#Like the second she’s hyperfocuses on something to the point of tuning out everything around her

[its-rat-time-babey]

My theory on Miko’s apparent electrical powers, made into a 2-ish minute video.

I didn’t count a moment in Ping where Miko’s eyes spark after using a speed boost because it’s shown that the exact same thing happens to other characters after they use speed boosts.

#glitch techs #miko kubota #theory #she’s a glitch I know it #one thing I’ve noticed so far with analyzing Miko’ feats #is that the more focused she gets on a single thing #the less human she becomes just for a moment #like the more she hyperfocuses on a task and acts on pure instinct without thinking the more ‘glitchy’ things she does #Like her mind believes she’s human and limits her to stuff that a human can do #but once she’s thrown thought to the side and is acting more on impulse and instinct she moves more like a game character #or at least like she’s using a TAS in real life #Like the second she’s hyperfocuses on something to the point of tuning out everything around her #her reflexes and speed go through the roof #plus the electrical stuff starts happening #like she’s pushed out all thought besides ‘’I need to do this one single thing no matter what’’ #and mind stops subconsciously holding her back because her focus on this one thing is too overwhelming

[lonelypond]

Idol Protection Program: Jazz

Love Live, NicoMaki, 2.8K

Liberties taken, fun had, jazz played. Enjoy! Takes place after Maki’s 18th birthday, related to events in the “Birthday Moments” chapter.

Jazz

“So is Umi acting weird?” Nico’s voice was a little less chirpy than usual, Kotori noticed, but just thought the newly minted Top, Number One spot on the charts seizing Idol was exhausted by prep for her second major tour.

“No, she’s been telling me all about Honoka’s…” And Kotori’s voice trailed off as she realized, yes, Umi was acting weird, volunteering hour long video chats worth of information about everyone else in her life and practically nothing about her. So when Kotori continued, her voice had an edge. “Why do you ask, Nico-chan?”

“Probably nothing,” Nico sounded like she was settling back into pillows, “Maki just barely picks up the phone to talk, all texting, just answering questions...I know she’s taking a crazy courseload, but…” Nico sighed, remembering how hyperfocused her now wife would get when an idea took over her head. “This just reminded me of when she and Umi were stuck on a song, back in high school.”

Kotori hummed, considering, “I could ask Honoka.”

“It’s not a big deal.” Nico tried to play it off, but Kotori sensed genuine worry. This was Nico’s first tour as a chart topper and she was spending 18 hours a day, in an isolated location, working on choreography and music. Nico could always tell what Maki was thinking if she was anywhere near Maki, but marriage at a distance had obstacles, Maki sharing less as she spent more time alone.

“I’m sure everything’s fine, Nico.”

Nico sounded a little brighter after Kotori’s assurance, “So how’s the weather in Paris?”

“Gorgeous.”

“I’ll have to get them to schedule time for a visit. Nico’s wardrobe needs a celebrity upgrade.”

“Oh, you have to, Nico-chan. I’ve found the cutest little shops.” And as her friend was sounding cheerier, Kotori settled into her chaise for some real fashion talk.

Umi waited for Maki outside the Shibuya apartment Maki and Nico had moved in to on Maki’s 18th birthday and after Nico’s proposal. It was cosy, not nearly as pink as Umi expected, at least not in the kitchen and living room areas. The art on the walls was tasteful, not flashy so Umi suspected Maki had won the decorating battle there. Maki rewrapped her scarf around her neck, tucking the ends into the neck of her camel haired coat and nodded her head at Umi, “Sorry for making you wait.”

“We’re still on schedule.” Umi glanced at her silver and black Octavia watch, a graduation present from Kotori. It kept time in two time zones so Umi was always aware of when in the day Kotori was in France.”

“I had to drop off a paper and the Professor kept talking.” Maki shoved her hands deep in her pockets, “This was too many classes.”

Umi made a sympathetic noise.

