#and later Morden realises that

[beaningeneralacceptance]

Love how Morden just leaves the player lying on the shore of dawn island for God knows how long to bury Tucker. Man just left the player to potentially drown or get hit by lightning to dig a hole that could honestly have waited thirty minutes or an hour for him to drag the player to shelter. He's lucky he didn't have to dig two holes, honestly.

[sageglobalresponse]

How Kemi Badenoch, 42, Grew Up ‘With No Running Water’ In Nigeria To Become Top Contender For British Prime Minister

Tory leadership hopeful Kemi Badenoch has gone from race outsider to a serious contender with the backing of Michael Gove and a promise to be the ‘fresh face’ the party needs after chaos of Boris Johnson’s premiership.

The MP for Saffron Walden, 42, who grew up in the UK, US and Nigeria, is known as a culture warrior with anti-’woke’ views on issues including trans rights that make her a hit among right-leaning members of the party.

The former equalities minister threw her hat into the ring with a plan for a smaller state and a government ‘focused on the essentials’ and won the support of Mr Gove, who said the party needs a leader with ‘Kemi’s focus, intellect and no-bulls*** drive’.

It marks a massive boost in profile for Ms Badenoch, a mother-of-three former banker who has only been an MP for five years and remains unknown to most of the population.

She admits her pro-Brexit views put her at odds with her husband Hamish, a Deutsche Bank banker and former Tory Councillor. The couple have three children – two sons and a daughter, who they keep out of the public eye.

Ms Badenoch was born in Wimbledon, south-west London after her Nigerian parents came to the UK so her mother, a professor of physiology, could receive medical treatment.

She grew up in Lagos where her father worked as a GP, although they spent time in the US while her mother was lecturing.

‘I come from a middle-class background but I grew up in a very poor place,’ she once said in an interview. ‘Being middle class in Nigeria still meant having no running water or electricity, sometimes taking your own chair to school.’

Ms Badenoch was born in south-west London after her Nigerian parents came to the UK so her mother, a professor of physiology, could receive medical treatment. Pictured, Kemi Badenoch (second from left) with (l-r) her brother, Fola, Kemi, her sister Lola and mother, Feyi

At 16, Ms Badenoch returned to London to realise her ‘dream’ of completing her studies in the UK and enrolled in a part-time A-Level course in Morden.

At the time Nigeria was in the midst of political chaos that impacted the economy. The family experienced poverty and Ms Badenoch’s father ‘scraped together’ enough money for a plane ticket and £100 for his daughter to start her new life.

To support herself, Ms Badenoch, who lived with a family friend, secured a part-time job at McDonald’s and picked up ad-hoc work elsewhere.

‘Most of the students were from ethnic minorities and the expectations for us were low,’ she recalled in an interview with the Independent. ‘The poverty of low expectations must change. Schools and teachers matter.’

The future politician enrolled at the University of Sussex where she studied Computer Systems Engineering, graduating in 2003.

This led to a job as a software engineer at Logica, followed by by a role as system analyst at Royal Bank of Scotland. She was later appointed as an associate director at private bank Coutts.

In 2009 she began a part-time law degree at Birbeck College and has also worked at the Spectator magazine.

Ms Badenoch joined the Conservative party in 2005, aged 25, and says there were two ‘lightbulb moments’ that persuaded her to stand as an MP.

The first was when she heard a speaker at the Hay Festival ‘claiming that ethnic minorities all suffer from institutional racism’.

She told the Independent: ‘The left and the liberal elite think they have a monopoly on the caring issues, whether it is diversity or refugees.

‘Of course we have a moral obligation to help refugees but what is important – and more difficult to do – is to look at what works when they come; can they find work? Do they integrate? Do they take on British values?’

The second came during the Make Poverty History movement in 2005 when she was struck by the arrogance of ‘white men thinking they can save Africa’.

‘This was the last straw for me. What has helped and is helping African countries is free trade and enterprise, not more aid and more virtue signalling,’ she continued.

She grew up in Lagos where her father worked as a GP, although they spent time in the US while her mother was lecturing. Pictured, Kemi, aged seven, with her grandfather in Nigeria.

After unsuccessfully running for the seat of Dulwich and West Norwood in the 2010 election – a contest won by late Labour MP Tessa Jowell – Ms Badenoch was selected as the Conservative candidate for Saffron Walden, a safe seat for her party, in the 2017 election.

She won and delivered her maiden speech in Parliament just a few weeks later. In it, she described herself as the ‘British dream,’ the African ‘immigrant who came to the UK aged 16 and who became a parliamentarian’ in one generation.

She also described the vote for Brexit as ‘the greatest ever vote of confidence in the project of the United Kingdom’ and hailed

Ms Badenoch has had a rapid ascent through the ranks of the Conservative party, including a post as equalities minister. She resigned from government last week.

After first announcing her candidacy in The Times, Ms Badenoch officially launched her campaign in a speech at the Policy Exchange think tank on Tuesday.

In a wide-ranging speech, Ms Badenoch attempted to add economic heft to her anti-woke foundations, with a slapdown of her rivals over their un-costed tax cut offers.

But she also lashed out at British businesses that focus more on social change instead of making money, as she laid out her free market credentials.

She said: ‘The ability to defend the free market as the fairest way of helping people prosper has been undermined. It has been undermined by a willingness to embrace protectionism because of special interests.

‘It’s been undermined by retreating in the face of the Ben and Jerry’s tendency.

‘They will say a business’s main priority is social justice, not productivity and profit.

And it’s been undermined by the actions of crony capitalists colluding with big bureaucracy to rig the system in favour of incumbents against entrepreneurs.’

The MP for Saffron Walden has the declared support of 15 colleagues, including recent Cabinet minister Michael Gove, who was at her campaign launch.

Standing in front of a union flag-patterned backdrop bearing the slogan ‘Kemi for Prime Minister’, she said: ‘In the debate we’ve been having about the future of our party and our country, there have been lots of promises to cut taxes.

‘I am committed to reducing corporate and personal taxes, but I will not enter into a tax bidding war over: ‘’My tax cuts are bigger than yours’’.’

‘For too long, politicians have been saying you can have it all – you can have your cake and eat it,’ she added.

‘But I’m here to tell you that that isn’t true – it never has been.

‘There are always tough choices in life and in politics: no free lunches, no tax cuts without limits on Government spending, no stronger defence without a slimmer state.

‘Unlike others, I’m not going to promise you things without a plan to deliver them.’

Ms Badenoch and her husband Hamish pictured with one of their daughters. The couple have kept their three children – two daughters and a son – out of the public eye.

Ms Badenoch said she would tackle the economic crisis by cutting spending on international aid, university student subsidies, and ‘superfluous support staff’ including well-being officers and diversity ‘tick-box exercises’.

She said: ‘While the priority of the £300 billion the Government spends on procurement should be value for money, in truth this is being undermined by tick-box exercises in sustainability, diversity and equality.

‘These are good things but they need to be done properly.

‘Why are we spending millions on people’s jobs which literally didn’t exist a decade ago, like staff well-being coordinators in the public sector?’

She added that she would ‘get the police to focus on neighbourhood crime’ rather than ‘waste time and resources worrying about hurt feelings online’.

The Essex MP is competing with prominent Cabinet faces including Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, but she said her lack of experience is a ‘huge advantage’ because she does not come with ‘the baggage of so many of the decisions that have been made’ in recent years.

‘People want a fresh face, and they can’t have somebody who has been in Cabinet a very long time,’ she added.

