#and i am very well aware that exams or presentations are not that important or grades...

[adore-gregor]

So

[aromanticannibal]

Transfem Katsuki (edited as of Nov. 2023. Katsuki hadn't died yet when this was written so bear with me.)

In honor of "fuck I thought about transfem Katsuki and now I'm in love with her again" and also because of a shitty discourse post I saw. Enjoy.

She will NOT figure it out until at least second year of UA.

She's always been uneasy about the whole boy thing. Specifically boy. Like she's one of the guys ok sure but she's not a boy.

We know how kind Aldera is to anyone who's slightly out of the norm (ie Deku) and Katsuki is especially aware given she was part of the problem. So yeah, internalized transphobia (+homophobia) we love to see it./s

Getting into UA and quickly realizing that like more than half the class is openly and proudly queer in some way gave her whiplash, and as much of a bully as she still was at this point, she didn't say anything.

She tried to convince herself it was to not get in trouble and gamble her place at UA, but really she was just glad to not be somewhere as fucked as her middle school.

And if the trans ponytail chick makes her question who she really wants to be... well that's nobody's business.

As I am very subtly implying, Momo ends up being a big part of Katsuki accepting herself and her identity as a trans woman.

Katsuki loves her friend group (she'll never admit it but she does, so much) but she associates them with her old group from Aldera somewhat unconsciously, and is terrified they'll push her away, even if she knows she's just. Straight up wrong.

As in, so incredibly wrong. Sero and Jirou are non binary ("Whatever the hell that means") Kirishima is a proud trans man ("More of a man than any of the cretins at Aldera will ever be") Mina's dating a trans girl from another school ("Camie Utsushit or smth") and Kaminari is so many different flavors of queer its almost impressive.

Really, her friends are probably the ones that should be worried, she tries to remind herself, hammering it in her head. Katsuki was an asshole for most of her life, they should be the ones scared of her. They're not though. For some fuckin' reason.

So yeah, talking to her friend group is out of the question. Momo though.

Momo is a special kind of trustworthy. Momo is the kind of person you'd give your entire life savings, your child, your car and your wife to. Katsuki hates that, she hates trusting people, it always ends badly, so she prefers doing stuff on her own.

Except it doesn't always end badly. Especially not with Yaomomo.

Every early saturday morning, Katsuki's and Momo's workout sessions happen at the same time. Eventually, they start talking during that time. Katsuki eventually asks about Momo being trans, more or less convinced she'll tell her to go fuck herself (she obviously doesn't).

It helps, despite the fact that her experience isn't the same as Katsuki's at all. Momo always knew she was a girl, her parents always were supportive about it, and money really wasn't a problem to help her transition once she was old enough to make that decision. Hell, she can literally make estrogen.

Katsuki then comes to the realization that yeah, she's probably a girl. Not like I'll ever do shit about it, she thinks.

Things kinda stay stagnant for a time then. Katsuki has way more important stuff to worry about (like exams and also her and her friends almost dying etc etc) and the self-hatred that simmers in her head constantly doesn't make it really fun to actually think about herself.

Second year comes around.

Because this is me, and my blog, and I do what I want, I present to you my son, Shinsou. Most trans guygirl t4t lesbian of all time. In my heart.

So Shinsou is very trans in the most mysterious way you could think of, so mysterious he himself doesn't really know what is going on with his gender. He doesn't exactly care, he just vibes (any pronouns).

They're pretty knowledgeable on queer stuff because it loves to read wikipedia pages until 5AM when it can't sleep and got lost on multiple LGBTQ+ related forums when she was 13. (He also knows a lot about chickens and lizards.)

She can just breathe the queer coming out of Katsuki, but when they ask they're just met with "oh Bakugou? Yeah no, he's cishet. Our token straight man. To prove we're diverse, etc." (-Shouji, entirely serious). Shinsou's not buying it but she doesn't like assuming, so he shuts up.

Meanwhile, Katsuki has nothing to think about anymore now that things have settled and she's not getting attacked by her self-hatred constantly, so she unfortunately ends up thinking about her gender (truly tragic. Genuinely though, it's almost distressing because she pushed the thought down for so long that it's scary to think about).

Because early mornings and nights are a time outside of our world, it's again around 5AM that Katsuki talks to someone who might help her with her gender problem. Shinsou in fact, who's of course awake on a Monday morning after a sleepless night, eating cereal out of the box.

Katsuki finds herself chatting with the weirdo and eventually asks what the fuck kinda gender it is, if only to be able to call her something else than the weirdo in her head.

The realization that gender is a construct and doesn't really fucking exist so it doesn't actually matter is somewhat of an epiphany for Katsuki. Like she's silent for multiple minutes. Shinsou is getting scared

Quietly, she mutters a small "I think I'm a girl" to Shinsou. It smiles and says "Nice. There's not enough girls in this class." and goes back to its cereal.

Katsuki has no fucking idea how that fucker exists. He's an anomaly in the timeline. Katsuki adores them.

(Platonically. Girl doesn't have time for romantic love. Yes I'm also making her aromantic, because aro Katsuki is the loml and one of my fave hcs.)

After that weird but insightful conversation, Katsuki finally asks Momo for help, taking her up on an offer she had made one morning. ("If you ever need my help for anything concerning [your gender bullshit], come see me.")

Momo being the absolute QUEEN that she is, she assembles all transgirls and cisgirls of the class + whoever else would like to join (which ends up being Jirou, Shinsou and Aoyama) and they all go on a shopping trip with Katsuki to help her figure out what she likes.

Does she want to wear makeup? Does she want feminine clothes? Or long hair? Does she want boobs? Or thinner traits?

Does she just want different pronouns and to be addressed viewed as a girl?

Mina shortens that as "What kinda girl is Katsuki".

I'll do you the answer here so this doesn't take forever, because the process of figuring it out must be long.

Mainly, the verdict will eventually be that Katsuki didn't really feel comfortable in the box she, her parents and Aldera put her in, which is a sort of vague idea of a Boy, Man, Son. She's mean and a bitch and probably a tomboy and she's a girl. That's all. She doesn't want of any of that flowery pink crap and being "gracefully feminine" like Momo is, she'll still kick your teeth in. Being a girl isn't fundamentally part of her identity or her personality, but it's who she's comfortable being.

She does enjoy skirts once she feels comfortable enough to wear them. She grows her hair a bit too (because she doesn't wanna look like her mother at first, but she ends up liking the look) and puts it up in a ponytail.

Makeup is a bitch but it looks cool, so she lets Mina, Aoyama and Shinsou use her face as a canevas for their weird makeup experiments. She thinks she looks like a clown half the time though (she doesn't, she's really cute). She mostly does eyeliner, which she already knew how to do before starting her transition, and very rarely lipgloss.

She doesn't really care about having breasts or softer traits, mainly because her traits are already pretty androgynous when she looks at herself, and she's already got big pecs so like. Basically tits. It's the same, it doesn't really matter. She's happy with how her body looks, she worked to have a healthy body and she doesn't care if it's "not a woman's body" or whatever the fuck. She likes how her body is and she doesn't really care about changing it.

She thinks of using she/they (like Jirou) but doesn't exactly care about they/them? Like they're not bad to have used on her (way better than he/him) but she prefers just using she/her.

She doesn't change her first name. It means victory, so it's already perfect for her. It's her name.

Some of her friends (the ones who aren't scared of death cough cough Shinsou) call her Katsuki-chan (Kacchan is copyrighted) but most her friends call her Kats', because she let slip one time she thinks it's cute.

To end this because good lord I've been typing for some time, here's my Transfem Bakugou pinterest board. I actually have a bunch of transfem characters pinterest boards lmao

Also realizing I almost didn't talk about Izuku. Damn I've really betrayed myself as a bkdk truther. Rip.

[fumiko-matsubara]

Describing Chiba's personality like he's a main character on a well-written wikia page

Because way too many people mischaracterized him for my liking and enough is ENOUGH!

Note: I am ignoring the anime adaptation because the changes they made completely ruined Chiba's character.

Chiba generally appears to be a calm and serious boy whose maturity and professionalism for his age was always noted by others during missions. He always gets the job done with little to no complaints, simply allowing his results to speak for his high skills. Along with his fellow sniper Hayami, Chiba tends to be compared to a working adult.

But outside of assassination, Chiba is surprisingly fairly social and bubbly, often seen wearing a wide smile on his face and is rarely alone. He seems to enjoy the company of others and is always present whenever his classmates gather to do an activity together. Because no one can see his expression with the way his hair covers his eyes, Chiba becomes frequently misunderstood by strangers, but his close classmates described him to be a very gentle and soft-hearted person.

Chiba is very tolerant and tends to be a little bit of a people pleaser, always putting other people’s feelings over his own even at the risk of possibly wearing himself out. The reason why he hides his eyes is to accommodate his peers when he was younger since his intense gaze made him appear to be always on guard. Similarly, he dislikes letting others down. It’s why he never complains when his classmates began putting their faith in his skills when he was assigned the most important role in the Island Assassination attempt. He fears that letting his concerns be known before the attempt was made might shake his classmates’ confidence and he doesn’t want that. Hence, he swallowed his feelings and continued on with the job. Later, Chiba outwardly admits that he felt so pressured by the amount of faith his classmates had in him that it inevitably affected his usually near-perfect performance. 

Chiba is notably keen on logic and prefers to only rely on solid facts when taking in information. He is a realist who lives in the present, using his five senses to quietly observe the world around him, thus noticing details that most people tend to miss. After the announcement of their final exam results when he noticed the dejected Karma despite the nonchalant front, he knew exactly what to do to cheer him up. Another example was when he decided to check on Kurahashi who was feeling down after Takaoka began taking over their PE classes, aware of her interest towards Karasuma.

His spatial awareness was what makes his sniping accuracy be of high level, easily being able to determine the distance between point A and point B while taking account of outside factors such as wind direction and trajectory of the bullet. In the Korosuu novel, he even shows his disinterest towards Hayami’s suggestion of using his “intuition” to shoot because it clashes with his extremely calculated sniping method.

Although he never brags about it, Chiba is rightfully proud of his skills and despises it when his abilities gets undermined and ridiculed to the point that he becomes very petty about it. When the Legendary Sniper called him a hindrance after giving him a warning shot in chapter 5 of the Korosuu novel, Chiba meticulously instructed Hayami to shoot back at the sniper out of pure spite.

