#Illegal Working Compliance Order

[lexlawuk]

Guide to Civil Penalties for Illegal Work in the UK

The UK government has intensified its crackdown on illegal working, leading to an increase in enforcement activities across England. As a result, we are witnessing a growing number of civil penalties being issued to employers found in breach of immigration laws. The Home Office imposes severe sanctions on businesses that employ individuals who do not have the legal right to work in the UK. This…

[samueldays]

That Which Does Not Want To Be Named

There is a Thing of many names and none, which used to be called D&I, standing for "Diversity and Inclusion", later DEI with the addition of "Equity", later DEIA with the addition of "Accessibility", sometimes also "Office of Multicultural Affairs", and more names too, including sometimes "affirmative action", and called "tokenism" and "quota hiring" by its enemies too.

Trump has ordered an end to the Thing. One of the reactions by Thingists has been to generate more new names to hide behind, and then say they're not doing the literal name Trump tried to ban. This reaction was probably anticipated, as Trump's executive order included the following instruction:

and an assessment of whether these positions, committees, programs, services, activities, budgets, and expenditures have been misleadingly relabeled in an attempt to preserve their pre-November 4, 2024 function;

Another reaction by Thingists has been malicious compliance by equivocating between the Thing's name of quote "Diversity, equity and inclusion" unquote, and any activity which could be described as diverse, equitable or inclusive. Then they pretend that Trump's order bans the second and is overbroad or illegal.

Paul Krugman says:

About the broad attack on the civil service: The Trump administration has ordered an immediate end to all diversity, equity and inclusion efforts across the federal government. That’s pretty shocking, especially because it’s open-ended. What counts as D.E.I.? Is it forbidden even to mention anything involving race, gender or socioeconomic status? Probably. Public health agencies, even more than the rest of the government, are in the firing line. You can’t talk seriously about health policy without taking race and gender into account; yet according to the New York Times, one contractor collecting demographic data for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has already been told to stop work, and the results of an already completed survey won’t be released.

What counts? I wish the Thingists had been honest about that, instead of playing name-games. But they dragged everyone into their stupid games and now everyone wins stupid prizes. Trump is working to remove the Thing, which has superglued itself to institutions to make it hard to remove, and when it's pulled off then those institutions are going to get some metaphorical torn skin as acceptable collateral damage. Public health agencies are in the firing line because Thingists used public health agencies as a hostage, deliberately conflating public health in general (goes back millennia) with That Which Does Not Want To Be Named (summoned sometime last century).

[tonycries]

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[soon-palestine]

Israel’s assault on Gaza had killed at least 172 dependents of United Nations staff by the end of June, according to a confidential UN report obtained by Drop Site, in addition to 195 staff members.

The previously unreported data reflects the extraordinary toll not just for employees of the United Nations but for their families, and emerges as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prepares to address a joint session of Congress Wednesday.

Netanyahu, the subject of a potential arrest warrant from the U.N.’s International Criminal Court, will meet while in the United States with outgoing President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and presidential hopeful/Vice President Kamala Harris. Harris, while meeting with Netanyahu privately, has declined to appear behind him during his address. At least 21 lawmakers, including some establishment figures such as Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., will be boycotting Netanyahu’s address.

The data put together by the U.N.’s Crisis Coordination Centre also includes a breakdown by agency, finding five U.N. Development Program dependents, four UNICEF dependents, three World Food Program family members, and two World Health Organization dependents have been killed. 158 dependents of staff for UNRWA, or the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, have been killed.

In May, the U.N. reported that 188 staff members of UNRWA had been killed by then, but has not previously disclosed the extent of the familial casualties.

Among staff, the killings are similarly concentrated among UNRWA employees. The report was circulated internally July 1, before the U.N.’s International Court of Justice announced its landmark finding that Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank is illegal and must be ended. The UN did not respond to a request for comment.

Israeli attacks on U.N. staff have continued since. This weekend, a U.N. spokesperson said that a U.N. convoy was fired on by Israeli forces despite tight coordination ahead of time. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said Monday the U.S. had requested information from Israel about its latest strike on the convoy, adding that he appreciated the “enormous sacrifice and enormous risk humanitarian workers put themselves under.” Miller said that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had met Monday with a top U.N. official and discussed the issue. Asked if the U.S. was prepared to dole out consequences if Israel continued killing aid workers, he said, “I don’t have anything to read out on that at this time.”

The UN report is the latest in a series of alarming findings regarding Israel’s actions in Gaza. Most recently, the UN Special Rapporteur reported "reasonable grounds to believe" that Israel’s actions in Gaza may constitute genocide, a finding echoing International Court of Justice (ICJ), which ruled in January that “the Court considers that the plausible rights in question in these proceedings, namely the right of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to be protected from acts of genocide and related prohibited acts identified in Article III of the Genocide Convention and the right of South Africa to seek Israel’s compliance with the latter’s obligations under the Convention, are of such a nature that prejudice to them is capable of causing irreparable harm.”

However, Israel’s massacre in Gaza continues unabated. On July 22, Israel killed 89 people and injured at least 250 in a new assault on Khan Younis after ordering 400,000 people to leave their homes and refugee camps in the rapidly shrinking “safe zones” of Gaza, 83 percent of which is now a “no-go zone.” Bombings in the no-go zone have also not stopped; in the past 12 hours, dozens have been killed in Al Sabra, Jabalia, and Gaza City neighborhoods.

On Tuesday, Dearborn Mayor Abdullah Hammoud said in an interview with Breaking Points that Michigan voters supportive of Palestinian rights, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, were holding out hope that a Harris administration would be less ideologically rigid in its support for Israel’s war. “The door is open,” he said, adding that representatives of the Harris team had already begun reaching out to local Muslim leaders to set up meetings.

Republican candidate Trump, meanwhile, has left little hope there would be a significant departure from Biden’s policy were he to be elected. Basem Naim, a member of the political bureau of Hamas in Gaza, told Drop Site’s Jeremy Scahill that Trump’s recent belligerence was a reminder that there is little difference between the two parties on the question of Israel and Palestine.

“Sad to hear such statements, because it reflects that the complicit American policies towards the conflict here is a non-partisan issue and regardless who will win the election the blind and disgraceful support of USA to Israel will continue,” Naim said in a comment issued following Trump’s speech at the Republican National Convention, before Biden dropped out. “But we can very confident[ly] reassure Mr. Trump, that the Democrats have already done the maximum to help their puppet in the region and they both have failed to achieve any of their goals, therefore use your time to put a new strategy to rescue your puppet from its ominous demise, a new strategy based on justice and genuine rights of all people to freedom, dignity, and self determination.”

Robust protests inside the Cannon House Office Building were held on Tuesday by Jewish Voice for Peace and IfNotNow, with more planned for Wednesday to coincide with Netanyahu’s speech.

[theconstitutionisgayculture]

That's great, but how does this work when federal contractors and universities with massive federal grant dollars are still following a racialist and, in some cases, racist agenda? Trump's executive order, as it turns out, is much more than an attack on DEI in government; it is a declaration of war against DEI anywhere. Federal contractors must certify they do not adhere to DEI as a condition of holding contracts. (iv)   The head of each agency shall include in every contract or grant award: (A)  A term requiring the contractual counterparty or grant recipient to agree that its compliance in all respects with all applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws is material to the government’s payment decisions for purposes of section 3729(b)(4) of title 31, United States Code; and (B)  A term requiring such counterparty or recipient to certify that it does not operate any programs promoting DEI that violate any applicable Federal anti-discrimination laws. Further into the executive order, you find this assignment given to the federal bureaucracy. (b) To further inform and advise me so that my Administration may formulate appropriate and effective civil-rights policy, the Attorney General, within 120 days of this order, in consultation with the heads of relevant agencies and in coordination with the Director of OMB, shall submit a report to the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy containing recommendations for enforcing Federal civil-rights laws and taking other appropriate measures to encourage the private sector to end illegal discrimination and preferences, including DEI. The report shall contain a proposed strategic enforcement plan identifying:

(i)    Key sectors of concern within each agency’s jurisdiction; (ii)   The most egregious and discriminatory DEI practitioners in each sector of concern; (iii)  A plan of specific steps or measures to deter DEI programs or principles (whether specifically denominated “DEI” or otherwise) that constitute illegal discrimination or preferences.  As a part of this plan, each agency shall identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of publicly traded corporations, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of 500 million dollars or more, State and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars; (iv)   Other strategies to encourage the private sector to end illegal DEI discrimination and preferences and comply with all Federal civil-rights laws; (v)    Litigation that would be potentially appropriate for Federal lawsuits, intervention, or statements of interest; and (vi)   Potential regulatory action and sub-regulatory guidance.

Read that carefully. Trump anticipates targeting DEI for civil rights violations. He also requires "each agency shall identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations of publicly traded corporations, large non-profit corporations or associations, foundations with assets of 500 million dollars or more, State and local bar and medical associations, and institutions of higher education with endowments over 1 billion dollars." When you consider the number of federal agencies, this is nothing less than an all-out effort to eradicate DEI. Couple this with a changed legal environment (Affirmative Action Has a Very Rough, No Good Day at the Supreme Court – RedState), and there is a real possibility that businesses, universities, and non-profits will have to choose between DEI and federal funds.

About damn time.

[lurkiestvoid]

I have absolutely zero spoons to provide links this is not a news post this is a ... a sigh. it's widely reported and easily searchable info. Fuck it i came back and added links

memos relating to the bullshit huge federal funding freeze and demanding orgs answer 14 questions by next week to keep their funding, to ensure they aren't supporting "illegal" "DEIA"

The acronym has grown

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

They're gonna go after the whole fuckin ADA, aren't they.

