#early coding education

[groovykingcat]

The Importance of Coding for Kids: Developing Problem-Solving Skills

Coding has become one of the essential skills in every aspect of life, just like reading and writing. Its significance extends far beyond the realm of computer science, impacting cognitive development, problem-solving abilities, and future readiness. This article goes in depth into the multifaceted benefits of coding for kids, exploring how it shapes young minds, fosters creativity, and paves the way for future success. 

The Importance of Coding for Kids 

Coding for kids is more than just learning a programming language; it's a gateway to developing a robust problem-solving mindset. By engaging in coding activities, children are introduced to a structured approach to breaking down complex challenges into smaller, manageable steps. This logical thinking process is invaluable in various aspects of life, extending beyond the digital world. 

Furthermore, coding plays a vital role in child development. As kids experiment with different coding concepts, they improve cognitive skills like critical thinking, pattern recognition, and attention to detail. These skills are essential for academic success and contribute to overall intellectual growth. 

Benefits of Coding for Kids' Development 

The advantages of coding for kids are far-reaching. It goes beyond technical proficiency and encompasses a holistic development of a child's potential. 

Cognitive Enhancement: Coding exercises the brain, stimulating cognitive functions. As children grapple with coding puzzles and challenges, they develop computational thinking, a skill that involves breaking down problems into logical steps. This ability to analyze information and find solution is transferable to various subjects and real-life situations. 

Creativity and Innovation: Coding is a fertile ground for creativity. Children have the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. This iterative process fosters innovation as they come up with unique solutions to coding problems. Moreover, coding projects encourage children to think outside the box and explore different approaches, nurturing their creative potential. 

Future Readiness: Our world is increasingly reliant on technology, and coding proficiency is becoming a valuable asset. By introducing kids to coding early on, we equip them with the skills necessary to thrive in the digital age. Whether they pursue a career in technology or not, coding knowledge provides a solid foundation for understanding how technology works and interacting with it confidently. 

How Coding Fosters Problem-Solving Skills in Kids 

Coding is inherently a problem-solving activity. It challenges children to identify issues, analyze potential solutions, and implement them effectively. 

Multi-Perspective Analysis: Coding problems often require children to consider different approaches and perspectives. This ability to look at a problem from various angles is crucial for developing well-rounded problem-solving skills. 

Debugging as a Learning Tool: The debugging process, where children identify and fix errors in their code, is a powerful learning experience. It teaches them to persevere in the face of challenges, break down complex issues into smaller components, and find creative solutions. 

Creative Problem Solving: Coding encourages children to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions. Open-ended coding projects allow them to explore different possibilities and experiment with different approaches, fostering a mindset of experimentation and discovery. 

The Role of Growth Mindset in Coding Education 

A growth mindset is essential for success in coding and beyond. It emphasizes the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. 

Embracing Failure: Coding involves making mistakes, and a growth mindset helps children view these setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement. By understanding that challenges are part of the process, kids become more resilient and determined. 

Building Resilience: Coding can be frustrating at times, but a growth mindset enables children to bounce back from setbacks and approach challenges with a positive attitude. It helps them develop perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles. 

Persistence and Learning: Learning to code requires patience and persistence. A growth mindset encourages children to embrace the learning process and view difficulties as opportunities to grow and expand their knowledge. 

Impact of Programming Education on Overall Child Development 

Coding education benefits children in various ways, extending beyond problem-solving and cognitive skills. 

Holistic Development: Early exposure to coding can positively impact different aspects of a child's development, including language skills, mathematical abilities, and logical reasoning. 

Social Skills: Collaborative coding projects provide opportunities for children to work together, communicate effectively, and develop teamwork skills. These social interactions are essential for personal and professional success. 

Early Coding Education: A Pathway to Future Success 

Introducing children to coding at an early age is crucial for their future success. It provides them with a head start in a technology-dominated world and equips them with the skills to become innovators and problem-solvers. 

Long-Term Benefits: Early coding education lays a strong foundation for future academic and career pursuits. It develops a solid understanding of technology and computational thinking, which are valuable assets in various fields. 

Educational Technology Tools: Interactive coding platforms and educational tools make learning to code engaging and accessible for young children. These resources provide a supportive environment for exploration and experimentation. 

Creative Ways to Teach Kids Coding at Home 

Coding can be a fun and rewarding experience for kids when presented in an engaging way. Here are some creative ideas for introducing coding at home: 

Coding Games: Incorporate coding concepts into games and puzzles to make learning enjoyable. 

Hands-On Projects: Encourage children to create physical projects that involve coding, such as robots or interactive art installations. 

Online Resources: Explore online platforms and apps designed specifically for teaching kids how to code, offering interactive lessons and challenges. 

Online Courses for Kids: Guruface as a Resource 

Online coding courses provide structured learning experiences for kids. Platforms like Guruface offer specialized programs tailored to different age groups and skill levels. 

Interactive Learning: Guruface's courses incorporate interactive elements, making learning engaging and fun for children. 

Expert Instruction: Experienced instructors guide students through coding concepts, providing support and encouragement. 

Structured Learning: Online courses offer a structured curriculum, ensuring that children learn essential coding skills progressively. 

Final Thoughts on Nurturing Future Innovators Through Coding Education 

Coding education helps children to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and creative innovators. By encouraging kids to explore the world of coding, we invest in their future success and contribute to a brighter, technology-driven tomorrow. 

Parents and educators play a vital role in fostering a love for coding in children. By providing opportunities to learn and experiment, we can inspire the next generation of programmers, engineers, and tech entrepreneurs.

[newsepick]

Teaching Our Children in Digital Age — Commanding Minds Before Machines Do Young Students Really Need AI, Robotics, and Coding in Early Schooling? Let’s Pause and Reflect! What should we teach our children? Making education suitable for the current age.

[presswoodterryryan]

Automate Farming in Minecraft: A Coding Adventure

By Mr. Fluffernutter Ah, the simple life of a Minecraft farmer—tending crops, harvesting wheat, and replanting for the next season. It all sounds so peaceful, doesn’t it? But what if I told you that villagers could work even smarter, just like real-world AI-powered farmers? Imagine a world where these pixelated characters maximize their efficiency, transforming vast fields of crops into…

[momatosfashion]

Top Educational Apps Every Parent Should Know About

In today’s digital age, educational apps have become invaluable tools for parents seeking to enhance their children’s learning experiences. From fostering creativity to developing critical thinking skills, these apps cater to kids of all ages and learning styles. Here, we’ve curated a list of top educational apps that every parent should consider.

1. ABCmouse

Age Range: 2–8 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web ABCmouse is an award-winning app designed to make early learning engaging and fun. Covering subjects like reading, math, science, and art, it offers over 10,000 activities tailored to your child’s learning pace. Parents can track progress, ensuring children stay on track with age-appropriate milestones.

Key Features:

Comprehensive curriculum for young learners.

Interactive games, puzzles, and songs.

Progress tracking for parents.

2. Khan Academy Kids

Age Range: 2–7 years Platforms: iOS, Android Khan Academy Kids provides a wide range of activities to spark curiosity in young learners. With a focus on foundational skills, it covers math, reading, and social-emotional development. The app is completely free and ad-free, making it a parent favorite.

Key Features:

Personalized learning pathways.

Engaging storytelling and animations.

Free access to all content.

3. Duolingo

Age Range: 10+ years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web Duolingo is a fantastic app for kids and adults alike who want to learn a new language. With bite-sized lessons and gamified exercises, it keeps learners motivated and engaged. The app offers lessons in over 40 languages, including Spanish, French, and Mandarin.

Key Features:

Fun, gamified language learning.

Daily streak rewards to encourage consistency.

Audio, visual, and text-based activities.

4. BrainPOP

Age Range: 6–17 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web BrainPOP is a versatile educational app that covers a wide range of topics, including science, history, and English. Animated videos followed by quizzes make learning interactive and entertaining for kids. It’s a great tool for homework help and supplemental learning.

Key Features:

Engaging, topic-specific animated videos.

Interactive quizzes and games.

Aligned with school curricula.

5. Prodigy Math

Age Range: 6–14 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web Prodigy Math combines gaming with math practice, making it a favorite among kids. Players embark on adventures, solving math problems to progress through the game. The app aligns with various curricula, ensuring your child’s math skills are on par with school requirements.

Key Features:

Curriculum-aligned math challenges.

Adaptive difficulty levels.

Multiplayer options for social learning.

6. Tynker

Age Range: 7–14 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web For kids interested in coding, Tynker is an excellent choice. It offers step-by-step coding tutorials, enabling children to create games, animations, and apps. Tynker fosters problem-solving and logical thinking, skills essential for future tech enthusiasts.

Key Features:

Coding courses tailored to age and skill level.

Drag-and-drop programming interface for beginners.

Advanced modules for older learners.

7. Epic!

Age Range: 2–12 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web Epic! is a digital library offering thousands of books, audiobooks, and educational videos. It’s perfect for fostering a love of reading in children. The app also provides personalized recommendations based on your child’s interests.

Key Features:

Extensive library of books and videos.

Read-to-Me features for younger kids.

Offline access for on-the-go learning.

8. ScratchJr

Age Range: 5–7 years Platforms: iOS, Android ScratchJr introduces young learners to the basics of coding through creative storytelling. Kids can design characters and make them move, jump, and interact by piecing together simple programming blocks.