Ms Badenoch said she has ‘a lot of respect’ for Mr Sunak and Ms Truss, but she is ‘not worried’ about running against them.

She said her Government would be guided by the ‘Conservative principles’ of a ‘limited government doing less, but better’ and a ‘strong nation state’.

Culled from Dailymail

[silverhallow]

Can you do a head cannon for Hyareth?! Morden AU please

From the Bridgerton Enterprise AU

Hyacinth formally met Gareth at University. She had known of Gareth St Clair from a child. She knew of him. His grandmother worked for her family business and his father had been the lawyer that had defended the monster that attacked her sister in law. She had assumed he would be a tosser like his father.

Turns out she had been partially wrong. Gareth was a bit of a playboy or so he liked to think he was but he was nothing like his father, who Hyacinth learned wasn’t actually his father. Richard St Clair was technically his Uncle.

Despite being half Italian his Latin and Italian sucked. Hyacinth however had loved it in school and with the help of Sophie had learned Latin and She has taken Italian as an evening class. She discovered the truth about Gareth’s history after his grandmother had gang pressed her into helping him.

They got partnered together on a project for a course, she had been bossy and organised and had dominated every aspect of his life and Gareth had fallen in love with her before he even realised what was happening.

Hyacinth argued and argued that she didn’t like Gareth. Felicity teased and tormented her. All her sisters in law said the same and Hyacinth tried to ignore it.

Until a week after her 19th birthday. She had been out on a disaster of a date and bumped into Gareth, well he tripped over her. She was sat on the ground wondering why guys never liked her and wondering what was wrong with her.

Gareth had been shocked to see Hyacinth there and even more shocked when she bubbled up on him and opened up. He had told her that men were stupid and if they didn’t like her it was their loss.

Hyacinth had been so taken aback by his kind words that she kissed him.

She panicked that she had crossed a line that you didn’t cross with a friend that maybe just maybe she had herself fallen in love with and for the first time in her life ran away.

Gareth turned up at her door an hour later with a bottle of tequila. He would have brought flowers but he knew she wasn’t really a flowers kind of girl. He admitted that maybe he had fallen in love with her.

From that moment on they had been inseparable. Much to everyone’s annoyance Sophie won the family bet. Again.

On thé day they graduated, after speaking to each one of Hyacinth’s brothers… as Hyacinth’s name was called out and she walked across the stage and was heading down the stairs Gareth got up and asked her to marry him.

They tried to elope but Violet refused to let her last daughter marry in a quickie wedding like the rest of her daughters!

There was much press around the wedding given the history but when Gareth publicly called his “father” a word that was not suitable for the live evening news… everyone knew he was nothing like his father.

Gareth has a soft spot for the eldest two sister in laws for ruining his fathers reputation.

Hyacinth went into Politics and Gareth much to thé annoyance of his father joined Bridgerton Enterprise’s and worked closely with Kate and Sophie.

[taebaesworld]

The Art Of Love | 2

Pairing :Kim Taehyung x reader

 PART 1

                                                         STORY

Its the first day of classes, I am rushing towards the cafeteria. My hairs uncombed in a messy bun, and my blue unicorn pjs even messier.

Not many people are in the cafeteria, I guess not many people are stupid enough to select a early class. I drag myself across the hall towards the buffet. Taking a dish and a bowl I started to fill them up.

“Well, aren’t you the chirpiest bird in the morning.” A raspy but somehow smooth voice purred in my ear from behind. I turned to see who it belonged to and it was one of the guys from yesterday. His eyes were of dark chocolate colour and he had thick lashes that I instantly envy. I can’t exactly remember his name but it was something Kim. But I smile sarcastically in response and said “Yeah the chirpiest.” 

He chuckled and it was a light chuckle and laced with a hum of amusement at the matter. My lips instantly curled into a smile at this and my cheeks heated up. He extended his hand as we moved ahead in the line and said “ Kim Taehyung.”

I took his hand and shook it. His hands were huge and engulfed mine completely. “ Y/N Y/L/N.” I said. He gave me a one sided smile. “So you are taking Lit 101 too I am guessing.” He said. “Yup.” I said popping the p. 

By this time we reached a empty table he took a seat across from me. His features looked even more prominent in this morning light. We were both eating silently when he suddenly raises his hand and shouts “Jonnie, here.” I turn around to find another on of the guys from yesterday standing with the food tray and with a wide grin that I am assuming is directed towards Taehyung I turn back around and continue eating. He takes a seat next to Taehyung and his eyes land on me. He gives me a huge grin and his whole face lit up. “Hi. I am Kim Namjoon.” Taehyung probably saw the question coming next and said  “No we aren’t brothers.” 

I nod and offer a smile to Namjoon “Y/N Y/L/N.” 

As I was done with break fast I got up and walked out of the hall and as soon as I was I the Door I sprint to my room. I had 20 min before class and it took 10 mins to reach the class. I change in a hurry, apply just a little bit of make up, Grab the things I packed last night for today and again made a run for it. 

Nearing the corner of the class I slowed down and before entering the class I smoothed out my hair. As soon as I enter I find a huge over table and people seating in chairs. I took a seat that was empty near the window and the board. Soon the class had piled up and every chair was taken. I looked up from the book I was reading and right opposite of me sat non other that Taehyung. his hairs were now in place instead of what I saw yesterday and in the morning. Although he looked quite good in both. He gave me a sheepish smile after nothing that I was looking at him. I smiled back. He was about to say something but a loud and authoritative voice cut him.

“Welcome To Literature 101, I am Professor Scott.” his voice was smooth and his accent British.

I whisper “Obviously the guy teaching lit is British.”  and the boy sitting in front of me looks at me and smiled. “Obviously.” He says before turning back.

After professor Scott tells us about the course and how everything is gonna work He says “Lets get this first lesson started. I am hoping everyone has read the Romeo and Juliet. Who is going to tell me what they thought about it.” Almost everyone's hand went up instantly including mine. 

“Lets start with you.” He said pointing at Taehyung. “Mr. Kim.” 

“ The notion of two people in love that are divided by social stratus is relatively familiar. And the characterization are quite straight forward. It is a celebration of love and the ends people go for love.”

“That’s enough, You across from him.” He said “Ms. Y/L/N.”

“UMM..” I took a sharp breath in. “I feel that Romeo and Juliet is a story that of lust and not love.” I uneasily glanced at professor Scott. “And why is that Ms. Y/L/N.”

“Romeo, goes to his enemy’s party because he fancied the host’s hot niece, Rosaline, he then losses interest in her and decides he no longer wants to die for her beauty…because he just saw her cousin, Juliet was way hotter who he fall instantly ‘in love’ with her instead. It was the initial High of lust that made them take irrational decision along the way.” I said

“Hmm...Does anyone want to comment on that.” He says

A guy with blonde hair raised his hand. “Yes Mr. Denials”  Prof. Scott said

“Keeping in mind that the play took place in Renaissance era I think that it brought a new light on love. Romeo was a hopeless romantic, even after being rejected by Rosaline he goes to the ball looking for her. He there see’s a girl attractive and falls for her as she just like him was romantic. I think that this tale shows the flaws of love and yes they made irrational decisions but that's what loves makes people do.” The guy say

I raised my hand “Yes Ms.Y/L/N.” 

“I believe that William Shakespeare didn’t intended this to be a love story.He probably wrote this as a tragedy. It was supposed to show flaws among social class and teenagers and their quote unquote love.” I say “The romance was quick and empty. There is no depth to their love.”  

