#Law Tutorial Classes

[luvrodite]

in my first year of law school we were going around introducing ourselves and when i introduced myself the tutor made a kind of snide comment about my second degree basically calling it useless (it's an arts degree go figure). anyway i'm just thinking about how a few weeks later we went into lockdown and all our classes and lectures were over zoom and someone turned their mic on to interrupt our lecturer and say '(his name) is a dick' like. random unnamed law school student 3927937 do you ever know you're my hero

[disbabeled]

Do you know how many times a day I want to scream at people "THIS ISN'T FOR YOU!" ?

Just yesterday, I was ten minutes late to my tutorial class because for whatever reason, almost every single person in my lecture decided to use the elevator instead of going down one flight of stairs while me and my classmates -- the ones who didn't have that choice -- were stuck waiting for the next elevator.

I constantly have to navigate around people walking up the ramps -- or, worse, standing in the middle of them -- because they couldn't get off their phones for two seconds to use the stairs instead.

At least twice a week I end up in far more pain than usual because people who don't need them take up the accessible seats on the bus and I either have to stand there and wait for somebody to get up (Which is already hard on my body) or just wrap my arm around the pole and try to suffer through a few stops until somebody gets off (Which has already caused several dislocations). As much as people like to brag about how they'd "always give up their seat for a poor handicapped person", they're far more likely to stay right where they are and ignore you in favour of watching Instagram reels on their phone.

And I've tried asking people to move. Directly. Making eye contact and everything. They'll just look down at their phone and ignore me until the bus driver or somebody else says something. And only then can they magically notice me and get up.

Before I get a bunch of people leaping to yell about people with invisible disabilities: I know. I know there are people with invisible disabilities, I spent most of my life with only invisible disabilities. I can guarentee that not every single person in my lecture of 60 people has an invisible disability. This is not the problem.

The problem is that able bodied people see these resources and supports made specifically for physically disabled people and assume they're entitled to them. Most of them see it as something that's put in place just to comply with certain rules or laws or regulations as a 'just in case' thing. Nobody thinks that disabled people are actually out and about. We're an afterthought to them.

And I get it. I do. We all have our blind spots.

But seriously, this is getting ridiculous.

[mysteryshoptls]

Trey Clover Shared Lines

Tutorial: We should hurry, or it'll be off with our heads.

Level Up 1 / Buddy Level Up: Haha, it's not too terrible to have someone look after me for a change.

Level Up 2: It's all because you've been working alongside me.

Level Up 3: Yeah, this result feels good.

Level Max: I can't look bad in front of my underclassmen. I worked pretty hard, you know?

Vignette Level Up: I enjoy being with you. Haha, sounds like a lie? What can I say that'll make you believe me?

Spell Level Up: My magical power has grown even more than before. It's probably because of all the training we've done together.

Friendship Level Up: At first, when you said you wanted to extend your hospitality to me, I thought to myself, “what are they scheming?”, but… Haha, you’re always full of surprises.

Friendship Level Max: I need to give you proper thanks for always inviting me. …Eh? Hey, it’ll be troublesome if you ask for that much. Do me a favor and don’t expect too much, okay?

Uncapped: I know it's not really like me to ask, but... ... I kind of want to see just how far I can go. Will you help me out?

Groovification: This just means there's still room for me to grow. That's good to know.

Lesson Select 1: You're looking pretty sleepy. I won't wake you up even if you drift off to sleep in class, you understand?

Lesson Select 2: It'd be great if our freshmen could be just as diligent in their studies like you are...

Lesson Select 3: My best subject? If I have to pick something, I guess that'd be alchemy... Well, let's just say I'm average across the board.

Lesson Start: Alright. Time to focus.

Lesson Finish: Good job. Keep it up next time, too.

Battle Start: I don't really want to be too rough with you.

Battle Won: Getting so heated up isn’t really my forte.

Trouble 1: I wasn’t fighting or anyth… No, I guess it was good you stopped us.

Trouble 2: Phew, it’s finally over.

GIFT CALENDAR 2023: “How will you be spending the day?” It’s pretty cold every day now, so I think I’ll stock up on lemonade-ginger syrup. It’ll warm you right up if you drink some. What, according to the Queen of Hearts’ Laws, we can’t have lemonade after 8 o'clock? Well, this has ginger in it, so it’s a completely different drink, isn’t it?

Birthday Login Message 1: Haha, you're making me blush. Thanks. According to the Queen of Hearts' laws, on our birthday, we're allowed to be as selfish as we want. Now, what should should I ask of you...? Hey, c'mon, no need to shirk. Obviously, I'm just joking.

Birthday Login Message 2: Oh are you going to celebrate my birthday as well? Thanks. What do I want as a present…? I’m okay with anything. Hey, it’s not like I’m just saying that in order to answer your question. I’m just happy that you’re thinking of me.

Birthday Login Message 3: Hm? Do I like strawberry or chocolate tarts better? Hm, I think I like both. Are you thinking of making one for somebody? Oh, then let me help you. …Hahah, don’t look so panicked. I’m just kidding. It’d be bad if I helped you on today of all days, right? Well then, I can’t wait to see your finished tart. You can give me your birthday wishes after it’s done.

Birthday Login Message 4: Thanks for celebrating my birthday. But I have to say, I wasn’t expecting you to have my gift delivered to my dorm like that. You should have just handed it to me directly, since we were meeting up, anyway. Was I shocked? Well, yes… Ah, so it was supposed to be a surprise present! Haha, oh man. You’re always finding ways to startle me.

Birthday Login Message 5: You’re here for my birthday, huh? And this present… Oh, it’s honey! Thanks! It’s useful and honestly, easy to comprehend. What I mean is, we had a Science Club meeting today, and… Well, while the club members were wishing me a happy birthday, Rook gave me something. Look at this. According to Rook, it’s a “wondrously beautiful clover,” but… Is there any difference from a regular clover? I don’t really get it… What about you? If you can figure out the difference, let me know on the down low.

Requested by Anonymous.

[lomahdu]

Nothing more

☀︎—pairings:keum!seongje x oc!character

☀︎—warnings:swearing, no seongje (sadly)

☀︎—Lena's note:Soo this part isn't much but i wanted yall to meet Sooah and Sooah to meet Juntae (possibly besties?).What do yall guys think about Sooah?

☀︎—word count:661

☀︎—Chapter 2

I was sitting in my room, watching yet another TikTok tutorial on how to curl your hair using socks. Hopefully, this one would work—though, considering it was already 9 PM and I’d been trying for the past half hour, I wasn’t feeling too optimistic. My arms were going numb from holding them up for so long when suddenly, someone rang the doorbell.

“Ugh,” I groaned, getting up from my chair, only to trip over a pair of jeans that had been abandoned on my floor. I fell forward, just barely catching myself with my hands before my face hit the ground. Damn, I really needed to clean this room. Honestly, I was walking on top of my own clothes.

The doorbell rang three more times—insistently.

Who the hell is at the door at this hour?

I pushed myself off the floor and made my way to the front door. On the intercom screen, I saw a sweet-looking boy wearing glasses, staring directly into the camera.

“Um, hi… Is Sieun home?” he asked politely.

I opened the door, and he gave me a weird look—kind of confused, kind of surprised.

“Uh… you have socks on your head,” he said—not mockingly, just pointing it out.

I ignored the comment and answered, “He’s not home yet. Should be back soon, I guess. And you are…?”

I gave him a quick once-over. He didn’t look like someone who’d be friends with Sieun. Then again, since the whole Suho and Beomseok thing happened, my brother barely talked to anyone besides me.

“I’m in Sieun’s class. I came to return his phone,” the boy said, holding it out toward me.

“Newton’s third law,” he added, flashing a smile with perfect white teeth.

“…Right. The third law of Newton,” I replied, raising an eyebrow as I took the phone. What a weirdo.

“I’ll give it to him. And your name is?” I asked, still unsure what to make of him.

