#"House Under the Boat"

[goodgarbs]

Design| Chaoffice Presents "House Under the Boat" w/ Zen-Focused Designs

Chaoffice is a Bejing-based architectural design studio that is dedicated to re-imagining urban living environments and has continued to make historic creations in their career. Established in 2016 by founder Cheng Zhi, the design brand started to become renowned for their poetic approach to design. Adding to their roster of amazing finishes, Chaoffice re-discovers what is dubbed “House Under…

[amomentsescape]

Hey a while ago I requested a oneshot of the reader giving jason voorhees a shirt that said "thot destroyer 9000" but what if you did that with other slashers? Like giving bubba a shirt that says "everything is bigger in Texas" and freddy in a basic "dream guy/boat etc" shirt or one of the nightmare before Christmas shirts that say "what a wonderful nightmare"? And maybe other slashers if ya can think of shirts that'll fit em? (Shirt quotes not mine and merry post Christmas)

Slashers React to Custom Made T-Shirts

Slashers x Reader (Separate)

A/N: I think this would be absolutely hilarious to see! Thank you so much, and Merry (Very Late) Christmas and Happy New Year!

Freddy Krueger

He lets out his notorious laugh the moment he sees it

"I am pretty dreamy, aren't I?"

Puts it on over his sweater

Will pretty much always have it on, especially when he sees you

He ends up wearing it during his future killings, even asking them if they like the shirt or not

If any of them answer no, he makes their deaths a lot more painful

Will also want you to get a similar shirt so you both can match

He'll probably end up asking for a sweater version a few months later

Michael Myers

He just kind of gives you that disappointed parent look

"Barely even looks like me"

Will refuse to wear it unless you beg him repeatedly over the course of a few days

Finally gives in and puts it on underneath his overalls

He is honestly kind of embarrassed to wear it, but you no longer bothering him about it makes up for the embarrassment

After wearing it a few times, it gets to the point that he doesn't even think about it anymore

It's pretty much all he wears now

But only because he's grown used to it, not because he likes it

Or so he tells you

Jason Voorhees

(I couldn't quite find a shirt that fit the description, so I went with the closest I could find)

He tilts his head at you in confusion

Poor boy doesn't even know what a "thot" is

When you explain it to him, you can tell he finds it kind of funny

Will put it on jokingly for you, only to realize it's pretty comfortable

Will wear it under his jacket

Even if he doesn't have it on, he'll carry it around with him

He insists it helps his killing ability and is a good luck charm

But he pretty much just cherishes ANYTHING you give him

Thomas Hewitt

He lets out a few chuckles at this

Will pull you into a big hug as his way of thanking you

He'll only wear the shirt on special occasions

He's worried it'll get ruined if he wears it when he's working outside or tending to "dinner"

But he does love the shirt

Will probably show it off to the family and receive some laughs and head nods

Will make you wear it sometimes as a joke since you're practically drowning in the shirt

Bubba Sawyer

He loves receiving anything from you

So he happily takes the shirt and gives you some gleeful giggles and kisses as his thank you

But he honestly has no idea what it means

You have to make the connection of what his family eats and the shirt in order to get a true response out him

He'll laugh like crazy

He immediately puts it on

You'll have to quite literally fight him in order to wash it or take it off

If anyone accidentally stains it or causes a tear, he'll go into a frenzy

Brahms Heelshire

He immediately gets it and smiles

You've made a mistake though

Because he ends up putting it on his list of actual rules

Will make some dirty jokes about it

He quickly puts the shirt on and stands there, giving you a "well, go on" sort of look

Anytime he wears the shirt now, he expects you to follow what it says...

Good luck, because you've made Brahms just that much harder to handle

Norman Bates

Will give you a gentle smile and thank you for the shirt

He definitely thinks it's funny and will happily wear it around the house

It mostly becomes a pajama shirt, not that you mind

He doesn't fully understand the joke, but he likes that you think he's cute

Will hang it up in a special place in the closet so he'll always see it

He likes when you wear it too

"I-I think it may suit you better, dear"

"That's so sweet, Norman... wait a minute"

Billy Loomis

He rolls his eyes at it but with the widest smile on his face

It doesn't take much for him to give in and try it on

He secretly thinks the shirt is hilarious, but he doesn't want to inflate your ego and end up with 30 similar tees

Doesn't wear it in public though since he's worried people may become a little suspicious

He likes it better on you though

So you both sort of trade off the shirt every week or so

Stu Macher

Practically the opposite of Billy's reaction

Stu will hold it up and immediately exclaim on how much he loves it

Thinks it's hilarious and will immediately throw it on

Does a couple funny twirls to show off how it looks

Honestly doesn't care what people think

He'll happily skip around in public with the shirt on, you right by his side

If anyone points it out he just shrugs and says "it's pretty sick, right?"

Eric Draven

He breaks out into a big smile and even laughs a little bit

"I see what you did there"

Flashes the shirt to his crow

"They look just like you"

He gives you a sweet kiss as a thank you

Will wear it on dates and stay-at-home days with you

He doesn't want it to get all beat up while he's out taking down criminals

But even after months of owning it, he still smiles whenever he puts it on

[lemon-bread-slice]

Swedishbeans continues

Iskall is now the ambassador of both the 'Fuck Around and Find Out' club, and the 'Fuck it, we Ball' association, congratulations.

If you're not up to date, let me fill you in:

His new big idea to officially say goodbye to Joel (not that he hasn't done that like 3 times already) is to dig a stereotypical 'Tunnel of Love' under his own base, trick Joel into a boat with promises of a silly new fishing glitch, and drop him into it. They'll then ride through it while listening to a custom record disk of Iskall singing "When We Were Young" by Adele, acapella, with dispensers that fire flowers and fireworks. Finally (possibly) they'll enter separate boats at the end to figuratively and literally 'part ways'.

The tunnel itself is straight, bare, TNT-bored, and decorated by occasional spams of various pink, magenta and red blocks though it's 80% stone. The ceiling is covered in cherry leaves hiding froglights (bought from Etho's shop).

There have also been discussions of various custom paintings, including but not limited to:

Edits of him and Joel

Him and Jimmy (at the end of the ride, to show he's moved on)

Lizzie and/or Etho but crossed out

A quote from Iskall: "Do i ever go too far? No. If anything I should go further-"

May I remind you all that this man has several hundreds of diamonds of housing investment for flats that he has yet to build?

I love minecraft youtube

[starkeymuse]

decode | rafe cameron | part three

summary: grace knew the outer banks were full of dangerous currents, but she never expected rafe cameron to be one of them.

warnings: violence, slight mentions of abuse, mentions of blood.

note: the friendly neighborhood kook is here :)

✧ listen to: seventeen going under by sam fender + affection by between friends ✧

the summer heat still clung to the air even as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting an orange glow over the outdoor movie screen. the weekly movie night was a staple in obx during the summer, drawing crowds from all over the island. the grass was packed with kids sprawled on blankets, cheap folding chairs, and the occasional truck bed. laughter and the hum of idle conversation filled the air, blending with the speakers that announced the movie was about to start.

we decided to come tonight because sarah and john b were having dinner at sarah's house with her dad, ward. hopefully, they’d be able to get the maps without anyone noticing. this was also known as, the first step to getting the gold. kie and sarah hadn’t exactly mended their rift, but they agreed to be civil for now.

i stood in line at the concession stand, tapping my foot against the uneven gravel. kie had asked for a bag of popcorn, and jj and pope wanted sodas. i was debating whether or not to grab myself an ice cream when i felt someone step up behind me. my skin prickled. i didn’t need to turn around to know who it was.

“hey grace, what’s up?” rafe’s voice carried over, laced with a grin i could practically hear. pulling at my focus while setting me on edge. it wasn’t fair, the way it could make me feel, like the ground wasn’t steady beneath me.

“ugh- you again?” i asked, crossing my arms and turning to face him. heat was rushing to my face. i hated how he could do that.

“topper and kelce know what pope and jj did,” he said, his tone quiet but heavy.

my frown deepened. “what are you talking about?”

rafe’s jaw tightened, his gaze flickering over the crowd before locking back on me. “the boat,” he said. “they know.”

his words hit like a splash of cold water, leaving me blinking as i tried to process. the boat? what boat? a knot of dread began forming in my stomach, and for a split second, i thought about pushing him for more details.

"i seriously don't know what you're talking about” i admitted, my voice quieter now. i searched his face for answers, but he didn’t give me any. instead, he just shook his head, his lips pressing into a thin line, and walked away. his broad shoulders, tensed and rigid, disappeared into the crowd. it was infuriating, the way he could drop something like that and disappear.

my hands felt clammy as i grabbed the drinks and popcorn, the flimsy cups trembling in my grip. i hurried back to our blanket, nearly spilling jj’s coke on a toddler who darted in front of me. when i finally dropped onto the grass beside kie, she gave me a weird look.

what the fuck did you do?” i demanded, my voice harsher than i intended. i turned to jj and pope, who both froze mid-sip of their drinks.

“uh, what?” jj asked, feigning innocence as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.

“rafe just told me that topper and kelce know what you did,” i said, narrowing my eyes. “the boat? what the hell did you do?”

pope winced, and jj let out a nervous laugh.

“okay, so maybe we… kinda sunk topper's boat,” jj admitted, shrugging as if it were no big deal.

“you what?” kie hissed, her head snapping toward him.

“it was pope’s idea,” jj said, throwing up his hands. “they’ve been terrorizing us for years. it was payback!”

“hey, don’t pin it all on me,” pope shot back, glaring at jj. “you were the one who said, and i quote, ‘let’s see if topper can swim!’”

kie groaned, burying her face in her hands. “you two are actual idiots.”

“idiots with a cause,” jj said, smirking as he reached for his soda. “you’re welcome.”

“yeah, thanks for painting a giant target on our backs,” i muttered, rubbing my temples. my pulse was already racing, and i had a sinking feeling this night was about to get a lot worse.

“oh, come on,” jj said, leaning back on his elbows. “what’s the worst that could happen? topper tries to fight us again?"

"yes that's exactly what could happen." i corrected him. i understood why they did it, but they got caught so easily, and what annoyed me the most was that they didn't tell us.

about fifteen minutes later, jj and pope stood up, muttering something about needing to "wring it out". they disappeared behind the massive movie screen, leaving kie and me to exchange annoyed glances. i couldn’t shake the tension building in my chest. something felt off.

voices. raised, sharp, and cutting through the noise of the movie and the chatter around us.

kie’s head snapped toward the screen. “do you hear that?"

i didn’t answer. i was already on my feet, my heart pounding as we ran toward the sound. we rounded the screen just in time to see kelce and jj going at each other, fists flying. topper was on the ground, choking pope, his hands wrapped around his throat.

get off him!” kie screamed, rushing toward them.

kie was already trying to pull kelce off jj, but he shoved her away. i threw myself at topper, clawing at his arms to get him off pope, with a snarl, he shoved me back so hard i hit the ground, pain exploding in my head as it smacked against the ground.

for a split second, my vision blurred, and i was back in a moment, my father’s rough hands pushing me to the ground, anger simmering behind his eyes. the memory hit me like a tidal wave, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

i barely had time to process what was happening when rafe appeared out of nowhere, grabbing topper by the collar and yanking him off pope. he didn’t hesitate, landing a punch square on topper’s jaw.

rafe’s voice cut through again, his words a furious growl, “what the fuck did I tell you, topper?” but even as he yelled, i could barely process it, my head spinning and my body aching from the fall. the anger in his voice seemed distant, too far away to grasp. all i could do was try to steady myself, feeling the world tilt and spin around me.

as i pushed myself up, my hands shaking. the chaos around me felt muted, distant, like i was underwater. my head throbbed, and when i reached up to touch my forehead, my fingers came away sticky with blood.

my body was on autopilot, moving without thought as I tried to make sense of what was happening. the fight was spiraling out of control. jj and kelce were still at it, and rafe was right there, caught in the madness. but all I could think about was stopping it, somehow.

then I saw it—kiara’s bag on the ground, tossed carelessly as the fight raged on. without thinking, i ran to it, my hands trembling as i fumbled to grab the lighter from inside. the small object felt strangely heavy in my palm, the idea hit me. my pulse was loud in my ears as i flicked the lighter to life, the flame shooting up in the dark.

with shaky hands, i held it close to the edge of the movie screen and watched as the flames crept along the fabric. they caught quickly, and within moments, the screen was alight, the orange glow lighting up the area around us.

