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agentofmischief · 3 years

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Birthstone Legacy Challenge

Ok, I don’t post a lot on here, but I’m a huge fan of the sims. I’ve been playing it since gen 1 back in 2000. So, I’ve been having fun with challenges, especially the past couple years with 100 Baby, and I’ve found online. And after reading hearing and reading up on Lilsimsie’s Not So Berry Challenge, I had an idea of my own challenge. So, I thought I’d share if anyone else wanted to play along.

Disclaimer: These challenges mean nothing in regards to people born in that month. I simply took symbolism and cultural aspects of each stone to create a challenging and interesting playthroughs you might not think to do.

Lifespan requirements: Normal (not sure if it’s possible on Short, but if you want hard mode, do it).

The idea is to start with your month’s birthstone, then each generation is the next month’s stone for either 10 generations (traditional Legacy), or 12 if you wan to do the full year. You could also start on the month after your birth month with a full year play-through, so your birth month acts as a “finale”. Might be helpful if say your birth month is April, and you know your month’s stone is Diamond and to you it sounds like a finisher, or if your birth month is December, and you’d just prefer to start with January’s stone. It’s up to you.

These will just be listed month by month, so they are easy to find.

Like in the other color challenges, you want to model your sim with the stone’s colors in mind. You should also build their house with their stone’s color in mind.

1. January stone: GARNET

Color: Dark Red

Garnets have a high refractive index, which causes them to look as if they are emitting light. Due to this phenomenon, travelers during the crusades would carry them to ward off evil. The stone represents Faith, Love and Constance.

Traits: Good, Ambitious, Cheerful

Goals:

- Complete the Soulmate aspiration

- Complete the Law career as a judge.

- Must maintain career until death (meaning no retirement, quitting, or being fired).

- Must have at least 2 kids after the soulmate aspiration is fulfilled.

- All children must be raised with all green character values and no lower than Bs in school.

2. February stone: AMETHYST

Color: Purple

The word Amethyst comes from the Greek word, amethystos, meaning “not drunken.” This comes from a myth where Dionysus was so enraged, he vowed his wrath on the next human he saw, which was a young woman, Amethystos. To “save” this woman, Artemis turned her to stone (note to self, don’t ask Artemis to save you ever, because her track record sucks). Dionysus calmed at seeing the stone’s beauty, and poured his wine on it, giving the stone it’s purple color. In more recent centuries, amethysts have been associated with piety and rank in the Catholic Church, as bishops are given amethysts when they are appointed.

Traits: Genius, Bookworm, Snob (If you have Snowy escape, replace one of these with Proper).

Goals:

-Complete the Knowledge - Renaissance Sim aspiration.

-Complete the Education Career as a Professor.

-Can not go to bars or nightclubs

-Max out Logic, Writing, and a musical skill (Violin, Guitar, Piano, or Singing)

-Can never marry or enter into an official dating relationship; HOWEVER must have at least 1 kid at some point to continue the legacy. This can be through adoption, which is more likely if you want to play pure piety or you have an Ace sim in mind, and the adoptee must be a child or teen. The other option is through secret woohoos if you want to play the more historically accurate, seedy way. **If you are playing with Risky Woohoos, you can have max 2 kids living with you. All others children must be removed from the house and into a Townie’s home once they become toddlers.

3. March stone: AQUAMARINE

Color: Light Blue

Due to aquamarine’s sea-like color, they’ve long been associated with traveling and the sea. Sailors used to put them under their pillows to calm themselves. They are said to inspire peace and ward off poisons.

Traits: Loves Outdoors, Glutton, Loner

Goals:

-Complete Angling Ace aspiration.

-Eat out of the trash 5 times without getting sick.

-Have an aquarium with 10 fish.

-Catch a vampire squid. ** Or if you have Island Living, you must become a mermaid.

-Must eat and learn to make Pufferfish Nigiri.

4. April stone: DIAMOND

Color: White/Silver

Diamond is the hardest stone on Earth, and is often associated with wealth and treasures. The word diamond comes from the greek word adamas, meaning unconquerable. They are the most popular of the stones, and so recently have been “Lab Grown.”

Traits: Ambitious, Insider, Perfectionist

Goals:

-Complete the Scientist career.

-Complete Leader of the Pack aspiration.

-Find all the crystals.

-Must clone a diamond.

-Become best friends with Judith Ward and have a framed selfie with her in your house.

-Date/marry someone in the Style-influencer career.

5. May stone: EMERALD

Color: Dark Green

Emeralds are an old stone, first mined in ancient Egypt. Cleopatra was known to wear them frequently. They are said to symbolize fertility, wisdom, and Spring. It’s also said to heal heartbreak.

Traits: Jealous, Romantic, Materialistic

Goals:

-Master Gardening skill.

-Date and 100% romance a politician, then break up with them.

-Have at least 3 kids from multiple partners (each must have reached 100% romance first).

-Breed a frog worth over $100

-Must complete Fabulously Wealthy aspiration

-Does not marry, UNLESS you have Strangerville, and can marry an Officer in the Military Branch. However, when they die, so does your sim.

6. June stone: PEARL

Color: White/Cream

Pearls are created by oysters and are considered the “perfect” gem, as it needs no man-mad alterations. Pearls are often attributed to wisdom through experience, as well as innocence and fertility.

Traits: Childish, Perfectionist, Family-oriented

Goals:

-Must have 5 kids before becoming an adult.

-Must complete the Curator aspiration.

-Must master 10 skills. ** If you are using Tiny House perks, 15 skills.

7. July stone: RUBY

Color: Bright Red

Rubies are well known for their blood-red color, earning their association with health and vitality. They are also symbols of love, passion, and prosperity.

Traits: Self-Assured, Romantic, Self-Absorbed

Goals:

-Complete Serial Romantic aspiration.

-Master Cooking, Athletic, and Charisma skills.

-Complete Doctor Career.

-Must Woohoo at least once in each: Closet, Jacuzzi, Observatory, Bush, Spaceship, Lighthouse, Pile of leaves, Shower, Coffin.

8. August stone: PERIDOT

Color: Light Green

Peridot is the stone of compassion, bringing health and peace to emotions and the mind. It inspires eloquence, creativity, and good cheer.

Traits: Creative, Vegetarian, Goofball

Goals:

-Complete the Painter Career.

-Master Painting, Photography, and Handiness skills.

-Paint 5 Masterpieces.

-Craft a bathtub of excellent quality.

-Complete Painter Extraordinaire aspiration.

9. September stone: SAPPHIRE

Color: Royal Blue

With the most famous sapphires being Princess Diana’s iconic engagement ring and The Heart of the Ocean in Titanic, it’s now wonder Sapphires hue long been associated with nobility and power. The stone symbolizes strength, loyalty, and focus through self-discipline.

Traits: Materialistic, Genius, Insider ** If you have snowy escape, Proper takes place for Materialistic.

Goals:

-Complete the Law Career as a Private Attorney.

-Complete the Mansion Baron aspiration.

-Must start a club with Wealthy requirement ($30,000+). *If you start a fraternity/sorority in University, it counts if wealthy is listed as a requirement.

-Max out Charisma, Logic, and Writing skills.

-Must marry another club leader.

-Must get Gold in Wedding Social Event, and pay full $1750. Minimum of 10 guests.

-Must have a son. (He does not HAVE to be the continuation of the Legacy, but he can if you want. Also, if you have a born daughter, but decide to transition her, that does not count. Since it’s a click of a button without game mechanic influence, it’s kind of cheating. HOWEVER, if you decide your born son should transition, it still counts. This is mostly to take the steps during pregnancy to make a boy (since we’ve all watched others influence for a girl 1000x), That or to keep going until “the odds are in your favor.”)

10. October stone: PINK TOURMALINE

Color: Pink

Pink Tourmaline, also known as October rose, represents humanity, sympathy to others, and humanitarian work. It’s believed to carry the virtue of love that is unconditional, offering comfort to children and lasting friendships.

Traits: Unflirty, Gloomy, Outgoing

Goals:

-Complete the Politician career as a Charity Organizer.

-Complete Friend to the World aspiration.

-Adopt 2 kids (Do not have to be legacy continuation).

-Max out friendship/be best friends with 4 sims before becoming an Adult. The friendship must be maintained throughout life.

-Have a rose garden.

-Write 5 Children’s books.

-Volunteer with family 5 times.

*If you get the pop-up asking to donate to charity, you must if you have the money.

11. November stone: CITRINE

Color: Dark Yellow (almost Gold)

Citrine’s yellow stone radiates happiness, creativity, and wealth. Named for it’s citrus like color, it’s no wonder it’s the stone for a month known for it’s food. Citrine is known also as the Merchant’s stone for it’s golden color.

Traits: Cheerful, Foodie, Creative

Goals:

-Complete Culinary Career.

-Complete Culinary aspiration.

-Master Cooking and baking skills.

-Own a fruit and vegetable garden with every possible fruit and veggie in your game.

-Own a Bakery or Restaurant.

-Cook an Excellent quality Grand Meal.

-Learn 10 Food Stall recipes.

12. December stone: Turquoise

Color: Blue/Green (Teal)

Turquoise is an odd one. In European cultures, it’s the stone of friendship and attracts money and luck, but is also frequently used in Evil Eye talismans. Historically, Montezuma II gifted these gems to Cortez, the Spanish Conquistador. The Apache used turquoise as well, as a charm on their bows for better aim.

Traits: Evil, Outgoing, Kleptomaniac

Goals:

-Max out Mischief and Charisma skills.

-Complete the Criminal Career.

-Complete Public Enemy aspiration.

-Start a Kleptomaniac club.

-Steal an object worth $10,000

-Marry someone with the Good trait, and cheat on them 5 times.

Happy simming!

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cloveroctobers · 4 years

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ROBERT “BOBBY” MCKENZIE —

IG info/bio : @/returnofdamckenzie | 426k followers | @/mclitgs2 is my forever boo🤟🏽😍 while @/cardib is my WIFE! She just doesn’t know it yet ❤️ support my work & be part of my family: @/bobbymckcares

24 (25) years young

Born in Dundee, raised in Glasgow, Scotland

Jamaican father named Badrick who is a African studies professor

Caucasian/Scottish mother named Catriona who used to be a au pair but now works as a receptionist in senior living — one eye is honey hazel and the other a dark brown

It was difficult growing up in a school that didn’t accept Bobby being biracial, it resulted in bullying to the point where he needed to switch schools (A lawsuit was also in place) The next school was slightly better but Bobby slowly learned to accept himself as it was not something he could control and not something he would want to in the first place. He was proud of where he came from and never thought he was better or less than anyone else, that wasn’t how he was raised

He’s an only child, his parents thought about adopting (and fostering) but with Bobby they had their hands full and he was just enough for them

His family is very family-oriented so he would never have to feel lonely since they gave him a lot of attention, slightly making him spoiled but he was also around his cousins & spending time with them as well

He’s extremely close to his younger cousin (only by a few months) Femi who he views as his sister. They’ve been through a lot together and are always there for each other so it only makes sense

Most likely an active kid always up to some sort of shenanigans whether it’s by himself or with his group of friends, “why would you do that Bobby?” “Don’t ask why but ask, why not!?”

Definitely suffered some broken bones, concussions, & sprain injuries but would never show signs of pain...guys got a high pain tolerance that’s for sure

Fan of films/series “stand by me” & “the goonies” & “scooby doo” since he feels they relate to his life??

Hospital caterer and loves making those feel better with food that he’s created. If he can’t put a smile on patients face with words then he feels like he can show them with food

Food is an art to him. He went to school for culinary & it’s very important for him to show how much it is to him. He picked up the craft from of course his family, who always used food for numerous of things: to bring people together is one of them

Perfected Jerk haggis, it is now he favorite dish next to desert & breakfast!

I’m struggling to figure out what sign he maybe? He’s very playful which may come off as childish at times, which makes me think of Leo? (Maybe Gemini?) Only because they usually hold onto their childhood as best as they can, very generous, & give their energy to you but I also don’t see him being a fire sign at all? So maybe very little Leo in his chart. I also feel like he might be a bit of an empath? He knows when situations around him don’t feel right, knows how to read the room, and always wants to help others by lighting things up.

Idk but I’m feeling he’s libra sun + Gemini moon + Leo rising? Who knows

Probably lived in a 2 bed flat with his old uni mate. It was small and a bit shit but it was their shit and they made the best of it

Now lives in a stone cottage or farmhouse with MC that was built in the 1900’s & is slightly haunted. He’s decided to call them Duncan??? But he believes they’re a good spirit, maybe even a friendly ghost!? since he got comfortable with the bizarre happenings in the new flat & it doesn’t seem like they want to hurt them

Lottie offered to bring her ouija board next time she visited—Bobby declined

House is mostly neutral based but three of the rooms in the flat are covered in ridiculous patterned walls or furniture much to MC’s distaste but, “what’s yours is mine” right? No. But Gary approves!

Has two dogs: a terrier & a collie since MC wasn’t down for getting a sheep

They do have chickens to raise their own eggs tho!

Definitely the kind of significant other that will ride on the cart when they’re out grocery shopping, will make you breakfast in bed, & will send you memes while he’s at home and you’re out or even when he’s at work and you’re at home, let’s you put his arm to sleep when you’re laying on it in bed (big ass head gang!), definitely chooses the candles from bath & body works that smell like food items (majority of them suck let’s be honest)

Probably smells like cucumber, melons, lemons, and eucalyptus

Has your wedding date in his IG bio & is proud

Annoys Gary & Lottie with his food pics, “oh, Not this shit again! 😡 looks brilliant, but enough!”

Has zoom/FaceTime movie nights with Marisol & MC who stopped feeling like she was third-wheeling months ago

Talks to hope & Noah (in the background) as much as he can. Feels like they’re his inspiration for love, even tho he’s the only one married out of the villa

He values marriage just like his parents do and often has Sunday dinners with them & MC ofc

Probably has relationship guide books and only reads them out of boredom but finds fascinating facts/advice if he pays attention & tries to apply it to his relationship with mc. If it works, it works! & If it doesn’t, you can’t say he didn’t try!

Works long hours but will still come home to cook for MC or brings leftovers from the events he’s catered (most are for the hospital but occasionally he’ll do other events)

Has a separate IG for his work

When WAP dropped, he almost lost his shit. Even tried to get MC to do the challenge with him, he’s pretty bad but MC eventually learned it just for him 😜

Is thrilled that Cardi made the best decision EVER on divorcing offset, “are you thinking of leaving me now?” “... I might.” “BOBBY!” “Haha, I love you!

Absolutely loves Christmas!!! It’s his favorite holiday and he loves giving back to everyone in his life. Usually he’s working overtime for the holidays & it makes him emotional due to the stories he hears & he puts a little extra love in his food

Goes all out for Christmas. Tries to buy/make everyone something. Even if he doesn’t really care for them...he’ll at least send them a x-mas card, if they keep it or burn it it’s entirely up to them—if he knew about it he’d probably be a little sad not gonna lie...he’s a soft king

Once bought Lottie black crocs with spooky pins , “are you joking Bobby?!” He knows she secretly loved them

Uses salt and peppermint in his dark hot cocoa...

Rather make deserts for Christmas than the food, he feels like it’s his duty

King of giving the thumbs up, especially when situations have gone to shit. He’ll still shoot them up with a smile or a grimace

Always inviting someone somewhere. “Bobby, hun. You’re 4-6 hrs away and it’s 1 am.” Hope groaned after listening to his bright idea, thinking something bad happened. “Ah, you could still make it if you tried, lassie.” “I’m gonna hang up now. Good night, bonkers man.”

Needs constant reminding when to get his locs touched up & moisturized

Either has a trampoline or a funhouse jumper in his backyard (maybe both) “we’ve got the space and this is better than a pool, or almost!”

Wants children, a whole footie team! There’s no specific time frame for him, when it happens, it happens

Used to cool & wet temps & loves vacationing in Greenland. Sure the hot weather he experienced in the villa was awesome & something different than what he’s used to but you can’t take the scot out of the man. So he typically sticks to places that are similar in temps, that way he doesn’t have to change his clothing choices much

Loves a good bath. Bubble baths are better than bath bombs to him, PERIOD!

Loves bubbles so much he put too much laundry detergent in the wash (does this on purpose now) and came back home to the dogs and room covered in it. Do you think he cleaned it up before MC came home? No. He decided to have a bubble party in the room with a Caribbean playlist playing in the background

MC definitely posted about it the first time & joined him for a bit, dreading the work that came with cleaning it all up. Now whenever Bobby needs a bubble party, he knows what to do. MC preferred him to have his little bubble party in the tub but 50% of the time he chooses not to listen & they leave him to pout & clean it himself

Likes to hold hands with fingers interlocked. When it’s cold and if you’re both wearing hoodies, he’ll slide his hand inside the arm of your hoodie to help keep you warm

Canon: His version of a snack is spaghetti hoops on toast & can eat that for the rest of his life & be content

If he didn’t end up marrying MC, probably finds his significant other working as a nurse at one of the hospitals he caters to or a volunteer at a old folks home

Never had a serious relationship, very few hookups, was either always placed in the friend zone or there was one person he wanted to be serious with but they rejected him and continued loving someone else who treated them like shit—so he kinda swore off of relationships and just flirted a bunch and kept his love life non-existent

Fav ice cream? Rocky road ice cream with one scoop of cotton candy & one scoop of cookie butter blue

Doesn’t believe in measuring when it comes to culinary. He uses his eyes as his measurement, could be a bad thing, could be a good thing, that’s up to you

If he’s up at night, he’s eating something sweet. A nice glass of single malt scotch whiskey + a splash of coconut milk (🤢) with a slice of angel food cake & he’s out like a light

Absolutely loves shopping for the kitchen, finds immense joy in doing so. If you lose him in a store, one of the places you’ll most likely find him is in the kitchen decor area

Owns a bagpipe & wants to get better at it, even tho he scared the living shit out of his dogs & chickens

Wears his shades quite a bit even tho the weather is hardly sunny and mainly windy & damp

Will hold the door for strangers even if they don’t say thank you

He’s open when it comes to music. Will listen to anything but feels like the music has to be a purpose for something...Everything he does in his day to day life has to feel like a soundtrack to him since in his mind he’s daydreaming about his life being made into a movie. Who isn’t?

