#Helping Your Child Excel in Math

[kidsinnowadays]

How to Help Your Child Excel in Math: Practical Strategies for Boosting Math Skills

Discover actionable techniques to guide your child towards mathematical proficiency, fostering confidence and success in the world of numbers. #MathMastery #MathSkills #ParentingTips #AcademicExcellence

Mathematics is a foundational skill that contributes significantly to a child’s cognitive development and overall academic success. Whether your child finds math enjoyable or challenging, there are practical strategies you can employ to help them excel in the subject. This comprehensive guide outlines effective approaches to boosting your child’s math skills while fostering a love for math that…

[marsbutterfly]

Nerd Hanji head cannons??? Absolutely smart and top of her class no social life? Pulls Y/N??? Erwin, Levi and Moblit are like is Reader blind???? Fluffy nerdy shit I eat that up and let me tell you I’m STARVING

Headcanons: Nerd! Hanji Zoe

a/n: i've had these ready for about a week or so but for some reason i haven't posted them? idk, but i do hope you enjoy heh i had fun.

warnings: none. this is pure fluff. | tagging: @wizzy21

❀ Nerd! Hanji who has been your close friend since the two of you were young. They were always a bit awkward and going around studying frogs or collecting rocks, but you were always following closely behind with a pencil sharpener and a box of band-aids.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who used to tutor you in their free time. Their favorite subjects had always been the most difficult ones: chemistry, physics and math. So they would always do everything in their power to make the subjects more interesting or, at the very least, easier for you to understand.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who has done your homework for you more times than you could count. Some times because you were sick, some because you were getting frustrated and aggravated and some of them in exchange for some of your baking. So they would sit on the kitchen counter as you would bake them cookies, cakes, whatever they were craving that day.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who has always been class president for as long as they were allowed to run. They were constantly trying their best to make sure everyone in class was happy and also having their concerns being heard. They ran unopposed for over five years, mainly because there was nobody else who could have done a better job than them.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who deletes all of their social media every time they have an exam coming up. No matter how many times you tell them that they could easily just delete the app, they will not listen to you because they say they're tempted to just "download it" again.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who has had a crush on you for years but never did anything about it. They wanted to ask you out for so long but didn't for two reasons. Number one is that they didn't think you felt the same way and, number two, because they wanted to wait until you both got to college and had an idea of what you were looking to do for the rest of your life.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who was the joke of the group multiple times but they still couldn't understand that they were being teased for your feelings about them, not the other way around.

❀ Nerd! Hanji Nerd hanji who excels in absolutely everything that they do but are completely oblivious to your feelings for them until you straight up kiss them after a day out together. You were already considering it a date, they thought the two of you were just hanging out before college started. They didn't complain one bit, though.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who doesn't pay attention to how they look, especially when you go out together. They will keep their hair in a messy ponytail, wear the same pair of old crocs and the same taped pair of broken glasses.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who gets you a scholarship to your dream college so the two of you can study together. They will change their entire life plan that they have had since they were a child just to spend time with you, much to their parents' dismay.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who constantly helps you study for your exams because they have absolutely nothing to worry about for themselves and they want you to achieve only the best you can.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who set the curve for the grades too high so they are lowkey disliked by most of their classmates. They don't really care though, the only person they care about is how you feel about them. And you love them to bits.

❀ Nerd! Hanji has an internship at a very prestigious laboratory and is already being considered for a full-time position by the time they graduate.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who constantly sends you pictures of funny looking bacteria they find. They find random shapes and immediately whip out their phone (which they are very much not allowed to do but they get so excited that they can't help it.)

❀ Nerd! Hanji who constantly needs to buy new pens and pencils because they are often biting the back of it or the cap. They have come home with blue or black ink on their lips more times than you can count on one hand.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who sometimes forgets to eat so you always bring them food regardless of where they are. They always blush and tell you not to trouble yourself with these kinds of things but you can't help it. Knowing that they are using all that brain power with no fuel makes your heart ache. So you always give them extra food and water.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who tilts their head when they are thinking about stuff. They do it regardless if they are at work or if they are at home. So you just know they could be looking for a bacteria in a sample or for the extra block of cheese in the back of the fridge, the look is the same.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who doodles your name all over their notepads over and over, to the point where they have to force themselves out of that mind space, otherwise they can't focus.

❀ Nerd! Hanji who looks at you and only you. No matter how old the two of you are, they are always in love with you. And they are always yapping about some video game or book, not that you mind, of course. You never did.

[silverb0wties]

Lemonade - Part 3

leah williamson x alessia russo x child!reader

Summary: When something bad happens to your Mummy and Daddy, you end up living with your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah.  But is there room for you considering they have a new baby on the way?

Chapter Summary:  You go back to school and you try and make yourself useful

Warnings: bullying, homophobia, misogyny 

|| Part 1 || Part 2 ||

PART 3

“30 days has September, April, June and November…”

You had set yourself the task today to make yourself a calendar.  Maths had never been your strongest subject in school, but you were excellent at remembering, so you knew the month song off by heart and were mumbling it to yourself as you began digging into your desk draw to retrieve some art supplies.

The decision to make the calendar had hit you last night when you were reading one of your new library books before bed and the return receipt slipped out of the back cover and onto your lap.  Normally, it was the very first thing you retrieved when you got home from the library, making sure to mark the return dates down on your big white board calendar on the fridge.  But you were still getting used an entirely new routine in your new house and you’d completely forgot to look for the slip.

Now that you had it though, you had to make sure you noted down the dates somewhere you could easily see them.  So, with a few pieces of paper, a ruler and some markers, you drew up a calendar for the next few months.  By checking the borrow date on the receipt and counting how many days it had been since your library visit, you managed to figure out what todays date was.  From there, and with the help of that handy month song, you’d managed to fill in the rest of the dates.   

When it was all completed you stepped back to examine your work.  If you were honest with yourself, your lines could have been drawn straighter and your handwriting could have been much, much neater.  But you didn’t have the energy to redo it, so it would have to do.  For now. 

You surveyed your room for someone to put it.  In your old house your calendar was on the fridge, out in the open for everyone to see and help you keep track of.  Here, it needed to be hidden from your Aunties, so that it was your responsibility, and your responsibility alone, to make sure you were staying on top of everything.

Everything.

A wave of guilt crashed over you as you remembered all the other things you would keep track of on your calendar.  Now that you were a big girl, you had been helping around the house and you had chores.  You would set the table and help take the cups and plates and spoons out of the dish washer (only Mummy and Daddy could touch the knives).  You would also check for mail every morning and there was a pretty purple watering can you got use to water the flowers in the front garden a couple of times a week.

But you didn’t do any of that here at your Aunties house.

Selfish. Selfish. Selfish.

Part of you worried that your Aunties didn’t trust you enough to ask you to help out around the house.  Perhaps they thought you weren’t smart enough or strong enough or big enough to lend a hand.  Or maybe they were secretly mad that you hadn’t insisted on helping and were keeping a top-secret list of all the times you didn’t help out and they would present it to you on a big, long scroll on the day they kicked you out their house.

You shuddered at the thought of that.  That was a day you thought about often.  You didn’t know how many days or weeks or months it was until the baby was here, but surely your time here at your Aunties house was running out.  You needed to do everything in your power to be good until then so that they didn’t kick you out any sooner.  

That night before tea, you made sure to wash your hands extra good before heading into the kitchen where your Aunty Lessi was cooking.  

“Aunty Lessi, could I set the table?”

“Oh sure!  If you’d like.  Just give me a moment and I’ll show you where everything is.”

You grinned in silent satisfaction, glad that it seemed like your Aunty wasn’t outright opposed to you proving your worth.  After your Aunty Lessi finished with whatever she was stirring on the stove, she led you over to various cupboards and drawers and pointed out where the placemats, plates and cutlery lived.  Whilst there were a few plastic cups in the same cupboard as the plates for you to use, the glasses your Aunties drank out of were on a higher shelf that were too high for you to reach.

“Don’t worry about those, I can grab them” she insisted.

“I could get a chair or something to stand on?”

“Don’t be silly, Bun Bun.  I’ll get them.  Thank you for getting everything else though.”

Silly. Silly. Silly.

Once you were all sat down for dinner, you watched your Aunty Lessi spin spaghetti around her fork before you took a deep breath in and began.

“Did I do okay at setting the table?”

“You did a great job, Bunny!” Your Aunty Leah was smiling big and bright at you.  She had a bit of sauce on her chin, but you thought it would be rude to tell her.

“Do you think I could do it every night?” you asked.

“Uhh… I mean, if you want to, sure.”

Victory.  One chore to add to the calendar.

“What about the post?  Can I be in charge of checking that too? Does it come in the mornings?”

You observed as your Aunties caught eyes with each other across the table, seeming to have a silent conversation.

“Umm, yes I suppose you could do that if you like,” Aunty Lessi nodded.

“Great!  And I can help empty the dishwasher.  No knives of course, but I can do spoons and plates and bowls and cups and stuff.  And maybe I can water some of your flowers, or all of them?  Or I can learn how to do other stuff too.  Like I could figure out how to do the laundry or clean the bathrooms or anything you want really…”

You hadn’t really realised, but you had pulled your knees up to your chest as your rant had gone on.  Your head was now resting on top of them as you looked eagerly between your Aunties, waiting for their response.  They were doing the silent conversation thing again.

“You don’t need to do all those things sweetheart.  We appreciate you offering, but maybe we’ll wait until you’re a bit older to do things like the laundry and stuff, yeah?” your Aunty Lessi responded.

You felt your stomach drop.  Your Aunty Lessi’s voice was kind, but you knew what her words meant.  They didn’t think you were big enough to help.

“How about we start off with setting the table for tea and checking the mail?  You’re still just settling in here, so we don’t wanna overload you with too much stuff to remember to do.”

--

It may have been bright and sunny outside, but today was a day you had been absolutely dreading.  You had decided to hang your calendar on the back of your bedroom door so that nobody but you would see it, and you had made sure to mark this day with a bright red circle and big a sad face.  Today was the day you were going back to school. 

You weren’t sure how it was decided or who decided, but you’d had a couple of weeks away from school after the fire and now it was time to go back.

You had only been back at school for 3 weeks of the new school year before the fire happened, so your parents had only just bought you brand-new dresses and shoes to replace the previous ones you’d outgrown.  Your pencil case had been filled with fresh crayons and sharp pencils, and you’d only just put a really cool new bunny sticker that your Uncle Gio had given you on your lunchbox.  But now, you had to start all over again.

So today, as you sat in front office with your Aunties, you were wearing a brand-new school dress and shoes and socks and Aunty Lessi had done your hair in a pretty braid with some pretty ribbons.  You also had a brand-new backpack and lunch box and pencil case, and you even had a brand-new iPad in a shiny purple case. 

In theory, you were all set to go.

But just under the surface, just beneath the layer of hairspray and the stiff gingham fabric, you were absolutely dreading heading back to the big noisy classroom and scary, sticky playgrounds.

You didn’t have heaps of friends at school like most of the other kids seemed to have.  You did have one good friend though.  Nora.  She also really liked to read and was super into comic books and superheros.  You didn’t really understand why she liked them, but you were more than happy to listen to her when she wanted to tell you all about them.  You would then tell her some cool bunny facts in return. 

This year the school librarian, Mr Webster, had let you both work on a big jigsaw puzzle every lunchtime.  He kept it safe and flat on a special piece of wood that he hid on top of his bookshelf in his office when you weren’t working on it.  It was a really, really big puzzle with loads more pieces than any other puzzle either of you had ever done before.  You were both determined to finish it before Christmas, but you weren’t sure if Nora had kept going while you were away.  You hoped she had but you also secretly hoped there was still some pieces left for you to do.  

Unlike previous years, Nora wasn’t in your class this year.  You were in Mrs Green’s class, and she was in Miss Roberts’ class.  You’d both written a letter to each teacher requesting to be swapped into each other’s class, but it hadn’t worked.  You were stuck alone in the classes you were in, and honestly, you were miserable. 

You see, it wasn’t that you didn’t have any other friends, that didn’t bother you much at all.  It was the fact that a bunch of the other kids seemed to actively dislike you.  In fact, the thing they seemed to like most in the whole world was picking on you.  They called you names and pulled on your hair and threw things at you.  You couldn’r really pinpoint exactly when it all started, but your first and most vivid memory was when Mitchell Timms had snatched your copy of The Worst Witch out of your hands one lunch time.  He threw it in a muddy puddle and stomped on it until all the pages were torn and the words had jumbled together.  When you ran over to try and save the book, a gift you’d received on your latest birthday, Mitchell just laughed at you and called you a “loser weirdo”. 

For the first 3 weeks of school this year, you had been sat next to a boy named Ollie and it had been awful.  He kept bumping your arm on purpose while you were trying to write and had laughed whenever you got frustrated that you had to erase and redo your mistakes.  One time he had even pulled your chair out from underneath you when you went to sit down, leading you to land on your bottom on the floor with a thud.  The whole class had pointed and laughed at you.  You had run out of the classroom and hid under a bench to try and calm yourself down.

When the teacher came to find you, you were curled in a ball, rubbing your Pocket Arthur softly against your cheek.  Pocket Arthur was your school buddy.  When you’d moved up from Reception into Primary School, your parents had bought you a miniature version of Arthur that you could keep tucked away in your pocket.  They said that now that you were going to big school, Arthur could no longer come along with you, but they wanted to make sure you still had a little buddy to always keep you company.  So, he was your Pocket Arthur, or Pockie for short. 

But he died in the fire too.

Failure. Failure. Failure.

So, on the night before you went back to school, you’d searched through your room, trying to find something to fill the big empty space left by Pockie when he died – the pocket of your school dress.  You tried crumpling up a wad of tissues, but the texture of it was all wrong.  Next you tried a balled-up pair of socks, but it felt scratchy when you tried rubbing it against your cheek.  You looked over the stuffies your Aunties had bought you, but they were all far too big to fit in your pocket.    

One of the stuffies caught your eye however as your dug through the little pile of toys.  It was on the bottom of pile, and you hadn’t seen it since you moved here.  It was a lovely and soft grey kangaroo, with pointy ears and a long tail.  You rather liked kangaroos, because while they were a completely different species to bunnies and could only be found in the wild in Australia, they kind of reminded you of really big rabbits.  As you pressed the soft fur to your cheek, something small fell in your lap.  Picking it up, you realised it was a baby kangaroo.  It must have fallen from the big kangaroo’s pouch.  It was perfect.  The perfect size, the perfect feel, the perfect squish.  You rubbed it against your cheek.  Bliss.  Holding it gently in your little hands, you squinted your eyes and ran your thumbs across the soft fur trying to figure out the perfect name for your new pocket pal.  Bailey.  She seemed like a Bailey.