“jesus!” someone yelled. “what the hell?!”

the fighting stopped immediately, everyone frozen in place, staring at the flames that had started to eat through the movie screen. the crackle of the fire filled the air, and the smell of burning fabric made me cough. my eyes darted between my friends, each of them looking stunned, some still catching their breath from the fight.

i felt a mix of panic and relief, my hands still shaking as I watched the fire burn. it was done. the fight was over. i glanced over my shoulder, I saw topper and kelce scrambling away.

“hey!” jj’s voice echoed “grace, let's go!”

i turned around just in time to see him, pope, and kie running toward her car. but i wasn't done, just yet. i was already moving toward rafe.

"what the fuck was that?” i said, my voice full of anger.

“i didn’t know they were gonna do that,” rafe shot back, his frustration matching mine. “i told you—topper knew about the boat, but i had no idea he was gonna come after you guys again.”

i stared at him, disbelief lacing my words. “that’s why you told me they knew? because they were going to come after us again?”

he looked away, running a hand through his hair, before locking eyes with me again. “i thought i could stop it. i thought it wouldn’t go this far.”

“well, you were wrong,” i snapped, trying to keep my voice steady. “seems like you’re always trying, it's like your favorite word lately.”

rafe’s face hardened for a moment, but his gaze shifted to my hand, smeared with blood. the anger drained from him in an instant, replaced by something softer. something like concern. “you’re bleeding.”

i quickly wiped at my face, trying to ignore it, but it was obvious.

“jesus,” rafe muttered under his breath, taking a small step closer. “you’re hurt. let me see.”

i tried to back away, but he followed, his eyes too focused, too intense. i couldn’t keep avoiding him—not now.

“grace,” rafe said softly, his voice lower, almost like he was afraid of scaring me. i didn’t give him a chance to say more before his hand was at the back of my head, gently tilting it as he examined the cut on my forehead.

his touch was so careful, so unexpectedly tender. it threw me off. i froze, not knowing what to do, what to feel. everything was already too much, and this wasn’t helping.

“that's pretty bad,” rafe murmured, his voice almost a whisper. i wanted to tell him i was fine, but the words felt like they were stuck in my throat.

“i’m fine,” i muttered quickly, stepping back, but my hands were shaking too much. damn it, i hated this. my heart raced, but for an entirely different reason now. i didn’t know what he was doing to me.

“don’t give me that bullshit,” rafe said, a little more firmly. “let me help.”

i shook my head, stepping back again, trying to get space between us. my breath was shallow, still feeling the rush of the fight. but his eyes never left mine. they were too intense, too much.

“i need to go,” i said, the words cracking in my throat.

without waiting for a response, i walked off, refusing to look back this time.

we stumbled into the château, the screen door slamming behind us. john b and sarah were sitting on the couch, laughing about something, but their faces froze when they looked up and saw us.

“what the hell happened?” john b shot to his feet, his eyes scanning the bruises and blood on all of us.

“topper and kelce happened,” kie said, dropping her bag onto the table with a thud.

“again?” sarah asked, her arms crossing tightly.

jj leaned against the wall, a cocky grin tugging at his busted lip. “Yeah, but this time, we really gave them something to cry about.”

“jj…” john b’s voice had that warning tone, and jj just shrugged.

“we sunk topper’s boat,” he said nonchalantly like he was reporting the weather.

“you what?” sarah’s voice shot up an octave, and john b looked like he might combust on the spot.

“you���re welcome!” jj said, throwing his arms out. “no need to thank us all at once.”

john b groaned, rubbing his temples. “are you kidding me? why the hell would you do that?”

“because they wouldn’t leave us alone!” pope cut in, his voice defensive. “we’ve tried everything else. this was the only way to get revenge.”

“oh, yeah, genius plan,” sarah shot back. “because obviously, sinking their boat totally de-escalated the situation.”

“obviously not,” jj said, sarcasm dripping from his voice. “which is why they jumped us. you're catching on, sarah. gold star.”

“jj.” i muttered, shooting him a look.

“what?” he asked, feigning innocence. “i’m just saying, if anyone’s getting a ‘most dramatic reaction to a sunken boat’ award, it’s definitely topper. his family are millionaires, there will probably be a new one in the water by tomorrow.”

“not helping,” kie snapped.

john b threw his hands up. “you didn’t think maybe we should talk about it first?”

“talk about what?” jj retorted. “oh, hey, guys, let’s have a civilized chat about how topper’s been terrorizing us for weeks. maybe we’ll bake him a cake while we’re at it.”

“jesus christ, jj.” john b muttered, shaking his head.

“look,” pope cut in, trying to bring some sense to the conversation. “we didn’t expect this to happen, okay? and you know what else? i definitely didn’t expect rafe to show up and save my ass.”

“what?” sarah asked, her eyebrows furrowing.

“rafe,” pope repeated. “he pulled topper off me. took him down, too.”

john b’s jaw tightened. “rafe helped you?”

“for once, yeah,” kie said, crossing her arms. “if he hadn’t shown up, it would’ve been a lot worse.”

sarah looked skeptical. “and you’re sure he wasn’t in on it?”

“don’t care why he was there,” jj said, flopping onto the couch with a wince. “all i know is, he threw one hell of a punch. kinda satisfying, honestly.”

“he wasn’t in on it,” i cut in. everyone turned to look at me, the room going quiet for a moment. i folded my arms, ignoring the sting in my scraped-up elbows. “rafe. he didn’t know topper and kelce were going to jump us, he was trying to stop it. he told me that.”

kie raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. “and you believe him?”

i hesitated, my gaze dropping to the floor for a second. “yeah, i do,” i said finally, meeting her eyes again. “he didn’t have to show up at all, but he did. and he helped. whether we like it or not.”

“don’t give rafe all the credit,” jj said, a grin spreading across his face as he glanced at me. “grace, nice job lighting the screen on fire. honestly, one of my favorite things you've ever done.” he lifted his hand for a high five, wincing slightly as he shifted on the couch.

i stared at him for a moment before finally slapping his hand. “thanks, jj. glad my moment of sheer panic entertained you.”

“entertained? that was genius,” he said, leaning back with a smirk.

john b was still pacing, clearly trying to digest everything. "so let me get this straight—topper and kelce come after us because you guys sank their boat, rafe shows up out of nowhere to help, and then grace pulls off a fire stunt to distract them."

“yup,” jj said, his grin widening.

john b dropped his hands to his hips, shaking his head. "god, what a mess. next time, we’re talking things through before we do anything this reckless."

“next time,” sarah said, sounding a little exasperated, “maybe we keep the boat-sinking plans to a minimum, huh?”

“deal,” jj and pope replied in sync.

the room started to feel lighter as the tension faded, and i let out a breath i hadn’t realized i’d been holding. but my mind kept drifting back to rafe, how he had appeared out of nowhere, pulling topper off pope like it was nothing.

i thought i hated him, but in that moment, i couldn’t shake the feeling there was more to him than i realized. then there was that touch—his hand brushing my face, wiping the blood away. i hated how it made my heart race, but it also made me rethink everything. and now, with my friends seeing that rafe had helped us, i felt a small, unexpected relief. maybe there was more to him than the reckless, asshole guy i’d always thought he was. for the first time, i didn’t feel guilty for wondering if i’d been wrong about him. maybe he wasn’t such a bad person after all.

did you guys get the maps?” i asked, trying to shift my focus from rafe.

sarah let out a frustrated sigh, shaking her head. “no. my dad's office was locked, and i couldn’t find the key.” she glanced at john b, her tone a little apologetic. “we’ll have to go back in a day or two, when ward and rose leave for the day. but… i was thinking maybe someone other than john b should come with me this time.”

john b raised an eyebrow. “what, you don’t trust me?”

“i trust you,” sarah said quickly. “but it’s just... it might be better if it’s someone else this time. someone my dad doesn't know.”

she had a point. none of us wanted to take the risk of running into trouble again.

"i’m thinking grace should come with me,” sarah added, looking at me with a smile. “you’re not really tied to my family, so it’ll look less obvious if we get caught, and we could be in and out faster."

i nodded, realizing how solid her plan was. “i can do it,” i said, trying to sound confident even though i felt a little nervous. “we’ll be in and out.”

kie, who had been listening, spoke up. “just be careful, both of you. this whole thing is a lot more dangerous than it seems.”

“i know,” sarah replied.

i noticed it right away. there was no sarcasm in kie’s voice, no snappy remark. it wasn’t like they were suddenly best friends or anything, but for the first time in a while, there was an understanding between them. it was small, but it was there. and it made me smile.

i didn’t say anything about it, but i couldn’t ignore that moment.

work had been exhausting, my feet ached, and the smell of food clung to my clothes, a stark reminder of the hours i’d spent hustling around marcy's. the sky was already dark as i locked up and made my way to my bike, ready to head home and crash for the night.

just as i swung my leg over the seat, my phone buzzed in my pocket. i pulled it out and saw kie’s name pop up on the screen.

kie: party tonight! perkins beach.

i paused, rereading the text. after everything that had gone down yesterday with topper, rafe, and the rest of the mess, i wasn’t sure i had the energy for a party. but at the same time, maybe blowing off some steam wouldn’t be the worst idea.

me: when?

her reply came almost instantly.

kie: now. please come!!!

the ride home was quick, and after a quick shower to rinse off the day, i threw on a fresh set of clothes. the possibility of seeing rafe crossed my mind. maybe it shouldn’t have mattered, he was probably at every party on the island but after yesterday, the idea of seeing him made my chest flutter. i shook the thought away. it wasn’t like we were friends, and whatever happened yesterday didn’t mean anything. at least, that’s what i kept telling myself.

the night air was warm, but the breeze from the water kept it bearable. the beach was alive with music, laughter, and the sounds of waves crashing against the shore. it was a mixed crowd of kooks and pogues, but the division didn’t feel as stark. everyone was just here to have a good time, or at least that’s what i told myself as i downed another drink, trying to ignore the guy who wouldn’t stop talking to me.

i didn’t even know his name, but he was persistent. his words were just a blur of nonsense as he babbled on about some party in the city or something. his hands moved all over the place as he talked, and i couldn't help but zone out, my eyes scanning the crowd.

that’s when I saw him.

rafe stood at the edge of the group, leaning against a tree, half-heartedly nodding at whatever someone was saying to him. but the moment our eyes met, there was that smirk, half cocky, half amused, and i could feel heat flushing my cheeks. i quickly looked away, shaking my head at myself. the guy talking to me didn’t notice, still going on about whatever pointless story he was telling.

“yeah, i-” the guy said, but i wasn’t listening anymore. i was just thinking about that look from rafe.

i swigged the last of my drink, half expecting it to be a little stronger than it was, but it didn’t matter. the buzz was creeping in, and the warmth in my chest was making me forget about the guy talking my ear off.

