#learn things by watching youtube documentaries or tutorials

[puddingvalkyrie]

Learning another language is another one!

[angelicgirlmj]

cultivating your hobbies to become that girl

as summer starts to end, i find my days a little emptier and im full of anticipation for the coming academic year. but the last thing i want to do is waste the last part of summer so now is the perfect time to cultivate or begin a new hobby, focusing on four areas to level up your body, skills, mind and passions! enjoy angels and i hope this gives you some inspiration.

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body

having a hobby that helps you reach your dream body, maintain a healthy lifestyle or just help with your mental health (as moving your body always does!) is such a good idea. the past few months my workout schedule has decreased due to the amount of schoolwork i have had and exam season so now is the perfect time for me to get more disciplined and build up a good workout scheme. my hobbies based around my body are pilates or yoga, both of which help me with my fitness goals. here are some more ideas/inspiration for some hobbies you could start:

‘hot girl walks’ - set a goal for your daily steps and go on walks everyday to help you achieve that.

running daily.

swimming daily.

tennis or badminton daily.

joining a sports club such as football or gymnastics.

dance - could be by yourself at home following dance workouts!

strength training.

starting a fitness challenge - such as a month long youtube challenge.

start making your own fitness content! film videos or write tutorials.

bike riding daily.

skills

finding a hobby that helps you develop/cultivate your skills is so important. mine personally is cooking/baking as it helps me focus on giving my body what it needs, becoming more independent and providing for those i love. here are some ideas/inspiration:

painting.

making your own clothes - sewing, knitting or crocheting.

gardening.

scrapbooking.

photography.

drawing.

writing - poetry, novels, articles or anything similar.

acting - helps with public speaking, confidence and making friends.

jewellery making.

chess or a similar intense mental game - cultivates your thinking skills and mind.

mind

finding a hobby that helps you mentally, especially if relevant to schoolwork or career plans is so helpful. mine is reading/engaging with literature as not only does it align with my academic work but also helps me with how i think, view the world and allows me to be more empathetic.

mindfulness/meditation.

learning to play an instrument.

writing/researching around your subjects.

budgeting - good way of keeping track of and understanding money even if you aren’t planning on doing anything economics based!

journalling or keeping a diary.

joining/starting a book club.

starting a studyblr, study youtube channel etc.

learning a new language.

tutoring someone - great way of helping yourself learn as well!

joining a debate team.

passions

finding a hobby around one of your passions is such a fun and unique way of engaging in things you enjoy. mine personally is visiting museums/areas of historical importance as i am so passionate about history.

visiting art galleries.

attending the theatre/cinema.

going to live music events.

visiting libraries/book shops - growing your wish list, finding new book inspo etc!

going to cooking classes, restaurants or cafes.

travelling to new areas (could be local or international) - perhaps to develop language skills, find places to hike etc.

attending lectures on subjects youre interested in.

watching documentaries or video essays.

starting a new course - i do several history courses, my most recent was on European empires!

making a blog, channel, instagram etc for a new hobby or interest.

────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ────────୨ৎ─────── thank you for reading angels! hopefully this will help us all on our hobby journeys and have given you ideas of hobbies to try or develop for the end of summer or just in general! love, m.

[hmtaxidermy]

hi! what's your tip for someone wanting to get into taxidermy but not having the money for a course (yet)? what skills can i practice in preparation while i save up to learn?

Hello!

That’s a really good question! I’m sure I’ll forget something, but here’s some stuff off the top of my head:

•Learn how to sew. Personally I use the “blanket”/“locking” stitch on EVERYTHING! Try to get your stitches neat and all the same tension.

•Get a sample square of faux fur fabric and practice sewing up holes in it without catching any hair in the seam.

•Learn to sculpt. You don’t have to make Michelangelo’s David, but get your hands on some cheap clay (or playdoh!) and learn to sculpt eyes. Use reference photos and try to get your faux eye to look as close to the reference as possible. Do this over and over until it’s second nature.

If I were you, I’d get a marble, sink it part way into a glob of clay, and sculpt your eye over it, that way you can mimic sculpting eyelids over a glass eye.

•Learn general knife safety if you don’t already.

•Learn to color match when mixing paints. A lot of finishing work is looking at photo references and trying to get the right color to mimic living tissue. A lot of taxidermy supply companies sell pre-mixed paints that are the right color, but a lot of the time the real thing will vary from what the store sells. It’s also a handy skill for when you accidentally scratch the paint on your work and need to fix it.

•It’s not really a skill, but go to your local library or Half Price Books and find some zoology anatomy books. The best taxidermy results come from knowing what goes on under the skin. Musculature and bone structure. How limbs move and what the limitations are. Your knowledge will be strengthened when you actually get hands-on experience skinning specimens, but these books will teach you what to look for and will help make sense of what you see.

•Again, not a skill but moreso just fun homework: watch some documentaries! Focus on observing how each animal moves. A coyote moves through the world a lot differently than a deer does. Also, documentaries are cool. I recommend watching some livestreams from the Brownville Deer Pantry YouTube channel. It’s a good way to study wild deer and how they interact with each other.

Other than that? Get handy with power tools. Taxidermy is half artistry, half construction. I use my drill as often as I use my airbrush. If you’ve never used one before, don’t feel bad, I was the same way lmao.

I know your budget is pretty tight, or you may just prefer to wait till you can get in a class, but I still want to recommend getting some tutorial dvds from McKenzie or Breakthrough Magazine. Unfortunately a lot of taxidermy skill is built up from…just doing taxidermy. I believe there are some free tutorial videos on YouTube? But I haven’t really checked.

Anywho, sewing, sculpting, and painting are really what’s needed when you boil it all down. Other things like skin placement, etc come from actually mounting taxidermy, and can’t really be mimicked unfortunately.

But always feel free to reach back out if you have anymore questions! Good luck!

[theartdaleterrier]

Do you have any tips or tutorials for drawing dogs? I've been trying to learn, but it just feels really intimidating and overwhelming, and I don't know where to even start 😥

Hello!

I don't have any tutorials, but I realise I really ought to - you actually sent this ask precisely when I was showing a new artist friend how fur/hair works in terms of movement and musculature. It is certainly something I would like to do and should do!

I do have some tips, though!

I have been drawing dogs for a REALLY long time - since I was a kid - but I have improved a lot in the last year or so, and most of that is because I have been actually interacting with dogs in real life.

Basic anatomy is very important. While different dog breeds look very different from the outside, they have the same underlying anatomy (with exceptions in terms of proportion). A lot of this comes from observation, but a lot comes from study of references, too. In terms of the former, I suggest going to a show (if you can) or even watching reruns of Westminster breed judging on YouTube - when you watch a breed like the Doberman or the Vizsla, breeds whose anatomy is readily visible (not covered by hair, fur, wrinkles, distracting patterns, etc.), you can outline the basics. To get those basics, references are fantastic! I attended a webinar put on by AKC breeder and judge Pat Trotter, and while I'm not a breeder, the information on canine structure has really improved my art. You can also find structural diagrams in most illustrated breed standards.

