#United Nations Stomp

[the-fandom-is-now-my-life]

Okay but imagine if the Creator's child was Kaveh's.

Out of literally everyone in the world and the creator bags the broke architect 🤭

Que Jessica Rabbit's 'he makes me laugh'.

He still lives with Alhaitham bc the idea of sharing a literal child with the creator but still getting locked out of your apartment is hilarious.

The creator had a the broke architect's child

Creative child

After your child is born with no distinctive features other than his blond hair the first one to know who your lover was is your own child

WC: 900~

To be 100% truthful I only thought about doing this for the iconic physical feature like neuvi, Diluc, etc but this was fun jsjs

“Morning, parental unit” your blond son stands on the door joining your library and the solarium in which you often humored visits.

“Morning, uhm, offspring?” Your hand reaches towards the book shelf without minding him, people said children his age find joy in speaking and behaving weirdly, and yours wasn't an exception, if his giggles meant something. 

“I heard you speaking with mister Diluc about visiting Sumeru”

“It's bad to eavesdrop” softly you chastise him but he pouts and stomps.

“I wanna go! You told me dad lives there, I wanna meet him”

“Shush! I told you that as our secret” you close the book you were skimming over but sigh as you see his yellow eyes “but last month when I told you to come for a festival in Sumeru but you didn't want to go”

“Because aunties Eula and Amber were going to teach me how to skyyyy” he whines the last word, already sensing you wouldn't want to take him there. 

“Bratty child” you groan “fine, if you manage to make up for the 4 days we will not be here with your tutor I will take you” and as you finish talking you hear him slamming the door shut and his bare feet hitting the floor as he runs away.

And, somehow, your usually mischievous child managed to work hard enough to make up for a few absences, or so said his tutor, who you still believed was under the spell of his puppy eyes, just like when he managed to smuggle two cats and a cryo slime.

“Karen, stay close, we have to go to the akademiya to check some paperwork and sit through some meetings” you grab his forearm, dragging him away from the colorful stained glass mobiles and the fluffy beasts carrying spices and fruit.

After a fair bit of bickering with every stand selling something he has never seen you manage to reach the akademiya, even if Karen was almost being dragged. 

Popping your head on the administration room you see a row of desks, a familiar face standing out amongst the sea of brown hair, a long gray hair standing up tall from his scalp.

Alhaitham is lounging in his desk, a book on one hand and a pen on the other, seeing him so calm makes you decide against bothering him and rather to ask one of his coworkers, even if you have to wait for a little bit while they finish transcribing as you chat them up, knowing it could be intimidating to have you stand silently besides them.

“C'mon let's just go to himmm, he looks like he is just lazing arounddd” Karen tugs on the bottom of your tunic but you ignore his little tantrum and keep asking the girl about the date she told you she will have after work.

Seemingly waiting for five minutes was too much of a waste of time that could be used to explore this nation. Sneaking silently behind you he stands before Alhaitham’s desk, but is ignored as he has his noise canceling earbuds and Karen isn't taller than the desk.

“Hey” he says, no answer “Heeeyy” no answer, now ticked off Karen slams his small hands against the thick wood board “HEY! STOP IGNORING ME” 

Alhaitham just peeks his head towards him, not hearing the noise but seeing his hands, but when he looks at him his annoyed look and yellow eyes seem too familiar.

He opens his mouth, eyes half closed as if he was thinking about something. 

Now noticing he was causing the ruckus you drag him by the armpits so he stops hitting the desk, as you start making Karen apologize you see Alhaitham's face. His eyebrows now almost up with his hairline and his green eyes uncharacteristically wide, but quickly he changes into a smirk as Karen apologizes for yelling.

“Please don't tell me it was-”

“Keep reading your book”

“Not my guest's bed~” he teases while grabbing his book, expecting the office to be calm again when the door slams open again, a blond huffing and puffing ready to face his housemate.

“YOU… how come you always grab my keys?! I couldn't enter the house for 2 hours!” to which al haitham tugs a set of keys out of his pockets and dangles three keys and a lion doll.

“Ugh, calm down. Why even wait 2 hours if you already know where I work?”

Under all their yapping you mumble something to your son “that is your dad” and you let a small promise to make both meet if he is busy, but after 5 ish minutes of bickering and the paperwork you needed snug in your hand it's obvious it will be quicker to just end this fight yourself. 

“Kaveh? Oh, hi, it's been so long” one of your hands falls on his shoulder, making him notice your presence “like 4 years ago?” You ask as you feel Karen hug one of your legs.

“oh, yeah, it's been so long” he laughs lightly, feeling suddenly bashful.

“It's a shame I was so busy I was just able to visit Sumeru, someone wanted to meet you” the flat part of your nail rakes through your son's hair.

“Huh?” He just now notices the kid behind you and his bright hair.

“Could you take care of him for a second? I have to finish a meeting and I should be able to meet you two”

“Yep! I will show him around and we can meet at the cafe, in sure we will have a lot to talk about”

Don't dare to run away so fast... Who allowed you to use my house like a motel

Hick!

[threebea]

Imagine you crash your boss' car and your boss is the president so you're kicked out of your country and are minding your own business trying to make do when an army suddenly stomps through your camp and you're saved by a wizard who convinces you to smuggle him and his adult ward into your country which you are banished from. And then the Wizard stops your boss from executing you (with magic?) So you owe him a life debt and then he dies like two days later, but you get a position in the colonial government that controls voting rights in the United Nations, and then due to the person that hired you not being available you propose international war which seems like the right thing to do at the time and that resolution getting passed. All because you're clumsy and wrecked your boss's car. Jar Jar's life is wild.

[thelargefrye]

NEW JEANS, NEW ME ... one - shot ( 17+ )

pairing : rowdy boy!hongjoong x powerpuff girl!idol!f!reader ; crush!idol!seonghwa x powerpuff girl!idol!f!reader ; fanboy!mingi x powerpuff girl!idol!f!reader x fanboy!san (platonic)

genre : powerpuff girls au, idol au, fluff, comedy, mention of rivals with benefits, mutual pinning

word count : 1.9k

warnings : language, powerpuff girls canon violence, jealous siblings / fighting (but add superpowers to it), sister / girl code and breaking it, talks about relationships / situationships

suffer tag : @sanjoongie

note : ALSO– new header type for this fic because i wanted to try something new!! make sure to let me know what you think about this au

playlist : POWERPUFF GIRLS UNITE

years ago you use to fight crime with your sisters. you all were known as the powerpuff girls to the city of seoul. you have since quit the life of being a superhero and instead chose the path of becoming an idol.

you were furious. you felt nothing but rage and your vision red as you stomped up the stairs and to the room that you knew your sisters would be in. more specifically where your sister haneul would be.

you threw the door open, it reared back and slammed into the wall, startling your three sisters.

"y/n? what's wrong?" julie, the youngest of the four of you, asked as she sat on the bed, flipping through a magazine.

"you fucking bitch! i can't believe you!" you say, pointing at haneul. julie lets out a shocked gasp at your language. the eldest of you all, celine, also looked shocked as she and julie watched you march up to haneul who sat at the vanity.

"you know i like seonghwa, and that i have been talking to him! what gives you the right to try and flirt with him!" you say looking at her, ready to shoot laser eyes through her if you could.

haneul only lets out a laugh before she's turning back to look at herself in the mirror. "gosh, y/n, is that why you came storming in here like a madwoman? because of the nation's boyfriend, park seonghwa?"

"why are you like, haneul?" you ask, hands on your hips as you look at her in the mirror. she seemingly ignores you for a moment, too busy putting her blush on to answer you. this causes you to let out a laugh, and she stops to raise an eyebrow at you. "i know what this is about."

"oh do you know?"

"yeah," you say walking around her, slamming your hand on the vanity and effectively slamming it in half. "you're jealous."

"me? jealous of you? why the hell would i be jealous of you?"

"come on you two, don't fight," julie tries to speak up, but you ignore her.

"because i'm more likable than you, haneul! i'm smarter, prettier, popular, and seonghwa likes me. not you," you can't help the smirk on your face as you watch haneul let out a huff and an eye roll.

"whatever," she says, shoving past you to walk to the closet. "i am not jealous of you, y/n. i'm not the one that quit the group to be a stupid pop idol," she says as she pulls out a top from the closet. more specifically your top.

"and that's my top!" you say, pointing to the pink, sequin top with the heart cut-out that was in her hands. you grimace at her manicured hands touching your things and it only makes you angrier.

"you bought this top months ago, and haven't worn it. what does it matter?"

"it matters because i bought it and don't want your bitchiness all over it," you yell, feeling your fist clench tightly and heating up ready to blast her.

"enough you two!" celine says, getting between the two of you before you could get any closer to each other. "if you both can't say anything nice, then shut up!"

"tell her not to flirt with seonghwa!" you yell, looking at celine hoping she would take your side on this. "it's totally against sister code or something!"

"y/n, i understand what you are saying, but you cannot just come in here and destroy things," she says before turning to haneul who looked bored out of her mind. "haneul, you have been acting like a total bitch lately and it's getting on my nerves. put the top back, i don't care if y/n hasn't worn it yet or not."

"ugh, whatever," haneul says tossing the top haphazardly back into the closet. "i can't believe you need celine to defend you, y/n. what? your stupid singing and dancing made you too weak to defend yourself?"

"i can handle you, don't forget whose stronger than who."

