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sleepingpatterns · 4 years

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“Should I use InDesign to lay out my books?” - A Passionate Guide

Ok, if you are like me, you recently stumbled upon @armoredsuperheavy‘s brilliant blog about bookbinding and fanfiction, and now you are excited to throw yourself head-first into bookbinding.

This also means that you are about to invest a fair amount of time into figuring out how exactly to lay out books. What you end up getting comfortable with will most likely be what you end up using long term, so it is worthwhile giving it some thought. The question really comes down to this: who's name will you be cursing for the foreseeable future? Adobe? Or Microsoft?

Full disclosure: I only started using InDesign because I was forced to. I worked as an editor at a newspaper, and that was what we used. The beginning was hell. I won’t sugar coat it, it sucks. In the end it was worth it. Once you figure it out, InDesign’s potential far outstrips Microsoft Word (in my opinion).

That encouragement means very little when you open this treacherous program for the first time and see THIS:

“What?! I will literally give you $100 if you guess what all the buttons on the left are for. How the fuck do I make the margins disappear!?”

So, if using InDesign means figuring out what at least one third of the tools on the left are for, lets talk pros and cons.

Let’s get the cons out of the way.

It is expensive. Adobe is not fucking around. This puppy costs 20 bucks a month (Canadian) to RENT. If this is out of your price range, do you still have options? Yes. Do they range in legality? Also yes. I think I could potentially get in trouble for telling you to find your friendly neighborhood torrenting site and steal this software. I will say, outright, that no one should steal software ever. Got it? I would be very upset if someone were to message me for specifics. As you naturally wish to be law-abiding, there is also the quasi-legal option of repeating the 14-day free trial. My friend works at a professional print studio in Russia, and this is the tactic they use: every 14 days they uninstall all of the software from all of the computers, and reinstall it with a new trial. Every 14 days! At a professional operation! My friend hates working there.

It is not initially intuitive. I’ve covered this, but it bears repeating because it is a serious hurdle. Keep in mind, that with time, InDesign becomes more helpful than other software. Now when I use Word I find myself reaching for keyboard shortcuts automatically, and feeling bereft at the lack of my favorite tools. Nonetheless, expect a time commitment up front learning how to harness this glorious and confusing computer program.

It can run kinda slowly, depending on your computer. Up until two months ago, I had the world’s most precarious laptop. I bought it for $200 in 2015. It once took half an hour to restart. Inexplicably, when it got stressed, it would switch to Spanish. It was literally and figuratively falling apart. And yet, it ran InDesign. Granted, it worked slowly. If I asked it to process too many images at once it would panic (again with the Spanish), but for the most part, it worked. If you have a slow computer and are patient, then InDesign will probably work fine on your computer. If you are not willing to suffer, stick to Word.

You will also need Photoshop (sometimes). Part of what makes InDesign glorious is that it is professional software that is designed specifically to work with print and anything text-heavy. I love that about it. It even manages to do some handy things with images! But, inevitably, you will need to learn some Photoshop to punch up your graphics. I have, admittedly, only learned the bare minimum Photoshop in order to feed my InDesign addiction. It was a pain in the butt. For example, inexplicably, Adobe has not standardized keyboard shortcuts across the suite. As with InDesign, now that I’ve learned the tricks, I adore it. But you should go into this knowing that with Adobe, the fun never ends.

Printing signatures is the WORST. Adobe, please explain to me, in front of God and everyone, why the hell you would make this software specifically for laying out books etc. and not include a method of printing signatures?! I’m livid. This is absolutely where Word wins the day. It is almost worth using Word just to print the signatures so nicely and easily. I’m not kidding. Me—a person who has used InDesign professionally—almost wanted to switch software entirely just because of this. Hands down, InDesign’s biggest goof. Despite this crime against bookbinders everywhere, you have options. You can export your design to a PDF and literally print each signature separately (I am fucking livid) or you can complain enough to your friends that they offer to buy you a lovely program called BookletCreator for your birthday. It costs $20 bucks USD and it was worth every penny. However, Adobe, FOR THE AMOUNT THAT YOU CHARGE FOR YOUR PROGRAM, I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PURCHASE ANY ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE IN ORDER TO PRINT MY BOOK. Did I mention that I am livid?!

But InDesign must be worth something, right?! Otherwise why would I be writing a long post encouraging people to use it? Let’s talk pros:

The horsepower on this baby will blow your mind. Forget what I just said about printing signatures; imagine using software that was literally made for this. You wanna do a thing? InDesign has got you. Are you a perfectionist? This software was designed by people as pedantic and obsessive as yourself. It gets you. Dream it, google how to do it, and InDesign will deliver. This is really the main reason to use InDesign; it is the professional standard for a reason.