References are your friend. I know everyone says this but it is so true. I like to watch Westminster breed judging reruns on YouTube, slow the video down to 0.25, and watch how the dogs move, pause the video, and use those movement shots as references. Many breed clubs have a judge's education tab on their site that you can use to look at not only basic structure for the breed but the details specific to that breed - some are really in-depth, like the Neapolitan Mastiff presentation, and some leave a little to be desired, but it's a good start. I also look at win photos to get a good idea of what the breed SHOULD look like (take these with a grain of salt!) and use Pinterest for pose ideas and references.

Knowing the basics of anatomy, how the pieces fit together under the skin, and how those drive the dog's movement, is half the battle. How do the angles of the shoulder and the pelvis affect the dog's gait? How does the flexibility/looseness of joints affect how a dog moves? How does the shape of the feet affect how efficiently a dog can run, dig, etc? I will link a YouTube documentary here that I found very interesting and helpful.

Feel free to ask more questions as they come up - I'm sorry if this wasn't terribly helpful! A lot of things ARE very breed-specific - or, if you're drawing a dog you know, specific to the individual. But knowing the purpose of the dog, the underlying structure of the dog, and how this structure affects movement really lays the foundation for learning to draw different breeds and individuals!

Edit to add: if you CAN go to shows, you can get a lot of hands-on experience. Most people are super passionate about their dogs and their breed and I regularly ask random exhibitors if I can have a rundown on their breed's conformation, including a hands-on evaluation. That way, you can feel where the shoulders sit, how they're angled, and how they should reflect the pelvis. It's super informative and super helpful! Just remember proper etiquette (which I still have some trouble with... LOL)

[navyismycolor]

Quest(ions) for Self Improvement

The responsibility of Masculinity is the relentless pursuit of self-improvement, with the ultimate goal of having it benefit others. As men, I believe we need to ask ourselves the following questions on a regular cadence, perhaps every month, and think about how we are growing as a person.

What could I have done better?

Lets start with the difficult question - where did we fall short of our own standards. Each one of us makes mistakes, perhaps on a regular basis, both in how we conduct ourselves and how we treat others. But the true crime, if I may say so, is to not pause to reflect and course correct. It is important to face ourselves and ask what we did not do well. It is important to draw the lessons from that experience while maintaining compassion about circumstances that may not have allowed us to do better. But do not let those become an excuse, rather chart a path for "how shall I do better next time". A bitter pill at first, this will become your weapon to exponential self-growth over time.

Am I on top of my to-do list?

One of life's inevitable side products is a list of things that need to be done - not because we planned them, but because they come our way. As tasks come, tasks need to go; nothing eats into your mental peace like ignoring your responsibilities and let it grow to a point where the very mention of it overwhelms you. So, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to it. Bills needs to be paid, pets need to be vaccinated, kids need to be picked up and dropped off, letters need to be written, holidays have to be planned, cars need to be washed and lawns need to be mowed. The more we make a habit of these things, the less daunting they will seem, and more we will feel in control of the mild annoyances in life. And in effect, it will free up our headspace for things that are are truly meaninful, which need our deepest attention.

How did I look after myself physically?

No, this is not about slaving for hours each day in the gym, although if you are into that, go for it. This is asking yourself if you are maintaining a healthy body and body image. It can range from activities such as exercise, to having a leisurely but relaxing bath, to taking a little care in dressing well, to remembering to visit the dentist or the optometrist on time for regular checkups. Perhaps most important, when and what we eat on a day to day basis determines a huge portion of our health, and a little consciousness goes a long way to a healthy and productive life.

How did I care for my mental health?

Physical health is important, but being plagued by a miserable soul doesnt go far, and there is plenty that happens every day around us to bring our spirits down. Which makes it all the more important to take time to recover, recharge, and care for ourselves emotionally. I would say this is especially important for men, since this has historically and socially been a downplayed area of attention. Emotional well being may involve spending time with friends or family, with your pets if you have any, watching a movie or listening to music to cheer yourself up, going out and socializing if that gives you energy. It may also take more serious forms, like taking time for therapy, journalling, meditating, or spending time resolving past pains and memories by working through them. This is not easy, but it is vital for our well being.

What have I learned recently?

It is important for a man to feed his mind and keep himself sharp, not just emotionally but also intellectually. Learning comes in so many forms, and today there are more opportunities to broaden your horizons than ever before. You can sign up for a course, play chess, learn a new language, watch tutorials or lectures on Youtube, or documentaries to gain a greater knolwedge of the world. It also does not have to be academic or professional. Learning a new instrument, learning to dance, practicing a new recipe, or even traveling to a part of the world you have never seen before to open yourself to a new culture are all great examples of opening up your mind a little bit every day.

What did I do to help others?

What man is a man who does not give back to others, to society? Helping others can come in so many forms, but ultimately, I believe all that self development is meant not for selfish ends, but to build a better and greater society together with others. Your personal gains are only the by-product of this win-win arrangement. So go ahead and mentor someone, be there for someone in their hard time, show generosity with your time and if possible your money. Gathering clothes together for a donation, volunteering, teaching kids may look like big gestures, but even small ones count. Holding an umbrella over a lady, helping an elderly man cross the road, or carrying an extra bag of groceries for someone will inherently make you feel like you made a difference, because you thought about something greater, something beyond just yourself.

Join me, brothers, on this journey, and may we all flourish together and never in competition with each other.

[looryraine18]

How Digital and Smart Technology Makes My Life Easier

In today's world, digital and smart technology has become like a trusty helper in my daily life, making things smoother and simpler. First off, my smartphone is like a pocket-sized wizard. It wakes me up in the morning, reminds me of important tasks, and even guides me when I'm out and about. It's like having a super organized friend always by my side. Plus, when it comes to school works, my computer and the internet are like a turbo boost. They help me finish tasks and talk to people really quickly.

When it's time to unwind, digital entertainment comes to the rescue. Streaming services bring movies and shows right to my screen. Digital and smart technology has truly become the backbone of my daily life, making everything from school work to relaxation a breeze.

These are the apps I rely on to fulfill my requirements and keep myself entertained:

1. Google Meet. A video conferencing platform that allows students to connect with their teachers and classmates online. I rely on this platform every time we have a synchronous session with our teachers. Additionally, I find it incredibly useful for presenting information. With this tool, I can effortlessly share my PowerPoint presentations with both my teacher and classmates, making the learning experience much smoother and interactive. This platform has truly become an essential part of how I connect and communicate with my classmates.

2. Canva. Canva helps anyone create stunning designs easily. It's great for making social media posts, videos, posters, websites, and more. Canva is a big help for me, especially when I need to create designs or make things like concept maps, circle maps, and venn diagrams. I'm not very artistic, so Canva makes my work look really nice and it's easy to use. It saves me a lot of trouble and makes everything extra pretty. For students like me, it's a real lifesaver.