Oh, and he repealed instructed the DOJ not to enforce the FACE Act, the 90s law to protect clinics, patients, and staff from anti-choice protestors (they can now get right back up to the doors, and short of basically killing someone it just won't be enforced)

They're trying to institute a way to simultaneously email all 2.3 million federal employees at once to be able to "communicate directly" and not have orders "filtered by management". Several lawsuits already, massive privacy concerns, etc.

Loyalty tests have begun for both current employees and applicants, mostly headed by department-inexperienced youths, to ensure full 100% enthusiastic support specifically of MAGA over Republican party and with zero non-party associations or opinions

He revoked equal opportunity employment, killing 60 years of labor+civil rights just as both my trans wife and my trans self are trying to find work

The funding freeze has everyone scrambling. Compliance by 5pm today, so many have been working through the night because some of these programs can't just be flipped like a switch. non-profits panicking. Research suspended. Emergency meetings. Already "temporary" layoffs of medical staff and others, for grant freezes.

r/fednews is a new subreddit for Fed workers to whistleblow and share internal fuckery. Have a random screenshot.

The reddit account that discovered that the funding freeze EO was written by two randos bc the pdf metadata wasn't scrubbed, one of whom is Heritage Foundation, was nuked. An hour later the EO was updated to change the "author"

Aaaaand he's openly talking about deporting "criminals," and regressives are enthusiastically supportive of the idea of deporting "dissidents" like [checks notes] American citizen Selena Gomez.

Etc etc etc oh god there's so fucking much already.

I am left wondering how to personally tread the line between "do not comply in advance" and "do not draw attention to yourself." How to keep my family safe. I am wondering how many of the social media posts encouraging people to scream and be loud and DEMAND to be SEEN and RESPECTED as QUEER/DISABLED/ETC are maybe written by people who don't know or remember how fucking bad the baseline social attitude was towards marginalized people even just twenty years ago, and therefore have zero context for exactly how bad it can get and what it's like to survive daily life in even the mildest of strict national oppression, and maybe don't really even believe us when we try to tell them, think we could never go back that far surely, not for very long surely.

And I am so, so sorry my loves, but you have yet to see a true winter, and you're treating the snow flurries as hyperbole.

[cosmerelists]

If Cosmere Characters worked at a coffee shop...

[Spoilers for Rhythm of War & Mistborn Era 1, technically! All other references should be safe.]

Let’s say the Cosmere characters lived in our world and worked as baristas. What would they be like in that role?

1. Kaladin: Keeps trying (in vain) to unionize with the other employees

Kaladin: I really thought we had it, that time.

Kaladin: I can’t believe I’m the only one who didn’t get fired.

Kaladin: AGAIN

2. Shallan: Makes the most gorgeous latte art you’ve ever seen

Customer: H-How did you make the flower 3D? It’s just MILK

Shallan: I learned it from a book!

3. Sarene: Is the queen of malicious compliance and working to rule

Sarene: Manager got on my case because the customer said the coffee was weak.

Sarene: I am using this scale to measure out the proper coffee amounts to the gram.

Sarene: These tweezers help. 

4. Kelsier: The rumors of his firing were greatly exaggerated

Doug the normal barista: Uh, I’m pretty sure our new coworker Ty Decker is just Kelsier in a mustache.

Doug the other normal barista: Impossible! We saw him get fired!

Doug #1: I’m telling you, man! It’s like he can’t leave this coffeeshop!

“Ty” (to a customer): Hello would you like to join my secret club?

Doug #2 (whispering): And I’m pretty sure he’s in an MLM!

5. Adolin: Knows each customer by name (and flirts for tips)

Adolin: Janala! It’s so great to see you! You look gorgeous as always!

Janala: ...

Janala: Is our date going to be just hanging out at your coffeeshop while you’re working?

Adolin: I-It’ll be fun; you’ll see!

6. Lirin: Refuses to apply upcharges

Lirin: No one should have to pay EXTRA for oatmilk!

Lirin: I’m just going to give this to you for free.

7. Steris: Has the employee handbook memorized

Steris: Actually, it’s illegal to ask Doug to start the coffee before he clocks in.

Steris: Employee handbook Section 3.7a.

8. Lightsong: Refuses to believe that he is a god (of coffeemaking)

Lightsong: Ugh, WHY are we always so much busier when I’m working?

Lightsong: I’m not even that good at making coffee!

Llarimar: People believe your coffee is the best in town.

Lightsong: The coffee maker does all the work!

9. Lezian: Keeps forming grudges against coworkers

Lezian: Every time someone else gets chosen for Employee of the Month instead of me...

Lezian: I make it my mission to see them FIRED before the month is OVER!

Kaladin: But that’s...always.

Kaladin: You’re not very good at your job.

Lezian: THAT’S IT

Lezian: YOU’RE ON MY LIST

10. Tress: Really just loves the cups

Tress: Oh! I love your travel mug!

Tress: Where is it from?

11. Vivenna: Gradually has all of her coffeeshop illusions shattered

Vivenna: Man, I really thought people would come in, order off the menu, and then wait politely for their drink to be made and delivered.

Customer: NINE SHOTS OF ESPRESSO! WHIPPED CREAM!

Vivenna: I have seen the darkest parts of humanity.

12. Hoid: Is somehow everyone’s previous coworker

Shallan: Wait, didn’t we work for UberEats together? 

Kelsier: No, that’s the bastard who slapped me! In the middle of Walmart! While we were on the clock!

Kaladin: Huh? I think that’s the guy who always changed the radio station in the store I used to work at.

Steris: I think he did Lyft with my sister.

Vivenna: Are you sure? I thought he worked at a bookstore with MY sister.

Sarene: I think I recognize him from my last office job. He never really seemed to do anything.

Adolin: How old IS this guy??

13. Rock: Makes the coffee...very strong

Rock: This is how we drink it where I’m from!

Customer: M-My tongue is dissolving!

14. Jasnah: Doesn’t like coffee

Shallan: You don’t like coffee??

Jasnah: I do not.

Shallan: You work in a coffee shop!

Jasnah: I don’t try to convince others to dislike coffee. 

Jasnah: But I do believe that it is an unnecessary contrivance that people depend too much on.

Shallan: I thought you pulled, like, constant all-nighters!

Jasnah: That’s just sheer willpower. 

15. Silence: Takes safety rules very seriously

Silence: Hey!

Silence: Wash out that cut, put on a band-aid, and wear gloves! You can’t bleed around food!

Silence: T-turn off that stove! You shouldn’t leave an open flame if you’re not heating something up!

Silence: AND NO RUNNING!

[unwelcome-ozian]

Weaponizing violence. With alarming regularity, the nation continues to be subjected to spates of violence that terrorizes the public, destabilizes the country’s ecosystem, and gives the government greater justifications to crack down, lock down, and institute even more authoritarian policies for the so-called sake of national security without many objections from the citizenry.

Weaponizing surveillance, pre-crime and pre-thought campaigns. Surveillance, digital stalking and the data mining of the American people add up to a society in which there’s little room for indiscretions, imperfections, or acts of independence. When the government sees all and knows all and has an abundance of laws to render even the most seemingly upstanding citizen a criminal and lawbreaker, then the old adage that you’ve got nothing to worry about if you’ve got nothing to hide no longer applies. Add pre-crime programs into the mix with government agencies and corporations working in tandem to determine who is a potential danger and spin a sticky spider-web of threat assessments, behavioral sensing warnings, flagged “words,” and “suspicious” activity reports using automated eyes and ears, social media, behavior sensing software, and citizen spies, and you having the makings for a perfect dystopian nightmare. The government’s war on crime has now veered into the realm of social media and technological entrapment, with government agents adopting fake social media identities and AI-created profile pictures in order to surveil, target and capture potential suspects.

Weaponizing digital currencies, social media scores and censorship. Tech giants, working with the government, have been meting out their own version of social justice by way of digital tyranny and corporate censorship, muzzling whomever they want, whenever they want, on whatever pretext they want in the absence of any real due process, review or appeal. Unfortunately, digital censorship is just the beginning. Digital currencies (which can be used as “a tool for government surveillance of citizens and control over their financial transactions”), combined with social media scores and surveillance capitalism create a litmus test to determine who is worthy enough to be part of society and punish individuals for moral lapses and social transgressions (and reward them for adhering to government-sanctioned behavior). In China, millions of individuals and businesses, blacklisted as “unworthy” based on social media credit scores that grade them based on whether they are “good” citizens, have been banned from accessing financial markets, buying real estate or travelling by air or train.

Weaponizing compliance. Even the most well-intentioned government law or program can be—and has been—perverted, corrupted and used to advance illegitimate purposes once profit and power are added to the equation. The war on terror, the war on drugs, the war on COVID-19, the war on illegal immigration, asset forfeiture schemes, road safety schemes, school safety schemes, eminent domain: all of these programs started out as legitimate responses to pressing concerns and have since become weapons of compliance and control in the police state’s hands.

