#Latino Complicity

[sankofaspirit]

"Sometimes, white wannabes are more dangerous than actual white people, and sometimes they will fight Black people even harder just to be accepted by white people."

Dr John Henrik Clarke

[fridaydev-draws]

Finally got into making my OC's drip marketing! Xihuitl is my newest genshin OC, a pyro catalyst who's the star player of his tribe's Ollamalistli team.

I don't know exactly what social structure Natlan is going to have, but in my mind Xihuitl's tribe is isolated from the rest. They worship the original Pyro dragon soverign and refuse to take part in the Archon's competition. They have their own practices and rituals, of which Ollamalistli is an important game-ritual Xihuitl and his team are in charge of.

He´s a jock type, but he's a stellar strategist. He´s got his head in the game.

[anakinh]

been trawling through the meljay tag on ao3 because i was curious about how many fics there actually are of this pairing (very few. if you sort by kudos it's almost offensive). anyway, I noticed there's quite a lot of people who didn't like the fact that Jayce accused Mel of using him? Even though she, uh, did use him? People are allowed to have flaws.

Idk, i think that's actually the fun part of the meljay dynamic. It's very "this boy seems very manipulable. i am going to take advantage. oh no he's sweet. oh no i have feelings. fuck." it's a very popular romcom subgenre!

Similarly there's a surprising amount of commune jayvik fics that act like the commune is a good thing, which. why? Isn't the whole point of commune jayvik fics mostly 'viktor puts jayce in his commune and he thinks everything is perfect until one day he realizes he killed his soulmate' with a dash of 'angsty dub-con with captive jayce'? think about it.

also part of the reason I was kinda offended with the tag on ao3 is because most of it was actually jayvik. i brought jayvik on this post so i guess by my own rules i should be going to jail.

[one-winged-dreams]

God, can't stop thinking about making my favorite cultural comfort food for my f/os 🥺

[okay to rb, pr*ship fuck off]

[tinapaysmp]

I can't believe I'm blocking the fwhimmy tag. Like I love the ship but only in a way that I ship it.

And only in a way how I interpret Count fWhip because only I trully understand his character and nobody understands him like I do /j /hj

But for real, I might unblock it one day. But for now the common portrayal is pretty meh to me.

[notasecrettelepath]

Update!

In this chapter, Buck tells Eddie he's on a break with his boyfriend and they have a Bad Moment™ about it. Eddie goes to Texas. Sophia and Adriana Diaz are finally here and they're pretty great. Shannon Diaz continues to haunt the narrative, the queen she is.

Chapters: 7/20 Fandom: 9-1-1 (TV) Relationships: Evan "Buck" Buckley/Eddie Diaz (9-1-1 TV) Rating: M | Words: 53k (slow burn babey)

Angsty Chapter Snippet:

Eddie sets his beer down, undrunk, and crosses his arms. “It’s that why you’ve been sulking around the station like a kicked dog these past two shifts and lying to everyone saying you’re fine?” Buck’s shoulders tense. “I haven’t been—“, and then, in a lower volume. “I haven’t been sulking. Or lying. We—we’re not fully broken up. We’re still talking all the time. But it still stings.” “We’re not going to have another Abby situation, are we, Buck?” Buck’s eyes snap to him. Eddie regrets the way he said it immediately. Too many rough edges to his voice, the texture too hoarse, his insides too glacial. Buck looks at him with a wounded expression. Eddie’s body is cold. His shoulder bites at him with phantom pain. Edmundo, always haunted. “Another Abby situation?”, Buck echoes, clear disgruntlement in his voice. “What is that supposed to mean?” Eddie has already opened the flood doors. Buck is relentless when he gets his sights on a target. If Eddie backs down now, it’ll be worse. “You know what I mean.” “No, I want to hear you say it.” “I mean, Buck, do you think you’re holding on to something that has clearly ended because you’re too scared to let go?” Buck lets out a huff of disbelief, his eyes deeply trained on Eddie, the hurt clear on his face. “That’s rich coming from you.”

Read Master & a Hound on AO3.

