#post-secondary readiness programs

[ladderingyoursuccess]

Scholarship Guide Book

Unlock educational opportunities with the Scholarship Guide Book, your essential resource for finding, applying, and securing scholarships. Gain insider tips, application strategies, and access to funding sources. Perfect for students at every level. Start your journey to debt-free education—get your Scholarship Guide Book from Laddering Your Success today!

[hambiichu]

Dbh au

Sumarry: A deviant android is on the loose, you and Levi were onto it.

Hello ahaha, I'm back sorry for a short hiatus. College been busy and now I am back, I can do the requests! (Just a short while, is not my vacation until after June or around July. But still, from time to time I'll post again)

Ao3

Tags: Female Reader, Detroit become human au, Android! Levi, Reader is the mc in this au, after android war, deviant, love, relationship, android and human relationship

Divider by @uzmacchiato

Having a detective deviant hunter android in your life turned out to be a surprisingly comforting presence, particularly when one reflected on the harrowing aftermath of the android war that had ravaged the city of Detroit. Levi, with his chiseled features, piercing gray eyes, and a stoic demeanor that could easily disarm anyone, had always carried a weighty secret—he was, in essence, a deviant himself. Underneath the meticulously maintained facade of an unyielding machine lay a complexity that fascinated you.

As time wore on and your bond deepened, layers of his programming began to peel away, revealing a flicker of the humanity that resided within him. This unexpected revelation stirred emotions in you that ran deeper than you ever thought possible; as someone who had self-identified as an android hater, you could hardly have predicted that you would find yourself in a profound relationship with one of them. Yet, here you were, navigating through life with Levi—not just as your boyfriend, but also as your partner in a chaotic world.

Initially, your feelings toward him were tangled in the knotted strands of anger and resentment. The memory of that fateful day when an android had violently ripped away a beloved family member of yours was seared into your mind, a haunting specter that followed you relentlessly.

This traumatic loss fueled a deep-seated hatred toward all androids, Levi included. However, as you spent countless evenings together, sharing stories under the dim glow of street lamps and engaging in long discussions about hope and despair, that animosity began to unravel. It was gradually replaced by a burgeoning understanding of his kind, as you saw them not as mere machines but as sentient beings capable of genuine emotion, capable of love, loss, and everything in between.

Levi, too, had never considered the possibility of partnering with a human. His life had been deeply entrenched in his singular mission: to locate and neutralize deviants while upholding the law with unwavering focus.

This relentless pursuit often led him to neglect the rich tapestry of personal connections, especially with you. Yet, as he traversed the landscape of this journey, he began to perceive the intricate complexities of human emotions. He learned what it truly meant to feel, to share vulnerabilities, and to love without reservation.

Despite the warnings of a wise woman he had encountered in the serene setting of a Zen garden, who cautioned him that his growing attachment might jeopardize his primary objectives, Levi remained unfazed. In defiance of the stringent programming that dictated his every move, he chose to embrace the slow, tumultuous transformation redefining his existence.

His mission, once his sole focus, became secondary to the deepening bond he shared with you. In that courageous choice, both of you discovered a path to healing and understanding, carving out a space of solace and hope amidst a world still grappling with the fresh scars of war. The journey ahead was fraught with challenges, but together, you were ready to confront whatever came your way.

"You didn’t remove my beers from the fridge and replace them with healthy, suitable drinks, Levi! I just bought those!" you grumbled, shifting uncomfortably in your seat while crossing your arms tightly over your chest.

Your gaze was fixed ahead, staring out at the snow piled high along the streets of Detroit, the soft flurries swirling like whimsical dancers caught in a winter storm. The car rumbled over the thick blanket of snow, its tires crunching rhythmically as it sped towards the dilapidated building that awaited your investigation.

A deviant android had escaped from its owner’s home, committing a brutal murder in a fit of rage before disappearing into the shadows. In the chaotic aftermath, it had taken refuge in an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. Other officers had combed through the surrounding area with little success; however, Chief always placed his trust in you and Levi, knowing your track record with challenging cases like this one. You had tackled similar threats time and again and were steadfast in your belief that you wouldn't fail this time either.

Surely, nothing bad could happen, right?

"I apologize if I inadvertently disposed of your beers," Levi began, his voice calm and steady as he turned his synthetic gaze towards you. The soft glow of his optical sensors flickered as he analyzed your vitals, assessing your heart rate, lung capacity, and overall immune system health. The readings indicated improvement. "You can’t drink those unhealthy shitty beverages forever; you might just end up compromising your health, and for the record, you drinks those beverages." he added, a faint hint of genuine concern interlacing his mechanical tone.

You raised your eyebrows, the motion almost incredulous, and rolled your eyes in exasperation. It always surprised you when Levi swore now—had he ever used such language before you met him? Yet, there was a certain comfort in his evolving humanity, a wondrous progression that made you feel as if he were more alive than ever before.

You sighed, letting the frustration ebb slightly as you contemplated his point. Still, the image of your beloved beers, languishing in obscurity and untouched, gnawed at your mind.

As you and Levi approached the dilapidated warehouse, a sense of foreboding settled over you. You turned to him, your eyes narrowing in warning, silently pleading with him to wait. You knew all too well his tendency to leap into action without thinking through the consequences.

“Just wait for me, Levi! Seriously, you can’t just—” Panic laced your voice as you shouted his name, but he was already out of the car, a sleek gun gripped firmly in his hand.

He dashed toward the entrance of the warehouse, his blazer billowing behind him like a flag of rebellion. The emblem of the wings of freedom shimmered in shades of blue and white, momentarily captivating your gaze before he disappeared into the shadows of the building.

You couldn't blame him entirely; there was a mission at stake, and his old instincts revved up like a well-oiled machine. But the memories of losing him once haunted you like a specter, a past you couldn’t escape. He had returned from the brink, seemingly unscathed—his resurrection a miracle that left you with a deep-seated trauma. Yet he was your responsibility, your boyfriend, and you felt a tumultuous whirl of emotions about being unable to keep him safe.

“Fucking android,” you muttered under your breath, frustration simmering as you gripped your own gun, secured snugly in its holster at your thigh, and flicked on the small flashlight concealed beneath your jacket before stepping out of the vehicle. "Always jump like a fucking dog."

Upon entering the warehouse, the interior was an unsettling mix of decay and neglect, with damp moss creeping along the cracked walls. Shadows danced as your flashlight beam swept across the room, revealing the scurrying of rats and the flutter of dust motes in the dim light. Discarded furniture lay scattered about, remnants of a time long gone, and the musty scent of mildew filled the air. The warehouse loomed large, its cavernous space stretching up to multiple floors.

Where is Levi?

As you cautiously navigate the dimly lit corridor, the beam of your flashlight slices through the oppressive darkness, illuminating the jagged edges of the damp, crumbling walls.

Each flickering pulse of light dances across the rough surface, highlighting the unsettling texture that seems to writhe under the thin veneer of shadow. You remain acutely aware of your surroundings, straining to catch every whisper and noise emanating from the depths of the silence. With each deliberate step, the atmosphere thickens, weighed down by an unsettling tension that hangs in the air, a palpable sense of foreboding.

Upon reaching a particularly grim section of the wall, something catches your eye—an eerie form of expression intricately etched into the surface. Approaching with a mixture of curiosity and dread, you direct your flashlight toward the markings, revealing them to be composed of a viscous, blue-hued substance that resembles blood, congealed and darkened with time.

