#my students will get CLEAR steps and guidelines

[hisnhers]

teachers just loooooove to give you the most vague assignments ever i will be the change i want to see in the world

[tahbhie]

How to Stay Motivated as a Writer.

I ran a poll to celebrate reaching 50 reblogs because you guys are amazing, and this topic won the poll.

(This is a bit lengthy, but I advise you to read to the very end. These are the kind of tips you rarely find without a fee, but for your amazing support so far, you get this from me for free.)

Let's dive in!

Before I became a writing coach, lack of motivation was something I battled with. Writing started to feel like a waste of my time, but whenever I stopped, I still found my way back somehow.

After a few more months of struggling and finding a clear routine that worked for me, I became a writing coach. Believe me when I say that it was such a commitment, and you'd never know until you get your first student.

I only knew how to stay motivated as an individual. After two students, I realized that motivation was also something they struggled with, and as their coach, it became my duty to offer solutions. In fact, nine out of ten writers struggle with this same problem, so I came up with the 'why and what' technique.

What is the 'why and what' technique?

This technique is a template to figure out the main reason a writer isn't motivated at the current time, which allows for the provision of tailored and personalized solutions to solve the specific problem. In other words: Understanding the why (the main reason for the lack of motivation at the time) to figure out the what (effective solution to solve the main reason).

Lack of motivation is pretty subjective and varies widely. Giving a particular piece of advice may work for some and not for others, which is why I ensured my technique benefits all.

I'll give examples of common reasons writers lack motivation for writing using the template. If you don't find any that relate to you, write it in the comments and get a personalized solution from me.

1. Lack of Inspiration

Why:

- Feeling uninspired by current projects.

- Overwhelmed by the vastness of ideas.

- Stuck in a creative rut.

What:

- Change your environment: Sometimes a new setting can spark creativity. Try writing in a different location, like a park or a café.

- Consume creative content: Read books, watch movies, or listen to music that inspires you.

- Engage in Free Writing: Set a timer for 10 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without worrying about structure or grammar.

- Take a step back: You are no less of a writer if you decide to take a break and watch other writers from afar. Personally, it's difficult to write when I'm not inspired. I find myself editing more than usual and, at times, discarding the piece I spent hours on. So for a little while, I only engaged online and learned other ways to improve my skills with the time on my hands.

2. Fear of Failure

Why:

- Worrying that your writing isn't good enough.

- Comparing yourself to other writers.

- Fear of negative feedback.

What:

- Set small goals: Break down your writing project into manageable tasks to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

- Seek constructive feedback: Share your work with trusted friends or writing groups who can provide supportive and constructive criticism.

- Celebrate small wins: Acknowledge and celebrate your progress, no matter how small. Always remember that our writing styles differ from one another, and that is what makes us unique as writers. 

3. Lack of Time

Why:

- Busy schedules and other commitments.

- Difficulty prioritizing writing.

What:

- Create a writing schedule: Dedicate specific times in your day or week for writing and stick to it.

- Use writing prompts: Short prompts can help you get started quickly and make the most of limited time.

- Eliminate distractions: Find a quiet space and turn off notifications to focus solely on writing.

- Create or join writing challenges: Activities like the 3-day writing challenge, writing a novel in 6 months, the 7-day character creation challenge, the fantasy writers challenge, etc., have specific guidelines tailored to helping writers stay motivated and at the same time productive in limited times.

4. Perfectionism

Why:

- Striving for perfection in every sentence.

- Reluctance to move forward until everything is perfect.

What:

- Embrace the draft: Accept that your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. Focus on getting your ideas down first.

- Set time limits: Give yourself a set amount of time to write and then move on, even if it's not perfect.

- Practice self-compassion: Remind yourself that it's okay to make mistakes and that writing is a process.

-Listen to writing podcasts or join a valuable writing newsletter: You will learn more about the writing industry and writing processes of other established writers, their wins, struggles, difficulties, appreciations, etc., which can serve as an assurance that you are facing the processes of a typical writer. 

Here's a podcast and newsletter for writers I totally recommend—The Shit No One Tells You About Writing. You can listen to The Shit No One Tells You About Writing on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify or sign up for their newsletter.

5. Burnout

Why:

- Writing too much without breaks.

- Feeling exhausted and mentally drained.

- Stressed out from other engagements 

What:

- Take regular breaks: Schedule breaks during your writing sessions to rest and recharge.

- Engage in other hobbies: Spend time on activities you enjoy outside of writing to refresh your mind.

- Practice mindfulness: Techniques like meditation or deep breathing can help reduce stress and improve focus.

- Listen to music: It's an amazing mind therapy. 

6. Lack of Support

Why:

- Feeling isolated in your writing journey.

- Lack of encouragement from others.

What:

- Join writing communities: Connect with other writers through online forums, local writing groups, or social media.

- Find a writing buddy: Partner with another writer to share progress, provide feedback, and offer mutual support.

- Attend workshops and events: Participate in writing workshops, conferences, or webinars to learn and network with others.

- Get a writing coach: Find a coach that will dedicate their time assisting you through your writing processes. 

7. Working on Too Many Drafts Simultaneously

Why:

- Overwhelmed by multiple projects.

- Difficulty prioritizing which story to focus on.

- Constantly switching between drafts, leading to a lack of progress.

What:

- Prioritize projects: Choose one or two main projects to focus on and set the others aside temporarily. This helps you concentrate your efforts and make significant progress.

- Create a project schedule: Allocate specific times or days for each project. For example, work on one story in the mornings and another in the afternoons.

- Set clear milestones: Break each project into bit-sized, manageable tasks with deadlines. Celebrate when you reach these milestones to stay motivated.

- Limit new ideas: Keep a notebook or digital file for new ideas, but resist the urge to start new projects until you complete your current ones.

- Use a timer: Work on one project for a set amount of time (e.g., 25 minutes using the Pomodoro Technique) before taking a break or switching to another task.

8. Frustration of Not Completing Any Stories

Why:

- Feeling stuck or losing interest in projects.

- Perfectionism preventing you from finishing.

- Lack of a clear plan or direction.

What:

- Set realistic goals: Define what "completion" means for each project (e.g., finishing a first draft, reaching a certain word count) and work towards that.

- Embrace imperfection: Accept that your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. Focus on getting the story down, and you can revise it later.

- Find accountability: Share your goals with a writing buddy or group who can help keep you on track and provide encouragement.

- Reward yourself: Plan small rewards for completing sections of your work. This can be anything from a favorite snack to a relaxing activity.

- Reflect on your progress: Regularly review what you've accomplished to remind yourself of your progress and stay motivated.

- Set a clear outline for your story: Having a clear and detailed outline for a story makes it difficult to run out of ideas. 

- Share your achievements with others: Achievement posts are one of the posts that receive more engagement from people. I'm quite aware of Substack. The notes with the highest engagement have to do with achievements. People find those notes empowering and inspiring. Share your wins with others and let them celebrate with you. 

9. Working on Too Many Drafts

Why:

- Perfectionism leading to endless revisions.

- Difficulty deciding when a draft is "good enough."

- Fear of publishing an imperfect work.

What:

- Set a draft limit: Decide on a maximum number of drafts (e.g., three to five) before moving on to the next stage.

- Establish clear goals for each draft: Define what you want to achieve with each draft (e.g., plot consistency, character development, grammar).

- Seek external feedback: Get input from beta readers or a professional editor after a set number of drafts to gain fresh perspectives.

- Create a timeline: Set deadlines for each draft to avoid getting stuck in a cycle of endless revisions.

10. Trying to Earn with Your Writing

Why:

- Financial pressure to monetize your writing.

- Balancing creative passion with commercial viability.

- Navigating the competitive market.

What:

- Diversify income streams: Explore various ways to earn from your writing, such as freelancing, self-publishing, blogging, or offering writing services.

- Build an online presence: Use social media, a personal blog, or platforms like Tumblr, TikTok, and Instagram to showcase your work and connect with potential readers and clients.

Remember, If you don't find any that relate to you, write it in the comments and get a personalized solution from me.

- Offer exclusive content: Create special content or giveaways for your audience to increase engagement and loyalty.

- Learn marketing skills: Invest time in learning about book marketing, SEO, and social media strategies to effectively promote your work.

- Network with other writers: Join writing communities and attend workshops or conferences to learn from others and find opportunities for collaboration.

Remember, If you don't find any that relate to you, write it in the comments and get a personalized solution from me.

Reblog to save for later 😉. Once again thank you for supporting my blog!

[mellosdrawings]

i loved seeing your character sheets for yuu and hayeli, especially hayeli’s!! it’s clear that a lot of thought went into them and i think his on/off mode is such an interesting concept (also a pomefiore student with blemishes?? yes please!!)

i’d be super curious what your creation process looked like, i.e if where there concepts you scrapped or how you went about choosing a name for them (it’s just a topic i love talking and hearing about but of course you don’t have to get into it if you don’t want to :])

not me also having ideas for an oc with mirror magic, but based on the mirror from the snow queen instead

First I'm so glad you like my characters! It seems Hayeli's bad skin is very popular and I love it! Give me more teenagers with bad skin and not making a huge deal out of it please!

As for my process... dear, that'll be a long post.

General process

Ok so my general character creation process starts with two ways:

1. I have a role to fill in a story that can't be fulfilled by a pre-existing character

2. I have a vibe and I need to turn it into a character

From those needs and/or wants, I'll go through several steps:

1. Age: surprisingly deciding on a character's age first unlocks at least half of its mental and physical design. Is it an adult who already has its shit together or a teen in the middle of a crisis?

2. Vague personality: is the character going to be introvert or extrovert? Shy or outgoing. Proud or self depreciating. Bubbly or quiet. Easy to anger or chill. It doesn't need to be its full personality yet, just guidelines.

3. Race: for fantasy and realism. A character's skin color and cultural background will shape how they view the world a lot!

4. Gender and sexual orientation: i usually decide on the gender based on how many characters I already have of each gender, or whether I want a character to be traditionally feminine/masculine or the total opposite of what's expected. Obviously the gender will affect the design, but the orientation will also affect how the character reacts to others.

5. Assets & weaknesses: for fantasy, it'd be their powers and their shortcomings, for action it'll be their strengths and the things they haven't mastered yet, for romance it'll be their best personality trait and their worst.

Once I have that base guideline, I can start working on a chara design. Age and race help with the body, personality and strengths/weaknesses help with how they dress and present themselves. (An outgoing person will have an easier time dressing in original ways while a shy person would be more traditional for example.)

Once I have a design, I draw shitty little doodles and meme redraws until I have a better sense of their personality. Slices of life and comedy and angst are great way for me to get to know my character. For writers, it'd be writing random scenes to test the characters' reactions.

Then, I double down on the strengths and weaknesses. Make them stand out. Make sure they are coherent to the characters. Make sure the weaknesses are as important as the strength. (For example, I have a character who has super speed. Arguably one of the most cheated powers in existence. I counterbalanced it by giving him poor stamina. In theory he is all powerful. In practice, not so much.)

Lastly, I chose a name. Sometimes it's just about how the name sounds. Sometimes I'm looking for names to mean something. If your character is POC, think about whether they'd have a common name or a name from their own culture. Both are valid but you need to think about it! (For example, I have two maohi characters in the same story. One is called Fray (common name), the other is called Tanemahuta (maohi name) because they and their families have different relationships with their own culture.)

Yuu

Well, that's a strange one since Yuu already does exist in the game, but it's a blank slate, a place holder. Let's make them something worth remembering, shall we.

First, I went with their gender. Most of my placeholders characters end up nonbinary because that's what I am and also I can't be bothered to role-playing gender when playing a simple game.

Then I went with a vibe and a bullet list of things I wanted to keep from the game and things I wanted to add.

To keep:

1. Not very proactive

2. Not very talkative

To add:

1. Raccoon

2. Clever/cunning

3. Physically rather weak

From there I made a design that gave "raccoon vibes". Semi long disheveled hair, lazy eyes, lazy dress up.

Now, what was important was to make up for their weakness: they don't have magic. The world around them is harsh and they get threatened by characters having breakdowns every two months. What is there strength? For Yuu, I wanted them to be clever and cunning. Have them actually outsmart our dear schemers. That's Yuu's one and only strength, they're a schemer themself. They see others as cards that make up their hands the same way Leona sees others as chess pieces. Once you have those big pieces from earlier plus the survival instinct, you get a character that is easy to handle. They don't talk much, keep everything to themselves, manipulate others from the shadows to defend themself.

But. Let's give them one more weakness, shall we? It's funnier that way. Let's make them yearn for connection. They are a teen who got kidnapped from their family. Let's give them a big family. But they are rather independent too, so let's find a way to remove the parents from the picture to explain why they are already able to fend for themself. Now make them yearn for real friendship. Make it obvious their manipulation comes from defensiveness. Have them slip up when they interact with people they genuinely end up caring about.

And there you have Yuu.

Hayeli

Now, for Hayeli, I started out with a vibe. He's actually pretty old, comes from before the game was even released when there were only countdown arts and some vague informations about the game. As I said in his description, he's based on the Evil Queen's mirror. I didn't know at the time there were already plenty of mirrors in the game haha

Contrary to my usual process, I started with his powers first. His Signature Spell had to be something about mirrors. The easy way out would be to have him shape-shifting. There are plenty of angst and fun opportunities from shape-shifting. But that was too simple, I didn't like it. Instead I went with the capacity to copy others' magic. In game there was already Azul being able to steal others' magic through a high requirement spell, so I went with this kind of power. High requirement high reward. I don't like for my characters to be overpowered and I wanted Hayeli to just be average in magic, so I doubled down on the requirements to make his magic near useless.

Then I went on to his gimmick. He still didn't have a personality or body at the time, I really went full mirror first. Hayeli is a mirror. He copies others' magic. What if I double down and make him copy everything as a by-product of his Signature Spell? Ok, now, since I still don't like overpowered characters, how do I make it ruin his life?

And so we come to the problem of his personality: he doesn't have one. He's a blank slate. A mirror. He reproduces others' behaviors and mannerisms and personalities and he has no control over it. He has no idea who he is himself. The angst creates itself.

Once there, it was easy process for the rest. Make him a body. Average size since he's just a copy of others. Pomefiore attitude and presentation since he's in Pomefiore. I like curly hair and there aren't enough of them in Twisted Wonderland so I went with that, but they couldn't be long since Yuu already has semi long curly hair.

I still needed one way to recognize him. Make him pop amongst the other characters. What makes Hayeli physically Hayeli?

1. Moles. So many moles.

2. Bad skin. He's in Pomefiore? Do the contrary of what's expected there. Give him a malleable standard face and add bad skin to it.

3. Strange eyes. He's a mirror who can reproduce everything he sees. His eyes are important. Make them pale like mirrors, make his pupils white to reflect others, make the shape a bit blurry as if the mirror isn't perfect.

And there you have Hayeli's body!

Oh. A name? Google translate, please tell me how to say mirror in different languages please. Mirror in Armenian is "Hayeli", I like the sound of it. Sold. So Hayeli shall be Armenian irl, that'd probably be on the frontiers of the Scalding Sands (thanks a friend for helping me with that part), so maybe I should make his skin darker. Besides, dark skins in a dorm that values beauty is also not the first idea people get. Sold!

