#be okay with that! 'being critical of your interests' does not mean bullying teens online it means addressing racism and other forms of big

[orangerosebush]

One of the more exquisitely weird (and irksome) trends on tumblr has been the uptick in posts ~extolling the virtues of seriously and 'correctly' engaging with The Text via the mystical tool of Literary Analysis, lest the preponderance of wastrels who (shocking, I know) post their shallow, out-of-character content in the main tag think that they're Being Fans Correctly~!

There's always this weird veneer of pseudo-moral outrage with these posts, and it's just such cornball behavior.

And... the people posting these takes are somehow always blogs run by mildly insecure older fans who are using 'literary analysis' as shorthand for 'engaging with the text in The Correct way, i.e. Parroting Exactly The Same Opinions I Hold About That Media', and the people whom they're vague-posting about engaging with media incorrectly are the 14-year-olds (who are the actual target demographic of the media the OP is into) who -- unlike the OP -- actually take the time to create content they like instead of getting up in arms about the despicable crime of... the popularity of slightly OOC jokeposts?

Like, there is something inherently goofy about posting these finger-wagging manifestos and then having the vagued-about-subject subtextually be... *drumrolll* people not being sufficiently serious about the CW's Supernatural? Or like, Marvel movies? I'm sorry people aren't churning out the exact frequency of webweaving posts which compare [insert YA novel OP is into] to Richard Siken and Mary Oliver?

And I say this as someone who posts (pretty niche) fanworks, such as meta, media comparisons, and so on, which is what the tumblr users making this genre of post hail as the correct and more ~intellectual~ way of being a fan. It is on those grounds that I feel qualified to say that the aforementioned posts complaining about Doing Fan Content Wrong are usually blogs who are weirdly offended that the work they make – which they see as more high-brow than the content that gets popular in their online community — isn't getting the influx of praise they think they are entitled to.

And here's the thing: it's okay that I (and blogs similar to mine) have a relatively small audience due to making content that's less mainstream! I'm not going to waste time trying to strong-arm people into 'doing fan content the right way' instead of just... idk, making the content I enjoy and want to see more of?

There are bigger problems in fan spaces -- unchecked racism and transphobia, a refusal to engage with the original text's problematic content, and inappropriate behavior from adult fans towards underage fans in online spaces, and so on -- than teenagers creating harmless and inoffensive content they enjoy.

(but also why are these posts somehow inevitably made by disgruntled SPN fans like baby please... what is going on)

[aheliotech]

9 critical cyber safety lessons to teach your kids

New Post has been published on https://www.aheliotech.com/blog/9-critical-cyber-safety-lessons-to-teach-your-kids/

9 critical cyber safety lessons to teach your kids

The Internet has changed the way children interact with the world. As many as 95% of teens in the United States have a smartphone, according to figures from Pew Research Center, and about 45% of teens say they are online “almost constantly”.

Around-the-clock connectivity is, for the most part, an amazing thing. Young digital natives have access to a limitless stream of information, entertainment and creative tools, which allow them to connect with the world in a way that simply wasn’t possible even just a generation ago.

Of course, it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. Being constantly connected comes with significant safety risks that are very different – yet no less dangerous – to the hazards children faced 20 or 30 years ago. From cyberbullying to malware and everything in between, parents now have a responsibility to teach their kids how to safely navigate the web and mitigate the risks that await online.

Here are nine essential lessons every parent should be teaching their children about cyber safety:

1. What’s posted online, stays online

In an endless sea of memes, selfies, cat pics and blog posts, it’s easy to think that the content you post online will just get lost in all the noise – but that’s not necessarily the case.

Help your kids understand that the Internet is permanent. The content you post and share can be transcribed, quoted and taken a screenshot of. It can be edited, taken out of context and uploaded to a hundred different websites. If you put it online, you have to be comfortable with the possibility that it’s going to be there permanently, which can have far-reaching consequences on your career and relationships further down the line.