His learned tendency to swallow his concerns when in the middle of a job makes other people mistake him for someone who always hides what he feels. But the surprising truth is that Chiba finds it easy to be completely transparent about his feelings, especially with how self-aware he actually was. Right after the Island assassination attempt was deemed a failure, Chiba wasted no time asking Ritsu to confirm what he had observed during the assassination attempt. He did not hesitate to express the pride and confidence he always has in his skills from how extremely well he typically does in rehearsals and practice sessions, as well as the growing pressure he felt from not wanting to let others down finally dawning on him the second he was about to pull the trigger.

By the time he returned to the hotel, Chiba was able to navigate through his feelings and let them out in the open for Ritsu and the others nearby to hear. Throughout the entire infiltration, Chiba did not once think back to his prior failure, more concerned with what is currently happening around him, like Korosensei entrusting him and Hayami to use real guns, which he finds to be an absurd thing for a teacher to do. Chiba’s method of instantly facing his feelings after the concerned matter is done with is what allows him to move forward without regrets.

Ever since the pep talk Korosensei gave to them, Chiba slowly began to voice out his concerns and share the details he had observed more often. It later turns out that he deeply respects Hazama because the ease she has to string her words together outloud with hardly any care about what others may think was something he couldn't replicate himself.

In Korotan B, Chiba noticed the direction of the conversation he and Puey were having and thus tried his luck to ask about the boy’s backstory while he was still being talkative. When the class became divided in whether they wanted to continue the assassination or not after learning the truth about Korosensei, Chiba volunteered to be the first to pick his side with no hesitation, which was the Kill Team. He expressed that he had long decided on what he wanted to do and will go through with it.

A rather hidden side of him was that he is an adrenaline junkie who gets very excited at the notion of doing something fear-inducing and borderline dangerous, like going to space or riding intense amusement park rides. He has a liking towards intense things in general, given his love for hardcore punk and metal bands.

Navigation

Chiba Ryuunosuke Masterlist

Differentiating Chiba and Hayami's sniping methods using MBTI

This panel of Chiba and Nakamura I found interesting

[minato-division03]

ARB Birthday Special: Queen Card

~ October 26th ~

"Obsessed by fairytales, we spend our lives searching for a door and a lost kingdom of peace."

Login Lines

“Oh, dear… How fast the year went by, for my birthday has dawned upon us yet again.“

“I have long accepted that I will never fully understand the appeal to celebrating one’s birthday. I find it to be quite ridiculous, really. However, there are many around me who celebrate this day dedicated to my existence. Though I cannot fathom it, today is a day to celebrate.”

Voice Lines

“Tis the weekend. And therefore, everybody is running wild. ‘The Kingdom of True Deception’ is hosting a live show tonight and it will be set to air… oh dear me, would you look at that. I will have to mail the agent, seeing as I have lost track of the episodes that have aired thus far.”

“And unsurprisingly, tonight’s live show has fallen on my birthday. And I have prepared especially for tonight’s entertainment! I have no doubt that my wonderful audience will find tonight’s act glorious! I must take care to treat my staff especially well tonight as there is far too much to prepare.”

“I awoke this morning to an endless stream of comments left under my promotional post on PROFILE, wishing their queen a happy birthday. From fans who have paid a visit to previous shows to fans who have yet the opportunity, even to friends and families whom I have helped in the past through criminology work. It is tiresome and unnecessary. But the thoughts and wishes have been heard, my subjects. And I thank you all.”

“My dear, Reiaki-chan, do not run on the stage, there are a number of dangerous props around. Goodness, what could be so important that you come running to me? A present? After ordering you time and time again that carelessly spending for me on this day has no merit…”

“Hah… Very well. Let us see what you have gifted me. A pair of dice? With twenty sides, it would seem… with dark marbling and a geode-like design to it… For an insolent being who never listens, you are quite the attentive one. Yes, yes, off you go, now. And… I thank you.”

“Miku-chan? Oh, goodness, who knew you would be startled so. You’ve been made aware I had excused you for the week since you have exams brewing soon. Even when your Queen is speaking to you, you still find ways to go against me. Curses… I shall accept this gift you’ve taken time to prepare for me.”

“What have we here? A candle? Surrounded by various herbs, as well… all of which I believe I am familiar with. A ‘blessing candle’? Why must you go out of your way to present me with an item I have no use for? Enough. I have no need— hmph. Very well, then. Your gift has been well-received; my dear. I appreciate not of your antics of going against me, however, your consideration for your Queen is appreciated. Thank you, my dear Miku-chan.”

Reiaki Lines:

“Your Majestyyyyyy! (pant, pant) I… forgot…! To hand you your birthday present… while I was getting you ready…! Phew, okay! Your present! Well, that’s good, then! Because I didn’t spend carelessly! The Queen’s birthday is not a day to be taken lightly! Gotta celebrate it!”

“Yay! You won’t be disappointed! Here you go! It’s a lot more small-scale than what I normally like to give you, but you’re not exactly the easiest to buy for, y’know? It’s meant to be used for people who play Dungeons and Dragons, but I feel like one of your future performances could use a dice like this. Hehe! I’ve got a good eye for these things! But I’ll go help the others where it’s needed now. Tonight’s gonna be an epic show! Happy Birthday again!”

Miku Lines

“Your Majesty? You’re not in your dressing room, where are you…? Whoa, shit— hell, you scared me, don’t pop up around the corner like that… Hah… anyway, I’m free from studying for now, so I can hang here, can’t I? Tch, I put a lot of effort into making a present for you, just take it, okay? Geez…”

“A blessing candle. I made the candle myself and I picked the herbs myself. This sort of candle can do wonders for you because of the dangerous world we live in, Your Majesty. There’s many things this candle can do, but most of all, I want this to bless your home for autumn. Set back change in your home, cleanse, and provide some protection. I’m trusting you with everything I got here. But who’s going to have your back? Look, keep this as reassurance, okay? Happy Birthday.”

[acrosol]

minatozaki sana  24  female  she/her — ; where do you get your inspiration, ito yua ? you’re so intelligent , i can’t help but think of running ink on paper and dirty fingerprints on glasses when i hear your name. your friends tell me you can be dishonest sometimes . i guess it’s understandable given the circumstances . besides , i can’t even imagine how stressful physics classes must be — not to mention you’re also in seolhwayeon (captain) ! you’re a local , right ? yeah , i thought so . either way , welcome to mugunghwa !  

hello everyone!! i'm may and i'm very excited to share my version of ito yua♡ i hope i'll do the canon justice ;-; psa: i haven't properly roleplayed in a little while and i am currently very confused by the new editor TT so please excuse any technical difficulties that may be happening with my posts in the future, i'm still learning how to use this abomination !

also, i actually decided to not set too much muse information in stone this time, so there can hopefully still be plenty of space to develop her character further with the help of plotting and whatnot ! so, instead i have only gathered some rather lose bullet points about her instead which you can read about below ♡

PAST

back in high school, yua's friends often used to joke about the fact that she must be the first "prodigy child" who hated being called just that. sure, to them it seemed like yua had always been exceptionally smart and thus easily excelled in most classes but it wasn't as easy as it looked like.

in contrary to popular belief, she wasn't as gifted as she seemed and had to spend absolutely all of her free time studying for upcoming tests and exams. whenever anyone asked her to hang out, she would simply claim she had a lot of extracurricular activities going on until someday people stopped asking her to hang out at all.

her classmates soon began to label her as snooty and uppish since she must have felt like she was too good for everyone else if she never had time to get to know the other people in her classes. and what started out rather harmless somehow snowballed into a bigger problem until the entire year started to avoid yua altogether.

she tried to play it off and pretend that it didn't phase her when in reality, yua's high school years turned out to be incredibly lonely. however, the lack of friends around her made it easier to drown herself in books and just like that, she still became valedictorian.

in 2021 during her second year of uni, she decided to take a break and study abroad for a while, opting for an art school. however, she quickly realised that the arts weren't exactly her cup of tea, so instead she spent most of her time there with her new girlfriend. it was the first and only time in her life where her studies weren't the most important thing to her.

PRESENT

today, yua still normally keeps to herself. there are definitely still a few people who believe her to be too full of herself to pay attention to anyone else but it seems like most people pay her no mind.

since she hardly had any friends growing up, she found comfort in seeking academic validation. it is the only thing that seems to bring her true joy, but she still whole-heartedly wishes she was more popular, even if she would never admit it.

in an attempt to find some friends to spend time with, she joined the taekwondo club. much to her surprise, it worked better than expected and she was soon asked to be the captain. it was only a small thing, but in that moment yua had never felt more popular.

yua is well aware of the fact that she is technically part of the keepers but she would never call herself a member: to her it just seems like a waste of time ... which is why she's almost never seen around the group.

something most people wouldn't know about her is the fact that even if yua looks like she isn't paying attention, she definitely still is aware of her surroundings. after all, her years spent in solitude moulded her into a perfect observer. even if she would never dare talk about the things she hears and sees ... it doesn't mean that she doesn't know about a couple of secrets here and there.

aaaaaand this is everything i have so far!! please let me know by liking this post if you would like to plot ♡ i also have discord if that's easier for some of you, so please don't hesitate to ask for my user !

[tatekim947]

reflection essay 2: Currently, I am seated in my compact dorm room at UCLA. My thoughts are filled with the range of feelings and occurrences that delineate my life presently. Final exams come nearer, which puts a growing strain on me resulting in progressively worsening sleep routines. The extended hours devoted to studying for tests and preparing reports have transformed into a sequence of sleeplessness and tiredness. Many times, I find me looking at my laptop screen for long time when I should have already switched off the lights. My mind is filled with thoughts about fast approaching deadlines and a wish to do very well.

I have become aware of this bad pattern, so I've chosen to actively work towards bettering my sleeping behavior. After talking about my problems with a counselor, I am thinking about using medicine to manage my sleep routine. It is clear that receiving sufficient rest is very important for both the health of mind and body during such a high-stress period. I aim to create a steady routine for sleep, which permits good rest and recovery. This will help me in confronting my study with clearness and concentration.

Moving to a brighter side, I have recently found a new hobby which brings happiness in this confusion: consuming water. This could look unimportant, but I've discovered how crucial hydration is for my total health condition. Now, I carry an eco-friendly bottle of water everywhere and tracking the quantity consumed every day gives me pleasure. It's a minor adjustment, but it has created a discernible effect on how I experience my day.

With Halloween coming, I am also thrilled to wear a costume as Alvin from the Chipmunks but in female form. It's a delightful break from my studies and an opportunity for expressing my creativity. The idea of partying with friends and indulging in the festive mood brings happiness into my busy life.

To conclude, even as I wrestle with the difficulties of my studies and problems sleeping, there are still instances where happiness and joy keep me stable. Balance between fulfilling duties and taking care of myself is being learned by me, And very much excited about my future development which awaits me.

