#it would be nice to all show some support!!

[cpericardium]

This is the story of the time I interviewed at Ubisoft.

When I was a teenager, I became obsessed with the Bioshock series and got it into my head that I wanted to do game design for a living. I'd never seriously attempted it nor did I know exactly what it entailed, but how hard could it be? I gamed!! I had ideas!! I said this to my teacher during a what do you want to be when you grow up talk, and she said, "Oh! My sister works at Ubisoft Singapore. I'll get you an interview."

Emails were exchanged, and someone at the company arranged a "quick chat" with me a couple of weeks later. It was for a QA tester intern position, which I reasoned was sort of like game design. After all, in the Sims 3 it's one rung on the ladder to becoming a game developer. Also I didn't want to anger my teacher. She was quite volatile.

Round 1:

I'd never done a job interview before. I put on a nice blouse and pencil skirt and heels, nervously applied and reapplied makeup which I normally did not wear, and showed up at the office building an hour early. Then as I went up the elevator I realised they never said what room it was. I couldn't very well email to ask now. I'd look like an idiot!! Fuck!! So for an hour, I just skulked around outside various glass doors peering into offices hoping there would be some receptionist around to ask, but there was practically no one there. The email only said "let's have a quick chat at 2pm on x date".

I was about to slink home with my tail between my legs when the interviewer called at the scheduled time. It was a phone interview!!!!! He didn't say that!!!!! I found a dingy secluded stairwell. As if to taunt me, one of the first questions he asked was "have you ever been to the building?"

Me, through gritted teeth: yeah! actually I'm here right now, haha... to scope it out, you know... get a lay of the land..... it's really big... Lots of glass walls...

Him: oh that's nice.

I don't remember most of the questions, but I do know he asked me what my favourite games were. I said Undertale and Life is Strange (they had come out that year), but he'd never heard of them. Maybe I should've said Far Cry or something but what if he quizzed me on it?

Round 2:

I should not have made it to this round. I was coasting entirely on the goodwill of my teacher's sister, who was high up the chain. She interviewed me next. I think her only question was whether I would be okay working long gruelling hours with little support and no overtime.

Me, blissfully unaware of crunch culture being a massive human rights issue in the industry: bring it on!!

Her: what? 🤨

Then she ushered me into a room to take a pencil and paper test. While waiting earlier, I'd frantically googled and memorised a bunch of Ubisoft games, so I could answer the one asking me to list eight of them. I figured I could have gotten away with saying Assassin's Creed and adding a random number to the back though.

The biggest problem was on the other side of the paper: a diagram of a gaming controller asking me to label the buttons. Here's the thing. I'm a PC gamer. Always have been. At the time, my only experience with console gaming was playing Little Big Planet with my best friend when I was twelve, at her house. And I wasn't very good at it! I think I fundamentally lack the hand-eye coordination for console gaming, but that's just a guess because I can count on one hand the number of times I've ever used a controller. And I can count on one hand the number of controllers I have in that hand! It's zero! I knew the wiggly antennae were for movement and the buttons on the sides did esoteric things that people will yell at you to press during crucial moments, but that was it. I ended up labelling the buttons the shapes they were (circle button, triangle button, square button etc).

The interviewer came back into the room after about 15 minutes and said I now had an hour to play an unfinished level of Assassin's Creed, identify as many bugs as possible, and record them on a spreadsheet. And even though she set me up at a computer monitor, I still had to use a controller. Are you kidding me! This was the Victorian era Assassin's Creed. I had never played any AC games before, so I didn't know what were bugs and what were features. Was "can't jump" a bug? Was "invisible wall surrounding staircases"? What was the format and lingo you were supposed to use when recording bugs? I made no progress towards the quest at all (I did not understand it or who my character was), just wandered around and wrote down things I noticed and didn't like until time was up.

Anyway, that's the tale of how I didn't get a job I was woefully unprepared and underqualified for and in retrospect didn't want all that much. Maybe what I really wanted was to be... was Ayn Rand.

[llively-12]

School sucks! Right?

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Minatozaki Sana x female reader

Warnings: very fluffy, sappy date, mentions of the band weezer

Story: The date between Sana and Y/n.

Authors Note: Thanks for all the support and a big smooch to the person who requested a part 2. Sorry for the long wait, I had a lot of stuff to do the last few days. Also, this is a bit short. Anyways, enjoy the read♥︎

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Weezer plays through the headphones of Y/n as she gets ready for the date with Sana. A week has passed since the popular girl asked her out. Since then, Sana has only gotten clingier and more affectionate. She would walk you to class and kiss your cheek goodbye.

You were very shy in the beginning. Sana loved to tease you. She would often whisper stuff into your ear or playfully put her hand on your thigh. It was really only harmless stuff like this, but it filled your heart up. Nobody ever made the decision to act like that with you.

Sana made everything special. Walks around the town, calls late at night, doing homework together, or building Legos. She insisted on doing everything together. Every little task had to be a two person activity.

You look into your closet. Sweaters and band shirts meet your gaze. What does one wear to a date? You always see people overdressed when they are out on a date. Yet, this is a date to the aquarium. So, arriving in something fancy would be off-putting.