Weaponizing entertainment. For the past century, the Department of Defense’s Entertainment Media Office has provided Hollywood with equipment, personnel and technical expertise at taxpayer expense. In exchange, the military industrial complex has gotten a starring role in such blockbusters as Top Gun and its rebooted sequel Top Gun: Maverick, which translates to free advertising for the war hawks, recruitment of foot soldiers for the military empire, patriotic fervor by the taxpayers who have to foot the bill for the nation’s endless wars, and Hollywood visionaries working to churn out dystopian thrillers that make the war machine appear relevant, heroic and necessary. As Elmer Davis, a CBS broadcaster who was appointed the head of the Office of War Information, observed, “The easiest way to inject a propaganda idea into most people’s minds is to let it go through the medium of an entertainment picture when they do not realize that they are being propagandized.”

Weaponizing behavioral science and nudging. Apart from the overt dangers posed by a government that feels justified and empowered to spy on its people and use its ever-expanding arsenal of weapons and technology to monitor and control them, there’s also the covert dangers associated with a government empowered to use these same technologies to influence behaviors en masse and control the populace. In fact, it was President Obama who issued an executive order directing federal agencies to use “behavioral science” methods to minimize bureaucracy and influence the way people respond to government programs. It’s a short hop, skip and a jump from a behavioral program that tries to influence how people respond to paperwork to a government program that tries to shape the public’s views about other, more consequential matters. Thus, increasingly, governments around the world—including in the United States—are relying on “nudge units” to steer citizens in the direction the powers-that-be want them to go, while preserving the appearance of free will.

Weaponizing desensitization campaigns aimed at lulling us into a false sense of security. The events of recent years—the invasive surveillance, the extremism reports, the civil unrest, the protests, the shootings, the bombings, the military exercises and active shooter drills, the lockdowns, the color-coded alerts and threat assessments, the fusion centers, the transformation of local police into extensions of the military, the distribution of military equipment and weapons to local police forces, the government databases containing the names of dissidents and potential troublemakers—have conspired to acclimate the populace to accept a police state willingly, even gratefully.

Weaponizing fear and paranoia. The language of fear is spoken effectively by politicians on both sides of the aisle, shouted by media pundits from their cable TV pulpits, marketed by corporations, and codified into bureaucratic laws that do little to make our lives safer or more secure. Fear, as history shows, is the method most often used by politicians to increase the power of government and control a populace, dividing the people into factions, and persuading them to see each other as the enemy. This Machiavellian scheme has so ensnared the nation that few Americans even realize they are being manipulated into adopting an “us” against “them” mindset. Instead, fueled with fear and loathing for phantom opponents, they agree to pour millions of dollars and resources into political elections, militarized police, spy technology and endless wars, hoping for a guarantee of safety that never comes. All the while, those in power—bought and paid for by lobbyists and corporations—move their costly agendas forward, and “we the suckers” get saddled with the tax bills and subjected to pat downs, police raids and round-the-clock surveillance.

Weaponizing genetics. Not only does fear grease the wheels of the transition to fascism by cultivating fearful, controlled, pacified, cowed citizens, but it also embeds itself in our very DNA so that we pass on our fear and compliance to our offspring. It’s called epigenetic inheritance, the transmission through DNA of traumatic experiences. For example, neuroscientists observed that fear can travel through generations of mice DNA. As The Washington Post reports, “Studies on humans suggest that children and grandchildren may have felt the epigenetic impact of such traumatic events such as famine, the Holocaust and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.”

Weaponizing the future. With greater frequency, the government has been issuing warnings about the dire need to prepare for the dystopian future that awaits us. For instance, the Pentagon training video, “Megacities: Urban Future, the Emerging Complexity,” predicts that by 2030 (coincidentally, the same year that society begins to achieve singularity with the metaverse) the military would be called on to use armed forces to solve future domestic political and social problems. What they’re really talking about is martial law, packaged as a well-meaning and overriding concern for the nation’s security. The chilling five-minute training video paints an ominous picture of the future bedeviled by “criminal networks,” “substandard infrastructure,” “religious and ethnic tensions,” “impoverishment, slums,” “open landfills, over-burdened sewers,” a “growing mass of unemployed,” and an urban landscape in which the prosperous economic elite must be protected from the impoverishment of the have nots. “We the people” are the have-nots.

The end goal of these mind control campaigns—packaged in the guise of the greater good—is to see how far the American people will allow the government to go in re-shaping the country in the image of a totalitarian police state.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Judd Legum, Rebecca Crosby, and Noel Sims at Popular Information:

Since taking office on January 20, President Donald Trump has targeted so-called "diversity, equity, and inclusion" programs, also known as DEI. According to a January 21 executive order, "critical and influential institutions of American society, including the Federal Government, major corporations, financial institutions, the medical industry, large commercial airlines, law enforcement agencies, and institutions of higher education have adopted and actively use dangerous, demeaning, and immoral race- and sex-based preferences" under the guise of DEI. These programs, according to Trump and his administration, "undermine our national unity, as they deny, discredit, and undermine the traditional American values of hard work, excellence, and individual achievement in favor of an unlawful, corrosive, and pernicious identity-based spoils system."

The executive order suggests there is pervasive discrimination against hard-working white men, who are being replaced by less-qualified women and minorities. This point was made explicitly last October by Darren Beattie, who was just hired for a senior State Department role by the Trump administration. "Competent white men must be in charge if you want things to work," Beattie wrote in a post on X. "Unfortunately, our entire national ideology is predicated on coddling the feelings of women and minorities, and demoralizing competent white men." Beattie was fired from his job at Duke University in 2018 for attending a white nationalist convention.

The executive order claims that corporate DEI programs constitute "illegal discrimination." The executive order mandates that each federal agency "shall identify up to nine potential civil compliance investigations" into large corporations or non-profit groups for implementing DEI programs. This legal analysis is flawed. In Students for Fair Admissions, the Supreme Court ruled that race-based affirmative action programs in college admissions are illegal. But Students for Fair Admissions does not have any impact on corporations because affirmative action in employment situations, in almost all circumstances, is already illegal. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 banned the consideration of race in hiring. Corporate DEI programs involve "expanding outreach for new hires, creating employee resource groups for underrepresented workers, and reducing bias in hiring through such practices as 'blind' applications." The push to eliminate DEI is effectively affirmative action for white men, eliminating programs that help corporations attract and retain qualified minorities and women. [...]

Women and minorities are severely underrepresented in corporate America

The reality is, even with diversity efforts, women and minorities remain badly underrepresented in corporate America. According to a 2024 report by McKinsey, women have made modest gains in the workplace over the last 10 years. But at the current rate of progress, McKinsey projected that it will take 22 years for white women and 48 years for women of color to attain the same level of representation in senior leadership roles as they have in the general population. The number of women in executive positions has jumped from 17% in 2015 to 29% in 2024. While this is a significant gain, the report found that much of it was due to companies eliminating positions historically held by men and hiring women for new support roles in legal, HR, and IT departments. Companies cannot continue adding such positions indefinitely, so the gains women made are not sustainable. Additionally, the study found that women are less likely to get hired to entry-level positions than men and less likely to get their first promotion.

Donald Trump, who is leading a purge of “DEI” that is really a purge of those who aren’t cis White conservative men, is leading another form of DEI: affirmative action programs for mediocre MAGA White men, while screwing over more qualified women and minorities who aren’t necessarily on board with that agenda.

[justplainwhump]

Files

Adrian plans to move against Jack.

In the timeline, this connects the pieces Gauze and Choices.

[Pet Safety]

Content: BBU, BBU recovery / pet lib setting, vaguely referenced past facility whump, vaguely implied past whump of minors.

Adrian stayed up long. It hurt the wounds in his neck to lay down anyway. As in the nights before, he’d sleep upright in the armchair in his living room. And if he was sitting already - well, he could read up on Jack Donnell.

He’d pulled the files of all Donnell’s pets before the inspection; he still had them saved on his work tablet. He knew the database queries by all WRU’s employees were recorded "for compliance reasons". He just hoped they weren’t paranoid enough to also regularly check their access of files on their own computers. If they did, he’d tell them it was about Bea.

Her case file was the first in the dossier, because she’d been Donnell’s latest acquisition. Adrian had only skimmed through it, back then. His job was to check the Guards, not the other designations; and he’d long learned that reading too many case files would make him angry and restless and lose the focus he needed.

Especially those about Romantics. 

Especially those about second hand Romantics.

He did take the time to read it now.

Romantic pet 400168. Taken in eight years ago, at age 18. His stomach revolted already. It was almost 50-50, he knew. The chances, of an 18 year old trainee being, in fact, 18. It was illegal to process minors. So everyone was always of age. 

She looked tired on the first photos. But stunningly beautiful already. And… almost happy. Relieved, to be at WRU. Adrian wondered, how long that had lasted. He didn’t want to know. So he scrolled on.

Specifications looked like a classic case, except for one line. 'English language training. Defamiliarization with native language (Spanish).'

Some training notes, that sounded smug and highly satisfied. 

Sale to a corporate lawyer, who paid extra for someone 'who looked like a virgin and fucked like a whore'.

Seven years with the guy.

Then refurb.

Hadn’t looked or felt like a virgin any longer, Adrian thought grimly; but then reassessed.

'Runaway. Rebellious behavior. Disloyal. Refurb and disciplinary measures necessary.'

'Intended sale to family friend.'

'Specification: Strict defamiliarization with Platonic/Domestic WRU Pet 278017. Strongly discouraging bonds with other pets. Fear response (new prospective’s wishes) ; to be enforced by training with Guard trainees.' 

Adrian stared at the closed door to his bedroom, behind which Bea was sleeping. Good for that first owner that his name was blacked out in the files, and that Adrian couldn’t access it without risking his own life, and hers. 

Bad for Jack Donnell, that Adrian knew his name.

