one of my pet peeves is searching the web on how to do something and halfway through the tutorial/article i realise this is an ad. like the amount of times it happens has made me angry
how do i write a srt file? well, writing a srt file is time-consuming and stupid and inefficient. BUT IF YOU USE OUR SOFTWARE (try it for free!) YOU GET ALL THESE BENEFITS:
like fuck off. i came here to get a comprehensive guide on some basic shit. by trying to drive me away from the point of your article you're making your product less desirable for me. fuck me without lube while we're at it. fuck off. and fuck yourselves. "improve seo", i don't care about that. it clearly doesn't work as it should if bullshit articles like yours get pushed to the top
Once again, it was Hack Day at Tumblr, our favorite excuse to pause the roadmap for a moment and build something weird, useful, or ideally both. Here is a sneak peek of what the team built.
Unified Inbox
@ex, @kostastsi4 and @alexjf worked on making Asks and Submissions easier to find in the apps, moving your Inbox (currently buried in blog settings) to a tab in the Activity screen, where all your other incoming communication lives.
Gifs in replies
In @elt’s opinion, replies could use some spicing up. So he spent Hack Day adding GIF support to replies. Neat!
Fun fact: reply threads themselves actually started as a Hack Day project over two years ago. The circle of hack life continues.
Scaling the Reblog Graph Explorer
@blowery improved the implementation of reblog graph to handle massive viral posts gracefully. Instead of struggling with very large reblog chains, this hack rethinks how the graph is laid out so it can handle posts with massive numbers of reblogs more smoothly, making it easier to explore how posts spread across Tumblr.
In-Blog Search Filters
Web had the most complete set of in-blog search filters. Android and iOS? Not so much. @lesianlen worked on bringing parity across all three platforms: Android got Top/Recent sorting, an original posts filter, and Ask and Chat post type filters. iOS went from zero filters to a brand-new bottom sheet with the full filter set. Now everyone gets to search their blog properly, regardless of platform.
Separating in-blog search from "Exclude from Tumblr Search and Recommendations"
Did you know that selecting the “Exclude from Tumblr search and recommendations” setting would also disable your in-blog search? Well, thanks to @lesianlen, now it doesn’t. This one’s already live.
Communities: Granular Moderator Permissions and Promotion Flow
Promoting a member to admin in a Community is a big deal (and currently irreversible).
@straku ironed out the promotion flow, adding a simple step to alert, confirm, and prevent promotions that could be to moderation.
Another request is having more control over what moderators can do. A way to give moderators more power, without them overtaking the community admin.
@jubs built a permissions system that lets admins choose what their moderators can do, without compromising their own ownership. In addition to existing moderator permissions, such as removing posts, and comments, you'd be able to allow mods to edit the community appearance (title, description, etc), the community settings (auto-moderation, tags, etc), and even manage other moderators.
Memories in Profile Page & Archive Page
Inspired by Google Photos’ “Memories” feature, Sowmia proposed building a “Memories” experience for the blog to surface nostalgic posts from its history.
The idea was to create a dedicated Memories feature and link it to archive pages, enabling users to rediscover past content in a more engaging way. As part of the hackday, she implemented the archive page portion of this idea, laying the foundation for integrating the full Memories experience in the future.
Post launcher with shortcuts to Drafts and Queue
@ex tried a new version of the post launcher at the top of the dashboard on web: switch blogs before opening the editor, or jump straight to your Drafts or Queue (takes 3-4 clicks to get there now). The buttons also show how many posts you have in your Drafts and Queue.
Reblogs with Videos
After all, why not? Why shouldn’t we have videos in reblogs? @andriibuilds dared to ask. And build it.
Like Sorting
People with thousands of Tumblr likes have been asking for the ability to sort and organize them for years. To start, @andriibuilds prototyped sorting options for the Likes page.
RemindMe
Inspired by Reddit's RemindMe bot, @data-science-from-the-trenches built a native reminder system: reply to any post or thread with "RemindMe! 2 days" and you'll get an activity notification linking back to it when that time has passed.
The Mysterious Cat Asks
As a preparation for April Fools, @jubs introduced asks sent by the Mysterious Cat, when you eat an "ask" food in the Snek game. Each question was represented by an item, with its own rarity.
And that’s a wrap on Tumblr Hack Day, March 2026 Edition. Huge shout-out to everyone who spent this time building cool things, sharing demos, and reminding us how much fun it is to make Tumblr weirder, better, and more delightful.
Keep an eye on @changes to see if any of these hacks make it out to you.
Which hack project are you most excited about?
Unified inbox
GIFs in replies
Reblog explorer
In-blog search filters
Separating in-blog search from "Exclude from Tumblr Search and Recommendations"
Communities: Granular Moderator Permissions and Promotion Flow
The joyful counterprotest brought out around 200 people — there's even video!
^via LGBTQ Nation, September 2, 2025. They were playing Pink Pony Club on the kazoos, it was in Seattle, and yes, there is video.
The president and right-wingers have railed against it, but diversity helps companies retain customers and employees.
^"Since the president took office in January, over 20 hostile shareholder resolutions were filed demanding companies shed their commitment to DEI, including Visa, Deere, Boeing, Goldman Sachs, Levi’s, American Express, Coca-Cola, Berkshire Hathaway, McDonalds, Amazon, Netflix, Walmart, Alphabet, American Airlines, Caterpillar, Best Buy, Mastercard, and Costco, according to Fortune...
But across those annual meetings, shareholders (representing over $9.8 trillion in value) have voted with management to continue DEI policies and programs.
Those decisions weren’t based on altruism alone, if at all: HRC’s study backs up previous research demonstrating that companies embracing DEI are more profitable than their peers that don’t."
-via LGBTQ Nation, August 27, 2025
In landmark victory for LGBTQI+ rights in Kenya, a court has ruled that the government must implement laws to protect transgender rights.
"According to Jinsiangu, a Kenyan intersex, transgender, and gender non-conforming (ITGNC) rights group, the court recognised Chepkosgei’s right to self-identity and gender, declaring her “notably recognised as a transgender individual” to ensure her rights are guaranteed...
