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snezka-049 · 3 months ago

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Snezka and SCP-049 beginning (lore)

1. Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski lore (Snezka)

(Events before the containment breach).

In the corridors of the SCP Foundation, where secrets and anomalies are hidden from the public eye, Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski worked. Her life was full of mystery, and this is what drew her to the world of anomalies.

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Name: Snezhana Lewandowski

Age: ██

Date of Birth: 27/08/ ████

Clearance Level: Third

Personnel Category: B

Specialty: IT Specialist. Psychologist.

Place of work: Zone 19

Foundation experience: 5 years

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Education

First: IT-Specialist.

Snezhana enrolled in the Faculty of Information Technology at a state university. During her studies, she specialized in cybersecurity and data analytics.

After graduating with a Bachelor's degree, then a Master's degree, she continued her education in graduate school, where she focused on research in the areas of:

1. Information Security.

2. Big data analytics.

She defended her doctoral dissertation on "Anomaly detection methods for system and big data", which attracted the attention of the SCP Foundation.

Second: Psychologist.

After achieving the success she needed in technical education, she decided to fulfill her life's main dream of working in the field of psychology. Due to some unpleasant events in her childhood, she did not have the opportunity to study in this field, so she had to temporarily change her orientation in life.

From an early age, Snezhana has shown an interest in psychology and human behavior. The motivation for this comes from a tough youth and personal traumatic experiences. Her goal was to help those who couldn't make it on their own, as she once couldn't. After enough time had passed, she managed to apply to the academy to study psychology. Upon graduating from the academy, Snezhana specialized in the areas of:

1. Clinical psychology.

2. Experimental psychology.

3. Counseling psychology.

After she got a job in a psychoneurological dispensary, gaining valuable experience and practice, a broader understanding of the inner world of people.

Invitation to the Foundation

Finding contacts and personal information about Snezhana was not difficult for the Foundation. Having noticed her abilities, the Foundation ordered to send a recruiter - ████ ██████ - into her social circle to get more information about the candidate. As a result, the recruiter ████ and Snezhana became close friends.

After some time of observation and communication of the recruiter with her, having received all the necessary information, the Board of the Foundation came to the decision to give her the invitation to work.

Realizing the risks and danger, Snezhana accepted the invitation, having resigned from her previous job after working for about 2 years.

After testing, interviewing and training, she became an employee of the Foundation with a level 2 security clearance.

Career at the Foundation

Snezhana started her career as a junior specialist in cybersecurity, a little later gaining a junior position in psychology.

Her specialization is a unique combination of programming and psychology, allowing her to look at anomalies from two perspectives: both as complex systems that require analysis, and as entities with their own consciousness and motivation.

Incident

While analyzing data, Dr. Lewandowski came across strange signals on the network. These were not just hacking attempts - they were coming from an entity known as SCP-███ She and others in the programming field developed a comprehensive defense strategy. In the process, they faced many challenges: the SCP-███ system was constantly adapting, and they had to find new solutions. Under conditions of stress and strain, Dr. Lewandowski managed to implement their real-time protection algorithm.

After that, for some reason, she was assigned more work in the field of psychology. Also, her success in the incident gave her a promotion to level 3 clearance.

In psychology

Dr. Lewandowski researches and analyzes object psychology. She develops methods of interacting with abnormal entities and helps in understanding their behavior.

Real security is achieved not only through physical barriers, but also through the emotional stability of employees. She took time to help her colleagues through seminars and psychology trainings for the staff of the Facility, trying to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual support among the employees.

For about 2 years, Dr. Lewandowski worked only with Safe Class facilities, and after being promoted to Senior Specialist in Psychology, she was ordered to work with Euclid Class facilities.

This promotion led her to meet one subject that changed her life, and in the future, his too... SCP-049 - Plague Doctor.

2. Lewandowski and SCP-049

(Events on the eve of the containment breach).

Experiment

The first days of Dr. Lewandowski and the SCP-049 subject were formal, protocol-driven. Lewandowski conducted standard interview sessions in an attempt to understand the motives and nature of his subject. The subject was cool and detached.

She knew SCP-049 was dangerous, but she saw him not only as an anomaly, but as a complex, multifaceted individual. His words were full of sadness and loneliness, imbued with longing and melancholy. She understood his logic, his pain, his desire to “help,” even if the methods were questionable, but perhaps all is not what it seems at first glance.

And yet she too had thought similar things to what SCP-049 had said, that the world was sick, humanity needed to be saved. Ever since she was a child, she had had thoughts like his in her mind.

She had a theory that there were no bad people in the world, but wounded people who had not been healed. She believed that a person becomes wounded, after being treated unfairly or cruelly, by similarly wounded people. If a person does not work on their wound, it will not heal, because there are many wounded people in the world that will scratch that wound, making it bigger. And this pain and resentment, like a virus or rot, infects his soul completely, making the person the same as the one who once inflicted the wound. Later that person carries this pain and resentment further, taking it out on others, making more infected. It is an endless cycle that cannot be eradicated completely, but can be minimized. Some can handle it, and some need help. You have to want help, you have to understand the situation and try to solve it too, because no one can help you better than you can help yourself, and that's what Snezka had to go through.

She thought these thoughts were strange, but after so many years, there was a creature that literally reflected her thoughts, with whom you can share this theory, and perhaps get understanding.

She saw herself in him, only a better version of herself, but with the same mental problems.

— How can that be!? He's just an abnormal object, why can't I stop thinking about him!? I can't stop thinking about him, his words. Maybe it's my soft nature, too compassionate, empathic, or maybe it's his anomalous action?

Dr. Lewandowski felt a kindred spirit in him and wanted to have more sessions with him, and most importantly, she wanted to get away from formal conversation, and share her thoughts with him about their common problem.

She decided to send a request to the management above about the idea of having experimental conversations with SCP-049, so that he would see Dr. Lewandowski as genuinely understanding, get comfortable with her, and tell her more about his treatment, himself, and the fever. Approval was granted, but it was a long wait. Finally she could be sincere with him.

Trust

New conversations with SCP-049, but not as formal as before, it took several such conversations before SCP-049 settled down with Dr. Lewandowski.

He told her more about the fever, about the treatment, they began to have deep dialogues about life and death, about philosophy, about society, SCP-049 even began to tell stories from his own life. Lewandowski also told him about her life, but she liked to listen to him more.

She found comfort in his monologues about the world, about death, about eternity, his stories about medicine. Her mind resisted, but her heart could no longer deny it: she felt something more than professional interest in him. It was a dangerous game, bordering on insanity. She knew it, but she couldn't stop. Lewandowski realized that her feelings were illogical, unacceptable, but they were there. Her greatest fear was that the Foundation would suspect something and restrict her access to him, which unfortunately happened...

Another conversation between SCP-049 and Lewandowski, the subject had already started addressing her by her favorite version of her name, Snezka, while she addressed him as Doctor. Suddenly the object fell silent.

— Doctor? Is everything all right?

— ...Yes. Snezka, let me demonstrate something to you, you should know....

The subject held out his hand, as far as it was possible being handcuffed for safety's sake, and nodded, offering to touch her. Sensing that this venture might not end well, Lewandowski extended her palm, and SCP-049 touched it.

— Wait, what...? Oh... My thoughts about your abilities were valid. - Was the last thing Snezka said before the cell door opened and she was summoned to leave.

Reprimand

— Dr. Lewandowski, your experimental conversations with the subject have come to an end. We have all the information we need, you will no longer have to work with SCP-049. Let's be honest, it seems you've begun to abuse your access to the facility, and the Foundation board has some questions about that.

— ...It was part of an experiment, you see.... It gave you a lot of new information, before such experiments such informative results were not observed. - said Lewandowski in her defense.

— Lucky for you that it didn't end in your death! Objects like 049 are dangerous, you can't trust them or reach out to them. Or have you forgotten what he did to Dr. Hamm? And everything was fine at first, too. This object is unpredictable! You're lucky you're a valued member of our staff, and this is the first time you've had an incident like this, otherwise we'd be forced to take action.

Separation

More work with other facilities has now fallen on her. One day, she dared to inquire about SCP-049. But she didn't get a clear answer.

Meanwhile, SCP-049 was asking the same question to the staff - when would Dr. Lewandowski visit?

— We're sorry, but Dr. Lewandowski has declined to work with you, SCP-049.

— ...That can't be true, you're lying! She couldn't have done it, I can feel it!

Subject SCP-049 became hostile to the Foundation, uncooperative and drove all attempts at contact away.

All or Nothing

— "Is the dream and freedom worth risking the lives and safety of others?" — Pondered by Dr. Lewandowski . — "Risking everything, insanity, selfishness(?). But if it's for a great purpose, for the good of all mankind..."

INCIDENT ██-████

(Latest walkie-talkie recordings)

(Static noise and warning signal sound)

Operator One: (Confused) This is operator one. Security protocol has failed! Repeat, security protocol has failed! All subjects... all subjects are at large!

Agent █: Reporting a security breach in Sector 3. Doors unresponsive, cameras disabled. Looks like SCP-███ is out of control.

Commander ███████: be careful! Confirm the presence of the intruder and take action to apprehend him.

(Noise, sound of gunshots)

Agent ██: (panic) This is crazy! Reporting SCP-███ is not alone. There are several other objects present. Very aggressive, we need help, repeat ████████████████ (interference).

Commander ████████: Come in, Agent ██, come in!!! (communication lost).

Commander ████████: Fuck...

Dr. █████: It could be SCP-███! He could have hacked into the security system and released the other facilities.

Commander ████: █████, are you sure? How?!

Dr. █████: I can't say for sure, but... (struggle noise) HOW ARE YOU!? STOP, DOCTOR... (interference).