Key Features:

User-friendly interface for beginners.

Encourages creativity and storytelling.

No reading skills required.

9. National Geographic Kids

Age Range: 6–14 years Platforms: iOS, Android, Web This app brings the wonders of the world to your child’s fingertips. With interactive videos, games, and quizzes, it covers topics like wildlife, geography, and space. It’s perfect for curious kids who love exploring new ideas.

Key Features:

Stunning visuals and videos.

Fun quizzes and puzzles.

Real-world knowledge and facts.

10. Busy Shapes

Age Range: 2–5 years Platforms: iOS, Android Busy Shapes helps toddlers and preschoolers develop problem-solving and fine motor skills. Inspired by the Montessori method, the app encourages exploration and hands-on learning through puzzles and shape recognition activities.

Key Features:

Simple, intuitive design for young learners.

Adaptive difficulty levels.

Encourages independent learning.

Conclusion

Educational apps can be powerful allies in your child’s learning journey. By incorporating these apps into daily routines, parents can create an engaging and interactive educational experience that complements traditional learning methods. Whether your child loves reading, coding, or exploring new languages, there’s an app tailored to their interests and needs.

Start exploring these apps today and watch your child’s curiosity and skills soar!

#momatos.in

[dilfza-discourse]

Since all my classes will be out for good and I haven't taken on any events I think I'm good to paint my nails

[abhi-views]

Bard Takes Flight: Introducing Gemini, Ultra 1.0 and Your New Mobile AI Companion

Bard No More! Introducing Gemini, Your New AI BFF #Bard #Gemini #Ultra1.0 #GoogleAI #mobileaccess #onthegoassistance #creativity #coding #collaboration #factualaccuracy #informationretrieval #personalization #earlyaccess #India

Get ready to witness a metamorphosis! Bard, the AI you’ve come to know, is evolving into Gemini, powered by the cutting-edge Ultra 1.0 model. This exciting transformation brings not only a new name but also a significant leap in capabilities and accessibility. Buckle up, and let’s explore what Gemini has in store for you! Unleashing Ultra 1.0 Power: Gemini’s core is the revolutionary Ultra 1.0…

[clemmmmmmmmmmmmmm]

“The monsters gone and your daddy here…”

Batboys as fathers

⸻

1. Jason Todd(ALLL girls, 2-4 girls)

• Protective but soft dad: Looks like he’d teach his kid how to hotwire a car (and maybe he does), but he’s the first to tear up during a school play.

• Reads bedtime stories with dramatic flair: Does all the voices, sometimes throws in a few expletives before quickly correcting himself.

• Rides or dies for his kid: Anyone bullies them? Jason shows up at school with the most terrifying “talk” a teacher or principal has ever had the misfortune of enduring.

• Teaches them practical skills early: Like street smarts, how to throw a punch, and the importance of carrying snacks.

• “If anyone hurts you, just tell Dad” vibes: Then he vanishes for a couple of hours. No one asks questions.

⸻

2. Dick Grayson(3 girls one boy)

• Golden retriever dad: Super involved, enthusiastic, and emotionally available.

• Dance party central: His kid knows every 80s and 90s pop hit. They have choreographed routines.

• Always has a band-aid, a snack, and dad jokes ready: And somehow manages to make even the worst day better.

• Takes a million pictures: Captures every moment — first step, first fall, even the tantrums.

• Teaches empathy and kindness first: Encourages emotional expression and gentle strength.

⸻

3. Tim Drake(2 boys)

• Anxious but dedicated: Googled “how to be a good dad” about 1,500 times.

• Coffee-fueled midnight cuddles: If the kid’s up late, Tim’s probably already awake working on something — but drops everything for them.

• Super into educational toys: Probably has flashcards and a toddler coding game by the time they’re three.

• A quiet anchor: His love is subtle but steady. He might not always know what to say, but his presence means everything.

• Raises a tiny, smart-mouthed mini-detective: And secretly loves it.

⸻

4. Damian Wayne(Twin dad, one of each)

• Surprisingly gentle (with his kid): Doesn’t trust most people with them and is always watching with eagle eyes.

• Teaches discipline, but cuddles in secret: Has a hard time being emotionally open but melts when his child hugs him first.

• Introduces them to animals early: His kid is on a first-name basis with most of the zoo. Also knows how to feed a bat properly by age five.

• Mini-me energy: His kid is probably as stubborn, blunt, and deadly smart as he is.

• Takes parenting as a sacred duty: He’ll raise a warrior, yes, but one who understands mercy and love.

⸻

5. Bruce Wayne(girl)

• Trying his best: He has no idea what he’s doing, even though he has so many children

• Overprotective to the extreme: GPS tracker in their shoes, private security at the playground — you name it.

• Teaches with stories: Lessons often come through stories about “a friend” who was also a vigilante and made mistakes.

• Rare but meaningful vulnerability: Those quiet, late-night talks where Bruce opens up just a little are life-changing.

• Sees being a father as redemption: He’s determined to give his child the safety and love he never had.

⸻

[asterafroditis]

𐔌 . ⋮ studying for finals .ᐟ ֹ ₊ ꒱

☓┆First Years x gn! reader

𓏵 603 words

ᝰ.ᐟ headcanons, no pronouns used, fluff

In honor of finishing my finals hehe >< Second Years and Third Years coming up next! feel free to like, reblog, or comment!

ᝰ.ᐟ masterlist

Studying with Ace is chaotic, but somehow... productive? He swings between cracking jokes and randomly pulling out a surprisingly solid explanation of a spell or formula.

You usually end up sprawled out on the floor of his room with snacks between you and books open in every direction.

He pretends to be nonchalant about it, but he keeps glancing over to make sure you’re understanding stuff. He wants to be helpful, even if he acts like it’s just for fun.

“Look, I ain’t saying I’m a genius or anything, but that explanation? Kinda smooth, right?”

If he sees you stressed, he changes the topic for a moment—makes you laugh, tosses you a candy, anything to lift your spirits before going back to studying.

─────────────────────────

Deuce takes your study session very seriously. He shows up ten minutes early, with color-coded notes and homemade flashcards.

He’s worried he’s not doing enough, so he overcompensates with effort. But with you beside him, he actually relaxes a bit.

When you compliment his notes or say you understand better because of him, he just freezes and then blushes.

“I—I’m glad it helped! I wasn’t sure if I explained it right... but thanks!”

He’ll gently correct your mistakes without making you feel dumb. And if you’re ever discouraged, he’s quick to say:

“We’ll both pass. No question about it.”

─────────────────────────

Jack prefers studying in the fresh air, so you usually meet him under a tree behind the dorms or in a quiet courtyard.

He doesn’t talk much at first—just studies beside you, occasionally answering your questions in his calm, straightforward way.

But once he notices you struggling with something, he patiently walks you through it, never once making you feel bad.

And if you do well? He gives you the rarest thing: a proud smile.

“Told you you’d get it. You just needed a little push.”

He’s attentive in quiet ways—making sure you’re hydrated, suggesting breaks when you look tired, and making space for you to rest against his shoulder if you nod off.

─────────────────────────

You and Epel usually study at Ramshackle because he says Pomefiore is “too stuffy” for his taste. He stretches out on the floor or slouches upside-down on your bed while quizzing you.

He fidgets when he’s bored—tosses pencils, messes with your hair, or doodles—but the moment the subject is something he likes (like Flight or anything Physical Education related), he lights up.

If you praise him, he gets all red-eared and bashful:

“Wha—? I-I ain’t that good or nothin’! Just paid attention that day, I guess…”

If he sees you getting overwhelmed, he pauses and offers a quick grin:

“Hey, don’t beat yourself up. It’s not like Trein’s gonna turn us into toads if we miss one answer. Probably.”

─────────────────────────

Sebek treats your study session like a royal mission. He insists on structure: reviewing vocabulary, reciting theories, and pacing the floor with a textbook in hand.

He’s intense, but deeply invested in your success. If you get something wrong, he corrects you immediately, but always circles back to make sure you truly understand.

“You must be precise! But… if you do not understand, I shall explain again. Pay attention!”

When you do succeed, though? His proud expression is borderline dramatic.

“EXCELLENT! You’re finally starting to think like a proper scholar!”

And if you thank him for his help, he gets awkward for a second before nodding, slightly flushed.

“Tch… It is only natural to assist a companion in need.”

[groovykingcat]

The Importance of Coding for Kids: Developing Problem-Solving Skills

Coding has become one of the essential skills in every aspect of life, just like reading and writing. Its significance extends far beyond the realm of computer science, impacting cognitive development, problem-solving abilities, and future readiness. This article goes in depth into the multifaceted benefits of coding for kids, exploring how it shapes young minds, fosters creativity, and paves the way for future success. 

The Importance of Coding for Kids 

Coding for kids is more than just learning a programming language; it's a gateway to developing a robust problem-solving mindset. By engaging in coding activities, children are introduced to a structured approach to breaking down complex challenges into smaller, manageable steps. This logical thinking process is invaluable in various aspects of life, extending beyond the digital world. 

Furthermore, coding plays a vital role in child development. As kids experiment with different coding concepts, they improve cognitive skills like critical thinking, pattern recognition, and attention to detail. These skills are essential for academic success and contribute to overall intellectual growth. 

