#started thinking about and applying for phd

[hahahafangirl]

is sugishita a big silly stupid dumdum?

my staunch belief is that sugishita is NOT DUMB. hes pretty smart, actually. somehow i fell into the illusion of sugishita being a dumbass, which, of course he is, but, like, hes not dumb, or super naive, or an idiot (an archetypical baka) (affectionate) the way sakura is. see: sugishita not falling for suo's bullshit

extremely unimpressed

but he gloats a little too much about this... maybe hes usually pretty baka stupid but not as much as sakura.

his favorite subject is chemistry! dumdum heads like sakura or kaji either have 0 or have PE as their favorite subject. even if hes interested in it because of gardening, he knows the material.

so heres what i think: i think he gets average grade. ok grades. which is great for somebody who go to bofurin and sleep through class since the 2nd grade. in a normal high school, he would be a good ole just-below-average to average to barely-above-average student. in furin, this would probably put him at the upper quartile of his class. being quiet and socially awkward doesnt mean hes a big dumdum in everything else. hes not good at expressing himself, yes -- i think sugishita's development will likely center around him learning how to express himself and may end with him helping somebody else articulating their feelings, or (framed as unexpectedly) stepping up to a leadership role temporarily, like in a fight -- but, like, that doesnt make him dumb. a stereotypical teenage boy is bad at words but good at science, for example.

heres my headcanon/fanfique(tm): it would be so funny if sugishita is the only one to go to college after graduation. he scores perfectly average in every subject, except for chemistry, which hes solidly miles above average. not genius, not once-in-a-lifetime talent, not award-winning even, but he starts off college already knowing two years worth of a chemist education.

which confound everyone who sees his grades and read his applications. suo and kiryuu passionately discussed and strategized on how sugi can get into college, from local ones to travel-to-tokyo ones, and suo even flirted with the idea of sugi getting into utokyo (too far from home, sugi absolutely cannot be left to his own device in a metropolitan area, chance of getting in ~1%). their homeroom teacher and guidance counselor almost went bald deciding how they should write his recommendation letter (quiet but helpful? righteous anger? he-looks-scary-but-hes-a-good-kid-we-promise?). they werent even sure if he was at college-reading level going into third year (nirei helped. a lot.) at the end, they settle at the nearest college in town, which is fine and decent enough that they harbored some doubt if sugishita is going to get in. umemiya encouraged sugi to apply to several places (just in case).

to the surprise of most (but not suo, kiryuu, or umemiya), sugishita got into college. its a fine one. its close enough that he still lives at home, go to college full time, and work part-time at whatever establishment umemiya now works at (my headcanon is that he starts a farm. kiryuu uses his nepo baby money to be the primary stakeholder). sugi's grades in college is good enough that he contemplated getting a phd at some point. but then he decided, nah, and follow the agricultural science track, graduate, maybe get a masters, and work at the farm with ume-senpai. sometimes, when the local elementary school go to visit, ume pressured sugi into giving them a chemistry-focused tour.

andddd this is basically a fanfic. maybe i'll write it someday.

[tchaikovskym]

My 2023 was wild, not in a way that anyone would use the term "wild" except me

[poeciles]

not to be sappy but im emo bc i finished my last summer of undergrad research (doing a project I led! where i got to mentor a younger student!) and im thinking abt how shocked and happy me from years ago would be... 9yo me would be like yeah duh but 14yo me would be in utter shock that i’d stopped trying to be normal and was embracing my interests, 17yo me was going into my freshman year knowing nobody, failing at making friends, and convinced she wouldn’t be able to do what she wanted to bc her advisor was trying to convince her not to, 18yo was me lonely all the time and terrified that i wasn’t going to be able to follow through on the things that i just starting to do for jobs and academically and socially vs. me now having worked in multiple museums and doing not only both majors i wanted but honors in one of them, with friends i love dearly and gaining momentum to continue to do what i love!!!

[martian-astro10]

Solar return observations - part 6

Sun in 10th house indicates that you'll be very focused on your career this year. You could also start looking for a job, do your first internship, choose your major, apply for a master's or a PhD, basically anything that acts as a stepping stone in your career progression. Look at the aspects to see whether that process will be easy or difficult.

Jupiter in 1st, especially conjunct ascendant is the REAL glow up placement. This is the year in which your talents will be more visible to others. Check where Jupiter is in the natal chart to know where you'll feel lucky. For ex- if Jupiter is in the 5th house in the birth chart, then you may find yourself going on dates, partying more than before and taking more risks.

Gemini ascendant... this shit is so good, better than leo fr. You will express more of your extroverted side this year, this will happen even if you're the shyest person EVER. Talking to people, networking, posting more on social media, and just putting yourself out there will be the highlight of the year. You will also have an easier time making friends and people may think you're funny and charming.

Moon in 4th, in my opinion, is a stronger indication of getting married than any other placement, a lot of people around me are planning to get married this year and almost all of them have their moon in 4th. This shows a focus on family, you will want to spend more time with them and rebuild your connection. Any major fights that may have happened previously will be resolved.

Neptune in 10th can be a difficult year when it comes to choosing a path, you may have many options or none at all. This can indicate either over or underestimating your abilities. You should be really careful when choosing a job as career exploitation is something that I've often seen with this (Happened to me as well). If you're confused between options then try a little bit of everything before making the final decision.

Jupiter in retrograde motion brings good results with the speed of a fucking sloth, I kinda hate it. If it's in the 11th, you will get everything that you wish for, but just 10 days before your next birthday. If it's in the 9th, you may get that acceptance letter 5 days before the session starts, very "things happen at the end moment" placement.

Do not make travel plans when chiron is in the 9th house, they will almost always end up getting cancelled. I missed so many flights the year I had this. One of my friends who travels a lot for her job could not do so in the year she had this, like, a fucking war, a pandemic, tsunami, you name it, she faced it. Even if you do somehow manage to overcome all the obstacles and reach the destination....bad experience, you'll start hating the place.

Saturn in 6th can be such a sexy placement when accompanied by positive aspects. Slay in your career ✅, slay health ✅, finally putting that gym membership to use ✅, getting your life together ✅. I have literally seen people do a complete 180 the year they had this. Routine isn't boring, it's peaceful.

Mars in cancer and constantly sustaining physical injuries 😭😭, bro, LISTEN, I fell from my cycle and then this fucking car HIT me, and then I had to get fucking hospitalised AND GO TO OFFICE THE NEXT DAY, istg, I'm about to kill myself. I'm covered in bruises. If you have this, wear a space suit at all times, I.AM.NOT.JOKING.

