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redfoxwritesstuff · 4 months ago

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Why Is Misdemeanor Of the Heart's Reader...

White Coded?

Yep, I said it. Come, take a seat and get cozy in the Fox Den while Mamma Kit answers some questions.

CW: Discussions of race and racism in a historical context and me being a wordy ass bitch

I've seen some discourse around Human!Alastor readers and writers and have gotten some of these questions myself over the last few months.

Firstly- I am white. I'm so fucking white that I use SPF 100 sunscreen. I grew up in Alaska. The history I learned growing up wasn't African American history; it was Alaska Native history. I didn’t learn about how we fucked over African American people in America’s early history. Instead, I learned how we fucked over the villages of the land I was raised on.

Why does this matter? The current accepted fanon for Alastor's human life is that he was a Black or mixed-race radio host who died in 1933 and reached his mid to late 30s or 40s. We know he had a successful career and was also a serial killer. He favored jazz, and rye is his drink of choice. He exists somewhere on the ace spectrum.

Time for a little math. Let's go with the middle ground—he was 40 in 1933. That means he would have been born around 1893. Let’s assume his mother was 25 when he was born. She would have been born in 1868. Using the same age for her mother, Alastor's grandmother would have been born in 1843. Remember this—it’ll matter in a minute.

For MisD and all of my human Alastor writing, as well as the works of many other human Alastor writers, we approach Alastor's life through a historical lens. I, like many others, enjoy exploring a time period rich with change—dynamic and vibrant with energy, money, and hope.

What does this mean? This means Alastor would have faced significant amounts of racism. Being Black, mixed-race, or how well he could pass as white would all drastically impact his life. It affected what opportunities he had, the education he received, and how laws were applied to him.

Ready for a history lesson? The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It declared all enslaved people in rebellious areas of the United States to be free. Alastor's grandmother—based on the ages we used earlier—would have been a 20-year-old woman at that time.

Alastor would have been raised by a first-generation free woman. He likely wouldn’t have had access to public education, instead being taught in group homeschool-like sessions by those who had learned to read and write.

If he was mixed-race, he would have faced significant discrimination from all of society.

The Civil Rights Movement in the USA didn’t begin until the mid-1950s—a full twenty years after his death.

The reality is that we don’t know a lot about the Black experience during the early to mid-1900s. Much of this history wasn’t recorded by (white) historians. Instead, it was passed down through stories from parents to children, and so on. Only now are we starting to uncover and listen to the histories, stories, and experiences of Black Americans during this time period.

Remember how I mentioned at the start that I’m white as fuck? I don’t have grandparents I can go to and ask about the Black experience when they were children. First—my grandparents are all dead, and second—they were somehow whiter than I am. Their perspective wouldn’t help me because it isn’t my family’s story to tell.

What I can do is look at what we do know, listen to the voices of Black Americans who are finally being allowed to share their stories, and reflect that in my version of human Alastor. I can spend the time to research and learn. For instance, Alastor would have been ahead of his time—the first Black radio host was in 1929, a man named Jack L. Cooper from Chicago. He hosted the first Black-produced weekly variety show and showcased Black entertainers.

I can listen to stories of how mixed-race men were afforded the privilege of their lighter skin as long as they were useful to their white employers, only to be scapegoated the second anything went wrong. I do my best to reflect these stories in Human!Alastor's experiences and behaviors.

Why A White Coded Reader? I cannot even begin to hope to understand the Black American experience as it is now, let alone how it was in 1922, when MisD is set, or in the late 1910s, when my other Human Al fics take place. What I can understand on a deeper level is the white woman's experience, the experience of poverty, the experiences of abused women, and what it’s like to view the Black experience from the outside looking in.

And so that is what I try to highlight with my Human!Alastor fics. Yes, when I’m writing a Human!Alastor fic that deals with racial, class, and social politics as one of the themes to be explored (such as MisD), the reader is coded as white. It is through a white reader that I can have conversations with Alastor about why he feels he has to be perfect, why he straightens his hair, and so on. I cannot do proper justice to these feelings on a deeper level from a Black perspective because I can’t even begin to hope to understand it.

I cannot truly understand what Alastor’s Blackness would mean to him or how he would feel about being mixed. However, I can learn and understand how it impacted his life from the outside looking in. This is what I strive to do—to shed light on what Alastor’s accomplishments would have meant and how much his mistakes would have cost him.

I would love to see more Black writers in the fanfic space, especially within the Human!Alastor space. I would also love to see fewer readers written as blank slates. The Black experience in America and other white-dominated cultures is still not spotlighted often enough, both in present-day and historical settings.

These are stories that need to be told—perspectives that need to be explored, seen, and heard. However, they are not my stories to tell. Personally, until I am far better educated on the matter, I feel it would take away from these stories and be disrespectful to the lives of the very real people who lived them if I were to write from a perspective I cannot hope to understand.

I will continue to strive to write readers as racially neutral as often as the plot allows. However, I also ask that readers respect that, when the plot deals with racial, social, and class divides in a historical setting, if the reader is coming from a place of privilege, their skin tone is often the reason for such privilege.

Of course, I encourage readers to suspend disbelief and insert themselves into the fic regardless of their personal skin tone. I write from a historical setting, but as readers, you can imagine a set of historical laws or circumstances that allow for the same dynamics without requiring a white reader.

Can I do better? Absolutely—we all can. We’re always growing, improving, and learning. I was blessed to be raised in one of the most diverse places in the country (over 45 languages were spoken fluently at my high school). However, since leaving, I’ve struggled with the realities of having that bubble burst—not that Alaska was without racism.

I always welcome respectful discussions about the themes in MisD and all of my fics, as well as the reasons things may be portrayed the way they are. I prefer to write dark content, and with that comes the opportunity to educate and shine a light on topics many people avoid discussing. I simply ask for respect in return for the respect I give.

Much love, Kit

#misd asks #MisD lore #Human Alastor fanfic #human!alastor x you #human alastor x you #human!alastor x reader #human!alastor #alastor #alastor x reader #alastor x reader smut #alastor x you

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lani-heart · 1 year ago

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|| series masterlist || next // previously

parings -> riki nishimura x reader genre -> non-idol au, school au, hyrbid au warnings -> n/a word count -> 2.4k

abstract -> he's perfect how he is... but can maybe change for her.

y/n’s perspective

“Niki, we always do this” I whined as he locked himself in the bathroom. I needed to get him ready for tonight’s party. If I didn’t have to go I wouldn’t… but with my family pushing me into choosing a major in business, they're making me befriend other kids who are from wealthy families.

“Please… I don’t want to go alone” I begged but he didn’t respond. It was running late and the driver was gonna be here soon… so I might have to go alone today.

I gave up trying to convince him and I went to do the final touches. Grabbing a jacket, fixing my makeup, and grabbing everything I needed.��

When I left my room, I couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re gonna go with me?” I asked and he nodded. “I can’t let you go on your own” he muttered and I chuckled. “Besides, look at how forgetful you are,” he said as he pulled my hair roller off my bangs. “Oh,” I said genuinely forgetting as he laughed at me.

“Do you–” “Yes, I have my tail ring on. I’m ready, now let's go before your dad starts calling”

Riki Nishimura was a stray hybrid I met when I was a kid. We were on a vacation trip to Japan when I saw him. I offered him some food I had on me and he took it from me to eat it like he was starved.

My parents were already wanting to get me a hybrid so I begged them to keep him. In which they reluctantly agreed. However, when we found out he wasn’t a normal black cat hybrid they agreed.

He was a panther hybrid and has been with me for years. We grew up together… However, my parents never liked how rowdy he was. Even now they tell me to get another hybrid, one that could join me in dinners, parties, and one who is overall more well-behaved.

I wasn’t gonna let them replace him. He was my best friend, my number one confidant. Besides… who needs a fancy and well-behaved hybrid? Niki was way more fun!

niki’s perspective

It was the same old party they threw with the same kids as their rich human parents and new collectibles. They liked to collect new hybrids where they’d show them off and then throw them away… but not y/n.

Without her, I probably would still be mistaken for an overgrown cat hybrid on the street. It doesn’t mean I liked being gawked at and set a price on what they’d trade her for me. Of course, she’d never let them... I’ve seen how annoyed and angry she gets and it made me happy she cared so much.

I cared for her too… She was clumsy and an idiot so she needed someone to take care of her. So I'm here… at a stupid party filled with spoiled rich kids.

Not to say she isn't spoiled… she is. However, I never questioned that she loved me. She always makes that clear with everything she does for me.

I didn’t care what she had to say… I just didn’t like how her hybrid kept on staring at me with those eyes of his. What was his problem?

I was cut off from my thoughts when suddenly the topic of discussion became me…

“He’s really pretty and exotic too! I just haven’t heard good things about him, you know?” she said and I had to refrain from growling at her. Who was she to talk right in front of my face about me? And to y/n?

“Jay here is well-behaved! He’s from America you know–” Is that supposed to make him impressive? Congrats bird you’re a pet! “–it's just a shame you know. I wanted a bunny or maybe a cat hybrid” she pouted and I could see his disappointed expression.

“Oh, Niki is really sweet but he’s solitary–” “You should invest in a social hybrid you know?” she cut her off to say. Rude… why would she need another hybrid when she has me?

“I like the way he is, he’s been with me since we were kids so there's no way I could ever replace him like that,” she said and I felt proud.

“I heard about how much you care for him. I guess rumors were true” she said and I knew she was amongst those who talked about why she couldn’t get a nicer and social hybrid who smiles and dotes on her. I do dote on her… and I’m only nice to her. Everyone else was pushing it.

“What is he if I can ask?” she said and y/n only sighed while looking up at me. “He’s a puma hybrid from Japan,” she answered. “Woah! I heard puma hybrids were rare! I thought he was just a cat… makes sense then for how tall he is.” she said as she got closer to me.

“Oh please don’t do that. You’ll make him uncomfortable.” y/n said as I went behind her.

“You should take him to the training you know. It's for the hybrids who need manners… they are opening classes in your university for hybrids'' she said… she stalked y/n to know what university she was in? She needs a life.

“Calm down, you have an act to uphold,” I said and she sighed. “y/n?” I said and she looked at me with her eyes filled with determination to answer to give me anything I asked for. “Why didn’t you tell me your uni is having hybrid classes?” I asked and she sighed.

“They're mainly about etiquette. She said how to take care of your owner… how to behave in a social setting, etc” and I nodded.

“I want to go,” I said and her eyes widened. “But you're perfect–” “No, I’m not… I caused you a lot of trouble. I heard your dad get mad again this morning. He didn’t want me here because of last time” I said and she shook her head.

“Yah! Don’t do that!” she scolded and I smiled softly.

“Please? You said you would give me anything I asked for. I want to be a better hybrid for you”

“I can’t believe I'm agreeing to this,” she said and I smiled. “Thank you for letting me do this,” I said and she sighed. “I hate that the class requires collars though. I would’ve rather you had the tail ring instead” she complained and I chuckled.

“You’ll do great in your midterm, okay? Don’t worry about me” I said as I kissed her cheek. “After we’ll go for some Japanese food,” she said and I grinned. “Takoyaki!” I yelled and she chuckled. “I’ve been craving some curry udon,” she said and I nodded.

“I’ll do my best for you,” I said and she smiled. “You already are. Don’t change, okay?” she asked and I nodded. I just wanted to improve for her…

When I entered I was immediately overwhelmed with the many scents of hybrids. I ignored the stares of the familiar scents and went down into the big lecture room.

I sat down in the middle of the third to first row, not expecting others to approach me. “Ah! I’m not late!” I heard as I saw a Golden

A Retriever hybrid suddenly entered… he didn’t have a collar nor the scent of a domesticated hybrid. He grinned at me and I suddenly regretted staring… “I’m Jake, and you are?” he said as he approached me and sat next to me.

I heard the laughs around us, probably of me socializing with another hybrid. “Riki,” I said and he nodded. “I think your collar is cool!” he said and I chuckled. “Of course it is, I chose it,” I said and he looked confused.

“Your owner must be kind,” he said with a wagging tail and I chuckled. “Hey, isn’t that miss l/n’s hybrid?” I suddenly heard a bunch of whispers and I sighed and slouched down to my chair.

“Oh? Do they know you?” he asked and I scoffed. “Don’t get it mixed up, they know OF me, they don’t know me” I said and he nods

“They seem to know your owner,” he said and I scoffed. “They don’t know her…” I muttered. “Is she nice?” he asked and I laughed.

