#Advanced Fifth Edition

[dandrpod]

aye keeping it casual over here on tumblr dot com but we are doing our monthly Extended Rest today if you wanted to hang out with us and talk about the last few episodes of the show.

[alphamecha-mkii]

Star Wars: X-Wing (2nd Ed.) - Hotshots and Aces Reinforcements Pack - Fifth Brother, TIE Advanced v1

[personinthepalace]

Taskmaster Australia S2E1: Silent disco dancing but you can hear the music

[eddiemunson-reader-shame]

Me, a fool: I think it would be awesome for Reader to pick Druid! It’s my favorite class, and I can ask my old campaign buddies to help explain what’s happening in my insert for those readers who aren’t D&D savvy 🥰 this is going to be a great Eddie x reader!

Advanced Dungeons and Dragons (1E): *Exists*

Me, a fool and jester: … I suddenly understand why my friends didn’t have any useful advice for a 1E Druid build and spent the entire conversation arguing about which edition was better.

[mikemyler]

"the word Camilla is engraved on its chest feathers"

IYKYK

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Year - 2024 Edition

Welcome to our special edition newsletter recapping the best news from the past year. I've picked one highlight from each month to give you a snapshot of 2024. No frills, just straightforward news that mattered. Let's relive the good stuff that made our year shine.

1. January - South Korea passes law banning dog meat trade

The slaughter and sale of dogs for their meat is to become illegal in South Korea after MPs backed a new law. The legislation, set to come into force by 2027, aims to end the centuries-old practice of humans eating dog meat.

2. February - Greece legalises same-sex marriage

Greece has become the first Christian Orthodox-majority country to legalise same-sex marriage. Same-sex couples will now also be legally allowed to adopt children after Thursday's 176-76 vote in parliament. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the new law would "boldly abolish a serious inequality".

3. March - Global child deaths reach historic low in 2022 – UN report

The number of children who died before their fifth birthday has reached a historic low, dropping to 4.9 million in 2022. The report reveals that more children are surviving today than ever before, with the global under-5 mortality rate declining by 51 per cent since 2000.

4. April - Restoring sight is possible now with optogenetics

Max Hodak's startup, Science, is developing gene therapy solutions to restore vision for individuals with macular degeneration and similar conditions. The Science Eye utilizes optogenetics, injecting opsins into the eye to enhance light sensitivity in retinal cells. Clinical trials and advancements in optogenetics are showing promising results, with the potential to significantly improve vision for those affected by retinal diseases.

5. May - Vaccine breakthrough means no more chasing strains

Scientists at UC Riverside have demonstrated a new, RNA-based vaccine strategy that is effective against any strain of a virus and can be used safely even by babies or the immunocompromised.

6. June - Bill Gates-backed startup creates Lego-like brick that can store air pollution for centuries

The Washington Post detailed a "deceptively simple" procedure by Graphyte to store a ton of CO2 for around $100 a ton, a number long considered a milestone for affordably removing carbon dioxide from the air. Direct air capture technologies used in the United States and Iceland cost $600 to $1,200 per ton, per the Post.

7. July - Stem cell therapy cures man with type 2 diabetes

A 59-year-old man had been suffering from diabetes for 25 years, needing more and more insulin every day to avoid slipping into a diabetic coma and was at risk of death. But then Chinese researchers cured his disease for the first time in the world. The patient received a cell transplant in 2021 and has not taken any medication since 2022.

8. August - Chinese drones will fly trash out of Everest slopes

Come autumn, Nepal will deploy heavy lifter drones to transport garbage from the 6,812-metre tall Ama Dablam, south of Everest. This will be the first commercial work an unmanned aerial vehicle does in Nepal’s high-altitude zone.

9. November - Tokyo to make day care free to boost birth rate

Tokyo plans to make day care free for all preschool children starting in September, the city governor has announced as part of efforts to boost Japan's low birth rate.

10. October - FTC Rule Banning Fake Product Reviews Takes Effect With Stiff Penalties

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan announced on Oct. 21 that the agency’s prohibition on fake online reviews was taking effect, imposing fines as high as $50,000 for violations. Khan encouraged followers to report the proscribed practices at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

11. November - Bumblebee population increases 116 times over in 'remarkable' Scotland rewilding project

The bumblebee population has made an impressive comeback in a developed area by increasing to 116 times what it was two years ago thanks to a nature restoration group.

12. December - Spain to enshrine gay marriage and abortion rights into its constitution so 'they cannot be undone in the future'

The left-wing PSOE leader made the announcement at an event marking the 46th anniversary of the Spanish Magna Carta.

“We believe that these are rights that we must protect in the Constitution so that no one can touch them in the future,” Sanchez said in a statement in parliament on Friday.

----------

That's it for last year :)

This newsletter will always be free. If you liked this post you can support me with a small kofi donation here:

Buy me a coffee ❤️

Also don’t forget to share this post with your friends.

[phyrestartr]

Love Is Not My Right | Sukuna x M!Reader

W/C: 1.1k

#NSFW, bottom!reader, top!sukuna, reader is early thirties, sukuna is mid twenties, reader is a uni prof, sukuna is a uni student, DON'T SLEEP WITH YOUR PROFS IRL PLS THANK YOU, questionable relationship, smut, fluff, angst, self-deprecating reader, soft sukuna?, sukuna has daddy and mommy issues, not edited that much lol IT'S A DRABBLE STFU

tags: @kamote-kuneho @better-imagination-9 @flowersatwork (SOZ IF Y'ALL HAVE ALREADY READ THIS HFOHGIOHG JUST REMEMBERED I DIDN'T ADD TAGS)

“Fuck, Teach,” Sukuna groaned. His hips pistoned against yours harder, accentuated by the sharp clap of skin meeting skin. He squeezed your thigh, the one of the leg thrown over his shoulder, before slapping the side of your ass as his head tilted back with a throaty groan.

