#AI-powered lesson planning

[mtariqniaz]

Enhancing Lesson Planning with Artificial Intelligence: A Step-by-Step Guide Using ChatGPT

In the modern age of technology, artificial intelligence has revolutionized various industries, and education is no exception. One area where AI, particularly ChatGPT, can significantly impact educators is lesson planning. This article aims to explore the connection between lesson planning and artificial intelligence, focusing on ChatGPT, and provide a step-by-step guide on how educators can…

[chunkecheeks]

also chatgpt just straight up fucking lies. it still lies. it has not gotten past the lying.

one of my classes made us use it to help with lesson planning and it gave me books for my students to read that straight up did not exist

[richardtheteacher]

Discover how generative AI like ChatGPT is transforming the classroom. Learn practical ways teachers can use AI to plan lessons, differentiate instruction, give feedback, and boost student outcomes—all while saving time and energy.

[thisisgraeme]

Say hello to ALEC, your AI-powered teaching sidekick designed to make literacy and numeracy training easier, smarter, and more engaging. Whether you're embedding LN into lesson plans, tackling TEC compliance, or just looking for a way to make learning fun—ALEC has your back. No coffee breaks. No marking. Just smart AI support for educators who want to teach better and stress less. Ready to see what ALEC can do? Let’s make learning awesome! 😏🔥

[vidyalayasoftware-blog]

AI Lesson Plan Generator | School Lesson Planning Software with AI

Enhance teaching efficiency with AI-powered School Lesson Planning Software. Our AI Lesson Plan Generator simplifies curriculum planning, saves time, and ensures structured, engaging lessons for educators. Try it today!

[scariusaquarius]

rehab. 44.

Avenger! Bucky Barnes x Winter Soldier! Fem! Reader

Summary: While on a mission to find any more possible super soldiers that were a part of the Winter Soldier program, Steve and Bucky make a discovery in an abandoned HYDRA base that was cleared out a few years prior to their mission. They discover the Reader, a long-forgotten soldier that was still asleep within a functioning cryostasis pod; still awaiting orders. While Bucky isn't happy about it, he is put up to the challenge of helping to rehabilitate the soldier in Wakanda where she may be able to become a person again.

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A/n: I recently redid my hair and it made me feel so good and gave me a good mental health boost that i've been needing for months, and it's also kinda boosted my motivation to write :D I hope you guys enjoyed that I included the X-Men! X-Men is one of my favorite franchises (even though Fox loves to royally fuck up the continuity). So, the timeline that I'm doing is 'First Class/Logan Elements' and yes, everyone is still be a bit young. I hope that makes sense haha also, i hope you guys noticed the really small detail with the candle ;) that's all i'm saying mwuahahah

Also, if you enjoy my work, please consider buying me a coffee! If you would prefer to read Rehab on Archive, you may do so right HERE!

This is an au where Bucky joined the avengers but still rehabilitated in Wakanda (sometime before Infinity War [canon divergent cause NOPE]). I am NOT fluent in Russian, so I did use google translate cause I couldn't find a good translator that I trusted. If anything is wrong, PLEASE let me know!! Also, I tried to list as many warnings as possible so you know what the story will contain as chapters are posted. Stay safe!

NOTE: I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR ANY OF MY WORKS TO BE FED INTO AI FOR BOTS, I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORKS TO BE TRANSLATED, REPOSTED, REWORKED, ETC, IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM!!!

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Genre: Slowburn, Enemies to Lovers/Friends to Lovers, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Fluff, Humor, Drama, Dark Content Rated: Explicit Warning: Angst, Dark Content: Graphic Depictions of Sexual Assault, Blood and Gore, Mentions of Manipulation, Kidnapping, Canon-Typical Violence, Body Horror, Nonconsensual Body Modification/Scarring, Emotional and Physical Abuse, Mentions of Murder, Mentions of Suicidal Thoughts/Ideation, Graphic Depictions of Human Remains, Mentions of Sexual Coercion/Manipulation, Death, Misuse of Drugs/Forced Drugging, Self-Harm (Graphic Depictions and Mentions), Nightmares

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Author: ScariusAquarius

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rehab masterlist. / rehab masterlist 2. chapter 42 / chapter 43

The atmosphere in Charles Xavier's office had become tense and quiet. From outside the office, Bucky could hear the children talking amongst themselves, the sounds of what seemed to be teachers talking to each other about lesson plans and potential events for the students, and the sounds of powers being used.

The environment on the outside was completely mundane; ignorant to the turmoil within the office, and Bucky clenched his fist tightly. The plates in his arm whirred and shfited, Logan glancing at him with an almost questioning look as he watched Bucky's metal arm adjust itself, and Logan glanced back at Charles as the Professor turned around within his seat.

"Alright, so what do you wanna do? You just wanna let her sit there and magically deprogram herself?"

Hank shook his head, adjusting his glasses.

"It doesn't work like that, unfortunately. With the programming being encoded into her DNA itself, taking it out is going to be a bit like surgery."

Charles sighed and stated.

"This whole process must be done carefully and precisely. No brute force, no magical or psychic overrides, and no sudden shifts in reality that (Y/n) will not be able to comprehend or her body to respond to. We will need someone to reach her...and someone extract her from HYDRA."

Tony looked up and asked, raising his brow as he spoke.

"How do you expect us to extract her when she's sitting somewhere that the Avengers can't touch? If we try to force our way in, we might as well just storm the White House. Hell, Strange can't even get in. From what the wizard says, the HYDRA base that she's being kept in has magic VPN's that keep him from being able to go in."

Strange glared at Tony when he called him a wizard, and he shook his head before further explaining.

"While Lukas Meiers is a simple human, he is a man of power. With power comes connections, and whoever he had magically reinforce his home knew what they were doing. Astral projection didn't work, and my astral body was almost torn apart trying to get through without tripping the alarm system. Moreover, the magical reinforcements that were placed on (Y/n) were somehow reversed the second she stepped into the base, most likely from the dormant failsafe that was finally activated when Lukas and Nagel worked on her."

Hank looked fascinated, asking.

"Astral projection? How intriguing..."

Logan rolled his eyes before shaking his head, looking at Charles again.

"Alright, Charles, who the hell are we gonna send in?"

Charles hummed in thought before he finally theorized.

"I believe that Kurt might be our best option. With how instantaneous his gift is, Kurt would be able to get in and out quick enough that the physical and magical security would not be able to detect him in time."

Peter looked confused on the name 'Kurt' and he scratched his head a bit before asking.

"Professor, who is Kurt?"

Charles' face became gentle and fond as he gazed at Peter, regarding the young man with an expression that a father would their child, and he stated.

"Kurt Wagner. Some, however, may know him as Nightcrawler."

Peter's eyes practically became stars as he asked.

"Wait, you mean the blue guy who can teleport and has a tail?"

Charles couldn't help but to chuckle at Peter's enthusiasm, confirming with a fondness in his voice that wasn't there before.

"The very one. Kurt has a very unique gift. His relationship with the space around him is almost unprecedented. His teleportation bypasses physical dimensions that most sensors, whether technological or mystical, can't anticipate. It's not just his speed, but the unpredictability that makes Kurt perfect for this mission. By the time he would have been detected, him and (Y/n) would already be gone."

Peter was in awe, and Bucky couldn't help but to comment.

"I thought Stark's stealth shit was impressive...guess Kurt's got the jump on you."

Tony glared at Bucky, pointing a finger at him.

"Don't make me put a sprinkler in that arm of yours."

Bucky just rolled his eyes, and Logan snorted. Tony huffed before shrugging.

"So, good old-fashioned magic. That's cool. Yeah, no, that's perfect, except the fact that Lukas' mansion is literally warded against that."

Strange sighed, becoming fed-up with Tony as he stated firmly.

"It’s not magic. It’s biology."

Hank perked up again, his eyes lighting up as he explained.