Commander ████: All personnel to the assault! Stop the targets at all costs! What the hell's going on! Where's all the security personnel!?

(explosions, shouting)

Agent █████: They're all over the place

Agent ██: Where's the ██ squad?

Agent █████: they're holding back SCP-682

Agent ██: he's the last fucking thing we need!

SB-2: SB-1, this is SB-2! We've got-- we've got SCP-███breaking through! We can't stop him!

SB-1: Hold him off at all costs! Support is on the way.

(Siren and explosions)

Operator Three: SB-1, this is Operator Three! The ██ camera signal is gone! SCP-█████... he's out!

SB-1: All SB personnel to camera ██! Isolate SCP-█████! Repeat, isolate SCP-█████! (radio interference)

End of Calm

There has been a massive failure of the entire Foundation security system in Area 19, as well as a power failure. Security protocol, alarms, and warnings went off with a delay with most of the dangerous objects wreaking havoc in the Foundation. The alleged culprit of the SCP-“”" incident. Likely had accomplices, an investigation is underway.

During the incident, a large number of soldiers and staff died. There was a leak of several objects to freedom. The lists of dead and missing were equal. Dr. Snezana Lewandowski and SCP-049 were also listed as missing, among dozens of personnel and facilities.

The SCP Foundation, having suffered loss and damage, is doing its best to restore order after the chaos, but the world is no longer safe as before.

3. Conversations between Lewandowski and SCP-049

Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good afternoon, SCP-049. I am your psychologist, Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski. It's a pleasure to meet you!

SCP-049: Greetings, doctor, I hope we can work together.

Dr. Lewandowski: I think so! So, how are you feeling today?

SCP-049: (pause) I feel... A burden. A burden that is hard to describe in words. Every day I see suffering, and it depresses me.

Dr. Lewandowski: Are you talking about human suffering? About those whom you refer to as sick people?

SCP-049: Yes. The weathering is not just a physical condition. This world, this wretched piece of the universe, is forever doomed to suffer. (Irritated) Mortals, powerless over their own weaknesses, forever seek salvation in false doctrines and vain hopes. They build cities out of flimsy material, create weapons that can destroy themselves, and cling to life without realizing its true nature. I see their pain, their despair, feel their fear of the inevitable. And I know I can help them. But they don't understand. They fear me! They reject my mercy! They call me a monster, a monstrosity! I see them trying to stop me, lock me up, impose their rules. But can you limit what is beyond their comprehension? Can one defeat that which is eternal? Their attempts are futile. I will always exist. Let them resist, let them fear. It only confirms their blindness.

(A moment's silence)

Dr. Lewandowski: (Sigh)...Have you ever thought about why this “fever” bothers you so much? What exactly causes you to feel so strongly about it?

SCP-049: (sighs) I have witnessed a lot of suffering. I have seen people lose hope, I have seen them fall victim to their weakness. This makes me want to help, but sometimes I feel that my efforts are futile.

Dr. Lewandowski: Do you feel that your help is really effective? Or is there any doubt about your methods?

SCP-049: (with some irritation) My methods are the only way to free people from their suffering! I cannot afford to doubt my vocation. But sometimes... It catches up with me.

Dr. Lewandowski: It is normal to have doubts. Many people face similar feelings. What do you do to deal with these emotions?

SCP-049: I continue my work. I focus on my goals.

Dr. Lewandowski: Maybe you should take time to reflect on yourself and your feelings. It may help you better understand your motivation and calm your mind.

SCP-049: I don't think so, but... You may be right. I worry that if I stop, the darkness around me will consume everything.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Pause)...How I understand that. Sometimes you have to take a step back to see the big picture. It doesn't mean you stop fighting the disease. It can only make you stronger.

SCP-049: Perhaps...

Dr. Lewandowski: This is an important step. And remember, you are not alone in your experience. I'm here to help you make sense of it.

SCP-049: Thank you... I'll try to remember that.

[END RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good evening Doctor, how are you feeling?

SCP-049: It would be better if I were allowed to return to my work.

Dr. Lewandowski: Don't worry Doctor, you will definitely be given that opportunity...

SCP-049: Really? Really!? I'm finally going back to work, I'm glad to hear that! When do I get a patient?

Dr. Lewandowski: ...Unfortunately, I don't have that information.

SCP-049: Maybe you could influence this situation? Explain my urgent need to progress with my treatment!

Dr. Lewandowski: I don't think I can... Doctor, you need to rest, you've been working hard. As a doctor, you should know that rest is very important for high productivity.

SCP-049: (Sighs) I wish I had something to do in these four walls...

Dr. Lewandowski: I have a suggestion. Do you like to read? I can bring you some books if the Foundation leadership says so.

SCP-049: That's a very marvelous idea.

Dr. Lewandowski: What kind of literature do you prefer?

SCP-049: I was interested in modern books about medicine, it is interesting to study what is being written about it now. It would be interesting to read something from philosophy.

Dr. Lewandowski: Excellent choice Doctor, we have the same taste in literature. Would you mind if I brought a couple more books on my recommendation for you?

SCP-049: Sounds good, I agree.

Dr. Lewandowski: See you, Doctor.

SCP-049: See you, thank you for such an interesting proposal, Dr. Lewandowski.

[END OF RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good evening, Doctor.

SCP-049: Good evening, Dr. Lewandowski.

Dr. Lewandowski: I want to understand how you feel when you look at the world through the prism of your...your uniqueness.

SCP-049: (hesitantly) Uniqueness?

Dr. Lewandowski: I'm talking about wisdom. You have lived for centuries, watching the birth and decline of civilizations. What have you learned in that time?

(Minute's silence)

SCP-049: I've seen nations rise and fall, empires born of dust and turned to stone, ideas ignite people's hearts and turn to ash. (Pause). I realized that existence is a perpetual cycle of birth and death, a constant struggle for survival. People are so hungry for meaning, but it eludes them.

Dr. Lewandowski: Isn't this struggle, this longing for meaning, the very essence of being?

SCP-049: (With sadness in his voice) Meaning... (Pause) It wanders like a ghost through the labyrinths of our consciousness. We search for it in religion, in science, in art, but it eludes us, leaving only emptiness.

Dr. Lewandowski: But don't you see, Doctor? You create your own meaning by helping people to get rid of the disease. You believe in what you're doing, Doctor. You believe it's necessary.

SCP-049: Faith... (Pause) This is another one of those ghosts that haunt us. I see things that others do not see, and it pains me. It pains me to see the suffering that is inevitable for all living things.

Dr. Lewandowski: And you're trying to help, Doctor...

SCP-049: (Interrupting) We are but pawns in the hands of fate. Our actions are insignificant in comparison to eternity.

Dr. Lewandowski: Don't say that, Doctor. You are not a pawn. You are the creator of your own destiny. And I believe you will find your path, your meaning.

SCP-049: (Heavy sigh) But not in this place, not here, not now.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Pause) You know Doctor... I'd like to share with you a thought that has been on my mind since I was a child.

SCP-049: What is it that's bothering you?

[recording interrupted for 5 minutes]

Dr. Lewandowski: I almost forgot, the Foundation gave me permission to bring you some books.

(Took several books out of her bag and placed a stack on the table next to the subject)

SCP-049: (With joy in her voice) Glad to hear that! Immensely grateful to the Foundation and of course to you, Dr. Lewandowski.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Smiling) I'm glad it lifted your spirits. See you later, we'll be sure to discuss what we read next time.

SCP-049: I look forward to seeing you.

[END RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Zone 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Hello, Doctor! How are you today?

SCP-049: Good afternoon, Dr. Lewandowski. I'm feeling... quite well. I've been studying some of the books you brought me at the last meeting.

Dr. Lewandowski: Excellent! Which books did you enjoy the most?

SCP-049: I was impressed with the works on human nature. Their authors convey emotions and experiences in a very subtle way.

Dr. Lewandowski: Yes, literature can indeed be a great way to understand people. Is there anything that surprised you about these books?

SCP-049: I was surprised by how diverse human feelings are. Everyone experiences love, fear, and hope in their own way.

Dr. Lewandowski: Yes, humans are amazing creatures! What about you? Have you ever experienced something similar to love?

SCP-049: (Pause) I'm not sure. My life has been devoted to fighting the windfall, and I haven't given much thought to such feelings. But... sometimes I feel warm when I talk to you. (turns away)

Dr. Lewandowski: I'm glad to see your condition has improved markedly. I feel warm when we talk, too. (Pause) You are an unusually interesting conversationalist.

SCP-049: (surprised) Interesting? I've always thought of myself as rather... odd. But it's nice to hear you say that. You don't hear that very often in this place, in general... I've never heard it from you.

Dr. Lewandowski: Weird people can be very interesting! We all have our unique qualities. For example, your view of the world is something special, not strange. By the way, have you read that novel?

SCP-049: The Master and Margarita? Yes, an interesting work about the power of love and the struggle against darkness.

Dr. Lewandowski: I think there are so many layers and philosophical themes there. You know, you sound like the Master (Laughs).

SCP-049: Hmm... There's something, maybe, and you remind me of Marguerite.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Laughs) That's probably true. Unfortunately, I have to go. Don't forget, you deserve to be understood. And I'm here to help you do just that.

SCP-049: (With a slight sadness in his voice) Your support gives me strength.

Dr. Lewandowski: We all need each other's support.

SCP-049: I look forward to our future conversations.

[END OF RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good afternoon Doctor, I would like to know what your thoughts have been occupied with lately?

SCP-049: Greetings. (Pause) Relatively recently, I've been thinking about the nature of human cruelty.

Dr. Lewandowski: Cruelty... (Pause) Unfortunately, it permeates every facet of existence, like a shadow that follows the light.

