#Effective Parenting Approach Zone

[parenting-strategies]

Parenting Strategies: 5 Reasons For Parents To Love Audiobooks

In today's fast-paced world, parents often find themselves juggling multiple responsibilities while trying to create a nurturing environment for their children. Amidst the chaos, finding time to cultivate a love for reading can be challenging. However, audiobooks present a fantastic solution that allows parents to instill a passion for literature in their kids while enjoying numerous benefits themselves. In this blog post, we will explore five compelling reasons why parents should embrace audiobooks as a valuable tool for both education and entertainment.

[sevslut]

Drenched and Denied (Rumor Mill pt. 2)

Paring: Soccer Coach!Sevika. x Soccer Mom!reader cw: pure fluff + angst, sfw, modern!au, flirty, brief suggestion, playful banter, pining, slight makeout sesh, some nudity, r!gender neutral, you have kids (tw), also Sevika has loving family, fade to black, Sev wants dat cookie (das her juice), so cliche but gay i love it (im sorry) wc: 4.4k Synopsis: A sorta-kinda date with Sevika, the previous buffers of children and nosey parents were absent. Just you and her. This wouldn't help the rumor mill, did you care though? a/n: sorry this took literally ages. my writers block has been fucking me in the ass. 1 more part after this and the series will be complete! I wanted to get this out during pride month. also happy pride, little gay ppl in my phone! ☆*: .｡. o(≧▽≦)o .｡.:*☆

pt. 1

You wiped your eyeliner for the 5th time, your eyes were working against you today. You decided to forgo your eye definition, and focused on your hair. You checked your watch, she would be here in 30 minutes and you’d spent the last hour trying to get your kids ready when they go to your ex-wife's for the weekend.

Dragging your hands through your fallen curls, your twist out didn't come out right. The rage that boiled in you made you debate cancelling. You groaned and just sprayed your hair with your spray bottle. You exited the bathroom heading for your bedroom. Not before you spot your eldest outside your bedroom. He was leaning his head against the door when he saw you approaching, he turned to face you not lifting his head. 

“Do I have to go to Grayson’s? Why can’t I stay here, I can watch myself.” he pleaded. 

You approached him and gently stroked his curls. 

“Mama wants to see you, she took the long weekend off to spend time with you guys.”

His face drops. 

“Go tonight and if you still wanna come back tomorrow morning, call me.” you eyed him at your suggestion. “Okay?” 

He nods slowly. “Let me see your phone.” 

You shook your head, and grabbed it from your robe pocket, slowly handing him the phone. 

He grabs your phone and turns the ringer to the highest setting, he hands you the phone back. “Now you’ll hear if I call.” He gave you a no lip smile and walked toward his room. 

“Have fun on your date.” he yells and runs. Before you can do anything he’s in his room with the door closed. 

You take a deep breath. “Not a date, just 2 friends,” you told yourself in a whisper. You bit your lip and went to your bedroom. You put on the lavender halter romper you chose for the occasion. You looked at yourself in the full body mirror. The water finally dried and your curls came back somewhat decent and big, you toyed with the style. A couple of picks to your curls later, you’d finally got the big curly effect you’d wanted. After accessorizing and debating shoes, settling on pointed-toed mules, you were finally ready. You grabbed your satchel and went to gather the gang for Grayson.

…

You and Sevika shared a charcuterie plate at a standing table, you were surrounded by others, you may have chosen a busy day to visit the vineyard. Sevika nibbled on a baby pickle, her eyes exploring the barn the vineyard chose to have their eating area in. There were several tables around you and there were barrels decorating the room with a large hall leading to where the wine was stored. 

“I can’t believe your sister would get you tickets to this place, this doesn’t seem like your scene.” 

Sevika shrugged, her short cropped hair fell in her eyes. 

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me,” she swirls the wine in her glass.

You lean in closer to her. Bumping casually into her. “Don’t tell me you’re a wine snob.” you whisper the last word. 

She chuckles softly. “Nah, just trying new things to get out of my comfort zone.” She  grumbles as she adjusts her collar. She’s wearing a black dress shirt buttoned to the top and gray slacks, the shirt has awkward lines, partially ironed. Almost like she just picked it up before the date…

“What would you prefer over wine?” 

“Whiskey, this is too sweet for me,” 

You raised your brows at her words. 

You didn’t enjoy dry wines, but this was too sweet for her?

“Where? I wish there was any bit of sweetness in this.” 

You grab her glass and smell it, there ain’t no way y’all were drinking the same wine.

You cautiously take a sip, the wines were like night and day. How did she get the dessert wine? 

You place your glass in front of her.  

“I think they mixed up our drinks.” you huffed. 

Sevika followed your lead and smelled the wine before taking a swig. She sighed. 

“Not bad.” 

You sip on yours with your eyes closed, savoring the sweetness after the bitter battle.  

“Should I give you a room, I don’t wanna interrupt.” 

Your eyes remained closed, “Could you? 3rd wheel.” you muttered. 

The wine gave you a dull buzz inside, you’d need 2 more glasses of this sugar water and you’d be gone.

“When you're done with your wine-gasm, I’ll be in the museum.” 

You assumed Sevika would be headed inside but when you opened your eyes, her gaze was on you. 

“Ready?” 

You nodded and followed her out of the barnyard down the hall to the makeshift museum. 

There were several easels with paintings in a circle. You both drank your wine and eyed the art on display. After the 4th painting you both agreed to do the flight. After the bad art and stale wine, it was finally time for dinner. 

The sun was setting and your tables were outside, a view of the vineyard with a burning backdrop. As you peruse the menu, Sevika coughed under her breath, her gaze falling on the rows and rows of grapes.

“What did you think of the art?” Sevika asked.

You looked up, she didn’t meet your eyes, she scanned her menu. The wine had you feeling bold.

“Swear to the goddess, my children have made better art.” You joke.

Sevika chuckles. 

“Without a doubt. $10 the artist was someone related to the family. That’s the only way shit that plain and basic would be considered art. I swear, they took a grape dipped in paint and dropped it a couple times, and called it a day.” Sevika said.

You giggled and tried to keep it down when the waiter approached. 

The waiter takes your drinks orders, a sweet wine for you, and Sevika gets the driest wine they offer. After they drop off the drinks, you both still need time to view the menu. Sevika waits until the waiter leaves before speaking. 

“Don’t worry I understand, you are a sore loser.” Sevika states with a dry look, down at her menu.

“You and these bets, I only bet when I’m with you.”

Sevika held a smirk at your chastising.  

“Hold on, do you know what you’re getting?” you said.

“I’m doing the steak, it’ll pair well with my Zinfandel.” 

You nod at her like you understand. “I love that for you, do you wanna split ceviche as an app?”

Sevika shakes her head. “Why would I need an appetizer if I’m getting an entree?” 

You deflate at her words, “No, we need to get all 3, apps, main and dessert.” 

“The wine isn’t sweet enough?” 

You shake your head. “It is, but they have tiramisu. You can’t not order tiramisu.” 

“We can just get an entree and get ice cream or something after, I know a gelato place in this area.” 

The suggestion rolls around in your head. 

“Deal.” 

The waiter returns and you order your ceviche and pesto gnocchi, Sevika says her order and they’re off. 

Sevika takes a few deep breaths and looks into the distance.

The orange glow from the sun was dancing on her complexion. The burnt sienna hue melted with her skin capturing her profile and you just see Sevika, stripped and raw. You loved looking at her, it felt effortless.

The wine had you in your feelings, she was beautiful and you can’t have her.

“So what were your thoughts on the ‘art’ we saw?” Sevika said.

“Oh it was…weird and not in the ‘good and deep’ sort of way– just lazy and uninspired.” you stated.

Sevika sighed in relief. “Right, we just call anything art now?”

“Okay but actually. It was giving unfinished.” 

“We can finally agree on something,” she mutters. 

You scoff. “What are you talking about?” 

Sevika rolled her eyes. “Name one thing we don’t argue about.” she counters. 

You lean back in your seat and cross your arms, thinking. The amount you and Sevika talked, you’d have to agree on at least something.

“And it can’t be opinions.” 

“I don’t know, Sev, I don’t think that's right, but to each their own I guess.” 

Sevika pulled out her phone after it buzzed.

“How was your dad’s birthday?” you asked.

Sevika leered up at you. 

“I saw it on your sister’s IG story, calm down. I’m not stalking you, I’d actually need time to do that.” you mumbled. 

“I forgot your friends.” she mutters. 

You lean forward on your elbows. “She’s the one who recommended you for soccer.” you pulled out your own phone. 

“Oh. It was nice, he won't shut up about grandkids though,” Sevika groaned. 

“Your sister literally has 2.” 

“My thoughts exactly, but the old man is greedy, I guess.” 

“Do you want kids?” 

Sevika looks up from her phone. She must really be thinking about it. 

“Maybe? I don’t know. Working with kids is already a lot, I can’t imagine going home to them.” She shutters. 

You lean back, and try not to get offended at her words. 

“Well, we manage just fine.” you huff and get back on your phone. 

“Oh– I didn’t mean-”

Sevika puts her phone away as the server returns with your meals, including the starter. It’s been a busy night you didn’t even notice. 

The aroma of the steak smells divine, you regret not getting the steak too. 

You take a bite of your ceviche and you forget the last time you’ve had it. This is the first time in a while that you’ve gotten to eat without your kids. You lean back and absorb the moment. 

“I used to want a bunch of kids when I was younger, but my attitude has changed. And working with kids also opened my eyes to how much work they are. I don’t wanna bring someone into this world without being able to guarantee I’ll give them 100% of myself.” Sevika shrugs and continues cutting up her steak. 

