#study-core-101

[study-core-101]

manifesting good grades for this school year!

[study-diaries]

💌 Send this to the twelve nicest people you know or who seem to have a good heart and if you get five back you must be pretty awesome. 💌 ✨🌹✨

Heyy :)

Thank you, really appreciated! Right back at you <3

[selfless-solipsist]

[muffled teeth screaming in the background]

brain: study me: what if i drew a glowing triangle baby in a prison jumpsuit instead?

(two versions because why not)

Totally not from Till Weirdmageddon Do Us Part.

Not canon.

...

OR IS IT?!?!?!

Anyway, next chapter soon. I have crimes to write 💅🧠✨

[study-core-101]

thanks for the tag!!!! <3

i dont have that many books in my tbr!! actually, Frankstain and realm breaker are my current read i havent finished!

tagging (/no pressure): @gabyreads2much @agirlwithglam @supportstudies and anyone who wants to!

Not sure if I'll get through all of these in 2025, but here are the 9 latest books I've bought on Google Play Books or added to my Libby TBR tags! ฅ⁠^⁠•⁠ﻌ⁠•⁠^⁠ฅ

((Thanks @nelyastudies for tagging me 😊))

What's on your 2025 TBR list? (no pressure tags)

@o2studies @asheskies @very-sleepy-princess @melcatshenanigans @boredkitkulover and everyone else who wants to share!

[my-autism-adhd-blog]

I personally think of it as a disorder but your brain structure is definitely different and a “divergent” one.

This information was found on online sources. Not AI

Here’s an excerpt from an article from Health Central:

How Is The Structure Of The Brain Different?

“The neuroanatomy of autism is difficult to describe,” Culotta says. So it might be easier to talk about the architecture of the brain and how the autistic brain may differ.

So what’s different in the structure of this three-pound organ? Let’s start with a quick anatomy refresher: First of all, the brain is split into two halves or hemispheres. It is these two hemispheres that we get the idea of a left brain and a right brain. In reality, our thinking and cognitive processes bounce back and forth between the two halves.

“There's a little bit of difficulty in autism communicating between the left and right hemispheres in the brain. There's not as many strong connections between the two hemispheres,” Dr. Anderson says.

In recent years, science has found that the hemispheres of ASD brains have slightly more symmetry than those of a regular brain. This small difference in asymmetry isn’t enough to diagnosis ASD, according to a report in Nature Communications. And, exactly how the symmetry may play into autism’s traits is still be researched.

The differences in the brain don’t stop there. Another quick Biology 101 review: Within each half, there are lobes: frontal, parietal, occipital, and temporal. Inside these lobes are structures that are in charge of everything from movement to thinking. On top of the lobes, lies the cerebral cortex aka grey matter. This is where information processing happens. The folds in the brain add to the surface area of the cerebral cortex. The more surface area or grey matter there is, the more information that can be processed.

https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/autism/autism-brain-differences

Here’s another excerpt from Transmitter.org

Which brain regions are known to be structurally different between autistic and non-autistic people?

Studies that make use of a brain-scanning technique called magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have highlighted a few brain regions that are structurally distinct in people with autism.

Children and adolescents with autism often have an enlarged hippocampus, the area of the brain responsible for forming and storing memories, several studies suggest, but it is unclear if that difference persists into adolescence and adulthood1,2.

The size of the amygdala also seems to differ between people with and without autism, although researchers from different labs have turned up conflicting results. Some find that people with autism have smaller amygdalae than people without autism, or that their amygdalae are only smaller if they also have anxiety3. Others have found that autistic children have enlarged amygdalae early in development and that the difference levels off over time2,4.

Autistic people have decreased amounts of brain tissue in parts of the cerebellum, the brain structure at the base of the skull, according to a meta-analysis of 17 imaging studies5. Scientists long thought the cerebellum mostly coordinates movements, but they now understand it plays a role in cognition and social interaction as well.

On a more global level, the cortex — the brain’s outer layer — seems to have a different pattern of thickness in people with and without autism. This difference tracks with alterations to a single type of neuron during development, a 2020 study suggests.

The last excerpt is from the National Library of Medicine. Here’s an excerpt:

The constituent parts of the neural systems associated with clinical symptoms in ASD were examined by many studies. Specific core regions have been suggested to mediate clinical phenotypes of ASD such as the frontotemporal lobe, frontoparietal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) [17]. For example, abnormalities in (1) the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG, Broca's area), superior temporal sulcus (STS), and Wernicke's area might be related to defects in social language processing and social attention [18], (2) the frontal lobe, superior temporal cortex, parietal cortex, and amygdala might mediate impairments of social behaviors [19,20] and (3) the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and caudate nucleus have been associated with RRBs of ASD [21]. Although deficits in these regions seem to be general in ASD, some findings proposed that abnormalities in these brain regions are not peculiar to ASD and seem to be common in other disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, general anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia

[study-core-101]

Toxic Productivity and Academic Validation

Oh, studyblr, we love to romantize study and academic validation but are these actually good for our mental health and long-term academic goals?

Have perfect grades. Study a little a more. Work yourself to the ground. Only accept the best grade. Study until you cant anymore and then push to study more. Do it until it's perfect and then again because it will never be perfect. Study. Study tired. Study non stop. Dont stop study. Be productive. Everything has to be productive.

THIS IS BULLSHIT

Academic validation is one of the fundations of the study community. It has to go. At first, it sounds nice, it's motivation. Until you get a bad grade, then you are crying in the restroom stall and hating yourself. Until you dont understand a topic and want to bang your head to the wall because "i need to pass that test". Until studying is something to fear. Until your brain shut downs because it associates study with negative feelings.

Aim for good grades, study for good grades, but dont attach your self-worth to them. You arent dumb if you fail and bad grade isnt the end of the world.

"Study till [..] and then study a little more because it is never enough" REST for the the love of god. A tired brain doesnt learn, it just feels like shit. Health comes first and even if you wont listen and still decide to put study first, just keep in mind that being sick or feeling bad reduces the quality of your study and makes it harder to learn. Take care of yourself to make study easier and better.

Study for long period of times, but do it right. Stop when you need it.

