#but the rest are actually realistic if I can actually pass this test

[c0ltraine]

Goals for the end of the year:

Finally pass this fucking test

Get my PE license

Get a raise

Move into a decent-nice apartment

Get stronger

Finally feel like an attractive guy in his mid-20s

[cottonlemonade]

Pay Attention To Me

word count: 819 || avg. reading time: 3 mins.

pairing: University!AU Bokuto x chubby!Reader

genre: very suggestive, smut-adjacent, established relationship

warnings: mdni, nsfw, clingy Bo

“It might not be visible to the untrained eye, but you are actually not helping.”, you said to your boyfriend who for the past minute had spent his existence as a koala bear, arms wrapped tightly around you from behind, his chin resting on your shoulder.

You were lowkey starting to regret having invited him over but since Bokuto had gone out of his way to clear some time in his strict training schedule and since it was also his first day off in 3 weeks, you didn’t want this opportunity to pass. However, you really had to get this concept done for class, so you leaned over the desk, in deep concentration or as deep as it could get with a 6ft guy hanging off of you like a sack of potatoes.

He started kissing your neck, a method of distraction that had proven to be very effective in the past but today you had your game face on and needed to get your project done.

“Baby, I’ll play with you when I’m done. I promise.”

He whined against your neck in protest. “I wanna play with you now.”, he mumbled, slipping his hand into your shirt, nibbling at your skin. Lord, he was testing you today. You closed your eyes and took a deep breath.

“Give me an hour. Two tops.”

Bokuto took a step back and pouted at you, then-

"Bo, stop poking me!", you laughed, swatting his hand away.

"Not until you pay attention to meeee."

“Fine, 20 minutes and then we can order dinner and have fun, I promise.”

Bo squinted and you sighed. He had one of his bursts of unbelievable energy - they came and went every so often when he just came from training, still riding the endorphine train.

You always pretended to be exasperated by them, because you knew that made it extra fun for him, when in reality you actually thought it was incredibly cute when he got like this.

“I will take a quick shower, alright?”, you said (after exactly 20 minutes) and pushed him back out of the bathroom he had followed you into, “Alone.”

“Not fair.”, he whined through the door and, laughing at his silliness, you stepped under the scalding hot water.

“What do you think about yakisoba from that one place and fried chicken from that other place?”, you asked a few minutes later as you came into the dimly lit living room, a cloud of lavender scented steam billowing behind you.

When you looked around your apartment he was nowhere to be found. Now, your apartment, while relatively spacious, wasn’t that big, so it was not like he could be anywhere.

“In here.”, you heard his voice from the bedroom and through the open door by the sparse illumination of the fairy lights above the headboard you spotted his figure lying in bed, in a pose that could kindly be called seductive, although realistically speaking he was just being a dork.

“What are you doing?”, you shook your head.

“How about we work up an appetite first?”, he grinned and looked you up and down, wiggling his brows.

He tapped the bed, obviously wanting to entice you to join him.

“You just finished a 3 hour practice and I just finished work.”, you noted, standing at the foot of the bed.

Bokuto sat up and gently pulled at the hem of the towel, disappointed when you held it tightly.

“Just a few minutes.”, he said pleadingly, and drew you closer. His eyes watched the little beads of water running along your neck to your breasts.

“Just a few minutes.”, he said again, this time barely more than a whisper. With a skilled, calloused finger he untucked the towel and began to kiss away the last few drops of water clinging to your skin, making you shiver under his touch.

Cupping your cheek he pulled you down for a long sweet kiss.

When you finally let go off the towel his eyes didn’t wander at first. He held your gaze tenderly, smirking ever so slightly, his dorky energy from a minute ago now gone completely.

"Come to me, gorgeous.”, he muttered softly and scooched back on the bed, watching you expectantly. Now his eyes roamed your form, the full hips he couldn’t wait to grab, your breasts he would definitely mark, your thighs… your thighs he wanted to lay between, burying his face into your pussy for hours, having you for dinner instead. His back leaned against the headboard, the quiet glow from the fairy lights on your skin presenting you as the ethereal goddess you were to him. You crawled into his lap. So soft, so achingly beautiful. He leaned in again, his fingers in your hair, his kisses now open mouthed and needy.

“I love you.”, he mumbled in your ear, before dipping his head lower to brush his lips along your neck.

[rumeysawrites]

INTERDIMENSIONAL BOOK 1: SEARCH FOR THE LEGENDARIES (CHAPTER 1 PREVIEW)

Chapter 1: Rosena #1

---

It was silent.

No noise of any cars passing by. No more of the sleep-talking of my siblings across the room. Not even the sound of the crows that lived on the single tree across the street.

It was all silent. Peaceful and nerve-wracking.

Except, the noisy thoughts, filling my head again. Thoughts I didn't want to deal with at that moment.

They made it impossible to close my eyes.

I had my final tests these two weeks. I had to rest up and prepare for them. Had to get high enough scores to leave this one. Possibly this place as a whole even.

But did I really have to leave?

Everyone left after all. Ella, Sky, even Tom...sort of. Why couldn't I?

Because it hurt? Or was it just my stubbornness?

I didn't know. Honestly, didn't want to think about it either.

I instead peeked my head through the covers, hugging Lily and Poppy close to my chest.

It was still kind of dark outside, but some of the early morning light came through, strong enough for me to notice.

I took my medallion out of my shirt, feeling its slight coldness. Then I held it out. The blue gem on it lightly shone, the same color as outside. It was beautiful, and felt cool, refreshing even.

I sighed.

Anytime now-

"Rose! Mira! Mather! Wake up kids! You're gonna be late for school!"

-She could cone...

It was my mom, Susane Freze.

Her impatient voice came from nearby. Too nearby actually.

I immeditially buried my head under the covers, as the door creaked open.

I shifted slightly, trying to hide my face.

I was already awake. Had been for awhile.

I was going to try and conince her that I couldn't to go to school today. I didn't want to. Exam days were one thing, I didn't have the energy or the patience for two more weeks besides them.

After all... What was the point? 

What was the point in trying and thinking things can be different, better even, when they didn't?

Everything was going to be the same. Those people, my classmates, "friends" even, were going to act the same way.

"I know you're awake, Rose."

I didn't respond. Maybe pretending to be sick would help convince her?

"Rose, I know it. You moved!" She repeated, and pulled my covers off my head.

"Noo! Please-"

My protests didn't work, as I had to try hiding my face with my stuffed animals, and stay still. Sadly, Poppy and Lily were too small, and she found me out.

"Good morning, Rose." Mom said in a quieter voice. "You get up and prepare. And I'll wake up the twins."

I weakly smiled and raised my head. Could a fake sneeze help?

How do you fake sneeze?

"Good morning too." I said with a yawn. "Can I....um...?"

Before I could speak another word, mom had moved over to my siblings' bunk beds.

"Mira! Mather! Mira!!! Mather!!!"

"Uhh...you gotta leave him, Ivy. Hmmnm! Do it for yourself!...."

"Ollie! Defend the tower!"

They won't wake up that easily. They're lost in TVland and Gameland. I can take sometime when she's busy with them, and...

I let my head fall back to the pillow.

The effects of sleeplessness always settled in when I least wanted. Why did it wait to weigh in until I made the slightest attempt of getting up but not when I was trying to sleep?

"Coming..." Mira's drowsy response came. "After sis..." 

No you did not!

"But Rose already-" My mom stopped. Her voice came from closer again. "Rose! You've to get up!"

"I'm not feeling well." I weakly said and tried to add realistic coughs.

"I see that." She said in a mix of tiredness and understanding in her voice. "You can rest and take your test tomorrow maybe?"

Test? What test? It was on Monday! Wasn't that- Today was supposed to be free! It's... It's Monday? Stupid me!

"I'll handle it." I said as weakly, as I threw myself out of the bed and got to preparing.

When I returned, I grabbed the clothes for my uniform from the top of the chair I left them on, and waited.

Mather wasn't up yet!

At least it sounded like Mira was going to shake him awake.

"Brooo! Wake up! Wake! Up! Bro! Wake!!! Up!!!"

"Ahhh! Alright alright sis." My brother yawned. "It's still early."

"Yeah. We've got the math test today!"

"...Can't we have it tomorrow?"

"I wish!!!"

No. Let's just get this over with. Please...

"But we can't." I sat back to my bed. "So can you let us dress up?"

"Fine!" Mather climbed down his bed, grabbed his clothes and left, as I also got to prepare in peace.

But I forgot a small detail. By "small detail" I mean my little sister's presence.

"You don't seem okay sis?" She asked, too close to my face for comfort. "What's up?"

"O-oh nothing! Nothing!" I backed away, hiding ny medallion under the cream white shirt of my uniform.

"It's not just tests, right?"

"They're not." I said with a deep sigh, hoping she'd stop prying. "I'm just...tired."

But of course, like most younger siblings I knew, she didn't. 

"Oh! what's tiring you so much?" She pressed. "Your friends? Mom and dad? Your power-"

"Miracate Freze!" I had no other chance but to raise my voice. "Don't bring that up."

"Okay okay! Sorry!" She agreed witb an small, awkward giggle. "So what did you think about yestrrday's episode? I'm so angry at Ivy! But also at Travis! Like what're they doing?"

"What...were they doing?" I obviliously asked as I packed my bag.

"You don't remember??"

"No?" I didn't really watch it though.

Mira and most of the girls at my class loved the romantic comedy series: Ivy And The Carnation. I watched a few episodes of it so I could have more to talk about with them. It was a lighthearted fun, but not much else. I wasn't supposed to be distracted by a silly show like that in the exams' week.

"Travis got mad! That Ivy went to a fashion show without telling him and Ivy left her passion! So he'd accept her again!" She passionately explained, while brushing her messy black hair. "Like! Like he'll accept you if you don't do it yourself! Get it togather girl!"

