#like no structure to the lessons and one teacher saying one thing and the other something else

[dontwanderoff]

sometimes i think i'd be better at lesson planning if i wasn't trying to plan at a big school for 5 different classes

[mitahanvittua]

jesus christ i lost my temper today at this one individual from my university 😭😭

it eould have been okay IF IT WASNT IN FRONT OF THE TEACHER OVERSEEING OUR TRAINING

[feelingdozy]

Can you do jealous possessive Yuta Okkotsu? The reader is not aware of his feelings and treats him as a friend. He gets jealous of Itadori or Inumaki?

"You look better beside me" - Yuuta Okkotsu

summary: You're not understanding the material in class and ask Inumaki for help- not knowing that Yuuta constantly has his eyes on you, and he's wondering why you don't just ask him for help. He doesn't understand why he has this urge when it comes to you- one for you to only go to him, need him, and only him. What are these feelings, and why can't he stand the sight of you with anyone else but him?

wc: 11,3k

warnings: 18+, fingering, p in v, oral (f receiving), cunnilingus, soft dom yuuta, creampie, fighting/sparring, unrequited love, Inumaki needs a hug

The page in front of you began to look dull and confusing- letters were scattered and smushed randomly all over the front page, making it hard for your brain to comprehend. It was a hard enough subject in general, why did it need to get harder to understand?

You dreaded even lifting the thin piece of paper to the other side to graze over its contents- not wanting to see what else you'd have to suffer through. After a quick look, you were catching words that scared you and didn't process properly in your mind, making you turn your body subtly toward the white-haired boy seated to the right of you, whispering quietly to him to not avert the teacher's attention away from the board.

"hey- Inumaki, can you help me with this?" You whispered, looking at him with a hopeful glistening in your eyes.

he replied back in a hushed tone, "salmon, tuna", ("yeah, now focus.".)

Although the man sounded serious in his quiet chatter, you could catch the playful undertones in such simple ingredients he voiced. You had learned to catch subtle things he does when speaking those ingredients because once you got a gist of what he was trying to say, it was easy to understand his structured wording and the other things he was trying to convey. So eventually you caught onto those little things, his teasing moments or playful ones- him mocking you, sometimes hoping you don't catch it- yet you always do.

After hearing his agreement to your request, you obeyed and adjusted yourself, putting your focus back on the board in front of you. You were fortunate you weren't caught speaking out of turn- because to be frank, you weren't quiet most of the time, and if he let out a joke as his response like he usually did, your laughter would interrupt the whole class and you'd get your a scolding- one you didn't want because Gojo rarely decided to teach material inside the classroom, focusing rather on hands-on experiences.

Inumaki was grateful he had someone who got the little jokes he couldn't communicate normally- he had grown a special, intimate relationship with you unconsciously in his head. He hadn't noticed his new, overly caring behavior towards you until recently- no matter what you asked of him he'd always accept without hesitation. If he was in the middle of something, it would immediately be cast aside for you no matter if it was a simple text interrupting his studying, or a little conversation when the teacher wasn't looking like the past moment at hand. He had begun growing flushed at the littlest of touches or conversations you held- your hand grazing his when you were begging him for assistance, one on his shoulder to get his attention, or the sight of you waving him goodbye at the end of the day.

It had finally solidified when you came over for tutoring sometimes. Inumaki enjoyed your presence- and he took it as an opportunity to poke fun. Not knowing the lesson came in handy for him to tease you, but he didn't expect to be carried away by the way you looked so adorable when you were focused- a confusing look plastered on your face shouldn't have been that cute on anyone else's face- so why was he stuck in such a daze when he caught your eyes staring back at his? Why were his cheeks starting to flush, and his heart starting to race faster than before?

"Hey Inumaki-? Hey, you okay?" You had said obliviously, waving your hand in front of his wide, unfocused eyes.

"Ah!- s-salmon, salmon. Tuna!" (Ah!- y-yeah, I'm okay. Focus on your work!). He scolded, with good intent- but it made you pout and turn back to the desk. It made it harder for him to keep the newly discovered feelings from spilling out, looking down at his feet to prevent you from sneaking a look at his mess of a face.

He didn't know how long he'd be able to play off these seemingly innocent feelings- he couldn't truly accept they were more then he had thought because of how he was terrified of the outcome. What if it backfired on him, and he'd just end up being laughed at and humiliated- by you!? You two had your good moments, yes, but could you think of him as anything more than that?

Being in class made it easier to ignore, but the plans he consistently made with you over, and over, contradicted everything he wanted- that being to distance himself, so the feelings could fade with time and separation. But he knew he could never fully stay away from you, and you simply wouldn't let him go astray.

He took pride in teaching you the things you couldn't catch onto as easily, so technically you coming over should always be a good thing for him- but it was torturous. Inumaki was only able to admire from afar, especially taking effect when you were in the classroom. He noticed the way your hair fell from the place it was tucked behind your ear as you leaned forward to closely observe the worksheet laid out in front of you, the hair being too bothersome and adjusting it quickly to the same spot it was before.

When doing little things like that, you always felt like you were being watched or observed, but you were always too busy writing down the answers to notice how intently the boy had his eyes on you. It was like he was looking at a beautiful, painted scene so rich he couldn't take his eyes off of it- you made up the scene, and nothing else could top nor draw his attention away from such a magnificent feat- he was entranced that such beauty could be translated into one person. He knew that if you were to be taken away from his grasp, let alone his vision, he'd be absolutely devasted- heartbroken. Would he survive observing such a scene without you as the main subject? So no matter how much he wanted to confess, he wouldn't- he let his fear get the best of him- thinking it was for the best.

As you adjusted yourself in your chair, you spared a glance around the classroom to see if anyone was giving you any annoyed looks at the muttered words between you two, doing it so hastily that you didn't catch your best friend's eyes from staring from right behind you. He now stared intently into your back, deep in thought, in the depths of his mind admiring your form in front of him as it graced his eyes. You were only facing forward with nothing to show him, only the white back of your shirt, yet you had never been a sore sight. Only a sore subject- if you were brought up in any way other than platonic his face would grow redder than any had ever seen it before. He constantly raced to change the subject at hand, always failing and being teased when his friends brought it up just to get at him, yet you never caught wind of it. You continued your relationship with him innocently- thinking of him only as a kind and endearing friend- one willing to help you no matter the problem- pick you up whenever you fell down, he was always at your call no matter the position you left him in to deal with. Knowing that, eventually the man started to think you were developing feelings for Inumaki instead- his friend knew of his feelings towards you but kept on idle conversations anyways, just to get him riled up- but Yuuta just caught on to how he wanted you as well.

He couldn't stand the way you smiled so wholeheartedly at Inumaki. Quite frankly, it got on his nerves. Yuuta tried to mind his business whenever you started up a conversation with him, but the way his eyes lit up when you signaled for him called for him to be watched- observed even, and closely. He couldn't let what was his slip away so easily from his grasp, especially to one of his 'closest' friends.

Yuuta admired the way you were so nice to everyone- he was too, yet that was a weakness you both shared, and he knew better than anyone that someone could take advantage of it and take you hostage for purely selfish desires. Being too good for everyone meant being destined to be with only one person- someone who shared the same characteristics as you, that one being Yuuta. His feelings of such went way back- embarrassingly finding you attractive when he first laid his seemingly innocent eyes on you, meeting yours in eye contact as you shyly went to grab his hand as he held it out for you to take, light shades of blush cursing his face as he prayed quietly for them to fade away or not be seen- he didn't want to ruin such a crucial first impression.

You had tripped outside at the playground, and after the incident with Rika, he had no other people to talk to. He ran over to aid you, a friendship from an unfortunate scenario being brought to life at that moment. A scraped knee made tears pluck from the corners of your eyes at the time, and his rough palm was there to rub them away at once.

"Don't cry- it'll be okay." He said, calming down a distressed, sniffling little girl clutching onto her clothing in fear of blood. He managed to alert some parents in the vicinity, and in the end you were bandaged up with a new boy by your side. He stayed beside you until he made sure you'd be okay, only then running home because the sun was fading over the horizon. All night all he thought about was you.

After that day, he couldn't take his eyes off you- and every day you'd meet at the park until suddenly he had disappeared without a word.

At the time, you were his salvation of sorts- a love-at-first-sight scenario. A young love he only muttered to Rika in scattered words, afraid her jealousy would overpower her at the time and seek you out. He talked about you lots- and his crush had only lasted and strengthened although you were separated, increasing its intensity when you found him again while winding up at Jujutsu High a couple years later after being separation. You graciously accepted him in again and became close- you deeply trusted him now just like you had before, and thought of him as your best friend. Best friend.

But it had always been this way- you had never looked at him as anything else but a friend, especially after knowing how Rika had been unconsciously created. It was a bond you could never overcome. She'd always come first in the contest for his heart, so what was the point of paying any mind to it- no romantic feelings had blossomed, and it was best it had stayed that way. You were calm with a peaceful mind, nothing clouding it or holding you back and getting in your way.

Yuuta continued to stare at the back of your head, imagining it was him sitting beside you instead of Inumaki, and you whispering in his ear, your breath grazing the lobe and ever so softly asking him if he'd be so nice as to help you- he didn't realize his face was getting hot until he brought his hands up to cover it out of shame and embarrassment of his internal thoughts, feeling the heat radiating off of it- warming his hands up like he was planted in front of a fireplace.

"Inumaki- come, shuffle over here and help me with this one. I don't understaaand-" You whined in a whisper, gaining side eyes from students all around the room now. The overwhelming presence of their glares weighed down you as you visibly shrunk back in your seat, retreating from attempting to get Inumaki's attention. Making you jump, you felt a soft tap on your shoulder from behind, making you turn around to be met with Yuuta's kind smile.

"Let me help you y/n." He said in a persuading voice, not caring to whisper and keep his words hidden. Ignoring the familiar looks, you nodded in return as you moved your materials to his desk. Gojo's lesson had ended right as you had done that, making Inumaki turn to you, fully prepared to ask you what you needed from him- only to be met with the sight of Yuuta already helping you, his finger pointing and his smooth words helping you understand. It made a tinge of anger and frustration flood into his system. He resisted the urge to comment on it and only turned back around to be met with his empty work page he hadn't started on yet, waiting so he could do it with you. He decided it'd be best if he worked on it- alone this time.

The bell rang shortly after Yuuta taught you some useful techniques, and you packed up your stuff in an instant, your notebook and pencil case being scooped up in your bag at a speed you'd only ever used when you were overly eager to go home and get out of school, or because you were being chased by a curse in an unfortunate scenario and cared for your life.

Yet because of your speed, you ended up bumping into the back of someone else. Luckily it was only the back of them and it had been because you weren't looking at where you were going as you rushed down the busy hallways of the emptying school, but unfortunately it caused a problem- knowing it'd delay the time you promised Inumaki you'd show up for your trip home.

Your whole face was smushed into the person's back, muffling your quick apologies to the person before they turned around, revealing a familiar appearance you knew all too well- a face you had talked to not long ago. Met with a joyful smile, Yuuta quickly dismissed your haste to mutter "sorry", embracing you in a long-awaited hug.

"Y/n! How about we talk for a while now that class is over? How've you been?" He said, disregarding your worries of offending him.

"I've been fine- anyways- sorry! I've got to get somewhere quickly-" But before you could finish your sentence, you found yourself being encased by his arm, suddenly feeling trapped against the wall of an empty and somewhat dimly lit hallway in the school that was rarely used, as it didn't lead to anywhere significantly important unless you were a janitor. He did it so your conversation would be private as students slowly exited the building, but it only intimidated you, doing the complete opposite of what he wanted to accomplish.

As you lifted your head to look at the boy pining you to the wall, you noticed his expression had darkened from the usually outgoing and happy one he wore- now looking more menacing- making your breath hitch. Not knowing if it was the fear of the situation in front of you, or the way he looked like such a different person- just maybe you.. enjoyed it? No- you just wanted to know what you did to be pinned to a wall, so you decided to speak out.

"Yuuta?" you said in a shy, teetering voice as his eyes finally made contact with yours, making you lose your train of thought of anything else you had prepared to say after calling out his name.

"Where are you so quick to go, hm?" You could feel his breath ever so slightly graze your face because he was so close, making you shiver in place under him.

"I- uh- I was just going to Inumaki's place to study, and-"

"Why not come to me instead? I can help you better." His gaze on you didn't falter as he spoke, only making it more enticing to answer him with quick replies.

"I just didn't want to bother you" You replied keeping your calm as a drop of sweat slid down your forehead.

"Bothering me?" He laughed, breaking the eye contact as they closed, becoming suddenly unserious and letting you go from the wall he held you against. "Tell him you can't make it- come to my place tomorrow, and I'll help you, ok?"

He spoke the words kindly, yet sternly, you'd feel bad to deny such an ask. Although he didn't propose it as a command, it made you feel entitled to not say anything but an agreement. You decided on shaking your head in silent agreement, his hand coming up to wave goodbye with a grin on his face as he walked away, making your vision spin and mind go hazy trying to grasp what just happened between you.

Your breathing was heavy, and your heart was thumping a little fast as you struggled to pull your phone out of your pocket to text Inumaki, fingers stumbling around the keyboard as you typed how you'd be late to meet him on your walk home- you were on your way. No longer in a rush to be anywhere, you valued your walk to your meeting place, the whole situation constantly replaying in your head, trying to understand where the sudden switch in attitude within the boy you thought you knew best came from. Maybe it had been because you hadn't been spending a lot of time with him- or because you hadn't spoken to him in a while. Yet no matter the excuse, you still couldn't seem to strike the real reason for his new behavior that would lead him to do something so out of character- maybe you were just overthinking and he was trying to help instead of make you feel scared. Being pinned to a wall by Yuuta Okkotsu- such an interaction made you feel deeper things you didn't exactly want.

You finally made it to your meetup spot, seeing Inumaki resting against a wall before a back alley, perking up when he saw your shadow approaching him.

"Hey Inumaki- sorry I just got caught up in some stuff." You said casually.

He only nodded, making you feel a little sorry for making him wait so long. He had started to overthink it while waiting for you, hoping his unintentional ignorance towards you during class wasn't the cause for such unusual behavior- someone had probably just stopped to talk to you, nothing big. He knew you, and knew you were hiding something else from him- but the man wouldn't pry if you didn't want to tell him more. As long as he didn't do anything, Inumaki would be fine. Unless- unless it was Yuuta. But he doubted you'd go as far as to be late on your walk home because of him. The two of you had done this for as long as you could remember, ever since your first year when you first were introduced to Inumaki, becoming friends quickly after.

it became a nice habit after a mission one day, and it stuck since then. It was nice to feel safe when you went home, knowing nothing would be able to bother you because you had Inumaki's protection. The two of you had already made it close to your home, almost at the first destination for him to drop you off- the second destination being his. You turned to him suddenly before getting close to the path leading to the building, suddenly shy to back out of your ask- you were the one who asked him, and now you were completely ditching him, and you felt awful.

"Hey- uh, Inumaki.. is it okay if I come over another day to study?- I know I said I would tomorrow- I think i'll be able to figure it out on my own though."

"Salmon- mustard leaf?" (Yeah that's fine- is everything okay?) He turned to you, his expression filled with concern filled you with even more guilt that you had never felt before- like you were betraying him, which frankly, you had never done.

"Mhm, just didn't sleep very well, don't worry!" You said with a fake smile, trying to convince him even though you knew he could probably see right through it.

And he certainly did- but he had full faith in you- he trusted that you'd be okay and could care for yourself, so he walked you up to your doorstep, parting down the road with a wave of goodbye as his head dropped low once he turned away to walk towards his place. A frown was present on your face- not that he could see it, but you had a good concious- you hated lying to someone you're close with like Inumaki. Seeing his head hung low like that didn't help anything either. Was Yuuta worth it?