“How’s Kotori?” Maki wondered.

“She seems fine. I talked to her last night.”

“Does she suspect anything?” Maki asked.

“I don’t see why she would, Maki.” Umi’s voice took on its strictest tone, “To that point, keeping important milestones from our loved ones is not a good habit to get into.”

Sidled against a building corner, but close enough to eavesdrop, orange hair completely covered by a black beanie, blue eyes behind sunglasses, Honoka fist pumped in agreement, startling an elderly man who nearly turned into her. When Umi glanced back toward the commotion, Honoka slid down the wall. Let them get ahead again. Then she would find out where they were going and report back to Kotori.

It was here, the night. Maki had her tuxedo jacket pressed and a car ordered. She could have driven, but with how nervous she was, getting dropped off and picked up was a far smarter option. Rin and Hanayo had offered to accompany her, but Maki had kicked Rin off the newlywed couch last night, insisting she needed solitude for preparation. Rin, as her best friend, pretended to believe her, while texting her every half hour with silly cat piano gifs and videos so Maki wouldn’t just be staring at her phone or her music.

Nico would be upset, Maki knew, even though Maki had Hanayo set up to record every note on an unobtrusive smartphone, but Nico was rehearsing and...well, it was complicated, everything was complicated, school was too much and Maki had found a piano in a rehearsal room and started to channel the jazz she was listening to at home, instrumental, trumpets, Terell Stafford, becoming fascinated by taking the melting, mellower notes of the best, tenderest horn players and wrapping piano wires around that...she’d never done anything like that, and after a manic late night on espresso, where did our creativity go session with Umi, who was experimenting with Western forms of poetry, they’d decided to write a few more songs together. If Nico were here, this would be a production, a fuss, everyone invited, not one anonymous Saturday night at the Jazz Spot Intro, on a piano shoved back in the corner of a tiny, tiny basement bar.

Maki, linen shirt already sticking to her skin, removed her jacket, settled into the piano, half turned away from the audience, music handy if she needed a reminder. Umi sat in the front row, with Rin and Hanayo, Umi prim and proper, hands folded, Hanayo leaning forward, Rin alternating which leg was going to bounce her chair across the floor. Maki gave them a quick smile, then fingers extended, rolled into the first piece, entitled “Ruby Smile.” Umi hadn’t written a poem for that one, Maki had needed no other prompt than the woman who always inspired her...with her energy, her love, her smile, her stubbornness, her caring, her dedication, her glow...Maki grinned, Nico in her mind, and the tune turned as lively as its spark. Maki could almost tell Nico how she felt, some nights, but shoulders swaying, eyes half closed, fingers caressing the keys...without a Nico to touch, this was how she could get her feelings across, the ones that always caught in her chest or were twisted silently into her hair.

Applause from the audience, Maki could feel them paying more attention. Umi had only offered her the next poem if she would sing it as well, so Maki cleared her throat, aware of the increasing scrutiny from her audience but letting the piano claim all of her attention. And so began “inner wind of beauty.” So very Umi.

By the end of Maki’s set, other musicians had joined in, one on guitar, one on sax, someone stepped into the drum kit, and they had ventured from Maki’s originals to jazz standards. Maki was following the guitarist who had led them into “Night and Day” when hands slid across her shoulders, a weighted touch very familiar to her skin and she jumped, earning a glare from the drummer, who ducked his head at a response Maki couldn’t see from the person behind her. She looked to the left, caught the twisted gold band of the ring matching hers on the hand sliding slowly down her chest and her heart skipped ahead of the beat as her fingers recovered from the fumble. Nico’s very throaty whisper of “you are the one” brought the blushing and accelerated both the pianist and the tempo. Nico shoved in between Maki and the wall on the piano bench, shoulder touching Maki’s, back to the piano, movie spinster looking, black, cateye glasses perched on her nose -- Maki nearly ruined the song then, as Nico’s eyes twinkled at her, lips blowing one perfect kiss before Nico looked away. The song finished and Maki’s hands fell to the keys, as the musicians around her began another song she wasn’t hearing at all. All she could hear was her heart and Nico’s humming. She glanced over, Nico was in a terribly business-like black suit, with her hair falling nearly to her waist...had it really gotten that long? Nico noticed Maki had turned away from music and stretched out a leg, maybe not such a business like suit, Maki thought, that was an awful lot of leg, especially for Nico. Then she smiled at the joke, glad she hadn’t said it out loud and the spell was broken and she was here and Nico was here and Maki spun around so she was facing the same way as Nico, took her hand and pulled her off the bench, one kiss, feeling Nico’s hand slide into her hair, teasing tingles on her neck at the hairline, and then she pulled Nico to the bar.