“alright, i’m gonna go check on my friends,” i interrupted him, and without waiting for a response, i pushed through the crowd and made my way toward the water, hoping to find some space to breathe.

i was standing at the edge of the water, my toes sinking into the cool sand as the gentle waves lapped over them. the noise of the party felt far away now, distant laughter and music blending into the hum of the ocean. the alcohol buzzed lightly in my veins, making the stars above seem brighter, the air softer.

i heard footsteps approaching and i already knew who it was.

“oh, look,” i said, lifting my drink with a sarcastic flourish. “our friendly neighborhood kook is here."

rafe actually laughed at that, shaking his as he stopped a few feet away. “friendly? that’s a stretch. but I’ll take it.”

i rolled my eyes, turning my gaze back to the water. “shouldn’t you be off brooding in a corner somewhere or watching your friends terrorize someone?”

“nah,” he said, stepping closer. “brooding’s overrated. and as for terrorizing, i thought i’d give you a break tonight.”

“how considerate,” i shot back, glancing at him. “truly, you’re a saint.”

“don’t push it,” he replied, grinning.

we stood there in silence for a moment, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore the only thing filling the air. i could feel his eyes on me, though, and it made my skin feel too warm.

he stopped beside me, his presence annoyingly magnetic. without a word, he tilted his head, studying me. his eyes lingered on the small bandage near my hairline, and before i could stop him, his hand reached up.

“rafe,” i warned, but he ignored me, his thumb gently tracing over the the bandage.

“i'm gonna kill topper. are you okay?” he said, his voice quieter now, almost thoughtful.

i swatted his hand away, but the touch had already sent a shiver down my spine. “i’m not fragile, rafe. i’m fine.”

he let out a low chuckle, stepping back just slightly, but his eyes didn’t leave mine. “yeah? you have a hell of a way of showing it.”

i rolled my eyes. “and you have a hell of a way of just showing up wherever i go.”

“can't help it,” he shot back, the smirk returning.

“right,” i said sarcastically.

“you keep talking like that, grace, and people might think you don’t like me.”

“oh, i don’t,” i said, though my lips twitched with the faintest hint of a smile.

“you sure about that?” his tone was teasing, but the way his gaze held mine made my stomach flip.

“positive.”

the words barely left my mouth before the ground seemed to tilt under me. i swayed slightly, and rafe’s hand was on my arm in an instant.

“you’re not fine,” he said firmly, his voice laced with something between frustration and concern.

“i’m just tired,” i muttered, trying to wave him off.

“grace,” he said, his tone softening. “you’ve been drinking, and you’ve definitely got a concussion. that’s not tired. that’s stupid.”

i opened my mouth to argue, but before i could get a word out, the dizziness overtook me completely. the last thing i saw was rafe’s face shifting from exasperation to alarm before everything went dark.

the first thing i felt was the rocking, the gentle sway of water under me. my head throbbed painfully, each pulse sending a sharp wave of dizziness through my skull. i groaned, trying to blink the fog away, but everything around me was unfamiliar.

where the hell was i?

i shot up in a panic, my heart hammering in my chest. the sudden movement made my head spin, and i clutched the side of the cushion i was on, trying to steady myself. i couldn’t remember how i’d gotten here.

"easy," he said, his voice low and steady. "you’re okay."

rafe was sitting a few feet away, looking like he’d been there for a while. he stood up and came over to me, sitting at the end of the blanket must have placed over me when i was out cold.

"where am I?", i froze for a second, still trying to piece together what was happening.

"on my boat," rafe replied, his tone calm. "you passed out right in front of me. your phone was dead, and i didn’t think you’d want me to call an ambulance. so, here we are."

i took a shaky breath, the tension in my chest slowly loosening. there was something oddly reassuring about the fact that he hadn’t just left me alone or handed me off to someone else. he’d stayed. i barely knew him, but for some reason, his presence here, near me, made me feel safe.

"how long… how long have i been out?"

"a few hours," he answered, his eyes shifting to the water outside the boat, then back to me. "it’s almost sunrise."

rafe shifted in his seat, glancing over at me. "you good?"

i nodded, "yeah. just-" i hesitated for a moment, then looked at him again. "thanks for not just leaving me."

rafe’s expression softened, his gaze steady. "i wasn’t about to leave you passed out on the beach, grace."

i wasn’t sure what to say. instead, i just nodded.

"so," he continued, after a beat, "i think it’s safe to say you need to take it easy for a bit. how’re you feeling?"

"better," i replied, rubbing my forehead gently. "still kind of dizzy, but not as bad."

"good," he said, giving me a small smile. "just rest for now. i have no where to be."

i met his gaze, a quiet appreciation settling in. "i owe you one, huh?"

rafe smiled. "yeah, but i’ll collect later."

this one is very long, but i wanted to make up for not posting for like a week :) ugh i love some flirty banter,, i hope you liked part three. stay tuned for part four soon <3

[bananabeebenson]

Romcom kind of idea: Helmeppo and Garp takes Koby drinking to relax since next day they have to start training some new recruits. At the bar Koby see a pretty lady and get pushed by the other two older marines for him to go talk to her. After talking, drinking and maybe even a little make out session with the lady, Koby goes home all relaxed and happy. Next day, still with a little hangover, Koby goes to talk with the new recruits just to spot who in the crowd? Cute lady!!!! And she looks just as surprised as him. What now?

Pairing: Koby x Reader

Warnings: None (SFW/Fluff and some awkward Koby)

Word Count: 1,940

Fic is under the cut

Requests are open

Koby should have known this was going to be a mistake.

Garp, the famous Hero of the Navy, had pulled only a handful of strings in pulling his two apprentices away from Marineford to an island only half an hour’s travel away, where a ‘perfect bar was calling them’. Koby had been trying to ignore their insistence that he join them. It wasn’t that he wouldn’t have enjoyed the idea of a couple of drinks possibly in the house, or Garp’s own tab, it was that the next day they would find themselves training their first new wave of Recruits. Koby and Helmeppo had struggled to get as far as they had come, fighting through tribulations and their own self-inflicted doubts to get to the point they were. Not to mention the thin ice they sometimes found themselves on due to their light association with Luffy D. Monkey. Not that they would complain. Garp’s name would usually be enough to back off most who threw doubts their way, or their own accomplishments they’ve managed in most locations. This had put them in good enough graces to finally take on a small group of new recruits to be trained. It wouldn’t be permanent, like Garp with them, but more so a temporary thing to last only a few months before they would be split apart and shipped off to different areas. Some would remain in Marineford, but not many.

“Come on.” Helmeppo spoke, tilting his head to the side just as the boat rocked to the right a little too hard. It wasn’t a Navy ship like they were used to, more so a simple Ferry built to withstand the waves of the Grand Line. It wasn’t something built to go for several days or harbor hundreds, thus it rocked in uneven motions, tossing the people who weren’t prepared for it back and forth. Compared to others, they were holding on just fine, with Koby’s hands gripping the side of the boat. He still couldn’t believe they had managed to convince him to come along. Maybe he was more stressed than he had realized over the situation.

“I’m here, aren’t I?” It wasn’t bitter, but he was pouting in a strangely young way, something to remind Helmeppo just how young the two of them were compared to others out here. He huffed.

“Don’t look so guilty and miserable about it. You’re acting like we kidnapped you at gunpoint or something.”

“You both threatened to, and I quote, carry me out here anyways. I don’t think I had much of a choice.” His smile was weary, small on his face. His goggles fell suddenly from a sharp rock and he steadied them back to the top of his head.

“Well, you needed to get out.” Helmeppo said. He nodded, agreeing with himself and propped up against the railing. Koby knew when he was fighting a losing argument, so he resigned himself to simply enjoy the quiet he would have before arriving.

The bar was definitely crowded with young, new faces that Koby had never seen before. Some older Marines, people he had seen around Marineford, were also there and nursing harder drinks in their reclusive corners. Garp and Helmeppo wouldn’t leave Koby alone, much to his own simmering annoyance. It wasn’t that he wasn’t unthankful nor wished for a lonely presence, but he did wish for some quieter drinking company. His own drink was fruity and light, something he could enjoy at least while he watched everyone around him continue to grow louder and louder. 

Then, he spotted you.

It was a creeping feeling. A sudden realization that he had been staring at you as you laughed at something another person said, your own drink also being softly nursed with small sips. He didn’t even notice his staring or how he was acknowledging how you snorted into your hand when you laughed a little too hard until Helmeppo had noticed he was zoned out and no longer listening. Bending over his shoulder he looked over and grinned something broad and dangerous.

“Oh, spot you someone?” Koby jerked into a stiff seated position and quickly looked away from you, red burning across his cheeks. Garp’s attention was immediately dragged over when he tried to stutter an excuse, one that had Helmeppo smirking.

“What’s wrong? Got tongue-tied or something from a beautiful lady?” Garp slapped a hard hand onto Koby’s shoulder and his weaker drink was spilled, the shattering of the glass covered by the loud atmosphere of the crowd around. “I thought you learned how to talk to someone like that from me already. Or did you?” Garp shook his head and delivered another harsh slap, knocking him from the seat.

“Go talk to her.” Helmeppo said. “She doesn’t look like she’s here with anyone.”

Koby choked on a response to them and found himself urged away, shooed off with waves and hollering that followed his ever growing reddening ears. You were still where you were though, as they had said, you were alone. Whoever you had been talking to had moved on, perhaps to another face, and you were still nursing your own drink, twisting the straw that stuck out of it. You were dressed formally. No, not formally, but better than he was in his casual clothing that had been thrown to the back of his closet, almost forgotten about until this time. He felt underdressed compared to you and it made him hesitate even further. But the shame of what Garp and Helmeppo would do if he returned without at least attempting to speak to you far out-weighed any nerves of his attire, so he swallowed nerves down deep and approached you with the first thing he could say.

“I like the color of your shoes.”

He was doomed.

You blinked up at him in confusion, poised for a sip you would abandon in return for eyeing the man before you. Koby remained unmoving, hands sweating and flexing in his pockets as he tried to maintain some calm atmosphere about him. 

Then you laughed.

“Well, I’m glad I suppose. I like them too.” You looked him over once, twice, then shifted on the seating you had been perched on. A bench, definitely meant for outside, had been pulled in. “Did you come over here to speak only about my shoes or….”

He definitely did not.

“I-I came over to talk to a pretty lady like you.” Garp would have been proud of his word choice, but the ever flustered Koby was slowly curling in on himself, turning away to hide his embarrassment. You found it charming. Cute, in a way, and masked your giggle around the rim of your cup.

“Well, aren’t you a charmer?” You asked. The teasing tone did urge him to look at you and you were so nice when you spoke. Up close like this he got to smell the perfume you had on, something sweet to lure him in a bit closer, which helped to ease up his nerves. “You look a little uncomfortable though. You sure that’s why you’re over here?”

Busted.

“I-It isn’t that I don’t want to talk to you. My friends just, ah, they saw me looking at you and just, well.” He choked and you fought your grin until he found his words. “They…wanted me to try talking to you.”

“I’m glad.” He blinked, looked you over once, then blinked again. “No, really. I promise, my friends dragged me out here too for some celebration I’m not even a part of. Or, well, I don’t want to be a part of.” You spared a glance to a gathered group of young, fresh faces to the far side and he followed it. They were drinking heavily, a few encouraging the others as fresh shots of something strong and smelly passed around. You lightly cringed around your own fruity drink, something Koby would have liked. 

“You were dragged out too?” He relaxed a bit more then, finding you in a similar situation. “Well…guess we have no choice but to keep each other company then, right?”