Chapter Snippet 2, because Texas:

“Do you think about it?” Sophia asks, as Adriana finally settles down alongside her and lays on the roof again, snagging another beer can. “Another little Chris, Eddie?” Eddie lays down too, looks at the starry Texan sky. One hand holding his beer, the other underneath his head. “I used to. When I first married Shannon. I was used to having two children in the house. But then everything got so complicated after I came back from tour. Sometimes Chris gives hints about it, about being a big brother. I’m sure he’d be great at it. And I do feel like I want to give it another shot, a better shot. But…” “You’d have to find a partner first,” Adriana cuts in, offering the end of the phrase Eddie was thinking about. “And you don’t seem like you’re super doing that right now.” Partner. She’d emphasized the word, too. Not wife. Partner. Eddie’s mind tries to drift for a single second before he lassoes it back safely. “I do have a dating app downloaded. And a profile. I’m getting a few notifications from the women there. Maybe more than a few. It’s one of those where they have to message first. I just… haven’t had the courage to open it yet. I don’t like feeling like I have to perform.”

[the-everqueen]

love mason alexander park and donna preston but also accepting latinx facecasts for the twins, pls and thx

[quinloki]

I'm reminded of a story I saw some years ago, about a young girl whose parents were both Native American.

However, her great-grandmother was not.

This poor girl was the spitting image of that great-grandmother. Blonde hair, blue eyes, freckles like a Norman Rockwell painting. White as fucking wonder bread.

But her mom, dad, aunts, uncles, and siblings - to whom she was biologically related to - were all very much Native American.

That -

That's complicated. But if I was her, I'da voted No, cause you know she has spent her life fighting for her identity.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[knxfesck]

Really frustrating how chicanismo is so loaded with indigenous erasure and weird zionist-type bullshit about "aztlán" like this was supposed to be about social change bro. This was supposed to be about a world beyond borders and indegenous solidarity bro. What the fuck happened to the plot.

[allramnostorage]

applying to grad school is the most embarrassing thing ever. like

here's how i performed on a stupidly expensive standardized test. this gives you almost no information about me besides how good i am at taking tests

hi authority figures who i can only assume actually like me. could you pretty please write an essay explaining how amazing i am? the stress of making this request is causing chaos in my gi tract

here's another essay about how great i am but i'm the one who wrote it this time, so obviously it's not biased. including personal anecdotes feels inappropriate and too casual, but if i don't my essay will be forgettable so here you go. i can only hope you're interested in the fact that i think httyd is one of the most inspiring pieces of media of all time

[trendfag]

my mom saying my aunt doesnt talk to her because my grandparents evicted her daughter for doing drugs in the house when i talked to my cousin last month (sibling of evicted cousin) and they said its actually because practically everyone else in the family cut contact with evicted cousin for reporting the child porn she found on my grandpas computer

[crizztelcb]

Person on the internet how does not live In latinoamérica: hey crizztel how do I make a latine character?

Me a latino: I have no idea :D

[glamourscat]

ㅤ✮ Jason Todd (n)sfw headcanons ㅤ✮

SFW

24/25 years old, 6ft3, Latino (from his father's side), half Italian from his mother. Tallest and heaviest of all the kids with a muscle mass higher than Bruce’s. Tan skin colour, faint old scars —especially near his hands/back/chest. Green blue eyes, black curly hair with the white stripe at the front from the pit. I personally hc that he still has the Y autopsy scar. He has tattoos, a chest one at that, and one on his thigh particularly, that covers some of the biggest scars he has. Probably the most “hairy”— his hair grows fast. Long eyelashes, faint beard that doesn’t get too long. Chest/leg hair. HAPPY TRAIL

He uses the all blades

I see him as someone who after all of the shit he faced, he finally went to therapy and is maybe one of the first of the family who took the step to do so.

On the asexual scale and unlabelled? Vibes of “I like who I like despite of the gender but bc of their mind”.

brave, impulsive, loud-mouthed, and street-smart and emotionally smart. He can read your body language to filth. Kind of a loner. Prefers to stay in, enjoy life for its quietness after everything. He likes to keep things in order. His apartment is modest, despite having enough money he chooses to decorate it with second hand stuff. Hard to open up but once you gain his trust you have a loyal friend by your side. Someone that will literally come and see you at 3am if you need

Rocky relationship with the batfamily. Doesn’t attend galas, barely shows up at the manor but will make his appearance for family holidays. He still sees them as family, and families are complicated

A reader and lives mostly in his books thus in his head.

Theatre kid—but the one who loved watching it, never had the chance to take part in it. Lover of metal and rock music. A good chef, the best out of the guys. He was the academically inclined kid, not Tim. Jason LOVED school, to the point of skipping patrol to study because that’s who he is.