He thinks wentworth Miller should play him in a film and that kid from blackish should play him when he was a wee lad, Marcus Scribner

Always keeps a positive attitude because he knows what it feels like to feel low and he doesn’t want anybody else in the world to feel like that so he wants to uplift and if he can try to be someone’s happiness he’ll gladly be that— which isn’t always the right move, he learned

Listens to: Rotimi, Shaggy, Sean Paul, Skip Marley, H.E.R., Jhene Aiko, Jorja Smith, UMI, The Kooks, The Killers, Cold War kids, Milky chance, Blood Orange, The 1975, Vampire Weekend, Bad Suns, BRYSON TILLER, Kilo Kish, & Ella Eyre (although he misses her old music)

Celeb crushes? Cardi B is his mfkin celeb wife okay?! Nobody else comes above her! He also thinks FKA twigs is pretty & super talented, sevdaliza!, Tia & Tamera, Iman, and brandy from the 90s makes him swoon

Anthem = jaden, “Boys and Girls”

#litg #litg s2 #litg2 #litg Bobby #litg au #litg headcanon #litg headcanons #litg gary #litg lottie #litg marisol #litg mc #litg hope #you asked and you shall receive

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haberdashing · 4 years

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Hidden Away

Statement of Riley Parker regarding a hide-and-seek game played on their college’s campus.

on AO3

Statement of Riley Parker regarding a hide-and-seek game played on their college’s campus. Original statement given April 13th, 2019. Recording by Artemis Lee, archival assistant for the Usher Foundation.

Statement begins.

I think it’s important to start off by saying that this was a Saturday night, midterms had just ended, and most of us were drunk. I think that explains a lot of what we were thinking here. I know hide-and-seek is seen as a kid’s game, but when you’re hanging on campus with your friends, you’re bored, and you just want to let off some steam after a week of grueling exams... sometimes you get creative.

I wasn’t drunk, though. I don’t drink, never have. Alcoholism runs in my family, and I figured the best way to avoid it is to just not drink in the first place. Not that it’s really anyone’s business why I don’t drink, but when people get snotty about it, explaining that usually makes them back off a bit.

Crystal, though--Crystal Wheeler is her full name--she’s the one who suggested it, and she was drunk as a skunk at the time. Luis Vasquez was the one who suggested Old Bailey as the playing ground--he was drunk too--and it wasn’t long before we all went over there and started figuring out the rules.

There were eight of us playing--myself, Crystal, Luis, AJ, Bowie, Ben, Nessie, and Red; I could give you last names for everybody, but I really doubt they’d be of much help. The rules were simple: find a spot in Old Bailey and hide in it, wait for the seeker to find you, first one found is the seeker next if there’s time to play again, last one found gets bragging rights, leaving Old Bailey means you’re kicked from the game for good.

Old Bailey isn’t called that because there’s another Bailey to confuse it with, but because it’s really old--like, early 1800s old, oldest building on campus by far. It gets whatever classes or activities can’t fit somewhere else, pretty much, but for such a big building in the middle of campus, it’s really not used that often. And most importantly for our game, it’s got a lot of little nooks and crannies hidden away in it.

Ben volunteered to be the first seeker, and he gave us a full minute to go find our hiding spots since we needed time to be able to get there, and maybe even to figure out where it was we wanted to hide.

I knew where I was going the instant I started running, though. There’s a little room on the far end of the building from where Ben was counting that the choir uses for practice sometimes--I’m not in choir myself, but I found out about it when I helped them carry equipment in one time. The door to it’s kind of hidden away off to the side of a lecture hall, so unless you know it’s there, you’d probably pass by it and not even notice.

Once I got in the room, I noticed a wardrobe in the corner of the room, and when I opened it it turned out to be empty, so I had no doubt I’d be able to fit in it easily, if not comfortably. I climbed inside, got as comfortable as I could, and looked down at my glow-in-the-dark watch, which was already ticking away.

Tick. Tick. Tick. 12:01 AM. One minute passed. The seeker could stop counting and start looking.

I wasn’t worried about being the first one found. Even if Ben knew about this spot, it was on the wrong end of the building for that. I figured I had several minutes at least to hang in there, watch the clock, peer out through the slits in the doors to see if anyone was coming.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Thirty minutes passed.

Ben’d probably be getting close now, I figured--though I didn’t hear him, so maybe not, maybe I had a bit longer to wait. We’d never done this before, so it’s not like I had any real idea of how long it’d take. And like I said, it was a big building.

I started to wish I’d brought my phone with, but then, knowing my luck, it’d probably make some noise and give my spot away at exactly the wrong time. As it was, my watch seemed loud enough, though maybe that was just because there wasn’t anything else to make noise in there.

Tick. Tick. Tick. One hour passed.

I was getting a little achy--the wardrobe had enough room for me but not much to spare, so I was just standing inside it in kind of an awkward position, without much room to fidget around in there.

I had to be one of the last ones left, right? Maybe I’d even be the winner.

I could put up with a few aches and pains for a bit longer if it meant getting to lord it over my friends for ages to come.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Hour and a half passed.

This was getting ridiculous. My nose itched, and I had to pee, and I was bored as hell, and I hadn’t heard one single person come by this entire time.

Had they forgotten about me?

No, of course not. We were friends. They probably just overlooked the door to the room altogether. It was easy enough to do, after all.

...when I won the game, I was making them buy me food afterwards.

Tick. Tick. Tick. Two hours passed.

I kept coming back to the thought that my friends had forgotten about me, forgotten about the game entirely, forgotten that I was still hidden away in my little nook in Old Bailey. I didn’t want to believe it, but what else was there? Could two hours of searching really not be enough to find this room? I still hadn’t heard so much as a single footstep.

Then I started to wonder what would happen if that was the case. How long would it take for people to notice I was missing? Would somebody come use the room before then?

It suddenly occurred to me that I hadn’t checked whether I could get out of the wardrobe before stepping inside. What if I was trapped in there? What if it was locked? I could still see the room outside through those slits in the door, but I think I started hyperventilating a bit, because the air didn’t feel right in my lungs, and I wondered if the slits weren’t big enough, if I was going to suffocate to death in there and nobody would ever know-

It was exactly 2:36:13 according to my watch when I opened the wardrobe from the inside, taking a deep breath as I stepped out into the room beyond; the air wasn’t exactly fresh in there, but it was damn well better than inside the wardrobe, anyway.

I still didn’t hear a sound beyond the tick of my watch and my own breathing and heartbeat, but just getting out was enough to calm me down a little, convince me that I wasn’t going to die forgotten in an old choir wardrobe. Still, it took a few minutes before I got my bearings enough to start wandering around.

The part of me that just figured I was really good at hide-and-seek finally shut up for good when I opened the door to the choir room and entered the giant lecture hall it was connected to and still heard nothing. There was no way that seven mostly-drunk college kids searching for someone in an echo-y old building wouldn’t be making some kind of noise, but I couldn’t hear a thing. Not from people, anyway; I focused enough that I heard the hum of the electric lights, noticed a few gurgles from the plumbing system when I got a drink of water and stopped in the bathroom, but nothing that came from other people. I even looked down at the carpet to see if I could make out any footprints, but no such luck.

I walked... well, really it was more of a jog, to the other side of the building, where we’d all left our bags and phones and stuff just before the game started, but the only stuff there was mine. My phone wouldn’t turn on, even though I thought it’d still had 70% battery when we started, but at that point I wasn’t even surprised. I did, however, have a couple hard candies still buried in my bag--I tend to keep some kind of candy around just in case, especially since Nessie lives two doors down and she’s diabetic--and I ate one, thanking my past self for being so considerate.

The tiredness set in all at once, it seemed like. I’d chugged an energy drink while most of my friends were chugging alcoholic drinks, so it might’ve just been that wearing off, but suddenly I didn’t want to bother dragging myself back to my dorm and plugging in my phone and doing everything else I’d need to do before going to bed, I just wanted sleep, now. I saw some sort of a teacher’s lounge with a couch in it, and fuck, it wasn’t even an especially nice couch, just a beat-up old yellow thing that was lumpy as hell, but at that point it might as well have been sent by the gods as far as I was concerned.

I don’t remember the exact time, but I know it was a little after 3 according to my watch before I managed to get some sleep in.

When I checked my watch upon waking up, it was 9:47, the sun was shining, and I still didn’t hear a peep. Which didn’t surprise me that much, really--obviously my friends had ditched me, and I’d give them hell for it later.

But then I passed by a window. It was a beautiful day out, the sun was shining, the trees were swaying gently in the wind... and there was nobody outside.

Nobody rushing to or from the cafeteria. Nobody heading to or from their car. Nobody walking their dog, or feeding the feral cats on campus, or playing ultimate frisbee, or any of the usual things people would do on a nice Sunday morning. I didn’t even see any squirrels scampering about, and those things are usually all over campus.

My mind went to... some weird places there. Wondering if I’d missed the apocalypse or something. Maybe the Rapture. Not that I’m religious, but hell, what else was there?

I had the rest of my hard candies at that point, though that wasn’t quite enough to fill my stomach on its own. Just needed something to get my mind off things, I think, some kind of distraction.

I looked back at the lounge where I’d slept, figuring I’d make a note of it for later, maybe even thank the professor who took care of the spot for putting the couch there... I remember it was room 165, but there was no name on the door. Not a plaque, not a carving, not even a piece of paper saying the professor’s name.

There was a desk next to the couch, and I looked at the papers on it, not because it really mattered who this professor was in the greater scheme of things but because I just wanted to know, but all the papers were blank. Just ordinary white printer paper, stacked haphazardly on a desk to look like a normal professor’s workspace if you didn’t look too closely.

Not going to lie... I think I had a bit of a panic attack when I saw that. It just didn’t make sense, even with my half-formed theories about the apocalypse or the Rapture or whatnot. It wasn’t that everybody had vanished--it was more like nobody had ever been there to begin with, or that every sign of their existence had vanished with them except the building of Old Bailey itself. There was just me and my bag and that was it. Me against the world.

I really wish I’d brought my charger with me that night.

Then I figured, well, lights had worked fine the night before--and I flipped one on now, confirmed they were still working--so I might as well make my way back to my dorm room, charge my phone, get out my laptop, figure out what the hell it was I’d clearly missed. Leaving Old Bailey was still technically losing the game of hide-and-seek that I’d rightfully won, I guess, but that had long since stopped mattering to me. If I couldn’t have my friends with me, I at least wanted to know what happened to them.

According to my watch, it was 10:18 when I finally stepped outside Old Bailey.

The instant I stepped outside I heard a loud noise and I flinched, panicked a bit, covered my ears. It took me a minute to realize what the noise was.

It was my friends, all seven of them, standing outside the main door to Old Bailey, shouting my name. There was a police officer there, too; apparently they’d called him when I vanished, thought I might have gotten stuck somewhere. Guess they weren’t entirely wrong.

It was dark out, though. And according to all of their phones and watches and whatnot, it was only 2:36 in the morning, though my watch still showed that it was well after 10 AM.

The next time I went back in that building--with Red in tow, because I was not going back alone--I checked on what I remembered from my time in there. Not only could I not find the couch, I couldn’t find room 165; the numbers only go up to 149 before skipping to the 200s, apparently. The wardrobe was gone, too, and when I asked some choir kids about it, none of them remembered it being there.

There’s no big moral to this story, I don’t think, no way to tie it all up in a knot. I’ve always had a bit of an issue with anxiety, and that’s even worse now, as you might imagine. If I’ve learned anything, it’s just that the world is even weirder and scarier than I had imagined, and I could do without that knowledge, thanks. All I know is I’m never going back to Old Bailey alone, and I’m never playing another game of hide-and-seek in my life.

Statement ends.

#tma #tma fic #tma fanfic #the magnus archives #the magnus archives fic #the magnus archives fanfic #statement fic #personal #my writing

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friend-o-dorothy · 5 years

Text

Employability Master Post

So I’m a job coach and I’m in this capstone course focused on employability and job readiness which is like hysterical to me because I literally help prep people for employment for a living. But rewriting my resume and doing mock interviews etc. has put me back on the receiving end of all this again, so I thought I’d impart some wisdom on y’all because I love you.

Resumes

Nothing on the page should be larger than your name.

Do not include work experience where you were fired or where you left on poor terms. Assume HR will contact that employer to seek a reference.

Do not exceed one page. I know there’s been a lot of debate about this lately, but for the love of God don’t do it. It’s still not standard practice to do and you’re more likely to find an employer turned off by that than impressed.

Double. Triple. Quadrouple check for errors.

If you have a huge employment gap, feel free to write a one sentence explanation in italics at the end of the work history section. Between the years of 2015 and 2017 I focused on school or I was focused on my family in the year 2018 and am now excited to enter the workforce is appropriate.

The skills section should not include things everyone else has. I cannot tell you how many resumes I see that say “proficient in Microsoft office.” If you’re applying they’ll assume you are already. Don’t waste precious space with that. If you want to include skills, share qualifications, completed trainings or webinars, and relevant information like typing speed for a data entry specialist or deescalation trainings for social work.

Make sure you have permission from your references before you use them. Even if you have a standing agreement, they may not answer an unfamiliar call if they aren’t expecting it.

Include awards and accomplishments. These should be applicable to the field you’re going into and contain descriptions. Here’s a glimpse of mine (sorry I’m on mobile and the formatting got weird)

Look online to make sure your formatting is appropriate. Also, many career centers at colleges will look over your resume whether or not you’re a student. Old teachers or professors are also helpful when you need a second set of eyes.

Interviews

Pick out your outfit well ahead of time. Wear modest makeup, try to avoid cleavage, don’t wear heels higher than you’re comfortable walking in normally, and don’t wear anything you’ll be tempted to pull at or fidget with. A skirt that rides up will make you self conscious and it will be difficult to void yanking it down.

Research the company. Take time to really look at the company’s mission statement and to consider what it means to you. Look at outcomes from the local branch or department and know the name of your interviewer.

Prepare three strengths and weaknesses. Your weaknesses should be spun as strengths. Example: “I’m excited about my work and have a hard time saying no. I’ve really had to learn to manage my time to prevent burn-out.” Also consider real-life examples of times you have failed and how you can display a growth mindset when sharing the story. On the other side of things, if you can’t tell them why you are worth hiring why should you expect them to choose you?

Never NEVER bitch about a former employer. The interviewer may ask you about your least favorite boss. Do not share their name, but focus on the management or leadership style that was negative while still trying to give them the benefit of the doubt. Example: “A previous supervisor of mine had a very hands off approach. Because he didn’t offer much feedback, I struggled to please him. I prefer to work with a supervisor that doesn’t hesitate to offer praise or criticism.”

Smile, get engaged, laugh when appropriate, and humanize yourself. Remember that they have to supervise you, and just like you’re hoping for a boss that’s likable they want an employee that’s likable. Don’t be afraid to be a little vulnerable. Reveal something about yourself that’s appropriate for work. I’ve mentioned having cats, being new to the area, struggling with anxiety, and being adopted when appropriate and relevant. Here’s a clip from my mock interview:

Practice getting yourself to the interview site a day or more ahead of time and be sure to time it. Maps may say it takes 15 minutes, but if it actually takes 20 with construction, you’ve set yourself up to be five minutes late.

The interviewer may ask how you would handle certain situations on the job. If you are not sure, saying, “I would consult with my supervisor to make sure my response was in line with company policy” is totally appropriate. No one has all the answers, and being willing to admit you may need help is not a bad thing.

If you need time to think about an answer to a question try repeating the question back or stating, “wow what a great question” to give yourself time to think rather than allowing for too long a pause. Example: “Hm, when is a time I felt overwhelmed... well! Last summer I was responsible for running a large volunteer group and I had a number of high behavior clients...”

Send a thank you card afterwards. An email works, but a handwritten card adds a personal touch, shows greater effort, and more deeply expresses gratitude.

Feel free to send questions or ask me to look over a resume or give tips on your interview outfit. I’d be happy to help. I wanna see you beautiful women living fully in jobs that bring you joy.

#mine

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takemybodynotmysoul · 4 years

Text

plotttttt

You and Berry go to the lake in order to try to catch the legendary Pokémon. You meet Prof. and Dawn, and just like in Diamond, they leave their case.

Then, Cyrus appears out of there. Saves you from some wild Pokémon and choose a starter. His attire his much more science-like, and the team is not called Team Galactic, but Galaxy Corporation.

Then, we get a cutscene of going back to your house to tell your mother about what happened, and Giratina is seen on the reflection on the lake.

You get to Sandgem Town, and notify Dawn/Lucas and Rowan about everything. You get the starter you received, and then get to name it

Side note: Rowan has been tweaked slightly, and he is written as a much more grumpy character, and Dawn/Lucas is his grandchild, who is unsure about what they want to with their lives. They will be your secondary rival.

By the way, there are three Pokédex entries for each Pokémon in The New Pokémon Platinum. You will be able to unlock them if you catch a certain amount of Pokémon, and for the first time in the series, completing the Pokédex has actual consequences. As you complete it, you will find brand new Pokémon habitats in both Snadgem and Twinleaf town, that the Professor was able to construct thanks to the data you collected.

So, you start your journey. By the way, THERE IS NO MANDATORY CATCHING TUTORIAL. A slide will pop on the screen, and if you are interested in the catching tutorial, it will indicate you to talk to Lucas/Dawn.

_______________________________________________________

There are no changes in the camera angle when encountering important characters, only normal angle (from behind) and full-on cutscenes.

In Jubilife City, you will be acquainted with Looker. It’s not as tedious as the originals, the dialogue is quick and you are only warned of shady people. You are given the VS. Recorder by Dawn, and then you can have your battle with Barry by the school. The clown-clock situation is completely optional, and will fuction by popping on the right side of the screen.

