#without any more science background than about what is taught in high school
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rbjgurukul · 9 days ago
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Astro-Vastu for Everyone: Do You Need to Know Anything About Astrology or Sanskrit?
Astro-Vastu is a new field of study and spirituality that combines the ancient sciences of Vastu Shastra and Jyotish Shastra (astrology). As interest in these subjects grows around the world, many people who want to go to school ask the same question:
“Do I need to know Sanskrit or have an astrology background to study Astro-Vastu?”
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The program at RBJ Gurukul is made for people who have never studied Sanskrit or traditional astrology before, including stay-at-home moms, working workers, spiritual learners, and even high school grads. Let’s look at it in more depth.
What Does Astro-Vastu Mean?
Let’s take a quick look at the field before we talk about qualifying.
In science, Astro-Vastu is the combination of:
· Vastu Shastra is an old Indian science that studies building and how energy flows through it.
· 🏺 Jyotish Shastra is the Vedic science of astronomy and how the stars affect us.
Together, they help people and experts figure out how the forces of the planets match up with actual places. They also offer powerful ways to balance your home, job, and personal life.
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Do I have to learn Sanskrit in order to learn Astro-Vastu?
A common misunderstanding is that you need to know Sanskrit to understand the original Vedic texts. However, the truth is:
· All course materials are available in both Hindi and English, with easy-to-read versions of important shlokas.
· It is more important to use what you’ve learned than to memorize it.
· Sanskrit words are taught slowly with their meanings and examples, which makes it easy for people who don’t understand Sanskrit to learn them.
✅ What You Need:
· You should be able to understand basic English or Hindi.
· An open mind and a desire to learn about spiritual studies.
❌ What You Don’t Need:
· Something you don’t need is to be fluent in Sanskrit.
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🏺 Do I Need to Know Anything About Astrology?
Without a doubt not.
The organized program at RBJ Gurukul starts from the basics and thinks that students know nothing about astrology. These things will be taught to you:
· What is a Kundli (birth chart)?
· What do nakshatras, planets, and houses mean?
· How do they change direction and space?
· How to look at, understand, and use remedies?
Layered learning, which starts with basic terms and moves on to real-world applications, is used to manage the learning curve.
· Real-life charts, case studies, and models are all used for practical training.
· Mentorship support includes access to knowledgeable teachers and time to clear up any questions.
· You’ll be able to easily find your way around the information whether you come from a business, science, or arts background.
Who Can Sign Up for the Astro-Vastu Program?
A lot of different types of people can join this program:
Description of Eligibility
· Age: at least 17 years old
· Education: at least a 12th grade pass (for BA) or graduation (for MA)
· Language: Able to speak Hindi or English well
· Background: You don’t need to know anything about astronomy, Sanskrit, or spirituality before.
If you are:
· Wanting to change jobs,
· Wanting to grow spiritually,
· Already a doctor or healer,
· Or just really interested in energy science…
· Then this class is right for you.
Example from Real Life:
A Housewife Who Became a Consultant Meet Rekha, a 38-year-old housewife from Pune. She didn’t know anything about astronomy or Sanskrit when she started the RBJ Gurukul program. In her own words:
“All I knew was how to run a house.” All because of this course, I can now read charts, talk to families, and start a part-time consulting business!”
Real teachers stood by her and helped her feel better about herself by using simple language, real-life examples, and hands-on tasks.
Why RBJ Gurukul is good for beginners
In RBJ Gurukul, there is more than just an online training site. Guru Paraayana, also known as Dr. Bhavyadeep Bhatia, started this official school. He is known as an expert in astronomy, vastu, and Sanatan knowledge.
It stands out because of these things:
· BA and MA studies that are recognized by the UGC are backed by universities.
· Structured Curriculum: There are no shaky movies here; only structured, step-by-step lessons.
· Flexible learning: working adults and students can both use the online mode.
· Mentor Support: Real teachers, not lessons that have already been taped.
· ✠ Community Learning: Join a group of spiritual learners across the country.
🔗 Here is the link to the course page: https://learn.rbjgurukul.com/web/checkout/67a4964808356a882b13a59a
What skills will you learn, even if you don’t have any?
You will learn how to:
· 🤭 Look at the direction and plan of companies and houses
·  Read and understand birth charts
· Suggest useful solutions (yantras, colors, places to put them)
· Use Vastu when building or planning your home’s interior.
· Align your real area with the effects of the planets for health and happiness.
· Graphs, charts, and homework help teach these skills in a step-by-step way.
What Will Happen After the Program
People who finish the Astro-Vastu program at RBJ Gurukul go on to:
· Vastu-Astrology Consultants Who Work On Their Own
· ✠ Spiritual Helpers
· ✠ Energy Experts for Homes
· Energy Checkers for Homes and Businesses
· People who write books, make content, or teach in the field
All of this can be done even if you don’t know anything about astronomy or Sanskrit.
🔚 Conclusion:
Astro-Vastu is for Everyone:
Spiritual education in the 21st century needs to be open to everyone, made easier, and organized properly. The Astro-Vastu Degree Program at RBJ Gurukul breaks down walls by being open to everyone, no matter their academic, language, or spiritual background.
If you have been putting Astro-Vastu off because you thought it was “too hard” or “not for beginners,” it’s time to get over that.
🚀 Start your journey today:  👉 Enroll Now — RBJ Gurukul Astro-Vastu Program  🔗 Explore more: https://learn.rbjgurukul.com/
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xaviershighschool81 · 17 days ago
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Screen Time Isn’t the Enemy—Passive Consumption Is
Rethink screen time with purpose. Discover how CBSE schools in Gurgaon Sector 81 like St. Xavier’s guide children toward mindful tech use. Nursery admission in Gurgaon is open now.
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There was a time when “screen time” meant watching a cartoon on Sunday morning. Now, it’s everything, from video classes and virtual playdates to reels, gaming, and bedtime YouTube routines.
Parents everywhere whisper the same worry: “Are we giving our children too much screen time?” But here’s the truth, screens aren’t the enemy. The real danger is what children are doing on those screens.
It’s not the hours. It’s the intention. It’s not the device. It’s the direction.
And in today’s digital age, where the screen has become both a classroom and a playground, it’s time to shift the narrative. Instead of obsessing over minutes spent, we need to focus on how those minutes are being used.
Understanding Passive vs. Active Consumption
Let’s break it down.
Passive screen time is when a child watches without thinking. It’s endless scrolling, background noise, and short-form content that ends before it even begins to teach anything. This kind of engagement often leads to:
Shorter attention spans
Higher anxiety levels
Less creativity and focus
Active screen time, on the other hand, encourages interaction. It involves:
Learning through tutorials and problem-solving games
Creating stories, coding, or digital art
Exploring virtual field trips, science experiments, or educational challenges
The screen isn’t a babysitter, it’s a tool. And just like any tool, its value depends on how we use it.
Why “Screen Guilt” Doesn’t Work
Let’s be honest: screens are part of life. They’re how children connect, learn, laugh, and sometimes even calm down. Trying to eliminate screens entirely is unrealistic, and often creates shame and resistance instead of responsibility.
What we can do instead is teach children to be active digital citizens. To help them distinguish between content that nourishes their minds and content that numbs it.
This shift is especially critical at the nursery and early learning stage, when habits begin to take root. That’s why choosing the right nursery school in Gurgaon matters more than ever, it’s where this balance should be modelled and taught, not avoided.
The School’s Role in Shaping Digital Wellbeing
Forward-thinking schools understand that screen time is here to stay. But rather than banning devices, they’re focused on guiding children to use them purposefully.
For instance, leading schools from the list of CBSE schools in Gurgaon Sector 81 are taking a progressive approach by:
Integrating technology into lesson plans mindfully
Encouraging student-led presentations, video projects, and digital storytelling
Teaching children about digital hygiene, cyber safety, and mindful browsing
These aren’t just digital skills, they’re life skills. One such standout institution is St. Xavier’s High School, Sector 81, Gurgaon. With a vision deeply rooted in holistic development, Xavier’s doesn’t just accept technology- It leverages it to spark curiosity, foster creativity, and encourage thoughtful digital engagement. Here children learn that tech isn’t a toy- It’s a bridge to explore the world with purpose and empathy.
At Home: Cultivating Healthy Digital Habits
Parents don’t need to be screen police. Instead, they can become digital guides. Here’s how:
Co-watch and co-create: Watch a documentary together. Then talk about it. Or encourage your child to create something inspired by it, be it a drawing, a story, or a video.
Encourage tech-for-purpose: Let them use a screen to look up a recipe, build a LEGO design using YouTube instructions, or research planets for a school project.
Use screen time as connection time: Instead of isolating devices to individual rooms, make screen time a shared activity. It naturally sparks conversation and critical thinking.
It’s not about removing the screen, it’s about adding meaning to the minutes spent.
Preparing for the Digital-First Future
Today’s kids aren’t just growing up in the digital age, they’re living in it. Their future jobs, education, friendships, even their creativity will be shaped by technology.
So the goal shouldn’t be to eliminate screen exposure. It should be to build digital fluency with empathy, purpose, and creativity. Choosing the right learning environment early on is crucial. If you’re considering nursery admission in Gurgaon, look for schools that:
Don’t just limit screen time, but curate it.
Teach children to create, not just consume.
Focus on both digital and emotional intelligence.
Because children today don’t need to be “protected” from screens. They need to be empowered to use them wisely.
Conclusion: Let’s Rethink Screen Time
Let’s stop counting minutes and start counting moments that matter. Let’s stop fearing screens and start teaching children to question, create, and connect through them. Because in a world full of distractions, it’s not the device that makes the difference, it’s the direction we give it.
If you’re looking for a school that understands this balance, St. Xavier’s High School, Sector 81, Gurgaon is one of the finest names from the list of CBSE schools in Gurgaon Sector 81. With a focus on early-age mindfulness, tech-positive learning, and compassionate education, Xavier’s is preparing young learners not just for school but for life.
So when it comes to nursery admission in Gurgaon, choose a school that knows: it’s not about less screen time… It’s about a more meaningful time.
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balbharatineelbad94 · 10 months ago
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Best School in Neelbad with Low Fees: A Holistic Approach to Education
In today's competitive educational environment, parents are constantly searching for schools that offer a balanced combination of quality education, holistic development, and affordability. Finding the best school in Neelbad with low fees is no easy task, but it is possible when you know what to look for. A good school is more than just a place for academic learning—it provides a nurturing environment where children can grow emotionally, socially, and intellectually.
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In this blog, we will explore the features and benefits of the best school in Neelbad that offers affordable education without compromising on quality. From curriculum and infrastructure to extracurricular activities, this blog will cover everything a parent needs to consider.
Why Affordable Education Matters
The cost of education has been rising steadily, making it difficult for many families to afford quality schooling. However, some schools in Neelbad have managed to offer high-quality education at low fees. These schools aim to make education accessible to all, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to succeed.
Key reasons affordable education is important:
Inclusion: Affordable fees allow more families to access education, breaking down socio-economic barriers.
Equal Opportunities: Schools with low fees make it possible for children from diverse backgrounds to study together, promoting inclusivity.
Less Financial Burden: Families don’t have to struggle financially to ensure their children receive quality education.
Features of the Best School in Neelbad with Low Fees
A school that charges low fees does not necessarily compromise on quality. In fact, some of the best schools offer features that provide exceptional value for money. Let’s take a look at the key features of the best school in Neelbad with low fees.
1. Well-Structured Curriculum
The curriculum is the backbone of any school, and a good school ensures it follows an academic structure that promotes learning in a fun and interactive way. The best school in Neelbad with low fees adheres to a balanced curriculum that caters to all-round development. This includes not only academic subjects like Mathematics, Science, and Languages but also arts, sports, and technology.
Comprehensive Subject Coverage: Core academic subjects are taught with a focus on conceptual understanding.
Project-Based Learning: Students are encouraged to engage in hands-on projects that stimulate critical thinking.
Skill Development: Besides academics, students learn essential life skills like teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
2. Highly Qualified Faculty
Teachers are the heart of a school, and their role in shaping young minds is crucial. The best school in Neelbad with low fees has a team of experienced and qualified teachers who are passionate about education. These teachers focus on individual student needs and adopt innovative teaching methods to ensure that every child understands the concepts being taught.
Experienced Staff: The teachers bring years of experience and are well-trained in modern teaching techniques.
Focus on Individual Attention: With smaller class sizes, teachers are able to give personal attention to each student.
Interactive Teaching Methods: The use of multimedia, visual aids, and interactive learning helps students grasp concepts better.
3. Modern Infrastructure
A good learning environment plays a crucial role in a child’s academic journey. The best school in Neelbad with low fees offers modern infrastructure that enhances the overall learning experience. From well-equipped classrooms to playgrounds, the facilities provided ensure a balanced educational experience.
Smart Classrooms: Equipped with digital boards and projectors for an engaging learning experience.
Science and Computer Labs: Fully functional laboratories for practical exposure to scientific and technological concepts.
Play Areas and Sports Facilities: Focus on physical education with facilities for sports like football, basketball, and cricket.
4. Emphasis on Extracurricular Activities
Extracurricular activities are essential for the holistic development of students. The best school in Neelbad with low fees ensures that students get ample opportunities to participate in a variety of activities beyond the classroom.
Sports Programs: Regular sports events and physical activities to promote fitness and teamwork.
Cultural Activities: Music, dance, drama, and art programs encourage creativity and self-expression.
Competitions and Clubs: The school offers various clubs for students to hone their interests in fields such as debate, public speaking, and robotics.
5. Value-Based Education
Apart from academic excellence, a good school focuses on instilling moral values and ethics in students. The best school in Neelbad with low fees prioritizes value-based education, teaching students the importance of honesty, empathy, and responsibility.
Moral Education Programs: Regular sessions on values, ethics, and social responsibility are part of the curriculum.
Community Engagement: The school encourages students to participate in community service, teaching them the importance of giving back to society.
Parent Involvement: Regular parent-teacher meetings ensure parents are involved in their child's moral and academic development.
Affordable Yet High-Quality Education
One of the common misconceptions is that schools with low fees compromise on the quality of education. However, the best school in Neelbad with low fees challenges this notion by offering a blend of affordability and excellence. Here’s how they manage to do it:
1. Efficient Resource Management
These schools efficiently manage resources to keep operational costs low without affecting the quality of education. By focusing on what truly matters—good teachers, strong curricula, and essential facilities—they are able to offer affordable education.
2. Community and Government Support
Many affordable schools benefit from community support or government aid, which helps them subsidize fees for students. This makes it possible for them to keep fees low while maintaining high educational standards.
3. Student-Centered Approach
A school that prioritizes the well-being of its students will always focus on delivering value, regardless of fees. The best school in Neelbad with low fees focuses on student-centered teaching methods, encouraging active participation and personal growth.
The Benefits of Choosing the Best School in Neelbad with Low Fees
As a parent, choosing a school that fits your budget without compromising on your child’s education is a priority. The best school in Neelbad with low fees offers several benefits:
Cost-Effective Education: Quality education at an affordable price.
Holistic Development: A focus on academics, extracurricular activities, and moral education.
Qualified Teachers: Access to experienced and passionate educators.
Modern Facilities: State-of-the-art infrastructure to support learning.
Inclusive Environment: Students from diverse backgrounds come together, fostering a sense of community.
Conclusion
When searching for the best school in Neelbad with low fees, it's important to consider various factors that contribute to a well-rounded education. Affordable schools that emphasize quality teaching, holistic development, modern infrastructure, and extracurricular activities ensure that every child gets the opportunity to thrive. These schools not only focus on academic achievements but also prepare students for life beyond the classroom, making them a great choice for parents looking for value without stretching their budgets.
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edushalabhopal · 2 years ago
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5 In-Demand Teaching Jobs in Bhopal: Your Ultimate Guide
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Are you looking for a teaching job in Bhopal? With the growing demand for qualified teachers, there is no shortage of opportunities available. From primary school teachers to university professors and everything in between, the city has plenty of options to offer. To help you make an informed decision about which career path might be right for you, we've put together this ultimate guide to five of the most in-demand teaching jobs in Bhopal.
1) Primary School Teacher: As one would expect from any major metropolitan area such as Bhopal, there is a high demand for well-qualified primary school teachers who can provide quality education and guidance to young children at an early stage of their development. Primary school teacher jobs involve providing instruction on various subjects like math, language arts, and science while also helping students develop important skills like problem-solving and critical thinking that will serve them throughout their lives.
2) Secondary School Teacher: For those with more experience or advanced qualifications than what’s required by primary schools but are still interested in working with younger students (ages 11 – 16), secondary school teacher positions may be just what they’re looking for! Secondary schools often require additional certifications depending on the subject matter taught; however, these types of roles typically come with higher salaries than those found at elementary levels due to increased responsibility associated with overseeing older pupils within larger classrooms/school settings.
3) University Lecturer/Professor: If your background includes postgraduate study or research then becoming a lecturer or professor may be something worth considering! These positions usually require applicants to have extensive knowledge within specific fields such as medicine; engineering etc., although some universities will accept candidates without prior academic credentials, provided they demonstrate outstanding ability during interviews & written tests administered by institution officials before the selection process begins.
Also Read: Home Tutor in Bhopal near You
Additionally, lecturers/professors must possess strong communication skills so that they can effectively convey complex concepts across multiple disciplines - making sure everyone understands material presented clearly & accurately each time it's discussed during course lectures given throughout term periods, etc.