“She’s perfect”

y/n's perspective

“I thought you were going home after?” I heard and I saw Wonyoung with Seonghwa. I nod, “I do, I just need to pick up Niki, he’s taking etiquette classes,” I said and they both froze. “Your dad is making him take classes?” Wonyoung said and I chuckled.

“No, he wanted them for whatever reason. I tried to convince him otherwise but he insisted” I said and they both looked at each other. “Oh shut up the both of you,” I said and they chuckled as they caught up with me.

“He’s so spoiled if you just fold like that,” Seonghwa added and I scoffed. “You do spoil that cat a lot” Wonyoung teased and I rolled my eyes. “Have you told Hongjoong–” “He would kill me in my sleep if I ever brought it up” Seonghwa cut me off and I chuckled… that's true.

We finally made it to the building where the hybrid classes are taking place but I didn’t see Niki… I saw the hybrids out already so where was he?

“How long is it gonna take for him to come to you?” Wonyoung asked and I didn’t know. I looked at my phone, and the class should’ve already ended by now. “Why’d you even allow it?” Soenghwa asked and I sighed.

“Cause he wouldn’t let go of it. He begged and begged… I couldn’t keep denying it” I said and they sighed. “She’s whipped for him, that's the answer,” Wonyoung said and Seonghwa nodded.

“Oh? y/n!!” I heard as I saw the girl from the party again with her hybrid. What was her name again?

“You’re Wonyoung and Seonghwa, right? I’m e/n” she said. “I’m glad to see you’re having Niki taking this class,” she said and I sighed. “His name is Riki,” I said and she looked confused. “Oh? But you call him Niki?” she asked.

“That's a nickname that she only calls him, he will glare or even scoff if he hears you call him that,” Seonghwa said and it was true… I've called him that since I was a kid and yet he never let anyone else call him that. “This class should teach him otherwise,” she said and I had to refrain from scoffing.

“Oh, you should look into a secondary hybrid,” she said and I glared.

“I wouldn’t get another one,” I clarified. “Riki would get too jealous,” “Or he’d kick the other hybrid out himself,” Wonyoung and Seonghwa added.

“But if you were to get one he’d have to comply with her. She’s the owner,” she said and I shook my head. “Well, I was thinking of something cute… maybe a fox? Ooh or a pretty cat!” she said while looking at herself in a pocket mirror fixing her lipstick while her hybrid looked at her with a sad expression.

“I wanna go home” I suddenly heard. Niki?

“Why do you have scratches on your face? Are you okay?” I asked and he avoided eye contact when I grabbed his jaw to look at his wounds. He nodded, “I wanna go home” he repeated and I sighed.

“Ok, just let me take this off,” I said as I took off his collar and took out his tail ring. “Riki!! You forgot… Oh. Please don’t be mad at him! He was only defending me!!” I saw a dog hybrid yell while he held Niki’s backpack. Seonghwa grabbed it, holding it for me.

“Please, it's all my fault. Don’t abandon him because of me!” he pleaded and even bowed. I looked at Niki who looked away. “Why would I abandon you? Niki, what happened?” I asked and the other hybrid soon stood up but looked down to my hands. His collar? I sighed and turned Niki around when I clipped his tail ring. “Thank you for caring about him but he’s not in trouble. You should find your owner, they must be worried about you–” “He’s a stray” I was interrupted by e/n.

A stray? “Did you see? It's why they make the hybrids wear collars because they need to know by the end of the class who is a stray and who is owned. It's a mixture of people like us who pay and hybrids of low status who need major help like him. He’s probably also a runt” she said suddenly in disgust as she stepped back.

“Thank you for looking after Niki,” I said and he nodded with a small smile. I grabbed the backpack from Seonghwa as I looked at him and I saw his worried eyes. “Come on, I'm hungry,” I said as I dragged him away from the lecture hall and everyone else while I heard Wonnie and Seonghwa complain about me abandoning them…

“I still want that udon curry,” I pondered and he sighed. He grabbed his backpack and clipped his collar there as he walked silently. “Did you fight for him?” I asked and he nodded silently.

I smiled. “That’s very kind of you,” I said and from the corner of my eye, he looked at me confused. “What were they doing to him?” I asked and he sighed. “Called him a runt… a stray… useless. It was all when the teacher left for a break and I don’t know why I did but I fought for him” he said and I smiled.

“That was very brave of you. I’m proud of you Niki!” I said with a grin and he smiled softly. “The teacher gave me a warning cause he said if he told you that you’d return me,” he said and I chuckled. “We’ve been together for years! I could never do that” I said and he nodded.

“Still want takoyaki?” I asked and he chuckled. “Always!” he yelled as he ran ahead of me.

“HEY!! NO FAIR!! YOU HAVE LONGER LEGS!!”

taglist -> @ilovecheese09 @gudkc @nikisvanillaccola @blossominghunnie @mheretoreadff @k1ttylvr

please don't be a silent reader !! reblog, comment, and like <3

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the-dreams-i-dream-blog · 11 days ago

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The summary:

2025 the boys of BTS were in the biggest band of the world, they have sold out shows and finished their mandatory military service. The world was theirs until an accident that happened in the year 2027 with their bandmate Jeon Jungkook. They all decided to break up after this accident, nobody speaking about it until now…. These are their interviews

Pairing: yandere jungkook x reader

Yes the bts boys are the one telling the story

Chapter 1: Testing

The BTS boys walk into their individual interviews

Kim Namjoon (RM)-

Testing one, two

( He speaks into his mic to test that it is working)

Kim Seokjin (Jin)-

So I just sit here… okay thank you

Hoseok, Taehyung, and Jimin are ready they are just straightening up their outfits.

Min Yoongi (Suga)-

Okay I guess we can begin.

Year 2025 ( News reports from around the world)

(Korea broadcasting system)-

BTS are finally back from their mandatory military service here in South Korea.

(Good morning America)-

The BTS boys are planning on going on a world tour for their brand new album.

(Jimmy Fallon on the tonight show)-

Everyone wants to either be them or wants to sleep with them, I’m I right army?!!!

Year 2026 ( News reports)

(The Korea times)-

One of the members of the boy band BTS has just announced he has a girlfriend, big hit has released a statement and the couple will hold a press conference.

(The Korea herald)-

BTS member Jeon Jungkook has an American girlfriend

(Dispatch)-

It seems that Jungkook of BTS and his girlfriend have a smoking and drinking problem.

Year 2027( News reports)

(BBC)-

BTS’S Jungkook is engaged to American girlfriend y/n.

(Dispatch)-

Jungkook of BTS is reportedly a bad influence on fiancé y/n says former manager.

July 2027

The New York Times breaking news update

We just learned that BTS’s Jeon Jungkook has just been arrested… for reportedly killing his 27 year old fiancé y/n. . .

(The screen goes black)

Kim Namjoon -

I never thought I would be speaking about this, but I just want everyone to know the truth. Jungkook is my brother and I will always love him, but I should’ve known that his tendencies would get out of hand

Interviewer : tell us about 2025 the year all of you guys finished your military service.

Kim Seokjin-

I was so happy to finally have my brothers back. I already had so much planned.

Park Jimin-

Finally! (he laughs)

But no, really it was nice being on the outside. I never truly felt alone in the military since I was with Jungkook.

( he pauses and looks down)

Min yoongi-

We were ready to make new music. Everyone felt refreshed and they had experiences,They all wanted to talk about .

Jung Hoseok-

It was nice, seeing them all change mentally and physically especially Taehyung, Jimin, and Jungkook… they looked huge .

(He laughs)

Kim Taehyung-

I felt like a different person in the military… someone who was free but at the same time I missed my brothers and was ready to get back to BTS.

Kim Namjoon-

When we all finally met up again to discuss our future, we were all on the same page. It felt like old times just enjoying each other and making music.

Interviewer: how was Jungkook at that time?

Park Jimin-

You know you can always be around someone and think you understand everything about them. Jungkook was always in the news about something.

Kim Taehyung-

If it wasn’t the image he painted for himself it was the news outlets finding small, stupid things to talk about the smoking, the partying,the girls, he was a grown ass man, but all that talking made him mad.

Min Yoongi-

He came out of the military more, determined to make people realize

IM.A.GROWN.ASS.MAN.

Kim Namjoon-

A different girl every week, smoking in front of the cameras in a way I was proud that he was saying fuck it, but he was also determined to make music for our army. He was just living his life and was ready to get back on stage.

Jung Hoseok-

Oh, how much army loved how bulky he gotten. He was on top of the world making the ladies scream. It’s a double meaning.

(He laughs)

Kim Seokjin-

I was happy that he was happy and when our world tour started after the album, I knew it was gonna be great. I knew HE was gonna be great.

(The screen goes black)

BTS started their world tour three months after the release of their album, which came out two months before.

During this time they saw the changes of Jungkook.

This is the first chapter guys I will release every Thursday!!

Tags: @kokoandkookie

#bts x reader #jungkook smut #kim namjoon #kim seokjin #min yoongi #jung hoseok #park jimin #kim taehyung #jungkook x reader #jungkook yandere smut #bts yandere smut

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mrs-elsie-barnes · 10 months ago

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The Old Gods and The New - Chapter 17

Revelations In Tønsberg | Loki x Reader

Thor accompanies you and Loki back to Tønsberg and a warm welcome from the Asgardian court. A far cry from the golden luxury of the The Golden Palace of the gods, but certainly more homey. The villagers get to know you better and secrets are revealed.

Warnings: 18+ for language & sexual content. Dirty talk, prince/princess kink? (is that a thing?), p in v to make up for the parental issues I'm exorcising in this fic. Rated D for Daddy issues and C for cosy.

A/N: what do you mean it's summer? No I obviously didn't slip on my timeline for posting by like 6 months I don't know what you're talking about.

Dividers by @firefly-graphics , @reveriesources and me.

Series Masterlist | Loki Masterlist | Masterlist

Your second journey by Bifrost was no more bearable than the first, leaving your head swimming and your stomach roiling as you came to a stop.

Thor laughed heartily and slapped Loki on the back, exchanging jovial words about your trist at the Golden Palace, no doubt. The god seemed to have no filter and no qualms about discussing your private life, even in the open square of Tønsberg.

With a gentle hand on your back, Loki led you forwards, your eyes still on the cobblestones while you attempted to get your bearings without being sick.

“Welcome back!” Brunnhilde’s voice carried across the harbour and you finally took the opportunity to take in your surroundings. In your haste to get away from the Avengers you had forgotten what had happened the last time you walked along the sea front of Tønsberg and suddenly it all came swimming back. The queasy feeling in your stomach intensified. “I worried we’d never see you hear again,” she strode across the sea soaked front, her arms wide and welcoming, “but we are happy to welcome you back.”

Thor opened his arms in return, beaming and ready to embrace the King of Asgard, but she bypassed him entirely and wrapped her arms around your middle, pulling you away from Loki and lifting your toes off the ground with the ferocity of her embrace.

“It’s good to see you as well, Brunnhilde.” The panic that had begun to rise ebbed away, and then there was another pressure at your back and Thor enveloped you in a bear hug, squeezing you into Brunnhilde.

“Loki’s little trouble maker, back in Tønsberg, I am so happy.” He thrilled, resting his cheek on top of your head and rubbing your arms. “I always wanted a sister-” he paused, “well, a sister that didn’t want to destroy everything -” You both went still as you remembered the prophecy left by Frigga. Thor floundered for words. “Anyway, we shall feast and drink and celebrate your return, I am sure. You are most welcome.”

“That’s quite enough,” Loki coughed, finding your hand again and guiding you, now slightly ruffled, back to his side. You stood on your tip toes and placed a wet kiss on his cheek, nuzzling him with your nose.

“Don’t be jealous,” you teased, and his arm around you tightened.

“Jealous? I am not jealous, I am concerned. I left you here once and -”

Jealous

You allowed the thought to float to him and watched as his eyes darkened.

I am not jealous of that oaf, merely protective. Surely that is allowed after two kidnapping attempts.