Encourage your children to be mindful of the content they post and how it might affect them and other Internet users, both now and in the future.

2. It’s okay to talk about Internet use

It’s no secret that a good chunk of the internet is inappropriate for kids. While parental controls might be effective up to a certain point (restricting access across multiple devices can be tricky, and by the time they reach their teens most kids are tech-savvy enough to circumvent the controls), open communication is equally important.

Instead of trying to rule the Internet with an iron fist, invite open and honest dialogue. Encourage your children to be transparent about their online activities and make sure they know they can always talk to you if they have any questions or run into any problems on the web. For best results, consider starting the conversation early, working together to establish ground rules and involving your children in the decision-making process.

Taking a collaborative approach and gradually trusting your children to make the right choices will ultimately allow them to take better ownership of their online safety.

3. Keep your passwords a secret

Most kids learn how to share from a young age, but you’ll need to teach them that there are some things they should always keep to themselves: their passwords.

A good password is critical for keeping your accounts secure and preventing cybercriminals from accessing your personal information.

There are a few basic rules for creating a strong password:

The longer, the better: We recommend aiming for at least 16 characters.

Make it unique: Don’t reuse the same password for multiple accounts.

Make it random: Avoid using common phrases and personal references such as birthdays, anniversaries and so on.

Don’t store your passwords in a text file: If your system is compromised, attackers can steal all your passwords at once. Instead, use a trustworthy password manager such as KeePass.

Check out this blog post for more in-depth information on creating and storing rock-solid passwords.

4. Be mindful of how you use social media

Teach your children that just because they can post something on social media doesn’t mean that they should (remember point #1!). For example, your children should never share their:

Password

Location

Phone number

Other personal information

Content that might be considered offensive

They should also be very wary of accepting friend requests and messages from people they don’t know. Take a moment to review the privacy settings of their social media apps, as the default settings may reveal more information than you and your child are comfortable with.

In addition to thinking about the content they share, children also need to be mindful of the content they consume and how long they spend on social media. A variety of studies have found a link between social media use and low self-esteem, poor body image, reduced sleep quality and other depressive symptoms.

5. How to deal with cyberbullying

Today, the realm of bullying extends far beyond the borders of the school playground. Due to the popularity of social media, cyberbullying (the use of technology to threaten, harass or embarrass another person) is common among children and teenagers. In the U.S., about 15 percent of high school students have experienced cyberbullying in the past year, according to official government figures.

Sit down with your child and come up with a plan of how to deal with cyberbullies. Your specific strategy will depend on your circumstances, but it might involve your child turning off their device and telling you, their teacher or another adult they trust. They may also wish to report or block the cyberbully via the social media app.

Remind your child that, no matter how tempting it may be, under no circumstances should they retaliate or respond to the cyberbully, as it usually makes the situation worse.

6. Ask permission before installing new apps

The Internet is awash with all sorts of games, learning apps and creative tools that are sure to appeal to young minds, but remind your child that they’ll need to check with you before they hit install on any new software.

Why? Well, many types of malware are designed to look like legitimate applications. When executed, these malicious applications can have devastating effects, including identity theft, data loss and financial fraud. Some types of malware can even self-replicate and spread to other devices connected to your home network.

It’s important to remember that mobile devices aren’t immune to malware – for example, Google has revealed that the amount of malware installed from Google Play increased by 100 percent in 2018.

In the event that your child does accidentally install malware on their device, you need to be confident that your system is protected. Proven antivirus software such as Emsisoft Anti-Malware and Emsisoft Mobile Security can play a crucial role in protecting your family’s devices from all types of malware.

7. Think before you click

Encourage your children to be vigilant on the Internet and always remember that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Talk to your children about how phishing attacks work and why they should think carefully before they click on any link. Show them how to hover over a link to check the legitimacy of a URL, teach them to recognize the common signs of phishing scams and encourage them to be suspicious when reading emails and opening attachments, even if it appears to be sent from a trustworthy address.