Mercury in 11th is such an underrated placement, it brings good results in so many areas; education, friendships, networking. The connections that you make throughout the year will help you achieve your goals the next year, from what I have seen. If it's making mostly positive aspects then you will be in the spotlight this year.

Divider by @strangergraphics

© martian-astro10 All rights reserved, 2025

[mikansei]

What are your thoughts on Ratio as a teacher? I want to say that he's not as much of a demon in the classroom as some ppl interpret him as but also I'm not sure if I'm not making him too nice

i'm sure ratio's "3% pass rate" is just a number arbitrarily picked to make him sound super strict, the same way earning 8 doctorates at the age of [vague anime adult] isn't meant to make real world sense, but my favorite pastime is overthinking anime and video game logic so:

we know ratio got into university when he was still in highschool. let's just say he didn't bother with a bachelor's and went straight for doctorates from the start. doctorates normally take a long time to earn, but he's clearly not meant to be as old as welt looks; he's in his 30s at most. his character stories say he's taught 52 courses so far, and if professors teach ~5-ish per semester, he's been teaching for roughly 10 years (while earning 8 doctorates himself. veritas ratio where the fuck do u find the time).

so if he's 30 years old, he started teaching at 20 with maybe 1 or 2 doctorates under his belt - and, again, assuming he went straight from student to teacher without being a TA or anything first, because [screaming at all these hypotheticals].

if you've ever met a 20-year-old or remember being a 20-year-old yourself, you will know that they are fucking insufferable. having just endured the most trying ordeal of their lives (surviving being an 18-year-old), they think they have gained all the knowledge in the world and have uniquely uncovered all life's mysteries. so a 20yo ratio - who actually HAD gained significant knowledge and personally solved at least one interstellar crisis - had to have an ego approximately the diameter of saturn's rings. showered with more praise than he could ever process, hailed as a genius and once-in-a-lifetime visionary, setting his sights firmly on joining the genius society by earning Nous' gaze, he must've been so goddamn full of himself.

THAT is the ratio whose courses had a 3% pass rate. it probably only took him 1 or 2 semesters to realize holding everyone else to his impossibly high personal standards did not, in fact, make him a good teacher. i'm sure it was a humbling experience. i bet he got bad reviews on the starrail equivalent of ratemyprofessors.com and decided to go back and earn a whole nother doctorate about it - maybe medicine, to better understand the psychology behind learning, that he might thus become a better teacher. that sounds like an extremely ratio thing to do.

10 years on he probably doesn't teach, like, psych 101. he probably teaches shit like "applied string theory." top-level post-grad capstone courses, where anyone taking the course is most of the way thru their own PhD, and if they fail his course they just need to shift subdisciplines, not flunk out of university entirely.

i hope the hubris of his old 3% pass rate haunts him tho 😊 keeps him up at night, making him wonder how many students' curiosity and drive to learn was mercilessly snuffed out by his ego 🥰

[nowimjustastranger]

StCMO Lore | Part 2

I changed Watchdog Ford's motivation for going into the multiverse and I think this narrative is far more fitting, with the added benefit of being angsty as all hell.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4

Stanford Pines began his obsessive search for a solution soon after, determined to undo what had been done. But Death could not be reversed, nor could it be threatened or bribed. So Stanley Pines remained in Death’s tender embrace and, in his growing desperation, Stanford Pines began to explore other means of getting his brother back.

He left no stone unturned and eventually stumbled across the multiverse theory. A theory which suggests that our universe is not the only one, and that there may be countless other universes existing alongside it, each potentially with its own laws of physics and properties, essentially creating a "multiverse" where our universe is just one part of a much larger cosmic structure.

An idea began to form.

After getting his first PhD in evolutionary biology, Stanford Pines immediately pursued a degree in physics. In the meantime, Fiddleford found a job and bought an apartment near campus so he could look after Ford, who had begun to neglect both his health and hygiene in favor of pouring all his time and attention into turning his idea into reality.

When Stanford graduated early yet again, they moved to Gravity Falls together, where the barrier between Dimensions was weaker, and began to build a portal that could tear a hole between the two. Fiddleford was reluctant, suspecting that Stanford’s intentions were far from innocent or scientific in nature. But Stanford would do it with or without him, so Fiddleford assisted in order to keep him from working himself to death.

Ford also had a side project that he had started working on in college, his premonitions and sensitivity to changes in the universe leading him to experiment with harnessing those frequencies and applying them to his ability to see glimpses of the future in an unconscious state, increasing their strength with an amplifier so he could see into the future whenever and wherever he pleased.

He very nearly rendered himself braindead on multiple occasions.

When Fiddleford found out about Project Prescience, by quite literally walking in on one of Stanford’s tests, he aided Stanford in repurposing a biker helmet in order to implant the amplifier and external neural connectors into the frame. Once activated with a press of a discrete button on the side of the helmet, the system amplified Stanford’s premonitions to visions of future pathways.

Refining the tech takes Stanford and Fiddleford four years, but it’s ready by the time the portal is finished. They test it before Stanford gears up to go through, successfully entering the multiverse in an alternate dimension identical to his own except Gravity Fall was never founded. He stands in the middle of a forest where the Shack would’ve been, using the built-in communication device in his helmet to keep Fiddleford updated.

Stanford returns to his dimension and they shut down the portal, working on a way to shield their dimension from outside forces. Stanford designs a strong spell using unicorn hair to erect a barrier around their dimension, as well as performing a ritual on himself so he can come and go from his dimension as he pleases.

Also, Stanford convinces Fiddleford to build the memory gun by arguing that he could remain anonymous by using it on anyone who discovered his true identity. Unfortunately, Stanford intends to go behind Fiddleford’s back and use it to steal a Stanley from another Dimension. The memory gun still has an addictive quality, but only when it's used on the same person several times, but Stanford usually only has to use it on someone once.

[midnight1nk]

So, this week's episode...

[spoilers below cut]

Casino plot?! LET'S GOOOOOO

It's giving WOTFI 2023 (one of my fave wotfi's) so I respect the hustle :)

...wait, why isn't "SMG4:" in the title anymore? Team, why isn't it there? Team? TEAM?!

(the following is my live reaction:)

why is Mario's face so me rn like ???