"we're not kids anymore y/n, you not as strong as you think you are anymore. and i'm sure seonghwa knows that too," she pauses, a smirk gracing her lip gloss covered lips. "maybe that's why hongjoong also wants me more than you as well? haven't you wondered why he hasn't called you back in a while?"

"what the fuck did you just say?" you couldn't believe she was now bringing hongjoong into this.

"you heard me, me and joongie have been getting to know each other quite well lately," she says and you watch her pull out her phone, flicking through it with her ugly nails before shoving the screen in your face. and sure enough there was a picture of her and hongjoong hugging, haneul was making a kissing face and hongjoong was grinning his stupid face off as they posed together.

you felt something surge through you the longer you looked at the picture. then before you could think, you snatched the phone from her and chucked it out the window. the phone smashed through the window, sending glass everywhere. julie let out a surprised scream scooting away from the flying glass as if it would actually hurt her.

"you bitch! i just got that new phone!" haneul screamed at you as she reached past celine to grab at you. celine did her best to stop your sister, but it was pointless. not like you wanted her to stop haneul anyways, it had been awhile since you fought anyone anyways.

haneul easily pushed celine away, the eldest and leader of the group stumbled a little before regaining her composure. you could see the rage in celine's eyes, like she was ready to duke it out with haneul as well.

then without another thought, you jump at haneul, your fist coming and landing a harsh punch to her face. the two of you fall to the ground and you can hear julie yelling at you both to stop. you feel haneul landing a punch to your jaw and you know your manager and makeup artist will have a stroke, but right now in this moment you don't care.

you feel someone pull you off of haneul and your sister uses this moment to bring her leg up and kick you. thanks to her super strength – that all four of you have by the way – she sends you flying across the room and through the wall. you are sent outside of the house, rubble flying all around you as you regain your self. hovering in the air, you glare at your sister who stands at the hole in your house before she's now hovering in the sky as well.

then without a second thought the two of you are flying at each other, throwing punches and laser beams at each other. at one point, you grab haneul by her top before throwing her across the city, watching as she zooms further and further away from you. but you quickly fly after her in order to continue your assault on her once she crashes into either the ground or a building. whichever one, you didn't care as long as it hurt.

you easily glide between buildings before you see haneul laying in one of the city intersections. she lets out a groan before she's standing back up, a glare on her face as she looks up at you before jumping back up into the sky.

"wow, i can't believe how low you've become," she says with a smirk on her bruised face. "to come fight your sister over some guys!"

"says you, hannie! you're the one that's desperate to go after boys that i like and you know like me back," you throw back at her. she scowls at you before shooting towards you; however, before the two of you could continue your fight a figure appears in between the two of you.

"fuck off, hongjoong," you say immediately recognizing the figure in front of you. the former villain turned hero lets out a laugh as he turns to look at you. "this doesn't concern you."

"doesn't concern me? pretty girl, i think it does when it comes to destroying the city," he says turning fully to look at you.

"whatever," both you and haneul say in unison with a huff and it reminds you in that moment how you are both sisters. haneul doesn't say anything else before she's flying away, zooming past both you and hongjoong and leaving the two of you alone.

"hey, y/n–

"i gotta go, hongjoong, see ya later," you say, cutting him off, remembering the picture your sister had shown you and her and hongjoong together. you quickly fly in the opposite direction that your sister flew in and now leaving hongjoong by himself.

"well what the hell did i do?" he asks himself. 

"and she tried to wear my fucking top!" you say, throwing your hands in as you wrap a bandage around your arm. mingi and san look at you with wide eyes, shocked at the story you had told them.

you had arrived at the two's apartment after your fight with haneul which was now trending on multiple platforms and gossip pages.

you had effectively plopped yourself down on their couch, mingi was the one to run and grab a first-aid kit before sitting next to you. you let out a huff as you began treating your injuries.

"like she broke major sister code, who does she think she is, huh? and stupid hongjoong!"

"rowdy boys' hongjoong?" san says a little surprised that you are bringing the hero up. how did hongjoong fit into this when he thought haneul was trying to steal seonghwa away from you.

"yes, that stupid bastard! we've had an agreement for a while now, and he should know my sister is off limits!" you say, throwing your head back against the couch. your head rests against the back as you look up at the ceiling. their ceiling fan on and humming annoyingly in your ears. you honestly felt like shooting it from the ceiling, but refrained yourself. you couldn't go damaging their apartment when they're nice enough to let you crash here.

you remember when you first met the two males. both of them having been fans for years and it was only when mingi risked his life to help you, that you wanted to know them both to repay the favor. which is how they ended up becoming your best friends and also letting you bum off them when you were too mad at your sisters – mainly haneul – to return home.

"are you saying there's something going on between you and hongjoong?" san asks and you turn to look at him, deadpanned and tired expression.

"its a situationship," you begin to say, "we have this kind of benefits relationship. i go to him to blow off steam and he comes to me for the same thing."

"whoa, who would have thought," mingi said, completely shocked by the news that you just told him. "so what's up with him and haneul?"

"the fuck if i know!" you say, standing up and throwing your arms in the air. "i'm honestly so fucking mad at haneul, i can't even see straight. i need to go lay down, can i stay here tonight?"

"uh, sure," mingi and san say in unison and you thank them before trudging off to their spare bedroom. you close the door behind you before collapsing on the bed, not even bothering to pull the blanket over you.

you let out a sigh before you close your eyes and allow sleep to consume you, knowing you will have to face the consequences of your actions later.

but first a nap.

tag list : @frankenstein852 @watamotee33 @kawennote09 @mixling-blog @marahleiwhen @kpopnightingale @harry-the-pottypus @pyeonghongrie @sanniesbum @marvelahsobx @khjcoo @mysticfire0435 @exfolitae @dementedaly @simeonswhore @moonm1st @nvmbheart @spooo00oky @frgogh @sookacc @seongwin @burnsmepls @ad0rechuu @tunaasan @northerngalxy @silverpixiedust23 @cheesekimchi @confusedmoonchild777 @mjyungi @innieontop @iweirdthingsblog @s0obinluvr @worcesheshestershiresauce @moonlightgrleric @wineyoungie @jeongwangjessmina @lemineso

network : @cultofdionysusnet @cromernet

[thr0wnawayy]

Fimbulwinter

6 months after the Broadcast

In the media control room of the Safety Commission HQ, alarms blared on full blast as teams of agents scrambled to do damage control.

"What's the hell's going on in here!?."

The head of the Safety Commission Technology Sector bellowed as he stomped down the corridor towards the central control panel.

"Somethings wrong, w-we've been locked out our servers." A technician stuttered out.

He shoved his subordinate out of the way, his look slowly shifting to one of realization and horror as he gazed upon the monitor screen.

"shit. Shit, shit SHIT!. Get the president on the line!" He yelled.

"W-we can't his flight from the UN HQ was delayed!. He's still in there." The techie replied, anxiously rubbing his wrists in his panic.

A notification chime was heard from the main display. Slowly everyone in the room began to lift their heads in terror.

A pop up displayed four simple words.

[The Past Never Dies]

"Fuck." Was all the commander could muster as his gaze switched to the massive display screen that lit up the room.

At 12:00 AM, PT, A series of documents and files were thrown onto the web by an unknown source.

Their name, Hornet.

Any tech capable of displaying information to the public was overridden with video feed, audio logs and prerecorded messages found within the files.

The contents of which ranged from camera feed of Sir Nighteye's misconduct towards his secretary to an entire written breakdown of Ubwami's abuse of the 1st year's Apprenticeship Program and it's consequences.

No stone was left unturned. Comm leaks from during the war were found, further fueling the allegations of apologetics and suspected corruption.

With Rei Todoroki's disappearance happening only a couple months prior, the Burnin' agency struggled go maintain it's already shaky standing among the public.

Burnin and the rest of the Flaming Sidekicks attempted to explain their decisions to no avail, with the agency and it's members going on temporary leave for the foreseeable future.

UA had held on by the skin of their teeth, with their servers being closed for repairs since the war ended, they had narrowly avoided meeting the fates of their associates.

These would be come to known as the League Leaks and their debute would reshape the future of humanity as we know it.

But to look forward, one must first understand the past so let us take a look at the current ongoings taking place on the other end of the globe.

÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷÷

UN Headquarters, Europe.

A gavel smashed against the podium, demanding the attention of a frantic crowd.

For the first time since the 'advent of the exceptional', national leaders from across the world were meeting face to face. At the center of it all, stood the HSPC leader, Hawks.

Although he did not rule the nation, the royal family had not held power in ages, thus the HPSC president was considered an acceptable substitute.

Again the gavel struck the podium at the center of the stands and finally the chatter stopped.

The UN representative dragged a hand down his face.

Originally this meeting was going to be discussing the compensation given to the countries that aided in the cleanup effort after the war, only for a data leak to surface and spread worse then the Niño Diablo that had recently crushed the America's.

He looked up to see the young president staring at him like some kind of child, clearly (and fortunately) he was not aware of the leaks. Though judging by some faces, that would be changing today.

The representative tried not to glare as he spoke into his mic.

"This meeting was originally going to discuss Japan's plans to repay the nation's of Singapore, Australia, The United States, New Korea and China." The man spoke with a controlled tone.

"However some information has come to light that has changed that, as such my superiors believe it would be best for the nation's gathered here to both discuss the newly found info as well as the next steps going forward. Whomever wishes to speak, please do so now."

SLAM!

The noise came from the northwest of the side of the stands, the furious expression of bared teeth and blazing eyes signaled the fury of the Korean President.

