#considering a career change the way that I diplomat

[rock-lizards]

i love you home that’s quiet and calm and consistent. i miss you home that’s soft and warm and free.

[ecoterrorist-katara]

Katara would’ve been such a good diplomat (it’s canon)

everyone rightfully hates on the ATLA comics because the politics are baffling and the characterization is even more so…but if there’s one thing we can take away from the dumpster fire that is The Promise, it’s that Katara was BORN to be a diplomat and an international force for peace, okay? Especially since her besties, the Avatar and the Fire Lord, aren’t actually very good at this.

If you haven’t read The Promise, the Wikipedia summary is pretty good. The TL;DR is that Zuko and Kuei agree that the Fire Nation colonies need to be returned to the Earth Kingdom. The colony of Yu Dao is not happy about this because the people of the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom have been mixing together (under inequitable conditions) for more than a hundred years and “just kick out the Fire Nation” is not as straightforward as it seems, since there are blended families now. Zuko refuses to kick out the Fire Nation people from Yu Dao, Kuei wants to play hardball, and they almost launch another war. Oh and there’s a weird plot about Aang debating whether to put Zuko down like a rabid dog

For all that the Wiki page does a good job of summarizing the events, it forgets some key facts: 

It’s Katara who first starts thinking about new solutions after witnessing the situation on the ground, and then comes up with the idea that Zuko and Kuei should meet and talk about the colonies:

It’s Katara who tells Kuei that Zuko has legitimate concerns (without saying that Zuko is right), when Aang tries to hedge and sugarcoat the truth: 

And it’s Katara who says to Kuei, wait, what the hell do you mean that you have no idea what your people want, that Yu Dao is just a dot on the map for you? We’re getting you out of this stupid blimp and you’re gonna talk to people before you make a decision that affects their lives, you coward

To recap, Katara demonstrates some pretty freaking key political skills, like: 

finding out what people want before making a decision for them 

seeing people as people first and foremost, not as fire nation or earth kingdom 

encouraging her loved ones, the Avatar and the Fire Lord, to resolve a conflict by beginning negotiations instead of brawling like a couple of drunks at a bar / kids on the playground (both analogies fit btw, 13-17 is a weird combination of ages)  

realistically reporting tricky disagreements without sweeping them under the rug

kidnapping a king to the middle of a battlefield to give him a reality check about listening to the people he’s trying to rule

Anyway, Katara is hyper competent at both war AND peace! We see this in the show, with her compassion for the prisoners of the Earth Kingdom (by inciting a prison riot) and the suffering people of the Fire Nation (by committing ecoterrorism), only now that compassion is backed up not only by her fighting prowess and speeches about hope, but actual ability to manipulate the levers of power. 

And have I mentioned that she has the ears of both the Avatar and the Fire Lord and her dad is Chief of the Southern Water Tribe? Even if Katara didn’t get a diplomat position based on her skills, or her status as a war hero, she could nepo baby her way in. The fact that she does not pick up a career in international diplomacy is a crime & a colossal oversight from the creators. At minimum you know Katara would’ve established Healers Without Borders or something. She deserves to be yelling at people at ATLA UN and then drafting world-changing resolutions. 

And as a bonus, Katara demonstrates her gift for diplomacy by not smacking Zuko up the head for attempting to legitimize colonization through the argument of economic progress…

…and by not smacking Aang up the head for seriously considering anti-miscegenation as a viable political solution: 

This patience is a new development because show!Katara did not have this in her, but maybe this is what growing up is all about and not just yet another strike on the “comics are wildly OOC” tally

TL;DR: ATLA boys lost their brain cells post-canon. All hail Katara, Sugar Queen of international diplomacy. 

[brf-rumortrackinganon]

I remember your submission about H and national security implications. So, with the new Boris revelation- that he had a talk about Harry just before megxit to convince him to stay- what do you think about this from a national security angle?

To me, it seems, that the uk govt also realised what the possible implications could be if Harry's loyalties landed on the wrong side. Do you think that is why, as a last resort, the then PM was recruited to have an informal chat with him? Obviusly harry is so thick and daft, that he would take any allegations of possible defection very poorly. But, surely that must have been a point of discussion at the palace as well as 10 downing.

