#specifically doing anime deep dives on the family desktop

[mari-reads]

this gave me a guttural pit of nostalgia wth and it still bangs

[bangtann-bangdamn]

Summary: You’re a P.I. dedicated to finding soulmates... despite your insistence that soulmates aren’t real.

Pairing: Jimin x gender-neutral reader

Genre: Fluff, comedy, Soulmates AU

Prompt: Soulmate AU

Word count: 1.1k

Warning: Swearing

“Soulmates aren’t real.” You sat down heavily at your desk as you skimmed over the mission brief your client had submitted. “Why do these people bother?” You tossed the paper onto your desk with a scoff.

Ever since the turn of the decade and some woman had convinced the nation that she saw her soulmate in her dreams every night and some crack-pot actually came forward, everyone had been obsessed with finding their own soulmate. Honestly, it was the most ludicrous thing. Couldn’t people see a hoax when it was staring them straight in the face?

Yoongi scoffed as he settled in the seat opposite your desk, raising his feet to rest them on your desktop. “Bit ironic, considering you run a P.I. firm dedicated to finding soulmates.”

“You think I’m going to turn down easy money?” you rolled your eyes. “Nobody is exactly in need of a P.I. these days with social media, but everybody is searching for their soulmate.”

It hadn’t exactly been your dream to open up the Soulmate Agency. Your father had been an excellent P.I., but that had been before Soulmate gate. Since then no one had really been all too interested in finding lost family members, distant relatives, or anything else out of the extraordinary but finding their dream person.

In short, you were running an extraordinarily expensive dating service. It was easy enough to do, too. People tended to have a good idea of what their ideal person looked like. You then made a rough sketch using your AI program and forwarded the image to Hoseok at the police station. More often than not, he had a facial match straight away.

You never promised to be successful, which helped a great deal. You only promised that you would put them in touch with them. You let them figure out the rest themselves.

Sure, your success rate baffled you. Over the few years you’d been doing it, you were always surprised when one of your clients invited you to their wedding, but you rationalised that they were strongly persuaded by the idea of an easy relationship after ‘soulmates’ became synonymous with the relationship.

Yoongi considered your words as you pushed his feet off your desk with a scowl.

“So you’re saying a stranger has never appeared in your dreams? You’ve never sat down and spoken to someone, felt the sun and moon align and everything felt perfect?”

“For fuck sake, don’t tell me you actually believe in this?” You leant back in your chair. “I thought you had more sense than that, Yoongi!”

“I never said I didn’t believe in it. It’s just uncanny, you know? All these people come in here looking for the one and you miraculously find their perfect match?”

You stared cooly at him. “Did you know the human mind can remember a strangers face? You might have seen them in passing, just a glace, but your mind remembers. All these people are doing is remembering a strangers face. That’s why they know who they’re looking for.”

“What about the couple that literally lived halfway across the world from one another?”

You rolled your eyes. “Namjoon loved to travel! He probably crossed paths with them at the airport and not even realised it.” You waved your hand in front of your face as if you were batting the idea away.

“I’m just saying, it can’t be coincidental that all these matches seem to work out. How many wedding invites have you received this month?” Yoongi nodded his head in the direction of your over-filled filing cabinet.

“Thirty-three.”

“I mean…”

You pushed your chair back, grabbing the sheet of paper from your desk. “Still doesn’t account for all the people who were disappointed by what they found. Now.” You held out the sheet for Yoongi to take as you rounded the table. “I do believe I’m not paying you to sit in my office. Go call Park Jimin and invite him down for a consult.”

Yoongi took the page with a salute. “Yes, boss,” He said with a roll of his eyes before he left your office. The door clicked and you were left contemplating your words.

You didn’t believe in soulmates. Not like the way the people who walked through your doors did. But you couldn’t deny the fact that the same stranger appeared in your dreams. You sat down heavily in your chair as your thought about the blond dancer with the cheeky smile and mischievous nature. Your subconscious knew you wanted someone who kept you on your toes, and that’s exactly what your dream man did. He called you out, got playful when you wanted to be lazy, made you laugh so hard you would wake up from your dream laughing.

