#but the fact that lincoln sees that peter is scared and calls him on it. my boy Sees people. that gets to me

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

Lincoln Lee’s emotional intelligence is everything to me

[turning-dreams-into-chaos]

Banished (Part 19)

*Not my Gif*

Summary: When the 100 was sent to the ground, Y/N Y/L/N was one of them. Having been locked up for almost 8 years, how will she react to surviving on Earth? Especially when she gets banished…

Post Date: 10-11-19

Paring: Bellamy Blake x Reader (Major Slow Burn, literally dont think I even mention Bellamy in this one 😂 )

Word Count: 1.6K

~Banished Master List~

~Master List~

*Based off episode 2x06 of the 100 “Fog of War”

Hey Kane.” You spat, not giving him the happy reunion he so wanted. He couldn’t help but look over your body, his eyes widening tremendously as he saw every cut, every bruise, every rip and blood spot on you. And it was all his fault. He didn’t want you, he put you in the hands of those monsters. He sent you to earth.

It seemed like all either of you could do was stare at each other and you could see the way Kane’s eyes started to water and he tried to swallowed the shock in his eyes. You looked towards Jaha who didn’t look like he was going to be any help as he stared at you as well. You rolled your eyes, shifting back into the shadows and taking a seat again. It wasn’t like you had anything to say to them.

“You’re alive.” Kane whispered, and you had to hold back a scoff.

“Alive.” You repeated slowly, letting your eyes close and a humorless laugh came out. “For lack of a better term.”

You could hear Kane get to his feet but you stayed put, blocking them out. “Y/N.” You couldn’t take this, being locked in here alone was awful, but being locked in here with one of the people who abandoned you and threw you to the wolves was worse.

“No.” You grumbled but Kane wasn’t giving up. He kept saying things you didn’t listen to until you snapped, pulling your knees up to your chest and burying your head into them. “NO!” You scrambled to your feet, facing the man who almost looked scared of your new found attitude. “Now you wanna talk? Where were you 8 years ago?”

“Y/N-“

“No! I needed you! I needed you Kane and you left me! You left me and this is who I became. This is on you.” Your throat seemed to be screaming at you and you couldn’t tell if you were crying because at this point you wouldn’t be surprised at it. “Just leave me alone Kane. I don’t need anything from you. Not anymore.” Kane just nodded his head, letting a few tears fall and wiped them away, taking a seat next to Jaha as you retreated back to your corner.

You listened as Jaha and Kane talked making your head pound so much it felt like you could hear your own heart beep out of your chest. You almost jumped out of your skin when the door was thrown open a few grounders were brought in as well as Lexa. She looked at you before turning to the other men.

You watched in silence as two grounders began to beat up Jaha.

You watched in silence as Kane pleaded for them to stop, telling them you all come in peace.

You watched in silence as the one you assumed to be the commander told you all about the massacre in a village.

And you watched in silence as he pulled out a knife and tosses it in the middle of the room.

“One of you three will die today by the other’s hands. We’ll hear the terms of surrender from the two who live.” He said before leaving Lexa to watch over the three of you. You felt sick to your stomach, you knew if someone was going to be killed today it was going to be you. Like Jaha told you on your first day on the ground; you were the expendable one. It seemed like Kane could read your mind as he looked at you shaking his head. You swallowed meekly and listened to Jaha question Lexa as Kane joined in.

“There were 18 of our people murdered. Elders, Children.” Lexa informed you but you weren’t looking at her instead your eyes were locked onto the steel blade just a few feet away from you. “If you refuse the commander will use it to slit your throats.” She said as you finally looked away, catching her eyeing you with a sense of sadness you knew you didn’t deserve.

Kane and Jaha were relentless as they tried to find any way out of this predicament but you couldn’t take it anymore. “Can we just stop all this! You know what’s going to happen so why don’t we get it over with.” You ignores the confused looks on their faces as you moved towards the knife, barely getting your fingers touching it before Kane kicked it away.

“No. There has to be another way. We aren’t killing each other!” He shouted as he yelled at you, pulling you off the ground. You pushed his wrist off your arm and glared at him. He didn’t look at you as he focused on Lexa. You took the opportunity to reach for the knife, this time you managed to grab without Kane stopping you, but it was actually Jaha who was the one to speak to you first.

“Y/N, what are you doing?” He asked with caution, making the room silent as you didn’t look away from the blade.

“There isn’t another choice. I’m the expendable one here. They need you both more than anyone’s needed me.” You admitted with a quiet voice, a slight quiver as Kane took a step towards you. You held the knife up to him, telling him to stay back from you as all the eyes on the room met yours individually. “You know what’s actually pretty funny. That girl you called expendable” you pointed the knife towards Jaha, “ was the same girl you thought locking up would take care of your problems” The knife was now pointed toward Kane before you threw your hands up in’ the air. “The funny thing is the girl that you knew died when you didn’t want her. She died the moment you put your sorrow before her life. You ruined me Kane. I’ve killed, I’ve been tortured, I’ve been beaten, I’ve been banished, I’ve been rap-“ the words were caught in your throat and it pained you to talk anymore. You almost told them. You almost told them the one thing you swore you would take to your grave, which looked to be sooner rather than later. Kane looked taken back by your words, almost as if he caught onto the missing part. “You killed her.” You whispered, “ You killed me by letting me live with my damages.”

It felt like the world went in slow motion as you turned the knife toward your wrists only for Kane to try and pull the arm away. You wouldn’t let him though, fighting back his hold as you stared at his face. “You don’t have to do this. We’ll find another way Y/N.”

“You don’t have to when the outcome is what everyone needs.” His grip faltered at that and you used it against him, knocking his feet out from under him before you slit your wrists. The yells of Jaha and Kane were drowned out as the first bits of blood ran down your skin and you begun to get lightheaded and fell onto the ground

It didn’t take long before Kane was wrapping some bandages around your wrists, making you groan at the feeling. Kane was so occupied with you that he didn’t see when Jaha picked up the knife himself and press it against Lexa’s throat.

“Jaha no.”You shouted as Lexa stood unfazed with a knife at her neck. It sickened you how she could be so calm. You furrowed your brows before watching Jaha with caution. “Jaha. Jaha, you know this isn’t the right thing to do. She hasn’t done anything to you. If you kill her there’s nothing you can do to come back from it. You’re gone and in your place is a murderer. Trust me I know what it’s like to lose yourself Jaha, just put the knife down.” You never thought you’d ever be laying in here on the ground pleading to Thelonious Jaha to spare a grounders life but here we were. Jaha though made no move to listen to you, keeping the knife held against her neck.