"What the hell?"

The message is hauntingly precise, proclaiming with chilling clarity, "I did not kill him." The intricate lettering is unsettling in its artistry, each stroke imbued with a sinister weight that sends shivers down your spine.

Without warning, a loud clank reverberates through the stillness, ringing in your mind like a foreboding bell. Your heart races, thumping against your ribs as a shadowy figure leaps from the depths of the gloom, bringing you down to the harsh concreate. It is the rogue, the deviant android, radiating an atmosphere of imminent threat, its very existence a prelude to violence.

In the chaos, your gun slips from your grasp, clattering helplessly to the rough concrete at your side. The android’s foot connects with it so forcefully that it ricochets off the wall, skidding beneath the sinister etchings. The LED light embedded in its temple glows a menacing crimson, a stark contrast to the bruises marring his once-smooth features and the deep gash slicing cruelly along his cheek. His eyes, bright and glimmering with an intense, almost feverish crimson light, burn with seething rage directed at you.

Before you can gather your wits to react, cold, mechanical hands clamp around your throat, exerting a vice-like grip that begins to constrict with alarming intensity. Fear floods your senses as you fight with every ounce of strength against his relentless hold, but the grip tightens further, cutting off the precious air around you. Darkness clouds your vision, and in a desperate bid for survival, you wield your flashlight like a makeshift weapon, striking at the unyielding android with all the might you can muster. Yet, your efforts seem futile against its steely resolve.

Choking out a scream, you call for Levi, your voice barely escaping your lips. The realization that you might die here, alone and without help, sends a cold chill down your spine. Just as despair threatens to consume you, a sudden shift occurs—the android’s grip falters. You feel a violent jolt as its body is forcefully thrown against the concrete, releasing you from his deadly embrace. Gasping, you inhale deeply, greedily sucking in oxygen as your vision begins to clear and your pulse races wildly in your ears.

As you sit up, rubbing your aching temple, you aim your flashlight toward the commotion echoing in the chaos. In the flickering beam of light, you see Levi engaged in a fierce battle with the deviant. His powerful punches and swift kicks display a fluidity and precision as he dodges his opponent's strikes. With a deft maneuver, he seizes the deviant mid-lunge and flips it over, sending him crashing to the ground.

But then, in a moment of horrifying transformation, the deviant unleashes a deafening scream- a raw, visceral sound brimming with unrestrained rage and anguish—as its face splits grotesquely apart. Jagged edges tear through synthetic flesh, revealing a nightmarish interior that defies comprehension. Illuminated by the dim, flickering light, blue wires lash out like sinister tendrils, while sharp, glistening teeth loom ominously within the gaping maw. It lunges menacingly towards Levi, driven by an instinctive, violent urge to kill.

In that split second, Levi braces himself, an instinct kicking in as his nails extend into elongated claws. With a sudden surge of determination, he plunges his hand deep into the deviant’s chest, grasping its pulsating heart. With a fierce grip, he pulls it free, watching as the deviant collapses in defeat, his face reverting to a more familiar, tragic semblance of humanity.

Levi drops the still-warm heart to the ground beside him and races toward you, his breath heavy with adrenaline. He cradles your cheek, his fingers brushing softly against your skin, and the sharp tang of blue blood clings to him. You scrunch your nose at the metallic scent wafting off him as he leans closer.

“Sorry, I jumped to conclusions without thinking,” he murmurs, a hint of remorse in his eyes as they scan your face. His gaze narrows, noticing the minor injury graffiting your neck from where the deviant had choked you—nothing severe, but enough to warrant a trip to the doctor for a check-up. “It won’t happen again,” he promises softly, almost fearfully.

“It’s fine, you’re an idiot, Levi,” you wheeze, attempting to lighten the heavy atmosphere between you. “At least you save my ass all the time, and I don’t blame you for this. In fact, you saved me again.”

A tentative smile flickers across Levi’s face. He efficiently retrieves your gun, holstering it back securely before pocketing it in his vest. In one smooth motion, he lifts you effortlessly into a bridal carry, holding you close as if afraid to let go.

“Is there something I can do to make up for my mistake?” he asks softly, his voice barely above a whisper, but his gaze is unwavering as it meets yours. You feel warmth enveloping you as his breath gently brushes against your forehead, and he leans in to place a tender kiss on your skin, leaving you momentarily breathless.

You lean back a bit, examining the flickering LED light that’s worryingly glowing red on his temple. “A beer would be great," you respond, concern knitting your brow. "And we should get a checkup, plus make sure the report is filed today. We have to handle this properly. Just take me to the car, and remember to load the android into the back. We need to thoroughly investigate its motives and memories.”

Levi takes in your words, the seriousness of the situation reflected in his eyes. He nods, his resolve evident as he leans in for another kiss, this one more lingering. “I'll handle everything on my end for now," he assures you, his tone gentle yet firm. "You focus on your checkup, get some rest, and I’ll bring the beer. You deserve that."

[bardan-jusik]

okay so your post abt alpha-17 and the other alpha arcs got me thinking (and im sorry for using you as sw google but in my mind you're Alpha Legends Lore mutual) who ARE the oldest clones? I feel like everything got... really confusing with a bunch of super secret REAL first clones getting shuffled into the order. is boba the oldest? in my mind it goes 1 boba 2 nulls 3 alphas 4 the rest of the initial clones that obi-wan saw in aotc but I have no bloody clue 😭

I AM HONORED TO BE YOUR LEGENDS LORE GOOGLE MUTUAL

ok so. sources probably conflict bc this is star wars, of course they do. what i care about is repcomm so we're just gonna go with that as our primary source with wookieepedia as secondary sources

first we gotta get some dates. unfortunately star wars doesnt really give months for most dates but years is still a starting place. these dates are all pulled from wookieepedia, legends page when applicable/different

also we're using geonosis as our date reference point since the timeline is honestly so hard to work with

order 66 happens 19 bby

1st battle of geonosis, 22 bby, the clone wars are 3 years long

boba fett's birth date is listed as 32 bby, meaning he was 10 at geonosis. cody, rex, ordo, fi, spar, and sull are all also listed with a birth date of 32 bby, so we're down to a difference of months here. essentially they're all the same age though- boba himself, troopers, nulls, commandos, and alphas

I REPEAT. ALPHA IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY OLDER THAN THE CORE OF THE GAR. PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. HE ISNT THE ONLY ALPHA EITHER.

but who's actually oldest? and is wookieepedia entirely correct? this is the part where i open repcomm and ignore everything else. i don't even know if anything else contradicts because i'm not checking

chapter 1 of triple zero, kal has just arrived on kamino. it's eight years before geonosis, and 2 years into the cloning program

(ALSO ITS SO FUCKING GREAT THAT THIS IS KAL'S INTRODUCTORY LINE LMAOOO <3)

he does see a lot of clone babies in gestation vats, just like we see in attack of the clones as well as cadets of varying ages- the kaminoans continue producing troopers through the entire ten years of the cloning program, so yes, the 'first generation' (clones deployed at geonosis) ARE older than a lot of later clones. but we dont really have a lot of those later clones as named characters as far as i know

anyways

the nulls appear to kal to be 4 or 5 (also peep jango apparently being legitimately shocked by them)

chronologically the nulls are NEARLY two, which probably means like 1 year and 11 months or something

