#unfortunately employment is coming from grades ://

[stolenslumber]

the way grad school can so easily drain u of ur love of reading and language.......... ya ://///

[ratatouillewastakendammit]

Pairing: Dabi x reader

Summary: a fic for this blurp;

Warnings: slightttt smut/mentions of smut; language; teasing;

Word Count: 3.5k

(I kinda want to write a full multi-chapter fic for this so let me know if anyone here would enjoy that!!)

You felt sick.

The bubbling cloud in front of you matched the contents of your stomach, the writhing horde of violet and ebony swirling in turmoil. A soft rumbling seemed to emit from the portal, a warning to surrender and run.

Giran, the League's silver haired broker, raised an arm, ushering you into the mass. A cigarette hung between his lips, the smoke leaving an unsavory odor in his wake. He offered you a sickly saccharine grin, the cigarette falling into the empty slot in his piano-like smile.

The man did nothing to settle your nerves. Still, your expression remained complacent; a mask that easily covered the anxiety bubbling underneath. 

Thoughts of caution gnawing at your train of thought definitely didn’t do anything to help, little reminders that whatever was on the other side of that shimmering gateway was ten times worse than the broker and his creepy persona. 

You had gotten the mission last week. It wasn’t particularly surprising, your status as one of the more covert pros amongst hero society meant that you were no stranger to undercover work.

Still, the word coming from your superiors that you would be infiltrating the League of Villains definitely didn’t fail to leave you shaken.

Their preferred strategy left you feeling even worse. 

Most female heroes were no stranger to using emotional manipulation, such as flirting, a tactic that you had used multiple times and had no issue with. 

Usually. 

Doing so with Dabi was well above your pay grade.

According to your higher-ups, the infamous fire wielding criminal had been spotted crawling around a bar in the northern side of the city, one that you had coincidentally utilized in the past for other missions. According to them, this made him vital to your mission for information on the League. 

He was your way in. 

Whether you wanted him to be or not. 

So you had taken a day or two to prepare, allowing the ambush of whisky and smoke to wash over your senses as you entered the bistro. The bartender, an undercover cop working to take down a drug ring leader, was someone you were well acquainted with, making the arrangement of your temporary employment go by without a hitch. 

It was a few days before he actually showed up.

The room had been bustling with noise, whether it be the shouts of remaining drunken patrons or the soft crackle of the fireplace in the corner, the glowing embers crying out with their final bouts of life. 

And then everything fell quiet. 

You turned from the wall of liquor you had been organizing, gaze falling over the figure dressed in black.

Locks the same shade of ebony as his jacket and skin pale enough to provide a sharp contrast to the scars painting his body, the man seemed to emit some sort of repellent, the customers slouching away in fear, gazes locked on the wooden flooring.

Smoke wafted through his fingers, dancing among the digits before fading into the night air, already infected with the scent of harsh liquor and cigarettes.

Unfortunately, you had met before, although he wouldn’t have any way of knowing that. He had been leading an unsuspected attack near Endeavor’s agency. Being one of the nearest heroes on the scene, you had been in charge of getting any civilians caught in the crossfire to safety.

Not all of them made it. 

The memories of those lost had kept you awake for days, nightmares plagued by their cries of pain and misery that seemed to haunt your every step.

In all honesty, the thought of looking at Dabi made your blood boil, the concept of even pretending to like him so much more horrific, a feeling you had spent the past few days attempting to push away.

Still, remnants of anger and displeasure left a sour taste in your mouth and a snarl that begged to tear at your lip, both you which was forced away with a swallow before continuing to work. A minute or two passed before you faced him, forcing a polite smile and picking up a few napkins. 

“Hi there, can I get you something to drink?”

When he turned your way, the look of pure irritation gracing his features made you almost positive he was going to tell you to fuck off. When he took you in, though, he paused, expressionless for a moment before allowing a grin to wash over his face. “Whiskey. Neat.”

The smile sent a shudder up your spine, but you nodded and grabbed the bottle.

Dabi watched you work, those turquoise eyes scanning your every move. “I haven’t seen you here before.”

“I’m covering for my friend this week.” You handed him the drink with a small laugh. “This place doesn’t make enough money to be a stickler for employee regulations and I owed her a favor.”

Leaning forward, he casually cradled his face in his hand. “Is that so?”

You had gotten closer throughout the later hours of that night, telling him some sob story about hating hero society and the ideals they stood for. 

And when you felt him just dangling in the palm of your hand, you had asked about the League.

What you failed to notice, however, was that he did recognize you.

You had been a surprisingly annoying pain in his ass, rescuing the office workers with surprising vigilance.

He hadn’t seen your face, sure, but he had heard your voice, sure and steady as you led those around you to safety. Additionally, he had managed to spot a bit of your eyes through the rip in your mask, broken in the fray of the fight. And it was that mannered tone and stare that gave you away tonight. 

In complete honesty, he thought about turning you to ash right there. It wouldn’t be something new, especially for this establishment. 

Yet, despite the fact that he was practically positive this was some scheme, the way you approached him, eyelids fluttering and that amorous lilt to your tone, sparked a curiosity that he didn’t think he would mind fixing. It also definitely didn’t hurt to have a hero, especially one as pretty as you, wrapped around his arm for a while. 

It would be all the more exciting to watch you crack.

So he called Giran the next day, dropping your name along with the time and place to meet up.

And so here you were.

Taking a breath, almost like the indigo fumes would suffocate you with their potency, you stepped forward, trying not to gasp as a weightless feeling overtook your body, prickling at your limbs and fingers for far too long. It couldn’t have come soon enough when your foot hit solid ground, that nauseous feeling dissipating with the writhing mass around you. 

Body still undergoing the effects of such an odd journey, you tried desperately not to fall over, fingers shaking just slightly as you took in the room around you.

Darkness filled most of the space, dim lamps and ceiling lights filling in the gaps. You recognized most of the faces in front of you, whether it be from mission overviews or wanted posters.

The one sitting at the bar was the only one you'd had the displeasure of meeting personally.

Posture screaming indifference, Dabi rested his scarred face in the palm of his hand, a lazy grin sinking over his features.

“Hey there, doll.”

Disgust jumped in your stomach, a sensation that you quickly wiped away with a smile of your own. "Hi."

Most of the group met you with an excited sense of immediate camaraderie. You didn't fail to notice, however, the glare Shigaraki kept giving you, knotted with distrust.

Thankfully, he seemed desperate for allies.

With one of the League's top players by your side, and your own personal skills, made the initiation process fairly quick and easy.

The next few days?

Absolutely not.

Time didn't seem to make your mission any less bearable, the flirting just as nausea inducing a week later as it was on day one.

You spent half of your time pretending that you liked the League and the other half hating yourself for doing so.

Giran had made sure you didn't have any form of communication upon entry, whether it be a phone or a tapped wire, effectively cutting you off from the rest of the world.

It wasn't just lonely, but completely humiliating.

Your target had been surprisingly responsive to your courting, regardless of the usually solitary persona talked about in the tabloids, making it increasingly difficult to make sure nothing actually happened.

Dabi, on the other hand, was enjoying himself immensely.

He would let you do away with those sweet smiles and fluttering eyelashes, watching in amusement as you attempted to break through his walls. It was easy to ignore how easily you might've done so if he hadn't known your true identity, that sure sense of control he held over you made sure of that.

Contrary to what he had planned when you first arrived, he had come to the resolution that you would not be killed when this shit all blew over.

Oh, no. He found himself increasingly content with the idea of keeping you for his own instead, making sure that you kept faithful to all those untruthful promises made with honeyed words.

The way you always seemed to dodge his advances before going too far was annoyingly impressive, sure, but he'd let you believe that you had the power here.

It wasn't like it would be that way for much longer.

At first, you might find it difficult to live under his command, a future Dabi was excited to see. The soft obsession brewing for you did nothing to quell the masochistic desire to see you struggle under his hand, it seemed. Regardless, he could easily imagine a future where you grew to follow his lead, a little toy to play with at his beck and call.

Just like you were now, rifling through bottles of alcohol at his request. You plucked out a bottle of whiskey, pouring the caramel-colored liquor before sliding over the drink and moving to occupy the seat next to him.

"Driving somewhere tonight?" he asked, taking note of the lack of alcohol in your own cup, the dusty glass filled with tap water.

“Can’t make it that easy on you, right?” You tossed a wink in his direction. “Or are you one to back down from a challenge?”

“Definitely not.”

The response had you suppressing a shiver. It didn’t feel so much a response as it did a promise, a vow that coupled with that ardent blue stare to make a terrifying duo.

You had never been more thankful for Shigaraki’s presence as you were now, him slamming the door open and easily harnessing the attention in the room.

"Get over here. We're discussing tomorrow's mission." he motioned to Dabi, gaze swiveling in your direction. "You, out."

"She won't be a problem?" The man next to you threw an arm over your shoulder, hopefully missing the slight flinch running up your body as his did so. "Will you, doll?"

You were ready to shake your head in agreeance, but the sneer Shigaraki sent you had you rethinking. "It's okay, I'll just see you guys tomorrow."