3. GoodNotes. GoodNotes app is like a magic wand for student like me. It helps me write down notes neatly and easily if needed. This app is a real money-saver, instead of constantly buying expensive print ink and stacks of bond paper, we can take all our notes digitally. It also helps the environment by cutting down on paper usage. Plus, with everything neatly organized in the app, we never have to worry about misplacing important information.

4. Netflix. A subscription-based streaming service that allows you to watch a wide variety of TV shows, movies, documentaries, and more on your internet-connected devices. For me, it offers enjoyable things to do in my free time and a way to take a break from the pressures of school. I often become a fan of specific shows, which give me fun stuff to talk about with my friends.

5. YouTube. A free online platform where users can watch, upload, and share videos on a wide range of topics, from entertainment and education to tutorials and vlogs. Besides the lectures given by our professors, YouTube is incredibly useful for me. Whenever I struggle with understanding certain topics, YouTube comes to my aid with its abundant educational videos. These resources have been instrumental in helping me succeed in my quizzes and exams.

[osamcapture]

Video Production

Hey there! Let's chat about video production. It's such an exciting field that's become a big part of our daily lives. From social media to marketing, videos are everywhere. But what exactly is video production, and how can you get started? Don't worry; we've got you covered!

What is Video Production? The process of making video material is called video production.. It's like making a mini-movie, whether it's for fun, business, or anything in between. Here's what it usually involves: Planning: Coming up with ideas and writing scripts Filming: Actually recording the video Editing: Putting all the pieces together to make the final product Uses of Video Production Entertainment Who doesn't love a good YouTube video or Netflix series? Video production brings us: Movies and TV shows Music videos Web series Documentaries Education Watching videos can help you learn new things:

Online courses Tutorial videos Educational documentaries Virtual field trips Business and Marketing Companies use videos to connect with customers: Product demos Commercials Company introductions Customer testimonials Personal Use We're all becoming video producers these days: Family videos Travel vlogs Social media stories Video diaries Getting Started with Video Production Equipment Basics Don't worry, you don't need Hollywood-level gear to start: A smartphone with a good camera

A simple tripod for steady shots A microphone for clear audio Basic editing software (many free options available) Planning Your Video Before you hit record: Decide on your goal: What do you want your video to achieve? Write a simple script or outline Plan your shots: What will you show in your video? Filming Tips Now for the fun part - actually making your video: Find good lighting: Natural light works wonders Keep your camera steady Pay attention to your background Do multiple takes - practice makes perfect! Editing Your Video This is where the magic happens: Choose the best clips Trim out mistakes Add music or sound effects if needed Include text or graphics to enhance your message Conclusion Video production can be a fun hobby or a serious career path. The most important thing is to start creating! Remember, every pro was once a beginner. So grab your camera (or phone) and start telling your stories through video. Who knows? Your next clip might be the one that goes viral!

[canineentity]

I’m like 98% sure I’m a Malinois and the never ending energy paired with the NEED to work makes this a constant problem for me. Luckily I've found a couple things that have worked, so hopefully some of this helps you!! YouokayMilo had a wonderful suggestion too!

One of the biggest things that have helped me is reframing human activities to fit my dog needs. I made a post awhile back of how at work I just reframe my work to fit dog work. "Oh (this) is just the same as doing (this dog job)" and it makes this SO MUCH more bearable for me. Some activities won't exactly be herding cattle, but reframing the activity you choose to help with that as that might make it even more fulfilling! The working dogs that I've personally met and have talked to, alongside me, have seemed to like challenges, so maybe keep that in mind when picking things.

The second biggest help to me has been narrowing down what it is that I feel I need to do. Herding? Digging? Scenting? Chasing? Guarding? Once you figure that out, it'll be a lot easier to brainstorm things to do. Livestock guardian dogs can walk around the perimeter of their territory and note any changes, etc. Chasing can be just going for a run and picking something to "chase", even if it's a still object before picking the next still object to "chase". Having others to run with, human or dog, helps a lot with this too. And so on.

Another thing that I think a lot of people forget about for work dogs is that we need our brains worked. Physical activities are wonderful and still needed, but they can only do so much. You can take a dog on a 5 mile run and then watch it get into stuff it's not supposed to as soon as you get home because as wonderful as that run was, its brain still needs to be tired. Personally, to combat this, I learn. Do a quick 15 minute Youtube tutorial of whatever subject I enjoy learning about, watch a documentary and take mental/physical notes, and since I love anything regarding the arts, I love to take part in things like that too! Learning new stitches for crochet, taking on a new project, planning out new things to do, learning a new recipe for something I've never made, etc. A really nice intellectual conversation with someone is also another way to use your brain. Go exploring somewhere completely new if you can!

As for which type of dog I was, that was a bit harder. I've been questioning for years. I narrowed down what it felt like my job was supposed to be, and then I knew things like size and fur length. "Border collies moved in a different way than I did, I didn't feel the watchfulness of a guardian breed, could tell that I was bigger than (insert small dog), but also smaller than something like a Great Dane. Certain markings felt right too, like the black mask of a Sable GSD or Malinois. Even though I loved stub tails, it felt like I should have one so Aussies were out of the question, and their fur was too long." Basically just crossing things out until I had a list of things that I was and then trying to match breeds based off of that! It can still be difficult and you don't have to be a PERFECT match of that breed because dogs still have their own personalities and experiences!

I think I'm some part working dog I've realized

Any other working dogs out there? How do you stay occupied so that you don't get so... yknow?

How did you figure out which kind of dog you were?

[aksually2008]

aksel's guide to relaxing media

A lot of people have asked me to compile a list of my go-to depressing/dooming media, but I feel it would be irresponsible to give you that without an antidote.

Maybe this will be of help to you on an anxious night and instead of smoking a cigarette you'll turn to this or maybe its a nice cozy afternoon and you need something to maintain that feeling.. either way here's stuff that I consume on those days:

Film/TV

Joe Pera Talks You to Sleep

This is something I have recommended to most of my friends at this point and if you ever give me the opportunity I'll probably talk your ear off about this man. I have a very special affinity towards this video, as it randomly found me on a particularly stressful quarantine night and boy am I glad it did.

I'm not gonna talk about it too much further, but if you're feeling a little bit lost or anxious, even after my 250 watches of this, I end up feeling a little bit better. If you like it make sure to check out his show, Joe Pera Talks With You on hbomax as it's one of my favourite shows ever!! The episodes are short and easy to digest :)

How to With John Wilson

It's hard for me to exactly describe this show, it's just one of those things you have to see for yourself to fully understand the appeal of it. For the most part, this show uses street footage of New York City and interviews with average everyday New Yorkers to convey some kind of narrative, usually disguised as a tutorial(hence the "how to"). There's a lot of absurdity, laughter and sometimes it plays with your emotions a bit, but sometimes it's nice to just unwind and learn about the insane industry of scaffolding in NYC.

