#green skills programmes

[letslocalise]

In today's rapidly evolving world, communities thrive when individuals and organizations unite to create a lasting positive impact. At Letslocalise, we are committed to driving local social value initiatives that resonate with the unique needs and aspirations of each community. Our mission is to foster a culture of collaboration and social responsibility, enabling communities to grow stronger together.

What Are Local Social Value Initiatives?

Local social value initiatives refer to projects and activities that bring tangible benefits to communities. These initiatives often address social, economic, and environmental issues, ranging from education and healthcare to sustainability and social inclusion. By focusing on the specific needs of a community, these initiatives help create opportunities, enhance well-being, and improve the overall quality of life.

Letslocalise's Approach to Social Value

At Letslocalise, we believe in the power of collective action. Our approach to social value is rooted in collaboration, where we bring together individuals, businesses, and local organizations to work on projects that matter. We leverage our platform to connect those who want to make a difference with causes that align with their values.

Key Initiatives Led by Letslocalise

Educational Support: We partner with local schools to provide resources, mentorship, and support to students. From funding extracurricular activities to organizing career guidance sessions, our initiatives help bridge the gap in educational opportunities.

Environmental Sustainability: Letslocalise champions environmental projects such as community clean-up drives, tree planting, and recycling programs. These initiatives aim to create greener, more sustainable communities for future generations.

Social Inclusion: We work to promote inclusivity by supporting initiatives that empower marginalized groups. Whether it's through skill development workshops or awareness campaigns, we strive to create a more equitable society.

Healthcare Access: Letslocalise collaborates with local healthcare providers to enhance access to essential medical services. Our initiatives include organizing health camps, blood donation drives, and wellness programs.

Get Involved with Letslocalise

Creating social value is a shared responsibility. At Letslocalise, we encourage everyone to get involved, whether by volunteering, donating, or simply spreading the word about our initiatives. Together, we can build stronger, more resilient communities.

Join us in making a difference. Visit our website to learn more about how you can participate in local social value initiatives and contribute to the well-being of your community. Letslocalise is here to empower you to be a force for positive change.

Social Value Definition

Social Value Delivery

Community Initiatives

Green Skills Programmes

[stayevildarling]

could you write a natasha x reader fic based on the song wait a minute. maybe reader leaves her diary in nat's place and she reads it? something smutty, possibly a bit of corruption?

Natasha Romanoff x Reader- Wait a minute

A/N: thank you for this request anon! I'm always a bit self conscious about writing smut because I'm worried it's bad but here we go.

tags/warning: female reader, nsfw, corruption kink, mommy kink, bondage, oral, fingering, reader receiving

word count: 5.5k

taglist:

@lunaticwhittaker , @billiebeanhoward , @lanawinters-ily , @kenzbro , @minaslittleone , @httpfiftyshadesofgay @whitelotus00 , @ninaahs , @paulsonsratched , @vintagepaulson , @isle-of-earle , @grilledcheeseandguavajelly , @lucyintheskywithxanax , @fanfics4world , @mymiraclewitch , @hazard-to-myself , @awritersometimes , @wastdstime , @p1pecleanerwitheyes , @queen2234 , @ihartnat , @lifebyinez , @ahsatanizgay , @blu3dimples

The sound of grunting echoes through the training room inside the avengers compound, your body hitting the mat for what feels like the hundredth time today. Gasping for air, you look up at Natasha, your mentor, towering over you, her chest rising and falling in perfect rhythm. Every movement she makes is controlled and calculated, fitting for the woman who had been a trained spy and assassin at first before becoming a famous avenger.

,,Focus, солнышко'' she teases in a low, provocative tone, offering you a gloved hand to pull you up. ,,If you keep getting distracted, you will never improve''.

You can't help but flush under her gaze, sighing at the same time. The black widow has always had this effect on you, ever since you joined the recruiting programme several months ago. Mr. Stark had come across you through his contacts and wanted to bring you along straight away but some newer rules and contracts insisted on every potential new avenger to go through their skilled training programme, making sure you are ready to fight in battle. Steve Rodgers and Natasha mostly led those and much to your disliking, you had been paired with the redhead. Ever since seeing her in person for the first time, you had been in awe, feeling the attraction towards the woman and unable to shake it.

You knew from the start you shouldn't glance at her the way you did, but there was something about her that you couldn't shake. The way her body moved, the command in her voice, the knowing smirk on her lips every time she ghosts over you, the faint smell of her perfume mingling with sweat. It drove you crazy, made you forget every single thing you had trained so hard for, your goals, your desires and your usual shyness around strangers, only ever focusing on your work and goals and never usually one to back away from those, mostly keeping to yourself.

Her fingers curl around your wrist, pulling you up effortlessly as if you weigh nothing at all. She doesn't let go right away though, instead she holds your hand just a second too long, her eyes flickering down briefly to where your skin made contact. Your breathing hitches, your pulse quickening in your chest in that all too familiar way again.

,,You're distracted again'' she murmurs, barely above a whisper, some more recruits slowly filling the training room. She leans in close enough that her breath brushes your ear. ,,I think I know why''. In response you swallow hard, stepping back as you register more people in the room and trying to remain professional, your shy side suddenly bubbling to the surface. Natasha doesn't miss the way your eyes dart around the room, the blush on your cheeks. She never misses anything.

,,Again'' her voice snaps you back into the moment and she was already preparing for the next round. You couldn't concentrate, not when every fiber of your body feels turned on whenever she is around. The way she stands, the curves of her body, the glint of amusement in her green eyes, her red curls falling freely- god she was breathtaking and you weren't sure how much longer you could keep this up.

A few nights later, the compound is completely silent, most of the avengers either sound asleep or on missions. As the seasons had changed, the rain was now a constant friend, always pattering against the large windows and making the days much colder. Natasha finds herself lingering outside your room. She hadn't meant to, her legs had simply carried her there after a few days of noticing how you fumbled around her, how you could barely meet her gaze without the signs of nervousness. It was cute really. The black widow had been curious about you from day one, noticing you in the room full of recruits that Tony so enthusiastically introduced. You had been so excited, yet so shy around everyone, especially the avengers but especially her. Then she began training you, excited after everything Tony had told her about you and your shyness only turned her on more, seeing how she can make you an absolute mess with a single glance or touch, causing you to forget your strength, causing you to falter and since then she had been fantasising what you would feel like underneath her, falling apart but the way she wanted you, underneath her, naked.

The redhead had mostly been curious, something about you intrigued her, the raw mix of innocence and desire that you tried so hard to keep hidden, expect you were doing an awful job of it. The door to your room is slightly cracked and Natasha's eyes almost instantly fall on your small desk near the window. There it is. A small leather bound journal, half covered by some files, left innocently open. A smirk tugs at the corner of her lips, it's too tempting to resist.

She slips into the room, making sure the hallway is clear before she quietly shuts the door behind her. She had known about your journal for a while now, sometimes seeing you in a quiet corner writing in it's pages while looking so innocent and she had grown curious, needing to know the contents so badly. With silent and practiced movements, she moves towards the desk. The journal is well worn, it's pages slightly curled at the edges, as if you had been pouring your thoughts in this for years.

Her fingers ghost over the corner of your journal, her eyes glinting with curiosity and something darker. She can't help but flip it open gently, the pages crackling under her touch as she reads through the first few entries. It's as she expected, your experience training, notes on some training missions, thoughts on the avengers and compound. A few personal notes about your upbringing, your family, some rough days. But as she goes further, the writing begins to shift and her name appears for the first time. You had done your best to keep your feelings and desires hidden but within these pages you let go, writing about your fantasies, how her touch lingering made you feel, how your heart races whenever she is nearby, how it would be like between you two if things could be.. different.

The further that she reads, the more personal and explicit it becomes, your handwriting shaky as you describe how it feels when her hand brushes your waist, how the heat spreads through your body when she hovers above you while training. How you touch yourself to the thought of her, how the mere mention of her name sometimes causes you to force your legs closed, how you want to feel her lips, her hands roam your body, wondering what her lips taste like, what it would feel like if she would make you feel so good. A few pages further and you begin revealing your desires, wanting to completely give your trust to your mentor, have her blindfold you, have her tie your hands, give her utter and full control over you, wanting to obey her so badly.

Her lips curl into a smile, her amusement deepening with every paragraph. This was all the proof she needed, you had been thinking about her, just like she had expected. Only you had been obsessing a little more than she initially believed, your innocence, so eager to prove yourself, yet so naive and unguarded, leaving your room open while doing your late night training in the gym, leaving your desires written for anyone who might find them. Well, Natasha had found them and that changes everything. She closes the journal quietly and slips it back exactly where and how she had found it, her mind already miles away. She suspected the attraction was mutual but now she knew just how deep it runs through your body and it thrills her.

She knew just what to do as she goes to bed that night, tomorrow she would act like nothing had changed, she would still be your mentor, the black widow and avenger, calculating and composed but she had the upper hand now and it both aroused and excited her.

The next morning, you enter the training room, trying to shake off the lingering sleep. You shiver slightly, the rain and slight wind causing you to freeze a little. You hadn't noticed anything unusual this morning, everything perfectly in place. But as you step inside the empty training room, seeing Natasha standing on the mats, arms crossed, watching you with an expressing you can't quite understand, something feels different.

,,Good morning Y/N'' she says smoothly, her voice almost a little too casual, making the shivering go away as your body burns within an instant. ,,You ready for more sparring?'' she asks and you simply nod, trying to ignore the way her eyes seem to linger on you a little longer than usual. You muster up your courage, after all Natasha always had a way of making you feel like this. Today, it feels even more intimate though, like she is waiting for you to slip up.

As the session begins, you can't help but shake the feeling that she is playing with you. Every one of her moves feels calculated, like when she catches your wrist and twists you around, pinning you to the mat. Instead of pulling back immediately, she leans down, her breath warm against your neck her body pressing into yours, just enough for you to feel the heat radiating off her.

