his bed eating slowly for what felt like the first time in days. 

Wayne had told him he was going to the laundromat and had helped change the sheets on Eddie’s bed so he could wash them. It felt a bit early in the month for that, but Eddie hadn’t said anything as they put the new linens on and he had crawled on top of his duvet. 

Clean body. Clean bed. It was little, but it felt like it made a difference in some small way.

Eddie had spent Sunday rallying and practicing guitar all day, ignoring the mountain of homework he had. It wasn’t normal for him, but come Monday morning he had gone into the counselor’s office at school and asked to go to the learning center all day. There had been some waffling, but eventually, his counselor had agreed to tell all his teachers not to mark him as absent for the day and had organized for Eddie to sit through his school day with his head down in the special education room. He had just one block here last year, but it wasn’t unheard of for someone to be in the class all day. It helped him catch up on some work and he always felt a little less scrutinized when he asked for help from the aids in the room when he didn’t understand something instead of asking in class. It was just quiet work where he was allowed to listen to music on his old iPod and soon enough the school day was over. 

Eddie had lingered in the classroom well after the bell in the hopes that he could avoid seeing anyone in the hallways. He wasn’t ready to talk to people yet, he didn’t feel like he had the proper face on to be mean or pleasant or anything in between. 

He left when he caught the aid stealing glances at him, reading her body language as if she was asking if he was going to be here for much longer. She probably wanted to go home, but wasn’t allowed to if he was here still. So he packed up and left, his skin prickling as he walked through the halls. 

To his surprise–and perhaps relief–he had spotted Dustin in the hallways moving somewhat aimlessly by his locker. He had expected horror to build in his chest and plow through him upon seeing anyone he knew, but he was surprised to find that he felt… good seeing his friend. Especially as Dustin turned and smiled at him with his gappy grin. He had always found Dustin’s smile incredibly endearing in the dorkiest way possible. 

“You are here today!” Dustin exclaimed, wagging his phone at Eddie. “Benson said he thought he saw you in the office this morning. You didn’t answer my texts.”

Eddie shrugged, finding it much easier to talk than he thought. He watched as Dustin tapped away at his phone quickly, probably sending a message before he pocketed the device. 

“I left my phone at home,” he offered, telling the truth, but not wanting to elaborate on how that had been purposeful. “What’s up, man?”

The sound of squeaking shoes caught Eddie’s attention and he half turned to see Mike screeching down the hallway toward him, Gareth not far behind. They were both hustling and Eddie tried not to let the twitch of his lips show as he saw them. A small part of him felt touched that they both looked so eager to see him. 

“Hey–” Mike offered breathlessly, which Eddie raised an eyebrow at. 

“Uh, hey, you two planning on taking a point in athletics or something?” He teased gently, not expecting a proper answer. He noticed Mike look over his shoulder at Dustin, the flick of his eyes subtle but strange. 

Eddie felt unease creeping into his shoulders as he looked back at Dustin, looking for something to latch onto so the awkwardness could pass. 

“Hey, man, it’s uh…” Gareth swallowed, still catching his breath. “Sorry, it’s good to see you–” “Yeah, okay, mush-mush, what’s going on?” Eddie asked, sounding a touch defensive. 

“Mr. Shroud confiscated Gareth’s phone and locked it in his desk drawer,” Dustin interjected quickly, sounding put out. 

“Yeah uh… we thought well, you’re the only person we know who can pick locks,” Mike explained, sucking in a breath, still sounding a touch winded. 

Eddie pinched his brows in at that, feeling a touch weird about being sought out for something like this but they weren’t wrong. Eddie had practiced all summer in 10th grade to learn how to pick locks and had proudly showed off the skill to his friends when he had mastered it. It was surprisingly the least helpful and most helpful skill he had.

“My mom is going to kill me,” Gareth explained, which made Eddie sigh.

“Yeah, okay,” he answered, starting to walk in the direction of the science hall where Mr. Shroud’s classroom was. “I don’t have anything with me though, I might not be able to do it.”

“At least try,” Dustin explained, walking with Eddie as Mike and Gareth fell in behind them. “I said I would,” Eddie huffed, putting on a fake tone of annoyance. “Do any of you have a ballpoint pen? And like a card, like a gift card or something like that. A flat piece of plastic?” 

Gareth started to pat himself down as they walked, the door to the classroom open as Eddie rattled off potential alternatives to gift cards and pens that might work to open the lock. He really wasn’t sure what he was dealing with but he felt more at ease being about to do something rather than just keep up small-talk. 

They stepped into the classroom and Eddie moved towards the desk at the front of the room before he noticed something out of his peripheral and looked up. He froze in place and his stomach dropped as he saw Steve with his arms crossed leaning against one of the desks in the back of the classroom. Steve seemed to perk up at seeing Eddie, straightening his posture as Eddie felt his chest tighten with anxiety. 

The jingle of metal caught his attention and Eddie glanced at the door only to see it closing. That spurred him out of his stupor and Eddie scrambled to the door only to have it slam tightly in his face, the rattling of metal muffled through the door. He grabbed at the handle to yank it open, but the doorknob wouldn’t budge. 

Locked.

“Asshole!” Eddie yelled, slamming his hand against the doorframe as he stood up on his toes to see through the little window in the door. 

Dustin, Mike, and Gareth looked horrified as they backed away from the door as Eddie caught sight of the keys in Dustin’s hand. “You fucking assholes! Open the door!” Eddie yelled, grabbing the door handle and jiggling it again. Stupid, fucking, anti-school-shooter locks— 

“I’m sorry!” Dustin said his words rushed, still backing up. 

“Mike—Gareth!” Eddie shouted, trying to speak to them through the glass. 

“Ten minutes, Eddie!” Mike breathed, looking anxious, “just ten minutes, man!”

“It’s for–just listen to him,” Gareth stuttered before the three boys turned on their heels and disappeared down the hallway.

“I’m going to kill you!” Eddie hollered as a last attempt, trying to see where they had gone before he slumped against the door. 

The horror of the situation caught up to him slowly and he stole a glance towards Steve who was standing stock still with his hands at his side. He looked tense, but Eddie didn’t have time to process that as his own emotions flooded into him. 

He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to talk. What the hell was this supposed to be–he couldn’t handle this.

Eddie groaned and ducked down to break line of sight with Steve and squatted for a moment before lamely crawling on all fours towards the teacher’s desk. He was hiding, but it felt like the only thing he could do as his hands and knees got dusty from the filthy school floors. He holed up in the footwell of the desk feeling terribly small.

Ten minutes. Ten minutes… those assholes better come back in ten minutes. Fuck friendship. Fuck those guys to hell.

“Eddie?” 

Eddie heard Steve speak and it made him groan. He could hear him moving slowly toward the front of the classroom. 

Eddie tucked into himself, holding his knees to his chest as he hide like a fucking child. He didn’t even care how lame this was, he couldn’t deal with this right now. “Just leave me alone,” Eddie muttered miserably which made the shuffling of Steve’s shoes stop. 

It was quiet for a few beats and Eddie could feel his brain slowing down a bit with the silence around him. It had felt like he was being hunted before this like he was some scared little bird hyperventilating in the jaws of a cat. He was bigger than this though, better than this, he didn’t have to deal with this. 