Sana always chose something cute. She often went for a skirt with either an oversized hoodie or a super cute top. The outfit mostly finished up with some nice shoes and a matching hair style.

She always made an effort to look cute for you. It was natural for her to dress like this. Your style usually consisted of looking like a five year old boy.

At last, you settle for something comfortable. What makes your outfit stand out is the whale shark shirt. It was a gift from one of your family members. You asked for it after getting a hyper fixation on sea life and underwater animals.

The song changes to 'motion picture soundtrack' by radiohead. The soft tones of the song keep you calm. You spent almost all of your free time listening to music. Organising playlists or creating them is like a job to you. Each music style or mood would get their own playlist.

Your walls even managed to get some pictures with Sana and you on them. Most of the pictures taken in the moment by Momo and Mina. Some others were set up with cute poses, well your poses mostly consisted of thumbs up.

There was one picture situated near your bed, which showed you and Sana sitting closely together. Sana kisses your cheek while your face is heating up. The picture was taken by Mina in the park. She was mostly third wheeling when the three of you hung out.

Things started to change after Sana confessed. You took your time with her and left your room more often. She would try and engage in your hobbies, and so did you. It is a bit cheesy if you think about it.

♡

You put a few songs on a playlist before leaving the house. Sana and you would meet up at the aquarium. The ride there is peaceful. You listen to music and admire the landscape. It is a longer way into the town since you live in the countryside.

On the way there you buy a bouquet of Sana's favourite flowers. She always appreciates the gifts that you give her. You nervously approach the aquarium. It was actually you that suggested the date at the aquarium. You always dreamed of going there with your lover.

Sana waits in front of the entrance. She looks around the crowd of people until her eyes meet yours. A smile forms on her face. She runs up to you and hugs you tightly. You almost fall over. Sana leans in and kisses your cheek.

"Hey honey." She smiles, and let's go of you after a few seconds. You hand her the flowers, and her face brightens up even more. You just love seeing her happy.

You take her hand and give her knuckles a shy kiss. A giggle erupts from both of you. Sana interwines your hands and leads you inside the aquarium.

♡

The two of you stroll through the darkened hallways of the aquarium. You read through all of the text and make mental notes on some fun facts. Sana takes pictures. Yet her camera roll keeps filling with pictures of you rather than the sea animals. She smiles softly while seeing you in your element.

At some point, you hand her one of your earbuds and turn on the playlist that you made this morning. You explain some of the artists to her and invite her to the playlist so that she can put in some songs herself.

You listen to music and admire the different fish. You two hold hands while silently enjoying the date. It's perfect for both of you. Sana can show her affection while you can enjoy the quiet atmosphere. Sana keeps stealing some glances at you. She basically has heart eyes.

After half an hour, the museum comes to an end. Only a few tanks and some dark corners are left. Sana smiles and pulls you into a quiet corner. She grins at you. Her face is tinted blue.

"What are we doing?" You ask curiously. Sana shushes you and lays her hand on your cheek. Her touch is soft and gentle. Her eyes fleet over to your lips. She looks up into your eyes and silently asks for permission. You nod slowly and close your eyes. You feel her lips on yours almost a few seconds later. The feeling is mind blowing.

The kiss has a gentleness that is unreal. Sana does not pressure you into anything. It's rather a shy peck at first, but after a moment of thinking, you lean in and kiss her two. Her mouth fits perfectly with yours. She holds your face while you hold onto her waist. Your bodies lean into each other and connect just in the right ways.

The blue hue adds the right amount of perfection to the moment. You don't stop kissing her until your lungs remind you that you need to breathe. She pulls away first and glances into your eyes. You smile and lean in for a few more pecks.

"That was awesome." You happily exclaim and smile with overjoy. Sana grins and laughs slightly at your sentence. It's just the amount of loser that she loves about you. She grabs your hand, and the two of you make your way towards the exit of the aquarium.

You stop by the souvenir shop. Different posters, shirts, and other merchandise fill up the walls. After careful consideration, Sana chooses two matching key chains. One whale shark for you and one for her. She even buys you a new poster for your room.

♡

The ride back to your hometown is mostly silent, a comfortable silence that neither of you want to disturb. The playlist keeps going with songs that match the situation. Right now, a song by the cocteau twins is playing. The sound lulls you into a state of comfort.

Sana's hand is still interwined with yours. Her thumb occasionally carrying your hand. It's a habit she often does when she is deep in thought.

She walks you back home and gives you a kiss before disappearing off to her own house. The date went by very well.

At home, you print out some pictures, Sana, and you took over the course of the date. You smile at some of the moments and grin at the silly poses she does. The pictures find their way on your wall, alongside the new poster Sana bought.

You send her a photo of the new additions to your wall. She responds quickly with a small text and a few kissing emojis. You smile and keep listening to your playlist while thinking about your day.

Your thoughts go back to the kiss Sana and you shared. A warm feeling spread through your body while you remind yourself of how soft her lips feel.

♡

Sana curls up in her bed with her pillow. She posts a story on her socials, sharing her cute date with you. Mina and Momo tease her for the sappy relationship stuff, which erupts in a playful banter between the trio. Sana feels so happy to have her friends and, of course, you.

