#history assignment was overdue for several days :|||

[usafphantom2]

These photos of Viktor Belenko’s defecting MiG-25 buzzing Hakodate rooftops prove that reaching Japan was easy but landing the Foxbat was difficult. Here’s why.

For Senior Lieutenant Viktor Belenko’s defecting MiG-25 Foxbat reaching Japan proved to be the easy part, as touching down on Japanese soil turned out to be much more difficult.

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On Sep. 6, 1976, the inhabitants of the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido, turned their eyes to the sky, an airplane flew over the roofs of their houses at a very low altitude. With just two minutes of fuel, Viktor Belenko, desperately looking for a place to land, finally in front of him appeared Hakodate International airport, in the city of the same name.

As the photos in this post show, the low flying of the MiG-25 (NATO reporting name: Foxbat) caught the attention of all the inhabitants of that city, who photographed Belenko’s Foxbat just before landing.

Arguably the best-known case of Cold War defection, Senior Lieutenant Viktor Belenko, serving with the 530 IAP of the PVO’s fighter aviation, flew a MiG-25P fighter-interceptor from Chuguyevka AB, in the Primorskiy Kray of the Soviet Far East, to Hakodate airport, located on the Japanese island Hokkaido.

As explained by Krzysztof Dabrowski in his book Defending Rodinu: Volume 2 – Development and Operational History of the Soviet Air Defence Force, 1961-1991, numerous reasons prompted Senior Lieutenant Belenko to take this step, including problems in his professional, as well as personal life: he was overdue for promotion to the rank of Captain and his marriage was failing. Obviously, various shortcomings of the Soviet systems as well as discrepancies between official propaganda and observable reality, also played their part. The Soviets and nowadays Russians, suspected that he might have been earlier recruited by US intelligence agencies. However, there is little evidence to support this assertion.

Viktor Belenko MiG-25

As for Belenko, the man supposedly had a certain manipulative streak but was also outspoken and assertive, at least by Soviet standards. He kept an equal distance to most people yet made sure not to make himself suspect: he befriended the KGB overseer assigned to his unit, did not listen to American radio broadcasts, and forbade his wife to do so.

Perhaps a little surprisingly, the defection itself was not particularly difficult. On the day that fundamentally changed his life Senior Lieutenant Belenko and several other pilots were performing training sorties. Initially, he followed the assigned flight plan but then, descended rapidly to low-altitude and headed out to sea in the direction of Japan. However, reaching Japan proved to be the easy part, as touching down on Japanese soil turned out to be much more difficult. Since the JASDF failed to intercept Senior Lieutenant Belenko’s aircraft, its fighters could not escort the MiG to a suitable landing site, such as the Chitose Air Base. As a result, he had to land at the aforementioned Hakodate airport and if the situation was not dramatic enough, a passenger aircraft was just taking off when the MiG flew in to land.

Fortunately, a collision was averted but the landing was still problematic, for despite deploying the aircraft’s drogue chute, the MiG overrun the end of the runway by ca 240m before coming to a halt. Senior Lieutenant Belenko was taken into custody by the Japanese police but soon enough, he found himself in American care and was flown out of Japan to the US. He was well prepared to be a valuable defector: in addition to all the information he had by virtue of being a PVO fighter pilot in active service, Senior Lieutenant Belenko also brought the MiG-25’s flight manual with him. In order to be able to put even more on the table before making good his escape, he also requested permission (which was granted) to access and read various classified materials.

Thus, Senior Lieutenant Belenko was a prized source of intelligence and when extensively questioned, he gave exhaustive answers. Amongst others, he was asked if Soviet pilots would ram enemy aircraft, with his reply being in the affirmative.

Belenko MiG-25

Obviously, the MiG-25 fighter-interceptor Senior Lieutenant Belenko defected with, was also of great value. It was first covered with tarpaulins, then disassembled and moved from Hakodate to Hyakuri military airfield (currently the facility serves as the civilian Ibaraki Airport) where it was analysed in detail. The analysis was a technical intelligence bonanza, causing a western re-evaluation of the MiG-25, which up to that time, was somewhat overrated. Once ag the Soviets realised what had happened, they demanded the return from Japan, of both the aircraft, as well as the pilot. They claimed that Senior Lieutenant Belenko had made a navigational error and his refusal to return was the result of him being drugged.

Soviet pressure eventually resulted in the return of the MiG-25 in a dismantled condition. However, Viktor Belenko was first granted political asylum in the US, subsequently received to US citizenship and as far as it is known, adopted well to life in America. To say that the whole affair was very embarrassing for the Soviet Union, is an understatement. Since their most capable fighter-interceptor was now compromised the Soviets modernised the MiG-25 and went to serious work on its eventual replacement which resulted in the development of the MiG-31.

It should be noted that a similar incident took place, over a decade later, when on May 20, 1989, Captain Aleksandr Zuyev flew a MiG-29 to Turkey. That, however, was a defection of a pilot and aircraft from the VVS and not from the PVO.

My father( Butch Sheffield ) was working at the Pentagon as Director of Reconnaissance when one of his action officers an SR -71 pilot jumped into action, and flew to Japan to meet with Victor. Buck Adams got to him first. It’s a little of my inside information.

@Habubrats71 via Twitter

[fanatichistory]

Scene Prompt 20

Taking a stab at some hurt/comfort today! Hope I did okay lol

TW: scar/ cigarette burn mention

Whumpee stood uneasily in front of the floor length mirror in the guest bedroom the Team was currently staying in. 

The R&R was long overdue and they were ordered by the higher ups to stand by in the townhome, under cover as a family until given their next assignment.

They honestly hoped that day was a long ways away yet and had a lot of anxiety about returning to the field.

The townhome they were staying in came with a pool and the rest of the team was currently enjoying the amenities as they either splashed around or soaked up the sun. Team Leader was even cooking at the grill, the delicious smell wafting in through the open bedroom window and making their mouth water.

The last assignment was particularly difficult for Whumpee. Having been captured and used as a hostage put the entire team at risk and nearly cost them the mission, which weighed heavily on them. 

As Whumpee stared at their reflection in the mirror, dressed in their swimsuit as if ready to join the others, they could see every scar made by Whumper during their time as a hostage. 

Cuts and long jagged lines criss crossed their arms and back, a few travelled down their legs. Their sides sported two pronged marks, from the cattle prod, and a few cigarette burns along their jaw and several more burns on their palms. The swimsuit showed all of it. Everything Whumper had done to them.

Bile rose in Whumpee's throat as they couldn't bear to make eye contact with themselves in the reflected image anymore. Arms crossing over their torso as they anxiously rubbed their hands on their arms as if to get warm despite the summer heat.

"I wouldn't worry about it."

Whumpee yelped, startled at the sound of Caretaker's voice as they were caught leaning on the doorframe watching Whumpee take stock of themselves.

"You're a survivor Whumpee, like me. You're scars just tell the story is all. Granted there is a bit of an adjustment period..." Caretaker gave a small, yet reassuring smile as they entered the bedroom.

"I-I...I don't know how Caretaker..." Whumpee admitted quietly, looking down at the floor as Caretaker approached them in front of the mirror.

Without saying a word, Caretaker peeled off their shirt and revealed their own scars to them. The same criss crossing lines marked up their torso and arms, travelling down past their shorts. The same two pronged marks Whumpee had from the cattle prod were in a similar pattern on both sides of Caretaker's own torso. 

Whumpee's eyes moved along each mark and scar on Caretaker's body in quiet awe. They were the same, survived the same person. "Whumper?"

Caretaker merely nodded as they sat down on the edge of the bed while motioning Whumpee to join them. Slowly and cautiously, they did. Gingerly sitting next to them while trying not to stare at the scars that told a similar story to their own.

"My scars show pain and suffering, that much is true for both of us, but they also show my will to survive. Our will. They're part of my history which will always be there. And yours too, Whumpee. " Caretaker rested their hand on their leg in offering for Whumpee to hold it.

Whumpee took it and Caretaker gave their hand a squeeze to reassure them further.

"This is just your adjustment period. If you're not ready to show the world your story, that's okay too. Here." Caretaker offered them their shirt to wear over their swimsuit in attempt to hide the scars. 

"I promise it will get better. You've got me and the rest of the Team looking out for you, so don't give up just yet Whumpee." Caretaker added with a brilliant smile.

Whumpee couldn't help the hope that bloomed in their chest as they clutched the shirt to themselves. 

Caretaker just radiated warmth and comfort, which felt so good to Whumpee that they couldn't restrain themselves from giving Caretaker a hug while thanking them profusely.

Caretaker gave a light laugh and squeezed them back.

"Team Leader should be just about done with the grilling...how about we go dig in before the others lay claim to the good stuff?" 

"Sounds like a good deal!" Whumpee grinned, donning Caretaker's shirt and giving themselves one final appraising look in the mirror. 

Yes, the shirt covered the scars nicely, being two sizes too large for Whumpee's frame, but that was okay Whumpee determined. 

It was just an adjustment period after all.

[veilleur-de-nuit]

a pixel-art thing i whipped out for a history assignment :{

[tommybaholland]

Hiya! I was wondering if I could request a one-shot with Sugawara where the reader is his best friend and secretly loves him but he doesn’t know? Then maybe another person catches his attention and the reader starts to distance themselves from Suga to try to spare themselves the hurt? Then maybe turns out the other person was just using Suga/wasn’t serious bout him and he realizes that the person he really loves is the reader but now they’re staying away from him and just angst and fluff and dramatic confessions?? Sorry if it’s far too much detail, I get carried away. Your writing is amazing, keep up the fantastic work!

somebody, some body

featuring: sugawara 

goddddd i’m so sorry i am late with a post AGAIN. this has been way overdue to be posted actually, and last night i finished it and was almost done with editing but accidentally lost everything i added and edited in the draft :// so thank you for being patient with me! this ended up being pretty long, so hopefully that makes up for the wait :) anyway, i really liked this idea! i have a little personal experience with this kind of situation, so it was fun to explore those feelings a bit. thanks for requesting and enjoy!

you didn’t always know that you would be in love with koshi sugawara. your dynamic was always friendly, and nothing more. so where did you go wrong?

when you think back to your history with suga, you could never find yourself resenting any time you spent with him. it all started when you moved into his neighborhood and as a shy child, you didn’t have the easiest time making friends. but he was a kind boy who was around your age and made it easy for you to form a bond with him. after all those years, neither one of you had changed that much. you were still reserved at heart but, he was the one who pushed you to things that you both could enjoy. 

one is joining the high school volleyball club together. you weren’t usually one to go outside of your comfort zone, but with him, you felt like you could do anything. he had you fuel your enthusiasm and you had him to thank for that. volleyball ended up being a great idea because it was quite a versatile sport that anyone could play. you found that you were quite athletic and took a liking to the libero position. there was just something exciting about digging a ball off the ground and rolling on the floor to get back up again. also, it looked pretty cool. 

so that was great until you hurt your shoulder during a game, which ended up being more severe than it seemed. now you couldn’t lift your left arm very far over your head unless you wanted to dislocate your shoulder again. it was already a tough recovery period because all you wanted to do was get back to the game. 

he was there with you for the entirety of it and even though he mostly encouraged you, he had to make sure you knew you wouldn’t do anything to hurt yourself. you felt helpless. it was the lowest he had ever seen you and he did everything he could to lift you back up again.

that was something you could never take for granted with him. 

the thing about you and suga is that you were in constant contact, especially during school. if it wasn’t sending each other funny memes or tiktoks, you were either on snapchat with each other or texting. sometimes simultaneously. 

are you alive?? 

yeah i’m awake, unfortunately

what do u want sugar-wara 

whoa how are you up this early lol and sugar is my thing ok

let’s go get sweet buns before class

ur right, it is ur thing. ur sugar-wara

okay i’ll meet you by the light in 15 

there was a lonely intersection in your neighborhood with a red stoplight that seems to have malfunctioned and now the light never stops blinking. you and suga lived on the same street, with the intersection being a perfect place to literally meet in the middle. 

“hey, sugar-- uh oh. someone doesn’t look so sweet today!”

he was always so peppy in the mornings. 

“yeah, well, maybe if someone didn’t wake me up with their annoying texts..”

“if you really don’t want to be woken up, you’d put your phone on do not disturb. you can thank me later for being your alarm clock.” 

he gave you a bright smile and a few head pats before you set off down the road to your favorite bakery which happened to be on the way to school. you didn’t go every morning, but most days it was necessary for you to start your day off right. 

“how’s the team looking this year, mr. vice captain?”

“pretty good, actually! four first years joined the team and one of them’s over six feet tall. our blocks will be unstoppable!”

 there were several things you loved about suga but, if there was one thing you enjoyed most, it was hearing him get psyched about volleyball. even though you couldn’t play anymore, his undying enthusiasm for the sport made you feel like you were living through him vicariously. 

“and there’s one who’s on the shorter side, only a little taller than noya. but he seems to have so much energy and drive, it’s just-- i don’t know, i have a feeling we could actually make it to nationals this year.” 

“wow, that’s great!” 

“you should come to practice and see them! also we just got asahi back so i need to make sure my sets really land.” 

“kou, you know i love watching you guys but isn’t that what kiyoko’s there for?”

“well, yeah, but you know how i play best!”

“yeah, sure. it’s not like i have anything better to do.” 

“you never let me down!” 

 his smile never let you down. 

it was your senior year of high school and it felt like things were going to be nothing but great.

“so...speaking of you knowing me best,” he started rather hesitantly.

“what would you do if i...made you dinner?”

“i...what?”

“oh, uh, oh, no. not, like, i make you dinner but, like...rei finally agreed to come around tonight and i thought i’d make something for them.”

“oh, um,” you tried to force a smile. “yeah, i think they’d like that.”

“yeah? you don’t think it’s too cheesy or anything? we haven’t hung out very much but i’d thought it would be a nice way to show them that i mean what i feel, you know?”

“yeah, yeah! that sounds perfect, kou..”

if only they knew that they were so lucky. 

you knew about this person, rei. they were your teammate and even a friend at one time. they transferred to karasuno during your second year and you bonded over your shared interest of the libero position. they didn’t get to play much that season until you got injured and had to quit playing. 

to see them fill that position so easily, it made you feel so type of way. a way that suga couldn’t know because even though he was there for you, he couldn’t deny his feelings. you remember when he told you that he liked them. about how he’s liked them ever since they came to karasuno and about how he was nervous to talk to them. 

and guess what?

you encouraged him. you encouraged him to try to pursue someone who you knew and liked, so now you had to hide that you were envious of both their position on the team AND the fact that your best friend is in love with them. 

at first, you tried to look at it as a positive point. you were still friendly with them, but volleyball was the only thing that connected you so you didn’t talk to them that much anymore. but now that suga, the person you’re closest to, was talking to them, it opened up the possibility that you would be able to reconnect with them. you had to be supportive. you were his friend, his closest friend, after all. 

-

the next morning you didn’t wake up from a text from suga. no, it took several snooze buttons to wake you up, which already put you in a bad mood. 

it’s ur turn now. are u alive??

i actually woke up to my alarms, how weird. u must be dead lol 

also have you done the english assignment yet? i need serious help >_<

you weren’t afraid to double, triple, even quadruple text him because more often than not, he did that to you. sometimes he’d even send longish paragraphs as he did later that day when classes had already started. 

hey sorry today has just been filled with fun and thriving and good stuff! rei asked me if i wanted to meet up with them before school last night and they made me some sweet buns and they were soooo good. i think we’re going to eat lunch together with some of their friends from vbc. ugh english sucks for me too. idk why you think i’m good at it

you almost jumped at the gesture to reply. it was never this long that he would go without text you at least one dumb thing. 

haha it’s okay don’t be sorry! so i guess last night went well?

also ur great at english sugar-wara what r u talking about??

it surprised you how quickly they seemed to become so friendly. it was kinda weird that he would already be spending a lot of time with her and now meeting all her friends. he probably already knew of them though, with volleyball and everything. the thoughts of how long you would have to wait for a reply crept in your mind, but that was quickly erased by an elapsed period of only a few minutes. 

yeah it went great! they had never had someone cook for them before, so they really liked it. this morning they told me they’d show me how to make fried eggs bc i said i dont know how to use a stove lol 

wait you made a whole meal for this person and u don’t know how to use the stove??

i used a crockpot and microwave ok :// don’t make fun of me dingus 

well a stove would definitely broaden ur horizons lmao that’s nice it went well though 

thank you i hope its going well 

that conversation was truly the end of the beginning. 

