#interests either an internship or job or something

[mossiestpiglet]

once again stressed as hell because i have the opportunity to apply for a job and i feel like i HAVE to take it despite the fact that i really dont want it and also feel like it wouldnt necessarily even be the best move in terms of career… but like. Fatal American Desire To Seize Every Financial Opportunity At The Expense Of My Own Well-being.

[feralfinch]

Making your voice heard with elected representatives

I know this is going to be long, but bear with me.

Hello! I’ve been meaning to make this post for a while and current events in the US have finally motivated me to make it. I see lots of posts going around saying things like “contact your representatives!” and very few with actual information on how to do this effectively. For context, I spent a summer interning in the district office for my federal representative. This was an eye opening experience on how all this works and I want to pass on information about how to be as effective as possible in making your voice heard.

My job was basic admin work, but I also answered all the phones, emails, and letters from constituents. The basic way the process works is when someone contacts the office, the admin enters the conversation in the database that the representative will then look at. They will record your name, phone number or address, and the comments you want heard. if its a letter or email, a copy or scan will be attached. Unless you have made an appointment to meet with the representative, you will not get to talk to them when you call in. Demanding to will not get you anywhere.

1. Make sure you are contacting the right person.

this sounds pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many people call the wrong office. I would be yelled at on the phone for fifteen minutes before having to tell someone that they need to contact their state representative not their federal representative. This was a very common problem. State issues need to be sent to your state representative, federal issues need to be sent to your federal representative. Civics education in the states is... lacking to say the least. For federal issues, see if the legislation is in congress or the house of representatives and reach out to the congressperson or rep accordingly. A big one is only contact your representative. 

It may be tempting to call a representative from a different district or state if you see something happening there that’s wrong, but only contact YOUR representative. When we got correspondence from outside our district it was filed separately or tossed out all together. The representatives are only interested in what their voters think. If something is happening in a different state or district and you want to help those people, look for mutual aid or direct action options to get involved with. Contact your own representative and say something like “I see what is going on in [place] and want encourage you to vote [for/against] any similar issues in [your place]” or “as a [relevant descriptor] constituent, I am upset by what is happening in [place] and want to encourage you to support [issue] in [your place]”

2. Be clear and polite

The person you are going to be communicating with will not be the representative. It will be an underpaid admin, unpaid intern, or overworked caseworker juggling two jobs. Being calm and polite will get you a long way, especially for these workers who get yelled at all day. its basic retail rules. If you wouldn’t do it in person to a retail worker, you shouldn’t do it to the person you are contacting in this office. Even if you are contacting a representative with opposite politics, there is no guarantee the person answering the phone actually agrees with them. Sometimes a jobs a job or college credit is college credit. I almost didn’t get my internship because I ended up crying during the interview and they were worried getting yelled at on the phone every day for four months would be too hard on my mental health (in reality, I had been in a car accident on the way to the interview). Threats and threatening language was either thrown out or reported based on severity. I know it can be hard with how much scary stuff is going on in US politics, but staying calm and collected will get you so much farther.

Its also important to be clear about what you are talking about. So many communications would be tossed out completely because it would just be six paragraphs of someone typing REPEAL IT over and over in bold, italics, and all caps without once saying what they want repealed. Its important to communicate who you are, why this matters to you, and what you are talking about. All this information is important for the database and for the representative to know why taking action will improve the lives of their voters. A simple template would be “Hello, I’m [name], a [relevant descriptor] constituent, and I am contacting you to encourage you to vote [yes/no] on bill [number]. this bill would [describe impact on you and your family/community]. Thank you for your time.” This works for calls, emails, and letters.

3. Third party communication

If you've ever contacted your reps through services like resistbot, you've probably gotten an email along the lines of “thank you for contacting us, but the rep can't reply to correspondence sent from third party platforms.” This is designed to drive to you use the reps website to contact them, but if you've gotten that email, good news! It means your correspondence still got entered in the database. Reps don't have tons of free time, the correspondence database means they can basically scroll through a tally of “this many people contacted us to vote yes/no on this issue.” So, unless you request a response you will either get the stock “thank you for contacting us!” letter or a response that is sent to everyone who wrote in about a specific topic.

4. Making your voice more powerful

Especially if you live in a red area, contacting your reps might feel like screaming at a brick wall. But! There are ways to make your voice even more powerful. Once a rep gets to Capitol Hill, lobbyists throwing their money around can make it feel like you are powerless as a constituent. However, for all the money these lobbyists have, you have something they don't. You have the ability to actually vote these fuckers out. While a rep might not listen when a handful of people write that they won't vote for them again based on this issue, local and state level unions, guilds, trade, and professional associations have huge amounts of power. The rep I interned for got elected multiple times because he befriended the state optometrists association and they all voted for him and encouraged their networks to vote for him. Look at whatever professional associations and stuff you qualify for, join, and get involved. Its known that teachers unions are a powerful voting bloc, but this can be true of just about any group. For example, I am now a museum professional and am a member of several different professional organizations that put on museum advocacy days at the state Capitol. Groups like these can amplify your voice in new ways, one's that often aren't ask risky as some other methods of direct action. My hostile reps don't need to know I'm queer and that's why I want them out, hundreds of museum professionals voting against a dipshit because of sunsetting museum tax exemption laws gets them out of power all the same.

I know things feel hopeless and overwhelming right now, but all is not lost. Don't obey in advance, stand strong and keep fighting the good fight.

[ladykailitha]

Never Hold Back Your Step... Part 9

Yay!! Another chapter of this lovely chronicle. I really do recommend going back and re-reading a bit since it's been so long.

But in this we have Harrington Sr. being an ass, the most epic confrontation I've ever written, and Dustin being sweet and asshole at the same time. The kid has range.

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

****

Late at night in the last days before the school ended, they would climb up on the roof of the trailer and talk about their hopes and dreams.

Eddie had told him that he was going to try third time lucky to graduate. And then if he didn’t make it next year, he’d take the GED and walk away, ready to join Steve wherever he was. Not that he wanted to leave Eddie behind or the kids. But if he was to go to college, he’d have to.

Steve walked across that stage to thunderous applause, all his friends, the kids, Eddie and Wayne all cheering for him. Even Nancy and Jonathan had been there to cheer him on. But there, in the stands frowning at the people Steve had surrounded himself with, were his parents.

Steve knew he should feel grateful that they came at all. But he knew it was more about image and appearing to be the perfect parents than any actual interest. He saw them clap politely and then his father pulled out a newspaper and his mother fussed with her hair and makeup the whole time.

They took pictures with him afterwards with fake smiles plastered on and took him out to dinner to talk about his future. Which was all about joining the company and getting his business degree. Two things that Steve had no interest in doing.

He had hoped to get scholarships for college based on his sports so that he wouldn’t have to rely on his dad’s money, but that fell through.

He had missed the early decision deadline, because he had had his head smashed in. So he had sent the applications off at the start of the new year. But by then his grades had slipped due to the concussion and the letters coming back weren’t a good sign.

He would just have to try and reason with his dad about college and keep his fingers crossed he’d get out of this town somehow.

****

“These are your grades?” Mr. Harrington bellowed. “How are you supposed to get into good colleges and universities with these?”

The first week of June was not a good week, ever, in Steve’s opinion. It was when grades were mailed out and he had to listen to the screaming for a full week.

“I had that concussion in the middle of the year, remember?” Steve asked. “That set my grades back a bit. But I thought I would take a year of community college and build my grades back up to get into the better schools.”

“No son of mine is going to a state school!” Mr. Harrington roared. “And you can forget about that summer internship at the company! I will not have tell others that you didn’t get into a proper school.”

Steve could feel his stomach sink to the base of spine. He didn’t like where this was going. At all.

“You will get a job,” Mr. Harrington continued to menace. “I don’t mean some cushy life guard bullshit where you sit in some high tower, looking pretty, either. A real job. Retail. Build character.”

“But I already told Mr. Jones at the community center that I would lifeguard again this summer,” Steve protested.

“You go back there and tell him you have better things to do with your time!” Mr. Harrington shouted. “That new mall opened up. Starcourt. You’ll find something there.” He leaned forward into Steve’s space. “Do I make myself clear?”

Steve gulped, but nodded, not trusting himself to speak.

“Good.”

Mr. Harrington turned on his heel and stormed back into his office. Mrs. Harrington stood at the edge of the room, almost swaying on her feet as she would move forward to comfort Steve, but then would change her mind. Back and forth.

Steve pinched his nose and rubbed the end. He looked up at her with dead eyes. “He’ll keep moving the goal posts. You know he will.”

This time she did surge forward. “You know it’s not like that. He only wants what’s best for you.”

“Best for me?” Steve murmured, barely holding back the tears. “Or what will make him look the best? Because I’m tired, Mom.”

“It’s hard,” Mrs. Harrington said, rubbing his arm gently. “But come autumn he’ll see how well you did and maybe he’ll let you try for the state school.”

Steve knew it was a lie or whatever that she was telling herself more than she was tell him.

He pinched and rubbed his nose, forcing back the tears. He wasn’t going to cry in front of either of his parents. It only enraged his father and prompted mocking from his mother.

Oh, she hid it under the guise of ‘tough love’ but it was all tough and no love.

He thought of Wayne and Eddie. Of how they didn’t have a lot of material possessions but they had each other and their love for each shone brightly.

Steve held up his chin and nodded. Then he grabbed his keys and wallet, forcing on his shoes.

“Where are you going?” his mother huffed. “Storming off like that after a fight with your father is so childish, Steven.”

Steve turned to her slowly and blinked. “To talk to Mr. Jones about not being able to lifeguard this year and go job hunting at the mall like Dad wants?”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re always so dramatic, Steven. I suppose that was why you took so well to it. Of course, if you had any real talent you would have gotten a more substantial role.”

He squeezed his hand around his keys, the ridges digging into his palm, as he fought down the bile that rose to his throat.

“I’ll be back for dinner,” Steve said through gritted teeth. He rushed out the door, careful not to slam it behind him.

He drove out to the community center and hit his steering wheel over and over as he cursed out his parents until he was exhausted.

He sighed and got out the car, making his way to front desk. “Hey, Janis, is Mr. Jones in today?”

Janis smiled at him. “Sure thing, sweetie. Just go on back.”

Steve caught Mr. Jones as he was coming back to his office.

“Hey, Steve!” Mr. Jones said cheerfully, coming up to him with a big smile. “You here for your schedule?”

Steve shook his head. “My dad didn’t like my grades and told me I had to get a real job. Sorry.”