And it was Bailey who you clung to, you hand shoved deep in your pocket, when the Headteacher Mrs Brinley called you all into her office.

You watched as both your Aunty Lessi and Aunty Leah shook hands with Mrs Brinley and then you all sat down on big uncomfortable chairs across the table from her.  You’d never been in her office before, so you took a moment to look around, noticing a bunch of certificates in big frames on the wall, a huge bookcase full of books and some photos of who you assumed were her family.

“Well, while we were very, very sad to hear about what has happened, we are glad that Y/K is back at school with us.  Hopefully being back in class will help her with getting back to her regular routine and schedule and assist her in feeling more settled.”

Her voice wasn’t unkind, but everything she said always sounded like she’d been rehearsing for it like it was a speech she had to give in front of the whole school.

“We have both of your phone numbers, as well as the number for your workplace, and we will call you should there be any issues.  But I’m sure Y/K will do just fine.”

Your Aunty Leah gently squeezed your hand that wasn’t firmly stuffed in your pocket, clinging onto Bailey for dear life.

“Mrs Green is going to meet you just back out in the front office and she will walk you up to class.  So, unless anyone has any questions, I’ll let you all get to it.”

You all shuffled back out the front office, where your teacher was waiting for you.  Aunty Lessi knelt down and gave you a big cuddle.

“Okay Bunny. You have fun on your first day back, alright?  And if anything goes wrong, or you don’t feel good or you feel sad… you just let your teacher know to call us okay.”

Aunty Leah leaned over and gave you a kiss on the forehead and stroked your cheek.  “You’ve got everything you need in your backpack, so you’re all set to go.  You’ve got this.”

“Okay.”

“We love you.”

The walk to your classroom was mostly filled with your teacher telling you about all the things you’d missed while you’d been away from school.  A little bubble of dread was beginning to build in your stomach as you realised all the work you now had to catch up on.  But by lunchtime that bubble had been replaced by a boulder.

Holding your lunch box and book tight to your chest, you looked around the hall for a spare seat.  Normally, you and Nora would sit together to eat your lunch and then go to the library, but to make a bad day even worse Nora was away from school today.  You had spent a solid 5 minutes looking for her, but according to a student in her class she’d had to stay home because she a nasty tummy bug.

The hall was quickly filling up as students grabbed their hot meals or lunch boxes and sat down at their chosen tables.  It quickly became apparent that the only spot left was one on the end of a table filled with some of the children who didn’t like you.  You’d spent so long looking for Nora, you’d been left with no other option.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

With a deep breath, you headed over to the table.  You sat quietly in the seat, hoping you would go unnoticed.

You didn’t.

“Why you sitting with us, Y/K?  Isn’t there anyone else you can sit with?” Jessica asked as you unzipped your lunch box.  You just shook your head in response.  A chorus of grumbles followed from the rest of the kids sitting at the table.

“Eww yuck, why does she have to sit with us?”  

“Where’s her weirdo friend?”

“Maybe she can sit on the floor instead.”

You just tried to tune them out, grabbing a sandwich out of your lunch box to munch on.  Your first bite was interrupted when the boy sitting beside you, Max, nudged you.

“Hey, were those your new Mums who brought you into school today?”

You hastily swallowed your sandwich, wanting to explain. “They’re my-” It was no use.  The group quickly began announcing their thoughts on the matter before you had a chance to correct them.

“Two Mums?  How can someone have TWO Mums?  That’s not right.”

“Yeah, my Dad says that it’s disgusting when two boys or two girls are married or kiss and stuff!”

“Oh yeah, like, have you ever saw two lads kiss? It’s weird!”

“I saw two ladies kissing when my Pop took me to the football last week.  He said they were going straight to hell!”

“As if she wasn’t weird enough, now she’s got two Mums too!”

Something inside you snapped, and you found yourself with your fists clenched and your cheeks red, Bailey long forgotten in your pocket.

“Yeah, well, they’re not my Mums, they’re my Aunties.  And they’re really nice and really clever and super cool.  And they play football for England, and and for the red and white club with the cannon!  And my Aunty Leah is the captain and everything! So that’s cooler than any of your families, ever!”

There was a short silence before they all started laughing.

“Girl’s football!  That doesn’t count!”

“That’s not real football!”

“Arsenal!  Pfffft.”

“I can’t wait to tell my Dad about this.”

“One of them looked pregnant when I saw them outside the office.  There’s no way they let her play like that!”

“That’s why they shouldn’t let girls play!”

“Wait, how is she having a baby if there’s no Daddy to put the baby in her?”

Whilst the rest of the comments had begun to muddle together and fade into the background as you tuned them all out, this last one pierced through.  Your head shot back in the direction of Jessica, the girl who had asked the question.  She was looking straight at you with her eyes squinted, twirling a strand of her hair around her pointer finger.

You hadn’t ever stopped to think about this.  To be honest you’d never really been interested in where babies came from.  You knew that whilst it varied from breed to breed, bunnies were pregnant for an average of 31 days and had litters of babies.  You also knew that humans usually only had one baby at a time and they were pregnant for around 9 months.  But you didn’t know how either bunnies or humans became pregnant.  Honestly, you were stumped.

“Guess you didn’t learn that in any of your stupid books, huh? Loser.”

[kiidwritings]

🐾 weird quirks cat hybrid! 141 + könig do

word count; 4744. tags/warnings; cat!hybrid 141. maybe ooc. KONIG IS NOT PART OF 141 but he is here for funsies lol. konig is fat both in human form and cat i dont make the rules. failed attempts at writing a scottish accent sorry 😿. no beta read. possible grammatical errors. lmk if anything else!

a/n: (rewriting this cuz tumblr is a bitch, dont tell me "draft saved!" when it clearly fucking didn't) anyways I LOVE HYBRID AUS I WISH I WAS PART ANIMAL RAAAHHH!! i forgot when i started this but it was definitely way after i discovered hallohello's cat cafe au on ao3. i see a lot of silly cat tiktoks on my fyp, so each character (except price, sorry peepaw ;-;) has a video linked) i did extensive research (not rlly lol) into what type of cat they'd all be cuz im insane and love cats meow :3 edit 12/24/24: holy fuck uhh hi. school started when i was like 70% finished the art for this and so im just now posting it here. im no longer fixated on cod so this'll probably be my last cod writing ough. plz enjoy anyways

pawprint divider by @/saradika-graphics. banner art by me! inspired by @/i-am-hungry-24-7 's cod cat cafe au

pairing(s): poly! cat hybrid! 141 + konig x gn!reader, platonic cat!hybrid price + reader

READ ON AO3!!

Price

If they were wolves, Price’d be the alpha no doubt

He’s the dominate male of 141 (duh, he’s the captain), not only keeping the boys in line, but also you

Just like an actual father, he gives you disappointed looks in both human and cat form when you do something even slightly against his wishes

Woke up late for work? Disappointed sigh

Fell for Soap’s pleads for more treats? A disappointed glance

He’s favorite way of spending time with you outside of going out to eat or maybe a shopping trip together was by sitting with you whenever you do work. Whether it's on your lap (which actually helps with your posture), behind your laptop, or even the majority of the time, watching the screen as you type away at some document.

Its both a blessing and a curse because he keeps you focused…even when you just wanna scroll on your phone for five minutes, he’s putting a paw on ur hand and giving you that disappointed cat dad look

You had a backload of documents and work related to the cafe that you’d been putting off but the guilt was eating away at you like a child quickly makes do with a candy bar, so instead of snuggling with Soap and Gaz on the couch to binge watch a show that took you forever to finally start up, you were sat at your desk, fingers flying across your keyboard as you inputted this month’s numbers into an excel sheet. Price, layed with his chin against his chest next to you, his ginormous and fluffy body splayed out upon the darkened wood and some extra papers you’d have to shimmy out from under him later. (Being that big made it hard to fit into places thinner cats usually could.)

You had been working for sometime now, making sure to stretch and take water breaks in between…but, all the numbers and math on your laptop screen were blurring in your head and your eyes were straining! You needed more than 5 minutes away from your screen.

With a groan, you crack your joints and lean back against the cushions of your chair. Price’s ear swiveled in your direction and he cracked an eye open. His bushy tail flicked and he left out a yawn, showing off his great fangs before shuffling around more comfortably, slowly morphing into a loaf.

You smiled and gave him a scratch behind the ear, which was met with a low rumble of purring and a tilt of his head. With your other hand, you grabbed your phone (which had been on do not disturb) and read through any notifications you got within the last three hours.

You took your hand away from Price and began to reply back to a text. He fully opened his eyes and glanced over at you. With your phone in hand, you were now hunched a bit using your elbows to keep you propped up on the desk.

Price let out a small sigh and stretched himself, back arching upwards.

Your text message conversation was obstructed by a large brown paw placing itself on your screen. You looked up and Price was staring at you with his brown eyes, pupils expanding and his ears swerving to the sides. He lets out a crunchy meow, a warning.

“What? I’ve been working for like three hours straight, don’t I deserve an actual break?” You huffed. His paw stayed and he squinted his eyes at you, before giving a slow blink. You slowly blinked back.

You knew he was just being the father figure that he was, watching out for the ones he loves, but you wanted to doomscroll dammit!...just as a little treat.

Price finally removed his paw before jumping down from the desk (his tail brushing against your nose and causing you to sputter). He looked back at you as you stared from your desk chair. You knew what that meant- he wanted you to follow him. With a sigh and a small smile, you got up from your chair, feeling how heavy your limbs got from sitting still for all that time. 

With a pleased mreow, he led you into the living room before stretching himself up to the twine pole on the cat tree. Ah, he wanted you to stretch too!

Remembering some warmups from your Sunday yoga class, you felt your joints pop and muscles strain as you stretched your achy body.

Once satisfied, he jumps atop the couch and slow-blinks at you again. You join him, lying down and staring up at him. He continues to purr as he lets his tail slump down and brush against your nose again, causing you to erupt with giggles.

Soap

Out of all five cats, Soap had to be the most chaotic one.

Whether it was failing to jump from one perch to another and pouting about it, getting bopped in the head by Ghost, or his meows that lasted so long you’d wonder how strong his little kitty lungs were, he was definitely the one who got the most attention for his silly antics at the cafe

He was like this even in his human form, he’s following you around the apartment, chatting away or always keeping a hand on your figure (it was no doubt his love language was physical affection, you had so many pictures of him all snuggled up with the others)

Whenever you found something that triggered a silly response, you would milk it till it became a new normal 

But one thing that’ll never get old is his reaction to butt scratches... 

When the weather was bad, the cafe was usually pretty quiet. Few customers came in and the cats were rather calm. Price took his usual spot upon the highest wall perch, Gaz was grooming himself and purring at people’s feet, Ghost was helping in the back, König would occasionally stick his head out from his little hiding box, and Soap was unusually sleepy. He’d let himself get fonded over, meow a bit, try and rile up the other, but he mostly lounged around. You could see in his little cat face that something was up. 

He slacked a bit when it came to helping clean up after closing and upon returning to the apartment, flopped down on your bed. With his face fully engulfed in the pillow, he seemed dead to the world. Kyle made a teasing remark which was only met with an exaggerated groan and a sad flick of his tail.

Everyone else had gone to do their own things; Price went home, Kyle and Ghost were on the couch watching TV with König (still in his cat form) lounging on the latter’s lap, purring up a storm.

“You haven’t been yourself today, Johnny. What’s wrong?” You ask, slipping into some lightweight sweatpants and sitting next to his figure on the bed. His cat ears flick up and towards you and he let out another groan and turned his head towards you. Johnny’s got that look on his face, it's different from his pleading pouts- which never falls you make you fold for him. 

No, this look is exhaustion, like he’s been drained of all his usual boyish enthusiasm. Like he can’t find a reason to get out of bed. There’s no usual purr resounding from his chest or a mischievous glint in his eyes, in fact, they looked clouded with depression like the sky outside, focused on nothing in particular.

Your heart ached from him. Seasonal depression was a bitch. When the seasons shifted and the clouds lingered in the sky more than you would like, it made the world seem less enjoyable. Constant rain made you want to sit in bed all day and binge eat and when the snow fell from the sky like flour through a sifter, you couldn’t even bring yourself to open the blinds, knowing the sight of the powdery white clinging to buildings would send your mind spiraling.

Not only that, but the dreary weather caused his knee to act up, like the joints were stuck together no matter what stretches he did.

You climbed into bed behind Johnny and wrapped your limbs around him, giving him a squeeze. His tail snaked around your leg and you felt his body relax. The added warmth was what you and Johnny needed to fend off the mysterious draft flowing through the flat.

His ear twitches as your breath fanned over it, “Why don’t you shift and we can snuggle, hmm suds?” You whisper to him and give him a soft smile.

He mumbles something at the nickname but compiles, slipping off his clothes and shifting into a brown Scottish fold, his blue eyes still shining. Johnny plops himself on your chest and makes some soft biscuits, his purr rattling your chest. He looks so much more relaxed now- he was your living weighted doll.

Johnny begins to settle down enough to doze off while you scroll on your phone. You scratch behind his ear a little and he tilts his head at maximum relaxation. Your hand slowly moved down his body- you went from his chin, to his back, poking his tummy a bit, then to the base of his tail. It twitches, swishing a bit against your hand but when you start scratching, Johnny’s butt lifts and his eyes crack open.

You giggled at his enjoyment of simple butt scratches, but this was the beginning. You shape your hand into a claw and scratch a bit more intensely. His purring increases and he lifts his head in pleasure, arching his back. Johnny let out a long meow followed by what can only be described as ‘wah wah wah wah wah’.

Nevermind the fact that his claws were digging into your chest, you both were enjoying the moment. His tail was practically wagging and he looked blissed out from butt scratches. Unable to control yourself, you burst into laughter and stopped scratching. His body went back to its relaxed state and he stared at you, his little blue eyes wide.

Johnny turned away with the best equivalent to a pout a cat could give. “Feel good, suds?” You asked through a laugh and all he responded back with was a ‘mrow’ of embarrassment.

Kyle

Kyle was the certified pretty boy, both in the group and according to the cafe’s customers

Every video or picture with him on the cafe’s socials gets a shit ton of likes

(you most popular post is gaz licking soap’s head while soap licks ghost’s head, who seem rather calm with everything and König watching from the side, wanting to join in)

He’d sit and flaunt himself in little cat outfits, or meow sweetly at the customers who couldn’t help and coddle him, like mind control, and even using that boyish charm on you and the others (he’s been found snuggled up to Ghost on more than one occasion, the pair’s tail tangled together and occasionally chirping at each other)

Kyle enjoyed watching you cook both as a human or cat. he was also one of the only ones who could be trusted up there; Soap and König stole food, Ghost couldn’t care less and when he did, he would knock things over (and although Price doesn’t live with you all, he got a bit sneezy around all the spices and seasonings)

Tonight’s dinner was chicken parmesan and spaghetti, so after Kyle helped with a bit of prep (being the gentleman he is), he shifted and hopped onto his little spot on the counter

After breading the chicken breasts, you popped the first patch into the air fryer. You set a big pot upon the stove, turning the flame to medium and drizzling some oil into it. Kyle sat loafed, observing you move around the kitchen, gathering ingredients, keeping an eye on the chicken, as well as having to shoo some mischievous kitties out the kitchen.