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] Manu Bhaker at a felicitation function. Photo credit: Facebook Manu Bhaker allayed fears she had lost focus after her path-breaking efforts at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she won two bronze medals and finished fourth in the sports pistol event. On August 3, 2024, Manu Bhaker shot her last competition in Chateauroux and has not touched her pistols after that. Prescribed a 100-day break by coach Jaspal Rana, she has enjoyed the rest period. The number of felicitation functions she has attended are countless, yet the return to her alma mater, Lady Shri Ram College, in New Delhi on Thursday was beautiful. To be back with the faculty and college students, her juniors of course, was emotional for Manu. And when she was presented her graduation degree, a first class in Political Science, it was even more beautiful. To be in sport and yet pursue a degree from India’s premier university and rank high, not many can do it. “I promise to be back for my second Masters degree,” said Manu, who recalled an incident when a lecturer had once turned her away from the class for coming late! This was indeed inspirational talk for students who heard her speak maturely and at the same time capture her journey. Sitting in the audience was Maheshwari Chauhan, also a graduate from LSR College as well as Rhythm Sangwan’s parents. Rhythm is a third year English Honours student. To return to your own college and be feted as a champion was special but Manu was reverential in front of her teachers. One teacher who continues to be still a hard task master is coach Jaspal Rana. He was also felicitated by the college and spoke in his inimitable style. “If you are going to prepare for the LA 2028 Olympics, you cannot be late,” said Jaspal on stage. The function was at 11am and Jaspal himself arrived at 1030am. That’s the Dronacharya’s way of ensuring discipline, who should be back at the Karni Singh ranges with Manu from November 5/6. Back to Manu and her hunger for shooting, it is very much intact. Her whirlwind tours around India and a holiday with the family in Dubai have been a great experience. Deep down, she is still humble and ready to make a comeback, fully aware two medals from the Olympics are a historic feat but to rest on laurels will do no good. “Honestly, I want to get back to the ranges, the break was deserved but now I feel like enough is enough,” said Manu. She knows there will be no favours when she is back at training sessions. “I have resumed my physical training sessions and workout. As I am taking exams (Masters) till November 5, I will then get back to the ranges. Yes, I am looking forward to it. And I know, working on technique and the training methods are going to be hard, as ever, under Jaspal Sir,” added Manu. The good part is, she is ready for the grind and knows she has to start from scratch. She was in a lot of pain at the Olympics but the prescribed 100-day break has been well earned. Manu Bhaker at a felicitation function. Photo credit: Facebook “I know when I start shooting again, I will be nervous, initially. My base will be the Karni Singh ranges only and then depending on where all competitions take place, I will be travelling with my coach,” added Manu. So, does Manu have the same hunger or not? The fact is, she is ready to go through the grind and starting from scratch is important. To keep the Nationals in mind and then be part of trials again under the NRAI policy, there will be no short-cuts. At the same time, to face competition from the others is something Manu has loved. This time, youngsters will want to do even better than Manu. What will be crucial is her focus, which was evident when she spoke to this writer. “When I took a break after the Olympics, it was exciting. Now I am back at that stage where I am craving to shoot again,” stressed Manu. For the record, she has been speaking to many champions from other walks of life. What it has taught her, at 22, there is so much more to achieve in her shooting career.

Champions like Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang went through repeated Olympic cycles. For Manu, this will be the third, with an eye on the Asian Games first in 2026 in Nagoya. Also Read: Rafael Nadal leaves fans in tears with retirement announcement The post Manu Bhaker will be back at the ranges after November 5 appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] Manu Bhaker at a felicitation function. Photo credit: Facebook Manu Bhaker allayed fears she had lost focus after her path-breaking efforts at the Paris 2024 Olympics where she won two bronze medals and finished fourth in the sports pistol event. On August 3, 2024, Manu Bhaker shot her last competition in Chateauroux and has not touched her pistols after that. Prescribed a 100-day break by coach Jaspal Rana, she has enjoyed the rest period. The number of felicitation functions she has attended are countless, yet the return to her alma mater, Lady Shri Ram College, in New Delhi on Thursday was beautiful. To be back with the faculty and college students, her juniors of course, was emotional for Manu. And when she was presented her graduation degree, a first class in Political Science, it was even more beautiful. To be in sport and yet pursue a degree from India’s premier university and rank high, not many can do it. “I promise to be back for my second Masters degree,” said Manu, who recalled an incident when a lecturer had once turned her away from the class for coming late! This was indeed inspirational talk for students who heard her speak maturely and at the same time capture her journey. Sitting in the audience was Maheshwari Chauhan, also a graduate from LSR College as well as Rhythm Sangwan’s parents. Rhythm is a third year English Honours student. To return to your own college and be feted as a champion was special but Manu was reverential in front of her teachers. One teacher who continues to be still a hard task master is coach Jaspal Rana. He was also felicitated by the college and spoke in his inimitable style. “If you are going to prepare for the LA 2028 Olympics, you cannot be late,” said Jaspal on stage. The function was at 11am and Jaspal himself arrived at 1030am. That’s the Dronacharya’s way of ensuring discipline, who should be back at the Karni Singh ranges with Manu from November 5/6. Back to Manu and her hunger for shooting, it is very much intact. Her whirlwind tours around India and a holiday with the family in Dubai have been a great experience. Deep down, she is still humble and ready to make a comeback, fully aware two medals from the Olympics are a historic feat but to rest on laurels will do no good. “Honestly, I want to get back to the ranges, the break was deserved but now I feel like enough is enough,” said Manu. She knows there will be no favours when she is back at training sessions. “I have resumed my physical training sessions and workout. As I am taking exams (Masters) till November 5, I will then get back to the ranges. Yes, I am looking forward to it. And I know, working on technique and the training methods are going to be hard, as ever, under Jaspal Sir,” added Manu. The good part is, she is ready for the grind and knows she has to start from scratch. She was in a lot of pain at the Olympics but the prescribed 100-day break has been well earned. Manu Bhaker at a felicitation function. Photo credit: Facebook “I know when I start shooting again, I will be nervous, initially. My base will be the Karni Singh ranges only and then depending on where all competitions take place, I will be travelling with my coach,” added Manu. So, does Manu have the same hunger or not? The fact is, she is ready to go through the grind and starting from scratch is important. To keep the Nationals in mind and then be part of trials again under the NRAI policy, there will be no short-cuts. At the same time, to face competition from the others is something Manu has loved. This time, youngsters will want to do even better than Manu. What will be crucial is her focus, which was evident when she spoke to this writer. “When I took a break after the Olympics, it was exciting. Now I am back at that stage where I am craving to shoot again,” stressed Manu. For the record, she has been speaking to many champions from other walks of life. What it has taught her, at 22, there is so much more to achieve in her shooting career.

Champions like Abhinav Bindra and Gagan Narang went through repeated Olympic cycles. For Manu, this will be the third, with an eye on the Asian Games first in 2026 in Nagoya. Also Read: Rafael Nadal leaves fans in tears with retirement announcement The post Manu Bhaker will be back at the ranges after November 5 appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[kuniyaias]

How to write answers for the UPSC IAS Mains exam?

Answer writing is the most crucial aspect of UPSC IAS Exam preparation. It is the very factor that can make you or break you. I cannot stress more than to say that if studying is 50% important and rest 50% is answer writing.

When you will write the mains paper, it the way you produce your answer which will be judged. Even though you have immense knowledge but you cannot reproduce it on paper then that knowledge is of no use in Mains examination. As much as you have to know the answers, you must also know how to write the answers.

Writing an effective answer for the UPSC IAS Mains Exam requires a combination of thorough understanding, critical thinking, and clear articulation. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you ace your answer writing:

Understand the Question Thoroughly:

The very first step is to identify your enemy – i.e. question. Only after reading the question carefully, you will be able to know the exact demand of the question.

Second step is to identify the keywords and directives in the question, such as "analyze," "discuss," or "critically examine." Based on these keywords you have to write the answer fulfilling the exact demand of the question.

Krishnadeva Raya, the King of Vijayanagar, was not only an accomplished scholar himself but was also a great patron of learning and literature. Discuss.

In the above question, you have to write about the Krishnadeva Raya

His own achievements in literary fields

His act of giving patronage to learning and literature

Only after clearly understating the question you can write good answers.

Structure Your Answer:

Once you have got the basic idea of demand of the question, follow a well-structured format to present your ideas logically and coherently.

Start with a clear and concise introduction that introduces the topic, provides context, and outlines your main points.

Incorporate current events, government policies, and global trends to demonstrate your awareness of contemporary issues wherever possible. This will give some extra edge and you can gain few extra marks.

Develop the body paragraphs by elaborating on each main point, supporting your arguments with relevant facts, examples, and evidence.

Conclude by summarizing the key points and reiterating your stance on the issue.

Read the following question and identify the basic keywords. Then read the answer you will get good understanding of what I am talking about.

How far “Municipal Finances is a key factor determining the success of achieving the goals of development and economic growth by municipal governance”? Elaborate.

Model Answer:

The 74th Constitution Amendment Act 1992 mandates the setting up and devolution of powers to ULBs as the lowest unit of governance in cities and towns.

The health of municipal finances is a critical element of municipal governance, which will determine whether India realizes her economic and developmental promise.

Importance of Municipal Finances:

Improving municipal finance is central to the achievement of India’s economic growth objectives.

A robust municipal finance system is necessary for effective implementation and management of India’s urban policy agenda.

Sound municipal finance is a pre-requisite for improved service delivery.

Challenges faced by Urban Local Bodies (ULBs):

The most serious problem faced by urban local bodies is the acute shortage of finances. City municipalities do not collect enough taxes, even as the Economic Survey 2019 pointed out that municipalities do not realize the full potential of property tax.

Strict control exercised by the state government over urban local bodies prove to be more of a curse than a boon because instead of providing guidance and support, the control turns out to be restrictive and impeding.

Urban local bodies have suffered constant postponement of elections for indefinite lengths of time.

The failure of municipal governance is one of the biggest reasons for the poor condition of Indian cities. Often the governance is impacted due to disputes between the elected Mayor and appointed Municipal Commissioner.

Corruption, favoritism, and nepotism are rampant in the urban local bodies, they also have less power to fight all these issues.

Often there is great neglect in the implementation of the Master Plan. In a few cities the Master plan is still not worked out and thus cities grow as an accident than planning.

Poor coordination among the Center-State and various local bodies and parastatal bodies lead to poor implementation of urban policies and poor urban governance.

Conclusion:

For effective municipal governance, the health of municipal finance is a critical element that will determine whether India realizes its economic and development goals.

Maintain Clarity and Conciseness:

Avoid beating around the bush. Answer the question directly and explicitly.

