#set in the future when they're attending different colleges

[puhpandas]

Veering Off Course

(2,305 words)

Gregory and his family get a call that Vanessa, whos in a different state for college, has gotten hurt. Gregory calls Evan, and Evan is able to use the things he's learned about himself since meeting Gregory to help his friend with his emotions regarding the situation.

Its early in the morning on a Saturday when Evan gets the call. It woke him up, so all he does is blink groggily and swipe at the screen blindly while propped up on his elbow until his thumb hits 'answer' on his phone. "Hello?"

"Evan." It's Gregory, and the serious tone to just that single word clears up Evan's brain as fast as lightning. He scrambles to prop himself into sitting up and rubs at his eyes with one hand.

"Gregory?" Evan asks, looking at the little icon he set for Gregory's contact of a picture of Evan and him at an amusement park. "Is everything okay?"

It takes a second for Gregory to respond, and it causes the anxiety that had steadily began to bubble inside of him to surge. "Gregory?"

"Sorry." Gregory finally answers. "I-- Uh... can you..." His friend struggles for words, and Evan tries to be as patient as possible as it becomes clearer every second something is wrong. "Can you come over? Like right now?"

Evan flounders for words for a second, but manages to force his mouth to say, "Of course."

"Okay." Gregory replies, and a surge of worry shoots through his chest when Gregory sounds like he might cry. He takes a breath on the other end, then, "Please hurry."

After that, Evan only lingers enough to respond with a short confirmation and goodbye before hanging up the phone. It takes him record time to shoot out of bed, sling on some shoes, and get down the street a few houses to Gregory's own.

His mind had played multiple awful scenarios of what terrible thing could have happened the entire time, but his worry does not ebb when he makes it to the porch and knocks on the door to a teary eyed Gregory.

Evan's immediately herded inside. Freddy has his phone in his hand pressed up against his ear, and he's pacing around the room. Aunt Chica and Aunt Roxy sit in the living room. Bonnie is sat in a dragged-over dining chair by Freddy and frowning.

It's dead silent in the house; even the TV and seemingly endless energy flowing through and causing bustling noise is snuffed out to nothing. Evan watches as everyone sits completely seriously and quiet, hands held in their lap or thrumming against something.

Impatience, is what Evan first thinks of. They're waiting for something. News, maybe? Freddy is on the phone. It's so silent you could hear a pin drop. Or somebody else's phone vibrate.

Evan's dread and anxiety only get worse when Gregory shuts the door behind him and tugs on him a bit. Evan follows without struggle, thousands of words and questions on his tongue when Gregory leads him to one of the unoccupied seats in the living room; a loveseat.

He sits down with him, and Gregory's face is scrunched up in barely restrained worry. Evan watches his friend, who's been an anchor for himself for so long, tremble and hunch in on himself. "Gregory?"

Gregory's eyes dart to him, and Evan leans down, hunching forward with his elbows rested on his thighs like theyre their own personal bubble. Evan's own brows furrow, and he feels the familiar thickness in his throat just at watching his friend be upset.

Evan grabs at his hand, squeezing it tight and lacing their fingers together. "I'm really worried, Gregory... please tell me whats wrong." Evan pleads. "Please?"

Gregory nods unsurely after a moment, and Evan watches him swallow thickly before turning to him fully. "Dad got a call from the University of Oregon today."

Evan's brows raise, but he nods to keep going. The University of Oregon is the college Gregory's sister, Vanessa, had left home to go attend. Evan hasnt gotten the chance to meet her, yet. She's already been gone two years strong, with a seemingly bright future. Evan's heard Gregory and his family talk about her enough to know her talents.

Gregory's breath hitches, and Evan wraps his other hand around Gregory's, the one he already has ahold of. He sandwiches it in-between his own and hopes it's enough comfort.

"Somebody called us and told us Vanessa got into a car crash today. On campus."

It's like a bucket of ice water is poured on Evan's head. His feet go cold, and his eyes widen to saucers. Fear shoots like an arrow through his stomach. When he stops reeling from the news, he watches Gregory begin to shake and lose the carefully gathered composure he'd put up since Evan arrived.

"They said..." Gregory's brows are furrowed so much it looks like it hurts. Theres a clench in his jaw and a wetness to his eyes Evan isnt used to. "They said she's already been taken to the hospital and is in surgery." He frowns, and theres a twist in his lip that Evan is so familiar with. "They... a-all we can do is wait. They told us they'd let us know any updates."

The house is thrown back into such jarring silence after Gregory stops talking that Evan's ears start ringing. Which makes it clear as day when Gregory's breath turns harsh beside him.

Evan tears his eyes away from the floor and ignores the twisting feeling in his chest to look at his friend. He has his face buried in the hand that isnt held by Evan and is shaking in a way where you can tell theyre trying so hard to keep it together. Gregory's angled away from him, but Evan can see the panic on his face even from where he can see.

Evan's breath hitches, and the thickness in his throat begins to turn into burning as he scootches closer to Gregory on the couch and sets a hand on his shoulder. He tugs a bit until Gregory gets the message and let's him wrap his arms around his middle and hold him close.

Gregory makes some sort of horrible, upsetting hitching noise that causes the dam to break for Evan, before he sort of flops against him and brings up his own arms to clutch at his T-Shirt. Gregory's head thumps against his shoulder, and it's one of the only times Evan really becomes aware of the height he has on his friend.

"Its okay..." Evan says into Gregory's shoulder, because it's all he knows to do in the moment. He glances around and sees that Gregory's family has shifted to the dining room, leaving them alone. Evan finally feels the tears slip from his eyes as he presses closer, hugging him like his life depends on it. "Its okay, Gregory. It'll be okay."

"It's--" Gregory says, and Evan can hear how much his voice shakes with barely contained tears. "Its not. I can't-- We can't even go see her. We can't go and wait for her to wake up, or anything... we just have to--" He cuts himself off, and Evan feels Gregory shake harshly against him.

"We just have to sit here." Gregory says, voice thick. "I dont know what to do, Evan. I don't know what to do."

And its only that sentence that causes Evan to grapple at what to do, if his friend can't. And all he can think about is how himself would react if it were Gregory getting hurt.

All he'd be able to do is cry, he realizes. He wouldnt be able to do anything. Just wait and be scared.

But that's what Gregory is getting at, isnt he? He can't do anything. That's the thing. Evan has known Gregory long enough to get him. To know, him. Evan knows that Gregory doesnt sit around and cry like Evan does. He prefers to get up and do something about whatevers wrong.

Hes a problem solver instead of waiting around. A fighter instead of a crier. No wonder hes so bent out of shape about this. To have a loved one in danger, and when you're so used to getting up and making a plan to fix a problem and are forced to sit in standby...

Evan eases them down against the cushion of the couch, not once untangling themselves from eachother. Gregory shakes, but he does not cry. "So what would you do if you could?"

The hair from Gregory's bangs brushes against Gregory's neck as he moves his head. "I'd... I don't know. I'd at least try to get to her." Gregory says, voice unbelievably quiet. "At least get to her. Then figure it out from there. Just so I'm not waiting on phone calls."

Evan nods against him, his chin scrunching up Gregory's hair. His tears have long since stopped falling, but he knows he has dry tracks on his cheeks. "You have a plan."

Gregory makes some sort of noise that would sound like a snort in any other circumstances. "I would if I could." Gregory replies, squeezing his arms a bit tighter. "But I cant" He sighs, shuddering and heavy. "I just have to wait."

Evan hums. "You're worried, and you're stressed." He makes the same noise Gregory just did. "I know how you feel... I really do. Maybe not your exact situation, but... I get what it's like to feel helpless." He says. "You know what I would do?"

Gregory hums this time, questionative. Evan rubs circles into his back. "I'd sit there and wait, and wish for it to different. And when it wouldnt be, I'd cry."

Gregorys head shifts against that crook between Evan's chin and chest, almost like hes trying to look him in the eye but the hug prevents him from being able.

"All I ever did was cry." Evan says when Gregory doesnt respond. "Its the only thing that I could do to cope."

"...So..." Gregory asks, and his voice is thick again. "You mean..."

"You're stressed." Evan answers. "You're stressed and you're worried. So... why dont you let it out?"

Evan, out of anyone, knows how valuable emotions can be. He didnt, once upon a time. When everyone would just tell him how annoying it is. How useless it is. How he's asking for it. How he should have toughened up by now. When instead of comfort, he'd receive ridicule and prodding.

That's changed. Ever since a certain someone entered his life. He doesn't think of his emotions, himself so little anymore. So worthless. So maybe that's why Gregory perks up ever so slightly in understanding.

And that's all it takes.

Gregory's trembling turns into shoulder shaking sobs like the snap of a finger. He cries, open and unadulterated, and Evan just hugs him close and rubs his back, offering reassurances like Gregory has done for him so many times.

His own eyes burn when his best friends sobs are heard so openly and he can feel every shudder of his body. Evan's chin scrunches, and the tears fall right along with Gregory as Evan hugs him close, tucking his face into his hair.

"Im--" Gregory cries. "I-Im just so worried about her."

"I know." Evan responds, his own voice breaking as he pets Gregory's hair. His shirt is damp with tears but he doesnt care. "Itll be okay. It'll all be okay."

They stay like that for a while, and Evan can tell Gregory needs it. He needs it. The worry he felt that morning doesnt ever really leave, and it stays ever-present as Evan watches his friend fall apart. They stay stuck together like magnets, eventually only shoulder to shoulder with linked hands on the loveseat, and none of Gregory's family try to peel them apart when they eventually wander back into the living room.

They stay in a state of constant agonizing limbo all day. At 8:00pm, Freddy calls it a night. Gregory protests immediately, but Aunt Roxy calms him down almost seamlessly and convinces him to go to bed.

Of course, Evan follows him. He cant imagine a world where he doesnt. The air mattress stays deflated in Gregory's closet as it has been most of the time nowadays. All Evan has to do is kick his shoes off since he left home in his pajamas anyway and they're wrapped around eachother, tucked in Gregory's bed under his comforter in the dark.

Gregory is silent all throughout the night, even though Evan knows he's awake. Evan just hopes that... he did the right thing. Something knows is that suppressing how you feel isnt good. It never works. No matter how much you want it to.

Gregory taught him that. He just wants to return the favor. Not because he owes Gregory, no. Gregory has long since hammered it into Evan's thick skull that he has nothing to pay him back for. That his kindness is not a deed to Evan, but rather that Evan himself deserves to be treated kindly.

Gregory does, too. Evan knows this with all his heart. Gregory is his best friend and has done more for him than anyone else ever has.

Evan... all Evan did was change. Change for the better. And hopefully he helped the most important person in his life with the things he learned. The things that person taught him.

He hugs Gregory's middle a little tighter, not daring to break the silence. Gregory needs time, but doesn't want to be alone. Evan understands. He does. He just hopes to convey what he truly feels through the one action.

Thank you. I'm here for you. I'll always be here. You're my best friend. I'm so glad you trust me. I trust you as well. So much.

Gregory himself wraps his arms tighter around Evan in turn, and Evan feels like the single movement lso has a deeper meaning he cant read.

They dont speak. They just lay in silence until eventually they fall asleep, stuck together like two puzzle pieces.

ao3 link

[peppermintquartz]

The evening light streams in through the curtains, golden and muted, and there's nothing to do. Music drifts throughout the house, a quiet suggestion of melody blending with memory, and Tommy Kinard lets his eyes close.

He's seven years old again, running around the back of the house with his best friend, Jamie Platt. They're kicking an empty can back and forth, Jamie laughing when the can bounces off Tommy's face after a hard kick at the wrong angle. Jamie is brown-haired and brown-eyed and his face is covered with freckles. Tommy thinks Jamie is totally amazing.

