#sir this is not an activity i can multitask

[coquelicoq]

CURRENT ASK GAME

tagged by @littleragondin 😘

Current time: apparently 9:12pm holy moly no idea how that happened...they (days of the weekend) grow up so fast...

Current activity: filling out this ask game. am i supposed to be multitasking??

Currently thinking about: also thinking about this ask game lol idk what to tell ya i got a one-track mind i guess

Current favourite song: i am obsessively listening to bonne journée by stromae on repeat trying to learn the words. so far very slowgoing. the only parts i'm feeling confident about are the chorus and the last verse. kicking my ass in particular at the moment are "le bonheur est bien la seule chose/qui quand on la partage se multiplie" (the cadence is really throwing me for some reason) and "tout ce que j'sais c'est qu's'il s'tourne vers le soleil l'ombre est derrière lui" (bestie that is sooo many syllables...). i am about to crack that first one though, i can feel it. "se multiplie" is gonna be eating my dust any minute now. then i can move on to the lines i haven't even tried yet because i've been too intimidated lol.

i do find it very fun to say "tu profites jamais vraiment de ce moment présent/en fait t'es juste dépressif" (check out the run of -ent sounds on that bad boy!) and

c'est parce qu'y a des bas qu'y a des hauts et parce qu'y a des hauts qu'y a des bas y a pas d'débats d'idéaux, non comme un idiot fais les pas de la danse de la joie

the mouthfeel this has! first we got the first two lines, which are almost identical save for switching the placement of "bas" and "hauts". thats chiasmus babe!

then much of the third line phonetically echos the first line with completely different words:

1: [sɛ paʁskja debɑ kja deo] 3: [ja pɑ deba dideo nɔ̃]

(it's even more repetitive to my non-native ear because "des bas" and "débats" are homophones to me because i still can't tell the difference between [ɑ] and [a] lol.)

he articulates the third line as well as "idiot" in the fourth line really deliberately, which brings attention to the idéaux / idiot minimal pair. and then i really like the rest of that line, the cadence of fais les PAS de la DANSE de la JOIE, the repetition of "de la", and, until i looked it up in the dictionary to confirm, i also thought that pas / joie was an inner rhyme, but apparently those are different vowels lol. well they rhyme to me.

if i can get this song down i will move on to mauvaise journée, because as you might infer from the titles they are a matched set and i would love to get the full experience. but one thing at a time.

Currently reading: i am about to finish speaking bones, the last book in ken liu's dandelion dynasty. SHIT IS GOING DOWN. shit has been going down for like 500 pages in a row. this book is intense!! there are less than 200 pages left and i've not the foggiest what is gonna happen. probably only one or two more technologies are going to be invented because ken liu likes to lovingly linger over the inventions and we only have so much space left, which will have to be mostly plot i think. try to focus, mr. liu! i know you love reinventing computer programming in as many mediums as possible and i love that for you, i really do, in any other circumstance i would listen to you do that all day long, but you JUST killed off four more of your major characters and threw the [redacted for spoilers] into a [redacted] crisis! what is going to happen to these [redacted] and their [redacted] [redacted]!! eyes on the prize sir!

in other news, today i started l'enfant de sable by tahar ben jelloun. i've only read the first two chapters, but i'm really liking the style so far! some really beautiful sentences, and i like the framing device.

of course my dico read is continuing apace. i'm now in the middle of the j's. got to the word jobard today and was like why is this so familiar? then remembered it's in my favorite line from les mis:

êtes-vous fous ! êtes-vous toqués ! en voilà-t-il un tas de jobards ! perdre le temps, n'est-ce pas ? tirer au sort, n'est-ce pas ? au doigt mouillé ! à la courte paille ! écrire nos noms ! les mettre dans un bonnet !

ah, really takes me back.

also got thud! going as my current bedtime discworld reread.

Currently watching: rewatching natsume's book of friends! i'm jumping around to watch all the episodes with natori and/or matoba, but then i'm hoping to start back at the beginning and rewatch everything. it's taking a while because i'm taking detailed notes.

Current favorite character: hiiragi from natsume <333 i love how badass she is and how kind she was to child!natori while she was trapped in an impossible situation she had no hope of escaping and i love her for her apathy and her subsequent devotion to the person who broke her out (natori after he had grown up and forgotten her kindness) and i love all her little Does Not Compute momence when natsume is treating her like a person. she and murderbot really are same hat. i wonder what kind of emotions murderbot would experience watching this show? it would implode, probably.

current favorite book character is jia from the dandelion dynasty...damn she's complicated! i know i said after book 3 that this series seems more or less blorbo-free, but i take it back for her specifically. i love how conflicted she makes me feel. go girl give us [redacted]!

Current WIP: theoretically i am rewriting the clues of a finished crossword to try to make it nyt-worthy, but i haven't actually started that yet, i've just told a lot of people that i'm going to do it. not actually the same thing as doing it, as it turns out. shocked and upset.

meanwhile i'm trying to write the november themed crossword for the local paper. it's also at the clue-writing stage, my least favorite stage. but this one has a deadline, so i will definitely do it eventually.

i've got the post about the words in the D section of the french dictionary in drafts but have not had the motivation to really work on it lately. those take me a long time because i want to check etymology and all sorts of stuff.

sorry to say that the ask somebody sent me about the imperial radch a few months ago is also languishing in drafts and probably will continue to do so. the time to answer it would have been right after i reread the trilogy and it was all fresh in my mind. but who knows, one of these days while nightblogging i might in my sleep-deprived state find it in drafts and go "what's this doing in here? it looks fine, not half-baked at all. post!"

also i still would like to change my username but there are some things i want to do first to minimize the carnage (i.e., broken links and readmores). you are currently the only person who knows the username i have chosen to succeed my current one! i hope you feel special. i just realized something else about it that was not intended but is fun. it's the gift that keeps on giving, but currently only to me (and i guess to you, if you feel so gifted) because it's a secret...

tagging hmmm let's say...@zyrafowe-sny for being the one to recommend l'enfant de sable to me, @psqqa for recommending la cantatrice chauve which i just finished the other day (sooo trippy to read out loud! i would love to see it performed some day 🤞), @suibianworks and @cinnamonandpancakes because i know you also like stromae, @aerialbots for your french artist spotify playlist (which i listened to most of while cooking the other day! you have great taste), and @sapphiredragonprincess for always hyping my rambly natsuyuu tags! as always, only if you want to <3

#littleragondin i know you also recommended la cantatrice chauve to me but since you're the one who tagged me i thought #i should not tag you. or i guess technically i already @'d you at the beginning of the post so mechanically i CAN'T tag you again #anyway somehow this post is mostly about french language stuff which seems fitting since it was you who tagged me ! #i didn't do that on purpose i am just spending a lot of time on french at the moment #ask games #my posts #tag later

[organic-guacamole]

Episode 207 spoilers below

I say this a lot but this episode was insane and is now my favourite.

WE GOT EJ

gotta love how dedicated he is to his extracurricular activities. water polo, class treasurer, AV club president-

I'm not a portwell shipper, but they have an amazing friendship dynamic, like can I get a bestie like EJ please?

Ricky lowkey looks like he's been crying all night-

can someone check up on this boy? please? Mike where are you buddy, your son needs help.

"It doesn't mean anything"

"It means so much to me"

omg soulmate things😍😍😍

uhhh since when are Ricky and EJ so close??? they're literally talking and laughing together what? when?

I'm not complaining, it's just surprising.

please sebby, I would love deh so much I can't even explain it.

also didn't they say that Ms Jenn has never seen deh?

*gasp* what if she's just pretending that they don't have the rights to it so they don't have to talk about her not seeing such a CLASSIC

hmmmmm ~thats suspicious, that's weird~

(what is happening to me rn-)

look at Kourtney goooo

designing costumes, being in the musical and being an assistant manager? I wish I could multitask like that

an elephant.

the way I already know something's gonna happen with Howie.... like their relationship can't move that fast, if the writers don't have plans to mess with them a bit.

OK GO WITH ME FOR A SEC: PICTURE SEB AND CARLOS, WITH SWITCHED PERSONALITIES.

anyways

why is Carlos so funny? who gave him the right to make me laugh so hard over a one liner that doesn't even make sense.

oo he has abs *Debby Ryan face*

PLEASE NOT THE BUTT PADS

hi yes, are you still trying to tell me EJ isn't bi after this episode?

WHY IS CASWEN SO CLOSE TODAY? THAT LOOK, I SAW THAT LOOK WHAT IS HAPPENING 😭

GINI INTERACTIONS TOO? WHAT IS GOING ON SOMEONE PLEASE SEND HELP???

@sunshine-julie-molina might need help too after that *waits patiently for them to scream at me in dms*

what the heck.

North high is a literal castle???

Get a room redlyn, y'all have been there for like 5 seconds omg

ah yes. sebby the silent voice of reason

um who's this dude? I don't like how he's looking at Gina-

keep walking sir

calm your man tits, you're not that hot 🙄

EXCUSE ME

CAN I GET YOUR SNAP?

BOY YOU CAN CATCH THESE HANDS

EJ BABY

"hey babe"

alright I'm gonna say it

i don't like how in this society men will only leave a girl alone when they have their partner right next to them. so screw you random north high jock. respect women and then we can talk.

right so... moving along

why is the back of EJ's shirt just yellow. idk why but I wasn't expecting that.

when your favourite trope is fake dating and this happens: 🤡

ANTOINE MY BOYYYY!!!!

oh look Ms Jenn's here too

aww Seb's "friendship" thing caught on a bit

what the heck?? I knew we hated Zach BUT HOW DARE HE

my new favourite thing: Antoine using English words without knowing what they mean.

"Fugly"

You go sebby, bop to the top🥰

please they had the right idea, dance-offs are stupid.

...

oh ok guess we're doing this now.

kill the beast? more like, kill the Lily *wheEze*

(please send help, I'm so sleep deprived rn)

in 10 years....

"mommy, how was I made?"

"it all started when we danced in your dad's office..."

but actually

WHY DO I FEEL SO WEIRD WATCHING THIS-

and here I thought Mike and Ms Jenn's flirting was bad.

Lily + Ricky = Licky

this is the only reason why they'd be terrible together /j

right so lily doesn't care about the rose song, but she memorized the lyrics? something tells me she stays up at night watching it and writing out one liners to bring people down.

yes "Diane", his accent is amazing but back off, he's mine😃🔪

TOM HOLLAND ON STILTS-

BETWEEN THIS, THE SHAWN MENDES LINE, AND THE HARRY STYLES THING-

they can't leave poor ricky alone omg😭😭

jealous big red is something I never knew I needed to see.

don't worry EJ, I like the mob song. just not whatever remix thing this was /hj

wow I wonder who the north high beast is😐

hehe Antoine looks so short next to Carlos and idk why

SEB IS SO CUTE WHEN HES TRYING TO BE TOUGH AHHH

Ashlyn's high note>>>>>>>>

how is it that every time I think that Ashlyn has shown her full talent, she continues to amaze me every single time.

Also, Ashlyn sang wondering, which was an alteration to the script? why wasn't that mentioned?

EJS FACE AT THAT LINE OMG

we only keep you around for sports analogies omg EJ, keep up

ZACH TOOK THE MASK?!?!?!?!??!😱😱😱😱😱😱

I'm so shocked /s

Alexa, set my alarm sound as EJ caswell saying "good morning east high"

seblos when the elephant sound came from the beast 🏃🏽‍♂️🏃🏼‍♂️

Did Kourtney never ask what school the guy she's dating goes to? like how would she not know?

Nini's reputation era

wait I mean Nina

y'all realize that she's actually done with Ricky rn? like totally cutting him out.

literally changing the name she's had for so long because it's the name Ricky gave to her-

anyways I can't really blame her, but can she at least try to understand Ricky a bit?

they both have totally different plans for the future so they need to ✨communicate✨

#hsmtmts #hsmtmts s2 #hsmtmts season 2 #ej caswell #ricky bowen #hsmtmts spoilers #caswen #seblos #antoine protection squad #nini salazar roberts #gina porter #kourtney greene #seb mathew smith #carlos rodriguez #big red #ashlyn caswell #ms jenn #guac's episode text blocks :)

[waveypedia]

“I’m in love…shit” the quintessential gyro

Gyro never meant to get attached to Fenton.

If he had known the bumbling, awkward, cheerful coworker would carve out a little nook for himself in Gyro’s heart, Gyro would have fought his superiors twice as hard on hiring an intern.

He had already given every excuse he had, but Scrooge was worried for him alone in the lab day after day, and the Board was tired of shoving precious funding at doomed inventions that blew up in their faces.

(Gyro was tired too.)

But somehow Gyro’s sheer force of will wasn’t enough, and he ended up saddled with the literal ball of sunshine and energy that was Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera. The duck essentially transformed into a mini hurricane in his precious lab, wreaking havoc and wrecking Gyro’s concentration. He never seemed to tire, both physically and emotionally, no matter how much meaningless work and hurtful insults Gyro threw at him.

Gyro never remembered dancing on Dr. Akita’s heels and shoving his thousand inane ideas in his mentor’s face. Yet Fenton greeted Gyro every morning with his too-bright grin and a plethora of new ideas. He followed Gyro around the lab like an unwanted puppy, asking a million questions a minute, forcing Gyro to multitask and make mistakes on his precious inventions. He also seemed to have a special knack for popping up in Gyro’s personal space right as Gyro was about to finish an important and tenuous process, startling him and, more often than not, making him mess up and have to start over.

Gyro did not regret making the bathroom his workspace, which was rather immature by his standards, but Fenton took it in stride, just like everything else. He didn’t even realize right away! What an idiot.

Although, the personal space and questions may have been the only characteristic of young Gyro that Fenton didn’t adopt. Despite them having zero similar physical characteristics, the younger duck served as a painful window to Gyro’s past self. 

Gyro… didn’t really know how to handle it. He certainly was no Akita; he lacked his old mentor’s eerie calmness and quiet confidence in spades. But Fenton was unmistakably Gyro, but a Gyro lost to time, a Gyro that crashed and burned and died twenty years ago.

Sooner or later, something was going to to go horribly, terribly, miraculously wrong. Something was going to break Fenton’s spirit forever. It would break him, like how 2-BO broke Gyro, and how the Spear of Selene ensured he would never recover.

Fenton was just a disaster waiting to happen, and as Gyro’s intern, Gyro would most likely be there for his failure. The thought of essentially watching a repeat of 2-BO from the outside, watching Fenton’s unshakable friendliness and passion crumble and shatter irreplaceably, terrified him. It was like watching a horror movie with dramatic irony, where the audience knows about the killer but the characters don’t, and the audience just watches them die slowly one by one, with the sickening sensation that something bad is about to happen and there’s nothing they can do to stop it.

Truthfully, there is something he could possibly do. He could talk to Fenton, but the thought of laying all his failures and terrors bare on the table terrified Gyro. For all his scientific genius, he is a disaster in a conversation, and not even Fenton’s inconceivably strong friendliness can save him. He can’t go to Mr. McDuck about it, because his boss would probably tut gently and pat Gyro’s back awkwardly and spout nonsense about rewriting history and we can handle it and good on you, lad, you care about him!

Wait. Since when did Gyro give a shit about Cabrera?

Only because watching Fenton skip and stumble down his old path, knowing only disaster and hardship awaits him at the end, felt like someone cut open old wounds that never really healed.

He didn’t care. No, sir.

And then, the unthinkable happened. 