But you knew that’s all it was. A dream. You turned your attention to your desktop, deciding that you would forget about your own dream and work on finding others. That, at least, was easier.

Occasionally, Hoseok wasn’t able to match a face on the database. It wasn’t impossible, although it was certainly rare. But you knew what to do when those cases arose - you went back to your client and asked them for more details. Where did they have their dream meetings? Did they have an accent? Did they talk about anything specific, like their job or a hobby? Anything that would help you narrow down the search. It was more time consuming, and your client certainly felt it when it came to the bill, but they were usually the clients who kept you updated on their relationship, whether you wanted to know or not.

You were deep-diving down an anime forum all because your client remembered that their match had mentioned a love for anime and the anime community, (yes, it was definitely a long shot but what else were you supposed to do?) when Yoongi opened your door.

“Mr Park is here to see you,” he drawled, clearly bored of answering and fielding your calls for the day.

You smiled as you grabbed his file. “Send him in.” Your eyes scanned Jimin’s details as your mind erased the details of your long-shot case to focus on your new one.

You sensed when he entered the room, but you were more focused on minimising your browser and pulling up your AI software.

“Mr Park, it’s a pleasure to make -” You finally turned your attention to him, eyes first landing on his blond hair that had been pushed back to reveal his forehead and strong eyebrow then slowly drifting down until they met his cheeky smile.

“Well shit.” You said as you dropped Park Jimin’s file onto your desk.

BGW Drabble Master List

Master List

[hellofromthe-otter-slide]

1-65 😈

Well, this is literally every question, so everything is under the cut.

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

Not really

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?

Mostly a 2, but girlfriend made me go see Candyman last weekend, so right now it's a 3.

3. The person you would never want to meet?

Uhhhhh, I don't know, Elon Musk? He sounds insufferable

4. What is your favorite word?

Okay, I'm gonna grab a German word for this one. Eichhörnchen. It means squirrel and it's borderline impossible to say

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?

A big ole oak tree

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?

That weird hair bump is back and I didn't even go to sleep with wet hair

7. What shirt are you wearing?

My girlfriend's tie dyed shirt with a middle finger on it

8. What do you label yourself as?

Latina, gay, nonbinary

9. Bright room or dark room?

Dark room. Whoever turns of the big lights are fucking monsters

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?

I'm pretty sure I was asleep

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far?

My age now, so 25

12. Who told you they loved you last?

My girlfriend

13. Your worst enemy?

My instructional coach. Straight up

14. What is your current desktop picture?

The bridal party for my friend's wedding I was in

15. Do you like someone?

Yes. I'm sadly dating her

16. The last song you listened to?

That's What You Get by Paramore

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

Goodbye, Jeff Bezos

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

Second verse, same as the first (Jeff Bezos). For people I know in real life, my instructional coach

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

I...do not like this question. No one. Everyone is Dobby, now a free elf

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)

My eyes. Only one in the family to inherit my grandmother's green eyes

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

I'd dress the same and probably just go about my day

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?

Gift giving. I always deep dive to figure out the perfect present

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?

Um, fire. I don't fuck with that shit anywhere near me

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.

Wheat bread, a little mayo, spicy brown mustard, hummus, white cheddar cheese, tofurkey, sliced tomato, avocado

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?

Probably something responsible, like buy a vacuum

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go?

Tokyo

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be?

I think it's called Rumchata? Like alcoholic horchata?

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place? 

If any man is seen instituting patriarchal rules, he is fed to the beast

29. What is your favorite expletive?

Fuck

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?

A print my girlfriend got me that's framed

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

Oh geez. Um, all of it? Start with a clean slate

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!

Germany, my second home. I'm coming back

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

Sydney, my German Shepard growing up

34. What was your last dream about?

Oof. It was a nightmare that I don't really remember

35. Are you a good….[insert anything you’d like here]?

I am a good writer, I think. Good enough to make my friends upset about the angst I wrote

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital?

