#its in the three dots menu but STILL

[tbartss]

THEY GAVE US BACK THE PREVIOUS REBLOG BUTTON !!!!!!!!

[tangerp]

How to Handle Anon Hate

Anonymous hate, or anon hate, has been a user issue since the dawn of its feature. As of 2023, only Tumblr users can send anonymous asks. Receiving hateful or harmful anons is stressful and disheartening, but there are ways to protect yourself.

What not to do: Do NOT answer anon hate and do not acknowledge it publically. Answering or acknowledging anon hate will encourage the sender to continue to harass you. The sender wants a reaction out of the user, negative or otherwise. Acknowledging the anon gives them what they want.

Acknowledging or answering anon hate also exposes other users to negativity, which creates an unsafe dash environment and protects no one.

What to do: If you receive anon hate, block the anon or turn anon off through your blog's settings. You can block anons on desktop by going to the three dots in the upper right corner of the ask ( also known as the meatball menu ) and click Block @Anonymous.

You can block anons on mobile by going to the meatball menu on the anonymous ask and clicking Block @Anonymous.

What blocking an anon does: Blocking an anon completely blocks the sender's IP. This means the user who sent hate can't send an ask, anonymous or otherwise, to the user on any account. They can not make a new account to send an ask to your blog.

What blocking an anon does not do: The sender will not show up in your blog's blocklist. As of April 2024, there is no way to reveal who sent anon hate.

The sender can still interact with your blog through replies, reblogging, liking posts, and sending IMs. It is unlikely they will send hate through other means without being anonymous. If they harass you off anon, block the user.

If you see a fellow Tumblr user being harassed by anon hate, remind them to block future anons and to turn off anons for their inbox.

[bobohu4eva]

Golden

Part 1/2

Characters: Reader x Baekhyun

Genre: College AU, Baekhyun as an adorable art student and campus heartthrob, shy OC, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, angst, eventual smut

WC: 8.3k

Warnings: Harassment, alcohol consumption

Masterlist

The streets of Seoul set your mind ablaze in all their bright, manicured chaos.

 It had been three years since your first time in the city, but again it sucked you right in without as much as a glimpse of hesitation. Not unlike you with a bowl of your favorite ramyun.

The American midwest had its charms, if you looked hard enough, but your eyes were getting tired. The city had always been more your speed, and Seoul was, in your mind, the absolute best there was. When the opportunity finally came to spend your last year of college at Korea University you eagerly took it. 

No matter the area, the time of day, or one's specific interests, there was always a good chance that something uniquely enticing was just around the corner, waiting to be discovered. Getting bored wasn’t an option, even for those who might crave it every now and then. 

Patience, like boredom, was not on the menu in Seoul either. Ppalli-ppalli is what they call it, ‘quickly-quickly, the culture that drives the city to cater perfectly to the needs of those as antsy, or really just anxious, as yourself. It’s hard to overthink for hours when there is so much constantly changing and happening around you, demanding your attention. You found that profoundly comforting. 

Independence had always been a strength of yours, so the first several weeks flew by, but by the third week, and then the fourth, even you got a little lonely. 

After a few years studying the language, your Korean was decent. Passable. But fluent, you were not. Ordering in restaurants, reading directions and street signs, that was no problem, but having to make any kind of meaningful conversation was humbling, to say the least. 

It was a relief to finally get a roommate, Heejin, another senior at the university. She was thrilled to practice her English with you, and you your Korean with her. 

Before you knew it the semester was starting, and right on your first day of classes, you noticed him. Surrounded by a large group of friends all laughing together, he was at the center in all his beauty. 

It would be hard not to notice him, really, given his clothing. They were unusually colorful, in contrast to the muted neutrals most Koreans favor, and were often dotted with what looked like paint stains, mainly shades of yellow and gold. In the crowded lecture hall, he was a sliver of sunlight against the sea of black, brown, and gray. 

He wore round glasses, which framed kind, puppy-like eyes the color of your favorite chocolate. The dark curls of his hair were perfectly fluffy, and his lips perfectly pink. Moles and freckles decorated his nose and cheeks generously.

You struggled not to stare. He was just so pretty. Especially when you saw him smile. Just the sight of him laughing at a joke you hadn’t even heard, brought a smile to your face. 

He was shining, glowing, radiating so much warmth you’d blissfully forgotten the still looming chill of early spring. 

“That’s Baekhyun, he’s a studio arts major, pretty much every girl I know has a crush on him. I get it, though, he is super cute, he seems really nice, too, though I don’t really know him myself.” Heejin told you, when you asked about him that same evening.

Against your better judgment, or any rational thought, really, you let yourself be drawn to him, taking your seat the next day in the row directly in front of his. You didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you couldn’t help it, listening in on him and his friends' conversations before class started. He was whitty, charming, and effortlessly funny, though he never made jokes at anyone else’s expense, like his friends did. He seemed like a genuinely sweet guy, just like your roommate had said. And basically every girl on campus saw it too, along with how devastatingly cute he was. 

Despite feeling relatively confident in the subject matter of all your classes, you still did your best to fade into the background and avoid being called on by the professors. Trying to sound smart and confident wasn’t something your Korean skills (or still slightly fragile psyche) were up to yet.

But as fate would have it, you couldn’t avoid talking in class forever. At the end of the second week, during your last class of the day, you were called on to answer something pretty simple, yet you still ended up stumbling over your words, sounding awkward at best. 

You easily picked up on the snide comments and snickers coming from the girls behind you. Back home you would’ve thrown her a mean side eye at the very least, but now you just kept your head down. Making enemies so early on here couldn’t be a good idea. Not only that, but you knew Baekhyun would be witness to all of it. 

“Sumin, it took you three tries to pass elementary English, talking about someone else’s language skills is wild.” 

His voice was just as lovely as the rest of him, so you didn’t even have to turn around to be sure who’d said it, but you still did. There was a small reassuring smile on his lips, and a pout on hers. He’d said it so casually, like it was nothing, but it definitely meant a hell of a lot to you. 

She was gorgeous, and you’d wondered in the past if there was something going on between them. But Baekhyun didn't appear all that impressed with her, at least not the way she clearly was with him. 

You kept replaying it in your mind, until finally class was over, and you headed quickly towards the door, worried you’d be hearing more rude comments. 

“Hey! Y/n, right?” 

“Huh?” Too shocked to fully react, you spun around to see him walking straight towards you. 

“I’m Baekhyun, sorry about my friend earlier. You’re an exchange student, right?” His English was nearly perfect, the slight accent he had making him sound even more endearing. 

“Yeah… Thank you, by the way. How do you know my name?” 

“Well, you do kind of stand out. In a good way though.” 

He was grinning, looking gorgeous as ever, even in a simple red tshirt and jeans, dotted with the usual colorful specks of paint. Now that he was standing so close to you, you got a good idea of how tall he was, and although he wasn’t the biggest, most muscular guy you’d ever seen, his shoulders were surprisingly broad, and his arms looked sturdy. As your eyes stayed glued to his form, your mind wandered off, thinking about how lovely it must feel to get a hug from him. 

It occurred to you then that he must’ve asked someone about you, the same way you’d asked about him. 

“I do?” You asked, starting to make your way towards the building’s exit. 

“Well, yeah, there are other foreigners going here too of course, but I’m sure most of them don’t get as much attention as you.” 

You blushed, not wanting to read into it too deeply, but you wondered if that was his way of telling you that he thought you were cute. 

“I don’t know about that…” 

“So, where are you headed now?” He asked, holding the door as you both left the building. 

“Back to my dorm, that was my last class of the day.” 

“Same, can I walk with you?”

“Sure, it’s a little far though.” 

He shrugged, “I don't mind.” 

As he accompanied you across campus, you couldn’t help but wonder why he was being so nice. He seemed like a nice person, of course, but he didn’t know you at all. You weren’t even an artsy type like he was. 

“You’re an art student, right? Is that why some of your clothes have paint on them?”

He nodded, a big beautiful smile on his face. “My favorite is oil paints, and they stain like crazy so now I just let it happen, I kinda like the way it looks.” 

“I like it too.” 

“Yeah? Maybe I could paint on your clothes too sometime.” 

You laughed, shaking your head. “I don’t think I could pull it off.” 

“What? Of course you could, if I can then you definitely can.” He teased, swaying slightly as he took his next step, letting his shoulder brush your own. 

It was troublingly easy for him to make you blush, and you hoped he didn’t notice just how flustered he was making you, without even really doing anything. 

“What about you? What's your major?” 

“International business, I've wanted to move here for years, and that major was recommended to me for this exchange program.” 

“Well, I'm glad you finally made it.” He grinned, warm and lovely, and if you hadn’t known better, you might’ve thought that he was flirting with you. “You're from America, right?” 

You nodded. 

“What made you want to move to Korea?” 

“My favorite professor back in the states was Korean, she told me that she thought I would do well here, and introduced me to the culture, the language, all of it. I eventually came here for a week-long spring break thing, and ended up liking it a lot.” 

Even from the outer echelons of your gaze, his smile was still bright as ever, those beautiful kind eyes fixated on you with intent. You couldn’t look back at him, not yet, your fragile heart needed time. He wondered why the architecture of the surrounding buildings suddenly became of such keen interest to you.  

“What about you? Why art?” 

He shrugged, “I've always been the creative type, ever since I was a kid. I can’t really imagine doing anything else at this point.” 

“I'd love to see some of your work, if you'd be willing to show me.” 

“Of course!” His face lit up even more, somehow, and he immediately pulled out his phone, opening up a photo album of his recent projects and handing it to you. 

