#inter-varsity

[basicallyanotherwitchesthing]

J. Oswald Sanders, John Stafford Wright - Some Modern Religions - Inter-Varsity Press - 1963

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

In Aeternum

Warnings: non/dubcon and other dark elements. My username actually says you never asked for any of this.

My warnings are not exhaustive but be aware this is a dark fic and may include potentially triggering topics. Please use your common sense when consuming content. I am not responsible for your decisions.

Character: Lloyd Hansen

Summary: your life with Lloyd is a lot of work. Or rather, he is.

This is one of my birthday drabbles. Thanks again for your input :) Enjoy.

As usual, I would appreciate any and all feedback. I’m happy to once more go on this adventure with all of you! Thank you in advance for your comments and for reblogging ❤️

A birthday drabble for Carpe Noctem 

You stare at the small screen of the smart device. The smell of cinnamon fills the kitchen as you stand in wait of the baking desserts. You lean in to get a better view of the news segment. Your ears tweak at the reporter’s words. 

‘The sole survivor remains in the ICU with severe burns but healthcare personnel see a full recovery. As for those who passed, the survivor’s parents, they have been interred in the local cemetery and the service brought out hundred.’ 

They show images of the funeral; flowers, solemn faces, the front of a church.  

“Why are you watching that shit?” Lloyd, as always, knows when to barge in. 

“Alexa, stop playing,” you command the device and the screen returns to rest, showing the time and weather. “Just the news.” 

“I told you not to worry about that idiot.” He grunts as you face him. He tries to cross his arms then puts them straight, shaking out his left. He’s slick with sweat and his workout gear clings to his muscles. “I fucked up. Thought I killed him but the damn cockroach managed to drag himself out. What a pussy. Can’t even save his own parents.” 

“Lloyd. You--” 

“Yeah, yeah. Oh, mimi, your soft heart.” He leers at you and winks. “Softer body.” He sticks his tongue out and wince. He bends his elbow and rubs it. 

“What wrong with your arm?” You sigh. 

“Nothing. Old college injury. You know I was varsity, right? Coulda gone national but I made more money... doing something else.” 

“Right,” you sniff and go to the oven. You peer through the lit window at the spiral cookies. 

“What’s the point of me putting in all this work in the gym when you’re just fattening me up?” He scoffs. 

“You don’t have to eat the cookies.” You glance at the time on the small screen above the stove. 

“I have a nose and a stomach. I can’t resist.” He shuffles around the kitchen and surprises you as he comes up behind you. “Just like I can’t resist you.” 

“The cookies are for the shelter.” You stiffen as he wraps his arms around you and pulls your ass against him. “I told you several times not to touch.” 

“Mimi, you’re spending all my money.” 

You huff and look around at the spacious kitchen; stacked ovens, a hug marble island, a fridge with a glass door, a whole other fridge for just wine, and every single appliance you might need but have yet to use. You grab his wrists as he squeezes your hips. 

“I think you have more than enough. What else am I supposed to do?” 

“Have some wine, put on a thong, hop on my dick,” he purrs and rocks you with him, locking his hold on you. “You got your choice. The hot tub, the pool, sauna, hell, sit out in the sun and read one of your Austen joints. Want me to dress up like Darcy? Bit of role play?” 

“Stop,” you push on his arms and writhe. 

“What’s a matter, mimi? You weren’t so shy last night. Or yesterday afternoon. Or after lunch. Or in the morning.” 

You sneer and tear his hands away from your hips. You turn to him and poke his shoulder. He groans and rubs it. 

“Ow, you know that’s still healing.” 

“I told you to go to a real doctor,” you snip. 

“Mimi, they don’t touch me like you do.” He furls his fingers and his throat bobs. He runs his thumbs along his shorts and tugs. “Damn, just the thought—how about a cool down? I just chugged a protein shake, I gotta get it out.” 

“No.” 

“No?” He tilts his head. “Mommy, please.” 

“No, especially if you’re going to pull that.”  

You spin as the timer dings and you grab the oven mitts. You shut off the buzzer and take out the cookies. You put the pan on the counter to cool and hang the mitts again. 

“Mimi...” Lloyd drawls out as he closes in. 

You evade him. Keeping a step ahead as you scurry along the island. He pursues and you turn to face him as you round the corner. 

“I said no. I’m not in the mood.” 

“Why? Because that limp dick is in the hospital--” 

“Stop.” You whine and backpedal away from him as his advance continues. “Lloyd, I’m telling you to stop. I have to make a trip downtown to deliver the cookies--” 

“Really? You do? Because you don’t leave without me. Remember? Those are the rules.” He gets closer and closer.  

You peer around as you feel blindly and walk back on your heels. You pass through the doorway into the front room. You barely dodge the sofa and the little round table next to it. 

“Lloyd.” 

“Mimi.” 

“Leave me alone. I’m telling you.” 

“Keep telling me. It's making me hard.” He snickers. 

You veer through the next doorway and stumble as he lunges. He pulls back and laughs again. He’s taunting you. 

“Oh, I like this game, Mimi.” 

“I’m not playing,” you reach to grab the banister as you step towards the stairs. 

He takes a deep breath and stops. “Neither am I.” 

His smirk sends a chill through you. You freeze at the bottom step and gulp. You look up then back at him. In an instant, you’re barreling up, desperate to get to the top. As your feet slap on the stairs, his treads trail you up calmly. 

Shit. This is the last thing you need. No matter what or when, you always manage to provoke him. Every breath, every blink, every word only entices him. It’s tiring. Without a job, without your friends, it feels like your nothing more than toy. Any search for a different purpose just amuses him. 

You race down the hall. You have to make a quick decision. You burst into the bathroom and spin to swing the door shut. It bounces back as Lloyd shoves his sneaker between it and the frame. He shoves in after you with a taunting grin. 

You stagger back and search for any form of defence. You know it’s pointless. There’s no escape, no fight to be had, but you just want him to let you think for two minutes without mentioning his dick. You grab the bottle of hair spray and aim it at him. You push down and he coughs, waving his hand through the cloud of stickiness. 

He swats the aerosol from your hand and grabs your other arm. You whimper as he wrenches you toward him. He turns and pens you in against the floating counter. He tuts down at you as you push on his stomach. 

“Oh, mimi,” his eyes flick above you. “That’s a great fucking idea.” He grips your shoulder and twists you around to face the counter. “I’d love to watch.” 

He keeps you trapped as you slap a hand on the marble and try to shove him away with the other. He stretches the elastic of his shorts and they fall to his feet. You wriggle as he wraps his arm around you and leans you against the counter. 

His other hand snakes under your skirt. One of the many pieces stocked in your closet. None of them fit right. They all flutter a bit too high on your thigh. 

“Lloyd,” you beg. “Later. Not—now.” 

“Too fucking late. My dick hurts.” 

“Stop!” You throw and elbow back into his ribs. He grunts and nuzzles your hair. 

“Don’t mess around.” He warns. 

He kicks your feet apart and peels your panties down your thighs. The strip of lace strains around your legs. He bends you further as he feels around. He brings his tip down to your cunt and prods you, tapping, and rubbing. 

“Mm, I feel you shaking for me, Mommy.” 

“Please--” you gasp. 

“You don’t gotta beg,” he boats. 

“Urgh, get—off!” You bend your arm awkwardly and once more poke at his shoulder. He exclaims but persists.  

He lines up as he bares his teeth, hooking his jaw over your shoulder. The anger pulses in his forehead as he glares at your reflection. He snaps his hips and impales you with a growl. You cry out and brace the counter as your legs buckle. 

“Ow!” You plead with him in the mirror. Eyes misty, eyes pouting. 

His lips curve deeper as he thrusts, jerking your hip bones into the marble. His hand crawls up to your chest and he squeezes your chest with a snarl. He tilts his head and sinks his teeth into your shoulder. He ruts as his eyes blaze back at you from the glass. 

His hand snakes down your stomach and delves beneath your skirt. You hide beneath your eyelids as he finds your clit. He flicks over your hood and you spasm. You mewl as he does it again and again. Worse than his strength is his talent at toying with you. Even as you resist, he finds your weak spot and needles away at it. 

“Mmm,” he purrs as he unlatches his teeth and kisses up your neck. 

His mustache tickles as he pounds against your ass, fingers sliding around your slickness, breath fogging around your chest. Your thighs quiver and your feet arch. You bend forward a little more and he hits just the right spot. 

You cum in a ripple of pathetic moans. You’re breathless and weak. You slump onto your elbow and he growls as you open to him completely.  

He frames your hips and pumps into you until his motion turns erratic. He groans and grunts, digging his nails through the fabric as he pulls out. He cums down your thigh as you hang off the counter.

He lets out a gurgle and snaps his knuckles against your ass. He moves rigidly as he turns and leans his bare ass on the marble beside you. He rubs your back as you gulp and catch your breath.

You stand up but he stops you from grabbing a tissue to wipe up. He’s shameless as his shorts still cling around one ankle. 

“Hey, baby cakes, get my shorts for me? Think I pulled something.” 

You scowl at him as he emphatically clutches his side. You sniff and wave him off. You grab a washcloth and wet it under the faucet. You wipe yourself off and toss the balled fabric into the sink. 

“Pull your own shorts up,” you sneer. 

“I mean it, Mimi, my back’s all sorts of locked up. You got me all bound up.” He gives a pathetic whimper. “Please, take care of me like you always do.” 

You shake your head and squat down to grab the shimmering puddle of shorts. This is ridiculous. He lifts his feet to hook it through and as you tug them up his legs, an odd weight hangs in the flimsy fabric. His dick twitches just as you cover it up and let the elastic snap him meanly. 

“You feel that, Mimi,” he catches your hand and pulls it back to him. You try to shake him off but can’t. “Am I happy to see you or is that a ring in my pocket?” He brushes your palm over his dick and to his pocket. The shape you felt is sharper than you expect. You look up at him in confusion. 

“You didn’t even give me a chance to get on one knee.” 

He guides your hand to the top of his pocket and lets go. Your heart thumps as you reach inside and pull out the heart-shaped box. The lid opens like wings from the middle. You reveal the sapphire trimmed diamond inside. Each stone bigger than the next. 

You gape at the sparkling cluster. Lloyd chuckles and strokes your cheek. He cups your chin and raises it. As you look at him, he smirks again. 

“You take care of me, I take care of you,” he traces his thumb along your lip. “Speaking of, I’m fucking serious about my back. Can I get some help?” 

[constantinerkives]

PAIRING: Swim Team Captain! Yoo Jimin x Photojournalist! Fem reader _________________ WARNINGS: College AU, tsundere Karina, strangers to lovers trope, and fluff. OC is Pisces-coded but has a Capricorn rising sign and Capricorn Mercury because I am too, random I know but anyways, profanity, Jimin is aloof but cute and I like it, profanity, that's pretty much it, I guess. _________________ SYNOPSIS: Who knew falling into the pool was one surefire way of getting the swimming team captain's eye. _________________ A/N:

You asked I shall deliver. I based this one-shot on a song: Rose, by Taeyong and Seulgi. Have fun reading!

"Will it be okay for you to fill in Ryujin's stead?" Wendy, the senior EIC of the school paper, asks with her fingers knotted atop her office desk. "She got sick two days ago. I know it's sudden, and I understand if you don't-"

"I'll do it," You tell the older girl with a polite smile, "If my memory serves me correctly - she was assigned to take pictures of the inter-school competition of our swimming team, yes?"

Wendy mirrors your smile, albeit warmer. Her posture relaxed. "Yes. Yes, Y/N. And it's this weekend." 

You recount your task, "Then you're in luck, Wendy. I'm free this weekend." 