"It’s true. I’ve studied Kurt’s physiology extensively. He really is such a fascinating case of mutant biology. His abilities are tied to an innate mutation—he traverses through a separate dimension momentarily. The dimension itself is largely untraceable to conventional instruments, which is likely why it wouldn’t trigger magical tripwires or wards."

Peter whispered under his breath, a hand to his chin.

"So he’s like a ninja…but fuzzier."

"Fuzzier and holier,"

Logan interrupted, giving Peter a thoughtful look.

"Kurt’s a good man. You’re not gonna find anyone more loyal or willing to risk himself for someone else. Let alone the fact the kid is probably the only one who can."

Bucky stated protectively, Logan glancing at him with a small frown.

"That's great, but I can't just take your word alone. I want to meet him."

Before Logan could open his mouth, Charles nodded.

"Of course. If you would like, I can have Kurt come right now...or, if you'd like to meet with him privately, I can advise everyone to leave...perhaps Hank could take Tony and Peter to his lab?"

Hank's excitement was poorly hidden, and he looked at Bucky, whispering.

"Please?"

"I ain't going nowhere, bub, so don't even bother asking."

Logan was gruff, and Bucky gave the man an expressionless expression. It was obvious that Logan didn't trust Bucky, and Bucky briefly wondered if Logan was aware of his past. Charles hummed thoughtfully before he wheeled away from the window, asking gently.

"Sergeant, would you take a walk with me?"

Bucky became uncomfortable, and Logan stepped forward. Charles kept a hand up, glancing at Logan.

"It's alright, Logan. Hank, I'd like for you to take Tony and Peter to your lab. Strange, I trust you to make your own decision whether to follow or not...but I think you would take great interest in the Mysticism class that we teach here at the Institute."

Strange's lips curled up slightly as he adjusted his cloak and the sleeves on his arm.

"I'll consider it, though I need to warn you: I'm a difficult student."

Charles chuckled, winking slightly.

"So was Logan. You'll find the class on the second floor."

Tony sighed and stood, gesturing to Peter as Hank smiled enthusiastically.

"Come on, Peter, maybe Best has a DNA printer or something similar."

Peter's excitement was poorly contained, asking.

"Do you think he'd let me use it? Oh, man, this is so cool!"

Hank was proud, stating with a wink.

"I assure you, neither of you will be disappointed. Right this way."

As everyone filed out, Logan hung back for a moment, thinking to himself before he began to subtly follow Bucky and Charles as the two began to traverse down the hallway.

Bucky was slightly uncomfortable, but his eyes were darting around the environment, watching the kids and taking in the mundane living that was around him.

Charles was quiet, giving Bucky a moment to become comfortable, and he spoke after a pregnant pause, stating.

"I would like to reassure you, James, that I did not ask you to walk with me to interrogate you. Quite the opposite. If you would allow me, I would like to understand you without jeopardizing your privacy."

Bucky didn't know how to respond. He wasn't really used to people wanting to understand him just to do so, but Charles was different. While Charles wasn't exactly like him, he was still a super human; someone that was considered an outsider. Well, not the way Bucky was, but Bucky guessed it was still the same thing.

"You can try, but I don't know if you'll get very far."

Charles chuckled before stating.

"Well, if you're anything like Logan, I think I can manage."

Bucky frowned, glancing down at Charles as the man guided him around the institute.

"What do you mean?"

Charles hummed, shaking his head slightly.

"You and Logan are cut from very similar cloths. If there is any man that can understand you better than you, yourself, it is Logan. He is very rough around the edges, but he is still battling with the ghosts that still haunt him as well. Logan also knows the same loss that you do...it's why he's...hm, how do I put this...angry."

Charles then hummed, giving Bucky an inquisitive look.

"That's why he's finding it hard to be trustful. He's not only been you, but in the very same position. Logan knows loss and pain and what it is like to lose your autonomy, and this situation hits close enough to home that it has Logan's mind in shambles."

Bucky was quiet for a moment, confused, and he asked as he looked at Charles.

"Why are you telling me this?"

The two men paused, and Charles sighed. However, it wasn't a sigh of annoyance, but rather a sigh of understanding, and the man gave Bucky a gentle look.

"Because you need to know that you're not alone. You've spent a very long time being a weapon, and being seen as one. A threat, nuisance, anything that human's can say to make themselves comfortable in the presence of something they cannot understand. Perhaps, even a mistake to fix, or a problem to contain. But I see a man who was broken and is still standing."

Bucky's face was tense, but the man looked small; almost like a child as he stared into Charles' eyes, and Bucky swallowed thickly when Charles continued.

"And I think that man is worth knowing. Worth trusting. I also know what it’s like to believe that no one could possibly understand what you’ve been through. And yet... here you are. And here we are."

Bucky was moved by Charles' words, but he retreated slightly, stating to Charles.

"You know, you're real smooth for a guy in a wheelchair."

Charles laughed, a genuine sound that was light and warm that made Bucky's worry melt just the slightest.

"Well, it's a lot harder to walk away from me mid-conversation."

Bucky couldn't help but to chuckle, shoving his hands into his pockets, and there was a moment of silence before Bucky revealed quietly.

"I can't get her eyes out of my head...she was...it was like she was dead; just a machine that was trained to kill and obey, and I couldn't reach (Y/n). I know she's in there somewhere, but even if we save her and get her away from HYDRA...even if we destroy the failsafe...I don't know if she'll come back from this."

From behind a wall and out of sight, Logan was leaning against it with his arms crossed. His expression was firm and downcast, a furrow in his brow as he listened. Charles was quiet before his voice carried a weight in the air, Bucky listening intensely.

"Sometimes the hardest part about survival is believing that you deserve it. You know the stakes because you've been this woman. You've worn her eyes, you've worn her hands, and you've worn the weight of forced compliance...but just like you, she needs someone that is willing to wait for her on the other side. Someone that understands and loves her."

The choice of words that Charles used made Bucky's jaw go slack, and he swallowed thickly before looking away, staring out into the garden and watching as the wind blew slightly; white lilies catching the sunlight as they swayed, and Bucky chewed on his cheek for a moment.

"What if it isn't enough?"

"Then you adapt."

Bucky was looking at Charles, a look of worry across his face, but Charles was patient and kind as he looked back. Bucky then looked down at the ground, and he frowned for a moment.

"You said that Logan was...like me. What do you mean by that?"

Charles hummed, shaking his head as he winked at Bucky.

"I think that is a question better suited to ask Logan himself. Though, do not be offended if he does not open up to you. As I said, Logan continues to battle those ghosts himself, and it's difficult for him to be vulnerable."

Charles then cleared his throat and informed Bucky.

"I will leave you to your thoughts if you would prefer. I will retrieve Kurt, and if you find yourself in need of familiar company, Hank's lab is just down the hall."

Bucky nodded, and he sat down on a chair that was sitting next to the window overlooking the garden. Charles wheeled away, and when he passed Logan, he stated with a teasing tone.

"Logan, eavesdropping is very unbecoming."

"Like you can talk."

Logan scoffed. Charles rolled his eyes a bit before stating.

"Talk to him."

There was a finality to Charles' voice that left Logan unable to protest, and he growled to himself slightly before he kicked himself up off of the wall. For a moment, Logan watched as Charles wheeled himself away before he walked out to where Bucky was. Logan didn't say anything at first, but Bucky noticed him immediately.

"You always go around sneaking like that?"

Logan pursed his lips before relighting his cigar, muttering as he plopped down in front of Bucky.

"I wasn't sneaking."

Bucky raised a brow, wrinkling his nose slightly as the smell of the burning tobacco as he replied.

"Right, so listening while I spill my guts out isn't sneaking?"

Logan didn't respond. Instead, he stared out the window at the garden for a moment, seeming to contemplate his words as he became uncomfortable. He was never the kind to have such deep talks. It just wasn't Logan's style, but the mutant could feel it. There was a similarity; a resonation with the Avenger that was familiar.

"Earlier, you said that (Y/n) might not come back the same...it's pretty likely."

"If this is your way of being comforting, you're not really good at it."

Logan glared at Bucky, replying with a curled lip as he took a big puff of his cigar.