“Juntae. Seo Juntae,” he said with a nod.

“Mhm. Well, Seo Juntae, thanks… on his behalf,” I replied.

“Oh no, really, it’s the least I could do,” he said, lifting his hands a bit in a dismissive gesture.

I gave him a small smile and started closing the door. “Good night.”

“Wait!” he said quickly. “Are you his sister?”

I frowned slightly. What else would I be? His girlfriend? Now that’s a good joke. I don’t think my brother will ever get a girlfriend.

“Yes, I thought that was obvious,” I replied.

“Oh… okay. And what’s your name? Since you know min-" he started.

“Sooah,” I said, cutting him off before he could ask anything else. This boy yapped way too much.

“Right. Um, good night. I mean… evening, I guess,” he said and disappeared.

What a strange kid.

I shut the door behind me and placed Sieun’s phone on the dinner table. Grabbing a notebook, I tore out a page and scribbled a note:

“Here’s your phone, dumbass. I’m going to sleep. And next time, PLEASE don’t lose it. Lots of kisses—your sister.”

I slid the note under his phone and looked up at the clock. It was 9:15 PM. Normally I didn’t go to bed this early, but last night I stayed up until 3 AM reading, so I was surviving on three and a half hours of sleep. In my defense, the enemies had just become lovers.

I went back to my room, stepping over the chaos of clothes like I was shopping during a store-wide clearance sale. Reaching my bed, I turned on my red LED lights and collapsed onto the mattress, only to realize how ridiculously uncomfortable it was trying to sleep with socks tied to my head.

This hairstyle better turn out amazing or I swear, I’m suing this chick on tiktok.

After about 10 minutes of tossing and turning with sock-curlers yanking at my scalp, I finally fell asleep.

[astroismypassion]

✨PART OF FORTUNE IN SIGNS AND HOUSES SERIES: 9TH HOUSE✨

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

ARIES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aries and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You would do well as a personal trainer or fitness instructor since you have great energy and motivation that can inspire clients to achieve health and fitness goals. You feel abundant when you are inspired and inspiring others and when you can experience the childlike joy and share it with those around you.

TAURUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Taurus and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via teaching about practical skills, business, economics or the arts, via creating and selling educational content (online courses, e-books, instructional videos), by becoming a travel writer or blogger, starting or managing a tourism-related business (travel agency, boutique hotel or guided tour company), via international law.

GEMINI PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Gemini and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via developing or working with educational technology platforms that facilitate online learning, via work in international business/trade, via diplomacy, engaging in media production, creating content for TV, radio or online platforms.

CANCER PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You can feel the most abundant when you have Cancer and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via selling home-brewed beer or offering brewing classes, via media content (podcasts, videos) connected with family relationships, emotional health, cultural traditions, life coaching, via real estate related to family homes, community housing, vacation properties that provide a sense of home and comfort, via non-profit organizations that focus on family support, emotional well-being and cultural preservation.

LEO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Leo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via providing high-end services, such as image consulting or bespoke travel planning, via engaging in theatre, film, directing, producing, via creative arts (music, painting, dancing), via sharing your experiences by storytelling, via teaching, arts, philosophy or leadership.

VIRGO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Virgo and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via nutrition counselling, naturopathy, wellness coaching, preventative care, via writing for technical and scientific publications, via developing or managing programs that facilitate cultural exchanges and study abroad opportunities. You feel abundant when you are focused on service and when you have clear communication.

LIBRA PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Libra and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via becoming a make-up artist, creating tutorials or selling beauty products. You feel abundant when you travel with your loved ones, your partner or as a part of the team. You find wealth via becoming a teacher in subjects like art, design, law or philosophy. You find abundance in starting a business in art (art gallery, design studio, fashion brand).

SCORPIO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Scorpio and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via esoteric studies, sociology, spiritual transformation, via energy work, shamanic healing, transformational coaching. You feel abundant when you dive into transformation, healing and deep psychological insights. You can also offer consulting services in areas, like crisis management, organizational transformation or deep personal development. You feel abundant when you promote healing and transformation via self-help books, wellness products or spiritual tools.

SAGITTARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via offering tailored travel plans, starting a business in adventure tourism (offering hiking, trekking and cultural tours), offering spiritual counselling or coaching, helping others find their path and purpose.

CAPRICORN PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Capricorn and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via import/export, global consultancy, multinational corporations, via offering historical tours, archaeological digs, via eco-tourism, via international law or corporate law. You feel abundant when you are disciplined, patient and persistent.

AQUARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aquarius and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via writing or speaking about progressive philosophical or spiritual ideas that align with modern, futuristic or humanitarian values, via online courses, workshops or alternative education methods, via technology, social sciences or futuristic studies.

PISCES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 9TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Pisces and Sagittarius Sun people in your life. You can earn money via producing media content (podcast, video, documentary) on spiritual, artistic, cultural topic, via creating educational programs/workshops that blend traditional learning with holistic or spiritual perspective, via spiritual coaching, astrology or psychic readings.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[autistichalsin]

Actually, that last post reminded me of a really important bit of advice I once received that not enough people know.

For math and the sciences? It doesn't matter what textbook you use. I mean, obviously, if your professor assigns you homework from textbook A, you need to have and read it to do your homework.

But if you're in chemistry, and the way your textbook explains Guy-Lussac's law to you makes no sense? Go to your local library and look for textbook B or C.

Science and math books for a given topic will all contain the same information, just explained in a different way. Every biology book in existence is going to tell you that all living things have nucleic acids made up of the bases cytosine, thymine or uracil, guanine, and adenine. Every chemistry book in existence is going to tell you that the noble gases are nonreactive because their outer electron shells are completely filled. Every physics textbook in existence is going to tell you that entropy arises as a result of the second law of thermodynamics and can never be reduced, only increased. You're going to get this information no matter what book you read- it's just that some will be far better at giving you this explanation in a way you understand than others.

ALSO, outside of textbooks, almost every concept (and especially every part of the math involved) will have tutorials on Youtube (and most likely Khan Academy). These saved my life in my biostatistics classes, and I wish I'd known about them when I was an undergrad, because as much as I excel with the conceptual parts of chemistry and physics, I struggled through the math, and knowing about these would have helped me a lot.

There are so many resources at your disposal- you can do this! Few peiople are going to breeze through it. Don't give up!

[itsrainingbubbles]

Law and luffy have French together, it comes easier to Luffy because he knows Spanish and he picked up some French from Sanji, so he often helps law with the class, which law loathes because he's usually always the one tutoring Luffy

The pain in that man's eyes when he tells his friends he has to go to meet Luffy for tutorials is unlike any other

Tutorials pay off though, and law thoroughly enjoys them despite how much he complains (only because he spends the majority of the time kissing Luffy"

"tu veux un baiser?"

Was the first sentence law learned fluently, do you want a kiss, only because Luffy repeatedly said it until law said yes and as soon as law realized what the sentence meant he made sure to memorize it

Kisses were also how law learned numbers, Luffy would tell law to ask him for however many kisses and if he said it right then Luffy would kiss him that many times (cue law trying to figure out how to say 100 in French)

Most the other lessons were taught relatively normally but they had the kiss questions daily

[esamastation]

Gamer girl gets transmigrated into a farm boy Chapter 4 [<<Prologue | <Chapter 3 || Chapter 5>>] Ao3 link

-

So, gambling turned out to be a bit of a bust. It's not a complete loss, though, Van did multiply his starting bid of five silver to seventy four silver pieces in total. Compared to using exploits it's nothing - Katie could've made that in her sleep, if the NPCs still worked like they do in the game. But seeing that it's still in the very early tutorial section… it could be worse.

And then there's the level up. Van's very first this time around. Cue the confetti…

[Farmboy] [Van] [Lvl. 2 Commoner]

It feels pretty good. And what's waiting below in the stats screen is even better.

[You have 2 unused Stat Points.] [You have 1 unused Skill Point]

The first ones always feel a bit special.

