#compulsory basic training

[toby-35]

Well ive only gone and done it. Completed my CBT. Means i can ride a motorbikeee wooooooo

[you-need-not-apply]

you don’t even vote for the liberal party in your own country so stop judging others for not voting for Kamala

I love this ask because clearly anon has no fucking clue how politics in any country work. Lemme break it down:

In Australia, where I come from, liberal party = conservatives. They are not liberal, they’re mildly far right at best.

Also, how Aussie voting works is that you can still vote for third parties, as we don’t actually elect a prime minister. It’s a little confusing but to dumb is down (and yes I know it’s not completely acceptable just go with it)

Australia has multiple parties, notably are The Liberal party (right wing), The Labour Party (likes to be centre some what left mainly right, workers rights but voted against making price gouging illegal), the Greens (I vote for them just because we need green policy but they’re very far left wing), and like 40 other small parties plus all the independents.

How Aussie elections work is the people vote for people to get them seats in parliament, the majority wins and gets to elect a prime minister, they’re kinda like the kid who organised hide in seek and then didn’t play. Basically they have very little real power other than usual shit, they have to go through our Parliament House to get most stuff done.

And as Australia is still under British rule, we have a bunch on governors in each state and then a “head governor” in charge of says “yeah the colony is still there” back to England every now and again.

Also we can’t change our money without British permission. So every time we change something people hear make this big song and dance about it, which is hilarious considering they don’t give a single fuck.

But how does this allow for third party voting?

Let’s pretend there are three parties (only) the blue the red and the yellow parties. Blue and red want to make a ferry, yellow wants a train. People vote.

Now in America, you vote for the party and that’s your only vote. So if more people want the ferry, but because there are two options the vote is split. Boat wins majority vote, but the train would win because it has the most over all. Got it?

In Australia however, we rank our votes. My brain gone I thought it was 7 or 5 but I’m pretty sure that’s wrong, but it varies okay. So if I wanted a boat but I liked red party more than blue, I would vote 1-red 2-blue, 3-yellow.

Now red doesn’t get enough votes let’s say 20 people voted, 7 blue,8 yellow and 5 red: because I voted for 2 blue, and my first party (red) has been eliminated my vote now moves to the blue party, maybe some from the red party also did blue second and maybe some voted yellow second.

Let’s split the red party 4 for blue and 1 for yellow.

Blue has 11 and yellow has 9. Suddenly the ferry has won!

It’s a complicated system but it makes sure not a single vote is wasted, and as voting is compulsory here (thank fuck) it gives people a lot of leeway to fuck around. Hope this helped anon

[literaryvein-reblogs]

Hi!! I love your blog, thank you for everything you do!! could you make a post similar to the one you did recently about the British school system, but about the American system instead?

I'm not American, and I’ve noticed there are a lot of little details about the U.S. education system that often go unexplained — which makes sense, since they probably seem basic, obvious, and second nature to Americans.... but for outsiders it can be confusing

If you could also point to some resources on the topic, I’d be really grateful! thanks again for your blog, you're so helpful and inspiring<3

Writing Notes: U.S. Education System

Basic Structure of the U.S. Education System:

In the United States, there are 3 levels of education:

elementary,

secondary, and

postsecondary

The approximate age range of people at the elementary and secondary levels:

Students ordinarily spend 6 to 8 years in the elementary grades,

which may be preceded by 1 to 3 years in early childhood programs and kindergarten.

The elementary program is frequently followed by a middle school or junior high school program, which generally lasts 2 or 3 years.

Students then may finish their compulsory schooling at the secondary or high school level, which may last 3 to 6 years depending on the structure within their school district.

Students normally complete the entire program through grade 12 by age 18.

High school completers who decide to continue their education may enter a technical or vocational institution, a 2-year college, a 4-year college, or a university.

A 2-year college normally offers the first 2 years of a standard 4-year college curriculum and a selection of career and technical programs.

Academic courses completed at a 2-year college are usually transferable for credit at a 4-year college or university.

A technical or vocational institution offers postsecondary technical training leading to a specific career.

The term "degree-granting institutions" used in this report refers to colleges and universities that offer associate's or higher degrees and whose students are eligible to participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs.

An associate's degree requires the equivalent of at least 2 years of full-time college-level work;

a bachelor's degree normally can be earned in 4 years.

At least 1 year beyond the bachelor's is necessary for a master's degree, while a

doctor's degree usually requires a minimum of 3 or 4 years beyond the bachelor's.

Professional schools differ widely in admissions requirements and in program length.

Medical students, for example, generally complete a 4-year program of premedical studies at a college or university before they can enter the 4-year program at a medical school.

Law programs normally require 3 years of coursework beyond the bachelor's degree level.

Other types of educational opportunities for adults are offered by community organizations, libraries, religious institutions, and businesses.

Some Vocabulary

ACT: A curriculum-based multiple-choice assessment that tests reading, English, mathematics, and science, with an optional essay section. The ACT is widely accepted at accredited two and four-year colleges and universities in the United States.

Community College: A postsecondary institution that offers associate degree programs, as well as technical and vocational programs.

Core Course: Courses that provide the foundation of the degree program and are required of all students seeking that degree.

Fellowship: A form of financial assistance, usually awarded to a graduate student. Generally, no service is required of the student in return.

Honors Program: A challenging program for students with high grades.

Minor: The student's secondary field of concentration. Students who decide to pursue a minor will usually complete about five courses in this second field of study.

Prerequisites: Programs or courses that a student is required to complete before being permitted to enroll in a more advanced program or course.

Semester: Period of study lasting approximately 15 to 16 weeks or one-half the academic year.

Subject: Course in an academic discipline offered as part of a curriculum of an institution of higher learning.

Syllabus: An outline of topics covered in an academic course.

Sources: 1 2 3 4 ⚜ More: Notes & References ⚜ Writing Resources PDFs

Hi, thanks so much for your kind words! Glad to hear these references help with your writing <3 You can find more information and terms in the sources. Hope this helps!

[lyssasdrafts]

★ 𓈒 ݁ STAR—CROSSED (rhysand x reader) ⊹

chapter eight: (written) ✧

𓈒 ݁ ✫ masterlist previous next

sometimes you really questioned the lengths that you go through in order to maintain your reputation and status as one of your university’s best students. you supposed it could also be due to the amount of fear that your professor bryaxis instilled within you. as if doing the photoshoot with rhysand wasn’t already enough, your professor had soon assigned you to begin tutoring other students within your major. mostly freshmen who needed help, but also the occasional classmate from your lectures who would likely fail if you didn’t offer your assistance.

that’s how you ended up spending your friday afternoon at the library that your friend nesta worked at. while you didn’t mind staying there since fridays were one of the least busy days at the library, it also happened to be the day that your friend took off work. you were patiently seated at one of the desks at the back, tapping your foot as you wait for your “student” to arrive.

needless to say, you’re definitely taken aback when a larger man walks into the library, slinging his gym bag over his shoulder as he wanders the place. he seems like he’s unfamiliar with the place and it clicks in your mind that he’s looking for you. you give him a bit of a stare, blinking at the sight of him before his eye finally catches you too.

“are you my tutor? you’re y/n, right?” cassian gives you a smile. although there’s only a few other people in the library, you suddenly feel them all staring at the man who just sat next to you.

“it’s cassian, right? i’m supposed to tutor you?” you try to hold back the distaste in your tone. if this was rhysand, you would be gloating and smiling to yourself the entire time that he needed your help for once. if this was azriel, their other friend, you would perhaps actually tolerate it. but cassian? there was no doubt he needed the help, but you weren’t hopeful as to whether or not he would actually listen to you.