Unlike you, Yuuta rushed back to his dorm- his legs working overtime and leading him with a pace he hadn't ever used in such a mundane situation- yet it called for it this time. He couldn't stop every thought that entered his brain from being of you, a new expression or phrase being spoken from his fake version, popping up whenever he tried to avert his mind to distract him from the fact he had let his feelings of jealousy and yearning take over and show the true emotions that he kept bottled in for you- yet he swore that in the moment, he saw your heart racing out of your chest and your eyes curious and wondering what he was planning to do next.

Some were downright naughty- maybe he was expecting too much. But other thoughts of his were filled with murderous intent towards Inumaki, things that he'd obviously never act on- but levels of rage he hadn't felt much since things targeted towards Rika. It wasn't even that he disliked Inumaki- he just didn't like the way inumaki got so close to you, and you only. It made him furious and possessive- something he'd never admit out loud- but when you gave him the chance by bumping into him on accident, all of it just came out and spilled onto you because you were so easily put in his presence to get the job done quickly, give him an opportunity to blurt all the interanilzed things out.

He was hoping that maybe it benefitted him a little instead of scaring you off or anything alike- maybe the only thing in your mind was him- and he was eerily right, in such the wrong ways- what was he thinking? He was getting downright obsessive- the best thing to try and do was sleep it off.

When morning came, so did your alarm as it rung out and gave you your usual rude awakening, making you grumble quiet swears to yourself, turning yourself around to stretch your arm and turn it off. As you rose from the bed, you held your head as a headache suddenly surfaced, retelling the events of the other night as it came flooding in to haunt you- guilt, confusion, frustration- all of the above making you rub your temples to soothe the pulsing pain. Picking up your phone from the side table to distract you from it, you saw a new message had popped up in your notifications.

You tapped it immediately without taking a chance to look at the name, being greeted with a message saying that whoever it was, was outside ready to pick you up. You jumped up with confusion and made your way hastily to your door, opening it and being greeted with Inumaki. You didn't expect anyone to be there, so when you saw the message you didn't care to get dressed properly, and his eyes danced over your body, admiring the carefree person appearing in front of them. Hair a mess and bunched up in random places from twisting and turning in your sleep, pajamas hanging off your shoulder, and soft shorts barely seen because of the length of the shirt you wore comfortably to sleep. His cheeks quickly darkened at the sight as he took it all in- and he was glad his uniform covered his face just enough you wouldn't be able to make it out. You wouldn't have been able to anyways- your quick awakening making your eyes have trouble staying open because of fatigue, muscles relaxed and slumped, hoping to be in the comfort of your bed once again, although it knew all well it wouldn't happen.

He pulled out his phone to text you his reasoning instead of voicing it in his usual ingredients- scared his voice would give the flustered boy away, and also because he could tell you had just woken up. Even thought it wasn't complicated words he'd be saying, he couldn't trust himself not to be suspicious, so he opted for typing it out. Your phone pinged in your hand, by habit bringing it up to see the new message pop up.

"I said i'd pick you up whenever we had training, remember? Gojo-sensei said we were outside today for class yesterday, so I thought i'd come by." You had forgotten all about this little promise- only being reminded that you were even in the field today because of him.

Just as you finished reading, another message popped up- one that you read the name of this time as it came from a different person, and not the one stood in front of you. Yuuta.

Looking down at your screen, Inumaki tried to resist the urge to stalk a bit, but in the end failed as he read the name in black letters. Oh. Oh"

"Are you coming to training today? Need me to walk you?" Uh oh. You stared at your phone for a few minutes before the boy in front of you spoke up, making you jump because you forgot he was there and had been silent the whole time you checked Yuuta's messages.

"Mustard leaf?" (Everything okay?) He said, being purposely louder then usual.

"Oh shit- sorry, yeah just gotta get dressed- I forgot we had training" You said, awkwardly laughing at your forgetfulness. He only nodded his head and you silently motioned for him to come in. You didn't want him to stand outside and wait for you as you got dressed.

Inumaki didn't think much of it- he didn't want to think much of it- now that he was here, luckily Yuuta didn't have a chance.

You replied back to him in your room as you finished prepping, "Sorry, Inumaki's already here." And it made Yuuta's blood boil.

Eventually you both had made it out the door, walking side by side and conversating about random things that came to mind. The walk went by fast, because before you could say what was on your mind, your peripheral caught the training field coming up in front of the two of you and the crowd of people that were already there, ready to began class. You sighed in embarrassment as all eyes were on the two of you latecomers- you were only lucky you weren't in the classroom because you had already forgotten everything from the other day.

You didn't notice that within the crowd, Yuuta was looking at you two latecomers with a glare he never had over anything, except for when you were with Inumaki- one you never noticed appeared on his face, only Maki. Maki nudged him with her shoulder, knocking him out of whatever trance he had himself in at the sight.

"Yo, dude you good?" She said with concern, eyeing him with an odd look.

"Yeah- just wondering why they came so late, haha" Maki shrugged it off after she arched her eyebrows at him, questioning his true intentions- he wasn't a very good liar at times he needed to be. She knew there was more then he telling- but she wouldn't force it out of him. Yuuta continued keeping his eyes right in your direction, his gaze lingering more on you then his friend.

You and Inumaki joined the crowd of kids and hugged yourselves in to get by your friend group. You greeted Maki and Panda, a simple wave to know you acknowledged them. You voiced your greeting to Yuuta with a smile as you got closer, making him get caught off guard at your acting, like nothing happened between you two the other day. He thought for sure you'd act differently towards him or voice some sort of concern. Yet for you it was simple- you just decided to keep your mind focused solely off of him and only think of him as a friend- anything that had happened was a mistake and had no ill intentions. Yuuta was oblivious and just thought you chose to ignore it- he doubted you didn't mind it, but he had to leave it be as Gojo got everyone's attention as to start the combat training.

Although he wanted to focus on the lesson, all throughout his eyes were only drawn to you and your every facial change at the things Gojo voiced- a small grin here and there, focused eyes listening in on the projecting voice, cringing because of his bad jokes.

Even the man being at the front was put off noticing his usual good-listening student with his attention put somewhere else other then him- Gojo striking it as weird behavior. Nonetheless, the teacher cast his concerned and meddling thoughts aside and put his best into reciting the rest of what would happen- many mini battles to be fought with your peers to hone your skills and give yourself a variety to battle, get out of your comfort zone with kids from other classes.

You and Inumaki shared a glance beside each other before raising your hands in unison, shocking Yuuta at the planned act of going first together. His blood started to rage with jealousy and nothing had even happened yet- he wanted to walk up there and rip you out of Inumaki's smug hands as they dragged you two through the crowd- cradle you in his instead, he'd show you any sort of move you ever wanted to know. He knew he was above Inumaki in all aspects yet you were out there with him-

"Can you look at her any harder" Maki snorted from beside him as she pinched him, making him ponder for a second how he'd dug himself this deep of a hole with his obsession with you- when had it gotten this bad? Usually he was calm and collected- nothing ruined his positive attitude and nothing broke out to show the people who surrounded him. There was only one root cause it could have been, and now he knew what he had to do when this stupid fight was over. He'd simply have to show you how much better he is then Inumaki.

You and Inumaki confidently volunteered to be a demonstration, and in turn be going first, ready to spar the skilled boy. You and Inumaki always playfully fought with each other- little harmless punches on arms here and there, but what you truly wanted was to witness his abilities in action, if against you- even better. You couldn't give this opportunity up as much as you subtly trembled with fear of being defeated in mere seconds- yet you had a good amount of faith planted in yourself. You took up a confident stance as you presented yourself in front of the crowd, Gojo taking the time to introduce the two of you as competitors- something dramatic, like something you'd witness at a wrestling match. You sighed at your teacher's unseriousness, yet remained put together as you readied yourself in position to strike. Your teacher counted down as his balled up fists swung up and down in excitement like a child with a wide grin on his face- or a proud father seeing his kid about to win their first soccer match after training them for months.

"Three..! Two...!" Inumaki brought his hand up, reaching for the zipper on his outfit.

"ONE!"

As his voice echoed, in seconds, you were immediately stunned and your actions silenced by the sudden "Don't move!" that made its way past his lips towards you. The crowd beside you screamed with praises and its opposing voices- ones yelling for Inumaki to show his true strength and praising him- "Yeah! Get her!", "That's right, show her Inumaki!", "Woah, that's such a cool ability!", and others contrasted, cheering you on, telling you that you were strong enough to break free of his technique. "Come on, you can do it!" "Break free!" "You're strong enough, beat him up!". Weirdly, only one voice rose above the crowd, prominent amongst all otthers- and familiar; the only voice really getting through to you in the moment of attempting to break the trance you had been put in.

"Come on Y/n! Show him- show him how strong you are!" You struggled to even cast a glance at the crowd to see if your assumptions about who said it was right, but it made you pay more attention to the dire situation at hand.

Trying to move your limbs proved useless as he grew closer, ready to take you down. You gritted your teeth with frustration as you struggled endlessly to no avail. Those words echoed in your mind as you tried to tear your arms from the position they had taken unwillingly when his words had made their way to you, focusing intently on your cursed energy. Slowly, yet quickly in the moment your hands started to shake- the crowd growing anxious with more excitement as Inumaki had finally come to close enough to strike you down, being blocked by your new free hand you managed to break from his powerful curse.

His eyes widened in shock, not expecting you to deflect the usual, landing attack. Your other hand came up on his left and striked him straight in the face when he wasn't paying attention, punching him when off guard to where he stepped back in trembling steps and pain as he held his cheek, head coming up to stare at you with a new discovered urge- to make you pummel to the ground. He wanted to use his technique, but hesitated at his decision as the ache in his throat was definitely real and not pleasant- throbbing every so often to remind him it was still there and what had caused it. And at the same time he really didn't want to injure you badly- it was just instinct to fight back.

Within the crowd, Yuuta had been cheering aggressively for you- hands cupping his mouth to intensify the volume of his screams at you, making a couple students look behind them at the annoying voice that kept springing out and making itself obvious. He paid no mind though, only keeping up his constant chants of your name, especially as you socked the boy in the face. Yuuta's face lightened in delight and jaw dropped in shock with a sudden respect- he couldn't lie that you looked real pretty while fighting him- even prettier when punching his 'friend' to smithereens.

Maki's face stayed neutral beside him throughout the whole fight, undeciding and unshowing of any bias- she loved the two of you equally- the only thing that made her expression change with her eyebrows raising, was Yuuta's constant and soon to be aggravating cheers that spilt from his mouth every two seconds, yet she decided against shushing him- letting him have his fun for once. When was he ever this happy about something?

Taking the open chance to hit, you purposefully downgraded your strength as you hit him in the stomach, making him tumble down and hunch over with hands clutching his abdomen- it was light compared to you using all the power you had. You wanted him to admit defeat, not death after all. As he was close to laying himself on the grass floor, you approached, appearance in front of him suddenly drowning out the student's cries and cheers of an obvious winner.

You were focused on the boy before you, his head hanging down and breathing labored breaths. You put out your hand to help him up, thinking nothing of it as he raised his head to look at you. Assuming the battle was over, you weren't prepared for him to use his ability again- but wrong you were as he mouthed a small, "Lie down". With it you crumbled to the grassy floor beside him, now fully laying down, the crowd gasping in shock at your sudden surrender, but they quickly realized it wasn't your doing, or that Inumaki did it in tandem with you for a tie. Gojo announced the winner in the heat of the chatter, proclaiming Inumaki had won despite his efforts for no clear winners- you were glued to the ground while eating mouthfuls of grass and whispering to the ants.

Pouting, you tried to flail your arms, complaining for Inumaki to let you up. Suddenly the crowd had been let through to see their friends and now they had started racing toward the two of you, leaving you to only cast a concerned look at the boy, being able to only turn your head away from the ants. His lips moved at your look, muttering something, but nothing came out vocally, leaving you to read the words his lips spelled themselves-

"I, Love, -"

"Wahh!" Suddenly a weight crashed down on you, one drawing you to turn your head in an attempt to see who it was, not realizing you didn't catch the end of Inumaki's words to you- or any of them at all. They were quickly forgotten.

But someone else did. Luckily he caught you right in time, his strong grip on your waist surprising you as he lifted you up, helping you back on your two feet as Maki grabbed onto Inumaki's while giving him a shoulder to lean on. It was Yuuta who grabbed your attention, now asking if you were okay. You replied with many "mhm"s to reassure him and looked at Inumaki as he gave you a soft smile in return, and without knowing what he ever said, you cast one back at him.

Your muscles ached when being walked back to your place by Yuuta, all five of you gathering at your door- with your permission beforehand. Yuuta scavenged in your pocket for your pair of keys after asking permission, unlocking the door and kicking it open gently, only a quiet thud to be heard when it hit the wall, signaling for them to walk in.

The day had ended as you and Inumaki enjoyed the rest of the sparring on the sidelines clutching onto a concerning amount of water bottles- gripping them so aggressively, it would scare anyone off if they really tried to take it from you. You both gulped it down in an instant, asking for a couple more from your friends who weren't drenched in sweat. It took a lot out of the two of you because you were fighting with no restraint, meaning that exhaustion would finally make itself apparent over the adrenaline and hit hard- a wave of grogginess making itself present as you sat down on a bench nearby.

Your eyes lightened as you saw a shadow pass by the table where the sun had directly chosen to grant its light, making it easy to tell if someone was behind you. Turning your head to look, a bright smile came from Yuuta as he placed another bottle down on the table in front of you. Wasting no time before your hands were on it- you drank it up in seconds like a beast dehydrated in the wilderness. Such a sight to see was a little unsettling, but Yuuta kept his eyes on you nonetheless- never faltering, and weirdly not blinking as you swallowed the rest and squished the plastic underneath your hand as you set it on the table. You thanked him out of breath, yet grateful, even if he had been a little odd lately. He didn't hear you though- too busy entranced by the sight of your lips on his water bottle. His cheeks once again build a light layer of red, unbeknownst to you as your attention was brought onto the spars fought in front of you again.

Putting everything he'd done aside, even letting him kindly offer to hold your aching muscles to make it home- you couldn't deny his irresistible face had taken a toll on you, especially when the sun dawned on it just right, hitting it in a position where his eyes sparkled and his cheeks were highlighted- a cute, faint rosy tint appearing from the sun's rays. The light also reflected off his teeth, making his smile appear somehow even more enticing- cute and innocent all at the same time. All combined with each other to make the man you saw before you, so you gladly agreed to his kind instincts- or just his natural personality. No complaints ever left your mouth- he handled you with the utmost care, like you had been injured beyond repair and if you were ever touched- even so grazed by an object, you'd be pierced or split into two. While he had you at his side, your heart pounded a little faster than usual- a strange phenomenon. Although the change was obvious, you didn't pay much attention to it. Wanting to ignore it, you spoke up to the boy holding you, yet hushed enough that no one else would hear it as they found somewhere to sit once they made their way into your livingroom.

"Sorry I got injured so easily- I really was hoping to study with you, it's just.." You trailed off as he stared at you intensely, waiting for you to continue without cutting you off. His expression became one appearing a little pained, but before you could comment on it, the rest of the group had started yelling out to the two of you to sit down and pick something to watch.

"How about this one- don't be a wuss- hey! Inumaki!"

"Fish flakes, tuna, bonito flakes!" (I'm not- hey c'mon! That one sucks!) He yelled, not letting her press the button on the remote to start it before stealing it straight from her hands.

"C'mon, it's just a horror movie." She said plainly, trying to convince him but to no avail. His grip didn't falter.

You grabbed the hand that held the remote, making Inumaki get caught off guard by your sudden action. Fingertips grazing one another, he thought time had stopped, the only ones not affected by it being you and him. The moment went slow, yet so fast, and his face had started to turn an obvious red, his uniform coming in to safe him once again.