The contract was simple; it included that there’d been some faults about her second wipe, issues with discipline and short term memory; and the buyer’s response that he knew her well enough and he’d still take her.

The photos on that contract were different. Still a perfectly pretty face, still barely any marks on her body. But the look in her eyes, this time was… haunted. Afraid.

Just as Jack had ordered. 

Teeth clenched, Adrian swiped to the next files.

The Guards’ documents he’d seen before, had had his suspicions about before as well. Before Bea had confirmed them. 'They all fight.' 

Background of experienced fighters, all of them. Former soldiers, mercenaries, martial arts fighters, gangsters. Some had been recruited directly into WRU from prison, instead of serving long sentences. The missing one, the one Bea had called Mac, was one of them. His former self’s list of crimes was impressive. Adrian was pretty sure it had only grown longer during Jack’s ownership. Including assault on Bea. At least in a better world, where hurting someone like her wouldn’t be a misdemeanor at best.

Whatever Mac had done to her though, whatever the others had done, in this life or their past - the one who controlled it all now was Jack.

Adrian’s hands were tied to come after Jack in his official capacity as Pet Safety Inspector. But there was always another option. Pet lib. If he could find out, where this arena was, where Mac was held, where the others fought sometimes as well, if Marta could send a team there, if they filmed and found and published evidence, even his boss would have no choice but to allow Adrian to act. 

Seizing all his pets. Revoking his pet owner’s license. Smile at him, while dictating all the fines he’d have to pay.

It was far less from what Adrian truly wanted to do to the man. But at least, it would be something.

*

"You know, Adri, you’d also save the pets." Marta said, after he explained his plan to her, a soft frown on her face. "Which is, what pet lib do, right?"

"Um." Adrian tilted his head. "Yeah, I mean, yeah, of course. That’s why I’m talking to you."

"No. You’re talking to me about revenge."

"Revenge would be for me to-" He stopped talking with a side glance to Bea and the runaway he’d helped during the raid, Noor, at the other end of the room. 

Marta and he spoke Spanish, so he was painfully aware that Bea wouldn’t want to listen in - but she could. And she shouldn’t hear these things from him. He was a better man than her owners had been. He swore, he’d keep her from violence. 

"Revenge would be more violent," he settled.

Marta scoffed, not convinced. "Sure. So. Anyway. If we do this, I don’t want you to confiscate them. I want to get them out for good. You find out where and what this place is, when they have their next fights. I find a safe space for a handful of recently freed, traumatized Fighters. It’ll take a while. So you take it slow, too, alright?"

He looked over at Bea, and she smiled back on instinct.

He would need her help to make out this place. She’d been there before, and it would hurt her to remember. Taking it slow was the best he could do. For her. After all, this was all for her.

And of course, to also save the other pets.

"Yeah," he sighed. "Yeah, alright. I will take it slow."

-

---

Pet Safety tag list (ask to be added or removed!): @gottawhump @flowersarefreetherapy @whumplr-reader @highwaywhump @tauntedoctopuses @pigeonwhumps @whumppsychology @labgrowndemon @whumpinggrounds @somewhumpyguy @whumpzone @tragedyinblue @theelvishcowgirl @light-me-on-pyre

[girlactionfigure]

🟥 SUNDAY morning - events from Israel  

SRAEL REALTIME - Connecting to Israel in Realtime

⚠️NORTHERN GOLAN & UPPER GALILEE.. protective measures alert: stay near protected areas.

⚠️UPPER GALILEE - SCHOOL OPENING DELAY.. Latest report: school opening delayed until 10:00 AM.

❗️Follow Up of Rocket alert throughout central Israel.

.. IDF spokesman: Missile was launched from Yemen at central Israel. The explosive sounds heard were from the interceptors.

.. Appears unsuccessful interception, investigating - rocket hit a field near Lod, small wildfire.

.. Various reports of 1 to 3 ballistic surface-to-surface missiles from YEMEN.

.. Emergency services, no casualties, a number of calls for people who can’t exit their protected space (door stuck).

.. After consultation The Ministry of Education says that schools will operate as usual.

.. IDF spokesman:  There is no change in the directives of the Home Front Command.

.. SHRAPNEL hit the train station in Modi’in, breaking some glass.

▪️NORTH..  In a strategic discussion that took place on Thursday, the Prime Minister said that Israel intends to expand the operation in the north - "We are heading for a broad campaign of one intensity or another."

▪️POLITICS.. Amit Segal: Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is re-establishing a field organization and is actually returning to politics. In the last few days, Bennett's headquarters began re-mobilizing.

▪️TERROR THWARTED.. An explosive device was found and neutralized yesterday by the security forces on 443 Modi'in Jerusalem road.

▪️INFILTRATORS CAUGHT.. at the Maccabim checkpoint: 23 infiltrators were caught inside a garbage truck. (Most of these are coming for work.)

♦️LEBANON.. overnight IDF attacked the ammunition depots of the Hezbollah terrorist organization in deep and southern Lebanon, in Bekaa and Baalbak in the depths of Lebanon.

▪️ILLEGAL PROTEST.. overnight, a protest in Zion Square in Jerusalem with the participation of hundreds of demonstrators. In the continuation, its participants *without coordination or permission from the police* began to go to the procession while obstructing the movement of vehicles and without obeying the policemen's instructions to get on the nearby sidewalk.  Police: “freedom of protest for everyone as long as compliance with the law and order is maintained, and will act towards troublemakers”.

▪️PROTEST ARREST.. police arrested seven suspects at a demonstration on Begin Street in Tel Aviv, with bags containing shredded tires and substances suspected of being flammable.

✡️ A brief daily word of Torah: If you know Aleph, teach aleph!. Every person can teach and influence their surroundings with spirituality, regardless how little he or she may know. You don’t have to be a scholar to teach, and you don’t have to be perfect in order to help people perfect themselves. - The Lubavitcher Rebbe

[snapmite1998]

### Dryden Vos: The Face and Force of Crimson Dawn's Criminal Empire

#### Overview

Dryden Vos, the charismatic and ruthless figurehead of Crimson Dawn, serves as both the public face and operational manager of the organization's vast criminal enterprise. As a loyal servant to Darth Maul, Vos is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the syndicate's illegal activities, ensuring that Maul's vision for Crimson Dawn is executed with precision and brutality. His role as manager of Crimson Dawn’s criminal operations makes him a crucial link between Maul’s strategic objectives and the day-to-day activities of the syndicate.

### Role and Responsibilities

1. Figurehead of Crimson Dawn

- Public Persona: Dryden Vos is the visible leader of Crimson Dawn, often engaging with allies, rivals, and potential recruits. His suave demeanor and charm mask a dangerous and calculating mind, making him an effective negotiator and strategist.

- Symbol of Power: As the public face of the organization, Vos embodies the power and menace of Crimson Dawn. His presence alone is enough to command respect and fear, reinforcing the organization’s reputation across the galaxy.

2. Loyal Servant to Maul

- Subordinate Role: Despite his prominent position, Vos is unequivocally loyal to Darth Maul. He understands his role as an executor of Maul’s will and upholds the Sith Lord’s vision for Crimson Dawn with unwavering dedication.

- Communication and Coordination: As Maul’s trusted lieutenant, Vos ensures that directives from the top are effectively communicated and implemented across all levels of the organization. He coordinates closely with Maul, providing updates on operations and seeking guidance on strategic decisions.

3. Manager of Criminal Operations

- Operational Oversight: Vos supervises the various facets of Crimson Dawn’s criminal enterprise, including smuggling, extortion, assassination, and black market trade. He ensures that these operations run smoothly and profitably.

- Coordination with Syndicate Allies: Vos manages relationships with key syndicate allies, such as Black Sun, the Pyke Syndicate, and the Zygerrian Slave Empire. His diplomacy and strategic alliances are crucial in maintaining and expanding Crimson Dawn’s influence.

### Key Activities and Strategies

1. Expansion and Control

- Territory Acquisition: Under Vos’s watch, Crimson Dawn aggressively expands its territory, seizing control of key locations and resources. He employs a combination of brute force and cunning tactics to outmaneuver rivals and secure valuable assets.

- Enforcement: Ensuring compliance and order within Crimson Dawn’s territories requires a firm hand. Vos oversees the enforcement units tasked with maintaining control, using intimidation, coercion, and violence to quash any dissent.

2. Resource Extraction and Exploitation

- Rich Resource Harvest: Vos orchestrates the exploitation of world resources under Crimson Dawn’s control, including mining operations for valuable minerals, spice production, and rare art collections. These activities are key revenue streams that fund the organization’s operations.

- Slave Trade: As part of Crimson Dawn’s nefarious practices, Vos manages the capture and sale of slaves, working with allied organizations to traffic individuals for labor and other purposes. This brutal trade enhances Crimson Dawn's economic power and extends its influence.

3. Smuggling and Black Market Operations

- Contraband Movement: Vos oversees extensive smuggling networks that move illegal goods across the galaxy. These networks transport spice, weapons, stolen artifacts, and other contraband, making Crimson Dawn a central player in the black market.

- Fleets and Transport: Managing the logistics of this trade involves coordinating fleet movements and securing safe transport routes. Vos’s strategic planning ensures that Crimson Dawn remains a step ahead of law enforcement and rival factions.

### Personal Attributes and Leadership Style

1. Charismatic and Calculating

- Persuasive Charisma: Vos’s charm and eloquence make him an effective leader and negotiator. He can inspire loyalty among his subordinates and sway potential allies or rivals to his advantage.