SCP-049: Yes. (Sighs) I watch people, and it makes me sad how capable they are of terrible things. There is a darkness lurking in their hearts that sometimes overshadows even the brightest impulses.

Dr. Lewandowski: As it happens, humanity is a paradox. On the one hand, it creates beautiful works of art, science and culture, and on the other hand, it is capable of ruthless acts of violence and hatred.

SCP-049: Exactly. I see how people can be kind and compassionate, but at the same time they easily cross the line into becoming instruments of destruction. It causes me deep sadness and bewilderment.

Dr. Lewandowski: I share your feelings and support your thoughts, Doctor.

SCP-049: It is most gratifying to know that, Dr. Lewandowski. My mission is to rid mankind of disease. At times I am at a loss as to what to do about this inner cruelty? How do you heal a society that is tearing itself apart?

Dr. Lewandowski: You see, many of these atrocities come from fear, ignorance and hatred. Or perhaps they were mentally wounded once, and that wound, without proper treatment, began to fester, infecting the whole mind and soul.

SCP-049: (Interested) I like the way you think. Abuse is not just physical violence. It is also words that hurt, betrayals and indifference to the suffering of others. In each of these acts I see a reflection of the disease.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Sigh) Sadly, dreams of a world where humanity can overcome its cruelty and learn to love are utopian.

SCP-049: I'm not so sure about that. It's certainly not an easy task, the whole world and one me, the road to healing is long and thorny. But the more I work at it, the closer that peace comes.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Pause) Perhaps someday people will realize that cruelty is not part of their true nature. Perhaps they will learn to see in each other a reflection of themselves and learn to care for those who suffer. Perhaps... (Pause) But sometimes you get the idea that some people are so rotten in their souls that treatment will be useless, and the only thing left to do is to rid the world of that person so they don't hurt others. This is not humane, but in such a case it is possible to make sure that this person stays alive but is not capable of hurting others.

SCP-049: (Surprised) Your thoughts make sense. We've had a rather pleasant dialog. I've never had such an in-depth discussion with anyone else. I feel much better.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Smiling) That's wonderful, Doctor, I confess I don't often have someone to talk to about this either.

[END RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good afternoon, Doctor, how is your mood?

SCP-049: Greetings. My mood is a little down, without my work I'm having a hard time mentally.

Dr. Lewandowski: I'm sorry to hear that, Doctor. (Pause) Let me ask you something.

SCP-049: I'm listening to you.

Dr. Lewandowski: Do you have any pleasant memory from your life?

SCP-049: (Sighs) Unfortunately, there aren't many... (Pause) I do recall one. Yes, it was a time when I was out in the wild, searching for rare herbs and plants in the forest. No people and just the sounds of nature. And then I came to a field, a field of lavender. (Sighs) It's... It was a magical feeling. The field was filled with bright colors and the air was full of a light, slightly spicy aroma. I felt like I was in another world, away from my worries. I walked slowly among the flowers, watching the bees as they worked to gather nectar. The bees are not aware of the suffering that humans are experiencing, they are just doing their job, benefiting the world around them. It made me think: maybe that's what humanity needs - the simple pursuit of the good. (Pause) The whole day I was there. It was wonderful. I dream of being in that moment again one day.

Dr. Lewandowski: That's... It's a wonderful memory, very beautiful.

SCP-049: Yes... It's beautiful. You know, I feel a little better.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Smiling) That's wonderful to hear. Try to remember something else, good thoughts can smooth out your condition within these walls.

SCP-049: I'll try. Thank you for encouraging me to remember this.

[END RECORDING]

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Interviewer: Dr. Snezhana Lewandowski, Area 19

Interviewee: SCP-049

[START RECORDING]

Dr. Lewandowski: Good afternoon Doctor, how is your mood?

SCP-049: Good afternoon Snezka. I guess my mood is somewhere between average and good. Good to see you, how are you feeling?

Dr. Lewandowski: I'm not bad. I have something I'd like to give you. I had a hard time getting permission for it from the foundation, but....

(Took out of her bag a small pillow with a lavender flower print pillowcase and placed it on the table in front of the subject).

This is for you. I remember that you don't need sleep, but that's not what it's for. Rather it is for coziness, and your favorable mood. This pillow is stuffed with lavender.

SCP-049: (Surprised) It's for me?! What a wonderful gift, lavender really calms me down.

Dr. Lewandowski: I'm glad the gift is useful to you. I would have brought you something else, but unfortunately the Foundation has only authorized this one so far.

SCP-049: I am honored by such attention, thank you, Dr..... Snezka. (Pause) ...How did I not notice that... Your last name is...

Dr. Lewandowski: (Interested) Hmm?

SCP-049: Lewandowski, that last name comes from the Old Polish word levanda, which means lavender. What a wonderful coincidence, my favorite plant.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Smiles) Yes, that's right, my favorite too by the way. I am amazed at your knowledge, Doctor!

SCP-049: It is a pleasure to be appreciated and understood by you. I must admit, you are not out of my mind.

Dr. Lewandowski: (Embarrassed) Oh... You know, it's mutual. Doctors aren't supposed to have favorites, but I have to admit...(Pause) You're my favorite patient.

(momentary silence)

SCP-049: I wish we could meet more often...

Dr. Lewandowski: I'd like that too, Doctor...

[END OF RECORDING]

Supplement

https://www.tumblr.com/snezka-049/766312832505626624/snezka-and-doctor-reference-and-lore-scp-049?source=share

104 notes · View notes

lexirosewrites · 6 months ago

Note

This has been in my brain for a HOT MINUTE so it will b long

A!Eddie & Corroded Coffin didn't make it in the rock n roll world, the band certainly tried but they all found tht it wasn't the fulfilling kind of work they wanted or needed. So one by one they all ended up moving away from California some of them went back to the midwest.

B!Gareth left first, he'd found a passion for teaching after taking on a few tutoring jobs to pay the bills so after a lot of talking he went back to school in Indianapolis where he could b near family. A!Freak went as far as they could without needing a passport & moved to NYC where they built a fulfilling & even successful career in the Broadway circuit as a musician. Jeff & Eddie ended up leaving together, even staying together as roommates briefly in Portland bc going back to the midwest felt almost like giving up completely but when Jeff's dad passed away he went home to Indiana for the funeral & just didn't come back, Eddie wasn't resentful abt it he was even ecstatic for A!Jeff when he got a call a half a yr later where Jeff told him he'd moved to Chicago & found work w the USPS tht gave him time to volunteer in an after school program teaching guitar. Eddie stayed in Portland working in a mechanic shop till Gareth invited all of them to watch him walk the stage to accept his teaching degree.

It was a touching reunion for everyone & after a lot of drinks Eddie admitted he hated Portland & admired how Gareth & Jeff were shaping the minds of tomorrow & was proud of Freak for the career they'd built in NYC. In the end, Eddie ended up hopping around the couches of his bandmates in their different places in the country till he found work he enjoyed in Chicago as a line cook & he volunteered w Jeff till slowly but surely Eddie became a go to guy for the program to call & then a yr later the director of the program said she was recommending him to a teaching position at the fancy after school youth art institute her friend ran. Jeff had turned down the position when she'd asked bc the pay wasn't much better & he enjoyed his work w the USPS

Eddie gets a job at this youth art institute & he thrives. He still volunteers & through his efforts the art institute expands their scholarship program. He meets one of the ballet instructors, B!Chrissy, & they're fast friends even platonic soulmates some would say. When Eddie introduces Chrissy to Jeff at Eddie's birthday party in late June he was very unsubtle abt his matchmaking intentions & he was vindicated when they admit to him tht they're dating not even a month later.

When August arrives Chrissy starts talking abt preparing for auditions for The Chicago Ballets annual production of The Nutcracker, apparently the institute got to bring a number of students to audition for the roles reserved for children or teens along w other ballet schools of the city. The students of the ballet classes become even more serious in their lessons, many of them signing up for the one on one lessons offered specifically to prepare for the auditions. Eddie's favorite guitar student, O!Max, was best friends w 2 ballet students (B!El & A!Lucas) in a way tht was clearly developing into a romance btwn the 3 & so the one on one lessons he taught her became mostly her practicing chords while raving abt how hard the 2 were working, tht Lucas' dream was to one day b cast as the cavalier who dances w the sugar plum fairy & tht El hopes to one day b cast as the dew drop in the Waltz of the Flowers.

Two days before auditions the ballet students of the institute get visited by members of the Chicago Ballet Troupe. The youngest get to meet & interact w the dancers cast in roles that'll directly interact w them should they b cast. The teens get the most exciting visitors is the consensus Eddie picks up on, apparently it is somewhat tradition for the dancers cast as The Snow Queen, The Dew Drop, The Sugar Plum Cavalier & The Sugar Plum Fairy to visit w the teens. Chrissy gets a glint in her eye when she insists Eddie come along w them to dinner after classes because her friend from dance school is one of the cast members visiting the teens.

He walks into the restaurant, is led by Chrissy to the table practically overflowing w tall athletic bodies, & promptly plopped into the only remaining seat next to the most gorgeous male omega Eddie has ever laid his eyes on. Chrissy introduces him as Steve Buckley, the first male omega to b cast as The Sugar Plum Fairy in literally any major production of The Nutcracker put on by a major troupe. Eddie knows his eyes get gooey especially when he catches the briefest whiff of the sugar sweet scent tht resembles baked apples when Steve leans closer to hear him better over the noise of the restaurant.

A lot happens after auditions & during production, El is cast as one of the snowflakes & Lucas is cast as a party goer & toy soldier but he impressed the production team so well he was given the position of understudy to The Sigar Plum Cavalier. Steve & Eddie grow closer till they finally kiss after the final curtain of the annual production. Chrissy & Jeff move in together & after Chrissy gets pregnant Eddie is asked to b one of the witnesses when they go to the courthouse to register their bonding. Steve takes over for chrissy when she goes on maternity leave.