(Somewhere during the process, I actually had an objective with Hayeli. "Make him represent Teenagehood itself". Teenagehood is a particularly difficult period, teenagers try to become their own person independently from their parents. They copy each other and all the people they look up to to find what suits them best, but they also hate not being able to tell who they are as a person. Hayeli represents that struggle, and that's also why I gave him a heavy bout of acne and red cheeks and baby fat but a lean body. Teenagehood isn't pretty, and it shouldn't be. Hayeli is awkward, his body is morphing a lot, he has no idea who he is or who he wants to become, he copies others without realizing. But he also has a lot of fun. He cheats at tests, he bothers his classmates and dormmates, he has fun with makeup, he tries a lot of new things. While Yuu was meant to represent survival, Hayeli is meant to represent teenagehood, for better and for worse.)

There you have all of Hayeli's creation process.

TLDR: Mostly I just... don't go with the very first thought I get. Do you know that Pixar or maybe Disney process where they give up on the first dozen ideas they get because it's too "normal" and easy to guess? It has its flaws but I think it's not that bad. I go with the contrary of what's expected (dark bad skin for a dorm that represents beauty) or I push the concept further if I can (copying magic instead of shapeshifting). And most importantly, I give my characters flaws and weaknesses. That's the most important part of the creation to me. What can I give him that'll make him struggle? The scenario writes itself as soon as you give your characters challenges to overcome within themselves.

[vasito-de-leche]

hi hello!!! I’ve been reading your Horropedia stuff and oh my goD the way you write him fills my itty bitty heart with glee- would it be alright if I asked for a character analysis on him? I’d love to hear your thoughts on him!! ༄⋆｡˚✵ ໒꒰ྀི ⸝⸝´ ꒳ `⸝⸝ ꒱ྀི১

;R1999 HORROPEDIA - General Headcanons

Compilation of headcanons and analysis on Horropedia as a character and other related things.

TYSM! I'm very happy that you like my horropi posts! my horroposting!!

I don't know much about the horror genre or horror culture because I get scared very very easily so I don't watch many horror movies, but I'll do my best to deliver a good analysis of our boy o7

On the subject of horror, ableism and neurodivergency.

It goes without saying that Horropedia's character revolves around the horror genre. In this bullet point, I'm not aiming to list every single reference to movies or horror culture, but to tackle his relationship with it and how it gives further context into his personality--as well as how his heavily implied neurodivergency is meant to bring focus into the ableist ideals and practices within the St. Pavlov Foundation.

The very first part of Horropedia's storyboard and his 01 Story explains the origin for his love of horror AND affinity for tinkering with technology: his adoptive grandfather, described as a failed researcher and forgotten horror novelist.

In these excerpts, it is VERY clear that Horropedia and his grandfather loved each other despite the poor living conditions. This aspect of community and family, as well as a strong sense of self and individuality is very important, because it goes against EVERYTHING that the Foundation stands for.

Compare the "role models" of the Foundation with the "troublemakers"--on one hand, we have Sonetto and Matilda. On the other, we have Vertin and Horropedia. All four act as parallels and foils of each other in this aspect. I think everyone is more familiar with Sonetto and Vertin, so I'll begin with them to make this whole tangent easier to digest!

Both characters are direct opposites of each other, but their origins are similar: neither of them has any sort of strong ties to the outside world. Sonetto does not know about her biological family. Vertin was the youngest arcanist to join the Foundation, and vaguely remembers her mother. The key difference is that Sonetto hasn't shown any interest in finding about her biological family, adapting perfectly to the model that the Foundation aims to instill into their students--whereas Vertin's character focuses a lot on loneliness, on finding a community. Because Sonetto lacks this support, this solid ground in which she could cultivate her own identity separate to her martyr and obedient dog role, she's considered the best of the best. And because Vertin keeps stepping out of these ideals and strict guidelines, clinging onto her own sense of self and individuality, she's considered a troublemaker.

Now, let's focus on Matilda and Horropedia. Unlike the previous examples, these two HAVE families outside of the Foundation--which are a very important part of their lives--and it's implied that both of them chose to join the Foundation, unlike Sonetto and Vertin who had no choice.

We already discussed Horropedia's grandfather. When it comes to Matilda, it's stated in one of her Stories that the only way for her busy parents to show affection and give her the time of day is through academic success, which explains why she's so hellbent on being the best. Family is very important to both of these characters. Both of these characters also suffer within the Foundation because they have strong identities and lives that the Foundation does not agree with. In Chapter 03 "Nouvelles et Textes pour Rien," the very first stage shows the way Matilda, the newest student in class, is immediately put down by the rest of the class.

In this context, Matilda is being cast aside and ridiculed because her knowledge (of arcanist origin, coming directly from her grandfather) and her inability to give proof (note how mankind considers knowledge discovered or passed down between arcanists as "inferior," as seen in 1.3 "Journey to Mor Pankh", because they cannot verify it themselves).

How does this relate to Horropedia?

Well. The second part of his Storyboard shows the connection I'm trying to make.

Horropedia went through a similar experience. Both he and Matilda were ostracized by their peers because they didn't neatly fit in within the perfect model of a Foundation arcanist. We even see that he had to abandon his love for horror, instead "blending into the quiet campus." Their uniqueness, their history was slowly washed away.

So what is the difference between the two? How are they parallels and foils of each other? The difference is that Matilda, like Sonetto, was assimilated into the Foundation's ideals, whereas Horropedia was able to break free and retain his sense of self. The things he loved, the things that made him himself.

His Monologue voice line expresses this sentiment perfectly:

We all experienced the past where we were denied, distressed, and lost. That beautiful building, the white cradle, cut off all the "inconsistent" parts from us, in order to shape us into a "better" self … All in all, I am relieved that I am still me, and you are still you.

We see time and time again throughout the main story and sprinkled throughout other events, the Foundation is an organization that advocates for order and peace--something that they believe can only be achieved through the assimilation (or taming) of arcanists. They are written in a very specific way that shows how oppressive they can be to every single minority, not just related to neurodivergency. It's intersectional oppression.

It's just like horror.

Horror as a genre has an undeniable connection with communities such as POC, LGTBQ+ or neurodivergent and disabled people. Or just women in general! These groups have been demonized in one way or another in these movies. At some point, we have seen caricatures of people like us used to scare the masses.

...And in some cases, we've reclaimed certain aspects of it. Take one of the latest movies for example, "Lisa Frankenstein", or an older piece of media such as "Carmilla," a book that might be the origin of the predatory lesbian stereotype.

To me, it makes a LOT of sense that a character so heavily coded to be autistic or neurodivergent has a hyperfixation as loaded as horror. Fundamentally, Joshua and horror should not go together--because his Medium is "Logic," which contradicts the whole nonsensical and fantastical aspect of the horror genre. This is the subject of his interview with Pandora Wilson, actually!

In here, he explains how horror has its own set of rules and guidelines, a "rigorous internal logic" as he puts it, which allows anyone to survive--as long as they understand how horror movies work. We see this aspect of him in action during the 1.2 event, many many times! We see the way he interprets it, how it relates to his way of thinking and his life, how he embodies horror as part of his life--it's in his chosen nickname, Horropedia--it all falls into place rather nicely!

Horror can only make sense if you take the time to study the laws that govern it, when you pay attention to the details.

A lot of the discussion surrounding Horropedia is obviously about his hyperfixation with horror, how he would act in a slasher movie, if he would make fun of certain tropes and this and that... Which is fair! That IS the whole point of his character!

But I hope I was able to emphasize just how meaningful his connection to the genre is. It goes beyond a classic hyperfixation that could wear off in the future. Just note the description for his i2 Garment "Screamism":

A little monster under the sheets and a steadfast guardian of the heart.

Details and things I had no idea where to fit in that first bullet point.

I hope these analysis and this entire blog gave away the fact that I'm also extremely neurodivergent and my special interest is overanalyzing things to an insane degree. These are the details that I HAVE to share with others or I'll explode, but I don't know where exactly fit them in the previous bullet point.

Related to this whole discussion about horror, ableism and neurodivergency. Horropedia's Night voice line mentions "The Man in the Frame."

Fine. I've always considered "The Man in the Frame" to be a conventional horror story. But when I myself stay in a frame … I finally realized it's really horrific.

I discussed this voice line with some people and some interpret this as a reference to the way characters in the main screen can turn into paintings. However, I believe this is a reference to the neat, little mold that the Foundation and the School of Discipline insist on using to raise their arcanists.

"The Man in the Frame" is a Russian animated short by Fyodor Khitruk, which you can actually watch here on Youtube--it's only 10 minutes and it's very interesting! I actually watched it to understand what Horropedia was referring to.

For those who don't have time for it, the short follows a man living within a frame and the different phases of his life. At first, it's a simple rectangle, four black lines caging him--when he falls in love, he gets out of this frame, but returns to it. Each phase shows him slowly working to "better" his frame, so it's more elaborate and ornate like those coworkers with higher positions. Until he refuses to step out of this frame, now at the top, even turning a blind eye to the suffering of others who ask for help, ordering everything to be put within more and more frames, his own becoming more and more claustrophobic until there's nothing left of him.

Of course Horropedia finds this story terrifying now that he understands what it's like to be suffocated by conventional and strict rules.

In this same vein, I want to talk about the fact that every character (except Tooth Fairy, since we don't know her real first name) in the 1.2 update has a name that starts with J--Jennifer, Jessica and Joshua.

Horropedia's name is said to reference a movie named "Joshua" from 2007. I'm not going to watch this movie because its premise sounds scary to me and I would like to sleep tonight, BUT the poster for this movie is relevant to the discussion of "The Man in the Frame".

If someone has seen this movie and would like to add their two cents about it and how it might relate to Horropedia, please, by all means! I would love to hear what you have to say!

Next thing I couldn't fit in: Horropedia's items.

A character's items are meant to give us a little more insight into their lives and important aspects that the game wants to highlight about them. If you've read my previous analysis of Dikke and Tennant, then you know what I'm taking about. One of Horropedia's item stands out to me.

His glasses allude to his fanatism and devotion to his interests. His gadget set alludes to his logical side and intellect, the technology that his grandfather taught him. But what about the green tie clip? There is nothing outstanding nor worth noting about this clip, other than the fact that it's green.

Why does it matter that it's green? Because green is Horropedia's color.

It is the main representative color in his design, the one that pops up the most in his i2 Garment and sprites, the color of his shirt and monster slippers, the color of slime and ooze from horror movie's practical effects, the color of the entire 1.2 event. It is the color that, in this case, represents the aspect of horror.

It's the color you see once you understand Horropedia more (by raising his level and insight) and the color that is subdued and hidden by default in his regular sprite, only seen in very specific areas as shown below.

Perhaps this is an extrapolation on my part, I'm willing to accept that if it's ever confirmed, but with the amount of detail given to each character and their items, I think it makes sense for this simple, green tie clip to mean much more than "oh hey, Horropedia wears tie clips!" the same way Tennant's third item is a direct display of how much New Delhi meant to her despite the lies she tells in her voice lines.

Note the first phrase Pandora Wilson uses to describe this item: "A green line cuts through a black-and-white checkered world." To me, this alludes to Horropedia being an outlier within the Foundation, as someone who fought the system and remained true to himself despite everything.

He is the green line that cuts through this checkered world, everyone knows him and his eccentric nature, he fully embraces his status as a problem child and even gives Jessica tips on how to avoid being brainwashed by the School of Discipline in her own event.

The next and final part of this bullet point is more of a personal observation?

I've seen a lot of people focus on the fact that Horropedia would poke fun at every single horror trope because "they're too predictable" and I feel like this is not quite right? Yes, he plays the role of That One Guy who is very aware of the sort of movie he's in, who serves mostly to explain horror tropes to the audience and be self-aware or joke about how certain aspects make no sense when we think logically (outside of the context of horror) about them. But we also see how serious and eager he is during the whole 1.2 event. And tropes exist because they work, because they are part of the formula in each genre. Being able to spot a trope does not mean that the media you're consuming is bad, it's just something that you were able to pick up on because it's part of the genre.

From my understanding, shock value and surprises are part of horror. That's why we have these twists at the end, like the reveal of a killer who survived being killed by the protagonists. Yes, Horropedia DOES mention that jumpscares are outdated, but we understand jumpscares as a cheap and fast way to scare people by catching them off guard, like Five Nights at Freddy's for example. But the element of surprise is still important, it's just something that this cheap tactic and actual horror share.

Logically, horror makes no sense because there's no way for a zombie apocalypse to happen, or for ghosts to haunt you and so on and so forth. This is why we suspend our belief, to fully immerse ourselves in the worlds being presented to us--one must understand the logic within the context of these movies, rather than apply outside logic to it.

This is a really long tangent just to say that Horropedia wouldn't exactly be the type of guy to engage in horror with such bad faith interpretations or opinions, since his To The Future voice line does focus on the impossible, the surprises that the future might bring. Expect the unexpected, as he says!

Future, future, hmm … Our future slides back to the past. What else would be impossible then? Perhaps that blondie would accept an award on the stage of any film festival, or the lame horror novels written by my grandpa would win the Nobel Prize in Literature, haha … I mean, you can always expect the unexpected, my friends!

There is also the fact that his Inheritance Skill is LITERALLY named "Jump Scare," because even though it's an outdated practice, it requires a lot of redirection--to ease the viewer into a false sense of safety only to hit them with the real thing, which fits the way Horropedia's Incantations work! He shoots randomly or with his eyes closed and his shots are redirected to the enemy! It's like his Ultimate description says:

With that, I think I got everything off my chest and out of my brain. Sadly, I don't think I have many headcanons that I could ramble about without making this post longer than it should be?

I guess I like to think Horropedia is left-handed and wears his accesories on reverse to throw people off, if that counts? I also like to think that he just naturally assigns a piece of horror media that he knows to everyone he knows in his brain, and that's how he knows them as or remembers them. Oh! I also think he could figure out the plot of FNAF if he wanted!

[another-dr-another]

Advance to the trial!!

Maeda, narrating - …Back in the fucking court room.

Maeda - …

Maeda - Wonder if Monokuma’s gonna comment on Tsurugi’s stuff.

~*~

Maki - …

//The students silently step out of the elevator- and without much procession, return to their assigned podiums.

Maeda - …

Maeda - Oh, I hate that I can do math.

Uehara - …’S a lot of portraits…

Maeda - Exactly.

Maeda - …Twice the amount there was last time we were here.

Tomori - …Oh my god.

Tomori - Three then, six now- what the fuck.

Monokuma - …

Monokuma - Additionally, There Are Nine Students Surviving From Hope’s Peak’s Class Seventy-Nine B. 

Monokuma - Your Numbers Are Now In The Single Digits.

Hatano - Yeah, we noticed.

Uehara - Your mom’s in the single digits.

Tsurugi - …Nice.

Maki - Don’t reward that.

Hatano - …My mom’s dea-

Uehara - Girlie, that sucks, and I cannot stress how sorry I am to learn that.

Uehara - I was talking to Monokuma though.

Hatano - …

Uehara - …

Tsurugi - …

Maki - …Monokuma.

Monokuma - Maki Kiyoka?

Maki - …

Maki, seething - …

Maeda - Someone’s gonna pop a blood vessel today, swear to it.

Maki - …We’re in the trial. It’s time for you to explain the rules.

Monokuma - Guidelines For The Class Trial Can Be Found In The E-Handbook-

Maki - Did you add what we’re supposed to do when there’s two murders?