Every day after that seemed to happen the same way. you’d wake up, no text from suga. he hadn’t even replied to what you last said the previous night. you didn’t see him much either, but you knew who he was with probably. you would still stop by at volleyball practice where you did get to see him but they were there also. so you found yourself dipping out a lot more. 

it just felt weird. seeing him talk to someone he didn’t even know before. they didn’t even know him. even when you two were on the team together, they never once showed much interest in him and now it just seemed strange that they would. 

the transition was particularly difficult for you, as much as you didn’t want to admit it. one night you were so overwhelmed with work because you had waited too long to do it. frantically texting suga was an understatement. 

you knew you couldn’t put all your reliance on him but it was weird that he wasn’t replying on a school night as he was just as much a procrastinator as you. you dragged yourself through the night, trying to put together a somewhat coherent speech for english the next day. which, again, started as it had for the past few weeks. you still hadn’t heard from him, but it doesn’t even matter anymore. by the time he replied, it was almost embarrassing on your part. 

oh my god y/n i’m so sorry i didn’t reply sooner. i tried to get all my work done early so i could hang out with rei last night and i was asking my mom for advice and she told me to just pay attention to them as much as possible so i just wanted to be with them, you know? but i really hope you didn’t beat yourself up too much about it and that you got at least a little sleep. i’m sure your speech went well :) 

you sounded desperate for his help and meanwhile, he’s genuinely trying to show someone how much they mean to him. could you look any more stupid? 

you didn’t even want to reply but you felt like you had to. 

no don’t be sorry koshi! if anything i’m sorry i was just super frustrated in the moment and didn’t know what to do. i managed to pull something halfway decent together i think so it’s all okay now 

was it okay though? 

that was when you realized that things would never be the same. you’re his best friend and that’s simply it. you mean something to him, but not the same something that they mean to him. you couldn’t go to him when you help because then you’d be taking his time away from someone who wanted to feel that special meaning. it was a hard pill to swallow, for sure. but there were still several questions that lingered in the potential of what your relationship could be.

isn’t it possible to be both a best friend and a partner at the same time? you didn’t see any problem with it, so why couldn’t it be true? 

-

two weeks past and suga, your best friend, decided to let you in on some news. 

going up against all these powerhouse schools is definitely tough but it’ll help our team in the long run. we’re really amped to play seijoh soon but also i have an s/o now who can come and cheer us on 

WAIT you guys made it official?? when?

haha we’ve been official for like two weeks now 

oh well that’s great! 

(what the actual hell.)

months went by and you saw suga maybe two or three times. and only saw him, usually with the rest of the volleyball team or with rei and their friends. you texted now and then but it wasn’t the same. you had to accept that it wouldn’t be the same, so you did. you had a good group of friends who you spent more of your time with, as well as trying to focus as much as possible on school. entrance exams were coming up and you couldn’t let this be your downfall, even though you and suga had previously talked about possibly going to the same college together. but that wasn’t important anymore. 

you had your priorities and suga had his. 

which was the biggest reason why you decided not to go to the game against aoba johsai. you told him that you would try to make it, if schoolwork and college prep courses would lend you the chance. you were just trying to focus on yourself and work hard in on your own. you still texted him just to show that you still cared. 

sorry i couldn’t make it to the game! how did it go?

we lost :’(( we were so close too 

oh no :( i’m sorry kou. but i know you guys will get them next time!

he never replied, which only made you want to grow further from him. 

summer vacation rolled around and it was about a month out from suga’s birthday. a strange text appeared from someone you didn’t expect. 

Hey so I wanted to get manga for suga for his bday but I cannot for the life of me remember which ones he has so can you try to casually ask him which ones he has? like the next time you guys talk about manga or something?

you felt weird that they were asking for your help, considering that they now spent more time with him than you did. but you weren’t going to completely ignore them either.

to be honest we haven’t talked a whole lot lately but i’ll try to subtly ask him 

Okay awesome thanks!

what were you thinking of getting him?

Deathnote lol nothing original

hmm maybe the new aot volume? 

Yeah, that’s a good one. Or maybe BNHA

yeah that too! do you still want me to ask him? 

Yeah could you? 

yeah sure!

Yay thanks! 

okay i’ll let you know what i find out

going through with this was even worse. if it were you, you’d take him to see his favorite artist in concert. he wasn’t never much of a concert guy but he would talk about how badly he wanted to go see them live. or a more lowkey and personal option would be to customize a crewneck for him. you had a knack for designing and decorating plain-looking clothes and he would try to do it himself but would always remark how much better yours always turned out. 

but this time you’re simply the messenger and wouldn’t get that chance to get him something you know he’d love. not that he wouldn’t like manga, but it just seemed like they weren’t putting a ton of thought into it. maybe you couldn’t blame them though, it had only been a few months that they had been dating. 

that conversation honestly seemed more out-of-the-blue than anything, but you were hoping that suga would be as oblivious as ever. it didn’t even matter in the end because he never even answered your subtle way of asking. you didn’t feel like double texting because a.) you hadn’t done that in months and b.) it seemed too obvious. 

in the end, you did all that you could do and told rei that you had no information to provide, even after a week had passed. that was your, now monthly, interaction with suga that month. 

but it wasn’t like you weren’t thinking about him. 

your interactions moved from text to strictly snapchat, where you would hold streaks for considerable amounts of time. but every time you seemed to break contact with him, you found yourself blaming them. but you couldn’t blame them. they were with him, dating him. they had a right to claim a spot by his side. you had learned to pull back and just live your life. 

but life didn’t want you to have a great time either. albeit through a simple app like snapchat, he was the one asking you if you were okay. at this point, you would probably just deflect but somehow, you found yourself telling him about how you didn’t do so well on your entrance exams, despite having done what you could to prepare for them. you just thought you were so focused to do well, but maybe it was too much focus. you told him it would be alright. another notification came through.

snapchat from sugar wara  

you opened it to a selfie of him, one that was angled upwards to position him looking right up into the camera, his wide hazel eyes being the centerpiece of the photo. the caption simply said, “promise?”

and that was when it happened. you felt something different in your heart like it was knocked around in your chest. you smiled at the simple response and replied, “yeah i promise!!” 

it felt strange, but you finally admitted it, 

you were in love with koshi sugawara. 

timing was, without a doubt, a demise in all of your previous relationship endeavors. you could never seem to get that part right, also coming in too fast or not knowing if you should wait. you had only hoped that someone you liked would like you just as much. so catching feelings for someone, strong feelings at that, was not part of your current life plans. let alone with suga, someone you were, at one point, extremely close to. 

you know so much about him and what scared you was that your confession would be the only one that could mess up whatever relationship you had left with him. why couldn’t you just enjoy where you stood with him? why should your selfish feeling have to get in the way? 

stupid was an understatement as you how you felt. he was still dating rei, and that didn’t look like it was going to end anytime soon. you didn’t know what to do or how to cope. you can fight your feelings, but they can’t change right away. and for as long as you’ve known suga, the history you’ve shared with him, it seemed like these feelings weren’t leaving anytime soon. 

you spent the next couple of weeks trying to get everything out, while simultaneously trying to forget. you vented about it to your friends and while most of them offered advice, you stuck with just remaining stagnant. one of them suggested that you confess to him but that was what you feared most: that your feeling would become so overwhelming that you had to do something impulsive to relieve them. he would probably never talk to you again. there was nothing you could do. he was in a relationship with someone he really likes. why would you try to ruin that for him? 

you didn’t go to any of the preliminaries, mostly because of prep courses and trying to prepare for the next round of entrance exams. you still kept up with suga and saw that they won in the game against seijoh and we now going to the finals against shiratorizawa. you swiped up on his story and typed a simple, “omg that's amazing!! see I knew you guys could do it.” you continue to scroll through your phone, not thinking that much about it until a notification popped up.

sugar wara is typing…

snapchat from sugar wara

yeah it was great! Wish you could have been here though :(

me too! college prep courses seem to have been taking up all my time :P

is there any chance that you could try to find time to come to finals? 

we've been trying to get all the support that we can

plus it would be nice to see a familiar face there :) 

yeah i'll see what i can do to try to be there!

 wymd a familiar face? hasn't rei been going to the prelims?

they have been but we actually broke up about two weeks ago

i sort of initiated it but i promise it's okay

your eyes almost fell out of your head when you read that 2 weeks ago you were talking about how you were in love with him and were and decided to accept that it wasn't going to happen. now you're hearing that at the same time they had broken up? It seemed odd and... bittersweet. 

oh no i'm sorry kou :(

you bit your lip as you couldn't help but ask.

wdym you initiated it tho?

so kageyama has been killing it as our setter especially with his quick attack move with hinata 

rei was worried that i wasn't being treated fairly bc i'm a senior and vice-captain and all that. i tried to reassure them that i just want to see our team thrive and go to nationals but they still were worried about it and would talk about how they would go to games and never see me play once

it's been hard especially that it happened right before the seijoh game and now before finals

yeah i'm sure it's been difficult 

but don't beat yourself don't blame yourself so much! the team needs your support just as much as it needs players. nobody could replace that :)

thanks y/n :) i appreciate you so much

although you thought you would be happy, you can’t help but still feel weird about this whole thing. you felt like the ball was in your court but your bum arm couldn’t receive it properly. your feelings for him had been strong and you felt like you had to pack them all the way so now it just felt wrong to let them flow out again. but now that there was no conflict of interest, did you have to hide your feelings? 

it was more complicated than it was before. you didn't know how anything was going to play out at all and that kinda scared you. you did know one thing though, and that was how to be a loyal friend to suga because that's all you ever were from the start and that's what you could and would be for the future.

-

it was the friday before the finals game. 

you decided to stay late after school to maximize your focus on studying. it seemed to have worked because the sun was going down before you knew it. you wanted to get ahead on work so you could go to the game tomorrow. you and suga had been talking more recently and while it wasn’t as much as it used to be, it was more than it had been in the past several months. 

you quickly gathered up your things and left school for the night. the pretty orange and pink sky lit your way home through the quiet town and into the residential parts. at that point, the dark had met and light and-

“y/n! hey, wait!”

you turned to see none other than suga, jogging up behind you to catch up. you smiled at his sudden presence, looking past him to see the small group of the rest of the team. 

“hey! funny seeing you here.”

“yeah, haha,” he chuckled, catching his breath from suddenly running a considerable distance. “are you going home?”

“yeah.”

“can i walk with you?”

“of course.”

great! so i’m guessing you stayed late at school? you’re still wearing your uniform.”

“oh, yeah,” you affirmed, looking down at your monotonous outfit. “i just wanted to be all caught up on work and studying so i could go to the game tomorrow.”

“oh, yeah? that’s good to hear! yeah, we were-- we just had a late practice. coach left before us but we wanted to stay a little longer.”

“i hope you guys win tomorrow, it seems like you’ve been working really hard.”

“yeah, i hope so too. we’ve come a long way in such a short amount of time, it just feels like we can’t stop now.” 

you nodded in agreement. there was a beat of silence just then, and while it wasn’t awkward, it felt like something was lingering in the air.

“so, um,” he spoke up after several seconds. his eyes met yours and you felt that pang in your chest again, quickly looking away. “it’s been a while, huh?”

“yeah. yeah, it has, i guess,” you laughed lightly. you reached the intersection with the never-ending blinking stoplight and you turned around to face him.

“but i guess i’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

“yeah. yeah!”

“okay, get some sleep. goodnight.”

he nodded and you grinned at him before turning around to walk the rest of the way home until his voice stopped you again.

“hey, y/n?”

“yeah, kou?”

he looked down and all around, anywhere but your face.

“i, um, i know things have been kinda weird between for a while but it’s made me realize that i missed you, a lot.”

“yeah, i missed you, too.”

“but it’s also made me realize that i enjoy spending time with you and talking to you. like, even now, just talking to you makes me feel-- i don’t know. it makes me feel at ease like i’m home. and i’d really like to spend more time with you because i, um, i really like you.”

“you, you what?”

“i really like you, sugar.”

in all the ways you had imagined this happening, you never thought that you would feel your face fall to a frown, your heart beating in your ears. something just didn’t sit right with you about it.

“i, i, i don’t know what to say...”

“it’s okay if you don’t! i just wanted to tell you.”

“but why are you telling me this now?”

“do you-- do you not feel the same?”

“no. no! i’ve been wanting to hear you say something like that for so long, it’s just. you broke up with rei not too long ago and-- i don’t know. something isn’t right about it.” you shook your head, unsure of what you were trying to say.

“it’s how i feel,” he shrugged. “i just wanted to tell you and have a good feeling to hold onto to make tomorrow a little easier.”

you looked at him in disbelief.

“oh, so you think you can confess all that to me right before this big game and that i’ll automatically reciprocate those feelings when you just broke up with someone not even a month ago? i’m not a second choice--”

“no, sugar, listen, that’s not how i meant it at all--”

“no sugawara.” those words made him go quiet instantly. you never used his full name, there was always some sort of play on it, so this was serious. 

“maybe that’s not how you meant it, but that’s how i’m taking it. i’ve been wanting to tell you for so long how i felt but i wanted to respect your feelings so i didn’t. so please, respect mine. i’m not the good luck charm that you can just confess to and expect that it’ll all be okay. this just isn’t right. i’m sorry, koshi. 

your voice broke as his name left your lips, tears beginning to fall. you didn’t even give him a chance to respond, a rush of adrenaline telling you to quickly turn and get out of there. 

-

you didn’t get much sleep that night. 

it was hard not to think about your conflicted feelings over suga’s confession. you had hoped for that moment for a long time but the timing simply wasn’t right. how funny and ironic is that? you thought your timing was off. maybe you were meant for each other in that way. you couldn’t help but let your feelings get the best of you and you were beginning to become what you feared most from him. you thought he would immediately reject you and make you feel bad about ever saying anything about how you felt. but the roles are reversed and that was the part that blindsided you the most. 

you didn’t think that how you reacted was wrong but you also couldn’t imagine how he was feeling right now. he just wanted to feel good right before a big game but that backfired right in his face. some might call it karma, but part of you thought he didn’t deserve it. 

the pressure was setting in as the game went into the fifth and final set. what made it worse was kageyama wouldn’t be starting that set, his nose bleeding from the spike he took to the face. suga was genuinely thrilled to be a teacher, a mentor, and a support system for his fellow teammates. he didn’t mind that another, rather talented, setter had joined the team because that meant he wouldn’t have to worry about passing the position over to someone who he thought didn’t deserve it. 

he almost forgot he was actually a player on the team when everyone looked to him to fill in. this was his moment and it just happened to be at the most overwhelming part of this game. Both teams were tired while simultaneously running on pure adrenaline to see who was going to come out on top. 

suga had an opportunity, not only to start the set but be the trailblazer for their success. 

the nerves set in as he held up the paddle with the number nine on it, kageyama holding it up with him for a moment. It was symbolic in a way. suga always thought he’d be passing the baton to him, his successor as karasuno’s official setter, but this felt just as sentimental. Suga hadn’t played much this season but he got to watch the team grow into something that it once was: something great. They’ve had their share of loss and strife but it finally seemed like they had come so far and the only direction they can go is up. 

the nerves set in as he looked around, anywhere to ease them. His eyes automatically went to the team banner, black with the simple word ‘fly’ written over it, where all the school and their supporters were watching. he went down the line quickly but the wave of a hand caught his eye. his eyes shifted back and felt that familiar grin on him.

it was you. 

“c’mon suga! You can do it!”

and so he did. 

once the final ball hit the ground, the room was quiet with shock. it had been tight for most of the game but no one really expected this outcome. they were going to nationals. daichi, suga, and asahi embraced, taking in the satisfying feeling of victory. 

after the awards ceremony, you were buzzing with excitement for them, trying to calmly follow the rest of the crowd out of the gym. you could tell they were somewhere along the hallway as another crowd formed to congratulate the winning team. you weaved in and out of it, even getting on your toes to see if you could spot a familiar head of gray hair. 

you finally caught a glance at him from afar, his smile growing as his eyes locked onto yours.