All the toxic productivity, the pushing when your body tells you to stop isnt okay. Yes, we need to get rid of procrastination but taking breaks is a completely different thing but some are treating it as the same. Dont let a random tumblr post make you feel guilty for taking a much needed rest. Working yourself to the ground wont help you study any better, it will just lead to burnout, stress, mental health declive and bad grades when all those practices catch up. Taking a break is productive, and even if it wasnt, you dont need to be productive 24/7

And before anyone goes "dont encourage people with procrastination problems to countine that way" this post isnt about that. This is about not letting toxic productivity ruin your mental (and physcal) health.

We are in studyblr because we want to learn, not to ruin our health and well-being for the sake of a grade. There needs to be a balance with study and self-care.

[study-diaries]

♥️ love train! send this to all the blogs you love! don’t forget to spread the love! ♥️ (no pressure only if u want to ofc)

Hey! :)

Thanks <3 Right back to you!

[study-core-101]

thanks for the tag <3 @study-diaries

(this is jay by the way, ben's been awol from this account since, eh, forever)

Last Song I Listened To: im not gonna count the rock playlist i was listening in car bc i was not paying attention, so i'll say Dead Girl Walking from Heathers 2014

Currently Watching: nothing but i may start gilmore girls, people have reccomended it a lot

Sweet/Savoury/Spicy?: sweet, always

Relatinship Status: single and its going to stay that way (iykyk)

Current Obsession: book series All For the Game by Nora Sakavic

Tagging (no pressure!): @the-reverii @stingraystudiess @valiantcoffeelove @gabyreads2much @anyone who wants to

Nine People I'd Like to Know Better

@lenniedoesthings tagged me in this, tysm 🥹

Last Song I Listened to: I think it was Spanish or Vanish from that new duolingo musical lol... If not probably Army by Ben Folds.

Currently Watching: So many things (mostly rewatches). Includes Anne with an E, the Good Doctor, MHA, and the Saw Franchise.

Sweet/Savoury/Spicy?: I love them all 💀, but probably spicy mostly!

Relationship Status: Single and probably for a while yet!

Current Obsession: Probably the Batfamily atm... trying to work my way through the comics is hard, though!

Gentle tagging (no pressure <3)

@snowy-astrophile @lavender-115 @studyblrspace @ros3ybabe @lintroller777 @study-diaries

(Don't think I'm mutuals with anymore people, so instead of 9, 6 I guess lol)

[jonathanbyersphd]

ok but what would be the Jonathan classes if people were to get a degree in him. core classes. electives. i’m thinking too hard about this lmao

Hi Nonny,

Off the top of my head,

Core Classes:

Parentification 101

The Socioeconomics of growing up poor in rural Indiana

"But you like The Clash? For real?": An Introduction to Anti-establishment ideals

Animal Lover Anonymous: What to do when there's something really wrong with this rat

Trusts Issues, Daddy Issues & their impacts on communication skills and personal development

Art Appreciation: How Photography actually works in the 1980s

Alternative Music from the late 1960s to the early 1990s

Popular Mechanics for Monster Hunters

Pep Talks for Beginners

Living for others instead of yourself: How to ignore your own basic needs in service of the people you love

Physical Education: Making sure you win the street fight

Electives:

Drama 101 : How to craft the perfect Oliver Twist Routine

Film Appreciation: What your favorite movie being Bambi really says about you

Misunderstood Loner or Pretentious Creep: A Case Study

Musty, Dusty, Crusty White Converse: Crafting a grunge aesthetic before it was cool

Smoking out the window: The art & archetype of the significantly older brother character in a coming of age story

Marxism, Socialism & Pissing off your girlfriend's Republican Dad

Make em Laugh: Using humor to cope with the ancient dread that lives in you

Human Sexuality

[teawitch]

What makes an Advanced Witch

I keep seeing this come up on various blogs and realized I've probably been around long enough to volunteer an answer.

I think where people get thrown off in this is -witchcraft - which creates a muddle. So, I'm going to use other skills and crafts as a bit of a comparison.

Beginner witch - okay, we all know this one. You're new. You're still learning terms and how to do things and frankly a lot of it is confusing. Particularly "why" because in witchcraft, why is sometimes hidden in an historical tangle of techniques and reasons. In many traditions, you spend a year and a day at studies before being considered for more advanced studies. In college, this is the 101 level of just about anything.

Intermediate witch - you're developing skills and techniques and can follow a written spell or ritual. Think of learning a skill like cooking or sewing where you know enough to follow a recipe or pattern on your own but perhaps still need those instructions to get from beginning to end of a project. The "why" is probably even more confusing because as you learn more, "why" becomes contradictory at times. You probably do a lot of reading and talking to other witches to learn more.

Advanced witch - you now have a strong core of knowledge, skills and resources to write/create your own spells and rituals. And explain WHY you made the choices you made. You know you may never reconcile all the contradictory "why" in witchcraft but you've developed a "why" behind your own practice. (Even if it's a weird why, it's there.) So, in the Knitting Guild, to be considered a Master Knitter, after demonstrating all the basic skills, you have to design and knit your own pattern, explain the why behind your choices and provide resources to back up your decisions. It seems witches should at least be able to do the same.

"Master" witch - at this level, you should have enough experience and knowledge to be able to evaluate the work of others, identify strengths and provide advice on how to improve weak spots. This means you likely have a broad range of knowledge of different practices outside of your own. Now, I know this idea is going to freak some people out but in writing, this is essentially your professional editor, not your opinionated writing group critic. An editor likely has an advanced degree and goal to make the writer's work as strong as possible. In witchcraft, this is likely a mentor, teacher or coven leader in a structure coven. At this level, you're doing pretty well and have probably stopped worrying about what level you're at.

Professional witch - if you report your witchcraft income to the IRS, you may be a professional witch. Less a skill level than an occupation level. These are the witches who write books, take on speaking engagements, teach classes, do public rituals and the like. Before approaching this level, you might want to consider that at this point, you're writing, classes and work is going to be open to be reviewed and critiqued by the public at large. With most of the previous levels, you'll make your mistakes in private (or with small group). Here, you're going to make them in public and might want to consider that the public still hasn't forgotten the Irish Potato Goddess.

