#but never say never

[xiangqiankua]

holy shit guys, I surpassed my wildest dreams and passed TOCFL 5 (C1) 🎉🎉 I was not expecting it, I almost cried. Shortly beforehand I had run into my Japanese acquaintance who'd taken the morning session of the exam- she told me it was super hard and she ran out of time at the end, so I went into it feeling resigned to my fate and wondering if I'd even manage to score a 3. She was not wrong, there were some insanely difficult passages (the pros and cons of transistors vs vacuum tube technology? wtf?) and I also ran out of time and clicked a bunch of random answers for the last 4 reading passage questions (which I tried to speed read, but it was about how methods of protein absorption in the human body affect the effectiveness of certain beauty products (or at least that's what I gathered) so it didn't help much). However, apparently my listening score made up for it.

I took two CAT practice tests in the two days before and scored lower on the listening both times (and only got a 4/B2 overall), so I was fairly surprised that it was the opposite on the actual test (although I had managed to finish both the practice CATs with time to spare, so maybe that last reading passage really did me in, idk). I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised though, because I tended to score higher in listening on the old Band B tests too- I think seeing the timer count down on the reading part made me extra nervous, but with the listening one can only go as fast as the questions are read, so I didn't feel the same sense of pressure.

This was my first time ever taking a Chinese proficiency test- I took it mainly so I can apply for university programs taught in Mandarin, but it also feels really good to have some kind of solid evidence of the fruit of years of struggle. Not that I think it should be a requirement for anyone's self confidence, and to be sure it's also a test of how well someone can take tests (which was something I specifically practiced for a month in advance), but I had written repeatedly on student visa applications that my end goal of intensive classes was to pass Band C (or at least I thought that sounded convincing to immigration), so I feel extremely gratified that it's finally happened. (Also I really thought I was not going to pass it, and would have to torment myself with god knows how much more studying and exam-taking!)

[ansonmountdaily]

Anson Mount and Ethan Peck at Star Trek: Las Vegas 2023

Photos of Anson and Ethan's Strange New Worlds panel at STLV convention, August 6 2023.

To great fan excitement, Ethan also joined fellow Spock actor Zachary Quinto at his panel, inspiring social media discussion on a possible crossover between Strange New Worlds and the Kelvin timeline Star Trek films! \o/ This was the first time the two actors sat down together and talked to each other. :)

Source: Creation Entertainment [2] [3], TrekMovie

[vivaciousoceans]

Do you think the show will ever have them repair their relationship?

I honestly have no clue, especially since Raul isn’t a regular anymore. I do think that the fact that they both canonically miss each other is evidence that maybe one day we’ll see Barba and Benson back as an iconic duo as they should be!

[bluegekk0]

saw the original fpk au post pop up in my inbox and it made me think back. what a crazy ride it has been, and it’s not even over

[theweirdowithcoffee]

Continuing my weird out of practice Great Teacher Onizuka meets Blue Eye Samurai images- this time it's a bit of a shitposty (took me less time and effort, and I think I hate drawing more angular head shapes now)

Taigen's no good very bad episode one climatic scene.

(the original image which inspired it)

[yonglixx]

Have you been to any skz concert?

unfortunately i have not :( but im not too upset about it im sure it’ll happen in the future ☺️ what i really want is an opportunity to meet felix one on one but dk how that’s gonna happen but i shall stay hopeful 🥰

[tls123]

i won't promise i'll do requests for jiujiu(ly) like last time, but if you have ideas or would like to see something specific giffed you can reply to this post and i'll try to keep them in mind 🌾💌

[shouldprobablybereading]

For the next novella I want to follow jezriens ex, I want to know what went on in their head as he went ”oh yeah I’m signing up for eternal torture in our version of hell, I’m also bringing our kid. See you never!”

Also since jezrien is suppossedly only around 30 shallash can’t have been that old unless we start playing the how young can you be a teen parent game, but that’s more of a grrm thing than a sanderson one

[maplehazelnut]

Update: got my shots this evening! My arm was sore the second that flu shot was done with...

Let's hope that not an indicator of how tomorrow will go for me. And if it does end up being a rough one, we made congee tonight to have for breakfasts. I will have ample comfort food for my sad wet self.

[mint-yooxgi]

i'm sorry for the horny ask but i just had to say 😭😭 joong making hwa kneel made me feel things ahsbdbdjdje i'm going to cry /pos crossing my fingers hoping for an ocxjoongxhwa threesome in the future 🙏🙏

[pharawee]

I don't know if you saw it already but Isbanky will be in the new Club Friday series

Yes, I saw! Star Hunter posted the trailer earlier today on their ig and I was like oh? 👀

And then I went and made gifs immediately.

I was wondering if there was a specific reason why Na and Bank hung out together recently (other than everyone in the Thai entertainment industry knowing each other).

I really really hope this will be available to watch with subs eventually 🙏

[mikodrawnnarratives]

So I was going to make an additional art thingie just to add a LITTLE more to the (potential) sprite look of my original character. I ended up adding more to it than I had thought.

Most of that page is other designs of a sprite simplified look and what I think the save mechanic could look like! The clock design specifically is a work in progress

I think my oc's name will be Penelope. I don't know why for sure, but it calls to me. It's her name now. First appearance right here

Also, I realized the Son of Sandman's design kind of... looks like- kjdfkjlsdkljds

Once I realized I had to. It's staying.

Don't worry. He gets back at Penelope by calling her Pepe-

So far as story? BELOW the cut! Just what I've thought of so far

I didn't share much of what I was thinking before but rn the concept is that she's in a world where eyes are HEAVILY valued. Not so much the actual EYE (though they aren't wasteful haha) but instead the stars that every person has. Or starts out with at least

Anyone can have stars in their eyes. Kids and adults. But their are very fragile and can be lost very quickly. Inspiration and innocence. A drive to do things sometimes.

The Sandman is probably going to be a main antagonist and the player plays as Penelope, a child with no stars. More uncommon in some areas than others. She uses a lantern to help herself when it's dark though you'll find it hard to see her without it at any time of day. I think the game could be in black and white with some color

So far for what I've thought of for the game, I think the player will navigate the world and I'd hope I'd make the game feel like it has a lot of life. Or at least fun to discover.

I don't know HOW much I'll keep of this. But I am keeping the ideas I've gotten for Sandman and the star eyes stuff

[oldtvlover]

Hey guys,

and the last three for today.

Nice how Johnny and Roy immediately take care of the little goat with their human medicine and contact Rampart though. Dr. Brackett’s reaction when being told they’re treaing a goat. Ouch.

Dr. Morton seems to be more open-minded. But never say never!! ;-)

[butididntpourthewhiskeys]

boy oh boy take me back to the days when I could just snuggle up under some blankets and read all your lovely stories & escape reality 💕

I’ll never stop writing 💖

[baronessblixen]

Keep writing them, I say! :DDDD It's such a comfort to go back to that one thing that always "clicks", even if you've (meaning I) never read it before. Reminds me of the quote: "...the friend(s) I haven't met yet" (or something along those lines, been a while since I saw that movie....)

I probably will keep writing them :D I don't even care much for the episode. It's just the kiss at the end and the endless possibilities it gives us fanfic writers 😁But yeah. I wonder if other people have their favorite episodes they write about. Probably.

[topguncortez]

can y’all believe the my friends think I’d kill sweet baby Bob in my new potential series???