#and Wade has been confirmed as pan

[watmalik]

Logan when the fanboys call him or Wade straight 🤨

[ghostlyheartmiracle]

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[bluenutbread]

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[miniaturefartcloud]

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[shititbe]

Anyway, Peter Parker is Bi, and I Won’t Be Convinced Otherwise.

Firstly, we have to get our bases covered. What exactly is Bi-sexuality? What is sexuality? 

Sexuality is defined as a persons identity in relation to gender(s) they are attracted to. Why is this important? Peter’s sexuality has never been specifically stated in the comics, nor in any other form of media. It’s assumed that he is straight because of his popular relationship with Mary Jane Watson in the comics, and the movies. 

Now that we have a bases for what exactly sexuality is and how it’s defined, let’s go over Peter’s partners. 

Obviously Peter and Mary Jane are a piece of comic book history. They eventually get married, though sadly, during the events of Civil War II (I think, don’t quote me) Peter and Mary Jane sell their marriage to Mephisto in order to save Aunt May

They later had their memories of their marriage restored, they have yet to get back together and it’s been a few issues if I remember correctly. Next we have Peter’s first, and most unfortunate love, Gwen Stacy. 

They dated in high school where she later died. Of course, Peter has dated other people (namely, Black Cat, Betty Brant, Carol Danvers, Anna Maria, Cindy Moon, Lian Tang, and so on). Since we have his known history of heterosexuality out there, we need to move onto another important part of Peter’s Bi-sexuality. An important implication in any media, especially queer media though, and that is the homoerotic subtext. 

Homoerotic subtext is important part of queer culture, a lot of the time it’s used to portray a characters queerness without saying it out (see: Dorian Gray by Oscar Wild or Great Gatsby By Fitz). In current decade, homoerotic subtext is often used for queer baiting or creating more realistic male friendships. 

So what’s the difference between someone creating a health male friendship (or a character comfortable in their heterosexuality) and implying a character is queer? 

Here are some examples of a healthy male character, both with himself and his friendships.  

Clearly he’s just taking the shit, and messing around with Reed. He’s comfortable enough (or as I like to see it, so traumatized because good god this guy has been Spider-Man since he was 15 good god that’s awful. He probably doesn’t care anymore). Here are some examples of Peter a little more than just a straight man shooting the shit. 

This has three meanings. Two of which I will take, one of which is just deeply embarrassing. Despite Peter’s history with humiliating events, I don’t think he would get his own spunk in his eyes. Leaving the other two options, he has experience getting spunk of - some kind - in his eyes, and/or he’s taking the shit again. Which is very likely. 

Kissing a cop? For....no reason? A little not so hetero of you Peter. 

You can practically hear his disappointment in his voice. Also could be read as taking the shit, but why would you. 

Making out with The Thing? Gay. 

This one is the most important. Peter is clearly tired, annoyed by his teammates (see wolverine being wolverine in the corner). Shits on fire, its mid battle, and Peter has the audacity to mutter “I hate men” to himself. The only people I have every heard say this in that was are lgbt and straight women, and lgbt men. This kind of expression only comes from people who date, or deal with men in a completely different world than straight men. Straight men use this phrase as an endearment, “Oh have you seen Bill today, I hate that guy.” “Man Jerry can do so many push-ups, I hate that guy.” Very different language, and implications (I also, obviously don’t know how straight men speak). 

 Now that we’ve gone over our bases, and homoerotic subtext. How else could we gather that Peter Parker is Bi? There are many tropes in media - queer media - that allure to a characters queerness. Like homoerotic subtext, there are ways to tell an audience something without specifically saying it. 

This is a gay wedding Peter went to in the recent comics. I don’t know if any of you have been to a gay wedding recently, but Peters face (the first panel above the wedding) is the same exact face I made at my first gay wedding. It’s the face of excitement for not only the couple, but for yourself. The hope that maybe, you too can actually be in a same-sex relationship. 

I’m also going to allure to queer tropes as stated previously. Such as the real, and fictional trope of lgbt people sticking together. Thousands of years of belittlement and oppression will make groups of people not want to wonder out, and subconsciously look for others like them. 

Johnny Storm (and Wade Wilson since he comes in later but I couldn’t find a picture of the confirmation) is cannon Bi-sexual (Pan-sexual). 

Their friendship is deeply homoerotic as most queer friendships in media and real life are. Johnny flirts with Peter on many occasions (saying his ideal women is a female version of Peter, inviting him over to watch is sex tape, and so on) and of course oh my god they were roommates. 

Some other popular queer tropes are: Found Family, Soulmates, and Enemies to lovers. Because it’s superhero related, this includes the Identity Porn tag as well.  

Peter Parker and Wade Wilson have a famous Love/Hate relationship. I mean, how could you expect anything less when your first meeting with this known mercenary is him throwing your civilian persona out the window of a car. Now, Wade still doesn’t know Peter is Spider-Man in the current run of comics, but that doesn’t make anything about them any less gay. 

For the Found Family Trope: 

Because it’s Peter and Wade, their whole development can be read as Enemies to Friends to Lovers, so I wont bother backing that up because, uh, it speaks for itself. One panel really does to add that cause though 

I’m not going to explain what a free-pass list is.

The Soulmates part I know I have to back up. 

For SoulMates:  

Now this panel requires a little explanation. Wade kills Peter, not knowing he’s Spider-Man. Weasel takes over for Peter (they don’t know its him) so no one suspects he’s dead. Deadpool begins to feel guilty he killed his best buds best bud, so he tries to bring Peter back to life. Losing his stunning good looks (switching back to how he looked before Weapon X making his wife Shiklah estranged (then she married Dracula but thats beside the point)). Spider-Man is Peter’s “true self” or patronus for Harry Potter fans. Wade is stupid and hasn’t connected the dots yet, effectively making him the biggest simp in history. Seriously, who destroys their marriage for the c h a n c e for getting some with their idol? A Simp, that’s who.

Peter forgives Wade for killing him (and for saving him from killing their genetic daughter itsy-bitsy). If someone killed me they better be hot as fuck before I even thing about forgiving them. Ignoring Peter’s super sexy forgiving nature, uh, he’s kinda simping. 

Died in each others arms. Nothing else is needed. 

They’re heartmates. From what I read, the feeling has to be mutual in order for it to work. The witches (long story, comics are hard to explain) that captured deadpool were expecting his wife so they could get the headmistress back. Instead, they got Peter. Basically Heartmates = soulmates but chosen for you instead of chosen by you. 

To conclude my point: 

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 

[sciderman]

hey sci a newbie to this whole nate and deadpool being a thing. could i request some insight on it from you (from the comics and in general and maybe your opinion?) and how that panned out into the 9319 boys? i do remember the post about peter asking about dp’s relationship with cable and i remember it felt like i was missing out on a lot

wade and nate have history! that’s the best way to really put it - they go way. way back. in fact, deadpool is so tied to cable that deadpool’s very first outing was to try and kill cable (which wade has been doing, on and off-again, regularly, since then) 

whenever i bring up nate i always get hate, but fact is. wade and nate are in soulmate territory for me. if there are any two characters in marvel who occupy soulmate territory, it’s cable and deadpool. marvel aren’t even subtle. 

(on a little tangent here: everyone should read deadpool vs xforce (2015), literally the sexiest deadpool has ever been. prime condition. specimen. doesnt get much better than this) 

cable and deadpool had a team-up series that ran in the 2000s, and it truly is my favourite book from marvel. it ran for 50 issues and it’s a total delight (and is wade at his prime. c/dp wade will always be the example i follow when I’m writing wade. himbo rights.) 

while in-canon nothing’s... explicitly confirmed on terms of whether nathan and wade had a sexual relationship (they absolutely did.) this, this is canon. 

wade spends a few issues in sexual crisis. it’s fine. it’s valid. i love him. 

nathan, nathan definitely loves wade back. i think he kind of sees wade as a bit of a project - he wants the best for wade, but is absolutely clueless on how to bring the best out in wade. so he goes about it all wrong. 

hm. kinky. 

on terms of how it bleeds into 9319, the cable and deadpool series is canon to 9319 - in fact, it’s the springboard for it. it’s recommended reading as a prelude to @ask-spiderpool ! wade and peter’s first meeting is c/dp #24, and it’s right in the middle of wade and nathan’s relationship. 

9319 nate and wade were on-again off-again, kind of a “whenever you’re in town and time-period” kind of deal. 

they were never “steady”, it was always something loose - which wade was into at first, but – wade’s needy. he acts like he’s not. like he’s fine and casual, but really, all he wants is someone to be there. he needs someone to be there. 

nathan’s just so busy being the saviour of the world or whatever to really be there for wade when wade needs him most. 

wade loves so much. and he needs to be loved back. he needed so much more from nate. 

i think the parallels between peter and nathan is what makes wade more reluctant to put his heart on the line with peter than he has with previous lovers. i mean, it’s not just nathan, really. wade’s unlucky in love. love just never works out for him. at a certain point he’ll start believing he simply doesn’t deserve it. 

a lot of parallels! a lot of parallels! 

the particular sore spot that makes wade hesitate pursuing peter is the whole having to share him with the rest of the world. like he’s always going to be second. he’s never going to be first. fuck that. fuck uncle fucking ben. he’s so fucking done with these fucking hero types and their self sacrificial bullshit. 

he overcomes this. 