The brunette heaves a sigh of relief, "Good. That will be all, Miss Choi. You can go." You bowed your head in acknowledgment before exiting her office and proceeded to the university library to meet with your friend and confidant: Yunjin, who needs a copy of your captured photos for the school paper. 

"There you are," You whisper and sit next to the younger raven-haired beauty who's busy typing on her laptop. "What did Wendy want from you?" The latter inquires without tearing her eyes from the screen. "A substitute for Ryujin," You answer her as you lean next to her; eyes following the sea of words that showed events during the last competition. "Are you almost done?"

The raven-haired beauty mutters something decipherable, and you just let her be. 

"Okay," She stretches her back and gestures an open palm toward you. "The USB?"

You arch a brow at her, "Please?"

She mirrors your expression, "The USB, please, Y/N?"

A teasing grin graces your lips as you fish for it in your jacket pocket and give it to her. "Jeez," The latter grumbles before plugging it into her laptop. "Where and what?"

"Here at our university. I'll be taking the pictures of our swimming team." 

Finally, Yunjin tears her eyes off her screen and blinks at you. "A sports-based competition?" She muses, "That's a first." 

Indeed, for years that you've been a photojournalist, you were assigned to academic-based competitions. "That means you get to see Yonsei's pride." 

"Younsei's - what?"

She gives you a look, "For a journalist, you're not updated with the times here, Y/N. What would Wendy say?"

You scowl at her, "You can't blame me for being assigned to Academics, Yunjin." You brush her off, "Anyway. What about Yonsei's pride?" She curls her lips to a sardonic smile before typing away and presenting you with a photo of the team wearing Yonsei's varsity jackets and swimming trunks. There are four of them, and three of them are familiar to you: Sungchan, the first one on the right. Hyunjin is first on the left and Minjeong who's standing next to Hyunjin. 

You're familiar with the three of them. All except one. A girl standing in between Minjeong and Sungchan. The girl possesses fair skin, a small face, a V-shaped jaw, big yet fierce dark brown eyes, and a lithe physique. "So the team is the pride of the university?"

"No," She zooms in the photo of the girl. "She is. That's Karina Yoo, their captain." 

"She looks mean," You observed, and Yunjin chuckled, "You're not wrong."

Your jaw slacks, "Really?"

The latter hums in agreement and pauses. "A bitch is an appropriate term, bestie." You frown at her, "That's a bit too much." 

She scoffs at you, "Try interacting with her this weekend, and we'll see." 

"Whatever," You huffed and eyed your USB, "Are you done uploading my pictures to your folder?"

Yunjin unplugs it and places it atop the table. "Yep, thanks, girl." 

You observe the team from the bleachers with your camera in your hands as cheers ricochet against the walls of the spacious gym upon seeing your team make their appearance from the ground floor. Yonsei's team wore their signature swimsuit with the university's logo placed on the left lower front area of the men's swimming trunks, while for the women: it's located on the right upper breast of their partial bodysuit. 

You're not too far to get a clear shot. 

The girls of your university squealed when Sungchan flexed his toned body. Although impervious to such behavior, you can't help but admire the body of the swimmer before moving your gaze onto Minjeong, who waved at her fellow peers. Both men and women cheered for the auburn-haired girl while Hyunjin put his arm around Sungchan, who also waved to Yonsei's students.

"That's three of them," You tell yourself amongst the noise, "Where's the captain?" 

As if the universe answered, she finally appeared, and you swore you were about to go deaf due to their screams and cheers amplifying. 

Your eyes followed their gaze, and your jaw slacked. 

Karina Yoo's photos did not do her justice; she's drop-dead gorgeous in real life, and her lithe body is just a bonus to the grace that the girl exudes. You examine the captain. She couldn't be older than twenty-three.

"KARINA! KARINA! KARINA!" The students chant as she stands beside Minjeong - awaiting their opposing team while she converses with her team by huddling them. You take it as an opportunity to take their photo. 

But as you take another shot, Karina's eyes flicker in your direction.

Did she? Uncertainty and confusion seep into your thoughts as if you were shamelessly caught. 

You instinctively put your camera down. 

She returns her gaze to her members and continues speaking while they nod. You zoom the lens and take their photo. But this time, you don't put your camera down when Karina's sharp eyes look in your direction. There's something about her gaze that makes you fix your relaxed posture; as if she's looking through your camera, and it makes you feel small - that intense gaze of hers. 

You didn't take a picture and instead put your camera down. Perhaps the captain's sharp, piercing gaze meant that was enough as she and her team moved away from each other, but she stayed next to Minjeong and leaned close to the shorter girl's ear. The auburn-haired girl's eyes flicked in your direction before saying something to the taller girl. 

Paranoia creeps into your body. It's not like you have done something wrong, right? You were merely doing your job as a photojournalist for Yonsei. You tear your gaze from the pair and see the team they're competing against. 

You take it as your cue to descend from the bleachers as Karina's team makes their way to their assigned benches, leaving Hyunjin alone with his competitor. 

While descending from the bleachers, you can feel someone's eyes following you as you make your way to the indoor pool with your camera ready. You didn't dare look in fear of seeing that intense gaze as the referee blew his whistle for the two representatives of the opposing team, and make their way to the edge of the pool's ledge. 

"On your mark!" The referee bellows, "Get set. Go!"

You ready your camera. 

Sometime later, it was the captain's turn. 

Your peers chant the captain's name as she made her way to the pool's ledge. 

Due to your proximity to the pool's side, you locked eyes with her, and you swallowed harshly under her harsh gaze. 

"Jeez," You mutter as you tear your eyes from the older girl. "What's her deal?"

"On your mark!" The referee once again bellows, "Get set. Go!"

True to her title, Karina Yoo is Yonsei's pride. And so is the other members - they won and will be competing for the nationals three months from now. 

After the game, your peers went down to take pictures with the winning team. By this time, they change into dry clothes with towels draped over their shoulders, and you are standing next to the pool, checking your shots, when you hear your female colleagues scream Karina's name from behind. Out of curiosity, you look back to see a group of them running toward you - correction, you look in front to see the captain approaching them, leaving you beset on both sides.

Before you can react, one of them pushes you aside. Your eyes widen, and you instinctively put your hand where you're holding your camera up as you fall into the pool. 

"Oh no!" One of the students yell as you surface up with a gasp, look at your dry camera, and sigh in relief. "Are you okay?" One of them asks as they approach you intending to help. 

"Yes," You gasp, "Take the camera - be careful with it, please?" The student nods in compliance and takes your camera. 

You can feel holes burning on the side of your face, and without thinking, you look to the source and see Karina standing at the edge of the pool with wide eyes, her posture stiff and rigid, as if repulsed by the sight of you violating their pool. 

You flush under her gaze and reluctantly take the students' hands as they help you out of the pool and hurriedly take your camera from the other student. 

"Thank you," You tell them with a flushed face as you hastily exit the gym - facing burning with shock and humiliation. 

"Told you," Yunjin sneers, "A bitch." 

A whine leaves your lips as you slam your head against your desk. "Shut up - at least the students helped me." It's been a week since the minor incident, and you told Yunjin after you change into dry clothes in the university dorm. 

"Yeah," She snorts, "While the captain just glowers at you as if - what did you say?" She snaps her fingers, "Ah, as if you contaminated the pool." Then, she snickers. You glare at her while her lips curl to a teasing grin. 

"Whatever," You poke your tongue at her, and she relents by putting her hands up in mock surrender. "Look at the bright side," Your friend counters, "At least your camera's safe." 

"Yeah," You half-heartedly agree, "But I think I'm traumatized."

"Should I book your therapy?" She quips, "Oh wait, you're broke."

You scoff at her, "And? So are you." She stares at you, and you mimic her reaction before you two giggle as more students occupy the lecture hall. 

"Alright, students!" The professor says aloud as soon as he enters the room. "Take your seats - we have a new student joining us this semester." 

Murmurs echo while you and Yunjin share their curious looks as the older man looks at the entrance door. "Come in and introduce yourself." A familiar figure enters the room, and the class erupts with cheers and yells as Karina stands before all of you in casual wear in all-black: a cardigan with white accents, a tube top, denim jeans, and chunky sneakers, her hair is styled to a low, neat bun as she eyes the class, her gaze instantly meeting yours. You flinched and looked away from her and at Yunjin, who, in turn, looked at you. Both faces express surprise. 

"The fuck?" Yunjin mutters while you return to the new student, gaping. 

"I'm Karina Yoo," She announces, her voice is steely and attention-grabbing. "But most, if not all of you, know me as Yonsei's pride." 

The class yells and whistles in agreement. The professor holds his palm up, and the class quiets down. "Alright," Your professor gestures a hand at the vacant seats, "Thank you, Miss Yoo. You may take any seat." The captain bows her head and ascends to the elevated rows of seats with each student eyeing her expectantly for her to sit next to them. 

You quickly turn to Yunjin and grumble: "Just when I thought I'm finally free from what happened last week." She snickers at you, "Sucks to be you, my traumatized friend." 

A muffled pained groan reverberates from your lips, but you quickly stiffen as the captain walks past your row and takes a sit two seats above you. You sigh in relief and return your gaze to your professor preparing his presentation. 

"That bad, huh?" Yunjin observes as she takes out her laptop. 

"Yeah," You whisper. 

There it is again, that familiar burning feeling; as if someone's burning holes in the back of your head - it's the same feeling. But you chose to ignore it. Thirty minutes into the lecture, you couldn't ignore the feeling anymore and slowly peer over your shoulder. You almost jumped from your seat upon locking eyes with the swim captain. Her notebook lay forgotten. Instead, she was looking at you while the side of her face rested against her fist. Your skin prickles at the intensity, and you can feel your face flushing as her lips visibly curl upwards before slowly moving her gaze to the professor.

You quickly looked away from her and tried to focus on the discussion. But Professor Lee's words came and went out of your head. All you could do was mindlessly take notes and pictures of his slides and promise yourself that you'll go over your notes tonight. 

It went on for days; you could've been used to it now. But you're not. 

"I'm not being delusional, right?" You lock eyes with your friend, looking for reassurance. "I mean, it's not like I did something bad. I fell on the pool, for fuck's sake." You vent while the latter closes her laptop and sighs. "Have you tried asking her what's her problem?" 

You give her a look, "Are you kidding me?"

The raven-haired girl shrugs nonchalantly, "I mean - if you want an answer from her, just ask her directly." 

"Easier said than done," You mutter while she yawns. "I'll just ignore it, I guess? I mean, no harm, no foul, right?"

"Yeah," The latter looks at you, her relaxed expression turning serious. "But if she does something that makes you uncomfortable. Tell me immediately." On cue, the microwave dings. Dinner's ready. You're currently in her apartment; you can work together on your paper for the interschool competition due tomorrow. 

"I will," You smile at her and stand from her couch to grab your dinner. 

"Oh - come on!" You yell as the copies of the printed announcements; the latest news regarding the competition get whisked away by a couple of rushing students late for class. You put the other documents down on the floor, but not without putting your phone on top to ensure it doesn't fly away as you begin picking them from the floor. 

"Hey," A slightly deep feminine voice calls your attention, "You missed this last one."

"Oh?" You turn around and freeze as the captain of the swimming team holds the copy for you. You gawk at her while she moves her line of sight to the paper she's holding. 

"I look good in this photo," She remarks before looking at you. Her voice sounds softer this time. "Not bad for a picture taken from quite a distance." 

"Thanks," You smile politely at the older girl as you grip the papers you're holding to calm your nerves. She raises her brow and gently flaps the paper. "My hand's getting tired. Aren't you going to get it?"