I half-heartedly listened her rant, feeling too tired to pay attention to her "too deep for her age" opinions about the show.

"Right!" I smiled at her while tying my brown hair. The ongoing sound of the turned on bathroom tap had stopped. "Now that Mather's out, we can talk more on breakfast."

"Oh he's out?" My sister stood up. "Alright. Should I just wash my face or hair too?"

"I mean you already tied your hair so.."

"Oh right! Right!" She giggled and left. I grabbed both of our bags and moved to the kitchen table, after leaving them by the enterance door.

The breakfast went mostly fine. I already expected that dad wouldn't show up. Why would he wake up so early when he taught his classes in the afternoon?

Did Mather have to make an unnecessary comment about my science test though?

"Not ready for science? Don't let Tom hear that, sis!"

"Not the time Mather."

I shushed him and pretended to stay calm. Pretended to not care.

But he was right, wasn't he? Tom would have probably been disappointed.

I tried to not let Mather's words or the thought of them being true into my head. But it was hard!

After eating, I brushed my teeth, brushing before breakfast makes no sense; and left with my siblings.

The sun had already risen. Thank the long summer days.

Out of habit, I kept my hand on Mira's arm for the entire way through. Even though I had gotten a sense of the direction after the eight years I've traced school road for, I couldn't be sure.

The weather was so warm and sunny. Where did the chill running up and down my body come from then? The coldness in my chest?

Before we arrived, I took out my medallion's gem again, and held it up with Mira next to me.

It was glistening in the sunlight. But also, but was cold? It was kind of where I expected the chills came from. But I didn't think it'd feel like holding an ice cube with bare hands.

How could this gem even make me feel things!

"What's up with it?" Mather asked, covering the school's view for us.

"It's cold!" Mira said and pulled back her hand. "Like sis' power-"

"Miracate!" I warned her again, more quietly than back home, as I put my medallion back under my shirt. "We don't talk about it!"

"Okay okay! Sorry again!" She finally agreed, but Mather...

"But why? Isn't having a super power cool?"

"No it's not!" I yelled and stormed off towards the school building.

Did they really think having a power was cool? Maybe something simple, like super strength or super speed could be. But not my power. Not when people thought I could freeze, melt or burn their items, or god forbid, them! At least the latter didn't come in outbursts.

They... They'd already made up their mind about me before I had a power, and it made things worse.

"Sis! That's the elementary school side!"

I flinched at Mather's voice and moved away when he tapped  on my shoulder. My breathing turned into quick gasls as I did.

I shouldn't have been acting like this! I should've known the direction! I should've stayed calm and not get carried away!

I swallowed a lump in my throat, as the chilling coldness left. In its place, there was a heavy, burning feeling inside me, tightening around my neck and chest. Choking.

"I know!" I said, more so breathlessly shouted.

I needed to lower my voice! Anyone could be seeing me panic! Any of my classmates! I didn't want to deal with them. Not now! Possobly never!

"I was just...walking around." I tried to say more calmly, taking quick breaths. If my clearly freaked-out voice could be called any "calm" that is.

Get it togather Rose! What are you doing? You're panicking about the smallest things!

I scolded myself, trying to steady my breathing as well, before Mira or Mather noticed.

"You okay sis?" But of course, Mira did. She asked, leaning over to come uncomfortably close to my face again.

"Yeah. Sorry." Mather said in an unsure voice, putting a hand on my shoulder, more gently.

They were probably trying to show concern and support, but it only came off as awkward and like something actually concerning had happened to me.

It was just a little freak-out, about an actually small mistake that shouldn't have made me even react, probably.

'It's...nothing." I softly said, and gave them a smile, or I hoped I did, to reassure them. "A...anyways, let's go..."

"Well, alright."

Mira grabbed my wrist and walked towards the other building in the schoolyard. Mather was right behind us.

I let my sister drag me inside, even if it was emberassing. Being hand-guided to the building I was supposed to know without needing to see after so many years. But I couldn't risk getting lost again or causing another scene.

Mira and Mather left soon after I entered my classroom. Though Mather stayed a moment longer, asking about Bill and Kevin. They probably weren't around yet, like I expected from the empty desk next to mine where Kevin was usually seated.

So Mather left quickly too.

How early were we though? There wasn't much of a noise in the class. Far less than thirty-five people would cause.

And even Miranda and her group, and the impossible-to-miss noise they brought along weren't around. They wouldn't miss a single test day, right? I kind of wished they did, but it was more than unlikely.

No sound of Olivia either, but I kind of expected that. It didn't really matter if she was giving up on the studies or coming to complete them. The result was going to be the same.

I wouldn't have minded if any of them didn't show up.

And as expected of my luck, they all came in one by one.

"You'll do amazing Miranda!"

"Yeah! You're so smart!"

"Can you give us some hints before the test?"

"I know that guys. And sure! Come in close."

Miranda's group walked in, chatting.

They weren't the "popular pretty cheerleaders" or the "rich girls". No, they were the "overly involved, overly competetive" types. The types who didn't accept any opposition in competitions, academic rivalries, and their perfected images. The ones who'd try to mentally wear you down if they saw you as an actual, serious obstacle.

Miranda and Rebecca sat their shared desk right behind me. I assuned the two Sarahs were behind her, and someome else, probably their friends Carrie and Beth, stood next to the desks. They were all whispering among themselves.

They were trying to be as quiet as possible once they settled. And I tried to avoid eavesdropping, but it was impossible not to!

"I worked so hard for this! I'll become the class number one this time and get accepted to the magnet highschool in the city. The best one."

"You got this Miranda."

"Yup! You're the smartest girl in class!"

"Yup! And the smartest in school with Nancy."

"Yeah. Nancy's great too!"

"Yeah. Did you see how she got back to Rose last week?"

"It was her mom though. Nancy's too nice to deal with someone like her."

"Right! Right!"

"Oh yeah! Like Mr. Martinez only gave her project an A because she can't see!'"

"Right? Olivia's computer model was the same amd she barely got a B-!"

"Yeah! And she listens to our answers before taking the tests!"

"Shhh! Don't let her hear that. She'll do that freaky ice thing again."

"What will she do? Freeze our pencils this tine?"

Too bad I heard it all! First of all! Olivia put too many unnecessary decorations on her project! And glitter! Who puts glitter on a computer model when Mr. Martinez said it was supposed to resemble a real computer?! Secondly! You know better than anyone Miranda, how my ears hurt from covering them because of you people in test weeks! And thirdly! Do you think I have any idea of what I'm doing with that power either?

There were far too many thoughts I wanted to yell at them, but I tried to keep it all quiet. I was planning to avoid them all day, unless they directly talked to me. There was no point in causing more drama.

But did Olivia and her "bestie" Mary have to show up and join in?

"So? What're you girlies talking about?" Olivia asked in almost a shout, followed by a fake laughter.

"Oh, hey!" Sarah Warren said, the Sarah with a higher-pitched voice. "We were just talking about the test."

"Yeah!" Miranda cheered. "We were saying how hard we studied for these the entire year!"

I know you did because you constantly talk about it, Miranda. But I don't know about the others.

Her voice was louder than usual, like she wanted for someone to hear. Not me this time probably, since I was right here. There'd be no need for such a noise.

"I mean we did." Mary agreed. "Right, Liv?"

"Yeah! We didn't even watch Ivy And Carnation at all past few weeks!" Olivia said again in sn overly loud and dramatic voice, like that was a huge sacrifice of some sort. "We don't get it easy, like someone!"

You know I'm the same there. Except I don't study on cheating tactics and still fail, Liv.

I quietly sighed and tried to not even utter a word, but they were making it harder.

Before anything could happen though, Bill, Kevin, and even, somehow, Jason and Carl finally showed up; closely followed by our teacher Mrs. Willis.

The early classes passed in a blur, as the teachers let us study as long as we stayed quiet.

I tried to whisper to my deskmate Kevin, to study togather. But it felt strange, to ask him to read what he was studying a bit louder in every class, especially when Miranda and Rebecca were behind me and the teachers specifically asked the class to be quiet. Kevin himself also sounded a bit unwilling at first. He probably wanted to study on his own, but was fine with helping out after.

Despite all that, the classes up to the science test went pretty well. Even the test itself went alright. Although I wished I was able to take the tests in an easier way. Even using the Braille alphabet would be fine instead of with a reader, having to take it after everyone. But then again, the teachers didn't know Braille, I couldn't expect them to know. And I couldn't read or write in regular text. They looked like tiny dots, if that even.

So having someone read the questions for me was the only way out. Except the teachers were so paranoid about the students cheating, something they already did, that they wouldn't read them to me while the others were taking  the tests, but instead have another student...possibly Miranda or Bill, read it to me in front of them when they either start teaching a new topic, or have the students quietly do their own thing.

It was the same in almost every single test. Except P.E and music of course, but the rest.

They were all the same! The same people, the same problems, the same way they were handled and following drama all of them kept causing, and the people who were acting in...ways because of unnecessary competition.

Still, I tried to power through the science test. I couldn't prove Mather right.

After helping me that many times, I couldn't make a mistake that'd disappoint Tom, especially not in his favorite topic: science.

Ah, I wished he hadn't left. Life would've been much essier with him around. He'd listen, give the most sensible advice, and try his best to help me without being in my face about it.

I knew he didn't want to leave, but Tania was right. It was for their own good.

The thought of them though, helped me focus on the test. Friday next week was the twins' birthday. We were going to meet for the first time since the Easter break. Third time ever since they moved last summer. And the only news I wanted to give Tom were good ones.

And I felt good about it when I finished the test.

The teacher, Mr. Wells left after I was done. The others were still chatting about it when I got back to my desk. They were discussing answers. And all of them besides Miranda and Bill, showed clear excitment at the hint of any right answer.