Once the water begins to bubble, causing Kyle’s ears to swivel in its direction, you slide the noodles into the water. You stir them around before opening up the air fryer. Steam poured out along with a wave of heat and the delicious smell of chicken.

“Oh man, I can’t remember the last time I had chicken parm.” If you were in a cartoon, you’d be comically salivating at the sight of the crispening chicken. Kyle seemed just as interested because he stretched his neck out a bit and you could see his little pink nose wiggling.

You started flipping each piece over, allowing for equal crisp on both sides, when you held up a smaller piece. “Want a sniff, pretty boy? I can trust you not to snatch this away from me.” You cooed at him, lowering the chicken to his nose. He instantly began to sniff, his tail swishing a bit. His pupils expanded and his mouth became ajar, and he started huffing like his nose was clogged or something.

You snorted as he turned away, mouth still agape and his eyes wide. Was this some weird cat quirk? None of the others did this and Kyle has had chicken before, but damn if this wasn’t cute!

He could get away with almost anything if he flashed his big brown eyes at you. (When he scratched your hand up after König tipped over the catnip jar, he just rubbed his little kitty face against your bandages and gave you a small meow. Or when he’d eaten the last brownies you were looking forward to after a long and hard day, he kissed along your neck and face before whispering sweetened apologies in your ear.)

“Smell yummy, hmm, Kyle? Never seen you do this before.” You giggled as he licked his lips and closed his mouth. He meowed back before stretching his front limbs, going into Sphinx-pose.

After a couple moments, you move onto the pasta, taking a noodle out and blowing before nibbling on it. ‘Needs more time…’ you thought as you looked over at Kyle, who’s eyes were closed and his tail flicked momentarily. You smirk as you grab another noodle and shimmy over to him. His ears swivel towards you and he cracks one eye open. 

“Give this a smell?” You asked as you held the noodle in front of him. Like clockwork, his mouth parted as he huffed and sniffled at the semi limb pasta.

You laughed as he even squinted his eyes, as if in deep concentration over the smell of this bland noodle.

And just like a cat, he reacted faster than you, jumping back at Johnny jumped on the counter and snatched the noodle out from between you two fingers, skidding out the kitchen and under the cat tree.

“NO! Dammit Johnny! You’re so greedy!” You fumed as you went to scold him. Gaz’s eyes closed in satisfaction and he went back to lounging.

Ghost

You’re still finding out things about simon

Not that there isn’t some level of trust between you two, but he’s just an enigma to everyone

It took him almost 6 months for him to finally agree to sit in at the cafe as a cat and not just help in the back

Unlike most black cats online, he doesn’t really have any of those quirks

Sure he likes to knock things over, bat at the other’s (mainly soap and König) when he was annoyed, and hit your legs whenever you walk by, but those were normal cat things

He spent more time in his human form (unless he needed his alone time, then he snuggled himself into his cat cubby), so when he was shifted, you enjoyed spending as much time observing him like he was his more bigger counterpart- the black panther

Simon was overall a pretty normal cat

You’d learnt all his favorite scratching spots, his favorite football (im so american RAAAAGHHH) team, his designated spot on the bed, and exactly how he enjoyed his tea

He was never really as vocal as a human or cat. If he wanted something, he’d either stare you down or bat at you. If someone was annoying him, he had a hardy hiss that got anyone backing off (he’s only ever growled at price, having too much respect for the man)

When out, Simon was protective; walking on the outer part of the sidewalk, opening doors for you, making sure you were always walking in front of him, even when snuggling he’d hiss at the others so you two can be alone 

Who said Simon Riley wasn’t a softie under all that eye-black and classic skull balaclava?

Spring was finally here, long gone the days of constant clouds hanging over the city and random cold fronts. The city planters had bedded tulips around the neighborhood flower beds, people were out and about during the weeks, outside tables at diners and cafes finally being occupied, and the sun warming up your apartment and your heart.

The cafe was busy today, groups enjoying pastries and drinks while the cats ran around.

Gaz and Soap were playing around, slipping under tables and playing with the customers. König even let a few people pet him (which caused him to chirp and get even more pets). Price was helping in the back (people always complimented the drinks when he made them, so you let him handle those to help boost his ego), and Ghost sat on a high perch attached to the window, too high for anyone ton reach him, but in a good spot to catch some of the breeze that came through the screen door.

You came over to check on him and all he did was swish his tail and slow blink at you. You could hear people coo at his bright pink beans as he stretches before rolling back over. It was nice to see Simon out and about during busy hours, he’d usually hide away from everyone, including Soap and König who loved his personal space. (Out of the two, Soap has gotten the most bats to the head while König has been nipped twice.)

You’re chatting with some customers, Gaz sits proudly in the lap of one of them when there’s a clattering outside and you see someone passing by has knocked over the black board outside. You roll your eyes a bit, excusing yourself and exiting the cafe to pick it up back.

“Some people…jeez.” You grumble as you straighten it back up. As you're crouched down, a shadow casts above you and when you look up, there’s a brunet giving you an apologetic smile. His hair is sleek and he’s wearing a cool gray office suit. 

“Ah, sorry about that, sweets.” The unnecessary pet name has your nose wrinkling, but you keep your displeasure masked. 

“It’s ok, nothing’s broken.” You say as you brush off your knees and straighten up. He’s average height and build, nothing to gawk over but not bad looking. He’s got a glint in his eye and before you can turn away, he’s opening his mouth. 

“I pass here everyday and I’ve seen you hustling around, like a cute little maid. You own this place, eh?” The more he talks, the more you get the urge to spit at his feet- those obnoxiously shiny loafers. You just grit your teeth and force a polite smile.

“Mhmm, yup. I’ve got some order to make so I’ll be-.” 

“I never liked cats, too hairy and mean, but I’d come here for you.~ You should be the main face of this cafe instead of those...pets, sales would be booming if you just flashed a pretty little smile.” He flashes his pearly whites and you suddenly feel exposed under his sultry gaze. 

“I, uhh, appreciate it but I have to go-.” He takes a step towards you, his hand ready to grasp onto your arm when there’s a clunk against the window behind you. 

Ghost, with big eyes and his body fluffed up like a sea urchin stood on his hind legs, body pressing against the glass like if he tried hard enough, he could phase through and slice the bastard's face into flesh ribbons. His claws scratch at the glass and he lets out a hiss that sounds loud even through the window. Customers and the other cats look over at the scene and the office man wrinkles his nose. Ghost keeps hissing and presses himself more into the glass, definitely leaving marks where his nose and paws were pressing.

In human form, you were blessed if you never at the receiving end of Ghost's intimidation, but as a cat, seeing him before a black puff ball of rage was certainly cute.

“You keep feral cats in your cafe?!” The man asks, disgusted by Ghost's actions of pure rage. You’ve never seen Ghost get so aggressive, but in this moment, you’re thankful.

“Yep, so maybe it’s best you don’t stop by!” You huff at him and turn curtly back into the cafe, ignoring his grumbles and curses at Ghost as he continues to stare down the sleazeball. 

Even after the man has gone down the street, Ghost is still seething. He stills alert in his window perch and watches the people go by. Some stop to coo at him through the glass despite his deadly glare so he goes to his hiding spot to brood. 

Once the last group leaves and everyone shifts back to help clean up, Ghost peeks his little head out. You squat down and give him a smile. He just glares.

“Thank you, Si. I appreciate the backup.” You boop his nose and he growls before batting at your hand. You just laugh and coo at him more. 

“Seems like you have a little katze bodyguard.” König teases as he wipes down some tables. Ghost hisses and slinks out of hiding, making his way to the back area to get dressed and wash dishes.

König

being raised in a poor household with just his mutter and oma, he struggled but was also spoiled, wanting to be given the best life they could provide for him

His mom would sometimes not eat just to provide her growing boy a full meal

And man did he grow…

At age 13, Anton was 5’11 and 145 lbs. And according to his doctor, he wasn’t done growing yet!

He was outcasted by his peers, bullied and teased for how his second hand clothes never truly fit over his stomach or how his shoes were slowly falling apart

Over his years of being in the military, a balanced diet, and an intense workout routine, some of that fat turned to muscle but his body was still plump

His stomach hadn’t formed any abs, his thighs spread when he sat, and his arms if not flexed jiggled

He’d gotten better with his body issues, and with the help of loving partners and therapy he didn’t scowl looking in the mirror

He’d still grow flustered when you’d playfully pat his stomach or when soap’d tease about getting him into something more revealing to show off his fat ass, his creamy white skin blooming a bright red which ensued even more teasing

Add onto being a maine coon hybrid, his cat form was also a bit chubby under all that fur

When he ran, his pouch swung side to side and he had trouble fitting into smaller perches kitties like soap and gaz lounged on with ease

Each of the cats had a specific level of the cat tree dedicated to them. König’s favorite spot was a little perch in the center of the cat tree that had a small hole in the middle. It was meant for cats to stick their heads through and play with each other, but with his large physique, he took over that whole platform

Sundays were usually when you tried to get everything done before the work week started back up again. Groceries were dwindling and Price wasn’t gonna let you eat take out anymore (you’d accidently let slip on the phone that you got the same delivery drive twice in a row and he pressured the rest out of you).

Kyle had just ventured to the bedroom to receive some clothes, wanting to spend some time with his Captain and his partner, Simon and Johnny opted to stay home, and König…you actually hadn’t heard from him in a while.

Pulling a shirt over your head, you headed into the living room. The TV was playing a rerun while Johnny splayed his legs over Simon’s, who didn’t seem bothered. Entering the living room, you pass by the couch and to the cat tree, where a big mass of dusty orange fur sat, front legs dangling off the edge.

You poke his back, and the skin jumps as he lets out a ‘merr!’ and lifts his head. König yawns, sticking his pink tongue out and you boop the tip. He snaps his mouth shut and gives another chirp. His long ear flicks and he licks his lips as you speak.

“You thinking about joining us, we’re heading to the store. We might need your muscles carrying the bags, big boy.” You stroke his back and you feel him arch up a bit.

König seems to be thinking in his little kitty mind before laying his head back down with a small and dainty, “Maow!” 

You giggle, he’s always had a high pitched voice. He was another silent kitty next to Ghost, only using his meow at home or occasional chirps in the public eye of cafe customers. (This didn’t stop them from cooing at his squeaky voice and he’d grow embarrassed.)

“D’aww, ok. You can stay home with the lovebirds, König.” You scratch his back some more, before you see a mound hanging down from the platform’s underside.

“Oh? What’s this?” You tease as you squat down. You knew what it was, you were just feeling a bit cheeky today. König chirped and his tail swished and he watched you gaze at his belly.

It was round and a nice cream color compared to the rest of his fur. It was also weirdly the softest part of him. You grinned as you poked it, running your hands along it like feeling a baby bump. König chirped again, it sounded like a whine, but that didn’t stop you.

“So chubby, no wonder even Ghost has trouble picking you up. At least we know you’re eating well! I like my partners' big boned and my cats chonky.” You jiggled and played with his stomach more before König let out a meow of annoyance, but it was too cute for you to take offense to!

You straightened back up to give him some deserved chin scratches for putting up with your antics. But with a huff, König stood up and turns away, making sure to smack your face with his tail before jumping down and off to the bedroom, pouch swaying as he trotted off. (You heard Kyle give a kiss to the gentle giant and offer him the same deal, to which he agreed to! So cheeky!)

“Ya’ gotta quit bullyin’ the lad! No wonder he ‘as a new favorite!” Johnny says as his eyes were now on you, but his gaze focused elsewhere but your eyes. You stammered to defend yourself. König truly didn’t mind, you’d talk about it before but you always kept it to light teasing and never any insults. He’d tease you back, despite how reserved he was, his hooked nose would scrunch when he made a remark that had you gawking and pouting at him. 

“I-I wasn’t bullying König! Also you saw his stomach, it’s like this when he walks!” You mimic the motion by making a side to side motion with your hands, feeling flushed now having been called out.

Johnny just smirked as Simon spoke up, “Unless you plan on shopping in your knickers, I’d suggest you finish dressing.”

As if on queue, a breeze ruffled the satin curtains and tickled your bare legs, skin erupting with goosebumps. You blush harder and stomp past the couch, not without receiving a swat on the butt from Johnny, who can only laugh as you swear back at him.

(With each trip that issued carrying groceries, you were left struggling, hands burning from the strain, while König chivalrously took bags from Kyle's hands, them both throwing you smug smirks.)

[gauntletgirlie]

Get to know your Mutuals

Thanks for the tag @perlen-gold, even though I’m just an unhinged follower obsessed with your writing 🙈 I started my own chain so your original post wouldn’t get too long.

What's the origin of your blog's title? My thirst for Adar and the gauntlet kink he inspired.

Favorite Fandoms: I have a lot, but The Silmarillion/The Lord of the Rings/The Rings of Power are my main ones I always fall back on.

OTP(s) + shipname: I’m a self shipper so me + whomever I’m obsessed with (currently Melkor, Adar, and Gil-galad) but also more recently:

Melkor x Mairon (Angbang)

Adar x Celebrimbor (Silverscars)

Favorite color: Orange (also partial to purple and dark green).

Favorite game: Hero Quest (I’m not a console gamer. Though I did enjoy watching my husband play Horizon Zero Dawn).

Song stuck in your head: Dog Days (Are Over) by Florence and The Machine.

Weirdest habit/trait? Oh boy, where to begin… I make random noises, I meep like Beaker to songs, laugh at my own jokes… I’m just a weird person altogether folks.

Hobbies: Writing, visiting places of historical interest, I also used to be an avid reader but then motherhood robbed me of my energy and concentration. I listen to audiobooks more now.

If you work, what's your profession? I write scientific reports and run data tables for an Early Drug Development CRO, which is as fun as it sounds. I’m also a mother. Everything you’ve heard about motherhood is true and also a lie.

If you could have any job you wish what would it be? I would be rich enough not to need to work 🤷🏻‍♀️ or working on a petting farm would be cute.

Something you're good at: Berating myself. Encouraging others/being a cheerleader. Also writing, I hope 🙈

Something you're bad at: Most things, but especially anything requiring mathematics or physical exercise.