You assumed he’d be pretty good just based on how popular he was, but when you got a good look at some of his work, it stopped you dead in your tracks. You froze, swiping through some of the pictures, speechless. 

“Do you like them?” 

You let out a short laugh, more in disbelief than anything else. “Are you kidding? These are amazing, you’re so talented.” 

Most of his paintings were dreamlike scenes bathed in yellow and gold, bright shapes and colors coming through in the most beautiful ways, creating so much atmosphere and movement, even just through the screen of his phone. They all depicted people, mostly women, just going about their normal lives, but the colorful and abstract nature of his style made it all so much more alluring to look at. Without a doubt, he had a real gift. 

He just shrugged, “I do my best.” 

You were a little disappointed to reach your dorm so soon, and have to tell him goodbye, though he assured you he would see you in class. For the first time, you actually looked forward to it, the promise of seeing him and his wonderful smile again making all of your previous uncertainty melt into comparative irrelevance. 

~

When the next class period came around, you’d expected to hear him sit down behind you with the rest of his friends. You did hear his friends sit down, talking among themselves, but he walked right past them, sitting down next to you instead. 

He started asking you about the homework, totally casual, and you had to act like you weren’t internally screaming the entire time. You acted as normal as you could, all the while feeling Sumin’s eyes like sharpened pencils stabbing into the back of your skull.

Eventually class started, and that took your mind off things at least a little, but as soon as the professor dismissed everyone Baekhyun was once again asking if he could walk you home, and of course, you agreed. 

An awkward silence filled the air as you tried to find something to talk about, but just having him there next to you made you so embarrassingly shy, you could hardly think straight. As he held the door for you, that disgustingly sweet fluttering sensation filled your belly, and while familiar, you’d never experienced it to such a degree. 

“Do you have a favorite painter?” You eventually blurted out. It was the first thing that came to mind, and to your relief, he seemed excited to answer. 

“Yeah! I mean, there are a ton that I love, but the one I’m most inspired by in my own work is Gustav Klimt, the way he combines art nouveau, with more classical and Japanese influences, it's so cool. I try to do something similar, but with a more Korean flair. He was really controversial during his time too, but he didn’t care and just did what he liked anyway.” 

“Why was he controversial?” 

“Well…” He cleared his throat, and you swore, for a second, it looked like he was blushing. For once, he wasn’t looking at you, seemingly avoiding eye contact himself. “Many of his really famous pieces are of women, usually without clothes on. There’s a lot of symbolism around sexuality and eroticism, so early 20th century Austria labeled his work as pornographic.” 

“Oh?” 

“Well it was the 1910’s!” He replied, maybe a little too quickly, “One rogue boob was enough to thoroughly scandalize them, you know what I mean, right?” 

You smiled, comforted by the fact that he actually seemed to be the one getting flustered now. “Yeah, I know what you mean. Different time.” 

“He was ahead of his time, for sure. That's one of the things I love about him and his work.” 

He just kept gushing about the different pieces he liked best, showing them to you on his phone, talking about the different motifs and what it was about them that he loved. It was so sweet, his enthusiasm for it, and you took it all in happily.

You could listen to him talk about art all day long. You could see the sparkle in his eyes, the passion and excitement he had for it, and you were almost jealous of him, that he was so great at something that he loved so much. Sadly though, you soon made it back to your dorm again. However this time, when you turned to start walking up the steps, he stopped you. 

“Wait, um, if you wouldn’t mind, could I get your number?” 

You stared back at him for a minute, happy but surprised, before nodding. He handed you his phone and you added your contact, heart beating rapidly, trying your best not to look as excited as you felt. 

When you reached your room, you saw the first text from him, one of the paintings he’d shown you. It was the same colorful yet overwhelmingly golden color scheme you’d seen in his own work, and depicted a man kissing a woman on the cheek. The racing of your heart took several minutes to return to a more normal pace. 

~

As the semester went on, he always sat with you, and always walked you home. It took you another few weeks to really start opening up to him, but as you gradually did, his kind and warm demeanor made you feel at ease. He asked you about your family, your hobbies, whatever he could to get to know you better. You told him about your love for music, your favorite artists, and he always listened intently. He’d check out songs you recommended, and singers he’d never heard of, seeming as eager as you to get to meet again and discuss them more in depth. 

Even as you talked to him about more personal matters, he never made you feel judged, always keeping an open heart and mind. That was another thing about him that you grew to admire. 

You loved Seoul, and Korean culture, but learned that people could be more judgemental, and on the basis of quite superficial matters. Not only that, but these judgements were perfectly acceptable to express, adding an extra layer of pressure to everyday life. Baekhyun, however, didn’t partake in any of it. 

Despite how attractive, popular, and as you came to learn, wealthy, he was, he never talked down to anyone. Jokes of that sort, that were normal to basically all of his friends, he wouldn’t react to, noticing the way he’d steer the conversation away from such topics when they came up. 

He was accepting of everyone, regardless of their status, appearance, or various other factors. He was friends with basically everyone, too. As he’d walk with you he would always be greeting people left and right, giving everyone a smile and a friendly wave, never once ignoring someone or showing any condescension. He was just good. 

His kindness, as lovely as it was, unfortunately also made you realize how not special you were to him. It was simply in his nature to be kind, even to those who might not deserve it, or could get the wrong idea. It was obvious how many girls had crushes on him, and though it never contained any malicious intent, he flirted with basically all of them. It was just part of his good nature. When he could tell someone liked him, he liked to make them happy. He never purposely misled anyone, or got their hopes up, but you still saw it happen time and time again. He would compliment a girl, and she would get all flustered, just like you had, wondering if maybe he really did like her, only to be disappointed when he did the same to her friend. If he wasn’t such a goddamn sweetheart he probably would've been labeled a playboy long ago, but everyone could clearly see that he wasn’t like that. Sleeping around wasn’t something he seemed to do either, though he definitely could’ve if he wanted to.  

All of that being said, you still fell hard for him. It felt silly, being so infatuated and getting so flustered around him due to his sweet words, knowing that there wasn’t anything special about the way he treated you. He was that sweet to all of the girls, and you couldn’t even be mad at him for it, so you learned to hide how you felt. At least you wouldn’t end up looking like a fool that way. 

~

Walking to class in the mornings always felt like such a chore, especially ever since Baekhyun had started to accompany you on your way back home everyday. You missed his company, and it was usually still quite cold, too, something you hated. Getting to listen to music uninterrupted was the only part that brought you some solace. 

One morning was particularly stressful for you, having overslept the day before an exam, already late to the very necessary hour of studying you’d planned before going to your first class. 

You were walking quicker than usual, headphones on, focused on making it to the library. However none of that seemed to deter the guy who started walking alongside you, now talking at you, motioning for you to take your headphones off. 

Annoyed as you were, you didn’t want to be rude either. You took off the headphones, telling him, “Sorry, I’m kind of in a hurry.” 

He didn’t seem to care, and when you started putting your headphones back on, he grabbed them from you. 

You stared at him, clearly pissed off and in slight disbelief, but still, he just kept walking, now uncomfortably close to you. “I’m Jaeyong. I’ve seen you around, you’re really pretty. My dad basically owns this whole place, you know.” 

“Oh yeah?” You tried to take your headphones back, but he kept them out of reach. 

You’d seen him around campus too, surrounded by a posse of other rich kids, though they weren’t the kind Baekhyun associated with, and it was easy to see why. You immediately had a bad feeling about the guy. 

“Can I get your number? We should go out sometime, I only date foreign girls. You guys are way less stuck up than the girls here, more open minded.” 

Oh lord. You’d been warned about guys like him. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Come on, don’t be a bitch. At least give me your number.” 

You ignored what he said, trying again to get ahold of your headphones, and he still refused to give them back. 

“You’d be lucky to go on a date with someone like me, you know.” 

“Sorry, but I’m not interested. Can I please get my headphones back now?” 

“What? You have a boyfriend or something?” 

He’d been following you long enough that you were already in front of the library, and you really didn’t want him to follow you inside. For your own sanity, but also to spare the other students the annoyance, knowing he likely still wouldn’t shut up. 

Unfortunately when you didn’t go inside, he ended up backing you up to the side of the building, blocking you into a corner. 

“You can get your headphones back if you agree to go on a date with me.” His face was so close to your own you could smell his breath, turning away from him, refusing to respond. “Come on Y/n. You know you want to.” 

The greasy smirk on his face made you feel sick. You didn’t remember ever giving him your name.

“I really need to go study.” 

“I said, don’t be a bitch. It would be really stupid of you to reject me.” He spat, a jarring change in his tone.

He was no longer smiling, either, clearly getting frustrated with you. Fear started to take over, and you decided you could get new headphones later, you just needed to get away. You tried to get past him, but his hand on your shoulder shoved you against the side of the building roughly, painfully, and panic quickly set in, tears forming in your eyes. He didn’t even seem to care that there were other people around, clearly confident nobody would bother to stop him. 

He was talking again, and you could hear the malice in his voice, though you were too scared to even really tell what he was saying anymore, cheeks now wet, repeating again and again to please just leave you alone. Your shoulder ached, still being held against the brick wall hard enough that you knew it would bruise. 

Your eyes were squeezed shut, shaking your head, and suddenly the hand on your shoulder was gone. You collapsed to the ground, only vaguely aware of the voices around you. 

There was a cacophony of “Leave her alone”, “Mind your business”, “Fuck off”, and more coming from only a few feet away but you just sat slumped against the wall, wishing it would all go away. 

The sudden touch from a pair of hands taking hold of your own made you jump. You finally opened your eyes again, and to your great relief, it wasn't the guy who’d been bothering you, it was Baekhyun. 

“Y/n? Are you okay?” 