In Age of Tales you get two status points and one skill point each time you level up and can then allocate those points as you wish on your character screen. It's not the only way to get points - there are quests, special items and a couple of accessories that affect how you accrue points - but until you're making real money in the game, you're stuck with what level ups dish out. Which is fine - early levels until about lvl. 20 are pretty cheap.

Of course, Van doesn't have a class yet, and so no skill tree to assign his shiny new skill point to - but he can assign his stat points, if he wants to. Which brings up the question. 

What is he going to specialise in this time? 

Van's got the base stats for an easy start as a Paladin, obviously - but Katie just did a Paladin run, and while it was fun, she wouldn't say it was so great that she's eager to repeat the experience. Especially if this really is a transmigration isekai situation - which she's still not thinking about, thank you very much, that's an existential crisis that can wait until nightfall.

At any rate, getting stuck forever as a Paladin would be… well, it would probably be fine. It was alright, playing the goody two shoes lawful good himbo with a heart of gold. It went great with the whole cliché secret chosen one and the lost heir to a great house thing at least… not that there were more than, like, three characters in the whole game who even acknowledged the player character's class. Van got pretty much the same reaction from everyone regardless of whether he was a Rogue or a Wizard or Paladin - it was just the big black and white moral choices that affected those sorts of things.

Age of Tales is Age of Tales-ing, what can you do?

Anyway, going at it as a Paladin again would be easy… but boring. Katie would have to think about it carefully before committing to anything. Though she hasn't quite ruled out the use of cheats yet and is still hoping that Van might be able to use exploits to his benefit later, the gambler showed her that things are different here. Never mind the fact that some features of Age of Tales are just missing, like the passive Wisdom buff. What if she chose a class with features that just don't work anymore?

Yeah, Van's next class would take some careful consideration, and she wouldn't be assigning his status points until she knew, either. Class selection wouldn't be until Urgol's Camp in Chapter 2, anyway, so there's no point fretting about it now.

For now Van has some silver to spend and shopping to do.

He considers visiting the fortune teller first, just in case the duplication glitch is still possible… but he doesn't have a gold bar, and the glitch never worked with anything else, and beyond that the fortune teller doesn't really do much. Also, he has The Incident to prepare for, too, and a limited amount of money.

So, with a full coin purse in hand, Van turns his attention to the market instead. First things first - weapon and armour.

The smithy stands on the other end of the market square, with smoke chugging out of its chimney at steady puffs. There are some shields on display in the front and a big wooden sword on top of the building, advertising "Blakeley's Blades - in business for more than three generations!"

"Hello," Van calls, entering the place.

Inside the air is hot and thick, with the smell of smoke and metal hanging heavy in the room. In the background there's the steady clink-clink-clink of a hammer on an anvil - an apprentice, hammering out some nails in the back. 

"Welcome," an older teenager, eighteen at most, comes forward. "How can we help you?"

[Blacksmith's Apprentice] [Jaro Amagris] [Lvl. 15 Commoner]

"I'd like to see what you have for sale, please," Van says.

"Well, what we have ready is over there," the older apprentice says, pointing towards a table loaded with a number of wooden boxes and buckets full of different metal crafts - nails, candle holders, hinges… "But if you want something specific, you will have to wait until the master gets back - he's out on business."

"Thanks, I'll just take a look," Van says and moves to the table. 

Much to his delight, an Age of Tales shop menu pops up.

[Blakeley's Blades Blacksmith]

[Small Iron Nail - 10 copper pieces] [Small Iron Hook - 13 copper pieces] [Small Iron Clasp - 15 copper pieces] …

And so on, in a surprisingly long list from cheapest to the most expensive. It's a lot of small iron stuff, different types of nails, cloak pins, buckles and buttons, eating utensils, heads of farming tools, and so on and so on, ending with the most expensive items.

… [Cast Iron Skillet - 35 silver pieces] [Cast Iron Cooking Pot - 40 silver pieces] [Short Sword - 50 silver pieces] 

It's a lot more items than Van had been expecting - and yet, fewer weapons. There are plenty of knives - Cooking Knife, Lvl. 1, goes for a nice round 20 silver pieces while Whittling knife, Lvl. 1 goes for 25 - but there's no daggers or throwing knives or anything like that. There isn't even metal ammunition for a sling. There's just one short sword on sale.

And no armour whatsoever. 

"Do you not sell any armour?" Van asks, confused. 

"Er, no?" Jaro Amagris says, giving him a strange look. "We don't make armour, really, though I suppose we can give it a try, if you want to order some. Or you could try at the Madam Arbury's, they might have something."

Van blinks, confused. "Madam Arbury's?"

"The tailor," Jaro clarifies.

There's a tailor? "Oh, okay. Uh. Where is it?"

"It's just across from the church - big windows with dresses, you can't miss it," the apprentice says with a shrug. "I think they have some padded coats and stuff."

Huh. That's interesting. You could get some gambesons and the like in the game too, but all armour and weaponry was bought from blacksmiths. This is… different.

"What d'you need armour for?" the younger apprentice, a boy of maybe ten or eleven, asks from between his hammering. His eyes shine eagerly on his sweaty, soot-stained face. Van glances at the air above him.

[Blacksmith's Apprentice] [Denny Rivercross] [Lvl. 3 Commoner]

The kid squints at Van.  "Are you going to join the army or something?" he asks.

Yeah, eventually, unfortunately, if things follow game plot. "No, no, I just got a bit of money, and I always wanted to try it," Van says quickly and motions at himself. "I mean… I think I'd make a good warrior. What do you think?" He flexes an arm, just because he can. And because Van's biceps are massive.

The younger blacksmith's apprentice bounces a little, clearly full of barely contained kid energy. "Oh yeah! You could be a knight!"

The older apprentice snorts. "Yeah, I don't think size alone is enough to become a knight, Denny," he says, looking Van up and down. "Though it probably helps…"

Denny bounces again. "Jaro, can we make armour for him?" the kid asks eagerly. "I'm so tired of making nails!"

"Well, like I said, we could give it a try," Jaro answers dubiously, still eyeing Van. "If he can pay for it."

Van shrugs. "I might, I might not. How long would it take to make it?"

"Depends on what you want," Jaro answers, taking a hammer lying on a table nearby and swinging it thoughtfully. "Some things take longer to make. And whether you're fine with us trying our hand at it, or if you want a master to make it matters too. He'll be faster - but it will cost you more."

"Hmm… say I wanted a chest plate, a cuirass, and you made it - how long would it take you?" Van asks, rubbing his chin on thought.

Jaro shrugs. "I've never made one and we're pretty busy, so… maybe a week or two?"

… by which time, Van would be at Ulgor's Camp and Valthor's minions would've already torched Westbrook to the ground.

Assuming, of course, that events followed game plot.

"Hmm," Van hums, wondering. In the game there's nothing you can do to prevent the destruction of Westbrook and the Gylcross farm - no matter what choices the player made, a scripted event was a scripted event. But maybe here and now… maybe there is something he can do.

He'd know once the Rift was opened.

In either case, a week is too long - he needs the armour for the battle in town, and that's in three days - and after that, even if the town survived, he might not see Westbrook again in months, if not years. There's no point in ordering anything made here.

"Well, it was a nice dream," Van sighs, a bit disappointed. "I guess I'll try my luck at the tailor's."

"Uh-huh," Jaro the senior apprentice agrees, clearly unimpressed, and drops the hammer on the table. "Alright. Anything else we can do for you?"

With no weapon-worthy knives and the only sword on sale being prohibitively expensive with Van's meagre budget… "Any chance you might have any spears or something lying around in here?"

Jaro snorts at him, arching his brows. "Spears?"

"I just want something to practice being a warrior with!" Van says defensively. "Spears are cheap, right?"

The elder blacksmith's apprentice shakes his head, looking amused, and then thinks about it. "Actually," Jaro says slowly. "I might have something. If you're alright with the shoddy quality, I think we have some practice pieces left?"