The Grounders can back into the cell as you moved to sit up. You didn’t really expect to see them again.

“Take off these chains.” Jaha ordered as Kane worked another angle, appealing to the innocent side of the them instead of threatening.

The next second you probably would’ve missed if you weren’t directly looking at the them. Lexa turned the knife on Jaha and started talking in Grounder and you could only pick up certain parts Lincoln had taught you.. Yet everything made more sense when she put on her amor and you smiled.

“You’re the commander?” You asked, shocked as Lexa nodded. “Badass.”

She approached you and Kane and you had to admit you were worried. “I've learned much about you, your intentions are honorable you desire for peace is true. Free that one.” She ordered, pointing at Kane as he looked between the two of you. You had refused to look away from the other girl. “We’ll talk later. Use his friend as a message for the rest of his people.” The Grounders followed Lexa’s orders and you held your breath, waiting and waiting for her to tell them what to do with you but she didn’t say anything. Instead they all left you there alone in the cell with Lexa once again.

“What about me?” You asked, skipping right to the interesting stuff. Lexa gave you her smile and the power behind it finally made sense. She was the commander.

“All in due time Skai Kiler.” She said before turning around and leaving you to enjoy the name you were given by the Grounders. You couldn’t tell what was worse, the nickname or the fact you were infamous amongst the Grounders for killing them. But it didn’t take long for you to figure it out. The worse thing was not knowing what Lexa had planned for you.

Thoughts on this chapter? What are your thought!!

All Taglists Open

(Strikeout means I could tag you!!)

Permanent: @literal-fand0m-trash @just4muggles @saturn-aka-six @nathaliabakes @whyamihere-bro @colored-confetti @wiseeggspickleslime @sadn0va @btsiguess-kpop @galacticstxrdust @independentgirl @hollymac79

Banished: @jodiereedus22 @kawennote09 @iamaunicorn4704 @im-a-stranger-thing @elsie2018 @kaelyn-lobrutto24 @strangerliaa @frederikkeborup @a-sweet-little-fangirl @divadinag @1-800-juniper @peter-parker-tony-stank-trash @travelnottogoanywherebuttogo @poisoned-girl @cxddlyash @captainam-erika-trash @waitingtobeimpressed @annoylinglyaries @purple-alien-monkey @peqchynero @buckysjuicyplums @somethingdawn @nerdbookish @spxcekru @yessii-i @amongthewildthingss @angelenemies @itsanallygator @your-typical-giggle @jelly-bean8383-blog @im-a-writer-sometimes @thelastdragon6 @hippieballls @savannah0111 @mckeeee-1 @rhyxn @disneychic8 @hyperion-moonbabe @ragnardrapa @mellowlandrunaway2 @oopsiedoopsie23 @crashlyrose @valeskasecco

Bellamy Blake: @nyxxxwtp @danielabetancourth

[wall-krawler]

Spidersona Week! Day 5: Archenemy (Minor ish spoilers)

“Every hero has an opposite. The yang to the yin. The antagonist to the protagonist. Basically the big bad pulling the strings behind the curtain. And even though I’m a newbie I was no exception to this universal rule.”

Marcus recalls the many times he’s gotten laid out by Peter’s original rogues galley. Electro fried his brains once, sandman got himself all cozy in Marcus’ boots, and even Mysterio gave a strong right hook with floating boxing gloves. But those were joke villains, they never actually tried to kill him until he met Tombstone...

“L. Thompson Lincoln. Pale skin, sharp teeth, and a strange taste for dark suits. He’s the white shark who runs illegal activities while playing dolphin with the press. He’s fooled the whole city with donations and forced smiles but they weren’t enough to fool me.”

Marcus had taken notes on the whispers he heard throughout the city. The goons too scared to say the name of the man they feared. It took multiple nights and a few torn up bars to figure out who was in control of the underground businesses. With Peter worrying about Fisk Marcus figured he’d take down Lincoln and prove his worth. If only he knew it wouldn’t be easy...

“With a name like Lonnie I thought he’d be easy pickings. A pale guy in a suit shouldn’t be able to handle someone with spider strength. But I learned the hard way that Lincoln didn’t enjoy playing games.”

🕷🕷🕷🕷

The penthouse was nice. Large open living room, a piano in the far corner, and expensive paintings hung all along the walls. Marcus expected something fancy but this wasn’t what he envisioned.

Scaling up the building was easy and getting inside the home was even easier. The window was simply unlocked, meaning Lincoln must feel pretty comfortable in his own home. But when Marcus though he’d gotten in without tipping anyone off the main doors slammed open to reveal two beefy guards. They wore matching suits and carried some type of batons. Apparently they were the sparking kind.

Marcus glared at them but easily avoided their random swings, using his lean body to slip through the gaps between themselves. But not wanting to fool around Marcus quickly grabbed one of the men and webbed his hands together before throwing him towards the ceiling, firing more webbing to keep him up there. As for the second guard Marcus flawlessly jumped over him just fire two more Web lines at their back. As he was coming down he used his momentum to pick the guard off his feet and harshly slammed him into his stomach, knocking him unconscious.

“I’m not here to put the kids to bed. I want to know where Lincoln is.” Marcus demanded the first guard after jumping to the ceiling to start questing the outmatched goon. But before the man could get a word out a more deeper but calm voice spoke up, drawing in Marcus’ attention.

“You know I do take appointments. I dislike making people search for me.” Lincoln walked out from a corner with a blank expression. Unlike the guards he wore a more sleeker and expensive black suit. The rings on his fingers shined as the light reflected off them. Even from on the ceiling Marcus could tell this man was tall.

Abandoning the webbed up guard Marcus dropped to the ground to crouch a few inches away from Lincoln. “Yeah, and I dislike having to chase goons down on a weekend but here I am.”

Lincoln’s expression didn’t change as Marcus sassed him. His patients was one of his best traits. “What do you want Spider-Man?”

“The thugs on the streets gave you up, they revealed the true crime lord you keep hidden behind those fancy suits.” The young hero tried to make himself sound older and intimidating but it wasn’t exactly working the way he wanted. Even as he stood up to face off against Lincoln he realized that being 5’10 wasn’t really that tall. “I want you to cut all ties with the criminal empire. Including ones with Wilson Fisk.”