Even with the man's quirk giving him resemblance to a Siberian Tiger, it failed to match the fury lacing his tone

His huff came with a deep growl as he spoke.

"When your nation was in shambles, we were made to pick up the slack. Our heroes worked day and night to aid in your rebuilding project, no matter how ludicrous the deadlines and today we find our you repay us by going behind our backs!." The Tiger-man bellowed.

Hawks replied "woah, woah big man easy. Would someone mind informing me what happend exactly."

"Gladly" France's Prime Minister tsked from the eastern side of the stands.

"Around 4 hours ago, a series of documents were uploaded to ze web, showing very compromising footage. As such myself and the nation's of Germany, Otheon, Italy, Ze UK and the rest of ze EU are opting for further investigations into ze HPSC" Her head turned to the UN representative as she finished.

"If I may" The attention drew on the Pro Hero, Typhoon (known to the ignorant as the Big Red Dot)

"As the representative of Singapore, me and my colleagues believe Japan should face punishment for their attitudes and actions. The HPSC has made no statement as of yet and thus far has shown no remorse for their past actions, would it be possible to list some of these actions" Typhoon stated.

The UN representative adjusted his glasses as he read off the paper.

"Of course, thus far the following have been confirmed: Political assassination, domestic terrorism, bribery, unlawful imprisonment, tampering of multiple corpses, larceny in regards to past targets, corruption, falsifying a suicide. These are all crimes the Commission is suspected to be guilty of and substantial evidence has been found backing up those claims." He mechanically stated to the court.

"As such the this meeting has been altered from one discussing resources to now discussing if Japan even has a seat at this table, so to speak. All should note that this will by an arduous process and should more come to light it will be even longer, so please do not expect this to be a one time thing." The representative explained

Words of acknowledgement were spoken in unison.

Hawks paused uncharacteristically, eyes showing that his mind was firing on all cylinders to make a response.

He went with courtesy. "Alright, I can see where your coming from, but the HPSC is dead. The crimes mentioned were done by the last 2 presidents. I intend to make a change."

"Oh, as I'm sure you're aware that some of those crimes were carried out by yourself, does the name 'Jin Bubaigawra' ring a bell?" The VP of the United States bluntly added.

"I was under the Commission's thumb, I was just following-"

"BULLSHIT!". cried out Typhoon, water flowing from his mouth as his quirk activated in fury.

"I WILL NOT SIT IDLY BY, AS YOU SO SHAMELESSLY LIE TO OUR FACES!. Do you take us for fools!?. We've read the logs Hawks and not once were you ever given permission to kill!"

The word 'permission' launched off his tongue like poison. The Singaporean Lion emphasized his rant with a slam to his desk.

That got the pot stirring.

"Oh a murderer in office, what else is new for your nation. Some odd 250 years ago it was the Imperial Emperor and now this, Well I won't stand for it and none of you should either!." The Korean President roared.

Then it was US's turn.

"Furthermore, how do we know you aren't just a figurehead while the Commission schemes in the shadows?. Do you really expect us to believe in you or your methods." The Vice President spoke up.

"The commission has changed under my leadership-"

"You?, the same man who thinks the best way to help 'those that slipped through the cracks' is to kill them?" Huffed India's representative, his arms crossed.

The room quickly went wild with questions and heated remarks.

The Gavel slammed once, then twice more.

"Order, Order!. We must continue with the proceedings, please remember that the next meeting we have will be hosted live to address these matters. You are representative of your nations, act like it!. "

The room was left throughly cowed.

The representative continued, his tone a little softer.

"I understand these are stressful times but we must keep our composure and focus on the matters at hand. Let us continue where we left off, Hawks if you could-"

Much was said, more was planned and as the 3 hour meeting came to a close, every person that left the room knew things would never be the same.

Even in death, Tomura Shigaraki won.

[yeetmeoutthewindowdaddy]

What Zevlor once was

Angst, whump, hurt/ no comfort, pstd, depression, self-loathing, loss of faith, hopelessness.

--------------------------------------------

Zevlor once was a proud man. He was a member of the Hellriders, the elite calvary unit of the city of Elturel— who could rival a large nation's entire army, alone. He had worked his way up its ranks and, despite the discrimination he faced as a tiefling, earned the prestigious rank of Commander.

Zevlor once was a paladin. He was a weapon of the gods, wielded to protect those who could not protect themselves. He was steadfast in his righteous convictions of duty, honor, loyalty, and bravery.

Zevlor once was an optimist. He believed that good would always triumph over evil. He believed that most people were, at their core, decent— that even the criminals he apprehended had a spark of good in them, the ability to change for the better.

Zevlor once was a strong man, both physically and mentally. He used people's ignorant prejudices to fuel his desire to prove them wrong. The horrors he witnessed in the line of duty reinforced his unwavering belief in his fight for justice. The Hells themselves didn't break him, they inspired him; showing him that even bitter, long-standing, enemies could work together towards the common good.

Zevlor once was a better man.

But that was before the city, his city, the place he called home, exiled him. That was before the people who he'd spent nearly fourty years unwaveringly serving turned on him. That was before he, and all the other tieflings, were blamed for Elturel's fall into Avernus and subsequently banished. That was before he was stripped of his Hellrider status, before he watched his comrads, his family, coldly cast him aside.

Being forcefully ousted from the city didn't break his paladin oath— it shattered his very faith itself.

The connection to his god was gone. Zevlor had been abandoned by the one thing he'd been certain he would always have— his devotion. Now a cold, dark, emptiness replaced the burning zeal which had once brightly shined within him— any remaining embers of his former faith had been stomped out in the Shadowlands.

His fellow tieflings, his people, who he'd sworn to protect— had died because of him. Because he listened to the Absolute's siren song. Because he believed the promises of a false god.

Because he was man who was struggling to keep himself together.

Now Zevlor is a broken man. A man whose hands shake so badly that he can't even hold a bowl of soup without dropping it. A man who has screaming night terrors whenever he tries to sleep. A man who stutters and stammers when he manages to speak.

Now Zevlor had truly lost everything.

Now Zevlor was nothing more than a sad, frail, old man.

He wondered if he had ever truly been anything more.

Even IF he had been, he dared not to hope that he could ever be more again.

If these past few months had taught Zevlor anything, it was that hope would only make the inevitable disappointment hurt all the more.

If these past few months had taught Zevlor anything, it was that he wasn't even a fraction of the man that he had once thought he was.

[aichabouchareb]

Forgive me for what you will see and for what I have to say. ⁣

⁣

🚨What you are witnessing is the Massacre of Deir Al-Balah in Gaza —RIGHT NOW. ⁣

⁣

This is being filmed by our dear brother @motaz_azaiza - this is HIS NEIGHBORHOOD. He soon realizes that he has lost many family members, friends, and neighbors. ⁣

⁣

The entire videos are some of the worst I’ve ever seen. It looks like 6 ENTIRE BLOCKS of LARGE APARTMENT BUILDINGS were just completely destroyed. Kids, elders, women, men. Everybody - either blown to literal bits or so badly mangled that survival is unlikely. ⁣

⁣

I saw torsos without heads or limbs.⁣

Hands with no arms.⁣

Heads with no bodies.⁣

Skin with no bone.⁣

Bone with no skin.⁣

⁣

🤬🤬🤬 DO NOT TELL ME EVER AGAIN that Israel and the United States always “try not to kill innocent people.”⁣

⁣

It’s a lie.⁣

It’s always been a lie.⁣

It’s been a lie since 1948.⁣

⁣

But it’s the biggest lie being told right now and ONLY A FUCKING FOOL or white supremacist or someone on the payroll or Israel or America would believe it.⁣

⁣

DAMN NEAR ALL THEY HAVE DONE IS KILL INNOCENT PEOPLE. ⁣

⁣

Nearly 10,000 kids alone have been slaughtered. ⁣

⁣

🚨 Until now, the only things that LOOKED LIKE THIS were “terrorist attacks” and that’s all this is. ⁣

⁣

➡️ WORLD LEADERS. Except for Yemen, you are all cowards. Every last one of you. ⁣

⁣

I’m ashamed of you. You are useless.⁣

Worse than useless. ⁣

You are enablers and protectors of this genocide by your unwillingness to intervene. ⁣

⁣

This could and should have been stomped 2 months ago. A month ago. A week ago. ⁣

⁣

WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU WAITING FOR?⁣

⁣

Hear my heart leaders: THIS IS THE MOMENT where you put it all on the line. This is where you risk it all. ⁣

⁣

Instead, beyond some tough words, you look like dickless impotent cowards. You look like children that are afraid of the big bad bullies. ⁣

⁣

All that tough talk you’ve done for a generation and when the moment needs you, your character has betrayed you in front of the entire world. ⁣

⁣

This goes to Presidents. ⁣

Prime Ministers. ⁣

Dictators.⁣

Senators.⁣

Defense Ministers.⁣

And to the United Nations. ⁣

⁣

You’ve all proven yourself as nearly worthless. ⁣

Please do better

[simply-ivanka]

Biden Leaves His Successor a World of Disorder

His policies have encouraged the advance of U.S. adversaries across the globe.

By The Editorial Board -- Wall Street Journal

President Biden will address the United Nations on Tuesday, in what is likely to be his last big moment on the world stage. A President’s foreign-policy legacy typically outlasts his term, so it’s worth taking a step back and considering the world Mr. Biden will leave his successor.

