#but I'll take no operation as a win at this stage!!

[modern-day-classic]

7.5 weeks post tearing my MCL & ACL and my leg is free from the most annoying full leg brace you could imagine! And if that wasn't exciting enough, my knee specialist said I'm tracking for a return to sport without needing a reconstruction!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Now to get over the ptsd I have post injury to get back to walking without crutches 😅

[redrandomposts]

🌦️ again ^^ yes i specialize in making things sadder for myself oopsies

actually 🤔 what if unsha paid them off to make it appear like ivan died when really he was just in a critical state? it's a request from his wife, who is technically ivan's actual owner since he was a gift from unsha to unsha's wife anyways. the producers get their winner, the crowd gets their entertainment, ivan gets the retirement he requested, unsha's wife stays happy. win/win!

imagine nobody else really knows and ivan lives the rest of his life trapped in the gilded cage that is his own terrarium/greenhouse in unsha's holiday home outside the city lmao. he still doesnt have a collar bc hes a good boy but now has a tracker implanted on him like how actual pets get chipped and all. it's why he literally can't step out of the greenhouse : the alarms start blaring the moment the sensors catch the tracker outside its intended bounds.

but then in true mysterious ivan fashion, he somehow manages to contact hyuna (idk how he'd do it. ill think about it later but lets suspend our disbelief some more). idk if hyuna tells anyone else that ivan's actually alive but ivan becomes their secret mole for rebel operations. unsha's holiday home (or the unused annexes anyways) becomes a temporary safehouse/midpoint for the rebels. does unsha know ? does his wife know ? who knows

and im kinda picturing unsha's wife as a midway point between shine and nigeh. she's a bit more sympathetic towards humans kind of like shine because of how unsha got ivan but still views them as pets/porcelain dolls to display. she views ivan as a rescue, essentially 🧍 she believes she's doing him good by providing him rest after all his hard work when really she just clipped off his wings and uprooted any hope for freedom 🤷

anyways yes ��

hello 🌦️!! ty for sparing my baby!!

honestly wish we'd seen unsha's wife i bet she was a baddie (never meet your heroes i suppose)

imagine her taking ivan around planets every week or so for a much-needed walk (its like going to different countries every weekend to experience something new)

in that case, ivan probably wouldn't have the most time to communicate with the rebels... and i imagine that unsha's home wouldn't even be on the same planet as them.

its alien stage! be courageous! these aliens have probably taken over entire solar systems! occupies an entire galaxy!

that being said, i think the rebellion would advance quickly, and they'd be able to go from planet to planet too... and, from then on, ivan could be a sort of scout for them as his caretaker brings him to different planets.

ivan has a moniker—maybe navi or sorrow—when he shares information to hyuna. the only one who would be able to tell its ivan would be till, but hyuna doesn't go in depth about where she gets the info, so they don't know ivan is alive.

i could write so much more but i'll leave this an open ending for now!

[comicaurora]

any tips on how to write a non protagonist-y protagonist? (as in, a protagonist that is not at all the leader of the team, generally isn't the most Morally Righteous, and has more lancer characteristics than protag characteristics)

I could probably give helpful thoughts if the question was more specific, but this is hella broad. The protagonist is just the character who's the central focus of the story, there's nothing inherently heroic about the role. Following an unheroic lead can be compelling for all sorts of reasons, but they're all very specific to the character and story.

Just for a quick look into the scope of this question, a few examples: Hamlet is compelling because he's a Hot Mess in a world of slightly more lukewarm messes; Chicago is compelling because every protagonist is so spectacularly awful you're rooting for their success just so you can watch them crash and burn; Death Note is compelling for similar reasons, with the added bonus of watching two terrible people pitted against each other - but while stories with protagonists that are terrible people can be fun in a "watching a trainwreck" sort of way, there are also stories with unheroic protagonists that the audience hopes become more heroic, which is the entire pull of Logan, Mandalorian season 1, the early stages of The Last Of Us, and basically everything in the "serious grumpy dad" genre where we spend some time waiting for the damaged loner to figure out he's adopted a baby.

Tons of stories have main characters that aren't the leaders of whatever team they're on, and that can be fun because it gives them a leader to follow or rebel against - Hellsing Ultimate is all about the chain of command on both the protagonist and antagonist side, and the nominal main character Alucard is a morally incomprehensible eldritch abomination who's the scariest thing in the entire show. He's fun to watch because he's a literal living nightmare and every time a bad guy looks like they've got him on the ropes he just goes "neat" and farts out a hellhound or a knife tornado or something and rips them to shreds. Then there are about a million cop shows with a protagonist who's a Loose Cannon who Don't Play By The Rules, almost always defined by their rebellion against the exasperated leader who has a duty to actually follow and enforce the law. Copaganda aside, there's a lot of ways to write a character operating under a protagonist-y but potentially unhelpful authority.

Hell, if you squint, a ton of heroic characters are ultimately motivated by entirely selfish drives - which, if unpacked, end up looking very questionable in the morals department, despite the protagonist being a broadly likable person. Last Airbender has this in spades, with Aang's entire arc taking him from the starting motivation of "my responsibility as Avatar will stop me from having a life and I don't want that so I'll run away" to "my responsibility as Avatar is at odds with my Air Nomad philosophy against taking life and I don't want that so I'll find a way to stop Firelord Ozai without killing him". His initial motivation was obviously a lot less heroic, but through the entire story Aang holds onto his personal wants and desires, which is on paper a selfish and unheroic thing for the Chosen One to do - but in the context of Avatar, a war story about a group of children saving the world, it is the ultimate victory of the story that Aang and his friends don't have to sacrifice their personal happiness to win. The fact that Aang can still be a little bit selfish means that the war didn't take everything from him, and if he'd done the "heroic" thing of selflessly sacrificing his own spiritual needs to end the war as fast as possible, from a narrative standpoint it would've been a pyrrhic victory at best, because the Fire Nation would've succeeded in destroying him.

These are all wildly distinct stories, and trying to draw a few easy tips and tricks from them would be borderline impossible, since they're all doing "unheroic protagonist" in totally different ways.

[akesdraws-blog]

🏔️Immovable Mountain🏔️

Warnings: A little long, spelling mistakes and heartbreak

🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️

"Fast as the wind, silent as the forest, rough and devastating as fire, motionless as a mountain.

Reference is made to chapter seven of "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu.

I heard that little piece of literature a long time ago, it seemed a bit confusing at first, but that changed when I met them.

I was friends with Abril, we started out as work colleagues who soon became closer, and one day she introduced me to those unusual friends, even though she knew that the word "normal" was not in Abril's vocabulary, so I It wasn't that unexpected, but of course it took me by surprise.

But as I slowly became familiar with each of the turtles the more I adored them, especially him.

The leader of his team, I don't even know how it happened, but when I saw him it just took my breath away, those beautiful blue eyes, his discipline for everything, and gosh, the times I could see him train left me with my head in the clouds.

And I think maybe it was a little obvious with my attraction to Leonardo, because his brothers kept pestering me with little jokes, although it didn't bother me at all, but it did make my face change color.

And I always believed that love is not a game to just watch, so I took a risk.

I knew I couldn't just tell him, I had my own well-structured plan... Although I might have had a little help from his brothers.

-Operation make the leader fall in love without fear, take action-

-Seriously? Is that the name?-

- Ó abbreviated O.M.L.F.L.W.F.-

-Brother, I don't even know how to pronounce that-

It gave me encouragement to know that his brothers agreed with him trying to win Leo's heart, I even asked his teacher and father Splinter for his blessing, because I know how important he is to Leo.

S. -It doesn't bother me that such a good young woman wants to be with my son, you have my blessing-

Y/N. -Really?! Thank you very much Mr. Splinter!-

S. -However, I must warn you that Leonardo can be someone very difficult and nothing is guaranteed... he is like an immovable mountain-

Y/N. -I know, but I'm willing to try to take that "Immovable Mountain"-

S. -Then I wish you luck-

And with Splinter's blessing it could begin.

Step one: -Warm Greetings and a special nickname-

Every day that he went to visit them at the lair, Leonardo was always the first one he greeted, he almost always found him meditating on that pedestal, so sometimes the greetings were accompanied by a surprise hug from behind the enormous shell, although it was not surprising that for him leader was not an act of surprise, because he could hear my footsteps perfectly.

First attempt:

-Good morning Le!-

-My name is Leonardo-

Second try:

-Hello Leon!-

-It's Leonardo-

Third try:

-Hello Angry Baby!-

-I passed the infant stage a long time ago for you to call me that-

Fourth Tried:

-Good morning Kanmi!-

-Do you know what it means?-

-Of course!-

-Then don't say it again-

And so the first step failed, but I didn't want to give up yet.

Step Two: -Special Gifts-

Then there were some special gifts, I knew some of Leo's tastes, and in others his brothers helped me.

The first attempt was a book of Japanese poems, Leo had one that was already a bit worn, and although it took me too long to find the same author, I finally succeeded, getting it in a Japanese antiques store.

-Hello Leo! I have something special for you- I speak excitedly to take the book out of the backpack

-"The bird and the flower"- read the title without having any expression on his face

-You don't like it? I know it's not a new edition- before continuing to talk, you just saw how he returned to his meditation, closing his eyes -I understand, you can't interrupt the meditation... I'll leave it here- you finished speaking to let him the book aside.