He goes to rummage in the back of the smithy and comes back with three very rough looking spearheads made of pretty low quality iron, going by the little holes and pockmarks in them.

[Dull Spearhead, Lvl. 1] [Attack: 3] [Defence: 0] [Crafting material. Attach to a Wooden Pole for a Dull Spear Lvl. 1.]

Van studies the spearheads with interest. Huh. There was crafting in Age of Tales, of course - but the only weapons you could craft were different types of arrows, and those only if you played a Ranger. He'd never seen spearheads. Maybe with some crafting material, his crafting menu will unlock?

In the meanwhile, the younger apprentice has abandoned his nail and is coming to join them. "Jaro, did you make these?" Denny asks, poking at the spearheads interestedly.

"Yes - master was hoping to get commission from the Baron, so he had me learn how to make them," Jaro shrugs. "We didn't get the job, though, it went to a blacksmith in Elysia. Someone's relative." He rolls his eyes.

Denny bounces eagerly, looking up at him. "I want to learn how to make spearheads!"

"Figure out how to make straight nails first," Jaro snorts, pushing the kid back towards the anvil he'd abandoned. Then the elder apprentice turns to look at Van. "Anyway, you can have these for five silver apiece."

Van hums. They are pretty rough, but… they'll probably still be better than the tools back at the farm. "Throw in a sharpening stone and you got yourself a deal."

-

Things go a little better at the tailor. Emphasis on the little.

"Oh, dear me," huffs the very fashionable lady tailor holding the gambeson against Van's chest and tutting fretfully. "No, it won't do, this won't fit at all! I'm afraid it will never fit you."

[Tailor] [Alma Arbury] [lvl. 7 Commoner]

She's somewhere between her thirties and forties and quite pretty, as most female NPCs in this game are. She's dressed up like the NPCs in the crown city, in a multilayered, vaguely Victorian looking dress with many shiny buttons running in a neat line from her neck down to the very hem. She looks very much like someone who's well fit to catering for the rich and affluent.

It's pretty fascinating, since she wasn't in the game at all.

"Well?" Alma asks, squinting a little through her golden framed glasses.

Van looks down. Though the gambeson looks pretty legit, with thick quilting and metal clasps and everything… it also kind of looks like she's holding something made for a child, when compared to his torso. "Could you maybe… expand it?" he asks hopefully. 

"Oh, well," Alma frowns, leaning back a little to consider the issue. "I suppose I could add panels to the side… and the arms… and the shoulder…" she trails away and then tsks, folding the gambeson over her arm. "No, no, it won't do, it won't do at all, it would be a complete mess. No, the proper thing to do is to make a new coat from scratch. Yes, it will fit you perfectly and will be far less work for me!"

Van hums, watching her take the gambeson away. "Well, you're the tailor, I guess. How long would that take, though?" he asks worriedly.

Alma hums and waves a dismissive hand. "Oh, a day or two - it's not a terribly complicated piece of clothing to make, and I have some nice quilt ready."

Van sighs with disappointment. Yet another unexpected turn for realism, but at least it's better than a week or two. "I see," he says and mentally pokes at the System, in hopes that it might offer him a handy-dandy instant goods store.

It shows him the tailor's shop instead. 

[Madam Arbury's Boutique.]

[Handkerchief - 80 copper pieces] [Foot Wrap - 90 copper pieces] [Underwear - 1 silver pieces] …

And so on and so forth, all the way down to…

… [Men's Fancy Winter Coat - 67 copper pieces] [Fancy Evening Dress - 80 silver pieces] [Elaborate Wedding Dress - 1 gold and 10 silver pieces] 

Van mentally flicks through the store page with a sigh and then stops. What's this? Near the middle of the list there is, oh, is that A Leather Vest, lvl. 4? For meagre 20 silver pieces? Well-well-well…

He looks slyly towards the tailor. "You wouldn't happen to have anything else - like, say, a vest?" he asks and adds, leadingly. "Something that might offer a little bit of protection?"

"Oh, well," Alma huffs, adjusting her glasses, her lips pursing up in thought. "I suppose we can have a look at what I have in store, but I really don't think… no, maybe…"

She heads off, muttering to herself and leaving Van examining the boutique and the System's store window. 

It's interesting, and yet another proof of how much more… real things are here. While the building for this shop was in the game - and it had something like five identical clones in other towns and cities - it hadn't been something the player could interact with. Just window dressing, making towns feel more lived in.

Maybe it was in the cut content, and there'd been plans for a clothing shop NPC that hadn't been implemented. It wouldn't be the first time it happened, and there certainly were enough clothing items that there should've been a tailor NPC.

"Ah, here we go!" Alma calls. She's holding a brown leather vest up triumphantly. "Now, this, this is a tough piece of clothing, if I do say so myself! Nice and supple cowhide. Come here, let's see how it fits."

It doesn't, no matter how Alma tries to stretch it, the vest doesn't get anywhere near to closing properly. Van's chest is simply too big.

"Well, that's what you get for growing so big!" the tailor says, a little defensive, her face flushed with effort. 

"I didn't say anything?" Van mutters and then shakes his head, giving in to the inevitable and taking the vest off. Everything was so much easier in the game - because everything always fit the character perfectly. "I guess it was a bit much expect clothing to be ready made. Let's talk about the gambeson - how much would it cost to make it?"

Pretty much all the silver he has left, it turns it, and he wouldn't get the gambeson until the next time he was in town, but that's fine. He wouldn't need it until after the Rift, anyway. With haggling done - and belated introductions made - Alma moves to take his measurements

It's a bit of a new experience for Katie, who's never had anything tailored in her life. It's also somewhat eye-opening, because Madam Arbury's Boutique has something he's not encountered yet. 

A mirror.

"I'll get to work right away," Alma promises, pushing her glasses up again while Van stares at his reflection. "It will be ready by tomorrow evening, mark my words. Please extend your arm straight to the side."

"I'm sure it will be," Van says, tilting his head this way and that while holding his arm to the side. Katie spent something like two hours designing this face, but seeing it like this, in the mirror, moving when he moves, emoting when he does…

"May I ask what you need a gambeson for, anyway?" Alma asks. "I assume you work on a farm?"

"Yeah, the Gylcross farm - but I'm not planning to stay there forever," Van admits, making faces at his reflection. His teeth are so straight. And so white. Kind of weird.

"Ah, I see," Alma hums, thoughtful, writing something down in a little notebook. "Are you looking to join any military group in particular? Should I add heraldries?"

"No," Van says, shaking his head. "I just want some armour, no insignia or heraldry or anything."

"Very well. You can put your hand down now."

Van lowers his arm and tilts his head the other way. Damn, his jaw is… impressive. He's got comic book superhero levels of jaw going for himself. Which kind of makes sense - a certain farmboy superhero might've been an inspiration there, maybe. His hair is so much messier than he realised, though. Guess that's an effect of it not being just a thing made of polygons anymore.

Also, is that… a bit of stubble? A hint of a five o'clock shadow? 

Does he have to shave?

Alma finishes taking his measurements with professional finesse. Van pays for his order, signs the receipt,  weighs his now empty coin purse and then sighs. "Thank you very much, Ma'am."

"And thank you for your business, Mr. Van," Alma says, sniffing, and with a last slightly flustered glance at him, awkwardly waves him off. "Have a very good day now."

Shaking his head, Van heads out of the store.

So, instead of the usual armament of Long Sword, Reinforced Wooden Buckler, Studded Leather Armour, dozens of Draughts of Memory and bunch of healing potions on top of it, his shopping haul is… three shoddy spear points, sharpening stone and a receipt for an order from Madam Arbury's Boutique.

Yeah, Katie's usual approach to Age of Tales is not working here, at all, and reality is throwing some spanners in the works. Katie isn't sure how she likes it. Which is probably kinda ironic, after all the times she went on and on about how dumb and unrealistic Age of Tales was. 