4) Special Education Teacher: The need for special education professionals continues to rise year after year due to their importance when it comes to providing quality care services to individuals living with disabilities requiring extra attention and assistance in order to function in daily life activities properly, safely, and without risk - making this type of role incredibly rewarding, both emotionally, professionally, since successful completion tasks results in positive outcomes for all parties involved long run!
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fineastin · 4 years ago
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( nick robinson , twenty , cismale , he/him ) FIN EASTIN , don’t think that you have gotten off easy because i haven’t told the school that REDACTED . sweetie , no one can hide from me - not even a BROTHER of GAMMA. oh no, your secret is most certainly not safe with me. you know , i asked around about you & most people said that you reminded them of DANIEL DESARIO with FALLING BY HARRY STYLES playing in the background , that’s very interesting - i wonder how accurate they are.
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sharpie scribbles on bar napkins, fallen branches on a dysfunctional family tree, thrifted jean jackets and converse worn years past their worth, a room decorated with emptied bottles, loose-leaf shoved to the bottom of a bag, heavy eyes that just can’t close.
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yellow! i am dew, she/her, and i’ll be writing this messy of a human. before i jump into him, a little about me. i am 27 (omg, still unreal to write) and i’m a server-bartender. just got a lovely cat named monroe who i love. i’ve been rping for nearing a decade now, with brief hiatuses in there. excited to get started with all of you!
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name: fin elijah eastin pronouns: he/him age: twenty birthday: march 1st zodiac sign: pisces hometown: cooperstown, new york major: journalism fraternity: gamma phi gamma clubs: school paper
“so you're numbin' the pain, stuck in your ways”
fin grew up in the suburbs of new york. it was kind of laughable how picturesque it was: white picket fence, businessman dad, homemaker mother who substitute taught and made mean chocolate chip cookies. there was even a dog, a mini schnauzer named mickey — an ode to his father’s favorite baseball player.
baseball. fin thinks that may have been his first moment of disappointment. not the homerun hitter his dad imagined cheering on from the stands. he wasn’t even bad, he was just fine. second disappointment had to have been his grades. a report card consisting of mostly c’s. studying never going anywhere aside headaches.
ALCOHOL  / ADDICTION TW: there were definitely other disappointments in between but the big one started the first time fin got caught sneaking in through his bedroom window, drunk from a classmate’s party. the yelling was supposed to have been a lecture, a lesson, a reason not to do it again but fuck if fin didn’t want to wash away the words and the disappointment with a bottle. jack daniels did a good job of drowning out his father. liquor bottles were carefully selected and drained from the cupboard — fin knowing well enough to leave his mother’s grey goose alone — and refilled with water. money was stolen out of wallets. he needed to spike his soda at pizza night just to get through. that train of thought continued on and on until the water bottle in his math class smelled of straight smirnoff.
the summer before his junior year, his parents shipped him off to some summer camp. rehab in the woods. doctors with canoes. didn’t realize it then but that was fin’s last summer with his parents and he saw dr. haskell more than he saw marc and kathleen. 
no parents in the picture, fin went to stay with his grandfather, george, in florida. a single, retiree, george spent most of his days donning a hawaiian shirt, walking the pier, and betting horses. he was almost like a roommate and less of a guardian. was it bad for fin to say that it was a breath of fresh air?
the last conversation fin had gotten to have with his dad, he’d promised to go to college. was meadowbank what marc eastin had in mind? likely not. but it had dorms, tuition payments, and after four years a degree. so promise kept... or on target to.
now he’s a sophomore ( behind one year academically ) and majoring in journalism. it’d nearly been business and then almost communications, but his advisor had suggested journalism. fin had always liked writing, though it was always more of a form of personal therapy. or maybe better put, a way to drain the thoughts from his head. pen to paper. screw the digital aspect of it. just wasn’t the same. and, hey, if it worked out maybe he could wind up doing some of those weird interviews he’s seen on youtube. imagine getting to ask keanu if he’s immortal to his face?
“and I know you've been hurting, think you deserve it”
currently has three tattoos. the first was a shrimp on his forearm, a piece from his favorite childhood book on his calf, and a drunken decision on his ribs.
against popular assumption, fin isn’t all that bad at math. now, let’s be clear, he was near going to pass calculus or score 100s on even his algebra tests without a cheat sheet but basics are pretty down pat. perhaps the whole buying and selling ounces and grams wasn’t for nothing... aside from a high.
“journals” on whatever loose piece of paper or paper-adjacent item is nearby. napkins, book pages, bibles pamphlets handed out by old ladies on campus: all wind up with chicken scratch sharpie brain dumps. 
his room is a mess but at the very least his bed is nearly always made. it’s a small way he’s hoped to combat the bouts of insomnia. clean bed, maybe he wouldn’t have such a hard time fucking falling asleep. maybe the past and his thoughts and all the reasons he’s a screw up wouldn’t keep him up at night.
because he struggles to sleep, fin can often be found taking walks at odd hours of the night. and then asleep on a bench near the science building. which usually means an empty seat in his writing class. that participation grade is hurting.
enjoys breakfast more than any human anyone’s ever known.
his wardrobe is primarily thrifted and or *cough cough* stolen. he’s a big fan of shirts with strange slogans or proclaiming they’re the best grandpa. but worn jean jackets have become his main staple.
skateboards as a means to get around campus. capable of a few tricks under the right mind but fin’s always more the type to vibe down a slow and steady hill. that fleetwood mac, ocean spray guy essentially lived his dreams.
writes for the school paper, but tried to worm himself out of the basic sort of stories. he more tries to write stories about hidden gems on campus, interviews with quirky professors, following up on urban legends.
kinda anti-baseball.
will pet any dog he sees. fin is a fan of celebrating anyone’s birthday aside from his own. he usually prefers to gloss over it completely. he’s not worth the celebration.
when was the last time he checked his academic email? unknown.
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okay been working on this over at least three episodes of freaks and geeks and i think this is all i got for now. if you have any questions, ask away! apologies for not listing connections ideas right now but i am very open to ideas and plotting!
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bouwrites · 5 years ago
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Even Heroes Have the Right to Dream: Chapter 2
All I wanted was to find there’s something here inside of me they couldn’t keep.
First, Next. Ao3.
Story under read-more.
It might be a strange thought, considering the circumstances, but Jon thinks he’s grown up to be boring. Obviously, his life is anything but boring – there’s little boring about superheroes and villains and cataclysms and tragedies and… well, there’s a lot that’s decidedly not boring. But Jon himself? Kind of boring.
After all, what is he? He’s just the next generation of his dad. He has practically the same personality, the same values, the same hair and eyes, the same fashion (some of the exact same clothes), the same muscle, the same powers. Following in his dad’s footsteps, he even has the same night job, and the same day job to boot, or he will soon enough.
And none of that is bad. Jon loves his dad. To be like Superman is just about the greatest thing he can think of! Boring, if it’s like this, is great.
That said, there’s something Jon is very different from his dad in. That’s that Jon has been fighting crime since he was ten. He knows good people get involved, that’s one of the core lessons his parents taught him, but… even children? The difference between Jon and Superman is that Superman didn’t become Superman until his early twenties. Jon is still just shy of that and he’s been Superboy for almost half his life. The difference is that no matter how their powers set them apart from humans, and no matter how hard it was for his dad to feel that isolation that comes with it (Jon is familiar with the feeling, despite having his dad and aunt around) his dad at least knows how to be normal.
Jon grew up as a hero. He doesn’t know any different. And maybe the grass is always greener, but he wonders, sometimes, what an ordinary life would be like. Jon knows it’s not his parent’s fault. After all, even if they had tried to keep Jon from the superhero life, he would have gone out and been a hero without their permission. He has, quite a few times, anyway, though that’s mostly Damian’s fault. Making him Superboy, even so young as he was, was the only way his parents could let him explore himself and his powers and still watch over him to keep him safe. And he really, really appreciates that. He just wonders if… not being Superboy has ever really been on the table.
It doesn’t occur to him until now, that maybe being Kryptonian, having these powers, being super doesn’t mean he has to be a hero. Maybe he can still be good, still get involved, without rushing to everybody’s rescue, or fighting the next great evil. Maybe he’ll even like that. After all, isn’t that what journalism is about? Getting involved and making a difference without fist-fighting demons? Can’t that be heroism?
What would life be like, to live like any other person on Earth? To be a hero only so far as ordinary folks ever are heroes. To not necessarily not be superpowered, but to live a life irrespective of his powers. A life that’s no different for his powers, except in the way everyone’s differences make their lives unique. A life where Jon can forge his own path and worry only about himself and those in front of him, not everyone his powers might be able to save.
Deep down, Jon longs to find out. He’s just not sure it’s a realistic dream.
Is this teenage rebellion, or did I get all that out of my system being dragged along with Damian’s tween wrath? Jon makes a face at the college website, squinting through the dark. It’s bad for his eyes, staring at the laptop without his lights on, but Jon wears glasses anyway and he’s honestly not convinced his eyes can get messed up the same way humans can, on account of the whole telescopic and x-ray vision powers.
Huh. Maybe biology? Jon clicks idly through the list of colleges, to the sciences. Uh, actually, gross. As interesting as it is, I would hate that. He quickly backs up to the page he was on before, sighing as he tabs back and forth between it and another college website.
It’s so tempting to go to school for journalism. He already has background in it, and his parents can help him if he needs it. It might be nice to be known for the name Kent too, rather than for the “S”. And with journalism, he might be able to get into some interesting places. Chicago, or Austin, maybe. Or he can even stick to Metropolis. He’ll definitely be known as the Kent if he does that.
Then again, maybe he can do something different. Maybe he can make his own way. Define himself separately from his family. He loves them, but… being Clark 2.0, while an honor, is a bit dehumanizing. The last thing an alien needs is dehumanizing. It is frustrating being an “S” instead of a person and being a Kent might just be another variation of that. If he chooses something different it doesn’t necessarily stop him from working in journalism, and it gives him a unique perspective. Plus, he won’t always be surrounded by people who know his parents. There’ll be no reason to expect him to be any different than the rest of the students, and that is a tempting idea in itself.
Then again, Jon does like journalism, and picking a major just because it’s not what his parents do is kind of silly. Or is it smart? I can learn all I want to know about journalism from Mom and Dad, so if I’m going to college, I should pick something I can’t learn here at home, right?
Will they be proud of me if I study journalism? If I don’t? Jon groans. I don’t know. There’s so much to consider.
He’s already got two feet in the door in the journalism world. While he knows he can do to grow as a writer, he doesn’t need the connections and opportunities that college grants for the field. He’s already got those. And even if he does plan to pursue that field as a career, Jon wonders if gaining experience elsewhere will give him better insight and make him a better reporter anyway. Something like… psychology. Or politics. Something that’ll help him understand people in a way that he can use when he writes about them.
Or he can go undecided for now. But then the question of college comes down to location. Where should he apply? Metropolis? Does he want to go to Metropolis? Maybe Gotham? Or even San Francisco or Jump City or something totally unexpected like Paris? If he goes to Illinois or Texas, how will that change how he works as Superboy? Can he… stop being Superboy for a while? Just not deal with that stress on top of college?
Just the idea makes Jon feel guilty. People rely on Superboy. His dad isn’t getting any younger, either, and though Superman is still going strong for now, it’s becoming increasingly clear to Jon that everyone, the Justice League, the people of America and the world, and even Superman himself, is expecting Jon to replace his dad when the inevitable does happen. It’s irresponsible to abandon his duties for college. Superboy is more important than that. Superman is more important than that.
And a small, bitter part of him questions why Superboy doesn’t deserve the same chances that everyone else has. Why he has to sacrifice that time and focus to save them. He knows it’s because that’s what the “S” means. It’s about character. That doesn’t stop him from resenting it.
On the bright side, every next time some genius gets their hands on kryptonite is another chance for him to die young and stop worrying about his character flaws. So, that’s comforting.
But since he is Superboy, and still alive, he shouldn’t wander too far. His powers give him a lot of mobility, so he has more opportunity than a lot of heroes his age. He tries to appreciate that. At least he’s not tied to any particular city, since he can just fly in if he’s needed. He just shouldn’t go across the whole country. Or world. At least it makes deciding easier.
“Have you decided what you’re doing, yet?”
Jon looks up at his dad and smiles weakly. His eyes ache from looking at his laptop screen for so long, and he’s tired and hungry, too. “Not yet.” Jon says. “Might go undecided for a bit.”
His dad sits down with him to look at the screen, nodding. “That’s not a bad thing. But you still need to figure out what college you want to go to.”
Jon sighs. “Yeah, I know.”
His dad hesitates for a moment, and then nudges him. “Why don’t you tell me where you were thinking of? What makes the decision so hard?”
Frowning, Jon clicks through some of the open tabs in his browser. “I just… I don’t know. Honestly, I’m not sure about any of this.”
“What do you mean?”
His voice is so soft and gentle, and it reminds Jon again how lucky he is to have a dad like him. Someone who really cares. “I don’t know if I can handle college and being Superboy.” Jon mumbles. “It was hard enough in high school, and I… I’m not sure I even…” He sighs. “Nevermind. I’ll figure it out.”
“Hey.” Jon feels his dad grab his shoulder, so he turns to face him. “You don’t have to be full-time. It’ll be just like high school. When you’re busy with school, you’re off-duty. Don’t worry about being a hero. It’s okay to just focus on your education.”
Jon ducks his head. “Yeah, I know that.” He says. Even when the League, or more specifically some of the other heroes, try to get him more often, Jon’s dad always makes sure that he has plenty of time to focus on school, and that he’s not interrupted in school unless there’s some complete Armageddon going on.
That happens a few times. It sucks.
Even still… everyone expects him to pick up more responsibilities now that he’s going to college. He’s not sure he wants that.
“Jon.” His dad says. “What’s up?”
“It’s nothing.” Jon mumbles. He clicks through a few more tabs, disquieted more and more by each option.
“Come on, I want to help. What’s wrong?”
Jon sighs. There’s no getting around it. His dad is just too… helpful. That’s what makes him Superman. “Have you ever wondered if you could just be normal? No jumping up to save the day or punching bad guys or anything. Just… being like everyone else?”
Jon agitatedly clicks through a few more tabs and links before he realizes his dad is awfully quiet. When he turns to look at him, and sees the pensive expression on his face, his dad finally says, “All the time.”
Oh. Jon ducks his head. The laptop screen has long since stopped being interesting, but he can’t even pretend to be reading the articles there anymore. The floor is all he can focus on.
“Being a hero isn’t easy.” His dad says quietly. “But, for me, it’s the only way I can be my whole self. Kal-El. And I do a lot of good as Superman.”
Jon huffs a little. “You do a lot of good as Clark Kent, too. And just my dad.”
His dad smiles. “Yeah. I told you before, the ‘S’ isn’t about our powers. It’s about character. That’s where the good comes from. But since we do have powers, it’s our responsibility to use them for the greater good. That’s where Superman, and Superboy, come from.”
“And what if I don’t want to?”
His dad blinks almost dumbly. “Don’t want to? Don’t want to what?”
“Be Superboy.” Jon answers. “I really appreciate that I am. It’s helped me a lot, especially with my powers, but… I never got the chance to not be that. I want to… I want to just… do college like normal people.”
His dad is quiet for another long moment. “And you think you’ll be okay not using your powers?”
“I already hide my powers. Being Superboy doesn’t change that, Dad. We’re still lying and keeping secrets. I just… I’m starting to really hate it.”
“Jon, you know we have to hide to keep you safe.”
Safe. Jon knows that. He knows how safe he’s been. How safe he is fighting giant octopus monsters or Kryponian hunters or whatever the hell is causing the next end of the world. It makes something hot and ugly stir in his chest, and his voice rises and works of its own accord. “I’m not talking about the hiding! Why are we expected to save them when we can’t even live our lives without being afraid of them? Why should having these powers mean I have to handle all my own problems and theirs on top of it?” Jon flinches at his own words, but he can’t calm himself down enough to be more eloquent. “It just… It makes me so mad that I have to be a superhero and devote my life to everyone else when I don’t know what I even want to do with my life! I just- I never thought I’d have to think about it because I just- because everyone just assumed I’m you!”
Jon growls loudly, mostly at himself for getting riled up, but he’s heated now, and he can’t stop himself from talking. “I don’t want to be a hero anymore! I just want- I don’t even know what I want to do! I want to figure it out! I want to be able to figure it out! Without this dumb ‘S’ looming over my head! I’m… I’m confused, and this is just… it’s too much pressure.”
His voice cracks at the end, which finally breaks his tirade and sends him curling up into himself. “I hate this.” He mutters into his knees.
“Jon…” His dad says gently, wrapping him up in a hug. “We have to help people because we can. I know it’s hard. In some ways, it’s unfair. But that’s just what good people do.”
“Maybe I’m not a good person, then.” Jon mutters darkly.
His dad recoils a bit and doesn’t recover before his mom swoops in to sit on his other side and give him a hug of her own. “Hey, sweetie. How long have you felt that way about being a hero?”
Jon just shrugs, not lifting his face from his mom’s shoulder. “Few years now, I guess. I’m tired.”
“Why didn’t you say anything sooner?”
Chuckling humorlessly, Jon buries himself deeper into his mom. “What’s the point? I have to be a hero. That’s what being good means. Doesn’t matter how sick of it I am. Don’t even know how to not be Superboy, anyway.”