He's fourteen years old and he wants to hide. He is fat even though he eats the same tiny portions as his mom, and his skin is oily and marked with pimples no matter how diligently he washes his face every night and every day, and he doesn't like how he smells, and he hates the dark hair under his pits and on his groin, and he hates even more that he can't look Jamie in the eye because Jamie is taller now, and the most handsome and popular kid of their grade. The girls are generally nice to Tommy, other than some of the more bitchy ones who think they have to be mean to be liked. He doesn't ask any of them out, though. He knows better than to invite ridicule, and also, he really doesn't want to go out with them. Some of the others boys talk about kissing girls, and touching them, and Tommy knows they're actually lying about the touching, but he also knows that when he thinks about kissing and touching, it's Jamie's face he sees.

He shoots up many inches when he's fifteen, and the mass he used to carry becomes muscle. The football team snags him as a player when he's sixteen - Jamie already is on the team, and it's clear they're grooming him to be team captain in the future - and Tommy gives his all to the team. It gives him the chance to rebuild his bond with Jamie, even though he has to endure Jamie macking on a new girlfriend every few weeks. Tommy dates Kathleen Greene, blonde cheerleader, and they lose their virginity to each other after a football game, but he feels sick about it afterwards when he's home. He cries under his blankets, confused about why he's crying at all, and wishes he can be more like Jamie, who probably has all the girls fighting to have sex with him, and who won't feel like throwing up thinking about how it felt to have sex with a girl he barely wants to kiss.

At twenty-four, Tommy is sick of the sand. He is sick of the sand, and he is sick of the chatter around him, and he is especially sick with the knowledge that Jamie is getting married to his college girlfriend. He sends a congratulations to Jamie via Facebook and lies that he doesn't have time to request for leave to attend the wedding. Five months later, he sees the wedding photos, the joy in Jamie's face, and that night Tommy gets spectacularly drunk, so drunk that he almost lets another soldier drag him out someplace quiet to fuck him, but Tommy's new best friend in the army D.D. Schwartz watches out for Tommy and warns the other guy to leave Tommy alone. Five days later, D.D. is accidentally killed by their own when a chopper fires on a bunch of teenagers who are just coming by to pick up some chocolate for their younger siblings. Bad intel, the brass says. Tommy doesn't sign on for another tour after that. He also deletes his Facebook account. He goes home one last time, gets screamed at by his parents for different reasons one last time, visits Jamie and his wife for the first and last time, and heads west until he hits the ocean.

Tommy is now forty, and the sun has set, and he feels the tears drying tacky on his cheeks. He exhales and sits up with a grunt. Jamie found his Instagram three months ago and sent him a message. Just a simple "hey buddy how's it been?" They chat, in the way of childhood friends who have grown apart. Today he gets a message but it's not Jamie, it's Nina, Jamie's second wife. And widow, now. Tommy sends her his condolences and apologizes that he can't be there for the funeral, it's wildfire season. He does send flowers and orders freezer meals for her and the kids. But in his mind's eye, he sees Jamie, slightly soft in the middle, big freckled face beaming in the sun, hair still thick and brown, with a baby boy in one arm and a girl standing beside him, and his lovely wife leaning against him. He never did confess his feelings to Jamie.

I loved you before I understood why. Tommy whispers all he has felt about Jamie into the air, then exhales the rest of his breath.

There, that's done.

He hears Evan and wipes away the tear tracks on his face. His Evan is brilliant and warm and open, full of love and kindness. There's no hiding that Tommy loves him as much as he loves Tommy. There's no crying under the sheets, no getting so drunk that he doesn't even care about being hurt or taken advantage of, no desire to blow up his entire life just to escape.

Tommy gets up from his chair and goes to welcome his lover home.

[byanyan]

main verse updates, developments, & additional headcanons

ㅤthanks to lena practically dragging them into it, byan is on the track team that she coaches at school. though they initially weren't all that interested, it's something they've come to enjoy a lot (even if they sometimes have to stop running for a little coughing fit) — they've always enjoyed physical activity, always enjoyed sports, but have never been particularly cooperative when it came to team sports (and always broke rules and got too violent when they'd try martial arts or boxing), so track suits them quite well. they quickly became one of the top performing team members and, though things were certainly rough in the beginning with byan being very abrasive and uninterested in their teammates, they've actually ended up pretty friendly with most of them over the months since they joined.

ㅤalthough they never planned to go to college, having zero interest in continuing in school once they were finally out of the hell of high school, they've come around on it a bit. this is mostly thanks to both lena and sol's encouragement and helping them realize they can go to learn something they actually care about — fashion design. almost entirely because of these two, byan is planning to apply to the local community college and is in the process of building a portfolio of their work for this purpose.

ㅤbecause of this plan, they're slowly becoming a (slightly) better student: attending class more regularly (though still skipping fairly often), paying a bit more attention in class, and even completing and handing in homework. they're actually on track to graduate now rather than flunking out. they may not graduate with flying colours, but it's enough for a diploma and that's all they care about.

ㅤjust because they're doing better doesn't mean that things are perfect, though. they still get discouraged a lot in their struggle with their (still undiagnosed) dyslexia, general inferiority complex, and overall difficulty in the typical school setting. it's not uncommon to hear them ranting about changing their mind about college, see them throw a textbook across the room, or catch them straight up burning their homework out of frustration. if they're feeling particularly awful and discouraged, they have a tendency to disappear for a few days, get themself into even more trouble than usual, get themself into more fights, and numb themself with drugs and/or alcohol. they come back around eventually, but sometimes it takes a bit of coaxing.

ㅤthough they still technically live in the group home, they spend almost no time there anymore, only really stopping by for food or appointments (when they don't blow them off, anyway). most nights they're either crashing on lena's couch or at sol's place, and even most of their belongings have been moved and split between these two locations.

ㅤat this point, the caretakers at the group home have more or less given up on trying to keep an eye on them or expecting any different behaviour from them. they've been in this particular home for several years at this point and, with their eighteenth birthday fast approaching (and with it the time where they'll be unable to stay there any longer), not much point is seen in trying to change anything anymore. byan has always been difficult to keep a handle on, efforts at controlling them to any extent met with aggressive rebellion, and it isn't seen as worth the hassle anymore. at least if they're off doing their own thing all the time, it means they're causing less trouble around the home.

ㅤthe boy they share a room with in the home, si-u, still covers for them a lot of the time, telling the caretakers and staff that oh yeah, byan was totally here last night. byan suspects he mostly does this because he likes having a room to himself, but it results in them being hounded a little less all the same, so they appreciate it.

ㅤof course, just because their future is looking a little less grim doesn't mean that everything has changed. they might have a boyfriend now, might have found themself some actual friends and even some familial figures, but they're still byan. they still love to go out and get themself into trouble, still love to fight, steal, and cause havoc for others, and still have a tendency to get themself in over their head or disappear without warning when their ptsd acts up. things are looking up and they might be feeling more fulfilled but, when it comes down to it, they're still them, and they still have a long way to go.

[des-pune-university]

Bridging Technology and Education on Pune's Innovation Roadmap

It's no secret that Pune has become a hub for educational excellence, especially when it comes to fields like technology and engineering. With a plethora of B Tech computer science colleges in Pune, students have a rich canvas to paint their future on. But what sets a B Tech degree apart in this bustling city?

First off, let's chat about what a B Tech in computer science really offers. It's not just about coding away in a dark room; it's a degree that opens doors to understanding complex algorithms, developing software that could change lives, and diving into the depths of artificial intelligence. Now, isn't that something?

The Unsung Heroes of BTech

While computer science gets a lot of limelight, B Tech electronics and communication engineering is the dark horse of tech degrees. These engineers are the magicians behind the screens, ensuring your gadgets communicate seamlessly. They're the ones who make sure your video call doesn't turn into a pixelated mess when you're showing off your pet cat!

In Pune, this degree is more than circuits and signals. It's about the confluence of innovation and practicality. And the best part? The city's ecosystem supports your journey with real-world applications. You'll be tinkering with the latest tech and potentially creating something that hasn't been thought of yet. How cool is that?

The Ace Up Your Sleeve

Now, if you're thinking about levelling up your game, PG diploma courses in Pune might just be your ticket. These courses are like those intense, short training montages in movies that transform the hero from good to great. They're specialized, they're concise, and they pack a punch!

Whether it's data analytics, robotics, or even ethical hacking, these diplomas can propel you into niche fields that are just brimming with possibilities. They're the secret sauce to adding that extra zing to your resume.

Choosing the Right Institution

Alright, so you've got your eyes on a tech degree or a PG Diploma, but where do you begin? Pune is sprinkled with institutions, but you want to choose one that aligns with your aspirations, right? Enter the Deccan Education Society Pune University, an institution that's more than just a place of learning. It's where you don't just attend lectures; you participate in shaping your future.

Not Just About the Books

The right college doesn't just teach; it inspires. Imagine walking into a campus where every corner whispers a different story of innovation, where seniors are working on projects that you've only read about in journals. That's the kind of environment that fosters not just education but a culture of creativity and ingenuity.

The Use of Industry Connections

What's learning if you can't apply it, right? The industry connections that colleges in Pune offer are invaluable. Internships, workshops, guest lectures from industry experts – these aren't just buzzwords; they're stepping stones to building a career that stands out.

Preparing for the Future

We often talk about 'the future of technology', but guess what? The future is now. With AI, machine learning, and IoT changing the way we live, the curriculum in Pune's colleges ensures that you're not just catching up with the times – you're riding the wave.

In Conclusion

Drawing our exploration to a close, let's acknowledge the subtle, yet significant role of the Deccan Education Society at Pune University. This institution embodies Pune's dedication to fostering the growth of technically adept, future-ready minds.

As you search for the ideal technological education, look beyond the curriculum. Aim for a place that equips you with more than just a diploma; one that instils in you the savvy to leave a lasting mark on society.

At this pivotal moment in your educational path, opt for an ally in your pursuit of wisdom. Choose a place where your studies in technology transcend the mere acquisition of credentials, empowering you to bestow your unique gifts upon the globe.

[thinkingoutloud92]

blast from the past

So I reconnected with one first ex, D.

He’s… a character. Definitely my first love, someone I’d never forget. I broke up with him because I guess I outgrew him. I wanted different things, and I knew I couldn’t reconcile that with him. I wanted a whole new world, and I wanted to get to know myself.

I remember being super guity about how I did it. 3 days before my anniversary with him. I remember bearing the guit for years. But forever, I’ll remember that lesson on not to hide my emotions — forever etched with him. He was the reason I became more honest with people. He was the reason I learned how to first love someone, truly. He was also the reason I grew up and matured as fast as I did.

He became a bitter, depressed character after our breakup. Being the dumper, I am trying to remember how I felt that. I remember reaching out after a few months to try and be friends, because of course I wanted the friendship. But he was still bitter, still sad, and worse — angry. Didn’t want to talk. Well; I know I’ll never do that. I’m reading my email threads with him back in 2010, and what sign.