“professor bryaxis sent me here,” cassian looks down, and for once you see a different side of him. he’s not the cheering, loud, overbearing jock, but instead, he hangs his head in embarrassment. it’s almost as if he’s afraid, like whatever lecture your professor gave him really stuck with him.

“are we even in the same major?” you can’t help but ask, twisting your face at him.

“no, i really only go to prythian university on a sports scholarship… but i needed your help for a compulsory course i have to take here,” cassian says. a part of you suddenly feels more inclined towards him after knowing there’s something you both have in common. you knew rhysand and morrigan came from a rich background but hadn’t known anything about cassian or azriel.

“compulsory is a big word for you,” the comment slips out of your mouth.

“i didn’t know that you thought i was dumb just because i’m strong,” he crosses his arms, “rhysand always says the same, you know.”

“we are nothing alike,” you stop cassian from going any further.

“it doesn’t matter,” he pulls out his notebook that’s in less-than-ideal condition, likely from being tossed into his backpack along with all his training equipment. “this is probably easy for you, so i’m asking for your help.”

you can’t help the chuckle on your face when you see the basic course he has to take, “this is just simple science—”

“can you help me or not?”

you sigh, before remembering the commitment you made and the look on your professor’s face, “i will.”

cassian smirks at you, “perfect, because i would not want to go back to professor bryaxis.”

you can’t help but laugh a little bit as his comment. “she’s the one who told me to start tutoring, and i was too scared to say no.”

“i can’t blame you, she really scares me…” cassian murmurs, almost as if he doesn’t think you can hear him.

the tutoring is quite simple. you explain each concept to cassian, drawing graphs and images if you believe they help with understanding. you make it your goal not to have any eye contact with cassian, instead just looking at the papers and his notebook in front of you the whole time.

it’s not until you drop your pen onto the ground and move your chair back to pick it up that cassian beats you to it, picking it up for you and handing your pen back.

“thank you,” you mutter, for the first time looking into his brown eyes. cassian pushes his long hair back before he nods, accepting your thanks.

“i still can’t believe i have prythian’s smartest student tutoring me,” cassian gives you a look that you’ve only seen him flash to certain girls in the hallways.

“you really think so? over rhysand?” you roll your eyes.

“don’t tell him i said that,” cassian winks at you. “i’m jealous sometimes that he spends so much time with you. you push him to be better, to study better. for me, i’m the only one pushing myself.”

“you don’t have teammates or your coach?” you ask.

“rhys and azriel used to play on my team in our first two years, but both of them dropped it to focus on studying. they made having coach beron way better. now i’m left with people like devlon,” cassian groans.

“i never liked him either,” you shake your head. devlon was one of the players on cassian’s team, his vice captain, much to cassian’s dismay. the two have even had a few public fights that rhysand had to break up, which resulted in both of them being threatened to be kicked off the team by coach beron.

“he’s not just annoying, he’s a terrible person. you know he has a reputation for not respecting other students right?” cassian shakes his head. “that’s why i got into a brawl with him last year. i was defending a girl in my class who he wasn’t listening to.”

“you were…?” you tilt your head, perhaps realizing that there was more to cassian than you’d expected.

“if he ever gives you any trouble, let me know. and i mean it,” cassian looks at you in the eyes again, and you realize that he’s being completely serious. cassian had just met you and already offered to look out for you.

“thank you…” you say again, realizing your time tutoring him should be over. “i’ll see you soon.”

“don’t you need help carrying all these books?” cassian says, “they seem heavy.”

“i can handle it myself,” you insist.

“i’ll take them,” cassian says.

as he begins collecting the textbooks and novels at the library desk, you take a look at cassian’s figure and his features that you’d never appreciated until now. his arms, his muscles, and you take a deep breath to collect your thoughts before grabbing your smaller bag and heading towards the library door.

cassian follows behind you, carrying you books until the end of the walk outside the library. it suddenly occurs to you that having a tall and built protector might not be the worst thing. perhaps rhysand’s friends weren’t that bad.

“thank you, i can handle it from here,” you try to take your books back from cassian, and he awkwardly fumbles before letting you grab them. you’re about to walk away without looking back to him before his voice stops you.

“well then, i’ll see you around, y/n.” cassian gives you a wink before walking off.

— NOTES

finally we have our introduction to cassian, my fav himbo 🫶

i randomly decided to make b*ron their coach (debating adding eris to this au as a background character)

sorry for the EXTREMELY long hiatus, life has been crazy lately and i’ve always hit a writers block, i can promise more chapters coming soon!!

— TAGLIST

@thelov3lybookworm @starsand @lilah-asteria @therealmoonstone @just-a-social-casualty-1 @ashjade19 @girlontheblock @cherry-cin @daughterofthemoons-stuff @starswholistenanddreamsanswered @sweet-chai-amore @kierramofficial @noelli-smv @c-dizzle99 @littlest-w01f @marina468 @dragneel-brothers

[hostilemuppet]

compulsory basic training

[not-pollux]

ℌ𝖆𝖎𝖗 ℌ𝖊𝖆𝖉𝖈𝖆𝖓𝖔𝖓𝖘 ⋆

╭ ・── ・ �� ☆ ꒱ ・ ── ・ ִ ۫ ּ ֗ ִ ִ ֗ ִ ۫ ˑ ࣪  ⊹

  ˚   ₊˚ˑ  💙💜❤️🧡 ‧ ₊ ༄ ROTTMNT

༶•┈┈┈┈୨☆୧┈┈┈┈•༶

Warnings: None!

Leo

He's such a blonde.

Like is this even a question? Its basically canon atp 

He would either bleach his hair, or it would be naturally blonde (albinism)

Whether he's albino or not, he's going to be chronically light skinned regardless.

His brothers stole all his melanin 

I like the albinism headcanon because it makes him stand out even more (we love a boy who loves to be the center of attention)

Also plays into the fact that he is intuitive, and therefore wouldn't need great vision to perform exceptionally in battle

Also explains why he likes sunglasses, he's got sensitive eyes

Speaking of eyes, they're blueish if he's albino. Otherwise they're dark brown.

Waist length dreads/locs

His hair needs to be as extravagant as him

100% puts charms in his hair

I'm the least picky regarding Leo’s hair style, anything over the top works. I'm just being indulgent here. I love long hair Leo.

Afrolatino Blasian

4a hair

༶•┈┈┈┈୨☆୧┈┈┈┈•༶

Donnie

I'm kind of torn on his hair colour

I know he loves purple and would logically dye his hair purple…

But this boy is also a smart fashion mf. He knows that too much of one color drowns you and contrast is important

But then again… he’s the type to know this shit and just fucking ignore it anyways.

It's either purple or he's leaving it black.

THIS👏🏿BOY👏🏿IS👏🏿DARK👏🏿SKINNED👏🏿

I take no criticism on this. He is.

He has a twin brother who is pale as shit. The melanin had to go somewhere

Compulsory dark brown eyes with his melanin and all

Unpopular opinion but... Donnie would totally have his hair in cornrows

He prioritizes comfort over style, and cornrows are low maintenance for this busy boy and good looking too

Fun fact, he’s actually the only one of his brothers who never wears a wig or obtains hair somehow at any point in the show. 

He’s extra bald.

African Blasian

4c hair (coily coily)

༶•┈┈┈┈୨☆୧┈┈┈┈•༶

Raph

The only one that for sure won't dye his hair

I just don't think he has a reason to tbh

He's not quite light skinned but he's definitely lighter than Donnie and Mikey.

He has tons of birthmarks, large ones too. Big ol' one on his neck and smaller ones down onto his shoulders.

Again, compulsory dark brown eyes

My boy has a buzz.