Her wall is filled with pictures of friends and some photos of you that she took. She grins at the thought of how excited you looked throughout the date. She would give everything to see that face every day.

Also, her thoughts fall back to the kiss. She smiles and relives the memory in her head until her eyes close, and she falls asleep, dreaming of you and the many more dates you two would have.

♡

[4linos]

behind closed doors

kim seungmin x fem!reader

synopsis/request: When you overhear Seungmin's parents' doubts about your relationship, you’re left questioning if you can ever measure up to their expectations until Seungmin’s support reminds you of what truly matters.

wc: 1948

It was an evening you had both anticipated and dreaded: your first meeting with Seungmin's family. The entire day had been a mixture of excitement and nerves for you.

Seungmin's parents and sister were very important to him, and you naturally wanted to make a good impression. Everything had started off nicely enough. His parents were polite and respectable, while his sister was vibrant and charming. They all seemed really friendly, which relieved some of the stress in your chest. However, there was an underlying pressure to appear as if you were the right person for Seungmin in their eyes. You wanted to show them how serious you were about him and the relationship.

Seungmin was his usual self, loving and fun, in stark contrast to the formal atmosphere you were trying to navigate. As the night went on, you tried to figure out a balance between being yourself and what you believed his family would expect from someone in your position.

You laughed a little too loudly at his father's jokes, became overly passionate talking about unimportant topics, and may have made a couple too many silly remarks. You didn't want to be too stiff or too serious; it felt like you were trying to draw a careful balance between demonstrating that you were polite and truly interested in getting to know them, while still allowing your personality to peek through.

But then came the time when you excused yourself to go the bathroom. You'd noticed a strange tightening in your chest, an almost unbearable sensation of pressure. Maybe it was the food, or it could have been the nerves. Regardless, you needed a time to breathe.

As you stood in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to settle yourself down, you had no idea that the thin walls allowed you to hear faint sounds on the other side. You weren't trying to eavesdrop; your mind was busy with your own ideas. But when the conversation you overheard started, it was like a punch to the stomach.

The words came through clearly, and they stung more than you expected. Seungmin's mother spoke softly yet firmly. "Do you think she's the one, Seungmin?" she asked, somewhat hesitantly.

You felt your heart speed up as his father spoke out, his tone condemning, "She seems so playful, too much so, don't you think?" "She doesn't seem to take things seriously." That was hardly the worst of it.

His father went on to say, "Seungmin, she is not marriage material. You need someone more grounded, someone who knows what it means to settle down.

Your throat tightened as the words struck you harder than expected. You wanted to run back into the room and interrupt, but your legs felt heavy, and your mind was racing to find a way to mask your pain. His mother continued, almost sadly, "She doesn't seem to be serious about you or this relationship. She seems too... young, too carefree."

Seungmin's voice came next, quieter than the others and almost protective. "She's just not used to...this," he explained. "She's a little different from what you expect, but that doesn't mean she doesn't care." His father was obviously unconvinced. "It's more than just caring, Seungmin. "She lacks the necessary maturity."

Then, maybe recognizing just how difficult the topic was for her brother, Seungmin's sister interrupted with more than a hint of impatience. "Mom and Dad, stop! She's great. You don't understand. She's like me; she's lively, warm, and kind. I really like her.”

It was comforting to hear someone fight for you, even if it was Seungmin's sister. You stood motionless, the hurt of their words still echoing in your chest. But you didn't have the courage to confront them right away.

What could you possibly say?

You tried so hard, probably too hard, to appear mature and serious, but it didn't feel like it was enough.

You stood in the bathroom for a while longer, feeling the weight of their judgment. You had tried to be someone you thought they’d want, but in doing so, you realized that you hadn’t really been yourself. You didn’t know how to process the idea that, maybe, you weren’t seen as good enough for Seungmin not by his parents, at least.

When you finally returned to the room, you knew something had changed. The air felt different. Seungmin’s sister, noticing your quieter demeanor, tried to shift the atmosphere by asking you more about your hobbies. “Wait, you like pottery?” she asked with wide eyes, an obvious attempt to get you talking.

"Yeah," you said quietly, trying to keep a light tone, "I've been getting into it lately. It's sort of relaxing." Her eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm. "No way! I've been doing pottery for several months now! That’s great!" She gasped, smiled warmly, attempting to lighten the mood even further. "We should definitely do something together. It will be so much fun! I can teach you some tricks; I'm very good at it."

For a little while, the connection you had with his sister managed to reduce some of the nervousness. Still, you couldn't shake the feeling that you were being watched in ways you hadn't expected, and that something was wrong. Seungmin also noticed the shift in you. He kept looking at you, brow wrinkled, stare kind yet anxious. His eyes would wander between you and his parents, almost as if he sensed something was wrong, but he didn't push.

Dinner continued, but the lightness was gone. His sister made more small talk, and you tried to engage, but it felt forced. Every time you tried to speak, Seungmin's gaze lingered on you, looking for answers he had not asked for. His parents, while being respectful, seemed to fall into silence after their earlier talk. You couldn't help but feel like an outsider in a space that you had hoped would feel like home.