There are so SO many resources available to help you learn. Almost everything I’ve learned about InDesign I learned from Google or YouTube. Honestly, if you have a question, I promise that other people have already asked and answered it. The advantage is that because this software is specifically for laying out books, there is lots of information available specifically about how to do what you want to do. (This may also be true for Word, but I’ll be honest, I only used Word for a book layout once, so I can’t say for certain either way.)

Once you figure it out, InDesign will give you back hours of your life. Things like master page spreads, clipping paths, tint, the eyedropper tool, and the one-hundred-percent adjustable text are just... lifesavers. My experience with Word is limited, so my frustration using it was probably due to my own ineptitude, but honestly, when putting together my thesis, the tears I cried trying to get page numbers to format correctly were some of the most bitter text-related tears I have ever shed. I can take care of the whole operation in InDesign in a matter of minutes. Hours. Of. My. Life. Saved.

This is an actual marketable skill. Ok, bear with me here. I have used InDesign for every single job I have had since I worked at the newspaper. That includes working as a bookkeeper and a kindergarten teacher. Hell, I even made my resume to get those jobs in InDesign. There is no job that I forsee in my future that doesn’t include some form of text-based design. Even when my work has absolutely nothing to do with layout (see: kindergarten teacher) I still found some way to use it. My previous boss was actually so thrilled about my InDesign skills that she had me run a 101 seminar for the other employees. (Did any of them end up using it? I suspect not. Did they look at me strangely for being so enthusiastic about design software? Absolutely.) I’ve even managed to use InDesign to branch out from freelance editing to take on design projects as well. In short: if you learn how to use InDesign, put in on your resume. You will be surprised at how much mileage you get out of it.

With Adobe, the fun never ends. I know I joked about it before, but really, I love seeing what this program has in store for me next. For example, thanks to bookbinding, I discovered that InDesign will do a lot of things that I had previously assumed were the domain of Word, such as spell check. I literally stumbled onto a measuring tool today that I wish existed irl to help me glue my covers together. Part of the beauty of this software being so intricate is that there is always something new you can do. I love learning how to harness a new feature, and then watch my design improve over time. Using this program you really get the feeling that the sky is the limit. Look, just the fact that I’ve now resorted to saccharine platitudes about computer software tells you that InDesign is remarkable. Considering that this program has made me suffer so significantly, I have either seen the face of God, or I have Stockholm syndrome. Take your pick.

TL;DR, at long last:

How complicated would you like to go? Either way, for bookbinding you’ve got to learn to use software in a new way.

Do you just want to get your book laid out reliably with little fuss? Word is for you! Are you interested in delving into the details? Do you have the patience of a saint? Try InDesign!

Both work. Both are good. But you can pry InDesign from my cold dead hands because I adore it.

#Honestly #No shame towards Word or anyone that uses it seriously #Like I said I have little experience actually using it for laying out books #But InDesign is very good.#Bookbinding #fic #fic binding #If people want I can start putting together tutorials about how to do all of this stuff #And all of y'all can learn from my mistakes and hopefully learn faster than I did.#Аня есть что нибудь здесь про тебя #заметишь?#InDesign

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15dots · 3 years

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Gemina: The Illuminae Files _02

Synopsis

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the space station Heimdall. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter, Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. Little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed to Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. Soon, Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia - and possibly in the known universe - is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this.

They hope.

Quotes:

“I cannot help but wonder if the thought of saving all those lives and hopes and dreams pales in comparison to the thought of seeing him again. I wonder.”

“▆▆ me that felt weird. Like someone threw a rainbow at my head.”

“Patience and Silence had one beautiful daughter and her name was Vengeance.”

“It may comfort you to know that your death while astonishingly violent, will most likely be mercifully swift.”

“And now, born from the ashes, she’s a warrior in bloodied black.”

Welcome back to the Illuminae Files where, after reading Gemina I am left to search for my pulse and heartbeat.

You read that right folks, I am deceased.

But before I tell you why, I would like to put a disclaimer that this review (or whatever this is) will have spoilers. So if you haven’t read the book or Illuminae, oh well, get ready for spoilers I guess. Do not fret however, I will warn you of upcoming spoilers. You’re welcome ;).

Also, if you haven’t read my previous Illuminae post, go check that out first or after, whatever you decide.

Alrighty, Gemina yes, one word.

Deceased.