(I've purposely avoided using the terms like adept, novitiate, HP, and such that make be specific to certain traditions because then we just get into more confusion.)

[strawberryblondebutch]

Am I remembering correctly that one of the sirens' structural flaws this padt season was just how young their team is? And they just tossed aside some of the few veterans they had to get even more rookies? I feel like it was very telling when fillier had to throw the whole team on her back when carpenter was injured (it didn't work great) despite being a rookie. Am I right to be skeptical of this strategy, if it can be called that

Sometimes when I talk about sports I talk about numbers and studies. Other times — because most of my experience is from playing the game — I talk about woo woo feelings bullshit that has no scientific basis but that I believe very strongly. For instance, I don’t like separating best friends, because the season is long and emotionally taxing and when you’re on the road a lot, it helps to have a buddy there.

The WNBA and PWHL have a leg up when it comes to young teams, which is that… their rookies actually know how to play the damn sport. The NBA and NHL throws kids with raw talent but no fundamentals right into the deep end, and the sink-or-swim approach is. Well. Bad!

However, veteran players provide two major strengths to a team:

Identity. These are players in leadership positions who set the tone for the team. The Fleet and Charge had very strong identities last year under Knight and Jenner. The Sirens were already on weaker standing there — if anything, it was Carpenter’s team, and then she got hurt — but now it’s Fillier’s team, and that’s a lot of responsibility on such a young player. The quote about her having a voice on personnel was crazy. She should be the team’s Han Solo — there to shoot.

Veterans have SEEN SOME SHIT. They hold their composure better in stressful situations because it is not the craziest thing to happen to them. When you don’t have that presence, you get the 2023 Baltimore Orioles, who won 101 regular season games but were swept in the playoffs because oh shit oh fuck there’s pressure on us this is scary what are we doing.

I also don’t love that NY has decided that they are The Rookie Team, because in my experience, a team works best as a relay. The Frost, to their credit, have done this very well with three micro-cores of players. KCS (33), Lee/Nic (31), and Taylor/Grace (25) are all from different eras. You can’t put all the pressure on Kalty/Casey/Fillier.

I have more thoughts on the Sirens culture and character (or lack thereof) that are even less coherent, but yeah. Bottom line I don’t like that they’re going all in on children. And some of that is sentimental because I really wanted OB to have a season where she could be a kid with no responsibility and she is almost certainly going to get honorary leadership duties 🫠

[study-core-101]

hi! i have a few!!

start with a easy, fast and/or somewhat entertaing task. use it to get in a study mood. ride the focus until you need a rest (i worded that awkardly, didnt i?)

study in a place with the less amount of possible distractions. clean desk, not a lot of noises or people, etc

if it helps you, try listening to music (without lyrics) or white/brown/other type noises

if you are currently using music or noises to help focusing and it isnt working, stop that

use pomodoro. 25min of studying/5min of break is the most common, but there is also 30/10, 40/20, 1hr/30min, etc. (however, this doesnt work on everyone, some people may find that taking breaks de-focus them. i think of pomodoro as an opposing strategy for focus of the first idea)

make study more entertaining for you. use active study methods instead of passive, gamefy your study time, romantice it by making pretty notes/pretending you are a character in a dark academia movie/etc.

push yourself to focus, but not too much. it is a skill, and like any other, it builds over time. be patient and constant.

hope some of these help!!!

does anyone have any tips to be focussed? because I cannot focus for the life of me

[shattered-matrix]

Chapter 6: Syndicate 101

Mafia au | Yunho x afab!Reader

Themes: arranged marriage, emotional intimacy, forced proximity, genre typical violence with consequences, found family chaos, protective!Yunho

Note: this fic is rated ‘E’ on Ao3. Reader discretion is advised.

3.6k words

Tag list: @ateezswonderland @woosmaid

You’re sitting cross-legged on the oversized armchair in the sunroom, Clover nestled in your lap like a sleepy loaf of judgment. A cup of warm tea rests on the windowsill beside you, untouched. You’ve been reading the same page of a poetry collection for fifteen minutes, eyes tracing words without absorbing them.

The estate is unusually quiet. Peaceful, even. For the first time since the wedding, you almost believe you’re safe.

And very bored. Because it’s been two days since you were married and you still aren’t certain what mob wives do and have been too afraid to ask. You’re half afraid your choice of Netflix doom stream will end up on Hongjoong’s next showcase, so you haven’t braved that yet. As such, you’ve been raiding your husband’s book collection. It contains mostly poetry and classics- the type of things that affirm your assumption of an expensive education. Not exactly the novels you’d prefer, but he does have good taste in the poetry, at least.

Clover twitches, ears perking up just before you hear footsteps.

“Morning,” Seonghwa’s voice calls gently before he rounds the corner—balancing a sleek black garment bag over one shoulder and a wrapped package under his other arm. He looks so effortlessly crisp it makes your sleep shirt feel like a war crime.

“You have mail,” he adds, voice laced with faint amusement.

You blink. “Mail?”

“For you,” he confirms, setting the package down on the nearby settee. “Tailored, as requested. Three dresses, two formal sets, one set of travel wear. All discreetly reinforced.”

You stare at him blankly. “Reinforced?”

“Lined,” he says, as if that explains everything. “Light ballistic mesh in the core. Knives won’t go through unless you’re exceptionally unlucky. They’ll breathe well enough for spring.”

“…Oh.”

He pauses, glancing over at you and Clover. His eyes soften—just a little. “They’ve all been checked.”

You nod slowly, though you don’t quite understand. “Checked… for what?”

Seonghwa’s gaze lingers. And that’s when you realize he’s parsing something—something subtle, something important.

You know there’s danger. You know Yunho pulled you into this world to protect you. But you don’t actually know what the danger looks like.

Something in his gaze softens and he nods, almost to himself.

He sets the garment bag down with unusual care. “I’ll tell Yunho you’re due for orientation.”

Orientation?

“Okay…”

You watch as he turns smartly and departs.

Seonghwa doesn’t knock—just lets himself in with the quiet authority of someone who’s always been allowed.

Yunho doesn’t look up from the folder he’s reviewing. “Problem?”