Lincoln actually reacted to that in a subtle way. He raised an eyebrow, a bit surprised that Marcus would know about their secretive partnership.

“This is the only warning I’m giving you Shark Bait. Back off or I’ll take you down.” Marcus clenches his fists and steps closer, letting himself become fully serious.

Lincoln’s sharp teeth pop out as he clenches them together, a glare forming onto his face. “I’ve been called many things throughout the years,” he too steps forward which makes Marcus take a step back, “but my favorite is Tombstone.” And with that being said he lunges at Marcus!

Even with spider sense going off Marcus wasn’t quick enough to avoid the right hook that had him seeing stars. Even as he stumbles back two more hits blindside him enough for Tombstone to kick him across the room.

Landing on a couch Marcus eyes widen as he sees Tombstone lift the entire thing up just to throw him across the room again. Luckily though he springs off the furniture to go into a swing, sticking out both his legs to kick the larger foe. But instead Tombstone grabs both his legs out of mid swing and slams him against a wall, sending cracks trailing up it. Without wasting time Tombstone did it again but this time slamming the poor hero right on top of the piano.

“I’ve had tougher men threaten me. Every single one of them thought they could cap me.” Tombstone released his grip on Marcus to tower over him yet again, cracking his knuckles. “The only thing they had in common was how they perished by my hands.”

Marcus winces but gets the energy to fire a shot of webbing into Tombstone’s face, blinding him for a hot second. With a strong push he’s able to jump out of the dent his body created in the instrument and deliver a more successful double kick. Tombstone falls into a wall and Marcus uses the opportunity to get in a few of his own hits. He gets in one good hook and uppercut before Tombstone slams his head against Marcus’.

“You just don’t get it kid.” Tombstone rips the webbing from his face before delivering a ground pound on Marcus, dropping him onto all fours. “I’ve gone toe to toe with the real Spider-Man and he’s never defeated me.”

Marcus tries to throw a punch but it’s caught by Tombstone easily. He squeezes hard enough to cause the hero to yell out in pain but not enough to break it. After all, this was the warning.

“Agh...shut up, I can beat-“ Marcus was interrupted by Tombstone heel kicking him through the air just to be stopped by the patio’s glass doors.

With body going numb Marcus simply went limp when the villain grabbed him by the neck and slammed him against the glass door, causing it to crack on impact. He would have lost all the air in his lungs if Tombstone wasn’t squeezing his neck so tightly.

A small grin forms when Marcus claws at Lincoln’s arm, trying hard to escape. Like a trapped bug. “Stick to the sidelines kid. Rough up a few bullies and save cats from Trees. Because as far as I can tell, you’re out of your league.”

With one last grunt Tombstone pulls Marcus back and slams him through the glass doors, shattering it into a million pieces. With little effort he tosses the young spider into the night sky to let him tumble through the air. He watched until the darkness swallowed up the defeated Spider-Man...

🕷🕷🕷🕷(Headcanons)

- Tombstone just as danger as Wilson Fisk. Due to playing the “victim” card the public doesn’t suspect illegal activities to be linked to him.

- Tombstone’s very daughter is secretly a villain as well, following in her fathers footsteps but not becoming as ruthless.

- His daughter actually has a minor crush on Marcus (whaaa spoilers)

- Tombstone doesn’t have the unbreakable skin like Luke cage but he is in fact overly strong and durable.

- Tombstone did in fact take down peter multiple times but out of respect he did hold back on doing violent crime. He’s now strictly a business man avoiding getting too much blood on his hands.

- Marcus only goes after Tombstone because he wants to help his mom rest up on some very draining cases.

🕸🕸🕸🕸

A/N: Sooo Tombstone has always been one of my favorite villains. Every since I was a kid Lonnie Thompson Lincoln was the coolest pale faced-leather wearing mercenary ever. I only began to love him more after the spectacular Spider-Man cartoon which I based this version of him off of. Except here he’s more violent and deadly, matching Fisk’s brutality while keeping his calm personality. But in the end I can only thank @spideymultiverse so much for making this week amazing. You’ve helped me construct this Spidersona with your prompts and that’s the best thing ever. I hope everyone reading this enjoys the story, I wouldn’t be anything without you guys.

[britishchick09]

it happened one night livewatch

last week this movie was on tv and i watched some of it in between classes, but was over by the end of school :/

luckily the library exists and i was able to get it! so in honor of my first half day of the year, i’ll be watching this classic movie!

first of all the dvd is cute :)

the old columbia logo is so neat! and the music is great too

ooh it was a short story! coolio

clark gable’s in this *cue girl swoon*

captain: “huuuunger striking?” lol

yo this captain dude is MEAN

is this girl a hostage? wait did she say king? OVER 21 WHAT’S GOING ON

claudette girl: “i thought i told you not to bring any food in here!”* guy backs away* lol

WOAH DUDE DON’T CALL HER A STUBBORN IDIOT >:(

OMG THIS GIRL JUST FLIPPED A TABLE THE FRICK

YO SHE”S A SAVAGEEEEEEE SHE JUS JUMPED IN THE WATER LIKE BLIP

soldier: “she’s too smart for you!” dam right she is ;)

hey is that clark gable in the phone

wait is that a black guy who is that

news boss: “you wouldn’t know a newspaper if you kicked it in the pants” lol

oh it’s clark gable sounding cool kewl

yo prohibition’s over LET’S DRUNKENLY CHUG FLASKS OF WHISKY AT THE STATION WHY DON’T WE

where’s the girl she’s awesome and i miss her

just sit on the newspapers clark gable it would be neat :D

sock him sock him sock him SOCK HIM SOCK HIM SOCK HIM

“oh yeah????” JUS SOCK HIM PLZ

...oh no sock :/

OP DERE HE IS! ...or dere she is ;)

claudette girl and clark gable are sort of like anna and kristoff when they first met! :D

cool train it has a lotta license plates :D

fun fact: if you took a drink every time someone in this movie smokes you’d probably die

*screen fades* commercial break!

yo claudette’s smoking it must be cool don’t smoke kids :D

she just threw her cig LITTERBUG

she didn’t notice that it was gone SEE CIGS ARE BAD

4 dollars is like 100 bucks today cool :D (jk it’s 77)

woah that horn sounds like an electric guitar ROCK ON????

why must old men snore :(

just chuck him across the room claudette it’s cool

sit on clark’s hand it’s cool

*claudette and clark stare at each other* awk-ward!