"Rose! Rose!" As soon as I sat down, Daniel came in, with more of slap than a tap on my shoulder. "What was the answer for question twenty-one?"

"Huh...?"

I blankly stared at him, and tilted my head to the side, with no eye contact as usual. Even if I could normally keep, I would've still broken it there.

Bold of you to think I know the questions' number order.

"Um, which one was it?"

I tried to stay polite and calm, so Daniel would leave soon, as usual. Him, and the small crowd forming behind him, were the people who only appeared in my life and talked to me during exam weeks. And only either to ask questions, or to give a snarky comment.

"The one about plant cell!"

"Oh, it was C." I casually said.

"What?"

"H-hey!" I raised my hands defensively at his more aggressive voice, and tried to explain. "Uh, the other organels are found in both animal and plant cells. But Chloroplast is only in plant cells."

"Ah okay." Daniel said and gave another slap-like pat on my shoulder which I hated. "What about question fourteen? Mike and I've been arguing about it for an hour now."

I still don't know which one that is... Also then why didn't you ask it first?!

"Um, again...? Which one?" I tried to ask, too tired of the process to care.

"The lightbulb one right?" Miranda chimed in from behind me with an aggressively loud tone, like she was talking through gritted teeth. "It was A: copper!"

"Oh? That one!" I blinked and turned my attention to her. I couldn't tell if she genuinely believed in her answer and it might be true, or if she was trying to confuse me like before. "Copper is good. But would't silver be a better option?"

"You mean silver's a better conductive than copper?" She asked with a bitter chuckle. "Glad I'd never give you a hint in the exams. Because I can't believe you're really like...this when you don't get support from the teachers hm?!"

It's just a question. Chill please?

"What...?" I stood up, still trying to be quiet. I turned my face away from her, to the blue painted window next to my desk.

She's trying to anger me. It's why she's overreacting. Like why do you care? She's the one who read the questions to me! What are you doing  Miranda? I need to keep calm and not get into trouble because of her! Especially fresh off a test. I need to stay lowkey! At least for these two weeks!

I kept staring at the window and smiled. The bright daylights barely came through the paint coating, but it still gave off a cool, dim blue light in this hot day.

"What are you smiling at?" Miranda tried to press on. I would've been fine ignoring her words, but of course she wouldn't be the only one.

"Y'know, I've had to hang out with her a few times, and you're right Miri." Olivia chimed in, probably from the other side of the class, because nothing else would explain or excuse her volume.

And knowing her, I braced myself for more personalized insults than Miranda's.

"For real! She never studies or does anything, and gets everything from others. And when we tell, she cries!" She then turned to me. "You know it too! That the teachers make tests easier for you just because you can't "see"!"

"If by "make it easier" you mean change the map based or geometric shape based questions, then yes..."  swallowed a lump in my throat as I looked in her general direction. I should've started counting to ten, but my head was getting too full to think about that. "If you mean anything else, no. I get less time than you. I have the noise of the class and teachers while I'm taking a test with someone reading out loud, I mean whispering. And did you know it's unhealthy to cover your ears so much like I have to?"

"Those are not our problems." Miranda said matter-of-factly, even I could see her dramatic hand waving. Weren't you talking about fairness though? "Our problem is that you're acting like this..."

"Acting like... What?" I asked, still keeping myself contained even though it was getting harder.

"Like you're some hero doing some impossible task when you're having it easier just because you can't "see"!" Olivia shouted and came closer. I knew from her long, curly mess of a hair. "And even that's a lie! You say you can't see just to have it easier, because I know you do. You can see!"

"I know you'll say "I didn't say I was blind, I said I can't see". But what's the difference?" Miranda added, with an annoying confidence.

"What?"

"Can she?"

"Was she tricking us all along?"

"Impossible!"

"Not only us but she tricked the teachers and everyone else too!"

What...? How dare you!

I couldn't say a word. I tried to speak, shout, scream at them even, but no sound came out.

My body felt like a stone. Still, unmoving, heavy, cold. And I couldn't do anything besides feel the tears welling up in my eyes and a ringing in my ears that blurred the scandalous chatter around me.

How dare they! What do they think they are? Experts in eye related disabilities? How dare they think they have the "right" to say I was lying about a condition that I went through myself! Not them!

Did they think people only either have to have perfectly healthy eyes, use glasses, or be blind they had had any vision problems? Didn't anything inbetween exist for them?

Besides, how dare they claim they knew my health better than I, myself! Can claim I was lying about it!

They had no idea what they were talking about! And wanted to break someone just because of petty competition!

Or else they wouldn't talk so carelessly!

Who cared about grades, the school play, sports, creativity contests, any rewards, or whatnot! Did it all really worth this?!

Did they know how it felt to hear their parents and other loved ones openly say their "news" upset them? Or have they ever heard their family say they expected much less from them?

Even passing by random kids on the street, have they heard things like "Look at her!" or "What happened to her eyes?"?

Have they had to wait hours on end in hospitals, knowing the doctors would say the exact same thing?

Have they had to read the same three short stories for their entire life, and ask someone to read out loud or help you find an audio of it?

Feeling like you have to memorize everywhere to not get lost on their own?

Feeling like they ask for help too much and wanting to stop? Or wanting to show what they can do themselves?

No

No they have not.

They didn't know how any of it felt. They didn't live through them like I did! They didn't know, but talked like they did! Like they lived the same life and had the same experiences as me!

Like they knew!

They always thought they knew everything! Even the lives of people different from them!

Who did they think they were?!

I felt a fire within me. Burning in my whole heart and overflowing out of it. My teeth gritted, and hands clemched into fists, as I felt a blaze of rage flowing through my body. My chest, face, arms, legs, even fingertips.

Then that fire vanished.

Instead, the icy wave of coldness from earlier came back, stronger. And rushed through my veins fast like a winter storm. Every hint of the burning rage in me, every ember; was replaced by the cold.

The distant, disillisioned, the cruel but gentle cold. Fearsome, but with a comforting familiarity.

It filled me, up to my fingertips again; and shot, no, flowed, out of me.

It felt a bit relieving, like I was letting go of the sudden flare-up of my anger. Relaxing.

Until my sense of hearing came back.

"Not to mention she- Wait! What are you doing?!! What?! Stop!!!" Miranda's scream brought me back to the real world, and Olivia's comment made me realize.

"Ice Princess, I tell ya."

"W-what?!" The coldness changed. It wasn't a relieving flow of a refreshing cold air anymore. It became a stoney chill running up and down my spine, echoing through my body. "W-what did I do?!"

"What did you do?!" Miranda yelled and raised her hand. Her, Olivia, and the others were inching away from me. "See?!"

I didn't see much of a difference from afar, but when I got to touch, I felt it.

Solid, hard, and freezing cold. Miranda's hand, was encased in ice?

"Did... Did I do that...?"

"Yes you did!!" Miranda yelled and raised her hand higher. "What do I do now? This was my writing hand too!!"

The air was heavy. Everyone else had fallen silent. Not even the sound of blowing wind from outside, or the noise of students or teachers' steps on the corridor.

The only things I felt; were the still air, the chill in my spine, and the gazes of my classmates I wish were still invisible to me.

"S-sorry..." I lowered my head, unable to say another word. What else could I even say?

This had never happened before! I thought freezing others was possible but I never thought it would happen! Especially now!

What did I even do?

Could Miranda's hand return to normal?

What if her hand stayed permanently frozen because of me? What if...she'd lose her habd because of me?

Could I help melt it? I didn't know but I could try! She probably won't let me.

How did I even do that?

What happened?

What did I do?

Could this day get any worse?

And it probably could, as the gem in my medallion got freezing cold again, shining so bright it was noticed even under my shirt.

---

(I know there might be some typos I've missed. I only read through it once more after finishing the writing. Anyways! Tagging for reviews (please): @dearunreliablenarrator @daishitheprofessionalfool @avalordream @author-a-holmes @heycerulean @the-ellia-west @seastarblue @literally-just-zay @the-letterbox-archives @sliceoflifeshepard @thecomfywriter @xyoonx @ominous-feychild @writeblrfantasy @yomikunp @illarian-rambling @distantflickering @the-golden-comet @leahnardo-da-veggie @imsoveryveryconfusedatlife @charbroiledchicken and I can't think of anyone else for now. Feel free to tag anyone else as well guys. I'm still hoping (desparate) for reviews. Thank you!💙

[abby118]

Loki ask 3 + 5 pls & ty B)

3 - What do you think happened to Loki after his fall?

Hmmmm, I had to really think about this one because I've got to admit it's an area I have left untouched because I believe a story should have aspects which are somewhat unexplained and left for the 'what ifs'. However, according to the mcu canon (and now, I do not know whether this information was added later or not because I do not accept the later additions as canon), the official version is that he fell right to the Sanctuary where he met the Other. (source & x).

My personal headcanon is not that far off from that though it does differ. I think he was found relatively soon after his fall, but not that it was the Other who found him. I think the Other was introduced later, after it was determined he was ready to lead the Chitauri, and the ones who interacted with him before that were mainly the Black Order. He was probably tested a lot; after all, they needed someone who would withstand what they asked of him and it was done in a way that took advantage of his vulnerability in that situation while making him believe that what was being done to him was a deal, a trade, something that would be beneficial to him in one way or the other. I've made a meta covering a similar topic in the past.

5 - Do you have any hcs/theories about Loki's biological mother?