Me. I’m deceased.

I finished this book last night and let me tell you I almost threw this book across the room. Three times. It was near midnight and I almost screamed. Bottom line, I have thoughts. Many of them.

So buckle up kiddos, this is gonna be a long one.

Fair warning. This book might have slightly mature themes, like drug production and use (which is very pertinent to the plot-line, iykyk), sexual innuendos, sexual tension, an annoying sexual song about lollipops... yeah you get the gist.

Let’s start by introducing Hanna and Nik. “Highness”, as Nik like to calls her, is a daddy’s girl. If she lived in our world she would probably be asking her daddykins for dresses and bags she doesn’t even need. However, she’s a black belt. So maybe don’t make fun of her...

Nik, on the other hand, is the typical bad boy, tall, lean, with abs, tattoos up his arms, torso and neck. Served time in juvie where he obtained such abs. But he has dimples. Dimples. He’s also, like, really funny. Like what he says...

I’ll give you an example (He’s typing this by the way):

“So you can me all to yourself. He says winking suggestively.”

I like him- ahem, that speaks for itself, moving on.

This story takes place on the Heimdall space station where the Hypatia need to pass through to the Core to inform them about the Kerenza attack. Everyone is getting ready for Terra Day, getting ready to party, to get drunk, high probably as well. Hanna waits for Nik to give her her dose of drugs for ‘party favours’. Her boyfriend, Jackson, waits for her at the Atrium which is where Terra day is being held. Nik is running late because of a ‘package’ arriving at the station. Hanna gets impatient, Jackson gets nervous, Nik just gets tired because that kid sure can smoke.

Then it all goes to crap when the station gets invaded by BeiTech Industries. Remember them? The jerks who invaded Kerenza to destroy the illegal mining operation and mass murdered hundreds of people? Yeah, it’s them again with Leanne Frobisher (SPOILER), Ezra’s mum by the way, their director. 24 of their ‘goons’ are there to clean up their mess and exterminate the Hypatia and the Heimdall with a drone fleet which will hopefully, for them, eradicate witnesses of the Kerenza attack.

People die, cry, scream. The Atrium and Entertainment Center are the areas where they are trapped in which are guarded. Hanna and Nik, on the other hand, are trapped outside with the BeiTech baddies. It is up to them to save everyone.

Like the previous book, the story is told through a dossier of files and whatnot. Their main source of communication at the start is a programme called WhisperNET then they switch to palmpads (from my knowledge is quite similar to phones) because y’know the bad guys can track em’. I have one problem, one issue that I would like to address and discuss with the publishers or whoever is responsible for the layout of this book.

Which fool decided it was a good idea to place black text onto a near black background? I couldn’t read crap. But I don’t know if that was on purpose...

Anyways, the invasion happens and Nik and Hanna are split up from each other. Nik has a cousin, Ella, who (like Kady) is a tech wizz and tries to help the pair with opening doors and being their eye in the sky. I mean, you need a character like that in a story such as this one.

But BeiTech are not the only monsters. There’s another problem. One that is rather... disturbing.

SPOILERS (it’s more gross really).

Alright, remember how I said that drugs were very pertinent to the story. Well turns out you can have drugs made from organisms ‘colloquially’ known as ‘lickers’ and it rubs me the wrong way. I was uncomfortable to say the least. And seriously, while reading the Unipedia file and descriptions of the lanima, I swear I cannot see why that had to use the word “secrete’ or ‘secretion’ so many times.

To make matters worse, they make their entrance by slithering out of dead cows’ bodies. Just imagine the Stranger Things demogorgons in Season One in their baby forms but longer and with four heads and sharp needle like teeth crawling out of a dead cow. Again, was I uncomfortable? Yes, yes I was.

You see, Nik’s crime family loves making drugs from within cows’ bodies. I mean, this is some Stranger Things crap right here.

You know what makes them even more terrifying? Before killing their prey, they secrete (ugh) this fog like substance out of their skin that makes them high. Yeah, you’re high before these slime-balls kill you. So really you wouldn’t know what hit you, until the kittens and rainbows turn into black and you’re just a brainless, soulless person. They suck your face off, basically. And not in that way, you nasties.

It was thanks to these lanima that a page scared me. Yes, a page (pg 368). What the crap did they put in this book?

What I really enjoyed was how Hanna and Nik’s relationship progressed throughout the story. Like Kady and Ezra, they were able to joke around while under immense pressure. And to be completely honest, Hanna and Nik had higher stakes this time around.