“Shit, Steve, I’m sorry,” Mr. Jones said crumpling. “And there’s no chance he’ll let you do both?”

“No,” Steve said bitterly. “If he finds out I’m working here he’ll beat my ass. I wanted to come back, but I guess my dad had other plans.”

“Well, well,” a cruel voice said behind them, “it looks like you have an opening after all, Mr. Jones.”

Steve and Mr. Jones turned toward the voice slowly, knowing with complete dread who it was.

Billy Hargrove was leaning against the wall, arms folded and a giant smirk on his face.

“Looks like your loss is my gain, Harrington,” he said coolly.

Steve rolled his eyes. “Story of my life since you rolled into town, Hargrove. You stole my friends, the captain of the basketball team, hell you probably would have stolen my girl if she liked jocks instead of tortured artists or some shit. It ain’t new.”

“You’re just bitter that I’m the superior you in every way,” Billy said with a sneer. “The sooner you admit it, the less heartache you’ll have, pretty boy.”

Steve threw back his head and laughed. “I have other talents, asshole. I can draw, I can act, and I can fucking swim. While you were out there fucking anything with a pussy that would let your scaly ass, I was beating records and making it to nationals as part of our swim team. You are just some washed up surfer in desperate need a wave. I am a swimmer.”

He nodded to Mr. Jones who had a smug smile on his face.

Billy was taken aback. “So you do have a spine. Huh. I would have never guessed it. Not with Max and Munson doing your dirty work for you.”

Steve got right up in Billy’s face. “I didn’t go after you, dipshit,” his voice low and menacing. Quiet enough that only he could hear. “Because I just wanted to graduate. But now that I have that diploma, I’m more than ready throw hands with you. Plus we all know I had you against the ropes until you cheated by smashing a plate to my head.”

He patted Billy’s chest and waving goodbye to Mr. Jones, he walked out of there, chin held high.

****

Steve had gathered somewhere around a dozen or so applications to the stores that surrounded him and sat down in the food court to fill them out. His eyes were starting to go cross-eyed when Dustin came up to him and sat down across from him.

“Dude,” Dustin greeted. “What’s all this shit?”

Steve looked up at him and sighed. “Job applications. My dad wants me to get a summer job.”

“But you have a summer job,” Dustin replied with a frown. “The rec center. You’re a lifeguard.”

Steve sighed again and shook his head. “My dad was pissed that I only got into a couple of schools and not the good ones.”

Dustin frowned and tilted his head to the side. “Is that because of what happened with Billy?”

“That’s part of it,” Steve agreed. “But I was really counting on a sports scholarship and with how shitty everything got I didn’t get a single one.”

“But you went to nationals with your swimming though,” the gap-toothed kid grumbled.

Steve put down his pen and planted his hands on either side of his applications. “Look, bud, I get that you think you’re trying to help or whatever but my team came in last at nationals. In everything. No scout was going to give us so much as a passing glance. No sports scholarship plus missing the early acceptance deadline and having to wait for regular admissions means that I’m on a waiting list for most of the good schools, didn’t get in to the decent schools, and my dad won’t let me go to the community college. So here I am doing the best I can, okay?”

Dustin pouted but gave up on pushing the issue. He grabbed the applications and began looking through them.

“Hey!” Steve cried trying to get them back, but Dustin kept dodging him.

He set down three applications. “You can put in for all of if you want, but I’d focus on these three.” Scoops Ahoy, The Gap, and Shapiro’s.

Steve picked them and looked at them. “Why?”

“Those are going to be the ones that kids aren’t going to want to try for,” Dustin said. “And you have to get this job because of your dad. These are more likely to hire you.” He pointed to the ice cream shop. “That one is your best bet.”

Steve nodded. That was one he had been expecting to get too.

“So when are you leaving to nerd camp?” he asked, taking the applications from the kid.

“It’s called Camp Know Where,” Dustin scoffed. “Know as in k-n-o-w where. It’s really cool.”

Steve rolled his eyes. “That still doesn’t tell me when you’re going, dork.”

“Oh!” Dustin said, eyes wide. “Tomorrow. My mom is buying me the things I’ll need so I can leave bright and early.”

Steve’s expression softened. “I’m going to miss you, you know?”

Dustin nodded back. “I’m going to miss you, too.”

Someone called his name and he looked up. “It looks like my mom’s calling me. Good luck on the job search.”

Steve stood up and gave him a hug. “Have fun, okay?”

Dustin nodded and ran to catch up to his mom as Steve went back to his applications with a sigh. He really was going to miss that butthead.

****

Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16

Tag List: ELEVEN SLOTS OPEN

1- @mira-jadeamethyst @rozzieroos @itsall-taken @redfreckledwolf @zerokrox-blog

2- @gregre369 ​@a-little-unsteddie @chaosgremlinmunson @messrs-weasley @kultiras

3- @maya-custodios-dionach @goodolefashionedloverboi @val-from-lawrence @carlyv @wonderland-girl143-blog

4- @justforthedead89 @irregular-child @bookbinderbitch @bookworm0690 @blondie1006

5- @anne-bennett-cosplayer @yikes-a-bee @awkwardgravity1 @littlewildflowerkitten @genderless-spoon

6- @dragonmama76 @ellietheasexylibrarian @thedragonsaunt @useless-nb-bisexual @angels-of-hades

7- @mugloversonly @y4r3luv @greeniebean911 @birbsauce @acingthecounts

8- @cryptid-system @counting-dollars-counting-stars @ravenfrog @dreamercec

[professoruber]

Thoughts on why I like the depiction of Kara as a scientist

Source: Supergirl (2016) #8

So a bit ago I posted a poll about Kara's "day job" because I was curious. As it turns out, "Scientist Kara" was by far the most popular option of those who voted, ending up with roughly half the votes, with "Actress Kara" as a distant second place.

"Scientist Kara" was also my preference, and so this has gotten me thinking more deeply into the why of what makes "Scientist Kara" so appealing, with some help from the reasonings given by response to the poll.

So with that in mind, I figured I might make a post discussing this. Note I am not the biggest comic expert, but I am learning more bit by bit.

What Makes Kara the Scientist so appealing?

Source: World's Finest: Batwoman and Supergirl (2020) #2

I think this was the story which really sold me on the concept of Scientist Kara. I'd really recommend checking it out, but here's the gist...

Kara gets fired from her CatCo internship due to constantly leaving to do Supergirl stuff, after a dressing down from Cat Grant she flies over to the Daily Planet rooftop where she meets her cousin. Kara reminisces about Krypton (as shown in the snapshot above) and reveals (after Clark questions her) that she only became a reporter because Clark is one and she doesn't even like the job. After being reassured by Clark that she could never leave in his shadow and how they all have to find their own paths, she ends up attending a S.T.A.R Labs job fair with a much more optimistic attitude.

This story quite firmly establishes science as something that is hers, an activity which she enjoyed.

Pursuing a career in journalism is something, by contrast, that she both struggles with and finds frustrating.

That's what I found so appealing, I think. Kara being a scientist in this context means allowing herself to follow her own path rather than just seek to live up to the legacy set by Superman.

Furthermore, it can also help show the differences between the cousins and their upbringings.

Kara's Kryptonian roots

Both Superman and Supergirl are immigrant stories, but also quite different ones.

Superman is Clark Kent, even if he was born on Krypton as Kal-El and those roots are part of who is he is. Clark Kent is a Kansas farm boy, the man he is and the morals he lives are due to Ma and Pa Kent.

Supergirl is Kara Zor-El, even if she now lives on Earth as Kara Danvers/Linda Lee Danvers/Linda Lang (depending on the continunity). Kara Zor-El is generally 15 when arriving on Earth (I believe) and so spent those years growing up in Argo City (which escape Krypton's destruction) or on Krypton itself. Either way, she was raised in Kryptonian society and culture.

Source: Supergirl (1982) #17

I think it makes quite a bit of sense for Kara to remain attached to her roots even after years living on Earth, since that is the culture she grew up in, and it also because of how interesting it is to explore.

And while the nature of Krypton can vary across different continunities, a consistent aspect is that it is a scientifically advanced society which surpasses Earth in that regard. The House of El is also populated by scientists, with that being the standard career of the parents of both Clark and Kara.

Source: Batgirl (2009) #14

Kara was, in the New Earth continuity, even depicted as following the family business via joining the Science Guild.

(Also; gotta love Kara's smugness here.)

The best of both worlds

Clark Kent can be said to represent the best of humanity.

So I think it would fit for Kara Zor-El to represent the best of Krypton.

As I mentioned before, the portrayal of Krypton can very much vary. Often it is a flawed and stagnant society, although there are also versions which are imperialistic (such as in MAWS, although I personally was not the biggest fan of that, but I digress).

Source: Supergirl (1982) #18

To take another step back to pre-crisis Supergirl and her choice of headgear, I'd like to highlight these panels.

As shown earlier, she chose this particular red headband because it is a traditional piece of Kryptonian attire and so represents her continued ties to Krypton even while living on Earth. As shown here though, the headband is traditionally only worn by men and yet Kara decides to wear it anyway because of Earth gender equality concepts.

It creates an interesting mix of traditionalism and rebellion-ness. She is maintaining her Kryptonian roots, but doing so in a way which defies part of the tradition via incorporating an ideal she learned on Earth.

And so that is how I think Kara Zor-El could represent the best of Krypton.

She is the scientist, someone who represents Kryptonian's advanced society and values, but also lacks the stagnation, close-mindedness and dogma which is often shown contributing to the people's doom.

She becomes "The Woman of Tomorrow".

Some final thoughts

Another perspective of this which has crossed my mind is that giving Kara the background and ambitions of a scientist arguably could add another layer to the tragedy of her story. Of course, the loss of her home, family and people is the primary tragic event. But a Kara whose only wish was to do science, ending up on Earth where she no longer gains extreme powers but also a newfound legacy of heroism, means that Kara now has newfound expectations and even responsibility, even if she never wanted to be a fighter at all.

Kara had her entire life changed on a fundamental level when circumstances destroyed her home and sent her to Earth.

Her being a scientist can be seen as another way of her maintaining her ties to the advanced society she hails from, and reflect the way in which she was a product of that society even as she grows and explores new ways and ideas.

And I think this concept, both making Kara science-inclined and generally more focused on her Kryptonian roots, can be beneficial in exploring the immigrant aspect of her character in a way different to Clark.