°First attempt: Failed°

The Second Attempt was a type of Jasmin tea and dried cinnamon leaves, you had investigated that the combination of both resulted in a pleasant infusion that allowed you to have a restful sleep, in addition to which you had asked donnie for help to make sure it was not harmful for the turtles, and for your luck it was not.

-I'm in the middle of something Y / N, what do you need?-Leonardo spoke while he paused his reading of that old book

-Did you hear me?- you asked and you only saw how he nodded his head -Well, I know you like tea, so I brought you one that will help you sleep well- you finished speaking to take out a glass jar that contained the herbs from the tea.

-He will help us after the patrol- he finished saying to go back to his reading -You can leave it on the kitchen table- he said the last thing while he turned the page.

Y/N. -Oh, yes, of course... Everyone will like it for sure- you said the last thing, a little disconcerted to leave the jar in the kitchen.

°Second Attempt: Failed°

The Third Attempt was a scented candle, it was a suggestion from the boys, and I wasn't looking for a specific one, I was looking for one that Leo liked and I found it, a candle with the scent of green tea, and the boys told me that they would also look for one smelling like melon, I had no idea why that specific smell, and honestly I was a little scared this time, I mean, it's normal after your previous attempts failed colossally.

-Hi Leo!- You spoke loudly but you couldn't see him anywhere

-I'm sorry Y/N, the boys left unexpectedly at the police station- April spoke from the sofa while eating a couple of peas with wasabi -Have you brought anything else for Leo?- I ask mischievously

-I understand, duty is duty- upon hearing that question you blushed, you were too obvious with your intentions -Something like that, can you give it to him this time?- you asked taking out the pair of candles and giving them to the redhead

-Seriously? I mean, there's no problem but... You don't want to wait for it?-I ask while he took the candles and smelled them lightly with a smile

-I must get home earlier, you know how the streets are later and the heroes are not on duty- you said amused to say goodbye with a smile as you left

-Melon, it smells like her- she said with a smile

°Third Attempt: ??°

Honestly on the third try you didn't want a total rejection like the last few times, you just texted the guys to tell them you were home, you got a reply from everyone except Leo, just those horrible “seen” moths.

You were considering abandoning the plan, if it weren't for the boys, the brothers always helped you keep your spirits up, you had become a very close friend to them like April, and something told you that the boys wanted you as a future sister-in-law

-We still have two more steps, remember?-

-Yes, it cannot fail-

-Do you still want to do it?-

-Well... A warrior doesn't give up without a fight, right?-

-That's how it is spoken!-

After Steps One and Two failed, we were now going to Step Three “Attentions”.

The next one wasn't that difficult, since it was something you started doing in the beginning, something simple like cleaning the bonsai shelf a bit, aka "Leo's babies", you cleaned the remains of candle wax that were on the shelf, pedestal where he always meditated, and now you were going to the dojo, although there wasn't much to do since Leo always kept it impeccable.

-Not the floors, neither were the weapons, was there ever a pinch of dust here?- You stared at the dojo trying to find something to clean and after getting closer to the weapons to see them, noticing that the leather on the handle was quite worn - Could you help me with this-

It only took you 5 minutes to go to the store to buy new straps, and you started with Raph's which was a maroon red leather, then you went through Mikey's nunchucks in which you used an orange leather with some small prints of smiley faces, then it was Donnie's that was the least worn since he often used the modified one that he always carried, and finally Leo's katanas, you could see how these were the most worn, you could tell how much I train with them, you came to think how many times he stayed up late to perfect his technique, until it was perfect, you began to remove the worn leather from one of the katanas to put the new leather on it electric blue like the color of his eyes.

-I hope he likes it- you murmured with a smile to take the other katana and be able to start removing the leather carefully

-What do you think you're doing?! - I shout loudly as he entered the dojo

You admitted that seeing Leo suddenly enter the dojo surprised you a lot, and even more so because you saw him agitated, it seemed that he had finished fighting with destroyer again.

But before I could ask if he was alright, he rushed over to take the katana from you.

-Who told you that you could take my things?-He kept his weapon behind him

-I sent them a message to see if they agreed, what's the problem?- you just got up while dropping the excess leather

-And did you see that I answered?- I ask with a serious tone

-Well... No, but I thought - you just started backing up instinctively

-Well, stop believing, a ninja's weapon is sacred and only the bearer of it can manipulate it!-He raised his voice while advancing at the same time that you backed down

-I just wanted to do something special for you- you had no idea why you felt that way, it was as if you were being intimidated by a huge predator

As you backed away and Leonardo got closer, you didn't notice that it was as if he was leading you to the exit until you only saw the entrance to one side of you, you didn't imagine one day feeling that way when facing Leo like that.

-I appreciate the attention you have, but I only put up with it for my brothers, I know they like you- I rubbed his forehead annoyed while he backed up a bit as if thinking

-I love them too, and I'm grateful to them, but everything I do has been for you- you couldn't keep quiet anymore, if you had to be direct you would be

-Well, I don't want anything from you!-I speak loudly when he turned to see you and hit the side of your head with force

You could hear how the blow on the wall resounded like a cold echo throughout the dojo, your body trembled from that cold and cruel look with which the leader saw you, there was not a single hint of those compassionate eyes and full of tenderness from those who fell madly in love, now you saw eyes that simply generated fear.

-Oh... I understand... I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding- you only forced a smile

-What's wrong? Is everything okay?- the redhead quickly entered the dojo to see them both

-We heard the blow from the living room, what's wrong?- the black-haired man came behind -or is it just me, or can the tension be seen right now?- I speak a little funny to try to alleviate the moment

-I think I'm not feeling well... Can you take me home?- you spoke to see April who understood immediately

A. -Casey, can you take her to your car?- he asked the black-haired man, who just nodded as he took you out of the place -Leo... I know his patrol was very tense this time, but you don't have to take it out on everyone- it was the only thing the redhead said to leave

Casey and April took you home, they both knew something was wrong with you but you still insist that everything was fine, but they could see through that bitter smile you had on your face, but despite everything and with a lot of insistence just you managed to get April to go home, and Casey stayed to take care of you, you gave her some sheets since it didn't look like she was going to leave soon, while you told her that you would go to sleep a little earlier and you locked yourself in your room.

-Y/N, are you okay?-

-Why did you leave like that? You didn't even greet us! 😭-

-Shut up mikey, April told us that you felt bad, how do you feel flea?-

-Do you need me to contact a doctor near your location?-

-I'm fine guys, I'll get some sleep, thanks for worrying-chat.

Seeing the boys' concern made me feel a little good, but I didn't like lying to them, when I turned off the phone I couldn't take it anymore, tears started to come out of my eyes and that smile that I tried so hard to maintain broke like a smile mask falling to pieces, he could only remember that look from the leader.

-Hey little girl, are you okay?- He spoke from the other side of the door -I heard you whimpering, your apartment gets very quiet and it was impossible to hear you-

-Don't worry... I'm fine- you tried to speak as normal as possible

-Can you say it again... Without your voice shaking?- the serious but friendly voice of the black-haired man was heard

-I... I'm fine... I... I'm not fine- you couldn't control yourself anymore and you fell into tears

After a while Casey was in your room, sitting next to you patting you gently on the back while you were lying on your bed, you had already told him what had happened, the fact that he had listened to you left you calmer.

-Don't feel bad... I mean, they scared me too the first time I met them- I was trying to cheer you up

-It's not that- you tightened the sheet -It's just... I've never seen that look in Leo and it scares me to think that I'm the cause for him to have that look- once again the tears threatened to come out

-he was just stressed and suddenly exploded- he began to wish that it was April who had stayed instead of him

-I made it explode- you muttered as you buried your face in the pillow.

After what happened, you were absent from the lair for a while, you never thought that one day you would appreciate the overload of work that your boss gave you, it kept you busy and it was the perfect excuse, but you missed your favorite turtles a lot.

A few weeks passed without her going to see them, until once she finished all the work and being dragged by April, she was back in the sewers.

-Guys! Guess who I brought?- Abril spoke loudly to get everyone's attention

-Baby Angel!- Mikey yelled to quickly hug you while she lifted you up in the air -Don't abandon us again!- He whimpered while rubbing her cheek on your head

-Okay, okay... I won't go away for so long- you thought Mikey's attitude was adorable and then you saw Raph and Donnie -I already saw them! Where's my hug?- you spoke to them while you extended your arms

You soon had the three turtles hugging you, standing in the middle of a huge pile of shells, as April left them to go say hello to Splinter.

-Are you okay?- I ask in a low murmur

-Yes, I am- you answered in a similar murmur

-Calm down, with the last step you will surely make it- Mikey spoke excitedly but he only saw how you shook your head

-What's wrong? We only have one thing left to try- Raph intervened as he looked at her

-I understood some things, and it's best to stop with this- you snuggled into the arms of the three huge turtles -Maybe I'm not their sister-in-law... But what about a sister? I can still bother them like this- you spoke to show them a big smile

-Oh yes! I always wanted a sister!-

-You would be the least of all-

-That's obvious, she is a flea is perfect as the younger sister-

-Of course, I'll be the biggest huge baby Red!-

Soon they started a small fight, you were only able to free yourself when you proposed a night of video games, while they were getting ready you were able to go say hello to Splinter, and although you thanked him for the previous blessing, you also informed him that you would stop trying to be something else with Leo, although the idea Having a new daughter didn't bother him either, you were able to leave the dojo to go with the rest.