There are many online attacks that specifically target children, which can potentially lead to malware infection or identity fraud. For example, in 2018, malware authors took advantage of the ongoing Fortnite craze by distributing malware disguised as an aimbot (a type of cheat used in first person shooters that helps players aim perfectly). Similarly, more than 50,000 Minecraft accounts were affected by malware in 2018 due to infected Minecraft skins.

Educate your children about the dangers involved with downloading game hacks, pirated software and entering scam competitions.

8. Be a respectful Internet citizen

Teach your children that the Internet is effectively an extension of society, and the usual rules of communication that apply in the real world also apply online. That means they should always be courteous and respectful and never abuse other people or threaten anyone with physical violence.

Help them understand that although they are interacting with a screen, they are still communicating with a real person with real feelings. Remember the golden rule of netiquette: If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, don’t say it to them online.

9. Balance is key

Last but certainly not least, remind your kids that balance is key. Although technology plays a central role in our day to day lives, it’s important for children to engage in other hobbies and interests in order to continue developing as healthy, well-rounded people.

The post 9 critical cyber safety lessons to teach your kids appeared first on Emsisoft | Security Blog.

[turnabouttoothbrush]

Metal Gear High, Chapter One

My older brother submitted a fic with the comment, “Thanks, AO3. Metal Gear high school AU bashing EVA”

Excuse me but what

Why would you bash EVA, she’s AMAZING

Anyway, out-of-character sporking for both chapters because there are only two (it’s apparently abandoned) and it’s quicker & easier to do. Plus I need to work on that thing for that NPO lmao.

...speaking of out-of-character, GUESS WHAT THIS IS TAGGED AS

It’s like a neon warning sign that says “Please spork me!!”

And speaking of tags, EVA’s name is misspelled as “Eve” in them.

What am I getting myself into here.

Summary: AU Metal Gear Series. Adam is the new kid in school where his Mother, Joy, has gotten a job as the new counselor. OOC abounds and established and future male/male relationships.

Also I fuckin’ hate high school AUs.

High school fucking SUCKS, it was the literal four worst years of my life - granted it was because of things largely unrelated to school itself but it sure as shit didn’t help. High school is, for anyone except those at the very top of the social ladder, a terrible experience that you pretty must just endure so you can get your diploma and never look back.

I do not understand why it is romanticized so much.

The first day of school and Adam was exactly on time. He was always on time, perhaps a few minutes early, but he was never late. It was a new high school, a new way of life, new strange subcultures and interconnected rivalries, and incestuous power plays by those who thought high school popularity was the ultimate power high.

Lol those are the people who are gonna be asking me what kind of fries I want while I roll past their window in my BMW

...wait, “incestuous power plays”?

It was a pit of despair, anxiety, hormones, pheromones, testosterone, sexual frustration, peer pressure and awkward stages for people forced into small, tightly packed rooms for almost eight hours a day.

I think we can basically guarantee, though, that we’re not going to be seeing much of the classes.

You know, now that I think about it, I’m pretty sure most high school AUs don’t have that kind of thing in them because they’re written by middle schoolers who don’t know yet that high school is a horrible, horrible place. Which is why they write high school AUs!

Although referring to high school as “a pit of despair” does make me think the author’s served their time...

Adam wouldn’t walk in those double glass doors with the large carved snake hissing down and threatening those who approached as some wide-eyed innocent fresh from middle school.

I had to re-read this sentence three times before I realized that the snake statue is over the door or something, as opposed to Ocelot (man, fuck using their ‘real’ names, get that weak shit outta here boy) carrying it in with him for some reason.

Intimidation factor?

“Apparently it’s the school’s mascot for their sports team the Metal Snakes.” Joy said, sipping her coffee.

Adam grunted in response.

They were sitting in her classic white ford mustang, both of them preparing themselves.

“Although the snake might represent a threat to the opposing team’s masculinity. A penis with fangs, or, don’t fuck with me.” Joy said.