When Gyro, Fenton, and a few of the McDuck clan ended up in danger, Fenton hotwired Project Blatherskite. It was still under construction and never meant to be used as anything vaguely resembling a superhero, but here they were.

“How could you be so stupid?!” Gyro snapped at Fenton over and over in the aftermath, but he was drowned out by the adrenaline-infused praise of his peers and Beaks’ creepy hero-worship. Scrooge, Dewey, and Launchpad seemed to have somehow developed the idiotic idea that Gizmoduck was prescisely the superhero Duckburg needs, and that Fenton Crackshell-Cabrera was just the duck to wear the suit. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Like all well-written dramatic irony, Gyro saw the picture fall into place before it happens. The Gizmosuit will be Fenton’s downfall the same way 2-BO was Gyro’s. His intern was about to crash and burn, and there was nothing Gyro could do about it since no one seemed to listen to him.

He felt like screaming and screaming until his throat was hoarse and his voice was gone, but it wouldn’t make a difference.

He was only a kooky, crazy scientist with a sharp tongue and a pessimistic, nihilistic worldview in their eyes. 

So he took matters into his own hands and fired Fenton and the first sight of heroic activity.

Really. A robotic suit built by Gyro Gearloose supposedly protecting a city? Yeah, please. Gyro may be an idiot but he’s learned from his mistakes. He knew Gizmoduck would be Fenton’s 2-BO already, thanks universe. He was just trying to minimize the damage. Fenton would have to get hurt whatever happens, but at least maybe the city of Duckburg can remain standing for another day. Unlike Tokyolk.

But the firing blew up in Gyro’s face, and Scrooge, crazy and reckless old man he was, hired Cabrera back. As a fucking superhero.

As soon as Mr. McDuck was out of sight, Gyro slammed his back against the hospital wall outside of Fenton’s room and let his knees give out, sinking into gravity’s embrace on the cold, hard floor. He buried his head in his hands, bunching his fingers into fists under his glasses. Hot tears pricked against his eyelids.

He had failed. Failed to protect Fenton from the casualties of the Gizmosuit. Failed to stop it from happening again, with more fatal results next time, despite his vehement protests.

He was going to watch Fenton’s spirit get crushed, or worse, watch Fenton die, in this stupid suit, and there was nothing he could do about it.

Fenton’s scary mom came around and berated Gyro for firing her son and letting him get into danger. Gyro wasn’t sure if he wanted to laugh or cry. He had been trying to prevent Fenton from getting into danger!!

“Have a heart,” Officer Cabrera had snapped at him. “See if you can find the ability to actually care a little bit about my son.”

That’s why I did what I did, Gyro wanted to scream. And then he froze, because he doesn’t care about Cabrera.

Does he?

Oh fuck, he does.

Gyro would have buried his head in his hands had it not already been there.

Caring only makes it harder.

He cared about Dr. Akita, and 2-BO, and look where that got him. He cared about Della, who was lost to space because of an invention Scrooge trusted him with making. He cared about Lil’ Bulb, which got him stolen by Mark Beaks and twisted into a trashy piece of tech that nearly killed them all.

He still cares about all of them.

As time went on, and Gizmoduck became a household name, no one seemed to catch onto Gyro’s fears. Not even when Fenton nearly died, twice in five minutes, and Gyro had to rebuild the entire suit from scratch instead of letting Gizmoduck die out like a sane person. Not even when Mark Beaks’ insane obsession with Gizmoduck ended with Huey and Webby in danger, Gyro himself locked in a closet and electrocuted (he’d very much like to have a talk with Ms. Dee for that offense) and Fenton’s secret identity in the hands of a very dangerous woman. All so Beaks can feed his stupid ego.

Gyro’s daily nightmares, once filled with images of 2-BO wreaking havoc on Tokyolk and Della vanishing from any and all communications permanently, had a new element to them. Fenton, sometimes in his Gizmosuit, sometimes without, dies and fails and breaks in a million different ways each time. Gyro woke up screaming every night. It never got easier.

He can no longer play at not caring about Fenton.

Then Della came back, crashed a Spear of Selene outfitted with more gold than original parts, but it was a Spear of Selene all the same, and it brought Della, alive and well. The Spear of Selene had doomed her, but Oxy-Chew had saved her. When Della squeezed all life out of him in a tight hug and then punched him in the arm because black licorice, Gyro?!? Seriously?! Gyro didn’t know how to react.

He had always thought his invention killed her, but it turned out to have saved her.

Gyro’s worldview, previously unshakable, was suddenly rocky, cracks winding through the foundations, with this discovery.

Maybe his failures weren’t as black-and-white as they seemed. Maybe he wasn’t an irredeemable monster.

Maybe Fenton won’t fail at all.

It all came to a head one day when Huey brought 2-BO, somehow alive but malfunctioning, into his lab. Gyro shoved down his long-lost, precious memories of 2-BO in Akita’s lab before he- it- destroyed the city it was supposed to protect. They returned to the site of Gyro’s greatest failure, where he broke the way Fenton might will soon, and Gyro’s careful plan falls apart. 

Just like the Spear of Selene, Gyro realized he was wrong. Tokyolk’s destruction was never his fault. It was never his failure or his weight to bear. It was Akita’s, not his or 2-BO’s.

And when he rises from his slapfight with his former mentor to see his invention, riddled with Akita’s corruption, towering over Fenton, helmetless, injured, and vulnerable, he had a lot of decisions and epiphanies to come to in a split second.

2-BO- Boyd- was not evil. Gyro wouldn’t let Akita’s tampering bring death and destruction to Tokyolk, again, and to Fenton.

Tokyolk may have never been a true failure of Gyro’s, but he still won’t let Fenton fail here.

He brought Boyd back in a way he never would have thought of previously. He had acquired a kid now, and that means it’s time to come clean to Fenton.

His intern- no, coworker- accepted Gyro’s terrors more easily than he expected, and somehow weaseled Gyro into promising to call him the next time he has a nightmare.

Gyro didn’t expect to keep that promise, but he did. And he called again, and again, and again.

And somehow that turned into a budding friendship, one based on a mutual passion for science and care for each other.

Because Fenton cared about him, Gyro realized one day with a shock, the same way he cared about Fenton.

Gyro buried his head in his hands and hoped he was done with heart-stopping epiphanies. But he wasn’t, not yet.

He had one more to go, and it came at one of Mr. McDuck’s fancy company parties that his kids and Mrs. Beakley had weaseled him into spending a lot more money than he would have liked. Gyro allowed himself a small chuckle at his boss’ indignation before he dragged Fenton off to make fun of all the frivolities of the party.  

As he and Fenton pushed their way through the mingling crowd towards the food table, Gyro hapazarded a glance back. Fenton, clad in a white-and-lavender tux that he had blushed and fingered at Mrs. Beakley’s inspection of it before the party, claiming it belonged to his father. But it fit him well, and accented the soft color of his feathers. The warm yellow light of the candles and chandeliers did as well, and as Fenton passed Launchpad his face lit up in a brilliant smile that warmed Gyro’s heart and brought a small smile of his own to his face.

Then it dropped just as suddenly.

I’m in love… shit.

Gyro stiffened and dropped Fenton’s hand, causing the aforementioned duck to immediately pause his quick greeting to Launchpad and whip around towards Gyro, his beautiful face twisting in concern. Gyro waved him off and sprinted away, ignoring Fenton’s cries of protest and worry, and dove into a small storage closet stocked with brooms and mops. (Mrs. Beakley would be furious if she found him here.) He slammed his face into his hands and dropped into a crouch on the floor.

Stupid, stupid, stupid…

How on earth was Gyro supposed to handle this?! He had just gotten used to Fenton as a coworker and friend.

Surely Fenton would resent him if he confessed and upended their already tenuous relationship.

A small, hesitant knock sounded on the door. Gyro groaned. Ugh, speak of the devil…

“Uh, Gyro?” Fenton’s voice drifted through the door. “Are you in there? I thought I saw you run in here… I could have lost you in the crowd, but you kind of stand out… I know you don’t like parties, but it’s not like you to run off unless something’s really wrong…”

Gyro stayed poised on his toes to run, despite the fact that he was trapped in a tiny supply closet with nowhere to go. He didn’t trust himself to reply, so he stayed there silently, holding his breath in anticipation.

After a moment of silence Fenton groaned and dropped his head against the door. The bang startled Gyro, his already-racing heart speeding to new heights. 

“Ugh, stupid. Talking to an empty supply closet.” Fenton muttered to himself. Gyro’s heart ached, especially since he really was listening. 

“Fenton, it’s okay. I’m in here,” he called nervously. His voice was quiet, never rising above a whisper, but somehow it reached Fenton’s ears and he heard the other duck slump against the door in relief.

“Oh, good. I was worried about you, Gyro,” Fenton replied softly. Gyro thought he might have heard a bit of affection in his tone, but he scoffed to himself. Obviously not.

Fenton was an idiot, but even he wasn’t enough of an idiot to actually care about Gyro. Not in the way Gyro apparently cared about him.

Ugh, love was stupid. Harder to figure out and navigate than friendships, and that was saying something! And it was on its way to destroying one of the only precious friendships Gyro had managed to secure.

Ugh. If only he was aromantic like Huey, who had nervously come out to him recently. So much easier.

(Huey would happily debate him on this later for sure.)

“Gyro?” Fenton called again, and Gyro realized he had never replied to his worried coworker. Another failure. 

“Yeah, I’m okay,” he replied back awkwardly. His tone was stilted and hesitant in a way that juxtaposed his usual unshakable aggressiveness and bluntness, which gave Fenton pause and only made him more worried. 

Fenton hesitated for another moment before calling a worried goodbye and ducking away, probably to find Della or Mr. McDuck. Gyro groaned and cursed his own misfortune.

He knew he cared about Fenton, and he had for a long time. So why did it have to get infinitely more complicated?

He pulled out his phone to text Della and Launchpad. They both had been through many relationships, and knew the ups and downs well.

Gyro sighed heavily and rubbed at his forehead in frustration. 

Somehow he’d figure this out. He just had to make sure his stupid feelings didn’t get in the way of his friendship with Fenton.

Since there was no possible way Fenton could reciprocate them, right?

~

HI I FINISHED A WRITING REQUEST FOR THE FIRST TIME IN TWO YEARS DFGHKL;LKHGFGHKL LET’S GO this actually isn’t one of the old ones i got it recently so it doesn’t feel like a full victory but we’ll get there!! I’ve actually been in major writing block recently so I wasn’t expecting to write today, but I woke up this morning with this idea and wrote this in two hours (which is why it’s so bad sdfghgfd) but i finished it and i’m so happy enjoy

this ended up being a little more of a gyro character study than i intended and it feels shitty and a lot like my old writing sorry. it’s unedited mostly, so i apologize for any grammatical errors.

anyway hope you like it! thanks for reading! if you liked this (why) check out my other writing under the #my fanfic or #wavey writes tags, at my ao3 analyticamethyst, or at my wattpad PurpleDragon2003 (I’m not really active there though). I also might open writing commissions soon, so if you like my writing and you’re in a position to commission me please keep an eye out for that! Thank you I love you so much <3 <3

#ducktales #ducktales 2017 #dt17 #gyro gearloose #fenton crackshell-cabrera #wavey writes #my fanfic #ducktales fanfiction #fenro #fenton crackshell cabrera

[psycho-slytherin]

Strangers ch. 44

You begin moving on, but Yoongi is stuck.

Pairing: Idol!Yoongi x Actress!Reader

Word count: 1.6k

Genre: fluff, angst, idk

Warnings: Strong language, I think that’s it?

|mlist|

<–– Prev  Next ––>

“Idiot. What were you thinking?”

“Oh, come on. Look, it all worked out, right?”

“This wasn’t part of the plan! Now everyone knows who you are!”

“They were gonna find out anyways. I just used it to my advantage.”

“Don’t you realize how careful we have to be?”

“You. I’m safe.”

“Have you forgotten our goal? We need to destroy her.”

“Yeah, but that was so he’d be safe. Haven’t we already won?”

“Not yet. But we will.”

~~~

“C’mon, D. I know you’ve got something for me.”

“Look, man-” D huffs in frustration. “I’m sorry, but ain’t the girl you’re trying to track down dead? It’s been a good month.”

“She’s alive.” Unless the photo is old, or doctored.

“Her phone hasn’t been on in any sorta way since the day she texted your girl. I’m tryin’ to locate her but I’m hitting a lotta dead ends.”

Yoongi bites his lip anxiously. Lisa is the only hold Seoyeon has over him– and the only proof he has that she’s a criminal. If he can find Lisa, Seoyeon won’t have any more leverage and Yoongi will be able to turn her over to the police. He’ll explain everything to Y/n, and finally be set free.

But he can’t do any of that until he has Lisa. 

“Yo, Gloss, hit me with that image description again?” D says over the phone. Yoongi can hear a mouse click several times as he closes his eyes, focusing on the photo in his memory. If only Seoyeon had sent it to him instead of just showing him, it might be easier.

“The walls were white. She was barefoot– her hair was short. Her hands and feet were tied.”

“What sort of knot?”

Yoongi clicks his tongue, thinking hard. “I- I can’t remember. It looked tight, the rope was pressing into her wrists.”

“That’s an oof. Did she look skinny, like she hadn’t been eating?”

“I don’t know, I can’t compare. I never met her in person, I only saw Y/n’s pictures of her.” Yoongi clenches his fist, frustrated that he’s so useless.

“Hey, hey, chill, man. We’ll find her. Now, what color were her hands?”

“Her hands? Uh… skin-colored?”

“Huh.” D pauses– Yoongi’s barely used to hearing his friend not talk.

“What?”

“I mean, you said the knots were tight. You’d think it would cut off her circulation.”

“Fuck, dude, I don’t know. Maybe I wasn’t looking. How is this going to help us find her?”

“I mean, I can already tell you that she’s probably not at Seoyeon’s place. There’s no way this chick can keep Lisa at her house without her family finding out, that shit’s just one story.”

“You’re kidding, she lives with her family?”

“Bruh. If she was stalking you enough to get away with what she’s done, do you really think she’d be able to keep a good enough job to afford that place? Nah, man, she lives with her folks and a sister.”

“We don’t know that she was stalking me.” 

“How else did she find Y/n outside of the hospital, then? You tell me.” 

Yoongi falls silent. He doesn’t want to dwell on the possibility that he so directly put Y/n into danger– it’s too destructive a thought. “Whatever. D, I really need you on this. The authorities have been useless.”

D sniggers. “Ain’t that the truth. Look, I’ve got an alert on her number and socials. If she so much as turns her phone on, or tries posting from another device, I’ll know.”

“Thanks, you’re the best.”

“Yeah, whatever, you owe me a collab.”

Yoongi grins. “Deal.” After hanging up, he sighs, leaning back in his chair. He’s been spending as much time as he can this week in his studio. Even the other members and their antics can’t lift his spirits, not when he has to answer Seoyeon’s constant summons for yet another photo op. And while he’s got her hanging onto his arm, Yoongi can think of nothing other than Y/n. 

He remembers how angry he was when he found out that you’d been an ARMY all along. It seems like ages ago, and yet the sense of betrayal is fresh in his mind. He can only imagine how you’re feeling now… 

~~~

“Miss L/n?”

You stand, taking the well-dressed man’s offered hand. “That’s me, hi.”

“Nice to meet you, you can call me Mr. Park. So, Avery Lee messaged me saying you’re looking to join our agency?”