Eddie fumbled quietly with his headphones, trying to pull out the device without making a ruckus. He’d just drown everything out with metal and wait. That was like 2 Iron Maiden songs, tops.

“Sorry for ambushing you,” Steve said and Eddie stopped moving for a moment.

“It was Dustin’s idea, he thought that–never mind. Sorry for ambushing you.”

Steve’s tone was gentle and it made Eddie pause long enough to think about what he was doing here. Well, not what so much as why, but it made him think. Steve hated him. Steve was a jerk who had spent the last several weeks gossiping about him and making his life a living hell. What benefit did he get out of being locked in a classroom? What reason would Dustin have for locking them in here together? 

Eddie fiddled with his headphones for a moment, just looking at his fingers as he untied the knotted cord, cowering under the desk.

“I’m going to kill Henderson when I get out of here,” Eddie muttered quietly, which got a very small breathy laugh from Steve. 

“Yeah, he uh…” Steve started, hesitating as Eddie listened quietly, “he means well… I knew this was a bad idea.”

“Scheme,” Eddie corrected quietly, “was a bad scheme.”

“Scheme,” Steve repeated back, a fraction of levity entering his tone. 

They fell quiet again as Eddie rested his chin on his knees, still tucked up in the desk’s footwell. This was such a profound betrayal, but Eddie didn’t have the energy to hold onto his anger. He was just scared. He was just worn down and scared and he wanted more than anything to fade into obscurity. 

“He…” Steve started again which made Eddie curl in more, not wanting to deal with another onslaught of emotions. 

“Dustin, he came over to my place this weekend,” Steve explained, which felt pointless to mention but Eddie didn’t have the energy to tell Steve to shut up. 

“He uh… interrogated me,” Steve chuckled quietly, which made Eddie lift his head and look at the plywood behind him. It was a shitty old desk, and he could see Steve marginally through the cracks in the woodwork where the backing didn’t quite meet the surface of the desk. 

“It… he told me what you said, to the guys, to Hellfire.”

That made Eddie curl in again, and he buried his face in his knees. Told him what he said–that could only mean one thing. He didn’t want to talk about this. Eddie didn’t want to be scolded for being an asshole or an idiot or whatever the hell was going to be said to him. You’re allowed to be mad, but don’t be a dick to my friends. Dustin declared that he was officially jumping ship and none of the guys want to be friends with you anymore. You’re a stupid, naive, petty person who no one wants around.

“Sorry,” Steve said and Eddie frowned deeply, something punching into his chest at the word. 

“I didn’t realize that… I came across like that. Sorry,” Steve repeated and Eddie felt his nostril flare as his emotions bubbled up. 

What did that mean? He didn’t mean to come across like that? Come across like what? An asshole? He didn’t mean to be an asshole while he was being an asshole?

“I think I was drunk and–no, well, I was drunk and I didn’t realize–” “I don’t want to hear an ‘I was drunk’ excuse,” Eddie interrupted, unable to hold his tongue as he wiped at his face, catching the first of his tears. He had to keep it together. He probably had five minutes left he had to endure. 

“You’re right, I… sorry, I’m not trying to give an excuse,” Steve swallowed, his voice tilting in a way Eddie couldn’t place. He sounded pained or something like that so Eddie stole another glance through the gap to look at Steve.

He was standing with his arms crossed again, his butt pressed up against the first row of student desks so he could lean. He looked rigid despite his posture and his head was hung with the deepest frown on his face that Eddie had ever seen. 

“I’m sorry, Eddie,” Steve repeated, “I thought you knew and I thought you were laughing at me.”

“You thought I was laughing at you?” Eddie blurted, his tone harsh as he turned in the footwell of the desk and banged his elbow on the side of it. 

“Ow–fucker,” he mumbled, watching as Steve stood up again and looked at the desk with mild concern. He looked so soft standing there, unsure of what to do as his hands flexed and unflexed at his side. He had thought Steve was laughing at him–poking fun, being an asshole–but it was hard to believe that now staring at him and how… concerned he looked.

“Knew what?” Eddie mumbled quietly, Steve’s words catching up to him. He didn’t answer right away, so Eddie repeated them a little clearer. “You thought I knew what?”

Steve breathed another laugh, looking away from the desk. Eddie was starting to realize that Steve laughed a lot when he was nervous; he’d laugh and roll his eyes and rub his upper lip, and he was doing all of that right now. 

Steve started to swing his arms backward and forward like he had been at the dance, clasping them in front of himself and then behind as if to settle his nerves. The gentle sound of his hands meeting was the only noise in the room for a long while. 

“Eddie, I…” Steve swallowed, and sucked in a breath, “I tried to kiss you. Isn’t it obvious?” 

Eddie frowned again, holding his knees to his chest.

“Isn’t what obvious?” He asked. “That you’re horny?”

Steve snorted loudly, seemingly caught off guard by the comment and actually amused by it. It didn’t feel harsh though, not like it had on Halloween, and that made Eddie’s lips twitch. 

“No, Eddie, I mean–sure, but that’s not what I’m getting at,” Steve sighed, the sound exaggerated and verging on humorous, “I like you, Eddie…”

Eddie waited for the last bit of the sentence, that and that was hanging in the air. I like you and I want to stay friends. And I want you to forgive me. And I still think you’re a jerk.

“Yeah, okay, and?” Eddie asked, huffing a bit, feeling like he just needed to rip the bandaid off. 

Steve went quiet again and his clapping stopped. Eddie could hear his feed shuffling closer to the desk and that made him tense, not sure what to expect. 

“No, Eddie…” Steve said, sounding exasperated, “Eddie, I like you. I like you as in… as in I tried to kiss you.”

The silence seemed to draw out forever as Eddie processed those words and how they fit into all of this. He knew what that meant, but he couldn’t help but wonder what he meant by it all. It was as if those words just wouldn’t fit through the pegs in his mind. Steve liked him? Steve liked him. Steve had tried to kiss him. Steve–

“You like me?” Eddie exclaimed, his voice shrill as he turned abruptly under the desk, banging his head on the underside of it. 

“Ow—fucker!” Eddie yelled, putting his hands over his head, and kneeling low, practically bowing as his emotions washed over him. 

“Are you okay?” Steve asked, that concern back in his voice as Eddie heard his shoes squeaking on the linoleum. 

“Yeah…” Eddie mumbled, not lifting his head, “just… knocking some sense into my stupid fucking brain…”

All of this… all of this and he had assumed the worst. He had assumed Steve was making fun of him over a mistaken identity, that Eddie wasn’t anywhere near good enough to be noticed by him; he had assumed he was spreading rumours and lies and pitting their friends against him. He had assumed Steve was the biggest asshole, creep in the world and he had….

Eddie groaned as he recalled all the shitty things he had said to Jeff. How he had called Robin a dyke and probably a cunt, and then skipped school and loafed around in bed like some kind of Victorian poet. 

Fuck.

“You sure you’re okay?” Steve asked. Eddie could hear him swallowing and he realised that Steve’s previous statement was hanging in the air. 