On the route on your way to Orebough City, you will find a static Shroomish that is there to start the Mew event that will be distributed in the game’s release.

Once upon arrival, a kid will point to the gym, but not force you to get there. You are still supposed to find Roark by the mine, and once you get there you will see that it has been expanded. After getting the badge, the new ways TM’s work will be explained: one needs a rock type Pokémon that knows a rock type move to break down the boulders, and once you break them, they will STAY broken.

After getting the badge, you will be explained (by Dawn/Lucas, after a battle) how the side-missions go. They are little missions you can take part in, and after completing them, you will either be given an Egg of a Pokémon that cannot be found in the wild, or that are from another region. There are, at the very least, five of them to do in every town. They are not big, but they will 100% expand on the region and offer some extra events with the Galactic corporation.

When leaving Jubilife to get to Eterna City, there is an event with some scientists like from the GC (Galaxy Corporation) get confronted because they are exploiting a Magnemite on the street. This event helps begin to explain how they work, much more differently than they did in the OG’s.

Basically, they are a scientific corporation that works in the region and has, overall, a pretty bad reputation: they tend to overwork their employees, as well as receive complaints because they bother the wild Pokémon. Cyrus is their leader, and his fascination with Giratina and the others is tweaked to seem much more believable and much less end-of-the-world type of ordeal.

Giratina senses Cyrus is one fascinated with Myth, and tries too hard to find out the truth behind everything. His passion for history is borderline insane, and he has, like previously mentioned, a pretty nasty reputation. He will put anything at risk if it means getting the data he needs, his research is more important to him than anything else.

Giratina, as we all know, was banished to the DW by Arceus, and it begins to sense that Cyrus is its way out. What better way to get out of the DW than have a clearly unstable man try to break you out of it? Therefore, it starts to show itself on mirrors or reflective surfaces, which greatly affects Cyrus’ mental health, making him believe he is either insane or chosen.

His ultimate goal is to get the legendaries, Palkia and Dialga, to open the world and let him be the one to explore the Distorsion World. So, he must find a way to get the Red Chain. Therefore, he starts to hunt the Lake Trio.

He is, however, not written to be completely insane. He is manipulated by the brand new antagonist of the game (inspired by the anime) Hunter J. She’s a merciless hunter that sells Pokémon to an association that hides in the Battle Frontier. In the encounters with officer Jenny, she’ll mention how they have been suspecting her for a while, but her status as a Frontier Brain is too powerful, plus, they do not have any substantial leads.

She is aware of how twisted Cyrus’ plans are, and she is the one to push him over the edge:

After you save the old man’s Clefairy from the Eterna building, she will convince Cyrus that the only way to get what he wants is to go after it. From that moment on, the GC work together with her and they start to become more of a criminal organization, as they are escorted out of their numerous headquarters, but not arrested.

Obviously, J isn’t stupid, she’s just using Cyrus to find legendary Pokémon and then sell them. She is far mroe antagonistic, and meets her demise at the DW, when she her trusty Salamance gets tired of her and lets her falls into the deep end.

She is the one to move the plot along, alongside the commanders. She is the one to set off bombs on two of the lakes, and you fight her several times.

Some important information that will be expande upon later on is tht, after Gardenia’s badge, you can go anywhere you want to in Sinnoh except for Canalave City and Snowpoint (including the brand new cities of Alamos, Hillwater, Greenstation and Senders Town). The only roadblocks are ones you can get rid of with TM’s no ‘YOU CAN’T PASS’ nonsense. The only one that is kind of like that is, actually, not annoying at all. You are unable to get to Celestic Town before badge number 6 so, after you do, to make sure that you do not skip the event with Cynthia’s grandmother, they add Whirlpools before Canalave. To get the ‘TM’ you must deliver the Charm to her.

How it works:

REGARDING GYMS

They are scaled, and depending on which one you decid to tackle first, the leader will ahve one or other Pokémon at certain levels. Also, you are obligated to use only as many Pokémon as the Gym leader uses. This is not an issue, because after the fourth badge, they all get 6 Pokémon.

Volkner is now no longer the last gym leader, that honor is Candace’s. He is instead, the sixth. After defeating Fantina, Wake, and Maylene at the order you please, you will be able to use STRENGHT. This will let you go on a little extra quest where you have to find Volker (he’s at the Jilted Park). After defeating him, you finally get the ability to Surf, and can go to the expanded Canalave City. After that, you will be given the ability to Waterfall, and be able to go on your Snowpoint journey.

REGARDING PLOT

You will have some optional encounters with the (now fugitives) GC, and they will be on some of the routes between Alamos City, Hearthome Parish, and Veilstone (there is also a small event here), and have to be driven off because they are abusing the wild Pokémon.

However, after you finally get the 5th badge, the explosion on the Great Marsh goes off. You fight Junter J, and she flies away. Then, can go on to your next badge.

After defeating Volkner, there is an issue with them violating some rules regarding the energy of the city, but the next big event is after you get your seventh badge. The explosions on all of the three lakes go off. Instead of being sent there to fix it (insanity), Rowan simply encourages you because the cities nearby are in need of volunteers to help them with the damage. When you get to Valor and Verity, the reason you fight the grunts and commanders is because you catch them trying to escape. Then, you are still encouraged to go to Snowpoint because Lake Acuity’s wildlife has been threatened by the bomb, and they need help from as many trainers as they can get.

After getting there and getting your eight gym badge, you are able to access the Lily of the Vally conference, and go to the Lake to give help. There you find out that ANOTHER bomb was just inmediatly set off, and that they now have, succesfully, caught the guardians.

You get to infiltrate the Veilstone HQ next. There, you find that they have turned it into some sort of nightmarish base, and they are keeping the guardians. Berry actually goes alongside you here, as it benefits his story arc, which I will touch on later. After busting their operation, they manage to get away thanks to Hunter J, and go off to Moun Coronet.

Then, Cynthia reveals (and Palmer of all trainers) join and send a message to the region, encouraging all of the trainers to head to Mount Coronet in order to fight Cyrus. Once again, there is no end-of-the-world nonsense, she just encourages trainers to help the Lake Trio, some legendary Pokémon that have helped humans and trainers since the beggining of humanity. It’s much more engaging this way, and MUCH less preachy.

On your way up the mountain, you run into some of the stat trainers you have been meeting before, and it is quite moving to see how everybody is trying to help the Lake Trio.

Once you get up, after fighting a 12 on 12 battle with Mars and Jupiter, and Cyrus uses The Lake Trio, Dialga and Palkia to open the portal, Giratina swallows you, Cynthia, Hunter J and Cyrus into the Distortion World.

There (it’s all in a fish-eye camera, very much atmospheric), you solve the puzzles and get to fight Cyrus who, after some dialogue with Cynthia and J, gets a redemption.

After J’s falling, you fight Giratina (are unable to catch it yet though) to let you all out of there. Once you emerge at the Sendoff Spring, you get the conclusion with the last Giratina-reflection-sighting in the fourth lake, but instead of menacingly looking at Cyrus, it looks at you.

Then, you get to Lily of the Valley island, go through Treebove Path, and fight in the Lily of the Valley conference. You fight the stat trainers, and Lucas/Dawn in the finale, and are finally able to go through the Victory Road and challenge the League.

After the Barry fight and the Elite 4, you fight Cynthia by the ocean. After you win, the credits roll. Overall, with the expanded routes, brand new locations, revamped plot, and new rivals, the story is the most complete of any of the games, and is, without a dubt, the longest main campaign of the Pokémon games. Will continue with the side-missions and non-Calaxy plot, and post-game later.

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xtrashmammalstefx · 5 years

Text

Mad The Swine (Ben! Roger Taylor x Reader)

Part 10 of The Queen Repertoire

WARNINGS: Smut, language

Notes: Sorry this took a little longer than usual. It took me a while to come up with an idea for this one. hehe. Hopefully it was worth it. Enjoy!

I was sitting under the shade of tree outside my uni one day. I'd just gotten out of class and had been chewed out by my professor for coming up with 'ridiculous designs' and that I should be 'looking up' to her for inspiration. The woman couldn't even design a sock if her life depended on it. So I was irate and just wanted to relax while burying myself in a good book beneath my favorite tree.

I was a couple pages in when I felt eyes start to burn holes in my body. “Take a photo it'll last longer,” I said annoyed. I looked up and found one of my classmates, a shy golden-skinned lad who always kept to himself, staring at me almost mesmerized.

“Oh sorry,” he said awkwardly. “I was just admiring your shawl. It's very beautiful and intricate.”

“Oh, uh, thank you,” I said feeling my cheeks grow warm. “Farrokh right?”

He flinched. “I prefer Freddie, darling.”

“Oh sorry,” I said. “I'm Y/N.”

“I know,” he said. “I've seen you in class. So where did you buy that, if you don't mind me asking?”

“I made it,” I said proudly. My mum was a seamstress and had taught me to sew at an early age. Eventually I grew bored with sewing the same old outfits my neighbor's would don and started experimenting...I never stopped. The shawl I wore then was rainbow colored and when brought together around the front showed the image of a man and woman in a...sensual embrace. Yeah I had no shame and I actually considered it to be my finest work.

Freddie looked at me stunned. “Really?” he looked back down at it. “Well then I must say your talent is absolutely wasted here, love.”

“Our professor doesn't seem to think so,” I said still irate at the witch.

“Our professor is a bitch who couldn't even design a wank sock,” he said.

I laughed. “I couldn't agree more.”

“Good, now what would you say if I could get you out of here and got you a job dressing an aspiring band who will one day take the world by the balls and never let go?” I arched an eyebrow at him.

“I'd say if you are capable of such magic then please, by all means,” I said thinking he couldn't really do such a thing. He then held his hand out to me. “What? Really?”

He smiled. “Why would I ever lie to you, my dear?”

I don't know why but I truly believed in Freddie. And so I packed up my book and place my hand in his. He helped me up and I followed him.

He took me to this lecture room at Imperial College where three lads were gathered up front, more than ready to play their instruments.

“You're late,” said the tall lanky lad who held a red guitar.

“Sorry about that darling,” Freddie said. “I was caught up hiring our new head of wardrobe.” He motioned at me.

“Um hi,” I muttered.

“Lads this is Y/N,” Freddie introduced me. “Y/N this is Deaky, Brian, and...”

The blonde haired lad darted over to me before he could finish. “Roger,” he said bringing my hand to his lips. “Roger Meddows Taylor. It's lovely to meet you―Aaand there's a couple fucking on your chest.”

He ogled my shawl.

“Yes, I know,” I said taking back my hand. “And it's nice to meet you too.”

“You'll having to forgive Roger,” Freddie said. “His poor eyesight has made his other senses strong but has done nothing for his maturity.”

“You're one to talk Fred,” Roger scoffed at him. “At least I've outgrown my bubble bath phase.”

“Darling the love of bubble baths has no age limit,” Freddie argued.

“In that we agree,” I said. “Now if I am to dress you lot there's something I'm going to need to do first.”

“What's that?” Brian asked. I dug out my measuring tape which I carried with me at all times in my bag.

“I'm going to need your measurements,” I said holding the measuring tape up. “So, who's first?”

Freddie volunteered to go first and proceeded to stand before me wearing nothing but his underwear. I took out a notebook and pen and got to work.

I measured him, Brian, and Deaky. With each I made sure to tell them when the time came to measure their legs the same thing. “Sorry if my knuckles brush your bollocks.”

They told me it was fine, that it was all a part of the process. When Roger's turn came he stood in front of me. I measured his arms, back, chest, shoulders, and saved the legs for last.

“Sorry if my―.”

“No need to apologize,” he said. “Quite the contrary I should be the one apologizing in case I get hard accidentally.”

I looked up at him incredulously.

“I'm only joking,” he laughed.

“Roger I swear to god if I see anything rise in your knickers I will personally break it in half and shove it up your own ass,” Freddie threatened. “Y/N is a part of our family now and must be respected as such.”

I felt my face warm up. “Thanks Freddie.”

I finished up with the measurements and shoved my tools and notebook in my bag. Eventually we all decided that school would have to take a backseat to the music. We all left and the lads recorded a couple. They eventually were scheduled to play gig after gig all around the country, and the world. One show in particular was at The Rainbow and Jesus were they excited.

I immediately got to work making outfits for the shows. They were a perfect mix of simple but loud. I had just finished putting the final touches on Roger's vest when there was a knock on my door.

I answered it and found Roger. “Oh hey, um, did you need something?”

“Fred's just sent me to check on things,” he said. Funny thing is though, I'd spoken to Freddie on the phone not thirty minutes earlier, and he said nothing about sending someone to check on the costumes.

“Oh well come in,” I said standing aside.

He stepped inside but looked at me suspiciously. “You're nice...why are you being nice?”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“No it's just weird. You're never nice to me,” he said. It's true I may have been kind of bitchy towards him but can you blame me? The twat had done nothing but push my buttons since I met him. Which frustrated me to no end once I found myself feeling something more for the twat.

I even asked Freddie about it earlier.

“Why is it when I'm around you, Bri, and Deaky I'm fine but then Roger opens his gob and..”

“And you can't help but feel your heart race and you're only thoughts are of him much to your dismay?” He finished for me.

“Yes...”

“Darling, I hate to break it to you but you're kind of in love with him,” Freddie said.

“WHAT?” I choked out. “No...no...I can't be...”

“And why not?”

“Because he's an idiot!” I snapped. “Look there's got to be something you could do to help me. Separate us, get in between us when you see him getting close...”

“Darling don't worry your pretty little head,” Freddie said. “I'll take care of it.”

We hung up soon after and I can't help but think that Roger's surprise visit was somehow Freddie's doing; his way of either being my fairy god mother again or an evil genius.

“I'm just tired is all,” I said to Roger. “I've been working all day putting finishing touches to the outfits. See for yourself.” I motioned at the mannequins donning their Rainbow attire.

Roger walked over to it and started scrutinizing it. “Bloody hell, Y/N, you've really outdone yourself.”

“Thank you,” I smiled. I went ahead and started describing (babbling) the different parts of the outfits and Roger listened, smiling. Then when I reached Deaky's outfit things changed. “I went with a bit of a tighter trouser for Deaky to show off that smashing ass.”

This caused Roger to tense up and snap his head in my direction. “Y-You think his ass is smashing?”

“Well I am a woman of sound mind,” I said. “Why?”

“Oh,” he shook his head. “No reason.”

I crossed my arms and stared at him. “Roger Taylor, are you jealous?”

“What? No...I...”

“You are!” I laughed. “You're bloody jealous!”

“As I fucking should be!” he snapped at me.

“Why? Why on Earth should you be―.” He cut me off by crashing his lips to mine.

I was stunned for only a moment. Something stirred in me at the feel of his warm lips molding to mine, and I couldn't for life of me ignore it anymore. So I kissed back tangling my fingers in his dirty blonde hair.

He kissed me hungrily, enjoying every minute of it. After a while I pulled back breathless. “What the bloody hell took you so long?”

“I didn't think you thought of me as anything more than a twat,” he said.

“You are a twat,” I said before reaching up to peck him on the lips. “But you're also sweet, funny, and I can't for the life of me stop thinking about you.”

He smiled and brought his lips back to mine, and not even a minute later he wrapped his arms around me and picked me up. He carried me to the sofa and laid me down. He hovered above me for a moment before leaning in and connecting his lips to the skin of my neck.

He kissed me there while we got each other out of our clothes. Once we were fully exposed to one another Roger took in the sight of my body. Being a little self conscious I reflexively reach up to cover my breasts. Roger catches my arms though and gently tugs them away. “You don't have to do that, love,” he muttered. “You're the most beautiful woman I've ever known, and I honestly can't wait to spend my life worshiping you and loving you.”

He then brought his mouth to my breasts. After kissing them and toying with my nipples (with his tongue) he started to kiss a trail down, stopping at my heat. He licked his lips hungrily and brought his mouth to my core. I screamed and writhed as he kissed and sucked at my clit. “FUCKING CHRIST ROGER!” He laughed but continued to eat me out. “F-Fuck I thought your mouth was only good for singing a-and kissing!”

He chuckled and peered up at me. “You underestimated my power, love.” He said almost menacingly. “Now I'm afraid I'll have to punish you and make sure you never underestimate me again.”

He continued kissing and sucking at my clit until my spine tensed up. “FUCK!” My orgasm washed over me and my body trembled as he crawled back up to kiss me on the mouth, my juices covering his lips. After he let me taste myself he reached down and placed his length at my entrance.

“I love you so much, Roger,” I said. He looked down at me and smiled.

“I love you too,” he said just before he pushed himself in. This time we were both making noise. “God―Fuck! You feel brilliant, love.”

I wrapped my arms and he kissed me as he started to move. He started slow and gentle at first, trying to me sensual and romantic about it, but when he realized it was bugging me to no end he picked up the pace. 'Course it helped that I groaned: “Jesus Roger, you're putting me to sleep, are you really going to just hump me like this? Because honestly it makes you look like an extremely boring shag!”

This set him off!

“BORING? ARE YOU JOKING?!” He pushed into me HARD! “I'LL SHOW YOU BORING!”

He moved faster and harder after that. The room was filled with the chorus of moans and slaps as he thrust into me hard. A whole new wave of pleasure began to wash over me. “R-ROGER!” My body tensed up and I clung to him as I tightened around his length.

Roger smirked. “Who's boring now?”

Suddenly while I was still coming down from my high, his brow furrowed and his thrusts became sloppy. He moaned, and thrust until...

“GOD FUCK! FUCK!” He twitched inside me and filled me up. He buried his face in the crook of my neck while he came down from his high. He pecked me on the cheek and on the lips.

“Will you still love me in the morning?” I whispered.

“Forever and ever babe,” he whispered back.