“I see that, I don’t regret my kids, but my wife and I didn’t know what we were getting ourselves into. Kids change you, you have way less time for yourself and you never get to be alone, ever. But they have the best parts of me and Grayson.”

Sevika nods.

“Ex-wife. My ex-wife.” you say too fast, stuffing your mouth with ceviche to prevent saying anything else.  

Why did you feel the need to clarify? You pick up on the game Sevika was playing. A dangerous game. It's getting harder and harder to remember she’s off limits. 

“Shame- I have a thing for married women.” Sevika has a smug expression as she grabs her wine glass and takes a sip.

You narrow your eyes at her. She didn’t make this easy.

“You seem like the type.” you huff.

She chokes on her wine. You scooch your chair closer to hers, giggling as the napkin in your hand made contact with her face. Cleaning up wine dripping down her chin. Carnal desire dared you to lick the spilled wine clean off her chin. Self control won this time. 

Sevika watches you intensely as you gently clean her.

She smells less earthy than normal, her every-day scent was piney with a subtle sweetness. Today her aura was something similar to Amberwood with notes of sage. You wondered if she got a new cologne.   

“You saying I’d have had a better chance pre-divorce?” Sevika countered.

It's your turn to be silent now. 

A grin is splayed on her lips. She rubs the back of her neck, your gaze is drawn to her carved forearms. 

You groaned. You weren’t married, neither was she, why was she off limits again? 

You have to remind yourself to bring your eyes back to her face and away from her arms. 

A sigh of annoyance left you. “I guess we’ll never know.” 

Sevika enjoys her steak as you overthink alone. 

You become aware of how close you are to her. You attempt to scooch back but Sevika stops your chair. She grabs the top of one of the legs and scoots you closer to her. 

“Don’t go. I-I mean. Now it’ll be easier to share the appetizer.” She squeaks. 

Your stomach brews at her scent and the anxiety you feel radiating from her. You notice her lightly patting the palms of her hands on her pants. 

This wasn’t the Sevika you saw normally, stoic and unnerving. You took bites of your pesto.  

“Right, just the apps. Not like you wanna be near me or anything crazy like that.” You rest your left elbow on the table and rest your face in your hand. Sevika nursed her steak and potatoes, her finger toyed with the rim of her glass.

“And I won’t act like this is a date or that I may have freaked out before we got here.” Sevika murmurs.

Your right hand brushes the indented fabric of her dress shirt. Sevika’s breathing hitches at your caress. 

“A steamer would get rid of these creases. Off the rack?” 

She shakes her head. “No, it was on a shelf, folded.” 

A chuckle escapes you. “We could’ve gotten ready together. You have style, Vika, and I like it, you don’t have to be something else for me..” 

You fidget with her top, feeling the edges, the rough fabric between your fingers. The quality was deplorable.

You lean in and smell her collar. You loved how the scent of new clothes danced into your nose.

Sevika just lets you mess with her. You feel her hand rub your exposed mid thigh.

You shouldn’t be this close to her. You shouldn’t be flirting back. You should be distancing yourself from her not going on dates. What if one of the other parents saw? This would be gasoline to the rumors. 

“I also just picked up these pants too, if you need to inspect them.” 

You giggle at her sly comment. 

A cough pops the bubble, you and Sevika were nestled in. 

You both look up at the waiter with the check.     

…

It was dark by the time you both left the restaurant, the sky broke open.��The rain came down in sheets.

You both stand under the tent outside. 

“Wait here, I’ll bring the car round.” Sevika hollered over the downpour. 

You shook your head. “The car isn’t that far, let's just run.” 

Sevika debated your words in her head, softly bobbing her head side to side, upside down smile on her lips. 

“Bet I can beat you to the car.” Sevika muses. 

You look at her and bolt. She was allergic to playing fair. You run as fast as you can in your mules, you hold your bag over your head as a makeshift umbrella. Your feet sliding on the asphalt, each step uncertain as water rushes in your soles. Sevika led ahead of you. Your gaze was on her as she hurried inside the car. You followed behind her, you took off your shoes after you got inside. The rain hung in your romper in every crevice. You looked over at Sevika, her strands clung to her face. You laughed at how drenched you both looked. Sevika pushed her hair away from her face. “I won, obviously.” 

The icy air gave you goosebumps preventing you from quipping at her. 

She pressed a few buttons on her console and your ass began heating up. She turned on the radio at a low volume, and adjusted her seat back. She leaned back and sighed. 

“Hate driving in the rain, you cool if we wait it out?” 

Hugging yourself you nodded and followed her lead, you laid the seat almost flat. 

“You cold?” 

Shaking your head, Sevika rolled her eyes at your words. You saw her reach for something in the back seat and toss it into your lap. 

The fabric felt soft, it was a light red blanket. Without another word, you wrapped yourself in the knit fabric. 

The soft clattering of teeth came from Sevika’s side. You climbed into the back seat. 

“Come on now,” you said. 

Her expression stayed neutral. She followed your lead, unfortunately she couldn’t jump through the seats due to her size. She just opened the door and quickly hopped in beside you. You wrapped the blanket over you. 

“It’ll be easier, if you come closer.” 

She scoots closer until your thighs brush up against each other. 

The blanket was over your shoulders, she huddled beside you. She worked the blanket over herself, giving you an excuse to cuddle up closer to her. You swung your legs over hers, letting you cuddle into her. You looked up and her face was inches from yours. Her eyes were drawn to your lips, they deceived her trying to hold eye contact. 

The smell of the rain mixed with her amber and notes of pine provided comfort you couldn't explain. On the field you rarely got the opportunity to smell her up close, the scent of the park and others took over. 

Being close wasn’t foreign to the two of you, Not intentionally. The jokes and goofing off were different, those actions were not this intense.

Slowly, your head found refuge on her shoulder, her warmth radiating through you, doing more work than the blanket. You could feel her stiffen up.

“Your body is hot, like literally,” 

Sevika gave you a half-hearted chuckle. “I’ve always ran hot,” 

“Lucky for you, I’m always cold.”  

Your hand played with the hem of her soaked shirt. 

“Do you wanna take this off?” 

Sevika didn’t say anything, just nodded. 

The positioning made it impossible for you to go anywhere but her lap. So you climbed her lap. This wasn’t for you, you didn’t want her to catch a cold. One by one you freed each button on the stiff polyester nightmare of a shirt. When you finally made it to the last button, you saw her in a black sports bra over her glistening and toned stomach.  Sevika flinched at your touch. 

“Shit-fuck!” 

Sevika grabbed your hands in hers, putting your palms on her abs. She winced at the contact. A snicker escaping your lips at her misery.

“What are you doing?” Sevika scrunched her face as your hands rested on her. 

“I’m trying to warm you up.” 

“Aw, you sure this wasn’t an excuse to show off your muscles?” 

Sevika served you a confused look. “You do realize you're the one who undressed me. I should be the one interrogating you.” 

Your hands are still on her stomach and you're sitting on her lap.

“I wish I could take my romper off, but I doubt I should get naked in your car–,” 

“Unless there was a purpose.” Sevika cut you off. 

“Exactly. And we can’t do anything like that.” 

“Right,” Sevika nodded. “Why can't we do that again?” 

“We’re friends and you coach my children’s team. It wouldn’t be good for anyone, and you have a relationship with Grayson,” 

“I have more of a relationship with you, she barely comes to any of the games,” 

“And what about the other parents? I’m sure you’ve heard the stuff they’ve said–,” 

“Bullshit, are you living for them or yourself?” 

Your gaze falls to your hands. They were warm now, there wasn’t a desire to cut contact. You yearned to lay on her chest and rest until the storm gave out. All logic telling you otherwise was mute. You'd denied yourself of Sevika for so long, indulging this felt enthralling.

Her gaze hadn’t let up, her piercing eyes clung to your every move. 

As you leaned closer, Sevika sensed your hesitance. You leaned in close but not all the way.

“I don’t know if I’m ready for this.” you whispered. 

Sevika made a face. “What’d you say again?” 

“$10, you won't kiss me.” 

Her eyes finally meet yours.  

“You didn’t just say that.” she states. 

You hold her gaze, gauging her next move. You both hold a silent staring contest.

You leaned in slowly, and grabbed her face. Waiting a minute to ensure she wanted this too. She leaned into your palm, she felt delicate and warm in your hands. 

When your lips met the flavor from the steak danced on your tongue, the tension that built up erupted in the tight space. All the glances, the inside jokes and late nights. The voice in the back of your head that craved Sevika had won. Her hands find purchase on your hips. It felt so natural like she’d done this before. Her lips left yours to trail a line of kisses from the bottom of your chin to your ear lobe, she felt around until you started to moan. She’d found your sweet spot and the pleasure had you reeling. 

The rest of the evening was spent exploring each other’s bodies in Sevika’s backseat. 

You don’t know when you both fell asleep, but the next morning you woke up in her arms with the sunlight in your eyes. The even prior was a blur and the wine glasses from yesterday were squeezing your skull. You remembered why you didn’t drink often; the hangover superseded any fun that could’ve been had the prior night. Well almost, last night was worth it. Sitting up you stretched your shoulders, a pain jolted your neck. So, that answers how you slept last night, you were definitely gonna pay for that later today. Sevika murmured in her sleep, you didn’t realize how someone with few words talks so much in their sleep. 

“Why are you staring?” Her rough morning voice drew your attention. She looked at you in her sports bra and boxers, you were wearing her button up from the previous night. 

Her morning hair was all in her face. A glowering look hung from her face. You leaned down to her and nuzzled her face, sprinkling kisses. 

“Because you are too cute.” 

She let you kiss all over her face, an alarm went off on her phone. Sevika felt around for it, and checked the time. Her eyes bulged from her head. 

“Fuck, is this the time?” 

Glancing at your watch, you nod. 

“Why? Is there an upset wifey at home?” 