Something you excel at: Being a silly goose 😏thirsting over fictional characters 🙈 and raging at injustices. Erm, I think that’s about it. How tragic for me 😂

Something you love: The community I’ve found here on Tumblr 🫶🏼 period dramas, Dracula, and tattoos (I have none of my own… yet).

Something you could talk about for hours off the cuff: Mormonism, The Wars of the Roses, the people I love.

Something you hate: Injustice, mayonnaise, and corsets improperly portrayed in period drama.

Something you collect: Cuddly toy bats, and more characters to thirst over (I need help).

Something you forget: That motherhood is difficult so to give myself more grace.

What's your love language? I don’t adhere to love languages, but I guess genuine connection over similar interests, banter/in-jokes.

Favorite movie/show: Aaahhh don’t make me choose! It’s always changing.

Favorite food: Galaxy Cookie Crumble, Mini Eggs, Yorkshire puddings, and pizza.

Favorite animal: Bats 🦇

Are you musical? I can hold a tune and I played flute as a kid, otherwise sadly no.

What were you like as a child? Intelligent, saw everything in black and white, more artistic, more outgoing.

Favorite subject at school? History and art.

Least favorite subject? Maths and PE.

What's your best character trait? I like to think I’m kind and understanding.

What's your worst character trait? I can be so incredibly lazy.

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be? More sleep. Always more sleep.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet? Bram Stoker. I’d also love to meet my mum as a young woman, I think we would have had fun.

Recommend one of your favorite fanfics (spread the love!):

Come by @perlen-gold (Angbang)

Of Convenience by @greenleaf4stuff (Silverscars)

Last but not least, show your favorite fanart of your favorite character(s) (please remember to credit/add links!):

Melkor/Morgoth

Adar

Gil-Galad (TROP)

No pressure tags for @greenleaf4stuff, @valar-did-me-wrong, @strifes13, @wowstrawberrycow, @iwanderbecauseimlost, @withallthatisleftofmyheart, @calmlyy-chaotiic, @margauxmara, @varda-starqueen, @saffronstories, @gingeragenda, @gracefallingart, @dwarveslikeshinythings, @whenimaunicorn, @permanentlyexhaustedpigeon88 and anyone else who would like to play! Sorry if I missed anyone.

[heyftinally]

April 30th is the Day of the Homeschooled Child

I was one of the 1.7 million children homeschooled in the USA.

I am also one of Homeschool's Invisible Children.

I was heavily restricted at home - I was barred from nearly everything that my peers were connecting with. I had incredibly limited access to movies and TV, even more restricted internet access, and was even barred from many of the same toys my peers played with. This on top of my academic isolation made socializing very hard.

I didn't relate to my peers socially.

Children younger than me were more academically advanced than me.

I was socially unaware, and frequently missed jokes or made faux pas comments because I didn't understand how to interact with peers.

My ADHD went untreated my entire childhood.

And the issues were not only social. Despite living in a state that boasted some of the most rigorous checks for homeschooled students, I was missed. My portfolios every year were falsified - much of what they claimed I had learned I had little to no understanding of.

By the time I graduated high school "with honors" (that I did not earn and were entirely false), this is a brief list of some of my academic failings:

I had never written an essay, and did not know how

I did not know how to do a critical analysis of a piece of text or media

I was incapable of math above a 4th/5th grade level

I could not tell time on an analog clock

I could not identify more than ~5 states on a map of the United States

I could not identify more than ~5 countries on a map of the world/globe

I could not spell above a ~6th grade level

I did not know that there was proof of life on earth prior to dinosaurs

I did not know that the lymphatic system was real

And so much more.

I entered college woefully unequipped for both the academic and socal demands that were placed on me. At 18, I was closer to as 14 year old, social/emotionally. Academically I was much worse.

I had to work three times as hard as my peers to achieve the same results, battled my still-undiagnosed ADHD as well as my academic and social neglect.

I didn't fully know who I even was as a person, due to spending so many years being expected to fit a specific ideal that was enforced upon me 24/7 through the isolation of homeschooling.

This April 30th, I'm wearing green for Homeschool's Invisible Children - for children like me.

If you are a child experiencing homeschool neglect, please know that you are not alone. There are resources available to you, and your future is not doomed just because your guardians failed to educate you. I'm listing some resources below that may be of help to you.

Homeschool alumni/survivors who resonate with this story: we deserved better. We deserved education. We deserved freedom. It's okay if you're angry at your past. It's okay if you're grieving the life you might have had without homeschooling. It's okay if you're conflicted. I hope you're able to find closure and healing in whatever form that means for you.

And, because I know it unfortunately needs to be said, if you're an ex-homeschooler or a homeschool parent who feels the need to jump on this post and defend yourself, I need you to step back, sit down, delete your comment, and sit with why you feel so attacked by our truth.

This is not a personal attack on you - this is abuse survivors speaking up to prevent further abuse. It is not your place to tell us we should be silent.

"But homeschoolers test better and are more successful!" I'm sure you're dying to say. To wave your statistics at me.

And you would be wrong. Because here's the problem with those statistics.

Let's pretend we have ten homeschooled children and ten public schooled children.

All ten of the public schooled children take a school assessment. Because some excel at different things than others, the public school students average out to an 85.

Only four of the homeschooled children take the assessment. Of the other six, one is traveling with their family during the assessment, two are not permitted because their parents know they aren't up to grade level and fear backlash or judgement, two are mentally or physically disabled and so their parents don't feel the test will adequately display their knowledge, and the last hasn't received any kind of education in years because their parents keep them at home either doing chores, working a job, caring for siblings, or they are simply neglected and spend all day hungry and scared.

Of the four homeschooled children that do take the assessment, they do quite well, as their parents knew/suspected they would. Their average score is a 98.

A 98 is better than an 85, yes. But just because 4 out of 6 homeschooled children were above the public school average does not mean homeschooling is automatically better. If you tested the top four public school students, they might very well score a 98 as well.

However, if you included those other six homeschooled students, the average homeschool score would very likely be something closer to a 45.

So when we talk about Homeschool's Invisible Children, we're talking about those six that never got the chance to take an assessment. Those six who never had a chance to tell a teacher "I'm ten and I don't know how to read". Those six who may not even realize how far behind their peers they are. Those six who deserved to have access to supports so that they could learn in ways that actually met their needs.

So while your statistics look good on paper, they are not honest. They do not present the full picture of homeschooling. Listen to the homeschool survivors who were one of those six kids who never got to make their voices heard. We have a voice now - don't try and take it from us.

Resources for current homeschool students and alumni:

Khan Academy - basically free online self paced K-12 classes. They have fantastic explanation videos for the lessons, you can review them whenever you want, and you don't have to stay in the same grade level for every subject - great if you're trying to catch up and you're in 6th grad for English but 2nd for math. They have courses besides just core classes (math/english/science/etc), too! They run on donations, but it's completely free to use. Also, this site is used in my local public school system to supplement the existing curriculum, so it's not just for homeschoolers!

Coalition for Responsible Home Education - actively fighting for more oversight and restrictions on homeschooling in the USA. They mostly do awareness and advocacy, but they also have resources on their site for things like what to do if you don't have a high school transcript. They run on donations, but the information is freely available.

Probably the most famous resource on this list. Videos that give you a "crash course" (aka a condensed overview) of a wide variety of topics. These are best used as supplement to more structured lessons like Khan Academy, but they have a lot of merit on their own if they're all you can manage. Knowing a bit about something is better than knowing nothing about it!

[estapa-edwards]

"MOMMY?" - Q. HUGHES

paring: Quinn Hughes x fem! reader

word count:2.2k

requested? no

warnings: use of y/n.

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

There he was, Quinn Hughes, dominating the ice with his incredible skill and agility. Memories of our college days flooded back, bringing a mix of nostalgia and curiosity. It had been years since we'd last seen each other, and seeing him again in this setting was both surprising and overwhelming.

I had always admired Quinn's dedication and passion for the game. Back in college, he was the star player, and it was no surprise to see him excelling in his professional career. But as I glanced at him from my seat in the stands, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of anxiety. Quinn didn’t know about our son, and I had always intended to keep it that way.

Sitting beside me was Ethan, our 4-year-old son. His bright eyes were fixed on the game, completely engrossed in the action on the ice. I had always known that he had inherited Quinn's love for hockey, but I had done my best to shield him from the truth about his father.

As the game progressed, I couldn't help but steal glances at Quinn. His intensity on the ice was matched only by the determination in his eyes. But what caught my attention the most was the way he occasionally looked at Ethan, a hint of curiosity and recognition in his gaze.

The resemblance between Ethan and Quinn was undeniable. From the shape of their eyes to the curve of their smile, there was no denying the bond they shared. And as the thought crossed my mind, I couldn't help but wonder if Quinn had started to piece together the puzzle.

I felt a pang of guilt as I thought about keeping the truth from him. But I had my reasons, and I believed it was for the best. Our lives had taken different paths since college, and I didn't want to disrupt Quinn's successful career with the revelation of a child he never knew he had.

Throughout the game, I tried to maintain a sense of normalcy, cheering for the Canucks and sharing in Ethan's excitement. But every time I looked at Quinn, the weight of our shared secret hung heavily between us.

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

As the final whistle blew, signaling the end of the game, I started to gather my belongings, preparing to leave before Quinn could approach me. But fate had other plans.

"Y/n?" I heard Quinn's voice call out, and my heart skipped a beat.

I turned to see him approaching, his eyes filled with surprise and curiosity. I knew I couldn’t avoid him any longer.

"Quinn, hi," I managed to say, trying to keep my voice steady.

He looked at me with a mixture of excitement and confusion. "I didn't expect to see you here," he said.

"Yeah, it was a last-minute decision to come to the game," I replied, trying to sound casual.

As we exchanged pleasantries, I could sense Quinn's curiosity about Ethan. I knew it was only a matter of time before he started asking questions.

"Mommy?" Ethan tugged at my sleeve, pulling me out of my thoughts.

I looked down at him, trying to hide my anxiety. "Yes, sweetheart?"

"Who is he?" Ethan asked, his innocent eyes glancing up at Quinn.

Quinn looked from Ethan to me, his eyebrows furrowing in confusion. "Is this your son, Y/n?"

I hesitated for a moment, searching for the right words. I knew I couldn’t avoid the truth any longer.

"Yes, Quinn," I finally admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's my son, almost 5 years old."

Quinn paused, his eyes widening as he processed the information. I could see him doing the math in his head, his gaze shifting between Ethan and me.

"Is he mine?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope and uncertainty.

I took a deep breath, nodding slowly. "Yes, Quinn, he is."

The weight of the revelation hung heavily between us, the tension palpable. I could see the shock and disbelief in Quinn's eyes, but there was also a glimmer of curiosity and warmth as he looked at Ethan.

"I can't believe you kept this from me, Y/n," Quinn said, his voice filled with a mix of anger and sadness.

"I know, Quinn," I replied, tears welling up in my eyes."Can we talk somewhere more private?"

Quinn looked at me, his gaze softening slightly. "Yeah, of course," he said, his voice gentler now. "Let's find somewhere quiet to talk."

We quickly made our way out of the bustling stadium, searching for a more secluded spot where we could have a candid conversation. I held Ethan's hand tightly, sensing his confusion and anxiety but also feeling a renewed hope for our future as a family.

We found a quiet corner outside the stadium, away from the prying eyes and curious stares of the crowd. The city lights twinkled in the distance, providing a soft glow as we settled into a more private setting.

Quinn took a deep breath, looking at me with a mixture of disbelief and determination. "I need to know everything, Y/n," he said, his voice firm but caring. "How did this happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

I took a moment to gather my thoughts, trying to find the right words to explain the complex situation. "It was during our sophomore year of college," I began, my voice shaky. "We had that one night together, and I found out I was pregnant shortly after. I was scared and overwhelmed, and I didn't know how to tell you. I thought it would be best to handle it on my own."

Quinn looked at me, his eyes filled with regret. "I wish you had told me, Y/n. I would have been there for you."

"I know, Quinn," I said, tears streaming down my face. "I should have told you, but I was afraid. Afraid of your reaction, afraid of how it would affect your career, and afraid of the unknown. I thought I was protecting Ethan, but I realize now that I was also denying you the chance to know your son."

Quinn reached out, gently wiping away my tears. "It's okay, Y/n," he whispered, his voice filled with compassion. "We can't change the past, but we can focus on the future and what's best for Ethan."

I looked up at Quinn, feeling a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. "Thank you, Quinn," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I want you to be a part of Ethan's life, and I know he would love to get to know his father."

Quinn smiled, his eyes shining with tears. "I want that too, Y/n," he said, pulling me into a comforting embrace. "I promise to be there for Ethan and to make up for lost time."I felt a sense of relief wash over me, grateful for Quinn's commitment and willingness to be a part of Ethan's life. As we continued to hold each other, Quinn pulled away slightly, looking down at Ethan who was patiently waiting beside us.

"Do you think I could bring him to meet my parents soon?" he asked, his voice filled with hope.

I looked at Ethan, who was looking up at Quinn with curious eyes, and then back at Quinn. "Of course," I replied, a small smile forming on my lips. "I think that would be a wonderful idea. It's important for Ethan to know his grandparents and for them to be a part of his life as well."

Quinn's face lit up with joy, grateful for the opportunity to introduce Ethan to his family. "Thank you, Y/n," he said, his voice filled with gratitude. "I want them to know about Ethan and to be a part of his life. I want to give him a sense of family and belonging."

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

The day had finally arrived for Ethan to meet Quinn's parents and siblings. I was nervous but hopeful, believing that this would be a positive step for our newfound family. Quinn had assured me that his family would be supportive, but the anticipation of the meeting still weighed heavily on my mind.

We arrived at Quinn's parents' house, a beautiful two-story home surrounded by a well-manicured lawn and vibrant garden. Quinn held Ethan's hand tightly, offering reassurance as we approached the front door. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves as Quinn rang the doorbell.

The door opened to reveal Ellen, Quinn's mother, with a warm smile on her face. "Quinn! Y/n!" she exclaimed, pulling us both into a welcoming embrace. "It's so good to see you!"

"Hi, Mom," Quinn greeted, returning the hug. "This is Ethan," he added, gesturing to our son who was standing nervously beside us.

Ellen knelt down to Ethan's level, her eyes filled with kindness. "Hello, Ethan," she said gently. "I've heard so much about you. It's wonderful to finally meet you."

Ethan looked up at Ellen, a shy smile forming on his face. "Nice to meet you too, Grandma," he replied softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Ellen's smile widened as she stood up, inviting us inside. "Come in, come in," she said warmly. "Everyone's been looking forward to meeting you."