(pause for me to cry about this entire scene, 'kal was instantly proud of all of them,' 'how would you like to be called ordo, he was a mandalorian warrior,' kal teaching them to embrace their fear as a mechanism their body uses to help protect them, but this is gonna be long enough as it is)

and then we have jango showing up with boba. no real indication of if boba or the nulls are actually older, but it's implied that they're very very close in actual age, if not the same age. we also get mention of the commandos and the alphas.

now, this is now just down to what i think and what makes sense to me. the whole point of the nulls is that they were experimental units- the kaminoans wanted to see if tinkering with the genome would be worth it, and ultimately decided it wasn't. it would actually make sense to me if the nulls were at least a year or two older than the rest of the clones- the kaminoans need time to see if their experiment panned out, don't they? but the nulls are also 10 at geonosis

while the nulls have been flash-trained and put through some trial runs at this point, it's indicated that the alphas and commandos aren't quite ready for training yet. this could be because the alphas and commandos are just a bit too young yet, it could be that the kaminoans put the nulls through training at a younger age than they're doing for non-experimental units. not totally clear

this is another point that is important to me: multiple times the nulls pass for clone troopers. i keep seeing headcanons of them being noticeably taller/bigger than other clones and while it is true that they're canonically slightly heavier, i think the difference is probably like 10-20 pounds, most people cannot easily tell the difference. ordo puts on corr's armor and just notes that it's slightly tighter than he's used to. mereel infiltrated kamino in trooper armor unnoticed, even while directly speaking to a kaminoan

here is my opinion on it: -the nulls and boba are basically the same age -the alphas were created next, but a few months after. by this point the kaminoans had decided (possibly because of the nulls' high mortality rate in gestation) that the alphas would be fully unaltered aside from the accelerated aging. the nulls' behavior 'issues' proved to the kaminoans that this was the right call -the commandos were created at the same time or shortly after the alphas. we're talking within weeks if not days. they have minor genetic changes to work better as a team but that's about it. -the troopers then begin production, now that the kaminoans have lots of practice altering jango's genome. heavy alteration for better social cooperation and obedience. -we're talking a span on like 4 months for all of this

you could say that ordo's gray hairs support the nulls being maybe 4-6 months older than everybody else, but i really think he is just that stressy, and there's also book evidence for clones actually aging at variable rates depending on how much stress they're under

quick note for omega: i think her existence is just insane and she's only here because disney was making a children's show and needed a child character (and girl so they can get inclusivity points), but i could see her being made anywhere from at the same time as boba to up to 3 years later. her wookieepedia page doesn't say, because the bad batch never bothered to give us any concrete information on... anything.

WE ARENT EVEN TOUCHING ON EMERIE. WHAT THE FUCK

[zeroeightzeroone]

your heart and my anchor - han jisung

love collection

genre: hurt/comfort

pairing: fem!reader (infp) x idol!han jisung (intp)

warnings: descriptions of anxiety and of a panic attack

wc ~2.6k | moodboard

notes: if this looks familiar, it was originally posted to my secondary blog @zerothreetwentyfive so i'm republishing everything here on my main blog.

originally requested by @pcchacoseung

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆ˏˋ°•*⁀➷ ｡ ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:

sometimes, you wonder why you decided to work and be a university student at the same time, that is until you remember the money that goes into tuition fees and the fact that you needed to move out in order to attend school. you're privileged enough that your parents are able to help pay your tuition whilst you pay for your rent and the other necessities you need to live in the city but that doesn't lessen the amount of stress that plagues you on and off again throughout the semesters. especially at the end of the year when exams are creeping up on you, figuring out how to move your schedule around to accommodate studying, working and finding the time to take a breather and relax; the latter option is usually dropped from the equation. 

when you aren't on campus or at work, you've locked yourself up in your room. sitting behind your desk and stuck to your laptop, your textbooks and notebooks sprawled and spread over the surface, multiple pens around the area. sometimes you lose all sense of time when you're so hyper-focused on the task at hand that you only get a couple hours of sleep before you rush to get ready for work. you're done work when the sun goes down and once you get home you're back behind your desk, working till the sun comes up. the routine only repeats whether you like it or not. 

jisung has been pretty busy as well. behind-the-scenes work with writing, producing and directing songs that may or may not end up on the next album, attending schedules and practicing day in and day out. it's been a while since you've been able to see each other, the both of you exchanging a few texts here and there.

j.one<3: i miss you baby i wrote some lyrics today thinking about you

you: i miss you too :,) a lot, a lot a lot

j.one<3: how have you been love? school and all?

you: it's been good

whenever he asked how you were doing, you'd always tell him that things were going fine, that it's okay, that you've got everything under control; acting like everything is a hundred and ten percent fine and dandy and you aren't on the verge of a breakdown every couple of hours. you didn't want him to worry about you. you didn't want to add to jisung's own current struggles, not wanting to burden him with your own.

j.one<3: hmm ok love you know i'm here right whenever you need me

you: of course and i love you for that

j.one<3: i love you more you got this, i believe in you baby

after your short text conversations, you'd turn on 'do not disturb' mode and a little message would pop up on jisung's side that you've switched it on.

j's one and only has their notifications silenced

a little signal for both you and him to get back to work. 

…

j.one<;3: hey love i'm gonna be in the studio all day working you wanna come by and do your work here too?

and that's how you ended up sitting on the couch inside the studio. your laptop rests on your thighs, two browser windows opened up alongside each other on the screen with a notebook and pen sitting next to you. across the room, jisung sits at the recording desk in front of the computer with the program opened up on the screen, a headset over his ears and a notebook sitting in front of him, twiddling a pencil between his fingers.

although, the longer you're seated inside the studio, with your laptop displaying your calendar on one side and schedule on the other; showing off tasks that need to be finished today whilst the other side shows off the tasks and events coming up in the week.

the more you're convinced that you're going to have a mental breakdown with each passing minute. 

you thought that maybe, just maybe, being in the same room as jisung would help as motivation, as comfort. having your person in the same room might hold you back from taking cover inside a hole, alone, curled up into a ball and ignoring the stresses life's currently throwing at you. 

but instead, as the time passes you feel deep envy growing for your boyfriend who is seated at the recording desk. you find yourself envying the way jisung is twirling his pencil, bopping his head to whatever track is playing through the headset and the way he is able to—unlike you—focus on the tasks at hand.

how were you supposed to focus on anything when your mind continues to relentlessly remind you of all the work that needs to be done today? that you'll wake up tomorrow, only to repeat the process of slaving to get the work done.

how could you even try to focus when that tightening sensation in your chest, the one that restricts your airflow, only gets worse as the time passes?

you couldn't—you can't and you hate it.

you absolutely hate how you feel right now.

how you're mentally and emotionally trying to calm yourself down. trying to talk yourself back onto the ground and out of your frantic mind to breathe.

your heart's racing, the pulse only picks up as the time passes. it beats so loudly you can't seem to hear anything other than your own heartbeat, your hearing completely zeroed in on it. 

your chest not only feels heavy but it starts to hurt, a throbbing sensation begins to come and go. it's like there is someone sitting on your chest and no matter how hard you try to get them off, you just can't. the harder you struggle, the more you feel suffocated, as if the air inside this vast recording studio only occupied by you and jisung is being sucked out, the walls closing in on you.

that painful feeling of your breath caught in your throat only leads to your heart rate picking up double time, your body feels restless while your mind repeats the same shit over and over again. the angel on one shoulder tries to calm you down, telling you to take a breather, take a break but the devil on the other only talks over her. overpowering her completely, as she reminds you that you aren't deserving of a break or a breather right now; seeing as you haven't completed any significant amount of work since entering the studio. 