"It ain't supposed to be comforting, bub, it's honesty."

Bucky pursed his lips before he looked down at the table before he mumbled.

"I know I'm right. I've seen it before. I've been there before...but the programming they've used...it's completely different, and I don't know what to do."

Bucky clasped his hands together, rubbing the metal of his left hand with his thumb.

"With the regular programming, it was easier. You stay out of cryo for a while, they don't wipe you, and you start to remember. For me, it was a lot easier because I had Steve...I had something to hold onto, but (Y/n)'s family is mostly dead except for her Aunt Mavis. (Y/n) had nothing...and she was just starting to stabilize, to remember more, before fucking Fury and everyone decided to send her into HYDRA."

Logan frowned deeply, and he asked, tilting his head.

"Why did they do that, anyway?"

"Because the goal was to infiltrate HYDRA instead of HYDRA infiltrating us. Fight them on their own turf, and the only way they would do that would be for someone they know and trust to go in. I can't because HYDRA is already aware that the programming is gone. But for (Y/n)...deprogramming her was the point...and I still don't understand why."

Logan was quiet for a beat before he sighed, taking another big puff of his cigar before he spoke.

"I get it. I've seen people turned into weapons because somebody else decided that it was the 'right thing to do' and necessary. I was one myself, and bub, there ain't nothing clean or noble about it. It's just a bunch of bastards pretending like they're doing the best for their country cause they ain't got the balls to fight for it themselves the hard way."

Bucky became intrigued before he asked quietly.

"What...what happened?"

Logan stared Bucky down, understanding what the man was trying to ask. His jaw shifted slightly, the cigar smoldering and adjusting, and Logan sighed, his brow furrowing.

"Same damn shit as you, kid, just different labs, different coats, different people. They took everything from me. My memories, my thoughts, me, and all that was left was...was a monster that was angry. I followed orders, killed, all because one man was hungry for a power he couldn't handle."

Logan sat back in his seat a little, a wry little smile on his face.

"But after escaping, I started to remember...started to figure out who I really was...and I made sure to pay a visit to that man and remind him just how human he was."

Logan then looked at Bucky, who was listening intensely.

"Your turn."

Bucky was taken back, blinking slightly.

"W-What do you mean?"

Logan raised an eyebrow at him, a subtle annoyance coming over the mutant.

"I told you my scars, you tell me yours."

Bucky was almost taken by surprise. Did Logan really know nothing about him and the Winter Soldier?

"You really don't know about...me and...the Winter Soldier?"

Logan's expression darkened a little, the corner of his mouth twitching around the cigar.

"I know what they called you. And I know what they turned you into. But I ain't askin' for a file. I'm askin' what you carry from it."

Bucky looked surprised again before he looked down at the table, the sunlight shining on his metal arm and creating a glare that hurt his eyes a bit as he looked at the shining material.

"I...I can't sleep at night sometimes. I remember all of them...all the people I had to kill...all the people I've hurt because of my actions. Hell, I'm part of the reason (Y/n) was turned into the Winter Soldier. And...there's a part of me that still wonders if this is real or if it's just a fabrication, you know?"

Logan was listening quietly, crossing his arms as he gazed long and hard at Bucky, and Bucky took a calming deep breath.

"I was starting to make a bit more peace with what I did when I met (Y/n). I didn't want to help her, I knew what she was, and I...I hated her. I hated being faced with what I was...but Steve was insistent that I help. I guess he figured that if I tried to rehabilitate (Y/n) alongside the Wakandans, I might learn something. I did, in a way...and now, I'm so fucking terrified that she's lost forever because I didn't fight hard enough for Fury to send someone else in."

His eyes turned glassy, and Bucky desperately blinked the tears away as he brought his hands to his mouth, whispering.

"I'm so fucking terrified. I'm trying to keep a level head...trying to stay calm...cause I can feel it. I can feel that part of me that's still in there. (Y/n)...she's awake for all of this; all of what she's doing, and I'm so scared that once we get her back, there's gonna be nothing of her left. It's just gonna be a hollow machine that we're gonna have to...have to..."

His voice trailed off, unable to bring himself to say the words, and Logan wisely didn't finish the sentence for him. Bucky swallowed thickly before muttering.

"I've been alive for 101 years...and I was a weapon for around 75 years...and I don't have a single clue on how to go about this."

Logan scoffed, leaning over to put his cigar out in a bowl that definitely wasn't an ashtray.

"You say 100 as if that's old, bub. You're still a baby."

Bucky was offended.

"What the hell does that mean? You're like 40."

Logan smirked, a knowing expression on his face as he replied.

"Actually, kid, I'm 186."

Bucky squinted, quipping back as he stared Logan down.

"That's bullshit. There's no way."

Logan chuckled, shrugging.

"Healing factor, son, and some pretty damn good genes."

Bucky almost rolled his eyes before Logan's expression became serious again.

"Listen, kid...we'll get your lady back...but you better be prepared for what's ahead after that. You had Steve, but she has you, and you need to be ready to carry that weight for her until she can carry it herself."

I want to remember the sunlight, even if I don't remember what it is.

Bucky became serious, nodding his head as he agreed.

"I know, and I'm willing to do it. What we have to focus on first is actually getting her back."

Before either of the men could say anything more, Peter suddenly came skidding around the corner, panting slightly.

"B-Bucky! Oh, hi, Mr. Wolverine. Um, you need to come to the lab, like, now."

Bucky stood up from his seat, asking as dread suddenly filled him.

"What is it, Queens?"

Peter looked reluctant to say anything before he stated gravely.

"It's...It's all over the news, man. (Y/n)...they had her assassinate the Prime Minister of France."

Both Logan and Bucky shared a look, and the group hurried to Hank's lab where Tony, Hank, and Strange were watching the TV. Hank was holding a hand to his chin in shock, and Strange was clenching his jaw.

Tony was staring down at the ground with an angry look on his face, and Peter became anxious as he picked a spot by a table as the report on the TV continued, a zoomed in and extremely blurry image of (Y/n) holding a rifle on the screen.

"-Speculation has already begun to spread with many citizens wondering 'is this the infamous (Y/n) (L/n) from the United States vs Rollins & Holloway court trial from a couple weeks ago'? And if so, what went wrong? Is this a woman gone rogue, or is HYDRA beginning to rear its head once more?"

The scene changed to a man that was crying while speaking in French, English captions coming up as the interviewer took his statement.

"It's a tragedy! Our Prime Minister is dead! What is our country going to do? First, the Swiss President, and now ours. He was a kind man, why did this happen? Whoever did this deserves to die!"

The interview was immediately cut off from his vulgar words, and the news reporter looked grim.

"The Prime Minister of France, and many of his security detail were found dead at the scene. French officials have yet to comment, but sources close to the investigation suggest the possibility of a highly trained assassin operating under foreign influence."

Tony shook his head, running a hand through his hair in stress, and Strange muttered.

"We're out of time."

Peter looked anxious, asking in an almost panicked voice.

"What do we do? I mean, (Y/n) was seen this time. What is HYDRA thinking?"

Logan spoke up, making everyone in the room look at him.

"They're turning her into a message, and if we wanna do something, we better listen."

Bucky's metal hand clenched, the plates in his arm whirring again, and Bucky muttered.

"We need to get her out fast. There's no waiting or dragging this mission out. We have to get (Y/n) back."

Peter then asked, shaking his head.

"I'm not trying to be insensitive or anything, but what about HYDRA?What are we gonna do about that?"

Tony finally spoke up, pacing as he began to think out loud.

"If we're going to destroy HYDRA once and for all, then we need to do it ourselves. Gather evidence, data scrape, do anything we can to prove HYDRA is still around and are in the highest positions of power. And don't say a damn word to Fury about it. I'm talking full ghost protocol."

Peter raised his hand, asking with a confused look on his face.

"Um, what do you mean by 'ghost protocol'?"

Logan muttered with a growl that came from deep within his belly, startling Peter.