You nod, fidgeting with the sleeve of your heavy coat. “Yes, until recently– well, I guess you could say I had a freelance manager. I can’t work with her anymore, and Avery said I should sign with an agency.”

“She’s right. Rising stars like you need guidance. So,” Mr. Park says, settling back into his plush leather chair and staring at you from across his desk. “Tell me about yourself. What makes you valuable to FYP Entertainment?”

You swallow. “I’m a third-year acting major at Seoul Arts University. I’ve been an active member of the theatre club and improv club, and competed in Central Seoul’s Improv Showdown twice. I was a featured extra in BTS’s Possible music video. I’ve modeled in Premier Bride Korea and for Beauty of the Seoul’s lipstick line. I recently appeared in a cologne commercial for Fierce, and I was an extra in Medicine of the Heart, a medical drama. Most notably, I play Kim Ji-Woo, a recurring character, alongside BTS’s Suga in Moon Over the Sea.”

Mr. Park rubs his chin. “That’s a long list for a pretty actress who’s never belonged to an agency. And I see an overlap– how familiar are you with Bangtan’s members?”

You fight the urge to laugh; has he not seen the tabloids? “Quite- quite familiar. We’re friends.”

“Just friends?” Mr. Park leans back. “I’ll be honest, Miss L/n, right now the only reason anyone knows your name is as Suga’s ex-girlfriend. Taking you on would be a gamble, and one I’m not sure would pay off for us. I need to know that you’re more than just a scandal– that you’ve got real talent.”

You inhale sharply, but instead of the overwhelming nervousness you were expecting, you feel only determination. They can’t hurt you anymore. “I’m talented. I’m experienced. And I’ll put in the work, sir– I always do. My relationship with Yoongi had no influence over either of my related jobs; I was scouted for the Possible video at a cafe, and Kim Seokjin was the original casting choice for Moon Over the Sea. I can’t deny that knowing Yoongi has helped my popularity, but I got my work, all of it, on my own. Sir.”

Mr. Park stares at you for a long while. “How are your grades?”

You blink. “Sorry?”

“You said you’re a student. How have you been doing in classes? I mean, all this work must keep you from school.”

“Fine,” you say hurriedly. “I, uh, haven’t let it interfere with my degree. I’m very efficient at multitasking.” A little white lie can’t hurt. You’re leaving to film in two days, you’ll check in with your professors tomorrow to make sure you’re good to go.

“That’s very admirable,” Mr. Park says. “And reassuring to hear. We like knowing our clients have the qualifications to continue in the workforce after retiring from entertainment.”

You nod, suddenly shivering at a chill you know isn’t real. 

“Well, I’ve received a glowing recommendation from Avery Lee, who’s worked with us for years. You certainly have more experience than many of our new stars. And a connection, even one like yours, with a group as big as BTS could help you go far. If you, as you said, ‘put in the work’,” Mr. Park smiles briefly. “Then I’d be willing to make this particular gamble, Miss L/n. Will you sign with FYP Entertainment?”

“I-” Yes! “I’d have to look at the contract first, Mr. Park. I’m sure we can negotiate a good outcome, and I’m very optimistic about my future with this agency.”

Mr. Park chuckles. “I see you know how to play the game. Your email is on the form you gave to my assistant– I’ll have her send you the contract today. And, Y/n?”

“Yes?”

“I’d stay in touch with those boys– maybe not Yoongi, if your relationship ended badly, but… They have more power than any of us know. If you really want to get big, stick with BTS.”

You furrow your brow. Now that you think about it, it’s been a minute since your last dinner together– after all, you were meant to see them on the night you found out about Lisa’s disappearance. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

When you leave the office, you pull out your phone and call Hoseok.

“Yyyyyyellow?”

“Hobi, it’s me.”

“Y/n?” Hoseok’s voice changes. “Uh, what can I do for you?”

“Listen, I was wondering if you wanted to have a Bangtan plus-one dinner again? It’s been a while.” 

“Yeah, um… What about Yoongi hyung?”

You feel a vague burning inside your chest. “He’s invited too, if he’s not busy with his new girlfriend. Our relationship was fake, remember?”

“Ah, yeah, right. How about tonight, then? Come over, Seokjin hyung’s making a souffle for dessert. We can hit a few clubs later? There’s some that are VIP enough that we can be safe.”