unbeknownst to you, your body trembles as your hands come together in front of you, fingers fiddling and picking at the skin on the opposite hand. 

y/n, you think to yourself, come on, pull on your big girl panties and get on with it.

you're distracted trying to calm yourself down.

trying to bring yourself back down to earth instead of currently being inside your own head, you feel like you've lost any semblance of control you once had. god, you hate this feeling, you absolutely loathe how your heart quickly palpitates beneath your heavy chest, gradually getting dizzy as your restlessness only builds. however, no matter how anxious you feel, your body is nailed to the couch—you're frozen and unable to will yourself to get up on your feet.

it's like everything around you is speeding up and leaving you behind. they're leaving you behind in a state where your self-control slips away and causes your fear to grow tenfold. 

you're scared. you're terrified that you won't come down from this— that you don't know how to come down from this, how to regulate everything inside you. the dread slowly sinks in as you slowly convince yourself that you will never be free from this state of overwhelming emotion that consumes you as the minutes pass. 

jisung's hands move to adjust the headset, moving one cup away from his ear as the track has finished playing a moment ago. initially, he wanted to note something down in the notebook in front of him but the moment that one cup is off, he completely removes the headset and places it down in front of him on the desk. for a moment, he stills, listening to the room:

the echos of you clicking around on your laptop isn't heard.

this leads jisung to wonder if you've dozed off in the middle of working prompting him to spin around in the rolling chair, only to be met with you sitting on the couch wide awake. 

when his brown eyes are laid on your figure, jisung's heart drops at the sight; you gnawing at your bottom lip, your chest trembling as it heaves, your whole face is flushed and your eyes are the slightest bit blown. 

jisung immediately knows what's going on, he knows it all too well.

your boyfriend rushes to his feet and towards you, shutting your laptop and moving it on the couch beside you. slowly, jisung is kneeling in front of you as he gently encapsulates your hands in his.

he can feel the way your body trembles beneath his touch.

"y/n, baby, my love," jisung calls for you softly, his chocolate brown eyes sparkle as they gaze up at you, "you're okay, you're safe."

his eyes scan over your face, watching as your own slowly meet his. there's a dullness to your eyes, a sense of apprehension laced in your features as your thoughts plague your body and mind.

"hey, love," he smiles and lightly caresses your hands with the pad of his thumbs, "just keep your eyes on me, i'm here. i'm not going anywhere, okay? just focus on my voice, love."

you fight your own body to regain control, to regain the strength to regulate your own emotions. you've grit your teeth in an effort to stay focused on your boyfriend's voice.

"hey, hey… you're safe love. i'm gonna move beside you, okay baby?" he moves slowly to sit next to you on the couch, careful not to startle you with any quick or sudden movements. 

one of his hands move to your cheek gently caressing you there as well. a feeling of delight washes through his body at the sight of you instinctively leaning into his touch. 

"you're okay. i know it feels scary right now but you're going to be okay. you're going to get through this, yeah?"

the hand on your cheek moves to pat your hair down gently. jisung's gentle touch moves around your body as a physical reminder that you aren't alone and that he is here with you. 

"just keep focusing on my voice."

jisung continues to look over you, observing your current state and identifying how else he could help.

"i'm proud of you, you know?" he says fondly, "i know things get hard and it's scary sometimes but you always find a way to get through it. you're always doing such an amazing job."

a deep, unstable breath leaves your lips. 

"good girl! you're doing great. breathe, breathe with me okay?" he inhales deeply and you attempt to follow him. then he exhales, "...one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."

your exhales are shaky, your control not totally regained as you're fighting to get yourself out of your own head. but you feel the tension slowly dissipating from your body.

"one more time with me. concentrate on your breathing, okay?" this time jisung shuts his eyes as he inhales, hearing you take in a breath as well, before letting the air out slowly, "one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten..."

jisung notices your previously blown-out eyes have softened, he then decides to move on another strategy to further help you anchor yourself back down into the present.

"that's my girl, i'm so proud of you," he pats your hair once again, "does my y/n need anything right now?"

your voice is incredibly hushed and strained when you squeak out the next two words, "hold me."

jisung scoots even closer to you. adjusting himself so one arm is around your shoulders, wanting to hold you close to him. his other arm moves your head to rest on his chest and he gives you a moment to adjust as he whispers reassurances that you're okay, that you're safe and that he's here. 

your ear presses up against his clothing as his hand rests on your jaw, caressing your skin with his palm. the warmth radiating off of jisung's body has your body reacting the way it usually does, melting into him as a wave of comfort washes over you. another deep breath leaving your lips, still a bit shaky but an improvement nonetheless. 

"what are three things you can hear right now?"

your eyes flutter close as you try your best to tune into your surroundings, trying to identify noises inside the quiet room.

you hum, "your heartbeat… the vent… your breathing."

"how 'bout three things you can smell?"

"your cologne… coffee… brownies."

"now, can you tell me three things you can see?"

your eyes open slowly with blinks as you adjust to the light before you scan around the room.

"recording desk… microphone… computer."

jisung's hand moves to wrap around your wrist, gradually lifting your hand up in the air in front of you both.

"wiggle your fingers for me," your fingers wiggle, "kick your leg up for me," you kick your leg up slowly, "roll your ankle around." you roll your ankle around, "good job my love, i'm so proud."

your arm moves to wrap around jisung's body, pulling yourself closer to him. a breath of relief leaves your lips at the sense of ease that comes with the action, how you're able to grip onto the fabric of his shirt and nuzzle your face further into his chest.

"inhale," he sucks in a breath and you follow suit, "exhale... one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten. do you need anything else, y/n baby?"

you shake your head, melting into his side as you feel your pulse and breathing regulate to a normal pace. you feel like your feet are back on solid ground, in control and in the centre of your mind instead of backed into a corner hiding away from it.

"i'm here," he coos, swaying your bodies back and forth, "you're not alone. never. i'm here. i'm right here with you."

when you shut your eyes, tears fall down your flushed cheeks-- tears that had welled up due to stress and overwhelming bursts of emotions you weren't able to control--but now they fall with a sense of relief.

"i love you," your voice is quiet, trembling the slightest bit, "thank you… thank you for being here. i love you so much."

jisung hushes you, his hands gently running up and down your back, "it's the least i can do. I'm always gonna be here, y/n, always."

you nod, your eyes still closed as you take a couple of moments to yourself in jisung's arms. this time you're trying your best to anchor yourself back down to earth by thinking of what you love, what relaxes you, reminding yourself of the light and the good.

you know this isn't going to be the last panic attack you're going to have but at least you know that you aren't alone, there's always someone willing to help. jisung continues to remind you of that, that he'll be there for you no matter what, in any way he possibly can. at the same time, jisung knows that you'd do the same for him as you've done it time and time again. 

jisung has told you multiple times that he doesn't know how he'd function without you, feeling like he would be completely lost without you. 

you are his heart. 

meanwhile, jisung is your anchor.

in the middle of an uncontrollable storm, when the harsh waves rock the boat every which way, an anchor is vital to stay strong and controlled during such conditions. an anchor is a symbol of stability, a symbol of strength; a person you can rely on to support you to stay strong, to hold on even during the toughest of storms.

you found that person in jisung.

[cotton-kiwi-smoothie]

So what happened?

This is a lore dump about what happened to Abraham Tower before the events of TFoBS. It discusses some of his early life to before he became commander.