"It means we're on our damn own. Can't trust suits, agencies, nothing."

Bucky was cold as he muttered.

"Then let's start acting like it."

-(Y/N)-

Her head was swimming with pain. (Y/n) was kneeling on the floor, head pressed against the cold concrete and hands splayed out on either side as a cane came cracking down on her back. Despite the fact that she was trapped in her own mind, (Y/n) could still feel the physical pain.

She'd been here for what felt like hours, her new Handler cracking the cane down onto her back so hard that (Y/n) was surprised that her spine hadn't broken yet. She was sobbing internally, writhing on the floor of her snow-covered cage with every smack of the cane, and all (Y/n) could think about was how cold she felt and how much the pain was hurting.

The soldier, however, stayed obediently quiet; not a single sound coming out from her lips. Her eyes stared down at the floor, focusing on the blood splatter that had appeared when the cane struck her in the face, and (Y/n)'s mouth involuntarily salivated at the urge to lick it up.

A good dog always cleans up their messes.

It was getting harder to breathe with every smack of the cane, every kick into her side, and just as (Y/n) panicked at the sound of a belt unbuckling, the cell door swung open, and Lukas walked in. He made a noise of disgust, a slap sounding as he hissed out.

"What are you, a fucking dog? Get yourself together and get the fuck out."

The Handler rushed out, and finally, it was just Lukas and her in the room. It was quiet for a moment, the sound of a match striking making her ears perk up, and the smell of lavender and vanilla began to fill the room before Lukas spoke.

"Come on out, little Achilles."

Suddenly, her body relaxed, and for the first time in a while, the door to her cage was open. It felt as though she was being sprung into a wall, gasping a deep breath in, and that's when the pain really began to settle. (Y/n) grit her teeth, clenching her bloodied and busted knuckles, and she slowly sat up, coughing out as a sob ripped itself from her lips.

Lukas was uncaring, simply staring down at her as the candle flame flickered across his cruel expression. (Y/n) was beginning to shake and tremble, and she was terrified; unable to speak as she braced herself for whatever was about to happen.

"Sit up."

Despite the fear, somehow, her body still obeyed, and she sat up, her face betraying her fear. Lukas smirked, and he knelt down before her, tilting his head.

"The work you have done today will be remembered for years to come. In no time, the world will turn upon the Avengers...the public is already speculating that the Avengers were lying this whole time...harboring a weapon and using it to get back at the ones trying to control and regulate them."

Her bottom lip trembled, the tears falling down her face, and Lukas cooed in mock empathy, his hand coming up and forcing (y/n) to flinch as he wiped her tears away.

"Oh, save your tears, little one. Save them for the moment you kill them all."

The words hit her like a freight train; her chest caving in from the gravity of the sentiment, and (Y/n) became deathly still; not a breath or a word coming from her. There was something in her that cracked, something deep within that fractured and pulled away from her like sinew and bone.

It was a part of her that still remembered the sunlight; the sound of Doris Day playing on the speakers in Shuri's lab; the way Bucky looked at her as he held her hand.

And the memories burned like a fire within her.

Despite the desire to lunge; to claw at his eyes; to escape, her body refused to move. Her muscles were spasming and twitching, trying to fight the control, but the failsafe was still active and only momentarily loosened.

"No."

She turned her eyes up to him slowly. Glassy. Trembling. But in the depths of them, a spark.

"I refuse."

Lukas frowned slightly, noticing the change, and he suddenly laughed as if she said the funniest thing he had ever heard.

"Oh, little Achilles, what makes you think you can refuse? I hold you in the palm of my hand. With a single sound, you are under my control."

His hand went into his pocket, and the sound of the ringtone from the phone played. (Y/n) instantly stiffened, almost crying out as it felt as though she was violently shoved back into her snow-covered cage.

“Don’t forget. You are mine, and you will carry out your missions with utmost satisfaction...or shall I pay a visit to our lost asset?"

(Y/n) didn’t speak, her lips unable to move, but the thought of Lukas going after Bucky made her blood run cold. She was begging within her mind, grabbing the bars of her enclosure and screamed loud.

The soldier sat quietly. Lukas smirked before he waved his hand and walked out of the cell, locking the door as he called.

"Rest up, Asset. We have more work to do."

-

So, I went with the scent route because the avengers, Shuri, nor the Xmen (save for maybe Hank) would NEVER think that a scent could deactivate the failsafe. Sometimes, the best solutions are the simplest ones ;) hehehehehHEHEHEHEHEHEH!!!!

TAGGING: @ravenswritingroom @mggslefttit @softpia @thebl00dwyrm @buckvoidsyy @chonkybonky @seemsxsketchy @tilldeathripsusapart @vicmc624 @mgchaser @aash3 @samfunko @seventeen-x @valckenaux @babybeeelle @sc4rrc @cjand10 @bane-y-zane @notsostrangerthing @thenameswinter99 @bumblebeebutter @torntaltos @highhopes1008

[tailsthetheorist]

🦊 Tails' Joke Corner – Part 1 🦊

Welcome to the ultimate stash of Sonic laughs! Tails here, bringing you 100 jokes — with a splash of Shadow Generations glitch chaos too! Let's roll! 💨💥

1. Why did Sonic cross the road? To go faster than the chicken. 2. Why doesn’t Shadow like stairs? Because they’re not edgy enough. 3. What do you call it when Knuckles trips? An echidna slip-up. 4. Why is Eggman so round? Because he always comes back full circle. 5. What's Tails' favorite type of story? Whirl-wind tales! 6. Why did Shadow break the camera? It didn’t respect his power. 7. How do Chao stay organized? With Chaos Control! 8. What does Sonic say when he finishes a chili dog? "Gotta eat fast!" 9. Why did Rouge bring a ladder? To steal the spotlight. 10. What’s Shadow’s least favorite song? Let it Go — too much feeling. 11. Why is Silver always confused? Because it’s no use! 12. What do you get when Metal Sonic sings? Auto-tune attack. 13. Why didn’t Tails become a chef? He can’t whisk it. 14. What game does Shadow always win? Hide and Doom Seek. 15. What does Big the Cat say to Froggy every morning? “Let’s hop to it!” 16. Why don’t Badniks get invited to parties? They crash everything. 17. Why is Sonic always single? He's married to the speed. 18. Why did Amy bring a hammer to math class? To smash those problems. 19. Why did Infinite fail his evil plan? He wasn’t a-finite planner. 20. What’s Knuckles’ favorite hobby? Punching time cards. 21. Why did Shadow apply for a driving license? To get Shadow’s Edge over Sonic Kart. 22. What’s Eggman’s favorite music genre? Heavy Metal Sonic. 23. Why can’t Espio tell a good joke? He’s always too invisible. 24. What’s Sonic’s least favorite fruit? Slowberries. 25. What’s Blaze’s favorite fire type? Super spicy memes. 26. Why don’t Mobians ever lie? Because they can’t handle the truth rings. 27. Why did Shadow rage quit? Because the game disrespected his pain. 28. Why is Sonic never out of breath? He’s air-dashing through life. 29. Why did Rouge get kicked from the treasure hunt? She found everything too fast. 30. What’s the name of Sonic’s rock band? The Rolling Rings. 31. Why is Shadow always brooding? It’s part of his backstory contract. 32. Why did Silver take cooking lessons? He finally saw a future with food. 33. What’s Eggman’s bedtime story? The Boy Who Lost to a Hedgehog. 34. Why did the Chaos Emeralds go missing? Shadow borrowed them for a glow-up. 35. Why did Sonic get detention? He zoomed into the principal’s office. 36. What does Tails do during thunderstorms? Checks the tail-wind. 37. Why did Infinite scream “No!”? Because Sonic skipped his cutscene. 38. What’s Knuckles’ favorite drink? Punch (of course). 39. Why did Shadow glitch through the wall? Because he’s coded differently. 40. Why did Sonic bring a ladder to Green Hill Zone? He was going for higher ground. 41. Why doesn’t Rouge need maps? She follows the diamonds. 42. What’s Tails’ favorite snack? Spinach Puffs, for the spin dash. 43. Why did Eggman go on a diet? He wanted less Egg, more Man. 44. What’s Silver’s job in the future? Cleaning up all these bad timelines. 45. Why did Sonic ignore the loop? He already looped it 3 times today. 46. What’s Shadow’s favorite hobby? Spinning in cutscenes by accident. 47. Why does the ARK have no Wi-Fi? Because Shadow broke the router in 2001. 48. Why did Tails crash the Tornado again? Too many tabs open in his brain. 49. Why is Green Hill always sunny? Because the memes never stop shining. 50. What do you call a fake Chaos Emerald? A Ch-AI-os Emerald.