A pair of concerned eyes met your own, feeling his thumbs as they softly ran across the backs of your hands. You stared back at him, dumbfounded, too stunned to speak. He was crouched down in front of you where you still sat against the wall, the other man nowhere to be seen. 

“Please say something.” 

“I- I don’t know.” 

You didn’t notice, but Baekhyun grew increasingly aware of the people starting to gather around. His grip on your hands tightened and he pulled you back up to your feet, disappearing into the library with you. He made his way into the first empty study room he could find, his hand still firmly holding your own. 

Now that you knew you were actually safe the adrenaline finally began to wear off. Baekhyun pulled out a chair for you to sit, so you did, and he soon followed. He moved so he was facing you instead of the table, and you tried to do the same, but when you braced yourself against the table and put even the slightest pressure on it, pain shot up towards your shoulder, making you wince. 

He caught on right away, moving your chair for you. 

“Are you hurt?” 

Embarrassment slowly took hold now that you’d come to realize the gravity of the situation. As much as you didn’t want him to worry about you, you knew you couldn’t just lie, either. 

“It isn’t too bad, I’ll be okay.” You were avoiding his eyes, growing more and more shy by the second. “You should get to class, I need to study anyway.” 

“What?” 

The softness and confusion in his voice pierced through your heart, even with only that one word. He was moving closer, and you hadn't even realized that you were still crying, not until his thumb began to gently wipe your tears away. 

You were painfully aware of the rapid increase in your heart rate, as well as the redness spreading across your cheeks. He was so close now, his hands delicate on your face, looking at you with those beautiful brown eyes swimming with unease, still so worried about you.

His eyes moved to your shoulder, and his hand to the collar of your sweater.

“Can I..?” 

You nodded, turning that side of your body towards him, and he slowly moved the fabric aside. 

Seeing how his eyes widened, you looked down, and saw the blue and purple bruises for yourself. 

“You are hurt. Let's get you to a nurse.” He said as he stood, but you stayed seated. 

“Baekhyun, it's ok, I can go by myself later, you don't have to do all this.” 

“Yeah, I do. I want to help.” He said, and held out his hand, beckoning you to get up and go with him. His eyes met yours, holding your gaze with intent. You couldn’t say no to him, not when he looked at you like that. His hand was warm when you finally took it, gratefully accepting his kindness, bashful as you were. 

His hand stayed holding yours the entire way to the health services building. It wasn't far, but you still noticed the looks you got, especially from other girls. 

You assumed that Baekhyun would leave for class once he dropped you off, but he didn't. He took a seat with you as you waited for your name to be called, and soon enough, you were being led down the hallway, with him still by your side. 

“Sorry, your boyfriend can't come in the room with you.” Said the nurse, and you and Baekhyun exchanged nervous glances, though neither said anything to correct her.. 

He sat himself down in a nearby chair to wait, and you followed the nurse into the room. When you returned, he still wore that same nervous expression, asking, “How bad is it?” 

His sweetness brought a long overdue smile to your face. “Not bad.” You said, and pulled your sweater aside to show him the tape and bandages. “No heavy lifting for a few weeks, and I should try not to move it too much, but nothing serious.” 

Finally, you saw him ease up a bit, showing you a small smile as well. “Can I walk you to class?” 

You nodded, and he was once again by your side as you headed across campus, though this time without his hand holding yours. As much as you tried to deny it, you missed the feeling. Once or twice you felt his hand brush up against your own, and you wondered if he was thinking the same thing, but you knew you shouldn’t get caught up in those kinds of thoughts. 

“I don’t want to intrude, but if you’d like- I mean, if it would make you feel more comfortable, I could walk with you in the mornings, too, and between classes.”

As he said it his eyes were fixed on his hands, fidgeting with a ring he had on. 

“Are you sure? I don’t want to make you late, or be a bother.” 

“It’s no problem at all! Really, I think I would also feel better, just knowing that you’re safe.” 

“Oh..I would like that, yeah.” You found yourself looking down at the pavement, blushing, mind once again wandering off, the sickly sweet feeling fluttering within you. When you turned onto a larger road, you didn’t miss the way his hand gently took hold of your good shoulder, positioning himself between you and the street.

You went on to text him your class schedule, and he happily agreed to walk with you wherever you needed to go, though you still found it hard to believe that he wouldn’t end up making himself late as a result. He seemed so happy to do it, though, you didn’t question him any further. When you thought about the very real possibility of running into Jaeyong again, you were grateful you’d have Baekhyun by your side. 

He waved you goodbye when you got to class, and when it was over he was in the same spot, already waiting for you. 

It went on like that for the rest of the day, with him being his usual wonderful self. You could tell that he was trying his best to brighten your day after it started so badly, and you appreciated it more than you could put into words. During your last class, he was joking around more than usual, complimenting you more, making you smile every chance he got. When it was finally time to say goodbye for the day back at your dorm, you didn’t want to let him go.

The next morning, true to his word, he was there waiting for you when you walked outside. Instead of heading towards campus, though, he insisted you sit down on the closest bench, “I have a surprise for you.” He said. 

You played along, sitting down, following his directions to cover your eyes. He seemed to rummage around in his backpack for a minute, then set something down on your lap. 

He gently took hold of your wrists, moving your hands aside, and you finally got a good look at the surprise he’d prepared. 

It was a pair of headphones. The same model you’d had, but the newest version. Your old pair had been expensive enough, you almost couldn’t believe that he actually spent the money on a replacement. 

“Do you like it? I tried to get your old pair back yesterday, but that asshole broke them.” 

As much as you wanted to fight him and insist it was too much, he looked so excited, the smile on his beautiful face so pure, you just couldn’t bring yourself to do so. You grinned back at him, standing up to throw your arms around him without a second thought. The way he hugged you back was just as amazing as you’d always imagined it would be. He was warm, his chest and arms firm in the most comforting way, and even the way he smelled was addictive. His embrace was nothing short of perfect, and it took everything in you not to whine when it inevitably came to an end. 

“Thank you.”

“I know how much you love music, so I figured a nice pair of headphones would be pretty important to you.” 

“It is, this is so sweet, I don’t even know what to say.” 

He grinned, a teasing look on his face, “I wouldn’t mind another hug, if that’s easier.” 

Your smile told him more than enough. This time, he was the one to pull you in, and he held you even tighter, letting the embrace linger for a moment longer. You put the headphones in your backpack, and started walking to class. 

“You know I think that's the first time I've ever heard you call someone an asshole.” 

“Well he really, really is.” He laughed. “I couldn't stand him even before he did all that. It's not the first time he's done that kind of thing either, but nobody ever stops him since his family donates a ton of money to the university and is on the board of directors.” 

“That's awful..” 

“Yeah he's the worst. How's your shoulder?” 

“It only hurts if I put pressure on it or move it wrong, it’s really not too bad.”  

You didn't have the heart to tell him that it did kind of hurt when he hugged you, but you'd happily deal with the slight discomfort of it, if it meant you'd get to do it more often. 

He seemed to catch on anyway, only lightly holding onto your good side when you got to class and he told you goodbye. You wondered if he'd been thinking about holding you the same way you had been for weeks, now that he seemed so keen on it. 

Every time he was sweet to you, you felt yourself falling for him even harder. Just walking with him was enough to turn you into a giddy mess, gradually falling in love with every little part of him. Whenever you felt especially shy, you would ask him about different art projects he was working on and he would show you, going on and on about what inspired it, the different motifs and themes. His voice always calmed you down after a little while, but by then, you'd usually be home or at your next class. 

For days you thought about inviting him over, telling yourself you'd finally just do it, but always chickening out at the last minute. With how he treated you, you started to think that if he was alone with you, he might actually make a move. Maybe.

It wasn't until the end of midterms that you finally worked up the courage to invite him in. 

He asked what you were up to that evening, as he usually would, and you told him that you were just going to study for the exam the next day, in the class you shared with him. 

“Me too.” He said, looking at you with an expression you couldn't quite read as you got to the entrance of your dorm. 

There was a moment of awkward silence as you both stood there, not yet wanting to let him leave, and it seemed to you that he didn't want that either.

He moved closer, about to hug you goodbye when your hand landed on his shoulder. 

“Wait-”

He froze, swallowing, glancing nervously at the door. 

“If you’re just gonna study tonight too, would you want to maybe come inside and study together?” 

You braced yourself for the rejection, already dreading the excuse he would make, so it came as a surprise when he showed you a big dazzling grin. 

“That sounds great, sure.” 

You didn't miss Heejins face when he walked through the door with you, raising her eyebrows suggestively with a grin on her lips as soon as his back was turned. 

“Baekhyun, this is my roommate Heejin.” 

He smiled and greeted her, and you knew she'd be bombarding you with questions as soon as he was gone again.

You led him to your room, getting out your textbook and settling in on your bed, with him right next to you. 

Part of you hoped that he wouldn't be all that keen on actually studying and you'd be able to just talk and hang out. Maybe, he would even make a move. Unfortunately though, he really did want to study.

Even as you both studied in silence, he somehow still managed to make the room feel far hotter than it realistically was. You felt his eyes on you more often than seemed normal, and a few times you'd looked back up at him, but he'd always quickly returned his attention to his textbook. He kept inching closer to you as well, every brush of his shoulder or thigh against your own increasing your heart rate. 

You probably stole a few too many glances at him too, but he just kept drawing you in. Every detail of his face looked so kissable, your mind drifted away from your class work, wishing he was in your bed as more than just a friend. 

Every time he would turn a page his hands caught your attention. The mole on his thumb was so cute, you thought, just another part of him you found yourself becoming obsessed with. 