There’s a distinct stiffening to the muscles under him that tells him his mom is mad. Jon curls up a little more in preparation for what’s coming. The deserved retaliation for his weakness. For his selfishness.
“Clark.” Jon’s mom says calmly. “Tell the League to list Superboy as off-duty. Indefinitely.”
Jon shoots up, staring aghast and in awe at his mom. “What?” He and his dad say simultaneously.
His mom just narrows her eyes at his dad. “Indefinitely.” She repeats. There’s no room for argument when she uses that tone. Just the way she speaks says, “If you don’t, I will. And I won’t be as nice about it as you will.”
“The League won’t be happy ab-”
“Clark…” Her tone is dangerous, warning. Jon is too shocked and confused to interrupt. “Remind me when you started being Superman?”
His dad ducks his head, rubbing his neck. “Well, I’d just got my job at the paper, so I’d have been… twenty-one? Twenty-two?”
“Just finished college.” Jon’s mom says. “Starting your career. Jon deserves the chance to figure out what he wants to do without being a hero, just like you did. There’s enough heroes that the world won’t end if Jon takes a few years to figure out what he wants to do.”
“I… You’re right.” Jon’s dad says. “The League won’t be happy about a Kryptonian running around outside of their control, but they should trust Jon by now.” Jon grimaces as his dad ruffles his hair. “You don’t worry about a thing. I’ll handle the League, and you can focus on college. When… or if you decide you want to be Superboy again, you can come back when you’re ready. Okay, son?”
Jon can’t help the tears that streak down his face as he tackles his dad, dragging his mom along too into one big pile of a group hug. “Thank you.” Jon mutters.
Jon is still undecided on his major. He can’t bring himself to devote himself so much to one area of study when he’s still feeling like he’ll need to abandon it to go save the world at any moment. It just feels pointless to throw himself into something like this.
That said, he does decide on a college. Eventually. Part of him wants to find some no-name town and hide out there. Someplace where nothing ever really happens, where he won’t hear a scream for help and have to do something about it. But… he picks the alternative instead. New York. NYU, specifically. There are so many heroes in New York that even he’d be hard-pressed to make it to a crime scene before some other hero is already there handling it. And in New York, the League can keep an eye on him easier. Make sure he’s not doing anything dangerous with his world-ending superpowers.
Jon rolls his eyes. The League and their paranoia. It’s rubbing off on him. He doesn’t want to hurt anyone. It’s eating him alive that he’s sitting back while there are still people who need help. But he just wants to find some illusion of normalcy. Of safety and… direction. Something that’s not dictated by his heritage or his name. He’s not going to cause any trouble. That’d be antithetical to the whole point of this.
Still. Manhattan. It’s not crazy far, not like he’s flying across an ocean or anything, but even so it’s a new start for him. Jon can’t help but feel excited at the idea. He’ll be living on his own for the first time, sharing an apartment with a stranger.
He has fought and fought and fought just to survive to be able to do this. This, moving into his own life, exploring it and learning all he can, this is what he has fought to protect for so many other people. Now, it’s his chance to do it himself. It’s scary, but it’s also exhilarating.
When he packs up his things and piles into the car, it hits him all at once. A new chapter. A new Jon. He isn’t sure who that is just yet, but he’s braved the unknown too many times to be afraid of it. If he’s honest with himself, he’s much more afraid of going back.
New York isn’t all that different from Metropolis. Jon figures most big cities are pretty similar. They all have their own uniqueness about them, of course, but at their core things work largely the same. Jon is still just a kid from the country at his heart, but with his “home away from home” being Metropolis, New York feels almost familiar to him. Different enough to be exciting, and to remind him he’s doing something so remarkable, but familiar in a way that gives him confidence.
Things will be okay here. Jon can do this.
He repeats that to himself as his gut tightens. His parents will only be a short flight away. He can go out and see them anytime he wants, really, but living away from them, in a whole new city no less, is still nerve-wracking.
But of course, for now, bless them, they’re helping him move into his new apartment. His roommate is out when he arrives, but he can see the signs of life that tell him they’re already here. Probably have been for a day or two. One of the rooms has their stuff in it – he assumes they’re a girl based on the glance he catches when he’s exploring, but the moment he sees they’ve already claimed it he retreats from the room and tosses his stuff in the other one.
The furnishing is spartan, but Jon expects this, and he’s dealt with worse on missions. It doesn’t look like his roommate has done much to make the place feel more homely, except clean, he thinks, but there’s no way to tell until he meets them if they’re just a minimal person or if they’re waiting for him.
I’ll have to buy groceries next time. He thinks, checking the fridge and cabinets, realizing his roommate has already stocked up.
But he doesn’t spend much time in the living room yet. He wants to meet his roommate before he starts messing around too much in the common space. Instead, he focuses on putting his bedroom into order.
Besides their room, and the obvious signs of life, there are some other traces of them around the place. The bathroom has a bunch of products tucked neatly off to the side, and the cupboards under the sink have basic supplies. He spots a first-aid kit, too, which concerns him just a little because it’s a big one. Like, the kind of overstocked kit he’s only ever seen in heroes’ homes. But Jon just shakes the concern out of his head, rationalizing that there’s any number of reasons for a better first-aid kit. They probably just like to be prepared. After all, they’ve already got the apartment in order, with the exception of things he imagines his input would be relevant on. They seem like a fairly organized person from that alone.
When he runs out of things to do in the apartment, he heads out with his parents to sightsee a bit, and that’s how he spends the rest of his day. It’s not until late in the evening that he returns to his new home. Alone.
The first thing he notices when he opens the plain door is the scent of fresh cookies. The next is the soft thudding of feet, and then a petite girl slides around the corner with a used rolling pin in her hands and flour dusting her pink apron.
She grins widely. “You must be my roommate! I’m Marinette. It’s nice to meet you!”
“I’m Jon.” Jon says, grinning back. “How long have you been here?”
Marinette turns to lead him down the hallway to the living room. “Oh, I got in on Monday. I’ve been so excited to meet you! Oh! And when I saw your stuff here today, I made cookies! Do you have any allergies?”
“Nope.” Jon follows the flowing black hair bobbing in front of him until they find themselves in the living room and kitchen, snickering softly at how he has to look down at her. She’s so cute! And she made cookies! “That’s really nice of you. Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. I used to make macarons for my class on the first day of school. This is just my way of saying hi, and that I want to be friends.”
Jon swears his heart melts a little. She’s adorable. Hero or not, Jon resolves at that moment that he’ll do anything to keep this girl safe. She’s too pure for this world. “Aw, well I want to be friends, too.” Jon says. “And now I feel like I got really lucky, with you as my roommate.”
The girl flushes and giggles but shakes her head as she pushes him towards some cookies set out on a cooling rack. “Help yourself. They’re still warm.” She says
“Don’t mind if I do.” Jon has to admit, the cookies look delectable. And when he bites into one, he could be on Krypton for how the taste transports him. “Oh my god, these are so good.”
Marinette just giggles. She smirks proudly, a little smugly. “Mhmm. My parents are bakers, actually, so I’ve been baking almost my whole life. What do your parents do?”
“They’re journalists. Reporters in Metropolis. Mom also writes books.”
“Wow, my best friend wants to be a reporter! In Metropolis, though? Is that where you’re from?”
“Sort of. I live on a farm in Hamilton County. A ways north of there. I visit a lot, though, so it’s a home away from home of sorts. What about you? You’ve got an accent, uh… French?”
“Mhmm. I’m from Paris. I came here to study fashion at FIT.”
“That’s so cool! You’re a fashion designer?”
“Yeah! That’s my dream. I’m so lucky to have this chance to study here.” Marinette helps herself to a cookie herself as she makes herself comfortable on a chair. Jon follows her to sit down as well. “What about you? You’re about my age, aren’t you? You here for college?”
“I’m nineteen.” Jon says “And yeah. NYU. I’m, uh, still undecided though. Not really sure what I want to study yet.” He’s embarrassed to admit it, though he knows he’s going to be telling a lot more people about his indecision. After all, everyone in college is going to be asking each other their majors.
Marinette, when she talks about fashion, even just her opportunity to go to school here for it, she has this glow about her. She knows exactly what she wants and she’s going for it. Jon can’t help but admire that. It makes him feel a little behind the curve, though. There’s a lot of undeclared majors in college, but he imagines most people their age already have some idea at least.
“I just turned twenty!” Marinette says. “But you’ve got time to figure it out, right? There’s a lot of core classes we’ll have to do anyway.”
“Yeah.” Jon admits. “That’s true. No rush just yet.”
“You’ll find what you want to do, Jon.” Marinette says confidently. “No need to worry yet.”
Jon just laughs quietly. Am I that transparent? He doesn’t think he’s so obvious that Marinette can see how bummed he is about not knowing what he wants to do with his life, but she makes that little effort to comfort him anyway. “You’re right. Thanks.”
Marinette grins, and then smacks herself. “Oh, I told myself I’d warn you ahead of time! Making clothes often takes up a lot of space. Mostly just when I have to cut fabric, but I might have to use a lot of the floor space here every once in a while.” She gestures to the living room. “And I might have to move the furniture to make space sometimes. I’ll try to keep as much of it as I can at the university, but…”
“That’s fine.” Jon says. “I don’t mind at all. If you do need to move the furniture, let me know and I’ll help out.” Jon eyes her and the furniture and while the furniture isn’t hefty by any means, Marinette is a small girl. He may not be using his powers much being off-duty and with a roommate who can’t know about them, but he’s still a big guy and moving around some furniture won’t be more than a small annoyance at best. He hopes she doesn’t push herself too hard trying not to inconvenience him if it does come down to that.
“Thank you.” Marinette beams brilliantly. “I understand it might get annoying, but as I said, I’ll try to keep most of that stuff at school. Hopefully, we won’t have to do that too often. And I hope you don’t mind; I took the bedroom with a little bit bigger closet.”
He laughs. “Not at all. Sounds like you’ll need it.”
Marinette agrees, laughing along with him. “So, when do you start, anyway?”
“Next week. You?”
“Same. I’m really excited! To be honest, I still kind of can’t believe I’m here. In America!” She laughs. “I never thought I’d find myself here, but here I am.”
“I’ve been to Paris,” Jon says, “but I never got the chance to really look around. Is it very different from here?”
Marinette shrugs non-committally. “Well, you don’t have the architecture here. Paris is much more elegant, but I do like New York. It’s just as inspiring, just in a different way. Life in a big city isn’t all that different though. I just have to use English, now. It must be worse for you, you said you came from a farm?”
“Yeah, but I spent a lot of time in Metropolis. It’s not too different, either. Biggest thing for me is the noise. When I had to spend the night in Metropolis? Like, do those people ever sleep? It’s so quiet on the farm. Nothing like the city.”
“It must be so beautiful out there, though.”
“City’s pretty, too. It’s different, but they’re both nice.” When Marinette only hums in agreement instead of commenting further, he asks, “So what classes do you have at FIT? Do you have the same core stuff as I do, or is it different since your college is specialized?”
Marinette furrows her brow. “I’m not sure, actually. I still have to get credits in all the normal stuff. Science, math, foreign language – I really need to talk to an advisor about French there, actually – but I’m not sure if they offer the same classes as NYU. I’m taking a communications class but that’s for non-native English speakers, and geometry for my maths. And Science of Jewelry counts for my natural science credit, but I did see that they offered more typical science classes.”
Jon hums. She really is focused on design. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. “I’m taking more general classes. Kind of hoping something will catch my interest and help me figure out what I want to do. I guess it makes sense that a specialized college would teach even the regular classes through that kind of lens.”
“Yeah.” Marinette yawns widely. “I’m glad, though. Not sure I’d enjoy sitting through core classes if they weren’t tailored to art or design.”
“Ha, yeah. You getting tired?”
“A little. I’m still on Paris time, I guess. Do you mind if I go get ready for bed?”
Jon hold up his hands. “Don’t need my permission. This is your apartment too. Go ahead. I’m just going to…” He reaches over to the plate of cookies Marinette leaves on the coffee table. “Take another one of these and get ready for bed myself.”
Marinette giggles. “Alright. Good night, Jon.”
“Nighty night, Marinette.”
-------=-------
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infj-zen · 4 years ago
Text
#GetSorted challenge
#GetSorted from mbti-sorted
Okay, for interest’s sake I’m going to answer a few of these questions in writing. It’s almost midnight, we’ve been in COVID-19 lockdown for a while now and I don’t look camera ready.
Actually, that’s an excuse.
I would not go on camera even if there were no pandemic.
To everyone who does the video challenge, congratulations on your bravery.
So, here goes...
Tell us about a teacher or a coach who left a big impression on you. I had a longstanding EFSJ music teacher who would probably be considered charismatic, dominant, driven, hot-tempered, sometimes extremely funny. She emphasized repetition so that all her students had as close to perfect technique as possible. You were not allowed to have any input into her methods and students with a lot of opinions usually left or were asked to leave. She was very good at teaching the way she taught and for some students her methods worked particularly well. I learned that I did not like learning by repetition and did not retain as much that way. However, by subjugating my own preferences I was forced to address my weaknesses. Maybe it resulted in personal growth in terms of seeing the value of repetition in developing physical technique, muscle memory, and the memorization of music. I think it would have helped to also have combined the emphasis on repetition with explanations of the history and theory of the music in order to more fully understand and retain what I had learned. I also learned how to be self-effacing when I needed to be and not to insert ego or opinions where they were not wanted when I later had bosses with similar personality traits. I learned to be more selective and to actively try and put myself in long-term situations where I would be learning/working in the ways most conducive to me. Besides this learning experience, I had some really amazing science and English teachers in later years of high school and university. These were mostly ENTPs along with a few ENFPs and ENTJs. I found the ENTJs often had the most clear explanations for complex subjects. The best ENTP teachers were often very personally considerate and good at explaining things in ways that were easily understandable to me; I was good at synthesizing their ideas. The ENFPs were probably more smooth speakers and yet somewhat less easy to follow for me (they probably also addressed weakness in how I learned, for example, by not always explaining what they wanted super clearly beforehand; learning was a lot of trial and error; we did a lot of acting and oral presentations in class; Ne and Te make for a different way of thinking theoretically, of connecting ideas and facts).
What was your favourite subject in school and did you pursue it as a career? English and Chemistry. I pursued English in University and probably would have gone into Chemistry otherwise. However, I then realized I liked researching as an activity more than actually doing all that academic English involved and ended up studying and working in social sciences - somewhere I never considered when I was younger. A background in literature and writing is generally useful in the various jobs I’ve had though.
Do you have any athletic injuries and how did you get them? Yes, tendonitis from dancing (repetitive jumping and landing on the ball of the foot). This was as a child and it was not permanent.
Do you believe in any supernatural phenomena? No, but I can imagine a lot.
Tell us about a recurring conflict with a family member. Probably the most recent common recurring conflict revolves around being in a conversation with ‘a family member’ who is not listening and responding appropriately. For example, I am talking and ‘a family member’ to whom I am speaking responds by addressing something that takes on a totally different issue from that which I just referenced. Is the listening fine and the responding not? Is the listening poor and the responding good? Are both the listening and the responding off? Is my articulation poor? Is it mind manipulation?
What character do you identify with the most and why? The closest thing I’ve seen on screen is probably Caroline Turing in Person of Interest. Episode 23, Season 1 of POI features an INFJ actress playing something very close to an INFJ psychologist. Her mannerisms, speech patterns and interactions with her ISTP co-star (playing an ISTP former-military-guy-acting-as-a-patient-to-save-her-from-hitmen) are pretty realistic. Unfortunately, her real character, Samantha Groves aka Root, a serial killer for hire is only pretending to be Caroline Turing in order to gain access to the ISTP’s INTJ computer genius boss (played by an INTJ) and his AI surveillance system. So, the portrayal of this character only lasts for one episode.
How many languages do you speak?  Is English your first language?  If it isn’t, answer a question in your native language (please summarize it after in English!). Two. English (native speaker) and French.
What advice would you give to your younger self and what would they think of where you are now? Would you warn them about anything? Maybe just that what fields you enjoy studying in and working in may end up being different areas. In terms of having better job prospects, I might advise my younger self to study a subject like software engineering (which I didn’t have a lot of knowledge of or exposure to through our high school education system). That might be very useful in finding a fulfilling job now or in complementing the degree or field I went into. Also, I was extremely driven when I was younger and I would probably advise myself to take school more slowly, less courses at a time, more time to focus on course work, and generally to manage things in a way that resulted in less burnout.
Do you people-gather?  (If you’re unsure, ask others in your group(s) if they’re there because of you.)  How many groups do you belong to, and what do you think of this? Not so much for the people-gathering. I do not join a lot of groups. Usually, when I do, it is because I got dragged into it by someone charismatic and friendly. I often stay with the group for a relatively lengthy period. I end up feeling highly committed out of a sense of loyalty to the recruiter/group. At some point I end up leaving the group (often involves physically moving away to justify) and having a sense of extreme burnout when the mention of joining anything similar comes up.