She'd get used to it. 

-

"Ah, there you are, my boy," Mr. Gylcross says, spotting Van loitering about the marketplace, waiting for him. "Have you been enjoying your time in town?"

"It's been… interesting," Van admits, which it has. "All done with business, sir?"

"Yes, quite. I found a couple of buyers for our spring crops," Mr. Gylcross says, seeming satisfied. He's got a flushed look of a man who's had at least a couple of drinks and his moustache has somehow gotten bushier. Looks like he's had a good day. "And the doctor will come take a look at Geruth tomorrow," the landowner continues. "Now, go and fetch the cart, if you please - I've made some purchases, and it will be far easier to load them directly into the cart."

[Homeward bound, Lvl. 2.]

[Mr. Gylcross' shopping trip is drawing to a close and it's time to head back to the farm. Fetch Bell and the cart, and load Mr. Gylcross' purchases for the trip home.] [Quest reward:  20 exp, 3 Meat buns, 1 Bottle of Mead.]

"Right away," Van agrees and gets to it.

Together with Mr. Gylcross Van loads up the various sacks and barrels and other things the man had bought onto the cart, tying them down for a secure trip home. Then Mr. Gylcross takes a seat in the back again, now leaning against some flour sacks.

"Have you eaten anything, Van?" the man asks, rifling through his purchases.

"Ah, no, sir, I got… distracted," Van admits - and the moment it's mentioned, he realises that he's actually pretty hungry and thirsty. He hadn't even been thinking of food as something he needs, because, well… Age of Tales didn't have a hunger bar.

"Here," Mr. Gylcross says and hands him a clay bottle and a paper bag that doesn't quite fit the setting. "Eat up, my boy, it's a long way home."

"Thanks, Mr. Gylcross," Van says and peers into the bag - sure enough, meat buns. The bottle must be mead then. "I appreciate it."

"Got to keep my men fed, don't I, else you might run off to work for the likes of Drakner, and I can't have that " Mr. Gylcross chortles and settles down for the journey back.

Van hums, taking a bite of the meat bun and answering the System's prompt for [Start journey?] with [yes].

-

[<<Prologue | <Chapter 3 || Chapter 5>>]

Proofread by @nimadge

-

Reality is against Van but at least there's meat buns and mead

[animentality]

not to be a boomer, but I do worry about the current generation of kids being raised with iPads.

first off. some of them literally can't hold a pencil because their parents never gave them physical toys to grip and play with, developing their fine motor skills.

you might ask why do we even need to learn how to write physically anymore- well, frankly, because if you're stranded on an island somewhere and you need to write HELP, you might not have the strength to hold a pencil, but you can at least hold a stick.

but on a more general note.

writing by hand helps you remember things better. it forces you to focus in a way that typing something word for word does not. a person can transcribe what a professor says without even thinking about it.

someone writing notes has to consider what to write and what to omit. it also activates more parts of your brain, forcing you to flex the parts of your brain related to learning and communicating, while also engaging the part of your brain dedicated to muscle control and precision.

but in general, I think the issue isn't even oh technology is bad and kids are getting dumber.

you can have PowerPoints AND take physical notes. that could help you learn even better than the olden days where you just had to remember everything that was thrown at you. or read very limited, out of date books.

the problem is that the generation that raised/is raising this generation of children just doesn't understand the true impact that all this technology will have on their kids. or they just don't care.

because our generation had the internet yes, but it wasn't widely accessible for most of us, sharing our computers with the entire family in the kitchen. it was also the internet in its infancy, where it wasn't quite so predatory, when it was lawless and disturbing, yes, but it wasn't weaponized by corporations trying to sell you things and steal your data, it wasn't flooded with bots and ai and all sorts of things that the human brain can't even distinguish as real or fake, especially when you're just a little kid.

that generation still played with physical toys. we celebrated when it snowed and we could stay home.

we also came from a gen that still, vaguely, cared about some form of community and had third spaces for kids to hang out.

90s children, who still had some memories of both playing outside on a playground and playing Mario Kart on the Nintendo 64 with their friends, who both went out to the mall and had a club penguin account.

we grew up with laptops and smart boards. maybe some of us had them in high school or college, but we still physically went to class and developed relationships. learned uncomfortable things about ourselves and others, the way humans do.

met new people and were exposed to new ideas, away from our parents. but not from some fucking influencer trying to sell us Sephora products.

we had to study for things, instead of just being able to Google shit for some bullshit online test.

which is also something that really concerns me. so many kids today can so easily Google answers for every test, and while tests don't ultimately matter in the real world, they still provide some basis for things that do matter.

like I'm just imagining medical students googling how to perform an appendectomy on the day of, and just using a YouTube tutorial to guide them through, and shuddering.

there are some things that the Internet can't teach you.

there always will be.

but I don't think my generation is really helping their kids find the balance that we were given naturally growing up.

the boomers and gen xers had fist fights and we had bullying someone online until they committed suicide.

and now kids use AI to spread fake nudes of girls.

but the laws haven't caught up with a lot of this stuff yet, and certainly won't while we have dinosaurs running our government. and culture takes even longer to change than laws.

I also worry because I know how badly covid affected kids worldwide. how they struggle to read and do math, because remote learning just isn't good for kids.

and I can't even blame them!! I literally teleworked for 4 years and even I can admit that I'm not nearly as good at focusing at home as I am in the office.

it's hard for kids with social anxiety and disabilities, yes I know, I know, trust me, I have social anxiety, and as a hybrid worker ATM, I highly doubt I'd be able to handle 5 days a week in the office.

but it's also not particularly good for kids to stay home ALL the time, entertaining themselves in their room and never being challenged, and never meeting people other than their parents.

the iPad is more of a symbol of that problem than the direct problem.

if your entire... world view is limited to what you can see on your iPad... I mean what a terrible world view you'll have.

you're a 10 year old using TikTok and all you ever see is the same opinion over and over until you can scarcely comprehend people who have an opposing opinion.

you see fake videos that seem so real. that must be real, and so comforting, aren't they, those videos that seem so real?

you let 30 year old influencers who are trying to grift people shape your world view.

and it's not even your fault.

your parents aren't doing anything to help you.

you're young and you're being barraged with entertainment and fake educational videos and how to guides that accidentally create mustard gas in your toilet.

your parents should be teaching you to find a balance between these things. they should be telling you what's real and caution you about the things you see.

they should limit your fucking time on the iPad actually. take you to a fucking park and let you roll in the mud or some shit.

and then when you're a teenager and a young adult, then you can start deciding for yourself what you believe.

but a lot of these weird millennial/gen z parents, man. just let your 1 year old scroll through vids on TikTok while you don't even talk to them or look at them once.

maybe it's because they don't see the harm in it, but I don't get it.

adults can watch TikTok all day and know, ahhh this is bad for me. I'm not doing anything I actually want to be doing.

adults can see other adults doing dumb shit and say ah you're sponsored. someone paid you money to say and do that. silly.

but kids are just kids.

they don't have discipline and frankly, that's not their responsibility. that is yours.

you should be teaching them that they can't have everything in life at their finger tips at all times, actually.

the iPad doesn't solve all of your problems, nor will it think critically for you.

so I worry about if humanity can really keep up with its own technology.

our species is still in its infancy, believe it or not.

so maybe these are just growing pains, and future generations will be able to look back on this era and know the proper balance.

but as someone living in 2024.

I wonder just how much pain is left before we really mature and either make it or break it.

[rakkwal]

Play.CivMC.net

Version: Java 1.20.1

CivMC is a geopolitical Minecraft server focused on civilization-building. Players form nations and establish governments, wars occur, and treaties are signed. You can play with friends, punish your ideological enemies, or raid and attack indiscriminately. All interactions and laws are player enforced, with the help of plugins that have defined the genre since it's inception as CivCraft. You can view the player run wiki here, the player run map (with rail lines, nation borders, ect) here, and the player run newsletter here. The wiki also contains a New Player Guide! Every new player gets one free teleport within 24 hours of joining, make it count! Basic information under the cut.

