#and there is beauty and joy in the science I study I try to understand and the resources available

[thespoonisvictory]

also idc I love the citadel and all its wizard hubris I love the intersection of innovation and horror and progress and crushing others underfoot AND also clothes that magically put them on themselves and Citadel Made bouncy balls and secret societies and universities!!! and espresso and arcane discovery and and and

[strljaem]

“was it cute like me?"

💿 : dream a little dream of me, michael bublé.

Your love story with Jaemin began in the most magical way—at a concert, where you were lucky enough to get backstage passes. As a dedicated fan of NCT Dream, you'd always admired Jaemin from afar, never daring to dream that he'd notice you. But fate had different plans.

It was a warm summer night when you finally met Jaemin in person. You were backstage after the concert, the excitement still buzzing through the air. The moment he walked in, it was as if the world tilted in his direction. He was stunning in his casual attire, with his jet-black hair tousled from the energetic performance. When he spoke to you, it felt like the universe had conspired to bring you together. The conversation flowed effortlessly, and by the end of the night, you'd exchanged social media and phone numbers.

What followed were countless dates, conversations, late-night talks, and everything in between. You got to know each other in private, sharing your hopes, dreams, and even silly inside jokes. Jaemin was always attentive, his eyes lighting up every time he saw you. You soon became inseparable, often spending weekends exploring the city, trying new restaurants, or simply watching movies at home.

Jaemin's busy schedule as an idol and your rigorous studies for your PhD in computer science meant that time together was precious. But you both made it work, always finding ways to connect despite the distance. You met each other's families, and they welcomed you both with open arms. Jaemin's sweet personality won over everyone he met, and your intelligence and charm captivated his family.

Then came the wedding—a beautiful ceremony filled with love, laughter, and tears of joy. You and Jaemin were finally married, and it felt like a dream come true. The world seemed to shine a little brighter, and every moment with Jaemin was filled with happiness.

A year had passed since that magical day, and tonight was your first anniversary. Jaemin had reserved a grand restaurant for the occasion, a quiet, elegant place with dim lighting and soft music. He looked incredibly handsome that night, wearing a black jacket over a brown turtleneck. His jet-black hair was perfectly styled, and his smile could light up any room. You were equally stunning, with your long black hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a black blouse and black leggings. The YSL high heels he had gifted you for your birthday completed the look, adding a touch of sophistication.

As you entered the restaurant hand in hand, the waitress guided you to your reserved table. The ambiance was perfect, with a candle flickering softly between you. Jaemin looked at you with adoration in his eyes and said, "You're beautiful." You laughed and replied, "I know." He chuckled, and the warmth in his gaze was unmistakable.

During dinner, Jaemin shared stories about his preparation for The Dream Show 3 world tour. He seemed a bit down when he mentioned Renjun's temporary absence, and you nodded, understanding the bond between the members. "Call me as soon as you landed," you reminded him. He smiled and nodded, saying, "I'm going to miss you. Take care." You knew you'd miss him too, but you also knew you had your own work to focus on.

While eating your spaghetti, a memory from last night flashed through your mind. You'd had a dream about you and Jaemin having a baby—a cute little boy with your big brown eyes and Jaemin's nose. The scene in the dream was so vivid, you were in a beautiful garden, walking together. Jaemin was holding a stroller, while you held the baby in your arms. He gently caressed the baby's cheek as he slept, and you both laughed together, filled with happiness.

As you drifted into the memory, Jaemin noticed you spacing out and snapped his fingers in front of you. "Where have you been, darling?" he asked, concerned. You blinked back to reality and took a deep breath before saying, "I had a dream about us having a baby." Jaemin, who was chewing on a meatball, choked at your words, his eyes widening in surprise. You quickly handed him a glass of water, and he gulped it down, coughing a bit. You couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, and he gave you a playful glare.

"Aigoo, really! You had a dream? Was it cute like me?" he asked, trying to play it cool. You nodded and said, "Very. The baby is so cute. He has both of our features." Jaemin laughed nervously, looking down at his food as if avoiding eye contact. You raised an eyebrow at him, questioning his reaction. "What? Aren't you happy?" you asked, and he looked up at you with a mischievous grin. "Maybe it means you're ready to have a child," he teased.

You playfully smacked his arm, causing him to wince and pat it dramatically. "What if I say that I'm ready?" you asked, smirking. Jaemin's eyes widened at your response, and you saw a mixture of surprise and excitement in his expression. "Wow, so sexy," he replied, earning a scoff from you.

As you returned to your food, Jaemin suggested, "We'll see. Give me some time." You nodded, holding back your laughter, knowing he was trying to buy time. He mentioned that the world tour would go on until the end of the year, hinting that he'd have more time then. You nodded, twirling your pasta with your fork, and said, "Thank God." Jaemin pouted, and you burst into laughter at his reaction.

That night was filled with laughter, warmth, and the promise of a bright future together. You both knew that you had different paths to pursue—Jaemin with his idol career and you with your PhD—but your love was strong enough to weather any challenge. As you left the restaurant, hand in hand, you felt that you were both on a journey, one filled with love, adventure, and endless possibilities. And whatever the future held, you were ready to face it together.

[quelios-dawnsinger]

Prologue: Homecoming Chapter 1: Lord Emberfall Chapter 2: Suspicious Salutations

Chapter 3: Luring out the Prey

The amount of perfume on the little collection of letters was nauseating, but no less incriminating. Lyris had given them up along with her underthings and a promise to do unspeakable things to the handmaiden in his sister’s own bed again, and he had been chased off the Dawnsinger estate come the morning by Old Nessa when she’d found out how he’d ‘tarnished’ her granddaughter, but in the end Quelios considered the week one of progress.

He had known his sister to be a writer since she was old enough to begin at the Academy, horrible with arithmetic and the logical sciences but excelling in language, reading, writing. Even her handwriting was something of an art, a flowing script she took her time with in the smallest of missives. Many had thought his sister took advantage of the enchanted quill like most did to achieve that perfectly formal script, but any Dawnsinger knew it was Serra’s passion to write each word herself.

It seemed the little bird had a paramour. Maybe. He had no doubt she had invested the time and effort in the whatever she’d sent, enough to hook someone that was equally flowery with their writing. He rolled his eyes some at the dreamy writing, the performative romanticism, the unmistakable ‘offer’. Quelios scoffed: they could have written a stupid romance for horny teens at this rate:

Dearest SD, Thy words touched my heart like a lover's caress. Mine heart thundered against my chest when I read your kind words… enough so that I drew a curiosity as to who you might be. I profess my profound apologies for not recalling a time when our eyes met… it is a weight I will bear for all eternity. Your visage of me pales to the truth. A truth I would gladly share with you if our hearts are indeed meant to be intertwined. So yes! I would be gladdened to know the name of this fair maiden with such beautiful words that I shall keep with me for all time. While I do not wish to come between a betrothal I can understand if you desire a fleeting sense of joy in such turmoil… and if I am the source of that joy then I will embrace that duty rather then shun it. Until then, may this photograph keep you in peace on those lonely nights my fair, fair "SD"

Quelios sighed deeply and shook his head, shuffling to the last letter Lyris had said been left at the estate’s doorstep, some days after Serenas had gone missing. This one had been much more blunt:

I still think of you. When can we meet? –S.D

Quelios snickered – the mysterious penpal had the convenience to also bear his sister’s initials. He considered that his little sister miiiight have written the letters herself just to throw the Houses off her trail - that would have been a riot. But no, the lovefool had been sure to also include a photograph of himself, for some reason. Perhaps it was this one’s arms his desperate sister had dropped into from her own bedroom window…? "You silly little thing, maybe you were meant for each other, Serra.”

Quelios gave the enclosed photograph another study, trying to ascertain if he’d seen the boyish face before. Well, he’d have to give it to the pretty boy: he knew how to make love to a camera, at least. He wondered if this ‘Knight S.D’ was as skilled with a sword as he was a camera.

After he’d plastered the pretty boy’s face all over Silvermoon in suspicion of kidnapping and larceny, Quelios was sure someone in the city would be forthcoming on the “Knight’s” performance.

Why waste energy and resources tracking the prey, when one could lure it out from hiding?

{ Referring @serenas-dawnsinger and @thehopelessyouth ;) }

[erbiumspectrum]

How I survived pchem

So, the time has come: you have to take physical chemistry in uni. Hell's favorite, the most terrifying of nightmares, the source of emotional damage for hundreds of science students worldwide... Or so they tell you. There's no denying pchem is no field of flowers, but I managed to pass the numerical part with a 4/5 and the theoretical part with a 5/5, so let me just say - pchem is definitely passable. Here's some of my advice.

Go to class

Seriously. I know all of studyblr always tells you to go to class, but with pchem I mean it more than ever. Don't skip lectures. Go see the way your professor links the concepts and explains the necessary math. Please. It'll save you so much hassle!

Abuse office hours

And don't hesitate to ask questions in class. Lab partner and I would stay after lectures to ask our professor extra questions or go see him in his office several times during the semester and it always paid off. They won't be mad! They're here for you! Chances are, they'll be happy a student is invested in their subject.

Be consistent

I cannot stress this enough: consistency is everything. Do not leave studying for a test/exam until the last minute. If you can cram pchem at all, that's impressive. But I don't think you can cram it well. Go over your lecture notes the same day - with a textbook, so that you can fill in the gaps in your understanding of the given topic - it does wonders for comprehension and retention.

Do practice problems

And if you get mandatory exercise sets you need to complete for class, try to do more than that. Looking at somebody's solution and thinking "yeah I see what's going on here" isn't enough. If you aren't able to solve similar exercises by yourself, from scratch, you don't actually understand the topic.

Make friends with a good textbook

Ideally, your professor should be the one to recommend textbooks and exercise books. If they don't, ask! Personally, aside from some Polish textbooks, I read Atkins religiously. The textbook is great. The exercise book is a lifesaver - the answer key has complete, step-by-step solutions *cries in joy*

Understand the material thoroughly

Don't just skim through the chapters - see how every new concept is "stacked" on top of the previous ones and how it complements them (why do we need the second law of thermodynamics? Why is the first one not enough? Why is entropy defined as heat over temperature and not work over temperature if both heat and work are a way to transfer energy?). Similarly, don't just memorize formulas!! See where they come from. Derive them yourself, identify the steps that are unclear and try to understand what happens there.