Come and Visit Us Again

Okay, so this is probably one of the most niche things here.. Considering that it has 205 views as of me writing this and it's in estonian with no captions available.(Maybe someday I'll translate it)

As far as I can tell, it is a documentary short made by Liis Nimik, who at the time was a film school student. It follows the day-to-day of a village grocery store cashier and her interactions with the people who visit her store everyday.

Moms, dads, scary little kids and village bums.. It has it all and serves as this kind of a sweet time capsule of one particular week in this one Estonian village. I will admit this is probably extra comforting for me as I grew up near a village similar to this that also had a store just like this one. In a small village, the people who work at the local grocery store really become apart of your everyday life and I loved to see it captured like this.

I feel like even if you don't understand Estonian, it's nice background noise.

Malcom in the Middle

Need I say more?

Youtube

If you know me, you know I'm a fiend for comforting youtube personalities. Here are some of my favorites:

Steve Wallis

Even if you aren't particularly interested in camping, you'll still probably enjoy these videos. Steve is probably one of the sweetest dudes I've found on YouTube and he really knows how to keep a conversation. All in all, just nice to throw on if you just wanna disconnect for 30 minutes

Shirley Curry

I've loved Shirley's stuff for years now. She calls her viewers her grandkids and posts vlogs & let's plays. I think that covers the gist of it.

Featureman a.k.a. Tom Willett

This is an older gentleman, who for the most part shows you different meals that he makes & tells you stories about his time as an actor in the 1980s. Every video feels like you're visiting your grandpa.

GIFGAS

I found them quite recently, but they're quickly turning into my favourite Youtube channel. Videos of trainhopping, which are so well shot and the music choices are soooooo gooooood. Every travel vlog should have a mandatory requirement of at least (1) shoegaze song.

Roger Hance

Found this guy randomly on my recommended and him only having 4k subs feels like a crime. He's a bird photographer, who vlogs his outings and talks about all the little birds he sees. super cute.

Music

Below are a couple of playlists and tracks I recommend for this occasion:

Mixture of ambient tracks and just relaxing instrumentals. There's no vocals. During the summer, I would always listen to this if I was sitting in a park or doodling.

This is just some of my favourite ambient tracks. If you've never really listened to ambient music before, check this out I guarantee you'll like it.

I have fallen asleep to this so many times that sometimes i just constantly hear it in the back of my head. Maybe thats not a comforting thought but it helps me sleep so that's a price I am willing to pay.

That's about it though.. I didn't include everything, because this is already pretty long and I have to keep some things secret, but I hope you find use in some of this. bye

[danny-chase]

The infantilization of Cass is so horrible. I just saw a post that said her favorite type of video would be baby sensory videos??? Like no those absolutely would not be her favorite. They also said that Jason’s would be cooking and Tim’s would be like crime documentaries so I can see what kind of a fan they are……..

I have a friend that likes baby sensory videos because they help him get to sleep, Cass could use them for that but it would hardly make them her favorite. How about...

Dick: nature documentaries (taken from canon - he likes watching stuff without people to destress)

Barbara: AI coding videos like Code Bullet and the like

Cass: i can't see her being interested in youtube initially, but eventually when she starts taking time to have a life she watches punk makeup tutorials

Jason: i feel like as Robin he'd have liked history videos and like khan academy stuff. As red hood he wouldn't be interested unless there was something of use to learn (lockpicking, bomb making, you know the essentials). New52/Rebirth/current jason watches try not to cry videos just to feel something

Steph: she's a crime documentary binge watcher

Harper: i never include her in these things but she would like diy and home improvement videos

Tim: minecraft youtubers, I'm sorry just look at him and tell me I'm wrong

Duke: look i know he likes riddles but i also think he would like trivia videos

Damian: anime ost's, I'm sorry just look at him and tell me I'm wrong

[f1yogurt]

okokok so im not sure if you get this alot, but how do you get into f1??

i already love niki lauda, and rush, but i dont really know where to go from there? is there any specific youtube channels, blogs, websites ect that you could recommend? i dont really know where to start haha

Hi Anon!! Welcome to the F1 club. I'll just give you my kind of personal journey to learning F1, but this list isn't for everyone. Just what I did. Hopefully a few points can help!

If anyone would like to add suggestions to this list, feel free. Drop a comment if you want anon to follow you, @ f1 and classic f1 people!

To begin, here's the official F1 site where you can view basic info, the season calendar, driver standings, and updates about the sport.

list under the cut

Watch DTS. Everyone may hate me for this, but I got my hype for F1 by watching Drive to Survive. If you haven't seen that series on Netflix, I would highly recommend it. It gives an exciting, modern intro to the sport if you haven't had exposure to F1 before. Just remember to take the portrayal of drama/driver relationships with a grain of salt, because Netflix adds a lot of their own drama inaccuracies to it.

Watch F1 YouTube "tutorial" videos. I watched a ton of YouTube when I was just learning about F1. Search up basic things, like... very basic. Literally: What is F1? Why are there different tires? What is downforce? You only really get into a sport when you are able to understand it, and I promise you, F1 youtube will provide you with more than enough knowledge about the sport. I recommend the official Formula 1 channel, and maybe WTF1 for some funny stuff that can still teach you things.

Interact on social media. The F1 fanbase is huuuuge, and they're very active on social media. Probably more than any other sport's fanbase I've ever been a part of. Fans love talking about their teams, their favorite drivers, etc. You'll catch onto the drama very soon, and meet some very... opiniated people along the way. You can also follow the constructors' and drivers' personal accounts to get a feel of their motivations/personalities. You'll soon get to know everyone and then can develop a motivation for watching your favorite drivers.

Get in touch with F1's history. F1 has a very rich history with some great personalities and very talented drivers. If you're already into Niki and Rush, that's great! Some other big names you'll hear a lot are ones like Senna and Schumacher. Watch their documentaries. Watch other old drivers' documentaries. YouTube is once again a great resource for finding old F1 videos. Simply search up "Top 10 F1" and you'll have a long list of recommended videos that show iconic battles and drama between some of the legends of the sport.

Gradually start to watch the races or highlights of the races on Sundays, even if you don't understand what's going on most of the time. To me, modern F1 seems extremely boring if you don't know what's going on. There's nothing that really draws you in. But as you learn more and more about the sport, you can gain an appreciation for it.

Anyways, I hope this list is helpful! Best of luck getting introduced to the sport, and welcome to the group!