You sat down and Yuuta took a spot beside you, and when he saw the look his "friend" gave you- one with sparkling eyes, he immediately pulled you into an embrace with his arm making its way to grip the shoulder away from him, hugging you tight. The warmth of his body up against yours hadn't processed yet, but now you were twinning with Inumaki- except you weren't blushing at him, but at Yuuta. Inumaki spared an angry look Yuuta's way at the sudden possessiveness, not taking any further action- he knew you wouldn't like them fighting, but it had been obvious that Yuuta had been tempting him for awhile now, and it was starting to get on his nerves.

It was Yuuta's breaking point, and he needed you to see exactly what he thought of you- the way his mind went dizzy and how fast his heart raced when he was by your side, the way his eyes lit up in excitement to see you after a long day, the way he'd protect you no matter what you were up against- he couldn't stand to see you get hurt when you could've simply asked him to accompany you. And sure, you may not have needed him- but he didn't care. He couldn't get frustrated at you or angry, and he couldn't stand to see Inumaki trying to take what was his. He was going to be the one to comfort you- bandage you up after training, and make sure you were content.

He leaned down to move your hair from the side of your face, mouth so close that you could feel his breath fanning you as he whispered,

"Can we go to your room really quick? Just wanna talk" His voice made goosebumps present on your skin- anxiety rising a little at the request.

With a now fast-racing heart because you had an idea of what was going to happen, you only nodded in agreement before getting ready to stand up, Yuuta already ahead of you and reaching out for your hand to lift you up off the couch. You took his hand with ease as you calmed the rest of the group before they could question anything- convincing them it was to show him your new room set up. Although it was an obvious lie, they let it pass- except for Inumaki who passed you a sad glare- one you could tell a pout had surfaced underneath the fabric covering his mouth. You suddenly felt a twinge of guilt at what you were doing- yet you didn't know what for. But the man beside you sure as hell did, only smiling an innocent-looking smile back Inumaki's way, a contrasting expression that meant the opposite- anyone could see through it, yet only Inumaki was the one to witness it.

Your hand was encased in his slightly moist one- Yuuta sweating with nervousness at such a sudden confession he'd have to make just so he wouldn't have to see you at the side of someone who aggravated him so much. he swept you two away from the group in an instant, ending up in your contrasting cold room with only the moonlight showing hints of each others faces. It made for a cool atmosphere- your whole body tensing because you turned the heat off before you left. Your attention was brought away from thinking about such useless things as he sat down, leading you straight to his side on your bed. Dipping down on your mattress, you instinctively avoided looking at him straight on- but it didn't matter when a finger reached out aimed for your chin, lifting it up to be faced with eyes that sparkled in the moonlight because they presented themselves at the perfect angle, the light spilling from the window directly pointed at you two. No matter how dark it was in the room, you could tell it was eyes that you trusted sat with you- you didn't feel unsafe, nor as anxious as you had been before you recognized them again. They reassured you- reminded you of who was before you. Yuuta. Your Yuuta.

A warm sensation blossomed inside you, lowering your shoulders out of instinct as your body heat increased, adjusting ever so slightly to the temperature. You warmed up even more as he brought your face closer to his- feeling his unsteady breaths fanning against your lips this time, grazing them ever so slightly, making you shiver in anticipation about what he'd do. You never thought Yuuta liked you like this- but was it really that surprising by how he was acting lately?

He had given you all the hints and somehow you never put them together and realized. Now everything was clicking before you, and his eyes battled on keeping contact with you and lowering them to your lips; only encouraging you to bring your mouth to his. Closing your eyes out of shyness, you didn't see the way his widened in shock, nor the newly flushed face that presented itself vulnerably before you at the hinting of what you wanted him to do- what you were waiting for. A light kiss filled with emotion flooded every sensation and filled every area in your mind, wiping everything to nothing but a clean slate- now overwhelmed with the fondness he had emptied into your throat to be swallowed and consumed, and you couldn't get enough. Every tender emotion he had towards you showed itself through a simple kiss where lips parted and tongues hesitated to touch.

You pulled away not wanting to be aggressive, but at that moment he only wanted more, his hand slithering to hold your neck and push you firmly against him. Your tongues clashed as he explored your mouth, little gasps being pulled from you at the possessiveness he was showing again. His other hand roamed your body- wanting to explore you thoroughly all over now that he finally had you. No one else got to see the way your body faltered to his little reaffirming squeezes on your body, feeling up your clothed chest and gripping your hip, then shoulders before taking your cheeks in his hand to hold you. The kiss had turned sloppy- excessive amounts of spit leading to a string being attached as the two of you separated for a breath. It still tried to hold the both of you together. Its attempt was futile, breaking as you were suddenly pushed to the mattress and pinned down to the bed.

"W-wait- the door is open.." You pointed out with labored breathing, the sight of your chest heaving almost blocking your view of the television light streaming in the slight crack of your door.

It was the perfect opportunity to show Inumaki you were his- Yuuta couldn't let this go to waste.

"Can you be quiet?" He asked in a hushed voice in comparison to yours, not demanding in any way- in fact, he made you quite comfortable with the soothing way he always spoke. You thought you'd get whiplash at how fast you nodded back In agreement, needing more from him, and immediately.

Your body was desperate for more as you unconsciously lifted your hips up for friction against his body, only colliding with layers that hadn't yet been taken off- now being stripped in a horny and lust-filled frenzy, his hands finding every hem of yours like it was his only job in life, and then tearing it off of you like a meal he was anxiously getting ready to devour. There were no complaints- only slight embarrassment as the final items were being taken off you, his hands sneaking themselves under your body, digging in the mattress to find where the straps of your bra were. If you didn't know him well, you would've thought he'd done it many times before, because within a swift moment, he had unclipped it and revealed your chest, the breeze in the air making your tits perk up in surprise at the change.

But the heat was quickly returned by Yuutas palms, groping them as he gazed up to see what kind of reaction he'd get out of you underneath the stunning light. He was only met with a view he'd imagined in his darkest dreams- ones fueled only by desire, making his breath hitch at how good you looked for him simply as you were, laid in front of him, hair now all over the place and tangled in some places, eyes beginning to be blissed out foggy from lust, and the rest of you soon to be worshipped by everything he had- with every fiber of his being. He lowered his head, unable to resist his urges, dropping into the crook of your neck and planting gentle kisses along your shoulder. Occasionally he'd suck at the sensitive skin- relishing in how soft it felt between his teeth after nibbling on it, eliciting beautifully quiet moans to spill from your lips as you held back the louder sounds that threatened to break free if you weren't careful.

You grasped onto his shirt as if it'd be your savior- not caring as long as you have something to ground you, or else you don't know how you'd last another second of his blissful torture. Absolutely obsessed with you, he trailed the kisses to the side of your jaw, edging closer to your eager lips with each kiss as he went. His hands kept on you like they each had a mind of their own- taking initiative and exploring the new territory exposed to them. Yuuta was entranced as he carved love marks into every inch of you he crossed- the smell of you filling his nose, taking up every sense and crawling into every area of his mind, crushing every bit of sanity he had left.

You were cracking him open without realizing- every new experience he was having with you, every sound he dug out, every new place he discovered and touched, every noise that spilled from between your lips. He'd remember them all, and soak in them every time he managed to pull more out of you- soak in your essence, or simply just your presence underneath him he had craved for the longest time. It was all enough to destroy the man through and through, and enough to pull him up from beneath the dirt at the same time. You were his all in the moment, and he was in his own personal heaven- one he'd wanted for so long you couldn't even comprehend- not even he knew how bad it had gotten.

After many teasing pecks and deeper indulges at your skin, he'd finally given you what you both were waiting for- except he was aggressive as you held onto him harder, needing the reassurance you had something there as he nibbled on your lip, eating up the gasps that made their way out and shoving his tongue in your mouth at the chance he made for himself. They tangled in fervor, deepening as you both fought for dominance- coming out short as Yuuta was obviously more determined to be the winner of this battle- any other and you would have led a great victory, but it was his chance to show his skill to you. He moved his hands from their randomized spot on your body, bringing them to cup your cheeks in a gentle embrace as the kiss kept on, somehow sinking deeper into the bed at the force put into it by both ends. Your hands moved from the confined area they were trapped in of Yuuta's chest to finding their way to his hair, tangling in the dark strands as a new way of holding on- yet calling out for more. At that, Yuuta made an animalistic sound- something of a deep growl, expressing he really liked it. Needing more air to keep on, you both hesitatingly separated for a few seconds to breathe ragged breaths and take in the present, but growing hungry for more.

You were too gone in the moment to notice the tiny sounds that erupted from beyond the open door, the light streaming through remaining the same- no one had touched it, but someone was going to walk by and see what was happening in your bedroom; footsteps getting closer. You were completely dazed by Yuuta's skillful mouth and unaware- but his head turned around in a mere split second, enough so you couldn't tell he had gotten distracted, yet at the perfect time for him to catch a glimpse of Inumaki walking towards the bathroom that was down the hall past your room. He made eye contact with the boy, making Inumaki's eyes widen at the scene unfolding before him in your bedroom, his legs growing weak at the sight of Yuuta over you.

Did- did he really just see what he thought he did? He stopped- listening into the room more intensely, realizing he did. He stood there, outside the contrasting dark room in shock. Tears pricked at the corners of his eyes as he made the rest of the journey to the bathroom and shut himself in there, separating himself from the rest of his friends. The tears fell freely now, silent cries to help kill the urges that wouldn't go away as easily as he hoped they would. He sat there for a long while- Maki and Panda being easily distracted by the movie they picked out, regarding Inumaki's disappearance as a short one because they had truly lost track of time. As tears hit the cold tiled floor in the now claustrophobic and unsettling feeling bathroom, Yuuta had claimed the comfiest, highest spot- on top of you. Every moment that went by, a tear slid down a soaked, tear-stained cheek. And with every tiny drop that fell and hit the floor, Yuuta relished more and more in the fact he'd shown Inumaki whose you really were.

You stayed lying with your head back on the mattress and your eyes glued shut, unaware of the scene unfolding right in front of you. His playful tongue came to a stop and he gazed at you lovingly with dark, lust-filled eyes. They called out for more- hungry and demanding of a meal to satiate- and luckily you were right in front of him, a delectable, beautifully prepared meal ready to be eaten alive. One of his hands moved to collect yours and pin them above your head, intertwining his fingers with one of them. It subtly hinted he caught on to your need of being grounded- such an observant boy.

You needed him. You were absolutely positive you were desperate now, and he was here to make sure you'd never escape him in the sweetest of ways. His other hand traveled to the waistband of your underwear that remained, swiftly finding its way in and under- an arch forming at the sudden touch of his fingertip to the soaked-through, damp cloth on top of your cunt. Teasing you, he ran his finger on the fabric, running from your clit to your hole over and over to only elongate the little moans that fell and the way your hips thrust up, trying to meet him for more. Your body was begging, and he only complied when your breaking voice had come out to say what you wanted- he was waiting for you to beg.

"hnghh- please Yuuta. Need more" you said, almost being brought to tears on how much your nerves were throbbing for more friction. He obeyed and pressed a loving kiss to your forehead before bringing his hand to where you wanted him, fingertips once again teasing you, but this time it slid easily across your slick as he put the underwear to the side. When he brought his fingers out to observe the mess they picked up, he was only brought to an evil smile as your slick had coated them nicely- tempting him to stick his tongue out for a taste, and he couldn't deny such an eager desire. He paid no mind to your detests of worry that fumbled clumsily out of your mouth, only relishing in your sweet taste as he stuffed his digits into his mouth to fully clean them off.

"Taste just as sweet as I imagine- such a pretty girl for me, and delicious" He said, only making you cover your face with trembling hands as the heat of embarrassment warmed your face to a burning degree.

You didn't know if you'd be able to handle this man- if you'd survive after the treatment he was giving you, as good as it was, it was torturous, and you wouldn't be able to function normally much longer. This time when he brought his hand down, he pulled the waistband of your underwear down and undressed you fully, teetering backwards a bit to get a better view of you naked under the streams of moonlight that accentuated your body- a trail of drool running down the man's chin at the sight. Not holding back any longer, he finally collected some of your slick, carefully sliding a finger into your cunt. Quiet gasps were the only thing you allowed out as he gently added another finger- he had gotten you so turned on you swore there was already a puddle of your juices pooled beneath you.

"Doing so good for me pretty girl- so good." He breathed out.

Rendering you speechless, you only arched your back- pushing into him, begging for more. He could cum at the sight of you, needy for his every touch, but he withheld. As his fingers curled upwards, he placed soft kisses on your lower stomach, making you cover your mouth instead of your face so you wouldn't risk any sudden loud sounds alerting your oblivious friends in the neighboring room. His other hand had begun toying with your clit, pinching it and rubbing it in slow circles to tease you- bringing you close enough, but slowing his pace when you showed signs of cumming.

"P-please Yuuta- lemme cum, please." You begged the man, feeling a trail of wet lips make its way downward, now comfortable by your clit, the anticipation bubbling in the depths of your stomach- an explosion of butterflies rushing through you.

"Fuuuuck- hahh-" Arching your back once more, he finally obliged and pressed a teasing kiss to your clit before sucking on it, his pistoning fingers bringing you to your awaited release. You bit your lip hard, a taste of blood lingering in your mouth, paying it no mind as he fucked you through your orgasm, leaving you whining as he sucked every now and then, getting sensitive. He liked the way your hips jumped up, and how you shut your eyes a little tighter. It made him want to make you cum a thousand times over just for your reactions to play over and over in front of his eyes- a great reality he wanted to witness forever. You cupped his cheeks when he finally removed his fingers, bringing him up to you for a passionate kiss, not caring to taste your release still fresh on his lips. This time you took the lead, slipping your tongue into his mouth. As it went on, he quickly slid down his own pants, taking them off with his underwear in a flash and lining himself up with you as he stroked his precum to lubricate himself a little- you alone were wet enough, but he wanted to stray away from the idea of hurting you, wanting to make it a pleasant experience.

It slipped in with ease, sinking into you- unable to hold back a loud moan as it was a little bigger than anything you've ever had.

"S-shit you're so warm- you okay?" He groans out, nodding, you're unable to voice anything without noises slipping out. His cock drags along your walls, slowly at first to get you adjusted- he's asking you every few minutes if you're okay- unknown to him, he's slowly breaking you apart, because eventually you're asking him to go faster. His pace quickens and his length is now fully in- the lewd sound of skin slapping against each other as your hips meet filling the otherwise quiet room.

"So good for me" he mumbles, his lips by your ear filling it with praises as you clench down on him, spurring him on even more as he keeps his fast yet gentle pace.

He blindly finds your hand's new placement gripping the sheets, flipping them over as he puts his palm in yours, intertwining fingers as he moves his head to kiss your neck, more messy markings littering your chest. His thrusts turning erratic- he was making love to you, and you were in absolute bliss- your mind was hazy and your sight was clouded- you were on the edge.

"Oh fuck, y/n- you feel so fucking good" he growls, only getting you closer to cumming.

"Yuuta- hnghh, m'close- fuck"

"Shit- where do y'want me to cu-"

"In me"

And with that his cum is pouring into you, strings of it filling you up as you cum in tandem, bringing his lips to yours in a sloppy kiss, saliva running down both your chins as you muffle each other's moans.

Eventually you both calm down, chests heaving and cuddled up in one another's embrace. Your eyes are threatening to close out of fatigue as he's planting even more gentle kisses on your face, whispering about how good you did.

"Yuuta.. you're so good to me." You slur out in a daze, making a lazy smile appear on the boy's face. He only kisses your lips, shushing you before you start him up again. He's struggling to contain his happiness of the moment, and you're only making it harder. He backs away from your sprawled out form, muttering mostly to himself about how he'll be right back- he's gonna get you cleaned up. The door is still propped open, the difference in light blinding him for a second as he adjusts and sees the bathroom door is wide open and the light is off- he was too distracted to notice Inumaki left, but he still notices the abundance of tissues stacked in your garbage which was empty before- he made sure to go to the bathroom before the movie started just to check.