When they were still bantering and tip toeing around each other, I was like, “ugh, just kiss already, goodness.” I was more relieved they kissed then surprised. Honestly, it was about time they did, I almost choked on the sexual tension.

OH and AIDAN makes a comeback and let me tell you I was so happy. AIDAN follows the movement of the lanima and it describes it in such a creepy way that shivers went down my spine.

I do not like those lanima slime balls. Periodt.

During the last pages of the book though, I almost had a heart attack. Can this book just let me breath? Please. For just a second. Oh my word. Just one thing after the other slapped me in the face until I questioned my sanity. Like the ending? WHAT THE FLYING CRAP WAS THAT ABOUT?

I don’t want to spoil too much for those who haven’t read the book or haven’t got the guts to do so anyway but overall, this book was just a roller coaster of a ride. No complaints. Only that the publishers and authors do something about the black on black formatting. Please, we don’t want to be squinting at pages like we need glasses (my apologies to those reading with glasses, you know the problem first hand).

Anyway, it will be a while until I can finish this series as I don’t have the third book, Obsidio. I know, sad face. But alas, I will wait after Christmas (because sales, duh) to obtain the last piece of the puzzle and hopefully I can get a break from feeling like I’m dying. But I am really enjoying this series; one of the best ones I’ve read in a while!

So, until next time. I might do small book reviews here and there so that’s good at least. So stay tuned kiddos and Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Let me know how this book treated you. Or don’t. Depends on what you decide.

#the illuminae files #illuminae files #hannaandnik #book reviews #book review #review #bookrec #recommendations #booklr #ya lit #reading #reading 2020 #ya books #Reviews

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ace-oreos · 4 years

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Way of the Hunter Ch. 1

After MANY days of writer’s block, getting distracted by our favorite dorks, and listening to Watch What Happens from Newsies on repeat, @deltaturtle26 and I are super excited to share the first chapter of a fanfic that’s been a long time in the making!

Side note: I should not be allowed to write drama yee anywhere in the document when I don’t know what to write, nor am I permitted to write jokes or phrases that are actually foreshadowing. I am also forbidden from writing “we’ll just beat him up and see where it goes” in our outline.

We hope you enjoy! Fair warning, it is rather long but hey, plot reasons. I only wish you could see all our ridiculous side notes and comments. I apologize in advance for the formatting; I’ll play around with it for later chapters.

Edit: I added the prologue here like I was supposed to several weeks ago.

The past leaves scars on all of us.

Sometimes you can’t see them. Other times they’re right there in front of your face.

But they are there regardless.

Some are meant to be seen; they tell the galaxy that you lived and you were hurt, but you survived.

Others…

Well, there are others that should stay hidden.

“Why are you so stubborn, Sarge?” Tech asked, looking puzzled and mildly amused by Hunter’s continued struggles. Even Crosshair hid a smile at the sight.

“‘M not stubborn,” Hunter insisted, gritting his teeth and trying vainly to wrench his arm out of Wrecker’s grip. “Just - trying - to win.”

“No chance,” Wrecker taunted.

Hunter was convinced that he was going to be minus one arm by the end of this, but it was a necessary sacrifice. Really. He hadn’t spent the last six years telling his squad that he was entirely capable of beating Wrecker just to give up now.

Still, after five minutes with no progress, he was reconsidering his decision to challenge Wrecker in the first place. He strained to keep his brother from forcing his arm down; Wrecker, on the other hand, didn’t look inconvenienced in the slightest. Tech and Crosshair seemed to be losing interest, but Hunter was too far in. He would have bragging rights, at least.

“Y’know, I need this arm,” he grunted a moment later. “I know Wookies pull their enemies’ arms off, but can you leave mine where it’s supposed to be?”

Wrecker just grinned and raised his own arm. Hunter yelped, trying to find purchase in the grass, but he was still lifted bodily, legs working helplessly in the air. “Put me down!”

“Do you give up?”

“No!”

“Then no can do, Sarge,” Wrecker said, plainly enjoying himself.

“How old are you?” Crosshair muttered, rolling his eyes. He clearly had no patience for his brothers’ antics. “We’re on a mission, for fierfek’s sake.”

“We’re not completing an objective right now, though,” Tech reasoned as Hunter let out every curse he knew and some he invented on the spot. “Besides, it’s not hurting anything.”

“It’s hurting my arm --”

“You brought this on yourself,” Crosshair informed him, unamused.

“Hey, pulling someone off the ground is cheating!”

“Who cheats at arm wrestling?”

“Wrecker does, apparently,” Tech observed.