You told yourself that you were overreacting. Maybe it was all in your head. But every time Seungmin's parents spoke to you, you felt judged, as if you hadn't proven yourself in their eyes. His sister, sensing your uneasiness, attempted to change the subject as much as possible, but the shadow of their words hung over you.

When the evening drew to an end, Seungmin led you to the door. You were calmer, almost withdrawn. You didn't want him to know how much it hurt, yet the disappointment persisted. As you grabbed for the door handle, Seungmin's voice broke the silence, softer than normal.

"Are you alright? You've been unusually quiet recently." You smiled, pretending everything was alright, but the weight of the evening hung heavy on your chest. "I'm fine," you said, but neither of you found it believable. "Just... tired, I guess." He didn't press any more, but his eyes were gentle and concerned, indicating that he had observed the change in you. "If you need to talk... anything, I'm here," he said softly, his fingers brushing over yours. You nodded, trying to smile, but it was hard to shake the feeling that you weren't enough, that you would never be enough for his family, no matter how hard you tried.

The cold breeze as you stepped into the peaceful night air did little to relieve the pressure in your chest. You strolled beside Seungmin, his arm brushing against yours in a way that used to comfort you but now only increased to the gap you felt between yourself and what had happened inside. The drive home was quiet, with the hum of the engine filling the gaps between the silences. Seungmin was still looking at you, his eyes flickering back and forth as if he wanted to question, to comprehend, but didn't want to push. His hands clutched the driving wheel tighter than usual, and the stress was evident. You could feel his anxiety, but you were not yet ready to talk. You weren’t sure how.

When you arrived at the apartment, he parked and sat for a time, his fingers drumming on the steering wheel. "I know you're not okay," he continued, his voice lower than usual. "Whatever happened tonight, please tell me. I'm here. But you don't have to if you aren't actually ready. You paused, unsure where to begin, but the weight of the overheard conversation, judgment, and unsaid expectations pressed down on you, threatening to spill over. "I don't know," you said, your voice trembling. "It's just hard, Seungmin. I tried so hard to fit in, to prove that I am... enough for you. But it seems like nothing I did mattered. They say I'm too childish, too carefree, and that I can’t take things seriously." Your voice caught, and you looked away, suddenly feeling exposed.

Seungmin's stare softened, and you thought you noticed a glint of frustration in his eyes, not at you, but at the situation. He reached over, softly squeezing your hand. "You are not too much of anything. I adore you for being who you are. I apologize if they made you feel uncomfortable. That is their problem, not yours.” You struggled to hold back the tears that threatened to flow, but they fell regardless.

The irritation, the hurt, and the overwhelming sensation of not being able to measure up all spilled out of you in an instant. Seungmin wasn't trying to stop you. He just sat there, holding your hand, allowing you to cry. His thumb traced small circles over your skin, the simple act offering more comfort than words ever could.

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to change," he said after a moment, his voice quiet and steady. "I understand they can be difficult. But I love you for who you are. I have never wanted anyone else. And you don't have to fake or change to make people see it." You sniffled and looked up at him with hazy eyes. "What if they never see it?" What if they never realize I'm serious about us? about you?" "They will," Seungmin replied confidently. "It may take time. And while they may not understand it right now, they will eventually see what I see. And in the meantime, all that matters is what we see in each other.”

You took a long breath, hoping to settle your rushing thoughts. Seungmin was right. The weight of his family's expectations should not be entirely on your shoulders. You weren't perfect. You didn't meet their expectations. What mattered most was that Seungmin saw you for who you were and loved you despite, or perhaps because of, your differences. "I'm sorry I've been so distant tonight," you said, wiping your tears. "I just didn't know how to handle all of it." He smiled tenderly, moving a stray strand of hair away from your face. "There is no need to apologize for how you feel. You don't have to explain your emotions to me or anyone else.”

The two of you sat in comfortable silence for a moment, the weight of the evening slowly lifting as Seungmin's presence settled you. You eventually turned to him, giving him a faint, sincere smile. “Thank you. For everything. I just don't want to disappoint you."

"You could never disappoint me," he continued, his voice firm and confident. "You're everything to me. And I will always stand by your side, no matter what." It wasn't a solution, and it wouldn't solve everything quickly. But it was enough to know that, in Seungmin's eyes, you were enough. And maybe that was all you truly needed to hold onto, at least for now.

The night wasn’t over, but somehow, with him beside you, it already felt a little lighter.

//

masterlist 📩

[luna-moons]

As the day begins, Class 1-A files into their classroom, their teacher not yet arrived. They begin chatting amongst themselves, curious about the announcement Mr. Aizawa had made the day before.

“I wonder who the new teacher is,” Midoriya said, flipping through his notebook. “Mr. Aizawa didn’t say much about them. Is it someone we know?”

Bakugo snorted in response, rolling his eyes with a huff, “Who cares? As long as they don’t slow us down, I’m fine with it.”

“Maybe they’ll be cool!” Kaminari added, leaning back in his chair with a grin. “A new teacher means new training, right? I’m ready to show off my stuff, and being separated will give us more one-on-one!”