"Right," You stammer and wince at the sound of your voice as you tentatively take the paper from her, and the latter walks away without saying a word. 

You let out a breath you didn't know you were holding as you looked at the paper she gave you before putting it with the rest. And as you continue your day, you couldn't help but replay the odd interaction you had with the captain. 

"Weird," Yunjin muses as you take your designated seats for your proceeding lecture which is in ten minutes - but something's out of the ordinary. 

There's a rose atop your desk with a pink ribbon tied around its stem. 

The taller girl looks at you with a playful grin, "Someone's into you." 

You roll your eyes at her and sit down, "Must be for another person." You say as you carefully examine the rose to ensure there's a tag - and that it's for the right person. You freeze in your seat, and Yunjin bends to read the tag in perfect handwriting and snickers. "It's yours, Y/N." 

A frown creeps in your features, "But who-"

"Keep it," She shrugs and leans closer, "What else does it say?"

"Nothing," 

The raven-haired hums and takes her seat next to you. "Anyways, keep it."

You look at her with a questioning look, "Why?"

"As evidence that someone has a good eye and chose my BFF, duh?"

You let out an exasperated groan and playfully pushed her shoulder. "Oh, shut up." 

Yunjin was about to say something when she closed her mouth, and her expression became guarded. You furrow your brows and slowly follow her gaze, "What's the matter-" Your words die in your throat as Karina takes her seat next to you. Your eyes widen to the point that they were about to pop out from their sockets and snap your neck in Yunjin's reaction; eyes asking for her aid. 

"Karina," Yunjin softly clears her throat, "What's the sudden change of places?"

"So I can see better," She answers curtly. Yunjin arches a brow, "You don't seem to have a problem being two seats away for the past couple of days?"

You sit there awkwardly while the two exchange cold pleasantries. 

Karina shifts in her seat and looks past you, "I'd like to sit here so I won't miss any key points in the professor's lecture. What's it to you?"

Yunjin opens her mouth, but you look at her, head shaking sideways. 

The latter huffs, "Alright then, enjoy the view." 

"Thanks," Karina monotonously replies as more students pile into the lecture hall. You look down at the rose and shrug, "Alright Yunjin," You delicately pick up the rose and insert it into your tote bag carefully. "I'll keep it, my bedside needs decorating anyway."

From the corner of your eye, you can see Karina looking at the rose before tearing her gaze as the professor enters the venue. 

"Alright students, settle down and prepare your books, notebooks, laptops - whatever you need to keep notes. We'll begin shortly."

Forty minutes into the lecture, you missed the previous slide. 

"Crap," You mutter, and just as you're about to ask Yunjin if she copied the previous slide, Karina slides her phone next to you. 

The screen showed a picture of the slide you missed. "Here," She whispers. You blink at her while she continues to take her notes. She must've sensed your staring and sighed, "Are you going to copy that or what?"

You snap from your reverie, "Right, right. Sorry - thank you." You whispered to her and copied the slide she pictured before sliding her phone back to her but made no move to put it back in her bag. 

"I saw that," Yunjin whispers, and you jump from your seat.

"Next slide - is everything okay up there, Miss Choi?" The professor calls. Your cheeks redden as all the students, including the captain, turn to look at you. Your cheeks burn, "Yes sir, sorry." 

He hums, "Moving on..."

Sometime later, it was lunchtime; you and Yunjin decided to eat outside of campus. 

"So Chaewon recommended this restaurant," She opens the door for you while you carry both your laptop bags, "They sell good meat here and noodles here." 

"You've been mentioning her a lot," You comment as you take a vacant table. The latter makes a face at you before looking at the menu displayed above the counter, "What do you want to eat?"

"I'll take spicy chicken and jjajangmyeon." 

"Cool. Sit here. I'll go order." 

You open your laptop, "And I'll pay you later." The taller girl hums and goes to the counter while you work on your task. "Do my eyes deceive me?" Another feminine voice speaks from the side. You look up from your screen, "Giselle," You greet the captain of the debate team with a smile as you close your laptop. The Korean-Japanese mirrors your smile as she inserts her hands in her jacket pocket. "It's been a while, Y/N. Are you going to eat alone?"

"No," You gesture a hand towards Yunjin who looks back and sends the other a wave. "Yunjin's eating with me. How about you? Are you going to eat alone?"

The brunette shakes her head sideways, "No, I'm also going to eat with someone." The door opens, and Giselle looks back. "There you are, Karina." 

You fought the urge to drop your smile as you locked eyes with the captain of the swimming team. "Giselle," The captain regards, "You invited someone for lunch too?"

"No, no." She chuckles and pats your shoulder, "This is Y/N, the photojournalist who came with us four months ago for the nationals." She then gestures a hand towards her friend, "Y/N is this-"

"Karina Yoo," You finish for her with a polite smile, "We're classmates in Professor Lee's class." 

There's a look on Giselle's face that you couldn't decipher as her eyes lit up.

"Ah, I see." She looks at Karina, who seems busy looking at the menu, and then looks at the two of you. "I'll order for us." 

"Alright, alright." Giselle agrees, "I'll go get us a table." Without another word, Karina left. The debate captain looks at you with a knowing smile as Yunjin arrives at your table with iced tea, "Hey, Gi." Yunjin greets her with a grin as she puts your drinks on the table. "Hey Jen," She gives you another pat, "I'll see you two around campus, yeah?"

A hum leaves your throat as you watch the latter take a sit two tables away from you and Yunjin as more people enter the restaurant. "So," Yunjin clears her throat, "Care to tell me what was Karina sharing with you during Professor Lee's class?"

You shrug and sip your beverage, "Nothing, it was just the slide I missed." 

"Okay, but what about the time your documents flew away?"

A frown graces your lips, "She was just helping." 

Yunjin hums, and you lean closer. "What? What is it?"

"Nothing," She nonchalantly replies, "It's just that Karina's overall mean attitude seems to tone down with you, that's all." 

"Astute observation, Yunjin." You roll your eyes at her, "Maybe she's just being a decent person? We're classmates, after all."

"Oh, yeah?" She challenges, "How come she doesn't give a damn about others?"

You open your mouth, but no words come out to your defense, and Yunjin's smirk makes you close it. 

"I don't know," 

"Be observant, Y/N." She clicks her tongue, "Who knows, maybe you got the Yoo privilege." 

You look at her incredulously, "I beg your pardon?"

"Yoo privilege," She snickers, "You like it? I made it while I was making my astute observation, and by that, I mean you have the privilege of her toning down her attitude toward you. I mean, she could be the one who placed the rose on your desk three days ago." 

You know where this conversation's going. "Are you saying that she likes me?"

"Maybe," She grins, "Observe her, Y/N. Observe how she acts with others; how she acts with you. Then you'll know."

You consider that as the waiter arrives with your order. You sense a familiar from the side of your face. You look up from your food and meet her dark brown eyes.

And this time, you didn't flinch.

You took Yunjin's advice and observed the captain. 

It wasn't hard to observe her. She was never far from you, which made it easy to detect whether she was looking at you before talking to her friends. 

But that still doesn't account for the roses on your desk. You tried, but with the number of deadlines piling up in journalism, you had to put your observation on pause. 

"Jesus!" You snap as one of the student's coffee spills on your shirt. Murmurs echo in the hall upon witnessing an incident. "God - I'm sorry-"

"Forget it," You snap at the student as you pull the drenched fabric away from your skin and gesture for the student to go away, "Just go." 

"Sorry again." The man says before awkwardly walking away while the others lose interest and walk away. "Fuck," You swore as you run your hand through your hair. "How the fuck am I supposed to go to the press conference looking like this?" You hiss as you swing your bag to the front to get your wipes. You hear footsteps approaching you and you scowl thinking it's the man who spilled coffee on you. 

"Man," You sigh without looking in their direction. "You don't need to come here and-"

"Y/N," Your ears perk at the familiar tone, and you slowly turn around to face Karina standing before you with her fist securing her monogram jacquard jacket. 

"Karina," You greet with slight surprise, "What are you doing here?"

She shakes her jacket, "Wear this." 

"I beg your pardon?"

Instead of frowning, she keeps her face calm and uses her other hand to gesture at your shirt. "I can see the outline of - well, you know..."

You look down, and your face flushes, and with your other hand, you cover your upper body while the other takes her jacket. But you stop upon seeing the logo of her jacket, and sheepishly look at her. 

"What's wrong?" She inquires. "I can't take this - it's expensive." 

Karina shifts her weight on the other foot. "You'll be late for your press conference if you don't take it, Y/N." She tells you with a tone that leaves no argument. Without another word, she leaves the hall, leaving you with her jacket. 

A frustrated sigh leaves your lips as you look at the expensive article of clothing before delicately donning it. 

"Woah," Yunjin muses upon seeing you enter the venue. "I know that isn't yours, Y/N. Whose is it?"

"Karina's," You take a seat next to her. The latter let out a mock gasp. "Yoo privilege." 

"Shut up, Yunjin." 

After the conference, you stop by the EIC's office only to be greeted with roses and a freshly brewed ice latte on your desk. 

"There you are!" Wendy grins as she stands next to you, "I receive our handler's feedback. You and Yunjin did a great job on the inter-school paper!"

"Yeah," You answer distractedly, "Who brought these on my desk?"

"Ah," Wendy frowns, "I didn't catch her name." 

Her?

You turn to your EIC, "Can you describe her for me? What was she wearing?"

The older girl pauses in thought. "Well, she was wearing a brushed ribbed knit top, white denim jeans with a beige tag on its left pocket, and black boots."

Exactly what Karina wore when she gave you her jacket. 

"I see," You mutter, and Wendy's face contorts with curiosity, "Why'd you ask?"

You brush her off, "It's nothing, thanks, Wendy." 

The latter smiles, "No problem," She then turns to leave the room. "Enjoy your iced latte!"

Once the older girl is out of sight, you quickly take the rose with a tag on it, it read:

I'm rooting for you at the press conference; I hope you like iced latte to savor your victory. 

-yjm

"YJM?" You move your line of sight to the iced latte, and beads of cold water slides down from the plastic cup. A smile creeps on your lips as you bring the cup's straw to your lips and take a sip, allowing the iced beverage to slide into your throat smoothly. You sigh in refreshment and place the drink on your desk. Your hands take the roses, careful from the thorns that could prick you as you study the delicate flower. 

"Yunjin will hear about this." 

"No way," She cackles, "So she lent you her jacket and even sent roses and an iced latte to the office? Damn, Y/N. You won in life." 

You carefully pick up the jacket and raise it, "How do I clean this?"

Yunjin takes the clothing from you, "Leave it to me. I know a place where they clean luxury clothing." 

"Alright," You sigh and collapse on her couch. "Oh, and Y/N?"

"Yeah?" You answer aloud as Yunjin makes her way back to the living room. "Did you know Girl's Generation is having a concert in Gocheok Sky Dome?"

Your ears perk, and you sit up straight, "No? When?"

"Two days from now," She tells you and frowns, "You didn't know?"

You give her a look, "I'm not updated - I've been busy." 

"Right," She sighs, "Why?"

"Chaewon got a ticket for me - I can give it to you if-"

"Woah, Yunjin," You stop her by grasping her shoulder. "She gave it to you. You're the one she invited to go with her. It would be rude if you gave it to someone else." 

Her features remain concerned, "Are you sure? Chaewon would understand-"

"Yunjin," You exasperated a sigh, "It's fine. She invited you."

A genuine smile graces your lips. "I'll be fine. Just remember to make a fan cam for me, yeah?"

The next day, Yunjin gives you Karina's jacket: freshly cleaned and neatly pressed. 