Benefits of Coding for Kids' Development 

The advantages of coding for kids are far-reaching. It goes beyond technical proficiency and encompasses a holistic development of a child's potential. 

Cognitive Enhancement: Coding exercises the brain, stimulating cognitive functions. As children grapple with coding puzzles and challenges, they develop computational thinking, a skill that involves breaking down problems into logical steps. This ability to analyze information and find solution is transferable to various subjects and real-life situations. 

Creativity and Innovation: Coding is a fertile ground for creativity. Children have the freedom to experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them. This iterative process fosters innovation as they come up with unique solutions to coding problems. Moreover, coding projects encourage children to think outside the box and explore different approaches, nurturing their creative potential. 

Future Readiness: Our world is increasingly reliant on technology, and coding proficiency is becoming a valuable asset. By introducing kids to coding early on, we equip them with the skills necessary to thrive in the digital age. Whether they pursue a career in technology or not, coding knowledge provides a solid foundation for understanding how technology works and interacting with it confidently. 

How Coding Fosters Problem-Solving Skills in Kids 

Coding is inherently a problem-solving activity. It challenges children to identify issues, analyze potential solutions, and implement them effectively. 

Multi-Perspective Analysis: Coding problems often require children to consider different approaches and perspectives. This ability to look at a problem from various angles is crucial for developing well-rounded problem-solving skills. 

Debugging as a Learning Tool: The debugging process, where children identify and fix errors in their code, is a powerful learning experience. It teaches them to persevere in the face of challenges, break down complex issues into smaller components, and find creative solutions. 

Creative Problem Solving: Coding encourages children to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions. Open-ended coding projects allow them to explore different possibilities and experiment with different approaches, fostering a mindset of experimentation and discovery. 

The Role of Growth Mindset in Coding Education 

A growth mindset is essential for success in coding and beyond. It emphasizes the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. 

Embracing Failure: Coding involves making mistakes, and a growth mindset helps children view these setbacks as opportunities for learning and improvement. By understanding that challenges are part of the process, kids become more resilient and determined. 

Building Resilience: Coding can be frustrating at times, but a growth mindset enables children to bounce back from setbacks and approach challenges with a positive attitude. It helps them develop perseverance and the ability to overcome obstacles. 

Persistence and Learning: Learning to code requires patience and persistence. A growth mindset encourages children to embrace the learning process and view difficulties as opportunities to grow and expand their knowledge. 

Impact of Programming Education on Overall Child Development 

Coding education benefits children in various ways, extending beyond problem-solving and cognitive skills. 

Holistic Development: Early exposure to coding can positively impact different aspects of a child's development, including language skills, mathematical abilities, and logical reasoning. 

Social Skills: Collaborative coding projects provide opportunities for children to work together, communicate effectively, and develop teamwork skills. These social interactions are essential for personal and professional success. 

Early Coding Education: A Pathway to Future Success 

Introducing children to coding at an early age is crucial for their future success. It provides them with a head start in a technology-dominated world and equips them with the skills to become innovators and problem-solvers. 

Long-Term Benefits: Early coding education lays a strong foundation for future academic and career pursuits. It develops a solid understanding of technology and computational thinking, which are valuable assets in various fields. 

Educational Technology Tools: Interactive coding platforms and educational tools make learning to code engaging and accessible for young children. These resources provide a supportive environment for exploration and experimentation. 

Creative Ways to Teach Kids Coding at Home 

Coding can be a fun and rewarding experience for kids when presented in an engaging way. Here are some creative ideas for introducing coding at home: 

Coding Games: Incorporate coding concepts into games and puzzles to make learning enjoyable. 

Hands-On Projects: Encourage children to create physical projects that involve coding, such as robots or interactive art installations. 

Online Resources: Explore online platforms and apps designed specifically for teaching kids how to code, offering interactive lessons and challenges. 

Online Courses for Kids: Guruface as a Resource 

Online coding courses provide structured learning experiences for kids. Platforms like Guruface offer specialized programs tailored to different age groups and skill levels. 

Interactive Learning: Guruface's courses incorporate interactive elements, making learning engaging and fun for children. 

Expert Instruction: Experienced instructors guide students through coding concepts, providing support and encouragement. 

Structured Learning: Online courses offer a structured curriculum, ensuring that children learn essential coding skills progressively. 

Final Thoughts on Nurturing Future Innovators Through Coding Education 

Coding education helps children to become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and creative innovators. By encouraging kids to explore the world of coding, we invest in their future success and contribute to a brighter, technology-driven tomorrow. 

Parents and educators play a vital role in fostering a love for coding in children. By providing opportunities to learn and experiment, we can inspire the next generation of programmers, engineers, and tech entrepreneurs.

[cambridge-nps]

I wrote a silly little thing about Tommy hiding the fact he wears glasses from Buck. Unfortunately, since i'm incapable of writing sexy times this is gonna have to stay g :(

Here's a small snippet:

“Be honest with me,” Buck said, arms crossed, “do you think Tommy is seeing someone else?”

Ravi choked. “What?”

“I’m serious. He keeps sneaking off with his phone.”

Ravi wiped his mouth and gave Buck a look. “Buck. Buddy. That man has stolen two helicopters for you.”

Buck waved it off. “Light domestic terrorism aside, I’m just saying something’s up. You think maybe he’s bored? I’ve been working tons of doubles lately so I haven’t had time for my normal gym routine. I think my butt’s gotten flat.”

“Tommy talks about your butt like it’s a religious experience.”

------------------------------------------------------------------------

If you see any spelling or grammar mistakes, please let me know.

You can read the whole thing below or on A03 -> Clearly Into You

---------------------------------------------------------

Buck wasn't usually a jealous guy. Okay. That was a lie. It had all started early one morning, Buck was balancing a banana nut muffin in one hand and a mug of coffee in the other when he noticed Tommy ducking back into the bedroom with his phone. Again. It was the third time that morning. This was after the incident yesterday—Tommy had disappeared into the garage just to “check a message,” and when Buck rounded the corner with a fresh cup of coffee to surprise him, Tommy had nearly jumped out of his skin. Buck's gut had churned then. Now it was practically staging a rebellion. He didn’t want to be that guy, the paranoid boyfriend, the clingy one, but when your long-term, ruggedly hot firefighter boyfriend starts acting like he's guarding the Missing Link every time his phone buzzes, you begin to worry. And Tommy? Tommy was the definition of sketchy lately. Buck had mentioned it casually to Tommy that night in bed. “You’ve been kind of... phone-private lately, huh?” Tommy had just snorted and rolled over, kissing Buck’s shoulder like that was an answer.

---------------------------------------------------------

The next day, Buck strolled into the living room with a dish towel slung over his shoulder and a faint whistle on his lips, just in time to catch Tommy snapping his phone screen off like he’d been caught looking up something deeply illicit. The speed of it was unnatural. Almost Olympic-level. Buck stopped mid-step, eyebrow lifting. “...Was that the nuclear launch codes, or…?” Tommy, sprawled on the couch with an exaggerated air of innocence, blinked up at him. “What?” “You just closed your phone like I walked in on you sexting a senator.” Tommy made a face, scoffing. “Don’t be ridiculous. I was—watching a video.” “Uh-huh,” Buck said, folding his arms. “Why’d you practically throw it across the room like it bit you?” Tommy shifted, “Reflexes. I’ve got cat-like reflexes.” “Oh, is that what we’re calling ‘panic’ now?” Tommy sniffed, nose tilted. “You startled me.” Buck peered at Tommy suspiciously. “What are you hiding?” “Nothing.” “Is it porn? “What? No!” Tommy didn’t even look up. “It was an educational video on new fire safety procedures.” Buck snorted. “Is that what we’re calling it now?” Tommy grinned. “Hey, I know “movie night” is a shared activity and I take our joint research sessions very seriously.” “Oh, joint research, huh?” Buck said, crossing his arms. “Because I distinctly remember you fast-forwarding through the plot last night.” “There was a plot?” Buck rolled his eyes but couldn’t stop the laugh that slipped out. “You know for a guy who claims he likes character development, you sure skipped a lot of dialogue.” “I’m just efficient,” Tommy said, smug. “Besides, I already know how it ends.” “Oh yeah?” Buck asked, stepping closer with a teasing smirk. “And how’s that?” “With both of us hitting pause because it got us a little too inspired.” “You know,” Buck murmured, eyes soft but sharp, “you’re very good at distracting me.” Tommy blinked, doing his best innocent face. “Am I?” “Mhm. Suspiciously good.” Buck kissed the corner of Tommy’s mouth, then pulled back just enough to look at him. “Almost like you’re trying to steer me away from asking what was going on with your phone earlier.” Tommy froze—just a flicker, just for a second—but Buck caught it. “It’s nothing, Evan. I promise.” And with that Tommy got up and walked into the kitchen.