You could feel the anxiety as she looked around for her shirt, she grabbed her pants and started putting them on while sitting down. 

“Brunch with my folks and Samira.” You slowly started unbuttoning her shirt to pass it over. 

“Hold on, I think I have a sweater I can put on.” Sevika crouches over the seat to rummage in her trunk. 

You took the shirt off and slipped on your romper while she kept rifling. 

“Here.” 

Sevika turned around, her mouth was open. 

You turned to show her the back of your outfit. “Can you zip me up?” 

You didn’t hear Sevika say or do anything for a few seconds. After a beat you felt the zipper go up. You turned to face her. 

“Can I?” She hesitated, then nodded. You buttoned up her shirt, picking off random lint. 

“I should help, considering it's my fault you’re almost naked.” 

The corner of her lips curve up. 

“Can you drop me off beforehand? If not, I can just call an uber.” 

She opened the door and got in the driver's seat. She turned the car on, and turned back in your direction. She gestured. 

You crawled into the passenger seat. The shoes from last night were fully dry now. 

“You're not gonna come to Brunch?” a sullen expression washed over her.

“Are you kidding? My teeth aren't brushed, I know my hair looks crazy,” 

At the mention you open the visor and check yourself in the mirror. You have eye crust, hair was going every which way, in short you looked worse.

“Why didn’t you tell me how bad I look?” 

“We can stop by your place and then go, how does that sound?” 

You sighed. “Ok, then yeah, maybe.” 

“C’mere.” 

You looked away from the visor toward Sevika. “Hmm?”

You leaned in closer, and she dropped a passionate slow kiss on your lips. 

“Nothing sexier than eye boogers.” 

You playfully shoved her for the remark, “Shut up,” you mused. 

Her attention returned to the parking lot. She exited the lot and made her way toward your house. The smooth ride was in contrast to the prickly feeling in your stomach. You couldn’t stop thinking about last night, getting flashbacks to it. 

What did this mean for your relationship? This had to be a secret as long as the rumor mill was concerned. The car stopped at the red light, Sevika palmed your thigh. She rubbed exposed skin. Fingers creeping toward your center, then returning to mid thigh just under the hem of your romper. Her gaze was fixed on your thighs, the way her eyes explored your body set you aflame. She had to cut the moment, after several honks broke the moment. 

…

You brushed your teeth, put your hair in a pineapple and styled it. Your face was done, and you waited for Sevika to get out of the shower. 

You sat on the floor in front of your body mirror fiddling with your curls. Sevika approached you slowly but your eyes already caught her figure. She had a towel wrapped around her hips, her itty-bitty titties on display, and drying her hair with a t-shirt you’d given her. 

“See something you like?” she mused. 

You nodded slowly biting your lower lip, zero shame in the way you ogled her statuesque figure. 

“Don’t even think about it, we’re already late.”

A wave of arousal washed over you at her words.

“Stop tempting me!" you fake yell. 

She walked over to the bed with her clothes from yesterday. You opted for a black mini dress with a boat neckline, and sandals, matching Sevika.  

On the car ride over to the restaurant, you got the courage to ask Sevika. 

“Just so we’re on the same page, what should we say, if your parents ask why we’re together?” 

Sevika kept her gaze on the road, but you noticed the late reply. 

“They won’t.” 

“But what if Samira asks?” 

“She won’t.”

A deep groan escaped you. Your frustration couldn’t be contained. You stopped beating around the bush. 

“I wanna know what we are now? Are we still friends? Or are we friends who hook up on occasion?" 

She pulled into the parking lot. “What do you want?” She cut the engine and turned to you. Her full attention on you. 

“I’m not ready for another relationship, but I would be open to something casual.” 

Sevika nods thoughtfully.

“I can do casual.”  she says.

You smile at her. This was gonna be fun.

a/n: The next & last part will be Sev's POV. ❤️ likes and reblogs appreciated as always❤️

[aphroditelovesu]

Cyrus and Aella Headcanons

❝commission: headcannons about the twins (Cyrus and Aella). — requested by 💻 anon.

❝ 📜 — lady l: I spent a few days thinking about how to create a different but complementary personality for the twins and this came out, I think it turned out good. They're my babies, my first OC's to be honest, and I need to write more for them. I hope you like it and forgive me if there are any mistakes! ❤️

❝tw: none.

❝📜word count: 1,208.

Cyrus and Aella have complementary personalities. Cyrus is calmer and more reflective, while Aella is energetic and adventurous. 

From a young age, Cyrus has always demonstrated a serene and contemplative nature. He is a deep thinker, often lost in his own thoughts. He prefers to analyze situations before acting, evaluating all possible consequences.

His ability to formulate complex strategies is unparalleled. Cyrus loves studying ancient texts on military tactics and philosophy, drawing inspiration from great thinkers like Aristotle, who was also a mentor to his father.

Aella, on the other hand, is a true free spirit. Since she was a child, she was known for her tireless energy and thirst for adventure. Always looking for new experiences, she loves exploring unknown territories and engaging in challenging activities.

Aella has a natural talent for leadership. Her courage and determination inspire those around her, and she quickly gains the loyalty of her followers. On the battlefield, her presence is motivating, and her strategy skills are admirable. If she could (and perhaps can) carry a sword, she will.

Unlike Cyrus, Aella often acts on intuition. She trusts her instincts and is willing to take risks that others would avoid. This approach, while risky, often leads to surprisingly positive results.

Aella has a strong sense of justice and is a fervent defender of the oppressed. She does not hesitate to fight for causes she believes are just, even if it means confronting powerful adversaries and defying the laws that prohibit her from doing what she wants just because she is a woman.

The combination of her personalities creates a perfect balance. While Cyrus plans and calculates every move with precision, Aella is ready to act quickly and face any challenge with courage and vigor. If they decided to rule together, it would be almost impossible to stop them.

In crises, Cyrus can calm and guide Aella, while she can encourage him to step out of his comfort zone and make bolder decisions. They complement each other.

Communication between the twins is almost telepathic. They understand each other with a simple exchange of glances, allowing for fluid and efficient collaboration, whether in strategic discussions or battles.

This complementarity makes them unbeatable, whether in the administration of the empire, in leading armies, or in diplomacy. They support each other, using their strengths to cover each other's weaknesses.

Since they were little, Cyrus and Aella have developed a secret language that they use to communicate without others understanding. This makes them even more united and inseparable.

Language includes a combination of hand gestures, facial expressions, small sounds, and even visual cues. Each gesture or sound has a specific meaning, allowing for quick and effective communication.

In situations where they need to communicate without being overheard by others, such as in strategic meetings or on the battlefield or just to hide secrets from their parents, secret language is essential. It allows them to share critical information with others.

Alexander's passion for exploring and conquering unknown lands is inherited by Aella, who frequently ventures beyond the borders of the empire, always accompanied by Cyrus, who prefers to explore through study and diplomacy.

From an early age, Alexander the Great recognized the extraordinary potential of his twin children, Cyrus and Aella. He made sure that they both received exhaustive training in combat and strategy, aware that their skills would be essential to the continuity and expansion of the empire.

In addition to practical training, Cyrus dedicated himself intensely to theoretical studies. He read the texts of Aristotle, Socrates and other philosophers and historians, seeking to understand the dynamics of power, war and politics. His evenings were often spent in the library, where he studied maps and developed new strategies. Cyrus has developed a close bond with his uncle Hephaestion, mainly because they look so much alike.

Cyrus saw Hephaestion as a trusted figure to whom he could turn for advice and emotional support. Hephaestion, in turn, saw in Cyrus a reflection of himself and was dedicated to guiding him in the best way possible. Hephaestion helped Cyrus hone his diplomatic skills, teaching him to negotiate and mediate conflicts with the same effectiveness he demonstrated on the battlefield.

Aella, from a young age, showed an innate talent for combat, despite not actually fighting because she was not allowed to. Her training included a wide range of fighting techniques, from wielding swords and spears to hand-to-hand combat. She trained daily with the best warriors in the army, improving her strength, agility and precision. Due to her aptitude for fighting, although it was not common at the time, Aella ended up becoming quite close to Cleitus, who was mainly the one who taught her.

Cleitus, known for his skill and bravery on the battlefield, dedicated himself to training Aella in advanced hand-to-hand combat techniques. Under his guidance, Aella perfected her use of swords, spears and unarmed combat. Cleitus also focused on developing Aella's stamina and agility, subjecting her to rigorous exercises that made her not only strong but also quick and flexible. This prepared her to face opponents of different sizes and fighting styles.

Aella has a strong connection with nature and animals. She often spends her time in forests and mountains, while Cyrus prefers gardens and libraries. However, they both share a deep love for the natural world.

(Y/N), Alexandre's wife and mother of the twins ensures that her children receive a complete education, with tutors from different areas of knowledge. Cyrus shows great interest in philosophy and history, while Aella is interested in poetry and music.

Cyrus devotes hours to the study of great philosophers, including Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. He enjoys debates about ethics, politics and the nature of knowledge, often discussing these ideas with his tutors and applying them to his life and strategic decisions.

He analyzes the strategies of historical leaders, learning from their successes and failures. This enriches his own strategic capabilities, helping him develop innovative tactics for military campaigns.

Aella studies the works of great Greek poets, such as Homer and Hesiod, as well as the lyrics of Sappho and Pindar. She writes her own verses, expressing her emotions and experiences through poetry. There is no doubt that she inherited her father's love of reading, especially the Iliad.

Aella learns to play several instruments, such as the lyre and the flute and receives training in singing. Her tutors teach her about music theory, composition, and the Greek musical tradition.

The twins feel an innate curiosity about their mother's heritage and if given the opportunity, they will visit their mother's time to learn about her origins and cultures other than Greek.