Are you passionate about your career? Tell us about it. Sort of. I went into my career with the idea that I would have less chance of burnout if I went into something I was dispassionate about. For example, less interaction with people (using Fe) and more paperwork (using Ni and Ti). Some of my jobs have involved a lot of customer service and the use of Fe all day was overstimulating and emotionally draining. The best jobs so far involved working at a desk 9-5 and basically using a lot of Ni and Ti while organizing information in systems. This felt like meditating; I would achieve a zen-like state and feel energized afterwards. I would not say I was passionate about the nature of the work but the zen-like feeling was nice. In terms of being passionate, I think I might prefer a job that involved more of a research component. I think I would like to feel more challenged, to learn a lot of new things every day. However, I would not like to be in a career that feels too passionate for really long periods of time, or in a high-stress environment that would result in burnout. I would like more of a balance. You can always find hobbies you are passionate about on the side.
Which holiday brings you the least joy? Labour Day. The thought of going back to school or work ruins it.
Are you a heartbreaker or a heartbreak-ee? 50-50.
What is your dream car?  Or if you aren’t into cars, what piece of technology do you dream of owning? I really like my laptop.
Would you rather make a lot of money at a job you hate or do a job you love that keeps you below the poverty line? I would rather have a job I love that keeps me below the poverty line because I don’t spend a lot. However, I would not like to have a job that keeps me way below the poverty line, because then I would feel used and would start to hate the job that kept me so much below the poverty line.
Do you collect anything? Other than information gathering, not really. The idea of accumulating large quantities of physical items and taking care of all of them sounds like a lot to think about or unnecessary stress.
Have you ever had any alternative career paths/life gameplans?  Do you wish you had taken another path in retrospect? Sure. Chemistry or Software Engingeering looked interesting and probably would have helped in the job market, even in combination with the field I’m in. That way, my skills might have been more of a focus than personality, career-wise.
Do you have a good sense of direction?  How do you navigate (when you can’t rely on GPS)?  Do you navigate new places/buildings the same way you navigate your home town/familiar buildings?  Is your sense of time better or worse than your sense of direction? No, I do not have a good sense of direction. Mbti-sorted is the only person I know whose sense of direction is worse than mine. And that only applies when walking somewhere. When driving somewhere, she has a better sense of direction. I am decent but not excellent with maps, professionally made and drawn by me. With a place I know well, I just walk around without thinking much. Usually it’s okay. Sometimes, I’m surprised to be lost in a place I thought familiar. With new places, I usually plan ahead. I study maps, bring them with me, compare the map with the physical reality around me for similarities and differences, get upset by perceived inaccuracies, visualize the layout of the land if the land and the map were flipped in different directions, try and detect logical patterns in street layouts and names, I try and remember locations of importance and what they look like, directions between key starting points and destinations, and I take down numbers for taxis in case of failure. Sometimes I walk new streets rather than drive in order to actively experience routes more slowly and have time to memorize them better. My sense of time is okay but not great. I feel the need to meet deadlines. I remember I used to rush to classes at the last minute for school, but I guess I did feel the need to get there on time. I have learned to avoid rushing, to be more responsible and set alarms and to carry a cell phone with a clock around with me to arrive on time and often early for important events. Probably my sense of time is better than my sense of direction.
Credit to Temple Grandin for this question: if I tell you to think of a church steeple, what’s happening inside your head? (You could also talk about a clock tower, or a water tower, or a minaret - something you are familiar with, but have less personal connection to works best.) I immediately thought of a white, aluminum sided cube topped by a black pyramid with light blue sky in the background. My mind was adverse to or somehow felt it unnecessary to think beyond that.
Would you be unable or unwilling to answer any of these questions?  Which? No, in that I answered all the questions. I guess I did so in writing and was unwilling to answer them on video. I think you can almost always figure out how to phrase things in a way that is acceptable to you in writing. Yes, in as much as message is affected by medium.
C. ANSWER THESE THREE QUESTIONS (30 seconds):
How much preparation did you do before making this video?  If you have an interviewer, did you pick the questions or did they?  Who decided to do it that way? A bit / no interviewer / me
What type do you think you are? INFJ
In 1-3 adjectives, describe how you think others see you. Calm and conscientious (from collegues and acquaintances), scrappy (from family).
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blissfulalchemist · 4 years ago
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Bloodlines/VA Lore
Okay let’s see if I can compress 12 books of lore for you all as some background for my OCs universe and because vampire lore can be just about anywhere so its nice to know exactly how this one looks.
Okay to start Bloodlines/Vampire Academy is a book series that was written by Richelle Mead and takes some of influence of Eastern European vampiric lore. I could not tell you how much is her creation and how much from the original lore as I have not looked that deep into it. Below the cut though you will get a general idea of the races along with the organizations as pertinent events of the series will be explained within the writing as needed given that Hypatia has very little knowledge of them happening. There has now been a list of important characters also in this list!  
If anything isn’t making sense or want to talk about it more feel free to dm me anytime!
Races
Moroi
Living vampires that can die via any human means, they can live longer than the average human. This race of vampires need blood but nothing in the levels of killing and can go a little while without it, though it is recommended to not go past a week at most as they get weaker without it. In terms of the sun yes they can go out and not burn/turn into dust, however the sun does make them uncomfortable very quickly and also makes them weaker. And due to their typically paler skin they are prone to sunburn. When it comes to their bite they cannot change someone else into a vampire, their bite does produce a high when they drink from a person. The last notable feature of this race is that each one is connected to one of the five elements and can perform magic. The most common ones are Air, Water, Fire, and Earth, the rarest of these is Spirit which has the ability to heal, look into minds, see auras, and telekinesis. These powers can range from person to person with everyone having specialties, so to speak, there is a downside that their other fellow Moroi do not have in relation to their magic, and that is the toll that it takes on the mind. Many fall victim to the psychological effects resulting in various forms of mental illness, many temper this by taking medication, limiting their usage of it, or turning Strigoi in some cases. Notable physical features that are typical includes pale skin, slimmer build, and some extra height, seen especially with females.
tl;dr- Living, born with magic, can be in sunlight, need small amounts of blood daily(though can go a while without it)
Dhampir
This race was bred from when humans and Moroi intermingled and while there has been a seperation of the races dhampirs still remain as they can reproduce with Moroi but not other dhampirs. Now this would lead one to believe that they just become more vampire than human but nope, they still stay half human half Moroi. Given their vampire heritage they get things like higher agility, stamina, strength, and reflexes. Because of these traits they made for the perfect guardians to the Moroi that are hunted by their undead counter parts. Many are trained from young ages to be lethal in preparation for a life of serving as protectors. In reccent times there has been a shortage of dhampirs as there is a slight taboo of Moroi sleeping and having children with them(gotta love those kind of judgements), this also isn’t helped as many women choose to raise their children themselves rather than be on duty and letting their children be raised by the schools. This race does not need blood and do not have fangs. There is no aversion to the sun in anyway as this is where their human side really kicks in. 
tl;dr- Living, mix of human and Moroi, agile and deadly, trained to be protectors and can easily kill a person, blood not needed for survival, no aversion to sun.
Human
Humans are well humans like you and me. Anything special that comes from them is worked for. Typically humans do not know about the existence of vampires and their whole little world, the ones that do are either a part of an organization(which I will have next) or are employed in some way by either the living or undead ones. Humans serve a purpose among the Moroi as feeders, these are people that are willingly giving up their blood for them and are well cared for typically(there’s always those people), in exchange they get to live in a state of bliss due to the endorphins in their bite. When employed by the Strigoi they are promised the eternal life in exchange for their help in their bidding, ranging from luring prey to taking down magical wards preventing them from entering a place to just house keeping. Some humans learn magic and are classified as witches, this is something that one must have a natural inclination along with proper training as to perform spells. Witches are less known among all races.
Strigoi
The undead, the vampires of your nightmares. This race is one that can be created by choice or by force. To be created by choice a Moroi must kill when feeding drinking to the last drop, creation by force involves a Strigoi to drink from their victim and then have the victim drink some of their blood. The latter method is what is used for choice among dhampirs and humans in this matter. They are the strongest of the races and get strength as they live longer along with feeding on dhampir and Moroi blood. They will kill when feeding as they drink the full person, while they can go a few days without blood many opt to not do that and feed daily. Their bites also produce the same high as their living counter parts. This race will absolutely burn when exposed to the sun and it will kill them. There are three other methods to kill a Strigoi if you can’t just push them into sunlight, you can either set them on fire, cut their heads off, or (and most commonly used method) using a silver steak imbued with the four elements right to the heart. This method is most commonly used as this is a specialty that is taught to dhampirs when becoming a guardian and are given a stake upon graduation. Strigoi that were once Moroi can no longer tap into their magic once becoming part of the undead, because of this Strigoi cannot cross over the magical wards placed around buildings. There is one way to save a Strigoi from this life, if you get a Moroi that specialized in the element of spirit that drives a steak through their heart while wielding their magic it will return them to their living selves. This is something that is rare to see as Spirit is a rare element to specialize in and it takes a great toll to be wielding that much magic and has harsher consequences. Other notable physical features is their dead pale skin and red eyes, along with the addition of fangs if they were once human or dhampir. 
tl;dr- Undead, sun kills them, blood is needed and will kill their victims even if its slowly, needs special methods to be killed, cannot perform magic. There is one way to save them but it takes a toll on the savior and is rarely done. Once a Strigoi has been restored to life they cannot become one again.
Organizations
Moroi Royalty
The Moroi are an old race and have kept to traditions which includes having a sort of monarchy. There are 12 royal families of which the king or queen is chosen from using a series of challenges along with a vote from the council between those that passed the challenges after the passing or stepping down of the predecessor. The eldest of each royal family is given the title of prince or princess and is on the council that helps in making decisions for the whole race of Moroi, with the tie breaker and ultimate say coming from the ruling king or queen. Current Queen is Vasilisa Dragomir. Should be noted that not all Moroi are royal, but are allowed to attend the same schools as them even if it seems like a private school.
Guardians
Dhampirs are trained to become guardians from a young age and upon the completion of their high school education will be assigned to a royal or royal family for their protection. Once gaining some seniority and experience they can become professors and help in the guarding of their schools around the world. They do not get much say in their lives and are at the whims of their assignments. There is a gender disparity among them as many women choose to raise the children they have and do not take to being a guardian. These women will typically band together and have communities that soon take on stereotypes of being equated to whore houses to put it bluntly. The women that do become guardians and stay that way, don’t always have children and if they do typically give them to someone else to raise while they return to work. They are typically seen as the career focused business women trope. You can usually tell the difference in if someone is a guardian by the tattooed promise mark on the back of their neck paired with a mark for graduation. Dhampirs will also gain tattoos on the back of their neck for the killing of Strogoi whether promised or not.
The Keepers
The Keepers are groups of people that live off the grid and do not adhere to the same rules and customs of their races as their communities comprise of humans, Moroi, and dhampirs. They keep to themselves away from the royal politics, train everyone to fight and defend themselves, and keep away from modern society mostly. They are not a known group to many and are really kept an eye on via The Alchemists that provide supplies and care when needed. These people also do have the same silver stakes and warding to help in their protection from the Strogoi. And yes there is some polyamory among them to help keep a balance of the races.
Alchemists
The Alchemists are a group as old as the Moroi have been around. This is a group based in science, religion, and paper work. Their primary goal is to keep the outside world from knowing about vampires and their doings. They have both a mixture of field agents and those that are behind a desk. Many in this organization are born into it and most training starts at home and many will start off in the organization as teenagers. The marking of an Alchemist is a golden tattooed lily on their left cheek that is imbued with some magic from the Moroi. These tattoos help in the longevity of a human along with a spell preventing them to tell anyone about the vampiric world unless the person already knows about it. While they work with the Moroi, they do not like them or dhampirs and find them as evil as their undead counter parts, tis a necessary evil for the protection of humanity. It is frowned upon to be even slightly friendly to them and doing so can be cause for a trip to their Re-Education Center. Some have gotten out and brand themselves with an indigo tattoo to help negate the magic in the golden tattoos. 
The Sun Warriors
This a group that are very active in hunting down vampires with the primary objective being the undead Strogoi. They were bred from The Alchemists but severed ties as their methods of dealing with vampires did not match up. Many are also born into this profession, but are trained to fight and kill. If the Alchemists are the brains, these guys are the brawn. They are marked by a sun tattoo that can be placed anywhere. They hold many of the same beliefs as the Alchemists and also do hold religious connotations still. 
Witches
There is no formal organization for this group as many involve themselves with their smaller covens with some being bigger than others. There are rules that are followed by all and ways to deal with what happens when rules are broken. Some are born into this life while many are brought into the life via a skilled witch who takes someone with raw magic and makes them their apprentice. These are skills that are learned later in life and are less known to others, though they keep an eye and many know of the existence of vampires.
Important Characters(This will be Updated as needed)
Rose Hathaway
Rose is a dhampir guardian that was the main protagonist in the Vampire Academy series (the books being told from her perspective). She was a teenager when she died in a car accident wherein her best friend, Lissa brought her back from the dead via spirit magic this caused her to be Spirit Bound to her. Once her love interest becomes a Strigoi she drops out of school (again) and goes to hunt him down to kill him. She is unsuccessful in this endeavor but does find out who her father is. She and Lissa do find out about how to restore Strigoi and restore her love interest Dimitri. She was then falsely blamed and accused of killing the former Queen Tatiana. Her innocence is proven wherein she suffers another near death(technically dead for a little bit there) experience where in she is no longer Spirit Bound to her friend and the new Queen Lissa, with whom she becomes a guardian too.
Vasilisa “Lissa” Dragomir
Current Queen of the Moroi and the youngest being only 18 when elected, she is one of two remaining heirs to the Dragomir line, the other being a half-sister named Jill. She had a specialization in Spirit magic and is the reason as to why Rose came back to life after the car accident that killed the rest of her family. Lissa was also the one to restore Dimitri to his former self after becoming Srigoi. 
Dimitri Belikov
Eddie Castile
Sydney Sage-Ivashkov
Adrian Ivashkov
Abe Mazur
Marcus Finch
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brandtmax · 5 years ago
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welcome back to gallagher academy, soo-yun ‘maxine’ brandt ! according to their records, they’re a first year, specializing in research & development; and they did not go to a spy prep high school. when i see them walking around in the halls, i usually see a flash of ( sugar-free mints, a messy low bun, wisps of hair alongside her face, the end of a pen between her teeth, the patek philippe calatrava 4897r-010 in rose gold, off-white pants in every fabric ). when it’s the ( virgo ) ’s birthday on 08/23/1997, they always request their japchae from the school’s chefs. looks like they’re well on their way to graduation. 
henlo it me again i hope u guys aren’t sick of me yet bc i have a new bby named max! i’ve written a lot™️ so brace urself but it’s worth it ( i think ) + trigger warnings: death and alcohol dependency under the cut xxx
the basics
full name: soo-yun ‘ maxine ’ brandt
nicknames: max — just max
age: twenty-two years old
birthday: august 23rd, 1997
gender: cis female
preferred pronouns: she / her
sexuality: bisexual
major: research & development (  formerly a b.a. political science degree from yale university )
known languages: english ( native ) / german ( native ) / korean ( native )
background
nationality: american
birthplace: new haven, connecticut, new hampshire
current location: gallagher academy, roseville, virginia
financial status: upper class
religion: non-theistic
appearance
eye color: brown
hair color: black
height: 5′8.5″
notable features: curly hair on lazy days, rosy cheeks
usual mood and expression: calm, furrowed eyebrows whenever her eyes are on work; lethargic and irritable when she’s overworked ( or without alcohol )
family
birth order: second born
parents: soon-bok ‘ vivian ’ jang and stephen brandt ( d. 2018 )
siblings: min-jun ‘ parker ’ brandt ( b. 1995 ) & georgia ‘ gigi ’ brandt ( b. 2001 )
significant others: chris harmon ( 2013-2015 ) / ava carrillo ( 2015-2016 )
her story so far (this is so long n serious lol)
soo-yun 'maxine' brandt was born and raised in new haven, connecticut, to jang soon-bok ( vivian ), a surgeon, and stephen brandt, a ( n allegedly shady ) criminal justice lawyer.
the brandt siblings were raised like any other blue-blooded, very strict but loving household ( strict = mom / loving = dad )
brandt house rules: get straight a’s, follow the 12 am curfew and don't bring anyone home that you know you’d get disowned for. follow those three rules, and you can do whatever you want.
there was pressure for the brandt siblings to be academically accomplished, but it wasn't anything they couldn't handle. they were well-tutored, semi-popular, attractive teenagers, which were common in new haven, and everyone knew they were destined for ivy league.
in high school, she dated chris harmon, and it was the kind of relationship that could only be described as the personification of a kinder egg. sweet on the outside, a waste of time and money on the inside.
which is fine; it took max about 2 months to get over it when they broke up halfway through senior year, because neither of them thought of their relationship going far. the joy of getting into yale ( already expected ) trumped the feeling of losing a boyfriend. she even bet parker $5,000 she'd get early admission. she won.
during college, she had an on-off relationship with ava carrillo for a year, which inevitably became a permanent off. it turned out that it wasn't a good idea to throw herself into a committed relationship the minute she stepped foot into yale. max never had the time, and ava didn't have the patience. at least she tried it tho !
things seemed to be on the up and up for their family, and the worst thing max has ever been through is being awake for 24 straight hours to prepare for a final presentation. but ! you know what they say about the calm before the storm.