Brunnhilde’s eyes drifted from Loki to your face, watching as it dropped and your shoulders tensed, “-let’s not concern ourselves with the past. Let’s look to the future, come inside we just finished a council meeting so the hall is empty.” She turned and led the way towards the long hall, pulling her suit jacket tight around her middle against the biting wind whipping from the sea. While it’d been cold in America, here it was icy, but before you could shiver you felt the ring of Loki’s magic and a navy blue peacoat engulfed you, the inside already warm. You looked over at Loki, surprised that he wouldn’t put you in his own colours, and he merely smiled, looking out on the sea and pretending he hadn’t noticed your new attire, but you couldn’t help but notice the twinkle of emerald green in each shining button.

You looked out too, seeing the waves on the horizon cresting and falling, the gulls circling the frothing water and steadied yourself to take in Tønsberg with fresh eyes.

At your first visit, you’d visited Brunnhilde’s cottage, tucked away two streets back from the harbour, inconspicuous and modest. Now she was leading you towards the long, low building that stood in the centre of the main thoroughfare opposite the harbour. Above the door there was a symbol, tall lines forming a pyramid in a strangely familiar way.

Asgard’s Palace

Loki looked up too, taking your hand, this is the new symbol of Asgard and our rebuilt court. Welcome, Princess.

Princess. You hadn’t considered your role here either, that you weren’t just a visitor, but a royal visitor, at the pleasure of the Royal court, small as it was, modest as the Long Hall appeared. And your heart swelled with pride and belonging. Loki squeezed your hand again, the same pride reflected in his eyes.

You looked around again, viewing the village with fresh eyes.

Behind the village itself, building work had started on further homes and the dock, which on your previous visit only held a few fishing boats, was full of tourist vessels bobbing next to wooden row boats.

Thor opened the door of the long building, waving his arm for you to enter.

“Welcome to the Asgardian Court, Princess Estrid.” Thor bowed as you passed and you heard the unmistakable sound of Loki smacking him playfully on the back of the head as he followed.

Inside the hall was reassuringly simple and looked very much like the village halls you had seen once or twice during your time in London. The noticeboard was full of flyers for music lessons, hobby groups and items for sale, a few images of a village fete and a sign up list for organising events had a few scrawled names, but no contact details. You sighed in relief, half expecting to be thrown back into the excess of the Golden Palace alongside its rules and regulations. But life in the Long Hall seemed much more relaxed and familiar.

A few people were moving chairs around, stacking them at the edges of the room, calling to each other as they worked. The smell of brewing tea and freshly baked biscuits wafted from the open hatch to the kitchen where a group of older Asgardians carefully placed doilies on trays and arranged mugs.

The only out of place item was a blue and gold velvet curtain that decorated a dais at one end of the room. Even in the winter light the floor to ceiling windows let in enough light to make the gold brocade shine.

“Sorry, it’s - King stuff, you know?” Brunnhilde shrugged, almost embarrassed by the pdecadence of the set u[, and waved to another Asgardian in the kitchen, holding her hand up and mouthing drinking, a chorus of ‘just a minute’ responded and before you knew it there was a table set in the middle of the hall, drinks and food covering the surface.

“By Loki’s face I’m assuming this is more than a social call,” Brunnhilde asked, pouring a large cup of tea into a pint sized mug with Authentic Asgardian Mead printed on the side.

“Wise as ever,” Loki smiled, “we have come to ask you more questions about Estrid.” Under the table he took your hand, twining your fingers together. “We met another god, claiming to know her, he attempted to kidnap her and - we heard a prophecy.”

Brunnhilde lent into her chair, rocking it on its legs while Loki described your encounter during the Avenger’s mission and raising an eyebrow at his admission that a prophecy was involved.

“Well, you’ve certainly been busy, I thought she’d keep you out of trouble, not get you into more of it.” She grinned and Thor laughed, shaking his brother’s shoulder.

“She surely is Trouble,” Thor smiled indulgently, ruffling the top of your head.

“But Loki says he couldn’t see him, he was tall, he had this spear -” suddenly it all bubbled to the surface and you had to get it out, everything you’d seen, what had happened. Between sips of the tea that appeared in front of you, you told Brunnhilde everything.

“Lugh,” Brunnhilde said, thoughtfully, “it was a five pointed spear, correct?”

You both nodded and Brunnhilde rocked her chair again, “definitely Lugh, and he knew your mother? And that you should go with him?” She raised an eyebrow again before looking away thoughtfully.

“He said it over and over, he wanted me to go with him, and said it wasn’t safe for me.” The legs of her chair hit the floor with a thump.

“And now tell me about the prophecy.”

Loki took the marble from his pocket and placed the halves together again, releasing the voice of his mother into the room. The Asgardians fell silent, those still tidying from the council meeting stopped and bowed their heads at the memory of their fallen Queen.

“I saw a vision of a flock in chaos, a singular lamb frolicked in its midst, a lamb with a fiery fleece. It has burnt the farm. But from the ashes rises lush land, strong crops and healthy babes. I have told this vision to my husband, and Lugh, he does not believe me when I say she is no threat, he believes this to be a prophecy of Ragnarok, he cannot see the verdant land beyond the fire. You must hide the girl, my friend, I can protect her no longer.”

“Frigga,” Brunnhilde whispered, “she had many visions but, I can’t understand why you think this pertains to you?” She turned to you, studying your face. “We have no idea why Frigga sent this to Lugh, if you are the lamb mentioned or the girl. I do not see why he should be involved or concerned with you at all.”

“They were friends, were they not?” One of the villagers said from the kitchen, leaning through the hatch, “Lugh and Brigid, they were firm friends, often talking at the events. Frigga knew Lugh by associate as well. Perhaps that’s why?”

“Yes, yes,” another agreed. “He was always chatting to the women folk, a kind, gentle man, never married himself mind.” Another dropped off a plate of kanelbulle, the deep scent of cinnamon wafting down the table.

“Perhaps it’s time the girl heard all,” the time roughened voice came from behind you this time but there were many nods and noises of agreement throughout the room.

Brunnhilde looked uncomfortable, but settled in her chair nonetheless. “Your mother was married to a man called Bres, a god of sorts who joined with your mother’s pantheon, he even became King, for a time. He was a Midgardian god as Odin was, residing in a place called the Otherworld. He was deeply unpopular, I didn’t want to upset you, when you visited before, you and Loki looked so happy I - I’m sorry. I should have told you, he was not a well liked God, but I wanted to spare you. Your mother though,” a ripple of happy sighs and murmers fluttered around the room and you were instantly self conscious. “She was very well liked, she visited Asgard many times.”

“So… why did she marry this Bres? Is he my father?”

“They didn’t love each other did they?” Tears welled in your eyes, for all your fears that you’d be sold into a loveless, political marriage, it had never occured to you that this fate had already befallen your mother.

“No, I’m sorry, I believe that your mother, Brigid, loved another. Though I’m not sure who. But Bres is not your father, your mother was already pregnant, you see, when the marriage was arranged and you were born just before the ceremony. Your mother was a free spirit, she liked to travel and make friends, she brought back floral and fauna, stories and trinkets, art, crafts and, after a longer journey. You.”

The four of you sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating what Brunnhilde had said. Bres really should have been your father and, officially, he was. But your mother didn’t love him and they weren’t married when you were born - your head swam with new information.

“I remember.” A voice coughed behind you, stuttering through the passages of time, the stooped Asgardian shuffled around the table. Thor stood and offered her his seat, sliding the chair back into place and standing regally behind it.

“Please,” you reached your free hand across the table towards the woman, considering Loki was easily two thousand years old, the woman must have been ancient, her face creased with memories, her skin paper thin. “I remember you,” and the memory lit up her eyes, “Estrid, Brigidsdotter, you brought so much joy to the palace, small one. And your mother loved you very much, so much that she brought you many times to spare you from Bres.” At his name the woman looked angry, her lips pursing.

“She did?” Your eyes welled with tears, you had wondered why you were left on Asgard so much, how you’d come to know the Princes so well if your mother had loved you.

“My dear small one, you are young, you will learn, sometimes loss is its own kind of affection, she took that burden for you, to protect you.” She paused to cough and you offered her a cup of tea from the pot. “Thank you, always so kind - He was not kind though, he came to you once and there was such shouting as you have never heard, the palace rocked with the sound of it - and in the morning,” she coughed again, “you were gone, small one, the boys, they had forgotten it all.” She reached a hand up and Thor took it between his palms as gently as if he held a small bird.

“We forgot?” He asked.

“You all forgot, she made you, the Queen, it was for the best for you to forget, so that it would not hurt you to be separated. Especially you, Prince of Mischief.” He eyes twinkled as she smiled at Loki. “I assumed it was to hide you from Bres again, but then Odin sent out a party to search for you.” She hummed, eyes closing a second longer than necessary when she blinked.

“He wanted her back? Safe?” Loki asked.

“He wanted to imprison you I suppose.” She coughed and brought a handkerchief from the sleeve of her cardigan. “You,who had brought so much joy and so much trouble to his doorstep, he was afraid of you.” She laughed but it turned into another wet, painful, cough.

Loki shook his head, “how can that be, the Allfather, afraid of a girl -” he turned to you quickly, “no offence meant, my Darling,” he brought your hand to his lips and kissed your fingers.

“No, of course, he is, was, the Allfather, how could he have feared me.” Confusion crossed your face and the old lady patted your hand.

“Small one, full of power, so much power you could not comprehend. The prophecy, it was about you and he feared you would bring Ragnarok if you stayed, you would burn the city with your magic and dance in the flames.” She shrugged, her cardigan sliding on her thin shoulders, and then took a draught of her tea, smacking her lips and reaching for a biscuit when she was done.

“But Ragnarok happened already, that’s why we’re here,” Loki scrunched his brow, “and it was Hela, it was nothing to do with Estrid.”

“Well maybe it was wrong, what do I know.” She patted Thor’s hand. “But I do know,” her eyes twinkled and if you didn’t know better, you’d say it was the same spark of mischief that Loki possessed, “I do know that Lugh,” she said his name like a sigh, one hand over her heart, “he was a kind man to all, and he loved your mother, so very much, that he would protect you, even now. He didn’t know how, of course, but he visited you once and Bres - well - as I say, it shook the palace.”

Tears were threatening again, you couldn’t help it, it was all too much, should you have gone with him? Trusted him? Had he kidnapped you or was it another? Your mind raced.

“I’m sorry, small one, I grow very weary, I am not as spritely as I once was.”

“Thank you, thank you so much.” You reached across the table to hug her, your senses filling with an instant calm, a forgotten memory of the Asgardian nursery, the school rooms billowing with chalk dust and the grey teacher who watched over your work. “Thank you.”

“Oh small one, it is my pleasure to see you so well again.” She smiled back, but tears didn’t come, instead her eyes looked milky and unfocussed, “I - Princess Estrid, what in the Nine Realms are you wearing - and Prince Loki, do unhand the young girl - I was - I was - look at the board -” she made a half turn, stumbling into Thor’s arms, “I must -”

Thor tucked her tiny arm in his and kept her upright, “I shall escort her home, I know the way.” He nodded at you all, “I trust we shall discuss this later?”

“Yes, of course brother, later.” Loki touched his elbow as he passed while you stared at the noticeboard again, silent tears spilling down your cheeks.

When you’d helped to tidy away the table and the other Asgardian ladies had fussed over you awhile, Loki decided it was time to retire and discuss all that had been revealed to you. He had watched you working, leaning against Brunnhilde’s throne, while they spoke in hushed voices about the prophecy.

Outside of the tall windows the night had drawn in quickly, the sun already below the horizon despite the fact it was only mid-afternoon. In the lamplight you could see thick flakes of snow passing in and out of the light.

“My darling,” Loki cooed, arms curling around your waist and his chin on your shoulder, “you work with my people is much appreciated, but I believe we should leave now, we have much to discuss.”

You nodded in agreement and said goodbye to your new Asgardian friends. They were friendly, happy people, relaxing into their new life as much as they could with the weight of their loss still hanging heavy over them. You remembered snippets of life in Asgard, but the sheltered palace and walled grounds were a world away from the casual court of this new land, and you had to admit you enjoyed it.

At the door of the long hall Loki waved his hand, alongside your coat, a matching hat and gloves appeared. His own fell around his knees, accentuating the long lines of his body, and he lifted the collar against the chill breeze shifting the airy snow across the doorstep.

Naturally, you fell into step next to each other, your arms linked and shoulders bumping together. You passed the turning for Brunnhilde’s road and suddenly your heart hammered, you had made it this far last time. You had walked from Brunnhilde’s home to the harbour’s edge, you’d watched the boats, far fewer boats then, bobbing in the waves, and now you were watching them creak against the crisp wind, snow icing their edges.