His ego boosts as he sturdies his shoulders, knowing he did what he wanted to. He grabs a random hand towel from a collection you have, wetting it with warm water before returning to wipe you down- met with the same sight of you, except your breathing is calm, your lips are lazily parted and your eyes are gently shut. He laughs to himself before cleaning you up, discarding the towel on the bed as he gathers your clothes from where they were thrown, waking you up in the process with the sounds of obvious shuffling.

"Sorry- didn't mean to wake you pretty." He says apologetically.

"Mm, it's okay. Didn't mean to fall asleep anyway. Thanks." You say as he assists your legs into the holes of your clothing, then turns you around to the side to clip your bra back on and lift your shirt back over your head. "Good as new, baby." He assures, a hand present on your back to support you. He kisses your forehead before taking your hand in his and helping you off the bed- legs wobbling a little before stabling yourself, still a little shaken from him. You don't mind though- only eager to see how far through the movie your friends have gotten, and ready to enjoy the rest with Yuuta.

The two of you make your way to the living room, finding an empty spot on the couch as Maki and Panda are still over-invested in the movie playing- they don't even notice the presence of you two. But you can feel a pair of eyes on you. Looking into the distance, from across the open living room you see Inumaki, an apparent frown on his face as he stands present in your kitchen. His uniform is off and your eyes widen, realizing he knows exactly what you've done. He looks at you disapprovingly, shaking his head, trying his best to hold back from sulking at the sight as he tears his eyes away from you two.

You know you've messed up- but aren't you happy with Yuuta? The way he's gentle with you, praises you- talks to you. But- could it have been better with Inumaki? The way the past couple days have been compared to this one night- were they all for nothing? Everything just for it to come to a conclusion with this dark haired boy? You're brought out of your head by a hand over your shoulder, a palm on your head pulling you down to rest it on the man's shoulder beside you.

"You look so good beside me",

"Oh, and we still on for that study date?", he asked in a hushed voice- and suddenly you don't remember what you were thinking about.

© feelingdozy 2024, do not repost, modify, republish or duplicate any of my works

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HL Fic Library 😎🤓 Popular Louis/Nerd Harry Fics

Remember to leave kudos and a comment on the fics you enjoyed to show your appreciation! You can find the library's other recs here.

😎 This Offer Stands Forever  by Tomlinsontoes / @pianolouis {M, 78k}

Harry is who high school kids would define as a nerd, he loved going to class and studying, he was just good at school work and saw nothing wrong with liking it. He signs up to tutor students at the middle school down the road where he ends up helping Lottie Tomlinson, younger sister to the ever popular and gorgeous Louis Tomlinson who is also a senior and in a few classes of Harry's. Harry might have a crush on him and not so sure how to act around Louis but hopes he can get close to the other boy and learn everything about him.

🤓 Want You More Than A by TheCellarDoor / @donotdialnine {M, 77k}

Falling in love with your step-brother’s best friend is a disaster enough. When he happens to be the boy everyone loves and you’re a nerd who wears sweater vests and cries during rom-coms, it takes it to a whole new level.

😎 I hear you calling in the dead of night by Thelonelycoast {M, 72k}

No one really notices Marcel Styles. In fact, Marcel’s so invisible that if his teachers don’t call on him in lessons - and they rarely do - Marcel can go whole days without speaking to anyone other than his mum, his sister, Gemma, his cat, Dusty and the school librarian, Alma. And if he just so happens to have a tiny, miniscule crush on the footie captain, Louis Tomlinson, well, that’s no one’s business but his own. Until Louis notices him back...

🤓 Webs of lies by Hazzaslittle28 {E, 35k}

"Truth or Dare?" The question was delivered with a nasty smirk from Drake's side,

"Who do you think I am? Of course Dare." Louis scoffs before leaning back and adjusting his skirt,

"Very well than. Your dare is to play Styles for two months until the dance." Louis frowns at the odd dare,

"Why would you- you know what? Okay I accept it. Louis Tomlinson never looses a dare." He smirks sultrily before plucking the cigarette from Drake's mouth and taking a drag out of it.

"Let's see then."

Or The au in which The popular is given a dare to date the nerd, hearts will be broken, words will loose their meaning and tears would be shed.

😎 The Library Universe (series) by @allwaswell16 {E, 33k}

Harry Styles has a great life. He’s a children’s librarian at the New York Public Library, he’s got wonderful friends, and he loves cooking, green tea, yoga, and his collection of bow ties. He doesn’t mind that his life seems a little structured, maybe even a little boring. But when Louis Tomlinson joins the library staff as the new Installation Coordinator, things become a lot less predictable. Louis gets under his skin right from the start, bossing Harry around, making noise during story time, and eating the last cupcake in the staff lounge. Louis may be almost offensively attractive, but Harry will not be succumbing to Louis Tomlinson’s charms, even if the rest of the library staff have.

🤓 Supposed to Be by kikikryslee / @flamboyantommo {M, 26k}

“I’m making a movie for a film competition, and I want you to be in it,” Harry told Louis. “I think you would be a great leading actor in it.” “Why?” “Because it’s you. I mean, who wouldn’t want to know all about the amazing Louis Tomlinson? It would be a great movie.” “You don’t have some weird crush or, like, secret obsession with me, do you?” Louis asked. Harry bit his tongue so he didn’t say “Ew, I have standards.” He didn’t think that would go over well. Of course, that was assuming Louis understood what that meant.

Or, the Geek Charming AU where Harry's a film geek, Louis' a popular jock, and they both need each other to get what they want.

😎 He Was a Different League (When I Was Nothing Much) by @afangirlfantasy {NR, 21k}

Sick of being alone, Marcel is forced (by Niall) to join an online dating app. The idea is well and all, except for the inconvenient fact that he hasn’t moved on from his childhood sweetheart - Louis. If only Marcel could learn to let go, he might actually be able to love again.

Or, an AU where finding that 'someone new' actually leads to finding that 'someone old,' and Marcel is painfully oblivious.

🤓 taken by lust’s strange inhumanity by CuckooTrooke / @larrydoinglaundry {E, 20k}

One of the reasons Harry said 'yes' in the first place was because he believed Louis Tomlinson, the campus’ most notorious “bad boy”, would be here.

And much to Harry's triumph and dismay, Louis is here but the last time Harry got a glimpse of him, he had a pretty omega wrapped around him, clinging onto the flaps of his leather jacket while nosing his scent glands.

Maybe that’s just the story of Harry's life; always infatuated with the wrong people.

OR The one with all the jealous snarling, awkward first kisses and one unforgettable night.

😎 Won't Keep You My (Dirty Little) Secret by @lovelykits {E, 16k}

“I got asked out today,” Louis comments. “Okay,” Harry shifts. “Did you hear me? I said I got asked out.” "You always get asked out.” “Yeah well this time they didn’t believe I had a boyfriend!”

Or Louis and Harry have been together since the end of last year and somehow no one knows about it.

🤓 Kings by dolce_piccante / @haydolce {T, 13k}

Marcel receives an invitation to his ten year high school reunion, which brings up some painful memories of his youth. His lifelong best friend and roommate, Louis, is as supportive and kind as ever, but Marcel still has hesitations. Louis was Prom King. Marcel...was not.

Will Marcel make the reunion a night to remember with his former classmate, Zayn, who is newly wealthy, handsome, and reveals his childhood crush on Marcel? Or will Louis finally realize what everyone else has known all along?

😎 blinded me with sweater vests by veterization {T, 13k}

Marcel really is the geekiest person Louis has ever seen with that gelled hair and that horrendous sweater vest, so it sucks that Louis really, really wants to get to know him.

🤓 A Real Work of Art by @lululawrence {NR, 11k}

“I don’t understand,” Liam said for probably the fiftieth time in ten minutes. “You have to explain again how this is a bad thing.”

“Leeeeyummm,” Harry whined into the phone as he leaned his head onto his desk. “I felt like this year was my year for getting his attention, you know? That senior year I would finally get Logan Thompson to realize I exist! But he’s in almost every single one of my classes, Li. How am I supposed to survive that?”

“Easily,” Liam answered, with the same matter of fact tone his voice always took when Harry was in one of his fits. “He doesn’t know you exist, so it shouldn’t be a problem. Right?”

Or the one where Harry calls on an old friend, the super popular Louis Tomlinson, to help him change his look to capture the heart of Logan. Things only mostly go as planned.

😎 your heart is glowing (and i'm crashing into you) by orphan_account {T, 11k}

If this were a fairytale, maybe even a Young Adult novel or a chick flick, this would be the moment where Louis would stare right into his soul and whisper, “You. It’s you, Harry,” before pulling him in for a kiss right there and then in the middle of the sidewalk. They’d confess their never-ending love for each other then hold hands for the rest of the walk home, and then they’d go to uni together and become the ultimate power couple of their campus. They’d start a family together a few years after they graduate, find a large house somewhere nice and preferably warm, get two pet dogs and five cats, and then adopt enough children to start a football team. If only men could get pregnant as well, Harry thinks wistfully. He’d love to carry Louis’ babies given the chance.

But. This isn’t a fairytale, nor is it a movie based off the latest YA bestseller. This is real life.

(harry is in love with love, volunteers to hand out valentine gifts for a week, and somehow becomes the football captain's secret admirer.)

🤓 I could give you what you deserve. by larryaresoulmates {E, 8k}

Louis is popular, Harry is his super nerdy tutor. Louis is the only one who's actually nice to Harry despite his nerdiness. Harry has a giant crush on Louis, but Louis has a boyfriend, who bullies Harry behind Louis' back.

😎 Convalescent Boy (with a Heart of Gold) by LadyLondonderry / @londonfoginacup {T, 7k}

Just as the professor beginning to mess with his powerpoint, the door at the back of the balcony creaks open and Marcel looks back to notice Louis Tomlinson, The Louis Tomlinson, slip in and take a seat in the very back.

Marcel is starting to feel like his life is a comedy. Only yesterday was Louis Tomlinson on his floor at the library. Now he’s in his seminar. What is happening?

“Hey Mars,” Nick says, not particularly quietly as he leans over. “Isn’t that your crush?”

Marcel smacks him.

Or, the one where Marcel is a nerd who loves to learn but loves to go to theatre productions even more, and may or may not have a long time crush on the lead in most of the plays, Louis Tomlinson. The same Louis Tomlinson who seems to be appearing wherever Marcel is. Funny, that.

🤓 Seems You Cannot Be Replaced by QuickedWeen / @becomeawendybird {M, 5k}

Harry and the popular boy in school, Louis Tomlinson, share a tension-filled night together when they're young. Fifteen years later they see each other again.

😎 it's kinda hot in here by ballsdeepinjesus {E, 3k}

“Is that a moth on your stomach?”

or nerdy harry is hiding some stuff under his dorky clothes and louis fucks him in a locker room

🤓 Lucky by @friendofhayley {E, 4k}

When Harry had moved from London to New Jersey he had been prepared for bad spray tans and Regina George. He hadn't been prepared to meet the best thing to ever happen to him.

If only he hadn't worn an ugly brown vest covered in cat pee when he met him.

😎 No Matter What They Say by ivorydreams {M, 3k}

It's not that Harry and Louis are hiding the fact that they're in a relationship. It's not them being ashamed of each other.

People just never noticed.

Or the one where no one knows Harry Styles, the 'nerd', and Louis Tomlinson, 'mr. popular football captain', are in a romantic relationship.

🤓 ❤ For Effort by @fallinglikethis {G, 2k}

When Harry Styles lets his team down during gym class, resulting everyone having to run laps, he expects the worst. But the backlash never comes.

Harry's crush, Louis Tomlinson, may or may not have something to do with that.

[animeomegas]

Oh, I have an ask! Which Naruto omegas do you think would be good at (and slightly enjoy) helping their pups with homework? And those that just leave it to their alpha😂

Lol! This is such a good one! Okay, let's see~

ENJOY/GOOD AT:

Chouji - There's something comforting for him about sitting down with his pups after school and helping with homework. I wouldn't say he's excited for it or anything, it just makes him feel content. He's patient, and a great teacher too. He's good at building confidence and de-escalating frustration if his child is struggling.

Shino - He's a teacher by profession, and if anything, I think he's even better teaching his own children. He finds teaching rewarding and is the sort to take the homework and then apply it to the real world to help it sink in. If his pup is learning addition, he's having them count out ingredients for dinner. If his pup is learning kanji, he helps them write a little story. That kind of thing. It's technically more homework, I guess lol!

Neji - He's very good at it, if a little intense. He homeschools though, so the intensity kind of comes with the job. I wouldn't say he always enjoys it, I think it depends on the lesson, but he likes the structure and seeing his pup grow.

Iruka - Again, he's obviously good at it, being a teacher and all. I don't think he enjoys it though, he more views it as a necessity, but he'd rather not be doing more teaching on his time off lol.

Kisame - I think he enjoys it more than he's good at it. I think he would be better with certain learning styles. But he finds it enjoyable. He likes children and he can make homework fun most of the time.

Gai - I don't think I have to explain this one :D

DESPISE/BAD AT:

Naruto - uuuuuuuuh, he hates it. Homework is the only thing worse than paperwork in his opinion. He's definitely down to help his pups learning to throw shuriken or something, but sit down style homework is not his forte. He passes to his alpha or offers to pay for a tutor.

Sasuke - So awkward, my goodness. He doesn't know what children are supposed to know, he has no idea how the academy has changed since he was there, he would probably be accidentally patronising or too advanced and piss off his child lol. Hard pass for him.

Shikamaru - "Just don't do it," is what he wants to say. But he knows his alpha will have his head, so he keeps his mouth shut.

Kiba - He doesn't hate it, I guess, and he's happy to help for shorter things. But when it comes to sitting down for long periods of time, he just can't keep his attention on it. He's got so many other children, I feel like if one of his children is struggling with homework, he gets a relative to help them. Probably his sister, rip.

Itachi - He want to been good at it... but he's not. He's so out of touch with civilian school things, it's almost funny. And he's too good at the shinobi arts, so he can't dumb things down enough, or explain his thought process properly. He's one of those learners that just 'gets things', and that makes him a bad teacher. Add on the fact that he'd rather be cuddling or playing with his children, and he finds himself in this category lol.

Anyone not on the list I either forgot about or they fall somewhere in the middle on both counts ;)

[pomplalamoose]

Master Luke Skywalker headcanons🩵✨

In my other headcanon posts I already mentioned a few ideas of mine of Luke as Master Skywalker (find a summary of them here) but I wanted to do an extra post because I have a ✨thing✨ for authority figures

• I'm totally biased in saying so but in my opinion Luke would be (or is) a great Jedi Master 

• he's kind, empathetic and patient; in my opinion the most important traits to have as a teacher 

• his own Jedi education isn't as long ago as it would have been if he had grown up in the Jedi temple, so I think he's easily able to put himself back into the shoes of a Padawan

• especially if some of his students are quick tempered, impulsive and easily frustrated when they don't progress as fast as they'd like to, just like he once was 

• he is able to successfully handle a wild assortment of personalities, finding ways to engage a rambunctious crowd just as well as the shy and more withdrawn individuals 

• likewise he matches his behavior accordingly 

• he's very well attuned to his surroundings, good at reading the room and deciding whether a more strict or calming approach is necessary

• he is stern when he needs to be, although I don't think he particularly likes it 

• he doesn't want to raise his voice either and I don't think he has to often except to get his student's attention from time to time

• just like in other parts of his life he always wants to understand why there is a conflict in the first place and will gladly act as negotiator if it means resolving a fight 

• or avoid having to take more drastic measures 

• if he gets angry though even the birds fall quiet

• it's like the life gets sucked out of everything 

• I said before that making him angry is not easy, so congrats to anyone who manages and also my serious condolences 

• even then he won't grow unrestrained though

• he'd never expose or punish someone in front of others

• he'll remain fair and will ask the person or group responsible to have a private conversation with him 

• that's what's so absolutely terrifying though

• his quiet anger is worse than if he'd just scream at them instead

• I don't think that anyone would be able to get used to this, not with how slowly and silently his anger approaches 

• you don't see it coming until it's too late 

• those who end up alone in that room with him never speak of it

• you see them leave looking pallid, many with tear stained faces 

• they never act up again after that

• of course rumours are going wild, the theories about what happened are endless

• yet everyone is too scared to find out for themselves and very happy to stay in their Master's good graces 

• he takes time to get to know every one of his Padawans very well and thus can tell what they might need from him at any given moment or in specific situations 

• do they need a compliment, so as not to loose faith in themselves? 