You, on the other hand, were a trembling mess--and at the hands of your student, no less. Everything about this was uncouth as could be; Sukuna was nearly a decade your junior, he was in your class, and he had zero qualms about the fact that you were his professor. He saw you, decided he wanted you, and would therefore have you.

It was easy saying no in the beginning. He was a typical punk with sharp wit and a sharper tongue--many men like him had made passes at you in the confines of your classroom, but Sukuna had the smarts and charisma to back up his flirtatious remarks and daring whispers.

But, if you were being honest, maybe it was because you'd been engaged twice, un-engaged thrice (long story). Maybe it was because you'd been cheated on and dumped on loop. Maybe it was because you'd given up on romance and sex and everything else and–well, maybe that was why you succumbed to his advances. Maybe you were just sad and lonely, willing to be taken advantage of under the man's misguided thought that you'd give him a better grade if he fucked you good enough. You wouldn't. But he never asked for it, either.

You jumped when another sharp spank sent ripples of bitter pleasure and pinching pain fluttering across your skin. The simple feeling had you clamping down around the man and gasping.

“Itadori-kun–”

“What did I say?” Sukuna groaned, spanking you again and adjusting the leg hooked over his shoulder. “First name.”

Your eyes blurred slightly from the embarrassment and pleasure of it all. “I--but that's–”

“I'm ‘boutta cum in your ass, ‘n you're worried about honorifics?” Sukuna cackled, holding your thigh with both hands as he focused harder on moving his hips faster and faster. “‘M fucking you…in your own fuckin’ bed…and you're–ah–worried about–fuck, you're so fucking good--fuck.”

The searing friction eating you alive tripled in Sukuna's frenzy to reach his second high of the night. You burned alive, shyly crying out as he hit your soft spot over and over, tightening up more and more until you plummeted into your third (fourth? Fifth?) orgasm dealt by Itadori Sukuna's hand. Well, hand, mouth, and cock.

“Sukuna,” you gasped, curling into yourself and subsequently toward him, fisting one hand into his dark hoodie to try and ground yourself against the relentless assault.

His hips stuttered when you called his name. His lips crashed against yours, then, with teeth clacking together and tongue bullying into your mouth as he trembled and slammed in with too-much strength to pour his cum into your core.

“F-fuck. Love that sh-shit,” he stuttered as his stomach tightened and contracted, his eyes rolling back before they fell closed to indulge in the pleasure crashing down on him. But his body's seizing didn't stop his hips from moving–he kept pushing and pushing, hard and sloppy and weak but so, so desperate to jam more and more deeper and deeper into you.

Eventually, when you were both threadbare and burnt out, he pulled out and collapsed beside you with a pleased sigh. You hugged a pillow and fought to catch your breath, but Sukuna, the brat he was, tugged away your life boat to replace it with himself.

You sighed, baffled and exhausted. “Sukuna–”

“What? ‘M allowed to fuck you but not–”

“You–I–we shouldn't be–I shouldn't be doing this,” you argued. “You're too young, I'm your professor. You should be looking for people your own age–”

“Not like I fucking chose this for the thrill,” he scoffed, tucking his arm under his head as he looked at your tired face. “This looks bad on me, too. Looks like I'm tryna fuck good grades out of you.”

You huffed and fixed his hoodie's tangled drawstrings. “You already get good grades. No one would believe that.”

“‘M a fucking genius. Everyone knows,” he agreed with a smirk. “But the other extras in your class? They'll act like it's somethin’ else. They'll jump on whatever the fuck they can to make their own pathetic asses feel less guilty for sucking so hard at life.”

You rolled your eyes, but couldn't help a smile. “Well, this'll look worse on me. Either you did fuck grades out of me, or I'm holding said grades hostage ‘n making you sleep with me lest they suddenly drop.”

Sukuna hummed and slid a hand to your bare waist. “Ho? I like the sound of that. Guess I'll have to try harder to make sure I stay your favourite. I could go for a 4.4."

“Please–don't roleplay that,” you begged, feeling more tired by the second. “Just promise me you'll move on and forget about this after finals. Please. It's in your best interest.”

“Yeah? ‘N what's in your best interest, Teach?” Sukuna wondered. His knuckles brushed against the curve of your cheek, and you felt your heart ache with loneliness. But you'd never admit you wanted this. You'd never admit you wanted a cure for being unlovable.

“Keeping you safe,” you said, pulling his hand from your face and squeezing it tightly, “Is in my best interest. I want you to be happy, to stay out of trouble. And this? This can only breed trouble.”

“Trouble ain't so bad.”

“Sukuna.”

“After finals, ‘m not your student anymore,” Sukuna reminded.

Your face got a little hot. “Don't twist this–”

“Twist it? Tch. It's just facts.” He looped his arms around your smaller frame and tugged you in close. “So I'm gonna keep taking my daddy issues out on you even after the semester ends.”