But what’s bittersweet is that I really grew. Imagine, I broke up with him when I was 16. And at 18 years old, I was writing myself letters like this:

Can you believe you're 18 now? No, seriously, this is so freaking amazing. And since this is only a few months... since I wrote this letter, I expect you to still look fairly the same. Meaning still looking like a 15-16 year old. Well, college is just around the corner--and I hope you remember what you've planned to do. :) By now, summer is done, and most likely than not, it's the night of your long-awaited debut!  I hope you have a lot of boys attending--or booze. =)) Well, even if not, it's okay (though you and I both know it's a bit lame), but I know future me will be nothing but lame. :D So you've just spent the "almost" last summer of your life. I hope you've seen all the movies, met a lot of people, read a lot of books, done a heeeeellllll lot with Speque Productions, and finally joined that LGV Youth Choire (though it's okay if you haven't, since... well, they're young. Now, anyway.) I hope you remember to keep in touch with every one of your friends in college. I hope you remember that nothing can or should be able to set you apart from anyone you used to love. You know you don't want to make those mistakes again. You're 18, you've learned, and you're going to move on and live. Live without restraint, without thinking too much, and without regret. I expect you to have written that letter to D. If you have, then however he may have responded, treat him like you'd normally treat anyone. Stop getting kilig so easily, darn it. =)) I hope Jason is out of your effing life. As in, really. Even the mention of JR wouldn't even bring down hate in your system (because you really don't care!). It just isn't worth it. And I hope you haven't confessed--never ever confess.  And who cares if he didn't take you to ball? (I'm assuming, 'cause right now, it's likely for that flirt) Who cares if more people were asked than you? You're still awesome, and you know it. You're still better. You're in Ateneo and you're going to rock everyone's socks with your freedom. You're free. You can do anything you want without asking permission. You can make a billion plans, make yourself as busy as possible, and as social as ever. Age really doesn't matter any more. I hope now you're more fashionable as ever. More updated as ever.  And stop breaking promises. Do things ASAP and stop freaking sleeping! It's college, chill, and go with the flow. Don't rush things. I'm sure you already know all of this. I'm hoping that you have met a really cute guy to crush on--and even if not, focus on living life. You've only just started!! Hello, 18--hardly the start! So gosh, go live life to the fullest! Flirt, laugh, dance! Don't hold back, because you are free, baby! Do you have any idea how long you've wanted this??? FIGHT! And be happy. :) Talk to you soon! :>

My god. Nakakaiyak talaga. Even at age 31, what I feel isn’t as different now from when I was 18. Almost, 13 years ago.

I still want things to work out with my ex; or hope it can. So I’m going to do this right. I’m not going to do what D did. I’m also going to try to move on.

D said it was his biggest heart break, but after me he got married twice. Now he has a baby. Who would’ve thought?

Great things are coming. I know it.

[sportyconnect]

There's nothing quite like the thrill of a live game, the smell of a fresh softball field, and the anticipation of a perfectly executed play. Whether you're new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, this guide will help you find and engage with the local softball scene like never before. At SportyConnect.com, we bring you the latest news, events, and insights into the world of softball. From the college level to professional leagues, we cover it all, giving you the inside scoop on your favorite teams, players, and events. Dive into the World of NCAA Softball One of the first places to consider when looking for "softball games near me" is the realm of NCAA Softball. This is a hub for some of the best talent in the nation, offering thrilling games and a peak into the future of the sport. Whether you're interested in NCAA D-1 Softball, NCAA D-2 Softball, or NCAA D-3 Softball, there's a level for everyone. Dive deep into the NCAA Softball Rankings to discover teams near you or plan a trip to catch a high-stakes NCAA Softball Championship game. If the term 'super regionals' rings a bell, that's because they're a crucial part of the NCAA Softball Tournament. These Super Regionals feature the best of the best in head-to-head competition. Quote: "There's nothing like the energy of a college softball game. The players leave everything on the field, making each game a must-watch event." Keep an Eye on Prominent Teams Specific teams often set the pace and tone in the softball world. Consider following teams such as the Oklahoma Sooners, Texas Longhorns, or Alabama Crimson Tide. Oklahoma, for instance, boasts a powerhouse softball team. Their games are not only exciting to watch but also a great learning opportunity. Discover more about their playing style, roster, and game schedule on our page dedicated to OU Softball. The Alabama Softball team is another top contender. They consistently bring fierce competition to the field and their games often highlight the strategic depth of softball. What to Look for in a Softball Game When attending a softball game, there are several things to pay attention to. One crucial rule that often comes into play is the 'run rule'. This rule, unique to softball, can make games even more thrilling. Learn more about the Softball Run Rule before you head out to your next game. Local Softball Leagues and Camps Aside from the thrill of college and professional games, engaging with local softball leagues and camps is an excellent way to immerse yourself in the sport. On our site, you'll find resources about softball leagues near me, perfect for those looking to join a community of softball enthusiasts. Attending or enrolling in a softball camp can also be a rewarding experience. Not only do you get to improve your skills, but you also meet new friends and potential teammates. If you're more interested in the coaching side of the game, softball pitching lessons near me could be the perfect opportunity. It's a rewarding experience that lets you help shape the next generation of softball talent. Top Equipment Picks for Softball Enthusiasts A quality game of softball begins with the right equipment. Whether you're a player, coach, or a fan, having the right gear is crucial. Sporty Connect has numerous resources on this, including an article on the best softballs and the best softball gloves available on the market. For beginners looking to get started, or experienced players looking to up their game, knowing how much a softball weighs and what size softball 11-year-olds use can make all the difference. Quote: "The right equipment can dramatically improve your game. Invest in good quality gear, and you'll see the difference on the field." Learn About Different Types of Softball Games There's more to softball than meets the eye. Various types of games and rules add unique flavors to the sport, like fastpitch, slowpitch, and mushball. For a fun twist on the traditional game, you might be interested in learning what mushball is.

In contrast, if you're looking for a faster pace, then fastpitch softball might be more your style. Slowpitch softball offers a different experience, where every player gets the opportunity to hit the ball and score points. Learn more about slowpitch softball on our website. How to Improve Your Softball Skills Whether you're a seasoned player or a beginner looking to improve, there are always opportunities to better your game. We offer articles on how to get better at pitching in softball and how to get better at softball by yourself. These guides are perfect for honing your skills, whether you're prepping for the upcoming season or just looking to impress your friends at your next softball outing. Getting Your Softball Fix on Television In case you can't make it to the games in person, catching them on television is the next best thing. Check out our guide to softball games on TV today and never miss a moment of the action. For NCAA games, ESPN provides extensive coverage. Find out more at our dedicated page for ESPN NCAA Softball. If you're looking for Women's College World Series games, discover where to watch WCWS. Quote: "Watching softball games on TV not only gives you a front-row seat to the action but also allows you to learn from the pros." Visiting Softball Fields Another great way to immerse yourself in the sport is by visiting local softball fields near you. Whether you're looking to catch a local league game or find a place to practice, local fields can be an excellent resource. For those looking to step up their game even further, visiting softball batting cages near you can offer a perfect opportunity to work on your swing and sharpen your skills. Inspire Yourself and Others For those moments when you or your team needs a little motivation, our collection of softball quotes for pitchers can be just the inspiration you need. Use them to rev up your team before a big game or to keep the spirits high during practice. Final Thoughts Finding "softball games near me" is more than just about watching a game; it's about becoming part of a community. By diving into local leagues, attending NCAA games, and even watching games on TV, you'll be immersing yourself in the vibrant, thrilling world of softball. At Sporty Connect, we're here to guide you every step of the way. From the latest news to insightful articles, we strive to be your number one resource for all things softball. So why wait? Dive into the world of softball and find the perfect game near you today! #SportyConnect

[noisyenemyexpert]

What NOT to Do in the merakit palang pintu kereta api Industry

You say to on your own: I want to view my spouse with other Adult men. While most wives prefer a monogamous relationship, lots of Other folks appreciate the swinging Way of living. The trouble is, most Girls would by no means admit it. The purpose of this informative article is twofold: that may help you make your wife snug adequate to confess to her sexual needs and to provide you with a superb approach to acquiring Guys in your wife.™

Let's presume your wife secretly loves the idea of letting you watch her rest with other Gentlemen. What you have to do, to assist deliver her outside of her shell so to talk, is confess your own personal wants. And the most beneficial time to do so is while you are next building like.

While you are both of those very aroused, and during the act of affection-making, confess to her that you often Feel, "I'd appreciate to watch my wife with other men." Right after your confession, and whilst even now making love, introduce this fantasy for a roleplay. In other words: pretend to generally be A different guy.

Most wives come across it extremely erotic to hear their husband produce a sexual confession. When your spouse shares your wants, she will probably acknowledge it for you at this time. Otherwise, it is possible to try this solution more than once. She is going to shortly feel cozy plenty of to confess which you and he or she both share the exact same fantasy.

So now you have to come across Gentlemen for your wife who are ready to Enable you to enjoy - perhaps inside of a cuckold ability. This is simple. You and your spouse need to help make a profile on a popular Grownup courting Group.

Future, set in a try to find Males seeking couples in your neighborhood. They're the ideal type of Gentlemen in your case. They may be aroused by the thought of you viewing. When your quest has developed a list of regional men, just expend some time getting to know many of them. Send out some Good friend requests, Trade some e-mail, chat. Quickly you'll have A few Adult men who will slumber along with your wife on a regular basis and happily let you check out.

Graduate college gives a far more specialized degree of coaching and enhanced, pro instruction in a specific field. The most critical selection in making use of to graduate faculty is not really in deciding upon the establishment but somewhat in figuring out by far the most favorable space of examine. Regrettably, the choice-earning system does not close there. Other criteria including timing, site of examine, fiscal assist, palang pintu kereta api Indonesia and the scholar populace must all be offered correct awareness.

On this publication, we provide ideas to jumpstart your search for any Master's or Doctoral degree. We investigate the prevalent causes for making use of, the selection approach, take a look at having, and the mandatory preparations leading to attendance. These recommendations will provide you with insights into approaching the appliance course of action with self-confidence and may serve as a reference as you endure the applying techniques.

Great luck!

I. Best Motives for Making use of to Graduate Faculty

Job Modify/Advancement

People with a number of many years of Performing expertise generally realize that their profession route slowly and gradually results in being confined, as well as spares no home for Specialist growth. Some also discover that their ability established is no longer relevant to their industry of publicity and subsequently pursue precise coaching within their field as a means to move ahead.

On many instances, a rank-and-file personnel can have now acquired a knowledgeable understanding of how a company is managed, and should want to go after a supervisory situation in the corporation or in another business. Regardless if you are intending to switch Occupations or aiming for progression, a graduate training can greatly present much more versatility.

Enhanced Income

Increased earnings specifically correlate with larger education and learning. Management and/or supervisory positions are often limited to All those with advanced levels, thus restricting your earning prospective If you don't have these advancements. In accordance with research, a graduate degree holder in the United States can generate a median of 33% much more than an individual using a bachelor's diploma by itself.

Individual Improvement/Mental Stimulation

Discounting future occupation and cash flow probable, other people choose to pursue graduate studies simply because they enjoy to discover and therefore are genuinely interested in acquiring a lot more information on their picked out field.

II. Analyzing if Graduate College is the Right Choice for You

Graduate school is perfect for those who appreciate research and Discovering. It is not suitable for those who basically want to consider far more courses, or for those who are within a hurry to obtain a career.

Undergraduate examine differs from graduate schooling in that it requires much more of your time and efforts, determination, and energy. Furthermore, it involves forming Expert and private relationships with professors and also other college students. Generally, it issues you in what you want to accomplish in your life.

III. The ideal Time for Graduate University

The best time and energy to go after an advanced degree is situational. You can embark on graduate faculty correct after you get your bachelor's degree, a yr immediately after graduation, as well as various years afterwards. If you are approaching graduation, and you've got decided that graduate college is the next action to suit your needs, it could be beneficial when you request oneself the subsequent inquiries:

one) Have you been ready for another a few to eight years of finding out?

2) Should you consider day off in advance of transferring on to graduate university?

three) If you need to get day without work, why?

In the event the primary reason for taking day without work is fatigue, then inquire yourself if the two or 3 months of getaway prior to graduate college will let you revitalize your self. When you are persuaded that graduate faculty is the subsequent phase for yourself, then there is absolutely no motive why you ought to delay your application.

Right right after Graduation

Should the know-how you acquired with your undergraduate education is specifically suitable for your graduate application, then this feature would be the ideal just one in your case. Other factors for heading straight to graduate faculty include your excellence for a college student; your latest position of having several (or no) obligations, each personally and monetarily; and your desire in pursuing an area of experience that needs a graduate degree.

Choose time to make sure that graduate college is right for you. Highly developed study demands a substantial degree of commitment and a chance to function independently. Often, a holiday vacation from studying could help intensify your determination and enhance your abilities. As a result, you might want to consider the next selection.