“y/n!”

you mimicked his expression and found your feet moving quicker than your brain could process. he put in the same amount of haste to meet you in the middle. you both stopped at about an arm’s length away from each other. his flushed cheeks and slightly red but glistening eyes held your smile as you decided to speak first. 

“hey, kou.”

“hey, sugar.”

another minute couldn’t be wasted as you finally crashed into one another. it felt better to hold somebody that you knew and genuinely loved. you could be sure that he felt the same way as he held your body tightly against him. 

heyo haikyuu night! send any requests right here..

[herohotline]

Wet Clay (P.1)

Shouta Aizawa x Reader

A/N: alright let's try this again. take 2 everybody

Summary: You’ve been officially hired as U.A’s first school counselor. You’re assigned to help the hero course- learning more about their students and teachers along the way. And if you manage to catch a crush on one of said teachers... You just hope he doesn’t distract you from doing your job.

Word Count: 3,300+

Part Two | Part Three | Part Four

If there was one thing you knew about U.A, it was that the school seemed like a never-ending magnet for trouble. They’ve already been on the news twice this year due to villain attacks, and it made you wonder: hey, who’s taking care of the aftermath? 

You’ve been working as a freelance therapist for over ten years, and you reached into several things. Family sessions, PTSD recovery, addiction therapy, the works. So with high hopes, you came to U.A one day with a proposal for the principal. Getting a meeting with him wasn’t easy, so you intended to use the time you got with him wisely. 

Your meeting was scheduled at a random time of day- the middle of the school day, really, so when you made your way to Nezu’s office, you saw several students. They seemed like busy little bees, rushing over to the cafeteria with smiles- it must be lunch hour. The whole place was insanely big, and you wouldn’t have been able to navigate it on your own- so good thing you weren’t. 

Your tour guide sure was loud, though.

“It’s great that Nezu let someone in, but he wouldn’t tell us what it’s for!” The hero you recognized as Present Mic had been chatting animatedly the whole time, and you tried your best to keep up with his energy. 

“That’s strange,” you say back to him, adjusting the grip on your briefcase. They checked it at the front gate- happy to see it was only a few business papers. “I don’t think what I’m talking to Nezu about is very secretive.”

Present Mic waves his hand in the air, making a ‘ppsh’ noise with his teeth. “Nezu likes to mess around with us teachers a lot. I’m not surprised! Oh, and here we are!” He spins rather suddenly to face you, presenting the large office doors to you. 

You look at it curiously. “...Isn’t Nezu supposed to be a small animal?” How could he fit through the door…?

Mic laughs as if you had made some sort of joke. He opens the door for you, patting your back as you walk inside. “I’ll be here to escort you out when you’re done, good luck!” He whispers- well, his own way of whispering, which is still very loud, before thrusting you in the office and closing the door behind you. 

You blink once to try and realize what just happened.

“Ah, ___!” Nezu greets you as you stand still in the rather large office, his little body looking comical behind his desk. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting with you!” Oh boy, here we go. You don’t really appreciate Mic thrusting you into this, literally, but you smooth out your clothes and walk toward the principal’s desk.

“I feel the same way, Nezu,” you smile at him as you shake his little paw across the desk. “I’m glad you’re willing to listen to what I have to say.” He gestures to the seat beside you and you gladly take it, making yourself comfortable.

“Of course. It’s been chaotic but I’m always willing to hear ideas for the school. You mentioned therapy?” The business has begun- but oddly enough, the animal pulls out a tea set and begins to brew. 

“Simply put, yes. With all the events that have been happening at your school lately, I believe it’s due time for a therapist to be hired. You’re training heroes, and while it’s important that they’re physically ready for the world of heroics, I believe they should be mentally ready as well.” You take a cup from him, muttering a ‘thank you’ as you continue to give him your proposal. “Just this year, you had a kidnapping. I know you took care of it, but those sorts of things have a large impact on kids- they might be teenagers, but they aren’t fully developed. Then there’s just the thought of studying and working to be a hero- it’s stressful, and I believe every child should have a good outlet for when it gets to be too much.” 

Taking a sip of the tea, you hum under your breath. It’s a wonderful citrus flavor.

Nezu smiles. “I looked into you- I hope you aren’t offended, it’s merely what we must do for letting strangers into the campus. You’re a therapist, correct?”

You nod. “I’m not offended, I figured as much. And yes, I am. I’ve been in the field for over 10 years, so I’d like to think I know what I’m talking about when it comes to mental health.” 

“Of course! I don’t doubt you!” Nezu laughs- a squeaky little noise. “You’re right, the students deserve a good person to talk to about their struggles. The question is… are you sure you can be that person?”

So he had caught onto you. Yes, more than anything, you wanted to be the one to help these kids. It’s a bit ballsy to walk into an office and suggest they hire you, unprompted, but you believe it’s the right move to make. Nothing will get done if you don’t put the first foot in, after all.

“Yes,” you tell him, as determined as you can. “I would like to be the test driver in this. With how many students U.A holds, one therapist for so many kids is nearly impossible. I’d die of stress before they do,” you pull your briefcase up to your lap and open it, handing him a few papers. “These are the things I’ve planned if you were willing to go through with hiring me. I’d like to focus on the hero course first, a few sessions with each kid throughout a few months. I want to learn about these children, and from what I learn, I can fully deduce what sort of changes need to happen in U.A. Like if my work is even needed here, or what type of therapy should be offered or special programs.” 

Nezu flicks through your papers with an impressed smile. “You’ve thought a lot about this,” he says, “you seem to care very deeply.” 

“I’m passionate about helping others how I can,” you tell him honestly. “And frankly, if you don’t mind my honesty, U.A is long overdue for a school counselor. Every child deserves to have someone to confide in, plain and simple, Nezu.”

At your statement, he laughs. It’s not because he thinks you’re joking, but he knows you’re right. “I love your attitude!” He says. “And you’ve convinced me. We’ll start our hiring process right away, and you can show me more of your plans. I’m happy you came to me today.”

“Oh, what?” Your eyebrows stand up in shock. “Really? Wh… really?”

“Yes!” Nezu smiles. “I had already decided on hiring you before you came. But meeting you was a pleasure and convinced me more.” He hands out his small paw again and you slowly shake it.

“Welcome to U.A, ___.”

---

Getting home, you looked back at the meeting and for a second you think you were tricked. But you’re soon emailed several background check forms and sessions for drug testing- the works of getting hired at a very cautious school. So you deduce that it’s not a trick- but it’s very strange. 

You’re grateful though, and you accomplish what you can right away such as the background check, quirk information and license, and sending in your history with therapy. Nezu told you that if you were quick, you could have your first day in just a week. It shocks you- a week? It’s so soon!

Maybe, you think, they’ve already been thinking about hiring a counselor for a while. It was long overdue, and now they’re in a rush to get you in and working. You suppose that with everything that’s been going on for the school, that’s fair. 

You hope you can do this- the last thing you want is to let this opportunity slip through the cracks and let everyone down. 

---

After a full week of filling out paperwork, various meetings, and a lot of movement speeches that you’ve given yourself to get through it, your first day at U.A comes, bright and early on a Monday morning. And, interestingly enough, your first big task of the day is getting dressed. 

The students have uniforms, but the teachers all wear their hero costumes, and you’re not a hero. So what on earth do you wear? You glare at your closet for a long time before finally slipping on a simple button-up shirt tucked into some slacks. It’s the most professional-casual you can get, right?

Taking the train to U.A was a bit busy, but you were buzzing with first-day energy that you couldn’t even mind the pushing and shoving of people coming on and off the train. You’re sure that the longer you have to take the train, the more it will bother you, but today it seems like nothing can break through your hopeful exterior. 

God, you hope this works. You hope the kids like you. 

It feels funny to walk into U.A with no guards hounding you- but thanks to your I.D that you got just yesterday, you walk in without any problems. It makes you grin. Your first stop for the day is to find Eraserhead- you’re meeting with his class first and taking over homeroom for today. Tomorrow, you’ll meet with the other hero course. 

When you walk into the teacher's lounge, nerves are tingling your senses. It feels like it really is the first day of school, but instead of a student, now you’re a teacher, sort of. The room looks empty, so you assume the teachers have all gone to their classes for the day. You wonder where Eraserhead is…? 

It’s as you walk around the desks in a curious manner that a yellow bag on the floor catches your eye. Quite frankly, you do a double-take on it-- is someone sleeping in there?

“Hello?” You walk up to the bag. “Is that you, Eraserhead?” 

You remember Nezu joking about something like this, but you didn’t take him seriously. As the sleeping bag rolls around, your eyes widen in surprise as you see that yes- this is Pro-Hero Eraserhead sleeping on the floor. 

His tired, dry eyes look up at you. “You’re the therapist?” He asked, his voice deep and scratchy. 

“...Yes. ____.” It’s all you can manage to say as you watch him slowly crawl out of his bag, picking it up and standing on his feet. All of a sudden, he’s looming over you with his height and it almost catches you off guard. “Thank you for working with me,” you shake yourself out of your thoughts and present your hand to him. 

As he shakes it back, you notice that his hand basically engulfs yours. Woof. 

“I’m glad you’ll be working with the students,” he says, and his honesty throws you for a loop as he begins to walk off, you following him from behind. “Do you mind telling me what you have in store for the day?”

“Right!” You try to walk a little faster so you can walk side-by-side with the man, his legs quite longer than yours. “I figured I'd like to introduce myself, let the kids get to know me. It’s hard to suddenly have a new face around, as well as being expected to talk about your problems with a stranger. So I just need to not be a stranger anymore.” You look up to Eraserhead and he silently nods. You figure that’s his way of telling you ‘good idea’? 

“We’re here.” He stops in front of, again, another rather large door. They all seem to look like this. “Get ready.”

As the door opens, you’re immediately met with the sound of teenagers laughing and yelling. Eraserhead heads in first, thankfully, and you peek your head in to get a look of the students. You’ve seen a lot of them through the news, so some faces are familiar, while others aren’t. 

“Class,” Eraserhead’s authoritative voice cuts through all the noise. The students are quick to sit in their seats, heads up and attentive for their teacher. He sighs, his shoulders sagging in a tired manner. “Today, ____ will be taking over the class,” you take that as your cue to enter the room, standing next to Eraserhead silently. “I’ll still be here, so don’t disrespect them. Listen to them, take what they have to say seriously.”

That seems to be the end of his little speech as he shuffles away in that same sleeping bag you found him in. You step up to the podium, and your nerves are back as you look at the sea of students. Oh boy. 

“Hello, everyone,” you smile. “As Eraserhead mentioned, my name is ___. There’s no need for formalities with me, you can just call me by name. My job here at U.A is to be your school counselor.” You watch as several of their faces change and you laugh a little. “I know, it’s strange. I’m here today to ask you a few questions. My first question being, how many of you are comfortable talking with a stranger?” 

None of their hands raise beside a rather sparkly boy with blonde hair. 

“I appreciate your honesty!” You gesture for him to put his hand down and he does so. “Most of you aren’t going to come to me right away with struggles you may have, and I understand that. My job today is to have you all get to know me. We’ll be doing a few activities, and by the end of home-room, you’ll go back to your regular classes. Are there any questions?” 

A hand shoots up right away, and you nod your head to the girl it’s attached to. She looks very attentive and scholarly- you have a feeling she might be a class president or something like that. “Why has the school decided to hire a counselor?” 

“That’s a good question. What’s your name?” You ask. 

“Yaoyorozu Momo.”

“Thank you for asking, Yaoyorozu. Truthfully, with all the events that’s been going on in your district, the school believes we should be more attentive to our students' mental wellbeing.” You feel like you’ve gone over this pitch thousands of times… “It’s important that you all have an outlet when you’re stressed or upset.” 

Yaoyorozu seems satisfied with your answer as she nods, her hand going back in her lap. Another hand rises after that- not as confident as Yaoyorozu, but still there. 

“Yes?”

“I was wondering- my, uh, name is Midoriya Izuku! I was wondering what we’d talk about in your office?” The boy has wonderful green hair that curls at the ends, freckles on his cheeks that make him look innocent and cute. He’s somewhat nervous, which intrigues you, but you move on to his question. 

“Yes, in my office…”

The rest of the period goes like this. You eventually get a question out of almost every student, and they seem to be warming up to you already. You’ve learned most of their names- but you’ll probably need a few days until you remember them all. After the questions, you do a few games together that you thought up- things that typically would be done in middle school. You split up the classroom as you have them learn more about each other- things like ‘go to the left side if you’d rather lose your taste, go to the right if you’d lose your smell’. They were simple activities that the students seemed to mostly enjoy, and you participated in them as well. 

At one moment, you asked a very specific question on purpose: how do you feel about your quirk? If you like it, you would go to the right side of the room. If you dislike it, you’d go to the left. If you weren’t sure how you felt, you’d sit in the middle. In the end, only you and boy with white and red hair stand in the middle as the rest of the class sits on the right. 

“What is your quirk?” He asks you and you smile down at him. Everyone turns their attention toward you, clearly interested. 

“My quirk is called Sensory. If I use it right, I can heighten my own or someone else’s senses such as their hearing or sight. But if I use it wrong, the person goes into sensory overload.” You explain it as simple as you can, and a pink hand raises in the air. You can’t quite remember her name… 

“Why don’t you like your quirk?” 

“Well, I don’t dislike it,” you quickly reassure the class, “but I have my reasons, as I’m sure Todoroki has his own as well?” You look down at him and he nods silently. “Anyway, I asked this question so that you all would get to know who I am a little better. Quirks are a great way to express yourself, but it’s important to remember that it isn’t the only way. It’s okay to not feel completely at home with your Quirk, but it’s important to understand it and accept it as a part of you.” 

After the activity ends, the period is over and it’s time for you to go down to your office. Eraserhead offers to walk you there since you’re still new to the building and you gratefully take it. The two of you leave the classroom with a stern word from the teacher for his students to wait patiently for Present Mic to arrive ‘or else’. You have a feeling that there's no real threat behind his words, but it seems to work. 

“So,” you fill the silence in the hallway, “do you think it went well, Eraserhead? You know them best.” You look up at him and the hero reaches up to run his fingers through his hair. He’s not quite looking at you, but you know he’s paying attention. 

“You don’t have to call us by our hero names,” he huffs and his hands go back into his pockets. 

“Oh! Well… To be honest, the forms Nezu gave me never mentioned any of the teacher’s names, so I don’t actually know…” 

“Typical of him,” the man rolls his eyes, his lips tugging upward just a bit at the ends. “You can call me Aizawa,” all of a sudden you both come to a stop and you realize that you’re outside of your office on the first floor. “Mic is Yamada and Midnight is Kayama… I’m sure you know who Yagi is.” You nod. “You’ll learn the rest of their names along the way. The 1-B teacher is Kan, by the way.”

“Oh, good! Thank you, Aizawa,” you smile up at him. “And thank you for walking me back.”

“You’ll get used to it in a bit,” he sounds sure of himself, making you believe him. “And… you did fine with the kids. I can think of a few who might come over by the end of the week.”

His reassurance is honestly very touching, as you weren’t really sure of yourself. 

“I hope I have at least a week, my office is kind of baren right now,” you laugh at yourself a little. “And thank you- it’s good to hear. I really hope this goes well, you know? I think I can really help them- I want to help them.”

Aizawa just stares down at you but you’re honestly getting used to his silence. You can already tell that he’s a man of few words, so you’re grateful that he’s talked to you as much as he has. You laugh again- you’re not sure why- before opening your door and waving goodbye to him. He leaves after that, and now it’s just you alone in your office.

You sigh as you look around the room. It’s got the essentials- two chairs, a couch, and a table in the middle. Then there’s a desk in the corner of the room, but other than that, it’s empty. You’ll definitely have to fill up the area to make it seem more welcoming- maybe you can bring some things over from your apartment. 

All you know is that you’re determined. By the end of the week, you’re going to make this place feel like home.

[kakitysax]

Hey everybody, I’d like your opinions on this: which homework should I do today?