A penis with-

F U C K I N G   H E L L

Also, I guess the fact that that really doesn’t sound like something the Boss would say kind of goes without saying.

“I see you’re just as excited as I am.”

Joy sighed. “Adam, I know the past few months have been hard…”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

Joy eyed him carefully then nodded. “Alright. Now, do you want to go in first and I’ll follow? Or should I go in first and then you?”

Adam shifted in his seat, glaring at the threatening snake.

“If you go in first, it should distract enough attention for me to get to my locker and homeroom.” He said.

Are there high schools out there that actually, like, have homerooms? Mine didn’t. Had ‘em in middle school, and there was this homeroom-esque sort of thing in the middle of the day until they changed it, but...

“Practical.” Joy said. “Alright, I’ll see you after class? Do you want me to drive you home or do you want to walk home?”

“I’ll walk.” Adam sighed.

Joy eyed him critically.

Can you believe there’s no YouTube compilation of every time the Boss looks at Ocelot like he’s disappointed her? Because that’s basically every time she looks at him in MGS3.

“As you wish.” She said. She grabbed her purse and her book satchel which contained her laptop and important documents. Before she slid out of her car, she squeezed Adam’s arm.

Adam watched as she walked towards the wide double glass doors, balancing her belongings and her coffee while some of the early students watched her with interest and when she entered the school, they started whispering amongst each other.

Side note: Can you imagine the Boss as a school counselor? It’d be a hell of a thing, wouldn’t it?

What's it going to be? Loyalty to your chosen college, or loyalty to me? Your chosen college, or your old counselor? The career goal, or your beliefs? Your duty to your school, or your personal feelings? You don't know the truth yet. But sooner or later you'll have to choose.

Adam took a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and stepped out of the car. He shouldered his backpack, pulled on his red scarf and locked the door, heading towards the schools double doors.

The group of whispering students paused when he passed them. He opened the glass doors and entered just as the girls of the group started to whisper about him.

Hey author does the word “cliché” mean anything to you

I want the twist to be that no one’s even talking about him, because truly no one gives a fuck about ~the new kid~ except for the people who just highkey wanna make more friends. But I think we all know that, even if this fic had been completed, there wouldn’t have been a twist at all.

He made a bee line for the office, where he saw his mother chatting with the receptionist.

Joy glanced at him and nodded, leaving the office without a single word and the receptionist, a perky woman in her late thirties smiled, pushing him a printout sheet.

“Your home room is in the music room, leave the office and take the first right and it’s the fifth floor on your left.

wait what

how tall is this building

Your locker combo is here,” she pointed to a three double digit code. “And your schedule is at the bottom. School ID day is in a week, but until then you can download your schedule off the schools website using your mom’s password and ID. And if you’re late for a class, don’t worry. The teachers have been notified and you’re given a week to figure everything out.”

How far is this into the schoolyear, anyway? With a different character I would have guessed the end of the first semester/beginning of the second semester, since a mention of a scarf would indicate the winter months, but this is Ocelot we’re talking about...

“Thanks,” Adam mumbled, trailing his fingers across the sheet.

“I hope you enjoy Patriots High.” She called as Adam left the office.

...

THAT’S FUCKING AWFUL

He was examining his class list, mentally ticking off the classes. Three different types of advanced maths, geography, the mandatory second language course, and science. He wrinkled his nose. He knew what this was. These courses would leave him drowning in homework and focused to the point of ignoring the world around him. It would keep him occupied and busy and leave no time for getting distracted or…

Backstabbing people?

Also who the hell takes three different math classes in one year

His heart sank and he felt that grip around his neck tighten.

Adam loosened his scarf, swallowing roughly.

He couldn’t do that here, not now.

...?

Yes?

Not with the rising crowd of murmuring and voices and the increasing noises of more students arriving on the morning buses.

He followed the instructions, turning at the first right and approaching the music room door when a loud crash of drums came from the other side. He opened the door just in time to see a nerdy, skinny looking teen around Adam’s age with shaggy hair and glasses struggling to stand amongst a collapsed drum set.