After a Ample Relaxation Interval

A lot of graduates have a calendar year off before they begin their graduate method. You need to use this time to operate, equally to assist you to fund your experiments and to realize expertise. Most likely, you merely desire to journey. For anyone who is traveling, remember to make an application for classes at the appropriate time, retaining in mind that you will be asked to attend an job interview or an admission examination. You have got to strategy properly ahead, occasionally so long as eighteen months prior to software. In the case of some abroad packages, it really is frequent for students To place together a timeline in advance of they begin specializing in their time off.

It is necessary to know that pursuing a graduate degree numerous decades just after undergraduate examine is just not uncommon. A while off could be important if it improves your qualifications and primes you for that pressures and rigors of graduate school.

Following Doing work Whole-time

The explanations for getting get the job done encounter in advance of graduate faculty consist of obtaining a better idea of your Specialist goals, obtaining applicable perform experience, and producing a more liable Perspective toward finding out. If you recognize upfront that you intend to pursue a graduate education and learning right after a number of several years of labor, hunt for an employer having a tuition reimbursement system. Usually, companies are prepared to finance component, or all, on the expenditures entailed in graduate review.

Even though Operating

The most important proportion of the graduate college student inhabitants consists of section-time learners. The concept of supplemental education is actually a growing development for the reason that swift sector changes have an affect on almost all fields of experience. Continuing to work, no matter if on a part time or possibly a full-time foundation, may also be a way of purchasing bills incurred over the system of one's graduate analyze.

IV. Grasp's vs. Doctoral Degrees

It can be a standard false impression that a prospective PhD scholar ought to possess a Master's diploma to enter a doctoral plan. While the vast majority of graduate plans do involve this, It isn't generally the case. It is healthier to carry out your individual investigate and look into the degree prerequisites for just a plan as opposed to building an assumption. On this booklet, we offer a lot of the more considerable distinctions involving getting a Masteral along with a Doctoral candidate.

The Masteral Prospect

You are going to invest, on the standard, about two several years in graduate college. The purpose of this plan is to present you with strong instruction in a specialized educational self-control

Your Very first Year The enrollment procedure is analogous to that for undergraduate study. You might be needed to satisfy the coursework necessities of your degree. On the other hand, the perform will be heavier, the program subject areas is going to be much more specialized, plus much more is going to be envisioned from you than when you were an undergraduate. With the adviser's support (chosen by you or assigned by the program), you may start to solidify your tutorial target.

Your 2nd Calendar year It's possible you'll acquire much more Superior classes to finish your study course demands. Having decided your investigate route, you might gradually devote a lot more energy towards the completion of one's thesis. According to your pace, you may have a person semester or an entire academic 12 months for you to end your masteral thesis, the objective of which can be to show your mastery close to you of study.

The Doctoral Applicant

You will commit, on the normal, five to six yrs in graduate college. The goal of This system is usually to provide you with extensive expertise in your field, get ready you to conduct primary and significant study, and cause you to All set to be a member of a educating college.

Your First 3 Several years You might enroll in classes to fulfill your degree specifications and obtain in depth expertise in your field of examine. You might gradually establish your investigation path, normally consulting by having an adviser (commonly) appointed In the beginning of the graduate analyze. By the end of one's next or 3rd 12 months, you might have concluded a thesis or taken thorough tests, or both equally. The thesis and/or examinations enables your professors To guage your capabilities to continue with doctoral studies.

Your Past 3 Decades Coursework results in being a small ingredient of the educational workload, and may even vanish when you conceptualize your dissertation, a novel and important contribution to the readily available know-how in the specialization. You can train A growing number of lessons and steadily collaborate far more with senior college customers. You'll type an in depth Qualified relationship having a school member who shares the identical investigate pursuits as you are doing, and he/she'll turn out to be your dissertation adviser. Your system will conclusion With all the completion of your respective dissertation, which may entail an oral protection of your respective investigation before a panel of college members and/or experts in the sphere that you are in.

V. Deciding upon a Graduate Software

The next are a lot of the a lot more vital elements and issues that students want to take into consideration and solution when selecting on what graduate plan to apply to.

Specialty

This criterion will in the long run rely on your pursuits, but we often propose task current market consideration. Certain fields may well undertake favourable developments after a couple of years, when those who are at the moment going through fast advancement may well grow to be stagnant.

Position

A graduate system's rating is significant for many possible graduate learners. They feel that a plan's position signifies the caliber of education they'll obtain and the level of assets which will be available to them. However, diverse sources of information - college Web pages, printed rankings, and impartial rating organizations - all have particular conditions for assessing a particular method. College students ought to for that reason be aware of the variables that happen to be considered in figuring out a plan's rating, as well as the evaluation solutions (if any) which have been applied.

Place

Location can Perform a significant Think about your graduate school experience. You can build several ties in graduate university and should as a result take into consideration if The varsity of one's option is located in a place that you should take into consideration residing in. Alternatively, in case you are searhing for non permanent residence in a place you don't have any intention of living in forever but need to reside in for just a number of years, graduate school is undoubtedly an opportune time to get that have. Anywhere you're, you need to be at ease with The placement as you will likely be (commonly) remaining in that place for the following two to 8 years of your lifetime. Some thoughts you should check with by yourself are the next: Are you currently extra a fan of a little or huge university? City or rural? Nation or town?

Expense

Take into account all immediate and oblique fees (tuition, miscellaneous expenses, guides, and particularly price of dwelling) and The provision of monetary assistance. The amount of financial guidance you receive usually is dependent upon regardless if you are pursuing a Grasp's degree or simply a PhD. It truly is not unusual for the College or faculty to waive tuition specifications When you are applying for just a doctoral software. Additionally, numerous PhD college students are supplied some kind of funding or stipend.

Admission Expectations

It is best to pick out a graduate plan with stringent admissions benchmarks. Educational facilities with decreased admission necessities may offer a decreased high quality of graduate training. Majority of schools and universities make this kind of knowledge accessible to the public. Look for The bottom prerequisites for admission; these ordinarily consist of the required undergraduate GPA and standardized examination scores.

Instructing Staff

Narrowing down your plan alternatives will verify less of a challenge When you are definite regarding your investigate interests. It is recommended that you simply implement to courses wherever the faculty customers have research pursuits that coincide with yours.

It's got typically been stated that a graduate method is only as good as its college. It's important to know from and educate underneath professors who're revered and identified within their picked specialty. The simplest way To guage the caliber of a application should be to look at the proportion of lessons taught by complete-time school. At the same time, indicators such as the amount of scholarly publications and the Expert knowledge in the training employees could also give insights into your status of the faculty.

Facilities

Examine if This system you intend to utilize to has the facilities/features that you choose to need to have. Can they supply you the instruments necessary for your investigation? It is important to investigate whether the "point out-of-the-artwork" amenities promoted by The varsity or university are truly as claimed.

Time for Completion

Ask yourself how swiftly you would like to complete This system. Do you want to finish in two many years? A few? 4? Would you have other programs following earning your graduate degree and so have to finish it inside a specific length of your time?

Occupation Preparing

In the event your cause of about to graduate college is vocation related, then Will probably be sensible to find out what kinds of Skilled growth functions are available in This system/university that you are pursuing. Are there options for networking or training with genuine practitioners in the sector of specialization you have preferred?

Quite a few learners enjoy the sphere of analyze These are in, but are bewildered with what distinct positions they can make an application for following graduation. The program or Office will likely have facts regarding the average salary attained by their graduates along with the proportion of students who land jobs immediately after graduation. You may also Examine if the department has connections with different organizations/providers to aid its learners find work after graduation.

VI. Obtaining Leading Graduate Colleges

Request Out Fellow Graduate Pupils

Looking for out and conversing with college students enrolled in the software of interest is probably the greatest approaches to conduct study on graduate educational facilities. Obtaining the "inside of scoop" on Whatever you can be expecting on admission into a system will certainly make it easier to get hold of "actual-existence information" about This system. Other than acquiring information on classes, tuition, and faculty users, You may additionally be lucky more than enough to hear individual activities with regards to the standard of instruction, the rigors of the program, as well as other components which will support you in making a decision where by to apply.

Graduate University Rankings

Graduate college rankings supply a realistic guideline for finding The varsity that is definitely ideal for you. Aside from typical rankings, information for example common grades and examination scores are A part of these records. This will help you set up if your qualifications are competitive.

In fields which include medicine, small business, and regulation, rankings can be quite useful. Rankings in these disciplines are often established based on meticulous scientific evaluations, and when utilized properly, these can immediate college students towards organizing their purposes by enabling them to highlight the aspects They are going to be aggressive in. Even so, these rankings are usually not the tip-all and become-all of choosing the right graduate college. Quite a few learners concentration far too much on Worldwide or national rankings. Combined with mindful research, having said that, graduate faculty rankings can most absolutely level you in the ideal

[itsrottenwork]

Hi mj!! Secret Santa here!! Happy Friday!! May your weekend be a long and restful one, at that!!✨

Oooooo politics and communication!! Sending you all the luck for the rest of your college years!! Just based on that alone, I totally understand the hardships of it all!! Being in college is hard enough, but when it’s a major with a lot of complexities and nuance that can be brought to the table, I can only imagine lol!! What made you want to go into politics and communications, if you don’t mind me asking?

Awe, I’d love to see a picture of your succulents!! I bet they look great!! I’d send a picture of my cacti, but I can’t while on anon!! After we properly introduce ourselves, I can!! If you were able to, where would you like to travel next, given the opportunity? When I was in Italy, my friends and I were supposed to travel to the UK for spring break, but because of COVID spreading as fast as it did, our abroad program pulled us out, so we never got to go!! I’d love to go back to Europe and explore the places I never got to see!! I’d probably also go down to South America!!

The jingling reindeer ears? That’s so cute!! 🥺 I feel you about the whole crowded spaces at concerts!! Ever since the pandemic hit, it’s never really gotten back to normal in terms of the concert space!! Since the start of this year, I’ve been to so many concerts, yet, I’ve always tried to do my part in being as careful as I can when in those spaces!! Hopefully someone you enjoy tours in your city so you can attend!!

Love that!! I’ve been so behind on YouTube content!! Sometimes, I just have to be in the mood to watch them so I tend to fall behind when it comes to certain uploads rather quickly!! Ooooo cinnamon!! Anything apple cinnamon is so comforting, especially as a candle scent anytime of the year!!

More speed round questions!! What are three things you know you can’t live without?! Do you have a collection of any kind? Any cool knickknacks lol? If you can meet anyone in the world (dead or alive), who would it be and what would you ask them?🎄✨

this is my last year actually!! I'm in a one-year master's program, so it's only this year, but this is my last year of any sort of schooling, after this I'll be done done. I've always been interested in politics, bit of an idealist I am, and I also enjoy the more creative side, the writing and branding and whatnot, so yeah comms is the route that I see myself best able to contribute :)

here they are!! and also the little cat rock I painted a year or two ago. there's also some really little ones underneath the big one in the back but I couldn't get everyone in the one photo hehe

I always like to have travel plans set, even if they're way in the future, so I do have a few things planned already. my family is going to austria during winter break, and for spring break my friends and I are looking at doing a road trip around a whole bunch of different cities, but we're still working out the details. I'd love to travel somewhere outside of europe, but as I am currently in europe it's easiest to travel close by

what concerts have you seen this year? or if you've seen too many to list, what ones were your favorites? I don't think I've been to a concert since 2019 tbh, it's fun and I kinda miss the vibe but it's not something I ever really did a lot, so I don't mind not going too

speed round answers!! although I feel like I'm not very speedy when I answer them lol

three things: probably really basic answers but phone (for obvious reasons), water bottle (hydrate or die-drate baby), and keys (I really like having a physical totem of This Is Where I Live, one of the best gifts I ever got was when my friend gave me a key to her apartment when I moved in with her)

collections: I don't really collect anything I think? I take a lot of photos though, so I've got those hanging on my wall, and every year my friends from high school all get together in the exact same way and we take the same polaroid every summer, so I guess I have a collection of those haha

cool knickknacks: coolest knickknack on my shelf at the minute is the boomerang I painted when I was in australia, though my shelves here at uni are a bit sparse

meet anyone: I wish I could talk to my great grandfather, I never met him but the way my mom and grandparents talk about him, I'd want to be able to sit down with him and hear like, his whole life story basically

[ceruleanmusings]

place your bets

This was made purely for two reasons: 1) I miss my bby Mel and 2) this gif inspired me in a way I hadn’t been inspired in a while. Enjoy!