Brothers, your honor

it's so realistic how siblings turn something so casual into a competition only bc there are stakes now, we love to see it (hey, it takes one to know one)

...oh. huh. "Why are you taking it so seriously? It's just 4 memeing." I know. It's just, uh.... [*flashback noises*]

[SMG4 Episode Concept #5 // X _ X ]

...we gotta go 🏃‍➡️ GET OUT GET OUT /ref

OH GOD THE TEAM KNOWS! THEY READ MY FIC! IS THIS WHAT I GET FOR WRITING A GOOP!4 TIMELINE?

no no, i'm joking. I'm sure it's just 4 live memeing, that's all. but hey uh Team, I wouldn't mind if you leak the script/storyboards to me. For research purposes ofc, and totally not to keep my sanity at bay or make it worse somehow

(at this point, chat, just shove me in the basement. just do it)

what if i start crying? then what?

is it really that easy to get me hooked? yeah probably. all you really gotta do is serve me (found) family and I'm in

LET'S GO GAMBLING ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ

YEP, it really is giving Casino Paisano (ik it's not really, but still)

oh hey, 3! whatcha doing here?

g r a b

also 3, while it is incredibly wholesome of you to think of your son's education, you shouldn't be gambling (i seriously think he used all the cafe's income for this smh /affectionate)

now i'm just imagining Eggdog going to school and Three getting emotional, "That's my son right there, so smart and talented! Just like his dad :)" and shows off his PhD in psychology (written in crayon) to probably 4

actually, seeing 3 here, i was half-expecting him to be in his wotfi suit (listen, i ADORE those wotfi suits)

money money money

look at this dude:

:D

I wanna squish him like playdoh 💙

well, I mean, he's not wrong. it did work last time:

Applying a cheat in the rigged game cancels each other out, and leaves you with luck and chance

Truly a win-win. The more you know 💫

LET'S GO GAMBLING ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

AYYY we got some cameos here in the background!! Let's see: Waluigi and Wario, Karen, Bob, Melony, and Kaizo! Good to see them again

I do love the idea of Bob and Melony being besties. honestly, personally hc that they're found siblings (and I will write them that way)

y'know it's really bad when 3, of all people, telling you that you're betting too much smh

welp time to fade away ✌️

HOLY SHIT MARIO IN LEGGY FORM

i honestly did not see that coming. i think it might be a one-time bit but who knows? the same was said with Leggy and here we are

oh hey it's Cube (the penguin). here to gamble too?

(sooooo cube, about the showgrounds map...)

hey! no snitching, Mario didn't even win!

LUIGI?! (why am I surprised? I shouldn't be)

...yeah that makes sense

KEANU REEVES?!

rules are rules, Mario. just bc you're his brother, it doesn't mean you get a free pass

final boss: connect 4

IT COMES BACK FULL CIRCLE BABYYYYY

damn he really is good, game over bro

YES I CAN, WATCH ME [*explodes into confetti*]

oh wait, give me a sec:

writer!ink: "And eventually, Luigi played so well that the next move Mario makes, Luigi would win regardless with another line of his chips he strategically prepared." producer!ink: "Wow, well, I bet it's going to be hard for Mario to turn this around." writer!ink: "Actually, it's going to be super easy, barely an inconvenience." producer!ink: "Oh really?" writer!ink: "We're just going to bring back the cheat tactic 3 brought up earlier."

producer!ink: "Oh, I guess it really was that easy." writer!ink: "Yeah, by throwing 3 under the bus. :)" producer!ink: "What?" writer!ink: "Anyway, Mario's going to pull that move from one of those Pixar animated shorts and switch the game up."

this could literally go so many ways with Luigi, i don't even know

OH, Mario won? well ig congrats(???)

"only in the SMG4 universe 😀👍" [*insert laugh track*]

at least he gets to have his hat back

hate to break it to you, Luigi, but ✨NOPE✨

LET'S GO GAMBLINGGGGG ᕕ( ᐛ )ᕗ  ᐠ( ᐛ )ᐟ ᕕ( ᐕ )ᕗ

HOLD UP, is that who I think it is?

ENHANCE.... YEP, Shadow, I knew you animated this part LOL

I mean, I already did based on Mario's expression but sneaking in a Waggy cameo here... I respect the hustle, dude. big fan of your AU 💙

Congrats to ggf0ur for your art being featured in the end credits🎉 *chess kiss*

.・-: ✧ :--: ✧ :-・.

Such a good episode we got, just a silly casino adventure with a side of cheat tactics on the side. And hey, a main focus on Mario, Luigi, and 3! we love to see it :)

But one day, we'll get a girlies-centered episode (happy international women's day). screw it, i might write it!

Oh, the mystery of the title? What is up with that anyway? There has to be a reason why it's excluded this time. The most probable is that they forgot to add it in, pretty reasonable. But the speculation I had was that (starting from this year btw) it's a split of timelines and at least one of them should be considered canon. Ever since the No TV episode and the Team being lured into Mr Puzzles' trap, the titles haven't been the same. And who's to say we returned from the OG timeline? But that's crazy me saying this, I've been thinking of multiverse stuff lately. Another could be a fight of control over the channel. Who's to say? Like I said, it could be an honest mistake, but it'll be best if we keep an eye on that, ok?

[EDIT: well it turns out, the prefix is now added to the title. maybe the Team forgot to add it in lol. still, having it included in these recent episodes is still spooky, ooooooh *spooky hands*]

as to my earlier freakout about 4's meme and my fic, here's a post from my collab partner of the Goop!4 theory, funkii [link]. looks like I wasn't the only one :)

a legit photo of goop!4 enthusiasts talking about the theory:

we're not delusional, i swear /silly

I actually have a bit of hc for the end there with Luigi: I would like to think that Luigi did know that Mario cheat but he let Mario have this one. After all, all Mario would win is his hat (and life) back. Basically how one of your siblings got in trouble and you kinda have to lecture them but because you care for them, you let them off easy. Yeah, like that. Luigi is a good sport and forgiving, as seen from the beginning, he's just choosing not to say anything. But Luigi did hope that Mario learned his lesson... which Mario didn't. welp, sorry dude

moving on to 3, maybe don't gamble your cafe's income for your son's tuition. you got a cafe for that. save the gambling for another moment.

on that note, chat, gamble responsibly!

Anyway, Shadow, anything you want to say about that cameo? X

[*evil laugh >:)*] Oh my god, the reactions are priceless. [*chuckle, then clears throat*] Um, hi there, SMG4 Twitter! I just wanted to make a thing really quickly, seeing literally all of my feed blowing up after the Mario Gambles His Life video went up earlier. Um, I just wanted to make this clear right now: yes, I'm the one who slipped Waggy or the Team Killer Ink Leader, whichever you prefer to call her, into the ending of the video. That was me! [*chuckle*] I just wanted to admit that right now, but the other thing I also want to say is like, uh, please don't look too much into it! Again, Waggy being there was solely just a background thing, just a cameo I thought I could get away with. And wouldn't you know it, I did [>:)]. So, don't look too far into it, that was just a silly thing. I just wanted to say that. Even still, all of your reactions are priceless, as always. [*another evil laugh >:)*] That's all I wanted to say, so...