Adam checked the room; there was nobody in the room except for the nerdy kid. There was a circle of chairs in the middle of the room facing one another.

Um... why...??

Just then, the kid collapsed again with a yelp, this time behind a collapsed set of music stands and Adam sighed, entering the room. He flung his backpack into one of the corners and went to the nerdy kid, helping him to stand.

“You okay?” Adam asked.

The nerdy kid was brushing his hoodie, frowning as he pecked at a piece of fabric from the middle of the ironed on image of an anime girl with big pigtails riding a giant two legged tank.

Well I guess Ocelot doesn’t have to be worried about being judged now, not when this walking bully bait exists

Also if y’all were expecting me to ask who the living blue fuck would wear a hoodie like that to school, just lemme remind you that I ran an animé club when I was in high school. I’ve seen some shit.

He glanced up at Adam, his eyes widening before he pushed up his glasses.

“You-you’re talking to me?” The nerd asked.

“Yeah,” Adam said slowly, starting to scowl.

“O-oh! You must be new! My name is Hal. Hal Emmerich, but my friends call me Otacon. Well, at least my online friends call me Otacon.” Hal said, tilting his head.

I take it this fic is going to HARDCORE miss the opportunity to actually explore the implications of the Boss also being, in a kinda sorta really weird way, Otacon’s mom. There isn’t much to say about it wrt to canon, due to the extremely limited (potential, off-screen) interaction between Ocelot and Otacon, so the one upside to a silly “EVERYONE IS THE SAME AGE” AU is that it actually does give you the chance to do that. But of course the author is going to just piss that away because it’ll distract from the hot yaois and the EVA-bashing.

“I’m Adam. I’m, ah, I’m new here.”

“Well, Adam, let me just warn you: you don’t want to be caught talking to me. I’m the school pariah so,

I will ask what kind of tiny-ass backwards school this must be to have a weeb be a friendless pariah - the pariah, too, like there’s only one. At my high school, all the outcasts and social fuckups were actually their own social stratum - granted, way at the bottom, but nonetheless they had their circle. (I should know, they all knew me and mostly deferred to me as well, haha. I... have been referred to as “Nerd Voldemort” before, after a comment about the animé club being my ‘inner circle’...)

Then again, I went to the largest high school in the state, and the 65th largest public high school in the country. So...

if you don’t want your popularity to die a slow and painful death, you’d best keep away.” Hal laughed, rubbing the back of his head.

Adam scowled.

“I don’t give a fuck what people think.”

Hal paused then smiled wearily.

“You will if the Snakes take an interest in you.” Hal said.

Adam rolled his eyes and left Hal, grabbing his backpack and took one of the chairs.

Snakes. Great, gangs.

Do they have gangs at small high schools? They sure do at big ones, but again - a large high school would develop a social structure that even a dude with an animé hoodie could easily find his place in.

Adam pulled out his phone, flicking through to see if there were any new messages.

“Um…”

Adam glanced up. Hal was standing next to him, looking nervous.

“Spit it out.” Adam sighed.

“Can I sit next to you?” Hal asked.

A simple request.

Adam nodded.

I scrolled back up to check and make sure that Ocelot/Otacon wasn’t a listed pairing for this. It isn’t.

I’m kind of disappointed.

I just think they’d have an interesting dynamic together, really I’d 100% take something non-shippy, but either way the only fics I’ve read that had any significant interaction between the two were fucking Choke and another fic that was also really really really friggin stupid and did the exact same thing with them.

Hal grinned, practically beaming as he took the seat. “Thanks. Hey, um, if there’s anything you want to know about the school, or any of the students, or teachers, or the clicks and gangs, I’m your person.”

Adam bit his inner cheek.

‘Be patient. Don’t explode. Some of them are just innocent, Adam. You know that.’ Joy’s voice resonated in his head.

I really hope this is/was leading up to a school shooting subplot.

“Thanks.” Adam said.