“You have nothing to fear, Asynja,” Loki assured, putting his arm around your waist instead. You had to walk slower, but you did feel safer this close to his body.

“I know -” you took a deep breath, watching it mist in the air as you exhaled, “I was alone before.”

“Though I’m truly sorry, beyond any words, that I was not here to escort you before, that isn’t what I meant.” He stopped you then and your heart beat wildly. The cottages were lit up in the darkness and you longed to be safe inside. “You have nothing to fear, anything out here stalking you now -” you hitched a breath, “- not that there is,” he cupped your cheeks, tipping your chin up. “There is nothing out here that your power cannot match, nothing that you cannot beat, you have no reason to fear, they should be afraid of you.” His eyes were ablaze, firm and proud.

“I don’t know about that, Loki, I-”

“Darling, you are Princess Estrid, daughter of Brigid, this is a magnificent lineage all of its own. I’ve seen what you can do, what your raw magic can create, you have nothing to fear.”

“Okay,” you weren’t entirely convinced, but Loki’s surety made you feel as if you could take on the world anyway, just as long as he was by your side.

“It seems I need to prove it to you further,” he stepped away from you, taking the coat he’d conjured with him and a chill ran up your spine, the flare of magic was as natural as the shiver itself, a heavy cloak and fur collar fell about you, fluffing up behind your neck to protect you from any further cold.

Loki smiled, the predatory smile he employed when he had been proved right, “without thought, my darling, you look truly regal, as you deserve to be.” He approached you again, holding his hand out and, as it touched yours, he allowed himself to exchange his modern peacoat for a matching robe.

“Do you believe me now, Princess?” He teased the question against your lips, pulling back when you leaned into him.

“Yes, I believe you.” You sighed, rolling your eyes playfully.

“Good,” Loki’s cold lips met yours, as all consuming as his belief in you, you tipped your head, deepening the kiss until your tongues slid together, noses brushing and the snow falling like glitter around you.

You stumbled over the threshold of Loki’s Tønsberg home intending to take in the details of his cottage, to learn more about him, to talk over the new information revealed at the long hall. But his lips on your neck, pushing the heavy fabric to the floor where it billowed into glittering magic at your feet, the overwhelming scent of him as he slammed the door behind you both and pressed you into the wall. You were incapable of thinking of anything else, of this god before you, a Prince, and you felt every inch the Princess he believed you could be. That sensation alone filled you with a burning desire.

“Loki,” you moaned and he groaned against your lips.

“Say my name,” he growled, “say it again.”

“Only if -” you panted, pulling away to drag your sweater over your head, “only if you call me Princess again.”

Loki’s eyes darkened, his smile feral as he loomed over you, one hand braced against the wall, his body hovering over yours, barely touching, the other traced your ear, down your cheek, to your lips. “You like when I call you Princess?” he purred, dragging your bottom lip with his thumb and you latched onto it, drawing the digit into your mouth and nodding. “Then who am I to deny you, Princess.”

“Ugh, Loki,” you sagged against the wall, reaching for his lapels and drawing him back into your kisses.

“That’s a good girl,” he swept you up in his kiss, lifting you into his arms and carrying you up the narrow stairs to his bedroom. Candles flickered as you passed, illuminating the room in a golden glow.

Loki’s bed was huge, taking up a large portion of the room with its posts and swathes of emerald velvet. He’d placed you on an equally luxurious blanket, but you could feel the cold slick of silk behind you.

He prowled towards you, crowding you backwards into the pillows and crushing your lips together again. Your hands sought the hard planes of his chest, ripping the buttons from his shirt and revealing the dips of his muscles to your hungry eyes.

“I need you so badly, fuck -” you dug your hands into his hair, needing something, anything, to ground you.

“Darling,” his chest rumbled with each breath, his kisses deep and languid.

You weren’t sure whose magic removed the rest of your clothes, but you knew when you could feel the hard length of him against your thigh that this was exactly where you needed to be, where you had always belonged. You canted your hips against him, trying to gain any friction to quell the aching between your legs.

“My Princess,” he looked down at you, his eyes full of emotion and lust, blurred together into an intoxicating cocktail, you shivered again, your own slick mixing with the precum leaking onto your leg. “Are you going to keep being a good girl for me?” He asked, nosing at the sensitive spot on your neck, licking over the pulse.

“Do you want me to be good?” You teased back, wrapping your legs around his hips.

It took him a moment to answer while he took in your prone form, spread below him in the candlelight, sparking with magic, before he met your eyes again, notching the head of his cock at your entrance.

“No, I don’t,” he grinned. “I want you to be bad, I want you to be naughty, my Goddess, my Asynja, I want you to be wicked and cruel and ruthless. I want you to take exactly what you want from me."

You clawed at his back, leaving red tracks on his porcelain skin while he snarled with lust, sheathing himself inside of you.

He was animalistic, growling as he set a punishing pace, his forehead pressed to yours.

You gripped his hips, using them to pull yourself closer, rolling your body to meet his with every thrust.

“Loki - ugh - My Prince!” You cried out, your stomach tightened, clenching around his hard length.

That feral smile returned and he slowed his movements, rolling onto his back and dragging you with him until you were seated in his lap, his cock, so deep, you could swear you could see the outline of him. His hands found your waist again, urging you to begin moving.

“My Prince,” you panted, squeezing your eyes closed at the sheer bliss of being so close to him, so connected you could feel his heartbeat inside of you.

“My Princess,” Loki sat up to kiss you, his muscles flexing, sweat dipping into each rivulet, “I want you to take your pleasure, my darling, let me be your throne, tell your court your wicked desires.”

With a moan you kissed the smile from his face, devouring him, his words like a match to tinder in your veins. And you moved. So slowly it was almost painful, teasing the length of him from your body, feeling the drag of each deliciously, thick inch against your fluttering walls, before lowering yourself again, hands on his chest, head tipped back in sheer ecstasy.

“That’s it, use my body for your pleasure, sit upon your throne.” He cried as he came hard inside you to the feel of your pulsing walls and tightening fingers.

As he rolled you over again you were sure you could get used to being a Princess.

<<Chapter 16

Chapter 18 >>

#Loki #loki laufeyson #loki odinson #loki/reader #Loki x Reader #Loki fanfic #Loki series #loki marvel #Loki x you #Loki/You #loki fanfiction #Loki smut #The Old Gods and the New #loki fic #loki god of mischief #loki laufesyon x reader #loki of asgard #loki of jotunheim

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brunolover808 · 2 months ago

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Homelander x reader || 60's Husband ||

Context: Homelander has "saved" you from a world ending disaster. He takes you to a bunker that looks like a vintage home that would be used in American propaganda. He dresses you up to look the part, he heads to "work" to bring back supplies till the surface is safe.

It has been a few months according to the paper calendar on the table. Time was a mere illusion from the clicking clock on the wall. The batteries were from the last time Homelander left to work. It was not clear if that was the correct time on the wall. All you knew was he set it.

Homelander practically chose everything new brought to the home. Apparently the clothes he found for you were ones left in a thrift store. They looked straight out of the movies about the golden age of America. 60's fashion to be exact, nothing revealing, modest for a doll. You weren't sure exactly what happened when you had woken up in this home. All you knew was what Homelander told you. The surface was not safe, something to do with nuclear leaks and criminals running rampant. His work every day was to maintain the little electricity and water for the house. Then to go scavenging to bring back items for you.

Every day you walked the house, cleaned, write, and cook. There wasn't much else unless Homelander found something to entertain you. Though there was another form of entertainment when he did arrive. At first you had taken the quiet time to process the fact you couldn't leave, then over time you started to seek his company. It was only natural since he was the only person you would come into contact with.

Slowly you adapted to becoming the picture perfect wife for him. You hadn't realized that you had developed feelings for him. Now when he returns home, you greet him with a smile, ask about his day at work, and stare into his dazzling blue eyes. It became routine, but still felt special in a silly way. Then you would head to bed where he would spend the night on the couch. It was his form of being gentlemanly.

Though for the past few days you have been hinting to him to join you in bed. Simple hesitation at the bedroom door, pulling your skirt up just enough to show mid thigh, even telling him it has been getting cold. Sadly each attempt only led to a wave of his hand and that thin smile he gave whenever he gently scolded you. But tonight was going to be different. You were going to get that man to sleep in the same bed with you. Finally have more than a gentle touch to your arm or a quick side hug as he leaves.

The clock ticks away every second that you wait for Homelander to come home. It was agony today since you talked yourself through the whole process. Dinner, talking about his day, then finally coming out with it. Finally admitting that you long for his warmth in bed. To feel his skin brushing against yours as you dream of when you can leave this cage.

Knock knock

The all familiar knock on the front door. You sprung up and hurry to the hallway that had a light hanging over the front door. Your heart racing as you waited with her hands in front clasp together. Your eyes fixed on the door knob as it turns and the door parts from the frame. There quickly cutting through the door, like always, was Homelander. His normal wear for work anymore was an overcoat, his old supe suit, and a fedora. It was supposed to be a way to blend in he first told you. Now you see it as more of him coming back from a long day of work.

"Welcome home." You greeted him with your best smile.

"I'm home honey." Homelander chuckles as he had started to call you pet names when he was in a great mood.

"I have dinner ready, then I would like to talk with you about something."

You were nervous to even touch him except for helping take his coat. Even grazing his shoulders with your finger tips made you want to wrap your arms around him.

"We can discuss it over dinner, as I tell you what I found today." He sounded proud of himself as he waves for you to lead the way.

You take him to the kitchen and make sure he is seated as you ask him about his day. Homelander tells her that he was able to maintain the water pressure to the house, take a look around, and even found somewhere that had old books. He left them for now since he would need to take a box with him tomorrow to bring them back. All this was being told as your dish up some potatoes and canned meat. Not the most appetizing meal, but that is what he brought you a few days ago. As Homelander finished up his story he asked you about your day.

"The same as yesterday, you know I don't have much left to do here." You were saying it in a manner to act as though he was joking with you. Taking this opportunity you part your lips to speak. "I want to sleep together."

A direct statement had caught Homelander off guard. His eyes fluttered as though he didn't believe what you just said. His lips thinned as he tilted forward with his head slightly turned. This was all done to gesture to say that again.

"What?"

"I want to sleep together. I want to have you in bed with me instead of the couch."

"Honey, you know I am being a gentleman. I can not sleep with you unless you are my wife."

Homelander's logic was not the soundest. Though you wanted to fight this immediately so he can't leave you like he did before.

"Then marry me."

He looked baffled as though he couldn't seem to get why you would ask directly. He didn't seemed scared or even worried. He was just surprised by this. Homelander has not experienced such aggression for a request. It was practically unheard of.

"Alright, just know you asked for this." He said briefly before finishing his dinner.

You had succeeded in him agreeing to sleep in the same bed as you. Little did you know the true reason for him sleeping on the couch. The endless nights of plotting and imagining you finally being his. Though you would find out tonight as he seemed almost eager to show you.

Dinner had finished and while you cleaned up, Homelander went to the living room to wait for you on the couch. He was intent on showing you why he didn't sleep next to you or at least a preview. It did not take long for you to finish. He called you in to join him which you were happy to oblige. The moment you sat down his arm snaked around your waist and pulled you into him.

This was a first, goosebumps crawled along your skin as her heart jumped with excitement. Homelander could hear your pulse and feel the way you reacted to him. Your body acting like the definition of starved. His other hand gently pinches your chin between his thumb and pointer finger. He lifted your head so your eyes met with his blue eyes. There was a pause before he leaned in to steal your lips in a kiss. His lips locked to yours as his tongue pressed through his lips and into your mouth. His strength parting your lips for him as he explored with his tongue. The wet, stiff, and slimy muscle coiling around your tongue before sliding against the roof of your mouth.

A faint whimper left you as her hands rested on his chest. It was a bit difficult to breathe, but he thankfully pulled away for heavy breaths to be exchanged. His eyes piercing into yours as he wanted to devour you on the couch. His intentions clear, but your intentions flustered and gripped at the brief moment of pause.