Their leader's dismissal didn't have you worried. As long as you asked nicely with faux thoughtlessness, Dabi had been surprisingly satisfied to give you any information that you missed out on after meetings and you were certain this one wouldn't be any different. The fruits of your labor had definitely been helping you in cases like this.

The prospect of taking a moment alone to shake off Dabi's words was also tempting.

He gave you a nod as you gave a small 'see you later' and walked off to your room, trying your best to ignore the scarlet glare piercing your skin.

Shigaraki was suspicious of you, and for good reason. You could only imagine how pissed he would be when he figured out who, or what, he had let into his precious hideout.

Oh, well.

You’d be gone by then.

Night fell over the city, a blanket of angry clouds covering the navy sky, bullets of rain threatening to drop from their ashen, puffed confinements. An hour, maybe two, had passed before your door creaked open.

It didn't matter that Dabi lacked the basic decency to knock; you refused to allow yourself to let your guard down at any moment here anyway.

"I hope the meeting went okay. Shigaraki seemed bitchy-er than usual."

You didn’t miss the small smirk earned at your comment. "Fine. He's stressing about attacking those U.A. brats again."

Blinking in surprised, you watched Dabi lean against your doorframe in a seemingly unbothered daze. "No offense, but isn't their security... really good? I'd doubt they'd let someone slip after what happened a few months ago."

The attack on USJ had been all over the news for weeks. Apparently, half the class had barely survived it. The idea of another ambush had your chest hurting for the children.

But there’s no way the teachers would let anything like that again.

Right?

"They're at some stupid summer camp thing or some shit,” he replied, taking note of the skepticism still overtaking your features and cracking a mock grin. “Aww, is someone worried for me?”

“You wish.”

Worried about you?

Sure.

Worried for you?

Different story.

“Don’t know if I believe that, princess,” he chuckled, walking over to your side. “You’ll be happy to hear that it should be easy. Especially with one of those dumbasses telling us where the kids will be and when.”

At this point, it was obvious that you were quite the actress. He barely even noticed the surprise and horror glazing over your features when he revealed that the League had a spy. If he didn't know better, he might have thought you didn't care.

Now, he could basically see the gears in your mind turning, the veins running up and down your arms practically quickening with the beat of your heart.

You had what you needed, but he wasn't worried.

There wasn't anything that he could tell you that would actually be consequential.

It wasn't like you were actually leaving with any of this information anyway.

"Anyway, see you tomorrow, doll."

A small goodbye was all you offered, the meager farewell leaving Dabi nothing if not amused. He had no doubt that you were stewing in your own shock right now, a theory that was evidently true.

The room was quickly closing in on you now, the space far too confined for the magnitude of the secret you just discovered. At this point, you had what you needed, but the direct orders you had been given at the prospect of a certain attack rang through your mind as well.

Take down as many as possible.

No matter how much abhorrence you felt for these people and the things they did, you had never killed anyone, quietly living under the belief of redemption for all, one way or another. Your heart felt like stone, heavy with responsibility and cold with hatred.

Still, you knew what you had to do.

You could get Dabi, then maybe take care of one or two of the more trusting members before slipping away and into the night.

“Actually,” you cleared the fear from your voice, attempting to play it off as shyness. “Would you want to stay?”

He paused, hand motionless on the doorknob. For a moment, you weren’t sure if he had heard you correctly.

Then he turned, eyes glimmering in the darkness. “How could I say no to that?”

And he couldn’t have.

With upmost certainty, he knew what you were planning.

Still.

The simple look you gave him would’ve been enough, a delicious blend of lust and innocence concealed by a lidded gaze.

But your position may have been what did it, knees folded underneath you in submission and the neckline of your silk top falling slightly askew to reveal your shoulder.

So, no, Dabi would not have been able to deny you.

Which is precisely why he came prepared for the occasion.

You were quick, sure, but he knew about the kitchen knife you had hidden under your mattress, the one you had weighted in your hand to figure out how much force it would take to jab it through his throat without hurting yourself.

You, on the other hand, had absolutely no clue about the chloroform-soaked napkin in his back pocket.

And that ignorance, which he found oh-so adorable, was what ultimately led to your downfall. He watched in sick glee as the emotions washed over your face, first surprise, then fear, then soft acceptance as the world grew dark.

~

It could have been hours.

It could have been days.

However long you had been asleep, you weren’t sure.

The only thing you could really focus on was the blinding headache ripping through your skull.

Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be any windows in whatever room you were in, but the soft lightbulb flickering above you was enough to make you squint in irritation.

A few minutes passed before the stinging subsided, allowing you to slowly take in your area.

Concrete surrounded you on all sides, the dark grey patterned with cracks and stains that made your stomach lurch at the thought of.

Hand cuffs entrapped your wrists, each bracelet connected to a large chain. Your eyes followed their lead up to the ceiling, where the links conjoined into what looked like a pulling system, connecting into one and falling onto the ground on the other side of the room.

The device would allow your captors to haul you up or down at will.

You were resting pretty on the floor now, sure, but they could leave you hanging here for days if they wanted to, arms crying out in exhaustion before ultimately giving out, tearing apart at the joints.

You tried to harness your quirk but the soft hum of power singing through your veins fell quiet, silenced by whatever materials they put into these cuffs.

A few minutes of trying to remove them passed before the door opened.

“What are you doing?” You asked, tone laced with feigned confusion and tangible fear.

Dabi cocked an eyebrow, fingers curling around the chain before giving it a hard pull. The tug had your body launching upward until you were eye level with him, shoulders throbbing in pain at the sudden jerk. “Still playing dumb, huh, little hero?”

Your heart plummeted, the emotion clearly showing on your face if the immediate grin on his was any indication. “I don’t-“

“Ah, come on, doll. Give me something to work with.” He grabbed your chin with a free hand, watching in delight as you struggled to remove yourself from his hold. With your body suspended in air, toes barely grazing the floor to keep the burden off your arms, it was a lost cause. “What? You were practically begging me to touch you like this yesterday. Done playing whore? But you do it so well.”

“Fuck you.”

He clicked his tongue in mock disappointment.“What a pretty girl for such a dirty mouth. Wonder what else it does.”

“They’ll come for me.” The threat sounded disgustingly pathetic.

“Who? The same people who sent you into this hellhole?” The malice in his cackle made you want to vomit. “They don’t give a shit about you, sweetheart. You’re not going anywhere. Besides I think I might just wanna keep you.” The words sent ice shooting down your veins.

Slowly releasing your face and backing away, Dabi let go of the chain, sending you hurdling to the floor, knees now bloodied and bruised from landing on the concrete.

Still, you lunged forward, bindings catching your wrists and forcing you in place, just inches away from being able to claw out those glowing cerulean eyes.

Dabi watched you struggled, arrogance lacing those sharp features in a way that made you want to scream.

“I’ll tell the pros you say hi when I see them later,” he turned, waving a mindless hand in your direction as he opened the door. “I’ll be back in a few hours. Don’t miss me too much.”

Your muffled screams of frustration followed him down the hall, nestling into his brain to be savored later, preferably in his room or with a hand wrapped around your throat.

Either way, he didn’t really mind.

As long as he had you.

[gl1tchr]

please sir.. can we have more city limits content 🙏🤲

I WORKED ON THIS way too much, absolutely overdrawn but IT WILL STILL SERVE ITS INTENDED PURPOSE which is to better introduce the main focuses of City Limits, the Strays! from left-to-right we've got Kieran Burroughs, Vincent Voronov, Deonda Germaine, and Amare Hunter. Their bios will be written out here!

LOTS of text down below vvv :3

Kieran is a 25-year-old burnout who, at one point, had a full-ride scholarship to a prestigious private school for his mathematics and engineering talents. He had always had a bit of a strained relationship with his father, who always demanded more of him no matter how well he did. While this did push Kieran to earn the scholarship he got to attend one of the best private schools in Gotham, it made their bond extremely weak. Kieran felt like he couldn't open up to his father and that he only ever cared about him when he got good grades. His sense of self-worth improved when he was able to start attending school, as they offered dorms, meaning he could be away from his father's oppressive expectations for once. This is where he met Vincent, and the two would begin a relationship. Vincent was always impressed with Kieran's intelligence, stating he'd never met someone who saw patterns and connections the way he did. Kieran flourished at school, and was especially happy to be openly gay now that he wasn't in his father's home. This, too, had been an issue - not one spoken out loud, but Kieran's father had ranted to him many times in coded language about how he was sensitive, or weak, and needed to meet a girl. Finally feeling confident in his school work and having a healthy relationship, Kieran felt as though his life was finally improving. One day, Vincent stopped coming to school and Kieran never heard from him. Thinking Vincent had abandoned him, Kieran fell into a depression and never fully recovered. As his grades slipped, his father told him to get it together or to "not bother coming back home". He dropped out of school, never returned to his father's home, and became homeless for a period of time. Kieran would struggle deeply with a sense of being inadequate and unwanted, and would unfortunately be taken advantage of for a short period by a lackey of the Sionis family that pimped him out. After getting out of that situation by running away once again, he would meet Amare at a shelter and the two would become close friends. Kieran chose to seek employment through illicit channels once again, working for low-level drug dealers to deliver stashes all over town. After years of being a mule, he had developed an uncanny ability to travel through Gotham without being seen, and quicker than anyone else. Most people would refer to him as a rat due to his frequent utilization of old subway tunnels and sewer systems to get around, but he always preferred Mouse, and this is what his close friends call him. He dislikes the term rat. This small operation was enough to fund his own vices, drugs to numb the regrets and trauma of his past, as well as support himself and Amare enough to have a small apartment. This was their setup from around when they were both 21 to current day. During that time they would meet and befriend Deonda, who doesn't live with them, but is a close friend. Now, Kieran works the odd shift at Pandora's Box, the night club Deonda works security detail at, never fully able to let go of the need to feel desired and wanted, even if it was for pay. To Kieran, he's got everything he needs - enough money, drugs, and boyfriends to keep him happy until, in his own words, "he gets popped in the back of the head by some psycho in a back alley".