Four years later steddie have also bonded & Steve gives a final performance of The Nutcracker before retirement, he was honored to b cast as Sugar Plum one more time & to b there w Lucas as he debuted as not only an official dancer w the Chicago Ballet Troupe but as The Sugar Plum Cavalier. Steve would have stayed longer as a dancer but he wanted to b a mother & Ballet doesn't give much allowance for a dancer to b pregnant. So Steve takes the offer of a teaching job w the same youth art institute where chrissy & his mate work & steddie move to the same Chicago suburb as chrissy/Jeff when they officially begin trying for a baby

Joan Riot Munson is born at exactly noon the following year on the first day of the annual production of The Chicago Ballet's Nutcracker 🥰🩰

we love an omegaverse ballet AU!!!💕

(this is the last ask i have in my inbox for slick sunday, but if i see any come in while i’m out, i’ll try to answer and post!)

#slick sunday #steddie #steddie omegaverse #omega steve harrington #alpha eddie munson #steve x eddie #omegaverse #a/b/o #mpreg #tw mpreg #cw mpreg #my asks

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svt-kiki · 9 months ago

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( 🖇️ )　𝐌𝐎𝐑𝐄 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐕𝐈𝐀𝐒 !　⌅ .

　📄　────　✶　𝖿𝗎𝗇 𝖿𝖺𝖼𝗍𝓼 .　

she has one of the biggest china bars among the kpop idols. her fandom is strong esp in china, thai, philippines, latin america and europe

although her appearance doesn’t fit korea nor japan’s “beauty standards” perfectly, she is quite popular out there. it took time to get recognize she deserves, but currently she’s one of the most popular kpop idols in korea and japan, thanks to the acting activities.

she has an addictive deep voice.

she is famous for her clean skin, considered as the idol who has most beautiful bare face. she prefers being without makeup on day off.

she’s against the “diet” culture without apology: that most female idols experienced, only eat a few to lose weights. since only female trainee had regularly weight measurement, she rebeled against the company in predebut era to get rid of that system.

she got scouted from jyp, sm ang yg entertainments as a trainee while in pledis. she was a “legend” trainee who was famous among other company’s trainees. the pics of her when she went to sopa’s graduation ceremony ( when seungcheol and doyoon graduated ) went viral on internet.

she’s the only one who constantly replies group chat, named "the only member who’s responsible" in “Know Thyself #2”

her experience in pd 48 literally broke her heart — gaeun was her first friend in korea, watching one of the oldest friends struggling, challenging, and falling apart at last sec was a terrible experience. during the program she held herself strictly not to do her favor nor get biased in any way, but couldn’t help herself into tears after the final. she just decided she’ll never involve to any audition programs again.

however, because of the pd48 appearance, she is basically the mother, or nonna / eonni of the 4th gen idols. lots of people mentioned her as a rolemodel or the sunbae they want to get close with, but it’s because she has so many male friends in the 3rd gen groups already and kiki be the only “safe” female idols to mention esp for male idols.

kiki is known as very polite and humble person in the kpop industry. throughout her careers, she carefully curated own demeanor and behaved very wisely. that, and the fact that she's the only one female member in her group made her allow to interact with other male idols “normally”. she is the heart of the healthy friendships between male / female idols in the industry. now she becoming the “legend” 3rd gen idol, kiki tried to clear the roadblock as something really unhealthy and toxic customs in the industry for the sake of the younger idols.

she plays the role of producing visual side like woozi is doing in music. she takes huge part as deciding concepts, the look of albums and costumes.

she often jokes about how she is “old” now that barely understands japanese youth words and it’s fUNNY

her favorite mangas are jojo’s bizarre adventure ( she’s MADLY in love with araki hirohiko’s illustration ), one piece, bleach, fullmetal alchemist, etc. she also loves psycho-pass and fate series as well.

she spent her childhood in 00s japan, so it’s apparent that she has been greatly influenced by those 00s japanese pop culture. she adores 00s jpop a lot. her favorite artists are amuro namie, utada hikaru, arashi and bump of chicken.

but her visual and fashion clearly got the 90s vibes.

her favorite colors are yellow, blue and black.

she listens to wide range of music. the song she shared to social media or released cover version often goes viral on internet.

she’s good at most sports ( maybe the only one who can controll balls properly in the performance team lol ) but has no idea how to play online pc games.

she reads lots of books except self-development jenre. her favorite authors are higashino keigo, kazuo ishiguro and le guin.

cooking is her speciality! it’s her little dream to have a mini-program that she invites the guests and treats her with her homemade meal.

　📄　────　✶　𝗆𝖺𝗃𝗈𝗋 𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗈𝖼𝗂𝖺𝗍𝖾𝓼 .　

　𝖯𝖠𝖱𝖪 𝖬𝖨𝖭𝖩𝖨　✦　박민지 ｡｡　sub chief of seventeen manager team .

PARK MINJI was born in 1989 in seoul, south korea. she lived in japan from age of 12 to 15 due to her parents’ work. after returning to korea and enrolling in college, she decided to go back to japan. while studying at a japanese university, minji worked as an intern at avex, a japanese record company, in 2010. it was during this time that she got involved in the collaboration project between after school and japanese singer amuro namie, which was the first time she connected with pledis.

after graduating from college, minji joined pledis entertainment in 2012. her work initially focused on nu’est’s activities in japan, but when seventeen made its debut, she became one of the managers. minji was also in charge of all group activities for seventeen, but most of all she supported kiki, since she was the only female member of the group, and it was clear that japanese girl needed the ongoing support of the female staff.

now she is the closest staff to kiki. as she supported her individual works, mostly acting activities in both korea and japan, minji spents a lot of time with her and recognized each other as a best friend. although seventeen’s management job is pretty hard and busy, it’s rare to see that same person remains in the team from debut. she’s one of ‘famous’ staffs like hyelim-nim, bumzu and kim yeonsoo that carats recognize.

　𝖳𝖨𝖥𝖥𝖠𝖭𝖸 𝖲𝖮𝖭𝖤　✦　曽根ティファニー｡｡ translator and manager of the u.s. department .

TIFFANY SONĒ was born in 1992 in chicago, the united states. her father is a japanese, grew up in tokyo and left his hometown to purchase his career as a classic musician. later on, he got a place in the chicago symphony orchestra. he met a japanese woman in the city, which was tiffany’s mother. they divorced when tiffany was a little kid, but her father remarried a korean woman after few years later. from this moment, tiffany got interested in korean language and culture through her step mother. she studied linguistics at the college, ended up working at pr company.

tiffany started to work at pledis around 2019. she is in charge of the group’s u.s. activities as a manager and translator. tiffany has an open mind, bright personality and great sence of humor. all members loved her for it right after they met. now she’s spending more time with kiki, due to the attention she got from overseas.

( 📁 ) : NAVI : MASTER LIST

( tag list ) : @smh-anon @jennwonwoo @angie-x3 @scarlet789

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lorata · 3 months ago

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*wakes up in cold sweat* the fact that centre kids dont think about their life past 18 is a product of the hunger games system where youth is coveted and young people are falsely taught that you make your legacy as a teenager and that adults cannot change and grow and develop fulfilling lives and have those life changing experiences -- unheard of in a culture that fears the act of growing old

heck yeah it is

i will say that it DOES get better the further you leave the program, like, peacekeepers don't START having kids until at least 40! (which, can i just say, "20 years no marriage no kids" is ... a wild decision, on the part of the capitol, but sure lol)

growing older IS a sign that you've made it but you have to hit a certain age to have that realization i think? the late teens/early 20s is a rough time to be an ex-career for sure and definitely part of why so many of them go right back into the military where the next 20+ years of your life are nicely laid out for you, no thinking required

but yeah. creed in particular suffers from foreshortened future but so do a lot of the victors when they're kids and that, sadly, is one of the main criteria for finalist selection. if you have a quick answer for "what will you do if you don't win" you probably won't be in the top 3

#lorata answers #Anonymous #we must be killers: tales from district 2

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agendabymooner · 2 years ago

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the paddock’s resident menace and the dame ! toto w. x ofc (hearth sister!ofc)

summary: two things: tia christie wolff really was her papa’s carbon copy AND tilly wolff wasn’t just “mrs. wolff” after being presented with a damehood.

content warning: dad!toto and mom!ofc, the wolff kids being menaces (mainly one kid), fluff, christian horner being a good uncle, mentions of one baby leclerc and hearth sister!ofc (stevie hamilton), everything is strictly fictional so don’t take it to heart plz i know nothing about the dates/full criteria of damehood presentations and whatnot

note: more tia wolff content, i guess :) enjoy xx

masterlist

AUSTRIAN GP

THE FAST LANE DAILY

TILLY MARIE WOLFF: BRITISH BILLIONAIRE AWARDED DAME COMMANDER TITLE FOR PHILANTHROPIC CONTRIBUTIONS, MOTORSPORT SUCCESS, AND LITERARY ENDEAVORS

in a remarkable recognition of her outstanding achievements, tilly marie wolff (née hearth), a british billionaire and owner of hearth automotive groups, has been presented the prestigious dame commander title from the most excellent order of the british empire. this honor is a testament to her remarkable contributions as an automotive industry leader, philanthropist, and her success in the world of formula one racing. additionally, wolff's passion for literature and writing has led her to establish write well uk, an organization that encourages writers to explore literature and literary writing through tailored programs.

a force in the automotive industry

tilly marie wolff's influence in the automotive industry is undeniable. as the owner of hearth automotive groups and its subsidiaries, she has revolutionized the sector by implementing a nonprofit and community services approach. her visionary leadership has transformed the way the industry operates, emphasizing the importance of investing in charitable organizations and launching programs to support those in need.