"Now... Do you still wish for us to sleep together? "

#Spotify #homelander #the boys #short story #stockhom syndrome #touch starved #fluff

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befuddledcinnamonroll · 4 months ago

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Spare Me Your Mercy - final thoughts

I was out of town last week, so didn't have a chance to watch the SMYM finale until today. But wow, what an experience this show was. I have a few minor criticisms, but overall, I found this to be such a nuanced and heartfelt watch.

You can tell how deeply those making this series cared about the topic of euthanasia, and creating a venue for discussion. The emphasis on people's autonomy and right to dignity, the callout of class disparity and how it impacts the end of one's life, the inequity in health care and how people with few resources are disproportionately burdened with caring for dying family while still trying to survive day to day. How the trauma and pain of it all grows exponentially, continually leading to further tragedy.

I know there are criticisms of the Kan and Thiu relationship, but honestly, it worked for me. To me, it felt like what was needed for the story. Thiu is clearly a deeply internal character. He may not necessarily hide but he is not remotely forthcoming about his inner world, whether it be his sexuality or his affections or his worries about Kan. Kan is much more open and extroverted, but at the same time, he was willing to lie to Thiu for their entire lives due to his convictions. These are not men who are going to be doing grand romantic gestures for each other; it's a quiet, and honestly, quite realistic form of love. At the same time, it was supposed to feel slightly off, because there was a giant wall between the two of them. There were too many secrets, and too much pain, and none of it was being dealt with in the open. They couldn't be genuinely honest and intimate with each other. Until the very end, when Kan shows he is willing to give up everything in an act of love for Thiu, and Thiu is finally able to say what he feels. It may feel dark, but the wall is down, and I think they will weather what comes next.

What I particularly appreciate about this series is the emphasis on how harmful it is when you cannot talk about a difficult subject. It is likely that many of us fall into slightly different places on the spectrum of what is moral and ethical when it comes to euthanasia, but the vital thing is being able to communicate about it. Thiu's mother wasn't able to tell her son that she was ready to die, so he became mired in his regrets and his grief, rather than understanding it was her choice. Rin wasn't able to talk to her father, to know that he was self-determining his end (and thinking of her), so she was left to wonder and feel rejected. Somsak wasn't willing to listen to his lover's wishes, due to his entrenched beliefs, so missed being there for his final moments. Boss couldn't come to Kan directly, and ended up on a misguided and fatal path. And none of them had an avenue to process their pain. It all needed to be talked about, to be brought into the light of day without fear or shame. We all need to be able to talk about it.

It's really interesting to watch this show as someone who grew up in America when the furor around Kevorkian happened (for the non-Americans, a doctor who went to prison for euthanizing a terminally ill man), and experienced what it's like when euthanasia breaks in as a topic of news cycles and everyday conversation. I am also someone who lives in a state where assisted dying is legal. My parents are elderly, and we have talked about their end of life wishes. Living in a state where they could make their own decisions was paramount to them. It's incredibly challenging, and it hurts to even think about, but it is so very necessary to communicate with those we love.

My heart goes out to everyone who has had to personally grapple with this topic, and had to deal with a lack of legal options for a peaceful end of life. May we come ever closer to a world where we all get full autonomy, and can be open with those we love about what we need, both now, and at the end.

#spare me your mercy #definitely in my feels about this one

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marengogo · 7 months ago

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NAKED - 6: I’d Rather Be …

Listening to the playlist bts sexy songs

[Music is a very big part of my life and I’m MOSTLY INCAPABLE of writing without music, so I just thought I'd share what I am listening to while writing this]

–🐺–🐺–🐺–

Why hello my Lovergurls, Loverbois and Loverenbies! It’s been a minute since I made a Naked post, hasn’t it? Well, need something fun to do tonight, so given a particular development that came to light because of the AYS behind the scenes, I decided that it would be fun to point out a couple of things, while we look at a couple of chronologically very interesting fact at least to me, they are quite interesting I even have a tin-hat moment for y’all! … So ⚠️SPOILER ALERT⚠️if you don’t want any AYS VOD Behind The Scenes spoilers, this is not the post for you. Ayte? Cool, lesgo! 😘💋

The date is July 13, 2023. JM, and his perfectly shaven legs, get into a flight to NYC. Nobody knows why. Most of his solos assume he must be going for a personal schedule that has nothing to do with JK. Most Jkkrs assume that he is going to support JK. Boat Blue Bird AMI feel a certain way about airport info which they can’t be completely blamed for tbh, so they completely ignore the whole thing.

At this very moment in time, all we know for sure are the following 3 things: 1. JK’s solo first single, Seven, will be released July 14, 2023. 2. JK will debut said single with a live performance on Good Morning America on that same July 14. 3. July 14 also just so happens to be Silver Day. So it is that the evening of the 13th of July pulls up and pictures of what seem to be JM and JK going about the streets of NYC start surfacing. Some believe them, some don’t and we are all left at that.

July 14, 2023, the following day, finally arrives. JK does amazing, despite the rain, and even though he let’s it slip that JM is somewhere in NYC because of a very curious TV-host, he manages to still keep JM’s presence very vague. Yet, the thing that will have the majority that was paying attention except for celebrating Capulets of course rather confused, and some even aghast, is the fact that JM was nowhere to be found at JK’s performance. This will eventually be a topic of discussion for months to come, given how JM had been physically present for every other member’s debut, release, live, or fanmeet.

Eventually, on the July 15th a video of who seem to be JM and JK on a yacht surfaces on the world wide web thanks to said yacht’s dickhead owner, as well as tells of various other people who begin to spot the two around Connecticut. As always, most AMI ignore, Jkkrs decide to die on that hill, and Capulets fight to deny everything. Regardless, eventually JM goes back to Seoul in the same way he had left, alone, and the reason for his visit to NYC, because at this point nobody believes he was in Connecticut, or even with JK at all remains a mystery.

Little did we know that: On July 13th, not only were JM & JK truly spotted skipping around NYC, after they’d gone eating at a Korean restaurant named Antoya, with their staff and crew,

but JM had indeed gone specifically for the sole objective of being with JK and filming a single travel vlog for AMI before they left for the military.

Could he not have just shown up for JK’s debut at GMA, just like he’d done with all the other members? Yes, I’m sure he could have, but apparently JM would rather have spent the night before leisurely with JK, perhaps getting him tired enough to have him at least sleep a little, so that he’d be ready for his performance the following day, rather than staying awake from nerves and/or excitement, to then eventually relaxedly go and film their carefree and “therapeutic” content.

Eventually, we’d also have confirmed the fact that JM & JK went back to Antoya, this time alone, most likely right before JM returned to Seoul.

The date is September 23, 2023. Jungkook is once again in NYC where, and within the walls of a very familiar hotel room, he starts a WEVERSE live, right after he’s done performing at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park:

That very day Jimin has the world in hysterics as his posts his first #ThisIsJimin reel on IG many “cried”: it was emotional. This very night JK would also get on a flight to get back to Seoul. JK lands September 24, 2023 and nothing would be heard neither of him, or JM, on this day.

#ThisIsJimin 1

September 25, 2023 quickly comes by and from this day, for a couple of more days, JM start’s to be particularly active on IG, making us believe that “Okay, interactive JM is back!” … 🤡 by first posting a video of Tae.

Tae Surprise Performance

September 28 he posts a picture of what looks like a shark eventually JK will tell us it was a whale 🙃… okay saying that JK drew it. September 29, JK’s second single, 3D, is released, and JM also posts something about it on his IG. October 1, the second #ThisIsJimin is posted on IG and, on the same day, JK also has a StationHead Listening Party with AMI. This would be the last we’d hear from JM until the day before his birthday (October 12, 2023).

Little did we know that: On September 25th, JK, JM and Tae would be boarding on a plane all the way to Jeju, to film the Autumn episode of Are You Sure?!. I guess being around Tae might have been what made JM want to post that video on that same day, but really, who knows, right? That same night, after Tae goes to bed, JK and JM spend some time together in the living room watching a performance video for SNTY and chit-chatting; the below being one of the chats:

From this convo, we gather that JK didn’t sleep, at least on the flight from NYC to Seoul, reason why he was tired, and it would appear that he’s told JM beforehand because he is searching for consensus, which JM readily gives. So at this point we are all like “He’s told JM before they travelled”.

And then this AYS behind the scenes change this whole scenario completely:

Given as to how they literally were to have met to film content together, couldn’t they just have met the following day? Yes, I’m sure they could have, but apparently JM & JK would rather have spent the previous night together, rather as JK landed in Soul as they enjoyed some makguksu made by JK at JK’s place.

Tin-Hat Moment: Remember how I’ve mentioned time and time again that I just go on the Blue Bird to silently get info? There was a rumor back in August 2023 that JK and JM were spotted in Jeju. No pictures were going around on the platform but it was all that jkkr twitter was talking about for that day as the rumor died within a day or two. It took me forever to find this tweets again but here are some:

I remember this rumor so well since, because of it, I thought that AYS Jeju was being filmed in August, which is close enough to Chuseouk. However, if these episodes were filmed at the end of September; how was there a rumor that they had been spotted in Jeju mid August? 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 …

… I guess we’ll never know.

The date is November 23, 2023. JK & JM stroll up together into Incheon and because of that nobody, be it jkkrs, be it Capulates, be it Blue Bird AMI can ignore their presence and the word of everyone’s mouth is: Why?

Reporters at the sight all have received info saying that they are working together on some kind of project. And as they make their way through Incheon greeting people, looking like the next royal couple, they eventually land in Tokyo, and after JM posts the below pictures on November 25th, chaos ensues.

“They are not staying in the same hotel?!” “JM has spent his whole day without JK, shopping and having fun” “JK is no where near JM” “Yeah, we’ve felt it for a while, they are just business associates kinda bandmates” “So it is just work after all” “... maybe they just happened to have business in Tokyo on the same day and went together”.

Eventually on that same November 25, JM & JK are seen leaving for Sapporo, and on November 28, they both go back to Seoul. This time around, the general consensus is that they are filming because they are seen in the airport in Sapporo with GoPros, but nobody knows what they are filming exactly. Hence, they go fairly unnoticed in Sapporo, except for a youtuber who randomly spots them, on her way back to Seoul, and who thought she’d seen JK and his blond girlfriend … 😏 .

youtube

Little did we know that: On November 23rd, JK was hella busy when they went to Tokyo, as we know, amongst the many things he did, he also filmed the Hate You video JM’s favourite song from Golden may I add:

youtube

So much so that there were sightings of JK being spot in particular restaurants and JM in others, which to be honest, given how busy JK was, I don’t have a problem believing. So then, Couldn’t have JM just meet JK directly in Sapporo? Afterall JM did fly to NYC to meet up with JK alone? Yes, I’m sure he could have, but apparently JK would rather have had JM around even if they couldn’t do much together because, from his very own words:

… Who knows what they did together in Tokyo. This, like many other things surrounding JK & JM might just remain a mystery we’ll never know 🙄.

Now let me tell you, because of what had been initially presented to us, throughout JM & JK’s “chapter 2” and thanks to what is slowly being revealed, it is safe to say that we were NEVER going to get that WEVERSE live, not for fault of JK I’d say, I think my Twinflame tried his best

Also he can lie his ass off when needed kudos to him no cap!👏🏾 This live happened after they met in NYC, on the 30th of July. I mean this the same man that pulled up on WEVERSE for a whopping 1 minute and 53 second with a 17’s member.

Basically if they wanted to have done a live together; they would have.

Ever since I’ve found out that basically JM spent every single night before filming AYS with JK, for, even though he didn’t really have to, nights during which honest to everything, they could have just done a 10sec live particularly in Tokyo, since we publicly so them go together, I’ve had Rihanna’s James Joint stuck in my head:

🎶I’d rather be breaking things cause we can’t see… how you live and love like fuck rules, don’t care why just know I love you🎵

This song made me think about them, not because I think they are in this edgy-as-hell relationship, but because it finally dawned of me that there were a lot of things that both JM & JK rather would have done than coming on a live with us 🤡🥹🙃, which to be honest, no matter how much I am the first person who loves to see them together and would have boxed JK’s trainer for a live … I must admit … I respect their decisions, and if they really are in a relationship, I find this rather healthy NGL. Aaaand that’s all from me y’all, as always, stay sassy, but keep it hella classy 💋.

Always respectfully yours,

Marengo.