,,You're not focused again'' she murmurs, her lips barely an inch from your ear. ,,You know I hate when you're distracted, right?'' she tuts. Your heart slams in your chest, was this simply your head or was she toying with you? It was like she knew what her closeness did to you, how your thoughts are spiralling with each fleeting moment and every time she touches you.

And then she leans in even closer, her breath ghosting over your ear yet again. ,,Tell me detka'' she purrs, her voice dropping to a whisper that only you can hear. ,,What keeps you so distracted? is there something I should know about?'' she questions so innocently. The question hangs in the air, thick with implication. She doesn't move, her body still pressed against yours, her hand gripping your wrist with just the right amount of control. She is daring you to answer, daring you to reveal the thoughts she already knows. You swallow hard, your pulse racing. You can't form words, you can't breathe but yet you can feel her smirk against your neck, like she is finally waiting for you to crack- waiting for you to admit what she already knows.

,,I'm right here, you know'' she whispers, her voice suddenly utterly comforting. ,,All you have to do is ask'' she teases, causing you to gather control of your strength and escape her grasp. Instinctively, you take a step back, putting a distance between you both as her words repeat in your mind over and over again. You freeze, heart pounding so loudly that you are sure she can hear it. ,,All you have to do is ask'' the words send a flush of heat through your body, right to your core, causing the inability to look at her, or ever respond.

The redhead however feels no rush, not moving an inch as she takes in your features, watching your pretty little brain do all the work as her words sink in. She reads your body language, how you are squeezing your fists, the trembling of your lips and breath. And in that moment you realise she is playing with you, every action before, every word deliberate. She is pushing you, testing your boundaries and suddenly the thought crosses your mind whether this was some sort of avenger thing, whether this was part of your training, whether this was to teach you about distractions on missions and you begin doubting yourself, suddenly feeling embarrassed as all the ,,what if's'' cross your mind.

,,What's wrong?'' she asks, noticing how your behaviour changes from flustered to embarassed and uncomfortable within an instant. ,,You've gone very quiet'' she teases. And then again her tone makes it obvious, causing you to believe she is doing this on purpose. ,,Natasha I-'' you struggle to form a coherent sentence, overwhelmed by your insecurities, the doubting but also the clear attraction and signals your body is sending you.

,,I have read your diary'' she whispers, her voice soft but dangerous. Your stomach drops, a sharp wave of panic surging through you as the words sink in. She knew. Suddenly your face goes incredibly pale as the realisation sinks in that she had read every single one of your thoughts, every filthy dirty secret. Before Natasha can carry on with her game, you abruptly leave, at first feeling like you are going to be sick before feeling the pure embarrassment of this situation. You run to your room so fast that everything begins spinning but Natasha of course is much faster than you.

As you reach your room, a panting mess as you lean against the nearest wall, she is already right behind you, closing the door, before halting. ,,I know what you want detka'' she continues, her tone smooth. ,,I know exactly what you feel when I touch you, when I'm close to you''. ,,You've been thinking about it for a while haven't you?'' You can't help but bite your lip, desperately trying to catch and control your breathing. There is no point in denying it now, she has all the power.

,,Natasha I-'' you start again but your voice falters, you can't admit it, not yet, not with how she is so close yet so far away. ,,It's okay, you don't have to say anything darling'' she teases. With slow and deliberate steps, she approaches you but you back away just as slowly. And almost as if the two of you dance, your breath hitching with every step she is taking towards you, you suddenly reach the wall, again now her having the full control over you.

Her fingers slide down your arm, trailing over your waist before settling at your hip, her grip firm and possessive. She doesn't move quickly, she isn't rushing. She is savouring this, taking her sweet time with you. ,,I can make it real for you'' she whispers against your ear, her lips barely brushing the side of it. ,,Everything you wrote down, every little thought sweetheart... I'm going to give it to you''.

Your breath hitches, a small moan slipping out, the promise of her words causes your head to spin, You feel her pressing closer, her hand slipping up your side, leaving a trail of heat. You can't help but arch your back, just slightly, into her touch. The tension had been building between you for so long and it's finally there that you can't fight it back any longer.

,,You have thought about this detka, haven't you?'' her voice is low, her lips ghosting over your skin. ,,About me doing this.. holding you down, making you admit how badly you want it''. And of course the trained spy was right, it had been there all along in your journal, the words you had spilled out late at night while touching yourself to the thought of her. You had thought about her in control, the way she could dominate you, and now she was right there, willing to give it all to you.

Her fingers curl into your waist, tugging you just a little closer to her, enough for you to feel her breath hot on your neck. ,,I know you want this'' she whispers, her voice soft but commanding. ,,You don't have to hide it anymore, pretty baby'' she encourages. You tremble under her touch, the weight of her words sending a thrill right through you. Every inch of you is tense with anticipation, waiting hoping. She had taken the first step and there was no turning back now.

,,Tell me darling'' she murmurs, her lips inches away from your own, her voice dripping with control. ,,Are you ready to stop pretending?'' she questions.

,,Yes'' the answer quite literally bursts out of you as you meet her gaze, unable to pretend any longer, needing her, wanting her with every fibre of your being. A knowing smirk creeps it's way onto her features, this being what she had wanted all along and now she had you right where she wanted you. ,,Good'' she whispers before stepping back. ,,Meet me tonight in my room at 8pm'' she instructs and your mouth is left hanging open in shock. ,,What?!'' you ask, your breathing heavy. ,,And don't you dare touch yourself darling, I need you to be good and patient for me'' she teases, kissing your cheek before disappearing from your room, leaving you a panting mess.

The rest of the day passes by in a painfully slow blur, your mind completely consumed by her words, her presence still lingering on your skin, and the promise of what was to come tonight. Every second feels agonisingly slow, despite you opting for an everything shower, taking your sweet time as you get your body clean and ready for the redhead. You make sure to choose one of your expensive lotions, your favourite underwear and dress. ,,Don't touch yourself, darling'' the words keep repeating in your mind, your body aching with frustration.

Your entire focus is on 8 pm tonight, when you would finally be in her room alone. What would she do? What would she want from you? The very thought makes your stomach flutter with a mixture of nerves and excitement. You try and distract yourself as much as you can but nothing can pull you out of the haze that Natasha has left on you.

By the time you arrive at her door, your heart is hammering in your chest. You stand there frozen for a moment, nerves twisting in your stomach, your hand frozen mid air before knocking. Finally, you force yourself to tap your knuckles against the wood, the sound final and sharp. The door creaks open almost immediately, revealing Natasha standing there, dressed in something far more relaxed than her usual combat gear, a simple black tank top and loose sweatpants. But there is nothing casual about the way she looks at you, her eyes roaming over the dress, your exposed skin. ,,Come in'' she offers, stepping aside to let you pass.

You swallow hard and enter the room, it's dimly lit, warm and inviting but the air feels thick with tension. Natasha closes the door, behind you with a quiet click and suddenly it feels like you are trapped, no escape or turning back. You stand in the middle of the room, unsure what to do with yourself as your body buzzes with anticipation. The redhead circles around you slowly, her eyes never leaving yours, as if she is savouring every second of your discomfort, every tremble running through you.

,,You listened to me didn't you?'' she asks, her voice low and teasing. ,,You didn't touch yourself?'' she questions, causing you to nod quickly, your mouth dry, struggling to find your voice. ,,Good girl'' she praises, stopping in front of you, her hand reaching out to gently cup your chin, tilting your face up to meet her gaze. ,,You're going to be so good for me tonight, aren't you?'' she whispers. Her words send another shiver down your spine, you open your mouth to respond but Natasha doesn't give you the chance. Her lips crash into yours, hot and demanding, her fingers gripping your jaw with just enough force to keep you exactly where she wants you.

Her lips overwhelm you, consuming every bit of you, gaining every ounce of control over you within an instant as her mouth moves against yours, her tongue teasing, coaxing you to give in. You can't help but melt into her touch, your hand instinctively reaching for her waist, pulling her closer to you. But before you can lose yourself completely, Natasha pulls back, her breath heavy, her lips swollen from the intensity of the kiss. She smirks down at you, her thumb brushing over your bottom lip as if she is claiming it, marking what is now hers.

,,Patience'' she whispers, her voice sending a thrill through you. ,,I'm not done with you yet'' she teases as she steps behind you. You close your eyes, feeling her circling you like prey again. Before you know it you feel a cool silk fabric covering your eyes as she blindfolds you, just like in your entries. Next, her hand brushes down your arm, finding your hand in hers and leading you somewhere. It felt both scary and exciting, giving her control, strangely trusting the woman with your entire life. It all passes by in a blur as she lays you on what you assume to be the bed, in an instant lifting your arms above your head before you feel something cool but much sharper on your wrists and the clicking moments later only confirms your fantasies about being chained to her bed.

The room is absolutely silent, the only sound to be heard your own breathing and despite your inability to see you can feel the woman's presence as the bed dips moments later. ,,You have been so patient, waiting for this so long detka'' she whispers as she hovers above you, her breath hot on your body. Her fingers begin gently trailing down your arms, causing you to shiver, your breath hitching yet again. Her hands begin trailing lower and lower but painfully slow, causing you to move your hands, testing the restraints but you quickly learn it's no use, Natasha smirking as she finally had you right where she wanted, solely in her control.

The black widow takes her sweet time, watching as goosebumps form on your arms with every bit of movement of her fingers, watching as your thighs press together when her hands slowly reach your bottom half. Your nipples perfectly peak through the dress, causing Natasha to bite her lip in anticipation. She had every intention of taking it slow with you, knowing she could do anything and everything but there is something so sweet, so innocent about you in this moment that she finds it hard to control herself, wanting to feel you right now, wanting to draw out all those sweet little noises she had fantasised about for weeks now.