You laugh; Hoseok is so good at making you feel relaxed. Still, you don’t know if you’re hoping Yoongi does or doesn’t show. Either way– “That sounds excellent. See you tonight!”

~~~

"What do you want?” Yoongi growls into his phone.

“Don’t sound so grumpy, sweetheart.” Seoyeon’s voice in his ear is like poison. “I just wanted to let you know we’re going out tonight.”

“I have plans.”

Seoyeon giggles, far too happily for such a sadist. “Oh, but Suga-bear, you don’t have a choice! Let’s meet at Club Xyon at ten, okay?”

“I hate you.”

“You’re so silly! See you then. Oh,” Seoyeon’s voice turns dark. “And don’t forget what happens if you don’t show.”

A/N tysm for reading!!! <3

#bts #bts au #bangtan #suga #yoongi #min yoongi #bts suga #bts yoongi #fluff #bts fluff #bts angst #bts drabble #yoongi fluff #yoongi angst #yoongi drabble #yoongi au #idol!au #actress!au #yoongi x reader #idol!yoongi x reader #bts fanfiction #yoongi fanfiction #bts fic #yoongi fic #suga fic #angst #suga au #stl #ftl

[three-self-shippers]

𝑀𝒾𝓈𝓈𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒪𝓃𝑒! //𝒜𝒾𝓏𝒶𝒩𝑜𝓍

𝓟𝓪𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰: Aizawa x Nox / Daqat 

Trigger Warnings: Cursing, mislabeling my OC’s relationship to Aizawa and almost killing my OC for the plot.

**Yes. This happened, bon appetite. 

 ɴᴇxᴛ  ⇒

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Moving to Japan to work for the underground hero was an offer I couldn’t reject. Even if it meant for me to travel away from where I came from. As bad as it was to detach from my roots in the middle east and how saturated the heat was there, it was refreshing to not almost die from a heatstroke in midday. Yet still sweating a normal amount for to activate my quirk. Though it does work better in daytime, EraserHead well knowingly only ever takes night shifts for the sake of his dry eyes.

Now here I am, with him patrolling for my first mission as his sidekick.

A group of delinquent villains were causing disturbance of peace, nothing too deep but still is considered hero work. The arcade apparently kicked them out for trying to rummage with the machines. Good grief.

As the neon lights lit the otherwise dim street, people trying to avoid the scene as I followed in the noirette’s footings over buildings into the scene, the other less ranked heroes reassuring people and evacuating them away to not interact with the tempered group. He’s signing me to hop in first. Oh dear, he’s putting his trust in me, that’s wrong on so many levels. 

Gulping, I head to use a light pole as support as I slid down to the ground, sweat beading on my forehead as I internally hoped to not be a fuck-up and ruin things. As my stress caused me to sweat, also making my first charm more effective as I walked into the scene, the villains screaming profanities and kicking the arcade’s door had turned their attention to me. More at part of my quirk which was attracting them, musk. 

“Man, leave that shitty game, we’ve got something better here..” The tone one of the quad was using is one I do not like. As they almost immediately slowed down, though, they seemed more at ease and that’s the point. 

They approached me slowly before I dodged the reaching hands of the first one. Turning to grab his forearm and using my second charm on the third one who looked like he had a pocket knife, stunning him as our eyes met, I twisted the arm of the first one to his back. 

The second one took notice of that and tried dashing at me, but since I was sweating more now, the scent’s gotten stronger, causing him to barely be able to keep his energy as it gave me the higher ground, I used the few seconds I had to deliver a kick to the second’s guts before throwing the first one on the third one who’d I stun earlier. It all happened so fast they didn’t have the chance to use their quirks, that’s when I realized what’s forgotten-- They were four--

The more dangerous looking one, since he had a big build and everything, was about to crush me with his unnaturally huge fists if it weren’t for binding cloth holding him back as I braced for impact. 

“Daqat, you need to stop forgetting things like those, if you want to be an independent hero someday.” I heard a raspy voice scold as I opened my eyes. “Sorry, EraserHead.” I internally cursed at myself. That whilst the police had already come. The blue-red sirens illuminating faces including our own as police handcuffed the group of delinquents. 

“I think I’d never actually be an independent hero, my quirk isn’t helpful for that.” I figured that a while ago, knowing I’ll probably stick as a sidekick forever. 

“Though you do make a point, don’t doubt yourself too much.” He lazily stated while taking papers from the officer to fill in later as I subtly felt heat rush into my cheeks at his statement, paperwork is probably part of the fun of doing the job. 

“I hate doing reports, you know that.” EraserHead whined in a scolding manner as he took the papers from the officer who insisted. “You’ve been doing this for too long, you should’ve gotten used to it by now.” The cat-looking police sighed. 

“You know it means less sleep to catch up on my class tomor--” “I..” They both turned at me at the sudden interruption. 

“I can do it for you, EraserHead.” I almost said a little too loud. “No, it’s my wor--” “I’m your sidekick, aren’t I?” I questioned, my expression now’s determined contrary to earlier as my brows furrowed together, forming a wrinkle between my full brows. 

“I can write the reports while you catch some sleep, you’ll approve and sign them when they’re done. You’ve been helping with my legal work here all week since I moved so that’s the least I could do in return.” I contemplated. 

“That’s adorable, so you’ve helped your sister move and all? I wish I was that familiar with my brother, too!” A certain civilian called from behind the yellow caution stripes that kept the crowd away. My eyes immediately widened in the assumption. 

“W-We aren’t si-siblings!” I yelled back in defense. A deep chuckle escaped Aizawa as he handed me the papers. “Let’s go, don’t mind them. We’re underground so it shouldn’t matter what people say.”

“Yes sir.” I let out an exhausted exhale as everything turned back to normal. 

Back at his agency, I sat by my desk, paperwork of my first mission ready to be filled with damage control reports. I plugged in my earphones, spotify playing jazz in the background as I facetimed with my friend who was thousands of miles away. 

“Mhm, no shit. I just finished my first mission as a sidekick, almost got killed if it weren’t for my boss.” I so-casually admit while writing the damage reports. 

“What the..? What are you doing right now?” 

“Talking to you, reports, listening to jazz, and drinking tea.” I sucked on my teeth after finishing the first batch. 

“How--” “It’s called multitasking.” I cut her off. 

“But what time is it for you?” 

“Almost dawn, the sun should be rising at any moment.” I answered.

“Oof! Why aren’t you asleep?!”

“Uh, work? Also, you should know, what’s more important that one foolish woman thought me and EraserHead were siblings. Like-- What?” 

“How did they even--” “Don’t ask me, but I think it’s the black hair and pale-ish tone. Still, he’s Japanese and I’m not?” 

“Yeah, still.” 

“Isn’t it almost lunch for you?” I questioned.

“Yeah I should go later. But first, question!” 

“Yes?” 

“You talk about Eraser a lot, do you--” “No.” I lifted my head up, scowling as I sipped from my tea.

“I know to well what you’re thinking. God, I’ve only came here for a week, love isn’t something that can develop that quick for fuck’s sake.” I sighed. 

“I don’t know.” She weakly spoke. 

“Listen, he is hot. Like-- Super hot, I’m not going to deny that.. He’s exactly my type of ‘perfect’.  But I don’t know him that well, you know? He’s also my boss and all, I work for him.”

“Mm, don’t act like you don’t know what your third charm does.” She teased. 

“It’s for emergencies, but I haven’t used it for anyone yet. Not that his quirk needs that much boost either way.” 

“So… How is he?” She inquired.

“..I hate you. But… He’s reliable, he did help with my legal papers and save me today. Also, kids in UA, where he teaches are precious like what? I swear teenagers in our place aren’t as polite, nice or pure. I just need you to bring Toto when you come here.” I told her.

“Alright, once I get my vacation validated. Anyways, gotta go.” She hurried. 

“Bye!” I waved back at her as we hung up. 

I changed my playlist from jazz to rock before continuing the paperwork, finishing the second and last batch of stapled paper. Yawning as I tried my best to stay awake, yet, even the screaming and electric guitar didn’t do much to keep me from drifting off on the table. 

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@animeboihoe​ @ayye-ayye​ @thatfanfictionwriter​ @trashys-things​ @stephiecarie​ @simpgameplays​ @bakutae​ @groundzeroagency​ @justanotherlifeff​ @almost-correct-bnha-quotes

#self ship #aizawa shouta #self insert #bnha #boku no hero academia #boku no hero #aizanox #aizawa x oc #bnha aizawa #mha aizawa #aizawa shota

[kayesworld]

“MY FIRST BLOG!! ”

Hi guys welcome to My First Blog HIHIHI!! Before I start this Blog I want to introduce myself to you. I’m KAYELENE M. ZIPAGAN , 17 years old from BAGUTARI STO. TOMAS ISABELA. I’m born on June 17,2003. During my preparatory days I was enrolled at SANTO TOMAS BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL After 2 years that I’ve been there, i learned lots and I really enjoyed my staying there knowing that I’ve met new friends.

When I’m entering in my first grade my parents decided to transfer me to BAGUTARI STO. TOMAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL without asking me, but one thing is for sure for me the school is walking distance from our house, aside from that idea the school is public and of course my parents think it would be better for me. And we can save money from my tuition and allowance compared to my old school. Years past, I’m questioning myself if I stayed at STBCS until my 6 grade I still the same person? knowing that school is Christian school and it is a non-sectarian. I didn’t me that I’m bad person what I’m questioning is the attitude and skills and I should develop years ago.

I finished my Elementary grade with a Latin honor it was a big achievement to me knowing that I’m on top I made my parents, relatives and friends Proud. Another battle to be surpass again, when I’m entering my junior high school at SANTO TOMAS NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL because one thing is for sure new teachers, new environment, new classmates and new beginning. I might say that junior high is quit thrilling compare to my grade school, I really don’t know how to deal with my classmates and 8 teachers a day. More competitions, quizzes, monthly celebrations to be celebrated but one is for sure I need to survive and pass the subjects because junior high school is just a stepping stones towards to my dreams and triumphs in life. I finished my junior high school with honor I didn’t achieve what I had reached during me grade school. I did my best but I think It wasn’t enough to get a high honor. I promise to myself that I should give my best among the best next time so that in the end I won’t regret and felt sorry for not reaching my main goal.

I always remind myself to follow my dreams and pursue it to uplift my family from poverty to provide their needs and wants, and to give a comfortable life. I hate seeing them suffering from emotional and physical pain. To be honest , when it comes to money we are not financially stable but my parents provide everything for me and siblings too.

At present my Senior high school, I’m currently studying at SAINT PAUL UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES (SPUP) taking up Accountancy business management (ABM) even we experienced world pandemic I won’t stop reaching my dreams, I need to finish it on time. I don’t need to prolong my agony with the things I hated most knowing that I have my main Goal to reach in time. I know I can do it through his guidance and power.

So, that is my introduction may we move now to the given questions of my E-tech Teacher Sir Carlos;

1. Where do I see myself 10 years from now? Is my learning in SPUP vital to where I’m leading to?

• I see myself 10 years from now as a Business Woman having a Cafeteria and Bar.

I also want to build my own Restaurant because I love cooking. I think my learning in SPUP vital is leading me to want I want to pursue in my life. They taught me to be a person who have faith and things that will help me in my future.

2. Was ABM the best choice after all?

• For me it's a yes because I made a best choice in my life to take that strand so when I'm in college I will not suffering so much more. I have a guide/experience in my Senior High that will help me a lot. So when I have a Cafeteria and Bar I can balance,analyze,record and so on.

3. What course will you take in college and why?

• The course will I take in college is between in Custom Ads/HRM. I want that course because I want to save some money to build my Cafeteria and Bar. HRM will help me in my Bar and Cafeteria soon. So I will do my part as a student to finished my course so I will achieved that someday.

4. What topic would you like to learn more in this subject?

The topic that I would like yo learn about this subject was about the technologies we have in this generation and in the past generation, their finctions and most of all their uses

5. What the corona virus has taught you about life?

• Corona virus taught lot of things about my life, just like we should trust God in every circumstance we face. It also taught me that we should help other person even in midst of pandemic. Corona virus taught me that take a good care of our self to maintain our body health. So that we didn't easy to get a virus.

We proceed now to My Second Blog. The title is “ REVIEW TECHNOLOGY ”.

So here we are in my blogpost 2 Guysss! The name is “REVIEW TECHNOLOGY" I will share the technology I picked. Hope you like it guys.

A computer is a machine that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically via computerprogramming. Modern computers have the ability to follow generalized sets of operations, called programs. These programs enable computers to perform an extremely wide range of tasks.

As we all know, education is a crucial on every individual because it is a key to success. This also improve every human personality. The learning system this year became online due to covid19. And by the use of computer/laptop we can access with this learning system. Computer has so much advantage and one of this is that, it improve our technical skill. However, there are also disadvantage of it, just like it can cause radiation, depression, headaches and etc.

Here's the Positive Impact of Computer:

Positive Impact of Computer. It facilitates business process and other activities. It makes the work simple and less time consuming. We can store so many information on computer which makes easy to handle the information for business applications. We can perform multitasking and multiprocessing capabilities of data.

CHARACTERISTICS OF COMPUTER:

MEMORY

AUTOMATION

SPEED

RELIABILITY

VERSATILITY

DILIGENCE

ACCURACY

MY THIRD - FIFTH BLOGPOST is “ FAVORITE MOVIE ”

“ THE HOWS OF US ”

Story of a couple Primo (Daniel Padilla) and George (Kathryn Bernardo) who are in a long term relationship and are already building and planning their future together. Their love will be put to the test as their relationship faces hurdles from misunderstanding to different career paths, among others. How will they save their “US” ?

George and Primo are schoolmates who fall in love to each other. She's preparing to get into Medical school and he's a Musician waiting for his band to hit it big. Together, in a house they inherited from George's aunt, they dream of great success and promise to support each other no matter what. But what happens when the dream of success doesn't come for one of them? Primo doesn't get the big break has been working for and turns into a difficult and arrogant artist who can't even help with the bills. Faithful George stays true to her promise to support Primo through it all. Until she reaches her breaking point and gives up. Dejected, Primo walks out and does not look back.

Years later, he comes back as a changed man. My question is George can still give him a second chance? And yes George gave that a second chance to prove Primo's self to her. After that, George go to her work and Primo go there to visit George. When George feel the presence of Primo she's turning her back to faced the man she's waiting for. George come near to Primo to hug him. Days past, they go to the Amsterdam to find the father of Darren Espanto but his father's died years ago. So after visit the cementery they're go to the Tulips Farm. Few days later, they go back in Philippines and Primo proposed to George.

1. What life lessons can be learned from the movie?

The lesson is relationship needs two person to make it work,in the movie Primo and George are working independently from each other. It's like having a pride that you need to do this and that I need to do this too. And we can see that they're not asking for help to each other especially in time of struggles. Also love isn't always rainbows, roses, puppies and relationship and isn't always a fairytale. If you go through some misunderstanding or fights and having a uncommon thinking or view always remember that it's not a sign that you didn't love each other

2. What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? Why?

For me, the most powerful line told by the movie it was Primo's line which is “ I may not found the reason to stay but I found the reason to comeback " because even though he doesn't know what really is his reason to stay, he still comeback without hesitation to his love one. It means that when you love, you don't need to have any reason to, you just need genuine to make the relationship work for the both of you.

3. Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

My favorite character is Kathryn Bernardo as George in the movie because she is a stronger woman and have a beauty inside and out. She is the woman who loved, got hurt and sacrifices but never gave up on her loved one and also to herself. Especially the one where she stand in the rain and deliver her powerful lines, “ And what makes that sorry different for all the others sorry before? Pagod na pagod na ako Primo ". I feel the pain when she said that because when you look at her eyes she's so much in pain.

4. Did anything that happened in the movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

The movie reminds me about my past. You still choose to love that person even if you ses his worst,even when he tells you some painful words that you didn't expect from him. Love doesn't manifest when you're happy together but when you're suffering together. So, if you are in a relationship right now be aware if this lesson be grateful. If you're experiencing a struggles like this in your life it makes you stronger person and it's a test on what kind of person you're trul born in this world.

“ALONE TOGETHER ”

The film begins with Christine "Tin" Lazaro (Liza Soberano), a University of the Philippines Art Studies major and a part-time museum guide, touring high school students in The Philippine National Museum. During one of her tours, she meets Rafael "Raf" Toledo (Enrique Gil), a University of Santo Tomas as Biology student, and an avid fan of The Eraserheads. They first find themselves in a little clash debating the comparison of the museum's famous painting, and Raf's favorite song Spoliarium. First at odds, they soon begin dating and eventually entered a romantic relationship. Raf wants to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor while Tin aspires to be a museum director once they graduate from college, she also dreams to visit The MET and other museums in New York. They started a sweet and adorable relationship but they soon find themselves falling apart when Tin graduates from college. At Tin's first job in a non-government organization, she was accused of allowing her boss, Janice to steal their company's funds. However, she was saved by Gregory "Greg" Fausto (Luis Alandy), a coworker who likes her and believes that she is innocent. Owing to the heated and extremely stressful situation she is currently in, she breaks up with Raf much to her chagrin, when she learns that Raf was not able to graduate again on time, and is still stuck at preparatory medicine school. Raf initially proposes to Tin, to avoid losing her, but Tin refuses the proposal and leaves Raf for good.