...well, i'm going to take it at face-value bc I know you're planning something big for your AU (please let the girlfriends have a happy ending) and it's understandable to be excited about it.

I would be evil-villain laughing at my plotting too.

And hey, a perfect example of a creative member adding a "signature" to their scenes.

But like I said for Anaidon's Shadow Man, any of the AU/villains people of the Team working on the side could very much be proposed to be canon in the show, as an idea. I'll keep an eye on it and yall choose what to believe.

Well, anyway that's all from me. I'll see you all next time and remember: numbers go first!

Wow, last episode resembled a lot of IGBP ,and now this one with a bit of wotfi 2023, that's fun.... wait........

[mortalfaerie]

hi here's my take on the gravity falls kids grown up since they're 25 now

Mason "Dipper" Pines

after wierdmaggedan and disposing of the journals, he still has a keen interest in mysteries, just not necessarily of a supernatural nature. he's aware of the supernatural that's all around them, but content to let it rest.

he gets really into history and archeology, and bonds more with ford about this - even though ford is a physicist, he appreciates dipper's enthusiasm

he's trans (i'll die on this hill) and continues to socially transition in high school, and starts testosterone around 16.

he also starts going more by his chosen name (mason, choosing one that starts similarly to mabel) but still lets close friends and family call him dipper. he stops covering his birthmark, though he still likes hats

he's suspicious of mabel's new friendship with pacifica in high school, but he warms up to pacifica ("paz," as they end up calling her) over time. he realizes they have a lot in common and she's actually a lot of help on his mystery hunting

paz's blooming interest in political science lends itself very much to his interest in history, and they spend lots of hours as teen up late on the phone together (seemingly everyone but them can see the writing on the wall, but it takes a few more years for them to realize their feelings)

he continues to be a massive nerd, and has at least one dd&md podcast he religiously listens to. he and mabel go to conventions in california together.

his favorite place remains gravity falls over the years, and he goes back at least once each summer.

he and pacifica both commit to UCLA and become closer there. he majors in archeology & anthropology. despite their very different social circles, they seek each other out. she has at least one twat boyfriend in freshman year that dipper confronts on her behalf (even though she didn't want him to)

he and paz almost kiss at his going away party for a semester abroad in greece, but he panics and runs off, leaving her confused and hurt. it takes a while for them to regain their footing, but they end up hooking up the night he comes back from greece. due to a comedy of errors they don't end up *going all the way* that night, and it's not until they're at the pool a week later that she realizes he's trans when she sees his top surgery scars (thanks rockslide @ ao3)

he was 99% sure she knew so it's a surprise moment for him, and he worries she won't be interested now, but she's pretty non-plussed. they start dating that summer.

her parents disapprove and she ends up putting her foot down and cutting them off for how they treat him, and his family ends up practically adopting her. they are each other's biggest supporters in everything.

he gets offered a spot in a phd program in london, which stresses him out until he finds out that paz applied for a posting at the us embassy in london and got it, so they move to england together

he studies pre-modern civilizations and religious rites (a la stonehenge, etc) and has just finished his coursework and moved from phd student to candidate. he's just started to write his dissertation on potentially matriarchal societies in pre-modern britain using burial site data from major burial sites of religious significance.

he and paz have a cat name tyrone, or ty. they've been together for almost four years now, and he's thinking about popping the question - they're young (25), but he's pretty certain that for him, it's always going to be paz.

[fordpinesthemanyouare]

Ford x Fem!Reader

Math Assistant Pt.1

Summary: Ford needs himself an assistant, Stanley makes an online post for him and BOOM there you are, coming to meet him for an interview at the diner.

Warnings: Erm... this is a nothing sandwich I THINK. Please let me know if I should add something

A/N: My brothers in christ please this is my first fic that I wrote on a whim, I had an idea and I started writing. I have never written fan ficiton in my life so pls be nice... also who up wit dey werm to Stanford Pines HOOBA HOOBA!!!!! Okay also I want to write SMUT for this so imagine this is like the really really really long winded plot to the porno. K thanks bye read if u want or dont i dont control you.

——————

Ford shook his head at Stanley who was seated in front of a new computer now placed in the living room, “I’m still confused on why we should be posting the ad listing “online” rather than the local paper, or putting up flyers around town.” Ford used air quotes for emphasis, he still found the whole idea strange, he liked the computer for being a tool he could use to further research. He didn't like it so much as a vessel for finding candidates for a job he was offering, the thought that he had no idea who was communicating with him unsettled him a bit. Especially knowing the kind of work he was going to be having this future assistant… well assist with.

“Because yer never going to find someone with the qualifications yer asking for in this town” Stan looked over his shoulder at a crossed arm Ford. “Hiring someone for a summer job who has a PhD in Application Math, whatever that means-“

“Applied Mathematics, Stanley” Ford interrupted.

“Whatever it is you're not going to find that here, you and fiddleford are probably the only people in this town to actually have a college degree” he said with a chuckle, turning back to the computer. He was clicking around on some website that Ford had never heard of, let alone just recently finding out what the internet was. “I'm setting up a job listing on some of the local college websites, ya know for people that are studying or just done studying”. The clicking of the mouse and the typing of keys continued as Ford ran the motion through his head, overthinking perhaps every outcome of Stanley posting that job listing. Ultimately though Ford knew he was right in that, no one with at least a degree in Applied Mathematics was going to be residing nearby.

“Just please be careful about the information you include in this job posting, try to keep it minimal as possible. If they ask more questions about specifics you can let them know that I can explain in person.”

Stan looked over his shoulder, his eyebrows slightly downturned with a smirk rising on his face, “I didn’t realize you had hired me to be your assistant, you're going to have to cough up if you want me to do this for you”. Ford groaned in annoyance of his brother, “Stanley you know I don’t know how to use any of that”.

“Exactly why you're going to want to have me help you out with this”, Stanley moved his arm to drape across the back of the chair he was in, looking more directly at him. “That’ll be twenty dollars”, he held out his hand expectantly at his twin. A beat of silence passed between the two as they had a small staring contest, both men’s brows furrowed at the other.