“Sorry,” Eddie mumbled, his voice quiet as he pushed past his bruised ego. “Sorry… I… I really didn’t know…”

He felt guilty, but he also felt defensive as if he wanted to scold Steve for not making it more obvious, but that didn’t feel like it would get him anywhere. God… he was such a loser. 

“Are you sure?” Eddie asked, sighing heavily.

“Am I sure… what?”

“You sure you like me?” Eddie lamented. “Cause I’m the full package if that means the package includes me being a jerk with a laundry list of issues. Jam-packed. Overflowing.” Eddie was self deprecating, but it felt like the only thing he could do. He needed to reduce the blow and take the shine away from Steve saying that he liked him. He didn’t feel like he deserved that. He didn’t deserve that. He had been a total ass. No wonder Steve had looked so bothered when Eddie had told him to share his thoughts, he had assumed Eddie was making him confess so he could spit in his face. 

What did he say now? Eddie had stamped his emotions down so fully and had only let himself be angry or sad that he wasn’t sure how he felt anymore. He could remember feeling heartbroken when he realized–when he had assumed–that Steve had mistook him for someone else and tried to kiss him. 

“I’m so stupid,” Eddie groaned, his voice barely above a whisper. 

Steve hesitated before he answered, but his answer made Eddie’s stomach flip anyway.

“I don’t think so…” Steve replied quietly before falling silent again. 

“Stop being so charming,” Eddie huffed, sounding put out and trying to sound sarcastic to lighten the mood, “you’re going to make me combust.”

Steve laughed lightly again and Eddie loosened the grip he had on his own head, instead resting against his thighs, breathing deeply. 

“There’s…” Eddie started, his voice wavering a bit, “there’s room for… one more under here.” He swallowed thick at his phrasing, feeling stupid and unsure how to extend the olive branch. 

“Yeah?” Steve asked, sounding amused, if a little nervous as well. “Okay.”

Eddie shifted as he heard Steve’s shoes shuffling, adjusting himself so he was sitting with his back against one of the stacks of drawers, still hiding. “Hey…” Steve said quietly as he crouched down before sitting with his back against the other set of drawers so they could look at one another. They were sitting horizontally to one another, which allowed Eddie to keep his gaze downcast while not closing himself off to Steve completely. 

“Hey…” Eddie replied softly, letting his eyes flick up. He looked away quickly again when he caught the expression on Steve’s face. How soft it was with his little smile and his brows pinched in with uncertainty. “Sorry… sorry about all that... this…” Eddie repeated, pushing a dust bunny with his fingers and regretting it before wiping his hand on his pants. “Yeah, me too. Sorry,” Steve offered, letting his legs stretch out so one of them was against the drawers Eddie was leaning on and the other was stretched out in front of the desk. “Those twerps should be back any minute.”

Eddie hummed quietly, pulling his knees up and draping his arm over them so he could rest his chin on his forearm. 

“I’m still going to kill them…” Eddie said softly, no real punch to his voice. 

Steve chuckled once again, the silence following the sound feeling much more comfortable than it had previously. 

“I think I might…” Eddie started, turning his head to look at the plywood backing of the desk, not able to look at Steve, “I don’t know… I have a lot to… process. I–sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Steve answered easily, gently, which made the butterflies turn in Eddie’s stomach. 

“Can I… can I call you–or text you… later?” Eddie asked, pressing his lips together and closing his eyes, nervous energy pulsing into his veins. 

“Yeah–for sure,” Steve replied, sounding a bit too eager which made Eddie laugh a bit. He was charmed and maybe he was blushing, but he didn’t want to share that if he was. He still felt like a dickweed and he wasn’t really sure how to move forward. 

The door to the classroom unlocked and Eddie looked up, hearing the jingle of keys and footsteps.

“Down here,” Steve said quietly, before grunting and pulling himself up. “What’re…” Eddie heard Mike ask before he himself was crawling out from under the desk and brushing the dust off his knees.

“Don’t worry about it,” Eddie huffed, standing up properly and not looking at any of them square in the face. 

“So, did it work?” Dustin asked.

“Uh–” Steve offered, glancing at Eddie. He gave a nod and an eye-roll, not willing to be all soft and tender in front of everyone here. 

“It worked?” Gareth asked from the doorway as Dustin rushed up to Steve to point in his face.

“I told you! I told you!” he said eagerly, which made Eddie’s lips twitch. He moved without thinking as he pushed Dustin’s hat down over his eyes and hooked him into a headlock.

“Eddie!” Dustin shrieked, twisting so he was facing the same direction as Eddie, but unable to get loose. “I’m skinning all of you,” Eddie declared, pointing at the other two boys as he walked with Dustin stuck under his arm, moving out into the hallway. 

“You’re all fucking mincemeat!” 

–

Eddie flopped onto his bed, face down and arms out to the side. He felt exhausted. He felt like he had just endured the worst triathlon-gym-bullshit ever invented. He had walked home so he could think, but honestly, he had barely any brain power left to think after everything that happened at the school. He hadn’t really let those emotions sink in yet, but he breathed out his exhaustion and rolled onto his side now, letting them settle. 

Steve liked him. 

Steve had confessed to him….

He wasn’t thinking about what happened on Halloween and instead just letting himself feel this as butterflies and possibly fucking Mothra fluttered around in his chest. He had never had a boy confess to him before. 

Eddie pushed his face into his mattress, hiding his smile from God knows who, and urged himself to calm down. He sighed out his affections and then Army-crawled his way up the bed to his nightstand so he could grab his phone. He turned it on and rolled onto his back, waiting for it to boot back up through the loading screen. Dustin said he had tried to text him, so he should probably clean out his inbox so that annoying little ‘1’ icon didn’t drive him insane. 

As the lock screen loaded Eddie moved to punch in his passcode before a notification popped up.

Dustin: You at school?

Almost instantly another popped up, his phone vibrating.

Mike: You here today?

Another message from Dustin appeared, and then another, slowly his phone was getting overwhelmed by notification after notification as Eddie watched with mounting shock at the messages streaming in.

Jeff: You okay?

Will: Didn’t see you at school today.

Missed call. Missed call. Missed call. Missed call.

Dustin: Answer your phone. 

Dustin: Eddie, call me.

Benson: Want to practice today?

Gareth: What’s up?

Uncle Wayne: Your friend called me, you should….

Lucas: Dustin told me what happened, you….

Dustin: Don’t kill me but I think you want to hear….

Mike: You free after school Monday?

Gareth: 🔫 answer your phone.

Dustin: I think there was a mix-up. Call me. 

Jeff: Out with Benson, you should join. Movie at….

Steve: Can we talk?

Notification after notification popped up on his phone and filled his screen, not even allowing him to unlock the damn thing before the next one was dinging. Text after text, message after message from any platform Eddie checked. It didn’t stop for a while and Eddie couldn’t help it as his lips pressed together and he held back a happy laugh. Everyone had been trying to get a hold of him all weekend… all fucking weekend. 

Eddie barked a laugh, and wiped under his nose, as he felt his eyes prickling with tears. He stopped them before they fell but he was still smiling as he rolled onto his side as his phone finally quieted down. 

God… it felt good to have everyone care so much. 

Pt7 final part

[icycoldninja]

Can you write a reader who is a volunteer working at a raptor rehabilitation center with the DMC boys?