Hours went by in what felt like minutes, and when you both started yawning, you decided to call it a night. He hugged you again before leaving, only holding onto the side that wasn’t hurt. 

You were proud of yourself for actually taking the initiative and inviting him in. The way he’d kept looking up from the textbook at you, more often than felt normal, kept replaying in your mind. As much as you didn’t want to fall victim to his charm only to be disappointed later, you couldn’t shake the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he really did like you the same way you liked him. 

You couldn’t get him out of your head as you got ready for bed that night, and even as you tried to go to sleep, his soft smiles and the way his thigh brushed against your own consumed your thoughts. Your mind wandered off, wondering how he’d react if you made some kind of move on him, though you knew you’d never actually have the confidence to do so. The idea of him reciprocating any of it, kissing you, touching you, almost seemed like it would be worth it. However the possibility of rejection, of losing his friendship, was still too scary for you to consider it. 

It was well past midnight when you finally started dozing off, but the sound of your phone pulled you back to reality. For a second you considered just ignoring it until morning, but something inside told you not to. It must've been intuition, because when you did look, it turned out to be a text from him. 

Are you awake? 

You replied pretty much right away, 

Yeah, why?

Can I call?

Sure 

Fuck. Before you even had the chance to properly freak out, his caller ID was flashing across the screen. You picked up. 

“Hi, y/n. Sorry to call so late, I can't sleep.” 

“No worries, is everything okay?” 

“Yeah.. I think I just wanted to hear your voice.” 

“Oh…” 

“Is that weird to say?” 

“No! I mean, you could call me at any ungodly hour and I'd probably still pick up, to be honest.” 

The words slipped out before you had any real chance to think about what you were saying, and true as it was, you were still grateful he wasn't there to see how hard you were blushing. 

“Really? That's awfully tempting… I might end up keeping you up a lot, though. Heejin’s gonna hate me.”

You laughed as quietly as you could, “She has her own bedroom, she'll be fine.”  

“Thank you again, by the way, for inviting me in today.”

Your cheeks ached with how hard you were smiling, staring up at your ceiling with the phone pressed to your ear. 

“It's nice to have some company. I always get so distracted when I try to study by myself.” 

“Well, if I hadn't put it off for so long I probably would've just talked the whole time. I don't know if I'm really a good study partner, but if you want company again just let me know.” 

“Well next time don't procrastinate so much, dummy.” 

“So you're cool with me distracting you?” You could hear it in his voice, the way he grinned as he said it. 

“Maybe a little..”

A brief pause.

“Did you have a boyfriend, back in America?” 

The sudden question caught you off guard. 

“No.. why?” 

“Just wondering, I guess… I mean that must be hard, right? Having all your loved ones so far away.” 

You wondered if you should tell him, but decide it would be best to just be honest. 

“Okay that wasn’t entirely true. I was seeing someone, but he wasn’t a boyfriend and I knew I wanted to move here, so I ended it. I do miss my family and friends, but I still talk to them basically every day.”  

“What about when you graduate? Are you gonna move back?” 

“No,” You giggled, amused with how concerned he sounded, “Hopefully not, I like it here.” 

“Thank god” 

“Why? Would you miss me?” 

He was quiet for a moment, dropping the teasing tone and answering with surprising tenderness. 

“Of course I would miss you.” 

“Oh.. I would miss you too.” 

“Awww, cute.” You could practically see the shit-eating grin on his face. 

“Baekhyun!” 

“What?”

“You can be such a little shit, you know that?” 

“How am I a little shit?!” He gasped, though even over the phone, you could tell he was just being his usual dramatic self. 

“You get a kick out of fucking with me!” 

“I wasn’t fucking with you! I just genuinely think it's cute that you would miss me, that’s all.” 

“You can’t tell, but I’m rolling my eyes.” 

“What? I’m not allowed to think you’re cute?” 

There was a long pause, and you considered if you should really believe him. It wasn’t that you thought he was being dishonest, you just didn’t want to set yourself up for disappointment. 

“Baek…” 

“What?” His voice was once again soft, bringing with it a tightness in your chest. 

“Nothing.. It’s just late, I guess, I’m pretty tired.” 

For a while he was quiet. You would’ve given anything to know what was going through his head right then. 

“You’re right.. I’ll let you get some sleep. I’m glad you were still up when I texted you. Goodnight, Y/n.” 

“Goodnight.” 

As much as it pained you to hang up, inevitably staying up much much later now that he’d given you so much to think about, his flirting just wasn’t something you knew how to handle. Even if he really did like you, why didn’t he say something more than just playful flirting? It would be a dream if he actually confessed to you, but it was exactly that; just a dream. That was clear enough considering how openly he flirted with other girls around you. 

The next week he was his usual friendly self, walking with you, joking around, though you felt he’d pulled back a bit on the flirting. Part of you was relieved, since it turned you into a blubbering mess, but of course you also missed it. 

He did still keep calling you though, often late at night, when he said he couldn’t sleep. A few times, you’d both even passed out with the call still ongoing. He told you that talking to you calmed him down, and once, he’d even said that he wished you were there with him. You’d laid awake nearly all night, wondering how he’d meant it. Did he just want company? Did he hate sleeping alone? Or did he also want something more than just friendship with you? Either way, until he said something more concrete, you wouldn’t be the one to ask. 

It was during one of those late night phone calls that he invited you to a friend's birthday party. It was at a popular club near the university, and at first you weren’t going to attend, but he managed to talk you into it. After all, he would be there. Alcohol and music also meant dancing, and the possibility of dancing with him was enough to ensure that you’d be there too. 

He wasn’t able to walk you, since he had to help set everything up, so you ended up going alone. Which wasn’t a big deal, in theory, but as someone who’d always been on the more anxious side, it still made you uneasy. Seoul was very safe, that wasn't the problem, it was what would happen once you got there that worried you. Baekhyun was your only friend there. You didn’t want to be a bother and hang onto him all night, since the rest of the guests were basically strangers to you. 

When the time came you wore your favorite outfit, and stepped into the subway towards Hongdae with all the confidence you could muster. 

You arrived a little later than the time he’d told you, not wanting to seem overly eager, and to your relief he already seemed to be waiting for you. When he pulled you in for a hug it was tighter than usual, and the smell of tequila on him was pronounced. You quickly took a shot with him, wondering how many he’d already downed prior to your arrival. 

The club was still relatively empty, but that didn’t seem to bother Baekhyun as he pulled you towards the dance floor. You protested, and he pouted. 

“I don’t really dance, at least not when I’m this sober.” 

Seconds later another shot of tequila was pressed into your palm, and Baekhyun clinked his glass to yours, spilling a little, before you downed them in unison. Before you knew it, he had you on the dance floor. 

It was your first real night out in Seoul, and it left you every bit as breathless as you’d expected. Now happily drunk, you danced with him, back pressed to his chest, both his hands on your hips. 

Any worries you’d had about the amount of alcohol being consumed were long forgotten. You just let the music guide you, swimming in the euphoria of his hands on you and the closeness of your bodies. 

When his warmth behind you disappeared, you spun around to search for him. Without him as an anchor, everything became far more overwhelming. There were more people now, the crowded space growing warmer, almost suffocating, until he burst through with a grin on his gorgeous face and two cups of water in his hands. 

You hadn’t even realized how dearly you needed it until he’d appeared, grateful to drink something other than tequila. When one of your favorite songs began, and you beamed at him, and he beamed back at you even brighter. He remembered, of course he did. He knew all of your favorite music, because you’d told him so much about it. 

Now as you danced, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him. His hands gripped your waist, and your arms were slung around his neck, swaying to the familiar beat, getting lost in the drunken haze of it all. You realized then that he was staring at you just as intensely as you stared at him. 

This is what it’s all about, you thought to yourself. Letting go completely, enjoying the music you love, and sharing it all with your favorite person. His smile shone so brightly, and you mirrored it, unable to imagine a more perfect moment. 

You hardly realized it when he began to drag you off the dance floor. The song had long ended, and as the speakers became more distant, his voice became clear.  

“Y/n?” 

His eyes were bigger than ever as you looked up into them, in awe of their gentle downward slope, their deep brown color, the sincerity always behind them. 

“Baekhyun?” 

“I want to tell you something.” 

“Okay.” 

“I..” He trailed off, still looking at you, seeming to lose his train of thought. “You… You look really pretty, you always do, but especially right now.” 

It was nothing he hadn’t told you before, but it still hit you harder than ever. For a while you just held his gaze, until in a burst of blind, drunken, confidence, you moved closer. You stood on the tips of your toes, and ever so softly, you let your lips meet his blushing cheek. Before the confidence could wear off and you’d start to second guess yourself, you pulled him back onto the dance floor. 

You both downed a few more drinks, your attention devoted fully to each other. It was silly, now, to think of how worried you’d been about coming here. You hadn’t had this much fun in ages. 

Eventually you had to excuse yourself to find a bathroom. You stared into the mirror as you fixed your lip gloss, wondering if Baekhyun had a mark on his face, from where you’d kissed him earlier. You liked the idea of other girls knowing that you’d been there. 

You held onto the sink with an iron grip, closing your eyes for a second to steady yourself, all too aware of the way the room spun around you. Drinking this much wasn’t like you, but you were having so much fun, you didn’t care. 

The bright flashing lights and hoards of strangers were disorienting, especially in your intoxicated state. You ended up on a sort of balcony, overlooking the dance floor, trying to find Baekhyun somewhere among the crowd. 

When you finally spotted him, your heart sank to the pit of your stomach. He was dancing with Sumin. 

Everything that happened next felt like it went by in slow motion. 

Her eyes broke away from him, scanning the room, and briefly met yours. You saw her throw her arms around his neck. She kissed him, and he kissed her back. 