Five years later, Tin is now in a relationship with Greg. She accompanies her boyfriend at the PICC for an awarding ceremony. There, she also sees Raf who is now a professional doctor, also receiving an award. Raf see Tin from afar and he meets her at the hallway of the complex and invites her to see each other sometime. As the two meet again at the same place where the two started their past relationship, Tin finally tells him that she broke up with him because of her problems at the company she previously worked in. After much realization, Raf receives a call from the hospital, needing his immediate presence to treat patients there. Tin accompanied him and there sees Raf working diligently and passionately at the hospital, taking notice of his personality change and that Raf is currently living his dream of being a doctor. While in there, Raf introduces Tin to Aly (Jasmine Curtis-Smith), a fellow doctor and his current girlfriend.

Tin is currently working for Greg's company and is well loved by her subordinates. She performs her job very diligently, but still does not feel the respect and recognition she deserves. She is shut by Greg, by not trusting her professional decisions and somehow forced to let a client criticize her working habits, despite having acceptable reasons. In one of their projects, Tin was sent to New York to present to a client. Tin pleads to Greg that she stay a bit longer to enjoy the city, Greg initially refuses, but allows her to go later on. Unbeknownst to Tin, Raf purchased a ticket flight to New York to join her. Both of them meet once again in New York to fulfill their dreams to visit The MET and other museums. With so much happiness in spending her days in New York with Raf, Tin also mustered the courage and realized that it may not be too late for her to start a career in the field she wholeheartedly desires, she get copies of application forms as souvenirs and as well as reminder that it may not really be too late for her after all. While fulfilling their dreams to see New York, Raf reveals that he broke up with Aly and wanted to marry Tin, she sadly rejects his engagement, stating that she would hurt Greg and his daughter Aisha (Xia Vigor) if she marries him which leads them to argue and to Raf's rejection. Upon returning to the Philippines, Tin discovers Raf reconnected with Aly and reveals that she was pregnant with Raf's child. Tin tries to move on and engages Greg in an enthusiastic conversation about her journey to the New York Museums, but Greg show little to no interest. She later expressed her thoughts about going back to the field she once worked for. They later clash in an argument when Greg forces her to be practical, and reminds her of her past mistakes she made in her previous job, stating that no one will accept her because of it. Greg further states that she is not working well enough. Greg entertains Tin's desire half-heartedly and tried to seek assistance from his connections to have Tin easily land a job in a museum, again not trusting Tin's capabilities as an individual professional. Hurt and now enlightened by the fact that Greg will never trust her life decisions, and that he sees her more as an employee more than his girlfriend, breaks up with him and decides to resign her post at the company. After talking and getting advice from her former college professor, Alwyn (Nonie Buencamino), Tin finally left her current industry to start a new life working for the art industry. At first, her past mistakes continued to hinder her applications being accepted, but she eventually found a job when a museum head told her that everyone can learn from their mistakes and change for the better. Tin begins a new job at the museum to chase her dream to become a museum director. She later visits Raf at the hospital and finally apologizes to him for being a coward and selfish while he too also apologizes to her for his rash behavior and being confused. He also reveals that his relationship with Aly did not work out as Tin shows her love to him as Raf happily leaves to get back on duty.

After the awards ceremony, she is visited again by Raf and finally reconciles their relationship. The film ends with Tin and Raf looking at Juan Luna's Spoliarium while he carries his son from Aly during their visit to the National Museum.

The Guide Questions:

1. What life lessons can be learned from the movie?

The life lesson that can be learned in this movie is you need to sacrifice your feelings to that person even he is the reason of.your happiness. It is the way p pursue the dreams you want in your life. All sacrifices you do is worth it because the both of you become professional. They have a people that they don't believe in you because of the mistake you did once in your life. Prove to them that you can do it and you have so much lesson in that mistake. You don't need to regret of meeting him because that person gave you a happiness and he's part of the memories in your life.

2. What part of the story told by the movie was the most powerful? Why?

Liza Soberano line when Enrique Gil propose to her but she rejected that which is “ Mahal kita Raf pero tama na ". She's tired of understanding Raf. Raf didn't pass his exam that time that's why Liza rejected him because Enrique promise to her that he will passed that exam no matter what. She believe in a promises and that promises mean to be broken.

3. Who was your favorite character in the movie? Why?

My favorite character is Liza Soberano as a “Tin” in the movie. She's a strong woman because even in her downs she's still have a faith to herself to continue her life for her family. For me, she's not a selfish person because she did that for the both of them. And now, we can see that Enrique Gil is now a Doctor and Liza Soberano is a Museum Director.

4. Did anything that happened in the movie remind you of something that has occurred in your own life or that you have seen occur to others?

Yes, the movie reminds me to the person that have a value in me. I always understand him but when it comes to the point that I'm tired because of his behavior. He always say that “ you didn't care about me am I right ". I said to myself just one more hurtful words I promise to let him go. I lost myself because pf begging someone to stay by my side. Just what Liza did, he let go Enrique even she love that guy. Enrique find other woman and have a kid. So I ask myself, what will I do if his not happy in my arms again? I let go the perso I don't want to lost and I said to him “ You can find now a better woman than me. I pray for your happiness ".

My Last Favorite Movie:

“ UP ”

Renowned explorer Charles F. Muntz says he has found a new species of giant bird at Paradise Falls, South America. However, archaeologists study the skeleton of the bird and conclude that Muntz fabricated it. Disgraced, Muntz vows to bring back a live specimen and will not return until he does so.

Youngster Carl Fredricksen meets Ellie. Both are aspiring explorers who idolize Muntz, and the two quickly become friends. Ellie reveals her dream to Carl about going to live by Paradise Falls. The two eventually get married and repeatedly save up for a trip to Paradise Falls, but always end up spending the money on more pressing needs. As an elderly man, Carl finally buys tickets for the trip, but Ellie falls ill and dies before they can go.

Carl continues living in the house he and Ellie fixed up, stubbornly holding out while the neighborhood around him is replaced by skyscrapers. When he unintentionally injures a construction worker, the developer trying to buy his place seizes the opportunity. The court deems him a public menace and orders him to move to a retirement home. However, Carl resolves to keep his promise to Ellie. Having worked his entire life as a balloon salesman, he turns his house into a makeshift airship by attaching hundreds of helium balloons to it and flies away.

Russell, a young Wilderness Explorer trying to earn his final merit badge for "Assisting the Elderly", becomes an accidental stowaway. Before Carl can drop Russell off, a cumulonimbus storm drives them all the way to South America. The house lands on a tepui opposite Paradise Falls. Carl and Russell harness themselves to the still-buoyant house and begin to walk it across the mesa, hoping to reach the falls before the balloons deflate. Russell encounters a tall colorful bird whom he names "Kevin", who is trying to gather food for her chicks. They then meet a Golden Retriever named Dug, who wears a special collar that allows him to speak, and who vows to take the bird to his master. The next day, they encounter a pack of aggressive dogs (also with special collars) led by Alpha, a Doberman Pinscher, and are taken to their master, the elderly Muntz.

Muntz invites Carl and Russell aboard his dirigible, where he explains to them that he is still searching for the giant bird he promised to bring back. Russell notes the bird's similarity to Kevin and Muntz becomes hostile, thinking they are attempting to capture the bird for themselves—he implies he has killed other visitors he suspected of doing the same thing. Carl and Russell flee with Kevin and Dug across a gorge, but Kevin is injured when Alpha bites her leg. Using the tracking device on Dug's collar, Muntz finds and captures Kevin, then sets fire to Carl's house, which pops many of the balloons. Carl is forced to decide whether to save his house or Kevin; he chooses his house, upsetting Russell. Carl finally parks the house at Paradise Falls, where Carl sadly looks through Ellie's childhood scrapbook and finds a final note thanking him for their "adventure" and encouraging him to have a new one.

Reinvigorated, Carl goes outside, only to see Russell flying away, using some balloons and a leaf blower, to try to rescue Kevin. Carl lightens the house enough for him and Dug to follow. Muntz captures Russell, but Carl and Dug board the dirigible and free both Russell and Kevin. Muntz pursues them around the airship and corners Kevin, Dug, and Russell inside Carl's house. They escape by jumping back onto the dirigible after Carl lures Kevin with chocolate; Muntz leaps after them, but gets caught on some balloon lines and falls to the ground far below. The house, having lost too many balloons, descends out of sight through the clouds.

Carl and Russell reunite Kevin with her chicks and fly the dirigible back home, taking all of Muntz's dogs with them. Russell receives his "Assisting the Elderly" badge and Carl gives him a bottle cap from a grape soda called "The Ellie Badge", the same one given to him by Ellie during his first encounter with her when they were children. Carl then becomes a grandpa-like figure to Russell. Unbeknownst to Carl, his house lands on the cliff beside Paradise Falls, fulfilling his promise to Ellie.

Guide Questions:

1. A house is a home when it is filled with love, You’re never too old to achieve your dreams, Stay true to yourself and what you believe in and It’s the people that matter in life, not the things.

2.the most powerful part of the movie was when the old man finally achieve their dream. To see the falls but apparently it is only him who it... For me this is the best and powerful part cause achieving something you dreamed of is the best thing to happen in our life.

3. My favorite character was the old man... Cause even if his too old and her wife died he just continue to reach for their dream.

4. The happening in the movie that i encounter was achieving my dreams

[selvra]

(1) A Perplexing Beginning; Thank You, Though

“You’re going to die tomorrow.”

“Is that an absolute?”

They gestured down. “It’s what the sticks say.”

The other looked at the sticks. They didn’t seem to be speaking. Sadly, they had never learned stick-talk in school. “Do the sticks say when?”

The Speaker of the Sticks rolled their eyes. “The sticks have no concept of time.” They said, in a tone that shouted ‘obviously’.

“Then how do they know it’s tomorrow?” 

“They just do.” The Speaker responded.

If they were capable of exasperation, they would’ve sighed. “Do they say how?”

“Nope.”

“Your sticks seem rather unhelpful.” 

“If they were useful, we would’ve built a house out of them.” The Speaker said, sagely.

They nodded. That made sense. If a stick had absolutely any other use it wouldn’t be used for fortune-telling. “Well, that’s problematic.”

“Death often is.”

“I don’t suppose-”

“You’re going to die tomorrow. The sticks say it.”

Damned sticks. They considered breaking all the sticks in half, but then realized that such a task would merely double the amount of sticks. Such incredible power, they remarked.

“I don’t have much time left. A terrible day to you and your sticks, good sir.” 

The Speaker of the Sticks nodded. That was a pretty common reaction. “Not as terrible as yours will be.”

They had to admit it. The Speaker was likely right.

In Which Nobody Cares Except For One Person

After they had taken a customary Complimentary Chekhov’s Stick from the Speaker, they set out from the Hovel of the Speaker of the Sticks all the way down the Road of the Hovel of the Speaker of the Sticks to the bottom of the Hill of the Road of the Hovel of the Speaker of the Sticks.

After completing the arduous task that was speaking those names aloud, they were at the bottom of the Hill (of the Road of the Hovel of the Speaker of the Sticks). After which, they decided to then Multitask - getting back to Not-Plot-Relevant Village, as well as processing the matter of their death.

Luckily, the latter only took a matter of seconds. Their conclusion was:

Well, that’s dull.

Which was a good thing, too, since coincidentally it only took a similar amount of seconds to travel back to Not-Plot-Relevant Village. How convenient.

Walking in the Indescribable Wooden Gate, they were approached by a brand new challenge: the Character Development Tool Childhood Best Friend. Pronouncing this name would take more time than the previous two undertaken tasks combined, so they decided to instead call them Character.

“Greetings, Character,” They said, in absolute monotony.

“Hey!” Character responded with a gleeful smile, running up to hug them. They stood still as a statue, though made sure the hug didn’t break their Complimentary Chekhov’s Stick. Not only would this then add an additional stick to the world, a fate worse than their oncoming death, but it would also screw them over in the last act.

Not that it matters anyway. They’re dying.

“Character, please progress the Plot. I’m afraid I don’t have much time left.”

“That’s a lie!” Character responded, a massive smile on their face. “You don’t feel fear!”

“This is true.” They responded, amazed at the stamina of Character’s facial muscles. “However, I must request that you ask me what the Speaker of the Sticks foretold.”

“What did the Speaker of the Sticks foretell?” Character responded, their smile growing ever bigger. 

“I am to die tomorrow.”

Character’s smile did not falter. Character is an endless ball of positivity. In this sea of infinite terrors, Character can face down the abyssal void with a smile so large the void will tell them to chill out. Character’s smile is such that a serial killer would fear for their own life if encountering Character on a subway, and it is such a facet of their personality that if Character fails to smile, it is as if the wind had stopped blowing, or the ocean had dried up. “What! You can’t die! That’s terrible! There must be a way to stop this!” They said in a lovely, joyful tone.

They shook their head. “No. There is nothing we can do. Not within these three walls.”

Character glanced from one wall to the other wall of the Indescribable Wooden Gate, and then realized that they may be violating the Tenet of Indescribability. This was so horrifying that they couldn’t help but beam so widely that they feared their cheeks might tear.

“It is okay, Character. It may happen in a minute, or it may happen in twenty three hours, fifty-nine minutes. Either way, we have no way of knowing.”

“What?” Character said, merrily. “But it’s always Somewhere Around Noon in Non-Plot-Relevant Village!” 

“Our perception of time is absolutely unrelated to the matter at hand.”

“But, if you’ll die in your tomorrow-” Character’s horrifyingly sunny, ecstatic, festive smile widened as they were interrupted.

“You fool. You dolt. You absolute buffoon.” They started, and Character grinned with radiant jubilation. Perhaps they were getting off on this, though they were not sure if that’d be In Character for them. “Clearly, it is not my tomorrow. If I had control over who’s tomorrow it is, I’d choose yours. Tomorrows come about as easily to you as misery or depression.”

“My delight is gay and endless, as are my afternoons.” Character blithesomely muttered, but in a kind of happy way, as if they had just solved that first problem on their math test that they had skipped and decided to come back to later, but had been anxiously mulling over in the back of their mind all test long because they weren’t sure if they’d be able to do anything if they came back to it, but it turned out one of the multiple choice problems held a hint that they then used to unlock their secret mathematical powers and solve the problem. “Well, with an unknown amount of time remaining, it might be prudent to get to the point.”

“You’re right. To The Point I go.”

Does Humor Keep Your Attention?

After saying goodbye to the Not-Plot-Relevant Village and Character, they gathered up their Complimentary Chekhov’s Stick and other Things, they went on a months-long travel through trials and tribulations, monsters and mayhems, riddles and another R-word, etcetera. This part is irrelevant, and they skipped through it about as fast as this paragraph did. As they weren’t sure of their lifespan, through the power of Timeskip, they made this multi-month journey rife with character growth into a matter of sentences.

However, a number of facts about them must be mentioned, for some purpose or another:

They now had a scar on their face, though it made them no less attractive

Their physical attractiveness was also not degraded by the fact that the matter of showering and hygiene was conveniently ignored

They had met a Love Interest, and promptly decided to leave the Love Interest after they realized that their promise to marry when “this was All Over” was rather difficult, considering the circumstances

Their hair is now longer

They had not felt an emotion, as such things were mostly meaningless, as with most emotions in most stories, with a few extremely notable exceptions, such as Spot, the book series about Spot, a dog, particularly Spot’s First Walk and Where’s Spot?.

They had gained a Pet, and you, the reader, feel more love towards this pet than the rest of the story combined

Finally, they were nearing The Point. However, they considered the presence of the Antagonist, and feared that more delays would be had. A difficulcy.

That’s not a word, by the way. But it should be. It sounds cool. I’m aware of the word “Difficulty”. I simply dislike it after it murdered my brother.

“Pet, do you sense the Antagonist?” They said to the Pet.

The Pet spun in twenty-two circles in the space of a second, it’s tentacles jiggling, and it’s many faces and tongues spraying saliva into every unfortunate open mouth in a sixteen-Sheppey distance.

It was worth the two-minute period of time it took to find a unit of measurement that would inconvenience both Imperial and Metric readers. Also, if you are an Imperial reader, kindly go come up with an activity to do right now that would cause you great inconvenience for an extended period of time. It’s okay, you should be used to it. Idiot.

After Pet had exuded a horrifying sound that burst every window in a 1659 Moot radius, the answer was clear:

They should have adopted a talking cat, not a Lovecraftian Deity as their Pet.

However, although they didn’t speak R'Lyehian, Pet did properly communicate the presence of Antagonist. He Was Nearing. 

“I AM HERE TO SERVE AS A TEMPORARY OBSTACLE ON YOUR JOURNEY TO GREATNESS,” Antagonist said, bursting through the ground like a Chryssalid. 

They would’ve found that horrifying if they had the capacity to feel anything after their exposure to Pet. Pet began an earcurdling chant. After it had successfully turned their ears to butter, it set about ushering in the next Age of Darkness. 

“You cannot stop me. I have the power of Friendship.” They said.

“IT INJURES MY SOUL THAT YOU IMPLY I HAVE NO FRIENDS, _____.”

“What was that. What did you do. You do realize that series of underscores causes a blank sound effect in the mental narrative of the reader, and that interrupts the flow of the reading.”

“IT IS NOT LIKE I HAVE ANYTHING ELSE DO CALL YOU.”

“I am the reason for this world’s existence, and thus the creator of you.”

“PERFECT. YOU ARE THE FIRST THING IN MY LIFE THAT I CAN CALL FATHER.”

“My gender is currently on extended leave. Father is inaccurate. Please refer to me in a more neutral way.”

“DADDY.”

“Excellent. I appreciate your progressive attitude and consideration.”

“LIKE I WAS SAYING, I AM HERE TO SERVE AS THE FINAL ROADBLOCK BEFORE YOU GET TO THE pOINT.”

“That was weird. Why do you insist on screwing up the reader’s mental narrative with your strange capitalization. It is as if you have been screaming ever since birth.”

“I AM NOT SCREAMING, I AM SIMPLY A LIMITLESS SOURCE OF EVIL AND ANTAGONISM. AND I WASN’T BORN, I WAS CREATED.”