It is a far more dangerous world than Mr. Biden inherited, and far less congenial for U.S. interests, human freedom and democracy. The latter is tragically ironic since the President has made the global contest between democracy and authoritarians an abiding theme. Authoritarians have advanced on his watch in every part of the world—Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, and even the Americas.

***

• Mr. Biden’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan was his single most damaging decision, and it has led to cascading trouble. The Taliban control the country and are reimposing feudal Islamist rule. His withdrawal has done more harm to more women than anything in decades, while jihadists have revived their terror sanctuary.

• More damaging is the message his withdrawal sent to adversaries about American will and retreat. The credibility of U.S. deterrence collapsed. Mr. Biden tried to appease Vladimir Putin by blessing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and refusing to arm Ukraine. Mr. Putin concluded he could invade Ukraine at limited cost, especially after Mr. Biden blurted out that a “minor incursion” might not elicit the same Western opposition.

After Kyiv bravely resisted, Mr. Biden sent weapons, but too little and too delayed at every stage of the war. Even now, after 31 months and 100,000 or more dead, Mr. Biden dithers over letting Ukraine use long-range ATACMS against targets inside Russia.

• His record in the Middle East is worse. Rather than build on the Abraham Accords he inherited, he tried to ostracize Saudi Arabia and he banned offensive weapons to fight the Houthis. From the start he courted the mullahs in Iran to renew the 2015 nuclear accord that had enriched Iran before Donald Trump withdrew. He refused to enforce oil sanctions, even as Iran spread mayhem through its proxy militias.

The U.S. was caught flat-footed when Hamas, aided by Iran, invaded Israel and massacred 1,200 innocents. His national-security adviser, Jake Sullivan, had to edit an online version of a Foreign Affairs essay already published boasting that “the region is quieter than it has been for decades.”

Here’s how quiet: Our foremost regional ally is now at war on multiple fronts. Israel’s defensive campaign in Gaza isn’t finished and a new and perhaps bloodier fight is unfolding with Hezbollah. The Houthis have all but shut down Western commercial shipping around the Red Sea, while Mr. Biden makes U.S. naval commanders play whack-a-missile.

Meanwhile, Iran marches undeterred to becoming a nuclear power. The Biden Administration mouths pieties that this is unacceptable, but its every action suggests it believes a nuclear Iran is inevitable and trying to stop it is too risky. When Iran goes nuclear, the security calculus in the world will turn upside down.

• Mr. Biden’s record in the Asia-Pacific is marginally better, at least diplomatically. He has strengthened U.S. alliances against China, especially with Australia, Japan and the Philippines. The Aukus defense deal is important, as is Japan’s move toward closer military integration with the U.S.

Yet diplomacy hasn’t been matched by hard power. The U.S. isn’t building enough submarines to meet its Aukus commitment and U.S. needs. American bases lack adequate air defenses and long-range missiles to defeat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan. State Department foot-stomping hasn’t stopped Chinese harassment of Philippine ships.

• Closer to home, Venezuela’s dictator has predictably stolen another election, exposing the Biden Administration’s deal to ease oil sanctions as naive. Mexico is tilting in an authoritarian direction without U.S. protest. Cuba continues to spread revolution wherever it can. The resulting human suffering reaches America in the flood of migrants that now burden our cities, from Manhattan to Springfield, Ohio.

• Most ominous is the collaboration of these menacing regional powers into a new anti-Western axis. Iran supplies missiles and drones to Moscow, which may be supplying nuclear know-how to Tehran. China is aiding Moscow, which now joins Beijing in naval maneuvers. North Korea also arms Moscow while being protected by China from United Nations sanctions it once voted for.

***

All of this and more adds up to the worst decline in world order, and the largest decline in U.S. influence, since the 1930s. Yet Mr. Biden continues to speak and act as if he’s presided over an era of spreading peace and prosperity. He has proposed a cut in real defense spending each year of his Presidency, which may be his greatest abdication.

Addressing this gathering storm will be difficult and dangerous. The first task will be restoring U.S. deterrence, which will require more hard power and political will. Whoever wins the White House will have to abandon the failed policies of the Biden years, lest we end up careening into a global conflict with catastrophic consequences.

Appeared in the September 23, 2024, print edition as 'How Freedom Faded on Biden’s Watch'

REPOST THIS EVERY TIME

[strigops]

while researching maryland dinosaurs for work i found out that there are a weird amount of nodosaur fossils here and i am beside myself with emotions for two notable fossils of very young nodosaurs

this tiny hatchling was found in college park and the whole fossil is only 13 centimeters long. even with the other half of its body it would've have fit in my hands, at only just a foot long. this is the youngest nodosaur ever found, and was so young it was likely still confined to its nest and the immediate area around it. this poor hatchling was under a year of age when it was likely swept from in or around its nest by a flood and immediately buried by silt, belly up, leaving the impressions of its armored forehead that had yet to grow many of the characteristic osteoderms of adult nodosaurs. there are preserved footprints of hatchlings the exact same size found very close to the body, possibly the footprints of siblings or even the same individual. the size of it has me continually imagining holding it, this guy was so small and so young. i want to hold that little splayed out hand.

there's also a fantastic cretaceous trackway that was found outside the goddard space center, and though the highlight is how many mammals are present and almost my entire thing is early mammals and trace fossils i am most enamored with the nodosaur tracks. some of the tracks may be the smallest ankylosaurian tracks ever found. they're present with a much larger adult, perhaps of the same taxa, perhaps even a parent. the one print that really gets me is the singular adult nodosaur print in the whole trackway, which has a baby's footprint inside of it, just slightly deformed to suggest that it slipped in its parent's footprint. 110 million years ago a kid slipped in the mud trying to keep up with it parent.

references and more pics for those interested (i highly recommend looking at the full trackway, there's some really cool mammal and even pterosaur prints!!!):

The First Hatchling Dinosaur Reported from the Eastern United States: Propanoplosaurus marylandicus (Dinosauria: Ankylosauria) from the Early Cretaceous of Maryland, U.S.A.

Little nodosaur fossil found in College Park

New dinosaur species named from hatchling fossil donated to National Museum of Natural History

A diverse mammal-dominated, footprint assemblage from wetland deposits in the Lower Cretaceous of Maryland

Spectacular dinosaur stomping grounds discovered just outside D.C.

[eretzyisrael]

by Mary Chastain

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis Domestic Violence Prevention Group ‘Likens Israel to an Abuser’

Hamas raped, mutilated, and beat Israeli women before setting them on fire…alive.

The domestic violence prevention group at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) encouraged people to view Israel as an abuser in its latest Instagram posts.

Lauren Suriel, the national field director for Israel on Campus Coalition (ICC), posted a few screenshots from the Domestic Abuse Prevention Student Organization’s (DAPSO) Instagram account.

How awful. We know that doctors confirmed that 30 of the freed women suffered sexual abuse. We know Hamas made it a goal to rape females.

Hamas “raped the women then they burned them alive”

Hamas Goal In Capturing Jewish Women, Children, and Babies Was To “Dirty Them, To Rape Them”, Admits Terrorist

Hamas Savagery Worse Than ISIS – Reports of Mass Rapes, Abusing and Beheading Bodies of Israeli Soldiers

State Dept: Hamas Broke Ceasefire, Still Holding Women Hostages to Cover Up Sexual Abuse

Multiple Hamas Terrorists: We Became Like ISIS, Admit To Beheadings, Stomping Heads, Sex With Dead Women

Terrorist Captive: Admits Hamas “cut off their heads” after killing Israelis, and “raping and whoring” of children

Many Israeli women signed up for the IDF due to the evidence: Surge In Israeli Women Signing Up For Combat Units After October 7 Mass Rapes And Sexual Mutilation

[bobattef]

Paddock 🐰

The music was thumping through your chest, the flashing lights from the club dancing across your skin as you knock back another shot that was handed to you.

You were already starting to feel the affects of the many units of alcohol you had consumed this evening but you didn’t care.

You wanted more.

You needed more.

More alcohol to numb the pain from your break up with Max.

You had your problems in your relationship but who’s doesn’t these days.

Yes it was slightly controversial working as one of the content creators for McLaren, whilst dating a rival teams driver but those that have known you have expressed many disappointments in your life’s choices so, what was one more.

It was more Max’s team principal that had the bigger problem though.

Every one laughed that Christian was the real father figure in Max’s life but little did they know the man dictated a lot of things to his number one driver.

It was him that pushed for the break up of you and Max, saying you were the reason why he was failing to succeed in recent races.

It wasn’t your fault!

Everyone could see that the Ferrari’s this season were just clicking together a lot better than the RedBull’s and even the McLaren’s yet Horner’s words to Max cut like a knife.

You knew by the look on his face that he would do anything to get winning again.

And that included stomping on your heart like it was nothing.

So here you were, out in the streets of Monaco partying your night away after the Grand Prix this weekend.

You were kind of glad for one thing about this breakup, Max’s strict lifestyle before and after races would never of allowed you to be out and about on town.

You missed nights like these with your bestie where you’d just drink and dance the night away.

McLaren had a good weekend this weekend so the team were out somewhere in one of the many bars that lined this particular part of the Monaco strip.

Both Oscar and Lando up on the podium, with Charles winning his home Grand Prix!

You had always been a Ferrari fan, from when you were very little, so always enjoyed the sound of the Italian national anthem after a race.

Your employers not batting an eyelid as you also hung around with the Ferrari team on race weekends when you weren’t busy filming the McLaren family. 

It was something Christian hated about you though, as he banned you from wearing any Ferrari merchandise when you made things official with Max and of course Max agreed.