I honestly considered giving him waves but they're a bit too high maintenance to make sense with his personality and habits.

He prefers low maintenance and easy to manage, unlike Leo's hair

He HATES how Leo's hair gets in the way of training and fights, and has concluded he just doesn't want that problem

Durag Raph.

African Blasian

4b hair

༶•┈┈┈┈୨☆୧┈┈┈┈•༶

Mikey

Dyes his hair too often to be considered even remotely healthy

orange tips are a frequent choice, but he also loves doing all his siblings' colors (Red for Raph, Green for April, etc)

The other sibling with melanin

Him and Donnie are the Darkskin Duo

He's not as dark as Donnie, but pretty close. He's darker than Raph.

I like to headcanon him with vitiligo, to replicate his spots and on his hands/fingertips as well.

Im being indulgent here lmao

Again, compulsory dark brown eyes

Mikey sports his natural curls.

I don't have a concrete reason for this, other than the fact that I headcanon Mikey with severe hair damage which results in him losing his curls in the bad future. (I took that little swoop in his hair and RAN WITH IT.) Because of this, i also headcanon him with loose curls to make this make more sense lmao

His baby curls wouldn't do too well in most protective styles so he just doesn't wear them.

Afrolatino Blasian

3a hair

My first little drabble :)

[jokertrap-ran]

Disney’s Twisted Wonderland: NRC Magic Assault Practice with Crowley Episode 1- Orientation Translations

“I am Night Raven College’s Headmage, so it is without a doubt that I am strong. Terribly so, in fact, so you’d best be prepared.” *Spoiler free: Translations will remain under cut*

Event EP 1 / Event EP 2 / SSR / Album Lines

Crowley: I see that you have all gathered. I’m happy to see that you’re all here on time.

Crowley: Now then, let’s start your practical training orientation, a compulsory subject that you are required to take… Oh, wait!

Crowley: Hear me out first. I recently went to the town at the foot of the mountain.

Crowley: I’d heard that a store specializing in gibier cuisine had opened there, and I just couldn’t sit still.

Crowley: I waited in line for three hours, and I wasn’t quite sure whether it constituted lunch or dinner by the time I got in, but… I must say, it was very delicious, indeed!

Crowley: Did you know? Gibier refers to the game meet, and as such, comes in many different varieties…

Crowley: If not properly processed, the meat will smell and be too tough. Hence, the art of processing game requires a skilled hand, honed through many years of experience.

Crowley: It also requires a lot of spontaneous decision-making on the spot, so this skill isn’t something that can be learned and attained overnight.

Crowley: What an exquisite art form! Fascinating, wouldn’t you say?

Crowley: …Excuse me, why do you all look so uninterested in what I’m saying? This has to do with all of you as well!

Crowley: It’s important to have the ability to make spontaneous decisions based on experience. This applies to mages as well.

Crowley: And the reason why practical training is a compulsory subject is because actual combat experience is what makes an excellent mage.

Crowley: Therefore, I’d like all students to participate knowing the importance of this lesson.

Crowley: “An all-out magic brawl seems fun.” You’ll be in for a hard time if you think lightly of this class!

Crowley: Ahem… And there you have it. Now then, allow me to explain the basics of this class once more.

Crowley: This practical training class is where you’ll be putting the knowledge and skills you’ve learned in practical magic to use.

Crowley: We will be moving to the Coliseum where a virtual arena has been set up. There, you will all be made to make full use of your abilities, pushing them to their limits.

Crowley: Everything that goes on in there will be monitored, and I will personally judge just how effective your day-to-day studies have been when put into practical use.

Crowley: …Hm? Is there really a need to carry this out in a virtual arena, you say?

Crowley: BUT OF COURSE!!!

Crowley: It is true that past practical training sessions have been held outside of school grounds, such as uninhabited islands or locations that the school has specially rented for the sole purpose of hosting it, but…

Crowley: There have been past incidents of students going missing and taking advantage of the teachers’ blind spots to circumvent supervision!

Crowley: Students dissatisfied with their teachers have also engaged in full-out brawls… In short, it’s more trouble than it’s worth.

Crowley: Huff… huff… Anyway, there’s no longer any need for us to travel that far away from school grounds now.

Crowley: Magical projector tech has greatly improved in recent years, and it has now become possible to virtually recreate areas and enemies alike.

Crowley: With this, we can now cross deserts, forest bathe, and even walk across the ocean floor in the comfort of our own homes. Canceling plans due to bad weather is now a thing of the past!

Crowley: There was many an occasion where we had to postpone it due to sudden storms and blizzards… so we should all be thankful for technological advancements!

Crowley: In any case, since this training is going to be taking place within a virtual arena, you will all be fighting a virtual enemy created by the magical projector.

Crowley: An enemy… modeled after me, Dire Crowley!

Crowley: Taking everyone’s safety into consideration, my virtual clone’s magical abilities have been limited. Although it is a far cry from my original capabilities…

Crowley: I am Night Raven College’s Headmage, so it is without a doubt that I am strong. Terribly so, in fact, so you’d best be prepared.

Crowley: …Heh. I know what everyone’s thinking. “Even with the limit, the hurdle’s still way too high!” …Right?

Crowley: That’s true. However, if you work hard to overcome this hurdle, your efforts will certainly bear fruit.

Crowley: Well then, steel yourself, for practical training is now in session!

Crowley: Now, show me how wonderfully you’ll all overcome the challenges in this special lesson from yours truly!!!

☪⋆ ────── ⋆⋅☆ 𝔗𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔠𝔬𝔫𝔱𝔦𝔫𝔲𝔢𝔡 ☆⋅⋆ ────── ☪⋆

[themculibrary]

Phil/Nick Masterlist

A Brief Respite (ao3) - celtic7irish G, 1k

Summary: Phil closed the door behind him with a quiet click, shutting out the busy New York City traffic. Taking a moment, he allowed himself to lean lightly against the door behind him and close his eyes, but just for a second, and then he was straightening up and toeing off his shoes before heading further into the apartment, removing his jacket and tie and dropping them casually over the back of his armchair.

A Furious Touchstone (ao3) - 17 pansies (17pansies) E, 3k

Summary: Coulson has a bad habit of nearly getting killed. Fury would much rather his old friend stayed in one piece.

Because they have History.

Anniversary Space Trip (ao3) - Huntress79 T, 2k

Summary: It’s their wedding anniversary, and after all the trials and tribulations life (and their job) has thrown at them, Nick thinks it’s high on time to treat Phil to an unforgettable trip. Good thing he knows the right people - even when they aren’t located on Earth.

Because the Night (ao3) - ladydeathfaerie nick/phil, sam/maria, melinda/victoria, mack/leo M, 9k

Summary: Monsters walk the earth. Some of them are good. And some of them are bad. Nick Fury has dedicated his life to ridding the world of the bad monsters. He and his team of specially trained hunters have dedicated their lives to exterminating the monsters in order to keep humanity safe. But what starts out as a simple hunt turns out to be a trap set up by his old nemesis.

Will Nick and his team finish the hunt or will tragedy strike the family that Nick has made for himself?

Beginning and End (ao3) - Dazzledfirestar T, 2k

Summary: How things started with Nick and Phil, and SHIELD. And how they ended.

Cold (ao3) - aweisz N/R, 224

Summary: Cold.

It's cold and it has been cold for as long as he remembers.

Then there's light. And pain. God there's pain.

Into the Dark (ao3) - Dazzledfirestar T, 899

Summary: Everything has been a compromise in one way or another.

Enough of This “‘Til Death Do We Part” Bullshit (ao3) - rudigersmooch G, 2k

Summary: They get married, and then Phil dies. He comes back, they get re-married, and then Fury dies. When Fury comes back, they get re-married again. Then the Snap happens.