Use simple, direct language that is easy for the examiner to understand.

Avoid overly complex sentences, jargon, and unnecessary technical terms.

Strive for brevity and focus on conveying your ideas clearly without being verbose.

Maintain a consistent flow of thought and avoid abrupt transitions between ideas.

Now the core question is how you will learn these skills?

The answer is by practice. Only practicing regularly can help you, there is no magic, only hard work. First step should be to go through previous year questions and try to decode the keywords, demand of the question etc.

Then as you will cover your syllabus you will get better understanding of the questions and their demands. At this stage you should start writing answers. Initially it will take hours to complete just one answer, but gradually you will perfect this skill.

You can also join some test series of reputed UPSC Coaching. This provides accountability framework and you will be bound to write. This provides additional benefit of getting you copies evaluated and consequently work upon your weaknesses.

Lastly, you need immense will power to start and sustain the habit of answer writing as without it you can achieve your dream of becoming a civil servant.

Best of Luck.

[kiigan]

«Yes. Kisame, of the Hoshigaki clan from Kiri.»

ㅤA name that brings a shadow of grief to darken Itachi's eyes all the more than what they already naturally are. A name that comes associated with feelings of loyalty, companionship, strangely compatible interests and opinions... and with a lot of tangled-up things that Itachi doesn't feel prepared to revisit just yet. And so he pushes it all back to a tiny corner of his mind, and moves on. What's another ghost to carry within him, after all.

ㅤ«I didn't see all that much - it wouldn't be wise to linger, as you can imagine. Mostly, I'd see you in passing when you were headed to class or to a mission, later on, and that was already good enough. My intention was only to make sure you were healthy and safe, and lacking for nothing.»

ㅤOther than, you know, an alive and present family. But that's probably another topic that neither brother is prepared to tackle for now, if ever, and so he moves on again. And then it's the use of this specific word, diverted, that has Itachi blinking in surprise, at first, and his eyebrows creasing in thought ever so slightly.

«Sasuke-»

ㅤCareful now. There is a lot to unpack from those brief sentences alone, and by the gods he does not want to sound like he's criticizing his brother. Alas, Itachi was never one to know when to shut up instead of being strongly opinionated, and not even the years in Akatsuki have changed that. Let's try to find a middle ground, then.

ㅤ«Forgive me, I am not sufficiently aware of the village's current state and conditions to be able to offer accurate feedback.»

ㅤSeems like a decent enough start and it's not a lie, either; being stuck in a hospital bed for months and months, first in an actual coma and then undergoing a myriad of tests and exams and treatments and recovery protocols, tends to leave a person out of the loop. Not to mention, it's none of his business to start with. He's not part of the Council, he's not Hokage, he's not ANBU captain anymore, he's not even a shinobi of Konoha as it is. For all intents and purposes, he's a pardoned criminal and even that pardon came from the extraordinary time-of-war circumstances and an ungodly amount of kindness and understanding on Kakashi's and Tsunade's end. It's not the kind of matters he has any right to comment on but, at the same time, there is one particular thing he really wants Sasuke to know.

ㅤ«Either way... please, don't fall into the same mistake that I did myself. Believing that you should do everything on your own, without knowing how to ask for help and let alone accept it.»

ㅤAt least, there's solace in knowing that Naruto is there as well - though, with Kushina's son, the odds are always 50/50 on whether he'll help for good or help to create more chaos. Which Itachi thinks very fondly of, and he wouldn't have chosen a better friend for his little brother. Taking a few further seconds to carefully collect his thoughts, he stands from the table, feeling around the edge of it to gain a better sense of orientation in relation to the counters, and from there walks over to stand by the window instead. And it's not like his eyes can see anything outside, but he's memorized the sight. The other houses nearby, the neighbors that are home at this time of the day and the ones who left to go about their work, the shops that are open. All part of the village that is his most treasured glory and, at the same time, cause of his/their cruelest tragedy.

ㅤ«There is much to consider, when taking action towards peace - no matter how inherently good the intention is. Even the smallest changes have repercussions, and nothing exists in a void. A village is like a living organism, it contains many different parts that come together as a whole and all of them are important in their own way. Which is why, in turn, it's important to have transparency in what is being done. Among the Council members, between the Council and organizations such as the ANBU, between all the people in leadership positions and the people that are being led and who trust them for such. Achieving peace should be a common goal for all, and even that will be only the first step. Then, ideally, should come cooperation with other villages, big and small alike. It truly is no easy feat, nor something that can survive based on localized patch-ups of something that is being done incorrectly.»

ㅤCryptic words, he supposes, and the kind of conversation he's only ever felt comfortable enough to hold with Shisui, back in the day. Maybe even abstract and utopian, and in a way he's curious what Sasuke will make of it all - as much as he hopes his brother will also forgive him the impromptu speech. Turning around again, he returns to the younger one's side and fumbles around for a couple seconds till finding one of Sasuke's hands, that he gently takes with both his own along with the same loving smile from before.

ㅤ«With all this said, I am very proud of you. For caring and for wanting to change things for the better.»

mhm. (he hums, fiddling around with the stuffed animals hes carrying. somehow talking about his pursuits he did in his brother's name, in front of his brother, feels rather embarrassing.) we've diverted the funds from the ANBU into building the orphanage and mental health clinic and funding it. we're...hoping that supporting children and other citizens will decrease the "need" for military operations. go back to having shinobi helping with productivity...and stuff.

(he knows his brother cant see him, but he cant help but feel intimidated by his eyes. he also cant bring himself to treat his brother any differently. so, his eyes are cast towards the floor as he contemplates his brother's words. would he have liked to see him at that point in time? probably not. yet, his heart still aches that there was a time his brother was close to him--but not close enough.)

youre talking about the swordsman? it seems my team member grew up with him.... but anyways, how much did you see? of me? (worrying his lip, he wonders if his brother observed him trying to hurt his teammates or being cowardly in battle.)

[chaotic-dumbass-witch]

hey besties. just remembered its canada day

so this year, let’s not forget that quebec is putting law 96 into effect. this will make access to post secondary schooling in english much more difficult and force people to learn french, which is a lot more complicated than english is. let’s remember that this not only affects those who have english as a primary language, but also those who have other maternal languages: this will massively affect immigrants, poc, indigenous peoples, and other at risk communities. protecting languages is important, but french is neither endangered nor disappearing, while indigenous languages aren’t the least bit protected - or even acknowledged - as languages in this country. not only will this make studying in english a lot more difficult, but it may also prohibit doctors from speaking to patients in english, it will add a mandatory “french exit exam” on top of the already present “english exit exam” for every college level student, it will put a lot of teachers out of a job, and force students to take a minimal number of courses in french every single semester. up until this law, you need to pass 2 french classes during college/cegep. as someone whose second language is french, and whose third language is english, i am very aware that french tends to be harder, and this will affect a lot of people.

here's resources to learn about this law: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

let’s not forget how canada’s hidden its horrible history in terms of missing and murdered indigenous women and girls along the years. let’s not forget about the hiding of all the indigenous kids who never got to go home from residential schools, and all the parents who never got to see their kids again. let’s not forget that a large percentage of reservations don’t have potable water and are under advisories. let’s not forget how canada fucked over the Inuit some decades ago. let’s also not forget that food is extremely expensive in remote areas and around reserves, and because of this, many indigenous communities struggle with food insecurity. let’s also keep in mind that housing for indigenous peoples is often very inadequate, with rodent and insect infestations, mold problems, etc. let’s not forget how indigenous peoples have disproportionately high rates of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, general suicidality, as well as the fact that those communities face substance abuse issues.

here's resources to learn about this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

let’s not forget that indigenous peoples and poc are also more likely to be discriminated against in the medical community. there have been many cases of indigenous people going to the hospital and being insulted, mocked, etc. by medical personnel. there have been many cases of medical personnel disregarding their indigenous patients concerns and directly causing said patients death or harm because of the doctors disregard for their health. many indigenous people have actually said that they are less likely to seek medical help for fear of being discriminated against or even forcibly sterilized without consent.

here's a few more resources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

let’s also remember that racism, classism, ableism, etc. is extremely real in canadian society. this is especially true when it comes to cops. let’s remember that canadian society is heavily dependent on capitalism. let’s remember that canada is an extremely flawed and fucked up country, it’s just a little better at hiding things than other places may be.

let’s remember that the fact that the us gov is going back on roe v wade makes it more likely that, in the case of a conservative government being elected in canada, the government here may also take away abortion rights, which are also extremely necessary for at risk communities and especially poc.

i love poutine as much as the next guy, but this canada day, let’s not forget all the people that canada fucked over and will keep fucking over in the future. this canada day, if you can, give money or offer help to an indigenous person, an immigrant, a poc.

educate yourself through online textbook pdfs, lectures by indigenous people, learn about indigenous communities, about the names of different tribes, about the housing issues both on reserve and off, the complications they face in the medical field, about the likelihood of health issues, read about the effects of substance abuse on their communities, learn about how their right to bodily autonomy has been fucked over time and time again. learn about whose land you live on, because unless you're indigenous, it isn't your land. learn everything you can and do what you can about it. educate others. it shouldnt only be up to indigenous influencers to educate you, but you should follow indigenous people on instagram, twitter, tumblr, tiktok, etc. if you have access to academic sources, read them. go to the local library. open up the search bar of your schools online database and look through it. talk to indigenous people.

hold this country responsible for its actions and decisions.

[with-love-from-hell]

Vermillion Skies - Q&A #2

Thanks for all the love on the series!! Here is another Q&A post for the series, along with some general headcannons!  If you have not read the series yet, be aware there are spoilers ahead! Read under the cut! This one is tailored primarily toward parts 9-15!

CW:  Somewhat graphic discussion of past events in the series thus far [sexual violence, ignoring consent for medical treatment, abortion, death, pap-smear exam, blood/gore/violence among characters, jealousy/romantic rivalry, PTSD, etc…]

>> Though I have a Masters Degree in Psychology, I am not your therapist. If you have experienced any form of sexual abuse, assault, or harassment and are in need of help, please utilize the RAINN sexual assault hotline or online chat service, or find additional help using the NSVRC website. <<

Read all of my work related to Vermillion Skies here

How many parts to the series?

Currently I am planning on 23 parts of the series! This post will take the place of another part for the next week, so I am planning for part 16 to be out by Feb 6th, and then once per week until it is finished (probably every Sunday!). In regards to the NSFW part- I have it sitting finished in my drafts- for those of you who are curios lol. I have currently assigned it as part 21 (but this is subject to change depending on how the preceding parts go). I am glad there is still excitement for this, and I am very happy with how the initial draft turned out prior to edits (:

I know my last few parts have been on the shorter side, and this is mostly due to me being busy with work, and because if I were to smush them together, the parts would be WAY too long. So be on the look out for the future parts being more along the length they had been in the past (e.g. between 5k and 6k words!)