Maki - Iranami and Higa both have Monofile 03- are they sharing a trial, too?

Monokuma - Commendable Deductive Reasoning.

Monokuma - That Is Correct. As In The Trials Before It, This Trial Serves To Address All Deaths Occuring After The Execution Of The Prior Blackened.

Monokuma - In This Case, The Aforementioned Prior Blackened Being Yamaguchi Kakeru, Executed For The Murder Of Mekaru Rei.

Maki - Alright- and who will be executed at the end of this trial?

Monokuma - Guidelines For Who Shall Be Executed Under Differing Circumstances-

Maki - HEY.

Monokuma - …

Maki - …

Maki - Do we need to solve both deaths, and identify the blackened for both- if Iranami’s killer and Higa’s are separate people?

Monokuma - …

Monokuma - No.

Maeda - Huh?

Ōtori - !...

Taira - …Elaborate.

Monokuma - The Deaths Of Iranami Satsuki And Higa Mitsuhiro Are Treated As Two Separate Incidents.

Monokuma - The Faculty Would Like To Make It Clear That This Does Not Mean They Were Necessarily Caused By Two Separate People;

Monokuma - Students Should Consider The Idea That Both Students Were Murdered By The Same Blackened, With Weight Equal To Other Options.

Maki - We get it, get on with it!

Monokuma - …

Monokuma - As The Deaths Are Each Treated As Their Own Separate Cases, There Are Two Correct Answers Which The Court Could Reach.

Monokuma - Though It Has Been Difficult To Determine An Equitable Approach To This Unprecedented Event, The Faculty Has Decided To Proceed As Such;

Monokuma - When The Court Is Satisfied With Their Debate, And The Majority Of Participants Are Ready And Willing To Vote,

Monokuma - They Will First Vote To Determine Which Case They Are Submitting An Answer For, Then Will Vote For The Participant They Believe To Be At Fault.

Monokuma - The Case Which Is Not Selected Will Be Shut Alongside The Case Prosecuted For.

Monokuma - Standard Execution Guidelines Apply; If The Blackened Is Correctly Identified, They Alone Will Be Executed For Their Action.

Monokuma - If The Blackened Is Identified Incorrectly, Then All Participants Except For The Blackened Will Be Executed For Their Failure-

Monokuma - This Includes The Blackened Of The Case Which Was Not Prosecuted, If They Exist.

Monokuma - Effectively, For All Intents And Purposes; The Court Must Choose A Case To Dismiss. If The Blackened Of The Case Is Not The Blackened Of The Prosecuted Case, Their Action Will Be Zero-Sum-

Monokuma - No Risk Of Being Discovered, No Chance Of Leaving The Mutual Killing Game.

Maeda - …W…What?

Kobashikawa - …

Kobashikawa - So…

Kobashikawa - Once we’re ready to vote- we pick the case we’re prosecuting, then pick who we’d like to accuse?

Monokuma - Yes.

Ōtori - A…And-

Ōtori - The other case- the one that isn’t selected…

Ōtori - It… gets dismissed? You said it gets closed- the blackened wouldn’t ever be punished for it?

Monokuma - Yes.

Taira - Two deaths- but only one trial, so… only one prosecution.

Maki - …That isn’t fair, though.

Monokuma - Fair Is A Divisive Conclusion. 

Monokuma - Other Ideas Included Prosecuting Both Blackeneds, However-

Taira - You’d struggle with implementing this. What- two trials? Ask us to make that gamble twice? When every trial, the majority seemed to rather no one die, blackened included?

Taira - …I like it.

Maki - You like this?

Taira - More than the other ideas-

Taira - What else could be done… we go based off which death occurred first, and have to work that out? Or, we only follow one case, depending on the order bodies were discovered, and either Higa or Iranami get ignored from the start?

Tsurugi - …

Tsurugi, quietly - …The choice is ours.

Tomori - …Endless endings. 

//He looks at her and nods.

Tsurugi - But someone still has to die.

Hatano - …It’s perfect-

Hatano - Fuck your food, Tsurugi!

Maeda - …Uh oh.

Hatano - We can be out of here in five minutes!

Hatano - Maeda, Maki- you said you know who killed Iranami, right?

Maeda - Uh-

Maki - I don’t… like where this looks like it’s going, ethically-

Hatano - No, it’s great!

Hatano - I mean- what, does anyone want to stand here and argue about what happened to Higa? No one cares!

Maeda - …Kobashikawa’s probably gonna walk out of this trial feeling alright.

Hatano - We’ll execute whoever killed Iranami, and be done!

Taira - …No.

Taira - We need to examine both cases, and all the evidence we have. We can’t just go off of one theory immediately.

Hatano - Yeah, that’s why I said five minutes, not instantly- Maeda and Maki can explain their theory, and we’ll confirm it, probably- and vote!

Maki - Wait- I’m still caught up on how we’re running this shit!

Maki - We’re going to be walking out of here with a murderer!

Kobashikawa - …If it was two different people.

Ōtori - …

Maki - And we’re choosing which death gets avenged.

Tsurugi - …

Maki - …Tsurugi, what?

Tsurugi - …I’m surprised to hear you talking about it from the perspective of “vengeance”, is all… it’s a difficult mindset to have.

Maki - …Well-

Hatano - This is what I was talking about!

Hatano - Maki’s just trying to talk about how fucked up she thinks Monokuma is, and how she doesn’t like murder, and Tsurugi’s going in on her for it!

Uehara - Not what he said.

Uehara - If we start saying the blackeneds deserve to die because they killed someone, we’re like…

Uehara - Totally ignoring that all of us are getting tortured, and no one wants to be here.

Hatano - Some of us didn’t commit murder about it!

Uehara - Some of us were driven to paranoia and detachment from reality- some of us got videos saying everyone else would murder them, and hallucinated their high-health-risk siblings.

Uehara - The second we start to… care more about taking peoples lives because we think they deserved it, than we, uh…

Uehara - …

Hatano - …

Uehara - When we���re madder at each other than at the mastermind, that’s fucked up, and everyone’s gonna suffer about it.

Hatano - Madder isn’t a word.

Ōtori - It is.

Hatano - I didn’t ask!

Uehara - Tsu wouldn’t be upset with anyone ever, about anything…

Uehara - Remember, in the dining hall? I asked him to be angry, and I think he cried.

Ōtori - …What?

//Maki is rubbing at the bridge of her nose.

Maki - Later.

Maeda - None of this feels real.

Uehara - Uh- 

Uehara - Anyways…

Uehara - …Right!

Uehara - So, like… it wasn’t anything about Maki’s concern, cuz that’s… totally right. Talk about buddy system…

Uehara - But, it’s avenging people that’s an issue. We aren’t here to do that.

Uehara - None of us should want to play god-

Uehara - Hatano can. That’s fair.

//Hatano twitches.

Uehara - But… we’re here because we have to be, or we’ll all die.

Tomori - …Better one of us, than everyone- but we shouldn’t bemoan not having to execute more people.

Tomori - We shouldn’t be arguing that we should be allowed to hand out the death penalty.

Maki - …

Tsurugi - …

Tsurugi - Also, I got worried when you said that, Maki. 

Maki - …

Maki - Okay.

Maki - I don’t…

Maki - I don’t like any of this…

Maki - But, I do understand the way things are set up, and… not like we don’t bitch and moan about what happened at the end of every trial…

Tomori, teasing - …So, we’ll save it until then?

Maki - …Yeah.

Monokuma - Are There Any Questions Regarding The System In Place This Trial?

Tsurugi - …Two murders, both being solved concurrently, in the same trial. We choose when we want to vote, and when we do, we’ll vote on which case to solve, then which person we’re accusing.

Tsurugi - The murder we don’t select is… effectively void. We won’t revisit it, and we won’t get the chance to find out who the blackened was- and no one will die because of that case.

Tsurugi - All of these “if”’s don’t matter if it was one person behind both cases- though we’ll still have to pick which case we prosecute them for. They’ll still be executed, same as every other trial.

Monokuma - Yes.

Maeda - …

Maeda - What if we asked you to tell us who the blackened is? After the trial, I mean-

Maeda - Not to execute them, or for any reason, but… so we’d know, for certain?

Monokuma - …

Monokuma - An Interesting Concept.

Monokuma - Thank You For Your Question;

Monokuma - The Faculty Condemns You For Asking Questions For The Sake Of Bettering The Trial.

Maki - Again with the commendi- …

Maki - Wait- did he say condemns?

Maeda - I- I think it did…

Ōtori - …

Ōtori - Maeda, watch your back.

Monokuma - The Faculty Will Deliberate, And Aim To Have An Answer Provided By The End Of The Third Trial.

Tomori - I… I can’t believe that.

Tomori - Does the robot actually just… hate Maeda?

Maki - …It’s a robot. I don’t think it can misspeak.

Maeda, horrified - …

Hatano - Well, it better think quick.

Hatano - Let’s solve this case!

Ōtori - …Higa’s case?

//Maeda’s jaw genuinely drops a bit. He turns to look at Ōtori. Ōtori visibly panics a bit, trying to avoid meeting Maeda’s eyes.

Hatano - …

Hatano - Is this funny to you?

Ōtori - …

Hatano - …

Kobashikawa - …

Maeda - …

Maeda - Uh…

Hatano - I’m not done. I’m waiting for Ōtori to answer me.

Ōtori - …Hatano, I think this is actually hell. I think we died during orientation, and now we’re all in hell.

Hatano - …

Ōtori - I don’t want to be here, or be doing any of this. None of this is funny in the slightest. Can we move on before I throw up?

Hatano - …

Hatano - See? Not hard to just talk about how you feel.

Tsurugi - Would anyone be mad if I went ahead and started sitting on the floor now, like usual?

Tsurugi - …

Maeda - …Tsurugi. I will be mad. Do not just ignore this trial.

Tsurugi - The only thing that’s gonna change is I’ll be sitting on the floor drinking my coffee, instead of standing up and drinking my coffee.

Maeda - …

//Tsurugi looks at Maeda. Maeda looks at Tsurugi.

Tsurugi - …

//Tsurugi stays standing. 

Hatano - …Maeda, why’d you get Maki earlier?

Maeda, startled - ! Uh- fuck-

Maeda - U-Uehara asked me to…

Hatano - Okay. Why’d you side with Uehara?

Maeda - I wasn’t on anyone’s side!

Hatano - …

Uehara - …Wait, Maeda-

Maeda, anxious - Yes?

Uehara - What’s your theory for Iranami’s death?...

Maeda - …

Uehara - …

Ōtori - …

Maeda - Ōtori was right. We’re in hell.

Maeda - Uehara, as a Christian- as a priest, do you think Ōtori was right about this being hell?

Uehara - I mean, it feels like it right now. 

Uehara - This isn’t what hell is like from most Christian perspectives- not really something that’s… hidden from you. But it might be comparable.

Maeda - …Okay. Cool.

Hatano - Can we start to debate now?

Taira - …Hatano, I still don’t believe we should prioritize Iranami’s death.

Hatano - What!? What is it that’s got you so against me!

Maeda, stressed - Why do things keep happening.

Taira - I’m not against you. I’m for my own safety, and it isn’t on me that you’re acting on emotion, instead of thinking things through.

Maeda - Always something. All the time.

Taira - We need to consider every aspect of what happened last night, so we can determine what’s safest.

Taira - We should prosecute whichever case we can answer with more confidence. If anything, we should discuss what happened to Iranami last, so there’ll be less tunnel vision on your part.

Hatano - …

Maki - …I agree. Both cases need to be examined- unless we get a confession, our priority should be getting informed on what happened.

Taira - Exactly.

Taira - Ignoring a case is like ignoring evidence. It’s too plausible that we’ll end up coming to the wrong conclusion because we didn’t challenge our perspective enough.

Hatano - …

Hatano - I get what you’re saying…

Hatano - But you’re looking at things wrong!

Nonstop Debate: START!

Truth Bullets Monofile #03-1 Monofile #03-2 Tsurugi's Autopsy

Hatano - There’s {no evidence linking Higa’s death to Iranami!}

Hatano - {We don’t have any reason to say they're connected}, so we can just solve Iranami's case!

Taira - No, that’s incorrect.

Taira - You’re ignoring that {both deaths happened last night}, while everyone was in the same place.

Tomori - …Yeah. Sorry, Hatano- but even if {the murders have different culprits}, we need to make sure the whole night fits together.

Maki - Mhm. Before we lack evidence connecting the deaths, we lack reason to only solve one of them.

Maki - Like- {whoever killed Iranami must have left Tsurugi’s dorm last night}- couldn’t it be relevant to think about if that happened before Higa died, or after?

Hatano - But, that’s what I mean- you aren’t listening!

Ōtori - …Hey, Hatano- Maybe talking about Higa’s case instead for a minute will be good for you-

Maki - Shut up, Ōtori.

Ōtori - …

Hatano - What do any of you care!

Hatano - All that matters to you guys is surviving, right? {We’ll find a culprit}, that doesn’t matter!

Hatano - Listen- even if we do end up talking about both cases, it’ll just be to prove who hurt Iranami!

Hatano - …{Not like anyone bothered to perform an autopsy on Higa.}

Tsurugi - …

Ōtori - …Fixating on her case won’t get us anywhere. 

Hatano - But solving it would!

~*~

Maeda, narrating - …Honestly, the problem is that we’re just… it feels like we’re pointlessly arguing.

Maeda - I think we need to reevaluate what we’re trying to do here, and what should be driving our choices.

Maeda - Some of what's being said is... questionable-

Maeda - But even if people's wording is weird, there's a core argument there I agree with- I just have to look past the... everything else.

Maeda - We have to start somewhere… what’s our best option?

//Note: Been a while since I typed one of these! There’s no way the formatting is consistent with how I used to make them- but this is how it’s formatted now, which I’ll hopefully remember- we’ll be seeing a lot of notes this trial! Every minigame ended up getting revamped for this trial, to hopefully work better with BTBB’s format. On paper, we’ll be better utilizing the interactability of running this on tumblr- please let me know what you think about it in theory! Anyways- the only change made to the Nonstop Debate is the addition of italicized weak points. Similar to the other weak points, they’re spots which Maeda notes because they’re a bit harder to argue for… but if a weak point is italicized, Maeda agrees with what’s being said! Rather than believing he could argue against it, he thinks he can argue for/with it! In Danganronpa terms- italicized text can be absorbed, and agreed with! This isn’t a new element of trial gameplay, I’ve just added italics to make it clearer what Maeda agrees with.

To Recap: A weak point is {any text in brackets} during the nonstop debate- it’s a statement someone’s making which doesn’t have too much backing it up! At least, not in Maeda’s eyes. Unitalicized text can be argued against! You can absorb statements to counter these weak points with, but these weak points cannot be absorbed and used as Maeda’s argument. Italicized text can be agreed with! You can absorb these weak points to use them as Maeda’s argument, whether he’s shooting a statement he agrees with or not. And, in standard DR fashion- when you’re given a new element of gameplay, it may be a good idea to try it out as the opportunity arises… good luck!

[bethl8765]

under the gorse - reflection

My Involvement

I found my role in this film to be very challenging due to the main producer stepping down at the early stages of the production and many other issues throughout. My role was co-producer, but I had stated early in the process that I would not be able to take on equal responsibilities as Jack, the other co-producer, as this was not my main project.