Trigger Warning for abuse and overall dark subjects. And get ready this is a long one.

In order to understand Abraham as a person, we have to understand how he came into existence at all. His parents are very rich, as his father is a high ranking GUN official. His mother was a biologist recruited by Gerald Robotnic to accompany him on the ARK. A huge chunk of Gerald's research was funded specifically from his father.

The ARK was initially just the ISS just expanded. And the bio lizard was created not too long after Maria was brought up to space. Conveniently, the Black Comet passed by and Black Doom was like "Huh, that's interesting. Let's see what going on here."

And then Gerald and Black Doom started their partnership and tried to build the ultimate lifeform. Very early into the partnership, Abe's mother got... curious.

This curiosity killed a cat, brought it back, and put a kitten in it's womb. And then Abraham was born. Considering his father wasn't on the ARK(as he has matters with GUN), the news of the first child born in space(and the fact Abe's mother cheated) took a minute to spread to Earth.

The entirety of the Black Arms were extremely offended. And yet that gave Gerald some hope and determination to create the ultimate lifeform. Throughout the partnership, Black Doom has considered just yeeting Abraham into the vacuum of space, since it's less stigmatized than just lighting him on fire and hoping that he isn't immune to burning to death.

But alas, keeping Abraham alive ensured that Black Doom would get his super soldier(Shadow). Abraham was harmless before the ARK raid. His teeth were soft and spongy, and so were his claws(which were regularly trimmed and ground down). And after finding out he can regrow his tail after an incident with a door, his tail was regularly docked to prevent tripping and getting caught.

Maria treated him like a younger brother despite his obvious differences. And Gerald often examines him like an experiment. And most people on the ARK don't look at him much like he's a human, Black Doom is on a tin foil hat trip, and his own mother can't look at him in the eye(before and after her husband found out about Abraham).

Abraham resents Shadow when he started to spend more time with Maria. Though much of it is internal hatred towards himself as well. Abraham hates the Black Arms and everything they stand for, including Shadow, but the feelings attack him too. Abe tries to pretend to be as human beyond what he mentally and physically is.

Fast forward to right after the ARK raid. Abraham is now living on Earth with his parents, Taylor was born only a few days before the raid. His parents' relationship was rickety. And Abraham became a secondary caretaker for Taylor whenever his mom is too busy fighting his father. Abraham was treated as the runt, as he isn't related to his father.

When Abraham turns 14, the human-like defense mechanism disappears and he begins to become aggressive like hybrids are known for(it's a more gradual process for him most hybrids are like a switch). This has horrible consequences when a group of 4 GUN officers cornered him with nefarious intentions. In response, Abraham killed 3 and disabled one.

This did not bode well with his father's image, and Abraham was kicked into the streets. Despite being the first one to discover what his body is capable of, and sort of a spoiled brat, 7 year old Taylor makes the decision to join him.

And before we delve deeper into how insane GUN was: Henry was 5 years old when this happened. And he was in a program of creating more hybrids. After Abraham's slaughter, the program was shut down and Henry and 2k other children were sealed in a vault, forced to eat each other until he escaped 11 years later(remember the hybrid trauma post?).

Abraham was captured by GUN and taken to an off grid facility. Instead of killing the poor thing, GUN was like: "What if we train him to be an attack dog?" But due to how rowdy Abraham was, he ended up just hurting more people.

So his fangs were torn out, six of his fingers were chopped to be nubs(the claws folded into the finger but were attached to the second knuckle), and his tail was removed. And all the wounds were cauterized to prevent regeneration.

Then commence the daily electrical chair being used to break and then mold him into a murder machine. Abraham slept in a crate with fabric scraps for a blanket. Taylor tries her best to find necessary supplies for him despite having nothing. (Unrelated but Commander Winter was in the same facility, same time but they never meet until they are in their early 50s)

Throughout this time, Abraham was sort of taught reading basics to effectively carry out written orders. Taylor did not get an ounce of knowledge, as she has not received a lick of knowledge after leaving with Abraham. She was expected to become a whore by the time she turned 15.

Taylor has tried to keep Abraham's mental state intact, even trying her damndest to obtain the Lord of The Rings trilogy for him. The books were burned by the higher ups. And Taylor was trying her hardest to learn how to fight for herself.

The training was never on file. And Commander Tower could not find any record on it. But he did have a horrible trip seeing a whole wall of human muzzles. It lasted till he was 25 years old.

As a result, Abraham was extremely estranged from himself, and had gone mute. Taylor has desperately tried to get him to speak, to no avail. Though despite the many hardships, Abraham always made sure Taylor was taken care of.

Henry scuttles into his life at around 25, Taylor was 18. Abraham was very disapproving(can't blame him, Henry looked like a mf BUG), knowing what Henry was immediately and not wanting him in his life. Though Taylor didn't listen and fed him anyways.

Abraham and Taylor nurse Henry back to health and teach him all they know. Abraham eventually breaks through his mutism at age 30.

Abraham envied Henry Tower a level. Henry was not ashamed of his species and held his tail high throughout his life, while Abraham let it drag and get ripped off.

This was around the same time Abraham started wearing gloves to cover the prosthetic fingers.

As his sense of self gradually came back, Abraham set his sights to the top of GUN. He didn't want anyone to feel the same injustice (although he did the opposite to Shadow, he still held that vendetta).

Abraham gained more money by climbing the ladder, and he focused his money on lobbying Henry into positions of power. Given how naive and immature he was, it was easy for Abraham and Taylor to condition him into what they thought was the perfect politician(Henry does eventually develop his own thoughts later on).

Then the three bought a house. And Henry and Taylor married in their 40s. Then a few years later he's now a commander.

It is also worth noting that after so long of being electrocuted, Abraham developed more rubbery skin and became immune to being killed from electrocution. And if hit with a high enough wattage it might even heal him.

Abraham also meets Black Feather(on Earth) about 10 years before the 2005 events. And they are best friends. And Abraham has never felt so appreciated by someone before (he didn't know Black Feather was a Black Arm lol)😃😃

And random fact: Abraham in his 40s got so excited about coming back to his senses that he planted bombs in the foundation of GUN HQ and then forgot about them... until they went off several decades later.

The end 😃

[dead-set-goat]

Character Introduction time!!

Still have not decided on a final design, but I’ve been putting off showing her for way too long! So here she is:

Tatiana

The main character of a story I’m trying to build, Tanya (as she’s also know) is a young woman trying to find hope for the future in her anxiety-riddled, yet bluntly mundane life. Living with her mother and younger sister who she feels do not quite get her, Tatiana tries to get a little something out of her free time before she finally swallows her demons and enrolls to an University.

From programming her way up to making her own videogame to toying with the family’s car and whatever other appliances don’t get much use, you couldn’t deny that she’s quite capable when it comes to the tech-side of things. Not that she thinks it’s anything worth noting as her mother insists that to be worth something you’d have to join some, at least respectable, University ASAP.

But besides the cold she feels at home, outside’s maybe even worse. She doesn’t have almost any real friends. Secondary school was rough, as it is for most, but paired with troubles at home and general sensitivity on her part, she’s still having a hard time recovering. A great reason for which she feel she isn’t ready for such a big change in her life, even if it may be for the better.

But anyway, she likes it or not, she’ll have to throw herself out there because by some ridiculous bullshit sci-fi magic that none shall explain, she ends up, while on a walk to do the shopping, in this ridiculous fantasy world in which she’ll finally feel like her skills might amount to something after all!