“You never said there were rules,” Wrecker argued.

“Okay, so it’s an unspoken rule.”

“Common sense,” Tech put in helpfully.

“Hunter, you’re the only one who actually invests any energy whatsoever into these things,” Crosshair said in exasperation.

Hunter didn’t bother to respond. His arm was likely halfway out of its socket by now, and he was seriously thinking of a dislocated shoulder. Resigned to the merciless teasing he’d no doubt have to endure, he grumbled, “Fine. I give up.”

Wrecker crowed triumphantly and dumped him to the ground unceremoniously. Hunter spat out a mouthful of grass and glared at his squad. Crosshair, for all he’d feigned indifference, was smirking at the sergeant. Tech stifled a laugh.

“If you say one word --” Hunter started warningly.

“Don’t need to,” Crosshair said drily. “The evidence is right in front of us.”

“Fifth time in a row, Sarge!” Wrecker declared, giving Hunter a friendly nudge that nearly knocked him off his feet again. “You’ve got a good streak going.”

Hunter made a face at him and turned to Tech, trying to salvage what was left of his dignity. “Have you taken a look at that city yet?”

Tech managed to keep a straight face when he responded, “Just getting a sense of the layout now, Sarge. Looks like there’s a number of ways to get in with a small team without the Techno Union noticing. We won’t be able to get in too close with the Marauder, though.”

Hunter shrugged. “Shouldn’t be a problem. It’ll be easier without the ship anyways.”

“As long as we don’t blow our cover again,” Crosshair said pointedly.

Wrecker scowled at the sniper. “That wasn’t my fault.”

“I never said which incident I was talking about…”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “On that note, I’m going to stretch my legs for a bit.” He fixed Tech with a stern look. “If they kill each other, you’ll catch it later.”

Tech just grinned. “You got it, Sarge.”

***

Tech decided to check on his brothers, and found Crosshair fiddling with some ammunition. Of course, he was curious, and stepped closer to get a better look.

“Whatcha got there, Crosshair?”

The sniper smiled and showed him an ammo clip. “Just something I picked up on our last shopping run.”

Tech stared at it for a bit, puzzled as to why his older brother seemed to make such a deal over extra ammo. Granted, he was the team’s sniper, so it really wasn’t any surprise that he enjoyed sniping or took good care of his weapon—one that had helped them survive and accomplish missions and other tasks on various occasions—but this particular thing was odd.

“You restocked your ammo supply?”

“These are no ordinary rounds, Tech. I believe these will help us tremendously in the future.”

Tech leaned forward, curiosity piqued and eager to learn more. “Really? How so? How are they different?”

Crosshair turned the clip around in his hand then tossed it to him. “They pack far more of a punch than most other ones. The next time we deal with tougher opponents, like supers or small vehicles, dealing with them will be a breeze.”

“Fascinating!” Tech exclaimed, examining the clip in his hand. “How much were they?”

The sniper looked away and remained silent.

“Crosshair,” Tech said slowly, “if I check our balance and find you’ve spent most of our credits -”

“I didn’t!”

Wrecker chuckled awkwardly. “Actually, I think I did.”

The short clone let out a squeak then hastily replaced his helmet in absolute irritation before handing the clip back to the sniper and walking away.

Hunter still hadn’t returned, but Tech wasn’t worried. It wouldn’t be the first time his brother needed space before the real madness broke loose.

True to his word, Tech continued to keep an eye on Crosshair and Wrecker. There was no way of knowing what might happen when they were left to their own devices. The Techno Union was completely unaware of their presence, and Tech preferred to keep it that way.

He sat down beside Wrecker, keen to look at the Techno Union’s latest movements. They still claimed neutrality, but the latest intel indicated a worrying streak of Separatist leanings.

Wrecker took one look at Tech’s datapad and yawned pointedly. Without bothering to glance up, Tech said, “If you’re not interested, go check the perimeter.”

“Droids aren’t stealthy,” Wrecker grumbled, but he pushed himself to his feet. Before he took more than a few steps, however, Hunter reappeared from the trees.

“Don’t bother,” he called. “It’s all quiet.” He gave Crosshair a friendly nudge with his elbow as he strode past and winked at Tech. “You can save those rounds for later, Cross.”

Crosshair merely rolled his eyes with a huff. Tech hid a smile and returned his attention to Hunter. “We’re all set to infiltrate the city, Sarge.”

“Good,” the sergeant replied. He settled next to Wrecker. “Get some sleep. I want to take the city tomorrow.”

“I’ll take first watch,” Tech offered.