She tells them abt her experiences of working with multiple raptors like Bald headed eagles; Vultures; Falcons; Kites (yes the 🪁 was named after the bird, not the other way around); Owls; Hawks;… Her favorites are the Eagles, especially the Harpy Eagle as in her word, relatively docile and its face card does not decline

She also educate visitors abt each raptors and their traits, hunting strategy, habitats,etc

She also gushes to them abt how cute and heavily misunderstood vultures are. In fact, Turkey vultures seem to have a genuine curiosity about people and objects. Roosts are often near humans. In wildlife rehabilitation centers where injured turkey vultures are treated and in the wild, they have been known to bond with a certain individual and follow them around, watching their activities. One story tells of a turkey vulture that found "its person" in a town of 12,000 people. A turkey vulture in rehab will often bring someone an object and then play "tug-of-war." Caretakers who have worked with them have found them to be "...gentle, inquisitive, and very intelligent". Another story tells of a group of turkey vultures playing together every evening with a ball left out in someone's yard.

She even named one of the vultures who bonded with her after the boys because of how affectionate it is, like an oversized stinky feathered puppy.

But mainly; she finds this job to educate people on the importance of protecting some endangered species or species that have a high risk of being endangered, clear up misconceptions abt certain raptors and defend any raptors that got heavily demonized by lots of people

P/S: Do you know that all birds of prey can be raptors but not all raptors can be birds of prey? Also raptors are not a family reunion, more of a description (Jurassic pedicure; god-tier eyesight; sharp-hooked beak)

(This is a Harpy Eagle, they’re cute)

Yes, those eagles are very cute. Looks just like Vergil, really.

Sparta boys + V x Raptor caretaker!Reader headcannons

¤ Dante ¤

-Dante loves hearing interesting tidbits about raptors and listening to you explain multiple times that raptor does not mean dinosaur, it refers to specific types of birds.

-Visiting the rehabilitation center is always a noisy, smelly experience but it's fun!

-He loves following you and your tour group around, even though he didn't pay, just happy to be there, looking at birds and listening to you ramble on.

-You talk so much about turkey vultures it makes Dante hungry. He ends up eating turkey sandwiches whenever you tell him a story.

-So, a turkey vulture once found its "person" among 12,000 humans? Doesn't that sound somewhat familiar? Didn't Dante find his special person among billions of humans? Yeah, you get the connectoon.

-Thinks it's so cute for you to have named one of the vultures you care for after him.

■ Vergil ■

-Vergil had some respect for birds but not much else. He initially didn't want to go see your rehabilitation center, but you talked him into it.

-He ended up changing his mind about raptors after spending the day there. He found that they are mostly loud, smelly, squawking creatures that he does not find pleasant to be around.

-How you can keep your cool and even touch those things is beyond him.

-The only raptor he liked was the harpy eagle, mostly because it looked somewhat like him. You did not hesitate to point this out.

-He grew very bored of your turkey stories very quickly and once dozed off while you talked.

-When you showed him the vulture you named after him, Vergil wasn't sure if he should be offended or complimented. While vultures certainly share some of his physical characteristics, they are filthy carrion creatures. Do they deserve his respect?

□ Nero □

-Nero used to love dinosaurs as a kid, so when you told him you worked with raptors, he immediately thought of Jurassic Park.

-He was rather disappointed but also very interested to discover that raptors to not refer to meat eating velociraptors, but rather specific types of birds with certain characteristics.

-Was very curious to see and hear about kites. Not the toy, the bird.

-You are very enthusiastic about turkey vultures and that enthusiasm has transferred to Nero. Now neither one of you can stop geeking out over them.

-Is filled with this sense of familiarity whenever he's around harpy eagles.

-Can't stop laughing upon realizing you named a vulture after him.

● V ●

-V is very comfortable around birds thanks to taking care of Griffon all the time.

-He is very curious about the different raptors you take care of, and surprisingly, knew what a raptor was without you having to explain.

-He is loved by all the birds. Whenever you take one out of its enclosure to show it to your tour group, it immediately flies over to V's shoulders.

-Griffon tries to start conversations with your raptors and gets upset when they don't respond.

-V is considering volunteering to work alongside you because he really enjoys being around you, and squawking, stinky, constantly defacating birds.

-When he discovered you named a vulture after him, he was so touched. What a sweet gesture!

[covid-safer-hotties]

We may think we’re done with COVID-19, but COVID-19 is not done with us - Published oct 30, 2024

by Dr. Niels Riedemann

As we approach a new presidency, a new Congress and new leaders in our health agencies, I am concerned that the sense of urgency about COVID-19 appears to have faded. The disease has not been discussed during the election season, even though it is an ongoing and developing public health threat.

I believe this is a dangerous mindset. The reality is that COVID-19 remains a unique and deadly threat for many people — it is not just another respiratory virus, and should not be treated as such by our leaders.

I am the CEO and co-founder of biopharmaceutical InflaRx. But I am also an intensive care physician and researcher active in the immunology field. I have worked in the ICU. The reality is clear: We may be done with COVID-19, but COVID-19 is not done with us.

The virus continues to cause fatalities, even outside of the traditional respiratory season. During the summer of 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that COVID-19 killed thousands, with about 4,200 reported deaths in August alone. As of October, some 40,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19 in 2024.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in May 2024 found that in the fall and winter of 2023-2024, the risk of death in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 was greater than the risk of death in patients hospitalized for seasonal influenza. On Sept. 28, 2024, the CDC reported that COVID-19 hospitalizations continued to outpace flu and RSV hospitalizations combined.

Despite these facts, the CDC website now groups COVID-19 with flu and RSV, stating that “while COVID-19 still poses a significant threat to people at higher risk, its health impact is now similar to other respiratory viruses, like flu, which are also important causes of illness and death, especially for people at higher risk.” I believe this positioning is dangerously complacent and sends the wrong message to those responsible for guiding us through public health challenges.

As we approach a new presidential administration and a new Congress, we cannot regard COVID-19 as one of several respiratory diseases that can be dealt with through a vaccination program and other measures. COVID-19 requires special attention from the new administration, federal health agencies and lawmakers. They need to remember and treat COVID-19 as having different characteristics compared to other respiratory diseases and manage it for what it is — a virus that caused the most extended pandemic in over a century, with a significant death toll that continues to take lives every day.

Our knowledge of the disease continues to evolve. We still do not fully understand it or the best way to treat it. For example, long COVID, which is estimated to affect 5.3 percent of U.S. adults in the U.S. (13.5 million people), poses potentially serious and debilitating long-term health issues such as fatigue, brain fog and uncontrolled blood pressure.

We must not abandon the tools, therapies and strategies we’ve developed to prevent and fight it. That means we must ensure the availability of at-home tests, educate the public and medical community on diagnosis and treatment options (both outside and inside the hospital), be tolerant of people who still seek to protect themselves by wearing masks, and continue to support and fund research into new treatments and vaccines.

We may be tired of COVID-19 but the number of deaths we are seeing should not be regarded by our leaders in Washington and in the states as acceptable. COVID-19 requires ongoing vigilance, early diagnosis, timely treatment through all the stages of disease progression and continued research.