In a groundbreaking move, the court went beyond addressing the specific violations experienced by the petitioner.
Justice R. Nyakundi directed the Government of Kenya to initiate and table a bill addressing the rights of transgender persons, with Parliament instructed to take the necessary steps to enact protections and recognition in law.
The judge also awarded Chepkosgei 1,000,000 Kenyan Shillings (approximately R137,000 / USD 7,700) in general damages. [Note: And that stretches a LOT further in Kenya, where the average monthly after-tax salary is just $413, making the reward a bit less than 2 years of salary.]
-via Mamba Online, August 21, 2025
"By failing to recognize the gender identity of a transgender person, prevents that person from enjoying a right guaranteed by EU law," he w
"The Advocate General for the European Court of Justice is recommending that all EU member states be required to issue identity documents reflecting their citizens’ “lived gender identity.”
The Court’s AG Jean Richard de la Tour argued that national rules that do not allow legal gender recognition may violate European Union law, including the right to free movement and residency across all EU member states...
While the Advocate General’s opinion is only advisory, the verdicts in about two-thirds of cases argued before the court align with an AG’s recommendation."
-via LGBTQ Nation, September 4, 2025
Some transphobic sisters sued their sorority for letting a trans woman join. They just lost a second time.
"A federal judge has sided with a sorority that inducted a transgender sister after several other members sued over the definition of the word “woman.”
“Having considered the issues presented (again), we find that the majority of the claims must be dismissed on the grounds that this Court still may not interfere with [the sorority’s] contractually valid interpretation of its own Bylaws,” U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson, a Ronald Reagan appointee, wrote in his ruling.
...the judge rejected their arguments again, noting that Kappa Kappa Gamma’s bylaws don’t define the words “woman” or “women” to be exclusively referring to cisgender women. He even noted that the sorority “published and distributed multiple texts” showing that its interpretation of those words is trans-inclusive, so the plaintiffs can’t claim that their contract with the sorority was understood to mean that trans women would be excluded."
-via LGBTQ Nation, August 26, 2025
Gov. JB Pritzker has long been a staunch supporter of LGBTQ+ rights.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) announced a landmark free hotline for LGBTQ+ people in the state. Offered in both English and Spanish, the first-of-its-kind service launches today and will provide legal advice regarding housing, safety, health care access (including gender-affirming care), discrimination, identity documents, and more.
Pritzker announced the initiative, called Illinois Pride Connect, at an August 21 event with the Chicago Legal Council for Health Justice, which will run the hotline. “For us to be able to go on offense, and not be on defense, is what I love about this state,” he said.
“Building upon the state’s transgender and gender-diverse wellness and equity project that we launched at the beginning of 2024, we will be the only state in the entire United States that provides free legal advice to protect the LGBTQ community,” he said."
-via LGBTQ Nation, August 25, 2025
The judge said that drag shows "plainly involve expressive conduct within the protection of the First Amendment."
"A federal appeals court has ruled that West Texas A&M University’s ban on student organization drag performances violates the Constitution’s First Amendment protections of free speech. The court’s Thursday ruling overturns a 2023 district court ruling in favor of the university.
FIRE’s lawsuit also claimed that Wendler’s actions violated a campus free speech law signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2020, which explicitly forbids universities from taking action against student organizations “on the basis of a political, religious, philosophical, ideological, or academic viewpoint expressed by the organization or [its] expressive activities.”
In its 2-1 decision issued last Thursday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Leslie H. Southwick (an appointee of former President George W. Bush) wrote that theatric performances and drag shows, “plainly involve expressive conduct within the protection of the First Amendment.”"
-via LGBTQ Nation, August 19, 2025
The districts aren't giving up their pro-trans policies.
"Five Virginia school districts are refusing to revoke their transgender-inclusive policies that allow trans kids to use facilities matching their gender identity [and other policies about pronouns and sports teams], even though the current presidential administration has frozen the districts’ congressionally approved federal education funding over the matter.
The school districts — Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William — say that their policies are required by Title IX, the federal law prohibiting educational discrimination based on sex. But while the previous presidential administration interpreted the law as requiring schools to maintain trans-inclusive policies, the current one has claimed that such policies harm cisgender female students.
...The letter [from a local LGBTQ regional coalition] notes that over 3,000 Virginia families, teachers, and residents signed letters supporting the districts’ pro-trans policies in the face of “unprecedented federal pressure,” adding, “These policies and practices foster a culture that affirms the dignity of each student and celebrates our diversity as individuals.”
౨ৎ ## you're like the only thing that i see, it's crystal clear.
synopsis: an innocent first love sight turns into something more romantic when jungwon decides to make the first move.
yang jungwon x fem reader!
includes: 2.1k words | short and cute fluff | jungwon pretends to be nonchalant | jungwon’s awkward HAHA | cliché falling in love with a customer / worker at a cafe setting | yn thinks jungwon’s cute hehe | short-haired yn and black haired jungwonnnn
extra: this was such a random thought i had, originally for sunghoon because he’s awkward and he’s cute when he’s awkward but jungwon’s a professional chalant 🙂↕️ wrote this in one sitting for one hour 🤓 my inbox will be resetting! so if you have any requests, pls leave some 😚
likes, reblogs, and comments are appreciated! <3
[below the cut!]
you started working in this dessert-cafe job just a little month ago. you've learned so much from your co-workers, from learning how to organize and fold boxes to memorizing each pastry and their ingredients for when a customer perks up their interest.
you mostly got trained in the cashier position, later shifted to barista, and now you can handle both easily.
you decided to earn some extra money during college and the job decided to hire some more people. you were nervous because you haven't worked in a while, but you hoped your skills and ambitions interested the hiring managers. fortunately, the interview went super well and luckily, you easily were able to be trained by the following week.
you sucked at conversing. you've worked cashier before, you've talked to people but you only had a script implemented in your brain when taking orders.
when customers compliment you and ask about your apron pins, you feel awkward to reply back. it's not that you don't wanna talk to them, but you don't know how to keep a conversation with a stranger when there is a line of orders. you feel rushed and overwhelmed to keep up a smile for a long period of time.
