#This is loosely related to my previous post about Ward but also there are people who don't read Ward who also have this weird hate for

[kyliafanfiction]

If there's one thing I've learned reading Worm Fanfic and being exposed to people talking about Worm on places like SB and QQ and Reddit is that there are a lot of people who very deeply, truly, on a very fundamental level, are very very unhappy with the fact that Taylor was a villain protagonist and have never gotten over that fact.

Despite the fact that they somehow finished Worm.

Which of course, begs the question - Why? How? why subject yourself to that?

Like, one of the reasons I hesitated to read Worm once I started learning more about it, etc was because I thought Taylor would be an insufferable protagonist to read the POV of. She wasn't, as it turns out, and it's a key reason I'm still reading it but if Taylor had actually been so insufferable, and if I hated everything she does and is in the story as much as some people seem to, I'd never have gotten past like, Arc 6 or 7, at most.

Are there people who will really hate read 1.6 million words? I mean, I know a guy who read all 14 wheel of time books despite decicding he hated the series by the end of Book 1, so I guess that's a thing but like...

Who has fucking time for that shit?

[slade-of-the-art]

“We all function better when we know what guidelines to follow, don’t we.”

(Extra 1: Blog is currently testing out possible verses. Any that are available are included under the cut.

Extra 2: Generally, this blog operates under the assumption that Slade knows (or at has a clue he ignores) about Batman’s identity, but does not reveal it. Whether that also applies to his wards is negotiable, as is him knowing in the first place.

Extra 3: Mun does not currently have access to XKit. As such, long-form RP will be answered on new posts with a mention and a tag as a temporary solution to post trimming, with the previous post linked at the top.)

(Rules and Verse Info Below.)

>>=-—> RULES <—-=<<

1. Do not force actions onto my muse.

2. This blog is based on the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon version of Slade Wilson. As such, there is little to no comic influence here outside of minor backstory components and more details on Slade’s occupation. Apologies.

3. Any explicit or inappropriate plotlines will not be acknowledged.

4. The mun is not the muse. Slade Wilson is an antagonistic character and by nature will say and do things that are in line with his cartoon counterpart. That said, if at any time you feel pressured or uncomfortable, please say so. This is all in the pursuit of fun, not stress.

5. Shipping is probably unlikely to happen, at least for a while. I do not ship my muse with minors (or characters who are minors.)

6. Blog is loosely selective. Since this is a sideblog with a private main it cannot operate on mutuals only, but please be aware that not all messages will result in long form RP. Most will get at least one response.

7. I tend to write multi-paragraph replies, but joke RP and ask answers are often short and sweet. It’s not necessary to match length as long as there is something to go off of.

“Good. You seem to understand. Let us proceed with the next step.”

>>=-—> VERSES <—-=<<

SLADE (tag: verse; slade)

|-> Main Verse. Unless otherwise specified, all interactions will be defaulted to this verse.

Based almost entirely on Slade from Teen Titans (2003) with a select few inclusions relating to his occupation, belated-family/associations, and general perspective, which are mostly used for context purposes to give the character more depth. More traditionally villainous, at least in the eyes of other people, he seems like he takes on work simply for his own amusement, though it often feels he has grander plans than meet the eye. Teen Titans (2003) canon-compliant. Post-series.

“There is nothing left for you here, dear boy. You destroyed it, remember?”

^ This verse uses icons from the cartoon in replies. ^

DEATHSTROKE (tag: verse; deathstroke)

|-> Secondary Verse, currently in trial stages.

Rougher combination of Slade Wilson from the 2003 Teen Titans cartoon and his various comic counterparts. Goes by the alias Deathstroke and occupies his more typical mercenary role. Speaks more casually and is more of a neutral force who follows the money. Naturally opposed to the batfamily (and other heroes by proxy) due to occupation rather than personal grudges. Not specifically compliant to any one comic or television run. Possesses his usual healing factor, eidetic memory, extensive weapons training, etcetera.

“Kid, this isn’t something you should be involved in. Not that it’s my business—just your funeral.”

^ This verse will utilize icons if/when finalized. ^

SECOND WIND (tag: verse; second wind)

|-> Variant of SLADE verse. Takes place at any time mid-series (Teen Titans (2003)).

^ This verse uses icons from the cartoon in replies. ^

WITH MENTORS LIKE THESE (tag: verse; with mentors like these)

|-> Variant of SECOND WIND verse.

Instead of taking on a obviously antagonistic role in efforts to break Robin’s spirit, Slade turns to a more subtle approach to gaining his loyalty, believing that he may be able to mold (manipulate) the boy into becoming his successor willingly. While the apprenticeship begins the same way, he puts effort into breaking down the notions Robin has of him and his identity as a hero. By the time Robin’s teammates realize what’s he has planned, it may already be too late. Still the villainous version of his 2003 character, just with a bit more foresight. Non-canon compliant past the apprentice arc.

“Who knows… I might even become like a father to you.”

^ This verse uses icons from the cartoon in replies. ^

WHO NEEDS ENEMIES (tag: verse; who needs enemies)

|-> Chronological successor to WITH MENTORS LIKE THESE verse.

Slade’s plans to recruit a wayward Robin into his apprenticeship have long since succeeded, gaining the boy’s trust and—perhaps unintentionally—giving some of his own in turn. He now takes his apprentice and successor, Renegade, on more complex and dangerous jobs with every intention of the boy taking over for him one day. AU equivalent of SLADE verse. Theoretically post-series, but non-canon-compliant past the apprentice arc.

