#i'll post pages five and six after the weekend

[theweirdestroller]

Shockwave's Lab Pages 1-4

So, this takes place through Gen 1 and goes into Earthspark. I'll reiterate that I am not the one who knows all the Sunstorm stuff. That position belongs to the rat in my walls. That being said, here's the first part of Shockwave's Lab! (Each page will be separated by a transcript of what's on the page. I did not write this stuff in my nice handwriting as I was just making it for my sibling. It'll also serve to separate Sunstorm's narration from any dialogue)

Page One - Shockwave's Lab!

Panel 1 Shockwave: Sunstorm, what are you doing? Narration: Shockwave! Head Scientist! *Don't worry, he totally gave me permission to upload this

Panel 2 Narration: Loader! Transport! *Very friendly! talks to everyone! takes years for me to see him again!

Panel 3 Narration: Soundwave! Communications Guy? TiC? *shows up sometimes with his cassettes, dunno why

Panel 4 Narration: The Cassettes! Dunno who they are! *Soundwave's little guys. There seems to be more every time

Panel 5 Narration: Sunstorm! Me! *I'm a clone I think? I melt like, everything I touch. Don't ask me about my camera

Bottom of Page Shockwave's lab is recorded and produced by Sunstorm. Any character names are completely non-fictional. Relations to any bots living or dead is intentional. Don't show this to the Autobots or Starscream. Please and thank you, -Sunstorm

Page 2 - Shockwave's Lab!

Panel 1 Sunstorm: New guy in the lab today! He's tiny! Shockwave said something about... Actually, I don't remember My note: *with an arrow pointed to Knockout* <- talkin to Shockwave

Panel 2 Sunstorm: Today on Who talked to me in the tube!

Panel 3 Sunstorm: It was nobody. I'm taking it up with Shockwave.

Panel 4 Sunstorm: What's Shockwave working on? You ask me. I Dunno! I only know what he tells me and last time I asked he said "high-grade"

Panel 5 My notes: *with an arrow pointed to five lil test tube sparklings* <- One of the combiner teams Stunticons? Combaticons? Terrorcons? Who knows Sunstorm: Tube Buddies!

Page 3

Panel 1 Narration: I explained to one of the lil tube fellas about Shanix My notes: *with an arrow pointed to a young Swindle* <- Swindle

Panel 2 Narration: I like telling stories to the tube fellas My notes: *underneath young Breakdown* Breakdown

Panel 3 Narration: I don't know what Shockwave's doing with them, but I think it has something to do with the towering figures I've seen and heard in the lab My notes: one of the combiners idk

Panel 4 Sunstorm: A puppy!!!

Panel 5 Sunstorm: Fire-breathing puppy!!!

Page 4

Panel 1 Narration: There haven't been as many people in the lab lately. Just the tube fellas and Shockwave. We're long past due for a Soundwave visit

Panel 2 Narration: Shockwave talked to me today! We talked for hours! I think there might not be anyone else to talk to anymore

Panel 3 Narration: I learned that Soundwave has been calling the lab. I learned that Soundwave missed the last two calls.

Panel 4 Narration: Shockwave's been talking to me a lot more. Says it keeps him "logical"

Panel 5 Narration: Shockwave said he had somewhere to go

Inbetween Panels -eons later-

Panel 6 Narration: I wonder where everyone is

Panel 7 Sunstorm: "What's... Earth?"

[ms-demeanor]

Professors who use Canvas or any other canvas/blackboard/whatever online tool to post assignment sheets and accept work come to rely on the tool instead of writing a syllabus.

"Well it's in the modules"

Cool do you have visibility on for all of the modules from the start of the semester? That is definitely worse than just having one schedule to write things down from but I can work with it.

Or do you only reveal the modules a few days before they start, so the first week you have week one and two available? Because that means that I can only plan out one week in advance, which is not enough time for me to know whether I'll be okay to go to my hobby meetup on the first friday of next month or if I'll have a major assignment due at midnight that day. Was I planning on using a weekend six weeks into the semester to go visit my sister? Too bad because after I've paid for plane tickets I found out that you scheduled a project that I need specific equipment for to be due on that Sunday.