- Strategic Mind: Behind his suave exterior lies a strategic genius. Vos is always several moves ahead, calculating the implications of every action and decision to maximize benefit for Crimson Dawn.

2. Ruthless and Unforgiving

- Brutal Discipline: Vos maintains strict discipline within the organization, dealing harshly with failure and dissent. This approach ensures that his subordinates remain loyal and effective, while competitors and enemies are dealt with mercilessly.

- Relentless Ambition: Vos embodies the ruthless ambition of Crimson Dawn, striving always to expand their power and influence. His methods are ruthless, and he is unafraid to employ extreme measures to achieve his goals.

### Impact and Legacy

1. Strengthening Crimson Dawn

- Consolidation of Power: Under Vos’s management, Crimson Dawn has become a formidable force in the galaxy. His efforts have consolidated the organization’s power, making it a dominant player in the criminal underworld.

- Expansion of Influence: Through strategic alliances and relentless expansion, Vos has extended Crimson Dawn’s reach, ensuring that its influence is felt across vast sectors of the galaxy.

2. Legacy of Fear and Control

- Enduring Reputation: Dryden Vos’s brutal and efficient leadership style has left a lasting impression. His legacy is one of fear and control, with Crimson Dawn’s reputation for ruthlessness deterring potential adversaries.

- Succession Planning: Recognizing the importance of continuity, Vos plays a role in grooming and identifying future leaders who can carry on Maul’s vision and the ethos of Crimson Dawn.

### Conclusion

Dryden Vos stands as a pivotal figure in Crimson Dawn’s rise to prominence, balancing the public role of figurehead with the behind-the-scenes management of its vast criminal operations. His loyalty to Maul, combined with his charismatic and ruthless leadership, ensures that Crimson Dawn remains a dominant force in the galaxy's underworld.

Through his strategic oversight, efficient execution of operations, and ruthless enforcement, Vos embodies the ethos of Crimson Dawn, driving the organization toward Maul’s vision of a new order where power and fear are paramount. As long as he stands at the helm, Crimson Dawn will continue to thrive, expand, and instill its reign of terror across the galaxy.

[stillnaomi]

"In order to bring the point to a speedy decision, they [the workers] have always recourse to the loudest clamour, and sometimes to the most shocking violence and outrage. They are desperate, and act with the folly and extravagance of desperate men, who must either starve, or frighten their masters into an immediate compliance with their demands."

All this did not prevent [Adam] Smith from recommending that the government act severely against working-class combinations. Certainly, ‘people of the same trade seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some contrivance to raise prices’. However, it was ‘impossible to prevent such meetings, by any law which … would be consistent with liberty and justice’. But the government must forestall any working-class gathering, even the most casual and seemingly innocuous. For example, the requirement of bureaucratic registration for those who practice a specific profession ended up ‘connect[ing] individuals who might never otherwise be known to one another’. Utterly intolerable was any ‘regulation which enables those of the same trade to tax themselves in order to provide for their poor, their sick, their widows and orphans, by giving them a common interest to manage’. Consequently, not only trade-union activity, but even a mutual aid society was to be considered illegal. Smith recognized that he was dealing with ‘desperate men’, who risked dying of starvation. And yet this consideration took second place to the need to avoid meetings, ‘conversations’ or gatherings that tended to be synonymous with a ‘conspiracy against the public’.

Liberalism: a Counter History by Domenico Losurdo

[morelorethenthereseem]

Braymourne is The land that the heart of creation lays, All around the heart of creation impenetrable walls and barriers were formed, except for north, there the mountains did the job. it’s not inhabited by elves or humans. But There are very very rare exceptions, those who made it in, and had children too.

The Braymourne collective (also called the old Gods faithful or “the order”) are Those who still grieve the gods of old. The Organization acts both as religion and government and was formed to preserve the ideals and rules of the gods after their deaths, Each of these were dubbed virtues, and as the gods embodied aspects of reality, certain individuals Embodied the Principles and ideals of the gods.

There are 19 virtues, but 8 were lost the time, here are the remaining 11 that are still known of today:

2 Creation, to create, make the world a better and fuller place. This covers art, architecture, cultural advancement, unfortunately, such a core value basically makes abortion illegal under this government, despite the other principles.

3 Protection, To protect, to protect yourself, and to protect others, To protect the order and protect the land, and to protect the heart of creation too.

4 Perseverance, to follow through and go on, To live. To continue. To never quit, a simple principle. perseverance is to walk through hell and arrive on the other side, A fortitude and inner strength

5 Allowance, to be allowed, to let one make Their decisions. Although this seems like a good tenant at first, it’s underlying implication. Is that something being allowed is not the default, you are allowing them to be allowed to do something, so to speak, but at least it’s encouraging people to do so, “within reason”

7 Understanding, to be empathetic, to put yourself in anothers shoes, the capacity to acknowledge and accept, the ability to understand, Or to agree, or to agree to disagree. Or simply just knowing what someone’s talking about.

8 Preservation, to maintain, to stop the towers from crumbling to dust, To keep your body clean. To keep the world alive, and to help those who cannot.

9 Reflection, The ability to reflect, introspect, contemplate. Ponder, to *think* about yourself, and you role in the world, And the worlds role in you.

10 justice, to see wrongs righted, they have the crooked be set right, To ensure recompense paid and wrongdoers punished,

11 cooperation, to comply, to collaborate, to obey and get along and not kill each other, To do what you were told when you need to and to work together to achieve something great.

13 wonder, to imagine, to see the world with a fresh perspective, To see the strange in the mundane, to search for the wonders of the world, to think of how miracles could be made.

14 transcendentality, to be more than you are, and to know that you are not forever, To leave behind you a better path than you had walked, to be great.

And 19 volition. To pray, to grieve, to trial your will, to test it, or to measure it, the will of the individual, and will as a force of reality. That is why each and every member of the order prays every single day. To grant meaning to the meaningless. May it raise the gods.

Here are the ranks and their structure:

Morner: a general faithful, without any obligations or authority within the order, except for under investigative compliance.

above the Morner are the disciples, those under direct control and care of the witnesses, usually serving as a custodians, or assistant.

Above disciple is the Witness: the lowest real position that holds any sort of power, usually residing over a local area, on the low end, they can take care of a single building all the way up to a few cities in some cases. Their obligations are mostly informative, keeping the organization up-to-date with local affairs, and keeping the people informed about the organization, spreading the word

Above the witness is the Guide: The guides are agents of the inner order, they hold executive power over any witness, however, such actions of a guide over a witness, must be filed under record and can be vetoed at any time, although, generally, the guides are only above the witnesses in certain scenarios they do command much more power, witnesses if required also double as internal affairs officers and investigators, however the power to act with such authority can only be granted by those above the virtues, but once granted, they maintain this power as long as they’re set task is complete, but, their every move is watched.

Above the guide is the overseer: overseer is actually a blanket roll with multiple levels of station. An overseer is usually assigned to a certain person of asymmetric rank, this can range form a witness to above a virtue, commonly the job of an overseer is to watch over and control a number of guards or sentinels, and is the only other rank able to issue direct commands to soldiers besides wardens. Overseers usually command units on their own, but sometimes they’re forced to cooperate with other overseers. Although some overseers do you have authority over others, to request the assistance of another overseer they need to file an admission of aid, but once the request has been approved the higher placing has complete authority over the other.

(Here is each level:

Officer (4-1) officers usually assigned to a witness, usually has control over a singular unit of guards ranging from 8 to 30, Although some 1st and 2nd overseer officers are known to be put in the assistance of a guide.

Lieutenant (4-1) lieutenants have authority over officers and are usually tasked with looking over a large number of troops, ranging from 100 and 300. They can, and usually do request the assistance of 3 to 1 officers. They can also make requests for aid from one of the elite inner units, and in extremely extenuating circumstances, they could even be given direct control over one.

Captain (4-1) captains have the capacity to command the elite inner units although this is rare, and only usually happens temporarily well a division overseer is busy. Captains have authority over lieutenants and officers as well as all of their previous privileges. Division overseer: a division overseer is someone who has the authority and capacity to completely oversee and command, captains, lieutenants and officers as well as multiple elite inner units,

division overseas, commonly work with the virtues, as each virtue has their own elite squad. Although a virtue technically has authority over a division overseer, it is fairly common for those above the virtues to give a division overseer extra special privileges, authority and command, making them ostensibly equal.)

Keeper: keepers are archivists and filers, where other ranks might collect information keepers Maintain it, they keep records. Keepers are permitted authority to ask for any information from any rank below division overseer, they also have authority to command guides to perform an internal investigation.

Guard: the way in which the rank of guard is positioned within the order is a tricky one, the only people who have direct authority over them are the overseers, the virtues and above, but they can be stationed anywhere from under a 4th overseer officer in the single prayer house of whatever witness there assigned to being directly under a virtue, if the circumstances permit.

Sentinel: these are the troops that make up the elite inner units that can range anywhere from a shadowless infiltration to the personal bodyguards of a virtue, to a juggernaut massacre. Only overseer captains, division overseers and virtues have command over them.

Virtue: virtue is the highest rank known to the public and lower ranks (with previously specified exceptions) each one aims to embody one of the 12 remaining core ideals, additionally, each virtue has their own inner elite unit, virtues have authority over keepers, witnesses, overseers, guides and sentinels and guards.