At some point, every couple has to start thinking about longterm solutions.

Extraction (ao3) - Dazzledfirestar T, 1k

Summary: Even with spotty intelligence, one thing is perfectly clear. They have to get him out of there.

Eye (ao3) - orphan_account T, 1k

Summary: The adjustment period is frustrating at times.

Just For A Night (Or Maybe More) (ao3) - nununununu G, 100

Summary: They’re making their way through the basic safe house when Fury pauses briefly mid-sentence.

Out of Sight [Furyson Edition] (ao3) - Ursula Haldane (The_Haldanes) E, 1k

Summary: Is this a dream, or is it just fantasy? Either way, it’s naughty. [Post-Captain Marvel with nods to the comics]

Phil's Panties (ao3) - ladydeathfaerie E, 7k

Summary:Nick's had a hard day at work. Phil knows exactly what to do to make him feel better. And he's got a few surprises up his sleeve in order to achieve that.

Nick shows Phil just how much he likes his surprise.

"Jesus, Nick. Get on with it. I'm not a young man anymore. I won't last much longer if you keep teasing me like this," Phil demands, voice hoarse.

"I'm going to fuck you into the wall, Phil," Nick tells him.

Practically Perfect (ao3) - immoral_crow T, 13k

Summary: Being a single parent is always a challenge - especially when you are Director of SHIELD. Faced with a hyper-intelligent and overly energetic five year old, Nick Fury discovers that hiring a nanny might be the only option. Unfortunately this is easier said than done, until The Mary Poppins Agency (Practically Perfect in Every Way - Super Nannies our speciality) sends out Phil Coulson. Will he make the Perfect Nanny? Or will it turn into a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious mess?

Release (ao3) - CeliaEquus E, 7k

Summary: SHIELD has an established system of compulsory suppressants, to avoid discrimination based on dynamics. But now someone is threatening that system; and if it's scrapped, everyone will find out that Phil Coulson is an Omega. Including his Alpha best friend, Nick Fury.

The Place Where the Pines Grow Wild (ao3) - anarchycox T, 2k

Summary: Phil Coulson has been tracking down Hawkeye for SHIELD. Nick Fury has joined him on a search. Only they are now lost in the woods, in the dark, and the rain, and these aren't ordinary woods. Conversations and hints of feelings occur.

This Hour and What Lives (ao3) - sphinxofthenile T, 1k

Summary: "Absolutely not," Fury says, serious as a heart attack, and keeps piling sugar into his coffee cup.

What They Know (ao3) - orphan_account E, 1k

Summary: The attraction has always been there, but is it best to act on it?

won't you stand up and scream (ao3) - blackwell M, 5k

Summary: It hurts. It hurts that SHIELD thinks it owns his death as much as it already owns his life. It hurts that Nick can walk away from his partner bleeding on the ground, can tell the Avengers he’s dead as if Phil meant no more to him than any other agent.

As if Phil meant less to him than any other agent.

Worried (ao3) - piepeloe T, 922

Summary: Nick is worried about something besides the usual. Phil reassures him.

[raintailed]

Lore Time: Mirror World >:]

HEHEHEHEHE!!! I should share stuff about the funky Mirror World that my version of Inv is stuck in

This stuff is copy-pasted from my notes because I don't want to rewrite everything

-----

Originally a simulation made by MARS. The simulation was basically Inv's in-game campaign.

Because of MARS' anomalous and eldritch nature (which stolen computer parts do not like), the simulation turned into an entire world of its own.

The mirror world's time placement is weird. Different parts of the world have different "worldstates;" some regions look like they're in Saint's era, some still have Ancients, etc.

The vanilla regions are in Hunter's worldstate, but before Moon is revived.

Void sea entrances are still the same.

Some characters from Rain World have Mirror World counterparts, but that is very rare.

Counterparts vary in how similar they are, but they are all "distorted" in some way (ex. Five Pebbles acting differently). Some are so dissimilar that the only things hinting at them being a counterpart is that they have a similar narrative role or a vague resemblance.

The members of Moon's local group, as well as other significant iterators like SRS and Sliver of Straw, have counterparts with the same names.

The Mirror World's reality is unstable, resulting in all kinds of weirdness and anomalies.

By manipulating reality in a certain way (usually by accident), it is possible to escape the Mirror World and enter normal Rain World.

Inv in particular is very capable of doing this to other creatures. If a creature gets caught in an eggsplosion, they might be sent to the other dimension instead of dying.

Some residents, most notably Inv, are aware of the fact that they are in an alternate dimension. Most inhabitants have either a vague notion or none at all.

Do the Ancients know about Rain World? Perhaps they view it as another repetition of a cycle

Inv is the epicenter of the Mirror World's weirdness. Strange things always seem to happen around him, such as train lizards or invpups appearing.

For these reasons (in addition to Inv looking and acting bizarre), Mirror World slugcats usually avoid Inv.

The Mirror World has pretty normal Rain World wildlife… for the most part.

Ancients

In the Mirror World, some communities of Ancients refused to ascend. For whatever reason (more political sway?) they were able to avoid compulsory ascension, unlike normal Rain World's Ancients.

Maybe some stayed because they believed that Public Ascension wasn't the correct route. If they left, they would be abandoning the iterators and all other lifeforms to suffer alone without their stewardship.

Some could have also believed that they should stay to assist the iterators in solving the Great Problem; after all, the differing experiences of an Ancient means that they could provide a unique perspective that iterators can't have.

The Ancients might be aware of the intelligence of slugcats/scavs but view them as something similar to monkeys? Perhaps their view is inherently condescending? Idk

Inv is probably a very famous cryptid in some places

Though echoes are horror ghost stories in Rain World, Mirror World ancients may be more aware of their existence (especially since only part of the ancient population ascended, leaving the remainder to witness the cases where ascension went wrong). Still, echoes are often viewed as cryptids or as boogeymen. More as a cautionary tale of the pitfalls of hubris than an actual, documented phenomenon.

Invpups

Inv slugpups are a byproduct of the Mirror World's strange properties and weird origins.

Invpups can occur anywhere, but they tend to appear near Inv.

Because of their weird faces, explosive properties, etc, invpups are rarely accepted into slugcat colonies.

Invpups are most commonly black with red faces. They are able to change the shapes of their faces, allowing them to mimic a normal slugcat's face.

They tend to have more diverse appearances as adults (which are called "invcats").

Invcats can reproduce. Even if both parents are invcats, there is a slight chance that they may have a normal-looking slugpup (that often has strange abilities).

Invcats are always anomalous.

Train Lizards

Train lizards are pretty anomalous.

They often appear out of thin air near Inv in certain regions. Otherwise, it is extremely rare for a train lizard to spawn.

It is possible to tame train lizards, and some Ancients even breed more docile versions of them. Most bred train lizards are hybrids due to the rarity of gen 1 individuals.

Train lizards are difficult to socialize and have a tendency to bond extremely closely with one owner. Exposing a hatchling to a variety of people helps lessen any aggression they may have as adults.

Train lizards are incredibly strong, so they can be used as beasts of burden (think logging and draft horses).

They have similar dietary preferences to pink lizards and are also afraid of the same predators. There is a prevailing theory that train lizards are essentially oversized pink lizards because of this.

Train lizards are not more aggressive towards Inv than any other slugcat, contrary to popular belief. It's just that Inv encounters them the most often.