Tag: @princessofdarkness12​, @thegoodmogadorian​, @foxesandmagic​, @mystic-scripture​, @lareiism​, @witchofinterest​, @ocfairygodmother​, @zadien​

“Hey Crowe.” Melanie lifted her head from her knee, easing her deep stretch on the bright green scratchy grass. Her head swiveled around to see Watts staring at her. Her fingers slowed in her hair, pausing the quick braid she’d woven in to keep her hair out of her face. She learned the hard way a simple ponytail wouldn’t do in the midst of an intense game. She needed every hair to cooperate to be at the top of her game.

“What’s up?” she asked, eyebrows crinkling.

Watts lifted his dimpled chin, looking past her shoulder before leaning over to his side stretch. “You got company.”

Humming, Mel twisted at the waist, her eyes quickly scanning the crowded grounds. People milling about the edge of the lacrosse field, carrying blankets and coolers and holding the hands of small bouncy children, a group of players in white jerseys with gold lettering stretching on the other half, Isaac walking towards her, a few players in cerulean jerseys running around the field, bleachers filling up with spectators, some kid attempting to lick an anthill, Coach talking to—

Wait.

Mel looked again, spluttering when her half-finished braid swung around and hit her in the face. She pawed at her face, batting it away, blinked, and watched the figure approaching.

Isaac?

Certainly it couldn’t be but...the height was the same, the slow, deliberate walk was the same, the sparkle in the blue eyes was the same, the stretching, lazy, cocksure smile was the same, the messy golden hair was the same. Her heart thumped. It was Isaac!

“Hey!” In a flash Melanie jumped to her feet, abandoning her stick, gloves, and shoulder pads. Her cleats dug into the grass, propelling her forward; she couldn’t help but think the game should be good with the grass in top springy for like this. It faded when her body collided with his in a fierce hug and was replaced with thoughts of him: how he smelled the same (like pine and mint), how he felt the same (sturdy and soft, like a hug meant just for her), how he looked the same (except his hair was a little longer and his stubble scratched the side of her neck in a way her stomach quivered), how he sounded the same (if he weren’t holding her up she would’ve fallen to her knees when he uttered a soft “Hey Mello”. God, she loved when he called her that.) “You didn’t call me.”

“I wanted to surprise you,” he replied.

“You did,” she said, beaming up at him. She wrapped her arms around his waist, head tilting back to fully take him in. “I’m so happy you’re here! Figured you would have stopped by earlier, though.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. I got busy. You know how it is.”

She nodded. “You’re not kidding. Coach Fernsby—I told you about him, right?—yeah, way worse than Finstock. He makes Finstock look normal by comparison.”

Isaac sucked air in between his teeth and let out a little laugh. “Ouch. How do you guys get anything done?” With fingers locked on her lower back, he gently rocked her from side to side.

“Well, he’s insane, obviously, but when we catch him during his lucid moments he’s actually really good. I think he would’ve been fired by now if we didn’t have such good results.” Mel’s eyes shone like sunbeams bouncing off the surface of an ocean. “I think he’s a manticore, though.”

Isaac blinked. “A what?”

“A manticore,” she repeated. “You know: head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. They’re said to be unconquerable.”

“Ah.” Isaac nodded. “And you think that’s why your team is always winning?”

She shrugged. “Doesn’t hurt. But my team also has me so...”

He shifted his hands to her sides, giving her hips a squeeze. “You’re too small to have an ego that big,” he murmured in the way she liked, making red crawl up her neck.

“Jealous that mine’s bigger?” she asked, not bothering to hide her following smile.

His eyebrow twitched. “Watch it. I might just need to show you mine to compare.”

“Mmm, I’m not against that.” Mel’s face scrunched up at the sound of a sharp whistle peeling through the air. Heaving a sigh, she turned to the sidelines to see clusters of blue jerseys and white jerseys clumping together. The game was about to start. “Okay, I have to go. Talk to you after?”

“Sure.” Isaac nodded and held onto her hands, stopping her before she moved too far away from him. “But I was thinking...”

Mel lifted her eyebrows, stepping closer. She didn’t want to move away from him too soon anyway. “Oh?”

“To make the game more interesting. Since you’re so confident you’re going to win and all. How about we make a bet?”

“Keep talking.”

“Okay, if you win, I’ll take you out.”

Mel nodded. “I like the sound of that.” A win and spending time with Isaac? Their dates were few and far between, she wasn’t going to turn that down. “And if I lose?”

“Then you’ll take me out.”

“Isn’t the point of a bet to make the stakes different?” Mel asked.

Isaac leaned over and kissed her cheek. “They are. Because you’re not going to win.” He grasped her cheeks and pulled her closer, dipping his head to place a dizzying kiss on her lips. She gripped the front of his white jersey, digging her fingers in the fabric, grounding herself as she stood up on her tiptoes to kiss him back.

“We’ll see about that, Lahey,” Mel muttered, putting her heels back on the ground, cheeks red in a pleased flush. “I won’t go easy on you. I know all your tricks.”

He dropped his hands to her sides, his long fingers played with the hem of her blue jersey, lightly brushing against her skin underneath. Her stomach clenched at his touch. Shit, it’s been so long...

“Please don’t,” he replied, his eyes slowly trailing over her face, “I never want you to hold back.”

Mel’s lips twitched at the way he looked at her, the undercurrent throbbing beneath his words. A referee whistled again and Coach Fernsby let out some primal scream on the sidelines. That was her cue. She kissed Isaac again, reluctantly pulling away to jog back to her team on her half of the field, him rejoining his.

She took her abandoned equipment from Watts, the other co-captain, with an appreciative nod. She had to get her head in the game. After all, she’d see Isaac later.

After she won.

[darkovika-games]

"Trust Me, Obey Me"

"Trust Me, Obey Me" is a story-driven Romance/Adventure Interactive Fiction currently being made in ChoiceScript. It could be considered YA.

Synopsis

You begin your story as a child, setting the stage for an adventure that will unfold around you. Choose the sort of childhood you have- are you the child of successful, upper class merchants, or are you recently orphaned, due to the fast, yet short-lived plague of Mage Rot?- and become attached to your childhood friends. Through great tragedy comes an intense future- when you discover you're a dangerous breed of mage, you're whisked away to learn to control your powers. At least you have your sibling, without whom you'd have lost your nerve.

Attend college together, choose the adventures that you have, and grow your character from them. When at last you return home, it is to discover that everything has changed- nothing is the way that you left it.

Your past comes back to haunt you. Your childhood isn't over- familiar faces return in various circumstances, sometimes reliant on a path you choose. Together, you and your sibling will try to find out just how your two childhood best friends have changed- and if they've done so for the better, or for the worst. Surrounding both of them- and by extension, you- is a terrible mystery that could end in war between your country, Enestra, and the immeasurably wealthy of Goldoria.

Three incredibly powerful treasures were stolen from a Goldorian treasure fleet on its way to discuss peace with Enestra, and the rumors say it's the nearly mythological Ghost Captain of the sea, an entity people know very little of and that has never before gotten involved with matters of the living.

Can you figure out who is on who's side? Who is lying, and who has something to hide? Will you trust... or will you obey?

Features

"Trust Me, Obey Me" is so called because of the two main traits that control- for the most part- the ending that you can receive, currently one of Three: Trust Ending, Obedience Ending, and War Ending. These traits are going to be fairly obvious to the player when come across in gameplay.

Customization

You are able to customize your name and gender, as well as the names and genders of your sibling and the two romance options, both of whom are tied into the Trust/Obedience variables and endings.

Your childhood is based on one of two options, the Merchant path or the Orphan path. Both will have echoing affects in the future and returning characters based on what you chose.

I forgot to mention- your college years are similarly customizable, allowing you to choose from a series of options for which adventures your character experiences- adventures that may or may not have some bearing on your future adventures.

Personalization

You are able to personalize your player character based on the choices you choose. How you respond to any scenario, or the paths you choose, can all affect the 3 pairs of personality stats.

The results of these stats, which can be continually worked on until the end of the game, will show fruit further in the story than in the first chapter. As the story progresses, based on which stats are higher, the player character may have different things they say, or opt to choose actions without input from the player. For example, if your character is reckless, they may choose to run into a burning building, versus attempting to find a safer way in by themselves.

Romance

There are two love interests in "Trust Me, Obey Me". Because both are fully customizable, I'll refer to them as "Noble" and "Orphan". I do have my own headcannon for their identities, but I can keep it vague to keep from influencing readers.

Noble: One of your childhood best friends, the Noble is a proud, haughty individual that is no less loyal a friend. Despite their tendency to seem self-aggrandizing, they consider you one of the most important people in their life, and would throw their's away in an instant for you. They're not overly fond of your sibling, and can often be a little controlling/possessive, but they're not a bad person.

Orphan: One of your childhood best friends, the Orphan- like many during the short, brief plague that ran through all of Enestra before burning out- lost their parents to Mage Rot, a disease that had little favoritism in its targets. They feel bound to you, wishing to protect you but realizing that their status in life limits their ability to do so. They want nothing more than to prove their worth to you.

End Notes

I don't have a release date for "Trust Me, Obey Me" because I honestly am still in the very beginning. It's slow going, but I put in work every evening, so I do actually have a lot of faith that it'll get completed. Much gets changed every time I work on it, sometimes little things in already-existing work, and sometimes entire portions getting re-written. Only the merchant path has any work put on it currently, but as soon as I complete that, I'll start working on the orphan path.

It's funny- originally, the orphan path was the one that was completed, but after working on the merchant path and realizing I wanted to go a different direction, I scrapped it to start over, so that's kind of funny to me.

Playtest

You can play the game here, on DashingDon.

You can comment on the thread for the game here, on the CoG forum.

You can also ask me anything! I have no idea how Tumblr works really, so uh... that's that lmao.

[imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl]

Californian Dream (Pt. 10 of 11)

Pairing: Billy Hargrove X Reader

Word count: 2.5 K

Summary: Being part of one of the richest families of California doesn't mean you're happy. Your life is boring, and you're surrounded by meaningless people and their meaningless talk. Even during Summer, with the break you have from college, there's nothing good going on. Nothing but the new pool guy, Billy, the most handsome man you ever saw. You were successfully avoiding him, not wanting to act like an idiot in front of the guy until Billy accepts to be your date for a fancy gala you're forced to attend. The night was going well, even better when he sneaked you out to go to the beach. But a gang of criminals breaks into the party, kidnapping the heirs to the wealthiest families, which includes you. So, for your safety, your parents want you to stay with Billy, living in his apartment until the criminals are caught. And that could take weeks, maybe even months.

Warnings: Light violence

<- Previous part (09)

Next part (11) ->

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

{Dacre Montgomery Masterlist}

×

Home

“It won't take long now,” Billy mutters, his hand holding yours are you both walk through the beach. Everyone is at the snack bar, eyes on the TV, getting all the details about the most famous gang being finally arrested. “Your father will call and you can go back home.”

“I know.” Moving a strand of hair away from your face, you look down as the ripples reach your feet. “I'll go. Spend the night there and on the next morning I'll tell them.” The plan comes up suddenly because that's the best you can give them. A last night in the house before moving out for good. “I'll tell them I'll drop out of college and look for something I really wanna study. That we're dating and I'll be living with you.”