• a little joke and a gentle smile to lighten the mood? 

• reassurance to ease their mind? 

• maybe a little motivational speech?

• a pat on the back?

• or a hug?

• carefully voiced questions about their well being; do they need anything? Someone to talk to?

• do they need a break, some time for themselves?

• an offer to repeat any exercise after the official lessons of the day are done?

• a tease or a little bet to rouse their fighting spirit?

• a stern reprimand?

• a time out?

• generally I see him slightly differentiating not only in his demeanor towards the children, the teenagers and the young adults but in the way he structures their varying lessons as well

• he allows himself to be more relaxed and laid back with the kids 

• he wants them to feel safe and at home, so he makes sure they see him as a kind of parental figure in addition to being their teacher 

• also I think he'd teach them about the Force and their connection to it in a way that comes natural to them

• many children don't have a long attention span yet, so it's important to be engaging and let them have fun too

• I see Luke trying to keep his inputs short and simple to then make them discover what they just learned in a game themselves 

• like for example: being able to reach out, to feel the Force and all living beings surrounding you doesn't sound as cool as "learning a new trick to beat everyone else at hide and seek"

• likewise he wouldn't jump straight into meditation with them

• you can't force a child to meditate when it fails to sit still for longer than two minutes 

• Luke is aware this would only lead to them viewing meditation as negative, maybe even something alike to a punishment 

• so to avoid that I see him introducing it in a slow and careful way 

• like telling them stories that get increasingly longer over time 

• or making them color in pictures 

• really, any activity that includes mindfulness in some way is a welcome strategy 

• I think he'd be more strict with the teenagers and young adults 

• many of them haven't been with him since they were little and often need firm guidelines 

• not necessarily because any of them are especially rebellious or going through a phase™ but because it's easier to adapt to a new way of life with set rules 

• Luke knows that some of them come from a difficult background or had a hard journey to find him, so he wants to give them clear framework conditions to work with 

• a daily routine leaves less room for uncertainties and lends a sense of safety 

• still he welcomes a more personal approach in their shared free time if they are comfortable with it

• he's very interested to hear about their former lifes

• about their interest and hobbies

• their favorite dishes 

• the customs of their people

• their friends and family 

• and their favorite music 

• he'll share stories of his own as well, often involving his own struggles as a Padawan 

• nobody is supposed to feel like an outcast or a special case because they're older or somehow "different" from the others 

• still they are more prone to giving him an attitude than the kids are and Luke definitely isn't above paying them right back 

• he leans towards Yoda in that aspect; his patience may seem endless but if he can have some fun as well, he'll take the chance 

• repeating phrases that used to drive him mad when he was younger is his favorite thing to resort to

• the best example for that is probably "Don't try. Do!"

• alternatively he likes to come up with ridiculous sayings or advices that make no sense at all

• if someone is especially annoying he'll make them mediate in stupid positions, claiming that this particular pose is immensely important for their development

• even if someone should realize what's going on they don't have any prove to go by, so who are they to deny their Master?

• Luke thinks it's hilarious 

• I don't think it's uncommon for his students to be very intimidated by Luke though

• some of the newly arrived may even fear him 

• while he's beloved as a person and greatly admired for his skills, nobody can quite forget who it is they're living and sharing their meals with 

• especially those who haven't been around him for long yet and can't quite believe that, he too, is really just some dude 

• of course he's not just some dude but I feel like that's what Luke would like to be perceived as 

• to him it's important to be approachable no matter the circumstances

• he wants everyone to know he's always there to help and not just a teacher but a friend as well 

• the children don't struggle with this as much as his other students 

• everyone enjoys spending time with him but then he has these moments where he doesn't seem fully human anymore 

• his eyes are just a tad too bright, too piercing

• they see more than just his immediate surroundings

• when he looks at you it's either like he doesn't see you at all or too much, like illuminating even the last corners of your very being and turning you inside out 

• he's eerily quiet and his presence a mystery 

• not even the best of his students are able to sense him in the Force when he closes himself off

• he could be standing right in front of you and you wouldn't notice if that's what he wants 

• likewise his Force signature is often overwhelming for those still inexperienced

• often he appears out of thin air like a spectre and vanishes just the same 

• he senses whenever he's needed and will let himself be found but nobody knows where he goes to and what he does when alone 

• does he even sleep? 

• are we sure he's really eating and drinking or is that an illusion?

• seeing him tired or crumpled is such a rarety that nobody can remember if it ever happened before

• he doesn't always react the way one would expect him to

• sometimes he's smiling to himself, like he's listening in to someone not visible to everyone else 

• on some occasions his students find him unresponsive for hours 

• is his body still inhabitated? Where did his mind go?

• he never shows any signs of exertion 

• he always looks impeccable no matter the weather and circumstances 

• he seems to simply exist beyond external influences 

Quick authors note before we continue: 

I see Luke as a very responsible and trustworthy person and don't think he'd actually pursue one of his students in a romantic or sexual way; he's aware of the power imbalance and probably not comfortable with it.

While I'm sure there are some mutual attraction situations from time to time, he doesn't act on his feelings.

HOWEVER let's be really delusional and ignore that 

• Luke is usually very direct but in this case I'm sure he'd take his time 

• having a passing fancy is nothing out of the ordinary and he will make sure he's genuinely interested in you before risking to overstep his line as a teacher 

• even then he'd proceed with utmost care

• he does not want to make you uncomfortable in any way and should he find that you don't return his feelings, he'll withdraw immediately

• so he'll carefully start testing how far he can go and observe your respective reactions closely 

• to everyone else this won't seem suspicious at all 

• Luke often takes one or two of his students under his wing to keep them close by when he believes some extra support is needed 

• his innocent touches will linger a little bit longer than necessary though

• your shared eye contact, even during short conversations, is strangely intense 

• his smile suddenly more inviting 

• he often offers you his hand now

• it seems that his attention is always on you 

• are you imagining things?

• of course Luke would never invade your privacy to a point where he'd take a look inside your mind 

• he picks up on clues otherwise 

• for example, if he notices you are growing nervous or flustered around him more easily than usual, he'll take that as a good sign 

• he'll find reasons to ask for your opinion or makes up tasks that require you to help him

• he's adamant about you having one-on-one lessons with him 

• he's very aware of the effect he has on you and likes to tease mercilessly

• he'll lean down to whisper in your ear, reveling in the way it makes you shiver 

• will he outright tell you about his feelings though?

• I don't think so

• this last step he will leave up to you 

• it's important to him that it's what you want too

• he'll definitely continue to flirt but if you don't confront him about it, he won't go any further than that 

[beforeiread-studies]

Ballet as an adult beginner - first 6 months

I'm 22 and I signed up for an adult beginner ballet class in September 2023. It is now February 2024 and I have Things To Say.

My background

I've played Just Dance. That's the full amount of my dancing experience. Nor do I have any natural talent. My idea of dancing is jumping in place while throwing my arms around. If I can do ballet, you can too.

My experience

I take beginner adult lessons at a dance studio (no drop-in classes).

After the first lesson, I didn't want to sign up. We did what I can now recognize as extremely extremely EXTREMELY basic barre exercises, floor barre and arm movements. They are the building blocks of ballet and a precursor to everything else, but as an absolute beginner you don't know that and it can feel very boring & underwhelming.

But I realized: the worst that can happen if I sign up is being bored 2 times a week + some muscle gain and an improved posture. I decided to commit to one trimester and reevaluate after Christmas.

GOSH I'M SO GLAD I DID.

At the beginning, it's boring. It's ok. It's normal. Just keep going! In just a couple of lessons, the difficulty level increased and everything started to make sense too.

Our teacher is great. Those first simple exercises slowly built up our strength and coordination and each class became a little bit more challenging, a little more rewarding.

Soon, I found myself smiling broadly every time I walked home after a lesson. I became excited about every little improvement. I realized that I could do it, and more easily than I would have ever expected. Most importantly, I realized that I had always secretly wished to dance but I had never acknowledged it to myself.

And I'm very glad I've finally started.

Class structure

I do 2 1-hour classes a week. We start every lesson with barre exercises ie moving one leg and arm at a time while the other foot stands firmly on the ground and the other hand is on the barre to help with balance (at first, you will probably start with both hands gripping the barre).

Then we might do centre or diagonal exercises or both if there is enough time.

Centre is basically the barre exercises, but without any barre to lean on. You might think you've mastered an exercise at the barre, then get thrown in the centre and find yourself completely out of your depth again. That's ok, it's normal and you will get better. We also do jumps and various pas/ways to walk towards left/right.

Diagonal exercises is walking in diagonal from one corner of the room to another, but you are going to walk in weird ways. So far we've done things like pas de polonaise and preparation exercises for pirouettes.

During the first few lessons, we only did barre and floor barre, so don't worry about centre and diagonal just yet.

Before enrolling I had this idea that we'd do the same exercises over and over again for hours, with no breaks. But it's not like that. There is a "routine" at the barre that we do every lesson, yes, but every exercise is repeated only 1 time per lesson (per leg). That still allows you to improve quite quickly. You'll be amazed at your progress from just one week to the next.

Also, at first, the classes were very light but now they are a full-on workout so don't be deceived.

Other stuff to know

Can I learn ballet on my own? I don't recommend it, especially if you are a complete newbie like me. There are so many things I do wrong that I never even notice until my teacher points them out to me, again and again. If you don't know what you are doing you'll end up in weird positions that will just make the exercises harder + possibly injure yourself. A good teacher is also going to tailor the lesson plan to your needs and goals. If you can, go to live lessons, either in person or online.

What should I wear? Every school has its own rules but they shouldn't be too strict. I simply throw on some leggings, a tight-ish t-shirt and a zipped-up hoodie. It's important that the clothes more or less adhere to your body, so your teacher will be able to correct your posture more easily ie no oversized t-shirts. The only thing you really need are ballet shoes and your teacher will be able to direct you to a shop. Mine cost around 25€.

Will I lose weight? Maybe. I didn't lose weight according to the scale but that's probably because the little I lost became muscle. My arms are certainly stronger and in general I feel better in my own skin.

Will I become more flexible? Yes. We do a lot of stretching exercises.

Will it improve my posture? Yes. Or at least, you'll become more aware of your posture, which is a start.

Do I need to learn the terminology? Depends on your teacher. I didn't, because my teacher is willing to explain again and again what the various French words mean. Perhaps yours will be more strict.

Am I too old/too young/too fat/ too something else to start ballet? No. In my class, I'm the youngest at 22, while the oldest student is 52. We all have different body types. Some of us had previous dancing experiences (as children) and some didn't. Most of us were absolutely inflexible at the start and are slowly improving. And frankly, if anyone gives you shit about your age or body type or skill level, that's not good people and you should get out of there ASAP.

Just go for it!

*check the weblogs for updates*

[whoahoney]

The Big Bad Day

Steve Harrington x teacher!Reader

Summary: You’re a new teacher and your year has been hard, this day in particular, and your boyfriend Steve knows just what to say.

Content Warnings: children are dicks, hurt/comfort, mature language

A/N: for all of us that need to cry in Steve’s arms just for a little bit 🤍 requested by my dear @loving-and-dreaming

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

You had had enough.

You were no stranger to difficulty or bad days, but this one would go down in the books.

Ever since you got the teaching position at Hawkins Elementary, you’d been optimistic about your days spent with the future of the world, teaching them their order of operations and proper sentence structure, eagerly imagining the books you’d read with the class and what crafts to make to decorate the door for each season and occasion.

But when it came down to it, it felt most days like they saw you as another child. Lessons were filled with thrown pencils, students getting up out of their seats to move around and bother their friends, as if you weren’t there, homework going without being filled out, literal 8 year old boys heckling you during your lectures,

And as if that wasn’t enough, your colleagues seemed no different. You were easily the youngest teacher there and staff meetings and lunch breaks were spent feeling invisible behind your coffee mug, no matter how many thoughts you tried to contribute. They always seemed to silence your words before they could manage their way out of your mouth.

Today, things amped up.

Richie Timmons incited a riot.

A full on riot.

The assignment was making paper snowflakes. You’d given a wonderful tutorial on how to fold and cut the snowflakes, you’d shown them the special glitter glue you’d bought with your own money, and passing out supplies seemed to go well and then they just… ruined it.

Richie decided today he’d crumple up the center pieces for their desk clumps you’d worked so hard on and start a snowball fight, leading everyone to use any and all paper to their disposal.

You’d tried to stop it, everyone throwing them at the quietest kid in the class first, but then their attention turned to you, and not in the way you wanted. Suddenly all the paper wads were smacking you in the face, with impressive aim and power, you noted.

Not to mention the pencils, crayons, and eventually scissors that flew about the room, causing you to lose your cool.

And to top it off, the wicked witch of the west hall shows up to the staff meeting talking about hearing it all from the other side of the school.

This earned you so many dirty looks from your peers, not to mention the principal. Your cheeks heated as you stared into the bread of your sandwich so lovingly prepared by your boyfriend, wanting nothing more than to melt into the floor and disappear.

You wanted to quit.

But what about Sarah H and her cursive? She’s almost got it!

Or Corey B and his separation anxiety from his mom? He’s shown some real courage lately, and another change in his routine could just mess it all up.

You laid in bed that night waiting for your boyfriend to come home to your newly shared place, trying to get the tears out before he showed up.

But they wouldn’t come.

Your body wouldn’t allow it. You felt it, so strongly, the urge and pressure to burst into tears, but the cries were buried deep in your chest, not allowed to erupt for whatever reason. Instead, you curled up on your side of the bed with a massive tension headache.

Right as you thought you might fade into restless sleep, the front door clicked open and your heart leapt.

Steve’s home.

He worked late a couple evenings a week, tonight being one of them. As you heard him drop his keys onto the counter and shrug off his jacket, you weighed the options of talking to him about it all or pretending to be asleep to not bother him.

But then the bedroom door creaked quietly, clicking closed behind him. Steve had mastered the art of walking silently, practically floating across the floor as he whispered hopefully, “Are you awake?” He reached out to touch your shoulder, his fingertips grazing it before you turned over to face him.

Of course he looked this beautiful, he always did. But why did he have to look at you like that? Like you were special, like he longed for you though he already had you.

The sight alone made the dam you spent your whole day building crumble. With your brows knit together and a pout on your lips, his face melted into concern as he scrambled into bed, pulling your pliant body to him and wrapping you up in an embrace.

“Sweet girl, what’s wrong? What happened?” He whispered just above your ear. You felt your hands against his bare chest, the contact soothing you some. His hand found its way into your hair, his fingertips stroking your scalp as you heaved and sobbed. “I got you, it’s okay, I’m here.” He said intermittently.

When you found yourself blurry eyed and stuffy, and your sobs had ceased, you found yourself laying with your head on Steve’s chest. His hand stroked up and down your back while the other kept your hair from falling in your face.