Yup! Broke my ankle

37. Have you ever built a snowman?

I'm from Indiana, so yes. It's not as easy as it looks

38. What is the color of your socks?

While I usually wear colorful, fun socks, I am currently barefoot

39. What type of music do you like?

Whatever Aly & AJ are doing

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

Sunsets

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

Mint chocolate chip

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)

I mean, I was just forced to watch the UGA game

43. Do you have any scars?

Two from the aforementioned broken ankle. Had to get surgery

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?

I am a teacher

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

That mental illness can just shoo

46. Are you reliable?

Very

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

What the fuck is going on?

48. Do you hold grudges?

Nope

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?

Otters and sloths

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?

My best friend taught me about oviposition once

51. Are you a good liar?

Yup

52. How long could you go without talking?

So long

53. What has been you worst haircut/style?

My mom cutting off all of my hair during first grade

54. Have you ever baked your own cake?

Yup

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?

Very many

56. What do you like on your toast?

Honey and butter

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?

A lighthouse

58. What would be you dream car?

An electric one. I'm tired of paying for gas

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain.

I sing and conduct fake interviews about my writing

60. Do you believe in aliens?

Yep

61. Do you often read your horoscope?

Never

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

Q

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

Dragons

64. What do you think about babies?

They look weird as newborns

65: you didn't give me an extra question here so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[symbianosgames]

The following blog post, unless otherwise noted, was written by a member of Gamasutra’s community. The thoughts and opinions expressed are those of the writer and not Gamasutra or its parent company.

It doesn't happen the same way to everyone, but at some point every programmer made the conscious decision to learn how to code.  For me, it was wanting to build a game with my husband and since he was an established artist, that meant I needed to learn how to code.  Making that descision is only the first step, from there you actually have to well, um, learn to do it. This is one of those articles I wish I could give to my younger self to help understand how to get started, what languages are the right ones for the final product, and how to use all that to maybe make a living. 

Getting Started

The best way to find your path (no we aren't talking A* pathfinding here), is to dig deep about why you want to get into programming.  Was it your passion for gaming, or your love for a mobile or desktop application?  Was it a really cool website, or even a really bad website? Maybe you are interested in how to defeat our robot overlords in the nearing dystopian future.  Or maybe you just feel like you understand the logic of how something should work, but no one is creating it the way you want.  Depending on which one of these you aligned with most, you can visit the idea of being a back-end developer, a front end developer, a machine learning expert, a web developer, a mobile developer, a game developer….well the list goes on.

Once you decide on which type of developer that you want to be, the languages you can learn will reveal themselves.  With there being so many languages in programming it is impossible to just learn one and be done.  You'll find that you need knowledge of at least three different coding languages, because they all interact with each other some how.  Before you can pinpoint the exact languages, you'll also want to decide what platforms you want to support.  Each platform will require a different coding language, because well, life is hard that way.  If you want to support web, you'll likely go in the direction of HTML5, but there is also JavaScript. For desktop, will you support Mac, because you'll likely learn Objective-C, or Swift.  For PC, well you have .Net, Python,  C# (that's sharp not hashtag),  C++, etc.  Having various languages will also be the case for mobile applications.  If you want to make things easier on yourself (I said easier, not easy), then the best idea is to decide on a platform and find an engine that will support it as well as other platforms in your field. 

In my case, I've traveled the route of game and application developer and I deploy to mobile, desktop and console.  While that may sound like a lot of different platforms, there are actually a handful of great engines to choose from, like Unity, Unreal or even a smaller one like Cocos2d-x.  Engines will typically allow you to write your code in just one language, then it will compile for your target platforms, doing all the major lifting for you. They also have amazing features built in, so that you do not have to write (for example) your own animation or lighting tools.  Along with having the right engine, you'll also want to find a source code editor that works with your engine and that has all the features you need.  There is a pretty lengthy list of editors you can find here, but my two favorite have been Visual Studio and Xcode.  They both have great intelligent code completion and the (forever useful) syntax highlighting.  Again, the ones available to you will depend on the platform you choose.   

Tutorials, tutorials, tutorials...