( tw: death ) on december 18, 2018, their father unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack during a layover flight in new york. the brandt family was at home when they heard the news. needless to say, they had a quiet christmas and new year.
the family tried to move on as best they could, but the siblings knew their dad's death irreversibly changed their mom. they have a rocky relationship to begin with, the siblings always feeling like vivian never wanted to become a parent and only did so for their father. they have absolutely no mother-children bond, and it got worse when stephen died. being the older brother, parker took it upon himself to take care of vivian, balancing that with running the home stretch with his undergrad degree.
on the other hand, maxine still had a few years left at yale. no amount of therapy helped her cope with the loss of her father, the way her mother seemed to become a shell of herself, how parker had to break the momentum of his career to be there for their mom, and the constant pressure to do good academically.
( tw: alcohol dependency ) it started with buying bottled moscow mules because she didn't like how beer tasted, and she wasn't dumb enough to go straight to hard liquor. just one to take the edge off whenever stacks of coursework became too much, or when her mother would send her an email talking about her day, and she didn't have the courage to read it. then it went from a one, two, three-time thing to a whenever-i'm-upset thing, which slid into a whenever-i-feel-like-it thing. after a while, it became a daylight thing where she would add a splash of soju ( or whatever ) to her lunchtime drinks, and she genuinely thought it was just a funny idea at first. max wasn't the only day drinker in her social group, anyway. she found it acceptable, no different than how other people would pound red bull every 6 hours like it's their life force. it was manageable for her since she was able to schedule when she'd be indisposed, and she still can.
parker had ( and still has ) no clue. despite the two being close, max spared him the burden of having another thing to worry about. as long as she can control it ( or she thinks she can ) then nobody had anything to worry about.
eventually, both maxine and parker were offered the opportunity to join gallagher academy, with parker in line to graduate with honors in global affairs and maxine, not far behind with her own impressive academic portfolio in political science.
though really, her acceptance into gallagher has less to do with her published papers ( still impressive, tho ) and more to do with her covertly helping her father win cases by doing some expert sleuthing, strategizing, witness dispatching + discrediting, sexc breaking and entering, and good, old-fashioned manipulation !
it was something they both wanted; to be a part of the bigger picture in the world, but they knew they couldn't leave their mother alone. parker, who chose to make the sacrifice, let maxine go and stayed behind to take care of vivian.
( but if we’re honest, maxine would’ve left for gallagher regardless if parker was coming with her, but she’ll never tell him that )
despite the guilt and telling parker she wasn't going anywhere ( cough ), he insisted on her taking the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a part of something they never knew existed. he knew they were going to end up resenting each other if they both stayed. at least one person in the family should be doing something that made them happy.
and so max dropped out of yale and left for roseville, even though she hadn't thoroughly planned out her career trajectory.
she’s eager not just because of the school, obviously. she can't handle going back to their childhood home and seeing how hollow everything is. plus, the immense anger and denial she feels over her dad’s untimely death has no place in new haven anymore.
she promised parker she'd make it up to him, though. somehow, someday.
who is this b*nch
max is relatively easy to get along with, tbh !
she’s a mood matcher; meaning if you’re nice to her, then she’s nice to you ( and if you’re gonna be a punk bitch, then she’ll be a punk bitch right back )
she’s a lil spoiled, lil sheltered, and lil ignorant but her general friendliness makes up for it, she’s the type to be friends with ( almost ) everyone
internally: perfectionist to the point of being ruthless, first place is the only acceptable place, meticulous, neurotic, workaholic, overachiever, if you’re not useful then what’s your purpose?, slightly egotistical, etc etc
externally: caring, protective, and supportive mom friend who just wants people to get their shit together because inadequacy is unacceptable, fixer, likes to dip into different social circles, consciously makes the effort to be more patient with people
she’s incredibly ambitious ? morally ambiguous ? slightly self-serving and self-involved ? her father’s a criminal “justice” lawyer whose clientele doesn’t exactly consist of the beacons of society so... she learned a lot of lessons about how you can win any case in the courtroom if you’re smart enough to a ) make a good story, b ) get the fitting evidence by any means necessary, c ) discredit and discard the necessary people, and d ) be charming and persuasive enough to rock the jury
she’s actively trying to be more open-minded and assimilate to a diverse group of people because back in yale she was definitely in a wasp bubble, and admittedly there are times where she will come off as super snobby without meaning to and tbh sorry about it
she’s still an extremely sociable person because yale also taught her how to network like a motherfucker, and how it’s important to know / be friends with everyone
honestly, intense people turn her off ( both positive and negative ) a little because she can't handle concentrated personalities in one sitting
even though she’s a little intense herself sometimes but it’s fine, we love hypocrites in this house !
neat freak ? but honestly who doesn’t like a friend who squeegees the shower every day and has a tiny can of lysol in their bag and an aroma diffuser with three ( 3 ) oil blends
she’s like... weirdly aggressive sometimes and most definitely has anger issues ( still in denial over her father unexpectedly passing away and getting stuck with a mom who doesn’t like her own children very much )
but also, she’s just agro in general and has a number of physical hobbies. she’s an ice skater, equestrian, a soulcyclist, and a kickboxer. she can fite.
she’s not the type to make fun of herself because she's not at a point where she sees qualities in her that are okay to laugh at ( unless you’re tight )
keeps her negative juju to herself because she’s a very private person
will prioritize work over play because she'd hardwired like that, but that doesn't mean she's anti-fun ( clearly )
definitely needs to loosen up a little that doesn't involve alcohol... jenga perhaps ? or actually try therapy again ?
very effectively sneaky about her growing alcohol dependency ( sugar-free breath mints, brushes her teeth + uses mouthwash after every meal )
dry sense of humor
at all times: wears a 1-carat, emerald cut, pavé diamond ring ( family heirloom ) + carries her trusty black hydro flask with her ( 24 oz. ) and no one is allowed to drink from it !
her signature scent is le labo bergamote 22 🤍
hmu on my discord @ tin#0697 for plottage !
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rockcfellers · 5 years ago
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 /   let  me  introduce  you  to  a  prized  member  of  our   student government   ,   arden rockefeller .  this   cisfemale  virgo   has  been  a  student  at  our  institution for   seven years   and  is  currently  a  21  year  old   junior.   through  the  halls ,   she  has   always  reminded  me  of   danielle rose russell  ,   but  there  is  always  more  than  meets  the  eye ,   like  the  fact  that  she managed to get somene’s admission to cape coral deferred a year for her own benefit .  coral  cape  has  made  their  future  just  as  bright  as  their  smile ,   i  assure  you .  ʼ      (   muse 10 ,  adri ,  19 ,  cst ,  she/her   )
go on, replace me, when you’re craving something sweeter than the words i left in your mouth, go on and spit me out
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NAME — arden olivia rockefeller.
NICKNAMES — n/a? 
PRONOUNS — she/her.
AGE & DOB — 21 & august 23, 1998.
PLACE OF BIRTH — new york city, new york.
NATIONALITY — american.
MAJOR — psychology & political science.
EDUCATION — cape coral international school.
CLUBS — student government, unicef campus initiative, and lacrosse.
* background overview !
arden is twins with her brother, neels, both first born to this half of the rockefeller generation (he’s older by several minutes, but she’ll never attest to that) they’ve always been kinda close but never attached at the hip.
you know, i honestly feel like she had a fairly decent? childhood? like nothing was really wrong, just that her parents were always busy and never really gave the attention they should’ve to young children. 
she was typically always very bright and cheery to everyone, evoking a “your daughter’s so sweet” from most people she met, which felt like the biggest compliment to her, because it meant that someone thought she was nice even if they disliked the rest of her family for any given reason, kind of like a twisted self worth?
her parents definitely would’ve preferred she did something that seemed more feminine, but arden found a love for kickboxing and later lacrosse, the two sports a great place for her to channel her energy into, letting her mellow out when she’s going through her day to day routine.
arden’s still figuring out how to be both who she’s expected to be and who she wants to be without facing any real repercussions, but hasn’t quite gotten that part down yet.
it was always known she could come to cape coral, considering her family, but she’s lowkey really grateful that she was given the opportunity to study what she wanted where she wanted. 
that being said.... she’s still kinda a bitch. i mean, someone she knew from outside of cape coral wanted to applied and had gotten accepted, but arden had worried that they would interfere from her getting idk maybe a spot in the student government or accepted into her research program etc etc, so she talked to her grandfather and had their admission deferred a year so that her studies wouldn’t be affected.
* personality !
okay so,,,she is New so i’m still working out all the kinks but for the most part, she’s just.. neutral
before, she used to be like aggressively happy and cheery and nice. probably to compensate for the fact that everyone around her just seemed so mean.
she’s always hated being seen as weaker than or less than anyone else, which is partially why she’s taken up lacrosse and boxing, much to her grandfather’s distaste. 
now she’s more focused on herself and is capable of being able to brush off any kind of comment that comes from people she doesn’t feel like directly affect her, which isn’t a great mentality to have but neither is caring too much about what other people think
the part of her that was very kind and viewed life with a sweet naivety is there, but heavily guarded and buried. she just feels like, it’s not something that’ll do her much good rather than leave her looking a mess or fool when someone takes advantage of it.
she’s like,,,the person that isn’t afraid to knock you down a few pegs but will do so with the sweetest smile on her face to really seal the deal. 
she found an interest in politics, actually hating the way things were run but really enjoying finding out why people did and voted and favored the things they did, so she’s double majoring in psychology and political science
she tries to do everything on her own and hates asking for help, like even when she really needs to, but it’s mostly because really needing someone makes her uneasy because she’s always wondering if they’re going to leave her eventually or if they’re just using her or if they really don’t care about her the way she cares for them
that being said, she’s loyal as all hell to her loved ones. like will literally help you get away with murder if you asked her for help, once you’ve reached that point you are absolutely important to her.
* character tropes !
so she’s basically the maiden in the sense that she’s typically overly self confident and finds herself in positions where she’s stuck and needs help, whether it’s being in too many things at once and being too spread out or like in actual danger. arden heavily takes after her parents in the sense that she wants to be wholly capable of taking care of herself, the feeling of being dependent on someone making her uneasy. because of this, she finds herself in situations that could’ve been completely avoided if she had just taken a step off her high horse and admitted or realized she couldn’t do it on her own. the confidence she exhibits today was a learned trait however, arden getting her heartbroken by someone she had really loved taught her how to be comfortable with herself and just be a Badass, but protect the softer side to herself from then on.
* playlist !
wasabi — little mix:
stick like toffee, sip like coffee wake up, change your mind and drop me love to hate me, crazy, shady spit me out like hot wasabi lick me up, I'm sweet and salty mix it up and down my body love to hate me, praise me, shame me either way you talk about me
arden’s a strong believer in the quote by william shakespeare “love me or hate me, both are in my favour. If you love me, i will always be in your heart… if you hate me, i’ll always be in your mind.” she’s really aware of how she can come across as, but is really selective in who she cares to spend time showing her full self to. everyone else and every other opinion gets taken with a grain of salt. she’s definitely had friends that only used her for her name and then dropped her once they were done,she wasted no time moving on.
hold me while you wait — lewis capaldi:
i wish you'd cared a little more (hold me while you wait) i wish you'd told me this before (hold me while you wait) my love, my love, my love, my love won't you stay a while? (hold me while you wait)
a few years ago, she was in a relationship where she had cared a little bit too much about what they thought of her, finding herself seeking their approval for everything, truly believing this person was the sun. she fell hard and fast for them and they took advantage of this and cheated on her, thinking that they would get away with it… and they did for a while. arden tried to excuse it because of how much she loved them, but was starting to feel like she was never going to be good enough for them, but staying with them until things ultimately came to an end, still holding onto the hope that things would change. eventually she realized that she couldn’t keep holding onto that relationship forever and things ended.
winter — relic:
where am i going? i can’t see nothing but the road that’s out in front of me i think it’s snowing
arden’s the worst at multitasking and it shows even in her life. she’s very one track minded and knows what she wants out of it, but only sees one way to get there, so everything that’s the tiniest bit off her track, she gets thrown off completely and needs someone to just nicely push her back in the direction she was headed.
* aesthetics !
candle lights, the breathlessness felt when seeing big city skylines, scrunchies, tart strawberries dipped in sugar, iced coffee in mason jars, long swooping cursive, high-waisted jeans, half opened jewelry boxes, setting a new pen against fresh paper, standing outside during the middle of a sun-shower, tucked in shirts, a hand reaching out to catch you when you fall, golden hour. 
* wanted plots !
i’m the worst at coming up with things but,,,,, here’s a few 
general friends: honestly some from childhood, some from high school, others from college, give me New friend with the people coming on scholarship, anything
best friends: someone that’s been by her side for years, someone she’d literally trust with her whole life
ride or dies: honestly what it says, maybe like two or three of them that have been through the thick and thin of it but still have a really strong friendship in the end?
confidant: honestly, probably someone she’s close with, but doesn’t see on a regular basis? maybe they just box together from time to time to blow off steam? it helps if they’re not someone she’d see all the time, that way she’s not constantly staring her admission in the face
bad influence: someone who can teach her to let go and get out more, care even less about what others think, especially her parents. even if that’s taking her to parties or drinking/smoking alone in a room
exes ( good, bad, anything in between ): you know the drill, hit me with the good angst. (male, female, nb)
roommate ( probably a cape coral student ): arden doesn’t like needing people but that doesn’t mean she wants to be alone, they probably have a pretty nice place together ngl. i picture it being really cozy and nicely decorated?
hook ups: you also know this drill, sometimes you gotta blow off steam. (male, female, nb)
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intersex-ionality · 6 years ago
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I was told that TOR was mostly funded by the US fed gov't - is there any risk that they can crack it? I know it's open source, but I'm still not entirely sure what that *means* tbh. (I'm a biologist, the squishy sciences don't really teach you Python or Java, the most I can do is model population growth in Matlab. And I'm old enough that general internet security just wasn't a thing taught when I was in school.)
I mean, yeah, they can crack it by putting in a moderate level of effort, which is why the trick to using TOR effectively is to give them no reason to put in that effort. This has nothing to do with them funding its initial creation, or with it being open source. It’s simply a natural consequence of the way TOR works. Anyone can crack it, if they happen to run one of the servers that your data passes through during anonymization.
So, step one is to pair TOR with a strong, secure VPN located in a country with no extradition or security agreements with the US. This ensures that if the feds happen to catch your data as it moves through one of their servers, it’s scrambled up enough to not set off any automatic systems looking for particular keywords or patterns.
Most forms of encryption these days can be decrypted by concerted federal effort, but you first have to be worth the effort, so just… don’t be. Stay chill, don’t make yourself a desirable target, and let the fact that it costs a lot of money and manpower to crack strong encryption be your safety net.
Don’t give out personally identifiable information, such as where you live beyond a national level. If you wouldn’t feel comfortable with an overly touchy stranger at a bar knowing it, or with an abusive ex-spouse knowing it, don’t feel comfortable with the internet knowing it. No phone numbers, no addresses, no legal names.
This one is also especially tricky because lots of small, safe pieces of data can be combined into a dangerous whole. For example, I have mentioned on this website that I used to live in south Florida. I have also mentioned my family are Middle Eastern immigrants. I have also mentioned that I operate a podcast. On that podcast, I have mentioned the size of the high school I attended. On the associated twitter, I have mentioned my birth year.
With that in mind, someone dedicated enough could simply cross reference south Floridian high schools with student bodies of a particular size (a trivial detail I mentioned in one podcast), during years when I would have been high school age. Accessing those school’s yearbook archives, they could then get a list of student names. Cross-referencing those, they could identify which students are the children of immigrants, and further, which ones came from middle eastern backgrounds. Since there are only about two dozen people who meet all of those qualifiers, it then simply becomes a matter of figuring out which one is me. I’ve mentioned having grey eyes, so they could eliminate anyone with brown eyes, and that alone would probably be sufficient.
People have, in fact, done this to me in real life, using networks of minor details to find the names of myself and my family members, using it to send threats to my toddler brother or to send me pictures of google maps showing my home, etc as a way to try and get me to shut up and go along with whatever their latest fuckshow is.
And if randos online can do it, you better believe the feds can. So, just fucking lie. Keep core details of your identity the same, sure, but absolutely lie out your ASS about the minor details. Obfuscate! For example, does it matter if I lived in Miami for the sake of this particular anecdote? No? Then I should say I lived in the Florida Keys instead. Does it matter that I was 14 at the time? Then I should say I was 16 instead.
Also, don’t directly talk about committing a crime, even a very minor one, as that can be used as justification for more extreme investigation. If you wouldn’t say it in front of an angry cop or a lawyer on federal or Disney payroll, you shouldn’t say it online. 
If you pair TOR with those three major things: (1) no personally identifiable information, (2) always encrypt your data before it hits the net, (3) never admit to a crime, you’ll be safe for basically, well, anything. That’s enough security to manage moderate military intelligence, let alone whatever you as a private citizen might be doing.
Also, if your job/life/sitution will allow it, get in the habit of turning all your network devices including your phones off when you’re asleep. If your job won’t allow it, consider getting a fifteen dollar pre-paid flip phone for on-calls, work, or emergencies, buying minutes for it as needed to keep it active, and turning anything other than that flip phone off when you sleep. That way, you have an existing, regular pattern of total data blackout.
If, for example, you needed to meet up with a comrade to do some civil disobedience at some point, you could do so during your standard blackout hours, and it wouldn’t register as a change in your behavioural patterns. So the feds couldn’t use that particular day of data blackout as proof of anything other than that you were asleep.
That’s about enough security to cover the average needs. And it’s also enough security to allow you to do any further research into other, more extreme security protocols, and the potential uses for those protocols, without putting yourself at any meaningful risk.