After a few minutes, he recognized Crosshair’s light steps approaching. His brother sat beside him without a word. Wrecker joined them soon after.

Tech shook his head. “Shouldn’t you be sleeping?”

Wrecker smiled sheepishly. Crosshair just shrugged and said, “Yeah, well - ”

He broke off at the insistent beeping of Tech’s comm. Puzzled - Hunter was dozing just a few feet away - Tech exchanged a look with Crosshair and activated it.

“Execute Order 66.”

Upon hearing those words, he suddenly felt… different. But a good different.

He blinked, then turned to face their sergeant, eyes narrowing. He knew what he had to do.

“It will be done, my lord.”

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Someone’s comlink was chirping.

Order 66.

Hunter was clueless as to what that was. Why would they be given an order they didn’t know? Tech acknowledged it, though; perhaps he knew.

Shaking his head to clear it, Hunter approached his brother. “Hey, Tech, do you know what this order means?”

“Good soldiers follow orders.”

#way of the hunter #the bad batch #bad batch #clone force 99 #hunter #tech #crosshair #wrecker #we're sorry #but not really #heehee cliffhanger #the angst train is coming to town

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this-solaris-life · 4 years

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An Hour At Most

Writer’s Notes: This is is set in my arranged marriage au, Love That Is Mine. It’s always fun to write these two <3

Prompts: a kiss without motive // prompt list ~ currently open

----

I should have just stayed in bed like A-Yuan asked. Ouyang Zizhen thought to himself as he sat in his throne room. He had to briefly close his eyes to keep from rolling them as Elder Fa continued to wax on. The man had made his point five minutes in, and for Ouyang Zizhen that was five minutes too long. It allowed the man to do what he’s doing now, which is testing his patience. Ouyang Zizhen shifts his gaze slightly over Elder Fa’s shoulder to the open doors of the hall.

It’s a beautiful day. The cool air coming through the doors is shown in the gentle sway of the branches of the phoenix blossom tree in the courtyard. Its blossoms are crimson and fully bloomed. As the wind picks up, a few come off the tree floating down to the pond. The sight of several shidi rounding the corner from his husband’s class makes him smile.

“Does the pain of the farmer’s in the wetlands amuse you, Sect Leader?” Elder Fa asks, his tone reprimanding more than questioning. His dark eyes shifted to look at the older man. A wave of annoyance flowing through his veins. He knew that he should have let the man go first, but no he’d allowed the man to sit there listening to the others. But he’d wanted to have a good morning and now it was ruined. Ouyang Zizhen hopes that his face is schooled to mirror the indifferent one that he’d seen countless times on Sect Leader Jiang’s face.

“What amuses me, Elder Fa, is how you’re acting like a victim to the news you’re informing me of. That if the conditions are so bad. Why did you wait so long to inform me? Elder Wang, are the families in your area reporting the same issue?” Ouyang Zizhen asked, a thin smile forming on his lips as he flicked his gaze over to the man fifteen years his senior and twenty years Elder Fa’s junior. He is the elder that presides over the territory adjacent to Elder Fa’s.

“No, Sect Leader Ouyang, I have no such claims being told me by the families that live there.” Elder Wang replied, after quickly looking at a parchment. “The only report is that we need to repair one of the tunnels funneling the water. I got word this morning that it was happening. I’ve already directed funds to get it repaired today.”

“Then, I will come see you by the weeks out to make sure it is alright.” Ouyang Zizhen replied.

“Wha-” Elder Fa started but Ouyang Zizhen cut him off.

“I will be leaving tomorrow, Elder Fa to check the conditions. I advise you to return back to your residence tonight and alert the families that I will be visiting.” Ouyang Zizhen stated as he stood up. The displeased look on the other’s face making him smile thinly, “That will be all today.”

The elders stood up as well bowing respectfully. Ouyang Zizhen’s small smile turned into a grin of victory as he saw the scowl on the down turned face as he passed him. He waited until he was outside to let out the chuckle that’d been bubbling up his throat.

Free at last, he closed his eyes taking a deep breath enjoying the breeze and the smell of spring. It was truly lovely here in Baling during this time of year. The sound of multiple boots had him opening his eyes. It was still too early for the training grounds to release the older disciples, but not too early for the students learning in the classrooms apparently. He recognized the lot traveling with smiles, their swords, and some scrolls towards the gardens. They were his husband’s class. Since, Lan Sizhui didn’t follow them then that meant he was going to remain in the classroom. A new purpose in mind, Ouyang Zizhen made his way towards his husband’s classroom.