[emo-trash101]

There was actually no request for this I just wanted a reason to start an unhealthily long fanfiction because I'm tired and procrastinating doing my English homework

Home is Where the Heart is

Pt 1

Daisuke x Male! Reader

Pronouns: second person, implied male

Word count: 1k+

TW: People going insane, Jimmy, murder/death, general mouthwashing stuff, internalized homophobia (this is just generally for the whole series)

You were never really planning on ending up on the Tulpar, you just thought you were going to finish your pre-med college courses and go to some boring fancy college and marry a girl and have a kid and become the basic Nuclear family that everyone expected you to become. You didn't plan for a future any different than that, even if it wasn't exactly what made you the happiest. There's people all around the world who don't like their life but it's living, isn't it?

That was until about a week or so before graduation. One of your professors (of which you had become very close to) pulled you aside one day, discussing a year long internship that you could apply for, and it would give you a chance to have some better references under your belt. And even though it was unexpected, you decided it was better to just apply and see what happens.

You never expected that you would end up sitting in a meeting room with 4 other people, being told the general consensus of what you're going to be doing for over a year. You'd be riding upon the Tulpar, a manned freighter, delivering something, and then returning home.

The meeting itself was the typical boring thing, just a person in the front of a room talking at you for hours, but the people inside of the room were the most interesting. The first person you laid eyes on was the Captain, who's name was Curly (he introduced himself almost the second the meeting began), with his bright blond hair and blue eyes. He seemed confident and capable, and was also a seasoned veteran of working with this company, bringing you at least a small semblance of hope that this won't go completely wrong.

Oddly, you noticed both the mechanic and co-pilot at the same time, even though neither of them were introduced yet. Maybe it was because they both had a scowl on their faces, or maybe it's because they both look like they have aged more intensely than the others in the room, but something about both of them just stood out the most, like a faint glow in a pitch-black room.

Finally, you notice the head nurse, an exhausted look on her face. You can't really tell if it's from working here for so long or going through medical school (most likely both), but it adds to a sadder look in her face, something almost indiscernible. A part of you is excited to work alongside her. 'At least she might be able to offer something new' you think to yourself, trying to keep a somewhat positive outlook on things.

Suddenly, your internal thoughts are interrupted by an opening of the doors, which just so happened to be right behind you. Standing in the doorway was a man, with semi-long hair and a very obnoxious outfit. "Sorry for being late, I-" he starts, before realizing that all eyes are currently on him Instead of trying to offer an excuse, he just nervously rubs the back of his neck, closing the door behind him and taking a seat about 3 chairs to the left of you.

You would've paid less attention to him, after all it was what you were taught to do. People who were incapable of being at places on time or doing their jobs right were barely even worth your time. But something about this boy was almost magnetic. Maybe it was his bright outfit that almost made your head hurt just by looking at it, or maybe it was just his demeanor. Most people who would arrive at meetings this later would be sheepish, maybe even fearful, but he seems almost completely fine. Almost as though this was something that barely bothers him.

Either way, when the meeting started to get boring (as meetings always do), you seemed to find your eyes drawn to him. Sometimes he would catch you staring, and you would turn your head around as fast as you could, hoping he just thought it was by accident or whatever excuse would be the best to use.

Shortly after the meeting ends, you sigh, staying in your seat. It's partially just so you can try and mentally prepare yourself for what you know you're going to have to handle. The isolation, the anxiety, the stress, the people, everything was going to take a toll on it. But you knew you were going to get through it, even if it kills you.

Day 1

You honestly thought that you would be more nervous being on the Tulpar for the first time. The general look of it in and of itself is enough to give anyone some kind of fear. The way it's built and looks makes it seem as though if it's going to implode any second. Especially the way that it creaks when you walk.

The hardest part was probably deciding what to bring. Most of the things you really thought of bringing were either considered contraband or already provided by the company. So when you got to your room and we're expected to 'unpack' you more so took two or three small items out of a bag and placed them in random areas, and left the small amount of personal clothing in the bag.

After everyone was finished unpacking, or at least capable of taking a break, you were expected to meet in the common room. As you walked into it, it was somehow both exactly what you expected it to be, yet not at the same time. It included almost everything that you would expect like a kitchen, a dining table, a lounging area, and things along those sorts. The biggest thing that surprises you is the large screen that currently showed a sun shining up in a bright blue sky.

As you're taking in the large and new surroundings, Curly, the captain starts giving a speech that sounds like it was rehearsed at least 5 times before. He mentions things like being excited to have new members on the ship and just generally hoping for an enjoyable experience on the Tulpar.

You would've likely been paying more attention, if he wasn't there. But he is, he's standing there looking at the captain as he gives his speech the same way you just were doing, and it almost surprises you how much will power it truly takes to pull away from staring at him, but you eventually do it, trying your best to focus on Curly's speech.

You can't place it, but you know that something is gonna change on this trip. Something inside of you is going to change and once you step off this ship, you will never be the same. You would be lying if you said you weren't eager to meet the person you will become after this trip.

This was oddly fun to write and I'm excited to continue writing this, I might get the second part out tonight as well, but I guess we'll just have to see!

Make sure to drink water and eat food

Next

[surftrips]

COOL FOR THE SUMMER

OBX WRITING WEEK DAY 1 — AU W/ JJ MAYBANK 

word count: 1502

summary: in which JJ and Y/N are working together as camp counselors for the summer, cut off from the rest of the world for eight weeks straight. 

a/n: this was super fun to write, i'd love to write more blurbs for them because i think a summer camp setting is so cute haha. welcome to day 1 of obx writing week, make sure to support all the other authors under the tag! :)

“Ughhhh,” Y/N groaned. She was in desperate need of a job for the summer. None of the internships she applied to had gotten back to her, so she was left to scour the internet for entry-level positions, when finally she stumbled upon something promising, 

Hiring camp counselors! $16/hour, room and board included. Provide high-quality educational and recreational opportunities and enjoyable experiences for camp participants. No experience needed. CPR-certification preferred. 

She had spent a summer in her junior year of high school as a lifeguard, but she wasn’t the biggest fan of the outdoors. And from what she could tell, this position would require her to be outside a lot. But what choice did she have? It was either this, or be unemployed and broke for four months. She sighed and uploaded her resume without much thought. 

Exactly one week later, she received a call from an unfamiliar number in North Carolina. She almost didn’t pick it up, but she quickly realized the camp position was located on the Outer Banks. 

“Hello? Is this Y/N Y/L/N?” a faraway voice asked. 

“Yes, this is her.”

“Hey, Y/N! This is Lucas, I’m calling from Camp Cedar Brook. We saw your application for the counselor position and would love to offer you the position! Are you still interested?”

“Oh, of course! Thank you!” she said. 

“Great! We’ll email you the onboarding details this week, but welcome to the team! It’s going to be a great summer!” Lucas said excitedly. 

Y/N hung up the phone, a little less excited now that the reality of working at a summer camp was setting in. Being in charge of little kids. Having limited phone access. Cut off from the rest of the world. Working outdoors in the scorching Carolina sun. Just eight weeks of this, she sighed. 

“Need some help with that?” a blonde boy asked her as she tried to gracefully carry her two suitcases up the creaky wooden steps to her cabin. 

“No, thanks,” she was quick to dismiss him. The last thing she needed was a knight in shining armor, or rather, a muscle tee and cargo shorts. 

“Hey, challenge by choice right?” 

“What?” 

“Challenge by choice,” he repeated. “Something the counselors here say to the kids. Are you new?” 

“Yeah, is it that obvious?” 

“Well, considering you’re trying to lug up two suitcases at once into the wrong cabin, yeah, it kind of is.” 

Y/N quickly glanced up at the sign above the door. Shit, it was the wrong cabin. Not off to a great start.

“Can I help you now?” the boy asked.

She gave in, “Yeah, sure, fine.” 

“I’m JJ, by the way.” 

“Y/N.” 

“Y/N, that’s a pretty name.” 

“Okay, JJ, can you please just help me carry this to the right cabin?” 

After settling down in the right cabin and unpacking, Y/N finally had a chance to catch her breath. She pulled out the itinerary for the next day and audibly groaned. The day was packed with activities: ziplining, archery, climbing wall, and hiking. But it wasn’t all the outdoor happenings that caused her to groan, it was the fact that the returning counselors were being paired with up a new one as their “mentee.” And luck behold it, she had gotten JJ. 

She crashed down onto her bed, mentally preparing herself to deal with him tomorrow. 

When she woke, it wasn’t to the sound of her usual alarm, but the jarring blow of an airhorn which had to have been right outside her window. 

Y/N pulled herself out of bed, tousled hair and all, to see who had interrupted her precious sleep. Pulling the thin curtains aside, she saw nothing but the glaring sun before her eyes adjusted to the blonde boy on her front steps. 

“How are you literally everywhere all the time?” she said, opening her door. 

“Good morning, gorgeous!” JJ turned around, “Oh, we’ll work on that last part.” 

Offended, Y/N quickly adjusted her hair. 

“I’m just kidding!” he said. “But to answer your initial question, that’s literally in my job description.” 

“To be super annoying and ignore my personal space?” 

“Princess, it’s a summer camp. There is no such thing as that here.” 

“Okay, don’t call me that. And second, why are you up so early? I thought we weren’t supposed to meet until 11 am.” 

“It’s 10 am,” he said matter-of-factly. 

“Yes, and?” 

“Won’t it take you like an hour to get ready?”

He was right. She must’ve slept through her original 9 am alarm or put it on snooze while half-awake. She was going to be late if she didn’t start getting ready right now. 

Without saying anything, she slammed the door shut and proceeded to put herself together. JJ smirked on the other side of the door, knowing that he had won this round. 

The first activity of the day was archery, something Y/N happened to be terrible at. Her Hunger Games obsession in middle school was unfortunately not enough for her to enroll in archery lessons. 

“Okay, so what you’re gonna want to do is line yourself up with the target,” JJ was explaining. 

“Got it, now what?”

“Alright, now place your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your back straight.”

Y/N was losing confidence in herself. “I look ridiculous.” 

“No, you don’t. Come on, now point your bow down and put the arrow in the string.” 

“Like this?”

“Yes, perfect! Now use three fingers to lightly hold the arrow away from the string. Then you’re gonna point toward the target again.” 

Y/N was getting more nervous. What if she missed terribly and hit someone? She had already embarrassed herself several times in front of the boy and didn’t need another reason to be made fun of. 

“Pull the string back, aim, and release,” JJ said, snapping her out of her thoughts. 

Quickly, she did just that. And she hit it. 