On the morning of the Rainbow we met up with the others at Brian and Roger's shared flat. Freddie, Bri, and Deaky immediately noticed the love between us. They said nothing but I could've sworn I saw Brian slip a 20 quid into Deaky's hand, annoyed. Freddie just smiled at us, and I wasted no time in confronting the cheeky frontman.

“Take care of it eh?” I smirked.

“And take care of it I did,” he said proudly. “I never said anything about keeping you too apart.”

I sighed and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you Freddie,” I whispered pecking him on the cheek.

“Anything for you, darling,” he said hugging me back.

“Ahem,” Roger cleared his throat beside us. I pulled back slightly but kept my arms around Freddie. “Is there something I should know?”

“Fuck off!,” Freddie and I said at the same time.

“It's friendship lovey's time,” I said snuggling into Freddie.

“Besides if you want to talk technicalities I did see her first, darling,” Freddie said.

Roger just pouted.

I rolled my eyes. “Fine put on a hell of a show tonight and I will reward you later.” I winked at him. Roger perked up at that.

In the end they did put on a hell of a show, one that I believed was going to be talked about for years to come. I stood on the side of the stage and watched my fairy god mother shine.

The audience raised their hands and reached towards him in praise. It was as though for them, he was God. The savior of all. Then again that's exactly what he is.

I brought my hands to my lips and then threw them outward sending a kiss to Freddie just as he turned in my direction with his half mike. He blushed and blew a kiss back at me. I then peered over at Roger and smiled. He peered over at me, still drumming like his life depended on it.

“I love you,” I mouthed. He winked in my direction and continued to play.

Meanwhile I turned and continued to worship the man walking about the stage, shining in his glory.

So all you people gather around Hold out your hands and praise the lord Hands and praise the lord

We all praised the lord that night, as we would for the rest of our lives. To this day Roger and I thank Freddie for helping us find each other. My one and only fairy god mother.

Taglist: @okaykathryn @fairestkillerqueenofall @onceuponadetectivedemigod @boherahpsody @thebohemianpenguin @ihatethespacebars @madsthegroupie @freddie-bulsara-queen @rose-de-jaune @xxkellsvixen19xx @valeriecarolinaw @5sos-wdw @hearttshapeddboxx @spicyarreagaa @fluffffffffffff @pleasingiswhatweaimfor @hatemylifesofuckingmuch @jollyavacado @painandpleasure86 @haileynicoleseavey17 @queenlover1997 @rrogerrz @peachyywine @mrsmazzello @hannafuckingsucks @zwiezraczek @night-writer-writer @theborhapboysawakenedmywhatever @tinywildeace

#ben hardy imagine #ben!roger x reader #ben!roger taylor imagine #Smut #bippidy boppidy smut!

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blizzardfluffykpop · 6 years

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Cats, Flowers, and Snakes

Summary: Art class with tattoo artist! Yugyeom.

Yugyeom X Reader

Oneshot

Who would ever believe that a man with a face of stone is an utter fluff ball? No one, that is exactly how I thought of Kim Yugyeom. He seemed like he could kill you with no remorse, not because of his tattoos, I have a few of those myself. So I don’t hold a stigma towards that, it’s his constant glare is what unnerves me. He sits across from in Art, he draws snakes with peonies. He has a lot of flash art in his portfolio which I admire, far away of course. Every time he interacts with people he looks as if he wants it done and over, as soon as possible. Not that he looks uncomfortable, but like he is analyzing them from the core out. When he doesn’t find what he is looking for, he pushes them away when they try to get close.

So when I found out he works as a volunteer at the animal rescue shelter two cities away. Having this gleeful smile on his face as he greets a little kid, and helps them hold a little black lab. I was a shock to say the least, I thought he was stone cold and shrewd, not wanting to be in contact with anyone. I was looking to get another cat, an older one, because I know they are not taken in as often. I looking through the little cages, reading the tags seeing only dogs which was odd three weeks ago they were packed--someone taps me on the shoulder, I flinch. I look over my shoulder, and it’s Yugyeom, “Have an animal in specific you’re looking for?” “Ah yeah an older cat?” He scrunches his nose up in thought, moving swiftly to the last of the cages, scratching the back of his neck, “Well, the only one we did,... I sold her to this sweet little elderly woman…” I sigh, I nod my shoulders slump, I should have bought that fat little orange tabby cat three weeks ago with credit… Before I hear him snap his fingers, “Would you want to come to the back with me?” I raise my eyebrows, “Huh, why?” “Well, I do have this one cat, but her paw got ran over so she’s getting transported to the vets in an hour, and maybe you would like her?” I grin at him, nodding furiously, wanting to see the little girl.

He lead me into the back where there was a bird that in recovery, a dog with a cone on trying desperately to scratch his face. I grinned at the little guys, he brings me over to the biggest cage, and this fat orange tabby, it was the one I was looking at three weeks ago, “She got hurt?” I say kneeling next to her cage, “Uh… yeah?” “Oh, I uh wanted to buy her a few weeks ago, and I can’t believe she got hurt…” He kneels down next to me, “Well she needs a good home,” “I’ll buy her-but how did she get hurt?” “Mark was opening the backdoor while a customer came in, this little girl was holding on her a little loosely, and she Usain bolted right out between Mark’s legs, and into the street.” I laugh, “Man she sounds like a little rascal, does she claw up furniture or whatnot?” “Nah, she is runner though, don’t let her old age fool you, she’ll run at loud sounds. I mean I don’t blame her, I would too…” I let out a little laugh at his remark, “So is it an easy break?” “That I’m not exactly sure about, but once she is all healed, you can come pick her up!” His grin was infectious and I couldn’t help but grin right back.

He gets up, holding out his hand for me to grab, I accept it, he pulls me up, “So how much for her?” “Let me go ask Jinyoung!” I follow him to the counter and he goes into another backroom. I stand there pondering if my baby (C/n) will like their new friend. I’m trapped in thought as Yugyeom comes up to me, with this big gorgeous smile. I could get used to seeing that, “She will be forty dollars, and with a cute smile I can make it thirty-nine and fifty cents?” I put my fingers to my cheeks and make a goofy smile, “So she’ll be thirty-nine and fifty cents!” I laugh, “That was the little baby's actual price, wasn’t it?” He nods as I pull out fifty cents, from my pocket. I take out my wallet as he looks me up in the computer system, after all I got my first kitten here. “I thought I recognized you! You’re the girl who sits across from me in art class, and does a lot of oil pastel works!” I nod, “That’s me” “Well, let me officially introduce myself, I’m Kim Yugyeom” Holding out his hand to shake, “I’m L/n Y/n, it’s been a pleasure meeting you” “It’s been a pleasure doing business with you” I chuckle, and pull out forty, and he rings it up, “I can’t wait to see you again.”

_____________________

Class with him got easier every time he sees me he gives me a small wave, I give him a smile, and get to work. Although, I wonder what I’m going to name the fast little furball, speaking of which. Cheeto is normal, but I feel like Killer is too, hmm, maybe Yugyeom has an idea. I look up, locking eyes with him, with a cough, and ask him, “What do you think is a good name for her?” “How about Goldilocks?” I raise an eyebrow at him, “Um she's orange though?” he pouts in thought.

“But…” I grin at him, “Don't worry I think it's cute,... I think I'll name her that.” He grins at me, and we continue to talk about Goldilocks, how she's healing up. How he's ready for her to have a good home, and a sweet caregiver. He smiles at me, “I wish I could see her again, after you adopt her” His pout coming out again, if this is his way of persuading people, he has got me wrapped around his finger. “Well, if you want to visit her so much, I guess you’ll just have to ask” I say trying to keep myself from smiling, and failing miserably. He grins and we go back to doing our art.

_____________________

The time flew fast to the day I brought Goldilocks home. My cat and Goldie, Goldilocks’ nickname, had an instant connection and played around, before getting tuckered out and falling asleep in my cats bed. Funny enough, (C/n) doesn’t like to share often, I guess they liked Goldie that much, they just offered it to the her. My heart felt at ease, I worried about them getting along together. It’s nice to know that things are going smoothly between the two of them.

I went to bed with ease, waking up to utter chaos was not what I expected. It seems they plotted against me with the toilet paper being ripped up and across the bathroom. My toothbrush in the sink, and the toothpaste wide open and most of it on the counter. I sigh, I find the two scoundrels with blue toothpaste matting their fur.

I’m glad I woke up forty minutes earlier than I usually do. It’s because of a dream that had me waking straight up, so much so, I fell out of my bed. I thought washing one cat was rough, I was in for a surprise, but Goldie likes baths at least, the water didn't bother her, I think waiting to be dry bothered her. Because I had her in my arms as she shivered, she just looked at me before jumping out of my arms, and like a dog, she shakes off all the water, and stands over the heater, with a smug look. That cat, is going to be the death of me, least my cat likes cuddling with me while they dry. I clean off the sink, after bandaging up my arms because (C/n) is feisty. I’ve watched millions of tutorials on how to wash cats to get them used to it, and that one refuses every trick, so I suck it up. And just deal with the scratches as long as (C/n) is clean. I clean up the toilet paper, and look at the clock on my phone. I have ten minutes to get ready, well, what was a way to start a Monday. I rush around, making myself look presentable for the day. Brushing my teeth after thoroughly washing the toothbrush, and what little toothpaste I had left. I bid my cats goodbye, and make a mental reminder to get some toilet paper as I lock the door and sprint to art.

I make it in a minute in before the professor, who has a policy of marking you late if you are not inside the classroom before they are. Which sucks, but hey I made it before them, “Man, you look out of sorts…” I sigh, not even looking at Yugyeom as I rustle through my supplies, after I pull out my project. I, finally, look up at him, seeing he has two coffees in front of him. “Two coffees?” “Well, I figured I’d get you one, I had this feeling you’d have a weird day…” I thank him, “Are you psychic or just that good at guessing?” He gives me a small smile, “Maybe a bit of both” I shake my head as I drink my coffee, “Also, you texted me if you don’t remember that you had a bad morning. I was next to the coffee shop so I uh, thought you’d like a pick-me-up.” My mouth forms a ‘o’ shape, I completely forgot about that. “You’re too sweet, you know that. I don’t know what I did to deserve someone like you in my life” His eyes squint as he smiles at me, “Just lucky, I guess” I let out a small laugh, and take a sip of my coffee, relaxing into my seat from the comfort.

“Are you going to tell me what happened? I mean it’s cool if you don’t want to, you just made me a little curious is all.” I lean my head back, shaking it in disbelief, telling him the whole story, making him laugh. Like music to my ears, that laugh of his. “It seems like your two cats teamed up on you” I roll my eyes, “I guessed that much” I roll my eyes going back to my oil pastel work, “At least Goldie is settling in well” He tells me, I nod, “I’m glad too” I ask about his gig at the tattoo shop he was trying so desperately to get into. “They said they want to see my portfolio tomorrow and they’ll start teaching me the ropes, but I won’t be working on a human canvas for at least three years.” I look up at him with a huge grin, “I’m so proud, you make such cool art that is perfect for tattooing, and I hope they want to give you an apprenticeship!” His grin matches mine, “Ahh! I’m so nervous, but I have this gut feeling they will give it to me” “I know they will!”

I go back to thinking as I work my piece out to perfection, “When you get your license I think you should give me a tattoo of your design” He looks at me a soft blush on my face, “I don’t even know if I’m getting the job yet-” “Have you seen your artwork?” His blush evident, “I-uh…” “Come on! I would totally love a snake and peony design on my thigh” With his redden cheeks he looks down, and tells me softly, “Okay” I grin at him, and go back to my oil pastel, sipping away at my coffee.

Before I can get into it, I’m interrupted by Yugyeom asking, “When do I get to see the two babies?” I shrug my shoulders, “When the two start behaving” “I guess I’ll never get to come over” He pouts, why does he keep doing this to me? He must know I fall for it, and here I go, “How about you come over this weekend?” His pout turns to a grin in seconds flat, and he tells me how excited he is to see Goldie after all this time.

_____________________

Time flies fast till Saturday hits, Yugyeom and me becoming more talkative, sort of neglecting our pieces in the process. But I wouldn’t have it any other way, if I get to talk to him for that whole time. I brought him a cookie on Wednesday, because I remembered to make them on Tuesday. Mostly because he made my day feel better with that coffee. So I wanted to repay him as a thank you, for that act of kindness.

I cleaned up my apartment over the week, and by the time we got to Saturday all I had to do was wash the dishes from last night. Thankfully, the two babies haven’t destroyed any more toilet paper, although they did figure out how to get into their food bags. Which led to me putting a rubber band over the two cabinet doors, to prevent them from getting in again. I hear a soft knock on my door, rushing over I peek through the peephole. To see, you guessed it, Yugyeom.

My two cats run over to see who is intruding in their sacred land. As I shut the door, Goldie goes and snuggles up to Yugyeom. My cat following in suit, “Jeez got catnip on you or something?” I ask sardonically. He laughs, “Maybe~” I shake my head, “I hope not” He chuckles, as I make my way over to the refrigerator and ask him if he wants anything to drink, “Um a water, I guess?” I pull out two, gesturing for him to sit on my couch.

The two babies following his lead and hopping up, my cat, still loves me it seems. As they come over and plop themselves onto my lap, while Goldie snuggles up to Yugyeom. It felt like an old couple with two cats, basking in each other’s company. If I were to be truthful with myself, I didn’t ever want this moment to end. I just wanted to stay in his comforting presence, with my two cats. Well, I guess in the scenario I was playing out in my head it would be, our two cats. Laying in our laps, as we talk about nonsense.

“I’m so glad Goldilocks has (C/n) and you to live with. She seems to be at ease in this little apartment” I smile over at Yugyeom, “I’m glad she’s finding comfort at this old age, I just want her to be happy” I tell him softly, leaning my head back against the couch, turning on the t.v. I look through the channels, finally, settling on the Disney’s classic of Hercules. “You like this movie?” He asks making a face, “Uh yeah? Like who doesn’t like this movie. It’s about a god falling in love with a commoner-” “Yeah that commoner made deals with Hades for an old love, and moves on from them to the god-” “People move on, especially since that old love cheated on them.” My cat raises their head up at me, as if to say, please don’t get into it. I look down at them, and then at Yugyeom, as he tells me, “Yeah isn’t that sad though, you trade your soul for someone that doesn’t even love you. Then you fall for the right one, and your soul has already been thrown away?” Am I really fighting over a Disney movie? Yes I am, and I’m gonna win. “But think about this way, you have to get over the old one, and once that part that loved them has left, you can move on and love someone else. Love conquers all y’know?” “Yeah but it’s sad, it doesn’t happen like that” I squint my eyes at him for a second, before saying, “At the end they end up with each other, because they were meant to be, he would do anything for her. And she would do anything for him, that’s what love’s all about-” “Yeah and what do you know about love?” “Obviously a whole lot more than you do-” “Really? The last lover I had, I thought was the one, cheated on me behind my back, and I would have done anything for them. But they wouldn’t even reciprocate half that. I thought I was going to marry them. Then I find out from my best friend, that they’re cheating on me. I didn’t want to believe it but the evidence was plain as I could see when I got off of work earlier than usually. But here I am still thinking about what we could have had.” “Does that make you, Meg?” He looks at me like I just twisted his whole story, wrapped it up in wrapping paper, and tied it off with a bow.

“I guess so,...” “Are you still in love with them?” He sighs, looking down at Goldie, and scratching her under her chin, “I’m not sure, it hurts every time I think about them. Maybe that’s why this movie hurts so much. I don’t even know if you’ve ever been in love, I’m just throwing my problems at you. I’m so sorry, you didn’t deserve that. I’ll-I’ll… um… I’m going to get going.” I place my hand on his shoulder, “Wait-” He locks eyes with me, “-What if I’m Hercules?” He scoffs at me, “As if-” “Just hear me out,” he relaxes back into his seat, “what if I show you how someone should be loved, never cheat on you, and give you my whole world in exchange for apart of yours?” He looks at me, before sighing, “I haven’t believed in love since they left me…” I look at him sincerely, “I think I can make you believe in it, just give me a day” He gives me a look, “Starting now” I tell him before I make (C/n) get off of me and I offer him my hand, and Goldie gets off of Yugyeom to follow (C/n).

I turn on my music, and fittingly enough, Prince’s song I Wanna Be Your Lover comes on. I spin him around, and sway with him to the music. Making him laugh, “You think this is going to make me fall for you?” I sigh, “Maybe not, but I’ll put my whole heart into it” He shakes his head at me, but not in a judgmental way, but like I can’t believe they are going to try this hard. “I’ve known you for three weeks, but I know you love to dance, so why don’t you show off your moves” I tell him, crossing my arms. He gets shy, nervously laughing, he shimmies a little, and makes a few little moves.

I pout, and he instantly decides to bring me in and spin the both of us, and we laugh, and we twist together just dancing around. Irritating my cats, but all in good fun, I beckon him to get his shoes and coat. After we get our shoes and coats on I take him out to the park. We sit on the swings, and we just start talking about everything. Instead of talking about Goldie like we usually do in art, we just start talking about everything.

“What inspired you to become a tattoo artist?” I ask him softly, in wonder, “Well, when I was younger I used to draw on the walls, and my parents never reprimanded me for it. And coincidentally they put me in timeout one time, and I had this red pen and I just went and made this giraffe. I feel in love with art slowly after that, making more and more intricate designs every time I had a piece of paper in my hands. My parents started buying me sketchbooks, and I wanted to find out where I could go with it… and I stumbled on flash art and well the rest is history.” He swings a little, before looking at me, “You never said what you wanted to be” I look down at my hands, fiddling with me, “I want to be an art teacher, I know how hard it can be to get a job, especially with schools killing off the course… I’ve had this is awe-inspiring art teacher that when I was in high school, and I will never forget him. He would always encourage my art, and he always brought a smile to my face, and I made so many great friends some of who are art majors as well. That art teacher brought me out of my shell and I wanted to be as amazing as him if not more. I always wanted to pursue something in the art field and I didn’t know what until my junior year of high school.” He smiles at me and we swing for a while and I ask him what’s his zodiac sign, and he pulls out his phone, “Sweetie, I got a whole natal chart ready” I giggle whipping out my phone and pulling up my natal chart.