The music seemed to wane into a dull buzz, sudden dizziness causing you to stumble. It took you a minute to get your bearings again, but when you did, you pushed your way through the crowd and out onto the street without a second thought. 

It had started to rain. The smell of wet concrete was your only company as you walked towards home, a cruel, painful pit swallowing you from the inside. 

Baekhyun didn’t like you like that, of course he didn’t. He was like that with all the girls. 

Part 2

[maknaesdancersrappers]

devoted 2.

part 17.

SNEAK PEEK

A/N: the deadline was supposed to be today but there's just too much going on, so as my birthday treat to you guys, here's a cute lil excerpt from the next part!!

“Let’s go.”

You’ve walked beside Jaehyun multiple times already but this time you’re walking hand in hand with him — and he’s even swaying your conjoined hands! You were screaming inside at how cute he was to do this. He gave off such a cool vibe that you didn’t think he had such an adorable side.

Autumn has started and the weather was perfect to be outside, the leaves were turning to beautiful shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. It was nice to take a stroll under them right now and it feels quite cozy, especially with Jaehyun.

He filled up the silence growing between you, not that it bothered you, with small talk. He asked about your morning and the day before, if you had any plans for the holiday break. You told him that you were going back home to your parents over the holidays and was unsure if your parents had plans to celebrate.

You could feel his thumb gently smooth over your skin as he talked about his plans over the break, mentioning how he’s going to be helping out his dad in his business.

The cafe you both arrived at was smack dab in between a bookstore and a mom-and-pop store. There were little to no patrons in the cafe from the looks of it and it still had some streamers and balloons from their opening.

“Good morning! Welcome to Cafe Hue.” One of the three workers on duty, the cashier, greeted as you entered.

You offered a smile and glanced briefly at the interior — a habit you picked up in middle school that pushed you into taking interior design. For its namesake, the overall interior was a crisp white with loud, brightly colored decors dotting the shelves. There was room for improvement with the choice of furniture, but it still works.

“What would you like?” Jaehyun asked, pulling you out of your reverie by softly squeezing your hand.

You looked up at the chalkboard menu, giving each item a thought until you settled on a hot cup of French vanilla tea. Jaehyun relayed your order to the cashier, who’s eyes seemed very eager to meet his gaze, and added his own order of an iced americano.

“Do you want anything to eat? We can share something if you’d like.”

“I don’t mind a slice of cake or muffin.”

Jaehyun bobbed his head, “Anything in particular?”

“What would you recommend?” You directed the question to the cashier giving heart eyes up at Jaehyun. She shifted her attention to you, a full second of annoyance flashing in her face before plastering a model customer service smile.

“Everything is freshly baked, our baker’s favorite is the basque cheesecake, but personally, I love the chocolate carrot cake.”

“Both sound good, so I’ll leave the choice up to you.”

The cashier’s smile brightened as she returned her attention to Jaehyun, who seemed oblivious to it.

“Then a slice of each.” He didn't wait for her to tally the order and pulled out his wallet, brandishing a black card from within and placing it on the counter. She seemed astonished to see the card in front of her, but it only took a second for her to punch your orders in while repeating it out loud to confirm. Jaehyun nodded and she swiped the card.

“Have you always been a tea person? I could have gotten you tea instead of coffee all this time at the library.” He inquired, pursing his lips ever so slightly at you.

“Not necessarily.” You shrugged your shoulders, “My mind has strongly associated coffee with productivity and since we’re not here to study, I’d rather have tea. I like both, equally.”

Jaehyun finished paying for the order and guided you to a seat by the window. He helped you into your seat briefly before seating himself.

There was a palpable pause when he looked at you and it almost became awkward until he coughed and glanced away, ears visibly red.

“I’m sorry,” He cleared his throat, “I’ve never really… taken anyone out on a date before.”

The admission made your brows shoot up a little, “What? You’ve never dated anyone?”

He shook his head, “No. Wasn’t really interested… until I met you.”

The confession made your heart skip a beat and the faintest heat rose up your cheeks. “Oh. Uhm,” You stuttered, “I… I didn’t expect that from you.”

He sighed, “I get that a lot — not to be vain or anything. I was just never interested in the dating scene.”

“Haven’t girls asked you out? None of them caught your eye?”

Jaehyun shook his head again. “They all seemed… pretentious? No, too eager? Like I’m prey or something.”

You’re still having a hard time believing that this gorgeous man has not dated at all — let alone having you as the first person he’s ever expressed interest in. “What makes me different?”

Slowly, a small smile formed on his lips, “That’s what I’d like to know.”

a/n: there's too much technical stuff in the next part, that's why i'm having a hard time writing, but!!! it's coming i swear pls dont give up on me im sorry for such the long wait (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)

devoted masterlist.

[hawaiifiveohana]

How to reblog a post to a community

Since communities are still in beta, you can’t reblog a post to a community in the app. And hauling out a laptop to use the web browser is a pain. Click read more for the workaround for mobile devices.

Go to the web browser on your device. Type: tumblr.com and log in. Now you need to switch to desktop mode:

If its an Apple, your browser is probably Safari.

Tap on the ‘AA’ then tap on ‘Request Desktop Website’

If you have an Android, you are most likely using Chrome or Firefox.

There will be three dots or three lines in the upper corner. Tap the dots/lines to bring up settings.

Now toggle on the desktop view. for example, this is what Firefox 's menu looks like:

Yay! You have switched to desktop mode! (you can dance at this point. nobody is watching. Well, unless you are in a coffee shop. Then dance only if the barrista is cute)

Now go to the post you want to reblog, and smash the reblog like you normally would

but!

Tap the arrow next to your name:

Ohhhh. There is a secret menu! Very Sneaky!

Tap on Communities. (yes, there is a bread community and yes, I am a member. my carbs are not your carbs and thats OK)

You will see a shockingly comprehensive list of all your communities:

Tap on the community you want to reblog to and voila! you will see you are posting in the community. NOW you can finish reblogging!

In this case I am reblogging to Hawaii Five Ohana, because it is the bestest tumblr community. And it has shrimp. And sometimes, birthday cake. Although not together. Cuz that would be weird.

Now you can dance again. Or get the cute barrista’s number. Or join the bread community, cuz bread! And also toast.🍞🍞🍞🍞

[star-wars-radar]

Hey there! The quick and easy TLDR? I reblog fanworks every day and I love when people submit stuff I haven't seen. Under the cut is an FAQ (including instructions on how to submit fanworks or let me know if I reblogged stolen art). Please read before you send something! Here's links to the askbox and submit.

How does this work?

I track the tags for animations, coloring books, comics, commissions, cosplayers, dioramas, edits, icons, fanart, fanfic, fanmixes, fanvids, filk, gifs, merch, moodboards, podcasts, podfics, poetry, sculptures, and zines. When something new shows up in those tags, I add it to the queue!

Some fanworks aren't put in my tracked tags, or are posted to other sites, like AO3 or Instagram. You can submit links to them, and I'll add them to the queue with the rest. (Just a note: don't try to put them in the askbox! Links and media can only be submitted.)

If you know of an art form that's not mentioned here, I'd love to see it! Send me a link to its tag and I'll keep an eye out for new stuff.

Do you reblog XYZ?

Probably! If it's a fanwork, and it's related to Star Wars, I'll reblog it. Crossovers, fusions, AUs, translations, and non-English works are welcome. I reblog works that contain triggering content or are rated R/Mature/Explicit, and this is a proship blog, including master/padawan and clone/clone. Everything is tagged so it can be filtered out if you don't like it.

That means you're going to reblog some character/ship/trope/creator I don't like!

I don't give a shit.

But it's gross/immoral/hurts my feelings!

I still don't give a shit.

What's your tagging system?

Non-fanwork posts are tagged #admin talk and answered asks are tagged #ask. All fanworks are tagged with their type, as listed in the first question's answer. "#nsfw (violence)" and "#nsfw (sex)" are used for mature content. I tag triggers and am happy to expand my taglist, just send me an ask. Current trigger tags: abuse, death, flashing, sexual assault, and smoking.

Works are tagged with the creator's username. I tag the names of all the characters and relationships, and if a work is character-critical or part of a series. Relationships are tagged with character names in alphabetical order, using "&" for platonic and "/" for romantic. AUs are tagged with their type, and crossovers and fusions are tagged with their other fandom(s).

I also tag 'creature' for works with animals, 'droid' for works with droids, and 'ship' for works with spacecraft and vehicles. 'The Bad Batch', 'Jedi', and 'Rebel Alliance' are tagged for group-themed works. Original characters are tagged with their type: Chiss, clone, droid, Jedi, Mandalorian, Sith, Twi'lek, Wookiee, etc.

If a tag is missing or wrong, please let me know! I don't read or listen to everything I reblog, as I simply don't have the time or spoons. All written and audio works are tagged based on the OP's tags. Let me know the chapter (for written) or timestamp (for audio), and what should be tagged. Submit that with a link to my reblog.

How do I submit something?

First, please check the blog for everything tagged with that creator's name. It might already be here! If not, the rest of this answer will walk you through the submission process. Submit as much as you want!

There's a link at the top of this post to submit. You can also check beneath the blog's banner on mobile or desktop. To the right of the Ask link is a meatball menu (three dots in a row). Click or tap that, then 'Submit'. However you get to the submit page, you'll see this:

1 is the drop-down for post type. 2 is where tumblr will prompt you to put your name and email if you're not logged in. Do not put your real name. "N/A" or "nothing" will work for both fields. 3 is where you put a link to what you want to submit. You'll have to check the box by 4 (and do a captcha if you're not logged in) before hitting the Submit button.