It seems that everyone but Harry, took his leaving very seriously. And he didn't realise the repercussions until just recently. What else do you will could think might come out about megxit?

So first, the palace has announced that they never asked Boris to speak to Harry. I think what probably happened is one of the following two scenarios:

Scenario A: The Queen discussed Megxit with him in one of their weekly audiences and he thinks she’s asking him to problem solve this, so Boris steps in.

Scenario B: It was Charles/Clarence House that asked Boris to step in and not the palace, but Boris doesn’t know the difference. (Which is very plausible considering that he confirmed in his memoir he never read his briefing papers and often learned things from The Queen herself.)

Second, there’s no national security angle to this. It was made very clear that take away their demands in the Megxit Manifesto - which the BRF did at the Sandringham Summit - the Sussexes didn’t actually have a plan for what they were going to do. Where would they live? Were they going to lease/rent or buy? What would they do about transportation? How would they pay for their expenses? For childcare? For security? What would they do for work? Would they immigrate or just live there? What kind of visas did Harry need? Could they keep their diplomatic passports or did they need to get regular ones? Etc, etc. That’s probably how they got the 1-year trial period; there was no plan and the little plan there was wasn’t realistic.

The BRF was doing everything they could to make the Sussexes wake up to the reality that the grass wasn’t greener on the other side and that Harry, especially, was too dependent on the machinations of the monarch - living expenses paid for, generational wealth, do-nothing career, household staff, drivers - to be able to manage it exclusively and entirely alone without support. Since the Sussexes weren’t listening to the BRF, someone thought an “outsider” might be able to make them listen and Boris (who’s very much equally privileged and tone-deaf on similar issues) was chosen. Or self-appointed.

I think had the BRF called the Spencers in to help, they might’ve had a chance but it was still too late because once Meghan got Archie out of the country, she was gone and if she was gone, so was Harry. The opportune time to get the Spencers involved would’ve been Summer 2019 or right after Africa. But even then, I’m not sure that the Spencers would’ve been able to do anything; at that time, Harry wasn’t speaking to the Earl (he either no-showed or was NFI to Archie’s christening) and he was probably the only one that could’ve made the Sussexes happy, by allowing them to stay in Diana’s home. I know, Althorp wasn’t really her home but the association of Diana to the estate is really strong and probably would’ve mollified the Sussexes long enough for things to cool down but it doesn’t address the issue that Meghan hates the UK and desperately wants the golden glorious glamor of Hollywood.

Harry does seem to have better relationships with Diana’s sisters but I’m not sure they could’ve convinced the Sussexes to change their mind without being able to give them Diana in the way that only Earl Spencer could, as he is the current occupant for Althorp.

But for all I know, maybe they did call the Spencers for help and it just didn’t work. But I don’t think they did, because it would’ve leaked out. Maybe they tried to and Meghan blocked it because she knew once Diana was invoked, it was game over and she’d be stuck. Or maybe she had already invoked Diana to Harry and that’s how she convinced him to do this in the first place and now Diana’s sisters coming in with their version of Diana would undo her hard work.

Anyway. Not really a national security analysis. Personally, I don’t like doing hindsight analysis - where you take everything you know now and apply it to a situation years ago in the last - because then you’re making assumptions and assumptions end up turning opinion into fact. That’s not objective.

I prefer to focus hindsight analysis on “what we knew then” with “what we know now about what we knew then.” Specific to the January 2020 bro-chat, there isn’t much context for that. The only thing that changes is how much anger Harry had at the time, with revelations in all the royal books, towards not being treated exactly the same as William by everyone - his wife, the public, the family, the monarchy, etc.

I can’t comment on the national security aspects of why the PM may or may not have decided to speak with Harry about Megxit because at the time in January 2020, there weren’t concerns about defection or bought loyalty. Not publicly, at least. At the time, the public concerns were about Harry’s relationship with the press, and with that we knew that Harry was friendly with certain members of the press and liked speaking to them because they made him feel important. Remember, the interview with the Russian pranksters where the general public began to realize “wait a minute…” wasn’t until March 2020.

I don’t know that I have anymore predictions for Megxit. Obviously the biggest issue is whether Archie is “of the body” as there’s been a lot of speculation Megxit happened (partially) to obscure that. I’m not sure we’ll ever get the answer to that.