Keeping each other company turned into a few drinks. A few drinks turned into a couple shots, bought by the beaming Garp who raised his own glass. And a few laughs and stories shared between the two of you turned into shoulders brushing. Then it turned into him helping you to a corner where there was less light to try and fix your shoe, which had broken when you stood to get a drink.

Then it turned into a drunken spur of the moment kiss that evolved into more than one.

Maybe he should have paid attention to the facts you spoke, but he hadn’t drank in a long time and it was definitely potent when it settled. These kisses you shared were sweet and warm. A breath of fresh air to the cold reprise of Marinfore, and he was sighing into them whenever you both broke apart. He was respectful of any boundaries you had and you were respectful that he was still intoxicated, so your touches were restrained. Held back to simply brushes of fingers on fingers, or fingertips touching at the shoulders or bottom of the kneecap. The kisses continued on, the sounds of the background falling apart, it all became too much and when you finally pulled back, head lightly spinning, a hand clasped onto Koby’s shoulder.

 Garp.

“It’s getting late.” He stated, a gruff voice rough from his drinks and a couple of smoke breaks he had taken with others in the Marines. Koby blinked up at him in confusion before you seemed to put the pieces together. Garp was charming with his smile, but he was also aware of how late it had actually gotten. Koby seemed to want to disagree, but your hand on his wrist distracted him briefly as you agreed.

“You should head back. I have a few things to take care of tomorrow too.” You looked down at your person and frowned. “I…don’t have a way to communicate, but I could meet you back here tomorrow night? If that’s okay?”

That was more than okay in his eyes.

Then, nothing. He was on the rocking boat, listening to Helmeppo tease him about the “loving eyes” he had been shooting you, all blitzed out of his mind from his drinks, but he didn’t care. Garp didn’t speak much on anything, enjoying the cooler evening air and soft sounds of the Ocean. Then he was in bed, curled into his pillow and still remembering your perfume, the taste of your sweet drink on your lips, and how soft your hand was on his.

He slept with a smile on his face.

That smile would be abruptly taken the next morning, when he was dressed in uniform and standing at the end of a long lineup of people, all dressed in similar uniforms. They all looked similar. Young, fresh, and new to the Marines. Similar to how he had been long ago when he had first joined, except there was an issue. Standing in exactly row five, three to the left stood a familiar, equally shocked face.

You. There stood you, with your eyes wide and mouth partially open at the realization of what had happened the previous night. Helmeppo, thankfully, hadn’t recognized you or he would have never heard the end of it. Garp wasn’t there, busy with something else that these two were to handle.

‘Well.’ He thought, looking away with his ears a vibrant pink once again. ‘At least I won’t have to meet you there tonight.’

[ella-error505]

“Queen Rhaenyra's sons, Jacaerys and Joffrey Velaryon, were eager to join the fight atop their dragons, Vermax and Tyraxes, but she forbade them to go. However, the queen could not deny the advantage that the terrifying Nhero, her fourteen-year-old daughter's mount, presented to her cause. The logic of the princess and her grandfather, Lord Corlys, did not ultimately fall on deaf ears. So, nine days after Staunton's message, Rhaenys Targaryen, the Queen Who Never Was, and her dragon, Meleys, the Red Queen, followed by Princess Maella in the back of The Cannibal, arrived above Rook's Rest to aid Lord Staunton.”

“When Sunfyre and Vhagar also appeared, the dragons fought a thousand feet above the ground. Meleys's jaws closed around Sunfyre's neck, Vhagar fell upon them, and The Cannibal clung to Vhagar's back, scratching fiercely. Some say Princess Maella wanted to reach her uncle Aemond. Inevitably all three dragons crashed. From the ashes, only Vhagar and Nhero rose again. Sunfyre had one wing half torn from his body, whilst his rider, King Aegon II, suffered several broken bones and severe burns. Rhaenys was found completely burned next to Meleys. Princess Maella seemed intact, but not her Nhero, which had been seriously injured in the fight. Prince Aemond and Vhagar rose in pursuit, but Nhero and his rider were faster, fleeing before they could react.”

“On the coasts near Driftmark, the princess got off her dragon and ordered him to go away from the Westerosi coast, an action that is considered to have been guided by the gods, since years later Nhero would prove to be the safeguard of the power of House Targaryen. Nothing like it was ever heard of again in the history of Westeros, for Nhero obeyed and abandoned his rider on the shore to fly to Essos and not be seen for the next few years of the war. Queen Rhaenyra, having received news of her daughter's fall in battle, was too relieved when she appeared on the shores of Dragonstone hidden in a fishing boat to feel sorry for the loss of one of the largest dragons in her cause for the throne.”

“On the last day of the year 131 a.c., a roar like no other shook the foundations of King's Landing, and a giant shadow loomed from the sea. Queen Maella, according to Mushroom's account, ran with such desperation to the main courtyard of the Red Keep that her beautiful shoes flew out of her feet along the way, leaving her maids to catch them in the midst of the chaos. There Nhero, The Cannibal, landed, fully recovered from his wounds, barely larger than when he was last seen, and with one last victorious roar, the beast under his snout like an affectionate puppy for his rider to cling to it. The queen cried uncontrollably as she clung to her long-gone dragon, and the beast sat there.”

“The morning of the first day of the year 132 a.c., Nhero and Queen Maella ascended the sky together in celebration of their reunion, and would never be separated again until the queen's death.”

“Nhero was one of five dragons to survive the Dance of the Dragons — and after his return in 132 a.c., he was the biggest of two that still controlled by the Targaryen's, along with the young Morning, belonging to the queen dear sister, Lady Rhaena Targaryen.”

— Quotes from Archmaester Gyldayn's narrative of the story of Queen Maella I and her dragon, Nhero, The Cannibal, the only adult dragon that survived the Dance of Dragons.

[eagna-eilis]

Star Wars Characters at a Family Wedding in Ireland

ANAKIN - Gets extremely nostalgic about his own wedding and makes his adult twin children groan in embarrassment. Is in such a good mood that he isn't even mad when Leia calls him a fascist for voting Fine Gael, and manages to give his grandson an effective pep talk.

PADMÉ - So resplendent that the bride is almost jealous but honestly how could you be upset with her she's just so nice. Gets giggly tipsy over dinner and waltzes with C3P0 afterwards. Touches up literally everyone's makeup for them throughout the night and does a better job than the actual makeup artist.

OBI-WAN - Waits til the night is winding down then magically locates a squeezebox, fiddle, a guitar, and a tin whistle and hands them out to start a sessiún. The sing-song goes on until 5am and it's all his fault. His signature song is 'The Lass of Aughrim' because it makes him feel all literary.

R2D2 - Has at least four too many double Jamesons and literally starts arguing with the wall. Shmii finds him passed out under a table the next morning, wherein he swears he's not drinking until Christmas.

C3P0 - Wrecks the heads of the hotel staff over dinner with all his requests, to the point of embarrassing the other people at his table. Conducts impromptu ballroom dancing lessons while the band plays and charms the pants off everyone with his patient explanations of how to foxtrot.

LANDO - Pulls out a deck of cards and starts a game of 21s in the corner. Absolutely swindles everyone. It's okay though because he puts his winnings behind the bar so nobody has to pay for their drinks after that.

AHSOKA - Brings enough weed to share with a chosen few, like an absolute queen. Ends up hanging out in the loo for ages rolling for herself, Sabine, Maz, Kanan, and eventually Ben. Despite her relative stillness and quiet, she enjoys the music more than basically anybody else and people will quote her fondly slagging Anakin over dinner for the next 20 years.

SABINE - Camera queen who tries to look like she isn't enjoying herself. Fools nobody because she keeps grinning and snort-laughing. Her photos are a thousand times better than the photographer's and are the ones that the couple use for their album.

HERA - Helps Leia gang up on Anakin about politics because goddamn it, Leia isn't wrong. Hands out isotonic powder sachets and paracetamols to everyone before they go up to bed. They're gonna need it.

EZRA - Gets so hyper after consuming so much 7up that Hera has to send him to bed before the DJ takes over from the band. Sneaks down later for the cocktail sausages.

DIN DJARIN - Couldn't get a babysitter so he's tucked up at home watching The Late Late and hate-tweeting it.

GROGU - fell asleep in front of The Late Late. Delighted when somebody brings wedding cake to the house the following day.

KANAN - Literally will not be at peace until the DJ plays Kenny Rodgers' 'The Gambler' because it's not a wedding without it. Once that's done he insists on 'Come On Eileen'. Somebody's gotta be the keeper of the flame of tradition, after all.

CHEWBACCA - Requests all the group dances. Rock the Boat, The Siege of Ennis, The Macarena, The Walls of Limerick, Chain Reaction. Bullies everyone into joining in, except Ben who is the absolute antithesis of craic.

LUKE - Every wedding requires at least one merrily drunk uncle and Luke does not disappoint. Suit jacket? Gone. Top buttons? Open. Tie? It's now around his head while he stands on a chair playing air guitar to 'Hotel California'. Ends up puking in a flower pot. Iconic.

LEIA - Would have been okay if she stuck to wine all night but a single gin and tonic on top of the shitty hotel merlot and suddenly she's having an hour-and-a-half political argument with Anakin. Embarrasses the hell out of her parents, brother, and son by smooching Han repeatedly while dancing.

HAN - Organises the pre-ceremony pints. His sotto-voce asides are funnier than anything in the speeches. Quietly sings along to 'Brown Eyed Girl' by Van Morrison in Leia's ear while they dance, prompting all that smooching.

FINN - Sneaks into the hotel's public bar to check the hurling scores on the telly then reports them back to all the lads. Keeps his wits about him regards alcohol so he can take care of Poe later but eats so much cake he feels sick.

POE - Holds court in the bar, telling long anecdotes about his life that are only 75% true. Dances and flirts with all the aunties and nanas and makes them feel great about themselves. It doesn't convince Ahsoka to give him a spliff, though, because she is immune to his charms.

ROSE - The boomers yell at her for getting the DJ to play 'Celtic Symphony' by the Wolfe Tones, but she calls them hypocrites who are oozing postcolonial shame. Anakin offers to adopt her because now she's the centre of the politics argument. Knocks it out of the park at the sing-song because she knows all the words to at least 20 rebel songs.

MAZ - The first to place her handbag down on the dancefloor so as to coax the other nanas onto the floor. Jovially flirts with every man over 18 and under 60 that isn't her blood relation. Asks Poe to marry her.

REY - Finishes at least three other people's dinners. Sings along very loudly to every song that the band AND the DJ plays. Can't dance at all but it doesn't stop her. Should probably check on Ben because she knows what he's like but decides that tonight he's his family's responsibility. Loses her entire shit when ABBA plays.

BEN - Zero craic, God help the poor craytur. Drinks brandy as an affectation and starts quoting James Joyce after four of them. Gets extremely mopey after brandy number six and ends up having a long heart to heart with his Grandda Ani. Cries then throws up. Auntie 'Soka gives him a joint to settle his tummy. Subsequently feels better and then knocks everyone's socks off singing 'Raglan Road'.

SHMII - Begs off the party at 10pm because she's 97 years old. Still makes sure that everybody takes their hangover down to breakfast the following morning for a Big Feed of rasher-sausage-and-pudding, and maybe hair of the dog if they're desperate.