(just an fyi to make you sad. in c/dp nathan dies. same self-sacrificial bullshit. this happens in 9319 too. it all works out because i mean, cable is cable, but still.) 

wade + nathan: i love you, bitch. i ain’t ever gonna stop loving you, bitch. 

i like the idea of wade and nathan being soulmates that just, aren’t good for each other. or, they’re good for each other, but just not now. or - just. i don’t know. they love each other, but. nathan can’t be what wade needs, and that’s okay. 

[flashfuture]

I know it’s kind of sus to say “as a (this)” on anon but like I have no earthly clue why it’s so hard for companies to name bi characters because like I feel like they are stuck on “it’s just one stop from being gay” and that’s too much for them that acting as if a bi person in media MUST date the the same sex or it somehow invalidates their realationships with opposite sex like—sometimes I feel like they miss the plot and forget bi means more than one

This is all the place but I’m just a salty samon about this.

In this case I also don’t think you have to be bi to advocate for bi characters. I’m not trans but I push to see trans characters. I feel strongly that everyone deserves to be represented and represented well. Not like in a John Constantine who’s bi but your love life will be a joke way. 

Marvel is much much better than DC at their LGBT rep but they can get a little weird around certain characters. (Tho I’ll never get over DC accidentally making Hal canonically gender-fluid lol)

Johnny Storm has always always been queer-coded and Marvel just refuses. The writers have said he was straight-up sleeping with Daken and it was very clear in the writing itself I feel like it’s his ties to you know old school he’s in the first family nuclear family silver age stuff. 

Same with Namor dude is so pan but they don’t confirm it probably because of how old he is as a character.

I think Felicia Hardy is maybe only the character who has been shown with women and men that I can think of where it isn’t just like a threesome. Which isn’t bad but you know that’s for the sex appeal. 

Actually, I amend Peter Quill very recently was in a poly marriage with a female and male presenting alien and it was very lovely and they had a kid and yeah go Guardians writers. 

Tony Stark has made illusions to dating men and women but it’s not confirmed he’s bi. 

Wade is pan and like me too bitch the fuck but also his love life sucks because well the dudes life sucks. Ryan Reynolds out here pushing for pansexual Deadpool on the big screen like lets go.

Actually, that joke up top about DC accidentally making Hal genderfluid? Well Marvel made Loki and Raven canon genderfluid on purpose. And they own it. 

Also Marvel can look at characters and randomly decide this one is gay now cause we think it would be good is so funny. I can’t stress enough how little I thought Bobby was gay before they had him come out. And that- that is fucking amazing. The fact that they can realize some people take longer to realize, that some people can have had fulfilling relationships with the opposite sex and still be gay is phenomenal. 

Shatterstar and Rictor were very very close best friends back in the day. And with Rictor he has a whole plotline about realizing he was just doing comphet. and they talk about religion and just yeah. 

Marvel does a very good job imo of writing queer stories because the romance feels natural. 

TBH I think DC does romance poorly in general so maybe that and everyone having the same personality is the problem

But yeah I wonder why the hang ups on some characters in Marvel when like really Johnny and Namor? You’re trying to play that game with us??? 

Lol I don’t know where im going with this anon other than I agree bi characters deserve more rep and more respect 

[s-nebul0sa]

Mishap

The first thing Lena smells when she steps out of the elevator onto Kara’s floor, is the pungent stench of burn. She crinkles her nose for a moment before braving the scent to get to Kara’s front door. It only gets stronger with each step she takes. She speeds up to get to Kara’s apartment quicker, almost breaking out into a run. And Lena Luthor doesn’t usually run.

She reaches Kara’s front door and knocks calmly, burrowing all her impatience. Kara is probably fine. Lena then remembers: Kara is fire-proof. She has to be fine. If she were solarflaring, Lena assumes she would’ve heard something about a Supergirl fight on the news, or to have been contacted by Alex. So, Kara must be fine. With a little effort, she manages to calm her nerves. Kara is invincible. Kara is fine.

Still. It’s taking her awfully long to answer the door. And Lena’s worry hasn’t stopped nagging at the back of her mind, slowly clawing its way to the forefront more and more. Eventually, she can’t hold it anymore and, after a second knock, just tries the door.

It’s open.

Despite Kara being Supergirl and probably not worrying about burglary or worse, it doesn’t sit right with Lena. She pushes the door open slowly, softly calling out for Kara as she does.

Kara doesn’t answer, but Lena picks up a soft sniffle. She wades through the kitchen, which is in complete disarray. The counters are littered with dirty pans, flour, sugar and liquid–water or milk or something of the sorts–plastering it all to their surface. As she passes, Lena catches a glance of another pan filled with some grainy black substance. The cause of the smell. But she doesn’t linger on it and moves towards the sound she heard.

She finds Kara tucked in the corner of her kitchen, sitting on the floor with her knees tucked up and her arms wrapped around them to create a small hollow for her face to rest in. Her shoulders are quietly shaking but she makes no sound.

“Kara,” Lena whispers softly as she steps closer. Kara doesn’t acknowledge her.

“Honey, are you okay?” Lena slowly closes the distance between them and kneels in front of Kara.

Kara still doesn’t acknowledge her presence, save for a small sniffle. Lena can’t tell whether it’s because of her presence or just random.

“Is it okay if I put my hand on your arm?” Lena asks as she drops her bag and moves her hands towards Kara.

Kara makes a small move with her head. Something akin to a nod, Lena thinks. So she takes it as a ‘yes’ and puts a hand on Kara’s arm. Kara doesn’t shrug her off or tense up, confirming she was indeed granting Lena permission to do so.

“Did you hurt yourself?” Lena asks a little worried. Kara might be indestructible most of the time but who knows what happened.

Kara shakes her head a little. She unfolds one arm from around her knee and uses it to hold onto Lena’s arm and move it closer to her. Lena follows her arm and scoots closer to Kara, sitting down next to her. Kara shifts slightly so she can lean sideways into Lena.

“What happened?” Lena wraps her arm around Kara, sensing that Kara wants more tactile input.

Kara wraps her arms around Lena and pulls her close, resting her head on Lena’s chest as she breathes deeply. She stays silent. Lena understands. Kara can’t talk right now, but she will probably explain later. All Lena can do now, is be there for her.

“I’m here. I’m not going anywhere until you want me to,” Lena promises, resting her head on top of Kara’s. She intertwines their fingers closes her eyes as she feels Kara calm down next to her.

Read on AO3

[newstfionline]

Friday, February 5, 2021

Canada puts Proud Boys on terror list, cites active security threat (Reuters) Canada named the far-right Proud Boys a terrorist entity on Wednesday, saying it posed an active security threat and played a “pivotal role” in last month’s attack on the U.S. Capitol that left five people dead. Although the Proud Boys have never mounted an attack in Canada, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair said domestic intelligence forces had become increasingly worried about the group. The group’s assets can now be frozen by banks and financial institutions, and it is a crime for Canadians to knowingly deal with assets of a listed entity. Anyone belonging to the group can be blocked from entering Canada. The move underscored constitutional concerns about a Canadian government’s ability to designate a group as a terrorist entity, said Leah West, a national security professor at Ottawa’s Carleton University and former lawyer with the Canadian justice department. Designations are impossible to challenge beforehand and difficult to address afterward, especially given lawyers may be reluctant to provide counsel to members of a terrorist group, she said by phone.

US to cut off support for Saudi-led operations in Yemen amid humanitarian crisis (Guardian) The US has announced an end to its support for Saudi-led offensive operations in Yemen, citing the role the bombing campaign has had in creating the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. The announcement was made byJoe Biden during a visit to the state department, capping a whiplash fortnight of dramatic foreign policy changes since his 20 January inauguration. “This war has to end,” Biden said. “And to underscore our commitment, we’re ending all American support for offensive operations in the war in Yemen, including relevant arms sales.” The distancing of Washington from Riyadh is one of the most conspicuous reversals of Donald Trump’s agenda, but it also marks a break with the policies pursued by Barack Obama, who had backed the Saudi offensive in Yemen, although he later sought to impose constraints on its air war. The US will also freeze arms sales to Saudi Arabia, and name a special envoy to Yemen, to put more pressure on the Saudis, Emiratis and the Houthi forces they are fighting, to make a lasting peace agreement.

Capt. Tom’s legacy lives on (AP) The legacy of Capt. Tom Moore, the super fundraiser who died Tuesday of COVID-19, lives on in others. Capt. Tom, a World War II veteran recovering from a broken hip, set out to raise 1,000 pounds ($1,400) by walking 100 laps of his back garden before his 100th birthday last April. Three weeks later, he had raised 33 million pounds ($45 million) for Britain’s NHS after his quest cheered a nation in lockdown and triggered donations from around the world. But he also made a broader impact as his simple challenge—to do whatever you can to help others—persuaded the young it’s never too soon to start, and the old that it’s never too late. Take Margaret Payne, 90, who walked up the stairs in her home 282 times to raise 416,000 pounds for the NHS. Payne, from Ardvar in the Scottish Highlands, calculated that the feat was the equivalent of climbing 731 meters (2,398 feet), or the height of Suilven, one of Scotland’s best known mountains that she scaled when she was 15. And then there’s Tony Hudgell, a 5-year-old who lost both legs after being abused as a baby, set out to walk 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) and raise 500 pounds for the Evelina London Children’s Hospital. After completing the challenge in a series of daily walks he had attracted more than 1 million pounds of donations. “Captain Sir Tom inspired so many people to take on their own extraordinary challenges, from running marathons to swimming lakes, and he gave us all hope,” said Ellie Orton, chief executive of NHS Charities Together.