Granted, not the center of the target, but at least she was on the board. 

“There you go! Not bad for your first try!” JJ put his hand up for a high five, which Y/N gave into. “Let’s practice that a few more times then you can teach the kids.”

“Teach the kids?” 

“Yeah, did you forget you’re a counselor?” 

“No, I just thought I would get more time to learn, that’s all.” 

“Listen, if you want private lessons I’ll be happy to provide that for you, but for now, this is all the practice you’re gonna get.” 

Y/N groaned at his comment, lightly pushing him away. She felt her hand lingering on his chest for a moment, and his heartbeat picking up. 

“Ahem,” JJ cleared his throat, pulling them both out of their heads. 

“Sorry about that.” 

“Don’t be, let’s just get back to work.” 

Y/N and JJ spent the remainder of the hour lining up shots and practicing. She was getting significantly better, considering she had barely even picked up a bow and arrow prior to this. JJ hit the center nearly every time, but Y/N was slowly proving to be a match for him.

By the time the kids showed up, Y/N was able to guide them on her own and most of her campers were able to hit the target, or get very close. They even split themselves into two teams and made it a competition to see who would get the most points. JJ won, but it was a really close game. 

Later that night, Y/N found herself sitting by the campfire next to JJ, who had visibly mellowed out since the morning. His high energy was too much for her at 10 am, but she could get used to this calm JJ. 

“So, how was your first day?” he asked, nudging her shoulder with his own. 

“Honestly, Maybank. Not that bad.” 

“Maybank? Oh, we’re on a last name basis now, Y/L/N?” 

“I guess we are, I think it’s more professional, don’t you?” she smiled. 

“Who said I want to keep this relationship professional?” 

“Who said anything about a relationship?” 

“I don’t know, your hand on my chest earlier didn’t mean anything?”

Y/N blushed, not expecting him to bring it up again so soon. 

“That’s what I thought,” he smirked when she didn’t respond. 

She went to push him away again, but for fear that they would end up in the same situation as this morning, she held back. Instead, she said, “It’s not as bad here as I thought it would be.” 

“Of course not, I’m here.” 

“Ughh, how many more weeks of this?” 

“Just 55 more days, princess.” 

She allowed him to lean into her side as they sat and watched the flames sparking in front of them. This was going to be a long summer.

[romancecroc]

Circles (part 2) - Jason x MC

(Ao3 version) (part 1) (part 3) (part 4) (part 5) (part 6) (part 7)

Almost 2 months had passed.

Ysaline had been so busy with work, she could barely keep track of time. Moving into a new place didn´t make it easier either, with plenty to do.

The closet fell apart for the 3rd time. Sliding doors sounded like a nice thing to have. Building it yourself? She regrated every single coin spent on it.

Tasha was dropping in regularly – Ysaline had a feeling she would become a regular soon, considering the other options. Their mother was nice, but she´d often just drop in an out due to her travels. Staying in that home alone was fun at time, but also lonely.

And staying at their fathers… that was a topic for another time.

“Here, let me help.” Tasha said, holding one of the sliding doors upright.

Ysaline sighed, grabbing the equipment another time.

Together, they tried attaching the sliding door to the rest of the wardrobe. And failed spectacularly, leading to a sharp edge cutting Tasha´s hand.

“Shit!” she cursed, immediately dropping the sliding door.

Ysaline barely managed to catch it, before placing it on the ground.

“Oh no, are you alright?” Ysaline asked, quickly grabbing Tasha´s hand.

It wasn´t too deep. But right at the palm of her hand. Writing would be inconvenient until it heals.

“Here, let me grab something…” Ysaline continued, searching for some disinfection sprays and something to cover it up with.

“Well, at least now work won´t give me any boring tasks. At least nothing with documenting.” Tasha commented with a smirk.

Work? What was she talking about?

“Boring tasks? Where are you going?” Ysaline asked surprised, spraying the cut with some disinfection.

“Ow! Ugh.. sorry, it stings. I told you a few days ago! You never listen to me…” Tasha responded, rolling her eyes.

Ysaline felt a little guilty, quickly trying to remember any conversations from the past few days. Ah! Oh… of course.

“Sorry, sorry… I was just being slow. I remember.”

Tasha was going to spend her summer doing another internship. Of course, at Goldreamz again. What did she say again? After she sent them an email, just to inquire, they immediately sent her a contract back.

Convenient.

But not worthy of investigation.

The silence between them started to become very loud.

“So… Any message you´d like me to drop?” Tasha asked.

Was she being cheeky?

“Nope.”

Ysaline finished wrapping Tasha´s hand with a bandage. Overkill for the small wound, but just in case.

“Okay. And what do I say if somebody asks about you?”

Ysaline was now staring at her sister. The kind of don´t get smart with me look. All she got in response for a wicked grin.

“It´s been 2 months.”

“So? In the Notebook, they waited for a year and-“

“Well, I did not get any letters.”

“But what if you just didn´t receive them!”

“Alright, out with you.”

Tasha continued listing movie examples out loud, but Ysaline pushed her out in time. Even with a closed door, Tasha´s voice was echoing across the hallway.

Once silence return, Ysaline let out a loud sigh and returned to her tasks.

Her sister really loved this situation. Is there someone she is interested in? She barely talks about boys…

She shook her head and glanced at the apartment. The kitchen was almost done. The fridge in place. But things like tables and chairs were missing. The living room only had a TV and some pillows on the floor.

The bedroom had at least a bed, but the closet…

One thing at a time.

---

“Good morning, Tasha!”

Danica was waving her hands, as Tasha entered the company´s lobby. Her tasks would not be so different than last time.

Basically, help Danica with anything she needs. Whether it is researching a certain topic or calling up specific people.

It was not super exciting by itself, but she did enjoy the end results. They would often take her to the events organised by Goldreams, so she could see how each tasks leads to the visible outcome.

Perhaps she should ask her sister more about her job. Or request invites to events organized by Ysaline.

“Morning. What´s going on? Everybody seems to be in a rush.” Tasha noted, observing people hurrying along.

“Ahaha, they are trying to get noticed by working extra hard. There is a big event on the horizon, so everybody wants to get involved. I can feel it!” she explained, making wavy hand gestures next to her head.

“Oh? Is the deal already signed?”

“Not yet. As usual, the client will take a look around. Investigate all the options. But in the end, they´ll realise that were the best!”

Her confidence was intoxicating. Not in an arrogant way. She was just purely enjoying her craft.

“That´s cool. Sooo what do you have for me today?” Tasha asked, raising her hands in case there are documents to sort through.

That´s when Danica noticed her hand.

“Oh! What happened?” she asked, gently pulling Tasha´s hand closer to investigate.

“Nothing bad. Just my sister and her sliding doors…”

Tasha could not help but eyeroll as she was recalling the experience.

She had told Ysaline so many times to just call somebody from work. They would surely help her.

Especially Roy. He always seemed eager to jump in and help Ysaline with anything.

And she meant anything.

Something about him rubbed Tasha the wrong way. But him helping out was better than her sister getting squashed by a sliding door.

Danica nodded and gave her some errands to complete instead. Scanning some outdated documents and saving them in the system. Resupplying prints with paper. Helping visitors find their way around.

She hadn´t run into Jason yet. But she was about to walk into his office anyway. Danica was looking for a USB, that was probably still on his desk.

The door was open, but she knocked anyway. Jason was on his desk, looking up and giving Tasha a nod.

“Hey boss. Have you seen Danica´s USB?” Tasha asked

Jason took a few seconds to answer.

“Cupboard on the left. Second drawer.”

Her previous internship didn´t give her a lot of insight regarding the actual work. But it did teacher her to read people´s moods.

Jason was currently focused. But there was also a slight annoyance. Irritation?

She didn´t look at him too long to find out.

Finding the USB was more important.

“What happened to your hand?” Jason asked, without looking up.

“Sliding doors.” Tasha answered.

She opened the drawer he hinted at. The USB was inside.

Nice.

Jason was still between papers, but finally dropped his pen.

He leaned back into his chair and stared at the ceiling.

Then looked over to Tasha, crossing his arms.

There was a question.

She could tell.

But was he going to ask?

The irritation in his eyes was visible again. Not at her. But at something.

Tasha smiled, more to herself.

If her gut was right, her boss and her sisters were truly sharing one braincell.

“Yea, it´s really bad.” Tasha continued, stretching out her bandaged hand. Her voice almost too dramatic.

Now she had Jason´s attention. His brows raised.

“Have you ever built a closed with a sliding door? A nightmare to do yourself.” She continued.

“I don´t see why you need to do it alone.” He responded. Almost regretting the conversation, shaking his head.

“Yea, that´s what I keep telling my sister! Like, that thing fell apart 3 times on her! Every time I enter her new apartment I wonder where I´ll find her. Squashed under a door? Stabbed by a flying nail?”

She might have gone too far.

Jason caught on.

“… I am sure her coworkers would be happy to help.” He responded.

Tasha was slightly disappointed by his reaction.

So she went for the final hit.

“I´ll pass it on. Between you and me, I am pretty sure Roy has a thing for my sister. It´ll be so annoying to see his happy face when she asked him-“

“I´m sure he will be.”

That was her cue to leave.

Sorry sis, I tried.

Tasha waved goodbye and quickly exited his office. USB in hand.

After a few minutes, Danica appeared a little worried.

“What´s wrong?” Tasha asked, handing her the UBS.

“Jason´s pissed. Like suuuper pissed. He didn´t make the best impression when the client called a few minutes ago… but hopefully the proposal will speak for itself.” She said.

Danica caught Tasha biting her lip.

“What. You know something!” Danica said, looking around.

“Tell me.”

Now they were whispering.

“Nothing. I just talked about my sister and-“

“Shit.” Danica responded with a sigh.

“What do you mean?”

“I did the same mistake a while ago. It was a company event, it was a relaxed atmosphere… I might have had a few drinks already. And then I asked him about what happened. The day she visited, almost 2 months ago.”

Danica had pulled Tasha into a meeting room, just to make sure the pissed off boss wasn´t listening in.

“She never told me what they talked about.” Tasha confessed.

“Well, I never got it out of him either. He just started at me and said no. Not knowing is killing me.” Danica finally confessed.

After all, she was known for always being on top of things. Event topics involving Jason.

Even the love of her cats couldn´t help here.

“I learned my lesson. I won´t bring up my sister again and risk getting fired.” Tasha mumbled, but Danica was patting her shoulder.

“Now that would be petty.”

“Which they both are.”