How will Lucifer handle the hallucinations?

I wont say much because I don’t want to spoil the next couple parts, but the hallucinations bit will elaborated on some more. Lucifer will definitely have some conflicts related to his pride about the fact that his psyche was so heavily impacted by the assault, and this may cause some tension between him and Mc. Though again, I don’t want to spoil any more so I will shut up about it. lol

About PTSD

Thank you for this question, because frankly I can never shut the fuck up when giving psychology perspectives on things and you just unlocked that hyperfixation lol. 

In short- I wouldn’t say hallucinations or delusions are either common or uncommon. However, I will say that not every single individual experiences PTSD or trauma responses the same, which is something that I have tried to hammer home with this series. Typically, if someone has been through a very intense traumatic experience, those types of psychotic symptoms can be present as their brain tries to process the events of what happens. Individuals with genetic ties to Schizophrenia can be especially susceptible to experiencing these things! However, I am going to reiterate again that just because you experience delusions or hallucinations doesn’t mean you are a bad or dangerous person, and it is important for those of you without these symptoms to take that to heart!

I am glad you’ve learned a lot about PTSD through my work, and again, I could go on for hours about it because of my specific interest in the disorder! If this is a special interest, I can absolutely open my asks for mental health questions (my areas of interest are Eating Disorders, OCD, and PTSD, but I know quite a bit about many other disorders as well!) 

How Mc’s relationship with Solomon will change.

As mentioned briefly in the last Q&A, Mc’s relationship with Solomon is going to definitely take a pretty hard hit. As of now, this hasn’t been exhibited *too* much, but it will become a more presenting plot point in the next few parts- specifically with how Mc reacts to seeing him again for the first time since Diavolo’s dinner party, and how she still feels in regards to the procedure. Get ready for some angsty dialogue and also some other past plot-points resurfacing...such as “did Solomon aim to get something out of all of this?” 

Will the abortion ever be brought back up?

Yes it will. And that is going to be present within the series very, very soon. 👀

What about the online harassment/rumors? 

Also yes! that will come back into the plot within the near future as well. 

Will Simeon Fall?

I cant say -too- much about this without spoiling the rest of the series and others going forward, but I will say that he will fall at some point! I have something in mind about a spin-off about Simeon and how he processes falling from a more general perspective so it *could* be a stand-alone work if someone did not want to read VS! So...yeah! I wont say how or when, but our lovely little angel will fall. I will also say that I do enjoy the idea of an 8th deadly sin- that being “Despair”, and my plan is to have Simeon embody this sin. I wont say any more though, so you’ll just have to keep reading. 

Will more supporting character perspectives be offered?

The short answer is: yes- to an extent! I do plan on bringing in some other perspectives a bit more!

The long answer is: while I would love to do every single character justice, there just isn’t enough drive for me to elongate the series further by bleeding every character perspective dry. I want to leave some things up for interpretation- which is part of the reason why I don’t go down every single avenue that I could. That being said though, while the main focus is on Lucifer and Mc, there will still continue to be alternative perspectives taken- namely Simeon, Solomon, and Levi. This is mostly because those characters are existing secondary to the plot- especially at the present moment! 

The trajectory of the series

I have been tracking interest in the series basically since I noticed it initially taking off within the fandom. But, Since I hit part 10, engagement has been way down with Vs (and my other works too). I am attributing some of this to the bull crap with Tumblr's algorithm and tagging issues, as this has been a big deal for awhile, in addition to more people leaving the platform- especially considering my follower count is steadily rising. With all of that considered though, I have still struggled with some disappointment for it losing steam, considering how much I love it and how much traction it got within the first 5 parts.

While this series is still a strong comfort for me to write and that is the primary purpose of me continuing to write it, It is still going to go strong, and I am not going to give up on it. However, I am also not going to get every single direction or idea that I have out. I don’t want it to go stale, and as of now I don’t se it hitting there, but I do have a feeling that- based on how often I get asks about the NSFW part- that engagement will drop significantly more after that part. 

I do have plans for another series after this one is complete, but it probably will be similar in length to Blasphemy. I love all of you, and I love this series, so I am going to complete what I have had planned out thus far, but part 23 will be the end outside of *maybe* an epilogue. Thanks again to all of you who continue to engage in my work, and I wanted to give a shout out to all of you who reblog, ask, and comment on it. I see it all and your thoughts mean a lot to me. And as a general message to others- please continue to support artists and writers through likes and reblogs. We wont really know you enjoy our stuff if you just lurk, and this can really impact motivation to create!

[heloisedaphnebrightmore]

Important asset [Billy Russo x Reader]

Title: Important asset Pairing: Billy Russo x Female!Reader Word count: 3k Published: 22 April 2021 Author: Heloise Daphne Brightmore Notes: My first Billy Russo fic, I hope it's not that bad, I'm still trying to get a hold of his character :) Summary: [x] Being a former military personal gives you the opportunity to work for Billy’s company. Becoming a very important part of the company provides you with an even closer relationship with your boss. However, he seems to be deliberately dancing on your nerves, increasing your already built-up frustration.

Ben Barnes and Characters Masterlist

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If you enjoy my stories, please consider donating and supporting me on Ko-fi. Of course, it’s completely your choice, I will continue updating for free anyway :) Thank you <3

Working for Anvil felt like a safe place. After serving your country for years, coming back from your last tour turned out to be more difficult than you could have anticipated. Protecting important personals and working as security wasn’t something you wished to do, but after starting the job, working along with people who have been through what you have, your view of the company has changed. The job was different, but the people you worked with have given you more support than anyone, including your family, friends or your therapist for that matter.

Joining Anvil wasn’t easy, the requirement process raised some issues that you had to overcome. The physical part didn’t offer any difficulty, but the mental exam seemed to present some obstacles. It wasn’t until your second try that you have been approved and joined the team. That was when you met Mr. Russo, CEO and founder of Anvil. He was just as handsome as you have heard, and he had a way with words. He was confident and knew just how to use his charm. Even if you wanted to deny your sudden interest in him, you couldn’t have.

It seemed that even if he didn’t look at you as a woman, he certainly found your abilities interesting. You didn’t just become one with the team, a crucial member, but also became one of Billy’s most important assets. Having both good communications skills and excellent combat skills meant your worth in Billy’s eyes have grown and provided a great deal of opportunity for you to stay beside him. Officially you weren’t an assistant, but unofficially, Billy liked to give you a nice amount of work, keeping you close by from early morning to late afternoon or evening, sometimes past 10pm.

“Mr. Russo,” you called out to him as you walked behind him in a narrow corridor of the Anvil headquarters. Billy turned around, adjusting his tie with a confident smirk across his face. “I heard you were looking for me,” you added as you finally arrived beside him, glancing up at his handsome features, looking very professional in his expensive suit. You wanted to look feminine and pretty, instead of being dirty and sweaty, wearing a pair of tracksuits, but sometimes your work required you to look more worn out than you wished to be. He had a certain aura that kept pulling you towards him, but as confident as you were in your abilities to protect your country and your people, you were just as uncertain about your appearance when you appeared in front of Billy.

“Yes, I have. Care to explain why I can't reach you on your phone?” He asked, his features unimpressed with your lack of availability.

“I was training, I can’t possibly bring my phone with me everywhere,” you replied frowning, but you quickly adjusted your expressions, before he could have scolded you. It was clear that he wasn’t happy with your reply, but he dismissed it after all.

“Come to my office at 1700 hours. I have a couple things to discuss with you,” he replied in an authoritative manner.

“I have to train the new recruits at 4,” you explained, but he just shook his head.

“Ask someone to replace you,” he stated firmly, accepting no objection. But you took your job very seriously and even though Billy was your boss, often you found yourself going against his decisions just to spite him.

“I can’t do that,” you stated, lips pursed to emphasise your objection. “There’s no one to cover me,” you added. His firm stance and sharp inhale reassured you that he was anything but happy with your answer. He took a step forward, forcing you to take a step back and collide with the wall behind you. Your chest felt as though it was a small box, containing only a small portion of oxygen, its lack of tightened your throat, starting your heart off in a dangerous pace, pounding hard against your ribcage. Billy’s presence always made you feel as though you couldn’t breathe. A simple gaze in your direction, a confident grin, his low, deep voice calling your name made you weak at the knees and left your mind wandering to paths you should have never gone to, causing thousands of butterflies to erupt in your belly.

“I’m your boss and I can change your schedule whenever I want to. I want to see you in my office at 1700 sharp, or else—” he didn’t finish the end of his sentence, but you were sure his ideas were entirely different from yours.

“Or else—?” It escaped your mouth involuntarily, receiving a low growl from Billy, a threatening aura, still it didn’t frighten you, if anything it encouraged you further. “I think we both know you will not fire me, Mr. Russo. I’m a very important asset to your company. I am a very dedicated employee and therefore I will try to adjust my schedule to fit your request, but I cannot promise anything, unless you personally can provide someone to take over from me,” you replied in a challenging manner, earning a questioningly raised brow from Billy. Trying to read his face you couldn’t decide if he was actually considering helping you or he was planning how to murder you in the spot.

A heavy sigh left his lungs, but he didn’t back away. “I will send Simon to cover you,” he said between gritted teeth.

“That is absolutely brilliant, I’m so glad we are on the same page,” you exclaimed with a wide grin across your face as you turned around to leave the man behind. However, before you could have left, he grabbed your arm and pulled you back against him, your palms landing on his hard chest, feeling every inch of each fine muscle under your touch.

“Pay attention to your attitude because it has gotten out of hands recently and you are standing on a very fine line,” he whispered, his breath tickling your cheeks. Indeed, you have been rather free with your words and actions around Billy, and you knew you were playing with fire, but it seemed that was the only way to get his attention.

“I might be pushing some boundaries, but my only intention is for the company to work effectively, to produce people that do their tasks efficiently meanwhile wearing Anvil’s name with pride. If I neglect my duties and ignore my job, even if it’s for your request, what use am I to the company?” you asked with a certain pride. Whilst your intention was to object to Billy once again, to be somewhat bratty, every word that left your lips were true. Anvil has given you more than you could have ever wished for and not even Billy could stop you from making this company one of the most well-working organisations.

Billy took a sharp inhale, trying to decide whether you were just being spoilt once again, because you were indeed aware of your own worth, or if the company really took priority in your eyes. His nod reassured you of the latter as he let go of your arm.