You had to laugh. “That's–you're a little too self-aware–”

“Pretty sure that's a good thing, no?” He yawned and tugged the blankets up over the both of you. “You're starting to piss me off with all the resistance. Just take it. Like how you take my cock.”

You sighed and sat up, pulling the blanket over the younger man more. “You have a dangerous mouth on you, y’know that?”

Sukuna smirked. “Like hearin' that from you.”

“Right. Well, I need to wash up.” You brushed his hair back against your better judgment. “You need anything?”

The look he sent you made everything ache more; it was something so warm and lazy, half-lidded eyes fighting to stay open as your tender touches lulled him to sleep. It was so strange, the apparent peace you brought to such an explosive soul. It almost made you think this could work.

“Jus’ make sure you come back,” he grumbled before letting his eyes fall closed. “Fucking kill you if you don't.”

You smiled the tiniest bit as you brushed his hair back a few more times. “Promise I will,” you whispered, earning a soft grunt of approval in return.

But as you sauntered to the bathroom, shedding whatever clothes you somehow still had on, you cried.

[thehumantrampoline]

Everybody's always talking about how hard it is to write "geniuses" when you're not one. But geniuses aren't hard if you're talking about the logical chessmaster tactician kind, or even the intuitive kind. Those types are characterized mostly by always thinking "ten moves ahead" or whatever, or understanding things at a glance that others wouldn't notice.

But you're the writer. You know ALL the moves in advance, presumably, or you can anyway (harder to write a genius without an outline) and you already understand how your world works, you don't have to intuit anything. You get to slip the cheat sheet to your genius. You don't have to work from beginning to end like geniuses do, you just have to solve the maze backward. This is always the easiest way to write mysteries or conspiracies, and also Sherlock Holmes style deductions: determine the answer, and then come up with ways somebody would get to that answer. It's easy for your genius to plan for every eventuality when you control the eventualities, or can go back and write their plan for them in on the edits. "Genius" is a concept created by their ability to adapt to or control the circumstances, and you're the one writing the circumstances.

Geniuses are easy. SPECIALISTS, though. Specialists will have you with ten wikipedia tabs open watching your fifth video essay on relativistic physics and crying.

[whizzing-fizzbee]

Masterlist

Figured it was time I put together a masterlist of my fics. Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to read, comment or even skim my work. I appreciate you more than anything. Works are below the cut.

All images associated with the works below come from Pinterest and are edited with text by me.

Requests:

My inbox is always open to HL one-shot requests. Please be sure to specify if you want your request to include smut or not. (Note: I don't write smut involving minors.)

I'm also happy to read over something you've written or to brainstorm with you on ideas for your works. I won't, however, write your work for you.

Key:

🔥 Smut warning (18+/MDNI; I do not write smut involving minors) ⏳ On hold

Hogwarts Legacy

Chapter Fics

🔥 What Are Friends For? - Sebastian Sallow x F!OC Sebastian Sallow admits his sexual inadequacies to his best friend, Stella Alves. She offers to help him "practice" until he regains some confidence. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Arm's Length - Sebastian Sallow x F!MC Her story with Sebastian Sallow is supposed to be over. She’s now a seventh year with classes, friends and cute classmates to fill her time. She no longer has any use for that stupid Slytherin, especially after he made it clear he has no use for her. So when he starts to claw his way back into her life, she’ll fight like hell to keep him at arm’s length. It's a fight she’ll always lose. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Don't Blame Me - Sebastian Sallow x Original Female Character When Sebastian Sallow learns the new fifth year, Iridessa Markes, has magical powers that could lead to a cure for his sister, he decides to use his charisma and charm to manipulate her into helping him. They form a friendship that morphs into a strong bond teetering toward romance. But Sebastian will soon learn that the new girl might be even more manipulative than he is. In other words, what happens when a manipulative, morally obscure person meets an even more manipulative, morally obscure person? AO3 | Read on Tumblr

One-shots

🔥 Some Protector - Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader It's been six months since Sebastian Sallow ended your relationship, citing fear that your association to him could send you to Azkaban. When you're forced to reunite at your friends' wedding, you make it clear you need Sebastian more than you need his protection. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Ignorant. - Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader You already know what this one's about. That incident. On this day five years ago, Sebastian Sallow had the audacity to call you ignorant during an argument in the Undercroft. You forgave but you sure as hell didn't forget. Now, you're exacting some revenge five years later to show your new husband who the ignorant one really is. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 I'll Look After You - Ominis Gaunt x F!Reader After you told your boyfriend, Ominis Gaunt, that you're ready to advance your relationship to the next level, he's nervous, especially since he can't see you. You show him you'll always be there to look after him. Read on Tumblr.