“Keep dreaming,” Kirishima laughed, elbowing Kaminari in the side. “A new teacher means a chance to learn more. Gotta be positive, right?” he adds pointedly to Bakugou with a bright smile.

Just as the conversation heated up with everyone giving their own opinion on the upcoming change, the door slid open, and Aizawa walked in, his usual tired expression on his face. But this time, he wasn’t alone.

The students immediately fell silent, eyes on the newcomer standing beside their teacher.

“Class, this is Y/N,” Aizawa said, his voice steady but not without the usual gruffness. “They’ll be joining us today to help split the class for one-on-one training. From now on, they’ll be working alongside me to make sure you all get the attention you need, you probably know her as the number 4 hero, Loaded Dice.”

The students blinked in surprise as they sized you up. You weren’t exactly a stranger— They’d all seen you on the tv and even again when you helped with the battle to save Bakugou from the League, some of the more observant students might’ve noticed the familiarity between the two of you. But they couldn’t shake the curiosity about this new teacher, and why such a highly ranked hero was now a teacher.

You smiled softly at the students, a warm but confident presence. “It’s nice to meet you all. I know Mr. Aizawa has been working hard to make sure each of you gets the right training, so I’ll be here to help with that,” you said, voice steady but kind. “I’ll be taking on a smaller group to give you all more one-on-one time with your instructors.”

Some of the students were still looking a little unsure, but the reassurance in your tone seemed to settle their nerves.

“Good,” Aizawa grunted, his expression softening just a little as he glanced over at you. “Now, she will be splitting the class. We’ve already planned out the groupings, so we’ll start today with some basic exercises like usual.”

The students’ chatter picked up again, but now there was more excitement in the air. They had questions—who would be working with who, what kinds of new training they could expect, and, most importantly, who you were as a teacher.

You could feel the weight of their gazes, the curiosity—and in some of them, a bit of skepticism—but you were excited to be in a classroom with young heroes eager to prove themselves. You glanced at Aizawa for a moment, who gave you a silent, almost imperceptible nod, as if giving you permission to handle the situation your own way.

For a moment, you were reminded of when you and Aizawa were both students here at U.A. The two of you had faced challenges together, from grueling exams to the internal struggles of training to be heroes. Back then, you were inseparable—partners in crime, always ready to support each other.

Now, it was a different kind of partnership. And while the students looked up to you both, you couldn’t help but notice the subtle shift in the air between you and Aizawa. You were still figuring out how to navigate this new dynamic, as colleagues rather than friends.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of groupings, adjustments, and adjustments again as you and Aizawa worked together to balance the class and ensure everyone received the proper attention. It wasn’t as easy as it sounded—dividing your teaching styles, managing the group dynamics, and figuring out the most effective way to train each student individually—but it was a challenge you were both willing to take on.

After the students had been dismissed for the day, you found yourself alone with Aizawa in the teacher’s lounge. The room was quiet, save for the sound of distant footsteps and the hum of the overhead lights.

You collapsed into a chair, exhausted. “That was… intense. They’re all so different, but I think we’re getting the hang of it.”

Aizawa, who had been leaning against the counter, watched you with his usual tired gaze. “They’ll adjust. It’ll take time, but they’ll get used to it. You did well today.”

You smiled warmly at the compliment, though you noticed how Aizawa seemed to be avoiding eye contact, fiddling with his coffee cup. You could feel the distance between you, a weight that had grown over the years despite your shared history.

“I guess we’ll have to do this more often now, you said this was a permanent change right?” you said, breaking the silence. “I don’t mind the challenge. It’s just… strange, isn’t it? Working with you like this, i’ve barely seen you since graduation...”

Aizawa’s tired eyes finally met yours. There was something soft in his expression, a trace of familiarity that you hadn’t seen in a long time.

“Yeah,” he murmured, leaning forward slightly. “It’s different… but it’s not bad.”

For a brief moment, there was silence between you, and in that quiet, you both felt the pull of something unspoken—something that had been there for years but never fully acknowledged.

“I’ve missed this,” Aizawa admitted quietly, almost too soft to hear. “Having you around. Not just as a colleague, but… as someone who gets it.”

You looked at him, the weight of his words sinking in. You’d both grown up together, but now, the lines between friendship and something more were starting to blur.

“You’ve always had a way of saying things without really saying them,” you teased softly, though your heart was pounding in your chest.

Aizawa gave you a small, genuine smile—a rare, fleeting moment of softness.

“I guess you’re right,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost introspective. “Maybe it’s time I say more.”

“I missed this Sho… We were so close when we went here..” You say softly, legs tucked up in the chair, knees to your chest as you fiddled with the rim of your cup of coffee.

He glances up from his own cup, meeting your gaze, his eyes softening as he stares at you.

“I’ve missed this too, i’m glad we could convince you to come back here.. i know it can’t be easy, not only doing hero work full time but now teaching?” He says softly.

“Yeah.. but it’s not like i’ve stopped being a hero yaknow? i just have two full time jobs now. But it’s worth it.” You answer softly, a warm smile blossoming on your lips.