Also: you are a college professor. You shouldn't keep your modules hidden because you should allow your students to work ahead.

"But they might do things poorly, or in a way that I don't want them to." Well warn them about that and then let them fall on their face if they have to. They ARE adults and they can figure out whether they'll be able to work ahead successfully or will cope with the results if they fuck up. But if you hide the assignments and they just experience your class as something that happens to them, not something they can plan for and anticipate and prepare for, everyone is going to have a bad time.

When I was getting my bachelor's degree there was some kind of administrative screwup and I ended up not taking a 200-level critical theory class until my last semester of undergrad. It was a prereq for a lot of classes and mandatory to graduate but it just slipped under the radar.

The professor assigned us a $300 literary theory textbook and said "you're going to need this for the rest of your time in college, so it's important to invest in this book" (for the record, it was not - I almost never referenced foundational literary theory papers in my college career, and after 200 level was never instructed to write any paper through a specific critical lens) but the rest of my time in college was the ten weeks of that class. I did not need to buy a $300 ($200 used) book on literary theory.

But the professor had given us a syllabus. And the syllabus included a VERY complete assignment schedule, including the page numbers of all the readings for the semester, which included lots of standalone essays that we had institutional access to AND the 70 or so pages assigned from the $300 textbook.

So I packed up my nice camera and I reserved a room in the library and I took the reference copy of the book that the library had and I took photos of every page that was assigned; when I got home I assembled the readings into PDFs that I labelled with the date that the reading was due.

That quarter I was taking five classes and planning my wedding. I got married a week after graduation. Five classes on a quarter system schedule meant that I was taking 21 units. I was working full time, and I had recently fractured two vertebrae and occasionally missed class because I couldn't stand upright and walk on campus.

The ONLY way I survived that quarter was by sitting down after the first week of classes and taking four hours to write out every single assignment, reading, group project, and exam date in a schedule that I carried with me constantly and referenced obsessively.

If I had had just one professor that quarter who hadn't provided me with a schedule of assignments it could have very well tanked my performance in all of my classes and delayed graduation.

I hear plenty of professors complaining online about students these days, but I can hardly blame students these days being checked out when so many professors these days are checked out as well.

Sometimes college professors like to hop on my posts lamenting the sorry state of syllabi these days and joke about how they haven't thought that far ahead in the course themselves, or talk about how they struggle to complete a schedule for their students.

With all due respect, that's your job. If you can't do your job, you should have a different job. If you need help, ask your colleagues or your department chair or *someone* because I know that professors aren't given a hell of a lot of education on how to educate, so you probably *need* help.

But every single time I make one of those posts I get anywhere from ten to thirty messages, replies, reblogs, and asks say "oh man, that's exactly why I had to drop out of school; I couldn't keep up with the assignments because I didn't know when they were due until the week they were due."

I have been a college student in three separate decades, and "not having a schedule of assignments in the syllabus" is new to my experience. That shit didn't fly in the 2000s or 2010s and I think it likely has to do with professors being overly reliant on apps.

AT A MINIMUM your syllabus should have:

Contact information (including preferred method of contact) for the professor

Office Hours

Grading Policy

Assignment schedule.

Your assignment schedule doesn't necessarily need to have the exact page numbers of every reading or a full assignment sheet for each project, but it should have things like:

December 1st - Major Project 3 second draft due December 9th - Quiz 10 December 12th - Major Project 3 final draft due December 15th - Final Exam

If you end up presenting a more thorough schedule with readings and homework later, that is acceptable to present a week or two into the semester but it is absolutely insane to me that students these days don't know what homework they're going to have to get done over Thanksgiving break during the first couple weeks of class.

If I had three professors at once who didn't give me a schedule, how on earth would I know if I was going to have to read three chapters of a novel, take a midterm and turn in two stats homework assignments, and complete a history research paper the same week that I'm planning to travel to see family? If I'm aware of this from the beginning of the semester I can make sure not to pick up extra shifts, or I can plan to leave a day later to accommodate the midterm, or I can start working on the paper early to complete it before the due date but if I don't know what's going to be due when, I'm going to have a big problem.