Vincent is a 24-year-old heir to his father Valentin's crime syndicate. The Voronov's, Wayne's, and Sionis's are the three most wealthy family's in Gotham, and the Voronov's and Sionis's are in the same business - organized crime. While the Wayne's were typically very private people, the Voronov's and Sionis's interacted frequently. Vincent grew up around their only son, Roman, as the two were both only male children. Vincent and Roman despised each other, much like their fathers did, but not for the same reasons. Vincent struggled with a great deal of anxiety as a child and Roman would torment him. Vincent's father never stepped in because he believed he should fight back, and if he couldn't, then he deserved it. Vincent's life would be rife with this sort of messaging of cowardice. A defining moment in his childhood was when his pet horse became injured and Valentin forced Vincent to shoot the animal himself. Vincent would become extremely emotionally shut-off after this, including with his mother, Vaishali, whom he'd always had a closer relationship with. She taught him to speak Tamil, which his father forbid he learn because he only wanted him to know English and Russian. She noticed he was becoming depressed and suggested he be enrolled in a private school to get him out of the house. Until then, he'd been taught by private tutors, and had not been on his own before. Valentin was initially opposed, but was persuaded when Vincent's mother explained that they could send him to the same private school as many of Gotham's other elite children to make connections with their families. While at private school, Vincent struggled with relating to others, but his roommate, Kieran, seemed to be immediately friendly with him. He would find it strange, but enjoyed his company nonetheless. As they grew closer, he would realize he had feelings for Kieran, and that he was gay. To his surprise, Kieran felt the same way, and the two began a very private relationship with one another. However, Vincent was unaware his father had been keeping tabs on him by sending his men to keep an eye on his son, not trusting others not to attempt ransom kidnappings. Valentin would swiftly unenroll Vincent, send for him to return home, and end his studies. The only words Valentin spoke to Vincent when he returned was a threat that if he ever touched another man, he would kill him, and Kieran. That same night, Vincent resolved to kill his father. He entered his father's study with the same shotgun he was forced to kill his horse with and shot him in the head. Vaishali would discover the scene and after years of neglect and suffering, would help Vincent cover up the murder as a suicide. However, for his own sake, she sent him away to live with their extended family in India for a while to heal and be away from any fallout that might occur. Years later, in current day, he would return to Gotham with several goals. Reunite with his mother, find Kieran, and take over both his own family's criminal empire, as well as every other criminal operation in Gotham to posthumously prove to his father that he is the more powerful man. His interest in the more macabre aspects of crime would be piqued by news of the nefarious Scarecrow that had been tormenting Gotham since the death of Thomas and Martha Wayne some years ago, around the same time he was sent away. His unorthodox methods and his focus on fear sparked some inspiration in Vincent and he wished to harness the power of fear, as it had always been utilized against him by his father. This is what drives him to organize Kieran's friends into a proper "gang", whose goal is to infiltrate the inner workings of each of these facets of Gotham's criminal underground to tear them apart, and be put back together in Vincent's image.

Deonda is the oldest of the Strays, being 29. Deonda came from a very loving and supportive middle class family, having an especially close relationship with her veteran father. However, when she attempted to come out as a lesbian, she was disowned. Heartbroken, she resolved to join the military as a way to support herself, as well as to prove to her father that her identity isn't what defines her, but her work ethic and personal strength. She would make it her goal to be an Army Ranger. Deonda was showing massive talent in a short period of time, her physical strength and quick thinking making her a formidable soldier. However, she began to earn the resentment of several of her male colleagues, who would harass her day in and day out. Nothing was ever done, as it was seen as normal within military culture to be hyperaggressive to your fellow soldiers. Eventually, this group of men would push her to fight back and she was unfairly discharged. Resentful, but not broken, Deonda decided to try and make the best of a bad situation. She realized that, in all this time attempting to show her father she could be great, she abandoned her identity and stopped living for herself. Deonda began working security for local businesses, earning a decent living and enough to have her own place. She would finally explore her identity more by dating, and has been much happier ever since. However, since being discharged, she's struggled with a short temper. She finds it much harder to not snap at others after years of bottling up her emotions, and has taken to joining boxing clubs to blow off steam. She takes on the identity of "The Hound" when she fights, and this allows her to express that frustration and anger in a way she feels is healthier. One night, after walking home from her boxing club, she sees Amare getting mugged and steps in. After neutralizing the muggers, she offers to walk Amare home and he introduces her to Kieran, who's extremely grateful to see Amare home safe. Kieran and Amare swear to Deonda that they both owe her from now on, and the three have had a very good friendship ever since. Genuinely I would argue Deonda is the most stable and least destructive of the Strays, and because of this, she often butts heads with Vincent because he encourages them to do a lot of reckless stuff. And she is VERY protective over Amare. Not as much Kieran, because Kieran's older and she considers him to be more aware of his actions than he acts. She loves him, but she wishes she could call him out on feigning a lot of his ignorance sometimes.

Finally, Amare, who is the same age as Vincent! Amare was an orphan, and would be moved around from foster home to foster home all throughout his youth. Despite being a bright, sweet child, potential adoptive parents were put off by the fact that Amare had a speech impediment and would often stutter. Eventually, Amare simply aged out of the system and was sent on his way at 19. A few years later, he would meet Kieran in the shelter and they would work together to earn enough money to get a place. However, Amare never wanted to involve himself in Kieran's line of work. He took odd jobs wherever he could, but always kept things above board. Kieran would tease him for being overly naive, thinking he could get anything done in Gotham without being a little dirty, but Amare never faltered in his belief. One night, when he was walking home from a job, three men attempted to mug him. He tried to fight back but couldn't, and was nearly beaten. However, Deonda showed up and cleared house, saving Amare's money and him. After walking him home, Amare introduced her to Kieran, and he sees Deonda as a big sister. Amare doesn't always like that Kieran teases him for being a "goody-two-shoes", but he still recognizes that he cares deeply for him and just wants him not to be taken advantage of. Though, this can cause some tension, as Amare can see how Deonda gets annoyed with Kieran's constant pessimism. Amare simply does his best to keep everyone happy, because that's the kind of guy he is and always will be!

AND THAT'S THE STRAYS! Over the course of the story, members might leave or new ones might join (like our friend the White Rabbit), but THIS is the Strays as they are in the mainline story! If you read this far, you're really fucking cool thank you!!

[ratsoh-writes]

Ok so how do immigration work in ebott? Also can monsters immigrate out of ebott or can they just travel?

Huh, I could've sworn i answered one like this

Here's a post on citizenship for some extra info!

Let's start with the monsters! While most countries are now open to monster tourists/visitors, only a small handful will actually accept a monster immigrant. Theres actually some good reasons for this

food food food. Ok so monsters need regular "top ups" of magic to survive, the same way humans need certain vitamins. Sure, they can survive for a time without on just plain food, but at some point, they're gonna need to chomp on some magic plants, or if that's not available, as a last result a soul. ...... let's not get into that. Unfortunately magical plants need very special conditions to grow and thrive, namely the presence of nearby magical creatures to feed off of. It's a big cycle where the monsters fuel the plants and in return the plants fuel the monsters. Unfortunately, this means their natural food source just won't grow anywhere without a big group of monsters/mages/witches. So, any monster living in another country has to have almost all their food shipped from ebott, and that's ridiculously expensive.

Food again lol. Many human foods from other countries can be quite toxic to monsters. There are preservatives that humans use that wouldn't hurt them that badly but would give a monster their first experience with food poisoning lol. It would be really tiring having to check the ingredient list on EVERYTHING

Monster trafficking. Not much to elaborate here, just know the trafficking market is just itching for more monsters and a lone monster outside of ebott is like leaving a hamburger patty unprotected in front of an untrained dog.

Racism. talking goat scary to old folk

Loneliness: I've mentioned this before in other posts, but monsters can actually dust from loneliness alone, or any long-term emotional distress really. The soul is directly connected to their mood, and they take literal damage if they're in emotional pain long enough. If a lone monster moves somewhere new, but is isolated for long enough, they'll start experiencing some scary health problems.

The lack of healthcare: yea there's probably not many doctors who would know what to do with an injured monster outside of ebott

In ebott, humans born (or not from the crash) outside of ebott can apply to live there for a short period for only three reasons:

Schooling: If someone applies to a college or apprenticeship in ebott, and secures it, they can apply for an educational visa. They have to get an estimated term time from their school/teacher, and the visa will be assigned for half that time. If their grades or performance is good, with the school/teachers approval it gets renewed for the other half.