[magz]

Palestine Summary June 13 to June 27, 2024. From LetsTalkPalestine. (Part 1, June 13 to 19. Part 2 in reblog)

Related Helpful Links: [LetsTalkPalestine Links (including vetted information sources)] [gazafunds.com] [eSims for Gaza] [UNRWA] [Decolonize Palestine, learning basics and debunking myths]

Summary Quote:

June 13

Day 251

‼️ IOF killed 3 Palestinians in raid on Jenin (West Bank), incl. 2 by IOF attack on home w/ missiles & bulldozing 

•⁠ 30 Palestinians killed, 105 injured in past day 

🤐 Israel’s military chief held secret meeting w/ military leaders from Bahrain, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan & Egypt 

💰 Israel seized $35m of Palestinian Authority tax revenue from West Bank Palestinians to transfer to Israelis — likely destabilizing the PA & cause financial crisis. Background on PA: https://tinyurl.com/3fmhaav3

🇱🇧 Hezbollah launched round of attacks incl. firing 150 missiles & ambushed IOF army vehicle killing soldiers inside as tensions escalate after Israel killed senior Hezbollah commander

•⁠ Central Gaza: Israel attacked “designated humanitarian zone” al-Mawasi by air, land & sea. More attacks on Nuseirat kills 4 & injures 10 + separate attack killed 1 & injured 7

•⁠ Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City (north) kills 7 in Daraj; kills 1 in Zeitoon; kills 3 women in Shati

June 14.

Day 252

‼️ Israeli-made starvation ‘returns’ to north Gaza as Israel imposes harsher aid blockade since early May, this time causing even more dire conditions yet receiving less coverage. 200,000+ kids have shown symptoms of malnutrition

•⁠ 34 Palestinians killed, 71 injured in Gaza in past day 

🔻 Hamas claims blew up house w/ IOF soldiers inside in Gaza City (north), killing & wounding them + targeted IOF tank west of Rafah

•⁠ Hamas announced Israeli airstrike on Rafah killed 2 Israeli captives

🇺🇸 US sanctions Israeli group (Tzav 9) known for facilitating the blocking & damaging of aid trucks going to Gaza

•⁠ Central Gaza: IOF fired at fishing boats northwest of Khan Younis, killing 2. Strike on home in Deir el-Balah killed 2 & injured 4

•⁠ West Bank: IOF injured 12 y/o amid raid on el-Bireh + IOF abduct 13 y/o in Jenin raid

🇱🇧 Amid rising tensions, Hezbollah fired 60+ projectile+ + Israel air raided south Lebanon killing 1 woman, injuring 7

June 15.

Day 253

🔻 8 IOF soldiers killed by Hamas ambush in Rafah, most successful attack on Israeli forces in months. Another soldier killed separately in Rafah

•⁠ 30 Palestinians killed, 95 wounded in Gaza in the past 24 hours

•⁠ Israeli raid on Gaza City (north) targets 3 homes killing 19+ Palestinians incl. a baby & injured 50

🛳️ US pier to be temporarily removed again due to expected high waves & stormy seas, halting its aid delivery

•⁠ 50,000+ children in Gaza suffer from acute malnutrition due to Israel’s aid blockade 

💧⁠ 1 million people in south Gaza trapped without clean water & sanitation

•⁠ 9 dead Palestinians found buried under rubble in Rafah after various Israeli airstrikes. IOF bulldozers demolish homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes west of Rafah

•⁠ West Bank: Israeli forces shot & killed Palestinian teen amid raid of Nablus (West Bank); IOF withdraw from Beita (near Nablus) raid after storming homes & threw tear gas; IOF injured 2 & abducted 1 during raid of Ramallah

June 16.

Day 254 - Eid 

🕌 Israel restricted access to Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Eid. IOF assaulted many worshippers

•⁠ 41 Palestinians killed, 102 injured in Gaza in past 24 hours

•⁠ Israeli army to have ‘daily tactical pauses’ on main road in Rafah to allow aid delivery, clarifying doesn’t mean stop to ‘fighting’. Netanyahu reportedly wasn’t told of the decision & expressed disapproval. Implementing pauses not guaranteed. Bombings continue on Rafah, 2 killed & targeting responding ambulances

•⁠ Central Gaza: Israel targeted home in Bureij killing 9 incl. 5 kids + bomb homes in al-Mughraqa

🔻 2 more IOF soldiers killed in tank explosion in north Gaza yesterday. 1 other soldier killed in Rafah

West Bank:

•⁠ Settlers raid homes & assault residents injuring 1 in Al-Jubiyah; set fire to Palestinian land in Nablus; attacked cars in Ramallah

•⁠ IOF raid Tubas, fired at civilians injured 1 + abducted 3. IOF detained 7 y/o boy near Ramallah 

•⁠ IOF abduct 69 Palestinians in past week

June 17.

Day 255

•⁠ Despite announced “tactical pauses” of attacks for aid trucks, IOF massacred 8+ Palestinians waiting for trucks in Rafah & continued shelling across Rafah killing 2. Only 8 aid trucks entered south Gaza today (minimum is 500/day)

•⁠ 10 Palestinians killed, 73 injured in Gaza in last 24 hours. Likely underreported 

•⁠ IOF fully raze east Rafah, destroying homes & farmland + destroyed Rafah crossing departure hall to keep it non-operational

🇬🇧 UK arms export licenses to Israel drop >95% since Oct

🐀 Netanyahu dissolves 6-seat war cabinet

•⁠ IOF says it has control of 60% of Rafah, but contradicted by ongoing fierce clashes w/ Hamas & Saturday ambush that killed 8 soldiers

🥺 IOF in “urgent need for more troops”, creating new division for age 40+

⛺️ London School of Economics 1st British uni to evict pro-Palestine encampment. Despite less media coverage, encampments are still spreading across UK & world

•⁠ Gaza City (north): attack on home killed 2, injured 13; another attack killed 3

June 18.

Day 256

‼️ AP: several families in Gaza have been fully wiped out since Oct. Over 60 families had 25+ members killed

•⁠ 25 Palestinians killed, 80 injured in past day

•⁠ Israel bombed Nuseirat overnight killing 17 in 2 separate attacks on buildings housing displaced families + injured taken to Al-Aqsa Hospital that faces lack of fuel, medical supplies & capacity

🇫🇷 Court overturns gov’t ban on Israeli firms at a big French arms fair, said ban is discriminatory. Israeli arms leader admits ban still hurt Israel’s image

🔻 Fierce clashes in Rafah; Hamas claims launching series of attacks on IOF HQ + targeted 2 IOF tanks

West Bank: 

•⁠ Israeli settler attack by throwing stones at vehicle in Jericho injuring passengers + another attack in Nablus injured 2 Palestinians

•⁠ IOF shot & killed man in Bethlehem; shot 3 young men in Hebron; beat up 46 y/o man at Tubas checkpoint

•⁠ IOF abducted a dozen Palestinians in raid on Nablus & interrogated them overnight + abducted 16 y/o in Hebron

June 19. Day 257

•⁠ Israel bombed group of aid seekers near Karem Abu Salem crossing in Rafah, killing 9+ & injuring 30+. 2 Palestinians also killed in west Rafah. While heavy shelling on tents in 'safe zone' al-Mawasi killed 7+ where many fled from Rafah

•⁠ 24 Palestinians killed, 71 injured in Gaza yesterday

🇱🇧 IOF approved military plan for an offensive on south Lebanon, US vows to back Israel

🇩🇪 Germany's intel agency labels BDS movement as 'suspected extremist'

•⁠ Airstrikes & IOF vehicles targeted homes in Nuseirat killing 5+

💧 Conditions in north Gaza worsen due to lack of water as Israeli forces destroyed all water wells & hindered water aid distribution

•⁠ Multiple airstrikes on Gaza City (north) incl. bombing home in Sabra neighborhood killing several & trapping many under rubble. 2 also killed by drone strike

West Bank:

•⁠ IOF abducted 90 people during Eid, incl. children & women

•⁠ IOF shot 4 Palestinians amid raid on Qalqiliya, incl. 2 teens & elderly

[rosanna-writer]

Ok, but in this scenario is there a boating accident in which mermaid!Feyre has to rescue the idiot prince from drowning? Has she secretly been in love with him for years from afar and longs to walk among the other Fae of Velaris? Can mermaids even shift form to the appropriate parts needed for sex!?

Ok. So.

Do I have any plans to write mermaid!Feyre? No. Have I thought about this too much? Yes.

Putting this under a cut because I think it'll get long.

You CANNOT convince me there isn't weird shit living in the Sidra. River that passes through a magical city??? There's no way it's just some normal fish and plants in there. And since we know the Spring Court has water-wraiths living in at least one of their lakes, I think it stands to reason that there are some river mermaids living there. (Love at First Sight's for Suckers almost had Feyre as a Sidra water-wraith instead of a shadow-wraith!)

IN ADDITION

SIDRA. RIVER. BOAT. RACES. ARE. CANON. (In ACOFAS Rhys says, "I’d grown up in these houses, attending the parties and feasts that lasted long into the night, spending bright summer days lazing on the sloping lawns, cheering the summer boat races on the Sidra."). Drunken party boy prince falling off a boat and into Feyre's arms??? It's a perfect meet cute. There's even potential for a childhood-friends-to-lovers story if Feyre's a Sidra mermaid (just the thought of her being the first person Rhys seeks out every time he gets a chance to visit Velaris during breaks in his training in Illyria......it's so cute)

Look at the boathouses of Philadelphia and tell me they don't give you Velaris vibes:

But if you're a mermaid purist and insist that Feyre needs to live in the sea? As @thesistersarcheron would remind you, the Night Court is bordered by the sea on three sides. There is a LOT of untapped potential with things like pre-High Lord Rhys serving in the Night Court navy during the war, mermaid!Rhys and NightCourtSailor!Feyre, and the general aesthetic of the cold, icy sea in the far north Night Court.

Mermaid sex just requires some imagination:

I think a dude from Crescent City also has a pouch that opens up??? I'm not really a Crescent City fan so idk for sure, don't quote me on that. But in general, I think the concept of a hidden pouch (with or without a dick inside and regardless of gender, mermaid!Feyre penetrating Rhys would be hot, for example) more or less solves the mermaid sex conundrum.

And finally, we can't talk about Feysand and the sea without a mention of MB's lovely tentacle sea monster Rhys Feysand fic: High Tide Came And Brought You In (and in addition, if you're interested in a non-oceanic Feysand story about lesser fae Feyre secretly being in love with Night Court prince Rhys, Bejeweled is one of my favorites)

[max1461]

Okay, here is one such policy. Here is a specific example of a large governing body actually using the term “replacement” to describe its immigration goals for Europe and the United States. https://archive.is/YH9cY I am sending you an archive link because the actual page was taken down. Surprise surprise, people don’t want to be replaced.

Now of course, the world is somewhat complex. It’s not like the UN is the world government. So you need to go to other people and other governments. Look into the immigration policy of every single western nation - the immigration policy of all of them are moving third world trash in the millions into White nations. Do you think those migrant boats (which luckily do sometimes sink) come from nowhere? No, they come from anti-White governments and NGOs working in tandem to change the demographics. It must be also remembered that immigration is not natural. Immigrants are imported. Immigration could be curbed at any moment - in fact, one of the principle reasons for founding civilization at all is “protecting ourselves from outsiders.”

I sent you quotes from individual people, which you then described as “quotes from randos.” An example of one such rando was Joe Biden, a rando who I think has some government position nowadays. He stated at the 2015 White House global conference on confronting global extremism (where they sometimes let randos speak) that “the black box” for America, which he defined as “the secret hidden strength,” was 1. Skepticism for orthodoxy, and 2. The fact that White people will become a minority through mass migration.