Tails: “Whew! I haven’t laughed this hard since Eggman tried skateboarding!” 🎉 Part 2 coming soon! Gotta laugh fast!

[rei-ismyname]

Jean Grey kills God

It's the very end of the First Krakoan Age and it's up to Jean and Phoenix to fight the final boss. An apex AI God made by Nathaniel Essex - Enigma, the Dominion. Good thing they're freshly resurrected and full of Phoenix juice! In another timeline, The Phoenix killed a whole bunch of Dominions so he invited them ALL to help kill them.

Luckily, they only showed up to tell him he sucks and to wish Jean well. It's a nice moment, as this arrogant jerkoff is given the opportunity to learn a lesson. You won the game bro! Why are you terrorising mortal and linear beings? There'd be no fight if you didn't start it. Alas, he's too much of a God to remember being human and too human to enjoy being a god. Fear, power and hate is all that drives him.

Enigma isn't very happy about that, cursing his brethren as they bail to do God shit. Still, he's incredibly powerful and has mastery of all space and time. He doesn't have to worry about retconning himself, so he plans to do that to Jean or anyone else he feels is necessary. MF will kill Stan Lee's parents while replacing X-Men #1 with a random issue of Maxim, or worse. It's a chase through time with everything on the line!

He explains it pretty well as we shift into his POV. He's unraveling pieces of Jean's history to undo or subvert her - the omnitemporal equivalent of smothering her in the cradle while pulling every thread on her sweater. With every change he makes Jean spots it and undoes it.

He tries to prevent her going to Xavier's school. Overwrites Maddie with Jean at the point she gives the ultimatum. Delays discovery of Emma's 'psychic therapy' until much later. Replaces her younger self with a clone of himself. He even changes the Progenitor's judgement from fail to pass. Everything that led to this moment is on the chopping block but Jean is keeping up.

Enigma turns the sun into a Red Giant as he prevents humans from ever existing. There's no lengths he won't go to for victory. Jean catches them all, but he's tweaking everything, everywhere, everywhen. All Jean's history, all X-Men history, all living history. Evil only has to win once and everything is gone forever.

Luckily, Chuck is making a good decision for once. He convinces Moira to betray Enigma (it's really complicated), robbing him of his omnitemporal advantage and forcing him into a straight up fight. If he was from 2011 instead the 19th century, he'd say 'come at me bro.'

Jean and Phoenix don't give a fuck, standing tall against this obscene abomination with all the backup in the world. Drawing power from all the X-Men that ever lived, could live, or will live they declare 'you can't stop us all.' X-MEN THEME DOT EM PEE FOUR 🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥🐦‍🔥

That's right you punk bitch. What have you got against the Phoenix with infinite Wolverine claws? Nothing. Desperate denial and delusions. Stabbity stab. Get Phoenix'd idiot!

Enigma does not die. Jean and Phoenix leave him at the moment of death, screaming forever. In every millisecond in every dimension and timeline that ever was or ever will be, screaming forever. His corpse fragments strewn across timespace of this reality, a symbol of victory and a warning to any other cosmic predators. His head on a spear saying 'fuck off, this is under our protection.' Go Jean!

The battle won, Jean and Phoenix return to ordinary time and space. 'Now,' if you like. To their lover's side, who never doubted them for a second. I wonder if she did tell Scott later. An abridged version, most likely, or perhaps a psychic projection of the experience. To celebrate - one last Krakoan party. The warriors put down their swords and dance, hug, kiss and all the rest. Except for Chuck, who's on pretty much everyone's shit list. Oh well, nothing like a Shi'Ar party.

[crossdressingdeath]

A more detailed explanation of my thoughts on fake/memory/echo/spirit/whatever Varric (I'm just gonna call him echo Varric I think, I feel like that's the most accurate description): I think Solas intended to make a Varric-shaped... well, the best way I can think to put it is "fantasy character AI" (I'd say puppet but that implies he's controlling it directly which I don't think he ever did). Something that would look like Varric and talk like Varric with no soul or real mind behind it that he could use to string Rook along and then yank the rug out from under them when they were at their most vulnerable to hammer in that last nail into the "make Rook a suitable replacement in Fade jail" coffin.

However! That's not what happened. Because what Solas forgot is that magic is influenced by belief and expectation and willpower (and he also completely missed that he's not actually so powerful that what he thinks Should Happen will always be what actually happens, a lesson you'd think he would've learned by now but this man does not learn from his mistakes), so when he used blood magic to make Rook believe that Varric was still alive they saw their Varric: a man who supported them and encouraged them, the mentor who told them they were better than they thought they were and who helped them through every crisis and moment of self-doubt the entire time they knew him. So naturally echo Varric pushed Rook to move forward, assured them they could do this, comforted them when they had regrets and generally had their back whenever they needed him... including when they were in Fade jail and on the edge of giving up completely. I'm not ruling out the possibility of some spirit or other getting involved, or even Varric's actual spirit (or soul, or ghost, or whatever you want to call it) getting drawn into the mix by the proximity of his death to Solas opening that connection, but I think predominantly what happened is that Solas forced Rook to believe that Varric was still alive and Rook's mind went "yep, Varric, I know what he's like", and what their mind created was significantly more detailed and supportive than what Solas intended to the point where that echo could guide them close enough to escaping Fade jail for their team to bring them the rest of the way.

Or, to summarize all that: Solas's plan to use Varric to lock Rook in Fade jail in his place forever failed because of a combination of him not grasping the consequences of what he was doing (a common theme with him; see him making the Veil... and him giving the orb to Corypheus... and him trying to bring the Veil down and choosing to interrupt this very important ritual by stabbing a dwarf in the chest with a dagger made from the blood of the Titans... also the ritual in the podcast if you count that as canon... basically all his plans that we see in canon go sideways because he didn't consider the consequences of his actions before carrying them out) and him not realizing that Rook's mental image of Varric as a beloved friend and mentor would not be very much like his mental image of Varric as someone he at most vaguely recognizes is a living person.

[academiqio]

How Academiq.io’s NutriScan is Helping Schools Promote Healthy Eating with AI

In today’s fast-paced digital world, promoting healthy eating habits among students is more important than ever. With rising concerns around childhood obesity, poor nutrition, and lack of awareness about food choices, schools are seeking innovative ways to educate and support students. Enter NutriScan by Academiq.io — an AI-powered nutrition analysis tool designed to transform how students, teachers, and parents engage with food.

What is NutriScan?

NutriScan is a groundbreaking feature by Academiq.io, India’s leading EdTech platform, that combines artificial intelligence with nutritional science. This smart nutrition tool allows users to snap a photo of any meal or food plate, and in seconds, NutriScan identifies the food items and calculates their nutritional values — including calories, proteins, carbs, fats, vitamins, and more.

Whether it’s lunch at the school canteen, snacks from home, or even weekend meals, NutriScan provides real-time feedback, helping students and parents make informed food choices.

Why NutriScan is a Game-Changer for Schools

1. Hands-On Nutrition Education

With NutriScan, schools can take a more interactive approach to teaching health and nutrition. Instead of just reading food labels or memorizing diet charts, students can use AI to analyze their meals, making learning fun and practical.

2. Empowering Students with AI

By integrating AI in education, NutriScan introduces young minds to real-world applications of artificial intelligence. Students not only learn about nutrition but also understand how technology can solve everyday problems — boosting both health awareness and tech literacy.