[monstersandmaw]

The wild urge to use any upcoming birthday money I might get to book a CBT (compulsory basic training) motorcycle test and get into motorbikes properly…

[apilgrimpassingby]

Magic School Masterpost

As some of you may know, I've been developing a fictional magic school for a while now and sharing it with you. Hence, today I'm going to make a whole post to put it all together in one place and adding some new content. This will be long, so I'm inserting a "keep reading" bit. Tagging @merthwyn, @arcenciel-par-une-larme, @cryptidsaints - the people most involved in it, so you can see this, and my regulars - @idylls-of-the-divine-romance, @cactusflowerfemme, @rebelnurse, @roses-red-and-pink - for your views on this project now it's done.

The school is divided into twelve sub-schools, and each sub-school is located on a mountaintop, collectively forming a circle of mountains, with a common space between them where students from all schools can meet. Each mountain has its own magically-generated microclimate, and so every student has a cloak used for warmth or cool and on formal occasions.

Magical training is divided into three stages. The first stage (which most often starts at the age of seven, but can start later) lasts three years, and consists of the 101 of their magic system. The next stage lasts seven years, and consists of learning more advanced stuff and discovering the trainee's strengths and weaknesses. The third stage lasts nine years, and consists of being apprenticed to a magician who can help you develop your specialties. When this stage is over, they go through a coronation ceremony where their master touches each shoulder with an implement and then crowns them. It is not compulsory to complete the full nineteen years; someone can leave after the first stage, or after the second stage, or during the third stage. Due to the highly personalised nature of these regimens, there is considerable flexibility in how long it takes – the time spans given are ideals, and actual training may be markedly longer or markedly shorter.

Each school has a "heart book", the most crucial book to each discipline. For the most part, only teachers read these books - students read extracts of and commentaries on them.

Alchemists are located in a steampunk-style castle atop a mountain covered in birch woods, and they have an aviary of phoenixes. Alchemists wear bright orange robes with deep purple trim and brown leather aprons, and have bright orange cloaks with deep purple trim held in place with a flask-shaped brooch, made of amber with bronze fittings. The basic alchemical implement is a flask, containing a mix of molten metal and quicklime. The alchemists have springs of metallic water, coloured blue (by copper), red (by iron) or yellow (by sulphur), which often bubble and occasionally spurt upwards. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual autumn. Alchemists teach and write their books in Arabic, they write their documents in papyrus codices, and their heart book is The Elemental Wedding, which burns whatever touches it; hence, people have to handle it with leather gloves and keep it on a stone platform. The crown they use is a bronze and amber crown in the shape of two phoenixes entwined together, and the coronation implement is a bronze staff topped with a glass bulb containing mercury.

Personality: Vague douchiness and an aura of science-flavoured arrogance; a lot of them get very uptight about calling what they do "magic" and instead call it "the prince of sciences".

Unofficial Theme Song: "Mirror, Mirror" by Blind Guardian

Conjurers are located in a giant pyramid atop a mountain covered in ancient-Egyptian-style gardens, and they have a living sphinx who patrols the base. Conjurers wear yellow robes with bronze trim and sacred ibis quills worn in the hair, and have yellow cloaks with bronze trim held in place with a scroll-shaped brooch, made of yellow topaz with gold fittings. The basic conjuring implement is the quill, plus papyrus and red and black ink. The conjurers' mountain isn't a mountain - it's a colossal terraced garden topped by a giant pyramid. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual heat. Conjurers teach and write their books in Ancient Egyptian, they write their documents on papyrus scrolls, and their heart book is the Scrolls of the Sun, which speed up the motions of the sun in the location where they are read. The crown they use is like the one in the Mask of Tutankhamen, and the coronation implement is an ivory rod carved in the shape of a snake.

Personality: The most social of all of them, particularly with regards to romance - if you're dating someone outside of your school, it's almost always a conjurer.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Caravanserai" by Loreena McKennitt

Cunning folk are located in a series of blackhouses atop a mountain covered in forests of rowan trees and sheep-filled moors, and they have a population of spriggans who like pranking students. Cunning folk wear fawn robes with blue-grey trim and fawn-coloured wizard hats, and have fawn cloaks with blue-grey trim held in place with a cat-shaped brooch, made of tiger’s eye with bronze fittings. The basic cunning implement is a crystal ball, used in conjunction with tallow candles and a cauldron. The cunning folk’s mountain has wells that turn anything thrown into it to stone. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual moderate weather. Cunning folk teach and write their books in Old Norse, they do not write their books but instead transmit their teachings orally (with the exception of their heart book), and their heart book is The Long-Lost Friend, which turns into a ferret, hare or other hard-to-catch animal if a person without magic picks it up. The crown is a wool cap adorned with wolfsbane flowers and numerous ribbons with incantations written on them, and the coronation implement is walking stick of yew carved with pentangles, witch marks and other such symbols.

Personality: Raw unfiltered blue-collar attitude, with all the implied positives and negatives.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Souling Song" by the Watersons

Illusionists are located in a Baroque Revival mansion atop a mountain covered in 19th century urban structures, and they have apparitions of various white animals (rabbits, doves, stags, etc.) that talk to people before vanishing. Illusionists wear dark purple robes with black trim and wrist-length white gloves, and have dark purple cloaks with black trim held in place with a rabbit-shaped brooch, made of amethyst with gold fittings. The basic illusionist implement is a black-and-white baton, used in conjunction with a top hat and a deck of cards. The illusionists’ mountain has mirrors in which the person’s reflection will only show in a different mirror, and hence can be used for long-distance communication if mirrors can be paired up. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual dawn. Illusionists teach and write their books in French, they write their documents on decks of cards, and their heart book is Seven Wings and Seven Eyes, which makes things appear, disappear and reappear around the reader. The crown is a top hat adorned with lace and purple ribbon and made of fine velvet, and the coronation implement is a knotted scarf printed with numerous brilliant colours and designs.

Personality: Very witty, very athletic, very well-read and impossibly arrogant, but if you earn their respect they'll give it to you.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Magic Man" by Heart

Mystics are located in a wooden monastery atop a mountain covered in frozen waterfalls and snowy trees, and they have a yeti who hides in the forest. Mystics wear turquoise robes with light green trim and uncut matted hair, and have turquoise cloaks with light green trim held in place with a bent-spoon-shaped brooch, made of turquoise with silver fittings. The basic mystical implement is a telekinetically bent spoon. The mystics' yeti is very reclusive and hard to find, except at the start of each year, when he pays new students on the head, the end of it, when he waves goodbye to graduating students, and when someone's lost on the mountain, in which case he carries them up to the monastery. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual winter. Mystics teach and write their books in Sanskrit, they write their documents on birch bark codices, and their heart book is The Uncreated Light, whose text reads slightly differently for everyone who reads it. The crown is their hair being cropped (the first haircut in years), and the coronation implement is a traveller's staff.

Personality: Reserved. They, like their mountain, are a little cold and unlikely to get involved with others, but they're polite and friendly nonetheless. They're don't consider themselves above the world, just separate from it.

Unofficial Theme Song: "The Mystic's Dream" by Loreena McKennitt

Necromancers are located in catacombs amidst a mountain covered in mausoleums, gravestones etc. and willow and yew trees, and they have a pack of hellhounds who act as class pets. Necromancers wear light grey robes with white trim and grey lace veils, and have light grey cloaks with white trim held in place with a skull-shaped brooch, made of moonstone with silver fittings. The basic necromantic implement is a candle, used in conjunction with a mirror and bowl of water. If you sit next to any of the graves on the necromancers' mountain long enough, you start to hear wails from beneath the earth and blue lights on the mountainside. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual grey cloud. Necromancers teach and write their books in Greek, they write their documents on slates and stone tablets, and their heart book is The Apocryphon of the Grave, which reads like depressing mumbo-jumbo - unless the reader has seen someone die, in which case it reads as quietly comforting wisdom. The crown is a floor-length veil with extensive and ornate embroidery, and the coronation implement is a femur bone with spells carved on it.