“I didn’t expect you to be into astrology-” “I’m an art major…” He tells me with a deadpan look, as we look over each other’s natal chart. I focus mostly on his Venus, because that tells you, how they love. Capricorn in Venus, huh? They are soft, but won’t let you know it I see. But also goal-oriented, okay I can work with this. I grin at him as I give him his phone back and he gives me mine. I grin at him, and I turn in the swing, and he asks me before I can even get any words about his natal chart out, “You said you had tattoos before, can I see them, or?”

My shyness flying out the window, and I lift up my shirt to show an abdomen piece, a bouquet of bouvardia pink flowers. Which represent more than enthusiasm, they’ve been known to mean zest for life, or pink luck. I didn’t even have to say the words before he lists of the meanings to me, but then he goes and asks, “What does it mean to you?” I give him a small smile, letting my shirt drop back down, “There was times where I wasn’t as happy as I am today, and I searched for something to give me luck. To make me feel fulfilled, loved, and show some enthusiasm to everything I do. I want to put effort into everything I do. I don’t wanna just give up before I start, I wanna be courageous and live, that’s why I live life in one day, because tomorrow might not exist. I’m over waiting for tomorrow, life happens now.” He grabs my hand, “Is that why you made the bet, that you could make me fall in love with you in a day?” I look at our hands before shyly looking up, “Yeah is it working?” He winks at me, “We’ll see”

We sit there on the swings just basking in each other’s presence before we hear an ice cream truck starting to go by. I look at him, and I get up, and he looks at me like I’m nuts, “Come on, don’t you want ice cream from an ice cream truck!” He shakes his head before looking up at me with a bright smile, he gets up and starts running with me, before he lets go, “Whoever gets there last is a rotten egg!” I start sprinting, he was already ahead of me, but I won’t let that deter me. While Yugyeom runs around the dog I just completely jump over it. And I’ve finally caught up to him again, because that dog slowed him down. As the ice cream truck stops at the entrance at the park. Kids lining up, slows me down so I don’t run them over, it doesn’t slow Yugyeom down though, seeing as he has already reached the end of the line and he’s grinning like a three year old, getting ice cream. I pout, “I’m not a rotten egg” He ruffles up my hair, “Yes, you are” I cross my arms over my chest and my pout deepens and he laughs. Before I grin at him, joining in on the laughter. It takes a few minutes till we are in the 1st in line, we already exchanged our favorite flavors. I love the chocolate shortcake popsicle, while he’s much more of an ice cream sandwich person. We order ours and I pay for them, and he looks at me, “I could have bought mine…” I give him a pointed look as we move out of the way of the line, “Yeah, but I made this plan, I gotta treat my date” He rolls his eyes, but begrudgingly opens his ice cream sandwich and takes a bite out of it.

Instead of sitting on swings like we were earlier, we just end up walking up the street before finding a bench. Settling on it and just eating our ice cream in peace. I throw away my wrapper and his, in a conveniently placed trash can next to the bench. I ask him, “Well, what’s one of your tattoos” He pulls up his shirt to reveal a dandelion, “Just like you I got a flower tattoo on my ribs,...” ”But yours is to represent that you are rolling with the punches, and are happy and are growing through It seems like it represents more than just than that on you,...”

He turns to look at me, “I got this right after my big breakup… and I made a promise to myself that I’ll grow from that. That I’ll rise above the challenges that I face, that no matter how hard I’m pushed I will pull through, and come out swinging. That I’m not going to sink between the cracks, I’m going to grow up through them, no matter how many people look down at me for it. I’ll still be able to say, that I did it my own way, and I will shine through the rest of my life with a brave smile. That even if my happiness doesn’t always show on the outside it will internally. That I’ll heal from all that emotional plunder... It was probably stupid to get it right after a hard hitter. I could have really regretted it. It’s my favorite tattoo on my body actually. I wanted to focus on keeping myself happy, and finding my inner peace when I got this. I cried getting this tattoo, not because I was in pain, but because I was still fresh from the break up, after they cheated on me. My buddy Jaebum, was working on the tattoo, and actually had to stop tattooing me for thirty minutes at a time because I would start shaking from how bad I was crying. He helped me through my breakup, but I’m still bitter about it. And I don’t wanna be, so I gotta work on that.” I nod grabbing his hand softly, playing with his fingers as he spoke. Once he finished his tattoo story, I kiss his wrist, then his palm.

I lay my head in his lap, when I hear his stomach growl, “Do you wanna go out to dinner? Or just get ramen at a convenience store?” He grabs my hand and pushes me up from his lap, and walks with me, across the street on the crosswalk to a convenient store, “It seems it's settled then” I laugh, and he gives me a small grin and we grab some ramen, I pay for it, and we go over the microwaves. He heats them up while I go, and buy us both drinks, unlike our coffee he gave brought us last week, it's just soft drinks. We sit at the counter near a window. The worker looks half asleep, and I get that especially with midterms coming in a few weeks. I tilt my head at him, he mimics my actions.

I tilt my head the other way, finishing a chopstick full bite. He follows tilting my head to the other, he follows along, and we keep doing it together. I almost choke on my noodles, but I get them down before I end up cackling. And his laugh sounds like an angel's laugh, maybe he is. I wouldn't be surprised, I tentatively reach over and grab his hand. He rubs his thumb over the top of my hand. I ask him, as I open my drink with one hand. “What's something you've always wanted to do on a date… but haven't yet?” He stares off, out the window, thinking about his answer before he suddenly stares at me, eyes locked on my with full attention.

“I've never people watched with someone… I do it all the time in my head, I'll think so and so is a secret assassin, but has a sweet little mom they vow to protect.” I look at his deep pools of brown eyes as his thumb rubbing circles on my hand, “Let’s do it then”

I nod as I point out an older lady, “What do you bet she got away with murdering her husband but doesn't want regular people to know. So she goes around wearing plain clothes, but then you see those rings… she probably has a whole mansion from that murder.” He looks over at the old lady with the golden rings sparkling on her fingers, but her attire looks rather muted. “Nah, she's probably a stripper at night” I raise my eyebrow at him, “What! Old people need strippers too, that are much more their speed.” I shake my head, “Maybe” Before he sees a man in his twenties, walking his dogs, with a pissed expression, “I think that man is going to break up with his girlfriend and giving her, her dogs back” “Have prior experience or something?” I laugh at his gawking expression at me, like how could you accuse me of such a thing, “He’s probably mad at his boss, and is ready to throw hands, but his shift doesn’t start for another two hours, and he’s preparing for his proclamation speech” He locks eyes with me, “Have prior experience with this or something” He says in mocking tone, “Yes,” I pout, “My first job, was a florist, I loved every day of it, until we got a new boss. We just didn’t jive together, like his vibe just made me want to throw him. He finally pushed his limit, and I did exactly what that guy was doing. Rehearsing my lines, and to say the least I was fired but I said I quit. I mean it wasn’t a victory but...” He laughs, “You proved your point to that fucker, that’s what matters” I look at him, “Since you make little stories for everyone you see, what did you think of me?” He tilts his head in thought, wracking his brain for my supposed backstory.

Before he tells me my story he starts off with, “Only if you tell me what you thought of me.” “Deal!” I start making little circles on the top of his hand, he looks me dead in the eye, “I thought you were sweet but had a tongue full of malice. That you secretly owned snakes or cats, something that seems cold on the outside but is really sweet on the inside. That you never had a chance on love, but desperately wanted to find out what it was like…” He trails off, no longer looking at my eyes but to the side in a kind of inward tangent. He comes back to Earth and looks at me, and I confess my thoughts of him, how I thought he was cold at first, that he is scared to get close but utterly hates being alone. That he would push me away if I even tried to talk to him, with how he brushed people off in art class. That his tattoos drew me in, and I wanted to know about them, but was too afraid to ask with his stone-like features. That he was over everything everyone says, before they even said anything. I look in his eyes, before looking back down at my lap, and I softly explain, that when I saw him at the animal rescue shelter, I saw that he cares so much, but everyone he has met cares so little about him. So he worries, and pushes people away because he doesn’t want to be hurt again. He loves with his whole heart, and that shows true when he talks to little kids or looks at animals, it’s like he feels they reciprocate his feelings. I feel his hand take over rubbing circles before he interlocks our hands, and I look up at him before finishing up. That I wanted to get to know you, regardless, and pull you into my arms and hold you, and tell you everything is going to be okay.

He pulls my chin up with his other hand, “You know you’re right, about everything, I put on a cold facade so people don’t talk to me, because I’m scared of getting close. But I love company,...” I look at him, “You were mostly right about everything in your assumptions, because I used to own a snake. You wanna go somewhere else?” He nods, “My turn to pick! And you owned a snake?” I nod to both of his ideas, as he leads me down the street. He turns down a few alleys, before we’re standing in front of an arcade. I grin at him, and he pulls me in, and instead of heading for the arcade games, he brings me into the back where the light is traveling through stained glass. It’s a pool room, with foosball table, and skee ball. He pulls me over to skee ball, “I’ll have you know I’m one of the best skee ball players, but I’ll let you go first.”

I look at him and push in a few quarters that I had to spare. And I roll it right into the 100 points hole twice, and I smirk at him. He exchanges the look, and with my confidence all the way up I think I can do it with ease, and I go for it, with too much force it misses it completely, and goes right into the ten. I pout, he laughs, and I kept trying my best at the game using up all the ten off my shots. I earn a score of 230, and he looks at me and puts in a few quarters.

I watch as he keeps rolling them up into the one hundred hole, he misses once, and his ball rolls in to the ten points hole. I laugh at him, till he winks at me, with that he picks up two balls, and at the same time he throws them into the opposite one hundred holes. He gets the perfect score plus ten of 1,010, I just give him a look, and he ruffles up my hair, “Trick of the trade~” I shake my head, “No, that’s what we call cheating-” “You’re just a sore loser” “That too” He laughs, and we spend a few more hours just playing different games, including the actual arcade games. Which I did beat him at three of them, the racing one, Pacman, and Foosball. If we were earning more than just points on a screen, I’d have enough tickets to buy a golden scepter.

We tire ourselves out, but nonetheless him and I walk out the door, and we get some dessert. Donuts at eleven at night, we eat our Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in peace, and he wipes the custard off my lip, and eats it, “Nasty” I say scrunching up my nose, he laughs, “Still tasted sweet, I don’t see why you’re complaining” I pout, “Because that was my custard” “Want it back” “Ew, no thank you”

I laugh with him, and we look outside to find it’s raining cats and dogs outside. I drift closer to him, as we walk out of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts. Before he grabs my hand, and makes us run out into the rain. I spin him around, before we stop, just looking each other in the eyes, something complies in that moment just to kiss. I lean in, and he touches my lips, my hands weaving their way through his hair. His arms bringing me closer into his chest. His warm embrace makes me melt into him. I can’t get enough of his lips, the way they feel against mine, the soft velvet of his lips against mine.

We break apart just to look each other in the eyes, and I pull him in for another kiss. In the heavy pouring rain, here we are kissing each other, at this point I guess we can call it making out. When he pulls away this time, “Fuck… I think you got me to fall for you, Hercules” My lips curl into a small smile, “I’m glad, Meg” Before he pulls me back into him, and we sway with each other, like we’re dancing again. We pull away, and I whisper, “Let’s get to our apartments before we get sick”

I walk him back to his apartment, before I leave I grab his hands and turn him to look at me. “Does this mean I get to call you mine?” I say looking in eyes, searching for something, the lights twinkling in his eyes as he smiles his eyes squint. He looks at me, “Does this answer your question?” “Does wh-” He plants his lips on mine, and I reciprocate by kissing back. Our hands intertwining, I pull back for a second, staring into his eyes in a slight daze. “I guess you answered my question” He giggles before pulling me back into another kiss. I could get used to this, I think to myself as I kiss him.

________________

It’s been a three years since then, and Yugyeom got the apprenticeship a day after we started dating, he told me ‘no wonder you have the tattoo of bouvardia, you're my pink luck.’ I laughed at that, kissing his cheek. We celebrated by watching Hercules and eating ice cream.

Yeah there's been ups and downs in our relationship… we've had a fair amount of fights. But after we had both cooked off we'd sit on either of our couches and just talk it out. Our sophomore year of college we didn't have art together, without seeing each other as often it sort of left a rift. And he was worried about me cheating, which lead to us not talking for weeks. That ripped me up, before I came over to his house. And we fought about it for a few hours.

I slammed the door, and walked out of his apartment. How could he think I would stoop so low? And before I could even reach the elevator I heard fast approaching foot falls. I turned around, to see Yugyeom sprinting at me with full force, and he tackled me, with tears running down his cheeks. Apologizing profusely, and after laying there on the floor for a while as I coax him back, pulling myself to sit up underneath him I didn't even realize I was crying, till he wiped my tears with his thumbs. “Why don't we go back to your apartment and talk it out?” He nods and stands up slowly, and holds out his hand. I accept, and he pulls me up, and locks our fingers together. That was probably our first and last big fight. We talked about our insecurities for about a few hours. We ended up falling asleep on that couch. That morning I woke up to breakfast, I'd say in bed but it was the couch. We cuddle, thankfully it was a Sunday.

We always solve our problems together, and work on being better, from that big fight we grew closer, and now I feel really comfortable with him all the time. We’re now in our senior year, and we share art again, just like last year. Though even if we didn’t have it together again, I know we’d pull through. But I’m glad we have it together, then I don’t have to struggle alone in the class.

Standing in the middle of the art room, in front of our table I sort out what I’ll need to use for the day. As I do that, Yugyeom comes in, I turn around just to see his huge smile. He picks me up with ease, “You’re not going to believe it, babe!” I raise my eyebrow, and I run my hand through his hair, “I got my certification to be a tattoo artist, and I went to Jaebum and asked him if I could work for him, I showed him my portfolio, license, and certification,… and I got the job!” My grin grows as wide as his is, and I move my other hand up and clasp both of his cheeks in my hands before I kiss him after I tell him that, “I’m so proud of you, honey! I told you, you would get it! Let me see it!” He grins, gently placing me down, before going into his bag, and pulling out his certification. “I’m going to buy a frame later!” He grins at me, and pulls out his license as well. I kiss his nose, and pull him into my arms before the professor coughs. We laugh at her, she acts like our mom, and has since the ending of freshman year, after finding out we were dating. He carefully places the certification and the license into his bag.

Once we start working on our projects I look at him, grabbing his hand, he looks up at me. “So when am I getting that tattoo?” He shakes his head at me with a big smile, “Anytime now I guess”

Needless to say, I did end up getting a tattoo with a blue snake surrounding pink peonies, and yes, it was by Yugyeom. I used to say my bouquet of bouvardia was my favorite piece, but now with that piece on me, that means more than just Yugyeom tattooing it on me. Has become my favorite, the snake is protecting the flowers, which represent love or heart. That if my heart is ever hurt, that I’ll always strike back. But it also has to do with how I got to know Yugyeom, through his art. Before I got to know him through the vet place, which he still volunteers for, but on weekends. He even got me to join in on that, but the point is I’ll always remain soft and sweet. With Goldie, (C/n), and Yugyeom by my side, I’ll always be okay. But with the ferocity of a snake the minute you mess with it, and its clan. And after all that, I think Yugyeom is the one for me, if not then I think this engagement ring in my pocket was waste of money.