The primary plugins used on CivMC to make it unique are NameLayer, Citadel, and Exile Pearl. FactoryMod also deserves a mention here.

Exile Pearl is arguably the most interesting mechanic, which allows you to kill another player with an Ender Pearl on your hotbar. This will imprison said player in the Nether, and also imposes restrictions on their gameplay. Pearls degrade however, and player "Essence" is required to keep them fueled. Essence is granted on a daily basis to players after being online for 30 minutes. Requiring a somewhat active nation to keep others imprisoned. Pearled players are kept in vaults, disgustingly large and complex obsidian structures meant to have maximum security.

NameLayer acts as the base structure for many other plugins on the server. It allows players to make groups, with different ranks in said group having more, or fewer, permissions within a group. Such as who can buy from your shops, open doors and chests, or who can chat in said group. This last one is important, as the default chat range is only 1000 blocks. However there is a public global chat, just type "/global" after joining to participate, and "/local" to revert back.

Citadel is a reinforcement plugin that will make your chests harder for nefarious actors to break into, your buildings more resilient to attacks, and allows you more peace of mind during your off hours. Individual blocks, chests, doors, etc can be locked with reinforcement materials. Each material requires a set number of breaks before the block will drop. Stone is 50, iron ingots are 300, and diamonds are 2000. Virtually every build in the game is reinforced with stone, more expensive materials are reserved for more important things, like chests. NameLayer hooks into Citadel to allow granular access control for almost everything!

FactoryMod allows you to create small structures known as factories, made from a furnace, crafting table, and a chest. Factories allow for more complex recipes and items not found in vanilla minecraft. More efficient recipes than in vanilla minecraft (32 gold ore to 48 ingots, 64 cobble to 96 stone!). And cheaply available decorative blocks to make your builds nice.

There are plenty of other mechanics I haven't touched upon, like brewing alcohol for unique potion effects, how crops grow (or don't!) in certain biomes, the distribution of ores, or how you can see who broke into your home and stole all your crafting tables. See the wiki for more information on game mechanics! There are plenty of nations on the server, which I would recommend joining before trying to make your own. One of my personal favourites is the nation of Pavia, locted at (800, -3000)

Pavia is an elective meritocracy, comprising of a Prime Minister and his Cabinet, elected by the Nobility of Pavia. Pavia's territory is divided into distinct classes outlined by the foundational law of the country, the Magna Pavia. These classes administrate their own territories with varying states of autonomy and all add their own story to Pavia's ever-growing lore & history! Pavia is famous for its incredible and sprawling architecture as well as its economy, home to the largest Bank on CivMC and one of the server's most extensive shopping districts. There is a tutorial open to anyone to learn every guide and plugin which is located in the Pavia townhall, if you wish to use the server tutorial head to (+800 , -3065) inside the building on the ground floor. If you are new to CivMC, it is recommended you start off by settling in the Bedford Commons, a city just outside the capital's walls. The coordinates are (+1000, -2800).

[themanlykittenkayden]

You ever get an idea in your head and then 4 hours later you regret everything you've ever done?

Anyway, I'm making DND character sheets for every character on the Realm, and here's a little glimpse at two chosen completely at random with no relation to the other, wow:

Thoughts in the read more lol:

I actually didn't even start with these two, I started with Bekyamon since I have the strongest sense of her character in a DND setting, but then I started designing Bad. And then I remembered the existance of Aasimars and their heavenly origins in comparison to Tieflings' hellish ones. And then I saw that there were two opposite flavors of sorcerer. And then literally every ability and choice I made so perfectly opposed each other that I actually feel insane, how are they so destined to be each other's other half??

Anyone, fun details in the choices I made in their builds:

I originally just chose Dex as Bad's dumpstat because I was struggling with what else to lower given his character, but then when you put it in the context of the rest of the mechanics, it actually means that he is actually nearly impossible to NOT hit.

I struggled so hard with his background too, even the one I choose really doesn't fit, but at least it acknowledges the tragedy that tr!Bad is carrying with him into his new life in shape or form

I actually did not intend to make Foolish a support build when I started his character sheet, but as a ruler of a kingdom, I actually really like the idea of him focusing on empowering and protecting the Fools rather directly engaging in combat himself. It just coincidentally *also* was a perfect opposition to the demonic magic I equipped Bad with so I couldn't just change it

Likewise, tr!Bad's controlling/destructive magic fits really well with the fact that he is struggling to trust and connect with even his closest allies. I think maybe in someway, the version I created believes that the only way he might be able to get unwavering support is through magical means. I swear I did not mean to make him this tragic, *he* made his character like that

The only thing I didn't make them complete opposites in was character alignment because I literally could not fathom either of them being even slightly lawful. I thought about making them both chaotic neutral for being such pot-stirrers, but I have a special place in my heart for chaotic evil characters who aren't just bad people. Tr!Bad is not a good person, but he is kind and never mean-spirited, he just also will never ever be the type to avoid picking sides or make personal sacrifices for the greater good. He is built to be an antagonist, and he's very good at it.

This is less character specific, but all the characters are at level 3 because that's typically when you've exited the "tutorial" stage of DND and all the classes have their specialization by then. I have another plan to also flesh out each character to a certain higher level depending loosely on their power level relative to the assumed level cap (i.e. Clown level 20 wizard, Bad around level 18, Tubbo around 10, Slime downgraded to 1, etc, etc) but I think I might actually go insane if I do that so like. To be determined if I go that far or not.

Anyway, I have a Scott, Tubbo and Bekyamon character sheets completed also, but I might post those separately after I've embraced the cool gentle embrace of sleep lol

[eggs-attorney]

[<<< First] [<Prev]

Reiker: Don't worry, Tony. We'll figure out what happened and get you out of here in no time.

Tony: [Sniff] Dude…

Tony: That's sweet, birds of a feather stickin' up for each other even with that old egghead pullin' the strings...

Reiker: Well, it is my job, but… You're welcome?

Yanshu: I don't think he gets that part. Either that, or he doesn't care… Maybe you should just take the appreciation at face value?

Reiker: Yeah, I suppose…

Reiker: Well, we're heading off to the crime scene to investigate. Tony, you… Hang in there?

Tony: Oh, uh... Thanks. Catch ya later, dudes!

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

4:05 PM - Collision Corkscrew Skate Park

Reiker: This looks like the right place... The police must be inside the tunnel.

Yanshu: Oh, over there! That must be Tony's board!

Reiker: Well, those do look like his feathers.

Reiker: ... Oh, yeah! Now that we're actually on the scene, it's important we Examine everything we can to make sure we get a clear picture of what might've happened. Leave no stone unturned!

Yanshu: Has anyone ever said you sound like a law book? The way you emphasize certain words, it's like you're quoting straight from a tutorial.

Reiker: I'm not! I'm just making sure we're on the same page!

Reiker: Anyway… Just keep an eye out for anyone or anything that stands out, okay? We might be able to glean some useful information!

Yanshu: Hmm, something that stands out…

Yanshu: Oh! What about that girl over there?

Reiker: Oh, yes! Um… Excuse me, miss-

???: Can I help you?

Reiker: O-oh! Uh… Possibly? A crime was committed here earlier today, and I'm investigating the-

???: Oh! You're… You're investigating my buggie-boo's harrowing traumas!

Reiker: Your… Huh?

Reiker: GAH!!

???: DON'T YELL AT MY POOKIE! You're scaring her!

Pookie: ...?

Reiker: Eugh... That thing's name is… Pookie?

???: SHE'S NOT A THING! SHE'S A-

Yanshu: Oh, that's a Bytenik! They're one of Eggman's most recent Badnik designs!

Yanshu: They're meant to operate without the need for an organic battery, sourcing electricity from their environment, but they aren't very effective for tactical purposes... They make good digi-pets, though!