🔥 Unraveled - Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader You're typically the quiet, reserved type. You find public displays of affection unbecoming, though your boyfriend, Sebastian Sallow, can't help himself. So when he spends a morning teasing you until you're wound so tight you can't see straight, you show him how it feels to unravel. Read on Tumblr

🔥 Tickle the Ivories - Ominis Gaunt x F!Reader Ominis Gaunt needs some inspiration to finish writing his novel. You suggest he play some piano for inspiration; instead, he plays you. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

I Remember - Sebastian Sallow x GN!Reader You died during your seventh year at Hogwarts before you could tell your best friend, Sebastian Sallow, how much you loved him. But when he discovers a box of your pensieve memories, he learns the comforting, yet cruel truth. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Special Delivery - Sebastian Sallow x F!Reader When you tease your husband, Sebastian Sallow, for being unromantic, he shows up at your job at the Ministry of Magic on Valentine's Day to prove you wrong. Read on Tumblr

🔥 XOXO, Anonymous - Sebastian Sallow x F!OC Sebastian Sallow has been hopelessly in love with Annalisa Lark since the day they met during fifth year. So when he discovers a love letter to Ominis seemingly sent from her, he begins a downward spiral. Once the truth comes out, he'll realize actions sometimes speak louder than words. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Emergency Contact - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You haven't seen or heard from Sebastian Sallow in three years after a falling out splintered your friendship. But a sudden, urgent owl from St. Mungo's reveals he's been seriously injured, and you're still his emergency contact. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Darling, Dear - Sebastian Sallow x Ominis Gaunt x F!OC Years ago, Sebastian Sallow and Ominis Gaunt mutually agreed that the new fifth year girl was off limits, despite crushes that grew into love. Five years later, the trio of best friends has moved into a townhome together. She loves both men equally, so why not allow them both to love her back? AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Behind the Curtains - Sebastian Sallow x Reader / Ominis Gaunt x Reader Sebastian Sallow loves his girlfriend, and she adores him back. So why is Sebastian waking up to find her in bed with Ominis Gaunt? AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Black Butterflies & Deja Vu - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Your best friend Sebastian Sallow has been downright angsty lately. You have no idea it's because he's lovesick over you, until Anne and Ominis force your hands. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Death By A Thousand Freckles - Sebastian Sallow x F!OC Emilia Bell accidentally sees her best friend and teammate, Sebastian Sallow, clad in only a towel after quidditch practice. Now, all she can think about are all those freckles. AO3 | Read on Tumblr | Read the sequel

🔥 Laundry Day - Sebastian Sallow x F!OC Sequel to Death By A Thousand Freckles. Sebastian Sallow's clothing continues to disappear from the laundry and he can't figure out why. Once he discovers the truth, he gets repayment for his missing wardrobe. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Guilty As Sin - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You’re a sinner and tonight, Sebastian Sallow is a saint. In other words, it’s your last night at Hogwarts and you can’t help but fantasize over your best friend. Luckily, he’s happy to turn your daydreams into reality. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 This Is How It Starts - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You're going absolutely, utterly mental. Your boyfriend, Andrew Larson, hasn't touched you in weeks and you're growing desperate. When he's unwilling to help relieve your sexual tension, your best friend, Sebastian Sallow, always has your back. AO3 | Read on Tumblr | Read the sequel

🔥 Show Me What Love Is - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Sequel to This Is How It Starts. In the weeks after your breakup with Andrew Larson, you and Sebastian Sallow waste no time making up for lost time. But it's impossible to study for your N.E.W.T.s when you can't keep your hands off each other. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Numb Without You - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Sebastian Sallow, who happens to be your boyfriend, becomes irate when you agree to be Leander Prewett's dueling partner in Crossed Wands. He tries his best to punish you, but lust has a way of softening even the sharpest tempers. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

If I Had A Gun - Sebastian Sallow X Original Female Character Sebastian Sallow has been in love with his best friend, Sophia Kane, since their fifth year. Now in their seventh year, Sebastian struggles with his feelings while their future seems uncertain. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 The Pact - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You and your best friend, Sebastian Sallow, made a pact on your 18th birthday: the two of you would get married if you were both single at age 25. Now it's your 25th birthday and neither of you have a spouse. In other words, two best friends realize they wasted years on unspoken feelings and mutual pining. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Girls' Night - Sebastian Sallow x Original Female Character Emmeline Alexander plans a girls' night for Anne Sallow and their friends at the cottage in Feldcroft, but her best friend and crush Sebastian insists on crashing the party. In other words, MC (Emmeline) and Sebastian take advantage of the Silencio spell in Sebastian's bedroom after a night of Never Have I Ever. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 Keep Quiet - Sebastian Sallow x Original Female Character Sequel to Girls' Night. Sebastian Sallow and Emmeline Alexander are having a tough time keeping their hands off one another now that their romance is in full force. That includes clandestine encounters at the Feldcroft cottage and during a party in the Gryffindor Common Room. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

🔥 I Love You, It's Ruining My Life - Sebastian Sallow x Reader You were supposed to be happily married to your handsome and successful husband. You most certainly were not supposed to think about your ex-boyfriend, Sebastian Sallow. After all, it's been five years since you broke up amid your graduation from Hogwarts. But when your husband surprises you with the announcement you're moving to Feldcroft, you despair over your new neighbors. AO3 | Read on Tumblr

Robbers - Sebastian Sallow x Reader Your romance with Sebastian Sallow has reached a toxic level, but you're too in love with him to let go. Read on Tumblr

Flowers On the Grave - Sebastian Sallow x Reader After Anne's death, MC reflects on how far they and Sebastian have come since their fifth year. Read on Tumblr

Harry Potter

Chapter Fics

⏳ Playing For Keeps - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Oliver Wood is Puddlemere United's starting Keeper. He's also tired of dodging crazed fangirls when all he wants is to focus on quidditch. His solution: Ask his old friend Katie Bell to pretend to be his girlfriend. AO3

🔥 Call It What You Want - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Longtime friends Katie Bell and Oliver Wood are both single by choice, enjoying their successful careers. One night of poor judgment leads them to a mutual agreement — friends with benefits, with extra emphasis on the benefits. AO3

⏳ Love Games - Oliver Wood x Katie Bell Tired of Oliver Wood's tyrannical leadership, the Gryffindor quidditch team devises a plan at Katie Bell's expense to distract him. While Katie does her best to take one for the team, she soon realizes her feelings are no longer a game. AO3

[vixensdungeon]

Why are the edition numbers so hecked up?