The six overdue chapters of Church History (no time to study for the test on them I have first period that I’m going to fail)

The three assignments for Astronomy (no time to study for the test on this unit second period that I’m going to fail)

The essay assignment for Economics that was due several months ago, along with the four overdue daily-style assignments

The two overdue essays for Humanities (or just continuing to read Anne Frank)

The reflection on Stage Two of Great Expectations that’s due sometime this week

The five overdue assignments and one make-up test for Business Math

Please take into consideration the fact that I will be at school until Eight PM every day this week due to Tech Week for the play.

Thank you!

[shikamarubase]

Scarred -Chapter Two-

A/N: Happy Nara Week, everyone! I was supposed to write something else for the first day, but please accept this overdue chapter for the ANBU prompt instead. You can find the first chapter here! I hope you enjoy! <3

—————

Chapter Two:

Shikamaru was, without a shadow of a doubt, late for the meeting.

Rushed for time, he dashed across the hallway leading to the Hokage’s office after changing into his full uniform. His hands fumbled over his ANBU mask as he ran, and he couldn’t stop the string of curses from escaping his mouth when the material got tangled in his windswept hair. Letting his dark hair fall over his shoulders instead of bundling it into the usual ponytail minimized the risk of being recognized during missions; his job was dangerous enough without the additional threat of being hunted down by someone with a grudge. Nevertheless, during times like these, he regretted ever agreeing to wear his hair down for ANBU business.

By the time he unceremoniously stumbled into Kakashi’s office, Ino and Chouji were already standing raptly in attention. He mumbled a quick apology as five pairs of eyes flickered over to him.

Five? Shikamaru arched an eyebrow and surveyed the figures inside.

Ino’s and Chouji’s faces were unsurprisingly hidden beneath their respective ANBU masks, but he didn’t need to read their expressions to confirm there was something amiss by the stiffness of their shoulders. Kakashi, however, was the picture of calm. He casually leaned back into his chair and regarded him thoughtfully with one eye, as if he already knew what was going through Shikamaru’s mind. The remaining two unfamiliar guests stood by the Hokage’s work table. Shikamaru was suddenly glad for the mask he wore over his face, otherwise they would have noticed him gaping at them. He was not one to judge appearances, but they wore attires he would describe as either needlessly fancy or completely ludicrous.

The taller one of the two wore a dark hood with cat-like ears over his head, a sharp contrast to the bright face paint decorating his face. He sneered in contempt, and Shikamaru couldn’t help but imagine he was being hissed at by an angry feline. “Oi oi, you dare call yourself a member of the ANBU Corps when you can’t even be on time? Kakashi, are you sure this guy is suitable?”

Next to him, the man with a mop of red hair cupped his shoulder. “Brother, stop.”

His voice was soft, but was laced with authority and a twinge of danger. Shikamaru couldn’t contain the small shiver that ran up his spine as he eyed the smaller man. When he raised his head, Shikamaru caught a glimpse of a tattoo hidden underneath his fringe. His instincts tingled in anticipation. He wasn’t particularly scary or huge, and yet there was something almost intimidating in the way his emotionless green eyes met his.

“Excuse my brother’s rudeness. He has been a bit wired ever since he allowed our sister to slip away.“

The older man’s jaw tightened in protest. “Oh c’mon, Gaara. You know Temari would’ve snuck out no matter how many guards we assign to watch her, and—”

“And that’s precisely why we’re here,” Gaara finished for him. His eyes lingered on Shikamaru for half a second longer before fixing them back on Kakashi. “Can I assume we have all gathered to begin our discussion?”

Kakashi straightened himself before giving a quick nod. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Before Shikamaru could wrap his head around that, the Hokage was already gesturing at him and speaking to snarky cat ears. “While Kurohi may not look or act the part, I assure you he is one of our best and brightest. Your sister will be in safe hands, Prince Kankuro.”

Your Majesty? Prince? His head swirled from the prestigious titles thrown inside the room, he didn’t acknowledge when Kakashi addressed him by his given ANBU name nor did he wait for Kankuro’s response.

He was in the presence of royalty. That would explain the extravagant clothing they had on and why Ino and Chouji looked so stiff. They had to deal with the temper of an impatient royal, because he was tardy. Suddenly the entire room reeked of power, and while Shikamaru wasn’t particularly fazed by ranking, he had to acknowledge that half of the people in the room could easily sentence him to death and he would have no way of stopping them. He mentally kicked himself for not figuring it out sooner—Gaara had a cape strapped to his back, for shinobi’s sake! For the better half of his life, he’s had family, friends, and even complete strangers tell him how intelligent he was behind his unmotivated facade. If they could only see him now, they’d understand why he always disagreed.

From Kakashi’s place behind the desk, he spoke to the trio directly as Gaara and Kankuro settled comfortably into the couch. “I’m sure you have figured it out by now, but the two gentlemen before you are none other than King Gaara and Prince Kankuro from Sunagakure. Another unit was assigned to escort them on their way here, but the next step requires the kind of teamwork only the three of you can offer.”

He paused when Gaara suddenly stood up, his cape fluttering behind him. “Lord Hokage, I’d like to tell them the details myself, if you don’t mind.”

If Kakashi was in any way shocked by the offer, he kept it to himself. Instead, he extended a courteous gesture before he sat back down and folded his arms.

Gaara trained his eyes on them. “As you all know, Suna and Konoha have been...at odds for almost a decade, ever since the last great war tore apart any chance of establishing an amicable relationship between our villages. And while we persistently tried to convince him otherwise, our father had blatantly refused to ally with another, so we have been...out of touch for the past few years.”

Shikamaru’s attention shifted when Kankuro scoffed lightly into his hand, a small scowl curling at the corner of his lips. Although his first impression of the temperamental Prince was less than appealing, he could understand where he’s coming from. If they were related, Gaara’s words would elicit an eyeroll out of him as well.

‘Out of touch’ was a severe understatement. The people of the desert kingdom were already known to keep to themselves and constantly avoid direct contact with foreigners, but after the war King Rasa kept the kingdom under lockdown and made sure not a single sandrat could sneak in or out. Anyone who tried was declared a terrorist and executed on the spot. Under the orders of the former Hokage, Shikamaru had snuck in once before for an espionage mission, and nearly lost his neck trying to sneak back out. In the short time he was there, one thing was clear: fear amongst the Sunan civilians was palpable. Sunagakure was a prison cell under the guise of a kingdom; Guards from the royal palace took turns patrolling the city in the interest of enforcing public safety. But rather than give off the image of being protected, civilians behaved skittishly and stepped outside the comforts of their homes at odd hours, almost as if they were afraid to bring attention to themselves. Shikamaru guessed the guards were really stationed to make sure no rebellion sprung up to overthrow the throne. He had to hand it to the former king—he was nothing if not ruthless. Rumors have it he’d trained thousands of soldiers inside the castle grounds in preparation for the next war, and he wasn’t modest about it either. Every other week, Shikamaru would hear news of how “the power-hungry King Rasa” had razed through yet another small neighboring village with no military power to assert his dominance and expand his domain. He was a detestable man who left only destruction and tragedy in his wake. His reputation preceded him, even in death. Despite the grotesque details surrounding his demise, everyone breathed a sigh of relief when he was finally out of the throne.

Sensing the tension in the room at the mention of the former King, Gaara cleared his throat. “As I was saying, now that I have ascended the throne, my first agenda is to rebuild my people’s trust in the royal family and to keep them safe from terrorist attacks. Father’s...excursions brought him enemies who’d love nothing more than to eradicate the royal bloodline and destroy our kingdom. The Land of Wind is one of the five founding countries, with rich history stemming from the beginning of civilization. We cannot let it fall so easily. Which is why, as King, I have decided to form a pact with your Hokage and ally ourselves to your nation...in exchange for your protection.”

Shikamaru’s mind raced at his final statement. It was customary for ANBU not to ask questions during mission briefs, but before he could stop himself concern tumbled out of his open mouth. “Pardon my rudeness, but why would you need our protection?”

Next to him, he felt Chouji tense but forced himself to keep his eyes trained on Gaara through the cover of his mask. The King brought a hand to his chin and regarded him curiously. “The Land of Fire boasts the strongest soldiers of all countries. Ninjas from this land are especially talented. Although I wasn’t able to take part in the last Great War, I’ve heard stories of how Konoha soldiers fought valiantly and pushed the war back despite their shortage of manpower.”

Shikamaru nodded briefly at this. It was a story he’d heard over and over as a child. It was his father, Nara Shikaku, who devised the strategies that led to their success in the war. “But I believe you’re mistaken,” he responded, his voice uncharacteristically clear and crisp even to his own ears. “ANBU normally don't fight in wars and most of us aren’t as powerful as you think. We only possess skills suitable for stealth missions, so I don’t see what we can do for you. If you want raw power, it’d be better to seek it from our Jounin or your own soldiers.”

“Kurohi,” Kakashi started to say, but Gaara raised a palm to cut him off.

“Sunagakure has a great number of skilled soldiers, yes. If this were for any other occasion, you’d be right. But as it stands, we need your expertise.”

Shikamaru arched an eyebrow as Gaara started pacing back and forth in front of them.

“Our soldiers are naturally proud and hot-blooded; we pride ourselves for being brave and we never back out from a fight. It is in our nature to rush into battle, even if we have nothing but the clothes on our backs. Some call it foolish, but we call it courage. Unfortunately, our courage makes us more prone to life-threatening situations. While we make up for it with overwhelming strength, our strategic planning is severely lacking. I soon realized, there is no point in winning a war if the soldiers don’t make it back home. When we heard there is a genius with an I.Q. of over 200 in Konoha, working behind the scenes and ensuring successful missions with almost zero fatality rate, we knew you would be the right man for the job.”

Gaara stepped forward and grasped Shikamaru’s shoulder, fingers curling into his skin. “There’s no need to hide behind your mask now, Nara Shikamaru.”

Shikamaru’s blood ran cold. Every bone in his body screamed for him to rip his hand away. This man was dangerous, his instincts gnawed at his head. He was the opposite of Kankuro, who seemed to instill fear through the volume of his voice and biting threats. And yet, the air around the current King was more than enough to keep him frozen in place. It almost felt as if he was facing a veteran soldier, a comforting presence to have around as a comrade but not someone he’d want as an enemy.

Shikamaru lifted his hand to heed to the command, his dark hair swishing over his shoulders as he removed the mask and shook his head slightly. When he lowered his chin to meet Gaara’s eyes, there was no longer any barrier between them.

“What exactly do you need me for?” He mumbled.

A small smile tugged at the corner of Gaara’s lips before he turned his back and went back to his original position. “I need the three of you,” his eyes flitted over to Ino and Chouji, “to guard my elder sister.”

The tension in his chest dispersed. That was not the kind of S-rank mission he had in mind.

As if sensing his disappointment, Kakashi stood up and waved a folder in his hand. “To seal our alliance, Princess Temari is to be wed to our Feudal Lord, Madoka Makoto, and your team has been assigned to be her bodyguards,” he explained.

That earned a small squeak from Ino. She always went on about how handsome the young leader was. If they weren’t in a meeting Shikamaru would’ve rolled his eyes.

“Our father’s assassin is still at large, and we have reason to believe they’ll be coming after us next. We have curbed countless rebellions over the last few years, all of which demanded to bring an end to our sovereignty. While we want to use this opportunity to establish a trusting relationship, they see it as a plot to continue our bloodline and expand our rule.”

“And, is it not?” Shikamaru raised a dubious eyebrow.

Gaara chuckled, the first time his face ever broke out of its stoic mask. “It is an amusing idea,” he admitted, “but I could hardly say I am cunning enough to come up with such an elaborate plan.”

His features clouded over as he added, “Brother and I have mastered swordsmanship, but Temari has no means to protect herself from criminals. They will surely capitalize on the opportunity to attack her and reveal themselves in the process.”

In Shikamaru’s head, his words easily translated to, “I’m using my sister as bait to lure out my father’s killers.”

Finally catching on to their hidden motive, his mind whirled with questions. If the princess was meant to be a catalyst for the alliance, why was she not a part of the meeting? And he had met his fair share of government leaders, and they were definitely not this chatty, especially for someone who’d practically admitted to having a target on his back. Suspicion gnawed at him like a persistent bug. If there was one thing he was sure of: the Sabaku Royal Family weren’t hanging around for entirely diplomatic reasons. And one more thing bothered him...

“What does she look like?” He blurted out and scrambled to cover his outburst. “We can’t protect her if we don’t know her face.”

“Indeed.” As Gaara took the folder from Kakashi and handed it to him, Shikamaru’s thoughts flickered over to the blonde woman he ran into that morning. A foreigner running around the city in a fancy day gown the same day he was assigned as a bodyguard to the Sunan King’s sister? It couldn’t be a coincidence.

He slowly flipped the folder open, his eyes scanning the description of the mission until they landed on a photograph. She looked exactly as he remembered; perched daintily on a wide couch in a lilac princess gown, with four bundles of blonde hair sticking over her head. Her lips pursed together into a pout as her striking teal eyes stared into the camera.

“If you show your face around me again you’ll be sorry!” Her parting words reverberated in his head as his worst suspicions were realized.

He inwardly groaned. This job was going to be more troublesome than he bargained for.

[loopyhoopywrites]

Thaks @raevenlywrites​ 😊 This is the first thing I’ve written in about a month, so thanks for the inspiration 😄 I did actually have flourish, but it gave me an idea so here’s new drabbles for both of them. They’re received only the barest of proof reads, so please forgive me if there’s errors.

1. Cherish (Cedrix and Tim (and Tiff) ~ The Ex Quest)

“To love and to cherish, from this day forth…”

“We’re never going to get through this if you don’t stop crying.”

“Sorry.” Tim sniffed, and wiped his eyes on the driest bit of sleeve he could find. Cedrix had handed him a handkerchief the first time he’d started tearing up, but given that it now resembled a garden pond more than it did a handkerchief, it was no longer much use. Tiff couldn’t help but notice Cedrix hadn’t asked for it back.

“We’re never going to get through it if you don’t stop interrupting either,” she pointed out, prodding her cousin’s arm impatiently. “I’m sure Tim can still say his vows through his tears. Now come on, the food’ll be getting cold.”

Cedrix levelled her with that stone-cold gaze of his, the one that set nobles grovelling on their knees and dragons suddenly realising that that giant hoard of gold wasn’t theirs after all. Unfortunately for him, Tiff had once caught fourteen-year-old Cedrix practicing said gaze in the hallway mirror, and had been immune ever since. She rolled her eyes, and dramatically rubbed her belly. He sighed.

“Remind me again why I chose you as my best man?”

“Because you don’t have any other friends,” said Tiff, “and if you’d let Joaquinne organise your stag party you’d’ve spent the entire night bored to tears. No offense sweetheart.”

“None taken,” signed back Joaquinne, who, alongside Alyce, had somehow ended up in Tim’s wedding party. And by somehow, Tiff meant she’d assigned them to Tim, who also seemed to be severely lacking when it came to friends, and told Cedrix they’d decided via coin toss to protect his delicate ego.

“Just let Tim cry, let the priest get on with it, and then we can all get on with the bit we actually care about, by which I meant the alcohol. Okay?”

Cedrix, predictably, opened his mouth to argue. Tiff, also predictably, completely ignored him, instead looking past him to give the priest a firm nod. The priest was clearly more scared of her than he was Cedrix, and with a quick clearing of his throat picked up exactly where he’d left off.

“To love and to cherish, from this day forth…”

As Tim dutifully (and damply) repeated the vows, Tiff quickly checked Cedrix was no longer looking her way before signing sneakily to her spouses.

“What’s the bet Cedrix  will be the one crying in the real thing?”

24. Flourish (Teek and Iaqc ~ The Ex Quest)

Quick note for context; Teek has an arcane personality disorder that means he experiences moods very intensely, and his appearance changes based on his mood. I don’t go into detail here, but his long curly hair means he’s happy. Also, this is set before the events of TEQ.

“The court sorcerer says you’ve flourished under her tutelage.”

Teek looked up from the thick tome in front of him to raise an eyebrow at Iaqc, who was supposed to be bent over an equally-thick book of his own, but was instead leaning back in his wheelchair, smiling at Teek.

“No she didn’t.”