Danica couldn’t help but agree.

After a few more rounds of gossip, they split up to continue their work.

At one point, Tasha got a text message from her sister. Specifically if she can buy some tape on the way home.

She quickly stopped in a hallway to respond, but it t didn´t take long until their text messages turned into an argument.

Bring tape please.

Did you ask your coworkers for help?

No.

Why???

I have a feeling it´ll work this time!

At least wait until I am home.

Annoyed, Tasha turned her phone off. And noticed by the reflection, that Jason was standing next to her.

They both looked at each other silently.

“I am guessing there will be another… sliding door attempt.” He said with a dry tone.

“Do you usually hover over people to read their text messages?”

He chuckled.

“You brought the topic up. I was just paying attention to anything related to it.” He said, crossing arms again.

He wasn´t bad. Or evil. Annoying for sure.

What bothered Tasha the most, were the similarities. There is something they both wanted but too proud to say out loud.

They truly were a match made in heaven.

“May I speak plainly, boss?” Tasha finally said.

Jason looked around, but nobody was present. He nodded towards Tasha.

“After work, I will go to my sister´s place. To help her. You can too, you know.”

“I don´t think your sister would like that.”

“I think I know my sister better than you, thanks.”

He didn´t respond to that. It wasn´t an argument he would win.

“I shouldn´t be having this conversation with you.” Jason finally said, getting ready to leave.

“But you started… Ugh, Highfield Street 27. 2nd floor!” Tasha yelled behind him.

And then he was gone.

No telling if that worked or not.

---

Ysaline was still putting together the kitchen table by the time it became dark outside.

She would have finished a lot more, were she not distracted.

How was Tasha´s day going?

Were they nice to her?

…Did anybody ask about me?

The doorbell rang and she jumped up. Hopefully Tasha bought the tape. It would at least hold some thing together, temporarily.

When she opened the door, she saw Tasha holding out the tape. But she looked guilty.

“What is it? What did you do.” Ysaline asked, dragging her inside.

“Don´t be mad.” Tasha responded.

“What do you mean? Why???” Ysaline continued, grabbing Tasha´s shoulders.

She then noticed that Tasha was holding something else.

A proper toolbox.  Nothing like the items she took from her mother´s place.

She eyes her sister, who quickly passed her the toolbox and then hurried to the bathroom.

Ysaline went to the kitchen counter to open it.

Inside were various drills, equipment’s, but also hand drawn images on how to complete specific tasks. Building a chair. Table.

Closet with sliding doors.

Step by step with comments on what to watch out for.

The last page had a stick note at the bottom.

Good luck. And be careful.

Her face felt warm. She recognised his handwriting.

But it became secondary, when Tasha rejoined her.

“I think it´s sweet.” Tasha commented, slowly walking up to her sister.

Ysaline didn’t say anything at first.

“How?”

“Well, he asked about my hand. And I might have… overshared. A lot.” Tasha explained, raising her hands to show just how much.

Ysaline rolled her eyes. It was more her pride that was hurt.

She started at the hand drawn pictures again. Some words were underlined like do not hold upside down or if a nail gets stuck, it´s time to stop.

Ysaline smiled. Almost a giggle.

Jason had left work at one point, without telling anybody anything. By the time Tasha was done, he returned. Walked up to her and silently handed over the toolbox.

It was first when he walked away that he said, “She can keep it as long as she needs.”

But Tasha would keep that to herself.

Ysaline was tempted to send him a message. But it felt like breaking a rule.

“You’re working tomorrow as well?” Ysaline asked, thinking of an idea.

“Yea, but only this week. From next week on, only Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays.” Tasha explained.

Despite recently moving in, Ysaline found some sticky notes in a half-built drawer.

Without thinking about it much, she wrote: Thank you. The closet stands no chance against me.

She passed it on to her sister, not needing to explain what to do with it.

Tasha looked more excited than she did.

But it was time to finally tackle that closet door again.

So Ysaline took the papers and started following Jason´s instructions. Along with Tasha´s help.

[shoot-of-corruption]

PSA and Happy Holidays!

This is going to be a long post that explains my absence for a lengthy time and what is going to happen in the future.

If you are not interested in reading this, that is completely fine, I want to wish you a very merry holiday time and a happy new year.

For anybody else, who is interested in what is going on in my crazy life right now:

My wife has long since searched for a way to get into a good internship job. It was an absolute mammoth task, where we are currently live, because let's be honest, this Christian community here doesn't want us queer gals around and we feel this every day.

I have felt like an outcast for years, honestly since I was 8 years old and I was never able to make real lasting connections. Either I got used or manipulated and I simply felt like I never fit into this very religious community. My wife is experiencing even worse things, especially since she came out as trans.

Additionally we never found any really long lasting endurable jobs, some thing you want to do for more than just a few months or a year, because you simply want to survive and do something so you can have enough money.

I kind of gave up wanting to find something, since I hadn't gotten any acceptance here, but she was still fighting for a long time, but got nothing but vehement refusal, wherever she applied around here.

And. She. Got. The. JOB.

None of this made our respective depressions any better or like gave our "meaningless" lives any sparkle of hope and a goal to look forward to.

Both of us were close to giving up hope until she applied for a job a few hundred kilometers ago, away from the Christian community we currently live in. She wanted to work with museums or literature and thus applied for an internship as a book saleswoman for a very renowned book store.

Both of us were on cloud nine, we honestly still are and luckily we have been saving some money already! Currently we saved up 1250€, because we have quite a long move before us and also a kind of insecure situation, where we have to find a new home and I also need to get together a smooth change into a new job.

So what I am here to ask for is a bit of your help actually. We are going to open a gofundme page, which I will insert here at a later time and I also have a paypal ( xxsangnoirexx@gmail.com ) and Ko-Fi page - but not without offering you a little something in return.

On my own two pages, you will always be able to donate a little something, and in return, I will offer you an art piece to make up for your nice gesture and help for our new life!

You do not have to leave any money there, it is holiday time and a lot of people don't have enough to spare and I completely accept this.

We need to move around the middle of June next year and I have an offer to make for everybody, who wants to donate.

If you have read to this point, I want to thank you very much, both of us are scared but also very excited for this new change! I also might have a new job opportunity for a home office job, which will help me with less standing and bad posture work, plus regenerate some issues that my skin has with the cold-

Everyone, who donates, will be allowed to ask for an art piece, FREE OF FURTHER CHARGE, of course it will be something tailored to your donation, but I will be completely willing to draw your OCs, I will take into account wishes or references, etc.

As long as I have no problems with drawing your wishes (which I will tell you), I definitely will make up for your generosity!

Finally something is going to go right!!!

All in all, it is just an amazing opportunity and I am extremely excited to FINALLY move on. It is amazing that I have been here for so long and you guys are still with me, here - and now, FINALLY after years of depression and almost no movement, this happens!

I honestly can barely contain my joy, I am practically jittering with happiness and nerves.

Thank all of you for staying here with me and I hope your holidays will be just as joyous as mine!

I love you all! Stay crispy!

[theloganator101]

I'm not sure if I did an ask about this, or if you did a write up about it, but isn't funny how we never hear what exactly makes UA such a prestigious school?

I did some research on Japan's 10th grade public high school education, and from what little we see of their classes, it matches it. It's nothing especially advanced or rigerous, so we can cross academics off the list. The only thing we know about extracurricular activities is that Hero Course students aren't allowed to participate in them, so it can't be that either.

We only know for sure that All Might and Endeavor are UA graduates. What about other highly ranked heroes on the Billboard (excluding Hawks and Mirko, who were explicitly stated to have not gone to any heroics schools)? This arguement holds some weight - that it's based on their alumni, but not really.

What extra advantages does UA have over other schools like Shiketsu or Ketsubutsu? Do they have Sports Festivals or internships, too? What about Work-Studies? What's the passing rate of those who take the Provisional Licensing Exam amongst the hero schools?

And this isn't even counting all of the bad press UA has racked up through the series.

This is something I've been trying to think about myself as my dad was a high school teacher himself, but when you try to think of UA as an actual school it doesn't make a lick of sense.

Even though it's meant to be the main setting of the series most of the time, we hardly get any chances to see how it functions as a school, how it's different from regular schools, or why it's even considered the number one hero school in Japan.

And I know I've ranted on this before, but I hate how they literally work their students to the ground and forcing them to be mini adults instead of allowing them to be fucking teenagers when they can. Which I get, it's an elite school where the work is gonna be hard. But I'm sure other elite schools ALLOW their students to breathe and have time for their hobbies and interests so they're not burned out and numb when doing their work!

SPEAKING OF HOBBIES AND INTERESTS!!

Why doesn't UA have any school clubs or extracurricular activities? Wouldn't that be a good thing for the hero students to do so in case they decide doing hero work is not their thing, they would have something to fall back on and not be fucked in the job department?

Is heroics all that this school cares about? Because apparently fuck the other departments and what they do! If they can't fight then they are not important! It would've been nice to see how they fair compared to the heroics class, how they contribute to society when they graduate and what they actually think of 1-A instead of the whole hate wagon that was going on.

UA being a horrible school could've made for some good story telling how it's a good school ON PAPER but in practice their flaws really show. Because you have teachers that don't seem to teach anything, show clear favoritism and biases against students, victim blame and punish the wrong people while the true aggressors go Scot free.

It would've been refreshing to see people in the story call UA out for wanting to put their reputation and image first before the safety and well being of their students, how it utterly failed most of their students while praising the ones that would probably go on to abuse their power and continue the cycle of being full of corrupted heroes.

[simslegacy5083]

Today's (2/14/2025) Episode: Sharing The Plan

As Luigi and his family left the release party to begin his Black and White bash they were stopped by a nervous Elyse. “Aunt Noemi, Uncle Lu, can you come into the sitting room for a minute? My parents are already there and there’s something Skye and I need to talk to all of you about.”

As xir parents went on ahead, saying their hellos to their old friends and getting seated, Skye grabbed Elyse’s hands, squeezing tightly “I’m nervous” xe whispered “I don’t know about your parents but I’m sure mine aren’t going to like this.”

She squeezed back, smiling up at xem. “No matter what happens we’ll figure it out.” she promised “We have a plan. Besides, they love you. Even if they’re mad at first, I’m sure they’ll come around.”

The teens went to stand at the front of the room, facing their elders. They’d chatted about this ahead of time and Elyse, knowing hers would be the easier conversation, went first. “Mom, dad, I’ve been thinking a lot about my future, and I’ve decided not to go to University. As soon as I age up, I’m going to find a little place of my own, make money selling my art.”