After endless teasing and her kissing about every inch of your body, already having you a whimpering mess, she finally begins moving your dress, exposing your underwear and she smirks as she notices the mess you had made simply from her touches. ,,Oh my..you are soaked'' she smiles, causing your cheeks to glow red but your breathing still heavy as you need her so badly at this point. ,,Please Natasha'' you beg, unable to keep any form of dignity at this point as you need her to touch you, to make you feel good just like she had promised you.

And this time she uses the surprise element, ripping off your underwear in one deliberate movement before her tongue dives right into your glistening core, giving you no chance to adjust, no chance to catch your breathing as you begin whimpering uncontrollably. The redhead begins devouring you, your taste even sweeter than she could have ever imagined, knowing already she was never going to get sick of the taste. Your hands form into fists despite the cuffs, your chest heaving as the pleasure runs through your body, so close to the edge already as you had waited so long, so patiently and had grown so desperate. ,,Fuck'' she pants as she catches her breath for a second. ,,You taste so good detka'' she praises, sending you into another moaning fit.

The black widow had considered for a while just what she was going to do to you tonight, whether she was going to use any of her toys on you, stretch you out the way she had imagined. But again she had learnt through your diary that you aren't too experienced, wanting to cherish tonight, do exactly what she had read you wanted. And so she begins diving into you again, this time at a much more brutal pace, causing you to lose yourself completely in the moment, the only thing you are able to do at this point, breathing and moaning. She doesn't stop, relentlessly pushing her tongue into your core, already able to feel you clenching around her, your juices flowing freely on her tongue, causing her own arousal to get the better of her.

For a moment she stops, not to punish you, not to torture you longer but simply to smile at you. You are perfect, exactly what she wanted and needed, a perfect little toy for her to play with, so good, so obedient and she knows she wanted to take your time with you from now on, not wanting this to be the only time she would get to see you fall apart for this. She watches in awe as you move against the restraints, your body simply a shivering mess before she smirks ,,You have done so good sweetheart'' she praises, causing you to smile a little which only makes her feel even more for you in this moment.

Without warning she enters one of her fingers and you immediately clench around her, the release so close yet so far away. She knows you could fall apart simply from one finger but she needed to hear you, needed you to beg for her. She hovers over you, her finger still moving inside you before she kisses you, her tongue fighting for entrance and you grant it immediately, moaning as you taste your own arousal on her lips. ,,God Natasha please'' you beg as she pulls away and the woman is enjoying this far too much. She leans back, before relentlessly adding another finger, curling them perfectly just to hit your sensitive spot.

,,Please.. god.. Tasha.. Please'' you beg, needing permission, needing her to finally let you cum and feel so good. ,,You sound so good when you beg for me sweetie'' she teases, causing you to pout in frustration. ,,How about you tell mommy exactly what you need?'' she teases, casing you to moan at the name she had chosen for herself, a drooling mess at this point. It takes you a second to recover before you respond. ,,Please mommy, can you fuck me? just fuck me please... I wanna cum for you, I want you to make me feel so good mommy please'' you beg over and over again, the sound so sweet it almost causes Natasha to tip over the edge.

,,Good girl'' she praises before she begins relentlessly pounding into your glistening pussy, her tongue finding your clit and the sensation sends you into overdrive, causing your entire body to shake as your orgasm begins washing over you. ,,Please mommy, may I cum?'' you ask and this was it. This was exactly what Natasha needed, she never expected you to be this good and obedient especially after the first time and she was sure she was going to please you in every way now. Her fingers move faster, curling deeper and harder into your core as her tongue flicks circles around your clit, and before you know it, she feels your walls tightening around your fingers, your white precious liquid spilling out of your core and onto her fingers, the sweet juice hitting her taste buds again as her tongue savours every single drop.

You didn't even realise you had been screaming for the entirety of your orgasm, never having felt something like this feeling in your entire life. Natasha had simply enjoyed, watched you as she savoured every bit of your dripping cum, her fingers still right where they had been. ,,Oh god'' you moan as you try and catch your breathing. ,,You did so good detka'' she praises as she finally pulls back and slowly extracts her fingers, knowing you must feel so sensitive now. With slow and gentle movements, she undoes the handcuffs and blindfold, finally granting you freedom again. You feel dizzy as you open your eyes, still in a haze of the orgasm that had washed over you moments before, your breathing still heavy. ,,Taste yourself detka'' she orders as she holds her two fingers out to your mouth and you obey as she hovers above you again, meeting her eyes that now seem much softer, much more content, almost as if you had pleased her.

She smiles as she kisses your lips, before pulling back ,,You did so well detka'' she praises, causing your cheeks to coat in a slight red shade again. Before you know it however, she gets up, leaving the bed as she gets rid of her supplies, walking away to get a wipe and clean her hands. Despite the daze of your orgasm and this night, your heart still pounding in your chest, you sit up on her bed, collecting yourself and pulling your dress up. ,,What are you doing?'' she questions, her eyebrows knitting as she comes back from the bathroom. ,,Um I- I wasn't sure if you wanted me to leave now'' you mumble, almost a little shy and she tilts her head before tutting. ,,Leave?'' she chuckles lowly. ,,Oh detka, I'm running us a bath, I'm far from done with you'' she teases and your stomach drops at her words, the earlier excitement rushing right back through you, knowing this wasn't a one time thing and curious what else she had planned for you. And if one thing was clear, Natasha wasn't going to let you go, not now, not ever, having found her perfect little detka, so innocent, so sweet and so obedient, just for her.

[xenomorphicdna]

So what goes into managing an iterator?

Because when you think about it, managing a massive semiorganic sentient ai that you depend on for practically everything, might not be easy.

While iterators aren't brought online as children per se, from broadcasts in game we can assume that young iterators probably start out fairly stubborn with their thinking. And while iterators are far more complex and developed than our current good ol' chat algorithms, I think that trying to tell a machine designed to not make any errors, that it is wrong, may come with at least a bit of back and forth arguing.

There'd be a lot that would go into managing a machine as is, even more into one with feelings and opinions.

I believe the ashy green pearl mentions how there's a parental relationship between iterators and ancients (this might not apply to all ancients and iterators but for the sake of the argument I'm going to keep going with this). It also mentions how it's important to keep good relations with their iterator - they are reliant on them after all.

Booting an iterator up and instantly expecting them to perform perfectly how you need them too may not be entirely accurate. Perhaps more mechanical tasks are good from the get-go but more social tasks would certainly require behaviours that would have to be learned. There would have to be someone to teach them that emotional maturity and social skills.

So, going back to what does it take to manage an iterator. I think it's a lot of things, a large team effort of multiple people of different specialties.

Alright let's talk about the food chain here now ey?

Iterator administrators would rank at the top. The administrator title would probably be assigned to two or three house councillors. The role would come with being the voice for whatever iterator matters the public would need to know. They probably make decisions of, hey this important thing needs to be done by our iterator. But I doubt they have any real knowledge on the iterator ins and outs.

That would go to the people just below, the chief technicians, mechanics, programmers, architects, the folks that manage the more machine parts of an iterator. But of course iterators aren't all metal, they're semi organic too. So there would be those who specialise in the biological parts of iterators. And there would be psychologists as well to make sure our beloved machines with feelings are doing ok.

I'm not exactly sure where the common trope of ancients being horrible heartless assholes to iterators comes from. I certainly didn't get that impression from the texts. ?

I think the iterators were certainly respectable members of the community. I think many people cared about them too. The whole ashy green pearl talk about how they have parental obligations. They say how the discourse about five pebbles' construction displeases him. They literally say, hey stop being mean to our iterator, and go in to defend him. Even tho pebbles didn't exactly find the discourse upsetting, they still wouldn't tolerate insults at their iterator. You can't tell me that the ancients - even those at the top - didn't care.

Iterators were created as gifts to word. Five pebbles received drawings from kids. They had sky-sail festivals.

Moon did state her general dislike of her citizens, she calls them parasites with opinions. But I cannot imagine managing an entire city would be easy, and even despite that, she still calls them her parents. They were flawed, yes, but clearly there was enough love there for Moon to apologize.

[solarpunkbusiness]

The global challenge of the green transition, aimed at achieving net-zero emissions, is expected to reshape the labour market significantly.

This shift presents both economic and redistributive challenges, with a particular concern for young people entering the job market. Education plays a crucial role in preparing students with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values needed for green careers.

However, there is a gap in how well schools are preparing students for these opportunities. Effective career guidance systems are essential to serve as bridges between students' interests and labour market demands.

This study examined 87 programmes within primary and secondary education across 20 OECD countries, aimed at enhancing students' understanding of and progression towards green careers.

These programmes, though not exhaustive, provide valuable insights into the conceptualisation and implementation of green guidance programmes, which are expected to become increasingly important in the future.

[conceptmobius]

Staff Recruitment

Greetings! This is a post regarding staff recruitment for Concept: “Mobius”, as you probably surmised. Vertekins and I always looking to add to the ranks and make the site as detailed, informative, and cool as it can be. If you’re interested in joining, great! Let’s find you a spot! Incidentally, you may be able to fill multiple roles, but first things first. You need to run before you can Spin Attack, after all.

Concept: “Mobius” is a Sonic the Hedgehog site dedicated to information about the games within the franchise and the worlds, characters, and events within. While there are multiple wikis and whatnot that serve this purpose, we’re trying to do things differently. We want to enrich the world of the Blue Blur and hopefully make it more cohesive, less muddled, and more fun. Obviously, this is too big a job for a few people, hence the slow trickle of updates over the years.

So, we need a team to tackle this endeavor, and we have many branches for all skill sets. You'll also be asked to help out here, as well, but more on that at another time.