Some other guesses:

Exactly when, where, and with whom all the contract negotiations for their content deals (Quibi, Netflix, Spotify, The Bench, Penguin Random House, and Oprah) began. There’s a lot of very plausible speculation that these talks (and Netflix filming) began way before 2020.

The press lawsuits - who, what, where, when, and how. I want to know everything - who finally convinced Harry to sue? What role did Elton really have in it? Who’s bankrolling the lawsuits? Did Harry seek lawyers out or did lawyers seek Harry out? How much influence did Meghan have on the lawsuits? Were the lawsuits preemptive to get Fleet Street to stop investigating or talking about the inconsistencies in Archie’s birth?

The exact details and timing of how Megxit went down. Who stayed with Archie, and where, while the Sussexes were in the UK each time? Who financed their expenses? When did Trudeau learn that he was footing their entire bill and how long before he booted the Sussexes - was it immediate or was it only when the public began complaining? When did Meghan start complaining about Canada and began demanding they move to the US? When did Oprah and Tyler Perry come into the picture? How long did they really plan to stay in Canada before moving to the US? Did they take advantage of the Covid panic to expedite their US move or were they already in the US before the revenge tour? What did/does Dan Wootton know that he didn’t publish? What did/does Scobie know about Megxit? Was the BRF aware that the goal was always to move to the US? Did the BRF really believe it was the media that made the Sussexes quit? Did the Sussexes really quit monarchy or did The Queen actually fire them as speculated

[circleofaeaea]

Basic tips for moving to another country

Ok, here's some things to consider as you start looking at countries/visas:

Career/Degree

So, this is rough, but, most countries will prefer you to at least have a bachelors. If you don't have one it doesn't 100% close the door, but you will need to have skill training in a trade at the very least. The reality is when people from the US are looking to move to another country there's an expectation that you will have proof of education. If you are currently in high school/college you can get around this by studying abroad, but once you've graduated that's no longer an option.

Different countries are looking for different careers/skills. Make sure once you've picked a few to consider that you check the list of in demand jobs/skills. If you have what they're looking for immigration becomes far easier than if you have a job in a career where there is less of a need. Some common careers that often make this list include:

Healthcare (especially nurses and specialists)

Engineers

Programmers/IT

Teachers

Skilled trades such as construction/electrician

Truck Drivers (be warned you'd need a drivers license, and typically they want a good chunk of previous experience)

If your career isn't on that list don't worry right away, while these are common different countries have different needs. That being said I will say I've seen nurses on almost every single country's list, so if you complete a nursing program it becomes way easier to get a job anywhere, so long as it is a career you are comfortable in.

Language

You all knew this was coming. If English is your only language, you need to either choose a country where it is the official language/commonly spoken or begin learning a new language. I would advise not starting to learn until you've chosen a country however, but this is something to keep in mind.

Political/Cultural Considerations

Coming from the US, it's easy to view the rest of the world from that lens. However, we're pretty different from other parts of the world, and it's important to take that into consideration. For example, in some parts of the world you need to be extremely careful of what you post online/to social media, or you could face arrest. In some countries you need to be careful of the clothes you wear, and how revealing they are. Make sure to do your research first.

At the same time, it's important to approach with an open mind. Things will be different, but it doesn't have to be bad. Know what your dealbreakers are ahead of time, and choose a country that avoids them. Remember though that while you're moving to another country, you're technically a guest. It's not a great idea to immediately start protesting how things are done your first week in a new country. Do your research ahead of time so you can avoid being in a situation you don't feel safe/comfortable in. Because unless you become a citizen, you really can't do much to change things, and attempting to do so could get you into potential legal trouble depending on the country. We're used to being able to protest and complain as much as we like in the US, but that isn't the case in a large part of the world. So make sure you're being as diplomatic as you can be, and familiarize yourself with local laws/rules.

Additionally, if you are LGBTQ you need to look at which countries are safest for you. Some you will be fine in as long as you blend in/stay closeted, but others you could be in serious danger. I will do a more in depth post on which countries are the best/safest to move to in the future. But to start with do your research on any country and its policies. There's a difference between a country such as Canada which is fairly similar to the US, and a country like Japan where while gay marriage isn't legal they do recognize it if it's legal in your home country, and a country such as Saudi Arabia where it is criminalized.