“Perhaps not in those words exactly,” Iaqc amended, still smiling that damned smile. “but she’s impressed with you nonetheless.”

“Yes, well.” Teek scowled as convincingly as he could manage as he looked back at his book, although he could feel his traitorous hair creeping a few inches lower. On the upside, the extra curls were perfect for hiding the blush he could feel flaming embarrassingly across his cheeks. Downside, Iaqc know knew exactly how Teek felt about being complimented.

“If I weren’t flourishing, I would undoubtedly have returned to my quarters to find my bags packed and a plethora of overdue library fines sitting atop an eviction notice,” he said, before adding, quieter, with what he refused to admit was hesitance, “and since I have rather the incentive to stay, flourish I must.”

“Of course.”

Teek didn’t look up, but slowly let out his breath as he noted the seriousness, the gentleness, the understanding in Iaqc’s voice. Whatever it was between them, this terrifying, wonderful thing that they were yet to put a name to, it was moments like this, moments where one of them dared to break the silence with unspoken recognition, that gave Teek the courage to think, to wonder, to linger in this unprecedented era he was slowly daring to deem a beginning.

“It would be a great shame to lose your library privileges.”

Teek’s eyes snapped up, a correction already on the tip of his tongue, only for his words to turn to sputters as he saw the smirk centrepiecing Iaqc’s smug face. Teek growled, picked up his wand, and blasted Iaqc across the room.

Iaqc laughed as his wheelchair collided with a shelf of priceless history books, sending them tumbling to the floor, and, despite himself, Teek’s hair grew another inch.

Send me a number between 1 and 38!

[dream-wreck]

A Song to Suit Yourself

It feels so good to write fanfiction again. Heck, it feels good to write again. This little thing started last summer, inspired by this post, and I’m finally sending it afloat upon the internet’s temperamental waters. Good Omens fandom, I hope you receive it well. Enjoy!

AO3

Title: A Song to Suit Yourself Rating: G Word Count: 2,186 Description: Crowley fixates on a new type of music, though Aziraphale can’t quite figure why. What would a demon want with lullabies?

Neither knew exactly how they ended up in the same Scottish field at exactly the same time beneath the same lonely apple tree, but it probably had something to do with their impending assessments.

Hastur and Ligur would be around soon to check in and report on Crowley’s Deeds of the Day, which were quickly becoming Brief Surveys of the Deeds of the Decade, as they hardly ever popped around anymore. Crowley didn’t dare complain. But he’d been putting off his Evil Deed -- you know, the Big One, which made up for a long dry period of demonic activity -- and it was time to get on that. So. Scotland.

Aziraphale still received regular unscheduled visits from Gabriel, “just checking in” to see that all was going smoothly. Aziraphale had begun to question his own understanding of omnipotence. Or, at least the Head Office’s ability to communicate sporadic schedule changes to literally the only active angel they had on Earth. In biding his time -- and seeking some overdue meditation -- Scotland.

So much for that.

“They’re calling them ‘lullabies’,” Crowley said. “They sing them at children. To make them fall asleep.”

Aziraphale considered this news while he cut off another slice of red apple. He offered some to Crowley. The demon curled his upper lip at the clean white disk.

“Humans have always sang songs to their children,” Aziraphale said once he realized that the news was not news at all. “Remember Babylon?”

They both smiled self-pleased smiles. You’d almost think they were sharing the same memory, but for Crowley baring considerably sharper teeth. “Oh yes,” he said.

“That poor woman you tormented for a spell,” Aziraphale recalled. “I was the one who recommended that she write her composition down. It was a beautiful tune...in spite of its inspiration.” 

Crowley shrugged. “I did not ‘torment her.�� She adopted me as the house god, what was I supposed to do? I was on assignment. Besides, she had a lovely home. It was nice to settle down for a bit. The point is, now they have a new word for it.”

“For tormenting?”

“No. The music. Keep up.” He let the pieces of the word roll off his tongue. “Lull-ah-bye…”

Aziraphale was occupied with his apple, plucked from the branches above. In his humble and learnéd opinion, few tastes in the world yet rivaled that of a fresh-picked apple. Being an angel, he also had an extensive understanding of the art of Music. Angels invented it, after all, but its purposes were rather limited in Heaven. If Crowley had come to him with news of a new kind of Music, or a new purpose for it, he would have been ecstatic and fully enthralled. But he hadn’t, so he wasn’t, and was therefore only mildly interested, though he tried his best to humor his associate. “Singing to babies helps them grow, you know. It teaches them new sounds, new words. And I personally don’t believe you’re ever too young to discover the joy of Music.”

Crowley chose not to tell him that he was missing the point, but he wasn’t entirely sure of his point to begin with. Something about the word struck a strange chord with him (all puns unintended and unrecognized). It had a sound like a plucked lute string and the curve of a lifting chin.

For a while, in silence, the two continued their survey of the Scottish countryside and a hundred miles beyond. Serious business. The evening began to settle in a comfortable calm, the sun yawning out a stretch of gold before its final disappearance beneath the hills. The angel and the demon each wondered what the other was thinking. Aziraphale wondered why Crowley had become so caught up in a single word. Crowley wondered why Aziraphale hadn’t.

The angel bit into another slice of apple. The satisfying crunch in the silence finally whet Crowley’s own appetite. He flicked his wrist and a bright red replica of the angel’s supper fell into his hand.

Aziraphale looked hurt. “I hadn’t realized this tree’s fruit dissatisfied you.”

“What, did I hurt its feelings?”

“No,” Aziraphale said, taking a moment to examine himself, not wanting to lie. “But I’m quite proud of this tree.” He sat a little taller. “I planted and raised it from seed myself, you know.”

Crowley -- who had been leaning against the apple tree’s trunk since the early morning -- sat up and scrutinized the bark as though he’d just noticed it were there. 

“Well what’d you go and do something like that for? When you could just --”

He snapped his long fingers. A few paces off, a plum tree that had not been there before shivered in a gentle breeze that had not been caused by anything but a general notion.

Aziraphale flushed. “I couldn’t. I wouldn’t. They’ve been cracking down on miracles that are not meant for a heavenly purpose. Besides, I found that I rather enjoyed the process of raising a living thing. You might try it, learn a thing or two. Watering, trimming, revisiting the little sapling now and again to encourage it out of the ground. And it clearly paid off. It took time and it took patience. And it was beautiful. The way God intended.”

Crowley gagged. Time and patience. The plum tree disappeared, but a pile of fresh, dark plums remained at his arm’s length, the skin so deeply purple they were almost black. “Suit yourself,” he said. “Just seems a waste of time.”

“Of course you’d think that,” Aziraphale said. “You know, it’s your constant need for excitement that gets you into trouble. You never sit still.”

“I do!” Crowley defended through a mouthful of bleeding plum. “I am now! And I do when I...you know, when I...you know.”

Aziraphale did not know, but he waited patiently for Crowley to realize that. Crowley did not elaborate.

He tossed his half-eaten fruit into the field, grumbling, “Who came up with the name ‘lullaby’ anyway? They’ve been rubbish at naming things from the Beginning. I’ll never forgive them for the turtle dove...Lullaby. Luhll. Ahhh. Bye. Stupid from the start. Lull....”

“For a dissenter, it sure sticks to your tongue easily.”

“So does mud. Doesn’t make it worth the taste. They think they’re so clever. If they’re so clever, switch things up a bit, do. All those songs, all lullabies ever talk about are dreams and trees and all the pain coming your way if you don’t fall asleep right this instant. All these languages since Babel and not a single one has whipped together hardly anything to move me to tears. Frankly, I’m just not impressed.”

He stopped. Not because he was finished. He felt eyes on him. Angel eyes, confused and concerned, and certainly out of their element.

Aziraphale cleared his throat. “Perhaps if you let them know that you have been their target audience all along, they’d show improvement. Better yet, put all that wealth of yours to use and commission one to your liking. Lord knows why you care in the first place.”

Aziraphale’s apple had finally been reduced to its core. The knife he was using ceased to exist.

“They’re too much like you lot,” Crowley continued. “Or at least you. Moving so slow. Doing slow things and inventing things that make them move even slower. Want to put the goblins to sleep? They’ve got spells for that. Spoon o’ brandy will do the trick. Or a knock upside the head. Practically instantaneous.”

Aziraphale bristled. “I thank God no one has put a child in your care.”

“On that, angel, we assent.”

The angel stood up, brushed out his jacket and tights. “I best get a move on. Several evening miracles to perform in the next town over.”

Crowley didn’t move, but he was suddenly standing. “Likewise. Which way are you headed?”

Aziraphale pointed to the north.

Crowley jabbed a thumb over his shoulder toward the south.

“Will you be in Scotland long?”

Crowley looked out to the empty fields. “Depends on what I can find here. I suppose if you’ll be around, I’ll be around. You know. Cancel --”

“Cancel each other out. Yes,” Aziraphale said, low and bristling, turning to the north. “Well, good evening to you.”

He paused. “I hope you find a song to suit your heart.” And he started north across the field, leaving Crowley, who did not turn to the south, alone beneath the apple tree. 

Crowley slumped down against the trunk with his legs stretched toward the setting sun.

Sunsets start to look the same the more you see and the longer you live. There had been only a handful of truly extraordinary sunsets that stuck in Crowley’s busy memory since the Beginning, and few of them were memorable without their contexts. Context is everything. He’d given up long ago on watching sunsets for the hope of an explosion of color to beat the rest. But he still appreciated the thrill of witnessing night stretch over the world like a lumbering dragon splaying out for a nap.

He missed dragons. Not many of them left, nowadays.

As darkness settled in, Crowley began a meditation of his own.

All around him, he felt history’s fine threads weave through the air. Ghosts and imprints left on the surface of the earth and the face of Time itself that had disappeared from visual perception, but lingered as golden strands only few could ever see. Battles and laughter, deaths and creation, all tangled together and tumbling, just above the ground and through the rich soil. Threads thick as vines wrapping around the trunk of the apple tree. The eternal, distant echoes of screams and songs looping round and round the earth like Saturn’s rings, and if Crowley squinted hard enough, he could see their harmonies gleaming.

“I do sit still,” he said to no one in the dark. Or maybe, not to no one.

“Why do they get songs?” he wondered aloud. “What do they have to be comforted about? Everything is given to them, handed to them. All they do is sleep. Bet no one sings their parents songs. They’ve got the hardest of the lot. They’ve got all the troubles. No one writes lullabies for the ones who need them most.”

And he knew in his heart -- or the swirling matter he’d begun to think of as the place where part of his not-soul lived -- exactly why children got all the songs. Because children need distractions from all the Unknown they float in, until they can lift their heads and start finding answers for themselves. The Unknown is a terrible thing to dwell on, even for the youngest minds, whose curiosity more often than not sustains them.

And for the ones who know? Are there no songs for them? The Unknown scrambles the mind, yes, but the Certain, the Absolute, whittles the mind to a rounded end. Fixation on the Certain can be as maddening as floating in obscurity.

Crowley was falling back into fixation. Such was often the case whenever he sat still, so he tried to avoid it whenever possible. But true to pattern, his mind eventually numbed to the humming of the world, to the whispers of Time wrapping like gossamer around this green earth, invisible to all but the eyes of those who have seen more, who know more, and carry the burden of the Certain. And the boiling lake sloshing deep within the earth grew hot against his calves and the heels of his feet.

He tilted his head up to the sky and squinted into the cobalt. The harmonies of history came into focus, golden ribbons rippling in tired dance.

He hadn’t slept in nearly a century. When he last awoke, he’d missed a lot, and wasn’t anxious to miss any more. But now, unnamed weight rested on his head, a heavy fog that stings the eyes and confuses the senses. The kind with its own eyes lurking just beyond the haze. Not a comfortable Saturday morning fog, by any means.

He wanted to lie down forever. He wished this field were safe enough to do just that, but sensed beyond the hills the warm bodies of beasts waking up to hunt by dim starlight, and he fancied this body too much to risk its demise.

Suddenly, there was a snake, long, dark, and terrifying, and if someone were to notice this creature as it slithered around and up the wide tree trunk, they’d see its scales shimmering impossibly through the pitch black eve, reflecting an invisible light. It curled up on a scooping bough like an endless coil of shadowy rope, and it was thankful for the tree being there tonight. 

Snakes cannot hum. That’s impossible. But many impossible things had already happened that day, and the snake, feeling safe enough to do so within the dense shelter of leaves, tried his hand at melody, content for the words he deeply felt to remain unformed, unspoken, as the song was for him alone, and he was -- as he knew and feared -- quite alone for now.

[jani-studies]

hi guys!! i’ll be starting my second yr of ib in approx. 3 days, so here’s a long overdue list of quick tips for those of you who are entering the program!

1. Find an organization method that works for you. This is a given, and I’m not gonna push a traditional planner (which is what I use), but be sure to stay organized. Clearly mark every deadline, event, and assignment. It’ll make things much smoother and slightly easier.

2. Understand that things are hard. This was the biggest wake up call for me, as I had gotten almost straight 7s in my classes freshman and sophomore year without studying or putting much effort, so starting IB was really difficult for me. While my school had done a good job at prepping us, this was the first time I realized that the rigor is supposed to be amped up, and it took a toll on my mental health. It’s okay if you’re not getting hundreds on everything or not grasping the material on the first try. That’s NORMAL.

3. Keep your notes organized and easy to access. If your school is like mine, you’re taking your IB exams at the end of two years. TWO YEARS. Make sure your notes are easy to access and understand. End of senior year you will thank you.

4. Get out of your mind set. Especially with History and TOK, you’ll be forced to look at things from several perspectives and have to understand (and perhaps even make arguments for) perspectives that you may not have considered before. It’s really beneficial to look at things from a holistic point of view, which is one of the best things IB has taught me.

5. Do your EE research over the course of the year. My school requires us to write and submit the first draft of the EE by the end of May, so that helped because we didn’t have to worry about writing it over the summer, BUT I made the mistake of not really doing any substantial research. I started the EE the weekend it was due (it was due on Tuesday afternoon, and I started it Sunday afternoon), and as I was writing it, I was having fun researching it because I love my topic, but it would have been easier and more enjoyable if I already had my research done.

6. Choose topics you’re interested in. Especially because we’re given so much choice for IAs, it’s really important to choose things that you’re genuinely interested. I love American politics, government, and law, so I chose a Supreme Court case for my HI and the Eugenics Movement (+ its connection to the justice system) for my EE, and doing research and writing were so much fun. I also did a creative IO because I love theatre and chose a topic that I was passionate about for my TOK presentation, so those were easy to do as well. You probably catch my drift already.

7. SLEEP. I asked a lot of my friends what tips they wanted me to put, and my friend said to prioritize sleep (as in: if your work isn’t done by 10PM, just go to sleep and do it tomorrow). While I personally work well regardless of whether or not I slept 8 hours the night, try to sleep as much as you can.

8. Partner with someone for your TOK presentation. Even if you work better alone, each person gives you 10 minutes for the presentation, and a 20-30 minute presentation will be able to be much more thorough than a 10 minute. All of my friends who did presentations alone felt rushed unless they practiced really well, so partnering up may be really beneficial here.

9. Read more. I take English Lit HL, so maybe it matters less for English Lit and Lang (or English B??), but I read more for leisure this year as a New Years Resolution and it helped greatly for doing work (especially in english class) because I felt like my brain was constantly in analysis mode and used to being in that mode. I also really like reading.

10. Prioritize yourself and your health (mental and physical). Stay hydrated! Eat! Have a good support system! I had way too many breakdowns in the bathroom stall this year because life was hard, and I did not see myself making it through the school year, but here I am to tell the story! I could not have made it without a support system who talked me through things and made sure I was eating and drinking and fine. Sometimes it’s good to cry it out, but don’t use “treat yo self” as an excuse to not get work done, especially if you’re aware that you’re doing it.

Those are my quick tips! Let me know if you want me to go into anything specifically, or you can message me with any questions or if you just wanna chat about IB! 

Good luck!