After giving you a few regular breaths of quiet, he wrapped his arms back around you, “Do you wanna talk about it, baby?”

“My dream job sucks.” You sniffled against his warm skin. “And I suck at it.” You whispered.

“What??” Steve craned his neck to look her in the eye.

“No one respects me. Ever! Not even the other teachers. It’s embarrassing, everyone else has great classes and cute artwork they’ve gotten their kids to collaborate on, but when it comes to 8 year olds?” You shook her head, “I’m hopeless. I chose the wrong career path.” You shrugged.

“That’s so not true, are you kidding? You’re kidding, right?” He asked, searching for the light ‘just kidding’ after your usual self deprecating jokes. But it didn’t come.

“Maybe I’m just not cut out for it.” You shrug, sliding off his chest and situating yourself on your side, his hand reaching out to hold yours.

“Babe, I’m sorry, but I don’t think you could be more wrong.” He sighed, his finger coming up to trace your cheekbone.

You closed your eyes in avoidance, you’d already made up your mind. “There’s a little boy being bullied in my class. He’s shy, smart as a whip, though. But today we were making snowflakes—” Steve smiled, remembering you sitting at the dining table, meticulously folding and cutting paper while he cooked your dinner, “—and Richie,” Steve rolled his eyes at the mention of the kids name, “just got all these kids to gang up on him! And me! Can you believe that? And it took forever it felt like, to get everyone to stop throwing shit, and yelling. Thankfully, he came out unscathed, but—“ your breath caught, “he’s gonna remember that forever. He may not want to come to school tomorrow. And it’s my fault. I’m the freaking teacher and I can’t get them to— I’m a freaking joke, Steve.”

“—You are not a joke!” He said without hesitance, his tone laced with offense taken from your words. You froze. “Do you.. do you not see how much time to spend putting lessons together? Or hear how much you talk about your kids? How much you care? You love your job. Your job is just hard and overwhelming, and you’re new at it! It’s gonna be really hard for a few years, don’t you think? But once you settle, things are gonna get so much better.” He nodded as he spoke softly, just above a whisper in the quiet apartment.

“The year’s halfway over,” he continued, “If you hate it by the end of the year, then quit! Find somewhere else, and we’ll go, but don’t quit now.” He pleaded.

The tears pouring from your eyes were steady and quiet, his message received as he ran his thumb over your cheek. You nodded. “You’d come with me?” You asked.

He nodded, “Of course I would. I’ll go wherever you are. And wherever we end up, I’m gonna come visit you in your classroom. And I’m gonna bring you lunch and flowers, and someday your kids are gonna have to start calling you Mrs. Harrington, instead.”

You sniffle and chuckle airily at the thought. “It’s all gonna be okay. And if you decide you don’t wanna teach and do something else, I’m more than happy to cheer you on in your next venture. No matter what.” He implored.

You nodded as he leaned forward to kiss your forehead. “I want you to sleep. Okay? And tomorrow you’re gonna go to school, and try again. Because that’s what you do. And I’ll be here when you get home waiting to hear all about it, yeah?”

You nodded, tears filling your eyes once more.

“And if you need to, call me at lunch. Okay? My whole day’s open, I’ll be home.” He nodded, “You aren’t alone. And you aren’t the worst. If anything, I think you’re the best. The greatest! Y’know if you were my teacher in fourth grade I would’ve been so happy to listen to you.” He traced around your brow and down to your cheekbone, ending at the tip of your nose as you chuckled. He wiped your tears away.

“S’gonna be okay, baby.” He whispered.

You nodded. “Thank you, Stevie. I love you, so so much.” You leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips.

“I love you more. Tomorrow’s gonna be better.” He assured you, pulling you close again and holding you until you fell asleep in his arms.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

As you wait for the call to go through on your lunch break, you hear a knock at your classroom door, making you jump and hang up the phone. You smooth your hair and open the door, only to find Steve standing there with his brightest smile, a vase of daisies in one hand and lunch in the other.

“There’s my girl! How’s your day?” He asked before kissing your cheek and stepping inside.

-

-

Taglist darlings 💖

@loving-and-dreaming @newshade

[decks-writing-blog]

She's Gone

Summary: Isaac has a talk with Alyx about her mother.

[A/N] Here on Tumblr I saw a post talking about how Alyx and Gordon could potentially trade stories about their time as Kleiner's pupil. Gordon was canonically his student and thus since he has teaching experience it makes sense he might've taken on the responsibility of being a teacher for Alyx as she grew up. It was a fun idea and made me want to write Kleiner and Alyx having some kind of funny school room related interaction, weather I was going to bring it back around to a flash forward of her having shared this story with Gordon, I was going to decide when I got there. But alas, I am cursed with the inability to come up with funny ideas on command. So when I was thinking about it, I came up with this idea instead. It isn't funny in the least but I wrote it anyway because it struck a cord with me.

Content Warning for grief and talk of Azian's death. Since she disappeared, it's entirely possible Alyx didn't immediately know she was dead and thus had be told.

~

In some ways having only one student was easier than a full college classroom. The 1st grade curriculum was naturally simpler for sure, making the main challenge in teaching it be having to resist the urge to go into the more complex specifics. Having only one pupil to focus on made making sure the ‘whole class’ was following along and understood everything before moving on to the next thing easy.

It was harder in other ways though. The situation with the Combine made everything more difficult. Trying to start and keep a classroom and school schedule as close to normal seeming as possible in hopes of shielding Alyx from the worst of it was uniquely stressful. Nothing in Isaac’s teaching career had prepared him for that. It didn’t help that that was actually a full-time job. But having recently volunteered to be her teacher – though really, Eli taught her plenty too just in a less structured and scheduled manner – encouraged her to ask him questions about it specifically.

“What’s the Combine?” “Why are we moving so often?” “What happened?” “Why?” “How?” “What about [friend, neighbor, or just person she’d known before the Combine invasion]?”

Naturally they couldn’t keep the truth from her even if that had been Eli’s first instinct. This was the world she was growing up in, she had to know everything eventually. But Alyx had turned five a mere week before the resonance cascade. So while Isaac never lied to her, he withheld the grisly details. The Combine were alien invaders from space. [X person from before]’s fate was a mystery, the three of them had had to move a few times already after all, it was hard to keep track of people who probably also fled. They moved so often because they were hiding from the Combine; “Yes, kind of like hide and seek but bigger and more important because they’re bad guys.”

With all this Isaac should’ve expected the question to pop up eventually; it was basically inevitable. And yet somehow it still took him by surprise when at the end of a math lesson – usually her favorite subject but today she’d been distracted – she approached him and… “What about Mommy?”

Isaac flinched, almost dropping the chalk eraser he’d just picked up. Trying to hide it, he erased the board before turning to look down at her. “What about her?” As if he had to ask.

“Where is she? Daddy said she’s gone but didn’t say where she’s gone to and he got sad when I asked so I didn’t ask that and don’t wanna ask again ‘cause it’ll make him sad again, I think. But you know, right?”

The small room they’d set up to be a makeshift classroom suddenly felt even smaller and stuffier than it had before. It wasn’t Isaac’s place to say anything about Azian. If Eli wasn’t ready to talk about her with Alyx then doing so in his stead wouldn’t be right. But at the same time Alyx deserved to know that her mother wasn’t coming back. Eli had probably tried to convey that but five-year-olds, even ones as smart as Alyx, weren’t known for picking up on subtleties. While ‘she’s gone’ would convey to most that the ‘gone’ was permanent, to a small child it would seem the same as saying ‘she’s gone to the grocery store’ just without the detail on where. She still believed she’d potentially she her mother again one day.

He could send her to ask Eli again later at which point he’d know to give a more clear answer. Or he could bring the matter to Eli himself and make it clear that Alyx needed a clearer answer. But it had only been a handful of months since the resonance cascade. The wound of Azian’s loss was still fresh, especially Eli. Mitigating the pain the conversation would cause would surely be kind, right? Eli was busy trying to gather up the Black Mesa survivors after all. Isaac didn’t want to distract him from that by reminding him of his dead wife.

And so with a sigh, Isaac pulled out his desk chair and sat down again. “Sit.” He gestured to the spot across from him. Her being his only pupil and there not being room for much else in most of the places they ended up, most of the time they shared a desk for this ‘school’ thing they were doing.

Alyx obeyed, pulling out the chair and clambering back up into it. As proof of her seriousness she didn’t even spin around in it this time before pulling herself over to the desk.

Isaac waited until she was settled in before explaining anything. Before he could figure out how to begin though, she spoke up instead. “She’s not coming back, is she?” Well, it least it wasn’t a surprise.

“Correct. She’s not coming back.”

“Why not?”

Was it better to be up front and direct with the answer or be gentle with it? … Isaac wasn’t entirely sure how to be gentle with this kind of news, straightforward was probably easiest. “She’s dead.”

Alyx stared at him in silence for a few seconds as her eyes welled with tears. “Like… like when you step on bugs and they die and stop moving and get squished with their insides all outside?”

“Yes.” Wait! Not a good thing to say as when applied to a human, that was a horrifically gory description. Oops. “Sort of anyway.” Gosh, science was much easier to navigate and discuss than personal emotional things like talking about a friend's death to her five year old kid. He should’ve sent her to Eli or insisted they talk about it as a group. “Her death probably wasn’t that bad.” That could be a lie though as they didn’t know how she died. Technically, they didn’t even know for sure that she was dead. But it was likely enough that holding out hope and/or letting Alyx continue to do so wouldn’t be wise or kind.

Alyx was full on sobbing now. Isaac opened he desk’s drawer to pull out a box of tissue – something that was quickly proving to be a rare luxury – before standing and walking around to hand to her. He then put a hand on her shoulder, that’s what helped Eli most of the time. It seemed to calm her a little too so he kept her hand there, shifting it slightly to lightly rub her back. Other than that though, he let her cry. She had a right to cry about this for however long she needed to.

It was several minutes before her sobbing finally started to peter out. Finally, when she was done, she blew her nose and sniffled before before looking back up at him. “I should’ve figured that out before, huh?”

“No, I don’t believe so. A lot’s been happening and changing. It is entirely logical you were too caught up in it all to figure that out. Especially since one wouldn’t want to consider such a thing.” And he and Eli had been trying to keep her distracted and busy.

“Is it the Combine that killed her?”

“Possibly. We’re not sure.”

Alyx nodded as if that was the exact answer she’d expected. “I don’t like them.”

“Me neither. We’re going to fight them though and we’re going to win or at the very least try our best to.” The only thing Eli cared about more than his budding efforts to build a proper resistance against the Combine was Alyx. And when Eli got dead set on something like that, things always got done. Isaac was just here to help and to get done whatever science and study he could while doing so.

“I wanna help.”

“I’m sure you’ll be a great help one day.” They couldn’t exactly pretend that she wouldn’t be part of their resistance efforts once she was older. Every single person mattered when it came to fighting a conquering alien force. “For now though, how about we practice reading until your dad gets home, huh?” Which would hopefully be soon and would hopefully be him returning with the info he’d gone after. No use dwelling on anxiety about what would happen if he didn’t.

Alyx looked up at him and sniffled one last time into a tissue before tossing it into the trashcan and turning the chair so she could slide off it. “Okay.”

[twstunes]

i lied btw i actually wrote a lot more than 4k words, it's just a matter of getting everything arranged coherently. have more au!

Ramshackle Recruitment AU – periphery opinions

As they are employed at a boarding school for exceptionally gifted teenage mages, the staff of Night Raven College are well-versed in dealing with mayhem. And yet, all of them are finding this year to be one of the most bizarre ones on record. Not even Sam's divination skills could've predicted an extra dorm being added to the lineup.

Let's take a look at how these gentlemen feel about the Ramshackle situation, from least to most approving.

Fandom: Twisted Wonderland

Characters: Night Raven College staff (+ Sam)

Notes: gn Yuu

Warnings: none, I think?

Mozus Trein, being a very by-the-book type of guy, is entirely against Ramshackle as it currently exists. He feels it’s inappropriate for students to be transferring to a dorm before it’s been officially instated, especially when the dorm building is in such poor condition. It doesn’t help that Yuu apparently started taking on dormmates just to spite a fellow housewarden; that isn’t a decision to be made so lightly.

Beyond chastising them for their recklessness, though, Trein doesn't have any further admonishments for Yuu regarding their dorm. He's more annoyed with Crowley for allowing any of this to happen. Frankly, it was irresponsible for the headmage to place Yuu in the Ramshackle building to begin with. Surely they could have been temporarily situated in one of the actual dorms, at least until adequate long-term housing could be arranged? Sevens, setting them up in a quiet corner of the infirmary would've been better than that deathtrap!

Despite his reputation as a hardass, he'll be surprisingly lenient when grading Yuu so long as they show that they're making an effort to get caught up with their peers. He's typically even more strict with housewardens, as they're meant to represent the entirety of their dorms, but it would be irresponsible of him as a teacher to take that stance here. He'll assign additional homework as needed to discourage students from sleeping in his class, but his lessons are still for learning, not punishing. Even if it was foolish of Yuu to take on a role they weren't prepared for, his job as a professor is to teach them, not throw them in the deep end and let them drown.

There's very little that could convince Trein to visit Ramshackle dorm, at least at first. As the surrounding grounds get cleaned up, he might be inclined to spend some time reading in the garden; he normally prefers the school courtyard, but it can get pretty noisy with all the students bustling about. He won't be caught dead in the Ramshackle building itself, though. Both he and Lucius are a tad too old to go gallivanting about in such a dusty old structure.

(He won't say it, but he's impressed with how well Yuu is doing as housewarden. Like Leona, he expected the whole thing to go up in flames within a matter of weeks. Again, he's not going to say anything about it—even if things turned out well this time around, he doesn't need to be encouraging such rash behavior.)

Divus Crewel agrees with Trein’s points, but refuses to fully back the other professor's argument. He might respect Crowley as his boss, but watching the headmage suffer the consequences of his own actions is too cathartic to pass up. Quite the spirited pup he's taken in, there!

Though he doesn't condemn the existence of the dorm outright, he doesn't refrain from reprimanding Yuu for their 'bad behavior'—the way he sees it, this whole thing started because of some petty drama between Yuu and Riddle. He's not blind to the social nuances of the NRC student body, but he is too old to care about the more trivial aspects of it all. Regardless, Yuu has no business playing at being a housewarden; there's good reason it's nearly unheard of for a freshman to be granted the title, and being magicless puts them at a distinct disadvantage in a mage academy.

…however. If Yuu truly is determined to be a full-fledged housewarden, then he's not about to abide by them slacking off! That's a prestigious mantle they've chosen to take up, and they will comport themselves accordingly! Good thing he's there to whip them into shape. He begins holding them to higher standards, especially in regards to their grades and conduct. Though he means well, he comes across as more officious than usual as a result. No matter how tolerant Yuu is, it doesn't exactly go over smoothly…he can grasp that Yuu themself has no magic easily enough, but it takes a while for it to sink in that they're from a world with Absolutely No Magic.

"Surely you must have learned something about residual and ambient magical energies in middle school. Understanding how to neutralize them, thus preventing them from affecting the formation of chemical bonds, is part of basic lab safet– what do you mean they don't exist?"

Like Trein, Crewel has no interest in visiting Ramshackle dorm. It would take endorsement from a junior like Vil for him to consider dropping by, and even then, he'd only do so to make a cursory inspection of the premises. In a school full of teenage boys, Pomefiore is just about the only dorm where he doesn't have to lecture anyone about proper grooming and self-maintenance; Ramshackle doesn't break the mold at all in that regard. Aside from that, he finds the dorm to be…in acceptable conditions, though there's still plenty of room for improvement. He visits very rarely, and typically forgoes wearing his coat inside, not wanting to chance getting any grime on it.