How a Bavarian supermarket is helping shoppers find love amid shutdown (The Local/Germany) Can you find love while shopping in Germany? For many, a supermarket may be just about the least likely place for a starry eyed encounter. An Edeka supermarket in the Bavarian town of Volkach, however, is trying to break through barriers amid the coronavirus crisis: every Friday evening has been set aside for “singles shopping.” Every Friday between 6 and 8pm, singles can grab a heart with a number on it at the entrance and stick it on their jacket. If they spot someone they fancy amid the shelves, they can opt to have that person’s number called out at the checkout. Those who are a bit more bashful can simply leave their phone number with a message. For this purpose, slips of paper are laid out on which the type of contact can be ticked off, such as: “I’d be happy to meet you for an orange juice in the fruit department.” “Nothing has taken off yet,” a butcher’s assistant told Bavarian news website Merkur amid a display of schnitzel and minced meat. “At least not here by the meat, but maybe in another department.”

Mountain heartbreak: Italy has deep snow, closed ski resorts (AP) The granite peaks that majestically encircle the northern Italian town of Cortina d’Ampezzo glimmer with one of the most prolific snowfalls in years, while the COVID-19 pandemic silences Italy’s winter resorts. Italy’s 2019-2020 ski season closed unexpectedly early last March, when the country became the first Western country pummeled by the pandemic. A new season has yet to launch, unlike in neighboring Switzerland, which in December allowed lifts to open with restrictions, or in Austria, where residents still can ski. France’s ski lifts remain closed at least through February. In Italy, the pandemic-related closures are a hit to an industry that generates 1.2 billion euros ($1.5 billion) in annual revenues and employs 5,000 permanent and 10,000 seasonal workers, according to the association of ski lift operators, ANEF. The association said last year’s early end to the season led to a 20% revenue decline and called the current season a total loss. Factoring in hotels, restaurants and other services, the ski industry generates 11 billion euros ( $13.2 billion) in annual revenues, but travel restrictions have kept activity near zero on top of the stilled lifts.

Twitter Unblocked Accounts That Criticized India’s Government. Now, Its Employees Are Being Threatened With Jail Time Unless It Blocks Them Again. (BuzzFeed News) India’s government has threatened to punish employees at Twitter with fines and jail terms of up to seven years for restoring hundreds of accounts it has ordered the company to block. Most accounts were critical of the country’s prime minister, Narendra Modi. On Monday, Twitter complied with the government’s order and prevented people in India from viewing more than 250 accounts belonging to activists, political commentators, a movie star, and the Caravan, an investigative news magazine. Most accounts had criticized Modi, India’s Hindu nationalist prime minister, and his government. But the company restored the accounts approximately six hours later after a Twitter lawyer met with IT ministry officials, and argued that the tweets and accounts constituted free speech and were newsworthy. India’s government disagreed. On Tuesday, the IT ministry sent a notice to Twitter, ordering it to block the accounts once again. It also threatened people who work at Twitter’s Indian arm with legal consequences, which could include a fine or a jail term of up to seven years. “This is really problematic,” said Nikhil Pahwa, editor of MediaNama, a technology policy website, and an internet activist. “I don’t see why the government of India should wade into this territory of trying to censor tweets when they have much bigger problems to deal with.”

Myanmar charges Suu Kyi, giving legal basis to detain her (AP) Police leveled their first formal charge against Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi, her allies said Wednesday, accusing the ousted leader of possessing illegally imported walkie-talkies and giving the military authorities who staged a coup a legal reason to detain her for two weeks. The charge came to light two days after Suu Kyi was placed under house arrest and appeared to be an effort to lend a legal veneer to her detention, though the generals have previously kept her and others locked up for years. The military announced Monday that it would take power for one year—accusing Suu Kyi’s government of not investigating allegations of voter fraud in recent elections. Suu Kyi’s party swept that vote, and the military-backed party did poorly.

Myanmar blocks Facebook as resistance grows to coup (AP) Myanmar’s new military government has blocked access to Facebook as resistance to Monday’s coup surged amid calls for civil disobedience to protest the ousting of the elected civilian government and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Facebook is especially popular in Myanmar and the ousted government had commonly made public announcements on the social media site. Internet users said the disruption began late Wednesday night, and mobile service provider Telenor Myanmar confirmed in a statement that mobile operators and internet service providers in Myanmar had received a directive from the communications ministry to temporarily block Facebook. The political party ousted in Monday’s coup and other activists in Myanmar have called for a campaign of civil disobedience to oppose the takeover. In the vanguard are medical personnel, who have declared they won’t work for the military government and who are highly respected for their work during the coronavirus pandemic that is taxing the country’s dangerously inadequate health system. For a second night Wednesday, residents in Yangon engaged in “noise protests,” with people banging pots and pans and honking car horns under cover of darkness.

Japan’s population decline (Nikkei Asian Review) Japan’s population shrank by a record 420,000 people last year, government estimates show, as the coronavirus pandemic dealt a heavy blow to an influx of foreign workers that had helped offset the country’s ongoing natural population decline. The total fell for a 12th straight year, shattering the previous record of 329,000 set just a year earlier. The health ministry estimates Japan’s population at 125.57 million as of Jan. 1, based on confirmed data through July and estimates based on births, deaths and foreign arrival and departure data. The drop owes in large part to a 60% plunge in foreign arrivals that has kept the labor market tight even though the pandemic has slowed the economy and eliminated many jobs.

In Iraq’s ‘Dire’ Economy, Poverty Is Rising—And So Are Fears Of Instability (NPR) With the gold domes of the famed Kadhimiya shrine as a backdrop, nearby streets full of shops, markets and tea-sellers in Baghdad look bustling and vibrant, even at night. Tempting windows display sparkly clothes and cascades of candy in rainbow colors. But shopkeepers say no one has been buying much since Iraq devalued its dinar against the dollar last year. Around the world, economies have been crushed by the pandemic. The International Monetary Fund reported in October that most Mideast economies plunged into recession. But some places are especially vulnerable, among them Iraq. Its economy depends overwhelmingly on oil exports, and as travel halted and demand for fuel dwindled, government revenues tumbled along with oil prices. Government revenues plummeted by 47.5% in the first eight months of last year, the World Bank reports. With drastically less oil revenue, the government has been paying its salaries and pensions intermittently or not at all. Economists say Iraq’s poverty rate may have shot up from 20% in 2018 to 30% or more last year. To try to make it easier to pay those salaries, as well to encourage people to buy domestically instead of relying on imports, the government devalued the dinar against the dollar by about 20% in December. But as Iraq produces very little, people have little choice but to buy imported goods—which are only more expensive now. “Iraq’s economic situation can probably best be described as being dire,” says Ali al-Saffar of the International Energy Agency.

Beirut blast victims want the truth (AP) Days after a massive explosion ripped through Beirut’s port and disfigured the Lebanese capital, family members of some of the 211 people killed in the blast demanded an international probe. It was a swift vote of no confidence in the authorities’ ability to investigate one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history and one of the nation’s most traumatic experiences. The skepticism was justified. Lebanon, a country wrought by political violence and assassinations, has a history of unfinished prosecutions and buried secrets. Six months after the Aug. 4 blast, the domestic investigation has been brought to a virtual halt by the same political and confessional rivalries that thwarted past attempts to uncover the truth in major crimes. Lebanon’s sectarian-based political factions have had a lock on power in the country for decades and have divvied up posts across the state among themselves. Though rivals, they have a common interest in preventing accountability. Aya Majzoub of Human Rights Watch said a U.N. fact-finding mission is needed. “We can’t rest our hope and faith on a broken system that has proven incredibly resilient. We can’t expect the very people who are implicated in these crimes and other big crimes in Lebanon to lead reform.”

In thrice-demolished village, a Mideast battle of wills (AP) It looks like the aftermath of a tornado. There are dirt plots where there used to be makeshift homes; tent poles stacked like firewood; fencing and scrap metal scattered across a desert valley greened by winter rain; a cold firepit and a pile of kitchen essentials where a cooking tent once stood. This is what remains of the herding community of Khirbet Humsu in the occupied West Bank, after Israeli forces demolished it for the third time in as many months. On Wednesday, just minutes after the army left, Palestinian residents were at work repairing their fences—hoping to gather their sheep before dark, knowing the army might return the next day. “We build it up and they tear it down,” said Waleed Abu al-Kbash as he stretched fencing between two posts. “Where am I supposed to go? I have a thousand head of sheep.” Khirbet Humsu, perched on the rolling highlands above the Jordan Valley, is part of the 60% of the West Bank known as Area C, which is under full Israeli military control as part of interim peace agreements from the 1990s. Israel planned to annex the Jordan Valley and other parts of the occupied West Bank last year after getting a green light from the Trump administration, but it put annexation on hold as part of a U.S.-brokered normalization agreement with the United Arab Emirates. It still maintains complete control over the territory, leaving Bedouin communities like the one at Khirbet Humsu at constant risk of displacement. Shepherds who rely on seasonal rains and scattered springs are also at the mercy of an arbitrary cycle of demolition and rebuilding.

Innovation (Bloomberg) South Korea returned to first place in the latest Bloomberg Innovation Index, while the U.S. dropped out of a top 10 that features a cluster of European countries. Korea regained the crown from Germany, which dropped to fourth place. The Asian nation has now topped the index for seven of the nine years that it’s been published. Singapore and Switzerland each moved up one spot to rank second and third.