Personality: Most of them won't talk to you because they're shy; the remainder don't talk to you because they think you're beneath them. Either way, they get pretty talkative with ghosts.

Unofficial Theme Song: "The Unquiet Grave" by Karliene Reynolds

Observers are located in a giant observatory atop a mountain covered in dark pine woods, and they have a mothman who swoops around the trees. Observers wear light blue robes with silver trim and silver goggles with blue glass lenses, and have light blue cloaks with silver trim held in place with a flying-saucer-shaped brooch, made of aquamarine with silver fittings. The basic observational implement is a telescope, used in conjunction with a telescope and notepad. Every new year's eve, a hail of meteorites in every colour falls over the observers' mountain. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual night (for stargazing). Observers teach and write their books in English, they write their documents in paper notebooks with exposed binding, and their heart book is the Astral Journals, which make readers feel like they are floating off the floor. The crown is a helmet decorated with wiring, cogs and so on, and the coronation implement is a telescoping aerial.

Personality: Pallid sickly nerds who get extremely energetic and enthusiastic if you ask them about their latest project.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft" by the Carpenters

Occultists are located in a bastion of slime-dripping cyclopean masonry atop a mountain covered in blasted heaths and bogs of toads and fireflies, and they have a shoggoth deep in a cave to whom the rubbish is fed. Occultists wear medium green robes with dark blue trim and silver rings with the bezel decorated with interlocking rings, and have medium green cloaks with dark blue trim held in place with a tentacle-shaped brooch, made of peridot with silver fittings. The basic occultic implement is a black soapstone pyramid statuette carved with symbols, used in conjunction with an iron key bearing the same symbols and a spellbook. The occultists’ mountain has monoliths with writing that no-one has ever been able to translate or even transcribe. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual dusk. Occultists teach and write their books in Proto-Oceanic, they write their documents on various mediums disguised to look like mundane books, and their heart book is the Secret Book of Hassan, which causes nightmares and hallucinations for weeks after in whoever reads it. The crown is a diadem made of gold decorated with images of sea monsters, and the coronation implement is a staff of dark wood with silver tentacles curling around it and a round silver head with multiple eyes and tentacles coming from it.

Personality: Difficult to get to like due to their love of morbid and gruesome things and very dark sense of humour, but very likeable once acquainted with.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Awake Ye Scary Great Old Ones" by the Dagon Tabernacle Choir

Shamans are located in a treetop village atop a mountain covered in jungle, and they get up to and down from the villages by means of griffins. Shamans wear dark green robes with bronze trim and light green face paint in variable patterns, and have dark green cloaks with bronze trim held in place with a vine-shaped brooch, made of emerald with bronze fittings. The basic shamanic implement is a staff, decorated with eagle feathers and bones. Students are strictly forbidden from walking on the jungle floor without a teacher accompanying them, due to the presence of a chupacabra population. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual heat and rain. Shamans teach and write their books in Classical Mayan, they write their documents in palm-leaf manuscripts, and their heart book is the Hymn to the World Tree, which cannot be written down - it must be spoken or sung. The crown is a headdress centred on an eagle skull adorned with eagle, raven, hoopoe and parrot feathers, and the coronation implement is a staff decorated with vines of ayahuasca, peyote and other psychoactive plants.

Personality: If you have a high tolerance for bugs and fungi and catch them when they're not high on ayahuasca or peyote or something like that, they're great people.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Kvitravn" by Wardruna

Sorcerers are located in a huge black tower atop a mountain covered in ash and dead trees, and they have a dragon in a cave on the mountainside. Sorcerers wear black robes with dark red trim and hoods, and have black cloaks with dark red trim held in place with a dragon-shaped brooch, made of ruby with bronze fittings. The basic sorcerous implement is a sacrificial knife, used in conjunction with blood and a grimoire. Every so often on the sorcerers' mountain, the earth shakes, smoke and sulphur issue forth, growls are heard, the side of the mountain opens - and the newly-hatched baby dragon flies away. The mountain is magically locked in a perpetual thunderstorm. Sorcerers teach and write their books in Latin, they write their documents in paper codices, and their heart book is The Pit Opened, which will place a curse on whoever reads it unless the book is given blood. The crown is an iron circlet decorated with garnets, and the coronation implement is black sword with a guard carved from garnet in the shape of a dragon.

Personality: Most of them are some flavour of bully, save for the minority who are dedicated bully-fighters.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Hellhounds of the Deep" by Karliene Reynolds

Witches are located in a cute village of cottages atop a mountain covered in oak, beeches and streams, and they have a stable of unicorns. Witches wear medium pink robes with violet trim and crowns of roses and violets (magically kept fresh), and have medium pink cloaks with violet trim held in place with a rose-shaped brooch, made of pink diamond with gold fittings. The basic witchcraft implement is a wand decorated with yew leaves and rose stems. The witches' mountain has circles of mushrooms which, if you step in them, you will instantly fall asleep, and later wake up feeling exceptionally refreshed, plus any minor injuries or illnesses gone. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual spring. Witches teach and write their books in Gaelic, they write their documents on beech-wood tablets, and their heart book is The Book of Spring, which makes roses grow wherever it is placed, even sterile environments. The crown is a flower crown incorporating hawthorn blossoms, foxglove, primrose and vervain as well as roses and violets, and the coronation implement is a golden sickle with a rose wrapped around a blade.

Personality: Hippies, both of the sweet nature-lover kind and the holier-than-thou environmentalist kind.

Unofficial Theme Song: "The Mummer's Dance" by Loreena McKennitt

Wizards are located in a Romanesque abbey complex atop a mountain covered in herb gardens, and they have apparitions of seraphim. Wizards wear white robes with gold trim and cloth-of-gold stoles, and have white cloaks with gold trim held in place with a dove-shaped brooch, made of pearl with gold fittings. The basic wizarding implement is a censer burning incense, used in conjunction with a holy book. The wizards' mountain has a massive library of non-magical books carved inside it, accessed only by various secret passages inside the abbey and its outbuildings. The mountain is magically locked in perpetual summer. Wizards teach and write their books in Hebrew, they write their documents in parchment codices, and their heart book is The Apocalypse of Ephraim, which makes the reader see golden wings and hear otherworldly music - initially at the edges of vision and hearing, but gradually getting closer. The crown is an Eastern mitre, and the coronation implement is a gilded shepherd's crook.

Personality: Really nice selfless people who want to help others but with a tendency to be patronising to non-wizards, especially those without magic.

Unofficial Theme Song: "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" by the Choir of Somerville College

Views of Each Other

Alchemists: Look down on most people for being superstitious, but have a protective big brother attitude towards witches (witchcraft is very much a female-dominated field, while alchemy is decidedly male-dominated) and a positive relationship with observers due to their shared scientific approach

Conjurers: Try to be on friendly (if not affectionate) terms with everyone, though they resent necromancers for refusing to talk to them and mystics for insisting on being celibate and dislike sorcerers the way most people do.

Cunning Folk: Good friends with witches and shamans due to a love of nature, but dislike alchemists due to their association with science, absolutely loathe observers due to their obsession with progress and change, and hate illusionists for their snobbery; that rivalry is the most intense in the school.

Illusionists: Tend to be snotty towards everyone, but are pretty much the only people who get on with sorcerers (they agree that arrogance and jerkishness are good qualities) and have a particularly intense hatred of cunning folk as a bunch of rustics playing at magic.

Mystics: Usually too busy meditating to deal with things like social relationships, but like the wizards who agree to leave them alone and will sometimes bond with witches over listening to birds or watching the dawn.