It's no great secret that Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition is not, in fact, the fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons (even less so after they released a new edition and just called it 5th Edition again). So why aren't they using the accurate numbering?

Well let auntie Viv walk you down that path and help you see that the numbering actually makes sense and is not a big deal.

The original game was released in 1974. It wasn't called 1st Edition because that's something that only happens in retrospect.

Then in 1977, the first Basic Set was released. It was not called 2nd Edition because it wasn't intended as a full game, just an introductory set for the larger game. It was assumed that groups would eventually graduate to...

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, released between 1977 and 1979, with the first book being the Monster Manual. This edition wasn't numbered because it had a different name, and a number wouldn't be necessary. It was clearly the Advanced version of Dungeons & Dragons.

Then came B/X and BECMI, which also weren't numbered because they were, again, meant as Basic versions of the Advanced game, although they ended up spinning off into their own thing that really can't be considered to be in the same line of succession anymore.

Then in 1989, we finally have our first numbered edition. Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition, which was numbered thusly due to being the second edition of the Advanced game. Numbering it any other way would have been ludicrous. At this time the appellation "1st Edition" was retroactively applied to the original AD&D, because that was the first edition of AD&D.

Fast forward to 2000. BECMI D&D has long sinze fizzled out, and a new company is coming out with a new edition of the game. The version players are familiar with is 2nd Edition, so to communicate that this is the next one after that, they call it 3rd Edition. They also drop tha Advanced because there aren't two separate lines anymore, and just in terms of marketing it would make the game less inviting to new players. So they call it Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition.

After that it's a lot simpler, since each change in numbering comes with a massive overhaul of the system so the lines are pretty clear. And while it might be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with the intricacies of TSR-era D&D, if you see how we actually got to the numbering we have today, you'll see that it's like that for a good reason.

[ttalgi]

missent letters

wanderer x gn! reader

part 1 || part 2

"hey, i was wondering why you even wanted to send that letter to hat guy, anyways?"

it took a moment to process what kaveh said, and when you did, you felt your body freeze up. it took an unusual amount of effort to get the words out of your mouth, maybe because of how dry it suddenly felt.

"what...what do you mean letter? i don't know about any letters?! why would i, of all people, write him a letter?! " you scoffed out the last part, hoping that your haughty tone would defend you from what you were about to hear.

"UGH! first of all, spend less time around alhaitham, you're copying his mannerisms a bit too well," he exasperated. "secondly, are you having early stages of memory loss?! i'm talking about the multiple page letter you left on your desk to be sent out alongside that package for your family."

your first instinct was to yell at kaveh for even sending the letter, but then taking a moment to think, you can't help but to berate yourself over why you would even leave the letter out on your desk. thinking even further you realize that it's actually all hat guy's fault.

you've spent too many years of your life trying to stay at the top of your vahumana class only for hat guy to swoop in and tear at your efforts. the last straw was when he received the top score on the latest essay, bumping you down to second,,,for the fifth time now.

your vexation for him caused you to begin writing how he shouldn't even be in the akademiya because he just showed up one random day in the middle of the year out of nowhere. which led to how you thought that he was insufferable, especially when he discovers that he surpassed your score. which somehow led you to write about how you sometimes stare at his stupidly pretty face when you spot him at the library, about his voice which holds a tone that musicians wish they could play forever, about his hair that you imagine combing your fingers through-

"hello?! anyone present up here??" kaveh knocked at your head.

"kaveh...im so screwed."

notes: i was reading "i hope this doesn't find you" when i suddenly thought of this prompt with scara so i made up this small drabble hehe. also this is not edited, so apologizes in advance...also it's 4 am where i am...i should really sleep

[alphamecha-mkii]

Star Wars: X-Wing (2nd Ed) - Hotshots and Aces Reinforcements Pack - Fifth Brother

[gallifreyanhotfive]

Random Doctor Who Facts You Might Not Know, Part 42

The Mara jumped from Tegan into the Fifth Doctor, then also affected Nyssa and Turlough. The Mara will stay with them all forever in the back of their minds. (Audio: The Cradle of the Snake)

The Brigadier has forced the Fourth Doctor to write apology and thank you letters before but always thoroughly edits them to make them more polite or completely rewrites it himself if they're too rude. (Novel: The Time Lord Letters)

Turlough had a childhood sweetheart named Deela. Since they had been teenagers, they decided to make the key to the vault of his winter palace their literal kiss. (Audio: Kiss of Death)

The Third Doctor taught Jo Venusian aikido. (Audio: The Sacrifice of Jo Grant)

While at the Academy, the Doctor wrote a paper dissecting romantic love. He concluded that love was nothing but chemicals and metabolites. His professor gave him an absolutely dreadful grade on it because the Doctor missed the point of the assignment entirely. (Audio: The Wormery)

The TARDIS recalls that the Ninth Doctor was beaten after losing a war "against Death." She misses this incarnation. (Short story: What the TARDIS thought of "Time Lord Victorious")

The TARDIS had a lot of issues trying to translate Peri's accent. (Audio: The Lost Planet)

Putting the sonic screwdriver through the laundry can result in all the dirt molecules being agitated until it forms a mud creature. (Comic: Laundro-Room of Doom)

The Eighth Doctor once became depressed with his model train set because he wanted something less perfect. After he returned from an adventure, he found that a disaster had occurred among his model trains. When he went to clean up, he saw that the miniature people in his train set had started putting things right, so he decided to let them fix it themselves and hopefully learn things from the experience. (Short story: Model Train Set)

At one point, the Doctor switched out the TARDIS stereo system for a micromodulator switch, which is capable of shrinking things, and forgot about it. The Tenth Doctor and Rose were accidentally shrunk using it, and while shrunk, he got stuck in a spider web. (Comic: Which Switch?)