Over time, Alexandre begins to trust his children's advice more and more. Cyrus becomes a trusted strategist, while Aella helps inspire and lead the troops, earning the soldiers' respect, just as her mother did years ago.

Despite the fierce love and loyalty that exists between the twins, there is a healthy rivalry between Cyrus and Aella, especially during training and games. This rivalry encourages them to constantly surpass each other.

After Alexander's death, Cyrus and Aella assume central roles in preserving and expanding the empire. Cyrus focuses on strengthening diplomatic alliances, while Aella leads military campaigns, both keeping their father's legacy alive.

[txttletale]

could you elaborate on your thoughts on boom and 73 yards ( i agree with you i am just struggling to put into words why.)

boom was whatever. the initial conceit of the doctor being trapped and having to stay calm was really cool! i really like that. the ambulances that euthanize you if you're not deemed worthy of medical care and the tacky chatgpt hologram ghosts were both really cool ideas. it just doesn't stick the landing for me, the twists are contrived and fall apart given any thought whatsoever. like what the fuck were any of the soldiers Doing if there just straight up weren't any enemies. it's a twist that sounds cool to say more than it has any meaningful impact on the story or the stakes. i guess 'the arms manuifacturer created a fake conflict' is the intended emtional stakes there but that would hit like a hundred times harder if it was an actual conflict between two factions and people were dying, right? like if anything sending a christian militia to blow themselves up tae fuck on a nowhere planet instead of presumably killing actual living people is an improvement, surely?

also the resolution was dumb as fuck lol i am a huge hater of power of love saves the day shit not because i'm a cynical misanthrope but because it never fails to make me say 'oh so i guess nobody ever loved anybody before lol' and this is no exception like if one chatbot can shut down the whole operation beacuse he loves his daughter are we meant to believe that no other parents or hell nobody who loved anybody else for any reason died in this fake war before? it's cheap and schmaltzy and unearned. anyway the first twentyish minutes of this are all-time great doctor who and gatwa/gibson were incredible in it but it absolutely falls apart into a confused pileo f some of the worst Moffatisms at the end

73 yards on the other hand was incredible! obviously like it requires you to approach it with a different mindset to most of doctor who, right, doctor who usually furnishes you with the big explanation scnee where the doctor says 'well the ghosts were actually particle wave vectorforms created with the necros radiation from the god-king's techsceptre' or whatever--this is the usual narrative mode of sci-fi--but 73 yards is fantasy, right, this is the twilight zone, this is 'wouldn't that be fucked up?'. i interrogate the technical and logical specifics of boom so much when i think about it because that's the language boom is speaking, boom is framing itself within this logical, a-to-b worldview, the satisfying click-together puzzlebox. but 73 yards is a nightmare or a folk tale, right? kate stewart¹ says it herself, 'when faced with the inexplicable, we make up rules and apply them to it'.

so yknow reading it that way it all clicks together beautifully, right, (apart from russel t davies' embarassing swing and miss at Political Commentary in the middle. we get it davies you wrote years and years. we know. trust me we know). the doctor and ruby disrupt the binding circle, free mad jack, and are punished -- the doctor, as perpetrator, with being banished (perhaps in jack's place) and ruby with her worst fear coming true constantly, until ruby defeats mad jack, re-sealing him and fixing what she broke, at which point the circle rewards her by reversing the punishments. and the core horror i think is very effective and unsettling! the idea that there is something that someone could say to turn everyone against you, the closest people to you in your life, your own family, the institutions that are meant to deal with the exact problem you're having--that's fucking terrifying! and yknow i think especially as an autistic trans lesbian something that speaks to me a lot

so yeah. i think that boom establishes its logics and framework and then trips and falls onto its face while 73 yards does the same and then makes perfect use of them. that said i think in 20 years people who are autistic about doctor who will be like 'did you know in the 2020s there were two episodes in a row where the doctor caused the entire plot to happen by stepping on something' and thjatll be the main thing they're remembered for

[unclegrumbles]

ULTIMATE DANNY PHANTOM

JACK FENTON

Jack has a natural affability that even the most socially capable struggle to emulate. His loud and boisterous nature is borne of passion and enthusiasm for the topics he blathers on about. He is a doer first and an ask-er second, which often gives the impression that he is less intellectually gifted than his peers, specifically his wife. This is not quite true. Jack absorbs information like a sponge. Instead of asking questions, he puts what he has learned into practice to see if it works. This has led to many failed prototypes (and one devastating explosion during college), but it also leads to the creation of novel inventions and processes that even surprise his wife. As a father, Jack pushes his kids to adopt his take-life-by-the-horns approach; to step out of their comfort zones, have new experiences, and meet interesting people. His bookworm daughter and shy son don't seem to mesh well with that lifestyle. And yet Jack presses on, undeterred, and eternally grateful for his life's many blessings. For in addition to a gorgeous and loving wife, amazing children and job security, Jack was graced with yet another boon from the universe - the opportunity to channel his most boisterous personality traits into hunting the strange creatures that haunted his new hometown.

Powers and Abilities

Ghost Hunting: What he lacks in hand-to-hand combat skills or accuracy with firearms, Jack combines his prodigious strength with creative problem solving when in the field to spectacular effect. Many of the ghostly creatures that manage to escape the Phantom and the Fentons learn very quickly that Jack Fenton is not to be trifled with. A well placed punch with the Ghost Gauntlets, a crack from the Fenton Anti-Creep Stick, or even a sprinkling of ground Blood Blossoms from the Fenton Pepper Shaker sends most ghosts fleeing for their after-lives.

Riddles: Many riddles have obvious answers despite their misleading setups. Where brainiacs like Maddie tend to overthink riddles and either answer incorrectly or run out of time, Jack excels at solving them. This skill is a cousin of the dad joke, and Jack has a deep bench of those ready to bust out at a moment's notice.

Outdoorsy: Jack's brain holds onto information he finds interesting like a steel trap, and everything he ever learned from his boy scout years have always stayed with him. He can track wildlife, start a fire with only the materials in the forest around him, and forage and trap food. Beyond survivalist skills, Jack enjoys fishing in Lake Eerie (with two E's) and using the Fenton Compound Bow for target practice.

Mechanic: When he's not tinkering in the lab with new anti-ghost weapons, Jack is a handy grease monkey. He keeps the Fenton Family Assault Vehicle, Specter Speeder, and the Fenton Family Toyota Highlander all operational and in tip-top shape and equipped with all manner of defensive and offensive features that legally requires all of them (including the Highlander) to be registered as tanks.

---

Jack was the first of Danny's parents to piece together that he was Amity Park's very own Ghost Boy. He hoped Danny would come to him and Maddie on his own and gave him space to do just that. Fate had other plans, and Danny's secret would be revealed under very different circumstances...

[avonne-writes]

do the kids know about Bucky's dad leaving him? would this information ever be used intentionally as ammunition? I'm imagining a scene where Bucky maybe goes to leave the house to calm down when he's angry and one of the kids (probably Abby, since she seems to be more outspoken and temperamental too) saying something to the effect of "Go then, leave. That's what men in your family do isn't it?". what would Bucky (and Gale) do in such a situation?

Thank you for the great questions, anon and @middlingmay 🩷

Yes, the kids know about Bucky's upbringing and about his father cheating and leaving him and his mom. He’s quite open about it and answers any questions they have over the years.

Overall, it’s not common for the kids to say truly hurtful things to their parents, but Abby is definitely more likely to lash out and yell things she doesn’t mean. But I can actually see Matty making that comment, anon! And it hurts Bucky so much worse than if it was Abby.

It's just some petty disagreement escalating. They both had a shitty day, Matty's a teenager and he’s having a moody evening, and the two of them have been annoying each other. Abby and Gale are somewhere else. Perhaps Bucky's pushing Matty to think about further education or to try a summer job for the experience, and Matty hates nothing more than being forced to leave his comfort zone. He doesn’t fight Bucky loudly like Abby would, he just gets defensive and insolent. For example:

Bucky: college is a stepping stone, you know

Matty: wow, you should add that to a poster 🙄

Eventually, things escalate, and Bucky goes to storm out. As he steps away, Matty mutters that sentence about how men in Bucky’s family always leave.

He regrets it the moment Bucky turns back around, and he apologizes, trying to disengage. But the pain of that sentence doesn’t go away that easily, because it also implied that Matty isn’t part of Bucky's lineage, which is biologically true, but, of course, he’s still Bucky's son.

I think they'd both feel absolutely awful for hours afterwards. They can’t properly reconcile at first because Bucky's unable to take the first step there. Only after he talks to Gale does he actually approach Matty again, and tells him that Matty is his son, and he just wants the best for him. Matty apologizes again, they hug, and then go watch a soccer game together with Abby.

[leiloc]

🖇Astrology observations #9

Please use credit to the observations if you're going to use them ♥

☽ From a previous post, Uranus conjunct South node isn't the only aspect, it can be square, trine, opposite, etc.

☽ Also apologies for a Taurus moon observation being untrue, from now on I know that it mostly depends on aspects to the moon.

☽ People with Saturn - South node in a bad aspect feel neglected and/or limited in their confront zone

☽ This can also apply to 4th house having bad placements (ex. Mars, Saturn or Sun being badly aspected and also it being in the 4th house)

☽ Be aware of those who have Casanova (7328) in aspect with Neptune or Mars (maybe even more planets)

☽ Good luck finding someone with whom you can have soul to soul touch if your Psyche is in 4th house conjunct Casanova (happened to me a lot, sadly)

☽ Neptune retrograde in any house can make you feel like an outcast because you dont see yourself in the way others are (Neptune Rx in 5th could mean you differentely approach to kids, joy or creativity and 9th house could mean you might have different believes than your community)

☽ Also Neptune Rx could mean improved intuition and seeing the true picture of the usual things since you're an "outcast" so you realize the way people live and wonder why almost nobody cares and sees the problem in most things

☽ People with Lilith in their 4th house were neglected by their parents (mostly mother) and never had such a figure of a mother in a safe place but outside of it

🌟 This observation was written by @punksocks and I highly reccomend visiting her page for more observations! Great observer!