“Not yet,” Seonghwa replies. He sets a sleek tablet down on the desk, angled toward Yunho. A paused security still: the library hallway, earlier that morning. You, sitting with Clover. Confused. Vulnerable.

Yunho finally glances up. His eyes rest on the image longer than necessary.

“She didn’t know what ‘checked’ meant,” Seonghwa says evenly. “Didn’t realize the clothes were lined. Or that we sweep everything before it reaches her.”

Yunho’s brow furrows.

“She knows there’s danger- that’s why she married you,” Seonghwa continues. “But she doesn’t understand the shape of it. Not yet.”

There’s a beat of silence. Yunho exhales—deep, quiet.

“I’ll walk her through the board,” he says finally. “Names, alliances, what to watch for.”

Seonghwa nods. “She’ll need it.”

He doesn’t leave right away. Yunho doesn’t ask him to. They linger in the silence for a long pause.

“You made this choice,” Seonghwa says gently, “knowing it would come to this.”

“I did.” Yunho leans back, looking at the ceiling for a long second. “It was the only way to keep her safe.”

Seonghwa studies him. “And now?”

Yunho’s mouth tightens.

“…Now I wish I didn’t have to hand her the same knife I carry.”

Seonghwa’s voice is quieter now. “You’re not handing it to her. You’re showing her where to look when it comes flying.”

That gets a faint huff of breath—almost a laugh, almost not.

“I’ll bring her in,” Yunho says again. But his tone has changed. Less command. More gravity.

“Good,” Seonghwa replies. Then, after a pause: “She’ll surprise you.”

Yunho’s gaze slides back to the screen, where the paused frame of you still sits—sunlight catching in your hair, rabbit curled like a guardian in your lap.

“She already does.”

Yunho knocks once before letting himself into the library. “Seonghwa said something about you asking the right wrong question.”

You blink at him from the floor, surrounded by Clover, tea, and three opened boxes of new clothes.

“I just didn’t know reinforced silk was a thing,” you mumble, running your fingers over the fabric.

Heavier than it should have been. Denser, without losing the aesthetic. Like there’s steel woven in with the beauty.

Yunho’s eyes flick over the scene. His expression shifts—not quite anger, not quite amusement. Something gentler. Something heavy.

“I should’ve done this earlier,” he says.

“…Done what?”

He crosses to you and holds out a hand. “Come with me. It’s time you met your enemies. Or at least, their headshots.”

You glance at his hand before your eyes dart to his face. Enemies. The ones who would have killed you if not for his protection. The ones who might still try if they deem it worth his wrath. Or…perhaps they’re his enemies. Like you said, most of your knowledge of this world is built on fiction. You don’t know the reality.

Clover, oblivious to the tension, creeps forward to sniff at his expensive shoes. Both of you pause as she rubs her chin along the toe—then moves to his cuff, claiming him like a particularly polite carpet.

You huff a laugh as Yunho blinks down at her, uncertain.

“She’s marking you,” you murmur, sliding your hand into his. “It’s how she claims territory.”

He tugs you gently to your feet. “Should I be flattered or concerned?”

“Yes,” you say, and follow him.

You detour to take Clover back to your suite. As much as you’d like to have her in your lap during this, something about learning your enemies while your bunny snuggles you feels wrong.

The room Yunho leads you into is low-lit and deliberate. One wall is a floor-to-ceiling screen. Another is lined with sleek cabinets and minimalist weapon racks—just in case. You can’t help but stare. You’ve never seen weapons just…sitting out. Available. At the head of the long conference table sits Jongho, already waiting, arms folded like he’s guarding the gates of hell.

You raise an eyebrow. “You brought backup for a PowerPoint?”

“He’s here for security expertise,” Yunho says simply.

Jongho nods in confirmation. “And to make sure you leave knowing which syndicates would gut you slow and which prefer poison.”

“…Comforting.”

“And I brought snacks,” another voice chirps.

You turn. Wooyoung is lounging against the doorframe, hugging a collection of snack-sized chip bags to his chest, eyes bright with chaotic glee. “This is what I live for.”

Yunho sighs—long-suffering, affectionate. “You’re not sanctioned.”

“I’m atmosphere.”

“No commentary.”

“No promises.”

He tosses his boss one of the bags. Yunho catches it smoothly. You almost miss the one that flies at you, not having expected it. Wooyoung settles into a chair at the table, kicking his feet up onto the polished wood. He slides another bag down to Jongho, who leaves it where it is, without acknowledging it. Then, grinning, he opens his own, the plastic crinkling loudly.

Yunho glances heavenward and then gestures for you to sit. “Let’s begin.”

A click of a remote has the projector humming to life, the beam illuminating the screen on the far wall.

Your husband starts with the home team, a slide clicking into view.

It’s efficient, blunt. A branching structure: Yunho at the top, Seonghwa and Jongho just below. Mingi directly to the side as his Second. Hongjoong is noted as “External—Tech.” Yeosang and San are lined just below Seonghwa, along with Wooyoung, who is... inexplicably color-coded in chaos pink.

You study the lines of the hierarchy, then look at Yunho. “Do I need a role?”

“You already have one,” he says without looking over. “You’re my wife.”

You blink. “That’s not—”

“In our world, it’s everything,” Jongho cuts in. “A statement. A shield. A target.”

That chills you a little more than you expected.

Yunho moves on to the next slide. A handful of other syndicates—some regional, some international. You’re given names, faces, and notes in terrifying brevity.

One image flickers on screen—an older man with a face like weathered stone, given his own slide.

“He sends gifts on national holidays,” Yunho says. “But don’t mistake him for a friend. He and my father got along decently, but there’s no love lost.”

“His last gift was a caviar tin lined with surveillance tech,” Jongho adds.

You stare. “And you kept it?”

“Of course,” Wooyoung says. “It’s great for party games.”

Something in your stomach coils at that. The levity with which they treat these games of information and spywork.

Yunho doesn’t pause, just clicks to the next slide.

This slide shifts the tone. There are fewer people—but they burn brighter. Shin Gido. Madame Rue. The Hollow Syndicate. Each name tastes like something sharp.

“These are the ones to remember,” Yunho says, gaze locked on you now. “These people would kill you. Not because of anything you did—but because of what you mean to me. They’re the ones whose people would’ve found you first—if we hadn’t met when we did.”