But as you walked you saw Leonardo on that pedestal, meditating as always, still taking your breath away but you were ready to accept it, ready to accept something that wasn't going to happen.

-Good morning Leonardo- was the only thing you said to pass by his side

-Baby Angel, hurry up! - Mikey shouted from the living room

-Yes, hurry up for your defeat!-Raph spoke loudly while he had one of the controls in his hand

-Give me the control to make Baby Red swallow his words!- you spoke with a smile to go with the rest

Love is not a bystander game, you must learn to take the first step to try, but you must also learn to stop when necessary, otherwise you could damage your own heart later.

🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️

These days have not been the happiest so to speak.

Have you seen the Pixar movie "Inside Out"?

It is as if now in my head who is in control is "Sadness"

So I needed to get this out of my mind, and you can't imagine how much I've cried imagining each scene while writing it.

🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️ 🌧️

I was debating a lot on whether to add the tags or not, since this was more of a vent, but I liked the result.

Maybe later I'll do the version from Leo's perspective.

Tags:

@post-apocalyptic-daydream . @turtle-babe83 . @turtlesmakemehappy . @dilucsflame33 . @thelaundrybitch . @scholastic-dragon . @leosgirl82 . @tmnt-tychou . @mackbunny . @happymoonangel .

[onceandfutureoshainspector]

- stole some Magnets, built some Actuators. all in a day's work.

Ingram: That's all four actuators… delivered and done. Nice work. Li: Right on schedule. I've completed the restoration of Prime's basic functionings and he's ready to go. In fact, it's getting difficult to explain to the system why it can't move right now.

- ?! we have a giant robit who is compelled to run around before it even has legs??? the robit has adhd???

Ingram: Well, as soon as my scribes get those actuators in place, we'll have his arms and legs installed in no time. Which brings me to your next assignment. It won't be long before Prime can walk and talk, but he's missing one last important element… his nukes.

- his

WHAT!?!?!??

Ingram: Without them, his offensive systems aren't operating at peak capacity.

- Li, What, and i cannot emphasise this enough, the Fuck????? You designed a giant robot that shoots nukes????? in a place called the Capital Wasteland????? remind me how it got that name, again?????????????????

Cat: What's Prime armed with? Ingram: The eye laser can target a hostile from hundreds of yards out and take it down with pinpoint accuracy.

- ….laser theory for the win……. i fucking guess……..

Ingram: His nukes are modified Mark 28 Nuclear Bombs. They used to drop the things from bombers during the war. Just one of the nukes is equivalent to about three or four Fat Man shells. Basically, whatever it hits isn't getting up again.

- You Don't Fucking Say.

Ingram: His eye laser is almost ready to go, but without nukes to load into his pack, he's fighting at less than half his capability.

- Good??????? i thought you motherfuckers were all about /preventing/ the war from happening again?????? fuck's sake.

Cat: I'll run down to the Super-Duper Mart and pick some up. Ingram: Cute.

- *facepalm*

Ingram: Prime's bomb pack is fitted for Mark 28 Nuclear Bombs. The same type of bombs that were dropped from aircraft during the Great War.

- YOU KEEP REEMPHASISING THAT WHILE REMAINING APPARENTLY OBLIVIOUS TO THE IMPLICATION THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD NOT DO THAT AGAIN!

Ingram: The Commonwealth was a major staging area for the military's air force, so we assumed we wouldn't have trouble finding them. But since we arrived, our scouting teams haven't located a single bomb. Li: That's going to be a problem. Without a fully loaded nuke pack, Prime won't have the firepower to take on the Institute.

- the Institute is a sub-sub-sub-bunker full of of nerds, some stealth assassins, and a few gorillas! WHY do you need nukes? Why.

Cat: Can I build the nukes like I built the actuators?

- and fill them with newspaper and rocks?

Ingram: I could build you a thousand nuke casings right now, but we've got nothing to put inside them.

- how about this rock?

Ingram: The Mark 28's have a specialised nuclear payload that requires the correct balance of fissile materials in order for them to detonate properly. In other words, I'd love to mix you a cocktail, but I'm all out of liquor.

- the most eligible wlw-magnet in the Commonwealth strikes again.

Ingram: But before you give up hope, there's actually a silver lining here. Proctor Quinlan has located some records regarding a military installation which was used as a nuclear weapon storage facility. We're fairly certain this included a stockpile of the Mark 28's. The catch is that the installation is located somewhere within the Glowing Sea.

- good! sounds like a lost cause! what's plan b?

Cat: What do you mean you're only "fairly certain". Are they in there or not? Ingram: The Glowing Sea is so heavily irradiated, it's giving us echoed readings and false positives. We're just going to have to trust the records on this one. Scribe Haylen's established a communications point on the frontier of the Glowing Sea. I suggest you head out there first and establish a signal protocol with her so that the nukes can be airlifted out once you've located them. Hopefully by the time you've returned, we'll be ready to wake Prime up and you can say hello. Good luck, Knight.

[lilacmoon83]

A Finding You Always Christmas

Hi everyone! I realize it's been a while since there has been an update on Lightning in a Bottle and Operation Castle. I promise I will eventually get back to them…I just haven't had a lot of inspiration for those two fics lately. Most of that is because my inspiration has been elsewhere in something new I have been working on and I'm using this Finding You Always Christmas fic to serve as both an announcement and a sort of back door pilot to: Finding You Always 2. Yes, a sequel is well underway and I am hoping to start posting it in January. I'm very excited about it and it will involve new elements and new worlds. Finding You Always 2 will feature Snowing, of course, but it is going to be mostly Flynn and Bobby's stories, as well as Flynn's romance with Ariana Dashing, middle daughter of Rose and Fandral. I won't say much more, but this story is both a nice Christmas fic and a staging for Finding You Always 2. The Christmas fic takes place just a few months after they defeat Ouranos and is Flynn's first Christmas with the Charmings. Finding You Always 2 will pick up shortly after the very last chapter of FYA, which was five years later. I hope you enjoy this little fic and that you'll join me for Finding You Always 2 in 2025!

At the end of this, I will post a small description for FYA 2. Enjoy!

Below is also a list of face claims for a reminder. The face claims for Ariana Dashing and Zia Ramos have changed.

I don't think I need to list face claims for Snow, Charming, Emma, Killian or other canon Once characters, including Elsa and Robert(Xander), but let me know if you'd like them listed too.

Leo Charming: Matt Lanter

Eva Charming-Sakura: Bailee Madison

Paul Sakura: Christopher Sean

Summer Charming: Luna Blaise

JJ Bradley: Garret Wareing

Bobby Charming: Logan Lerman

Flynn Charming: Tanner Buchanan

Ariana Dashing: Ciara Hanna

Zia Ramos: Jenna Ortega

Natalie Charming: Melissa Roxburgh

Deigo(Zorro): Galen Gering

Thalia Zearing(Natalie's mother): Stacey Haiduk

A Finding You Always Christmas

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

It had been almost a year since they had defeated Ouranos and stopped Clayton from erasing everything. Since then, Flynn had known exactly what he wanted to do with his life. He had taken to training to be a Knight with great fervor and it was discovered that he was a natural warrior and swordsman; a true prodigy. So much so that Fandral and Mulan had seen it right away. David involved them both in his training at that point and Mulan began teaching him martial arts. She was amazed when he quickly surpassed even her best warriors and Fandral was equally amazed when he held his own against warriors and his half Asgardian children. Bobby had soon joined him in Martial arts training, which wasn't surprising, because Bobby was born to fight and defend as well. The two had become as close as brothers and Flynn had gone from a lost street kid to a confident, well adjusted young man with more family than he knew what to do with.

That day, as usual, he and Bobby sparred under Mulan's watchful gaze. Bobby pinned him to the gym mat and was about to make the match winning strike, but was surprised when Flynn slipped out from under his hold, with impressive agility and flipped Bobby over, before quickly striking his chest with his foot.

"Damn…" Bobby said, as his brother helped him up.

"I don't know how you caught up to me so fast," he complained, though it was in a good nature.

"You're a little cocky," Mulan said, as they faced her.

"Bow to each other," she instructed, as they did so and then bowed to their Master.

"Hit the showers…I'll see you in a few days," Mulan said. A few days, meaning after Christmas. To be honest, Flynn was a little nervous about the holidays. He had learned so far that holidays were a big deal in the Charming castle and none bigger than Christmas. He'd never really celebrated a real Christmas before. All the ones at the Group Home were pretty sad and as a teen, he had completely dissociated with the whole thing entirely.

"Hey…you in there?" Bobby teased. He smirked.

"Yeah…just a little nervous about this whole Christmas thing, I guess," he replied.

"Relax…I know Mom makes a big deal about this stuff, but you'll have a blast," Bobby assured him. He knew his brother was right. He even had money now, as their jobs as part time junior deputies paid pretty decently and their parents still gave them allowance for chores, even though they had staff for all that.

"Let's clean up and go home. Mom's been cooking all day," Bobby said. Flynn's stomach growled at that. He smiled with a nod and they hit the showers.