awwww she’s hugging his arm! ♥

she’s gonna be like OH CRAP when she awakes huh (she did but not much)

they cute together ♥

clark: “you look kind of pretty asleep” awwww

claudette: “i’ll be a few minutes late please wait for me.” conductor: “oh yeah????????”

ooh the night bus cool :D

guy: “the bus is gone.” oH yEaH??????

claudette: “that’s 12 hours from now!” so it’s 8 am now kewl

she calls him young man although he’s older than him lol

her last name is andews so is her first name julie....?

awww it’s ellen :/ still cool tho

she pawned her watch for clothes sorta like how anna bought her travel clothes with her coronation dress neat-o (frozen ihon au?)

ooh telegrams asoue reference

lol the telegram lady can’t read his words lol

2.60 is probably 50 bucks wowza (i was right it’s 50.62!)

the train announcer sounds done with his life poor guy :/

shapely: “you have class with a capital k” ...lol

shut up shapely plz

shapely: “shut up my big nasty mouth!” YES PLZ SHUT UP

shapely: “i could go on you in a big way.” ...oh no

awww clark just called claudette ellen his wife awwwwwwwww ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

shapely: “no offense doc!” bugs bunny who

clark: “you’re as help

buying cigars and cigs on a train what a time

the chocolates are 1.67 that’s like 30 (it’s 32! i’m good at this inflation stuff)

yo it be pouring where’s morton salt girl when you need her

omg this is the part i saw last time i think!

claudette: “your ego is absolutely colossal” tell that to captain man lol

claudette: “there’s a brain behind that face isn’t there?” lol

the hotel is 2 bucks a night which is about 50 huh not bad! :D

awww that’s cute a little privacy screen :)

awwwwwww she gonna wear his pjs!

omg he’s undressing in front of her i thought he liked privacy

this is just for the clark fangirls isn’t it

OMG HE DOES SHOES BEFORE PANTS THE FRICK

clark’s singing the big bad wolf song nice timely reference bro :D

omg we’re FINALLY FINDING OUT CLARK’S NAME HOW DID IT TAKE 30 MINUTES

peter warn nice name :D

claudette: “i don’t like it.” ...oh :/

omg airplane cool :D

wow they have a plane table cool :D

the plane flying overhead reminds me of the planes that fly past here sometimes it’s neat

awww he bought a toothbrush and pressed her clothes so sweet!

clark: “all the best houses have showers outside!” huh idk bout that...

wow this is so domestic

he said her hair was cute awwww!

lol they saw her xd xd xd xd lol

DID THAT LADY JUST STICK HER TONGUE OUT WOOWWWWWWW

wowza you really miss a lot in between classes huh next thing i remember they were stealing a car

clark: “that’s your ration for lunch” world war who

kewl they have a donut

claudette’s kinda cute when she smiles :)

oh no the guys are there!!!!!!!!!!

plz don’t recognize her

clark: ‘dOn’T lOsE yOuR tEmPer!!!” woah mocking spongebob who

lol dat was funny good trolling :D

it’s at 42 minutes HOW IS IT NOT HALFWAY DONE

omg wait i think this is the next part i saw

awww there’s a pic of her on the dad’s desk ♥

cool radio broadcast and newspapers AND WIRE PICS IT’S THE FUTURE MAN

is there a radio on the bus cool

oh it’s just real guys ok cool

ok wow everyone knows the flying trapeze song is this a musical now

wowza this song is from 1867 coolio! :D

are they singing the whole flipping song get on with the story plz

ok wow that guy just DROVE RIGHT INTO A LAKE

OMG SOME KID’S MOM DIED :(

awwww clark’s comforting her bless ♥

the guy said ‘behind the 8 ball’ last decade slang reference :D

WAIT WHY DOES CLARK HAVE FLIPPING MACHINE GUNS??????

10 thousand bucks is like a million billion (it’s 193 million i was close)

WOAH THAT WAS SHAPELY HE HAS KIDS WOWZA!

bugs dooley more like bunny :D

they left the bus so this when they steal the car????

10 spot is like 193 wowza

awww they be going piggyback

abe lincoln is a ‘natural born piggybacker’ confirmed

THE FRICK DID CLARK JUS SLAP HER WHY

oh wow they’re sleeping in hay kewl

clark: “you can’t be hungry and scared at the same time!” hmmmm.......

oh no what happened to peter :(

awww he brought food but she’s scared and not hungry huh i guess he was right!

awwww his coat’s blaket!

OMG KISS KISS KISS KIS

awww no kiss :/

hey it’s like modern times when they walk away from the camera :D

this is the other part i saw the car stealing’s coming up! :D

he’s picking hay out of her teeth how domestically romantic ♥

YO RAW CARROTS THE FRICK IS WRONG WITH YOU BOI

oh wow clark has a lotta hitchhiking moves

claudette: “o that’s amazing.”

you thumbed too late clark you thumbed too late

claudette: *raises her skirt to above her knee* oh dang victorian swoon

OH DANG THAT DRIVER STOPPED!

the driver’s probably thinking of the will smith meme now (DAS HOT! DAS HOT!)

claudette: “the limb is mightier than the sword.”

i remember the driver guy he’s funny :D

he’s just singing and clark’s like ‘oh god please for the love of god and holy stop’

the driver’s so happy i love him :D

his face after clark shuts him up is like ‘hmm’

now i understand claudette’s face when clark suggests a carrot lol :D

clark be like HOP outta that car!

DANG clark beat the driver MAN THAT’S ROUGH!

awww claudette’s wiping clark’s brow what a mom

how much is 10 gallons of gas like 40 bucks or something (it’s 19 cents each which is about 18.34 huh!)

the car’s oinking a bit like the car in the 11 year old senpai newsreel!

now they’re at the hotel place and i guess the owner’s living with his mom???

clark saying claudette will be in her husband’s arms and her pausing is sort of like kristoff saying anna will be safe with her true love bish hans :)

ooh nice rug cover :D

clark’s not that hot shirtness sorry fangirls :/

omg claudette bra wow :o (it’s sorta cute tbh)

oh wow they got in their pjs fast

clark: “i want someone more real, more alive!” claudette’s right there bro

clark: “the stars are so close you feel like you could reach up and stir them around” awww ♥

oh no he doesn’t love him but she truly loves him :(

heartbroken claudette ellen isn’t cool :(

wait was the claudette bra actually a slip or something why is that a wonder?

awww clark’s wondering if she’d really go but she’s asleep

25 bucks is about 300 bucks (it’s 476 kewl)

aww the guy has a hat :D

typewriter!!!!!!!!!!!