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aiyh · 6 years

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AUs are a problem I have

I found all the original posts in this series from my deactivated blog and collected them here.

you work the register at a store I frequent and I get super self-conscious that you’re judging my purchases AU

our kids got paired up to do a school project and I meant to just drop mine off at your house but we ended up talking for three hours AU

battle of the bands AU

made small talk while waiting for different flights and assumed we’d never see each other again AU

our grandparents are in the same nursing home and they hate each other AU

arrested at the same protest AU

classic literature professor vs. modern literature professor AU

I injured myself doing something stupid at a holiday party and you’re the doctor at the emergency clinic AU

volunteered to wait tables at your fancy charity fundraising dinner AU

how do you keep getting my name that wrong on my coffee cup AU

adjacent stands at the farmer’s market AU

risked my job by talking you out of buying a crappy product at the store where I work AU

only two people who bought tickets to see this movie AU

don’t really care if I win that giant stuffed animal but keep playing the carnival game you’re running just to see you AU

our dogs are in love with each other and it’s making things awkward at the dog park AU

who’s this asshole who keeps beating my high score on Pac-Man AU

it’s a total coincidence that I happen to water my plants at the same time you jog past my house AU

our manager is making us push this crappy item that no one needs but you thought my sales pitch was funny so you bought it AU

interviewed you for the newspaper AU

I desperately need you to fix my laptop but please don’t judge me for my browser history AU

chef/ restaurant critic AU

my kid’s hamster died while she was at school and I don’t know how to tell her about death so long story short does your pet store have a hamster that looks just like the one in this photo AU

rival local news stations AU

news anchor/ meteorologist AU

I planned a program at the library where I work and you’re the only person who showed up AU

you are definitely drunk-texting the wrong number but I’m bored so I’m gonna keep this going for a while AU

I hate flying but your snarky announcements are a good distraction and you have a nice voice and I might be calling you Captain Cutie in my head AU

I made a dumb science joke in class and you’re the only one who laughed AU

auditioning for the same part AU

accidentally got drunk at a wine tasting AU

you’re the only other person I’ve ever met who can quote this movie AU

everyone else in our dorm has gone out but I have the flu, and I just heard you coughing pathetically from the next room, wanna share my stash of cough drops and marathon Netflix with me? AU

showed up to a Halloween party in matching costumes AU

will you pretend to be my date to my family’s holiday party so they’ll stop harassing me about being single, there’s food in it for you AU

Christmas lights rivalry AU

I found a bunch of your stuff when I moved into this apartment and I have no idea who you are but I think we might be soulmates AU

I teach in this classroom in the mornings and you teach in the evenings and we communicate entirely through notes left on the board AU

how the hell does your cat keep getting into my house AU

I volunteered for a sex study and you’re the lead researcher and thank god it’s acceptable for me to be turned on in this situation because damn AU

You’re the prosecutor and I’m the defense attorney on the most ridiculous case either of us have ever heard of and I don’t know about you but I’m not sure how much longer I can be serious about this thing AU

Got into an absurdly heated argument in the comments on a mutual friend’s Facebook post AU

Rival street performers AU

You keep bringing your car into my shop with a series of increasingly unlikely problems and my professional opinion is it’d be cheaper for you to just ask me to dinner already AU

Our families are having funeral visitations at the same time and we’re both hanging around outside because we can’t deal AU

I spent a whole subway ride checking you out but didn’t have the nerve to talk to you and thought I’d never see you again but you just showed up on Humans of New York AU

Cheering for opposing teams at a sports bar AU

My kid shoplifted from your store and I marched her back here to apologize to you AU

Why didn’t you tell me this cabin was haunted before I rented it from you AU

Character performers who only see each other at ren faires AU

My band plays at this restaurant every Friday and you always show up and make obscure requests and I know you’re trying to stump me but you’ve severely underestimated how much of a music geek I am AU

I’m the caterer and you’re the florist on a huge expensive wedding and we bond over what an awful person the mother of the bride is AU

We’re chaperoning kids at the same skating rink party and the last couple’s skate was pathetic so what do you say we show these little punks how it’s done AU

We’re both trying to get an apartment in this city at the same time as a million other people and I’m tired of competing for the same ones as you so I think it’s time we joined forces AU

Adjacent shops Christmas decorations war of escalation AU

We work at competing gossip magazines and keep trying to outdo each other’s ridiculous stories AU

Our moms belong to the same garden club and are fiercely competitive about their gardens and keep sending us to pick up supplies for them and would have matching heart attacks if they found out we’re hooking up every trip AU

My kid is in your class and you called me in for a parent-teacher conference and I don’t know what she did but she didn’t learn it from me and wait what do you mean you think she should skip a grade AU

We’re neighbors and I’m telling you this as a friend but if you give out pencils for Halloween again this year I’m going to look the other way when the kids roll your yard AU

I accidentally caught the neighbors’ yard(s) on fire while burning leaves and I didn’t think it could get worse but the volunteer fireman reprimanding me is gorgeous and clearly thinks I’m an idiot AU

I bought this talisman from your occult shop and I know you warned me but I didn’t think this stuff was real but it IS and now I need you to make it go away AU

You just sold a bunch of old books to my secondhand store for cheap and one of them’s worth a fortune and my partner will kill me if he finds out but I think you should have the money AU

I didn’t mean to get you arrested, I thought I was helping AU

I’m planning a heist and I need your very specific skillset to pull it off but when I tracked you down you’d become an alcoholic and spend your days cheating at video poker AU

Your pizza keeps getting delivered to my house by mistake and I need to talk to you about your choice of toppings AU

Prison chaplain/ wrongfully convicted death row inmate AU

You bring my grandmother a basket of homemade candy every Christmas and she keeps dropping hints about how great you are so we should probably go out at least once—you know, just to make grandma happy AU

I was down on my luck and had lost the will to live when I heard you playing the fiddle and long story short I think you saved my life AU

The PTA bake sale is coming up and you’ve outsold me two years in a row so I’m pulling out all the stops AU

I just quit my job and put all my belongings in a U-Haul and started driving, you’re the hitchhiker I picked up on a whim who I’m starting to think is a dangerous fugitive AU

Graffiti artist/ mural painter AU

You’re the only major film critic who hated my movie and I need to talk to you about it because I agree with you AU

#AUs are a problem I have #this was one of my best works tbh #writing prompts #AUs #imagine your otp

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teacherkmd · 6 years

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Struggles of teaching in China

If you’re in a TESOL prep program, you’ve likely run across articles that talk about the challenges of teaching in China. Well, at the special request of a previous professor of mine, here’s my version.

There are some very good things about teaching in China. For example, it is literally culturally ingrained in the fabric of society that teachers will be and are respected. It means my word will not be questioned (even though sometimes maybe it should be?). What I say goes. Classroom management issues (at least at the collegiate level) do not exist. My students are highly motivated and disciplined. I do not have to worry about attendance; they will not skip. This being said, here are 10 very real struggles I’ve had to face in the classrooms here.

1. The classrooms do not belong to the teacher.

One of the biggest differences between China (and Taiwan) and the United States is that the classrooms do not belong to the teacher. In the US, we often think of the teacher as getting to design their own classrooms and buying materials and decorating it and being the perfect “pinterest” teacher. The students tend to rotate and switch classrooms when the bell rings. Here, that is literally impossible (which might actually be good since I’m poor, not artistic, and don’t have much free time). Teachers are the ones who rotate and the students stay in their classrooms. This set-up means I would have to buy or create duplicates of anything I wanted to hang on the walls. It is good in some ways (gives students ownership of their space, they have a space to study after school hours, they’re responsible for cleaning and maintaining it, etc) but it is also bad because I can’t take up all the wall space. I am sharing with all the other teachers in the department. If I want a vocabulary word wall, or want to put giant “I am thankful for...” turkey’s on the wall or display student work... I’d need to make sure it didn’t bother the other teachers first. If my vocabulary word list would be seen as cheating or distracting for another English class... well it can’t be there. It also means that if teacher’s aren’t cleaning up after themselves a lot of crap ends up laying around the podium. I remember walking in and being annoyed at all the random textbooks, pens, pencils, paper clips, scraps of paper, tea, and other junk in my teaching space. Oh, and don’t think about rearranging the desks... that doesn’t go over well. Not ideal at all. I’ve never taught in a place where I have gotten my own classroom to decorate and create the environment I want, so I guess I don’t really know what I’m missing. I can imagine all the cool things I could do if I did though.

2. Poor study skills for Western educational expectations

Another issue I’ve come across is what I consider “lack of common sense” when it comes to studying and taking notes. I have to be VERY explicit about literally everything. Do my students need to bring paper to class? Then I better tell them ahead of time. Do I think they should have a place to take notes? Then I better tell them to buy a journal for my class. Do I think they should have a place to put handout? Then I better tell them to buy a folder. Do I think something is important and they should write it down? Better tell them to write it down. I’ve had to give pop quizzes on things I’ve said in class multiple times to prove to the students that they should be taking notes in class. I’ve had to tell them that maybe that random page in their textbook isn’t a good place to put notes. I’ve had to say so many things where I know in America students would be like “duh”. But, that's now how teaching and learning work here. They take notes by taking pictures of my PPT and that is about it.

3. Poor communication styles for Western educational systems

China kind of skipped over e-mail. They went straight from fax to WeChat (a social media platform this is kind of like What’s app and instagram all rolled into one). Therefore, when I tell my students they need to turn in their homework via email, a whole truck full of problems crash into my inbox. No subject line. No names. No attachments. No message. I have had to show them exactly what I want them to write in the email so I know who they are, what class they’re in, and how to formally address a teacher. I haven’t let them vary their emails yet, but if any of them plan to study abroad in America or to teach students who wish to go to the US for schooling, they really need to learn how to write emails. I just wish I had time to cover everything.

4. Fear of speaking up

“My students are smart. They understand what I am saying. It isn’t my fault they aren’t answering.” -- I constantly have to remind myself of this. I can put them in groups and have them discuss a topic. If I walk around and listen, I hear them all on task, on topic, and answering and sharing opinions correctly in English. Then if I bring them back together as a whole class and ask what they talked about or for examples of what they discussed: dead silence, heads bowed, avoiding eye-contact. It is the most frustrating thing. I know they know the answers, I heard them talking about it, and I literally went around the room telling them good job while I was listening. The cultural expectation that the group is more important than the individual causes a standstill. Almost no students will volunteer an answer freely. They don’t want to be seen as immodest or like a know-it-all. They would lose face if they did so. But, if I call on them, it isn’t them choosing to answer, they will answer correctly and accurately. They’d lose face if they didn't answer a direct question. They can’t be the peg that needs to be struck back down. My classes are slowly getting better.. they know I will hold them over the end of class time if they aren’t responding to me. I’ve reminded them that there are no right or wrong answers. I’ve told them if they don’t know the answer then I need to know they don’t know. I can get group responses quite easily, but class discussions that include the teacher just aren’t happening. I’ve gotten them to speak up by asking them things and saying “I don’t know the answer, so I can’t tell you if you’re wrong. I just want to know what you think”. We had a pretty good discussion on cultural appropriation and halloween costumes.

5. No concept of plagiarism

“The right answer is the only answer” and “Imitation is the best way to learn” are common beliefs of my students. If you don’t know how to write or say something, say or write the exact same thing as someone else. Shared knowledge is better than individual knowledge. Nevertheless, 0s have been given out already this semester along with in-depth discussions about how I don’t want perfect work turned into me. If it is all perfect, I could go back home.

6. Fear of failure to the point of not following instructions

The all important grade. It doesn’t matter if they feel more confident, or if I tell them I see significant improvement. They are only focused on one thing: their grade. They focus on it so much, that if I give them instructions like “don’t write down your conversation and read it for your homework recording”, they will completely ignore the instructions if they think their grade will be better. They were shocked when the recording that was perfect with good intonation, proper grammar, native like pronunciation, etc got a 0. When they asked why, I said they didn’t follow instructions. They wrote down their conversation. How could I tell? Not once did they hesitate, not once did they act interested or surprised by what their fellow classmates had said. It was all scripted. And they can’t understand me if I ask a question, so how would they understand their classmate without having to pause and think about it? hmm? I will say this issue has been very quickly solved. They’ve come to realize in my class that I want them at the level they’re at not at some superficial level they want me to think they’re at.

7. Highly stressed students

My students have absolutely no free time. They take 18 hours of class a week. Some of them are in military training still. Some have other clubs. Every weekend there are at least 6 or 7 competitions for them to compete in. I assigned a speaking homework and all the responses were about how tired they are and how they can't sleep because they’re so stressed. It broke my heart. The following week, I asked them to take 30 minutes to draw minions in halloween costumes for homework to make relaxation mandatory. I sat outside with a group of them after an English Corner event for 3 hours and talked with them about their lives. They feel so much pressure to conform and meet expectations. Their other teachers yell at them and shame them for being wrong. The foreign teachers are the only ones who encourage them or try to get to know them. I recently boycotted the crappy computer labs they had me teaching in on the 6th floor. I taught in their classrooms on the third floor instead. The other foreign teacher came in during break and said how nice it was to have me teaching across the hall from her because she could hear them laughing and sounding like they enjoyed learning. I hope my small amounts of encouragement help them.

8. Poor teaching materials and environment

I know no textbook is perfect... but these are exceptionally bad. All the foreign teachers are from the United States, but the textbooks all teach British English which means there are lots of things in there that I disagree with. The topics aren’t interesting. They’re the same thing they’ve been learning since 3rd grade but with more complex, technical vocabulary that native speakers wouldn’t casually drop into a normal conversation anyway. It just bad. Trust me. The building is also falling apart. The computers don’t work half the time. The software isn’t up to date. The chalk boards are so old you can’t see what you write on them anymore. Just not good for learning.

9. Poor teaching pedagogy

Another reason my students are stressed is because my teaching style is completely unknown to them. They’ve never been asked to analyze or explain how they know something. The other professors mainly expect them to memorize a passage and spit it out verbatim. They don’t have to understand what they’re reading or saying. They just have to be able to do it. There is an old quad on campus and in the courtyard, we call it the hive. Every student is out there whispering and reciting passages to themselves. The drone of their voices sounds exactly like bees. In my class, they can’t get by on memorization. I make it almost impossible to prepare for class. They have to be ready to use what they’ve learned and apply it in practical situations and discussions. This is naturally very stressful for them. They would do much better if I taught in an audio lingual style or grammar translation style like the other teachers. But, if the school wanted that they would have hired a Chinese national and asked for a foreign teacher.

10. Class schedules that focus on quantity not quality

I see my students once a week for 2 hours for 14 weeks. Think back to college.. you had class three times a week for 50 minutes, or twice a week for 75 minutes. Or grad school, I had class twice a week for 2 hours each time. The contact hours I have with my students are very limited. They want to get as many students in there taking as many classes as they can. They all get exposed to the foreign teachers and they cycle them in and out. There is no buy-in, no investment, and no way for me to get to know all of my students. I feel a lot of pressure to cram in as much as I can in the 28 hours of class time they get with me. It is hard to remember that they have 16 other hours of class a week, and that I’m not solely responsible for them learning English. It is just hard for me to imagine that they’re taking away anything from my class. If I didn't have these textbooks dictating the topics we could cover, I would cover much less and slow down and make sure each lesson was in-depth. Instead, I have to make judgement calls about how much time we can spend on each thing before moving on.

I don’t want you to see this list and think I am complaining. I am not. I enjoy my work greatly, and I feel very lucky to be working here at QuFu Normal University. My students are brilliant, and I appreciate them daily. However, these are the things I have to keep in mind when I am making lesson plans, working on curriculum, and deciding what to include in teacher training workshops. A lot of these difficulties stem from cultural differences and require me to adapt and change just as much as I am pushing my students to bend. I am becoming a more flexible, more capable, and more opinionated educator. I just hope my students are learning as much from me as I am learning from them and this teaching context.

#China #teaching #struggles #difficulties #tesol #esl #efl #tefl #tesl #ELprograms #english language fellow #fellow50 #challenges #qufu #shandong #teacher #classroom #pedagogy #Exchange Our World

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tommyquackson · 7 years

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Movie Star |Sam Holland|

a/n: this was supposed to be out like a week ago but my phone was acting stupid and i was busy but enjoy :)

I sat in a chair, watching Harry Holland film his twin brother Sam, do a scene for Harry’s new short film. It’s about some boy and a girl falling in love and then breaking up but finding each other years later after they’ve both “moved on”.

I can’t believe how I ended up here. Filming a romantic movie with my crush. It all started because I and the twins have some of the same classes.

Flashback

Thursday’s by far my favorite day. I have both my photography and drama classes plus I get to volunteer at the kids' theater program. Right now our photography professor split us into pairs and sent us to go take pictures of our favorite part of campus. My partner was the one and only Harry Holland. I had Drama with his twin Sam.

“So y/n, what’s your favorite part of campus?” Harry asks me as we walk down through the courtyard where students are eating lunch.

“I’d say my bed but I think I’ll go with the students. How everyone is so different but the same. We’re all just a bunch of young adults trying to figure life out and make the best of it. Sometimes I like to sit at the edge of the courtyard, by the canteen, and just take pictures of people doing ordinary things.” I smile and take a picture of a young couple playing in the sun. The grass was so green it reminded me of the brochure of our college I looked at while applying. It was only May so everything was in full bloom and it was perfectly warm outside.

“You’re truly something Mrs y/l/n. My favorite part is this little secret garden type place. It’s got overgrown flowers and shrubs but there are adorable little classic stone benches and stone statues of Greek goddesses I think. It’s a small little place away from everyone when things get crazy. I usually edit there after my filming class.” Harry says snapping a picture of me taking pictures.

“It sounds lovely. So how is film class and filming going?” I ask turning to him as we start walking down a path between two large dorm buildings.

“Awesome! I actually need your help with something” He says shyly with his hands in his pockets.

“of course, anything,” I say smiling at the much taller boy.

“I need you to be the female lead in my new short film. I’ve got Sam as the male lead but I haven’t found a girl that fits the character I’ve written but I think you’d be perfect. I know you like acting so, it’d be good exposure since we’re presenting it at the Short Film Festival in 8 months.” Harry and I duck down under a tree branch and enter his “secret garden”.

“Yea. I’d love to. Just text me when and where and hand me a script and I’ve got it.” I nod quickly. Harry smiles at me before taking pictures of the benches and shrubs.

Present Day

“Y/n, nows the scene where you introduce your kid to Sam.” One of Harry’s friends tells me. I nod and get up from my chair, walking over to the small toddler, Jackson. How we convinced a parent to let us borrow their baby is beyond me.

“You ready buddy? Do you remember what you’re gonna say?” I bend down to the 3 year old. He nods quickly and smiles showing his little teeth.

“I say ‘Mommy, can I have these. ’ and ‘Hi, Mr. Carson’” He says smiling real big. I smile and walk over to my spot in the small shop with candies and trinkets. It’s truly a beautiful place. There’s dust flying from the sun shining through the window and everything’s made of old wood.

“Lost in Love, Scene 13, Take 1, ACTION!”

“Luna? Is that you?” Sam says in character.

“Carson! Wow. How are you?” I say spinning around and awkwardly hugging him.

“I’m, um good. You?”

“Mommy! Can I get these pretty please?” Jackson says grabbing my hand.

“Of course. Hold on one-minute baby” He nods and smiles.

“So it’s been what-“

“5 years,” Me and “Carson” say at the same time.

“Who’s this little guy?”

“This is my son Jackson, Jackson, can you say hello to my friend Carson,” I say lifting him up.

“Hi, Mr. Carson.” He says waving at him.

“Yea. He just turned three and its kinda crazy how fast he’s-“

“Hey, baby, do you want chocolates or gummies?” A beautiful girl from our drama class called Alice walks up to us. “Oh hey, I’m Taryn, Carson’s girlfriend.” She says smiling at me and sticking her hand out for me to shake.

I move Jackson to the other side and shake her hand. My heart actually hurts at the ways she’s leaning into Sam.

“Well, we better get going. I have to drop Jackson off at my moms. I desperately need some alone time. It was nice meeting you Taryn and it was good seeing you Carson” I sadly smile and turning around so I can buy the candy.

Me and Jackson walk out to our car in the parking lot. Sams supposed to run out here and stop us in 3, 2, 1

“Luna wait!”I turn around and open the car door for Jackson before walking up to Sam.