Hal smiled and leaned back in his own chair and pulled out his phone from his hoodie’s pocket. It too was covered in a picture of an anime character.

“Ummm…”

“What?”

“Could I add your number?” Hal asked, his voice small.

Adam thought about it for a few moments then shrugged. If Hal got to be too annoying or he got fed up he could just block him. He told Adam his number and as soon as he did that, Adam immediately got a text from Otacon.

Adam wrinkled his nose and he didn’t bother to respond.

You could almost say he was being... catty

They sat in silence as the minutes passed until the door opened and several people poured into the room and Adam’s phone started vibrating like crazy.

‘Look out!’

Adam blinked at his phone, confused, and opened his mouth to ask what Hal meant when two hands gripped his shoulders from behind.

“You must be the new guy.”

Adam clenched his jaw, and looked up.

Smiling down at him was a blond male wearing aviator glasses and military fatigues.

Who the living blue fuck would wear military fatigues to school?

“Fresh meat,” He purred and Adam felt his lips curling in disgust.

“Back off, Kaz.” A gravelled voice next to him and Kaz let go of Adam’s shoulders, instead ruffling Hal’s hair until Hal sputtered, waving at his hands.

Adam turned to the voice and a man, no, a teenager met Adam’s. He was starting to sport a serious beard and his hair was messy. Adam could barely grow peach fuzz and here was someone just a month short of an Amish beard. His clothes were rumpled too, like he had slept in them, he smelled faintly of cigar smoke, and he had a torn bandanna wrapped around his forehead, keeping his hair out of his eyes.

But his eyes, he had two brilliant blue eyes.

GEE I WONDER

WHAT

THE MAIN PAIRING FOR THIS FIC COULD POSSIBLY BE HMM I DUNNO

Then again, if Ocelot didn’t get the doki-dokis immediately upon seeing Snake, I would say that’d be out-of-character.

“John.” He rumbled again.

“Adam.”

John nodded, his eyes taking in Adam’s scarf. He looked like he was about to say something when a blur of giggling blonde landed on his lap.

“John you left me behind this morning!” The giggling blonde said, cupping his jaw and leaning close.

“Sorry, Eve.”

EVA. It’s EVA. E-V-A, with an “a”. Get it right. It’s not like “Eva” isn’t an actual name, anyway.

You really shouldn’t be writing fanfic if you spell a three-letter name wrong - let alone if the character in question is KIND OF FREAKIN’ IMPORTANT TO THE SOURCE MATERIAL.

John rumbled, his eyes sparkling as Eve smiled coltishly. She was wearing skinny jeans and a sweater maybe one size too small. John wrapped his arms around her waist, holding onto her as she bounced on his thigh.

“Get a room,” Another gravelled voice, softer, and Adam glanced past the giggling blond to see what had to be John’s twin brother. Wild hair, blue eyes, and in desperate need of a shave. His clothes were a bit less rumpled like he had put some effort into his appearance before giving up. He had a similar bandana except his wasn’t shredded at the ends.

“Aww, baby brother needs to get laid.”

>making Solid BB’s brother

Kaz laughed, sitting in the chair next to him.

“Fuck off Kaz!” John’s twin snapped.

“Dave, be good.” John scolded.

“Yeah, Dave.” Eve mocked.

That’s his mom

Dave’s jaw clenched and he opened his mouth when his phone chimed in his pocket. He pulled it out, turning his back to the others as he started to slowly text back.

The bell rang.

Adam looked around the room.

Still no teacher.

Dave was slowly texting, the tip of his tongue peeking out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrated. Kaz was straightening his military fatigues (honestly who wears shit like that to school anyway?),

Hey, whose job is it to ask those kinds of questions here?!

Eve was nuzzling into John’s neck, giggling softly, and John had his head tipped back, smiling. And Hal?

Adam glanced over at Hal. His foot was twitching and he was chewing on his bottom lip. He looked concerned, his thumbs dancing across this phones screen.