An important concept I sent you, which you just kinda glazed over, was the Celebration Parallax. A parallax is the effect where the same thing is viewed differently by different angles. If someone says “the Great Replacement is real, and it’s bad and awful,” then they are a right-wing nutjob conspiracy theorists freak like me. If someone says “the Great Replacement is real, and it’s a good thing. White people will become a minority, your grandkids will be brown” like you then they are not incorrect in any way. Ash Sarkar is a Pakistani politician within British who has specifically pointed to changing demographics being real, and described it with “we’re winning.” Why would she say that? Why would she say “we’re winning” when describing how Pakistanis are replacing the British through demographic change? Mark Sotok of the SPLC has a chart on his wall of the declining White population, specifically singling out the year 1965 when the immigration act was passed. The 1965 immigration act was passed under false pretenses, by the way. People at the time correctly pointed out it would change the demographics of the USA, and it’s supporters simply lied and said it wouldn’t do that. It was passed, and demographics changed, which was always the purpose.

But I’m getting off on tangents. The point is, once you say the Great Replacement is good, you are no longer a conspiracy theorist. It’s only people who say it is bad who are conspiracy theorists.

“The man of the future will be a mongrel. Today's races and classes will disappear owing to the disappearing of space, time, and prejudice. The Eurasian-Negroid race of the future, similar in its outward appearance to the Ancient Egyptians, will replace the diversity of peoples with a diversity of individuals." - Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, Austrian politician, father of the modern European Union, certainly not a right wing crank

“We have got to eliminate the gringo, and what I mean by that is if the worst comes to the worst, we have got to kill him." - Jose Angel Gutierrez, Chicano activist, attorney and university professor, who probably doesn’t mean that, right?

“The key to solving the social problems of our age is to abolish the White race. The goal of abolishing the White race is on its face so desirable that some may find it hard to believe that it could incur any opposition other than from committed White supremacists. We'll keep bashing the dead White males, and the live ones, and the females too, until the social construct known as the White race is destroyed. Not deconstructed, but destroyed. Treason to the White race is Loyalty to Humanity." - Professor Noel Ignatiev at Harvard

The 21st century will be a century of mass genocide so complete and total that the genocides of the 19th and 20th (even the fake ones) will pale in comparison. The only question now is which races aren’t surviving.

Ok, let's start at the very beginning. That link does not say what you are claiming it says.

To quote from your link:

United Nations projections indicate that over the next 50 years, the populations of virtually all countries of Europe as well as Japan will face population decline and population ageing. The new challenges of declining and ageing populations will require comprehensive reassessments of many established policies and programmes, including those relating to international migration. Focusing on these two striking and critical population trends, the report considers replacement migration for eight low-fertility countries (France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, United Kingdom and United States) and two regions (Europe and the European Union). Replacement migration refers to the international migration that a country would need to offset population decline and population ageing resulting from low fertility and mortality rates.

So, first of all, this is not a policy. It is a report by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, reviewing the scientific evidence for whether a particular policy would be successful. This is similar to the IPCC climate change reports. If you know anything about those, you'll know that the advice of reports like this is not necessarily likely to be followed by world governments at all.

Ok, with that out of the way, what policy is this report examining? Well, you can read it for yourself, but it says it right there in the bit I quote: the report is examining the policy of offsetting already declining local populations through immigration. So it's not about shrinking the white population on purpose! It literally does not advocate that. It's basically saying "in developed countries where the native born population is already shrinking, can immigration be used to provide a source of young laborers to bolster the economy?"

That is the policy of "replacement" they're talking about, not some policy of intentionally shrinking the native born (white, Japanese, Korean, whatever) population!

Do you understand how this is different than what you claimed?

And, just to be clear, the report mentioned Japan and South Korea as countries where this policy could be tried as well, because they have low birthrates and shrinking native-born populations. But, again, the report is not advocating wiping out Japanese people. It's saying "Japan's population is already shrinking for reasons that we can't control. Given that it's already shrinking, could Japan offset its population decline through immigration."

This is not a policy of intentional race extermination. It just isn't. It's clear that you didn't even read the fucking report you linked, because that is simply not what it says.

So, on to the next thing.

[Joe Biden] stated at the 2015 White House global conference on confronting global extremism (where they sometimes let randos speak) that “the black box” for America, which he defined as “the secret hidden strength,” was 1. Skepticism for orthodoxy, and 2. The fact that White people will become a minority through mass migration.

Ok, this is a fun one because it's obvious you just saw the Tucker Carlson clip on this, and didn't actually go to the original source. Anyway, you can watch the full clip of Biden speaking here.

Tucker Carlson excerpted the following quote for a segment on his show, and it's what's apparently got everyone in hysterics:

An unrelenting stream of immigration, nonstop, nonstop. Folks like me who were Caucasian, of European descent for the first time in 2017 will be in an absolute minority in the United States of America, absolute minority. Fewer than 50 percent of the people in America from then and on will be White European stock. That’s not a bad thing. That’s as a source of our strength.

Anyway, if you actually watch the whole clip, Biden starts talking about the "constant stream of immigration" referring to (primarily white) immigration in the 1700s. He specifically mentions the Irish (because he's Irish)! Later in the discussion he mentions that white people will be less than 50% of the population in 2017, and it's pretty clear that he's saying this to illustrate the point that America is very open to immigrants. Like, he's not saying this because he thinks the demographic change itself is great, or because he wants white people to be a minority. It's extremely clear that he's just using this as one among several ways to illustrate the old "America is nation of immigrants" talking point, which he was already discussing just a few sentences earlier.

I frankly think there's basically no ambiguity at all here, when he says "that's the source of our strength", he means "immigration is the source of our strength", not "white people becoming a minority is the source of our strength". Like, just watch the whole clip!

The "America is a nation of immigrants" talking point isn't new. That talking point has been around for over a hundred years at this point! Emma Lazarus wrote The New Colossus in 1883! It's just a fucking talking point that every American president parrots. It has nothing to do with intentionally manipulating racial demographics, it has very little to do with actual policy (because American immigration policy has always been hostile to whatever the newest wave of migrants is), and it definitely isn't because of some UN report. Biden is trying to sound progressive, and he knows that pro-immigration talking points poll well with progressive voters, and so he's repeating the oldest one in the book.

This is really obvious. He's just a politician being a politician. It's not a conspiracy.

I'll give you one thing, he does unambiguously say that it's not a bad thing for white people to become less than 50% of the population. And, well, I agree! It's not a bad thing, it's not a good thing, it's just a neutral thing. Populations change and I'm not worried about it. But just because Joe Biden and I agree that it's not a bad thing doesn't mean either of us are trying to fucking orchestrate it happening in a grand conspiracy. This is just dumb.

Ok, next thing:

An important concept I sent you, which you just kinda glazed over, was the Celebration Parallax. A parallax is the effect where the same thing is viewed differently by different angles. If someone says “the Great Replacement is real, and it’s bad and awful,” then they are a right-wing nutjob conspiracy theorists freak like me. If someone says “the Great Replacement is real, and it’s a good thing. White people will become a minority, your grandkids will be brown” like you then they are not incorrect in any way.

Now, I want you to read this next paragraph very carefully, because you have repeatedly ignored it, and I will not respond to any future messages in which it is clear you have not read it carefully:

When you very first messaged me, I asked you to define the Great Replacement. You defined it to me as an intentional policy, by Western governments, of trying to shrink the white population and replace them with immigrants. That is what you said. Do you understand this? Ok. And I said "demographics are changing, but it's not because of an intentional policy to get rid of white people. It's just the natural result of people having more freedom to move around the world. Demographic change is a neutral fact, it's not good or bad. People having more freedom of movement is good. So I support laxer immigration policies, and I don't really care about demographic change one way or the other".

Do you understand the position I am stating here? Again, I will not respond to any future messages in which you show me that you don't understand what I am saying. So read that paragraph as many times as you need to to be really confident that you've got it.

We do not simply have a "difference of perspectives" on the same thing. We are saying different things. You are saying there is a set of intentional policies to replace white people. I am saying there is not. We both agree that demographics are changing. I agree that the white population in the US seems to be shrinking, and although I haven't looked at the stats for any EU countries, I don't have any reason to doubt that it's shrinking in some of those countries too. We agree about this part.

You keep accusing me of thinking that this demographic change is good, and of wanting to exterminate white people. I keep telling you that I think this demographic change is neutral, and I don't care how many white people there are.

Do you understand? I have said this to you at least six times at this point. You have shown me that you can actually follow what I'm saying if I tell you that I won't respond to you otherwise, so you need to read what I just said until you understand it if you want to keep having this conversation. The above paragraphs are the most import part of this post. If you show me that you did not pay attention to them I will not respond to your message.

Ok, next thing:

Ash Sarkar is a Pakistani politician within British who has specifically pointed to changing demographics being real, and described it with “we’re winning.” Why would she say that? Why would she say “we’re winning” when describing how Pakistanis are replacing the British through demographic change?

I have no fucking idea. Ash Sarkar is a fucking YouTube political commentator, this is someone I would describe as "a rando". It does not matter to me what she thinks. Having seen a couple of her videos I suspect it was probably a joke, but I don't know, and even if she was serious it doesn't support your point. Because she is a fucking rando. I can find just as many internet commentators actually saying they want to exterminate black people. There are members of the KKK in elected office in the US. If you can use randos to back up your point then so can I. People believe all kinds of shit. If you want to show that some policy exists, you need to point to the evidence of that policy actually being carried out. For white supremacist policies I can actually do this, I can point you to evidence of segregation and redlining and so on. If you can't do this for the Great Replacement (as you fucking defined it) then you have no argument.

Next thing:

Mark Sotok of the SPLC has a chart on his wall of the declining White population, specifically singling out the year 1965 when the immigration act was passed. The 1965 immigration act was passed under false pretenses, by the way. People at the time correctly pointed out it would change the demographics of the USA, and it’s supporters simply lied and said it wouldn’t do that. It was passed, and demographics changed

Again, I don't care that demographics changed. I don't care about what percentage white people are of the population. I like when people have freedom of movement and I do not care if this changes population demographics.

which was always the purpose.

I strongly suspect it was not. If you think that it was, please provide any evidence at all.

“The man of the future will be a mongrel. Today's races and classes will disappear owing to the disappearing of space, time, and prejudice. The Eurasian-Negroid race of the future, similar in its outward appearance to the Ancient Egyptians, will replace the diversity of peoples with a diversity of individuals." - Richard Nikolaus von Coudenhove-Kalergi, Austrian politician, father of the modern European Union, certainly not a right wing crank

I agree that this guy thought this. I don't deny that, like, some people have held this ideology. But if you think this is what motivates either the modern left or major world governments, I think you're just not paying attention to what's actually going on. There are pro-immigration camps and anti-immigration camps in every democracy. Sometimes people in the pro-immigration camps use rhetoric like this, but mostly they don't. They use they same rhetoric that I'm using, or they talk about the economic benefits, or whatever. The anti-immigration camps have their own rhetoric. The policies that actually get passed, like all policies, are then compromise positions between the desires of the various factions involved. But there's no conspiracy to eliminate white people, and the kind of position you are quoting here is very uncommon in my experience.

“We have got to eliminate the gringo, and what I mean by that is if the worst comes to the worst, we have got to kill him." - Jose Angel Gutierrez, Chicano activist, attorney and university professor, who probably doesn’t mean that, right?

No I'm sure he means that, he's just a fucking random academic. I told you that quotes from random academics and shit are not evidence. There's random academics who say the physical world doesn't exist, it's all a product of subjective consciousness. Do you think that guides the policy of Joe fucking Biden? Cause I don't.