Religion

Putting this separate. In the US we have all kinds of religions along with religious freedom. This is not the case everywhere, so research ahead of time. Foreigners may not necessarily be expected to convert to the dominant religion of a country, but depending on the country you may be expected to conform to it. Make sure you take that into consideration before selecting a country. And if you're religious and are thinking of converting people... just be aware not all countries are friendly to that, and many will not take that well.

Finances

You all knew this was coming too. It sucks, especially in this economy, but you will want at least some savings. Check the currency of the country you're choosing vs the US dollar, along with the cost of living. Here is a handy calculator, though some locations are not available: Cost of Living Calculator

If the US dollar is worth more in the country you're choosing, then even $5-10,000 can last you a while. Note that some countries will require you to have a minimum amount of money in savings in order to grant you a visa. Some countries will straight up hand you a visa if you pay them enough (I'll cover that in more depth in another post). There have been countries willing to sponsor people moving in the past, but unfortunately covid put many of those programs on hold or straight up removed.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but this is a starting point for moving to another country.

[themculibrary]

Steve and Peggy (Steggy) Masterlist 3

part one, part two

Ain't Love a Kick (ao3) - roboticonography M, 33k

Summary: Steve wakes up after the crash to find his life has changed dramatically - the main change being, he's married to Peggy Carter.

A Lot of Issues (ao3) - linascribbles T, 66k

Summary: Peggy Carter is a Fashion Editor at Sakaar magazine. She’s used to juggling egos, drama queens and ridiculous assignments from her boss all the time. She's even used to dealing with gorgeous six foot blonds on the regular. But none of that really prepeared her for Steve Rogers, his fumbling charm, or the gorgeous way he blushes.

Steve Rogers is a graphic designer who only models to make ends meet. New York is the perfect city for that, but just as NYC's fashion word is prolific, it is also... bizarre. In his line of work Steve's gotten used to losing significant chunks of his dignity quite often (He has a photo album about it, lovingly curated by the one and only Bucky Barnes), but maybe, just this once, he could avoid making a mess of himself in front of that beautiful model on this shoot. No such luck.

Certain I'm Yours (ao3) - Spacecadet72 G, 1k

Summary: Steve wasn’t suspicious, at first.

The Howling Commandos are less than subtle in their attempts to matchmake Peggy and Steve using a gift exchange.

church bells ring, carry me home (ao3) - mybestgirl T, 18k

Summary: A how-to guide on getting Steve Rogers and Peggy Carter married: step one, bachelor party. Step two, wedding. Step three, honeymoon.

Coffee Talk (ao3) - indiefic G, 1k

Summary: Jack Thompson is sick of Peggy Carter thinking she can do whatever she wants.

Don't Miss a Moment (ao3) - agentofvalue T, 40k

Summary: The war has been over for years. After five years, Steve even came back from the dead. Peggy married him and that should be the happily ever after. But, they are still Captain America and Agent Carter. With them, nothing ever goes according to plan. Not even impending parenthood.

I Just Keep Falling For You (ao3) - BuckyWithTheGoodHair86 G, 10k

Summary: Steve is starting to make a habit out of unexpected falls and sticky situations. Fortunately, Peggy always arrives in time to get him out.

In Bourbon Veritas (ao3) - doctorhelena T, 3k

Summary: There were actually two beds. Peggy just didn’t seem interested in getting in the other one.

International Incident (ao3) - linascribbles E, 112k

Summary: Peggy Carter rose through the diplomatic ranks in the midst of the Incident and in her short career already stablished herself as a skilled and well-connected negotiator. Stationed in the Washington DC embassy, she's right on the front lines of the fallout of Project Insight. Governments get purged, new and unexpected doors open, and Peggy Carter is nothing if not resourceful.