Less fear, more curiosity

All right, pchem is hard, pchem is demanding, sure. But pchem is also fun. Pchem is fascinating, pchem is beautiful! The intersection of sciences! The chemistry you're already familiar with translated into the universal language of mathematics! Nature explained at a molecular level! Look. Everybody told me pchem would traumatize me, so I decided to prove them all wrong. I tried to approach it with as much enthusiasm as I could and it worked! Yes, I absolutely had to work my butt off in this class, but I enjoyed it! Please, try to do the same.

Additional resources

The organic chemistry tutor - physics (yt)

Professor Derricotte (yt)

Physical chemistry (yt)

The chemistry library - physical and theoretical chemistry

Have fun and good luck!! 🍀💖

[micheya]

Hobbies with Nahida | Modern Au

Hello, hello! Here is my @favonius-library Santa gift to @blueskyofthedawn . I do hope it's of a readable quality as it had been quite a bit since this old scribe has picked up a pen, or in this case, opened a word document (Times have been tough).

Todays characters: Nahida x reader and mentions wanderer

Synopsis: two hobbies Nahida had picked up in her great amounts of spare time, and what she's like with them.

Gingerbread house making and general baking

With her small and dexterous hands, Nahida ranks pretty high in her ability to make Gingerbread houses. I believe when she looks for new activities she reads up on a few tips on them before starting. Not too much, however, as she believes there's a merit to spending time and thought on trial and error. A sort of satisfaction is gained figuring out by yourself how to get your desired result. Though, there isn't much error to the trials with Nahida, as she tends to be the type of person whom will most likely have the solution by the second try.

She's fond of baking as a past time, and thoroughly enjoys the tea breaks, especially with her books, and even more especially when those tea breaks and books are with you.

They say cooking is an art, and baking is a science, which is probably why you seem to find yourself back in what seems like chemistry class when asking her "What did you put in this to make it so tasty?"

It's a joy she keeps close to her heart when she sees you eat what she prepares with delight, and is it's own excitement when she notes down your preferences - whether savoury or sweet - ready for the next little book session in your cozy sweaters, soft and cuddly, sunken into your positions on the couch by the fire.

If there was one area she had to pick in needing assistance, when it comes to this hobby she could become a professional in, it would be the more artistic task of decorating. Don't get me wrong, most of her creations come out looking delectable, presented exactly as they should be presented. However, apart from maybe the usual flower or smiley face on top of a cupcake, she'd often find herself humming in wonder when visualising the designs of grandiose birthday and wedding cakes that she would consider art works first and desserts second - though they weren't necessarily on their list of 'Baking to-dos'.

That's why she'd ask you. She supposed, like with anything else, she could look it up, study and perfect the formula for a consistently beautiful design. However, she liked hearing "What if we try to have the walls go up to the ceiling, and have little windows with people looking out." From you.

She also liked replying with, "Oooo, a multi-story accomodation styled gingerbread house? Or rather an old- fashioned tower of a castle design?"

Every idea, good or (arguably) bad, were ideas she took to heart, and imprinted in her mind for days the two of you lacked creativity.

“Hmm, what if we made that little cake bridge, again?”

Crocheting and knitting.

It gets cold out in the winter, and at home too, she supposed you and Wanderer could use something.

Oh, and, she'd maybe look at a corner of her home and think something could fill a certain empty space.

Oh, and, you know what? This would make a perfect gift for that child’s next birthday…

Knitting and Crocheting was amongst the other hobbies she had picked up when wondering what else to do in her spare time.

She found that, after the settlement she received from the mistreatment of her workplace, she'd have enough money to take a break and fully take time to understand herself some more. In this break, one of the earlier hobbies she picked up ended up being this activity.

As always, she was quick to learn, mistakes that were made rarely happened twice, and the satisfaction she gained holding up her first pair of purple gloves, had her grinning ear to ear.

She was sure the wanderer noticed her joy, as she noticed his - despite his quirked brow and curt thank you (it's been two years and she still remembers him frantically looking around the house when he had thought he'd lost them).

From the general scarf and gloves, she soon would knit sweaters and leg warmers in what she believed was the middle ground of what would suit you and your preferences of fashion.

When starting a new hobby, there's always a plan in mind to have you and Wanderer partake in it at some point in some way.

Which is why it's truly no surprise when you find the three of you on the floor in the process of making cute plushies of your favourite animals.

It's okay if it's not your particular thing by the end of it. She's truly just thankful that you decided to sit with her anyway.

And if the animal doesn't exactly come out as you had imagined, that's fine! She'll make it for you if you want (Only if you want, as she'd never want to undermine your efforts) and even make little accessories for it.

“Oh, that looks adorable.” Clasping her hands together she smiles to the both of you, “Great job!”

“I already have experience in the area, anyway.” The wanderer passes over the compliment, putting his little cat next to Nahida’s frog, “But, thanks.” he continues before looking towards yours.

It was a little wonky at the base, however, it was noticeable how you had gotten a grasp at the process when looking at the rest of the body, as well as the cute little smiley face.

“Thanks, Nahida. Yours looks amazing.” Pulling your fingers back in a stretch you sighed, “It doesn't even look like your hands are tired? My fingers are aching.”

“Hehe, well it comes with practice. It's been great exercise for my joints.” She replied, further showing the point when grasping her hand into a fist a few times. “It wasn't originally what I started for, but it's not all that surprising of an outcome.”

Following the Wanderer’s lead, you placed your little plush beside the frog, unable to contain your smile.

“Look at that, they look like the best of friends.” Nahida said, “We couldn't possibly separate them.” She made an expression of thought, though you felt it was more of an act for an already made decision, “How about you take the frog home with you, that way they won't be lonely.” She then turned to kunikuzushi, “And your cat can have one of my already made cat plushies too.”

“No, it's fine, I had made it with the intention of handing it to you, however, it's just like you said,” he then stood up from the floor, swiftly dropping the cat into your lap, straight faced, “We wouldn't want the little ones to be lonely” Before even finishing the sentence, he was already headed out, “I'm going to make dinner now, both of you should tidy up and set the table.”

The two of you that as your signal to get started “I look forward to it!” Nahida called back grinning. “So…what animal shall we make next time?”

[hqsenvs3000w24]

A Sense of Place (take 3)

Okay, I've messed this up so many times now, I should not be allowed to blog, I've accidentally deleted this entire post and responses I've made so were gonna just try again I guess.

My relationship with nature begun at a very young age at my family's cottage. My cottage, located just east of Bracebridge, ON has been in my family for three generations now (me being the third). It was the place where I spent my summers, learned who I was, learned what nature is and the first place I have in mind when I have time off. Although I grew up in the suburbs of Georgetown, my cottage is my home, because, at the end of the day, it’s the place I always want to go back to.

When I was young I didn't entirely realize the privilege it was to have a space like this. I was always aware that not everyone had a cottage, none of my friends did, and I only knew a few people in my grade that actually owned a cottage instead of just renting. As I got older it became more and more apparent that I had won the lottery when it came to my cottage, and from there I gained a deeper understanding of my privilege as well as the opportunity I was born with, when it came to this connection I was able to make. My love for nature and the natural world was born up in Bracebridge and nurtured and grew from there and is still growing to this day. As I sit here writing this post as a student studying environmental sciences, I can't help but think how proud my younger self would be, knowing that I've grown up to become a person who can help protect the areas I was raised in.

My childhood allowed me to form connections with the natural world, I played in the forest, and swam in the lake and enjoyed the peace that nature offers. Now it's something I aim to protect. One of the biggest developments in my connection to nature occurred rather recently when I was introduced to outdoor education. For four months I worked at an outdoor education school for one of my co-op positions. There I helped educate young students on the importance of the natural environment and helped them form their own connections with nature. This was one of the most eye opening experiences in my life and again brought up the privilege I had grown up. So many of the kids coming up to the school located in Huntsville ON (about 3 hours north of Toronto) had almost no connection to nature. Only a few had or rented cottages, and growing up in the Scarborough area didn't offer them many opportunities to explore nature in a safe environment. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life watching them interact with nature and the joy that it brought them. I have never seen bigger smiles on students faces, they had the opportunity to play freely outdoors, we led them on hikes, and taught them about the importance of nature and what it can offer us. And I truly believe that those kids left with a better understanding of why the protection of natural areas is so important, even if they didn't realize it yet.

From there, my connection to nature was reignited and I went on to teach nature photography at a non-profit last summer (the main photo for my page up there was actually taken by me at my cottage!). It's so rewarding to be able to help others develop a relationship with nature for there sake but also for my own. Every time I saw one of those kids exploring on their own or taking a picture a tree or following bumblebees, it reminded me of my own relationship with nature and the importance it holds in my life.

I hope that I helped offer those students and campers a sense of place, and that they left with a deeper understanding of the natural world and hopefully a connection of their own.

My own sense of place was introduced to me by my family, and the opportunity they granted me to build this beautiful connection to nature, and inevitably, what sculpted me into the person I am today. For me there was never a moment in time where I can pinpoint my relationship with nature starting. It started before I was even aware of it, it started the moment my parents brought me to that cottage and it hasn't ever stopped. My cottage isn't just a place, and I never felt like it was, it was always a home. And the love I have for that place translates to every natural environment I have explored since.

-all for now :)

[tech-girls]

Spotlight: Mariana Arboleda

Each month we spotlight an advocate for gender diversity who inspires us. This month we are highlighting Mariana Arboleda! Mariana is a PhD student at Universidad del Norte in Colombia and currently a visiting Fulbright scholar at UVA.

I used to call myself a "multi-mediocre" because I love to do and learn about so many things that I could never be good at most of them. But then I learned that I have ADHD and Autism and everything just made sense. Now I'm a proud neurodivergent Colombian engineer, PhD student, teacher, data scientist, and passionate learner.

I actually think that one of the reasons I fell in love with programming is because failing is a big part of the development process. Debugging involves a lot of learning, and every new error also means progress, so I find joy solving those mysteries.

How do you work with technology and/or engineering today?

I wear multiple hats, but all of them involve technology and engineering. In my PhD and teacher role, I'm mostly focused on data science education. Data science is the combination of computer science and math and statistics, and there is a lot of coding and technology involved in the process of turning data into information. Now that AI is so popular, I also teach about AI as I want everyone to understand how it works and be able to use the tools in a responsible and critical manner. And of course, as a data scientist I manage databases, automate tasks, and even create beautiful websites for people to access the data we use in the projects.

What do you remember about your first coding experience?

I remember everything about my first coding experience! I never had the chance to learn about programming when I was in school, and had a very bad stereotype of what a programmer was like, so when I saw that I had a class in college to learn programming I got scared. But when I learned about algorithms, I saw them as a way to organize my thoughts to reach a solution and was automatically engaged. I loved that my code could give me instant feedback (for example, I could try to code a new button and immediately see if the button worked or not), and it just opened a new world to release my creativity.