While conversing on your way to Professor Lee's class, your eyes shift to the entrance only to be greeted by Karina leaning her back against the wall next to the door. 

"Oh shit," Yunjin snickers quietly, and you nudge her by the elbow. "Sh,"

"Karina!" You call out and was about to give her jacket back when she cuts you off. "Just give it to me after Professor Lee's class." 

Confused, but you comply as she enters the room. You and Yunjin follow suit as your peers begin to fill the lecture hall. 

While the older man is discussing, Karina slides next to you, startling you with a jump as she ducks her head and drops her voice an octave lower. "I have something for you after class. Is it okay if we remain after everyone else left?"

You tear your eyes from the presentation to look at her. Your cheeks heat up as you meet Karina's soft, warm gaze, but her attractive face swims with uncertainty at your would-be reply. 

A soft smile creeps on your lips, "Sure, Karina. What is it anyway?"

Her features soften, and surprise etches on your face as her lips quirk to a playful smile. That's a first.

"It's a surprise," She winks before returning to her original position. 

You gape at her, surprised by this new side of her. You can't wait to know what she has in store for you after Mr. Lee's class. 

Fifty minutes later, the older gentleman dismisses the class. Everyone left except for you, Karina, and Yunjin. 

"You go first," You tell the raven-haired girl. Yunjin flashes you a grin before getting her bag, but not without whispering: "Yoo privilege" against your ear before leaving.

You huff at the latter as you get the paper bag containing Karina's jacket and hand it to her. "Here you go, Karina." 

The older girl looks at the paper bag and smiles. "Can you stand up?"

How odd, "Sure." 

You comply with her innocent request and hand the bag to her. "Here you go," 

Her lips tugged to a downward smile and retrieves the bag. "Thanks, Y/N."

You let out a hum while you two stand in silence. A sigh leaves the older girl's lips before she laughs lightly - and it sounds pleasant like chimes in the wind. 

"Ah - this is not what I envisioned it." She guffaws and scratches her nape. You can't help but chuckle at the older girl's disposition. "Take your time," You assure the raven-haired beauty as she inhales sharply. Is she new to this? How adorable, you thought to yourself as she closes her eyes and puffs her cheeks. 

"Ok," She opens them and clears her throat. "I'm afraid that I've made a bad impression when we first met, Y/N." She sighs, "Which is why I'm going to change that tomorrow."

Tomorrow? What does she mean?

On cue, she brings out a bouquet - well not really. More like two tickets wrapped in pink silk with a pastel ribbon secured around it. 

"I hope you like concerts, Y/N. Especially Girl's Generation."

My, did your heart skip a beat?

"Will you be my date for the concert, Y/N Choi?"

"Yes," You breathe, and Karina's smile morphs into a delighted grin. 

"You just made me the happiest girl, Y/N." 

Fin.

[unpredictable-probabilities]

Azul Ashengrotto of Royal Sword Academy || Chapter 1: That Dastardly RSA Student

(art by @patchyegg87)

Summary:

Jamil Viper was almost the one to have brought victory for NRC against RSA in a hundred years, if not for Azul Ashengrotto.

It was supposed to be Jamil's chance to finally be at the top, and having victory stolen from his grasp by that RSA merfolk still irked him more than he would have expected. Hopefully, he'd never have to see him again.

Word Count: 4,688

Author's Note:

As of writing this, canon hasn't told us anything about Prince Rielle except for his first name and that he was classmates with Azul in middle school. Everything else about him here is just headcanons~

This is an AU that I wrote with @patchyegg87 where Azul and Kalim had gone to school in RSA instead of NRC. It's the first book of at least a two-part series that we have planned~

We have drafted about ten chapters already, we just need to finish editing them. We plan on posting a chapter every week ^_^

We hope you like this first one!

Jamil has worked hard to be here. Staying up for nights to review all topics that could possibly be covered, borrowing the maximum amount of textbooks from the library, skipping basketball practice.

And here he is indeed. Toe-to-toe with RSA at the Magical Inter-school Competition.

Only one thing stands in his way: Azul Ashengrotto. Right there at the podium across from him, waiting intently for the final question much like he is.

"And now, for the question that would decide everything!" says the host, pausing dramatically.

A drumroll sounds from invisible speakers, and the host makes a show of reading the question.

"What is… a six-letter word for an antidote? In ancient times, it was believed that a glass of it would be able to neutralize any type of poison."

Wait, that's it? That's too easy—

Azul Ashengrotto precisely blasts magic at the big gemstone floating in front of both of them—their version of a buzzer.

"Bezoar," he says calmly. "It originates from the Far West, a word that literally means 'antidote'."

There is a full second of silence, and then the RSA side of the audience bursts into applause. Glittering confetti explodes out of invisible cannons and rains down on Jamil's frozen figure, arm still raised to blast magic at the gem.

Royal Sword Academy takes first place.

Again.

Jamil can barely hear the cheering over the mind-numbing realization that he lost, only by a matter of a few seconds.

As NRC's crowd stays deathly silent, Jamil feels the shame crawling up his spine. As if losing to these Mary Sues wasn't bad enough, he now made a fool of himself in front of his own school.

He slams his fist down on his podium in silent frustration, but other than that, he just stands there and coldly glares at his opponent.

And to make matters worse…

"It's okay, Jamil! You did great!" Kalim yells, sitting amongst RSA's "little angels".

Jamil's jaw tightens.

Azul Ashengrotto just smiles politely at the crowd. He glances at Jamil and sees his cold glare, and Jamil takes satisfaction in how Ashengrotto's smile falters for a fraction of a second. Then they're both ushered down from the stage.

Jamil had never been to Golden Bridge Academy before, and he has no idea where the canteen is. He had skipped lunch for this competition and so far had only managed to find a vending machine to get a fruit soda from. Normally he'd familiarize himself with a place before going there, but he didn't think he'd need to, especially if he'd be too busy being congratulated by his schoolmates to go anywhere else by himself.

Now he's trying to get away from those schoolmates. He barely escaped without having resentful glares cast his way.

"Hey!" a growl calls his attention..

Jamil turns to look at him, and as soon as he does, the tiger beastman swats the bottle of soda from his hand. It falls to the floor with a thud.

"Shouldn't you be hiding in shame somewhere?" the beastman bares his teeth. "You're in the basketball varsity, ain't ya? How's it that that nerd with the glasses moved faster than you?"

Jamil keeps a proud, condescending look on his face, trying his best to hide the evident irritation in his voice.

"I don't know what you mean. The other man simply won, and that's all there is to it. Besides, as if you could do any better. Do you think I wasn't there when I saw you and your team lose to RSA yesterday? Now unless you can tell me where the canteen is, beat it. I'm already in a bad enough mood as it is."

The beastman growls and lunges faster than Jamil had expected for such a buff guy.

Jamil pulls out his Magic Pen, fully knowing he won't be quick enough to stop the sharp claws reaching for his face—

"Agh!" the beastman suddenly stumbles back as a magic blast hit him, a hand clasping over his shoulder.

"That is no way to treat a schoolmate, is it?" a familiar cool voice says behind Jamil.

Azul Ashengrotto lowers his Magic Pen, but still keeps it at the ready. "Jamil Viper had put up an excellent fight, and I have no doubt he knew the answer to that final question. I merely won by chance."

The beastman makes a low growl. "We'll get your asses next time, just you wait."

"I look forward to it," Azul tips his head politely.

The beastman storms off.

Azul pockets his Magic Pen, then picks up Jamil's fruit soda bottle and offers it to him.

"Just go straight ahead and to the right, you'll find the canteen near the statue of the fairy," Azul says.

Jamil stares at the soda bottle in Azul's hand for a long moment before he takes it.

He squints at Azul. "Have you been listening in on our conversation?"

It was too soon for him to see this guy, he mutters in his head. Of all the people to run into...

"It was difficult not to, your friend has quite the loud voice," Azul Ashengrotto has a small smile of amusement. "But I did not mean to eavesdrop, I assure you. I was just passing by from the shop. I ran into some of your other schoolmates, I think they were heading to the canteen as well." He absently adjusts his glasses, and Jamil notices for the first time that one of the lenses has a crack that wasn't there earlier during the quiz bee. "They seemed about as friendly as your tiger companion earlier, so might I suggest that you sit at the north side if you want a peaceful lunch? The tables there are not in plain view."

Jamil looks at Azul strangely, wondering why he's telling him this, because it's true that he'd rather avoid further ire from his schoolmates.

"…What do you want?" He asks, voice laced with suspicion.

It doesn't escape Azul's notice, and his eyebrows raise in mild surprise, then he shakes his head. "I merely had the impression that you wanted to avoid further disturbances. I had information, I passed it on. That is all. Regardless, I shall leave you be."

Azul tips his head politely and turns to leave, but before he could walk away, another voice rings out.

"Octy! Sea Snake!"

Floyd appears faster than Jamil could react, and the eel is suddenly between him and Azul Ashengrotto, an arm around each of them.

"Heyyyy, can we join yer hangout?"

"Azul Ashengrotto," Jade walks towards them with an amused smile. "It's been a long time. Are you both headed to the canteen?"

Jamil struggles under Floyd's grip, widening his eyes at the twins' approach.

"What the— Hang on, you guys know each other?" He incredulously asks.

"We were classmates in middle school," Azul Ashengrotto says from the grip of Floyd's other arm. Then he turns to Jade. "Hello, Jade Leech, Floyd Leech. I see you two have retained the same… enthusiasm in greeting people."

Floyd laughs. "I missed ya, Octy! And you, Sea Snake, why're you keeping him to yourself? That's rude, you know!"

"Feel free to take him," Jamil grumbles, unable to escape Floyd's grip. Curses, he normally would've heard him coming from a mile away. Azul's tip about the tables had distracted him. "Just leave me out of it."

"Nooo!" Floyd complains. "I gotta talk to you about the new Basketball Club uniforms! You've been skippin' practice so you dunno that Coach told us to pick up the fabrics for 'em in town next week!"

"And we want to catch up with our old friend Azul," Jade smiles, the kind that looks like there's definitely something else behind it.

"Let's gooo!" Floyd practically drags Jamil and Azul along.

Jamil sees that Azul was right about the other NRC students at the canteen, but all of them give their group a wide berth. That's one good thing about the Leech twins, at least. If they're bothering you, no one else will.

"Can I take everyone's orders?" Jade asks as they all settle into a table. "My treat."

Jamil sighs, seeing that he's got no chance of escaping this now without attracting Floyd's ire. Glancing at the front of the canteen where a menu can be seen, he then mumbles, "I'll take a plate of carbonara, I guess . . ."

He feels his stomach growling in satisfaction. Huh. Guess he has been neglecting a bit of his needs for this quiz, now that he thinks about it.

"Beef stew, please," Azul Ashengrotto says, seated in front of Jamil.

"Large fries!" Floyd pipes up, sitting beside Jamil. "And a taco!"

Jade nods in acknowledgement and leaves to order.

"You don't look delicious in your human form, Octy," Floyd rests his chin on his hands, his elbows propped up on the table. "You don't even have any chewy bits."

"If it means that you won't be biting my limbs again anytime soon, then I don't mind the absence of chewiness," Azul says good-naturedly as he takes out a small container from his pocket and places it on the table.

Jamil can't believe he's sitting with the guy who bested him in a battle of academic wits. A part of him wants to stay irritated, but now that the sting of defeat has mostly left him, he just feels resigned.

He glances at his former opponent and at Floyd, frowning. "Were you guys close friends back in middle school or something?"

He's never seen the twins be this excited over one individual before.