???: See, you're a Mobian with class! What's your name, miss?

Yanshu: I'm Yanshu Dryll, and you?

Vivienne: My name is Vivienne Pikmei. A Bytenik enthusiast like you needs to have seen my posts on Eggstagram, me and Pookie have over 3000 followers!

Reiker: Well, Ms. Pikmei, my name is Reiker Strait, and I'll be working as the defense lawyer for the upcoming trial regarding the death of Radika Bodacious. I was wondering if-

Vivienne: Defense? You mean you're DEFENDING that MURDERER!?

Reiker: Well… There's no confirmation of guilt until the case is closed. We hope that asking around may enlighten us on what really happened.

Vivienne: No, no, NO! He HAS to be the murderer! I know what I saw, and I will not have some uncultured fashion-disaster of a lawyer make me doubt my memory! How am I supposed to trust the judgement of someone dressed head to toe in that green?

Reiker: (... Well I think it looks good...)

Yanshu: Hm… Do you think Pookie would be able to tell us more about the incident?

Reiker: Yanshu, are you serious…?

Yanshu: Please let me try! I might be onto something!

Reiker: If you say so...

Vivienne: You... You want to ask Pookie?

Pookie: [twitch twitch. click. twitch]

Vivienne: Oh, honey, don't be silly!

Pookie: [click. twitch]

Vivienne: What?

Pookie: [chht]

Vivienne: Well, if you insist...

Vivienne: Fine... You can ask her, but you better be nice! She's sensitive.

Pookie: ...?

Reiker: [Shudders] O...kay.

Reiker: (I swear to Chaos, if that thing touches me-)

> The Board has been updated! > Vivienne has been added to the Characters page!

[Next >]

[002yb]

Hi its me again im so sorry but i was listening to a song and it made me think of literature university teacher Jason and Dick who ended up in his class bc he needed the credits and he cant be crushing harder on the hot professor who wears cardigans and tight rolled up long sleve shirts that show his arms but he also saw him with a motorbyke and a leather jacket and !!!!!! He cant decide if he wants to fail this class so he can see Jason in tutorys or do so good Jason knows his name, either way he wants jason so bad and it shows. He also flirts with him with lines from the books in class and maiden heart Jay is on his knees but hes gotta be professional.

Hes actually doing good bc even if he wants Jason attention bc he is hot, he is really a good teacher and makes it so easy to understand and follow through and his voice is nice and soothing and Dick loves this class and they have long debates after class about their constrasted perspectives and they might be falling in love oh no.

Also Dick is a menace and he is always down to fluster Jason

Dick: if i suck you off can i pass?

Jason: you got a ten????

Dick: can i still suck you?

(Bonus points if Dick didnt actually want this class but the others were full and nos he cant stop talking about it with everyone he knows, his family is tired his friends are amused)

This idea is so sweet!! Ahhhhhh, I love anything with Dick being down bad for Jason and showering Jason with all the flirty attention and adoration. Add maiden!Jason to it and like, hello. //u///

But let's consider the above with a vigilante!Dick and law professor!Jason, for reasons.

Dick considering dropping out of college up until he happens across professor Todd - a law professor

Who is very passionate and adamant and vocal about his views on Gotham's failure of a judicial system

Dick isn't actually in Jason's class, but Dick overhears a lecture once as he passes by one of the lecture halls and it gets his attention because like - Jason isn't wrong. He speaks up in a way that no one else does and Dick is enthralled by that.

Hell, it even makes him think of his own feelings towards the law, challenging certain insights he'd never really questioned before, but maybe should have

Which he likes. Jason piques his interest, so like a freak Dick inserts himself into all aspects of Jason's life because Dick might be a little in love insatiable about this man's mind

OH. Dick not even knowing what this professor looks like for a while. Because at least at the start, Dick contents himself to sitting just outside the lecture, chilling on the floor and listening in with his head tilted towards the cracked door

But more and more he wants to talk things through and debate and challenge Jason's own views the same way Jason unknowingly has challenged him

So Dick stages a meet-cute chance encounter

Or rather, he was working on fabricating one, but then they actually do have a meet cute chance encounter. Where in true cliche romantic trope fashion, they bump into one another in the halls and all of Jason's papers get dropped and they both rush to pick everything up.

And it's when Jason apologizes that Dick recognizes him because he listens to that voice so much. A quick glance at the course papers confirms it, too so Dick capitalizes so fast

Just pulling out all the charm so that he can start a conversation with this guy

Dick commenting like, 'You're a law professor?'

And Jason immediately jumping on that because, 'are you interested in law?'

Just Jason being really encouraging to get more young people interested in law and being the public defenders their community needs

Dick literally not getting a word in as Jason all but solicits him into the law department before Jason curbs the conversation by telling Dick to sign up for his class next semester. There's a waitlist, but good luck.

And Dick is swept up in the storm because oh, yeah. He needs in on this class. Immediately. That passion? Dick is a goner.

So of course Dick hacks his way into the university's systems to force his way into this class because ain't no way he's waiting around literal months to talk with this man again

It was Dick's plan to stalk Jason and pick him up while Jason was out and about running errands, outside of a scholastic setting

Or by encroaching on some office hours if it came down to it

He's genuinely not interested in higher education, but hell. Hours long lectures multiple days a week with this beautiful mind? Cool.

Anyway, so Dick weasels his way into this law class. Scholastic fraud because he's got a profound curiosity about some local uni professor? Dick is a vigilante; he's done worse. Technically. Legally.

But it's fine. Dick plans to drop out after the course, anyway.

The surprise on Jason's face when he catches Dick sitting towards the front of the class at the start of the following semester. And Dick being so endeared to the way Jason hides a small, hopeful smile. Because Jason thinks he's gotten through to a student ;U;

But yeah, the class being either flummoxed or bored out of their minds because the whole hours long lectures are just two people talking/debating

Which evolves into more talking over office hours - not even necessarily over course work and rather law, their judicial system, crime in Gotham, etc.

Which again evolves into Dick bringing Jason coffee but then becomes them going out for coffee together until their meetings become an expected and anticipated thing //u///

And their talks are generally casual, but it also develops into something personal if only because their stance on certain laws/crimes/punishments speaks a lot about them.

What's more? Personal information comes out organically throughout the course of their conversations

Which is why Jason is hopeful Dick will go into law. Because he comes to understand that Dick is good. Firm, but fair and with nerves of steel. He isn't someone that will be corrupted like so many others. Gotham needs more people like that looking out for it.

Basically Jason already has a letter of recommendation written, meanwhile Dick is in a predicament because he might've fallen in love with his professor between challenged worldviews and bouts of banter?

At which point, of course Dick's vigilante life needs to come into play. Because that's an ongoing thing. Oh, an ongoing thing that has been impacted in various ways by Jason's perspective on matters. ;U; Perspectives that Dick challenges Bruce with, too. And that shuts Bruce up on many wonderful occasions because even if they don't agree, Jason isn't necessarily wrong.

But I digress, Nightwing exists. While Jason and Dick have spoken of vigilantism at a high level, it's not something they've gotten into. Dick makes sure to steer clear of Batman/Robin/Nightwing talk no matter how intrinsically they're tied to Gotham and crime.

Anyway. Nightwing saving Jason in some way one night. And Jason falls in love instantly. Meanwhile Dick is peeved because what? Really? Do their intellectual conversations mean nothing??

Jason is attracted to doers so seeing Nightwing doing something about the crime despite it being technically illegal is like, hot damn

At which point, Dick becomes a lawyer. Just kidding, but the thought probably crosses his mind just because wtf, Jason. Dick being jealous of himself is so funny.

I've strayed so far from the original ask, oh my.

Truth be told, Dick could just...not approach Jason as Nightwing, but it's an opportunity to spend time with Jason so of course Dick seeks him out. Just hanging on the roof of Jason's apartment together. First under the guise of making sure Jason was okay/safe/etc, then to listen to Jason in a different way - somehow more raw while airing his grievances about Gotham and its failings to so many hurting people

Just more vulnerable conversations in the dark of night, y'know?