EDIT: Also, open source just means that the source code TOR runs on is public. If you know the languages its written in, you can read it and examine it for yourself. This means the TOR project has a strong motivation for not including obvious backdoors and security leaks, because their users can and will see them.
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the-colony-roleplay · 5 years ago
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Arthur Meir | Fifty Five; Survivor
House: Brink Status:  Uninfected Security Class: 1 Alignment:  New World Radicals
History
As the only child of the head of a prominent cattle ranch in Australia, Arthur Meir was born with great expectations already set for him. He was always told that one day it would be his turn to run the family ranch, a torch passed down from his father and his grandfather before him. Therefore, much of his childhood was spent working the fields with his father and his uncle Henry—and Henry’s gaggle of children. 
But for all the expectations, Arthur had very little interest in filling them. From the time he could walk, he’d been taught the workings of the ranch, the surrounding brush, the cattle drive and the trade. But the only part of it that had ever really interested him was the business side of things. By age twelve he could balance the books nearly as well as his father. The rest of it, however, was too dirty, too noisy, too crude for his tastes. He was envious of the children in the nearby town, who got to go to public school while he was homeschooled, or whose homes weren’t rampant with children and pets.
Not wanting to think about a fated-future he couldn’t escape, Arthur found reprieve in the past. He found himself absorbed in the history channel or historical documentaries, the story and politics of those who came before them engaging him in a way he’d never felt engaged on the farm. He began reading extensively about any timeline he could get his hands on. With the ranch’s spotty Echo connection, he joined forums discussing political strategies and how they might’ve been improved upon. Such discussions inevitably turned to present politics, which Arthur followed eagerly. This was something that excited him, that made him feel something. He continued doing his duties on the ranch as he was told, but they were often done halfheartedly and as quickly as possible, so that he could sooner get back to his studies.
At the age most students would graduate, Arthur’s parents offered him more responsibility on the ranch. A precursor to his taking over completely—the beginning of the end, the way Arthur saw it. It felt like a trap, a burden he wasn’t born for. So he returned to his parents with a counter-offer: university. He was almost surprised when they agreed—but it was on the condition that he come home in the summer to help with the drive. Arthur happily agreed, having expected more of a fight, but the second he set foot on campus he knew he would never properly return to his old life. 
Rather than biology, economics, business, or anything else his parents might’ve seen as practical for taking over the farm, Arthur majored in Political Science with a minor in History. As promised, he came home for the cattle drive every summer, but only at the last minute and he always left as soon as possible. Calls with his parents, especially with his father, became shorter and shorter. 
It came to a head at his graduation. His father had been under the impression that Arthur was furthering his education to take over the ranch; his son’s real major was a complete surprise. Even worse was Arthur’s flat refusal to come home. He had a new life he cared about, with a future that excited him and he wasn’t about to give up on it now, throwing away all his hard work. His father, nervous about the security of his ranch and hurt by the dishonesty, couldn’t see past the sense of betrayal. They argued until they were blue in the face, Arthur’s mother in tears. Desperate to get the final word, Arthur told his father that if his family couldn’t support him for who he was, then maybe he shouldn’t be a part of the family at all. He stormed away, angry. For better or worse, that was the end of big, obnoxious family breakfasts, of milking the cows at dawn, of practicing Shabbat with his parents—of the simple, but hardworking farm life.
Over the course of the next several years, Arthur worked his way up the political ladder until he was elected into the House of Representatives in the Parliament of Australia. But he didn’t stop there. Many terms later, he found himself working in the Department of Foreign Affairs, and eventually, was promoted to Australian High Commissioner to Canada: Arthur’s crowning achievement. And so, for the first time in his life, he made a little room for personal interests: and fell in love. 
At first, he and Rebecca Fitz seemed made for each other. They were both intensely independent and career driven, both having come from unlikely backgrounds and fought tooth and nail to get to where they were. They were married after roughly two years of dating, but as much as they had in common, their crucial mistake was failing to realize that they were both married to their careers first, and thus each other second. Arthur had apparently looked for himself in a woman, but it had been that which had doomed them for failure. 
Nonetheless, he loved her. Despite the nights of endless fighting and the abysmal communication, he loved her, and in a desperate (and stupid) attempt to save his marriage, he convinced her to have a child with him. For a smart man, this was where his naivety showed—his Achilles’ heel. For him, this could be a new beginning. It didn’t occur to him that perhaps this desperation was coming from a place of wanting to fill a hole he’d dug out of himself years ago, when he’d left his family behind. He’d been alone in the world for so long, but he had never allowed himself to look back, much less admit to himself that he was still burdened with regret. 
To his credit, they almost made it work. For a while, things even got better. But it goes without saying that throwing children into a broken marriage is like putting a bandaid over a bullet wound. The internal bleeding had already begun, and no surface treatment was going to stop that. Five years later, they divorced. 
It was when Arthur was making arrangements to transfer overseas to France—having taken up a job opportunity there so that he and Rebecca wouldn’t have to work under the same roof any longer—that he got the news that his father had passed away. A man he’d seen a handful of times over the years, spoken to on high holy days and special occasions—but never made amends with. The last real conversation they’d ever had, had been an argument. A hateful, hurtful one. 
The news unravelled Arthur. The loss of his marriage, his father, his family—years of guilt wrought with rust from neglect, bubbled to the surface and though he flew home for the funeral and more or less made amends with his mother, it was only a few months thereafter that her time came as well. It was a fiercely bitter-sweet relief that he was by her side, holding her hand in the hospital bed when she died. But in the end, for all Arthur’s independence and ambition, he’d not been prepared for the consequences of the choices he’d made when he was young, and it was in yet another fit of desperation that he arranged to leave his daughter, Dylan, in the care of his Uncle Henry. Perhaps it was cowardice, not being able to look Dylan in the face any longer after everything that had happened—or perhaps it was courage. Courage enough to know that he couldn’t give Dylan the life she deserved, especially not in his state of mind. He needed a fresh start. A chance to rebuild himself. And then maybe one day he’d come back for her. One day, he’d be ready. 
Unfortunately, with the apocalypse on the horizon, ‘one day’ never came. 
Arthur Today
When D-day hit, Arthur was a little surprised he didn’t feel somehow more prepared. It was a global crisis after all; that was what he specialized in. But as governments crumbled and the sky fell, he was rendered just as helpless as anyone else, at least in the beginning. By the time the dust had settled, society as they’d known it had been all but obliterated. But what remained... Arthur could work with. Along with several other politicians, leaders, and crisis workers, Arthur helped to establish a base in a chateau in Nantes. It was a place where survivors could get food, water, first aid, and a safe place to sleep. Eventually, this base would become Colony 16, and Arthur, one of the original founding Elites. 
The discovery of the Infections came as a bit of a plot twist, but Arthur was fascinated by it. Immediately, he saw the potential, the promise of a new world, of fresh, thrilling beginnings. This could change everything. If handled correctly, this could prove to be the reason behind the apocalypse. A chance like nothing anyone could have anticipated. Fate. 
And then the NWRF emerged.
Contrary to Arthur’s beliefs, the NWRF believed that Infected were just that—contaminated. They were afraid of the power the Infected wielded, and wanted to control it for themselves—or better yet, eliminate it altogether. It would be such a waste. A foolish, ill-advised waste based on fear and egotism. 
So when he caught wind of a burgeoning opposition calling themselves the New World Radicals, he eagerly made ties with them. From what he could tell, most of the movement’s supporters seemed to be either outside of Colony walls and on the run from the ‘purging of the wastes’, or laying low as registered citizens with their heads bent. They met only in the dead of night, careful about how they spoke of their cause, and with whom. There was a lot of secrecy involved, but to Arthur, it felt like the beginning of something. 
Having been on the side of the law and politics most of his life, this departure actually felt a little surreal—but he believed that the overturn of the Reformist government was not only necessary, but inevitable. So he would do what he could to further the agenda of those he knew would end up on top. He put his skills to use while at Colony 16, collaborating with other voices of the underground Radical movement and coming up with strategies to coordinate globally. 
And then his chance to implement some of those strategies arrived when he found his daughter as a registered citizen at Colony 22. He’d been considering trying to get transferred anyway, in order to secretly start furthering the reach of the NAR, and he’d been aiming for Colony 4, as he’d heard it was higher traffic; more people meant more opportunities for the NAR to grow. But his heart hitched when he saw Dylan’s name and birthdate in the Echo Database. In the years that had passed, he’d mostly been able to convince himself he’d put her and all his troubled, messy regret from his mind. But seeing confirmation that she was not only alive, but also a lot closer than he would have thought, felt like too fated an opportunity to pass up. 
Besides, asking for a transfer in order to reunite with his long-lost daughter was an excellent cover up to any other intentions he had, and would be very unlikely to be turned down. It also prompted very few questions, which definitely worked in Arthur’s favour. And so it was off to Colony 22 and the little island of Belvedere he went. 
Though he is not short of his own personal ambition and purpose for the NAR, Arthur would like to try to find a way into the ranks of the Elite at Colony 22 once he gets settled. He has plenty of political and business experience that he knows he could brandish around to help him achieve this, and he’s Uninfected, which he suspects will also make it easier. But the tricky part will be making good impressions upon his arrival, and fostering the right connections. With the NWRF in (relative) control at Colony 22, he knows he is going to have to play his cards wisely. But to secure a position as an Elite could help him and his political objectives immensely. 
For the moment, he keeps most of his true thoughts under his tongue, as he gets a sense for the political climate here. But he’s always watching, gathering information and calculating his next move; waiting for that other shoe to drop.
RELATED BIOS: DYLAN MEIR 
OPEN
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menwithlocs · 5 years ago
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Fitness Friday - Jah Knows
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Tell us about your background in fitness? How did you get started?
My fitness journey started with sports, the moment I begin to compete, I started paying attention to what I ate as well. Striving to be better and always have an edge. I didn’t want anyone to be better than me for any reason unless they were just better. I was always fascinated by how the body worked especially when you can see and feel the progress. That motivated me to pay attention more in school, so while in college, I changed my major to kinesiology, to learn it more on an in-depth anatomy level. Becoming more in tuned with my own body I learned so much, so I begin to adopt clean eating habits, by becoming vegan and using holistic practices for healing. Committing to these habits it changed my life, physically and mentally. Although I’ve been vegan for 8 years, prior I was conscious of what I ate, I wasn’t eating crazy process foods, I still had structure and felt great. Becoming vegan came with challenges, mainly comfort and convenience challenges, but the difference as stated has changed my life... now intertwining the science, and consumption, factors of fitness and diet, made me commit to wanting to help people understand my perspective of fitness and health. I begin training and giving the knowledge where it’s needed and giving people alternatives that have proven to help me, by my style of training and way of consumption.
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in jumpstarting a fitness routine?
The advice I would someone who wants to jumpstart a fitness routine is, just DO IT! The hardest part is getting started, only if you procrastinate on getting started. The moment you get started, a chain of momentum begins for you. It’s all downhill from there. Other than that, seek advice, professional help,  plan out days and set aside time just to focus on yourself. There is always time in a day to just focus on the things you want to change about yourself.  On a practical level, create habitual times for yourself for your fitness, so you can have a clock in your head that naturally reminds you that you normally workout at this time. It’s all about habits.
Can you give us 3 tips on staying motivated during a weight loss/fitness routine?
1. Make your self accountable: set small goals that are achievable each day, if you don’t accomplish them, then you know your not to be trusted not even by your own self 🤷🏽‍♂️. 2. Mental visionary: healthy thoughts about how you want to look or be, follow and surround yourself with a partner, groups, trainer, friends, etc. that’s on the same frequency. Being around people and events that’s health motivated will naturally keep you on the wave. Ditch the bad habits and toxic people who don’t serve those same strides. 3. Eat like you want to live!  Eating healthy is a major key! If I feel good internally, I naturally want to get up and move around, because I have energy! and if your somewhat competitive, you will naturally want to challenge yourself. Balance meals are 80% of the battle.  You eat well, you feel good, you look good. Let's talk about your locs. How long have you been loc’d and what inspired you to loc your hair?
I been loc’d for 4 years, I’ve grown my hair for 6  1/2 years.   What inspired me to grow locs was learning about the divinity of African hair, a society where we are taught to cut our hair or straighten it, nappy hair was a negative. For me, I have done every hairstyle except locs and since people were telling me not to get them or they look dirty, I wanted them even more. Being in the modeling business,  having hair or locs is not common for men. most men with locs will not fit the description for a lot of high-end jobs, what would be considered “clean-cut” business type, it’s not the commercial look.  I always wanted locs was just afraid of the judgment, and the perception they had before locs became common. Now I’m in love with my hair and couldn’t see myself without it. Where can our readers find you?
You can find me @ra__jah on IG And Rafitness.org. The website will be up soon.
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allsystemsarenotgo · 5 years ago
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A friend and I were talking one day, and she shared this with me.
She was much like me, raised with a quarter between the knees, terrified of the things we were taught to avoid and trying to live reasonably noble lives. She wasn't allowed Birth Control for religious reasons (pro-life) as well as to prevent enablism. Her family was much more religious than mile, though I still went to church during my Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years of high school.
She married a guy 10 years older than herself, who was a long-time routine customer of her family's business. They married right after she graduated high school, long before she applied to higher education.
She is a nurse now. She has 3 kids, works long hours at a hospital, and her husband is a successful farmer as he always has been. She struggled at times, but she made it through.
She knows life would have been easier without the first child, but she was innocent and naiive and I think she realizes that she jumped in the deep end of the pool before learning how to swim.
I did the same thing.
All through high school I pledged to abstinence until marriage. I hated everything to do with sex. The topic, the drama, the action, the result. I wanted nothing to do with it.
But I also never dated through grade school at all. I never had a girlfriend. Plenty of crushes (M.S. above being one of them), but just as many denials. Because I didn't drink, smoke, do drugs, have FFA animals, or play athletics, I also wasn't a member of any social group. I was always the kid in the corner of the cafeteria scarfing food down in 5 minutes and sleeping the other 20, or asking to go to a teacher's classroom, where it was serene and quiet.
My freshman year of college, I even wrote an essay on abstinents for English class. That really didn't go over well in regards to having to read it out loud. There might as well have been fruit flying at me.
My dorm was set up such that we had 3 private bedrooms that shared a living space and bathroom. One of the roommates always had girls over, and he never tried to be quiet (or if he did, he failed...badly).
So those two things were my indoctrination to college life. Getting judged and leered at for writing an abstinence essay, and having to listen to a roommate multiple times a week.
Towards the very end of my freshman year, a girl from high school messaged me. We started talking, and she admitted that she had always had a crush on me and was too shy to ever say anything.
Error #1: For no good reason whatsoever, I agreed to formulate a relationship with this female
So when I moved home from the dorms, I hung out with the lass a few times, but my parents were moving out of the country and closer to my school, so I could live at home. That meant that this would now be a 1.5-hour-each-way medium-distance relationship.
So every 4th or 6th weekend during the remainder of that summer and into the fall semester, I would drive up and spend a day with her. Sometimes, I would drive her out of the country and into the city to give her a glimpse of escape (it was very impoverished where we grew up).
Error #2: Doing whatever made her happy
I really enjoyed the time that we spent together. She got me a purity necklace for Christmas that year. She said she understood that my preference meant something to me.
But then, something changed. She would start dropping enuindos and jokes and send me photos that I didn't ask for.
Error #3: Not standing up for myself
She said that I meant something to her, and asked me if she meant something to me. At the time, I did not comprehend that as a trap...but I wanted to make her happy, so I said "yes".
The next thing I know, she is booking a hotel for us for Valentine's day. Wherein, I learned a thing or two or five or ten that I really wasn't interested in learning in the first place.
-Provides Clorox to help scrub the thoughts from your mind-
After that, she wanted me to come see her more and more often. But I was tied up with school and life.
Mind you, we usually had a phone call every night, or at least every other night. Same time, right before bed. Sometimes we would fall asleep on the phone with eachother.
Error #4: Accepting anything as fact
Well one night, I called her, and she answered...but it was noisy in the background, like she was driving. But she never talked while driving, and wouldn't answer the phone with family in the car.
She said she was in a friend's car and they were going to the beach for the night, which was completely reasonable for the time of year and her group of friends. She cut the conversation short saying they had arrive, so we bid our greeting. But she didn't hang up, and something told me that I shouldn't either. So I didn't.
"Who was that?"
"Don't mind him. He was just calling to check on me. He's controlling like that."
"He sounds like a jerk"
"Enough about him. He won't do this."
-Provides more clorox-
And that's how I found out that her primal needs were more important than our "relationship".
Unfortunately, shortly after I broke up with her, I was sent a photo of her quite visibly pregnant. Fortunately, the timetable did not add up to Valentine's day (aside of the fact that it was physically/biologically 95% impossible).
That summer, I started a job at the student newspaper. Right off the bat, one of the graphic artists and I got along very well. We spent way too much time at work talking to eachother and goofing off, instead of working. Enough so that our boss took notice and things got tense for a bit with him. We still cranked out work no problem, but we were both too young to understand workplace policy and procedure when it comes to "dating but not dating", which is basically exactly what we were doing. We spent alot of time together. I would go to her dorm after class and we would watch movies and just goof off or do whatever. We enjoyed time together.
Error #1: So cliché. So, so cliché.