If you don't give your students a schedule you are communicating that you don't care about their schedule, and that you think it's their responsibility to contort their life (and their job, and their other classes) around your class, and honestly my advice to students in that situation is "drop in the first week and pick up another class". That's actually part of why I recommend signing up for one more class than you can really manage - if you get a professor whose class looks like it's going to be a disaster because they don't have a schedule, you can bail before the withdrawal period and get a refund for the class.

I'm only in one class this semester but the professor's response has fully dropped me into "Fuck it, I guess I'll fail" mode and I don't even know if I can pull myself out of my current D grade because I don't know how many assignments we have left in the semester.

This is a shitty way to run a class. If you can't do better than this, you shouldn't be running a class.

[stressedlawsecretary]

Today's Focus

03.27.24 - I've made it halfway through the week again! At this point, where I live, it's a countdown to the total solar eclipse - especially because my office already told us to work remote that day so I get something of a three-day weekend. My big issue is that I have a zit right in the middle of my lower lip and it's bugging the crap out of me.

Work - I ended up getting asked to redact a transcript yesterday, which is not a small task. I have a couple efiles and an email to send today but other than that I have nothing else waiting. It's also a remote work day and so I'm not expecting to have to do a lot of work.

Background Noise - I am working remote so background noise will be provided by the DVR, and supplemented by YT.

I got 22 videos completed yesterday!

Study - Wednesday is visual study day, so! Firstly the DVR serves double duty; I'll prioritize the news programs and such as my background noise while I work. Secondly, when I do pick up YT, I have one of three documentaries to watch.

Wow I did so good yesterday! I read like seven articles on the IRA/the Troubles, I read like six articles on the Horizon IT/Post Office Scandal, about five random associated articles, five 'good news' articles, and five of the letters Van Gogh wrote. I also finished reading the essay "Black Women and the Constitution", stared an essay on the bride price in China, and got quite a few more pages into the essay "The Decay of Liberalism".

Extras - Lots of chores today: cleaning the catbox, vacuuming, the bathroom stuff I didn't get to yesterday, and cleaning the grill so it can really be used for the upcoming season. At least I don't have to cook; it is takeout day after all. The original mini-essay I was going to write triggered something, so I switched gears and that's done now; if I have any energy later I might write more. There's a new Legal Eagle to watch with hunny, more Carranger to watch, and Batman to finish the night off with.

[mell-eight]

Writing Galore:

10/20/23

Toss in a little magic, a bunch of political intrigue, a pair of twins and their love interests, and apparently you get a great story!  At least, per the reviews I'm getting for Twin Elements.  I'm so happy everyone seems to have enjoyed it!  If you haven't gotten your copy yet, I posted a bunch of links HERE, but it's available at most major retailers.  

I have completed writing my story Soulbond, which I plan to submit to NSP for their internal Valentine's Day call. The story ended up being short and sweet, almost fairy tale style, with a strong emphasis on the magic and the romance.  I really think you guys will like it!  It's due to NSP in just a few weeks, so this is a bit of a rushed timeline for me.  Normally when I complete a story I give it a quick edit before setting it aside for a minimum of six to ten weeks.  This allows any nuances of what I meant to say versus what is actually on the page to fade from my memory, and when I return to the story I can be much more objective.  Soulbond can only sit for about two weeks before I have to start editing or else I won't make the deadline. Luckily Soulbond is a short story, so I should be able to get it finished in time.  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes! 

I have completed writing the epilogue for The Prince in my Princes of Toval series. which means this story is also done!  I really, really like how this book turned out.  The magic is advanced, the characters are dynamic, and I think I've pulled the romance in nicely.  Especially in the epilogue, which is all about the romance.  This weekend I am going to give The Prince a once-over to complete a basic edit, before setting it aside.  Unlike Soulbond, The Prince will receive the full two months rest I prefer.  I plan to pull it out again for a more in-depth edit sometime in the end of December or early January, and submit it to NSP for their consideration once it's ready.  Keep an eye out on this blog around then if you want to know more! 