Ford finally reached for his back pocket after he felt he had glared at his brother enough, he slipped a twenty dollar bill from the leather wallet and practically slammed it in his hand before walking in the opposite direction without a word. While Stan on the other hand, was more than beaming when he saw Ford’s hand fall to his back pocket, Stan half shouted as Ford strode out of the room.

“You’ll thank me later when I find the perfect candidate!” He laughed as he said it and returned to more clicking and typing around the website.

Ford returned to the lab to finish up some things before the kids were scheduled to get there later in the month. When they returned from the long months at the ocean, Ford wanted nothing more than to work on something in his lab again. He loved feeling the anticipation of a project becoming something, but of course he knew he could easily get carried away. After Dipper and Mabel left last summer, before Stanley and him were going to head out, he had made a major discovery while working in the lab. He had discovered an atom that was capable of recreating a direct clone of itself and in as many atoms he could count. He continued to work on the project until Stanley was practically dragging him from the house to leave to sail around the world.

While sailing towards one of their final destinations at the end of the trip, Ford finally opened up to Stanley about his worries of falling into the same pits as before. He was worried that he would become too involved, as he already felt himself doing as they were leaving for their trip. He also desperately needed some alone time from Stanley, but he didn’t mention that to him while they were on the boat.

“What if you hired someone to help you with the project?” Stan had offered a possible solution, while he had sat in the boat looking at Ford who was deep in thought over his dilemma. “I mean obviously the last time that happened, it wasn’t great either…” He trailed off after the look on Ford’s face became apparent, regretting the thought of his old college friend.

“I know the last time wasn’t great” Stanley pushed forward, “but maybe if you have someone hired to help with the smaller stuff. Things like using the calculator or something, whatever the small stuff even is to you” he said the last part under a fake cough which earned him a glare from his brother. However, the idea wasn't… terrible, Ford thought. He pondered over the possibilities of having someone helping him out, along with having the two kids upstairs to bother him. If he were to have someone who he didn't have to know that well take on most of the minor details, the equations and such, he would be able to prioritize the best parts of the project while also having time for his family. At least, that’s what he had hoped for when Stanley initially offered the idea.

“That could be a good idea…” Ford said after taking several moments to ponder the possibilities. “I would need someone who could do advanced mathematical equations, with room for equations that could possibly extend what they know…”. Stanley just looked at him deep in thought, wondering how there could be that many things to think about, the answer seemed clear to him.

Back in the lab, Ford could hear Stanley groaning loudly about some ‘unknown error message’. He continued to monitor and take note of the atoms under his advanced microscope for a while, waiting until Stanley had further news of any postings. He wondered what his new assistant would be like, if they could have the same passion for knowledge and understanding as he does.

———

A few days had passed, Ford falling into old habits quickly, holing himself up in the lab for hours upon hours. The only time he was seen over the last 48 hours was to grab more coffee from the kitchen, he caught naps in between work, falling asleep over his piles of scrap paper filled with numbers and letters. Ford had not anticipated how much mathematical reasoning was going to follow the atom cloning discovery, he was falling behind on moving forward with more discoveries on the atoms, but over hundreds of miniscule details that needed solving kept him at the desk. Stan walked down on the 49th hour of Ford’s lock down in the basement, opening the door noisily and making as much noise as possible on the way down to let him know he was on the way. Ford was scribbling away on the nth page of scrap work, crossing out failed attempts of solving equations as Stan broached the lab floor.

Stan awkwardly cleared his throat at Ford when he didn’t turn around, even though Stanley was sure to have made enough noise on the way down. Ford turned his head over his shoulder, his body seeming to not want to move from the space it had cramped into. He raised his eyebrows in a questioning manner, as if asking ‘What? Im busy’. Stan gave a huff of annoyance before starting,

“I have about 3 applications that I thought were worth looking over, most of the idiots who applied didn’t even have math degrees. All they see in the listing is free housing and they flock like birds trying to claw their way in” he said with a slight chuckle. He strided over to Ford’s desk, as Ford leaned back finally interested in what Stan was saying. He took the papers from Stanley and began to look over them. He began thumbing through the few resumes, looking over each one carefully noting that all three people had at least some qualifications in mathematics. He looked up to Stan and gave him a tight smile.

“I appreciate you getting these for me, I’ll reach out to the ones I feel are qualified.” A beat passed between them, Ford paused for a second wondering if he should just return to work at this point or if Stanley had something else since he hasn't made any move to leave.

“I think the one on the bottom will be the best fit.” Stan said with a certain look in his face that Ford couldn’t place, as he turned to leave. Ford looked at him as he walked towards the stairs with a questioning look on his face, wondering what could have led his brother to place a preference on one of these resumes even though he didn't know what applied mathematics was. As Stan trudged up the stairs Ford called to his brother,

“I'll be sure to look at that one, thank you Stanley.” Which made Stanley pause and turn to look at Ford, a distant smile on his face as he nodded and continued up the stairs. Ford turned back to his desk and pulled the resume on the bottom up to the top, the header in nice bold letters a fine print used, he noted.

Y/N YL/N

He also took note that this was the only two-page resume offered to him, with the education list taking up most of the room. Several universities/schools were listed and his eyes read over the names and degrees that followed. He read all the way to the bottom where it listed your highschool with graduation dated in 1999. He noted this person was in their early 30’s with several bachelors degrees in several sciences, two master’s degrees in statistics and biology, and of course a Ph.D in applied mathematics. The latest graduation listed was University of Oregon masters program in statistics for April, which he noted it was now early May noting it would be fresh on the mind. He moved your resume to the back of the small stack, looking over the first two he skipped over, and honestly he wished he saved yours for last. The first two were jokes compared to the advanced knowledge you listed, he set the first aside after noting that the education list was no longer than a paragraph, and the second resume didn’t take long to set aside either as his eyes raked in the many spelling errors.

He read over your resume again looking for a way to contact you to set up the interview. He noted the phone number and email in the corner of the first page, and made to move upstairs to the kitchen phone. As he stood up however, his muscles almost molded into place from sitting at the desk, stopped him from moving further. He groaned as he began to stretch himself out, thinking about how he couldnt wait to stop looking at math problems for hours on end.

Heading back upstairs he reached the phone and quickly gazed at the microwave clock, 3:49 pm. He was glad it wasn’t later than five, as he picked up the corded receiver and began to punch in the numbers. The phone rang a few times before your voice fluttered over the phone, “Hello?”. Ford cleared his throat awkwardly, “Hello! Yes, is this Y/N YL/N? Oh it is, great, this is Stanford Pines calling about a job posting for the assistant position. I was hoping to set up an interview to discuss further details of the position.”