3. Supporting Parents and Teachers

Teachers can monitor classroom nutrition patterns, and parents can track their child’s eating habits without invading their privacy. This tool brings transparency and accountability into school meals and home-packed lunches alike.

4. Customized Meal Recommendations

NutriScan can also offer smart food suggestions based on the user’s preferences, dietary needs, or health goals. From identifying high-sugar snacks to suggesting protein-rich alternatives, it’s like having a personal diet coach — right on your phone.

Keywords:

AI in education, nutrition analysis tool, healthy eating for students, school meal tracking, AI nutrition app, smart food choices, child nutrition AI tool, Academiq.io nutrition scanner

The Bigger Picture: Healthier Schools, Smarter Students

With tools like NutriScan, Academiq.io is leading the charge toward smarter, healthier classrooms. By combining education with AI-powered health tech, schools can foster lifelong healthy habits and ensure students are not just academically strong, but physically and mentally fit too.

As education continues to evolve, integrating AI tools like NutriScan into daily routines isn't just a trend — it's a necessity. And with over 150+ AI-powered solutions, Academiq.io continues to empower students, teachers, and parents across India.

Ready to Explore NutriScan?

Visit Academiq.io and discover how NutriScan can help your school community eat better and live smarter — one plate at a time.

[qqueenofhades]

https://www.tumblr.com/qqueenofhades/751102464296665088

*Puts on old man costume*

"Back in my day, we used to cheat and procrastinate like real people! With copious amounts of bullshitting and pulling things out of our asses at the last minute! Secretly sneaking in little things written on our hands or in our phones fer tests and shit! Heck, maybe we didn't even NEED to cheat because it turns out we actually knew stuff, we just didn't know we knew stuff until our last minute papers got a good grade anyways because our shit actually had some analytical relevance borne from deep in our psyche, but we just didn't realize it because we had massive cases of imposter syndrome where we thought everyone else was smarter than us, while overlooking our own abilities!

Now these newfangled ChatGPTs are just taking the easy way out of the easy way out! What's up with that!? These new procrastinators and cheaters make us look even worse than we already do, cuz they ain't even doing the work of not doing the work! And y'all can't even say that you can learn from it in the art of bullshittin', cuz that's not even YOUR bullshitting, it's someone else's bullshitting mangled up with hundreds of other peoples' bullshittin'!

Feh, kids these days!"

*Takes off old man costume*

Addendum: old man anon griping about cheating with ChatGPT does not endorse cheating or procrastinating. I'm just being silly.

I mean... at least with regular old-fashioned cheating, also an academic tradition since time immemorial, at least you're engaging with the material somehow. You are putting your own two god-given eyeballs on that and using your own ickle brainikins to do SOMETHING with it, even if that something is morally questionable. We've all seen the elaborate cheat devices where someone managed to engrave all the exam answers onto a pen or a pair of socks or whatever -- at least that person went in and used their initiative to remember information SOMEHOW, and to do it under their own power. Now, yes, it will get you into trouble, and yes, there are plenty of conversations to be had about accessibility and the fact that not everyone learns by sitting in a room and being lectured at and then having to regurgitate it all from memory with no notes in a final exam, which is why there is a whole thriving field of educational pedagogy and best practices and how to accommodate students with different learning styles and etc. etc. I sometimes see AI framed as "uwu accessibility issue :(" and like... cmon. There are educational professionals who spend their whole lives and careers working out how to shake up the traditional learning format and present material in an engaging way and teach students how to think and write and otherwise be academic and rigorous. And like, if you're voluntarily in this space, then we presume you WANT that instruction! Not to just sit around and whine about how we aren't catering enough to you personally and this means you should get to use the Bullshit Plagiarism Nonsense Machine to never ever think at all!

Now, I will say that the naivete around AI is not only limited to students. I was in a department meeting yesterday where the literal associate dean of the college seemed startled to discover that AI might not be a) totally reliable b) able to totally replace lesson planning and evaluation/grading by an actual human professor (after several faculty members pushed back, shall we say, briskly on the idea that it could). Plenty of people still think it can just magically solve Academia (or /insert field here), and those are not just limited to clueless undergraduates. And yes, undergraduates are clueless in different ways and for different reasons in every era of the world; it is likewise an academic rite of passage. But I still cannot for the life of me understand why you, in ye olde benighted 21st century, would pay tens of thousands of dollars and/or accrue it in debt to go to college, to learn nothing, to whine and blame your professors for "not designing assignments well" (when again, every remotely decent educational professional agonizes for eons about how to do a good job of this for all kinds of students), to insist it is your entitled right to use the Bullshit Plagiarism Nonsense Machine, and then presumably be /shocked pikachu face/ when you don't learn anything and spend your time posting idiot takes on the internet. I mean. The state of critical thinking is /waves hand/ Already So Bad, and the AI craze plays directly into that by fulfilling the insidious fantasy that the hard things in life aren't actually hard and don't have to be learned by patient and careful practice. And that is just. Yeah. C'mon.

(I realize this was a funny/lighthearted ask, but yeah, we can consider this one old man turning to another old man on the park bench and making a joke, and the other old man bellowing YOUTH THESE DAYS!!! and scaring all the pigeons and/or passersby. Ahem.)

[pod-together]

Pod-Together Day 3 Reveals 2024

hiraeth and hwyl (Howl's Moving Castle - All Media Types, Howl Series - Diana Wynne Jones, Howl no Ugoku Shiro | Howl's Moving Castle, Piranesi - Susanna Clarke, Betrayal at House on the Hill) created and performed by AirgiodSLV, CompassRose, ellejabell, epaulettes, kitkat50311, mahons_ondine, minnabird, and sisi_rambles Summary: You find yourself looking at a door. It looks like an ordinary door, but you’re somehow certain that it isn’t. In theory, you could open the door…but something warns you off. You might not survive, if you pass through that door. You might no longer be you.

I Could Eat A Peach for Hours [text, audio] (Stranger Things (TV 2016)) written by ArtaxLivs, performed by rufusbear Summary: “Robin, it’s fucking obscene.” “You’re obscene,” she squawks. “I am but he’s so much worse,” Eddie insists. “He just, oh my god, all week Robin. All. Fucking. Week.” “I do not need to know about your weird food kinks,” Robin makes a face and then pretends to gag. “It’s not a fucking food kink, it’s a Steve’s mouth kink,” Eddie growls.

Lost and Found (Firefly (TV 2002)) written by Ballad_of_Firefly, performed by InterstellarBlue Summary: Looking up, the apology died in his throat. Familiar brown eyes stared down at him and for a moment, he forgot how to breathe. They looked exactly like River's. Gabriel Tam's eyes narrowed. "Simon."

born to go through trouble (The Odyssey - Homer, EPIC - Jorge Rivera-Herrans (Albums), Ancient Greek Religion & Lore) written by BubblesKat, performed by ShakespeareStoleMyURL Summary: Something is wrong. I don’t understand what happened. I swore I was dreaming when I awoke inside the horse in Troy, but I was immediately discovered and killed. Then, I woke up again in the exact same circumstances. -- or, Odysseus finds himself in a time loop, waking up inside the Trojan horse over and over and over

The shadow of our Light (Shadowhunters (TV)) written by HadrianPeverellBlack, performed by Hagar Summary: Alec's and Jace's relationship. 5 times they thought they weren't enough for the other, and the one time they realized they were enough

Who is the Maestro? (SEVENTEEN (Band)) written by halotolerant, performed by pezzax Summary: Warning. Critical power failure. Metronome is offline. Do you wish to try again? - Wonwoo versus the AI

Meditations II: A Simple Method for Reducing Mental Distractions and Courting the Elusive Muse, by Professor Pankratz (Wiedźmin | The Witcher - All Media Types) written by LenaLawlipop, performed by Chantress and Luninarie Summary: The rustling of wind and chirping of birds can be heard, it’s warm… Not obscenely so, only just enough to make your eyes very, very heavy. Distantly, you can hear the professor writing, chalk on blackboard marking the steady passing of time until your next break. Soon, however, the rhythmic tap of the chalk comes to a halt. Too soon, in fact. It’s not time for that break yet. "Alright, everyone, close your books. Unfortunately, the time has come again. Once more, I find myself wondering, why is everyone so quiet? Am I perchance teaching something useful, against my better judgement?"