I did learn some valuable lessons which I will take forward with me in my future work, for example, how to overcome challenges on set and how to navigate difficult conversations with crew. It was very positive to have Jack come on board, as I do not think the film would have been made otherwise. His main responsibilities were to complete risk assessments, assist with permissions and agreements, and help with equipment bookings (I booked sound equipment, and he booked the rest of the equipment for the main shoot), as well as helping in whatever other areas were needed. I think we worked well together, especially on set where we needed to work together to overcome difficult scenarios.

There was clearly lots of research put into the story and aesthetics of this film, with Sam having a large amount of really detailed and beautiful inspiration for the story, visuals, and sound, which I think is reflected in the final film. Looking back, I think a lot of the challenges that arose throughout this production were due to a lack of strong communication, which we could have overcome by having a meeting where we clearly distributed tasks and made an action plan for how we would achieve a smooth workflow. This was something that did happen, but not to the level of detail that was needed.

In Conclusion...

This project was a massive learning experience for me, for many reasons. Producing is a challenging enough role that aside from anything I have realised is mainly about adapting to work with different people, especially directors. It can be difficult to achieve a harmonious relationship as the producer works with the production's best interests in mind (what is feasible, how can we look after our cast and crew etc) whereas a director is more concerned directly with the story, visuals, and acting. This is understandable. It is not their job to be concerned about the financial element of their film, for example. However, on this level, whilst we're still students and not in possession of large amounts of funding, it is crucial that it is taken into consideration what is actually achievable. This can be seen as trying to crush the dream of a director, but that was certainly not my goal with this project. I loved Sam's vision and believed that it could be a beautiful and unique film. However, I couldn't ignore the many challenges and elements of the project that were out of the realm of achievability. I think this wasn't clear, that I was in fact just trying to get this film to actually be made. I stayed on board for a number of reasons including a genuine passion and belief in the film, wanting to support Sam, and believing that the challenging nature of the project could be beneficial. I was encouraged by a number of people to take on this second producing opportunity, and only later did I realise that, considering everything else going on in my life at the time, it was perhaps not the best idea.

Despite the challenges, it was beneficial to work with children and follow the certain guidelines that are required when working with them (giving them appropriate breaks etc). I feel like I will be better equipped moving forward with how to organise a production that requires so many moving parts. I also learnt a lot about my approach as a producer and how to adapt to different people's ways of working. Having now reflected on this experience, I am able to view the challenges as learning opportunities and I now feel capable of overcoming pretty much any obstacle that presents itself in future projects that I produce.

[alicemiller817]

How MATLABAssignmentExperts.com Made My Academic Journey Easier

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For instance, in one assignment on image processing, I learned how to apply various filters and transform techniques to enhance image quality. This practical insight proved invaluable when preparing for my exams.

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[vtellswhat]

How to Plan Your Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Plan Your Research Paper: A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing a research paper can feel overwhelming, especially when starting from scratch. A clear, structured plan can turn this daunting task into a manageable and rewarding experience. Whether you are a student or a professional, following these steps will help you create a research paper that is well-organized, impactful, and polished.

1. Understand the Purpose and Scope

Before diving in, clarify the purpose of your paper. Ask yourself:

What is the main question or problem I want to address?

Who is my audience (academics, professionals, general readers)?

What is the required format and length?

Knowing these details will help you focus your research and structure your paper effectively.

2. Choose a Relevant Topic

Select a topic that interests you and aligns with the guidelines provided. A strong topic should:

Address a specific question or issue.

Be neither too broad nor too narrow.

Be supported by adequate sources and evidence.

If you’re unsure, start with a broad area of interest and narrow it down as you delve deeper.

3. Conduct Preliminary Research

Once you’ve chosen a topic, gather background information. Use reliable sources such as:

Academic journals

Books

Government publications

Credible online databases (e.g., PubMed, JSTOR, Google Scholar)

Take notes and track your sources meticulously to avoid plagiarism and simplify your citation process later.

4. Develop a Research Question or Thesis Statement

A clear research question or thesis statement serves as the foundation of your paper. It should:

Define the main purpose of your research.

Be specific and focused.

Provide direction for your argument or analysis.

For example, if your topic is climate change, your research question might be: "How do renewable energy policies affect carbon emissions in developing countries?"

5. Create an Outline

An outline organizes your thoughts and ensures your paper has a logical flow. A typical structure includes:

Introduction

Hook to engage readers.

Background information.

Thesis statement.

Body

Divide into sections or subheadings for clarity.

Present arguments supported by evidence.

Analyze findings critically.

Conclusion

Summarize key points.

Reinforce the thesis.

Suggest implications or areas for future research.

6. Gather In-Depth Sources

Dive deeper into your research. Focus on:

Primary sources (e.g., interviews, experiments, historical documents).

Secondary sources (e.g., analyses, commentaries). Evaluate the credibility of each source, and use a mix of perspectives to build a balanced argument.

7. Write a Draft

Start writing your paper based on the outline. Don’t aim for perfection in the first draft; focus on getting your ideas down. Keep the following in mind:

Stick to a formal tone and academic language.

Use evidence to support your claims.

Transition smoothly between sections.

8. Revise and Edit

Once the draft is complete, take time to revise. Look for:

Clarity: Is the argument easy to follow?

Relevance: Does every section contribute to the main point?

Conciseness: Are there redundant phrases or sections?

Editing involves checking for grammatical errors, typos, and proper formatting. Tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s Editor can assist in this process.

9. Cite Your Sources

Proper citation is crucial to avoid plagiarism and lend credibility to your work. Follow the required citation style (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago) meticulously. Consider using citation tools like Zotero or Mendeley for efficiency.

10. Seek Feedback

Before finalizing your paper, seek input from peers, mentors, or colleagues. Constructive feedback can highlight areas for improvement you might have overlooked.

11. Finalize and Proofread

After incorporating feedback, give your paper a final review. Check for:

Consistency in formatting.

Logical coherence throughout.

A compelling introduction and conclusion.

Reading your paper aloud can help catch overlooked errors or awkward phrasing.

Conclusion

Planning a research paper is as much about strategy as it is about writing. By following these steps—choosing a relevant topic, conducting thorough research, outlining, and revising—you can produce a paper that stands out. Remember, the process requires patience and persistence, but the end result is worth the effort. Whether you’re a student aiming for academic success or a professional contributing to your field, a well-crafted research paper can make a lasting impact.

Need expert guidance for your PhD, Master’s thesis, or research writing journey? Click the link below to access resources and support tailored to help you excel every step of the way. Unlock your full research potential today!

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writebing/

[millaphleb]

Master the Phlebotomy Exam: Essential Review Book Insights for Success

Master the Phlebotomy ⁣Exam: Essential Review Book Insights ⁣for Success

If​ you’re⁢ eager to ⁤launch a successful career in healthcare, mastering the phlebotomy exam⁤ is ‍a critical step. As the primary professionals in blood specimen collection, phlebotomists play an essential role ‍in patient care. In this article, we’ll ‍discuss insights from essential review books that ⁢can help⁢ you succeed in your phlebotomy exam,‍ along with practical tips and beneficial ⁢resources.

Understanding the Phlebotomy Exam

The⁢ phlebotomy exam typically assesses your knowledge and skills related to blood collection, anatomy, clinical procedures, and safety protocols. Knowing the exam format can make a significant impact on your preparation.

Exam Format and Structure

Component

Description

Multiple Choice Questions

Typically 100 questions⁣ covering anatomy, procedures, and safety.

Practical Skills Assessment

Demonstration of blood collection techniques on mannequins or peers.

Duration

Generally, 2-3 hours to complete the exam.

Passing Score

Usually around 70% depending on the certifying body.

Essential Review Books ⁣for‍ Phlebotomy Exam Preparation

Choosing the right review book can be a game changer ⁢in your phlebotomy exam preparation. ‍Here ⁤are some highly recommended titles:

Phlebotomy Exam ⁢Review: A comprehensive resource addressing ⁣key topics and common practices.

Phlebotomy Essentials: Covers ​anatomy, procedures, ‍and patient interactions⁢ effectively.

Exam Review for the Phlebotomy​ Technician: Helps you ⁤understand the exam ​format with practice questions and answers.

Key ​Insights from Review Books

– **Focus on Anatomy and Physiology**: Understand key structures involved in the venous system.​ This knowledge is crucial for successful blood collection.

-‍ **Master ‍Collection Techniques**: Review the steps of the venipuncture process. Practice ‌will‍ boost confidence ⁢and efficiency.

– **Safety Protocols**:⁣ Always prioritize safety. Regulatory guidelines and best ‍practices regarding needle disposal and infection control are vital areas to focus on.

Benefits of Using Review Books

Using review books has several advantages:

Structured Learning: ‍ Review books provide a clear format, breaking down complex topics.

Practice Questions: They often include practice exams, allowing⁢ you to assess your readiness.

Expert ‌Insights: Many books ⁤feature tips from experienced‌ phlebotomists and educators.

Practical Tips for Exam Success

1. **Create⁢ a Study Schedule**: Designate specific times for studying. Consistency helps reinforce⁤ learning.

2. **Join Study ⁢Groups**: Collaborate with peers ⁣to share knowledge and strategies.

3. **Utilize Online Resources**: Websites, forums, and YouTube channels dedicated to phlebotomy⁣ can provide additional insights⁣ and tips.

4. **Take Practice Exams**: Simulate the exam ⁤environment⁤ with practice tests ‌to​ build confidence under timed conditions.

5. **Stay ​Healthy**: Ensure you’re eating ‍well and getting enough rest, especially before the exam day.

Real-Life​ Experiences

Many students who successfully pass the phlebotomy exam attribute much of their success to the use of review books and the guidance from instructors. ​One recent successful candidate shared:

⁣ “Using the⁣ Phlebotomy Essentials book was a turning point for me.⁤ It not only solidified my⁤ knowledge but also eased my nerves. The practice questions‍ mimicked the format​ of the actual exam,‌ which​ made⁢ me feel prepared and confident.”

Case ​Studies of Success

Below are a couple of examples⁢ of individuals⁣ who aced their phlebotomy exams:

Name

Book Used

Study Method

Result

Jane‍ Doe

Phlebotomy Exam Review

Daily 2-hour ​sessions

Passed⁣ with a score of 95%

John Smith

Exam Review for​ the ⁣Phlebotomy Technician

Group study and practice exams

Passed on the first attempt

Conclusion: Your Path to Phlebotomy Success

Passing the phlebotomy exam requires dedication, effective study habits, and the right resources. By ⁣utilizing essential review books and following‍ the practical‌ tips outlined in this article, ⁣you ⁣can significantly enhance your chances ​of success. Remember, preparation ⁣is the key to confidence, and ⁤your effort will pave the way for a rewarding ​career in phlebotomy.

https://phlebotomycertificationcourse.net/master-the-phlebotomy-exam-essential-review-book-insights-for-success/

[abiee-kay]

Once upon a time in a bustling town in Africa, a bright young student named Amina dreamed of becoming a renowned environmental scientist. Growing up, she often heard tales of scholars who had traveled far and wide, transforming their communities with the knowledge they gained through education. However, despite her burning desire to learn, Amina was haunted by a series of myths that clouded her understanding of scholarship eligibility.

One sunny afternoon, as Amina sat under a baobab tree, she overheard a group of students chatting about scholarships. “I heard you need to have perfect grades to get a scholarship,” said one. Another chimed in, “And only students from the best universities can apply!” Amina’s heart sank. If this were true, her dream might be out of reach.

But that day, an elder from the community, Ms. Nia, happened to walk by. She paused when she heard the students, and with a wise smile, she gathered them around. “My dear children,” she began, “let me share a different story about scholarships, particularly the best Africa scholarship program, the Joint Africa Network (JAN), which supports students from all walks of life.”

Ms. Nia explained how many scholarships, including JAN, looked beyond mere academic achievements. “They seek passion, resilience, and the willingness to make a difference,” she said, her eyes sparkling with hope. “Amina, your love for the environment and your community makes you a perfect candidate.”

The students listened intently as Ms. Nia continued. “You see, scholarships aren’t just for those attending prestigious universities embraces students from various educational backgrounds, believing that talent exists everywhere.” Amina’s heart fluttered at the thought that her local university could be the first step on her journey.

Ms. Nia leaned in closer, lowering her voice as if sharing a precious secret. “And don’t be fooled into thinking scholarships are only for specific fields of study. Environmental science, art, education — many areas are supported. JAN wants to invest in the future of Africa, so every discipline matters.” Amina’s excitement grew as she envisioned her future.

But the myths didn’t end there. “I used to think applying for scholarships was far too complicated,” admitted one student. “It’s true that it can seem daunting,” Ms. Nia replied, “but many programs, have simplified the process, providing clear guidelines and resources. You’re not alone in this journey.”

Amina’s confidence began to build as she listened. She realized that applying for multiple scholarships was not a drawback but rather a strategy. “If you find several opportunities, your chances of receiving funding increase,” Ms. Nia emphasized. “The more you apply, the better your chances, so don’t hesitate!”

As the sun began to set, painting the sky with vibrant hues, Amina felt a wave of inspiration wash over her. She learned that the myths surrounding scholarship eligibility were just that — myths. Empowered with this newfound knowledge, Amina decided to take action. She gathered her application materials, sought guidance from her teachers, and reached out to JAN, ready to pursue her dreams.

[upat4amwiththemoon]

Cheer you on

Summary: Even the cheerleader needs someone to cheer them on.

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x female!reader

Warnings: Wanda is kind of mean, i don’t know how cheer or football works

Word count: 4213

a/n: how do you write enemies to lovers trope without instantly making them friends?? This was supposed to be a series, but that obviously didn’t work out

Tags: @thought-of-you-and-me @rafecameronswhore @sayah13 @wandsmxmff @emsmultiverse @natashamaximoff69

masterlists | guidelines

“Maximoff, stay behind after class, please.” Ms Harkness, the chemistry teacher, stops Wanda as she steps inside the classroom. “I have something important to ask you.”

“Yes, Ms Harkness.” Wanda gives her a quick smile, walking over to her desk and takes out her textbook. It wasn’t uncommon for teachers to have a chat with her after class, she is one of the top students after all and pretty much adored amongst all the teachers. Although, she can’t help but feel nervous whenever they do so.

The class goes by quickly, they all do. Wanda has always liked school. She likes to learn nee things and considers herself to be quite good at it. She wouldn’t say she wasn’t like everyone else. Sure, she has never been the most popular kid in school, but she is happy with the friends she has. Being Pietro’s sister, who is on the football team, gives her a lot of opportunities to go to parties. And sometimes Wanda does go, but it’s not her main form of having fun.

“Maximoff!” Ms Harkness’ voice snaps her out if her thoughts. “Were you listening?”

“I am so sorry, Miss, just got lost in my mind. Could you repeat what you said?”

“Would you mind tutoring a student in chemistry? She’s a little behind and failed the last course, so, I suggested getting a tutor and she agreed.”

“Of course! I’d love to help out.” Wanda assures, it’ll look great on her college applications. “Can I ask who am I tutoring?”

“Y/N L/N.” Wanda’s smile drops at the mention of the girl’s name. “You know her, correct? You two have had some classes together.”

“Ah, hm.” Wanda clears her throat. “I know her.”