Writers

Arguably one of the most important roles. Writers will be contributing the bulk of the site’s content, from articles and reviews to think pieces and news blurbs. You’ll be expected to be able to spell, know your grammar, and write coherently. If the most writing you’ve done is on Twitter, you may find yourself at a loss here, especially since you’ll probably have to be your own editor, unless you ask your teammates for help (which you can, to be clear).

Artists

Another absolutely crucial role. You’ll be responsible for how the site looks: graphics, character art, zone landscapes, etc. It’ll be a big task, but you’ll always be credited for your work, with links going to whatever platform you choose.

Programmers/Modders

Your job will be to modify the games. Why? Two reasons.

We’ll be using various games for clips and showcases, and we need them to be accurate as possible. Many of them are either missing content, have various inaccuracies between one another, or just don’t look/sound/play right for our purposes. We can’t very well show Sonic’s world if it’s lackluster, can we?

We want to show what even the worst of the franchise could look/sound/play like if given the TLC they deserve.

I know this doesn’t sound necessary or worthwhile, but I assure you, it will make sense in the future.

Theorists

You’ll be helping with various theories and doing your best to plug up various plotholes in the Sonic universe. Unlike certain other game theorists, however, you’ll be expected to show restraint when speculating and not go off on tangents or grasping at whatever straws you see.

Cartographers

Your job is a doozy: making a single, DEFINITIVE map of Sonic’s Earth. You see, there have been many in the games, and they’ve been different every time, depending on the game or the area it's based in. And each one has been inconsistent. Heck, people don't even know where Green Hill Zone definitively is, despite its number of uses.

THIS.

WILL.

NOT.

DO.

If anyone is going to take Sonic lore seriously (and few people do), we need one map that can be used for every game. That way, there is more consistency in the narrative and people have a more defined view of the world.

Modelers

Your role will be to make various character renders to be used for the cast in the Character Database. You’ll be working with the artists to make the most “true to life” representations of Sonic and the others as you can. You might also find yourself recreating certain areas or scenes from the games, demonstrating various abilities, or just letting the cast style on each other.

News Reporters

You’ll be reporting on everything Sonic-related that is newsworthy, whether it be a game announcement or a funny pic from Sega. Just try not to post any memes.

That'll do for now, although, we're welcoming anyone with a notable skill set. If you think you have something to contribute to Concept: "Mobius" that is or isn't listed here, let us know. Just be aware that we can't afford to pay anyone for their work.

Thank you very much in advance!

~Ryan

[world-of-wales]

Happy International Women’s Day! Celebrating the impact of amazing women today, and every day. Here are just a few of the brilliant women we’ve been inspired by over the past 12 months. #IWD2024

After her daughter Brodie's death by suicide in 2020, Emma Webb launched a suicide prevention campaign. Brodie was a talented equestrian, which is what inspired @thewebstermwebb’s challenge pulling a life-size resin horse 160 miles from Chepstow to London.

Sarah Goldson has directed the @Wimbledon Ball Boy and Girl training since the 2012 Championships. The training helps develop life skills among young people, with 280 BBGs selected from local schools.

Vaitea Cowan is a co-founder of @Enapter, a company aiming to account for 10% of the world's green hydrogen by 2050. Enapter won the Fix Our Climate category at the 2021 Earthshot Prize and continues to thrive.

Bianca Sakol is the founder and CEO of @Sebbys_Corner, a shop-style baby bank which believes no child should go without the basic essentials they need to thrive. They provide a warm, welcoming environment and gives families choice and dignity to choose the items they need.

Mother and daughter, Jennifer and Emilia Clarke, were awarded MBEs for their brain injury charity work. They are co-founders of @SameYouOrg, a charity which develops better mental health recovery treatment for survivors and raises awareness around rehabilitation.

Dr. Gubby Ayida has been the CEO of @EvelinaLondon since May 2023 and oversaw its opening of the new Children’s Day Surgery Unit last year.

Wendy Simm was born and raised in Moss Side, Manchester and founded ‘Keeping It Real 24/7.’ The food bank focuses on delivering culturally important foods to those in need, such as yams and sweet potatoes, which generally are not provided by other food banks.

Captain Preet Chandi is a British Army Captain who holds three world records for polar trekking, most recently in December 2023 for becoming the world's fastest woman to complete a solo South Pole ski expedition.

Barbara Smith is a psychotherapist who has served over 16 years with @BritishRedCross, offering psychosocial support in disaster and war zones, aiding those in trauma.

Sarina Weigman began her role as England Women’s Head Coach in September 2021, leading The @Lionesses to Euro 2022 victory. She was presented with an Honorary CBE in June last year.

Renee Salt is a Holocaust survivor who was born in Zdunska Wola, Poland in 1929. She survived both Auschwitz and Belsen, but her family did not. Renee has spoken to thousands of young people as part of @HolocaustUK's programmes.

Professor Uzo Iwobi founded @rcccymru to boost art, heritage, and culture for minority groups in Wales. She empowers African Caribbean elders through learning initiatives and mentors young people to fulfil their aspirations.

In 2024, @hmsoardacious will be represented by Team Valkyrie, the first all-serving women's military team to row across the Atlantic. The @toughestrow challenge raises money for military charities and organisations that support veterans and their families.

- The Prince and Princess of Wales

[r3d-f0xs-blog]

OC: Lance Sheehan

Basic Info

Name: Lance Sheehan

Alias(es):

Date of birth: July 05 2037

Zodiac sign: Cancer

Gender: Male (he is a trans man)

Place of Birth: Night City, Charter Hill

Sexuality: Polysexual

Appearance

Height: 5’ 11

Build: Average, modestly athletic

Hair: Dark brown

Eyes: Black sclera with green and reddish iris

Cyberwear: Enhanced Kiroshi optics with greater zoom and magnification, as well as real-time feed on patient vitals on demand when connected. Enhanced fine motor control and stabilisation in his hands and arms. Biomon and hormone regulators, particularly for diabetes and testosterone. Synth skin with enhanced sensitivity (helps during operations) as well as sensors for monitoring his clients vitals. Upper face plate contains more optical sensor arrays connected to his eyes. Second heart. Electrical discharge cybernetics in his hands, primarily for defibrillation purposes.

Background

Languages: English, Gaeilge, Spanish

Affiliations

Arasaka: former subsidiary employee

Occupation: Ripperdoc

Role: Full-body conversion, Netrunning and neurological cybernetics specialist as well as general Ripperdoc skills.

Weapons: Can use his defibrillator cybernetics as a weapon but at a much higher voltage.

Lance was born to wealthy parents and enjoyed a comfortable and relatively privileged life as he grew up in Night City. His education led him into cybernetic medicine where he gained a wealth of experience from some of the best clinics across the world. His family unlocked many doors and opportunities for him but he was very aware that this wasn’t the case for many others.

Lance returned to Night City employed in an Arasaka subsidiary company who installed and maintained the cyberwear of their employees and students who were in their employment programme. Lance was put on a team who were part of research into how cybernetics and cyberpsychosis are linked. The research focused around full or near full body conversions. Four groups were involved; one consisted of voluntary subjects who were given cybernetics and their new bodies looked the same as their organic one. The second group consisted of subjects who didn’t volunteer and didn’t know what was to happen but left as a full or near full body conversion looking as they had before with the expected changes they had gone in for. The third group consisted of people who had been told they were going in for a full body conversion but were not given anything new. Finally the control group went in for routine installations. The teams did the work as if it was routine and had been informed and presented with documents saying all of the patients consented to whatever procedure the research leads had designated them for.

Lance was the lead ripper of one of the teams and operated on Voss who believed he was in for something else but left as a near full body conversion. It wasn’t until later when Bernice hacked files from the company that Lance found out about the experiments. He lived with deep shame and guilt after that and it impacted him in many ways around he approaches consent both personally and professionally.

He didn’t know about Voss until he connected and found his name as the one who signed off his conversion when he reviewed Voss' records. Voss never knew as all his work when in Arasaka had been done by the corporation rippers and after nobody commented because it wasn’t relevant to the work being done.

Lance is an ambitious and focused person but somehow he does this without stepping on others to get to where he wants. It could be his outgoing and pleasant personality or it could be that he is just that good at his work or perhaps a bit of both.

Either way, Lance is successful in his work and makes a very comfortable living. He takes his work seriously, is methodical, organised and calm nerves.

Some of the higher end Rippers might like to see themselves as medical rock stars but Lance prefers to let his work speak for itself. There’s no room for showmanship when you’re operating on delicate neurocybernetics or with cutting edge pieces that cost a small fortune. People go to him because he is reliable, steady and has a wonderful consultation process to help his clients get the best out of their cyberwear.

Lance’s perfectionist tendencies however can be a problem which he knows he must keep tabs on as it can lead to more stress than is healthy.

Despite what he learned, Lance continued working as a Ripperdoc. In a way he wasn’t surprised he was lied to as he��d have refused to operate on people who were being misled and many corporations were the same when it came to their ethics. Lance only wants to do right by people in a world which pushes them all to the limits.

He has great sympathy for Voss when he finds out he was responsible. Some may view him telling Voss the truth as the wrong thing to do, and even dangerous but in time they are friendly and Voss goes to him for Ripperdoc work. Who better than the person who made him and knows the original work so well?

He has no partner and no relationship currently. Work often makes it difficult, among other reasons. Lance is a regular client of Charlie’s; Lance has a thing for elves and finds Charlie’s manner and professionalism exactly what he needs.

[whenreadingiscool]

Stardew Valley Sims 4 Generations Challenge

Original challenge by @chellplays, some revisions by @lybeuh

This is a twelve-generation challenge for all of the marriage candidates from concernedape’s Stardew Valley. This challenge is completely base game compatible with optional challenges for dlc. (Updated to at least High School Years EP)

Usual rules apply, meaning no cheats that give you an unfair advantage. Your sims do not have to look or be named after the characters in each generation. Do whatever you like!