The first to retire from being a vigilante. And you bet your ass once married this man will pack you and him up and leave Gotham City with flash’s speed lmao. The most likely to live a peaceful, low life somewhere in a rural area, in a cottage with his spouse, 2 cats and 2 baby girls

Most likely to date a civilian

This man, WILL be a husband and a father one day. He just has this hidden nurturing side that not many get to see but it’s there. Biological or adoptive, stay safe, he will create his own kids army. Also dad girl all the way. 

NSFW

I see him as asexual, like I have said. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t have nor craves sex, being asexual is a spectrum. For me jason is demisexual, someone who craves a sexual connection only after having established a deep intellectual and emotional connection with the other person. 

With that said, I cannot see him as some brute who will toss you around and have his way. I mean, objectively speaking, he has some traumas relevant to being emotional/intimate and sex is such an intimate act. It’s scary. As the relationship progresses, i can see him being more comfortable in initiating, trying new things, being more spontaneous and maybe a bit more rough. But gun, knife kink? The same guy who uses those everynight to hurt criminals, using the same objects on you? yeah, no. not to mention being restrained, after the trauma he faced with his death. 

So, sex with him it’s extremely intimate. He is trusting you to see a part of him he never shows to anyone else. He is most likely a virgin when you two meet, with only going as far with foreplay w past partners

Likes to be on top, but i wouldn’t say he is a dom. Switch leaning

Breeding kink… yeah, i said it lol. He does that thing of thrusting and just before finishing he pulls almost all out, leaving just the very beginning of the tip. As he starts to come he will thrust in one last time

Initially not a very big talker, but as time goes by and he becomes more comfortable, he would be more comfortable in showing his moans and grunts. Though, he definetly swears

Praises are more reserved for aftercare, soft, gentle words whispered in your skin as you two cuddle

Definitely a fan of cowgirl. I see him as a boob and thighs guy. So, fav position to hold for sure. 

He might not use many words, but his actions speak for himself. From the gentle kisses that linger on your lips and skin, to the eye contact, to the caresses… 

This man will eat you out like a starved man. Nothing else to add

His fav nights are when you two have a full on romantic night, although you dont explicitly say so. You two are more softer with each other, thrusts are less frantic and more deep than usual, making you feel every inch and vein of his. He is quietly moaning in your neck, as your legs are wrapped around his lower back, holding him so close to you that there’s basically no space left in between

© GLAMOURSCAT (all rights reserved. do not share, modify, translate and re-upload my work outside of tumblr)

[phoenixyfriend]

I'm sure some smart person with a masters in polisci or whatever is going to make a full video essay on this soon, but the short version is this:

The reason she lost is multifactorial.

There is not ONE reason. There is not ONE person at fault.

Some Arab-Americans refrained from voting! They are not at fault. That wasn't enough to swing the election.

Some black and Latino men swung right! Black and Latino men as a group are not at fault. They are not enough to swing the election.

Some people refused to vote because of Palestine.

Some people refused to vote because her campaign was too short to convince them, because Biden's frailty turned them off, because they thought she didn't have an economic plan ready when she did.

Some people couldn't vote because they died from the pandemic, which disproportionately impacted demographics that traditionally vote blue.

Some people couldn't vote because they were systemically disenfranchised, which disproportionately impacted demographics that traditionally vote blue.

Some people don't understand the economy.

Some people had their votes coerced by controlling spouses or parents.

Some people are just selfish. Some people are just mean. Some people are just bigots.

Some people are accelerationists.

Some people were bribed by Elon Musk.

No ONE of these things is what swung the election for Trump.

All of these things are at fault, and none of them. You won't get anywhere by blaming a specific demographic, and you won't convince anyone by choosing one cause when they can point out fifteen others.

Things are complicated. There are many factors. The sooner you recognize that, the better you'll be able to change things for next time.

Stay alive.

[warping-realities]

2k Special- Coach Knows Best: Stepbrothers No More

Michael always felt like a misfit in his new home. Ever since his dad married his stepmom, his life turned into a tangled mess of tension and insecurity. While Michael was a introspective boy, pale, skinny and totally into books and tech, his stepbrother Rafael was the complete opposite: a jock, with latino bronzed skin, super popular, and always surrounded by his crew. This glaring difference never went unnoticed, and from the get-go, Rafael made it crystal clear that he didn’t see Michael in a good light.