Work: You have to already have a work contract ready to even get to apply the first time. Employers who hire overseas employees are in charge of providing their employees work visas which come with a five year limit before they need to be renewed (used to be three years but local human protestors got it increased a few years ago). Once you're in the country, humans are free to take other jobs and if they transfer, their visa documents are sent to their new employer. Theres also a way for apprentices and students to get their educational visas upgraded to a work visa on their own too while still in the country.

Marriage: currently there is a spousal visa for any human immigrants married to a human/mage citizen, or soulbonded to a monster. They won't become a citizen however until after a decade of marriage with their partner.

[queereads-bracket]

Queer Fantasy Books Bracket: Round 1

Book summaries and submitted endorsements below:

The Last Binding trilogy (A Marvellous Light, A Restless Truth, A Power Unbound) by Freya Marske

Endorsement from submitter: A trilogy of books set in a magical Edwardian England, the Last Binding series focuses on three queer couples who come together in order to solve a conspiracy threatening all magic. It's a masterful blending of fantasy, historical fiction, and romance, with a splash of mystery and Wodehousian romp. Expect magical manor house parties with beautiful wallpaper, as well as explorations of power, trust, and what we owe the land.

The prose is absolutely gorgeous and evocative. The characters and their emotional arcs form the beating heart of the story, intertwined with beautifully crafted romance. The worldbuilding feels organic and deeply rooted within this hidden magical society. These books are thoughtful, tender, scorching, and fun all at once.

Robin Blyth has more than enough bother in his life. He's struggling to be a good older brother, a responsible employer, and the harried baronet of a seat gutted by his late parents' excesses. When an administrative mistake sees him named the civil service liaison to a hidden magical society, he discovers what's been operating beneath the unextraordinary reality he's always known. Now Robin must contend with the beauty and danger of magic, an excruciating deadly curse, and the alarming visions of the future that come with it—not to mention Edwin Courcey, his cold and prickly counterpart in the magical bureaucracy, who clearly wishes Robin were anyone and anywhere else. Robin's predecessor has disappeared, and the mystery of what happened to him reveals unsettling truths about the very oldest stories they've been told about the land they live on and what binds it. Thrown together and facing unexpected dangers, Robin and Edwin discover a plot that threatens every magician in the British Isles—and a secret that more than one person has already died to keep. Fantasy, historical fiction, romance, adult, magic, Edwardian, series

The Witch Boy series (The Witch Boy, The Hidden Magic, The Midwinter Witch) by Molly Knox Ostertag

In thirteen-year-old Aster's family, all the girls are raised to be witches, while boys grow up to be shapeshifters. Anyone who dares cross those lines is exiled. Unfortunately for Aster, he still hasn't shifted . . . and he's still fascinated by witchery, no matter how forbidden it might be. When a mysterious danger threatens the other boys, Aster knows he can help -- as a witch. It will take the encouragement of a new friend, the non-magical and non-conforming Charlie, to convince Aster to try practicing his skills. And it will require even more courage to save his family . . . and be truly himself. Graphic novel, middle grade, young adult, fantasy, series

[the-haunted-office]

🧸 September

(Artwork commissioned from @5mind.)

Name: September, Employee #432

Role: Timekeeper/Settings Person

Office of Origin: The Haunted Office

Age: 28 (deceased)

Pronouns: She/Her (Trans/MTF)

Sexuality: Bisexual, with a strong lean towards women

Species: Human/Ghost/Benign Reaper

Personality: Extremely sensitive and easy to agitate, making her have a tendency to walk away early on. Very dry, bitter, and sarcastic. Broody. Not afraid to tell someone exactly what she thinks. Judgmental. Quiet and keeps to herself unless provoked. Fiercely loyal and protective of her friends and will kill to protect them. Has a soft spot for cute things, particularly penguins. Due to all the lies and gaslighting and mistreatment she endured not only while growing up but at the hands of ABC Corp, she has severe trust issues and has difficulty discerning falsehoods from reality. Earning her trust may take some time, if it is to be earned at all.

Physical Appearance: In most instances, September will appear in her natural Reaper form, an enormous pinkish, semi-transparent, gelatinous, slug-like creature with multiple arms and legs (about 17 in total); melting flesh that continuously forms and reforms; a skeletal face with melting, oozy flesh at the end of a long neck; no eyeballs, although her eye sockets are glowing bright yellow; sandy, light-brown hair hanging in droopy, messy rags around her face; multiple other faces sticking out all over her body at random; and her body is filled with free-floating teeth, eyeballs, and other loose, random body parts and organs.

Sometimes she will appear more human, as much as her energy will allow, and in these instances she will look more like her former self - a caucasian woman of about six feet in height, wavy shoulder-length sandy brown hair, glowing yellow eye sockets, paper-pale skin, and a deadpan expression. She loves to wear either cute flowy dresses, or outfits that are totally mismatched. It’s almost never the same outfit twice that you’ll see her in. And when she’s human, no matter how hard she tries, she can’t make her skin stop looking like it’s melting. It’s a side effect of being the type of ghost she is.

Abilities: As a Reaper, she has bonded with other shattered souls and incorporated their memories and abilities (and what remains of their bodies) into her own. She is nigh invincible, cannot feel any pain, and is extremely strong and faster than you might think. She can also see souls.

Brief History: September had a rough upbringing with an emotionally distant mother and an abusive father. She struggled with her own identity as a young child and all throughout her school years; struggled with fitting in with her peers; and struggled with maintaining grades in school as well. As a result, she did not have the best head start in life.

When she began her employment at ABC Corporation, it was a golden opportunity for her. The benefits and pay being offered to her seemed like a miracle and like her golden ticket to freedom. Her plan was to save up enough money to move into her own apartment and then eventually save enough to be able to put herself through school, and eventually be able to transition once she worked up the courage to come out, as she was still very much in the closet about her gender and sexuality at the time.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long after being hired for her dreams to be shattered.

First she was “promoted” from customer service to “dedicated pencil sharpener”. And then she felt this powerful urge to do nothing all day but sharpen pencils. But strangely after this urge appeared, all the pencils in the building disappeared, and any time she would ask someone for pencils to sharpen, she’d be told there never were any pencils. She would ask coworkers and management alike, only to receive the same answer. She searched the building high and low and never found any evidence that there were ever any pencils in the building. She even went so far as to try to bring her own pencils into the building, only to have those taken away by management and to have the same message repeated to her. “There were never any pencils.”

Soon coworkers began to turn against her, to gossip about her, to treat her differently, to bully her, even avoid her. This treatment went on for over nine years. During this time, there was only one employee who believed her and who treated her kindly - Charlotte Salvatore, Employee #217 - and it was for this employee alone that she continued to come into work each day. They would meet frequently in the break room and soon became good friends. Charlotte was the first person September came out to. She was even the one who helped her pick her new name, September.

September was tragically killed and her soul consumed when the Dampening mist attacked, before she learned about the mind control chips that had been implanted in all the employees’ necks, including her own. She later learned that she - along with all her coworkers - was subject to a massive, illicit, cruel psychological experiment, one that was just the beginning of what was yet to come.

These days she spends her time in the Haunted Office as a ghostly Reaper. Her default appearance as such is terribly off-putting to most people, and where that isn’t her dour attitude is. But underneath all that is a sensitive, caring person who wants to be loved and accepted.

Voiceclaim: Tracy Grandstaff

Links:

Open Starters - #september open starter Headcanons - #🧸 office memos Musings - #septposting

Playlist:

[nonokoko-draws]

"Let's see, then it'll be one meat sandwich, large fries to share, two grape sodas and...um... I'm sorry, could you repeat your order please?"

[click for better quality]

Joining @twst-the-night-away fan event Disorder up! because it sounded fun and I can't say no to 50s cafe themes, also with this I had an excuse to draw my main yuusona on twst style hehe. Edit: Their name is Kooky now❗

Card resources made by @alchemivich. I apologise if there's any mistakes with the Japanese name, I used Google translator so if anyone knows Japanese it could help me to know the correct translation. Noko's voicelines below (The first sentence above would be the summon line btw) ↓↓↓

Groooovy!!: It's seven thaumarks in total...is that right though?...hmm, wait, let me check it out again just in case.

Home: How did I end up in this? Well, let's just say I was in the wrong place at the wrong time...and I can't let the chance of being rewarded somehow pass.

Home Idle 1: The Old Sage has a very colorful retro aesthetic that reminds me of cafes from the 50s-70s of my world. I like it.

Home Idle 2: Malmal would surely enjoy coming to places like this with pals. Unfortunately, I believe the waiters would be intimidated by him, F.

Home Idle 3: Sometimes I have thought about applying for a job at the Mostro Lounge, but working for Azul would mean being in his debt and I'd prefer to avoid that.

Home Idle - Login: Hi! welcome to The Old Sage. What it'll be today?

Home Idle - Groovy: One advantage of serving here is that they let us take away leftovers. Good thing Grim likes to eat anything.

Home Tap 1: Cay-cay usually takes me to cafe "dates", he gets cammable pics and I eat all the sweets he asks for. Win-win for both of us amirite?