Our political and medical leaders must continue to pay attention to what we learned from the pandemic and must assure that we all are taking the needed steps, to protect not only ourselves but also future generations.

Niels Riedemann, M.D., is trained intensive care physician and general surgeon who lead a large academic ICU in Germany. He is the co-founder and CEO of InflaRx, a Nasdaq-listed biotech company.

[greenerteacups]

Hi, @greenerteacups! My girlfriend and I love your writing in Lionheart so much! We love how true the characters feel to themselves and often feel even more like themselves than in actual canon. We talk about Lionheart all the time.

We especially admire how Draco takes realistic strides in his development into a person who cannot accept the beliefs of pure blood society. However, it struck me today that all those changes started with Draco's separation from that world at Hogwarts in Gryffindor House, something which Dumbledore admits to influencing at the end of the first book. Dumbledore likes to have his hands in the middle of things, obviously, and it makes sense to have the Boy Who Lived somewhere cut off from the Wizarding World living with no strong positive relationships so he can manipulate boy hero later. But I am extremely curious as to why the headmaster just had to mess with this one rich kid's sorting with no promise of it paying off. In fact, we have had no clues at all as to Dumbledore's motivation nor has it been questioned since the first book.

I'm not at all picky about the reasons for canon divergent events. I'm eating up Lionheart as-is, but I was wondering if we might get some sort of insight in the future into Dumbledore's motivation for influencing Draco's sorting? Maybe I'm just thinking about this too hard, but I'm really curious now if it was for plot purposes or if it was for reasons that we will find out later or perhaps even for reasons that might continue to affect the story.

As always, thank you so much and we hope you are well!

Hello! First, thank you for such a detailed message, and for such kind words of support! I hope you and your girlfriend enjoy the upcoming chapters.

As for Dumbledore — yeah, this is one of those things where an eleven-year-old megalomaniac goes "of course this makes sense, I am the center of the universe and everyone should care about me" and then later on goes "hang on. what was the reason for that?" The following isn't canonical (I sound like a broken record at this point, I'm always going "I don't get credit for it if it isn't in the text!" but it IS true, and the following is just me riffing on what's already written. None of the following requires knowledge of things that haven't happened yet, although there will be conversations about Draco's Sorting to come).

Dumbledore's phrasing in Chapter 8 implies Draco wasn't completely unusual — "But there comes the rare case, now and then," — i.e., Draco may not be the first. But then, why Draco, instead of, say, Theodore Nott? Daphne Greengrass? It doesn't seem like their time in Slytherin has been terribly beneficial for the educational experience. It comes to mind that Draco, for all that he is another random rich kid, is a rather special rich kid; he's the joint of the Black and Malfoy families, which were the two primary bastions of power/support for Voldemort during the war.

I guess another way to frame it is this: from his perspective, putting Draco in Gryffindor places the heir to Voldemort's power base squarely where Dumbledore can keep an eye on him, and removes him from a social environment where he could network with other powerful aristocratic children. You know that marriage allegiance network that Pansy describes? The one that's copying the Black/Malfoy/Lestrange network from the first war? Draco's a crucial missing link in that chain. He's also surrounded by Harry's friends and Order members, which — while you can't always count on the Power of Friendship to save the day, cf. Peter Pettigrew — that experience is never not going to affect his judgment and beliefs.

You know the medieval practice of "warding," where you'd send your kid to be raised by another aristocratic family, and then they'd come back when they were of-age? That was one of the main levers of allegiance besides power — because not only is your kid functionally a hostage, so you can never fuck with the family that's warding them, but they're also growing up around that family's own children, forming close friendships that will endure after they leave and return to inherit their own titles. It was tactical, especially for families whose own territory might not be the safest place to raise a child.

Lastly, I also want to flag — and this is discussed in the draft of an upcoming chapter, so I'll keep it short and classy — but Dumbledore is making a really huge claim to Draco, i.e., that he's capable of changing the Sorting Hat's mind. He doesn't explain how he's done this, or what methods he used to interfere with its magic. Draco seems to believe him, but I don't know that I would.

[therainingkiwi]

overall PJO TV show impressions

TL; DR: not a perfect show, but overall that doesn't matter bc they get the important parts right.

Finished watching the PJO show episodes 1 and 2 and I have SO MANY thoughts. General impression is that although there were a handful of wonky moments (mostly related to pacing and editing); overall those didn't bother me because the HEART of the original books is there and that's what really mattered to me most.

I originally loved these books not for the Greek Mythology (although that is what got me initially interested), but for the emotional storyline. Percy Jackson is, at its heart, a book about a bullied kid finding a home, finding confidence, learning that even after all these years, he is GOOD at something. He is WORTH something.

There are tons of things to nitpick about the series. Pacing is weird, and Grover rushing into the conversation about the quest felt almost deus ex machina… but at the end of the day, the reason I adore this adaptation is because it cuts to the heart of what Percy Jackson IS.

It's about kids who have never belonged. It's about the outcasts, the weirdos, the people who have been told by society that they're incompetent and worthless and disruptive and "special." I could also write a whole essay on the show's use of the word "special." Let me tell you, as an early-diagnosed ADHD'er, there are few words as patronizing, as shameful, as painful, as that. "Special" education, my ass. If no one ever calls me that word ever again, it'll be too soon.

The movies were about some children of the gods that went on adventures and had sword fights. There were cool superpowers and monsters and fun action scenes. But the heart? The emotional center? That was gone. It was turned into a fetch quest story with little to no emotional depth.

And, look, pure-action isn't BAD. Sometimes it's fun to watch people battle cool monsters with cool powers. But that's not why Percy Jackson became an international bestseller. It captured the hearts of children everywhere who felt out of place in the world and wanted to belong.

And THAT's what this series gets. I don't care about the missteps that much. The cuts to black, as if this were airing with commercial breaks? Honestly, didn't like it. The fight with Dodds was anticlimactic, we didn't spend NEARLY enough time at camp, and I think the omission of percy and luke's first sword fight was really a mistake. But at the end of the day, it's still about a bullied disabled kid who not only finds a place to belong, but fights to make that place better for those who come after him. It's about a kid who goes from thinking he's broken, to knowing that he's not. It's about a kid who was abandoned by his dad, and decided that he wasn't going to let that happen to anyone else. It's got the emotion and the heart, and for that alone, it's a resounding success in my book.

[kittythelitter]

Batman AU where Bruce's parents survive and he ends up being a psychiatrist (after seeing many to recover from the trauma of his parents being shot in front of him) with a passion for improving infrastructure in Gotham because of all the things that went wrong and almost killed his parents that night.

He can't clean the police but he can find good people to do psych evals and push for them to be More frequent.

He can't adopt every kid he sees but he can make sure there are safe homes for them and register as a foster parent so he can take care of kids who need extra help.

Like the girl who can't speak. And the neglected child next door. The traumatized son of murdered acrobats, and that one fiery kid who tried to steal his tires.

He gets all his kids, some just temporarily.

He still has Damian because he known for being brilliant in the field of psychology but also as someone with great economic and social influence who isn't a politician but Gotham might as well be his kingdom with the way he runs it.

He's also still in fighting shape.