“What’s with the glasses, Nico-chan? I nearly ruined the song.” Maki grumbled.

Nico giggled, pushing the glasses up her nose, “Nico is trying new disguise strategies. Cocoa’s been watching Supergirl.”

Maki looked puzzled.

Nico laughed, “See, glasses, Nico is the mysterious yet super cute Mrs. Nishikino, who swooped off with an hospital heiress.” Then both hands to her forehead in THAT gesture, “Nico Nico Ni” followed by a dramatic swipe of the glasses off, “Nico is Super Nico Ni, Number One Idol in the Universe.”

“Give me those.” Maki grabbed for the glasses and ended up nose to nose with Nico, a much better deal. Nico slid them onto Maki’s nose, “And now, you’re the lovely Mrs. Yazawa, genius piano prodigy and composer, no relation to the notoriously reclusive and grumpy Nishikino Maki, heiress and over educated doctor to be.” Nico kissed Maki on the nose, “She stalks me, you know.”

“Ha. I think that it’s Mrs. Nishikino who is stalking me, since I never told you…” And Maki, warned by the downward trend of Nico’s agile left eyebrow, just let her sentence dwindle.

And then Nico bounced right back to cheerful, as the bartender approached, “We had Honoka stalk you.” And as Maki absorbed that, Nico ordered, “A virgin bloody mary for my talented wife and a club soda for me.”

Umi, Hanayo, and Rin came back to the bar, joined by Honoka, “Hey, Maki! That was awesome. Umi was explaining about jazz. I’m going to borrow some albums. Next time, I want to sing something.”

Maki laughed as she found herself in the middle of a group hug. Honoka really did have a knack for making her solo piano time something more.

“Nico is glad you’re writing again, Umi. Write Nico an Idol song sometime.” Nico leaned her head on Umi’s shoulders, “The royalties would be worth it.”

“Art is not an endeavor to be initiated for worldly gain.” Umi's voice echoed in a musical pause.

Nico shrugged and leaned back against the bar, her hand in Maki’s, “Have you seen what Parisian wedding gowns cost?”

Umi paled. “Perhaps I could consider it, as an act of friendship.”

Maki felt more content than she had in months, with Nico by her side, surrounded by friends, her fingers sanded by and still warm from the ridges worn in a set of piano keys. She pulled Nico in for a hug, letting her hand slide to her wife’s waist as she enjoyed her drink. Then two more voices intruded, “Thank you for inviting us, Nico.” Her mother smiled at Nico while Maki’s father met his daughter’s gaze, then nervously glanced away.

Maki tensed, but Nico hugged her, whispering, “Give them a minute, then we’ll go home” before dragging the rest of the μ's back to a table, as she and Umi compared recent Kotori chatter.

“Mama, Papa.” Maki put her glass down. It thumped solidly into the bar.

“Congratulations on your wedding.” Her mother said, pointing to the two rings on Maki’s finger.

“Thank you. We’re doing very well.” Maki crossed her arms, irked at Nico, and still furious with her parents.