“Look how far you’ve come. That’s my boy.”

^ This verse uses icons from the cartoon in replies when fitting. ^

[ofcloudsandstars]

Weekly Celestial Forecast  ✨

13th-19th of Jan Posting this a bit late (this previous week was wild who could blame me?) But we have another wonderful celestial week ahead! This week brings us a lot of time to process the previous week and clear what's no longer needed. Try to plan some clearing-out days and time for self reflection cause this week will be able to help you a lot! The shocking planet of surprises, Uranus will have a lot of action this week (probably showing out before Aquarius season!) so expect plenty of surprises both good and bad.

Note: I post these for a witches group in London so the time zone is GMT/UTC and the weeks begin on Monday and ends on Sunday. 

13th

Sun (Capricorn) conjunct Pluto (Capricorn) Venus enters Pisces moon void of course 12:41pm until 1:06pm Moon in Virgo

Energy: After the intense transit of Pluto, Saturn and Mercury in conjunct yesterday, the sun and pluto in conjunction could bring light to what doesn't suit your needs anymore or any hidden secrets and underlying tensions that could either be the evidence to your former obstacles or the key to your release. This is a great time to get to the bottom of any serious difficulties in any relationships, whether there are manipulative behaviors or any self-destructive habits or obsessions you might have. Complex relationship dynamics may become clarified for you and other underlying power dynamics can come to light. In case you are faced with something dramatic or a sudden 'end' to something, it can be a great opportunity to start from the ground up. With the previous conjunction from the day before this is a good time to start clean from structures that no longer serve you. This is the time to address any dark and shady areas of your life from your own personal shadows to the manipulative and toxic behaviors of those around you. Additionally this transit between the Sun and Pluto is great to eliminate any unnecessary relations, addictions or physical clutter/mess in your life. With the moon transiting into Virgo in the afternoon, the mood of the day may shift to dramatic emotions (maybe even fueled by the need to change or heightened by exposed secrets) to planning and 'taking out the trash'. Moon in Virgo urges us to re-organize and rethink plans. Emotional satisfaction comes from solving problems and making order out of confusion and ironing out any smaller issues. The short period when the moon is void of course will be an excellent time of reflection before the moon makes it's way into Virgo. Though the last two transits might sound a bit work-load heavy, the day may be softened with lovely Venus entering Pisces! Venus is exalted in Pisces which means it's energy is in heightened harmony in the sign. Pisces is a gentle, loving, artistic and emotional sign so be ready for a long venusian-month (venusian-month in the idea that Venus takes a month to transit a sign unless it goes retrograde) of pure tenderness and love having no bounds. If you want to get more into art then this is a great phase to begin your projects. Do you want to practice more self love and go on dates? This is a great time. This is also a nice time to attempt dating again, though keep in mind with the tricky sign of Pisces, it likes to create illusion which is something to consider as you might not recognize the red flags while dating. However, as I've mentioned, it's great for art and creativity! So maybe just focus on getting that out. Recommended Magic: Clearing and warding, divination and scrying (to reveal truths), shadow work, planning for the future, cleansing the home, cleansing the self, acts of self love, channeling shadow work into art ______________

14th

moon in virgo

Energy: In case the past couple of days gave you A LOT to think about, no worries. Today the moon will be in Virgo and that's the only interesting transit influencing us. It would be a great day to lay down plans for the future and de-clutter your life. It would also be a great day for self emotional reflection and finally taking on nagging tasks that have been weighing on the back of your consciousness forever. Recommended Magic: Cleansing and Warding, visualizing, creating a mood board, taking on tasks, using hematite to help channel focus and determination to smooth out tasks. _________

15th

Venus (Pisces) sextile Uranus (Taurus) Moon void of course 11:12am 2:43pm Moon enters libra

Energy: Today is a great day to hook up or get laid!!! With Venus sextile Uranus, the two energies flow which create a day full of new fun and exciting pleasures, chance encounters of cool and shiny people making a brief cameo in your life and the chance to really get the motivation to start something artistic or creative (which is especially fantastic if you're experiencing a creative block). Be wary though not to fall into long-term fantasies with someone you just met (I can relate to the 'imagining our marriage and future babies' daydream with my natal venus in Scorpio), though Venus is in the sign of Pisces which likes to fly off in endless fantasies of love; the encounters or new instant-attractions you might find now are fleeting. There is a potential for long term relationships to bud from meeting someone today but that's only if the two parties are seeking an unconventional love or do not like to be tied down or committed in any way. Therefore it's a great day to find a new friends with benefits or open relationship but not something too committed. With the moon entering Libra in the afternoon it'll be a perfect time for love spell magic to try to attract the perfect no-strings-attach partner or find a creative muse to partner in a fun short-term project. Venus flowing with Uranus (along with the moon in Libra) will bring a phase of a lot of pleasureful surprises and sudden yet exciting partnerships. Recommended Magic: Road opening magic for creativity or intimate non-committal relationships, attraction magic, glamours, money magic, channeling creative energy, experimenting with art, making luck charms _____________