[hurt-spock]

Fic: Everything’s Not Lost 1/?

(Full Chapter One Version)

The first thing he was aware of was a slight acrid smell. And then the realisation that something was very wrong.

Spock's eyes opened quickly and he was aware of how dim the craft was. “Doctor?”

“Mm,” came a mumbled response. Spock unclipped his safety belt. The viewscreen had malfunctioned and instead of showing what was outside the craft, it was blank and black. There were some dim emergency power lights working but they weren't working well. Spock's Vulcan eyesight helped him see things more clearly. McCoy would not have that luxury. The craft had crashed and had ended up tilted on its left side. Spock clambered over to where McCoy was and roused the Doctor carefully.

“Doctor?”

Blue eyes met Spock's own and there was a moment's confusion before he recalled what had happened. “Dammit,” he muttered. “Are you okay?”

“I am. Yourself?”

“Maybe a little sore from the landing.” The huge bump across McCoy's brow bone said otherwise. “We crashed, right?”

“We crashed,” Spock confirmed. “The planet is habitable. We can leave the craft if you wish.”

“I suppose it's better than staying in here,” McCoy stated as he climbed out of his seat and followed Spock to the door. “At least I'll be able to see something.”  

Spock grabbed two of the survival kits and handed one to McCoy before attempting to open the door. When it didn't budge, he handed McCoy the other kit so his hands were free and he could dedicate all his strength to it. McCoy pulled out one of the flash-lights so he could see a little better and watched Spock strain so much he thought something might pop. But then he stopped straining and looked at the door. “It is not going to open,” Spock said.

“No shit,” McCoy replied. “So, we'll stay inside then.”

Spock nodded but did not look content.

“What's wrong?” McCoy asked. He knew Spock well enough by now to know that what Spock didn't say was just as important as what he did say.

“Life support will only last for approximately four hours.”

“Only four?”

“It may be slightly more or less. I can not be sure with all the equipment down.”

“So if we don't get out of here before then, we're dead?”

“Not exactly,” Spock replied.

“You've got a plan?” McCoy asked, hopefully.

The look on Spock's face made it clear he did not have a plan.  

“Aw, fucking shit!”

“There is a breach somewhere. We are taking in water and I estimate that it will take around two hours for the shuttle to be flooded.”

McCoy stared at Spock. “Are we on fire as well? Maybe some toxic fumes that'll kill us in twenty minutes?”

“Perhaps. But if they are, I can not detect them,” Spock dead-panned back.

“What can we do?”

“I can try and use the phaser to aide an escape, however, if we are completely submerged it will amount to making a larger hole. If we can not get out in time, we will die.”

“Can you tell if we're submerged?” McCoy asked.

Spock considered. “I could make a small hole at the top of the craft.”

“Yes, do that!” McCoy said.

Spock adjusted the phaser and took careful consideration of where to make the hole. It took a while for the beam to penetrate all the way through and when it did nothing but air came in.

“Well that's a relief,” McCoy said.

“Hm,” Spock said, distractedly. He continued with the phaser making the hole bigger when the beam vanished.

“Don't tell me it's run out of juice?”

Spock looked at McCoy and didn't say a word, handing the phaser to him. McCoy studied it, tried it himself before throwing the thing to the floor in frustration. “Goddammit, we're gonna die in here, aren't we?”

“We have more oxygen,” Spock said. “We just have to wait for rescue. The Captain will find us.” It didn't change the fact that they would still drown in the shuttle before they lacked oxygen.

Spock was using the most positivity his neutral tone could muster up. McCoy sighed and nodded in agreement. He sat back in one of the seats. Spock was taking stock of the situation, gathering data. He moved around the shuttle checking for anything they could use.

“Jim's not going to get to us in time,” McCoy stated.

Spock stopped what he was doing and looked to McCoy.

“We weren't due back onboard for six hours when we left the planet. I heard you tell Jim that.”

“True. However, Jim did say that if they completed their own tasks they would meet us. He is aware that the shuttle has limited speed. It would make sense for them to meet us, if they had the time.”

“If.”

“It is all we have to hope for, Doctor. A small hope, but hope nonetheless.”

“Hm,” was all the response he gave. “You don't need the light, do you?”

“No,” Spock replied.

McCoy switched it off and closed his eyes. He didn't want to see the water rising.

~

McCoy hadn't been aware of how exhausted he had been until he woke. It took him a few moments to get some clarity and when he did, he wondered how much time they had left.

He had stretched his legs across to another seat so he was more comfortable and when he sat up, he was shocked at the water he plunged his legs in too. It was cold as well. “Spock?”

“Yes?”

“Where are you?” McCoy asked. He had raised his legs back out of the water but it was only a matter of time before the water reached the seat.

“I am here,” Spock replied. He sounded as though he were at the back of the shuttle. McCoy fumbled for the flash-light and flicked it on before seeking out Spock.

The Vulcan was sat on top of two empty storage crates he had moved closer to the hole.

“Are you okay?” McCoy asked.

“I am,” Spock replied.

“What are you doing over there?”

“Attempting to escape,” Spock informed him. “Stay there, Doctor,” Spock said when McCoy looked to be coming over. “It will be best to stay dry as long as you can.”

“So, how are we escaping?” McCoy asked.

“The phaser made a hole. I have found a piece of the shuttle that we may be able to use to increase the size of the hole.”

“Can't we use it to open the door?” McCoy asked.

“I did attempt it. But the door will not open. I believe we crashed into a rock in some sort of body of water. A lake or river, I assume. I believe escape through the door is impossible. Once this hole is wide enough I should be able to increase it using the piece of the shuttle as a lever.”

“Spock, that's insane,” McCoy protested.

“Insane or not, it is the only chance we have to escape from here.”

McCoy turned the flash-light to the hole. It was a little larger than before but not by much, it was barely the size of a fist. Spock had donned some gloves and he watched in awe as Spock pulled at the metal exterior and increased the size of the hole. Not by much, but he did increase it. Spock was making slow progress. He was gathering all his strength with a complete stillness between attempts, not wasting energy with anything else other than freeing them.

McCoy could only watch the painfully slow process, watch as Spock used all of his strength and energy to slowly increase the gap. He forced himself to ignore the fact that the metal was tearing into Spock's skin and that green drops of blood dripped down into the ever-rising water. He said and did nothing when the water reached the seat, despite how cold it was.

When the hole was finally large enough for the metal lever, McCoy felt a surge of hope. “You're doing great,” he encouraged, wishing he could do more. “Why don't you let me try while you rest?” McCoy offered.

“No offense intended Doctor, but I do not believe you would be able to assist. However, if you have anything that would assist energy levels, I will gladly accept,”

McCoy grabbed his kit and rummaged through it. He had a few items in the kit that would suit Spock's biology but an energy booster wasn't something he would think to bring. Vulcan's had bags of stamina However, he did have an adrenaline boost fit for humans and  he hoped it would benefit him. While he continued to ready himself, he threw an energy bar Spock's way. “Okay, we'll try this,” McCoy said.

“I'll come to you,” Spock said.

“No. You're already using your energy to try and get us out of here. You don't need to waste extra energy trying to stay warm as well.” McCoy said and he plunged himself into the water and waded over to Spock. It was just about knee height, although the angle of the shuttle meant it was deeper in some areas than others. McCoy gave Spock two hypos. “The second one is for the pain I know you're in. When we get out of here, I'm checking those hands.” Spock nodded. “I know pain relief is not usually something you like but I've been working on this for months to try and get you something that doesn't make you nauseous. I'm pretty certain I got it right and this isn't the ideal way to test it but there's no way there are any adverse side effects. At the very worst, it won't be a great painkiller.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” Spock said.

McCoy turned and started to make his way back to his seat. He hoped that Spock would get the energy he needed to get them out of here before the water got a lot higher, but looking at the hole when he'd been close to Spock showed him how little progress Spock had really made. McCoy was doubtful that Spock would be able to create a big enough hole for them to get through, but he wouldn't stop supporting his friend in his plight, he only wished he could do more. His wandering mind made him lose track of the awkward footing the shuttle's angle created and he took a misstep and slipped, submerging himself in the water. The water wasn't that deep, but the shock of slipping made his gasp in a breath of water. He struggled to right himself, thinking that if he didn't do so quickly enough Spock would be in after him and he gasped in oxygen as he righted himself, coughing and spluttering as he did so.

“What a clumsy arsehole I am,” he said eventually after he'd caught his breath and clambered back into his chair. The exertion hadn't done him much good and he could see Spock shooting concerned glances his way. He really was fine, if not a little embarrassed.

Whether it was McCoy's slip or the effects the hypos and food had, but Spock worked diligently on widening the hole. It was close to big enough for them to squeeze through when the water had reached just above McCoy's waist as he stood in the water. It looked tight but it might be enough. McCoy had watched Spock's arms tremble with the effort to widen the gap further and if there was a chance he might be able to get out without putting more pressure on Spock, he would do his best.

“Let me try,” McCoy insisted.

“I should go first, to ensure it is safe outside,” Spock said.

“Yeah, but if I get stuck, I don't think I could push you through,” McCoy joked.

Spock looked at the hole he'd created. “Let me just try to widen it a little further. I doubt either of us can fit through it easily,” he said. Spock's fatigued muscles trembled when he picked up the lever, let alone trying to prise the metal further apart. It seemed he made a little more progress.