“I’m glad you never gave up the piano.” Her father spoke quickly, his voice low, as he looked to where Nico had led the others, “It seems to have brought you much happiness.”

“Why are you here?” Maki couldn’t keep the anger out of her voice.

“We missed you.” Maki watched as her mother leaned into her father, a pleading look in her eye.

He cleared his throat, “We regret how our last conversation ended. We should have considered your point of view.”

“You’re damn right…”

“Maki.” Her mother warned, but Maki had left many things behind the night she walked out of her childhood home and deference was one of them.

She spoke precisely and with sparse emotions, “I am glad you are both well. It was kind of you to accept Nico’s invitation. But you won’t receive another any time soon.”

Her mother smiled, “We’ll leave you to Nico. You’re both always welcome to stop by. We’re very proud to have her as part of our family.”

Maki shook her head, this was not the place for this conversation, and while she understood Nico’s impulse, she…

Her father nodded, “Maybe you’ll understand when you have children of your own.”

Maki froze. Children? Of their own?

And Nico was right there, super Idol senses having picked up on something. Maki’s eyes were unfocused, jaw agape. Nico kept her tone light, “And you broke her. Nothing Nico can’t fix, of course, but what did you say?”

Maki’s mother answered with a wry chuckle, “Children.”

If Maki had been paying attention, she would have seen a brief flash of panic mar Nico’s face. But then, the rigorous hundreds of hours of how to deal with the public training plastered a smile there, “It’s late. It was good to see you, but it’s time for me to get Maki home.” And somehow, Nico had acquired Maki’s tuxedo jacket, tucked her wife into it and led her out into a rainy street, a Tokyo street scene, neon, bustling umbrellas, the notes of “Candy” fading behind a door.

“Nico?” Maki’s question was a whine.

“Let’s get home.”

“Why’d you tell them?” Maki and Nico were on the newlywed couch, having agreed that disagreements stopped at the bedroom door.

“I love you, they love you, you love you...it seemed like we’d all have more in common.” Nico teased from Maki’s lap.

Maki grabbed one of the pink pillows Nico had scattered EVERYWHERE and raised it in a threatening fashion. “And how did you…”

Nico frowned and sat up, taking the pillow out of Maki’s hands pulling the redhead closer, “You kinda stopped talking to me. I was worried.”

Maki blustered, trying to remember the past month, with Nico off working on her show for the tour, but it was all a half asleep blur of too many classes, too little Nico. “I didn’t.”

“You texted me, you didn’t talk to me. I was worried.” Nico laughed, “It reminded me of when you couldn’t work out a song. You’d close yourself off.”

That made sense, it had felt a little like that, but with a lot less direction. At least a song had been a thing to focus on, this had been like a foggy month with an empty calendar.

“So how did you get time off?” Maki changed the subject.

“Family emergency. My mother is very ill.” Nico sounded grim, then poked Maki, “See, parents are useful sometimes.”

“Nico…”

Nico flipped so she was sitting across Maki’s lap, eyes locked on Maki’s lips with enough raw hunger, tongue tip lazy all over her top lip, that Maki was having trouble remembering why she was exasperated with Nico. That was a familiar feeling.

“When we have children…” Maki began, her voice breaking before she could finish the sentence as Nico’s shocked, wide red eyes snapped up to hers. The world went still, dormant, and silent and Maki had no idea what happened next.

Nico's combination of hopeful flirt and world weary coper was masterful, “Nico is too young, tired, and a month’s worth of hot for her super sexy wife for this talk.” Nico wiggled, settling down into Maki’s lap, nose to nose with Maki again. “You can’t be looking at Nico this close and thinking “there's somebody’s mother!?!””

Rapidly losing her ability to hold a thought, Maki shook her head as Nico began unbuttoning her, sliding the shirt off the redhead's shoulder and then teasing Maki’s neck with her breaths. Her voice dropped to those low notes that sent icy thrills cascading from Maki’s ears, “What are you thinking?” Nico whispered.