You swallow hard.

“Not all of them would move now,” Jongho offers. “But if they think you’re a weakness—”

“They’ll try,” Wooyoung finishes, licking chip dust off his finger.

Your own bag sits on the table, untouched. Even looking at it makes you feel nauseous.

The last slide clicks into place.

The man on screen is elegant and dangerous—smiling like he already knows your secrets. He looks expensive, amused, and faintly inhuman. Everything about him deepens the chill crawling down your spine. He looks like he could slip a knife between someone’s ribs while flirting and not bat an eyelash.

And you’ve seen him before.

The realization hits like a dropped glass—sharp, sudden.

You sit up straighter. Your eyes narrow.

“He was at the funeral,” you murmur.

That gets all three of their attention.

“Which funeral?” Jongho asks.

“Nana’s,” you say. “I didn’t know who he was at the time. He didn’t introduce himself. He just… left a bouquet and then walked out. He was wearing a black coat. I remember thinking it looked expensive.”

Yunho’s jaw tightens. He doesn’t look at the screen. “Of course he was there.”

“Wait, seriously?” Wooyoung looks delighted. “That sneaky bastard.”

His is the only photo that’s been captioned. “Complicated” is written in red and underlined.

“Park Jimin,” Yunho says at last, voice clipped.

“Still hot,” Wooyoung offers.

Jongho rolls his eyes.

“Rival leader. Independent. Dangerous,” Yunho continues. “But not reckless.”

You study the image—Jimin���s headshot is candid: mid-turn, mid-smile, mid-threat. Now that you’ve seen him up close, the photo feels worse. Less like a snapshot—more like a warning. He was there. With your grieving family. Someone your husband marks as dangerous.

You shudder.

“…Does he flirt with everyone?” you ask quietly.

“Unfortunately,” Jongho mutters.

“Especially Yunho,” Wooyoung adds with glee. “It’s honestly kind of beautiful.”

Yunho shuts the screen off.

Silence settles. You look around the room—three men who live this world without blinking. One who married you into it. One who protects its gates. And one who dances on the furniture. Wooyoung is still smirking as he dumps the remainder of his snack into his mouth. Jongho finally picks up the chip bag, as though considering. Yunho looks back at you steadily, waiting.

You exhale. “So… just to clarify. I can’t wear normal clothes, trust Amazon packages, or go to brunch without backup?”

“Correct,” Jongho says.

“Not unless you want to get poisoned,” Wooyoung adds. “Or seduced.”

“That’s enough,” Yunho says quietly.

You glance at him. His gaze is steady—but you see the weight behind it now. He didn’t want to bring you into this room. He did it because he had to.

You reach for his hand under the table, needing the reminder that he’s present. That this is…okay. Even if it doesn’t at all feel like it. He squeezes back.

“I’ll learn,” you say. “But you better be ready to rewatch the slides. I plan on passing the quiz.”

Jongho smirks.

Wooyoung grins. “Ten points if you seduce Jimin instead of him seducing you.”

“Get out,” Yunho says.

The door shuts behind Wooyoung with a soft click, leaving behind the scent of lime chili and the faint echo of his laughter.

Silence follows.

You stare at the now-dark screen, hands folded in your lap. It’s not trembling that stops you from moving—it’s weight. Of knowledge. Of implication. Of expectation.

Yunho shifts beside you. You don’t look at him, but you feel the way his body angles subtly toward yours.

“…Are you angry?” he asks softly.

You shake your head once. “No.”

Jongho, still at the end of the table, tilts his head slightly—watching you without judgment, just...waiting.

“I’m not angry,” you repeat. “But I am afraid.”

You finally look at Yunho. His expression is unreadable—but his hands are still steady, one resting near yours.

“I promised to be your partner,” you say. “Not just in name. I stood there and made vows in front of all of them. And I meant every word. But now…”

You trail off. Swallow. Then try again.

“…now I’m afraid I won’t be enough. That I won’t know enough, move fast enough, be enough—to be what I said I’d be. Not just your wife. Your equal.”

The confession lands like a stone in still water. Not loud. But it ripples.

Yunho leans forward, reaching for your hand properly this time. His palm is warm, grounding.

“You’re already more than I ever thought I’d have,” he says. “But you don’t have to carry everything at once.”

Then, unexpectedly, Jongho speaks.

“Training helps.”

You glance at him, surprised.

He shrugs. “It’s not everything. But it gives your body something to do while your mind catches up. Makes fear easier to manage. Helps you read a room without relying on instinct or hope.”

Yunho glances at him. “You’re volunteering?”

“I’m insisting,” Jongho says, calm as always. “She needs someone who won’t go easy on her. Who knows what a real threat looks like.”

You nod slowly. “And you’re sure I’m… worth the time?”

Jongho doesn’t blink. “You married him. That makes you worth the effort.”

There’s no smile in his voice, but there’s something close to respect.

You exhale, the knot in your chest loosening slightly. “Okay.”

Yunho squeezes your hand again. “One step at a time.”

You nod. “First step. Training.”

Jongho doesn’t wait.

Once you say “training,” he simply nods and rises from his seat, leaving the chip bag where it is.

“Come on,” he says. “Let’s see what we’re working with.”

You blink. “Now?”

Yunho stands too, gently tugging you up with him. “Best not to overthink it.”

You nod, swallowing back nerves.

The training room is sleek and sparse. Padded flooring, mirrored walls, racks of training weapons and gear along one side. It smells faintly of leather and eucalyptus. There’s a spray bottle on one of the benches that you initially assume is cleaning fluid for the mats. You do a double take when you realize it’s labeled “no horniness on the mats”.

Jongho gestures toward the center mat. “Shoes off.”

You toe them off quickly, suddenly hyper-aware of your posture, the spray bottle forgotten.

He pulls a mat closer, steps onto it barefoot. “We’ll start simple. Assume I’m a threat. I’m closing in fast. What do you do?”

Your mouth goes dry. You think of the curtain rod. Of adrenaline and survival.

Then you take a breath and move—sloppy but fast. A forward step, a half-remembered stance, arms raised to strike or block.

Jongho doesn’t move. Just watches.