Azul considers for a moment. "We were friends, yes, but we didn't exactly spend enough time together to be considered close—"

"Because Flame Tetra stole you from us!" Floyd slams his fist on the table, a gesture that would have been intimidating if not for the childish pout on his face. "Jade and I were about to scoop ya up, but he swam in and made you part of his gang. Blech," Floyd makes a disgusted face.

"…Who's Flame Tetra?" Jamil asks, not even sure what a Tetra is. "…And you call this guy 'Octy' because…?"

"'Flame Tetra' is how Floyd refers to Rielle Triton, another one of our classmates back in middle school," Azul responds. "And Floyd's nickname for me is because I'm a cecaelia. In my true form, my lower half is an octopus."

"With chewy tenta-klees!" Floyd reminds them, wiggling his fingers towards them as an imitation of said tentacles.

"We still could have been close, you know," Azul says to Floyd. "It isn't like Rielle forbids his friends to be close to other people."

"Nahhh, we don't like hangin' out with royals," Floyd waves a hand dismissively. "And he's always hangin' around you! It was real annoying. I wanted to squeeze him for it but Jade didn't let me."

Friends with royalty? Connection to the Leech twins that isn't a death sentence? Consider Jamil intrigued.

"What about this guy is so interesting to you, Floyd? Is it 'cause he's half-octopus?" He levels his gaze down the silver-haired boy's way as he takes a sip of his soda.

"Well, many of our classmates were racist bastards," Floyd says bluntly. "Octy was the only cecaelia in our class, and they kept givin' him shit for it. I was like whatever, y'know. There's assholes everywhere, why not in school? BUT THEN, Jade noticed that those bastards slowly became less bastardly. They also began gettin' skills n' stuff outta nowhere, but also losin' things? Like, this merman, his tailfin changed color to a glittery green thingy, it was rad. But he became stupid in math.

So Jade and I snooped on Azul and found out he was makin' these contracts to make deals with our classmates. He had figured out his Signature Spell at that age! BESTIE MATERIAL, RIGHT??"

Azul has a hand to his forehead, like he's covering his face from embarrassment.

"Oh?" Jamil utters, raising an eyebrow. "Your Signature Spell developed so you could get one over people who used to make fun of you?"

That's a tad more dastardly than he gave the guy credit for.

"Impressive…" Jamil mutters, recalling the time where he first manifested his Signature Spell…

Control, control…

That's all he ever asks for.

Please… If he can have at least one thing in his stupid life…

He blinks himself back to reality. "Did you want to befriend Azul 'cause you wanted some kind of boon from him?"

"Eh?" Floyd looks confused. "I wanted to play with him! It's Jade who wanted a boon."

"Hm? Did I hear my name?" Jade appears with a tray of their food. It looks like he got spaghetti for himself.

"Sea Snake was wonderin' why we wanted to hang out with Octy back then," Floyd jabs a thumb towards Jamil's direction.

"Can we please talk about something else?" Azul says, looking uncomfortable with the attention.

"But we missed you!" Floyd pouts. "Let's hear what Jade has to say."

Jade chuckles as he sits down in front of Floyd and next to Azul.

"Having Floyd as a sibling certainly raises one's standards for what is interesting. And Azul, who used to dissolve into tears from the bullying of our classmates and then ended up lording over them, certainly reached that standard," Jade says. "And I must admit, I wanted to see if he and I could work together."

"But you didn't because… Rielle?" Jamil asks. He's heard of the name, since the Asims' personal retainers are expected to know the different royal families in case they ever have to meet or welcome them. He wonders why the Leeches don't like associating with the prince.

Jade shrugs. "Prince Rielle has always been too well-guarded. I would rather not have eyes on any endeavors I do."

"And they definitely won't let me chew on Flame Tetra's tail," Floyd adds.

Azul has stopped paying attention to them and is currently getting two pieces of glass from the container he had placed on the table.

Jamil's eyes follow this movement and glance at the container. What's that?

Azul removes his glasses and places them down.

"Ah yes," Jade says, noticing what Azul is doing as well. "I've been meaning to ask. What happened to your glasses?"

Azul takes out his Magic Pen and begins to magically replace his glasses’ lenses. "A group of your charming schoolmates approached me earlier. One of them aimed a punch at my face. I managed to cast a shield, but not fast enough. The punch didn't make contact with my face, but the shield wasn't able to stop the force entirely. Hence," he holds up the cracked piece of glass, now detached from the frame. "Fortunately the shop here sells lenses that fit my eye grade. This would have to do until I can get new prescription glasses." He looks down to carefully attach the new lenses, muttering incantations with waves of his Magic Pen.

"You got jumped?" Floyd says in interest. "What'd you do?"

"I made them leave," Azul said simply, still fixing his glasses.

Jade chuckles fondly.

"Aw hell yeah! That's our Octy!" Floyd grins.

Jamil frowns as he tries to imagine Azul prevailing in a brawl. It's hard to picture, but it's certainly not a bad picture.

"Those idiots," Jamil shakes his head. "Acting like sore losers that way is only going to give the rest of us more trouble than it's worth…" He glances at Floyd's way. "How was your swimming competition?"

"He was disqualified about a few seconds in for going severely out of bounds." Jade happily replies.

"That's what they get for makin' me join," Floyd groans, leaning back on his seat. "Why would I wanna be in a swimmin' contest? I swim all the time."

"You're a fast swimmer," Azul points out, wearing his newly repaired glasses. He blinks a few times as if testing his vision. "Surely it would have been quite easy for you to win such a competition."

"Exactly!" Floyd says. "Where's the fun in that? Ooh, YOU shoulda joined, Octy! You ain't a fast swimmer at all, it'll be a real challenge."

Azul seems to get pink in the face from embarrassment. Then he clears his throat and puts away the container that now holds the old lenses.

"In any case, I am glad that you are a tad bit friendlier than your peers, Jamil Viper," he says to Jamil, then smiles a little. "Or at least, not as aggressive."

Jamil can't help but give Azul a smirk, both pleasant and smug all at once. "What can I say? It's much easier to take people down when they least expect it."

"How adorable," Jade coos, immediately undercutting the cool and intimidating image Jamil was going for.

"Ooh, you better watch out, lil' Octy," Floyd teases. "Sea Snake can hold a reeeeeal grudge."

"It takes someone clever and cutthroat to stay in his position as Scarabia's Prefect, after all." Jade then compliments. "His dormmates are pleasant enough, but they're crafty and waiting for the day they can pull off their long con against him."

"Hmph. Let them try." Jamil huffs, already familiar with who his turncoats might be.

"Hey, hey, are you still doing those contracts, Octy? How many people do you got under your thumb nowadays? Do the RSA guppies make for fun peons?" Floyd asks, leaning forward to lie his head on the table.

Azul looks around, his face an impressive mask of nonchalance, but Jamil still sees the nervousness underneath it.

No one seems to be paying attention to their little group, though.

"Yes, I still do the contracts," Azul says slowly. "But I've become a bit more… amiable, in my methods. My contracts are more straightforward now, without any of the cleverly hidden fine prints or loopholes that you might be familiar with from middle school. So, no peons."

"Awwww," Floyd laments. "Flame Tetra made ya boring. Though you still did beat up those guys who jumped you so I'll let it slide."

Azul chuckles in amusement.

"Is it because of 'Flame Tetra', though?" Jamil inquired. "What made you stop with all the fine prints and loopholes?"

Sounds like a very useful tool that he'd hate to be on the other side of had Azul been a fellow NRC student.

"Well…" Azul fiddles with his spoon in his stew. "As Jade and Floyd have pointed out, being friends with Rielle means that one would be relatively watched. And I couldn't risk marring a crown prince's reputation. Either way, RSA is not fond of, ah, sketchy things. The amount of trouble I can get into for such loopholes…" he shakes his head. "Fortunately, I found that being close friends with a crown prince has its own perks. Some might say a more subtle way of gaining… peons," he looks at Jamil and gives a smirk that the Scarabia Prefect wouldn't have expected of an RSA student.

Jamil is mildly surprised that Azul directed such a smile his way. After all, he may have asked the question, but the twins were the ones who wanted to be impressed. Still, he doesn't dislike it. It's like how he and Ruggie share twin smirks when they both know they aren't up to any good during classes. There's a certain kinship to it.

Very well, he can admit it. Azul doesn't seem like a complete angel. For him, one of the factors of an individual's tolerability is their innocence. He can't deal with someone so perpetually nice and good, it reminds him of the guy who grew up with him since childhood—it grates on his nerves.

"Is that why you decided to become friends with Rielle, then, to the point where you came all the way to a place like Royal Sword?" He continues the inquiry. "For the benefits his royal privilege can bring?"

"Oh, not at all," Azul says. "Rielle was the first to approach me during a time when most of the people around us had disliked me. Especially considering how he was the most popular kid in class, it was a big risk to his reputation befriending someone like me at the time."

"HEY!" Floyd cut in, frowning. "WE would have been the first ones to approach you! We were just a lil' bit late!"

Azul smiles at him. "Once again, we can still be friends now, Floyd."

"I'm just sayin'," Floyd grumbles, crossing his arms.

Azul turns to Jamil again. "Yes, I'm genuinely good friends with Rielle. He's surprisingly humble for a crown prince, very loyal to his friends, and is sincere in all his actions. And I didn't even know he was going to RSA until I got my acceptance letter and told him about it. Apparently he had gotten his letter on the same day."

"Ah," Jamil nodded, though a part of him felt displeased with the information. He chalked it up to disappointment that there was no duplicity to be found in their bond. After all, he can see what Floyd meant now, about how Azul's penchant for manipulation have mellowed out due to his environment.

Not that it's a bad thing for people to grow up with decent company and a non-hostile environment for once, but it's another point that differentiates him and Azul in the end. Azul got the chance to make his life turn around for the better.

Meanwhile, Jamil's still a snake, coiled in an arid land as it dreams of growing wings and flying away.

"My, it's good to hear that your boon companion has been doing well, Azul." Jade replied, before his mouth forms a small O-shape in polite surprise. "Oh, pardon me, is that an appropriate term for him? Or would you prefer that I call him your boyfriend or partner?"

Azul rolls his eyes. "Rielle and I are not romantically involved. No matter what gossip you may have heard."

"As you say," Jade politely concludes, though it's clear from a mischievous twinkle in his eye that he doesn't think Azul's being entirely truthful.

At least, that's how Jamil interprets it.

Anyway, this is completely unrelated to him now, so Jamil doesn't know why he should care—

"YET." Floyd emphasizes, finishing his fries. "Bet there'd be merpeeps out there who'd kill to be in your spot right now. Dating the crown prince of the seven seas–you got a real rags to riches story in the making, from being the runt of the class to king of the oceans. C'mon, don't tell me the thought never crossed yer mind. Even I could see what a steal that is and I don't even care about that stuff."

Azul hesitates only for a brief second, but it doesn't escape Jamil's notice.

"I had thought you to be above gossiping, Floyd," Azul says lightly.

"Yer avoiding the question," Floyd points an accusatory finger at Azul. Then he elbows Jamil. "Hey, Sea Snake, what do ya think? A Scarabia Prefect like you understands, right? Flame Tetra's a real steal for Octy here. And Octy himself ain't bad. Heck, if Flame Tetra wanted to hang out with him when he was a crybaby octopus in a pot, then why not now when he's dressed in the princely clothes of RSA?"

"Indeed," Jade nods. "What do you think, Jamil? Isn't Azul handsome and strong enough to be king of the oceans?" he smiles at Jamil in feigned innocence.

Jamil shoots a side-eyed glare at Jade, knowing that the other is up to something somehow. "I don't know why you want my opinion, but . . ." he casts Azul a long glance. "I see the potential. It would be foolish for Rielle not to consider you." He looks back at the twins. "However, if the guy wants this to be dropped then we should drop it. Whatever's going on with them isn't any of our business."