Generation 1: Abigail

    You were raised with humble upbringings. Your dad ran a general store, while your mom was best at complaining about your “alternative lifestyle.” You left home looking to start a life free of rules and parents, and with 20 000 simoleons in your pocket, you settled down in a new city.

Traits: music lover, loves outdoors, geek (alternatively, cats & dogs dlc: cat lover; snowy escape dlc: adventurous).

Aspiration: the curator.

Career: entertainer (musician branch) or tech guru (esport gamer branch).

Goals:

Have one “quirky” trait, appearance-wise (e.g., Unnatural hair color).

Obtain at least five points in the videogame skill.

max out the rock-climbing skill.

reach at least level 5 in any musical instrument.

Complete the frog collection.

Snowy Escape dlc: climb the top of the mountain in Mt. Komorebi

Have two best friends and marry one of them.

Befriend a ghost. Alternatively, with the vampires dlc, befriend a vampire.

Cats & dogs dlc: own a cat named David Jr., my first pet stuff dlc: have a rat, hamster, etc. named David.

Have at least two children.

Generation 2: Emily 

    You’re just working at the bar to make ends meet… but your real passion is tailoring. You make your clothes from scratch.

Traits: cheerful, music lover, good (alternatively, get together dlc: dance machine; city living dlc: vegetarian).

Aspiration: freelance botanist.

Career: culinary (mixologist branch) or barista.

Must live in the same house as your sibling.

Make a best friend with a sim who lives in another city/world.

Nifty Knitting dlc: max out the knitting skill.

Nifty Knitting dlc: complete the knitted clothes collection.

Grow your own garden. You like your meals organic.

Decorate your house with clothing racks. You love fashion.

Complete the elements or crystal collection.

Develop max affinity with another sim in both the green and pink bars, have two or more children with them, then “ask just to be friends.” 

Never marry.

Generation 3: Sam

    You are an outgoing, friendly sim who is brimming with youthful energy. You play guitar and drums and want to start a band as soon as you have enough songs together. However, you do have a habit of starting ambitious projects and not finishing them.

Traits: music lover, outgoing, ambitious.

Aspiration: musical genius.

Career: entertainer (musician branch).

Must not be the youngest child. Live with your younger sibling(s) until they are old enough to move out and have a good relationship with them.

Have a strained relationship with your father (if not applicable, with any one parent).

Have a job as a part-time retail employee as a teen.

Max out the guitar skill.

Obtain at least five points in the videogame skill.

Reach the job of the entertainer career.

Become best friends with two other entertainers.

Be married twice and have one child with each spouse.

Generation 4: Sebastian

    You are a rebellious loner who lives in your parents’ basement. You tend to get deeply absorbed in computer games, comic books, and sci-fi novels, and will sometimes spend great lengths of time pursuing these hobbies alone in your room. You can be a bit unfriendly to people you don’t know.

Traits: loner, geek, bookworm (alternatively, high school years dlc: socially awkward).

Aspiration: computer whiz.

Career: tech guru (either branch) or freelance programmer.

Have a negative relationship with your half-sibling and stepparent.

Live in the basement of your parents’ house.

Reach at least level 5 of the videogaming skill.

Reach at least level 5 of the piano skill.

Reach at least level 5 of your career before marriage.

Reach the top of your career.

Only have one child, with whom you have a strained relationship.

Eventually let your relationship with your spouse deteriorate and subsequently get a divorce. 

Generation 5: Penny

    You live with your mom in a little trailer. While your mom is out carousing at the bar, you quietly tend to your chores in the dim, stuffy room you are forced to call home. You are shy and modest, without any grand ambitions for life other than settling in and starting a family. You like to cook (although your skills are questionable) and read books from the local library.

Traits: family-oriented, bookworm, neat.

Aspiration: big happy family (alternatively, parenthood dlc: super parent).

Career: none.

Live with your mother (if not applicable, any one parent), with whom you have a negative relationship.

Both you and your parent may not have jobs.

You must cook for your parent and clean the house every day.

Live in a trailer-esque house. You are by no means wealthy.

Reach at least level 5 of the cooking skill.

Marry the first person you fall in love with.

Your spouse is the only one who may bring in any income, while you are a stay-at-home parent. Earning money from writing, etc. is optional.

Own a luxury pool at some point in your life.

Generation 6: Harvey

    You’re a little old for a bachelor, but you have a kind heart and a respected position in the community. You live in a small apartment but spend most of your time working. There’s a sense of sadness about you.

Traits: genius, foodie, good (alternative, get together dlc: dance machine).

Aspiration: successful lineage.

Career: astronaut (space ranger track) or get to work dlc: doctor.

Never date throughout your teens or young adulthood. Focus on your career instead. Get married only as an adult.

Reach the top level of your career.

Own a coffee machine. Drink coffee as much as possible.

Go jogging at least three times a week.

Set up a reading garden in your backyard.

City living dlc: live in an apartment.

Seasons dlc: be a scout.

Have at least two children. Having spent most of your life single, you want to have a comfortably sized family asap. 

Generation 7: Haley

    Being wealthy and popular throughout high school has made you a little conceited and self-centered. You tend to judge people for superficial reasons. But is it too late for you to discover a deeper meaning to life? Is there a fun, open-minded young person hidden within that shell?

Traits: materialistic, snob, outgoing (alternatively, high school years dlc: self-absorbed).

Aspiration: fabulously wealthy (alternatively, city living dlc: city native).

Career: none until after you’re married.

Become enemies with your sibling(s) as a teenager.

Max out the photography skill.

You may only get a career after you are married, and you must follow the same career path as your spouse. They opened your mind and inspired you to have interests beyond shopping.

Earn at least three points in charisma, so you may donate to online charities after you are married.

Bake a cake for every birthday that comes around.

Grow a flower garden.

Become friends with your sibling(s) again after you are married.

High School Years dlc: be a cheerleader as a teen.

Generation 8: Elliot

   You live alone in a cabin. You are a writer who dreams of one day writing a magnificent novel. You are a sentimental “romantic” with a tendency to go off onto flowery, poetic tangents. When you can afford it, you enjoy a strong beverage at the bar.

Traits: romantic, bookworm, loner.

Aspiration: bestselling author.

Career: writer (author branch).

Live in a cabin-esque house.

Reach the top level of your career.

Max the writing skill.

Reach at least level 5 in the piano skill.

Reach at least level 5 of the cooking skill.

Own a small garden.

Specialize in romance books and poetry. Later, you may also specialize in sci fi or mystery novels.

Write love emails to your love interest at least once a week.

Go to a bar at least once a week.

Generation 9: Leah

    You love to spend time outside, foraging for a wild meal or simply enjoying the gifts of the season. You’re a talented artist with a large portfolio of work… yet you’re too nervous to display it to the public.

Traits: art lover, loves outdoors, foodie.

Aspiration: painter extraordinaire.

Career: none (painter later on).

Reach maximum painting skill, and paint at least 5 masterpieces.

Date only one person in your young adulthood and have a child with them, but never marry. Your partner is unsupportive of your artistic lifestyle and encourages you to “get a real job.” Whether you choose to get a traditional career, that is not as a painter, is up to you.

Eventually marry the love of your life as an adult: someone who is supportive of your art. If you did choose a career, quit, and take up a career as a painter.

Have at least one child with your new spouse.

Harvest wild fruits, vegetables, etc. On weekends.

Grow an excellent apple tree.

City living dlc: attend a flea market and sell your art.

Generation 10: Maru

    You acquired a passion for creating gadgets at a young age. When you aren’t in your room, fiddling with tools and machinery, you sometime do odd jobs at the local hospital.

Traits: ambitious, outgoing, geek.

Aspiration: nerd brain.

Career: astronaut (space ranger branch), or get to work dlc: doctor or scientist, or discover university dlc: engineer (either branch).

Have a negative relationship with your half-sibling.

Reach the top level of your career.

Max out the handiness skill.

Max out the logic skill.

Upgrade at least five objects.

Own a rocket ship.

Your sim’s partner must be friends with your father (if not applicable, with either parent) before you can become engaged.

Eventually, your relationship with your spouse becomes strained and you break up. You die as soon as your eldest child is a young adult.

Get to work dlc: get abducted by aliens.

Generation 11: Alex 

     You love sports. You are quite arrogant and brag to everyone that you are going to be a professional athlete. Is your cockiness just a facade to mask your crushing self-doubt? Are you using your sports dream to fill the void left by the disappearance of your parents? 

Traits: bro, active, mean, self-assured, (alternatively, cats & dogs dlc: dog lover), (alternatively, high school years dlc: self-absorbed. 

Aspiration: bodybuilder.

Career: athlete (professional athlete branch).

Goals: 

Become enemies with your father but have had a very close relationship with your mother. 

Begin dating in your teens and go on at least three dates with three different people.

High School Years dlc: join the football team as a teen.

Max out the athletic skill.

Reach the top level of your career.

Do not marry until you are in the later stages of young adulthood. You’re marrying your soulmate, someone who stuck with you despite your arrogance.

Have at least two children with your spouse.

Cats & dogs dlc: own a dog named dusty.

Generation 12: Shane

     You are often rude, unhappy, and suffer from depression and alcohol dependence. However, your attitude starts to change towards your spouse. After work you frequently spend your evenings at the bar. If you could reset your life maybe you’d start a chicken farm. Only free-range eggs of course.

Traits: lazy, gloomy, mean. 

Aspiration: master mixologist, (alternatively, cats & dogs dlc: friend of the animals).

Career: retail worker until after marriage.

Live with your aunt or uncle until you’re married, have a good relationship with said aunt or uncle.

Have a career as a retail worker as a teen.

Go to the bar after work every day.

Get pizza delivered at least once a week.

Only get married as an adult. 