you've already met regulars in the cafe, witnessing how they interact with your coworkers casually. rather jealous, it was refreshing to see them be treated as if they were best friends. it makes you smile. one of the regulars you meet is a guy named jungwon. everyone, including your coworkers know him.
since it's cold season, he would come in with his gigantic, fluffy green bandana-like scarf and white gloves that had cat stitching to it. you complimented his gloves and he smiled back while saying thank you. the conversation died quickly when his order came out almost immediately.
you already have his order memorized. he would order a strawberry tart and an iced tea around the morning time. you remembered that he asked if there's any non-caffeinated drinks and how he dislikes them. you agreed along with him, recommending the iced tea that was added to the menu not too long ago. when it's super cold, hot chocolate would suffice his appetite. he has a child-like palette and it makes you smile because of his pure looks.
he would stay inside for hours to do work, whether with books or his laptop, in his regular hoodie, and sometimes wearing glasses.
you're not gonna lie. jungwon does have a cute baby-like face and how he has that bright energy that resonates inside the room the moment he steps in. he reminds you of a cat. a cute, curious creature.
whenever he smiles, his eyes smile along with him and you like his dimples too whenever you see it. he looks like a nice guy, you assumed.
the door opening with its bell made you snap back to reality.
it seemed that jungwon came with two of his friends.
"good morning," you greeted him with a smile as you stopped making boxes. you smiled to yourself to see that scarf that looks big yet comfortable to him.
"hey good morning." jungwon greeted back, walking towards you. you see his friends find a table to sit.
you decided to be santa and give his order free. only because of how many time he has ordered and continued to be a loyal customer.
(and because of his cute face)
you tilted your head with a slight smile as you looked at him, thinking. usually you would ask, "strawberry tart right?" and giggles would fill up the room. he would excitedly reply, "you remembered!" and that smile made you feel proud inside because he looked like a happy kid. he does have a nice smile.
but today, you're gonna go off-script.
"i got you actually." you said, looking at him with a confident expression. jungwon raised his eyebrows and blinked at you, looking confused on what you said.
you chuckled at his reaction, nodding your head. "yeah," you started walking to the barista side.
"an iced tea and strawberry tart right?" you confirmed, grabbing a cup to make the drink.
jungwon looked taken aback. he processed what is happening and lets out a slight scoff, his eyes starting to smile before his lips. he looks at you with awe, touched by your actions.
"yeah.." he lightly said, putting his wallet back in his pocket as you get into work.
"thank you." he genuinely spoke.
"it's my pleasure." you smiled reassuringly, pouring the powder in a separate cup for the hot water to dissolve.
he then turns around to walk to his seat as he will come back once you'll called him. your expression falls a bit when he left, hoping that you would make a conversation with him but you ignored it, focused on making the drink and letting the music inside the store flow into your ears.
"oh my god oh my god oh my god-" jungwon mutters under his breath too quickly for his friends to hear what he was saying. jungwon slides into his seat, his arms placed on the table and his head down with a clear, panicked expression.
"what happened?" riki, one of jungwon's closest friend, looks down at him as he was scrolling on his tiktok foryou page. he exchanges glances with sunoo who looks just as concerned.
"you guys didn't see?" jungwon looked up and whined with his lips pouted. jungwon is lucky that his back is faced to you so you won't see how red he is, and it's not from the cold weather.
"why what happened?" sunoo, another close friend of his asked.
"she remembered my order and gave it to me for free!" jungwon said as if he found gold on the sidewalk. jungwon then covers his face into his arms once again when his heart’s pounding.
riki and sunoo rolled their eyes, thinking it was something more serious. to them, jungwon's a little dramatic.
one month ago, when you've started working, it was on a random tuesday. when jungwon walked inside craving a chocolate croissant, he opened the door, and there you were. he found you organizing pastries on the display shelves, making them look pretty. he noticed a small smile tugged on your when you’ve finished, feeling proud whenever customers point and gasp when you placed them.
you had your short hair be into braids, giving you a cheerful look despite wearing a dark-colored uniform.
to jungwon, you were sparkling. he felt dumbfounded, as if everything around him was going by mindlessly, but his fixed stare to you was frozen. he felt something weird with you and he didn't know what it was. but he knew it when you smiled to him.
full of warmth and radiancy.
you sounded like you care. even though it’s just an order, you sounded attentive yet caring. he thinks it might be stupid to think if you care about his order, because truly, you sound like it.
sometimes he would hear you laugh with your coworkers and it felt like it was giving him strength when he was tired with his own work. he smiled when you tried attempting to make conversations with the customers. sometimes when you’re feeling unwell, he would magically pass you medicine as if he was your genie.
at first, you felt weirded out since he was a stranger but you realized that he has no bad intentions to you. he saw you coughing and passed you medicine which made you heart warm. you thought of it innocently.
at times, he would tune in with the conversations since he would sit near you and remember the things that you'd say.
you like blueberries.
winter is your favorite season.
art design is your major.
you're allergic to pollen and shrimp.
you like keychains and animals. sea otters to be exact.
everything about you screamed perfect to him and he wanted to talk to you. learn about you. but didn't have the confidence or how to approach without looking weird.
his once a week usual visit to the cafe became twice, to three times a week. his frequent visits also made you more curious of him.
"she's so nice..." jungwon mumbled his words.
"well yeah, you're a regular here..." riki said bluntly, receiving an arm slap from sunoo from sounding discouraging.
riki and sunoo finally saw you after getting curiously impatient to know what you look like. jungwon wasn't lying when he called you beautiful. you really are, which impressed sunoo and riki.
jungwon immediately texted his friends about you. every time whenever he comes by and sees you. even when you're not working, he complains and pouts to his friends for not seeing you. he would find a way to make time for you. half of his friends told him to straight up confess from his ass while the other half were teasing him about having the potential to start a relationship. riki stated that he was a freak for being (his nice words)
"too romantic"
"go talk to her! she's lonely right now." sunoo pouted, turning to see you. it was true, you were the only person on counter right now while your shift lead organizes the pastries. more of your co-workers will come by the next hour as it will get more busy later on.