Type 1 TARDISes were notoriously temperamental and sometimes attacked and consumed the scientists working on them. When the Eleventh Doctor managed to calm one down after winding up in early Gallifrey, Rassilon noticed this and had him work on developing Type 1s, taking advantage of his advanced knowledge. (Comic: The Lost Dimension)

When these scientists had asked who the Doctor was, he eventually decided to let everyone call him Theta-Sigma. (Comic: The Lost Dimension)

Vortex drillers were used by early Gallifreyans to tunnel through the time vortex. They were discontinued because of the damage this did to time. They kind of looked like castles, but instead of turrets, there were drills. There would be altars for Gallifreyan cults inside, and they had mineralic circuitry. (Audio: The Auton Infinity)

The War Master once manipulated Jo into thinking that he was her uncle. (Audio: A Quiet Night In)

"Theta Sigma" was simply a unique identifier used by the Doctor in his youth. It should not be spoken out loud outside of the Academy (not that this ever stopped many people who knew him at the time). (Novel: Falls the Shadow)

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[henrysglock]

The Dustin Experiment—Review

Rating: 2/5 Author: J.L. D'Amato

The Dustin Experiment was an unexpectedly easy read, especially coming off The Silmarillion. It's marketed as a young adult novel, but it's something I would have read as a fifth grader. I finished it, notes and all, in under 4 hours. I even handed it off to my mother, fearing my "good at reading" autism—paired with the fact that my father majored in literature, meaning advanced books were the status-quo in my household growing up as a result—was the culprit. She pegged it as a sixth grade novel within the first couple of pages. I'm not sure if it was the fault of Random House's categorization or the declining literacy rate in the States, but I was definitely expecting a plot that was a little more complex, or at least characters whose motivations were more complex.

The novel follows Dustin through the first semester of high school, specifically through a regional science fair that neither Lucas or Mike want to participate in with him. Along the way, the fraying relationships between the remaining Party members are explored, as well as the foundations of Dustin's bond with Eddie—who offers to be Dustin's ride to the science fair.

I can't say the book didn't deliver exactly that. However, I do have a few criticisms.

One: The editing

There were certain instances in the book where I couldn't believe D'Amato's editor didn't offer a correct of some kind.

Repetition 1. Claudia starts a running bit about Dustin electrocuting himself. It's funny the first time (page 28). But when Eddie says the exact same thing just a few pages later (page 34)—without a justifiable reason, because Eddie is not like a parent to Dustin, he's an older brother figure, so even using it as a parallel wouldn't make sense—it feels tired. When Claudia reuses the exact bit a couple chapters later, it's far overdone (page 60). 2. Max's social withdrawal over Billy's death is mentioned right away (page 3), and it's brought up in full no less than six times throughout the 290 page novel (pages 10, 87, 118 (x2!), and 237). "Max has been absent ever since Billy's death last year" should have been brought up once, maybe twice, and then left to the reader's memory afterward. 3. Interdimensional monsters is another one. This is the "interdimensional monsters" show. It doesn't need to be blatantly said more than twice. Alas, it's referenced in full no less than six times throughout the story (pages 2, 3, 41, 132, 159, and 166). Again, overkill. 4. There were some odd phrases that repeated word for word, specifically about Claudia having grown up in Hawkins. These ^^ are just the most blatant/egregious examples. I felt like I was reading an essay where the author was struggling to meet a word limit, and I'm not sure why someone proofreading this book wouldn't catch that. If this is supposed to be a young adult book, then make it young adult writing. Hell, Dustin and Suzie are reference reading Neuromancer—an adult book—but even if this book had been intended for kids, kids aren't stupid. There was too much hand-holding overall for a Stranger Things story. Show, don't tell.

Callbacks The author is trying entirely too hard to reference the TV show and flex knowledge of the 80s. Mr. Mom makes an appearance, there's a reference to black widow spiders being scary and dangerous (but no mention from Dustin the Science Nerd about how the fear is unfounded because black widows are largely docile until provoked), a reference to the exact month Ghostbusters came out on VHS, so on and so forth within this general vibe of trying too hard.

Grammar There were numerous instances of clunky phrasing, incorrect use of punctuation (specifically overuse of commas and unwillingness to use semicolons where semicolons would have worked best), and overlooked issues with italics (like on page 216, when the show Dynasty is italicized...along with the rest of the phrase it appears in. Or the paragraph on page 32 where, like, every sixth word is italicized). This is particularly ironic given the two pages at the start of Chapter 14 wherein Mike corrects Dustin's grammar. Again, I'm not sure how an editor would have missed all these instances. Also, there's a line of dialogue for Lucas that's ripped directly from a tumblr post. Dead fucking ass. Mike, Lucas, and Dustin are discussing horror movie protags doing stupid things, and Lucas says that the protags "don't have the luxury of being genre aware". I've reblogged that exact post at least once this year. I mean, come on. It does make the too-detailed moments about the 80s ironic, though. Comes off as the author trying so hard to be "relatable" that the vibe of the 80s is lost despite having the details that supposedly "prove" she knows the 80s.