“Great! That’s settled then, can you start today?”

“Yeah.”

“Good, I’ll let her know and you two can meet up at the library after school. Thank you, Wanda.” Ms Harkness nods in gratitude and goodbye before going back to her stack of papers to work on.

Wanda blows air out of her mouth, silently cursing to herself for accepting the task before knowing who needed tutoring. She didn’t per se, hate her, she’d rather call it heavily disliking her.

Y/N is a rather popular cheerleader, pretty much everyone around school knows her. And Wanda isn’t a fan of popular people, except her brother. They didn’t necessarily do anything bad to her, but she doesn’t like fake people and she is 100% sure all the popular students are fake. Y/N being the fakest of them all.

Every time Wanda walks past her in the hallways, she is smiling and laughing while greeting practically everyone. No one can be that…good.

Wanda groans, she only has two more classes before the tutoring starts. She tries to remind herself that it’s for her own good as she goes to her next class.

The library is silent, more silent than normal, it doesn’t have a big use on after school hours, which makes it one of Wanda’s favorite places to spend her time.

She taps her pen against the table as she waits for Y/N to arrive. She already has her chemistry books and notebooks ready, wanting to get this over as soon as possible.

Finally she hears a pair of boots enter the room. Sighing, Wanda sits up straighter just before Y/N walks over to the table. “Hi, Wanda!” She smiles brightly and sits opposite of her. “Sorry for being late, cheer practice ran a little long.”

“It’s okay.” Wanda mumbles. “Do you have your books?”

“Yeah.” Y/N takes out a few books, setting them to the table. “Thank you so much for agreeing to help me, I can’t afford to fail another class.”

“Maybe you should focus on them then.” Wanda comments, mostly to herself, not really intending for Y/N to hear, but she does.

“What?” Y/N giggles quietly, sounding quite uncomfortable. “I do focus, I’m just very busy.”

“Mhm.” Wanda opens her book. “Lets start from page ten. Which parts do you have problems with?”

“Uhm, I’m pretty aware of chapters from 11 to 16, others are mostly a blur.” Y/N

“Six chapters from a 25 chapter book?” Wanda cringes. “Can I ask you why did you take an advanced chemistry class if you weren’t going to put some effort to it?”

Y/N frowns, staring at Wanda. “If you don’t want to tutor me, you can say so.” She mumbles. Wanda sighs, rolling her eyes. “I only need a little help and if you aren’t willing to help me, I can find someone else.”

Wanda scoffs quite loudly. “I am very willing. I just don’t appreciate people who take partying and nonsense hobbies more seriously than studying. Advanced classes are hard to get into, if you weren’t going to actually do it, someone more deserving would’ve gotten the spot.” She throws her arms into the air as she ends her rant.

“Right.” Y/N whispers, closing her book. “I stayed behind because of personal emergencies. I was very unwell and couldn’t get out of bed in the mornings. Ms Harkness was understanding enough to give me an opportunity to retake the test and ask someone to tutor me.” She shoves the books to her bag. “But I suppose some people don’t have the same empathy skills as her.”

Wanda stares at Y/N wide eyed. “I-“

“I’ll tell Ms Harkness we had some schedule problems because of my nonsense hobbies and continuous partying, so you don’t have to continue tutoring me.” Y/N stands up. “Bye then, I guess.”

“Wait!” Wanda stands up, but Y/N takes her bag and walks out of the library, leaving very conflicted Wanda behind.

Wanda uses the fork on her hand to repeatedly stab the very dry looking food on the plate, leaning her head on her palm. After using all of her morning and afternoon breaks to look for Y/N with no luck, she decided to give up and head to the canteen to eat with Natasha.

“Wanda.” The redhead pushes her shoulder so she’d pay attention to her. “Where’s your mind at?”

“Y/N.” She mumbles quietly.

Natasha sighs. “Listen, yes, you were unfairly mean to her, but I doubt she’s mad at you. You just have to apologize.”

“I would if I could find her.” Wanda slams her fork to the tray. “And I’m not upset because I got her mad, I’m upset because she looked so hurt when she left.” She turns to face Natasha. “And I don’t want to be the reason why she didn’t come to school.”

“I know. If you want to, I can ask Yelena for her number so you could text her.”

“No! Absolutely not, I don’t want to be a creep.”

“You wouldn’t be a creep, it’s normal to ask for someone’s number.” Natasha shoves food inside her mouth. “Besides, she’s my sister.”

“I want to apologize face to face.” Wanda comments. “Anyways,” she changes the subject, “talking about your sister, she has been glaring at me the whole day.”

“She’s just very protective of her friends, no need to worry.”

“I feel like she’ll murder me when I’m the least prepared.”

Natasha snorts at the comment. Truth to be told, she wouldn’t be surprised if her sister decided to kill someone for disrespecting her loved ones. Yelena and Y/N have been best friends since diapers as they were born close to each other. Just like Wanda and Natasha, who were born a year before the two.

Wanda gasps. “There she is!” She whisper yells, nudging Natasha harshly. She points towards Y/N walking towards a full table of people in her cheer suit.

“Well, go on then.”

“She’s leaving.”

“I think she has cheer practice.” Natasha watches Y/N and Yelena walk outside together. “You should talk to her before it starts.”

“Yeah, yeah. I’m going.” Wanda stands up, jogging to the hallway after the two friends. “Y/N! Wait up.” Y/N and Yelena stop, turning around to see Wanda right behind them. “Can I talk to you? Alone?” She glances at Yelena.

“Uhh, sure.” Y/N smiles to Yelena who looks rather annoyed. “I’ll see you outside, don’t start practice without me.” Yelena nods as Y/N and Wanda walk inside an empty classroom. “What’s up?”

“I just really wanted to apologize, for yesterday. It wasn’t nice of me to assume why you failed the class or what you do on your free time.”

“It really wasn’t.” Y/N comments. “But it’s okay, I forgive you.”

“Great!” Wanda smiles widely. “So, we’ll continue the tutoring?”

“Ah, no. I already got Tony to help me.”

“Tony Stark?” Wanda frowns. Sure, Stark is smart, but nowhere near Wanda’s level. “Isn’t he like a really big douche.”

“Okay then.” Mumbling, Y/N purses her lips together. “Bye, Wanda.”

“No! Wait-“ Y/N ignores her calls after her and walks outside to her cheer practice. Wanda groans, dragging herself back to the table where Natasha is waiting for her. “Is Y/N friends with Tony Stark?”

“I think they’re like family friends.”

“Fuck.” Wanda slams her forehead to the table. “I just called him a douche in front of her.”

Natasha laughs. “You really just want her to hate you, huh?”

“Obviously not!” She doesn’t know why Y/N’s disappointed face is making her feel so bad, but she doesn’t like it at all. The feeling is gnawing her insides. “Do you think she’ll forgive me a second time?”

Natasha shrugs her shoulders, shoving food to her mouth. “I’m sure she isn’t that offended.”

“She looked like it.”

“Why do you care, Wanda?” Natasha furrows her brows together. She has never been one to worry about how others see her, so this kind of excessive overthinking was very unusual for her.

“I don’t want her to think badly of me.”

“But you can think badly about her.”

Wanda raises her head. “No! I don’t- it’s not like that.” Natasha stares at her with a questioning look. “I don’t think badly about her.”

“Within a day, you’ve entirely turned around what you think of her?” Wanda nods slowly, making Natasha sigh. “Did you ever even dislike her? It always seemed like you like liked her, but didn’t think she’d like you back.”

“What?” Wanda laughs. “No.” Natasha mumbles a quiet okay and goes back to her lunch, but Wanda continues staring at her, not getting the thought out of her head. She didn’t like Y/N. Sure, she doesn’t dislike her anymore, but she’d never like someone like her.

Right?

“What happened with Wanda Maximoff?” Yelena asks as Y/N is stretching and getting ready for cheer.

“She apologized and then she called Tony a douche.”

“Isn’t he?”

“I mean, yeah.” Y/N changes her position. “But it just made it look like she wasn’t really apologetic, you know.”

“Yea.” Yelena sits on the benches. She doesn’t cheer, but she’s always watching Y/N. She likes supporting her best friend, and they’re dorm mates, so they always walk back to their dorm together. “She’s weird.”

Humming, Y/N jogs small circles. “I don’t know. I think she just doesn’t like people. Or me, specifically.”

“The offer to beat her up still stands.”

“No, Lena.” Y/N giggles. “You aren’t beating anyone up, though I appreciate the offer.” Yelena mumbles something incoherent, she was really hoping to beat someone up. “You don’t have to wait for me every time, you know?”

“I know, but I want to. I like watching you cheer.”

Y/N grins at her. “You’re going soft.”

“Only for you.”

With a laugh, Y/N goes to the field as the captain arrives and calls them around her. They have been practicing a cheer routine for the football game for a while now, but it still needs time to be perfect.

Y/N, a flyer, gets ready to be lifted off the ground. Her hands are waiting steadily on two people’s shoulders. When the time comes, she jumps onto their hands and gets lifted to the air. There she does her tricks along with the other flyers of her group. At the final flip, one of the bases looses their footing, causing Y/N to come crashing to the ground.

The music stops and the group gathers around her. Yelena runs to her through the other cheerleaders, kneeling down next to her. “You okay? Where does it hurt?”

Y/N coughs, gathering the oxygen back to her lungs. She groans. “I’m fine.” Mumbling, she takes Yelena’s hand and gets up. Her leg is unable to take any weight and she’s leaning to Yelena heavily.

“I’m gonna take you to the nurse’s office.” Slowly but surely they make their way towards the office. Yelena is keeping her arm around Y/N’s waist, holding most of her weight so she wouldn’t have to use the hurt leg. “I’m gonna beat up the base.”

Y/N lets out an airy laugh. “It was an accident. These kind of things happen in cheer.”

“They shouldn’t happen to you.” Yelena mumbles as she knocks on the door. The two hobble in when the nurse comes to open the door.

Yelena helps Y/N to sit down. “What happened?” The nurse sits down to a chair of her own.

“Cheer accident.” Y/N moves her leg slightly, cringing at the pain shooting up her body. “My leg hurts a bit.”

“She can’t put any weight on it, and her back hurts.” Yelena comments. She’s standing right next to Y/N.

Rolling her eyes, Y/N lets the nurse examine her leg and back. Yelena has been overbearingly protective ever since they became friends, but Y/N is okay with that. That’s how she shows her love, by caring and protecting.

“It’s not broken, so that’s good.” The nurse writes something on the computer. “But you definitely can’t cheer for a while.”

“What? For how long?”

“Lets start with three to six weeks and see where we go from there.”

Y/N sighs, not happy with the news. The football game isn’t too far away, so she really needs to be practicing the routine for it. “I really can’t wait that long. Isn’t there any way we could speed the healing?”

“Not really.” The nurse sighs, taking out an ice pack and a pair of crutches. “Hold this to your leg. You two can go home.”

With a frown on her face, Y/N takes the ice pack and crutches, leaving the office with Yelena’s help.

The next day, to Y/N’s luck, Yelena became sick. Which meant walking, or limping would be more describing, through the school halls alone. Even though she has a lot of friends, she mostly spends her days with Yelena, that’s her best friend since diapers after all.

With a quiet grunt, she opens the cafeteria door, holding both of her crutches in one hand. After getting through them, she starts moving towards the line, trying to come up with a way how she’s going to carry her tray.

While waiting in line, she feels someone tap her shoulder. She turns around and sees Wanda. “What happened?” Wanda nods towards the crutches.

“Cheer accident.”

“Do you need help? Where’s Yelena? You could sit with me and Natasha if you want.”

Y/N’s eyes widen from the word vomit that just came out of Wanda’s mouth. It was almost too quick to understand. “Yelena is sick, so yes, I might need a bit of help.”

“Great,” Wanda steps next to Y/N in line. “I’ll help. I already got my food.” Y/N nods with a tight lipped smile. “I’m really sorry, again. For yesterday, saying Tony is a douche, I’m sure he actually isn’t.”

“Oh, he is.” Y/N comments and leaves it at that.

Wanda hums, staying quiet. Their turn comes quickly. Wanda picks up a tray, plate, glass and cutleries for Y/N, moving the tray as they do. She puts the food Y/N wants on the plate and fills the glass with water. After that, they start walking towards the table Natasha is sitting at. It’s quite slow, as Wanda follows Y/N’s speed.

“Hi.” Natasha grins at the two. “Did you get enough of cheering yet?”

“Of course not.” Y/N sits down carefully, setting the crutches to lay against an empty chair. “It’s still my biggest love.”

“Seems like a toxic relationship you two got going in.”

Y/N laughs. She’s fairly close with Natasha too, as she is Yelena’s sister and she has spent a great amount of time at their house. “I’m sure you already know Yelena is sick.”

“Oh, yeah.” Natasha scoffs with a shake of her head. “I have gotten so many whiny texts about it.”

Wanda tries to laugh along the two, feeling bit like an outsider at the moment. She wants to be closer to Y/N, though she isn’t sure where this sudden want came from. Or she just doesn’t want to accept it yet.

“Are you allowed to cheer at the football game?” She asks, wanting to be a part of the conversation.

“Uhm, I hope so. It depends on how fast I’ll heal.”

“Well, I really hope you get to cheer.” Wanda smiles widely.

Natasha smirks at the interaction. It’s so obvious to her, but she doesn’t want to pressure Wanda about anything she’s not ready to accept yet.

The conversation steers back to Natasha and Y/N talking about their shared things, while Wanda decides to spend the rest of lunch staring at Y/N.

After four weeks, Y/N can finally stop using the crutches and get back into practicing their cheer routine, which she needs to learn very quickly, as the big game is in a week. It’s Y/N’s school versus their biggest rival school. The schools have fought each other since the beginning of time, and they still haven’t quiet figured out which school is the best one. And neither one is happy with a tie, so they have to put their best game face on. And the pressure isn’t only on the football players, it’s also on the cheerleaders.

During those weeks, especially the time Yelena was sick, Y/N and Wanda grew closer. Wanda decided to throw out all of her previous impressions of Y/N and just get to know her, just like Natasha asked her to do many times before. She realized Y/N isn’t actually anything like she thought, which opened the feelings she had hidden a long time ago.

“Have you done this every night after you got your crutches taken off?” Wanda asks as she sits on the bleachers, watching Y/N practice the cheer routine on her own.

“Yes.” Y/N pants slightly. She has gone through the routine four times now. “I have to do it perfectly on the game night.”

Wanda rubs her hands together, starting to feel chilly. “I’m sure you’ll be great.”

“You don’t have to wait, you know? Even Yelena refuses to stay here so late.” She does a few tricks on the ground that she’s supposed to do in the air.

“I want to stay.”

A small smile grows on Y/N’s lips, but she hides it by continuing the routine. For a while, the music, coming from Y/N’s phone, for the routine is the only noise. No other student is out this late on school grounds, they’re either partying or in their dorms.

“Are you sure you aren’t getting too cold? You shouldn’t risk getting sick before the game.”

“I’m alright, Wanda.” Y/N takes a break, drinking some water. “I’m moving constantly.”

“Yeah, but when you move, you start to sweat and when you’re sweaty, you get cold easier.”

Giggling, Y/N drops the water bottle back to the ground, starting the music over again. “I know how it works, Wanda.” She goes back to her spot and starts the routine all over before Wanda can answer. “I’ll stop after this one.”