“Are you sure about this? Because you know they won't let it go that easily.”

“I know and I don't care.” Stopping, you move to stand before him, cupping his cheeks. “I mean, you still want me to live with you, right?”

“I do.” Leaning closer, Billy kisses you, soft and slow. Wrapping your arms around his neck, you tiptoe. “And I need you to know that I won't accept the money your father said he'd give for... Sheltering you.”

“Baby, you can accept it. I don't mind.”

“I can't. Having you at my place was... It is amazing, all the money in the world wouldn't be enough to pay for what you gave me.” Biting your lip, you smile at his words, causing him to raise an eyebrow. “What?”

“You're so romantic.” In a sassy tone, you step back when his face changes, ready to run if necessary.

“Just don't tell anyone,” Billy whispers, and, in a sudden motion, he moves forward, arms around your waist, lifting you up.

“I won't!” You exclaim, laughing as he spins you around before setting you down again. “It'll be our secret.” Whispering on his ear, you giggle when a bigger wave hits your calves.

“I guess the future talk will happen sooner rather than later.” He states, pulling away before another wave soaks your skirt even more.

“Yeah... I guess so.” Clearing your throat, you blush a little to remember what he said earlier. “That, Uhm... About kids.” Wait. You shouldn't bring that up. It's way too soon, and be was probably kidding. “I mean, let's get real first. I'll drop off of college and focus on my job. I like it and maybe choose another course I like. Mmm... That's pretty much it. You?”

Billy gives you a look, shaking his head lightly. Trying to dissimulate with Billy is useless. You're an open book to him, you have been since day one. “Neil was a devil of a father. And I want to be better.” His voice gets darker at the mention of Neil. You don't know the man, but you hate him with all your strength for what he did to Billy. You hope you'll never see him face to face, or else you won't be able to keep from breaking his damn nose. “Of course I never actually thought of it before, but now... You just... You messed me up, ok? In a good way, but still, you messed me up and now I'm making plans.” Rolling his eyes dramatically, Billy sits down on the sand, and you do the same, climbing on top of him. “And that's all your fault.”

“My fault? I wasn't trying to make you fall for me.” Defending yourself, you push him down until he's lying on his back and you're lying on top of him.

“If you were trying, I'd have fallen for you when you gave me that lemonade.” He places a kiss on your nose, making you giggle. “Or even before, when I saw you walking around the house... Avoiding me.”

“What?”

“Yeah, I noticed that, princess.”

“Well, I couldn't talk to you and risk sounding like a complete idiot.” Taking both his hands, you hold them down on each side of his head, ignoring his cocky face. “And it's your fault for being so good looking.”

“Hey, hey! You two!” A yell gets your attention, and when you turn your head to see, you find Stacy and Anne. “We're watching you.”

“Creepy.” You mutter, moving off of him and back on your feet. “But guess the party isn't over yet, and honey, I want to dance.”

“What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't dance with my lady.” In a quick motion, he's back up, arms around your waist as you make your way back to the bonfire.

•••

It takes three days until your father calls you. He doesn't say much, just that the gang is arrested and it's now safe for you to go back home.

Home. That house isn't home, but you comply, not wanting to make them sad or anything. So it's after lunch when Billy is driving you there, not a single thing with you. You didn't even bother to bring a bag to fake it. It'll be only one night, and then you'll sit and talk to them.

When you're moving through the gates, the same feeling you once had comes back. You feel suffocated, surrounded by all the things you don't care about. There will be a few people over, and they'll get into those meaningless conversations again, and they'll be looking at you, judging you. They'll talk about your clothes. They're normal, not insanely expensive. No... Your mother will make you go upstairs and change immediately. The lump in your throat only surrenders a bit when you feel Billy's hand on your thigh.

“You'll alright?”

“Yeah, just... Thinking about tomorrow. I'll talk to them, get my car, and when you're back from work, I'll be there.” That's your goal. That's what you're so damn excited for. Tomorrow evening, which will be exactly like the evenings you've been having for months. And you love every single one of them.

“I can't wait.” He gives you a glance and smiles. Your smile. The one that's not cocky and doesn't have a hidden meaning behind it. Not a sassy one. Just a bright, beautiful, genuine smile, that lights up his whole face.

The moment he stops the car by the front door, you get separated. You knew this would happen, so you're prepared. After hugs, tears, and welcomes from both your parents and the sea of people here, your mother guides you upstairs, making you change into a white dress with sunflowers. You don't complain, you just do as she says. For the last time.

Back downstairs, you see Billy and your father talking by the door. He tries to hand Billy a piece of paper, a paycheck probably, but Billy refuses. After a while, Billy leaves, but not before glancing at you. You know it's only for a short period, but you feel like part of your heart is going with him.

“(Y/N), honey?” Your mother calls. “Won't you answer Mrs. Vanner?”

“Oh, yes...” Shaking your head lightly, you try to focus on... Whatever they're talking about. “Sorry, what was it again?”

“I'm sure you're happy to be back home after so long having to live in such a small space.” Mrs. Vanner says, her fake, wide smile making it really hard not to roll your eyes.

Of course they know where you were now. Mother had to tell them, just for the sake of the gossip. “How can you possibly know the size of Billy's apartment?” You snap, not really trying to keep the sweet tone.

“Oh, please. Mr. Hargrove is the man who washes my son's car. How big can his place be.” She sounds so gentle, so plastic.

You should keep your mouth shut. You should play along, keep up the act until tomorrow morning, just until tomorrow morning. But you can't. You lost the ability to fake it. “Yeah. It is small. Your ego wouldn't fit in it.”

“(Y/N)!” Your mother exclaims, almost choking on her drink. “Where are your manners?”

“That's alright. Living with someone from a different class may have her used to different kinds of behavior.” Mrs. Vanner snaps, in an apologetic tone.

“Something we can agree on!” You exclaim, giving her a big smile. “That's a first.”

“(Y/N), that's enough.”

“I agree with that too.” Putting your drink down, you stand up from the armchair. “I'll head upstairs and rest for a bit.” Without saying anything else, you walk away, the high heels echoing through the empty spaces. But you stop in the middle of the stairs to kick them away before running to your bedroom.

But of course, there's a hell of a dinner. And, of course, you have to be there, nodding and smiling, pretending to pay attention to whatever they're saying. With your leg bouncing under the table, you play with your fancy food. Your mind floats back home. To the apartment. Billy is probably home already, eating what's left of the lasagna you made together yesterday. That lasagna is so much better than this boeuf bourguignon you're being forced to eat.

“Are you excited to go back to college, (Y/N)?” Mr. Eleanor asks, and you silently nod. “I bet you'll be an amazing lawyer just like your father over there.”

“Yeah.” Until they find you a rich husband and you have to abandon your career to turn into a housewife, with nothing to do but to administrate the house and spend rivers of money on useless things.

The dinner goes on for endless hours, and the small get together after has you exhausted. When you excuse yourself, getting to your bedroom, you fill up your tub and spend an hour or two there, trying to relax in a house that doesn't feel like yours anymore. It never did, but now, that feeling is amplified since you found a place you feel at home.

By the time you're in your pajamas, lying on the bed, it's way past midnight. The chattering died and everyone left, but still, you can't sleep. Kicking the sheets away, you get to your feet, walking to the balcony and breathing in the night air when you push the slide door opened. Billy fixed your railing. He was here before you even exchanged a single word with him. And you wish he was here now. With you. You didn't know exactly why you couldn't sleep, but now you do. Billy is always holding you, one way or another, and hugging the pillow doesn't compare. Is it what love is? Losing the capacity of falling asleep away from the person you love? Stepping forward, you let your fingers touch the cold metal, a smile coming to your lips.

California never felt like home. Until you found Billy.

Giving your huge garden a look, taking in the green grass and threes under the low lights, eyes wandering through its extension, you smile. And, in the blink of an eye, you know what to do.

The car keys are in the same place you left them, in a small vase on your dresser. Taking them, you put on the first pair of flats you find, having the decency of trying not to make too much noise on your way out. But you don't care, not anymore. On your way downstairs, you halt on the last step when you see Amelia, in her nightgown, coming from the kitchen with a mug in her hands. She's a little startled and confused, but her expression softens after a while.

“Don't try to stop me.” You say in a low voice.

“Are you going to be with Billy?” She asks, but by the look on her face, she already knows the answer. Amelie knows you too well, a lot better than your parents.

“Yes. I love him.” It comes out naturally, and it gives you a sense of freedom you can't describe. Saying it, here, is amazing.

“Then go, bunny.” Amelia smiles, and you rush to give her a tight hug before making your way to the garage, straight into your pink Cadillac.

You never enjoyed driving as much as you do now that you're going somewhere you wanna be. The streets are only half empty, and you decide to put the top down to feel the night air on your face, only to put it up again when you reach the parking lot. There are a few spaces, thank God, and you park on the first one you find, running up to Billy's apartment, panting after the six sets of stairs leading to the third floor.

But it doesn't matter. You're at his door, and it doesn't matter. You have the key, but the whole keychain is inside, so you have no choice but to knock a few times.

And when the door is open, a very sleepy Billy seems all confused, as if he just saw a ghost. “(Y/N)?”

“I couldn't sleep.” You simply say, keeping your voice as low as you can despite still trying to catch your breath.

His confusion fades away, and a smile takes over. “Me neither.” Stepping forward, Billy wraps an arm around your waist, pulling you inside with him before pushing the door close and crashing his lips on yours.

This was the right decision, as crazy as it seems. When Billy kisses you, you know that everything you did that led to this moment was right. He's pulling you to the bedroom when the phone rings. The damn thing has the bad habit of interrupting you.

“Let me–”

“No. I know who it is.” Cutting him off, you pull away, walking over the phone. You don't think much before answering it. “Hi, dad.”

“Wha– (Y/N)?” He stutters, and your mother says something on the back about her being right. “What the hell are you doing there? Your mother went to your room and you were gone, she almost had a heart attack!”

“I'm sorry. I'm at Billy's.”

“Why in the hell are you there? Get your ass back home now.”

“No.” You state, crossing your arms.

“What do you mean by ‘no’?” He scoffs. “What do you think you're doing?”

“Father, I'm an adult and I know exactly what I'm doing.” Taking a deep breath, you run a hand through your hair. “We have a lot to talk about, and I'll explain everything, I promise. Meet me tomorrow in your favorite restaurant at noon.”

“What? I won't–”

“If you want to know what's going on and why I came back here, you'll go. Tell mother to go as well. Have a good night.” Without allowing him to say anything else, you hang up. Turning to look at Billy, you sigh. “Call in sick tomorrow, because I'll need you with me.”

“I have a couple of days off I can use, don't worry.” He comes closer, pulling you into a tight hug. “I'll be right there with you.”

“They'll say all kinds of mean things, you know that, right?”

“I don't care.”

×

@multific @dontxfearxthereaper @nope-thanks @nikkixostan @shinydixon @clockworkballerina @infinitelycharmed23 @lilred91

[dark-muse-iris]

2021 Totals, an Alternative to Resolutions

I truly hate New Years' Resolutions. I've never kept one because starting anything on January 1st feels like too much pressure. I've done better with goal-setting by starting at Samhain and having different goals for each season. The temperature changes, my goal changes. My goal during Yule has been reflection and rest. This post is part of meeting that goal and it's long, so I'll place a cut:

At the beginning of 2021, I had just gotten out of being homeless and resented so many people for their role in that experience. After years of giving to others, I learned help wasn't coming for me. That rage made me claw my way out with a determination to break everything within me that held me back from walking the road to my future life alone. It's macabre, but after losing 4 family members in a year and realizing my community thinks disabled people are broken eggs for the omelette of freedom, planning for solitude seemed like a wise endeavor. To that end, my 2021 goals focused on cultivating the individual (since I gave up on the collective of humankind in 2020) and on survival, i.e., living out of spite.