Don't worry about providing the information that I tag with! I take the link and do all the formatting and tagging myself.

You might not see a work posted in the same day or week that you submitted it, due to the length of the queue. If you want to make sure that something gets shared, you can DM me or send an ask, to check if it's in the queue. Please don't resubmit unless I ask you to.

How do I tell you that you reblogged stolen/reposted/uncredited works?

Submit a link to what I reblogged with a link to the original artist's post. If you don't see the work removed in three days, feel free to follow up by sending a DM or ask. Please don't resubmit unless I ask you to.

I still have more questions/want to tell you something/I like the nuance poll option.

No problem! My askbox is open to whatever you want to share, and anon is enabled. I aim to check the blog at least daily so I can reply to things fairly quickly. Please only DM me if you're checking whether I saw your submitted post!

This is a cool blog!

Thanks, I think so too :) It's my hope that having a 'one stop shop' for fanworks will help creators reach a wider audience. The best way to support them - and me! - is to reblog the stuff you like. Especially with some enthusiastic tags!

[wardensantoineandevka]

don't know if this is the right place to ask, but is it possible to add transcripts on the midst page in the wiki similar to how it's done for cr proper?

Transcripts are available on the official Midst website. You'll need a subscription to access transcripts for episodes still in early access, but episodes that have been released publicly have their transcripts accessible for free: you can find transcripts for episode one and episode two on the official website already.

Because of this, the wiki will not be creating transcript pages for each episode of Midst the way we do for Critical Role. We will be adding links to each transcript at midst.co to our episode list.

While on the topic, you can also access the episode transcripts on YouTube using its native transcript feature: click "show transcript" listed in three-dots menu next to share. You can toggle timestamps using the menu under the three dots in the transcript window.

This transcript on YouTube is the official transcript, and generally except for superficial differences in line-breaking, it is identical to the ones located on the website.

[byz-was-here]

HOW TO BACK UP YOUR SHIT ON A FUBAR PC

So, I have a lil linux know how. Someone I know's Windows Boot SSD died on em. I helped unfuck it, but it still got me thinkin. "Do people know how to back up stuff after their PC commits seppuku?"

So What you'll need is:

-A friend's PC to create the usb tool -A USB drive (preferably USB 3.0) with 16 GB or more of storage -An external hard drive to store the backup image -An internet connection.

FIRST

Borrow your friend's pc or laptop.

Download balena-etcher or Rufus

Download a copy of ubuntu linux. Get a coffee, eat a sandwich. This'll take a while.

Once it's done, use Etcher or Rufus to install Ubuntu on the flash drive. Eject the usb, thank your friend, and go back to your malfunctioning compy and plug the usb in.

NOTE: THIS PRESUMES THAT THERE IS A SOFTWARE ERROR PREVENTING YOUR MACHINE FROM BOOTING. IF THE HARDWARE ITSELF IS BROKEN, THIS WONT WORK.

Ok, you're going to boot your PC into BIOS. How? Depends on who made the computer. Google "How to open bios on a [Blank] pc", and you should be able to find the answer pretty quick. Its usually by either spamming the delete key or f10 while your computer turns on.

Once you're in the BIOS, there should be a menu with boot options. Select the usb. It will boot your computer into ubuntu linux, running off that lil usb stick. Neat, huh? You'll get the option to try or install ubuntu as an operating system. You want to click "try".

Plug in the external drive you're putting the backup image of your drive on.

Hit the windows key and it should pull up a search bar. type "Disks" or "Gparted". it's the same program either way so, open it.

You should see something like this.

Depending on the size of your Boot SSD in windows, you may need to shrink the partition a bit. like If you have a 500gb drive handy, but the drive you need to back up is 1TB. So click on the bit that says "basic data partition"

click the gear icon

Click "Resize..."

Resize. if the external drive you're backing up to is BIGGER than the boot drive you're trying to back up, you can skip this.

Now there's two things you can do. The first is to simply create an image of the basic data partition where all your files are. The second is to back up the whole disk.

To back up the partition,

Select the basic data partition, click the gear icon, and select "create partition image"

Name it whatever you want, save it on the external drive. Go get another coffee and a sandwich, this may take awhile as well.

To make a backup of the whole disk, click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner, and select "create disk image"

Same as before. name it what you want, save it to the external drive.

There you go.

To access the data, you need to restore that image to a new SSD or hard drive. You can do this using the same program. I recommend doing this AFTER you've done whatever was needed to fix windows.

if you're just restoring a partition image, not the whole disk, here's what you do.

If you have FREE SPACE on a drive, or new drive, you can click on the "+" button, create a new empty partition

and click "restore partition image" to make it readable. Then you can mount it as a new drive in windows and copy your stuff over. WARNING: THE PARTITION YOU'RE RESTORING TO MUST BE AS BIG OR BIGGER THAN THE PARTITION IMAGE

For a disk image, similar steps.

Three vertical dots on the upper right, select "restore disk image".

Select the full disk image from wherever you saved it and restore.

WARNING: Restoring a disk image will nuke anything already on the drive you're restoring it TO. So don't restore the disk image to your fixed boot drive, or to the drive you saved the disk image on.

Anywhomst. I hope this helps someone save their stuff or avoid being charged out the nose by a computer repair shop.

[songvalle]

Troubleshooting: Common Issues When Creating a Playlist on Apple Music

Creating a playlist on Apple Music should be a seamless process that allows you to curate your favorite tracks for any occasion. However, like any technology, Apple Music is not immune to occasional hiccups. Users often encounter issues such as songs not syncing across devices, missing tracks, or difficulties in sharing playlists. In this guide, we’ll explore the most common problems people face when creating a playlist on Apple Music and provide clear, actionable solutions to get you back on track. By the end, you’ll be better equipped to navigate any challenges and make the most of Apple Music’s playlist features.

1. Syncing Issues Across Devices

One of the most frequent complaints from Apple Music users is that playlists created on one device don’t appear on others. This can be frustrating, especially if you use multiple Apple devices like an iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

Common Causes:

iCloud Music Library is Disabled: Apple Music relies on iCloud Music Library to sync playlists across devices. If this feature is turned off, your playlists won’t sync.

Network Problems: A poor internet connection can prevent Apple Music from syncing data properly.

Software Bugs: Outdated versions of iOS, macOS, or the Apple Music app might cause syncing errors.

Solutions:

Enable iCloud Music Library:

On iOS: Go to Settings > Music > Enable Sync Library.

On Mac: Open Music > Preferences > General > Enable Sync Library.

Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that your device is connected to a stable Wi-Fi or cellular network.

Update Your Software: Always keep your devices updated to the latest operating system and Apple Music version.

2. Missing Songs in Playlists

Another common problem is missing songs in your Apple Music playlists. This issue can occur for several reasons, including regional restrictions, expired licenses, or accidental deletion.

Common Causes:

Regional Restrictions: Some songs may not be available in all regions due to licensing agreements.

Changes in the Apple Music Catalog: Occasionally, songs are removed from Apple Music’s library.

Manual Errors: Tracks may be inadvertently removed from a playlist during editing.

Solutions:

Check Song Availability: Search for the missing song in the Apple Music catalog. If it’s unavailable, it might have been removed due to licensing issues.

Re-add the Song: If the song is still available, manually add it back to your playlist.

Backup Playlists: Regularly export and back up your playlists to avoid losing track of added songs.

3. Unable to Share Playlists

Sharing playlists with friends and family is one of Apple Music’s standout features. However, users sometimes face challenges in sharing playlists or collaborating on them.

Common Causes:

Privacy Settings: Your playlist might be set to private, preventing others from accessing it.

Apple Music Subscription Required: Both the sender and recipient need an active Apple Music subscription to share playlists.

Software Bugs: Glitches in the Apple Music app can occasionally disrupt sharing.

Solutions:

Make the Playlist Public:

Open your playlist, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Edit." Toggle the "Show on My Profile and in Search" option.

Check Subscription Status: Ensure both you and the person you’re sharing with have active Apple Music subscriptions.

Share via Link: Use the “Share Playlist” option to generate a link that can be sent via text, email, or social media.

4. Playlist Won’t Save or Update

Sometimes, you may create or edit a playlist on Apple Music, only to find that the changes aren’t saved.

Common Causes:

App Crashes: Unexpected crashes can interrupt the saving process.

Storage Issues: Limited device storage can prevent playlists from updating.

Server Problems: Temporary Apple Music server outages may interfere with saving updates.

Solutions:

Restart the App: Close and reopen the Apple Music app to refresh its functionality.

Free Up Storage: Ensure your device has sufficient storage space for Apple Music to operate smoothly.

Check Apple System Status: Visit Apple’s System Status page to confirm if Apple Music is experiencing outages.

5. Duplicate Songs in Playlists

Another issue users encounter is duplicate songs appearing in playlists. This can disrupt the flow of your curated music and lead to a frustrating listening experience.

Common Causes:

Manual Additions: Accidentally adding the same song multiple times.

Sync Glitches: Syncing errors can sometimes duplicate tracks.

Playlist Import Errors: Importing playlists from other platforms may result in duplicates.

Solutions:

Enable Duplicate Warnings: While adding songs, Apple Music should notify you if a track is already in your playlist. Ensure this feature is enabled.

Manually Remove Duplicates: Review your playlist and remove any repeated tracks.

Use Third-Party Tools: Apps like "SongShift" can help detect and eliminate duplicates in your playlists.

6. Playback Issues in Playlists

Finally, some users report that songs in their playlists won’t play or skip automatically.

Common Causes:

Corrupted Downloads: Offline songs may become corrupted, preventing playback.

Network Issues: Poor connectivity can disrupt streaming.