As I finished Taehyung’s hand went up. “Yes Mr. Kim.”

“This play brought the idea that TRUE LOVE IS WORTH DYING FOR." He says

Another girl’s hand went up “Go on Ms. Potts.”

“In Romeo and Juliet, the headlong passion and excitement of young love is celebrated, even though confusion leads to the deaths of the young lovers. But through their deaths, and the example their love set for their parents, the two families vow to be reconciled to each other.”

I raised my hand “Ms. Y/l/n.”

“I believe that It was the immaturity of not only Romeo and Juliet but also of the friar that resulted in four deaths. Also I think the biggest reason this story is even a little tangible is because its based and written in an era where mobiles and better communication didn’t exist. Because if it did Romeo would have got the message in time they would have ran away and later realised that they didn’t even know each other and once the hear and attraction fades there’s nothing left.”

Professor Scott Clapped his hand “You have brought out a perfect point Ms. Y//L/N. Now we are nearing the end and for your next class I want you all you see how the story of Romeo and Juliet would play out if it was in Morden times. And Ms. Y/L/N I except you to write on what you just said. Class dismissed.” 

PART 1

[louisfrecklesss]

two rings | Louisentine

Description: Clementine and Louis just being cute.

Song Inspiration: 7 Rings - Ariana Grande

Words: 1202

Ship: Clementine x Louis

Warnings: none

Genre: oneshot, morden au

A/N: i have a shit ton of coursework to do, but i really just want to write this quickly. i recommend you keep the lyrics near by because i add every single lyric in this fic somewhere, can you catch them all? anyway. bye. love you. 

EDIT

i really tried to do that whole song but I realised hwo long it actually is. so I only managed to do a verse,, i know, shit right, i’m sorry im trash. 

~

Clementine wakes up to the warmth on a body next to hers, she was expecting Louis to be gone as he is an early bird but she is glad to still feel him around her. She shuffles closer to him resulting in a soft kiss on the top of her head; a soft smile creeps on her lips as he lets out a breath before speaking.

“Morning.” Her smile does nothing but grow as she leans up to kiss her lips this time; Clementine usually hates morning kisses because she hasn’t brushed her teeth and she probably smells, however for some reason today she’s really captivated by Louis. She pulls away before the kiss could lead to anything more, ignoring the groans vibrating Louis chest as she climbs to lay completely on top of him. 

Her body now one his, she wraps her arms around his torso hugging him as her head rest on his chest. “Good morning baby.” She peaks his lips giggling as he holds her waist tightly scared she’ll fall off him and the bed if he moves. “What are we having for breakfast?” 

Louis pulls a face pretending to think about it as he moves his hand to play with Clementine’s locks. “Whatever the princess request, she will receive.” Clementine rolls her eyes lifting her head to look into his eyes tilting her head slightly. 

“I decided yesterday, you choose.” Her breath lingers on his bare chest as the sun hits their faces, roasting them alive; summer is really not their thing. 

“How about, we watch a movie together and open some champagne in the cinema room? Don’t you want some bottles of bubbles?” He leaves a ghost kiss on her temple sitting up in the bed carrying her with him.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s?” Clementine flutters her eye lids at Louis as he rolls his. He grabs her hand fiddling with her ring finger, Louis has been thinking about marrying her for a while and she knows it but she doesn’t know when or what they plan is. “We can go Tiffany’s after if you’d like.”

Clementine does nothing but smile. “You spend enough on me anyway Louis, no.”

“I shit money babe, and if i’m spending it on you I don’t care how much it is.” He kisses her again. “Either way, you love it. It shows.” He taps her hip referring to the tattoo he paid for that she recently got. Clementine shakes her head looking at the small tattoo of a heart made of piano keys; she just wanted to show how much she loves Louis. 

“Girls with tattoos who like getting in trouble, didn’t know that was your type Louis?” She plays with his dreads waiting for his answer. 

“My type is you, my love.” He leans down to kiss the area the tattoo is in, he almost cried when Clementine got it done; he never believed that someone would actual love him let alone as much as she does.

“Shut up.”

~

“Name three of your favourite things, under three seconds.” Louis says before taking the strawberry Clementine is feeding him into his mouth. “Um, um. Lashes, diamonds and ATM machines.” She barely says in fives seconds let alone three. 

Louis has a confused expression on his face. “Explain?”

“Lashes, because lashes just make everything better and your are amazing i’m so jealous. Diamonds because they are a girls best friend and ATM machines because then I can buy myself all of my favourite things.” Louis smiles at her. “We have contactless, bubba.”

Clementine sticks her tongue out at him before chewing on a strawberry throwing her legs over him. Louis always finds time to admire Clementine’s face and qualities; just like in moments like this while a movie is playing and she’s so very focused, Louis is focused on her watching and admiring everything about her. Just like how much of an amazing human she is, she’s been through so much and come out stronger than ever.

He takes her hand in his catching her off guard. “You’re so amazing, Clementine.” 

“Why? Like, I know I might say that I am but, why do you think so?” Clementine says in an almost doubtful tone, Louis is offended by what she has just asked him. 

“You’ve been through some shit you really should be a sad bitch, yet here you are stronger than ever and the best girlfriend in the entire world. I couldn’t ask for anything better than you.” Louis kisses the back of her hand watching as she basically crumbles into his arms. 

“Who would have thought it turn me to a savage, huh?” She cuddles into his arms as he holds her close to him. “You have such a way with words Louis.” She doesn’t look at him while she says this; some times too many, Clementine gets too deep in her thoughts and ends up saying things she doesn’t mean. Like now. “Sometimes I think I’m not good enough for you.”

“Clementin-”

“Let me finish. You’re rich, you’re prep, your parents weren’t even too happy with me when they first met me; turns out I’m not ‘educated’ enough to be with you. I’d rather be tied up with calls and no strings if it means I still have you and not have to deal with people judging me.” Louis didn’t need to reply to that for Clementine to know that she’s fucked up again, she turned to face him her eyes falling on the tears flooding his eyes. 

“You don’t mean that, do you?” His brown eyes fall to the ground below followed by tear droplets, Clementine wipes them feeling her own in her eyes. She shakes her head holding his in her small hands looking for him to say something else to her, but nothing comes out his mouth other than a heavy sigh.

“We’ll talk about this later.” He stands up turning off the film before leaving the room. Clementine doesn’t follow him but stays in the room eyes fixed on the area that Louis stood from. “You coming?” She hears his voice from behind her however she doesn’t move; she feels his arms snake around her, his chin resting on the top of her head. 

“I’m sorry.” She mutters as Louis lightly kisses her hair. “I love you.”

“And I love you.”

~ 

Louis hands the check over to the lady at the counter before walking out the store hand-in-hand with Clementine. “With how many check you write, you should just hire somebody to write them for you.” She giggles swinging her shopping bags. 

“Come on Clemster, you know I write my own checks like I write what I sing.” He shoots her a wink to which her eyebrow lifts. 

“You try to write what you sing, your writing isn’t that good.” 

“Hey! I think I’m good enough.”

“Barely.” She mumbles under her breath. Louis gasps stopping on the sidewalk in complete shock as Clementine laughs.

“Babe!”

[faiqhuzir]

hi peeps, let me express my dissatisfaction, disagreement, disappointment here, this is just too much for me, okay now, what’s the problem for Malaysia having stricter sharia’ laws?

hello ‘modern’, ‘woke’, ‘liberal’, and all other terms with Malaysians who’s having this modernized mindset, Malaysia or even the world, do not only revolve around you. oh my god people. 

berhentilah. 

I can’t stand this anymore, my twitter is flooding with these kind of stupid emotional tweets that mock those laws. the worst part is that this conversation about disagreeing with this religious bodies even occur in my house by some Malaysians. 

hey awak awak semua,

berhentilah. 

I myself not a pious person pun. far from a qualified and perfect person to talk about religious matters, but please la, I do have common sense. i’m tired with these groups of Malaysians complaining about the laws. dude, if you can't stand with them, walk away.

what’s the matter of tangkap orang yang tak puasa and then saman then bagi counseling dalam van jenazah? hello, ini semua dah kira ringan. the consequence of not fasting in our law, is not even heavy. well i would say this kind of saman bertepatan with a teaching in islam, hukuman adalah untuk memberi pengajaran supaya timbul malu dan insaf. 

people, I don’t know la what’s happening with you. 

Nanti kalau cakap yang tak puasa tu boleh mengancam islam sesorang dan risiko jatuh kafir bising pula. cakap haram mengkafirkan orang. really? then, is it not sinful stating that practices in islam are burdensome? pathetic. you commit enormous sins but you’ re proud of them. Nau’zubillah. ask for forgiveness from Allah people, do your solat, trust me, Allah will forgive you, Allah is the most merciful and forgiving and you can’t imagine how huge are those.

You know what, I've been living in states for almost a year now and only Allah knows how afraid I am when i’m praying by the roadside, during my sujood when I can’t see my surrounding. With all those shootings happening here, you never know how afraid I am. All those hardship in practising islam here. you people will never know until you live with this kind of condition, and yet, you still complaining about laws when you can practise freely, sujood to Allah, pray in a comfortable masjid in Malaysia. Allah. Nikmat mana lagi yang kau nak dustakan?

Fasting here is longer which is I believe by 2 hours. 2 jam sahaja, but yet, still susah for me because of the weather. Indy, tak menentu, sometime heavy rain in the morning, scorching sun at noon, haa malam panas. but Alhamdulillah, saya puasa penuh tahun ni. I believe that with greater hardship, comes a greater reward. Allah tak pernah tipu. Ada sahaja kawan kawan yang ‘mordenized’, tak puasa. but it’s okay. I know it’s tough here. tapi tolong la, at least CUBA. All of you are grown ups, oh my god, even kids can withstand hunger better than all of you. kadang kadang peliklah tengok kamu semua. terlalu ‘americanized.

Urgh I can’t contain this madness anymore, dah lah tak puasa, then complained about the laws in Malaysia. eh, tak ada JAKIM or JAIS or anything doesn't mean that you can freely tak puasa or anything, I would say you are unlucky because nobody will scold you and take action on you. UNLUCKY. Allah maha melihat. Jangan sembang lebat nak tunjuk hebat depan Allah. Konon jaga kubur sendiri, hah, let’s see later on when you die whether you can wrap yourself around those white sheets on your own, bury your body 7 feet down deep on your own. let’s see whether you are that great. 

sick of this kind of trash talking. too tired to counter these kind of arguments when they are too many on the other side. kenapa rasa diri tu hebat sangat? bangga tak cuba nak puasa? bangga tak solat? Allah. The only thing I can do is pray to Allah to open your heart to start practising teachings in Islam again my friends.

The thing that made me really mad is that stating that Malaysia is not an Islamic country. hey dude, maybe Malaysia is not an Islamic country because of no hudud or anything that I won’t touch because of my lack of knowledge, but most of us practise Islam here. Even you. I know you’re not fasting, but what’s with being proud of becoming a fake Chinese when you are in Malaysia to buy food from McD because you are not fasting? C’mon dude. You are older than me kot. Takkan tak boleh nak tahan puasa kot. Dekat Malaysia ja pun. Bangga. Siap complain how bad the system is. OH MY GOD! you make me sick of you. 

Hey dude, i’m feeling like cursing you.

STOP COMPLAINING AND COMPARING BECAUSE YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN STATES! United states is not an Islamic country. Takkan nak tangkap orang tak puasa? Takkan nak bawak van jenazah tangkap kau pulak? Nak suruh paderi tu siram holy water tu atas kepala suruh kau taubat sbb kau tak puasa? dude, common sense. they don't even care because they are practising different religions. ikut aku, aku nak sembur ja sorang sorang sebab tak cuba nak puasa. kadang sampai tak solat pun. okay sometimes I do pray lewat waktu, tapi most of the waktu, saya cuba solat awal. but oh my god, stop comparing laaa. letih mendengarnya. macam orang bodoh compare benda yang totally far cry. plain stupid. 

semoga anda sedar, dan kembali pada jalan Islam. Jangan rasa diri tu dah cukup ‘americanized’ sampai statement keluar dari mulut tu macam tak ada agama. 

for fellow Malaysians,

what’s the problem with stricter law in Malaysia? Jakim going around arresting people who are not fasting? arresting people who are not praying jumaah prayer? what’s the problem with that? kalau kau puasa, kau tak kena la. period. apa yang susah sangat nak faham? apa masalahnya? you’re affected because you are the people who are committing those sins. LOL. pathetic. then complains. ranting on twitter. spurting stupid statements like ‘Malaysia ni kolot’, ‘ pihak agama ni busy body dengan hal orang’. Allah. I myself wont’t live in a ‘MALAYSIA’ that is full of people with these kind of mindset. sebab apa? sebab tak nak kena subahat dosa, takut Allah nanti dah tak kurniakan barakah dekat negara. 

hey you pregnant mom on twitter, the chicken rice shop lady ranting on twitter,

you piss me off. if they don’t want to serve you, walk away. WALK AWAY AND FIND OTHER RESTAURANT. I myself have been in that particular situation. What did I do? WALK AWAY. EASY. Find other restaurant. i’m buying for my pregnant sister. you know what? i’m the one who apologize because i’m afraid i’m causing fitnah for the restaurant. TOLERATE LA AWAK. I don't really care about people eating in front of me, more to tak peduli because I've been fasting since I was a kid. percayalah, all fasting Malaysians don’t even care. it’s only because of the rule. Government tries in creating the tolerance and also politeness between the people, that’s why we have those kind of laws. TAKKAN KAU YANG TAK BOLEH TOLERATE KOT?

Nanti mula lah. ‘Kau belum ada isteri, kau tak tau’, ‘kau bukan mak, lelaki tau apa’. HAHAHA cliché. I don’t even care because of what? respecting others in ramadhan pun dapat pahala. When you can’t fast, but you have your meal out of the sightings of others pun dah dapat pahala. Sebab apa? Elak fitnah. Islam itu mudah TAPI JANGAN AMBIL MUDAH! Pekerja tu tak tau pun boleh serve. Salah ke dia nak elak risiko? memang ada satu sahaja kedai makan yang boleh beli? pathetic. I hope you realise that your rants on twitter, are useless, and only supported by people who are ‘woke’ enough.

tag me ‘conservative’, ‘orthodox’, ‘traditional’, or anything, I won’t even care. because I know, practising islam in Malaysia is so easy that it is not even burdensome. even a bit. within every 10 miles, you can find masjid or musolla, easy access for ablution, bazaar Ramadhan, grand celebration for raya. pernah solat tepi jalan? pernah kena tenung dengan orang sebab solat? pernah kena sangka bawa bom? pernah? tell me.

