#unique graduation gift ideas for her

[giftedfeeling]

Graduating is a monumental achievement, and finding the perfect gift to celebrate this milestone can be both exciting and challenging. We have to ignite her future with these empowering graduation gift ideas tailored just for her. 

[figurebobblehead]

Custom Graduation Bobblehead Dolls Figurines As The Best Custom-made Graduation Memorabilia.

[book--brackets]

The Scholomance by Naomi Novik (2020-2022)

A Deadly Education is set at Scholomance, a school for the magically gifted where failure means certain death (for real) — until one girl, El, begins to unlock its many secrets. There are no teachers, no holidays, and no friendships, save strategic ones. Survival is more important than any letter grade, for the school won’t allow its students to leave until they graduate… or die! The rules are deceptively simple: Don’t walk the halls alone. And beware of the monsters who lurk everywhere. El is uniquely prepared for the school’s dangers. She may be without allies, but she possesses a dark power strong enough to level mountains and wipe out millions. It would be easy enough for El to defeat the monsters that prowl the school. The problem? Her powerful dark magic might also kill all the other students.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull (2006-2010)

For centuries, mystical creatures of all description were gathered to a hidden refuge called Fablehaven to prevent their extinction. The sanctuary is one of the last strongholds of true magic. Enchanting? Absolutely. Exciting? You bet. Safe? Well, actually, quite the opposite...

 Kendra and her brother, Seth, have no idea their grandfather is the current caretaker of Fablehaven. Inside the gated woods, ancient laws keep order among greedy trolls, mischievous satyrs, plotting witches, spiteful imps, and jealous fairies. However, when the rules get broken, powerful forces of evil are unleashed, forcing Kendra and Seth to face the greatest challenge of their lives, to save their family, Fablehaven, and perhaps even the world.

Ranger's Apprentice by John Flanagan (2004-2011)

They have always scared him in the past--the Rangers, with their dark cloaksand shadowy ways. The villagers believe the Rangers practice magic that makes them invisible to ordinary people. And now 15-year-old Will, always small for his age, has been chosen as a Ranger's apprentice. What he doesn't yet realize is that the Rangers are the protectors of the kingdom. Highly trained in the skills of battle and surveillance, they fight the battles before the battles reach the people. And as Will is about to learn, there is a large battle brewing. The exiled Morgarath, Lord of the Mountains of Rain and Night, is gathering his forces for an attack on the kingdom. This time, he will not be denied. . . . 

Ruby Red Trilogy by Kerstin Geir (2009-2010)

Sixteen-year-old Gwen lives with her extended - and rather eccentric - family in an exclusive London neighborhood. In spite of her ancestors' peculiar history, she's had a relatively normal life so far. The time-traveling gene that runs like a secret thread through the female half of the family is supposed to have skipped over Gwen, so she hasn't been introduced to "the mysteries," and can spend her time hanging out with her best friend, Lesley. It comes as an unwelcome surprise when she starts taking sudden, uncontrolled leaps into the past.

She's totally unprepared for time travel, not to mention all that comes with it: fancy clothes, archaic manners, a mysterious secret society, and Gideon, her time-traveling counterpart. He's obnoxious, a know-it-all, and possibly the best-looking guy she's seen in any century...

The Books of Bayern by Shannon Hale (2003-2009)

She was born with her eyes closed and a word on her tongue, a word she could not taste.

Her name was Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree, and she spent the first years of her life listening to her aunt’s stories and learning the language of the birds, especially the swans. And when she was older, she watched as a colt was born, and she heard the first word on his tongue, his name, Falada.

Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins (2010-2013)

Three years ago, Sophie Mercer discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father—an elusive European warlock—only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hex Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward Prodigium, a.k.a. witches, faeries, and shapeshifters. 

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard: three powerful enemies who look like supermodels, a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock, a creepy tag-along ghost, and a new roommate who happens to be the most hated person and only vampire student on campus. Worse, Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her only friend is the number-one suspect. 

As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all Prodigium, especially her.

Fables by Bill Willingham (2002-2015)

When a savage creature known only as the Adversary conquered the fabled lands of legends and fairy tales, all of the infamous inhabitants of folklore were forced into exile. Disguised among the ""mundys,"" their name for normal citizens of modern-day New York, these magical characters created their own secret society that they call Fabletown.

From their exclusive luxury apartment buildings on Manhattan's Upper West Side, these creatures of legend must fight for their survival in the new world.

Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey (1968-2018)

On a beautiful world called Pern, an ancient way of life is about to come under attack from a myth that is all too real. Lessa is an outcast survivor--her parents murdered, her birthright stolen--a strong young woman who has never stopped dreaming of revenge. But when an ancient threat to Pern reemerges, Lessa will rise--upon the back of a great dragon with whom she shares a telepathic bond more intimate than any human connection. Together, dragon and rider will fly . . . and Pern will be changed forever.

Thursday Next by Jasper Fforde (2001-present)

England is a virtual police state where an aunt can get lost (literally) in a Wordsworth poem and forging Byronic verse is a punishable offense. All this is business as usual for Thursday Next, renowned Special Operative in literary detection. But when someone begins kidnapping characters from works of literature and plucks Jane Eyre from the pages of Bront 's novel, Thursday is faced with the challenge of her career.

The Locked Tomb by Tamsyn Muir (2019-present)

The Emperor needs necromancers.

The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.

Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.

Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won't set her free without a service.

Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon's sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.

Of course, some things are better left dead.

[vettelsdarling]

Omgg I felt in the mood for some 1D and was listening to “Change my mind” and all I can think about is Lando, so like a friends to lover, mutual pining slow burn and was wondering if you can write a fic based off that pls? Your writing is too good 😩❤️

𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬..?

Lissie note… I hadn’t heard the song until now, but it’s pretty good! I really enjoyed writing this, thank you for the great idea!!! Tysm for the kind words as well, you’re so sweet!<3

Things to note:

Reader is a college student graduating early (so basically her junior yr)

Lando and Reader are both clueless

Lando and Reader have been best friends since childhood

This doesn’t follow a specific timeline

Charlotte is amazing

Pairing: Lando Norris x Best friend!Fem!Reader

Warnings: Slight cursing

Word Count: 5.3k+

Playlist recommendations: 𝐅𝐥𝐮𝐟𝐟💗, 𝐋𝐍𝟒

Taglist: @ophcelia, @allwaysallyway

The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The last race of the season, and one that you always attended despite your busy schedule. It was something you simply couldn't skip, even if you wanted to.

Lando Norris, your long-term best friend, had been there for you through thick and thin. You’d just started your junior year in college, and it was nothing but constant pressure. Lando would call you late at night to help you with anything you needed. Therefore, you came to any races that you had time for. Abu Dhabi, however, was non-negotiable. You had to be there. Especially seeing as it meant you’d finally have more time to spend with the Brit. Whenever a season would come to a close, he’d spend his time with you.

Your parents were great friends with his, so it was only natural for the two of you to have grown up together. You came to many of his karting sessions to cheer him on, whilst he attended your spelling bees and other academic competitions. It was a give-and-take relationship that you couldn’t wish differently for the world. He was truly the only friend you could lean on.

He’d driven you to college. He’d helped you unpack. All the whilst you’d frequently check up on him and stream all of his races. Somehow, the two of you made that friendship work. It was something like giving and taking. You were one of the reasons why he chose to pursue his passion. In the beginning, he felt discouraged due to the amount of pressure, but with your words of encouragement, he pulled through.

Sitting on your bed in your shared hotel room, you admired a pair of earrings that Lando had gotten for you. Apparently, he wanted to have you attend a special gathering before Friday would dawn the free practice rounds. You’d done a week’s worth of work in advance to appease your professors by your absence, so taking some days off never proved a hassle.

“Hey, can you tell me how long I have left?!” The Brit yelled from the shower. He wasn’t the type to rush, and was often “fashionably late”. Excuses of various kinds were his forté, and you could only go along with whatever ruse he brewed up every time. You didn’t mind though. He was a nice change of pace from the back-to-back seminars and classes you had to sit through.

“About 20 minutes until we have to leave!” He didn’t reply, but you knew he’d gotten the message.

You continued to eye the jewelry in your palms. It was an intricate design with different gemstones in one piece. It was quite beautiful. Something you wouldn’t see at any regular jeweler. Lando was generous, if anything. You always tried to refuse his gifts, but would eventually wake up to a present by your bedside table. There was really no stopping him. If he wanted to spoil you rotten, he was going to do it without fail. You would surely end up a soaked sponge from everything you were taking in. He didn’t ask anything in return, besides your company and support. Something as simple as that sufficed. You couldn’t understand his train of thought, but that’s what made him unique.

That’s what first made you fall for him. Slowly but surely. There was no way to tell him though. He was far too occupied to be dating, and you were swamped with work. It wasn’t in the stars for the two of you. Lando never even showed an ounce of romantic interest anyway, so all you could do was hope your feelings would die down. Simple and easy… right?

The paparazzi knew that your friendship with the McLaren driver was old news and not worth spreading rumours about, so when you arrived at the gala, there was no big fuss about it. You’d attended several events as his plus one. Additionally, you were well acquainted with the rest of the grid, by now the whole world knew that you were simply a close friend. Not a wag.

The gala was grand. From gorgeous chandeliers and fancy ceiling decor to fine dining, you couldn’t see an end to the luxury. Frat parties were a far cry from this lifestyle. Although you’d been to several gala dinners with your best friend, they only seemed to climb the sophistication ladder every year.

Since Lando had to talk to certain people at the event, you decided to mingle. What better way to move on from Lando, than to get with someone else? The least you could do was try. College boys were nothing compared to the men you saw lingering behind pillars and swirling wine.

“Oh hey, you!” Someone yelled from behind you.

“Lewis! It’s so nice to see you. We haven’t seen each other in a while.” The champion was a nice try, but you couldn’t. He was a close friend and it felt wrong. Almost as if you’d be dating your brother.

“You here with Norris?” You nodded at his question, quickly grabbing a flute of champagne as a waiter passed by.

“How’s college? I hear you’re graduating early?”

“I am! Yeah, I just took on a lot of work. I’d rather get out in the field sooner than later, you know?” You’d finish your junior year as your senior. That had been your plan from the beginning. You worked yourself to the bone, taking up extra assignments to get more credit.

“I get you, I probably would’ve done the same. You’re really admirable.” After you shot him a quick smile, the two of you were interrupted by Charles and Charlotte. It was obvious that the Monegasque had been dragged along by his girlfriend. Your favourite girl.

“Charlotte! Oh, it’s been too long!” The two of you immediately embraced each other, careful to not spill any champagne. She was stunning, wearing a gorgeous Prada maxi gown with a high slit. It was to die for, but so was your Alexander McQueen deconstructed trench dress. Anyone within a 50-kilometer radius would notice how it complimented your curves and the colour of your skin.

“It really has. It’s such a shame that I only ever get to see you at small events and at Abu Dhabi. You should come to more races. I know Lando misses you,” she teased the last part, but it still tugged at your heart. The slightest possibility that it was true… You wanted to believe it. So badly it hurt.

“He’ll have to exercise patience,” you chuckled and downed the last bit of champagne you had left. Charles and Lewis were somehow deep in conversation, so Charlotte decided to sneak you away.

The two of you were sat at a table near the back where the atmosphere was significantly heavier. It wasn’t as light as up front, but the dimmed lights made it cozy enough to sit and chat.

“So, tell me about you and Lando,” she said as if there was something between you and the McLaren driver. She knew very well that there wasn’t anything going on, but she had that feeling. You were hiding something.