DRM Restrictions: Some tracks might have digital rights management (DRM) restrictions that limit playback.

Solutions:

Re-download Songs: Delete and re-download the problematic tracks.

Check Network Settings: Ensure a stable internet connection for streaming.

Contact Apple Support: If the problem persists, Apple’s support team can provide additional assistance.

Conclusion

Creating a playlist on Apple Music should be an enjoyable and creative experience, but occasional technical issues can hinder the process. By addressing common problems like syncing issues, missing songs, or difficulties in sharing playlists, you can overcome these hurdles and fully enjoy the power of Apple Music. Whether you’re crafting a playlist for a workout session, a road trip, or simply to unwind, knowing how to troubleshoot ensures your music collection stays organized and accessible. Remember, the tools are at your fingertips—use this guide to make the most of your playlist-building journey on Apple Music.

[randomnerd737]

I just want to state that you make it look like pretty much any website says anything as long as you have a computer/laptop with the inspect tool

like its really fucking easy you don't even really need a lot of tech knowledge

like look

this is what my page looks like right now without me editing it.

but if I were to, for example, hover my mouse over the following tab at the top, right click and then click on inspect

I would open this menu

then, I just have to look at the highlighted text, (because it highlights the stuff that pertains to what you were hovering over) and find text that says following

in this case I just need to click on the three dots in the highlighted code

and change the text that says "Following" to anything I want

and then boom!

a completely real looking image of the site. it was easy to do, and took only my very basic knowledge of computers. obviously, it only looks like this for me, and will look normal again once I refresh the page, but I can still screenshot it and upload it to a social media of my choosing, without anyone knowing it was fake.

suffice to say, it is really fucking easy to make a website look like it says something it doesn't

so think critically and stuff

[whatsissue]

Five Ways to Speed Up Chrome

Five Ways to Speed Up Chrome With a long-standing reputation for high RAM usage, Google Chrome is working hard to improve its performance. This includes optimizing memory usage, enhancing battery life, and making the browsing experience feel faster. Here are five effective ways to speed up Chrome while balancing performance, efficiency, and privacy. 1. Keep an Eye on Your Tab Memory Load

Chrome now allows you to monitor the memory usage of individual tabs. Simply hover over a tab to see how much RAM it’s consuming. If you find a tab using excessive memory, you can close it using Chrome's Task Manager. Access it by going to Menu > More Tools > Task Manager, or use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Esc on Windows. From the Task Manager, you can identify memory-hungry tabs and end the processes that are slowing down your browser.

Five Ways to Speed up Chrome If you prefer not to see memory usage when hovering over tabs, you can disable this feature in Settings > Appearance > Show memory usage on tab hover preview card. 2. Suspend Inactive Tabs to Save Memory

Five Ways to Speed up Chrome Chrome’s Memory Saver mode automatically suspends inactive tabs, freeing up resources for active ones. Inactive tabs will display a dotted ring icon around the website icon. You can customize the settings for this feature by navigating to Settings > Performance > Memory Saver. Here, you can choose from three options: Moderate, Balanced, or Maximum, depending on your system's capabilities and your browsing habits.

Five Ways to Speed up Chrome If you have important sites that you don’t want suspended, add them to the Always keep these sites active list under Settings > Performance > General. 3. Use Energy Saver Mode on Your Laptop

Five Ways to Speed up Chrome To manage the balance between performance and battery life, Chrome offers an Energy Saver mode. You can enable it under Settings > Performance > Power. The mode can be set to activate when your battery drops below 20% or when your laptop is unplugged. When active, you'll see a green leaf icon in the toolbar, indicating that Energy Saver is on. This feature helps extend battery life while still allowing you to disable it temporarily for power-intensive tasks like video calls. 4. Make Use of Extended Preloading

Five Ways to Speed up Chrome To improve perceived speed, enable Extended Preloading under Settings > Performance > Speed. This feature preloads a wider array of websites, meaning pages will open faster when you click on links. However, it does sacrifice some privacy, as Google uses your browsing cookies to determine which sites to preload. To turn off preloading completely, simply uncheck the toggle next to Preload pages. 5. Get Performance Issue Alerts

Chrome's latest feature will alert you when tabs are consuming a significant amount of memory. If your browser starts to lag while watching videos or performing other tasks, a speedometer icon will appear next to the address bar. Clicking on it will show you which tabs are causing memory issues, allowing you to set them to inactive by clicking Fix now. This feature can be enabled via Settings > Performance > General > Performance Issue Alerts. Conclusion By following these five tips, you can enhance your Chrome browsing experience, making it faster and more efficient while managing memory usage and battery life. Whether you’re monitoring tab performance, utilizing memory-saving features, or enabling preloading, these adjustments can lead to a smoother and more responsive web experience. Thank you for taking the time to read this article! Your thoughts and feedback are incredibly valuable to me. What do you think about the topics discussed? Please share your insights in the comments section below, as your input helps me create even better content. I’m also eager to hear your stories! If you have a special experience, a unique story, or interesting anecdotes from your life or surroundings, please send them to me at whatsissue@gmail.com. Your stories could inspire others and add depth to our discussions. If you enjoyed this post and want to stay updated with more informative and engaging articles, don’t forget to hit the subscribe button! I’m committed to bringing you the latest insights and trends, so stay tuned for upcoming posts. Wishing you a wonderful day ahead, and I look forward to connecting with you in the comments and reading your stories! Read the full article

[the-blorb-system]

Ok I got another question since you seem to be very knowledgeable about how tumblr works;

Do you know how I can hide a specific Upload I make, but still make it so when people press on a button that has this upload linked to them, it open up to them on the screen?

Like I don't want people to see like 5-6 unrelated uploads just cause I decided to make a very cool and interactive alter list post

- Digi

Okay, I had to think about this one XD

At first I thought "oh, actually, I dunno if that's even possible..." but a little research has shown me the light.

You can use private posts! When making a post, if you hit the little three-dot-menu up next to the post button, it gives you the option to make the post private. It'll have like a little lock symbol, if I recall.

Whatever you're wanting to upload, post it as a private post and it shouldn't show up on your blog page for anyone but you. From its options menu after it's posted, you can get a link to the post/upload and use that as your web address in a link on another post. Anyone who has access to that link, i.e. anyone who can click on something linked to that address, can then see the private post and will be taken to it.

I mean... as long as I understood everything correctly, at least 😅

-Lizzy

[rtxhoney]

How to give Minecraft more RAM

Simply follow these instructions to give Minecraft more RAM:

Open the Minecraft Launcher.

In the upper-right corner of the launcher, click the three-dot menu and choose “Installations.”

Click the “More Options” button after selecting the installation that needs to be changed.

Locate the “-XML” argument in the “JVM Arguments” field, and adjust the value to the amount of RAM you wish to give Minecraft. For example, “-Xmx4G” means 4 GB of RAM2.

To save your edits, click “Save.”

Recall that you should match the RAM that you give Minecraft to the specifications of your computer. Minecraft needs at least 4 GB of RAM for smooth play. However, you can give Minecraft even more RAM if you have more to improve its performance.

There are additional methods for optimizing your computer’s performance for Minecraft. You can clean your system cache, remove unnecessary files, and uninstall programs. You might want to upgrade your computer’s RAM if Minecraft is still running slowly.

Furthermore, you can add more RAM to Minecraft by optimizing your computer and following these steps. This will make your gaming experience smoother and more fun.

Locating the Minecraft Launcher

You can usually find the Minecraft Launcher on your computer’s desktop or in the Start menu. Once you find it, open it to see the settings where you can change the RAM.

Modifying the Arguments in JVM

Navigate to the “Launch Options” or “Settings” section in the Minecraft Launcher. There will be a field labelled “JVM arguments” or a similar one. You can add as much RAM as you need for Minecraft here.

“— Xmx2G” is the default JVM argument. In other words, two gigabytes of RAM. Change it to “-Xmx4G” for four gigabytes or “-Xmx8G” for eight gigabytes to use more RAM.

Recall that your computer’s total RAM determines how much RAM you can use. Aim to keep your RAM usage within the limits of what your computer is capable of. Issues or even crashes may result from this.

[berenwrites]

The Easiest Way to Get YouTube to Auto-Sync Your Video Script

Not sure how many people this will be useful to here, but I thought I would share, since this tip has saved me a lot of headaches since I discovered it.

Auto-Syncing Subtitles on YouTube

Subtitles are things that are often overlooked on YouTube vids, and as good as AI is getting at creating auto-generated subtitles for vids, there is nothing quite like having personally uploaded, accurate ones for quality control.

However, I have found they can be a little tricky, and doing them manually by hand takes forever!

One way of doing this is paying a company to create a subtitle file from your video and just uploading this. However, for those of us on a budget, this is often a cost we simply cannot afford.

Luckily, YouTube offers great tools to help us out.

The most useful of these for me, is the Auto-Sync option.

Below I'm going to share the most useful tip I have discovered on how to get this option to work quickly and exactly how I want every time.

What you will need to use this method:

the script of your video

YouTube Studio

Method for Flawless Auto-Sync Subtitles

Preformat the script file:

Open your script file in the word processor of your choice - as long as it has a search and replace option.

Add a new paragraph at every point you definitely want a new subtitle - YouTube will auto break longer paragraphs, but it can be very random how it does it and sometimes with large scripts it fails.

This is the important step - search and replace all single paragraph marks with two paragraph marks so paragraphs have a space between them. This will make auto-syncing work like a charm because it will take each paragraph as its own subtitle and has to do way less work.

Inputting the Subtitles:

Open your uploaded video in YouTube Studio and click the subtitles option.