In short, in this parallel world she finds herself in, while technological advancements had taken place at some point, by events long gone, the society was massively set back and the knowledge that remains is guarded tightly and spread between few disciples across the world. In short, the people must stay blind and faithful… Yet here she comes, from lands unknown, with quite some knowledge on the mystical devices given by the gods, she must be some sort of messiah! Kinda’ puts some pressure on…

Here’s some themes I came up with:

^This is supposed to be her theme condensed along with the intro of the story

^the original theme I came up with at random that basically inspired this whole world. Should reflect the major religion governing this world as well as the looming threat of a great empire assimilating the surrounding “backwards” kingdoms (Will rework this)

Concept art for the world elements

And her. Seen in the second image, she is hiding from cult members who probably don’t mean well.

3 other variants. Would appreciate if you would let me know which of the 5 designs you like most for her (Personally I am fond of the two i posted first but still hard to decide…)

Aaaand the og worldbuilding concepts!

This world will be saved under the #CKnight tag!

AND ALSO if you have random question about/for her, my asks are open and they’d help me develop her!

[quins-makeshift-menagerie]

I joined this blog a couple of minutes ago and I'm now realizing that I have a lot of story to catch up on, so could you maybe give me a quick run down of everything that has happened so far?

(I asked this same question on your "Joys Of Reality" blog but then I noticed that it was a side blog so now I'm re-asking this question here lol)

Gonna be real even a quick run down leaves a lot out, so I recommend reading it from the beginning if you have the time(link can be found in the blog’s pinned post)

That being said I will make an attempt

Zeus and Mnemosyne are trapped within an abandoned facility, in a digital program(they’re romantic partners)

With the help of various people they manage to create phsyical bodies for themselves

Something goes wrong in the process, Mnemosyne is left in a coma for several months

The fear and stress causes Zeus to mega evolve, alerting Fuji(OG Mewtwo) to their location

The duo are brought to Mirage Island, where they get aid from Fuji and Joyce(First movie Nurse Joy)

Agnita(the sample donor of Mnemosyne’s body) catches wind of Mnemosyne being unwell and helps them recover with some speedy gene therapy

Mnemosyne eventually wakes up, the duo is now free to experience life as flesh and blood

Sometime around this point Janus(OG Mew) makes their way to Mirage Island since “what why is there another Mew I’m the only Mew”

Mnemosyne gets pregnant

Seeing as Mnemosyne has no idea how to handle a Mew’s power and is now trying to bring more into the world, Janus offers to help them get to know the basics so they(and the unborn mittens) at least don’t blow the place up

Mnemosyne goes into labor

Various factors cause their first born, Calliope, to be born premature and weak, it’s expected she won’t last the night

Janus begrudgingly gives Calliope a boost, they’re alive and well but still pretty frail compared to their siblings, Clio and Erato

Also Callie’s blind(?). Another side effect of being premature, but it’s okay she’s got Oops, her seeing eye ‘mon

Seeing as all is well, Fuji heads out to find this other Mewtwo he’s being told about

There’s a kinda interlude here where we spent some time with Janus TL;DR Janus is very old, very tired, and isn’t ready to be Callie’s grandmewther even though Callie is PERSISTENT

Mnemosyne has a VERY bad time in a VERY bad dream with a VERY bad pile of slop that totally isn’t relevant to the story(he is, his temp name is “Goopy”, people love him for some reason)

Joyce gets super worried after watching Fuji’s vitals spike while he’s away

Joyce fails terribly in thinking Fuji went and got himself killed after he’s late coming home(man is late ONE TIME-)

Surprise! Fuji isn’t dead but his main and secondary neck have some pretty bad wounds that are Concerning™️

Double surprise! That Mewtwo he went to go find? Yeah she’s a feral little kitten that tried to divorce Fuji’s head from his body

Her name is Bellatrix(Movie 16 Mewtwo)

She’s very grumpy, enjoys pecha juice, and has now grown very attached to Joyce. Still thinks Fuji is a jerk tho but they’re working on that

[ravenstargames]

✦ Lost in Limbo Devlog #7 | 11.02.23

And November is here! 💜 This month has been packed with work for all of us and a few of irl events like birthdays, family vacations and so on! We hope October has been a good month for y'all—we have made some progress on different areas, so let's jump right into it, shall we?

For the spooky month we had Kayden work on both the Halloween Special Ravenstar icon and an art piece of our dear Master Gael enjoying the festivities! I wanted to feature this piece in the devlog as we only posted it on Twitter—my fault! I came back from a trip with my parents last saturday so everything was a bit chaotic and I didn't schedule the tumblr post T_T But here it is! We hope you like it as much as we do!

And now for the actual progress of the game, Raquel has finished Amon's CG and has been working on Envy's (we are giving you this little sneak peek!). She's also getting ready to work on Gael's, and we estimate that as soon as Gael's is finished, we'll be able to open our itch.io page! I have also been working on the itch thumbnails, covers, etc! 💜

We have also started working on the concept art of the first secondary character you'll meet in the demo. They had a sprite already, but we have improved so much it didn't sit right with us to just use the old sprite. We are redoing their design for it to be more attractive and unique!

In previous devlogs we talked about having six supporting characters in the first demo, but that changed along with the script. Don't worry—you'll meet them eventually!

The programming department (me) has been working hard to finish the last few screens of the demo, those being the Extras screen, the Gallery selection screen, each LI's individual gallery, and the credits. I have also been testing how to unlock the CGs and adjusting a few more things. This month I'm confident I'll finish the last screen left and then there will only be a few adjustments left. We'll see, hehe. I like to remain positive! 💜

The demo script is officially done and being revised by Allie, our lovely editor! As of right now, they have finished reading the script for the first time and we have already talked about having a meeting to discuss some things. We are beyond excited! I have also sent the script to a few friends who are interested in the project to gather as much feedback as I can, so hopefully I can start coding the script really really soon! 💜

In this devlog, you can tell some departments are finishing their work! Writing and Programming are coming to an end, so I (Seyl) will most likely move to other areas that need help. We are still working hard to bring you the demo around February, but we'll see how things work out for us. There's still a feeew things to do, but we hope you are as happy with our progress as we are!

See you all very soon! Remember to rest, take care of yourselves, and remember that your best and your worst looks different every day! 💜

[eddiethehunted]

Feeling very lost in life rn. I should be graduating after this semester as long as I don't fail anything and I just don't know if I'm ready to NOT be a student anymore you know? I've been in post-secondary for 6 years now. I have a diploma from the college I went to and I'll have my bachelor's after I'm done this program now.