As she gets plunged into a world of spies, mad scientists and superheroes, familiar faces start to pop up. Particularly one pesky Captain America, who seems to have no idea what international law entails and considers country borders mere suggestions.

in the heat of battle (ao3) - littlereyofsunlight M, 42k

Summary: “After this is over,”—and wasn’t that everyone’s favorite pastime, here in relative safety, playing After the War as though one could even pretend to make plans for a life, as though this blasted conflict hasn’t already completely changed everything in this world, forever—

Peggy Carter has always been a fighter.

Just In Case (ao3) - captaindoritoes G, 2k

Summary: Hope you enjoy this a bit of angst, a bit of comfort fanfic - four times Steve and Peggy share a kiss, just in case it’s their last one. Their love language is touch - in this essay I will -

Letting Agent Carter In (ao3) - cadkitten E, 4k

Summary: Steve is still learning to draw the human form and when he finds the perfect solution in his head, he's not sure he can actually ask for it in person. But he'll be damned if he won't give it a try.

Pin Curls (ao3) - SomewhereApart T, 3k

Summary: Peggy Carter has imagined how she’d feel at the return of Steve Rogers a hundred different times. Still, she's unprepared for the reality of him, standing on her porch on a Sunday afternoon.

She Wanted (ao3) - TriplePirouette E, 3k

Summary: Peggy wants to eat Skinny Steve alive.

The Shops on Shield Street (ao3) - fluffernutter8 G, 5k

Summary: Running a small business is already hard enough without someone trying to sabotage things.

Time and Again (ao3) - Beshter N/R, 163k

Summary: When an insane man who claims he can travel through time appears out of nowhere, Peggy Carter agrees to go with him to save the world, little expecting the strange new life she'd be stepping into on the other side.

We Still Talk (ao3) - roboticonography M, 9k

Summary: Newlyweds Steve and Peggy take a holiday to get away from it all - but the great outdoors might hold more challenges than they bargained for!

we were born to be national treasures (ao3) - meidui G, 1k

Summary: “I’m back,” he chokes out artlessly into her shoulder, into the soft dark waves of her hair and the spiced floral of her perfume. He stopped believing he would ever get to go home after the war a long time ago, or that there would ever be an after the war for him, but—

“Right on time,” Peggy whispers, her voice shaking, and Steve’s next breath breaks on a sob.

Where poppies grow (ao3) - beautifulwhensarcastic T, 1k

Summary: The night preceding the procedure Steve can't sleep, which leads him to a surprising, touching discovery.

you can count on me (ao3) - sokovianaccords (thesokovianaccords) N/R, 5k

Summary: A Christmas mission for Agent Rogers and Agent Carter brings some things to light

[densi-mber]

Behind the Scenes

A/N: This idea was inspired by the Ted Lasso episode “No Weddings and a Funeral”. Particularly the element with key events happening on the same day.

***

April 3, 2001

“Miss Blye, you have some of the highest grades I’ve seen in my career,” Susan Walters, Kensi’s academic advisor told her. “It’s really quite impressive. Especially considering the…hardships you’ve dealt with.”

Kensi studied her intertwined fingers, still uncomfortable with the allusion to her past. Few people knew about her father’s death, her years spent homeless, and she preferred to keep it that way.

“Thank you, Ma’am. The support I’ve received from the university and staff has certainly helped,” Kensi replied diplomatically. She didn’t mention that while in high school she’d worked a nearly full-time job to get by while attending high school or that she’d forged various documents when she needed parental approval.

“That’s good to hear. Speaking of which, I understand that you are interested in pursuing a military career.”

“My father was in the military, but I’ve actually considered the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.” Susan Walters tilted her head, and Kensi tacked on. “It’s a federal agency that handles the investigation of military cases and other national cases that go beyond other agencies’ scope of practice.”

“I see,” Susan Walters said, nodding. Kensi had hoped to get a few semesters under her belt before mentioning that particular aspiration. When she’d brought it up with her high school advisor, the woman had pushed her to consider more “likely” careers.

“I know it’s unusual,” Kensi hurried to explain, a fault of hers under pressure. “But I’ve always wanted to help people and this still allows me to support the military.” She didn’t dare mention her ulterior motives for choosing NCIS.

“Actually, I have heard of the agency in the past. I think it’s a wonderful ambition,” Susan told Kensi, much to her surprise. “Particularly because I received contact from a privately funded scholarship looking to support your education.”