Two: The characterization

The only characters that felt true were Steve, Robin, and Claudia. I'm sorry, but it's true. Dustin felt like a caricature of himself, at once totally self-absorbed—bordering on genuinely narcissistic at times—and weirdly socially conscious. He criticizes Lucas for joining basketball without understanding the social context of that choice, but then turns around and uses modern speak about basketball being "a pointless ritual glorifying outdated ideals of masculinity" to do that criticizing. Dustin is particularly angry in this novel, which isn't really supported by the show. Even when he's being abandoned in ST3, he doesn't show it very outwardly (or at least he doesn't do it often). Also, Dustin refers to D’art as a monster at least twice. He would not fucking say that, or whatever the kids are saying these day.

The author makes numerous callbacks to The First Shadow (like Dustin being encouraged to join drama club/try out for the school play/musical, and referenced to both his parents having grown up in Hawkins), but she doesn't manage to get the characterizations of either Walter Henderson or Alan Munson right. Walter in TFS is quite devoted to Claudia, to the point of snapping at Henry just for referring to her as a "chick". I never pegged him as the type to cheat on her. Alan, on the other hand, is referenced as having smacked Eddie around in anger. This isn't consistent with any version of Alan. TFS Alan is a sensitive theater boy who's very good at empathizing and showing compassion to those who may not "deserve" it (like Jim Hopper's asshole dad, who is re-framed by Alan as a single dad trying his best). In Flight of Icarus, Alan is an absentee deadbeat who's largely a coward. He'll let Eddie take the fall for his schemes, but as far as I recall, there are no mentions of him abusing Eddie physically.

On another note, The basketball team. They are way too active as bullies—especially Jason. I feel like the author forgot that these are Hawkins' golden boys. Jason has an image to protect, and he doesn't go after Eddie/the nerds unless he's provoked. Having the team pelt Dustin and Mike with basketballs no less than three times is not only overkill, it's also out of character. Actively bullying Dustin and Mike physically feels "below" the basketball team—the same way that stepping on El's project is a low for Angela, who prefers verbal bullying, and the milkshake scene is a provoked incident because El is perceived as having gotten Angela in trouble.

I'm aware that these novels are not meant to be strictly canon, but all this feels like the author was missing source material and the editor didn't care enough to catch it.

This ^^ extends into canonicity issues overall, the largest of which serves to demonize Lucas.

Lucas is written as having missed all of first semester Hellfire club specifically for basketball stuff. There's really no mention of that in filmed canon—in fact, the tournament is positioned as the first time Lucas has to miss Hellfire. Lucas is also in the club's yearbook picture, shirt and all, which heavily implies that he was in Hellfire from the start along with Dustin and Mike.

Lucas's absence is used to villainize him in Dustin's eyes, and we don't ever get a real apology from Dustin about how he treated Lucas on account of basketball. The two make up, but it's in the way of "we were both assholes". No! Lucas was not in the wrong, here! Dustin has been a self-absorbed the asshole, and he acknowledges as much mentally! If the author had leaned into "Dustin feels weird taking responsibility for xyz reasons", fleshing out Dustin as a character, then I could give it a pass. Without that....it just feel like finding a way to create an object for Dustin's ire, with Lucas being the easy fall guy.

Having Lucas so easily and willingly "ditch" his friends is also antithetical to the Lucas we see in ST5, who's trying so hard to make everything work out re: the tournament. The Lucas in this book had already given up on making both groups mesh, regardless of the fact that Dustin showed up for one of his practices. (Which, Lucas making baskets and fitting easily into the team? When he's a bench warmer canonically? Doesn't make sense. If you've ever been a bench warmer on a school team sport, you know what I mean.)

There's also mention of Will, Jon, and El all being seen as the "weird" kids from Indiana, and everyone in Cali treating them like freaks. El is the only one we see being treated like a freak. Jon has a friend, and he's never shown being bullied. Will is a wallflower, we're never shown him being mistreated.

Riddle me this: Is Will being treated like a weirdo, or is he avoiding being treated like a weirdo by freezing up on El when she needs him most? Can't have it both ways.

I also found it ironic that the author had Will lecturing Dustin on communication, when he himself does not communicate well. Like oh, so you're saying he's a hypocrite? If that was the author's intent, I'd call it a sexy move, but it was painted as Will being "wise". Alas.

The same goes for D'Amato having Dustin tell Will that everything has crumbled without him. This is not the case. Everything has crumbled because Lucas is absent. The Party has always been fine without Will. It has always suffered without Lucas. ST1 will tell you that. So, unless the author's intent was to highlight Dustin not being able to accept that Lucas is the missing linchpin and him pushing that "blame", so to speak, onto Will's absence, then....okay. Sexy move. However, with Dustin being so openly and over-explainedly frustrated about Lucas "ditching" them/how him drifting away is causing so much grief, I can't imagine that kind of nuanced subtext was the goal in mind.