I believe that having a little bit strict islam in Malaysia is not a problem at all. Furthermore, we all follow imam Syafie’ and his mazhab is really strict for things related to ibadah. Allah. Strict sikit sahaja. bukan melampau. Allah switch the ease of practising Islam in Malaysia with a bit of stricter laws, stricter practise which leads to a much better, perfect ibadah. Didn’t I said before, with greater hardship comes greater rewards? similar in a non-muslim country. Allah switch the hardship of practising Islam there with simpler laws, simpler way of teachings. Allah itu maha adilkan? Dia kurniakan hamba hambaNya setimpal dengan kesusahan walaupun berbeza tempat. Sebab tu Islam ini agama indah. I saw my friend’s tweet that sounds almost like this, “you never understand islam fully until you go oversea”. Nah, I don’t agree with you. I believe that understanding Islam depends on yourself. Not the latitude or longitude of the earth. Friend, learning islam, practising islam, is yours to choose. I myself don't completely understand about Islam, but I never take easy on religious matters. Apa yang haram, cuba elakkan, yang halal dan disuruh, laksanakanlah walaupun terkadang susah.

Enough of writing this, been a while since i’m writing this long. It’s just I can’t contain myself when my housemate and ‘kenalan’ start to complain about religious systems in Malaysia. well, if you don’t practise, don’t complain. you are hiding your guilt by spurting those. LOL. Taubatlah. Masih ada masa.

Ending this with sadness of Ramadhan leaving me. Hopefully, I can meet Ramadhan again. InshaaAllah.

Assalamua’laikum peeps.

[emilythedog661]

My Code Geass AU

Here is a AU of the Anime Code Geass, it’s a mixture of morden day and fantacy and it’s got a happier ending...well i say ending but more of something you can add upon.

on a little island outside japan lived a place called pretania, it was just a little town with a castle, the king and queen are lelouch's parents and lelouch with his sister natally are the prince and princess, lelouch is also aire to the throne since he was born first but he doesn’t want all that responoeabillity put upon him and he’s also a little rebellious, natally was always with lelouch and he didn’t mind since he loved his sister.

suzaku is a childhood friend/best friend to lelouch and they met as 1 year old babies, suzaku's mum is a maid to the queen and she brought suzaku into her work one day, baby suzaku escaped his mum's maids office and he crawled around till he found lelouch in his bedroom, the 2 babies were suprised to see each other then they got along and lelouch's mum (who was pregnant with natally at the time) and suzaku's mum accepted the bond that had formed that day.

lelouch and suzaku grew up together with natally and they were never apart from each other, they would have fall outs but that was fixed after a day, they cared about each other, they cared about natally and they acted like they were brothers, the king and queen would have relatives over now and again with lelouch’s cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins and even possible love interests for both lelouch and natally but lelouch was never interested in all that and he would find suzaku to play with and sometimes natally would go with him.

suzaku's father was in the army so suzaku never really saw him that often and the last time suzaku saw him was a few days before the disaster happened, the disaster was a tragedy, lelouch and suzaku were 8 years old while natally was 7, it was an outside army attack and a lot of people were killed, the only ones who survived were lelouch, suzaku and natally cause the king and queen made them escape using a pet griffin they had, on the ride on the griffin a stray bullet comes from nowhere and hits natally where here eyes were causing her to go blind, both lelouch's and suzaku's parents were killed in the attack so now the 3 of them were lost, homeless and parentless, lelouch and suzaku promised each other on that day that they would look out for each other, natally and take revenge on the tragidy that happened.

10 years later and lelouch and natally were living normal lives in japan while suzaku was their roommate, lelouch and suzaku were 18 while natally was 17, since both lelouch and natally were royals they got to live in a mansion like house and lelouch also made sure suzaku was living with them too, lelouch and suzaku attended school and they had a lot of friends but lelouch and suzaku were still the best of friends.

natally couldn’t go to school cause of her blindness but she did have a tutor come over and teach her, natally couldn’t do anything about eyes at the moment cause she would need eye transplants but when she turns 18 she can have the transplants since it was her birthday wish and she didn’t mind being blind.

overtime after the tragedy lelouch and suzaku's friendship started to grow into more then just friends and they didn’t really notice, they started bickering like a old married couple now and again, they would chill out together most of the time and physically touching each other e.g. hugs, sleeping on the others shoulder and holding hands.

the kids in their classes and in the school council could see something was up with the pair but they didn’t know if it was brotherly love despite them not being brothers or lovers but they ignored it since it was in the way of anything and they knew since both lelouch and suzaku told them that they grew up together, it wasn’t till one day where a random kid which was a relative of the council president asked the president is the pair were in love with each other since she always saw them together, the pair was shocked and confused and after that day they questioned their relationship with each other.

meanwhile the person that attacked pretania were looking for the lelouch, natally and suzaku so he could kill them then take over pretania, he couldn’t take over it since the law of the town says that if the king is dead the aire to the throne was passed down to the kings eldest child which was lelouch, the person called corneila was a rejected relative to lelouch and natally so now she wanted to take over (i’m making her the bad guy here just cause and she doesn’t have a sister), when she does find lelouch she plans to do what ever she can to kill him.

the green haired lady called c.c. or c.2. is a ancient dragon who is so strong nobody can defeat her and trying to figure out people so she blends in with them, she gets captured though and lelouch accidently saves her, she ends up staying with him, natally and suzaku and even she sees that suzaku and lelouch have a lovers bond going on with them without them realising it so she helps them out a bit and by a bit i mean a lot, she also helps lelouch and suzaku defeat corneila after finding out it was her who destroyed their hometown and their parents and lelouch dresses up as zero to hide the identity that he has tamed the ancient cc dragon cause if he doesn’t the government will be after him as well as natally and suzaku.

that all for my AU and i might write a fic about it since this felt like a fic but you lot can use this for code geass fic ideas too, well...bye

[unwoundbobbin]

Nine Worlds 2018 - Sunday & Homeward

This write up is bought to you by a pack of Nerds, so who the hell knows how coherent it will be by the end.

(Actual footage of me)

From Saturday!

Sunday:

Our Last Best Hope for Science Fiction: 25 Years of Babylon 5

A look at a ground breaking sci-fi series, celebrating a show we love and how it grew from a something set on a space station to something truly special.

(Two Centauri, a starfleet officer, and a Morden(?) walk in to a panel...)

This is the panel I missed the talk on Golems for, and much as I wanted to see the Golems, this was 100% worth the trade, because I’ve never met that many people who are in to B5 before, and it was a really funny and thought provoking panel with some beautiful moments in it, including the moments of silence when we remembered those from the Babylon 5 family who have gone beyond the rim.

There was also discussion of favourite moments from Babylon 5. Mine has to be this, from the Centauri’s final assault on the Narn Homeworld. Peter Jurasik’s acting is superb here, but I love that the writers and director made a place in that episode to show the flipping of Mollari when he realises what he’s done - how out of control and repelled he feels by what should be a moment of triumph. And the moment he starts to work his way back towards some sort of redemption.

I think my favourite quote of the whole thing was by the person cosplaying as Londo Mollari:

"Behold minbari Jesus - his name is Jeff" 

(This psycop lurked for the entire panel. It’s as perfectly creepy and wonderful as it sounds. When I mentioned that on twitter, it devolved in to a Babylon 5 pun war...)

When I came out of the B5 panel, the one person I’d seen with a brain slug had become a collective. And they continued to grow in number throughout Sunday. Props to the person who spent an entire year making brain slugs to give away to strangers at Nine Worlds.