In between all that other writing, I've somehow found five minutes here and there to start writing the third book, The Spy.  I'm maybe 500 words in, so it's not much, but it's a start that I think is very promising.  The Spy is set a few years after The Prince concludes, with a totally new set of magic rules and a fun new plot.  I expect this will be the final book in the series, as it finally ties together the last loose ends from The Chef (book one).  Also, Vivary Tales has been mentally harassing me, begging to know when I can return to working on it.  I chose to focus on The Chef (and the sequels) instead, as both books were too intricate to write simultaneously.  Plots are percolating so I can't stay away from Vivary Tales too long.  As soon as The Spy is done, I will have to return to Vivary Tales.  That said, I don't actually know how long The Spy will be.  I have two major plot points that need to be explored in separate, but interlinked, arcs.  I'm going to aim for 50k words, hope I actually get to 60k, but be willing to settle for 40k if that's what the story calls for.  As soon as I'm really able to start digging into the writing, I'll be able to make a better estimate.

[sargassostories]

the Witcher Netflix season 2 teaser trailer analysis no one asked for

from Me: your friendly neighborhood trash bag

Listen: it's been a wild weekend. After a year and a half with hardly anything new, we have a trailer and still five months before another eight-episode season of this show! That's a year and a half of incredible fanworks, headcanons, whole multiverses we've spun out of pixels and bits of ourselves. A lot of time spent hoping and theorizing on what we'll see next.

Here's what I think is coming.

The trailer starts with Ciri, asking if she's Geralt's destiny. This directly answers the season 1 teaser trailer, which is about Ciri, Geralt, and destiny. They're together now, and Geralt tells her: Cintra isn't safe for her anymore, before they're seen heading up a snowy mountain pass...

The thing is, episode 2 is called "Kaer Morhen." So I think we have a little time catching up with our pals before heading there.

A lot has been made of the few seconds we see of the keep and characters who have multiple big bang events about them, based on a few lines in the books and their characterizations in the video games. I for one am excited to see different takes on the Witchers, because those takes don't delete those fanworks or games or lines in books or pictures in my head. I find them additive. If you don't, if you really wanted to see Eskel look like the games, then I'm really sorry!

My overall take on the keep? I love how they're trying to tow the line between creepy and cozy because that's what my house looks like I mean because that illustrates Ciri's first impression of the place. I kinda think almost everything we see in the trailer is just this scene. The witchers look like vagrants, like they're starving and falling apart. Ciri looks like a princess: her white dress and furs and hair all stand out, screaming that this is not where she belongs. And that's exactly how she feels in the books, the first moment she arrives. Eskel asks: "Who the hell are you?" which is another big question this season, for Ciri, in this place. Is she a princess or a witcher?

Am I worried about her long braid instead of cut short hair? Yeah. The eyebrows? Yeah I think they do not make any sense at all. The way her eyebrows make Freya look much older than the 14-15 Ciri would be based on the Netflix timeline? Yeah, for sure. Do I wonder where she got that dress? Not really? They can just get a dress???

I think there's a lot we're not seeing. "Dear Friend" is the title of episode six. And I really really don't think we've seen footage from more than the first two episodes. It's coming out in December, those later episodes aren't even finished yet.

I think the trailer shows us just the very beginning of the story, while also telling us two important-to-me things:

-This season is about Geralt and Ciri. Yennefer doesn't even enter the trailer until the very end, and neither does Jaskier or Tissaia or any character not in the Geralt/Ciri storyline. The bulk of it is Geralt and Ciri together.

-We see Yennefer with Fringilla, in a scene that seems to be directly post-Sodden. So they're once again filling in a lot of story that happens off the page, which is my favorite thing about this adaptation because I love Yennefer.

I don't know how Ciri will change between episodes two and six! I think the show has also proved itself capable of hopping around in a timeline, for specific storytelling purposes. Do I want her to wrestle with her gender and gender role as she does in the books? Yeah. I really hope they go there. And I'm really not vibing on the eyebrows specifically for logic reasons. I'm just curious and excited to see what they'll do, because my interest in and attention to these stories isn't 100% rooted in this show and what it's doing.

That's not a "fuck you I'll do whatever I want in fanon" statement. I know why I love the characters, and I'm excited to see how someone else might express those characteristics, or what they might love about them that's different than me. Like if you asked me if one of my fics would be made into an episode which one would I pick (lol), I would not want to see it, because it already exists. I wanna see something new, someone else's interpretation, something that surprises and delights me.