“Okay, that's enough,” McCoy encouraged. “I'm sure I can fit through that.”

They moved the empty storage boxes Spock had sat on beneath the hole and McCoy clambered up. He had to twist his body into a certain angle to get through. It was bad luck that McCoy's calf caught against the side of the metal and cut his leg open, blood spurting from the wound. “Shit!” he exclaimed as he hauled himself out. “Pass me my bag,” he asked Spock, reaching back down into the hole, vaguely aware of the slight spatter of blood decorating Spock's face. He pulled his trouser leg up and saw the deep cut. It wasn't a big wound and he quickly wiped it down and bandaged it. He quickly looked around himself for signs of danger and saw no one and looked back down at Spock. “I'm okay,” he assured him. Spock nodded and started to pass the emergency kits out. McCoy carefully put them to one side, making sure they wouldn't fall into the water surrounding the crashed shuttle.

Spock barely had the strength left in his arms to haul himself out. He adopted the same shape as McCoy to squeeze through the hole, but once his arms were out, he struggled to pull his remaining bodyweight out. McCoy had to grab and haul him out as best he could. It didn't help that they were both soaked through and it carried extra weight, let alone them being cold as well.

It took Spock a moment to recover once they were free from the shuttle and McCoy noticed Spock's hand rub his midsection. He may have caught it climbing out of the craft, it wouldn't be surprising the way he'd had to do it.

The sky was a ghastly yellow tinge looking sick and ill but the unmistakable storm clouds ahead were somehow worse.

“Over there,” Spock said, point to a slight clearing up ahead where the trees gave some slight shelter.

McCoy nodded and they both clambered over the shuttle and through the shallow water and onto dry land, heading into the trees and the shelter it gave.

They both sat in the shallow shelter breathing heavily. They were soaked, cold, and exhausted.

“Now we can wait for rescue,” McCoy said.

[negasonicimagines]

Middle of Somewhere

request: Can I please request an imagine? Reader is dating Ellie, but Ellie doesn't know that readers dad is wade until she leaves her phone in the same room as Ellie when she's getting coffee for them both. And Ellie sees her getting a call from. "Dadpool" You can choose the ending but I think that would be funny.

synopsis: A little after Deadpool, but significantly before Deadpool 2, you and Ellie have a mostly-quiet morning. | Middle of Somewhere - The Neighbourhood

author’s note: I loooove this request and have been waiting forever for the right time to write it! Sorry it’s short, I just didn’t wanna overdo it. (...Which I think is my worst habit on this blog, especially when Wade’s thrown into the mix because he’s such an layered character and- See what I mean?)

warning(s): none! except, well, it’s Deadpool...

It’s a lazy Saturday morn-noon, and you’re gazing at Ellie’s sleeping face. She looks so peaceful like this, not faking anger or indifference or any of that. Just… Resting. You’re tempted to stroke her cheek, but she stirs, likely feeling your stare.

“Morning…” she hums, pulling you closer to her and pressing her face into your chest. “Hmm… Nice.”

You giggle at the way her inhibitions are lowered by her drowsiness and her knowledge that you feel for her what she feels for you.

“Good morning, sugarbear,” you reply, wrapping your arms around her neck.

“Sugarbear?” she questions, looking up at you sleepily.

“Yeah,” you confirm, so matter-of-factly that she has to bury her face again to avoid showing the amusement (or embarrassment) there.

“I’m not even gonna bother arguing.”

“That’s for the best,” you joke back, rubbing her back.

“Need coffee,” she mumbles into you, nuzzling.

“Mmkay... Gotta let me go for that,” you remind her, and she groans in complaint.

“Fine… But be back soon,” she orders, and you scoff as you slide out of her grip and put a bra on under her tee shirt, also putting on a pair of sweatpants.

“I’ll be right back,” you promise her, sliding on your unicorn slippers and going downstairs. There’s already a pot on; there’s a couple of communal coffee-making machines in the kitchen. You get Ellie’s “Life’s a Cunt” mug - as well as your own “World’s Best Grandpa” mug - before making your hot chocolate, waiting for the coffee in one of the machines to finish brewing.

Little do you know about the conversation that’s occurring in your room.

When your phone rang, Ellie answered it for you without even looking, knowing it was either a call you wouldn’t want to miss or a telemarketer she could fuck with.

“Are you okay, Y/N? You sound sick,” Deadpool replies, and she looks at the contact name. Dadpool. She prays to every god - or godlike being - she knows exists (Thor, Loki, the works) that it’s a spelling error.

“What the fuck?” Ellie blurts, suddenly a lot less groggy.

“Negasonic Teenage The Author Can’t Come Up With A Clever Joke, is that you?”

“I... I think?”

“Cool, cool, nice to hear from you. Next question: Why the fuck are you answering my daughter’s phone?”

“Your… Daughter?” Her voice squeaks a little at the confirmation.

“Yeah. My daughter.”

What a pickle Ellie’s gotten herself into, she realizes at his deadly tone. She sighs in relief when you enter.

“Your dad’s on the phone,” she quickly informs you.

“Oh, thanks, babe. Trade me.” Ellie hands you your phone and you give her the coffee. “Good afternoon, Dadpool, what couldn’t you say over text?” you ask. “...Uh, yeah, she’s my girlfriend. ...No, no, she is Ellie, you don’t need to kill anyone. ...Yes, she is capable of human emotion, Dad. ...You wish I got it from you! ...Wow, really? Congrats! ...Yeah, I guess, but I figured you’d be inviting her anyways based on what she’s told me. ...Okay, cool. Congratulations, again. I love you too. Okay, bye.”

“So, what was that about?”

“Oh, Dad’s finally marrying Vanessa. We’re invited,” you explain, settling back into bed with your hot chocolate.

“Uh-huh, yeah, about that… Were you ever gonna tell me your dad’s Deadpool?” Ellie wonders, glad the situation turned out for the best but a little concerned.

“Nope. Figured it’d be a lot more entertaining for you to figure it out on your own after all those snarky little comments you made,” you tell her. Also, you seem to hate him and I’m fifty-percent him and that was super daunting, you think.

“The fact that I didn’t sooner is astounding.” Looking back on your relationship and the friendship before, it’s obvious. You’re so much like Wade, and you even look kinda like him - from what she remembers of the brief times she’s seen him unmasked, at least.

“Aw, it’s okay, I like ‘em a little dumb,” you tease, squishing one of her cheeks between your thumb and finger.

“I will slaughter you,” she emptily threatens you, and you giggle.

“Drink your coffee first, before it gets cold,” you remind her with a slight smirk, and she just rolls her eyes, sipping at the wake-up juice. The teasing aspect of your smile fades, and your loving stare brings a heat to her cheeks that she wishes she could pretend was the coffee.

Vulnerability is hard for you both, but in the moments of rare simplicity you get as X-Women, it’s hard not to be tender with each other while you can; away from the prying eyes of friends and foes. 

She smells chocolate and can’t help but smile at the realization that you’ve got a marshmallow in your cup. Probably for the best. Deadpool’s daughter? High on caffeine? But she shuts those thoughts down within herself quickly. You’re still the same girl she loves but can’t say she loves. (Not yet.)

“You’re such a child,” she remarks - no malice intended; it’s code for “You’re so adorable,” you’re aware.

“You’re pretty insensitive for such an S-J-W. Peter Pan Syndrome is hereditary, don’t be ableist,” you retort, and her heart is a warm flower blooming with affection - not that she’d ever make that obvious. She hints at it, though, by pressing her lips to yours.

You’re usually so annoyingly stubborn, with the smallest of things, but when she kisses you - when she touches you at all, other than sparring  - you immediately give in. It’s a brief, but intimate kiss, and you sigh afterwards, taking a long drink of your hot chocolate.

Today’s going to be a great day.

[master-sass-blast]

Everything Needs a Little Magic

ALL. ABOARD. THE FLUFF TRAIN!

Seriously. This is just fluff. Entirely self indulgent.

Summary: You and Piotr spend the day watching Disney movies.

THAT’S IT. NO PLOT. NOTHING BUT FLUFF. I’M DEADASS SERIOUS.

Pairings: Piotr Rasputin x Reader.

Rating: T for making out.

@colossus-and-cable-and-thanos THIS IS ALSO FOR YOU, BB. YOU KNOW WHY! YOU KNOW!

(Also, while we’re here, I highly recommend that y’all check out @x-men-babe‘s blog. They’ve got a masterlist (unlike me, who can’t get their SHIT together) and their writing is really fantastic (READ ICEBOX. DO IT. YOUR LIFE WILL BE BETTER FOR IT. I PROMISE!).

And, unlike me, they take requests! I’ve had a couple people ask me if I take requests. At this point, I don’t, and I’m not sure if I ever will. Outside of special occasions (or finishing my Piotr fic series, which’ll probably take at least a year), it’s not something I can see myself doing. I get very attached to ideas and tend to covet them closely, which ultimately doesn’t work well with doing requests (that and I don’t struggle with writing of my own volition).

But yes! Check out x-men-babe’s blog! You won’t regret it! 10000% Goblin Guarantee of quality!)

Sunlight dapples the bright green undergrowth of the woods behind the X-Mansion. Birds chirp overhead, their merry sounding songs echoing up to the bright, flawless blue sky. Bees occasionally buzz past, in search of the next patch of cutely colored flowers.

It’s a picturesque day.

You, however, are not.