The air in the teacher’s lounge was thick with the weight of unspoken words. You could feel the shift between the two of you, how it was no longer just a conversation between colleagues, but something more—something that neither of you had fully acknowledged until now. You pulled your legs closer to your chest, your eyes drifting down to your coffee cup as you tried to steady your thoughts.

Aizawa watched you for a moment, his tired eyes softening as they took in the subtle way you curled in on yourself, trying to regain composure. You’d always been a little guarded, always keeping something hidden behind your calm demeanor, but now, after all these years, he could still see the little things that gave you away—the way you fiddled with your cup, the faint nervousness in your voice when you spoke about your life as a hero and a teacher.

“I know it can’t be easy,” Aizawa continued softly, his voice carrying a certain tenderness that wasn’t often heard. “Doing both… I mean, being a full-time hero and then teaching? I don’t know how you do it.”

You smiled, the warmth of his words reaching you more than you expected. “It’s a balancing act,” you said with a shrug, leaning back in your chair. “But it’s worth it. I’ve always wanted to help kids like we were, back when we were here. Besides, it’s a chance to give back to the next generation.”

Aizawa didn’t respond immediately. His gaze dropped to his coffee cup again, and you noticed how his fingers curled around the mug, the faintest sign of tension. You had known him for so long—his stoic, calm demeanor was second nature to him, but it didn’t mean he didn’t care deeply about the things that mattered. You had always been able to read him, even when he was reluctant to show it.

“I’m glad you came back,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost like he was unsure of what to say next. “It’s been… a long time, since we were at U.A. together. I’m glad you’re here to help the kids. And… help me.”

You met his gaze, your heart skipping a beat at the honesty in his eyes. “It feels good to be here again. Even if it’s not exactly how I imagined it. We were always a team back then, right?” you said with a soft laugh, trying to ease the tension, but the smile on your face was gentle, sincere.

Aizawa’s expression softened further, and for a moment, you saw the flicker of something more in his gaze. Something vulnerable, something that had been buried under the years of teaching and hero work.

“Yeah,” he murmured, his voice lowering, “We were a team.” He took a small, deep breath, his eyes never leaving yours. “I guess… I’ve missed having you around more than I let on.”

The words hung in the air, and you felt your heart race as they settled between you. Aizawa, always so guarded, never one to openly express his emotions, was finally admitting something that you had long suspected. You shifted slightly in your seat, suddenly feeling a little more exposed. Your chest tightened, but you found it difficult to look away.

“I’ve missed you too, Sho,” you said softly, the name slipping from your lips without hesitation. It felt natural, like it always had when you two were younger. “We were so close back then. It’s strange, isn’t it? How everything’s changed.”

Aizawa looked at you then, really looked at you, as though he were trying to piece together the time that had passed between you, the years of distance, the years of silence. His gaze was searching, almost as though he were looking for something in your eyes, something you had kept hidden for so long.

“I thought about it,” he said slowly, his voice growing even softer, “How things were… how easy it was to talk back then. How easy it was to just be around you. I didn’t think it would take this long to get back to it, but… I’m glad we’re here now.”

Your heart fluttered, and you couldn’t help but chuckle softly, trying to deflect some of the intensity in the room. “You always were a man of few words, Aizawa,” you teased gently, though your voice shook ever so slightly. “But I get what you mean. I think it’s been a long time for both of us.”

He shifted slightly, the movement so subtle it could’ve been overlooked if you weren’t so tuned in to him. His eyes flicked to the door as though he were contemplating something—maybe the lateness of the hour, maybe the feeling of this conversation hanging in the air—but then he sighed, a quiet, almost resigned sound.

“It’s not like I haven’t noticed, you know,” Aizawa continued, finally breaking the silence that had enveloped the room. “You’ve always been able to balance everything, even when you didn’t have to. Hero work, teaching… and still somehow finding time for the people you care about.”

You blinked, caught off guard by his words, and for a moment, the air felt thick with emotions both old and new. You opened your mouth to say something, but Aizawa cut you off with a slight shake of his head.

“I’m not good at saying these things, but… I’ve always cared about you. And not just as a colleague. I think I’ve always felt something more.”

The honesty in his words hit you harder than you anticipated. You felt a warmth spreading through your chest, the realization that the quiet, gruff Aizawa had been hiding this part of himself for so long. But now, in this small, quiet space, you could finally see it.

Without thinking, you reached over and placed your hand on his, the contact simple but grounding. Aizawa tensed for a moment, but then he relaxed, his fingers brushing gently against yours as though testing the waters.

“I’ve felt it too, Sho,” you admitted softly, your voice barely above a whisper. “I think I’ve always known… we’ve just never been ready for it.”

There was a long pause between you, as if both of you were silently processing the shift that had occurred between you. The walls that had stood between you for so long now felt fragile, maybe even unnecessary.

Aizawa let out a deep breath, his fingers tightening around yours for a moment before releasing. He glanced at you with a look of quiet understanding.

“Maybe it’s time we stopped pretending we don’t feel it,” he said, the faintest smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

You couldn’t help but smile back, feeling a mixture of relief and something new, something exciting blossoming between you both.

“Yeah,” you murmured, “Maybe it is.”

I hope you guys liked it? i’m not sure how good it is but i wanted to do a cute little one shot!