Necromancers: Please just leave us alone. Please. We're quite happy talking to ghosts.

Observers: Spend most of their time either locked away doing magic or gushing about their research and so don't have much by way of friendships, but do compare lab notes with the science-minded alchemists. They mostly find the cunning folk's despising of them confusing; why would anyone not want to get on board with science?

Occultists: Love shamans for being as morbid as themselves, would love necromancers for the same reason if they could persuade necromancers to talk to the living and dislike wizards and sorcerers for being too self-important; they prank both of them a lot.

Shamans: Usually too busy talking with machine elves to talk with others, but love cunning folk for their practical attitude towards nature and occultists for their appreciation for morbidity, and loathe alchemists for being the embodiment of industry.

Sorcerers: For the most part (illusionists being the exception), they hate everyone and everyone hates them, but sorcerers who push back against the bad behaviour of the rest of their school become very popular very quickly.

Witches: Get on well with alchemists (they see themselves as having a brother-sister relationship), sometimes bond with mystics over appreciating nature and have a love-hate relationship with sorcerers. Look down on shamans as the mentally unstable version of themselves and observers for being too technological, and dislike sorcerers the way pretty much everyone does.

Wizards: Aspire to be a hero to everyone and see everyone in the best possible light; whether this means they get viewed as good people or disliked for being patronising largely depends on the individual. They do, however, have a mutual die-hard rivalry with sorcerers.

[hiteshrivani]

The History of Driving Tests: How They've Evolved Over Time

The driving test has become a rite of passage for millions worldwide, symbolizing both freedom and responsibility. But this was not always the case. The history of driving tests reveals how our views on road safety, training, and licensing have changed dramatically over the past century.

1. Early Days: Driving Without Testing When cars first appeared in the When cars first appeared in the late 1800s and early 1900s, there were no formal tests or licenses required. Driving was a novelty, and most roads were shared with horse-drawn carriages. As the number of cars grew—and so did accidents—governments realized regulation was needed.

2. The First Official Driving Test The world The world's first mandatory driving test was introduced in France in 1893. Germany followed in 1903, requiring drivers to demonstrate mechanical knowledge and basic driving skills. In North America, Massachusetts and Missouri were the first US states to require licenses (in 1903), but without a driving test.

3. Testing Becomes Widespread It wasn't until the 1930s that driving tests became standardized in many places. In the UK, the first compulsory driving test was introduced in 1935. Canada began implementing mandatory tests around the same time, as traffic volumes increased and road safety became a national concern.

4. How the Test Evolved Over Time Early tests focused on basic skills like steering, starting, and stopping. Over time, they evolved to include parallel parking, merging, understanding signage, and eventually hazard perception. Written theory tests were introduced to ensure drivers understood traffic laws—not just vehicle operation.

5. Introduction of Graduated Licensing Systems By the late 20th century, many regions introduced a graduated licensing system. This includes stages like learner's permits, intermediate licenses, and full privileges. These changes aimed to reduce crashes among new drivers by introducing experience-based progression.

6. The Role of Technology in Modern Testing Today's driving tests often include computerized theory exams, simulators, and dashcams to record on-road performance. Some jurisdictions even allow booking and tracking progress online. These technologies help standardize testing and reduce human bias.

7. A Continued Focus on Safety and Skill While the format and requirements of driving tests continue to evolve, their purpose remains the same: ensuring that new drivers possess the knowledge, judgment, and physical skills to navigate modern roadways safely and responsibly.

Understanding the history behind the driving test helps us appreciate how far we've come—and why it's so important to keep improving. For resources and support in preparing for your own test, visit licenseprep.ca .

Tags: #DrivingTestHistory #GraduatedLicensing #RoadSafety #DriverEducation #LicensePrep #licenseprep

[gwendolynlerman]

Deutschribing Germany

Education

Education in Germany is free and compulsory between ages six and sixteen. States (Länder) are largely responsible for education, with the federal government playing a minor role.

Types of schools

The vast majority of children attend state schools, but there are private schools (Ersatzschulen) as well. The latter have very low tuition fees and are also subsidized by the state, which effectively makes them privately-run schools funded by the state. Some are run by religious groups.

School terms

The school year is divided into two terms (from August to January and from February to July) and starts after the summer break, which differs from state to state but usually finishes in mid/end-August. Children have twelve weeks of vacation in addition to public holidays. Exact dates differ between states, but there are generally six weeks of summer vacation, two around Christmas, two around Easter, and two in the fall during the harvest season, since farmers used to need their children for field work.

Grades

The German grading system is as follows, from highest to lowest: sehr gut (1.0–1.5), gut (1.6–2.5), befriedigend (2.6–3.5), ausreichend (3.6–4.0), and nicht bestanden (4.1–5.0). The minimum to pass is four.

Levels

Preschool (Kindergarten)

Preschool education is neither mandatory nor free. Children between the ages of 2 and 6 attend Kindertagesstätte (Kita, “children’s daycare centers”). Many Kitas follow a certain educational approach, such as Montessori or Reggio Emilia.

Primary education (Primarstufe)

Primary education takes place in Grundschulen and generally lasts four years, from 6 to 10 years old. In Berlin and Brandenburg, it lasts six years.

Students are typically taught art, a foreign language (English or French), general studies (natural and social science), German, math, music, physical education, and religion or ethics.

Secondary education (Sekundarstufe)

Secondary education can take place in any of the following schools:

Gymnasium (grammar school) until grade 12 or 13 (ages 10–11 to 17–18/18–19), with Abitur as exit exam to qualify for university

Realschule (intermediate school) until grade 10 (ages 10–11 to 15–16), with Realschulabschluss

Hauptschule (secondary general school) until grade 9 or 10 (ages 10–11 to 14–15/15–16), with Hauptschulabschluss

Gesamtschule (comprehensive school) until grade 10 or 12/13 (ages 10–11 to 15–16 or 17–18/18–19)

The Gymnasium provides in-depth general education for university studies. Hauptschulen teach basic general education leading to vocational school or university entrance qualification. Realschule offers more extensive education than Hauptschule, leading to a vocational or university entrance qualification. A Gesamtschule combines all the aforementioned schools.

There are about twelve compulsory subjects in every grade: biology, chemistry, civics/social/political studies, up to three foreign languages, geography, German, history, math, music, physical education, physics, religion/ethics, and visual arts.

(F3 means Fremdsprache 3 [third foreign language], which is usually French or Spanish)

In grades 11–12/13, each student majors in two or three subjects (Leistungskurse), in which there are usually five lessons per week. The other subjects (Grundkurse) are usually taught three times a week.

Vocational training (Berufsbildung)

Vocational training lasts between two and three and a half years and can take place in any of the following types of school:

Berufsschule (vocational school): the standard type of vocational school, it prepares students for further vocational education or for a job in a profession. Apprentices attend school twice a week and spend the rest of the week working at a company, so they gain knowledge of theory and practice.

Berufsfachschule: similar to Berufsschule, it is aimed at people who want to study specific subjects, such as nursing or occupational therapy.

Fachoberschule (vocational high school): students who have obtained a Realschulabschluss or Hauptschulabschluss can attend a Fachoberschule, where they will specialize themselves in technology, economy, or administration and management, among other subjects. After completing the program, they can study for a university degree after passing the Abitur.

Berufsoberschule (upper vocational school): those who want to attend one need to have graduated from a Berufsschule. It provides in-depth education and training.

Higher education (Tertiärbereich)

To attend university, students need to pass the Abitur exams, of which at least one is oral. They are tested on four or five subjects, including their two or three Leistungskurse and two or three Grundkurse (German, math, and the first foreign language). All knowledge areas must be covered, including language, literature and the arts; social sciences; math, natural sciences and technology, and sports. Each semester of a subject studied in the final two years of Gymnasium yields up to fifteen points, where advanced courses may count double and final examinations count quadruple.