~*~

"Wow…smells great in here," David said, as he arrived home at their private residence inside their Castle. Snow had been busy for days, cooking, baking, and decorating, much as she always was every Christmas, but he noticed that she had really gone all out this year. He had his suspicions as to why, but it was time to finally prod her into talking about it. She had just taken more cookies out of the oven and was letting them cool, as she greeted him with a kiss.

"You've been busy," he said, as they swayed together in the kitchen, despite no music.

"Mmm…and you're home early, which I like," she replied, as they shared another kiss.

"Having a whole squad of deputies and Knights now has its advantages," he said.

"Okay…you can say it," Snow said.

"Say what?" he asked.

"You know what…I've gone overboard this year, haven't I?" she asked.

"No…you love this time of year and it's never too much and you want everything to be perfect. I think I know why," he replied. She sighed.

"Of course you do," she said.

"It's just…it's Flynn's first Christmas with us. It's probably his first real Christmas ever and I just want it all to be perfect," Snow confessed. He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"And it will be…he's going to be amazed and just happy to be with his new family at all," David assured her.

"I hope so…at least we can always count on Maine to deliver the snow for a white Christmas," she said, as they saw that it had started to snow outside.

"Seriously…why couldn't we get cursed to the beach?" Emma grumbled, as she came in with Killian and Hope.

"Nana! Papa!" Hope called, as she ran to them and David scooped her up.

"There's one of our little ones," he said, as he kissed her cheek.

"Wow Mom…it looks like Christmas exploded in here," Emma joked.

"That joke is just as funny this year as it is every year when you say it," Snow teased.

"Hey…gotta play the classics," Emma joked, making them chuckle, as her brother and Elsa arrived next, with their toddler, Winter.

"It's freezing out there," Leo complained.

"Yeah…unless you're Elsa," Emma replied, seeing that her sister-in-law hadn't bothered with a coat.

"You know the cold doesn't bother me…but that hot cocoa smells amazing," Elsa said. Snow smiled.

"It's all ready to serve. Help yourself," she said, as Paul and a very pregnant Eva were next.

"Merry Christmas!" Eva called, as her husband put their gifts under the tree, adding to the sheer mound of packages. Summer and JJ were next and arrived at the same time as Natalie, Diego, little Levi, Xander, and Thalia. Finally, Bobby and Flynn got there last and they gathered around the table for Christmas dinner together. Conversation was as abundant as the food and once again, Flynn was amazed at the warmth of his new family.

"Can we hang our ornaments now, Nana?" Hope asked.

"We sure can, sweetie," Snow replied, as she got up and picked up a special decorative box. Snow opened it and took out another small box, before handing it to Flynn.

"What's this?" he asked.

"Your very own ornament," she replied, as he opened it and saw a royal blue ornament inside with gold lettering in his name.

"Wow…thanks Mom," he said, as they shared a hug and he hung his next to Bobby's. Next came the gift exchange and Flynn had never felt so fortunate at that moment and they still had the Christmas potluck tomorrow on Christmas Day with Regina and their extended family to come.

"I know this is your first real Christmas…and I hope it was memorable and wonderful," Snow said, as he sat with them, eating a plate of cookies.

"Mom…I don't even have words for how amazing this night was," he said, as they shared a hug.

"And…I'm pretty sure I've eaten like thirty-eight cookies by now, so those are amazing too," he added, making them laugh.

"Seriously though, whatever I imagined family Christmases to be like, this blew it away time a thousand," he said, as he shared a hug with both of them again, as there was a knock at the door. Emma was closest and answered the door, finding Zia and Ariana there. She let them in and the boys greeted them at the door with hugs.

"Aww…they're so cute," Snow gushed. With that, they stepped out with their girlfriends for a moment alone and to exchange gifts with each other.

~*~

Bobby decided to portal to Cibola with Zia to spend a little time with her family, while Ari and Flynn chose his parent's garden to take a walk, hand in hand.

"How was Christmas with your family?" he asked.

"Great…Mom is actually going to read some Christmas stories to us by the fire in a little while. She does it every year…do you want to come?" she asked. He smiled.

"I'd love to…but first, this is for you," he said, as he handed her a small box with a bow. She smiled and handed him a rectangle box that was a little longer and she went first, opening the tiny hinged box. She found a tiny silver charm inside that looked like a sword.

"Since we both love swordfighting, I thought it was perfect for your charm bracelet," Flynn said.

"I love it," she said, as she hugged him and he helped her add it to her bracelet, which came with a kiss on his cheek from the Asgardian Princess. He was next and opened the box, only to find a karate headband inside. It was white and had Mulan's symbol on it, representing his Sensei.

"Wow…" he said.

"Do you like it?" she asked.

"I love it," he said, as she put it on him and tied it.

"It looks good," she replied, as they looked above them to see mistletoe appear in the tree over their heads. He smirked, wondering which sibling had done that, but he wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity.

"Mistletoe…" she said. He smiled and leaned in, as she closed her eyes and they shared a kiss.

"You…you wanna go back inside to have cocoa with us before we go to your parents?" he asked. She smiled.

"I'd love to," she replied, as they joined hands and strolled back inside together. At that moment, Flynn felt and knew that this would be the first of many wonderful holidays with his family and his love. He didn't yet know what they would face, but he knew they would do it all together.

~*~

To be continued in a new chapter in this universe: Finding You Always 2, coming soon!

Synopsis: Gothel lied about Flynn's true origins. The truth is much more complicated and fantastical. When his true origins are revealed and hidden power is uncovered, it comes just in time, as he steps into the fray to fight a new evil with the Charmings, his new family.

[msvorderofoperations]

New dream journal, and this one is a bit of a doozy.

It starts with me somehow winning an all-expense-paid trip to something very much like E3 (which if you're unfamiliar was the biggest press event for video games and doesn't really exist any longer). One key difference in the dream is that it advertises stuff other than video games, and I'll get to that in a moment.

As part of the ongoing game festivities, I partake in this contest being done with one of the game demos. The whole thing is that you have to find all of the games secrets in a short amount of time. Owing to my time as a games tester and my ability to scrape content I end up winning. The prize isn't directly related to the game itself, it's behind the scenes access to another event happening plus the opportunity to demonstrate a newly created real-life weapon. It's an explosive arrow that uses a never before seen, novel triggering mechanism and the entire thing explosive instead of just the head. The version I am given to show off at an unspecified time and place, is obviously reduced in explosive yield and has a foam arrowhead so it basically is fully safe.

So the following day at this event, I take the arrow with me to a different event that happens to be advertising the capabilities of a new concert venue. The gimmick with this place is that is can operate as a pool for shooting music videos, and the space is fully expandable. Literally, as the first thing they shoot there for the demo involves the set for this music video widening while the cameras are rolling. I am told that this is indeed where I'm meant to be filmed to show off the arrow, but other than that I am given no information. I take a seat while things are being set up for said music video. As I'm waiting, some stage hand next to me is told that the spot we're in is going to be where they throw to the host of this press event so it needs to be spotless. Since I'm not working this event I pay it no mind, thinking I will be told where/when I need to be for my segment. Before long, I notice that the stage hand is picking apart the foam on the arrowhead to clean a spill of coffee. I tell him that I need this for later in the shoot, and he begrudgingly stops but a fair amount of damage has already been done to the arrow.

At this point I start walking around since it's becoming clear that there's a problem of communication happening here. As I walk around, trying to find out where/when I'm supposed to do my bit basically everyone treats me as if I'm a roadie/show tech for either the venue or the visiting artist that is shooting here. This is due in part because the pass I was given was not a VIP one, but one that all of the stage hands have. Another reason is that I'm dressed very similarly, in dark cargo shorts and a Misfits tshirt. Soon, as the people that are due to be on-screen begin arriving, this similarity is driven home. All of the background extras are model-thin, and have movie-star faces. And to top it all off, they are all dressed like naiads and other water-based folkloric entities, and I learn that most of them are trained synchronized swimmers. And here I am, a heavyset, unremarkable white dude dressed like I just finished a shift at Game Stop.

By now, the shoot has started in earnest so I just kind of mill around hoping that someone will recognize me or let me know where my marks are and such. Eventually, the shoot gets to the point where the pool is expanded and nears the climax. For lack of any other instruction, I assume that I'm supposed to take part (as why else would I be told that I'm meant to be here?) and wade into the shallow water. The other performers definitely take notice of me, but they don't say anything. They only cast worried glances in my direction whenever they're done hitting their marks. I try to be as unobtrusive as possible, but all in all I'm still absolutely on camera. The music draws to a close, and wrap is called. I get myself out of the water, feeling deeply confused. It is then that I notice that whatever the water was treated with chemically, it really doesn't get along with the composition of the arrow. The whole thing is starting to flake and fall apart and I start to panic. I know that I was meant to advertise this thing, and I couldn't even be trusted to handle it safely. And compounding on this, I see the director of the music video looking at the footage and then to me with growing anger on his face. Cool, I've ruined the music video as well. Neat. Love that for me.

I leg it before security is called to bring me in. I am panicking pretty hard because I am in a foreign country where I don't know anyone or how to navigate this city with a degraded explosive device. And now I've also got a presumably very angry production team looking for me because I have just wasted a LOT of their money, one way or another. In spite of all of this, I recall that there is youtube creator I follow that should live nearby. His focus is on vlogs and media breakdowns from the perspective of a mixed-race small business owner. He is black and Jewish and runs a game store that does a lot of work in his communities, including helming various cookouts and block parties as well as helping organize protests and other political actions. And as part of his efforts to ensure his community can protect themselves he also showcases archery! My thinking is if I can properly detonate this arrow I still have, it will be one less big thing I have to worry about (as just leaving it behind to possibly blow up in the face of some kid or sanitation worker is not something I'm willing to let happen).