“You go to my head.” And Maki started humming into Nico’s ear, enjoying the sensations as her wife scooted deliberately, incrementally closer, until their lips barely brushed each other.

“Shall I go a few other places as well?” Nico’s tongue flicked Maki’s lower lip lightly, a tease that was too much for Maki as she took in both Nico’s lips and her next breath in one motion, no words, just reflex action and the urgent moans that made Nico dive her hands under Maki’s shirt, pushing the eager redhead back. Umi would never sit comfortably on the couch again if she knew how often this had happened,

Hours later, in the newlywed bed.

Sleepy Nico: “What was the name of that first song you played? Nico’s new favorite.”

Even sleepier Maki: “Ruby Smile.”

“ ‘S about Nico?”

“Every note.”

“Would make a nice name for…”

“Yeah.”

“Love you.”

“Love you.”

A/N: Went to an amazing jazz concert yesterday, which kept looping around in my head so this happened. Give Terrell Stafford's "Candy" a listen to for a glimpse of the effect hearing it live had.

Next Casual Lunacy is on track to update later this week

.But meanwhile, here's to jazz and rain and neon and love and Spring....Take care!

#nicomaki #Love Live #fanfic #Idol Protection Program #yazawa nico #nishikino maki #etc #jazz #music #fluff

[thestalkerdog]

I got Questa back in July, she's about 1 year old and 3/4 Anatolian and 1/4 Great Pyr. We already have an almost 10 year old Great Pyr/Lab so are familiar with LGD's and knew we wanted a dog that was already a (relatively) proven LGD, had very little prey drive, and of course was used to living outside. Questa fit the bill well, she had been living out with a herd of goats and guarding them the first year of her life, she had exposure to poultry and little prey drive as well. Her previous owner had to sell off her herd of goats for financial reasons and I was told Questa became depressed and lost a lot of weight. Unfortunately when I got her home, she hyperfocused on me and has been religiously stalking me since.

I started out having her sleep inside at night in my room, she would always lay by my bed, but towards the end of that time it’s like she couldn’t press herself close enough to the bed frame. I tried to contain her a ways away from me when outside and give her a really nice juicy bone to chew on, unless I’m in her field of vision and within 20 feet though she won’t even acknowledge it. And of course if that’s within our other dogs area, he’ll just steal it while she’s obsessing on being able to see me. I do have fencing set up to keep her in a designated area, but she wouldn’t be able to follow me back up to the house and at this point I’m afraid she would go right through it in order to follow me so that’s shelved for now.

If she were following me around in the house I would understand that (boredom), but she loves scents and I know she would enjoy exploring the property (and has before), she just has to follow me around instead. I don't give her treats when I'm working and she's not terribly food motivated anyways, I don't pet her or pay her attention, there's no obvious reinforcement for her following me around (I move a lot of heavy stuff and handle horses, I did not want to encourage her to hang out in a potentially dangerous spot just so she could get pets). For the first week she actually walked so close my heels would often hit the bottom of her chin, especially when going up stairs. I realize she is still a young puppy, and she was removed from her litter at 5 weeks (lord knows why), so her socialization is a bit weird. She 'spooks' at things, she was terrified the first time she saw a candle and dropped her body half way to the ground with tail tucked when she first encountered a watermelon, so obviously she's a bit weird and inexperienced (I’m used to more bold dogs).