"i can't..it's too late..." jungwon spares a glance at you, feeling down for missing an opportunity to talk to you.
"jungwon!" you called out his name. his strawberry tart and ice tea (you thought that his order fits his persona well) were displayed for him to get it.
jungwon gets up, gulps as he places a hand on his chest to calm his fast beating heart. he exhales as he turns around and sees you cleaning up the area.
he tries to be nonchalant and go up, but he immediately smiles when you looked at him with a bright expression. he can’t help himself.
"have a good one." you said to him as jungwon feels so giddy inside. he picks up the plate and the drink.
"you got a new pin.." jungwon nibbled his bottom lip, as if nonchalant when he had noticed it already when he walked inside the cafe. “i like it..” you looked down and smiled to yourself when he mentioned your new hello kitty pin added to the collection of pins in your apron.
"you have a good eye." you complimented. jungwon awkwardly coughed as he nodded. "i do..." jungwon replied but it's like a whisper.
you scrunched your eyebrows. jungwon looked at you and you looked back, awkward silence filling up. you were the first to laugh.
what was that about?
"alright, enjoy your morning." you didn't mind if it was awkward, he looked cute just now.
"you too." jungwon's lips curled, forming a dimple. you replied with a thanks as you go back on register.
you wanted to curl yourself up on your bed. you almost screamed a loud. you felt so distressed back there, being so close, in front of him, made you feel so nervous. you felt like you were fumbling really hard in front of him.
you thought to yourself, did i look dumb?
you gulped, frowning as your eyes glued to the counter. your thoughts taking over once again as you probably thought you lessened your chances of having a normal conversation with jungwon. jungwon’s friends needed him to make a move asap.
"trust me it's gonna work." sunoo encouraged, tossing him a piece of paper and a pen as riki snacks on the strawberry tart.
riki and sunoo was about to throw up, seeing that awkward interaction caused by jungwon. they wonder how you were smiling and laughing with him just now.
"a-are you sure?" jungwon panicked, grabbing them as his eyes widened in fear.
"yes yes yes!" sunoo said quickly, urging him to go before both sunoo and riki gets stressed and get a scolding.
you looked up and see jungwon come back. you both exchanged a small smile, "what else do you need?" you asked as you tilted your head, curious of what jungwon will get.
"your number." jungwon just stands there., staring at you with an awkward position.
you do the same because what?
your smile drops and jungwon almost cries when he noticed. your whole body freezes up. "what did you say?"
jungwon gulps before he starts feeling hot both inside and out. he takes a moment to speak.
"i-i've been wanting to talk to you for a while now..and i wanted to know more about you..." jungwon stutters says as if he's feeling guilty. you looked down at the counter and see him slide the paper and pen close to you. your heart quickens at the sight. he sees you thinking and it’s killing him.
you looked at jungwon and his eyes are waiting for your response. every second feels crucial. the silence’s full of tension. he's mentally preparing himself in case you reject him. he stares with you with his doe eyes and your body softens, taking a breather.
you smile. the same smile when you first met him.
you grabbed the pen, eagerly writing your number on the paper. you bit your bottom lip, trying to hold in the biggest smile you could ever make.
you slid the paper back to him as you looked away, controlling your smile.
"i'll be looking forward to your text mr. strawberry tart." you said as both of your faces are red but your hearts are beating as one. it was the start of a blossoming relationship between you and jungwon.
The logical course of action is to enact preservation of all available, undiseased food and implement as much hunting and gathering as possible. There had been strict agricultural guidelines to ensure the preservation of local flora and fauna, but in the face of people's lives, that must be discarded. They should then restrict everyone's food intake as much as possible without endangering their lives while attempting to get out a distress signal through the ion storms. It's the only course of action that makes sense.
Governor Kodos does not take this course of action.
Jim and Sybok present the problem to him along with the obvious response. At first, there's denial, but even when Jim wants to howl in frustration, Sybok is calm and focused and unrelenting, using cold hard fact after cold hard fact to force Kodos to face the truth of the situation.
At first, they don't know what's happening.
A couple families disappear and Kodos says he's sent them to gather further from the colony. Jim doesn't like it because the only thing the disease doesn't seem to affect is roots, which are difficult to excavate by hand on this planet even with modern technology. The earth is dense and sandy and rough to the touch in most places. Still, if they can find something to help them last through the ion storms, it's probably worth it.
Another family leaves, Kodos saying they've gone off to join the others, and Jim's gut twists uncomfortably. They had two kids under five. Who would take kids that young on something like this? It doesn't make any sense.
This time it's Sybok who comes to him, sneaking past his sort of aunt and into his house in the middle of the night and gently shaking him awake. Jim blinks up at him, almost tells him that he can stop and he's up now, but he realizes that all of Sybok is shaking, it's just that it's only his hand on his shoulder.
Sybok leads him out of the house and takes him out of the village and the further they leave, the more uneasy Jim becomes. The more that the fear that's been pulsing under his skin turns into something hard and terrible.
They go to the fields, now rotten and useless, and Sybok brings him to freshly tilled earth.
Nothing can grow now. There's no reason to till.
"Sybok," Jim says quietly.
"I'm sorry," he says, pressing his hands to his eyes. "Jimmy, I'm so fucking sorry, but you're the only one I can trust."
Two kids under five. Older parents who couldn't work as hard. The other families had a set of elderly parents each. But it's not that, because everyone on Tarsus IV works, including these people. They work harder than Jim and Sybok do.
Because they're poor and alone and this planet was supposed to be their shot at a new life.
There's no one to miss them.
"He can't just - the amount he'd have to - if he's planning to get through the storming season," he shakes his head, not even wanting to think it. If they all eat the daily recommended amount of calories, they won't make it through the season. If they live off half that, which almost all of them can manage, they might make it long enough to get a signal out.
If instead of cutting the caloric consumption in half, they cut the caloric need in half -
Jim turns and presses his forehead into Sybok's clothed arm, breathing deeply for several long minutes that feel like an eternity.
If they don't do something, these fields will become graveyards long before starvation can kill anyone.