[yoolee]

50 SLBP Prompts

I am having an off morning. For a lot of reasons. My primary method for handling these bouts is to chug water, and pour the nervous energy into whatever the heck comes to mind and hope the heartbeat thing sorts itself out while I ignore it, so, here you go. Some of these will be terrible. Most of them will be ridiculous because it’s me y’all I don’t write angsty or meaningful substance-y stuff it’s all ballet and feather boas. Don’t judge me on how many superhero ones there are I’m on a kick. AND WHATEVER you don’t have to do anything with them if you don’t like them but you can if you do

Yukimura

Yukimura and MC are having a fight – Saizo is off on a mission, so Nobuyuki has to fix it.

“I don’t think he can get redder. Unless…” “Oh no,” started the chef, “Not a chance.”

Usually Saizo handles the ninja missions, but this time you and Yukimura have to go to undercover and please stop laughing Saizo we’re trying okay.

Saizo

Soulmate AU where when your soulmate first speaks to you, the words appear permanently over your heart – which incidentally, is why Saizo kept his mouth shut when you met as children.

Superhero (villain?) AU where the little fox half-mask is not fooling anyone. Except you, probably.

You’re very tired of Saizo trying to push you away for your own good, so you decide to turn the tables. Sort of.

Ieyasu:

You get three wishes and Ieyasu has to grant them – but he’ll do so as he pleases, so, be careful what you wish for.

Ieyasu’s ticked off a vengeful spirit and now one or the both of you can only say the exact opposite of what you mean. If it’s Ieyasu,  would you even notice?

You are about 99% certain that the local supervillain’s civilian identity is the cute jerk with a sweet tooth who never tips when he visits your restaurant and this time when you are kidnapped you decide to offer to cook while you wait for your hero to show up. Bonus points if your local superhero is a super grumpy Mitsunari who is unhappy with how many times you end up in this guy’s clutches come on seriously have you no self-awareness

Mitsunari:

Librarian AU where someone’s book is overdue

You’re supposed to be a respectful retainer of Hideyoshi but look at you, you’re scrawny and don’t know how to hold a sword, I’m going to fix that.

By insulting you that person also insulted Hideyoshi’s taste and I can’t have that we are having a makeover session now and when I am done with you you are going to show them that you are a stunning, gorgeous creature if it kills you.

Hideyoshi:

Cinderella story where Hideyoshi puts Nobunaga’s sandal on MC and declares it’s a fit.

You’ve been trying to work up the courage to ask Hideyoshi out on a date and it finally happened only you also realize that he sort of set the whole thing up and you two going out was his plan all along.

Hideyoshi is assembling a superhero team, and has to convince the Fox (Mitsunari) and the Strategist (Hanbei) to join, all while keeping his own personal Lois Lane (…MC) in the dark about his secret identity, and the head of the superhero syndicate (Nobunaga) happy.

Toshiie/Inuchiyo

This creepy guy (Magistrate) won’t leave me alone, quick, pretend to be my fiancé so he’ll stop

We’re at a festival and I finally confessed but there were fireworks and you didn’t hear me, now what

Soulmate AU where the last words spoken to one another appear on your hands the first time you meet, and you were just a kid and don’t really remember but I do, and I’m not sure I ever want you to know because they broke my heart.

Mitsuhide:

Mitsuhide runs a daycare and his most problematic child is actually his landlord, Nobunaga

It’s been four and a half centuries since Honnō-ji, but like clockwork, Mitsuhide and Nobunaga are standing across from one another, on the umpteenth reincarnation and umpteenth confrontation, and this time, it’s going to end differently. 

You’ve fallen in love with a book of poetry and bought everything the author’s written and you’re just gushing about it to some poor stranger on the train while on your way to culinary school and surprise, turns out he’s the author? 

Nobunaga:

Nobunaga is an ACTUAL Demon King and all you did was spill some spices and salt while reaching for the first aid kit, you weren’t actually trying to summon him, you swear.

After the number of times that Nobunaga has made MC be Princess Kaguya for one of his tournaments, the moon is actually starting to suspect she might be, and has let her know that it will be reclaiming her on the next full moon.

Modern political leader Nobunaga is super excited to drag his new personal chef on a private jet because the meeting he has to attend JUST HAPPENS to be in the same place that’s famous for its high quality ingredients and whoops we have to fend off some would-be assassins while in the air nbd.

Shingen:

MC is working for Kenshin, Shingen decides he wants her with him instead.

Vampire AU (he has a thing for biting, k?) – bonus if chef!MC is frustrated she can’t cook with garlic anymore or is panicking because she HAS been cooking with it this whole time

Shingen decides he should write an autobiography, but his retainers keep interjecting their own thoughts and perspectives whenever he leaves his notes out.

Kenshin:

AU where Kenshin owns a flower shop

MC has a date so she frantically asks Kenshin for styling help because he’s fashionable right? Except he decides she looks way too cute to handover to someone else.

Every item in his treasury has a story – it’s just not the one he tells to other people.  

Masamune:

 Surprise! He actually IS a dragon. And in all his time as a dragon, no one has ever dared talk to him until this little chef heard his dragon tummy rumble and made him porridge, and now he’s walking around as a human and hey look, this restaurant has porridge and it smells familiar…

 All Masamune wants to do is read his book in peace. It’s not going well.

 This whole time I thought you were Yahiko but I went to your restaurant to meet your sister and ‘Yahiko’ greeted me and now I’m not sure if your parents are just bad at names or if something’s up.

Kojuro:

 Adventures in Babysitting: The Early Oshu Years OR Teenage Kojuro is going to have ONE night of not being a responsible adult before the existential terror of being responsible for these two guys who have been through so much and have no one else really hits home.

 I’d really like to take you out on ONE date that doesn’t end in bandits attacking, but here we are again, you brought your weapon right? 

 Several years ago, a cursed object was sent as a ‘gift’ to Kojuro but it got lost in his messy room and you’re cleaning it and whoops, should not have picked that up you’re cursed now. Except, the cursecaster didn’t account for half a decade of inactivity...

Shigezane:

 I’m sorry you got dumped because the other person fell for Kojuro but I think you’re really cool but I don’t know how to tell you that so I’m just going to feed you and hope you pick up on it or that I get the gumption to talk to you before you’re done eating. 

I THOUGHT my personal superhero who keeps rescuing me from all these supervillains (and my restaurant’s jerky landlord) was the quiet customer with the eyepatch but it’s actually his cousin and I just found out by accident and was not expecting that. 

 You are bound and determined to protect the castle at all costs in Shigezane’s absence so when a burglar breaks into his bedroom in the middle of the night you don’t even hesitate to hit him with a vase. Too bad it’s actually Shigezane, who got home and just didn’t want to wake everyone up.

Side Characters:

Kagieie: We’re on a mission for Kenshin and the weather got really bad and so now we’re stuck at an inn that only had one room left.

Kanetsugu: Kenshin’s retainers all rally to (try) and give the man a relaxing spa day.

Toramatsu: Our boss is a total jerk and I can’t believe he is making you go get coffee (that he won’t even drink) for the eleventh time today and it’s almost 2 AM there’s no way I’m letting you go alone but—oh wait the elevator’s stuck.

Kiyohiro: I tried to build a snowman but it wasn’t the same without so I came to see you and whoops now we’re snowed in.

Oichi: Nobunaga may have disappeared, but Oichi is not about to let the Oda clan fall under anyone else’s leadership– she’s taking history into her own hands.

Nobuyuki: Your small restaurant is about to be taken over by a large corporation, lucky for you your favorite customer has a plan – whether you’re going to like it or not.

Tadakatsu: No one actually ever noticed you were in disguise, but since your cooking is too good to risk, you got assigned as a page to Tadakatsu.

Kansuke: After being invisible nearly his entire life, Kansuke decides that for one day – ONE day – he is going to be memorable.

Hotaru: Accidentally tells the MC to ‘do what whatever she wants’ instead of making it a suggestion

Generic Retainers #1-#3: All we wanted was some peace and quiet and a decent job but somehow we always end up getting beaten up by these samurai over some girl – and oh shoot, she just walked in.

Yasumasa: I really hate this girl but I am also SORT of addicted to her cooking and she got tired of Ieyasu’s BS and went back to her home in Kyoto and now I’m in Kyoto and her restaurant is RIGHT. THERE. smelling amazing and such.

Ye Olde AU List

Coffeeshop AU

Corporate AU

College AU

Mermaid AU

Fairytale AU

Circus AU

Mafia AU

Band AU

Sports AU

Bodyswap AU

[legallynoir]

Throwing Out the Umbrella: Why is the Supreme Court Eliminating Preclearance Coverage?

Note- This was originally an assignment for my Race & Law class, but I liked it so much, here so here it is:

It has been almost eight years since the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (“VRA”) of its preclearance coverage formula in Shelby County v. Holder. Preclearance is defined as the process of seeking governmental approval for all changes to voting procedures. Before the VRA, southern states utilized various strategies like literacy tests, poll taxes, redrawing voter maps, and at-large elections to disenfranchise Black voters. The VRA was enacted to guarantee that no citizen would be denied voting rights based on their color or race. Under Sections 4(b) and 5, a preclearance coverage formula was created for states and localities with a substantial history of racial discrimination. Section 5 specifically enforced a preclearance requirement which prohibited jurisdictions from implementing any change affecting voting without receiving preapproval from the U.S. attorney general that the change does not discriminate against protected minorities.

Such legislation was justified based on the exceptional conditions of these states. At its best, the provision held jurisdictions accountable when they attempted to enact discriminatory electoral practices. Once passed, the covered jurisdictions included Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Virginia, and additional jurisdictions were added later. In 2006, Congress extended the protections for another twenty-five years.

The Supreme Court Got It Wrong. Nevertheless, in a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court in Shelby contended that the preclearance formula implemented under Section 4(b) was outdated and unconstitutional to determine which states were required to have their voting rights approved. Supporters of the Court’s decision have held that the Court’s contentions were appropriate and overdue. Such supporters have argued not only are race policies like preclearance harmful to society, but voter suppression and disenfranchisement are a thing of the past. The VRA has successfully reduced voter suppression, and as a result, such treatment is no longer justified.

But did the Supreme Court get it right? As the late Justice Ginsberg notoriously stated in her disagreement of the majority’s decision: “[t]hrowing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.”

Without preclearance, the impact of Shelby was immediate. Several states instantly implemented harsh election laws without oversight, directly impacting predominately poor and minority voters. Alabama implemented a voter identification act but declined to submit for preclearance. Texas enforced stricter photo identification acts a day after the decision. North Carolina likewise passed a bill that imposed a photo ID requirement but also shortened the number of early voting days and eliminated same-day registration. Mississippi imposed its own identification act, which had not previously received preclearance approval.

A recent report concluded that several formerly covered states had closed numerous polling locations and eliminated voters off their voter rolls substantially more than non-covered jurisdictions. From such evidence, voter discrimination and disenfranchisement are not only still present but widespread. Congress surely believed that maintaining Section 5 was needed to ensure we continued to move toward equal enjoyment of the right to vote. So why didn’t the Supreme Court? Why is the Supreme Court throwing out our umbrella if we are still getting wet?

It is Still Raining! Not only are we still getting wet, but we are getting soaked. The Supreme Court’s ruling of Shelby has shown us they are colorblind to the discrimination that still occurs in electoral decisions. Supporters of Shelby will argue that the VRA preclearance requirements are no longer needed, but evidence and data suggest otherwise. De facto racism, minority disenfranchisement, and political underrepresentation in many previously covered jurisdictions show why preclearance should still be required under Section 5.

Firstly, negative racial attitudes against minorities still prevail in covered jurisdictions. Research has extensively shown that bloc voting triggers racial attitudes and stereotypes. Under a voting bloc, a group of voters is strongly motivated by a common concern that such concerns dominate their voting patterns and result in them voting together during elections. Racial animosity is engrained in the ideology of segregation and often serves as the foundation for structures that enforce political exclusion and discrimination. Data taken between 2000 to 2010 has shown such beliefs continue to persist and remain substantially more widespread in covered jurisdictions when compared to those non-covered. For example, in 2008, 48% of White individuals in Section 5 jurisdictions agreed with the statement that “Blacks should work their way up without any special favors.” 66% percent agreed that if Blacks would “only try harder, they could be just as well off as Whites.”

This evidence on racial stances shows a clear and steady pattern, signifying a persistent consequence of institutionalized marginalization. Such clear examples of negative racial attitudes demonstrate why Congress decided to maintain the preclearance formula for covered jurisdictions in 2006. However, the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby will do nothing but reinforce such stances further and deter the racial progress made under Section 5. The evidence of racial attitudes in covered jurisdictions is why such Section 5 coverage is still needed and required.

In addition to negative racial attitudes prevailing in Section 5 jurisdictions, racially polarized voting also remains more prevalent. In its report in 2006, Congress noted that a critical factor in supporting reauthorization was the sustained pattern of racially polarized voting. The report stated, “that the degree of racially polarized voting in the South is increasing…not decreasing…[and is] in certain ways recreating the segregated system of the Old South, [notwithstanding] a de facto system with minimal violence rather than the de jure system of late.” Numerous studies have demonstrated how polarized voting inhibits minority voters from realizing their political power, like running for office and developing broader policy interests.

Not only are covered jurisdictions more negatively influenced by racial stances and more likely to have a racially polarized jurisdiction, but they are also more likely to adopt measures that result in voter suppression. Data has shown that states fully covered by Section 5 were more than twice as likely as non-covered states to enact policies that made voting more challenging for Black citizens. Additionally, fully covered states were more likely to enforce a combination of restrictions, expanding the effect of disqualification. For example, states fully covered by Section 5 are more likely to implement laws requiring citizens to show burdensome identification to prove their identities or citizenship before voting. The disproportionate impact on minority voters is well-established, and the Supreme Court has previously recognized that states may not impose an excessively burdensome requirement on any class of voters.

The Supreme Court previously noted in Thornburg v. Gingles polarizing voting is one of the most apparent indicators in a jurisdiction that a federal anti-discrimination remedy is needed. Then why has the Court removed preclearance coverage and argued it is no longer required? Why has the Supreme Court decided to throw out our umbrella when it is still pouring? Section 5 provided such a remedy, but what the Court failed to see is that preclearance coverage is an ongoing solution. It was not intended to end once the blatantly discriminatory means that blocked access to voting no longer existed. We were shielded from such discrimination because of the coverage of the Section 5 umbrella. Without it, we will continue to get wet.

Yes, It Is Worth It. Perhaps it is because the cost of carrying such an umbrella is expensive, as supporters of Shelby like to argue. Supporters have contended that the severe costs of race-driven regulation have increased as racism has declined. What Shelby’s supporters do not realize is that getting wet is more damaging. Voting inequality for minorities ultimately results in minority disenfranchisement and electoral underrepresentation. While carrying an umbrella is costly, staying dry needs to be the priority for voter equality. The reason why racism has waned is because of the preclearance umbrella. Without regulations like Section 5 in place, voter disenfranchisement, suppression, and discrimination will increase. The Supreme Court has clearly stated we expect and know that many people will get wet, but is it worth keeping them dry? They fail to see that many of us are bound to get drenched if we throw out the umbrella now.

[arichhipster]

Extra! Extra! Life As a Movie Extra in New Mexico

(LIFE OF A MOVIE EXTRA...... Er, I suggest.... BACKGROUND ARTIST)

As I left the house, I glanced on the outdoor thermometer. It examine five under. Thankfully the car started out. Once on the street, as I approached my destination, in the nonetheless-morning darkness, I became off the primary street and observed the road of purple tail lighting up the hill's dirt music in the direction of the properly-lit tents above. Through the frozen tundra, I walk from the auto to the primary tent, greeted through warm smiles and friendly exchanges as I checked in, thankful that the changing room turned into amply heated https://new-solarmovie.com/countries After six previous workdays, the changeover from civilian to duration western garments turned into old hat now; long johns first, fast adding blouse, pants, each with severa buttons, suspenders, boots, jacket, work gloves and hat, all of the even as speaking to my fellow comrades. Next, stand in line to get grubby, as hair and makeup girls dirty you up. I look inside the mirror, thinking who that desperado is that's staring returned at me.

Finished, I throw my civilian jacket over cloth wardrobe, and walk returned outdoor into the frigid air, trying no longer to slip on snow, ice and cables as I slowly assignment towards the eating tent for some short breakfast and important hot coffee. People are often subdued internal, something to do with the numbing bloodless.