What was your pathway to working in/studying technology and/or engineering?

My pathway to studying and working in engineering was funny because I never dreamed of being an engineer, I just knew I loved math. When I was close to graduating high school I asked other people what they thought and my favorite older cousin told me he was studying Production Engineering and he liked it. So that was my choice. I enjoyed most classes, but as soon as I learned to code, I tried my best to include coding in everything I did (even when it wasn't necessary), and that is how I knew I wanted to learn more and work in technology.

Why is it important to see more gender inclusivity in technology and engineering fields?

Because it matters! I studied in an all-girls school and no one ever told us working in technology or engineering was a possibility for us. There is so much richness in diversity, every person offers new perspectives and we need to have that in our fields.

Who inspires you to pursue your passion? Why?

So many women who I work with or have had the opportunity to teach. But right now I would say is Kim Wilkens. I see all the work she does (such as tech-girls) and it is inspiring. She has also helped me gain more confidence, feel proud of my work and celebrate what I do.

What advice would you give to your younger self? Just keep saying yes to opportunities, you deserve them. And also, speak louder and stop saying sorry before expressing your ideas! Even if you are the only woman in the room, make room for yourself.

[english-proficiency-learning]

Duolingo English Test: Interactive Practice Quiz with Answers

Introduction

Are you preparing for the Duolingo English Test and looking for an effective way to practice? Look no further! This interactive practice quiz is designed to help you get familiar with the test format, improve your skills, and boost your confidence. With instant feedback and detailed answers, you’ll be well on your way to acing the Duolingo English Test.

Why Take the Duolingo English Test?

The Duolingo English Test is a popular choice for students and professionals worldwide due to its convenience and affordability. It's accepted by numerous universities and institutions, offering a flexible alternative to traditional English proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL. The test assesses your abilities in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, providing a comprehensive evaluation of your English skills.

Benefits of Interactive Practice Quizzes

Realistic Test Experience: Interactive quizzes simulate the actual test environment, helping you get comfortable with the format and timing.

Immediate Feedback: Instant answers and explanations help you understand your mistakes and learn from them.

Targeted Practice: Focus on specific areas where you need improvement, ensuring efficient and effective preparation.

Engaging Learning: Interactive elements make studying more enjoyable and motivating.

Duolingo English Test: Interactive Practice Quiz

Ready to test your skills? Try the practice quiz below! Each question is designed to reflect the types of tasks you'll encounter on the Duolingo English Test.

Question 1: Vocabulary

Choose the word that best completes the sentence: "The scientist was awarded a prize for her _____ discovery."

A) Innovation

B) Misunderstanding

C) Criticism

D) Confusion

Answer: A) Innovation

Explanation: "Innovation" fits the context of a positive discovery deserving of a prize.

Question 2: Grammar

Identify the incorrect part of the sentence: "She enjoy to read books, especially during the weekends."

A) enjoy

B) to read

C) especially

D) during the weekends

Answer: A) enjoy

Explanation: The correct form is "enjoys" to match the third-person singular subject "She."

Question 3: Reading Comprehension

Read the passage and answer the question: "Jane Austen’s novels often explore the themes of love and social class. Her characters frequently face challenges related to societal expectations."

What themes are commonly found in Jane Austen’s novels?

A) Adventure and mystery

B) Love and social class

C) Science and technology

D) War and peace

Answer: B) Love and social class

Explanation: The passage states that Jane Austen’s novels explore the themes of love and social class.

Question 4: Listening

[Insert audio clip here]

What is the main idea of the audio clip?

A) The benefits of exercise

B) How to cook pasta

C) The history of computers

D) Traveling tips

Answer: A) The benefits of exercise

Explanation: The audio clip discusses various benefits associated with regular exercise.

Question 5: Writing

Write a short paragraph (50-100 words) on the following topic: "Describe your favorite hobby and why you enjoy it."

Sample Answer: My favorite hobby is painting. I enjoy it because it allows me to express my creativity and relax after a long day. The vibrant colors and the act of creating something beautiful bring me immense joy and satisfaction.

How to Use the Practice Quiz Effectively

Set Aside Time: Dedicate specific time slots for practicing with the quiz to ensure consistent progress.

Review Answers: Carefully review the explanations for each question to understand your mistakes.

Focus on Weak Areas: Identify the sections where you struggle the most and spend extra time practicing those skills.

Repeat Regularly: Regular practice will help reinforce your learning and improve your test performance.

Conclusion

Preparing for the Duolingo English Test can be a rewarding experience with the right tools and strategies. This interactive practice quiz offers a fun and effective way to enhance your skills and build confidence. Remember, consistent practice and reviewing your mistakes are key to success. Good luck with your test preparation!

[anniekoh]

I've been slowly, tentatively learning about birds and going out to bird, courtesy of the Bird Alliance of Oregon and the Feminist Bird Club. And of course, reading a zillion books about birds. Find More Birds is super helpful and I loved Slow Birding for its focus on the often overlooked "common" birds. The third book is on my to read list!

Find More Birds: 111 Surprising Ways to Spot Birds Wherever You Are

by Heather Wolf (2023)

"Packed with excellent photos and tips, deeply relatable anecdotes, and a palpable sense of joy, this gem of a book will make you a better birder."—Rosemary Mosco, author of A Pocket Guide to Pigeon Watching Seeing more birds than you ever imagined and witnessing exciting avian drama is possible—whether you're on the go or in your own neighborhood, local park, or backyard. As Heather Wolf explains, it all comes down to how you tune in to the show happening around you, the one in which birds—highly skilled at staying under the radar—are the stars. In Find More Birds, Heather shares her very best tactics—and the jaw-dropping photographs they helped her capture. Look for birds at their favorite "restaurants"— from leaf litter to berry bushes, and ball fields to small patches of mud. Watch for "tree bark" that moves . . . you may find it has feathers. Try simply sitting on the ground for a revealing new perspective. Plus, special tips point the way to crowd favorites such as hummingbirds, owls, and eagles—and can't-miss bird behaviors. As your senses sharpen and "noticing" becomes second nature, Find More Birds will turn your daily routines into bird-finding adventures, too. Whether you're strolling down the block or parking your car, you never know what will surprise you next!

Slow Birding: The Art and Science of Enjoying the Birds in Your Own Backyard

by Joan E. Strassmann (2022)

Many birders travel far and wide to popular birding destinations to catch sight of rare or “exotic” birds. In Slow Birding, evolutionary biologist Joan E. Strassmann introduces readers to the joys of birding right where they are. In this inspiring guide to the art of slow birding, Strassmann tells colorful stories of the most common birds to be found in the United States—birds we often see but might not have considered deeply before. For example, northern cardinals thrive in the city, where they are free from predators. White brows on a male white-throated sparrow indicate that he is likely to be a philanderer. This essential guide to the fascinating world of common, everyday birds features: detailed portraits of individual bird species and the scientists who have discovered and observed themadvice and guidance on what to look for when slow birding, so that you can uncover clues to the reasons behind specific bird behaviorsbird-focused activities that will open your eyes more to the fascinating world of birds     Slow Birding is the perfect guide for the birder looking to appreciate the beauty of the birds right in their own backyard, observing keenly how their behaviors change from day to day and season to season.

The Private Lives of Public Birds: Learning to Listen to the Birds Where We Live

by Jack Gedney (2022)

Jack Gedney's studies of birds provide resonant, affirming answers to the questions: Who is this bird? In what way is it beautiful? Why does it matter? Masterfully linking an abundance of poetic references with up-to-date biological science, Gedney shares his devotion to everyday Western birds in fifteen essays. Each essay illuminates the life of a single species and its relationship to humans, and how these species can help us understand birds in general. A dedicated birdwatcher and teacher, Gedney finds wonder not only in the speed and glistening beauty of the Anna's hummingbird, but also in her nest building. He acclaims the turkey vulture's and red-tailed hawk's roles in our ecosystem, and he venerates the inimitable California scrub jay's work planting acorns. Knowing that we hear birds much more often than we see them, Gedney offers his expert's ear to help us not only identify bird songs and calls but also understand what the birds are saying. The crowd at the suet feeder will never look quite the same again. Join Gedney in the enchanted world of these not-so-ordinary birds, each enlivened by a hand-drawn portrait by artist Anna Kus Park.

[tbkenvs3000w24]

The Art of Nature Interpretation

Our natural world is a major influence in my life and has inspired me to study environmental science and create art in the form of photography and paintings. I use these art forms to capture my love and appreciation for the natural world. When outdoors, I am constantly inspired to take photographs of sunsets, bodies of water, flowers, trees, and different animals. When I take these photos, I am trying to convey my feelings of wonder, excitement, curiosity, and love from that moment surrounded by nature. Similarly, natural environments are often my source of inspiration when I feel the desire to paint. When I paint a landscape or an organism, I try to visualize the beauty of the natural wonders that bring joy to my life. Through art, I try to interpret the importance of our natural world and the emotions I feel when surrounded by nature. Photographs, paintings, drawings, and music with environmental themes tend to ignite strong emotional responses in me. These emotional responses in turn influence me to learn about environmental issues and ways to protect our resources.  

A photo I took of the crabapple tree in front of my house.

Art has been used for centuries by people around the world to interpret and capture the beauty of our natural world. Art can illustrate nature in perspectives that build new emotional and intellectual connections to the environment and its resources (Beck et al., 2019). Interpreters, such as I, can use art to deliver themes of stewardship that incorporate science while drawing on people's emotions. Interpreters can inspire people to see the value in their surroundings (Beck & Cable, 2011). Interpretation tools such as voice, movement, music, and storytelling are valuable ways to get people to determine the quality of the natural world for themselves (Beck et al., 2019). Incorporating art into interpretation exposes people to different forms of art that they resonate with and allows them to interpret themes for themselves.  

Photo taken at Six Mile Lake. The mix of shade and sunlight over the waterfall created a gorgeous scene.

Environmental education with a strong art focus can allow people to understand natural processes and issues in new ways (van Boeckel, 2014). Additionally, different art forms provide people with little exposure to natural environments and the opportunity to build emotional connections with nature, which is the first step to environmental stewardship. When people observe a beautiful piece of art that resonates with them, whether it is a painting, photography, song, or story, they may be moved to learn more and to protect our natural resources.  

A photograph I took of a sugar shack used to make Maple Syrup. The beauty of the fog in the distance with the tall trees surrounding the building inspired me to take this photo.