To meet that goal, I needed to address mental health, specifically what my brain believes about my lived experience. By embracing my attachment to lists, I documented all things I did for fun and learning for 2021. The goal was to irrevocably break the part of my brain that believes I "haven't done anything" unless I'm overworking or outside my house interacting with people. Fuck people, man. If I've learned anything, it's that most of the time you can't depend on others the way they've depended on you. When it's your turn for that helping hand, your friends and family will get amnesia and not even call.

Since 2022 is likely to be another year with social restrictions and working from home (at least for me), I thought I'd share this exercise in case anyone else was having that end-of-year meltdown thinking 2021 was a complete waste. It was definitely a shitshow for me, but a waste it was not. Below is my 2021 in Review, plus some new categories of tracking I'll be looking at in 2022.

2021 in Review, totals:

Concerts attended - 6 - all virtual

Museums visited - 1 - I cried looking at impressionist art

Books read - 21 - 11 fiction, 10 nonfiction

TV fiction series watched - 31 seasons - Half of these were historical fiction, surprise surprise

Documentaries/Reality specials watched - 38 - several of these were true crime or related to cults

Anime/Cartoons watched - 21 seasons

Korean/K-Drama watched - 1 (of course it was Squid Game, I wasn't soft enough for fluff in 2021)

Movies watched - 77 (holy shitttt)

Discord Servers - 10 (I'm not very active, but if I want to engage with a group I usually do it here)

Projected Categories to track in 2022:

TV fiction series (by season) - I'm planning on more sci-fi and historical fiction.

TV non-fiction series (by season) - I'm planning on more food documentary series since it's harder and harder to eat out these days.

Documentaries - I'm still studying cults as a hobby.

Comedy specials - This needed its own category since drunk me enjoys them and watched several in 2021.

Movies - Should I watch less movies in 2022? PROBABLY!

Anime (Japanese only) - I missed out on a lot of "classics" when I was in college and grad school, so I'd like to try to catch up on some.

Cartoons (non-anime) - The place for me to re-watch old favorites for the serotonin boost.

Korean/K-Drama - If 2022 is a softer year, I'll watch more k-dramas.

Books (fiction and nonfiction) - I'm going to pledge to read 22 books for 2022 as part of the Goodreads Reading Challenge.

Concerts (virtual) - I actually really love virtual concerts. I can see everything, wear comfortable clothes, and the food's cheap. They're disability friendly in the way live concerts could never be.

Concerts (live) - I have three live concerts planned for 2022. Hopefully I'll be able to go to them...

Museums visited - Now that I'm vaxxed and boosted, I can visit more museums and see traveling exhibits on low-traffic days.

Hobbies I worked on - In 2020 and 2021, I picked up a lot of hobbies and feel I should be keeping track of them to see how rampant the ADHD is getting under stress.

Video games played - It's a crime that I don't have this logged anywhere, as I've been gaming since 1992.

Fanfictions read - Bringing this back since I'm here online again and would like to support the community that's still here and on AO3. My to-be-read list was over 100 fics when I left in 2020.

Words written - I'm going to participate in some writing challenges this year. For 2022, I'm planning on spending LESS time helping others and more time writing my way out of my own shit. I don't know how much of this will be for fanfics vs. original fiction. I'm just focused on writing *something* and get my flow back again.

Playlists curated - I need to overhaul my playlists because about half of them aren't functionally working for me and I rely on music for mood management. I'm going to build some new ones according to mood like any Pisces would.

Number of times I helped a friend in crisis - Tracking because I feel I've done this too much in 2021. My empathy gets me in trouble. Some ask for help and don't even say thanks anymore, so I'm over it. I don't feel good helping others anymore, so I'm going to track this monthly to make sure I'm honoring my own boundaries. The truth is I helped more people through storytelling than I ever did being on the phone til 2 AM knowing that person on the other line just wanted to dump on me. My advice is no longer getting shared in 2022. I'm just going to lie like everyone else and say "oh nooooo, I'm sorry" and pretend the solution isn't obvious.

I want to extend a heartfelt congratulations to all of us who barely got to the end of this shit year, a continuation of 2020 for many. I hope the people we morphed into for survival continue to serve us through 2022 and its share of challenges. There are more bridges to burn, more opportunities to seize, and more difficult roads to cross. May we all stand firm on the freshly-cemented bricks others have thrown at us and continue to wear the impermeable armor we've made from the scraps of blown-up experiences.

[stemcellee]

any tips on applying to ucla? it's my dream school and i don't really know what they're looking for in terms of like. sat scores and clubs and stuff

So I actually have about 35 asks asking “Tips on how to apply to UCLA?” (I counted) so I will answer in just one post and will refer to this post in the future for any other application inquiries!!

First some basic info and statistics or whatevers:

Unofficial SAT, GPA, ACT profile of applicants (seems accurate tho)

UCLA Official Freshman Admission Requirements

UCLA Official Fall 2017 Freshman Admit Class Profile (gives the averages and stuff of what kind of students were admitted)

My notes:

UCLA is the #1 most applied to school in the US. Last year, there were more than 100,000 applicants, which is why the admit rate is getting lower (it used to be 18%, but 18% of 100,000 is 18,000 and that is WAY HIGH as the school aims to accept about 15,000 students. Last year, the admit rate dropped to 16%, and UCLA admitted a LOT of new students) 

In fact, UCLA is planning on building new residential halls to accommodate for the massive number of students that want to come to UCLA; there is hope for a FOUR YEAR housing guarantee (amazing). 

UCLA is an amazing school, but it may not be for everyone. I knew someone who never ever EVER liked it here, and they have now transferred to UC San Diego because that is the location and atmosphere they wanted to be in. Make sure UCLA is right for YOU and YOUR LIFE and not what everyone says you should do, and not because it may be the “most prestigious” college. Going to the “most prestigious college” does not correlate to you being happy! Your self satisfaction is #1 and you will thrive where you are comfortable. Make sure you are happy with the college you are going to attend!

UCLA is very crowded as well; personally i LOVE the crowd and the city and high rise buildings and bustling night life but some people do not. The atmosphere is competitive, but not cutthroat. Yes, you will meet people who definitely are cutthroat, but the majority of classes are fair, people are nice, professors have common sense, and there are MANY MANY resources to foster academic growth.

That being said, I’m really glad that so many people have UCLA as their dream school because UCLA will offer an amazing experience! I love it here, I really don’t see myself at any other place :’)

Tips (but my own opinions cuz i’m not the one who’s gonna read your application):

The application is through the UC Admissions portal, it will cost money to apply unless you have a fee waiver from your high school, and it opens August 1 and closes at the end of November (i believe) SO START ON AUGUST 1 DONT PROCRASTINATE because if UCLA is REALLY your DREAM school, don’t procrastinate on your future!

The application will have you fill out basic info about yourself and then info about awards you have received, extracurriculars, jobs, and stuff that isn’t really academic. This portion is where you should highlight what you think is the most impressive about you that you think UCLA would be happy to have in a potential student. Put the most important or most influential ones first, work your way down, but also DONT FEEL PRESSURED TO FILL IN EVERYTHING (i put nothing for jobs or volunteer work luuslslsl)

The personal statement is important. It literally makes or breaks your admission. This is like my 5th time telling this story but i had a friend who had a GPA higher than mine, was a stellar student, but didn’t get in. It was probably their personal statement. I had another friend who got just below the national average on the SAT, but was admitted, most likely due to their stellar personal statement.

Personal statements should be focused on you. If you are influenced by your grandma, mention her, but don’t write about her! Shes not the one applying!!! Relate everything back to YOU. Make sure you highlight the reason why you are a valuable human (this is where you get to be unique and make things personal, as the rest of the application kinda makes you look like a list of things rather than a person with emotions. 

I know the new application has you write multiple smaller passages on different prompts; make wise choices on those prompts!! I suggest having ideas set for all of those and then decide which ones best highlight your character. 

Tips if you aren’t applying anytime soon:

STudy, or at least build study habits. Be good about your study routine as this will help you succeed in college anywhere. Force yourself to make doing homework ASAP a necessity

Join clubs or orgs that mean something to you. Remember, it’s not about the massive amount of stuff you do, it’s about the experiences you GAIN from those things. The extracurriculars are to help expose you to different circumstances that make you grow as a person!!! UCLA wants people with lots of good growth and good potential to GROW, not just someone with 76024509 volunteer hours from all kinds of random different things. 

It’s better to have a solid amount of time dedicated to a couple good things. I only did varsity tennis, but I became captain for three years and founded a tennis club at my school. That one extracurricular taught me about competition and winning and dealing with people, which complimented my grades.

Enjoy your life though. Yes, college is damn important but i tell my sister to chillax (she’s gonna be a sophomore in high school). When i was in high school, I SWEAR I HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DOING I DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHING and i don’t think i grew a brain until after junior year looooooool. So you’ll be fine if you feel lost; people will help you along the way. Studying and getting good grades is the first step in securing a good future!!

[enbyboiwonder]

WIP ask: 2.43 chika alien, odaoki 結婚 and odaoki yeonga? (all or one of them)

Send me the name of a WIP (or multiple) you wanna hear more about!

chika - alien

This one, I don't have a concrete idea for, but I was thinking about Alien by Thriving Ivory and Wishlist by Pearl Jam (particularly the line "I wish I was an alien, at home behind the sun") and how they're ND/autistic moods (Alien, in fact, was written as an exchange between the songwriter and his little brother, who's autistic and was fixing to head off to college at the time), and I wanted to write something inspired by them for Chika a.k.a. my favorite autistic.

Currently, I'm thinking of naming it Haven't the Light to Hold to See after a line from Alien, and beginning it with the Wishlist line I quoted above and ending it with the Alien line Oh alien, you'll be just fine, fine, yeah. It's either gonna be yunichika or aochika, but since I have no actual idea what it's gonna be about, I dunno which one I'm leaning more toward!! (Although maybe slightly more toward aochika just because Aoki and also I haven't finished anything for them yet…)

And the other two under a cut:

odaoki 結婚

This one's based off of the story of the same name from Lingo Mastery's Japanese Short Stories for Beginners. It's a future/different-first-meeting AU wherein Oda and Aoki meet sitting next to each other on a plane to Hokkaidō, Oda to attend his mother's wedding (she'd moved to Hokkaidō years ago after her divorce from his father, which is where she'd met her fiancé), and Aoki returning to visit his parents like he's been meaning to but hadn't been able to get off work for (they'd lived in Fukui up until he was in middle school, when one of his parents got a job transfer to Hokkaidō). They hit it off and decide to meet up for a date if they both have a time they're free while they're there!

Also the good thing about this AU is they don’t have to hide their interest in one another. Oda already knows he likes men, and Aoki doesn’t relegate himself to loving him from afar. Of course, we also don’t get that devotion between them, but that comes later. Aoki’s openly disbelieving when he learns that Oda’s single, and Oda’s flattered, yup, definitely no hiding their interest lol

odaoki yeonga

This started because I was listening to 연가 (yeonga | love song) by 신용우 (Shin Yongwoo), the VA of Han Jumin from Mystic Messenger, and I thought his voice sounded similar enough to Umeyan's that I could almost imagine that it was Aoki singing.

Uh so I don't even know if the premise makes sense since I was just kinda writing whatever, but it's set during college and Oda's visiting Aoki but Aoki's unexpectedly busy with an assignment (this had been a free day when they'd planned to meet), so Oda's waiting while Aoki's finishing up, and Aoki sings part of this song under his breath without realizing it until Oda goes, "Is that��� Korean?" This is also the genesis of my headcanon that Aoki's multilingual; he takes Korean in college (and has been listening to Korean-language music to help familiarize himself with the language) and continues learning English on his own. Oda calls him "an overachiever, as always," and the subject kinda turns toward future plans and also how Oda still doesn't know what he's gonna do after volleyball, while he feels like Aoki has everything together.