“I was just wondering if I would hear back from this offer,” the light voice on the other end laughed a pleasant laugh a little before continuing, “I’d love to join you for an interview regarding the position, I’m free anytime, anywhere this coming week and the next.”.

Ford offered a time for tomorrow at the local diner, which he provided the address to. The voice on the phone wished Ford a great rest of his night and that they would see him tomorrow. Ford wished them the normal pleasantries he hated to conduct while making mundane phone calls such as these. He was slightly relieved to find you weren’t completely strange, at least right off the bat. When he hung the phone back on the hanger, Stan suddenly spoke, causing Ford to jump from the lack of warning.

“So did you end up going with the one I said?” Stan looked smug as Ford met his gaze, knowing damn well he scared Ford on purpose. Ford rolled his eyes after he settled after the slight scare,

“Unsurprisingly, as you could probably assume. You shouldn’t have even bothered with the other two. One only had a few community college classes under their belt.” Ford turned to make more coffee, he figured he would stretch his legs now as he was planning on working on some more equations before the meeting tomorrow. Stan gave a hearty laugh, “She’s also quite the looker, surprised me when I was pulling resumes”. Ford gave his brother a look as he asked, “Can’t you make your picture anything you want online?”. He remembers when they got the computer last time the kids were here, Dipper had shown him how he had his profile for online DD&MD. He absolutely didn’t understand it, but Dipper assured him this summer he would teach him. Which would benefit him from not having to pay Stanley anytime he needed something done the modern way (this was not often).

“Yeah but this was on a college website, everyone has their picture I think. It looks all like student ID’s… Oh don’t look at me like that! I looked at all of their profile pictures. She just happened to have the best looking picture.” Stan finished with a shrug and a laugh. Ford had looked at him like he was crazy for looking through all the people who applied profile pictures before feeling the need to ask, “You did give me recommendations on experience, not looks correct?”.

Stan shook his head, “I know you would kill me if I passed on a math nerd over an actual good looking girl” he laughed, turning “I'm going to head out gotta meet some people, don’t wait up for me.” Stan said as he was walking out the door, grabbing the keys as he slammed the door. Ford shook his head and decided to take his brother's word for it, his mind replaying what his twin mentioned, “quite the looker” as if that could have any effect on anything. Ford thought he didn't care much at all for how a person appeared as long as they could solve these problems that's all that mattered, and maybe that they were decently pleasant to work with. He couldnt help but reflect back to the phone call, your light and airy voice filling his ear with pleasant sound, at least you didnt have a horrible voice and he could probably get used to hearing that voice more often, he thought. Ford filled his cup with coffee and headed back downstairs not giving the interview tomorrow much more thought than your voice on the phone.

—————

A/N: Yay I did it!!! yeah so what if its a nothing sandwich?? Didnt i literally say that before hand.. hope you enjoyed if ya read! <3

[markscherz]

Dear Dr Scherz,

i'm a British high School student and im coming into the point of my life where i need to narrow down to 3-4 subjects for A-Levels (thats post 16 education basically which leads to uni) and im really struggling because i like learning about lots of things and i was just wondering if you had this problem or had any advice for me on how to narrow down? I apologize because this is a bit random for your blog but i'd like to know what other people's career paths were?

thank you!!!

I had the opposite problem; I had a very specific interest (reptiles and amphibians and Madagascar), and found almost all of my school subjects painfully boring and tedious as a result. So, unfortunately I am not really in a position to advise, except in general:

try to find something that excites you, and makes you want to read and think and talk about it. The kind of thing that makes friends groan when you bring it up again. Because that is what you will be doing for three or four years as you go into your Bachelor's. And then maybe a year or two more for your Master's. And if you like that, then maybe another three or four years for a PhD. And if you are crazy enough to stick with it, possibly another thirty to forty years thereafter as you either move into academia, or go off to apply what you know elsewhere. But also maybe not! Because you are young and flexible and there are many interesting and exciting things in the world, and it is okay to start with one thing, realise it is not your thing, and try other things! Variety is the spice of life.

You don't have to have it all sorted now. Maybe it's easiest to figure out what you definitely do not want to do. And that can inform your choices.

Oh and you can also go and watch loads of CrashCourse videos and similar over on youtube to get a feeling for the kind of things they do across a variety of subjects, and a sense for what you like and dislike.

Good luck!

[cookiecandy22]

What would the sins do as adults in a modern setting?

Or well, at least in my modern au fic

(+Eli of course)

Meliodas: I think he would’ve been pressured by his family to get a business degree. He wanted to dropout but Elizabeth convinced him to continues as she knew that Meliodas dream was to open a tavern/restaurant/bar and the degree would help him know how everything works to run it smoothly and not end up in bankruptcy.

Ban: I don’t think he’d be interested to go to college or pursue higher education. I headcannon him as being really smart but without the capacity to sit still in a classroom (he hates studying things he isn’t interested in). So after finishing secondary school he starts working everywhere he can but without abandoning his passion: cooking. He keeps practicing and self teaches himself different techniques until Meliodas reconnects with him (they lost contact for five years:( ) and sets him on trial to see if he’d be able to work as the main cook in his bar/tavern/restaurant. Sales go up thanks to Ban’s cooking.

(Fun fact: Meliodas and Ban used to love watching Hell’s kitchen when they were younger and sometimes they’d talk about how cool would it be if Gordon Ramsey visited their future restaurant and that Ban’d be one of the little people who could impress him with his cooking skills)

Elizabeth: I think Eli’s always dreamed to be a doctor, specifically a pediatrician. She’d be very dedicated to have excellent marks at school but medicine is a career that a lot of people try to apply for, and her grades are good but not enough so she doesn’t get to enter at first. Her grades are good enough for nursing school though, so she goes for it while still studying and looking for a way to get into medicine (her awesome boyfriend Meliodas supporting her in the long process ofc). After two years she achieved it!

Diane: I headcanon her to be that kid who has a million of extra curricular activities all related to sport or dancing. She loves the latter and I think she tries to study superior studies for choreography and contemporary dance, but after getting her degree (I looked it up it’s like 4 years omg😳) she couldn’t find work so she starts working at her aunt Matrona’ gym. (She has a social media for her dances and’s been popular since she was 15. That helps her getting a job as a choreographer for broadway productions later don’t worry).

King: he’s a fashion designer, and a pretty good one. He specialises in costumes for movies or theatre but has gotten some of his more public-oriented clothes in fashion shows. He and Diane reconnect after King is tasked to design the costumes of one of the shows Diane is working as a choreographer.