Beck & Cable (2011) explain that interpretation provides people with the “gift of beauty”. Through the art of interpretation, people can carefully combine science, history, and art in an inspirational way (Beck et al., 2019). Interpretation with the use of art can ignite an individual's desire and ability to feel the beauty of the world. The emotional and intellectual connection gained from the “gift of beauty” promotes people's desire to protect the earth's resources. Seeing the beauty in nature is the most vital key to environmental sustainability. To me, the ‘gift of beauty’ is one of the most significant things a person can have. The ability to see beauty in our world allows people to make meaningful connections and find fulfilment every day.  

References  

Beck, L., Cable, T. T., & Knudson, D. M. (2019). Interpreting cultural and natural heritage: For A Better World. Sagamore Publishing. 

Beck, L., & Cable, T. T., (2011). The gifts of interpretation: Fifteen guiding principles for in-terpreting nature and culture. Sagamore Publishing. 

van Boeckel, J. (2014). At the heart of art and earth: An exploration of practices in arts-based Environmental Education. Environmental Education Research, 21(5), 801–802. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2014.959474 

[mosesdumpin]

I really wanted to be a misanthropic little shit. I tried to be a cynic. None of it could last very long. I can't assume the world has fallen ill to evil and the default stance of humanity is malice. I wanted to think like this because I have been mistreated, unloved, damaged, and victimized. I was abandoned and felt a gaping maw where I was told love would be. Telling my stories, explaining my emotions, and sharing my history should enable my turn into heavy-lidded nihilism. But I just love humans so fucking much.

In fact, one of the primary overwhelming and positive emotions I have felt lately have been a deep appreciation of humanity as a whole. I want to be clear, I am not claiming this as a version of inherent compassion or empathy. It is the result of the lack of socialization, hyper-fixations, and nosiness. I was/am a know-it-all little shithead whose entire ego is wrapped up in what I know or do not know. And a subject that requires a steady, risky, years-long, and ongoing study in order to even vaguely understand is Other People. From social behaviors to being introspectively aware its not something you learn from articles or science journals. Sure, you can get the gist or memorize the outline of it all, but the reason this subject (other humans) is so difficult is because, like a rudimentary mirror of quantum mechanics, it is fundamentally altered at every step through the sheer existence of yourself. Knowing yourself should be easy, but it is not for the same reason its difficult to know others. Yourself is fundamentally altered at every step through the sheer existence of literally anyone else. Our identities and selves are feedback loops who are constantly trying to give structure to a dynamic system unfathomably larger than ourselves - like how we choose to draw a wave in the ocean. I sometimes go on a kick watching dance crews and choreography. This is happening more since I got into XG since I find their performance captivating and tends to trigger this urge. This usually always ends in me sobbing; rocking back and forth with the famously ugly cry face as if I've lost a loved one. In reality, I'm overwhelmed with awe and joy at how fundamentally Human dancing and music is. It isn't so much like crying at something beautiful as it is succumbing to the sheer weight of something too huge for me to ever understand. That isn't to say it isn't a GOOD emotion. Its one of my favorite emotions. I know we like to do the whole "blue speck in an infinite universe" thing but to me its like being a flea on a rat musing about the unfathomable scale of New York City when we can only barely conceptualize the rat we are standing on. Humanity taking the accidentally evolved (redundant phrasing, just assume I mean it for emphasis) survival trait of pattern recognition and remixing it with digital (as in, fingers and such) dexterity to create music and THEN remix it again within the boundaries of the bodily dexterity/flexibility we lost when becoming bipedal... while syncing the best of what we have gained with what we have lost to express something we perceive as infinite - cognition and emotion. Above all, since pre-history and pre-pre-history, likely since our pattern seeking behaviors honed to its slightest edge, we did this despite it offering only token or deeply indirect assistance to survival or production. You can argue its a social behavior (which is true) and helps all of our social ties in some way but honestly, have you danced alone before? Have you felt that joy, that eruption of movement to music or excitement? Have you felt joy or peace when you've hit the right note at the right time when you aren't even trying to play a specific song or piece? Sure, this is social, our brains reward us for refining a social behavior blah blah. Honestly I think every time we sing, play a song, create music, dance, tap our feet, bang our heads, move in sync, shake, jump, exult, and CREATE we are riding the resonance of humanity like the surface tension of a rock being skipped across a vast, unimaginable ocean of ourself. This idea is my Eldritch God, my Seraphim, my Infinitely Expanding Universe, and the Face of God. I cower before the knowledge of how small and weak I am compared to it, but I can exult that I am an aspect of it, like a single pixel in a digital photo whose dimensions are so large I can only define it as infinity.

[dailyreverie]

"I’m seeing you doing something you love and the sheer joy you exhibit without even knowing it is so endearing and I can’t look away because you’re so in your element" with bucky

could the reader be excited about animal/science nerdy stuff...im studying to be a vet and nobody gets excited with me cuz its gross stuff sometimes 😭😭

- 😗

A/N: Hiii my lovely dear beautiful 😗 anon! Listen, searching for cat facts took longer than writing this because I have no knowledge of science and animal stuff lol so I hope this is accurate (this is also not scientific but it is kind of gross, maybe?). Also, the source I used for cat stuff is here.

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x reader (no pronouns). Alpine's here too.

Word count: 630

CW: I always try to make my blurbs with as less descriptions of the reader as possible, but this time reader has a few niche interests in animals so just have that in mind. Mentions of cat anatomy.

**************************

It's all part of the routine by now: Bucky comes in, you check his shoulder and arm for any discomfort he may have, and off he goes to the next mission. He likes it, hell... he enjoys it to the point of your check-ups being the favorite part of every mission.

"How's my favorite Avenger doing?" Your chirpy greeting had become Bucky's favorite part of it by now.

"I'm doing alright, the arm's also-"

"You know damn well I'm not talking about you." The white ball of fur that sat on Bucky's shoulder almost jumped at you when your hands made their usual grabby motion, and Bucky didn't even try to hide the smile anymore.

They are very similar, Bucky and Alpine. You can't imagine a sceneario in which Alpine would jump to Sam's arms, or rub against Tony's chin, yet the little cat looks for you and takes comfort in between your hands as soon as he sees you; Bucky doesn't jump to you, of course, but when he sees his cat purr under you soft caresses he understands it, he knows the effect your hands have, soft and healing and warm and-

"Oh shit, Alpine!" He blinks away his frozen brain when he spots Alpine climbing over to your shoulder - rear to your face and tail in the air. "I don't know why he is doing this, I'm so sorry." He is rambling, pulling his cat over to him again even as the cat mewos in protest. 

"Don't worry about it, Buck, really. I appreciate it even." You giggle, stretching your hand to pet the cat again.

"You... appreciate it?" Bucky's confussion is all over his face, looking at you with knotted eyebrows.

"Yeah, when cats put their rear end on your face and lift their tails, especially kittens, it means that your kitty is feeling confident and happy, it's their way of showing you they are ready to be friendly." You reply with a smile, as if you weren't talking about cat butts. Bucky doesn't interrupt, looking at the small smile on your face and feeling himself match it. "This is mostly because of when they were growing up, you know? Mom cats lick their baby's butt to stimulate them when they are figuring out how to defecate, so when a cat shows you their butt they are just asking for-" You stop suddenly, looking at Bucky for a second just to find him looking at you with wide eyes and a smile. "What are they asking for?" There's genuine curiosity in his voice, and he blames it entirely on the way your eyes lit up when you started giving your explanation.

"I'm sorry, that was... it was gross. You came here to get your arm checked, and I ended up talking about cats' butts." You shake your head, trying to get the thoughts of the last two mintues out.

"I want to hear though." Bucky admits "Alpine shows me his butt all the time and I had no idea why. How do you know all that stuff?"

"I wanted to be a vet before I became a doctor." Your shy smile has Bucky melting, but it is the pure excitement in your face what makes his heart leap out of his chest. "I learned a lot of animal stuff from reading veterinary books. Animal behaviour is so interesting! Most animals actually have developed a way to communicate with humans and- wow! Sorry! I'm rambling again."

"You don't have to apologize, I swear." He smiles kindly at you. Who knows what, or who, had made you feel bad for rambling about this passion of yours before, but he knew how being silenced felt like and he was definitely not going to do it to you. "I want to hear everything you have to say."

***********************

Thanks for reading! Please reblog and comment if you enjoyed it

[tiredangellydia]

Pharmacist! Mc headcanons

-immediately wants to understand how medicine works in the Devildom, are there natural medicines or is it only magic? How much is this place advanced in drugs and does it mix with magic? So many questions!!!!!

-In case the drugs are different from the ones in the human world, they may try to give a little taste just to see how it reacts in the human organism ("don't stop me Lucifer, this is for science!")

-Mammon will gladly be their test subject on human medicine if it means spending more time in their room (and with them), lucky he hasn't died from it yet

-Satan teaches them about the different types of poisons that exist and has to repeatedly stop Mc from tasting a little bit of it, somehow he finds it to be a cute trait of Mc. Go figure.

-Asmo will ask Mc to look up the components of his beauty products for him, and see if there's anything that may affect his skin, but it's a little hard when you have no idea what 80% of these components are😅

-Still, you are getting the hang of it and wake up everyday with a hunger to learn more about this weird and amazing place!

*note: I am not a pharmacist but I am studying to get into pharmacy school, this post is solely to motivate me and bring a little joy to whoever is reading*

*note2: if you want to add anything to this, please do! I would love to read other peoples expansion on this type of mc🥰*

[wincestisasincest]

Waves on the Shore - Chapter 8: A Bilgewater Burial

Viktor x Fem!Reader slow burn enemies to lovers

x posted on ao3 // WOTS masterlist

Summary: Jayce and Viktor questioning you about your weapon (made with farm-fresh Hextech) is the only thing keeping you from going to jail for science crimes. You and Viktor are literally at each others throats lmao. Also you’re from Bilgewater because pirates are fucking rad

Notes: If the update's late and you know it clap your hands! For real, sorry about this one, I thought I could do it on time but I my taxes took longer than I thought and I accidentally made the last update the longest chapter known to man, so I decided that I wouldn't rush it and just do things a day late. Guess that's what I get for my hubris in thinking I could do double updates. ALSO HAPPY ONE MONTHIVERSARY to this fic proud of her eekjrthekrjhtker anyway enjoy this one I think you will like it <3

Word Count: 7.2k

Tags: @edenstarkk, @modernamilf, @dedicated2viktor, @doctorho, @yeehawbvby

Mentions of: Dismemberment (not metaphorical this time), death,

Triggers: Language, cops, corruption of said cops, burial/graves

“And you’re certain that the crew is clear to board?”