---------------------------------------------------------

A few days later, another incident occurred when Buck showed up unannounced to Harbour Station to surprise Tommy with a sandwich from their favourite deli shop, which was the romantic equivalent of a bouquet of roses in firefighter terms. He spotted Tommy sitting alone in his truck in the back lot, hunched over his phone like it owed him money. Buck tapped on the window. Tommy jumped so hard he dropped the phone into the footwell. “Hey,” Buck said, peeking in. “What’re you doing out here?” Tommy looked mildly panicked. “Nothing! Just... decompressing.” Buck leaned into the window. “You know, when most people decompress, they don’t clutch their phone like it’s a cursed artifact.” Tommy fake-laughed, and kissed him on the cheek. “You're cute when you're nosy,” while casually sliding his phone back into his pocket. Suspicious. Very suspicious.

---------------------------------------------------------

After another non-answer from Tommy regarding his secretive phone use, Buck finally cornered Ravi in the kitchen of the 118, where Ravi was busy shoveling pasta into his mouth between calls. “Be honest with me,” Buck said, arms crossed, “do you think Tommy is seeing someone else?” Ravi choked. “What?” “I’m serious. He keeps sneaking off with his phone.” Ravi wiped his mouth and gave Buck a look. “Buck. Buddy. That man has stolen two helicopters for you.” Buck waved it off. “Light domestic terrorism aside, I’m just saying something’s up. You think maybe he’s bored? I’ve been working tons of doubles lately so I haven’t had time for my normal gym routine. I think my butt’s gotten flat.” “Tommy talks about your butt like it’s a religious experience.” Buck blushed. “Well. Still.” Since Buck’s falling out with Eddie—that argument in the kitchen that had left more than just words simmering—his friendship with Ravi had unexpectedly deepened. What started as casual conversation and shared beers had turned into real camaraderie, with Ravi naturally folding into Buck’s life outside the station. That meant spending time with Tommy too, and to Buck’s quiet delight, Ravi and Tommy hit it off effortlessly. The two shared an easy banter, trading dry humour and obscure movie references like they'd been friends for years. Ravi rolled his eyes. “Tommy’s not cheating. He’s obsessed with you. He just—sometimes he gets weird when something’s wrong with him. He doesn’t like looking vulnerable.” Buck narrowed his eyes. “So you do think something’s wrong.” Ravi shrugged. “Probably, but not something scandalous. He’s just not good at asking for help, you know that. Remember he tried to splint his own ankle last month with a clipboard and duct tape.” “…Yeah, okay. That tracks.” Ravi pointed a tomato sauce covered spoon at Buck’s chest. “If Tommy is hiding something, it’s probably because he’s the one embarrassed. You ever think of that?” Buck frowned. “I don’t like it when you’re right. It’s bad for our power dynamic.”

---------------------------------------------------------

The truth broke open like a scene from a soap opera. Buck walked into the kitchen one evening after a shortened shift to find Tommy squinting at his phone, held at arm’s length. Then—he reached into the drawer. Pulled out a sleek pair of reading glasses: Slim, black-rimmed, very distinguished. And slipped them on. Buck gasped like a Victorian man seeing a naked ankle. Tommy spun around, glasses in hand, caught red-handed. “Don’t say anything,” he muttered. “Please. I know. It’s awful.” Buck stared. “That’s what all this has been? The secret phone stuff? The whispering? The disappearing acts?” Tommy looked sheepish. “I didn’t want you to see me like this.” “Like what? Sexy librarian-core? Because it’s working.” Tommy groaned and sank into a chair. “No, I didn’t want you to see this version of me. I’m officially ancient. Glasses for the phone. Next it’ll be pill organizers and orthopedic sandals. You’re going to realize I’m some tragic, washed-up old man and run off with someone who can read a menu without squinting.” Buck blinked. “…You think I’m going to stop loving you because you need reading glasses?” Tommy looked truly miserable. “You’re still in your thirties. I’m—well, not. And look at me. The greys, a back that makes that clicking noise when I get out of bed. And I didn’t want you to—” Buck took a step forward. “Didn’t want me to what?” Tommy rubbed the back of his neck. “Realize how much older I am than you.” Buck stared at him, heart lurching. Then he stepped in, gently took the glasses, and placed them back on Tommy’s face. “You look like a sexy professor who teaches Advanced Fire Tactics at the Academy. Honestly, I’d enroll twice.” Tommy snorted. “And for the record?” Buck continued. “Yeah, your body’s incredible. You’re all tall and muscly, with those ridiculous forearms and muscles on top of muscles in your biceps that’s not even fair. And the flecks of grey in your hair? I’ve been trying to act normal about it, but it makes me want to climb you like a rope ladder.” Tommy laughed, the tension cracking at last. “But even if you didn’t look like that,” Buck added, quieter now, “I’d still love you. Because of how you show up. Because of how you make me feel like I matter, even when I’m being annoying or insecure or irrational.” He cupped Tommy’s face. “You’re smart. Snarky. Kind. You give a crap about people, even when it costs you something. That’s what I fell for. And that’s not going away.” Tommy looked at him for a beat, the barest shine in his eyes. “So... you’re okay with the glasses?” “Like you wouldn’t believe,” Buck whispered. “Want me to keep wearing them?” Buck said, grinning. “You might wanna bring them to bed. Just saying.” Tommy kissed him — slow, smiling against his lips. “You’re a menace.” “But I’m your menace,” Buck said.

---------------------------------------------------------

Tommy had been hesitant at first—wearing the glasses only when he was home alone, taking them off the second someone knocked at the door, and absolutely refusing to wear them during social gatherings. But Buck noticed. Of course he did. And over time, with quiet compliments and casual sincere praise, Buck chipped away at whatever insecurity was holding Tommy back. Now, Tommy wore them without flinching. Still a little self-conscious, maybe, still adjusting to the feel of them on his face—but the difference was noticeable. He didn’t hide anymore. Buck noticed that, too. Tommy adjusted his new glasses on the bridge of his nose, squinting at the mirror like the frames might suddenly shapeshift into something more flattering. “You keep looking at yourself like you’re trying to figure out who you are,” Buck said from the doorway, arms crossed, leaning just enough to make it obvious he’d been watching for a while. “I look like a dad trying to figure out how to work his own thermostat,” Tommy muttered. “You look like a sexy professor who could ruin my life in under ten seconds,” Buck said, dead serious. Tommy turned, raising an eyebrow over the rim of the glasses. “Ruin your life, huh?” “Oh yeah,” Buck said, pushing off the doorway and walking closer. “Like, ‘talk sternly to me in a quiet voice while handing me back my overdue essay face down’ kind of ruin.” Tommy smirked. “You have a whole fantasy worked out already?” Buck shrugged. “Not my fault you put those on and suddenly I want to sin in a public classroom.” Tommy laughed, cheeks a little pink. “You’re ridiculous.” “You’re hot,” Buck shot back, stopping just in front of him. “I mean—you were already hot. But now? Now I want to make bad choices with you in a very well-lit, academic environment.” Tommy leaned in slightly, eyes glinting. “So what you’re saying is… I should wear these more often.” Buck grinned, voice low and warm. “I’m saying if you don’t, I might start leaving textbooks around the house just to tempt you.” Tommy reached up, slowly removing the glasses and setting them aside. “Well. That sounds like dangerous encouragement.” Buck stepped closer, practically nose to nose now. “Good. I like a little danger.”

---------------------------------------------------------

[bogleech]

Also going to finally make a pinned post for all my stuff:

BOGLEECH - my tumblr blog is named after this website I created around 2002 and still update. Thousands of pages worth of content focusing on creature design as well as real biology. My review of the original Legend of Zelda monsters might be the most straightforward example of my articles.

Links to some of the most popular content:

POKEMON REVIEW ARCHIVE: - I rate and review each and every single Pokemon, in Pokedex order, on its merits as a creature design. I also do so as someone whose favorite animals are all parasites.

DIGIMON REVIEW ARCHIVE - same, but more chaotic.

CREEPYPASTA COOKOFF ARCHIVE - for several years I hosted a yearly writing contest before it grew too big for me to keep up with. There are over a thousand user submitted horror, fantasy, sci fi and surrealist stories here emphasizing unconventional, original ideas you seldom see from the "creepypasta" community!

The original "MORTASHEEN" Monster Archive - since the early 2000's I've created and illustrated more than 800 creatures and counting for my own monster-catching world, now set for release as a tabletop RPG setting.

AWFUL HOSPITAL: SERIOUSLY THE WORST EVER (page one): an interactive comedy-horror-sci-fi webcomic I started in 2014 about a medical facility that could maybe be better.

Some of my other internet stuff:

PATREON - constant work makes my patreon updates inconsistent, but the content backlog goes back years with a huge amount of exclusive art and writing. I try to put up new exclusive stuff whenever I can.

ETSY - I design all sorts of original enamel pins like these, plus I sell zero-maintenance terrarium plants (just leave them in a jar!), original books and other things!

COLOR THE ABYSS (available on the above etsy!) - a 30 page educational deep sea coloring book! Includes a few famous favorites like giant isopods and hagfish, but mostly focuses on less popular, often much weirder animals.

UNBELIEVABLE BUGS - also regularly restocked in the etsy store, 30 of the strangest and most surprising arthropods most people have likely never heard of, illustrated by myself and @revretch, written for even the youngest kids to understand (but will likely teach you something new at any age)

My Itch.io and Ko-fi - both sell digital versions of my books, including some creepypasta collections and my first novel, "Return of the Living," about a world of entirely ghosts suddenly dealing with the appearance of ghost-hunting monsters.