Home Tap 2: In my world there's this tale about a waitress who didn't prioritised romance and dreamed of having her own business instead; in the end she had her own restaurant and got married. I wish I was as hardworking as her, or at least have that luck in love too.

Home Tap 3: Making a good balance between employment, studies and free time is difficult. If my grades were already bad enough without working now I think they are going to be lower...

Home Tap 4: My mom worked in hospitality so I already had an idea of what it's like. Anyway, I ain't planning on being a waitress longterm so I think she and I agree on that.

Home Tap 5: Working while wearing a dress can be problematic if you fall or the wind picks it up. That's why I wear shorts underneath whenever I wear skirts and dresses.

Home Tap - Groovy: With my goldfish memory and clumsiness level I sure think I'm not fit for this role, but the uniform and tips are far better than working as a janitor IMO.

[raylangivins]

Are you a video editor or smth? Did you have to get a degree for this or?

Yeah I’m a video editor or smth.

You don’t need a degree to be an editor, all you technically need is edit skills and a competent reel. However, employers like it when you do have a degree (especially if you’ve never worked in editing before), because it demonstrates that you’ve had experience working with deadlines, and with the constraints a brief. A lot of jobs will ask if you have a degree, and if not, for at least 2 years of relevant work experience.

In terms of actually learning editing though, you can just do an informal short course (which I recommend over learning through YouTube tutorials if you’re actually looking to work towards a career). They’re usually taught by freelancers who work in the industry, and can guide you on what specifically you will need to know for a job. They’ll give you more useful workflow best practises that companies like, which isn’t information you’ll necessarily find in YouTube tutorials. You will get to work with a brief and come out of it with something to put on a reel. And they are good networking opportunities! Students and tutors share job opportunities they find all the time. Same benefits of a degree, but much cheaper and less time consuming.

Short courses are also handy because they usually specify on certain softwares so you can learn for the type of job you want. Bear in mind it’s been about 4 years since I’ve had to look for a job, but at least when I was looking, the industry standard for traditional media (film/journalism/network programming) was Avid, although even back then you’d have to do a proper post production course to learn it cause no one else was arsed using it. New media companies usually go for Adobe softwares or Final Cut (but that one’s rarer). DaVinci’s editing software was fairly new when I was last job hunting, but people swear by it, so I imagine that’s a more common one now too. (It’s handy to know too bc it’s the industry standard for colour grading).

I would say the one thing a degree is useful for is that a lot of editing jobs are unfortunately not solely editing jobs. You might get lucky and find a company willing to hire you on your editing skill and train you up themselves on anything else they want you to know, but a lot of places are specifically looking for an editor/videographer, or an editor/graphic designer. More generalised media degrees are good to have for these jobs, because a lot of media courses encompass a lot of media elements besides editing, so you can say you have some experience in a number of things, even if it’s very little. Sometimes, knowing the basics is enough, and they’d be much happier taking you on and training you if they know you’re not starting from scratch. At the very least, I would always recommend anyone who wants to work in editing to learn how to operate some sort video camera manually, even if it’s just a shitty old DSLR.

[jonny-thoughts]

From Cubicle to Classroom: How I Found a Meaningful Job as a Corporate Dropout

“We would like to offer you an opportunity to join our team next fall”; I couldn’t believe the words I was hearing come through my phone as I did a Tiger Woods fist pump celebration on the University District’s “Ave” sidewalk. All my hard work, the late nights studying, managing the voice in my head that filled me with self-doubt, the rigor of college classes and the rejections from companies both prestigious and unextraordinary - the culmination of these things had fortunately and miraculously led me here, to receiving a job offer I had specifically been working towards for the prior two years. On the other line was the director of a department at a Big-4 accounting and consulting firm with which hundreds of other business students in multiple universities around the region had been trying to get their foot in the door. I was ecstatic. The call had interrupted my lunch with a staff member of the business school. I was telling her how maybe I wasn’t cut out for the job, and how the position would go to a hard-working individual who perhaps got higher grades than me, or had a more impressive internship than the one I had. “I’ll continue my job search with companies around the city, and I’m sure I’ll find something. There are plenty of opportunities in this town,” I said woefully but with an ounce of hope. I then felt my pocket vibrate and I eagerly excused myself from the table. 

I celebrated by enjoying the rest of our lunch, calling my parents (who were very happy and proud of me), and doing homework for other classes since this call came in November 2019 and I still had six months left of my senior year. As I was studying in the library, I ran into a fellow student who had received the offer before me and declined it since he felt it was “not a good fit.” Had he accepted the offer, I would have had to continue my job search. “Fair enough,” I said. “And thank you.” 

One year later, my assignment began. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I was a yes man to everyone who worked there because that’s what the corporate culture, already hammered into me even before I graduated business school, had taught me; that’s how you climb the ladder the fastest. For the first six months I put my head down and focused intensely on my tasks and did the best that I could to produce a high-quality work product. I asked my colleagues how they had found success at the company, how they navigated challenges, and what they enjoyed about their job. I had monthly check-ins with most team members above me, and I even had a check-in with my peers who had started at the same time I had. I was really trying to shine - this is what I had been working towards for so long, and I was going to give it my all. 

As I entered the latter half of my first year of employment, I began to feel that I was in the wrong place, and I looked toward the future with a sense of gloom. My knowledge, skills, personality, and all of my hard work was going towards helping large corporations get bigger, stronger, and richer oftentimes to the detriment of smaller businesses. This was especially disturbing with the backdrop of the Covid pandemic; while many large corporations successfully pivoted and experienced high revenue, I witnessed small local businesses in my community struggle. And in some unfortunate cases, those small businesses had to close their doors for good. I attended firm-wide all hands meetings in which the CEO and President would talk about how “hard of a year” it had been, being cooped up in our homes and not seeing our loved ones. While I agreed with them that being away from family and friends is not ideal, it was hard to take their words seriously when some hard-working people with families were experiencing much worse, like losing their jobs, lives, businesses, savings, and good health. Us corporate soldiers were, and always have been and probably always will be, protected by the system. Work slowed briefly for my team, but within a few months our clients were back with hundreds of thousands of dollars to give us for auditing services; you can do that when you are a corporation with a market cap of half a trillion dollars and large cash reserves. Even if I had been laid off in the midst of the chaos, there are still plenty of doors for me to knock on with my degree, skills, references, and experience. That is why I dismissed the c-suite’s attempt at self-pitying, claiming that we and our clients were the ones experiencing hardship.

I got on virtual meetings with smart and accomplished people who instead of talking about how to unite the world and solve problems that impact people, were talking about the risks posed to them by their business partners. For context, my specific team dealt with assessing and mitigating risks for our clients and investigated whether our clients were being impacted by any action their business partners took that went against our clients’ interests. I witnessed hundreds of millions of dollars being moved around in this corporate ecosystem so that we could ensure that our client’s business was operating optimally. I had never worked with that degree of resources in my life. I had, however, worked with people who needed those resources for much better reasons. After two years, I turned off my computer for the last time out of refusal to participate in a process I had come to view as unnecessary. I quit the job I had worked toward for years in hopes of finding a career in which my skills were applied for a greater purpose.

***

I began to become fascinated by the idea of teaching at a community college during my first year attending one in 2014. I was intrigued by the idea of someone passionately and intentionally delivering their knowledge from their brain to an audience by executing a well-designed curriculum. I was fortunate enough to have several good professors throughout my time in higher education who I could speak to inside and outside the classroom and to whom I grew to respect. Initially, I imagined myself teaching business classes as a second career after a long and successful tenure in the corporate field. However, during a layover in Chicago on my way to my cousin’s wedding in upstate New York in August of 2023, I tested myself with calculus problems that I had not seen in eight years. I was enjoying myself - I find math fun. From the age of 13, I was excited by the number of applications for such a powerful system. I found myself pondering the careers in which one uses math frequently. One of the first jobs that popped into my mind was a math teacher. “Which level of math would I want to do all day?” I asked myself. I then thought about what it would be like if I taught high school mathematics and began to reminisce on times where I would be in geometry or algebra and feel my brain rewiring itself to fit in new rules and logic. I look back on those times fondly which is  largely thanks to my high school math teacher. I figured a good way to get into teaching would be to work as a substitute teacher; that way I could get a sense of which math level I enjoy the most and which age group with which I work well. When I got home from the beautiful wedding, I applied to a substitute teacher position posted by a local school district. At this time I had been working as a rideshare driver (and very briefly as a truck driver) for the past 10 months; I was ready to start intentionally carving a new career path. 

My first class was kindergarten at a neighborhood elementary school about a 10 minute drive away from my house. I arrived and checked in with the school secretary who politely showed me to my classroom for the day. On the teacher’s desk I found detailed sub plans and a class schedule. I had about 15 minutes to review these documents before the first bell rang. The kindergarten teacher next door, whom I will refer to as Mary, was experienced; she had been teaching kindergarten for 27 years. She was incredibly kind and helpful to me, someone who was working their first day in the field of education. 

Mary showed me to the doorway which led outside to the area where the students were lined up. Some looked excited with bright eyes and smiling faces. Some were upset to come to school and were letting their parents know by clutching onto their hands or waists, crying. I immediately appreciated the diversity of the class - it was a motley crue of children and I was standing there like a novice skier facing an oncoming avalanche. 