(I know this can be a touchy subject and one I got dragged for in the past so please don't kill me lol. They are my hcs, nothing more than that.) I am one of the people who hc Loki to be half-Aesir (which is a whole topic on its own that ties into his use of magic* and his appearance/the reason he did shift as an infant; no I do not think it was Odin's doing, not entirely). I think she was a witch, a shapeshifter, and he inherited her magic (I don't think you can use Seidr unless you're born with the gene that allows you to access it and do so only if properly trained, which is what I think happened in Loki's case with Frigga and the mentors he must have had growing up as the second prince). She was raised in the outskirts of Asgard and learnt her magic from her mother who came from a line of witches. Despite the undeniably dominant effects of the warrior society of Asgard, I hc the palace to have a coven, which ties into an arcane university and guilds dispersed throughout the city (as Asgard is a realm heavily built around magic even if it's not accessible to all and thus feared and mocked). She was not known by any of those institutions (despite her mother having been a part of them, which is how she got to tap into her abilities). It's a rather complicated headcanon that is a part of the additional info to my fic so I won't go any further with this but she was relatively unknown on Asgard but had a history and the genes associated with magic which she then passed down to Loki. He never found out who she was and neither did his family. *And whilst we're at it, because I just have to add this one, I don't think genes are what makes a mage. Yeah you won't be able to do anything without them but they are not an automatic sign that someone will be a skilled mage. They don't even have to be strong enough to appear. For example, when it comes to illusions, one has to be more than capable of above-average visualisation. They need to know what image they want to create first, with detail, or else it will never feel and look realistic. Then, they need the actual skill to create it (which can be taught / trained), while talent and imagination is something one has to be born with and it relates to what the rest of said person's relatives are specialised in if they are capable of wielding magic. That is an example but I just do not think this came from the Jotuns' side of his biology.

----the ask game----

14, 23, 24, 4

[good-beans]

(Milgram self-insert oc masterpost hehe)

Name: For the sake of posting online I’ll call her Rose!

Color: #E7355B [the pink in the art]

Age: I guess she’d be 20 given when Milgram started huh.

Status: Milgram Staff, Machine Technician

Symbols/imagery: ballet/musical theater, science experiments

Song genre: very similar to Mahiru's, something upbeat and extra pop-y

Tentatively she's number 011? She's not really prisoner but she's also not free to come and go, so I'm not actually sure if she'd get a number (Edit: I've decided she'll actually be 012. Staff is given the 01X range, and even though Es doesn't actively have a number they'd be staff member 011, making her 012.)

Story: Since the project is supposed to be realistic/present day, the mv machine would be brand new and unpredictable tech, so they’d want someone keeping up on maintenance and making sure the brain-invasive process won’t cause any harm to the prisoners. Rose was studying abroad in Japan working on some cool neuroscience tech (irl I know nothing about technology or brains but shh) and she stumbled upon some secret tech/plans from Milgram. Long story short, she was dragged into the experiment to make sure things ran smoothly.

Writer's Reasoning: She’s really fun for me to play around with, as she allows me to work with a character who has a tiny bit of pull over Es’ mindset in conversation but not the final decision (aka mirroring the voting system), and someone who is simultaneously trapped in the prison but has a reason to see all the canon content.* I really enjoy the character interactions and dynamics Milgram has set up so far, so it’s been super fun seeing how things change for better and worse when someone not quite aligned with either Milgram/the prisoners is thrown into the mix!

*As much as I love dramatic irony in fiction, it would drive me crazy if I knew every detail of of the vds/mvs but Rose didn't – and every single Milgram character is The Worst Communicator Ever so I couldn’t justify that she’d hear it secondhand from them...

Story roles:

She’s a bit conflicted -- she’s officially Milgram staff and knows she should remain neutral on the prisoners, since she won’t be allowed to interfere with the process/executions. At the same time, her job description is literally “make sure the machine doesn't hurt them and everyone's safe :)” and she's way too emotional to avoid getting hopelessly attached to everyone 😅

I really enjoy the theory that the machine extracts videos based off of priming, so one of Rose’s duties involves listening in on the interrogation and making sure there’s been enough material discussed/not too much time has passed overall (hence the ringing of the bell happening at different lengths for each vd -- That's her ringing it :3). She then watches the mvs along with Es to make sure there are no machine glitches, and know how to calibrate it better for next time.

(IEdit: I've since decided to add in official trial mvs, but before when I wasn't ready to tackle that:) She has to run some tests on the machine to make sure things are calibrated correctly, so she'd extract little things here and there. It gives me the opportunity to think up lyric snippets and recurring symbols for her without worrying about full encompassing music videos.

I'm not afraid to admit she can fall into Mary Sue territory every so often by being everyone's friend, because it's less about "aw everyone likes her" and more about "canon is too painful rn and I need a fix-it tool to take care of these guys and give them hugs and tell them someone forgives them and cares about them and unfortunately these characters wouldn't let anyone less than a friend do that." Rest assured she's definitely not perfect and will fuck everything up on occasion :3

Miscellaneous: Whenever I play around with normal au ideas she's still working on the machine (but in a public, more ethical setting), and she's Mahiru's roommate :) Her character isn't super focused on love, but if I had to pick a cover song it'd be Stickybug II. It's very much my vibe, the lyrics fit well enough (better than most songs, at least lol) and it's one of my favorites out of my limited knowledge of unchosen Deco songs! (Edit, I've actually given her non-deco cover songs hehe)

So yeah, I hope she's not too boring without a cool crime to decipher, but I wanted to share since I was really proud of her! It took a bit of tinkering to find a way to fit her into a perfect secret-third-thing role that runs very smoothly with all of canon, so I was very excited!

[leportraitducadavre]

I think canon did the Yamanaka, and thus Ino, dirty by necessity tbh. I don't like it, but also the show is mostly focused on front line combat and training for it. Which is the opposite of Yamanaka strengths, as a clan focused on spying, interrogation, conversion, and (in more gritty/dark fanon) seduction and subtle poison. If a Yamanaka is in a position where their skill is compared to a front line assault ninja, they've already failed, yknow? Their targets shouldn't even comprehend they're near a ninja. And I get why the show didn't focus on that, it was NARUTO Shippuden not INO Shippuden. But on that basis alone it's an unfair and futile comparison to set Ino up as Sakura's long term rival. If anyone it should've been Shizune, or more realistically Kabuto (and she ISNT Kabuto's equal, imo)

Hi there, I’m not at the moment replying asks and this might be unfair to some people that send me questions that I haven’t replied before (apologies), but I wanted to tackle this specific subject (Ino), as I don’t get that many asks about her.

I think canon did the Yamanaka, and thus Ino, dirty by necessity tbh. I don't like it, but also the show is mostly focused on front line combat and training for it. Which is the opposite of Yamanaka strengths, as a clan focused on spying, interrogation, conversion, and (in more gritty/dark fanon) seduction and subtle poison.

I apologize, but I have to disagree with you, not on the fact that two-thirds of Team 7 focuses on frontal attacks (Naruto and Sakura -Sasuke, as Uchiha and a prodigy who also knows kenjutsu, can tackle pretty much any range of attack), and as the team with the most panel time they get pretty much highlighted throw out the series. Still, this manner of attack isn’t the story's primary focus.

The story in itself is about political warfare and the overall cruelties of the system, Sasuke -as an antagonist, it’s the main plot driver of the show (as are Obito, Nagato, and Orochimaru), and the main character that the narrative establishes as “the good ones” are reactors rather than causers.

Once this is established, I do agree that the show focuses mostly on front-line attacks as those are the ones the main duo (and some other fan favorites) possess, however, this manner of combat isn’t as relevant in the overall structure: Itachi and Nagato, for instance, rely on either genjutsu or upon their rinnegan and vast amount of chakra to control other people and perform their binding. Deidara fought against Sasuke while putting distance between them through his secret technique, and so on. 

The relevance of such a style of combat is well established during the Chünin Exams: this type of approach is the most “spectacle-friendly” as it allows viewers to witness true carnage and visible consequences, cementing before the audience the overall military power of a village or a character ���which is similar, if not equal, of how a shönen works for its audience.

However, it’s constantly highlighted, albeit secretly (as this portion of the tests isn’t shown to the rest of the civilian population as it lacks the “thrill” that combats possess and I’ll say some readers skipped it as they, too, liked to see displayed raw physical power, as that’s how most mainstream heroes are depicted, not having to think around their power shall it be more complicated than a powerful punch); the relevance of Information gathering skills, having an entire test dedicated to it: such exam, Sakura failed, as she never realized what the test was actually for. Ino-Shika-Chö passes it because Ino was the only one out of the three of them shown to have understood it and has the perfect technique for it, here.

There are, however, other mentions of such specialty relevance during the second stage as well, here and here –of course, this specific portion of the “information gathering” skills are to be more rudimentary as they’re more focused upon the shinobi’s survival rather than sharpening their spy qualities, but they are necessary to guarantee the success of a mission.

Obito specifically targeted the Intelligence Division where Inoichi and Shukaku were to guarantee his success as they worked quickly with the information they received of the battlefield to send specific teams to different locations to warrant the enemy’s defeat (like when they sent Team 10 to support Kumo and fight the Gold and Silver Brothers, or how they also asked them to defeat Asuma); Hashirama specifically asked for a Yamanaka to spread amongst the shinobi forces the information he had and Shikamaru’s strategy. 

Sasuke and Naruto (or even Hashirama and Madara), are people whose strength isn’t the usual norm, as they’re particularly strong even amongst those considered “the strongest” in the military population (Kages), so them not having to rely on prior information to win a battle (despite them coming up with strategies all the time upon seeing how their enemies work –something Sakura isn’t shown doing, as she either relies on other people (Chiyo) or fails, as she did against Dosu) it’s an off the norm occurrence, only to be applied to them.

People's preference around which techniques are best or more "spectacle-friendly" -something necessary for a manga that relies on visual story-telling, doesn't dispute the overall value of Yamanaka clan's techniques inside the plot and structure Kishimoto established (they, after the UCM, became the clan with the most information-gathering relevance, as they were the only non-Sharingan users that could control their target and read their mind, and while the Saiko Denshin it's a T&I jutsu and not a Yamanaka one, it's clear by Ino's recollection of it that it's at least taught at its most basic form).