16th

Mercury enters Aquarius

Moon conjunct Juno in Libra

Energy: This next mercurial cycle will bring open-mindedness, tendency for new ideas and epiphanies and hidden truths raising to the surface. Our minds will be open to new experiences, seek out new mental stimulation and subjects such as technology, science and mysteries will have more appeal to us. Pairing with Venus in Pisces we may find a new appeal in loving and supporting our communities. Especially with the global trajectories following the climate crisis we may feel in this month-long cycle that it's time to come together and help each other. With the moon still in Libra today, partnership and community may be amplified with this transit. Recommended Magic: Free-writing (especially to voice new ideas), tech magic, volunteering or getting involved with the community in anyway possible. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  In the early morning of the 17th, the Moon and Juno will be conjunct in Libra at 20 degrees (2AM GMT- if you are in East Coast US this will be at a more accessible time at 9PM on the 16th. West coast it will be at 6pm on the 16th) which is a nice moment to do love Magic if you want to aim to stay up late/leave a spell in the windowsill for the moonlight to charge or create a spell ingredient for later use such as a Crystal elixir (place a quartz or non-water soluable/non-toxic crystal into a bowl of water and let it sit out in the moonlight. Preserve the water with a few drops of alcohol. The idea is that the water holds the vibrational energy of the crystal/moonlight/intention etc so you can use it as an ingredient in many things from bath potions to adding it in perfumes for an energetic boost. If you wish to consume it, make sure that the ratio of alcohol to water is correct to make sure it is well preserved cause water does go bad). _____________

17th

Moon void of course at 11:58am Moon in Scorpio at 5:20pm Last Quarter Moon

Energy: With the moon in Scorpio we will feel a rush of intense emotions. It's a fantastic day for shadow work and cutting out what's no longer serving you. With the moon moving into Scorpio in the early eve and entering it's final quarter phase it's a great night for banishing magic. Time to cleanse the home and cut toxic ties loose to clear way for the new lunar cycle! Reflect on some things that were not working out for you in Capricorn season or this lunar cycle and think about shedding that away to make room for the new. Aquarius season seems to bring a lot of potential for growth and exploration so make sure to not let anything hold you back! Recommended Magic: Banishing, Cleansing, shadow work, journaling, hex breaking, hexing (tomorrow's transit is an easy transit for the universe to find ways for the hex to be delivered to your target). _____________

18th

Mercury (Aquarius) square Uranus (Taurus)

Energy: Prepare for sudden surprises (of the semi unwelcomed kind) that could either bring upset and sudden change to your daily routine or could be use for positive excitement and thrill in it's change. The square aspect describes energy that either manifests in strong tension or release of cathartic energy. With Mercury squaring Uranus today may be a day you might receive shocking news, experience something unexpected which forces you to change plans, experience miscommunications which can lead to arguments or on a positive note you can also manifest original ideas and breakthroughs. With the addition of the moon in Scorpio, deep secrets could be suddenly revealed which could cause further upsetting surprises. This transit is a bit stressful and the normal tempo of life tends to speed up and you might feel an unsettling feeling of having to catch up. Try to avoid making plans, making spontaneous decisions, filling out detailed paperwork or anything that requires a lot of responsibility and attention to detail. Take any chance to postpone important meetings or appointments.  Today is the kind of day where your car could break down, a printer will jam at the last moment, friends could cancel important plans, trains are delayed etc. Remaining flexible and open-minded is key to dealing with any unexpected events. Recommended Magic: Protective spells, protective glamours, divining (pull some cards to see what surprises await you in order to be prepared for them), preparing a calming tea like peppermint or catmint tea to get through the day. Meditate later to 528Hz binural beats to help find positive new ideas. ______________

19th

Moon void of course at 8:21PM Moon in Sagittarius at 9:41pm

Energy: The mood may feel like a good wrap up towards the end of the week of all of the mess that the last quarter moon in Scorpio could have dug up. Today would be a good day to process it all and seek some self-reflection. The moon will go into Void of Course at 8:21PM (GMT) wrapping up the Scorpio lunar transit then enter into Sagittarius nearly an hour later. During the void of course would be a great time to reflect before the Moon starts a new Lunar Chapter in Sagittarius which will bring a more optimistic and upbeat mood. With the moon in Sagittarius we are ready to pursue a new vision, details don't matter as much and new experiences will satisfy a deep emotional need. Along with Mercury in Aquarius, this can create cravings for spontaneity and a sudden wanderlust desire. Recommended Magic: Journaling, reflecting on what you'd like to bring into the new cycle (The New Moon is coming up in a few days along with Aquarius Season), a journey into the woods or a nature walk.

[notthatiwilleverwriteit]

I don't know if I'm the only one, but I love she li character. I'm totally against what he's done to mo and he should be held accountable, but I still love his character and want to know more about him. His first fight with he tian, I was so curious to know why he seemed to enjoy it and even licking the blood from his lip, from then on I wanted to know his story. And I dont think he should be paired up with someone in the story it would ruin his whole esthetic. what are your thoughts about him?

Hello, dear anon!

This answer could weird out some people, so...Uh. Consider yourselves warned, I guess? It’s pretty much downhill from here on.

I’m sorry it took me so long to get to your ask. Thank you for your patience!

Do I have thoughts about SL? ...Let’s just say “a lot” is the answer:

My favorite 19 Days character(s)

My favorite 19 Days chapter(s)

SL’s bracelet

SL’s lip piercing

SL and ships:

My 19 Days NOTP (why I don’t ship MGS and SL)

My thoughts on SL and JY

My thoughts on SL and JY (vol. 2)

My thoughts on SL and HC

My thoughts on SL and Cuntou (Buzzcut)

My thoughts on SL’s sexuality

SL and MGS’s story:

Backstory revelation

SL and MGS’s development (the beginning vs. the train station scene)

That’s quite a reading list, but if you’re interested in my SL-related thoughts and mullings, I recommend checking out those previous posts. It’s possible I will repeat some things I’ve already talked about but this time I’m not going to give an overall brief summary. It would probably end up being anything but brief.