“I like the way you are thinking, but it doesn’t excuse your attitude. You are an important asset to the company, but not irreplaceable. By the time you come to see me in the afternoon, try to get rid of it,” he spoke sternly, before he shook his head and offered you a cocky grin as he turned around and left you in the corridor. You couldn’t stop the tiny smile from appearing in the corner of your lips, his expression reassured you that you were anything but invisible in his eyes.

As you were leading a shooting session for your team, Billy interrupted your practice, clearing his throat whilst leaning against the doorframe, watching your people. You looked at your watch, afraid of being late, but according to your time, you weren’t even anywhere near the time you were supposed to be in his office.

“Keep practising,” you instructed them as you walked back to Billy, whose arms were folded in front of his chest, his eyes following every step you took towards him. “Is everything okay?” you asked as you stopped in front of him.

“Hmm,” he replied with a simple hum and a single nod. He seemed to have something on his mind, and you were sure he would soon voice his opinion. Biting his lip, he grimaced slightly. “Your team needs more practice,” he added nonchalantly. Your eyes widened and you quickly turned around to check on the targets. Indeed, there were some errors, but you were overall satisfied with their performance, they were former members of the US Armed Forces after all. Inhaling sharply, you turned back to him, staring at his expressionless face.

“Is this really why you came here?” You asked with a questioningly raised brow.

“I was just wondering how useful you are to the company since you have been walking around voicing your importance. Just like you did in the morning, if I recall correctly,” he shrugged casually.

“Let me see if I understand. After all I have done for the company and for you, now you are checking on my people and my progress, questioning how much we are worth to your goddamn company?” You hissed in anger. Billy seemed to be on a roll attempting to piss you off at any given time. Usually, you could keep your act together, but he has done nothing but insulted you that day and he was very close to reaching your limits. You stared into his eyes and in the lowest, most threatening tone you could manage, you continued. “Listen to me Russo, I can take a lot, I’m quite a resilient person, but I’m very close to walking out of here and never coming back. If you would like me to leave then say it, but if not and you would like me to keep working for you, then let me do my job and leave me alone for the rest of the day,” you exhaled sharply and after a deadly gaze directed at your boss, you turned away and joined your team. Your blood was boiling from the amount of anger he could bring out in you, as if he found your frustration entertaining. Although you expected him to come after you and give you a monologue about humbling yourself, by the time you looked back towards the entrance, he was long gone.

It was already 5pm and Simon was nowhere to be found. You instructed the new recruits to take a 5-minute break from the exercises you have given them as you rocked from one leg to the other trying to calm yourself, slowly exhaling and inhaling. Preparing for the scolding you were about to receive from Billy, your blood pressure had risen. You groaned as you saw Simon run through the door, heavily apologising for his lateness. Shaking your head, you walked up to him and instructed him about the details of the recruits’ further training. By the time you were supposed to be in Billy’s office, you were jogging across the narrow corridors of Anvil, trying to minimise the nagging Billy was about to give you for not arriving in time.

“You are late,” you heard his voice as you opened the door, grimacing at the harsh tone. Billy didn’t even look up from his desk, his eyes were attached to the paperwork he was signing off.

“Not my fault,” you added, walking up to the table and sitting down across Billy.

“I told you to be precise,” he groaned, unhappy about your lateness.

“Next time send someone who actually appears in time,” you retorted, feeling fed up with his continued scolding.

“Once again you have that attitude,” he cleared his throat in frustration.

“Russo!” You shot up from your chair, placing your hands on his paperwork, staring straight into his eyes. “I’m aware that I have a slight problem with my attitude, but I don’t think it’s fair that you blame me for something I had no say in. You have asked Simon to replace me, still at 5pm sharp I was still in the training hub alone with the recruits, because he was late,” you replied firmly.

“I don’t think I have asked for an excuse, so why do I have to listen?” He asked with a deep frown, slowly standing up from his chair, his stance projecting authority. But at that moment, you couldn’t care less. Your blood was rushing through your veins, your built-up frustration threatening to reveal itself. As if Billy’s mere purpose was to dance on your nerves. And he was successful.

“Billy,” you called his first name with clenched teeth. You have gotten used to calling him Mr. Russo or Russo, even though you were close to each other. However recently he has been deliberately annoying you and you couldn’t take it anymore. Indeed, you wanted to get some kind of reaction out of him with your brattiness, but receiving the same attitude didn’t seem that entertaining. You knew you were supposed to be professional when you were working, even though he made it his mission to piss you off, but you just lost your self-control. “I have done nothing for this company but work my ass off to help you. When you asked, I had to be at two even three places at the same time. I have no life, because every single free time and day off I’m supposed to be having, I have to spend here to help you. I don’t mind, because I love working here and I want to make this company a better place. But you are the one talking about my attitude, even though I have never asked for anything in return?! Have I ever asked for a raise even if you dumped hours of work on me? You keep me here from early morning to late evening and I’ve never once complained, still you dare to talk about my attitude? Please, tell me what your problem is with me, because recently I feel like it’s your mission to get on my nerves. At this point the only thing I can think of is that you want me to quit because that’s the kind of hostility that comes across from you,” you huffed releasing all your frustration on your boss.

“You—” he wanted to speak up, but you didn’t let him. It was your time to talk, and you didn’t even give him a chance to object.

“No, I’m speaking,” you interrupted him, earning a sharp inhale from the man. “I understand that I’m only a mere subordinate, and I know I should not have the attitude that I do take on sometimes, but I am still a human and I don’t have to deal with your moodiness on a daily basis,” you hissed. “Tell me honestly, is it your mission to get me to quit? Because at this point you are very close to forcing me to resign and—” you had no way to finish the sentence as Billy grabbed the back of your neck and pulled your lips against his, earning a moan from you. He only let go of you for a second to get around the table, his movements quick as though he was a lion hunting down his prey. He attached his lips to yours once again, pushing you up on the table and positioning himself between your thighs. He sneaked his arm around your waist, pulling you closer to him, his other hand firmly holding you close to him by the back of your neck, wanting nothing but to reduce the proximity between the two of you.

“Do you ever shut up?” He asked, breathing heavily against your lips. “I hear nothing but your continuous yapper,” he groaned as he laid his forehead against yours, massaging random patterns on your thigh. “Why on earth do you think I have given you so much job to do, you dumb woman? Can you be any more oblivious? I didn’t just dump all those random tasks on you and left you to do them, did I? I stayed behind with you, isn’t that, right?” he asked through gritted teeth. “You really know how to get on my nerves, and this certainly isn’t how I imagined this to come out, but you make it impossible for me to keep my cool,” he inhaled slowly, forcefully pulling you closer to him as he stood between your legs, making you moan at the contact. “I’m going to give you two options now,” he stated as he took a step back, giving you space to think. You can walk out that door, act like nothing happened and we will go back to being a boss and an employee. Or you can stay, and we continue what we started. But then there’s no turning back. I don’t just let go of what’s mine,” for a moment you ran the options through a logical part of your mind, that screamed for you to walk out the door. But you couldn’t possibly listen to the voice when you could finally be Billy’s after you have done so much for the man you longed for.

You grabbed his belt and pulled him between your legs, whispering against his lips. “Close that door,” Billy’s jaw clenched and without a second to waste he stood by the door, locking it behind him and getting back to you in haste, capturing your lips with his hands exploring every part of your body.

“So, have I become irreplaceable now?” You asked with a proud, overly confident grin as his hands tried to remove your shirt impatiently. His eyes darkened at your words, his hands stopping mid-air.

“Don’t get cocky with me,” he groaned, grabbing your jaw and connecting your lips once again, trying to get you out of your clothes. Whatever Billy called you for was long forgotten for the rest of the evening, you were busier with each other’s company.

Notes: If you enjoyed reading this little piece, please don’t forget to leave a like, comment and reblog. Your opinion matters and gives us motivation. Thank you ^^

If you enjoy my stories, please consider donating and supporting me on Ko-fi. Of course, it’s completely your choice, I will continue updating for free anyway :) Thank you <3

Taglist is in a reblog from now on.

[aashi-heartfilia]

The main problem with IzuOcha

Firstly, let me start off by saying that I am in fact an IzuOcha shipper and yet I still feel like something is missing. Today I finally figured out what it is, so hear me out.

The problem here lies with the writing of the story itself. It is a shonen, so people like rivals, teachers, etc are given more importance. Consider the relation between Deku and All Might or even Deku and Bakugo, how important it is to the show.

But when we think about IzuOcha?

A cute girl that Izuku has a crush on.

Nothing more, nothing less. It is even highly unlikely that he suspects any girl like him let alone one of the prettiest girls in his class. Not to mention, most of his screentime is devoted to showing his sheer focus on his goal whereas Uraraka's screentime is shown to be fawning over Deku. It's not bad at all because she never goes out of her ways to get Deku to like her but it's also kind of unfair for most of her development to be wasted like that.

Another problem is that the story is written in such a way that she doesn't contribute to anything morally. In fact, her own morals were very messed up in the beginning. She only gave a new meaning to his name and that's that. Even Bakugo and Shouto have done more than that.

-Shouto told Izuku that words need to be backed up by actions during forest training camp.

-Deku feels blessed to just have a normal-ish conversation with Kachhan.

-It was Iida who supported him during Shie Hasaikai Operation.

And many more...

What irks me is that because Deku has to become the No.1 hero, Ochako will never be his priority. Never was, never will be and even she is kinda aware of that which is why she decides to put her feelings away in the Provisional License exam but since then they have grown even stronger, which is quite apparent now.

- Despite the fact that they know each other very well, to the point where Deku was able to tell the difference between Toga and Ochako in the Pro Hero Exam but he has never been vulnerable to her and vice versa. Even during the sports festival, she decided to show Deku her mask, that she's okay and we later see her falling apart on a phone call with her dad.

Deku also shares his problems only with people like Bakugo and All Might etc. It's not like he makes her look special in any way.

So they're never vulnerable to each other and they don't connect on a deeper level like some of the other pairs in BnHA. Kirishima gets inspired by Mina in high school and decides to work hard to become a hero and later on, Mina takes the inspiration of her Acid Man from Kirishima's unbreakable. Shouto was the one to boost Momo's confidence during their Midterms test.

It goes both ways.

We see Ochako getting inspired by Deku as she attaches wires in her gauntlet/bracelets for better range and mobility. Heck, she even has a special pocket in her Hero Costume's belt where she keeps that Keyring Deku gave her as a Christmas present. It's cute like, really cute how she wants to cherish it and all but it's also very shallow at the same time. Do we see Deku getting ever inspired by Ochako in such a way?