[themostsanebug]

i just think theyd be really neat. like. after randy gets his new job and has a semi-stable income, i can imagine her and karen becoming good friends! hell, maybe him and karen become roommates after a bit! karen would likely be there to support her throughout the entire struggle of "what gender even am i???" maybe even giving her own input if you believe in the transfem karen agenda like i do. and randy would get honest feedback on how to improve himself! karen would probably expand upon the work gingi already did in that regard!

i also just like to think about how nice it would be for both of them to have someone they can just. be themselves around. randy wouldnt mind all the horse talk and would try and find his own ways to show that to her. maybe she would get karen little horse trinkets. maybe some really ugly bootleg mlp keychains at the funfair that karen would cherish. THINK OF ALL THE PARALLEL PLAY THOSE TWO WOULD GET UP TOO! they would just like sitting in each others presence. i do think itd be nice if randy eventually got comfortable enough to ask for affection though! just. "karen can we maybe hug and watch tv i had a bad day at work:(" THE GIRLFRIENDS EVER!

also hi @emoticonnie hope you dont mind the tag but my thoughts that i finally managed to share:)

nervously steps up to the mic. uh. transfem randy x karen okay bye thank you for your time maybe please dont pelt me with tomatoes im just a little guy humbly suggesting things

[givelightningherharem]

IN CASE YOU GUYS DIDNT KNOW, THERE IS GOING TO BE A SPECIAL MUSIC LIVESTREAM HELD FOR FINAL FANTASY XIII’S ANNIVERSARY!!! IT WOULD BE GREAT TO ALL GO AND SHOW SOME SUPPORT WHILE ALSO VIBE TO SOME OF FFXIII’S BEAUTIFUL SOUNDTRACK!!!!

LINK TO THE STREAM!! NOTE THAT IT WILL BE UNARCHIVED SO IF YOU MISS IT YOU WONT BE ABLE TO SEE IT AGAIN UNLESS THEY MAYBE DECIDE TO REBROADCAST IT!!

[ilovewaltstrickler]

Ok, so I met Merlin… not sure I like this guy. Not living up to my expectations so far

[butchnavi]

multishipping is a superpower you neeeeeeeeeeed to have when you love getting into shitty gay media with found family because OF course they're going to make an incest map of all the characters and your otp will almost definitely not be endgame. of course they're going to pair the main guy and girl together as endgame just because. and I mean you COULD be a hater about it and curse the writers and throw a four year long fit but it's so much more fun when you just make your peace with the fact that this was always going to happen and pretend everyone is in a happy little polycule as they go through 18575879 different pairings you know aren't going to last because fandom and just the experience of being a fan is so much more fun that way!!!

[em-b-sides]

I think about that tiktok trend where you like paint your partners eye color on your nails or make a bracelet or something with the color a lot actually

[kosomolski-dolls]

Once again looking into making an account on DOA as selling dolls on insta is getting more and more a hassle. And going through rules and everything allowed and not allowed, I remember why I haven't made an account so far

Just looking at the off topic and banned dolls and I'm like... ? Ok?

3D-printed plastic or printing-type-resin dolls

does that mean ALL 3D printed dolls? What does Printing-Type-Resin Dolls mean? I have 3 Custom sculpted heads from Meeksdoll that are 3D printed in resin. I guess I can't show them then?

Ok, further down they explicitly list "Huli Dolls / ART by Natira dolls 3d-printed plastic/3d-printed resin heads", so I guess the same applies to my Meeksdoll heads. Bummer.

Yepp... even more further down they list

Dolls that are not professionally cast 3D printed dolls even if made of a printable-resin material

idk, this just feels so needlessly limiting? But ok, moving on.

Fen Jie Xian Fairies / Dividing line bjd Possibly made of plastic; questions regarding provenance and material.

?? I have these dolls. They don't feel any different to my other resin dolls? (We're not gonna go into the semantics of plastic here. Resin also is plastic, after all)

Dolls whose bodies do not meet the jointing requirements

This whole list. Like. Seriously. Why? I mean, I get that it's not banned, "just" off topic and you can talk about them in the off topic sections, but just... why? idk. Like I said, seems needlessly limiting.

Dolls that lack consistent proportion, stylization or anatomical detail, or that are not suitable for nude display

WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN??? What do they mean with consistent proportion?? You could list all Doll Chateau dolls there because their proportions are all over the place?? Stylization? Same thing?? What. Does. That. Mean??

Lack of anatomical detail as well. What about so called "angel bodies", that are basically genderless? This rule makes no sense to me, because it just can mean whatever?

UGH I'm already just into the off topic list and I'm already not keen on joining anymore lol

Moving on to the banned dolls list and I already have beef with that list...

It lists Recast companies alongside artists that are banned from the site for whatever other reason. They may be banned because they were associated with Recasts. They also may be banned because they scammed people, either actively running with their money or taking forever to fullfill their orders. They may be banned because some of their sculpting got a little bit too close to someone else's sculpting (in some cases it's actually very obvious copying, in other cases it's just... listen, there are just so many ways on sculpting the human body in a realistic way).

They ALSO may be banned for stuff like sharing an account or making a second account. I know both is against the rules, but... banning the dolls for it?