“I'm totally against what he's done to mo and he should be held accountable, but I still love his character and want to know more about him.”

This is partly why I’m hesitant to say I love SL’s character because I feel like I have to follow that with a small disclaimer that no, I don’t condone his behavior. I find him endlessly intriguing, complex, and layered. Every time he appears I never know what will happen and he always instantly steals the scene for me. I’m drawn to his darkness and disturbed, impossible-to-predict ruthlessness.

In addition to that, my “love” for him also goes deeper. I always feel like a weirdo talking about this but I see some of myself and my own shortcomings in SL’s character. Jealousy and envy. The misery loves company mentality. I don’t go around manipulating and threatening people but on some morbid level, his character allows me to go to that dark place and almost relish in all the disturbing thoughts I can muster. To me, some of the rawest and primitive parts of human nature are embodied and amplified in his character.

“His first fight with he tian, I was so curious to know why he seemed to enjoy it and even licking the blood from his lip, from then on I wanted to know his story.”

SL almost enjoying the fight and licking the blood are interesting notions that I haven’t really thought of before (ch. 184):

I’m glad you brought this up because I’ve been wanting to talk about SL and fighting ever since MGS mentioned how SL had a reputation of being “very vicious in fights” (ch. 319). I saw people thinking that was because of his Guillain–Barré syndrome. And sure, I’m not saying that couldn’t be the reason or a part of it. After all, we don’t know how far along his treatment was by that time. If you don’t feel pain as well as others, I can imagine you’re more fearless in fights.

However, I think his “viciousness” was more about SL’s overall nature. I mean, he picked up a heavy whiskey bottle and smashed someone in the head with it and didn’t seem to even blink. He was unpredictable and didn’t shy away from taking things further than probably most kids his age. Nothing was really off-limits for SL and whoever opposed him could never know what his next move would be. If you’re fighting someone and they lick their own blood - looking like they’re almost savoring the taste - I think you might want to start coming up with an exit plan. SL has a disturbing, cold-blooded aura as a fighter, and cruel, dirty violence is his style.

I’m also interested in MGS mentioning SL had transferred schools. We don’t know if he already had group-affiliations in his new school but imagine if he didn’t. Did he take over a group as an outsider by vicious violence? Did he make his own group from scratch?

“I dont think he should be paired up with someone in the story it would ruin his whole esthetic”

I don’t personally ship SL with anyone “in canon” as in I don’t think he has canonical romantic/sexual feelings for anyone in the comic. I don’t interpret his possessive behavior with MGS as romantic jealousy. Nor do I think he’s interested in JY in a romantic way. That being said, I do believe anyone is free to ship whatever they and however they want, so I don’t know about “shouldn’t be paired up with someone”.

But I think I get what you mean. I think if he had romantic feelings for someone we’re familiar with in the comic it would skew his character. “Interrupt” him, in a way. I’m not saying SL couldn’t be in a romantic relationship or even love someone but I’m not sure if that kind of “side-track” would quite fit how his role in the story has been built up so far. I would love to see more sides to him, but romantic love would feel too forced. It would kind of make me tilt my head and go “huh?”.

I feel the same way about his redemption. Again, I would love to know more about him and what’s going on in his head and heart and life general. What made him like this and what makes him tick. But I don’t know if I want him to be redeemed that way in the boys’ eyes. I kind of want him to stay as the villain to them. If they somehow started to see SL from a different light, it would kind of make his character “hollow” and crumble in on itself.

As far as my ships for SL go, I ship him with Cuntou (MGS’s Buzzcut friend) and HC. However, those ships are purely “AUs” in my head in a sense that I know they have no base in canon. I basically run with the characters and the scenarios build for them are for my own self-indulgence.

Because I couldn’t really give you any new “thoughts” but a reading list instead, let me try to make it up by raving about some of my favorite SL panels:

“We are here” (ch. 178):

I’ve always wondered what kind of an underling SL is. He might be the leader of his own group at school, but even SL must have a boss. Especially given that organized groups are heavily based on hierarchy and seniority.

But I can’t help but wonder how that kind of power dynamic works with SL. What do his superiors think about him? Do they know about his disturbing, unpredictable side? Do they feel like they have control over him? Have they ever taken advantage of his vicious side and kind of “let him loose”? Does his boss know how to handle him? And what about SL’s POV: Does he respect his superiors or just does what he’s told? What could make his obedience stop? What he would do if his superiors insulted him or somehow screwed him over?

Either way, I’m fascinated by seeing SL in a submissive position, taking orders from someone else.

“Jian Yi? Is it...” (ch. 179):

The thing I love about this panel is the tempo/rhythm/whatever-you-call-it of SL’s words. I can hear how he said them in my head. Where he paused and let there be a moment of silence that kind of rearranged the dynamic of the situation. JY had barged in and momentarily stolen the flow and control. He went all out talking back to SL and pointing him and being all JY-y. That little tilt of SL’s head, that short pause he had kind of flipped it back SL being in control. When he says “Jian Yi? Is it...” it has a dangerous vibe. As in, “Are you really sure you want me to notice you?”. That is a question asked by someone who’s mentally in control of the situation.

I can hear those speech bubbles in my head.

“Lick it clean for me” (ch. 203):

Do I even need to justify why I love this panel?