The thing is, Ochako's shipping here comes between her character development. In season 3 the biggest development for Deku was him defeating Muscular, going to rescue Bakugo, learning Shoot style, and setting things with Bakugo and All Might for good. What was Ochako's character development?

This one scene:

Yes, this one and the only scene where she realizes that for Deku, his Hero work is his priority and that's why she decided that, that should be her priority as well. That's all.

So while Deku makes so much progress as a hero and as a person, Ochako is just stuck with "Oh what do I do with my crush?"

In season 4 there aren't any meaningful IzuOcha scenes. Even the scenes that could have been given to Ochako were given to Iida and Shouto.

They never have arguments!

I don't recall if they ever had even a single argument throughout the show.

Coincidentally, Ochako's crush is portrayed as a wrong thing by people like Toga.

And the cute All Might Netsuke later becomes a liability in the battle for her.

What's worse is that her quirk Zero Gravity is probably one of the most versatile quirks in the series that can be used for attacking, defense, rescue, chase, and whatnot but because of the lack of screentime, it is never explored in detail. While grappling hooks were a very nice addition to her costume, shouldn't she have come up with that idea way sooner so that it wouldn't look a rip off of Deku's Black whip?

There is just so much can do with her power and creating new moves would have been a no-brainer but NO! In fact, in anime and manga, this is taken as a very positive thing as we see them doing a fist bump probably in the next episode.

Ochako with her crush is like a lovestruck puppy in the limbo phase. She acknowledges her feelings but decides to push them down. The story also leaves no chance to remind the audience about her crush but we haven't even gotten a confirmation from Deku yet, so she's stuck. And even if consider the future Manga, it's all the same!

Tl;dr The ship is nice and all but Ochako's crush overshadows her Heroism and they both have other relations that are way more meaningful, interesting, and important to the series. This is why many people find this ship very bland or vanilla.

[malereader-inserts]

Not Impossible

Fandom: Harry Potter Pairing: Marauders & Male!Reader Summary: It’s all theoretical, really Word Count:  1,822 A/n: Just like End-Game we can ignore the flaws of time travelling here

“Professor?”

You looked at your head of house, she sat in her office, looking up at you confused to why you would venture out for her at the hour, very early in the morning before breakfast as even started. You looked sheepish, your tie done loosely and your shirt untucked for its pants. 

“What can I help you with?”

“I have a question, one that I usually asked Professor Dumbledore, but seeing he’s not here I would go to the next best professor,” McGonagall smiles at your compliment, “If you were to go into the future with a time turner, unlikely but not impossible when you return to your time - will you have the knowledge of the future sticking in your memory? I know that you cannot be seen by your future or past self, but other people?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Curiosity, ma’am,” You replied with a shrug, standing at her doorway, “After all, I did get hat stall with Ravenclaw, curiosity is just natural with me.”

“Well,” McGonagall hums, thinking before looking at you with sharp eyes, “I would assume so - explain further by what you mean.”

“Say I travel to the future, I have married with kids, and my kids see me - I know their names and who I marry, but not asking how it came about, technically I am not ruining the future because I’m not stopping what will come to be, right? Therefore, I should remember my time in the future and is the reason I named my kids because I met them.”

“Interesting,” McGonagall nods, “I would assume, by your logic, you would be correct - though I do wonder how you came to this conclusion.”

“I asked dad once why he called me (Y/n),” You say, there was a thoughtful look on your face, “He said I’ll understand in due time - it’s always has stuck with me so I was just thinking-”

“If your father travelled in the future and met you...”

“It’s unlikely, but not impossible.”

McGonagall had a twinkle in her eye, as if she knew something, a few years ago a group of boys come barreling into her office late in the night. You looked at her uneasy before she comes to approach you, placing a gentle hand on your shoulder. 

“You are correct, try not to think too much for it. You have exams to concern yourself with and a quidditch match tomorrow to think about.”

“First game against the slimy-”

“Umh!”

“Sorry,” You looked at her sheepishly, “With the Slytherin team.”

“Well, off you go, I don’t want us to miss breakfast and look smart - your father looked better in that uniform than you do!”

You smiled cheekily before dashing away from the office, McGonagall locking her office for a time being, there was a glint in her eyes as she noticed the date. Reminding herself to tell your teachers of the day that you’ll be missing on their lessons for special reasons. You walked down to the great hall, you had quidditch practise that night. Your robe draped over your shoulder bag as you tried to look presentable.

That was until you heard voices murmuring, as you went closer to an empty classroom you could hear harsh whispers. Out of curiosity, you opened the door to see four boys looking like they were just caught. Your eyes widen as they had Gryffindor ties - you know all the boys in your house, after all, prefect went to you rather to Ron - who was very relieved

“Who are you and why are you posing as Gryffindor boys?” You asked as they looked at you with wide eyes.

“We’re um-” The long hair boy spluttered, looking at glasses for support. 

As you gave them a harder look, you realised something, you had recognised them, old pictures in your dad’s photo album.

“I know you!” You exclaimed.

“Oi Lupin!” Your head snapped outside to see Seamus waving you down, “You’re going to miss breakfast!” 

“Fuck off Finnegan, no I won’t,” You say as the Irish boy chortles before dragging his friends away from you. 

You sighed as you entered the room and closing the door behind you, looking at the boys in front of you.

“You’re James Potter,” he waves, as you turn to the long-haired teen, “And you, Sirius Black!”

“Yeah, I am.”

“You’re Remus,” You smile fondly, how can you possibly miss your dad’s awkward smile? Before turning to look bitter, “And Peter Pettigrew.”

“How do you know us?” James asked.

“What year is this?” Peter asked meekly.

“Hang on,” Remus exclaimed loudly, “We’re ignoring that they said you’re a Lupin, but I don’t-”

“The year is 1996, late April, and I know you because how can I not? You’re famous whether you like it or not,” You replied, shrugging your shoulders, “By any chance have you fiddled with a time turner?”

There was silence as you crossed your arm, sharply looking at them before James broke under your stare - it was all too familiar. 

“No?”

“James,” You say lowly before he looks at Remus who reveals that he had the time turner around his neck, “You’re all idiots, the lot of you!”

“Well, we’re aware of that,” Sirius says boldly, as you glared at him.

“Well, I don’t know how long you’ll be staying here. But, you better fix it. Because what you’ve created is a paradox. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“Ah, unlikely but not impossible,” Remus pointed out.

You opened your mouth before closing them, this is what your dad means when you’ll soon find out about your name. You finally picked up on McGonagall look towards you, you sighed, running your hand down your face.

“Well, breakfast will be ending in half an hour, you stay put and I mean it - I’ll help you sort this out and you go back to whatever year you are in. How old are you even?”

“Sixteen, the lot of us, Wormtail here just turned sixteen two weeks ago.”

“Oh cool,” You answered, nodding, “Guessing in nicknames that you’ve recently able to shift into your animagus forms?”

“Yeah, how do you know that?” Peter asked as you had to hold back a glare for the lad, he’s just an innocent sixteen year old who has the whole world coming for him.

“I know you guys better than the world does,” You shrugged your shoulders.

“You haven’t answered Lupin’s question,” Sirius says.

You smirked, “You’ll find out in due time. Now, will you guys promise to stay put if I get food for you?”

They all looked to each other and nodded, you sighed in relief as you placed your bag down, before leaving the room. The group of boys looking loss before obeying and getting themselves comfortable, you had returned with goodies. 

“I’m starving!” Sirius says, ready to pounce before Remus grabbed the back of his collar, “Aw, Moony!”

“Sorry about them,” Remus says as he helps you out to distribute food, “Thank you.”

You waved them off as the five of you get to work in how to get them back to their year, not much with you telling about the future for them, but dropping sublet hints for them.

“I miss Evans,” James sighs wistfully, the three other boys ignoring him - used to his pining as you stare at him, “What?”

“Oh nothing,” You hummed before looking back at your books - which you had to make a trip to the library to bring the boys some books to look for information, “Have you ever tried referring her with her first name?”

“Trust us, Evans is scary when you call her by Lily,” Sirius responded, “I tell you, bloody scary gingers - the lot of them.”

“Tell me about it,” You say thinking about Ginny Weasley, what a fiery girl, “Well, don’t give up James, might work out.”

“You think?”

“I think.”

“James, you’re asking someone from the future - it would make sense, he would know,” Remus replied dryly.

“Do I have a kid?!” James asked excitedly.

“I’m not telling?” You give him a look, “I’m not an idiot in telling you that, Merlin’s beard, knowing you idiots you would ruin the bloody future. My future - if anything, the only one I trust is Remus!”

“Yeah, make sense,” Peter answered, even you chuckled in his response.

“Well, I’m not surprised - you do share a last name.”

You give them a glare before they all got to work. You sighed back, by midday you were hoping to find a resolution. 

“God, I’m going to be tired for practice,” You yawned as you shut the sixth book of the day, standing up to stretch, “Angelina is going to be pissed.”

“You play quidditch?”

“Yeah? Chaser,” You say, before waving it off, “Not important really.”

“I think it is, Remus doesn’t like playing quidditch but knowing that you a Lupin does - it’s fascinating!” James teases as you rolled your eyes.

Your quidditch practise started at seven, luckily it was about five that you were able to finish up with the group of idiots. You had neatly stacked some books to bring back to the library. You had a nice day, you learnt more stuff about them, stuff that you wouldn’t have known, you got them to talk about their time at school.

“We’re making a map, of the whole school, but we’re not really sure what to name it. We don’t have a group name for us, by now we were hoping someone in school would name our group for us,” Sirius mention before James nudges him, telling him that he shouldn’t have told you.

You a bit preoccupied, answered without a thought, “Oh, marauders fits you idiots quite well.”

“Marauders?” Peter asked inquisitively. 

“One who roams from one place to another, it fits well with a map if you ask me,” You hummed before looking at them, all of them huddled with a chain around their necks. Remus holding the time turner, he looks at you.

“Wait, we never got your name or who you are,” He says, you smile at him.

“Oh, I’m (Y/n) Lupin, I’m your son,” With that, you started the turns of their time tuner, as Remus looks at you wide-eye, “Told you, you’d understand in due time.”

With that, you step back watching the boys fade away. You sighed and continue with your dad as you left the classroom to make your way to the library then to the great hall, you just can’t help be send a strongly worded letter to your father - hoping he reads it to Sirius. 

“Bunch of wankers,” You muttered to yourself.

“Are you okay, Mr Lupin?” McGonagall asked as you looked at her, “Muttering yourself again? How was your day?”

“It was eventful, more than I thought it would be.”

“Well, I shouldn’t keep you too long, hope you had a lovely day.”