She does occasionally wander off and do her own thing, more often than not though she wants to be within 10 feet of me, preferably only a couple feet away. When I am working on things outside and she lays down but I then need to move a few more feet away, she will get up each and every time to follow me, despite the fact that if she waited a couple more seconds she wouldn't have needed to get up at all. It's very much a compulsion and she will often plop herself down directly behind a horse (despite the fact she had been lightly kicked by one for being rude) or otherwise lay down/stand very close to them (she's been bitten by one as well) and I'm genuinely baffled as to why she doesn't seem to learn from her experiences. (How could you let that happen :O ?!?! she already had experience with horses when she came to me, I kept a close eye on her, but I assumed she knew how to behave around them, yet she does these things, and continues to do them (she really likes to sniff, the laying down thing I’ve got no idea about), i know puppies are puppies but come on, that’s just.. a bit stupid. Obviously I don’t let her hang out with me with I’m doing things with the horses anymore). I thought I had made it plenty clear to her it was her following me that was the issue, I’ve stopped her numerous times right before she’s able to hop up and follow me and had her stay put. Although considering she doesn’t seem to learn from her horse experiences and it took 2 months to get a solid sit and stay (with clear cues and a high value food reward), I suppose I shouldn’t expect her to catch on that quickly. She’s not an idiot, and it’s not like she’s so excited she can’t contain herself, she’s very casual about doing most anything, it’s more like she’s out there in lala land somewhere, and just generally comes across as a bit dim sometimes. I’m used to dogs tuning me out, she just doesn’t seem to Get It sometimes, at least with the working with humans part, though I think a lot of that is just her being completely oblivious as to how these things work in the first place and how she she should think things through.

I should be more specific about this; when she's in the house, she doesn't care where I am, she'll just hang out on the floor by my bed and wait for me. When I'm in the house and she's outside, she likes to keep an eye on me, but does not cry or exhibit any signs of stress other than following me from door to door to window sometimes, and we have a wrap around deck which makes it pretty easy for her to do that (her favorite corner is by my room and bathroom). When outside, she wants to be able to see me at all times unless she's the one who wanders away. I'm used to the 'falling all over themselves' type of SA, not her conditional kind. And she's very happy, she's not pleased when I have to go do things and the deck blocks her view, but other than that she's not tense or shut down or sad or any kind of bothered the rest of the time. She's a pretty calm dog for a puppy, but she bounces around, has yet to figure out toys god bless her, does have fun playing with our other dog at least. I genuinely think a lot of it is her legitimately thinking that I am her job now, which is why I wanted to ask LGD people. She's not stressed so much as very confused when I tell her to stay put and go to do something nearby, she's gotten good at staying outside of the hay shed and laying down somewhere in the paddock while waiting for me to stuff hay bags, she gets it, she at least in part thinks it's her job though and I move around so much there just are not clear enough boundaries for it to be precise enough for her it seems?

I’ve thought through how to clicker train her to move away from me and marking and rewarding every time she steps away to go do something else, I keep getting stuck on concerns that she’ll become even more fond and focused on me though. She only finds food so enticing, she finds following me around more reinforcing than anything and that’s why I’m kinda terrified of shooting myself in the foot and having her go ’Kate AND food?! I’m never moving more than x number of feet away from you ever again’.

In terms of mat training I still have the same concerns in regards to food though, and I genuinely want her to roam the property, not be stuck in one place. Maybe I could only put her back on the mat when she gets closer to me rather than moving away and doing something else? So she has to lay there essentially doing nothing (except occasional reinforcement when I happen to spot her looking away) unless she wants to go and wander. That would take a heck of a lot of time to even get a solid stationing behavior from her though considering how driven she is to follow. And again, why would she go to a mat for a treat when she can be beside me. I have had some progress lengthening the distance she allows, it’s only been about 6 feet or so in two months, so I’m not sure I would get any results that would be useful day to day for some time. I dunno, hoping I’ll be able to find some clicker people who have dealt with this kind of situation and LGD’s and had success managing it.

OKAY! That’s it, mostly copy pasted, but yall get the idea. Sorry it’s so long, I just wanted to make sure I included everything to give as clear a picture as possible. Any training advice/tips/ideas would be appreciated! I want to make this work, she really likes it here and has settled in well, we’re just having some trouble with a few things.

#tsd journal #dogblr #clicker training #dog training #separation anxiety