(It’s petty enough that Crewel won’t admit to it outright, but he’s a little peeved he wasn’t even consulted about designing Ramshackle’s official dorm uniform. What, was his work with the Fairy Gala outfits not good enough? Hmph. Well, he supposes the final uniform design turned out adequate…)

Dire Crowley is getting heckled in the NRC staff groupchat. When he’d described Yuu as a beast-tamer, he’d had no idea they were capable of all THIS. It feels like every time he turns around, there’s been some development with Ramshackle that he’s going to need to do paperwork for. But breaking up the dorm would risk an immense amount of backlash from the students involved, and possibly even from other dorms…truly, he is the most generous headmage NRC has ever had! Hopefully the fact Ramshackle already has uniforms done up will make it easier to get the dorm properly approved and instated…

He really ought to be more cross with Yuu, all things considered. Not only have they caused him a financial headache concerning Ramshackle dorm's food budget, they were impudent enough to not even give him a heads up beforehand! Though…well, he supposes things worked out for the best regarding the debacle with Rosehearts. A healthy imagination is key to becoming a great mage, but it sounds like the Heartslabyul housewarden wasn't allowing for an environment in which imagination could thrive…but still! Just because he granted Yuu the title of prefect doesn't mean they can go about doing whatever they want. Perhaps it's time for him to revise his laissez-faire policy regarding student conflicts?…hmm, no, that feels a bit too extreme.

Despite it all, he still brags to Ambrose LXIII about Yuu, Grim, and Ramshackle once the new dorm breaches public consciousness. He was so wise for seeing their potential and allowing them to enroll, even though one is magicless and the other a monster. Look at how much they've accomplished thanks to his generosity! (He better hope Yuu and Grim don't hear him lmao)

Crowley makes a point of dropping by Ramshackle fairly consistently to check on Yuu and Grim—especially since the last time he went a while without checking in on them, they started a dorm without telling him. He gets frustratingly good at evading being dragged into the dorm's daily Shenanigans™ despite how often he visits, but he'll often lose track of time if someone strikes up a conversation with him. It's a running joke amongst Ramshackle students to ask Crowley if he's found a way to send Yuu home whenever they spot him at the dorm…though, after a point, most of them don't want to hear a "yes" in response.

(It's not becoming of him, so he won't say anything about it, but Crowley can't say for certain that he doesn't regret letting Yuu and Grim enroll. Yes, yes, it's wonderful how much they've achieved, but did they really have to give him so much extra work in the process?? Just thinking about how to word the inevitable press announcement explaining the formation of Ramshackle dorm gives him a headache.)

Ashton Vargas, by some miracle, is the most Actually Helpful of the teachers. He thinks it’s fantastic that students are taking the initiative to challenge themselves! AND they’re learning teamwork while they’re at it! Just…Trein’s not wrong about Ramshackle being in rough shape. Living there is barely different from camping outdoors. ("Does he get the idea for Camp Vargas from–" haha yeah)

Vargas will regularly check in with Yuu about any concerns regarding the dorm building’s structural integrity. He’s no architect, but he knows how to safely handle power tools! He can take care of any heavy lifting that needs to be done, too! If it gives him a chance to show off and brag, he’s all for it. He canonically maintains the sports field by himself, so he probably has some good advice for cleaning up the grounds around Ramshackle as well. That doesn't mean he's going to do all the work himself, of course—anyone he catches lazing about the dorm gets dragged along with him. It's good strength training!

He also makes sure the dorm has basic safety equipment on-hand, like fire extinguishers and first aid kits. Even a pro like him has to be mindful of training accidents, after all! He's always proud to see students pushing their limits, but he's watched far too many people torch their athletic careers (and long-term physical health) by pushing themselves too hard. It's uncommon for him to give full-on lectures—he's just not the type to drag things out when a "quit doing that" will do—but anyone he catches trying to brush off a significant injury gets treated to a rare, ultra-serious lecture from him.

Due to being so involved in the dorm's restoration, Vargas is the most likely to visit Ramshackle out of NRC's staff. He'll often tag along if he happens to catch Crowley heading over to check on Yuu and Grim, though he's yet to successfully rope the headmage into doing any strength training. Being a bit childish at heart, he'll sometimes lend a hand to whatever tomfoolery the Ramshackle students get up to…so long as it's school-appropriate, that is! He doesn't need another lecture from Trein.

(Vargas won't own up to it, but he wants Yuu, Grim, and the rest of Ramshackle to view him as better than Sam, who is pretty much his sole competition for the title of "Most Helpful." He was already a tad jealous of the shopkeeper's wide skillset, so his competitive streak has him putting in a little more effort to help out around the dorm than he would've otherwise. Since this pseudo-rivalry exists solely inside Vargas' head, Sam has no clue about any of it.)

Sam is living it up. His Friends on the Other Side haven’t been this excited about school-related events since he’d first set up shop on campus. And, since he’s the #1 supplier of Anything And Everything at NRC, he’s been getting a lot of business as the Ramshackle students work to patch up their dorm building! He’s not about to start giving away things for free, but he IS willing to cut some deals on tools and construction materials.

Honestly, he's a little annoyed with how little money Crowley seems to be investing into repairing the dorm building. Cheaping out on infrastructure is a fast way to create a money sink. He's not one to rock the boat too much, but he'll poke and prod to see if he can get Crowley to put a little more cash into restoration efforts. Surely it wouldn't hurt to speed the process up a bit? No point in letting the imps languish. Nevermind the fact it's all profit for Sam either way–

Capitalism aside, he does grow to care about the industrious little imps after a while. Taking a gamble on a complete unknown by transferring to Ramshackle, helping out others for the sake of pursuing their own goals…his Friends are quick to joke that Sam would've jumped to join in on the fun had he been a student, and he can't really say he disagrees! Hearing about all the hijinks going on over at Ramshackle is welcome entertainment, especially when business at the shop is slow.

Sam is typically too busy running the school store to visit Ramshackle himself, but he might make an exception for a dire enough situation. As it stands, he gets his Friends to keep a specific eye or three on the dorm in case any emergencies crop up. If he just so happens to have just the right tool for the job front & center (and on sale for a deep discount) when Yuu rushes in…well, that’s simply Mr. S’ gold-quality customer service in action.

(Sam keeps it on the down-low, but he genuinely does worry about Yuu and Grim. The headmage is a good customer, but he's not someone Sam would want to be financially dependent on. Those two imps at least have the relative safety of attending NRC, but neither of them have much in the way of a support system. He'd certainly been in a bad spot himself when he'd first sought out Those on the Other Side, so he's glad Yuu and Grim seem to be building decent lives for themselves without having to make any Friends of their own.)

✧ ✧ ✧

A/N: might as well be trying to squeeze blood from a stone the way I'm trying to approximate staff personalities from what little content we get of them,,,, for Sam I'm just doing whatever I want tho lmao

[wander-wren]

as everyone is talking about bad media literacy i want to talk about a conversation my sister had with me about barbie. minor spoilers (first ~30 mins) ahead.

now, i still havent seen barbie (i get around to watching things very, very slowly, if at all), but i knew the basic gist almost immediately based on vague internet posts.

my sister is 15 and very into that kind of diet feminism that seems radical when you’re 15 and your worst oppression is your band teacher picking the guy drummer over you (which sucks, btw, esp bc she’s objectively better and more disciplined, but like, you know what i mean). i do my best to nudge her to more critical thinking and such, but i was a 15yo diet feminist once too, i know how it goes.

anyway, with those two bits of knowledge i figured she’d like barbie, get the messaging, all of that.

she texts me that night and says “ummm so i’m watching barbie and they’re hating on cellulite a lot. like it’s one of the major reasons she’s leaving barbieland and they have a banner that says goodbye cellulite at the goodbye party”

and i was like. baffled. bc i was under the impression that she knew how movies worked. i mean, we both poke fun at our OTHER sister who can never pay attention to a movie and always ends up making us pause it to explain plot points she missed, so surely she understands story structure, right? that the protagonist has to learn a lesson? it’s fucking BARBIE. i knew months ago commentary on beauty standards was probably going to play a big role. esp bc it’s greta gerwig but i don’t think my sister knows who she is.

so admittedly i was less nice than i could have been when i was like girl you do understand the movie is about barbie leaving her perfect girl world and having to come to terms with reality, right. and learning she doesn’t have to be perfect. like. i just needed to hear “barbie leaves barbieland and goes to the real world” to put that together.

and like. i haven’t seen the movie but what she described sounds REALLY over the top. a “goodbye cellulite” banner? very unserious. would not ping in my brain as The Message Of The Movie at all.

i am genuinely concerned that my sister was worried the barbie movie (2023) was going to be all about hating cellulite and upholding beauty standards. this kid is smart. she’s 100% open to and aligned with the movie’s messaging. what about when it comes to a piece of media she’s less open to? one that presents a stance she doesn’t agree with and then doesn’t spend the rest of the movie explicitly condemning it?

[spanishskulduggery]

Hi , you’ve probably touched on this but I can’t find the post. So a couple of questions .

1. my wife’s family only speaks spanish and i’m really trying to learn but honestly apps aren’t working for me. my ADHD makes me lose focus with it insanely quick. I feel like a classroom setting would work better but since Covid all adult spanish classes are primarily remote and that won’t really help me because with it being remote i tend to lose focus too. I need in person back and forth conversation with a teacher , do you have any suggestions for alternatives ?

2. one thing that has always drove me crazy is using verbs as a noun properly in spanish, so example i know the limpiar is the verb to clean and it’s conjugated like

yo limpio

tu limpias

El/Ella/Usted limpia etc etc

but how do you conjugate the verb when it’s being used as a noun? i’m noticing when i put things in google translate it usually takes on the el/ella/usted conjugation so is that how it works for all verbs? example “is the house clean?” the translation that comes up is “esta la casa limpia? so being that it’s limpia i assumed that the rule of thumb is when using a verb as a noun in a sentence you conjugate it to that form but i’ve seen instances when it wasn’t conjugated that way which completely confused me .

Let me answer #2 first, and I'm going to explain it in painstaking detail so please don't feel offended if I'm talking about things you probably know, I'm trying to cover all my bases

With your question regarding limpiar you should know that verbs don't generally become "nouns" the way you're describing

Nouns are people, places, or things and so verbs don't usually have that function - except when sometimes people use the infinitive form of the verb; in that case (el) limpiar would be "the act or result of cleaning" and you use that in more specific circumstances

What you're describing to me sounds like you saw limpio/a "clean" as in the adjective; adjectives are different from the verb forms but they can sometimes look like conjugations

In this case limpio "I clean" and limpia "he/she cleans" is different from limpio/a the adjective

In which case - ella limpia la casa "she cleans the house" is different from la casa está limpia "the house is clean"; similarly ella limpia el cuarto "she cleans the room" then el cuarto está limpio "the room is clean"

[There are ways to turn a verb into an adjective but it's usually the participle form; which is to say limpiado is "cleaned" which implies an action was already taken; you don't need to know that yet but I wanted to include it since most participles involve a different context and I didn't want you to be confused]

The issue with translators is that sometimes they don't tell you what part of speech you're looking at, so it can be confusing

Note: The noun "cleaning" is typically la limpieza

I would recommend looking into something like wordreference or an online dictionary - something that tells you the part of speech and the gender of a noun

-

As far as #1 that's more difficult and depends on what's in your area

I know there's a Meetup app that lets you look into different groups in your area, from things to D&D to museum tours or board games with people

I've seen some for Spanish groups or learning Spanish but again that will depend on your area, or like Spanish and coffee groups etc

Sometimes libraries have programs like that too which are generally free

The other option would be to have a tutor with you in person rather than an online one. An in-person tutor might be harder to find but I know they still exist. Unfortunately a lot of the resources now are more online or virtual

There are grammar sites and things like www.studyspanish.com/grammar or people who do youtube lessons that might be easier to follow at your own leisure but they aren't as structured

And I can't necessarily recommend Rosetta Stone because of the price of it, but I used to do it on my computer at home or at school because I can't be trusted to focus when it comes to my phone

You may also find some lessons in podcasts or interactive lessons like Mi Vida Loca from the BBC

For your purposes I would try the Meetup app and seeing what's available in your area for Spanish

I know there are also forums like on Reddit where people talk about Spanish and learning it and have questions, similar to the forums on WordReference or Instituto Cervantes. I also have used the exercises on Bowdoin myself to brush up on things

[letslipthehounds]

Growing Up Wrecker 4/?

A bit of a time jump here- Orion is now in what's best described as pre-school. Mostly time to run around and play, but some structured lessons.

And there's a problem. One he wants to bite.

AO3 Link

Orion looked up at his caretaker as Magnus sat down at his desk. Orion didn't know what to do about a problem. Ultra Magnus could help him, he thought, but he wanted to figure it out himself! He was smart enough for that. He was smart enough that he'd learned how to unbuckle his harness, but he hadn't shown that to anyone. He didn't need to- not yet.

He was smart enough that he'd learned basic Neo-cybex and had taught Wildbreak it too. Though Wheeljack had taught them both a lot of fun words the last time he'd watched them, and the fun thing he'd been working on had started sparking and then blew up.

That had been so much fun, but Ultra hadn't let Wheeljack watch him again. Wildbreak had said Knock Out had done the same. Orion wanted to go see Wheeljack again, but he wasn't sure how to get to his work spot right now.

Orion knew that the others- the humans- were going to be visiting soon, and maybe he could get them to help him. They were more his size, anyway. Jack was cautious, but Orion or Wildbreak could generally get him to help them with whatever they were doing. Miko was always up for fun, especially when she was wearing the Apex Armor. Raf would cover for them most of the time. June, and Bill never participated, but they would often look the other way. Orion liked them, and he couldn't wait to see them again.

But they couldn't help him right now. Orion needed to figure this out himself. He could ask if something was ok, though.

"Magnus?" he asked. "Would it be bad if I bit my teacher?"

Ultra Magnus jolted. "Why do you want to bite Grade Level?" he asked.

"She's mean to Wildbreak," Orion said. "She gets upset when we play together at break, and Wildbreak gets put in the naughty seat if I tell her that I like playing with Wildbreak."

Magnus frowned. "That doesn't make any sense," he said.

Orion shrugged. "So would it be bad if I bit her next time she tries to make us stop playing together?"

"Yes, Orion, you would. But I believe I need to have a talk with her," he added.

Orion pouted up at him. "But I want to figure this out! I don't understand why she doesn't like Wildbreak."

"Is it only Wildbreak?"

Orion frowned in thought. "I… think she doesn't like Howlback or Fireline either, but I don't play with them a lot."

"And she told me that Wildbreak will only." Orion paused and thought for a moment. "She said 'that troublemaker will only lead me away from who I'm supposed to be.'" He quoted. "She also said that all the adults who were important would agree with her, and told us not to say anything. I'm not going to be in trouble for saying anything, am I?" he asked quietly.

Magnus frowned and Orion could tell he was mad about something. He glanced down at Orion almost immediately. "I am not mad at you, Orion," he said almost immediately. "I am glad you told me this. You will not get in trouble, and if anyone tries to punish you, I want you to tell me."

He reached over and pressed a couple buttons on his computer. "Orion, I'm going to call Knock Out and Wildbreak, would you like to sit with me?"

Orion stood up and nodded, reaching up to be picked up. "I still want to bite her," he said. He chomped down on thin air. "I can make it hurt."

Magnus shook his head as he stood up and picked Orion up. "No, Orion, you won't need to bite her. It's not nice to bite people, anyway."

"Even mean people?"

Magnus hesitated. "Only when they are trying to hurt you," he finally said. "And only when they are physically trying to hurt you. Words don't count."

Orion nodded. "Can I use the words Wheeljack taught me?" he asked. He knew that Magnus would just… Yep. There the scowl was.

"Not until you're an adult," Magnus repeated, as he’d done every time Orion asked. He sat down and put Orion on his lap. He pushed a couple more buttons, and a second later Knock Out appeared on the screen.