Ouyang Zizhen leaned in the doorway of the classroom. The students all gone leaving Lan Sizhui alone. He watches as Lan Sizhui walks around the room gathering papers and making sure that the desks are clean. After being granted the ability to teach in the classroom. His beautiful husband had taken several days to rearrange one of them. The layout now reminds him of the ones at the Cloud of Recesses he’d seen in his childhood.

His gaze shifted looking over Lan Sizhui. Today his husband had chosen one of the robes that he’d given him during their engagement. The outer robes start off white that fades into a sky blue at the chest, then a dark blue just past the hips. Long inky black hair is tied up with one of Ouyang Zizhen’s hairpieces in a ponytail. The white ends of his ribbon bright against the robes at his back.

Lan Sizhui was organizing the different assignment papers in his arms that he’d had the disciples do today when he felt his husband’s presence. One of the benefits of dual cultivation is sensing his husband without the need for sight, smell, or hearing. He smiled softly knowing that it was a bit early for his husband not to be in meetings. As he was heading to his classroom this morning he’d seen Elder Fa in the courtyard.

“Shouldn’t you be in one of your meetings?” Lan Sizhui asked turning to look at his husband as he walked towards his desk to put them in the bamboo tray for him to grade.

“Shouldn’t you be teaching?” Ouyang Zizhen countered with a grin.

“I am in a sense. We reviewed herbs today. So I am having them go find them in the garden.” Lan Sizhui answered, “And you? Did Elder Fa give you all mercy and keep his reports short?”

“Please, my love, that man knows nothing about shortness other than his height which I think he begrudges that I am taller than him.” Ouyang Zizhen chuckled.

“So naturally you let him at least state his point then made your verbal escape?” Lan Sizhui smiled heading back towards the dais for him to layout his papers.

“Yes. Naturally.” Ouyang Zizhen stated smugly, as his eyes tracked his husband’s movements the other walked to the dais. The sway of his hair showing off his neck had a wave of want flowing through him. He leaned over closing the door and latching it before making his way over to his husband.

Lan Sizhui chuckled at the warmth from his husband pressing up behind him. He sat the last pile down. A bright smile lingering on his face as Ouyang Zizhen wraps an arm around his waist. His heart racing as Oz moves aside his ponytail to lightly nuzzle his exposed neck. The softness, a contrast to quick fingers undoing his forehead ribbon. Lan Sizhui turned his head to give the other a pointed look, “This is a classroom.” Lan Sizhui’s own hands catching the ribbon and wrapping it around Oz’s free wrist.

“And?” Ouyang Zizhen says playfully against his lips before capturing them in a soft teasing kiss that makes Lan Sizhui chase the other’s lips when they part. “How long before they come back?”

“Hour at most.” Lan Sizhui answers, dazed storm colored eyes flickering up into his dark brown.

“An hour it is.” Ouyang Zizhen replied, timbered voice low making a shiver go down Lan Sizhui’s spine as he turned to face Ouyang Zizhen. He leaned in kissing Lan Sizhui again, starting off soft and sweet but turned headier as he backed him up to the dais. Lan Sizhui’s arms wrapping around his neck as Ouyang Zizhen leaned forwards. The arm around Lan Sizhui’s waist kept him falling back. Ouyang Zizhen reached out with his free hand pushing away the stacks of paper away from behind Lan Sizhui. Those neatly stacked inked papers spilling out onto the floor as he laid Lan Sizhui on the dais. Lan Sizhui reached up channel qi into activating the sound barrier talisman engraved on his desk before Ouyang Zizhen reached up bringing his wrist back down to the floor.

#a love that is mine au #sizhen #lan sizhui #lan yuan #wen yuan #ouyang zizhen #fluff #kiss prompts #mdz kiss prompts #not beta read and all errors are mine

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geneseoabroad · 6 years

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China Experience: Savannah’18

China was one of the first countries I thought of studying abroad in, yet was the last study abroad destination before my last semester in college. I went through the US-China Rising Star Study tour, a two-week cross-cultural exchange program focused on art and design. Through the study tour, I got to visit all of the cities that I ironically considered studying abroad in: Beijing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu. In hindsight, I was really nervous from the time I received my acceptance letter into the program to checking in at JFK. If you ask any of my friends, they’d say I loved China studies, but when the opportunity would come, I’d be hesitant. I’ve been everywhere else in East Asia (Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea) except for China. Applying for a visa, my poor Mandarin skills and current politics made me a little reluctant.