Maybe not as much as most Bruce Waynes but in a world where Alfred pennyworth didn't have to raise Bruce Wayne he became sort of a fun honorary uncle (who was maybe dating his parents) even after he quit being a butler. And as Bruce Waynes fun uncle he taught Bruce all his special forces moves in the hopes of helping a scared little boy feel a little safer and more able to defend himself. This of course sparked a lifelong love of martial arts.

In this world Bruce is a doting parent, a powerful social influencer, a leader in philanthropy and vocationally, a psychiatrist.

Though most of his time is not spent with patients. He teaches workshops. So many. Mental wellness, aiding people with mental illnesses, helping your child cope with trauma.

He teaches several workshops that are mandatory for Gotham police and some that are highly sought after by social workers. Hes also a popular guest professor at GU.

Aside from teaching he has helped create, revamp, and strengthen Gotham city's publicly available mental health resources like clinics, support groups etc. But his most impressive work is the one day each week he spends treating the patients at Arkham Mental Health Hospital and Rehabilitation Center (formerly Arkham Asylum).

Anyway. This Bruce Wayne accidentally falls into another universe, finds out about all the Batman. And starts dedicating one day a month to being a therapist and mental health educator to that Batman and one or two weeks every few months to going to other universes and trying to see if he can add other batmen as patients.

"Who better to help you with this than a you who is internationally renowned in this field. I might not be Batman but i am you and i went to college for 10 years on this exact subject so I'm objectively better informed in this than you while also being one of the only people you can trust to help you. "

[aurorabayrpg]

EVENT 012 {APRIL 19 - 28} ANNUAL SPRING GARDEN FESTIVAL

It's that time of year again! Aurora Bay's Botanical Gardens will once again be hosting its annual Spring Garden Festival!

For the past eleven years, Aurora Bay has held one of their most famous events in April, hosting a flower and garden festival to celebrate the end of winter and the arrival of spring! The botanical gardens are always decorated in beautiful fairy lights, topiaries, and of course, some of the most gorgeous flowers you've ever seen!

Each night for a week, residents of Aurora Bay can buy their ticket for admission to the Spring Garden Festival held at the Botanical Gardens. All day there will be vendors selling art, jewelry, clothes, etc. There will be live music, food, dancing, and even a little wine and cheese tasting for the adults!

There are plenty of things for children to do as well! There's always face painting, games, and since this year the festival lands during Earth Day, there will also be educational booths for children and adults alike to learn more about gardening and nature and how they can help take care of wildlife and keep the planet clean!

This year as well the Botanical Gardens has dedicated an entire section of the garden to a sunflower field, perfect for photo-ops!

And like every year, around sunset, everyone will meet in the center of the garden by the fountain and count down from ten to zero and the lights displayed all over the garden will be turned on!

Here are a few new things to look forward to at this year's event:

pick your own flowers and diy bouquets (or succulent terrariums!)

flowers/plants for sale

picnic field with food and drink vendors

crocheted flowers for sale

tethered hot air balloon rides to oversee the entire garden and the town!

tie-dye clothes with flowers

henna and glitter-ink temporary tattoos

wine and floral liqueur tastings with charcuterie board accompaniments

OOC INFO UNDER THE CUT:

starting 11am CST, the dash will be close for nonevent threads (unless tagged pre-event)

Held at the Aurora Bay Botanic Gardens, residents and tourists alike can join in for the festival!

If location owners want booths for their businesses, contact the main and let us know! some examples of booths can be pressed flowers, paintings, jewelry, floral drinks and foods, etc.

along with booths, if any shops (i.e. the bakery and the flower shop) want to post specials and have their storefronts decked out, feel free! no need to ask permission.

please keep in mind the entire town will be involved in some way, so please feel free to have characters mention the floral décor all around town!

You may post fun floral outfits for your characters during the festivities! please tag everything associated to the event as aurorabay.flowerfest, as well as tagging our aesthetic page so we can reblog them!

Five open event starters may be posted right off the bat, but after that, you must reply to at least two before posting your own!

Characters don’t have to participate in the event, but know that the whole town will be buzzing about it, so any threads prior to the event should be tagged pre-event

Have fun!

[raefaeacnh]

Visit Juniper Nature Center!

DA-0346-2356-8679

Juniper Nature Center is an island that's inspired by the nature preserves that can be found near my home in the Midwest, and it includes a playable scout program that you can access with my website.

Visit the island and become a Juniper Scout today!

Almost every build on this island was inspired by my favorite areas to hike and explore near my hometown. Now, you too can visit my favorite stomping grounds!

You can walk the accessible boardwalk and check out all the birds in the Raptor Recovery program, explore the marshes (careful - your boot might get stuck in the mud), visit the meadow where a controlled burn took place many years ago, and many more beautiful trails in between. Then at the Lodge you can find our wildlife education center, Juniper Scout quarters, and a few other rooms to fit your needs while spending the day at the nature preserve.

---------

Learn about the native wildlife!

Everything on this island, from its animal species, to the tallest tree and the smallest flower, was hand-selected to resemble real-life species that can be found in the region. As you explore the island, take some time learning about the wildlife by viewing the lists of native flora and fauna on the nature center's website!

---------

Join the Juniper Scouts!

This island also boasts of a program that's all about promoting the exploration, education, and care of our natural habitats - the Juniper Scouts!

On Juniper Nature Center's website you can find the full list of badges that you can complete, as well as all of the information on how to play and earn credit as you finish the activities. If you complete all 12 badges, you'll earn the title of Juniper Scout Master, plus a special Scout Master uniform that can only be accessed with a secret creator code!

Don't forget to pick up your uniform at the kiosk at Resident Services!

Have fun out there Scouts, and happy exploring!

[ellipse-society]

whats ur job like? is it tough/hard (especially as someone who also has mental health issues, but like.... who doesnt XD)? what drew u to psychology/working in a clinic? is a psych bachelers worth it in ur opinion? (or at least worth witnessing the annoying ppl u might meet in college...) what did u do for ur bachelers degree? :-D

(my eyesight is kinda blurry rn sorry if any of these r wrong/feel free to skip or avoid any of these at all :'D i hope u have a good day!!!)

Well our job is client centered so each day can vary drastically as far as how hard it is. Some days five clients are in crisis simultaneously and others we only have maybe one or two of our easiest clients scheduled. Though the work schedule is also flexible which is a perk. They basically do not care when you are there as long as you have 40 hours by the end of the week. When talking to clients we(as in everyone at the company) basically just refers to ourselves as caseworkers(we have a fancier title but it seems to only be used by our company so we would prefer not to share it publicly) even though most at the company don't see that as 100% accurate it's just the easiest way to describe it. It isn't the perfect job but we get to work in a field we enjoy and get to make a difference in people's lives so it is fulfilling for us. Basically the job is working with lower income people with mental disabilities(almost always SUD but commonly also GAD, MDD, PTSD, and Schizophrenia/schizoeffective with a few other disorders here and there on a less frequent basis) and providing them with coping skills and access to resources in the community for basic needs like food, housing, work, access to medication, ect. Our goal is to help the client improve enough that they can be independent and graduate from services. We also regularly meet clients out in the community instead of at the clinic so a lot of driving is also involved which is sometimes good sometimes annoying depending on the area of town.