So Valentine's day rolls around, and she asks 'the question'.
So something in biology: There is a term called "Once an animal has the taste of blood, they will always hunt for it." Unfortunately, humans can sometimes be considered a sub-species of the animal kingdom.
Like the dumbass that I am, I accept to the terms and conditions.
And at the end of the night, she asks: "So are we officially dating now?"
"I...I guess?", I answered nervously.
Errors #2 to #457: Not escaping
And just like that, I was suckered into nearly 2.5 years of having a FWB while having to, very creatively at times, mask it as a legitimate relationship.
We enjoyed the time we spent together.
We enjoyed going places together.
My mum liked her, her parents liked me. (Dad was skeptical at best and thought I could do better)
The small issue: I struggled to communicate at times. I didn't know how to find my voice, so there were times that I would have to text her how I felt. Sometimes I would hide in a corner just so I could cry. (I later learned of my autism, and it all made sense and I learned how to resolve this)
The big issue: I was completely burned out on intimacy. After almost 2.5 years of emulating laboratory rabbits, I was done. My usefulness had expired.
The biggest issue: We were both suffering academically. We had no common interests at all anymore, and we had put eachother ahead of our own academics so much that we were both risking academic expulsion.
So we mutually agreed to break up.
She dropped out of university (and never went back or finished her schooling), and I changed majors twice before getting my Bachelor of Science.
My first relationship lasted from June 2009 to April 2010.
My second "relationship" lasted from February 2011 until May 2012 (Although we started spending time together in significant amounts starting August 2010)
I have not had a girlfriend since May 2012.
I had one friend in my senior year of college, who gave me some non-physical affection while also keeping me firmly locked in the friendzone. But quality time, by itself, only goes so far.
I have not had any physical affection since May 2012.
I have not spent quality time with a female since May 2013.
For most of that time, from May 2013 to August 2019, I really didn't mind it at all. I have been so tied up in working, hobbies, and life in general, that I completely ignored women.
But as my birthday loomed near in October 2019, it donned on me....I was on a crash course to being eternally lonely.
So I have tried online dating. I have gone on a few first dates, but no second dates.
Sometimes, I want to give up. The fight just doesn't seem worth the reward.
And honestly?
Sometimes I feel exactly like my friend's remarks at the top of this post. Sometimes I wish I would have been a little more rebellious, a little more care-free, a little more out-there.
But at the same time, ...
Sometimes I wish that neither relationship would have ever happened.
That I would have never learned the true definition of intimacy.
That I would have never done whatever it took to make the other person happy.
That I wouldn't have been such an easy push-over.
That I would have stuck to my initial pledge in life
That I would have spoke up more and defended myself.
All I am now, is damaged product.
I don't truly know how to love.
I don't truly know how to feel.
I don't truly know how to be myself.
I don't truly know how to be intimate.
I am human, I am male, so of course I have my moments. But I don't want that to be the reason for a relationship. I want it to be the least-important factor, or not a factor at all.
I want a relationship founded on trust, honesty, fortitude, common interests, personality, maybe even a little faith.
Not intimacy.
I just want to not be invisible, or to only have one attribute visible.
I want to be seen for all the other attributes.
I am not A-sexual. I still feel emotions and feelings. I just don't want to let them out of the locked box which contains them. Not without lots of context and preparedness.
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janiedean · 6 years ago
Note
you: complains about americans with Italian heritage for claiming they know things about Italy / also you: i read a book about this and i’m telling you it’s wrong to joke about this very specific thing in your own country (this is really not that deep it doesn’t need a crusade)
...... 
listen my darling, my pal, my comrade, one thing is italian americans claiming they know things when they in fact don’t know shit, push their societal constructs on us (see the italians are poc debate which has no sense to exist here) and saying shit like MUSSOLINI UNIFIED ITALY (???) and THE MAFIA WASN’T BAD which is basic ignorance about how italy works which means they haven’t even read a book
one thing is yours truly having read not one but multiple books written by american journalists/sociologists about the us of a for years because if you haven’t grasped that concept I’ve been reading stuff about your fair country since I was sixteen and finished the grapes of wrath and now I’m thirty-one so excuse me if I did my share of reading from which I can see an alarming tendency from y’all to absolutely ignore the classism issue in your fair country and it’s not just that one, I’ve read a fuck ton of said nonfiction and I happened to actually like talk to us americans from those backgrounds to check if it was bullshit or not (spoilers: it apparently wasn’t) making an untagged post saying that she doesn’t think alabama jokes are funny, but did you see me tagging it? or telling that to an american person directly? nah. I just said they aren’t funny. and if you actually read the aforementioned book differently from me you wouldn’t think it was funny either.
also, since I have to keep on reading about so-called leftist progressists in the usa of shitting on so-called backwards state for being the reason trump was elected and all the worst things in the us of a exist when guess what if you read even ten pages on one of those books it’s exceedingly clear why the fuck would poor people vote for trump in the us of a, I’ll spam those books any time I can because, guess what my darling, my pal, my comrade, whoever is in charge in the us of a also affects other nations and if they fuck things up for y’all things also get fucked for us differently from 90% of the other western elected PMs (because if the italian PM fucks things up for italy the worldwide economy doesn’t suffer, yours does) so excuse me if the moment I see that a website full of so-called leftist activists has no issues making fun of, ah, wait, poor and uneducated people who should actually be the among the left’s priority when it comes to champion for their rights to exist, I might raise my eyebrows.
but sure, pointing that out is absolutely the same thing as in italian american showing up and telling me that the mafia is a nice welfare organization, that italians are poc, that we all grow up watching the godfather every sunday, that mussolini unified italy, that italy committed genocide in sicily (which are all factually wrong things that just someone who hasn’t ever seen a tv show from italy would say, never mind reading books).
and anyway I didn’t tell that to anyone specifically. I made an untagged post on my own damned blog about a thing that to me doesn’t sound funny whatsoever.
btw, just for science, I wonder why are you so pressed about me saying that classist jokes about poor people who most likely didn’t study that much in their lives and who come from backgrounds where they were forced to stay poor and uneducated until the sixties by most likely white rich people don’t sound hilarious to my non-american eye, because I have a feeling that if I was talking about any other discriminated american minority my nationality wouldn’t matter. *shrug* ah, btw: y’all the ones exporting cultural imperialism all over the world so whatever an italian american says trying to teach me about my own country has automatically more weight than anything I could say to teach you about yours since we are not exporting cultural imperialism.
also, a while ago I don’t remember wtf I was discussing but I said that I was hoping trump wouldn’t get to choose a supreme court judge for a long time, and I got an ask from a presumably us american anon asking me, an italian person, ‘wait does the president really have a say in the supreme court judges’, and another time I had to explain another us american anon why reagan had been a shit president because their parents always said he hadn’t been that bad and apparently no one in school taught them better, and that’s without mentioning that half of this website has no idea that in vietnam there was the draft, all things that I know and the us american people in question apparently did not, so like........ ‘scuse me if when I had to explain that to people (I mean reagan and the supreme court, admittedly the draft thing got answers like ‘we did it in college not in high school’ so I didn’t have to explain it but sure af I should have had to explain it to every single person on the post that started that discussion), I can have my doubts on whether people who don’t come from the south actually have a clue concerning incest practices in between poor white people in alabama. I rest my case. godspeed.
anyway: I’m just saying imvho it’s bad taste, and not the funny kind of. considering how much y’all preach about anything concerning other nations, it’s hilarious that I had to get two asks on a post with like seven notes last I checked about a very specific thing that no one gaf about if not for joking about it. 
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heartfeltheart · 5 years ago
Text
Alchemy: Magic Vs. Science
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Chapters: 15/25 Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist/Harry Potter Rating: T Relationships: Edward/Winry, Lan Fan/Ling, and May/Alphonse. Primary Characters: Edward Elric, Severus Snape Additional Tags: Crossover, Teacher!Edward, BrOtp Edward/Severus. Sassy beyond measure. Series: Part 1 of 9. Summary: Magic and Science, are they the same or are they completely different? It just takes one person to point out all up and downs. Along with breaking the stereotypes that come up with being a wizard, alchemist and most of all being human. Thank you, @amynchan! D/C: I do not own Harry Potter or Fullmetal Alchemist. Discord: La Red(Mesh Mash of… stuff.): https://discord.gg/KYjmVAb Alchemy Series: https://discord.gg/DejEYNJ
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“English and Edward’s accented voice.” “Amestrian or another foreign language.” “Written notes.” ‘Thoughts.’ First Name: Informal Last Name: Formal (Or used to annoy others)
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"BASTARD!"
"SHORTY!"
"WE ARE THE SAME HEIGHT NOW, STOP SAYING THAT!"
"...Really?"
"You barely noticed."
"SHUT UP!"
"MAKE ME!"
Complete and utter chaos is the only way that the Auror's could describe the scene before them. The moment that Colonel Elric stood in front of an inconspicuous looking wall and yelled out 'Colonel Bastard', they wondered if the muggle had lost his mind. Then to their complete and utter shock, someone responded with a scream that they could only describe annoyance and disbelief. A light filled the alleyway and once it went away, the wall was gone, revealing two muggles. One was the fire street performer from earlier and the other one was...half naked and crying.
Colonel Elric walked up to the shorter of the two muggles and they started to argue in a different language. As those two argued, the other man started to blubber, cry and sparkle. If that was some type of magic, they do not want to know...
Soft footsteps reverberated from the entrance of the alleyway, and they turned to see a woman with blonde hair and brown eyes with a dog. The canine kept looking towards their way, occasionally baring its teeth at them warningly. His mistress paid no mind to them as she headed towards the end of the alleyway of the arguing men. She appeared to be completely unperturbed by the scene before her. One of the Auror's called out to her, to remove her from the scene, when the blonde pulled out a small muggle metal object from her person. Only one or two of the Auror's knew what that object was, their eyes went wide when the women pointed her gun at the arguing man. Without warning.... three bangs filled the air.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
Elric and Mustang stopped their argument, their eyes wide in complete fear as they saw three bullet holes on a dumpster that was right next to them. Smoke trailed through the bullet holes only seemed to intensify the tense atmosphere. No one spoke as they feared the beauty will turn her weapon on them.
"H-h-he-e-e-l-l-l-o-o, Lei-" Edward cleared his throat with fear clearly evident in his voice. "Lieutenant Hawkeye!"
"It's Captain Hawkeye now, Colonel Elric." Hawkeye stated in English, her voice is extremely lightly accented. It was far better than Elric's by miles.
"Captain?" One of the Auror's asked with a look of befuddlement. "Colonel Elric?"
"What the bloody hell just happened?" The Head Auror yelled out, ignored the previously asked question. He pointed a hand at Hawkeye, who still had her gun out. "You nearly killed them with that-that-that-"
"That's a muggle weapon called a gun..." One of the other Auror's piped up but paid any mind to him.
"You could have missed and killed them!"
Elric and Mustang glanced at each other with wide eyes, looks of complete shock that quickly turned into amusement. They wrapped an arm around each other's shoulders and began to laugh. It appeared whatever anger they had for each other earlier had gone and they actually looked like friends for once.
"Hawkeye missing her target?"
"She never misses! Never!"
"Who do they think they are?"
"I told you that they are idiots."
The Auror's knew that Elric and Mustang were making fun of them, even if they could not understand what was being said. They wanted to yell at them, to tell them what they are blabbering about. However, the fear of being shot by the woman or get mauled by her canine kept them quiet, including using their magic to use a spell to figure out what is being said. The gun was still spewing out smoke...
"OWWWW! What the hell Fullmetal! That was my foot!"
"Stop pulling my hair, Bastard!"
"Stop stepping on me then! You still have your automail!"
"Then move your foot!"
Hawkeye let out a sigh, she knew something like this was going to happen. It was inevitable. This was just a time bomb, ticking away to explode in complete insanity. There was only one cure for such situation...violence, intimidation, and fear.
Bang!
Bang!
The bullet soared through the air, narrowly missing Elric's right arm and Mustang's eye. Both males eyes widen in complete fear. They know that Hawkeye never misses, but that still puts the fear into them. Warning shots... They need to behave properly in front of government officials...fun.
"That's two warning shots. You know what comes next." Hawkeye stated, she casually reloaded her gun to emphasize her point.
"I am sorry, Captain Hawkeye." Edward apologized.
Hawkeye gave Mustang a pointed look and the man apologized for his own behavior.
"I apologize for my behavior." Mustang strained out, he and Elric untangled from each other and stood at an arm's length from each other. A shadow fell over them and both men swore they saw sparkles before they were engulfed in an, oh so familiar Armstrong embrace.
"Oh! Friends making up and being friends, such a glorious day!"
"Get him off from me!"
"Armstrong!"
If the Auror's weren't terrified already, they were most diffidently now.
-.-
"So... Mustang."
"Fullmetal?"
"First off, THE FUCK? Seriously, the Fuck? Why are you here?"
"Well, as per usual, I'm-"
"And SECONDLY, STOP calling me that! Really! Just 'Ed' works, for the millionth time. Are you getting deaf, Old Bastard?"
"You're still a Colone-"
"And you're still a Bastard!"
"Oh? Well, you're still a ShRiMp!"
Hawkeye sighed, sensing another argument approach. She looked pointedly at them, loudly cocking her pistol to make a point. Forget the fact they are currently in the British Ministry of Magic and surrounded by stick-wielding idiots, this was a matter of her losing her sanity. It just took that single click to get Elric and Mustang attention. Both men wrapped an arm around each other's shoulders and shook each other's good hands as a sign of friendship. An extremely forced and terrified friendship. Hawkeye gave them one last look before she continued of forward.
The moment that Hawkeye turned away, Elric and Mustang glared at each other. That went away whenever the brown-eyed blonde turned around, it was all smiles and laughter. The Auror's, Ministry Official's and many bystanders watched the scene before them with different views. Many view the Amestrians as complete idiots, there was no way they are high ranking military officials with that type of attitude. Another group saw this as an opportunity to use in their favor. If this is how they run a country, then everything will be far easier for their own agenda. The last group watched on with hidden mirth. It was amusing to watch, to say the least.
Especially the fact two grown men are terrified of a small dog and said dog's owner.
Then again, it was all fun and games until someone loses an eye or limb. In this case, it might as well be both.
After walking through the sixth corridor, Mustang cleared his throat to get Elric's attention. The Golden Blonde inconspicuously glanced over to see his superior officer giving him a look they needed to discuss something. A discussion that needed to be kept under wraps and no arguing from either of them. With a humph, Elric fell into step with Mustang without forcing their interaction to seem fake.
"Yes?"
"Is there anything else I should know before we enter?"
"Besides the fact no one seems to have common sense, whatever logic they have goes through one ear and into another and I am being honest here...I am surprised I haven't maimed or killed anyone. Or myself for that matter..." Elric rotated his left arm as he spoke, Mustang was "Besides the obvious... if you thought the Military was corrupt from within, you'll have a field day here trying to dig up every conspiracy this place has to offer."
Mustang facepalmed, he did not even bother to hide his annoyance. The last thing he needed is more conspiracies, let alone in a place filled with whackos. "Politics?"
"...I just told you..."
"Fullmetal."
"Tch. Fine. The British Ministry of Magic... What I know mostly deals with the children. I know from what I have heard from my friends here, students, and you get the picture..." Elric reached up and pinched the bridge of his nose as he caught sight of a woman wearing nothing but a horrid shade of pink. The mere sight of it nearly blinded him and by the looks of it, his military friends had a similar issue with it. "This ministry is controlling every aspect in that school. They are not teaching any subjects that could help them in a... muggle setting... They are ensuring what is taught to them, makes them stay in this idiotic world. With no chances of being able to blend into any other society. This government makes everything seem so loony, but in the background, all that is them controlling everything."
"...Are you correcting it?"
Elric slowly shifted over to look at Mustang with a deadpanned expression. Mustang gave him a slide glace to see the Golden Blonde's own expression, he coughed into his gloved hand and took that as his answer. "Should have known the answer already."
"Well no duh..."
"Here we are..." One of the Auror's said opening large oak doors to reveal a room that had a long table with chairs surrounding it. The walls had paintings, all of whom Elric assumes to be past officials of the Ministry of Magic. Now for the upcoming headaches that only meetings, paperwork and people that have nothing to do with politics could do.
-.-
Severus stared the piece of paper that laid on Edward's desk. It was a clear outline what the Alchemy Teacher expected to be done while in his absence. In this case, Severus was currently subbing for said teacher and was left at a loss. He would have thought being a potion's master would give an edge along with studying Edward's notes. It appeared none of that is helping him at that moment.
In the unspecified amount of time that Severus had known Edward, he had always managed, if only just, to grasp Edward's understanding and logic of the world. Even at Edward's most confused, angry, or seemingly deranged moments, Severus had managed to work out what was needed to maintain at least a basic conversation with the blonde. Today, looking at Edward's notes for his class, he was at a complete at a complete loss. For the first time since his own school days, Severus had zero ideas of what to do.
"Sir?"
Severus glanced over to see one of the Alchemy student's starting at the piece of paper on the desk. Judging from the student's expression, they knew what was written on it. "What?"
"Need help translating it?"
Severus looked at the student, a Hufflepuff, the piece of paper, back to the student and back at the paper. Without saying a single word, he pushed paper towards the Hufflepuff's direction. For his own credit, the Potion's Master did not take away any points. Especially after the student took the paper and went up to the chalkboard and started to write down what was needed to be done. Apparently, Edward had coded the instructions just enough for one of his students to decode it.