AWWW CLARK WANTS TO MARRY HERRRRRRRRR

THEY’RE IN LOOOVVVVEEEEE!!!!!!!! ♥

who’s zeke is this a bob’s burgers crossover

oh the hotel guy huh!

they found claudette in the bed it’s like snow white :D

mom: “i run a respectable business!” too bad you’re not your business OHHHHH

oh hey clark kissed the office gal :D

wowza the paper guy has a lotta phones huh

and a candle stick with a dial phone? wowza!

this place is busy huh

kit was right that typewriter sound is the best :D

oh no clark’s not gonna see her there :/

THOSE POLICE CARS SOUND LIKE SCREAMING KIDS WHY

he’s calling the car ‘baby’ how about the lindberg baby CUZ YOU STOLE IT!!!!

omg hoboes on the train it’s not just a kit thing!

CLAUDETTE’S WITH HER DAD GO TO THE RESCUE CLARK!!!!

the car horn be going ‘de de de de de!”

oh no car gone

wowza that’s a lotta papers!

she’s home but what about her true love?

also are movie newspapers actually created on newspaper i’ve always wondered that

oh no claudette’s marrying insert sad clark here :(

what a pretty gown! very shiny and flowery ♥

awww claudette ellen and her dad are so sweet together!

she wants clark pete doesn’t she

claudette ellen hasn’t cried since she was a baby huh

dad: “tell me you haven’t fallen in love with the bus driver!” it’s worse... THE MILKMAN!!!!! :o

claudette: “i practically threw myself at him!” yeah you kind of did back there....

omg her dad knows peter awesome!

cool a typewriter letter :D

OMG IT BE CLARK PETE!!!!!!!

oh wow he just ran in there and it was awkward with the pappa

HE CALLED HER DARLING!

AND THEY KISSEDDDD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ♥

there’s 10 more minutes it’s getting JUICY

8.60 is probably 70 (it’s 170!)

a buggy ride wowza that’s old fashioned right there

awww clark doesn’t want to admit that he loves claudette but he does

wait is she already married

ooh claudette’s dress train is nice :D

OOH HELICOPTER i thought that was a ‘39 thing!

it’s an airplane with copter blades wow extra much king wesley

ooh the peanuts kids are the chorus people nice :D

the movie camera is a crank cool!

wow dad don’t call your daughter a sucker WOW

39.60 is like 700 bucks probably (765!)

i hope claudette says ‘i DON’T’

dad speak up plz SPEAK UP SPEAK UP

king said ‘i will’ why IT’S ‘I DO’

ooh claudette’s hesitant SHOOT SHE RAN AWAY

the cameras be crankin’

she just drove away like that wowza what a gal

omg the dad’s drunk af what a sad boi

100 thousand is probably a billion AND HE SAYS DIRT CHEAP

awww did claudette and clark go to jerico?

awwww they married!!!!!!!!!!! :D

so that was the movie! it had a lot of funny and memorable parts, but some parts were a little long so i’ll give it a 8/10

what a great movie!

[pendragonfics]

Life Can Only Be Understood Backwards

Guilt Is a Rope That Wears Thin: Chapter One | Chapter Two

Paring: Peter Quill/Reader

Tags: female reader, female pronouns, alien abductions, set after Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 1 but before Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, baby Groot, mentions of fandoms, outer space, angst, fluff.

Summary: Abducted by aliens, traded between Ravager factions, and taken in by The Guardians of the Galaxy. Now that's something that you can add to your resume.

Or, alternatively, you make friends with a guy who also was abducted by aliens, and become Team Mom™ to everyone on The Milano.

Word Count: 2,044

Posting Date:  2017-04-25

Current Date: 2017-06-12

Your heart is racing even before you open your eyes. It’s like you know you’re not in your bed, surrounded by your nerd paraphernalia in the college dorms, hell, it’s like you know you’re not even on the same planet as Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. Maybe that’s because you can smell something that’s completely not of Earth, and can hear chatter that sounds just so alien. When you do open your eyes, it’s like you’ve woken up somewhere amidst a Star Trek convention – standing above you are figures that look like masterpieces of an over-timing makeup department and CGI. But they’re all real, because the blue man with a metal headpiece is staring deep into your soul, his mouth agape to show jagged teeth.

“She’s awake,” His voice sounds like it’s from the south, but his body just reminds you of frat boys who paint themselves for big games. Your heart hasn’t stopped it’s thumping, and almost whimpering, he sees how afraid he is. “Damn, someone get Quill before this Terran frightens herself to death.”

You swallow, wondering what a quill was, and if by ‘Terran’, he meant you, because honestly, you felt like this was a major drug dream. Wondering if your roommate had dosed you on acid, you see a human-looking guy appear, slightly older than you.

“Hey, hey, don’t freak out,” he bends, kneeling to your height, his hands raised. “I’m Peter. Peter Quill. You’re probably –,” He pauses, and shoots the aliens and creatures around him a glare, “Can we have some space? Yondu?”

The blue man, Yondu, nods. “C’mon boys, fun’s over. Leave these Terran’s to their talk.”

The crowd dissipates, leaving you and the guy named Peter there on the floor of what seems to be a real clunker of an area. “Where am I?” You ask him. “I – I was at college yesterday, I went to sleep in my bed, but –,” you catch your breath, eyes flittering over the area you’re in. “This is a dream. A prank. Did Lincoln put you up to this?” You demand, sitting up.

Peter shakes his head. “I don’t know anyone who’s called Lincoln, unless you’re talking about Abraham,” he cracks a little smile. “We intercepted a ship who had, ah, abducted you. You’re not on Earth anymore.”

Your heart skips a beat. Well, that was confirmed, then. “If I’m not on Earth, where am I?” You ask him. “Don’t tell me I’m on the moon. I’m not up for any Doctor Who crap.”

The little smile on his face widens. “I remember that show! It’s still running?” He asks you.

You blink. “I’ve just been abducted, by aliens, am currently at pissing-my-pants scared, and you, are asking me if a British TV show is still running?” You state the facts. “Yeah, it’s still running. They’re up to the twelfth doctor now.” You take a shaky breath, and add, “I’m _________. We’re in a spaceship, aren’t we?”