There are 380 universities in Germany, of which 114 are private. Public universities charge fees of around €150–350 per semester, which often include the cost of public transportation. Tertiary education institutions are classified into Universität or Hochschule. The former term is reserved for those which have the right to confer doctorates, in a similar distinction to universities and colleges in the United States. Fachhochschulen (Universities of Applied Sciences) are a type of Hochschule that concentrates on applied science and has a more practical profile with a focus on employability.

There are three types of admissions procedures for degree programs:

Free admissions: every applicant who fulfills the requirements is admitted. This is usually the case in programs in which many students quit, such as engineering, mathematics, or physics.

Local admission restrictions: only a limited number of places are available and students are admitting according to numerus clausus, whose criteria vary depending on the institution and the program but generally include the final grade of the Abitur, a weighted grade average that increases the weight of relevant school subjects, interviews, motivation letters, and/or letters of recommendation.

Nationwide admission restrictions: to study dentistry, medicine, pharmacy, or veterinary medicine, there is a nationwide numerus clausus in which applications are handled centrally for all universities.

There are three official university degrees: Bachelor (bachelor’s degree) takes three years to complete, Master (master’s degree) lasts two years, and Doktorat (doctoral degree or PhD) takes between two and five years.

Students can usually choose freely from all courses offered by the university, but all bachelor’s degree programs require a number of particular compulsory courses in the field of the study program.

[maddmuses]

Kwon HC posts before I get started (boy I hate how tumblr stretches images for basically no good reason)

Born April 4 2001

Kwon Jae-Sung is the son of a South Korean diplomat, not a high-ranking one, but high enough that he could get out of trouble for pretty much anything that would constitute a misdemeanor

At a young age Kwon was taught the fundamentals of taekwondo and "yankee boxing" from his grandfather (a 6th dan in taekwondo) before he had started fighting. This contact was cut-off by Kwon's father when school fights started to become concerns (around age 12). If Kwon were assessed by an objective reader he'd probably be determined 1st Gup or Dan (Red or Black Belt)

Kwon is essentially a bully from the get-go, his father (and grandfather's) mentality was that the strong are right naturally by merit of that strength, even if his father believes more in "soft strength" while Kwon essentially started hitting other students the second he was given more autonomy at school

Kwon has been involved in school fights since early on, and would frequently bully and harass other students into submission, through this lens of "strong and weak", essentially demanding submission from the weak, and challenging those he saw as strong, including older boys

He's been expelled from 15 private schools and 2 public ones in the course of his pre-college education, he has also avoided approximately 22 misdemeanor assault charges, and had 2 felony charges reduced to misdemeanors with fines and anger management

Kwon began at the Kim Dojang after hearing about it around a year following his cut-off from taekwondo, and repeatedly badgered his father (at one point threatening to kill himself if he was not allowed to practice martial arts again) at the age of 15

Kwon was generally discouraged by the dojang's blatant favoritism toward students of legacy, and broad dismissal of many of his early achievements, which later manifested in his (general) behavioral issues

Prior to the start of season 6 (so sometime in 2018) Kwon achieved 1 dan in Kim Sun-Yung's "Kwondo" (Way of The Fist) style of Tang Soo Do. This level of achievement has been exceeded as he was promoted to 2 dan in the time between taking the guem baeji, ast he dojang more formally converted to Cobra Kai under sensei Kreese.

Kwon is a natural southpaw, but over time has trained to be functionally ambidextrous in his fighting. He does, though, favor his left foot for fighting, and tends similarly to spin left so that his 720° spin kick with the heel of his left foot, rather than the right foot as traditional. This favoring his left side slightly also can extend to when he intends to strike with his full power, in which case it is always with the left. To obscure his left-handedness from the enemy, he will often square up when in a fight, or falsely assume a slightly orthodox-biased stance (which in modern day is misinterpreted to indicated right-handedness for most)(clip of his fight v the trio where you can see this functional ambidexterity with slight left-bias at-play, you can see most of his kicks are leftie, and his strongest punches/strikes are delivered from the left-side)

After the Sekai Taikai Kwon intends to enlist and complete his compulsory military service, before attending post-secondary education in the United States, and then further seeking out tournaments to win in adulthood. His intended field of study is English and at least one other foreign language, as well as business management

He is mildly conservative by USA standards (but not on that bigot shit, he's considered a hyper-liberal by modern SK male standards) but is generally considered to be apolitical

Kwon's personal investment in the Sekai Taikai has little to do with any loyalty or reverence he has towards his teachers, but intends instead to establish his own dominance and feed his own pride , while still following the framework his father and grandfather taught him, of showing the weak to their place, and proving himself to be stronger than all others

[preposterousgreen]

Zack had two uncles, one aunt, and a "cousin" who had done their year of compulsory military service with the Gongaga Self-Defense Force (since disbanded and replaced with contracted Shinra troops). Between the four of them they managed to teach Zack essentially nothing about what basic training would be like.

They did, however, succeed in imparting a comprehensive knowledge of the bullshit errands that naive recruits get sent on as a prank, such as to fetch "blinker fluid" or "left-handed screwdrivers."

[kinetic-elaboration]

November 27: The BI!Jane AU Pt. 3

Extremely confused because I took the early train, so I didn’t sleep well (or a lot) last night and then I was all awake to start out traveling, took a while to calm my thoughts so I could sleep on the train, but then I did, and now I’m awake again. And it’s still early. Anyway, I have a bit of time still, a little more than an hour, so I think I’ll try continuing my story from the last time and see what happens.

*

“That’s basically the summary, yes.”

Jane hums, that sound Daria’s learned to take as a sign that something’s on her mind.

She finishes brushing her teeth and says, “My parents did the commune thing, too. They lived there full-time until I was five or six, and then they bought this house and we started going back and forth.”

“Shared custody with the commune?”

Jane smiles with one side of her mouth. “Sort of. It’s not like Vincent and Amanda could raise five kids without them. But then they had some success as artist and… I think they were afraid the commune would break up, which eventually it did.” She pauses a moment, the look in her eyes far-off as she stares at her own face in the mirror. “But for a while, we were still over there all the time. Compulsory education laws were not my parents’ friends.”

Daria watches as Jane removes her makeup and washes her face. She tries to picture her as just a little kid, wandering around, getting into her parents’ friends’ art supplies, probably making sculptures out of sticks.

“I miss it sometimes,” she admits. “I mean, it could be very dumb. A lot of passive-aggressive fighting. Way too much composting and being one with the land. And once you’ve tried indoor plumbing, you can’ really go back.” She pushes back the still-damp strands of her hair. “But there was a lot of freedom. And people were more open about things.”

“Those sound like euphemisms for free love,” Daria says, and Jane laughs and comes to sit down next to her on the tub.

“That too. But I mean, no one cared if I kissed one of the other girls while we were playing outside. Or that I said I wanted to be just like Julia when I grew up and have a wife like hers.”

“They were married?” If she’d meant to say it, she would have put effort into sounding less surprised.

“Not legally,” Jane answers. “But on the commune, they were. Julia was a painter and Adrianna was a musician. I used to think, I don’t know, it would be cool to be with someone who was also an artist.” She shrugs, and stands up abruptly, as if the confession had been too much for her. For a moment, she looks like she’s not sure where to go.

“Not a lot of artists in Lawndale,” Daria says, mostly to fill in the silence.

“Just one of the many ways in which the dating pool is very shallow,” Jane answers, and looks over at her again, and smiles.