Merlin: the only one who knows something about her is Gowther, she hasn’t communicated much with the rest of the sins. She works at a university in the research area for biochemistry (she has two pHD in physics and chemistry). She has to teach some hours to university students and has taken a promising student to help him with his thesis, Arthur, as an intern/assistant for her.

Gowther: I think Gowther would’ve studied medicine to be able to study psychiatry. Not because he wanted to, even though he’s always had a curiosity for the brain and how it worked, but more because it was one of the things his father had studied and didn’t know what to do with his life. He completed his studies early, go accepted into medicine first try (hard pill to swallow for Elizabeth, Meliodas had to reassure her that it didn’t matter if she needed more time to get accepted as long as she fulfills her dreams) and after he ended his studies and worked as a psychiatrist he realised that it was too much to him so he opened one of those spiritual retreats and has been conducting similar workshops. He also tried to work one year in a high school as a counsellor but he left after 1 year.

Escanor: he’s dead.

Nah jk

Escanor’s a part time poet full time spanish/english philologist. He’s worked both for Oxford dictionary and for “la Real Academia Española” in Spain (yep my Escanor is from a spanish family who migrated to England when Escanor was young but he’s been two years in high school as an exchange student in Spain). He moved there after his final heartbreak with Merlin. He sometimes messages Mel, Ban and Gowther but it isn’t very common

Hope you liked it:) maybe I’ll do this with the holy knights or other characters, if you want me to do any specific character please write it in the comments!

[grison-in-space]

Watching the new Alex Jones doc, which is heavy on the alt right response to Sandy Hook and the gun rhetoric that followed... so yeah I thought of when I was teaching during #GunFreeUT back in 2015 as a PhD student in Austin. I would have been about 25. When people came to my workplace and the state said that the students had been complaining* about how frightened they were to be away from their firearms for twenty minutes. When the entire campus was newly declared acceptable for open carry of ducking semiautomatic rifles. The undergrad who organized #CocksNotGlocks, who accurately pointed out that state obscenity laws banned sex toys in public to appeal to people's comfort and sensibilities, but would not consider such a thing for deadly weapons. As I recall, she drew massive waves of harassment from random people who were actual alt right adults with jobs and lives, not college students. I think she had to take a gap year.

*in fact the law was extremely unpopular among the UT Austin student body, most of who were horrified by having to confront the possibility of deadly weapons belonging to fuck only knows whom in not only their workplace but their homes.

I remember standing in a room for staff resistance through #GunFreeUT, the smell of the room, the texture of the cotton shirt I wore. The hastily organized attempts to carve out any freedom we could. The horrified stipulations about whether firearms could be kept out of classrooms themselves if not campuses (no), and the fretful whispers about what the state had declared about our offices, how we were going to be able to declare them gun free zones... If we agreed that students with concealed carry licenses could choose to meet with us somewhere where the gun was allowed to go. The group that announced it was going to celebrate its new open carry status by staging a school shooting on campus, the shooter of course to be played by a "good guy with a gun." The university announcing that they had interceded and made clear to the group that this re enactment could not take place, so they kicked the demonstration a couple of blocks away. Happened at a local gas station.

I was still seeing sad flyers from office staff and teachers saying things like PLEASE NO GUNS IN THIS SPACE when I graduated with my PhD in 2020, the first winter the pandemic was in full swing. I remember the texture of the paper the last time I saw it vividly. I catch myself starting to think about the campus school stabbing I would teach through in 2017 and any one of a hundred more rearguard final stands between the city and the state and—

Okay, that's where I got up and walked off to get a soda. You're getting me now after I've had a minute.

That's a classic PTSD flashback, in case you're wondering. At no time do my senses report anything to my mind about anything unusual happening in the room. At no time, while I remember these things, do I believe that I am currently in danger for my life. It's a strong, vivid memory, but only a memory.

But it's a memory that grabs you by the mind and shakes you. That's a flashback. It's a classic simple PTSD flashback as a consequence of fear and stress sustained over time. Other folks around me who think maybe PTSD or maybe cPTSD applies to you, if you're hung up on not thinking you get anything like flashbacks?

That's what a flashback is from the inside. Your brain is running over the memory of the thing that forever changed your estimation of safety. Just in case you might forget.

Just, you know. In case anyone is wondering.

[ladyfauxhawk]

WIP tag game

I was tagged by the amazing @applysome and @glorious-blackout several days ago to share the first lines of some WIPs...and I'm just getting to it now. But I can't resist sharing, even if I'm late to the party.

Also, I locked down my fics on ao3 this week. I hated to do it, but I also hate that tech bros are scraping it for feeding AI. Fanfic is a conversation, not a product, and I hate the idea that others are trying to profit from what we do for free. So if you can't read one of these, please get an account.

Two Visits to the Paradiso: (on ao3, very much in-progress)

The air brakes on the bus hiss as Alex is jolted from his nap. Grumbling, he rolls over, rubbing his face on the pillow in his curtained bunk. Miles is laying there next to him, arm still encircling his waist. A puff of hot breath triggers goosebumps at his nape.

A Paris Affair: (on ao3, this is my own original character and Jarvis Cocker. It's mostly a romance)

It was my first real party after moving to Paris, and I needed to get my mind right. I’d come over from New York to begin research for my PhD. As I applied my makeup in the tiny flat bathroom, I couldn’t help but wonder if my decision to study cultural diplomacy was as sound as I thought it was. I wanted to dazzle and make friends and feel alive tonight. Thinking about how to present my research project and why I would be a cool Américaine friend should have excited me more. My project dug into the cross cultural influences between American popular music and French culture after the second world war. Three years ago I started at NYU. I thought this project was a perfect mix of being hire-able and a desired colleague. I filled my head with fantasies of  tenure track positions at research centers in major metropolitan areas. On the side, I could write longform articles for the New Yorker. Maybe I could even be a guest essayist in museum publications? At LEAST it would be a fun opportunity to talk about Johnny Halliday and Elvis at dinner parties. 

Untitled Mr. Snarl and His Companions fic: (this one's on the back burner, but it's gonna be filthyyy)

It's 6pm and Alex and Miles are sitting in the back of the artists' section of the VIP tent. The Monkeys are eating dinner but Alex isn't hungry after having two massive ice creams. It's peak summer festival season and they're in another generic backstage area in what would otherwise be a quiet park. It's hot. Unusually so. It's so hot that Alex peels off his leather jacket and drapes it over the high back of the barstool he's perched on. He used to hate these tall stools for making him feel small. His legs always dangle like a child's. But today, the feeling fits. He is small. And his favorite giant is playing with Queens of the Stone Age at seven. And his favorite person is currently shielding them any from prying eyes in the tent. It gives him an idea.  A wicked little idea.