“What’s up?” I say pulling my jacket closer to me.

“I don’t love her.” He says shaking his head no.

“That sounds like an issue between you and her Carson,” I say beginning to turn around to get back to my car. He grabs my upper arm and spins me around.

“No, what I’m saying is I love you. I still love you!” He says grabbing my cheeks.

“Carson, I-“

“Please just listen. I’ve spent 5 years praying that I can forget you just so that I don’t go back to you and continue to hurt you. I hate hurting you. I should’ve never waited till you had a son and a husband to say this but there’s not a day or night that passes where I don’t love you. I will always love you, Luna.”

“That’s not fair.”

Sam pulls a confused look on his face. I start thinking sad thoughts so I can start fake crying.

“It’s not fair Carson. You left me because you said you weren’t perfect enough of me. I had no one. When I met Jackson’s dad it was nothing but another attempt to stop missing you. Of course it didn’t work and I had to give birth all alone because who knows where the hell that man is. All the while I’m missing you and finding ways to stop loving you and you’re telling me that you love me. It’s not fair. Why didn’t you say anything. Why didn’t you tell me Carson” I say pushing him away wiping tears from my eyes.

He grabs my face again and pushes our lips together. It was full of love and passion, at least that’s what we were tryna convince the audience.

“Please don’t leave again. Just stay and love me” Cason whispers as we ignore the large camera in our faces.“Don’t ever leave me and you’ve got yourself a deal” I say lightly laughing.

“CUT! Great job, can I get the last line again? Maybe switch it up and see whatever is more natural y/n” Harry yells.

We do the scene a couple more times before Harry tells us our movie is finished for now.

“So y/n, hows it feel to be a movie star like me” Sam jokes as I pack my things up and get ready to change clothes.

“Oh my, I mean it’s simply dumbfounding. I’m in complete awe of how incredible you are and I’m starstruck that I got a chance to work with you” I say sarcastically and smile while pretending to fan myself.

“Haha, really funny. No need to be so dramatic. You really are an actress” He says rolling his eyes and ruffling my hair. I scoff and try and fix it.

“Yea yea, whatever Holland. We can’t all be stars like your family. How is your family by the way?” I ask moving over to the costume area where I can change behind a small curtain.

“They’re good. Toms filming a couple movies right now and Pads has started a YouTube channel so everyone is headed for Stardom.” I can hear the dripping sarcasm in the freckled boys voice.

I come from behind the curtain in an old t-shirt that probably was my brothers and my favorite pair of jeans. I slipped on my black vans before plopping onto the couch with Sam.

“Ok, but how’s Tessa? That’s what I really want to know.” I say turning to face Sam.

“Of course you only care about our dog. Tess is good. I face timed her not too long ago.”

“Amazing. I can’t wait to own my own house so I can have like 30 dogs.” I say an admiration, thinking of all those beautiful dogs.

“That’s quite a lot love. You better find a man that loves dogs” Sam says laughing.

“Oh trust me, I’m working on it. I went on a date with this guy who told me dogs were one of the most worthless creations. I literally threw my water at him, left and blocked his number” I recall.

“Oh, so you’re going out again? I thought you said, ‘dating ain’t for me, I got Netflix and food’” Sam says in a fake girl voice.

“First off, I don’t sound anything like that. Second, I mean yea. I like this one guy but he’s not interested so I gotta move on” I say now finding my fingernails extremely interesting.

“Trust me, I get you. I'm in the same predicament. So why don’t you just tell the guy? He’d be a div not to like you” I lightly hit Sams shoulder.

“Why don’t you just tell the girl?” I say teasingly even though my heart stings a bit.

“I suppose I should, let’s call her now,” Sam says.I got super nervous and bit my lip waiting to find out who the girl is. I hear my phone vibrate from in my bag, I stand up and grab it and see i’m actually being called. I don’t get a chance to see who it is. I take my phone and step right outside.

“Hello?”

“You’re not the brightest crayon in the box are you love?” My eyes widen in shock when I hear Sams voice. I spin around and see him through the window.

“Me? You like me?” I say nervously. He just nods through the window.

“Why don’t you come inside and we can actually talk about it?” He says lightly laughing. I open the door and walk to the couch.

“Are you sure? Cause I like you too, but, you need to be sure. What if you don’t actually like me? We did just film a movie wh-“

I'm immediately cut off by Sams lips attaching to mine. I respond and pull sam closer. We break apart and he rests his forehead on mine.

“I am 100% sure, you’re the one and only girl for me y/n” He quietly whispers and I feel his breath tickling my face. I break into a smile and fall into Sam.

#sam holland #sam holland imagine #holland boys #Holland Brothers #imagine

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ashxpad · 3 years

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How Photography Can Build Peace and Justice in War-Torn Communities

It’s not easy for most people to think about what peace and justice mean to them, or how to express it. But that’s what we ask people in war-torn communities to do, all around the world.

One place we did this is in Colombia, a country now testing out peace after more than 50 years of war between left-wing guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and government forces.

We asked people in two villages, San José de Urama and Las Cruces in the country’s northwest, to think about what they looked for as signs of justice and coexistence in their communities, what we call “everyday peace indicators.”

Through workshops using a research method called “photovoice,” a group of the villagers chose some of these everyday indicators of justice and coexistence to photograph. They then created and displayed personal and group photo stories as part of an open-air community exhibition.

We found that these communities wanted to use photography not only to document the aftermath of war and violence, but also to actively support peace.

Photo Stories About Justice and Coexistence

In San José de Urama, people looking for signs of justice in their community wanted to see armed groups and the government telling the truth about the war, and former guerrillas building families. They wanted to see the truth bringing peace of mind, rest and reparations for the victims, and an end to the violence.

Ex-guerrillas build families: ‘All there is to say is that they’re there, living among us, they rebuilt their families and they’re helping to transform the community.’ Yesica Alejandra Zapata David, CC BY-ND

For Francy Yulieth Manco Ferraro, an 18-year-old photographer from San José de Urama, a key element of coexistence in her community is the opportunity to be out of her house at any time. About this photo, she wrote, “In a world full of doubt and uncertainty, we can be calm in the knowledge that, when we go out to the streets or to our land, we will not hear the terrifying sound of guns; we will be able to go out freely, to work our land, to harvest our harvest, without fear.”

People can be in the street at any hour. Francy Yulieth Manco Ferraro, CC BY-ND

Some photographers, such as Leidi Johana Agudelo Higuita, used their work to pay homage to older members of the community who had survived through the years of the conflict and kept their communities alive.

The truth brings peace of mind, rest and reparations for the victims: ‘I had to live a war that wasn’t mine … . But the truth will set us free, or at least I believe so. I will never forget how I was a prisoner in my own land. I will never forget who I am now, a survivor and a dignified campesino.’ Leidi Johana Agudelo Higuita, CC BY-ND

In Las Cruces, three generations of the same family, a grandmother, mother and daughter, participated in the photography workshops together. The mother, Yenifer Yuliana Higuita Bedoya, emphasized the importance of family togetherness.

Families have more time to spend with each other: ‘These kinds of moments are the ideal way of forming the kind of lasting bonds that help you overcome adversity, and it is how you learn the principles and values needed to be a proper part of society. Yenifer Yuliana Higuita Bedoya, CC BY-ND

Another photographer, 15-year-old Yuliana Andrea David Hidalgo, drew attention to the importance of children being able to play free from fear. She explains her photograph: “Before, when you heard gunshots, everyone would run to hide under the bed or in some safe place in the house, and now kids hide under the bed or in safe places because they’re playing hide-and-seek.”

You don’t need to hide under the bed to protect yourself from bullets. Yuliana Andrea David Hidalgo, CC BY-ND

Paula Andrea Pino Sarrazola, a photographer from San José de Urama, highlighted the importance of collective work in their mountain farming culture. “‘You need one hand to wash the other, and both to wash the face’ is a saying that grandparents say,” she explained. “That’s what a minga is. When people don’t have the money to pay day laborers, they ask others to help them, and then the favor is repaid. In this way, a lot of farms and businesses have been saved from bankruptcy. A minga – or collective work group – saves lives and land, and protects democracy, justice and peace.”

Members of the community help one another get important work done, such as tending livestock. Paula Andrea Pino Sarrazola, CC BY-ND

Other indicators about coexistence included people treating street animals well and the government maintaining the roads.

The state maintains the access roads to Urama. Tatiana Durango Rincón, CC BY-ND

For one of their collective photo stories, the group in Urama captured the dilapidated state of their cemetery. In the caption, they wrote, “The deterioration of the cemetery is a testament to how much the dead are disregarded. Weeds devour the tombs just as our minds eat away at our memories. Would it not be the right thing for us to come together to maintain it, and honor the memory of the dead by keeping this place of transit to the afterlife beautiful?”

The community, with the support of the church and Juntas de Acción Comunal (community action boards), maintains the cemetery. Urama Photography Collective, CC BY-ND

After documenting the cemetery’s dire state of disrepair, these photographers decided to take action. More than 80 people worked for two days to clear weeds and to repair and repaint buildings, memorials and tombstones.

Volunteer community members work to repair and maintain the local cemetery. Urama Photography Collective, CC BY-ND

We have found that photography can help people and communities heal as they look back at what has been lost as a result of the conflict and use their images to provide a space for discussion about how to build a different future.

Photography lets community members honor what is important to them, take pride in their culture, call for justice and highlight what is needed to build enduring peace.

We also found that combining photography with our everyday peace indicator approach amplifies local voices, illuminating what policymakers and international donors often miss about what matters to the everyday lives of the community members they support.

The authors wish to acknowledge members of the EPI Photovoice team, Edwin Cubillos and Manuela Munoz, the Urama Photography Collective and the Cruces Photography Collective, and EPI research assistant Miranda Pursley.

About the author: This article was written by Pamina Firchow (Associate Professor of Coexistence and Conflict, Brandeis University), Tiffany Fairey (Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellow, King’s College London), and Yvette Selim (Senior Research Associate, Institute for Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney). This article was originally published at The Conversation and is being republished under a Creative Commons license.

Image credits: Header photo: Project citizen-photographers from Las Cruces, Colombia. Edwin Cubillos Rodriguez, CC BY-ND.

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whiskynottea · 7 years

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We’ll rise up. Chapter 4 - The surprise

Previously Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Claire headed south and continued by the Seine, walking fast towards the Hôpital des Anges with her eyes fixed on the white clouds as they danced on the water’s surface. Going to the hospital required her taking a different route than the one she had chosen that morning to Raymond’s. Considering this, maybe it was for the best since nobody would see her twice the same day, alone and away from Saint Antoine. She was more anxious now, her thoughts lingering in Raymond’s words. She had seen the violence in men’s eyes while they gathered their weapons to attack yet another manor-house and a new tyrant, and she had seen revenge routing deep in their hearts. She thought that she was safe, but what if Raymond was right?

She hadn’t been one of those born in the eastern, poorer part of Paris and living there in all of their lives.

When Claire’s uncle, Lambert, was alive, they were living in one of the big impressive houses in the centre of the city, by the Seine. Claire loved spending her quiet afternoons sitting on the window sill with a good book. Every time her eyes left the lines made of words, the river filled them with colors and sensations: serene, light blue under the sun and deep, agitated grey under the force of the rain.

The property was courtesy of L'Université de Paris, where Lambert was teaching History and Archaeology. Even though Claire’s parents had passed away when she was in a devastatingly young age, her uncle kept her by his side and some of her best memories were made with him. Her life was full of adventures, completely different from what one would expect from a lady of her age. Before settling down in Paris they had travelled around the world, while Lambert studied lost civilizations of ancient times. Claire was raised up in the dirt, sleeping in tents or under the sky and she wouldn’t change it for the most luxurious house and extravagant dresses.

Lambert’s way of life had brought him close to different cultures and had given him a different mentality from their Parisian society. Despite his social status as a professor, he was never one for prodigality and was always generous towards people of fewer means. He treated everyone with respect and kindness and had taught Claire to do the same.

Thinking of him and his moral principles, Claire was certain that he would be proud of her now that she was fighting for equality, using her skills to aid such an honorable cause.

Lambert believed in Claire more than anyone else in her life. He had recognized her calling and her brilliant mind and supported her dream to become a healer. He was the reason Claire knew so much about medicine. By introducing her to his physician friends to discuss with and providing her with access in all the medical books he could take home from the Université, Claire learned about all kinds of maladies and remedies. Of course, she wasn’t allowed to attend the courses at the Université -- even Lambert couldn’t change that. With his help though, she joined the volunteers in L’ Hospital de Agnes to practice and advance her skills. With time, Claire had become as close to a physician as she could ever be, even without the title to go with it.

Claire’s life in Paris was a happy one, with her books and her uncle’s company. She didn’t really fit in the society, and she was always reluctant to attend the social events they were -- too often -- invited to. Lambert sympathized with her, understanding her repulsion to arrogance and brutality. It was more than once or twice that he found himself being excused for his niece’s absence. He gave Claire freedom, not only to ease her wild spirit but also because he was never one to make decisions regarding other people’s lives.

The event that proved Lambert’s peculiar raising of his niece was when Frank Randall, a colleague of his, visited him and proposed to marry Claire.

Lambert had simply replied, “You are a fine historian, Frank, and a good colleague of mine, but I really can’t help you with your proposal. If you want to marry Claire, it is she that will have to accept.”

Randall stood gaping at Lambert, dumbfounded, probably thinking that this was the oddest response a man requesting a marriage agreement had ever heard. Nonetheless, he stood up straight and, since there was no other way for him to get an answer, he agreed to talk to Claire. On his way to find her, his stride was certain and determined. He was positive no girl could ever decline such an offer.

Claire was seventeen years old at the time and couldn’t be less interested in marriage. Frank Randall was fifteen years older than her, a man of status and power, but certainly not one who would make her heart sing. Claire declined his proposal without a second thought; she was not one to compromise her dreams and if she was going to get married, she knew it would be only for love.

Lambert got sick soon after that unfortunate proposal and Claire forgot all about Randall and his intentions. Going through her uncle’s sickness unable to save him was excruciating. He was the only person she had left. Claire tried with all her might, as did most of the doctors that had examined him, but Lambert eventually died in his bed with her by his side, a Monday morning while the pelting rain advanced towards the large windows of his room.

“We will be all proud of you, Claire, no matter what.” These were the last words he’d said before his lips froze in a slight eternal smile.

Claire had been left alone and desolate.

Randall had visited Lambert once or twice while he was sick and then again when he passed out, to express his condolences to Claire. It was only a week after the funeral when he came again, stating that his intention to marry Claire hadn’t changed and that he was willing to “protect” her now that she was alone in the world. Claire’s answer remained the same, a bold no. Ever since, Randall had visited Claire twice every week trying to make her change her mind. He was persistent, always keeping his polite manner, but Claire was headstrong and unyielding.

Although she avoided him as much as possible, he kept finding a way to be around and started getting on her nerves. At last, forgetting his diplomatic ways, he tried to force her to agree on his proposal by pulling every string he had access to, to intimidate her. When he made the administration of the Université seize Lambert’s house, Claire decided that she would take no more from this excuse of a man.

Taking the money Lambert had left for her, she moved to Saint Antoine where Randall would never find her and started the healing people who needed her help and weren’t arrogant enough to dismiss her for being a woman. With time she made a reputation of herself and as the years passed by, everyone at Saint Antoine had stood on her doorstep at least once, asking for her help. It was nine years now and even though she didn’t have a lot, she felt needed and was pleased with herself and her life.

A high-pitched voice and a shrill laugh made Claire raise her watering eyes towards the opposite side of the street, where a tiny young woman was walking next to a huge man. A carriage was waiting for them a few steps down the road.

Claire stood stone-still, as if she hadn’t seen the couple but Medusa’s eyes.

It was the red hair leading to a strong back and a bandaged shoulder that made her heart skip a few beats. His bandaged arm had still her dressings on it, but the other one was apparently clutched by the person in the voluminous silk pink dress that ended to a huge wig full of grey curls and an enormous hat with white feathers and blue flowers. In any other circumstance, Claire would have laughed. Now, she felt heartbroken and angry.

Bloody hell, you’re such a fool Beauchamp! What exactly have you been thinking? You were staying at home, worrying and waiting for him to come to find you, and he... he...

Claire tried to move but could still hear her heartbeat loud in her ears. She felt her breath going out in small gasps, a perfect companion to her unstable feet. With a hand on the wall beside her to steady herself, she tried to regain control of her body.

It’s alright, that’s alright. Don’t panic. He was nobody. Nobody.

With her eyes were locked on them, she gazed at their backs until they reached the carriage. He helped the woman inside, then swiftly looked around and joined her. They disappeared behind the closed curtains and with them, hope vanished from Claire’s heart.

Who the hell was that woman, that aristocrat? What were they doing together?

At least he didn’t seem feverish and the bandages were in place.

Of course, he is fine Beauchamp, strolling by the river and laughing with her. Why did you even care? You don’t know him.

Moving forward, step by step, sense came back to her.

You don’t know him.

She really didn’t know him. They didn’t manage to talk a lot after she’d tended to his shoulder. How careless she was!

She felt so content on that bench, having him by her side as though he had always belonged there. She had let herself unguarded. She was sheltered by his warmth, his hand gentle on hers, a silent statement that his abnormal heartbeat was because of her presence and not of his wound. And then, it was the way she caught him looking at her, even through his pain, with his blue slanted eyes smiling.

How could she be so bloody wrong? Why didn’t she ask him more about himself? They had just met and yet she had let herself be with him in a way she would only if she’d known him forever.

When his godfather came back to take Jamie away, he had kissed her hand and said, “It was a verra fine day, today, Sassenach, because I finally met you. I will come back in a few days to check my shoulder, aye?”

She felt so happy at that moment, with her hand still engulfed by his, thinking of his poetic words. Now she reconsidered. What had he meant when he said ‘to finally meet you’? Could he know who she really was? Could he know about her past?