“OK…” Isra began, glancing at her husband. “Honestly, honey, we never really thought you’d want to pursue higher education. You’ve always been more interested in your hobbies than your schoolwork. Neither your father or I went to university, and we did just fine. I’m sure you will to.”

Noemi didn’t miss that her own child continued looking nervous as Elyse sighed with relief. “Skye…” she asked warily “What does all this have to do with you?”

“Well…” Skye told her “Elyse and I saw the romance guru at the festival, and he said… he thought…”

Xe trailed off before changing gears and trying again. “What I’m trying to say is, I’ve decided not to go to University either. I just accepted an internship at The Times and Mr. Haas thinks if I do well, it will probably lead to a position as a reporter there.” Xe took a breath. “That’s a job I’ll start right after high school. As soon as I age up Elyse and I are going to move in together and begin both of our careers, without college.”

Noemi immediately burst out “Skye, this is insane! Your father and I have told you how much better University will prepare you for adult life!”

“Do you even know how you’re going to establish yourself as a painter?” she turned back towards Elyse.

When the young sim defiantly began explaining “I’ll start out cleaning pallets at an art studio if I have to, selling my original work on…” Noemi cut her off angrily. “What about where you’re going to live? Entry level jobs won’t afford you any kind of reasonable rent.”

“Elyse and I don’t need anything fancy” Skye jumped in, “as long as we have each other, that’s all that matters.”

“You say that now” Noemi ground out “but you have NO idea how hard it is. Every time you two have come up with some “plan” its ends in disaster and Skye is the one who gets hurt. She never means for anything bad to happen, but that doesn’t stop it from happening again and again!”

Noemi rose, turning towards Isra and Rhys “I love you guys, and I care about your daughter, but she’s a terrible partner for Skye. I can’t sit here and listen to this any longer, I’m sorry.” She then looked at Skye, a mix of love, worry, and sadness marring her features “You mean the world to me, and I am BEGGING you to reconsider this decision, for your own happiness and well being.” With that she turned and walked out of the room.

Skye’s eyes were filled with tears, but xir voice was steely as xe shouted at xir mother’s retreating back “How DARE you say Elyse and I aren’t a good match!? She MAKES me happy! We love each other and we’re old enough to make our own decisions – you can’t stop us!”

“Come on Elyse” xe turned to her, fury in xir eyes “We’re going to the kitchen, I’m baking us a cake, and we’re aging up NOW. Our new life together is going to start TONIGHT.” As xe stormed out Elyse shot the remaining adults a worried look before turning to hurry after xem.

The three remaining sims sat in stunned silence for a moment “What a way to begin my party” Luigi finally chuckled dryly before becoming serious “I’m sorry you had to see that” he told Isra and Rhys “I’m going to go try and talk Skye out of doing anything rash. Xe needs to finish out xir final semester of High School more than ever if those two are determined to launch their careers without a college degree.”

“I’ll come with you,” Rhys told him “distract Elyse so you two can have some privacy.”

“I’ll go look for Noemi” Isra volunteered “I know she cares for both our babies, and I understand why she’s worried after everything that’s happened.”

“Thanks” Luigi sighed “You guys are great friends. Text me when you find her, Isra, and I’ll come join you as soon as I can.”

With that the three old friends split up to find their volatile loved ones and, hopefully, enact some successful damage control upon this wild fiasco.

View The Full Story of My Not So Berry Challenge Here

[animesmolbean]

Try Defying Gravity

A Twisters fanfiction

Author's Note: Finally! Chapter 2! We're getting into it now! I can't wait to write the rest of the story!

Hope you enjoy the chapter! ♥️

Chapter 2: Job Search in Oklahoma

Five years laters….

(Your Name) sat at her laptop in her room, at her family's home in Chicago, Illinois; dressed in light gray sweatpants and sweatshirt combo.

She was looking at her emails to see if there were any jobs she was interviewed for, accepted her, or if more companies emailed her expressing interest.

She recently graduated from a college in Illinois in Meteorology and was now looking for a job. After she graduated, she decided to stay with her parents until she found a stable job and could afford a place of her own. They didn't mind, especially after what happened.

It's been five years. Five years since the tragic incident. The day she lost her closest friends to a tornado. All because they all wanted to help her face her fears.

She sniffled softly at the memory. Seeing all that destruction, seeing the mangled car. Seeing the blood and hearing a police car approaching her as she stood, frozen in horror and sadness.

Shaking her head, she searched through her emails some more. Then, she found a starred conversation between her and someone she remembered talking to some time ago.

Her name was Kate. She was a sweet and quiet girl from Oklahoma she met when her college visited New York City to meet up with the college Kate was in. The two became immediate friends and exchanged phone numbers and emails.

The email in particular, was a random one from Kate, telling her about some crazy event that happened at her job. Something about how a coworker jumpscared another and made him literally jump out of his seat, and she got it on camera. The video clip made (Your Name) laugh, and she starred it in her inbox.

Just then, an email notification came up in her inbox. She crossed up to it and saw the title;

‘Internship volunteers needed for StormPAR’

Immediately, she clicked on it to see the details.

The email states that they need people who either have experience or no experience to join them in Oklahoma. There's a storm surge unlike any other happening that week, and they need all the help they can get. They will pay for everything, including any form of transportation needed to get to Oklahoma.

Even though it was an internship, (Your Name) knew that it could lead to being hired by the same company if they really liked you.

But then the anxiety creeped in. This would happen during a storm surge. Would she be in the action or just watching? The message didn't specify.

Just then, her mother came in and looked at the email.

“You should take it, honey. This could be your chance.”

(Your Name) looked at her mother and stood up from her chair. “I don't know, Mom.” She muttered.

The mother placed her hands on her daughter's cheeks, holding her head to look at her. “Come on, pumpkin. This is your chance. Your chance to get out there and do what you were made to do. Your chance to fly free and defy gravity.”

At that last sentence, (Your Name) couldn't help but laugh softly. It was something she said as a kid when she saw Wicked for the first time. She told her Mom she wanted to be like Elphaba and defy gravity one day.

With that encouragement, (Your Name) nodded. “Okay, mommy. I'll do it.” Her mom smiled and kissed her daughter's forehead. “That's my brave little baby.”

🌀🌪🍃

Within the next two days, (Your Name) prepared for her flight to Oklahoma. She packed nice clothes and casual clothes and packed any other necessities she might need. She was dressed in a light blue dress shirt, black thin dress pants, and a personal touch; black combat boots with a strap over the curve by the front of the boots. She tied her hair into a ponytail and put on a bit of makeup.

Her parents drove her to the airport an hour before her flight would leave. The family exchanged farewells, hugs, and kisses before (Your Name) separated and headed to where she needed to go. As she did, her mother and father couldn't help but smile at their daughter.

After finding her place, she sat down and double checked her bags to make sure everything was in place before the call for her flight was announced. She showed her ticket and got onto the plane. She sat down at the window and pretty soon, she was soft to Oklahoma.

Around an hour and a half later, the long awaited announcement came; they had arrived in Oklahoma and would be landing shortly.

Once the plane had landed, everyone got off the plane to go to their respective place. (Your Name) dragged her suitcase behind her as she looked for anyone there representing Storm Par.

Luckily, in the crowd of people she saw someone holding up a sign that said her last name on it.

She excused herself as she shuffled around people to get to where she needed to go. Once she got through the crowd, she saw a man with dark curly hair and tanned skin, wearing what she assumed was StormPAR's uniform.

“Welcome, (Your Name)(Last Name). My name's Javi, and I'll be taking you to where you need to be.” The man reached his hand out for a shake, which (Your Name) eagerly takes, shaking it.

“Thank you Javi. And thank you again for accepting me.”

“It's no trouble, (Your Name). Now come on. Let's get going. We'll take a brief stop to the motel we're staying at so you can drop your stuff off, then we'll head on over to the meeting place.”

(Your Name) nodded as she followed Javi to the company car. But paused when she recognized someone in the car.

“Kate?!”

The girl turned her head and gasped when she saw the (Hair Color) haired girl. “(Your Name)?!”

Kate got out of the car and went to hug the girl. “Oh my God. You're the one who took the internship? This is great!”

“Yeah! Thought it would be a great opportunity.” (Your Name) said.

“So this is the girl you mentioned earlier?” Javi jumped in the conversation.

Kate nodded. “Yep.”

(Your Name) smiled a little. “You talk about me?” She playfully asked. “I hope it's all good things.”

Kate laughed. “Yep. All good things.”

After introductions were through, the three drove to where they were meeting. A gas station near an open field.

Javi introduced Kate to their team, then introduced (Your Name) as the intern. The workers in StormPAR all had PhDs from NASA, FEMA, NOAH, and WS. While, (Your Name) didn't have a PhD, she did have a Masters. As Javi got to one guy in particular, (Your Name) couldn't help but feel like there was an odd vibe with him. A man in a baseball cap. His name was Scott and already, she felt something off about him.

“Well, the girl's are only giving us a week, but while we have them,” Javi let out an excited holler, “it's going to be the wildest tornado week you've ever seen, fellas.”

“Yeah, and everybody with a ten dollar weather app knows it.” Scott spoke up, looking over the crowd of people around them, before glancing at the girls and Javi with a serious expression, “We got to stay ahead of the circus.”

Just then, a loud radio and horn honking could be heard as a giant, red pickup truck came barreling into the gas station. A guy with a camera had his head sticking out of the front passenger seat.

“Hey StormPAR. We're live on YouTube. Say something.” The guy said.

“Blow me , Boone.” One of the employees said rudely.

“Don't engage, don't engage.” Scott told the employee while addressing the others too.

The guy named Boone said, “Hey, smile man. Science is fun, right?”

“Who are they?” Kate asked.

“Chasers out of Arkansas.” Javi replied.

“Hillbillies with a YouTube channel.” Scott unnecessarily added.

The red pickup truck came to a stop, along with a giant white RV like van. The people at the station crowded the red pickup truck. Just then, someone came out of the pickup truck that had people clapping and recording on their phones. A man, dressed in a reddish brown short sleeve button shirt with pockets on the chest, a white cowboy hat and sunglasses. He had slightly tan skin, light stubble, and a bright white, charming smile.

The moment (Your Name) saw him, she felt her heart beat increase in speed a little as she watched, slightly slack jawed.

(Your Name) didn't even register what he said until he said, “And if you feel it,”

“Chase it!” The crowd of people yelled.