philanthropic endeavors

wolff's commitment to making a positive impact on society is evident through her generous philanthropic endeavors. she has invested substantial resources in various charitable organizations, focusing on initiatives such as community shelters and youth programs. by providing essential resources and support, wolff has helped countless individuals and communities thrive.

founding organizations and racing team youth programs

throughout her illustrious career, tilly marie wolff has founded numerous organizations, including youth programs associated with her racing teams. these programs have not only nurtured young talent but have also provided opportunities for aspiring individuals to pursue their dreams in the world of motorsport. the success rate of these initiatives has been exceptional, further solidifying wolff's reputation as a visionary leader.

literary pursuits with write well uk

in addition to her accomplishments in the automotive industry, tilly marie wolff has a deep-rooted passion for literature and writing. leveraging her background in journalism and communications, she established write well uk, an organization dedicated to fostering a love for literature and literary writing. through this organization, writers are encouraged to learn and explore more by participating in programs tailored to their needs. write well uk serves as a platform for aspiring writers to develop their skills and engage with the literary community.

recognition and ceremony

the awarding of the dame commander title to tilly marie wolff is a testament to her remarkable achievements and contributions. at the ceremony, she was accompanied by her husband, toto wolff, the mercedes amg petronas f1 team principal, their daughter tia wolff, and her brother-in-law, lewis hamilton, a renowned formula one driver who had previously received this prestigious honor.

connecting motorsport, literature, and community

wolff's involvement in the world of formula one racing extends beyond her ownership of hearth automotive groups. she holds a significant stake in the successful red bull racing team, as well as a twenty percent ownership in both scuderia ferrari and mclaren racing. her influence in these teams has not only contributed to their success on the track but has also allowed her to further connect motorsport with community initiatives. through write well uk, she bridges the gap between motorsport and literature, encouraging writers to explore their craft while fostering a sense of community.

tilly marie wolff's journey from a british billionaire to a dame is a testament to her exceptional leadership, philanthropy, success in the automotive industry, and her passion for literature. her commitment to transforming the industry's approach to nonprofit and community services has had a profound impact on society. through her charitable investments, youth programs, and the establishment of write well uk, wolff has not only changed lives but has also left an indelible mark on the world of formula one racing and the literary community. her recognition as a dame commander is a well-deserved honor, celebrating her remarkable achievements and contributions to both the motorsport, literary, and wider community.

tagged tillywolff, hearthautomotivegroups

liked by christianhorner, gerihalliwell, lewishamilton

user1 i can brag about being related to the dame tilly wolff and sir lewis hamilton, if i'm being honest 🙃

mercedesamgf1 us too tbh 😇

user2 it's well deserved ❤️

user3 she did not carry the youth and charity programs of ferrari, red bull and mclaren (hell even mercedes) only for her to not be recognized for it 😭😩

user4 the best thing she had done was quit vogue tbh 🤭

user5 no seriously though 🥲

user6 their kids would be like "yeah my mum/aunt is dame tilly wolff and my dad/uncle is sir lewis hamilton wbu" in the future and i think i'm okay with that 😍

user7 alexa, how do i get adopted into the hearth family?

user8 redbullracing come get your boss, he's lurking at the merc page

SILVERSTONE GP - TIA'S BIRTHDAY WEEK

tagged tillywolff

liked by lewishamilton, georgerussell63, mickschumacher

georgerussell63 no wonder why we're eating good this week 🤭 liked by mercedesamgf1

mickschumacher did she eat all of the scones?! liked by mercedesamgf1

mercedesamgf1 we are here not to deny nor confirm that mini toto has indeed taken a chance to take every berry scone she saw - as requested by a certain adelmo

mickschumacher i can't even fight a birthday girl

mercedesamgf1 you can't fight your boss' 7 year old daughter, mick.

mickschumacher i know.

user1 silverstone gp hits different for us merc fans 😩

user2 happy birthday mini toto!!!

user3 happy birthday to the only girl who can give christian horner the headache he didn't need!

BONUS !!!

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jantanow · 10 months ago

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इग्नू को नेचर पॉजिटिव यूनिवर्सिटी बनाने में योगदान देने पर अमन हुए सम्मानित

बड़ौत (Badaut), 01 सितंबर 2024 (September 1, 2024) — जब बात पर्यावरण संरक्षण (environmental conservation) की होती है, तो अक्सर हमें बड़े नामों और संगठनों (organizations) का ध्यान आकर्षित करना पड़ता है। लेकिन, बागपत (Baghpat) के एक युवा (youth) ने यह साबित कर दिया है कि छोटे कदम (small steps) भी बड़े बदलाव (big changes) ला सकते हैं। इंदिरा गांधी राष्ट्रीय मुक्त विश्वविद्यालय (Indira Gandhi…

#Advantages of participating in educational programs #Aman Kumar’s impact on society #Benefits of Nature Positive programs #Biodiversity conservation in universities #Can education be a catalyst for change?#Can students drive environmental initiatives?#Can youth bring transformation in their communities?#Can youth contribute to community development?#Can youth drive change with their ideas?#Can youth influence society through their actions?#Can youth leverage their knowledge for change?#Can youth take on leadership roles?#Do student organizations impact society?#Do we need awareness campaigns?#Does higher education enhance moral responsibility?#Does higher education increase social awareness?#Does higher education support career growth?#Educational programs for social change #Effects of Nature Positive universities #Environmental awareness initiatives #Examples of youth as sources of inspiration #How to assess the effectiveness of Nature Positive initiatives?#Impact of educational institutions on society #Impact of experiential learning #Importance of Nature Positive initiatives #Inspiration from youth like Aman Kumar #Is higher education a path for social development?#Is participation in programs beneficial?#Is the goal of higher education just to earn a degree?#Lessons from Aman Kumar’s journey

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marimeeko · 1 year ago

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More on Katsuki "the rest of our lives" Bakugou someday being the wedding planning husband with a vision for a flawless wedding;

Imagine it would be some years into their careers as heroes, or Katsuki in particular being a Pro Hero, and Izuku his partner.

they've probably started an Agency together(which again, I headcanon would be with a heavy emphasis on rehabilitation and improved Quirk therapy for children, and hires the most Quirkless population and has Quirkless Hero/support development programs for youth as well as adults.

And of course, the media begins to talk and speculate about their status. The "partners or lovers??" Debates start getting published. Candid photos of them on their casual days sprout up in the news cycles.

I feel like they would either decide to elope, or Katsuki would "give those chatty bastards something to talk about" and plan the most exquisite wedding he possibly could.

As sort of a "yes, we ARE married and you WISH your wedding was as good as the number 1 hero Duo Dynamight and Deku's!!"

Like imagine the media reporting on Katsuki Bakugou, AKA the no. 1 hero Dynamight, secretively planning "something" and then one day all of a sudden he releases the images and videos of himself and Izuku being wed.

His parents hook him up with some high end magazines to do a piece/photoshoot featuring their wedding.

And it's all secretive until after it's already happened bc katsuki DOESNT want a high profile thing with a bunch of media swarming them the day of, he doesn't invite anyone unless they truly matter to the couple and the families involved! But after the fact, the media can eat their damn hearts out and know they missed out on one of the most famous pairs in modern Hero society getting married. They are in a state of chaos about it for a few weeks and Katsuki definitely laughs about it knowing that he kept the most intimate parts of his ceremony private.

The media of course gashes their teeth and tries to speculate about what they don't get to see, and how they could have missed this opportunity of the century.

But like when it comes to the planning and the services used and the flowers and cake and fashion, Katsuki is open and proud bc he knows he chose the best.

And the couples photos that he approves for the media to see? Immaculate. Izuku smiling and beaming so brightly, and Katsuki looking at him with that "you are my entire world" fondness.

#this has been sat in my drafts for a minute #bakudeku #bnha spoilers #bkdk wedding headcanons #bkdk future headcanon #bakugou katsuki #the rest of our lives #im sorry that sounds like A WEDDING VOW 🧡#bakugou being extra #Kacchan is also the type that would ruin paparazzi photos of them by giving them a huge middle finger #and like holding it in front of Izukus face so they at least dont publish Izukus face without permission

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nitewrighter · 1 year ago

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Hi, I’m studying to get my associates in library tech with the goal of becoming a children’s librarian. Is there anything that you wish you knew before becoming a librarian?

Well it's tough to say for sure because I had been working as a library assistant for a long time before I got my master's, so I actually did have a lot of 'on the ground' experience in libraries, albeit in a very immediate, lower-skilled customer service sense.

I would say, on a "librarian as a whole" level, try to get as much hands-on experience in programming development and assisting with programming as you can--a major part of advancing your career as a librarian (at least as a public librarian) is being able to plan and implement programming, and also evaluate the success of that programming, and while I got a lot of experience with that in theory in Library school, it wasn't something I really bothered with as a library assistant because I felt too intimidated by it and I felt it "wasn't my place"--even though it's absolutely something I'd have to do as a librarian. And it's something they ask you about at EVERY interview for Librarian positions! If I could go back in time, I'd go back to 2018 and thwack myself with a newspaper to tell me to elbow my way into more programming development--because there ARE openings for it! Libraries ARE always looking for fresh ideas for programming, and one day, I WILL get my Makerspace Cosplay Workshop For Teens idea launched, goddammit!!