The first time they met was at a family dinner. Michael was sweating bullets, trying to fit in and impress the new family. But Rafael, instead of being suportive, threw out comments that their parents thought were funny, but just made Michael feel small and embarrassed.

Days rolled by, and the vibe between the brothers didn’t get any better. Every time Michael tried to get close, Rafael would brush him off with some snarky attitude. At school, Rafael was the classic popular kid, while Michael just watched from the sidelines, too scared to join in. Loneliness started to feel like his only companion.

The parents, totally clueless about the rising tension, kept praising Rafael for his sports wins, while Michael was just fading into the background. “Hey, Michael, check out how talented your brother is at football!” his dad would say, and Michael would force a smile, feeling invisible. He couldn’t wrap his head around why his folks didn’t see that Rafael was constantly belittling him.

One holiday, the family decided to hit the road for a trip. Michael was stoked, hoping a change of scenery might shake things up. But things took a wild turn. During the trip, Rafael made it his mission to roast Michael, calling him “nerd” and “weirdo” in front of their cousins. Feeling humiliated, Michael backed off, seeking solace in a secluded corner of the house.

While the parents were busy having a blast, Michael sat alone, thinking about how different life could be. He dreamed of being accepted, not just by Rafael, but by the whole family. But that hope always felt out of reach.

After they got back home, the situation didn’t improve. Rafael kept mocking Michael, and every day he seemed to get more kicks out of making his brother feel inferior. One day, while Michael was studying in his room, Rafael barged in without knocking. “What are you doing? Studying for the next math competition?” he laughed, making Michael feel even smaller.

“I’m just trying to focus,” Michael replied, trying to brush off his brother. Rafael just shrugged and walked out, leaving Michael alone with his thoughts again. He began to wonder if there was something wrong with him, if he was really as weird as Rafael made him out to be.

The parents, meanwhile, were too wrapped up in their own lives to notice the complicated dynamic between the brothers. Michael felt like his attempts to fit in were only driving them further apart. They never caught on to Rafael’s hostile antics and always seemed shocked when Michael expressed his frustration.

In a moment of desperation, Michael decided to talk to his dad about how he felt. He hoped, maybe naively, that his dad would help him understand the situation. But instead, his dad just smiled. “Oh, Rafael’s just messing around, Michael. That's how brothers roll!” The response left Michael speechless, and he walked out of the room with a deeper sense of rejection.

As time went on, Michael’s frustration started to morph into anger. He didn’t want to be the victim of Rafael’s jokes anymore. One day, while Rafael and his friends were laughing and poking fun at him, Michael decided he’d had enough. He stepped up, trying to confront them with some guts. “Why do you always have to put me down?” he asked, his voice steady.

Rafael looked at him, surprised by his brother’s guts. “Because it’s fun, Michael. You’re such an easy target,” he shot back with a sarcastic grin. That moment was a turning point for Michael. He realized he’d never get Rafael’s approval and needed to find a way to stand up for himself.

In the following days, Michael started diving into what he truly loved: tech. He spent hours in his room learning to code and make games. His passion for technology began to shape his identity, pulling him out of Rafael’s shadow. He felt more confident in his skills, but the relationship with Rafael remained tense.

One night, while Michael was at his computer, Rafael barged in again, this time with a challenging look. “What are you up to? Making another little game for the nerds?” he mocked. Michael took a deep breath, deciding he wouldn’t let it get to him anymore. “Actually, I’m working on a game that could be way cooler than you think,” he shot back.

Rafael laughed, but Michael realized that instead of feeling defeated, he was feeling empowered. With each insult, he grew stronger in his identity. He started to find himself in his passion and decided he didn’t need Rafael’s or their parents’ validation.

The parents, oblivious to this transformation, continued to think everything was peachy. They didn’t see Michael’s internal struggle or how Rafael treated him. This only fueled Michael’s frustration, but at the same time, he began to feel more secure in himself.

Over time, Michael became more reserved, but the confidence he gained from focusing on tech started to shine. He made new friends online and started entering coding competitions. With each win, Michael felt further away from Rafael’s negativity.

One time, during a coding competition, Michael scored big with his innovative project. He came home buzzing, eager to share the news.

When Michael walked in with the news still fresh, his eyes sparkled with happiness. He couldn’t wait to share his victory with his parents. When they saw him, they immediately dropped everything and ran to him, grinning. “Michael! You actually did it? We’re so proud of you!” his stepmom exclaimed, hugging him tight. His dad, with an admiring look, added, “You’re a real genius, kid! Check out what you’ve accomplished! Rafael could learn a lot from you.”