You’re absolutely drenched in sweat, slick and shiny with it as you jog on a well worn path in the woods. Your shirt and gym shorts cling to your body, darkened with your excess perspiration. Your hair is equal parts limp and frizzy, and the strands that have fallen out of your haphazard pony tail --tied during the ugly hours of the morning when you’d first woken up to start your work out--are plastered against your forehead or your neck. Your knees are smudged with dirt from where you tripped earlier --along with your hands--and you just generally look like a mess.

A happy mess, though. A well-exercised mess. This run has been a part of your daily routine for several months now, and you’ve built enough endurance to go the whole distance without stopping or passing out!

You are, however, realizing that you might need to get up earlier if you want to avoid the sweltering summer temperatures and the corresponding sweat bath. You’re not sure which is more disgusting --being so sweaty that people can see their reflections when they look at your skin, or getting up early.

You’re pretty sure it’s getting up early. Probably.

As you jog through the gardens and towards the back of the mansion, you spy Piotr sitting out by the back door in his human form, presumably waiting for you.

Part of it is elating --because just last night he confessed he was in love with you and borderline made out with you on a secluded bench behind a tree, and you’re always happy to see him--but part of it is groan worthy --because just last night he confessed he was in love with you and borderline made out with you on a secluded bench behind a tree, and right now you look absolutely awful.

You slow to a stop a few feet away from him and spread your arms wide, as if waiting for applause before taking a bow. “Behold me and all my drippy glory!”

Piotr chuckles as you flop onto the ground. “You look fine, myshka. I take it your run went well?”

“Yeah, it’s fine, but it’s so damn hot.” You sit up and grimace when you try --and fail--to wipe stray blades of grass off your arms.

“Perhaps you should start waking up earlier.” He’s frowning now, concerned. “It is not good to run in this heat. You could make yourself sick.”

“Okay, I know you’re just trying to help me be healthy, but you should know that suggesting waking up anytime before eight is treason.”

He smiles fondly and shakes his head. “Will you listen if I offer something in return?”

“Absolutely. Even if it’s just you taking your shirt off. Especially if it’s you taking your shirt off. Can you tell I have a vested interest in seeing you with your shirt off?”

His cheeks flush red, but he laughs anyway as he holds out a water bottle to you. “I thought you would be thirsty, since you usually don’t take drink with you. Which--”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. Not healthy.” You groan as you press the cool plastic against your hot skin, then take a few icy sips and sigh contentedly. “You’re a real prince among men. You know that, Piotr?”

“Last I checked, it’s called being nice.”

“Pretty sure you’re just an alien that thrives off being courteous.”

He raises an eyebrow at you and smirks. “So, I am alien Prince?”

“I don’t see why not. You’ve got manners and can morph into a massive metal version of yourself. Pretty fuckin’ weird, if you ask me.” You guzzle a little more water, then groan as you push yourself into a standing position. “You’re dressed casual today. Is school not in?”

“Nyet. We are out for year.”

Right. You knew that. Duh.

Your brain does the math of it’s own volition. 

The students and most of the teachers are out for the day and won’t be back until late evening. Those who’ve stayed behind will likely spend the day doing what they want. And, as if that wasn’t wonderful enough, Wade and Nathan are out of the house on a job for Weasel. 

You smile as an idea comes together in your head. “Are there any missions you have to go on.”

Piotr shakes his head. “Nyet.”

“Do you have any hard set plans for the day?”

He’s smiling now, catching on to what’re you’re getting at. “I do not.”

“Then, what say you and I spend the day together once I’m done showering? I’m thinking marathon movie session.”

“I think I would enjoy that very much.” He opens the back door for you and ushers you inside. “But you really should take water with you on runs, moya lyubov’. Dehydration is no joking matter.”

You hide your fond smile by lifting the spout of the water bottle to your lips and let your mother-hen boyfriend lecture you about proper athletic safety and the importance of being well hydrated.

God, you love this man.

Once you’ve thoroughly scrubbed yourself and put on some dry clothes that don’t reek of sweat, you pop downstairs in search of Piotr.

He’s in the kitchen, making an early lunch for himself. “Have you eaten yet, myshka?”

“No. I prefer doing fasted workouts. You build more muscle that way.”

“Da, but you should eat something. You have burnt great deal of energy.”

“I’m going to.” You pat his arm reassuringly. “You don’t have to worry, okay? Believe me, I’m starving. There’s no way I’m going any longer without eating than I absolutely have to.”

The line of his shoulders relaxes as he exhales. “Sorry, I--”

“Don’t apologize, Pete. I like the way you’re sweet and want to take care of everyone; it’s endearing.” Then, to prove your point, you clamber up onto the stool next to him and kiss him.

Even though most of you is completely swept away by the sheer sensation of his lips pressing against yours, a tiny part of your brain still registers ‘holy fucking shit, I’m kissing Piotr, I’m his girlfriend now, I can kiss him whenever I want, this is so fucking awesome--’

He breaks the kiss with a smile and rubs the swells of your cheeks with his thumbs. “I don’t think I’m ever going to get enough of that.”

You grin and lean back in for another kiss. “Me either.”

He presses a gentle finger against your lips. “Eat something, please, dorogaya moya.”

You kiss the pad of his finger and hop off the stool. “Fine. If you insist. So, what movies are we watching?”

“I thought I would let you choose. I put my DVD binder on table in rec room.”

You stealthily lift a pack of Pop Tarts out of one of the boxes Wade has stashed on top of the fridge, then use Piotr’s meal prep distraction to slip into the rec room with your hard earned treat in hand. You situate yourself on the couch, open the foil wrapper holding the breakfast pastry as quietly as you can, and shove half a Pop Tart in your mouth while you start flipping through the DVD booklet.

The sheer number of choices is overwhelming. You wouldn’t have pegged your boyfriend as a movie junkie. The case contains a little bit of everything, from some discs with titles in Russian --no surprise there--to cheesy rom coms to several pieces by Alfred Hitchcock.

What is surprising, though, is when you spy Disney’s Peter Pan movie at the bottom right corner of one of the ‘pages.’ After staring at it for a moment, wondering why Piotr would have a kid’s movie, you shrug it off and flip over to the other side. He’s a teacher. Of course he’d have a kid’s movie or two.

Except it isn’t just one or two. Peter Pan is just the tip of the iceberg; a few quick, disbelieving flips to the end of the binder confirms that he has every Disney movie released on DVD, from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs to Moana.

Woah. Did not see this coming.

“Pop Tarts are not a meal, dorogaya moya.”

“Agree to disagree.” You look up at him as he walks into the rec room with two plates of food. “Hey, why do you have so many Disney movies?”

“They are happy movies,” he says as he sets one of the plates in your lap. “Besides, I like the art and animation.”

“I’ve never seen ‘em. What makes them so great?”

“Well, the older ones were done by hand. Artists made backgrounds, then painted animation cels for each frame. The cels were photographed, then put together into full movie. It is...” His voice trails off as he tries to find the words. “Awe-inspiring, as artist, to watch. Compared to modern standards, the movies are arguably crude, but the amount of effort is... amazing. And I think the old movies are beautiful in ways that new movies aren’t. The texturing of the backgrounds, the softness... it is incredible.”

“Wow. That is cool. What about the newer ones?”

“Computer animation is fascinating. I doubt it will ever be ‘my thing’ but it is still interesting to watch. Plus, stories and plots are better written. Usually.”

“Always a good thing.” You shove the last Pop Tart half into your mouth and shrug. “Disney’s good. You pick where we start.”

“We start at beginning,” he says emphatically as he carries the DVD carrier over to the entertainment center.

You look down at the plate as he sets everything up and gasp when you realize it has a neat little pile of Cheetos on it. “Wait, is this for me?”

“Da. I told you Pop Tarts were not meal.”

“Man, I scored a total package. How did that even happen?”

He blushes as he stands and walks over to the couch. “I think am I the one who ‘scored,’ myshka.”

You smile and sigh happily when he presses his lips against yours.

There’s no way life gets any better than this.

Life, in fact, does get better.

Namely, in the sense that you get to spend the whole day watching Disney movies with your boyfriend.

And in the sense that, if prompted, Piotr will literally spend several minutes explaining the behind the scenes effort that went into the animating the old movies, the techniques used by the artists to construct the backgrounds, and the sheer level of talent it takes to sync audio to hand-fucking-painted animation.

That, and the movies are just that gorgeous. Granted, the writing in the newer ones are usually better --the two of you opt to hop back and forth between old and new since there’s no way you’ll make it through every single Disney movie in one day--but the level of artistry in all of them leaves you absolutely speechless.

“Man, I’ve really been missing out!” you murmur, awestruck, as you watch the ‘Whole New World’ sequence in Aladdin. “This is amazing! How did they even do this?”

“Much of animation was done on computers at this point,” Piotr says. “It allows for art to move better with music, more creative freedom.”

“No kidding.” You can’t help but smile as you watch the magic carpet soar up into the clouds as the music swells. “This is really beautiful.”

“Da,” Piotr agrees softly.

And then he shifts closer to you, stretches his arms above his head, and lets one settle around your shoulders as he relaxes again.

Suddenly, your proximity to your boyfriend is a lot more interesting than the movie. You’re tucked against his side, sitting thigh to thigh, and his arm is warm and comfortably heavy on your shoulder.