A closely jacketed woman with a headset steps into the tent and yells to us "The van is right here!" Begrudgingly we step returned out into the bloodless, slide into the vehicles and tour closer to the western town this is just beginning to emerge in the dawning mild. Crawl out of the van. If the temperature rises above freezing, the snow we are hiking through turns into a muddy mess later. Somebody yells "I see Props" and we go and outfit ourselves with our weapons and holsters. More salutations from bundled team contributors as you walk towards the protecting facility hoping for one ultimate cup of coffee which of course isn't always brewed but. Too overdue besides, you're needed for the first shot of the day. It's time to play make-agree with. You locate solace questioning at least Russell Crowe and Christian Bale appearance cold as properly.

You glance round at your surroundings and say. "Hey, here I am, status inside the center of a Hollywood movie, ready to play a gunman in an Old West town." There's simplest one character I recognize who would be silly enough to position up with these situations for so little pay...I MUST BE A MOVIE EXTRA (or heritage artist as we within the commercial enterprise choose to be called). Forget approximately my close-up shot, I thought. Just area me inside the warm temperature of the solar!

And so starts another day as a movie greater on a movie manufacturing set. Usually the climate situations are not so intense as this particular New Mexico January day changed into at the set of "3:10 To Yuma", but while they're...Properly, that simply provides to the story.

Given those conditions, why could one want to be an Extra? Is it for the cash...Hardly ever, although for many it's far a paying activity which human beings are finding tougher to come by in recent times. Is it for the hazard to look your face on the silver display, if most effective for a 2d? There's the carrot on a stick enticement, the opportunity of having a speaking component, which right now catapults you to a higher pay scale, and a cooler pair of sunglasses. The rumor whisperers proclaim, "You know so-and-so large call actor began his career as an additional".

How about the opportunity for a departure from the normal habitual, gambling a man or woman that's quite one of a kind out of your ordinary self?

Other reasons might be the social benefit the prolonged circle of relatives bond offers that develops amongst fellow extras who have worked together on preceding movie productions; the capability to have a look at moviemaking firsthand; and the ego enhance you experience when you receive a pleasant nod or salutation from a chief movie star. And sure, there is additionally an inexpensive paycheck and complimentary food.

For me, it's a majority of these reasons, and maximum veritably for the tales.

In current years, Hollywood has arrived with a vengeance in New Mexico, a country with a moviemaking records so long as the enterprise itself. When I first moved right here in '94 several movie and TV productions have been ongoing. A woman pal of mine told me about a casting name. I stood in line in the resort lobby till a person in casting took my Polaroid and asked if I turned into to be had in two weeks. One surprise smartphone call later, I turned into attempting on my new western cloth cabinet for the TV mini-collection "Buffalo Girls". I've been in most cases available ever considering the fact that.

Movie hobby quick lapsed into a lull during the late 90s; but, new tax incentives for the film industry (and our a lot less expensive hard work force) created a resurgence in moviemaking in the past 5 years. Today, whilst the tediously lengthy casting call traces and Polaroid headshots have given manner to new methods like Internet bulletins, digital pictures and e-mailed resumes, lifestyles as a further has remained highly the identical. One moment hasn't modified; the manner you experience after a long twelve-hour workday, having worked due to the fact earlier than sunrise to sundown; you are cold and tired, standing in line within the dark ready to return your wardrobe so you can check out and go home...All at once exhausted and gratified.

If you are trying to pursue history greater work as a full-time profession, my advice would be high-quality to hold your day activity. A bendy paintings time table (unemployed being the exceptional) is a prerequisite for running as a further. The nature of the enterprise is to be geared up to paintings at a moment's observe which is near not possible if you paintings a often scheduled task.

It's no marvel Hollywood enjoys working with us New Mexicans, and plenty of production human beings will gladly country this reality. The majority of extras I've labored with are a very courteous, amiable, uncomplaining, cooperative, tolerant lot, some distance distinct we are informed from our "large town" cousins lower back in LA. Of course, even within this high-quality group of New Mexico extras there are constantly those exceptions, the demanding standouts: The Braggart, whose alleged credentials are without problems challenged; the Movie Star Wannabee Schmoozer who's determined for the large danger, willing to dangle and cajole all of us who they assume will assist circulate them up the stardom ladder; and of path, every big group has at the least one chronic complainer. Fortunately, those individuals get weeded out quite rapid.

I appreciate the eclectic, unbiased, iconoclastic kind individuals who often gravitate to this bendy innovative line of work: the creative, impartial people (artisans, rock band roadies, jack of all trades); the worldly iconoclasts (hippies, vacationers, philosophers); the tough-working, generous blue-collar souls who love the hazard to act out special roles inside the movies; the destiny movie makers; the unemployed; the curious; the ones looking for a loving, worrying circle of relatives; musicians between gigs; ex-veteran pensioners; those folks who come from sad houses and economic conditions looking for escapism and happiness; the real cowboys; those pursuing movie production careers; the coolest souls whose honesty and wellknown kindness has harm them in the cruel, actual global of commercial enterprise; and those individuals stepping out in their recurring exercises.

Learning the Hollywood lingo is a part of the process's attraction: terms which includes "back to at least one", "that turned into extremely good--- permit's do one greater", "martini shot", "checking the gate"' "this is a wrap", "silence on the set"' "checking sound", and "Action!" For a veteran history artist, this film jargon coats you in a mantle it really is fun to put on.

What is an ordinary day on the set? Days are lengthy. While on some productions you are working an awesome portion of the day on set, regularly you're waiting in some preserving room or tent, possibly hours in length, 9 hours my document, before you are referred to as for a scene. During these off digital camera moments, it is as much as you whether to make the most of the waiting state of affairs either thru social conversations or through quietly analyzing a ebook, gambling playing cards or chess, ingesting snacks, or, as what came about after nine hours of waiting on the "Beerfest" film set retaining location, breakdancing and lap dancing. Otherwise, you may pick to whine, pout and be commonly uninterested in the revel in. That man or woman can constantly move lower back to paintings on the thrilling vocation of financial institution clerk.

Regretfully, as an additional you are stored broadly speaking within the dark as to the storyline and the way your small contribution applies to the context of the movie. Very little is told to you approximately the scene or what sort of person you are gambling, so regularly as an extra you tend to create your very own person tale. You pay attention "Action!" yelled so that you begin to pantomime your imaginary speak with others as you sit down at a desk or stroll down a street. Suddenly the director yells, "Great...That turned into exceptional, everyone" and the scene is over. This method your cognitive instincts for the scene were spot on tremendous, or your presence wasn't even on digicam so it didn't depend what the heck you have been doing. I examined this concept out on "Into The West" by using acting Monty Python fashion backward funny walks at some point of my history crossings, and the scene turned into perfect; just as I idea, not on digital camera.

A given truth but is when you are seen on digital camera, and you're not doing what the director needs, to your know-how or in any other case; a director's tongue-lashing can arise, plenty to your humiliated chagrin.

On the rare occasion a director, AD, AAD (assistant, assistant director) or casting director actually enlightens us film extras as to the context of the scene we are approximately to movie and its relevance to the screenplay, it is significantly liked and facilitates us get prompted and obsessed on our position.

We're the background coloration, an imperative function in the scene's final outcome. We complete the scene's surroundings by bringing "the set" to lifestyles, offering the social environment from which the principle actors play off of, in place of forcing them to paintings in a vacuum.

Sometimes one's first-time more enjoy can be hard. One negative woman on the set for "Wild, Wild West" fainted difficult after succumbing to the mixed results of August heat and suffocating corset. Stoically, she attempted again the following day, only to be nearly trampled by horses at some stage in the chaos scene. Never noticed her again after that.

There's an artwork to getting on camera with out being too pushy or apparent. Get stuck mugging the digital camera, and, like what occurred to a pricey friend of ours, you are fired instant, which of direction now provides an possibility for a person else. The vintage standby, the casting sofa, or trailer, or tent, can nonetheless paintings, as a minimum temporarily. I have also discovered that one's possibilities are substantially improved in the event that they work on a comedy, for there are actually higher screen opportunities for extras on comedies than in dramas. Mostly, however, the best manner, which is totally out of your manipulate, is having "the right look" that a director wants. Before you understand it, you're positioned in a scene prepared to confront Pierce Brosnan or Liam Neeson. Suddenly, the director yells "and...Action!

Sometimes your digital camera time might encompass a few exciting computer graphics and make-up. If you've got been painstakingly, grotesquely rearranged via makeup artists to play a zombie, augmented with horrifying prosthetics, it is able to only be you that recognizes yourself whilst your horrifying face debuts at the screen.

I did a particular double-take at the "Unspeakable" movie jail set after I walked past Dennis Hopper's head sitting on a table, after which Dennis Hopper himself exceeded me via within the corridor.

You might not experience the dramatic scene you are taking part in, while status in front of a computer graphics "blue screen"; but, your jaw-losing aghast reaction may want to measure your appearing competencies since you're supposedly responding to a robot monster achieving towards you, no longer a scraggly droopy-pants group member.

On the "Beerfest" movie set, the emphasis changed into whatever however actual beer in our mugs. First, production attempted an ineffective vacuum system designed to suck near-beer out of our mugs, frequently with hilarious outcomes. Next process turned into to digitize the beer into our empty mugs. We because the Irish beer drinking group took moderate offense at these methods in view that first, in fact, we would have out drank the Germans, and 2d, we should have without problems drunk real beers in report competitive time!

And with set layout it is excellent not to look too closely, for in the course of the ones dramatic funeral scenes, the somber cinematic mood is probably broken if the audience knew who is without a doubt written on those movie styrofoam cemetery tombstones like Yo Mama, Three Stooges and Jethro Tull.

In some instances the story in the back of the film is greater pleasing than the film itself. The city of Madrid become selected via Disney to represent the all-American town ready with white-wood fences, flora, lace curtains, heat nearby diner, and Chili festival. However, there aren't any white wooden fences here in actual lifestyles; extra accurately associated with black wood enamel, gauged through some of the locals' abusive usage of crack. The city's decor is more raw and cool, than homespun, seeing that its origin as a coal mining metropolis and later, a hippie haven. The diner, now a tourist enchantment, turned into built in particular for the movie and any actual local would say, "We do not need no stinkin' Chile festival!"

There is the symmetry connection with Disney that is also charming. Flying over Madrid, an old coal mining city inside the overdue 20s, Walt Disney became so captivated by way of the metropolis's twinkling display of Christmas lighting, the scene inspired him to years later create the Disney World Parade of Lights. Disney, the company, had lower back to pay their respects to Madrid, in their personal warped corporate manner.

On some of films our old prison has been used for more than one units, occasionally at the same time as an antique jail which includes on the film "Unspeakable". Over twenty years in the past, the old jail have been witness to a macabre, deadly jail riot massacre and siege. Even nowadays blood stains are still visible from that horrible occasion and tales ran rampant at the set about team member's character reports with ghost sightings and other eerie sensations.

I'll regularly listen people ask "How do huge actors behave--- are the rumors true?" I recognize our tabloid-pushed inquisitive minds need to accept as true with the memories of prima donnas, spoiled brat temper tantrums and privileged treatments; however, in truth, the actors I've visible behave in a professional, conscientious manner on the set. They pay attention attentively to the director's recommendation and vice versa. Some actors can be very personable with the extras, other extra remote, staying in person or reviewing their lines. Some actors are very secure, taking the off digicam moment to journey their horses or trip their bikes between scenes. Sometimes you overhear the actor's occasional disgruntled tone which a few manufacturing member tried to speedy assuage. Heck, you pay attention those tones from us all the time. It become difficult however to restrain from giggling or yelling "Martin, come on!" while Martin continually arrived on the "Wild Hogs" Madrid set with his bodyguard entourage, pushed in a Mercedes golfcart for the arduous 3 blocks from his triple-decker luxurious bus whilst a beautiful assistant carried a mini-fan to hold him cool.

The movie and TV industry has been so prolific at some stage in the Santa Fe/Albuquerque/Las Vegas place, your day by day distinctions among fiction and reality start to blur. The second felt surreal while, after having watched "Swing Vote", I left the film theater simplest to pass the equal grandstand featured in the film on Rodeo Road simply ten minutes later. Blink, look again, and there may be "Astronaut Farmer's" united states of america fair. South of metropolis there may be one rural stretch wherein I assume to come upon the simultaneous convergence of "Wild Hogs" bikers, Billy Bob Thorton's rocketship, and a rough-searching Colorado Volunteers marching regiment.

Even a avenue crossing on downtown Albuquerque's Central Ave. Takes on a new dimension when you have to be cautious of large Transformer robots stepping on you!

Not discounting the great current successes of so many diverse film and TV cutting-edge project topics made on this country, New Mexico's center essence nevertheless embodies the traditional American Western. Once you are fully outfitted in western garb, and you are taking the moment to absolutely embody your environment, a dusty, windswept street within the middle of a western metropolis, a very special feeling envelops you. Your mind can also flashback to youth fantasies, gambling a cowboy or gunfighter, remembering studying testimonies of the Old West or seeing your first wild west TV display or film. On western sets the heritage artists virtually appear to be our pioneer ancestors, a length of records which was honestly only some generations ago.

Pierce Brosnan turned into fascinated by how much our motley institution clearly sported long hair and beards, wore cowboy hats, chewed tobacco, demonstrated know-how of horses and guns, and who nonetheless slept in tents.

While at the set, youngsters fast modify and revert to less complicated pleasures. Townsmen tip their hats to women in bonnets at the same time as the gunslingers exercise twirling their plastic weapons, hoping to be issued real guns for the shootout scene.

Western movies generally tend to have the most tough climate situations, either blistering hot within the summer, blow-dried dusty inside the spring, and brutally bloodless at some stage in the wintry weather months, which perversely is the favorite season for maximum productions.

The western set can also be the most hazardous. A properly-skilled choreographer and horse wrangler coordinator is obligatory for, if ill-prepared, tragedy may additionally strike. Such have been the instances on the primary day of shooting on "3:10 to Yuma" wherein a horse changed into mortally wounded and rider critically injured, or the primary day of filming the Sand Creek Massacre reenactment on "Into The West" wherein severa horse accidents took place. And, during the filming of "Wild, Wild West", there are careless acts along with the dearth of notification to some forgotten extras that they had to clean the western set earlier than production blew it up. Fortunately, no extras were blown up! And they worry approximately animal mistreatment.

With the latest proliferation of film activity, many new faces have arrived inside the business, while most of the players of just ten years in the past have left the region or long gone on to other endeavors. Sometimes you have to permit own family members go away the nest. Except for the few envious ones, most of the people of us extras are pleased whilst a person from our extended circle of relatives receives a speakme element.

It's a profession wherein one minute you are ready to retire, especially after a grueling fourteen hour day, however then you definitely get the itch to get returned into it, for some other shot at stardom, for some other interesting story, and primarily due to the fact you leave out your buddies.

[paxtonblogkey-blog]

11 Ways to Completely Ruin Your http://www.key.org.pl/

Who else really wants to increase their credit history rating inside a hurry? Do you do have a big obtain arising? Pondering applying for your occupation.....or possibly a house loan or even Existence insurance policy to shield your family? It truly is astounding how important credit score is within our Culture...and Should you be usually are not cautious, your credit history rating CAN continue to keep you from obtaining ahead in everyday life.

™

But I need you to definitely do me a favor. Shut your eyes and...

one. Consider owning Ideal, unblemished credit for The 1st time in your life.

two. Imagine possessing an ENVIABLE credit history score of 750 or bigger... and never currently being humiliated again to submit an application for anything at all

3. Imagine having the ability to get WHAT you want... when you need it, and knowing with a hundred% certitude you will be Accepted, ahead of signing on the dotted line

four. Think about merely currently being self-assured in your credit.. and in no way emotion ASHAMED, ever once more, about what your credit claims about you.

The truth?

You CAN raise your credit history rating significantly... and you may make it happen inside of a hurry at the same time! Better still information? You needn't seek the services of an expensive lawyer, or credit score repair service clinic to really make it happen either.

Here is the best way I know to boost your credit score by 147 factors or maybe more... and infrequently in ninety days or less.