Rafael, who was on the couch playing video games, looked up, shocked and visibly annoyed. He expected to be the center of attention, as always, and the sudden praise for Michael’s achievements left him feeling uneasy. “But... I do cool stuff too,” he protested, trying to get his parents’ attention back. But his mom ignored him, continuing to praise Michael. “That’s true, Rafael, but you need to step up your game. Michael put in the work and is now getting rewarded. That’s how it’s done!” Her words hit Rafael in a way he wasn’t used to, and frustration started to creep onto his face.

In that moment, Michael felt a mix of joy and relief. It was the first time his parents publicly acknowledged his skills and dedication, while Rafael was left in the dust. He realized he was finally breaking free from the burden of being compared to his brother. His parents’ pride pushed him to keep chasing his passions, and he felt more determined than ever not to let Rafael’s negativity get to him again.

Rafael’s anger, on the other hand, was boiling inside him like a storm ready to explode. Ever since Michael started shining in the coding world, Rafael felt increasingly threatened, and that was the final straw. The idea that his brother, who he always considered beneath him, could glow and get the recognition he’d always craved for himself was unbearable. The frustration of the role reversal left Rafael in a state of constant irritation. To him, the prestige Michael had earned wasn’t just a blow to his ego, but an invasion of his turf, and apparently, not even his usual threats would have the desired effect. And for the first time in his life, the arrogant boy wasn't sure of his place and even worse, what to do.

…

Coach Steele, a middle-aged dude with blonde hair and a strong build, watched the football team’s practices with a critical eye. He’d always been a mentor to Rafael, admiring the kid for his talent and dedication on the field while ignoring his knack for causing trouble off it. But lately, he noticed something had shifted in the young wide receiver’s attitude. After practice, Steele called Rafael over for a chat, stepping away from the group to a more private spot.

“Hey, Rafael,” Steele started, looking serious. “I’ve noticed you’re not playing with the same intensity as before. What’s up? You seem distracted.” Rafael hesitated, but the frustration building up in his chest began to spill out. “It’s my brother, Michael. He’s killing it in coding and my parents can’t stop talking about him. It feels like I’m losing my spot, you know? He’s a nerd, and suddenly, everyone seems to like him more.”

Instead of trying to educate Rafael about the importance of accepting others' achievements, Steele leaned in, putting a comforting hand on the kid’s shoulder. “Look, I get how you feel. Sometimes the competition at home can be tougher than on the field. But I’ve got a plan for you,” the coach said, leaning in a bit closer as if he was about to share a big secret. “I’ve got the solution to your problem, and it’s something that’ll make things a whole lot easier.” What the coach didn’t say was that it would be a lot easier for him too; after all, he couldn’t allow that kind of weakness that the kid showed on his team.

…..

It was a chill afternoon when Michael got home after a long day at school, even though his work was just beginning. After dumping his stuff in the living room, he decided to head to his room, ready for more hours of coding. However, as soon as he walked in, he noticed his headset was missing. He started searching the entire house but came up empty. With a gut feeling, he thought maybe Rafael had taken it in some petty revenge or just because he never respected his brother’s stuff. Gaining some courage, he decided to head to the other boy's room. He knocked on the door, but there was no answer. With a mix of curiosity, fear, and determination, he opened the door.

Upon entering, a strong smell of sweat hit him. The sight of clothes strewn all over the room was chaos. But to his surprise, there was his headset, thrown on the bed. Excited, Michael rushed towards it, but fate had other plans. As he stepped on a sneaker lying on the floor, which he could’ve sworn moved on its own, he lost his balance and, in a disastrous move, fell onto the pile of clothes on Rafael's bed. His nose was immediately assaulted by the pungent musk of his brother. However, that wasn’t what truly freaked him out. It seemed that the sweat-soaked clothes of Rafael had the power to dissolve Michael's own clothes, and he quickly found himself naked and unable to move amidst the rags that were his former garments and his brother’s stinky clothes.

As he struggled to free himself and make sense of the bizarre situation, Rafael walked in, his eyes gleaming with mischief upon seeing Michael stuck in his dirty laundry. A wicked smile spread across his face. “Look who decided to invade my space and landed in hot water! Thought you could rise above me, huh? You were dead wrong, nerd,” Rafael mocked, crossing his arms. “You really thought standing up to me would change anything? Coach Steele has a plan for you, and I can guarantee you’ll never be a problem for me or anyone else again.”