You shake your head, physically removing the thoughts of your ex from your mind.

“You ok?” Your bestfriend laughs over the sound of the music blasting around you.

You just smile and nod.

“Another shot?” She tells you rather than asks as she knows you too well.

“Fuck yeah!” You shout “then we dance?” 

“If you can still stand” she replies as both of you knock back another two shots.

***

Charles could barely walk straight as the VIP rep showed him to his booth.

With Carlos, Pierre, Lando, Alex and George (the Mercedes and Williams drivers with their gfs) in his booking party, it was a very prestige group.

He had his sunglasses on to ease the bright lights of the club as they all danced their way up towards the VIP area.

The tables were lined with bottles of alcohol.

Champagne, vodka, rum you name it.

He already felt like he was at his limit for drink but this was his first time he ever won his home race. 

He was going to be celebrating this for a long while.

“Hey, is that y/n?” Alex asks George as they stand at the balcony area, over looking the club. 

Carlos joins them as he tries to focus in on where his mates were looking.

His vision slightly blurred from the contents of drink they had already in their system but sure enough his eyes land on you and the person he was really looking for, your bestie, on the dance floor.

“Yeah” he laughs as he turns back to Charles raising his eyebrows.

Charles grinning back at him like they just had a full on conversation.

“Shall we invite her up here?” Lily asks Carmen.

You all used to be on the road together when the drivers had to do media days so you had established some what work relationships.

“Who’s she with?” Lando pipes up.

“Not Max” Pierre answers quickly.

“I can’t believe they even split up” Lily sounds sympathetic as Carmen agrees.

“You can’t??” Pierre laughs. “They were toxic for each other” he adds as he remembers the arguments and fights he used to witness from you both.

“Ok maybe they had their flaws but…” Alex says as he throws his arms around Lily “it was Horner who ordered them to split remember” 

“Yeah, however…” George joins them back on the sofas now “would you really listen to your boss over your girlfriend?” he asks Alex as he buries his head into Carmen’s shoulder, knowing his answer if he was ever to be asked to do such a thing.

“Are we calling them up here or not?” Carlos asks as Lando already answers their questions with a loud whistle using his fingers.

You knew that whistle from anywhere, it was definitely Lando but where was he?

“YO!!” He almost screeches across the club as others around you all start looking at who’s being hollered.

Your bestie points upwards as you try to pinpoint where Lando’s voice is coming from. 

He was waving like a loony tune up on the balcony area and you laugh at loud, waving back.

“He’s calling us up there” your bestie laughs as she rolls her eyes at your innocence.

She grabs your wrist and walks through the crowd, getting stopped by the security at the bottom of the stair case that leads up to the VIP area.

Both Lando and Pierre come bounding down the steps letting them know it’s ok to let you both through.

Lando gives you a bear hug that makes you almost fall backwards but you manage to keep your ground.

“Have you seen the rest of the team tonight?” He shouts in your ear as the smell of rum on his breath hits your nostrils.

“No” you laugh “where’s Oscar?” You ask him as you both stumble your way up towards the tables the other drivers are sat at now.

“I dunno” Lando slurs as he slumps back down next to Charles “in some bar along here”

“Hey Charles!” You sound a little too happy at seeing the Monegasque as your bestie giggles.

She’s known for a while you’ve always had a soft spot for the Ferrari driver and you can tell her it’s due to you being a fan of the prancing horse all you like, she knows you have a crush on him. 

“Congratulations on todays win!” You say to him as Pierre now hugs you.

“Hey Pierre” you laugh as you get the wind knocked out of you.

“What you doing out here all on your lonesome huh?” The French men asks you, feigning seriousness.

You had history with the Alpine driver before you had gotten with Max, only sleeping with him on a few occasions, nothing major.

But you were never sure if his sassiness towards you now was because he was bitter that in the early days of you dating Max, you were still fooling around with him. 

“I’m not on my own” you wrinkle up your nose at him, playing along “I have (insert besties name here) with me” you tell him as you walk over to where Lily and Carmen were sat.

“Lily, Carmen this is *besties name*” you tell them as she turns shy with all eyes on her, Carlos’ especially as he nods an awkward hello to her also. 

She was never allowed on event weekends with you when you were with Max.

She came a few times when you were travelling with McLaren but that’s it, so she never really met the wags of F1.

She sits between them and Carlos now as she starts small talk with them all.

“Who’s not drinking the champagne?!” You ask them as you noticed it’s the only bottle that hasn’t been opened.

“You’re right! Let’s celebrate both McLaren’s on the podium!” Lando suddenly has some more life in him jumping up and grabbing the bottle.

“And Ferrari’s win!” You add as you Lando rolls his eyes.

“Yes yes and that I suppose” he answers back sarcastically as he winks at Charles.

“You’re not a Ferrari fan are you?” George asks as the huge pop from the champagne cork makes you jump.

“You not seen her tattoo mate?” Pierre answers him as he smirks at you.

Ass.

The tattoo he was talking about wasn’t exactly in a place where anyone could see it.

“You have a Ferrari tattoo?” Carlos says raising his eyebrows at you.

All of their eyes are on you waiting for you to answer as you just nod at them, smiling awkwardly.

“Let’s see” Charles asks you as Pierre laughs out loud now. 

“Piss off Gasly!” You go to hit him playfully but he dodges out the way.

“How do you know about it Pierre?” Lando asks looking from you to him working something out.

“How do you?” Carlos asks Lando laughing at his former team mates seemingly slip up.

You sigh out loud as you know why Lando has seen it.

Spending so much time together with the McLaren team when you weren’t with Max you used to have beach days a lot so he’s seen you in a bikini more times than he can count.

You even remember Lando being there when your own Dad found out about it!

“Where is it?” Charles asks you gently, he’s definitely interested in this now. 

“The top of her thigh” Pierre tells him whilst looking at your reaction.

You’re not sure if he had told anyone about you and him before but you definitely haven’t told a soul. Especially Max. Not that he would care now.

“No..way?!” George laughs out loud as he clicks.

They all look between you and Pierre as they slowly work out that you had slept together.

“Wow y/n…two drivers?” Carlos laughs as your bestie digs him lightly in the ribs.

“You and Pierre?” Charles asks you as you shrug without an answer.

Hoping he doesn’t think any less of you sleeping with not one but two of the drivers he shares the grid with, at this moment anyhow.

“Are we seeing the tattoo or not?” Your bestie joins in as she tries her best to cover up the whole Pierre and you awkwardness by bringing up another awkward moment.

You were possibly a little too young and a little too stupid when you had gotten the tattoo but what’s being young and dumb without any silly life commitments?!

You were always a Ferrari fan so it made sense to get your favourite teams logo printed on you like some sort of branded property, that’s what you told yourself as you got older. 

How was you supposed to know that you would become a part of the team at McLaren one day and your boyfriend would be a driver for RedBull?! 

Ex boyfriend, you quickly corrected your thoughts.

You chew your lip as you think about it.

Could you get even more embarrassed after Pierre’s comments?

“Fine!” You decide, possibly due to having no proper thoughts behind it, your brain was intoxicated with alcohol after all.

Placing your heeled foot on the leather bench next to where Charles was sat, him secretly throwing up a thank you for being the one closest to you.

You roll your dress up towards the top of your thigh, carefully to make sure you didn’t flash your underwear to the entire table.

They all lean closer as you show them the small tattoo there, a black prancing horse with the chequered flag just behind it sitting at the of your leg, just where the waist band of your underwear was.

“Hmm” Charles was the only one to make a sound as the others sit back in silence whilst you drop your dress back down.

“Happy now?” You grin sarcastically at Pierre as he nods, clearly very happy with himself.

“When did you get it?” Charles interrupts the staring contest between you and Pierre.

“I was 17..18?” you shrug trying to play it off. 

But you knew the exact date you had gotten it.

Not that you were going to tell that beautiful face of the the Monegasque looking back at you. 

“Ask her why she got it” Lando laughs as he doesn’t notice your death stare.

“Cause she’s a Ferrari fan?” Carlos answers as if it’s the most logical answer.

“Nope” he turns to face you as his face drops realising he shouldn’t have mentioned anything. 

“Er, let’s drink…” he says quickly grabbing a few glasses for the champagne.

He nervously starts to pour it inside the glass, handing them out one by one as Charles has a look of confusion on his face.

“To McLaren” he says nodding at you, swallowing the whole contents of the glass in one.

“To Ferrari” Pierre laughs tipping his glass to where your tattoo was, Alex, George and the girls sip their drinks along with him.

“To Charles” Carlos smiles as him, your bestie, and you tip your champagne up and then back.

But he doesn’t drink from his own glass, instead his gaze is on you as he tries to work you out.

Your eyes find his now as the others start to make conversation between themselves, completely forgetting about what Lando said previously as he now comes and hugs you once more.

“I’m sorry” he leans into you as tries to talk quietly “I didn’t mean to bring that up, I didn’t think…” he trails off as Pierre comes and grabs the bottle that he was holding.

“Another?” He asks you interrupting Lando’s apology.

“Please” you tell him as you hold out your glass.

The heavy feeling in your chest starting to disappear under the heavy swallows of alcohol once more.

***

You had no idea what the time was, you had lost Alex, George and the girls in the time you had all left the bar to head back to the hotels.

Carlos and your best friend were walking way ahead of you now along the cobbled streets of Monaco, talking excitedly with each other.

Pierre and Charles were talking amongst themselves, in French too so you had no idea what they were saying but it sounded intense.