She had been certain that he was one of the attackers in the Bastille, but seeing him today, so well dressed and with this mademoiselle hanging from his arm, contradicted all her previous conclusions. Claire could tell from the woman’s clothes that she was very close to the palace. Her bloody hat was like the ones Marie Antoinette was wearing and judging from her posture and the stupid noises that left her mouth she seemed very well acquainted with Jamie.

Why was this Scot in the prison’s courtyard if he was so rich anyway? And Claire had even called him “Jacques”! Bloody Christ! She had never heard of an aristocrat rebel. That couldn’t be. Although she could be considered as a rebel of the upper class, she didn’t belong to this class for nine years now. Apparently, he did.

Claire’s initial shock and unanswered questions resulted in a terrible headache and a feeling of nausea. Looking around, she realized that, left unattended, her feet had taken her to Saint Antoine instead of the Hôpital. Even better, she thought. She wasn’t in a fit state to tend to anyone right now. With a single glance at the bench they had sat, she hurried to her room. She proceeded with walking back and forth in the small space in an attempt to calm down and recall her conversation with Jamie, that night in front of her house.

***

“So you’re English, lass?” Jamie said looking towards the street.

“English parents and I was born in Oxfordshire. However, I don’t remember much of England. I left when I was still a little girl.”

“And you came to Paris?” He frowned and turned to look at her.

“Oh, no, not straight away, that is. I travelled the world with my uncle for some years. I have been in Paris the last 15 years, since he came to be a professor at the University here. It feels like home now. But enough about me. What about you? What is a Scottish lad doing in Paris?” she returned the question and smiled at him, curious about the stranger with the rolling “r”s that made her breathing laborious.

“I came to study in the Université, Philosophy and Literature. After finishing, I stayed here to work wi’ my cousin in his … business”. He had stopped just a moment before saying “business” and then continued, “So what is your uncle teaching? Maybe I know him from my classes.”

“No, you wouldn’t. He was teaching History and Archaeology.” Her voice broke a little, but enough for him to hear it.

“Ah, I am sorry, lass,” he said with a solemn face full of compassion and tightened his grip on her hand.

***

Alone in her room, Claire cursed her foolishness the moment she realized how much information she’d given away about her person. She was angry with herself and her recklessness. She hadn’t given him Lambert’s name, thank God, but with the rest trivial information she’d revealed, he had now a good starting point and could easily find out who she was.

Her restless pacing gradually stopped and left fear and desperation take the reins of her feelings.

She curled up on her bed, tired and unsure, and cried herself to sleep.

Was that night nothing but a charade?

Could he just be a spy for them?

Chapter 5

#we'll rise up #jamie x claire #outlander fanfic #historical fanfic #18th century #french revolution #outlander fanfiction

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mediocrethoughts · 4 years

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Recalling the Past and Reading Someone’s Memories

Journal for November 12, 2020 (7:55 PM) to November 13, 2020 (5:02 PM)

I woke up at around 7:55 PM because of my alarm yesterday, November 12, 2020. I wanted to sleep some more because I felt really tired, but I needed to attend my class. When I looked in the mirror, I looked so dead with dark circles around my eyes. I was too tired to even wash my face so I just took a long sleeved shirt from the wardrobe and put it over the white shirt I was wearing yesterday before I slept. When I got accepted into the Google Meeting and when we proceeded with the class without Sir Hans asking us to open our cameras, I heaved a sigh of relief. At least I’d spare myself the embarrassment of looking so bad compared to when I was made up when we presented our reports last time.

Anyways, we continued to discuss about the Magna Carta and related it to the movie Dead Poets Society still. Along the way, it kind of still surprised me how some students weren’t able to watch it completely yet. It’s a good movie! The trick is to really try to enjoy yourself while watching the movie and just not think of it as something that you’re required to watch. That way, if you really enjoyed the movie (without the heavy feeling that you’re only watching it out of responsibility), you’d be able to easily recall scenes that you can relate to anything. Of course, going back and opening the file to properly recall the scenes you’re trying to recall helps as well.

We ended class early again! We finished Article V this time. There was actually a point in the discussion where we talked about inappropriate or immoral acts of teachers and stuff, and I wanted to input a gossip I heard from a schoolmate during my time in UP, but it seems that a lot of the other students had lots to share, so I didn’t volunteer to share (also because I’m not even sure now if it’s true or not).

I’ll just write it here! Actually, I had this professor for a law subject of mine during my first year days. He had broad forehead, which he also admits to having, but his body was lean, like you can clearly see that he has a flat tummy and probably some muscles hiding underneath the sophisticated clothes he wears. He was actually a lawyer as well as a professor there in UP before. Lots of us had crushes on him actually! He has two kids,but he seems to be separated from his wife, and what comes out from his mouth really seemed intelligent and pretty much, he was a really cool teacher.There was even one point when I thought he might’ve had his eyes on me because of an interaction once:

My friends and I were on the way out of the AS buildings when he was also on the way to the parking lot (we had to pass by the parking lot before we’re able to get out of the AS premises). As usual, I was ahead of my friends because I usually had my own world. He sort of asked us in general (if I remember correctly) where we were from. My friends answered first, and then I said I was from Yati. I think he said something along the lines of, “Oh wow! I’m from Yati as well. If you need a ride on the way home just let me know.” It was most likely a joke of course, but it got stuck in my head and my innocent (and presumptuous) mind thought of it too much.

Anyways, when I turned second year, I heard a gossip about him dating a senior of ours in the BA Psychology course. I never really knew if there was any truth to gossip, but since there’s gossip like this, there should be a little basis, right?

That story aside, after my class, I was so intent on doing something productive. I told myself, “Okay, I’ll be finishing one of my school requirements today.” However, I ended up telling myself again, “Fine! I’ll just do my school stuff after I finish this video of mine for YouTube. It only requires like 5% work left anyways.” Well, I failed because I got attached to my game again. I swear I hate myself and my addiction to games.

Around 11:30 PM, I started to get hungry. Because I was intermittent fasting, my proper feast time was supposed to be around 12:00 AM, however, since there was only a few minutes left, I decided I’d eat. Me, Nivan, and Amber went to the kitchen to look for food, and also wait for his order. Amber has been sleeping at dawn lately. I don’t know why but her yaya lets her sleep at around 5 PM in the afternoon so she wakes up at around 7 or 8 PM which means that she wouldn’t be sleepy around 10 or 11 PM which was supposed to be her sleeping time last week. I made a note to myself that I should tell the yaya to not her sleep in the afternoon tomorrow to make sure that she’ll sleep again in accordance to the Philippines’ timezone.

When the food arrived, we ate and then went back in again after. We’ve been giving Amber her YouTube videos lately (something we’re really guilty of doing), so she’s just stuck in bed with me, nursing and watching her YouTube. I started to get really sleepy, so... I fell asleep around 1:30 AM and left Amber awake watching her YouTube with Nivan. I kind of remember telling Nivan in a half asleep state to get her YouTube away from her at 2 AM even if she cries so that she’ll sleep.

I woke up at around almost 6 AM in the morning and saw that my baby was sleeping on the bed where her head was near my back. I was facing the other way, so if I didn’t wake up and move around, I probably would’ve pressed on her head. Sigh, I don’t get why Nivan still doesn’t move Amber when she’s asleep.

Anyways, I woke up wanting to work on my school stuff again, but then I saw that my Filmora app was still open. My video was still waiting for me to finish it, and so I decided I’d do it. I was recording my voice overs when when Nivan tapped my shoulders and told me that I promised him that I’d help with a video that he needed for his work. Agh! He also asked if I wanted anything to eat, which I said yes to since I have only eaten once during my eating window. So while he was away making food (or mandating ate Amy on what food to make, I’m not sure), I was editing the video he needed for his work.

By the time I finished working on his video, it was also time for an event in my game. Sigh. I got stuck playing the game again. The food that Nivan went out for earlier only arrived at around almost 9 AM (my eating window was supposed to end before 8 AM). I made a mental note to adjust my eating window again. A few minutes later, the choco chip cookies he ordered the other day arrived, so I thought I’d try some and just readjust my sleeping schedule again.

After eating, well... I sort of proceeded with finishing my video. I finally got to like 1% worth of work left, and then Amber woke up. I was also playing my game while editing the video (mostly playing the game, really), so when she woke up, I brought the iPad to the bed and played there while also talking to Amber. I was having a really bad migraine that time and I can’t seem to find my pain-killers. I was searching for it and playing (mostly playing, again) for an hour or so, until I finally found it right in front of my face... but hiding. It was underneath the laptop I was sitting in front of! When I finally took the painkiller, the pain subsided.

I swear, I hate my migraines. Whenever it’s not there, I take every moment for granted. Whenever it’s present and pounding the right side of my eyes though, I definitely can’t wait for it to be over.

Well, around 1 PM, Amber blurted out that she misses her wowo and uncle (my dad and my brother), so I decided to video call with them. It’s been a long time since we went home to my place, and we really miss them. I’ll make sure to go there with Amber next week.

It was supposed to be my sleeping time already around 2 PM, however, since I slept at 2 until almost 6 AM, I wasn’t feeling sleepy. I also didn’t have anything to do in the game, and so I decided to download the book ‘The Diary of a Young Girl’ by Anne Frank. It’s actually a book that we’re required to read for our Prof Ed 2 class, but boy when I opened it, I got really interested! Reading this book might be something I’d really enjoy, after all. It wasn’t the lengthy type every ‘chapter’, instead it was really like how diaries are supposed to be.

While reading her diary, it made me want to write on this again. So while reading her entry for July 10, 1942, I decided to spring out of bed and start writing this journal before I lose my will to get out of bed and write anything.

So far, I am not yet on the brutal or sad parts of her diary and it made me realize that this historical girl was just a normal girl before everything that happened to her happened. On her first entries, she sounds like a presumptuous teenager to me. (I can say this because I never called anybody an ‘admirer’ of mine if they were just staring at me all day, especially when I was still 13 years old. They had to tell me straight to the face that they admire me before I brand them as my admirer in my head... although I was already assuming that they were indeed admirers, I knew that I was too shy to admit it, even in my own writing. So having read that she boldly thinks they were her admirers, and also putting her really honest thoughts like disliking someone, and even describing their flaws as a person in her own diary, she was a really honest-to-oneself person. I envy her.)

I’ll continue reading the book now! I don’t think I’m gonna sleep anytime soon since I still have class at 6:00 PM so I’ll just wait for it and finish it then sleep.

I’ll write here tomorrow again!

Yours, Angel

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landoftheoutsiders · 7 years

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Day 3: Therapy Sessions

Wow. Guys. We have made it three whole days. I’m proud of us. And by us, I mean me. And by made it, I mean actually keeping up with this stream of conscious thing. I’m surprised that I haven’t completely given up on this thing yet. It’s actually, dare I say--fun. Lets see how long I can keep this thing going.

Today was fairly productive. Kind of. I went to class. That’s my definition of productive. I’m trash. Today we went over the three scenes that I’m not in, and then we had one volunteer blindly pick a story to portray as a monologue. They didn’t pick my story, but it was a very interesting metaphor that the guest professor had. Basically, it was that we need to realize that every character we portray in our career as an actor is a “real” story that is being told--its up to us to make their story come to life. I thought it was really insightful, and I think remembering that will help me in my career going forward while learning new characters and memorizing their stories. As for the rest of my day, I watched a movie, took a nap, and went to my last experiential group. That shit was bittersweet. I remember going to the treatment center literally counting down the days until I was discharged. Now? I don’t know... I looked forward to the groups. It was something fairly positive that was also productive in a safe environment. I guess I have the productive part with school--with my university being in the heart of downtown, I don’t think that safe really is the best word to describe the campus. It’s more dangerous at night, but lets be honest... with all the school shootings going around in our God forsaken country, I’d be naive to believe a campus is the safest place to be. People be crazy. Enough of the sappy shit. I actually am happy that tomorrow is my last day. I can’t keep spending $200+ on groups every week because of the community. I need to find that community in a cheaper place--preferably a free place lmao. I am, however, very excited to shell out my really good friend from our shared group. I believe that Mindfulness is actually the group where I first met her. Her name on here shall be Tree. Tree knows who she is. (She follows this blog because she “likes the way I write.” Me too, Tree. Me too). Jesus fucking christ, I ramble like a mother fucker. I can’t wait to read her shell out to her. It is going to be full of inside jokes, rent quotes, and sprinkled with heartfelt nuggets of emotion. It will be a shit show, and I’m looking forward to it. There are so many new people, and they are all going to be 100% done with both of us, but Tree and I have worked far too hard to make sure we shell out on the same day. We’ve been planning on breaking out together. Therapy today was a thing. I feel more vulnerable than usual. I need a name for my therapist. I guess we can call him Pink. Our ongoing joke while he was an intern at the center was that on Wednesdays, we’d wear pink. Out of maybe a month and half of him being my individual, we only actually both wore pink on Wednesday once. Honestly, he’s the best therapist I’ve ever had. So Pink was asking me the usual questions... how my restriction had been this week, if I had weighed myself, how my meals were going... and then he hit me with, “Why are we restricting? Is it because you’re forgetting to eat, or is it defiant?” Here’s how that conversation went: Me: Its honestly about 50/50 between the two. Pink: What is the thought behind the defiant restriction? Me: I’m not sure. Pink: It has to be something... usually its that “I want to lose weight... if I restrict, I’ll be stronger... etc.” Me: *long pause and deep fucking breath* I want to lose weight. Pink: Okay, so walk me through a day with your meals. Me: Well... I mean.. I wake up around 9:45, and go to work around 10:10... I’m hungry, but lunch is only a few hours away, so its not a big deal. Pink: Rian, that is t h r e e hours. Your body will be hungry again for lunch... Me: ... I just drink coffee... it helps... Pink: *visible frustration* I KNOW. I KNOW IT HELPS.

Ohhhhh the shit I put this poor man through. He really is helpful though. We also figured out tonight that right now I’m restricting because I want to feel more comfortable in my body. Which raised the question of where do I not feel comfortable. The answer to that would be my apartment. It feels so hostile there. I still need to explain that fuckshow to you guys. I’ll make that a separate post for length’s sake... we’re already getting pretty long with this post. Anywho, long story short, Pink wants me to talk to my roommate that I have issues with. She reached out to me earlier this week, and I honestly just don’t trust her motives. I think she’s finally realizing that she did something shitty, feels bad, wants to talk it out, and only wants to do so because she feels guilty. I genuinely think she is only trying to clear her conscious. Maybe I will talk to her. Simply just to explain why I haven’t moved back into our apartment since our falling out. I feel so unwanted, and regardless of the fact that I’m not really wanted in our apartment, I still have the right to be treated like a decent human being with emotions (no matter how emotionless I try to be). I did nothing wrong--nothing major anyways. Again, I’ll explain this in a different post if you want to know about that drama. My main concern is where I am going to be living come June 1st. I’m trying not to stress out because everything will work out for the best (hopefully), but I can’t help but catastrophize the situation and come to the conclusion that my stuff will end up in a storage unit and I’ll just live out of my car until I find roommates. All of this came up when Pink asked what I planned on doing in the meantime. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I genuinely felt I’d end up homeless by summer, but its fine. Everything is fine. I guess I could always crash on my friend’s couch at the end of the day, but I really don’t want to add any stress to her and her boyfriend. With Crashy, I at least know its only him I’m bothering if I am in fact even bothering him. God, all of this is making me need a cigarette and its fucking freezing outside. Even Pink though was like, “well... you have found yourself in a pickle, haven’t you?” Why yes Pink. Yes I have. After group and therapy, I decided to go across the street to their res program to see a friend of mine. He tried to be real slick and say, “bye guys, I’m leaving and Rian is staying in my place.” The look of actual fear as if this scenario from hell was actually happening had to have been entertaining to the res staff lmao. I was talking to one of the ladies with my friend and we were talking about me leaving the day treatment center and she was like, “Oh you must be doing well with your eating disorder.” To which my response was obviously, “nope. Not even close. I’m just poor.” She had no comment for that one lol. My dark humour will hopefully take me places one day. Once I left my friend, I went to Taco Bell and had my usual three tacos with six mild sauces and watched the latest Shane Dawson video. Shane is queen. Fucking love that guy. This week he made Ryland wear a fat-suit for a day so Ryland could understand how Shane felt in his younger years when he was obese. It took a very real, dark turn very quickly--and thankfully it was after I had already eaten my tacos. Shane was mentioning how he remembered being so out of energy that he didn’t even want to move or talk the moment he sat on a couch. While I have never been obese, I have been severely underweight, and that isn’t any easier--I completely related, and then fell down a very dark rabbit hole of body image issues and how I have a love/hate relationship with my new body. I like having boobs and an great ass, but I also would do a n y t h i n g to have my old body back from my lowest weight. Not many people know that about me... they think I’m doing so great with my “recovery” and that I’m living it up in the city with my friends and modeling while trying to find freelance jobs with acting, filming, and editing. It just honestly made me want to take out the entire week’s worth of calories and just fucking starve myself until I got back into the 90s. I loved the way my body looked. The thinspo shit that I post? I looked like most of them. I miss that shit. I miss being envied for my body. I miss people asking me what I did to stay so thin (to which I always gave healthy advice). I miss being noticed the second I walked into a room--my old nurse says it was because I was scaring the hell out of everyone, but I like to think it was because they were like, “fuck... who is she.” There are so many things I miss about being that thin. Lets be honest here, it was never enough, because of course it will never be enough. Nothing will ever be enough for this god damned eating disorder... but I want to try. I guess its a good thing I’m still being weight monitored because there is no way in hell that Pink will let me get anywhere close to where I was without having to go back to iop. Hell... if I did it quick enough, he’d probably send me over to res and I could go party it up with my friend who is in res right now. Or he can come visit me for a change lmao. Anyways, rant over. I’m going to go drown my sorrows in The Office and cookie dough. Fuck eating disorders.

-- Rian Dianna

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