TWITCH CHANNEL - I now try to stream something at least monthly, sometimes weekly when possible, from horror games to books and art.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL - archives my twitch streams and other little things.

INSTAGRAM - look at pictures of my huge weird collection of toys and Halloween collectibles

BLUESKY - I'm going to put mainly just updates to my stuff on here.

SEE ALSO:

HUMANS-B-GONE - a science fiction animated series by my partner @revretch, about a world of kaiju-size, technologically advanced insects and arachnids to whom vertebrates like us are just pesky little "gubs." Also has a tumblr account @humansbgone

FINALLY, HERE'S MY GUIDE AND RESOURCE TO MAKING YOUR OWN INTERNET WEBSITE IN A FEW MINUTES WITH NO KNOWLEDGE OF CODING

[contemplatingoutlander]

This is an amazing compilation of 1056 awful things that Trump has said or done from Feb.10, 2011 to Jan. 20, 2021. (Although it does not include the hundreds of other awful things from the past 3.5 years, the list is long enough--the PDF version is 360 pages!)

The catalog starts with Trump's questioning Obama's educational credentials on Feb. 10, 2011:

During a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference, Trump said, “Our current president came out of nowhere. Came out of nowhere. In fact, I’ll go a step further: The people that went to school with him, they never saw him, they don’t know who he is. It’s crazy.” This is false. Numerous accounts from Obama’s college classmates refute Trump’s claim, including Obama’s Columbia roommate, Phil Doerner. [color emphasis added]

And the catalog ends with Trump's behavior on Jan. 20, 2021:

On his final day in office, Trump did not invite Joe and Jill Biden to the White House, rejecting a longstanding tradition among presidents and their successors. Rather than attend the inauguration of his successor — making him the first president in modern history to skip the ceremony — Trump headed to Joint Base Andrews. There, a small crowd gathered to see him off. Not among them was Trump’s vice president. “We were not a regular administration,” Trump said in unscripted remarks. “Have a good life, we will see you soon.” As the Village People’s “Y.M.C.A.” played in the background, Trump then boarded Air Force One and returned to his resort in Florida. [color emphasis added]

After seeing the entire list, it is simply mind boggling that a huge segment of the American population STILL wants this guy to lead our nation--and STILL wants to give him access to nuclear codes.

Never underestimate the denial and willful ignorance of large segments of the American public.

[antisextrade]

How to Talk to Your Kids About Porn and Restrict Their Access to It

In an age where access to explicit content is just a click away, addressing the topic of pornography becomes increasingly crucial. However, I've noticed that many parents struggle with how to broach the subject effectively while also implementing measures to safeguard their children's online experiences. Here is a practical guide I've put together on how to start the conversation about porn with your kids and restrict their access to it:

Start Early:

A Common Sense Media survey found that the average age at which most children are exposed to pornography is 12 years old; 15% first saw pornography when they were 10 years old or younger. So, start the conversation early and keep it age appropriate. You can always expand upon it as they grow older.

Educate and Create an Open Environment:

Empower your kids by educating them in an honest and ongoing conversation about the harms of porn. Encourage your children to ask questions and express their thoughts and concerns without fear of judgment. Let them know that they can come to you with any worries or uncertainties they may have about what they see online.

To help facilitate these conversations, consider using this conversational blueprint on how to talk about porn with them or utilize resources such as Culture Reframed's free courses. These courses provide parents with valuable knowledge, skills, and confidence to discuss the role of pornography in today's culture with young people. They emphasize the importance of explaining to children why and how pornography can be harmful, while reinforcing the message that they should never feel pressured to engage in any intimate activity that makes them feel uncomfortable, ashamed, or frightened.

Alternatively consider reading "How to Talk to Your Kids about Pornography" by Dina Alexander, Amanda Scott and Jenny Web or the free guide "How to Talk to Kids About Pornography" by Defend Young Minds.

Additionally, show your child the porn critical documentary miniseries "Brain, Heart, World," consisting of three episodes aimed to be an educational resource for those in middle school and older.

Use Technology Safeguards:

Utilize parental control software, hardware, internet filters and built-in mobile and tablet settings to restrict access to inappropriate websites (and social media if you want to go further). Familiarize yourself with the privacy settings of the devices and platforms your child uses, and regularly monitor their online activity.

Restrict access to mobile and tablet: Both mobile phones and tablets have built-in settings to restrict access to adult websites, including pornographic websites. One can either set up such restrictions from the parent’s mobile (family group) or on the child’s mobile and tablet directly. To do this:

Apple mobile phones and tablets:

On the child’s device: Go to settings. Select Screen Time. Select this is my device, or your child’s device. Choose Content and Privacy. Select Content Restrictions. Select Online Content and Restrict Adult Websites.

From your device: First, you need to create your own Apple ID for kids (your child must be signed in to the mobile or tablet with this account). Enter Screen Time. Select your child. Choose Content and Privacy. Enter a code. Select Content Restrictions. Select Online Content and Restrict Adult Websites.

Android mobile phones and tablets:

On your child’s device: Go to the browser with this link here and turn on “secure search.” Read more about this here. Remember that children can turn this on and off unless you use the option below.

From your device: First, create a Google Account for each of the children younger than 13 (your child must be signed in to their mobile or tablet with this account). Install the “family link” app. Open the app. Find your child’s name in the app. Select Manage Settings. Select Google Chrome. Select Try to Block Websites That Aren’t Child-Friendly. Also, select Safe Search inside Google Search in the Family Link app.

Install software: These programs (apps) can give parents a lot of control. Many of them require paid subscriptions, although some have free trials.

Explore options based on your family's budget and needs**.** Here are some examples: Bark, Relay, Raise, Gabb, Canopy, Pinwheel, Net Nanny, MobiCrip, Qustodio, OurPact.

Review the settings**.** Try out free trials from reputable companies to get a sense of what they offer. Options can range from blocking certain websites (not just porn) to getting alerts if your child uses specific search terms. Look for programs that work with your devices and feel manageable to you.

Go the hardware route: Hardware can let you monitor every device on the Wi-Fi network in your home. Like parental control software, many include paid subscriptions. They don't cover children's devices when they connect to other networks, like at a friend's house or out in public.

Determine your existing setup. Your internet router may already have built-in filtering services you might not have explored yet. Open the network icon on your main computer to see whether it has anything that looks like parental controls. Get more instructions on how to do this.

Check out the available products. Look for products that work with your network router. Circle Home Plus and Gryphon are popular with families. If you're buying a new router, search for one with advanced features and parental controls.

Select which devices you want to monitor. The big advantage of router filters is that you can choose specific devices. You may not want to monitor your own devices, unless there's a chance your child will use them.

Ask your internet service provider (ISP): Depending on your service, these settings can apply to TV channels as well as the internet. These programs may cost money. Check the website or call your ISP. See if your internet company offers parental controls, content filters, or other screen-time features. These can effectively limit exposure to pornography.

Monitor and Supervise:

Stay involved in your child's online activities by monitoring their browsing history and social media interactions. Encourage open communication about what they encounter online and address any concerning content together.

Know How Kids Can Bypass Restrictions and How to Restrict Them:

The technical bypass commonly used by children is Virtual Private Network (VPN). These solutions allow a child to create their own connection to the outside world, which in turn allows them to bypass any controls that might exist on the network. The most effective approach is to restrict your children's ability to install and uninstall applications on their mobile or notebook devices. This can be accomplished with the above discussed parental control apps and the mobile phones and tablets built-in settings.

However, keep in mind that small children or those who are not very internet-savvy often don't even know how to use a VPN.

Lead by Example:

Be a positive role model by demonstrating healthy internet habits and respectful online behavior. Show your children how to navigate the digital world responsibly and respectfully interact with others online.

Advice Other Parents:

Consider sharing your experiences and strategies with other parents. By opening up about your own journey in discussing pornography with your children and implementing restrictions, you can provide valuable insights and support to fellow parents facing similar challenges. This will also ensure that your children won't be able to access porn on their friends' devices.

By initiating open, honest conversations and implementing practical measures to restrict access to porn, you can empower your children to navigate the online world safely and responsibly.

[idkwhatimdoinghere1655]

(3) So Special - Lando Norris

<word count - 5350> |part 1 - Nerd|part 2 - Rumours|

The weekend had gone by, and you and Lando had spent your time doing very different things. He had been productive, spending his two days in the garage with his dad, perfecting your DT project. He couldn't care less that you had told him not to finish it.

He had said he would do it, and now he was damned sure that it would be the best one in the class. Lando and his dad had come up with some genius ideas, even if it was only meant to be a simple little wood-work task. 

It would probably be quite obvious that you hadn't done it in the workshop, but Lando had a feeling that you wouldn't care. Also with the help of his dad, Lando had gotten his homework rattled out within an hour. 

It wasn't quite the same as having you there to help him through it, since your way of teaching him was a lot better than his dad's, but it was better than nothing, that was for sure. 

You, on the other hand, had spent your weekend holed up in your bedroom, not wanting to come out for anyone or anything. Your parents had offered to take you out to any restaurant of your choosing, go somewhere with your friends, anything. 

But, you had declined all of their suggestions. You simply didn't feel like going anywhere. All you could think about was how much you were dreading going to school on Monday, how much you didn't want to see anyone in any of your classes.