And more sweet reactions (smiles and flusters and ornery playfulness and--). And god, when Nightwing flirts and Jason blushes -- Dick needs to see it all the time.

But then it's class time and Dick is jealous of himself because he wants the same reactions. So Dick pulls out all the stops and what happens in your ask happens, lol. With Dick flirting using lines in a textbook or the letter of the law.

That he's successful in the matter is something no one understands. Even other students blush some, enthralled by a handsomely charismatic guy with questionable puns and a quick wit and biting humor.

And Jason is just up in front of the class gaping because omg that was so clever but also SOS his heart shouldn't be racing like this?

Hmm. Something something with Jason being smitten over Nightwing to Dick, but confessing to a developing problem with his student to Nightwing. At which point Dick realizes that he's in his own situation because the longer things drag out, the more it feels like he's playing with Jason's feelings and ahhhhhhh!!

Extras, because this ask is ridiculously long and scattered. Kudos to anyone who gets this far??

Jason noticing bruises from Dick's vigilante endeavors, but of course Jason doesn't know the background for it. Just that they're there often and sometimes really bad. So Jason worries about Dick's home life, or his life with a partner.

And Dick uses it as an opportunity to flirt/drop hints about being single as can be, only to get all soft when he realizes Jason is honest to god so worried for him. ;U;

The last lines of dialogue you wrote are so funny. Just Dick stopping at nothing to fuck his teacher. Sexual favors for extra credit? Oh, perfect score? How about a reward then? ;) Ahhhahaha Jason would be flabbergasted. Just //A///

[darkmaga-returns]

I have never been good at math. It was my worst subject in school.

I scored so poorly on the math portion of the ACT that I was required by Florida state law to take a remedial math class my senior year of high school, even though I had satisfied all the math requirements to graduate. “I hate math” was the slogan of my senior year.

I never had a grade lower than a B in high school. In college, I earned a D in the only math class I needed to satisfy my degree requirements. I couldn’t believe it, but I also wasn’t surprised. Math had never been my thing.

I am ashamed to admit that I have grown less proficient in math since then. As far as I can tell, this is explained simply: I don’t have to use most of what I’ve learned about math. I walk around with a calculator in my pocket 24/7. Why would I practice my math skills? There’s an app for that.

Just last week, I attempted to do some long division to see whether I could. I couldn’t. I didn’t even know where to start. I had to watch a YouTube tutorial to know what to do. I am almost 30. I have two kids. I have a mortgage. I am a “functioning” member of society. I can’t even do division.

[kimyoonmiauthor]

5 times I envisioned something that didn't exist and then I spent the time learning how to make it. AI can't do that.

Honestly I have more than this... But let's start with five because AI bros like to say but what about the people that can't do art it's IMPOSSIBLE to do it. BTW, I'm definitely not against others reblogging and adding to this list to demonstrate their non-AI art/creativity to prove that if one puts in the time and effort, one can learn and achieve a result one would like even if it takes a long time to do so.

Pay or play around and learn.

I drew this dress. I loved this dress. I wanted this dress, but at the time I drew this dress, I didn't know anything about patterning, I didn't sew all that well, I didn't have the materials, and honestly I didn't know if I could get the materials. I have no idea how to construct this dress at all.

At this point the most I'd really done in the way of sewing was to make a jiggly puff from scratch and I'd never made a dress before.

But I looked up the pattern of the dress, found the cloth, bought the cloth and then bought a patterning book, bought other patterns around it, bought tracing paper and then...

I made the dress. It took years to finally get the budget to get around it and it took months of work. to figure it all out. In total, to make the dress it took a year. To find the matching shoes, it took a lot of time.

But look at it. Was it perfect? Absolutely not. Look, when I first made it, it had flaws all over the place, but I'm still proud that I made it and from there I was able to do commissions and actually get comfortable with a sewing machine.

AI can't do that.

I wanted to make some jewelry that was floating around in my head. I knew about wire wrapping, but didn't know how to do it. But I practiced, slowly bought the materials, I sat down and I learned.

And...

upped my level to learn knotting, which my grandmother asked a necklace for. I gave this one to her and she said everyone around her loved it so much. But these beads were from her sister in law, and everyone complimented her on this necklace that now it's been passed to other people, becoming a family heirloom because I revived the necklace

Can AI produce those types of emotions?

During classes I would draw this pattern of flowers in the margins to keep alert ever since about middle school? I invented it myself, but when I made this dress (after the other one on top), I didn't know how to bead and I'd never done it before, but I sat down with youtube videos, bought the beads, and I drew it out and I spent a month doing it.

Now I know how to bead and I swear, I have this really deep satisfaction from knowing something I doodled in the margins of my notes all of the time has made it into a permanent item for me to share.

When can AI experience that?

I did not know how to quilt. I had to level up to get to this point. It's still not perfect, but now one of my relatives owns this quilt which glows in the dark, and it took literal YEARS AND YEARS to figure out how to get to this stage. I even had to buy MORE fabric in order to execute this quilt. I have to be honest that I've wanted to learn how to quilt since I was in Middle School.

I still wasn't that steady with a sewing machine, I still felt iffy about the whole thing and It took a ton of months to couch all of that glow in the dark yarn into place. It HURT a whole ton. But the result, it's magnificent and it's machine washable.

What AI can truly give the gift of time and effort like I did on this quilt?

I used to draw Hotaru like this. *sighs* I know you can't see it. But it was terrible. I have a worse one than this. lol

I paid attention, leveled up, learned some, took tutorials, and eventually classes and ended up drawing her like this.

I've done this with cooking, knitting, crocheting, and a lot of different crafts. It's not that I was brilliant the first time, it's that every time I failed and conquered, I gained more confidence every time to be more creative, learn more, be curious and explore. And I don't care what the AI bros say, AI cannot give you any of that.

This is a life skill I wish for everyone to have: The confidence to achieve no matter how difficult it looks like. I mean I spent a LONGGGGG ASS time trying to get my Korean name generator to work. But look, I achieved it. That heart, that merging of life experience is exactly what AI cannot achieve or give. So give it to yourself and your audience, that feeling of hope, and triumph over adversity.

I hope people reblog and tell their stories about how they learned their creativity too. Where they were, and how far they've come to show what people are missing out on.

[apeirotilio]

Hi! Hehe

For your new hok oc:

•What is your OC’s birthsign? Does it affect the way they live their life?"

For meow meow Jo'taahni:

•Does your OC have any formal education? Via what organization, if so?

•Can your OC swim? Do they like or dislike it? (Mandatory question)

•Is your OC passionate about an area of study? What got them into the topic?

•What are your OC’s religious beliefs? How strong is their faith?

For Sevy:

•A guard has confronted your OC, suspecting that they've broken the law in some way. What offense is your OC most likely to be accused of? Did they actually do it?

•What are your OC’s religious beliefs? How strong is their faith?

Sorry they're too many! Answer any that you like!

ooh okay i might do separate reblogs for each character.

New HoK:

•What is your OC’s birthsign? Does it affect the way they live their life?"

Brioch was born under the Apprentice birthsign (also randomly chosen) and it unexpectedly informs a lot of his character. First of all, the 100% weakness to magicka means he's very 'fuck you' about mages and magic in general. Extreme 'no thank you keep it away from me' energy.

(He might have to get over that a bit, at least for Restoration, bc I'm also rping him as observing the Green Pact and only drinking potions he's made from animal ingredients. Boy needs to be able to heal somehow).

I also really like incorporating the birthsign personality traits from the Elder Scrolls d6 rpg; for Apprentice the traits are eager and naive. Combining that with his class (assassin) I got the idea he's an assassination fanboy. Really wants to join the DB, loves reading about historical assassinations, was inappropriately giddy with excitement during the tutorial quest etc. He's also very generous, helpful and friendly.

him face: