#and i had to recount the 'things' an embarrassingly large amount of times

[californiaispurple]

WOEVEMBER DAY 4: UNSEEN CHARACTERS

[Image description: There are eleven consecutive images outlined in black. The first image has 'TEN THINGS/PEOPLE VIOLET BAUDELAIRE NEVER DID/MET BETWEEN THE AGES OF FOURTEEN-FIFTEEN (AMONGST OTHER THINGS)' written in the center, and underneath those words is Violet Baudelaire's head, denoted by the big ribbon present in her hair. The second image has written across the top, 'CELEBRATE W/ BACKSTAGE THEATRE ABOUT A JOB WELL DONE'. Underneath that, there are two triangular illustrations split diagonally with flowers. The left illustration has Violet Baudelaire and somebody else, both part of the theater backstage crew, smiling from the shadows as they look at two people in a spotlight. The right illustration depicts a scene from the Bad Beginning, and has Violet in a wedding dress and veil, wearing a grim expression, under a spotlight. The third image has two illustrations on the top and bottom, separated by a white bar with the words 'TAKE CARE OF CLASS PET W/ BEN'. The top illustration has Violet and Ben talking to each other in front of a terrarium that holds a snake, and the bottom illustration depicts someone grabbing a syringe labeled 'MAMBA DU MAL' from a suitcase. The fourth image has the words 'LISTEN TO SOMEONE TALK ABOUT FISH FOR HOURS (AND FIND IT VERY INTERESTING, BUT LONG)' written in the top left corner. On the left side of the image is an illustration of Violet and a person in a boat politely talking, the former holding a camera and both wearing life jackets. On the right side of the illustration is Violet stumbling back in a taller boat as someone's shoe just steps into frame, depicting a scene from the Wide Window. In the fifth image, there are two illustrations on the top and bottom separated by a white bar that has the words 'LEARN SWORDFIGHTING FROM A GOOD INSTRUCTOR'. The top illustration depicts Sunny Baudelaire challenging the POV to a sword fight, a scene in The Miserable Mill. In the bottom illustration, two people decked in fencing gear clash swords, Violet Baudelaire and her instructor, as Sunny cheers them on in the background. The sixth image has 'TRY OUT A NEW ICE CREAM STORE' and depicts Violet and Klaus ordering ice cream at a parlor, the vendor smiling widely to take their order. The Quagmire Twins sit in the foreground, waiting for them to return. The seventh image has 'FIND A LUCKY PENNY IN THE FISH DISTRICT' written on top and depicts Violet in a casual outfit stooping down to pick up a penny on the sidewalk. Behind her, somebody who can only be seen to their waist walks past on the brick roads, wearing an oversized pinstriped suit. The eighth image has 'HELP A LIBRARIAN' written in the top left corner, with one illustration taking up the majority of the image and a second smaller illustration in the top right corner. The main illustration depicts Violet with her hair tied up as she talks with a smiling elderly lady. In the background, there is a machine behind Violet that is grabbing a book off the shelf. In the smaller illustration, a hand holds out a ribbon with bent paper clips on it. The ninth image has 'GET AN IDEA FOR AN INVENTION AT THE CIRCUS' and shows Violet talking to a woman using still rings in a flexible position, feet over her head. The tenth image has 'GO ROCK CLIMBING (AND BE GLAD THERE'S SOMEONE THERE TO CATCH YOU' written in the top left corner and has a bird's eye view of Violet climbing up rocky terrain with a determined expression. The eleventh image has 'BLOW OUT THE CANDLES ON YOUR FIFTEENTH BIRTHDAY' written in a smaller font. The illustration is a birthday cake on a lonely table with a single lit candle, and a hair ribbon right next to it. End description.]

and i can in no way say i managed to keep up with the challenge, but regardless! this is for @asouefanworkevent 's lovely woevember week!

this probably doesn't center as much as the 'unseen characters' to really fit within the prompt, but i realized that only midway through drawing the images >_>

one of the things that makes me sad about the misfortunate riddled throughout the trouble years of the baudelaires, and other children within the series, is of how much they missed (which is, in a way, inspired by how much younger children missed due to the pandemic)

imagine all of the things they never did? the hobbies they never picked up? the memories they never made? the people they never met?

in a universe where that faithful day didn't happen, what things would they have accomplished? where they returned home from the beach, parents smiling and welcoming them back-- perhaps they'd been better at hiding, or the arsonists showing a rare act of mercy, or someone took a wrong turn around town and gave up-- whatever the circumstance, a universe where they'd have the 'normal' ups and downs of growing up

now, the baudelaires probably wouldn't ever have a particularly normal life, even if they had the safest childhood to ever have transpired, but still

would they be able to have the happiest experiences of their life? walking arm in arm with friends down the hallways, stopping to smell the roses and daises and tulips? would they have been struck by the 'norma' heartbreak and tragedy, of petty fights between friends and identity crises?

they'd never know. they'd never know, and they'd never get to know.

but, i mean, they grew up anyways. they developed and still made the happiest memories of their life. they still lived and laughed, and it's not like every moment of the years they ran was defined by just surviving. those years shouldn't be defined by them looking behind their backs every second, getting more and more jaded with every promise. they made friends and did learn things about themselves, learned that they could stare death in the face and spit.

so i suppose it doesn't matter either way, but still, there is always a what if

[wolven91]

An Embellished Tale

When the taurian ship crashed, Evelyn had done what she thought anyone else would do.

Rather than escape, she'd tried to help.

The first and only other life pod the human could get to, thanks to the bulkheads locking down, was one that contained Lord Xeet.

He had obviously woken in his pod, but the front of the capsule hadn't released. Without the system feeding him oxygen anymore, it sounded like he had begun to panic. He could probably taste the air within the pod getting thin.

== 0 ==

When Lord Xeet retold his story later, he would explain that the large 'brute' of a woman had stomped out of the smoke and with her bare hands; torn open the pod, pulled him free with her mighty arms and kissed him there and then against the ship's decking in a toe curling, passionate embrace that he, embarrassingly, returned out of pure gratefulness. So overcome was she at his beauty that she'd pulled him to herself and whispered her undying love for him within the first breaking off of their initial kiss.

"She saved my life in that moment, and I became hers." He would wistfully recount, eyes misty and far away for the crowd that surrounded him.

== 0 ==

To Evelyn, she had found a crowbar, jammed it into the side of the capsule and pried the damn thing open with no small amount of effort. When she got it open, the admittedly beautiful and slender, taurian seemed to have passed out. He was unmoving and had his eyes closed. Evelyn removed him as gently as she could from the broken pod, placed him onto the floor and when she found he wasn't breathing; attempted to give mouth to mouth.

The moment their lips touched; however, his arms latched around the back of Evelyn's neck! She had instinctively pulled away, but that merely pulled the taurian up and into her lap as she fell backways while he peppered her face with pecks and kisses, gasping thanks and begging for saving.

It was only when he pulled away to say something further that Evelyn got the leverage to pry herself away and escape, shoving him onto the metal floor.

== 0 ==

"Oh, she was amazing. She looked me dead in the eyes and growled 'we need to get out of here..'" Lord Xeet would tremble as he retold the tale, putting on a dramatic, gravelly voice to 'oohs' and 'aah's from his listeners.

== 0 ==

"I think. I think we need to get out of here... sir." Evelyn had said, standing back up and looking around at the leaks that had made themselves known. Water had begun to stream down the walls in places.

Ignoring that she knew taurian males were delicate and prone to dramatic outburst not to mention having odd notions of what was normal. She supposed if the roles were reversed, would the dashing hero get a kiss from the damsel in distress?

With a mental shrug, she offered a hand to help him up.

== 0 ==

"She hauled me up onto her shoulder without a word! She was like an animal! A barbarian! Oh! That human was an 'alpha' alright." He would close his eyes during this part of the story, touching the curve of his neck at the memory.

To the surrounding crowd of male nobility, despite not being there, the mere story was scandalous, and they lapped it up and hid their redding faces with their hand fans.

=== 0 ===

The taurian had grabbed her offered hand and launched himself up and onto her shoulders with explosive and frankly impressive leg strength, wrapping his legs around her shoulders and torso. Evelyn's face was briefly blinded by his scrabbling hands and arms as he kept himself up over the back of Evelyn's neck away from the slowly rising water. His hands unintentionally grabbed the hair at the back of her head as he settled himself. It was like being assaulted by a particularly scared cat.

"Yes! Rescue me, my hero! Rescue me!" He cried, the entire time.

"Get off you nutter! We're going to drown!"

== 0 ==

"But we weren't out of the depths yet. For all her strength! For all her courage! The poor savage couldn't escape our doom. I had to whisper to her, to tame the beast that she was. Oh, she was brave! She said she'd be brave for me. For her love!" He held his hand over his heart, his eyes swept heavenward, whilst the small crowd of his gentlemen in waiting and other guests all listened with eager ears.

== 0 ==

"Look, I can't breathe under water, nor can I see." Evelyn explained to the still 'latched on' alien that was still holding her neck and head hostage. She had swung her quite violently about without success of removing him and bar running at a wall she was out of ideas and running out of time. Any other time, Evelyn would have found this whole thing funny, but weirdly drowning took priority.

"I need your help."

"Lord Xeet."

"What?"

"Say; 'I need your help, Lord Xeet'."

"We're going to drown and you're making me 'repeat after me'."

"Quite."

Evelyn stared up and the obviously tickled pink alien for several seconds, trying to burn a hole through his head with her eyes. He didn't budge.

"I need your help, Lord Xeet."

His arms squeezed.

"Again."

"I need your help, Lord Xeet!"

Another squeeze and his hands gripped her tighter.

"Again!"

"I need your help Lord Xeet, please!"

"Louder!"

"Goddamnit!"

== 0 ==

"I eventually calmed the beast enough to let me find a small opening beneath the rising waters. I swam ahead while she held onto me. She would have been lost if not for my help. When we reached the surface, the lifeboats dragged her from the water." His gaze was cast downwards now as he remembered a hard memory.

"They were worried about her. She had been under for too long. But I whispered to her, to come back to her love." He smiled impishly around at the large crowd now.

"And she did, her love for me guided her home!"

== 0 ==

The air from the surface was sweeter than any air Evelyn had enjoyed before. She was immediately nearly drowned once more as after gulping in his own air, Lord Xeet wrapped himself around her shoulders and began trying to kiss her once more. Without full motion of her arms, Evelyn sank beneath the water.

Thankfully the lifeboats had hooks on the end of sticks, she caught one and another got an article of her clothing.

Dragged back up to the surface, she was bodily pulled from the water with the mammalian alien still attached and pawing at his 'saviour'.

He had immediately regaled the lifeboat with a very doctored version of the story, and while her 'heroics' got her praise, the human was treated as a 'noble beast' by the nobility rather than a 'dashing hero' that she'd mildly hoped for. Thankfully any non-taurian that heard the tale gave her a look that told Evelyn that they knew the actual story.

Evelyn shrugged as she watched her husband of five years retell the tale of their meeting once more as he did every year at their anniversary party he had in his mansion. The nobility that surrounded him ooh'd and aah'd and we're quite adept at the whole pantomime. Evelyn slugged the alcoholic drink she held in her hand and was immediately offered another by the various servants that patrolled the gala.

At least when she wanted out of a conversation, she just had to start grunting or metaphorically dragging her fists along the floor, and nobody thought twice about it as she just walked away.

[regrettablewritings]

If it’s okay. Can I please request some LOVE headcanons with Jaskier, if it hasn’t already been requested?

Dang . . . We almost got an entire set here with Jaskier 👀

Who said “I love you” first?: You know it was Jaskier. Not only because you’d spent the entire time leading up to that point desperately trying to stifle your newly-found affections, but also because everybody knows that the loudest mouth on the continent has to have the first word. However, given that it’s Jaskier, you don’t buy it at first. For one, the man throws the word “love” around as, well, a bard throws around cheesy prose. Who’s to say that his dramatic gesture of spreading his arms wide and crying out gloriously, “Dear (Y/N)! I have determined that you! Are! The! One!!” wasn’t just another show for him? For another, as much as a part of you wanted to believe otherwise, a much larger part just couldn’t believe the possibility that someone like Jaskier could like someone like you romantically -- in whatever way “someone like Jaskier” could be taken. You initial reluctance to accept the bard’s confession left him a husk of a man, pouting and frustrated as he ranted to Geralt in the secrecy of a rented room at a tavern. All the while, the latter could only bluntly state that it’s Jaskier’s fault for having taken everything without much seriousness to it. His actions got him into this mess, he surely couldn’t expect for them to get him out of it. So he had to go the other way about it. You were very concerned when Jaskier got quiet. He’d already been acting strange for the last while or so, fumbling over his words and even struggling to babble on whimsically to jostle up songs. You had half a mind to assume that the poor fool might’ve been falling sick! But when he insisted he wasn’t, and that you still accompany him to the small plot of gardening land beside the tavern, your curiosity led you to oblige. You simply had to see where this was going. Hopefully to an explanation as to why he’d been acting so funny lately. In hindsight, the silly boy had probably scoped the area to find the most romantic spot. Admittedly, there’s not so many romantic associations one might have with raspberries, but there was a rock large enough to sit upon nearby where they were growing, which Jaskier apparently decided would have to do. It wasn’t a bench or a charmingly rustic fountain, but he still took it upon himself to treat it as though it were just as special. You wordlessly (if confusedly) followed suit, perching yourself on it per his request. Though, the temptation to leap right off of it struck the moment he took your hand into his own and locked eyes with you. You’d never heard Jaskier speak so calmly, so seriously, yet without a hint of graveness in it. You waited for him to reveal that it had been a joke, that he was using the moment to harvest some sort of song fodder from your response. But it never came. He just kept kneeling before you, awaiting your response, the hope in his eyes dwindling bit by bit in the moonlight the longer you went without saying anything. “Oh,” he finally spoke. Your heart could’ve shattered with the hint of trembling in that single syllable. “I, um . . . I suppose it is a bit -- it was a poor choice to -- I shouldn’t have -- ” No sentence sounded right to him in his moment of embarrassment. He tried getting back up, unlocking your hand from his, but your reinforced grip gave him pause. You shook your head, your heart beating so hard and fast that it hurt. And yet, the pain of it dulled when in comparison to the relief and bliss you felt.

What are their primary love languages?: Being the attention whore that he is, it would only be suitable that Jaskier reaps love and affection through words of affirmation and quality time. Yeah, he’s also a very sexual being, but he’s an entertainer down to the bone: It’s simply in his nature to desire your attention. When you spent quality time with him and give him praises meant only for him, you simply must be paying attention to him! And even beyond that, it provides the both of you means to communicate and get to know one another. (Well, more than you would already have to, given that you’re on the road all the time.) But for as arrogant as Jaskier is, that bardic nature goes both ways: It’s also in his nature to appraise everything to the highest and most flowery degree, as well as to throw that attentiveness to physical appeal right back at you. He loves being able to be physically close to you in any way that he can, especially sexually. And if he can make sweet and attentive love to you while also (literally) singing your praises? Worshiping your looks and your responses to his ministrations? It’s like he’s died and gone to heaven, a la le petit mort!

How often do they cuddle/engage in PDA?: Frequently, when the opportunity provides it. Of course, cuddling is difficult to do when one is on the road. And even though the ground isn’t necessarily the most ideal bed for it, being spooned can certainly help alleviate the dread of having to sleep on a floor that could become muddy soon enough. But that doesn’t stop the two of you from engaging in physical forms of affection whenever you can. You’ve never really been one especially for public displays of affection, but something about holding Jaskier’s hand as the two of you trail behind Geralt and Ciri just feels right. His hold is soft and warm, with only trace amounts of callousness due to his constant strumming on the lute. And when the group takes a break, you could think of nothing more refreshing than being able to sit at the base of a large tree and tuck yourself into the crook of your significant other’s arm as the both of you rest in silence, just enjoying the ambience. Sometimes, if you’re in an especially bubbly or affectionate mood, kisses wind up exchanged with no care on if Geralt or the child see you. There’s nothing shameless about giving your beloved a kiss on the cheek or even a quick peck on the lips, is there? Besides, the real shame should fall on Jaskier for always taking it too far by trying to kiss a line up your neck. It just gets taken up to an 11 when you actually have a proper bed to sleep on: The spooning increases, the not so sneaky caresses along the sides make an appearance, and the not-even-trying-to-hide-it attempts at lovingly groping your lovely bits are made because at least now there’s some privacy. And if you’re in the right mood and not too tired from your travels, you don’t mind indulging.

What are their favorite things to do together?: It depends on where the two of you are, but the one consistency is chatting and flinging jokes at one another. Jaskier fancies himself a man of wit so when you prove not to be afraid of playing along or hucking jokes right back at him, he takes it as a game. One of the competing sort. No matter how you may try, that game is going to turn into the two of you trying to make the other laugh or blush with some crude or colorful remarks. (And you can pretend you’re above it all you want, you’re clearly enjoying it.) He also likes how much inspiration your talks can give him, from you recounting the places you’ve seen to the people you’ve encountered (though you insist it’s nowhere near as impressive as he tries to make them sound in song form).

Who’s better at comforting the other?: As observant and intuitive as Jaskier can surprisingly be, this doesn’t always mean that he’s the best at using what he’s learned to calm the situation. If anything, his skittish and overly talkative nature can only drive you further into frustration if he’s not too careful. You know he means well, but Jackie can still be a bit overwhelming if one is already not in the best mood. But when it comes to calming him, you’re one of the best there is. At the very least, you’re able to distract him enough or praise him enough to where he’ll become a little less catty. He may be pouting as he rests his head against your breast, but he’s (not so) secretly eating up the proximity, how your fingers gently card through his hair, how warm your chest feels as it vibrates with your words . . . Words that are, of course, telling him what a talented minstrel he really is, especially compared to that hack of a troubadour, Valdo Marx. The moment you feel him smirking is the moment you know he’s let go of all pretenses of being upset — he’d felt good as new long ago. Still, you let him stay there.

Who’s more protective?: I suppose Jaskier, though the more fitting term would be “possessive.” Jaskier isn’t a very competent fighter (read: He cannot fight at all) so when it comes to physical well-being, he isn’t much good for keeping you any more guarded than however fast you both can run away from the problem. He’s more of a guardian when it comes to the heart or a person’s mental well-being. As embarrassingly idiotic as he can sometimes be, he isn’t so completely unaware as to not notice toxicity in other people. Unfortunately, he’s ironically not very good at vocally communicating this. As a result, he can come across as clingy or annoying. Which he is. But also, he doesn’t want you hurt and has your best interests in mind. Meanwhile, you care plenty for his physical well-being but also know you’re not much of a fighter, either. Besides, Jaskier’s gotten by on the road by himself far longer than you’ve known him -- apparently, he knows how to at least keep his head still attached to his body.

Do they prefer verbal or physical affection?: Both. As a stereotypical bawdy bard, he loves giving it, and as a humanoid peacock of a man, he loves receiving it. Let him lay his head in your lap while you stroke his hair and tell him what a wonderful performer he is, and how his voice makes you weak and yet empowered with desire --

What are some songs that apply to their relationship, in-universe or otherwise?: It may seem a bit rough to apply a song to such a musical man, but quite a few do come to mind: “Sweet Talk” by Saint Motel, “Put Your Money on Me” by The Struts, “Fall in Love” by Bad Rabbits, “Hands” by Barns Courtney . . . Now, if you take the time to listen to these or even look up some of the lyrics, you’ll notice a trend: A man pining for a woman who’s always just ever so slightly out of his reach. Or a man singing his delight for a woman who seems altogether unimpressed or at least hesitant to take a chance on him. Or the girl is just elusive. Which makes perfect sense, given that you’re one to guard her heart when in the face of the minstrel while Jaskier is the one putting his own entirely out there for you. But don’t be dismayed: Jaskier loves a good chase. His type is best defined as “someone he shouldn’t have or must at least bust his ass to acquire”, as one can assume from his interactions with concubines, higher-standing nobility, mothers, warriors, Geralt . . . But if you have a taste for something more optimistic or lighthearted, fear not: There’s always “Easy Way” by For the Foxes or “Undone” by The Bird and the Bee. What makes a song like “Undone” unique, however, is that it’s more for your point-of-view. Your feelings for Jaskier are complex yet so simple. He knows you’re not exactly the best at emoting, much less when it comes to your affections. But sometimes, you think that’s a good thing: If you were even half so brave or careless, the poor man might’ve died from your more frequent desire to kiss him to death (not that he would mind dying in such a pretty way). You can put on a calm expression all you want: Inside, you’re a storm of thoughts. You want to impress him, you want him to think you’re witty and bewitching, you want to be his yet one definite thing, you want to be the one who, well, can make him come undone with just a kiss. And it just takes you aback sometimes to realize that the very man, known for his philandering, already sees no wrong in you, and that he wants nothing more than the very same. With you and only you.

What kind of nicknames do they call each other?: It startled you to learn one day that you’d been calling him a nickname the entire time. In hindsight, yeah, it made sense: “Jaskier” was unusual as a given name. But you had grown so used to it and how it fit him like it was bespoke, that learning his real name was Julian just . . . It felt weird. Still, that didn’t erase the fact that, yes, Jaskier was technically still a nickname for him that you’d been using, knowingly or not. Though, every once in a while you would make an attempt to refer to him as something else: “Baby Eyes”, you realized, had some unusual sticking power to it.It’s normally used in an almost pouty tone, usually to accompany the pouting Jaskier’s already doing when you say it. Not in a taunting manner, but as if to extend sympathy. You hadn’t even meant for the name to keep reappearing but it just rolls off the tongue, especially whenever Jaskier looks at you with those blue eyes, fixed in a puppyish pout. He also seems to respond well to names that suggest his talent or genius, but we would be here all night running through the specifics due to how ridiculously and pointlessly long they are. The length of Jaskier’s names had actually become a bit of a problem even when in reference to you: It’s not really a nickname when your lover wants to refer to you as “Stunning Little Starling of the Northern Sky” or “Darling Daffodil of the Valley” and so on. He’s had to shorten quite a few down to “Starling” or “Darling” or “Daffodil” or “My Muse” or “Exquisite One, Conqueror of My Heart, Goddess of My Sleeping Hours, Patron Saint to My Loins --”.

Thank you for your patience!

[koreaunderground]

(2021/04/09) Anti-war activist visited by police after posting embarrassing AOC video

[thegrayzone.com][1]

  [1]: <https://thegrayzone.com/2021/04/09/anti-war-activist-police-aoc-video/>

# Anti-war activist visited by police after posting embarrassing AOC video | The Grayzone

Max Blumenthal·April 9, 2021

9-11 minutes

* * *

#### An anti-war activist was visited by California Highway Patrol officers after posting video of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s bumbling comments on Israel-Palestine. The action, which AOC denies triggering, was initiated by a call to US Capitol Police.

* * *

As he waited for a food delivery at his home in Los Angeles on April 8, Ryan Wentz, an anti-war activist and producer for the online viral program Soapbox, heard two men calling his name from over his front gate. When he approached, he realized they were not delivery drivers, but police officers flashing badges of the California Highway Patrol.

The cops informed Wentz that they had received a call from the Capitol Police, the federal law enforcement agency tasked with protecting the US Congress, about a tweet he had sent that allegedly threatened Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Wentz told The Grayzone, “The officers said, ‘We got a warning about a sitting member of Congress. And it was because of your tweet, which tagged them in it.’ And then they just wouldn’t back down from this accusation that I threatened to kill her.”

> (1/X) I’m really shaken up right now. I was just visited by two plainclothes police officers from California Highway Patrol at my home. They said they came here on behalf of the Capitol Police and accused me of threatening [@AOC][2] on Twitter yesterday. This is provably false. [pic.twitter.com/NGR8KViy93][3] > >    [2]: <https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>   [3]: <https://t.co/NGR8KViy93>

— Human Rights Watch Watcher (@queeralamode) [April 8, 2021][4]

  [4]: <https://twitter.com/queeralamode/status/1380284997785948162?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

The California Highway Patrol indicated on Twitter that it had acted on a call from Capitol Police.

_**Update:**_ A [spokesperson for AOC has denied to Intercept][5] reporter Ryan Grim that their office reported Wentz’s post, and has “asked Capitol Police to look into what happened here.”

  [5]: <https://twitter.com/ryangrim/status/1380515841951797248?s=20>

The police visit Wentz received may have been [part of a wider trend][6] of post-January 6 law enforcement intervention in social media criticism of members of Congress.

  [6]: <https://twitter.com/theoneronin1312/status/1380230580919484416>

> The CHP often assists in investigations at the request of allied agencies. Please contact the U.S. Capitol Police for additional information. > > — CHP Headquarters (@CHP_HQ) [April 9, 2021][7]

  [7]: <https://twitter.com/CHP_HQ/status/1380337921086005249?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

Though AOC’s office has denied falsely informing Capitol Police of an online threat by Wentz, the Democratic congresswoman has in the past asked her supporters to report critics to social media censors.

Whoever called the police on Wentz furnished law enforcement with a patently false allegation, as he has never threatened violence against any member of Congress.

In the tweet that triggered the police action, Wentz merely posted video of AOC delivering a vapid and embarrassingly convoluted answer to a question about resolving the crisis in Israel-Palestine. Describing her answer as “incredibly underwhelming,” he let the congresswoman’s cringeworthy commentary speak for itself.

> On April 1, [@AOC][8] did a livestream with Michael Miller, the head of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York. She was asked about “peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” > >    [8]: <https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

Her response was incredibly underwhelming, to say the very least: [pic.twitter.com/qHdwTy5pVO][9] > >    [9]: <https://t.co/qHdwTy5pVO>

— Human Rights Watch Watcher (@queeralamode) [April 7, 2021][10]

  [10]: <https://twitter.com/queeralamode/status/1379879392642408448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

Asked by Michael S. Miller of the New York Jewish Community Relations Council about actions that could be taken to support movements towards peace between Jewish Israelis and Palestinians, AOC responded as follows:

> Earlier just now you and I were talking about the what and the how. And I think that when we talk about peace, centering people’s humanity, protecting people’s rights – it’s not just about the what and the end goal which actually gets a lot of focus, but I actually think it’s much more about the how, and the way we are coming together, and how we interpret that what, and how we act in, you know, the actions we take to get to that what. > > So what this really is about is a question more than anything else about process. And we really need to make sure that we are valuing a process where all parties are respected and have, you know, a lot of equal opportunity to really make sure we are negotiating in good faith, etcetera. That being said, you know, I think there’s just this one central issue of settlements, because if the what – if the what has been decided on as two state, then the action of settlements, it’s not the how to get to that what. > > And so, you know, I think that’s a central thing that, you know, we center. And that we value Jewish and rather, we value Israeli, uh, uh, uh, we value the safety and human rights of Israelis, we value the safety and human rights of Palestinians, in that process that is similar, and that is on equal footing. And so all of that is extremely important in that process.

The video that Wentz tweeted of AOC’s long-winded dodge of a fundamental question about resolving the Israeli occupation of Palestine prompted a flood of online mockery and contempt, mostly from leftist Twitter users. Many derided AOC as a careerist who had abandoned progressive causes like Palestinian liberation in order to curry favor with Democratic Party power brokers, while others ridiculed her meaningless word salad.

> This is a very easy issue for a leftist, why is AOC struggling? > > Isreal is an apartheid state that should be Defunded > > — Nick is a Fred Hampton Leftist 🥋 (@SocialistMMA) [April 7, 2021][11]

  [11]: <https://twitter.com/SocialistMMA/status/1379905138601684995?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

> I'm incredibly impressed with [@AOC][12]'s Obama-like ability to fill large amounts of time with words while saying absolutely nothing. I challenge anyone to tell me what she just said. <https://t.co/hIkWTNR5Rp> > >    [12]: <https://twitter.com/AOC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

— Ali Abunimah (@AliAbunimah) [April 7, 2021][13]

  [13]: <https://twitter.com/AliAbunimah/status/1379883635743059971?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

Within hours of the online pile-on, someone reported Wentz to the Capitol Police for tweeting the video that embarrassed AOC. Because Wentz does not provide any information about his personal identity in his public Twitter profile, the social media giant appeared to have provided his private details to federal law enforcement.

“Another weird thing is usually I would get a report [from Twitter],” Wentz said, “because I’ve gotten my tweets reported before. But I didn’t get any notification about this.”

AOC’s staff has previously appealed to social media censors to suppress online criticism. On February 4, 2021, her campaign sent a mass email to supporters asking them to “scan your social media to find posts with misleading information” about the congresswoman, and “use the built-in report feature to flag them for moderators.”

![][14]

  [14]: https://i2.wp.com/thegrayzone.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Screen-Shot-2021-04-09-at-12.30.18-AM.png?resize=1170%2C1067&ssl=1

Team AOC issued its appeal for supporters to police social media in response to right-wing mockery of a [dramatic livestream][15] in which AOC suggested that the mob which stormed the Capitol building on January 6 nearly assassinated her.

  [15]: <https://www.instagram.com/tv/CKxlyx4g-Yb/?utm_source=ig_embed>

“I just hear these yells of ‘WHERE IS SHE? WHERE IS SHE?’” she recounted in the livestream. “This was the moment where I thought everything was over. I thought I was going to die.”

However, the source of the yells which had terrified AOC turned out to be a Capitol Police officer who had been dispatched to protect her. Further, the congresswoman’s office was located in the Cannon House Office Building, which had not been penetrated by any rioters on January 6.

Right-wing activists and other political foes of AOC [exploited these points][16] to launch a viral hashtag likening the congresswoman to Jussie Smollet, the actor who faked an attack on himself. After [attempting to challenge][17] her critics directly, AOC delegated her staff to dispatch its army of supporters to report critics en masse to Twitter and Facebook censors.

  [16]: <https://nypost.com/2021/02/04/aoc-blasted-for-exaggerating-capitol-riot-experience/>   [17]: <https://twitter.com/AOC/status/1357037568966217728>

Weeks earlier, podcaster Jimmy Dore had initiated a [“Force The Vote”][18] campaign to pressure AOC and fellow members of the progressive congressional “Squad” to withhold their votes for Rep. Nancy Pelosi as speaker of the House until Pelosi agreed to bring a bill for Medicare for All to the floor for a vote.

  [18]: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FrqTQd5rnwU>

In response to [incendiary criticism][19] from Dore for her refusal to buck centrist party leadership, AOC declared, “That’s not tone, that’s violence.”

  [19]: <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyAXpYPA7C4>

> RT: briebriejoy “15 million people have lost their employer-based health care in the middle of a global pandemic, and barely half of House Democrats support Medicare for All even though 88% of their constituents do. > > That’s violence.” [#ForceTheVote][20] <https://t.co/fSD8qwsINJ> > >    [20]: <https://twitter.com/hashtag/ForceTheVote?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

— Jimmy Dore (@jimmy_dore) [January 2, 2021][21]

  [21]: <https://twitter.com/jimmy_dore/status/1345275897704640512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

According to Wentz, the police officers that visited him asked if he had any violent intent behind his tweet, then left. “If this was like a purely intimidation thing,” he reflected, “then I guess it did its job. It’s not comforting to be on the receiving end of that. But at the same time, they’re not going to shut the left up.”

Wentz’s disturbing encounter with law enforcement appears to be part of an emerging trend. On the same date law enforcement visited him, a Twitter user posted photos of alleged federal agents on their front lawn and claimed, “FBI just came by my house for a tweet to Ted Cruz.”

> FBI just came by my house for a tweet to Ted Cruz. [pic.twitter.com/cbwouoz4GC][22] > >    [22]: <https://t.co/cbwouoz4GC>

— the1312ronin (@theoneronin1312) [April 8, 2021][23]

  [23]: <https://twitter.com/theoneronin1312/status/1380230580919484416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw>

[kyoujurous-eyebrows]

Rengoku Kyoujurou x Reader

Angst

TW: Allusion to suicide

You sat quietly in your room, double checking you had everything prepared for tomorrow. The rope was tied properly already, all you had to do was hang it. You had found a stool that was the perfect height, and a carefully folded piece of paper rested on your desk. You let out a quiet sigh and decided to go for a short walk and enjoy the bright moonlight for the last time.

Stepping out, a soft cool breeze hit your face as you closed the shoji behind you. You had put on a slightly thicker haori, so you weren’t feeling the cold at all. Beginning a routine of walking around the perimeter of your village, you suddenly hear footsteps coming up behind you. The man is incredibly hard to miss, with his golden and red hair, bright eyes, and flame styled haori. He comes up to you with a bright smile on his face.

“It’s dangerous to be out this late at night! Haven’t you heard of the demons prowling around here lately? Here, I’ll escort you back to your home.” He politely offers his arm to you, and baffled a little at his direct approach, you absentmindedly take his arm and he begins walking you back.

“If there are demons out, then why are you out this late?” You calmly ask, looking up at his face. He flashes you another smile and rests his arm on his sword for you to see.

“I’m one that hunts down the demons to keep people like you safe.” The way he looks at you with such kindness in his eyes makes your heart ache. When is the last time someone looked at you like that? Five years? Ten years? They all blurred together at this point.

“Hey, are you hungry?” The sudden question snaps you out of your thoughts. The man has pulled out a rice ball and is offering it to you. As if embarrassingly on cue, you hear your stomach rumble, luckily the man seemed to not have noticed. You shyly take the rice ball from him, mumbling a thank you under your breath. After finishing the rice ball, you ask him a question that had been nagging at you for the past couple of minutes.

“Why are you being so nice to me? Escorting me home, even offering me some of your food?” The man just lets out a rancorous laugh in response.

“Is it strange? Everyone deserves to have kindness offered to them, it’s only the right thing to do. I’m sure you’ve helped someone out without knowing it, and they are forever grateful to you because of it. I’m sure that person still hasn’t forgotten you.” A cord is suddenly struck with you, and tears almost spring to your eyes. You remember your mother, who smiled at you lovingly even on her deathbed; your father, who had helped you move into your own place despite his joint pains, and how he always sent you letters making sure you were doing fine on your own. You recall the old lady you saw last week, who had fallen down while trying to move out of a horse’s way, and you yelled and told off the person for the lady. She thanked you with a peach and gave you a lovely smile.

Maybe... maybe life wasn’t as hard as you first thought it was.

“Are you alright?” The man’s voice snaps you out of your thoughts, tears streaming down your cheeks. You had unknowingly stopped walking and the man was looking at you with a concerned smile on his face.

“I’m fine,” you wiped your tears away quickly, giving the man a sad smile, “your words just reminded me of something.” You both began walking again and stopped when you reached your abode.

“Thank you for walking me home...uh...”

“Rengoku Kyoujurou.” You gave the man a genuine smile.

“Rengoku-san. It was nice meeting you.”

“Nice meeting you as well-”

“[L/N] [F/N].”

“[L/N]-san. Don’t head out at night too often. Stay safe.” You both politely bowed before heading into your home and closing the shoji, a soft smile present on your face.

“I think... I’ll try living... for others.”

- - -

“Welcome! What can I get for you?” You shouted as the next customer walked up to your booth.

“One candied apple please.”

“Coming right up!” You grab one of the apples to your left and hand it to the man.

“That’ll be 300 yen please.” The man hands you the money before happily walking off. You happily greet each customer with a smile as bright as the sun, your dark thoughts of the past long behind you. You still feel sad once in a while, but you always think and remember that bright, sunshine of a man, Rengoku Kyoujurou, and suddenly all the thoughts go away.

You had decided to live for others rather than dwelling on yourself, and started a booth that would sell different kinds of sweet treats. You travelled from town to town, gathering the smiles of your customers along the way. You had just stopped into a town in time for a festival, and your booth was incredibly popular. You wiped a small amount of sweat from your brow before closing up your booth for the night. The festival had been very lively, and you were still feeling quite giddy yourself. Throwing a large cloth over your small booth, you headed towards the inn you were staying at. The streets had gone quiet, and the crescent moon sat high in the cloudless sky, the only sound being your footsteps as you continued down the road.

A sudden shout caught your attention, it sounded like someone was in pain. Before you would have ignored it, not wanting to deal with others problems, but now it was not something you could ignore. You quickly rushed towards the noise, hoping someone wasn’t harassing a poor soul. Taking a left and then a right, you happened upon a scene you would’ve never expected.

Rengoku Kyoujurou was standing in the middle of a group of three men. Some had strange markings on their skin, others had horns or strange bodily protrusions. Demons... you thought. You see a piece of a body disintegrating at Rengoku’s feet. That must have been the shout you heard. The demons all try to jump at the man at the same time, however he was much faster than them. They ended up running into each other and began squabbling before losing their tempers and jumping at Rengoku once again. Swiftly, with a flash of his blade, all three of their heads crumpled to the ground. You let out a breath you didn’t know you were holding as Rengoku slowly began to sheath his blade. Movement out of the corner of your eye caught your attention and before you knew it your body had moved on it’s own.

“Rengoku-san, watch out!” A demon jumped out from one of the nearby buildings towards Rengoku. The demon slashed it’s long claws down at him, however, you had jumped in front of him, taking a harsh blow. Searing hot pain instantly shot through your body as you crumpled to the ground. Your back was hot as fire and you could feel the warm substance of your blood pooling out of it. The faint sound of a sword swinging and a demon dying went through one ear and out the other as all you could do was focus on the pain.

Arms lifted up your body carefully, flipping you over to face them. Rengoku’s worried and shocked face filled your now blurry vision. He was saying something, but it wasn’t reaching your ears anymore.

“Breathe [L/N]-san! Hang on until I can get you somewhere safe!” You weakly attempted to move your arm, bringing a hand to his cheek. Your skin, once warm and bright, was now growing cold and pale. You gave the man a weak smile.

“Heh... I saved your life this time... guess that makes us even.” You see the shock and worry change to confusion and worry as Rengoku tries to recount when he could have saved your life; this is only your second time meeting after all. Not having the strength to hold your hand up or keep your eyes open, you slowly drift into the comforting darkness, and then everything goes still.

Rengoku tries to grab your hand as it falls from his face the moment suddenly dawning on him. The first time he had met you, your melancholy aura, the shock at his kindness, the tears and the sad smile. The realisation hits him hard as he pulls your now cold and lifeless body into a hug as tears begin to stream from his eyes.