Untitled Milex wedding fic: (A PG sappy wedding thing, from me? Yes, because I want to write their mums and their friends. Then I want to write a very romantic X-rated fic where they go to Black Box on their honeymoon and make TLSP3)

It’s been twenty years since they met, and the question was still asked. Their responses were a laugh, a joke, a quick line to respond to anyone in their little circle of friends and loved ones when the question was raised: When are you going to make an honest man of him? from aunties at Christmas suppers. It even came from their bandmates’ children occasionally on birthdays. Are you and Miles married like mum and dad? tugging on their trousers to ask with eyes wide.

“Well I reckon if he’s not sick of me, we may tie the knot when we retire,” Alex would say with a smirk.

Or Miles might respond, “If I’m still pretty enough for him, maybe Al will take me when we’re forty.”

The favourite response was some variant on, “I’m a romantic. It’ll be the twenty year anniversary of meeting this lad and not a day before.” The words of their response changed but the disappointed questioners knew what to expect. A smile. A polite delay. If they were lucky, they’d see the lads give each other a hand squeeze or kiss on the cheek. It was well-known that they weren’t settling down. They were rockstars. Very private rockstars, at that. A wedding? With creeping press and guests and gifts? Bloody unlikely.

But one fine, cold Saturday, as they enjoyed a lie-in between Miles’ never-ending tour schedule, all that changed.

Untitled historical queer romance in progress: (be gentle, this is my heart)

As the gray March sunlight streamed into the upper studio, David pulled the threadbare silk banyan tighter around his torso. The faded saffron damask, like everything in the studio, was property of the academy. As he raised his arm into the pool of sunlight streaming through the sooty window, he smirked. The grey afternoon light went straight through the cloth. But it had a faded beauty, like so much of the art world he’d immersed himself in. The room was somehow colder than it had been this morning. He surveyed this term’s group of artists. In his experience, these life-drawing classes were a mixed bunch, ranging from rich boys with time and money to spare to old perverts to the rare journeyman portraitist, sharpening his skills and padding his reputation with the name of the academy. They neatly fell into a familiar pattern. The old eyed him hungrily, as if eager to assess his flesh. The journeymen, a casual nod or perhaps even a direct smile or invite to pose in private. The youngest and shyest? Those sweet lads averted their eyes when their gazes met. That lot could make his heart skip a beat. Well, at least the shy ones. Maybe they just deemed him unworthy of recognition, like every other man beneath their class. Best not to dwell on it too much. He could pick the direction he faced when he posed, so it was no matter. He could turn away from the ones that made his blood boil.

Anyway, sorry for the delay, and thanks for thinking of me! If anyone actually wants to read these, I'm curious about what you'd like to see. My asks box is open.

And if wants to participate in a tag game and share, consider yourself tagged!

[thesargasmicgoddess]

Happy Birthday!!!! 43 looks great on you :)

Thank you so very much!

I think sometimes it's just hard for a woman to age because our society has consistently idolized and prized youthful beauty in a woman. Hence, as I've aged, I've really had to redefine what beauty and success mean to me. I've also had to do the work to find my 40's identity.

There has been an elegant fierceness to being in my 40s. It wasn't how it started, but that's where it's been going, and I'm ALL for it. During this decade of my life (so far), I've had this capacity to do things that scare the shit out of me, and I'm really proud of that. 😂

At 40, I worried about the loss of youth--both aesthetically and mentally. The pandemic had reminded me that life should be lived FULLY, because, things can shift in an instant. I wasn't getting any younger so I said fuck it, and tried OF to check it off my bucket list. It was a hilariously fun, irreverent, and thrilling 6 months of random nudity and smut 😂

At 41, I was restless and thought I wanted to retire from work work to travel the world, but then my brain got bored 😂. Then, a series of events happened that led me to decide to apply for a PhD program, just to see if I had what it takes......😂🤷🏻‍♀️

At 42, I worked, got into and started my PhD program (LOVE it!), and traveled the world.

And HELLO 43, I can't wait to see what's in store....😉

[ckret2]

Do y'all think Fiddleford has a PhD or just a bunch of master's degrees

(and is there a canon/interview source that specifies? Couldn't find/remember one.)

It's not a matter of intelligence; he absolutely COULD have a PhD if he wants one. But pursuing one means focusing on researching and writing about one specific narrow topic for several years, delaying starting your career (or going to work first and then later going back to get the PhD), and specializing in one very small field; and when you come out of it, you're geared to either work in that one narrow field or continue with research.

Fiddleford had a young family to take care of (can't spend extra time in academia), and prior to joining Ford he was developing computers in his own garage (not working in academia or applying his research in some small field). Considering he makes everything from giant mecha to guns that can target and suppress memories to vocal cord-altering medications, he doesn't seem to be a specialist in any one particular field, but rather broadly educated in a bunch. Pursuing a PhD might just not have made sense for his career goals and life.

On the other hand: he is very much making original groundbreaking inventions at a rapid pace, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he did the same thing in academia in order to get a doctorate. We know he can write sweeping academic papers in his spare time. And this is the cartoon where one dude can rack up 12 PhDs, so the amount of time it would take might just be considered a non-factor for this show.

[pokemon-with-hats]

I do apologize for sort of half disappearing the last few months. I was super invested in getting the "favorite pokemon" poll series done, and once that finished i more or less lost motivation to do anything pokemon related - it didn't help that my semester was surprisingly busy, plus I decided I wanted to apply for phd programs, which further compounded the stress I was feeling. I ended up sort of dropping side projects like this one, and needed time to decompress before thinking of getting back into them. And now that I've spent the last week doing not much more than getting high, playing video games, listening to records, and hanging out with my cat, I think I can say I've successfully decompressed.

I am currently planning on returning to daily edits starting in January. I said in my announcement a few days ago that I was going to open my inbox for suggestions, but I think I'm going to take the first week of January to purely make edits for my sake - no prompts, no suggestions, just whatever comes to me in the moment. After that, I'll open up the inbox and it'll hopefully be back to normal operations here at pokemon hyphen with hyphen hats dot tumblr dot com.

I also reserve the right to cut posting back to just doing 3 edits a week, depending on how busy this next semester goes. It's my last one before I graduate with my masters, so it may get kind of chaotic on me.

I hope everyone is having a good holiday season, and spending it with people they care about. I have 3 more old requests to get through, so expect those to get posted over the last few days of December.