#JKK NAK #Are You Sure?! VOD #Youtube

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fieldbears · 9 months ago

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People are mad about RDJ casting for the incorrect reasons

Everyone strap in for a one-way ticket to Opiniontown, USA:

Seeing that RDJ's been cast as a variant Doctor Doom is so disappointing for reasons I've seen almost nobody discuss.

No, it's not "unimaginative". Alternate universes and other 'what-if's exist, in large part, to provide insight into the main universe - what if something had gone slightly differently? How much would change? (For a very successful example of this, DC's Elseworlds gave us Red Son, where Superman landed and was raised in the Soviet Union instead of middle America. I recommend giving it a read.)

And talking specifically about tumblr, where fanfiction is rampant, we are very familiar with AUs and how they can be a vehicle for character analysis. Put those blorbos in a different situation. Shake the jar. Examine. Take notes.

So, Tony as Doctor Doom. It's not that's it's "unimaginative", it's that it's going to be squandered.

Tony Stark is a rich, charismatic inventor who is too self-assured. He starts off extremely nationalistic and unafraid of violence. He is constantly teetering on the edge of Too Much.

Guys you will never guess what Dr. Doom is like!

Doctor Doom is also a brilliant, self-assured inventor! He also has a savior complex! He also tries to solve his problems with hordes of violent robots! If Tony was never kidnapped and thrown in a cave with a human embodiment of a conscience, guess who he might have grown up to resemble!

Dr. Doom is basically a Tony who never had a Pepper. Who never met, or lost, Yinsen. Like every Marvel character, there's lots of variations to his backstory, but he's essentially alone and sure of himself and ready to burn the world down for his beliefs and sleep like a baby every night after he does it. Seeing a world where Tony put on a different metal mask and started fighting for a world where he was in charge would be fucking interesting.

I would like to see the character analysis of Tony Stark, who was initially made more or less as a test of fan's loyalty, and see him be really held under the lens of "how much does this guy have the capacity to suck, and how much did he already suck". I would like to see the other characters have to struggle with having to fight an evil version of their dead friend. I would like to see a Marvel movie that really actually looks back at Ultron and then at the Doom Bots and goes "oh, yeah, same fucking hat".

I would like to see a Tony Stark who became Doctor Doom learn that there is a world where he became Iron Man. Would he be jealous of the man with a found family, or hate him for the naivite of their cause?

The problem is, I don't trust Marvel to do ANYTHING INTERESTING with this. Winter Soldier was 10 years ago and we're about to have a Captain America movie with a fucking Israeli superhero played straight. The scripts are bad, the pacing is bad, the final choices are bad. Whoever pitches the solid ideas like this AU idea loses control of the ball like 4 yards down the line, and it never concludes with any of the interesting ideas that must have gone in initially. They are going to burn 50% of the movie on pithy one-liners and Doom Bot fight scenes that reek of CGI crunch stress.

I am sad about RDJ being cast because it's a great idea that will be completely squandered. This could be so interesting and so fucked up. Everyone loves dunking on Tony, but nobody's interested the juxtaposition of his character with a notorious supervillain that's basically him with a green cape slapped on. Fucking come on. Be mad about this for the right reasons. They won't do it justice.

#marvel #doomsday #ready for the passive-aggressive anons in my inbox #let's go

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contemplatingoutlander · 2 years ago

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youtube

Biden goes positive. Can voters handle it?

Jennifer Rubin discusses Biden's new positive ad. If the question is, "Can voters handle" Biden's positive ad, the answer is, it's about time the Democrats told the story of Biden's successes to counteract the relentless disinformation about Biden coming from the right.

But even more important than that, Rubin brings home the fact that neofascists and demagogues NEED people to believe that their nation is falling apart and ONLY the Dear Leader can fix it. That's why it is particularly important to counteract Trump's and the GOP's dystopian disinformation about America under Biden.

Here are some excerpts from Rubin's column.

Biden’s ad, “Fought Back,” reminds us how bad things were under his predecessor, touts Biden’s economic accomplishments and accuses Republicans (while displaying Trump’s picture) of running America down. A list of bipartisan accomplishments, such as the bipartisan infrastructure law and the Chips bill, refutes the notion that the United States is paralyzed or incapable of solving its problems. [...] This message embodies Biden’s endemic optimism: “We just have to remember who we are. We’re the United States of America. And there’s nothing — nothing beyond our capacity — if we do it together.” Moreover, it rebukes Trump’s negativity, in effect saying: Refusing to credit the improvements in the economy is tantamount to slamming Americans and discrediting their hard work. (The ad shows Biden delivering one of his favorite lines: “It’s never, ever been a good bet to bet against America.”) [...] Biden stands ready to explain how his agenda — “Bidenomics” — brought us from fears of a pandemic recession to recovery. With unemployment and inflation in decline and wages rising, the public finally might be more amenable to hearing an uplifting message. Biden would be foolish not to take credit for gains achieved as a result of smart policy and bipartisan legislative wins. However, Biden’s ad does something more than present an economic argument. He’s asking a larger question: Do we really want to go back to the trauma of the Trump years? He is betting that voters, even if they are uncertain about the future, don’t want to wallow in anger, fear and pessimism. He offers not only a choice between two policies but also two different visions, which are miles apart in tone. [...] Historians tell us that fascism arises in a mood of “cultural pessimism” that fosters a demand to entirely remake government and casts the authoritarian strongman as a messianic-like figure who can arrest decline. Without cultural, economic and political ruin and ensuing panic, there is no crisis to quell. By contrast, if a democracy is producing real gains and people see improvement, voters will be less inclined to throw the entire system overboard to follow the cult leader. No wonder hyperbole, fearmongering and hysteria are part and parcel of the MAGA message. [...] For Trump, the present is always bleak; hence, we have to go back to the past to make America great again — and rely on him to fix things. Biden, therefore, has the task of not simply correcting the economic record but also of diffusing — perhaps mocking — Trump’s excessive negativity. Things are bad for Trump, but they need not be bad for the rest of us. We’ll be just fine if we keep our heads about us, look at the facts and trust in ourselves. That’s not a bad pitch for Biden or, for that matter, any democracy trying to ward off a hysterical demagogue. [color/emphasis added]

#joe biden #donald trump #hope #republican dystopian disinformation #neofascism thrives on fear #fought back video #jennifer rubin #the washington post #youtube video #Youtube

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lani-heart · 1 year ago

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|| series masterlist || CHAPTER ONE -> PREVIEW ||

parings -> riki nishimura x reader genre -> non-idol au, school au, hyrbid au warnings -> n/a word count -> 1.1k

abstract -> he's perfect how he is... but can maybe change for her.

y/n’s perspective

“Please… I don’t want to go alone” I begged but he didn’t respond. It was running late and the driver would be here soon… so I might have to go alone today.

I gave up trying to convince him and did the final touches. Grabbing a jacket, fixing my makeup, and grabbing everything I needed.

When I left my room, I couldn’t help but smile.

“Oh,” I said genuinely forgetting as he laughed at me.

“Do you–” “Yes, I have my tail ring on. I’m ready, now let's go before your dad starts calling”

Riki Nishimura was a stray hybrid I met when I was a kid. We were on a vacation trip to Japan when I saw him. I offered him some food I had on me and he took it from me to eat it like he was starved.

My parents were already wanting to get me a hybrid so I begged them to keep him. In which they reluctantly agreed. However, when we found out he wasn’t a normal black cat hybrid they agreed.

He was a panther hybrid, and so has been with me for years. We grew up together… However, my parents never liked how rowdy he was. Even now they tell me to get another hybrid, one that could join me in dinners, and parties, and one who is overall more well-behaved.

I wasn’t gonna let them replace him. He was my best friend, my number one confidant. Besides… who needs a fancy and well-behaved hybrid? Niki was way more fun!

niki’s perspective

Without her, I probably would still be on the street mistaken for an overgrown cat hybrid. It doesn’t mean I liked being gawked at and set a price on what they’d trade her for me. Of course, she’d never let them... I’ve seen how annoyed and angry she gets and it made me happy she cared so much.

I cared for her too… She was clumsy and an idiot so she needed someone to take care of her. So I'm here… at a stupid party filled with spoiled rich kids.

Not to say she isn't spoiled… she is. However, I never questioned that she loved me. She always makes that clear with everything she does for me.

“Oh! You’re y/n right?” I heard and I saw a girl behind us with what smelled like a bird hybrid. “Mmhm… have we met before?” she asked why I didn’t think so… I would’ve recognized her and her hybrid. “My name–” I didn’t care what she had to say… I just didn’t like how her hybrid kept on staring at me with those eyes of his. What was his problem?

I was cut off from my thoughts when suddenly the topic of discussion became me…

“Oh, Niki is really sweet but he’s solitary–” “You should invest in a social hybrid you know?” she cut her off to say. Rude… why would she need another hybrid when she has me?

“I like the way he is, he’s been with me since we were kids so there's no way I could ever replace him like that,” she said and I felt proud.

“Oh please don’t do that. You’ll make him uncomfortable.” y/n said as I went behind her.

“Oh… I know of them. I think he is just fine the way he is” y/n said and she bowed. “If you’ll excuse us,” she said and we walked away from the pair. “She was a bitch” y/n muttered and I laughed. “Calm down, you have an act to uphold,” I said and she sighed. “y/n?” I said and she looked at me with her eyes filled with determination to answer to give me anything I asked for. “Why didn’t you tell me your uni is having hybrid classes?” I asked and she sighed.

“They're mainly about etiquette. She said how to take care of your owner… how to behave in a social setting, etc” and I nodded.

“Yah! Don’t do that!” she scolded and I smiled softly.

“Please? You said you would give me anything I asked for. I want to be a better hybrid for you”

taglist -> @ilovecheese09 @gudkc

please don't be a silent reader !! reblog, comment, and like <3

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snowdrop-ivy · 6 months ago

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The Light Within: IV - Safe and Sound

Summary: In a world where danger lurks at every corner, will Anna and Bucky find the strength to confront their pasts and embrace a future together, or will their scars keep them apart forever?

Pairing: Bucky x Stark!Reader, Bucky x Avenger!Reader

True to her word, Tony did buy the Avengers. However, they had to compromise: the government and the U.N. required a mission report plan before and after every operation. The final discussions about casualty protocols were still ongoing. As Tony made clear, he would oversee their missions but would not participate unless absolutely necessary. He admitted he wasn’t ready to meet with the team yet, a sentiment Anna understood all too well.

Anna took it upon herself to gather the remaining members of the team. Clint was the only exception; he opted to spend more time with his family, a choice everyone respected.

The group convened in the compound, where they each had separate rooms. Tony had poured a significant portion of the budget into making sure everyone was comfortable, particularly for Anna. The compound buzzed with a mix of anticipation and unease, the weight of their shared experiences hanging heavily in the air as they prepared to navigate this new chapter together.

“So?” Anna ended her statement, looking at everyone in the room. “Anybody have any questions?”

“I figured you’ll supervise the team?” Nat asked, looking at her.

“No,” she sighed, glancing at Steve seated beside Nat. “What’s the use of having Captain America here then?”

Steve rubbed the back of his neck, a modest smile playing on his lips. “I’m not sure if I’m ready for that again,” he admitted. “Leadership comes with a lot of weight, especially now.”

“But you’re the one everyone looks up to,” she countered, her eyes searching his for assurance. “How’d you all feel if Mindweaver stands up to the podium and tell you that the world is fucked?”

She heard snickers around the room and felt the heat rising to her cheeks. Glancing around, her gaze finally landed on Bucky. His lips were pursed, holding back a grin, but the laughter dancing in his eyes was undeniable. It was a mixture of amusement and affection that made her heart flutter, even in the midst of the teasing.

“With your looks and body, I’d listen,” Nat answered, teasing her with a grin.

Wanda raised her hand. “Count me in on that. When’s the live stream?”

“Okay, ladies,” She held up her palms. “Calm your ovaries.”

Nat and Wanda looked at each other before snickering. Anna took a deep breath, settling her look back on Steve, a playful smirk dancing in her lips. “What’d you say, Cap?”

Steve looked up, momentarily caught off guard by her presence. “I—uh, nothing, I don’t know,” he stammered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. The earnestness of the moment was broken, if only slightly, by Anna’s teasing tone.

“Well,” she sighed, stepping further into the room, her smile fading slightly. “We’re all still adjusting to everything, Steve. It’s okay to feel a little lost.”

He met her gaze, his expression sobering. “Yeah, it’s just… I’ve always been the one to lead, to have a plan. Now it feels different.”