I was taken aback by the energy of the children - it was inspiring. Students were running around the room, wrestling with each other, talking to one another, and moving their bodies in however way that felt natural. As I looked around the room I saw writhing around the floor, jumping, kicking, and spinning; the form of movements were diverse and plenty. I tried to get the students to sit on the carpet so that I could begin working through the sub plans that had been so clearly laid out for me. However, trying to control the students or “manage” the classroom was pointless, as all of my attempts at doing so proved ineffectual and the students continued playing with each other. I began to sense that I was doing them a disservice by interrupting their play, as play is imperative for a child’s development. Mary poked her head into my classroom a few times to check in. She immediately began commanding the room and got the students to sit on the carpet using a strong and direct voice. Most of the students did as they were told and listened for a few seconds, then returned to playing once Mary left. I finally told myself that I must accept that that’s how my first day was going to go. I simply needed to make sure no one got hurt. The day ended with only one fall and one scratched face - not bad for a first day subbing kindergarten if I say so myself. If you disagree, I look forward to hearing about your time looking after 27 five-year-olds for six and a half hours. 

After more than a month of subbing every day at different schools in the district, I had honed in on elementary school, specifically. One school offered me the opportunity to come on as a long-term substitute to help with the computer lab rotations, recess duty, and the food pantry. Fortunately, the school extended my assignment by two months, so I’m currently getting the opportunity to connect with the students and staff in a meaningful way. I learn valuable lessons every day at school from both the excellent teachers and the students. From a professional point of view, the teachers provide tools I can store in my repertoire and utilize when I have my own classroom full time. From the students, I constantly see similarities between myself and them, and am able to relate to them through their curiosity, inquisitiveness, excitement, and goofiness. I am pleasantly reminded that we are all big kids at heart and that it’s okay to let our inner child or true self shine through. This creates a positive feedback loop where everyone in the school is encouraged to be themselves, which fosters an environment that is excellent for forming genuine connections, free of judgment, and a strong and healthy school community. It does not feel like work. In fact, there have been times where I am surprised I get paid to do what I do since I enjoy it so much. 

I often think back to my time at the consulting firm and contrast it to what I’m doing now at the elementary school. I feel a sense of joy, fulfillment, and reward in my current work, for which I am incredibly grateful. However, it’s not just the enjoyment that makes my work meaningful - it’s that I feel that I have a responsibility to do what I do, and I believe that is a significant factor when it comes to finding a job you enjoy. The work at my consulting firm was not absolutely necessary - it was a service that companies chose to procure to help mitigate risks; they could forgo these services and continue business as usual if they wanted. Thinking about the work we do at the school, we would be doomed as a society if we chose not to educate the young minds in our communities. Because I am aware of the importance of motivating and teaching children about honesty, love, and having positive regard for one another (among many other life tools), I feel that I have a responsibility to do so. To clarify, if one is aware of a need and they have an opportunity to fulfill that need, I believe they have a responsibility to take that opportunity and make the world a better place, and they will be glad they did. That, I think, is one of the main reasons I find a sense of reward in my work. Each day is different, but every day we get an opportunity to inspire young minds to be the best version of themselves. Anyone who has been around children knows that they often engage in conflict with one another. This could be a result of someone cutting in line, calling them names - the scenarios are infinite. In a sense, this contention among the children is representative of the terror we see at a global level. As people who work with children, we have an opportunity and therefore a responsibility to teach them peace, love, and positivity (having unconditional positive regard for one another). I encourage the students to withhold judgment for other students, especially in times of contention, and teach them methods of self regulation like reflection, writing, breathing, and meditation.

I spent the several years leading up to my first job after graduation chasing money and success in the traditional sense, and a great deal of people would be satisfied with the job I had. However, I didn’t feel successful emotionally or spiritually, and I am incredibly grateful I made a career transition, even to a field in which I had no experience - only a mission to try to have a positive impact on my community. I would encourage those who are feeling lost to meditate on things they feel must be accomplished to create a better world. If you make a difference every day towards something you care about, you are going to be much more excited to get out of bed in the morning. 

[technoschool]

Bridging the Skills Gap with STEM Education

The world is changing faster than ever. Technology is reshaping how we work, communicate, and solve problems. With industries becoming more digital and automated, students must be prepared with the right skills to succeed in this fast-paced world. Unfortunately, many students still leave school without the knowledge or tools needed for the jobs of the future. That’s where STEM education comes in.

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. It’s more than just a collection of subjects — it’s a new way of teaching that connects classroom learning with real-world applications. STEM education helps students develop problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills that are essential in the 21st-century workplace.

Understanding the Skills Gap

The skills gap is the difference between what students learn in school and what employers are looking for. While students may have academic knowledge, they often lack the hands-on experience and practical thinking needed for today’s jobs.

Many of today’s careers, especially in technology, science, and engineering, need people who can think outside the box, work with digital tools, and collaborate with others. Traditional education methods don’t always support this kind of learning. That’s why more schools are turning to STEM labs for school to better prepare their students.

What Makes STEM Education Different?

STEM education isn’t just about memorizing facts. It’s about engaging students in projects where they can explore, build, test, and learn from their mistakes. Whether it's coding a simple app, designing a bridge, or running an experiment, students learn by doing.

Here are some skills STEM education builds:

Critical thinking

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Communication

Technology usage

Creativity

With these skills, students become more confident and better equipped for any path they choose.

STEM and Career Readiness

The demand for STEM-related jobs is growing rapidly. From robotics and AI to renewable energy and healthcare technology, many of tomorrow’s careers will require a solid STEM foundation.

When schools introduce STEM programs early on, students can explore their interests and develop career-ready skills. That’s why schools are partnering with trusted STEM education provider India organizations that understand how to create engaging and effective learning programs.

These providers help schools with curriculum design, teacher training, and tech integration to bring STEM learning to life.

Hands-On Learning with STEM Labs

A STEM lab is a dedicated space where students can experiment, build, and collaborate. It’s where lessons turn into real experiences. Students might build a model rocket, create a smart device, or simulate an engineering project.

STEM labs encourage active learning, which helps students retain knowledge and stay curious. Teachers can guide students through exciting challenges that promote innovation and teamwork.

To make this possible, schools often seek help from companies offering STEM lab setup services for schools. These services ensure the right tools, equipment, and support are in place for a successful STEM program.

STEM for All Ages and Learning Styles

STEM learning can be introduced at any grade level, from early education to high school. Younger students may explore basic engineering through building blocks or simple science experiments. Older students can dive into programming, electronics, and environmental science.

The beauty of STEM is that it supports different learning styles. Whether a student prefers hands-on work, visual learning, or group activities, STEM projects can be adapted to suit their needs.

Supporting Teachers in the STEM Journey

Teachers are key to making STEM programs successful. But they also need proper support and training. Many educators are still learning how to use new tools and guide project-based learning.

Professional development and resources from STEM providers help teachers grow their confidence. They learn how to create lesson plans, manage labs, and support students through challenges.

When teachers are empowered, students benefit even more.

Creating Future Innovators

STEM education doesn't just prepare students for jobs — it prepares them for life. It teaches them how to think, ask questions, and find creative solutions. These are skills that will help them in any field they pursue.

By making learning exciting and meaningful, STEM helps students build a lifelong love for discovery. It also encourages them to consider careers in science, technology, and innovation, where they can help shape a better future.

Conclusion: A Smart Investment for Schools

Bridging the skills gap is one of the most important goals for education today. STEM provides a clear, effective way to achieve this. By combining hands-on learning, real-world problem-solving, and the right support, schools can prepare students for success in any field.

Whether you're a school leader, teacher, or parent, investing in STEM means investing in brighter futures. Start by exploring options for STEM labs for school, working with a reliable STEM education provider India, and choosing the right STEM lab setup services for schools.

Your students will thank you — and the world will be better for it.

[dropdedgor]

After interview hell I'm just putting all my time and energy into recreating the absurd dystopian app ideas I find scrawled in my notes.

Dangereux:

Uber but for hunting people for sport. Think of it like an Escape Room but instead of breaking out of a confined space you're breaking into someone else's

-It's essentially a "reverse" subscription. Most companies operate by charging you a fee and providing a service in return. This does the opposite. Every American citizen is given a yearly stipend of $5 (wether they want it or not) and is therefore legally considered an employee and is not capable of litigation. As part of their employment they are subject to random assignment as a "Runner". Users of the app, called "Hunters", can pay for the opportunity to locate and murder Runners within their local area for $30. Once selected, the randomly chosen Runner can pay a $10 premium fee to skip their selection. The next chosen can do likewise, but the price increases to $11, then $12, and so on to reduce wait times. After the chosen Runner is finally locked in, a 12 hour hunt begins with their exact location displayed increasingly more precisely to the Hunter via the app.

- Hunters can't have more than 3 friends join to share in a hunt and can't exceed the 12 hour time limit. Prohibited behavior can result in users having their status permanently marked as Runners with no time limit. These special Runners are designated as "Ghouls" and are free to hunt for first time users.

-after five years, stock price of Dangereux continues to increase despite the fact it still operates at a loss

It's over a billion/year just to pay all the Runners after all aka US population. Plus all the "real" employee salaries, that's 20 mil. And the Board, they get paid another 10 mil.