As we entered the living room, we were greeted by Jim, Quinn's father, who welcomed us with a hearty handshake and a friendly pat on the back. "Quinn, Y/n, it's great to see you," he said, his eyes filled with genuine warmth. "And this must be Ethan," he added, kneeling down to Ethan's level. "Welcome to the family, young man."

Ethan smiled, feeling more at ease with Jim's friendly demeanor. "Thank you, Grandpa," he replied, his nervousness starting to fade.

Quinn's siblings, Jack and Luke, soon joined us, offering their own warm greetings and making Ethan feel included and accepted. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and conversation as we all gathered in the living room, getting to know each other and sharing stories and memories.

As the afternoon progressed, I watched Quinn interact with his family, seeing the love and acceptance in their eyes as they welcomed Ethan into their lives. It was a heartwarming sight, and I felt a sense of gratitude and relief knowing that our decision to share this part of our lives with Quinn's family was the right one.

As we prepared to leave, Ellen pulled me aside, her eyes filled with compassion and understanding. "Y/n, I want you to know that we support you and Ethan," she said softly. "We're so grateful to have him in our lives, and we're here for you both."

Tears welled up in my eyes as I thanked Ellen for her kindness and support, feeling a renewed sense of hope and optimism for our future as a family.

As we said our goodbyes and left Quinn's parents' house, I felt a profound sense of gratitude and relief. The meeting had been a success, and I knew that we were one step closer to building a united and loving family for Ethan.

*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨* ≈☆≈ *¨¨*:·..·:*¨¨*

Several years had passed since Quinn and I reconnected at that fateful hockey game. Our relationship had blossomed, and we had worked hard to build a strong and loving family for Ethan. The bond between us had grown deeper, and it was clear that we were meant to be together.

One evening, Quinn suggested that we go out for a special dinner to celebrate our anniversary. He had made reservations at a cozy and romantic restaurant overlooking the city skyline. As we sat down at our table, I couldn’t help but notice the nervous excitement in Quinn’s eyes.

Throughout the evening, we reminisced about our journey together, reflecting on the challenges we had overcome and the love we had shared. It was a beautiful and heartfelt conversation, filled with laughter and tears as we celebrated our love and commitment to each other.

As dinner came to an end, Quinn took a deep breath, his eyes filled with emotion as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. My heart skipped a beat as he opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond ring.

"Y/n, these past few years with you have been the happiest of my life," Quinn began, his voice trembling with emotion. "You've given me so much love, support, and happiness, and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else."

He paused, taking a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing, "I love you more than words can express, and I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. Will you marry me?"

Tears filled my eyes as I looked at Quinn, feeling overwhelmed with love and gratitude. "Yes, Quinn," I whispered, my voice filled with emotion. "I will marry you."

The restaurant erupted in applause as Quinn slipped the ring onto my finger, sealing our commitment to each other and our family. It was a magical and unforgettable moment, filled with love, joy, and the promise of a bright and happy future together.

As we left the restaurant, hand in hand, I felt a profound sense of happiness and contentment. Our journey together had been filled with ups and downs, but through it all, our love had remained strong and unwavering.

[urautismdiagnosis-wistie]

Kingsley 👑

This is my silly meow meow octonauts oc!🥰🥰🥰 hes pointing out a cool bird btw

Edit: he is kwaziis uncle btw lol

This is Kingsley! Known as a brother, uncle K, or Captain K of a lovely ship and crew of the Salty Spirit!

He is also a captain of all birds! He's kinda a dork lol

First son of the Calicoed Jack and not just following his footsteps but making his own way and name! (He always tried sooo hard to be a super cool pirate)

The guy always loved stuff like pokemon and yu gi oh, he's always been good at math/finances and is known to be an excellent strategist and trickster 👌 Pretty good qualities to have when you've got a crew of 50 on your shoulders!

He ain't bad with a sword either, in fact he's "totally fought off like 20- no 30- sharks that were swarming him in a river once! And he totally punched them and won too and then they were all so impressed they promised to always be loyal to him" or something along those lines 😭✌

Hes also a great big brother to his lil bro Kenneth! He is the type to make some lighthearted jokes and tease a bit, but he always and I mean always made sure to care about the needs and wants of everyone.

Hes not really judgemental and will totally be open to finding unique solutions to problems and believe in his lil bro too. There's always a way and he'll make it himself if you're not able to find it yet 🥺

... remind me to make a comic about Kingsley and kenneth sometime ^v^

This guy tho? Total flirt, except his flirting is just... sharing bird facts.. like how pigeons are the only birds to make milk! Or.. how to mimic the sound of every kind of bird! Or.. how certain birds try to impress the ladies and how he can totally do that too do you wanna see-

It wasn't very effective. 🙏

When he was entrusted with the role of captain though, he did do his best to be all collected and confident. He's a pretty chill sneaky lil guy that'll saunter around doing Captain Things TM when he's not being a total dork over birds.

speaking of captain behaviour, he's also the type that if he was faced with the devil he'd tried to trick it- and if that didn't work he would do anything to make sure that it didn't lay hands on his crew. But even so he knows there's always a way, even if it hurts, there's still a way. He just has to find it.

Kingsley has always believed that there are good things and good people in all hardships and places. You just have to choose to find it and nature it. There's also opportunities for looting too.

He was super gifted at pirate trickery, distraction, stealth missions, and sneak attacks and retreats without a single drop of blood shed.

(Well maybe a few drops but usually not his crew lol 💅 they were very "in and out with sleeping gas and smoke bomb types" although.. if a few idiots did stick their nose where they didn't belong... it was their own fault if they got a concussion or a stab to the foot.... and if u were dumb enough to try to actually attack the ENTIRE PIRATE CREW as a sailor rhat should've been asleep then well... survival of the fittest :/)

he also IS banned from the kitchen. Not even because of all his "desert heists" as a child either! This guy couldn't ever cook to save his life fr...

As for him and the lil kwazii? Well kwazii learned alot from him XD like swear words and how to cheat at card games

He takes alot after his mom who was 3/4th lynx lol . Also his blue necklace piece is to bring good opportunities his way. :>

He always has made it a point to try to help the people in his life through whatever hardships- whether it was to help a new crew member to acclimate, help someone threw a rough night, or just be there for his anxious lil bro yk?

He was also the one who found pete as a baby :3c

If u have any questions about him lmk in thr comments and ill answer! I cant promise ill answer every question tho for plot reason ;)

[darlingsfandom]

Hellooooo🤎how's everything going?,I hope you are having a great day!!!🫂

If you want and can you could write something about Tommy defending his wife because his son or daughter yelled at her, I saw this on Instagram and thought Tommy would definitely be that kind of husband who says 'she's your mom but she is also my wife, and you are going to respect her'🙂‍↕️ I have a really nice image of Tommy defending his wife like that (I wish it was me)🤭

If you take it, thank you!!! and if it's also good, I love what you do🤎🤎

Tommy will always defend his wife!

This was requested BEFORE the inbox got closed!

To say you’re in a happy family is true but just like any other family you have the ups and downs. Tommy and you have been married for sixteen years, sixteen amazing years with lots of love, laughs and a few business opportunities that neither of you spoke of once the deal was done. In those twelve years you had two children with Tommy: Daisy Ann Shelby and Dean Arthur Shelby! You had twins ! So that’s why both of their names started with the letter D. It also could’ve been a side effects from the drugs to help ease your birth.

Over the years the twins grew up and their personalities started to shine. Daisy followed in your foot steps with wanting to learn how to bake, sew and do make up. Once she started doing make up Tommy was on guard even harder because that meant boys would be coming around. Dean on the other hand did not want to walk in Tommy’s footsteps, he wanted to a math teacher because he was excellent with numbers. He did help Tommy with the business a little bit to get more experience and Tommy didn’t disown him for not wanting to continue the business because he knew better than to push his child into something they didn’t like.

The twins just turned fifteen and boy was puberty a bitch!

Tommy had the talk with Dean about the birds and bees, how to clean himself properly so he didn’t smell like a sweaty gym sock and how to shoot a gun.

You on the other hand had given Daisy Ann the birds and bees talk, how to deal with dumb boys, bitchy girls and a few reminders about periods.

One day as you were in the kitchen with Tommy making dinner, Dean came home in a mood and threw his stuff on the ground with a thud before trying to dart up to his room. You called for him to come back and pick it up and even said please. Dean rolled his eyes at you and Tommy didn’t let it go unnoticed.

“This house sucks!” Dean yelled as he grabbed his stuff and stormed off. Tommy shot up out of his seat but you grabbed his arm.

“Tommy, he’s just a boy in puberty. He didn’t mean it.” You squeezed his arm and Tommy huffed before looking down at your gentle face. He ran his hand over your cheek locking before leaning down to give you a kiss.

“Gross.” Daisy Ann wrinkled her nose as she walked in to see the two of you kissing. Both of you laughed as she walked past. “Mom!” She pulled on your arm.

“What do you need honey ?”

“Are you still going to help me with my dress?” She asked laying her head on your shoulder.

“After supper we can start tonight.” She hugged you tightly before walking back out.

“Now how come Dean can’t be like that?” Tommy grabbed a cigarette from his pocket and lit it up while you furrowed your eyebrows.

“He’s a teenage boy in puberty Tommy , don’t you remember it?” You asked going back to check on dinner.

“Yeah, but if I acted that way …”

“And now we don’t do those things!” You quickly responded before pulling the casserole out of the oven and closing the door with your hip. “Now go wash up. I’ll get the kids.” You kissed his cheek as he put out his cigarette .

You called for the kids and Daisy Ann came running down. After a few minutes you went to check on Dean . You knocked but no answer , knocked again and he opened the door with an annoyed look. “I’ve been calling you, dinners done.” Dean rolled his eyes again. “Without the attitude.”

Tommy was down the hall and could hear you taking to him.

“Maybe I don’t want your shitty cooking, did you think of that?” Your son yelled making your heartbreak in half. Tommy could see the disappointment on your face a mile away and before Dean could slam the door , Tommy’s foot was in the way.

“You listen here you little shit, she’s your mom but she is also MY WIFE! And you are going to respect her!” Tommy’s face was dark red as his index finger pushed into his son’s chest. Dean actually looked scared . Tommy had never yelled at Dean like that. You stood there with tear stained cheeks as Tommy grabbed Dean by the arm and took him out of his room and into the kitchen where Daisy Ann was standing awkwardly.

“Your mother does a lot around here and I will be damned if her own children disrespect her.” Tommy said as he brought his son in. “She does it all because she actually loves you! Do you know how many other mothers have given up their kids around here? Hmm would you rather be on the street? Moving home to home? She’s a good person, a lovely person actually and if you don’t understand that then that’s your issue. But again I will not let either of you disrespect her or talk down to her.”

That night as dinner finished up, Dean apologized to you without Tommy making him. You gave him a hug and kissed his forehead which made him embarrassed because no teenage boy wants him to do that! But he did love you. Tommy walked in on the two of hugging and leaned against the wall with a smile on his face. He knew his son was just going through the hardest part of life and had to remind him that it could be worse because even in the Shelby home, no matter what happens you are still loved regardless and that was all thanks to you.

[shortbcofkoffee]

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CW: Jason's potty mouth, child abuse Disclaimer: I haven't taken math since I was in 12th grade and I almost failed that class.

Damian won’t tell anyone, he decides hours later as he stares at the ceiling of his bedroom. It was weird. Damian’s stomach churned in disgust, and he didn’t understand. Father wasn’t affected by the fear toxin; he wasn’t hallucinating; he just… was. He was aware and conscious of his choices, yet he called Timothy “dad.” And Timothy had gone along with it, played into it. He’d called Father “chum” and it sounded so natural on his tongue. The sound of Timothy’s soft coos mixed with his Father’s pathetic cries made him almost want to throw up. He didn’t know what to do. He’d do nothing. He won't tell anyone and he won't say anything. He’ll take Timothy’s word and he’ll trust that his father is doing what’s best. He’s seen far worse things in his short thirteen years than a father who’s younger than his son. He won't say anything to Todd and fan his flames any more than they already are. He can ignore it. He will. 

He acts the same at breakfast the next morning. He looks his father in the eye when he speaks. He allows the man’s heavy hands to pat him on the shoulder and he pretends it didn’t burn his skin as he walks out the door. His day at school is unremarkable. The classes are easy and his brain is preoccupied anyway. He doesn’t talk to anyone, not uncommon for him but he was still much quieter than usual. When he gets home he sits at the dining table to do his homework, and as always Father comes to look over his shoulder and help him when needed. Damian usually had trouble with math and his father was usually happy to help. 

He sat next to Damian at the table and looked over his work. Damian had excelled in enough subjects that his teachers allowed him to take pre-calculus, despite only being in 8th grade. Father pointed to one of the problems on his paper.

“I don’t think that’s quite right, sweetheart. Do you want to try and graph that again?”

That irked something deep within his soul. He didn’t want help from Father, he didn’t ask for it. He graphed the equation again. Of course it worked.

“I would like to do this alone. I’m trying to challenge myself.”

His father hummed. “That’s good, but are you sure? This is still your hardest subject, just don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

Damian didn’t want help, and he especially didn’t want help from him. Not right now, not when he didn’t know how he felt about the man yet. Damian hated feeling like this. Yesterday, he was so sure of how he viewed everyone. He was so sure of how he viewed his father. But now he was a different person. It begrudgingly made sense. He’d explained it to himself before, it made sense that Father would ask for comfort from Timothy over someone else. It made sense that Father would need comfort after being infected by fear toxin. It made sense that he would act pathetic and scared after that. That didn’t make it good but it made sense. 

“I know.”

Father ruffled his hair before standing. “Alright. I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”

Damian nodded and Father left. He probably needed help with his homework, but he finished the worksheet alone. Usually, Father or Alfred would look over his work, but he didn’t know where Alfred was and he just sent his father away. Damian huffed and slipped off his chair. He took his worksheet to the family quarters and knocked on Timothy’s door. 

Timothy opened his door and stared at him. “Hey? Why are you here?”

For a moment Damian wants to turn around and stab Timothy in the stomach. But he sucks in his pride because despite everything they were closer than they used to be and Damian did need help with his homework.

“I’d like you to look over my homework. Unfortunately, math is not my strong suit.”

Timothy’s lips twitched into a small frown. “Um. Okay… come in.” Timothy stepped to the side and guided him to his desk. “Let me see.”

Timothy quietly and quickly looked over the sheet before grabbing a pencil. Before Damian could stop him, he started to erase and re-write some of the work.

“Hey! Don’t do it for me!”

Timothy paused. “Oh, uh, do you want me to copy your handwriting?”

“No, you’re supposed to tell me which I got wrong and how to fix it. Don’t do it for me,” Damian huffed.

“Damian, if you’re able to fuck up FOIL, I’d rather just do it for you.”

“I did not “fuck up” FOIL, it’s the easiest part of the problem!”