He's not going to let that happen.
Jim lifts his head and finds Sybok already looking at him. "I have an idea."
Sybok tries to smile. He's usually quite good at it, but not today. "I thought you might."
Prompt: Couples will evidently begin to mimic their better half after some time. What traits do you steal from him, and vice versa?
Fandom: Twisted Wonderland
Characters: Everyone - because I want to and I’m amidst fleshing out all my Yuu/Character dynamics + designs
Format: Headcannons.
Masterlist: LinkedUP
Parts: Heartslabyul (Here) | Savanaclaw | Octavinelle | Scarabia | Pomefiore | Ignihyde | Diasomnia
A/N: Putting all my brain rot from my notes into something cohesive. Contrary to my love for ripping your hearts out, I've come with some fluff this time around. BTW you may or may not already do things mentioned - I write my works with a specific Yuu in mind for each character so this is based on them. Just a reminder.
Habits you steal:
Plan-Books (Inherited) : Riddle habitually carries a planner with all his tasks. A physical one, not an app in his cell phone like most students choose. You find it easier to manage and swap to paper-and-pen alternatives at his recommendation.
Tidiness (Inherited): Riddle is a nit-pickier when it comes to physical presentation. His habits of pressing his uniform, laying his clothes out every night, and dressing conservatively rub off. He has a point - ironed trousers do make a difference. Every morning he will redo your uniform tie. It's never knotted to his 'standard', and is his preferred excuse to greet you before class.
"Now, isn't that better? Surely you are more comfortable in ironed linens than those rags you'd been wearing as pajamas. You seriously found them lying in Ramshackle? Were you not given an allowance to buy basic needs? Ridiculous! The Headmaster's irresponsibility holds no bounds!" <- Utterly appalled that you've been sleeping in century-old robes. He supplies you with seven sets of pajamas, a spare uniform, and an iron + board for Ramshackle. All after reaming the Headmaster for neglect in the last dorm-head meeting - either Crowley coughed up the marks or Riddle will supply from his own bank. Seven have mercy if he chooses to become a lawyer instead of a doctor.
No Heels (Developed): Riddle has a height complex. He won't make a show of it, but you wearing heels does emasculate him. Especially if you're already taller naturally. For his sake, you choose to slay your outfits in flats.
"Are those new loafers? Oh - no, they're lovely. The embroidery is exquisite and I can see why Pomefiore's Housewarden models for their brand. I merely thought you preferred the heeled saddle-shoes we saw during the past weekend trip. I must have been mistaken. Never mind me. You look wonderful."
Playing Brain Teasers (Inherited): Riddle has this thing with memory - you don't know if he's really into preventing old-age Alzheimer's or what. He carries a book of teaser games like Sudoku, etc. for when he has downtime and you eventually get into them too.
"Oh! My Rose, would you care to join me for lunch? Trey's siblings recently mailed in a large collection of cross-words. You'll find they are both educational and entertaining - hm? I do not seem the 'type' for word-games? I assure you, even I can relax on occasion. There is no need to look so surprised." <- Riddle's been making a grand effort to do things he enjoys and become more personable. Trey's siblings did not send the collection. Riddle went into town and picked it out on his own. He also found a book on organizing excursions since he's big on quality time. He is dead-set on not being a neglectful or 'boring' partner.
Swear Jar (Developed): Tired of Riddle collaring Ace for his vulgar tongue, you suggest a Heartslabyul swear jar. When the jar gets filled, the money can be used to fund things like study materials and renovations for the dorm. Riddle liked this idea, but now implements it on anyone who sets foot in the Heartslabyul. Considering you spend most of your time there, you've had to develop a vast vocabulary beyond swearing. Oh - you also unironically use the word 'fiddlesticks' now.
Habits he steals:
Useless Expenses (Inherited): You are an enabler without a doubt. Riddle has always functioned with the bare bones - with function and efficiency being the number one priority. Ever so slowly - you've spoiled him with aesthetically pleasing stationary. At first all the needless purchases felt redundant - why buy the pillowcases with flowers when plain white is cheaper? You can invest in a higher quality this way. Yet you've ruined him with gifts that he had no choice but to use. Now he needs to buy the pens with little hedgehogs on them because studying doesn't feel the same with a plain ballpoint.
Slang Dictionary (Developed): With each passing day, all the students in Heartslabyul get more creative at bending the rules. That includes you. Riddle takes it upon himself to carry a 'little-black-book' full of all the sang words he is unfamiliar with. He does want to be a bit more 'hip' to understand you more, but at the same time he wants to bust any student being a smart-mouth. It's an ongoing battle *sigh*.
"Apologies, could you repeat that term for me? Surely it must be relevant to my lecture if you and Ace are whispering. 'Let him cook'? Do you think we are in a culinary lecture?! Have you not been listening to - ah. So it's in reference to letting me finish before interrupting...One moment. I need to make a note."
Chewing Gum (Developed): This is an ode to psychology. In short, eating is tied to a person's fight-or-flight. Instincts dictate that our bodies need to be in a calm state to eat comfortably. One day when Riddle was at his wits end, you tossed him a pack of sugarless gum and told him to chew. Disregarding Trey's unholy dental screeching, Riddle develops a gum dependence for when he's stressed out. On the bright side, his jaw has never been so sharp.
“Mimicry? You must be mistaken. Even if my influence has affected their person, surely there are only positive developments” == Riddle denies any changes if confronted. In truth, he’s well aware of how much you’ve helped him grow. It’s the opposite accusation that spikes concern. Riddle does not want others thinking you’re a mini-version of him. Rumors are not kind and neither is his current reputation. Making those amends is his burden to bare. He is flattered to see you paying attention to his mannerisms, and secretly proud that your bond is strong enough to affect the psyche.
Habits you steal:
Whistling (Inherited): Trey whistles while working in the kitchen or doing general chores around the dorm. He's not very loud with it, so not may students are bothered. Since you laze about in his shadow the tunes he goes through do become repetitive. Now you do the same when cleaning up Ramshackle. Grim wants to knock you both out because he can't take it anymore.