Azul looks quizzically at Jamil, like he didn’t expect Jamil to stare at him for so long, then he turns to the twins. “Exactly, especially since there is nothing going on at all.”

“Oh, Azul, there you are,” a voice says.

Jamil looks up to see a redhead RSA student approach their table.

“Jade and Floyd Leech,” he says in pleasant surprise. “And… Jamil Viper, I believe? Good day to you all.”

“Flame Tetra!” Floyd says cheerfully. “We were just talking about your wedding with Octy.”

Azul rolls his eyes. “The Leech twins subscribe to gossip, apparently.”

“Ah,” Rielle nods. “No wedding, I’m afraid. I’ve already proposed to Azul three times and he has always said no,” he puts a hand to his chest in a mock expression of sadness.

“Your jests are not helping,” Azul says in amusement.

“Why don’t you join us, Prince Rielle?” Jade says pleasantly, gesturing to the vacant chair at the head of the table, to Jamil’s left and to Azul’s right.

“Oh, thank you,” Rielle takes a seat. “And you know there is no need to call me by my title, Jade. Especially since you have seen me cry and fumble my way through our exams far too many times for any formalities.”

Jade chuckles. “It’s lovely to see you again.”

“Heck yeah!” Floyd agrees. “It’s been like forever!”

Rielle smiles good-naturedly at them, then turns to Jamil. “Hello, Mr. Viper. I am pleasantly surprised to see that you are friends with these three as well.”

Jamil shakes his head, his polite attitude showing its face out of pure habit. "I wouldn't really call them friends. After all, I just met one of them today, and the other two, well, since you seem familiar with them, then you're probably aware of their… difficult natures. Still, hello to you as well, Mr. Rielle."

Speaking of, Jamil's beginning to feel a bit out of place here. These people seem to know each other well and he's like a fish out of water (pun intended).

He turns to Floyd. "Anyway, what was that about our basketball uniforms? That was the whole reason why you dragged me here to begin with."

“Oh right!” Floyd suddenly remembers. “We’re supposed to get the fabrics for the uniforms in some shop in town this Saturday. Ooh, why don’t we make it a fun lil’ hangout? All of us can go! It ain’t too far from RSA!”

“I have Vice Prefect duties this Saturday, remember?” Jade says. "We have been away for a while and there is some work I have to catch up on.”

“Boo,” Floyd scrunches up his face. “How about you? Flame Tetra? Octy?”

“I think I am free, yes,” Rielle nods. “There are some errands I need to run in town anyway for the upcoming ball at RSA.”

“Let me see…” Azul frowns in thought.

“You’re coming too! Great!” Floyd says before Azul could continue.

“But I haven’t—” Azul tries to say.

“It’s a hangout!” Floyd raises his arms triumphantly.

Azul sighs. “I suppose.”

“I hope we aren’t imposing…” Rielle looks at Jamil hesitantly.

"Not at all," Jamil calmly responds. "It is Floyd who should be apologizing for forcing you two to come with us."

He holds no particularly strong feelings on whether or not Azul and Rielle would be included. He is used to keeping up a pleasant facade for people with higher status and Rielle seems more or less respectful of boundaries. What he's a bit annoyed with is Floyd strong-arming them together on a whim. He's willing to bet that on the day of the town visit, he would have lost the mood and make Jamil go all on his own. He'll have to ask the basketball captain for details first then make some adjustments to his schedule…

"Ahem. Anyway, if you'll excuse me." Jamil states, standing up and taking his finished plate. "It's been pleasant chatting with all of you, but I'll have to take my leave."

To do what? He's not really sure since the event's coordinators won't allow anyone to go home until a certain threshold of time.

Perhaps he'll watch the other competitions and keep seeing NRC lose to RSA so he can feel much better about himself.

Chapter 2 ->

(Masterlist)

[demospectator]

(left to right) "Walter," Phyllis Soohoo, and Kenny Kai-Kee outside Sather Gate on the campus of the University of California Berkeley, c. 1940. Photographer unknown (from the collection of Doug Chan).

War and Mother's Remembrance

In an old photograph, a smiling Chinese coed strolls out of the University of California Berkeley’s Sather Gate, circa 1940. Observing this image, one cannot help but infer that my future mother didn’t lack for male companionship eight decades ago. However, beyond the personal anecdote, the photograph of the trio encapsulates a broader narrative about the adventurous spirit of Chinese American youth who began entering college in significant numbers on the cusp of the Second World War.

The Chinese students who enrolled at Cal in the late 1930’s represented a subset of the second or third generation offspring of the Chinese settlers in California. Despite being a minority, these students embodied the inaugural All-American generation of the Chinese diaspora in the US.

Chinese collegians dine at the Persian Room in the Sir Francis Drake Hotel, June 12, 1942. Hollywood Nite Club Photos (from the collection of Doug Chan). Phyllis Soohoo appears second from right.

The confluence of access to higher education and the backdrop of WWII proved to be a watershed moment for Chinese American youth. The war coincided with the formation and facilitated the ascent of the first Chinese American middle class.

UC Berkeley classmates Kenny Kai-Kee and Phyllis Soohoo at Lake Lagunitas, March 21, 1940. Photographer unknown (from the collection of Doug Chan).

With the outbreak of war, my mother took breaks to work for Shell Oil Co.'s laboratories, where she contributed to the development and testing of waterproofing treatments for equipment such as tents. Alongside other Chinese American men and women on the homefront, she undertook real jobs for the first time outside of the segregated Chinatowns. Her generation garnered newfound respect from their compatriots and the larger society amidst an era scarred by exclusion.

Time and the passing of her generation have dimmed the sacrifices made by many of my mother's contemporaries and, most poignantly, the memories of young men who had served and fallen in combat.

Kenny Kai-Kee was the classmate and a friend seen at the right in my mother's photograph outside of Sather Gate. Remembered as a jovial and talented athlete who secured a spot on Cal's varsity basketball team, Kenny would earn a lieutenant's commission, joining the US Army Air Force in October 1943 and qualifying as a bomber pilot. As recounted in my earlier writing here, this year marks the 80th anniversary of the downing of Kenny’s B-17 to enemy fire over Austria in late July 1944.

Lt. Kenneth Kai-Kee poses in his US Army Air Force uniform before shipping out for service with the US Army Air Force in Europe, October 1943. Photographer unknown (from the collection of Phyllis Soohoo Chan).

My mother was a compulsive archivist. She kept all of the half-dozen photos of her and her former boyfriend, Kenny. She would continue to refer to grief-stricken parents, Lock and Rita, as “Mom” and “Pop,” and send them a Christmas card every year after that terrible summer of 1944. Years later, when her own family went out for dinner in Oakland, she would meet and greet Kenny’s parents on the sidewalks of Chinatown as the old-time families usually encountered each other going to or from dinners at the old Silver Dragon.

Kenny’s remains had been interred initially in a distant plot. The German records recorded a burial first on July 27, 1944, in the cemetery of St. Jakob i. Walde, Austria. More than five years later, Lock and Rita were notified that Kenny’s remains were coming “home” to be re-interred at the Jefferson National Cemetery Barracks. His parents traveled back to St. Louis, Missouri, to witness the re-interment, which occurred on May 15, 1950.

In a letter to my future mother, dated June 12, 1950, Rita wrote as follows:

“Dear Phyllis, "Please accept a very blated ‘Thanks’ for the cute Mother’s Day card and the kind thoughts conveyed. I was not at home on that day. Lock and I arrived in St. Louis, Mo. on the afternoon of Mother’s day. “I don’t know whether you have heard that Kenneth’s remains were found, together with those of two other boys. Inasmuch as each could not be individually identified the government had them brought back in a group for burial at a national cemetery. St. Louis was chosen as it was the most centrally located for the three families involved. The military services which took place on May 16th were very simple and very nice. … * * * “You young people who were Kenneth’s friends ae always so close to me that I almost feel you are my family. … “Anytime you are around this neighborhood drop in on us. We are always glad to see you. “Thanks again and again. “Love, “’Mom’ Kai-Kee”

No one can recall if Lock and Rita Kai-Kee ever revisited their son’s lonely grave in St. Louis, so far from family, friends and loved ones. If my mother knew of the location of Kenny’s grave when a cross-country motor trip with her family drove her through St. Louis in the summer of 1964, she never mentioned it. On the two or three times when I had asked her about Kenny, I recall her fleeting, faraway look when she mentioned his name. She and millions of other Americans knew first-hand not only the young men who had never returned from the great global conflagration of the 1940s, but the loss, grief, and the devastation of war. Like many other Americans who were left behind in sorrow, my mother emerged from the war years with not only her pharmacist's license but also specific, painful reasons to detest the horrors of the global conflict and its waste of life.

Another decade would pass before Mom crossed paths with my father. He had shared none of the transformational experiences of my mother's college cohort. His family had struggled during the years of the Great Depression in San Francisco Chinatown, and he lacked the means, and perhaps the inclination, to pursue university education before enlisting in the US Coast Guard.

Rita Kai-Kee would carry the bitterness of Kenny's loss and the cruelty of war’s cost until her death in August 1983. Lock died seven months later.

After my mother's passing in 2001, my then-grieving father had dispassionately set all of her personal effects, records, and old photos for disposal. I reclaimed a portion of her captured memories from a grim jumble of items he had discarded for the dump. Among the carefully compiled sets of letters and photos about her side of the family, were the small snapshots of her with Kenny and his portrait in uniform. My mother’s archive provided glimpses into a personal life in which Dad had played no part, separated by a ferry ride and later a new Bay Bridge. As such, her mementos comprised a sentimental narrative, ending on the eve of her encountering my father in San Francisco Chinatown’s Powell Garage in 1953.

I was brought into the world about a year later. Decades later, I would find among a pile of baby gift cards from family and friends the small card sent to my mother by “Mom” and “Pop” Kai-Kee. My mother had included their names on my birth announcement list.

The loss of Kenny Kai-Kee, the only son of a pioneering family, was doubly bitter because he exemplified the first All-American generation of Chinese. Death deprived him of the realization that the Second World War proved to be a watershed event for Chinese American youth. The young men and boys who flew in the B-17s of the 8th and 15th Air Forces came home to a Chinese America not quite free of the strictures of white racism, but well on its way to equal rights for Chinese Americans, freed from the Chinese Exclusion Act.

The war coincided with the making, and spurred the rise, of the first Chinese American middle class. As the image and condition of the Chinese in America changed, so did its economic opportunities. By 1943 -- the year the Exclusion Act was repealed -- 15 percent of the shipyard workers on San Francisco Bay were Chinese. During the war, Chinese American men and women were working real jobs for the first time in the world’s only industrial behemoth and gaining new respect from their fellow citizens.

Had he returned to Oakland, Kenny would have heard the laughter of unprecedented numbers of children in the Nation’s Chinatowns. He would have seen his buddies buying houses in gradually desegregating neighborhoods, resuming college careers on the G.I. Bill, and wading into the social and cultural mainstream of postwar America.

We will never know what Kenny could have accomplished had he lived. He probably would have married his fiancee Alice, the love of his short life, raised a family and grown old. We would have met and seen him as just another 80-year-old senior citizen, serving up decades' worth of easy banter along with the stacks of pancakes at the Wa Sung Club’s annual Easter breakfast. As a member of one of Chinese America’s greatest generations, he would have made his own contribution to community after his years serving the country.