Aside from the obvious, I love this panel because it gives me strong “zero fucks given” vibes. I doubt SL was expecting JY to obey him but saying that kind of stuff fits his character perfectly. Unpredictable and difficult to tell if he’s being serious or not.

Thrown out (ch. 249):

This panel will never not amuse me. Every time I see them being thrown out like that, especially SL, I hear a “Pew!” bing in my head. Like the nurse had flicked them with her middle finger and thumb and shot them out of the room.

Pouring Coke (ch. 267):

Another panel that makes me think about SL being in a submissive position, overpowered. The idea of overpowering and submitting his kind of crazy fascinates me. A part of me wants to see him dominated, sullied, and made to take it. (Just to make sure I’m not misunderstood, I don’t mean “it” in a sexual way.) Like, I imagine the carbonated Coke stinging in his eyes. It’s more foam and fizz than actual liquid as it pours down his face. It makes him uncomfortable and wanting to try to wipe it off with his shoulder when the trickles slide down the side of his neck but he can’t. When Coke is spilled like that it goes from a nice, enjoyable beverage to a sickly sweet, sticky substance that kind of grosses you out.

This is a panel that always makes me think of shipping SL with HC.

[...I warned you it would get weird.]

Wandering in the hospital (ch. 294):

If you weren’t weirded out enough yet...

Every time I see these panels I’m reminded of being like that as a child. I remember my grandparents sometimes had to stay at the hospital when they got sick. When I went to visit them with my mom I had this habit of wandering off by myself. I could walk the ward through multiple times and just...kind of...be morbidly interested in watching the sick people in their beds. And of course, as a kid, I had no problem with openly staring at them, too. The sicker, the better. I wanted to see tubes going in and out of body orifices, wounds and stitches, bandages that have that faint shine of blood seeping through on the back when they’re due to a change. If you gave me an old person just laying in bed with their mouth open and not even being in this world anymore because they’re so old and ill, you could just sit me down and go take care of whatever parents need to take care of.

I’m not saying SL was like that but him silently wandering off always reminds me of how I was a kid.

Encounter (ch. 294):

I’ve talked about this panel quite a lot already, so I won’t go into it more in this answer. But I will say it’s probably my most favorite panel of the whole comic.

“I almost forgot” (ch. 317):

As weird as it sounds to point this out when talking about SL’s character, but I think SL was lying in this panel. Although, I guess a better way to put it would be to say it wasn’t his “usual” lying. I think he was lying about forgetting he had given MGS the piercings to make it look like he didn’t care about such trivial matters. That violating MGS like that and basically marking him as his property hadn’t meant anything to him. Seeing MGS wear HT’s earrings irked him but he’s lying about it. MGS inching further and further away from SL’s grasp is getting to him but I think this was the first time he’s trying to hide it.

Because I believe he remembers piercing MGS. I bet he remembers it vividly.

I think this panel and the way he lashed out at HT with the knife without having any regard for the consequences are interesting details that maybe SL’s mask is slipping. He’s getting more out of control. Almost desperate, I would say.

So yeah, I would say I have a few thoughts about SL.

Thank you for your question, dear anon! And for your patience as well.

[sciencespies]

A Museum Curator Reports on Rapid-Response Collecting January 6 on Capitol Hill

https://sciencespies.com/history/a-museum-curator-reports-on-rapid-response-collecting-january-6-on-capitol-hill/

A Museum Curator Reports on Rapid-Response Collecting January 6 on Capitol Hill

Smithsonian Voices National Museum of American History

The Cold Morning of the Day After

February 5th, 2021, 11:18AM / BY Frank Blazich

On January 6, my wife and I watched the live news broadcasts in disbelief at the scenes unfolding on television, as a violent mob stormed the U.S. Capitol and interrupted the constitutionally mandated joint session of Congress presided over by the vice president to ratify the 2020 election results. Often curators like to hold off on collecting about an event until the weight of history can sift and settle; other times, we have to move quickly, or we’ll miss our chance.

On January 7, this was the farthest I could advance before reaching temporary fencing. National Guard troops were spaced every 10 to 20 paces. The shredded cover over the inaugural scaffolding was the primary indicator of what transpired the previous day.

Knowing that many objects from the day’s rally and attack on the U.S. Capitol would quickly be discarded, I volunteered to go down to the National Mall and see what I could find. With approval secured an hour later, I pulled together the usual COVID-era curatorial “field kit” for the morning’s work: tote bags, gloves, face mask, business cards, identification badge, and a mental list of imagery and objects I had seen in news footage the day prior.

As I parked along the National Mall around an hour later, I saw a scene before me of routine. Cleaning crews were hauling away bags of trash and walking the grounds picking up loose material. I could see the first protest signs sticking out of trash cans lining the emerald grass fields. My collecting approach was simple: save materials clearly related to the rally and the attack that followed. The materials, devoid of their creators and users, constituted little more than trash unless saved and contextualized. With time of the essence, however, I could not stop and analyze every item. Instead, I essentially skimmed through the mass of material to pluck out items related to the rally and to COVID-19, as well as related 2020 campaign materials.

Every potential item offered history, but also the risk of contamination. Collecting under “normal” circumstances is tricky enough, but now I contend with the danger of exposure to COVID-19. Suffice to say, I wore a new mask and carried half a dozen pairs of nitrile gloves. After placing the first few signs in the trunk of my car, I began walking toward the Capitol. I saw small business cards, handouts, and leaflets in the bushes, scattered along the ground or tossed in the trash. As news media provided live updates from the National Mall, nary a camera or person noticed the solitary individual wearing rubber gloves, a grocery tote in one hand and a pile of signs in the other, digging through the trash cans.