“Rum’s on, Professor.”

“I beg your pardon?” he sounded offended. Shit.

“Oh- sorry, it’s uh, in the Bilge it means, like, ‘I promise.’ It’s short for ‘the rum is on it,’ so like, if I’m wrong then I’ll have to buy you a drink,” you explained, “but, like, obviously it’s not literal. Heh.”

“I see,” he was fixated on you, unfazed, “well then, I look forward to seeing it in action.”

“Yeah,” you planted your hand on your hip, “the ship is a beauty, too. Couldn’t have picked a better one myself.”

You beamed at your surroundings. The frigate wasn’t huge, not even close to the biggest ship you’d ever seen, but it was invigorating, as though it was waiting its whole life to go into battle. The coats of paint were fresh and the deck was spotless. The sails, crisp and sun-filled white, billowed in the cold air like the fabric folds of a wedding dress. The bowsprit, just above a poised swan figurehead, sliced forward with the temerity of a lightning rod.

The red pulsing climbing up from the rafters only made it look more badass, like you had some Eldritch horror below deck waiting to eat your opponents alive. Perhaps you did, you joked to yourself, as Viktor was down there right now doing a systems check.

“I remember when she was built,” the Professor said earnestly, sharing your awe, “by a young man from Bilgewater, no less.”

“Really?” you glanced down to him.

“A student of mine, in fact. Came here to study nautical engineering. He designed this vessel as a gift to the city before he left.”

“What’s he doing now?”

“Unfortunately, he’s no longer with us,” the Professor folded his hands somberly, though his eyes stayed bright, “but he lived a good life. He invented what we now know as submarines.”

Your played over his words again in your head, just to confirm.

“No way,” your face tingled with excitement, “that’s insane! And he… he made this ship?”

The Professor nodded.

“That’s so awesome,” you grinned like an idiot, trying to contain your joy in the smile as to not dump it all on this poor man. You felt so simple next to him – he’d lived 300 years of emotion and wisdom and progress, and you were impressed by his fun party fact.

There was a veteran melancholy lurking behind his forgiving smile. How someone could spend their days watching incredible people come and go like the tide and still greet each new year as a friend, you would never understand.

“I can give you access to the library if you’re interested,” he offered.

“Ah – no thank you,” you instantly regretted it when his mustache twitched with disappointment, “no, it’s not- I appreciate the offer, I just can’t read.”

You chuckled awkwardly, trying to remember when you’d gotten so soft.

“You… can’t read?” he frowned.

“Heh…” you rubbed the back of your neck, no.”

“My apologies,” he stuttered politely, “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just- well, I assumed that-“

“Really, it’s all right,” you faced your palms out, “happens all the time.”

“Then… perhaps you’ll forgive another question – have you had any formal education?”

“Uh… no?”

“Homeschooling?”

“No.”

“Apprenticeship?”

“Nope.”

“Then where did you learn all of,” he gestured vaguely at the lights below the deck, “that?!”

“Um… I dunno, a lot of it just… happened?” you said dumbly, “Like, okay, I learned about wave mechanics because there was this science guy who was stuck in the port once because his compass was broken so I told him I’d fix it if he gave me some of his charts and stuff. And then I fixed his compass and… yeah. Oh! I can do numbers and stuff too – you kinda have to so you don’t get screwed over in haggling – so math wasn’t hard to pick up on, and…”

You faltered, noticing your rambling and his bewildered stare.

“Young lady,” he clapped his hands together, tone pleading, “do you understand how… extraordinary that is?”

“Uh… well lots of people in Bilgewater can’t read and they live just fine, so it’s not that-“

“No, no, I mean that,” he paused, selecting his words carefully, “you have taught yourself everything you know, and you are able to keep up with the likes of Jayce and Viktor, who have dedicated their entire lives to studying this kind of thing.”

“I wouldn’t say ‘keep up,’ I just had some good ideas, is all.”

“Just a few days ago, you simulated a stabilization reaction.”

“Viktor helped,” you almost vomited after you said that.

You were abnormally self-conscious as he tried to… well, not compliment, but try to convince you of some greatness that wasn’t there. Still, this never happened back home – your praise for a job well done was money, and you liked it that way.

“Jayce tells me that it would not have happened without you,” he said, “it appears that you and Viktor make quite the team. And, as someone who has known him for many years, I can confidently say that it is no small feat, especially when you have not been afforded the same education as him.”

Ah, so now pretending to be a student and getting to stay because you impressed the guy in charge was ‘being afforded an education.’

You didn’t say anything, worried that you would make it worse. You just stood there as he pondered you, wishing that you could throw yourself into the sea.

“I will speak to the librarian regardless,” he dropped the subject, “perhaps you would find the maps interesting.”

“That… would be cool.”

The Professor waddled down the boarding plank and rejoined the chittering ball of white fluff on the docks. You kept forgetting to ask what that was.

Wiping your hands on your pants and stretching your arms behind your back, you resolved to join Viktor below deck before the crew began to board. The open sails reminded you how little time you had.

Viktor’s lean figure was ghoulish in the red glare. You thought that the warm color made the deck look cozy, actually, as there was usually nothing but the sunlight that came through the rafters.

The crystal was in its casing, cemented into one of the support beams with wiry arteries fanning out in every direction. The magic was beating from it like a heart. It was beautiful.

“No need. I just finished,” Viktor said when he heard you descend the stairs.

“I figured,” you approached the casing and touching it, feeling its gentle buzz in your fingers, “I guess I just wanted to see it again before they set sail.”

“What is with the sentimentality?” he put his cane-less hand in his pocket and raised an eyebrow at you.

“Up yours,” you said bitterly, pulling your hand back.

“It was a genuine question.”

You scanned his expression, and he made a point to look like an impatient customer in line at a store. The sharp lines of his face intensified in the red light, but you found no aggression. You didn’t find any curiosity either; just the same exhaustion in his sagging shoulders that you both couldn’t shrug off when you were around each other. Well, at least you knew that he wasn’t trying to start anything.

“I dunno,” you shrugged, “I mean, It’s not coming back with me, so it’s the last time I’ll ever see it, and I was just working on it every second for like, four days. Guess I wanted to say goodbye.”

“Ah,” he turned back towards the wave inverter, “that makes sense.”

“I’m sure it’ll be put to good use, though,” you patted the machine, “not that I’m fond of supporting Piltover’s navy, but any pirates who stole my design will get what’s coming to ‘em.”

“They will indeed,” Viktor nodded, “though wiring it to an entire city is more impressive than a single boat if you ask me.”

“I think anyone who had to smell us would beg to differ.”

“Then they can beg.”

A laugh bubbled out of your mouth before you could stop it. He sounded so maniacal, like a fairy tale villain, and the red backlighting didn’t help.

You approached the stairwell, satisfied with your work. He didn’t follow. You looked over your shoulder to find him standing, dead still, hypnotized by the eye like it was a siren’s call. And you were the sentimental one.

You were going to tell him to hurry his ass up, but, as a gift for the laugh, you opted for a simple “don’t take too long” as you ascended the stairs.

Later, perched on the ledge outside the lab’s window, the same one that you had jumped from the first night, you watched the ship go out to sea. Even though it was fully staffed, the boat looked very lonely.

*****

Viktor remembered Detective Foster. He was the one who had come to Hextech’s rescue by figuring out the fake crystals. He looked like shit.

Instead of the groomed gentleman that appeared in court, the detective was a spent dead man walking. He’d worked through the night, if the curst in his eyes and his patchy facial hair were anything to go by, and he greeted Viktor, Jayce, and you with bloodshot rings in his eyes that were definitely due to the coffee cup in his trembling hand.

The station door closed and he took a very long gulp.

“The two Bilgewater pirates escaped.”

Viktor was speechless, at both the improbability and the inconvenience. They’d spent the night here, and you three were supposed to question them in the afternoon once the wave inverter was installed on the new ship.

He didn’t remember much besides a vicious scar across the bottom lips on one of them and the hostile look that the other gave him. Hostile but aware, like they were old enemies, even though Viktor had never met either of them in his life.

“How?!” you said finally, barely holding back some expletives from the end of that question. Viktor could practically see the smoke coming out of the whirring gears in your head as you tried to process it, lips barely touching in a half-gape and eyes blinking with disorientation.

“We don’t know.”

The detective lead them down the hallway, not slowing down as Jayce and Viktor took in their surroundings. Viktor had never been in an Enforcer station before, and he expected it to look a lot less bureaucratic.

Only a few Enforcers were in full uniform – everyone else had business casual attire with a badge somewhere on their person. They looked like office workers as they speed walked between file towers, chatted over the water cooler, and followed him across the room with their eyes like it was the most exciting thing that had happened all day.

Even though two people escaped from prison.

The field of desks was already huge, and, with the additional stations around town and the squads of officers currently on patrol, Viktor was hit by the realization that there was a small army of Enforcers hiding in plain sight. Why did it take so many of them just to keep Piltover free from crime?”

Ah yes, Viktor remembered. It wasn’t just about protecting Piltover, it was about defending against the made-up threat of the Undercity.

Jayce’s eyes were shifting. He looked stunned, almost disgusted, and Viktor wondered how many Piltovians were aware of the city’s vigilant blue underbelly. Enforcers in public spaces were the illusion of security, while the real defense happened behind the scenes – stopping crimes before they happened and shutting down any Zaunites that got too confrontational. Perhaps hiding how many Enforcers there actually were was important to the illusion of safety as well.

Viktor spotted wild black hair and brown eyes through one of the doors in the hallway.

“Wait, wait a minute- why is he here?” he put a hand on Jayce’s shoulder and gestured towards the door with his cane.

“Alex?” Jayce said, a little too loudly.

Alex lifted his head up and sullenly flipped Jayce off. He was trapped in the small room, all by himself, for gods knows how long. His head drooped back into his hands.

“What? He’s supposed to be in the Municipal Building,” you crossed your arms and joined the hallway blockade. The detective sighed.

“Yeah, well, we figured with two criminals on the loose who possibly know of his involvement, it wasn’t safe for him anywhere else.”

“Of course it’s not fucking safe, but I don’t see how locking him in there like a prisoner is going to help,” you gestured rigidly with your open hand.

“We’ve got a lot on your plate right now, we’re getting the social worker to come in and see him,” the detective said calmly. You were not convinced.

“Does he know about the escape?”

“He does.”

“And you LEFT HIM TO HIMSELF?! He thinks his parents are gonna die now!”