You’re hit by a desire to kiss him --and it suddenly occurs to you that there’s nothing stopping you. The two of you are in a relationship, there’s no one around that would make doing it ‘inappropriate,’ and you’re practically on a quasi-date. There’s never been a better time for it.

You wriggle into his lap until you’re straddling him, propped up on your knees --he’s so much taller than you that at times it’s almost ridiculous--and loop your arms around his next before leaning into kiss him.

Piotr’s hands flit up and down your arms, your shoulders, and your sides before settling at your waist. He uses his hold on you to pull you close, bringing the two of you flush together.

You let out a happy sigh when he wraps his muscular arms around you, effectively cradling you against his burly chest, and kiss him harder. You’ve been pining for him for so long, and now that the two of you are together you never want to stop kissing him. Touching him. Being around him.

“Is this your way of saying that you don’t want to watch movie anymore?” Piotr asks, a little breathless, when the kiss breaks.

“No,” you murmur as you kiss the bridge of his nose. “I just love you.”

His cheeks flush a lovely shade of rose as he smiles sweetly at you. “I love you too, myshka.”

You turn around and settle in his lap to finish watching the movie, snuggled happily in his arms.

This. Life definitely doesn’t get better than this.

Except it does. The universe is hellbent on proving you wrong today, and you’re loving every moment of it.

Once the film finishes, Piotr suggests that the two of you take a stroll through the gardens to get your blood flowing.

The carefully arranged and tended to patches of flowers and bushes look utterly wonderful in the golden, early evening light. A soft breeze stirs the late spring air, keeping everything perfectly comfortable as the two of you walk along the gravel pathways.

Piotr’s hand in solid and warm around yours, and you never expected such a small, simple form of contact to feel so exhilarating. You almost can’t believe that it’s real, that he’s really your boyfriend now and really loves you.

The two of you talk about whatever comes to mind --mostly the movies you’ve been watching--and take your time as you meander around the grounds of Xavier’s. There’s no reason to hurry; the students and teachers won’t be back from their beach trip for a few more hours, there aren’t any missions that need responding to, and with Wade out of the house on one of his jobs there aren’t any explosions or other disasters to shatter the easy, peaceful lull in the air.

“I’ve really enjoyed today,” you say quietly as you squeeze Piotr’s hand.

“So have I, dorogaya moya. This has been... wonderful.” He stops --slowly enough that you don’t stumble or jerk back--and bends down to kiss you.

You smile into the kiss, and rest one hand on his chest and the other on his cheek.

It’s absolutely magical. Maybe the Disney movies have been rubbing off on your life.

“Think we have time for one more movie?” you ask when he pulls back.

“I think so,” he says with a soft, happy smile.

“Cool.” You grin giddily as you walk back to the house, hand in hand, the promise of more quiet, intimate, magic-filled time together beckoning alluringly.

This. Life doesn’t get better than this.

[deskcoin64-blog]

John Paxson dishes on Justin Holiday trade, Jabari Parker's status and more

John Paxson dishes on Justin Holiday trade, Jabari Parker's status and more originally appeared on nbcsportschicago.com

VP of basketball operations John Paxson spoke with reporters on Friday night and dished on a number of topics.

Paxson happy with Holiday return but can't commit to additional moves

Paxson said the Thursday trade with the Memphis Grizzlies came together in "a couple hours." Memphis was looking for perimeter shooting and, having lost 10 of their last 13 to fall below .500, needed to make a move.

The Bulls were willing trade partners, looking to acquire assets. They found them in a pair of second round draft picks, which gets them back into the second round of the 2019 NBA Draft; they had traded that initial pick to the Lakers in 2016 as part of the process in signing Dwyane Wade.

So while Paxson believes there are more potential moves on the table – and both Robin Lopez and Jabari Parker are reportedly being shopped – he wouldn't commit to another move before the Feb. 8 deadline.

"That's what has to happen. Things have to align. You can't just force it," he said. "Again, if we can acquire young players, draft assets, we can maybe look at our roster and think there's a better fit, we'll go that route."

Of note, both Paxson and Jim Boylen seem excited about Wayne Selden getting some run with the Bulls in this the final year of his contract. Selden fell out of the Grizzlies rotation in December but just turned 24 and showed some promise toward the end of last season.

MarShon Brooks has not reported to the Bulls, Boylen confirmed, and Paxson said the team will look for a resolution for moving him out of Chicago in the next couple days.

Paxson supports Boylen's decision to take Jabari Parker out of rotation

Jabari Parker must have done something right during Thursday's practice. The Bulls' biggest offseason signing received his first playing time since Dec. 13 against the Orlando Magic in Mexico City. He finally found some minutes with Bobby Portis still out with a sprained ankle - though he could return as soon as Sunday - and Lauri Markkanen battling first-quarter foul trouble.

He still projects as the odd man out once Portis returns, as there's no real point in trying him again at small forward.

But Paxson, the guy who ultimately decided to pay him $20 million a year, said he trusts Boylen's decision to take their highest paid player and turn him into a nightly DNP-CD, even with the minutes he got on Friday.

"The one thing Jim has been really consistent with is the accountability aspect," Paxson said. "I believe you can hold players to a certain standard of what you want as a coach. Jabari is a really good guy. You guys have been around him. He's a terrific person. If we can acclimate him back into things, he's going to get a chance. This league is about getting chances, even for players who have been through what Jabari has been through."

Paxson, like Boylen's done often, said if an opportunity presents itself that Parker will get a chance. It happened on Friday and Parker looked good, but it's more likely is that if an opportunity presents itself for the Bulls to unload their latest failed free agent signing, they'll do it as quickly as possible.

At the end of the day, Cam Payne was simply outplayed

Paxson couldn't have been more excited about the Bulls acquiring Cam Payne two years ago, and he went out of his way in April to say how confident they were for his continued progression. Perhaps they were simply trying to convince themselves that Payne could transform into a second-unit point guard, but it never panned out. Payne was the odd man out following the Holiday trade, as the Bulls waived the final piece of their regrettable deal with Oklahoma City.

"You make decisions and hope for the best," he said. "The reality is both (Ryan Arcidiacono) and (Shaq Harrison) have outplayed him. They fit what we want to do. Cam had some struggles with his foot and trying to get him back. We wish him well."

As expected, Paxson still confident in the future

It's not as if Paxson would have said anything different, but he reiterated Friday that he's confident in the direction the Bulls are headed.

Friday marked the first time this season that Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison took the floor together, and they did so in a starting capacity.

Story continues

This is the future. Until this summer brings another top draft pick and potentially a significant free agent, the core of the Bulls lies with these five players. And all Paxson is looking for is continued improvement from his young core.

"Very important. It's really important. We need to see growth. We need to see how they play. We're a month into Jim's tenure now, and I think they understand what's expected," Paxson said. "So we're going to go out on the road here after these next two games. That's a good time for a young team to get together. They're going to be hard games. We just need to see development. That's going to be a big key."

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/john-paxson-dishes-justin-holiday-005126943.html?src=rss

[pseudocitrus]

touken week day 4: memory

this is a continuation of my previous touken week fic about 240neki and toukachan. it only vaguely follows the touken week prompt though... 😂 this fic is also inspired by this anon!

it doesn’t have exactly all the details you noted,, but, thank you for the inspiration!

~1500 words, contains mostly fluff! excerpt:

It not...exactly secret...but it’s not — it’s not like he was trying to trick Yomo or anything like that. It’s just...he didn’t really know how things would really pan out, so he was just going to remain quiet until he was absolutely sure, but —

“Well?” Yomo asks, and Touka saves him, with a sigh.

“It’s nothing, he’s not sneaking out or anything, he’s just been sleeping in my room,” she explains, bluntly, and Yomo looks at her. At a time like this, Kaneki would expect that even Yomo’s face would betray...something. But he remains as calm as ever.

“I see,” he says. “Then, Ken, please move things into the spare room today, if you’re not going to use it. It’s crowded down here with all the coffee beans.”

“Oh...oh...okay,” Kaneki manages, barely.

It not...exactly secret...but it’s not — it’s not like he was trying to trick Yomo or anything like that. It’s just...he didn’t really know how things would really pan out, so he was just going to remain quiet until he was absolutely sure, but —

“Well?” Yomo asks, and Touka saves him, with a sigh.

“It’s nothing, he’s not sneaking out or anything, he’s just been sleeping in my room,” she explains, bluntly, and Yomo looks at her. At a time like this, Kaneki would expect that even Yomo’s face would betray...something. But he remains as calm as ever.

“I see,” he says. “Then, Ken, please move things into the spare room today, if you’re not going to use it. It’s crowded down here with all the coffee beans.”

“Oh...oh...okay,” Kaneki manages, barely.

“And I still think it would be a good idea to dye your hair sooner than later,” Yomo adds. It sounds like a soft request, but he’s been saying as much every day since he returned from foraging to find Kaneki sitting in the cafe kitchen with Touka, holding an upturned cup shakily over a growing puddle of coffee.

“Of course,” Kaneki coughs. “Sorry.” There’s really no good excuse for why it isn’t dyed already, except that whenever he and Touka have time to themselves, they usually...end up...being busy.

“I’ll be going then,” Yomo says, and maybe it’s just Kaneki’s own nervousness that makes him suspect Yomo is beating an unusually faster retreat than usual, but he doesn’t have much time to dwell on it because the bell on the door is ringing, and Touka is saying, “See? Not a big deal,” but of course she would say that, Touka is the kind of person that pulls no punches and didn’t even hesitate to ask him, afterward, that day, in the kitchen: “So, were you a virgin?”