Crossing over Seventh Street SW, the protest-related paraphernalia increased in volume and variety. Before reaching Third Street SW, I could see two large signs leaning on a signpost. One read “OFF WITH THEIR HEADS – STOP THE STEAL,” while an adjacent sign, ripped from the post, featured a smoking skull with a blond toupee bearing a similar message, “STOP THE 2020 STEAL.” Scooping up the two aluminum signs, I crossed over the street past a row of Virginia State Police cruisers and entered the grass of Union Square just west of the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

The first large item to greet me? A wooden structure on its side with signs affixed to the base. A square piece of plywood read “THIS IS ART.” Graffiti from a variety of hands covered the legs and sides of what I recognized as gallows, sans noose. Unable to remove pieces of the structure, I opted for photographs of the graffiti, with Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia referenced in ink amongst notes such as “Where are you Thomas Jefferson?! Revolution 2021!!!,” “hang the thieves,” “hang treason,” and “God Bless the USA.” A short distance ahead of me in front of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, a man waved the “Don’t Tread on Me” Gadsden flag, and exchanged curt comments with a few people seeking insight.

Walking around the pool on my way up to Capitol Hill, a line of Metropolitan police officers mingled with an array of law enforcement officials from Virginia and from assorted federal agencies. Reaching the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial, a small crowd of maybe 20 stood in front of temporary fencing. Across First Street NW were uniformed National Guard troops, spaced 10 or 20 feet apart. The morning joggers, seemingly oblivious to the events of January 6, robotically moved along, pausing only when the troops directed them to move away from the Capitol. The battlefield of the previous day could be seen ahead. The most visible damage was ripped white material hanging in shreds from the scaffolding erected for the presidential inauguration of Joseph Biden on January 20. Stillness and an exhausted tension permeated the air.

Upon the ground were pieces of discarded equipment from an angry, invading force: signs, banners, a red bag of booklets including “The Continuing American Revolution.” An unknown hand had scratched “TRUMP” in the mud with a stick. I found a sign nearby reading “We’re Right We’re Free We’ll Fight You’ll See.” Hands full, I returned to my vehicle to drop off a dozen or so signs. For the next few hours, I returned several times to fill the trunk of my car, working automatically rather than attempting to digest the various messages and symbology of the objects. As a curator of military history, I felt contextualizing the political nature of these potential artifacts was best left to my political history colleagues. Following the sweep of grass around Union Square and the reflecting pool, the trash cans along the mall took priority.

Finding a discarded flag alongside a crumpled rally sign reaffirmed how carelessly the symbols of democracy can be discarded yet are also so vitally important to preserve.

Words fail to describe the “joy” of rooting through public trash cans in search of protest-specific detritus. But between masses of discarded coffee cups, bags of dog waste, empty cigarette packs, and empty liquor bottles could be found other remnants of the previous day. A folder filled with photocopies of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the lyrics of which abolitionist Julia Ward Howe penned a mere mile away, 160 years ago. Flags, so prevalent in the imagery of the sixth, proved elusive. At last, a hint of blue fabric offered hope but proved instead to be a unique item, the word “PENCE” crudely cut off a banner. Farther down the mall, a small “Trump 2020” flag emerged from within the trash—accompanied by a small, mud-stained American flag. Half a mile away, our nation’s most celebrated flag, the Star-Spangled Banner, rested alone in a climate-controlled chamber, free of the COVID virus likely contaminating the material I had just collected. After three hours of walking up and down the National Mall, hands stiff from the cold, I decided to head home and report my progress to my supervisors.

After three hours of searching, the back of my vehicle was filled with an array of potential museum artifacts, big and small, long and short.

The late Senator Robert Kennedy once said, “Few will have the greatness to bend history itself, but each of us can work to change a small portion of events.” Museum personnel are blessed with opportunities to save a small portion of events across our country, fragments of the present to help future generations understand and interpret one cold Wednesday in our nation’s capital. The events of January 6 will be debated for ages hence. The dirtied, scarred signs and artifacts collected the morning after will hopefully serve as physical reminders of the fragility of civility—and democracy.

Please find the Director of the National Museum of American History’s reflections on the challenges of living through a historic time here.

Editor’s Note: The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will accept a selection of the ephemera brought in as part of rapid response collecting related to the January 6 protest rallies prior to the siege on the Capitol. Materials that are not selected for the permanent collection may be made available to other museums or historical associations.

Frank Blazich Jr. is a curator in the Division of Political and Military History.