On a more "Children's Librarian Specific" level, I realize I talk a lot on this blog about like... the basic thesis that Children Are Indeed People. And I realize in that last ask I got that I was complaining a lot about parents basically using library space as a space to shut down and recover--often at the expense of the space, or sometimes even at the risk of their children. But I do think in terms of like... practicality, respect, and humility, that you as a librarian have to acknowledge that these parents are caring for their kids 24/7 and a lot of the time, for all your dreams of "Youth Liberation!!!" they will, generally, know their kids' triggers and patterns of behavior better than you, Cool Youth Liberator Librarian, ever will. I'm gonna use an example I call the "Give a Mouse a Cookie" story:

So we have coloring sheets and crayons at our children's desk, right? And this little girl comes up to the desk asking for a coloring sheet and I'm like, "oh, okay, we have a puppy coloring sheet?" and she's like, "No, I want the kitty." And her parents are going, "Sweetie, just get the puppy, we need to leave," and I'm like, "Oh, I can just print out some kitty coloring sheets. It's not a big deal. It looks like we're running low anyways." So I print out a bunch of kitty coloring sheets, hand her the first warm-out-of-the-printer kitty, and she starts melting down, because it wasn't just a kitty coloring sheet she wanted, it was a Unicorn Kitty Coloring sheet (except she's like 4 or 5 so it's not really fair to act like she could articulate that), and this is where the story gets stupid, because I'm like, "Oh. Here." and I draw a unicorn horn on the kitty--and like, I need you to understand that this is me going off of babysitting experience where I'm used to little kids being psyched at me drawing something especially for them. And this would provide an immediate 15 second solution rather than however long it would take me to track down the unicorn kitty coloring sheet she wanted through our coloring sheet database and then send that to the printer. And like, I know how to draw a horn so that it meshes decently enough with the coloring sheet's art style. LIKE IT MESHED WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CAT'S HEAD. But still, the meltdown intensifies because that's not the unicorn cat that other kids were coloring. How dare I slap a horn on this regular-ass cat and try to tell her it's a unicorn cat?!?!? So finally her parents just go, "She needs a nap" and drag her off. I told this story to my brother and he went, "Oh yeah. You gave a mouse a cookie."

Like, yeah, there is something very rewarding in validating a kid's desires and meeting their needs just like you would any adult patron. I love that little flare of 'Yes! I did the thing! I asked the lady where the InvestiGators books were, and she showed me!" I love seeing kids light up when you take them to the nonfiction section they ask for and then you help them leaf through it for the right book for their desired content and reading level, but also... sometimes it's not about the unicorn kitty, and you have to be able to trust when the parents are picking up on that and be able to put up a united front. It's kind of like when you start getting caught up in your own anger, and you have to ask yourself, "Am I letting this burn out, or am I adding oxygen to the fire?" There is so much going on under the hood with kids! So much is happening! Developing brains and very little experience are a helluva drug! You do want to fight for and encourage the kid's agency and value when you can, but also they're part of a family! And families have their own unique dynamics and needs! Growing up and having to negotiate your wants and needs with everyone around you is a trauma in and of itself!

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rugnificentthegrand · 2 months ago

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Reality warps dramatically as the beloved animated series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command continues. The entertainment landscape transforms.

"The show ran for 12 seasons," an animation historian explains. "It revolutionized sci-fi animation."

The cultural impact resonates through generations.

"The space ranger program became real," someone notes. "NASA collaborated with Disney for youth outreach."

Modern animation shows the lasting influence.

"Traditional and CGI animation merged perfectly," an animator shares. "The show pioneered that transition."

The franchise expanded enormously.

"The live-action films were groundbreaking," a critic mentions.

"Space opera returned to prominence," a media analyst explains. "It influenced Star Wars' direction."

"The merchandising changed toy design," a designer adds. "Interactive ranger suits became standard."

"Team Lightyear inspired a generation," an educator notes. "Space science enrollment tripled."

The legacy of Buzz Lightyear's continued adventures runs deep.

"The show tackled serious issues brilliantly," a writer explains. "Mira’s addiction recovery arc won multiple Emmys."

The franchise's influence expanded beyond entertainment.

"XR's character inspired real AI development," a roboticist notes. "His ethical subroutines became industry standard."

Theme park attractions evolved.

"Space Mountain got completely redesigned," an Imagineer shares. "The Star Command Academy experience is always booked."

Voice acting careers flourished.

"Patrick Warburton voiced Buzz for 20 years," someone mentions. "He established a voice acting scholarship program."

Even space exploration changed.

"The Junior Space Ranger program partners with SpaceX now," a NASA representative explains. "Kids train in VR modules based on the show."

Gaming evolved differently.

"The MMO is still running strong," a game developer adds. "Team Lightyear Online has more players than World of Warcraft."

#buzz lightyear of star command #rugnificent the grand #reality shifting

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clown-friend-gt · 10 months ago

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Up, Up, and Away Chapter 20

Sorry for the late update this week. It will happen again.

Edit because I forgot to add that this is part of the updated version of Mentorship Blues

Link to Masterpost

************************************************************************

Evaluation

3.3k words

From the periphery of his vision, Sam Douglas counted at least a dozen gazes fixed on him. Some of awe, some even of admiration, and quite a few of hostility. But like always, he simply kept his head level, and his eyes set straight ahead. It was a strategy for keeping himself humble he’d learned early on in his career, and it hadn’t failed him yet.

This sort of thing was bound to happen whenever he went out dressed as his hero persona, Ajax. But it was for a good cause. He hoped. He’d been invited to this prison by some people close to him to participate in a mentorship program.

Not a prison, he reminded himself. Youth detention center.

As he got closer to his destination, he found himself surrounded by fewer and fewer people. Once he was practically alone, he took a deep breath to steady himself, allowing his mask of confidence to drop temporarily.

Was he really the right person for this? From what he’d been told, his judgement of the kid he was meeting today would be a deciding factor as to whether or not he qualified for the Future Heroes Training Program. It was practically a parole hearing, and he was to be the judge.

Maybe he would be a qualified mentor for the kid, since they had similar enough powers. But did that qualify him to make calls about his future? Sam really wasn’t sure.

He shook himself a little to regain his focus. He couldn’t spend all his time worrying about that, or he’d never get this over with. He let the self-assured mask of “Ajax” slip back over his features.

A few more turns through the wide and winding hallways and he was at his destination. A set of double doors was all that stood between him and his arena of choice for the day. Really though, it was just the facility’s cafeteria. Technicalities.

He centered himself with a deep breath and gave both doors a gentle push. Despite the lack of effort on his part, the doors flung open. It had been decades since he developed his powers of super strength, but sometimes the world around him still felt far too flimsy.

At least he rarely broke things nowadays.

“Have no fear,” he declared in a booming voice. “Ajax is here!”

He grinned widely at the room as the doors swung shut behind him, hands placed heroically on his hips. He got no response, save for a few vacant stares from around the room. The silence that followed felt like it lasted way too long.

Slowly, people got back to what they were doing. Guards worked to clear space, pushing all of the tables and chairs to the sides of the room. A few floated around one man in the center of the room, waiting for further direction from him. This man’s stare had felt the hardest when Sam entered the room.

Unbothered, Sam made his way over to him. He stuck out his hand to shake the warden’s. The warden gave it a brief glance before taking it. His grip felt firm, but cautious.

“Nice to see you again, Al,” Sam greeted his brother.

The warden, Albert Douglas, let go of his hand. His lips pressed into a thin line.

“Hello, Ajax,” he responded, his tone much less familiar. “I see you haven’t lost your—”

Al paused, giving him a disapproving look.

“—dramatic flair,” he finished dryly.

Sam kept his face neutral, trying not to show his discomfort at his older brother’s cold demeanor. He’d thought they’d grown beyond the contentious relationship they’d had as kids. But sometimes, Al still kept him at arm’s length.

He supposed he couldn’t really blame him, though. They were not meeting here today as brothers, but as two high level members of the Lively Institute. Even though they represented two different sides of the Enforcement division, they still had to maintain appearances.

That’s probably what Al was thinking, at least. Sam didn’t really give a damn if some random prison guard thought he was being “unprofessional.”

Al turned back to the guards hovering around him. “What are you still waiting around for? If you’ve finished up here, go back to your posts.”

A small chorus of yes sir resounded from the remaining guards as they filtered off and out of the room. Sam was quickly left alone with his brother.

Albert’s features were incredibly similar to his own, though there were some superficial differences between them. There were more lines on his tanned face, but that likely had more to do with the stress of his job than the two years he had on Sam. They shared the same icy blue eyes, but Albert’s gaze was colder than his own. His cropped gray hair held few traces of the dark black color it’d once had. Sam wondered if his own hair would look the same, once the stray white hairs that kept cropping up on his head took over completely.

If you were to stand Sam and his brother side by side, you wouldn’t be able to tell from his height that he was the younger of the two. Though they were both fairly tall, he had a few inches on his brother. His broad, muscular frame only exacerbated the difference between him and Al.

Al cleared his throat, pulling Sam from his thoughts. “How much have you been briefed about Castillo?”

Sam shrugged. “Just the basics. Name: Trevor Castillo. Age: 14. Height: freakishly tall. Normal stuff, really.”

“You need to take this seriously, Sam” Al scolded him, dropping his voice to a whisper. “You’re dealing with a violent criminal, here.”

Sam smirked. “Same old, then.”

“I’m trying to warn you, Castillo is unstable,” his brother asserted, his voice low. “He injured another inmate within his first week of arrival. His victim’s wrist was completely shattered.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Sam whispered back. “Shouldn’t I try to be unbiased about this?”

“I’m only trying to look out for you,” Al insisted. “You need to be careful here.”

Sam puffed out his chest a little. “When am I not?”

Al gave him a dry look. “Do you want me to answer that honestly?”

Sam had to laugh at that. “Alright, fine. I’ll keep it in mind.”

The sound of the cafeteria door opening again put a halt to their conversation. Both Sam and his brother turned to see the new arrival. When he saw who it was, he greeted her with a warm smile.