You swing.

He catches your wrist with minimal effort, pivoting you gently but firmly until you’re off-balance.

“Good instinct,” he says. “No hesitation. Bad structure.”

You wince as you straighten. “Not surprised.”

“Where’d you learn what you do know?”

“Campus self-defense seminars,” you admit. “I took a kickboxing class once.”

He nods. “So not useless. Just green.”

You nod, breath catching. His words aren’t kind, but his tone isn’t cruel.

“I’m not looking for perfect,” he says. “Not today. I’m looking for courage. And you already passed that test.”

You glance at him, surprised.

“You brought a curtain rod to a potential murder,” Jongho says flatly. “That’s the kind of instinct I can work with.”

He runs you through a few more assessments—basic strikes, dodges, weight distribution. By the end, you’re winded but standing straighter. More aware of your body. Of the gap between where you are and where you need to be—but also the bridge being built to cross it.

“You did well,” he says at last.

You look up at him—sweaty, sore, not afraid.

“First step,” you say.

He tilts his head. “Grab water. Towel off. Meet me at the edge of the mat.”

You take a slow breath, and for the first time since the wedding, you don’t feel like a visitor in this world.

You feel like a contender.

You’re still catching your breath, water bottle in hand, when Jongho crouches beside the mat. He sets down a small tablet and begins flipping through a handful of clean, clinical screens.

“Here’s what I’m thinking,” he says, businesslike. “Four branches of training.”

You blink at him. “Four?”

He raises a finger. “Hand-to-hand. That’s core—disarm, disable, escape. You’re not going to overpower most attackers, but you can break a wrist if you aim right.”

Second finger. “Firearms. Safety, control, field stripping. We’ll start small caliber and move up.”

Third. “Knives. Evasion, grip control, basic slashing and close-range survival. You don’t need to be a knife fighter. You need to be unpleasant to approach.”

You’re trying to keep up. “And the fourth?”

He taps the last image. A small but deadly schematic.

“Explosives. Minor charges. Distractions. Disruptions. Most of it’s tech-based—Hongjoong will help cross-train. It’s not for daily use, but it’s good to know who’s hiding a rig and how to disarm one.”

You stare. “That’s… a lot.”

“It is,” Jongho says evenly. “And it’s what heirs of syndicates start learning at twelve. You want to be his equal? I’ll give you the knowledge and expertise expected of them. You have an opportunity to stand above anyone’s expectations of a syndicate wife.”

He meets your gaze, expression flat but honest.

“Let’s use that.”

You nod slowly, something settling in your chest.

You won’t be decoration. You won’t be deadweight. You’ll be dangerous, and not just by association.

Elsewhere in the estate, Yeosang knocks once before slipping into Yunho’s office. He’s already holding a sealed envelope and an expression like he’s choosing his words very carefully. He approaches the desk, Yunho glancing up from answering emails with an expectant expression.

“He’s back.”

Yunho doesn’t need to ask who. He takes the envelope and slides out the contents—one grainy photo, timestamped within the last twenty-four hours. A familiar silhouette caught mid-laugh outside an upscale restaurant. Dressed in all black, effortlessly radiant.

Park Jimin.

“Are we sure?” Yunho asks, voice low.

Yeosang nods. “Confirmed with three sources. No alias this time. It’s deliberate.”

Of course it is.

Yunho doesn’t say anything at first. Just leans back in his chair, still holding the photo. The angle is perfect, like Jimin knew the lens was there. Wanted to let them know he had returned from whatever business had taken him out of the picture for the last week or so.

“He wants to be seen,” Yunho murmurs.

Yeosang’s mouth presses into a line. “You think it has to do with her?”

“I’d be disappointed if it didn’t.”

“Orders?”

Yunho leans back in his chair, eyes on the photo. Ironic that the day he introduces his wife to the idea of the man, the devil makes himself known. It looks like he warned her at just the right time.

“Maintain surveillance,” he says after a moment, “The usual and then some.”

Yeosang nods.

“Understood.”

The car glides down the coastal highway like a whisper. Sunlight glints off the tinted windows, casting pale fire across Jimin’s cufflinks as he adjusts them lazily, one leg crossed over the other.

A soft ping breaks the silence. His assistant—a sharp-suited man who’s served long enough to know when silence is survival—glances at his phone, then speaks without hesitation.

“Jeong Yunho was married. Two days ago.”

Jimin doesn’t react at first. Just finishes straightening the cuff, gaze fixed on the horizon like he’s watching something move just beneath the surface.

Then—soft, silken:

“Married, hm?”

He hums low in his throat. Not surprised. Not displeased. But something shifts behind his voice—curiosity wrapped in velvet, barbed with interest. Like the slow draw of a blade from its sheath.

He turns toward the window. The glass reflects only pieces of him: his mouth, his eyes, the edge of his smile. All faint. All dangerous.

“And I didn’t receive an invitation.”

The assistant doesn’t respond. He knows better.

Another beat of silence.

Then, without looking away from the window:

“Let’s stop by the florist on the way back.”

A pause. A smile.

“A wedding deserves congratulations.”

His fingers drum once against the leather seat—rhythmic. Purposeful.

“We’ll be sure to make a proper impression.”

Beginning | Previous | Next

[britcision]

By the way if someone is sealioning at you or pulls the “just asking questions” bullshit that is your immediate graceful exit to a conversation

Cuz you just gotta take a breath, squish down the feels for later, and do your very best “guidance counsellor explaining to a 9yo why they can’t skip straight to college”

“The questions you’re asking tells me you’re not ready to really have this kind of discussion. Do some reading on your own and I’m sure you’ll find all the answers”

And then if they insist you should educate them, you have two equally fun options:

1) get your best children’s presenter/Bob Ross on and explain it’s a much better use of both of your time for them to go do an independent study

2) tell them your rates are $420/hour and you’re happy to start any time

Remember: their bullshit questions are almost always the lowest entry level bullshit, 101 stuff that has always been addressed before

There’s no reason for you to waste your time or energy on explaining it, and the sweeter you are the more upset they’ll get at their failure

Cuz sure, being nice and kind and gentle is the right thing to do, but it’s also often the funniest and most spiteful thing to do to someone who wants to see you get mad