"Ah -- How'd you know it was me in here? Just because I bake for the un-birthday parties doesn't mean I live in the kitchen, you know. My whistling? Huh. Never thought that would be my calling card but there are worse things, haha"
Head-Scratching (Inherited): Trey's got a habit of scratching the back of his head when he's uncomfortable or nervous. That, or rubbing at the nape of his neck while adverting eye contact. You start doing this too whenever you're being scolded or put in a tough situation.
Dental Hygiene (Inherited): By far the most obvious shared trait. Trey enforces his dental habits onto everyone- you are no exception. You now own four different kinds of floss, two toothbrushes (one being electric), and have a strict hygiene routine. Your pearly whites have never been so clean. Eventually you become somewhat of a secondary enforcer, policing anyone who sleeps over your dorm to take care of themselves before bed. All of Heartslabyul learns that there is no going back when you scold Riddle for not brushing after his teatime tart, and live to tell the tale.
"Hey - uh, weird question? Were you handing out floss to the Spelldrive Team yesterday? Seriously? I though Grim was pulling my leg - oh, no! It's not weird at all! Those guys should have a better routine for all the meat they eat when bulking. I'm just shocked you got through to them." <- Very proud. Mildly cocky. He's been itching to get those negligent jocks to floss after their banquets his entire tenure, but steered away from that conflict like the plague. Thank you for making his dreams come true. Now if you could maybe get them to stop picking their gums with toothpicks?
Habits he steals:
Overbuying Food (Developed): Being a baker's son, Trey's good with finances and money. He's also meticulous with the ingredients he purchases for his bakes. You are not. You go to Sam's shop, buy whatever is on sale, and then bring it back home to improvise. This ends poorly more often than not, and behold! Trey has two Ramshackle sluggers snooping around his kitchen for eats. This is unpredictable and therefore he now never knows what amount to buy. You've ruined him.
Phone Calls (Developed): Texting is easier. Especially since phone calls can be a commitment that Trey dislikes being wrapped up in. Whenever Cater's name pops up as the caller, Trey knows he's getting an ear full. The thing is that you never. answer. your. phone. Either the text gets lumped in with the hundreds of missed messages you have, or Grim stole your cell to play mobile games. So Trey gives up and only ever calls. Either Grim will answer or you'll pick up thinking it's the snooze of your alarm.
"Hello? Prefect, where are you? It's me, Trey. Just calling to see if you're still coming to the Un-Birthday party? Riddle's getting a bit nervous since the schedule's set for the next hour. Grim's already here with Ace and Deuce - uh, want Cater to send a double to pick you up? I have a sinking feeling that you're asleep...Call me? Please?" <- He was correct. You called back not a moment after, half-asleep and hauling ass not to be late.
Speaking in Propositions (Inherited): Trey's normally good at keeping neutrality in a conversation, but getting a clear answer out of Yuu you is like solving a rubix cube. Either it's easy and instant, or a long game. Eventually your habit of indecisiveness rubs off on him and he asks questions more than answers them. Evidently this gets his younger classmen to stop asking for favors unless they really need to.
“Aha - really? I didn’t notice at all. Okay. Okay, I picked up on a few hints. What’s so wrong with them taking after me? It’s cute, right?” == Trey is the observant sort that picks up on his influence quickly. Not just anyone carries floss in their pocket at all times - and the looks from his dorm-mates when you offer some up is enough for the realization to click. Trey’s used to playing the respectable sort, and finds it endearing that you’re taking his good notes to heart. In truth, most of Trey’s mimicry is intentional. He’s a flexible guy who doesn’t mind altering his habits to fit your needs. Easier this way, y’know?
Habits you steal:
Speaking in Acronyms(Inherited): Now this is scary. The first time it happened, you had to take a pause and just re-evaluate your entire life. You don't use them nearly as often as Cater does, but somewhere along the line your brain must have rewired to speak in internet lingo. O-M-G you're TOTALLY twinning with him right now, period :)
Nicknames (Inherited): Again, frightening. You once swore against ever calling him Cay-Cay. It isn't very slay-slay. Yet you can only hear him use nicknames for so long until you're unconsciously calling people by them too. Especially since he's always dishing gossip. It starts in your head, which is fine. It's not like they know. Then you call Lilia 'Lils' and that old fart is just grinning behind his sleeve because ohoho~ young love <3
"Did you just- AHA! OMG DO IT AGAIN?! Wait, gotta get my camera out for this - wha? Oh, that's totes not fair! C'mon. Call me Cay-Cay. Just once! I won't even post it to Magicam, please? Lils won't believe me without proof! Pleasssssseeeee - " <- He actually doesn't want you to call him Cay-Cay all the time. Cater likes you using his given name, since it's more personal. Although the way it obviously slipped out on accident is just too cute to ignore.
Reality TV (Inherited): At first you don't like the gossip. It's cheesy, a bit annoying, and the shaky camera-work for nearly every show is headache inducing. Cater likes his dose of drama in his free-time, and Ramshackle has a tv that no one is using. It starts with him watching while you do other things around the dorm. Yet each time you pass the living area, you take longer to leave. Lingering around like one of the ghosts. Then he pulls you in with snacks and starts giving the low-down of what's going on, pulling out a bottle of tangerine shimmer polish to paint your nails. It's just one episode, watch it for him? Please? Oh no. No. No. Suddenly you're invested in who's the baby-daddy of little Ricky and what Chantel is going to do because her sister just lost the house to foreclosure.
"#KingdomOfDeadbeats - am I right? Ugh. I'm so glad we met if that's the dating scene back home...What?! I know it isn't real! Don't be a dummy, I was just joking! Ah! Stop! Don't hit me!" <- Half-hearted jokes about going on one of those talk-shows one day. You're an alien, after all - imagine the juicy drama and views his account would get from doing an interview? It's all jokes though. Cater likes spilling the tea, but hates being it. Don't ever abandon him and go out for milk though, kay? He doesn't want to pay Grim's child support. Otherwise he might have no choice smh
Habits he steals:
Phone/Web Games (Inherited): Cater's phone is mainly full of social media. He's not too into the gaming scene, it's not his peeps y'know? Alas, you download a few dress-up games and one MMO on his phone. First off - props on getting his phone. That's Cay-Cay's lifeline and not just anyone gets to play with it. Pray tell - what is this Wonderstar Planet (props if you know what is being ref.) and how can he become the most influential digital streamer on it? Congrats. He's addicted.