It genuinely seemed like your worst nightmare at the moment, but you still had to go in. The minutes ticked by slowly over the weekend, every single one heightening the anxiety of being back in school. 

The most likely scenario was that people would have forgotten it by now and moved onto something else, but the feeling that that wasn't the case was overwhelming, crippling and soul-destroying. 

Even doing your maths homework felt near on impossible. A task that would normally only take you a few minutes took you nearly 2 hours, since trying to work with the numbers made nervousness swirl in your stomach. 

The ever present thought was Lando. If anything, you figured he had it the worst out of all of this. His friends mocked and ridiculed him at any chance they got, he couldn't even get the bus anymore without throwing in the towel and getting off early, and you didn't want to be around him anymore. 

Guilt mixed into the cesspool of emotions that you were feeling, but the pure fear of being in school and getting the mick taken out of you overshadowed that. You just wanted to get your education and run as far away from that damned place as you could. 

Once Monday morning had rolled around, you reluctantly got onto the bus, not wanting to walk in the frosty weather. Lando's mum would've given you a ride, but you didn't want to be seen getting out of his car. Now that would be pure social suicide. 

On the bus, you saw that Lando wasn't there, which made things easier. But, you sure as hell weren't sitting at the back near his friends. You shuffled onto a seat next to some random kids in a year below you, but you'd much rather do that than be subjected to Lando's friends.

School was relatively empty when you got there, most people going to sit in the canteen before the bell went for their first lessons. You made a beeline to the lockers, hoping that no one would be there.

Thankfully, there wasn't a soul in sight as you quickly punched the code into Lando's locker. You knew the code since you'd had to leave his homework in there a few times in the past. You pulled his jumper out of your bag and stuffed it in. On the top, you placed a small note of gratitude, before closing the locker back up and going over to yours to put in some of your textbooks.

To your surprise, your locker wasn't empty like you thought it would be. Inside was a small, plastic bag. Just like you had put on Lando's jumper, whoever had been in your locker had put a note on top of it. 'I promised I'd get this finished, and I am a man of my word'. 

You knew that handwriting off by heart, since it was one you often plagiarised. Opening the bag, you saw your fully finished, absolutely faultless DT woodwork project. You were baffled by how clean the cuts and joints were, and it was surely going to get you the best mark you had ever gotten in DT. 

The first genuine smile that you had cracked in days grew across your face, truly touched by the gesture. You had told him not to bother, that you'd do it yourself, even if you really didn't want to. "I did it right, yeah?" a voice suddenly broke you out of your small bout of happiness.

Lando was leant against his locker, hands in his pockets as he looked at you. His face was tired, it didn't have the life to it as it used to. His eyes were equally as lethargic, no longer holding that cheeky spark that they always had. It was like the colour had dulled out, leaving them more greyed over than blue. 

"Yeah, you did. It's great, thanks," you mustered up a small smile, barely even a fraction of the one you had earlier. For some reason, your brain still couldn't make you look him in the eyes as you talked to him.

"Anytime," he replied, his gaze fixed on your side profile. He was thinking the same about your appearance too, your face had sunken and your eyes weren't as bright as he remembered them being. 

"I don't think anyone's going to say anything, you know..." he mumbled, half hoping you'd heard him, half hoping you hadn't. The words sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than he was trying to convince you, since he wanted to believe that they were true. 

He didn't want to see you upset anymore, he didn't want to have to distance himself from you, he didn't want to have to change his entire routine. All he wanted was his life right back to the way it was. 

The life when you two were friends, where he'd get to spend time with you. The life where he got to be Lando Norris, the cocky little shit to the rest of the year, but a softie for you. The life where everything was perfect again. 

"I don't think it's that easy, Lando," you said, your eyes still glued to your feet as you avoided eye contact with him. Even the sound of his name on your lips made his heart flutter uncontrollably. He wanted to hear more of it, he wanted to hear it every goddamn day of his life if you'd let him.

"Please? Can we just... just try to ignore it and still be friends? I just want to be your friend again, I mi-" he started to plead, the desperation evident in his tone. His face fell as he was cut off, knowing that both of you were in deep shit before the day had even started. 

"You what, Lando? Bit of trouble in paradise for our most prolific love birds?" some random guy in your year interrupted him, standing beside Lando. He had never seen fear in a person's features like he did on yours in that very moment.

You didn't think you could handle hearing another word of it, so you dashed past the both of them and down the hall, trying not to let the tears fall down your cheeks. He hadn't even said anything overly hurtful, but the panic of what he could have said had set in.

"Not gonna run after your girlfriend, Lando?" he further teased, and Lando could feel his fists clenching at his sides, his knuckles turning white due to how hard he was holding them. He knew that a comment like that wouldn't have normally set you off, but it just showed how bad the situation had gotten. 

"Go fuck yourself," he spat, walking to the canteen and sitting down on a table away from his friends. They had seen him come in, but he didn't care. They were the last people he wanted to talk to. 

For the first time in his life, he was desperate to get to lessons and have some much wanted distraction from everything that was going on. As soon as the bell had gone, he jumped out of his seat and took the shortest route that he could think of to the science labs for biology. 

Not to his shock, you were already sat in your seat, hunched over your textbook and exercise book. Lando took his seat, a few down from yours on the long, wooden benches. The start of the lesson was silent to begin with, before you were all assigned to do some questions with the people sat around you.

Lando tried to keep focused on the questions, but he couldn't help but hear his own name coming from your side of the table. As he discretely watched from the side, he saw as your head snapped up to the girl next to you. Lilly. 

Goddamnit, of course it had to be Lilly. The one girl who Lando was for sure certain was desperate for him. "Sorry?" you said, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. You hadn't been listening to a word she was saying, so you had to do a double take now that she was suddenly talking about Lando. 

"You spent the weekend with Lando, no? Since he's your boyfriend and all, I assumed what I heard was true," she said, her voice laced with a sickly sweet venom. The jealousy she felt was obvious, and it did give you a slightly masochistic sense of satisfaction. 

"No," you curtly answered with a small shake of the head, before returning to answering the questions by yourself. Lando couldn't see Lilly's face since she was looking at you, with her blinding mop of bleached blonde hair being the only thing he could see. 

"What? So it's not true?" she pressed, clearly looking for a reaction that you weren't willing to give her. 

"No, no it's not," you declined again, your leg bouncing up and down nervously. Lando grinned to himself, proud of you for sticking up for yourself and not giving in. He just hoped you had the willpower to carry on being as strong as you were, since he knew how sensitive you were at the minute.

"So the two of you didn't spend this weekend, practically locked in his parent's house by the lake while the bed was creaking-" 

"Right that's enough." you said, your voice firm and leaving no room for disagreement. Lilly looked a tiny bit shook by your defiance, but Lando was sat there, wide-eyed. He never told anyone about the house by the lake apart from Max, and the likelihood of him telling Lilly of all people was slim to none. 

But he was more taken aback and impressed by your steadfastness. He had expected you to be in tears by this point, but it was a more than pleasant surprise. He still couldn't see Lilly's face, but he could imagine the annoying pout as her lips were pursed together.

"I don't know who you heard that from, but that is complete and utter bullshit. I spent my weekend at home. As for Lando? I couldn't really give a shit, but he wasn't with me. Much to your dismay, he wasn't with you either,"  you carried on, and your conversation had pricked up some of your class' listening ears. 

Lilly looked like you had just slapped her, her mouth agape and eyes wide as she looked at you. "I... you..." she stuttered, unsure of how to respond. As much as Lando was glad that you were sticking up for yourself, he was also feeling a slight stabbing pain in his chest. 

You 'couldn't really give a shit'. The worst part was that he couldn't tell if you meant it or not. He doubted that you did, but there was always the small question of what if? What if you had meant it?

If he was being honest, the thought of you not caring scared the life out of him. It wasn't something that he wanted to believe, not at all. He knew that the two of you weren't on the best terms, not by either of your faults but you still weren't friends, yet that didn't warrant you not caring at all, right?

The one person whose opinion he idolised, the one person who he wanted to see everyday, the one person who he could be himself around didn't care. It simply didn't register in his mind that that was even possible. 

By the time Lando had snapped out of his thoughts, the teacher had resumed his lesson and you and Lilly were sat in silence, a scowl still plastered on her face. The rest of the lesson wasn't focused on biology, at least not for Lando. 

Both of you left as quickly as you could and went to your favourite respective places to spend your break times. Lando didn't know where you'd be this time, since you moved just about every five minutes. 

He knew that your little outburst would get back to his friends by the end of the break, and he didn't want to be there when they inevitably found out. He couldn't figure out what they'd say to him or how they'd react, but he knew there would be more teasing. 

He was upset enough as it was, and he didn't need them to make it worse. Lando stayed away from the canteen, just aimlessly wandering through the near-empty halls. As he approached the lockers on his third lap of the school, his ears picked up the sounds of a familiar voice. 

"You think you're so special, don't you?" she said, and he could have sworn that all he could see was red. Lilly. And there was no doubts in his mind over who she was talking to.

"I bet you're loving all of this attention, aren't you? You probably started these rumours yourself, didn't you?" Lilly carried on, Lando staying behind the wall while he listened to her onslaught. He hadn't seen you, but he could picture the look on your face. 