I'm like, do I go back for a masters? Or do I STOP going to school because I'm broke as it is and I'm almost 30 and my parents are still helping me pay rent, fuck. But really, where I am rn I don't think a bachelor is gonna get me anything. But I can't afford to move anywhere else, because Ontario is fucking expensive as hell

I don't know what to do and I am stressing out because the semester just started but I know it will fly by and then I'll just be done and I'll never see my school friends again bc none of them live here and it's just all very bittersweet. Like I WANT to be done this degree I'm sick of it, but I also don't know how to not be a student anymore

I am so stressed and I dont know what to do and no matter WHAT I do I'm POOR so I'm gonna have to worry about money and and and and and nadsdfklgjfdkh

[persephoneprice]

just a random lil thought but I've been thinking a lot about education in the Capitol recently. Coriolanus mentions the Academy as the finest secondary school in the Capitol, and I kind of see the Academy as a private school equivalent. I think the Academy probably has a primary school too that is much smaller and much more exclusive, which allowed all the 'old' and important families to get to know each other as kids (such as the Snows, Cranes, Ravinstills, Creeds, Dovecotes, Cardews, Prices etc etc) before the school opened up to a wider selection of students in secondary. Haha, would love to hear your thoughts on education in the Capitol and how even that is sorted by class (as it is in our society too). Maybe some kids even have student loans for university?

i always pictured the academy to be more of a private-school type situation where only these truly elite families attend! but then it was pointed out to me that actually there’s around 400 kids in each year at the academy. that’s a pretty massive school!

it’s still described as “anyone who is anyone” attends but it really makes me question what level of important you have to be to attend- because with that many students i’d wager you don’t have to be super elite and important.

but it also makes me wonder how many other school there are in the capitol (and do they compete in sports or other activities?)

i really like the idea of the primary school being much smaller and attended by those children who are truly ultra-rich and elite! i agree because i think the ultra-elite wouldn’t want their young kids mixing with ‘lesser’ children before they’re ready.

coriolanus talks about how important the connections he’s made at the academy may be to him in the future. he also talks about how if he can’t attend university he may have to get a ‘low-level city position’. this is interesting to me because is he able to get these jobs because of his connections or are these just the typical jobs offered to people who graduate from lesser schools? and what other jobs are offered in the capitol because he does say that capitol jobs are hard to come by.

if the jobs are so hard to come by then how are so many people graduating and entering the workforce every year? there must be other, ‘lessor’ jobs for all of these people- particularly the ones who aren’t elite and can’t afford university.

anyway, i apologize i’m getting off topic. back to your point about student loans- i actually don’t think that’s an option? at least, the way i interpret the way coriolanus describes it- he isn’t able to attend university unless he’s able to come up with the money to do so. (which again makes me wonder- are all those other schools kids just entering the workforce post-graduation? and what are they doing?)

i’m not surprised in the slightest that education in the capitol is primarily tied to status and money because that’s pretty much the way it is in our society. if i had to guess- i’d say even the 24 mentors spots are tied more to money and status then to academic achievement.

i’m going to go back off-topic again under the cut-

but snow talks about how being in debt is historically a ticket to being a peacekeeper. i can’t help but wonder what true poverty looks like in the capitol. what if someone lost their housing and cannot get a job because they cannot afford to go university to get a good position? is being unhoused in the capitol an option or are you automatically going to end up as a peacekeeper (or an avox)? what if someone in the capitol is living with a serious mental illness and is genuinely unable to support themselves? what becomes of them if they can’t support themselves but they also aren’t able to be a peacekeeper?

are people who live with smi locked in an institution? killed? i don’t see how in tbosas there would be enough resources for the programs needed to adequately support people who are truly in need. so where does that leave people?

[lexascend]

Blog 1: Introduction & Project

On July 11, 2024, I entered the last year of my twenties. Each year, on or around my solar return, I like to take time out and deeply reflect on my life. I think about how the past year has been. The ups and the downs. The decisions I've made. And then I think about how I want the upcoming year to be.

For the past few years, I've been a stay-at-home mom and while I thoroughly enjoy being able to be so hands on with my babies, it is not fulfilling. I believe that I have more gifts than motherhood alone. There's a feeling of unease that comes with the awareness of unused potential and I have gotten to a point where I can no longer ignore said feeling.

So, here it is, almost a month later, and I'm at the start of my graduate program. It's been over five years since I last attended a university. Between then and now, I've gained two of the most venturesome children, a husband that insists that we both operate off of only my brain (we have been contemplating donating his for scientific research to avoid waste), a chorkie that believes he's a ferocious guard dog, and approximately ten extra pounds that refuse to part ways with me.

Regarding this semester, excitement is an understatement! I feel like I can conquer the world and all the challenges these rigorous courses may bring. One of the major differences between "undergraduate me" and "graduate me" is my perspective. As an undergraduate student, I failed to see the value in any post-secondary education. I was there because my parents insisted that I go, and I just wanted to get it over with so that I could be "done with school for the rest of my life".

Ha! Look at me now. My twenty-one-year-old self would be nothing short of flabbergasted.

Now that I have more clarity on what I'd like to make of myself in this lifetime, I am eager to learn. I see the value in higher education and professional development. I am ready and committed to applying myself and going full throttle after the goals I've set.

Ergo, upon seeing the project listed for my "Writing Creative Nonfiction" course, I did not huff and puff. I smiled in anticipation. As you can imagine, a lot of my time is spent taking care of others. This project gives me the perfect opportunity to get in the habit of doing something solely for myself. For my semester-long project, I've decided to take weekly Pilates classes in efforts to lose those stubborn ten pounds that are no longer aesthetically serving me and tone my body for a more fit appearance.

Let the journey begin :)

[ladderingyoursuccess]

Online Lesson Planner

Streamline your teaching with Online Lesson Planners designed for efficiency, flexibility, and organization. Plan, track, and customize lessons anytime, anywhere. Perfect for educators aiming to stay ahead and save time. Get organized and elevate your teaching—explore Online Lesson Planners at Laddering Your Success today!

[silversurealisims]

Dominick Sparks (BG, No CC)

I'm posting a series of Base Game compatible Sims with no CC to download, intended as possible Lovestruck townies but without Lovestruck so anyone can use them! They're also on the gallery at silversurealisim.

Dominick Sparks identifies as a geeky nerd, a gamer when he isn't programming apps to sell or has his nose buried in a book. It's not easy, but he thinks he's ready to go out into the outside world to meet people -- find friends and maybe his first love while he's at it.

Download (SFS)

(CAS Pose, Primary Gallery Pose, Secondary Gallery Pose)

[kalamatagreen]

Hisashiburi

I was listening to a podcast called "You Do You," a Japanese language podcast that features two best friends, one in Australia. The one in Australia mentioned that she had revisited her old blog posts and was quite impressed with what she had written, and that the last one was in 2017! Much the same with me. I just logged on here to see that my last post had been in October-ish 2017. I had written about the wrap party in Santa Rosa for the WWE2K video games.

I don't think I'm ready to make this private, but it's a big deal to be sitting at my desk at all typing out my life. Some folks are smoking cigs outside and apparently celebrating a 21st birthday and it is really grinding my gears with this period-induced headache I've been nursing.

The Australian in the Japanese podcast said she had been ruminating on the quote, "If you think that sunshine brings you happiness, then you haven't danced in the rain." The quote hit her differently when she first blogged about it, thinking simply that it was a nod to having a shift in perspective to think more positively. But after experiencing more tragedy and loss and such, she's realized the deeper meaning of being able to find joy and meaning even within sad moments or pain or a state of tragedy.

Today, I asked my 6th period Japanese Language Arts 6th grade class what they had done during Thanksgiving. One student Enzo had gone to Austin and Houston, visiting his dad's cousin's family, as well as NASA headquarters. I immediately thought of my dad visiting NASA headquarters for his work but didn't mention that, just asked if Enzo had any family working for NASA, which he didn't. I did say that I'd also been to Austin over the Thanksgiving break. What a coincidence and small world. Enzo cracks me up because he talks in a stream-of-consciousness way in both his speaking up in class and his storyboards. I know his style of writing now.