#History

[quiznak-on-ice-blog]

Jean Jacques Leroy-Character Analysis {Spoilers??}

So, my favorite thing to do is over analyze. I do it all of the time. Oops. And I usually do it for the characters who are frowned upon by the fandom and the entertainment form in general. I found myself one day watching episode eight over and over. It was hilarious but also very interesting how we're introduced to JJ. I mean. I've read other character analysis on him and they have him wrong. He has layers. Like a cake. But each are different but similar. We first meet JJ while watching Emil skate. We know Yuri Katsuki gets very psyched before and during competitions. He also is affected by what his opponents accomplish. Such as jumps. Emil did a quadruple toe loop. Landed it amazingly. JJ over heard and decided to pick at the other by stating that he landed it and that they should clap for Emil. But Yuri didn't hear because he had his ear buds in only to have JJ ignore him and walk to Victor and poke fun at the Russian. He states that Victor did the same jump at the previous years exhibition skate saying he'd want to see it again. Victor simply decides not to argue nor respond with any form of back lash, simply saying he doesn't recall. Myself and many other fans can understand where people come with the idea that he's obnoxious. Which his behavior stated before was obnoxious and unnecessary. He possesses other traits as well. He honestly seems like a caring guy. One of my friends and I were talking about him in fact. She said she didn't like him because he was arrogant. I don't understand this logic Jean Jacques is not arrogant. King JJ is a persona that he made for himself, sure he has a ton of self confidence and self love. But that's perfect and amazing, not all characters are going to struggle with self confidence issues because then not everyone would learn how to deal with issues or relate to characters. I think JJ shows us that loving yourself is perfectly fine. I mean he has a strong strong base of love. Almost all of these characters did. But they all had their own struggles. JJ cracked under pressure. We all do at times, he shown us that even though you're the most confident person it doesn't mean you won't get scared or crack under pressure or get nervous. JJ had many forms of love. Love was stated so many times in Yuri!!! On ice. It was a main base. JJ has Isabella, his fiancé. Can we talk about her for a second? I love her so so much, she is such an amazing lover. When JJ seen his score he felt so down and out. And his fans sat quietly and his parents did the same. Everyone was just watching hoping for a change of the score or something to happen. But she started cheering for him instead of making him feel like he was alone. JJ also had his parents..they were also his coach. What few don't know is that they competed in the Olympics so, naturally they would have higher expectations for their child to excel at skating. This may have contributed to him cracking under pressure in the Grand Prix Finals. But, most of all he has the support of his fans, they stood up for him against the Yuri angels. Literally trying to ward them off though of course the Yuri angels stood up for Yurio right back. Now, I know this post is long and if I lost you somewhere I'm sorry. But, this has to be said. Cause I've been aggravated for over a month and it was driving me crazy. So, we see in episode ten Yurio becomes hostile to JJ and Isabella. Rightfully so after Isabella came looking to argue after remarking snarky comments about Yurios fans. As any good idol would he stood for his fans. I mean of course he would, wouldn't you? Anyway JJ laughs off most of Yuri Plisetsky's very hostile and rude comments and actions. He tells Yurio to calm down before anything escalated. We then see Otabek passing through the lobby to leave the hotel pass all of this drama. He was stopped by Jean Jacques to ask if he wanted to go to dinner. Otabek kindly declined and JJ said it was because of his lone wolf tendencies. Which can be seen throughout the series. So, fast forward through Yuri and Victors bag of nuts drama and engagement ring fiasco to where we see practically all of the qualifiers eating dinner. INCLUDING OTABEK. They were showing no signs of inviting JJ. I found that rude, but you know none of them really took a liking to JJ and that's fine. They don't have to like him but at least be kind and make him feel included right? So Victor claims him and Yuri Katsuki are getting married when Yuri wins gold. This starts a bit of drama at the table it becomes a more hostile environment. They turn from being friends and casually chatting to giving death glares across the table to Yuri and Victor all of a sudden ready for competition. JJ and Isabella walk past seeing and hearing this, JJ decides to remark in JOKING MATTER that he can't congratulate Yuri and Victor on the marriage because he'd be winning gold and him and Isabella would be getting married. Okay can we pause for a second, it's clear that he loves her a lot. Regardless if he wins or he looses they'll probably get married. Okay, now we can return, all of the other skaters leave mumbling about JJ's 'rude' and once again obnoxious behavior. He then screams it's a joke trying to make all feelings mutual trying to create a bond with these skaters. It is clear that he doesn't have a strong relationship with the other skaters. More obviously Yurio but, we can also see the small hints from the other skaters such as Victor in episode eight where he chooses not to converse with JJ. This creates a different set of lonely. I think what can only be described by how JJ put it. He was falling off of a cliff and all of the other skaters were peering down at him. I mean..it couldn't just be pressure making him feel that way. Maybe it was how they made him feel excluded from their friendship. Or dinners. Or maybe the way they avoided him or treated him badly. Maybe that's what was pooling on top of the pressure as well. Well, there's what I wrote. I was writing everything I thought. Spilling my emotions of the matter onto the keyboard which ended up here. Anyway...this is my character analysis on JJ. I truly believe he has many layers. He isn't boiled down to six words because of a few comments he said. All the characters in Yuri!!! On ice have depth, I just think JJ deserves to be recognized more and be seen as an actual character and part of the story rather than a comedic relief.

[itsnelkabelka]

Speech: Acting with Unity

Thank you very much Mr President. I wanted to start by apologising for my absence at the start of this debate. I left the chamber to go to a Remembrance service for the hundredth anniversary of the end of World War I. I think it’s very good and thank China that we’re having this debate day so close to that anniversary, which started the march to multilateralism in earnest, even though some foundations had been laid in the previous century. And of course the end of World War II saw the creation of the United Nations and the United Nations be the apex of the [rules-based international] system that, on the whole, has kept us all safe and prosperous since 1945.

I wanted too to say at the outset how grateful we are to the United States for giving the United Nations its home here in New York and for their contribution, without which many of the gains of the preceding almost 70 years could not have been made.

I’d like to speak on three themes today: One, on collective challenges; one on the particular role of the Security Council; and one on what we now need to do, in our view, to strengthen multilateralism.