I call it the OIPD process, and in this article it is down below:

O - Order your credit reports

I - Itemize (and understand) your information and facts

P - Prioritize your derogatory listings

D - Dispute or challenge them absent!

Now...usually there are some subtleties to every in the products over, Specifically I by D. (Buying is pretty easy) But ALL credit history repair service units use some variation of my straightforward OIPD technique earlier mentioned, and it's really MUCH easier than it Seems, especially if you are merely starting to know how credit restoration is effective. But suffice it to mention... when you START disputing merchandise on the file, Specially those that are 2 several years previous or longer... you will start off observing your SCORE go UP... along with your destructive entries happening, too..:-)

The bottom line?

There has LITERALLY never ever been an improved time, than at the moment... to raise your credit history rating. With numerous folks suffering from destructive credit score due to unprecedented economic hardship, the credit companies are truly overcome with function. (which Surprisingly... would make YOUR position of repairing your individual credit history significantly less complicated than ever before...particularly when you hurry and get rolling right now!)

Lousy debt is often a personal debt which makes you poorer, to make sure that Slash in costs is much better than shelling out desire to your bills. Your credit rating report contains information about you including your account history, credit restrictions, and punctuality of payments so examining within your credit score report can assist you location identification theft. It could possibly probably show whether or not unauthorized inquiries and purposes for credit rating have already been created, or if accounts are already opened on your title.

You are able to protect your self from identity theft by routinely examining your credit history Heritage for precision and suspicious action. With whom you have accomplished enterprise that will also proven by credit history record which can be properly registered by Financial institutions as well as other agencies. Not all client reporting businesses accumulate the same details about you, it is effective to determine what every one is reporting and confirm that the information is accurate. When you submit a ask for, The patron reporting corporations may possibly look for even further facts from you by post. If you get an e-mail or cell phone more info http://www.key.org.pl/ phone requesting facts, Do not reply, and report any these action. You should definitely Check out your report for precision. It is your right to request that the information supplier as well as the reporting agency will make corrections to inaccurate details about you. In the event you locate any mistake, Speak to equally The patron reporting firm and the data provider straight away.

Goods that normally demonstrate up on the creditfile can involve:

The file by itself contains primary information about your own conversation with credit score which includes variety of moments you might have applied for any financial loan, credit card or home loan. Your credit file will likely include information regarding overdue sum (Should you have any) whether or not you have individual, business enterprise or professional mortgage assigned to your identify (By way of example In case you have a business and a company card). No matter what details contained in your report it continues to be, the contents will continue to be for various lengths of time. You will find different things you can do to improve your credit history score which provide and provides by yourself a better risk of showing a lot more creditworthy all through the organizations.

Right before applying for playing cards or loans test to uncover procedure for finding financial loans or cards also inquire about files wanted, it'll give fantastic sense to Financial institution or agency since they will conceive you're applying for the first time.

Don't apply for larger possibility credit rating since it just isn't favorable by creditors; for instance it can be reported that lenders don't love seeing Keep Charge cards mainly because retail store credit cards give sense that consumer has taken up desire absolutely free offers or ranks of superior hazard. 'Exceptional debts 'really should be paid if you find any on your credit rating file and ask the organization to change your credit score file (this tends to reflect as paid out on your own report). The above mentioned can assist to transform your score, and will help continue to keep it in great stead. The trick is to deal with your credit rating file proactively; as soon as There is certainly a concern, it really is harder to repair than rather than basically averting in the first place.

[fnewstoday]

What Credit Score Is Needed For A Personal Loan To Get Approval?

Personal loans help us solve many of our financial problems, regardless of what they are caused by. There are targeted personal loans for specific purposes, but most of them can be used for any purpose. Lenders most often examine your credit rating before approving such a loan. In this regard, many are interested in the question of what credit score is needed for a personal loan. A credit score is the first thing lenders pay attention to when they consider your loan application. The lower your credit score, the more risky the borrower you are considered. However, lenders take into account many other factors, so credit scores may be needed for a personal loan may vary from different lenders to different borrowers. Personal loans are also interesting because they usually allow us to quickly get the necessary money. If your credit rating is high enough, then you will pass the qualification easier and faster and get credit approval. Lenders try to minimize their risks, so they learn your creditworthiness and in each case a credit score will be different. Your credit score depends on many factors of your credit behavior. If you have overdue payments, a large amount of total debt, a lot of loans and a high balance on credit cards, then all of these factors lower your credit rating and decrease your credit score. To increase your chances of approving a personal loan, you should read the information we have prepared for you below. Read on to find out what credit score is needed for a personal loan. What is your credit rating? Personal loans have many varieties and each of them places its own requirements for borrowers, including credit score are needed. Most often, regardless of the type of personal loan, you need to have a credit rating of at least 630 points to get approval. Below this figure, the credit is already considered bad and risky for the lender. If you want to get the best possible interest rates in a particular case, then you will need a credit score at a level not lower than 740. In the USA, there are several credit bureaus that collect information on the borrowers' credit behavior, calculate credit scores and assign a credit rating. The most popular of them can be called FICO. Credit scores vary there from 300 to 850 and each lender, considering your application for a loan, inquires at one of the credit bureaus about what your current credit score is and what your credit history is. The grading of credit points is as follows: 300-559 points - considered bad credit. Also in this range is a credit when the borrower does not have a credit at all. In the first case, this happens when the borrower suffered bankruptcy and severely damaged his credit history without paying off many debts. If debts are given to debt collectors or the borrower has not paid several lenders at once, and it still remains due. Under these conditions, credit score are needed for a personal loan may be allowed to be lower, but the terms of the loan will be very tough and interest rates will be maximum. From 580 to 629, despite the fact that it is higher than the previous one, it is still not considered good. It is called a fair credit, but also suggests that the credit history was corrupted by defaults or a large number of overdue payments. In this case, the credit score is also low, but high interest rates may not be worth such an approval. Lenders themselves often recommend rebuilding your credit in a few months, and then come back with a loan application. A good loan starts at 630 points and goes on to 739. Such a credit score can provide you with a reasonably good interest rate and the chances of approving the loan will be very high. Further, from 740 to 799 points, is very good credit, which will allow you to get a personal loan at a low interest rate and on good terms with most lenders. An excellent credit from 800 to 850 points is not so often met, therefore, if you are one of the owners of such a great credit, then you will have the most advantageous offers for the largest amounts of loans from all lenders and at the best and most profitable interest rates may only be possible.

How-to-get -personal-loan-with-bad-credit How to apply for a personal loan The qualification requirements of different lenders may vary significantly, but almost everyone will have certain minimum requirements for the borrower. At a minimum, you will need a confirmed income of sufficient level and a credit score of a reasonable level. The lender must see that you will be able to repay the monthly payments from your income and that you are a fairly responsible borrower. Different types of financial organizations will have different requirements, but there is such a pattern that no matter what kind of company it is, the lower your credit score, the higher the interest rate and conditions will be for you, you may need to secure a loan with  your property. Conversely, the higher your credit rating and the better and longer your credit history, the lower interest rate for you will be and softer conditions. What Credit score is needed for a personal loan shows us that before applying for any personal loan, it is worth wondering at what level your credit rating is and if time permits, then try to improve it by raising your credit score. This will allow you to rely on loan approval at the best conditions and at a lower interest rate. If credit score is bad You can get approval for a loan even if you have a bad credit, but its conditions will be as tight as possible, and the interest rate as high as possible. Some lenders offer loans for bad credit, but the interest rate will reach 25% per annum, that is, having borrowed $ 1,000 a year, at the end of the year you will have to pay another 250 on top, not counting the fact that you will probably expect some more surcharges other than interest rates. Another example is OppLoans, which works with bad credit and lends money based on your source of income. You must have an opened bank account for at least the last 90 days, and also have to work at the last place of employment for at least 2 consecutive months in order to receive credit approval. However, these conditions, which seem to be nothing difficult compared to the interest rate at which the company issues loans. 199%! This is not far from the interest rates used in payday loans, but if you take such a loan for a year, then you will have to pay almost twice as much as you took. To compare the conditions offered to borrowers with a different credit score, you can consider a proposal from another company that offers personal loans to borrowers with excellent credit for up to $ 100 000 at 4.99% per annum. As you can see, the difference is noticeable to the naked eye, so you should work on improving your credit score in order to have more opportunities. How to get a personal loan with bad credit? If you have bad credit, you should start your search for a lender by considering credit unions and online lenders. By joining a credit union and making several payments, usually you get the opportunity to take advantage of the financial support of a credit union that loyally treats its members. You can get a small loan for more lenient conditions than anywhere else. Also, with a bad credit, you have the opportunity to take a secured loan, where your property will be used as collateral for the loan. In this case, you can get a lower interest rate and a much greater likelihood of loan approval, but with all that you will risk your property. If you cannot repay the loan, the lender will use your property to recover his expenses. Whatever options you choose, be careful when signing the contract. Before you sign it, carefully review all its points, footnotes, and especially what is printed in small print. There are quite a few predator lenders that target people with bad credit. They may charge additional fees and charges under certain conditions, which may put you in an indefinite debt cycle. How to apply for a personal loan? By choosing a lender and his offer as suitable for you, you may apply for a loan. Often this can be done online, and a preliminary answer can be received within a few minutes or even seconds. You can find out a credit score, but most often lenders don’t talk about it, although in case of refusal, you can try to find out if your credit score is not high enough or not. You will need to provide your personal information identifying you, ID, social Security number, bank account and other. You should provide all the information required by the lender to increase your chances of approving the loan. Lenders will also check your income, its source and level, to determine that you can regularly make the necessary loan payments from it. You may be required to pay documents, tax returns or other documents that can confirm your income. The ratio of your existing debts to your income will be considered by the lender. The higher this ratio, the less chance you will get approval. Usually, lenders allow their monthly payment on a loan not to exceed 10 to 20% of your income, subject to payment of all other expenses, including other loans. Your credit history will also be carefully examined, in addition to your credit rating. If you have made overdue payments or defaults in the past, then you will be considered a high-risk borrower, which reduces your chances of approving a personal loan, even though you have a quite high credit score. Let's sum up Credit score affects your financial capabilities in a direct way. When looking for a lender, you need to find out what credit score you need for a personal loan so that you can understand and rely on a certain result after you know the lenders requirements and the condition of your credit. If you have bad credit, and your credit score is below 630, then you can only count on offers for bad credit, which are not at all profitable. They should be used only in extreme cases when you have no other options, and there is no time to improve your credit rating. Read our financial blog to know everything about how to handle your personal finances, improve your credit rating, get profitable loans and where it is possible to save. Ask questions to our experts, leave your comments below. Read the full article

[complicegoals]

Outcomes Interface redesign process

One of the oldest parts of Complice has finally gotten the upgrade it's needed for years: the outcomes submission interface.

It's always interesting to reflect on what prompts this sorts of "finally" to happen, from a productivity perspective. In this case, it was the creation of a new landing page. We were creating 3 new screenshots to highlight the three core parts of the Complice workflow, and I realized that I was really embarrassed to be showing prospective users the existing interface.

The existing interface, which was based on a complex text format (with even more components than the intentions) worked really well if you understood it, but it was very opaque to those unfamiliar with it. It's a testimony to Complice users' desire to figure things out and get their goal-tracking system working that so many people actually did get past that.

Kudos to you.

Anyway, as in the past, it also helped that I started by playing with a vision for the new interface, not by committing to actually solving it.

Interestingly, I think that this represents both a challenge and an opportunity for solopreneurs (relative to larger companies): on the one hand, it's easy to put off important things that you know will be hard to do, because you're also the one who has to do them. Whereas if the CEO or other leader were to just tell the interaction designer "I don't care how, but you've got to figure out a better way to do the outcomes submission", then it's on their plate and they've got to figure it out.

However, the advantage of being a solopreneur is that it is easier, once you've found a good frame, to explore it playfully, without committing a bunch of effort to a problem that ends up being unworkable. And it also means you have a better sense of which paths are low-hanging fruit and which very-valuable fruit are also very costly.

So there are tradeoffs!

The design process itself

The function of the outcomes submission process is quite straightforward--the user needs to review the tasks they completed that day, add new ones, etc, and then indicate for each goal whether or not it was enough. Unlike intentions, which people often enter in the order they intend to complete them, or in priority order, outcomes are organized by goal to make enoughness easier to assess.

So I thought I'd consider each goal separately, and asked "what would a little goal section look like?" I made a little sketch on paper:

The final design looks pretty similar to this, except it also has

pomodoros

priorities (in the top right)

inclusion of "NOTHING" or "day off" where the list would be

a plus button to add an additional intention

instead of an “edit” icon, there’s just a “say more...” box

Where the old version of the interface was literally incomprehensible without a lengthy and complex description, my hope (and my sense so far) is that the new version should be pretty straightforward for everyone.

Here’s the old version, for posterity, in all its text-based glory:

Learning by writing

I recall reading about a company that begins the development of a new feature by first writing the announcement email about that feature--before any of the details have been spec'd out. The idea is that this helps to clarify what is being created and why, and helps connect people to the intended user experience. It thereby informs the design process itself.

I encountered something similar during this design process. I went to write up a blog post answering the FAQ "what is 'enough'?" and as I reflected on the history of that question it became clear that I could actually clean up the buttons a bit. Previously, if you hadn’t done anything towards a goal, there would also be an “day off” button and a “nothing” button.

But I realized "nothing" isn't a button—it's a state of the list. That is, if you did zero things, and that wasn't enough, then Ziglar's original technique would have you write "NOTHING" as an answer to "what did I do towards this goal today?" But the answer to "is this enough?" is still just "no". So that clarifies things slightly.

This was a small piece, but I suspect that the reduction from three buttons to two will have a substantial impact on new users' abilities to understand the system. And it whets my appetite for doing more conceptual writing as part of my design process.

Hotkey complexity

One of the things that many people liked about the text-based interface is that it was easy to navigate by keyboard. Mostly this was just because a text-field is a familiar thing to navigate, but there was also one additional element: pressing the tab key would move you from one enough box to another.

This new interface initially involved WAY more clicking, which hotkeyphiles (including me!) despised. But in this case it was much less obvious what the optimal design was.

So, though you basically can't see it at all, I'd like to proudly describe what I did with the hotkeys as well. In this case, if I used the tab key in a fancy way, it would have been confusing, because that key is the standard for moving between buttons etc. Instead, what I did was deploy the enter key. Press it while in the "say more..." box, and it automatically jumped you down to the next goal's buttons. From there, it's an easy shift-tab to get to the plus button, or just press the + key (also =) on the keyboard, to create a new item.

But also, when you have the buttons selected, you can deploy the letter keys to answer the "Is this enough?" question. y (or e) for "enough", n for "not enough", and d for "day off". When you select one of these buttons (by any means, including space or the mouse) it automatically focuses the "...say more?" field. This means that you can rapidly progress through the form by hitting y, enter, n, enter, y, enter... etc.

I suspect there are a few further improvements to add, such as a hotkey for pomodoro assignment.

Other advantages to the new system

In addition to user experience improvements, the new system has several other valuable properties:

It will ultimately enable better tracking of intentions, because the identity of the action won't be lost by conversion to text for the outcomes. For users, this means for instance that if you append to a daily and don't do it, it won't show up as a not-done because the system will know that it was still a daily. This will also help with any data analysis we might do on which intentions tend to get completed.

The system will be able to coherently integrate with Beeminder! This includes both pomodoro assignment and task completion etc. Note that this still has not been set up yet, so for now outcomes still don't connect to Beeminder except for explicitly-outcome based goals.

It more clearly distinguishes the "Is this enough?" question from the ability to elaborate on that goal's progress for the day. I suspect it will also increase the frequency at which people do some sort of elaboration, even among people who already knew that you could.

Top Priorities are integrated now, so it's easy to (a) assess the "enough" question based on the priority, and (b) update the priority. Down with staleness! (Priorities are currently, I think, the main way that Complice harbours staleness. Maybe they need to disappear if they get overdue by a week without being postponed. I won't do that without announcing it though, don't worry!)

I feel excited about all of these improvements as well as the gradually increasing level of visual coherence among Complice UI elements (you’ll notice that the goals are almost always shown with their number in a big faded box to the left).