“Oh. May I ask what the scholarship is called?” Kensi asked. She already had merit-based scholarships and awards that covered most of her tuition, room, and board. The rest was subsidized by loans and her work-study position.

“It’s one of many from the LH Legacy Foundation. The founders look to support students pursuing a service career such as in the military or law enforcement.”

“I’ve never heard of that before.” And Kensi had applied for just about every scholarship she could.

“It’s quite a private scholarship,” Susan explained shortly. She pulled Kensi’s file to the middle of her desk. “Anyway, beginning this semester, you will be eligible for this scholarship and continue to be eligible for as long as your GPA remains at 3.8 or higher and pursue your current path.”

Kensi walked out of her appointment 20 minutes later stunned. With this new scholarship, she could quit her job and not take out anymore loans.

It was life changing.

***

April 3, 2001

“So, Marty, where do we stand with your applications for law school?”

“Yeah, about that, Mr. Strum,” Deeks responded, shifting uncomfortably. “I’ve filled out a couple, but—”

“I’m sure you know that most deadlines are approaching quickly. If you want to be accepted for the year following your graduation, you really do need to apply now,” the man sitting across from Deeks explained.

Deeks didn’t think Strum had ever fully understood him. Unlike the previous advisors, at lest he seemed to want Deeks to succeed.

“Yeah, no, I realize that.” Deeks tucked a strand of hair behind his ear. “I’d love to apply, but it’s the financial aspect. I don’t have the money for the application fees, let alone if I actually get accepted into any of the programs. I’m barely scraping by as it is.”

It was a humiliating revelation, and one that he’d put off as long as possible. Sure, the university knew he was a scholarship kid, without family contribution, but they didn’t know the true extent of his situation. They definitely didn’t know about his late nights spent stripping—and he fervently hoped no one ever would.

“Oh, well you should have told me sooner,” Strum said. “There are waivers you and funds you can apply for specifically for this situation. In fact, we have an entire fund just for that purpose. And, then when the time comes we can look into grants and scholarships for law school.”

Frowning, Deeks processed the information for a few moments, then regarded Strum suspiciously. “Graduate level students typically don’t qualify for scholarships,” he pointed out. “Not unless it’s in a field that pays for its future employees to finish. So, what would I have to do?”

“Nothing, Marty.” Strum paused a beneath. “Except continue to demonstrate the same spectacular level of work and enthusiasm for the legal profession as you always have.”

It sounded too easy, which worried Deeks. In his experience, this kind of thing never came without catches.

Yet, he was pretty desperate. Just enough to sigh, and accept the offer.

“Thank you, sir. What do I need to fill out.”

Smiling, Strum passed him a document with the heading LH Endowment Fund at the top. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake.

***

A/N: I realize this doesn’t quite fit into some of the canon events for Kensi and Deeks’ first encounters with Hetty. However, it’s made pretty clear they were on her radar far before they actually knew it. So, if this contradicts anything canon, well, the show writers did it often enough that I should get a pass.

Also, this is not really condoning Hetty’s actions, just demonstrating that she was manipulating events with all the team for years.

[k-rising]

Red Velvet's group dynamic (tarot reading)

DISCLAIMER: This tarot reading is for entertainment purposes only.

how's their overall dynamic?

8 of pentacles + the fool + 5 of pentacles + the chariot + 10 of swords (rx) + knight of wands (rx) + knight of swords (rx) + 3 of swords + strength + 8 of wands (rx)

this reading is telling me what the members are feeling and living lately with sm more than telling me about their group dynamic.

the girls have always worked very hard throughout their careers, from their trainee days until now. they have always been focused on their work and all of them have a lot of willpower. however, the challenge they have as a group is their innocence and their free spirit. it seems that the members trusted the company so much that they never stopped to think that some of the things the sm made them do could harm them in the future. they always tried to look on the bright side of things, even when everything was falling apart. other than that, and going back a little bit to what the dynamics are as a group, the girls are quite dependent on each other; they feel insecure when they do things alone. also, they are not happy about how the company pays them.

as time went on, the members began to realize that they were going to be betrayed in some way by their own company… and indeed, it happened. this made them realize that something had to change and they are now focusing on recovering from that betrayal. the girls are feeling very distressed, hurt and rejected.

idk if they will continue to be part of sm in the future or if they will leave the company, but from what I can interpret from this reading, they will not disband. yes, it will be very hard for them to move on, since they will face many obstacles in the way that will prevent them from continuing with their projects. but, if this were to happen, they have to learn to control their impulsiveness and anger, otherwise this will play against them even more.