Three: The plot

My biggest beef with the plot is the Indianapolis science fair saboteur plot. The ending was supremely fucking cheesy and Sooby-Doo "and I would have gotten away with it if it weren't for you meddling kids" in essence. Hell, the "villain" whips out an "I'm not letting you Scooby-Doo wannabes get in my way" right at the end. It's not even an entertaining way to end that arc. Sigh.

Dustin is up against a bunch of smart kids from the prestigious Edgewood academy, namely Danny, Anika, and Brian. Brian is a senior, and he informs Dustin of a "curse" that's been plaguing the science fair—that is, destroying people's projects. The "curse" hits Anika's project, and Dustin takes it upon himself to solve it with Danny and Eddie's help. They record a tape of the saboteurs talking, and they go to Brian for help, since he's a senior and a victim of the "curse" himself. Brian sends them on a wild goose chase, claiming one of the voices sounds like his classmate Richard Rasch. Dick Rasch. Dick rash.

Dustin realizes he's been hoodwinked, and that Brian was the one on the tape. How he didn't realize it initially, I don't know. Alas, Brian has erased the recording, leaving Dustin with absolutely no proof. Dustin confronts Brian anyway, and Brian, the genius multi-year saboteur, just fucking snidely spills his guts about it. Two pages of straight up exposé. If Brian is so smart, and he's been able to pull this off for multiple years with no one catching him, then how is he stupid enough to admit to it? Hello? There's no evidence! There's nothing linked to him! Dustin and Brian both acknowledge that there's no proof. Are you kidding me??? He's a well-liked senior! He could absolutely bullshit his way out and call Dustin a jealous liar to cover his ass. But of course, the Mr. Clarke-wannabe, Mr. Adams, is oh-so conveniently right there to overhear all of that, since Brian had erased Dustin's recording.

It would have been so easy to give Dustin a second bit of proof to make this all more of a legitimate mystery solving trap. Like, say, cameras. Cameras are so important to ST canon overall, and it would be so easy to have Dustin ask Mr. Adams to check some tapes to prove that Brian is the saboteur without this cheap, nonsensical cop-out ending. They're in a nice building in Indianapolis! If HNL has cameras, then this building can, too, and the cameras would be the one thing Brian wouldn't think to even try to erase, since no one has suspected him so far. Dustin could figure out the saboteur from the deleted recording, but he could get hard proof from a camera when Brian has one-upped him. Make it a chess game! Like the chess game from NINA, people moving proof and pieces like pawns in the game! Make a another tryhard callback! You named your fake character Richard for fuck's sake! Like Richard BRENNER from the newspapers! It's not hard to write a satisfying ending. Brian could still have his silly little exposé moment without the entire thing resting flatly on it, should Dustin have found some other hard proof by knowing when to find an adult—especially one who's so willing to help, given Mr. Adam's similarities to Mr. Clarke (they both even have a mustache). The ending to that arc was cheap, easy, and anticlimactic. Upsettingly so.

This ^^ quite literally ruined the plot of the book for me. Sorry, not sorry. Characterization is one thing. Editing is another. But the plot? The plot has to at least be passable to make the former two excusable. And it was! It was! Right up until this bullshit ending to the mystery. Do better. It's not hard.

Editing was poor, characterization was meh at best, and the plot tripped over its gun and shot itself in the head in the home stretch.

As such, The Dustin Experiment receives 2/5 stars from me.

[plasticflowersinahistorycemetery]

just editing the fifth and final instalment of consecration.

i am gonna apologise in advance for this one.

[the-griffons-saddlebag]

Hey adventures! I am so excited to announce two upcoming TTRPGs: Fathomfarer and Skellies! Oh, and before I bury the lede: You can read and playtest these systems *right now* at saddleb.ag/ttrpgs, or check my highlighted story! In brief, Fathomfarer (FF) is a TTRPG for players and GMs that want to try something other than Fifth Edition, but don’t want to learn an even more advanced set of rules or throw rules out altogether. Fathomfarer aims to keep a similar level of mechanical nuance while removing wasted rolls, turns, and levels. It also sets out to rebuild the missing pillars in Fifth Edition, making Exploration and Social Encounters as interesting and satisfying to take part in as Combat. Players can determine their own successes and failures, work together to overcome group challenges, and always feel like they’re making an impact based on their contributions. If you like Fifth Edition but don’t want to forget everything you’ve ever learned to go adventuring again, Fathomfarer may be a fun and quick alternative to try! Skellies, on the other hand, is a rules-lite approach with a focus on hijinks and a Scooby Doo level of seriousness. In it, you play a reanimated skeleton, or skelly, whose greatest purpose in life—err, undeath—is to impress and serve the lich that raised it. Skellies is designed to be a pick-up-and-play game for sessions where you’re down a player, or just as an in-between break for intense moments in your main game’s storyline. Of course, you can absolutely play a longer form campaign of Skellies just as easily! Your skelly will collect treasures from invading adventurers to pay tribute to your lich, who will in turn grant you additional bones to fortify yourself with, or coveted dark blessings to alter your very being! Rolls are simple (using entirely d6s), with very minimal things to track. Relax and have fun: you’re already dead! I hope you decide to check out these ongoing projects of mine, and try them for yourself, at saddleb.ag/ttrpgs! Keep on adventuring! -g ___ ✨ Patrons get huge perks! Access this and hundreds of other item cards, art files, and compendium entries when you support The Griffon's Saddlebag on Patreon for less than $10 a month!