“I mean… It's the same as always. We’ve been texting back and forth whilst I was busy with my classes and stuff. Nothing out of the ordinary?” It was the truth, but it definitely wasn’t what she wanted to hear. She proceeded to make that very clear to you,

“You know that’s not what I mean…”

“I don’t know what you mean, Cha.”

“Of course you do. I’ve seen the way you look at Lando. It’s very obvious.” She heavily emphasized ‘very’ and dragged out the ‘e’ in it. Charlotte was the type of person who you just couldn’t hide anything from. The girl was a literal detective.

“Is it really?” She could only nod pitifully at your question.

Sure, you’d started seeing Lando in a different light as of late. The way he walked, the way he talked, the way he looked at you as if he was in love with you whenever you spoke. You knew most of your notes were delusional. You were stuck on an island. That island being: Delusion Island.

“I hate myself.” You sighed and let your head fall onto the clothes table. Charlotte stroked the back of your head gently to console you.

“Does he know?” She posed a question she already knew the answer to, and when you didn’t respond— she confirmed it.

“I can’t tell you exactly what to do, but Lando is going to find out eventually.” You didn’t even want to think about that possibility. Burying your feelings and crushing them into oblivion was your only option and it seemed like the most viable one.

“The future version of me will have to deal with that. I can’t handle it right now.” You found little strength to pick yourself up and get another flute of champagne.

The rest of the night was spent drinking and blabbering. Charlotte was able to talk for hours on end, and so were you. It was one of the reasons the two of you were close. She was your favorite of all the drivers’ girlfriends. She and Kika both. Though you weren’t as close to Pierre as you were to most of the grid. Especially Lando.

When Lando found you again, you were absolutely shit-faced. You were slurring nonsensical words that melted together into a concoction of a drunken mess. Charlotte was just as far gone. Charles was able to carry her home though. Lando had to make a split-second decision. Was he really going to carry you?

It wasn’t a case of wanting to. He definitely did. The Brit was practically obsessed with you. For most of his life, he’d been orbiting you. Ever since the two of you were in your teens, he’d been utterly and irrevocably in love with you. You, however, were busy studying and he was busy with his growing career in racing. He was worried you’d never notice, but he also didn’t want you to. There was something holding him back. The looming doom of uncertainty. You were this gorgeous and intelligent woman, with eyes that looked as if they’d been painted by one of the greats during the era of romanticism.

Seeing you there on the table, totally blacked out and out of touch with reality, he wanted to be your knight in shining armor. For one night, he wanted to be the man of your dreams. There was one problem though. The paparazzi. He’d successfully fended them off about dating rumours between the two of you. But if he were to walk out with you slung over his back, he was feeding that bone to the hungry hounds of the media. Not exactly the best idea. It boiled down to you or his reputation. Which did he care about the most? Which would he prioritize?

“Fuck it.” He picked your drunken body up and slung it over his back, securing your arms around his neck. You weren’t heavy, but you were making it difficult for him with all of your kicking and wiggling.

“Leave me alone. I need to find Lando. Put me down,” You kept repeating words in a similar fashion until he finally brought you to his car. As he fastened your seatbelt, he saw the look on your wiped-out face. Even with runny mascara and bloodshot eyes, you were ethereal. Truly something else.

“Lando?” Hearing his name leave your lips nearly made his heart do a double take, much like his eyes.

“Yes, love?”

“I really have to use the bathroom.” How to ruin a perfect moment 101. But he could only laugh. It was cute.

“I’ll get you home in time, don’t worry darling.” He got in next to you and started the engine. The hotel wasn’t far, luckily, so you didn’t have to wait much to get your guts spilled into the toilet bowl. Lando held your hair in a makeshift ponytail, as he gently patted your back. Turning your insides out cleared your mind a little bit, and in turn, utter embarrassment filled every crook and nanny of your body. You felt it all the way to the tips of your fingers clutching the toilet seat.

“Ugh, you shouldn’t see me like this, Lan.” You sighed and fell back into his arms. He didn’t mind this. He let you rest there, whilst you slowly started drifting off. The alcohol levels were still rising and you weren’t coming down anytime soon. You were tired. Your eyes threatened to close.

“I don’t care. I really don’t. You mean the world to me. Something like this doesn’t matter to me.” He clutched you like he did his stuffed animals when he was a little boy. There was a newfound comfort in doing this. Something that he knew was limited. Something he knew he’d never get to experience again.

“I’m only telling you this because I know you won’t remember it,” Lando began, as he didn’t want to miss the opportunity,

“I love it when you give me attention. I love it when you cheer me on. Nobody’s opinion matters, but yours. I really only care about yours. I know you don’t feel the same way, but you’re all I think about, You’ve all I’ve ever thought about since we were teenagers. It’s stupid, I know. That’s why I’m saying it now.” Despite the lack of response, his chest felt lighter. Much lighter.

You woke up in your bed with a pounding head and an unreal nausea. Shit. You were going to miss Lando’s practice sessions. You were still in your expensive designer dress, but your makeup had been washed off. On the bedside table, you saw a piece of paper. “Don’t worry about today. Just relax and I’ll be back later. See you. -Lando”. Was there really no end to his thoughtfulness?

“Fuck me, my head…” You groaned and haphazardly made your way to the bathroom. With no ibuprofen let alone Panadol, a splash of water to the face was the only cure. That or a cold shower.

You decided on the latter. After stripping out of your dress, you stepped into the shower and turned it on. The initial sensation of the icy water made your body feel almost electrical, but it soon subsided.

It was hard to recollect any memories from the night before. All that was left in your brain was flashes of Charlotte and more than just a few flutes of champagne. No matter how desperate you were for more information, you simply couldn’t retrieve it. Just trying to think back made your head pound even harder than it already was.

As you stepped out and dressed in one of Lando’s hoodies with some shorts, you fell back into bed. Your body felt too heavy to sit up straight, and you were still subconsciously trying to remember more details.

“I’m never drinking again…” you sighed and eyed the off-white ceiling. Your train of thought trailed towards the McLaren driver. The way he always looked out for you and took care of you if you needed it. You’d never been in any relationships, but you knew that Lando was the perfect guy. He was exactly what you were looking for. It was nothing but a chimera. You could only wish to feel the warmth of his chest against your head.

Speak of the devil, you heard the door open and saw Lando trying to get in without making much noise. He could’ve sworn his heart tumbled around inside his chest when he saw you in his hoodie. The way your shorts were barely visible due to his size being bigger than yours… it did wonders to his imagination.

“You’re awake,” he groaned as he put his things on the ground beside the door.

“That I am.” You smiled and watched as he let his tired body fall back onto his bed, cracking his neck and sighing in relief.

“Need a massage?”

“That’d be great, actually.” After he dragged his tired body to your bed, the two of you shifted in the bed, so that his head was in your criss-crossed laps. You proceeded to work the kinks in his shoulders, pressing your thumb against his skin in circles. The satisfaction on his face was enough to make the rest of your weekend.

“Why study when you can be a masseuse?”

“I’m not that good, Lan.” You moved onto his neck, which you found out was the place he needed to be kneaded the most. He flinched and seethed through his teeth, obviously feeling the exhaustion from the g force on-track.

“Sorry, it hurts. You’ll have to endure it until the pain subsides. It’ll feel good soon. I promise.” As you continued to work his neck, the Brit couldn’t help but take a peek at your face. Your eyes met his and it felt somewhat domestic. It was then, he realized just how domestic the situation was. You were both in bed, with him in your lap and you giving him a massage. That little hope he had left turned into determination. Even if you most likely weren’t into him, he’d want to fight. He wasn’t patient enough to wait around, and with your college situation almost coming to an end— it was the perfect time to make a move.

You felt your face heat up at the eye contact. Never did you even think that he’d be so bold. Yet, you couldn’t pull away from his gaze. You were completely lost in him. A tinge of lament filled your chest, knowing that you’d be selfish to do something in the moment. He was busy racing and probably saw you as a sister anyway. A kiss was completely off the table.

“There you go. Does it feel better?” You let go of him for his own sake. He got up and stretched, noticing how much lighter he felt.

“You’re amazing, thanks for that.” Just seeing his smile had to be enough for you.

You sat beside Charlotte as the two of you watched the qualifying session in full swing. She wore a vintage summer dress, whilst you’d gone for a sophisticated but simple jumpsuit look.

“I missed the practice rounds yesterday,” you groaned and facepalmed.

“Don’t worry, I did too. There was no way I was getting out of bed with that headache,” she chuckled and fiddled with her phone to take pictures as Charles approached the view. She managed to capture his car speeding by and cheered him on with a wide smile on her face.

“So, what are you going to do about Lando?” She tilted her head to the side and gave you her undivided attention.

“I don’t know. He doesn’t even like me, why should I even try? I mean can you even hear what I’m saying? ‘Like’? It’s as if I’m back in high school. It’s so childish.” You desperately wanted to forget about him, but it would break him if you started distancing yourself. You were the closest friend he ever had and you knew it.

“Childish? It’s normal. You’re into him and if he doesn’t see how great that is, he’s just not worth it.” She was the voice of reason you depended on to save your life.

“Cha, I don’t want to lose him.” You saw a livery with the number ‘4’ on it. Your chest felt tight as it sped past you.

“You won’t, okay? You won’t lose him. I mean, the two of you share a hotel room. Separate beds, but a hotel room nonetheless. Ever wondered why he doesn’t just get you your own room?” She had a pretty clear point, but in your land of delusion— it was useless. It was nonsense.

“I don’t know, Cha… he probably does it ‘cause it’s cheaper, you know?” You wanted to believe her, but a part of you couldn’t take the risk.

“The fact that he let you sleep in until he came back late yesterday… I mean, come on.”

“I guess? When he came back, I offered him a massage and we had this weird moment. I don’t know if that’s just me though.” Charlotte had to do a double take at what just came out of your mouth.

“You did what?!”

“Quiet, please. I don’t want all of the paddock to know!” She proceeded to spill out a slew of quiet apologies.

“You’re telling me he let you massage him after midnight? That’s not just you. That is a moment. Why would you even doubt this?” You shrugged and sighed. Were you just missing all the signs? Were you really that dense?

“Okay, look. How about you go ask Kelly to ask Max about him?” It wasn’t a bad idea per se. There was one problem though. You almost never talked to Kelly, only ever passing by her in the paddock with a smile and a wave.

“I don’t really know her though. How can I ask something like that of her?” You were nearing the end of your rope, wanting to give up and let the last slither of hope you had left get crushed.

“Any woman would help out another desperate one.” Desperate. Was that really what you were being branded as? Perhaps it was accurate. Kelly really was your last ticket out of Delusion Land.

“Fine. I’ll go ask her, but where is she?” Charlotte pointed down, signaling she was in the garage. If that wouldn’t be awkward, you didn’t know what it would be.

“Shit, fine. Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it.”

Charlotte turned out to be right. Kelly was in the garage with a set of headphones on. Her focus on the screen in front of her showed her dedication to her lover. Something you’d want to do for Lando… if only that’d ever happen. You approached her with a strong heartbeat, and a slight shortness of breath, and tapped her shoulder. Noticing you, she took her headphones off and smiled,

“Hey there?” The higher octave by the end went a long way to show her confusion. In her eyes, you were just an acquaintance. Neither of you had ever made any small talk and whatnot. So when you pulled her aside, she was completely lost.

“What’s going on?” She asked and furrowed her eyebrows.

“I need your help… I’m kind of desperate.” Having those words leave your mouth was beyond embarrassing and you felt so childish.

“Oh? I do think I have some stuff in my purse if you’ll give me a moment—”

“No no! That’s not what I need at all!” Fuck. You were getting cold feet. Standing there in front of her like a fool was somehow worse than just confessing.