I feel that none of them know exactly what they would do if they leave the company. like I said, they feel insecure when they don't work together, and even though they want continue to pursue their artistic careers, they don't know what to do to move on. their two biggest fears are losing their willpower and losing the desire to continue being part of red velvet.

the only thing that they can do to get out of this situation is to wait, take a break and think carefully before making a final decision.

how does each of the girls feel about the group?

the emperor + king of swords + king of cups

irene ⇢ the eldest thinks that the group dynamic is good. they have been working together for years and she believes that the work environment is calm, but severe at the same time. with this I can interpret that when it's time to work, everyone works very hard and when it's time to relax, they do it. it's very rare that discussions arise, since there's a good group balance. irene considers that they all incorporate everything they have learned during all these years.

she adores her members and feels at peace when she is with them. she considers them to be very generous, compassionate and diplomatic girls. irene also considers that they know how to separate work from their friendship.

5 of cups (rx) + knight of swords + page of swords

seulgi ⇢ this made me emotional, ngl :') seulgi appreciates her members very much, since being part of red velvet made her heal from many traumas that she experienced during all those years that she was a trainee; she feels accepted and loved by the girls.

although she thinks that they work very well together and that they are all very ambitious, they sometimes overlook the possible obstacles and consequences that may come in their way.

seulgi defines her members as funny, curious, intelligent, enthusiastic, and talkative people lmao. I can visualize them making jokes and laughing all together... there's a very good vibe here.

10 of swords + 5 of cups (rx) + 6 of pentacles

wendy ⇢ her reading is more or less similar to seulgi's: wendy went through a lot in her trainee days that traumatized her so much that when she joined red velvet, she felt happy. the girls helped her heal from all the things she experienced at the time. she feels loved and accepted when she spends time with her members. what's more, wendy feels that the love she has for the members is mutual.

the empress (rx) + judgment + knight of swords

joy ⇢ although she loves her members very much and she experienced a lot of things together, sooyoung has reached a point in her life where she is a little tired of doing everything as a group and needs some space. maybe she wants to continue doing her solo career and stop from doing group activities for a while.

regarding the work environment, she thinks the same as seulgi: although joy thinks that they work very well together and that they are all very ambitious, they sometimes overlook the possible obstacles and consequences that may come in their way.

knight of cups + the tower + 2 of swords (rx)

yeri ⇢ at first, yeri felt comfortable with her members and felt that she could express herself freely with them. however, something happened that made yeri stop thinking the same way. the relationship that she now has with the girls is no longer what it was before.

she doesn't know whether to continue with red velvet or leave the group... but one thing she does know is that whatever choice she makes is going to harm the group both for better and for worse.

‧͙⁺˚･༓☾　𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦����𝑢 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑖𝑛𝑔! 　☽༓･˚⁺‧͙

[ladyaislinn]

Interview, people.com

Rufus Sewell Says He 'Struggled' Being Cast as the Bad Guy But Jokes It 'Suited the Shape of My Face' (Exclusive)

The 'Diplomat' star tells PEOPLE that, for "a long period" in his career, "I would be sent a lot of, if not evil, kind of stoic and silent personages"

Rufus Sewell doesn’t think he has the swag of a lot of the bad guys he’s played.

“I'm not naturally assured,” Sewell, 57, tells PEOPLE. “I actually have a frenetic nervous, people-pleasing disposition. I'm not a cool guy. I'm quite warm.”

Still, the British actor has found himself playing a lot of not-so-angelic characters, including his latest roles as Prince Andrew in Scoop and Hal Wyler in The Diplomat.  

“When I first started working, the kind of roles that I usually did were very, very, very far from me,” Sewell says. “When I left drama school, I'd always played little old men and a hunchback. That's how it made my mark. There was a long period when I would be sent a lot of, if not evil, kind of stoic and silent personages.”

ewell didn’t think those roles played to his strengths, though.