“The key to solving the social problems of our age is to abolish the White race. The goal of abolishing the White race is on its face so desirable that some may find it hard to believe that it could incur any opposition other than from committed White supremacists. We'll keep bashing the dead White males, and the live ones, and the females too, until the social construct known as the White race is destroyed. Not deconstructed, but destroyed. Treason to the White race is Loyalty to Humanity." - Professor Noel Ignatiev at Harvard

I'm pretty sure this person is talking about abolishing the concept of whiteness, which is actually a pretty common position among academics. There are a lot of academics who talk about "abolishing race", and what they mean is abolishing the idea of race, so that people will no longer think of themself as "white" or "black" or whatever, but just as "people". Pretty often they specifically want to abolish the idea of a "white race" because they think that the concept of "whiteness" been used as a tool of oppression. So they'd rather white people just identify their ethnicity as like "Italian" or "Irish" or whatever if they have to, and not as "white". Like I said, this is a pretty common position among humanities academics.

I know this is what these people are saying because I've met these people. They like to dress up their ideas in the most radical sounding language they can, which is basically a strategy for making themselves sound cool to their in-group. But what they actually believe is pretty moderate; it's not that all white people should die, it's that white people should no longer use the collective identity of "white".

I don't know if that's what this person is saying, but it kind of sounds like that's what this person is saying. It has all the hallmarks of a humanities academic trying to sound provocative for clout. Do you see how they refer to "the social construct of the White race"? So they're not saying they want to kill white people, but that they want to kill the idea of "Whiteness".

It's unfortunate that they talk this way, because it feeds into conspiracy theories like yours. I've tried to explain this to people but they usually don't listen. Unfortunate.

The 21st century will be a century of mass genocide so complete and total that the genocides of the 19th and 20th (even the fake ones) will pale in comparison. The only question now is which races aren’t surviving.

This is so fucking stupid, and I'm gonna be frank with you, I kind of think you know it's stupid. Like I've avoided pointing this out until now, but you insert all these cheeky little comments and provocative asides into what you're saying in a way that makes me think at some level you know you're saying it to get a rise out of people, you like adding in the most extreme bits you can because it's fun. You're a dumbass.

[birdiesbirdies]

hihihiiiiiiii. 2 of them. for u

📓 - Do you associate any quotes or lyrics with this oc?

💛 - Are they ‘good with children’, or more awkward?

(these r both 4 tic i need to know what they think about bab ies

OKOK

First one: very specific and it’s more abt the “moment” than the quote itself but playing off and finding that book one in the library:

Jacob Geller’s fear of cold also has the lease “He opens the door to his shack and steps into a blizzard, a solid wall of snow, White Death…” and fittingly follows in with a quote from the man he’s talking about: “You are reduced to a crawling thing on the margins of a disintegrating world… nothing will so quickly isolate a man.”

Allll of To Build A Fire is tic core to me but ESPECIALLY the constant, deadpan repetition of “It sure was awfully cold” even as the main character is dying..

The poem She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways… “She lived unknown, and few could know / when Lucy ceased to be; / But she is in her grave, and, oh, / The difference to me!”

There’s House of Leaves too:

-“When at last it is over, there is no evidence: no weapon, no body, no blood. The only clue might be the shadows beneath your eyes or a terribly thin line near the corner of your mouth indicating something has been suffered, that in the privacy of your life you have lost something and the loss is too empty to share”

-“No one is ever satisfied. Darkness never satisfies. Especially if it takes something away which it almost always invariably does.”

-“The boat’s gone. ‘So?’ Your mate’s dead. ‘So?’ Hey at least you’re alive. ‘So?’ An awful word but it does harden you.”

-“Perhaps in the margins of darkness, I could create a son who is not missing; ... His shields are instantly available though seldom used. And those who value him shall prosper while those who would destroy him shall perish. He will fulfill a promise I made years ago but failed to keep.”

Second one: THEY ARE SO BAD WITH KIDS IS UNREAL. you have to understand that they have literally never even SEEN a baby they’ve never had to interact with anyone more than five years younger than them they will either treat a child like they treat any adult (as a potential threat) OR try to go mentor mode and teach the kid their Ways STOPSTOPSTOP showing the five year old how to hide spike pits under the snow DONT show them how to rig explosives YOU CANT BE TELLING THEM THAT EVERYONE WILL TURN ON EACH OTHER IN THE END AND THEY SHOULD PREPARE FOR THAT IN EACH INTERACTION THEY HAVE. oh well surely their best friend march and bestfriend yew and janet can set the kid straight. Surely.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Ellen Ioanes at Vox:

The UK is again preparing to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda after Parliament created a workaround to enact a policy the high court declared unlawful.

Authorities have begun detaining migrants to deport to Rwanda under the revamped plan. But the policy faces major logistical issues, humanitarian concerns, and the likelihood that a future Labour government will scrap it. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel initially proposed the controversial law in 2022 as a way to reduce irregular migration, particularly via small boats across the English Channel, which is on the rise in the UK. Her successor, Suella Braverman, also advocated for the plan until she was fired in 2023; Prime Minister Rishi Sunak then vowed to “stop the boats” and promised that the policy would become law. Sunak succeeded on the latter front. Following legal challenges that saw the UK Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights declare the proposal unlawful, a bill declaring Rwanda safe for migrants and that limits the courts’ ability to adjudicate the country’s safety was approved as law by King Charles in late April, despite heavy opposition from the House of Lords. The government published a video on May 1 showing law enforcement authorities detaining people to send to the East African country as soon as July.

The law has been resoundingly criticized by human rights advocates, immigration lawyers, and Labour politicians who say it violates international law and is, to quote shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, “an expensive gimmick.” The law is part of a broader effort by Sunak and his Conservative Party to burnish their image as their government struggles to maintain support in the lead-up to a national election. Irregular migration has increased in recent years, but it’s not the driver of the problems that the UK is facing, including ongoing cost-of-living and housing crises. However, it is among voters’ top concerns, making the extreme anti-immigration law an appealing policy for a dysfunctional party struggling to maintain power.

[...]

The UK’s Rwanda deportation policy, briefly explained

The Rwanda plan has been a policy priority for two years now, and it’s outlived two prime ministers and two home secretaries. The ostensible goal? To deter irregular migrations via the English Channel and other routes, ostensibly for the migrants’ own safety, and to disrupt human trafficking operations.

Though the government has declared Rwanda a safe country through its recent legislation, it is the threat of being sent there instead of potentially receiving asylum in the UK that is meant to deter people from entering the country. Rwanda’s President Paul Kagame claimed that his country was simply trying to help out with “a very complicated problem all over the world” when Rwanda and the UK struck their initial agreement in 2022. But Rwanda will be well compensated by the British government for its purported generosity (more on that later). And critics say it also benefits Rwanda reputationally despite Kagame’s autocratic tendencies (which include threatening or jailing political rivals, repression of the media, and changing the constitution to extend his rule), not to mention the UK government’s own concerns that Rwanda is not a safe place for LGBTQ refugees.

But immigration has become a key policy pillar for the conservative government post-Brexit. Former Prime Ministers Boris Johnson and Liz Truss, along with Sunak, all touted their tough stance on immigration, hoping to appeal to socially conservative party members who see immigration as a key issue. Sunak and Truss backed the Rwanda plan, which was first proposed by controversial former Home Secretary Priti Patel. The policy was deeply controversial from the start. It applies to the roughly 52,000 asylum seekers the government deems to have entered the UK illegally after January 2022. Under international law, everyone has the right to seek asylum, and countries are obligated to protect people in their territory seeking asylum under the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. The UK was one of the original signatories to that convention.

But under the new rule, regardless of whether their claims are valid, asylum seekers can now be detained, and forced to fly to Rwanda, where their asylum claims will ostensibly be processed and they will be resettled. The plan “is effectively removing the UK from the asylum convention, because it removes the right to asylum which is explicitly guaranteed,” Peter William Walsh, senior researcher at the Oxford Migration Observatory, told Vox in an interview. It also could change the UK’s legal structure: the UK has threatened to withdraw from the court’s jurisdiction should it rule against the Rwanda plan.

[...]

Costs are already adding up; though no one has been sent to Rwanda and just a handful detained, the UK has already paid Rwanda 220 million pounds (about $270 million) to create infrastructure for asylum seeker processing. That number could skyrocket to more than half a billion pounds total (about $627 million) to send just 300 people to the East African country, according to a UK government watchdog.

Because of objections from advocacy groups, the UK Supreme Court, and the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), no migrant in the UK has ever been transferred to Rwanda under the plan. (One migrant has been sent to Rwanda voluntarily under a separate policy that pays eligible migrants 3,000 pounds if they volunteer to be sent to the country.) As seven people awaited deportation to Rwanda in June of 2022, the ECHR intervened and issued injunctions stopping the migrants’ removal and pausing the controversial policy. Though the UK left the European Union in 2020, it is still part of the Council of Europe, which the ECHR has jurisdiction over, making the court’s decision legally binding. And in November 2023, the UK’s highest court ruled the scheme unlawful.

Sunak, however, doubled down on the Rwanda policy, introducing emergency legislation to have Parliament declare Rwanda a safe country, as well as working on a new treaty with Rwanda to address the court’s concerns that asylum-seekers might be sent back to their home countries. That legislation, the Safety of Rwanda Act, passed Parliament in late April and unilaterally declared Rwanda to be a safe place to resettle migrants, paving the way for King Charles’s approval and the Home Office’s moves to detain some migrants who arrived by irregular routes.

The United Kingdom’s highly controversial Rwanda deportation plan proposed in a bid to curb unauthorized immigration to the nation has already ignited controversy.

The UK cannot wait for the Tories to be gone.

[aita-blorbos]

AITA for having a one-night stand/cheating on my husband/messing up confessing it to my husband?

Hi! So my (24F) dad (50M) recently (as in: *very* recently) sent in an AITA about killing the guy I had a one-night stand with (it’s titled “AITA for killing the guy my daughter was having an affair with/handling this situation poorly?”, I’ll try to add a link), so I thought I would write in because well, I was there and I have my own problems.

So additional backstory/information:

Yes, my husband (28M) is a clergyman. HOWEVER, I didn’t know that when I met him. We met a couple years ago when his boat wrecked and washed up outside our village and I rescued him. He was running from the police (because like. our country didn’t like Protestants for a bit. don’t ask.) and stayed with us under a false name, only revealing his true name and occupation around the time we got married.

And then he got called away to go abroad for several months for work and didn’t take me with him. I really don’t know why he didn’t, but. He just straight-up didn’t take me. I *could* have gone with him. It’s not like I had anything on my calendar. But he didn’t take me.

(Also, before he left my cousins [33M, who’s also my ex-fiancé, don’t ask; and 25F] came to stay with us, as did The Guy [27M].)

So I was left with three houseguests, one overbearing dad, one church congregation that’s basically just the population of the village, no husband, and pretty much nothing to do. And also my husband didn’t write very often.

So The Guy started acting really weird and trying to flirt with me, but I was having absolutely none of it at first. But as weeks and months went by, pretty much complete silence. I acknowledge in retrospect that there may have been mail issues or sabotage or whatever, but at this point I wasn’t getting ANYTHING from my husband. I love him dearly but I was really starting to resent all this and I felt like I was less important to him than his work was.

And The Guy took advantage of this. Not like That, but there was definitely some emotional manipulation going on and I know I should’ve recognized it then and I do now, but yeah, to kinda quote my dad: long story short, one thing led to another and we did indeed end up having a one-night stand. The morning after, he fled my bedroom at dawn, taking with him a bunch of letters and my wedding ring, and jumped into the river by our house. He survived that, obviously.

But I was consumed with guilt and regret basically from the moment it happened and became so sick from it that I was bedridden for several days. The Guy (who’s trained as a doctor, I don’t think my dad mentioned that) tried to come “treat me” several times, but I refused to let him in every time.