In my own country, public debate on foreign policy issues nearly always features as a reference to the need for a solution to be pursued through the United Nations, no matter where on the political spectrum the comment is made from. Post-Brexit you will find the United Kingdom an even more active participant in the affairs of the UN and of global affairs more generally.

Mr President, 70 years ago no one could accuse the UN founding fathers of a lack of ambition but since its foundation, the United Nations has faced an almost unbridgeable gap between its ambition and our ability to help it deliver.

Important gains have been made. Kofi Annan spoke of pushing heavy rocks to the top of the hill, even though some had eluded our grasp and that we needed to keep going. What I wanted to stress Mr President was that whatever country’s economic or security model, all the evidence shows that countries thrive best if they have open societies, if they pursue open trade, open speech, open association and open information.

A rules-based international system which preserves stability is in the interests of the vast majority of the member states of this organisation but, as many of you have identified today, we face a proliferation of threats from many quarters. We have heard a lot of reference to those today. Some of them have been the cause of great dispute in this Council but they are all relevant to the entire membership, whether you are on the Council, electing a member of the Council or standing for election yourself. No nation can protect its people without engaging positively in the crises that affect the world. I cannot see a single major threat that can be solved by one nation alone, whether it’s migration, cybercrime, modern day slavery, terrorist threats, disease or climate change. All these threats challenge security and prosperity at home and they challenge collective security. They can be resolved only by collective action on the world’s stage.

But effective collective action Mr President, can not only mean action by consensus. Threats to international peace and security, by their nature, often involve a challenge to international law and norms. It logically cannot be the case that action to uphold international peace and security must always be by consensus; that will not be sufficient.

You, Mr President, spoke of the need for the Security Council to act with unity, wisdom and courage. Our collective wisdom tells us that inaction in the face of gross abuses of human rights and violations of international law - acts of genocide, acts of using prohibited weapons – [like chemical weapons] - leads to disastrous outcomes and hence we fail to uphold international peace and security because we lack the courage to act on the wisdom we display. We end up being disunited.

From Rwanda to Srebrenica, to current conflicts in Myanmar and Syria, we are failing the cause of multilateralism by failing to act in line with the Charter. The United Nations Security Council was invested with powers under Chapter VII of the Charter in order to fulfil its duties to maintain international peace and security, but if we are blocked by one or two members from using those powers, that is not a legitimate expression of the Charter but an abuse of the power of the veto.

Mr President, we completely share the views of those Security Council members who spoke about the importance of Chapter VI and Chapter VIII of the Charter relating to the Security Council. To that I would also add Article 99 which we believe is underused - the ability of the Secretary-General to draw matters to the Security Council’s attention.

But I want to stress Mr President that under Chapter VI, the Security Council may investigate any dispute or any situation that may give rise to a dispute and may determine whether or not it constitutes international friction and endangers the maintenance of international peace and security. The Charter does not require the Security Council already to agree that such a threat exists, and it is our view Mr President that the more some countries try and stifle Security Council discussion of these situations under Chapter VI- for example, when a government is attacking its own people or abusing its neighbours - the more likely it is, if Chapter VI is stifled, that more dramatic action will be needed eventually under Chapter VII. That’s an irony Mr President, that I think the Security Council should do well to reflect on.

A rules-based international system Mr President must, of course, adapt to thrive. It must even adapt if it wants to survive. A number of speakers today have called attention to the importance of supporting reform, and I would like to add the UK’s voice that as well, and I would say that that includes Security Council reform.

I think we must also redouble our efforts to defend the rules-based international order. We need multilateral organizations that are fit for purpose. We need to reform outdated and bureaucratic structures. This is the best way to make sure that the institutions do not collapse. We need WTO reform so that we succeed in warding off the dangerous temptations of protectionism and we need World Bank reform so that its governance reflects the changing balance of the global economy. We need to strengthen the invisible chain that links democracies and we must also ensure though, at the same time, that we are better at acting in concert when we face real and present threats.

[I have two difficult messages for member states today. The first is that the rules-based international system requires us all to uphold it; we cannot pick and choose the rules we would like to adhere to. Secondly, we must collectively but robustly confront that minority of states who defy this collective will. If you use chemical weapons, and a UN investigation finds that you have done so, we cannot sit in this Chamber and talk about the importance of multilateral solutions without talking about it. Sovereignty isn’t a license to play fast and loose with international rules and norms; it isn’t a license to abuse and attack your own people; it isn’t a license to annex other people’s territory. The P5 have a particular role in this regard, whether your preferred reading is President Franklin Delano Roosevelt or Stan Lee: with great power comes great responsibility.]

Mr President, we would see one of the most important things as a renewed commitment from all members of the Council but also all members of the General Assembly, a more a stronger commitment to responsibility and partnership from both state and non-state actors - civil society, the private sector. It is all about what we can do together as we move towards the seventieth anniversary of the United Nations in 2020.

The SDGs are the most supreme, if you like, manifestation of this goal. And this goal is all the more important as we grapple with new and disruptive technologies, like artificial intelligence and cyber which will change the way governments interact with each other and with their own citizens.

So while the United Kingdom Mr President strongly agrees with the premise of this debate, we know that we must be vigilant against the tendency of this subject to become an exercise in mutual adoration. In conflicts, atrocities are committed and international laws are breached. An increase in the use of multilateralism should never be coded language for negotiating agreements with those who have violated the rules of our international system.

Thank you Mr President.

[Please note: remarks in square brackets were in the original version of this statement but were not delivered in the Council].

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