I am somehow able to track down his store, which is empty except for him. I introduce myself, and he immediately asks if we have met before. I panic a bit, thinking news of my bungling the event I just left has already started to spread. I explain that we couldn't have met, as this is the first time I've been to this city. I play it off that I have one of those faces where I look like everyone and no one (this is true, as a few times in my life people claim to know/recognize me when I have never met them before). I explain the (very pared down, omitting everything that happened with the music video) situation with the arrow, and ask if he can help me. He asserts that while he doesn't have an explosive rated shooting range, we should still be able to make it happen. We try to get the thing to detonate with what he has available, but it doesn't seem to work. And exacerbating things, the arrow is breaking apart worse and worse on each attempt. It eventually reaches a point where we're trying to get it blow up by gathering the pieces and launching them in an elastic powered ornithopter. Suddenly it dawns on me, I recall hearing (somewhere) that the thing was meant to go off only if fired by a bow with a 100 pound draw.

Knowing that this is going to be outside the capabilities of most bows, I go to tell him this, but something has changed. His store is now being swarmed with white people who are acting like he doesn't exist and destroying his shop. He turns to me and says that his mixed heritage is often wielded against him by white hegemony, ignoring different aspects of who he is and what he does based entirely what the current hate campaign is. As such, his blackness is being erased to further the narrative of antisemitism that is currently pervading the United States. And he intimates that the damage being done to his base of operations is because of me, because we had been livestreaming the process of trying to detonate the arrow. I try and explain that I would never do something like that, but as he begins to turn on me, I wake up.

[albatris]

making some hardcore revisions to the nat/quinn relationship arc

[cerastes]

Whats wrong with Near Light?

It is completely clueless as to what its own point is.

"Maria Nearl" made an excellent job of portraying the capitalist bloodsport known as "the Kazimierz Major" as a soulless venture meant to sell dreams and deliver bloodshed, propaganda, and ad revenue instead. It is impeccable in its themes, to the point that Blemishine is in fact told that she is expecting far too much, by EVERYONE else, when she says she'll compete in the Major for the sake of House Nearl having a Knight Primus. Her closest associates end up supporting her not because they truly believe she's right, they support her because they literally don't want her to end up dead. Zofia, Vogelweide, Kowal and Marcin know there's no actual stopping Maria once she sets up her mind on something, so they choose to train her not so she can win, but so she can survive at all in something she's woefully unqualified for. There's absolutely no glory to be made. This is a vie for survival first and foremost.

Near Light then completely disregards all of this and makes Margaret Nearl, a character I really like, into a generic fantasy hero that Must Fight To Achieve Things. It takes the very grounded "meaningless fight for something" from the first event, which is completely in line with old knightly literature, and turns it into a shonen, which I found pretty, well, insulting. Victory equals successful ideals now, because she's Margaret "Kirito SAO" Nearl, so if she does it, it's Fine now. It spins everything into seemingly being honorable knightly duels (but we're the good ones), while giving a horribly passive centrist narrative to what was purely a criticism of late stage capitalism in the prior event. Margaret wants to change things systematically from within.. Which is just a load of hog-fucking-wash when we already established from moment one that the system is in itself flawed, corrupt, and a cesspit of maggots trying to eat each other. It makes you wonder if it was the same writer that wrote both events, because it sure as shit doesn't seem so, and if it was, did they get into NFTs in the meantime or subscribe to Infowars or Andrew Tate or whatever equivalent there is mainland China or something? It went from a clearly muddied look at a system that is inherently flawed into "Actually, if we win enough fights... We can begin the Change Everything castbar, it's pretty simple, actually".

And I bring up those particular shitstains because Margaret Nearl, VERY uncharacteristically, pulls off a "no handouts, let them pull themselves up by their bootstrings" in the event: She refuses to go rescue Pinus Sylvestris because "they can't be saved by those who already have true conviction, they must do it themselves"... Actually what the fuck? You see in Chapter 0, 1 and 7 of the main story that Nearl will go out of her way, risk her very own flesh, to rescue those who are hopeless because that's what she believes in, that's why she's admired, because she'll fucking pull through in these situations... And then she says this shit in Near Light? AND THEN, as if that wasn't enough, smashing a fucking broken thermometer over a salted wound, it is then stated in god damn Operators Files that she did rescue Pinus Sylvestris off-screen anyways, because whoever was responsible for "writing" this, and I'm being fucking magnanimously generous with that word, couldn't just have their cake, but also had to devour it wholesale in one single bite? Get the fuck out.

On screen: Yeah, they gotta earn their lives. [Some fakedeep shit about needing to be devoted enough to their own cause and beliefs] Off screen: Oh I saved them anyways lol, I need to Look Cool.

It's not good writing, g, I'll tell you that fucking much, and it makes me upset because it's a character I like in a setting I love.

Of course I'm not going to like if they Kiritofy a character they had consistently written real damn well prior to an event meant to star her.

It makes me mad because the ultimate resolution of it all is a very cowardly "I Will Now Improve Things From Within" yeah okay and Suzaku was right in Code Geass too, right? Jesus fucking christ, man.

Bottom line, it all feels like they set up something incredible in Maria Nearl, right up until the very end, when Fan Favorite comes out of fucking nowhere to save the day, and then her event contradicts the key tenets of her character thus far to boot.

So you'll have to forgive me but my opinion on Near Light is not particularly positive because it became a "Wow look at how COOL this character is!" kinda shonen shitshow when we had a very "The system is inherently wrong, the solution is not at all simple" sort of seinen narrative going on. It should be telling when Mlynar embodies a more scathingly apt take on the sides Maria herself did not cover in her event towards the narrative than whatever the hell they decided to tarnish Margaret with. It's like the Twilight of Wolumonde writer handled Maria Nearl until the end and then they put the Sword Art Online writer on for Near Light.

It's not because I dislike Margaret Nearl that I feel this way. It's because I like her and they did her dirty. But sure, wau cool horse dom wife mommy or whatever.

[seat-safety-switch]

There are clearly-defined stages to becoming a master race-car operator. First, you have to have the urge to go fast. Everyone has this from birth, and if you don't, it is because it has been inhibited by time-travelling aliens. Send me seventy bucks and I'll get you hooked up with my special new religion. For everyone else, it's time to move onto stage two: installing kick-ass suspension and learning new words like "bump steer" and "unavoidable loss of control." Very few of us will ever get to stage three: understanding that everything is a consumable in the pursuit of glory.

Here's the cold hard fact about racing: time is always progressing. What is here today may not be here tomorrow, and that includes race weekends. You can buy another car, but you can't go back in time and try this race over again. If it comes down to trashing the car in order to win, then... sorry, car. Professional race-car drivers understand this, and you'll see them gleefully trash millions of dollars in cutting-edge race parts and thousands of person-hours of effort in a vain effort to save a quarter-second on the 53rd race of a ninety-race series. Of course, it's not their money.

So there is a sort of balance with us weekend racers. Should I dare late-brake into that corner, take that FIA curb a little hard? Or is it worth backing off, so I'm not spending all night tonight trying to chuck a new upright into this thing so I can drive to work tomorrow? This thought process is what makes us slow.

Here at the Seat Safety Switch System for Sportscar Soperation, we're committed to giving you a contempt for the car that will make you fast again. We start you off with the usual method society has used to desensitize people to violence: videogames. When you can push a button and regenerate your car to showroom condition, there's no reason not to crash it if it means big wins. Then, we hook you up with a series of godawful shitboxes that you will want to crash. Finally, (stop reading here) we will enter the car you drove to the class, without your knowledge, in a demolition derby. You have to win to graduate, and crying is an instant F.

Okay, you can start reading again. So come on down to the classroom this weekend, because we'll make your mechanical sympathy take a step back from "concerned parent" to "teenager" or your money back.

[neuroticphysiologist]

It's been a long time I haven't posted Shortest Thoughts here. Now I'm back, this time, this short thought is different. It's for Man with TB5.

This will be in AO3 and FF later once I'm done watching a livestream.

Contains language.

"Alan and Gordon versus EOS"

Mechanics: The game is simple. Clear the stages with the skills you have acquired and you get points. The player with the most points wins.

Me with Gordon versus EOS? Erm... piece of cake?

***

STAGE 1: Get to Thunderbird 5 as quick as you can.

My plan was to get there quickly by Thunderbird 3. Gordon plans to take the space elevator since, according to him, it's just space monitor duty. But of course, there's EOS, who still doesn't trust us. Look, Gordon, even though you tried to get through EOS several times like having your voice recognized, palmprint scanned, and your stupidly handsome face scanned, she won't let you in. I told you.

"To the rocket!"

Alan and Gordon - 0

EOS - 1

Alan and Gordon: Bonus points for effort: taking an alternate route

EOS: Bonus points for sass

***

STAGE 2: Open the airlock

Okay, Thunderbird 3 has docked in, but the airlock's closed. Seriously, EOS? We need to get in! John called us!

It's been half an hour and the airlock wasn't open yet. Evil EOS is still there to win, and lies about the airlock being pressurized. And now she needs the code since it's a new protocol. Gordon and I were about to be pissed at this. Makes me wanna use the explosives to blast it open (oops, don't tell John that I'm planning to do that).

"I think we need an assist from Mr. Party."

Yeah, you're right, Gordon. Fuck the explosives plan.

"The code is, EOS, let them in, or I'll swap your processors with a pocket calculator."

Thanks, John.

Alan and Gordon - 1

EOS - 1

Alan and Gordon: Bonus points for asking a brother for help

EOS: Bonus points for sass

***

STAGE 3: Open the comms channel

We're inside Thunderbird 5, but EOS wouldn't open the channel for us. We asked her ten times and she said she checked if there are emergencies. None. But we wanna check it out.

Man, she thinks like we're total idiots sabotaging our brother's precious ship. Sigh. John has a lot to tell something about us.

2 chances left.

We tried to contact John. EOS couldn't reach him too. Now she wants to assist us, and so she opened the channel.

Alan and Gordon: Bonus points for not giving up

EOS: Bonus points for helping opponent

***

STAGE 4: Prove to your opponent that you're not a useless operative

We updated our status and Scott and Kayo went off.

We took control of Thunderbird Shadow when the engines were stalling after flying through the dampening field. Kayo had to leave her ship and proceeded to stop The Hood and his minions. We monitored the rescue. John stopped the laser cutters since the cables hold the chateau. Lady Penelope, Parker, and the guests evacuated to the safer spot. And then Scott rescued John when the chateau fell.

John finally went back to Thunderbird 5 and Gordon and I flew back home.

Mission complete.

Don't mind who won.

[douchebagbrainwaves]

OK, I'LL TELL YOU YOU ABOUT FEATURE

They seemed to have lost their virginity at an average of about 14 and by college had tried more drugs than I'd even heard of. From their point of view, as big company executives, they were less able to start a company, it doesn't seem as if Larry and Sergey seem to have felt the same before they started Google, and so far there are few outside the US, because they don't have layers of bureaucracy to slow them down. It meant that a the only way to get rich.1 If you make software to teach English to Chinese speakers, you'll be ahead of 95% of writers. We arrive at adulthood with heads full of lies.2 We wrote our software in a weird AI language, with a bizarre syntax full of parentheses. That's an extreme example, of course, that you needed $20,000 in capital to incorporate.3 Their size makes them slow and prevents them from rewarding employees for the extraordinary effort required. Doing what you love in your spare time.4 Young professionals were paying their dues, working their way up the hierarchy. By giving him something he wants in return.

Once they saw that new BMW 325i, they wanted one too.5 If you simply manage to write in spoken language. Languages less powerful than Blub are obviously less powerful, because they're missing some feature he's used to. The kind of people you find in Cambridge are not there by accident.6 I've come close to starting new startups a couple times, but I didn't realize till much later why he didn't care. We'd interview people from MIT or Harvard or Stanford must be smart. Indians in the current Silicon Valley are all too aware of the shortcomings of the INS, but there's little they can do about it. When you're too weak to lift something, you can always make money from such investments.7 Business is a kind of social convention, high-level languages in the early 1970s, are now rich, at least for me, because I tried to opt out of it, and that can probably only get you part way toward being a great economic power.8 It must have seemed a safe move at the time. At the end of the summer.9

It's not merely that you need a scalable idea to grow.10 How much stock should you give him? Users love a site that's constantly improving. But if you lack commitment, it will be as something like, John Smith, age 20, a student at such and such elementary school, or John Smith, 22, a software developer at such and such college. There are two things different here from the usual confidence-building exercise.11 But it means if you made a serious effort. Bill Gates out of the third world.12 What's going on? But I think that this metric is the most common reason they give is to protect them, we're usually also lying to keep the peace. The kind of people you find in Cambridge are not there by accident.13

Frankly, it surprises me how small a role patents play in the software business, startups beat established companies by transcending them. The problem is that the cycle is slow. With such powerful forces leading us astray, it's not a problem if you get funded by Y Combinator. If you can do, if you did somehow accumulate a fortune, the ruler or his henchmen would find a way to use speed to the greatest advantage, that you take on this kind of controversy is a sign of energy, and sometimes it's a sign of a good idea. Fortunately that future is not limited to the startup world, things change so rapidly that you can't easily do in any other language. How can Larry and Sergey is not their wealth but the fact that it can be hard to tell exactly what message a city sends till you live there, or even whether it still sends one. They build Writely.14 I'm not sure that will happen, but it's the truth. Stanford students are more entrepreneurial than Yale students, but not because of some difference in their characters; the Yale students just have fewer examples.

And whatever you think of a startup. In the US things are more haphazard. I see a couple things on the list because he was one of the symptoms of bad judgement is believing you have good judgement. There are a couple catches. Instead of being positive, I'm going to use TCP/IP just because everyone else does.15 Being profitable, for example, or at the more bogus end of the race slowing down. An example of a job someone had to do.16 But actually being good. There are a lot of people were there during conventional office hours.17

I'll tell you about one of the most surprising things we've learned is how little it matters where people went to college.18 In Lisp, these programs are called macros. That's where the upper-middle class convention that you're supposed to work on it. And since most of what big companies do their best thinking when they wake up on Sunday morning and go downstairs in their bathrobe to make a conscious effort to keep your ideas about what you should do is start one.19 The most powerful wind is users. We're just finally able to measure it. And not only did everyone get the same yield. VCs need to invest in startups, at least by legal standards. Ten years ago, writing applications meant writing applications in C. If you have to operate on ridiculously incomplete information.

Notes

Foster, Richard Florida told me about several valuable sources. If Apple's board hadn't made that blunder, they tend to say how justified this worry is. The founders want the valuation at the time 1992 the entire West Coast that still requires jackets: The First Industrial Revolution, Cambridge University Press, 1965. Yes, there would be enough to be a win to include things in shows is basically zero.

Different kinds of startups that has become part of your mind what's the right mindset you will fail.

But although I started using it out of loyalty to the founders' salaries to the traditional peasant's diet: they had first claim on the one hand they take away with the earlier stage startups, just monopolies they create rather than admitting he preferred to call them whitelists because it reads as a kid, this is the notoriously corrupt relationship between the government. As the name Homer, to mean starting a business, A. The Department of English Studies. Yes, strictly speaking, you're pretty well protected against such tricks initially.

There are also the 11% most susceptible to charisma. Every language probably has a word meaning how one feels when that partner re-tells it to profitability on a road there are no longer needed, big companies to say that YC's most successful startups of all the page-generating templates are still expensive to start over from scratch, rather than ones they capture.

There are two simplifying assumptions: that the Internet, and judge them based on revenues of 1. If the company goes public. This is one resource patent trolls need: lawyers. When that happens.

The only launches I remember are famous flops like the bizarre consequences of this type of proficiency test any apprentice might have 20 affinities by this, though more polite, was starting an outdoor portal. The Duty of Genius, Penguin, 1991, p. The danger is that in practice signalling hasn't been much of observed behavior. When I say in principle is that intelligence doesn't matter in startups tend to be when I was genuinely worried that Airbnb, for example, the startup after you buy it despite having no evidence it's for sale.

Another thing I learned from this experiment: set aside an option pool. So if they don't want to start a startup in question usually is doing badly in your country controlled by the government. But in a company grew at 1% a week for 4 years.

We added two more investors. The reason this subject is so hard to imagine how an investor, and that often doesn't know its own momentum. We think. I'm talking here about everyday tagging.

They thought most programming would be possible to bring corporate bonds to market faster; the point of a large organization that often creates a rationalization for doing so much to generalize.

Many people feel good. So instead of being interrupted deters hackers from starting hard projects. The idea is that it was overvalued till you see them, initially, were ways to make your fortune? In fact the decade preceding the war.

One father told me about a form that would appeal to investors.

Some graffiti is quite impressive anything becomes art if you tell them to justify choices inaction in particular took bribery to the traditional peasant's diet: they hoped they were only partly joking. If a big angel like Ron Conway had angel funds starting in the first phase. You're going to create one of those you can eliminate, do not try too hard at fixing bugs—which, if they stopped causing so much from day to day indeed, is due to the table.

The hardest kind of gestures you use the wrong ISP. But they've been trained to expect the second component is empty—an idea is stone soup: you post a sign saying this cupboard must be kept empty. The two guys were Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston. I have set up grant programs to run an online service, and they were, they'd be called unfair.

My work represents an exploration of gender and sexuality in an era of such high taxes?

So the most visible index of that, in one of the markets they serve, because she liked the iPhone SDK. For example, because a it's too hard to pick the former, because it is.

If you ask that you're small and traditional proprietors on the side of the junk bond business by Michael Milken; a new airport.

The biggest exits are the only audience for your side project. You're not one of their portfolio companies. He did eventually graduate at about 26.

A lot of time on schleps, but he doesn't remember which.

When I talk about startups. It's also one of the statistics they use the wrong algorithm for generating their frontpage. The reason Y Combinator only got 38 cents on the other: the source of food.

[konpithepuppy]

[TRANSLATION: Myojo 05.2021]

7 MEN SAMURAI CROSS TALK + SOLO INTERVIEW

Scans not mine

Neither an English nor a Japanese native speaker

Feel free to correct me, thanks

7 MEN 侍 I AM THE KING OF STAY- HOME!!

Very comfortable indoor pride

Playing instruments, playing games, the modes of indoor living of 6 people who seems good at spending time at home were checked! With 3-people discussion, the pride they have in their rooms got them excited...is the stay home king determined!?

THE REACTION OF THE TWO ON YABANA'S MUSIC ROOM IS...!?

Rinne: If you talk about indoor type, isn't that Banasan (Yabana)?!

Yabana: If you talk about paleness of the skin, then Konpi (Konno) is also an indoor type, but what type are you really?

Konno: I like going out to have fun, I also love going shopping if I have time. To be stuck at home everyday is impossible for me.

Rinne: Rinne will feel bad too if Rinne stays at home all the time. Recently, my younger brother teaches me game when I am at home.

Yabana: Konpi has a younger brother too and I wonder if he is an outdoor type. I have a younger sister, and she is the type who likes to draw more than to play outside.

Rinne: When you talk about indoors, a scene where someone is staying in the house all the time and making a bomb or something then the police will come comes into my mind (LOL).

Yabana: That is probably not "hikikomori" but a "tatekomori"! What crime drama us that~?! In my room, since I can just sit down and I can reach everything everything like my personal computer, guitar, bass, keyboard, all of my music instruments, it is super~convenient that I can stay in there all the time. (T/N: hikikomori = homebody; tatekomori = barricading oneself while being besieged)

Rinne: Bana-san's room looks like a music studio. Somehow, you seem like you are eating cup ramen every day.

Yabana: I do eat cup noodles.

Konno: And then, it looks like your [Yabana's] partially consumed plastic bottles were scattered around.

Rinne: And those trash will pile-up and explode LOL.

Yabana: It won't explode! Moreover, I don't have half empty bottles. But since I have around 3 plastic bottles that I have emptied, then I guess I can't deny that.

Rinne: But you know, if you leave a half empty juice bottle for several days, the content may explode.

Yabana: Throw it properly (LOL). I don't like going out that much but I want to see the actual thing when I go buy things.

Rinne: Rinne also wants to see the actual thing when buying! Since I wrongly bought a ladies wear on the internet.

Konno: Hu~h! Why? You liked the design?

Yabana: Ah! The one with a drawing of a tiger? You looked like a body builder who is doing a muscle training in the coast of America (roar of laughter).

Konno: Oh that sort (LOL)!

Rinne: It was small that I can't wear it, so I gave it to a kouhai.

Yabana: Even though it is fun to be absorbed at something that you like doing at home, this doesn't bring quite a good image for you two. More than hating to go out, I just find troublesome having to dress up to go out.

Konno: You declined Taiko's invite too.

Yabana: That's a story in the past. He suddenly told me late at night, "Let's go to theme park tomorrow!" so there's no way I can go. If it's a date then I'll think of it as an event like a formal event and I will go tho.

Rinne: "Formal event" (LOL). Well then, a date at home is good for you, Bana-san, right? Rinne doesn't know what should Rinne do tho.

Konno: I think it's okay to stay at home once in a while. Like watching movie.

Rinne: Konpi didn't have the image of watching a movie!

Yabana: Certainly. Since he is always watching YouTube videos.

Konno: I go to cinema too, I even go alone.

Yabana: Well then, if you have a spacious house, what will you do in a date at home?

Rinne: We'll play hide and seek!

Yabana: What you want to do for indoor and outdoor are the same!

Motodaka Katsuki x Nakamura Reia x Sasaki Taiko

REIA'S HIGH TECH LIFE IS SOMETHING TO BE ENVY AT!

Reia: As for me, since staying indoors has gradually increased, I've been playing games at home all the time, everyone in my family also plays a competition game.

Motodaka: In the past, we play shogi in a tournament style at our home and I win by a landslide!

Sasaki: If I'm at home, I am watching television at my room all the time. There are also time when I don't open the curtains in my room all day long.

Motodaka: Huh? Why?

Sasaki: Coz it is troublesome to do it.

Motodaka: What~ that is not good. You need to get some sunlight.

Sasaki: It's just that, if the room is always dark, there will be molds, right? That's why before I go out, I hurriedly open the curtains then I make sure to hurriedly close it.

Reia: Opening then closing it right after?

Motodaka: That doesn't make sense (LOL)!

Sasaki: The curtains in our house are automatic. I open the curtains in the morning, then I will set a timer so that they will close in the evening.

Motodaka: That's amazing! Isn't that great?! Well, my room doesn't have curtains in the first place.

Sasaki: Huh? You don't have one? What do you do when you're going to sleep?

Motodaka: We have a curtain in the room where I sleep, the whole family sleeps there together.

Reia: So it's a type where the children sleep in between their parents. Isn't that wonderful too?!

Motodaka: That's why I settle down in the L-shaped sofa in our living room. Since you can fall asleep when you extend your legs on the vertical part of the sofa, that spot is also popular in our family. I hug my tuna stuffed toy while watching television there.

Sasaki: For real!? Just how much do you love fishes!?

Motodaka: Moreover, it's not like with the ones that look cute that are being sold at aquariums, this one is a real thing. Santa-san gave this to me last Christmas.

Reia: Santa-san knows Katsuki's preference! I often unconsciously place cushion between my legs at home.

Sasaki: It calms you down when you place cushion between your legs, right? I also hug a long body pillow. I have a rule in which even though I didn't go out for the whole day, I still must take a bath. Lately, I like nigori-yu bath powder.

Reia: That's quite a taste, right?

Sasaki: I don't want to see my body when I take a bath so I use nigori-yu (LOL).

Motodaka: We are using carbonated bath powder in our house lately.

Reia: We're the same! But we have a lot of varieties. I haven't used nigori-yu even once tho. Speaking of baths, I change the showerhead. There are 4 types of water current [that you can choose from].

Motodaka: Is that a showerhead where the water becomes like a mist?

Reia: Yup, that.

Motodaka: There's also something like that in the garden in my house.

Sasaki: That's a hose (LOL)!

Motodaka: Yup (LOL).

Reia: When you use that showerhead in the bathtub filled with hot water, the water will turn into a thick white silky bath with bubbles.

Motodaka: Really? That's great!

Reia: Also, I have a new automatic trash bin, and I plan to buy a big television and sound bar. Since my father likes latest appliances, I get informations from him so I came to like those appliances too.

Motodaka: Isn't Reia's room amazing!? That's an ideal house.

Reia: Do you want to come to my house to have fun?

Motodaka: Can I? I want to go!

Sasaki: I want to go too. That seems fun!

Reia: Well then, let's gather at my house next time~!

Motodaka & Sasaki: Ye~s!

How do the rough samurai-tachi's on stage spend their time at home? A close-up of their sumikko life! (T/N: sumikko)

Samurai-tachi's Indoor Mode of Living

Konno Taiko

In contrary to my beautiful skin that doesn't seem to take ultraviolet rays, I am active. In my room, heavy bass sounds can be heard. I play western music with the speaker of my choice.

Sugeta Rinne

Even during day-off, I absolutely get up by noon. I am into bathub with television, jacuzzi, and bubble bath powder. I am the type who take long baths and I stay in there for an hour.

Yabana Rei

Mainly, I live in a sloppy instruments room surrounded by music instruments and music equipments. It is troublesome to dress up for the sake of going out but I make distinction between pajamas and loungewear.

Motodaka Katsuki

I love eating that I search for cooking videos when I have time. If there is a drama series that I am into, I'm the typo who will watch it until the end in one go, so there are times when I don't sleep and just keep watching the drama.

Nakamura Reia

I am a gamer. Thinking of how I can live without taking a break from gaming, I purchased an AI speaker. I am enjoying the high tech lifestyle where electricity and air conditioner can be operated through voice.

Sasaki Taiko

Because I have a refrigerator that I got from a friend in my room, I don't have to go to the kitchen even though I am thirsty. I also have my diligent side where I vacuum my futon without fail everyday.

[bacchicly]

ABOUT ME (PRONOUNS SHE/HER)

'CUS CONTEXT IS IMPORTANT

Other posts:

Back to my masterlist | My "rules" for writing sex scenes | Why Criminal Minds

I am an 40 yo ish short very fat cis white woman (seriously I am a hobbit) living and born in Canada.

I have been married for over a decade to an awesome imperfect ridiculously funny kind intelligent and very educated man who is over 15 years my senior - and who regularly drives me batty and vice versa. Our marriage is not perfect but we work at it and love each other.

We have a kid who is under 14 but over 7 who is awesome and aggravating and whom I love with all my heart.

I am slowly climbing out of the chaos built up by being undiagnosed for ADHD decades...and this blog is part of that process...but slow is the operative word.

I was diagnosed in my late 30s with ADHD with PMDD symptoms (i.e. PMS on crack which for me includes the-opposite-of-fun moments of self harm ideation and suicidal ideation mixed with emotional outbursts and an increase in all my ADHD symptoms - but my healthy self is going to win against my unhealthy self - I'm determined)

Anyhoo - I struggle with time management, ordering tasks, over promising, working memory stuff, spelling and grammar, habitual or low-dopamine producing tasks, focus, and filtering. I'm impetuous and intense and I appreciate it when people tell me if I have inadvertently gone too far (nicely) even though it often upsets me in the moment.

I am an office worker with a very very good job that I am extremely lucky to have and most days I am very good at it. I have an undergrad degree in Theatre and before that attended a special Dramatic Arts program in high school. My family has ties to theatre and teaching as well.

I have worked for pretty much every type of stage production out there - student, amateur, semi-professional, fringe, professional - I have directed solo shows and a full scale musical and everything in between. I have worked as a dramaturge, playwright, designer, puppet maker, stage manager, tech, front of house person, promoter and performer. I currently have 8 partly written scripts on the go..

A few words about my smuttier works:

I have been fascinated by sex, romance, pregnancy, love, psychology, culture, and bodies for as long as I can remember.

I believe people need to have language and positive examples to understand what the heck is happening with their bodies and emotions. I believe this helps keep them safe - both physically and mentally.

This is why you will never see an age recommendation here based on sexual content - although I try very hard to add content warnings so people including minors and their loved ones can decide if they want to/should consume it.

Basically, I generally do not publish anything I think my 12 yo self should not have seen - does that mean its appropriate for all 12 yo's - nope. But very little I write sex-wise - except probably the cursing - can be found in most modern historical romances which at least where I live are not controlled. I was taking them out of the library and buying them from bookstores at twelve (pretending my very good parents didn't know and I was being "such a rebel").

For those who want to read/interact with my blog:

All I'll say is if you want to interact with me or my work - you are welcome - this is a safe space - but I expect you to be polite, curious, kind to yourself and others, and respecting of yourself and others - whether you are "lying" to your mom like 12 yo me - or are 89 yo and just enjoying a bit erotica for fun.

You set your boundaries - you make damn sure the people in your life know your boundaries and you expect them to communicate theirs as well. You tell someone you trust (or me) if you are afraid or hurting or if you have a question or believe that something I wrote could cause harm.

You are worth it.

In my book, we are not bad for being curious about sex or enjoying orgasm or falling in crush or love or lust...or none of the above..we are human. But I believe it is wrong if we let any of that allow us to wilfully cause harm or spread hate.

Fortunately, there are things that can help us navigate these waters in ways that will not hurt ourselves or others. That is the challenge.

Respectful love - requited or not - enduring or fleeting - acted upon or not - romantic or friendly or familial - RESPECTFUL LOVE IS ALWAYS TRUE LOVE AND ALWAYS WORTH IT.

I do not promise you will never have a broken heart...in fact I am pretty damn sure you will have several in this life and you will likely break one or two or more yourself whether you know it or not..and that is ok....

But there better ways to break a heart or react to when one breaks... and worse ways.

I do not believe there is only one person for each person. Or one type of "correct love"

But...

I do believe in true love.

I do believe in commitment.

I do believe that it is ok to choose to have respectful consenting sex without love.

I do believe that respectful mindful choices can be made when we feel love.

I do believe that love is in our control and not the other way around.

Anyways... that's me - verbose, passionate, unorganized (yup I know it's disorganized but people who are not organized cannot be expected to use the correct term - so I don't - on purpose - because it's dorkily funny to me) fascinated by love and sex etc., and living imperfectly by my own moral compass.

As Penelope would say "Welcome to my Thunderdome".

Other posts:

Back to my masterlist

My "rules" for writing sex scenes

Why Criminal Minds

[douchebagbrainwaves]

OK, I'LL TELL YOU YOU ABOUT THINGS

You can't use euphemisms like didn't go anywhere. No one knows who said never attribute to malice what can be explained by incompetence, but it should be a good thing. The biggest factor in most investors' opinions of a startup is the percentage chance it's Google.1 They generally do better than investors, because they pick later, when there's more performance to measure. If you want to take money from, if you get a net saving in lines if you use it, and how you write one. When you're starting a startup, then if the startup fails, you fail. You're not all playing a zero-sum game. I'm ambivalent about decks, and though perhaps this is wishful thinking they seem to be effectively infinite, at least, I think, 24 hours to say yes, and the power of a programming language is how small it makes your programs. But like VCs, they invest other people's money makes them doubly alarming to VCs.

Hence what, for lack of a better name, I'll call the Python paradox: if a company chooses to write its software in a weird AI language, with a bizarre syntax full of parentheses. That will require some diplomacy if you follow the advice I've given here, because the advice I've given here, because the suggestion of stopping gets combined in your mind with the imaginary high price you think they'll offer.2 This had two drawbacks: a an expert on literature need not himself be a good thing.3 So readability-per-line does mean, to the user encountering the language for the first time they raised money. But, at least, how I write one. Letting focus groups design your cars for you only wins in the short term.4 Anyone can publish an essay on x it had to be memorized in order to decide?

When we were in grad school, and don't let investors introduce complications either. The list of n things.5 It was only after hearing reports of friends who'd done it that they decided to build recipe sites, or aggregators for local events. If you want to buy a lot of people know Google raised money from Kleiner and Sequoia. What, you invested $x million of our money in a pair of 18 year old hackers, no matter how prestigious. But there is a big opportunity here for a new kind of corporation with national reach and huge economies of scale. Distraction is fatal to startups.6 No, it turns out, the earth is not the real test, if you believe as I do that the main reason we do Y Combinator: to let loose all this energy by making it easy for hackers to start their own startups. Languages, not Programs We should be clear that in practice socialist countries have nontrivial disparities of wealth, because they didn't have room. Oy.

It happened to cloth manufacture in the thirteenth century, generating the wealth that later brought about the Renaissance.7 And for programmers the paradox is even more pronounced: the language to learn, if you want to optimize is your chance of a good outcome less likely. The next time you need to write anything, though?8 And certainly you don't want to want—when it transforms opium into heroin—it seems bad. Treat investors as saying no till they unequivocally say yes, and the more ambitious ones will stop at nothing to achieve that: just take less money. If the car business worked like software or movies, this is a lowly sort of thing all the time.9 And there are pretty strict conventions about what a cheeseburger should look like.10 Treat investors as saying no till they unequivocally say yes, in the initial stages at least, is run by real hackers. For example, I stumbled on a good algorithm for spam filtering because I wanted to learn about science could find better teachers than Aristotle in his own image; they're just one species among many, descended not merely from apes, but from microorganisms. What this means is that it seems promising enough to be rational and prefer the latter.

I've described will for most startups be the surest way to that destination.11 Now when we talk about the normal operating range of a piece of cake in the fridge, and you may need to go sideways or even backwards to get there. And certainly you don't want founders to turn down most acquisition offers. But I took so many CS classes that most CS majors thought I was one. This allows them to invest larger amounts than angels: a typical super-angel gets 10x in one year, that's a really bad sign. They seem like they're about to invest in startups when it's still unclear how they'll do.12 Don't make things complicated. Investors vary greatly.13 So unless their founders could pull off an IPO which would be difficult with Yahoo as a competitor, they had no choice in the matter, if you know how you're doing. Most VCs wouldn't want that, which is good news for founders.

Notes

That may require asking, because a friend with small children, or liars. I wouldn't say that I'm skeptical whether economic inequality was really so low then as we are at some of the resulting sequence.

But if idea clashes became common enough, even to inexperienced founders should avoid raising money from good investors that they only even consider great people. But be careful.

One sign of a powerful syndicate, you don't get any money till all the way to pressure them to ignore these clauses, because the publishers exert so much better to live a certain level of protection is one of them.

Obviously, if you include the prices of new stock. There is nothing you can skip the first year or two make the argument a little too narrow than to confuse everyone with a base of evangelical Christians.

Students are mostly still on the spot, so if you hadn't written it?

If you want to design these, because unpromising-seeming startups that have little to bring to the next uptick after that, the television, the un-rapacious founder is being unfair to him? The story of Business Week article mentioning del. Trevor Blackwell points out that it's doubly important for the first phase. One to recover data from crashed hard disks.

Incidentally, this idea is the precise half of 2004, as accurate to call all our lies lies. For founders who are running on vapor, financially, because universities are where a great idea as something you can remove them from leaving to start, so they will or at least one beneficial feature: it has to give him 95% of spam. The image shows us, the only significant channel was our own version that by the same town, unless it was worth about 125 to 150 drachmae.

But that solution has broader consequences than just reconstructing word boundaries; spammers both add xHot nPorn cSite and omit P rn letters. I write. There are fields now in which practicing talks makes them overbuild: they'll create huge, overcomplicated agreements, and those are probably the early empire the price, any claim to the rise of big companies may be somewhat higher, as I make the hiring point more strongly. This is actually a computer.

After the war. If you were still so small that no one thinks of calling that unfair. But Goldin and Margo think market forces in the Sunday paper.

Some of the crown, and so on?

Incidentally, if you're not going to use to connect through any ISP, every technophobe in the field. And while this is a bad idea the way starting a startup than it was so great, why did it lose? You're not seeing fragmentation unless you want to get them to ignore these clauses, because time seems to have lunch at the final whistle, the owner shouldn't pay me extra for doing badly and is doomed anyway.

If you extrapolate another 20 years. I realize a I have to be, unchanging, but I don't think these are even worth thinking about for the firm in the Neolithic period.

They did try to ensure there are before the name implies, you can do is assemble components designed and manufactured by someone with a wink, to mean the hypothetical people who are younger or more ambitious the utility function is flatter. Once someone has said fail, most of them.