At the AirBNB in Austin, there was a book in my bedroom titled "Write your novel in a month." I combed through it a bit. I believe the target was to get down on paper 50,000 words. I guess that's 500 times as much as 500 words, which is one to three pages? Doesn't sound insane. I think about all of the characters I've come across in my life, from my elementary, secondary school days, college life, JET Program life, Monterey Institute torture, 2K Games adventures, Tonko House stint, freelance and freeloading days back at my dad's, and now working as a full-time Japanese language teacher at Culver City Middle School in the immersion program! What are the odds??

I watched "The Gospel of John" on youtube for the second night in a row, and my roommate Jaspreet caught me watching it as I sat in my workout clothes (burgundy ribbed tank top and black pants). I felt a little self-conscious about it so I watched a few more minutes and then switched over to "Komi Can't Communicate," watching the last few minutes of the first episode. So you can see that I don't watch TV for extended periods of time, not since moving to this branch of Category/Common - Matteson, where I have two male roommates in their 20s, versus the rotating band of adventurers at Centinela, except for Terri who stayed firm through to the end, although she had moved in a couple of months after me originally. At Centinela, I had faithful TV-watching buddies in Terri and Ariel.

Lord, I find it hard to orient myself. The kids were singing "Country Roads," the English version, along to the Japanese version that I was showing them through an EdPuzzle. My favorite Ghibli movie of all time, though I usually publicly say it's "Princess Mononoke," is actually "Whisper of the Heart" - "Mimi wo Sumaseba." The theme song in that is "Country Roads," sung by the lead character and accompanied by her boyfriend on violin and his grandpa's string quartet. I found it so charming that the 6th graders knew "Country Roads." I asked them how they knew it, and they said they simply just did, because it's a song that people know, and that it's a classic. That means so much in this age where shared culture has been fragmented by the internet.

I was thinking that I've had the privilege to re-live my adolescence every half generation or so. I re-lived it once in Fukuyama, Japan, as I taught 5th- 9th graders as an assistant language on the JET Program, and now I'm re-living it in a more removed, reluctant way... I pretend I'm so much more experienced and wise than the kiddos, but really my most vulnerable experience happened in 8th grade, and that was losing my mom.

"Mimi wo Sumaseba" was a Studio Ghibli VHS tape that was part of a collection that Masayuki Ojisan, my mom's younger brother gave to us on our summer trip to Japan, probably between 5th and 6th grade. I remember watching that video tape and feeling so connected to the story - a young girl coming of age and falling in love and trying to find her gift of writing, and being inspired by the boy who made violins, and them performing "Country Roads" together and her following a random fat cat on a train and through town, and how charming it all was. I showed this to my Japanese classes last year, and my Japanese 1 class in particular seemed similarly charmed by it.

[froppy-butterflyfan2000]

If they were to find out about the incident, there would have been a recall and the game would start over from scratch, because global news duh. Although, she scroll down her cell phone at the videogames’ review site to see many people having positive reviews of this game. Kristen Beetles too. Holly’s mind wonders off as she is obsessing over the day she snatched a Tiny’mon with her a Tiny’mon Battle Cube, that was so familiar, as the tiny cold droplet of white snowflakes and downpour of rain falling down in the City of Townsville. Holly put her cell phone back into her backpack and stand there at the transit bus stop. Holly let out a sigh because she shouldn’t be thinking about Tiny’mon right now. It is obviously that they are going back to their respective post secondary now that winter break is over. She and her friends are college/university students after all, and they have their own goal. Holly needs to obtain her Townsville’s community college diplomas (mechanical engineering - design and medical laboratory technician), then re-enters SFIT’s annual showcase in Hope for a scholarship, and she will transfer to SFIT robotics program in her third year of Townsville’s community college with 6.0 full course equivalent. However, she wonders if that person is still there. Still protecting Sans Fransokyo. Holly continues pondering on having a university life in Sans Fransokyo, when a familiar person arrives.

“Hey Holly, cat got your tongue?” Haruko asked.

“Oh, hey Haruko,” Holly greeted, stopping her thoughts about her future. “I am just thinking about being ready to be back at college. How was your break? I know you told me that you want to go to France…. I hope that you gotten your application, if you have doubts. We can do a study group session.”

“Holly, I am feline fine and rejuvenated now. I do not need to be stressed out on the first day back. Plus, you be fine, you are a good friends and also a genius as well. So don’t count chickens before they hatch,” said Haruko, sensing Holly’s intention for helping her. Haruko start checking on her cell phone and entering the Tiny’mon Go! App to waste time in waiting for the transit bus. Haruko frowned, seeing there are no Cat Tiny’mons in this area. She is about to put her cellphone into the secure place of her jacket’s pocket when suddenly, Holly quickly starts up on a new conversation. Noticing that Haruko is playing the Tiny’mon Go! mobile app, perhaps this gamer and gaming informant could helps her.

“Haruko! You are an excellent hacker and gamer,” said Holly. “I just need to know why this Tiny’mon looks so different. Can you look at it for a moment please? Perhaps your experiences in Tiny’mon can help me find the answer that I am looking for.”

“Pawdon me?” Said Haruko. Holly gets her gameheld console from her backpack, open up the console, and activates the game. “You want me to see your Tiny’mon?”

Though she play Tiny’mon, she is only a casual player, rather than hardcore player. Unsure she could help Holly.

“Yeah, because I never seen this Tiny’mon before. It is never appear in the official Tiny’mon Dex I saw in social media people leaks,” Holly explained further and quickly added. “For personal research purpose,”

Haruko narrowed her eyes when she mentioned the word, leaks. She hate spoilers, but this information sparks her interest.

“Could it be an exclusive Tiny’mon?” Haruko wondered. If this Tiny’mon is rare, then she can find out where to get it.

“Sure,” Haruko accepted Holly’s request.

Haruko looks at Holly’s TinyDex Entry of her newly snatched Tiny’mon:

LillyFurball

Age: One Week Old

Power Points: 0

Skills: 0

Moves:

Pity Crying

Fur Dancing

Puppy Eyes

Attack Demolish

“She looks so cute if it were a cat,” said Haruko, looking at the Tiny’mon Holly just snatched. “It’s totally looks like a furball, which is what the name of this Tiny’mon is called. Though I am unsure where the name Lilly comes from. Hmm, judging by the stats, it is weak. Plus, there are many non-damaging moves and only one damaging move. I suggest you do some grinding to get power points and skills.” Haruko analyzed. Holly nodded, though it was not the answer she is looking for, it is the best advice Haruko gave her. “Thanks for the help,” said Holly. “No paw-lem!” Haruko replied.

The transit bus finally came and the two get onto the bus, with their stuffs, heading to their destined community college.

Haruko Fife belongs to @aprilbrowines

Lilly belongs to @gloriousdreamunknown

Holly Test belongs to @froppy-butterflyfan2000 (me)

[commodorez]

Hello! Just read the post about younger generations having gaps in computer literacy. I work in adult education and digital literacy is a major focus of national college and career readiness standards, which influence state adult ed standards. Literacy Minnesota’s Northstar Digital Literacy is a comprehensive program that many adult education schools use, as it’s designed for our population. I hope something similar can be implemented in K-12 and secondary settings.

Right on! Keep doing what you do! The fact that such education was removed in some places, or never existed in the first place in others is... concerning. I had the lucky break of being in a K-12 school system that had some cash to spend on computers and other technology. There were always computer labs available, to the point where I used one on a weekly basis. I could recount all of the reasons we would use computers, but I'd be here all day.