“What the hell is this? What are you doing?”

“Right now, just enjoying the show, brother.”

Suddenly, and seemingly on its own, a jockstrap slid up Michael's unmoving legs, settling around his waist. Next, a pair of compression shorts and a loose t-shirt with cut-off sleeves followed suit. Finally, filthy, crusty socks slipped onto his feet, and the same giant sneakers he tripped over wrapped around his feet, while one of Rafael's caps firmly positioned itself on Michael’s head.

As the clothes settled onto Michael’s body, he started to feel a strange sensation coursing through him. His skin felt like it was tingling, as if thousands of tiny electric shocks were racing across it.

Slowly, his muscles began to contract and expand, as if they had a life of their own. His arms, once skinny and delicate, started to beef up, veins popping out beneath his skin. His biceps swelled, taking on the shape of cannonballs, while his triceps defined, creating an impressive structure in his arms.

His chest puffed out, muscles bulking up to create an imposing, sculpted torso. His back widened, shoulders broadening and gaining a powerful appearance. His waist, once slim, expanded, making way for a hard, sculpted abdomen, each muscle defined.

His legs were no exception. His thighs thickened, muscles contracting and expanding with every move. His calves hardened, taking on an athletic, muscular look. His feet, once small, now felt gigantic inside the sneakers.

Meanwhile, his face also underwent changes. His features became more defined, jawline more pronounced, lips fuller. His eyes took on a different shine, a more intense and determined expression. Even his hair seemed to have gained more volume and texture.

Rafael stood frozen, watching his brother’s transformation with a mix of fascination and fear. He never imagined Michael could become so imposing, so strong. The silence in the room was thick, as Michael’s muscles gained bulk and definition. With each passing second, Rafael felt his confidence plummet, an unfamiliar sense of insecurity creeping into his chest.

“This can’t be happening,” Rafael whispered, trying to convince himself it was just a trick of the mind, an illusion brought on by the anger and disdain he always felt for Michael. But the reality before him was undeniable: his brother was turning into an upgraded version of himself, a rival in his own turf.

As Michael’s transformation intensified, Rafael began to feel a chill down his spine. What once seemed like a prank was becoming more serious. He recalled the chat he had with Coach Steele, and the thought that this could be part of a plan to humiliate him put him on high alert. “You can’t do this! You can’t be better than me!” he yelled, his voice choked with indignation.

But Michael seemed oblivious to all this, immersed in the change happening to him. The muscles of his body glistened, and his skin began to take on the same bronzed hue that Rafael always flaunted. Michael’s face, which once reflected his nerdy, introverted essence, started to mold, features surrealistically adjusting. Rafael watched in horror as Michael’s jaw became more square and his lips fuller, like he was looking at a mirror.

“No, no, no!” Rafael shouted, involuntarily stepping back. He was facing a transformation that went beyond the physical. The despair would have been even greater had he known that Michael was absorbing not just his appearance, but his essence, interests, and even his aspirations. Michael’s passions for tech and coding began to fade, giving way to a desire to be an athlete, to stand out in football, to win the popularity that Rafael had always enjoyed.

The anguish and desperation of Rafael became palpable. He felt suffocated by the idea that his brother, the one he always looked down on, was becoming a carbon copy of him. “This can’t be real!” he cried, almost in tears, as the final transformation drew near.

With one last spark in his eyes, Michael’s face became a perfect replica of his brother’s. The sight was so surreal that Rafael could barely process it. It was as if the universe itself was conspiring for him to lose everything he had always possessed.

And, as if the transformation was complete, the cap, which had been on Michael flew off and landed on Rafael’s head. He felt a wave of dizziness, as if an invisible force was pulling his consciousness away. “What’s happening?” he shouted, but no answer came. Darkness began to close in on his vision, and before he could resist, Rafael suddenly lost consciousness.

As the identical boys lay asleep together in the same bed full of dirty clothes, what remained was a deep silence, an echo of a rivalry that had finally extinguished, while the new bonds uniting the two brothers formed a path where what was once were rivalry became true brotherhood as the fabric of reality rewove itself.

…

The next morning, the school locker room buzzed with the usual energy before football practice. Miguel and Rafael, inseparable identical twins, were getting ready, each adjusting their gear and warming up for the session. The atmosphere was light, filled with friendly teasing and laughter.