☽ Substance abuse is real for that generation of Pisces North node, as if they want to escape reality if their north node is badly aspected. Generation with Neptune in pisces, if badly aspected, can also lead to these problems.

☽ North node is determing the lessons you have to learn in this life (because you didn't in past life lol) but also can be represented in your next life as Saturn or south node.

This doesn't mean that it will be in the same sign as your NN was. Your SN or Saturn can be aspected like your past life progressions so it can create similar effect

I was writing this from 1-2 AM so if something is incorrect Lmk so I can edit some things

Also, zodiac signs and the body is comming soon in 3 parts so stay tuned guys ;) Love yaaaa ♥

[justforbooks]

The Sleep Room by Jon Stock – shocking tales from 1960s psychiatry

The horrifying truth behind the practices of psychiatrist William Sargant, one of Britain’s most influential mental health practitioners

You’d think a sleep room would be cosy, but the one on Ward 5 of the Royal Waterloo hospital in London, back in the 1960s, was dark and airless, a twilight zone where up to six patients – almost always young women – would lie comatose on grey mattresses for weeks, even months on end. They had come in with schizophrenia, anorexia or, in a few cases, a youthful waywardness that their parents hoped could be cured. For William Sargant, the psychiatrist in charge, the cure lay not only in prolonged narcosis but insulin shock therapy, ECT and, if need be, lobotomy. Afterwards, the patients had no memory of what had been done to them. The Sargant method was to wipe their minds clean.

Celia Imrie, later a famous actor, was admitted to Ward 5 in 1966, when she was 14. To her it was “like being in a prison camp” and her recovery “owed nothing” to the “truly horrifying” Sargant and his “barbaric treatments”. Sara (not her real name) was a year older, just 15, and remembers the “hideous cocktail of drugs” that kept her in a zombified state. Linda Keith, celebrated for her relationship with Jimi Hendrix and at the time, in her own words, “a pleasure-seeking, music obsessed drug addict”, had about 50 sessions of ECT on Ward 5: they left her “hugely mentally incapacitated” and unable to read. She also recalls Sargant coming on to her in his private practice.

How persistent a sexual predator he was is unclear, but at least one woman registered a complaint with the General Medical Council, and there’s nothing remotely redemptive in Jon Stock’s lacerating account. A tall, burly “rugger man” who hushed up the mental breakdown he had in his 20s, Sargant was cavalierly mechanistic in his approach, dismissing therapy and Freudian “soft merchants” in his zeal for the liquid cosh and other even tougher interventions; in one of his books he recommended lobotomy, instead of divorce, for unhappy wives. He loved publicity and was occasionally a talking head on the BBC, once appearing on the Third Programme with the singer PJ Proby.

He had the respect of some colleagues – including doctor and future foreign secretary David Owen – and rose to the top of his profession, with a private practice alongside NHS work in London and at the Belmont Hospital in Sutton. His 1957 book Battle for the Mind, ghosted by Robert Graves, was a bestseller, and he could boast many eminent and well-to-do clients – aristocrats, prima ballerinas, overseas royals. Gifts and donations poured in. While working at the Priory shortly before his retirement, a “gorgeous Arabian princess” offered him a Rolls-Royce and sent five along, in different colours, for him to choose from.

At his best, he was part of a movement to destigmatize psychiatric units and banish any lingering association with lunatic asylums. To more sceptical colleagues, though, he was “Bill the Brain Slicer”: arrogant, bombastic and “soullessly one-sided”. RD Laing saw his approach as a “regression to barbarism”; Anthony Clare was a critic, too. The six female patients whose personal testimonies form chapters in Stock’s book thought him a monster. So did nurses allocated to the sleep room, whose job was to medicate the patients (usually with chlorpromazine) four times a day, and who hated the spooky ambience and “dark alchemy of drugs and electricity”; it was, one said, “the sort of thing you’d expect in Hitler’s time”.

Patient consent didn’t become enshrined until the Mental Health Act of 1983 and the women were repeatedly subject to procedures to which they hadn’t agreed. The side- and after-effects were dire (tremors, chronic fatigue, massive memory loss, etc) but to Sargant, Stock claims, these were “an acceptable trade-off”. He was, Stock adds, “possessed of a furor therapeuticus – a rage to heal – that was more in his own interest than his patients”.

The sleep room regime is more than enough to convict Sargant of dubious practice, but halfway through the book Stock veers off to examine his possible involvement with MI5, MI6 and the CIA’s MKUltra programme in mind control.

Sargant learned a lot about brainwashing during the second world war, while treating traumatised soldiers, and his expertise found favour with the intelligence services. He also worked in the US for a time, and had close ties with a fellow sleep-room practitioner there, Donald Ewen Cameron, who was funded by the CIA. Stock speculates on what Sargant “could” or “might” have worked on, including LSD trials at Porton Down with MI6. But in the absence of incriminating documents (many of which remain classified) the evidence is inconclusive and, compared with the sleep room chapters, the material looks tangential, however heatedly researched. To say that “he was unquestionably the sort of psychiatrist whom Porton Down – and MI6 – might have turned to” doesn’t really nail him as an opportunistic cold war stooge. And the sensationalist chapter heading “She told me that Sargant killed … a patient”, based on a secondhand, uncorroborated story, feels a bit cheap.

Of the thousands of patients Sargant treated, at least five seem to have died during narcosis. Meanwhile, he exaggerated recovery rates and didn’t count relapses. And the six women who speak out in this book are haunted by what he got up to without their knowledge. On the website of the Royal College of Physicians he’s called “the most important figure in postwar psychiatry … He gave his patients hope.” Those women, along with many former nurses and doctors, would beg to disagree.

Daily inspiration. Discover more photos at Just for Books…?

[pinktie]

What do you think of Saguru's meticulous attention to the time? Him often timing things and making sure his pocket watch (with his family emblem on it) is accurate is a key character trait. I always assumed it was a habit from keeping good records for the paperwork aspect of police work and helping him figure out the timeline of a case (it took the suspect this long to do this much, how did they do it? Who had the opportunity?). I can also see it as a side effect of him and his family living busy lives and they often are in different time zones from each other, the same goes for his friends. He has to manage his time well to fit everything he wants to do into a day. But I can see more traumatic interpretations, like being worried for his parents on dangerous cases being gone for too long or being kidnapped for ransom and was counting the seconds until rescue and found it hard to stop afterwards.

Sounds like he has OCD. I like it.

As for what I think about his meticulous attention to time is that the irony lies in how, despite his obsession with being precise, he actually isn't on time much. There are times when he's a second too late.

Let me explain.

In both MK manga and anime, Hakuba was a few seconds too late in retrieving the gas mask. Losing it to Kaito.

(If you don't count MK 1412 where Kaito cheats)

In chapter 565 of DC, he criticized Heiji for being too hot-headed. Rushing into a crime scene without thinking possibly affects the investigation.

But what he didn't realize is that by doing so, Heiji could have saved a life.

And finally, the Nightmare incident.

He was too slow to catch KID, arriving late because of Kaito's trick.

More to this, he was too late to help Kaito save Nightmare.

I used to make a post, pointing out how similar Kaito is to Ran. Especially in this

They were both trying to save a person who tried to kill them. The one major difference is that well... Shinichi was there for Ran at the right time.

But Hakuba wasn't.

I'm not saying it's Hakuba's fault. But it is interesting how Gosho has missed a change in letting Hakuba have his moment right here. To me, this, by far, is the worst incident in MK. Not only did it ruin the cheerful tone of the manga, but it also served no purpose (for now, at least). This incident was never brought up again, leaving its impact unresolved. At the same time, this could be a great concept for his arc or something. Pushing him to be faster in his approach.

[uwooyoungs]

I feel like ppl watched ep 11 of dff and rly jumped on the 'Phee clearly didnt care abt Non and totally gave up on getting revenge' train. which like. i get in a way. But i've been thinking abt Phee and New and their motivations for revenge bc, ultimately, neither of them are really getting revenge FOR Non - both of them are seeking revenge for selfish reasons, however their circumstances and the direct effects of the group's actions change how they feel about exacting their plan, I think.

Phee is largely seeking clarity and wants to clear his own conscience. Obviously he's (rightfully) vengeful towards the group bc they hurt Non so deeply, but to me it felt like throughout the series Phee has really come to realize that there is not a single "innocent" in the house (except perhaps White). Also, in spite of himself he rly did catch feelings for Jin, and may even feel some level of genuine affection for at least some of the other group members. So yeah, he falters in their revenge plan and I rly think he's just questioning Everything by the end of ep 11. Like who is he rly doing all this for? What role did he play in Non's death? What will revenge get him really? and then obviously we kinda see him decide that killing the whole group isn't going to help him so he turns the gun on New, but he still hesitates.

Meanwhile, i've seen and heard so many people rly like praising New for being ig decisive, vengeful, there's been a lot of praise for his absolutely ruthless approach to revenge. but i feel like everyone's kinda overlooking that he's also seeking revenge for purely selfish reasons?? like he basically said "fuck what Non might've wanted, i want you all dead bc you ruined MY life." it all came back to how the group's actions towards Non had a negative impact on New's life, like he goes on abt how he could've been in London, his parents could've been alive, it's just wholly selfish. Like obviously he cares about Non and what happened to him or else he would've just fucked back off to London - but the revenge he wants really has very little to do with Non. New seems to care more that his own life was fucked over than that Non's was lost. So, he wants to find out what happened and take out the people that forced him to come back to Thailand and deal with his family. He is I think a much more black and white character compared to Phee. New is on the you all fucked up? cool time to be punished, whereas Phee seems to be more empathetic to the gray zone surrounding every character (except maybe Por - i still haven't found a redeeming quality for him oop). This is likely bc Phee was directly involved w/ the events leading to Non's disappearance whereas New only came back to the aftermath, after his life abroad had been interrupted.