Instead, we are left only with the perplexing example of the wrenching deaths of Kenny and the thousands of other young men who never made it back home. Such selflessness demands that we ponder the meaning of his brief life and how in our time, beyond the words and through our own deeds, we as Americans can make his death meaningful and us worthy of such a sacrifice.

If the task of reclaiming the history of Chinese America must begin anew with each generation, then the stories not only of gallantry but also of sacrifice should be told again. Each retelling represents a call for new generations, native and immigrant, to engage in a singular act of faith in the future and reaffirmation of hope that the mere utterance of the names will sustain the memories of the lives, the valor, and the sacrifices of the Chinese Americans who marched, sailed or flew in harm's way. Such is the heavy burden on ethnic historians and storytellers to remember the community’s forgotten men in unforgettable ways.

[2024-9-25]

[master-john-uk]

Hurrah! A victory for common sense!

Following criticism of English cricket as being elitist and discriminatory, the MCC who own Lord's Cricket Ground decided to relocate these two historic fixtures and offer a wider range of people the chance to play at the ground. Last year, MCC President Stephen Fry spoke in support of the changes and said they would help challenge a "turgid image of snobbery and elitism."

Although opinion is divided, a significantly large number of MCC members (including myself) protested against the decision which led to a postponement of a vote on the issue, an apology from the Lord's executive and a wider consultation on the matter.

Rather than risk further backlash and, in an attempt to heal the rift between members, the MCC has made a pragmatic decision to cancel the vote and allow these cricket matches to continue until at least 2027. A further consultation will then gauge the opinion of members in four years time, before any further decisions are made on this matter.

[In my opinion... I agree that cricket was (and still is) guilty of snobbery and discrimination, but I believe that big steps forward have been made in tackling this issue in recent years. Inclusivity. These two historic cricket fixtures have little impact in procluding other events being played at Lord's. This is proved by yesterday's announcement which stated that organisers of other competitions will be invited to stage fixtures at Lord's from 2024. History. The Eton vs Harrow cricket is the oldest cricket fixture in the world that is still regularly played. MCC Chief Executive Guy Lavender has conceded that, "History is more important to Lord's than it is to probably any other cricket ground in the world." Finance. I know how expensive it is to maintain a small office building in Central London... The cost of running a venue like Lord's makes my eyes water! I doubt that Lord's Cricket Ground could afford to lose the revenue generated in their hospitality suites, restaurants and bars at the Varsity and Eton/Harrow days... although the MCC executive will never admit this publicly. With the prices they charge, I doubt if they will make any profit from an inter-school one day cricket tournament!]

[graceandpeacejoanne]

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[brookston]

Holidays 2.16

Holidays

Akiyoshidai Yamayaki (Japan)

Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day (Uganda)

Bir Chilarai Divas (Assam, India)

Bumper Car Day

Cheque Day

Citizenship Day (Canada)

Cyclamen Day (French Republic)

Day of the Shining Star (North Korea)

Do A Grouch A Favor Day

Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (Alaska)

First 911 Call Day

Gator Nation Giving Day (Florida)

Gold Standard Day

Harvey the Hound Day (Canada)

Heart’s Day (Elder Scrolls)

IEEE Foundation Day

Innovation Day

International Black Aviation Day

International Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict

Kick Day

Kyoto Protocol Day

LOINC Day

Makha Bucha Day (Thailand)

National Buna Day (Ethiopia)

National No One Eats Alone Day

Nine-One-One Day

Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day

Tutankhamen’s Tomb Day

216 Day (Ohio)

Wear Purple for Kyoto Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Feast of Sticky Buns

International Syrah Day

National Almond Day

Tartar Sauce Day

Tim Tam Day (Australia)

3rd Friday in February

Care Day (UK) [3rd Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Global Divestment Day (UK) [Friday of Go Green Week]

Heritage Day (Yukon Territory, Canada) [3rd Friday]

National Caregivers Day [3rd Friday]

National Woman’s Heart Day [3rd Friday]

World Porter Day [3rd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning February 16

Girl Scout Cookie Weekend [thru 2.18]

National FFA Week [thru 2.24]

Independence & Related Days

Lithuania (from Russia & German Empire, 1918)

Sovereignty Day (Serbia)

Festivals Beginning February 16, 2024

Adelaide Fringe Festval Adelaide, South Australia) [thru 3.17]

Babcock Ranch Seafood & Music Festival (Punta Gorda, Florida) [thru 2.18]

Carnevale di Venezia (Venice, Italy) [thru 3.5]

Festival du Voyageur (Winnipeg, Canada) [thru 2.25]

Fiddler Crab Festival (Steinhatchee, Florida) [thru 2.18]

Great Backyard Bird Count [thru 2.19]

Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival (York, UK) [thru 2.18]

New Zealand Fringe Festival (Wellington, New Zealand) [thru 3.9]

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (Capas, Philippines) [thru 2.18]

Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival (Indio, California) [thru 2.25]

WBCA Jalapeño Festival (Lardeo, Texas)

Wine & Chowder Trails (Florence, Oregon) [thru 2.18]

Feast Days

Abda of Edessa (Christian; Saint)

Armand Guillaumin (Artology)

Bonten Matsuri festival begins (Asking for Good Crops; Japan)

Charles Todd Quintard (Episcopal Church (USA))

Cremation Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Devil’s Dance (Everyday Wicca)

Elias, Jeremy, Isaias, Samuel, and Daniel (Christian; Egyptian Martyrs)

Friday after Shrove Tuesday (Western Christianity) [44 Days before Easter (a.k.a. ... 

Friday Fish Fry Day (Midwest US)

National Tartar Sauce Day

Kissing Friday

Nippy Hug Day (Westmoreland, UK)

Gilbert of Sempringham (Christian; Saint)

Gregory X, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Guru Ravidas Jayanti (a.k.a. Magha Purinma; Parts of India)

Hash Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Iace (a.k.a. Tatto) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Iain Bank (Writerism)

Juliana of Nicomedia (Catholic Church; Virgin & Martyr)

Juvenal (Positivist; Saint)

Kanō Eitoku (Artology)

Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Artology)

Onesimus (Christian; Saint)

Platypus Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Respectable Tales of Kelp-Koli (Shamanism) [5 Minutes]

Richard Ford (Writerism)

Secret Patience Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Three Good Deaths Day [Salmon, Pigs, Robbers] (Celtic Book of Days)

Vasant Panchami (a.k.a. Saraswati Puja; Celebrating harvest goddess Saraswati; Hindu)

Victoria — Nike’s Day (Pagan)

Warren Ellis (Writerism)

Zowie-Zown the Upside-Down Clown (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 47 [15 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Ants in Your Pantry (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Black Panther (Film; 2018)

The Bostonians, by Henry James (Novel; 1885)

Bridge to Tarabithia (Film; 2007)

Bringing Up Baby (Film; 1938)

Carousel (Film; 1956)

Cher (TV Series; 1975)

Down to Earth (Film; 2001)

The Duck Doctor (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Early Man (Animated Film; 2018)

Factory Girl (Film; 2007)

Fit to be Toyed (Modern Madcaps Cartoon; 1959)

Ghost Rider (Film; 2007)

Gift Wrapped (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Happy Gilmore (Film; 1996)

Jersey Bounce, by Shep Fields and His Orchestra (Song; 1942)

Let’s You and Him Fight (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1934)

The Little Red Hen (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1934)

The Mad Hatter (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1948)

The Man Who Folded Himself, by David Gerrold (Novel; 1973)

Muppet Treasure Island (Film; 1996)

My Mom’s Having a Baby (DePatie-Freleng Animated TV Special; 1977)

The Saint and the Hapsburg Necklace, by Christopher Short (Novel; 1976) [Saint #46]

Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo (WB Animated Film; 2010)

Sexual Politics, by Kate Millett (Political Theory; 1970)

Spanish Harlem, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1971)

Sweet November (Film; 2001)

Time Regained, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

The Venture Bros. (Animated TV Series; 2003)

Werther, by Jules Massenet (Opera; 1892)

When the Cat’s Away (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1935)

The Witches (Film; 1990)

Today’s Name Days

Adalbert, Juliana, Liane, Philippa (Austria)

Julijana, Miljenko, Samuel (Croatia)

Ljuba (Czech Republic)

Juliane (Denmark)

Alda, Aldi, Miralda, Miranda, Valda, Velda (Estonia)

Kai (Finland)

Julienne, Lucile, Onésime (France)

Juliana, Liane (Germany)

Pamfillie, Pamfillos, Sele (Greece)

Julianna, Lilla (Hungary)

Faustino, Giorgia, Giovita, Sigfrido (Italy)

Aloizs, Alvils, Olafs, Olavs, Ulafs (Latvia)

Girdenė, Girdenis, Jovita, Jurgita, Vytis (Lithuania)

Sigbjørn, Sigfred (Norway)

Faustyn, Georgia, Georgina, Jordan, Jowita, Józef, Klaudiusz, Przybyrad, Sewer (Poland)

Onisim (Romania)

Pravoslav (Slovakia)

Claudio, Faustino (Spain)

Sigfrid (Sweden)

Georgette, Georgia, Georgina, Jovan, Jovita, Siegfried, Sigrid, Sue, Susan, Susana, Susanna, Susie, Suzanne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 47 of 2024; 319 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 7 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 7 ()

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 7 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 6 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 17 Grey; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 3 February 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 19 Homer (2nd Month) [Juvenal]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 58 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of February

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 26 of 28)

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 2.16

Holidays

Akiyoshidai Yamayaki (Japan)

Archbishop Janani Luwum Memorial Day (Uganda)

Bir Chilarai Divas (Assam, India)

Bumper Car Day

Cheque Day

Citizenship Day (Canada)

Cyclamen Day (French Republic)

Day of the Shining Star (North Korea)

Do A Grouch A Favor Day

Elizabeth Peratrovich Day (Alaska)

First 911 Call Day

Gator Nation Giving Day (Florida)

Gold Standard Day

Harvey the Hound Day (Canada)

Heart’s Day (Elder Scrolls)

IEEE Foundation Day

Innovation Day

International Black Aviation Day

International Jewish Day of Constructive Conflict

Kick Day

Kyoto Protocol Day

LOINC Day

Makha Bucha Day (Thailand)

National Buna Day (Ethiopia)

National No One Eats Alone Day

Nine-One-One Day

Restoration of Lithuania's Statehood Day

Tutankhamen’s Tomb Day

216 Day (Ohio)

Wear Purple for Kyoto Day

Food & Drink Celebrations

Feast of Sticky Buns

International Syrah Day

National Almond Day

Tartar Sauce Day

Tim Tam Day (Australia)

3rd Friday in February

Care Day (UK) [3rd Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

Global Divestment Day (UK) [Friday of Go Green Week]

Heritage Day (Yukon Territory, Canada) [3rd Friday]

National Caregivers Day [3rd Friday]

National Woman’s Heart Day [3rd Friday]

World Porter Day [3rd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning February 16

Girl Scout Cookie Weekend [thru 2.18]

National FFA Week [thru 2.24]

Independence & Related Days

Lithuania (from Russia & German Empire, 1918)

Sovereignty Day (Serbia)

Festivals Beginning February 16, 2024

Adelaide Fringe Festval Adelaide, South Australia) [thru 3.17]

Babcock Ranch Seafood & Music Festival (Punta Gorda, Florida) [thru 2.18]

Carnevale di Venezia (Venice, Italy) [thru 3.5]

Festival du Voyageur (Winnipeg, Canada) [thru 2.25]

Fiddler Crab Festival (Steinhatchee, Florida) [thru 2.18]

Great Backyard Bird Count [thru 2.19]

Inter Varsity Folk Dance Festival (York, UK) [thru 2.18]

New Zealand Fringe Festival (Wellington, New Zealand) [thru 3.9]

Philippine International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (Capas, Philippines) [thru 2.18]

Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival (Indio, California) [thru 2.25]

WBCA Jalapeño Festival (Lardeo, Texas)

Wine & Chowder Trails (Florence, Oregon) [thru 2.18]

Feast Days

Abda of Edessa (Christian; Saint)

Armand Guillaumin (Artology)

Bonten Matsuri festival begins (Asking for Good Crops; Japan)

Charles Todd Quintard (Episcopal Church (USA))

Cremation Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Devil’s Dance (Everyday Wicca)

Elias, Jeremy, Isaias, Samuel, and Daniel (Christian; Egyptian Martyrs)

Friday after Shrove Tuesday (Western Christianity) [44 Days before Easter (a.k.a. ... 