The routine is two minutes and 30 seconds long, but it feels shorter from both of their points of view. Y/N loves performing and Wanda likes to watch her perform.

Doing the final step, Wanda starts clapping at her. “Amazing!” She smiles, making Y/N laugh.

Y/N stops the music and picks up her things before walking over to Wanda. “Thanks for staying, you didn’t have to.” She starts shivering as the cold wind picks up.

“I told you, you would get cold.” Wanda mumbles, taking off of her jacket and putting it over Y/N’s shoulders, ignoring her protests. “I have a hoodie on, you have a small cheer uniform.” At the word small, Wanda’s eyes drop down to go over the whole outfit. Her cheeks flush the minute she realizes, but she lets out a breath of relief when she notices Y/N isn’t looking her way.

“Yeah, yeah.” They start walking towards the dorm buildings. Their dorms aren’t in the same building, but they’re close by, so it’s easy to walk there together.

“Hey, I’m glad you gave me a chance by the way.” Wanda huffs a breath of air out of her nose. “And I’m glad we’re friends now.”

“So am I.” Y/N bumps her side against Wanda’s, giving her a cheery smile.

The closer they get to their building, the more nervous Wanda gets. She waits until the moment they have to split up to speak up. “Would you, maybe, go out with me?”

“Like, on a date?” Y/N and Wanda stop walking.

“Yeah.”

Y/N gives her a small smile. “Ask me again after the game, yeah?” When Wanda nods, Y/N starts taking off the jacket, but Wanda stops her.

“Keep it until then.”

“Okay.” Y/N giggles, kisses Wanda’s cheek and starts walking towards her dorm building.

Y/N cheers the football team on with the other cheerleaders. They’re standing on the side, jumping up and down while waving their pom poms around. Half time is starting any second now, so her nerves are through the roof. She has performed in front of people many times before, but she has never been injured right before a show.

She glances at the clock. Three.. Two.. One. The loud buzzer sounds the half time is now. The group cheers loudly, getting the viewers spirits high, before running to the middle of the field. They go straight into formation, waiting for the music.

The music starts and they go straight into the routine. Y/N has a wide smile on her face as she get to occasionally glance the bleachers more clearly. If possible, her smiles widens even more when she hear and sees Wanda, Yelena and Natasha cheering her on.

She goes to her place, grabs the bases’ shoulders and gets into the air smoothly. Everything goes through perfectly and no one gets injured.

After the routine stops, Y/N runs back to the sidelines with a victorious smile on her face. She waves at her friends before turning back to supporting the football team on their second half of the game.

As the last seconds ti k away on the clock, everyone is on the edge of their seat. The score is tied, but there’s still time to score. One of the players on Y/N’s school is kicking the ball forward while running full speed ahead and trying to dodge the opponents.

Seeing there’s only under ten seconds left on the clock, the player kicks the ball with all their might and it goals just before the buzzer goes off. Everyone jumps up and shouts in happiness. Another win for their school.

Y/N runs towards Wanda, Yelena and Natasha, who already got away from the bleachers. None of them were really that interested in football, they mostly came to support Y/N. They cheer when they see her coming their way.

“Great job! You did so well!” Yelena yells as Y/N smashes herself into her.

“Thank you!” Her voice comes out muffled because of Yelena’s puffy jacket. “Thank you for coming, you guys.” She grins, hugging Natasha next.

“We wouldn’t have missed it.”

She laughs and turns to Wanda, hugging her just a bit longer than the other two. “Wait for me to get my things? Then we can leave.” Y/N runs off to get her bag and Wanda’s jacket, which she decides to put on. It is autumn after all.

The four of them start walking away from the celebration, they’ll have one of their own in a diner. Although, they will join the other students at a house party later in the evening.

Wanda grabs Y/N’s hand into her own as they’re walking towards the diner. She leans in closer. “Go out with me?” She whispers so the sister duo wouldn’t hear.

“Like a date?” Y/N asks with a grin.

“Yeah.”

“Okay, I’ll go out with you.”

Wanda’s cheeks turn red and her smile grows from the answer. “Thank you.” Y/N giggles at her shyness, leaning against Wanda’s side, she tunes into whatever conversation Yelena and Natasha are having, while Wanda continues smiling.

[superlinguo]

Managing Breakout Rooms in online Tutorials and Workshops

Most of my teaching in 2020 and 2021 was done online. Like many people, I had to learn how to teach a lot of my face-to-face classes in online contexts. My institution used Zoom for this, and even in 2022 and beyond I will continue to teach some classes online. I think this is great. So many of my students used to have a horrific commute just to attend a single class, or would miss classes because of unavoidable commitments. Of course, there are many ways studying online is a terrible experience too. One particularly fraught online experience is classroom discussion. An experienced teacher can manage a classroom full of group discussions pretty effectively by moving around the room and keeping an eye and an ear on each group. Students usually feel sufficiently private at tables, but also have the buzz of the classroom to help the discussion along. Online classes take all of that away from everyone.  

Over the last two years I’ve developed a way of managing breakout room that makes the best of a bad situation. My students regularly tell me my classes are some of the best they’ve done online, and when I share this method with colleagues they tell me they’re going to borrow it – so I thought I would write it up in case you are also still managing group work in online tutorials and workshops.  

Step 1: Set the context

I don’t make my students have cameras on (you’re making a lot of assumptions about people’s access to technology and privacy for online study), but I explain to them the benefits of seeing colleagues faces. I also encourage students to use the chat box and to play around with the reaction button to help me calibrate to the mood of the room. If you get good at running an online classroom with multiple streams like this, you know some of the multitasking joy of doing live broadcast radio! But I l also get this isn’t for everyone.  

Step 2: Giving students control

I let people select their own breakout group, which is an option in Zoom. I then explain how they should sort themselves out. The number of rooms I set up and how I assign them vary depending on the size of the class, but let’s say I have a group of 20 to keep numbers manageable. I set up 5 breakout rooms and tell students the following:

The final room is the quiet room: no one speaks, you just work through the activities in a companionable silence.  

Rooms 3 and 4 are for groups of friends to move into. Start messaging them now to arrange to work together!

Rooms 1 and 2 are for people who want to meet new people or chat with a random group of people in the subject. Start with room 1 and when there are four people in there start room 2. 

I work backwards to flag that I’m committed to supporting the most exhausted students and it’s not an afterthought, but also I like the last room being like the quiet space up the back of the library.

For people in rooms 1-4 the maximum is 4 people. Four is a good number for conversation – more than that and the conversation starts to fragment into smaller groups, which is hard to hold together in an online space.  

Step 3: Running rooms

Online classes need much tighter guidelines and expectations than face-to-face classes, since it’s harder to change the flow of things. I make sure tasks are very clear and the time they’ll be in the rooms is also very clear to them. I also tell students I expect them to spend the first 2-3 minutes at least on small talk (not in the silent room!), online classes can really miss that human connection sometimes.  

Sometimes we have to do a bit of on-the-fly juggling, if two groups vie for the same breakout room or there are more people in the quiet room than usual – but often students get the hang of this after a few weeks and get good at managing the breakout rooms themselves.  

I also let students know that after 10 minutes I’ll come to each room to answer questions and check in, or they can ping me or return to the central room to ask questions too. Sometimes I’ll use something like Google Docs or Slides where I can see students adding content in real time, which gives me an idea of who might need more help or encouragement.  

Why this set up?

This setup for breakout rooms gives students a little more control over their learning experience.

Some students are tired or find online classes incredibly stressful. I like providing them the chance to just get through the material, with a bit of solidarity and a central place I can check in with them.

Some students really miss the chance to sit at a table with their friends and catch up. I know I do!

Some students miss the chance to get to know new people at university. Some of the friends I made in undergraduate tutorials are still some of my closest friends today, I like to give my students some small chance of having that experience too.  

The important thing I’ve noticed is: it’s not the same students in the same rooms each time. Some weeks even the most sociable students need a break, or sometimes your friends didn’t make it that week and you’re up for meeting someone new.

This is my default for running breakout rooms, but I do shake things up occasionally. I’ll randomly allocate students to breakout rooms for some tasks, telling them I’m intentionally shaking things up and giving them some icebreaker tasks. I usually only make groups of 3 in these weeks to give them more time to get to know each other.

Managing breakout rooms is one of those times where thinking like a has helped me improve my teaching. Thinking about breakout rooms as interactional spaces, and how we generally prefer to interact has helped me refine my classroom management.  

If you have any success using–or refining(!)–this process, please let me know!

[assignmenthelp001]

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[nights-legacy]

I Don't Cuddle Pt. 2 - Bakugo

(Note: I am taking requests for MHA/BNHA imagines, headcanons, etc. I have a request post pinned on my blog you can turn to for the rules and guidelines. Thank you!)

+3453 words

+Training at the USJ was awkward to say the least. You avoiding Bkaugo and his friends at all cost. During training, things seemed to be going fine but it was a little quiet. Once your team finishes, a panicked Kaminari runs up saying there was an accident and Bakugo was hurt. After everything was said and done, Bakugo wakes up in Recovery Girl’s office with you by his side.

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

3rd POV

You are a relatively decent student when it came to behavior so you didn’t always piss off Aizawa. You as well are normally very confident in yourself, so your melancholy behavior has not slipped past him. You had gotten calmed down before making it the USJ but there was still tear tracks on her face. That confirmed Aizawa’s suspicion that something had happened.

His eyes travelled next to the angry blonde that was abnormally not angry and calm. Aizawa noticed the look of pain and regret in Bakugo’s eyes. It normally would be impossible to see but to his trained eye it was clear. He knew about the two being together but kept to himself. By the way they were acting, something had happened between the two.

Y/N’s POV

I rubbed my face and tried to remove any trace that I was crying. I steadied my breathing as we walked in. I needed to focus on training right now, not the pain. Aizawa instructed us on what we were going. Recon and ambush training. When he split the class into groups, I saw him look between me and Kat as he said our groups.

“At least, you’re not paired with him like normal.” Jiro said. I nodded. I felt an arm go around my shoulders. I looked over and saw Sero. He just gave me a sad smile, not saying anything. He hugged me before letting go.

Training went as normal as training with Class 1-A can be. Midoriya going all out, a few others following after him, and the rest of us along for the ride. One thing I did notice that wasn’t normal was I didn’t hear explosions or yelling. I shook it off.

“That was awesome.” Midoriya cheered. I couldn’t tell if it was from the thrill or the fact that he didn’t break any of his bones. I chuckled at him and I felt a litter better but I was still hurt. We got up to the Central Plaza when Kaminari came bolting towards us.

“Woah, where’s the fire?” Midoriya asked before blanching. He looked at Todorki and apologized. Todoroki just shrugged. We laughed at the exchange.

“It’s Bakugo.” My head whipped in his direction. “He’s hurt and trapped. We need help, Kiri can’t hold out much longer.”

“Where?” Aizawa showed up quick.

“Ruins zone.” Kami said. We all ran, following Kami. We came up to large pile of rubble that had an opening off to one side. “In there. Bakugo is unconscious and Kiri, Tokoyami, and Ojiro are trying to get him out.”

“Okay. Kaminari, you’ve done enough. Go off to the side. Uraraka, L/N, and Shoji we me inside. Everyone else be on stand-by. The rest of this could go at any moment.” Aizawa instructed. He ran towards the opening with the other two followed. I stalled a little before going in behind them. It was a mess in there.

“Come on, over here!” I heard Kiri yell. I stumbled over and froze when I saw Bakugo face down, unconscious and caught under a large piece of rubble. I could see blood from where I stood. I urged myself to move forward.

“Uraraka. Get the pressure of Kirishima. Once he’s out of the way, I want you to make a pillar to hold up the rubble, L/N.” I nodded. We ran over to Kiri and I gave Uraraka step to get up and hit the rock. Kiri groaned as soon as the weight was lifted.

“Hurry, I can’t hold it long at all.” Uraraka clenched her teeth. I nodded and pulled Kiri out of the way. I immediately moved and moved the earth underneath to make a pillar. “Release!”

“Kiri, go out with Kami. He’s out with the rest.”

“But I have to help with…”

“No. You’ve done enough Kiri.” I said and set a hand on his shoulder. “You kept him alive until we got here. Go on.” He sighed looking between me and Bakugo.

“Are you going to be alright?” I took a breath and held it. I just pushed him along before joining Aizawa.

“Can you tell how much rubble is behind this?” Aizawa looked at me. I reached out and hit the rubble, sending a vibration through the rock and concrete. There were a couple rather large pieces behind and above.

“There’s a few big pieces behind and a mixture above and around. One wrong move and other portions could collapse in. I could stop a lot but not everything. I’m not strong enough in my Earth bending part yet.” He nodded in understanding. A rumble caught all of our attentions. “And it is nowhere near stable. The best bet if digging underneath him. Just enough to get him out but not cause a collapse.”

“Shoji. Start getting away as much loose debris around here as you can. Uraraka go out and get Momo in here.” They followed immediately. “L/N, I want you to focus on the rubble keep as much of it up and from falling on us.”

“Right.” I went to stand as Aizawa moved off but I caught sight of Bakugo. I reached down and brushed his spikey, soft hair back and removed his torn mask. Even with all the dust and the little blood on his face, I saw tear tracks. I ran a thumb across his face, wiping away some of the grime. He was hurting as much as I was.

“L/N.” I heard Aizawa said softly. I looked up at him startled. He had his our version of a comforting look on his face. “We’ll get him out and he’ll be alright but we need to move now.”

“Right.” I stumbled up and stood off to the side. I closed my eyes and took a big breath to clear my mind. I got into ready position. I saw Momo had created some shovels and while Uraraka had Bakugo levitating, they dug under him.

“Be careful now.” Aizawa said as they got close. Shoji stood off to the side, ready to pick up Bakugo. Suddenly, another rumble sounded and the entrance was blocked off. “Shit. Hurry. L/N, now.”

“Okay.” I shifted the rock that was pining him and they got him out. The whole structure moved when I place the rock on the ground. The little space shifted the entire thing.

“Come on, this place is about to go.” Shoji picked up Bakugo, Momo, and Uraraka. I ran ahead and checked for a thin spot in the rubble.

“Jiro, if you can hear me, get everyone back.” I said out loud as I found. “Be ready to move.” I turned and gave a swift and hard side kick to the rubble. It burst out and at the same time I shift and make the opening stable enough for all of us to get through. I was the last one out and let the rubble go. Loud crashing sounded behind me.

“Thank god!”

“Are you guys alright?”

“How’s Kacchan?”

“That was insane.” Mutiple people came running over concerned and ready to help. I was bent over, hands on my knees and trying to catch my breath. I felt my legs give out but an arm around my waist caught me. I looked up and saw Sero. I gave him a nod in thanks and he smiled in return. He helped me walk over to Aizawa and Bakugo.

“Bakugo is alright but he will be better when we get him back to recovery girl. Come on. Everyone back to the bus.” Aizawa picked up Bakugo before looking back at me. “Are you alright?”

“Fine. Just worn out.” I said. He nodded before looking at someone behind me. I closed my eyes before I felt myself being picked up bridal style. I yelped before opening my eyes to see Todoroki carring me. I looked over his shoulder to see Sero had moved to help Kaminari with Kirishima. “Thanks, Todoroki.”

“It’s fine.” He gave me a small smile.