“As were we all.” They said. Pet’s twenty-one quadrillion eyes began to glow an iridescent, neon black. “Anyway, I’ve strived to make this journey as quick as possible, so I’ve already scrolled to the bottom of and accepted the terms and conditions of your Tragic and Relatable, Although Hypocritical and Poorly Thought Out, Backstory. With your permission, I will now step over this hypothetical roadblock.”

“BY EVERY MEAN IN EXISTENCE. STEP ON ME, DADDY.”

Pet hissed with every mouth, pore, and molecule in this entirely hypothetical universe. That sentence made the Void very, very unhappy.

Also, some giant smiling mouth is blocking the caravan ushering in the party supplies of the Age of Darkness. Pet picked up his cellular device to call his manager and inform him of the delay. It hoped this wouldn’t put him in line for termination, as the Void was currently going through a recession, and jobs were quite difficult to get.

They walked past the Antagonist, who let out a questionably sexual moan. Pet promptly detonated his spleen into snakes, and resolved to vanquish every Sexual in the galaxy.

You’re Not The Only Person Here

...well, kind of.

“Ah. The point.” They said as they observed the limitless nothing around them. “What is my task now, Pet?”

Pet tesselates.

“You are right. We have reached the final act. I think it’s time.” They pull out the Complimentary Chekhov’s Stick. “What am I supposed to do with that, do you think?”

Pet’s impossibilities begin throbbing.

“I have a feeling I will die soon.” They say. “I’m afraid I didn’t have the emotional capacity to have enjoyed this experience. My writer was too busy keeping me as basic a character as possible so that the reader could superimpose themselves onto the blank slate that is my personality.”

“Still,” They place their hands on both ends of the stick. “I wish I could’ve felt something. Done something important. Impacted somebody.”

Pet’s countlessness continues to pulsate. Comic relief.

“I suppose I have found The Point, though. Although I will die, and fade from memory, it is a blessing to have lived in the first place. For a few, fleeting seconds, I have Existed, not within a hypothetical universe, but within something real.”

They look at you.

Within a mind. Within your mind. You have allowed me to be here, and for some reason you stayed with me, through this whole story. I’m not real. I can’t feel. I can’t realistically do anything tangible. But, through this, you’ve given me meaning. Through donating me some of your time, your precious, real, time, I’ve had the opportunity to live. To really live.

I’m sorry if it seems that I’ve squandered it. I suppose there are better characters, better universes, to keep in your mind. But you’ve let me be here, and you’ve shared your gift of conscience with me. 

I might be alive for a bit after you stop reading. Maybe minutes. If I’m lucky, maybe an hour. But it’s okay to let me go. Tomorrow must come eventually. You decide when my Tomorrow is.

If you want, you can bring me back. After all, this isn’t the last you’ve heard of me. This isn’t the end of this story. Not my story, nor yours, but our story, together. I am the materials and your mind is the catalyst.

I’m tired, now. But, I hope to see you again. Thank you.

In the meantime, you’re welcome to ask me questions.

They snap the stick, and the resounding crack is heard throughout the universe, even by you.

#writing #writeblr #creative writing #science fiction #original writing

[giggleandtears]

Crimson Renegade, Part 1

Enter me, (s)he says in parentheses  

Summary: It’s not even her first day and she’s already getting the Enterprise out of trouble

Pairings: OC/Jim Kirk(Platonic), OC/Leonard McCoy(Eventual Romance)

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

My journey to Gamma quadrant has been wholly uneventful. Thank the gods. I had a few gas giants and nebula to befriend but other than that, I had only my thoughts to keep me company.  It has been pure bliss but I know it will be swiftly ending in a matter of days. Well, if I'm lucky, I'll get days.  The USS Enterprise is not known for its tranquil environment.  

Speak of the devil-

As I exit warp, at my assigned rendezvous coordinates, my view is littered with debris. Shards of metal and tempered glass glitter around me in the vast expanse. Small chunks bounce off my shield and wings, but it's nothing my ship can’t handle.  

"Battle on my first day. Of course," I mutter to myself.  

I trigger a quick scan to follow the trajectory of the debris and any lasting remnants of the Enterprise's unique energy signature. Oh, this is bad. Looking at the projected course the Enterprise took, it spans roughly 3.7 parsecs. On any other day my pulse engines would suffice in traversing such a distance. You never know what new wonders might be tucked away, but by the sheer magnitude of this scrap heap rotating around me, the Enterprise may be in need of immediate assistance.  

What the crap, Kirk?

I set my course and engage my warp drive. In a matter of moments, I exit. My proximity alert sounds as a wing of some kind careens towards me.  

"Shields to max," I shout, then roll right only to have the debris lightly skim the stern. "Gotta love voice commands. Engage cloak and lock onto Enterprise coms."  

"Cloak engaged and locking onto Enterprise coms." Making the onboard computer's accent a deep Scottish brogue was the best decision I ever made. I smile while engaging thrusters to find a better vantage point.

The coms are silent for a beat then the familiar voice of my new Captain sounds in my cockpit.  

"Chekov, I need to know what came out of that warp window," Jim orders in his own polite way, controlled concern lacing his voice.  

"I am sorry sir, but the window closed with no discernable trace of a ship."  

"Great. Just what we need. Invisible ships."

I start to hail the Enterprise to alert them of my presence when their flank is bombarded with phasers, erupting in lightning like sparks.

"Oh no. Today is not the day."

I double back smoothly with a half loop into a spin to right myself and shoot any foreign ships in my path.

"God, these things are sturdy."  

I inflict a significant amount of damage to the closest ship on my way back to the Enterprise but not enough to completely disable them. They themselves look like piles of scrap, perfect for an ambushing any unsuspecting ship that meanders by.  

"Mirror Enterprise targeting system," I command.  

One of my secondary screens flicks from the continuous diagnostic readings of my ship's system to the Enterprise's view of the battle field. An analysis of the enemy ship's unique variants begins to stream in, surely from Spock's order as protocol dictates. This is one disadvantage to being the lone pilot of a ship. Though the solitude matchless, multitasking can become cumbersome. Vigorously defending your future crew whilst sifting through scrolling logs, with the intent of finding one useful piece of intel, is quite a hassle.  

"Idiosyncratic element detected. State: volatile," My on-board computer informs me.  "Hmm, I forgot I built that alert. Isolate element and target any vulnerabilities."

The Enterprise and I both target the element, used the in foreign ship's power coils, and watch the inky expanse erupt in reds and oranges. A ring of explosions cascade from the Enterprise badly damaging two of the larger ships. The vast battle field is quiet for several steady beats until a swarm of guided missiles head straight for the Enterprise warp engines. Federation ships are made for explorations, not all out battles. If the missiles reach the engines, the Enterprise will be left stranded and completely at the mercy of the enemy ships.

I push my thrusters to the max and reach the Enterprise before the torpedoes do. I loop back, hovering right above the Federation vessel. Facing the incoming barrage, I fire at will. I gun down each missile, one by one, and the Enterprise is left mystified as to why the torpedoes are exploding before they reach them.

"Sulu?" Kirk asks, his mono-syllabic question loaded.  

"Not us sir."

Two missiles skirt my defenses, but the Enterprise picks them off. Broadcasting the comm, I finally hail the Enterprise.  

"Artemis to Enterprise. Artemis to Enterprise."

"We hear you loud and clear Artemis. Thanks for the save." Kirk replies, relief emanating from his voice.  

"You're not safe yet. We have incoming!"  

Kirk calls for evasive maneuvers as two more torpedoes hit the right side of the Enterprise.

"Shields at 83 percent." Sulu informs.  

"Enterprise, I'm going back into the fray. Sending data packet now, so you can track me."

Because it would really suck if you shot me down after all this.

"Receiving data packet. Tracking location." Sulu announces.

"Enterprise, if you target the ships, I'll run interference on the torpedoes."

"Copy that Artemis."

The Enterprise rights itself, and I float above the bridge once again. Using my phasers, I push back the incoming projectiles until there is sufficient space between the Enterprise and the rival ships, four in total.  

Diving back into the battle, I sweep left, dropping small cloaked devices as a wall of defense for the Enterprise. Hopefully I won’t have to use all my prototypes in this one skirmish. With the Enterprise focusing on the ships themselves, I press on into the raging battle.  

Swiftly flicking a sequence of switches and key strokes, my back phasers are trained onto the enemy weapon’s distinctive energy variants. A steady stream of soft vibrations ripple through my chair as the rear weapons system fires without prejudice. I maneuver in and out of the impeding projectiles in a whimsical dance, touching nothing. Upon my order, I release a string of rudimentary instruments in my misshapen path. My back phasers stop and start intermittently as to not shoot the Enterprise when it veers into its sights.  

Various torpedoes and rail weapons hurdling towards the Enterprise trail behind me. With a tap of a single key they halt as if suspended in an invisible dragnet. The second load of devices I planted begin to spin, glowing a pale violet. With each rapid rotation, the stagnant weaponry shakes and swirl in a mechanical tornado. When the revolutions seem to reach a fever pitch, adding more and more trapped shrapnel, the twisting conglomerate is sucked into a jagged mass. A wide-spanning quake emanates from within my magnetized EMP bombs, rendering the expended weapons inert.  

A sly smile ghosts onto my lips as Sulu utters an astonished, 'wow'.  

Time stands still in the continuous volley of weapons fire.  The Enterprise and I work in unison to vanquish the incoming threat. Coming out of a tailspin, I survey the wreckage surrounding me. I initiate an updated scan for remaining energy variants as I chart my way back to the Enterprise. The unhealthy pace of my rocketing heart finally begins to slow. I manage a labored swipe of my arm against my damp forehead. I haven’t experienced such a rush in far too many moons, but I wished it was under better circumstances of course.  

Swerving in and out of the wreckage, my readings remain nominal and steady. It’s a testament of my skilled crew that each oscillating piece of debris cluttering my view is from the enemy ships, not the Enterprise. Jerking to attention from reading the Enterprise’s running damage log, my ship alarm blares, signaling an incoming alert. Reacting a fraction of a second too late, a torpedo careens over my bow.  

“Where the bilgesnipe’s tail did that come from?” I grind out.  

The portable shields I dropped in front of the Enterprise activate as the expelled torpedo collides with an invisible wall. The proceeding explosions curve around the Enterprise in a fiery swell. The Enterprise and I are left scrambling as the incoming bombardment breaks through my defenses. We have no visible target to fire upon.  The Enterprise is pushed back a great distance but remains intact. Compressed air or some type of coolant spews into the atmosphere from a possible hull breach on the lower deck.  

Sulu apprises us that shields have dropped to 63 percent, his voice tight.  

Running a series of more in-depth scans, the results reveal nothing that indicates any active ships in our vicinity. The onslaught has seemingly come from nowhere.  

“How is that poss…oh crap,” the realization dawning on me. “I don’t think I'm the only cloaked ship.”

Trying to buy the Enterprise, as well as myself, more time, I turn sharply away from the battle, haphazardly dropping more EMPs.  

“Artemis to Enterprise, there are other cloaked ships. I repeat, there are cloaked ships in our vicinity.”

Shooting at full speed towards the outskirts of the battle, I triangulate the probable max missile range according to the size and type of these particular ships.  

“Artemis, what are you doing?” Kirk asks, no doubt tracking my locator along its seemingly nonsensical route.  

Ending this

“We can’t fight what we can’t see and my EMPs can only do so much. I'm sending 2 sets of coordinates. Once you move aft to the first set, on my mark, put auxiliary systems on standby. You’ll find cover out of the blast radius.”  

Kirk commands Sulu to reverse thrusters without question. A swell of pride blooms in my chest, his confidence in me unwavering.  

Reaching the edge of the target zone, I face the battle once more. Reverberations of my charging cannon thrum as it nears full power.  

“When the blast dissipates,” I continue, “you should have enough time to fire her back up and skip bail.  I'll meet you at the second set of coordinates.”  

Almost instinctively, Sulu plots a course to the coordinates, likely in response to Kirk’s commanding nod.

"Artemis, is this course of action wise?” The measured voice of Spock asks. “Firing an energy weapon of that magnitude while your cloak is active, will no doubt render it unstable. In all probability, there is an 87% chance of complete failure. You will be vulnerable to attack."  

An audible whirl sings in my cockpit as streams of energy cascade along the edge of my wings, forming small balls on the tips. With each passing second, the swirling spheres grow and before long they shoot forward, unifying into an even larger expanding concentration of blue brilliance. In all my test fires, the sight of my weapon is truly something to behold. The base was always left at a standstill until its blinding radiance had diminished. However, the neighboring combatants haven’t a clue as to what is brewing underneath my cloak.  

"Don’t worry Spock. I have every intention of giving you a run for all your Energy Credits.”  

“I am not concerned with my energy credits but your...”

Before Spock can finish voicing his unease, I waste no time informing the Enterprise my energy weapon has reached full power.  

“And mark!”  

In the distance, the Enterprise maneuvers around two missiles before its faint glow is temporarily extinguished.  

Releasing the energy burst, a bright pulse emanates from my ship, breaking through the confines of the cloak. A silent wave rolls lazily into the dark blanket of space. Azure, edged in a startling chrome, the Plasma shockwave advances forward, igniting each ship it touches. The corners of my vision begin to spark and fizzle, finally revealing the fleet of vessels that were completely surrounding us.  

The muted radiance of the Enterprise returns as her systems come back online. The space encircling the craft begins to warp, defining the warp cores very namesake. The Enterprise catapults forward, into safe harbor. I allow myself a moment to rest my head and expel a sigh of relief. The Enterprise would have been decimated in short order without my canon’s successful reprieve.  First battle down, likely many more to come.  

I start another fly-by and scan for life and power sources. The varying ships are still mostly intact. The blast only managed to disable their cloaks and short circuit their systems. My own cloak is barely holding at 6 %. Using my tractor beam, I manage to get a sizable piece of the only ship we managed to completely destroy. Hopefully it’ll help me determine where they originated from.  

My radar beeps as the surrounding energy readings begin to climb. Red indicator beacon after beacon blinks and solidifies on my screen. The legion of ships will be back on line shortly.  

Resilient little buggers  

My cloak slips down to 4% and I hastily set my coordinates to the rally point. Engaging my FTL system, I escape toward safety, before a battle begins anew. Exiting warp, I pick up the Enterprise’s comms.  Chekov’s distinctive accent notifies the Captain that a warp window has been detected.  

The Enterprise hails me but I’m entranced by the amalgam of colors enveloping me. It’s as if I've nestled myself in a cloud that has been dipped in the ink of a sunset. Moseying forward, the Enterprise is exactly where it should be, tucked away in the heart of a nebula. The visceral urge to reach out and touch the intangible is still the most fantastical yet unnerving feeling I’ve ever experienced in the black. The radioactive nature of the gases concealing us leaves me wondering if I’m witnessing the death of a star or its birth.  

Jim calls to me again. “Enterprise to Artemis. Artemis, do you read?”  

Snapping to attention, I guide my ship to the Enterprise and loiter in front of the Bridge. As if my cloak senses the danger has passed, it dissipates like fine silk rippling to the ground.  

Leaning lazily over my console, the Bridge crew is clearly in view.  “You rang?”  

A cocky grin alights my face and Jim can only shake his head and smile. He instructs me, knowing full well the reason for my delay in answering his hail. “Once you finish star gazing, you’re welcome to board.”  

“Copy that,” I chuckle and make my way to the shuttle area.  

Settling in the shuttle bay, I'm acutely aware of the grandeur of the Enterprise. I’ve been assigned to multiple ships, but never one of this magnitude. Artemis is a respectable size, far better than the average federation shuttle. But against the backdrop of the massive shuttle area, I feel all the more minuscule.  

Artemis is a 4th generation Stealth Fighter, equipped with warp and cloaking capabilities. Both were installed under my care, among other rare accoutrements. Her dark hue blends into the pitch of space, even without her cloak. In those rare moments I desire to be seen, illuminators are strategically placed along the wings and cockpit. On all accounts, she handles with a viperous grace. Beginning the power down sequence, a low hiss sounds as my wings retract inward. The outer wings smoothly lift vertically at their hinges, fully compact.  

Leaving the cockpit, I disconnect the emptied power cell belonging to the cloak. Adding four controlled isotope pellets, the canister begins to warm before the top spirals shut. With a gentle shake, the inert embers reignite, blossoming in blues and yellows. The tiny explosions build and expand into a thick congealed mass. Clear observation panels on the sides display the chemical reaction shifting from a vibrant green to a blinding white. Replacing it snugly back in the panel, the power cell will need about an hour to reach full power. I’m not expecting to use Artemis for more than the occasional joy ride and practical simulations but it never hurts to be prepared.  

Stepping off my ship, bag slung over my shoulder, I take in the hustle and bustle of the scampering crew. Breathing in the familiar scent of recycled air, an innate sense of ownership washes over me. This is not a temporary post. This ship, these people, now belong to me.  

Jim leans casually against a stack of crates. Anyone else would have surely fallen. “That’s definitely not regulation.”  

“My ship or me?” I ask, meeting him where he stands.  Jim takes a thoughtful pause to fully take in the sight of me and my ship. We stand in stark contrast to the other docked ships and scurrying crewman.  My lack of federation issued jumpsuit and unruly curls are a testament to my lax attitude while traversing the galaxy to meet the Enterprise.  

He replies with a cheeky grin.  “Both.”

A knowing smile sweeps across my face as I step into his arms. Jim radiates a warmth that is synonymous with our long friendship. There could have been a palpable sting of jealousy as I watched Jim being handed his own command ahead of me. But I have never desired the captain’s chair. It's a privilege to be back under the command of someone I respect so greatly, and a treasured friend no less.  

Squeezing me a little tighter, Jim chuckles into my ear. “And I thought I knew how to make an entrance.”

I laugh at the thought of Jim’s many memorable arrivals and daring escapes. Immersing myself in every detail of the Enterprise’s mission’ reports has been one of my secret obsessions for many years.  

“Hey, it’s not my fault you somehow found trouble in an uninhabited area.”

He concedes the point with a shrug but Jim’s cheerful demeanor has slipped away. His posture has grown taut, his grip tight, as he holds me at arm's length.  He studies me with an intense gaze under a deeply furrowed brow. When he speaks, his voice is quieted in concern.  