[parenting-strategies]

Parenting Strategies: 5 Reasons To Choose A Traditional Kids Summer Camp

Summer is a time for children to explore, learn, and make lasting memories. While there are numerous options available for summer activities, traditional kids summer camps continue to be a popular choice for families worldwide. These camps offer a unique and enriching experience that goes far beyond the boundaries of a typical vacation or day camp. In this blog post, we will delve into five compelling reasons why choosing a traditional kids summer camp can be a fantastic decision for your child's growth and development.

[paladin-of-nerd-fandom65]

Neato answers buddy! :D

1: What's one video game the duo would like to go into? (It must be a story game not like Minecraft or any multiplayer)

2: Let's say the starburst duo got sucked into resident evil 2 remake & had to go through the events ( Leon A, just them, & no powers) will they be able to beat it & escape?

3: What's the worst panic attack the duo ever gotten?

4: How would Jon, Chris, Kon & the super-twins cuddle together?

5: Between the super-sons, the super-twins, starburst duo, & timkon, who wins in a game of basketball? Rules: only hover a few inches above ground (if able to) first to 10 scores wins, & the group with the least amount of points get face covered up in make-up.

Aww thanks @pin-crusher2000 . these are always fun to answer XD

1) Hmmm…..Well I have been having in my mind for the longest time a sort of crossover between DC and of all things CoD Zombies so…..Maybe one night Chris and Jake find themselves awakening inside a denounce and hellish version of the infamous Alcatraz Island, crawling all over with not just the undead but also hellhounds all led by an equally demonic Warden and the Duo have their powers severely dampened. They don’t have to rely on firearms to protect themselves but the waves of undead charging at them are endless and there’s seemingly no escape. Thats when they get help from a certain voice of a girl who guides them on their little haunting adventure, explaining that ancient evil which brought these undead to life had sucked the Duo into this world to break a sort of cycle their reality was within to ensure their own dominance or reality.

The girl’s name is Samantha. She would tell Chris and Jake how all this really began

Basically The Starburst Duo in a combination of Mob of the Dead and Origins basically lol.

2) Oh definitely so. Their parents taught them very well on survival techniques for those types of scenarios where both the Dead and the Monstrous Rise and they’re left powerless. As such, them fighting alongside the lovable rookie cop that is Leon Kennedy in the world ravaged by the T Virus can seem right up their alley no matter how freaky the effects of said Virus can be like, and not just those Nemesis T Zombies

3) Chris: The one he got once a more complete picture of his memories as Lor Zod and all the harsh treatment he got from his birth father and after sending the General and his army back into the Phantom Zone, being surrounded by all those reporters and his super hearing picking up on all the sounds of suffering all over Metropolis, unable to reach his family and eventually the pressure getting so bad, he straight flew away from the sight as fast as he could and far away from everything as fast as he could. It was once he was far away enough at the other side of the globe that he managed to calm himself to an extent. It really took another whole week wandering the earth in secret and about another week and a half staying with the Graysons until Chris finally was able to approach the Kents once again.

Jake: Probably in the immediate months after he was discharged from Bludhaven General Hospital for his recovery from his fateful and haunting duel against Victor Zsasz, it’s easy to envision Jake getting increased anxiety with capers and cases involving kids like himself in grave danger or far worse. He might get the job done if it involves rescuing said kids but his mind has gone into full overdrive with panic and fear as those memories of finding those slain orphans and how cruel Zsasz was are surfacing. It usually takes his allies, friends and loved ones present to help calm him. Also of course, plenty of nightmares and bad dreams about that particular case are a lot frequent for him, especially on those first few months afterwards.

4) it’s a five person longways pile on either the living room couch or a king sized bed. Conner would be at the core with Chris to his immediate right side and Osul to his left. From there, Jon would be snoring happily next to Osul while Otho in turn is cuddled up next to Chris. Conner’s loud snoring is blissful ambiance for the younger siblings.

5) I would say it’s major tie between the Super Twins and the Starburst Duo, not simply for their power levels and ability to learn as they play. It’s moreso how well in tune those two teams really are with Chris and Jake complimenting each other’s strengths and weaknesses with both stern direction and experience. Thr Twins on the other hand have superb understanding of what the other of doing and how to follow suit given their years working side by side back on Warworld

[inasbdtblogrealnoscam]

🖤

"Two sides of the same coin. One stuck in the heads, leaves living to the Tails. Flipping on a dime, which one will you meet? Pray to whichever god you have that it's not the inner voice."

The young chemist of the Freedom Fighters, Miles Prower! (Better known as Tails. In fact he very much doesn't enjoy being called "Miles".) Once a bullied outcast, his outstanding talent and kind personality didn't go unnoticed by his squadmates, Sonic in particular. After one of Exetior's schemes nearly broke his psyche, he now spends the rest of his efforts attempting to restrain his murderous alter ego.

A bloodthirsty, frenzied animal, initially spawned as an Eye-induced coping mechanism for Tails. He wasn't the one killing those innocent animals, someone else was - and after getting struck with a Void Ring, that "someone else" came to be. The two soul fragments are currently perpetually fighting for control, for the right to exist.

For more information about them, read below the line!

Backstory:

Tails was born right in the middle of the war between Robotnik and the Freedom Fighters, a bit before the disastrous event known as the "Vanilla incident". His parents mysteriously perished, presumably killed, when he was 6, orphaning him. Frequently tossed between different orphanages, he never really got along with his peers. Aside from the constant location swaps, he was also labelled a "freak" due to his genetic abnormalities. Missing out on opportunities to socialize, he instead developed an interest in science. One notable enough to get noticed by a Freedom Fighter deployed nearby.

At the age of 8, Tails joined the FF and was assigned to unit 02. He soon got to meet its leader, Sonic. Initially the two had a strictly boss-subordinate relationship, but that soon changed. As both were orphaned at a young age and were somewhat outcasts among the rest, they understood eachother well. Tails's shy and introverted nature was a contrast to Sonic's energetic and reckless demeanor, but it was the kind of contrast that only served to bring the best out of the other. Opposites do attract, afterall.

When disaster struck on the day of Descent, Tails was unfortunately one of its first few victims. Having recieved a distress call from his blue friend, he arrived at Green Hill Zone - but found nobody there. At least, nobody alive. The place was littered to the brim with corpses, both animal and Mobian...

Concerned for Sonic, he hesitantly marched on, wielding his arm cannon for self-defense should the source of the danger jump out from the foliage. But it never did. Instead, he found Sonic just... standing there, straing off into the distance. Hesitantly, the fox approached who he assumed to be his beat friend - only to get hit and knocked unconscious.

Once Tails woke up, he found himself in an industrial area, probably one of Eggman's old bases. The figure he mistook for Sonic was once again simply standing above him, before suddenly drastically shifting into a more "demonic" appearance and introducing himself as Exetior. Void Ring in hand, he gave the fox an ultimatum - surrender and die, or kill all the Animal Buddies and escape - a gambit presumably made to exploit Tails's sense of empathy, hoping he'd rather sacrifice himself rather than someone else.

That assumption, however, turned out to be false. Driven by a need to survive, Tails began eliminating all the animals in the area. Initially hesitant and full of guilt, his traumatized mind soon came up with a way to dissasociate - he wasn't the one killing, someone else was. That, combined with the effects of the Eye, as well as concern for his fate-yet-undetermined blue friend, soon led to indifference towards the slaughter. Then enjoyment. By the time he was done, he simply smiled up at the demon, asking for more targets to kill. That horrified Exetior. This wasn't supposed to happen. This shouldn't have happened. Terrified of the menace of his making, he threw down a Void Ring, killing and demonizing Tails on the spot. That finalized the fracture of the fox's soul, splitting him into "Tails" and "Inner Tails".

Despite being aware of the fox's murderous tendencies, the demon still sent him out on missions, hoping that Knuckles's presence alongside him would prevent any chances of incidents. (It didn't. It sometimes even made it worse.)

This culminated in what is commonly referred as the "Inner incident". Tails was sent out to track down and kill Mobians, one of which happened to be Vanilla. Right before Tails was the one to end things in a more civil manner, Inner manifested (and ripped her into shreds so tiny no demonization could bring her back. Besides, even if it could, he ate a majority of the corpse in a cannibalistic, frenzied state anyways). This event fucked with almost everyone (besides Sally, she seems content with it). Cream just lost any chances of seeing her mother ever again, Exetior finally became truly aware of what horrors he unleashed on this poor mobian's soul, all because he wanted to "prolong the game" for no reason other than his own amusement (this is why Jina came to be, by the way), and Tails is pretty self-explanatory.

Despite all of these events, however, the fox never stopped worrying about the fate of his best friend. Upon learning that he was still there, just currently possessed, Tails knew he had to try and reach out to him, somehow. So he spent countless all-nighters building a machine that would allow him to access Sonic's subconscious and hopefully, communicate with him in there. After successfully managing to briefly knock out the body (don't ask me how), the plan was set in motion.

Initially, the encounter went rather well (as well as a meeting under these circumstances could go). Tails tried to nudge Sonic towards the outside situation as gently and subtly, while not sugarcoating it, as possible, hoping to bring some clarity to his best friend. The hedgehog did seem to understand most of it, unfortunately, but, at the very least, Tails seemed to be safe... seemed.