I'm here to have a good time!

What are you excited for? What are you hoping they do? And how the hell are you gonna pace yourself until December? I need tips.

[mysticalmayhem1930]

Loki’s Dragon

>>Part Sixteen <<

A/N I don’t own any of the Marvel characters. Just my own creations. This is my first multi part fan fiction. It was originally posted in Wattpad. But I rewrote the parts as I transferred them, so there are some differences.

Summary: Loki plans to ask Eva to marry him

Pairing: I originally wrote this as Loki x Eva but it can be read as Loki x Reader if you desire.

Links to previous parts: Part One / Part Two / Part Threee / Part Four / Part Five / Part Six / Part Seven/ Part Eight / Part Nine / Part Ten / Part Eleven / Part Twelve / Part Thirteen / Part Fourteen/ Part Fifteen

Overall Warnings: Smut, Fluff, Angst, Adult Language

>>>18+ ONLY<<

A few months had passed as summer turned to fall in New York. Loki was especially happy as it was getting colder out he disliked the muggy New York summers. One night in the common room with just Thor, Tony and Stephen, Loki spoke quietly "I think I'm going to ask her to marry me."

They all looked at him and said at the same time "you think you're going to what? Who?"

"Eva, obviously, I want to ask for her hand in marriage. Tony and Stephen you are like brothers to her, the closest thing she has to family, so, before I even plan anything I wanted to get your approval. I am going to do this the right way, please say that I’ve proven myself to you both. Thor I wanted to tell you as well because well you seem to look at her as a sister too. Simply put she is the missing piece of me I have been searching for."

"Wow, just wow... I'm sorry I think I'm at a loss for words." Said Tony.

"Tony, that's a first!!  Loki I am honored you are asking us, to me it means you understand what she means to the three of us, and from what I have seen of you both together, not to mention your bond, I wholeheartedly give you my approval. You make her happy, honestly, I have never seen her like this. And I'm guessing she makes you happy?" Started Stephen

"Very, very happy"

"You treat her well and look after her already. Just keep it that way or I can make it so you are spread among the nine realms and I'll even leave some bits in the mirror dimension."

"Ok now that I've had some time to think about it, yeah I agree with the wizard. Just don't hurt her and make sure she stays happy." Said Tony “you may not know it, but just so we’re on the same page, if you hurt her and she gives me the ok me and the wizard will kick your ass.”

"I promise to continue to treat her as the princess she is."

"Brother, I am so happy for the both of you. And would be more than pleased to welcome Eva to our family. So have you thought about how and when you are going to ask her?"

"I have and I need to ask you all a favor to make this happen."

There was agreement all around. They all wanted to help. Plans were made and a date was set.

"Brother, I have one question, when do we get to see the ring?"

With a flick of his hand the Tesseract appeared in his hand. Stephen and Tony started towards him. He moved out of the way. "Please guys it's not the Tesseract. It just looks like it I thought it a cute touch, a throw back to the first day I saw her. The very same day I told Thor that one day I would marry her. And the day he told me not a chance in Hel would that happen." He opened the box and Thor looked at him. "Where did you get that?"

"Mother gave me her and Father’s blessing last time we were on Asgard. She insisted this be the ring I use."

Tony and Stephen were standing next to Thor with their eyes wide. "Wow Loki, it’s amazing, she’s going to love it." Said Tony. It was a platinum band with a flawless diamond. There were runes around the band. That gave it a yellow aura.

“Some of the runes have the ability to size the ring to the wearer, so when she transforms it will size to her talon, it’s also practically indestructible.” Loki said thoughtfully.

The following weekend Eva was reading in the common room as usual snuggled in her spot. She got up to refill her drink when she doubled over in pain in her stomach dropping the glass. Wanda ran over to her. "Eva what's wrong, are you ok?"

"Stabbing pain in my stomach. Have you seen Loki?"

"Yeah he went for a jog, probably in Central Park." Wanda responded.

"Crap, he's in trouble. Can you help me find him?"