"Who's this Muscle Red and why's he bombing our raid - AH! He just tea-bagged me! So not cool...Prefect? STOP LAUGHING WE HAVE BETS ON THIS MATCH! There goes my collab opportunity, big fail" <- Muscle Red continues to make an appearance. Eventually he becomes Cater's official rival on stream, and Lils is all to invested in the tea cater drops during club meets. Side note. You're the one who gave 'muscle red' Cater's domain code. The lore thickens.
Internet Caution (Developed): This goes without saying, but Cater's well-known in the Magicam scene. He's very forward and knows his way around using charisma. Since you're not in the scene as much, he becomes more cautious of where and when he does streams. The change is so subtle that only the most observant people will pick up on it - but Cay-Cay doesn't want any creepos popping in if y'know what I'm saying. His sisters were the ones to instigate this change.
“Awe~ SRSLY?! That’s fresh news to my ears but good, right? Ne, are there any clips or pics? I need my evidence, y’see. Especially if my cutie is off taking notes from their one and only. C’mon, spill the tea!” == Cheeky Cater is well aware of what’s happening. He’d humor anyone out for some light teasing - after all, he isn’t by your side at all hours. His walls are probably the second most difficult in all of campus to bypass, so he’s both sweetened and nerved to see you picking up on his mannerisms. That’s proof of a strong attachment, after all.
Habits you steal:
Knuckle Cracking (Inherited): Deuce still does this from his biker days. It could be because joint pain from past fights, or possibly air retention in his knuckles from studying. Regardless, Deuce cracks his knuckles at least once every few hours and you began to mimic him. Some people groan at the popping sounds but it really does feel good to release the tension. Let's just hope neither of you dislocate any fingers on accident.
"Stop that! G-geez, you nearly gave me a heart attack. Thought you broke a finger...your hands are stiff? That just means you're studying a lot! I think...uh, let's break? I think there's some leftovers in the kitchen." <- Deuce 100% gets needing to pop those air bubbles. His hands get stiff from studying all the time, but don't crack them too much or you might dislocate something. Side note - he shows you how to wrap your fingers with a soothing salve. He used to do it after fights, but now it's a great help after class.
Double Notes (Developed): Deuce tries. He really does. Yet the lad just isn't great when it comes to book smarts. Seeing that he is dedicated to turning over a new leaf, you make a habit of copying all your notes. He isn't allowed to share them with Ace or Grim - else all bets are off. Sometimes you leave little 'good job' stickers on the last page for him. Is he a toddler? No. Does he peel the stickers off and save them? Totally. He is a good noodle. Suck it Ace.
Sewing (Developed): He breaks things. Most of the time it's an accident. You've learned to carry a mini-sewing kit for all the rips in Deuce's uniform. Same for mini remedies for stains and other problems. It's not like he's trying to get grass stains all over his under-shirt or to split the seam in his gloves (nearly every week). It just happens, and every time he comes to you with a kicked-puppy look with a promise of it being the last time. It is never the last time.
"Uhm...hun'? It happened again. I'm so sorry for bothering you but Housewarden is going to kill me if he sees the tear in my blazer! Can you fix it?! I can't handle another collar with my exam tomorrow! I need to breathe to focus! - really!? I owe you one! Snacks are on me tonight."
Habits he steals:
Bottomless Stomach (Developed): Have leftovers from dinner? Bring them over. He'll get the tubba-ware back in 1-2 days. Coupon for buy-one-get-one at Sam's? He'll take the extra and polish it off in less than a minute. Deuce becomes a human garbage disposal and is taking the unwanted condiments off your sandwich to eat. Just pick them off and leave 'em on the corner of his lunch plate. Even if he dislikes it, he'll down it so you don't have to.
"Mm. Oh, thanks hun' - its that all you're eatin'? You don't like the steam bun? It is a bit dry, but wasting food is disrespectful to the cooks! I'll finish it for you so have my fruit instead. You still need to eat" <- 10/10 very thoughtful and not picky at all. He is grateful to eat your cooking and will gobble up all leftovers at Ramshackle, but doesn't think twice to sharing meals in the cafeteria. He will notice though if you do not eat enough. Restocks the snack cabinet if he sees it's empty. Is touched if you routinely share things you know he enjoys, like saving half your frittata on purpose.
Early Riser (Inherited): See - even if you hate the mornings, there is no choice at Night Raven College. As Ramshackle Prefect you need to be up to take care of business before class. Deuce becomes your personal alarm clock because he wants some time with you before everyone else joins in. Mind you that he lives with three other dudes who threaten to end him every morning because his alarm wakes them up too. Eventually he can wake up without it, but the time leading is unpleasant.
"W-what? Seriously? I've been trying to be more like them! They're a good person and responsible so I've been trying to follow their example. To think we've been doing the same thing this entire time...." == Why would you ever imitate him? He's been trying his damn best to become an honor student worth respecting, and has a long way to go. To think you're comfortable enough with him to mimic his mannerisms? It's a pipe dream, one he doesn't grasp until it's put right in front of his face. You don't let anyone else pick off your plate other than Grim. The next time his clothes tear, he's already handing off his tie before realizing just what's happening. When you wrap his knuckles after a six-hour lock in at the library? He can't help but feel proud at how neat the bandages are. Suddenly the dark memories of hiding bruised knuckles from his mom are pacified with healing balm. Deuce views this development as a gift, and is grateful. Very, very grateful.
Habits you steal:
‘I owe you’ cards (Inherited): Ace's favorite social invention - the 'solid'. Nothing spells new-low like getting your friends to do stuff in exchange for a favor in the future. Most of the time Ace counts on people forgetting he owes them one, but you're not so gullible. The only difference between you both is that while Ace never fulfills his solid, you have a conscience. Give it a few more years. He'll get ya.