You and Lando were trying to help each other stay up. He had his arm around your shoulder whilst talking to you.

Hiccuping through his words you couldn’t help but laugh.

Charles and Pierre wait every few steps for you two to catch them up, something Carlos and your bestie wasn’t doing as they disappear round the next corner. 

You sigh out in drunk exhaustion as you sit down on the side wall lining a small cafe or shop of some sort, Lando joins you.

“Where’s Carlos and (besties name)?!” Lando asks as he quickly covers his mouth feeling the rise of bile inside his throat. 

“Gone mate” Pierre laughs at how drunk Lando was right now.

“Gone where?!” You stop laughing at Lando as you realise your best friend had your only hotel key in her purse.

“I dunno” he shrugs “can we hurry up….before the paps come catch us?” He says as he pulls you up from your little perch.

You go to avoid his grip but moving a little too fast for your own reactions you fall backwards into the bush. 

Crying out as you fall, flailing your arms about with Lando and Pierre almost wetting themselves.

Charles joins in with them but grabs you underneath your armpits and pulls you effortlessly out the, now crumbled bush.

He holds you close to his chest as you find your feet.

“Thank you” you mumble as you look up to him.

His eyes were bearing down on yours as you feel your cheeks start to heat up.

He just winks at you as Lando and Pierre start to slow their belly laughs at you.

“Come on” you huff at them both as you continue to walk down the road.

“We need to catch up with Carlos and (bfn)” 

“They’ve gone dude” Lando says to you, stating the obvious.

“Yeah they’re probably in each others pants by now considering how long you two are taking to walk down the road!” Pierre adds.

“Really? Carlos and my best friend?” You ask them both as even Charles nods in agreement with them.

“Well, where am I going to stay tonight?” you say your thoughts out loud as you think to maybe searching for a room at silly o’clock in the morning for a place to stay.

“Well you could stay in Carlos bed” Lando says as he catches up with you “Seeing as he’s staying in yours?”

“They’re not doing it in my bed!” You snap as the three of them laugh again.

“Y/n it’s fine, you can stay in mine and Carlos room” Charles says between his laughs.

You are taken a back, you’ve fancied the Ferrari driver for a while now, obviously only looking, never touching whilst you were in a relationship with Max.

But you never imagine him feeling the same way.

Especially after tonight where he learnt about you and Pierre also!

Your thoughts start running away from you as his next sentence causes them to stop in their tracks “Lando and Pierre are staying so what’s one more aye” he says as he rounds the corner you last saw your bestie walk.

***

The movement of the lift carrying you all to the 6th floor of the hotel was a bit too much for Lando.

He was in the bathroom of both the Ferrari drivers hotel room now.

You could hear the sound of him retching as you walk to the little kitchen, grabbing a cold bottle of water from the fridge. 

Charles and Pierre were sat in the living room area, still talking amongst themselves in French.

You go to check up on Lando, but he emerges from the bathroom, his eyes red and watery from throwing up.

You smile at him sympathetically as you hand him the water bottle.

“Little sips” you tell him as he walks over to the sofa and slumps down in defeat.

“The room…it’s spinning” he groans out, placing his arm over his face as you stifle a laugh.

You were trying to be caring and making sure he was ok but you were also very drunk yourself so this whole situation was hilarious.

You turn to where Charles and Pierre were sat on the sofa opposite, still in deep conversation as you frown at them, trying to figure out what they were talking about.

“You ok Mon lapinou? (My bunny) Charles asks as Pierre stops what he was saying and looks over to you trying to translate what he had just called you.

“Where is he sleeping?” You ask them whilst pointing to Lando sprawled on the sofa.

“Looks like he’s already sleeping” Pierre laughs as you look back at Lando’s face.

Sure enough he was laid there, mouth slightly open and breathing heavily as he was sparko.

Charles watches you as grab the blanket that was thrown over the back of the chairs.

You place it delicately over Lando as you slip his shoes off and tuck it in at the bottom of the sofa.

You then move the small trash can that was in the corner of the room to where his head was at, just in case.

“Where am I sleeping?” You ask Charles but don’t look at him out of awkwardness.

“Carlos bedroom is through there” he tells you whilst pointing to the first door on the left, Pierre looks at him as he speaks.

You nod in acknowledgment as you now slip your shoes off, leaving them next to Lando’s on the rug in the living room.

You start to walk down the short corridor to the bedroom of Carlos, you hope he doesn’t mind you jumping into his bed as you secretly wish he wasn’t in yours right now.

“Or if you’d prefer…” Charles voice makes you stop at the door, turning back to face them both as Pierre flashes a grin at you.

“My bedrooms on the right” Charles finishes as he looks at you with hooded eyes.

You’re not sure what your facial expressions were like but going by Pierre chuckling so loudly, you bet they were one of surprise.

“Your bedroom?” You repeat him as he nods at you.

“If you prefer” he finishes.

You look from Charles to Pierre as you feel you can’t quite sense what they were on about. 

You don’t say a word as you turn on your heels and after thinking of going into Carlos room one last time, you cause Charles and Pierre to grin at each other now as you walk a few steps more and disappear through the door into the Monegasque bedroom.

***

You stupidly left your phone out in the kitchen so had no idea how long you had been laying in Charles bed for.

You had discarded your dress, thinking for a moment to grab one of his shirts from his drawer to wear but opting for just your underwear instead.

You begin to feel awkward again as you weren’t sure if he was going to be joining you or not in the bed.

You start to rub your feet together underneath the sheets, wishing you could grab a pair of socks or something as your feet always get cold.

The sound of the door opening causes you to freeze entirely as you weren’t sure if Charles could see your face inside this dark bedroom.

You hear the footsteps from him as he walks over to the bed now, the mattress dipping slightly as he sits on the end of it. 

You almost hold your breath as you hear him getting undressed.

He curses quietly at the sound of his belt hitting the floor a little too loudly. 

You hear the groans of the bed springs as he crawls into bed now, pulling away the cover you had almost wrapped around your face to hide.

You shiver at the sudden cold as he wastes no time to shuffle up close to you.

Moulding his body to fit perfectly behind yours as he drops the cover back onto you both.

You swallow deeply as you can feel him pressing up against you now.

You feel that he is just in his boxers as he drapes one arm over your ribs as the other is laid out across the top of your head.

You had definitely sobered up slightly in the time it took you to walk to the hotel from the club and although you still had some of the effects from alcohol playing with you, you were absolutely sober enough to be ok with him resting his hand on your chest.

“Mamour?” The heavily accented voice of his pressed up so closely to your ear causes your eyes to fly open.

“You awake?” He asks you as he gently nips the  skin off your neck.

“Mmmhmm” you breathe out at his touch.

Your sleepy voice sends a shiver down his spine as he unconsciously bucks his hips up towards the curve of your ass.

You can feel the bulge of his hardness through the fabric as you stifle a moan.

He grins into the darkness as he starts to feel the affects he has on you.

Your nipples harden as he pinches one through the lace of your bralette.

You push your ass out into his hips as he moves them closer to you.

His hand start to wonder down from your chest, across your stomach and down the side of your hip.

He traces his fingers so lightly along the hem of your underwear as your eyes flutter under his touch.

It was so delicate, like he thought you were made of glass.

He brings his fingers over your clothed cunt, stroking you there, feeling the slight dampness of the fabric.

He cups his hand now as you almost gasp out at his grip.

“Wet already huh lapinou?” He whispers at you as he starts to plant kisses along your neck. 

He pulls on your underwear as you lift slightly off the bed, helping him to glide them down past  your thighs and onto the floor.

His hand returns to their place on your cunt as he wastes no time in rubbing circles on your clit.

You cant help but moan out at the touch.

His touch.

The Ferrari driver who you’ve crushed on from afar for weeks now, has his hands where you’ve wanted them the most finally.

He pushes two of his fingers inside you as it was his turn to moan out loud.

You were so wet for him.

He switches up from the rubbing of your clit to the swift movements of his fingers disappearing inside you as you grip on to his arm now. Steadying yourself as you can feel that familiar pressure building up inside.  

“Charles” you breathe out as his paces quickens.

“Oui Bébé?” He asks you as you feel the tickling from his breaths on your neck in between his kisses.

You were sure they were more like little sucks on your neck than kisses but you don’t care right now.

You moan out his name as you come around his fingers, Charles quickly placing a hand over your mouth as you do.

You look up at him with a full on silly ass grin as he laughs lightly, pulling out of you, he brings his fingers up to his mouth now, darting his tongue out to wrap around them, tasting you on them. 

A low grumble comes from his chest.

“Fuck I needed to taste you so badly!” He sighs out as his words cause you to raise your eyebrows.

“Really?” You ask him as his face lights up.

Before you could ask him why he was pulling such a face he disappears under the cover, prising your thighs apart he nestles his head inbetween them.

“Charles I…” you go to ask him what he’s doing but you get cut off with the feeling of his mouth on your cunt.

His tongue swirls around your clit before delving inside you and back out again.

“Fuck!” You rasp out as you lay your head back on the pillow, bringing a hand up to wrap in the Monegasques hair. 

He moves his mouth over your sweet spot with such skill you almost cry out again in orgasm.

Your grip tightens on his scalp, pulling on his hair, the sensation causing him to go feral on you right now.

You were already so wet from coming a few moments earlier and now paired with saliva from Charles mouth, there was all sorts of noises coming from that hotel bedroom of his. 

“Mmmm fuck bébé you taste so fucking good” the sound of his voice causes vibrations on you down there as you feel yourself coming for the second time that night. 