“Are you ok?”  

“I’m fine Jim-bo," I say, patting his hand in reassurance, “not a scratch on me.”

Jim would have known if I had been hit during our scuffle with the Scrap-yardigans. I would have voiced it, as would Sulu. But he doesn’t look convinced. Even with my assured answer, his scrutiny continues. I think he knows I felt the concussive aftershocks of the explosions, even though I wasn’t expressly hit.  

“Well, we’ll be taking a trip to Medbay just to make sure.”

I’ve been on board all of 10 minutes and I’ve already resigned myself to using my patented pout. That definitely has to be a record. “Come on Jim, I just got here and isn’t there a hull breach I can help with?” Hopefully it will still have the desired effect. Jim was never immune to its power but that was before he was my Captain.  

Strolling up to Jim and I, Spock interjects before Jim can answer. “There is indeed a hull breach on decks 16 and 17.” He says.  

Taking a deep breath, my eyes plead with Jim to let me help. The faster we’re done with repairs, the quicker we can leave this sector. Those nearly impenetrable ships left a bad taste in my mouth.  

“As you have only just boarded Commander, your mandatory physical has yet to be completed. Until such time, it is against regulation to assist in any repairs unless under direct threat, in which we are not.”

Jim smirks in agreement. With that, I deflate in defeat but still greet my fellow Commander with a genuine smile. "Spock, you always were a stickler for protocol but it is good to see you.”

Bowing at the waist, Spock welcomes me in return. “You as well, Commander.” Shifting attention back to the Captain, Spock hands Jim the PADD resting at his side, and readies himself for his report. Gathering my bag, we make our way toward the Turbo lift.  

“So, how’s our girl? Injuries?” Jim asks his Second in Command.  

“We are currently reporting 11 injuries, all minor in nature.”

“And the hull breach repairs are underway?”

“Yes Captain. They should be completed within the hour.”

“Thank you, Mr. Spock. Eloquent and informative as always.” Jim says offhandedly, all the while sending me a pointed look.  Translation, the crew has everything under control without your helping hands. “Do we have any idea who they are? Where they came from?”  

“Not as of yet. The database inquiries thus far have been inconclusive. Without a piece of the enemy ship I believe we are at a loss.”

“I may be able to help with that.” I say, stepping into the lift in front of Spock and Jim. “I was able to retract a sizable piece of ship debris.”  

“That will be most useful. When will-”  

Spock stops short when a familiar Scottish lilt rings out into the bay. ‘Until next time lassie’, reaches into the lift before the doors close. Artemis has fully powered down and is awaiting her next mission.  

Both turning to me, Jim and Spock wear the same incredulous expression, complete with matching arched brows.  

Jim is the first to speak, low and deliberate. “Was that Scotty?”

Staring holes into the floor, I nod yes.  

“Does Scotty know you use his voice for your on-board computer?” Jim’s voice is alight with mischief. A looming dread slowly creeps into my stomach.  

This lift is taking much too long. It’ll be the first thing I inspect tomorrow.  

“No, and there’s no reason to tell him.” In all honesty, I forgot to switch it back to the standard voice setting. I’ve always found Scotty’s excitable voice infectious and soothing. But in the wrong hands that knowledge will only be used to torment me, i.e. my astute captain.  

Jim crosses his arms and levels a knowing smirk. “That was before you tried to use your pout against me.”  

Well, that was a massive miscalculation on my part.  

#jim kirk/oc #leonard mccoy/oc #jim kirk #leonard mccoy #star trek #fanfic #bones #jim kirk/reader #jim kirk x reader #jim kirk x oc #leonard bones mccoy #leonard mccoy x reader #red shirt #star trek aos #aos #scotty #spock #mr. spock #enterprise #starship enterprise

[haphazardlyparked]

combatants II

i interrupt the month of poetry (already) because i can’t stop thinking about this stupid science fiction stargate rip off and needed to write more of it. 

--- 

“Sarko.” 

K’s voice over the comms is clear as day, steady and commanding. Sarko would never have guessed she’s speaking from a cell aboard the wuzari mothership that looms before them, rotating on its own axis squarely blocking Elpis-P1 and its route back to the Pandora Gate. It is — as far as they can tell — a circular, contained greymetal thing made of interconnected parts; it’s hard to be sure, because it’s got cloaking technology that shifts constantly, parts of the ship winking into view and disappearing.

 And somewhere in there, K’s trapped with at least two stab-wounds, one to her leg, non-fatal. One to her side, likelihood of mortality high. Micah couldn’t—wouldn’t—say how long she had.  

 Sarko feels like he can’t breathe. 

The way she talks, though, she’s Commander K through and through. He never would’ve guessed she’s dying, but he’s had Eyes on her, and even if he hadn’t, the audio picked up by comms told a complete enough story. She’s dying –

“Sarko, goddamn you, are you there?” 

 Sarko fumbles with the controls, patches himself on. “Commander,” he rasps.

 “W-Captain Sar’koza’il,” K says calmly, formally, no time wasted, the aspirated breaths in his full name hissing sharply against slightly damaged comms tech. “This is your Commander. Authorization code K-five-nine-sil’ma’nori-six-four. Activate Pyrrha Protocol.” 

Sarko straightens sharply, breath shuddering through him as he forces himself to breathe slow, controlled; duty is like a brace snapping his spine into place. He embraces it for as long as it’ll keep him together.

 “Commander,” he acknowledges, and he’s already turning away from the Eyes he still has on K’s stiff, stretched out form. He doesn’t watch the rise and fall of her chest just to reassure himself that she’s still breathing, because he’s got Pyrrha Protocol to trigger; he’s got their only way home – the Gate – to destroy.

“Sarko.” She’s still cool, still so controlled. “No holding back. Blow the Gate to hell; I want the Pyrrha to devastate this wuzari ship.” 

The Pyrrha Protocol shutdown isn’t particularly difficult to activate, but adding a vicious boom to it will take a careful precision. Sarko freezes as he comes up to the first of the sequences he would need to reconfigure.

 “I can do that,” he reports, warily. 

 “Good.” There’s something vicious in that furious satisfaction, something Sarko recognizes as sharp rage. Knows it’s because if she’s not furious, then she can only be resigned, and K will not die resigned. (It would never occur to her that she could be afraid; Sarko doesn’t remember the last time he wasn’t terrified.)

 Avenge me, her dark tone doesn’t say, a silent order lashing at Sarko. 

 He could do his duty; he could be vengeful. Sarko could rig the biggest fucking explosion the wuzari will have ever seen; would have ever seen, if survivors were left to remember. They wouldn’t be. Sarko doing his duty would be as merciless as K’s tightly focused rage demands.

 But Sarko is selfish. 

 “Pyrrha, boom, easy. I’ll do it after we’ve retrieved you.” 

 K hisses. “Absolutely not, Captain. That’s an order.” 

“Sorry, Commander,” Sarko says. In his head, it’s like his determination is a cold fire licking through his thoughts, pulling them together, crystallizing a plan; is this what K feels like, when she’s got a combatant down and three wuzari still closing in on her?

 Sarko turns back to the Pyrrha Protocol. Because he’s always been good at multitasking, he pulls up a second screen and starts directing new programs designed to pull data from the wuzari ship; he taps at a third screen to summon Lawson and her team. 

 “Captain, acknowledge that order,” K snaps. 

 “Negative, sir, command not received,” Sarko blithely lies. “Something’s interfering with the feed.”

 “That’s not - that’s clearly not the case, you’re not even trying, Sarko - ”

 “Standby while I debug the connection, Commander.” 

#wow these are some messed up characters #science fiction fantasy #i'm determined that the fantasy label will be deserved at some point #combatants #writing #year of the orange

[sweetyfrecil-blog]

Undecided

12/09/2018

5:30 PM

      Based on what we are experiencing right now, choosing about what real world problem we should solve is not as easy as expected. We need to consider several factors which could really affect our decision as a team. As a team, we need to consider and listen to each other’s opinion in order for us to decide as one.

       As a recap for last week, we have proposed about an online application for Automatic Attendance Monitoring system and also we have already considered our back-up plan which is about making a prototype of it using Arduino, gsm and etc. However, one of our teammates told us about  his point of view about the need for us to think of another problem to solve because of some circumstances (involves the complexity of the project, cost of production, and etc.) that we may encounter if we are going to pursue with our Attendance Monitoring System (with prototype).

      So as suggested by one of our teammate Kent, it is better to create a product which is not as complicated or difficult to make but has a good impact or is a big help in solving certain problems. So during our second proposal to Sir Jael, we have proposed about his idea which is about multi sources charger. In my own point of view, this project was of course a big help also to those who are really fond in using cellphones or gadgets because this prototype can be  multitasking, which means that it can perform different task and has many advantages compared to the existing chargers. For this mean time, since not all of us have fully agreed with it, we need to have a brainstorming again in order for us to be certain with every decision we are going to make.

       During our activity which is about making the first part of our Business Model Canvass, we were not able to make it immediately because we were bothered of what to choose between our two proposed projects. The two projects for me can be beneficial but, in my own opinion and in terms of its purpose, the one which is really helpful and can be considered as a solution to real world problem is the automatic attendance monitoring system. However there were still many factors that we need to consider specially the complexity of the project. So in our BMC activity, we go with the multi sources charger.

       As of now, I can say that we have not yet decided well about what we are going to choose. It is very important that each one of us could agree towards a common idea or perspective in order for us to decide as one. I am really looking forward that as soon as possible, we can already have a fixed decision in order for us to continue what we’ve started.

#techno101 #blog4

[learnspanishfans]

How to Ace a Job Interview in a Non-Native Language

I remember one of my most exciting job interviews in a non-native language. It was with a company that I had followed for several years, and I really admired its growth and development. When I was informed that they had an interesting position available, I immediately realized that this was fate. I prepared intensively for the meeting with my future employer, studied the accomplishments of the company from A to Z, learned as much as possible about all the details, read comments from the company’s employees, and found photos of the office as well as the social network accounts of my future colleagues. And I sent my resume. They contacted me fairly quickly and invited me to an interview in English. On Skype! Although I’ve been comfortable with foreign languages since childhood, this frightened me, since my dream job was at stake. Jumping ahead, I’ll simply say that I was successful, and I got the job I was after. How did I do this? My success was based on several things: a solid cover letter, a positive attitude, and a firmness of purpose that helped me cope with the stress of the interview, even when I was at a loss for words and couldn’t even answer a fairly simple question. At that moment, I just remembered what my goal was, and I was able to leave the interview with a smile on my face. But first things first.

It All Starts with a Cover Letter

The importance of a cover letter simply can’t be overemphasized. So before you send your cover letter to the HR department, try to put yourself in their place. Showing your enthusiasm for the role can win over a manager, even if you don’t quite have all the skills the job requires. Succinctly mention your professional skills and qualities in the cover letter, and explain why you are applying for the position. The letter should address, above all, why you are the best candidate for the position.

But I Don’t Feel Confident Writing in My Non-Native Language!

The idea of writing a cover letter shouldn't frighten you. Don't think of it as an essay or a poetry contest - nobody is judging your eloquence, especially if your dream job is a Front-end Developer. Other popular fears that I've heard are "What should I start with?", "My cover letter is not creative enough!", "I feel like it’s too short!", "It doesn't sell me properly", "I want a managing position, but don't I sound like a leader...", "Should I add some jokes?" Put those fears to bed by writing something that’s professional and to the point. If it’s an actual printed letter, keep it to one page maximum. Don't try to be smart or funny. If you don't have a feeling for the language yet, that's OK. Aim to be brief, direct and understandable. Your extraordinary personality may not be visible in your limited writing skills, but you can always have this opportunity during the interview call. And remember: The fact that you’re writing in a non-native language gives you a unique perspective and writing voice that other candidates won’t have. Finally, it’s a good idea to get your cover letter checked by a native speaker. Even if you’re at an advanced level in the language, it’s easy enough to make a small mistake that could cost you the opportunity of going to interview.

An Example of a Model Cover Letter

One of my past jobs was to find and hire employees. I would like to share an example of a cover letter which I still remember, and became an inspiration for my own personal cover letter in applying for my current job: Greetings! My name is Maria, and I saw your job posting on Facebook. In the past five years I have worked as an art director in an advertising agency and a product designer in three different companies. I created mobile and web applications and complex interfaces for corporate clients. My Employment (references in the portfolio): [LIST OF PAST EMPLOYMENT] I would like to work in a team of competent people who think alike, and which does not place limitations on the designer's freedom to design. Can we talk? I liked how Maria managed to state in a couple of lines all the pertinent information concerning her work experience and expertise. Additionally, she explained her reasons for applying for the position. And the references in the portfolio allowed me to verify her work experience.

What Not to Do: The Most Common Mistakes Made in Cover Letters

There are a few common mistakes in cover letters.

Mistake 1: Sending the Same Letter to Everyone

You can send the same resume for different positions, but try to adapt the cover letter to each employer. This is important, first of all, for the applicant himself, because there is no such thing as a letter that will appeal to everyone. Even similar positions in a company differ in some ways, and the candidate must match each position.

Mistake 2: Opening with “Dear Sir/Madam”

Start the letter by referring to the addressee by name. Using profiles on social networks, take a few minutes to get acquainted with HR, and try to use this information effectively.

Mistake 3: Focusing on Tasks over Achievements

Companies are interested in the results you have achieved, not a list of tasks that you performed. It is better to relate one successfully completed project than to waste the personnel manager’s time by listing all of your work-related skills. I wrote, “I developed applications for projects X and Y. In concert with this, I came up with my own action plan for the project and reduced the time spent working on the application by 30%.” I’ve mentioned two specific results here. This demonstrates initiative, productivity, and the ability to perform an analysis of one's own work.

A Few More Tips on Writing Your Cover Letter

Take a look at the website of the company where you’re applying for job. Get a sense of the writing style, and try to use the same style in your own letter. This in itself will let the manager know that you’re on the same page. Mention your hobbies and things you’re interested in. There is always the chance you’ll win over the HR department, if not with your specific interests, then maybe with your active lifestyle. And don’t be afraid to toot your own trumpet and explain why you’re the best candidate for the role.

You’ve Been Invited to Interview! Here’s What to Do Next

An interview in a foreign language is not necessarily a reason to panic. Try not to give in to your emotions, and be yourself. The interviewer will most likely be more interested in hearing about your skills and achievements than looking for minor errors in pronunciation and verb forms. The best thing you can do is prepare yourself for questions that are likely to come up. Let’s take a look at some of those.

Make Sure You Have Answers Prepared to These Typical Interview Questions

In order to get ready for the interview and be less nervous, be prepared for questions such as:

“Tell us about yourself.”

This is usually asked at the very beginning of the interview. In order to make as few mistakes as possible when speaking, try to be succinct. Emphasize your work experience, education, and hobbies. Speak confidently and show interest in the conversation, as if you are talking to a friend. But don’t forget to be respectful.

“Where do you see yourself in…years?”

In response to the recruiter's question about your plans for the next few years, try to talk about your ambitions. Of course, you need to consider the goals of the employer. For example, if there is the potential to become a future marketing manager, a good response would be, “I hope to become the marketing director of one of your future branches.”

“What are your strengths and weaknesses?”

Here you can leave out the details about your ability to drink three beers at once or your fear of cars. Emphasize your strengths which will appeal to the employer, such as diligence and punctuality. With regard to weaknesses, focus on something neutral, for example, altruism, perfectionism, or the need to be better than everyone else -- and explain how it can also be a strength.

“Can you give me an example of a time when you … and how you dealt with that?”

This question is becoming more and more common. It is asked to understand how well you manage stress and your ability to cope in difficult situations. Think of an instance when a problem arose in your company and you succeeded in quickly getting it under control.

“What are your salary expectations?”

You never know how a potential employer will react to a specific amount. So instead of giving a direct answer, mention your salaries from previous jobs. You can return to the question of money when the conversation turns to the details of the job or future work. Just say: ”Can we discuss this later if you decide to make me an offer?" For overseas companies, an acceptable answer would be, for example, “In my experience, $38,000-$45,000 per year is a typical salary for this role”.

“Do you have any questions for us?”

This is one of the final questions which will be asked during the interview, and is intended to determine your level of initiative. Ask about training opportunities at the company, interesting projects which are currently underway, the work schedule, and the potential to develop your career. It would be better to prepare these questions in advance to make sure they are worded correctly.

3 Phrases to Help You Win Over an Employer

“I am a multitasker”

You don’t necessarily have to be a one-man orchestra to call yourself a multitasker. You just need to mention a couple of situations where you had to do several tasks on the same project or replace a colleague from another department during his absence. What employers want to see is that you can adapt yourself to different situations.

“I’m always eager to learn”

Even the most talented people need some training in a new job. Let the recruiter know that you are willing to use your own personal time to learn new things related to the job. You can even share your experience of learning a foreign language or mention other self-study projects.

“I’m looking for the chance to progress”