“So then… what do you need?”

“Max.” Your mind was too scrambled to even string a coherent sentence together. Kelly’s eyes flew open and her face grimaced.

“No! Um, I need you to ask Max something.” She squinted her eyes in suspicion but was willing to hear you out.

“Could you please ask him if he knows anything about Lando? Just anything at all? As in… if Lando has any feelings for me. Just casually, you know?” Kelly was obviously relieved enough to help you out, so she gave you a thumbs up and the two of you exchanged socials so that she could update you. Weird way to make friends, but whatever.

You decided not to go back up to Charlotte, but take a little trip to the Mercedes garage. The team had made a blunder which left their no. 1 driver out of Q2. You went in to chat him up and possibly console him. He was a great friend, and you needed to take your mind off Lando for a bit.

Lando finished qualifying in the front row behind Max, which left him feeling better than ever. When he saw that you weren’t in your usual spot though, a mix of emotions tumbled over him like that of a flood. You were in the Mercedes garage for some reason, talking to none other than Lewis. He saw the way you almost choked when laughing at his jokes. The way you looked at him. Listening and being attentive was a special talent of yours. Whoever you’d look at, it would always look as if you were deeply infatuated with them. All because you were one hell of a listener. It was one of the many things Lando adored about you.

“Mate, what are you staring at?” Max slung an arm around Lando’s neck and looked in the same direction to spot whatever the Brit was so invested in.

“Oh… I see. You’re jealous.” Lando snapped out of it and felt his head drop.

“Nah man, I just wanted to see how Lewis was doing.”

“That’s bullshit.” It was. Seeing you be so close with another man, let alone another driver— it was too much for him. He’d done subtle things to get you to notice his feelings. Always booking just one hotel room, Driving you to your college campus, calling you whenever you had time— even if it meant he’d have to miss out on a good night’s sleep.

“You should tell her.” Lando nearly lost it when you pulled the Mercedes in for a hug. Luckily though, it was short and you left shortly after. Conveniently enough, you noticed Lando with Max, which sent him into a state of panic.

“What do I do?”

“Just do whatever you think is right.” As you approached the two of them, Max waved and left the two of you to talk. Lando was frazzled and it was obvious.

“Hey, what’s up? Congrats on the position, Lan. I’m proud of you!” Your smile and your excitement regarding his near-win were enough to squeeze his heart dry for juice.

“Thanks, I’m glad you’re here to see it.” The two of you began walking towards the McLaren motorhome when you felt your phone buzz in your pocket. It was a text from Kelly. Unfortunately, Lando was right beside you and managed to see the notification.

“You hang out with Kelly?”

“Um well, yeah! We talk all the time. I thought you knew?” You deserved an Oscar for that quick save.

“Nice, we should go on a double date with Max and her soon.” You nearly cracked your neck, turning to face him.

“Excuse me?”

“Hey, calm down. It was a joke.” That was half the truth. In reality, he just wanted to see your reaction to the suggestion. Something told him Max didn’t have a point.

“Mhm.” You rolled your eyes at him and rested your hands on your hips.

“Actually, I have something important to tell you when we get back to the hotel.” Something didn’t feel right about him saying that. He rarely talked about serious things, but his tone was almost anxious. It was a side of him you’d never seen before.

When you finally got back to your shared room, you changed into something more comfortable whilst Lando took a shower. You went through your nightly routine; stripping your face of makeup, rubbing serum into your pores, and caring for the roots of your hair. Spoiling yourself was important to you. Almost as important as studying, really.

“Hey, can you pass me the comb?” You’d been too distracted to notice Lando finishing. You found the comb in the drawer of the vanity, turning to hand it to him. That’s when you saw him. Fresh nightwear and still dripping wet hair. It was the most attractive thing you’d ever witnessed in your entire life. Including meeting several heartthrob celebrities at races.

“You’re staring, you know?” Oh, you knew.

“So are you.” He was. His eyes searched for something behind yours. Any sign that you one day could be his.

“Touché.” He combed through his hair with a serum. Hair and skin care was something that you’d forced upon him. Safe to say you changed the rest of his life for the better.

He finished up and tugged himself under the fluffy white duvet. It was sort of contradictory sleeping with air conditioning, but still tugging yourself under heavy covers. He was cute. You weren’t nearly as tired as he was yet, so you decided to scroll through your socials before finally dozing off. The two of you had completely forgotten about what the curly-haired brunette had wanted to talk about. It didn’t matter though, as it was only a matter of time before it was going to be revealed.

You’d done your hair and makeup, spending nearly two hours total perfecting yourself. Lando waited by the door, calling your name several times. With the last puff of your setting powder, you quickly gathered your things and ran for the door. The Brit seemed stoked for the race, but that wasn’t the only thing his insides were churning for.

The two of you arrived at the paddock in style. You wore a Vivienne Westwood tennis skirt, paired with a knitted sweater from the same collection. Your purse was Prada, and your shoes were Yves Saint Laurent. Lando had showed up in Quadrant merchandise, whilst also rocking a pair of shorts, courtesy of McLaren.

The Brit brunette was going to aim for pole position in Abu Dhabi, and he was going to confess before the interviews. That was his plan. Though a sappy one, he knew you’d appreciate the sentiment nonetheless.

You had once again decided to observe the race with Charlotte. Being in the garage was far too hectic with all of the engineers watching the race in anticipation. Sure, you were rooting for Lando, but you were no fanatic like them. Nor were you extremely loud about it. However, you definitely understood their passion. If it was your job, you would’ve been just as hyped and on edge for every race.

“Do you think Lando is going to win?” Charlotte asked, leaning against the railing overlooking the pit lane.

“Maybe. I can’t say for sure. I mean, he did well in qualifying?” You were quite literally manifesting a pole position for him. If you had a sigil and a set of candles, you would’ve performed a ritual. It wasn’t so much of an obsession as it was pure dedication to your best friend. What it really was— was love. You were utterly and hopelessly in love with the man. From the way he’d laugh at your sub-par jokes, to the way he’d drive you to and from campus.

“I think he’s going to win.” Charlotte was usually cheering her boyfriend on, but this time was completely different. She was rooting for you.

“What makes you say that?”

“Love.”

Lando managed to squeeze in a photo finish, nearly missing out on pole. All of the McLaren team gave you space to embrace him. The hug felt tighter than usual. Almost as if he was saying “I made it”.

“Lando, this is amazing! I am so so so proud of you.” That brief moment felt like heaven on earth to him.

“Can I tell you something?” He leaned in, but not too close for comfort.

“Yeah?”

“I’m so tired of chasing and I want to stop it. You can deny my feelings, but I have completely fallen for you.” You hesitated as your heart felt like it had been caught in your throat. You felt a strike of heat reach your face, watching Lando wait eagerly for your response. Shame you were at a loss for words, but then again— perhaps a blessing?

You immediately pulled him in for a kiss, hearing all of the fans roar and the teams gasp. Lando melted into it, cupping your cheeks with his hands. You felt the soft material of his gloves against your skin. When you finally pulled away, you decided to give him a proper response,

“You have me, as long as I have you.”

𝗥𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱...

𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙧𝙚𝙜𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚!

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩

𝙃𝙚𝙧𝙚’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩! (𝙄𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙣, 𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨, 𝙙𝙢𝙨, 𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙨𝙠𝙨: 𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙙𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙧(𝙨) 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚(𝙨) 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣.)

[magicalchaosnut]

My English class TED Talk script

TED Talk Title: Why We Shouldn’t Become Soup

Neon Genesis Evangelion is an anime that covers the relationships between several people with volatile personalities in a post apocalyptic world, uniquely fighting otherworldly beings while returning to the womb and experiencing intense pain, and suffering through their view of themselves and their idea of others’ perspectives.

The buildup of the series comes to a climax during the movie, leaving some philosophical questions to ponder over. For example, the Human Instrumentality Project and a look at whether individuality is a gift or a curse by showing the alternative: eternal togetherness or unity. Once this project is put into motion, all of humanity is subject to be a sea of ‘LCL’; soul fluid that melds into one eternal ocean of consciousness. The reason for this is the universal fear of loneliness, which was touched on earlier in the show with a discussion about the hedgehog's dilemma: the fear of hurting other people the closer you get to them, similar to a hedgehog trying to find warmth amongst others in its species during the winter.

Shinji shows this fear by continually running away from his caregiver, Misato, and his responsibilities as a pilot because he doesn’t want to get closer to the other pilot, Rei Ayanami, who he has started to care for. This is similar to his father, Gendo Ikari, and his fear of being a poor father. Instead of getting closer to his son after his wife’s death, he leaves his son behind which damages him more than his father’s presence would have.

Misato, the most recurring adult main character in the show, is afraid of getting close to Ryuuji Kaji because she is confident that she cannot open herself to him. Her personality is so cheerful on the outside, when in reality she has been stuck as a little girl who was sent away by her father who died in a nuclear explosion. She is afraid that Kaji will be like her father and leave her to fend for herself, and that she will be unable to reciprocate his feelings in the way that it matters. Ultimately, he dies and leaves Misato alone. Her fears are confirmed, but she is able to brave them through the closeness of Shinji as her pseudo-son in her final moments.

Asuka has a fear of others as well, taking it out more violently than Shinji by forming relationships where she thrives off of her superiority complex (which is really an inferiority complex) and can be considered the best. As she was a child prodigy who graduated college at age 14, she has all of the knowledge of an adult but little of the maturity that is expected of her, making her the extreme example of being a teenager: having all of the burden with none of the respect of experience that others want you to have already. She gets close enough to Shinji to be in sync as a fellow pilot, but never talks about her true drive to be considered good enough: her mother committing suicide while holding a doll of her, symbolizing that she wasn’t enough for her mother to stay alive for and would be more beneficial if she had been exactly as her mother wanted.

The will of God was sent to turn everyone into LCL to rid all people of the inescapable loneliness that they feel because they cannot understand each other. Like the angels before humanity, that are single entities of a species and nothing more, becoming one in the ocean of consciousness would eliminate loneliness and the social suffering that so many people in the post apocalyptic world fear. To retake the importance of being the central descendants of god, humanity feels they must ascend individuality. But in doing so, there is an infinite amount of unwavering suffering and no amount of time to alleviate the pain of one's sense of self when there are no other selves. Similar to how we can fight with our family members, but if we were to be only one self, we would be alone. You can’t be a family if you are just one person. In an effort to curb the societal loneliness felt by an entire population, the will of the few has caused an incurable loneliness that rids all of humanity of the chance to love another and try to understand by turning everyone into one thing. In summary, it is better to suffer for the sake of possible happiness and hope that you will understand people and make friends, than it is to give up and wallow in your own solitude.

The movie ends with Shinji understanding the sacrifice to live as an individual, which is the loneliness of consciousness. He lets the rest of the sea of consciousness decide whether they live for opportunity rather than be essentially comatose in an emotional stasis. The message of the series is that it's better to be lonely and try to be happy than it is to give up and be nothing at all. Even if everyone is unified in that nothingness.

[thelampisaflashlight]

Finally made that "angel" oc.

Notes below the cut.

-Her name is Alma and she works as a caretaker for a haunted church, and resides on the property.

-Alma grew up attending a megachurch with her parents, who fell hard into the idea that they could buy their way into heaven, to the extent that they drained Alma's entire college fund making donations to the church.

As a result, Alma has a generally negative view of religion as a whole, which leads to the question... how is she an angel if she's agnostic at best?

Simple answer; She's not.

As a teenager, she developed a "miraculous gift", which enabled her to commune with the dead, one which her parents took full advantage of in order to gain a higher social status in their church, and people started calling her an angel, and, well, the title stuck until she graduated high school and got the hell out of her small town and far the fuck away from the people she grew up around.