"Why the hell would I make up such awful things about myself? I'm not an attention seeker like you, I don't want this happening," you retorted, a smirk growing on Lando's face as he heard you. He was glad you weren't running off and crying anymore, but he assumed you were bottling it all up as a way of coping. 

"Please, you're just annoyed that Lando would never actually date you, aren't you?" she said, and you were both gobsmacked. You knew that that was why she was getting pissy with you, but you didn't think she'd spell it out point blank. 

"What, like he'd date you either?" you shot back, stunning Lilly into silence. Initially, she was right to assume that her saying all of these things would reduce you to tears, but today you had built a shell around you - one that almost seemed impenetrable. 

But, hidden beneath the tough exterior and firm words, Lando could hear the faintest of a wobble in your voice. Lilly wouldn't pick up on it, but he had. Maybe it was just because he knew you so well already, or maybe it was just because he liked you so damn much that he noticed all of the tiniest little things about you. 

"Please, I think anyone would rather date me over you," she said after a few moments, the come back taking longer for her to think up than she would have liked.  You nearly laughed in her face, nearly told her what a massive bitch she was and how most people would rather be dead than date her. 

However, someone swooped in. "I know I wouldn't."

"Oh, hey Lando, we were just talking about you," Lilly instantly stepped in, her voice suddenly turning nauseatingly sacchariferous. She stepped closer to him, batting her false eyelashes at him as if it would put him under her spell. 

"Yeah, I heard." he said, his voice betraying none of his emotions. Lilly could tell that something was up with him, but she chose to ignore it and carry on trying to woo him. 

"I was just saying how-"

"I heard it. And I don't think you have any right to say any of that about Y/N. She is a much better person than you, and you're stupid to think she'd make those rumours about us. That's something you'd do. Also, I'll reiterate. I would rather date her than you any day of the week." he said, not missing a beat between sentences.

Lilly stayed quiet, that familiar scowl finding its place back on her face. "Fine, yeah, whatever," she scoffed, rolling her eyes as she stormed away from you. 

You let out a breath that you hadn't realised you had been holding, finally feeling the weight of the day pressing down on you. You had done so well to keep it all bottled up as you stood up for yourself, but now it felt like the adrenaline had worn off and your resolve was crumbling. 

Once she had gone, Lando turned to you and saw the tears in your eyes. "Hey, no, don't..." he softly said, approaching you. He was unsure whether he was allowed to hug you or touch you or if he was supposed to just leave you alone to cry. 

He contemplated it, but he couldn't force himself to walk away. You had let all of the fear and the upset of the weekend and the past couple of hours to build up, and now it was finally too heavy for you to hold up. 

"Can I... can I please just..." he started, not knowing how to ask the question. He didn't want to outright ask if he could hold you, but he didn't know what else to say. Instead, he hovered his arms awkwardly around you as if he was gesturing at hugging you. 

"Mhm," you hummed, your arms going around his neck as his wrapped around your waist. It was nice to be close to you again, to have you again. He also felt a rush of affection. He didn't know how long to hold the hug, how tightly to hold you, where to put his head. 

Did he rest it on top of yours? Bury it in the crook of your neck? Just... keep it there? 

Despite his inner turmoil, his instincts took his hand up the the back of your head, fingers tangling in the strands of hair. "Please don't cry, c'mon, it's OK," he mumbled, hating the way you shook with silent sobs in his arms. 

He knew you had kept your emotions all bundled up inside all day, but he couldn't handle you being so upset. "I'm sorry..." you mumbled, but he couldn't make out the words as they were muffled by his chest. 

"Hm? What did you say?" he gently asked, looking down at you as you looked up at him. It had just dawned on him how close you were, and how easy it would be just to lean down and kiss you like he- no, no. Not the time. Not yet, at least. 

"I said I'm sorry," you repeated, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. 

"Sorry for what?"

"I'm sorry for... avoiding you, not being your friend, being a complete and utter bitch to you, and-" you started to ramble, more tears falling from your eyes. 

"Hey, no, no, I won't hear it. None of this is your fault, absolutely none of it. OK?" he reassured you, needing you to know that you hadn't done anything wrong. All you did was nod, before hugging him tighter and resting your head back on his chest. 

His white button up was slightly see through with tears, but he'd be able to hide it with his blazer no problem. "Shh, please don't cry," he carried on trying to soothe you, his mind going through thousands of other things he wanted to say.

'You're too pretty to cry...' was the first thing that came to the forefront of his brain, but that was too much too soon. He felt your shudders against him stilling as you opted to just stand there in his embrace. He wasn't complaining, he would stay like that for as long as you'd let him.   

From down the hall, he could hear the faint pattering of footsteps. Lando didn't want to say anything, he just wanted to let them walk by and they'd likely ignore the two of you. Once you heard it too, you pushed back from him so that there was a sizeable gap between you both. 

He was disappointed, to say the least, but he understood your trepidation. It was a good job that you had stepped away, since the person that walked by was one of Lilly's friends. She was probably already floating around, spreading as many lies as her single-celled brain could muster. 

"I'll... see you later, yeah?" you weakly smiled, checking the time and seeing that it was nearly time for your next class. 

"Yeah, course. You getting the bus or do you need a ride?" he asked, confident that his mum would happily pick you up down the road and take you home. 

"A ride would be nice," you nodded, and he was slightly taken aback by the fact that you hadn't argued with him. You were as stubborn as the day was long, but he was happy you had relented  quickly on this occasion. 

"You just start walking home and we'll find you somewhere along the road," he told you and you nodded. 

"Sounds good," you lightly chuckled, the sound welcome to his ears. He hadn't heard any semblance of a laugh from you in nearly a week, and he was unbelievably grateful that he had gotten to hear it again. 

"See ya," he smiled as you walked away, a wave of contentedness washing over him. Even if it has come as a result of some of the toughest days of both your life and his, he had gotten to hug you. To actually hug you, to touch you more than your fingers just brushing together when you handed something to each other. 

It was what he had wanted, and he had finally gotten it. The price was hefty, but he had gotten it nonetheless. Now, he was counting down the seconds until he'd get to drive you home, spend more time with you, talk to you again.      

The rest of the day wasn't actually too bad. Just the odd comment or two, but it was nothing compared to what the pair of you had been getting over the past few days. Lando actually found a few of them quite funny, when he thought about it. 

"Hey Norris, your girlfriend is feisty, eh? Bet that makes her fun for you," one of the boys in your year said, as if it was meant to hurt or upset him. Instead he just laughed, shaking his head. 

"Feisty? Very," was all he could get out before walking away to get to his next lesson. Lando had never been so prudent with getting to his lessons, but he found that it was the best way to spend his time. 

Hour after hour went by, and before he knew it, Lando was practically running out of the front doors of the school and towards his mum's car. She was parked in the same spot that she always was, and he hopped in the back in preparation for you to get in too. 

"Why are you sitting back there?" she asked, looking at him in the rear view mirror. 

"We're picking Y/N up down the road," he said, leaning over the center console to turn on the heated seats on your side, as well as leaving his jumper from the day on your seat. He had found the one that you had returned to him in his locker, but he wanted you to have the one he had already worn.

There was something strangely intimate about you wearing his jumpers as a source of warmth and comfort, but he wasn't opposed to it. He knew that a lot of girls stole their boyfriend's hoodies, but this wasn't quite that scenario.

He wanted it to be, there was no doubt about that, but this made him feel like you two were a few steps closer to that. You were always happy to wear his jumpers, but he sometimes wished you wouldn't return then just so that he could ask for them back. Not that he wanted them back. If you wanted them, they were all yours. 

"Oh are we now?" she smirked, finding her son's actions towards you as endearing as hell. He was shaping up to be the boy she wanted to raise, and she was so proud of him. She could tell his crush on you was definitely developing, and the distance between you clearly made him want you more. 

"Yeah, we are," he said, leaving no room for her to say no. Well, she wouldn't have said no since it was cold and she didn't want you walking such a distance in such cold temperatures. 

"Does she know we're taking her home or have you just decided?"

"I asked if she wanted a ride and she said yes, so we're picking her up," he reiterated, plugging his seat belt into the socket and getting comfortable against the leather of the seats. 

"OK, OK," she chuckled, shaking her head. Igniting the engine, Lando's mum pulled away from her parking spot and started driving down the road, looking out for you. As she glanced at the rear-view mirror, she could see Lando's eyes glued to the window, searching for you on the pavement. 

She knew he had seen him by the way his eyes lit up and a small smile crept its way across his lips. Pulling up on the pavement, she rolled the passenger side window down as she called out to you. "Your chauffeur awaits," 

Clambering in the passenger side, you saw Lando's jumper on your chair, instantly taking your blazer off and replacing it with the garment. It was so much warmer than your coat, and you felt so much more comfortable in it too. 

You didn't fail to notice the heat that emanated from the seat as well, the added care making butterflies spark in your stomach. "You really don't have to go to the effort of picking me up, you know." you said, feeling slightly bad that she was going out of her way to take you home. 

"Well it was Lando's idea. He just told me we were picking you up and here we are," she told you, and you could sense the blush that coated Lando's cheeks. 

"Mum c'mon, don't..." he mumbled, crossing his arms and avoiding her gaze in the mirror. He had a slight pout on his face, and it reminded her of when he didn't get what he wanted when he was little. He was always adorable. 