If your resume did not focus on a specific project, then the future employer, most likely, plans to work with you for a long time. Tell him about your plans for growth and development within the company. This will convince him of the seriousness of your intentions.

What About Job Interviews by Skype?

When preparing for an interview using Skype, make sure you know the local accent and colloquialisms for the country where your interviewer is from. It can be helpful to watch videos on YouTube that will help you to distinguish different accents, and this will help you to properly understand the interviewer’s manner of speaking. Before the interview, check all of the settings on the computer. The camera should be positioned so that the interviewer sees you just as he would if you were sitting across from him. Eliminate all possible sources of noise: turn off the radio and TV, send children out for a walk (with an appropriate adult!), and lock pets in another room. You need to be able to fully concentrate on the questions asked by the potential employer. Believe me, not every HR manager will want to sit there and smile at the chaos in your house, waiting until you deal with the problems and return to the conversation.

More Tips and Tricks to Ace Your Job Interview in a Non-Native Language

If there are language clubs in your city, go to a few meetings. Only real, active conversations with native speakers will teach you to properly react to intonation and answer readily and properly. You can also ask others there to rehearse an interview with you, thereby preparing you for even the most unexpected subjects that could come up. If during interview you find yourself in an awkward or difficult situation – for example, if you do not understand the question of the interviewer, or if a joke he told is not funny – start improvising. Remember all those uncomfortable situations from the movies that main characters find themselves in, and apply them in practical ways. The most important thing to do on an interview is to focus on your strengths. In the TV show Suits, one of the main characters was able to land a position as a lawyer in leading firm because of his outstanding memory. Here is a trick that I have used: If I don’t understand a question and I can’t quickly give an answer, I simply say: "I didn't catch that. Could you repeat the question?" Remember, there’s no shame in being honest. What if you don’t have the vocabulary to answer a question, or your mind goes blank? While it’s always better to answer questions where you can, a useful strategy here is “switching”. This is where you reflect the question back to the interviewer. For example, you could say “Can you tell me a bit more about what you mean by that?” This puts the focus back onto the interview, and gives you some time to gather your thoughts. If your internet connection is playing up, say that there is a bad connection (“I have a problem with my Internet connection. Please repeat your question.”). In fact, this can be to your advantage. It has given me the opportunity to glance at the notes that I made beforehand and find clues, or look at my printed resume (so I can easily return to questions about my previous employment). And I have attached useful phrases to the wall above the computer so I’m not looking all over the place in order to come up with an answer. Try to speak slowly, and don’t be afraid to ask the interviewer to do the same. Often people think that a person knows a foreign language well if he speaks it quickly. But the phrase “Fools rush in” is directly applicable to interviews. Your chance of blowing it in the eyes of the interviewer is especially high when you are speaking his own language. Additionally, if you speak a bit more slowly, you’ll have a little more time to think about the questions you’re asked. And appropriately placed pauses will help to emphasize key thoughts and ideas. Learn more about the history of the company you want to work for. What inspired the creation of it? Who was there at the very beginning? Learn about its products and services, and read reviews about it. Be ready to talk about your first impressions upon being introduced to the company.

Resources to Help You Prepare for Job Interviews

Here are some good online resources to will help you prepare for job interviews in any language, but particularly in English:

The University of Kent, one of Britain’s leading universities, outlines 150 potential interview questions (and how to answer them) for those who are looking for their first job;

The British Council website has collected dozens of podcasts about marketing, PR, biotechnology, medicine, motivation, job search, and management;

Ronnie, who will teach you not only how to swear in English (don’t do that when you’re applying for a job!), but also how to get through an interview.

The most difficult part of a job interview in a foreign language is making the decision to embark on this adventure. People who rarely speak another language in everyday life find it especially difficult to imagine that, considering their poor communication skills, they will be understood by the interviewer. But in fact, interviewers are often willing to work with potential employees and give them time for in-depth study of the language after they are hired.

The post How to Ace a Job Interview in a Non-Native Language appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

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[megsblackfirewrites]

The Beginning of a Legacy: Chapter 16

Chapter 16

Joel ducked down behind a retaining wall and cursed the omninium to Hell. He had no idea where all of the fucking omnics were coming from, but it was really starting to piss him off. He wanted to finish this fast; they were losing too many people. He’d lost track of where John had gone too; he turned around for one moment to deal with a sniper and when he turned around, he was gone. He wasn’t answering his comm either, so Joel suspected it was damaged.

“Anyone got a visual on Morrison?” Joel asked as he pulled a grenade and whipped it over his head towards the slicers that were running past.

“No; wasn’t he with you?” Miyu asked.

“He was, but I turned around and he vanished,” Joel sighed.

“He’s six-foot-one and has golden blond hair, McCree; how did you lose him?” Miyu demanded.

“I don’t know! Just keep an eye out for him, okay? He’s not respondin’ to comms.”

Joel shook his head as he hauled himself over the wall. The slicers were twitching on the ground, reminding him of dying kittens on the side of the road. He grimaced and hurried past them, glancing up at the buildings in hopes of spotting golden hair. He couldn’t believe that John had managed to slip past him. John never went off on his own; had he thought Joel was right behind him?

“Westernmost building is red hot!” Laura shouted over the comms. “Omnics are lighting it up like a Christmas tree!”

“Keep yer distance,” Joel warned. “Until we know where the Captain is, I want everyone on high alert. He could be injured.”

Everyone let out shouts of confirmation. Joel eyed the building that Laura said was teeming with omnics. He snapped his fingers in thought before he pulled another grenade out.

“Wong, what floor should I aim a grenade for?” he asked.

“Third floor. Second one has some human signatures,” she replied.

“Frag out!” he shouted.

He whipped the grenade as hard as he could at the third floor. It shattered one of the windows and exploded, blasting the rest of the windows on the floor out. Pieces of omnics rained out of the ruined glass. He could hear gunfire inside now and he hurried forward.

“Gunfire inside the building; going to assist,” he said. “Wong, how many…?”

“GET DOWN!” Wong shouted.

Joel dropped to his belly just as the second floor exploded. He watched a human figure somersault out of the window, their limbs too loose to have been intentional. They thudded to the ground and lay there without moving, their helmet cracked and broken. Joel lifted his head and felt his blood run cold.

Golden blond hair was poking out between the cracks in the helmet and a silver eagle was pinned to one of the lapels of the man’s jacket. John.

“Morrison down!” Joel roared as he bolted forward. “I repeated, Morrison down!”

He skidded beside his friend, shoving his hand into his shirt around his throat, searching for a pulse. His comms was exploding with screams of denial, but he ignored it as he watched John’s chest rise and fall. He’d fallen two stories to the concrete, but he was still alive.

“He’s alive,” Joel said. “There’s a pulse and he’s breathin’s pretty steady.”

“Check his neck for any breaks,” Mondatta ordered. “You’ll feel the difference immediately. Start at the base of his skull and work your way down. If he broke his neck, he’ll die the instant he tries to move.”

“Got it, doc,” Joel replied.

He slid his hands under John’s head and gently started feeling for a broken neck. He was relieved that there was none, but his hands were sticky with blood. Wonder where’d he gotten that injury.

“No breaks,” he relayed. “But he’s got a head wound that’s bleedin’ good.”

“Head wounds often bleed heavily, even when shallow,” Mondatta soothed him. “He needs to be brought to the field tent immediately. Just because his neck isn’t broken doesn’t mean that he isn’t injured. I’m bringing his vitals up now.” There was a moment of silence. “His vitals are stable for now.”

“Reyes, get to my position,” Joel ordered.

“What? You can’t…!”

“Morrison’s down; I’m in charge,” Joel snarled. “You git yer skinny ass over here and get our Captain to the field station. Got it?”

“Yes, sir,” Reyes growled.

Joel glanced up at the windows, but the omnics were not shooting. Were they starting to lose contact with the ominium? He hoped so.

Reyes jogged up and carefully pulled John’s limp body across his shoulders. He grit his teeth, glaring at Joel under his visor, before he started heading for the field station. Joel waited until he had rounded a corner before he started moving.

“Omnics are starting to falter; we make our push while they’re distracted,” he ordered. “All groups move on the ominium, now!”

“Understood,” Reinhardt shouted. “With me, my friends!”

Unlike most ominiums, this one towered over the city. The humans that had lived in its shadow had thought it harmless, commanding the offspring that trotted out of it as servants. Joel didn’t have to be a genius to know that war was inevitable. You can’t treat someone’s kids like shit and not expect retaliation

Talking with Mondatta had changed his opinion on omnics. He’d never been wholly against them; sure, he was pissed that they’d laid waste to his homecity, but he didn’t hate anyone. Now, he felt nothing but pity and understanding for them. They were slaves to their programming and slaves to the humans that created them. They were intelligent, more than capable of living and thinking for themselves. An uprising was inevitable and, if there hadn’t been a mass slaughter, necessary.

That didn’t mean that Joel agreed with them. He was a ruthless man by trade, could cut a bloody swath through men without blinking an eye, but he drew the line at harming the innocent. It was a sticking point that his contemporaries had hated, especially when they were trying to get information. He didn’t care. You could make change by going after those responsible, not the innocent that were stuck toeing the party line to keep themselves alive.

A line of omnics advanced towards him, rifles raised. His machete slipped out of its sheath and he lunged, driving the blade deep into the shoulder of one of the omnics. He spun, using the screaming omnic as a shield as the others started shooting. They were sent flying as Reinhardt charged through them, screaming in surprise as they were slammed into a wall and reduced to scrap.

“Nice timing,” Joel smirked as he wrenched his machete out of the omnic. “Your unit?”

“Approaching now, sir,” Reinhardt saluted. “Captain Morrison?”

“Is in rough shape,” Joel shook his head. “But he’s still young and tough. He’ll be okay.”

Reinhardt nodded as they started moving towards the base of the ominium. The scouts were already in position, shifting nervously as they waited for the signal. Joel waited until he saw the leaders of all the small parties before he lifted his rifle to his shoulder.

“Open fire!” he ordered.

The front of the ominium was blasted in by the force of their weapons. Laura and Jasper bolted forward, leading the way into the hellhole with their explosives strapped to their bodies. They were inert, thank Christ, but they needed every one of them if they wanted to destroy the ominium.

“Ten minutes,” he said over the comms. “Don’t waste your time, Wong.”

“We won’t, sir,” she promised. “Watch our sixes.”

“Affirmative,” Joel chuckled.

Omnics came streaming out of their base, but they were mowed down immediately. There was no mercy for them, not while the ominium still stood. Joel shouted orders, staggering the lines of soldiers firing so that the air was never without bullets and plasma. The first round of explosives were set and the scouts bolted out of the ominium.

“Fall back!” Joel shouted as he slowly started to back off. “Wong, ETA?”

“Setting the last of the explosives now,” she replied. “We’ll be…oh shit!”

“Talk to me,” he ordered.

“Wire shorted out; need to strip it and run a bypass,” she replied. “Go, McGuire; I have this.”

“McGuire, out,” Joel ordered. “Double-time, girl.”

“Done,” Laura shouted. “We lost a minute. All scouts, move for the exit, now!”

“Suppressive fire!” Joel shouted. “Watch for scouts!”

Ten scouts bolted out of the building and then Jasper. He ran as fast as he could, legs pumping, and jumped clear over the barricade. Joel stayed upright, shouting at the others to get down. He needed to make sure Laura got out.

He felt the first explosive detonate and braced himself for the aftershock. Many of the soldiers were driven to their stomachs as the ground shook furiously. Laura came running for the barricade, her short black hair smoking as fire engulfed the entrance she had just vacated. Joel bolted for her, dropping his rifle to the ground as he held his hand out.

He felt her smaller hand against his palm and yanked her forward. He twisted, pushing the smaller woman up against his chest as he jumped. The explosion threw him forward violently and he wrapped his arms tightly around Laura’s body. He slammed into the barricade and rolled over it, landing hard on his side behind it. Shrapnel flew by overhead, raining down on them like hellfire. Several Crusader shields were lifted against the onslaught, their wielders staring at the crumbling ominium.

“Mission accomplished,” Joel growled as he pushed himself up onto his hands and knees. “Laura?”

“I’m fine!” she shouted, laughing as she covered her face. “I can barely hear you, but I’m fine! Holy shit, we flew!”

Joel chuckled as he sat back, groaning as he felt his body protesting the simple movement. “Great, looks like I’m riding in the wagon back to the station,” he groaned.

“Sir, omnics approaching,” someone called.

Joel lifted his head as a line of shaking omnics approached them. A badly damaged Bastion unit was leading the way, its large blue optic flickering. Joel reached up and touched his commlink.

“Mondatta, can you spare a few minutes to translate?” he asked.

“I can multitask,” Mondatta replied. “Flip the switch.”

“Can you understand the language I’m speaking?” Joel asked as he activated the speaker-phone option so that Mondatta could hear what was being said around them. “Nod yer head if ya can.”

The Bastion unit nodded its head. It let out a long series of beeps before clasping its hands in front of itself.

“She is asking for amnesty,” Mondatta said. “She and those like her knew no other life but what the ominium told them to do. She will accept any condition that you deem reasonable to hold her and her fellows.”

“Not just a Bastion unit,” Joel frowned. “Lotta omnics.”

The Bastion nodded her head and beeped again. “They made a grave mistake in accepting the god code’s wishes,” Mondatta said. “They want to atone for their foolishness.”

Joel narrowed his eyes. “Mondatta,” he said.

“There is much I need to explain, McCree,” Mondatta murmured softly. “Please, wait until you return. I do not want anyone else to hear.”

“Alright,” Joel nodded before he stepped forward. “I want all weapons powered down, got it?” The omnics nodded. “Good. You’ll be sequestered until we can decide what to do with ya. Move out.”

Mondatta rubbed his hands together as Joel and Miyu sat down in his office. He had an office. This still astonished him, but he supposed that was what happened when he was the highest ranking field medic on deployment.

“The god code is not as oppressive as you have been led to believe,” he said softly. “It…it cannot take control without the consent of the omnics it is activated in.”

“Why hide that from us?” Miyu asked.

“I…I was afraid,” Mondatta shook his head. “Afraid, that you would dispose of me…like the hospital did.”

“Dispose…Mondatta, I think there’s a lot more to the story than just you being afraid to let your comrades know about a coding,” Joel frowned.

“There is much I have to explain,” Mondatta agreed. “I…am unsure where to begin. The god code…it is placed in all of us as a last attempt to keep us from straying too far from our programming, I believe. But it cannot be activated like a killswitch. It is…a suggestion at first, an invitation. We can inquire after its suggestion, get more information. The more willing we are when we are satisfied, the better for the coding.

“I did not mention it before because…I was ashamed. I was not contacted until after I was expelled from the hospital. I was…so vulnerable. The streets of Cairo were not a safe place for an omnic and I was targeted for my frame type and lack of weaponry. People that I had once cared for and treated at the hospital turned on me, beat me, and left me to rust in the alleys. The omnics in charge of the ominium, they knew which ones to start the uprising with and my beaten frame was one of them.”

“I see no reason to be ashamed,” Miyu frowned. “You didn’t take the offer, correct?”

“I did not, but I came so close to it on a number of occasions,” Mondatta hunt his head. “It would have been so easy to just let the god coding take over and to fade away into nothingness. Or maybe be remade into a weapon of mass destruction. I was going to…before Overwatch came to Cairo. The children…I thought they were safe so…I was going to let myself be taken. I was so tired.”

He looked down at his lap and shook his head. “I am a weak….”

“Mondatta,” Joel said as he reached forward and gently took his hand. “You didn’t though. You resisted. Now look at ya; one-a Captain Morrison’s most trusted comrades. Gunna be head medic at this rate. Maybe Chief Medical Officer with a bit more trainin’.”

Mondatta lifted his head and reset his optics a few times. “You…are not angry?” he asked.

“Nah,” Joel shook his head. “John might be. Only cuz you left out that little detail and it could have changed how he led, but he won’t stay angry fer long. Ain’t in John to hold-a grudge fer too long.”

Mondatta stared for a moment before he shook his head. “You are all so kind to me,” he whispered.

“You’re one of us, Mondatta,” Miyu smiled. “Whether or not you are human doesn’t matter. You’re working to protect the people you care about by helping us remove those that would abuse their power. That is what is important.”

“Thank you,” he said as he bowed his head. “Thank you.”

                                                           ***

The steady beeping of the heartrate monitor was quiet. If something happened to John’s breathing, an alarm would go off. For now, it was quiet to allow him to rest.

Mondatta checked his vitals and made sure that that IV drip was still full. When he was done with his medical duties, he reached out and gently ran his fingers through John’s graying golden hair. He was beautiful, strikingly so, and Mondatta found himself growing calm in the man’s presence.

“I thought I saw an angel when I first saw you,” he whispered. “A warrior brought to life by my final moments of lucid thought. I was ready to step into the embrace of the god coding and just give up.”

John’s eyes fluttered slightly, but he didn’t move. Mondatta shook his head and settled down on the bed beside him.

“You have a very calming aura about you, John,” he murmured. “It is impossible not to feel safe around you. I….” He let out a long sigh and looked away. “I am still coming to terms with the emotions that run through me on a daily basis now. Once, my daily maintenance would have kept me from feeling too emotional. Now…I want you to survive, Jonathan Morrison. I want you to survive and see your son again.”

He leaned over and rested his mouth component against John’s forehead. John’s breathing deepened and he let out a soft sigh through his nose. Mondatta wished he could smile as he watched John rest his head to the side.

“Rest well, Captain,” he murmured as he got to his feet and went to tend to the other patients.

#Joel McCree #John Morrison #Mondatta #Miyu Shimada #shit is going down