(The frightening brain slug collective. They continued to multiply throughout the day. Possibly the creepiest cosplay of the weekend, just because they continued to multiply.)

History’s Hidden Heroes III

Following two years of back-to-back success, the ‘History's Hidden Heroes’ session returns to its original format of ten to fifteen minute mini-talks by individual presenters discussing their favourite figures lost - or pushed aside - from mainstream history. Introduction by EK McAlpine, with talks from Tara, Avery, and Reiley.

This session was run by EK, and the speakers were Avery Delany, Tara Brown, and Reiley Daniels who all spoke about people in history who were part of the LGBTQ community, including some who were trans (though not remembered that way), some who were gender non-conforming, some who were openly queer at a time when that was (more) dangerous than now.

Avery spoke about trans masculine people in history, including a pioneering doctor, James Barry (note - while that Wiki article generally avoids using any pronouns at all, there is a source from the time quoted that misgenders Barry, so be careful if that would cause you any distress).

My favourite quote from Avery was “Do some queer history“, but I also really appreciated something I didn’t get the exact words of, but amounted to the idea that someone wouldn’t live as a gender different to the one they were assigned at birth for over 50 years if they did not actually identify as that gender. I really wish I’d got the actual words, because that quote stuck with me as much as anything.

Tara Brown spoke about three women of colour who were pioneers in blues and jazz - and sexuality, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and Gladys Bentley.

One of the most interesting, and awful, takeaways from this talk was the brief discussion about how there is some difference in the historical record as to the sexuality women presented, and that this is due to McCarthyism which basically forced at least Gladys Bentley to present herself as no longer a lesbian. It made me so cross to think of a person as comfortable in their sexuality as Bentley having to forcibly change themselves because of the massive risks that being out and proud served in the backwards looking 1950s America.

Reiley spoke about a quack physician called Charles Hamilton (misgendered practically everywhere on the internet), and the importance of checking multiple sources and subjecting them to due scrutiny.

If anyone enjoyed this panel is interested in other hidden heroes from sources that aim at diversity in who and what they talk about (and use content notices), I highly recommend @missedinhistory, Sawbones, and @rejectedprincesses.

The Future of Nine Worlds

It's time for a chat about Nine Worlds and where it's going. If you have strong thoughts about what you'd like to see the event become, and would like to get involved in making things happen, this is your in-person opportunity to talk about the options and understand how we got where we are.

Went to this, and I honestly don’t have a lot to say about it - not a lot a could say about it because I’m very much not the right person to speak about what happened in the majority of the session.

I will say that the announcement that Nine Worlds was re-constituting after this year’s con felt like a blow to the gut.

(This was an incredibly powerful moment, and to know that even though the current director is stepping back a future nineworlds is possible meant so very much.)

(Main point by what may turn out to be the future team was that Nine Worlds is too precious to lose)

CN for discussion of police at con, and a failure act appropriately to the stated concerns of a con-goer (and more concerned people who did not speak about it at the Future of Nine Worlds panel). When this section is over there will be a delightful gif of Wonder Woman deflecting bullets so scroll below her if you will find this section challenging.

What happened next is best summed up by Alecto101 in this post which I urge you all to read (also please read this followup thread by the same person). Her recollection of what happened at that panel is extremely accurate. I was there, and that is what happened. It was not dealt with adequately by anyone there in an official capacity. Most people who wanted to say something in follow up raised the fact that Alecto101 had not had her question and concerns adequately addressed, and when the people on the stage did so, it was in an inappropriate way that put the emotional and intellectual workload back on the person who had rightly raised legitimate concerns.

I have absolutely no patience with the people who immediately strawmanned (Oh, you don’t want police there at all - you can’t exclude attendees based on job) - I was there and at no point did Alecto101 suggest that.

What I’m trying to say is something EK said much more eloquently: “Concerns about how police participate in 9W and the separation of their jobs and their everyday lives as fans are ABSOLUTELY valid and not the same as “ban cops”.“

The developments since have been a little more positive, and I’m hoping that the reconstitution can be used as a way to build in representation of PoC from the beginning rather than trying to add on later. The way 9W works for members of the LGBTQ or disabled communities needs to be the way it works for the BaME community too, or it is not diverse (I’ve paraphrased here. I’m pretty sure I’ve just mangled the original quote. I can’t remember who said it but it wasn’t originally me).

For followup, I recommend reading Avery Delany’s thread here and this thread on the official Nine Worlds twitter account. This web page from Nine Worlds is also very important reading. If you have the physical, emotional, and mental spoons to do so, please consider signing up to be part of the future.

Finally, if you’re thinking about writing to Alecto, please first consider this tweet from the official Nine Worlds Team: “We do not want people to interact with the blogger on our behalf. We do not need defending. We do not want them pursued again for conversations they don’t want to continue. Their opinions are valid and we are glad to have heard them. “ and just DON’T.

After that I had more con crash, and tried to manage it myself in the quiet room, before worrying that my nose blowing was going to upset those who had sensory overload and needed genuine quiet, and ran away to my room where E wrapped me in a blanket and fed me biscuits until I was human again. She is awesome and I’m totally in her debt. (Thread here of what I struggled with wrt the quiet room - I am not saying it should go away BTW - I don’t know what the right answer is, just that I found it challenging for my own particular issues)

The end of the con was then barrelling towards me at a terrifying speed. I went off site for food with some friends, and then we all formed half of a team for the unofficial “The Not The End of the Con Quiz” as team Last Best Hope for Victory, and we only went and bloody won! Massive props to @knittedace and @laalratty who basically carried our team through two rounds pretty much on their own (even though one of our team who shall remain nameless nearly submitted “Aragorn” as the name of the giant spider in Harry Potter, which was caught before we submitted for marking, but they shall not live it down... for a while anyway :))

(Team Last Best Hope for Victory. Actual quiz victors!)

Went to bed at midnight after several rounds of Slash, which was really the perfect end to a great con (even if I did keep crashing).

(Me on my way home. I look pretty knackered there, but it doesn’t even touch how completely mentally (and to some extent physically) exhausted I was, and still am. Completely worth it though.)

I may have listened to this on the journey home and sobbed. Like I said on my Friday post, it’s somehow become the song of the con for me.

[iwanttowriteyou]

Sweet Creature; H.S.

“No, Harry! Just – fucking plain no. In what alternate universe would you think I’d be happy with you making decisions for me?” Y/n yells at me, throwing her hands up for emphasis as she storms away from me. I know I should go after her, tell her that I didn’t mean to do so, but I’m sure she knows. I’d never do anything to make her unhappy.

I’m sure she’ll realise that in a minute as well. Y/n could have quite the temperament but she’d never go to bed angry. Usually, five minutes after we fought, we’d apologize to one another. We were both stubborn, but clever enough to know what’s important in life. Y/n and I had met a couple years prior, but in the beginning I don’t think neither of us thought of going on a date, getting in a relationship and even later – moving in together.

I don’t know how it happened, or when, but somehow along the line I realised how quickly and hopelessly I had fallen for her. Thank god she experienced the same.

I let my large body fall onto the sofa, a loud huff escaping my parted lips. I let my fingers curl around the scrap book Y/n had been making yesterday evening, filled with pictures of us and things she found important to her. I had always found it an honour I were included in that.

I laugh to myself when I see baby pictures of her. One in the tub, her dog sneakily drinking the bath water behind her. Or one where she was dancing with a loaf of bread. Just from seeing her carefree face on the photo, I could imagine her hearty laugh echoing through the house.