-Alma's casual wear tends to be like the outfit she's pictured in above, with her dressing more practically for work and business related things, but she generally prefers things that are fairly cutesy and/or sexy, usually in pink.

-She can run in heels on grass, and has, on more than one occasion, chased down people ghost hunting in the attached graveyard without permission before, and there's something uniquely terrifying about a woman in six inch heels sprinting after you because you're making too much noise after hours.

-Alma got her current job because she most of the people who had the position before her got scared away, and the folks who hired her half expected her to quit the same day, but she's stuck it out for... Mn, ten years now?

Yeah, turns out ghosts are less freaky when you realize 1.) They can't hurt you, and 2.) You saw them trying to be all mysterious and scary knocking shit over and were able to physically grab them and yell at them for fucking up your hard work.

And lastly;

-The church she works for is actually owned by the ministry, so occasionally clergy members show up and they never seem prepared for the cute receptionist lady with pink glitter eyeshadow to suddenly grab a shovel and go, "Right, cool, you fill out your paperwork and shit, I have to go dig a hole because somebody won't pay for a fucking backhoe."

...She is to be feared.

[maddydoodlestrash]

can we get lore on ur idol ocs (if any) & how they became idols or if they have a studio or splatfests?

Yah sure, I’ll summarize the best I can!

On the left is Mizuki Akahoshi (Mizu) and on the right is Akari Akahoshi (Akai). They’re adoptive sisters who make up the idol duo known as Crystal Cephalopods, a metal-pop hybrid! They’ll rock your world and light up your day~

Mizu, the drummer and secondary vocals, is a bigfin squid who was found abandoned as an infant. In my lore bigfin squids (magnapinna) remain as mysterious as they are in our world, within the world of splatoon. Basically they’re a squid race that lives in the sewers, like the octarians. Defective infants are often tossed to the surface like Mizu was, she has immunity system issues. She was adopted into the Akahoshi family and quickly acquired her younger sister, Akai.

Akai, the guitarist and main singer, is a red flying squid. Ever since she was small the idea of becoming famous was a must-have for her. She was naturally highly gifted in instruments, she could pick up anything new and be able to play a decent melody on it in seconds. Upon their high school graduation Akai and Mizu moved to inkpolis to pursue Akai’s dream of being an idol.

Because of Akai managing to befriend a producer while in high school she was able to convince him to consider her talents, he originally declined her audition. Upon including Mizu’s voice in the talent showcase he however changed his mind and set the sisters up with a year’s worth of rent, diner jobs, and a recording studio. Currently in-story they do not have a studio like the in-game idols, nor do they host splatfests, but eventually they do! Currently they’re just now starting to get noticed for their unique, haunting but catchy music.

[mercyisms]

wld love for u to expand on your thoughts about asian jewish mercymorn?? my beloved hater girl

(:<<<< i was delighted to receive this ask and rolled it around in my brain for days and days, even though the real answer is "i'm silly and i like to have fun." to preamble: very, very generally, i think it can useful to have fun with white characters in works written by white novelists. i think it can be a lot of fun, too, to see a fancreator re-interpret a work into a culture they know a lot about and bring out different textures or tensions. but i also think it’s fun to reconsider specific characters (sometimes especially the ambiguously raced ones) and tease out tensions that might feel interesting or ones that somebody without cultural context may have overlooked. i like resisting the idea that whiteness is the default or a neutral default.

though! on the flip side and despite routinely joking that augustine being canonically blonde is a hate crime against me somehow, i also recognize that, for example, augustine’s whiteness (or presentation towards whiteness) seems intentional and is doing work in the text. (when i joke about john always having one six foot plus blonde around, it’s funny! but it’s also reflecting something the text is engaging with with regards to race.) so, anyway, that man can stay white. but to speak, at last, to our beloved hater girl. i think the first thing that opened the door for me is one of the initial descriptions we get of mercymorn.

The face beneath the icy parti-coloured hood was a prim, virginal oval; much in shape and feature like the shape of a saint’s face in a portrait, or a death mask. The nose and jaw and forehead were all carven and serene, and therefore had the same indifferent dullness of a well-formed statue.

i am fairly certain tamsyn is consciously trying to evoke one of the infinitely funny and also very beautiful medieval paintings or sculptures of the virgin mary (etc.) (divine conception: difficult mode, am I right, lads?). but for me, the refrain of mercy’s oval face is a great example of a descriptor that isn’t exclusive to whiteness. very practically, when i started looking for references to make humble sketches of mercymorn, i first turned to michelle dockery (expressive eyebrows! a face that can be cold and severe but then melts into heartbreaking, childish expression!) and then more and more to (an aged down!) kim seo hyung. (for the record, when i make stabs at augustine, i am usually drawing on a richard ii era fiona shaw, with dashes of young peter capaldi and perennially ancient jeremy irons. recently, my go-to for cytherea has been ophelia-era—of course—helena bonham carter.) but it’s rooted in more than just me dicking around in procreate. the idea of an asian mercymorn became more compelling to me when i considered how that would change the texture of her character. to try and be as brief as possible, there, as you may well be v familiar with yourself, are longstanding stereotypes of (largely east and south, but it all gets homogenized) asian immigrants being depicted as cold and unfeeling robots, as excelling only at rote memorization and lacking critical thinking or social skills, as being dangerous or suspicious or obnoxious over-achievers, and as, depending on the day, being too sexy or utterly sexless. (i am not claiming any of these are unique to the very broad category of ‘asian,’ just setting the table.) and i think mercymorn becomes really compelling reinterpretation and rebuke to expectations if she is asian. because she is so many of those things: overachieving med school graduate; someone who (though she seems to have excelled at the magicky part) gift comes from stubborn, rote memorization; someone deeply repressed; someone who is told and believes herself to be unfeeling and inhuman (”Every time you’ve said that I did not understand the human heart, that I was unfeeling, that I only knew worship without adoration”)—but is also a disaster of emotions, despite it all, and is driven by incredibly messy emotions and whose skills (the memorization, the drive to overachieve, even the repression) come from this vast and terrifying well of emotions that even she can’t really look at head-on. before mercymorn, i don’t know that i had seen these tropes reworked in exactly this way or thought to rethink these stereotypes in this way, and so that’s some of what mercymorn-as-asian does for me. (obviously caveat that i’m very strongly drawing from a north american context and i totally confess to not knowing what stereotypes are present in new zealand! but anecdotally through friends in australia and england, these stereotypes certainly seem present throughout the globe, and i would not be surprised if they were also present in nz. but just recognizing that!) i also, personally, find this a lot more satisfying than just going off tamsyn’s canon sheet and being like, yeah, got it, isaac is the one canonical east asian. that’s nice! that’s lovely! but it doesn’t really do anything for me or the narrative. i’m not upset about it! but the lyctors, those who lived pre-ressurection and lived closest to john and carry some of their biases with them, are people who have been shaped by a society where race is very present. vs. the younger 10,000 years out gen who ostensibly (though of course they are in a text written here and now) live in a “post-racial” society, at least from what we see within the house system. (i mean, i say this, but then i also feel like... have u met east asian christian converts. there is some eighth house energy there is all i will say. so, again, i just like to have fun.) re: the jewish thing, i am a hater girl myself and cannot like catholics have anything not ever (hashtag joking, tbc) and a) would love for a foot in and b) as myself and others have pointed out, mercymorn would love to kvetch, she’d be so good at it, she understands it implicitly and she deserves to have a community to kvetch with and c) as i think the inciting post for this ask pointed out she’d be so good at saying ‘oy vey’ and d) idk i just think it’s even funnier if a lapsed jewish woman and a nun walk into a bar and then kiss. in general, i also feel a vested interest in opening the door for mixed race readings of characters and one’s that, again, reinterpret or add to the texture of that character’s presence in text and are done in a thoughtful, fun, interesting way. i could possibly say more but i think this is enough for right now!! maybe!!! sorry this took me so long!! uhh but that’s a taste into my thought process, anyway, for how i like to interpret and reinterpret les lyctores and specifically best beloved hater mercymorn m. nolastname i love u. it is (obviously!) not the definitive or only interpretation, but is the one that currently speaks deepest to my soul. but i do love to see all kinds of interpretations and reinterpretations of our beloved necro-cast.

[doctorfiction]

Go Ahead . . .Suspend My Disbelief!

Question: Do you have any general suggestions for an author who wants to write a thriller with a medical theme as its hook?

This question is very timely for me as I am just starting a new book. I would like to say that this is my second novel, but like many authors, I have a number of books in progress and struggle to find the one that inspires me to push through to the end.

That said, I took a look at my “works in progress,” and found that they all have something in common.

I like searching the web for a new scientific breakthrough or discovery that fills me with hope and scares the shit out of me simultaneously.

There . . . you see . . . we have the makings of a good thriller already. Kind of like Schrodinger’s Cat, it’s both alive and dead at the same time.

I am delighted and somewhat surprised to announce that my debut novel, Immortal Red, has just become an Amazon Best-Seller in the Medical Thriller, and Crime & Mystery / Science Fiction genres.

As such, I will use it as one of my examples for how to select an idea / premise for a novel. Shameless Plug: The eBook edition of Immortal Red is on sale for a limited time for $0.99 on Amazon. CLICK HERE for a deeper explanation and the opportunity to buy at $0.99 if you wish. While searching the web for second-hand parts for an ancient Lotus Elan and a used tweed jacket on Poshmark, I came across this article about a unique creature.

Fact: Turritopsis dohrnii, the dime-sized jellyfish with the bright red stomach, is the only creature on earth with the gift of immortality (notice that the title of the novel, Immortal Red, is chosen from the headline). When confronted with death due to advanced age, starvation, or trauma sufficient to kill but not obliterate, turritopsis dohrnii has the ability, through a process called transdifferentiation, to repair itself by converting adjacent healthy cells of one type into precise replacements for damaged cells of another type. This is not unlike a fetal stem cell, except for the fact that turritopsis can do this a seemingly endless number of times. Through this mechanism, turritopsis is able to effect a complete repair of all damaged tissue and emerge young and healthy.

Now I was intrigued and looked for a way to make this a universal concept, something that would appeal to everyone.

Questions: Would you want to live forever? Would you kill to be able to live forever? If everyone you know and love—dies of old age—would you want to go on? Would you be motivated to do anything if you had all the time in the world?

Suspension of Disbelief: A marine biologist snorkeling off the coast of Cape Fear discovers the jellyfish and takes it to her lab for further study. She kills the little invertebrates over a hundred times only to have them come back to life, new and perfect. She wonders if there may be mammalian applications. The Institute finds her research interesting but unimportant and cancels funding. Her husband works for the eighty year-old director of a CIA black ops division charged with doing jobs too dirty for the rest of the agency to touch. Surprise, the aged director offers to fund her research—and we’re off on a tale filled with a diverse cast: Nick, an archaeologist turned CIA “fixer,” who is dying, Tommie, a Native American who has died more times than he cares to remember, and Lucy, a young graduate student on the run with the “Cliff’s Notes” for immortality.

Procedure: At this point, I had to invent science sufficiently credible to allow human application of transdifferentiation. I took liberties with the existing science, but remained true to basic scientific and medical principles to allow the reader to suspend disbelief.

Here is another example of a simultaneously hopeful and horrifying scientific “breakthrough.”

CRISPR: (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) By use of a hand-held “gene gun” scientists are able to coat a heavy-metal projectile with specific gene material and literally fire it into a cell, inserting this genetic material into a strand of DNA to repair the strand or eliminate the sequence of certain diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis. . .

or to create a genetically modified “super” tomato.