“You’re still a leader, Cap,” she reassured him, her voice steady. “We all just need time to find our footing again.”

“Thanks, Anna. That means a lot,” he said, a small smile breaking through the heaviness.

“Is that a ‘yes’?” she smirked, raising her brows at him.

Steve took a harsh breath, bobbing his head. “Yes.”

“Great! Then I expect a full briefing on your next brilliant strategy,” she teased, leaning against the doorframe with a mock seriousness that made him chuckle.

“I think we’re all done here, people. I’ll see you all in the morning, so you better sleep tight. Tony made sure you have comfortable beds, so take advantage of that,” she said, before leaving the room.

As she stepped out, a wave of warmth washed over her, knowing the team was finally together again. She paused in the hallway for a moment, taking a deep breath, feeling the weight of the past few months lift just a little. It wouldn’t be easy, but they were home. She quickly found her way to Tony’s office, knocking on it before entering.

“Hey kid,” Tony acknowledged her presence even though his back was turned at her.

Anna raised her brow, before sitting down on the chair in front of his table. “What are you doing?”

Tony turned to her, placing the stacks of folders on the table. “Looking over the recruits,” he said before placing a kiss on her head.

“Recruits?” She asked, her eyebrow arching in curiosity as she picked up a folder and flipped it open. “What are we? A boyband?”

Tony chuckled, shaking his head. “You just take after me.”

“Is that a bad thing?” she teased, her playful smirk growing.

“Definitely a good thing,” he answered, raising his glass at her, a corner of his mouth lifted in a proud smile. “But yes, those are recruits– Every enhanced individual HYDRA made, living across the world.”

“People like me, huh?” she snickered.

He sighed, running a hand over his hair. “Yes, people like you.”

She paused, looking at the photographs and profiles, a mix of excitement and apprehension swirling in her chest. “So, what’s the plan? Are we recruiting them to join the Avengers?”

“No,” he answered, his tone more serious than before. “I mean, if they want to, but our main task is to protect them—and their families.”

“Huh?” Her expression hardened, sarcasm lacing her words. “Wish we had Avengers in my time.”

“Anna,” he softly called her, trying to reach her beyond the sarcasm. “We’ll find out who did this.”

“Like that’ll bring them back?” she shot back, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

“Well,” Tony sighed, his expression softening as he watched his daughter toughen up. “Don’t you want answers?”

“I don’t see the point,” she said, crossing her arms defiantly. The room fell silent, the weight of her words hanging heavily between them.

“Sometimes knowing is the only way to move forward,” he replied gently, searching her eyes for understanding. “It’s not just about closure; it’s about ensuring this doesn’t happen again.”

Anna’s resolve wavered as she absorbed his words. “But what if the answers hurt more than the questions?”

“Then we deal with it together,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’re not alone in this, Anna. We’ll face whatever comes, side by side.”

She looked away for a moment, grappling with her emotions. Finally, she turned back to him, her expression softening slightly. “I just… I don’t want to feel weak again.”

“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have,” Tony insisted, leaning forward in his chair. “You’re a Stark. I promise you, we’ll find a way to protect those who need it most.”

She looked into his eyes, his gaze full of affection, before staring at the floor, the weight of unspoken feelings pressing down on her. “Don’t you just wish heaven had visiting hours?”

“All the damn time,” Tony replied, a slight smile playing on his lips, though the sadness lingered in his voice. “But you can always use BARF.”

“Ugh,” she faked, gagging dramatically. “That’s the worst! You’d think I’d want to visit my loved ones, not be subjected to your terrible inventions.”

“Hey, it’s either that or I build you an armor,” he teased, leaning back in his chair, trying to lighten the mood. “And I’m not sure how well that would go with the current funding situation.”

Anna rolled her eyes, but a small smile crept onto her face despite the heaviness of their conversation. “An armor, really? You think I can visit my family with that?”

“Maybe not for heaven, but it could be a great way to reach out to aliens,” he winked, trying to make her laugh.

She chuckled, the warmth of their bond momentarily brightening the somber atmosphere. “Right, because that’s exactly what I want—an alien visitation.”

“Hey, you never know. They might have some stellar advice,” he grinned, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

But as the laughter faded, the reality of their losses loomed large again. “It just feels so unfair,” she whispered, looking back down. “Not being able to talk to them, to know they’re okay.”

“I get it, kid,” he said softly, his expression turning serious again. “But we have to focus on what we can do now. Honor their memory by making sure no one else goes through what we did.”

“Yeah, I know.” She took a deep breath, feeling a mix of determination and sorrow. “I just wish there was an easier way.”

Tony reached across the table, placing his hand over hers. “We’ll find our way, I promise. We’re in this together, remember?”

She nodded, squeezing his hand back, comforted by his presence. “Sure, Dad.” And for a brief moment, the weight of their grief felt just a little lighter.

They decided to ditch their plans and spend their day together. It had been too long since Tony had taken Anna out for a father-daughter date, and to say he was glad would be an understatement. The two of them slipped into their usual banter with ease, as if no time had passed since the last time they’d done this.

They drove around the city, stopping by a little diner Tony claimed was one of the best-kept secrets of New York. Anna rolled her eyes but couldn’t help smiling. Over burgers and fries, she told him about her current plans—her hopes, the challenges ahead, and the questions she didn’t have answers to yet. Tony listened more than he talked, his expression softening at the sight of his daughter all grown up, but still very much the kid he had raised.

As the day turned into night, they found themselves laughing over old stories, lost in the warmth of the memories they shared. Tony felt a rare sense of peace, one he hadn’t felt in a long time, just being there with Anna.

When they got back to the compound, the exhaustion of the day finally hit her. She stifled a yawn as they walked through the doors, and Tony smiled, ruffling her hair playfully.

“Get some rest, kid. Today was fun.”

She nodded, too tired to argue or throw back one of her witty comebacks. As soon as she reached her room, she changed into comfortable clothes, sinking into the bed with a sigh. The warmth of the day’s memories still lingered as she drifted off to sleep, her heart a little lighter after spending the day with her dad.

BUCKY felt uncomfortable, the weight of his thoughts heavier than the soft bed beneath him. He shifted restlessly, tossing and turning, trying in vain to find some relief. The bed was soft, plush even, but his mind was anything but. It was a warzone of memories and regrets, battles fought and scars unseen.

He stared at the ceiling, his breaths uneven, hoping that sleep would eventually come. But the silence of the night only magnified his unease, pulling him deeper into his own mind. Every time he closed his eyes, flashes of the past would creep in—faces, moments, regrets. It was like trying to fight a battle that he couldn’t win, one that never ended.

With a frustrated sigh, Bucky sat up, running a hand through his hair. No matter how hard he tried, peace continued to elude him.

Then came the knock.

Bucky’s brows furrowed in confusion, wondering who could possibly be at his door at this late hour. The sound cut through the silence, pulling him from his restless thoughts. His instincts kicked in immediately, his body tensing as he slowly got out of bed.

With cautious steps, he approached the door, his mind racing through possibilities. His heart pounded harder with each step, the weight of uncertainty settling heavily in his chest. He paused in front of the door, hand hovering over the handle. For a moment, he hesitated, taking a deep breath, preparing himself for whatever—or whoever—was on the other side. Then, with one swift motion, he opened the door.

His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of Anna standing on the other side of the door. She looked tired, her eyes holding a mixture of uncertainty and something he couldn't quite place. Even though Anna was slacked, she was still beautiful in his eyes; her hair disheveled with her eyes mask tangled. Her purple, fuzzy blanket wrapped around her. Her mix matched socks. She wore an oversized white shirt with a picture of a dog and pink striped pajamas.

"Anna?" Bucky said, his voice low, unsure of why she was there.

She shifted nervously, biting her lower lip. "I couldn't sleep," she admitted softly. "And… I thought maybe you couldn't either."

Bucky blinked, still processing her unexpected presence. His initial confusion slowly melted into understanding. Without a word, he stepped aside, silently inviting her in. He watched as Anna sat on his bed, leaning on the headboard, tucking her leg under herself, her presence filling the quiet room with a sense of calm he hadn’t felt all night. She gave him a small, tentative smile, and for a moment, he felt the tension in his chest ease slightly.

He closed the door quietly, leaning against it with his arms crossed, his mind racing to make sense of her sudden appearance. “Couldn’t sleep huh?” he asked, breaking the heavy silence hanging between them.

“Well, I was,” Anna admitted with a soft smile. “But then I felt you tossing and turning, so I came here. Figured you might need a night guard.”

Bucky’s lips twitched into a smirk as he moved to sit down beside her on the bed. “A night guard, huh?”

Her eyes sparkled, a playful light dancing in them. “Yes, Sergeant. A night guard.”

“And what exactly does a night guard do?” he asked, curiosity growing as he glanced at her.

“A lot,” she replied through a yawn, her voice softening. “They guard you to sleep, or... if you’re not in the mood for that, they’ll watch movies with you.”

Bucky nodded, amusement flickering on his face. "Sounds like a useful position."

“Which one do you need, Sergeant?” she asked, her voice dipping to a whisper.

“I’ll take the latter,” he whispered back, his eyes lingering on her.

Bucky chuckled softly, shaking his head at the idea of a "night guard," but there was something oddly comforting about it. As the movie began, the familiar chaos of The Hangover filled the room, and for a moment, it eased the tension swirling in his mind.

He glanced over at Anna, watching her settle in with the pillow on her lap. The flicker of the TV illuminated her face, highlighting the relaxed curve of her smile as she immersed herself in the movie. He felt a sudden urge to close the gap between them, to fill that small, lingering inch of space. But instead, he just leaned back against the headboard, letting the movie distract them both.

Minutes passed, the room filled with soft laughter and the occasional joke from the screen. Bucky’s gaze kept drifting to Anna, his thoughts quieter now but still there. He couldn’t remember the last time someone sat beside him like this—someone who didn’t make him feel so…alone.

“You make a good night guard,” he said softly after a while, his voice barely audible over the movie.

She turned to him, her eyes soft and a bit drowsy. “Yeah? Well, that’s good, because I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.”

They sat in comfortable silence, the movie’s opening scenes playing in the background, but neither of them seemed to pay much attention. The flicker of the TV screen illuminated their faces, but the real electricity was between them, in the charged silence that neither knew how to break. After a few minutes, Anna’s voice broke the silence. “You know, I don’t really think I’m that great of a night guard,” she said, yawning again. “I’m already half asleep.”

Bucky chuckled softly, his gaze moving from the screen to her. “Well, you’re doing a decent job just being here.”

Her eyes fluttered open at his words, and she turned to face him. The tension from earlier seemed to dissipate between them as her expression softened. “Good. Maybe I’ll clock in some overtime.”

He smiled, feeling a rare sense of peace wash over him. “I wouldn’t mind that.”

As the movie progressed, Anna’s eyelids began to droop. Bucky could see the struggle on her face to stay awake, her head bobbing slightly as she fought against the pull of sleep. Eventually, she surrendered, leaning against him, her head finding a comfortable spot on his shoulder. He felt a rush of warmth at the contact, and his heart swelled as he adjusted his position to support her. The soft rise and fall of her breathing and her light snore soothed him, and he turned his gaze back to the screen, though he found it difficult to concentrate on the movie.

Minutes passed, and Bucky felt himself relaxing into the moment, her presence a balm for his restless thoughts. As he shifted slightly, he could feel the warmth radiating from her, a soft weight that grounded him. The tension from earlier melted away, and the familiar worries about the world outside faded into the background. With Anna nestled against him, Bucky allowed his eyes to flutter closed, comforted by the gentle rhythm of her breathing. He sank deeper into the mattress, a rare sense of safety wrapping around him like a warm blanket.

The movie played on, but Bucky was no longer aware of the scenes flashing across the screen. Instead, he drifted off, lost in a comfortable sleep, the weight of the day slipping away as he finally found solace in the quiet of the night.