“H, I’m sorry. I overreacted.” I hear Y/n’s voice behind me and I raise my hand, waving her over. “We’re both in the wrong, sweetheart. I promise I’ll never make big decisions without you. You know I just wanted to surprise you.” I lift my head, smiling at my girlfriend as she walks around the sofa. She slides herself onto the armrest, her upper body leaning against the back.

“Remember our first date?” I speak, patting her bare leg as I turn to the next page. There are photo’s covering the paper of twinkling lights, lots of greenery, with me somewhere in the background. I took her to Morden Hall Park, one of my favourite get-aways. We were slowly strolling, enjoying the scenery around us, when suddenly she took my hand and pulled, pulling me into a slow jog that turned into a full run. Somehow we ended up face first on the grass, laughing our asses off. It was the best time I had in months.

“Yeah. You tried to give me a compliment. Do you remember what you said to me?” Y/n chuckles as she slides from the arm rest onto the sofa next to me, her warm body pressed against mine as her fingers brush over the photograph.

“Sadly, I don’t think I’ll ever forget such a mishap. Sweet creature.” I laugh somewhat awkwardly, biting the bottom of my lip as I let my gaze wander over our newly bought furniture, trying to avoid her. “Anything would’ve sufficed. Girl, woman, lass; whatever implied I was female.” Y/n laughs is so hearty that I can’t help but chuckle along.

“Yeah yeah, I know. You’re going to pester me with it until I’m in my grave, yeah?” I laugh, pulling her onto my lap and pressing my lips against her neck. She is ticklish and bounces up and down on my lap to get away from my prying fingers and tickling lips. “We’re still young, you shouldn’t talk about that. But, probably.” Y/n answers me when she has calmed her breathing and snakes her arms around my neck.

“I’d take it as a compliment. Means I’m willing to spend my whole life with you, you know?” I grin, pressing my lips briefly to hers. She loses herself in the kiss for a moment, but pushes herself off to grant me a raised-eyebrow-grin. “You have the weirdest ways of complimenting a girl, Styles. But I’ll take it. Just because you’re cute.”

“That’s why you’re with me? Because of my looks.” I gasp, holding my hand against my chest as Y/n fiddles in my lap. “Well – I – I thought you knew. Sorry.” She shrugs her shoulders so nonchalantly she has problems keeping a straight face. My hands attack her sides again and I throw her onto the sofa, hovering above her.

When her laughter has subsided and I find that I have tortured her enough, I stop my assault and merely hover over her. Her mood changes before my eyes and I hold my breath as she speaks. “When is your solo tour starting?”

I took a big gulp of air, letting a sigh flow past my lips before I press them softly to her chin. “Next month.” A frown takes over her features and I know she has enjoyed the last year of having me almost all to herself, but this was planned almost as soon as the band parted their ways.

“You could come visit me? As much as you like. I’d like to have you with me.” I mumble, kissing her whole face, taking my time to show her how much I appreciate everything she has done for me and is about to do. “I like that, but I hate coming home every time when you’re not here.” She frowns even deeper, moaning softly when I press my lips against her weak spot.

“Then come with me. For the whole tour. You won’t have to miss me, and I don’t have to miss you.” I grin brightly, lifting myself up on my hands to assess her facial changes. For a split second, I see the twinkle in her eyes and her vibrant smile is on full show. Until her logic jumps in.

“What about our home?” Her fingers trail along my shoulder, to my biceps and down to my hand. She lifts it, making me imbalanced, and presses her lips against the back of my hand. I know I have to convince her. I couldn’t bare even a day without her with me.

“When you’re with me, I am home.” I press my lips to her once more, putting more pressure behind it as I try to show her all the love and need I feel every morning when I wake up to her beautiful smile.

[ohmywhump]

Day 9: For the greater good (Alex Verus)

previous / next / whumptober masterlist

‘I’m going to ask you exactly once,’ Morden hisses, sending a kinetic strike that throws Lyle Trahelis to the ground immediately. ‘Where is Verus?’

Instead of being scared of the death mage threatening him, the young man only smiles viciously.

‘You should have accepted Councillor Levistus’s first invitation,’ he sighs with fake sympathy, gets back on his feet and straightens his suit. ‘He isn’t too pleased that you left him waiting for so long…’

‘I swear to God, if anything happens to my aide…’

‘Oh, believe me, Councillor Morden - you’ll need someone mightier than God to get out of this again…’

Without looking back, he walks down the corridor and disappears into his office.

*

‘I’m glad you were finally able to spare the time for a private meeting, Morden.’

The Dark mage jumps out of his seat as soon as the door opens and the fellow Councillor enters the room.

‘What have you done to him?’ he asks, barely able to hide the fear in his voice.

Raising an eyebrow, Levistus sits down in the armchair at the opposite side of the coffee table, interlacing his fingers in a thoughtful gesture.

‘Straight to the point, that’s what I like about you,’ he remarks. ‘So be it. You know exactly what I want, now it’s your decision if you’re going to give it to me voluntarily or if I have to… convince you otherwise.’

‘I am not leaving the Council. Did you really think I’d abandon my position because you’re threatening me?’

'Leaving the Council won't be enough anymore, I'm afraid. You've been interfering with my plans in a way I can't accept any longer. I think we're in need of a rather… permanent solution.'

'Does this permanent solution include my untimely passing?'

Instead of answering, Levistus looks up, his eyes focussed on the door behind Morden. As he turns around, his heart seems to stop for a second.

‘Alexander,’ he whispers, getting up from his seat and taking a few steps towards his partner.

He’s wearing the black three-piece suit that Morden got him for his birthday and looks healthy and unscathed, though maybe a little bit pale. However, something seems off; why doesn’t he react? Why doesn’t he come over but keeps standing in the doorway, no sign of recognition on his face?

‘Alexander, my dear, come over, it’s alright…’

‘Come on, Verus,’ Levistus encourages him too, ‘Don’t you want to go home with Councillor Morden?’

Slowly, he walks over to the two man, staring at them in confusion, until he finally turns to stand by Levistus’s side.

‘Don’t you want to join him? He only came here to pick you up!’ the white haired man smirks.

Alex looks at him as if he didn’t know what to do, but finally he seems to have made a decision.

‘I’ll stay with you, Master Levistus.’

Staring at him in shock, Morden finally realises what’s going on. He should have known from the start, but now that he searches for it, he can feel the distinctive signature of mind magic all over the room. That’s how Levistus managed to get hold of Alex - and that’s how he kept him from escaping now.

‘I guess I’ll keep him, then,’ Levistus shrugs.

Morden turns to the fellow Councilman again and glares at him, for the first time unsure what to do now. Only seconds later his mind is flooded with vivid pictures of Alex, all bruised and broken, his white shirt drenched in blood - and he is screaming. He is screaming in a way he’ll never forget for the rest of his life. Morden knows that this is what will happen if he tries to prove a point by opposing Levistus. The decision has become an easy one. Stepping forward, he positions himself between his aide and the Councillor, heaving a sigh.

‘Take me instead.’

With a wide grin on his face Levistus lifts the spell off Alex, who immediately comes to and stares at Morden.

‘No, please don’t…’

With tears welling up in his eyes, he throws himself into the older man’s arms, clinging to him as tightly as possible.

‘It’s alright, Alexander,’ Morden whispers, pressing a kiss onto his head, ‘Just promise me you’ll take care of yourself…’

‘No, please! You can fight him, you don’t have to… please, you’re strong enough to -’

‘No, my love, I won’t let him keep you. No-one will harm you ever again.'