The topic of the day is... Noble gases.
"We are to write an essay on one of them of our choosing."
"That's it?"
"Hahaha.... no. Once we are done with that, we must write another report on how the element of our choosing interacts with five other elements on the periodic table. That is where you come in." The Hufflepuff put down the piece of chalk once they finished writing on the chalkboard. They placed the paper back on the desk and pulled out a giant chart from the said desk. The Hufflepuff placed the chart on another chalkboard to reveal a periodic table. "You are to assign each of us those five elements and write it down for Mr. Elric's knowledge."
"And you got all of that...from that?"
"Yes."
"Five points from Hufflepuff."
So close...
-.-
Vigilance. Utmost vigilance. These people were acting like complete idiots, the first moment Alastor "Mad-Eye" Moody first saw the Amestrians, his first thoughts were that they have no business being in a military. They are carefree, obnoxious, and completely unbelievable in his eyes. This meeting seemed like a complete waste of time. That train of thought completely when the leader cleared his throat and went from being an idiot to an actual leader. Someone he must keep an eye out on.
What surprised Mad-Eye the most is that he thought the woman, Captain Riza Hawkeye, is the leader of the bunch. No. The supposed moron is the leader and highest ranking officer of the bunch. The way he spoke, his posture, that looks in his eye and everything about that man screams danger. It didn't help how the man used his hands emphasize his points, said hands that created such realistic flames.
"Hem. Hem."
Mustang stopped talking when that same woman from earlier, who is dressed entirely in an atrocious shade of pink and reminded him of a toad, give him a familiar looking smile. The same type of smile he had seen on people that have ulterior motives and hiding something within their own selves. For Truth's sake, he has own version of that smile. "Yes?"
"You stated that your home country of Amesty-"
"Amestris." Elric interrupted, no hint of remorse in his voice. He gave the woman a blank stare while said woman momentarily glared at him for interrupting her. "Get it right."
"Fullmetal..."
"I am not apologizing."
"Colonel Elric."
"..." Elric felt a drop of cold of sweat slide down the back of his neck when he felt Hawkeye give him the 'look'. He looked over at the frog and said an apology.
"As I was saying..." The woman continued, not bothering to acknowledge the apology. "You had stated that your home country, magic is impossible to do? Could you explain how is that even remotely possible?"
"Ah...That questions, I expected one of you to ask us that earlier." Mustang stated, he leaned against his chair and gave the woman a fixed expression. "We suspect it had to do with an event that occurred over four hundred years ago..."
Elric kept his expression transfixed on Mustang as the man spun the tale that caused so many deaths, heartaches, and so many broken promises. Mustang did not mention anything about Father, the homunculus, how deeply rooted the former is in the Military and so on. Only gave enough information to satisfy the Ministry Officials hunger.
Sometime later...
"These sparkles have been passed down the Armstrong family for generations and generations!"
Roy and Edward leaned slide down their respective chairs as they watched Alex go on about the Armstrong family line. One of the wizards couldn't hold back their curiosity about Armstrong's sparkles. Roy had a mental debate on whether to allow any sort of questioning towards his unit. Especially if they are personal, however... it is all going to come out one way or another.
"One question, only ask one question to each of us. Only one, don't waste it. Oh, one more thing...we are not responsible for the after effects."
The first question just had to be about the sparkles...why does it always have to be about the sparkles...
"I asked Winry to marry me...and well... I guess...I have to invite you..."
Roy looked at Edward with a look of shock. His young subordinate is getting married, Edward is getting married and is growing up. He reached over and nudge Edward with his elbow. "Are you sure you were the one that popped the question? It could be Winry that popped the question. Times have changed."
"...In all honesty... I'm waiting for Riza to ask you once Grumman passes the law."
"What law? What law? Fullmetal!"
"Nothing. Nothing. Nothing."
Roy stated at Edward before he let out a frustrated sigh. If anything, he wouldn't mind if Riza does pop the question. The only issue was the anti-fraternization law that were in place, preventing any sorts of relationships to occur between military officers. Maybe one day...maybe one day. "Where is the wedding taking place?"
"Resembool, I don't care really. Wherever Winry wants to get married."
"...Rush Valley?"
Edward paled at the thought of having his wedding at Rush Valley. It did not look pretty, not one single bit. "...Uh...Whatever makes her happy..."
Roy snickered under his breath, he needed to even the ground between them. "How's being a teacher? Killed anyone yet?"
"Ugh......" Edward slid further into his chair in complete despair. "Don't even get me started, now I know how Teacher feels like... I apologize every time I ever acted like a complete brat."
"...Did you just apologize?" Roy nearly jumped out of his seat at the fact Edward just apologized to him. Edward Elric. Apologizing. Nope, nope. Nope. Nope. Nope. What the hell have they done to him?! By the looks of it, Edward looked just as horrified as himself. "To me?"
"This place is messing with me..." Edward's body went entirely slack in shock realization.
-.-
"Go read my files." Elric stated in a bored turn, it was his turn to be asked his single question. The question of the day involved his younger brother, Alphonse. Curse the fact he mentioned his brother and people remember that one thing about his. "You have my files."
"All we have on file is that you have a younger brother by the name of Alphonse Elric and that he is also an alchemist." The hideously dressed toad woman, Umbridge, stated with a clipped voice. She had Elric's files on hand. "Elaborate on ho-"
"I am going to stop you right there." Elric cut her off, raising his hand up to cut Umbridge off. "Only one question, you already asked your question and I answered it."
"No, you did not answer the question."
"Yes, I did."
"No, you did not."
"Yes, I did."
"No. You did not..." The sickly-sweet smile that made Elric look on with hidden disgust. The woman was obviously not to be trusted and reminded him of all thing things he hated. Fake, distrustful, and far too cheerful for his taste.
"Yes, he did." Mustang intervened before the fight escalated anymore than it already has. "You asked about Alphonse Elric, Colonel Elric answered that question by saying for you to read his files."
"I asked how what his brother does for the Amestris Military, what he responded did not coincide with my question." Umbridge said in a sugary tone that hid the poison in her honeyed words. "Colonel Elric had commented that he did his work alongside with his brother, we just wanted to know what is said brother's role."
Elric and Mustang glanced at each other wondering how to make the women understand that they were not going to add any more information on Alphonse. The only connection that connects him through the Military his older brother. That's it, nothing else. What he does vary depending on the situation, Alphonse primary objective is to keep his brother in check or get the brother out of trouble. There's that other thing but that subject is not going to be breach any time soon...
"I already answered your question. Do you understand what we meant by one question? Do you even comprehend what that means?" Elric stated in an authoritative tone that made Mustang's Unit straighten their backs as if they were expecting an order. Mustang grinned at the Golden Blonde's tone of voice, it reminded so much of his own. Dare he say it, that he is looking at Elric with pride. "Do you understand what I am saying to you?"
"You make it seem like they do not comprehend their own language." Mustang commented offhandedly.
"I'm not surprised, they do not teach language at that cesspool. They do not have any type of class that teaches them the common fundamentals that are needed to be taught in any school." Elric muttered under his breath just loud enough for Mustang to hear. "Too bad they don't have a class that teaches them common sense. They all need it...severely."
"Ah...is this what you have been facing since you started teaching at Pigwarts?"
"It's Hogwarts, Colonel Bastard." Elric corrected Mustang with a snort. "Yes, at least you don't have to teach them... I must teach them subjects they should have already knew before even entering the school. No English, Math, Science, or other subjects that are needed to get by in this world."
Mustang expression went blank as he went over what Elric just informed him. The mere thought of it made him pinch the bridge of his nose to hold back his frustration. This assignment seemed to be getting better and better. "This is a complete waste of time."
"The adults in this world are useless, there is still hope for the younger generation that hasn't been tainted by their parent's view of the world." Elric mumbled under his breath.
That perked Mustang's interest, he leaned forward and gave the Ministry officials a charming smile. "Tell me about this school of yours, Pigwarts..."
"Hogwarts." Elric coughed out, elbowing Mustang in the ribs.
Mustang considered himself lucky at the fact Elric's right arm is his actual human arm. If it was still an automail limb, there might have been a broken rib or two. For now, glaring will suffice for a later time. "Hogwarts...public or private?"
-.-
"As I said before, this was a complete waste of time." Roy stated under his breath, downing down on a cup of hot coffee. He did not care for the fact he was burning his tongue in the process. "They have nothing to offer us, they are still recovering from a war that occurred years ago and the government has its grimy hands on everything. It reminds me of Amestris before the Promise Day."
"I warned you, this place has nothing to offer Amestris. The government is interlaced into every crook and crevice of the British Magical World. They make things seem kooky and insane, to hide the fact there are dark intentions behind every move they do." Edward stated in a calm tone, he slowly drank a cup of tea. He sat with his legs crossed, arms crossed and his eyes were closed. Roy was sitting next to him in a similar position and the rest of the unit is sitting around them. "The comparison of rebuilding a government and country, between Amestris and here... it's laughable. As you said, they are recovering from a war that occurred years ago and shows no progress of fixing itself anytime soon. Amestris has already redone the government to ensure what had happened, will not happen again...Colonel Bastard?"
"Yeah, pipsqueak?"
"Does the Military have control off all the schooling system?"
"Mainly in the Academy, they have been pushing schools to teach subjects geared towards alchemy. Beside that...no. There has been talking to rearrange the system to allow the schools to stray away from that and be more creat...I'm getting off topic here... Nope. If a kid wants to go out into the world, we will give them the necessary tools for them to survive. Unlike here!"
"...You really don't like this place, don't you?"Edward asked with a deadpanned expression.
"What makes you think that?" Roy responded dryly.
"Look...I won't blame anyone for not wanting to create a..." Edward waved his free hand around trying to find the word. "Treaty, truce, agreement, whatever the hell you want to call it, between those idiots and the idiots back home. It benefits them more than it will benefit us in the long run."
"Shouldn't you be trying to convince me to think otherwise?" Roy turned his head to see Edward staring at his own reflection in his drink.
"I'm thinking about my students, dumbass." Edward didn't bother to look at Roy as he stood up, he placed his cup of tea on the table. He reached towards his chair to pick up his coat, he swung the coat of his shoulder and stuffed his hands in the pockets of his pants. "They are the future of this place. If you want to change, you have to start from the beginning."
"Ugh...why do you always make things so complicated..." Roy grumbled under his breath, he watched Ed leave the café they were in and disappear down the street. He glanced down at Edward's drink and stared at it with a blank expression. "...Did he pay for his...?"
"No."
-.-
Amestris.
The Promised Day.
Non-Magical.
Alchemy.
"What the bloody hell should I do?"
Minister Millicent Bagnold sat behind her desk, scanning through many documents that were created for possible peace negotiations between Magical Great Britain and Amestris. She sat in her office as she tried to process what had occurred the last three days. It was constant meetings with Amestris representatives and Prof... Mr..... Colonel Elric. Despite what had occurred in the meeting, the Minister has a feeling that General Mustang played them like fools, and they fell for it. From the information provided for them by the military officers, the Wizarding Community have everything to gain if the negotiations go through.
What would Amestris gain from it all?
Nothing much. By the looks of it, they gain more by making not having to deal with them in the first place. They just went through a civil war almost two years ago, and they made more progress of recovering then themselves in the last couple of years. Self-sufficient. Do they need this to go through? No. Then why are they making the effort of coming here?
Millicent scanned through the files to pull out a particular file. Printed in bold red ink on the front of the file is the name, Edward Elric. This file was given to her by General Mustang's assistant personally and hasn't been seen by anyone else. She slowly opened the file and the first thing she saw is a muggle picture of a young boy that looked eerily like Colonel Elric and another one that is clearly is to be the young man. Scanning through the file, the Minister's eyes widen at the personal achievements of the Former Alchemist.
Millicent sat back on her seat, she rubbed her chin with her free hand as she held up the files for her to read with her other hand. There appeared to be multiple gaps in the story behind the Promised Day, but that is something for her not to worry. That is a personal issue that Amestris needs to hide. For Merlin's sake, the Ministry has so many secrets that it has its own branch for that. Should she consider looking into it? No. She'll leave that alone.
The Minister pulled out her wand and flicked it. The moment she did, her personal aid opened the door to her office and walked in. "Madam?"
"Bring me everything we have on Van Hohenheim."
-.-
"My butt..." Edward grumbled under his breath as he tumbled out of Dumbledore's fireplace. He looked up to see that he was the only one in the office besides Fawkes the Phoenix. The bird stared at the Blonde with curious eyes, said Blonde stuck out his tongue at it. "Class should still be in secession right now."
The Phoenix cooed out, Edward swore it was mocking him.
With a grunt, Edward picked himself up and headed out of the office. He headed towards his class to relieve Severus for subbing his class. Knowing Severus, he could be hitting his head against the wall trying to read his notes. That reminds him...he'll have to ask his Wednesday class about that. At that thought, Edward grinned. Said grin turned into a frown when he saw the Kooky Cat Lady walking towards him.
"Mr. Elric." Minerva stated in a clipped tone, she walked up towards the Alchemy teacher.
"Profezor McGonagall." Edward stated back in a bored tone.
-.-
'Late, late, late. I'm late for class!' A first-year Hufflepuff ran through the hall trying to get to his class. He had lost count of time, took the wrong staircase and had to go back to the Hufflepuff common room for his forgotten books. He stopped running when he heard harsh whispers up ahead of the hall. In a knee-jerk reaction, the Hufflepuff hid and cursed at the fact that he needed to get through that hall to get to class. Taking in a deep breath, he moved forward in hopes of not getting noticed. The closer he got, the whispers got clearer.
"Zere is a difference petveen being harsh and being strict."
Mr. Elric?
"They are children, we should not be treating them like you have been doing so."
Professor McGonagall?
"You cuddle your stutents. I enzure zey are prepared for the vorld outside zeze valls..."
What was said after that caused the Hufflepuff to pale, he retraced his steps and decided to take another route. He did not want to get caught in the middle of that crossfire. Then...there was silence. The Hufflepuff heard stomping heading towards his way and he quickly hid behind a suit of armor. He peeked between the legs of the suit of armor to see Mr. Elric stomping down the hall, all the while cursing Professor McGonagall under his breath.
The first year held his breath hoping to not be seen by the Alchemy teacher. However, his prayers were heard by someone that has a twisted sense of humor. Mr. Elric stopped stomping and cursing, he stopped in the middle of the hallway and slowly turned around. The Alchemy teacher looked at his direction and raised an eyebrow. "Cedric? Vy are you hiting? Should you be in class?"
"Sorry, Mr. Elric!"
-.-
Severus severely regrets having Edward lower the standards for students learning Alchemy. It was obvious this class had no reason, or smarts, to learn Alchemy. The assignment has been given out and he could see how lost they are. The last two classes at least knew what they were doing, or asked their fellow classmates for help.
No.
Not them.
All of them are too proud to ask for help.
Slam!
Everyone in the classroom looked over at the main entrance of the classroom to see that Edward had kicked the door in. His hands were in his pockets, a sour expression, and tension seemed to exude from him. He paused when he took note at how quiet it was in the classroom. Glancing around, Edward wonders why it was so quiet. Friday class is the talkative class. The silence wasn't helping his mood at all.
"Vy so quiet? Did Brofezor Snabe do something? Zefferus, did you do zomething?" Edward asked he closed the door behind himself as he walked into the classroom.
Severus raised an eyebrow at Edward, he took note at how heavily accented Edward's voice is. Judging by that fact, Edward isn't having a good day for far. "They are clueless of the assignment you assigned."
Edward snapped his heads towards his students, said students kept their gazes down on their papers. They do not know whose worse, Professor Snape or Mr. Elric. It doesn't help that the both of them are in the same classroom. They peaked up to see the teachers started to bicker and that caused many of them to turn in their heads in confusion. This type of behavior isn't exactly seen on a day to day basis by each person, it is only shown when both males are in the same place.
"Tonight?"
"Do you want to know what happened?
"...Do I have to continue substituting for you today?"
"Well...you still have another 30 minutes..."
"Mr. Elric..."
"Fine, fine, fine. Go torture some unfortunate soul that isn't me."
"How tempting..."
-.-
Severus sat on the leather armchair in Edward's room. He gulped down a glass of firewhiskey as he took in what Edward just told him. What he was just told made him wonder how the young man in front of him is still standing, let along living. That also included the country of Amestris, just how in Merlin's beard is that place is still existing.
Edward was laying on a love seat that was covered with multiple blankets and pillows. He had one arm laying across his face to cover his eyes and in his other hand, he had a glass of firewhiskey. The Elric's tone was low and precise that only added the seriousness to what he was saying to Severus. "My father... He wanted to sacrifice himself to bring my little brother back. I couldn't allow him to do that. We made a promise you see... to not use a human life for our own needs. In the end...I traded my door to my Alchemy for my brother."
"...You met and beat God?"
"Truth, we call him Truth and he's an ass."
Edward raised his hand and peeked over to see Severus serving himself another glass of firewhiskey. "Too much information?"
"You ended up losing your leg and brother, which resulted with you sacrificing your arm for your brother's soul. Joined the military at the age 12, got caught in so much nonsense and a huge government conspiracy that involved your 400 and something-year-old father...All because you attempted to bring someone back from the dead..."
"People do stupid things for things for their loved ones."
Severus raised his glass in agreement before drowning it down.
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