Devotee: “the secret hunters,” “the silent breaths,” “the whisper men.” “The utility knives of the order” Loan agents who can be sent out by lieutenants, captains, division overseers as well as virtues, guides, and wardens. The devotees fill a wide spectrum of roles with some overlap with the inner elite units, only on a strictly individual level. These guys are heavy hitters However They don’t like violence and they don’t have experience in battle, despite their power. They sometimes work as scouts, assassin’s investigators, etc. they are highly skilled in many areas and they do what they are told.

Warden: the judicial position among the order, they often work in tandem with guides who they are of equal rank to, and witnesses, keepers and even devotees who there above. although guides are responsible for internal investigation, the virtues can still veto their searches, as such guides often go to wardens who have special authority over the virtues. The wardens are to everyone else what the guides are to the order. There are the cops and the courtroom.

Enchanter: after an assassination attempt on the virtue of perseverance enchantment in Braymourne was made illegal to everyone but the government or those the government permits, an enchanter is someone permitted and paid by the government to enchant legally.

Affiliate merchant: merchants partnered with the order, They give a cut of their earnings to the order in return for certain negotiated things.

Founder: although not an official rank, it isn’t uncommon to know that there are those above the virtues, and logic would follow there Has to be somebody at the top of the order, so it was that rumours spread and common belief became that the founders whoever they may be, witnessed The Fall, and are still living to this day, a council that runs the order.

(order command structure.)

But no matter there rank All in the order still pray for the dead gods, it’s a test of will, or a measure of it, the will of the individual, and how weak will as become as a force of reality.

(Also of note This is only one of many organizations that worship the dead Gods, but it’s the only one that really knows more than nothing.)

So why do I tell you this all to you? Well, A Devotee Of the Braymourne collective known as “of the black bones virtue” was sent north from the heart of creation alone with an enchanted lantern to investigate the Many MANY claims That a few of the old gods are back standing in the land of life, So to speak.

Normally such claims would be ignored because of their absurdity but not this time, this time, it was too many…

The following is the section of the devotee’s journal that was written just after crossing out of the Ule ruins:

“It was seen.

Over the mountains, thousands of years ago.

There was talk of a great kingdom, And then there was the talk of the end of a great kingdom, after so long, I had assumed the peril would’ve died down a notch only to discover that now in our time as I am passing through it is worse than I ever imagine the peak of the chaos to be, I shutter to think what horror it would have been, to be here in the destructions prime.

Would it Have killed me not to think the mountains were the hard part?”

[skinandscales-if]

so… i was reading the first chapter and… something inside me was… furious, are you telling me that the authorities of the city are literally blackmailing immigrants to work for them and threatening them in case they don't want to "volunteer" themself for the work??? and the best part is about not letting MC get a lawyer

AHHHHH is so frustrating to stay in Mc's position!!! Can we be, like, a little rebellious b*** and doing things to hinder or worsen the institute? I mean, I dont really know how much of this… bad behavior towards (I suppose) dragons is fault of the institute or the authorities, but my Mc, lighting dragon will be like:

Are you ordering me around and deprive me my freedom? Okey, I will be doing all the things in the limits of the rules and take advantage of all the legal loopholes until you cant more MUAHAHAHA

I didn't really understood why Mc was arrested tho, probably because my reading comprehension is not that good, Mc did really enter in a illegal way or something?

I loveeeed this story, and all the effort you put in it, I cant wait to read more about it! <3

WOO yes I’m so glad you enjoyed! Grabs you and shakes you around you get it you get it

To your first question: yes to a certain extent. I’ve already started implementing a tiny bit of “malicious compliance” work in the latest chapter, but the shit in the city soon turns a lot deadlier and a lot more targeted, to the degree where MC and the gang start doing work to avoid that injury, and without spoiling, you’ll be able to slowly separate yourself from the Institute as you learn more about it.

That being said, I want to introduce more of MC purposefully not doing their work, but MC can’t work the system without first knowing it, and in this situation this city is like an alien planet to them. It’s the same reasoning behind why they were arrested, nonsensical laws and restrictions that no one could reasonably know without a lot of prior research. MC’s case is an extremely disastrous and unique one though, and even with the proper knowledge there’s a lot of… worse scenarios MC could be in for sure.

Thanks again for the kind ask!

[electrasev5nwrites]

Ninja Daily: AIC 14

Mist wasn't happy to see her go. But there was very little comment, given that they were generally under the impression that she would only be gone for the time it took to escort the genin to the exams.

Mei and Utakata knew a little better, given that they would be the ones updating her on progress whenever she checked back in with Hiraishin to give new orders.

Aiko had generally little guilt. They wouldn't miss her presence too much, now that Mist was still working on getting caught up with emergency measures and evaluating their resources and situation. Mist was a terribly lean beast these days- genin and even chuunin were spending much more time working with civilians to catch fish and gather seaweed, while jounin were caught up escorting merchant ships and containing anyone who left the boats to very strictly regulated areas that obscured the situation.

In terms of policy and government action, she couldn't do much more at the moment except monitor the declining monetary resources, build food stores, and try to get people off the streets despite lacking in adequate facilities or the raw material to supplement them. They were hemorrhaging money with every day that they didn't take more than the bare minimum of outside missions, but sending a team to the exams did save them some face internationally. There wasn't much more they could do until they had some measure of stability and food security.

Anyway, she didn't need to be in Kirigakure all day at the moment. Her inner circle was perfectly capable:

Utakata could use the time alone to mope about how he'd fallen in with disreputable company that had first made him a weapon against his home village, and then, far worse, committed the sin of forcing him back into gainful employment there.

Mei would find it was a prime opportunity to work on whatever seditious power-mongering she was undoubtedly working on for her inevitable attempt at a coup.

They'd be alright. She trusted they would entertain themselves well enough in her absence, even if work didn't keep them busy.

If for no reason but her pride in the homeland she'd never be able to claim, Aiko was quietly pleased to confirm that Konoha was rather efficient. Her papers had been accepted at the first outpost on the border of Fire Country, official declarations and identifications studied and returned in short order. And why not- they were all legitimate, marked with the Mizukage's seal of office and in perfect compliance with regulations.

At least, in compliance aside from the bit where she was a kage illegally operating within an ally's borders. Whatever. Let's not be petty about it.

The border guard had commented on the fact that the jounin escort for the team had been changed since the last communication, but he'd let her pass. She'd breathed a sigh of relief, but been mildly disappointed.

It was the second outpost that detained her team. Politely, of course- they were invited inside and separated. Aiko splayed her fingers in a lazy wave at her genin and followed the interrogator into a private room.

She had the distinct impression that she hadn't been deemed top-priority just yet.

The room was plain- four walls bereft of privacy seals, one moderately reinforced window, and three wizened chairs whose cushions had seen much better days forty years ago. And the other woman was no one she recognized, despite wracking her brains for names in the appropriate age range . Sandy, light-brown hair threw her speculations off until the older woman pushed up her sunglasses to reveal familiar blue.

'A Yamanaka. How uncomfortable.'

It figured. Well. At least she knew not to make eye contact.

"Uzumaki-san, is it? We just have a few questions for you, since the personnel change was so last-minute." The Yamanaka pretended to consult Aiko`s papers, as if she might possibly be stupid enough not to realize Konoha had recognized her name and detained her on someone`s orders. "Is there a first name to go with that?"

She didn't want to answer that, so she smiled pleasantly and went through the motions of an introduction that pointedly left out the information. The Yamanaka woman paused a moment before folding her hands and bowing in return, introducing herself as Honon. Just Honon- no family name.

Aiko was deeply, deeply tempted to show off what she knew by using the woman's clan name. She somehow resisted.

"I have some questions, if you wouldn't mind." Honon moved further into the room and incidentally away from the window. She sank into a chair- and therefore, into shadow. To Aiko's eyes, the older woman all but disappeared.

'She's letting me look down on her to control the way my eyes point and to make me feel more powerful,'��she decided, leaning against the wall. 'At least for now, they want me to underestimate Konoha, or feel at ease.'

She didn't think that would work. The psychological effect of that sort of maneuver was a bit hampered when the observer was half-blind.

In the end, they let her go after a few hours of polite questioning that she stonewalled with her impeccably manufactured credentials and artful misunderstandings of questions. By the end, Konoha seemed to be certain that she was legitimate- which she was, aside from the thing where she was actually committing a pretty big crime. But what Konoha didn't know wouldn't hurt them. Or her, more relevantly.

Konoha was probably too annoyed by her declaration as an asset of Kirigakure to wonder if she maybe was a secret kage. If the Sandaime had Uzumaki-snatching ambitions, they would be complicated by an existing affiliation to another great nation. But that wasn't necessarily a death knell to the idea: countries did occasionally poach nin. You couldn't do that to your closest allies, but if your countries were hostile enough that your obligations were reduced, really the only consequence would be the nin's guaranteed spot on several bounty lists.

"Mi-Sensei?" Keisuke's gaze darted nervously between her and the looming forest. Maybe he sensed their observers. She'd have to ask later. "Is everything alright?"

She considered reaching out and ruffling his hair, but it would have been suspicious if he'd involuntarily flinched. She was portraying his teacher, but they didn't really have that kind of relationship yet.

"I'm walking on sunshine." She winked at her students and gestured for them to walk ahead of her. "We've lost some time, let's see if we can make our reservation. It'd be troublesome to have to explain to the Mizukage that we spent too much time admiring the beauties of Fire Country's flora to get our deposit back."

One of the boys made an uncomfortable, high-pitched giggle. They ran a little faster than she'd seen before.

'Did that sound like a threat?' Aiko wondered as she hung back, watching her pack. 'It was a joke. It was obviously a joke. It's ironic, isn't it? And it'll give the wrong impression to Creeper McLurkface over there.'