[lilypucks]

hey hello o/ !!

last song: um uhhh i think it was cryptid by madilyn mei (last song i listened to in the car last night)

fav color: green!!!

currently watching: technically a nature documentary + sweater knitting tutorial on youtube but also moominvalley Sorta (im bad at consistently watching shows and also still need to find a new place to watch it with soap2day gone)

last moive/tv show: uhhh last time i watched a movie was the barbie movie back in august + like i mentioned bad at consistently watching shows. but i think last episode of a show i watched was either one from the moomins or my little pony

sweet/spicy/savoury: savory

relationship status: single and disinterested (aroace)

current obsession: arts and crafts i think currently in a bead era and knitting also

last thing i googled: "nature documentary narrated in polish" (i did not find one but i did find the documentary i mentioned in the third question) (context i am trying 2 learn polish and apparently watching things like nature documentaries in ur target language is good because its slow enough for u to understand at least some of the stuff + you get a feel for how ppl Actually talk so)

um uhh tagging @izzypaw @lemonysnicket @the-golden-ghost + anyone else who wants to !! scared of tagging ppl sorry

woooah hi honey !! thanks @catgirl-vampireboy for the tag :]

last song: Night Decay by Nick Podany

favorite color: changes sooo so frequently but currently probably red

currently watching: supernatural .....

last movie/tv show: watched some game changer this morning :]

sweet/spicy/savory: savory!!!

relationship status: been with my lovely lady wife for the last 38 years (got a cool girlfriend :])

currently obsession: honestly. probably lucids again. other shows are temporary but lucids is eternal

last thing i googled: ambrosia salad

tagging ( no pressure ofc ofc obviously!! ) : @princesssunshine713 @souvenirmp3 @pigswithwings

[boxboysandotherwhump]

Chapter 8 is finally finished and boi was it a fight. Thank you again for proofreading @haro-whumps <3 and for anyone else who might wonder, the dish Paxton is cooking in this drabble is a traditional polish dish called Zupa Mleczna

Tag list: @albino-whumpee @orchidscript  @finder-of-rings  @haro-whumps

CW: mentioned past abuse, institutionalized slavery, boxboy universe typical slavery, aftermath of conditioning, fucked up headspace of whumpee 

The week had simultaneously stretched into an endless expanse of getting to know someone new, and flown by like the flutter of eyelashes.

Paxton’s box had caught dust, halfway forgotten in the attic by now, and Paxton had grown used to sleeping wrapped in warmth, when he was particularly lucky even in his master’s arms, and he savored every second of it.

Life in the shared flat never ceased to amaze Paxton, every new day leaving him less scared, rather eager to learn more about his new master, this new world. He cherished every newly revealed facet of Amal as he tried to assemble them into something comprehensible, piecing together the most wondrous and complex puzzle he’d ever seen.

In those last days for example, Paxton had discovered that Amal drank his tea piping hot, risking to burn his tongue rather than waiting for it to cool. He seemed to be like that with most things, always in a rush to reach his end goal as quickly as possible. The only times Amal could be patient was while creating something or when he was with Paxton.

Amal also tended to snack half the dinner ingredients, getting full before dinner was even ready but eating a portion nonetheless. Maybe, Paxton had thought, it’s because Amal often forgoes eating for hours, so absorbed in his work projects he seemingly forgets he exists in a physical body at all. Perfectly still and focused, his only movements pencil strokes over paper while he works on new tattoo designs. At certain points he would suddenly jump up, run to the bathroom, and raid the kitchen to gorge himself on all the snacks and leftovers he could find.

Paxton had made it a point to cook whenever Amal got ‘in the zone’ as Miss Meryem had jokingly called it, and even if his master had told him he didn’t have to, Paxton thought that he wanted to. Especially when it meant he could watch Amal munch away with that grateful, delighted expression of his, whenever Paxton prepared some tea or food.

Even Mister Finnegan had grown fond of Paxton, and had started  dragging him up to the attic, teaching him all about the plants overwintering there, waiting for their replanting in spring. Or how to bind winter wreaths from twigs and dried berries. Mister Finnegan had been surprised, the first time, how quickly Paxton had learned, and had praised him so much his face was still flushed red as they climbed down the attic ladder some time later.

In moments like these, Paxton wished he could still read and absorb all the precious information from the plant care guide Mister Finnegan had given to him. He longed for a time where his head didn’t explode with pain whenever he squinted at writing for too long. For when he wouldn’t get catapulted to the limits of his body, or worse, the borders of his own mind. Pain reduced him to a prisoner of bone and flesh, misfiring neurons became his jailer. 

                         --

Paxton poured noodles into warm milk with a soft sigh, careful not to burn them. A strangely familiar smell filled the kitchen while he cooked, cinnamon and sweetness anchored him in the here and now. Snowflakes danced beyond the kitchen window, crystals of cold sending phantom shivers down his spine. Paxton unrolled the soft green sleeves of his wool-sweater, letting them cover his scarred hands, soothing itchy skin, gentle like a caress. Warmth bloomed in his heart, with every slow stir of the wooden spoon, creating ripples in the milk.

What did it matter if he couldn’t read anymore? He still had his intuition, could still find parts of himself in tastes and smells and muscle memories. No, with his master’s permission to experiment, ‘or go crazy in the kitchen’ as Amal had put it, he didn’t need books, or to learn new things. The only things that mattered were that he remained good for his master, cooked things his master would enjoy, cleaned satisfactorily, (which was easy enough with such lenient masters in such a small flat), and  kept his master happy. Which was the easiest part of them all, since Amal seemed to delight in everything Paxton did. Even if he just lied on the couch, curled under blankets he couldn’t ever truly earn. But the rules were different here and Paxton’s heart began to buzz whenever he saw his master, not only with anxiety but with a warmth he thought he’d lost in an ice-cold white room. 

Satisfied with the noodle’s consistency, Paxton stirred in cinnamon and sugar, turned down the heat and started to pull bowls from the shelves as his master suddenly burst into the room, some kind of oversized smartphone clutched in one hand and a pleased grin plastered on his face.

“Paxton.” ,he said beaming.

The sudden intrusion of his cooking space made Paxton flinch, despite himself.  

Even though Amal was often buzzing around him, trying to help while he worked, it still set Paxton on edge, feeling utterly improper. A Boxboy receiving help from his master, inconveniencing him with undignified tasks like cleaning or cooking, was unforgivable! Sometimes Paxton even found himself wishing for Amal to be stricter. Yearning to just be punished by him, to be shown his place instead of being constantly overwhelmed by this kindness he didn’t even deserve.

Something must have given his unease away. His master’s grin softened into a sheepish smile as he sat down, slowly, gently placing the smartphone-like device on the table.

“Hey. Hi.” Amal’s voice grew soft, sounding almost shy and Paxton couldn’t help but return Amal’s smile. His lips and heart and body reacted all on their own around Amal. Separated from his desire to act appropriately, to be a good pet that could serve his master without breaking down crying every other day or stealing all his master’s blankets at night.

“Hi…. Uhm, welcome back… sir.”

Paxton watched his master bite back a protest at the title, allowing him to use it like he’d promised.

“I came up with something for your reading… problem.”

Turning off the stovetop, Paxton turned around, hoping the hurried steps to his master’s side wouldn’t give his eagerness away.

The way Amal’s eyes glimmered up at him, crinkling with his smile, told Paxton he’d seen right through him. Like he always did.

Paxton looked down with warming cheeks, his stockinged feet shuffling over the polished kitchen floor. “And what, uhm, what… would that be? Sir?”