“Yes! You did! Look.” He pointed at the paper. “You literally multiplied the inner two twice instead of the last two.”

Damian stared at his paper, blinked, and snatched the pencil from Timothy’s hand. How hadn’t he noticed that? “You are an awful teacher.”

“I never claimed to be a good one.” He pointed to another problem. “You need to redo this one too. Other than that, everything is right.”

Damian huffed. “Thank you.”

Timothy was quiet for a moment before speaking. “Do you have trouble with graphs?”

Damian looked at the graphs on his paper, the remanence of erased work redone over and over. Most of the time they were easy. Plotting points was simple enough; his problem came with making curves. He nodded.

Timothy leaned on his desk. “Okay. Well, graphing’s pretty easy.”

He pulled a piece of graphing paper out from a drawer, made a quick x and y axis, and began to explain. He made sure Damian followed along as he listed tips and tricks for graphing. Then he made two, easy enough practice problems. When Damian finished, Timothy patted him on the head, smiled, and ushered him out of the room with a short goodbye. Timothy and Father would be going out soon. Damian didn’t want to be around them then, in case Father needed more “comfort”. Usually, he’d try to convince Father to let him patrol on school nights, but not tonight. He wanted to think. Damian wasn’t sure about much anymore. He didn’t like not being sure. He wanted to talk to someone, someone he was sure of. He wanted to talk to Richard.

He was always sure of Richard. Richard was kind, he never shamed Damian for his violence or made him feel less for it. He was the first person to care for Damian in the way he did, with unwavering love and constant warmth. Damian had never been more sure of a person.

When Damian got to his room his finger hovered over Richard’s contact. He almost felt bad for burdening him with this, but he just wanted to know what to do. He didn’t know what to do.

“Richard,” Damian greeted when the man answered the phone.

“Hey, Dami what's up?”

“Are you busy?”

Damian heard him hesitate and walk to another room. “No, no, not at all? Is something wrong, do you need me to come to Gotham?”

Damian shook his head, despite being alone in his room. “No, everything is fine. I have a hypothetical question.”

“Oh okay… hypothetical? Ask away.”

Damian shifted and twisted his bedsheets between his fingers. “Hypothetically, if I heard or saw something that made me uncomfortable, and left me worried about… a loved one.” Yes, Timothy was a loved one, as much as Damian refused to admit it out loud. “As perpetrated by another loved one, but I've already been told by the former that it was fine, what should I do?”

“Oh, um..,” Richard paused. “Did- did you see something?”

“No. This is hypothetical,” he said quickly. ( Too quickly.) “However, and this is also hypothetical, if someone else had also said to me before I saw what I saw that the relationship between the people I care about was abusive. Hypothetically. Should I ignore it, because they said it was fine or should I interfere despite that?”

���Jesus, Dami, that's a lot. I- ugh… Christ. So someone you care about is in an abusive relationship with someone else you care about, but they're both insisting it's fine. Is that right?”

“I don't think it's abusive. I was told it was by someone who tends to overreact to these types of things.”

“But something you saw between them made you uncomfortable.”

“Hypothetically.”

“Hypothetically, of course. But what did you hypothetically see?”

Damian gripped his sheets. Should he tell Richard? This had been happening between Timothy and Father for quite some time but Timothy hadn't mentioned it in his explanation. Maybe he left it out on purpose or maybe it was second nature and didn't seem worth mentioning. 

“You don't have to tell me right now if it was too much, Dami, but I want to help. I can't help if I don't know what's going on.”

Damian swallowed before speaking. “They- they are father and son, but the way they interact has always seemed… odd to me. They've never acted like father and son, but what I've seen confirmed it. The father was making his son pretend to be his father, he called the son “dad.” But the way the son just… didn't react. He was used to it, they both were. And I also know the son often has to take care of the father as if he were his father's father. He treats his father like he’s a child. He's been doing this for years, and I'm worried.”

“Yeah, that’s weird… How old is the son again?”

“I’m not going to disclose that information, but they are young. Older than me, but young.”

“Okay… Damian, do I know these people?”

Damian hesitated again. “Yes. You do.”

“Okay, then I really need to know who it is then. If it’s people I care about then I need to know,” Richard insisted.

Damian mulled over his choice for a few moments. The more Richard knew, the more it would help. Why did this make him uneasy? Because it was breaking Timothy’s trust. When had he ever cared about Timothy’s trust before?

“It’s Father and Drake,” he said finally.

There was just silence on the line. With each silent second Damian felt his anxiety peak.

“Richard, you cannot tell Drake I told you! Don’t. Forget we even had this conversation!”

Richard’s voice finally cut through the other line. “Dami, Dami, it’s alright. I won’t say anything. But I need you to explain to me exactly what you saw. Actually, tell me everything about the situation, from the top. Spare no details.”

Damian’s frown deepened. “That will take a while.”

“I have a while.”

It would just be Tim, Cass, and Bruce tonight. In Bruce’s crusade to be a good father, he only allowed Damian to patrol three school nights out of the week, even less if he had a project or something. That was fine for Tim, he didn’t need to reign in Damian every time they captured a villain. 

Tonight was a stealth mission, hence Cass. She and Tim’s job was to sneak into the abandoned lab Scarecrow had been using to produce fear toxin. If they could safely , because God knows the two would try anyway, they were to take a sample of whatever was being made. But, for now, it was just Bruce and Tim in the batmobile. 

“Robin asked me for help on his math homework earlier,” Tim said, breaking the comfortable silence.

“Oh?” He can’t see beneath the cowl, but he thinks Bruce raised an eyebrow.

“Yeah. It’s not like he was super bad, most of his work was correct, just a few things he missed.” Silence fell again for a few moments, tenser than Tim thought they should be. “He’s smart.”

“I know.”

Tim frowned. He could tell Bruce was upset about something, he could almost hear the cogs turning in the guy's brain. “What’s wrong?”

Bruce didn’t say anything for a long moment, just stared out the windshield. “Nothing. I’m glad Robin and you are growing closer,” he says.

Tim could feel his jaw tighten. He wouldn’t push now, and Bruce could wallow for a few hours before he said anything. It’d be easier to focus with a clear head anyway. He put a soft hand on Bruce's arm. “Okay. But if something’s bothering you, you should tell me, alright?”

Bruce barely nodded. 

Cass and Tim had successfully procured a sample of the new strain of fear toxin without being caught. Or rather a few samples, they’d found a full mini fridge of beakers. And maybe successfully wasn’t 100% true either. They were currently booking it in the direction of the batmobile while about five- at least it was five the last Tim checked- guards were chasing them. Running while carrying the fridge was awkward, especially since they hadn’t planned on it. They knew they had something good because the guards were forbade from shooting at them.

Bruce spun around the corner with the car and shoved the passenger door open. Cass climbed in first, spidering her body into the back seat and grabbing the fridge from Tim. Tim jumped into the passenger seat and slammed the door shut. Bruce slammed on the gas and they sped away. They could hear gunshots bounce off the armored wheels of the car. Tim slumped in his seat and sighed before reaching a hand back and high-fiving Cass.

“Nice,” he beamed at her. “Can you check to make sure we didn’t break any beakers?”

Cass nodded and opened the fridge.

“I told you two to be careful,” Bruce said.

“Oh, don’t start.” Tim rolled his eyes.

“I say things for a reason. I command things because you can be reckless. You could hurt yourself and others.”

“Please, Batman, me and Black Bat are fine. And we got what we needed.”

Cass nodded again in the backseat, corroborating Tim.

“That doesn’t matter,” Bruce pushed out. “It’s the what if, not what happened.”

Tim huffed. “I know this makes you nervous, but me and Black Bat are some of the most capable for stealth missions. You need to trust us.”

Bruce bit the inside of his cheek. “I… trust you. But you need to listen to me, I need you to be safe.” He glanced over his shoulder at Cass. “Both of you.”

Tim looked at her through the rear-view mirror. Cass was still, not moving and staring at Bruce who had turned back to the road. “Yo,” he said, getting her attention. “Are the beakers okay?”

She gave him a quick thumbs up and settled in her seat.

Cass was a people person. She understood people occasionally more than they knew themselves. She could read people on a level that made it impossible to keep a secret from her. She knew everything about how everyone felt about each other. The problem was she couldn’t relate. She could observe and learn but she couldn’t relate, she never learned to. It was better now, her family taught her empathy. But when she first joined the family, she didn’t pay any mind to how different Tim and Bruce were. She thought it was obvious to everyone, Tim moved awkwardly, like he was afraid of Bruce but even more terrified of Bruce getting hurt. In any way. A month into knowing them, Bruce and Dick had gotten into an argument. Tim spent the day nervously idling around Bruce, ready to do whatever he needed. 

It was weird in that it reminded her of how a mother would fuss over a child, but Tim was afraid. But she ignored it. Everyone in the family was odd with each other. Damian looked at Dick almost as if he was his father, and he used to be terrified of Tim. Duke looked at Tim like he was the brightest star in the sky. Jason acted like a child whenever they had to deal with the Joker, no matter how much he tried to hide it. Steph held a deep anger against Bruce. Everyone here hid things from everyone. So did Cass. So she ignored this too. She was happy and everyone was, for the most part, happy. Over the years, Tim’s fear died down. It went from terror to just a mild annoyance, at most disgust.

That’s what she was seeing now. Sitting in the back of the batmobile, stuck between the door and a mini fridge. She watched as Tim and Bruce bickered about safety and trust. It was weird. Bruce huffed and puffed like a child, frustrated with their parent for telling them off. Tim looked tired like a parent, fighting the urge to yell at their kid. Their argument didn’t reflect that, had Cass been anyone else it would’ve looked like a legitimate argument about following instructions to stay safe.

She didn’t know how to feel about it. She knew it wasn’t normal, but what was normal with this family? A thought came to her. A bit ago, something had happened between Tim and Jason. She didn’t know what, but she knew it happened. But it made Tim more on edge around Bruce than he had been in years. Tim was scared of something and it was Jason’s fault. So she could ask Jason about it. That was probably smart.

They reached the cave uneventfully. Cass set the fridge in the laboratory area and changed out of her costume. Shae tapped Tim on the shoulder while he was sitting at the computer, typing up their mission log.

‘I’m leaving. Tell B I said bye,’ she signed.

Tim nodded. Tension released from his body but he looked even more exhausted than before. “You’re not staying? Alfred’s making ravioli tonight.”

Cass shook her head. ‘Got a date. See you tomorrow.’

Tim bit the inside of his lip. “Alright. See you tomorrow. Tell Steph I said hi.”

She reached Jason’s apartment thirty minutes later and used the special family entrance, climbing into his kitchen window. He wasn’t there, unfortunately, but she could wait. She quickly texted Steph, letting her know she’d be home late. It didn’t matter, Steph would probably be asleep before she got back to their apartment either way. She opened Jason’s fridge, looking at the poor assortment of takeout and a few things in Tupperware. Nothing she wanted to eat, she settled for a frozen burrito from the freezer. Maybe she should’ve stayed for dinner. She sat on his couch in the dark, scrolling on her phone and eating her burrito. She should probably make a protein shake too, she always has one after being out on the field.

Jason opened his door twenty minutes later and nearly jumped out of his skin when he spotted Cass on his couch.

“Jesus Christ, Cassandra! What the hell are you doing here?!”

Cass put her phone down. “Need to talk. Tim.” She frowned at the sound of her own voice. Being quiet was so much easier.

Jason's face turned almost to stone. He walked over to his fridge, pulled out a bottle of beer, and sat across from her on the couch. “What about him?”

‘He’s scared of Bruce again. He hasn’t been afraid of him in years, and it only happened after something happened between you two. What did you do?’

Jason’s eyes widened a bit before he settled in annoyance. “Of course he’s scared,” he mumbled under his breath. “I didn’t do anything. I want to protect him but he won’t let me.”

‘Protect him from what?’

“Bruce, obviously. Piece of shit’s been abusing him for like five years.”

Cass’s heart dropped. ‘No he isn’t.’ Jason just raised a brow at her. ‘No he isn’t,’ she signed more aggressively.

“Cass. Why would Tim be scared of Bruce in the first place?”

Cass locked up. All she did was glare at Jason. He was wrong because he had to be. Bruce was good, he was a good person. He was good to everyone, he loved everyone. He just loved people in different ways. The way he loved Tim was different from the way he loved Dick or Jason or Damian or her. 

“Listen, Cass, it’s fine if you don’t believe me. Damian didn’t either. Just trust that I want what’s best for Tim and what’s best for him is protecting him from Bruce.”

‘It’s not abuse. He just loves us differently. If they view each other as father and son-’

“YOU KNEW?!” Jason cut her off. His voice was so loud she almost flinched. He was unnecessarily angry all of a sudden. “Cass, have you fucking knew this whole time?!”

Cass hesitantly nodded. ‘It’s obvious. Was I not supposed to? B and T just love each other differently from the rest of us. It’s our normal.’

“That shit’s not normal! Cass, Bruce- shit,” he ran a hand through his hair. “Cass, that’s not normal. It’s never been. Tim shouldn’t have had to act like a parent since he was fucking thirteen . That’s not healthy, it’s not okay. You knew? And you didn’t say anything?”

Cass shifted uncomfortably. If, and that was a big if, Jason was telling the truth, which he fully believed he was, then Bruce was not a good person. Cass wanted him to be. He needed to be. She doesn’t want to lose another parent. 

‘How is that abuse? Just because T cares?’

“That isn’t ‘caring .’ That’s Bruce taking advantage of someone who’s too young and too kind to say no. He can’t put all of his shit on Tim just because he happened to be there.”

Cass swallowed. Taking advantage of a child. It didn’t sound like Bruce. ‘T’s fear comes from the abuse of his parents. Not B.’

Jason looked bewildered. He swung out a hand in confusion. “What the hell are you talking about? Tim’s parents were fine, a little neglectful at times, sure, but they were pretty fucking good parents.”

Cass stared at him in confusion. All of Tim’s subconscious actions were on par with a victim of abuse years ago, but now he just seemed tired. Everything seemed fine and she assumed Tim had come from an abusive home that left him scared of parental figures like Bruce. So as it grew and changed into something else, Cass just assumed that was how Tim was. ‘But T’s always been scared of B.’

“Yeah, no shit. He literally groomed the kid.”

‘But then A… would’ve stepped in. Stopped it if there was something really happening.’

“A? Alfred?” Jason’s face crumpled. “Shit, you’re right. Alfred knows, he has to.” He slammed down the bottle he’d been sipping out of on the floor, making a bit of liquid splash out. “Fuck, Alfred too.”