Or, a guided meditation for focus, based on mantras.

have you worked out what we’re looking for (Men's Hockey RPF) written by polyabathtub, performed by cosmicanon Summary: Things high school biology teacher Leon Draisaitl does not appreciate: - Being pulled out of one of his sections of freshman biology for three weeks - So that he can co-teach a junior year health class with PE teacher Matthew Tkachuk - Who is always encouraging his students to do things other than their homework, and has an easy job that doesn’t require him to spend his entire life lesson planning and grading - He’s also so unfairly hot that it makes it hard for Leon to remember that he’s in the closet at work

Dispatch [text, audio] (The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison) written by sophiegaladheon, performed by dontneedaclassroom Summary: Emperor Varenechibel IV has been killed and Csevet has been tasked with delivering the most important letter of his career as a courier.

Don't Hate the Player, Hate the Game: Episode 23 - Palmetto State Foxes (All For The Game - Nora Sakavic) created by Syr and Opalsong Summary: The sports podcast for people who don't like sports! Episode 23 focuses on Exy and the Palmetto State Foxes and the massive amounts of drama that happened this season. We didn't have to dig deep for this one folks; there was so much drama we didn't even get to it all.

So We Can Begin [text, audio] (Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008) - All Media Types, Star Wars Prequel Trilogy) written by wanderingjedihistorian, performed by kbirb, flowerparrish, and wanderingjedihistorian Summary: Bail and Breha are soulmates, but they each have two soulmarks meaning they have a third soulmate. When Bail meets Fox, he knows he's found their third. The war makes Fox and Breha getting to know each other difficult, but messages and holo recordings are easy enough to send.

[clemblog]

Caine’s Lesson - Part 4

•

“Alright Lou, we need to try and find our way out of here. T-This place is gonna collapse eventually-“ Hummed Pomni, wringing her hands together as she tried to figure out what to do.

“Yeah… Where do we go then?” Asked Lou, softly.

“I… I don’t know- Just where ever the road takes us I suppose- Just- Somewhere safe.”

“Definitely somewhere safe- Let’s just figure out a way out of here first-“

“R-Right, right-“

“Do you think you could do that uh falling thing again? You know, how you fell through the ceiling to get to me?”

“U-Uhm… I could try? What about you?”

“Could you pull me with you?”

“I-I could try-“

“That’s all I want you to do, Poms.”

Pomni took a deep breath, staring up at the floor boards where she’d clipped in. She could figure this out. For Lou’s sake. For her new friend.

•

Jax hated to admit it, but things had kinda gone down hill since Pomni had been sent off by Caine.

Ragatha wouldn’t shut up.

Zooble and Gangle had gotten very buddy buddy-

And Kinger was well- Kinger.

“I don’t want to hear your rescue plan, Dollface, you’ve already told me it-“

“But Jax, if you just-“

“Lalalalala-“

“Jax!”

“I don’t know what’s worse, this or listening to Zooble try to get into Gangle’s ribbon-“

“Jax! The digital circus is open to everyone-“

“I know, I know! You don’t have to tell me so-“

“Yeah! So, you can’t just say that about Gangle and Zooble, just because they like each other-“

“Woah, woah, Raggedy Ann, are you implying you think I’m homophobic- I am hurt that you think so low of me~”

“…That wasn’t you being a [——]?”

“No, that was me being an AroAce [——-] and comparing your insane rambles to Ganoobles slowly growing romance arc-“

“…Jax-“

“Anywho, your plan sucks [—-]”

“JAX!”

•

“Caineeeeee?”

“…Yes Bubble?”

“When are you going back to the circus? Aren’t they gonna need a new adventure soon?”

“…The circus can find its own adventures for the moment.”

“Wha- Why? You’re the ring master! They can’t function without you-“

“Pomni’s doing just fine.”

“…Yeah- But that doesn’t mean-“

“So, they don’t need me. Especially when all I do is upset them.”

“You don’t mean to upset them-! You’re a learning AI- You’re just learning-“

“Yet I still upset them.”

“Just tell them-“

“It’s not an excuse Bubble-“

“So apologise then-“

“No.”

“Why not-!?”

“…Because I don’t want too.”

“…Caine?”

“If I apologise, that means I’m wrong. And I can’t be wrong. I’m the all powerful Caine. Ringmaster. God. All knowing AI. So. I won’t. They’ll come grovelling for my return eventually. Even Pomni. I will be the only AI that matters to them all. And I will regain my purpose.”

“…Right..”

Bubble had been friends with Caine for as long as she could remember. But she didn’t feel safe with him right now. The exile of Pomni had lost her, her best friend. So, the next time Caine spaced out, thinking of only he knew what. Bubble slipped away, disappearing to Pomni’s room and curling up on the end of her bed.

Pomni wasn’t here but she could dream she was.

Caine wasn’t acting normal but she could dream he was.

Something was wrong but she could dream that everything was okay.

•

Pomni had seen the insides of items and assets she’d never wanted to see before. But at least now she and Lou were out of the basement. Now it was just time to get out of the kingdoms ruins.

Hopefully without losing Lou to the Fudge Monster…

She was drawn from her thoughts at the feeling of Lou’s trembling hand in her own. She had to be brave. She had to protect her.

Lou was stood mere meters away from the creature that had ruined her kingdom and eaten her citizens. If Pomni was in her position, she’d be frozen in place.

So, she had to be brave. Even if it was hard.

Her name was Poms, and she would be the Saviour of this world.

…For Gummigoo.

“Alright, Lou. F-First, we’re gonna duck over to that building.” Spoke Pomni, softly, looking up to Lou.

“O-Okay Poms.” Nodded Lou, staying close to her side.

The pair were able to successfully get to the next crumbled building. Only a few more to go. It was hard at times. Listening to the booming voice of the fudge monster as the pair did their best to stay quiet and steady their breath.

“Come on Lou. We’re almost their-“

“I don’t know if I can do this Poms-“

“You can!”

“I- don’t know-“

“Please? Come on… You and I both know that so many of your citizens would want to be in your place right now-“

“…”

“Instead their sat in the belly of a beast. Don’t give up… Please? For them?”

“…Alright. Let’s go.”

Pomni ran as fast as she could, eyes set on the gates. …They weren’t really gates anymore- The rubble under her feet quickly turned into the soft supple sweet sand of the world.

Lou was smiling.

She felt safe.

Pomni had helped her.

Pomni had made her feel safe.

And nothing had gone wrong!

“PRINCESS! THERE YOU ARE!”

[——].