You nodded, “Yeah, what an unlikely day I’ve had.”

[howggswouldreact]

🏥 The Personification of Our Love | Kim Lip

Request: kim lip x reader where the reader is pregnant and goes into labor pls ~~~ love your blog ♡♡♡♡ Plot: Jungeun is waiting at the Hospital while Reader is in labor. Jungeun's mind flies to loving memories. Words: 2, 222 Genre: fluff, pregnancy Notes: i use to say "i loved writing this one" because i really do love writing things you all request me. and i loved writing this one. i love to write about things that involve family and friendship, etc. this one is the type to make my heart feel at peace... i hope you enjoy it and have a nice read! ♡♡

Maybe Jungeun shouldn't keep her eyes open for so long, without blinking. At least that's what Haseul was telling her all the time, but she wouldn't be aware of what her friend was saying until hours later, when the white doors were opened and a person wearing blue from head to toe told her that she was finally allowed to enter. For now, she had her hands cupped over her mouth, her feet tapping the floor in a frantic rhythm, her heart pumping blood like crazy.

Why couldn't things be like in the movies, where she could just have a camera filming everything that was going on in that room?

How was it going? How were you? And how was the baby? GOD, WAS THE BABY OKAY?

The movements of her feet accelerated even more and she felt the touch of a hand resting very cautiously on her knee.

"Stop doing that, you're looking like a maniac!", Hyejoo's voice, impatient and at the same time anxious, sounded beside Jungeun.

"I think I'm having a nervous breakdown.", she replied in a low voice, sweat forming on the corner of her forehead.

A huge, vibrant smile appeared in the blonde's vision and warm hands took hers, that were cold, in an affectionate squeeze. Jiwoo.

"How about if we go get something to eat? I'm sure there must be anything good in these machines full of food.”, said her longtime friend.

With a nod and letting Jiwoo guide her, Jungeun was pulled by the arm to a vending machine in the corner of the waiting room. While, in her mind, Jungeun was pulled for a few moments before what would be the greatest moment of her life (along with her wedding day, of course).

8 AM, same day

"Christ! It’s like I'm about to explode!", you said, putting your hand on your belly and feeling a twinge in your back.

"A beautiful, healthy child is going to appear from this explosion...", Jungeun started to speak, slowly approaching the bed, leaning on one knee and then the other. "And this child is very...", her hands landed on your belly, one of them over your right hand. "... very loved!"

"And we haven't even thought about the name of this beloved child yet."

You looked at her with a disapproving gaze.

"I don't want to decide anything right now because I think it will be more exciting to take this important decision when the time comes.", Jungeun shrugged without looking at you, she was very busy stroking your belly button.

"Maybe if you just let me..."

"Don't even think about it. This baby is mine too, you know?", the irritated tone disappeared from Jungeun's voice when her eyes met the playful glow of yours. She smiled.

"You know I would never make a decision like that without you, right?"

She nodded and lifted her body so she could kiss you, but there was a huge belly between the two of you - with a baby on the way in - and you started to laugh.

"Ahhhh!! So close yet so far!", dramatized Jungeun, as she lay down beside you and kissed your forehead and then your lips. "Now, close enough."

10 PM, the day before

"I still can't believe you chose this crackhead to be our baby's godmother...", you whispered to Jungeun, leaning on the doorframe while watching Jiwoo dancing some children's music and doing a super choreography in front of a camera.

Jungeun smiled at you.

"It's not like you didn't say 'oh, babe, I would never forgive you if I didn't choose Jiwoo to be our baby’s godmother', right?"

All the girls were there, they decided to have the first “Girls’ Pajama Party with the Baby” even before the baby was born. Not that you didn't love the idea, but to see Jiwoo carrying that camera everywhere was hilarious. You wouldn't miss an opportunity to make fun of it.

"You have to understand that I have hormones. Many! And they are crazy running back and forth, telling me what to do all the time! It's not like everything I say is valid while pregnant. Plus: I didn’t know she would do this Good Luck Charlie sort of thing."

With a mischievous look, Jungeun brought her face close to yours, smiling like a mischievous child.

"So it means that I am right deciding that the baby's one-year birthday should be Taeyeon-themed."

You gave her an angry look.

"I've been carrying our beautiful baby for nine months. If it were to honor someone on their one-year anniversary, it should be me."

A warm laugh from the bottom of Jungeun's heart filled your ears. She came over and wrapped her right arm around your waist while her left hand was over your protruding belly. None of you had reached such a full level of happiness like this before.

"Don't worry... Taeyeon won't be a party theme, I promise." she kissed your face. "It's so easy to annoy you lately. But there's no need to worry. The one-year anniversary theme will be Harry Potter, anyways."

You rolled your eyes trying to hide a smile. Jungeun noticed it. She always did. She smiled back and stroked your belly once more. It was difficult to know which of you two was most anxious for the family to be finally complete.

5 months ago

"Come on, say something very beautiful and with enough meaning, because then I will edit with a ballad song in the background."

Jiwoo was pointing the camera at you, whose lips were covered with doritos crumbs and ice cream, while Jungeun held up a jar of that same ice cream that you dipped the spoon from time to time.

"I can only think of how bizarre these mixtures become each month, I have no idea what beautiful things I can say.", Jungeun spoke while giving you a judgmental look. “I can’t believe my baby is eating… this.”

"Just say my name, so you will say one of the most beautiful things in the world.", you replied, raising your eyebrows as you dipped the tip of the doritos in the pistachio green and put it whole in your mouth.

"Grooooooss.", Jiwoo hummed as she turned the camera to her face. "I hope you don't have to deal with this often."

You two were at Heejin's apartment, decided to stop by as you were walking around the neighborhood looking for that ice cream flavor. Yeojin and Jiwoo went to meet you. This was yet another visit for the future "aunts" of the baby to come.

"I will definitely deal with them to keep you safe." Yeojin noted, beside Jiwoo and staring at the camera.

"Don't worry. We will protect you from anything that might negatively affect you, even if it means taking you away from these delinquents' arms." Heejin said, joining the other two.

"An army against us?", Jungeun asked as you put one of those doritos in her mouth.

They giggled. Another scene for the baby's life documentary, directed exclusively by Kim Jiwoo.

7 months ago

"Well... maybe we should... maybe we should buy baby things? Or set up the baby's room?", You suggested, astonished by the news that, finally, you were going to have a baby.

With the results of the exam in hands, Jungeun was very quiet on the way home. Parking the car in the garage of the building where you lived together, you waited for an answer to your questions.

Pregnant? Who knew you would be pregnant? Well, it was your dream two months ago. You both decided to make this dream come true. But it was a short while ago, actually. And you were not expecting a positive response so quickly. On the first try? Wow! This was really fast.

You noticed Jungeun's trembling hands and, now that you were pregnant, you would have a child of both of you, increasing the "family with our shape" because it's gonna be "the personification of your love", as the blonde said a few times. You wondered if she regretted it. After all, it would affect both your lives on a large scale, even though it was, at the moment, no more than the size of a bean.

"Look, I... I understand if you don't want to say anything. I will respect your space, but I thought it was our decision and..."

"Could you excuse me for a moment?", Jungeun said, in a whispering voice, and getting out of the car.

You understood that you shouldn't go after her and you were left with no reaction to her words. Meanwhile, outside the car, in the light of the vehicle's white headlights, the blonde of exuberant beauty and small body read the exam again, a growing smile on the pink lips that you loved to kiss so much.

Suddenly, to your shock, she let out a cry mixed with laughter and jumped in the air. It was as if, there, in that deserted garage and with you in the car, there was a space where Jungeun could celebrate it with vivacity. She was just so full of joy!

She was just as happy as you are, obviously! She just needed to find a place to outsource it, a moment when she could be free, a place where she could celebrate it!

Jungeun's hands held the test results as if they were holding the most precious thing in her life. And, somehow, it was.

You flashed the headlights in sync with her leaps and, watching her body turn to the car, her dark brown eyes staring into the glass, you knew what she would say and you both said at the same time, in a whisper only your hearts could hear.

"I love you."

Back to Present – 3 AM

Keeping a packet of m&m's in her jacket pocket, saving it for you to eat later, Jungeun finished eating a strawberry cereal bar, chewing slowly as the girls entered into a conversation to try to calm their spirits. In fact, everyone there was looking forward to you and the baby being well and being able to receive visitors as soon as possible.

Jinsoul told a story of her adolescence and the girls highlighted some parts, asked a few things and laughed. But Jungeun's mind was just a few feet from that waiting room.

Were you in pain? Was the baby finding the way out safely? Was the baby healthy? Were you okay?

She had no way of knowing. She went to the bathroom, the girls followed the blonde head with concern as she crossed the room to the door with a blue sign written "toilet".

When closing the door already inside the bathroom, every sound coming from outside was isolated. Jungeun turned the tap on and felt the cascade of water flowing through her fingers, finding some calm with that, since the only person who could give her the biggest amount of peace was in labor.

She washed her face and dried it with paper, stared at her reflection and realized she was pale. She would only regain color when she could finally see you and the baby.

She put her hand on the door handle again, turning it, and when she closed the door behind her, she noticed that all the girls were standing, staring at the beginning of the corridor. Her face turned in the same direction, where a nurse was standing still, noticed the movement of the woman's lips and the signal for her to follow her on a path. That woman would take Jungeun's to where her heart belonged.

"I wish you were with me... with us at the moment…", you whispered.

"The nurses didn't let me in, babe, but I'm here now..."

Jungeun was almost crouched beside the bed, her face close to yours. She reached up and stroked your cheekbones, touching your forehead with hers.

“How was it?”, she asked.

“It was like I was shitting a coconut.”

Her throat exploded with a pleasurable laugh, making you laugh along, even though you felt a lot of pain in your entire body. Tiredness was overwhelming you, but not enough to see your baby again.

"I only saw our baby for about 5 seconds and I was barely able to see that little face before they did the cleaning and exams."

Your voice was a whisper and Jungeun shook her head, as if she told you not to worry about it, and then she gave you a peck.

When the nurse came into the room and placed the baby in your arms, Jungeun was already crying. She never thought that your love could take on a human shape, so small, fragile and beautiful.

"Oh, God... I love you both so much..." she said, letting those strong tears run down her clean face as she bent down to kiss the top of the baby's head very gently.

That little body, with small hands, gripped her finger firmly and you knew that you would not let anything in the world do anything to destroy that purity. Jungeun felt the same way. Somehow, you knew that. You felt that. Perhaps because you had known her for a long time. Perhaps it was because of love. But you did knew. And she also knew that, whatever happened, her family would always be the homewhere your hearts could rest.