And then it gets even more self-indulgent (I was also thinking about how Oda's dream of becoming a super ace wasn't actually as unfounded as Aoki thought it was because Subaru basically already was everything Oda wanted to be in middle school and was only a little taller than him back then, and Aoki never did learn about that, did he?) and gets into Oda looking up to Subaru in middle school and how Subaru was like Haikyuu's Hinata then because I was thinking about that, too. Shorter than almost everyone and having to jump higher than everyone else? How it's less the height of the jumps itself and more how fast he can get there? (Oda can jump that high too, and yet it's not as impressive and he has less of a fighting chance because he's, well, calling him "average" doesn't exactly feel right, but in terms of natural ability, he is, and hard work can only get you so far, especially when your opponent has both hard work and a greater natural ability.) Ayup, there are definitely parallels between those two, too.

Anyway so it also ended up with Oda having had a crush on Subaru back then, which, I think, is probably the only way I'll ever be able to write mimuoda: one or the other had an admiration-based crush that never went anywhere. (I added them to the list of possible ships for the 22 kiss prompts since I don't mind them, but I just?? can't imagine it?? And I already have something for "a kiss that was never given," so I can't do that. But I digress.) So then we get this exchange:

“You almost sound like you had a crush on him.” Shin shrugs, not meeting his eyes, a light pink starting to color his cheeks. "Well, it was a long time ago." Huh. It was half supposed to be a joke, but he hadn't expected it to be true. Does that mean— No, that’s the last thing he should be thinking about, he tells himself and quashes down that small flame of hope before it can flare up. Shin huffs out a laugh, just a little too breathy to be genuine.  “It was a joke,” he says, an edge of stiffness to his smile, the line of his shoulders.  “C’mon, don’t tell me you’re gonna think of me any different now.” And, shit, this isn’t what he wanted.  Misao hesitates for just a moment before reaching across the empty space between them to rest his hand on Shin’s knee.  “It’d be fine even if it wasn’t,” he says.

And that's really all I have for it. It's preslash, and I'm hoping it'll have the feeling that it's moving in that direction of them getting together somewhere down the line. A lot of times I don't much care if it feels like it's going anywhere or not, but this one I definitely do.

[hsmithmovingimage]

Into the Circle

Scott Faris and Meg Griffiths 2021

This film is a short documentary about the history of an indigenous family and about their journey of teaching the next generation about their history. The setting is set in the present, where young boy Andrew is attending a school called NACA (Native American Community Academy) in New Mexico. The opening scene shows bulls, also setting the scene and then moves to shots from a family birthday, setting the vibe to be family-oriented.

The most important sequence and 'plot' is about Andrew attending this school and learning about his culture and his history. The family interviewed talked a lot about their daily rituals and what life is like for them as a family who is proud of their culture and incorporates it into everyday life. Through the film we see Andrew graduate from NACA, unfortunately, he graduated at the time of Covid so the footage we see of this time is home videos from Andrew and his family. The film ends with the narration telling us what Andrew is up to on the most recent day about his future plans with College and we see him driving around in his new truck - ends with hope for Andrew. The film also ends by introducing us to a younger girl in the family Julia who is just starting out at NACA which also gives us hope at the end.

There are a few different narrators in this film, the main one being Andrew talking about his journey, but also his family talking about the history and how things are in life now. We also get interviews from people working at NACA talking about the school and their values etc. The main point of view is from Andrew and is told in the first person 'I' pov.

The main theme of this film is about embracing your culture and your heritage, not shying away from it and doing what you can to preserve it.

Most of the music is quite chill background music that has a sadder vibe to it when talking about their history and how they've never felt like they belonged and Andrew's childhood which wasn't great. The music feels a bit more uplifting when you get into the scenes about NACA and Andrew's graduation etc. There are also a lot of ambient sounds when they're showing their everyday rituals, but the main sound is the narration from the interviews.

In this film, there is a mix of long shots of the landscapes with a lot of mid shots documenting the family. There are also close up shots of the family in certain scenes. The interviews are all straight on but there are also some low angles looking up at the subjects giving them power when they're doing things, gives a vibe of them taking back their culture and embracing it eg. the shot when the Aunty is tying feathers in the younger girls hair.

The lighting is very warm for the majority of the film, it sets the mood to be uplifting and the family seem very close and comfortable with each other, it seems like a very inviting atmosphere which the lighting reflects. The opening seemed colder as this was when they talked about the not so good history and before the story got inspiring with Andrew.

There is a small pattern in the way the movie is cut, introducing different people and showing their interviews and cutting to what they're talking about and every now and again cutting back to Andrew's interview in between everyone else. The pace and tempo of this film is great, starts quite sad and then gets lifted with the intro of Andrew and then Covid brings it down again but it gets brought back up about Andrew's future in College and the future for youngster Julia, too. It also has a nice even feel of interviews and B roll.

As a whole, this film tells an inspiring story of a beautiful family embracing their culture and teaching younger generations not to be ashamed of their culture and it also teaches viewers a little bit about Native Americans which is important.

Analysis done by Hayley

[domestic-harry]

fics when the hate each other but end in love??? and fics when one of them admire/has a crush for the other but doesn't have like a close relationship (i mean that they aren't so good friends it seems they're already a couple!) thank you baby!

Hate to Love Fics

Love Is A Rebellious Bird  : Louis is the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Harry is the New! and Exciting! interim conductor/ex-cello prodigy who “has made Mozart cool again” according to Esquire Magazine (Louis hates him immediately, which is definitely why he internet stalked him in his dark bedroom late at night that one time), and Niall is the best.  Zayn and Liam are around too.

Unbelievers : It’s Louis’ senior year, and he’s dead set on doing it right. However, along with his pair of cleats, a healthy dose of sarcasm and his ridiculous best friend, he’s also got a complicated family, a terrifyingly uncertain future, and a mortal enemy making his life just that much worse. Mortal enemies “with benefits” was not exactly the plan.Or: The one where Louis and Harry definitely aren’t friends, and football is everything.

Soft Hands, Fast Feet, Can’t Lose : American Uni AU. Harry Styles is a frat boy football star from the wealthy Styles Family athletic dynasty. A celebrity among football fans, he knows how to play, he knows how to party, and he knows how to fuck (all of which is well known among his legion of admirers). Louis Tomlinson is a student and an athlete, but his similarities to Harry end there. Intelligent, focused, independent, and completely uninterested in Harry’s charms, Louis is an anomaly in a world ruled by football. A bet about the pair, who might be more similar than they originally thought, brings them together. Shakespeare, ballet, Disney, football, library chats, running, accidental spooning, Daredevil and Domino’s Pizza all blend into one big friendship Frappucino, but who will win in the end?

Young & Beautiful : Louis, to his horror, attends an elitist university in which the name Zayn Malik means something, Niall Horan doesn’t stop talking, there are pianos everywhere, and Harry Styles, only son of a drug-addled, clinically insane ex-rocker, has a perfect smile and empty eyes.

Where Your Heart Is : Louis is ready for his brand new adventure. So what if he suffers from a genetic condition that prevents him from being touched? College is going to be awesome. It has to. Karma kind of owes him right now. Forget about his overprotective mother, or Liam– his entirely too chipper step brother– or his mess of a roommate. Forget about the gloves he has to wear at all times. He’s here to expand his knowledge, write and drown himself in books – No matter how distracting ‘Hallway Boy’ may be– The obnoxious, flirty frat wannabe determined to become the bane of Louis’ existence.Or, a college AU set in San Francisco where two lost boys who seemingly have nothing in common find inspiration, each other, and themselves in the process.

Learning to breathe : He’s playing football at one of the top universities in England and he should love everything about his life right now, but instead he’s moving backwards. How does your past fit into your present? Louis is still figuring it out.

Shake Me Down : Harry’s new to college, fresh out of Catholic school and conversion therapy camp, and Louis runs the campus LGBTQIA organization.

You Drive Me Round The Bend : In which Louis is a spoilt rich kid who’s always on the phone while he drives and Harry is a struggling musician making his way down the mountain. It’s just a matter of time before they crash and burn.

Wings to Break Your Fall : Strip club AU. Harry’s work and family are keeping him busy. He really isn’t looking for a relationship, doesn’t want one. He just wants Louis. Problem is, Louis has other plans.

Dance To The Distortion : Louis accidentally breaks Harry’s camera lens and in order to get it fixed, they decide to participate in a romantic couples study. The only issue is that they are not actually couple. Well that and the fact they cannot stand each other.

Resist Everything Except Temptation : The one where Louis is the commodore’s son who is forced to become a part of Harry’s crew when he is captured. 

With a Whimper : Dystopian AU. Louis has been alone for too long to remember how not to be, and Harry has too much to worry about to deal with a scrawny, wild, stranger.

You’re Cold And I Burn : Louis’ love for pretty colors and aesthetics, paired with his immense passion for painting beautiful flowers has stars in his eyes and thoughts of a successful career.unfortunately, budding artists will struggle at first, so, cue the unwanted roommate. it only gets worse when the new addition is a sarcastic, flirty, and style-ignorant annoyance. all complete with a dingy leather jacket and a vast array of tattoos.

You’ve got to see yourself from far and wide: Harry and Louis meet at a very early age under all the wrong circumstances, which leads them to absolutely loathe each other for years on end. Eventually they both make it as professional football players in (very) rival teams, but are suddenly bought by the same club and depend on one another to either make it or break it at the height of their careers.With a side of sports journalist (and bridge friend) Niall, teammate Liam and wannabe football rep Zayn. They say that there’s a fine line between love and hate. That line might as well be shaped as a football trophy. 

Walk That Mile : A Route 66 AU where falling in love was never part of the plan.

Tainted Saints and Velvet Vices : A self-fulfilling Hogwarts AU in which Louis is new to seventh year and Harry is the resident devil-may-care Slytherin set to make his entire experience a living misery. Due to less than favourable circumstances they’re forced to forge an unwilling, tentative relationship for their own survival. Repressed emotions, decidedly unromantic ballroom dancing, Triwizard Tournament tasks, creative jinxes and twilight flying above the Forbidden Forest ensue. 

Pining (without being close friends) Fics

In This Light: Harry is a wardrobe stylist who likes to live in the moment, and Louis is a popstar who looks dreamy in double breasted jackets. Harry never stood a chance.

Way in the World : The one where Harry has a knee injury and an embarrassing crush on Manchester United’s pretty number ten.

Adore You : Against his wishes, Harry spends the holidays at his family’s summer estate, and is reluctantly pulled into a courtship he didn’t ask for. Harry doesn’t want to get married, but Louis does. They don’t fit, but then again they really, really do.

Home To You : At fifteen, Harry wrote his first song for an oblivious seventeen year old Louis Tomlinson. Ten years later he’s a singer/songwriter who cant find any words for his second album and Louis is a closeted actor tired of LA. They both try to run from the things weighing them down and in the process, they find each other.

Just Tell Me the Song and I’ll Sing It  : Louis is an architecture student who can only think about the future. Harry is a baseball player who can only think about right now. Both are lonely for different reasons. Boybands bring them together.Or, this may just be a long love letter to Louis’ voice, I’m not sure.Based on the following prompt: Harry and Louis are university students who go to the same bar on the weekends. The bar has karaoke and Louis likes to sing Disney/Musical/Boyband songs sometimes. Harry thinks he’s cute so he starts singing Disney/Musical/Boyband songs and flirting with him while he’s on stage.

Sun-kissed Hurricane, Perfect Storm : Harry is the quiet kid in the back of his statistics class who writes a lot and dreams about Louis’ cheekbones . Louis needs a statistics tutor ASAP before he flunks and the quiet kid in the back of the class seems like a good choice. Harry wants to help Louis however he can and Louis wants to see how much he can make Harry blush.