Choose the Auto-Sync option.

Copy and paste the double spaced script into the Auto-sync box and wait while the AI automatically syncs the subtitles to the sound in your video. It should only take a little while (this varies on what time of day it is and how busy the system is).

What to Do If the Auto-Sync Fails

Occasionally the auto-sync fails - it just hangs and never manages to create the subtitles correctly or gives the message "Auto-sync is taking longer than usual" and still never gets there. I have found there are usually one of two reasons for this:

The video has not finished the checking process. In that case I close the subtitle window using the X and choose the "discard changes" option. This means we can start the process over again once the checking of the vid is done and the processes won't interfere with each other.

It's a large script file and it just can't do it. I use the same method of leaving and discarding changes, then I check my file to make script file to make sure there's nothing in it that could be pasting in incorrectly and try again. It usually works the second time.

What to Do If There Are Existing Subtitles and Auto-Sync is Not There

If there are already subtitles on the vid but we wish to add a whole new set, either because they are incorrect or incomplete, we need to first remove the existing subtitles before we can use the Auto-Sync option.

Hence we need to open the subtitles window as usual and choose the clear subtitles option. There are three vertical dots next to the EDIT AS TEXT option at the top of the subtitles screen. Click this and a drop down will appear with the "Clear Subtitles" option. This will delete all subtitles on the vid, so as a precaution, I would download the subtitles first from the same menu. Then if you decide you want them back again for any reason you can just re-upload the file.

Once I discovered the double spacing the paragraphs trick I have not had a subtitle set fail to sync correctly, whereas before it could be a bit hit and miss. I use it for my shorts and my long form and I hope this info will be able to help someone else out if they are having problems.

If you have tips for dealing with some of YouTube's quirks, I would love to hear them in the comments.

[techaipost]

Speed Up Microsoft Edge with These 7 Tips | Fix Slow Edge Browser

Did you notice Microsoft Edge running very slow or take time to load webpages? From a lack of system resources to Running an outdated version of Microsoft Edge, Accumulated cache and cookies, or Having an excessive number of tabs open simultaneously can strain system resources leading to a slower browsing experience. Whatever the reason here we have a few tweaks help you fix the problem and make Microsoft Edge load faster or Speed up Edge browser performance. How to Speed Up Microsoft Edge To boost the speed of Microsoft Edge on Windows 11/10, ensure it's updated. Turn off or remove unnecessary extensions, clear browsing data regularly, and manage open tabs efficiently to reduce resource usage. Additionally, optimize Windows settings, adjust startup applications, and consider repairing Microsoft Edge through its settings if problems persist. Update Microsoft Edge Whenever you experience performance issues with your browser, the first step should always be to ensure it's updated to the latest version. Updates not only bring performance enhancements but also fix bugs that might be slowing down Edge's performance. To check for updates, simply open Edge and go to Settings - About Microsoft Edge. If an update is available, it will automatically download and install. Clear Edge cache and Cookies Regularly clearing your browsing history, cache, and cookies can help free up storage space and improve browser responsiveness. These temporary files can accumulate over time and slow down Edge's performance. To clear browsing data, go to Settings - Privacy, search, and services - Clear browsing data. You can choose which types of data to clear and how far back to go. Turn off or Delete Unnecessary Extensions Extensions can enhance functionality but can also impact browser performance. Disable or remove unnecessary extensions that you don't actively use. While some extensions may be useful, having too many can contribute to slowdowns. Navigate to the Extensions menu by clicking on the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Edge, then select Extensions. Here, you can manage your extensions by enabling, disabling, or removing them as needed. Reset Edge Settings If you've tried other solutions and are still experiencing performance issues, resetting Edge settings to their default configuration can help. This will revert all settings back to their original state, potentially resolving any conflicts or misconfigurations that may be impacting performance. To reset Edge settings, go to Settings - Reset settings and click on the "Restore settings to their default values" button. Disable Hardware Acceleration If you're experiencing graphical glitches or performance issues, try disabling hardware acceleration in Edge settings. Hardware acceleration offloads certain tasks to your computer's GPU, but it can sometimes cause compatibility issues with certain graphics drivers. To disable hardware acceleration, go to Settings - System and toggle off the "Use hardware acceleration when available" option. Repair Microsoft Edge Browser Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows 11 or 10, so we can't uninstall or reinstall it but Microsoft has incorporated a repair feature that essentially reinstall the browser. Any of the browser's broken, damaged, or missing files in its program folder and Windows registry will be replaced, and this could potentially get it to start working again Flush Edge DNS cache To load webpages faster, Microsoft Edge stores and uses data about the websites that you access in its DNS (or Domain Name Server). However, if it stores too much data or it somehow gets corrupted, it will slow down the browser. In this case, flushing your browser DNS should fix the problem. Check for Malware Perform a thorough malware scan using Windows Defender or a reputable antivirus program. Malicious software can significantly degrade system performance, including browser responsiveness. Make sure your antivirus definitions are up-to-date and perform a full system scan to check for any malware or viruses that may be affecting your computer.

[miloscat]

[Review] Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions (3DS)

Past, present, and future...

My AV receiver is in the shop, so in lieu of Sin & Punishment 2 I’ve skipped ahead to a portable rail shooter. Pac-Man & Galaga Dimensions contains six games, one of which is such. Out of the many Namco collections of classic games, this one takes an interesting three-era approach.

The token inclusion of the original arcade Pac-Man and Galaga aren’t very exciting. There’s a few display modes with upright and cocktail cabinet frames as well as a no-frills MAME-style window. You can’t credit-feed but you can choose to start from any round you’ve reached. The added inclusion of an achievement system on the bottom screen is a nice motivation to have a go and try different things, but I didn’t spend too long with these.

The collection jumps ahead now to 2007/8, with what were at the time five-year-old revival attempts: Pac-Man Championship Edition and Galaga Legions. CE is more engaging than the original to be sure with its dynamic dot arrangements and pulsing neon visuals, but it doesn’t have that many modes especially compared to its much-lauded sequel that predates this collection by six months. It’s a solid reimagining of the classic maze gameplay but doesn’t have much ambition beyond that.

Galaga Legions feels much more new, focused on a unique gimmick where enemies can flood the screen from any direction in swirling formations, and you can manually drop two turret pods facing in your chosen cardinal orientation. While the visuals and overlays can be disorienting, if you focus through it it’s pretty interesting. Likewise your shots must cut through the chaff and take out the larger pink ships to scupper whole formations, while the occasional black hole gives you a squad of enemy fighters to bolster your turrets as long as you conserve them. I found this one pretty cool but couldn’t get more than a few levels in before losing all my lives to the swarm each time.

The main reason to pick up this collection would have to be the two brand-new games, which uniquely use features of the 3DS while experimenting with new gameplay styles. Pac-Man Tilt uses designs from the then-upcoming Ghostly Adventures cartoon (there’s also a trailer for the show as a headline item in the menu… hrm), in the context of a side scrolling platformer with heavy use of a gyro-controlled gravity-tilting mechanic and some light pinball elements. For me this immediately called to mind Yoshi’s Universal Gravitation on the GBA, which I feel like got more fun out of the idea despite only having binary tilt states.

Pac-Man can move independent of the level of tilt, but his jump isn't worth a damn unless you're plumb-neutral. While tilted you can get into a rolling state, but can easily blunder into hazards, or get an angle off a flipper that's not exactly, precisely right and thus die. Pac only takes one hit to perish and although there are checkpoints, I rarely had more than two lives so when later levels ramp up the difficulty more and more I found myself redoing levels through gritted teeth. There's 25 levels in all plus bonus stages unlocked by getting medals for good/perfect?? performance, but I didn't finish them all. I couldn't! The idea has potential but it fails to account for just how dodgy motion controls are for precision; YUG simplified the degrees of tilt you had to deal with and was better for it. Also, the game is all about rating your run through of a level; it doesn't need a life counter! Get rid of it!

Galaga 3D Impact is more light-gun gallery shooter in feel than rail shooter since you don't control a character's movement. Rather, you move the 3DS around in real space (groan) to aim your crosshair on aliens passing by. But! Luckily, they've allowed for use of the circle pad as a crutch, which meant I played by holding my console as still as possible and just using the pad to aim, since you can't turn gyro off. It worked ok?!

With only five stages, it's nice as a little bonus game for this collection but don't expect anything too grand. Your ship moves along through spacey zones like a theme park ride, classic Galaga baddies fly past, and you shoot them. It actually does something really cool with the enemy types though. You have a sort of capture beam that has to be charged, but any enemy you hit with it gets absorbed (although I had trouble getting the right timing for the stronger types). Different varieties give you new weapons and tools, and further captures add to an experience bar to upgrade it. Each new ability (bomb, shield, time stop, etc.) gets a new button with its own cooldown, and as your arsenal grows you'll be juggling them all in a fun way while keeping an eye out for specific baddies to capture.

3D Impact was my highlight of the collection thanks to these fun mechanics contained in a very digestible arcadey campaign. Also, I could ignore the gimmicky motion controls! Do I have to mention how antithetical they are to trying to use the stereoscopic 3D visual mode? Pac-Man Tilt tries but misses the mark, while the creaky arcade games can be played a thousand different ways at this point. Pac-Man CE seems to have been obsoleted by its successors and even some ports have added modes not in this version; and Galaga Legions likewise got an expanded rerelease mere weeks before this collection came out. So it's an underwhelming selection, especially on the 3DS's dinky screen. And as solid as Galaga 3D Impact is, it can't carry a full-price game on its own... luckily, this game isn't for sale any more and it's easier than ever to try out things like this via alternate means. Wink. (I did buy this game on cartridge a few years ago, for the record.)