After marriage, quit your job and choose a different career path. You’ve been encouraged by your spouse to give up alcohol.

After marriage, start a garden. 

Have a maximum of two children.

Cats & dogs dlc: adopt a cat and a dog, train the dog in all possible tricks.

Cats & dogs dlc: max out the pet training skill.

Cottage Living dlc: buy a chicken coop, raise chickens, and name one of them Charlie.

[abyssal-ali]

Ice to Meet You

(I'm sorry about the title, that's all I could come up with when I was struck with the panic of needing a title when I posted)

Pairing: Daminette

Rating: G

WC: ~1.1k

A/N: This Maribat Meetcute was inspired by my parents<3 (they knew each other before this, but not very well, and this did happen). I was telling Ella about this, and we decided it was meet-cute-worthy, so I typed this up in an hour this morning. Beta-read by grammarly and that's it. Enjoy!

Note about this AU: Figure-skating AU, no capes AU. Damian wasn't raised by an assassin...I have no clue how he was raised, actually, but it wasn't by an assassin.

Marinette wiggled her toes in her skates, making sure she hadn’t cut off her circulation with that last tight knot, and stepped onto the ice. It was still pretty early, so only a couple similarly dedicated skaters were on the ice, leaving plenty of room for Marinette to start out with some basic moves as she continued warming up.

Her coach, Dick, should be here in about twenty minutes to go over her newly revised programme and inform her about her decision to try pair skating, so she focused on becoming completely loose and prepared for trying any new skills.

She got lost in the music in her ears, flying over the ice in contentment.

Coming out of a spin, Marinette saw Dick across the ice, talking to Mar’i, who was also on her team. Ever since Marinette had joined this skating group, she had gotten along great with Dick and viewed him as an older brother, playing pranks and joking with him when he wasn’t in coach mode.

Their formal instruction would start in fifteen minutes, so she still had time to play with him and Mar’i. Snickering evilly, she dug her picks into the ice and took off, gaining velocity as she sped across the cleared ice toward her unsuspecting victim.

“Dick!” she yelled happily, just before she made contact with him and sent him slamming into the boards.

Mar’i looked at her in horror.

“Hey, Mar’i! Don’t worry, your dad’s fine, we do this all the time.”

Mar’i shook her head and pointed at Dick, who was on the bleachers tying his skates, but had looked up at the commotion and was laughing. “That’s my dad, ‘Nette.”

Marinette turned to see who she’d just bodychecked and gasped in horror at seeing the star male figure skater of the group, Damian Wayne.

“I am so sorry, I thought you were Dick, we greet each other like that all the time. Are you hurt? I am so, so sorry for that!”

Forest green eyes met her own as Damian pointedly brushed a speck of snow off his sleeve.

“Fortunately for you, I am accustomed to my brother’s exuberant greetings as well. I will not hold this against you, as it would not bode well for our partnership to hold such things against one another.” Damian held his hand out in greeting.

“Damian Wayne, your new partner.”

“What?!”

Dick glided over to the small group in the corner. “I see you’ve already met, good. Marinette, you and Damian will be partners for the foreseeable future. Damian has decided to relax for a while after the Grand Prix, so he will be paired with you and can guide you through this learning curve. Any questions or concerns from either of you?”

Marinette shook her head, still a little in shock that the Damian Wayne was relaxing–apparently by skating with her? “Maybe later, but none right now.”

“Just one,” said Damian. “I want to see Marinette in action before anything else.”

Dick nodded at her. “The routine before this new one will be fine. Good luck!” He followed Mar’i off the ice, the traitors, to give her all the space she needed to complete her routine.

Damian hopped over the boards, not bothering with the gate, and that was completely unfair how good he looked doing that. (She’d tried once and almost cut herself. After that, she used the gate like a normal person. Dang being short!)

Dick queued up the music for her routine and Marinette took her opening spot on the ice as the opening notes played over the sound system.

Three and a half minutes later she took a bow, breathing deeply to calm her racing heart.

Damian had looked impressed and even smiled a bit at one of her flirty moves!

Thankfully, he seemed to have actually put the bodyslamming into the boards behind them, although Marinette still felt bad.

Maybe she could bring him some baking from when she inevitably stress-baked and overthought tonight? That sounded like a good idea.

“You skate well,” complimented Damian, as Dick and Mar’i skated over.

“Thank you.”

“That was great, ‘Nette! This new routine I have for you should be perfect for you, it builds off the skills you learned for this one. But first, just practice skating with Damian and hang out off-ice to build trust and friendship. It’s important to have that on- and off-ice. Of course, you don’t have to be blood-bound besties or anything, but be friendly; it’ll come in handy quite often when you’re skating together. Get to know each other well.”

Dick turned to Damian and placed his hands heavily on his shoulders, looking into his eyes. “I hate that you’re taller than me even when I’m in skates,” he grumbled. “Do not scare Marinette off with your intensity, and actually get to know her, please. I know you’re used to pairing with Rachel, but I’m sure you’ll get along just fine with Marinette if you try to get to know her.”

“Tt. I never said I would be anything less than courteous.” Damian turned to Marinette. “May I have your phone number so we can contact each other outside of the rink?”

“Uh…yeah, sure.” Marinette dug her phone out of her bag and handed it to Damian.

Dick and Mar’i exchanged glances behind Damian’s back, and Marinette wondered just how true the rumours of his standoffishness and cold-heartedness were.

“There, we have each other’s numbers. Text me when you’re free for dinner.” Damian handed her phone back and stepped back onto the ice, smoothly gliding across the surface.

Marinette looked questioningly at Dick.

“Uh…let’s head back to my office and we can discuss what to do next.”

Once they were safely in the hallway and Damian couldn’t overhear, Dick whispered to Marinette, “I’m surprised at how well he’s taken to you. Just keep doing whatever you’re doing, and if he gives you a hard time, come to me. His old partner quit and wanted to focus on a different path in life, so he’s still a little sore about that, but I think he needed something new, anyways. You’ll be good for him.”

Marinette smiled, a little less nervous. “I can’t deny being curious about him. I hope our friendship-slash-partnership goes well.”

“It will!” Dick beamed at her optimistically, and Marinette remembered the little smile on his face when he saw her routine.

Yeah, this would be fun.

○•○•○•○•○

In case you couldn't tell, I know nothing about the technicalities of figure skating. If I got something wrong...please ignore it:)

And if you're wondering why Marinette didn't know it was Damian, they're young adults here and he's about half an inch taller than Dick, to Dick's dismay, and they look similar from the back. Also, he's been in Europe competing at the Grand Prix, or their training schedules have no overlap, so they haven't met yet.

Any feedback welcome, including constructive criticism. Hope you enjoyed!💜

Taglist: @questioning-blob-of-fog @jennifer-rose123

[banana-sims]

The Bennett Legacy - update post!   

Hi! This is where I'm going to update stats for my legacy :) I'll also periodically update the family tree as seen above!

I'm currently on generation three, playing with Romeo as my heir (he's like 25 years old right now). It took me forever to decide who to choose but I've realized I love his little family so much that I can't resist.

I'm going to do a bunch of posts about everyone and everything that's happened to catch you up, plus you'll get a much better look at them :)

EXPLORE:

Aspirations

Friend of the Animals, Bodybuilder, Extreme Sports Enthusiast, Painter Extraordinaire (G3), Musical Genius, Bestselling Author, Master Actor, Master Maker, Lady of the Knits (G1), Successful Lineage (G2), Big Happy Family (G2), Super Parent (G2), Master Chef, Master Mixologist, Fabulously Wealthy, Mansion Baron, Renaissance Sim, Nerd Brain, Computer Whiz, Archaeology Scholar, Academic (G2), Serial Romantic, Soulmate (G3), City Native, Beach Life, Mt. Komorebi Sightseer, Freelance Botanist, The Curator, Angling Ace, Outdoor Enthusiast, Jungle Explorer, Eco Innovator (G1), Country Caretaker, Joke Star, Party Animal, Friend of the World (G2), World-Famous Celebrity, Inner Peace, Self-Care Specialist, Zen Guru

Artistic Prodigy (G3), Rambunctious Scamp, Social Butterfly, Whiz Kid, Mind and Body, Playtime Captain, Creative Genius

Drama Llama, Goal Oriented, Live Fast, Admired Icon

Careers

actor, astronaut, athlete, business, civil designer (G1), conservationist, critic, culinary, detective, doctor, education (G2), engineer, entertainer (G1), freelance writer, freelance programmer, freelance artist, freelance fashion photographer, gardener, law, painter, politician (G2), scientist, social media, secret agent, style influencer, tech guru, writer, salaryperson, interior decorator, any part time job

own/run a vet clinic, own/run a retail store, own/run a restaurant

Degrees

Art History, Biology, Communications, Computer Science, Culinary Arts (G3), Drama, Economics, Fine Art (G2), History, Language and Literature, Physics, Psychology (G2), any distinguished degree (G2)

Worlds

Brindleton Bay (G1), Britechester (G2), Copperdale, Del Sol Valley, Evergreen Harbour (G2), Henford-on-Bagley, Mt. Komorebi, Newcrest, Oasis Springs, San Myshuno, Sulani, Tartosa, Willow Creek (G2), Windenburg