If a Yamanaka is in a position where their skill is compared to a front line assault ninja, they've already failed, yknow? Their targets shouldn't even comprehend they're near a ninja. And I get why the show didn't focus on that, it was NARUTO Shippuden not INO Shippuden. 

I agree that Ino isn’t a specialized combater, although she did fight Asuma while controlling two Zetsu (I speak a little about the possibility of it being a technique she came up with here), so her taijutsu is -at least, better than Shikamaru’s who stood back as support; her family’s technique and her medical training taught her to stay out of conflict (as she did when vs. Hidan and Kakuzu) in order to be able to attend those wounded (the only ones able to fight are those that mastered Mitrocondrial Regeneration, as they are able to heal without using signs and have more chakra to spare since they stored it, x and x), as medics are also main targets during combats (x).

[If you are more interested in Medical skills, here’s a little post about it: x]

However, I’ll say that, as a secondary character, she got more panel time and development than many other characters who were pushed aside shortly after their introduction (Hinata, Kiba, Shino, Kurenai -to name some of Konoha’s). She was able to help discern, albeit with her father and an ANBU, Nagato’s location when sharing information about her mind-body switch control, she also realized one of the Paths used a similar technique to Inoichi’s (Saiko Denshin) and was given a few very powerful moments during the war, which is more than other fandoms were given.

But on that basis alone it's an unfair and futile comparison to set Ino up as Sakura's long term rival. If anyone it should've been Shizune, or more realistically Kabuto (and she ISNT Kabuto's equal, imo) 

Do you mean, unfair for Ino to be Sakura's rival or the other way around? Kabuto is a far better medic than any of them, and Sakura, while impressive, didn’t surpass Tsunade at this stage –as she improved not Tsunade’s techniques, being solely able to master them prior in age to her mentor as Tsunade created them and had to experiment with her own body in order to use it and teach it afterward. Kabuto invented his own version of Mitochondrial Regeneration (x), which is the reason why Orochimaru chose him. He’s the only one who Tsunade considers surpassed her during her prime (x, x).

Sakura and Ino’s rivalry has less to do with their overall techniques and more to do with their attraction to Sasuke, which is the main focus Sakura puts upon their rivalry. Asuma claimed during his last speech to Ino that she mustn't lose either Ninjutsu or love, but the bars they both have about their techniques are completely different –Sakura, medical-wise, possesses a natural advantage that Ino doesn’t, which is natural delicate chakra control, something inherently necessary to learn the Yin Seal; while Ino’s medical skills (likely taught to her through Shizune), are rudimentary at best in order to do something else for her team while on a mission that doesn’t require her technique, in order to guarantee her safety.

Now, you might wonder, why does she have to be safe? Canonically speaking, besides collecting information, the team must guarantee at least one survivor who can pass on the knowledge (or, at least, a way to communicate the information). No other team is expected to ensure such a thing (x). 

In that sense, Team 7, Team 8, and Team Gai are mostly viewed as expendable** (I am aware that all of the soldiers are viewed in such light, I’m specifically referring to such an idea when already inside that “disposable spectrum”). Only those front-lines combateurs that have techniques with enough power to defy even shinobi standards (Naruto, Hashirama, Tobirama, and some others –and I’m not putting Uchiha there as they are able to cover multiple ranges), are highlighted and rewarded with the Hokage title, the rest are sent to die or to distract the enemy in order to open space for teams more specialized in gathering the enemy’s secrets or strategies.

[Minato, also considered amongst the best, relied on other front-liners to plant his special kunais upon his targets and to take care of a big portion of the enemies, as he killed the rest. Saving the small group of survivors.]

Being rivals has nothing to do with having similar techniques, but either opposed goals (Sasuke vs. Naruto) or the same goal (Sasuke’s love reciprocation when it comes to Sakura and Ino).

Inside the manga itself, the notion of rivalry is shown to be deeply intertwined with shinobi culture, as they encourage such a mindset so shinobi would push each other to new highs of their respective techniques in order to win their competitions as long as they don’t put Konoha’s stability in jeopardy: Madara/Hashirama, Danzo/Hiruzen, Kakashi/Obito, Naruto/Sasuke, Sakura/Ino.

[**Sakura, as a front-line fighter, is expendable, as a medic-nin, slightly less, as she is expected to die, if doing so, last of all. Not to return alive, as Team 10].

In case you’re interested, I have some other post regarding kunoichi:

The infinite “who’s strongest Kunoichi” debate and the sexist erasure/degradation of female characters and an addition

Yamanaka clan techniques

Posts of my Naruto re-read

[practically-an-x-man]

Your OCs are asked "Would you still love me if I was a worm?" by their partners. What is their response?

Ooooh thank you!! I really like this one!

Rae: "I'd make you a nice habitat with fresh soil and leaves and I'd give you fresh fruit to eat every morning" Warren (Worthington): Confused silence for a long time, followed by a "...is this some kind of test?"

Robin: Assumes she's misread his lips and asks him to repeat himself three times before he finally gives up Peter (Maximoff): "Of course I would! I'd carry you around in my pocket!"

Madison & Alex: Realistically, neither of them would do this sort of test, it's just not their style

Ophelia: "I loved you across universes, you think I wouldn't love you across species too?" Peter (Parker): Says he'd find a way to turn her back to human, which Ophelia still thinks is a nice answer

Jasper: "I've loved you through weirder things" (AKA the fact that he was literally brought back from the dead as a Frankenstein's-monster hodgepodge of his frat brothers' body parts) Kyle: A simple but immediate yes, no hesitation

Katherine: Would Ahk even ask that? He's not exactly well-versed on modern trends Ahkmenrah: An incredibly earnest "Of course, my love, you know I'd cherish you through anything"

Quinn: "You'd dry up in the sunshine before I even realized you'd turned into a worm. But I guess I'd give you a worm funeral." Billy: Knows about the meme and probably teases her a little for it.

Kestrel: "I'd love you in any form you took. You love me like that." Warren (Burgess): Utterly floundering for a response. Kestrel's a shapeshifter, so he can't figure out if they're actually going to turn into a worm or not.

Eris: Thinks on this for a while, finally says "If that's what reincarnation gives me when you pass on, I'd keep you with me anyway." (then rolls their eyes and adds "But try to at least pick something with legs.") Rick: Is more surprised that Eris even knows about that meme/trend at all, doesn't really answer

Nikoletta: Assumes this is some kind of intrusive thought or self-hating thought fixation of his and spends the rest of the day trying to reassure him and comfort him in any way she can think of Abner: Says that he would, but he'd miss being able to talk to her/hold her/kiss her/etc.

[reminiscingtonight]

I disagree with Sweden. Players have stated the women’s game in Sweden is still growing and still not overwhelmingly popular yet. The key words is “they would like to play in a larger stadium when the demand is there.” It’s simply not past that thresh hold unfortunately. I’ve seen plenty of interviews where some of the players don’t mind playing at the other stadiums because it allows for fans that might not have much money or don’t have to do long travels to see them. I get what the other post is trying to say but I disagree and it has nothing to do with them thinking they deserve to play there but everything to do with they are aware of the costs and they are aware that unfortunately they may not generate enough revenue for their games.

I’m not saying they suck or that they don’t have a big fanbase but comparing Sweden and Australia is just not a great comparison. We saw their revenue not just from home games but also from seeing them host the World Cup. I don’t think Swedens women have ever really hosted a big tournament to test the theory that the women will generate a ton of revenue. It might seem like I’m hating on these women but I think right now they’re just being realistic. Not enough people outside of Sweden or WSL know who most the women are. We know who Sam Kerr is she played in the NWSL and is in the WSL. You know who Vivienne miedema is because she was a youngster who was already passing some records and making history.

So I’m sorry but I disagree with putting them in the fire. I truly believe this has little to do with just their federation and everything to do with them being realistic and trying to continue to gain momentum. Hopefully they’ll host something soon and use whatever they host to show that they can bring in revenue and we as fans get to know more of the players so that they have our support. But take them out of that fire Ace they are not as bad as the rest right now.

1). This is very long

2). Hope you know I skimmed this bc I haven't had any coffee yet

3). Bro you okay? Cuz the fire thing is a joke regardless of how the teams are actually doing and not supposed to be taken seriously either way

If it makes you feel better Sweden can chill on the ground

[kafkaoftherubble]

Oh! This reminds me of a minor difficulty with my Best Friend regarding this just recently, heh! Sorry OP for piggybacking on your post!

She and I have been Besto Furrendo for almost 2 decades despite perceiving the world in very different ways. If there's anything I want to talk about that I worry the rest of the world might not understand, I'd use her as my testing ground. She's the "Now, press the down button twice to crouch! Go on, give it a try! ...Well done!" tutorial level to me.

But with her, there's this... limit. Her empathy and understanding are awarded based on how much she "can personally imagine being in other people's shoes." I get that lotsa people do that, and it's her mode of empathy.

But then when it comes to things she "cannot imagine," her empathy applies a lot less. And this is kinda what happened here.

So I went,

"Hey, I wanna try explaining some stuff about being aromantic to my peers like cousins and sisters... and hopefully older folks to a conceivable, realistic extent. But I can't holistically fathom/imagine what or why they wouldn't be able to understand. Since you're alloromantic who's also the first to know how I'm like, can you brainstorm this stuff with me? Tell me what confuses you and we can together come up with ways to explain."

And she just kinda went, "But dude, why is there a need to explain anything? It's not like you're coming out as gay or bisexual or trans and other things, right? Those are a lot more consequential, I think. In comparison, yours is a pretty small deal and really doesn't need to be turned into a source of confusion! Especially when you're trying to avoid starting arguments! Just pass it off as friendship, dude. Why even need to stress 'I don't and can't feel romance?' It's not that important at the end of the day, right?