All well and good until a Chinese scientist used the process in utero to create genetically modified super-twins. He’s now in prison, and there is a selective moratorium on the use of CRISPR in humans.

But once the cat is out of the bag . . .

The internet is chock full of tidbits like this if you just dig a bit. Below are the workings of machinations of one such headline:

“Combining a Virus and Genetic Material for Insertion into a Human Genome.”

Consider the following premise: the military, searching for a way to offset its ever shrinking ranks decides that it needs to create soldiers who can operate on the battle field without the constraints of conscience or the PTSD that often results from such activities.

The researchers note that the limbic system plays a vital role in the inhibition of violence and manifestation of the inevitable mental trauma of these actions. A plan is developed to insert DNA from the limbic system of a reptile into the limbic system of a test subject. Researchers note that reptiles are able to attack their prey without anger or regret. They simply do what is necessary to survive.

Ideally, the effects would be limited in both time and scope, manifesting on the battlefield and dissipating soon afterward. To that end, a decision is made to combine the type-specific DNA with a virus and literally give the subject’s limbic system a short-term “cold.”

What could possibly go wrong?

Well—it turns out—not only are the changes not limited to the target organ—the subjects are also contagious.

This premise happens to be the idea behind Elegant Beasts, a novel I am currently working on.

Below you will find the teaser prologue illustrating the evolution of an idea from Science Fact to Created Science to Suspension of Disbelief.

Elegant Beasts

Prologue

            What if? The two most dangerous words in the English language. What if he hadn't ignored that nagging pain in his gut? Or better yet, what if he had never worked for that chip manufacturer growing those damn silicon crystals for micro-circuits and then cleaning them with trichloroethylene?

            But that had been 1973. Who knew, another provocative word pairing, that “Tricky” would turn out to be one of the most potent hepatic carcinogens the world had ever seen? A time bomb that could sleep soundly for decades before waking to spawn a tumor that would quietly, double every 6-8 months, seeding the lung and regional lymph nodes. before bursting free, to take out its host in six months.

            “Damn.” Albert Fontaine, MD rolled on his left side, brought his knees to his chest and palpated the growing mass under his right ribs. If he lay perfectly still, in a tight fetal position there was no pain. But moving—well— that was something else.

But, this morning, something was different. He didn't know what. But it didn't matter, given his present circumstance, different was good. The mass felt, not so much smaller, but softer, somehow less of a challenge to his survival.

            Elizabeth Gilmore, PhD in Genetics and Virology or as he nicknamed her, Elizardbeth, now shortened to simply Lizard had told him this was just a “taste” of what was possible. A cure for the incurable. But at what cost he thought, picking at the scaly rash that had appeared on his forearms.

            Life for his humanity. But not the life he had now. Was it a good trade? He supposed it was a matter of perspective and belief. He was no longer the Catholic schoolboy who accepted everything the nuns told him. But he was not quite ready to accept the Kansas rock band's thesis that “all we are is dust in the wind.”

            The skin of the creature was the worst part.

            Albert Fontaine had always been fascinated with skin. It was an overlooked wonder of evolution and accident, a twenty-one-square foot organ with an exceptional ability to regenerate itself. He had once read that dead skin cells accounted for a billion tons of dust in the atmosphere and he wanted to believe it, but as a scientist, he had no faith in how they’d arrived at that figure. Measured how many cells the average individual lost in a year, he supposed. 30,000 cells a minute? Was that right? Skin was always changing. Microbes roved its surface, fighting disease, the miniature populations unique to the species they protected. Fontaine liked this idea of humans hosting one kind of vibrant community and dogs another and baboons and sharks yet another. He was not religious, but this felt close: every moving creature a solar system for another world, every beating heart a sun, each world contained by living, seething skin.

Albert brushed the now vaguely greenish flakes from the rash on his forearm.

Lizard had hinted at the existence of another subject, someone months further along in their “treatment.”

And so, Fontaine had broken into Elizabeth Gilmore’s lab to see for himself.

Broken in wasn’t quite the correct term, since he had used a key card to gain access, but he’d acquired the duplicate key card under a false premise. So whatever that was, it was enough that he felt jumpy. He was not given to criminal activity; he did not get speeding tickets, he did not cross against the light, and he did not eat donuts from bags labeled with other people’s names in the break room. So long as the rules made sense, he was a rule follower.

But Elizabeth Gilmore’s research did not make sense.  She had been one of DARPA’s (Defense Advanced Research Project Agency) “golden girls,” a rising star in charge of a government-funded “super soldier” program. Fast forward six months: The Lizard had been unceremoniously booted from her high-tech digs in the Virginia Tech research center and banished to a hastily outfitted lab in one of the many dozens of remote abandoned buildings that dot the nearby Radford Army Ammunition Plant Army Base  

As Fontaine prowled through her lab, he tried to look as if he belonged, although he didn’t truly believe he would be interrupted. It was after hours for most of the staff and he’d watched Gilmore leave as he arrived. She worked the twelve-hour day shift that was typical here, seven am to seven pm. Fontaine was on the exact opposite, pulling nights since beginning his circadian skin research.

Gilmore’s lab was impeccable, not just spotlessly clean but fastidiously organized. A radio had been left on and it played the glimmering ‘80s music she listened to relentlessly. He’d somehow expected her research to be secret, hidden away, but the isolation chamber was clearly labeled.

Fontaine hadn’t been able to see anything through the glass square in the door, so he dutifully scrubbed down and searched for a hazard suit. Finding none, he considered his options. Given his dismal prognosis he decided to go for it.

The door opened with a snake-like hiss as the chamber decompressed. His vision adjusted slowly to the faint red lighting.

There it was.

One fell straight into uncanny valley just to look at it. Two legs, two arms, those frightful hands, the eyes. Was it a thing that looked human or a human that looked like a thing? It was impossible for Fontaine to tell which direction the slider was being pushed.

And the skin was the worst part. On some areas of the body, it was smooth and hairless, the surface marked only by striations that reflected the arid environment of the isolation chamber. But on other others, particularly the arms and the face —

He was reminded suddenly of his younger brother, a miracle baby. He’d been born with Harlequin Ichthyosis, a rare skin disorder that left him plated with a thick armor of his own skin, a tiny stegosaurus-human chimera. The red, scaly plaques had to be operated on to keep his limbs from auto-amputating, and to this day he had to constantly manage his scaly, red skin.

Looking at Gilmore’s research, he was reminded not of the adult his brother had become, but the tiny, scaled hybrid in the ICU he had begun as.

“Dr. Fontaine, you seem lost.”

Fontaine startled.

She was there. Of course, she was there.

Elizabeth Gilmore stood just outside the isolation chamber, her narrow, shapely face framed in the thick glass window. He saw the thick blue lanyard at her neck; she had not left at all.

“What is the use of such research?” Fontaine demanded, his voice raised in order to be heard. “What practical application can there possibly be?”

Gilmore smiled. It was neither amused nor friendly. “It cured her anxiety disorder entirely.”

Her. Somehow it was far worse to think about the creature as possessing a gender.

“This is unethical,” he told her.

Gilmore merely blinked at him.

“How did you even get someone to volunteer for this?” he asked.

Gilmore looked away for a moment; she was tapping something into the keypad. When she looked back at him, her smile was gone. She said, “They wander in after hours.”

He heard the lock slide into place.

[the-chaotic-scilla-aster]

HL Scilla Aster HC

Something fun I've been wanting to do.

This is a project of sorts that anyone and everyone of the Hogwarts Legacy Fandom can join in on with their own HC.

I wanna see everyone's HC and how they differ from mine. Mine ended up seeming more like a list in the end, though.

I'm tagging @kiwiplaetzchen @legacyshenanigans and @gwendolyn-foxworth to join in on the fun

Background

Pureblood. (would never know till you ask)

Father is a squib. Mother ran away after graduating from hogwarts to marry her father.

The town she grew up in is actually a mix of wizardkind and muggles. Her childhood best friends were muggles.

her family is from Italy but has been going to Hogwarts for generations.

Mother's side of the family were Hufflepuff, fathers side of the family were Slytherin, she's a Ravenclaw.

Has a talent for baking and growing just about anything.

Wants a career with Magical Beasts, loves animals just as much as Poppy, if not more.

Warning. Do Not Piss Off (Sebastian approves of this message)

Interactions with the HL crew

In a constant state of tiredness, has been found asleep in corners with Ominis

Has an old, worn leather satchel her Nona and Mother used while at Hogwarts

Recently admitted to carrying a blanket in the satchel for when she finds Ominis asleep in halls (her housemates have yet to let her live down how red she turned when caught)

Has been seen hitting Sebastian with a potions textbook after making crude jokes and suggestive comments to the girls

"I was ignorant enough to willingly help you with your sister." her response to Sebastian calling her ignorant instead of trusting her.

Poppy and Her are often found trying to sneak in random beasts when hanging out together

Her friends and Professor Fig have heard “Don't tell my dad” more times than they can count.

Enjoys watching Garreth brew his potions on the chance it'll explode or shoot sparks.

Natty has been teaching her how to use wandless magic. Professor Ronin is excited to see them bond, but suggests it's best done outside.

Samantha Dale and her quiz each other over plants, and try to guess flowers over smell and feel while blindfolded. (Typically Ravenclaws)

Finds Amit sweet and well-meaning but tries to avoid him at all costs outside of Astrology class.

Will call fellow students “hun”, friends “sunshine” or “dumbass” and “Darling” or “Lovely” when trying to kill one of the lads. (mostly to Ominis because she loves seeing him lose his cool every so often)

School related chaos

Has already seen Headmaster Black office 3 times since starting Hogwarts. None of which were related to the Keepers.

Absolutely hates Divination and Ancient Runes, one because of headaches and one is best for nap time.

Only rivaled by Samantha In Herbology and Poppy in Beasts class.

Her Room is mostly a kitchen and Garden, Deek has developed a green thumb thanks to her.

Professor Hecat has started giving her more refined lessons on how to control her anger after that 3rd visit to see Black.

Don't let her fool you. She cried like a baby on the day she would have been sorted into her house as a first year and got teary-eyed while sitting on the stool.

Stuff that makes her…..Unique.

Everyone wants to put a bell on her. Ominis has “gifted” her one, shortly after scaring him in the hallway once.

Will start twirling a curl around her fingers at any given moment.

“Do you wanna do this the easy way? Or the muggle way?”

Can sleep standing up. (she has no idea how she started doing, so don't bother asking)

Will start speaking Italian when pissed or if she forgets how to English.

When asked for her favorite flower, she'll smile and respond with “Japanese Cedar and Magnolias”.

[giftedfeeling]

Unique gift ideas for everyone and for every occasion

[alternative-kamishiro]

AU lore for this account

[PT: AU lore for this account /end PT]

The main canon divergence of Rui's appearance is having longer hair, though a lot more has changed in other areas. Read on to learn more!

Backstory

[PT: Backstory /end PT]

Rui was born an only child to two loving parents, and was encouraged to pursue his passions from a very young age. She was considered a "gifted child" and skipped a year of school at one point in her life. As they entered middle school, puberty, peer pressure, and socialization difficulties threw them into a whirlwind identity crisis. No longer amiably chatting with teachers, and beginning to neglect its physical health, Rui spent most school breaks on the rooftop. They tried to find what in the world could be *wrong* with them, especially when they were constantly praised just before. She found solace in another rooftop visitor who was having similar difficulties, and she'd often engage in long talks with this person where they both pondered what their lives meant and what their futures would hold.