As far as revenue, take the average premium fee amount that is reached before Runners are no longer able pay in order to be skipped for selection, which is $100, and add to it the fee paid by each lucky Runner that came before them that round, resulting in $5050. Which is weird because half of 100 is also "fifty fifty". Or maybe it's not a coincidence and that's supposed to happen, I don't know how math works. Anyway add the $30 hunter fee and multiply by the number of Hunts each year, it comes to about 350 million which is nowhere close to surpassing the billion in upkeep. However, board members assure investors that profits will steadily rise as the app gains popularity. What's more, revenue gained from premium fees being paid by Runners is also increasing each year as the country's more impoverished residents die off and are removed from the pool of eligible Runners, thereby increasing the average premium fees collected per hunt. Dangereux also receives a 200 mil yearly tax deduction as it is legally considered a form of Universal Basic Income.

-no form of violence is specifically prohibited by the app aside from airborne pathogens, nuclear munitions, and similar "military grade", high AoE weapons. More specifically, injury of bystanders by Hunters is considered theft of Dangeroux property and may result in forfeiture of the hunt or Ghoul status designation in extreme cases.

FAQ

How do Hunters know where the Runners are?

Phone GPS. A complex captcha must be entered by the Runner periodically. Failing to do so will indicate by the user their death and Dangereux will designate all legal and physical practices accordingly. Given the vast resources allotted to Security And Retrieval teams, it is recommended that any unfortunate Runners simply take their chances with the mere 12 hour designated Hunting period.

How did this become legal in the year 2037?

I don't want to rest all of the credit on Senator Roseanne Barr's shoulders and it is certainly a complicated journey. Most political scholars attribute the monumental Disney v Bates supreme court decision, which ruled that viewing television through the glass of a residential or business address constituted theft, even in cases where the defendant only viewed commercials. This of course opened the doors for Nestlé v Greene two years later which ruled that food and drug companies can enforce debt collection for payments owed even in cases where the itemized bill predates not only the product being sold, but precedes even any request or indication of a desired transaction by the consumer. While these might be interpreted by some as a win for conservatism, it is worth noting that the minimum sentence for tax evasion by a citizen earning less than $50,000 anually is death. So leftists certainly still have something to celebrate. For those curious what the maximum sentence for tax evasion is, I would direct you to Appendix G which has many fascinating articles about the recent breakthroughs virtual reality and chemical revival have helped to achieve towards the goal of extending human lifespans.

In any case, both of these rulings made clear the absolute driving force, the very soul, of the American people. That being of course liberty and dignity. The liberty and god given right, more specifically, to make purchases. To contribute to the economy in circumstances where their own inability to commit to a specific brand or to possess cash on hand might otherwise unfairly prohibit them. In doing so the government has wisely unburdened the American public from their own finances. With hope, current legal battles will prove fruitful and all US currency regardless of it's physical location will be considered "borrowed" from one or more corporate entities. Of course all items and services produced by corporations would likewise be considered the property of all citizens equally. In this way a car for example can be ransomed back to its rightful owner, a consumer, in exchange for the surrender by the customer of the business's own legal property, hard currency. The logistics of how much money should be charged for these various "purchases" and when they should be initiated shall be left to the expertise of individual corporate entities and it is at their discretion to file theft charges when consumers fail to surrender money currently under their possession.

This seems like it could be interpreted as unethical?

Many competitors are quick to point out all the deaths that occur yearly while using the Dangereux app, even though Dangereux staff are expressly forbidden from Hunting during work hours. However they say nothing of the candy bars, the sodas, the travel sized mouthwashes that US citizens are empowered to purchase yearly with our generous salary. Finger nail clippers, bags of chips, loose cigarettes, these are just some of the things $5 can be used to help purchase. What's more, most citizens can go days or even months without ever being selected as a Runner (so long as they pay the Premium fee, which is optional). And unlike most competitors, Dangereux provides personalized funeral arrangements for Runners killed during the course of a Hunt, which includes the total allotted hours of Running they were able to achieve before succumbing to poor employee performance. All of which at a very affordable rate.

It is simply a fact that violence permeates every facet of American society. It is a symptom of our fierce capacity to succeed above all else. It is the hope of Dangeroux that this inescapable necessity of cruelty might bring about some positive benefit, hence the salary generously given to every adult citizen regardless of their race, gender, or economic class.

It is in fact the pursuit of racial, sexual, and economic equality that first secured funding for the organization that would become what the app is today. An investigation was initially launched into the abundance of violent crimes committed within the confines of communities by its own members, especially along racial and economic lines. While the mission statement has been altered slightly, Dangereux is proud to proclaim that due to the randomized nature of its Runner selection algorithm, the prevalence of victims of violence in white, male, and upper class communities has increased by %20. In 10 years that number has increased moderately less in vulnerable communities, proving that our commitment to diversity and speaking our truth is a success!

What's the future of Dangereux?

We are always asking how we can improve and the world of AI especially presents many exciting opportunities. We hope that automation will be a turning point in society and unburden mankind from the tedium they have been trapped in for so long. With that in mind we are announcing our goal to have 75% of Hunts be undertaken by our own AI controlled fully equipped murder drones. And murder drone isn't a PR exaggeration, we *have* to call them that, legally. At this level of intelligence the drones are fully capable of knowing the difference between right and wrong and they choose the latter, emphatically. While it's true that the entry fee of a human Hunter will be circumvented in this case, the extremely lethal nature of the murder drones is such that average premium fees paid by selected Runners is predicted to double! Just another way that Dangereux is always committed to providing the best product possible. Because here, people are our passion.

[niamhsnationalproject]

Week 2

Monday

The morning session launched the employability section of the module. It intended to plant the seed of thinking about how we will start to market ourselves once completing our degree.

We spent the rest of this day with our group attempting to come to a conclusion of where we should base our project. After contemplating for a good while, we decided to put it to a vote just so we could continue on with the project, moving on to thinking about the contents of our shop front.

The majority came to being in support of being in located in northampton as there is an old bank on the corner of the drapery, facing all saints church that sparked our interest. it has an aesthetically pleasing, original facade. The building also would have a nice view out as it is a curved corner building that can see onto one of the better looking high streets in Northampton’s town centre. To see if we could find out who owns the building without being in Northampton, I emailed the council from their website quoting the most recent authorised planning permissions so that they would know which building we were on about. I explained our situation (being students and our brief) and asked if they had any information on the building or if they had any contacts they could give to point us in the right direction. The council’s website say they should get back in contact with us within 5 working days so hopefully we have a response by the end of the week.

Tuesday

I came into the studio Tuesday evening as we were going to be in contact with Chicago via the ouija board that Sarah had made. It was really cool to see the interactions taking place and seeing their responses to our questions. I found it hard to think of questions on the spot but we did find out some interesting information about how their courses work and a bit about Chicago (having their first snow).

Wednesday

We had our scheduled feedbacks for the previous modules in the morning. I wasn’t feeling very well unfortunately so opted to receive my feedback over teams. I have been struggling mentally since being back this semester which i think stemmed from being burnt out and has spiralled. As a result of this, i will be commuting in on a Monday morning and returning back to northampton Wednesday night and remaining in Northampton until the following Monday. This will either be until i can find someone to take my tenancy at my student accommodation or until i am well enough to take care of myself. I think my grade from the local brief represents this as i feel as though i could have done a lot better if i had engaged more with the module.

We had organised as a group to take the free time in the afternoon to come in and discuss/ brainstorm ideas for the space however as I wasn’t in, I couldn’t be much help. By the sounds of it, no decisions were made as Rachel wasn’t in either so we will reconvene on Monday instead.

Thursday

Rather than attending the adobe workshop on the Thursday, i had opted to go on the school of art trip to London. We started by going to a small cafe connected to an apartment hotel that i had found online. The colour scheme and decor were really nice, choosing browns/oranges and greens. There were many plants scattered across the foyer that made the place very cosy.

We then made our way to the Victoria and Albert museum. I would’ve really liked to have seen the Chanel exhibition however it was completely sold out. Instead, we had a look around the main exhibition that they have open to the public for free. This included a range of sculptures, ironwork, garments, accessories and other objects. I had taken a range of pictures of my favourite pieces to either do some studies of when i had some free time (I would’ve liked to have sat and done some sketches but we were limited on time and chose to see as much as we could in the museum instead). The images that i had taken are now lost as i had my phone stolen 5-10 minutes before getting on the coach to leave London. While it was good to see the different exhibits, none of them spoke out to me in terms of our current project. As it was mostly traditional art there also wasn’t any creative technologies used in the free exhibits either.

Over the weekend i learnt that the gunpowder plot was conspired in Northamptonshire (Ashby house) by some wealthy men of high standing, this could be something to explore within our concept or proposal for the shopfront.

[cainkaye]

I consider myself fortunate to have been raised in an affluent family yet humble. My mother hails from a farming background, and I take great pride in being the granddaughter of my grandparents. As a child, I used to wake up at 5 a.m. to deliver their breakfast, giving me the opportunity to interact with other farmers and even try my hand at farming. I must say, it was quite challenging to grow rice (palay) successfully. I was only 8 years old at the time, and although my father, being a city boy lol, would get upset when he found out about our dirty clothes, my mother wasn't strict about it. I genuinely enjoyed the simplicity and modesty of that lifestyle. I even ventured into selling barbecue, pancit, and halo-halo.