Picture the cutest kid you know or your favourite pet and take them at face value, this has driven trolls to distraction every single time I bothered to keep them on the line

Other fun phrases include:

“That’s a really interesting reframing, but unfortunately for you people can still read everything you actually wrote”

“Sorry, I just get nostalgic for when I thought things were that simple”

“You seem really invested in this, I’d rather not challenge your core values”

[kakao-lovey]

It girl resources: Wonyoungism 101

.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ✦ ‧₊˚ ⋅ No problem, I don't care. You are you, I am me. What on Earth is wonyoungism? Wonyoungism is an online movement promoting self-love, self-care and healthy habits. Although inspired by IVE's Jang Wonyoung, the movement has since grown its own wings and become a safe space for everyone, not just K-pop fans. Is wonyoungism an aesthetic? No, it is not. Although there is an aesthetic that comes along with it (As with everything online), that is not wonyoungism in itself, that is the wonyoungism aesthetic; heavily inspired by the 'That girl', 'Pink Pilates princess' and 'Coquette' aesthetics, and not far removed from being a copy. Who can join wonyoungism? Contrary to logic, wonyoungism is not a K-pop thing. I myself have been following it for years, and cannot name another IVE member. It is also not exclusive to white girls. Wonyoungism can be masculine, as, again, it is not about Wonyoung herself as much as it is about you.

୨ৎ First steps

Educate yourself. Wonyoungism places a heavy emphasis on mental and physical health, so make sure everything is in check. See Research checklist.

2. Do a life refresh if you need to: block old contacts or toxic friends, unfollow toxic creators, declutter your space, clean out your handbag, etc. (Make a list) Every beautiful picture starts with a clean slate.

3. Slowly start implementing healthier habits into your life that will benefit you in the long run. Here are some ideas: ~ Prioritising nutrients over dopamine in food: Eat more plant-based foods, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and drink your water. ~ Spending time with yourself: Do five minutes of meditation, start a journal (Or blog!), make expressionistic art and music, watch the sun set or rise, go on walks. ~ Taking care of your body: do core workouts to improve your posture, show up to the gym, stretch 2x daily, take your meds, use hypoallergenic soap, drink your green juice.

4. Develop a daily routine: build your ideal habits into your schedule, and hang it up on your closet door. Example: 7:00 - Wake up, make bed and have a glass of water 7:10 - fifteen minutes of sunlight ++ herbal tea of choice 7:25 - Wash face, put on a cute outfit, do your skincare ++ SPF 8:00 - Start studying

5. Go with the flow, find what works best for you, and trash what doesn't!

୨ৎ Research / journal checklist

Beauty:

What is my skin type? What is my acne type? What active ingredients can use to target [skin concern]?

What is my hair porosity level? What is my scalp type? What curl pattern do I have? What active ingredients can I use to target [hair concern]? How do I prevent hair damage?

What is my make-up archetype? What is my face shape? What is my eye shape / eyelid type? What is my seasonal colour palette? Am I warm, neutral or cool toned?

Health:

What does my ideal diet look like? What vitamins / nutrients could I use some more of? What in my diet could be damaging my body?

What exercise style suits me? What sports activities are available in my area that I haven't tried out? How is my arm, leg and core strength? How is my endurance? How can I build exercise into my daily routine?

What specialist psychiatrists are in my area that can treat any potential side-effects of neurodiversity?

What specialist doctors are in my area that can treat any potential chronic illness I suffer from?

How is my posture?

Am I sleeping enough? How do I fall asleep quicker? Mindset / Mental health:

Do I have any memories that bother me to this day?

How is my relationship with the people around me?

Who do I want to become?

Is my mood stable?

Do I agree with most of the thoughts that pop into my head?

How often do I 'zone out'?

Extra resources:

[argentavislovewritesyay]

Past lives and the Pentoculus

So like, everyone remember the pentoculus plotline that never went anywhere and how The Hand weren't good villains despite their immense power?

I made a thing:

So, the Pentoculous is set up as this strange device that is talked abt in scrolls and stuff and is called this 'Key to the Truth of Monsuno', it's a whole treasure hunt with clues and puzzles and riddles they have to solve to even get a possible location, five pieces, five treasure hunts with their own risks.

They have no idea the wild ride they're setting themselves up for to find the pieces.

Team Coretech goes incognito to a museum bc they have a clue that an exhibition is related to Monsunos and the Pentoculus that might help them, one of the objects is suspiciously shaped like Jinja's piece. (The purple piramid)

Among the objects exhibited there's a spear with complex carved symbols, jewelry and a monolith with an ancient forgotten alphabet.

They're trying to figure out a way to inspect them without getting caught, Beyal is geeking out random info on the objects exhibited to Chase, Bren is trying to analize them with his core tablet and Dax is plotting Museum Heist 101.

Jinja throughout the whole thing is getting weird flashes and is increasingly being pulled by an invisible force towards the objects of the exhibition while at the same time Beyal tries to translate a bit of the carvings on the monolith from afar, saying that a vague warning and a riddle is writen, until, dazed, Jinja breaks into the exhibition and touches a triangular symbol on the monolith.

A bright green flash engulfes her and she apparently gets swapped by an ancient huntress version of herself drapped in animal hides, tattoos and archaic but complex jewelry, her hair is darker and thickly braided, the piece of the Pentoculus having been dislodged from the monolith and on her grip.

To say that all hell breaks loose is an understatement. Freaked out and with no idea where she is, the huntress grabs the spear while she's at it and goes full caveman on the Museum guards while running for her life, the rest of the team trying to go after her as she goes on a full parkour montage through the streets, jumping over moving cars and climbing brickwalls like is a sport with people recording and photographing her.

Eventually she runs into a dead end and, getting increasingly overwhelmed by the flashes and the noise of the crowd, with the help of the Pentoculus piece, her spear lights up bright green, charged with Monsuno essence and she blasts the wall blocking her way, escaping into the nearby forest at the very edge of the city.

Team Coretech follows after her tracking the energy of the spear and the piece but she's absurdly good at hiding from them, well into night and no trace of her, she stalks them as well from the shadows but remains hidden, apparently fearful of their Monsunos.