A bright grin lit Amal’s face up as he brought  the device to life with the press of a tiny button. “Tadaa. A friend gave me this tablet. Like, super cheap.” His master’s grin stretched even wider, and Paxton wondered for a second if his cheeks didn’t hurt. “And it has google voice search.”

He perked up. The term sounded vaguely familiar but he couldn’t quiete place it. “Voice search?”

“Yes. Yes, come here.” Amal scooted over, shoving the tablet under Paxtons nose as soon as he’d sat down. His master leaned closer and his small body pressed up against Paxton, green curls tickling his chin as Amal rambled, his face flushed with excitement.

 “Here see, I already set it up so that only the symbols are visible. There’s no writing if you don’t go in the menu. So the important apps first. This is the Netflix symbol. Netflix is awesome because you can-“

Amal rested his elbow on Paxton’s thigh as he explained the virtues of streaming platforms and Paxton’s head blanked.  His master was so close and small and warm and smelled so so good and Paxton was utterly unable to concentrate on the tiny screen symbols for a moment.

Focus! Focus! Focus! Master said this is important.

“Okay but what’s probably the most useful for you is youtube.”

Paxton watched him tap on the small red icon and big pictures with little texts under them popped up. Thumbnails, as master called them. If Paxton squinted a bit he could ignore the letters enough to evade a new impending headache.

“There are tutorials and documentaries  and video essays for basically everything you could wish for. You just have to press the little microphone and hold it while you ask.”

“Uhm, ask- ask what, Sir?” All this new information made Paxton’s head spin.

“Uh, I don’t know,” his master confessed as he scooted back with a bashful smile and Paxton swallowed a frustrated whine. The leg master had just leaned on felt suddenly, terribly cold. He wanted master to nuzzle back against him and continue to explain new things to him in this adorably excited way of his.

Stupid, stupid Pet. You messed up and now master is just going to leave and never show you anything he likes ever again because you’re too stupid to understand it. You useless-

“Anything that interests you I guess. Hm let’s see, something other than cooking maybe.”

Paxton’s heart sank. Was it not good that he liked to cook? Master always said he didn’t have to but-

Amal waved his hands apologetically “Not that there is anything wrong with cooking.”

His master had seen right through him. Again.

“But maybe we could search for more things you like?”

You’re a pet now. What you want is irrelevant 626.

Paxton gave an insecure little nod and Amal pressed the little microphone symbol with a smile as he demanded,. “Funny cat videos.”

Sure enough, thumbnails with cute little kittens plopped up just as his master had ordered. His voice had been direct but warm. Firm. Paxton really liked to hear his master order for something, and the hope that he would maybe at some point talk to him like that sent a pleasant shiver down his spine, right to- His leg twitched as he took the tablet from his master’s hands.

“I- I want to- to try.”

“Go ahead then.” A smile tinted his master’s voice but still, this could count as an order. Right?

Unsure, Paxton pressed the microphone symbol. “Uhm, could you, you please show me how to bind flower wreaths. Please?”

Unlike when his master did it, no thumbnails appeared. He stared at the thick black letters in confusion. He must have done something wrong and the letters were meant to punish his failure. Paxton could already feel the impending headache throb behind his eyes. He wanted to endure it, to force himself and look at those letters of damnation, but Amal took the tablet from him.

Now he must have messed it up.

Fearing for the worst Paxton glanced down at his master.  Amal’s eyebrows were drawn together and the corners of his mouth twitched as teeth dug hard into his bottom lip. White sunken into pink flesh.

Surely this was it. The moment of punishment had finally come. Even his master’s patience must have reached its limits after Paxton messed up such a simple order.

Bracing for the impact he froze as his master doubled over snorting.

“Oh god you’re so cute, you know that?!”

Paxton’s mouth opened and closed like a fish stranded on land. His head spun the same way it did when he had been choked for too long. Cute? He?! Had his master ever really looked at him?! “Wha- wha- wha- what?”

Amal swiped a little tear from his eye, as he grinned up at him, still giggling. “You can’t literally formulate a whole question, you know?! Just use buzzwords or the search engine gets confused.”

That wasn’t the only thing that was confused right now.

“Buzzwords, Sir?”

“Yeah.” Amal nodded. “Like: flower wreathes tutorial.”

“But, but,” Paxton gasped, flushing red like the soft new leather collar he had chosen in a tiny salacious shop with his master yesterday. “That would, would be utterly impolite.” His voice dropped into a whisper. “I behave improperly enough as it is.”

“Hey.” Amal’s hand came up and cupped his cheek, turning Paxton’s head gently to face him. He melted into the tender caress, eyes fluttering closed for a moment before he willed himself to meet his master’s soft smile. “You’re perfect, okay?! And besides, it’s impossible to be impolite to a computer program. So would you try again? For me?”

It was not fair. How could he ever deny his master if he asked like this?! Now it dawned on Paxton why Amal didn’t use any form of punishment or disciplinary measures. His master simply didn’t need to, with his dark big eyes blinking up at him like this, his full lips curved into an encouraging smile. Paxton knew he would cut his own hands open without hesitation if Amal would wish for it, so what was ignoring his training to always remain polite compared to that?!

Taking a deep breath he whispered, “Flower wreaths tutorial,” and just like his master had promised it worked. Amal rubbed soft circles in his back as pictures of artfully arranged flowers appeared on the screen. “See? I told you you’re perfect.”

Buzzing under his master’s praise, Paxton felt his own words vibrate in his chest, shatter some invisible barriere with the force of the first brick thrown June 28, 1969. A grin revealed a flash of white teeth as he whispered, “I did it.”

.

[theinbetweendoc]

Editing - Final Touches

Once I had added B-Roll to the sequence in the form of pictures and graphics, I showed the film to some of my peers to gain feedback. It was useful to get a fresh set of eyes on the documentary, as by this point I had been working pretty intensely on it! The general feedback was that despite having already added B-Roll to try and break it up, there was still a lot of dialogue sequences of Ros and that this caused them to lose focus. This is something that I too had picked up on, particularly regarding the middle section of the documentary, where Ros is talking about the brokerage. There was also feedback that despite Esther being a protagonist of the documentary, she did not in fact feature that heavily, and that maybe this was a problem regarding issues of representation. Again, I had been wary of this when I sent it to them and so had already begun thinking about ways to remedy it.

Regarding the Ros sequence, I took out some of the sections in which I felt the content didn't apply, or had been covered elsewhere. I aim to try and weave these clips back in to a longer cut of the doc, because they contained information that I would still like to include, but simply couldn't afford to in this case.