'But he'll-'

'I know. Please go home now.'

'No, I won't leave you, I…'

Slowly, Morden turns away and faces Levistus.

‘I’m ready.’

***

Taglist: @faewhump @whumpinbloom @whumptober2020

[ohmywhump]

Day 31: Today’s Special: Torture / Alt. 11: Presumed Dead (Alex Verus)

previous / whumptober masterlist

CW: Implied torture, blood (not that much but it’s there, so....)

It’s been nine months now since Morden had handed himself over to Levistus in exchange for Alex; since then, the diviner hasn’t heard from his partner again. 

There had been discussions about what was going to happen to Morden’s seat on the Council, but since he hasn’t been officially declared dead yet, Alex in his capacity as his aide had been designated to take his place until further notice; Levistus hasn't been happy at all, but for Alex it had been even worse. Every time he had to attend Council sessions, he was confronted with the man who presumably killed the love of his life and there was nothing he could do.

Coming home one evening he walks straight into the bedroom, too tired to have dinner or talk to anyone. He had considered moving out of Morden’s mansion after Levistus had abducted him, but if he really wasn’t going to see him again, he at least wanted to keep the memories the two of them shared alive. Lying in his bed, he realises rather soon that he won’t fall asleep shortly since his thoughts keep revolving around a conversation he had with Lyle earlier that day. He had been in a remarkably good mood back then, smiling and even humming when he strolled along the corridors and Alex couldn’t help but address him.

‘Oh, I guess I’m just happy because I won’t have to deal with you any longer,’ he had replied, giving Alex a smug grin, ‘Or do you really think anyone would consider you as Morden’s successor on the Council?’

‘Morden won’t need a successor,’ Alex had noted through gritted teeth, ‘I’m not the only one searching for him and as long as he’s still alive there’s no way to give his Council seat to anyone else.’

‘Oh, I guess we won’t have to wait much longer, then.’

With an evil smile on his face he had vanished into his office, but Alex couldn’t stop thinking about the implications of what Lyle had said for the rest of the day.

While turning around in his bed, the framed photograph on his nightstand catches his eye. Aurora had taken the picture of him and Morden dancing when they went to a ball together. Both were wearing suits that Arachne had created for the special occasion - the first festivity they attended as a couple - and Alex still remembered how overwhelmed with joy he had been back then. The way Morden smiled at him in the photo makes him feel like his heart is being ripped apart. He misses him so much and against his better judgement he still believes that Morden might have survived whatever Levistus had done to him. 

‘I miss him too.’

Alex almost jumps at the soft voice coming from the door. 

‘May I come in?’

‘Sure.’

Getting out of bed, Alex walks over to the sofa beneath the window and sits down next to Aurora.

‘I came over because I thought you might want some company, but Emily told me you went to bed early… Well, we both know that you don’t sleep much lately, so I thought I might pay you a visit nonetheless.’

‘You know that I always appreciate your company, Aurora. It’s a bit like… having him back here.’

She nods slightly.

‘It’s even harder with his birthday approaching, right?’

‘Yes,’ Alex mumbles, brushing a tear from his cheek, ‘I even got him a present…’

‘Maybe you’ll get the chance to give it to him.’

‘I don’t think so… One of the other aides made a comment today that makes me think that Morden is…’

He can’t say it. Even though he knows that this is insane, he feels like talking about Morden being dead will make it come true eventually.

‘Who is it?’

‘Who is what?’

‘The other aide.’

‘Lyle Trahelis. Why do you ask?’

‘Because if he knows something about Morden’s whereabouts, I’m going to get it out of him.’

Alex stares at Aurora, completely shocked.

‘What are you-’

‘Don’t ask, Alex. Just this once - don’t ask and don’t try to find out. Morden is my best friend and if there’s even the slightest chance to save him, I’ll take it.’ 

Looking up at her, Alex nods.

‘Take care.’

*

‘Alex, we’ve found him, he’s on his way back.’

‘Oh my God, where is he? How is he? Is he-’

‘Can’t talk now, we’re on our way to the mansion.’

‘We? Aurora-’

Before he’s able to ask further questions, Aurora has ended the call and turned off her phone. Running around the house nervously, Alex waits for her to return - for her, and for the man he loves. It takes her more than four hours, but eventually Aurora walks into the entrance hall, followed by another man with shoulder-length dark-brown hair, rectangular glasses and a blood stained white shirt, who’s carrying Morden in his arms.

Alex already runs to meet them halfway, but Aurora stops him.

‘This’ll have to wait, Alex, he’s unconscious and I need to treat him properly as soon as I can. We need to use your bedroom.’

‘Sure…’

He makes way and watches them walk up the stairs; half an hour later he decides to join them. Aurora is still weaving her spells, but Morden doesn’t move. He’s pale, way too pale… but at least he’s still breathing. His clothes are torn and bloody and he looks like he’s aged at least ten years. Thinking about this, Alex suddenly remembers what day it is - it is Morden’s birthday. While he is still looking at him, the other man in the room approaches him, extending his hand to greet him.

‘I think we haven’t met yet, so... I’m Rahmi, Aurora’s Chosen.’

‘Oh, hello, nice to meet you, I’m Alex… I’m sorry, I guess I haven’t been a good host lately…’

‘Don’t go to any trouble because of me, I’m glad I’ve been able to help.’

‘How did you find him?’

‘Oh, Aurora had a little talk with this guy… Lyle, right? Well, he eventually told her where to find mage Morden and then she called me to get him.’

‘But how did you- oh, right… you’re a space mage, aren’t you? You’re able to teleport.’

‘Exactly. Found him in a cave at the foot of a cliff in Ireland, he was unconscious and would’ve drowned if the water had risen any higher. - Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t want to scare you…’

Alex shook his head. 

‘I’m just glad you’ve found him in time. Thank you, Rahmi.’

‘You’re welcome.’

*

‘He’ll pull through,’ Aurora declares two hours later.

They’re sitting at the sofa again so they can have an eye on Morden. He still hasn’t regained consciousness, but he looks way better than before. Alex is nothing but grateful to have him back, but there’s still one thing he needs to know.

‘Please tell me - how did you get Lyle to tell you where to find Morden?’

Aurora leans back, runs a hand through her hair - and sighs.

‘Don’t ask, Alex. I’m not too proud of the things I had to do to make him tell me.’

He only nods; this is exactly what he had assumed anyway.

‘Do you despise me now?’

With a snort he shakes his head.

‘I never thought I’d ever say something like this, but no - I’m just glad you brought him back and I guess Lyle deserved what he got.’

Aurora is just about to answer when she suddenly turns around.

‘Alex, he’s waking up. Go to him, I’m sure he wants you to be the first person he sees after all this time…’

He rushes over to the bed, kneeling down at Morden’s side, firmly gripping his hand and waiting for him to open his eyes. When he finally does, he seems disoriented at first, but as soon as he spots his partner, a smile appears on his face.

‘Alexander…’

The diviner can’t stop the tears from streaming down his face.

‘My love…,’ he whispers, pressing a kiss onto the older one’s forehead. ‘I thought I’d lost you…’

‘Someone cheered too soon, I assume… I’m sorry to disappoint you, but you’ll probably have to cope with me for at least 40 more years…’

Laughing despite the tears still welling up in his eyes, he looks down at his lover.

‘I’ll gladly do so, you adorable bastard… Happy birthday.’

***

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