Anyway, eight days after The Incident, my husband returned home (and yes, it was also our wedding anniversary the day he came home, which just makes all this worse). So it turns out my husband totally heard the whole story about The Guy’s escape from a boatman who happened to witness it and also gave the letters he dropped to my husband, but my husband is (was?) a big believer in the power of unconditional forgiveness and burned the papers rather than reveal who was involved.

And then after everyone welcomed him home, we had some time alone. And it was…hard. Especially because he spent a lot of time talking about how while he was abroad he witnessed a lot of women cheating on their husbands and one of the things that kept him going was that he remembered me and that I wasn’t like that. Oops. So I asked him if he would forgive me if I did something like that and he said no. And then I got upset, and then he saw that my wedding ring was missing and demanded to know where it went. And well, I was too flustered and couldn’t really tell him so he got really upset.

Well, this is starting to get really long so I’m just gonna say that my dad, complicated feelings I may have about him, honestly summed most of it up pretty well (except, Dad, you were going to KILL YOURSELF??? REALLY??? AFTER YOU TOLD ME I HAD TO SUFFER AND BEAR IT???), so I’m just going to add a few bullet points:

-Yes, I did decide to write a letter telling my husband everything and yes, my dad DID tell me to destroy it because if I confessed what happened, our family would be disgraced and my husband would kill himself.

-The Guy kept trying to get me to sleep with him again. (The “homecoming party dumbass” incident involved him trying to smuggle a letter arranging a meeting with me inside a book to which we both had keys. And then when that didn’t work he FOLLOWED ME TO MY MOM’S GRAVE WHILE I WAS HAVING A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN. I told him to give me back my stuff and then leave forever. He said no.)

-Yes, I did confess everything to my husband. No, I did not know my dad had already accidentally revealed everything. Yes, my husband did try to kill The Guy after he refused a duel challenge. No, he did not actually kill him.

-Although my husband DID also say he was never going to forgive me and and cursed me or something, but in his defense he was kind of losing it at the moment and he passed out shortly thereafter.

-Yes, my husband did offer me a divorce. Yes, I initially refused because I do still love him and I absolutely did NOT want to marry The Guy. I did eventually accept, however, only because 19th century marriage rules are weird and say that my husband doesn’t have to listen to me. But if we’re not married, he *has* to listen to me because he’s a clergyman and I’m technically a member of the congregation. So I accepted the divorce only to be able to tell him my full side of the story and to tell him the truth: in spite of everything, I still love him truly.

-Yes, I am absolutely horrified that my father murdered him. Am I mad? Yes. Am I going to hold it against him? No. This is a shitty situation for everyone, and it’s by and large my fault.

So yeah—I am well aware that I am the asshole, or at least one of several assholes. My coming here is less about that and more about a) presenting my side of the story and b) asking a related question that doesn’t have its own subreddit before we have a whole meeting/service about it: is there any chance I have of being forgiven, by God and/or by my husband?

So: AITA, WIBF (will I be forgiven), thanks in advance, and God bless!

[riverbeatsaber]

i am so good at media analysis

Image ID and deranged ramblings under the cut:

[Image Description: A chart titled "the Greater Witwicky Polycule," centered on Alex and Dorothy Malto. It has lines to connect many of the characters from the show, and the lines connecting them are labeled with the relationships, real or headcanoned, between the two characters connected. Dorothy and Alex Malto are connected with a line labeled "Married" with a heart emoji. Alex Malto is connected to Mandroid and Bumblebee. The line from Alex to Mandroid is labeled "and how do you two know each other?" (exes), and the line from Alex to Bumblebee is labeled "cute little gay crush," and is a one-way-arrow from Alex to Bumblebee. Bumblebee is connected to Breakdown with a line labeled "definitely something going on here." There is a gay pride flag emoji after it. Breakdown is connected to Knockout with a line labeled "boyfreidns?" The misspelling is intentional. Knockout's box on the chart is labeled "(please please please pleas epleae)." This is also intentionally misspelled. Dorothy Malto is connected to Megatron with a line labeled "Partners." Megatron is connected to Starscream with a line labeled "oh god.", and to Soundwave with a line labled "bitter exes" with a broken heart emoji. Megatron is connected to Optimus Prime with a line labeled "previously divorced (working things out)" with a rainbow emoji, a black heart emoji, a hands-forming-a-heart emoji, a robot emoji, and a sparkly heart emoji. Optimus Prime is connected to Elita-1 with a line labeled "can't explain it but. theyre lesbians" with a red heart emoji, a trans pride flag emoji, a face-with-three-hearts emoji, an emoji of a car facing right, an emoji of a truck facing left, and a two-hearts emoji. The car and the truck are positioned to look like they are kissing. End image description]

some context:

this was a collaboration between me and my older brother who got me into transformers. we're so normal about this i promise. quote from him: "is some of what's in the show just ship bait? perhaps. but they expected to catch a fish and not a kraken. and boy oh boy i am pulling this boat down with me"

"Greater Witwicky Polycule" is from the memes about the "Greater Seattle Polycule"

Dot and Megatron are referred to in the show as partners. headcanon they're in a qpr type thing. amica endurae

I know Knockout isn't technically in Earthspark. but. hear me out. He Could Be

Optimus Prime gets so many emojis because he would like them. i chose kinda randomly though. except i did go omg this truck emoji is facing the other way... trucks kissing... love wins

Alex has a celebrity crush except the celebrity is living in his house and is friends with him

Bumblebee and Breakdown in the show are described as "really close friends. like brothers" and we all know what that means don't we. something lgbt is going on here

why are Optimus Prime and Elita-1 labeled as lesbians? yuri is when theres themes and motifs. "you will never understand a warrior's bond" sorta situation

[avocado-frog]

Incorrect Quotes Tag

As u know I love doing incorrect quotes so thank you to @riveriafalll

Rules: create a set of “incorrect quotes” (either using a generator or your memory, feel free to adjust them to your needs) for your ocs or characters!

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Cass: Accidentally indulged in too much 'free time', turns out I've been reported missing for over six months and presumed dead by most local and national authorities.

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Dylan: I have the sharpest memory here - name one time I forgot something. Sam: You forgot me in a Walmart parking lot at 2am a day ago. Dylan: I did that on purpose, try again

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Cass: The secret of life is to always use more spinach and less rice than you think you'll need Cass: The second secret to life is that fresh air, warm sun, and a cup of tea will make your problems small enough to start handling Cass: The third secret to life is that, sometimes, violence really is the answer

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Lily: I personally don't think it's possible to come up with a crazier plan. Elliot: We could attack them with hummus. Lily: I stand corrected. Elliot: Just keeping things in perspective.

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Lily: You can de-escalate literally any situation by asking 'are we about to kiss?' Lily: Doesn't work with getting out of speeding tickets, though.

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Cass, about Leo: They're covered in blood again. Why is it they're always covered in blood? Logan: Well, it looks like it's their own blood this time.

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Kai, planning a group disguise: You cannot be Blake Bortles. Jaxon: Fine! Then I’ll be Jake- Kai, under his breath: Don’t say Jortles. Jaxon: Jortles! And I work at the molotov cocktail department.

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Leo: Dylan, what is the ONE thing I asked you NOT to do tonight? Dylan: Raise the dead. Leo: And what did you do? Dylan: Raised the dead..

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Leo: I hate you. Jaxon: Well, according to this picture I drew of us holding hands, that is untrue.

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Emily: I’m going to kill Jaxon! Leo, completely monotone: Oh no. Don’t.

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Logan: We need to distract these guys. Dylan: Leave it to me. Dylan: Centaurs have six limbs and are therefore insects. Discuss. Lily & Jaxon: *immediately begin arguing*

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Dylan: When I first got my autism diagnosis, my first thought was "woah... it's canon" and I think that maybe thoughts like that is why Logan made me get tested.

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Logan: People always ask me how I maintain control in my house with eight kids. The answer is: I don't. I have no control here. Jaxon called me into his room the other day and Dylan shot me in the neck with a nerf gun. Logan: I don't even know what a nerf gun is.

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Ryan: *double checking supplies in the boat* Compass. CB radio. Sunscreen. Dylan: Hot dog costumes! Ryan: I'm sorry, what? Dylan: You know, in case we get lost at sea, and one of us, probably Elliot, goes mad with hunger, we'll put these on. Elliot hates hot dogs, so he probably won't eat us. Ryan: Are you saying that Elliot would rather eat us than hot dogs? Elliot: I do hate hot dogs.

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Sam: What's your greatest fear? Dylan: Being forgotten. Sam: ... Sam: Damn, that's deep. Sam: Mine is the Kool Aid man, but I feel kinda stupid about it now...

---

Tagging: @elizaellwrites

@bikaribechic

@elsie-writes

Open tag as usual

[cullthedeer]

🐦🦚🦃🕊️🦜

🐦 a romantic quote (can be sweet or sad or sexy, or just your favorite interaction between them!)

Truly delighted to announce that of my three wips i have exactly zero truly sweet romantic moments with no underlying implications to share. this is the closest i can get though

Over the distant lake, terns glide in billowing swarms, black and shimmering against the blood-red breadth of the sun. Thirty or fourty, Quinn estimated in the afternoon, tip of a pen pressed into his lower lip pensively. Jack had accompanied him on the boat, sprawled on the deck, warm under the oppressive Michigan sun; watched Quinn's careful positioning, the patience with the camera, and then the painstaking counting of the birds over all the photographs when they were lying in bed, in the near-dark of the drawn curtains.

🦚 a sexy quote (spicy, outright nsfw, etc--if you're not comfortable with this one specify in the tags!)

Jack tenses and shakes when Quinn brings a hand to his nape, slowly unwound with each thrust but still keeping this guard up, like this is a part of him Quinn doesn't get to feel anymore. His own hands twitch and pull at the bedding, twist in a trembling fist when Quinn fucks in deep. Quiet uh-uh-uhs tumbling out of his wet open mouth with his spit. Even like this he sounds like he's crying. Quinn kisses the edges of his spine, squeezes his sides, pets his shuddery ribs. Some shameful far cry of an apology.

🦃 a big, meaty quote (JUST A BIG OL PARAGRAPH YOU WANNA SHARE)

This is the reality where he watches birds in the lonely mornings, the singular mornings; where they publish his book and praise his unusual prose, the slight absurdism, the tales of monsters and evil men weaved into a story that's meant to be ground in scientific theory. The clock doesn't tick childhood away: it slips from him like a river. He dabbles in cliché sentimentalism that never bleeds into saccharine. There's a dog in the backyard. He calls Quinn from time to time, just to hear him speak. Maybe he cries himself to sleep once or twice. Maybe he misses the old house. And then he hauls himself to the shoreline—he would choose a place near water, of course—and counts terns, geese, adventurous finches.

🕊️ a sweet quote (something sweet, fluffy! maybe it's cute or funny banter! or sappy wedding vows!)

please refer to romantic quote commentary... however :

Quinn presses into the bruise, fingers first while he stretches Jack's arm out, then mouth, then tongue. The muscle jumps under his lips as Jack makes a weird strangled noise.

"What," Jack exhales. He throws his head back, mouth open, eyes closed. His face is red. "You're so weird," like he's making any attempt at stopping Quinn at all.

🦜 a pretty quote (you like the prose, or symbolism, or it's poetic, or you just like how it feels/the word choice!)

By fifteen, Jack knew this would be the way they'd die. Not so much of a fatalist as a clairvoyant, well-taught half-bird of a boy, path-seer, flyways carved by elders. Swifts, called up above the world by a voice no one else ever heard, look up at God, his one thousand eyes, wink and wink until something winks back. Some things never know any more will than their strange rituals. The life he'd mapped out for them hazed and shifted the first time Quinn slipped in his bed. There's not much to escape to once you know what sticking your dick in a sibling feels like.