~Time Skip-3rd POV~

The lights in Recovery Girl’s office were dimmed. Hours had passed since the class had returned and it was now early evening. Bakugo had been checked over and was given a good report. Just banged up and bruised. Nothing the boy couldn’t bounce back from. The rest of the day the class had been given off with the only requirement of the students who hadn’t been involved in the rescue to write a report on their view and how they felt the situation was handle; correctly or something they would have done differently.

It was nearing 7pm when Bakugo began to rouse from his unconscious state. He groaned quietly as he opened his eyes. Since the lights were dimmed and the sun had set, his didn’t have much to adjust too. He looked around trying to place where he was.

“Shit.” He groaned, throwing his head back against the bed as pain shot up from his right leg. He moved the blanket slowly and saw the bandages. He let the blanket drop before staring at the ceiling. A soft coo caught his attention. He looked to his left and saw L/N curled up in a ball on a chair that was pushed up against the bed.

“Mmm.” She squirmed in her sleep. She had her hand up and it was originally on top of Bakugo’s but had fallen off in her sleep. Bakugo was surprised to see her there. He reached up with his left hand and ran it through her hair.

“L/N.” He gently called, trying to wake her. She stirred only a little. He smiled at the girl’s cuteness before trying again. “L/N. Hey baby come on, wake up for me please.”

“Huh?” She moaned softly before looking up and looking at him. It took a few seconds to realize he was awake. “Baku!” She shot up and stood over the edge of the bed. She cupped his face, looking him over. “How are you feeling? Is there any pain? I am going to go get Recovery Girl.”

“Wait, wait.” He said, barely catching her arm as she went to run. He groaned at the pull of his sore muscles. She froze before moving to sit next to him and wrapping his hand in hers. “What happened?”

“You don’t remember?”

“No. I remember getting to the USJ but not much else.”

~Y/N’s POV~

“Oh.” I stared at him in shock for a moment. “Um, you, Kiri, Kami, and a few other were in the Ruin Zone. Something caused one of the buildings to collapse right on top of you guys. You got knocked out and Kiri was holding up the rubble the best he could. Kaminari came and got the rest of the class and Aizawa. You were pinned beneath rubble so we had to rescue you. Aizawa, Momo, Uraraka, Shoji, and myself.”

“Shit.” He ran his hand through his hair before placing it on the back of his head. “That explains the pain. Now that you say that, the before is coming back to me. I was distracted and I guess it bit me in the ass.” He sighed and I gripped his hand tighter. “Why are you here?”

“Oh, um. I-I…” I gulped looked away. I pulled my hand from his, feeling tears coming on again. I got up. “I’ll go get Recovery Girl.” I went to walk away.

“Wait, no!” He yelled in desperation. I looked at him surprised. I saw panic, pain, and sorrow on his face. He looked close to having a panic attack. “Please, that’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?” I whispered. I cross my hands over my stomach.

“I meant that why are you here when I treated you so badly. I treated you like shit and you were avoiding me. Why are you here now?” He looked away embarrassed. I let my arms fall and sat on the edge of the bed. It was silent for a minute.

“I am here because I was so freaking scared. When Kami came running saying you were hurt, I felt like my heart stopped. I was already worried because I hadn’t heard any explosions and when we got to where you were and I saw your unconscious…bloody body, I froze. I was so scared that you were dead or dying. Just because we had a stupid dispute doesn’t mean I don’t care for my own boyfriend anymore. I rather be here making sure you’re okay then knowing you’re here hurt and alone and avoiding you.”

“Baby.” His voice shook. I could feel the tears running down my face. I looked at him and saw he was crying too. He reached his hand out. “Please come here.”

“Mmph.” A noise ripped from my chest as he pulled me into his chest. I was draped across him while he buried his head in my neck. He sobbed. I was surprised but held onto him, running my hand through his hair until he calmed down.

“I am so sorry.” He said. He pulled back and sat up straight. I reached for couple tissues. He took them and cleaned himself up. After throwing them away he place his hand on my bicep. “I shouldn’t have reacted that way and I never should have pushed you that way and yelled that way. You’re so fucking amazing and I did that.”

“Bakugo.”

“I should have just something more subtle but no I had to launch you across the room. Damn.” I felt his grip on my arm tighten.

“Bakugo.”

“I would even blame you if you wanted to break up with me. I wouldn’t even try and stop you no matter how much it would break my heart. I…”

“Bakugo! Enough.” I yelled and cupped his face. His eyes opened wide. I sighed when I had his attention. “Would I have stayed here for this long if I wanted to break up with you? I may be hurt by your actions but I have no plans to break up with you. Seeing you like that made me realize that I would rather have disputes and fights like that instead of never being able to hold your hand, kiss you, or…cuddle with you ever again.”

“Y/N…” He bit his lip and gave me a watery chuckled. He looked to the ceiling trying not to cry again while grabbing onto my wrists. I smiled. “I can’t believe…Please tell me I’m not dreaming or in a coma making up a new reality because I screwed up the real one.”

“You’re not doing any of that. I’m right here.” I said leaning back. He looked at me, rubbing the tears from his face. I saw a familiar smirk grow onto his face.

“Come here.” He pulled me in and twisted us around where we were cuddling, facing each other. I yelped and laughed out loud before nuzzling into his neck. He pulled me in close and wrapped his arm around my waist.

“What happens if someone walks in?”

“Let ‘em see. I don’t have to explain one single thing to those extras.” He growled, burying his face in my hair. I felt and heard him breathe in deep. I sighed cuddling him in closer.

“Well what was it you said? Actions speak louder than words?” I said. I felt his chest rumble with laughter.

“Yeah. Exactly.” He whispered. I gathered he was growing tired again. I moved my hand up and started rubbing circles in the middle of his back. I felt him relax in my arms before I heard snores in my ear. I smiled and reached into my back pocket for my phone. I unlocked it and pulled up my conversation Jiro.

I put the phone back in my pockets before looking up at Bakugo. He had such a soft look on his face that if I didn’t know him the way I do, I wouldn’t think it was him. I reached up and ran my fingers through his hair, absentmindedly twisting a few locks. He made a small noise before burrowing his head further into my hair.

“Softie.” I whispered before setting my arm down comfortably and closing my eyes.

Just as I was about to drift off, the door opened. I looked over my shoulder to see Aizawa and Recovery Girl. She smiled warmly as she went over to her desk. Aizawa came over with his arms crossed.

“Get some sleep yourself. You’ve had a long day too.” He said softly. My eyes widen, thinking he was going to make me get up. “I know better than to try and break up you too up right now. You guys have had a rough time lately from what I heard from the girls, Sero and Kirishima. Even before the accident.”

“You knew we were together, didn’t you?” He smirked softly and nodded.

“I had a feeling but a comment from Mic a while back just solidified it.”

“Shut up.” A groan came from Bakugo. He shifted onto his back and pulled me into his side.

“Goodnight you two.” Aizawa chuckled before closing the curtain around us. I heard him go and talk to Recovery Girl. I shifted to be more comfortable and set my head on his chest. It wasn’t long before I was out.

“Hey dumbass.” I heard a faint voice. “Wake up.”

“Why?” I groaned, burying my head and curling up. A gravely chuckle made me look up. I saw Bakugo smiling down at me. “What time is it?”

“About…” He looked up at the clock, squinting. “8:05.”

“Hmm.” I set my head back down. I felt his hand weave into my hair before massaging my scalp. I crooned before blushing and covering my mouth. He laughed before setting up. I laid back against the bed. He moved to lean over me.

“We’re alright, right?” He asked meekly, hope in his eyes. I smiled softly, reaching up to cup his face. I nodded before gently pulling him down. We kissed each other sweetly before it turned warmer and possessive on Bakugo’s part.

“Damn, if that doesn’t wake me up, I don’t know what will.” I said. He smirked above me before shifting down and laying down with his head on my chest. My hands immediately found their way onto his bicep and hair. He hummed in delight. A thought came to mind in the silence. “You called me by my name.”

“Huh?” He looked up at me, confused.

“Last night. You called me by my first name.” He blushed before returning his head to my chest.

“Yeah? What of it? I can keep calling you dumbass if you like but I figured you’d want me to call you by your name. But whatever.” I kept my chuckle to myself, knowing he was embarrassed.

“It’s fine, Katsuki.” I felt him tense before relaxing again. I kissed his head. We were just enjoying the moment until a certain yellow-haired energy ball came yelling.

“Bakubro!!” He ripped open the curtain causing me to jump in fright. Bakugo didn’t move but sighed in annoyance.

“Kaminari!!” Jiro came after chiding him but they both froze when they saw us. Kiri came up behind them and looked up from his phone, undeterred by the situation.

“We hoped you were awake. We brought breakfast.”

“Oh yeah?” Katsuki pushed up and sat next to me, throwing his arm over my shoulder. “Hope it’s not terrible because you’re a shit cook.”

“Hey!” They went on arguing and I shared a look with Jiro. She shook her head in exasperation and sat in a chair next to the bed. Things were back to normal. I saw Midoriya sneak in behind Kami and freeze just like him.

“Wait a minute!” Kamari yelled. We all looked at the two as they shared a look.

“Kacchan and L/N are dating?” They said at the same time. All of us burst out laughing at the same time. Well, how about a new normal.

“Yeah guys they are but don’t feel too bad. We only found out yesterday and this morning.” Kiri said giving a side eye to Kat. He returned with a normal sneer.

“What Shitty hair? Got a problem with that?” He then smirked. “Jealous or something?”

“No problem! Not at all.”

“Are you feeling alright Kacchan? That was a pretty nasty accident.” Midoriya asked.

“I’m fine, Deku! Nothing I can’t come back from.” Midoriya nodded and we all fell into conversation. After a bit and we ate our food, I felt Kat lean against me more. He leant his head against mine and nosed my hair. I smiled, nuzzling back.

“So you do cuddle.” I whispered. He growled halfheartedly before pulling me closer.

“Shut up.”

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

Tags: @dillybuggg @cloudsgathering @spicy-therapist-mom @xoxo-teddybear

[faerieemetal]

melodramatic | sweet pea

this blog contains content that is 18+ only. minors, blank blogs and ageless blogs, do not interact. please read more about protecting minors and read my blog rules and guidelines before you interact/follow.

PAIRING ─── sweet pea x afro-indigenous!reader

SUMMARY ─── nothing really interesting happens at school. unless you count getting sent to the office, a new student and almost running somebody over.

WARNINGS ─── 18+, MINORS DNI. swearing. reggie being a dick. misogynistic jokes.

WORD COUNT ─── 2.43k

i hate/love you masterlist | sweet pea masterlist

Your life wasn’t always like this. Over two years ago, you were living in the city with your mom, you went to school, you had friends who you went out with, you were happy. Three weeks later, your mom met Hiram Lodge and they went on a date. One week later, you met Hiram’s daughter, Veronica. Your mother and Hiram thought that since you were the same age, you two might find something you had in common. If only you could tell them they were wrong. For the next five months, your parents went on dates to nice restaurants and had romantic nights together while you and Veronica didn’t really care enough to even say hello to each other. She hated the way you just did everything without a care and you hated the way she thought she was too good to do anything. The night your mother and Hiram came back from their date, they announced that they were getting married and your mother asked you to be her Maid of Honour. Another six months later, your mother was married to Hiram and they announced you would be moving from big New York City to small town Riverdale. Two months later, you moved to Riverdale and your parents had you and Veronica enrolled in Riverdale High. Almost ten months later, things were definitely different from what your life was like before your mother met Hiram.

Today was just like any other day. Get up, take a shower, get dressed and go to school. When you went to the kitchen to make yourself a bowl of cereal, Hiram was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee in his hand as he read the newspaper.

“Did you see Veronica yet?” he asked.

“She already left like half an hour ago. I think she got a ride from Josie or Cheryl,” you said as you grabbed the milk and the box of Lucky Charms.

“I thought she was going to get a ride from you,” Hiram said as he put the newspaper and his coffee down.

“It’s been months now. She doesn’t want to be seen with a loser like me so she gets a ride from one of her fancy friends,” you said as you sat down to eat your cereal.

“You’re not a loser,” your mother said as she walked into the dining room and kissed the top of your head.

“Whatever. She can say whatever she wants about me,” you sighed as you shrugged your shoulders and checked the time on your phone. You finished the rest of your breakfast and washed your bowl and spoon before grabbing your bag. “I’ll see you guys after school.”

“Bye, sweetie,” your mother said.

“Have a good day, Y/N,” Hiram added as you left the apartment and went downstairs to where your car was parked.

You put your bag in the passenger seat and started heading to school with the radio playing loudly on one of your favourite channels. You stopped at a red light right beside a convertible with three girls inside who were playing their own loud music but yours played over theirs. You could feel them looking at you and you looked at them. The second you looked at them, they looked away and acted like they weren’t staring. One had an annoyed look on her face, one was looking down at her lap and one even rolled her eyes. You rolled your eyes at the audacity of those three girls to judge you when you were just minding your own business. As soon as the light turned green and the road was clear, you stepped on the gas and all you wanted was to get away from those girls. You thought about how they kind of reminded you of Veronica and you chuckled as you found a parking spot behind the school and turned the engine off.

As soon as you got out of the car, something hit you from behind and someone’s arms wrapped around your waist. “Hey, Y/N!” Betty said and you smiled as you turned around and looked at her.

She was smiling brightly and to be honest, her smile was very contagious and always managed to make you smile too. “Hi, Betty,” you replied.

“Did you understand yesterday’s math homework?” she asked.

“Yes and no. I’m still managing a pretty decent grade so it’s nothing I can’t handle,” you said as you shrugged your shoulders while you and Betty walked into the school.

As you were walking down the hallway, you saw Veronica in the student lounge sitting with Josie McCoy and Cheryl Blossom. You ignored them as you headed to your locker and Betty leaned against the wall while you switched your math textbook for your English binder.

“Have you seen Toni around?” you asked as you closed your locker.

“Not yet,” Betty replied.

You sighed as the two of you walked to class and noticed a poster about the upcoming prom in less than three months and you rolled your eyes as you kept walking. The posters were just being put up and you already couldn’t stand the idea of prom. You knew Veronica would love to go but you were most likely going to stay home and watch The Lost Boys while eating Rocky Road ice cream. Overall, prom just didn’t seem very appealing to you. If Veronica wanted to go or if your friends wanted to go, that’s their business.

“I’ll see you in chemistry,” you said once you got to your English class,”

“See you in chemistry,” Betty replied before walking away and you sighed as you walked into the room and found your seat.

All the other students were entering the room and sitting down as well as your teacher stood at the front of the class and asked everyone what they thought about the book you were assigned to read. While other students were sharing their thoughts, you were sitting quietly. Until your teacher called your name.

“It was alright,” you said as you shrugged your shoulders.

“Just alright?” your teacher asked.

“Not so easily satisfied, Y/N?” Reggie asked with one of his shit eating grins and you rolled your eyes.

“It’s just that I’ve read it before and I don’t hate it but I don’t love it either so it’s just alright. I don’t really have much to say so just pick someone else or move on,” you explained it in the simplest way possible and you were hoping your teacher would get the hint you so graciously handed to him and either pick someone else to share their thoughts or move on from the conversation section.

“Ooh. Sounds like someone woke up with an attitude. Did you forget to take your Midol this morning?” Reggie asked and you turned around and glared at him.