"You really gotta stop overexplaining things when it's not needed, man. I mean, you can if you want to! I don't wanna stop you! I don't have the right to stop you either. But you also said you wanna talk about this to them because you don't want people to misunderstand or secretly talk shit, but I'm gonna tell you straight up then once you start explaining, this is what you're definitely going to get. And honestly? Until now I still don't get it. How is it that you simultaneously see a person as simply 'platonic' and yet describe them in ways that just sound deadass like 暧昧 ("being romantic, but not yet an official couple") to me? Isn't the way you describe and act just romantic already? If harboring sentiments like that, or wanting to do that sort of things, don't count as 'being romantic'... then who in this entire world left is 'romantic' anymore?

"I mean... Are you sure you're not just scared of admitting you're in love or what?"

Me: AIYO

Welp! I mean, I did ask her what sort of confusion allo folks might have, aaaaaand she just went straight to demonstrating it instead of telling me. Very direct and effective!

...I don't resent her for her honest opinion. She's trying her hardest as someone who, like me, lives in a socially conservative country with minimal to almost-no queer discourse and exposure aside from the discourse osmosis of the internet. Hell, our country is still in the phase of calling queerness a "foreign, corruptive culture," rather than an actual biologically based reality that isn't dependent on someone being exposed to "evil Western ideals."

She's supportive of well-known queerness; she found it easy to imagine "being them" despite herself being straight and cisgender because she's been exposed to those sides of the discourse for long enough. And when it's something she really couldn't "get," she would go the "well, it's not my life so I'm not gonna dictate shit" route.

More importantly, I know she was being this candid because we are best friends, and she felt safe to voice out her honest frustration.

But I'd be lying if I said I didn't surreptitiously initiate "Retreat Plan Alpha: So How Did You Career Hunt Go" and change the subject. I was worried that if we kept this topic up, she was going to say something genuinely touchy and hurtful soon enough. I don't wanna hear that kind of thing from her of all people. Being misconstrued by your Best Friend is quite the nasty sting!

Besides, I don't think dumping bullet points—or swinging information like a Monster Hunter hammer and BONK! at her head repetitively—will help her genuinely understand in one setting, so I decided to give up the conversation.

Naturally, I'll try again. And again. And again-again. I'm pigheaded like that. If I can't convince my Best Friend—who grew up with me for a good chunk of our lives and had been one of the few who accepted me despite my weird ass—to understand this side of me well enough, then I already have an exponentially steep curve ahead of me in convincing my peers and "older folks" to understand the bare minimum.

And I guess this post reminded me of this because, well... I think the invisibility of the aromantic experience is one of the contributing factors to my Best Friend's frustration. Again, she's not queer in any way (so far), but she has no problem understanding well-known queer experiences enough to genuinely invoke emotional empathy. I She's been exposed to the discourse surrounding them for a long enough time that it informs her what to imagine when she's "imagining being in their shoes."

But aromanticism is just not there. In her words, "It's just not that big a deal compared to ___." In her mind, this shit is so easy to be masked and invisible that there's no need nor reason to be visible. "Why trouble yourself? Being invisible is a boon."

Well! I think long-lasting understanding is only possible with patience and long-term effort, so I really am not bitter about her confusion. I'll just try again.

I kinda wish that aromanticism gets to be talked about a lot more. It makes my job a lot easier when this becomes a larger group effort, 'cause then folks like my Best Friend could learn from diverse sources instead of one. Even if it's just on the Internet (due to the current limits in our society), cultural osmosis and the awareness that comes with it really helps.

with the note that invisibility isn’t privilege I’d like to remind people how erased aro people are

like I work with several queer people, gay and bi and such. Not one of them knew what aro or queer platonic was before I told them

during pride month you know what flag they don’t have in general stores? Aro

Even at pride itself when I went last year, there were four aro things. That’s it. Do you know how depressing that is to go to the queer place specially and you have to stop at every single stall to scour for a single thing to represent you?

we need to normalize aromantism. We need to stop more than friends and “you laughed at what he said you’re in love!” Or “you spent the night with her just admit you’re gay” attitudes. Romance is not required to be a human and it’s not required for intimacy. It should be just as known and accepted as being gay.

[dysfunkt1on]

Due to the reaction I had last night to touching too many coins not knowing I still had a severe metal sensitivity my day was largely garbage. I did sleep well but more like just actually passed out as soon as I hit the pillow and had extremely strange realistic dreams. I was with a group of people trying to save a stadium full of people from zombies and I had a baseball bat which I was using to kill them with which was really satisfying but gradually as more people infected we couldn't hold them all back anymore and evenually the scene was just a desolate flat plain outside full of people getting their flesh eaten off by zombies and I have no idea where the stadium went or why everyone was in it in the first place. There was also some random parts where I was in a giant building looking for something and was with a couple people. I remember the last room was a giant warehouse like room with a bunch of living room furniture in it and some woman I was with was complaining wanting to go home but I wanted to keep going. I'm not sure if warehouse Ikea was before or after the after the zombie stadium massacre. Then I woke up and it was like 9 AM and I slept through my alarm apparently. I woke up with my sinuses feeling like balloons and my face and eyes on fire. Of course the rest of the morning after this was total misery besides going to the grocery store and nothing got done. I did a lot more trauma response dissecting further making the pain even worse but now I'm ready to make my next diagram on it to map things out. Tomorrow is already Sunday so that's about it for my weekend. Yet another down the drain due to sudden health nonsense I didn't see coming and of course for some absurd reason I also didn't see coming. I did test out pasta tonight for food sensitivity testing and come to find out I accidentally got an enriched package because I didn't even know pasta was enriched commonly but my reaction to it was nothing like bread enriched or not so that means something specifically in bread can give me a reaction and it can even vary based on unknown factors of the source. On my food sensitivities in gluten product land I'm now even more confused. It's best I avoid it all in general and often I don't care to have it and especially not pasta which I never eat these days anyways. I don't know what I'm going to have tomorrow but I'm just looking forward to some more normal rest tonight. Guess I should start preparing for the week ahead because clearly I'm going to be plunging myself into next week without any measure of restful resolve this week. I mean what else is new but I'm just so tired of the whirlwind of pain.

[driving-tips]

Top 10 Tips for Passing Your Driving Test the First Time

Top 10 Tips for Passing Your Driving Test the First Time

1. Enroll in a Reputable Driving School

Learning with experienced driving instructors ensures you get the best guidance. At DOS Driving School, we offer personalized lessons tailored to your skill level and goals.

2. Understand the Test Format

Familiarize yourself with the driving test structure in Melbourne, including the skills you’ll be assessed on, such as lane changes, reverse parking, and understanding road signs.

3. Practice Regularly in Different Conditions

Driving in various weather and traffic conditions prepares you for unexpected scenarios. Melbourne's diverse weather makes this an essential tip.

4. Master Your Parking Skills

Parallel parking and reverse parking are common areas where learners struggle. Our instructors at DOS Driving School emphasize parking techniques to build your confidence.

5. Know Melbourne’s Road Rules

Melbourne has specific road regulations that every learner must know. Brush up on speed limits, school zones, and give-way rules to avoid losing points during your test.

6. TAKE A MOCK DRIVING TEST

Simulating the actual test with a certified instructor helps you identify areas for improvement. At DOS Driving School, we offer realistic mock tests to ensure you’re fully prepared.

7. Stay Calm and Focused

Nerves are natural, but staying calm can make all the difference. Practice mindfulness techniques or deep breathing to keep anxiety at bay.

8. Check Your Car’s Condition

Ensure the car you use for the test is roadworthy, with functioning indicators, brakes, and mirrors. If you’re using our school car, we take care of this for you.

9. Get Enough Sleep Before the Test

A well-rested mind performs better. Avoid cramming the night before and ensure you have a clear head for the test.

10. Learn From Your Mistakes

If you make a mistake during practice, take it as a learning opportunity. Our instructors provide constructive feedback to help you improve.

Why Choose DOS Driving School in Melbourne?

At DOS Driving School, we pride ourselves on delivering high-quality driving lessons tailored to each student’s needs. With a team of patient and experienced instructors, we focus on equipping you with the skills and confidence to pass your driving test on the first attempt.

FAQS

How many lessons do I need to pass the test?

This varies for each individual. Our instructors can assess your skills and recommend the optimal number of lessons.

Can I book a mock test with DOS Driving School?

Yes! We offer comprehensive mock tests designed to replicate the real driving test experience.

WHAT AREAS DOES DOS DRIVING SCHOOL COVER IN MELBOURNE, VICTORIA?

At DOS Driving School, we proudly serve a wide range of locations across Melbourne, Victoria, to make learning to drive convenient for students in various suburbs. Our goal is to provide accessible, high-quality driving lessons that cater to diverse communities in and around the city.

For more, contact  DOS Driving School 03 8738 5185

[cnacertificationprogram]

Master Your CNA Exam: Take Our Free Online Practice Test Today!

Master Your CNA Exam: Take Our Free Online Practice Test Today!

The journey to becoming ​a Certified ⁤Nursing Assistant (CNA) can be both exciting and challenging. The CNA exam is a critical step in⁣ ensuring your qualifications as a nursing assistant. Are you ready to master your exam and boost your confidence? Look no further! In this article, we will explore the importance of practice tests, practical tips for effective study, and‍ how our free online CNA practice test can make all the difference.

Understanding the CNA Exam

The CNA exam is designed to assess⁢ your skills and knowledge necessary to⁣ provide ‍care to patients in various healthcare settings. it typically consists of two parts:

Written ‌Test: This section evaluates your understanding of concepts,​ procedures, and best practices relevant to ⁤patient⁣ care.