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chillingwithtavesss · 6 months ago

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Guys, I'm not an American and I have a question for you: why are you SO obsessed with marriage? Seriously. "... he isn’t ready for marriage? That’s the whole point in dating." - Isn't the whole point of dating is... love? Lol. Or if it doesn't end in marriage, then it's complete bullshit? Quite a businesslike approach to such a delicate matter as creating a deep attachment to a person. "He wasted Vanessa’s time for a whole decade" - I've been following their couple since the beginning of their relationship and it was love. Austin's first big love, I'm not sure about Vanessa. Throughout the decade, she wrote and said how happy she was with him, they had experienced a lot of joy and grief together. And you call all this a "waste of time" because there was no marriage certificate in the final? Quite cynical. You don't need to write as Austin's defense (lol) about the engagement rumors. We have discussed many reasons in the fandom more than once why he did not propose. This is his choice and whether some people like it or not, it should be respected. IMO, Vanessa lost him because of her excessive desire to be not a partner for him, but absolutely everything. He always had little place next to her, because if Vanessa is somewhere, then everything should be just about her and for her (I say this without any hatred for her, just a fact). As he became more successful, she wanted to put the "mine" stamp on him more and more. Austin just ran away from this suffocating urge to keep him on a short leash, that's all. It's an unpopular opinion, but if he hadn't been running after her like a puppy, especially before Shannara, then his rise would have started earlier. So whose "waste of time" is a discussion, really.

Here in America it’s very religion based. That’s why marriage is so big to some. Here we are taught , especially as a women that the white picket fence dream with a husband and children is end goal. That’s it and if you do not want that or end up with that you are not worthy. Meanwhile the divorce rate is a JOKE lol…

I don’t believe in your look on Vanessa. I will respectfully disagree. She wanted what was best for him and his fame happened when it was meant to.

#ausssbutlershortstories #ausssbutlershortstories anons

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democracyunderground · 6 months ago

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Get ready for President Vance.

Remember when some people (yes, one of them was me) used to obsess over President Biden’s age and future because we were worried about a President Kamala Harris? She’s come into her own as the Democratic nominee, especially for non-Californians unfamiliar with her career before the Senate. We are learning much more about her contributions and experience as vice president, and watching her handle the challenge of an abbreviated campaign with skill, humanity and toughness.

Now it’s JD Vance’s turn under scrutiny. Two things are different.

First, Donald Trump, 78, is showing signs of deterioration that are far more expansive and disturbing than those that led Biden to end his campaign. Trump’s speeches are interminable and devolve into gibberish, misplaced syllables, ungoverned hate speech and wildly inappropriate vulgarities — all warning signs of mental decline. On stage at a campaign stop in Pennsylvania last week, he took a surreal and lengthy detour into … something. “Trump sways and bops to music for 39 minutes in bizarre town hall episode,” the Washington Post said in a headline that should win an award. Since then, Trump has said Harris would ban cows, called her a “s---” vice president, and — in a speech billed as his closing argument — veered into extended musings on the “unbelievable” size of Arnold Palmer’s genitalia.

There’s a second key difference between concerns about Trump’s age now and questions about Biden’s age a few months ago: If Trump wins and can’t fulfill his term, he would be replaced by Vance — an ambitious newbie senator who is already very well known and has given Americans plenty of reasons to worry.

Since his rise to national attention with his 2017 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” Vance’s TV, radio and podcast interviews have created a voluminous record of ideas and opinions that his Democratic counterpart, Tim Walz, memorably described as weird.

“I certainly would like abortion to be illegal nationally,” Vance has said. He has insulted “childless cat ladies,” claimed people without kids don’t care about America’s future, and floated the idea of parents having more votes than childless adults. Vance has also said his advice to Trump would be, “Fire every single midlevel bureaucrat, every civil servant in the administrative state, replace them with our people.” And five days before Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, Vance told Steve Bannon that “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine.”

If he’d been vice president on Jan. 6, 2021, Vance said early this year, he would not have certified the 2020 election because “Congress should have fought over it.” Just this month he refused to acknowledge Trump’s loss to Biden five times in one interview, and insisted at a Pennsylvania rally that there had been a “peaceful transfer of power” in 2021 (ignoring the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by Trump loyalists). The ticket may have reached peak denialism on Wednesday, when Trump called Jan. 6 “a day of love” and Vance finally said “no” when asked whether Trump had lost in 2020.

If Trump truly wins the 2024 election, this man about half his age would be next in line for the Oval Office — a prospect that is unavoidably plausible. It is hard to imagine Trump as president at 82, when his term would end, given his apparent condition even now.

Near the end of his first stint in the White House, on Jan. 6, 2021, Trump stood by as his supporters rioted at the Capitol to try to keep him in office. Though he had only two weeks remaining in power, members of his Cabinet discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him and concluded that doing so wasn’t viable — particularly because vice presidents play a key role in the removal process, and Vice President Mike Pence said he was not interested.

In a second Trump administration, those discussions could happen a lot sooner. Would Vance be ambitious enough to lead an effort to remove Trump? He certainly has seemed interested in getting ahead, and quickly.

A major factor in Vance’s political ascent was his 180-degree turn “from blue-collar bard and self-described ‘Never Trump’ conservative to hard-edged MAGA loyalist and dogged defender” of Trump, as Politico phrased it. In 2016, Vance called Trump “an idiot” and “cultural heroin” and said he couldn’t decide if Trump was “a cynical a—hole” or “America’s Hitler.” But in 2020, Vance voted for him. And when Trump endorsed him in Ohio’s GOP Senate primary, Vance had this to say: “He’s the best president of my lifetime, and he revealed the corruption in this country like nobody else.”

It’s conceivable that if Trump were in dire shape, he might consider stepping aside and handing the reins to Vance — no doubt with an agreement that President Vance would pardon Trump in the federal cases he faces. But the cases moving through state courts in New York and Georgia — not subject to a presidential pardon — would still hang over Trump, so it’s also conceivable he would refuse to abdicate no matter how incapacitated he became.

That’s unthinkable, and so is a truncated Trump presidency that would give us a President Vance. There is only one certain way to prevent both scenarios: Defeat this pair on election day.

Jill Lawrence is a writer and author of “The Art of the Political Deal: How Congress Beat the Odds and Broke Through Gridlock.” @JillDLawrence

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mariacallous · 1 year ago

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Though the Take Our Border Back convoy has largely been a mess so far as the small group makes its way toward the Texas-Mexico border, experts warn that it has acted as a lightning rod for militias, far-right extremists, and even long-dormant vigilante groups. It could reach a tipping point this weekend, as multiple rallies are planned against immigrants and the Biden administration along the border in Texas, as well as Arizona and California.

“Data we collected tells us emphatically that the standoff between Texas and the federal government has become a magnet for far-right vigilantism,” said Devin Burghart, the executive director at the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, during a press briefing on Thursday organized by the immigration reform group America’s Voice. “From the convoy steering committee on down, the protest comprises many of the same dangerous elements as the January 6 insurrection: militia members, election deniers, QAnon conspiracists, Covid deniers, and other hardcore far-righters.”

Those groups include the Proud Boys, neo-Nazi militias, and other vigilante groups. Last week, the Republic of Texas Proud Boys shared a post in its Telegram channel calling immigrants “brown immigrant invaders,” and the South Texas Proud Boys told followers to “grab your guns.” Meanwhile, the neo-Nazi Aryan Network issued a rallying cry in support of the Texas ‘resistance,’ asking for white men to join. In another post, the group added, “to hell with the United States of America.”

“The convoy itself has really inspired some of these more fringe, really extreme sects of the far right to engage in operations down in border states,” said Freddy Cruz, the program manager for monitoring and training at Western States Center, during the briefing. “Discussions around the convoy and just the convoy itself really animate extreme anti-democracy groups to go down to the border.”

The convoy had an inauspicious start; just 19 vehicles set out from Virginia on Monday, and within minutes some were lost. There has been paranoia and infighting within the small group, and a convicted pedophile showed up. But on Thursday night, when the convoy organizers held a rally at the One Shot Distillery and Brewery, owned by former US Army colonel Phil Waldron, who was a key figure in proposing plans that ultimately led to the January 6 insurrection, a different picture emerged.

Hundreds of people gathered at the event, which featured far-right speakers that included Chrisitan nationalist pastors calling for “drawing a blood line around Texas, around America.” Convicted January 6 insurrectionists threatened another insurrection. There were Covid deniers, Pizzagate adherents, and sovereign citizens. Former conservative news presenter turned conspiracy booster Lara Logan was also onstage, talking in graphic detail about child trafficking and the dark web. Michael Yon, one of the convoy promoters, screamed and ranted at the audience about how Jewish people were funding an NGO that works along the Texas border. He also claimed that Hamas and Hezbollah are coming across the border: “Allahu akbar, when you hear that shit, you better get ready, your thumb better be hitting that safety.”

Sarah Palin, the former governor of Alaska and the late senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign running mate, introduced musician Ted Nugent, who called President Biden a “piece of shit.”

Elected officials were also present: Republican Texas state representative Carrie Isaac repeated the conspiracy about “terrorists at the border.” She was introduced onstage by Chris Burr, a board member of the Texas GOP.

Though tensions surrounding immigration have been simmering for a while, the most recent crisis was sparked earlier this month when the US Supreme Court lifted an order by a lower court and sided with the Biden administration to rule that Border Patrol agents could remove razor wire installed by the Texas National Guard and state troopers. Rather than stand down, Texas governor Greg Abbott, a Republican, replied in a letter that Texas has the right to “defend and protect” itself against an “invasion” of migrants, adding that this “is the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statutes to the contrary.”

The vast majority of the GOP has backed Abbott, including more than two dozen Republican governors, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and former president Donald Trump, who called for National Guard troops from other states to be sent to Texas.

The rhetoric from the right has continued to ratchet up. “This is an invasion from third-world countries,”Texas’ lieutenant governor Dan Patrick told Fox News. “They're coming here with health issues, they're uneducated, unemployed, and all they do is commit crime on the streets.”

Since the standoff began, there has been “an online explosion of invasion and great replacement rhetoric, the idea that white people are somehow being displaced intentionally with immigrants,” said Heidi Beirich, cofounder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism. “We've seen white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups all taking advantage of the standoff to push their propaganda and recruit new members.”

On Friday, the convoy will reportedly conclude in Quemado, Texas, and the Cornerstone Children’s Ranch, a humanitarian charity which provides food and support for low-income families in the US and across the border in Mexico. “The people that are coming here are doing a religious prayer for the border,” Lori Mercer, the director of the organization tells WIRED, adding: “We have to be peacemakers.”

The location was picked by Pete Chambers, one of the people organizing the convoy, who claims to be a former Green Beret. Last week, Chambers spoke with school-shooting conspiracist Alex Jones about how the convoy planned to travel to the border to hunt migrants in collaboration with sympathetic law enforcement. Other convoy organizers have said that the effort is “peaceful” and that they are not going to the border. But comments made by members of the group on livestreams, online videos, and in Telegram channels indicate that not everyone feels that way.

“We will engage decisively, and if it gets worse, in the infantry we call it ‘fix bayonets,’” Chambers told a pastor in one online video this week, adding: “That’s war, we don’t want to go there, but that’s where we’re at right now.”

On Saturday, the group will take part in a trio of rallies along the border: in San Ysidro, California; Yuma, Arizona; and Eagle Pass, Texas, the epicenter of the current standoff between Abbott and the Biden administration.

“They've discussed calling out militias or posses and needing to ‘show force,’” said Burghart. “One organizer, who is also a militia leader, even threatened, ‘We'll do whatever we got to do to put a stop to it.’ Leading border-conflict figures have also stated that their convoy is meant to pick up where January 6 left off. Moreover, they've amplified the specter of kicking off a second civil war.”

While it’s unclear what is going to happen over the weekend, there are already signs that the convoy and the standoff generally are activating long-dormant vigilante groups.

“Earlier this week, we did see vigilante group Women Fighting for America in Arizona livestreaming the group's expedition to try and track down a migrant camp in Arivaca, Arizona,” Cruz said. “Women Fighting for America have previously been on the border, but they took a two-year hiatus, and all of a sudden they're back on the border because the media is covering the convoy.”

In a video posted in the group’s Telegram channel, Christine Hutcherson, Women Fighting for America’s founder, is seen wearing night-vision goggles, talking about a camp run by a Catholic charity set in a remote part of the Arizona border region. “I’ve been here before a couple of years ago. They are housing migrants, illegals, mostly single adult males of fighting age. And we’re getting ready to go into this camp right now,” she alleged.

Experts are concerned about the impact of this kind of extremist rhetoric long term. “It’s important to keep an eye on how these types of efforts are successful in mainstreaming fringe far-right ideas and far-right groups into a much larger context,” said Burghart.

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