“I don’t know why you were so worried,” Touka continues, cleaning off the machine.

“Do you really not know?” Kaneki asks helplessly. “I mean...Yomo is...he protects you, right? He cares about you.”

Touka’s single eye regards him skeptically. “And?”

Kaneki grimaces. Maybe it’s different with ghouls. Despite the time that’s passed he has to admit there are a lot of things about them that he doesn’t quite get. In any case, Touka is glancing up and past him now, and Kaneki follows her gaze to the storefront and to the clock, which says they still have half an hour until opening time. He feels Touka step closer. He looks down and sees her looking up at him.

“Let’s do it one more time before the store opens?”

Direct, and yet her voice is so small and sweet that Kaneki feels himself blush. She rubs his back briskly — right at that place, which she can always find instantly, even over his clothing — and he sucks in a breath and nods quickly and Touka smiles at him beautifully and yanks his apron strings loose.

When Yomo returns after hours, he looks around at the cafe, and then at Kaneki’s hair. He makes no comment, except, “Thanks for moving the beans.”

:::

It’s not the return he always imagined. People are missing — Hide, and Yoshimura, and Hinami and Irimi and Koma and everyone else. But the days pass along calmly, even the ones where CCG investigators come to visit. He remembers, quickly, how to make coffee. Touka and Yomo take him in as easily and simply as if he had always been there, patient with his fumbling and even the nightmares that wake them all up at night. Eventually, the nightmares dwindle. He spends the evenings reading or re-reading the books in the cafe, which all, somehow, are to his taste. Soon, the books pile up at Touka’s — no, at his — no, at their beside, easy to reach even when Touka lies across him contentedly.

It’s not the return he always imagined, but other things exist in this life too, which he could have never dreamed — like waking up beside Touka, feeling the weird nice comfort of her body draped over him, listening to her breathe gently against his chest and combing her hair behind her ear in the sunlight. Sometimes he could cry at the sight of it. Other times, he finds his heart so overflowing that he doesn’t mind getting up and dressed, even if it’s cold, to answer whoever is banging on :re’s back door.

“Excuse me,” Kaneki says, “but please be quiet,” and then he says, “Oh, good morning, senpai,” and Nishiki yawns. He covers his mouth with a hand that’s holding a crinkling, bulging paper bag.

“Yeah, sure, good morning. Where the hell did Touka go last night?”

“Touka-chan?” Kaneki echoes. “Um...she was here.”

“Here?”

“Well — she was sick,” Kaneki explains. “She was throwing up.”

Nishiki sighs before Kaneki can explain his suspicions that she’s trying to practice and steel her stomach before trying to meet Kosaka-san.

“Good thing I got her two, then,” he says, and hands the bag over. Kaneki takes it, with confusion, and uncurls the top to peer in, just to confirm what the smell and the grease stains are telling him.

“Burgers?”

“Sure. Can’t be too careful. Just pretend it’s one each.”

“Each?” Kaneki echoes.

“Well, yeah. Come on, are you stupid? One for Touka, and one for the brat.”

“Brat?”

They stare at each other. They realize it, at the name time. Nishiki groans.

“She’s going to fucking kill me.”

:::

It’s been a long while. He remembers, still, the first time that she stuffed meat into his mouth. The time he managed to stagger down to Anteiku’s cafe after fighting Nishiki, and saw her gingerly fold her sleeves over her bandage. The shock with which she looked at him as he held her at Aogiri, and then, the sharp, stabbing instant of disbelief and hurt when he told her he didn’t want her with him. The time the bandage fell from his eyes and he saw her, again, gazing up at him with peace and pleasure. The many times he’s woken up from dreams in which he’s lost everything and everyone and Touka held him, firmly, for as long as it took for him to stop shaking.

He sits on the edge of the bed, holding the bag. He waits, and eventually Touka begins to stir and stretch and wrinkle her nose.

“What’s that smell,” she grumbles, and Kaneki shakes the bag indicatively, and Touka furrow her brows at him, and then jerks up. She props herself on her arms, looking at the bag, and then at Kaneki, and then sits properly, pulling the blanket over her chest.

“I’m gonna fucking kill him,” she says, half-heartedly. Kaneki smiles and gives her the bag.

“There’s two,” he says, “one for...one each.”

They are quiet.

“I want to ask you something,” Kaneki says, at the same time Touka says, “I need to tell you something,” and they look at each other, and fall silent.

“You first,” Kaneki offers, and for a second it looks like Touka won’t accept. She looks at the ceiling, taking a breath. Then she looks right at him.

“I’m pregnant,” she says. “It’s not...I wasn’t trying to keep it a secret...or trying to trick you or anything.” She looks down at the bag. “I just...don’t really know if it’ll be born properly anyway, so...I was just going to keep quiet until I knew for sure. Sorry.”

“It’s okay,” Kaneki tells her, and to prove it he reaches for Touka’s flushed cheek, and he holds it. She tips her head up and studies his expression, the smile he’s making for her, genuinely.

“I’m...I’m glad.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he realizes. He feels his smile broaden. “Really.”

She shuffles her weight. “Is this what you were going to ask about?”

“No,” he says. “What I wanted to ask you about was how ghouls get married.”

“Wh — what?”

It takes a little while after than — to wade through her shock, to calm her embarrassment, to understand her explanation clearly and then assure her again that he’s serious, yes, he’s really, seriously, serious. He adds this moment to, to his list of times he never wants to forget: when she looks at him, with her uncertainty blooming into a soft, shy, small happiness. She lets the blanket fall, to expose one shoulder, and he inches close to her, and wraps his arms around her body. His body shivers as she leans against him. He kisses her gently, and then opens his mouth a little wider.

:::

Afterward, his shoulder aches as much as his chest. He presses his finger to the mark on her shoulder, which is healing, slowly. Even the edges of it, though, are already silvery, and his heart races a little to see it. His mark. On Touka.

She grimaces at him, uncomfortable with his staring, but before he can apologize she spreads her arms, and he breaks eye contact to lay against her happily. She embraces him. She rests her head on his and strokes his hair.

“Looks like we won’t have to dye your hair after all,” she says after a moment, and Kaneki stirs.

“Hmm?”

She has to reach around for her phone to take a picture so that he can see it. Even then, he has to zoom a bit. But they’re there, as clear as morning: black hairs, growing on top of his head, stark against the white.

[go-redgirl]

Washington Post, Leftists Slam Dianne Feinstein for Praising Graham, Barrett Hearing: ‘Time to Retire

The Washington Post, as well as several leftists, are criticizingSen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) for her performance at the hearings this week for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett, including Feinstein’s praise for Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Feinstein is the ranking member on the committee.

The Post tracked down Feinstein critics for its report and even trashed her on mask protocol:

As a contentious week of confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett wrapped up Thursday, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee had little to offer but praise.

“This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in,” said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). “It leaves one with a lot of hopes, a lot of questions and even some ideas perhaps of good bipartisan legislation we can put together.”

If that wasn’t enough to anger Democrats — who have spent this week trying to paint Barrett’s nomination process as a sham — Feinstein also thanked the committee’s chair, Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), and then walked across the room to wrap him in a hug. Never mind that neither senator was wearing a face mask. Many Democrats were so much more incensed about what that hug symbolized — a final white flag, a compliment for Graham after a comparatively tame week of questioning — that, hours later, at least two liberal activist groups called for Feinstein to go.

“It’s time for Senator Feinstein to step down from her leadership position on the Senate Judiciary Committee,” Brian Fallon, the executive director of Demand Justice, said in a statement. “If she won’t, her colleagues need to intervene.”

Demand Justice is a left-wing organization run by Fallon, former national press secretary for the failed Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.

“Judiciary Committee Democrats had one goal this week: to show what’s at stake under a 6-3 conservative Supreme Court — and we did that,” Feinstein said in a statement Thursday. “We showed that Judge Barrett has a long history of opposing the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade and represents the vote to overturn both.”

The Post, like Democrats, claimed that Barrett being seated on the Supreme Court would mean an imminent threat to left-wing causes, including abortion on demand, universal health care, and gay marriage.

“That she praised Graham’s oversight of the process, and then got up and hugged him, was simply the final provocation for many liberals,” the Post reported.

“That she can say this about this ongoing travesty,” Jon Lovett, a former aide to President Barack Obama and cohost of Pod Save America, said, “is another sad statement about how poorly represented we are by Dianne Feinstein.”

The Post implied Feinstein’s age is an issue and treated a Saturday Night Live skit as political analysis.

“But in recent years, the 87-year-old senator has often gotten more attention for her gaffes,” the Post reported. “Last year, she was panned on Saturday Night Live for a now-infamous interaction in which she dismissed a group of schoolchildren asking her to advocate for the Green New Deal.”

“And even before the Senate took up another nomination this month, Democrats expressed concerns that Feinstein — the oldest lawmaker in her chamber and the second-oldest in Congress — had grown too disengaged to fight the GOP tooth-and-nail over the future of Ginsburg’s seat,” the Post reported.

“I don’t care that Feinstein and Graham are friends,” Susan Hennessey, executive editor of the left-wing Lawfare blog, said in the Post report. “I care that Feinstein catastrophically mismanaged the hearings, was outwitted without realizing it, and did a grave disservice to the public.”

The Post said Feinstein’s critics are “floating ideas” for how to force her out and replace her with former Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), who was forced from office after a scandal involving staff.

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