If she wasn't mistaken, their observer was a senior ANBU from one of the home-guard teams. Jackal, maybe? No one she'd worked with in a team, but she knew the man's chakra well enough from time spent trading shifts on patrol and Hokage watch.

'Did they have to reassign shifts for the chuunin exams?' Aiko wondered. 'It could be that he was on long patrols and got transferred to the short patrols about the time I entered the department. But it would make some sense that they had to pull back from international operations and stiffen up security within borders for this. They don't know about Sand and Sound, but inviting hundreds of foreign nin into the country would put anyone on edge.'

By the beginning of sundown, her genin were breathing rapidly enough that it probably didn't seem strange that she ordered a halt to set up camp as she became nearly blind. It took a little longer than it should have- she would have split the team on tasks, but there was no way to know who else was around. Perhaps Jackal would interfere if one of Mist's enemies stumbled on a chance to reduce the competition; but perhaps he wouldn't.

So she took them to the nearest of Konoha's little rivers to fill up on water, and then trekked uphill to find a campsite clearing. The going was painfully slow- ostensibly for her weary genin's benefit, but more because she couldn't see the ground more than a foot or two in front of her feet. Her genin had unwound enough, or were tired enough, to forget to be intimidated.

"Sensei, we're Mist-nin." Ryuusei clicked his fingernails against his breathing apparatus pointedly, as if he thought the foreigner kage might have forgotten the august company she was honored by. "I'm not worried about camping near a river in Konoha."

She considered educating him in the degree to which living on an island had not prepared him for flashfloods, but it would be a shame to shut them down too harshly when they were starting to relax around her. She settled for, "Humor me."

They grumbled at that, but did what they were told. She stood back and squinted through her headache as they assembled camp- putting up tents, scratching out boundaries and traps, digging a latrine and firepit.

Considering that they would need to do this by themselves in a few days in hostile conditions, she wasn't impressed with their performance. Honestly… "You're way too slow," Aiko critiqued. She put her hands on her hips. "Stop, this is disgraceful. Take those tents down and throw dirt over that pit. We're trying again. Look alive this time. I want to eat eventually." She paused, because the sun was nearly set, and it would be difficult to critique something she couldn't see . "Leave the fire."

There was just enough light for her to see that Yuusaku's glare bordered on mutinous. He began shoveling dirt over the latrine with jerky movements that implied he might like to be burying her.

'Aww. It's hard to be a baby genin. They're so grumpy. Was I ever that grumpy?'

They did move faster the second time. It wasn't an inspiring performance, but it made her a little less worried about the likelihood of them being ambushed in the ten whole minutes they were distracted setting up camp in the Forest of Death.

She opened her mouth to remind them of that- and then pretended to yawn instead.

'Right. I'm not supposed to know about that, and neither are they.'

With ANBU Jackal within hearing distance, it would be particularly foolish to give into the worry that made her want to triple-check that they remembered all her advice. Aiko drifted away in thoughts, tracing and re-tracing tired plans.

She felt absolutely no guilt about helping them cheat on this test. Her team wasn't there to take a test, they had a more important mission that required that pass the exam. They needed to succeed not to prove themselves, but to give her legitimate reason to linger until the tournament. If they didn't make it through the Forest of Death…. What would she even do? Escort them home, then hiraishin back to Konoha, steal an ANBU uniform, and try to go unnoticed?

Well.

Actually, she'd done unlikelier missions for pettier reasons.

Still.

It wasn't the worst plan she'd ever come up with, but it would just be much better if they completed the exam.

To that end, she'd told them to stick it out through the paper exam and not risk cheating more than twice even if they had no answers correct-

"So I could just draw birds on my paper?" Yuusaku asked, bemused.

"No, you have to pretend to try." Aiko rolled her eyes. "Otherwise they'll know that you know the grades don't matter. Answers first, birds second. Possibly cheat sometime in between if you have a good strategy."

-and avoid the hell out of the Konoha teams, as well as Sand. She wanted them to do well, but it wasn't worth tangling with Sand or- god forbid- Orochimaru. Sand was supposed to break the record in this examination, and she was fine with that. It had been a flashy move that had turned all eyes on them. She wouldn't mind if her team was second, however.

The last thing she'd told them had been cautionary.

"Spark chakra against this seal if you need me," Aiko had explained. She'd painted one onto different items in each genin's equipment so that the pattern was less obvious. "That's last resort, do you understand me? If I'm caught interfering, you'll be disqualified. Don't do this unless it looks like you're about to die or be eliminated. If you call me, I'll probably have to kill any witnesses, and it could cause trouble for my alibi depending on what I'm doing at the time. Besides, there are some areas under live camera observation."

…Hopefully they wouldn't need her. She didn't like knowing that she was going to abandon Sakura to Orochimaru's mercies. The thought of actually killing genin didn't sit well with her.

Agent Rabbit peeled away from his post once the woman and her genin were checked into the hotel, trusting that the short patrol would have the situation under control. The Hokage's waiting room wasn't empty, but he only had to wait for two teams before he was called in.

He knelt in the habitual position, not bothering to rehearse what he would say.

Sandaime-sama glanced at him once, and then pushed away from his desk. "Report."

"Hokage-sama. Uzumaki does not appear to be especially suspicious at this time, but I recommend maintaining observation."

"Oh?" The Sandaime tapped his pipe. "How did the questioning go? What kind of person is she?"

"Questioning was inconclusive," Rabbit admitted. "Yamanaka-san believes she was recognized. The target refused eye contact and denied an opportunity for covert interrogation. Uzumaki appears amiable, but seems to be secretive and demanding upon further observation. She is also highly familiar with the local weather patterns. For example, she expressed concern about the possibility of a flash-flood and forced them to march further than necessary before setting up camp to her specifications. She sets high standards for her genin team. The genin are nervous and unhappy around her in a way that is inconsistent with exam trepidation."

If he'd looked up, he might have seen the Sandaime's eyebrows raise. "Well now, that's not encouraging. Is it simply that she is an unforgiving teacher, or is there something more sinister there?"

Rabbit's jaw worked under his mask. "Unknown at this time," he had to admit.

"Hmm." He took a long puff, exhaling a cloud that drifted toward the open window. "That will be all for now." He glanced toward the window. "You're dismissed. I believe my next appointment is here."

Rabbit thought about the six teams sitting in the waiting room, but inclined his head without comment. It must be good to be so important.

When he climbed in the window a minute later, that wasn't exactly what was going through Kakashi's mind.

"I knew she was suspicious," he said mildly before the Hokage had an opportunity to say anything. "This is me, being correct. The suspicious person is now a mist-nin, about whom 'suspicious' is so readily apparent that it doesn't need to be specified."

The Sandaime gave him a withering look. It was all bluff. He was really very fond, Kakashi was certain. "I believe that you actually said that she appeared to be telling the truth about not being beholden to a village."

He spread his hands palms-up. "I was wrong? Or that changed very recently." He slouched, stuffing his hands in his pockets. "It's not implausible, actually. She mentioned being on the outs with Mist, but then she went and killed Zabuza."

"Yagura doesn't seem like the kind of man who appreciates someone getting rid of his missing-nin for him," Sandaime commented ambivalently.

Kakashi shrugged. "But is he the kind of man who would pass up the chance to recruit a nin strong enough to do it, if she dropped into his lap?"

Hiruzen sighed. That was all the answer he offered.

After a moment, Kakashi shifted his weight, trying to figure out what his Hokage was waiting for him to say. It took a minute. "You still want to try to recruit her," he said flatly.

The Hokage offered him a smile. "Now, I didn't say that."

He gave his liege-lord an unimpressed look. "Of course you didn't. I suppose I'll be watching her for unrelated reasons that require exposing her to Naruto and trying to figure if it was family loyalty that brought her for this exam."

"I'm sure she is as invested in the welfare and performance of her students as would be any teacher who has worked with them for such a considerable length of time," the Hokage dismissed.

"Two months at most?" Kakashi huffed. "You're right. She probably doesn't care if they drown in the bath."

"Well, that's not exactly what I hear." Hiruzen took another drag. "But I'm sure it's close enough to the truth. Which makes it all the stranger that all of team 7's reports indicate signs of immediate attachment and investment, wouldn't you say?"

Kakashi's nose twitched. The tobacco was offensively strong, even though the mild filtering of his mask. "She's a good actor," he tried.

The old man hummed noncommittally.

"Or she's desperate for family and latched onto us, as the best example of familial affection she's ever seen," he suggested drolly. "She looked beneath Sasuke-kun's thorny exterior and saw a caring heart. Perhaps I am the father figure she's never had."

The Sandaime snorted, amused despite himself. "I'm not certain that Uzumaki-san would be your child, in this surrogate family scenario. If her appearance reflects her age, she is your peer. If she is displaying the famed youthfulness of the Uzumaki, she might be old enough to be your grandmother."

Kakashi wrinkled his nose. He couldn't see it. But then, that was the point, wasn't it?

"Test it," the Sandaime suggested helpfully. "Work different methods of address into conversation. Try 'Obaasan' the next time you meet and see if her head turns. If she attacks you, you'll know that you were either correct, or that you have offended her." He stroked his beard. "Yes, this could be most useful and amusing for me."

He leveled his leader with a hard look. "I refuse."

'I don't want to fight her unless I have to. She already seemed too familiar with my fighting style. And she outran Gai- this woman is too dangerous to have in the city.'