It was when he showed this person his robots for the first time that he began to find value in his own work. They could finally see a tangible impact and *know* that they had the potential to change people's lives for the better. In celebration of this newfound purpose, and to encourage her friend to embark on this path of self-discovery as well, Rui vowed to dedicate her life to the unorthodox and to expressing herself as authentically as possible. Rui begin to socially transition at the start of high school, gradually blooming into the person it is now.

Besides bringing the occasional robot into school, Rui tends not to rock the boat in the classroom. Even though he sometimes falls asleep in class due to exhaustion (from both public and private activities), he always manages to do extremely well academically. But performances are where she truly shines. You'll hear more about Rui's live endeavors below.

Personality

[PT: Personality /end PT]

Rui is known for being incredibly unpredictable, finding delight in inciting confusion---and sometimes a feeling of unease. He uses vocal effects during the speaking portions of live shows (ranging from adjusting the pitch to adding filters; it always varies), and the audience often struggles to tell on what days he's actually singing live. She plays the guitar, either acoustically or amped up, depending on what the show requires. While some instrumentation, like Rui's guitar work, is live, robots it has created provide musical accompaniment and special effects during performances. The bizarre mix of planned, pre-recorded content and live, unfiltered performance somehow comes together to create a unique listening experience for all.

Having always felt like an outcast, Rui decided to work toward embracing it after graduating from middle school. She even does her best to adjust the high school uniform, often wearing a masculine blazer with a skirt as the outfit of choice. From their clothing style to their song choice, everything Rui does is a rejection of the ordinary and a celebration of individuality. This has resulted in many rumors about Rui being spread throughout school, but it tries (*tries*) not to let any of the accusations get to its head. After all, there are so many more ideas he wants to bring to life, and there's only so much time in one's high school career to take advantage of the lack of major responsibilities.

While Rui enjoys spending time alone---tinkering with robots, listening to music, or practicing for shows---there's always a pit in its heart that proves something is missing. As much as they possess a distaste for cisgender, neurotypical, conforming behaviors, Rui craves more genuine social interaction from those who genuinely care. And gosh, she wants a break, if even for a little while.

[foldercompilation]

Self-searching: Ivy Prada for Harper's Bazaar ES, photographed by Maya Sørensen. January/2024.

At only 21, she became a reference in fiction for centennials, she not only anticipated new fashion trends, but often set them herself. She challenges pre-established aesthetics, surrounded by artists and intellectuals. She has more than 50 million followers on Instagram and now is the first woman in history to achieve billionaire status only from her acting and entrepreneurial career. What seems like an unattainable milestone is, for Ivy Prada, the natural result of relentlessly pursuing what she wanted since she was a child.

M: What was it like growing up on a farm in Tuscany, and how did that experience influence your artistic vision?

I: Reflecting on the time I lived on the vast farm with my sisters is very nostalgic. One vivid memory is our horseback riding lessons, and I was completely enamored with the mini pony my parents had gifted me for my birthday. I also recall the summer dresses my mother customized for us, only to end up covered in dirt as we joyfully played around the farm. Being the older sister served as a learning experience and a catalyst for my maturity, contributing to my autonomy, strength, and determination. Life in the countryside shaped my simplistic and minimalist perspective, influencing my creations at Prada and Miu Miu.

M: At 17, you decided to follow in your mother's footsteps. What motivated you to pursue a career in fashion and enroll at Istituto Marangoni?

I: I practically grew up watching my mother create in her vintage office on our farm. I loved seeing her draw, and we celebrated together when an idea could lead to a new and unique collection. One day, I woke up and said I wanted to be like her, designing beautiful dresses. I remember the happiness on her face when I shared this with her, rushing to tell my father. I am very stubborn, very obsessive. I wanted to be an actress or nothing. I wanted to design dresses or nothing. So, I left high school and was determined enough to tell my parents I wanted to join Istituto Marangoni. We permanently moved to Milan because they wanted me to pursue my dream. They did it so I could become who I am today.

M: Can you share a significant experience during your studies in Milan that contributed to your development as a fashion designer?

I: That place is magical. You're literally in a capital that breathes fashion. Being in a city that is a reference for style and trends is a privilege. Studying in Milan, perfecting my creative techniques at Istituto Marangoni, and experiencing Milan Fashion Week backstage with my parents taught me a lot. At 18, I designed my first creation, which ended up in Prada's summer collection – can you imagine?

M: How was the transition from student to creative director of Miu Miu and executive director of Prada, working alongside your family?

I: It was a significant shock for me, but in a good sense. I had just completed my master's at Istituto Marangoni when they offered me the position, and let's face it: when Miuccia Prada tells you to do something, you can't say no. Despite being my mother, I can work professionally alongside her, and she deserves my complete respect and admiration, just like my father, who was the main source of my courage. Today, I am the product of my choices, sacrifices, fears, dreams, efforts, dedication, and the endless belief and support of the people who love me. I owe everything to my parents.

M: Your mother, Miuccia Prada, is a renowned designer. What was it like growing up with this artistic influence, and how did it shape your creative approach?

I: I was the speaker at my graduation from Istituto Marangoni, and I stand by what I said about her that day: "While my mother guided me through these incredible 18 years, I don't know if she ever realized that the person I most wanted to be was her." Everything I know today is because of her, and everything I am today is also because of her. My life wouldn't follow the same path without her, and I don't know if I could navigate this journey without her incomparable presence. She taught me a lot, and when our creative minds align, it's practically a real-life miracle.

M: At just 21, you've reached the position of executive director at Prada. What were the most significant challenges you faced in this journey?

I: Balancing my professional and personal life was my biggest challenge at that time. I was auditioning for films while, at the same time, I had to be in the office making crucial decisions about the company. I was filming in entirely different countries when I needed to take an important call from Milan, and the time zone difference was significant. The early years were challenging for me, but, as a determined and persuasive woman, I love challenges. Entering this field was the best choice I ever made, and I will never regret pursuing my dreams.

M: In terms of fashion design, how do you balance the tradition associated with Prada with contemporary innovations, especially at Miu Miu?

I: I don't boast about it, but challenging traditional norms and grabbing the fashion world's attention through my designs is one of my best skills. My creations interpret the spirit of the time because Prada is, above all, a cultural brand, setting it apart from other luxury brands. The philosophy at Miu Miu wouldn't be different. We value creating high-quality products that enhance the audience's experience while cultivating a distinct, cohesive, and easily recognizable identity.

M: Can you share a bit about your sources of inspiration when creating new collections for Prada and Miu Miu?

I: My creative passion and future-oriented approach constantly capture the global fashion industry's attention. I work tirelessly, generating new ideas while applying my unconventional perspective on the world. Thanks to this philosophy, Miu Miu and Prada have anticipated fashion trends, often defining them with their own collections. My motto? Step out of your comfort zone. My inspiration? Strong women, like my mother.

M: With the success achieved and a billion-dollar heritage at 21, how do you plan to continue impacting the fashion world in the future?

I: This is the happiest moment I've ever been in. I feel so relieved that this is my life now. Everyone goes through a moment in their lives where they think, "Oh my God, this is all you ever wanted. This is everything you focused on." And to be honest, I went through moments in my life that became a kind of catalyst for many psychological paths I traveled. Not all of them were beneficial. Not being able to control things that happened to me led me to a really dark place. But I thought: I can control how things can happen now. That's when things changed for me. That's when my life changed for the better. I really went to a place where I thought, "I'm going to prove my worth. I'm going to make sure people know I deserve to be here." And I know I belong in this place. My goal was higher than just being in my comfort zone. I had to get out of there. I worked very hard. Things are coming back to me in the best way possible because of my fierce desire to succeed in life. And that's it. My life has never been better. There is no more gratifying feeling than achieving something you've always desired and knowing it was all your effort that got you there. In the end, the journey is absolutely worth it. Today, I have many goals in the professional field. I always seek to learn, stay ahead, and be better at everything I do. My work ethic has taken me far, and I will always be like this. I will always work hard on my interpretations in the cinematic world and my creations in the fashion world. I wish not to feel that there's a better version of me out there. I feel that way all the time. A little less than before, but I still do.

M: How is it working in collaboration with your family in the business world, and how does it influence the creative dynamics at Prada and Miu Miu?

I: It's the best of both worlds. Doing what you love with those you love. It's a comforting feeling to wake up and know you're working with people so passionate about what they do, so experienced, and so creative. We always have many ideas, and we always come to a common agreement because we know what's best for the brand and what will make it stand out.

M: This concludes our interview. It's a pleasure to have you here; you are one of my inspirations, and I'm happy to host you. Thank you for everything; I love you! Until next time.

I: Thank you very much for having me, Arabella. It's an honor to do this with you. Please, we have to do this more often!

At the age of fourteen, her determination was such that her parents finally agreed to help her find a representative. And there, just as the girl from Tuscany was beginning to touch her dream with her fingertips, her patience dissolved in an inversely proportional manner. "I went to auditions, but logically, in most of them, I wasn't chosen because I was a new face. From 14 to 17 years old, I played some characters in series, but they were small and very sporadic roles," she recalls. Suddenly, everything accelerated.

Production Credits:

Photography by Maya Sørensen.

Stylist by Laura Giménez and Hugo Latorre.

Makeup by Alex Saint.

Set Design by Beatriz Vera.

Model Ivy Prada.

[asvterias]

𝖲𝖥𝖶 𝖠𝗅𝗉𝗁𝖺𝖻𝖾𝗍 𝖫𝗂𝗌𝗍 ~ 𝖭𝗂𝖼𝗄 𝖥𝗋𝖺𝗇𝗓𝖾𝗅𝗅𝗂

Tag List: @lvc-lv @cyansadness @ashreblogsnow @helovesthisgorillagripper

Word Count: 3.8k+

Author’s Note: I published this headcannon because I wanted to see how this would turn out and hopefully it’s realistic enough to match up with Nick’s personality, so, trust me when I say that the Nick fanfic is coming out soon!!

(Y/N) is described as a black teenage lesbian with a height of 5’3, and Nick (for the sake of this headcannon) she’s 5’5.

Divider Credit: @saradika | GIF Credit: @violetsbaudelaire-archive

— ‘A’ IS FOR AFFECTION (how affectionate are they? how do they show affection?)

♡ Nick’s scale of affection is a solid 6.5/10. In public, the most that she would resort to is hand-holding and sometimes cheek kisses, if you’re lucky. But during the privacy of your homes, Nick is basically attached to you like a koala bear so much that it’s starting to get ridiculous. Her thriving love languages are quality time, acts of service, and gift-giving. However, she strives at physical touch and words of affirmation. Luckily, your girlfriend is eager to explore and make an attempt to overcome her weaker love languages.

♡ She annoyingly starts a whiny facade, pouting her lips and defensively crossing her arms, waiting till your attention completely diverts to her.

— ‘B’ IS FOR BESTFRIEND (how would the friendship start?)

♡ You met Nick through her father when he needed assistance in letting his conviction get released early. Your father was the criminal defense attorney who helped Nick’s father out of prison. When your dad proposed an offer of $5,000, you knew that Nick would have to go through desperate measures just to retrieve the funds so you begged him to have compassion, and reluctantly he did.

♡ She deeply appreciated your major contributions, often spending quality time with you, thus developing a friendship from there. She’d be like the sarcastic best friend, weary of every guy who took a romantic interest in you and only has a soft spot for you.

— ‘C’ IS FOR CUDDLES (do they like to cuddle? how do they like to cuddle?)

♡ As stated before, Nick can be super clingy when you two are alone, becoming incredibly affectionate and attentive to your needs. You asked directly about her fondness for cuddles and she playfully dismissed the idea with a wave of her hand with an unconvincing expression.