Friday Fish Fry Day (Midwest US)

National Tartar Sauce Day

Kissing Friday

Nippy Hug Day (Westmoreland, UK)

Gilbert of Sempringham (Christian; Saint)

Gregory X, Pope (Christian; Saint)

Guru Ravidas Jayanti (a.k.a. Magha Purinma; Parts of India)

Hash Wednesday (Church of the SubGenius)

Iace (a.k.a. Tatto) of Scotland (Christian; Saint)

Iain Bank (Writerism)

Juliana of Nicomedia (Catholic Church; Virgin & Martyr)

Juvenal (Positivist; Saint)

Kanō Eitoku (Artology)

Michelangelo Cerquozzi (Artology)

Onesimus (Christian; Saint)

Platypus Pondering Day (Pastafarian)

Respectable Tales of Kelp-Koli (Shamanism) [5 Minutes]

Richard Ford (Writerism)

Secret Patience Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Three Good Deaths Day [Salmon, Pigs, Robbers] (Celtic Book of Days)

Vasant Panchami (a.k.a. Saraswati Puja; Celebrating harvest goddess Saraswati; Hindu)

Victoria — Nike’s Day (Pagan)

Warren Ellis (Writerism)

Zowie-Zown the Upside-Down Clown (Muppetism)

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 47 [15 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Premieres

Ants in Your Pantry (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1945)

Black Panther (Film; 2018)

The Bostonians, by Henry James (Novel; 1885)

Bridge to Tarabithia (Film; 2007)

Bringing Up Baby (Film; 1938)

Carousel (Film; 1956)

Cher (TV Series; 1975)

Down to Earth (Film; 2001)

The Duck Doctor (Tom & Jerry Cartoon; 1952)

Early Man (Animated Film; 2018)

Factory Girl (Film; 2007)

Fit to be Toyed (Modern Madcaps Cartoon; 1959)

Ghost Rider (Film; 2007)

Gift Wrapped (WB LT Cartoon; 1952)

Happy Gilmore (Film; 1996)

Jersey Bounce, by Shep Fields and His Orchestra (Song; 1942)

Let’s You and Him Fight (Fleischer Popeye Cartoon; 1934)

The Little Red Hen (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1934)

The Mad Hatter (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1948)

The Man Who Folded Himself, by David Gerrold (Novel; 1973)

Muppet Treasure Island (Film; 1996)

My Mom’s Having a Baby (DePatie-Freleng Animated TV Special; 1977)

The Saint and the Hapsburg Necklace, by Christopher Short (Novel; 1976) [Saint #46]

Scooby-Doo! Abracadabra-Doo (WB Animated Film; 2010)

Sexual Politics, by Kate Millett (Political Theory; 1970)

Spanish Harlem, recorded by Aretha Franklin (Song; 1971)

Sweet November (Film; 2001)

Time Regained, by Marcel Proust (Novel; 1927)

The Venture Bros. (Animated TV Series; 2003)

Werther, by Jules Massenet (Opera; 1892)

When the Cat’s Away (Happy Harmonies Cartoon; 1935)

The Witches (Film; 1990)

Today’s Name Days

Adalbert, Juliana, Liane, Philippa (Austria)

Julijana, Miljenko, Samuel (Croatia)

Ljuba (Czech Republic)

Juliane (Denmark)

Alda, Aldi, Miralda, Miranda, Valda, Velda (Estonia)

Kai (Finland)

Julienne, Lucile, Onésime (France)

Juliana, Liane (Germany)

Pamfillie, Pamfillos, Sele (Greece)

Julianna, Lilla (Hungary)

Faustino, Giorgia, Giovita, Sigfrido (Italy)

Aloizs, Alvils, Olafs, Olavs, Ulafs (Latvia)

Girdenė, Girdenis, Jovita, Jurgita, Vytis (Lithuania)

Sigbjørn, Sigfred (Norway)

Faustyn, Georgia, Georgina, Jordan, Jowita, Józef, Klaudiusz, Przybyrad, Sewer (Poland)

Onisim (Romania)

Pravoslav (Slovakia)

Claudio, Faustino (Spain)

Sigfrid (Sweden)

Georgette, Georgia, Georgina, Jovan, Jovita, Siegfried, Sigrid, Sue, Susan, Susana, Susanna, Susie, Suzanne (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 47 of 2024; 319 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 7 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Luis (Rowan) [Day 27 of 28]

Chinese: Month 1 (Bing-Yin), Day 7 ()

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025)

Hebrew: 7 Adair I 5784

Islamic: 6 Sha’ban 1445

J Cal: 17 Grey; Threesday [17 of 30]

Julian: 3 February 2024

Moon: 50%: 1st Quarter

Positivist: 19 Homer (2nd Month) [Juvenal]

Runic Half Month: Sigel (Sun) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Winter (Day 58 of 89)

Week: 2nd Week of February

Zodiac: Capricorn (Day 26 of 28)

[newspaper12]

More Than 3 Lakh Less Students Register For 2024 Up Board Exams | Allahabad News - Times of India today news India

Prayagraj: A complete of three.76 lakh much less college students have registered for the courses 10 and 12 exams of UP Board for the yr 2024. The Board officers preserve {that a} main cause for the autumn within the variety of college students was strict invigilation and anti-cheating measures being applied over the previous few years. Candidates who hoped to move the exams by dishonest selected to not register themselves, they added. For the exams, scheduled to start out in February subsequent yr, a complete of 55,08,206 college students have accomplished the registration course of. Within the final tutorial session, 58,84,634 college students had registered which implies that the variety of college students has decreased by 3,76,428 for subsequent session, stated board secretary Dibyakant Shukla. The board had requested all the colleges to finish the web registration course of of scholars from courses 9 to 12 newest by October 10. At current, the overall variety of registrations for sophistication 9 is 27,54,337, of which the variety of boys is 14,45,413 whereas that of ladies is 13,08,924. For sophistication 11, the variety of college students is 25,29,420, with 13,24,939 boys and 12,04,481 women. Likewise, for highschool exams, the variety of college students is 29,47,324, with 15,71,686 boys and 13,75,638 women. For intermediate courses, the overall variety of registrations is 25,60,882, out of which 14,12,806 are boys and 11,48,076 are women. This time, 52,83,757 college students of courses 9 and 11 accomplished the advance registration as per norms of the UP Board. In the meantime, the Board has additionally intensified its preparations for the following set of examinations. We additionally printed the next articles lately BSEB class 12 registration for Bihar Board 2025 closes right this moment; register right here The Bihar Faculty Examination Board (BSEB) is closing the registration for the Bihar Board Inter Examination 2025 right this moment. College students in Class 11 should full their registration on-line on the official web site. The registration course of includes offering private particulars, tutorial data, and topic selections, in addition to submitting obligatory paperwork and paying charges. Registration is necessary for college students to be eligible for the Class 12 examination. The final date for submitting the appliance kind is October 17, 2023. Colleges are answerable for finishing the registration course of on behalf of the scholars.Bihar Board 12th Exams 2024: BSEB extends registration deadline for Inter exams, verify particulars right here The Bihar Faculty Examination Board (BSEB) has prolonged the registration deadline for the BSEB Bihar Board Examination 2024. College students who haven't registered but can submit their utility kind by means of their college heads. The final date to register is October 27, 2023. The varsity administration will accumulate the required data and full the web registration on behalf of the scholars. This extension was made to accommodate college students who had not registered but and to offer them with adequate time to finish the registration course of.Bihar Board 12th Despatched-up Examination 2024 schedule launched, examination begins October 30 The Bihar Faculty Examination Board (BSEB) has launched the schedule for the Intermediate Board Examination 2024. The sent-up examination can be performed from October 30 to November 06, 2023, in two shifts. The board has additionally prolonged the registration deadline for college students to October 17, 2023. The sent-up exams are necessary for all Class 12 college students, and people who fail to seem or fail can be ineligible for the 2024 board exams. #Lakh #College students #Register #Board #Exams #Allahabad #Information #Occasions #India Extra Than Three Lakh Much less College students Register For 2024 Up Board Exams | Allahabad Information - Occasions of India [ #Lakh #College students #Register #Board #Exams #Allahabad #Information #Occasions #India Read the full article

[plong42]

Paul Overland, Proverbs (AOTC)

Paul Overland, Proverbs (AOTC) -

Overland, Paul. Proverbs. Apollos Old Testament Commentary Series. Inter-Varsity Press, 2022. xx+679 pp. Hb; £39.99.  Link to IVP UK Studies on the Proverbs fall into several categories. At the popular level, books on Proverbs are often “A Proverb a Day” devotionals. This isolates the sayings and treats Proverbs as a collection of fortune-cookie-like sayings. Other commentaries gather sayings…

[pastorhogg]

Falling Away

I can still recall the conversation although it took place more than three decades ago. A shocked friend asked, “Have you heard that Sarah is no longer a Christian?” What was so alarming to my friend was that Sarah had been one of the most influential, and apparently fruitful, members of her Inter-Varsity group. What would those who had been influenced by her witness to Christ say, or do? Would…

[serayahzari]

Blog 117 - & I'm Out!

AiRHARE for Cakeday 02/13 The Zolee Varsity Jacket Comes in 7 Styles w/ 1 Exclusive LA 2020 Championship Varsity designed by Jeff Hamilton (50 copies sold only) The Zolee Patch Jeans Comes in Classic, Deep, and Midnight Rigs Shown in Ad -Stay Flee

AiRHARE for @abarebody EVENT 01/20 The Bunny World Canvas Backpack 12 Colorways 12 Plush Bear Colorways 12 Hand Sanitizer Colorways 3 Heart Clip Metals 25 Inter-changeable Pins Resizable for all ages and genders ⭐️ -Stay Flee

What I'm Wearing

Outfit | The Zolee Varsity Jacket & The Zolee Patch Jeans by AiRHARE

Shoes | x12s by Flite

Hair | Talisha Pixie Cut by SHEGO

Backpack | Bunny World Canvas Backpack by AiRHARE

Nose Ring | Ancient Nose Stud & U-Shaped Connecting Septum by Rossi

Earrings | Kallla Piercings by Avanti

Body | Kupra by Inithium

Head | Briannon by Lelukta

Body Add Ons

Hand Detail by Body. By Blade

Vivienne Body by Body

[brunel-music-and-driving]

Here is the 2023 Inter-Varsity Challenge report. Brunel’s shot putters reigned supreme!

A big shout-out to all the Brunel athletes and supporters who made the annual trip up to Pickett’s Lock.

[alexaldine]

Which sport produces the most multi-athletic people?

Which sport produces the most multi-athletic people?

This question arises from a common thought experiment prevalent in high schools. What I’m referring to is the inter-sport banter that shows up when comparing different sports. For example, the varsity (V) track team may think they play better soccer than the junior varsity (JV) soccer team. Perhaps the V basketball team thinks they can oust the JV wrestling team in a wrestling match. But what if…