Traits

ambitious, cheerful (G1), childish, clumsy, creative (G3), genius, gloomy, goofball, high maintenance, hot-headed, romantic, self-assured (G1), squeamish, unflirty, art lover, bookworm (G2), dance machine, foodie (G3), geek, loves outdoors (G1), maker, music lover (G1), recycle disciple, active, adventurous (G1), child of the islands, child of the ocean, freegan, glutton, green fiend, lazy, materialistic, neat (G2), overachiever, perfectionist, slob, vegetarian (G2), animal enthusiast, bro, cat lover (G3), dog lover, family-oriented (G2), good (G2), hates children, insider, jealous, loner, loyal (G3), noncommittal, outgoing, party animal, proper, self-absorbed, snob, socially awkward

toddler angelic trait (G3), toddler charmer trait, toddler clingy trait (G2), toddler fussy trait, toddler independent trait, toddler inquisitive trait (G3), toddler silly trait (G4), toddler wild trait (G3)

infant cautious trait (G4), infant sensitive trait, infant calm trait, infant intense trait, infant wiggly trait, infant sunny trait

good manners trait (G2), bad manners trait, responsible trait (G2), irresponsible trait, mediator trait (G2), argumentative trait, compassionate trait (G3), insensitive trait, emotional control trait (G3), uncontrolled emotions trait

Skills

charisma (G2), comedy, cooking (G1), fishing, fitness (G2), gardening, gourmet cooking (G1), guitar, handiness (G1), logic (G1), mischief, mixology, painting (G3), piano (G1), photography (G2), programming, rocket science, video gaming, violin, writing, herbalism, baking (G3), wellness, DJ mixing, singing, dancing (G2), bowling, parenting (G2), veterinarian, pet training, archaeology, selvadoradian culture, flower arranging, acting, media production, robotics, research & debate (G2), fabrication, juice fizzing, knitting (G1), rock climbing, skiing, snowboarding, cross-stitch, entrepreneur

Household

male heir (G2), single mom/dad heir, blended family (kids from both previous partners), queer heir (G2), have 1 kid in the generation, have 2 kids in the generation (G1), have 3 kids in the generation, have 4 kids in the generation (G2), have 5 kids in the generation, have twins (G1), have triplets, adopt a child (G2), one night stand pregnancy, broken engagement, marry a childhood friend, marry a coworker, marry someone who was once your enemy/rival, marry someone famous, never get married, have a cat (G1), have a dog (G1), have kittens/puppies

Extra things/collections

live in a tiny home, live off-the-grid for a season, live in an apartment (G2), live in a 3-storey home (G2), live on a farm, sell craftables on plopsy (G1), make/sell candles, have bees/sell honey, craft/sell fizzy juice, reach 5-star reputation for odd jobs

have a child do scouts, have a child do drama club, compete in E-Sports, compete in soccer, join cheer team, join chess team, join computer team, join football team

omiscan treasures and omiscan artifacts collections, city posters collection, snow globes collection, feathers collection, seashells collection, postcards collection, elements collection, mysims trophies collection

GENERATIONS:

______________________________________________________________

GEN 1 FOUNDER - Willa Bennett - Adventurous, Loves Outdoors, Self-Assured / Eco Innovator + Lady of the Knits

SPOUSE - Damon Napier - Music Lover, Self-Assured, Cheerful / Friend of the Animals

Living in: Brindleton Bay

CHILD #1 - Lyra Bennett - Creative, Foodie, Goofball / Musical Genius

CHILD #2 - Dawson Bennett - Cheerful, Neat, Bookworm / Academic

____________________________________________________________________________

GEN 2 HEIR - Dawson Bennett - Cheerful, Neat, Bookworm / Academic

SPOUSE - Jack Sanders - Good, Family-Oriented, Vegetarian / Friend of the World

Living in: Britechester, Evergreen Harbour, Willow Creek

CHILD #1 - Nora Bennett - Bookworm, Unflirty, Hot-Headed / Renaissance Sim

CHILD #2 - Romeo Bennett - Neat, Loyal, Foodie / Soulmate

CHILD #3 - Bea Bennett - Animal Enthusiast, Cheerful, Dance Machine / Friend of the World

CHILD #4 - Sage Bennett - Goofball, Genius / Musical Genius

____________________________________________________________________________

GEN 3 HEIR - Romeo Bennett - Neat, Loyal, Foodie / Soulmate

SPOUSE - Makenzie Thompson - Creative, Vegetarian, Cat Lover / Painter Extraordinaire

Living in: Willow Creek

CHILD #1 - Felix Bennett - ?? / ??

____________________________________________________________________________

If you want to play like this yourself, the template and info is all here!

[letslocalise]

In today's rapidly evolving world, the concept of social value has become increasingly crucial for organisations aiming to make a positive impact on society. Social value refers to the broader contribution that businesses and organisations make to the well-being of communities, the environment, and the economy. It encompasses activities that go beyond profit generation, focusing on sustainable and ethical practices that benefit all stakeholders. Letslocalise, a platform dedicated to enhancing community engagement, is at the forefront of driving social value in organisations, setting a benchmark for others to follow.

Understanding Social Value

At its core, social value is about creating a positive impact on society. For organisations, this means considering the social, economic, and environmental implications of their actions. It involves a commitment to ethical practices, responsible resource management, and active participation in community development. By prioritising social value, organisations can build stronger relationships with stakeholders, foster trust, and contribute to the overall well-being of the communities they serve.

Letslocalise: Championing Social Value

Letslocalise is a prime example of an organisation that places social value at the heart of its operations. As a platform that connects schools, communities, and businesses, Letslocalise facilitates collaboration and support for local initiatives. The platform empowers individuals and organisations to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways, whether through donations, volunteering, or sharing expertise.

By enabling localised support and fostering community engagement, Letslocalise helps organisations create tangible social value. The platform encourages businesses to think beyond traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) models, urging them to take a more active role in addressing local challenges and supporting grassroots initiatives. This approach not only benefits the community but also enhances the reputation and credibility of the organisations involved.

The Impact of Social Value

The impact of social value extends far beyond immediate financial gains. For organisations, investing in social value can lead to increased employee satisfaction, improved customer loyalty, and a stronger brand image. Furthermore, organisations that prioritise social value are better positioned to attract top talent, as employees are increasingly seeking workplaces that align with their values and contribute to the greater good.

For Letslocalise, the focus on social value has resulted in a thriving community of supporters and partners who share a common goal: to create a positive and lasting impact on society. By championing social value, Letslocalise not only strengthens communities but also sets a powerful example for other organisations to follow.

Conclusion

In conclusion, social value is a vital component of modern organisational strategy. Through platforms like Letslocalise, organisations can actively contribute to the well-being of their communities, fostering a culture of collaboration, trust, and mutual support. As the importance of social value continues to grow, organisations that embrace this concept will be well-positioned to thrive in an increasingly socially-conscious world.

Social Value Definition

Social Value Delivery

Community Initiatives

Green Skills Programmes

[scotianostra]

The Scottish actor Archibald Duncan was born in Glasgow on 26th May 1914.

His father was a regimental sergeant major and his mother a postmistress. He was educated at Govan High School and afterwards and worked as a welder in the Glasgow shipyards.

It was at the Citizens Theatre Company that Duncan joined the training ground of many Scottish actors including, Molly Urquart, Duncan Macrae, Gordon Jackson and Eileen Herlie. He then made his Scottish acting debut in Juno and the Paycock, playing all three gunmen, at Glasgow's Alhambra in May 1944.

Duncan went on to star in London's West End with the likes of the great Scottish character actor Alistair Sim and the late George Cole. Film roles started to follow with , Floodtide , The Gorballs Story, The Elusive Pimpernel, Green Grow the Rushes, Henry V, The Lavender Hill Mob, You're Only Young Twice and Walt Disney's The Story Of Robin Hood and his Merrie Men as 'Red Gill' amongst many others. Duncan also teamed up with Richard Todd and James Robertson Justice in Disney’s Rob Roy the Highland Rogue as Dugal Mac Gregor.

One of Duncan's first big TV roles was as Inspector Lestrade in the 1954 series Sherlock Holmes, but perhaps Archibald Duncan is best remembered for his second Robin Hood role, where 6'2" Duncan played Little John alongside Richard Greene in The Adventures of Robin Hood which ran for 143 episodes on ITV here and CBS in the states from 1955 to 1959. I just had a wee look and many of the episodes are on Youtube.

Duncan's portrayal of Little John would be fondly remembered decades later for his combination of strength, skill and humour. It was during the filming this unforgettable series that this Scottish gentle giant proved to be a true hero and managed to prevent a runaway horse from hurtling towards a group of spectators, consisting of mainly children, watching close by. For this brave feat, he was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery and £1,360 in "damages". But it also resulted in him missing the recording of eleven episodes of Robin Hood. So between times, a replacement was found in fellow Scotsman, Rufus Cruickshank.

Another great Scottish film he appeared in was Ring of Bright Water. Archie Duncan's career in television production carried on with parts in programmes like Z Cars, Hereward the Wake, Orlando, Black Beauty and Bootsie and Snudge.

Sadly in 1978 he suffered a massive stroke which caused paralysis down his right side. Sadly he passed away at Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, London aged 65 on 24th July 1979.

[practically-an-x-man]

Symbiotic? *big grin*

Ooooh thank you!!

WIP Folder Ask Game

Okay so this is easily one of my oldest fanfic ideas (at least, oldest of the ones I came up with while consciously aware that they were fanfic, lol). The document itself is the first few chapters of the fic, but it's SUPER old and choppy since it's one of the earliest fics I've written.

With that disclaimer... there's the old idea that's in the fic, and the revamped idea that currently just exists in my head. Some things change, others don't.

In either form, it's an Marvel/loosely MCU fic following an OC named Persephone Michaels, who is bonded to a symbiote named Viper. Without Viper, Persephone is in organ failure, but Viper cannot survive in Earth's atmosphere without a host, so they need each other to survive. Viper takes shape as a jewel-green symbiote with darker green scales, as well as infrared vision and venomous fangs (and potentially the ability to spit venom like a spitting cobra). Logically, Viper would probably be some relative or offspring of Venom, with their similar abilities. Without Viper, Percy is a skilled programmer and hacker.