From inside the door, Viktor saw Alex’s face scrunch up as he covered his eyes with his hands.

“And-“

“Penny!” Viktor interrupted sharply, “you’re upsetting him.”

You followed the tilt of his head towards the door.

“Shit,” you muttered, putting your fist under your nose.

“You two can continue without me,” Viktor said, reaching for the handle, “I will keep him company.”

Viktor agreed that he shouldn’t have been left alone, even if he didn’t want to be the one to remedy that. But, you and Jayce were needed out there to deal with the Enforcers, and Viktor considered himself partially qualified to talk to the kid. He had his own share of bad days growing up and knew that, most of the time, all kids needed was someone who’d listen.

He left no room for argument, even from the detective, as he delicately entered the room and shut the door. Eventually, he heard footsteps leaving the hallway.

It felt like he was in a broom closet. The beige walls were completely empty and a single pallid lightbulb hung from the ceiling. The metal chairs against the back wall were banged up but the table in the center had no signs of use. From the outside, the door looked similar to the other offices, so this must’ve been the one room that no one wanted. Perfect for Alex, and perfect for himself, he thought gloomily

“What happened to your leg?” Alex said bluntly. Viktor wasn’t sure if the tightness in his voice was anger or sadness, but either way it warned him to be careful.

“Nothing,” Viktor took a seat next the boy, “it’s always been like that.”

“Oh,” Alex sniffled, “my sister doesn’t have an arm.”

“Why’s that?”

“It got infected with gangrene and they had to cut it off. She has a hook for a hand now.”

“I’m sorry she had gangrene.”

“It’s okay. She likes the hook.”

Viktor nodded, tactfully looking away from the kid so he didn’t feel too much pressure to respond.

“What is her name?”

“Layla.”

“Older or younger?”

“Older. She’s 12.”

“I see,” Viktor paused, “do you miss her?”

“Fuck do you think?” Alex growled, lifting his legs onto his seat so he could hug them to his chest.

“Right. Apologies. Dumb question.”

Viktor was always envious of people who could hug their knees to their chest; his leg would give him too much trouble for it, but it looked like such a safe position. Back out like a turtle’s shell and heart safe between the warmth of your upper thighs. It was the closest that you could get to giving yourself a hug.

“What if I never see her again?” Alex said, curling into a ball and drowning out the rest of the world in womblike darkness.

Viktor wanted to tell him that he would see her again, but that would likely come back to bite him in the ass. This kid deserved better than promises that couldn’t be kept.

“What if she gets killed because they found out I snitched. What if she dies and it’s my fault?”

“Hey now, look at me, “ he tapped Alex’s knees with the handle of his cane, “please.”

“Fuck off!” his scream was muffled as he pressed his nose against his skin. His chest heaved.

“At least come up for air before you suffocate,” Viktor scolded gently, pulling a white handkerchief from his vest pocket.

After a few minutes of distressed sobs, Alex surfaced. His cheeks were wet, his nose was snotty, and it was all getting worse as he coughed through his tears. He grabbed the handkerchief and blew into it haughtily, giving Viktor side eye the whole time.

When Alex shoved the handkerchief back in Viktor’s direction, Viktor discretely curled his fingers around the smaller hand and looked kindly into his half-submerged eyes.

“None of this is your fault,” Viktor said, holding his attention, “How could you have known that things would turn out this way? You were trying to make the best decision – your family would understand.”

“No,” Alex shook his head and wiped free tear from his face, “they’d be so mad at me.”

“Perhaps, but all families get mad at each other sometimes. It doesn’t mean that they don’t love you. And it doesn’t mean that this is your fault.”

He gradually strengthened his grip, giving Alex enough time to tell him to stop or pull away if he wanted to, though he didn’t.

“Please, do not blame yourself for things that you cannot control.”

Viktor left to get him some water and permit him a minute alone.

Viktor was okay when he was in the same, but his own thoughts ran wild the minute the kid was out of sight. As he held his finger on the water cooler and waited for the cup to fill, he thought of his own childhood.

If Viktor were in Alex’s shoes, at a mere 10 years old, he would’ve been inconsolable. The first situation where he was in control, he had chosen to do the right thing and it backfired horribly. Viktor feared what could happen if he was not there to correct Alex’s first impression of choice. He wanted, no, he had to make the kid understand that it was too early to give up on hope.

When he returned with the water, Alex gulped it down like he had just hiked through a desert. It dribbled from his chin.

“You’re going to try and help my family, right?” Alex asked as he gasped for air.

“Of course,” Viktor said, “we were working on taking down this gang before you even got here.”

“Why? What’d they do to you?”

“They are misusing our technology. Those portals, for example, were designed by us, and we do not intend to let them stay in the hands of greedy pirates.”

“They steal from everyone,” Alex shrugged.

“If everyone did something about it, then perhaps they wouldn’t.”

“If they didn’t control who gets food, then maybe everyone would do something about it.”

“Fair point,” Viktor relented, “but do not underestimate the power of people working together. Especially if they are coming from the same place.”

“Oh yeah, like you and that angry girl,” Alex smiled, pleased with his own connection.

“Wh- you mean Penny?” Viktor chuckled, “She is rather angry, isn’t she? Though… I’m not sure if you want to follow her example.”

“Oh? And what example is that?” you said from the doorway.

Fuck.

“Because if you have a problem with poor people from Bilgewater who worked with pirates against their will, and are also super badass,” you added with a carefree wink to Alex, “then I think you’re in the wrong company.”

“I have no problem with such people, I was merely referring to your lack of ethics and refusal to take a stand for anything,” Viktor said defensively.

You rolled your eyes.

“Yeah, yeah, when are you not? C’mon, Jayce is waiting,” you waved him out the door and turned to Alex, “There’s a social worker here to meet you. She’s in the lobby. She’ll be with you soon.”

“Okay.”

“Chin up, Alex,” Viktor said from the hallway, leaning on his cane fondly.

“Yeah, stay safe kid,” you added, shutting the door.

You aggressively shoved your hands in your pockets and started down the hall, scoffing.

“First of all, the wave inverter worked and it kicked the fleet’s ass, so I’m going home. Thought you should know,” you refused to look at him, “Second, I’ll have you know that ‘my example’ is the reason why that kid’s still alive. The leading theory is that one of the Enforcers helped the gang members get out – Jayce and I agree here. The gang is paying some off. So, if I didn’t ‘take a stand’ for this kid to not get involved with Enforcers, then something would’ve happened to him during the breakout.”

You both rounded the corner.

“But you’re leaving?” Viktor said, unimpressed.

“Yes. As per the agreement that you already know about.”

“I’m aware. But you realize that this makes you look worse, right?” Viktor saw your brown crinkle in confusion, and continued, “You just said that you have essential knowledge to this child’s safety, and now you’re leaving him? When you’re the reason he’s in this mess in the first place?”

“I am not the reason that-“

“I didn’t say it was a bad thing. It is good that you intervened when you did. But now you refuse to finish what you started, and you are abandoning him even when you know that he needs you. It’s not ‘taking a stand’ if you’re only doing it when it’s convenient.”

“Ugh, I am not going to argue with again,” you said through gritted teeth, “I don’t fucking care about this kid!”

Your words rumbled through the valley of desks, and the office scene behind you froze. The Enforcers stared like sardines in a tin, dead-eyed and orderly, at your brazen revelation. When you noticed Viktor awkwardly shrinking underneath their scrutiny, you spun on your heel and stared right back at them.

“Don’t you guys have work to do?” you hissed.

They got the hint, and the menial business prattling resumed like nothing had happened. You brushed past Viktor into the lobby, aiming straight for officer.

Jayce wrapped an arm around Viktor’s shoulder and began speaking conspiratorially, but Viktor was hardly listening. He watched your lips move as you made idle conversation with Officer Brent (yes, he’d learned her name from all the times he heard you say it).

You were already separating yourself from them, preparing for the journey back to Bilgewater. He thought that this day would never come, and now that the moment was upon him he felt nothing. He was certain it wasn’t denial, as he was well acquainted with the anxious cocktail of self-delusion – it still felt like something. But Viktor’s mind was running off of empty, frustrated fumes that didn’t feel like anything.

They walked back to the lab, Jayce rambling the whole time about police procedure. When they entered, Viktor’s eyes immediately went to your section of the shelf. Your knife, which you had modified yourself over the last few days, was gone. You’d even cleaned up the tools you used this morning. Every sign that you ever existed was gone, like the universe was gaslighting him.

A breeze shivered down his spine. The window was open. You’d forgotten to shut it when you came back in from watching the ships.

Jayce drifted into the office while Viktor reached out, feeling the cold wind on his cheek reduce to an icy whisper as he locked the handle.

Gods, what was he even referring to when he mentioned “your example?” The insults were automatic, but negative thoughts about you weren’t. Not anymore. When someone mentioned you, he was forced to replay that godsdamned awestruck smile that you gave him after you’d both done the impossible. It started as a disbelieving laugh, and then you couldn’t stop that little wrinkle in your eyes as your cheeks filled with childish giddiness.

That smile, his brain decided, was the symbol of what you two could accomplish when you weren’t at each other’s throats.

“What’s on your mind?” Jayce said from behind him, finally noticing how spaced out his partner was.

“Penny is leaving,” Viktor said, “she made herself important and now she is leaving. It is rude.”

“Isn’t that what I said 4 days ago before you made her cry?”

As if Viktor didn’t think about that enough.

“No. You said something along the lines of it being a waste of potential for her to return to Bilgewater,” Viktor turned around, “what I am saying is that it will be impossible to see anything through without her here.”

“You mean like… her research or the case or…”

“Everything!” Viktor huffed, “I cannot understand it. Why would she want to leave? We are practically begging her to stay, things are better for her here, and she just… goes.”

“Did you want her to leave?” Jayce leaned against the table.

“I did, but… that was a result of my original mischaracterization of her.”

“Oh brother.”

“Don’t give me that. You know how protective I am of our work. And when someone so similar to us came along, believing all the things that we did, in the same field, but doing something so awful, it… it made me uncomfortable. Because what if we did that?”

“We wouldn’t.”

“I do not think it is that black and white. But anyway, this is irrelevant,” Viktor said, “The point is that, at the time, I had to convince myself that she was a vile person for my own peace of mind. But I was wrong. She’s not, eh, malicious, she’s just apathetic. Which is still bad, maybe worse, but I can work with apathy.”

“So…” Jayce drawled out the syllable, “you do want her to stay?”

“Of course I fucking want her to stay! Gods, have you seen the stuff she has given us in her time here?”