He grins, and extending a hand, adds, “Great to meet you, _______. If you’d like to come with me, I’m going to take you to a, ah, less crowded place.” Standing, you follow him on unsteady legs from the place you had woken up, traversing the halls of the spaceship behind his footfall. “I was abducted, back when I was a kid. I grew up out here, with Yondu and everyone. I guess that’s a terrible way to relate to another person, but, hey, it’s all we’ve got to go on.” He flashes you a sad smile over his shoulder. “Ah! Here we are. Gamora, she’s awake!”

As if you’d not had a terrible enough day already, you had to be introduced to more aliens. In the room, were the most rag-tag band of people – well, two of them looked like people. One looked like one of the trash pandas who’d rummage through your mother’s garbage at home, and the other like a little sprout…like a tree man. Baby. The lady with green skin, and purple hair eyes you, almost inspecting every molecule you’re made of before she strides forward to shake your hand.

“I am Gamora,” she nods, “It’s not like we needed another mouth to feed, but you look like you are a fighter, and are welcome here.”

You feel your face pale, your hand slackening in her grip. “Fighter? I did not sign up for this shit, I’m terrible at fighting!” You turn to Peter, a panic falling over you. “I’m studying theoretic physics, not intergalactic Fight Club!”

“Ha!” The man the colour of a pale chalk board covered in red markings belted out a laugh which almost made you pee a little in fright. “This is a woman of honour, revealing her strengths! I like her.”

The raccoon gave him a side-eye glare. “Shut it, Drax.”

You take a deep breath, but Peter Quill interrupts you, butting in. “Will everyone just take a breath, and maybe give _______ some space?” He turns to you, and gives a sad smile. “We’re leaving Yondu’s ship in the morning, but before we can drop you back home, we’ve got a mission that needs completing.”

The little tree person nods. “I am Groot.”

The racoon rolls his eyes. “What do you mean, if she even wants to go home? Of course she does, she’s quaking in her bunny slippers.”

You can’t help but glance down at that, but you’re not wearing bunny slippers. You’re not even wearing shoes. Just fluffy bed socks, and the oversized Stevie Wonder shirt you wear to bed. How on Earth did you get abducted by aliens and all that shit in your pyjamas?

“I am Groot!” He intones.

“It doesn’t matter if she looks like a good place for a nap,” He translates, sounding irritated. “Oh, so now I’m not the person you like napping on now. Fine. Nap on someone your own size.”

The pair of them walk off, leaving you, Quill, Gamora and Drax standing there. “By fighter, you didn’t mean like, a hero for hire sort of thing, did you?” you ask Gamora, breaking the silence that was left without the bickering twig and raccoon. “I’m sorry I overreacted, I’m just, like, really scared right now. Wish I had my iPod.” You add, thinking of the 250 tracks on your laptop back in the dorm room.

“iPod? Sounds like an escape mechanism.” Drax muses. “I should like to get one of those. Then I will be able to escape all danger with it.”

You clear your throat. “No – it’s more like, ah, portable music. A Walkman?” Under your breath, you add, “These guys are from outer space, nobody has a Walkman out here.”

Peter grins. “I do! I have two tapes.”

---

It’s eight months later when you realise that you still haven’t been delivered back to your boring old life back on Earth. But you’ve been busy, flying around outer space with the guys who everyone calls The Guardians of The Galaxy (pretty bomb-ass name, - better than The Avengers, but that was you probably being biased because they’d destroyed your favourite café in the Battle of New York), kicking ass, taking names.

You’re more like the planner for their missions – while they’re just doing hero stuff, you’re organising their schedules, making sure The Milano doesn’t run out of fuel, cleaning Drax’s knives after battles, putting all the bombs and doodads Rocket leaves out away in their place. You even take care of Gamora, making sure she’s okay with all the nightmares of Thanos, and eating right.

It’s a long shot from theoretical physics, but when you’re not the Team Mom™ you’re working out equations with textbooks you find at junker stops, and papers that alien academics had written on the subject (thank goodness someone invented translation devices, because otherwise you’d be left staring at scribbles all day). If you ever make it back to Earth, you’re sure going to give the scientists Dr Banner and Stark a run for their money.

But at the moment, the team are between missions, and you’re lying on the lounge with Quill, sharing an earbud each to listen to his tunes. They’re old, but you’re not complaining. It’s not like you miss modern music, it’s all just the same riffs anyways.

“Sorry we never got around to bring you back home to Earth,” he turns to you just as the song Mr. Blue Sky ends. “Not to brag or anything, but the team is much better with you around.”

You can’t help but laugh. “‘Not to brag’ ... dude, you realise that every time you start a sentence with that, you’re bragging?”

Peter chuckles at that. “Yeah, I guess so.” He glances to the tape, and pausing the next track before it begins, he sits up a little. “Don’t like, deck me, but it’s great having you out here with us, and youdon’teverhavetoleaveifyoudon’twantto.”

You frown. “What? I didn’t catch that.”

He sighs. “_______, you don’t ever have to leave if you don’t want to. I’d miss you a heap if you left, and that’s saying something because a butt-load of people I know have left me and I didn’t really miss them until too late. And you’re cool and stuff, and make jokes and you’re like, super smart.”

“Is this you coming onto me, Peter?” You’re half incredulous, because you’ve seen how smooth he is with other people and flirtation. “Or are you just listing all my good attributes like, like a job offer, or something?”

He nods. “Something like that.”

You can’t help but laugh. “I don’t think there was ever really a place for me back on Earth. I had to fight for everything as best as I could to get where I needed to be, and even then, I couldn’t stop fighting until I got it. Hell, even my own parents decided my brother was better than me, and so I did all I could to beat him and get into the best college in the country, get the best marks. But no, he was still the golden boy.” You grit out. It’s been a while since you’ve dwelled about life before you were abducted, but once you’re starting, you can’t seem to stop. “If anything, I’ve really found something worth it out here. And I don’t have to compete. I’m just … me.”

Peter looks almost relieved at your words. “That’s rough, buddy.”

You laugh. “Nice Avatar reference, Star-Lord. But I still want to go to Earth. Just, you know, grab a fresh change of clothes, give my parents the middle-finger, pick up my limited-edition comics.” You skip a beat, and add, “You can even get some more tunes!”

He hesitates. “I…I never told you how I was abducted, did I?”

You shake your head. “I took it as a no-go zone.”

Peter takes a deep breath. “Yondu picked me up on Earth on the day that my mother died. Ever since, I’ve just thought of it as the place where she died, but … if I go back there, I know I’m going to be disappointed.”

You frown, your hand seeking out his to hold it. “How so?”