Miranda Todd was a close family friend to both of them. But to Sam, she was more than that, almost like a cousin, or even a sister, albeit a much, much younger one. She was nearly a decade his junior.

She returned his smile politely as she approached the two of them, but Sam could sense the nervousness behind it. She had a lot riding on the outcome of this meeting. Which meant, of course, she had a lot riding on his evaluation of her client.

He knew Miranda was deeply passionate about her work, and this case was no exception. He’d seen the fire in her eyes when she’d first discussed her new client with him when they met up for drinks. She felt the system had wronged him, but if she could get him into the Heroes Program, she could make things right.

Sam wasn’t sure how much he bought into that. But when it came to people’s character, Miranda’s judgement was rarely wrong. If she had faith in this kid, then he at least had to give him a chance to prove himself.

Before Sam could say anything to her, she spoke up, only addressing the warden.

“Are we almost ready to begin?”

Sam frowned a little. She was almost ignoring him. After a moment, though, he remembered that he was in uniform. He was not her friend Sam right now, but the famous superhero, Ajax.

And she and Ajax have nothing to do with each other, he reminded himself, just a tad bitter about the whole idea.

That was the problem with this whole hero business. Everyone wanted to put him on some kind of pedestal (everyone who didn’t want him dead, that is). He could ignore it when strangers did it, but his own friends and family? He’d never found a good way to deal with it.

“Just about,” Al responded to Miranda’s question. Then he clapped his hands twice, bringing everyone’s attention to him.

“Beckham, O’Brian, you’re with me,” he said, gesturing to two of the guards as he spoke. Then to everyone else, “The rest of you, get back to work.”

He clapped his hands together again, and the sound echoed throughout the room. “Move out!” he ordered.

Quickly and efficiently, his guards filed out of the room. Looking out of place amongst them all, Miranda followed soon after. She spared him one last anxious look before she left. The warden lingered behind just a minute longer.

“We’ll be watching from Security. If anything happens, I’ll send reinforcements your way,” his brother assured him.

Sam wanted so badly to roll his eyes, but he resisted the urge. He was probably the most capable person in the world to handle this situation, and still Albert treated him like he was a kid in need of protection.

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind,” he replied, not bothering to hide the agitation in his voice.

Al ignored his brother’s insolent tone, giving him a curt nod. Then he walked out of the room, leaving Sam all alone until his new student arrived.

************************************************************************

Trevor could hardly remember the last time he’d been this nervous. When was the last time he’d had to do anything this important? As far as he knew, his whole future rested on how he presented himself to his would-be mentor, Ajax.

Ajax. He couldn’t even begin to wrap his head around how insane all of this was. Not only was he meeting the most famous—and probably most important—man in San Solaris, but he had to impress him somehow. His life practically depended on it.

His heart hammered in his chest and his back ached in protest as he shuffled his way towards the cafeteria. He had to bend over to fit in the hallways now. When he first arrived, he’d actually been relieved to find out that the ceilings were high enough for him to stand at his full height. He should’ve known that it wouldn’t last.

Finally, he rounded the last corner, and the double doors to the cafeteria stood at the end of the hall. But when he got about halfway there, he couldn’t bring himself to get any closer. His legs refused to budge.

Pull it together, Castillo, he berated himself. He’d been working for months to make this happen. This was the last hurdle he had to clear before he could join the FHTP. He couldn’t turn back now just because he was feeling a little intimidated. He did his best to shove all of his feelings of anxiety deep down inside.

He took a reluctant step forward. Then another. He trudged, painfully slow, to the doors. He did his best to wipe the sweat from his palms, then gingerly pushed the doors open. He focused all of his attention on making his way through the doors, so he didn’t have to think about who was waiting for him behind them.

Once he’d crawled through, he stood up straight and stretched out, trying to relieve his sore back. He silently thanked whoever’d designed the cafeteria with such high ceilings. Then he remembered what he’d come here for and immediately snapped back to attention.

Ajax stood in the middle of the room. He wore the same iconic suit that Trevor had seen countless times on TV and the internet. The base was a short-sleeved black bodysuit with blue stripes running up either side. On his elbows, knuckles, and knees, he wore dark blue armor-like pads. On his hands he wore fingerless gloves. A black domino mask covered his face and completed the look.

For a moment, Ajax also seemed too stunned to speak. His eyes were wide as they travelled the length of his body up to his face. His rigid posture mirrored Trevor’s own. They both stood frozen for just a few seconds.

Ajax recovered before he did. He shook his head and relaxed his shoulders. The surprised look on his face didn’t quite disappear, though.

“Man,” he chuckled. “You are tall.”

“Uh…?” Trevor responded, bewildered.

“I mean, they told me you were twenty feet tall, but I don’t think I got the full picture until just now.”

Ajax smiled at him and gestured for him to come closer. “Come on in, I promise I won’t bite.”

Hesitantly, Trevor walked closer. Once he was close enough, Ajax extended his hand up for him to shake and grinned wider. It didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“The name’s Ajax,” he declared.

For a moment, Trevor only stared at his hand. Ajax barely stood above his knee; how was he expecting this to work? He looked back to Ajax’s face, questioning him silently. He only cleared his throat and glanced pointedly at his extended hand.

Sighing internally, Trevor crouched down so he could reach it. He clasped Ajax’s hand, and it disappeared entirely within his own. He became painfully aware of how sweaty his palms were as he delicately shook Ajax’s hand.

“Trevor,” he introduced himself, before quickly letting it go.

Ajax nodded, his lips pressed into a thin smile. “Good to meet you.”

Trevor stood back up and took a few steps back. He thought he saw Ajax try to discreetly wipe his hand on his leg as he did so. But then Ajax clasped his hands behind his back and began circling around him. He looked him up and down, like he was examining him in detail.

Again Trevor froze under Ajax’s scrutiny. Unconsciously, he went rigid and straightened himself out as best he could. From this angle, he couldn’t read the look on his face.

“What to do, what to do,” he heard Ajax mutter. Then he stopped, apparently in thought.

“Could work,” he said under his breath, before looking to the door to the cafeteria.

“Wait here,” he told Trevor.

Ajax walked over to one of the long tables that lay against the wall. He picked it up easily, though it was longer than he was tall. He carried it over to the set of doors and placed it in front of them.

“What are you doing that for?” Trevor asked uneasily.

“Just a precaution,” Ajax answered him, though he didn’t clarify what that meant.

“Okay, let’s get started,” Ajax announced. He waved Trevor over to the middle of the room. There he stood and opened his arms wide.

“Let’s see what you can do,” he said.

“Huh?”

“I want you to hit me as hard as you can,” Ajax instructed him.

Trevor tensed. He should’ve expected something like this to happen, but he still hated the thought of it.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he asked.

Ajax grinned at him. This time, it felt more genuine. “Come on. I can take it.”

“There’s got to be something else we can do,” he pleaded.

“Nope. This is the only way,” Ajax replied with a shake of his head.

“If you say so…” Trevor replied wearily.

He lowered himself down closer to Ajax’s level and reluctantly balled his hands into fists. As he drew his hand back to strike, he gave him one last uncertain look, silently begging him to reconsider. Ajax stubbornly stayed put.

Squeezing his eyes shut, Trevor swung his fist with all his might. He felt it connect only briefly. Then he heard a loud SMACK from the other end of the room.

Opening his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a crack in the concrete wall that hadn’t been there a moment ago. Then his eyes travelled down and landed on Ajax. He was lying facedown on the ground, motionless.

Sam had taken a few beatings in his time. Still, he struggled to remember the last time he had been walloped like that. That one punch had sent him flying across the room. Maybe Al had been right to warn him about this kid. Or maybe he was just getting old.

He propped himself up with a groan. He was still regaining his bearings after the blow. Slowly, he got to his knees and prepared to stand. Before he could though, he felt the ground rattling beneath him, and he had to fight to keep from falling on his face again.

“Holy shit, are you okay?” he heard Trevor cry out.

When the shaking stopped, he looked up to see Trevor kneeling over him. Sam almost laughed out loud at the panicked look on his face. Once again, Miranda had made the correct call; this kid was a total softy.

“Man, kid, you really pack a punch!” he said with a weak laugh.

“I’m sorry,” Trevor murmured sheepishly, extending a hand to help him up.

Sam took it gratefully. “Don’t be. You did good.”

He got to his feet and brushed himself off. As usual, with a bit of time to recover, it was like he’d never been hit at all. He spread his arms out to show Trevor he was unharmed.

“See? Told you I’d be fine,” he said beaming up at him.

Suddenly there was a commotion from the other side of the cafeteria doors. They clattered loudly as someone on the other side attempted to force their way in. That would be his brother bringing the cavalry. He rolled his eyes.

“Looks like our time is up,” he said sarcastically. Realistically, they should have had plenty of time left, but the warden’s arrival would cut that short.

He saw Trevor’s brow crease in worry as he stared at the doors.

“Hey, it was nice meeting you,” he said, bringing Trevor’s attention back to him. “I’ll put in a good word for you with the higher ups.”

Trevor’s mouth opened in shock. “Wha—seriously?”

He nodded.

“Just like that?” Trevor asked in disbelief.

“Just like that,” he confirmed.

Trevor shook his head, at a loss for words.

“Thank you so much,” he said sincerely.

“Don’t mention it,” Ajax assured him.

There was shouting from the other side of the doors, but Trevor couldn’t make out what anyone was saying. It sounded bad.

Just as casually as he had before, Ajax strolled over to the doors and moved his barricade out of the way. He took a few steps back, allowing the warden and his guards to burst in. Warden Douglas glared hatefully at Trevor, sending a shiver down his spine.

“You,” he spat venomously.

He started to advance towards him, but to Trevor’s surprise, Ajax stopped him in place.

“Calm down Al,” he told the warden. “I had everything under control.”