Skills Evaluation: Hear, you’ll demonstrate your practical skills ‍in a simulated habitat.

The Importance⁤ of Practice Tests

Practice tests‌ are a powerful tool ‍for any exam ​taker, especially for ‍nursing students preparing for the CNA certification. Here’s why:

Familiarity with the format: Taking practice tests introduces you to the exam structure, helping reduce anxiety on test day.

Identifying Weak Areas: Practice exams⁢ help pinpoint the ⁢subjects you need to focus on more intensively.

Time Management: Practicing under timed conditions can improve your speed and efficiency during the actual exam.

Building Confidence: The ‍more you ⁢practice, the more secure you’ll feel about ⁢your ⁢knowledge and⁤ skills.

How Our Free Online Practice Test⁤ Works

Our ⁣free online CNA practice test‌ is⁤ specifically designed to⁤ simulate⁤ the real exam experience. Here’s how it works:

Accessibility: The test is available online, ⁤making it easy for you‍ to access at any time from the comfort of your home.

Realistic Questions: Our questions are modeled after actual⁢ CNA exam questions, providing an⁤ authentic testing ⁣experience.

Instant ⁣Feedback: After completing​ the test, you receive immediate​ feedback with detailed explanations for ‍each question.

Progress Tracking: Keep track of ⁣your scores ⁣and betterment over time.

Benefits of Taking Our Practice Test

Choosing our free practice test has⁢ several benefits:

Wholly free ⁣and easy to access

Helps in building study‌ routines

Offers insights into topics that require more attention

Enhances your‌ chances of passing the certification exam

Practical‌ Tips⁤ for Studying for‌ the‍ CNA Exam

Here are some effective study‌ strategies that can enhance your‍ preparation for the CNA exam:

1. Set a Study Schedule

Create a realistic study plan that allows you to review all topics adequately. Consider breaking your ‌study ‍sessions into ⁢manageable⁢ blocks for better retention.

2.Use Multiple Study Resources

In addition to the practice test, utilize textbooks, online courses, and study groups to reinforce learning⁢ from different perspectives.

3. Focus on Hands-On Skills

Practice your clinical skills regularly ‍with your peers or under supervision to ensure you are ​cozy performing them on the test day.

4. Take ⁤Care of Your Health

Staying healthy is crucial. Ensure you get enough‌ rest, eat well, and manage stress through techniques like meditation ‍or exercise.

Case Studies: Success Stories

Many students have ‍transformed their preparation using our online practice test. Here are a couple of success stories:

Name

Challenge

Outcome

Sarah L.

Lack of ‌confidence

Passed with flying colors after using the⁤ practice test!

James M.

Struggled with written test

Improved significantly and scored above average.

First-Hand Experience: What to Expect

Many students ‍often express anxiety when approaching the CNA exam. One former student shares her experience:

“I was terrified before taking my CNA exam. I decided to use the free‌ online practice test, and it was a‍ game changer! Not only did I ⁤familiarize myself with the kinds of questions I would face, but I also felt more prepared and confident on the day⁤ of the exam. I can’t⁣ recommend ‌it enough!” – Emily R.

Conclusion

Mastering your CNA exam is⁣ achievable with the right preparation and resources. By utilizing our⁢ free online practice test, you can build your confidence, identify areas ⁤for ⁢improvement, and ultimately enhance your chances of passing the certification. Remember to combine your practice with effective study⁣ habits,and soon ⁢you’ll be⁢ on your way ⁢to a rewarding career in healthcare.‍ Don’t ⁤wait—take our free online practice test today and start your journey⁣ towards becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant!

https://cnacertificationprogram.net/master-your-cna-exam-take-our-free-online-practice-test-today/

[thedavesnews]

Résolutions pour 2025

The last few years have rolled around I almost forget to write this up. It's almost like I need to add write my resolutions to my resolutions. And maybe I need to consider making easier ones. It's been a copy/paste affair for things I doubt I'll actually achieve. The pattern I've found (and anyone who follows along will have seen) is that the easy ones get completed the and the hard ones have an excuse or just seemed to be out of reach. In a little over a week, I'm going for my most ambitious goal. The Dopey. If I somehow run 48.6 miles in 4 days none of the rest of the things on this list matter. I'll have done the single hardest thing I've ever done. In. My. Life. At it will be enough for me to never care about resolutions again. I might still do them but nothing will top running a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and then ending WITH A MARATHON! I have only a few days left to find a zone, groove, mindset or whatever it shall be called. 4 days of running is my only real focus for now until the last steps are taken for Disney Marathon weekend. More on that line of thinking in another post though.

You're here for the wins and losses so let's do this and lick the wounds of another year.

2023 Results

Dopey --I signed up and that really is most of the battle. The race is the victory lap from the training (or lack of)

Find workouts that appeal to me enough to get them on regular rotations. --I know what to do and I got the equipment in the house but it gathers dust. It's a will problem.

Sustainable diet for as much of the year as possible. --We had this at one point but I realize I'm our problem.

#SixPackDave…laughing but sighing too. --Sigh/laugh...next...

Read 52 books.  --2nd year in a row. Cutting to a book a week by overall count made this simpler and leaves room for other things like certification studying.

Get my half marathon time back under 2:30.  Current half-marathon PR if 2:18. --I actually hit 2:38 at Space Coast but getting to under 2:30 could be a real thing next season. Disney races aren't realistic for a PR.

Get a 2nd novel review ready and/or start a serial to peak interests. --Ideas keep coming but pen to paper (fingers to keys) is really the hardest part when you have ADHD.

Try a writing prompt. I follow a group that posts many that have been pretty interesting. Short ones can spark some other ideas. --Just never had the energy to write.

Stream or post videos again. I really miss chat. --I did a test stream of sorts a month or two ago. It's certainly doable. I really do miss chat.

Get another full year streak on Duolingo as well as get all the badges for each month. Become the polyglot. --890 days and counting. Languages are my interest so this at times is mentally hard but I enjoy it and find a way to at least day 1 lesson per day.

Travel somewhere new. This is cheating because I've already booked a cruise to Central America :) --Yes, check off Central America.

Take technical certifications tests. I hate tests but I go through the learning material so smoothly. --Passed PL-200. On to the next!

Become a regular at my nearest LGS for MTG and Lorcana events. --Several MTG events but not regular. I blame work schedule but I'm just mentally drained at the end of a day and Magic requires focus.

2025 Resolutions

Dopey. January 2025.

Use the equipment I own to workout.

More home made food (food at home as Officer Hopps would say) than fast food every week.

#SixPackDave…I should remove it but I need motivation.

Read 52 books. Keep the streak going!

Run the Space Coast Half under 2:30.  Current half-marathon PR if 2:18.

Focus on one of my in progress novels and finish it in 2025.

Create more content of value on Tumblr. That could be a sample of a novel idea, just thoughts or even one of those writing prompts I wanted to try in 2024.

I miss you chat, I'm coming back to Twitch in 2025, I promise.

Keep the Duolingo streak going. Dave is a tri-lingual now. The only place to go is polyglot.

Explore France without visiting Paris. This is going to be rough but I'll find way. Oh and I guess Parle français.

Expand my certification collection. Certified Architect sounds nice.

Play more in person MTG.

-Dave

Qui dit nouvelle année, dit nouvelles opportunités

[mayaduffphleb]

Master Your ASCP Phlebotomy Practice Test: Essential Tips and Resources for Success

Master Your ASCP Phlebotomy Practice‌ Test: Essential Tips and Resources for Success

Are you gearing up‌ for the ASCP Phlebotomy‌ Certification Exam? A well-structured study‌ approach, ⁢combined with effective test ⁢practice resources,⁣ can‍ significantly enhance your chances of success. In this comprehensive guide, we‍ will provide you⁢ with ⁤essential tips, valuable resources, ‍and insights into mastering your ASCP Phlebotomy practice test.

Understanding the ⁢ASCP Phlebotomy Exam

The American Society for Clinical Pathology ⁣(ASCP) certification for​ Phlebotomy is⁣ a respected credential that demonstrates your proficiency in⁢ drawing blood and handling specimens for clinical laboratory ⁤tests. The exam ‌assesses⁢ your‌ knowledge in areas such as:

Human anatomy⁢ and physiology

Phlebotomy procedures and techniques

Infection control

Patient interaction and safety

Exam Format

The ASCP Phlebotomy ⁢exam consists of:

Number of questions: 80

Duration: ​ 120 minutes

Pass rate: ‌ Typically⁤ around 70%

Benefits​ of⁣ Taking the ASCP Phlebotomy Practice Test

Taking the ASCP Phlebotomy practice ​test provides numerous advantages to test-takers:

Familiarity: ⁣ Understand the exam⁣ format and question types.

Identification of Weak Areas: Pinpoint subjects that may require ‍extra‌ study.

Confidence Building: ⁤ Increase ⁤your confidence through simulation of the actual exam environment.

Essential Tips for‍ Mastering Your ASCP Phlebotomy ​Practice Test

1. Develop a Comprehensive Study Plan

Creating a ‍structured study schedule is vital. Here’s how to do it:

Allocate specific⁢ times for studying each subject.

Use a ⁤combination of textbooks, online resources, and hands-on practice.

Set ‌realistic goals and track your‌ progress regularly.

2. Utilize ⁤Quality Study Materials

Investing in **reliable‌ study materials** is ​crucial. Consider​ resources such as:

Official ASCP ‍study ​guides

Online courses and webinars

Books ⁤specifically tailored to‍ the ‍ASCP exam

3. ‌Engage​ in Practice ⁢Tests

Practice tests mimic ⁤the actual​ exam experience and ​identify ‌your ‌readiness. ⁢Here are ⁣effective resources you can explore:

ASCP’s Official ⁣Website

Prometric Test ​Center

Numerous online platforms offering mock tests

4. Form Study‍ Groups

Collaborating with ‌peers can ⁢enhance⁣ your learning experience.‌ Here ‌are some benefits of study groups:

Shared knowledge and insights.

Motivation to stay on‌ track ⁣with study goals.

Opportunity⁢ to clarify doubts‌ and discuss‌ complex topics.

Recommended Resources for ASCP Phlebotomy Practice Tests

Below is ‌a table showcasing some of the best⁣ resources ⁢available to help you prepare‍ for your ASCP Phlebotomy exam:

Resource

Type

Rating

ASCP Study Guide

Book

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Phlebotomy Exam Practice Questions

Online Course

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Phlebotomy Exam Review

Webinar

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Practical‌ Tips for ⁤Success on Test Day

Preparing is one ‍part of the equation; executing well on the exam day is essential too. Follow these tips:

Rest ⁣Well: Ensure you get a good night’s sleep before​ the exam.

Eat a Healthy Breakfast: Fuel your brain with ⁤brain-boosting foods.

Arrive Early: ​Give yourself plenty of time to settle ⁣and avoid stress.

Stay Calm: Practice relaxation techniques while taking the exam.

Personal Experiences: Success Stories of Test Takers

Many successful‍ test-takers have shared ‌their journeys. Here are some insights:

“I was overwhelmed at first,⁤ but​ with a structured ⁣study plan​ and consistent‍ practice tests, I finally felt ready for the⁤ ASCP⁣ Phlebotomy exam. Networking with peers helped⁢ clarify my doubts, and I⁣ passed with confidence!” – Sarah⁢ J.

“Using the ASCP resources made⁢ all the difference. The ⁣practice tests accurately mimicked the real exam, reducing my ⁣anxiety​ on test day. ‌I highly recommend them!” – Mike T.

Conclusion

Mastering your ASCP Phlebotomy practice test is a journey that ​requires effective planning,‌ high-quality resources, and dedication. By following the tips outlined in this guide and using the recommended resources, you can enhance your chances of success on the‌ exam. Remember, preparation is key, and the effort you invest today will pay off tomorrow. Good ⁢luck!

https://phlebotomyclassesonline.net/master-your-ascp-phlebotomy-practice-test-essential-tips-and-resources-for-success/

[stephleb]

Master the CNA Exam with our Free Online Practice Test: Your Key to Success in Healthcare

**Title: Master the CNA ⁤Exam with our Free‌ Online ⁢Practice Test: Your Key to Success in ​Healthcare**

**Introduction:** Becoming ⁤a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) is ‍a rewarding career ⁤path with‌ opportunities⁣ to make a difference in the ⁣lives of patients. However,‌ before embarking on this⁢ journey, ⁣aspiring CNAs must pass the CNA‌ exam​ to obtain their certification. To help you prepare and excel⁣ on the exam,​ we offer a free online ​practice test ⁤that will serve as your key to success in the healthcare field.

**Benefits of‌ Using our Free Online Practice Test:** – Accessible⁢ Anytime, Anywhere: Our online practice test can ⁤be taken from the comfort of your own home or on the go, allowing ⁣you to study at your ‍own‌ pace and convenience. -​ Realistic Exam Simulation: Our practice test closely simulates ​the format and content of the⁢ actual CNA exam, giving you a realistic preview of what to expect on test ​day. – Detailed Feedback‌ and Explanations: After completing the practice ‍test, you⁣ will receive detailed ​feedback on your performance, including explanations for⁤ correct answers, helping you identify your strengths and areas for improvement. – Reinforcement⁤ of⁣ Key Concepts: Our⁣ practice test covers a wide range of topics⁣ related to healthcare⁢ and nursing skills, helping you reinforce ‍your understanding of essential concepts. – Confidence Booster: By consistently practicing with​ our⁢ test, you⁣ will ‌build‍ confidence in ⁤your test-taking abilities and feel ​more prepared and relaxed on exam day.

**Practical Tips for Success on the CNA Exam:** – Review the ‌Exam Outline: Familiarize yourself with ⁢the content ⁤and ‍format of ⁣the ​CNA ​exam​ by reviewing the exam outline provided by‍ the testing agency. – Study Consistently: Create a study ​schedule ‌and commit to regular ​practice sessions to ensure that you cover all⁤ necessary topics before the exam. – Take Breaks: Give yourself short breaks‌ during study sessions to rest and recharge,‍ which can help improve focus and retention of⁢ information. – Seek Support: Don’t hesitate ‌to reach out‌ to classmates,​ instructors,⁤ or online resources​ for ⁤additional study⁣ materials and support. – Stay Positive: Maintain a⁣ positive attitude and believe in⁤ your abilities to succeed‍ on the exam, as confidence plays⁤ a crucial role in test‍ performance.

**First-Hand Experience:** “I used the free online practice test from ⁤this platform to ⁤prepare for ‍my CNA exam, and it was incredibly‌ helpful.​ The test⁤ questions were challenging and closely mirrored the actual exam format, which prepared me‌ well for‍ test day. I received detailed feedback on my ‍performance, which allowed me to ‍focus on⁣ areas where I needed improvement. Thanks to ​this practice​ test, I passed ​my CNA exam with flying colors!”

mastering the CNA exam is essential for launching a successful career in healthcare, and our free ⁣online practice test ⁣can​ be ‍your ticket to success. By utilizing this resource, you can‍ build confidence, reinforce​ key concepts, and prepare yourself ‌for the challenges of the CNA exam. Start practicing today and take the first step towards a rewarding ‌career as a Certified Nursing Assistant.

https://cnatrainingcentral.com/master-the-cna-exam-with-our-free-online-practice-test-your-key-to-success-in-healthcare/

[nextleveldriving]

How Should I Prepare for the Essential Driving Test in Dublin?

Preparing for the Essential Driving Test (EDT) in Dublin is a crucial step towards obtaining your driver's license and becoming a confident and responsible driver. The EDT is designed to ensure that new drivers are equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and attitudes to navigate the roads safely. Here's a comprehensive guide on how to prepare effectively for the EDT.

Understanding the Essential Driving Test (EDT):

The EDT is a structured training program mandated by the Irish government for all new drivers. It consists of 12 lessons covering various aspects of driving, from basic car controls to more complex maneuvers. The final step in the EDT process is the practical driving test, where your skills and knowledge are assessed by a qualified driving tester.

1. Complete the 12 EDT Lessons:

The foundation of your preparation is the completion of the 12 Essential Driver Training lessons. Each lesson is designed to address specific skills and scenarios that you'll encounter on the road. These lessons cover a range of topics, including car controls, changing direction, progression management, anticipation and reaction, and more. Ensure that you attend each lesson with focus and actively participate in the practical exercises.

2. Practice Regularly:

Practice is key to building confidence and refining your skills. Make use of the learner permit phase to clock in additional supervised driving hours with a qualified driver. Practice in various road conditions, such as urban, rural, and motorway driving. This hands-on experience will not only enhance your driving skills but also boost your confidence behind the wheel.

3. Review the Rules of the Road:

Refresh your knowledge of the Rules of the Road, as a solid understanding of traffic regulations is essential for passing the theory component of the driving test. Familiarize yourself with road signs, signals, and right-of-way rules. The theory test is a computer-based examination, and practicing with mock tests can help you get accustomed to the format and improve your response time.

4. Master Parking Skills:

Parking is often a challenging aspect for new drivers. Practice parallel parking, angle parking, and perpendicular parking in different locations. Mastering parking skills not only contributes to your overall driving ability but also ensures that you can confidently handle parking situations during the driving test.

5. Simulate Test Conditions:

Conduct mock driving tests under realistic conditions to simulate the actual test experience. This includes driving in the same type of car you'll use for the test, following the designated test routes, and adhering to the time limits. Simulating test conditions helps reduce anxiety and familiarizes you with what to expect on the day of the actual test.

6. Refine Observation and Communication:

Effective observation and clear communication are fundamental aspects of safe driving. Practice using your mirrors regularly, checking blind spots, and signaling appropriately. Ensure that your communication with other road users is clear and decisive. The driving tester will assess your ability to communicate effectively on the road.

7. Understand Vehicle Maintenance:

While the driving test primarily assesses your practical driving skills, having a basic understanding of vehicle maintenance is advantageous. Familiarize yourself with essential maintenance tasks, such as checking oil levels, tire pressure, lights, and brakes. This knowledge showcases your commitment to responsible vehicle ownership.

8. Learn from Mistakes:

If you make mistakes during practice sessions, treat them as learning opportunities. Identify areas where you need improvement and focus on refining those skills. It's natural to encounter challenges, and addressing them proactively will contribute to your overall growth as a driver.

9. Get Adequate Rest Before the Test:

Ensure that you are well-rested on the day of the driving test. Fatigue can impact your concentration and reaction time. Aim for a good night's sleep before the test to ensure that you are alert and focused during the assessment.

10. Arrive Early and Be Prepared:

On the day of the driving test, arrive at the test center well in advance. Bring all necessary documentation, including your learner permit and confirmation of your test appointment. Being well-prepared and arriving early helps reduce stress and allows you to approach the test with confidence.

Conclusion:

Preparing for the Essential Driving Test in Dublin is a comprehensive process that involves a combination of structured lessons, practical experience, theoretical knowledge, and simulated testing conditions. By actively participating in the 12 EDT lessons, practicing regularly, and addressing specific areas of improvement, you can enhance your readiness for the driving test.

Approach the test with a positive mindset, focusing on showcasing the skills and knowledge you've acquired throughout the EDT process. Remember that the driving test is not only an assessment but also an opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to safe and responsible driving. With thorough preparation and a calm demeanor, you can increase your chances of passing the EDT in Dublin and embarking on a journey as a licensed and confident driver on the roads of Ireland.