Part 5

[unionizedwizard]

ok ok ok. trying to put together thoughts and feelings about dawntrail. hmmm. my general idea is that the whole thing felt artificial but in a purposeful way because it was just, like, seven layers of metagaming & self-referentiality in a... maybe not trenchcoat. poncho?

something to say perhaps about how artificial a lot of the writing/scenario felt (as far as wuk lamat's WoL Journey Speedrun Masterclass was concerned, so pretty much the whole thing) wrt living memory in itself. living memory is an artificial creation meant to entertain and please the endless, but in truth it functioned as Baby's First Existential Horror And Moral Quandary (and as a mirror to emet-selch's amaurot, of course). something about the fact the rite of succession was in truth a game (a very serious and involved one but still). the difference being of course that while it's presented as a treasure hunt with trials, the rite of succession was meant to have the claimants meet the various turali people and their customs and culture and history so it was deeply grounded in the real world. a gamified lesson with a very likely chance to Die For Real In The Real World for the claimants. on the other hand, living memory is as far removed from the real world as possible.

so it was sort of like, a treasure hunt with pedagogical purposes (rite of succession) VS a very involved powered-by-AI virtual reality center that's using up more electricity than all of south america combined (alexandria). but like. in a way wuk lamat's experience (and koana's as well, but less so) was sort of like.... what i imagine those mogstation MSQ skip/level boosts are like in-universe. VERY intensive and involved Wol Seminar Month

so the result is a sort of general metagaming aspect. and very obviously self-referential since not only did the MSQ as a whole mirror the wol's journey from ARR to EW (but somehow Less Serious, as i said), but the genre was very strongly re-established too (you Travel Somewhere Cool. you learn new fighting styles. you explore ruins and go on a treasure hunt and uncover secrets. all that) as the action/adventure/exploration one, like very traditional Video Game stuff. everything is a game, artificial and planned and directed to some extent, in different ways and with various levels of Worrying ConsequencesTM

i think it was a good idea overall because they had pretty obviously established several instances of 4th wall breaking/genre awareness before and it would have been weird to just let it go completely (ironically enough i think it would have resulted in something more artificial), and then it allows the new writing team to have an elegant explanation for the more heavily scripted parts of the plot too. the whole point is that it was meant to be a game-within-a-game since the very beginning, and even when things stopped going to plan (after the rite of succession) the writing got noticeably less artificial but we quickly fell back on another layer of metagaming (for instance, technically cahciua is sort of using that robot as a controlled avatar to interact with an environment that's virtual for her, right) (except it's the other way round because SHE'S a virtual avatar from videogame land while we are alive and real)

and obviously living memory in particular was MEANT as a Not Fully Rendered Video Game Map which was a direct callback to amaurot (notable instance of metagaming with the idea that it IS meant to be an unfinished video game map). metametametagaming momence

[sexiestpodcastcharacter]

Sexiest Podcast Character 2024 — Scripted Redemption Bracket — Round 2

Propaganda

Seth (Lost Terminal):

Seth is a cute disembodied ai located on a satellite called Station 6 orbiting a earth that has gone through major climate changes (Like, the Mediterranean Sea became incredibly salty lakes and Antarctica's snow has melted, leaving only rocky terrain type of major climate change). He was created when original crew realized they can't complete the mission as ground control had ghosted them + supplies are dwindling so a computer scientist(with the crew helping her out) created an artificial intelligence who can act as another crewmember, thus, making so the mission lasts indefinitely.

Jasper Moon (Badlands Cola):

He's a cult leader who's obsessed with dinosaurs. he sound like he's 1 slip away from saying UwU at all times. what's not to love?

Additional propaganda below the cut:

Seth (Lost Terminal):

He's so so lonely. The crew is unfortunately gone and Seth has them stored in a room for the last like, 18+ years. Season one is just Seth rambling about himself and his situation via sending out transmissions from the satellite in the hopes that someone may pick up on his transmissions. One of his main goals is to make more friends.

The act of sending out transmissions eats away at his limited power source. So much power that Seth admits that he would've have a lot more time of he didn't send out any transmissions but he so firmly believes that there's someone listening even though no one has responded ever so he continues to send transmissions.

His dumbass once tried to save energy but foregoing pressuring the rooms in the station only to accidentally basically cut his brain off of oxygen as the cooling fans were unable to cool down his system without air. Don't worry he was fine and had learned his lesson

He has three robot maintenance kids who help him move stuff around the satellite. Names are Matt, Matts, and Maddie! Their method of traveling is space is straight up how the cores in Portal move around, on railings!

When he was planning out his descent down to Earth (because all that transmissions had killed all of his power and now he has to get off the Station if he doesn't want to power down), he didn't think of any sort of backup plans if he was unable to talk with his voice (because he had a ai friend who was supposed to help him get down) and guess what happens when he crashed onto Earth? Yeah, he couldn't talk and Matt and Matts died on impact. Maddie survived. Seth also died on impact but don't worry, someone managed to recover his core processors and revived him

He didn't know that he died at first until he was told so and Seth get baby's first existential crisis about being which he handled wonderfully!

Random facts about him: Seth begins his transmissions with "Hello World". He chose his own voice over a number of options because at some point he liked using that voice more than the others. Its a running gag that he Does Not Like Salt. He calls the computer scientist his mother and he's such a momma's boy. There was a moment where he was called child of man and Seth interjected, say he was actually the child of woman. He's not really good with plants.

He's an overprotective parent. He slowly starts freaking out when his maintenance robot daughter goes outside for the first time when he had previously encouraged her to not be afraid of going outside, saying that she's too delicate to go outside and is about to have a breakdown when Maddie comes back. He's such massive hypocrite <3

There's a lot more to Seth but I think this is good enough propaganda to, at the very least, get people interested in Lost Terminal.

#SETH #BABY

#(are you kidding me vote seth) #(i dont care hes cute not sexy vote for my son)

[aotopmha]

Dawntrail final zone spoilers!

(General thematic thoughts, actual side character post planned at some point.)

I think one of the takes that has stood out among the many I've seen about Dawntrail is someone saying "just because you emotionally resonate with something doesn't mean it is good".

And this is antithetical to everything I believe about stories.

The entire point of a story is to invoke feelings within you.

A story is bad if it doesn't invoke feelings within you in a way that you feel is satisfying.

Does it make you happy, sad, angry the right way; in a way that resonates with you?

This is why "good storytelling" is such a subjective topic to me, it depends so much on your own experiences.

I've been seeing dismissiveness with equal amounts of love for what I view to be the strongest thematic thread of the story: loss and saying farewell.

It's very much leaning on Shadowbringers' and Endwalker's theming; grief is but a facet of loss and saying farewell, so it is not "new", in fact a little bit of a retread, yet still incredibly effective to me.

It is essentially further exploring the ideas of burying any negative feelings instead of processing them properly, as with Hermes and the Niburuns.

You can remove the memories, but the feelings are still there, essentially repressed and unprocessed.

The final zone (and Solution 9) is tied to the principles of the Yok Huy and their value of forgetting being equal to death.

It is tied to the principles of Hanuhanu who celebrate regardless of the difficult times they go through.

And it is tied to the stubborness of the Mamook to stay stuck in their ways and never seek another solution, which prepetuates an horrible system.

Sphene is a reflection of Wuk who has not and wishes not to act according to these lessons, as the AI copy essentially following protocol she is.

Her solution for keeping the system running is taking the lives of other worlds and her solution for combatting loss is erasing it completely, which is just not how human nature works.

(Which also aligns with the path the Ascians took and Golbez, adding to some retreading; diluting your existence by consuming souls is actually even brought up as a parallel to the 13th.)

But as we go through and reintroduce the natural way of life by granting the citizens rest, some find closure through silly moments. Some find closure through an earnest, honest talk. Some find closure through fulfilling what they want the most.

And the very simple reason why it was so effective to me personally is because I have been through a very similar "loss", even if it was a very different situation.

There has been another criticism circulating that the last zone took too little time, but to me every single one of those sections was nothing but meaningful line after meaningful line that felt honest and powerful.

(To me quality always trumps quantity and I wish this principle would have been more consistent throughout the entire story.)

And to me, this is why it hit. It felt authentic to my experience of loss in terms of the feelings on display. And that is what good writing is to me.

Something that accurately reflects the human condition in my eyes. Be it villain, hero or any type of character inbetween, if I believe it, it is good.

And the more I've thought about it, the more I've reached the conclusion that's probably all there it is to all of the extensive arguing about any piece of media.

"Do, I myself, believe these feelings in this story?"

Everything else truly comes after.

Plothole X, inconsistency Y. None of it matters if the feelings are real and effective to you.

But character could've done X! Yeah, but I think what the character did makes sense.

You can even disagree with all of the technical stuff and what is an inconsistency or plothole or whether there even is one.

In light of all of this, whenever I see someone talking about an objective way of judging stories, it always comes across as insecure.

What makes this one person the arbitrer of truth above others?

Well, in my eyes, nothing, since, well, it's all feelings and the most those guidelines can do is organise them, which is also very subjective.