Douglas tore his eyes away from Trevor and looked at Ajax. They seemed to be having some kind of silent argument. The guards the warden had brought shuffled behind him, armed with a mix of batons and pepper spray. They seemed anxious to act, but unsure of what to do without orders.

Eventually, the Warden sighed loudly. “Everyone, stand down and go back to work.”

The guards exchanged looks among themselves, seemingly hesitant. One by one, though, they holstered their weapons and left the room.

With all of his guards gone, Warden Douglas scowled at Ajax. “Will you let me go?!”

“Of course,” Ajax answered coolly, releasing him.

The warden stumbled forward slightly. Then he stood up straight again and straightened out the suit he was wearing. He shot disapproving looks at both of them.

“Are we done here?” Ajax asked innocently.

“For now,” Douglas said coldly. “We’ll have more to talk about later.”

Trevor had to wonder what that meant. Ajax had called the warden by his first name. Did they know each other somehow?

Seemingly unbothered by the warden’s posturing, Ajax shrugged and headed for the doors. Just as he was about to leave, he sent Trevor a wink over his shoulder.

“See you soon, kid.”

And then he was gone.

First/Previous/Next

#g/t community #g/t writing #g/t #giant/tiny #g/t story #sfw g/t #minigiant #OC-Trevor Castillo #OC-Sam Douglas #Story-Heroisms

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shannendoherty-fans · 2 months ago

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December 1983 - Super BMX Magazine

TV's Shannen Doherty & BMX

An active interest in the sport stemming from a celebrity benefit cycle motocross event

Story and Photos by The Editors

With interest in bycicle motocross that stemmed from a celebrity BMX race held during 1983, Shannen Doherty of NBC's "Little House, A New Begining" has developed an active interest in the sport. Shannen, who enjoys to ride her Columbia BMXer and practice at the local racetracks, looks forward to the day she will be able to compete in a bicycle motocross event.

While she did participate in the celebrity race, Shannen feels that some day she will be able to compete against more experienced racers. Meanwhile she is limited to riding her bicycle around her neighborhood and once-in-awhile at the track.

This talented twelve-year-old has appeared in the "Little House" series along with the "Father Murphy" television program. Shannen appeared in the full length motion picture "Night Shift", which starred Henry Winkler. Miss Doherty also did voice work on the "Secret of Nimh" feature length cartoon.

Shannen Doherty can be seen this fall on NBC's "Little House, A New Begining." This program will be aired as three two-hour specials to conclude the "Little House" saga.

Twelve-year old Shannen has really enjoyed her Columbia BMX bike since she received it. Here she is attempting to do a wheelie [near her house].

Besides Shannen's work on such television shows as "Little House" and "Father Murphy," she is also active within her community. Miss Doherty is the youth chairperson for the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness.

Besides her interest in BMX, and her career in the entertainment industry, Shannen is the youth chairperson for the Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness. This came about through her association with Jonathan Hall Kovacs, who worked with Shannen on "Little House" and who is also deaf.

If you don't find Shannen Doherty at the MX tracks near her home in northwestern Los Angeles, you will find her appearing in three two-hour "New Begining" specials which will conclude the "Little House" saga this fall on NBC television.

–

From lovely Diana's site shannen-doherty.net source.

#shannen doherty #BMX #bmx bike #1980s #1983 Shannen Doherty #super bmx magazine #1983 magazine #1980s magazine #magazine articles #1980s shannen doherty #1983 super bmx magazine #Little house on the prairie #Greater Los Angeles Council on Deafness #1983

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whirlpool-blogs · 4 months ago

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The NHL can thank women’s hockey for molding its top prospect into Barry Sanders on skates

June 19, 2019

His former coach calls it a “force field.” When Jack Hughes skates with the puck, the potential top pick in this week’s NHL draft has a way of darting in and out, feinting side to side to keep defenders just out of stick’s reach, as if they’re blocked by some imaginary bubble.

“If fans remember Barry Sanders,” says John Wroblewski, coach of the U.S. National Team Development Program, “he could move laterally, and then he’s at full speed again. Or in basketball, the way Michael Jordan could get guys to stop on a dime. The quickness and slashing and deception — Jack is truly turning on the ice as well as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

This ability to shift and shoot at full speed is part of what has made the hockey world anticipate Hughes’s draft-night moment for years. The 5-foot-10, 18-year-old forward seems destined to be a cornerstone for the New Jersey Devils or New York Rangers, depending on whether he goes first or second when the draft begins Friday, but either way he will be front and center in a major media market. Hughes is hockey’s Zion Williamson, with confidence to match.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt overwhelmed on an ice rink,” he says.

So then the question for Hughes is: Who taught you to skate?

His answer is as quick as his wrist shot: “It was my mom.”

Hughes has a first-round draft pick in older brother Quinn (now with Vancouver), a potential NHLer in little brother Luke and a title-winning coach in father Jim, so his story is truly a family affair. But his mom’s influence is central to the tale.

Ellen Hughes played with the U.S. women’s national hockey team in the early 1990s, and she played soccer against some of the members of the 1999 World Cup champions. (She once roomed with Brandi Chastain at a youth camp.) Jack’s success is as much of a tribute to his mother as to anyone in the men’s game. He is hardly the first hockey star to be influenced by a decorated mom — Alex Ovechkin’s mother, for example, is a two-time gold medalist in basketball — but Hughes is a men’s player who has benefited from the Title IX generation. In that sense, he is part of an emerging chapter in American sports.

Jack was born in Orlando in May 2001, and 10 days later Ellen was on a plane to Oklahoma to work as a reporter for ESPN at the Women’s College World Series. Broadcasting was the capstone to a fabled athletic career that earned her a spot in the University of New Hampshire Hall of Fame and took her to the sidelines to report on the U.S. team during its 1999 Women’s World Cup run to the Rose Bowl. She was pregnant with Quinn at the time.

Jim Hughes won an International Hockey League championship as an assistant with the Orlando Solar Bears — 12 days after Jack was born — and the family relocated as Jim got coaching gigs in Boston and then Ontario when he was hired by the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies. Ellen scaled back on broadcasting with three little boys in the house. She loved parenting but never stopped loving sports. That led to Mommy and Me skating days in Massachusetts. Childhood photos and videos show Quinn, Jack and Luke in NHL jerseys and dressing rooms, but the boys also followed the women’s game.

“My kids have grown up watching that,” Ellen says. “They’ve watched the women as much as the men.”

There was never a grand plan to create a family of hockey stars. Jim and Ellen were hopeful of landing college scholarships and nothing more. They kept the game fun and light, encouraging hard work but not drudgery. Ellen was once pulled aside by Quinn’s grade school teacher, who told her that her oldest boy was often looking out the window at his mom skating with little Jack at lunchtime.

But genetics and the perfect hockey environment — including a childhood in ice rink-heavy Ontario — conspired to make Jack both heady and speedy.

“Quinn was a worker, very competitive,” Jim says. “Jack was . . . well, you could see there was something else going on.”

Jim remembers when Jack was put out onto the rink with some older kids, at defense, and he promptly took the puck and wove in and out of larger players as if they were orange cones. It was an early glimpse of the force field. Jack was 5 years old.

As the boys grew into their teens, Ellen became an uber-planner for games and practices. But she was far more than a driver of minivans and provider of Gatorade, especially when Jim was on the road. She was a hockey resource.

“They could ask, ‘What do you think of this?’ ” Ellen says. “They would want my opinion. Or, ‘Come watch the game with me.’ Or they’d throw me in net. That to them is normal; they don’t know differently.”

Ellen insists that Jim had the primary role in the boys’ development, but Jim insists Ellen’s hockey knowledge “meant everything.”

“She would tell the boys the truth,” he says. “She could talk to the kids. She knew what to say and what not to say. She could connect.”

This may be avant-garde in a historical sense but not to the Hughes boys. Quinn had a girl on his team as a youth player. NBD, as the kids say. “Women’s hockey is pretty cool, too,” Jack says. “Hockey is hockey.”

The family eventually moved to Michigan (where Quinn went to college), and Hughes obliterated the points record for the national team’s development program. Last month he had three assists in seven games with Team USA at the world championships even though he only turned 18 in late May and was facing NHL-caliber opponents.

“That’s kind of uncharted water,” Wroblewski says. “That’s a man’s tournament.”

Hughes’s precision is to the point where he has been known to attempt to shoot the puck off the goalie’s mask and into the net. He says to expect some of the unexpected at the next level.

“You could see a lot of things,” he laughs.

That includes something very rare: a first overall NHL pick born in the United States. Hughes would be only the eighth player to earn that honor. And he is not shy about admitting it’s “really important to him” to go No. 1 to the Devils (even though he’s also happy to land with the Rangers at No. 2).

Story continues below advertisement

“You dream of going first overall,” he says. “You don’t dream of going later than that.”

No members of the Hughes family assign any special status to what they have done. “We’re just another American hockey family,” Jim insists. “That’s all we are. There have been pioneers before us. We are just another American hockey family.”

Yes and no. Having two children as star athletes could happen more often in the United States.

“Fathers are still more likely to socialize boys into sport than mothers,” says Cheryl Cooky, an associate professor of gender studies at Purdue. “But that’s shifting.”

“Shifting” is an apt word to describe Hughes and what he will bring to the NHL.

“He has really cut a path for himself,” Wroblewski says. “There’s an entire generation trying to grow up and play like Jack Hughes. He’s that unique.”

#‘His answer is as quick as his wrist shot: “It was my mom.”’#“Jack was . . . well!” jim…….#“that’s uncharted water” youngest player to represent Team USA at worlds!! at 17!! playing with men!!! 😭#jack hughes #jim hughes #❤️🤍💙#post #quinn hughes #ellen weinberg hughes

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