“Suck my dick, asshole!” you said.

“Enough! I won’t tolerate such language in my class,” your teacher said and you scoffed.

“Oh, but you’ll tolerate this jerk bugging me since the start of class and making a dumbass period comment simply because I don’t wanna talk?” you questioned.

“Go to the office,” your teacher said sternly and you could hear all of your classmates snickering.

You rolled your eyes as you stood up and grabbed your stuff and smacked Reggie’s shoulder with your binder. You were already going to the office anyway so might as well let him know you’re not gonna let him make his dumbass period jokes without getting some sort of penalty for it. When you did get to the office, there were already two other students there and you wondered what they could possibly be in for. When it was your turn, you walked into the guidance office and heard the guidance counselor saying words to herself but they all meant the same thing.

“Melodramatic,” you said and that was when the guidance counselor noticed you standing there.

“Yes! Thank you,” she said. “So, I heard you were using inappropriate language in Mr. Hollingsworth’s class.”

“Reggie made a sexist period comment but no, me telling him to suck it is the real problem,” you said as you sat down.

“You said and I quote ‘suck my dick’,” the woman said as she closed her laptop.

“Same message,” you replied while shrugging your shoulders.

“Reggie says these things to get a reaction out of you. It’s best that you ignore it, act like it doesn’t bother you and eventually, he’ll get bored and give up,” the guidance counselor said and you scoffed.

“Reggie is a jerk who says and does what he wants because he knows you’re just gonna tell me to ignore it and basically let him trample all over me. If someone has enough and punches him, I’m not gonna look at them and tell them they were wrong because if you ask me, a punch in the face is long overdue and far too lenient,” you countered.

The woman sighed as she folded her hands on top of the desk. “Look. I know that you’ve had a hard time with Reggie since—”

“Since what?” you asked, cutting off her sentence. The woman in front of you sighed and looked at you sympathetically. “Don’t look at me like you understand me when you don’t.”

You grabbed your stuff and left the office without another word. You couldn’t wait until you could graduate and get out.

During lunch, Jughead Jones, the school’s literature geek, decided to show the new boy, Archie Andrews, what kind of cliques were at Riverdale High. Jughead and Archie sat down at one of the outside tables and Archie looked around as Jughead pointed to every group of kids around them.

“Since I already showed you where everything is, it’s time you learned about what groups there are and more importantly, which ones to stay away from. Over there in the blue and white uniforms are the Riverdale Vixens. They’re the school’s cheerleading squad. Their leader is Cheryl Blossom, the one with the very striking red hair. Next to them in the yellow letterman jackets, they are your classic jocks. The Riverdale Bulldogs. Chuck Clayton’s dad is the football coach, Jason Blossom is the captain and also Cheryl’s twin brother and Reggie Mantle is the co-captain. It’s best to avoid both of those groups as much as you can,” Jughead said.

“Who’s that?” Archie asked and Jughead looked around.

“Who’s who?” he questioned.

“That girl. The one sitting next to Cheryl,” Archie said.

“Josie?” Jughead asked.

“No, the other one,” Archie said.

“That, my dear friend, is Veronica Lodge. One of the most popular girls at Riverdale High. She’s right up there with Cheryl Blossom and Josie McCoy. She and her family moved here from New York ten months ago and she immediately became friends with those two,” Jughead explained.

“Is she single?” Archie asked and Jughead sighed.

“Seriously, dude, you don’t wanna bother. There’s a reason she gets along so well with the Queen Bees. She’s very beautiful, I will admit, but she’s also shallow and dare I say conceited. She once threw a tantrum in the student lounge because the soda in the vending machine wasn’t cold enough. She also went on a rant because her nail polish got chipped,” he said.

“What if that’s just what everyone else sees? What if there’s an entirely different side no one else knows about?” Archie asked and Jughead scoffed.

“I highly doubt that. But let’s say there is for argument’s sake. She’s heavily discouraged from dating since her parents want her to focus on getting good grades and getting into a good college so it’s very unlikely she’ll be dating anyone,” he said.

It seemed like most of what he said went through one ear and out the other since he was still looking at Veronica and Jughead had to tell him to stop before anyone noticed and started calling him a creep. That definitely wasn’t the kind of reputation he wanted to get on his first day at a new school in a new town.

When the day was finally over, you sighed with relief as you left the classroom and Betty and Toni caught up to you. “Do you guys want a ride home?” you asked.

“That would be great,” Toni replied and Betty nodded and you smiled at the two of them.

The three of you got to where your car was parked and Betty sat in the passenger seat while Toni sat in the backseat. You put your bag in the back next to her and got in the driver seat. As soon as the engine was on, you checked your mirrors to make sure there was no one in the way and started to back out but stopped when someone with headphones on walked right behind you. The pale boy nearly jumped as he stopped and you stuck your head out of the window.

“Watch where the fuck you’re going, dumbass!” you yelled and the boy nodded before scurrying away.

“Jesus. Did you have to yell at him like that?” Betty asked.

“Please. He had his headphones on and wasn’t looking where he was going. That’s on him,” you replied as you backed out.

You noticed Reggie’s car in front of you and you noticed Veronica and Josie getting inside. You groaned in disgust as he drove away and you were finally able to get out of the parking lot. If she wanted to get a ride from him, fine. You would personally find it funny when she would have to answer to your parents who made it clear they wanted her to get a ride from you to and from school.

Meanwhile, the boy you almost hit was standing with Archie who watched as you left the parking lot. “Are you okay?” he asked.

“Just a minor encounter with Y/N L/N. That’s Veronica’s sister,” Jughead said and Archie looked at him.

“Wait a minute. That’s Veronica’s sister?” he questioned incredulously.

“Stepsister if you wanna get technical. Veronica’s dad married Y/N’s mom, Y/N’s mom took Hiram’s last name but Y/N still has her dad’s last name. She’s the complete opposite of Veronica. The one thing they have in common is that you don’t wanna get tangled up with either of them. One is a snotty princess and the other is a tempestuous bitch. Just stay clear,” Jughead said.

“Noted,” Archie sighed as the two of them left the school and started walking home.

ENDNOTES ─── to get notified as soon as possible, follow @faeslibrary and turn on post notifications.

© 2022 faerieemetal. do not copy, repost or translate.

[goldencuffs]

untraditional

@lamenweek day five: traditions

Damen doesn’t think he’s supposed to feel so bone-weary at thirty-one.

Everything in his body aches, and he’s already greying at his temples. Last night, he had gone to bed at eight.

Theomedes doesn’t look up from the Ios Financial Times when Damen enters the Drawing Room. The table already has been set: Damen’s seat is, as usual, is to the left of his father, exactly fourty-seven centimetres apart. Damen’s food has been already served, because his father got here before him, and everyone gets served the same time as Theomedes.

Damen’s entire life has been dictated by these traditions, guidelines and precedents.

Some of them are good, but most of them are like this: nonsensical and elitist.

Even Theomedes’ and Damianos’ tea is prepared via strict protocol: one teaspoon of loose tea leaves per cup, heated to a hundred degrees celcius (seventy for green tea), with a tablespoon of organic, raw honey added straight to the teapot.

(It’s amazing tea, though).

Theomedes says, “Your food is cold.”

Damen stares at the pile of mash potatoes and salmon. “I’m not hungry.”

He also hates salmon, but Theomedes is the only one who sets the menu for the week with the head chef. Last week, they had roast beef and vegetables four times.

“You’re not still sulking are you?” Theomedes finally says, three minutes later.

Damen grips his table fork. He forces himself to do the breathing exercises Makedon had taught him.

In an ideal world, he wouldn’t reply, but in this one, everyone answered to the King.

“No, sir,” Damen says, and shoves a polite bite of food in his mouth.

“You haven’t had a meal with me in three weeks,” Theomedes says, and he sounds hurt and disappointed.

“Hmm,” Damen says. “I’ve been busy. You know I’ve been working on the preservation of Marlas with Nikandros.”

Theomedes crosses his fork and knife over his plate. Instantly, three different staff members rush forward to clear the table.

Damen’s plate is cleared too; no one eats after the King has left. Another useless, bane tradition.

“You know I did what’s best for you,” Theomedes says, looming over Damen.

When Damen nods, Theomedes kisses his temple. “You’ll realise it sooner, rather than later.”

“Yes, sir,” Damen says quietly, and rises only after Theomedes has left, as is protocol.

*

An hour later, the itch under Damen’s skin becomes unbearable, and he finds himself burrowing under the left corner of his mattress for certain… supplies.

He pulls on the red, shoulder-length curly wig with little care, and then the faux-leather beret. It’s peeling and terrible, but Damen doesn’t care.

The rest of his outfit is just layers: sunglasses, two coats, scarves, and a muted shirt, to hide as much of his body as possible.

He normally doesn’t leave so early in the day, when he’s being patrolled by guards and the Kyros.

Luckily, it’s only Nikandros who catches him, right outside his door.

His expression is flat. “You’re not serious. You’re leaving now? We’re in the middle of drafting the Delpha treaty!”

Damen shrugs. “I have to go.”

“You don’t have to—” Nikandros cuts himself off with a sigh. “Whatever. Can you please bring me back those caramel slices?”

Damen grins. “You got it, boss.”

Once he’s past the Main Foyer, the rest of the journey is easy: Damen takes an hour and a half train ride from Central Ios to Andris, and then a fifteen minute bus ride on the eighty-six. And then finally, an eight minute walk to the Andris Office District.

There’s a small bookstore there called Pocket Bookmark, painted emerald green, the lettering done in gold.

Inside, it’s not too busy: it’s not quite the end of a business day, and the customers in here are high school students, skimming the Shakespeare section, and a man hovering near the new releases.

Damen keeps his head down, weaving through the aisles.

Nicaise, the mouthy teenage cashier rolls his eyes when he sees Damen approaching, lifting up the wooden flap on on the bench, allowing Damen to duck through.

“Thanks, kid,” Damen says, mussing his hair.

“Ah, fuck off,” Nicaise grunts, but fondly. He’s warmed up to Damen ever since Damen bought him his first car. (Nothing too flashy, obviously).

Damen hurries all the way to the back, opening the door marked, No entry, and then goes up the narrow steps, which always make the worst creaking noises.

There’s another door a the small porch upstairs, and Damen fishes out the key in his pocket to open it.

Instantly, he’s hit with the smell of butter chicken simmering on the stove, and his mouth salivates. He dumps his entire attire by the small settee in the hallway, inhaling gratefully.

The second thing he’s greeted with is Wendy, who meows and claws at his leg.

“Come here, baby,” Damen murmurs, picking her up and holding her to his chest. She purrs and curls up, like a big ball of fluff and he kisses her head. “I love you so much.”

She meows in response, and snuggles closer.

Laurent turns off the stove in the tiny kitchen. He looks over his shoulder for just a second and scrunches his nose. “Ugh, she’s such a slut. I’ve been petting her for the last hour, but apparently I’m just not good enough.”

Laurent is in his after work attire: which means he’s as half dressed as possible. The shirt he’s wearing is one of Damen’s, and his shorts are the pair that shrunk in the wash; they ride too high up his thigh.

Laurent’s just come out of the shower: the hair at his nape is still wet, and his skin is pinked and glowing. Even with the curry, Damen can smell jasmine and coconut.

Laurent has got this sweet, soft smile that lights up his eyes.

It takes Damen’s breath away: not just Laurent, but this entire picture of domesticity. It’s all Damen’s wanted his entire life.

He means to make a snarky comment about Wendy, but what comes out is: “Marry me.”

Laurent drops the wooden spoon, eyes wide.

Damen grips Wendy too tightly and she lets out a shriek and jumps out of his arms.

They stare at each other for a moment. Damen’s heart is racing.

Laurent blinks. “Oh, sorry. I think I hallucinated for a minute.”

Damen steps forward, smiling. “It wasn’t a hallucination. Marry me.”

Laurent makes a small noise in the back of his throat. “Are you asking me or telling me?” He swallows, eyes darting all over Damen’s face, his body. “I don’t see a ring,” he says quietly.

Damen groans, rubbing a hand over his face. “Shit, I know. I had this whole plan, I was going to propose with the Queen’s ring, but obviously I’d have to talk to my father first and—” He sits down at the kitchen table, pulling out his phone. “There’s a courthouse ten minutes from here. It’s Thursday night, so they’re still open. We just need to show up with a signed ‘Intended Marriage Certificate’. It’s like three pages, we’ll be fine.”

“…Oh.” Laurent has gone very still. “You’re looking up courthouses. You’re serious.”

“Shit,” Damen says, watching him. “I’m so sorry. You—Do you want to marry me, Laurent? Because I’ve been dying to marry you since I first saw you. Er. No pressure, though.”

Laurent glares at him, affronted. “Of course I want to marry you, you fucking idiot!”

Damen leaps to his feet, grinning and flushed. “Fuck yeah! Let’s go print this form and—”

“Damen!” Laurent laughs, looking a little crazed. “We can’t just—Just wait a minute.”

“Alright. Shoot, baby.”

Predictably, Laurent flushes pink. “Is it even legal? Aren’t there special ceremonies for royals? And—and the King still thinks we broke up!”

Damen winces a little at that.

After an entire year of sneaking around, of meeting up in discreet hotels, and making plans to move in together one day, Damen had fucked up three weeks ago.

Drunk and enamoured, he had kissed Laurent outside his bookstore after a date. There had been photos—and the only saving grace had been the fact that Laurent’s face had been inscrutable.

But the fact that he was a commoner had been enough for Theomedes to unleash his rage. He had ordered Damen to break things off with Laurent, and Damen had pretended to, but… Well, Laurent had been hurt. It had been the first time he had realised how shaky their entire relationship was, how quickly it could come crumbling down.

Damen had spent days convincing him otherwise, and Laurent had finally agreed, but there had still been shadows in his eyes.

Now—now, though, Damen realises exactly what he can do, what he should have done months ago, to make Laurent realise he’s it.

“Fuck the King,” Damen says. He finally closes the distance between them, gripping Laurent’s hands. “Laurent, listen. I can still get married legally in a civil ceremony.”

“But—” Laurent bites his lip. “I don’t want you to get into trouble. And,” His voice grows small. “I know there’s so many rules and traditions you have to follow. I’ve read about the whole tradition where your father is supposed to gift you a diptych piece.”

Damen’s heart is warm. He smiles down at Laurent, smitten. “You’ve read up on royal wedding traditions?”

Laurent colours even more. “Of course.”

Damen kisses him hard, unable to bare the love swelling up inside him. Laurent flings his arms around Damen’s neck, his mouth emitting small, sweet gasps.

When they pull apart, Damen presses his forehead to Laurent’s. “Fuck the King,” he repeats. “Fuck the customs and rules and traditions. You are the only thing that matters to me. Just forget everything for a moment and answer: do you want to go downtown and marry me?”

Laurent’s smile overtakes his face, his eyes shining. “Yes,” he says softly. “I want to—so much.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you in a better way or give you a ring or—”

“Stop. This was absolutely perfect.” He sighs. “You’re perfect.”

Damen kisses him again, pressing him to the counter. “I want you to have my mother’s ring.”

Laurent buries his head into Damen’s chest, overwhelmed. He nods.

Damen drops a kiss to his hair. “Get changed, baby. We’re getting married.”

Laurent looks up at him in wonder. “We’re getting married.”