“Think you can catch the ball like I do?” Miguel teased, tying his cleats. “I bet even a five-year-old could do better than you, bro.”

Rafael laughed, playfully shoving him. “Please! If you had half the skill I do, we’d be guaranteed a win! But hey, you can play on the nerds’ math team.”

“I’ll show you who the nerd is, you asshole,” Miguel replied, throwing a punch at his brother’s powerful chest.

The fun was abruptly interrupted when Coach Steele strolled into the locker room, his imposing presence immediately demanding the players’ attention. “Sanches!” he bellowed, his voice echoing off the walls.

“Yes, sir!” the two replied in unison, a dynamic between them that had become automatic. The way they looked at each other, a knowing smile on their faces, showed that their previous rivalry had transformed into something different.

Steele eyed the two with a look of doubt. “Is there a conflict between you guys?” he asked, crossing his arms. “Because if there is, I want to know now.”

“No, coach! It’s just kidding around,” Rafael said, winking at Miguel. “We’re not competing; we’re a team! Since our mom’s womb, right, bro?”

“Exactly! We save the aggression for the opponents,” Miguel added, giving Rafael a light punch on the shoulder. The lighthearted vibe between them was undeniable.

The coach nodded, clearly relieved. “It’s good that things stay that way. The last thing I need is internal fighting before a big game,” he said, watching the brothers interact with a satisfied smile. Another problem solved, and the season had barely started. What other kind of nonsense would he have to deal with by the end of the year? In reality, it didn’t matter that much because he knew he’d handle any other crap that came up. With a wider smile, the Coach confidently headed to the field to kick off that day’s practice.

[zvaigzdelasas]

The defeat of a liberal Portland prosecutor at the hands of a tough-on-crime challenger has hardened a view among top White House officials that Democrats need to further distance themselves from their left flank on law-and-order issues.[...]

The White House is banking on the idea that voters will reward them for public efforts to crack down on immigration and boost spending on law enforcement — and, perhaps as importantly, that the liberal forces that so effectively moved the party away from those planks in 2020 won’t punish the president come November.[...]

But the president has not needed much convincin[sic] [...] having personally favored an approach that emphasizes more traditional support for law enforcement alongside criminal justice reforms. Biden spent much of his half century in politics as an ardent advocate for law enforcement and anti-crime measures, a reputation that complicated his path to the 2020 Democratic nomination amid scrutiny over his role in passing a controversial 1994 crime bill.

And even as the broader party shifted leftward [sic] on issues like police funding and immigration during that period, Biden sought to stake out a middle ground that often put him out of step with his progressive base — perhaps most notably using his first State of the Union address in 2022 to exhort lawmakers to “fund the police.”

In recent months, Biden has warned advisers that scenes of chaos at the border or crime in cities pose an increasing political danger. They risk turning off the independent and suburban voters, he’s said, who may be repulsed by much of Donald Trump’s policies and personality but could be willing to vote for him anyway in the name of public safety.[...]

Biden and his senior-most aides are united on the need to push for greater border security. [...]

“The narrative about Democrats on crime became deeply distorted after Defund the Police became kind of a thing,” [sic] said Matt Bennett, executive vice president for public affairs at the center-left think tank Third Way. “In fact, [Biden] has been very aggressive about funding the police, and has flipped around that narrative in ways that I think are really helpful.”[...]

The White House, to that end, has battered Republicans in recent days over their abandonment of a bipartisan border security bill that would’ve imposed strict new limits on immigration.

The legislation, which Senate Democrats are forcing a vote on for the second time this week, has fueled blowback among progressive and Latino lawmakers who blasted its “extreme and unworkable enforcement-only policies.”

But Biden has fully embraced the measure, repeatedly emphasizing the tough restrictions it’d put in place and criticizing Republicans for stalling the bill solely to avoid handing him an election-year victory. The White House is also preparing an executive order on immigration as a fallback, in a long-germinating [sic] display of his commitment to a border crackdown.

The president has also made a point of voicing support for law enforcement in recent weeks. He refused to criticize police conducting mass arrests of pro-Palestinian protesters on college campuses, even as he backed the right [sic] to peacefully protest. And he’s repeatedly touted a plan to invest $37 billion in crime provision [...]

There is also deep-seated fear throughout the party of the alternative: A Trump presidency that has made clear it would prioritize mass deportations and sharp shifts away from the progress [sic] Biden has made on other criminal justice issues like gun violence prevention.

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