Yet I enjoyed my experience in China–enjoyed is an understatement. Granted, I was only there for two weeks, but throughout college, most of my studies revolved around China. In short, experiencing China was like finally meeting someone you’ve been in awe of for a long time.

Study Abroad as an Academic Experience

For the past four years, my interest in China has been what bridged my academic career: International Relations, Art History, and Asian Studies. At Geneseo, and in Taipei, I took courses in Chinese politics and East Asian Studies. Throughout the years my interest evolved. When I was a freshman, I was fascinated by How are art reflects the changes in society and the government’s hand in this field. Now, I am more interested in the transnational ties between East and the West. From the Sanxingdui Museum and the Guangdong Museum, it was interesting for me to see how museums spaces are structured. Within the Guangdong Museum, lied various exhibits that were completely separated from each other. I was drawn to how this comprehensive museum adopted a layout similar to a mall. In one space, you could learn about Chinese animation, and in another, natural history with replicas of dinosaurs. Sanxingdui Museum was both an indoor and outdoor museum. I was fascinated with how the masks were preserved and archived—something I would spend my entire semester focusing on at my internship at Livingston County Historical Museum in collections.

This was from the Chinese Animation exhibition at the Guangdong Museum. My favourite exhibit

Sangxingdui Museum

At the end of the Study tour, we spent a night in Beijing and had the chance to explore the city on our own. Beijing’s 798 Art Zone seemed like a faint dream. It’s a former military district turned Art zone comparable to New York City’s Chelsea. It was also on my number one list of places to visit. I saw 798 as one of the initial reasons for why I pursued both International Relations and Art History initially. As one person put, 798 is best described as “where communism and commercialism collide.” I remember being fascinated by how the Chinese art world–a leading powerhouse–functioned under the restraints of their government. In retrospect, as a freshman, I wanted to explore this polarization. Walking around 798, it was interesting to see walls covered in graffiti and various international art houses.

I left China feeling that I had utilized my college career to achieve my goals and that there was also so much more to see.

Cultural Awareness/Reentry thoughts

It didn’t hit me, until I rode the nine-hour high-speed rail to Guangzhou, how vast China was. In the midst of the upcoming Lunar New Years Holiday, there were hoards of people with their suitcases waiting for the rail. Every hour was rush hour. As soon as we were given the green light, my group ran down the escalator and into the train, rushing to push our luggage into the cubbies. In nine hours, I saw towns covered in snow in the to luscious mountains in the south. My classmates and teachers came from many different parts of China. It was the first time I heard many different Chinese dialects: Students from the south added long “a” sounds, whereas my guides from the north (near Beijing) added “er” sounds. I learned from one of my teachers that in Chengdu, people often speak in the fourth tone. And it varies even more! My friend taught me how to say hello in her town’s local language: Leu hoh. China is as big as the United States.

As I bought my last milk tea from the vending machine at Beijing Capital International Airport, I thought “Western New York is going to be a real culture shock”, yet ironically throughout my trip and coming back to Geneseo, I felt the opposite. As my tour bus would pass by smaller towns and villages, I had this strange recurring thought: parts of rural China reminded me of Western New York. Isolated, and almost entirely ethnically homogenous. Most villagers have probably never seen a foreigner (and this is even common in cities) and similarly, I have known classmates whose hometowns are vastly different demographically, even compared to Geneseo. Some have never ventured out of New York State, and as an intern in the Study Abroad Office, I have met students who don’t have passports. This has humbled me, realizing that I have had opportunities to travel as much as I have.

We are often told to have an open mind when travelling to a different country, but perhaps the same could be applied in one’s home country. For the past four years coming from the Bronx to upstate New York, sometimes seems foreign in itself. It is frustrating at times when you expect people to have the same understandings as you (and more so, since it’s your home country). Although there were some differences that shocked me: Some bathrooms did not have soap and the one hotel we stayed at– that was considered four stars in its area–was more shabby. Granted, I had always wanted to go to China, but despite some setbacks, I was always more willing to be more open and understanding. Reflecting on reentry, having an open mind in China made me realize that it was possible to apply the same patience and understanding in my own environment.

Cites

http://www.aascu.org/academicaffairs/InternationalPrograms/ChinaInitiatives/RisingStar/

https://www.arthistoryabroad.com/2014/08/where-communism-and-commercialism-collide-beijings-798-art-district-and-shanghais-m50-by-aha-alum-helena-roy/

#studyabroad #goabroad #beijing #guangzhou #guangdong #chengdu #foshan #sichuan #america #chinese #mandarin #travel #overseas #art #internationalrelations #links

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