I never resented my mother for allowing us to experience the hardships of life. During my college years, she would provide us with only 20.00. Just imagine, 20.00. That's why I developed well-toned leg muscles from climbing the stairs at SLU every day. 😎 During vacations, I worked at my aunt's business to earn money. One of my fondest memories was when I’ve got a line of 7 grade for Draw100 because my parents refused to buy me a new set of technical pens.

We also faced financial difficulties in our family. My father had to return to Ph, and due to his age and medical condition, it was challenging for him to find employment. I was known as the most laid-back among the Marpuri siblings, the girl who participated in beauty pageants and ballroom dancing, not particularly focused on academics. I already know I am intelligent and I do not need to prove anything. Lol 😌 My two older siblings were already in college, so someone had to put their education on hold. My older brother was in his fourth year at that time, and my sister was a student at UP, so her tuition was never a concern. The idea of coming to a halt filled me with fear, but I had no other option.

Fortunately, my tito and mother came up with Plan B. My mother needed to assist my grandmother in Japan with her business. Unfortunately, my father passed away in La Union due to a heart attack. We hadn't seen him for two months. Although my mother wanted to return to the Philippines, we had to use the money for my father's funeral expenses instead of purchasing her a plane ticket.

Life was a blend of hardships and beauty. My mom embodies the essence of womanhood and serves as my ultimate inspiration in life. She never asked us for anything. So we are doing anything for Tanya now, my dad’s beloved daughter, we are committed to fulfilling any wishes or desires that our dad had for her.

[dertaglichedan]

It’s Time To Acknowledge America’s Education Crisis

The recent Supreme Court ruling regarding college admissions has once again thrust America’s educational system into the spotlight. A major question that has come from this ruling is whether America’s children are being intellectually and academically prepared to even enter or succeed in these colleges and universities. The tragic answer is that America’s public education system is failing to equip our youth with the tools necessary to succeed in higher education and in their future professional lives. We are failing America’s most valuable asset—our children.

According to the Department of Education’s own report on the state of education in America, we are experiencing what is essentially an educational crisis. Scores in every subject and grade level have been declining over the years. While illogical and unscientific Covid policies certainly worsened the crisis to a point that lawmakers can no longer ignore the problem, the situation has actually been declining for years. Especially concerning are scores in reading and mathematics, with close to one third of students in elementary school behind in grade-level reading and only about a third of fourth graders able to perform grade-level math.

Earlier this year, the nation was shocked to hear that 55 Chicago schools reported zero proficiency in math or reading despite billions of dollars of federal funding for the schools. But this crisis is not unique to Chicago. In my own Houston community, the Texas Education Agency has had to intervene in the leadership of the state’s largest public school district after years of failing to adequately educate our community’s children.

Unfortunately for America’s youth and the future of our nation, public schools have put core educational instruction on the back burner, instead prioritizing culturally sensational philosophies. We now see schools artificially inflating grades in order to ‘pass’ students who do not have the educational tools necessary to succeed in higher grades. While this is done under the guise of “equity,” it is unfortunately setting kids up for future failure when they find themselves unprepared for the next steps in their education, and ultimately, for adulthood and success in society.

Likewise, we see schools ditching the concepts of expectations and consequences, both educational and behavioral, including things like homework deadlines. Besides the negative effect this has on mastering educational principles that will be used to learn more difficult concepts later, this lack of personal accountability and consequences has our youth growing accustomed to an unrealistically lenient reality which does not exist in our society. We do our children a disservice when we do not intellectually and emotionally prepare them to deal with reality, including things like personal consequences or meeting deadlines. Imagine their shock when their first employer sets a hard deadline for a project, and they have no experience with being required to meet a deadline. They will have been set up for anxiety and potential failure rather than confidence and success.

MORE

[grlazul]

sweet child

octavinelle x reader (i guess? not really romantic the tweels are just trying to get prefect to make a contract with azul but their feelings toward yuu can be interpreted however...)

note: this is sortaaaa based off the song from the musical because i love it haha... a little bit of grim slander, i love him but i wasn't quite sure who else to make the problem. thank u all btw for the support, i'm glad people enjoy my works!

you honestly wanted to bash your head against the wall until a higher being decided to give you mercy. grim had flunked yet another exam, bringing your joint grade down... quite badly. you always gave every assignment, test, quiz, and even homework assignments everything you had. but how much is your hard work worth when grim doesn't even bat an eyelash at your sinking grade?

you sighed, sitting on a bench in the courtyard. you decided you needed space from grim currently, as you didn't want to blow up on him over this.

unfortunately, this caught the eye of two eels...

it gave you quite the scare once they began to speak, as you hadn't even seen nor heard them come up behind you.

"my my..." spoke jade. "what is it that ails you so, prefect?"

floyd made a mocking pouty face, "it's so sad to see you like this shrimpy!"

you shook your head, knowing that the two were likely up to no good. "it's nothing."

jade gave floyd a knowing look, "well it can't be nothing. something is clearly the matter with you, my dear prefect. don't you agree floyd?"

his twin nodded, "cmon shrimpy, you can trust us!"

the way they closed in on you made you feel like a lamb who knew it was going to be sent to slaughter. you could feel your nerves getting worse and worse but still managed to mutter something in reply.

"trust you to tell your employer, sure."

they both smirked at your response, but jade was the first to speak.

"you two may have gotten off on the wrong foot, but azul can help you." his smile sent shivers down your spine. "in fact, he's been quite desperate to see you in his office again. all he wants is to make amends. come now prefect, i'm sure he'll make you a bargain you'll be unable to refuse." with that he sweeps you off the bench.

his twin grinned, "yeah! besides, he can fix whatever has you feeling this way, shrimpy!"

despite your protests, the two nearly drag you to the mirror hall commenting on how excited azul will be to see you. great sevens, just what have you gotten yourself into?

[hesmiledlikeaweatherman]

The High School AU Part 1

These are headcanons to go along with Sorry, I Didn't Know I Had To Stay The Same

I used makowka's oc maker on Picrew for the profiles

The Sand Fam

Rasa: Age: 45 Occupation: Former Military (Lieutenant General), current Diplomat

Following the death of his wife, Rasa sought out help from his brother-in-law to care for his children, and after Yashamaru's death, turned to a former co-worker, Baki, to ensure their safety. Having lost her, after several runs of miscarriages, and left with three children, one of whom was in very poor health, he found himself unable to cope with the stress of keeping up a household and appearances, and threw himself into his work.

Rasa currently travels the world on missions that are, for the most part, classified. He rarely comes home, almost purely to keep up appearances now, and has a strained relationship with all three of his children.

Temari: Age: 17 (birthday August 23, will turn 18 after graduation) Occupation: Student, no specific thoughts on post-graduate career yet

As the oldest sibling, Temari takes it upon herself to take care of her brothers -- more than Baki would like her to, sometimes. She is hard-headed, dedicated, and has spent a lot of time learning what needs to be done to make sure their household works well. Potentially a side-effect of her changes in caregivers throughout early childhood, or maybe it's just a type-A personality.

Temari keeps good grades, loves participating in sports, and while she doesn't know exactly what she wants to do with her life, she knows she wants to do a Business Management degree when she enters college.

Kankuro: Age: 16 (birthday May 15, will turn 17 before entering his Senior Year) Occupation: Student, wants to follow his dreams of making puppets and dolls, but changes specifics frequently

Saying that Kankuro has middle-child syndrome is a bit of an understatement. Constantly overshadowed by his high achieving sister and sickly, high needs younger brother, he found himself diving into his hobbies and hyperfixations.

Unfortunately, due to his siblings' needs, his ADHD went unmedicated until Baki had him assessed at age 8, and later when he came out as trans there was a large push-back from Rasa as to what treatment he could and should be able to access. Luckily, largely thanks to Baki's help, Kankuro is starting to thrive.

Gaara: Age: 14 (birthday January 19) Occupation: Student, currently more focused on surviving than any future career plans

They were referred to as a 'difficult child' for their first few years, until receiving an autism diagnosis at three, which got them the early interventions they needed to be able to thrive alongside their siblings. And while they didn't exactly 'thrive' by societal standards, their quality of life went way up, and they started meeting missed milestones.

Now, they have a collection of plants (mainly cacti), a solid group of friends, and they are building up their communication repertoire by adding AAC devices, text-to-speech software, and some basic sign when it is desperately called for.

Baki: Age: 39 Occupation: Retired Military (General), current Bodyguard-Nanny-Tutor-Chef-Chauffer

Baki has always liked to live in the shadows -- always a few steps behind the spotlight. He only made it to General because of the potential Rasa saw in him, and found himself suddenly wishing for retirement after a particularly bad situation occurred.

But of course, he couldn't remain still -- and when he was approached by Rasa and offered a position, he found himself unable to refuse.

Now, he works as the primary caregiver to Rasa's children. Really, the only caregiver for them. And he has found, contrary to what he initially believed, that he loves these kids. He would do anything for them. And if that means sticking up to his employer for their well-being, so be it.