“Because … nobody will remember her like I do. She’ll just be, you know … another grave in the ground.” Your hand tightens around his, and he squeezes back. “I know, sounds pathetic.”

You shake your head. “No, it doesn’t. It’s like … I know how it feels. When my brother drowned, everyone mourned like they’d lost the moon, like it was gone, no more moon. I realised that when he died, that I was the asshole because all he’d done was existed, and I’d done all I could to one-up him. It never worked, Peter,” you tell him. “If I could go back in time, I’d just once sit down with him, and give him the biggest goddamned hug. It wasn’t his fault he was loved. It wasn’t my fault I wasn’t.”

You feel a tear fall from your eye, but before it can hit the lounge, Peter wipes it away. “Let’s go back to Earth.” He whispers. His face is so close to yours, you can count ever freckle, see every line on his face. “It’s about damn time we get closure.”

You sniffle, leaning your forehead against his, “Hear, hear.”

>> NEXT CHAPTER

[spynotebook]

If the election of an American president abetted by Russian interference seems stranger than fiction, you're almost right. Exactly 30 years ago, in the midst of the Cold War, ABC aired a seven-night, 14-and-a-half-hour miniseries depicting life 10 years after the Soviet Union manipulates the presidential election as meek and deflated Americans shrug. “Amerika,” was heavily criticized at the time for peddling the histrionic premise of a bloodless coup. And while much of the production remains implausible, its core message is more relevant today than ever: They did it because we let them.

In the alternate universe of “Amerika,” (available only in VHS, though it can be found on YouTube) a puppet government was installed in 1988, after a sham election in which both major party candidates were Soviet stooges. By 1997, the 50 states had been replaced by 12 “administrative areas.” Communication systems had been taken out – no Internet or cell phones in this version of 1997 – cutting Americans off from each other. The mighty U.S. military is no more; the areas are patrolled by Soviet-controlled “United Nations Special Service Units.” Dissidents, if not simply exiled to desolate parts of the country, are brainwashed at the “People’s Acceptance Hospital.” Older Americans grumble about food shortages and a lost way of life, but are resigned to their fate. Kids are taught their “ancestors” were “bullies” who only killed Indians, exploited workers and dumped those who couldn’t work into “slums” to die. (Lincoln is still revered, but his image now gets paired with Lenin.)

Hope for a restoration of democracy is personified in Devin Milford, played by Kris Kristofferson. Milford, clearly styled on then-first term Senator John Kerry, is a Vietnam vet-turned antiwar activist-turned Massachusetts congressman. He was the last gasp for freedom, running as an independent in the 1988 presidential election before being sent to an American gulag. “Amerika” begins with his release after a six-year imprisonment. He’s not free. He’s confined to 25-mile area in his hometown of what was called Nebraska, but is now part of the “Central Administrative Area.” The Russians try to pressure him to help stifle nascent protests, but he is too stubborn and becomes the symbol of the resistance.

Milford’s refusal to bend is contrasted by his childhood friend Peter Bradford (Robert Urich). Bradford begins as a county administrator disgusted by his Russian overlords. But as he tries to do as much good as he can within the system, he gradually becomes closer to the regime. He eventually agrees to help formally dissolve the United States by turning the administrative areas into rump countries – the final phase of the Soviet’s grand plan, expedited by a false-flag massacre of the entire U.S. Congress, blamed on American terrorists. Bradford is tapped to become president of the new country, “Heartland.”

Hovering over them is the Andrei Denisov (Sam Neill), a KGB agent effectively running the Central Administrative Area (not to be confused with the real-life Andrey Denisov, who is Russia’s current ambassador to China). Cynical manipulation comes as easy to Denisov as breathing – he casually takes credit for a “controlled provocation,” stirring up “young people” to “resist in ways that make them feel good, not those that actually accomplish anything.” But he holds a soft spot for America. At key moments, he lectures Milford and Bradford – with a trace of sadness – on why their fellow Americans surrendered the Cold War.

How was it that the Soviets were able to waltz into America? The specifics of the coup are never spelled out, but various explanations are given as to why Americans were too demoralized to resist. Milford, in archival footage from his doomed presidential campaign, blames the scars from Vietnam, which “struck the core of our perception of ourselves as a people.”

Some point to economics. One man cites the decline of American manufacturing: “They wanted a country which didn’t have a productive capacity. I guess we were [already] well on our way to giving it up.” Marion Andrews (Wendy Hughes), Milford’s conniving ex-wife who betrayed him in 1988, rationalizes that Americans chose to welcome the communists because they were tired of chronic inequities: “Many of us took the opportunity to create an America we believe in. There were millions of people who never participated in the so-called ‘American Dream.’”

Milford has a different explanation. In a separate scene, he tells his sister soon after his return home that Americans were too scared and selfish to support his campaign and stand up for democracy: “I lost faith in everybody. Nobody wanted to risk anything for anybody else. Everybody afraid they were going to lose what they had. They knew it was bad. They were just afraid it’d get worse.”

Bradford, angrily defending his decision to be the face of secession from America to his horrified wife, echoes Milford: “For most people, being an American never meant that much anyway … Damn, I am so tired of this ‘I’m an American’ bull! Where was all that patriotism when it counted? Where was that willingness to sacrifice? Nobody wanted to join the damn Army to defend the country unless they got paid well. Nobody wanted to give any time to public service unless they could make a career out of it.”

But Denisov sums it up most succinctly, “You lost your country before we even got here.”

The mini-series is all but totally forgotten today, largely because it was an overhyped ratings bust. In the run up to its premiere, it had attracted massive controversy, especially among the left, which presumed it was going to be seven nights of right-wing war-mongering propaganda. (Mother Jones magazine published a six-article attack spread ahead of its airing.) Not only did the Soviet Union complain, but so did the United Nations, which threatened legal action over the use of its name and logo. (In fact, “Amerika” treats the U.N. like an essential institution; Milford laments America “abandon[ed] the principle of a United Nations,” letting Russia, “usurp its name and debase its function.” Denisov further explains that America’s disinterest in the U.N. and international affairs was what turned the world against it.)

Mother Jones’ Todd Gitlin hoped that “CBS and NBC will rise to the occasion with some ingenious counterprogramming.” NBC came through. While “Amerika” won the ratings battle on its opening night, attracting 22 million households, “The Facts Of Life Down Under” was close behind with 19 million. Lacking a gangbusters premiere installment, ratings for “Amerika” steadily declined over the week.