"Boy, this is your Hokage's order!" The Sandaime faked offense, scowling ferociously. "You'll do as I say."

"Never." He glanced toward the window. "Is there anything else, sir?"

Hiruzen paused. "There is one more thing. I'll be having someone with more than one social skill working on turning Uzumaki herself to Konoha, but there is something I would like for you to do with Gai-kun."

Kakashi groaned.

She didn't see anyone she knew until the second day in Konoha. She'd signed her boys up for one of the few training fields available to the visitors for several consecutive hours. Aiko was leaning against the fence and not really paying much attention to the maneuver her team was practicing when she smelled- old blood. Dust- no, sand. Unwashed clothes.

Without turning, she sighed. "Hello, Suna nin. I'm afraid I have the field reserved for my team for another-" she glanced at the sun -"hour."

There was a nervous chuckle. "Lady, it's really a better idea if you move."

At Kankurou's voice, she turned around and made eye contact. "It's really not." She flicked her gaze over the three- Gaara was standing furthest back, arms crossed, but Temari and Kankurou were conspicuously not standing in between his path to her. "I hope you're not insinuating I should be intimidated by you. Or that it would be at all beneficial to instigate a fight while we're here on Konoha's good graces."

'On the other hand, shit. I probably should just have moved,' Aiko realized. 'Is Gaara the type to hunt down my genin because I told him no?' A glance at him wasn't enough to tell either way. 'Either way, too late to pacify. If he's that kind of guy, he's seen my headband and he'll already know there's only one Mist team.'

"You clearly don't know who you're talking to." Temari's voice was firm. Aiko didn't believe the lie of confidence, however. She knew Temari well enough to see this was bluster.

It might be better to scare the team off. Gaara didn't listen to his siblings, exactly, but they weren't without some influence over his behavior.

Aiko heard her genin stop in the distance, quiet curses and the sound of running water cutting off. "Did I give you permission to call it a day?" she called a little louder, putting irritation into her tone. Aiko looked back at the Sand genin as her team resumed practice.

Well. Calling them genin was a bit of a farce. Temari was jounin-level, or perhaps tokubetsu jounin. Kankurou could easily be a chuunin. And Gaara… on his own, he was chuunin level with a nearly impermeable defense. With the Ichibi, he was a powerful, if incredibly imbalanced, jounin.

She was a lot stronger than any of them.

Aiko yawned, letting her eyelids fall to half-mast. "The Kazekage's kids, Temari, Kankurou, Gaara. Youngest one's the itty bitty ichibi jinchuuriki. You know, I recently spent some time in Suna. I think you could stand to be a little nicer to jinchuuriki, don't you think? You have some funny ways of treating people who could eat you for breakfast." She looked at Temari- who was most likely to have heard that they had captured a jinchuuriki who had then proceeded to escape.

If a Konoha-nin was watching- likely, although whether or not they were close enough to hear was debatable – they wouldn't come to the right conclusion from that.

But the girl from Suna paled. Message received. Temari took a step back. "G-Gaara, why don't we eat before we train? Like she said, it's only an hour. I could use a drink."

He was giving his older sister a strange look, eyes narrowed. Gaara… he was bright, for sure, but he lacked the information to understand the situation.

It was a long, tense moment. But he turned on his heel with a scrape against the sand.

'I'll have to watch the exam,' Aiko concluded with a sigh. 'I can't have Gaara throwing a fit and pulling the heads off my tickets to the finals.'

She recognized that thought was incredibly callous a moment too late and winced. It wasn't that she didn't care if the team died, of course. She just… wasn't that invested in them as people. She cared in the sense that it was her responsibility to take care of Mist nin, a category that included them.

'What am I going to do about them, anyway?'

It had been a total goddamn fluke that team 7 had gone up against Gaara, and she wasn't going to let it happen. Sakura's death had been two months before the tournament- the grace period for grief decommission was over. Team 7 very well could have been out on mission with a replacement, earning some of the money Konoha was losing while tied up with the tournament. The only reason they hadn't been doing something useful, in all likelihood, was that Kakashi had gone off the fucking rails and disappeared into ANBU.

Unacceptable. She might not be able to prevent that, but she could leave Konoha and convince someone to request the team specifically for a mission. Someone they'd met before would be met with less suspicion and more likely to be catered to- Tazuna, perhaps? With his bridge completed, he would be a wealthy, influential client who Konoha would cater to. And after giving up the team for so long to see it made, Konoha would want to protect that investment.

Team 7 -or what remained of it- would be safely away from the trouble. That left a rather large hole in the events of the invasion. The Hokage and Jiraiya-sama had been caught up with Orochimaru, and others were caught between invaders and the snake summons. The threat presented by an ostensible genin would be overlooked until too late.

Which, conveniently enough, would be an adequately conspicuous way for her to prove her loyalty was with Konoha and not the treacherous Suna-Sound-Grass alliance.

What to do with him, though, she hadn't exactly decided. She could truss him up in chakra chains and bang him around until he fell unconscious- but that would allow Shukaku to take over his body, right? Not really worth it. The chakra chains would still be an acceptable plan, but it would be tedious to hold him indefinitely. And then what- say she kept him from doing any damage throughout the invasion- he'd just be going back to Suna, without the perspective-changing conversation with Naruto that had led to his eventual rise to Kazekage and -much more importantly- actualization as a human being who was treated with basic respect.

But Konoha couldn't and wouldn't keep him in custody forever. Absolutely no one would support her if she claimed he should be kept in protective custody due to the incredibly inappropriate way he was treated in Suna. At best, it'd seem like an obvious ploy to gain control of a jinchuuriki. At worst, it would rally other countries against the notion that their poor treatment of state assets was anyone's business and side with Suna to cover their own asses.

'I want to take him home with me, actually.'

That would be… would it be irresponsible? She knew he wasn't beyond hope of redemption. But he could still do a lot of damage with his bijuu, even if he wanted to come. And she couldn't just kidnap him for his own good. That wasn't much better than what Suna did.

'Ugh. Caring about people's human rights is difficult. It would be so much easier to just put him in a sack.'

Her vision whited out. Her gut churned. She was staring at the three-tailed bijuu.

His tails flailed unhappily.

Aiko swallowed. "I was joking?" she tried weakly. "Also, wow, how did you do this?" She turned around. "Is this – what is this?"

"I am merely demanding your attention for the moment," the Sanbi dismissed. His gaze was hard. "Am I understanding correctly that my brother, the Ichibi, is nearby?"

Oh. Right. Of course that was what he cared about, not an off-color joke about child abduction.

"I am not a fan of that either," Sanbi observed dryly. "Focus. My brother?"

"He's sealed inside the little one I saw a moment ago," Aiko explained.

"I did not see," Sanbi snapped. "Your seal does not allow me that privilege. Tell me about this jinchuuriki. What manner of person has imprisoned my brother?"

Um. "Gaara is twelve," Aiko pointed out. "His jinchuuriki status was non-consensual. If I remember correctly, it was an experiment performed while he was still in the womb. It killed his mother, which led to him being treated very badly. The seal is terrible and he's very confused."

"Confused?" Sanbi asked sharply.

Aiko grimaced. "He should be dead," she admitted frankly. "His seal malfunctions whenever he loses control over it. That means he can't sleep. He literally does not sleep, which would kill him except that the Ichiba won't let him die. But it-" she stumbled. "I mean, she? He?" At the nod, she continued. "he doesn't heal Gaara, so his condition is poor, and he's irrational in addition to being poorly socialized. He's operating under the assumption that the Ichibi is his mother. Actually."

Sanbi closed his eye for a long moment. "That is… I see." He seemed pained. "My youngest brother has never been the most…." He trailed off, apparently lost for words.

"Not that most maternal, I gather," Aiko offered gingerly.

Sanbi winced. "That's true, but somewhat of an understatement. It is always unacceptable to enslave a sentient being, but in my youngest brother's case, I am a little sympathetic to a human's plight in coexisting with him."

"Yeah." Aiko slumped. "I mean. You, the eight-tailed, definitely the seven-tailed, she's very reasonable and I quite like her-"

"Please make your point," Sanbi said, long-suffering.

She glowered. "Right. I was saying that many of you could and should be released to essentially function as person-states of your own right, able to travel and ally with shinobi nations as you will. I don't disagree with you- jinchuuriki are symptomatic of deeply fucked up cultural shit. It's wrong. It's wrong to do to bijuu, and it's wrong to do to bijuu. But I still wouldn't feel comfortable setting the Ichiba free." She slumped. "Especially without someone who was willing to supervise him and make sure he won't hurt anyone." Aiko made eye contact- and noticed for the first time that her vision was perfect again here- and licked her lips. "He's hurt a lot of people in Sand," she explained. "As far as anyone can tell, for the fun of it."

Sanbi sighed. "That… sounds about right." He curled a tail around to rub at his temple. "What a mess."

"Yepp," Aiko agreed. She sighed, too. "I'd probably make the same decision I did with you." She cast him a sideways look. "I acknowledge that it is and was morally wrong, and I don't want to." Aiko swallowed. "But I won't prioritize one person's freedom when it comes at the cost of many lives."

There was silence for a moment. Then the Sanbi snorted. "You lie," he countered. "You absolutely would, for yourself, or the blonde boy who you miss, or perhaps even the jinchuuriki with whom you associate."

Aiko mulled that over. "I'm a hypocrite," she admitted with a laugh. "Yes. Fine. In those rare circumstances, I absolutely would damn the world for one person."

His laugh was ugly, and perhaps bitter. "You are not a nice person, little one. Be gone."