This time he can’t reach your mouth to clamp his hands over it.

He laps up every part of you as you come down from your high.

You’re too lost in the moment that you don’t even hear the door to the bedroom open again as another being steps into the darkness.

“Hope you’re saving some of those orgasms for me Mon Cheri” the deep voice of Pierre fills your ear drums as you almost crush Charles head that was still in-between your thighs, as you try to close your legs. 

“Pierre” you choke out, trying to find your words.

“Were you just listening in on us??” You try to sound annoyed but you were still on a high.

“Maybe” he chuckles out as Charles moves back up to the head of the bed again.

“Why?!” You almost shout.

“I’m jealous…” Pierre shrugs as if it was obvious “I want in on the action”

His words cause you to laugh out loud.

“You can’t be serious?!” you say as you look at Charles now for back up but his face isn’t mimicking yours.

His face is more like Pierre’s is right now.

Full of lust, they both have that feral look in their eyes as their pupils are fully blown and their eyes are almost black. 

“I’m deadly serious” Pierre steps closer to the bed now as you notice he’s shedded most of his clothes now.

“We both are” Charles adds on as you eyes widen in shock. 

“Both??” You say out loud, not believing a word you were hearing.

Both! Of them?? Wanted you??

Your mind starts whirling around as you try to make sure you’re not getting this wrong.

Pierre joins you and Charles in bed now, he can see you were having an internal argument with yourself.

“So what’s it going to be?” Charles pipes up. 

“Let us both have you or…”

“Or I kick Charles out and have my way with you all by myself” Pierre cuts Charles off as he smirks at his friend.

[handeaux]

A Secret Organization Scoured Cincinnati For Bolsheviks But Found Only A Schoolgirl

It is inevitable, once you have created an organization to snitch on your neighbors, that you will find neighbors to snitch on. So it was with the American Protective League.

The American Protective League emerged from the jingoistic fervor that gripped America during the First World War. According to Steven L. Wright [Queen City Heritage, Winter 1988]:

“The American Protective League (APL) organized in Chicago in March 1917, had units in 600 cities and a membership roster of nearly 100,000. And by 1918 membership had grown to 250,000. Its membership consisted of bankers, businessmen, attorneys, chamber of commerce leaders and insurance company executives. Because of their ‘high’ position, they easily obtained information concerning ‘troublesome’ citizens, especially those who opposed the draft.”

Nationally, the APL received quasi-legal status as an affiliate of the federal Department of Justice. Locally, the Cincinnati branch of the APL was instrumental in arresting thirteen socialists who were charged with treason for circulating literature opposed to the military draft. Those charges would eventually be dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1924.

With the conclusion of hostilities, the APL technically disbanded on 31 January 1919 when Gerson J. Brown, the wholesale tobacconist who led the Cincinnati chapter, turned over all League records to Calvin S. Weakley, special agent of the Department of Justice. Even though the organization ceased to exist, however, some members insisted on carrying on the work of the League. Germany’s surrender had revealed, according to these men, a new and even more sinister enemy working to conquer America – Bolshevism. John L. Richey, head of the Cincinnati Association of Credit Men, announced through several very public speeches that his position as chief investigator of the American Protective League had revealed to him that Bolshevism was alive and well in Cincinnati. According to the Enquirer [9 January 1919]:

“Mr. Richey declared speakers at recent meetings in Cincinnati had advocated immediate revolution and deliberate assassination of public officials who could not be influenced as part of the Bolshevist doctrine. There has been an increase, Mr. Richey said, in the Bolshevist movement in Cincinnati from 500 members 60 days ago, to a membership of a few more than 3,000 today.”

Not quite a week later, the Cincinnati Post [14 January 1919] announced that Richey now estimated a Cincinnati cabal of Bolshevists, International Workers of the World, and various other radical fellow travelers had more than 7,000 members. Richey pledged to continue his investigative work in Cincinnati despite the dissolution of the American Protective League through a new “secret patriotic organization.” According to Richey:

“Members of these groups of radicals, or revolutionists, are guided by a national head, who directs from New York and Philadelphia. Cincinnatians in the organizations principally are foreign born. There are Germans, Italians, Russians, and Hungarians, with some malcontent Americans.”

In a statement that foreshadowed the Red-baiting tactics of Senator Joseph McCarthy thirty years later, Richey predicted that eight to ten Cincinnati officials would soon resign once the Justice Department digested the reports submitted by the American Protective League. By February 1919, Richey’s estimate of Cincinnati radicals had reached 10,000, holding regular meetings to urge the “seizure of banks, manufacturing plants, and private property.”

Richey repeatedly asserted that the Cincinnati Board of Education fanned the flames of Bolshevism here by allowing teachers to spread radical propaganda. After all his stomping and fuming, Richey had trouble producing a single Bolshevik. Nevertheless, he told the Cincinnati Post [3 February 1919], he knew exactly where to find one:

“The home of a Cincinnati school girl, the alleged meeting place of supporters of Bolshevism, is being watched by the secret patriotic organization of which John L. Richey is head, he said Monday. Richey told of existence of a Bolshevik school where students are taught principles of Bolshevism and urged to spread them in educational institutions. A Woodward High School pupil is leader in the movement, according to Richey.”

The moment Richey made that accusation, the city turned against him and his “secret patriotic organization.” The pupil in question was Rose Simkin, aged 19, who had immigrated from Russia six years earlier. Since that time, she had been employed at the Cross Overall Company while studying in the morning before work and in the evening after work at Woodward High School, hoping to earn citizenship. She told the Post [7 February 1919]:

“I hardly know what Bolshevism means. I am an American. I didn’t even know it was I who was being talked about until told so by the school authorities. Ever since I have been in America and lived in this free country I have thought of nothing except what a wonderful land this is.”

Miss Simkin pointed to her bookshelves, filled with volumes by Poe, Shakespeare and other classic authors and defied Richey to find any hint of subversive literature.

Helen T. Wooley of the Cincinnati School Board was outraged by Richey’s accusations against Rose Simkin.

“There has been excessive zeal in trying to uncover un-American plots and in this case they have hit an innocent girl.”

The American Israelite pointed out that Rose Simkin’s brothers were serving in Palestine as part of the British army there and that Richey may not have known the difference between Zionism and Bolshevism – a not-so-subtle accusation of anti-Semitism. Mainline organizations such as the City Club and the Women’s City Club passed resolutions condemning Richey’s accusations.

As the Simkin debacle faded, so did Richey’s “secret patriotic organization.” When Richey died in 1962, his obituary made no mention of the American Protective League or his secret organization.

In 1920, Rose Simkin married Edward Trieman, her father’s partner in a Race Street haberdashery. She lived to be 70 and gave birth to a son who became a doctor. Her tombstone identifies her as “A Devoted Daughter In Israel.”

[lazarus-lazuli]

it IS very disheartening to have to rehash all the same arguments we had in 2016. the only differences between 2024 and 2016 are 1) kamala is objectively a better candidate than hillary ever was (or biden for that matter but that’s neither here nor there) and 2) we have actual precedent now for how bad a trump presidency is PLUS a whole handbook of the shit his supporters want to kickstart once he’s in office.

there is very much a fascist movement in the united states rn and it’s gonna take a couple of decades to stomp out. because of that, in the meantime the presidential elections are gonna suck and be more about damage control than anything. but even if you’re understandably frustrated with the state of our political system it’s better to go vote for president so you can also support whatever good candidates and policies that are on your respective state’s ballot. it’s a much better option rotting away in your anger and guilt over being a citizen of an imperialist nation as if that’s a meaningful protest against the status quo.

and if your main concern is the us aiding israel’s continued ethnic cleansing of palestine you can go to a harris-walz rally and/or the upcoming DNC and protest your ass off. she already publicly announced her support of a ceasefire deal BECAUSE she kept getting heckled by pro-palestine protestors. unlike trump, harris is not a president who would be impossible to work with when it comes to left wing goals.

[usafphantom2]

1997: Steve Jobs returns to Apple Computers, Bill Clinton was President of the United States, gas cost $1.22 per gallon, the C-141s were literally falling apart, and I decided to leave the Air Force.

So, I was delighted to find a photo of my old stomping grounds, McGuire AFB taken from above the northeastern corner of the airfield, looking at the parking ramps. New Jersey Air National Guard KC-135, Active-Duty and Reserve KC-10s and Active-Duty C-141s where stationed there at the time. My squadron was finally getting a new building five years after arriving, we’d been working out of a hanger and the far end of the field.

@tcamp202 via X

[knockyasocksoff2022]

The Cask of Manhasset ~ RANPOE~

Part I - We're Moving!?

{1,203 words}

“Ranpo, Kyu, Elise! Come down here please, we have something we need to discuss with you.” My Dad’s voice echoes up from downstairs, the dining room probably, so that’s where I go. 

Sure enough, Dad and Papa are sitting at the dining table. I already know what they will say, but I wonder how they will break the news. There’s a stack of atlases in front of Dad, the ones I asked him to buy me when I figured it out.

I squirm in my seat, my fingers moving of seemingly their own accord to create a rhythm on the tabletop, impatiently waiting for them to just say it already.

A few seconds later Kyu and Elise come running into the dining room, Elise sitting in Papa’s lap and Kyu in Dad’s.

At last, Dad begins, “So as Ranpo already knows, Rin and I have gotten a new job. I’m going to be teaching at a university in the northern United States of America, in New England, the state of Connecticut. Rin has acquired a job with the cardiology department of a nearby hospital. I’m sure you’ve gathered by now that we will have to move.”