“I work here too-“

“Did you see what we did with the wave inverter?”

“I did, and-“

“And let’s not even talk about how quickly this pirate investigation is going to fall apart when she’s not here, and how dangerous it would be for the-“

“Viktor!” Jayce put his hands on his partner’s shoulders, trying to ground him, “Look, I’d rather she stay here too, but… she’s not satisfied with living here. And for someone like her, no amount of moralizing could change that.”

“Then we will make the living better! We will get the Academy to pay her, get the Enforcers to leave her alone, whatever, just-“ he removed Jayce’s hands, “Jayce, I want to keep having this kind of success. How could we claim that we are about improving lives if we are unwilling to make a few small changes to keep someone so valuable here?”

“Well, if you’re that committed,” Jayce exhaled, “then I’m in. But there’s probably one more thing you’re gonna have to change.”

*****

“1 collapsible socket wrench.”

You’d bought that thing when you’d first set out on your own, as a little gift to yourself. It was rusty then, but now, the brown completely swallowed the tool, erasing its original silvery gray color. You slid it across the table into your pile.

“8 sockets for aforementioned socket wrench.”

The Enforcer slowly counted them off to you as he returned them, and you were tempted to just tell him to keep the rest. You were going to get new tools when you went back anyway. Being in Piltover was a much-needed reminder just how far a good set of tools could get you.

“34 gold doubloons.”

And… you zoned out.

This wasn’t as fun as you thought it would be. You didn’t really believe in valuables – like currency, everything you owned was just passing through, and one day it wouldn’t belong to you anymore. You still wanted your stuff back, but you’d imagined that when you retrieved it that missing part of yourself would come back, and suddenly you’d be pumped to return to Bilgewater and start the rest of your life.

But no, your mind was stranded in some never-ending liminal state as this Enforcer counted your gold doubloons as slow as humanly possible.

“1 scarf, red.”

Finally, something worth keeping. You squished it in your hand – its silk was still soft after all these years, and its pattern of rolling clouds was just as enchanting.

You’d bartered for it with an Ionian trader, saying that you could fix the heating system on her boat to save her the cost of having to replace it. You were going to take money as your payment, but her display of handmade scarves caught your eye instead.

You’d used it to keep your hair in place ever since, only to be separated when the Enforcers ripped it from your hair as “evidence.” As if they didn’t already have enough stuff.

Did they take anything from Alex as evidence? He didn’t have the rucksack of essentials you remembered him bringing to the Town Hall. Were they going to bring it to the new housing for him? Had they confiscated it? Were they allowed to confiscate it? Could you sue?

“1, uh… flask?”

“Close enough.”

It was a wallet that you had made by slicing a metal flask in half and attaching it to cured leather. You carved grooves in the metal to attach fasters – you could snap it open and shut by putting the nail of your finger under one of them, sliding it along, and pressing the latch. The best anti-theft technique was, as always, beating the shit out of anyone who tried, but a little extra protection never hurt.

Could you find Alex’s parents back in Bilgewater? As if that would do anything besides put you in more danger. Piltover was supposedly contacting them anyway, and mail was faster than you, so it wouldn’t be necessary. No, you were done here.

“3 fishhooks.”

Sometimes, when you were really hungry, you would try your luck at the farthest end of White Wharf, where no gang had laid claim to the anchovies living there. You were not a cook, but you could make those little fish taste decent with just heat and whatever seasoning you had on hand, which was a skill all its own.

You didn’t have the excuse of hunger anymore, you realized. Here, you were well-fed, had a place to sleep, and medical care if you needed it. Your life was paid for by the state, and you got more freedom than any other criminal. Most people in Bilgewater would kill for that.

“1 roll of fishing line.”

You should be doing things with this. Months from now, when you would inevitably be assaulted with guilt from leaving Alex, disappointment from leaving your promise to the Undercity, and pure anger at yourself for leaving a chance to dismantle at a gang, you couldn’t tell yourself that you were “just trying to survive.” Because you were surviving just fine, but nothing about your ambitions had changed.

This whole Piltover excursion ended up being worth your time in the end, and you were leaving it for what? You were endangering Alex for what? Your own petty wants?

You thought about Iron Leg. Bastard that he was, he put everything on the line when he attacked Piltover, whether it was because he hated the city, wanted more money than he could ever use, or, as you’d begun to suspect, it had something to do with his daughter. One of the worst people that you could think of was doing a better job than you.

“1 piece of chalk.”

When you had nothing behind you, no past and no people, you actually did stand for nothing. But now, you had one foot in the future of so many people and a support system at your back. That was something, and whether you took it or leaving, you couldn’t say that anything you did meant nothing anymore.

You already knew that, but you thought that leaving everything behind for the allure of not having to think about yourself would, at most, maybe hurt you. You’d been too preoccupied with your own bullshit to think about anyone else.

“1 pocket knife.”

Your old knife was so lame. The one that you got from Iron Leg’s ship hung at your waist now. You’d attached hinges to it so it would open and close into a metal sheath, and you’d hidden the end of a screwdriver in the handle.

Gods, the one thing you were taking back from Piltover was still cooler than anything you’d owned before.

“1 canvas messenger bag,” the Enforcer dropped it with a sigh, “and that’s it.”

Spreading your arm across the table, you carelessly shoved everything into the bag with one fell swoop and swung it over your shoulder like it was any other day in Rat Town.

“Oh, wait, is this, uh… hat yours?”

“Yes,” you lied.

You figured Iron Leg owed it to you for bringing you to Piltover. You needed to think.

*****

Viktor stalked you from the cobblestone path, too fascinated with what you were doing to find it in himself to speak. You were on the edge of a lonely fishing dock near the end of one Piltover’s rivers, just before it flowed out to sea, occupied with some rope, a pirate hat, and an empty booze bottle. Your legs hung over the side above the water, and your feet were bare, despite it being the early days of Piltover’s winter.

“What are you doing?” he asked, revealing himself.

You lifted your head over your shoulder like a wild deer, before realizing that it was only him.

“Could ask you the same thing,” you said coolly, returning to your work.

“That didn’t answer the question,” the taps of Viktor’s cane echoed in the gap between the wood and the water as he approached, “though if you mean to ask how I found you, Heimerdinger directed me to the library, and you librarian informed me that you asked for directions to this very place after looking at Piltover’s map.”

“Why were you talking to Heimerdinger about me?” your voice was more serrated.

“In due time.”

You swayed the bottle in your hands to test its weight, listening for some elaboration that Viktor didn’t give you. You grunted.

“What I am doing,” you reluctantly broke the silence, “is a bastardization of a long-held custom in Bilgewater. There’s not a lot of land there, so we don’t bury our dead, we sink them. The bodies go to the ocean floor and we leave a buoy floating above as a grave marker. Usually, the families have to make the buoy, so those can get pretty interesting.”

“And you are having a funeral for… the bottle?” Viktor struggled to sit on the other side of the dock, hanging his legs over the side as you did.

“No,” you said, “I just don’t have a body. It’s for Iron Leg.”

He stared dumbly when you pointed the bottle at him, only to realize that it was an offer. He accepted, and jiggled its contents – the wedding ring, the sketch, some neatly rolled up pages of his journals, and a single gold doubloon.

Viktor frowned.

“Oh, don’t worry, I copied the sketch and the journal pages. Hell, they look better now without the blood and the water damage.”

“That’s not my concern,” he returned the bottle to you, “you are aware that… he was an asshole, yes?”

“Trust me, I know,” you chuckled mirthlessly, and Viktor cursed himself because of course you knew, you had fucking lived it, “But, I dunno, ever since I found out about his kid… I can’t help but think that all of this bullshit was because he was trying to, I dunno, help her or something. Don’t give me that look, you’re thinking it too.”

“Once again, not my concern. That doesn’t excuse anything he did.”

“I didn’t say it was an excuse, but he… the drawing, the attack, his death… he really loved her. And he never got to see her again,” you exhaled, wrapping the rope around the bottle, “I suppose it’s more of a memorial to what he could’ve been than what he was.”

You threaded the remaining rope through the pirate hat, plumed with a gaudy red and gold feather, pulling it tight so the hat would float to the surface while still attached to the bottle.

“When does your ship leave?” Viktor asked after a while.

“Tomorrow,” you said, pulling your legs up to the dock and resting the hat and bottle in your lap, “but if you or Jayce needed something, I might have time.”

“I don’t need anything – I just wanted to talk,” Viktor swallowed his pride; he could do this, he had to do this, “about your leaving Piltover.”

“Oh my gods, I get it, I’m a selfish cunt! Did you really come all the way here to say that again?” you huffed.

“No, I did not, though I will not disagree with your assessment.”

“Y’know, I’m not in the talking mood all of a sudden.”

“Please, just,” Viktor inhaled, summoning the last bit of patience he had left to stop himself from insulting you again, “I am not here to criticize you. I am here to extend an offer. Just… hear me out, and once I am finished, you will never have to hear from me again if you do not wish it.”

“That’s bold,” you said, leaning back on your hands, “I accept.”

Well done, Viktor, he thought to himself, now just don’t fuck it up.

“Jayce and I recognize that, eh, while you have been living better than prisoners, your working conditions have not been adequate. Should you stay, the Enforcers have agreed to put you on a probationary status. Provided that you maintain that, the Academy has agreed to pay you a stipend and grant you access to all campus facilities.”

Your jaw dropped.

“A stipend, that’s…”

“Money. Paid biweekly. To cover living expenses.”

“Right,” you nodded, still reeling from the offer, “continue.”

“You’d be given leeway to work on your own projects and effectively treated as an employee of Hextech, again provided that you maintain your probation. I don’t think I need to tell you that this is a very good offer.”

“You don’t,” you said, your tone accusatory as you regained your sense, “but I wasn’t born yesterday. What do you and Jayce get from all this, huh? Where is Jayce, anyway?”

“Jayce is at the lab, because I figured… that if you would not accept it from anyone else, then you would accept it from me.”

“I hate you.”

“Likewise. But…” he put one hand on the dock and leaned in a little bit closer to you, “even I can see that you returning to Bilgewater is a waste of potential, for both of us. Your intelligence and ideas are immensely beneficial to Hextech. Technologically speaking, what we’ve achieved is nothing short of revolutionary. The potential gang apprehension is a bonus. But Jayce and I cannot do this without you.”

You turned towards the river. Even though it flowed out to the sea, it was still narrow enough at this point that you could see the other side, carpeted with crunchy leaves and dying greenery. Viktor tried to be neutral when he spoke, but he would not undersell the importance of this, even if it had a chance to scare you off. He had one final thing up his sleeve.