Golly I wonder who he could be texting

It’s not like Solicon is tagged as one of the ships or anything

Adam frowned as he took in the music room.

Where the hell was the teacher?

The door to the room slowly creaked open and an old, old, incredibly old man slowly entered. He was hunched over, bald, and looked like he was sleeping.

“Morning Students,” The old man mumbled as he crept towards the chair facing their group.

“Good morning Mr. Ender.”

...

...

...

....

It’s a couple years too late for a Minecraft joke, isn’t it...?

Hal chirped, tucking his phone into his hoodie pocket.

Kaz straightened his back, watching the old man critically. Dave pocketed his phone, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees, propping his chin on his hand. John gently eased Eve away from his face, shushing her even as she rubbed her nose against his.

“Morning Hal.” Mr. Ender said, standing at the chair and slowly easing himself into it. He sighed when he finally sat down. He examined the small group and then turned his focus on Adam.

“You must be the new student, Adamska?”

“Adamska?” Eve asked. “What kind of name is Adamska?” She mocked.

“Russian, if I’m not wrong?” Mr. Ender asked.

Adam nodded.

“Do. You. Speak. English?” Eve asked loudly.

Kaz chuckled.

On the plus side, I’m always down for Kaz being a dick to Ocelot. (I ship it...)

Adam clenched his hands, ignoring her.

“Now, now, Eve. Be nice.” Mr. Ender chided. “If it hasn’t already been said, let me welcome you to Patriot’s High. Even though we’re a small high school,

EVIDENCE THAT I AM PSYCHIC CONTINUES TO PILE UP

Or the author actually wrote a ‘small school’ atmosphere semi-competently. At the very least, I was able to identify it as not working the way a large high school would.

we hope you feel at home here. I want you to think of this group as a safe group, a group of friends and family so if you have any difficulties you can turn to your fellow students if you need help. Now, why don’t you start off by telling us a little about yourself?”

“Like what?” Adam cleared his throat.

“Oh I don’t know, where were you going to school before you came here?” Mr. Ender said.

Suddenly everybody was staring at Adam.

He could feel that prickling sensation on the back of his neck and he tugged on his red scarf.

Please tell me he’s, like, a werecat or something and that’s what all these lines are about. Please? It’d make this more interesting.

“New York. It was a high school for the gifted.” Adam explained quietly.

“Well that explains everything.” Kaz said, shaking his head sadly. “We’ve got another gifted student.”

“It was Arsenal Academy,

just fuck me up

thank you very much.” Adam snapped.

“You went to Arsenal Academy!” Hal gasped. “That is the top technical school in the country! You have to be amazing to get in there! Why did you leave?”

Adam sat back in his chair and squared his jaw.

He didn’t catch John’s side glance as Mr. Ender coughed then cleared his throat.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your time here.”

Hopefully more than me.

He said as the bell rang overhead. “Now if you have any questions, just let me know and I’ll see what I can do to help.”

“Thanks,” Adam said as Dave, John, Eve and Kaz all rose and let the room. He grabbed his backpack and got up as students started filling the room,

Come to think of it, why is the End a music teacher, anyway? What kind of thought went into this? Generously assuming that any did...

Hal trailing behind him.

“Hey…”

“What?” Adam asked.

“Do you know where you’re going?” Hal asked.

Adam paused and then he dug out his course schedule. He literally had no idea where he was supposed to go. Hal peered over his shoulder and made a happy sound in his throat.

“We’re in the same math classes!”

Adam sighed.

“Lead the way.” He motioned to the increasing tide of students.

That’s basically the end of the first chapter. As far as a first chapter goes, it was alright. Introduced our setting and our main players. Really, some more should have happened, but considering it was short, I’ll let it slide.

Main problem is the fact that it’s a fuckin’ #Slow Build #Male/Male #Male Slash #All the fucking drama high school AU, with, so far as we can tell at this point, no actual interesting plot (or at least subplot!) to carry it.

Shit’s boring, guys. Why do people write these?

To Be Continued...