Jason looked like he wanted to cry. Cass wanted to cry. The thought of Bruce purposely hurting Tim. The thought of Alfred standing by and letting it happen. Her lip quivered. That wasn’t true. It couldn’t be because Bruce was a good person. He didn’t abuse people, the only people he hurt were criminals. But Jason said Tim’s parents were good, and he truly believed that to be fact. Which meant that Tim wasn’t scared of Bruce because he was a parent, he was scared of Bruce because he was Bruce. Because Bruce did something to him. Jason looked over when she made a small sound. His eyes widened and he scooted over to her side of the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

“Christ, ‘m sorry, Cass. Don’t cry.”

‘Liar. B is good,’ she said with shaky hands. Cass turned and smushed her face against his forearm where it hung by her side.

“I know. I know you don’t want to believe it, me neither, but it’s true. And I want to help Tim but he has to want help first. He’s being a dick about it, broke my nose for trying.”

Cass looked up at him astonished. ‘He broke your nose? I thought it happened on the field!’

Jason almost laughed. “Nope. All Tim. Bet he wouldn’t regret it if you asked.” His face hardened again. “Bruce’s got him totally brainwashed.”

Cass turned her face back to his forearm, pulled her knees to her chest, and let silent tears fall while her mind raced. Bruce was a bad person. Where did she go from here? She didn’t want her memories with him to be tainted. Oh God, she knew. She knew for so long and didn’t say anything because she convinced herself it was normal. She didn’t help he little brother because she convinced herself it was okay. She hated herself. 

They stayed like that, Cass curled into his side, and Jason staring off into space.

“I want to help,” she mumbles eventually. “How?”

Jason hummed. “First things first, we need to convince Tim that this isn’t good for him.”

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[captainjanewaysdqvoyagercore]

✨️Get to Know Your Mutuals✨️

what’s the origin of your blog title?

I fell in love with Star Trek: Voyager in fall/winter 2023 after missing most of the original run as a teenager in the mid/late 90s. I had recently moved away from all my friends and family for a promising career move. Captain Janeway turned out to be just the role model I needed in my 40s. The title started with a Facebook fan page. All other versions of Janeway-core or Voyager-core were pretty much taken, so it took a longer form, Captain Janeway's Delta Quadrant Voyager-Core. I've used that for all the fan accounts I've made on different platforms.

otp(s) + shipname(s):

Janeway/Chakotay

Seven of Nine/Raffi

The Doctor/River Song

Garashir

favorite color:

I tend to like deep blues and greens- emerald, deep turquoise, teal, etc. This time of year, I also love pastels. I don't really have one favorite, though.

song stuck in your head:

Almost every video I've posted on TikTok came from having a song stuck in my head that I needed to get out. It varies from day to day.

weirdest habit/trait:

I've always been weird. Not sure what my weirdest is. I do think it's neat that I can look at a color and mix paint to match it. It's helpful in scenic painting. I can make up song lyrics on the spot if I forget what I'm singing as I perform, lol.

hobbies:

My hobbies and my career overlap. I love to sing, dance, act, direct, etc. I also created several social media fan accounts over the past few months- including this blog- and I've found I really enjoy making memes, video edits, meeting fellow fans online and at cons, etc.

if you work, what’s your profession?

I'm a Professor of Theatre

if you could have any job you wish, what would it be?

I'd love to be able to travel for a living and perform more. I'd also like to run a small theatre and repertory company.

something you’re good at:

I'm a good cook and excellent baker. I sing well. I'm good at analyzing plays as a director and actor.

something you hate:

Cruelty, bigotry, and indifference to the first two. Conformity. Closed-mindedness.

something you collect:

Funko Pops, any Star Trek and Doctor Who merch I love, cookbooks, rescue dogs

something you forget:

Anything not attached to my body. I have some sort of out of sight out of mind neurodivergence. Names. Sometimes my lines or lyrics, lol.

what’s your love language:

Finding the perfect gifts for people. Food.

favorite movie/show:

Anything Star Trek, Doctor Who, The Mandalorian, Outlander, old Murder, She Wrote and Columbo reruns, predictable Hallmark Movies, Ted Lasso

I like too many movies to list, lol.

favorite food:

Tiramisu, Vietnamese coffee, and Mac and Cheese

favorite animal:

Little dogs like Chihuahuas, crows, manatees, squirrels

what were you like as a child:

As a small child, introverted, sickly, loved reading. As a teen, more outgoing as I got active in theatre- an extroverted introvert

favorite subject at school:

Theatre, choir, English

least favorite subject:

Math, chemistry

what’s your best character trait?

I try very hard to be kind, I genuinely care about and empathize with others. I'm curious. I'm very tidy, lol.

what’s your worst character trait?

I have a temper. I can yell, slam doors, etc, when it kicks in. I try very hard to keep it in check.

if you could change any detail of your life right now, what would it be?

I wouldn't be in my own personal Delta Quadrant. My family and friends would be closer.

if you could travel in time, who would you like to meet?

All the great women artists, writers, scientists, etc, who have been lost to history. Carrie Fisher. The Bronte sisters. I read today that their were archeologists in Ancient Egypt who studied even more Ancient Egypt because that society lasted for millenia. I'd like to meet one of them, lol.

Thanks for the tag @elenath9

No pressure tagging because tagging people makes me feel uncomfortable - who did I accidentally leave out? Who is going to say, "Ugh, unfollow," etc... @bizships @insanewaykathy @magdalenejaneway @commandermeg @ebonysolcum-two @elandreal86 and anyone else who’d like to join in!

Editing to add this started as a reblog, and ended up a post? I'm so confused, lol.

[arlana-likes-to-write]

Lightning Bug - Chapter 23

Masterlist

Warning: sleep deperivation, a form of self harm, gay panic

Word count: 2.3k

The ringing of a bell announced your arrival at Lucia’s store. “I’ll be right with you,” her voice traveled from the back of the store.

“Take your time; it’s just me,” you called out and headed to the history section. You wanted to add supplemental reading on the topic you and Vision started. He said you would have to complete a project so you thought it was a good idea to get head start. You enjoyed your lesson with Vision as he taught you about early civilizations in India. After your time with Vision, it was straight into the training room with Maria. She was…intense, for lack of a better word. She discovered your limit and pushed you to reach past it. It made sense why she was Nick’s right-hand woman. You were thankful for the peace of Lucia’s shop.

“Hello, mjia,” Lucia said, holding a stack of books. You took the top few from her.

“Hi, how are you?” You asked and began to put the books away. You missed working here, the mundane action and it was an excellent way to shut your brain off.

“Busy since my best employee left me for the Avengers,” she teased and returned to her desk. You rolled your eyes and followed her with the books you picked out in your hand.

“I was your only employee, senora,” you said. “You may need to hire someone.” She mumbled something in Spanish you missed. You bite your lip as you grab a notebook from a pile on her desk labeled ‘free.’ “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course, child,” you sighed, handing her the books you wanted to check out.

“Have you noticed anything weird going on in the neighborhood?” You asked. She looked at you curiously.

“Define weird,” you took the books from her and placed them in the bag you brought.

“Like people going missing and talking about me.” You quickly summarized. Lucia sighed, doing the sign of the cross across her chest. You should have kept your mouth shut.

“I noticed some regulars that usually show up on Tuesday meetings haven’t been around,” you frowned. Every Tuesday night, Lucia held events for people experiencing homelessness in the community. You could study, get help with resumes, or have a quiet place to be.

“I’m guessing the police don’t care, right?” She nodded. That was typical. The NYPD never cared about you or the others who lived on the street. “Thank you. If you hear anything else, let me know.”

“I will, but be careful,” she said. “I fear something dark is coming our way.”

*

You took the notebook from Lucia and threw the bag onto the floor. With a sigh, you climbed into bed. There was so much information running through your head. The weird warning by Caesar and Lucia noticed people disappearing. What was going on? You began to write everything in the notebook and how you were connected to all of this.

None of it made sense. You were a nobody. People recognized you because of your appearance or saw you as an easy target. You were someone now because the Avengers took you in. You bite the end of the pencil. If it had to do with the Avengers, why target you?

“Miss. Y/n,” Friday said. “Just as a reminder, you have a meeting with Mr. Stark and Mr. Banner.” You sighed and stood up, placing the notebook underneath your pillow. The last thing you wanted was to have a math lesson, but you packed your bag and headed for the lab.

*

“Is everything okay?” Pepper asked, causing you to look up from the tablet you were working on. After math, it was your internship with Pepper. Math was well math. Bruce and Tony made it enjoyable, but you still needed clarification. Once you were done, you stopped in the kitchen for a snack and walked to Pepper’s office. She explained that your internship would include a lot of the work you were already plus attending some meetings to take minutes and designing presentations. “You’ve been oddly quiet.” You sighed and tapped your thumbs against the screen.

“I went to see Lucia, the owner of a bookstore I used to go to a lot,” you started. “She said many of the regulars that go to weekly events haven’t shown up. No one knows where they are,” she frowned and closed her laptop.

“Have they reported it to the police?” You rolled your eyes with a huff.

“The police don’t care about us,” you admitted. “Besides, it’s hard to report a missing person when people come and go so much. There was a guy named Larry; he would disappear for 5 months, then come back and act like nothing happened.” The CEO sighed, folding her hands on top of her desk.

“Well, I’ll talk to Tony. Maybe he can put some pressure on the local police.” You stared at the CEO, blinking once, then twice. You weren’t sure what would come of it telling Pepper, but getting the Avengers involved was not it.

“Tony probably has other things going on,” you said, trying to deter from involving the billionaire. “More important things.” You added to prevent her from asking him.

“The Avengers are here to help people,” she stated. “Especially those in our backyard,” she smiled and reopened her laptop. “Do you care about this?” You were a little surprised by the question. You nodded; even though they weren’t the nicest to you, they were still people. And these people had someone who cared about them. “Then it’s settled. I’ll talk to Tony tomorrow.” You smiled.

“Thank you, Pepper.”

“Don’t mention it,” she smirked. “Now, get back to work,” she teased. You giggled and got back to work. If the Avengers were involved, you could get more than answers on where all these people were going. Could you figure out what else was going on?

*

You stared up at the ceiling, hands behind your head and music softly playing from the Walkman. Dinner was filled with questions about your first day of ‘school’, then Natasha and Wanda ensured all your homework was done before you went to bed. However, sleep was not going to happen. You couldn’t turn off your brain. You kept reliving the past few days. Turning off the music, you quietly left your room. Once again, your socked-covered feet led you to the training room. Like clockwork, you uncovered the machine and ensured empty batteries were ready to charge.

You faced the machine head-on and felt the electricity dance around your fingertips, but you refused to release it. Inside, you let the electricity grow and felt the warmth that radiated off of it. For the longest time, that warmth scared you. You associated that warmth with a punishment, but now you like it. It was another reminder that you were free.

You shot your hand forward and released the charge until the batteries were full. You repeated the process until your body began to feel tired, and your mind was blanketed. You knew you would sleep through the night.

*

Unfortunately, you felt stuck in a cycle. Classes, training, homework, and your nightly visit to the machine so you could get sleep. Was it healthy? Yes? At least you weren’t yourself. You were depleting your powers to force your mind into a dreamless sleep. There was no danger to your hippocampus, and you used your powers to help others.

On the fifth day of this self-made schedule, you were running on empty. Every word Vision was saying about the ancient world wasn’t registering. Your brain was mush. “Miss. Y/n,” you jerked awake at the conversation change. The man was smiling. “That’s the third time you’ve fallen asleep. Is the caste system of Ancient India not entertaining enough for you?” He teased.

“No, it is,” you defended. “And you are doing a great job. I just-“Vision chuckled, closing the book. “You are mean.”

“Go get some rest,” he said. “I’ll speak with the others and cancel your lessons for the day.” Oh, you could give him the biggest hug.

“You are amazing,” you shoved your books into your backpack. “Thank you so much!”

“Your health is more important than a civilization that’s been long gone,” you giggled, thanked him again, and took the elevator to your floor. It was thankfully empty as you made a beeline for your room. Throwing your backpack on the ground, you flopped onto the bed and fell fast asleep.

Persistent knocking on your door woke you up. You groaned, rubbing the sleep out of your eyes. “Come in,” you called out, not bothering to sit up. When the door opened, you saw America walk into your room. You rolled over to make room as she ran and jumped on your bed.

“Hi,” she said.

“Hi,” you closed your eyes. “I was sleeping.”

“I know,” she giggled. Unbelievable. “But you’ve been so busy we haven’t hung out, so when Vision told me you were excused from your lessons, I came running,” you opened your eyes, and her head was turned to look at you. “Hi,” America smiled.

“You are a dork,” you said, rolling on your back and ignoring how your stomach flipped. “So what do you have in mind?” The bed shifted as you heard her get up. She grabbed your hand and pulled you into a sitting position. The smile she wore now was bigger, a little mischievous. “America,” you said slowly.

“Do you trust me?” She asked. You sighed, nodding your head.

“Yeah, I trust you.” She jumped from your bed and crackled your knuckles. Oh boy. Her eyes began to glow a light blue, a similar color and look to your electricity. You scrambled off your bed as she punched at your wall. A giant star formed, matching the style of some of her clothes. What surprised you was you saw people walking around - going about their day-to-day life as if a star wasn’t right next to them.

“Is this a portal-”

“To the multiverse?” You nodded. “Yeah, it is,” she held out her hand. “I did ask if you trusted me.” You laughed, took her hand, and allowed her to pull you through the portal. It closed behind you, and you were on a sidewalk similar to New York City. Nothing seemed out of place.

“Are you sure-” You saw cars flying in the sky. Your jaw dropped. “How is this possible?”

“It’s the multiverse, silly,” she dragged you down the sidewalk, where you saw inventions from every sci-fi book you’ve read - flying cars, hoverboards, and hologram phones. “Christianity never existed here,” she pulled you closer so she could whisper. “So the Dark Age never occurred, and humanity is 1000 years more advanced.”

“This is-” You were struggling to find a word to describe everything happening around you.

“I know,” she squeezed your hand. “It’s kind of crazy, but you get used to it.” You were curious to know if you would ever get used to it. “Let’s go get some food and explore.”

While you ate ‘pizza,’ you were curious if they called it something else here; America gave you the rules of multiverse travel. The biggest thing was not to cause an incursion - when the boundary between two universes erodes, and they collide, destroying one or both. When asked how to avoid that, America said it occurs with prolonged travel within the multiverse. “So we won’t stay long,” she took your hand and rang out of the restaurant.

Something about spending time with America outside the tower was different. She was always smiling around the others, but her smile was unlike her usual smile. It wasn’t as large and softer - she seemed happier. Was it because she was using her powers so freely? Or was it because it was just you and her? No team. No prying eyes. But no, you couldn’t think like that. America deserved someone better than you. Someone who wasn’t broken, scarred, and haunted so profoundly by their past. It was unfair to her.