"Hello Magnus, what can I do for you? And hello, Orion," Knock Out added.

"Hi!" Orion said happily. He liked Knock Out, he was always funny when any of them got scratches. And Wildbreak loved him, Orion knew.

"Hello Knock Out," Magnus said. "Could you get Wildbreak? She's not in trouble, I just need to ask her a couple of questions."

Knock Out nodded and disappeared from the screen for a moment. He returned holding Wildbreak. "Hi Orion! Hi Magnus!" Wildbreak said happily.

Orion waved. "I asked if I could bite Grade Level," he told her.

"Oh," Wildbreak said. "Because she's mean?"

Orion nodded. "Yep."

"I think that answers one of my questions," Magnus rumbled. "Can you tell me how she's mean?"

Wildbreak frowned. "I don't…”

“You will not get in trouble if you do," Magnus said. "She probably said you would, but I will not let you be punished. Orion too," he added.

Wildbreak nodded and started fiddling with her fingers. "She's always scowling when I or Howlback or a couple others know the answers. And she gets really upset if Orion plays with me, or the others. And she doesn’t like it if Dion or Hauler plays with us either. I get in trouble a lot because I want to play with Orion." Wildbreak looked up at Knock Out, then over at Orion. "Grade Level says that we're bad and that's why we get into trouble and shouldn't play with Orion and the others," she said.

Magnus' scowl deepened. "Thank you, Wildbreak," he said. He looked at Knock Out. "Orion also mentioned Fireline getting into trouble."

Knock Out scowled as well. "Howlback was adopted by Kickback. Fireline was adopted by Ramjet," he said. "We have a problem."

"We have a problem," Magnus agreed. "I'm going to call both of them. Would you be willing to come with me tomorrow to the school?"

"Of course," Knock Out said.

Magnus nodded. "I'll see you both tomorrow," he said. "Good bye, Wildbreak, thank you for telling me the truth."

"You're welcome," Wildbreak said. "I really won't get in trouble?"

"If someone at school tries to get you in trouble, then you need to tell me or Knock Out, and we will stop it. Telling the truth should never be punished."

She nodded, and Knock Out smiled. "Thank you, Magnus, for telling me as soon as you found out," he said.

"Of course," Magnus said. They signed off, and Magnus looked down at Orion. "You did good, Orion," he said.

Orion smiled. "So Grade Level is going to be in trouble?"

Magnus nodded. "Very much so. She's trying to bring back something that the war was started to stop," he added.

Orion considered that. He didn't know a lot about the war yet, but he knew it was bad, and also that it had happened because life before it had lots of bad things. "Are you sure I can't bite her?" Orion asked after a moment.

Magnus started to laugh. Orion smiled, though he didn't understand why the question was funny.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Things aren't all rosy in post-war Cybertron, unfortunately, but most people are committed to not repeating the mistakes of the past. This will be solved, and with a minimum of problems for the kids.

And yes, Orion has not stopped thinking that biting solves all problems. He will… eventually. Maybe.

All of the kids and caretakers mentioned here all from various Transformers universes, mostly G1. I made Grade Level up, I didn't want to use any Autobot or Decepticons for her role in this.

[nanowrimo]

Back to School: Interview with Sarah Lile, Young Writers Program Educator

NaNoWriMo’s Young Writers Program helps over 85,000 kids, teens, teachers, and families set creative goals and tell stories they care about. We asked some of our amazing YWP educators to share how they take on the NaNoWriMo challenge in their classroom. Today’s advice comes from Sarah, a middle school ELA teacher in Richmond, Virginia.

Q: What grade/ age level do you work with? What type of NaNoWriMo group is it (whole class, club, homeschool, elective, etc.)?

A: Whole classes, grades 6-8

Q: How long have you been doing NaNoWriMo with your students?

A: Since 2019

Q: How do you structure the entire project (for example, do you start prepping in October and write in November, do you have kids work on it all year, etc.)?

A: We don't do much prep and I always regret it. Students use class time to write throughout November. Some students already have an idea of what they'd like to write, others are pantsers like me!

Q: What does a normal NaNoWriMo day look like for your students?

A: Arrive to class and settle in, open laptops and begin feverishly typing!

Q: How do you set and manage word-count goals?

A: I allow students to set their own goals, though I've started to require no less than 7,000 words.

Q: How do you manage grading? Do you grade?

A: I ask students to submit an excerpt of their novel each week and post them on the wall in the classroom. This helps with accountability and sharing.

Q: How do you approach revision/ publishing (if at all)?

A: I don't grade their novels, instead they revise an excerpt for a grade and a public reading.

Q: Any NaNoWriMo tips or tricks to share with other educators? Hard-won lessons? Ah-ha moments?

A: Every year I wish we had done more prep.

It's more fun when I write WITH them.

Students really like it when I read their work, so the excerpts are key.

My writers always hit a wall at some point, but I trust the process (and tell them to just keep typing) and the NaNoWriMo tools and they always get through it! They are natural-born storytellers.

Q: Have you ever run into resistance from your administration about doing NaNoWriMo, and if so, how did you manage it? What do you say to people who don’t see the point of having students write novels? 

A: Thankfully, no. I do send the Common Core standards to parents and admin so they see how this aligns.

Q: What are the most meaningful things you or your students take away from the project? What's your best NaNoWriMo memory?

A: That they CAN DO IT! The first class that participated set their own goals and wrote feverishly every class period and during the weekends. One student was out of town for the last couple days, sick in a hotel bed, and stayed up to meet her goal. Her parents were absolutely amazed at her commitment.

Q: Anything else you'd like to add?

A: In order for this to really work, students need to write everyday. It's hard to keep momentum over weekends and especially over a week-long Thanksgiving break. I'd love advice on how to keep students writing at these times—maybe set short term word count goals?

Sarah is a middle school ELA teacher at Sabot School in Richmond, Virginia, a progressive Reggio-Inspired school for children ages 2-14. She is a wife, mother, dog-mom, writer, food-lover, and amateur potter.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Julie Jargon

Published: Dec 16, 2023

Boys are struggling in middle school, stuck in an academic setting that they say rewards them for sitting still and taking notes—in other words, behaving more like girls. 

“It’s really hard sitting still for eight hours a day,” says Tyler Brausa, now 16. When he jumped from elementary school to middle school, the lack of recess and daily gym was a jolt. Tyler often got in trouble for talking out of turn and fidgeting at his desk. After school, he and his friends escaped into videogames—a realm where they have purpose and work together toward a shared goal.

School could compete with gaming if it felt more rewarding to boys, he says.

Some of them are. A number of all-boys middle schools—public, charter and private—have begun opening in recent years to meet boys’ needs. Inside the walls of these schools, boys get lots of hands-on learning, frequent breaks and plenty of movement. Some coed schools are also addressing the problem, dividing up boys and girls for certain classes. And they’re having success.

“Instead of making guys change the way we behave,” Tyler says, “maybe schools should change the way they’re structured.”

‘Bumping into things’

At the private, boys-only Field Middle School in the San Francisco Bay Area, which opened two years ago, students start some days sitting in a circle. The school’s 46 students, in grades six through eight, talk about what they’re grateful for and acknowledge mistakes they’ve made.

On other days, they begin by reviewing assignments, cleaning out backpacks and checking they have supplies such as sharpened pencils. Organization and time management don’t come easily to all adolescent boys, as I covered last week.

“Boys tend to learn by bumping into things,” says Jason Baeten, Field’s head of school. Dance classes held in the courtyard aren’t judged for grace and form. “That’s not always a metaphor—sometimes they’re too big for their bodies.”

At Field, 80% of the teachers are male. Overall numbers of male teachers in K-12 education have been falling nationwide, according to Richard Reeves, president of the nonpartisan nonprofit American Institute for Boys and Men. 

The administrators know how distracting technology can be to kids. Every morning the students turn in their phones and smartwatches to the front office for the day. They use iPads for some assignments in class but they aren’t in constant use.

Giving boys a chance to move around and work with their hands is a big focus at Field and other all-boys schools. The students get a 20-minute morning snack break, a 45-minute lunch period and PE three to five days a week. One classroom has standing desks.

The school has a class in which kids design products to solve problems or help people. One boy developed sugar-free recipes so his diabetic brother could enjoy dessert. The school also offers a build class; last year the boys built go-karts. On Mondays, the students cook lunch for each other and the staff. They regularly vacuum and sweep the classrooms.

‘Motivated by competition’

Field is too new to have high-school graduation success rates. But the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy, a public all-boys school for grades six through 12, has proven results. The Dallas school, open since 2011, has a 91% graduation rate; the same percentage of students score proficient on reading, compared with the district average of 52%, according to U.S. News & World Report.

“The biggest reason our students do well is we have a committed staff. The brothers, as we call our students, know we care about them,” says Rashad Jackson, principal of the school, which has 541 boys. “It’s not just about A’s and B’s, we’re invested in their social-emotional well-being.”

The boys at the Obama Academy, as well as the students at Dallas’s two other public all-boys schools, have opportunities to get out their wiggles throughout the day. (The district also has three all-girls’ schools.)

At Dallas’s pre-K through-eighth-grade Solar Preparatory School for Boys, students rotate through a different learning station every 15 minutes because brain science shows boys need frequent movement, says principal Derek Thomas.

Timers buzz to indicate when students need to switch to the next task. 

“When you put a timer on something, it becomes a competition, and boys are motivated by competition,” he says. “If I tell them to work on organizing their binder and I give them two minutes, they’ll do it in one minute 30 seconds.”

‘The boys have voices’

These educators say middle-school boys feel freer to make and learn from mistakes when girls aren’t around.

That’s something administrators at Treasure Valley Classical Academy, a coed charter school in Fruitland, Idaho, also noticed. When middle-school boys and girls are together in PE class, the boys try to impress the girls, and the girls don’t participate as much, says school founder Stephen Lambert

The 580-student school, which serves kindergarten through 10th grade, began separating girls and boys in some PE classes two years ago. The girls became more engaged and competitive and the boys more focused, teachers said.

The school did the same for some music and art classes. When together, girls tend to out-sing the boys, Lambert says. “The boys’ voices are cracking and they’re embarrassed and self-conscious and they won’t sing,” he adds. “When you split them up, you realize the boys have voices and they want to make them heard.”

All students get plenty of time to move, with recess for all kids in kindergarten through eighth grade, and an extended hangout time after lunch for the high-school students.

Leonard Sax is a family doctor who has studied more than 500 schools over the past 20 years, and wrote several books on gender differences. He says that any school could replicate these approaches without being disruptive—or discriminatory.

“Schools can be friendly to boys without being unfriendly to girls,” he says.

==

Apparently, bludgeoning the maleness out of boys doesn't make them better students. Males and females are inherently different. Imagine that.

A program like this would never fly at many co-ed schools where activists masquerade as teachers. For reference, one of the Grievance Studies papers is called "The Progressive Stack: An Intersectional Feminist Approach to Pedagogy" and described thusly:

This is our most appalling paper, and it’s deeply concerning that how it is being treated at the highly respected journal Hypatia. It forwards that educators should discriminate by identity and calculate their students’ status in terms of privilege, favor the least privileged with more time, attention and positive feedback and penalize the most privileged by declining to hear their contributions, deriding their input, intentionally speaking over them, and making them sit on the floor in chains—framed as educational opportunities we termed “experiential reparations.” [..] The reviewers’ only concerns with these points so far have been that (1) we approach the topic with too much compassion for the students who are being subjected to this, and (2) we risk exploiting underprivileged students by burdening them with an expectation to teach about privilege. To correct for this, the reviewers urged us to make sure we avoid “recentering the needs of the privileged.” They asked us to incorporate Megan Boler’s approach called “pedagogy of discomfort” and Barbara Applebaum’s insistence that the privileged learn from this discomfort rather than being coddled or having their own experiences (suffering) “recentered.”

When scholarship around pedagogy - how things are taught - is organized around and motivated by cruelty, malevolence and spite, it seems unlikely that activist scolds will be in favor of sparing boys - even black boys - from an intersectional haranguing. If boys are allowed to be boys, what hateful, sexist harridan will get to shame and berate them into understanding that they'll never, ever have to experience being discriminated against based on their sex?

[dufferpuffer]

On the topic of boggarts: do you think it was irresponsible for lupin to use them in the first lesson in class? I’ve seen people talk about this before and I think there’s an interesting critique to be made. 1. Having students expose their fears in front of their classmates might leave them vulnerable to targeted bullying. 2. Students could have trauma exposed through the boggart. (Most of the kids had childish fears yes, and he only jumped in front of Harry because he assumed it would have been more serious than the others but he doesn’t know the other kids and one of his 13 year olds could very much have suffered some kind of abuse or something of the sort and have that manifest in a boggart. Seems like an oversight.) what’s your take?

Yes, I do - but not wrong to deal with Boggart's early. Honestly they should probably be a first or second year class. And maybe they are - Snape does say they are far behind in the curriculum, though how hyperbolic he was being is hard to tell.

Boggarts are more dangerous the more trauma you have experienced. Molly, who had lost both her brothers in the first war and now had a whole family of loved ones, couldn't deal with it. I fear, while Dumbledore could deal with one, it would destabilize him far more to see the corpse of Ariana than it would Ron to see a spider. After Ron had experienced Hermione being tortured... im sure his Boggart changed to something more like that. Crippling.

So dealing with Boggarts early is almost critical - when most children do not have experiences that would make them a problem yet. ...But some will. It is irresponsible to thrust children into that without propperly getting to know them.

Even with how low the bar is for magical school safety and logic - Harry was in that class. The way Remus structured it was to have the Boggart bounce between students as it saw fit, confused. He had to run and protect Harry. He hadn't even pulled him aside - a reasonable thing to do, considering what he has famously gone through, not just as a baby but in the previous two years.

So yes, I think it was highly irresponsible as a first class. Why would he do such a thing...? Because he was scared. He was scared of being unimpressive, of not being good enough to teach, of the children fearing him as a monster (irrational - but that's what he fears most.)

So what does he do...? He falls back on what he knows best, his fathers specialty: Boggarts. Something he knows in-and-out. He picks a BIGGER monster than him to be in the room, so he will look good no matter what. He teaches the children he will stand up with them against their greatest fears. I doubt he planned it, but how cool he would have felt to jump infront of Harry Potter in order to prevent Voldemort from appearing. Heroic.

I'm sure he justified it as Boggarts being essential to learn about early... it being a good topic to start on given there are dementors in the school this year... very familiar to him, so its a safe thing to start with.... but really he didn't do it for the kids. He did it for himself. Comforting himself is usually his no. 1 priority.

If I were to take the class:

First year, second half of it. Half a year to get to know the students and see their capabilities with their wands - and the students will be at the school for awhile after, not home - where abuse might be. Have a week learning about Non-Beings, focusing on Boggarts.

The kids are 11 - so have them answer questions like "Have you ever had a Boggart in your house?" and "What sort of places do you think a Boggart would like to be?" (closets, attics, basements, under beds) Give them time to think about what their Boggart might become - and give some students the chance to perhaps share what their Boggart DID become if they've seen one before.

Teacher shares what THEIR boggart is. Be a little vulnerable. If it is 'light', like a spider, they can connect with students. If it is heavy - they can tell how fearsome Boggarts really can be. That, when they face a Boggart, they will need a different teacher to handle the class with them.

Build up the practical as a game. It is best to deal with Boggarts in groups, so the class will 'play' with one, all together - it'll bounce between them quite harmlessly. However - if you do not wish to take part, because your boggart might be particularly fearsome - you stand at the back with the teacher and watch how it is done. Then, individually, after class, you have your go - with the teacher right at your back, with you.

It is VERY important to learn how to push through. But if it is truly horrifying and the student cannot manage - the teacher is right there to step forward and deal with it themselves.