The many all-nighters weren't without effect on Tails's psyche. Restless and already mentally shattered, it wouldn't take much to send him over the edge. Guess what happened.

In probably the unluckiest turn of events possible, Sonic finally managed to figure out Tails's current demonized state and confronted the fox about it, asking if the "real you" was even there at that point. Thinking about the answer was enough to send Tails into a momentary crisis, as he himself wasn't sure. That brief moment was enough for Inner to manifest in the subconscious and do what he does best - protect Tails's life by slaughtering the danger.

By the time the fox managed to get back in control of himself, it was already too late. The damage was already done. He just drove a permanent rift between himself and Sonic, who'll now forever think of him as a mindless, murder-driven husk of who he was - and he wouldn't be exactly wrong.

Personality:

Tails is a rather shy and timid guy, prefering the company of vials and beakers over people. He's very dedicated to his passions, preferring to partake in them uninterrupted by others. He sees science as an escape from both bullying and social ostracization, as well as the boredom of reality. Struggling to grasp the nuances of peer-to-peer interactions and engage in what he percieves as "pointless" small talk, he rarely exits his workplace to spend time with others, especially those he isn't all that close with. Despite this, when he does interact with people, he's very kind, if not a bit of a pushover. Even though he himself doesn't talk a lot, he's a great listener and tries to offer the best advice he can. He prefers to express affection through actions rather than words. While he's hard to befriend, he's very loyal to his friends, and, despite rarely showing it, cares a LOT about them, frequently putting their good above his own. It particularly shows in his friendship with Sonic, who he sees not only as a mentor and idol, but also somebody he can rely on, somebody he can blindly trust (this statement is, unfortunately, verifiably false ;D).

After his demonization, Tails's mental health has taken a turn for the worse. He's grown much more paranoid and wary, sceptical of every interaction he's forced to be in. Not only that, but he's frequently left to deal with the emotional whiplash caused by Inner's actions, the feeling of having an innocent's blood on (technically) his hands, with absolutely nobody to confide in, forcing him to bottle his emotions inside. This in turn makes it easier to accidentally set him off, which only perpetuates the cycle. And while, sure, Knuckles is there for him, emotional regulation isn't the echidna's strong suit. He mostly stops Inner from going to far once he's there, rather than try and tackle the issue at the root. Plus, even if Knuckles did try, Tails is afraid of getting too close to people due to recent events, both emotionally (they could push him away, like Sonic did) and physically (he could hurt and kill them, like what happened with Vanilla). It causes the fox to take plenty of self-destructive actions in a desperate attempt to keep Inner at bay (unsuccessfully, may I add), ranging from repeatedly injecting sedatives into himself to filing down his claws until his fingertips start to bleed.

Inner doesn't have much of a personality. His nature as an unintentional byproduct, as an unfortunate combination of Tails desperately trying to cope with the situation, the Eye's effect, as well as the demonization of the Void Ring, means he was never intended to exist and so the split between him and Tails is uneven. For what little can be said about him, Inner is only driven by one goal - KILL. He is a feral, bloodthirsty creature that seeks only to rip and tear apart to satisfy his insatiable murderous urges. There is also a lot of sadism involved within his actions - he doesn't just kill, he also tends to do it in unnessesarily violent and gruesome ways. He is a very simple-minded and impatient being, however, so he doesn't make complex schemes or torment his victims - any long-term damage is merely a failure in destroying them immediately. As a byproduct of the Eye, Inner is ultimately a protection mechanism for Tails (even if a VERY terrible and unwanted one). He tends to take over whenever there's a percieved serious danger, physical or mental. He does so regardless of whether Tails wants it to happen, very frequently in spite of the other NOT wanting it to happen. If the Eye picks up a danger to Tails's survival, Inner will inevitably manifest. And, for all his bloodlust, he is very effective at dealing with threats.

My personal lore and design thoughts:

First of all, this was NOT intentional, but the render pose looks so much like the "virgin vs chad" meme it's actually kinda funny. In all seriousness, though, Tails's and Inner's designs took me quite a while to figure out. I gave Tails piercings and a different ahoge to stand out from his paraller counterpart (although, to be honest, they are already VERY different), also because the piercings made him look ever so slightly more badass. I also gave him clothes to make him look older (he's 14, I wanted that to be pretty clear in his design). He takes on the FF pallette, but the clothes themselves were actually inspired by Nine from Sonic Prime. I thought it'd match Tails's science-y vibe pretty well. The utility belt and holsters are pretty common elements within my original works, which I applied here as well. It helps visually convey his role as a chemist (through having vials and syringes visibly poking out), as well as neatly tie back to a piece of trivia about his NU self (him carrying and using sedatives to keep Inner at bay, honestly love that idea). The bandages are there to show that, despite his knowledge, he's still quite physically frail (which is why Inner's appearance + his demonized form only have one that's wrapped looser).

As for the way of his death, it stems from NU's own inconsistency about how the black rings work. In NB, they simply blow the target's head off, but in FN they have this cool complicated effect of ripping the target's own insides out and wrapping around them. Obviously, the way to solve this dillema in BDT was to use both! I like both and there's no reason why I'd have to restrain myself to only one, so both it is!

There's... not much to comment on in terms of personality. Other than being a little more anti-social, he's the same as canon, really.

As for his backstory, I wanted him to be an orphan for a while now - but also have his parents be "recently killed". Two years (at that point) seemed to be recent enough to match those criteria, at least in my opinion. For his acts, I swapped the placements of You Can't Run and Hide and Seek (so Knuckles is the one who dies on Angel Island). Exetior's gambit, which indirectly caused Inner to become a thing, as well as Tails's meeting with Sonic, are both scenes I borrowed from the NU because of the emotional and story potential I saw in them, but with my own spin on it. For one, Majin and Chaos Hunter are entirely retconned out of the AU - Inner's presence manifesting is solely due to physical exhaustion and paranoia from Tails's side. Second, the area where those Animal Buddies got killed in NU was already YCR-esque, so if I already gave Hide and Seek to Knuckles, it would only make sense to put the act where the echidna would usually die in place of Tails's missing 2nd act.If I had to describe them in one word, it would be "split". And, well, Inner Tails is "inner".

Also, isn't the red text very clever? It took me like 87% of my brain power to come up with the pun.

[nostalgiachan]

I totally didn't realize I didn't post these guys after they were done almost a year ago, but we're back on the 100 OC Challenge train!

As always, new designs up top, old below, and character info below the cut.

#61: Sirno Idea: Queen of the BONE ZONE Story: Dragon Tavern

Sirno is easily the least developed of the Seekers, and quite possibly the least developed out of all of the Dragon Tavern characters period. Seriously, I never got her beyond "She's a Bone Lord," even with the 2016 redesigns. Luckily, the Idea Machine got chugging while I was working on this sketch.

Growing up, Sirno was a military brat; both of her parents were enlisted in the Deadlands military, and her father became a recruiter after his first tour through the swamps. Thanks to them moving between garrisons every few years, Sirno was frequently a new kid in town, so it was difficult for her to make friends and nearly impossible to keep them. On top of that, thanks to her permanent new-kid status, her offbeat looks, her imposing height even at a young age and her quiet nature, she was frequently the target of bullying; she particularly remembers kids either asking her out or trying to set up their friends with her as a joke. Eventually, once she reached adolescence, if anyone approached and asked her to "say something funny" or if she wanted to go to the ball that weekend, she'd cut the bullshit herself and whip the asker's ass.

Of course, all this did was turn the direct bullying into exclusion and get her kicked out of more than a few academies. But at the time, it made her feel a little better that she could kick the ass of anyone and anything.

By the time she was sixteen, she decided school was for losers and she wanted to join the military like her parents; she enlisted and soon went on a few tours through the swamps. About five years into service, it was determined she'd be a perfect candidate for Bone Lord training.

Bone Lords pilot ten-or-so foot tall constructs of bone and alchemically-treated gore, their bodies ensconced in the torso and connected to the construct via magical wire. This connection allows the pilot to control the construct through conscious thought alone, as though they are one organism.

Sirno took to the program with flying colors; when she was first interred into her armor, she felt as though she had finally become what she was always meant to be. When she wore her armor, she was no longer some lanky, awkward walking target for people to start shit with, a fragile creature of blood and meat and feeling; she was a towering, terrifying monstrosity, and any dumb enough not to treat her with the respect she was due would feel her might. The more time she spent in the suit, the more she wished she never had to take it off.

When the search for the Champions kicked into high gear, she jumped at the opportunity to see the world outside of the Deadlands and show new people she was not to be fucked with.

#62: Vermire Idea: Transing Your Gender Through Superior Alchemy™ Story: Dragon Tavern

19yo Nost wanted her own version of Gren from Cowboy Bebop and had no notion of transgender issues, so cut her a little slack on this one.

Vermire is the first of the Seekers of the Steel Empire, and was built around the fact that I accidentally set his gender to "female" when I meant to make him "male". Vermire is a sanctioned alchemist - in short, he can craft potions without getting branded as a heretic and put to the sword because what he's doing is definitely not magic, it's science. One day, he was trying to craft a potion to improve his eyesight so that he wouldn't need glasses anymore. He succeeded, but there was a serious side effect - the potion acted as a massive dose of estrogen and gave him curves. He was already a fairly androgynous looking man, and he didn't want to have to explain his downstairs mix-up, so he started presenting as sexually ambiguous, female leaning.

Over the years, as the Dragon Tavern characters sat in the box, I kept revisiting his character; in his first major revision, I got rid of the silly "comedic gender bender" aspects and turned his story into more of a commentary on male privilege and sexism. Vermire adopted a female presentation to protect himself while he searched for a cure, taking on the role of his own sister as his sudden development of a more feminine form would very likely be seen as heretical magic. However, while the quality of his alchemical work didn't change, the perception from his peers absolutely did; colleagues were far more harsh to his "sister", critiquing "her" work far more than they ever did his and overall treating "her" with much less respect.