Kyu’s eyes widen, Papa reaches over and strokes their hair, “I know this is a lot for you, but Yuki and I have already arranged everything, including the new house and your new school, Manhasset Manor Academy. It’s a kindergarten through grade 12 academy, so all of you will be going to the same school together, how exciting!”

Despite Papa’s genuine attempt at enthusiasm, Elise looks less than pleased, “Oh, of course, you spring this on us now! When do we go? Is the food good, what about the uniform?”

“Calm down dear, the school sent us informational packets and brochures, for each of you and you can read them and look on the website as soon as we’re done here. And as for when we’ll be going, well term begins in August, and Rin and I have to do some prep work before then so we’ll be moving in two weeks.” He gives me a small smile. Dad covers Kyu’s ears in anticipation of Elise’s explosion.

“WHATT!!?? Two weeks! Another country, What do you mean two---”

“Elise-chan, please calm yourself. The movers are coming to pack and move all of our furniture tomorrow, they’ll ship it over so we’ll already have it when we get there. Besides we’ve already made our decision, the paperwork has been filed for your transfer, so you may kick and scream all you want, in your room.”

Papa pats my upset sister’s head, “My dearest darling daughter, we truly are sorry for telling you this now but we figured it was best to wait, for this very reason, we didn’t want to have you worrying for weeks and weeks. There’s plenty of time to say goodbye to your friends, you can have playdates with all of them every day this week if they’re free. And since you’re so young I’m sure you’ll make plenty of new friends in America, you speak wonderful English after all.”

I translate in my head: Sorry this is out of the blue, but we didn’t want to hear you whine for two months.

I sigh when I hear Papa’s idea of compensation, hoping said playdates will be at the other friends’ houses.

I tune out the rest of Elise’s complaints as she stomps upstairs, instead flipping through the Atlases Dad pushes across the table to me. There are four. Three of the whole United States, a geographical one, an industrial one and one meant for tourists, and then one just of Connecticut with all three of those things. I’m about to take my prizes to my room but Dad stops me.

“Ranpo, we have one more thing, Rin’s idea actually, and brilliant, if you ask me.”

Papa blushes at Dad’s comment, “I just thought, you know since you adore shiny things so much . . .” He pulls two large binders and a third, smaller one, “These are for you to collect the United States Quater Dollar coins. Most of them have George Washington on them but they make special ones there, indicating national parks, the different states and famous American women. I thought you might enjoy collecting them.” I can feel how wide my smile is, and he continues explaining, smiling at the confirmation that his gift is liked, “Each page is for a different quarter, it has information and a little pocket for it to go in when you find it. I figured with how much candy you buy you’ll fill these up in no time.”

“Thanks!”

Dad smiles, “I think you’ll find you like America. They have many Holidays dedicated especially to candy: Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas, well, that’s more desserts but still. And Halloween in America is for all ages, you might be a touch too old for trick or treating but I’m sure if when the time comes you take Elise and Kyu, you can get some sweets as well.”

(A/N: America has SOO MANY holidays related to desserts, here’s a list: Dessert Holidays - National Today)

“Sweet!” I laugh at my horrid pun.

I’m not scared of America at all, I can’t stop smiling as I take my books and binders upstairs. I’ll have to pack them away soon but I can still enjoy them for a bit.

I do have some American money sent to me by an online friend, whom I haven’t talked to in ages after they suddenly stopped answering me, but it’s just a 100-dollar bill and some quarters, none of which fit the criteria for the map. I keep them safely away anyway, already anxious to leave for their land of origin.

(A/N: since 100 yen is so little (about 0.69 US Dollars) Ranpo has no idea that 100 dollars is a significant amount. Is anyone surprised, I mean he doesn’t know how to ride a train.)

-

I wake up to the sound of my alarm! EWWW!!! 

“I thought I unplugged you!” I yell at it as I turn it off.

“You did.” I jump, I hadn’t heard my father’s steps over my alarm, “I’m the one who plugged it back in, but it’s only for today. The movers will be here after lunch, they’re going to do the big packing and load out boxes into their truck but you need to put away all of your smaller items. I’ll be helping your siblings but if you need help with breakable ones Rin is packing away the kitchen items.”

“Kay.”

He looks surprised but goes on his way anyway.

It’s true, normally I’d hate doing something like this, but this isn’t cleaning, it’s packing, this is an adventure and I can’t wait to get started.

I finish fairly quickly, until only my shampoo and conditioner (which we’ll have to throw out when we leave), my toiletries and the clothes I can fit into my two suitcases are left. The emptiness is strangely satisfying.

Elise, Kyu and I have lunch out on the patio as the movers pack our lives into their trucks. I smile at the thought of part of me being in America before I am. Elise doesn’t share my sentiment and scowls at her omurice, poking it angrily with her fork.

I bet she’ll change her mind.

[kneedeepincynade]

All right, tumblr, today we will learn about the army and its role and why people join it

What is the role of the army? Depending on the state and its government it can be

1 a tool to project influence

2 a garrison to guarantee that there will be no revolution/political commotion in a vassal state and aid in some capacity the overlord of the nation

3 a tool of self defence and to maintain order for the state.

Before talking about the military we must recognise what role it has in our country

I'm from Italy and we have a garrison army that serves the interest of the United states

A nation such as the United States has a projection army

A nation such as China has a defensive army.

Now, type 1 and type 3 army generally rely on patriottism for recruitment, this is of course not to say that a type 2 army cannot use patriottism as a tool for recruitment but that is less likely. Someone from a nation with a type 1 or type 3 army will feel compelled to join the army to answer the sacred duty of defence and security of its nation, and in the case of a type 1 army he will probably not ask himself how US security ended up in the south China Sea.

Type 2 army tends to rely on benefits and payments to attract members of its armed forces. This is a tactic that can be used in type 1 army in case the recruiting gets low enough. Type 2 armies will offer a lot of benefits and payment for joining and remaining in the army due to various social economic factors.

Now, is every soldier in a type 1 or 2 army a criminal? No, of course not. Do they contribute to an oppressive war machine? Obviously, but a soldier is as guilty as his action goes and should be treated accordingly. Is it possible that there will be revolutionary elements in the army? There must be revolutionary elements in the army! It's the duty of every revolutionary to try and propagandize as much of society as possible, and this includes the military. The war machine must be infiltrated from within, and as much of it as possible must be turned against the bourgeoisie during the revolution. We must not shun those who were forced to join the army but rather use the situation that led them in the army against the state that caused such a situation. And for those who joined because of patriotism, it must be shown to them that the bourgeoisie are the least patriotic element of society and that there is no one that loves his nation more than the revolutionary, we must convince those individuals that the traitors of the nation are already in controll and only a popular revolution will save the nation and the army must stand with the saviors and not the sell outs. Most importantly, the war machine will be needed as other capitalist powers will try to stomp down any revolution, and more of it remains intact the more possible the resistance, also people with military experience will be an absolute necessity to create the revolutionary militia that will be indispensable for the revolution.

Examples: the Niger coup has been led by army officials with the support of the people

To surrender the army is to surrender the revolution,the more shunned is the soldier, the more likely he is to side with the government, and the last thing any revolution needs is more enemies.

This doesn't mean that soldiers should be untouchable and unquestioned, but they shouldn't be hunt down and be shunned for actions they have not done

[mmorpg-escapism]

Erenville's concern for the WoL is touching. The WoL doesn't really care where they go as long as there's adventure to be had, people to help, and things to slay. Withdraw from a contest? Hell no!

Life is a series of journeys, and I want to see where this one leads. Thankfully Erenville has the sense to only offer us an out once, then leave it alone. Now for the fun part!

Deeper dives into our contestants, namely. Zoraal Ja is the only natural-born son of Gulool, and apparently is also an "impossible" child, so he's the Resilient Son. He's also a seasoned warrior, and is planning to use that skill in expansion of Tural's borders, the polar opposite of Wuk Lamat's peace preservation plans. Can't let him win.

Krile's Echo is still working? somehow? I know she's more attuned to the soul than the memory thing that the WoL had/has going on, but uh... shouldn't that be broken? Did the conduit thing that let Hydaelyn speak through her to the WoL leave some bonus power in her?

Next up, Koana! Miq'ote, Machinist, and apparently really focused on his work over the needs of the people. He talks like someone more at home in a lab than in a palace, and on that alone he'd make a poor leader, much less ruler of nations. He's brought a lot of technological advancements, true, so I'd rather he stick to that than try to run the whole country. That said... he's probably the best backup option over the others, at least from where I'm sitting.

Ope, and here's Bakool. He stomps his way through the crowd and notably the cheering falls silent REALLY fast as soon as he spots a disagreeing Boonewa in the crowd. The type of leader to rule through fear, instead of inspiration. I'm seriously hoping we get the chance to knock him on his ass before all is said and done.

Hm, interesting that the crowd is dispersing before Wuk Lamat walks out. She still gets some cheers, but there's like... a fifth of the crowd left. She's popular with the ones who remember what it was like before Tural was united, and I get it. Unfortunately, they're the only ones, because she's lesser in physical and intellectual pursuits. HOWEVER! She's picked significantly better allies than they did (no I'm not biased what are you on about), which is a skill all its' own, and she actually cares about her people which is the single most important part of being a ruler. We've seen it already, from the moment we stepped off the boat.

Man that really WAS a long cutscene. I got three posts out of it!