♡ Nick has a unique way of cuddling that’s very sweet and comforting. When going to sleep, she would rest her head on your chest, carefully slotted between your breasts as she listens to the consistent sound of your heartbeat, sending her into a cozy sleep. You would play with her hair, tangling your fingers through it, signaling your tiredness as well.

♡ Your need for skin-to-skin contact is a must so your gentle touch makes her feel at ease, and Nick complies with it. Nick wants to be held a certain way or she won’t have a good night’s sleep.

— ‘D’ IS FOR DOMESTIC (do they want to settle down?)

♡ Straight off the bat, Nick would certainly want to settle down with you. In her mind, you two had already moved into a decent apartment and had decent jobs after graduating college. She prefers cleaning over cooking any day! It was the perfect balance on the domestic side of your relationship, you admired cooking and Nick dominated cleaning up.

— ‘E’ IS FOR ENDING (if they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

♡ Breaking up in person was more overwhelming, unaware if the outcome would end on good terms or harsh words.

“Look, (Y/N), you’re an amazing girl but I don’t think that we’re working out anymore. I’m breaking up with you, it’s not you, it’s me and we can still be friends, moving forward, if that's what you want.”

♡ It would be heartless to break over a text, and if she had to do it over text, she’ll compose a big paragraph and her conclusion statement would be ‘I want you to move on from me because you deserve better. Just know that you’ll always hold a place in my heart.’ In Nick’s opinion, texts are the easiest form of giving out bad news.

— ‘F’ IS FOR FIANCÉE (how do they feel about commitment?)

♡ Considering that you two are still teens, Nick probably wouldn’t be thinking that far ahead into marriage, she would wait before making you her wife. On the other hand, Nick is surely committed to you, both physically and emotionally but not too codependent on you.

♡ If the two of you are still together after graduating high school and head into the same college. Obviously, there’s a huge time skip. Nick’s looking into a few years after college so probably in your late 20s is when she’d be eager to start a wedding plan book.

— ‘G’ IS FOR GENTLE (how gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

♡ Her vulnerability isn’t her strongest suit if we’re admitting things. Nick loves the way she exactly is, reserved to herself. Best believe that she’s planning to openly expose her emotional state mainly towards you and her family. Baby steps are the definite approach to her emotional gentleness.

♡ With being physically gentle, Nick has hardly touched the surface of that either, rather maintaining space every once in a while. Slowly but surely, she swooned to your commitment of physical touch in a relationship.

— ‘H’ IS FOR HUGS (do they like hugs? how often do they do it? what are their hugs like?)

♡ Since you were a touchy person, Nick had to grow used to your bubbly nature. At first, she didn’t like it, loathing the element of surprise because she wants to be fully aware of her surroundings no matter where she is. It depends on during what time of day, so it’s mostly mornings that she craves hugs and kisses.

♡ She loves hugs, especially when she’s giving a hug. Her favorite style of hugging is back hugs. It gives her the opportunity to where she can just nuzzle her head into your neck, wrapping her arms tightly around your waist, squeezing you gently as she softly inhales breathing in your scent. In addition to her sweet affection, she presses kisses onto your temple, cheek, or neck. Her hugs are warm and comforting to the touch, causing you to swoon for her even more.

— ‘I’ IS FOR I LOVE YOU (how fast do they say the L-word?)

♡ Relationship-wise, Nick probably wants to soak in the moment and take it one day at a time. There’s a possibility that you said I love you first but that’s not the main focus right now. I reckon that she says those special three words in a heartfelt conversation.

“You do know that I love you right? I would never put anybody else above you in our relationship.” you

♡ Ever since her confession, she would regularly announce her genuine love for you throughout the entire day.

“Good morning my beautiful girlfriend.” She chirps, pecking your lips. “I love you so much.”

“I love you so much, Nicky.”

“Well, that’s such a shame because I love you more.”

♡ That would transpire into a playful argument that ended in morning kisses and you admitting defeat allowing Nick to win.

“Told you that I love you more.”

And it’d be the last sentence that you hear at night, “I love you, babe, sleep tight.”

— ‘J’ IS FOR JEALOUSY (how jealous do they get? what do they do when they’re jealous?)

♡ Most of the time, it depends on who the person is to you and if they have/had feelings for you. Just don’t let Nick find out if that person has a current crush on you and attempts to make a move. She. Would. Go. Wild!!

♡ The common glares, fake annoyed smiles, and the clenching of her hand were refraining her to not injure the person.

♡ Most likely, she will bottle up all of her emotions until she finally bursts it all onto you. Then she’d immediately backtrack and apologize for shouting at you.

♡ Or if that person doesn’t understand the subtle hints and does not back off, your girlfriend would hold your hand and passionately kiss you, right in front of them without one drop of shame. And the smirk that sneakily creep up on Nick’s lips, watching the person storm off was so satisfying.

♡ Talk about being absolutely petty. Petty is one of the main definitions for Nick.

— ‘K’ IS FOR KISSES (what are their kisses like?)

♡ Her kisses are slow and passionate, and she loves to kiss your neck for some reason. Perhaps she adores it when she has to lean down because she’s taller than you. There’s just something about your exposed neck that always makes it so kissable to her. Nick loved to abruptly kiss you whenever you least expect it. You could be doing homework or walking your dog, and your girlfriend would firmly grab you by the waist and pull you in for a big smooch. 💋

♡ Nick likes to be kissed on the cheek, constantly feeling reminded that the seemingly innocent gesture makes her feel wanted by you. Like you were there to cherish her (and you were) and she was still undoubtedly shocked that she managed to be in a loving relationship despite all her life issues. You were the one girl who made her feel like she matters and your kisses prove how much you love her.

♡ Each kiss shared creates an unspoken connection of desire, radiating all over your love and care for one another.

— ‘L’ IS FOR LITTLE ONES (how are they around children?)

♡ She’s a bit cautious when children are under her care. To be honest, Nick isn’t a small kid at heart, not seeing the excitement in some activities as others normally would.

♡ You have a big family so it was normal that younger cousins would be roaming around your home during holidays. By accident, one of your younger cousins ran into her while the two of you were heading up to your room. Nick reassures your cousin and they just widely grin at her, reaching out for a high-five, beaming when Nick repeated the action back. Later that same day, Nick found herself, surrounded by all of your younger cousins, playing games with them.

She didn’t notice your presence until you finally spoke up, “And I thought that you didn’t like kids.”

“(Y/N)!!” All ten of your younger cousins cheered.

“Hey, babe.” She gleefully replies, “Wanna play hide and seek with us?”

“Of course,” You looked as your 5 year old cousin, Amari ran up to you, reaching for your arms and you lifted her up, settling her on your waist. “Who’s the seeker?”

Her small chubby fingers point to you, “You! (Y/N) and Nick are the seekers and the rest of us will hide.” She cutely babbles, her words not properly forming yet.

You giggle, putting her down as she ran away, looking for a hiding spot, “Okay! You all have 30 seconds to hide!” Nick announces as they both of you cover your eyes, hearing the scurrying of many feet and giggles.

— ‘M’ IS FOR MORNINGS (how are mornings spent with them?)

♡ Mornings are sweet and soft, especially on the weekend or holiday mornings which meant more quality time with each other. By the time morning arrives, Nick’s head nuzzles further into your body as you stir yourself awake. It was cute to see Nick all over you, peacefully dreaming safely protected in your arms. Waking up to a lazy kiss became a frequent routine for the young couple.

♡ There’s no other person who Nick would spend her mornings with.

— ‘N’ IS FOR NIGHTS (how are nights spent with them?)

♡ Nights are more chaotic than mornings, that’s for sure. Willingly, you host sleepovers with just Nick, and you two plan at-home dates, or you make out. Either way is a win-win for both of you! Occasionally, you two will pull an all-nighter together and continuously stream comedy sitcoms while munching down on snacks.

♡ She doesn’t like to admit it but she loves being a small spoon when sleeping. The Franzelli girl takes her sleep very seriously, sweetly demanding cuddles as she holds you in her arms, taking immediate charge of being the big spoon. Somehow, every time Nick wakes up, she discovers that she always ended up being the one held, taking the position of the small spoon instead.

♡ As long as you’re safe in her arms, Nick doesn’t care which spoon she is.

— ‘O’ IS FOR OPEN (when would they start revealing things about themselves?)

♡ Nick is only an open book to people she completely trusts with her life. Aware of Nick’s personality, she’s accustomed to being secretive way too much. Your girlfriend is a swift person revealing things with everything all at once, she doesn’t like randomly waiting to tell you things separately. It’s much rather easier to confess all in the present than break it apart in the future.

♡ There was an unfamiliar aura about you that made Nick confide in you about everything, and I mean, everything. Her revenge on the Thompsons, that her foster parents are criminal cons, and her father’s jail backstory.

♡ You were a compassionate girl, promising to keep her secret safe and you assisted her (despite her protests) when she needed extra money to get her foster parents from snooping around. Mostly you just pawned old jewelry that was given to you, usually estimating up to $300 per piece.

— ‘P’ IS FOR PATIENCE (how easily angered are they?)

♡ Your girlfriend isn’t a total hothead. Surprisingly, Nick has a well-managed temper, controlling her hidden anger internally. Usually when she’s angry, she would nod roughly, clenching her jaw furiously, and sending menacing looks always get the message across. The most Nick would do is grit her teeth with a fake smile and hold your hand to suppress her irritation at the other person.

— ‘Q’ IS FOR QUIZZES (how much would they remember about you?)

♡ Nick would 100% remember everything about you down to the tee. It’s like a muscle memory whenever she hears your name.

“(Y/N)? What about (Y/N)?” Her eyebrows would bunch up together in curiosity.

♡ Whenever Nick thinks of a little detail that you mentioned that was viewed as of low quality to her, she’d forget about it. So during those times, Nick is a scatterbrain. I’d like to think that Nick has a tiny notebook, filled with details that you memorize and she’d keep it on her at all times. Without the help of her notebook, she has a good memory of you.

♡ She’d be the girlfriend to see a flower (which was uncoincidentally your favorite one), pick it up, and smile at the thought of you.

“Oh, (Y/N) would love this flower since it reminds her so much of spring.”

♡ And she would bring it back home to you.

— ‘R’ IS FOR REMEMBER (what is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

♡ A few months early into the flourishing relationship, Nick had brought up the subject of her mom, whom she had little memory of when she was an infant. Retelling her little memories of what she had heard from her dad brought down her mood, causing her to cry at the loss of an absent mother.

♡ Being a good girlfriend, you wiped away her tears and you dragged her outside, walking upon the drizzle of rain starting.

The brunette girl gave you a confused look, “Please don’t tell me that we’re going out in that!”

“Nicky, it’s barely even pouring.”

♡ She’d laugh at you, repeatedly saying that it was raining outside but you ignored her.

♡ Luckily, you stayed in your yard, opting to head outside by your old playhouse in the backyard. With your playlist connected to your stereo, you and Nick danced in the rainy weather, giggling at the other's antics as you pulled her in for a loving kiss. Nick reciprocates the kiss, entrapping you by the waist as you continue to kiss in the rain. Eventually, you two went back inside, realizing that the rain was getting heavier and before either of you caught a cold. After you two showered, changed into comfortable clothes, and snuggled up in the sheets together, engulfed in each other’s warm embraces.

♡ That was a wholesome memory that will be always engraved in Nick’s brain.

— ‘S’ IS FOR SECURITY (how protective are they?)

♡ Reckoning that Nick is a nonchalant girlfriend and so she does have her moments for being protective. She knows that you can defend yourself and when necessary she would jump in unless you made an indication that you can handle it. Nick would go to extremes when defending you that it’s not a joke anymore.