The issue I faced with Esther's interview was that it was made at a point in which I still believed that the doc's focus would be mental health. This, coupled with the fact that Esther responded better to more closed questions, meant that there wasn't that much to work off regarding the process of transitions. Also, Esther doesn't know about the details of her transition and so couldn't answer questions on such. However, what Esther could do was talk about the STEPs program, the next stage of her social care journey. In the STEPs program Esther will stay at Fairfield Farm College but her education will focus more on bridging the gap between college and supported living. At the time of the interview Esther had only just found out about this placement, and was very excited about it. Despite finding change stressful, this was just the right level of change to still be a 'new thing', and therefore be exciting. This provided a good ending clip of Esther talking positively about STEPs, ending the documentary on a hopeful note. It also meant that the doc was bookended by Esther, reasserting her as the central focus and one of the protagonists.

Despite saying in my presentation that I would like to make subtitles available, at this current point in time it is difficult to do on Premiere. I was able to subtitle the sequences of Esther, but to manually transcribe the whole thing would have been very time consuming. Fortunately, however, Adobe recently announced an Auto-Transcribe feature that is being trialled as a Beta on some versions of Premiere Pro 2021, with hopes to roll it out wider in the coming months. When this becomes available I will make it possible to have captions on The Inbetween, both the pilot and any future longer versions, as this issue of accessibility is very important to me. In the mean time, I will upload the video to YouTube where accurate auto-transcribed captions can be generated. On YouTube you can select whether to watch the video with or without captions, increasing the accessibility of viewing options.

After finalising the sequence, I had to go in and fine tune the colour. Both interviews were shot in different lighting conditions, and the rooms were very different colour tones. This caused issues with regulating the White Balance. The room in which Esther was interviewed was very warm toned, thus producing a picture that had a lot of reds in it. She was also positioned in front of a window and so the exposure was irregular, as in order to get her correctly exposed the background had to be overexposed. Ros, on the other hand, was in a room that was filled with blue and orange tones, and so these were strong in the picture. Also I interviewed Ros as the sun was setting, and so over the course of the hour-long interview the lighting quality decreased a lot and the shot got a lot darker. I did not have access to artificial lighting like soft-boxes or two-head lighting kits, and so had to rely on the lighting available in the room, which was also very warm.

To correct these issues I used the Lumetri plug-in on Adobe Premiere Pro. I do not have much experience with colour correction so this was a pretty steep learning curve, but with the help of some YouTube tutorials I was able to fix some of the major faults. I used the Vectroscope YUV view to work on the skin tones, as this allowed me to see the exact balance of colours, and how the alterations I was making was affecting the hue of the skin. I used the comparison view option to make sure there was continuity across the shots. The parts of Ros' interview that were shot as the sun was at its lowest were the hardest to correct exposure-wise. I attempted to correct it as best I could using an adjustment layer with an ellipse mask over her face, as this was where it was most noticeable. The tricky part was knowing where to stop, as by this point I was so immersed in the editing process and knew the clips so well that every time I watched it over I noticed a new thing that needed to be tweaked! Overall though I am happy with how the corrections turned out. Examples of some side-by-sides are below:

Esther - non-graded (left) vs graded (right)

Ros - non-graded (left) vs graded (right)

As can be seen, the grading made quite a big difference on the exposure and temperature of the shots, giving them an improved quality.

I decided to add in a music track because there were times when a graphic would be playing, without a backing audio track, and the silence felt quite jarring. I wanted music that was quite soft and upbeat, but not too noticeable. I searched several royalty free music sites and came across a track - Crowander's Who Would Have Thought - that fit perfectly. This track was free to use as long as it was not for commercial purposes (which it isn't) and that proper credit was given. I named Crowander in the credits, and provided a link to the track, which was also a condition of its use.

Again because of the difference in conditions between the rooms in which the interviews occurred, the audio levels were also affected. The room of Esther's interview was large and tall, and covered in soft furnishings, and so there was little background "fuzz", whereas the room I interviewed Ros in was a lot smaller and shorter, and had fewer soft furnishings to absorb sound, resulting in a lot of background "fuzz" and also disparities in volume levels. Using audio effects and the gain control I was able to normalise these levels against one another, and still allow the backing music to be heard. This was quite a fiddly and time consuming process but it paid off in the end.

To avoid these issues with lighting and audio in the future I'm definitely going to make sure that I have adequate lighting and sound equipment available before I start shooting!

[butdidmarlenacomebackhome]

things to do in quarantine:

it's the second week of quarantine in my country and I came up with a list of things I enjoy doing to pass time. I know how hard having no contact whatsoever with the outside world can be, above all for those who struggle with mental health, like me, so I really hope this list can be helpful! feel free to repost and add any other activity you think up ✨

catch up with TV shows, movies & books - these may be the most basic activities that come to mind but one should never underestimate the value of an entertaining TV show or a good book. if you had any titles you wanted to catch up to, now it's a good time as any to! time passes more quickly when you focus on fictional storylines

study or read about topics which interest you - if you have a penchant for astrology, witchcraft, science, psychology, history or any other topic you find interesting, doing some online research may help you expand your knowledge. you can learn to interpret the planetary positions of your signs or how to read the body language, it's up to you! learning a new language or how to draw are other valid options which can take quite a lot of time to master, perfect when you have little to do. YouTube videos do the trick too if you easily bore of reading

find documentaries or docu-series on Netflix or YouTube - there are a lot of interesting documentaries on both platforms, I can definitely recommend watching Buzzfeed Unsolved, Ghost Adventures, Into the Inferno, A plastic ocean, Father Amorth and The Devil, Our planet or any BBC documentary. if you enjoy mystery you can also watch the YT channel Real Story and Timeline - World History Documentaries

spend time on self-care - try out new DIY recipes for your skin and your hair with everyday products you can find at home [ always search for reviews as to not endanger your skin with harsh treatments and verify the reliability of the recipes before trying them out ]. have a long relaxing bath with soaps, bath bombs or parfumed essential oils: rose, chamomile and lavender work wonders for the skin. put on nail polish and if you like make-up you can practice your skills and create new looks! take naps!!! resting is very important and, as long as you use an alarm clock as not to sleep too much (which may bring headaches or a general negative disposition), you can definitely enjoy a nice afternoon nap

cook and bake - you can make pancakes or biscuits, try out new online recipes and enjoy the results after. a nice cup of tea will do nicely with a fresh bake of biscuits or muffins. I'm not big on cooking/baking but a lot of friends of mine find it relaxing and productive, so I decided it was worth mentioning

organize your work-out schedule - fitness apps help a lot when you want to fix yourself a work-out schedule and exercising in general definitely works both to keep you busy and to boost your health. the sedentary life of quarantine can make us lazier but spending even only half an hour exercising can be pretty refreshing. if you don't like the usual gym exercises, yoga is a valid alternative. dancing is a nice alternative and music in general can motivate you to move and excersize your body. [ don't strain yourself too much, work slowly to reach your goals and follow tutorials as not to risk wrongly performing exercises and positions ]

keep a journal or write anything that comes to mind down - writing is really helpful as it stimulates our mind and keeps our thought process active. watching a movie can become a passive past-time but writing down what you liked and what you didn't about it makes for a wonderful way to reflect and redescover yourself. journals of any kind may be easily updated any time of the day, you can also make it aesthetically pleasing to the eye (that way you spend more time and can keep occupied for longer). dream journals or poetry are some options too, just like lists. Sei Shonagon, a Japanese writer, made lists of things she loved, things she despised, things that would be perfect for a painting, and so forth: it can be quite fun to compile lists about various themes

watch the world around you from your window and admire the scenery - sometimes we forget how much beauty this world holds, from urban sceneries to natural landscapes, it's always a wonderful idea to spend time observing our environment. take notes, jottle down what you appreciate about your view, which emotions it evokes or simply silently admire the landscape and take time to breathe in and out. keeping busy is nice but taking time to have a break is just as important as life can be pretty overwhelming