“And, because of this…” he sighed, “I would like to address something else. The night that you met Alex… I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t mean what I said, but I was… unnecessarily cruel about it. We have been antagonizing each other since you got here, and it is partially my fault. So, for this… I apologize.”

You considered him, brows furrowed, the same way that you always did when trying to figure out if he was genuine. Viktor fought the urge to put on his impatient customer face for your sake. You both stayed like that for a long time.

“It’s okay,” you said finally, returning to the river and plopping your dejectedly plopping your chin in your hand, “I guess it is also partially my fault. And I’m not going to pretend that I didn’t mean what I said either, but, for what it’s worth, I’m, uh, sorry about the death wish and everything.”

You were easy to read, in regard to vulnerability, because it threatened you. You turned away, and that was how he knew that you meant it.

“It’s forgiven,” he said, turning towards the river as well, “and… in the interest of cooperation, the final addition to my offer is, eh, a truce, if you will. Between you and I.”

“You think we can play nice?”

“The bar is quite low.”

“Yeah,” your shoulders relaxed, “what… what happens if I say no?”

“Nothing, aside from the disappointment,” Viktor admitted, looking at you from the side, “but I urge you to consider this carefully. Besides ethical labor, there is a reason why Jayce and I have added these extra measures. You no longer need to worry about survival, your criminal record, or even our silly personal problems. We want you to focus on what you can do, and nothing else.”

You looked down at your lap, nervously twirling the rope with your fingers.

“You can always go back to Bilgewater,” Viktor continued, “but there are things happening here and now that you are a part of, and they will not wait. You have nothing to lose, so it comes down to who you want to be.”

He knew who you wanted to be, even if you didn’t. You liked to pretend that you didn’t have any wansts, but the determination that you had when you spoke about your inventions or why Piltover’s elite was ‘full of shit’ or what you could do to help Zaun was hard to fake. Even if you stopped before anything got too righteous for your comfort, you still wanted it.

He remembered your smile again, wondering if you were even aware of how much joy that invention brought you.

“It… is worth a try,” you conceded with a sigh.

Viktor exhaled with relief.

“That is good to hear.”

“Yeah,” you said, crestfallen but resolute, “guess I should go cancel my voyage.”

You pushed yourself to your feet and walked to the other side of the dock, standing above Viktor but not acknowledging him. You put the bottle in your dominant hand and swung it around a few times before pitching it into the ocean. The bottle bobbed along the surface for a moment before sinking.

The hat was dragged along with the waves, but by the time it was properly out to sea, you and Viktor were long gone from the docks.

~ End notes ~

End credits song (got a sea shanty for y'all): "Santiana" by The Longest Johns

[secondgenerationnerd]

Could you pls write a fic where the team sees just how strong a bond Roy and lian have

Thank you

Of course my darling! Merry Christmas, Hanukkah Sameach, Happy Kwuanza, Happy Holidays to all!

(This is set around the first Christmas Omega was a team, so they’re all 12-14)

————————————

After weeks of coordinating, the Omega Squad parents watch their children examine and show off their new gifts. Irey and Jai pour through their newest science textbooks, munching on candy canes. Jon and Damian trade cards from some game none of them understand, Jai occasionally jumping in with his own trade. Mar’i had on a new dance costume, Milagro looking over it for any adjustments to be made.  Colin sits among the presents they’d all gotten him, still overwhelmed at the surprise--New clothes and shoes all his and only his, decorations for his room here, games and toys from his friends, other things his friends never have to think about. He’d hugged every single adult already, been hugged back tighter, in thanks. 

Lian tunes her new guitar, glancing at her father for confirmation before moving to the next string. Once she’s satisfied, she opens one of her new song books. Roy moves to side beside her, looking at the song she’s studying. 

“Oo, that’s a good one, Li.” He offers. “And you know all those notes.”

“Mmhm.” Lian answers, humming the song softly.

“You wanna try it?” Roy asks. Her head shoots up, eyes widening.

“Now?” If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was scared, “But…what if I mess up?”

“Then you’re learning. It’s okay to make mistakes while learning.” How long had it taken him to learn that?

“…What if the others don’t like my singing?” Now, Roy knows how much his hellion teases her friends, but rarely does she go for their weakest spots. This is one of hers. Roy bumps her foot with his.

“Li, if anyone here teases your singing, I’ll beat them up.” 

Lian cocks her head, eyebrow raising, “What about Mar’i?”

“Squeaker, I expect you to record her kicking my ass.” That gets a laugh from his beautiful girl and the other kids. Even Damian cracks a smile. “I’m serious! We could make big money selling the footage!”

“Dad!” Lian snorts. “You’re so weird!”

“Hate to tell you, but I’m pretty sure it’s genetic.” Roy winks at her, then his eyes soften, “I can’t do the song without you, Pum’kin.”

She hesitates, biting her lip, then nods. Moving the music better between them, death grip on the neck of her guitar. Roy kisses the top of her head. Then counts them down in a voice only reserved for his daughter.

The fireplace is burning bright, shining all on me I see the presents underneath the good old Christmas tree And I wait all night 'til Santa comes to wake me from my dreams Oh, why? 'Cause that's Christmas to me

Roy’s warm, gravel voice mixes beautifully with Lian’s gentle rasp. It’s not perfect, not even close. Her brow furrows as she misses notes or stumbles over the words. Each time it happens, Roy plays the right note or repeats her stumble. She notices and, slowly but surely, she relaxes. Once she does, the mistakes don’t come as often. An easy peace falls over the room, everyone listening to the father and daughter. 

I listen for the thud of reindeer walking on the roof As I fall asleep to lullabies, the morning's coming soon The only gift I'll ever need is the joy of family Oh, why? 'Cause that's Christmas to me

Maybe it’s the music. Maybe it’s the high emotions of the day finally coming down. Maybe it’s something else entirely, they can’t say. Dick smiles at Mar’i as she curls up against his chest, chin resting  on her head, arms wrapping around him. Impossible green eyes close, breathing evening out. Colin sitting on his other side, almost afraid to move. Dick throws an arm over the couch behind him, a silent invitation. A moment of hesitation...then Colin moves closer.

Sat between her mother’s legs, Milagro leans her head back, eyes closing as a familiar, warm touch plays with her dark brown curls. When she reaches up and back, Alberto takes his daughter’s hand. Nearly two years since that damned ring chose her. They messed up in so many ways with her, they know, but she’s never wavered in her belief in them. Her courage to never give up, even when everyone tells her to. Forever their little fighter/

The twins, squished between their parents, watch Lian with matching smiles, pride dancing in their eyes at her growing confidence. The same pride in their parents’ eyes. Linda kisses her daughter’s temple, Wally pulling Jai close. For once, the always fidgeting, always moving speedsters enjoy their stillness.

Jon leans over the couch, wrapping his arms around his mother. Lois smiles softly, turning to kiss unruly dark curls. So much like his father and herself, but she sees the parts that are uniquely Jon. Clark runs a hand over their youngest son’s hair. Both knowing the other’s thinking about their other boys.

Still holding his new artbooks, Damian accepts the hand his father places over his. A silent understanding between father and son, knowing the boundaries each has. Bruce’s eyes soften as he looks over at his oldest son, holding his own daughter close, offering affection to a child who’d all but given up on it. 

I've got this Christmas song in my heart I've got the candles glowing in the dark And then for years to come we'll always know one thing That's the love that Christmas can bring Oh, why? 'Cause that's Christmas to me

[church-of-beelzebeef]

For all our differences, having my sweet mama visit us was wonderful. Now that we’ve reconciled, I do wish we could have more time like this, but leaving Strangerville isn’t on the cards for my parents and it’s a long journey from there to Copperdale. I cherish the few days she was with us though! Family really is inspiring and it’s such a beautiful part of Beelzebeef’s design for us.

I just wish my family would accept that glory into their lives. Apparently my being saved has become a real sticking point in the family, which is why Daddy didn’t come to see his sixth grandchild. Mama told me Notzo won’t even visit us because he doesn’t want his son to be “exposed” to my children’s love for Beelzebeef! And her heart has been so hardened by secular lies that she refused to listen when I explained I’m just concerned for their eternal souls. In the end we had to promise to not try and “convince” the other to our beliefs (or lack of) which was incredibly hard for me, but I suppose honoring your family is what She asks of us all and it was the only way Mama would agree to keep the peace. 

As tough as I found this particular burden, I would hate to be the one who cuts their grandmother out of my children's’ lives. Nestor and I have previously used my family as a teaching moment to explain even though not everyone is willing to accept Beelzebeef into their hearts you shouldn’t love them any less, and it’s clear the kids adore my mama anyway, so we managed to keep an uneasy truce for the weekend. It’s just awful knowing that my family refuses to see how incredible Beelzebeef is when Her miracles are so evident in us all.

Fortunately, we have an incredible bridge in Beth. Like my parents, Beth is very science-oriented -- she got the Curious genes I skipped! -- but where they see Beelzebeef and science as oppositional we’ve raised Beth to see them as complementary, and it shows. She’s so intelligent and really thrives at Copperdale Academy; both her Watcher Studies and science teachers sing her praises! She spent so much of the weekend with Mama, asking her for help with school projects and Mama’s work and all the science things I could never get my head around.

I can’t lie, it was something of a bittersweet moment for me. At Beth’s age my mama and I had so little in common, and I felt like Beth was the daughter she’d never had. But I prayed to Beelzebeef to soften my heart and help me choose to see the joy in their relationship. A daughter’s friendships with her mother and grandmother are such precious gifts from Her.

Mama had even bought Beth a present; a brand new laptop. At first I was concerned -- we hadn’t allowed Steward a laptop and I wouldn’t like to think we’re unfair parents -- but Nestor felt it was appropriate for Beth as she intends to use it for different things. Steward was very interested in social media whereas Beth was just thrilled to be able to type up her essays at home! Of course, we set some rules -- she can only use it at home, with Nestor’s supervision, and with parental blocking in place so if she does use the internet she won’t be exposed to any unWatcherly influences. 

Nestor II was so excited by the laptop he immediately asked Beth if he could use it! Beth is so sweet and kind she agreed before she’d even had a chance to go on it herself. Bless Beelzebeef for children who understand how important it is to share!

We made sure he didn’t spend the entire weekend on the laptop though! On Sunday after home church (Mama went to a coffee shop) we stopped by neighboring Evergreen Harbor to visit their bowling alley. I was looking after little Lydia so I didn’t join in, but everyone else had an absolute blast! It’s such a wholesome family activity. We’ll definitely be back!