AT LEAST give us an explanation on WHY the dolls are banned? Idk, *I* have been in this hobby for close to 10 years now and I know a lot of the drama and the artists, but if I were a newbie and I'd see that list, I'd just assume that all these listed companies/artists are bad because they support recasts or scam people.

Not that they broke a rule that is... whatever tbh??

One of these is not like the other.

And the greatest joke is seing Luo listed as "Taobao Seller", as if he wasn't THE recast culprit out there?? Like, number 1 enemy??

Ugh... I think I'm once again cured by the wish of making an account there. Some of these rules are just so... tiring? Why would you limit yourself so much in enjoying dolls?

[sendmyresignation]

finally reading dance of days (thank you ohiolink and oberlin college <3) but my most consistent takeaway thus far. is oh my god. people who think punk is primarily ideological and not subcultural/musical. are so out of touch.

[lohstandfound]

ignore this.

learning to shut up when i dont have anything new to say to the discussions my mutuals are having about the treatment of the female characters in this show and fandom

even though ive just gone ahead and rambled in the tags a bunch of bullshit

[zoekrystall]

Saw certain tweets and here once again a reminder which a twt mutual luckily wrote shorter than I could (plus public so I can rb bc no way I do that myself on that site)

Also

And if you want smth I wrote myself which is longer and not just abt that here you go

[hollis-exe]

they gotta put some sort of enrichment in my cave man i just spent 3 hours placing cubes

[4unnyr0se]

❥ being kento nanami's wife

warnings: nanami being the best husband ever, mentions of overstimulation, mentions of breeding, nanami lowkey being a sugardaddy

MDNI | 18+ content

word count -> 591

Kento Nanami fucking loves his wife.

Everything about her was perfect, right down to the letter. The way your hair framed your pretty face just right made it look like a framed painting in the Met. The way your eyes shined like the most expensive gems in the whole world whenever you saw him after such a long day in the office. The way you would bound towards him the second Nanami entered his house, tackling him against the wall with hugs and kisses and his favorite dinner on the table that only you could properly make. 

The way you dressed up for him, no matter how silly his requests were. He brings home a new designer dress? You’re throwing a nice belt over it so it shows off the waist that Nanami so loves to caress and hold. He got you some new pumps? You’re walking around in them for at least a couple of weeks; the way your ass looked even better due to the arch support in the heels. Has he bought you new and expensive lingerie from Paris? You’re all dressed up for him, displayed on the silk sheets of your Alaskan king mattress, looking like a present for him to unwrap. Nanami loved that he didn’t even have to ask you for these things; you just did them to make him happy. You, the most perfect wife, knew precisely what he wanted the minute he wanted it. 

And you were so good in the bedroom, so well-behaved, always doing exactly what he wants with no questions asked. Nanami wants you from behind? Ass up, face down in seconds with your dripping cunt on display for him to play with at his whim. Angry at a coworker that was being an asshole to him? He’s taking his anger out by fucking you stupid, your pretty wrists bound above your head with his spotted tie as he ranted and complained about his coworkers while pistoning in and out of your pussy without a thought for how many orgasms you’ve already had. Did you complete all your chores today and got caught up on tomorrow as well? He has you sitting on his face, riding his tongue as he desperately laps at your delicious arousal, his strong hands wrapping themselves around your plush thighs so you couldn’t squirm away. 

His cock was so painfully huge as well, long and girthy and oh so veiny with the prettiest pink tip that was constantly kissing your cervix. Nanami thinks it’s adorable how you swore up and down that you could handle his dick every time, babbling nonsense into his ear as he fucked you so expertly with his appendage. Your nails scratching and clawing at his back as your legs wrapped around his thin waist, shaking and twitching as another orgasm hit you like a runaway train. You could never say no to your handsome husband, but he always knew when you wanted to stop cumming and just cuddle, usually after he’s cum inside of you a couple of times.

His muscular frame cuddles you every night, no matter the temperature of the room. His arms pull you against his chest, scared you would disappear once morning came. Nanami often fell asleep to the sound of your cute little kitten snores, mesmerized by how his hickeys danced a ballet on your pretty neck. Every morning, he would wake up, and you would be in the kitchen, happily making his breakfast and humming a little tune.

Fuck, Kento Nanami fucking loves you. 

[fairuzfan]

I legitimately despise all of the people who were vocally speaking out about biden to only full throatedly support Kamala because all that hard earned pushback and solidarity is just slowly receeding to the point where kamala is certain she can make empty promises and be rewarded for them AND publicly show disgust to Palestinian protestors while having people defend her as if she's not the privileged politician that we've been saying she is. The reason she feels so comfortable about yelling at arab and Palestinian protestors is because you guys just outwardly supported her without any pushback. I can't believe that all these months worth of education and watching children being burned alive and you're jumping at the chance to promote the person who knows how to speak nicely without actually doing anything.

If you had shown some amount of pushback these past couple weeks, she would never have dared to pull these stunts. If you had made it an actual hardline issue, she would have known that she can't be wishy washy about these things. But of course you'd rather protect yourself than millions of people at the mercy of your policies without so much as a say in anything.