♡ Don’t be fooled into thinking that this brilliant ex-con artist doesn’t like to be protected as well. Grabbing her by the waist, pulling her by your side, and burying your face into her shoulder are the common ways that you expressed your protectiveness. Her mind will instantly turn into mush once you display those three actions and her knees go instantly weak leaving a dumbfounded smile on her face.

♡ Yeah, Nick was utterly smitten with you.

— ‘T’ IS FOR TRY (how much effort would they put into gifts, dates & anniversaries)

♡ Initially, Nick had asked you out for pizza on a Friday night. Yeah, it was such a classic date, but you two enjoyed each other’s company regardless.

♡ Glad to say that Nick’s efforts when planning dates progress throughout your relationship. Later, her hard efforts became the ideal ones, picnic dates, homemade dates, etc. She believes that meaningful gifts should come from the heart and handiwork, not an expensive trinket that would rust in a few years. Her artistic abilities shine their true colors when decorating stuff. She would spend days, sometimes even weeks, creating a unique gift for you and would be impressed by the outcome.

♡ Her grin would be so wide and radiant while giving it to you, eyes sparkling in astonishment and appreciation.

“Oh, Nicky, I love it!”

“Really, you do?”

— ‘U’ IS FOR UGLY (what would be some bad habits of theirs?)

♡ Nick has a habit of being untrusting and unreliable to others when meeting new people. Maybe it was the many walls that she was taught to build which stemmed this behavior. She swears that she can read people very thoroughly and can tell what their true intentions are. As a supportive girlfriend, you never doubted her, of course.

♡ There were some times that Nick was blatantly rude to others and you would often reprimand her, trying to get her to be easy-going, but guess old habits die hard.

— ‘V’ IS FOR VANITY (how concerned are they with their looks?)

♡ Nick isn’t definitely too concerned with her looks. Besides she knows that you prefer personality over looks anytime. Nothing much more to say on this matter, to be honest. Just that you are hers and she is yours.

— ‘W’ IS FOR WHOLE (would they feel incomplete without you?)

♡ Yes, she would feel incomplete without you. Having been used to doing favors for others and receiving nothing in return has a way of messing a person up. You were the first girl (romantically) to put her first in everything that involved her, and Nick felt queasy about the new feeling. Nick expressed her vulnerability to you and she discovered herself enamored with you.

♡ Over time, Nick wouldn’t imagine a life without you and she hopes that you never leave her heartbroken.

— ‘X’ IS FOR XTRA (random headcanons for them.)

♡ Being sick is quite annoying for Nick but when her girlfriend is by her side, you make it more interesting.

Nick would be in total denial about her cold, but her body betrayed her as she released a hoarse cough from her throat. Embarrassingly looking back up at you, she’d awkwardly smile, clutching onto the tissue in her hand, seeing a pointed look on your face.

♡ Nick being sick = Nick being constantly pampered by you.

♡ At first, she would reject your advances of helping her with small tasks, stating that she didn’t rely on co-dependency and did it herself. Frequently, you would place her back in bed and continue her tasks. But she secretly loves it when you pamper her, despite what you are doing on a daily basis, she just loves the extra undivided attention. And she knows that you love giving her extra attention.

After a while when she’s feeling better, she whines out to you, “(Y/N)….(Y/N)!! Where are you, I need you!”

“What, Nicky?”

“Just wanted to make sure that you were still here.” A wicked grin plastered her face as you rolled your eyes at her.

♡ Admires your hair type and their products. Her favorite hair product that you use is Shea Butter because it smells so nice. She would be curious about learning how to braid your hair, enthralled at the many different styles that black girl hair can be fixed into. So many choices yet there was only one Nick who collectively loved them all.

— ‘Y’ IS FOR YUCK (their dislikes, either in general or in a partner?)

♡ Nick loathes manipulative people on the whole. Putting it all out there, Nick was the manipulator and being manipulated, but she quickly redeemed herself. Being the victim of manipulation took a dangerous effect on Nick’s mental health.

♡ She also hates unnecessary oversharing in conversations. Generally speaking, if someone intentionally overshares, it tends to irritate Nick so she’d just opt and leave in the middle of the conversation. If that person’s feelings are hurt, then too bad, Nick doesn’t care at all.

♡ Now, there’s only one thing that you do that irks Nick to her soul. She hates it when you call her by her full first name, ‘Nicole’ seeing as she’s used to hearing ‘Nicky’.

It’s just something that stirs her in the wrong way, and she will visibly cringe if you shout it at her. Your stern tone yelling at Nicole would make her feel like she wronged you in some way, and her face would drop immediately after so she would be quick to ask what she had done and attempt to make things right between you two.

— ‘Z’ IS FOR ZZZ… (what is a sleep habit of theirs?)

♡ You can’t convince me that she is a decent sleeper but in fact, she’s quite a messy sleeper. Her arms and legs are hogging the bed, always yanking the blanket, and constantly up under you. She’s also a consistent mover in her sleep, so if you wake up on the floor just know that Nick probably kicked you off the bed.

♡ Nick is a light snorer, sometimes having detailed dreams that cause her to mumble incoherently to herself.

© asvterias, 2023. please do not plagiarize any of my works.

[blazehedgehog]

Saw you discussing Sage and Eggman’s relationship a few days ago and wanted to kinda give a two cents on it: that being that I don’t think it really makes sense for Eggman to be one-dimensional or careless for others, but I also think the way they did it with Sage was poorly handled. Sage comes out of nowhere, plays a role in Eggmans life that’s been played countless times before, shows almost no real difference to how others treat Eggman, yet Eggman forms a totally unique and caring relationship with her that doesn’t feel natural. Sage doesn’t necessarily have an interesting dynamic with Eggman, yet it still feels as though they expected us to see it that way. I think a father/daughter relationship COULD have worked with Eggman, but like a lot of other promising ideas in Frontiers, it could’ve been done better by someone else.

Ehhhh....

Sage isn't really like others, though. Having played Frontiers to completion twice now, Sage's main thing is that she's aware she used to be a computer and she's trying to connect with some sense of humanity she thinks she lacks. She observes Sonic from afar for most of the game, noting his selflessness and how much he cares for his friends, and more than once she notes those are things she lacks.

She is a character that wants to have a heart, and she cares about Eggman -- her "father" -- a great deal.

Most of the characters Eggman has worked with have either been edgelords with a chip on their shoulder (Shadow, Infinite), emotionless machines (Metal Sonic), or basically his butlers (Orbot and Cubot). If you count Princess Elise, she was clearly afraid of Eggman and wanted nothing to do with him.

Eggman has never encountered anyone like Sage before. Maybe this is an old fashioned way of talking about this, but a father/son bond is different from a father/daughter bond. Sage is developing feelings and she feels a kind of love for Eggman. It may be some of the only love Eggman has ever received, especially familial love, in a very, very, very long time.

I would have liked to see more scenes with them, sure. But between the audio logs and what we do see, I feel like there's enough to establish Eggman feels a connection to her in a way that is unlike his other robots. She is something he probably would have never created on his own, but now that he has her in his life, it, I dunno, awakened something in him.

That being said, if you watched my stream, I called foul on the big dramatic moment at the end. The problem is, Sage never really seems to graduate to "becoming human" in a way that feels like a meaningful turning point for her character, so having this big moment where we have to care about her fate doesn't feel earned, because there's nothing to separate her from a robot that can simply be rebuilt.

We needed a little aside where Eggman tells us Sage is one of a kind or something of that sort. She was basically just an operating system given the gift of life, and there needed to be more emphasis on the fact if she was destroyed then it would be impossible to recover her data. And she needed a stronger, clearer demonstration that she had transformed in to a caring, loving being.

I still like her regardless.

[tcplnyteens]

Review: A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

The classic magic school meets the morally-gray heroine in A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik. Sixteen-year-old El (short for Galadriel) is among a few thousand other high schoolers living in the Scholomance, a wizard boarding school where they learn spells, alchemy, and artifice (making magical artifacts). But there’s more to this magic school than what meets the eye, because it’s hiding a monstrous secret (literally): the school is constantly under siege by magic-hungry murderous monsters. 

I got this book as my summer reading freebie from TCPL! The library’s summer reading challenge runs from June 25 to August 5 this year, and all you need to do is stop by the teen desk and register to receive a prize book that’s yours to keep! You also get a form to record the number of minutes you spend reading each day, and for every 140 minutes you read, you get one entry into a gift card raffle. There are a lot of really good prize books being offered, so in my opinion it’s totally worth it to sign up for the challenge and get a new book to read! 

A Deadly Education follows El’s junior year of high school as she struggles to survive the monsters lurking in every corner of the school (again, literally) while staying on top of her coursework; trying to make allies and maybe, just maybe, some friends, despite her status as the unpopular loner; and building power for her graduation ceremony, when she must fight a horde of terrifying monsters to get out of the school. El’s not just a typical Scholomance student, though, because of a terrible prophecy that is trying its best to catch up to her. The gist of it is that El has a powerful affinity for spells of mass destruction, and she must painstakingly build up magic or else she’ll turn into a bloodthirsty dark wizard. Because of this, it’s actually quite difficult for her to use magic. On top of all of that, El has to deal with the pesky hero wannabe Orion Lake, who might just turn out to be the friend she’s been looking for. 

I absolutely loved the worldbuilding in this book and I enjoyed learning more about the Scholomance and its monsters as the story went on. The idea of having monsters being the main enemy of this world was a pretty refreshing deviation from the classic wizard-wars trope. The monsters’ lore, the way they can hide in innocuous places and lay siege to the Scholomance at certain times, and the detailed magical procedures the students must take to protect against them were all super unique and fun. The Scholomance itself and all of its quirks, including the murderous library with a mind of its own, the hallways that target students’ mental states, and the spooky void in the dorms, set it apart from all of the magic schools that have come before it and made it into a character of its own. Unlike some other book series, if there were ever a spin-off about the creation of the Scholomance, I would totally read it, because that’s how appealing and interesting this world is. 

On the other hand, the characters in A Deadly Education paled in comparison to the worldbuilding. I’m not saying the characters are bland—they definitely are not—but they are kind of underwhelming. I find it hard to believe that the entire class (minus El) basically worships Orion, who is about as likable and sociable as a sock. And, if I’m being completely honest, I thought El was annoying for a good half of the book. At some point, her edgy brooding monologues about not wanting to turn into a dark sorceress (of which there were many) got old and cringey. I also never really understood why she had to be so rude and bad-mannered to everyone. Even though she was unpopular, it didn’t seem like she was being targeted by the enclave kids, so I found it frustrating that she couldn’t show at least some basic decency to other people. We do eventually get some explanation as to why she acts the way she does when the author explores her hatred of enclaves, so I did eventually come to understand her perpetual rudeness. I really wish this explanation came sooner in the story, because I actually grew quite fond of El by the end of the book. It was super heartwarming and wholesome when she finally realized what friendship feels like after becoming allies with Aadhya and Liu. 

Overall, I would totally recommend A Deadly Education for anyone looking for a fun-filled read to devour in one sitting or let stew over several days, since this book is well-suited for either. There is a substantial amount of violence and foul language in this book, which is not so out-of-place for YA fantasy, but proceed with caution nonetheless! The many parallels to the real world in A Deadly Education make it a thought-provoking read—for example, the enclave kids’ status, which shields from the dangers other wizard kids face and gives them a leg up in getting out of graduation, mirrors the wealth disparities in our world that affect children’s future success. Although this book’s characters are unlikable at times, the exciting plot and rich worldbuilding more than make up for it. A Deadly Education will leave you hungry for more. 

~Tania