The original idea jumped back and forth between timelines - earlier, when Percy was in the hospital and amused herself by attempting to break into StarkTech and access the video files from Iron Man's suit-cam; and later, after Percy is bonded with Viper and is healthy, functioning as a low-grade vigilante. There are a few different threads I'd explore here, it was going to be a very ambitious fic: one being Tony discovering the break-in and eventually starting to see Percy as a sort of successor, even signing her onto a project to recreate the Vision AI and bring him back to life (this idea was before WandaVision was a thing), another being Percy and Viper discovering the wreckage from the crashed Sakaarian ship from the start of Infinity War and managing to heal a few people who were preserved in the trip through space and just-barely hanging on (including Loki...), an ongoing conflict between Viper and another symbiote OC named Pathogen, another supervillain trio based on Pathos, Ethos, and Logos... there are way too many ideas to list, honestly. Some of these ideas also explore wider Norse mythology and bring in a few more gods and mythic themes (Skadi, Baldur, the myth of Loki being bound with snake's venom dripping into his face, etc.)

The new idea hasn't changed things too much, mainly just added some more dimension to Percy's identity, her relationship with Viper and the other characters, and cleaned up a few of the plot points so it doesn't feel as "fanfic-y" (there's nothing wrong with tropes, but the fic is so old that some of the plot ideas just feel a little trite).

I do still want to write this someday, but I know it'll be a huge project (comparable to A Love Once New, and that one spans 72 chapters and 215,000 words by the end of it) so I'm kinda waiting to have the time and emotional capacity to put it together.

[wickedsrest-rp]

Name: Pedro Vázquez Species: Human (Non-powered) Occupation: Park Ranger Age: 30 Years Old Played By: Kitty Face Claim: Sean Teale

"Shut up, I’m not a Boy Scout."

Ever since he was tiny, Pedro was definitely a nature kid. He enjoyed exploring caves and climbing trees, and he had a collection of cool rocks that his mom helped him paint. His drawings involved a lot of green pencil, and/or random animals he’d either seen or imagined. In this kind of place, where birds can have human teeth, the line often blurred between those two things.

It wasn’t surprising that he enjoyed biology class as he got older, taking an eclectic mix of science and art courses, and eventually joining the Wildlife Ecology programme at UMWR - where he tagged along with cryptid searches despite being absolutely terrified about actually finding one. He didn’t want to look like a loser or anything.

His willingness to go in search of creatures in spite of his fear didn’t go unnoticed - and alongside his family name, that secured him a State Park internship. He didn’t think that was going to be his career even though his mom’s side of the family had been doing it since forever. It was always really clear it was his own decision whether to take it up, or go do something more mundane elsewhere.

Pedro’s creativity made him thrive in that environment, which was something he hadn’t quite expected. It involved more entertainer skills than he’d thought, because people remembered safety measures a lot better with a fun rhyme or a really bad pun.

The problem with working in a dangerous place for years was that you couldn’t be on your guard all the time. It was literally impossible. All it took was the combination of complacency and momentary inattention, and he found himself joining the ranks of those who’d lost their lives to the woods - or their contents.

That was, until he found it again. He doesn’t know - nor does he want to know - the details, but his mom paid someone to bring him back. She said she wasn’t going to outlive her only son, no matter the cost. Pedro refused to listen to any more explanation. Someone else had to die for him to live, he understood that much, but had no desire to find out who. He’s working on the mixed feelings he has about it all. Parents would do anything to save their kids, sure, and he gets that - but that doesn’t automatically make it okay.

Not knowing the details was his choice, and he stood by it, but that came with its consequences. The person who resurrected him could be literally anyone. He could cross paths with them any time of day and not even know about it - or maybe he would know about it in some kind of weird mystical way. They were probably evil, because you would have to be to be some kind of resurrecter-for-hire - or at least someone with way weaker of an ethical code than him. He would rather that didn’t rub off on him.

It was normal to feel lost and distant after being…re-alived, right? There’s something missing - or something off, he isn’t sure what. Maybe there’s something that’s not even him at all left over. Maybe he’s secretly evil and he doesn’t know it yet. As far as everyone else is concerned, he went missing and now he’s back. That’s how he wants to keep things. He must be overthinking this.

Except, life is never quite that simple. Try explaining to your friends who know your pain tolerance is practically zero that you somehow decided to get a creepy looking tattoo? Okay, that one can be blamed on bad life choices after a drink or several - and people are kind of willing to believe that about him. A little light bullying from colleagues is definitely better than the alternative.

But the scars are harder to cover up. Especially now it’s coming up to summertime and he doesn’t have any non-suspicious reasoning to avoid swimming and sunbathing. He has been pretty lucky so far, if you can call it that, that he seems to run colder than he used to. Maybe he’s imagining that, but people have been wondering how he can tolerate wearing a sweater on long hikes as the weather gets warmer.

For all his creativity, he isn’t good at excuses. He can’t keep them straight. Maybe if he told them the truth but made it sound like a joke? Or, he could have technically been in hospital and had it be touch-and-go for a while. They look like he went a few rounds with a clawed thing and lost, which is basically what did happen, but that in combination with the weird tattoo? Someone would put two and two together. Especially in his line of work, where the improbable was practically mundane.

Character Facts:

Personality: Good-natured, empathetic, kind, creative, fearful, uncertain, naive, daydreamer

Pedro is that person who pulls out a guitar to play Wonderwall, despite the fact that absolutely nobody likes it. He is enjoying himself, and it wards off wildlife and eldritch beings.

He likes puns entirely too much, the kind of wordplay that results in audible groans. This also means he’s part of the team that comes up with cautionary rhymes for the visitors to remember.

Prior to his untimely death, he was a Park Ranger - not necessarily a very good one, but his family have consistently served over centuries. He liked the stories, and working in the outdoors, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Pedro is bilingual (English and Spanish).

[ragingphantom666]

Sonic World project plan: Sally Acorn (Vol. 1)

This series is not an assured project. It is a concept that can still be changed or scrapped.

Synopsis

In Onyx City, technology is on the rise and used for everything. It is home to the brilliant Sally Acorn, the last of the Knothole royalty. Her life is turned upside down when she is hunted by a coyote named Credence. She goes on the run to escape the reach of Sage, the malevolent artificial intelligence.

Characters

Sally Acorn - A brilliant programmer and the last of the Knothole royal family, but without a monarchy she is just a normal citizen. She lives in an apartment in Onyx City. Something about her has made her the target of the A.I. known as Sage.

Nicole the Holo-Lynx - An artificial intelligence created by Sally. She hijacks a robot and a holographic device to make a makeshift body.

Bunnie D'Coolette - A drag racer in the underground circuit. She has prosthetic legs and a left arm.

Antoine D'Coolette - Husband of Bunnie, cousin of Credence, and one of the last of his royal bloodline. While both cousins are skilled swordsmen, he has a Cajun French accent.

Credence D'Coolette - One of the last of his royal bloodline. He desires the royalty that his family no longer has and the key to get it back is in the hands of Sally Acorn. Unlike his cousin Antoine, he has more of a southern American English accent.

Scourge - A mysterious green hedgehog working for Sage.

Sage - An artificial intelligence hidden within the Onyx City network. She has her sights set on conquering the city and finding Eggman. The key to her plan is Sally Acorn and Nicole.

Hadley the Hyena - One of Credence's goons.

Other Information

The reason why Sally Acorn is not an active princess is because I do not want to worry too much about government and politics.

[dorizardthewizard]

HSM (2006) rewatch pt 13

13: Moving the callbacks

Hahahaha look at him all excited, yeah hype yourself up king. Also bi finger guns!

He’s wearing a green baseball top now, I don’t think we’ve seen it before but when he had to be the basketball guy, he’d wear a red baseball tee and when he was more “just a guy” he wore green or blue. Now it’s a mix of both, he’s confident in both sides of himself! (I think I'm so smart pointing out outfit colours in these commentaries)

Wah they're so cute! Also the first installment in the "Troy checks his non-existent watch" saga

Okay to the “Sharpay is the victim” crowd: if she’s so hard working and great at theatre she shouldn’t have felt threatened by Troy and Gabriella! She should have played it fair and trusted her own skills, not used underhanded tactics to sabotage them. If she can't handle some competition, she's not gonna have a great time pursuing theatre in the future.

And what's with the weird revisionism with Sharpay being a hardworking girlboss while Troy and Gabriella get everything handed to them and don't take theatre seriously? Like are we watching the same movie? They both genuinely wanted to perform, and have been rehearsing a lot with Kelsi - so much so that their friend groups got pissed off about it. I get it, Sharpay is iconic but you don't have to paint her as the real hero just so you can feel morally justified in liking her. You can like characters who are mean, it's okay. Hold my hand. Now lets watch the movie again and pay attention this time.

And don't get me started with the Gabriella hate, the amount of times I've seen people cry sexism for Sharpay's treatment in the films and then turn around to call Gabriella a bitch...

Darbus: I don’t want to hear any more about Troy Bolton and that Montez girl. Darbus: So, if you're telling me as co-presidents of the drama club that changing the callbacks would be what's best for our theatre programme, then I might actually agree with you.

It seems like they convinced Darbus that it’s all just some big trick, but I don’t see why Darbus would agree to changing the callbacks? Why not let them audition and just choose Sharpay and Ryan anyway? I just don’t think she would agree to preventing them from coming at all it’s so underhanded. Unless they convinced her they’re planning a big prank during the callbacks or something??? It’s a bit contrived, I’ll admit.

Aw Kelsi looks so sad :(

I just realised that the game and scholastic decathlon being on the same day means that a hypothetical science-loving basketball player would be having the same predicament already lol

EVAPORATE, TALL PERSON!

The way Chad is immediately ready to commit violence so Troy can go to the callbacks LOL it’s sweet, but again I feel like we’re missing a proper resolution between them?

Alright Chad and Taylor I see you holdings hands. But also we needed more development on that, or like even one single moment they can share that isn’t about Troy and Gabriella