“I said if you feel it..”

“Chase it!”

Even one of the StormPAR employees joined the fans in the chant, even if he was a little late. A few of the others looked at him for his blunder.

Honestly, (Your Name) would've chanted the phrase too.

“That's Tyler Owens. He calls himself a tornado wrangler.” Javi said Kate.

“What does that even mean?”

“That's hot.”

Kate and Javi looked at (Your Name) with surprise. (Your Name) looked at the two. “What? It sounds badass to me.”

The two ignored the girl and went to talk about something else, presumably about the storms while (Your Name) turned her attention back to the YouTube storm chasers. They were handing out merchandise while Tyler was greeting fans. Tyler then briefly turned and saw the (Hair Color) haired girl looking at them. He tipped the top of his cowboy hat to her in greeting.

The action made the girl blush lightly, but she smiled and nodded her head back to him in greeting.

She then heard that they'll be heading out to the storm in a few minutes, diverting her focus back to the StormPAR team. She saw Kate walk out towards the field and decided to follow her. Kate gently smiled at her friend.

“Want to get a feel for the storm?” (Your Name) asked.

Kate nodded. “While there is a storm in the east, it's best to try to find the one where everything will fall into place. You know like-”

“Moisture, wide shear, instability, right?” (Your Name) finished Kate's sentence.

“Correct.” Kate nodded, smiling.

The two walk into the field. Kate picked up a dandelion and crushed it to see where the wind would take it. (Your Name) appreciated the old-school technique. She looked out towards the horizon.

“I'm going to go out further.” She told Kate.

“Okay.”

(Your Name) walked further into the field until she was about twenty feet away from Kate. Liking where she was at now, she closed her eyes and started to take deep breaths as she got a feel for the wind and the moisture.

As she did, she could distinctly hear Kate and a voice she soon recognized as Tyler’s talking. She couldn't exactly hear what they were saying but near the end of the conversation, she heard Tyler teasing Kate and Kate teasing right back, sounding more annoyed than Tyler’s somewhat playful tone.

She shook her head and went back to focusing on her task. She focused herself again and inhaled and exhaled softly as she leaned her head back a little. She felt the wind blow, the warm air hitting her face and ruffling her hair and clothes. It was almost calming.

“Getting a feel for the storm too?”

A sudden male voice broke her out of her state. She opened her eyes and turned her head to the left, seeing Tyler right there, looking out at the dark clouds in the horizon.

Shyly, (Your Name) replied, “Uh… y-yeah. I wanted to feel where the moisture was strongest. High moisture levels aid in the creation of twisters.”

“Old ways are better, huh?”

“Y-yeah. They can be.”

Tyler turned to look at the girl. “Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. Pardon me. I'm Tyler Owens.” He stuck his hand out for a shake. (Your Name) shyly reached her hand out and took his. “(Your Name) (Last Name).”

‘His hands… they feel… warm…. and slightly calloused. But still soft.’ She thought to herself.

“Nice to officially meet you. Where are you coming from, little lady?”

Their hands parted as (Your Name) replied, “Chicago.”

“You're not too far from here, huh, city girl?”

“Yeah.”

“Why are you out here and hanging out with the StormPAR goons?”

(Your Name) felt taken aback by the question, considering she doesn't see Kate as a goon or Javi either. But she decided to answer, “I'm their new intern. I took their internship offer.”

“So you're the intern they were just talking about? Overheard them talking about you.”

Just then, an older man with glasses jogged over to them. “Your team's ready for you.”

“Good. We're heading east.”

‘Funny. I think I heard Kate say that, too.’ (Your Name) thought to herself.

“Oh, Ben. This is StormPAR's intern we overheard about. (Your Name), this is Ben. He's a reporter. Hopefully, he'll write some good things about me.”

(Your Name) shook Ben's hand. Then, they can hear the StormPAR saying they were packing up to get ready. (Your Name) remembered she probably had to go with them as part of her internship. She goes to walk away, but hears Tyler's voice call out,

“Where you going, city girl?”

“Back to the van. They probably need me to participate.”

Tyler walked closer to the girl, a playful smile on his face. “No way. StormPAR ain't going to have you doing anything. Just probably having you sit back while they have all the fun. What they do isn't even fun. If you want to see a real show, come with me and my team.”

The offer took (Your Name) by surprise. She didn't want to get in trouble with StormPAR on her first day.

“I… I don't know. I might get in trouble if I don't go with them. I am their intern, and I should be learning from them.”

Tyler chuckled. “Trust me, dear. You won't be learning anything from them. I'll make it more fun for you.”

The nickname made her heart skip a beat. It was said so casually like it came naturally to Tyler. Still, she couldn't help the faint blush that blossomed onto her cheeks.

“Come on. Come with me.” Tyler urged encouragingly. The charming smile he gave her and his arm wrapping around her shoulders made her sigh in defeat. “All right.”

Tyler patted her arm and said as he escorted her to his red pickup truck, “Perfect. Come on, city girl. Let's wrangle ourselves a tornado.”

(Your Name) couldn't help but think,

‘What am I getting myself into?’

[marveloustimestwo]

Hi sweetie! Can I request something with Tony Stark? His obssession with y/n starts when they met cause she's a fan of his (not a creppy fan tho) and asked him for a hug?

Hi! Thank you for the request!

Warnings: Yandere themes

I think this scenario would be most likely to happen if it either happens repeatedly or it happens during an important moment in Tony's life.

You have to understand, Tony's a very famous person. He's got a lot of fans and meets a lot of people when out in public.

So for him to actually become obsessed with a fan, you'd have to leave an imprint.

For just a one-off interaction to actually spark his interest, I think it would have to stem from one of the big events in his life.

Such as when he gets back from his time with the Ten Rings. That moment in particular was a pivotal point in his life.

Getting back home after going through all of that, seeing a few fans, and then you show up and all you really do is give him a hug and a few words of admiration before backing off. . .

Well, Tony kind of latched onto that.

As I said, he's got a lot of fans. Most of them are all over him, trying to get as much attention from him as possible. A lot try to get something out of him. Whether that's an internship/job, money, love, or even just a picture or autograph.

So when you only ask him for a hug and some encouragement rather than something you could get money out of, it interests Tony, especially when it's done after he's gone through something.

After that, he'll look into you. It's not hard for him to find you all the tech he has. All he needs is a picture of your face, which is pretty easy once he gets ahold of the press pictures.

Tony will watch you for a while and see if you really are the kind person he ran into that first time. Once that proves to be true, you'll happen to get a really well-paying job at Stark Industries, and you'd really be a fool not to accept.

Rent is high in New York, especially MCU New York where everything is getting destroyed every other week.

That combined with you being a fan, it's not hard to accept the job, especially when you're promoted to Tony's personal assistant after only a week on the job.

And hey, even if you're a bit stubborn, Tony has a lot of connections and money. All he has to do is raise your rent bit by bit, as well as raise your salary for your new job.

He really is affection starved. As soon as you gave him that first bit of it, he'll latch onto it and not let go.

Asking for a hug really was a bad idea. But hey, at least you now have Tony fawning after you now!

[the-badger-mole]

The Nanny AU

So, I'm thinking about this The Nanny AU, and obviously it's not going to be a 1 to 1 adaptation because Fran and Katara are two very different characters. The question is how to get Katara into a place where she needs this job. Here's what I came up with.

Katara is most of the way through med school- like she's actively interviewing for internships. She's in a relationship with either Aang or Jet (I have my reasons for choosing either that would make this a longer post than I want, but feel free to ask if you're curious). She's been in this relationship since high school, and she's fairly certain a proposal is coming soon. The day comes and Katara's going back and forth in her head if she thinks she's ready to be married, and just as she waiting for the boyfriend to pop the question...he says he thinks they should start seeing other people. And that he's interested in something else.

The break up sends Katara on a spiral. She's questioning every decision she's made over the last decade of her life, and she realizes, among other things, that she didn't actually want to be a doctor anymore. She didn't even remember when she decided she wanted to be a doctor, it had just always been the goal since she could remember, but she hasn't enjoyed any of the work getting to this point. So she walks out one day mid interview, and quits med school. She ends up moving back home with her disappointed father and grandmother (grandpa Pakku is there, but like Morty, is never actually seen or heard). The first thing she does is look for a job so she can start paying back the loans on her incomplete education. While she's looking for something permanent, her grandmother sets her up as a door-to-door salesgirl. It's...less than ideal ("Seriously, Gran-Gran? An MLM? Who goes door-to-door anymore?"), but Katara doesn't have many immediate options, and she needs to pay her car note soon. So, off she goes into the ritziest neighborhood she can find, and knocks on the door of the Kaji home.

The family is in chaos. Zuko Kaji (who is either a theater producer like Max, or is a politician) is desperate to find a nanny for his three young children, who have just run off the last one, before a benefit party he's throwing in his home that evening. Katara is assumed to be there to interview, so she shrugs and says, "why not?" and interviews for the position. Zuko is dubious, but with no other options immediately available, he throws caution to the wind and hires Katara for the party.

And that's how she became the nanny!

[faulty-writes]

i’m baaaccckkkkkkk lol. could you write something about bakugo having a s/o (preferably f!) that is studying for forensic science (either crime scene photography or anthropology [the study of human bones] please! :D

[ Welcome back! Forensic science sounds awesome, I hope I did your request justice! ]

From the start, Katsuki supported your weird obsession with forensic science. He knew how it felt to be interested in a potential career, given that becoming a hero was once the most meaningful thing to him before he met you. He also understood that forensics could be used in heroics.

As part of some of your assignments, you had to analyze crime scene photos and determine what was right, wrong, or indifferent about them. "Huh? What the hell are you looking at!?" Some of the pictures were rather gruesome and Katsuki was naturally concerned. At the same time, he knew you weren't a frail girl and could handle looking at…the disturbing imagery.

You both showed interest in each other's fields over time. You'd ask Katsuki about his heroics, and what happened at his job that day. He would ask how your studies were coming along and what you had learned that day.

When you began your internship at The Police Force you learned the proper mechanics and principles of photographing a crime scene. After a while, Katsuki insisted on accompanying you. "Come on! It'll be a good bonding exercise damn it!" You weren't sure how true that was but allowed him to join you.

Some nights, when he returned from work, he was too tired to stand. When this happened, he'd sit beside you on the floor and help you review case files or discuss anthropological research.

Although many didn't know this, Katsuki was very creative and thoughtful. He'd always find some way to combine your forensic interest with your dates, at least the stay-at-home ones. This usually meant the two of you would watch a forensic or crime-related movie and discuss the clues and details you noticed throughout the movie that eventually led to the murder.