At this point you have the type of project that you want to work on, the engine that will support this, and you've decided on a language and code editor, but what next?  Well, now is the time to start learning how to use all of these tools!  There are some incredibly useful resources out there to learning the fundamentals of programming, as well as diving deeper in to the languages and tools.  From my experience, it is best to buy a book or two and read through some of the tutorials to understand what is going on in each line of code.  The next best step (or an alternate first step) is to take an online course.  It doesn’t have to be an expensive course at your local University or college, but maybe simply a course from Lynda.com, Udemy or Codecademy.  These are all websites full of different courses, lead by different instructors that have been in their respective fields, so you will learn a lot and by the end of the course you have a project that you've worked through line by line.

After understanding the fundamentals of the coding language and the engine, but you still run into errors or get stumped on how to do something, then the next best place is reading through the specific documentation relating to your engine or targeted operating system. The documents are out there to help you and it took several people tons of effort to write it, so please at least skim through it.  After that, if you are still stumped, then there are so many forums full of willing people that are ready to help you out.  The primary forum, and almost everyone's go to is StackOverflow.com.  This site has been around for a long time, so a big chunk of questions that can be asked, have been asked on there. If not on Stackoverflow, then it's possible your engine has a forum with active members and experienced moderators.  Taking the effort to write a detailed post goes a long way with people that are active on the forums, so don’t just ask for some one to write your code for you.   You will get stumped and you will need help, because, as I said before, this is not an easy field you chose.  

Write Something, Deploy It

Now that you feel like you have a basic understanding, you can start writing that program that caught your interest in the field to way back at the beginning of all this.  Just kidding!  Start with a much, mush smaller subtask or version of that big project that you envisioned from the beginning.  If you wanted to make a game, well then make a Arkanoid clone. The point being, you do not want to overwhelm yourself, that will only lead to defeat. 

Your first program isn't going to be amazing, or original... it is going to be basic and most likely a clone or something already published.  Creating this first project will give you the understanding you need to make the bigger program that you aspired to do in the first place.  But go through all the motions with this first one, delpoy it to the platform that you chose, make friends and family test it for bugs and quality, and finally publish it and make it public.  All of this will give you the experiences you need to do it better next time when you want to launch something original. 

Take small steps and create something that you are proud to put your name to and even more importantly, something that you can show at your interview.  Which brings me to the next point of finding a job in the field, after all you want to make a living right?  

The Job Prep

The whole job search charade is such a grueling process, and finding the right company to interview at is a process in it's own.  There are (once again) several online resources to search for a job, and with this being such a large industry you will likely find several places to interview with.  Start with searching sites like Monster, Indeed, Hired, and even Stackoverflow.  If that doesn't work out, try joining a local group of other developers like yourself through a site like Meetup.com and search their bulletin board.  While doing all of this it is also important to continue working on your portfolio. 

Keeping all these small projects to yourself will not be of any use, so create a website that show cases each one and most importantly get on LinkedIn.  Do not underestimate the value of LinkedIn, as head hunters are constantly scouring it for talent.  Now that you've also gained more experience with these small projects, try to make time to create a Stackoverflow account and start gaining reputation points there by answering the noob questions that get posted all day, every day. 

Like I mentioned, the job search is a grueling process and preparing for the interview is just as important as learning the language.  The interview will be a three, five or even eight hour long day at your prospective company.  They will put you through the ringer.  You will code on a whiteboard, complete coding tests, and just talk experiences.  Start taking online coding interview test (Codility is a good resource for this), and make sure you have a basic understanding of the concepts, and know the lingo.  You'll go through this process a few times, but you will eventually find a company that fits you and one where you fit in to it's culture.  

Good luck!

After all is said and done, you may find that this wasn't what you wanted after all….or you might just absolutely love it, like I do.  If the latter is the case, then keep at it and you will find the right position at the right company.  The best advice I can offer is that coding/programming/software engineering it isn't easy; but if you love a challenge, you read this whole article and are still in the game, well, then maybe it is the right path for you.  Either way, good luck in your newly found hobby! May it consume your time and leave you broke, fat, hairy and living in your parent's dark basement, like most people envision us.

Happy coding!