“Y/n!” She yelled your name, and suddenly, her body crashed into yours, and you began to fall. Your back never made contact with the concrete sidewalk instead you saw the outline of her star as you fell into another timeline. You knew something was wrong by the way America held onto you; bruises were going to form on your arms.

Each time you expected to stop falling, the ground never came. Your stomach was flipping as you flew between different portals. It was never-ending as the world kept changing around you. For a split second, it was black and white, then hand-drawn. Were you in a jungle? You weren’t sure, but you wanted it to stop! You felt the grip America had on you loosen as she pushed you forward.

Time slowed down as you flipped through space and headed toward a portal. “America!” You yelled for her. It was impossible to control your body as you flew through the portal. You expected to keep falling, but your back hit a hard wooden floor - the air was knocked out of your lungs. Coughing a few times, another portal appeared above you, and you rolled out of the way before America landed on you.

“Thanks for breaking my fall,” she groaned. You sat up, rubbing the back of your head. The world was still spinning, and you felt sick to your stomach.

“Where are we?” You were sitting at the bottom of a tall staircase. The floor was wooden with a circular design, and you liked the blue. You saw a few areas to sit at. America sat up quickly, eyes wide and the color draining from her face.

“The where is subjective,” a mysterious voice said. “But I do know you are in a lot of trouble.”

_

taglist: @aestruvx, @toouncreativeforausername, @modedddd, @julilamoment, @mythixmagic, @yourmamacom, @vicmc624, @cherlenovix, @liliesandrosies, @whitewidowsbite, @clintsbigtoe,   @blackbirdv98@arualdcg@yoyo-w​  @natbelovasblog, @johnnyhulu, @blackwidow-3, @theenglishswiftie, @faith-olsen

[hexgaywire]

Hello hello!! I stumbled across your blog and love your writing!! Could I request the Luxiem boys as parents?? I need to see these men being soft with children. Thank you for your time.

This was such a cute concept! I'm AWFUL with children but I tried my best 🧍🏻‍♂️ I apologize for it being so short 🗣️

»»————-　☾　————-««

Luxiem Boys as Fathers (HCs)

»»————-　☾　————-««

Pairing: none

Rating: SFW

Warning: light swearing, mentions of violence (nothing graphic), mentions of parental trauma (as a throw away line)

»»————-　☾　————-««

Vox would be an excellent father

If we exclude the demon hungers incident

You already know he would love the shit out of his kid

Anytime his child does anything he flaunts it to anyone who will listen

His child is so spoiled though, he can't resist saying no

Takes his kid everywhere even when he travels

Certified DILF

Vox basically just has a copy of himself, his kid loves movies and they have movie nights

Never misses a school event, we love a supportive dad 🗣️

»»————-　☾　————-««

Overprotective as FUCK

Like Vox, he loves spoiling his child so much

Anything that kid wants, it's bought

Heir to the Mafia throne Luca makes sure his kid can fight and hold their own

But still coddles them tho

He doesn't want to put too much pressure on them

Will absolutely be at the shit out of anyone who makes fun of them or hurts them in anyway

To put his kid to sleep he'll drive them around for hours

As they get a little older they absolutely love car rides with him

Lucy is the best aunt no questions asked😤

»»————-　☾　————-««

Is the best dad ever

As a baby and a toddler, he would constantly read to his kid

Loves introducing new foods to his kid

Yes his kid likes caviar toast, it's a conditioned response

Seriously though he is so supportive of his kid

Ike is a little timid at times, but tries his best to stand up for his kid

Sports, languages, hobbies he's his kids 1# supporter

Any problems Ike's child has, he's able to clock right away

10/10 Therapist dad™️

»»————-　☾　————-««

I honestly think Shu would be the softest dad in the world

I mean he never swears, and encourages his kid to do the same

Cool dad, because he games with his kid

Plus his kid gets free tech support

You already know they build a PC together

Contrary to Vox and Luca he doesn't necessarily spoil his kid

He loves them to death but wants them to be responsible when they grow up

Homework help!!!

unlike the trauma some of use may have gotten when asking a parent for help with math homework

Shu is always gentle and sweet helping his child with any work they might have

»»————-　☾　————-««

Psst down here, my requests are open

[illusivesoul]

Getting to know your Mutuals

Was tagged by @celemee . Thank you, friend :)

I'll tag @kroganloveinterest @vulpixelates @angrykittybarbarian and @favoriteblogonthecitadel . Only if you feel like doing this, of course.

I'll put the blanks here and my answers under the cut.

What's the origin of your blog's title? 

Favorite Fandoms: 

OTP(s) + shipname: 

Favorite color: 

Favorite game: 

Song stuck in your head: 

Weirdest habit/trait? 

Hobbies: 

If you work, what's your profession? 

If you could have any job you wish what would it be?

Something you're good at:

Something you're bad at:

Something you excel at:

Something you love: 

Something you could talk about for hours without off the cuff:

Something you hate:

Something you collect:

Something you forget:

What's your love language? 

Favorite movie/show: 

Favorite food: 

Favorite animal: 

Are you musical? 

What were you like as a child? 

Favorite subject at school? 

Least favorite subject? 

What's your best character trait?

What's your worst character trait? 

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet?

Recommend one of your favorite fanfics 

.

What's the origin of your blog's title?: Its a Blackwall quote from where he sees the inquisitor during In Hushed Whispers in DAI, where he think he's seeing a ghost cause he thought the inky was dead. I saw it in a gifset cause I hadn't taken Blackwall on that mission and I really liked it.

Favorite Fandoms: Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Resident Evil, Call of Duty, Detroit Become Human.

OTP(s) + shipname: A tie between Shaynor (Shepard x Traynor) and Shortez (Shepard x Cortez)

Favorite color: Black

Favorite game: Mass Effect 3

Song stuck in your head: 

Weirdest habit/trait?: Sometimes when I'm really focused on something, I sometimes say random phrases or words from things I've seen and/or played, like a song lyric, a phrase from a game or a tv show, etc.

Hobbies: Walking the dog, making gifs, writing fanfic, playing games, going on walks.

If you work, what's your profession?: Im a translator and I do transcriptions.

If you could have any job you wish what would it be?: Honestly anything that would let me work from home and with my own schedule. It may be too much of a fantasy, but I like to dream lol.

Something you're good at: Im a relatively good cook imo.

Something you're bad at: Trying to enjoy free time and not feel like im wasting time by not doing anything productive.

Something you excel at: I think overall I have a good memory, and I can remember things for a long time. When I was young I used to basically memorize the plots from movies, so I think it started there lol.

Something you love: Silence, but that type of silence like when youre walking down the street and there are no cars around.

Something you could talk about for hours without off the cuff: History, geopolitics, ghost stories and videogame lore.

Something you hate: One thing cause I just recently experienced it again lol, but people who walk slowly in the street.

Something you collect: I like to keep those brochures stores and business give.

Something you forget: Reply to messages on time.

What's your love language?: I like to get gifts or things I think may be useful to people I care about.

Favorite movie/show: The Van Helsing 2004 movie.

Favorite food: Lasagna.

Favorite animal: Dogs.

Are you musical?: Yes in the sense that I like music a lot, and its cliche but im part of the "I listen to everything" crowd.

What were you like as a child?: Hyperactive and impatient.

Favorite subject at school?: World history.

Least favorite subject?: Math.

What's your best character trait?: Im very helpful and always look for ways to help and collaborate wherever I am.

What's your worst character trait?: I tend to have a superiority complex in topic I am familiar about. Thankfully I've worked on it and im not as intense as I used to be, but I used to be super judgy of people not knowing things that I considered to be basic knowledge of a certain topic.

If you could change any detail of your day right now what would it be?: I'd have my room ordered by now.

If you could travel in time who would you like to meet?: Ohhh so many people, but to pick just one, I'd like to talk with Napoleon while he was exiled in Saint Helena.

Recommend one of your favorite fanfics:

to hear the nightingale (sing on, as if in pain) - A Leliana/Wynne fic I got for an exchange, and is still to this day my all time favourite DA fic.

[geekwithajeep]

that moment when you’re on the phone with your friend, discussing budgeting and shopping and whatnot for when she moves in with you sometime in the next year. and as you’re sitting there at a forever-long florida red light, you say:

“I mean I don’t love crunching numbers but y’know, I am my father’s child so I’ll help you crunch numbers. Heck, I’ll throw together an excel spreadsheet for ya if you need it.”

and then you pause.

and you realize.

one of you is older. slightly calmer. less talkative. struggles with making friends. works with mechanical/tech stuff all day but has a huge appreciation for art.

the other one of you hails from the carolinas (and has the accent to prove it), is the daughter of an accountant and has his math skills, and is bright and bubbly if a bit confused by the intricacies of life.

and you mention this to your friend who, like you, is a massive fan of timothy zahn’s thrawn novels.

and the line goes dead silent.

and then,

“Y’know, I saw where you were going and I’m glad we came to the same conclusion.”

we’re so screwed, aren’t we.

TL;DR – you’re about a year away from your best friend moving in with you just to suddenly realize you two are carbon copies of your favorite Imperial Buddy Cop Duo.

[msfcatlover]

The Public Personas I think each Wayne Kid would get in the Reverse Robins verse

Duke: The easy-going, down-to-earth, reasonable one. Or, perhaps more accurately, the straightman to Bruce’s comedian. Duke’s fond exasperation & surprisingly grown-up attitude as a child made for an excellent counter to Brucie’s bombastic antics, and had plenty of people joking that Duke was the actual parent between the two of them. Seeing the two of them at work is seeing a decade-perfected comedy tag-team in action, and it is a beautiful thing. As Duke grew up, his reputation shifted to being the Chillest Dude (gender neutral) in any given room, and he mastered the sort of subtle, charismatic warmth that makes everyone feel like they’re your best friend. Duke’s one of those celebrities you just want to crack a beer open with and chat about your day, because they seem like they’d be fun to hang out with, y’know? (Which also helps separate him from his hero identities. Duke Thomas? Dress up like a cross between a motorcycle racer & medieval knight in order to speed around downtown, jump off bridges & skyscrapers, and kick the Joker in the face on a biweekly basis? Are you fucking high?)

Damian: Starts out as the acerbic, hotheaded brat. Grows up into Gotham’s favorite Bad Boy With A Heart Of Gold, thanks to both his maintained public attitude & work with helping animals around the world, even after he mostly moves to Bludhaven. (Yes, he rides a motorcycle, wears mostly leather, and has just so many piercings. Most of the piercings are fake, so that they can’t be grabbed in fights; the real ones he almost exclusively wears small studs in. They all come out in preparation for patrol.)

Cassandra: The Ice Queen, so cool & confident that some people genuinely think the family is lying about her selective mutism and it’s just a front so she has an excuse to ignore people. (She is deeply offended by this.) Zero tolerance for bullshit, cutting edge fashionista, single handedly got ASL added as a language course to every school in Gotham, and got plenty of rich jerks to learn if only to know what she was gossiping about with her siblings when they kept glancing over and laughing at everyone else. Universally assumed to be the one who'll take over WE when Bruce retires, despite her complete lack of interest.

Steph: The Wild Child, the only one to follow in Brucie’s footsteps. This was not the persona she wanted but in her society debut gala, something came up and Duke needed a distraction so he could go deal with it. Steph set her shoulders, grabbed a bottle off the snack table behind them, and said, “You got it.” First impressions are everything, and she never could shake that one… not helped by the fact that sometimes, an empty-headed party girl was exactly what they needed to gather information, and Steph had both the reputation to play the part & clout to get wherever she wanted once Bruce fostered her. (After her death, people call it a “downward spiral.” Others counter this with a clip from an interview she gave earlier that year, where Stephanie Brown talked about her hard work in school & the community, and her frustration over her reputation. “Of course it bothers me,” she said, “It bothers me that what I’m wearing matters more than the causes I promote. It bothers me that a few sips of wine outweigh organizing an entire event. It bothers me that flirting with people my own age upsets people more than a fucking shooting in downtown Gotham!” She laughed bitterly. “Is it the hair? Should I dye it? Would that make people take me more seriously?” She turned to look directly into the camera, tears shining in her eyes. “I’m—I’m sixteen. What do you want from me?”)

Tim: Tim starts out as the resident Cool Nerd. He’s friendly, he’s chill, he likes skateboarding & computer games—and also, he GMs on the weekends, he likes to solve math puzzles & write his own algorithms, he knows more about the history of sci-fi than any human has right to. Tim’s the kind of nerd who makes his nerdy hobbies seem cool by association. (Still figuring the rest out, honestly. Since he’s Oracle in this verse, part of me feels like he’d stay out of the public eye more? But another part of me says Tim would make his public persona as loud as possible, so that people think of him beyond his injury. “Bruce Wayne’s Paraplegic Son” is not an identity Tim would ever be okay letting people define him by, I think. I know he does a lot of charity work, and is more open to talking about his challenges than Cass is, in a very “if I tell you upfront, you can’t use it against me (also, maybe someone else needs to hear this)” kinda way. I know he’s still involved in the business world to some degree. I’m just having trouble pinning down how Tim would characterize Timothy Drake-Wayne [post-injury] to the public.)

Jason: Jason is kinda the inverse of Damian, being soft-spoken & seemingly shy until you bring up a cause he cares passionately about. He's very protective of his siblings, and is responsible for about 80% of the "Wayne Kids Spotted! You Won't Believe These Adorable Pictures!" tabloid headlines (Cass & Damian dote on Jason, those candids being one of the only times people get pictures of their "soft sides." Jason also volunteers to help Duke & Tim out a lot, and is often seen trailing after them trying to look professional.) Every woman over 30 in Gotham just wants to pinch his pudgy little cheeks, at least until Jason hits his last growth spurt and comes back from a year abroad looking like an absolute hunk. But still just as humble, just as polite, and just as passionate about helping others. Isn't he just a Big Ol' Marshmallow? (Jason maintains this reputation mainly by biting his tongue & constantly reminding himself if he can't think of anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. After every single interview or public event, you can find him down in the cave, ranting to himself about everything that pissed him off and taking it out on the poor training dummies.)

Dick: Started out very surly & private, but all his siblings defended that the poor boy had gone through so much trauma in under a year (losing his parents, being taken from the family he grew up with, and then losing Bruce just a few months later,) that it was only to be expected. They worked hard to keep him protected from the public eye while he was grieving. When little Richie finally made his public debut, Gotham was delighted to discover an energetic Sunshine Child, who wasn't exactly a great listener & was more than a bit of a showoff, but gosh darn if he wasn't the cutest thing anyone had seen in years. (Dick keeps up the shallow-but-cheerful Sunshine act all the way into his adult life, coming the closest out of any of them to having a true Brucie persona as an adult.)