You just giggled at him, and it was music to his ears. Seeing you warm and cozy in his hoodie was definitely something he wanted more of, and he wasn't sure how much more waiting he could do before he cracked and acted on his impulses. 

Yet, he didn't know what he'd do if you rejected him, or said you just wanted to be friends. He never wanted to be just friends with you, he wanted it all with you. He wanted you to be his first real girlfriend, the one you can never really forget. 

And he could only hope that you wanted the same from him. His gut feeling told him that it was obvious that you were feeling the same. Why else would you hug him, accept a ride home from him, wear his jumpers?   

He didn't care, all he did care about was the fact that his heart was dead set on the notion that you did like him back, but his head was throwing doubts at him. 

After a short drive and light conversation, you pulled up outside of your house. Instead of his mum this time, Lando wanted to be the one who walked you to your door. Getting out of his seat and taking a few steps forward to your door, he opened it forward and stood to the side. 

Grabbing your bag out of the footwell, Lando carried it to your front door as you walked together. "Do you think we could go to the library tomorrow at second break? I tried to use the textbook to do the biology, but I really couldn't understand. Plus, I think my knowledge of female anatomy could really be helped out by you," he joked, and it was refreshing to see a bit of Lando's regular cheek coming to the fore. 

If someone else had made the comment, you would've been pissed off, maybe a little upset. But not when it was Lando. His usual sense of humor was coming back, and it was like things were slowly returning back to normal. 

"I think the textbook is a better help on that subject than I am," you countered, and Lando just smirked at you. 

"Probably, but I'm much more of a hands-on learner. I'd like to have the real thing in front of me, you know?" he quipped, and you couldn't help but laugh at him. Now this was how things were meant to be. Just you two, laughing and enjoying being in each other's company. 

"Sure," you agreed. Well, not to the hands on learning, just to teaching him the stuff he didn't understand. Your way of explaining things was good for Lando, it made him understand it a lot better than the teachers could. 

"Can I get a hug before I go?" he tentatively asked, his brain working overtime to try and think of a joke to play it off in case you said no.

"Course you can," you said, your arms finding their place back around his neck as you leant into him. Just the feeling of you in his arms was enough to get his heart racing, and he felt the ever similar urge to just lean down and kiss you. 

A soft smile found its way onto his mum's face - who was watching on from the car. Seeing the both of you so miserable was dreadful, so now seeing you making up and going back to the ordinary was more than enough for her. 

There was no missing the fond, soft look in her son's eyes. It was nothing but pure affection and admiration, and it was clear how much he cared for you. She had never seen such adoration from him, and she should have guessed that it'd be you. 

From the first time your name had ever slipped past his lips, she should've known just by the way he spoke about you. And now, there you were. The two of you, as you were meant to be. 

You and Lando bade each other farewell, and he waited until you were safely inside the confines of your own home before walking back to his mum's car and getting in the passenger seat. "You two seem to have made up," she said, a slightly teasing tone to her voice. 

"Yeah, something like that," he agreed, knowing it was more than that. Or so he hoped. If only he knew that things weren't that simple, that the rose tinted glasses would be ripped from his face just as quickly as they had been put there. 

A/N - Hello lovely people! Chipping away at all the stuff I have half finished, which is part 2 to Hotel Girl, the requested part 2 of Ceilings, a little old Charlos thing, a Lando thing and Max's birthday special! I have to do one for old Maxie since we have the same birthday so we can roll our birthday specials into one. Have a great night, love y'all! 💖

tag list: @oh-austin @avni-sarai @cheriladycl01 @mariedeyes223 @daemyraforever56 @toriiez @robotchickenmerp

|masterlist|the full series|

[ordinorultor-if]

Welcome to Ordinor Ultor!

You’ve ruled the Duchy of Akize, the southwesternmost duchy in the Kingdom of Ribaur, for 15 years, since the year 1107 ME. 

15 years ago, your Liege had your parents executed for a plot they had no part in.

Despite becoming a ruler while only a teenager, your lands have done well - no thanks to your Liege’s proclamations. Despite the annoying interference, you would have been content to just administer your lands and pay your taxes.

But one day, your Liege goes too far, and wrongs one of your siblings - personally.

You’ve had enough. You and your siblings will chafe no longer under the yoke of that tyrant. You will be free from oppression - whatever it takes.

Choose your character's name, the name of their noble house, and whether they are a Duke (male), Duchess (female), or Dux (enby).

Choose which foreign land your mother hailed from - such as the northern court of Ostroway or the island nation of Sayland.

Pick the type of education you received - were you taught how to use the shadows of Intrigue? How to construct Martial strategies? Or something else?

Interact with your friends and family, possibly including your foreign cousins.

Choose how to deal with your Liege - will they be put on Trial, will you lead an armed Rebellion, or will you take to the shadows to have them Assassinated?

Pick from four gender-selectable ROs - two fellow vassals and two foreign nobles.

Deal with various interest groups - such as the Peasants you rule over, your fellow Vassals, the religious head known as the Hierophant, and more.

Ordinor Ultor takes palce in a low(ish...) fantasy world, with the protagonist's home country of Ribaur being inspired by medieval France.

I'm relatively new to coding, so I can't promise a concrete update schedule yet (also, if anyone has any advice and/or resources for me to use, I'd be very grateful!). That being said... VERSION 2 - RELEASED 5/4/25

VERSION 2.5 - COMING NO LATER THAN 8/8/25

I hope everyone enjoys!

If you would like to gain one week early access to updates and support me at the same time, you can do so on Patreon.

[inky-duchess]

Fantasy Guide to Education

I'm always asked what sort of education different people recieve throughout different historical eras and since I'm heading back to college soon, I thought it was high time I made this guide.

Disparity

Education is viewed as a right by many but for some and thoughout history it was a privilege. For the wealthy and those of high status, education can be easily accessed. They can afford to tailor an education to fit their needs, they can hire tutors, and they can afford tuitions to top schools. For the poor, education was a luxury. However this doesn't mean that it was available. Some communities would fund a school or send their children to a local teacher - usually they had to pay a daily fee or at least bring kindling for the heating. Many poorer children also worked so they could not attend school consistently or were pulled out very early into their education. However, some poorer students could gain access to high level education if they were extremely bright or caught the attention of a wealthy benefactor who could fund their education.

Education as a Weapon

Education could also be banned for certain groups in society. It could be illegal to fund schools or host gatherings for students of a certain background, race, religion or gender. Education against the law could be punished by imprisonment, exile or execution. This is a measure usually taken by oppressive governments in order to follow a moral code or restrict the betterment of a certain group. An example would be the Irish Catholics under the Penal Laws.

On the otherhand, there is education that is influenced by the state to inject certain values, moralities and Opinions into a population. This is the intense restriction of reading material, removal of books that contest the teachings of the government or the kidnap of children from their culture, in order to forcibly educated them in alignment to their beliefs. An example would be the residental schools of North America and Canada and the AHS schools of Nazi Germany.

Content

As above, content of what children learn usually falls into a certain category. This is also true for the education offered to the wealthy and the poor. The poor would be offered a basic education, learning literacy and arithmetic, usually with an expectation that the children would not go on to any jobs that needs a broader education. Any higher education would be hard to obtain because of cost and the discriminatory view of the enrollment panels. The wealthy would have access to an array of different subjects including: The arts (drawing, music, painting, poetry, dancing), sports (riding, martial skills, rowing, hunting), arithmetic, geography, languages, geography and history. While progression to higher education will still be difficult, any affluent families are legacies of prestigious colleges or can make a donation to grease a few palms. These schools would be where the wealthy make lifelong connections and get springboarded toward opportunities.

Private Tutoring

Whilst some affluent, aristocratic and Royal families send their children to schools, private tutoring in the home was a popular choice. Children would be educated at home but tutors who either lived in the home or come to the house. The children would be educated alongside siblings or the children of courtiers or neighbours. Private tutoring sessions would often be the only education for upper class women recieved, taught by governesses and tutors.

Premises and Equipment

As mentioned above, wealthy and aristocratic families would usually attend established schools or attend school at home. They would be provided any equipment they needed. If they attend school, they would often wear a uniform. Some schools had multiple variations of the uniform for different activities. Many of the schools attended would be boarding schools. Boarding schools offered education to those who boarded and day students, however day students were often looked down upon as lesser than.

Poorer schools would be relient on donations and fees paid by students. As mentioned above, there may be a building reserved for classes - sometimes an designated schoolhouse or a teacher's home or a public building such as a gathering house or sometimes even outside - hedge schools. Equipment would be provided by the school. Uniforms at poorer schools were not a thing but students were expected to show up neat and tidy.

Corporal Punishment

Corporal punishment at schools was the go to punishment for students. Teachers had free rein to strike children for mistakes and bad behaviour. Punishments include insolation, physical stress positions such as standing on a chair all day, getting objects thrown at them, being slapped on the back of the legs with a cane, being rapped on the palms or knuckles with a crop or ruler. Students may also be humiliated by teachers through the use of dunce hats, encouraging other children to bully them or by the use of verbal abuse. Corporal punishment did extend to all classes except for royal children since that was either taken by proxy by whipping boys or left up to parents.