"Sure we can use your bond." She replied "I can help you zero in on his location." Wanda helped her up and they took off to find an injured Loki. They flew over the park flying north. Eva’s eyes frantically scanning the throngs of people in search of her Loki. A few minutes later Wanda pointed "that's him right?" To a lone figure doubled over on the ground. "Yeah, thanks Wanda I owe you."

"Any time Eva, let me know if you need any more help ok."

Eva landed a few feet from him at the ‘gothic bridge’ and dashed to his side. "Loki, what happened," she laid her hand on his back and went to move his hand from his stomach.

"No Eva, leave it be."

"Look you hard headed god, you move your hand or I will move it for you, I can probably heal that." Reluctantly he moved his hand which was covered in blood. As she put her hands gently on the wound she asked "my sweet prince what happened?" He grunted as the healing process started. "Some asshole came out of nowhere and stabbed me"

" not many people can sneak up on you, ironic that you were stabbed this time. It’s usually you stabbing Thor.” She tried to get him to laugh.

"I know I was just lost in thought I guess, serves me right."

"Come on let me help you up and we can walk back."

She reached out her hand he grabbed it and started getting up. She turned around to see what was taking him so long to get up. He was on one knee looking at her framed by the bridge behind him. His eyes lifted to her as he took a deep breath.

"My princess, From the moment I met you I told Thor that you would be mine. We have something special, I have looked many years for one such as you. One who would accept me as I am, my history and my flaws. One who can see past everything to see me. You are my world, I would like to make you my Princess officially by making you my wife. Eva, please say you'll make me the happiest man in the known universe, will you marry me?"

She was dumbstruck. But managed to nod and mouth yes. He flicked his hand and the Tesseract appeared. Smiling mischievously he opened it and took the ring and placed it on her finger. He got up and kissed her and held her. They were in their own world and didn't notice the crowd that gathered. Eva looked at the crowd in awe as she wiped her tears of happiness away, they were all clapping and shouting congratulations to them. Lining the bridge leaning on the railing she saw Stephen,Thor,Wanda and Tony all smiling. As the crowd dispersed the group came together hugging both of them. As the adrenaline wore off she looked to Loki "you are so lucky I love you, or else I'd kill you for that stunt. How did you manage the injury?"

"I had some help from Stephen, he seemed to take pleasure in stabbing me." They both laughed "with his knowledge of anatomy he was the choice to stab me without doing much damage. I was going to use a glamour but with our bond you'd have known it was a ruse. I am sorry for the pain I have caused you my love."

"I'll let it slide this time..." she said. "And thank you Stephen for not killing him when you had the chance."

Thor hugged her "allow me to be the first to welcome you to the family..." and kissed her on both cheeks. "..Sister"

The group walked together congratulating Loki on his plan. At how happy they will be. When they got back the common room was decorated for an engagement party.  Everyone was there to offer their well wishes including Fury, Steve Rogers, Nat Romanov, Bruce, Clint Barton and they even included Peter Parker with MJ, Scott Lang and Hope Pym to name a few.

Loki looked at Eva, "my princess you have asked and I have not budged to tell you what my runes translate to in English..I guess I will tell you now."

There was a commotion, but the general idea was what runes?  Loki looked at them all.  "When she got her runes tattooed some months back I also got some. But as I mentioned I have not told her what they are."  He took off his t-shirt they all marveled at the beauty of the ink. Loki took a deep breath and turned to her, "From the day I met her only Princess Eva will hold my heart forevermore." He said as he traced the runes. Looking at her he smiled. "You know that's permanent" she said to him, almost a whisper placing her hand over his heart.

"Yeah I've heard that" he smiled back at her putting a lose strand of hair behind her ear and placed his hand over her runes. Loki bent down to kiss her as he did her ring began to glow green then gold. Fury looked at Thor "is that normal?"

"The ring was forged by the Sons of Ivaldi their work is laced with runes. Some are protective, some enhance emotions. It would appear that their love is manifesting the runes protection."

"So yes, that's normal, thanks Thor"

"You are most welcome."

Tony came over to the happy couple. "hey um I have a present for yous... can we go to the lab to check it out?"

"Certainly Tony, we'll follow you in a few." Said Loki.