"I know this is the third ticket this week but - Oh! C'mon, cut a guy some slack, would you? I'm sorry for bein' late to our date. Yeah, it was shitty. I'm not trying to fight it, aright? I'm here now so let's have some fun and you can chalk three strikes on my tab. I'll even buy ya some candy - Ah! Okay! Two candies but that's where my charity ends!" <- Evidently, the 'I-owe-you' tabs cancel each other out from how often you both call in favors. It's just an excuse to do acts of service or express apologies without being too mushy. Ace is definitely keeping a track record of them though. Expect an ongoing log that dates back to the week you met, when he showed up homeless, collared, and looking to couch surf.
Profanity (Inherited): Ace swears like a sailor. Maybe not so much in his dorm because *cough* he's being policed. He holds no such reservations when you're both alone at Ramshackle. Unfortunately his potty mouth has a mind of it's own - it taints you, and you are a sham of a prefect. Ace earned a week-long collar for teaching you some Twisted-Wonderland exclusive curses. Riddle is not pleased.
Leaving the Windows Unlocked (Developed): There are only so many times he can sneak in through your window before the adrenaline-induced charm wears off. You have class in the morning, and can't be bothered to deal with him on nights he can't pass out in his dorm. Thank seven you have all of Ramshackle to yourself - because Heartslabyul sounds like a nightmare with the roommate situation. You can't leave the front door open for obvious reasons, but most nights the guest-bedroom window will be left slightly ajar in case he needs a place to crash.
"Pssst! Oi! Prefect! ...ugh, Grim! Wake them up, man! The latch is stuck. Don't go back to bed you furball! HEY! IT'S FREAKIN COLD OUT HERE SO LET ME IN ALREADY" <- Please let him in. If Ace has to spend one more night in that stinky dorm with three dudes, he'll string one of their dirty gym socks over your bed. No mercy.
Sleeping with Earplugs (Developed): Bitch Ace snores.
Habits he steals:
Notes Memo (Developed): Ace is bad with remembering things. Anniversaries? Dates? Allergies? He admits to not putting in a great amount of effort, but you can't say he doesn't try at all. He has a notes block on his phone dedicated to things like your go-to takeout orders and preferences. He even has a few alarms set days before any important events because even if you say no-gifts or plans...yeah, he's not that stupid.
Excessive Yawning (Inherited): You're always tired - it wasn't Ace's problem before but now he does feel a bit guilty. Dragging you into his messes felt different when you were just the prefect, y'know? Regardless, it's human instinct to mimic each other's demeanor so he'll openly yawn all the time - normally in succession of you.
"Hey...you're dozing off again. Am I seriously that boring to hang around? - Nah. Just messin' with you. I'd suggest taking a nap during next period but I doubt a goody-goody like you is gonna take that advice. Let's just ditch juice at lunch and go back to the dorm. Don't get mad if I forget to wake you up though"
Medications (Developed): Ace is the last person to become a human apothecary, but he's always got a pack of pain-reliever meds in his pocket with a few bandages, etc. He also attached one of those tiny capsule bottles to his keyring with some stomach meds inside. You took a spill running laps? Dang man. That sucks. Here's a band-aid for your knee. Curse you for making him the slightly-more responsible one.
"Eh..what, like it's a shock? You saying I'm a bad influence? Cause yeah, that checks. Nothin' I can do if they want to take a card outta my deck though," == Ace is entirely neutral on the topic. He is definitely smug that you're coming over to the dark side, but he doesn't need anyone to point it out. He was your first after all. Maybe the start could have been a bit better - but hey, you came around. It's not like he's hurting anyone by helping build your backbone. Although Ace will instantly deny going soft for you in any way, shape, or form.
An independent report has revealed Israel failed to provide any evidence to back allegations of UNRWA staff ties with Hamas
Berlin announced on 23 April that it will resume cooperation with the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) in Gaza.
Germany’s move came after an independent investigation headed by former French diplomat Catherine Colonna that found “neutrality-related issues” in implementing UNRWA’s procedures to “ensure compliance with the humanitarian principles of neutrality.”
Colonna’s report made note that Israel provided no proof of whether UNRWA staff were involved with the Palestinian resistance’s Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October.
“The German government has dealt intensively with the allegations made by Israel against UNRWA and has been in close contact with the Israeli government, the United Nations, and other international donors,” a joint statement by the German Foreign Office and the Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development read.
The former French diplomat’s investigation proposed reforms to UNRWA to increase the neutrality of staff and behavior, education, and governance, including methods to achieve these goals through engagement with donors.
Germany pushed UNRWA to implement these recommendations, strengthen its internal audit functions, and improve the external surveillance of project management.
“In support of these reforms, the German government will soon continue its cooperation with UNRWA in Gaza, as Australia, Canada, Sweden, and Japan, among others, have already done so,” the joint statement continued.
Germany gave the UN agency over $200 million in 2023 and is the organization’s second-largest donor after the US.
In an interview with Al-Jazeera, UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini said the attacks on the agency “have nothing to do with neutrality issues but in reality, they are motivated by the objective to strip the Palestinians from the refugee status.”
ID 1: a photo of Echo’s hand using a guided hands device to paint using watercolours. Echo holds a joystick on an to control a paintbrush held on a frame over a paint palette and paper. /end ID 1
ID 2: Echo uses the same device to create digital art on the procreate app /end ID 2
This device is absolutely incredible – I am so happy I’ve got art back as a hobby!
The guided hands worked really well for digital art and I was even able to use my watercolour paints once we’d managed to get everything within reach.
I can use the device in my comfy chair, my bed or in my wheelchair which is absolutely fantastic.
I think I still need to do some experimenting with my set up for watercolours so I can make everything a bit easier to reach, and I need to find a better way of supporting my elbow and shoulder while using it. The company recommends using a pool noodle so I’ve ordered one and will report back when it arrives.
Another thing I need to figure out is how to protect whatever implement I’m using from the clamp screw that holds it in place. I’m using a silicone straw at the moment which is better than nothing but not perfect (and does look a bit ridiculous).