Between his work being severely hamstringed by his sexist colleagues and the danger of his physical situation being potentially found out, Vermire was quite eager to take up the hunt for the Champions of the Steel Empire; it would be much easier to hide his body with heavy coats and field wear, and besides that, even in the rare chance some foreigner was to see his body, they probably wouldn't try to immediately execute him for it...right?

Overall, the gender story will need quite a bit more workshopping, especially to make it interesting, but not exploitative.

#63: Maer Idea: a very big steam powered giraffe what smokes The Steamest Punk Story: Dragon Tavern

Maer only slightly ranks above Sirno as least developed of the Seekers, and the worst part is I didn't have the big flash of inspiration to retool him like I did her. Thus, poor Maer's stuck in development hell at the moment.

What I do know about the fellow is he's a Steam Crafter, an engineer that builds steam-powered machinery. Steamworks are seen as the more reliable scientific field in the Steel Empire compared to Vermire's sanctioned alchemy and the "mad science" of the Outcast Engineers, being responsible for the Empire's rapid industrialization. In recent years, the reach of steam power has expanded to the military, and a subsect of crafters have gone to work building various walking suits and automata in the hopes of supplementing - and possibly replacing - the likes of the Cavaliers as defenders of the homeland.

Maer is part of that subsect, having been inspired to take up the sciences after learning about Paz's success as a young teen, though he wasn't fast-tracked to academy like she was. When he learns about the reward for Paz's capture, though he's still enrolled at the time, he packs up his primary automaton, Twiggy, and heads into the field, hoping to meet her for the first time and learn what the hell she's been up to.

And unfortunately, that's all I know about the man at present. We'll get there.

#NINTENDO64: Terinelle Idea: Badass old knight woman Story: Dragon Tavern

Terinelle, much like Arlein, was the subject of a massive overhaul back when I first redesigned these characters back in 2017; she was originally a much younger woman, like most of the other characters. But during the redesigns, I became much more interested in representing older characters, and in particular, older women; badass old men, after all, are pretty common, but badass old women, much less so. She also underwent an ethnic update, being changed from vague "anime" ethnicity to specifically inspired by Armenian women.

Terinelle is a Cavalier, the classic knight in shining armor atop a noble steed. When she first began her career fifty years prior, she was the lone knighted woman, fighting doubly hard as her compatriots to rise in the ranks; now, she stands among the upper echelon, and has inspired other young women to join the knighthood. Unfortunately, even now, she and those who joined in her wake still face discrimination from their male peers and superiors, and on top of that, younger knights tend to question her competency due to her age.

Of course, those brazen enough to attempt to duel her to increase their prestige or "put her in her place" quickly learn their lessons. See, among Cavaliers, rather than displaying their rank and prestige through medals or armor decoration, they display it through their hair; a Cavalier only cuts their hair if they are defeated in battle, with the cut-off locks becoming a trophy for the winner.

Terinelle has not cut her hair in fifty years.

After putting her boots to another whippersnapper's throat and it still doing little to shut up her detractors, Terinelle had finally had enough of Imperial society. She had pretty much everything she could possibly want - a rich estate, a loving husband, children she adored and a litter of grandchildren on the way - but she wanted to seek glory in new lands. So, when the call went out for people to seek out the Champions of the Steel Empire, she jumped at the opportunity. Sure, she would miss her family dearly, but surely, she wouldn't be gone for that long. There were only so many places those kids could be, right?

[envihellbender]

Evan Buckley as a dead by daylight killer.

Evan Buckley - The Firefighter

The Firefighter is a high energy brawler. His standard weapon is his crowbar, instead of a lunging attack he can manifest fire from his crowbar that acts as a ranged attack. His power is ‘Thermometer’. How this works is during bursts of adrenaline his body gets hotter causing survivor’s who enter his terror radius to trigger the burning status effect - the closer he is the stronger it is. His adrenaline meter rises with every: successful basic attack, every trigger of blood lust, every smashed pallet, every broken wall, every survivor hooked, and every survivor put into the dying state. When it is full he is struck by lightening and his body burns much, much brighter than before.

Lore

Evan “Buck” Buckley’s first kill was his older brother Daniel, not in the eyes of most adults but to his parents. So much so that the Entity was attracted to the house of death and secrets. Buck tried to outrun the black shadows in the corner of his eyes, the tendrils banging at his window, and the strange green light he saw in dark abandoned spaces. He travelled, he tried every job he could find in every city. It dulled the whispering for a while, and when he found a job in California - a firefighter… It seemed like he was finally free. If he could save lives, then death would no longer be a tight grip on his neck. That was until the night at the top of the ladder when the lightening from the sky struck him, Buck clamoured up the ladder chasing shadows until finally the Entity grabbed him, tugging him away.

He didn’t want to kill, for the longest time. The Entity made him suffer the pain of being struck by lightening again, and again, and again. It covered him head to toe in Lichtenberg scars, causing him to watch a rotten corpse call to him, the cadaver that was his brother, the boy he killed. It took longer to break Buck than it did any other killer, but eventually he wasn’t Buck any more. He was the Entity’s Firefighter.

Load-Out

The Firefighter comes with three unique perks:

The Tower

If your attack causes a survivor to fall from a great height, the survivor instantly goes into the dying state. The attack is always significantly more precise. Each survivor has a 0.5/1.0/1.5 metre circle around them when approaching the edge, where each hit within that radius counts as a regular hit.

The name is a reference to the Tower from tarot decks in which the card the Tower is represented by a lightening struck tower, this and the journey Buck has gone through after being struck by lightening is emblematic of the Tower.

My Brother’s Keeper

When the first generator is completed the Obsession borrows your blood and kidney. This gives the Obsession 33/22/11% increase on repairing and a stronger defence against attacks. When the second generator is completed, the Obsession’s borrowed organs are ripped from their body and they are placed into the dying state.

The name is a reference to the book ‘My Sister’s Keeper’ where a girl is born to save her sister’s life and be essentially an organ form for her siblings. This is similar to Buck’s childhood and how his parents wanted him to save his brother’s life.

Hex: Hot Zone

Within 8/16/32 metres of the Hex totem the ground is covered in a repulsive gas that’s a deep green. It causes the survivors to cough revealing their position and causes their health to steadily go down.

The name relates to a term within the fire service, it refers to a HAZMAT (hazardous materials such as solids, liquids, or gases that may cause harm) incident that must be isolated.

[mskwtz]

𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙝, 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙞𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙪𝙙𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧, 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙪𝙗𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣 𝙞𝙣 𝙝𝙞𝙜𝙝 𝙨𝙘𝙝𝙤𝙤𝙡.  ➵  e/li mosk/owitz was born into a gifted world, albeit an undercover one. born to a super hero sidekick mother and to a non-super father, it was 50/50 if he would have powers himself. by the time he was 8, there were clear signs of his gifts, occasionally completely swaying his parents into getting what he wanted when they were firm in their no and creatures materializing when he played pretend with dem/etri. over time it became clear that he had the gift of mental manipulation and projection. his powers would happen involuntarily for much of his pre-adolescence, occurring in line with his emotions. when he was angry, overjoyed, excited, distraught. as he got older he tried to learn to hone it, wanting to be able to do those things at will. with high school quickly approaching, there was only one destination for him & the rest of his peers with powers - sky high. by the time he set foot in the gymnasium & coach boomer was looming over them menacingly with his clipboard in hand, he was nervous as fuck but determined. he'd been improving and he had a handful of things he could do intentionally with his powers to make a point. added bonus that he got to get a bit of a laugh at the expense of their bully of a gym teacher when he manipulated him into believing he was down to his boxers in front of them all & his mother stormed in berating him. by the time he was done tweaking and realized none of it was real while the students in the auditorium laughed, he'd grumbled an irritated ' hero. get off my podium '.

things were smooth sailing his first year. he had it made as a hero, even if that was at the expense of the sidekicks. he didn't view himself as being better than them just because of his label, but he knew that wasn't the case for some of the heroes. he did, however, appreciate not having to worry about being shunned or sidelined. all he was concerned about was improving his powers, making a few friends along the way. one of those friends was khione goossens, little miss freeze girl herself. his sophomore year, things took a turn when will stronghold - son of the commander and jetstream - started his freshman year. through khione, hawk became friendly with a small group of the incoming freshmen, and easily became protective of the younger group, even if he liked to poke fun from time to time. it was in good spirit. he watched as stronghold effectively shut out his friends for the heroes - namely gwen grayson, and hawk could feel a pang of guilt that indirectly he'd done the same through his freshman year. he tried to have a conversation with will about it but it didn't really get through, so he left it alone, leaving the younger boy to make his own decisions or mistakes. he did not expect, however, the chaos that would follow suit at their homecoming dance. he helped get other students out of the fray while the stronghold 6 handled penny, lash, speed & royal pain.

following that battle and saving sky high, the dichotomy of sky high changed for the better. gone was the idea that sidekicks were any less worthy or capable, meant to only serve a hero. they were all heroes in their own right. his friendship with the stronghold 6 7 continued, though maybe not on the same level they were all on with each other. he finished high school with some hiccups here and there but nothing they couldn't handle. he graduated & was moving on to sky university for more advanced training and preparation for being heroes. simultaneously, he was attending classes at ucla (university subject to change depending on verse specifics) to work towards becoming an architect when he wasn't saving the world. but with college came a lot more danger, and he had to be zoned in before he even got to graduation. 

this verse is heavily affiliated with tessa @freezegirl and my warren and penny @ghoulsplay - though not exclusive to my penny and warren if anyone who writes either would like to write with me.