I don't think our mental health has really negatively effected us at our job. It has been a jumping off point for building rapport more than once though so it may be more of a positive. We have had more than one client relieved that we are autistic because either they have the disorder or know someone with the disorder and like that there is a level of understanding there.

I mean we were drawn to psychology due to our own mental health struggles and those of our family(also maybe a bit of autistic special interest lol). We have always wanted a job where we can help others and we were basically unprofessional councilors for our family and friends long before we had our psychology degree. It is just something we naturally do. We also switched majors in college(from secondary education theater and speech) and our general psychology teacher was one of our favorites. She made the topic interesting. When we were switching majors we took a bunch of classes in different fields we were interested in for a semester and psychology was the one that stood out again. We did a project on parenting styles in that class that made us realize a lot about our childhood and better come to terms with it.

I mean whether or not a psych bachelor's is worth it is based on what you want to do. There are many psychology jobs that are gatekept behind graduate school so you may not be able to get the perfect job with just a bachelor's. That being said most fields are looking for someone educated in psychology. It can definitely look better on an application than some other degrees as far as applying for jobs not directly related to the field. We had to go to one of our schools job fairs once(in a gym so sensory overload to the max) and almost every table called us over due to us majoring in psychology while we were avoiding as many people as possible while they were not doing that for people from some other majors that were more active about looking. It is basically a desirable major for many employers but getting an actual psychology focused job that accepts just a bachelor's may be hard to find.

We aren't sure what you mean by what we did for our bachelor's degree so if you want to send in another ask about that if we answer it in a way you didn't intend it to be answered feel free. Our school was very research based as far as how it taught psychology. Basically junior and senior year every student was required to run one study(junior year as a group and senior year solo) and a lot of general psych classes required study participation and other classes often provided extra credit so that people could get their participants. The solo one we did senior year was full of technical difficulties and the results would never be applied anywhere by any logical person so we don't tend to talk about that one but the one we did junior year we loved and it got us second place in our category when we presented it at our schools recheach symposium(and we were in the same category as the person who won best overall). Basically we were looking at how word bolding and amount of time with a piece of text affected memory. We found that(obviously) the more time someone had with the text the better it was remembered but the cool thing we found was that while if a word relevant to the memory quiz was bolded it improved performance there was no significant difference between the control and those that had irrelevant/distractor words bolded. Basically even if you were to bold the wrong words you aren't hindering ones retention so bolding words could only have a positive not a negative effect per our results. A lot of teachers were really interested in our results on that one and we are proud of it. Though not the most proud of our research paper on it because English has always been where we struggle most lol.

Oh and thank you for the questions. Hope you have a good day too.

[theblackbookofarkera]

Order of Copper & Prayer

In the kingdom of Eronah, amid the steep hillsides dotted with ancient olive groves, stands an unassuming yeshiva known as the House of Hidden Works. Though it appears much like any other center of Elshar religious study, this institution houses one of the most secretive and extraordinary schools of rabbinical practice in all of Arkera - the Order of Copper and Prayer, creators of Eronah's legendary copper defenders.

Selection for this arcane brotherhood is rigorous and begins early. Prospective members are identified among young religious students who show not only exceptional theological aptitude but also natural talent in metallurgy and mathematics. These candidates are tested through a series of increasingly complex theological riddles disguised as ordinary religious instruction. Many complete their entire religious education never realizing they were being evaluated for a greater purpose.

The chosen few who are finally initiated into the Order first undergo a year of isolation in special meditation cells carved into the hillside. During this period, they learn the fundamental principle that guides all their future work: the idea that sacred geometry, when properly aligned with divine law, can create channels for holy power to flow into the physical world. They study ancient texts that blend metallurgical formulas with kabalistic numerology, learning to see copper not just as a metal but as a physical form of divine potential.

The Order is structured in concentric circles of knowledge and responsibility. The outer circle, known as the Shapers, focus on the physical crafting of the golem forms. The middle circle, the Scribes, master the art of inscribing prayers so tiny that hundreds can fit within a single fingerwidth of copper. The inner circle, called the Breath-Catchers, undertake the dangerous work of capturing and implementing the divine breath that animates the golems. Each circle has its own mysteries and techniques, passed down through an unbroken chain of master to apprentice since the Order's founding.

What makes these rabbis unique among religious scholars is their seamless integration of the practical and mystical. They maintain vast workshops hidden beneath their yeshiva where sacred forges burn day and night. These forges are said to be fed with specially blessed olive wood and tended by acolytes who must maintain perfect ritual purity while working. The smoke from these forges is channeled through a complex system of ducts inscribed with prayers, ensuring that even the waste products of their work remain within the bounds of religious law.

The Order maintains extensive libraries containing centuries of accumulated knowledge about their craft. These texts are written in a special script that combines Hebrew letters with metallurgical symbols, creating a unique technical-theological language that is all but indecipherable to outsiders. Each generation adds to this knowledge, documenting their successes and failures with meticulous care.

Perhaps most remarkable is the Order's approach to innovation. While deeply respectful of tradition, they actively seek to improve their techniques through what they call "holy experimentation." They believe that since their work serves divine purposes, careful innovation is itself a form of religious devotion. However, any proposed change to their methods must be approved by a council of elders who examine it from both theological and practical perspectives.

The physical toll of their work is considerable. Extended exposure to the divine energies they manipulate often leaves its mark - premature aging, recurring visions, and a peculiar sensitivity to metal that many develop. Some members of the inner circle eventually lose the ability to sleep normally, claiming they can hear the whispers of copper in their dreams. Yet they consider these afflictions small prices to pay for the privilege of their sacred work.

The Order maintains strict protocols about contact with the outside world. Members live primarily within their compound, emerging only for necessary religious duties or to acquire materials for their work. They are forbidden from discussing their true purpose with anyone, including family members. Many of their public religious duties serve as cover for their real work - for instance, their regular pilgrimages to coastal cities to "pray by the sea" are actually missions to acquire specially purified copper from secret suppliers.

Their dedication to secrecy extends to their methods of instruction. Much of their crucial knowledge is never written down but passed orally from teacher to student. They employ a complex system of mnemonics disguised as traditional religious songs, hiding metallurgical formulas and ritual instructions within seemingly innocent melodies. Even their workshops are designed to be quickly converted to appear as ordinary study halls should uninitiated visitors arrive.

Despite their secretive nature, the Order maintains careful oversight of their work through a system of internal checks and balances. Three senior members must approve each stage of a golem's creation, and the final activation ritual requires the unanimous consent of the entire inner circle. They believe this careful approach helps prevent both technical errors and spiritual transgressions.

In recent years, as threats to Eronah have grown, the Order has quietly accelerated their work while maintaining their exacting standards. They view their mission not just as creating defenders, but as preparing vessels worthy of containing divine power. Their workshops now operate around the clock in shifts, their prayers and hammers ringing out in careful harmony as they labor to prepare for a future they hope will never come.

For all their power and knowledge, the members of the Order maintain the humble demeanor expected of religious scholars. They see themselves not as mighty artificers but as simple servants of divine will, privileged to work with holy mysteries but always aware of their own limitations. In their precious few moments of rest, they gather in their private sanctuary and pray that their creations will never need to be awakened - while working tirelessly to ensure they will be ready if that day arrives.