[asordinaryppl]

A3! Main Story: Part 4 - Act 13: Budding Spring - Episode 19: The Company's Freshman

Employee A: The interns are coming today, aren’t they? I heard the president’s son will be amongst them.

Employee B: I wonder what kind of kid he is?

Employee C: Seems like he’s an actor for a theater company.

Employee A: Is he coming for an internship 'cause he’s looking for a job?

Employee B: Is he that unpopular as an actor?

Employee C: Ahhh, he’s second gen so maybe we shouldn’t expect too much.

[Knocks on the door, then the door opens]

Masumi: Good morning.

Employee A: — G-Good morning.

Masumi: I’m Masumi Usui, I will be interning here starting today.

Masumi: I may bring some inconveniences along, but your guidance and support will be appreciated.

Employee B: W-We’ll be counting on you.

-

[Flashback starts]

Masumi: Suits? No way, they’re too stifling. 

Itaru: If you’re gonna do it right, start doing so from the first day. What will you do if you get hit with unnecessary debuffs because of your equipment?

Chikage: If you don’t have any, I can buy some from the place I usually buy mine from.

Masumi: I do have one…

Izumi: A suit, huh~ You’ll look adult-like in a flash if you wear one.

Masumi: I’ll wear one every day. And I’ll have breakfast here and then leave.

Tsuzuru: Didn’t we just finish saying it’ll be faster for you to get to work if you stay in the company dorm?

Izumi: There’s no point in you stopping by here every single morning.

Chikage: You have to pack plenty of shirts and neckties.

Itaru: Well, you can leave that to us senior office workers.

Masumi: … I don’t really care either way.

[Flashback ends]

-

Employee D: That’s all you need to know about the industry and our company. Now, we’ll get to group work—

Employee D: In order for you to grasp a basic understanding of what promotions are, we’ll have you experience everything, from the planning stage to the presentation stage.

Employee D: Here, I have prepared a fictitious company with a problem that needs solving.

Employee D: Using this as reference, each team needs to come up with a plan to solve this problem, and make a proposal in the form of a presentation.

Employee E: Feel free to ask any questions if there’s something you don’t understand.

-

Masumi: … After examining the data, we came to the conclusion that this is the best solution to the company’s problem.

Masumi: Does anyone have any questions?

Masumi: If not, then we would like to end this presentation here. We would be grateful if you took this into consideration.

Masumi: Thank you for your time.

Employee F: W-Woah…  He’s an actor, alright… He’s dignified and persuasive.

Employee E: He cleans up well, and he seems to be built kinda different, like he’s already mentally prepared to represent the company one day. (1)

Employee D: It makes me want to bring him to the presentation this afternoon.

-

Masumi: I’ve finished this.

Employee E: Eh, already? Did you read all of it?

Masumi: I’ve also compiled a report.

Employee E: … Then, can you use this software? And I’ll have you compile this material next.

Employee E: Once you’re done, you can take your lunch break.

Masumi: Understood.

Masumi: …

[Keyboard keys clicking]

-

Masumi: … *sigh*

Masumi: (I need him to confirm these… Is he in a meeting? I’ll do it later. He said I can take a break once I’m done, didn’t he.)

Masumi: (Since I have the chance to, I’ll compile promotional methods that can be used for theater companies and ask for more information about them.)

Masumi: (Now that I’m studying and getting the hang of them, the promotion plans the Director and Sakyo are always hunched over seem interesting.)

Masumi: (Looks like the other theater companies also think of various ways they can use to let people know of their activities.)

Masumi: (Even though all of these should’ve been familiar to me, I wasn’t aware of them at all. I feel like I’m looking at this world from a different lens.)

Masumi: (Oh, right…)

Curry has entered the chat

Masumi: (No one’s on… I don’t like being the first one to send something, but…)

Curry: thanks for the suits

previous episode | masterpost | next episode

NOTES:

(1) the original line (スーツもびしっとしてるし、なんかやっぱりいずれ会社を 背負って立つって心構えからして違うんですかね) drove both me and my friend/proofreader crazy to the point we convinced ourselves nothing other than 'built different' works

[shrinkthisviolet]

5 + headcanon au - what if Larry Butz hadn't been forgotten/flanderized by the writers and instead was in all three games in the Original Trilogy (and maybe even beyond?)

This got a little away from me 😅 under the cut:

Phoenix isn’t the only one struggling with Edgeworth’s disappearance/faked death, Larry is too. It’s easy to forget, but Larry was Edgeworth’s best friend too, they cared about each other! Larry would be extra pissed because of the toll it’s taking on Phoenix—when they see Edgeworth again, it’s Larry who takes the first swing, surprising pretty much everyone. It’s one of the few times Larry loses his temper…and Edgeworth is surprisingly contrite because of it (he wasn’t contrite enough in 2-4 for my taste, and tbh I think being yelled at by Larry of all people would shock anyone into being apologetic)

Larry is pretty intuitive when he wants to be. While Phoenix dismisses Ini as airheaded, Larry would realize there’s something else underneath that (he knows what it’s like to be underestimated intellectually…and how someone might use that to hide something). He probably wouldn’t figure it all out, but Phoenix would still remember Larry’s words at a crucial point when he’s putting the pieces together about Ini and Mimi

On that note, I’m also intrigued as to his dynamic with Engarde—by all respects, Engarde’s front is very similar to how AA1 Larry acts. That could make for some very interesting situations when the two are forced to interact. Maybe Larry befriends him and is heartbroken to learn that Engarde was just faking. Maybe he was a Nickel Samurai fan too, extra sting (he and Maya would also bond over that because iirc she was a Nickel Samurai fan too. Idk if Edgeworth was). Maybe Engarde makes some jabs at Larry, and Phoenix furiously defends Larry’s honor, and it doesn’t feel like “oh great, I have to defend Larry again”, but rather, “how dare this guy insult my friend”—because yeah, I think Phoenix and Larry would’ve gotten closer and really bonded by this point. They were already besties, but Larry’s also showing how smart/intuitive he is lately

Larry would be able to help in the search for Maya! Granted, Shelly de Killer could still easily give them the slip, but it’s one more person, and Larry being involved would ease Phoenix’s nerves even more. Larry might be clumsy and awkward, but he cares fiercely about the people he loves, and lately, he’s been showing just how sharp he really is

Larry leaves post-AA2, much like Maya did post-AA1. This is because he got an internship with the mysterious Elise Deauxnim, and he really wants to take it, as much as he also wants to stay and help. Phoenix, Maya, and even Gumshoe and Edgeworth, convince him to go. Now that Edgeworth’s back, Larry feels better about leaving

AA3 would still happen the same, but uh. Without Larry in 3-2 at the KB Security job. Just make a new character for that one. He reappears in 3-5, he’s on the path to becoming an artist. He takes the “apprentice name” of Laurice Deauxnim because it makes him sound smart (Phoenix insists Larry doesn’t need that, but Larry just shrugs. Deep down, though, he’s touched). I think 3-5 would play out…mostly the same? Minus…all of the weird flirting. Seriously, writers, what was up with the weird flirting?? (Speaking of which, he did that in AA1 too. At some point in this rewrite, he’d apologize to Maya for that. But anyway, moving on)

He’d be such an amazing uncle to Trucy! And unlike Maya and Edgeworth, he lives pretty steadily in Japanifornia, so he drops by often. Trucy calls him “Uncle Larry” and he dotes on her (in between trying to convince Phoenix to get his badge back, which is a losing conversation, but Larry has to try. Seeing Phoenix like this is killing him—what happened to his overly hopeful best friend who now won’t even take Maya and Edgeworth’s calls?)

He and Kristoph can’t stand each other. Larry doesn’t trust him, and Kristoph doesn’t like him (Larry doesn’t like him either, but he especially doesn’t trust him). Kristoph reminds him of an old girlfriend—patronizing, rude, more interested in correcting his manners and appearing kind than actually being so

He grates on Apollo at first, when they meet, but he’s also the most forthcoming, which Apollo appreciates. He tells Apollo everything he can—Phoenix swore Larry to secrecy about his plan, and Larry relays that apologetically to Apollo with a wince. He doesn’t like all this secrecy, especially doesn’t like how Phoenix is treating Apollo so dismissively, but…hey, Larry’s loyal before anything else, and Phoenix is still his best friend

He might like Klavier, the showmanship performer type seems up his alley. Plus, they’re both artists, just different kinds. Much like with Ini, Larry would recognize that Klavier’s hiding some very deep vulnerability in there…and he’d feel for the kid when his best friend, Daryan, is found guilty of smuggling and of coercing a boy to go along with his plan. Pairing that with Klavier’s brother being Kristoph (who has, at this point, been arrested for Zak’s murder)…yeah Larry’s pretty sure the kid’s nearing his breaking point

He’s not super clear on the tech know-how of the MASON system, but hey, anything to put Kristoph away for good—that fake ace was a lucky bluff, but there’s always a chance of it being overturned. Phoenix being crafty is kinda unsettling to Larry…but with Kristoph arrested, the effect on Phoenix is clear—he’s committed to retaking the bar, he smiles more, he’s more hopeful

Larry…doesn’t want to think about what Phoenix’s improved mental state means about how Kristoph was affecting Phoenix, but he has his theories (listen, he’s been in his fair share of relationships, okay? So if he’s more insistent on Phoenix going to therapy and even drives him to his sessions and prays that he’s talking about Kristoph with those therapists, if he slips Phoenix some resources about recovering from an abusive relationship…sue him, he can pick up on things and he’s worried)

Skipping ahead to SOJ: he’d play co-counsel for Apollo with Trucy’s case, and he’s kinda pissed at the other guy for throwing veiled insults at his niece. Who does this foreign peacock think he is exactly? Larry’s got half a mind to give him a piece of his mind, but Apollo just gives him that exhausted “please, Larry, don’t cause a scene” look that Phoenix always got, and…yeah, okay. Maybe when Trucy’s free (Nahyuta receives a surprisingly detailed portrait of himself with devil horns speaking the words “I hate children and I’m no fun”, which he never finds out the meaning of)

(And ofc also in SOJ, he’s not a weird flirty creep in the bonus case. SERIOUSLY writers WHY)

Not totally sure how he’d fit into DD, but I’m sure there are ways

I…did not expect to get so invested in this omg 😅 can someone write this fic??

send me an au and i’ll share 5+ headcanons about it!