Beyond artistic merits, “Amerika” suffered from poor timing. Production began a few years earlier, when President Ronald Reagan declared the Soviet Union an “evil empire” and joked on a hot mic that he signed legislation to “outlaw Russia” so “we begin bombing in five minutes.” (Many presumed ABC greenlighted “Amerika” to pacify conservatives livid over “The Day After,” its 1983 depiction of nuclear holocaust, though the network denied it.) But by February 1987, Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev had acknowledged the USSR’s economic troubles, begun his glasnost reforms and reached out to Reagan. “’Amerika’ became an anachronism before it ever saw the light of day,” crowed The Nation’s Andrew Kopkind in his critical review.

Watching “Amerika” through the lens of 2016 is a wholly different experience.

It’s still a slog. This is not a pulpy “Red Dawn” or a grippingly tense “Manchurian Candidate.” The pace is slow, the lectures often leaden and the editing nonexistent. Seven hours could have easily been lopped off, if not for the desire to have a momentous, week-long television event. The New York Times TV critic warned, “getting through the enormous glut of stereotypes and preachifying dialogue … will tax even the most willing suspenders of disbelief.” The Washington Post was more charitable, deeming it “worth enduring” because of its “daring grimness.”

And there are plenty of outdated references. The 20th century Cold War with the Russians was an existential battle against communism. The question posed by “Amerika” was whether Americans were capable of giving up on democracy, but also on capitalism. In turn, “Amerika” is at its most incredulous when depicting Americans accepting the thin gruel of communism. An early scene shows Bradford at the local diner, wistfully ordering “Aunt Jemima pancakes, real maple syrup and tiny pork link sausages.” The owner, in no mood for jokes, shoots back, “I’ve got soybean cakes and I’ve got molasses and that’s better for you anyway.” This is nonsense. If there’s one thing Americans would get up off the mat for, it’s pork.

But the New York Times TV critic’s conclusion in 1987, “that the United States would simply crumble from within because of a national moral flabbiness -- is monumentally implausible,” doesn’t seem so implausible today.

With the economic argument over communism resolved, the remaining divide with Russia is political: democracy vs. dictatorship, humanitarian internationalism vs. cold nationalism. Access to sausage is not in danger, giving Russia a fresh opening.

American conservatives with a nationalist, and even authoritarian, bent like Donald Trump are not unnerved by the prospect of Russian influence over the U.S. government. Some see common cause with President Vladimir Putin in the war against Islamic militants, shelving concerns about Russia’s imperial ambitions and comfort with genocidal tactics. Much like how the Russians in “Amerika” want the United States of America to dissolve, both Putin and Trump have rhetorically undermined the European Union, and Trump has questioned America’s commitment to Putin’s bête noire, NATO. Weaker global and regional institutions make it easer for individual nations to act with impunity.

Russia isn’t popular with most Americans, but Trump supporters did not flinch when he deflected allegations that Putin’s government murdered journalists by defending him and smearing America: “at least he’s a leader … I think our country does plenty of killing also.” And those in the “alt-right” movement see Putin as a symbol of white nationalist values. News of how Russia used hacking to manipulate voting behavior has only increased Republican approval of Putin in polls. His net favorable rating among Republicans has jumped from minus-66 to minus-10 in little more than two years, while Barack Obama’s festers at minus-64.

What’s even more disturbing is Trump’s dismissal of the U.S. intelligence community’s conclusion that Russia not only meddled in the election, but actively sought his victory—and then celebrated it. Trump’s reaction has been to mock and misrepresent their findings, while blaming the victims for being hacked. His aides scoff at the implication that he’s too pro-Putin: “He is going to modernize our nuclear capability, he’s going to call for an increase in defense budget, he’s going to have oil and gas exploration—all which goes against Russia’s economic and military interests,” Trump’s senior adviser Kellyanne Conway recently noted. But these moves are not all that provocative if Trump and Putin have overlapping foreign policy goals. Moreover, Trump himself has had every opportunity to clear up any misconceptions, and he hasn’t done it. American presidents have had warm relationships with Russian leaders in the past—Reagan and Gorby, Clinton and Yeltsin—but this feels different.

***

Before America in “Amerika” is fully occupied, we see Milford in 1988 make a final desperate pitch to the country: “No, we’re not all in prison camps. We’re not all beaten down by an occupying army with tanks on every corner. But we don’t need troops to tell us we’ve lost our vision. We don’t need Soviet advisors to prove that we’ve lost our national purpose. Americans have allowed themselves to become immobilized by their own selfish concerns. Immobilized by a lack of understanding of the freedoms secured by our forefathers into which most of us were born, and now have lost.” Today we see immobilization as well, from those plaintively wailing on Facebook that Russia has executed something akin to a coup, but feeling powerless as to what to do about it.

“Amerika” did not foresee that Russia’s entry into America politics would be greased by a bombastic right-wing populist billionaire. The fictional president is a mild-mannered, self-described “figurehead.” But he is not without insight, telling Bradford, “Totalitarianism doesn’t need armies. It only needs to control a couple of things: the media, and the ability to dispense privilege to some, and withhold it from others. And of course, a weak and divided people helps.”

The seeds of that dark future are already in the soil. Russia executed a subtle control of the media—weaponizing mainstream institutions through releases of stolen emails and flooding social media with fake news. Fox News is airing uncritical interviews with Julian Assange of WikiLeaks, an organization U.S. officials have linked to Russian intelligence. And the American people are not only deeply divided along geographic and cultural lines, but new research shows them to be increasingly dubious about the importance of democracy.

“If the dream of democracy cannot survive in America, it cannot survive the 20th century,” Milford declared in his announcement address. Denisov, studying videotape of the speech, notices his normally apolitical American girlfriend transfixed. “He’s touched you,” he purrs to her, his expression both intrigued and disturbed. Part of Putin’s agenda is to convince Americans not to be touched, but instead, to believe that our democratic institutions can no longer be trusted. Our challenge, in the face of Russian interference, is to remind ourselves that despite the deep ideological and cultural differences that are testing American unity, the unifying principle of America remains.

Thirty years ago, a bloated, overwrought TV miniseries tried to make that point and missed the mark. We didn’t need to fear the gulag then, and we don’t now. Hysterical prophesizing of totalitarianism can also be counterproductive, making it easier to shrug off quieter erosions of democracy. But no matter how imperfect, “Amerika” was more prescient than its creators ever could have expected, reminding us that we can only can lose what makes America great if we surrender it ourselves.