[mask131]

In this Mothers' Day, I think we shall have a thought for the woman who is making sure so many Ukrainian mothers will never see their children again. I am talking about the one whom people are calling Russia's "Bloody Mary", Maria Lvova Belova.

I wanted to include a picture of her in this post but I will not, because she does not deserve this. But you will find a lot of photographs and videos of her online, since she is one of the main tools of Russia's current propaganda. She is the one in charge of the rights and safety of children in Putin's government - meaning, of course, that she is carefully breaking each and every children-related law recognized on an international level.

Bloody Mary presents herself as the "savior of children" in the light of the war Russia is waging against Ukraine (sorry, the "special operation", as Putin insisted). Almost every day she is filmed or photographed hugging children in hospitals, bringing them toys and gifts, "rescuing" kids from the devastation of war... She herself has five children she birthed - plus five additional children she adopted - plus she has under her personal care thirteen handicapped kids. The bravest and busiest mother you can imagine, right? Especially since Putin does point out how "fragile" this saint of a woman is...

Here's the fun fact: among her five adopted children, one is Ukrainian. Because, as a faithful ally of Putin, you can be certain that she will make sure to track and hunt down every Ukrainian orphan she can find, to then "gift" them a "new family" and "good parents" "far away from the conflicts and the terror"... Aka, a deeply Russian family, faithful to Putin, somewhere in the depths of Russia, as far away from Ukraine as possible.

And if it was JUST a business of snatching orphans, but no! Here's where we find back the usual grand madness of modern Russia... Bloody Maria has been responsible for the systematic kidnapping of Ukrainian children that STILL HAVE THEIR PARENTS. It has been attested and the Ukrainians are openly denouncing this, but currently not much can be done... Here's how it goes: every time an Ukrainian region or city is invaded and "conquered" by the Russian troops, the Russian authorities or Russian-allies at place will try to be nice to the population to show they're not the "bad guys", as usual. One of these "seduction operations" consists in offering free summer camp trips or educational trips to Russia, so that the kids can see the greatness of the country and make new friends there and be accustomed to their new masters... Most parents kind-of HAVE to agree to these vacations in Russia, because A) The Russian authorities kind-of pressure them and *cough cough* encourage *cough cough* them a LOT and B) It is indeed the safest way for them to get their children away from the bombs and the fights, at least for a time...

Except that, when the given amount of weeks or the selected amount of months at their "vacation camp" is up... The parents receive a call from Russia about how, due to X or X reason, they can't make it back home just right now - their return is moved to one week, or two. And then once this new time is passed, another call "Yeah, turns out there's still some problem, we'll have to keep them a few more weeks". And then... Well at one point the calls stop. Because Russia never had any intention of giving back these children to their parents. And that's when the mothers and the fathers realize that they gave away their children to the invader, and if they don't do anything they might never see them again...

There are stories of children taken away to these vacations camps (in truth re-education centers), who managed to escape and go back home - usually teenagers, because they have more means and determination, and I invite you to go seek their testimonies and go listen to their stories. But they are rare...

How many of those "orphans" miss Belova sold to Russian families weren't even orphans in the first place? Who knows! And yes, I am saying "sold" because if you didn't know, to "encourage" Russians to "help" Ukrainians, Russian families are PAID to adopt Ukrainian kids. They will proudly go tell you about this on TV. Sometimes the cases are sadly hilarious, like this mother who had already six children and agreed to adopt one or two Ukrainian kids... and they sent her FIVE kids, and you see she laughs about it on TV while also clearly saying she was NOT expecting that and she wonders how she will manage this...

And when the government of Ukraine says thousands and thousands of children are currently missing due to being kidnapped by Russia and asks Russia to give them back, do you know what Maria Belova DARES answer them? This is literaly one of her quotes "But the children do NOT want to go back home! They love Russia now, they don't want to live anywhere else!" In fact, you know how I said most of the kids that escaped their "vacation prisons" were teenagers? Bloody Mary recently said she wanted to create special centers for teenagers in Russia to give them "special care" due to them needing much more "attention" than other children... No shit. She even described her project in terms that clearly betray a brainwashing intention "We will create for them a program of social and psychological rehabilitation. They will be given a special education to fit in Russian schools, they will be taken care of by psychiatrists, they will have orientation to find what their new job might be in their new life."

Amnesty International literaly described this mass-kidnapping as a "war crime" that borders on the "crime against humanity". And you know how Putin and his Maria staged their own crime in an interview? It was filmed and aired, you can find the talk online, but basically Maria points out to Putin there are "some legal details" to take care of (like you know, BREAKING INTERNATIONAL LAWS), and Putin, of course, answers that one should put the "good of the children" above mere "bureaucratic troubles". A very polite way to say "Fuck the law, we'll continue devouring Ukraine's youth to turn them into Russians." Oh yes and every time criticism by you know, international organizations, are brought up, Putin shoots them down as "sanctions scribbled down by petty and selfish Americans". Because again, in the Russian propaganda, everything roots down or stems from the USA and the "international" is just a synonym for "American"...

So yes, let us all have a thought today for the child-snatcher, the orphan-maker, the brainwasher of teenagers, Bloody Maria Lvova Belova, the ugliest caricature of a "saint mother-Mary", the vile creature who robs an entire country of their youth just to make sure Ukraine will stop existing at some point.

[bigassbowlingballhead]

Hey can I ask you a career question? I have a high school degree and three years of college (and a six month paid internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital during university) and I’ve been unemployed for awhile. At first I just had a restaurant job and then I helped care for an ill family member for many years so I do have a significant gap in my resume. I am trying to find a job but I am severely discouraged because so many jobs require a bA/BS if not a masters and I can’t offer that. I also can’t afford to go back and finish my education right now because I’m unemployed. I’ve seen you mention that you have a high school degree and you seem successful and happy with your job, do you have any advice? I’m struggling to stay positive but a friend of mine even said to me “you have no degree so you have no skills to offer no one is going to hire you.” Which is first of all- so so mean but also I am capable and a fast learner and I truly believe that I can learn to do most jobs with proper training. I’m not looking to be a neurosurgeon or even an attorney (maybe down the road if I do the proper schooling) but am I a totally hopeless case? Btw there’s no shame in working things like restaurants and food service I just really don’t want to do it again. It was not a good fit for me. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

there's always one option, lie like hell on your resume and in the interview. that seems to work well for people. it's not something i've ever done because i'm a terrible liar especially in professional settings. but the truth is most regular (not specialized) jobs out there that want this degree or that degree don't actually require said degree in practice.

i'm in banking. I find that to be something simple that's pretty easy to learn on the fly. and there's so many roles in banking and they're ALWAYS looking for new people. tellers, officers, back office (what i do) and don't actually require that much (if any) education. people skills go the furthest when you're in a teller role. banks, in my area at least, tend to pay over the minimum wage of the area, it's livable.

if you're looking for some flexibility too, try a call center. it can be rough, being on the phone all day and talking to people, but they're also always looking for staff and offer some competitive pay AND work from home positions.

i don't know if any of this is exactly helpful, but i do wish you the best. it's a rough market out there.