Dax, profficient on tracking and wilderness, is the one that keeps her on her toes the most but is Beyal who gets ambushed by her and separated from the group.

She holds him hostage as she interrogates him in an ancient forgotten language but the more she talks the more familiar her words are to him. He attempts to communicate with her Kida and Milo style, he has studied a lot of forgotten languages but talking them for the first time to a fluent speaker is a whole other matter. Eventually her words start to make sense and they manage to have a proper conversation.

Among the things she does and says one of them is that she invades his personal space to grab at his hair and goes 'You are one from the frozen lands, those with snow on their hair' hinting at the ancient heritage of his tribe and also describes the rest of the team as 'Those who control the Ancient Beasts' (As casual wordbuilding here and there).

Beyal finally manages to ask her who she is and what the Pentoculus piece is for, she says her name is 'Huntress' (Literal translation) and goes on a long tangent abt how she was trusted to guard the Piece and heavily trained in the arts of combat since she was little, never allowed to live the normal life of the farmers, the hunters and the gatherers and strictly prohibited to be courted in any way, shape or form, never allowed to love or run around with other children, feared and respected, prisioner in the walls of the temple she lived in while also never given the full context of her 'Mission', that she was to guard the Piece with her life and eventually train her replacement when she grew too old for it. She explained how the Piece apparently bonded with her soul and aided her when she was in real trouble and she felt her life on the line, also helped her see things beyond mortal eyes (The Monsuno Sight and The Dreaming) she also felt how, the stronger her bond grew, the more she felt someone watching her, someone stalking her dreams and visions but her concerns went to deaf ears.

'They are neither Men or Monsuno, their skin is as pale as milk and their eyes dark and hard like gemstones; They talk, walk and dress like men but they aren't alive, They don't breathe, eat or sleep, they don't bleed nor grow old, but they hunger'

'They feed on the blood of Monsuno, on the souls of those connected to the Beasts and The Dreaming, they are insatiable, they are cruel, their hunger is a bottomless pit of greed and violence, They...'

Eventually they are found by the others along with their Monsunos, The Huntress is terrified of Boost and Nightstone and gets on defence mode, convinced she's gonna get torn to shreds by them but Beyal manages to calm her down enough to convince her to touch Nightstone's snout and get the idea home that they don't want to harm her and everyone sits down to keep talking and figure out what the hell happened to Jinja.

They immediately reach the conclusion that Jinja got swapped via time travel and begin to panic.

-''You mean Princess got sent to Caveman Land!?''.

But Beyal shuts that idea down, saying that he can sense the soul is exactly the same and quotes the riddle written on the monolith at the museum, deducing that the Jinja they are seeing right now is actually a memory and not another person swapped in her place.

(No time travel here, idk how the hell to write it and I think the soul projection is more canon compliant)

The Huntress is actually Jinja's past life brought to the present day, triggered by coming into contact with the Pentoculus piece, but why?

Hearing this, something seems to click for the Huntress:

-''Does this mean... I died?''.

Beyal is at a loss as to how to sensibly answer this, and when he is about to try The Huntress suddenly grabs her head as if having a massive headache, she sees memories of two completely different times, two different people, Jinja and her, flash through her eyes at full speed, then opens her eyes and exclaims in perfect english:

'That's right! I remember now!''.

She then explains (Now in english) how one night, her village was invaded by a man with dead pale skin and haunting green eyes, he was looking for the Pentoculus piece and killed anyone that stood in his way with a mere touch, she tried to fight him but she got mortaly injured in the process, she remembered he talked about how he needed her soul to complete 'The Ritual' and how troublesome it was that the Piece favored her so much and rejected him.

In her last moments, she ran towards the main temple and, chanting ancient magic, she sealed the Piece on the monolith and 'Sent the Piece away', leaving a final warning in the shape of the riddle they were trying to solve earlier before...

''Then he grabbed me... And... Everything was so cold...''

The Huntress rests a hand on her neck with a haunted expression that shocks everyone into silence at the horrifying realization.

-''That was what I wanted, send one last message, warn someone, anyone, about the Monsters''.-She said gripping her spear.-''Now that you know this, Now that you have this piece, they will come after you too''.

-''I hope you succeed where I failed... Thank you, and Goodbye''.

She closes her eyes as a green light engulfs her, The Huntress gone and Jinja having recovered control of her body, much to everyone's shock and relief.

After everything is said and done, Jinja wistfully traces the patterns carved over the Spear and the Piece, feeling memories and emotions that aren't exactly hers and yet so familiar, mourning the lonely and tragic life The Huntress lived and how her memories are getting blurry, hesitating to give the Spear up bc she feels connected to it and 'Is tecnically hers anyway' Chase adds.

The quiet moment is interrupted by Bren showing her the Core Tablet saying.-''Yeah, about that... You're viral now, Miss Cavewoman''. And a video of her crazy stunts at the Museum and the street earlier that day, much to her horror.

-''WHAT!?!?''.

And that would be it, in canon The Hand is just fully dropped onscreen with no warning and they're literally just 'Hur hur, Evil Magic Scientists That Want To Dominate the World but are defeated by Plot Armor' and in my rewrite I wanted to make them an actual mystery hinted through the chapters until The Huntress situation that describes them as this sort of all powerful Vampire-Esque beings that predate humanity and Team Coretech is left very much spooked and with more questions than answers, kind of a 'Final Boss' villains with Droog as the last plot point to close, (Reincarnation and Past lives are Canon with Chase's past life as the chief of a Tribe being dropped in a flashback by Beyal and I wanted to actually incorporate that into the story), Also The Hand having a generational (Reincarnational?) beef with Team Coretech is such juicy drama X3 I've been inspired by Dandadan's style of plotscaling (Can I call it that?) where the story gets consistenly more crazy and the villains more dificult as the story advances while at the same time the main cast gets progressively stronger to defeat them. (I cannot recommend Dandadan enough, if you can excuse, ehem, the nudity, it's VERY good and will hit you in the gut when you least expect it)

Also been working on a proper powersystem regardind The Hand (Nothing too crazy tho, just an attempt to make Canon points make sense plus an explanation on how their powers and inmortality works plus their weaknesses) Bye!