Skype your friends, keep in touch - this may be the most mainstream thing to do but spending quality time with friends always manages to cheer me up, even if it's through a screen. you can stream games or simply have a chat, whatever you prefer. seeing them may be more uplifting than simply texting, so be sure to set up a time when you're all free to video call them! check up on your online friends too!

do some gardening, your plants will thank you - if you have any plants, gardening is a valid pastime too. water your plants, give them names if you haven't already, talk to them if you like (pls talk to them NICELY do not make an example out of Crowley)

[ don't forget to regularly drink water and wash your hands. go out only if it's strictly necessary, avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes if you do. social distancing is important, for you and for the people you hold dear, respect the 1m distance! coronavirus is NOT a simple flu - please, please stay home, stay safe ]

[some-cookie-crumbz]

Some TodoDeku AUs

Have some small notes about some AUs I’ve thought of while watching depressing documentaries at work during the week. Some of these are ideas I’m probably going to expand upon in the form of fics, but others of them are just ideas that could be fun to play around with. Putting it under a ‘Read More’ to save space for those scrolling through with no interest.

YouTuber AU: Todoroki Shouto and his band are a popular YouTube staple, known for their covers of popular music from film, television and even video games. Midoriya Izuku and his best friends, Uraraka Ochako and Iida Tenya, run a YouTube channel dedicated to cosplay and tutorials on how to make your own cosplay gear. The two meet when they’re both invited as special guests at a convention in the next city over.

Bakeneko AU: Following a difficult break up, Midoriya Izuku encounters a small, hurt kitten in the alleyway by his complex. Feeling sorry for the poor little thing, he decides to take the kitten home and nurse it back to health. Plus, maybe then his apartment won’t feel quite so empty and lonely. The only catch? Turns out this cat is actually a feline demon prince named Todoroki Shouto, sent past the veil of his world to apprehend a fugitive. And it would seem that Todoroki has decided that Midoriya, for his kindness, will be repaid by being Todoroki’s bride.

Soulmate AU #1: All humans are born colorblind. At the ages of four, seven and ten, though, they gain the ability to see one color at a time each of those years, totaling out at three colors until the day they finally fall in love with their soulmate. Todoroki Shouto resents that, of all things in his life, he can always focus on the reds, oranges and yellows of fire, resigned that his soulmate most likely has a flame-based Quirk. Midoriya Izuku forces himself to not think of how he can see all the colors of his tormentors explosions as he comes for him, but on how lush reds, oranges and yellows dye the sky at dawn and dusk.

Bakery AU: Todoroki Shouto has very few pleasures in life, but one of them is visiting Moonie-Eyed Rabbit Pastries for a drink, a treat and some peace while doing his schoolwork. After all, they have the best cinnamon rolls in the whole city. And if ogling the owner's sunny-smiled son, Midoriya Izuku, is another reason for him to come in? Well, that's between him and whatever force dictates the rules of the universe.

Persona-esque AU: Not sure what else to call this, since it was inspired by the idea of changing a person's cognition ala Persona 5, but it strays Hella far from that. In this world, Quirks are the Personas themselves though still called Quirks and take beast-like forms, and Heros are just Persona Users assigned to maintain the natural world order. Midoriya still inherits from All Might, and basically UA is just a school dedicated to training Persona users to properly use their powers in the world of cognition. 

Doggies AU: The Todoroki family are renowned dog breeders and dog show champions. The youngest of the family, Shouto, has encountered a small problem; his pedigree border collie, Sakura, is a bit on the disobedient side of things. Desperate to get a handle on things but not have his father find out, he decides to secretly take her to a local pet stores training classes. The last thing he expects is for the trainer, Midoriya Izuku, to be the living embodiment of everything good in the world.

Ghost AU: After a near death experience, Midoriya Izuku gains the ability to see and speak with ghosts. He begins trying to help the spirits move on, seizing this as a chance to help others in a meaningful way. Enter the ghost of one Todoroki Touya, a snarky ass with a rather tall order for Midoriya. His final wish? For his dysfunctional family to find some sense of unity and peace.

Soulmate AU #2: In a world of soulmates and Quirks, the two are tethered to one another. When a child's Quirk manifests, a small mark appears on their soulmate's wrist to indicate what that Quirk could be. For Midoriya Izuku, he is puzzled by the snowflake and small flame on his right and left wrists respectively. For Todoroki Shouto, the empty space on either of his wrists is just an indicator that the universe won't give him any comfort. Though, things get interesting when Shouto turns 15 and is accepted into UA, when a small globe appears on his right wrist.

Pirate AU: When Todoroki Shouto was only six, his mother and older siblings were whisked away by the dreaded Pirate Lord All Might. He swears vengeance for the lose of his family, climbing the military ranks under the miserable and harsh training of his father, Admiral Todoroki. On the evening of his 23rd birthday, at an extravagant celebration, he finds himself face to face with All Might's crew, under the guidance of a new captain called Deku. He finds himself kidnapped and dragged aboard the vessel and into the shenanigans of the crew, learning that not everything he has been taught is true.

Investigators AU: In which Midoriya Izuku and Kirishima Eijirou are two of the most successful and decorated police detectives in their unit. Todoroki Shouto and Bakugou Katsuki are two prosecutors for the government. The two attorneys are also the exhausted boyfriends of the two detectives. These are their stories. Dun dun.

And here are two Lesbian!TodoDeku AUs!

Roommates AU: To keep his youngest daughter from "doing something stupid" like "sleeping around and getting knocked up", Todoroki Enji decides to ship her off to a private, girls-only college. Jokes on him, though, because Todoroki Shouko is a Distinguished Lesbian. Wacky shenanigans follow as she adjusts to living in a dorm building with a bunch of other girls, as well as learning how to share a room with a girl like Midoriya Izumi.

Dancer/ Caretaker AU: Midoriya Izumi is a private babysitter, sought after by many high profile clients for her compassionate, bubbly nature. Her favorite clients are the Aizawa's, whose daughter Eri is a delight. When Eri decides to join a dance class, Izumi is delighted, since it'll be a good chance for her to make friends. Enter Todoroki Shouko, the seemingly frigid dance instructor with incredible talent with those ballet slippers, and certainly out of Izumi's league. But there's no harm for just looking, right?