“That category of part didn't actually suit what I was best at,” Sewell says. “But it kind of suited the shape of my face, so I kept my mouth shut. It's only ever been irritating when people who should know better in the industry send me scripts according to something that I really struggled to do.”

The Emmy nominee feels like he started to see a shift after he starred in 1994’s Middlemarch, “where I was playing someone my age who didn't have a hunchback, who wasn't like a pervert or a weirdo or psychopath,” says Sewell, who’s also been the antagonist in��Bless the Child, Helen of Troy, The Illusionist, A Knight’s Tale and The Legend of Zorro. “Then people started to see me a certain way, and I just went in the opposite direction for a long time.”

Sewell shares that when he did take on villainous roles, he felt like he “could do something different” with them. “It felt like I was trying to make the best of the same kind of category of part for a long time,” he continues.

The father of two says he found playing Prince Andrew “easier, in a way” than previous roles because “there wasn't any expectation that it was my kind of thing.”

“I think the opposite is often true with parts that I'm casting because of other parts that I've told,” Sewell says. “People might think that things are just what I'm like when really it takes a lot of work.”

Sewell confesses he hasn’t gotten “anywhere near” the kinds of roles he really wants to take on. “I suppose you could say I love it when people think they're miscasting me,” he says. “I really, really enjoyed doing theater and comedy, and Hal has a bit of both. That's why it's so much fun, because it's got a bit of everything.”

Hence why, ahead of the release of The Diplomat’s second season, Sewell says he feels secure in his career for the first time.

“This is the only time, really, that I feel safe during a long-term series,” he adds. “It's only the third show I've ever done that has had a possibility of continuing, the third long-term thing I've ever done. There's an anxiety that you need to keep an eye on the writing because it could change, the voices could change so it makes for periods when you don't sleep in the same way. Now I look forward to getting scripts because I don't care what happens story-wise because I completely trust that what the show is.”

Despite more than 30 years in Hollywood, Sewell says he doesn’t always get recognized while out and about, for which he considers himself “quite lucky.”

“I get recognized a lot in the couple of months after something I'm in has been out, and then it just kind of recedes, which is very nice,” he says. “You get people coming up and saying nice things, but it doesn't really hinder my progress around town. What happens more often, which I always try to be nice about, is when people come up and ask me to tell them where they know me from.”

Sewell can usually guess. “I can often tell if maybe people recognize me as Jasper from The Holiday or if they're gonna recognize me from The Man in the High Castle where I play an American Nazi,” he says. “But most of the time I fail to come up with what they know me from and I send them on their way as in as friendly a fashion as I can. But it doesn't bother me at all.”

In fact, being unrecognizable to many makes it easy for Sewell to enjoy his favorite type of day off: grabbing a coffee and diving into a good book.

“I always have a pile of books that I read one after another. If I did have time off, I like to find little cafes and where I can just sit in the corner,” Sewell, who's currently filming The Diplomat season 3 in New York City, says. “That's why it's quite nice that most people don't recognize me. That's totally fine.”

[the-darkness-does-not-bargain]

SCP-XXXX: “Ava”, chapter 4 preview

Just a tidbit of what I’m working on.  Hope you guys are still excited for this!

SCP-XXXX: Do you mean it?

Dr. Young: Mean what?

SCP-XXXX: About all this.  Will you really teach me about cells and stuff?

Dr. Young smiles.

Dr. Young: Yes, Ava, if you’re willing to learn, I will teach you.  Do you like learning about science?

SCP-XXXX shrugs.

SCP-XXXX: It beat bible study by a mile.  Though that might have more to do with the teachers.  Sister Agatha taught all the science classes, such as they were.  She tried to make it a little fun… even did the whole mini volcano thing during the geology unit.  We thought that was the coolest shit.

Dr. Young: I’m not a geologist, but the study of volcanic activity is fascinating.  I’m sure the library here has books on it if you’re interested.

SCP-XXXX: I think I’ll stick with biology to start, not that rocks aren’t cool as shit.  Thanks, Bea.

Dr. Young: Of course, Ava.

Approximately 5 seconds of silence elapse.

SCP-XXXX: So… what about you?

Dr. Young: Hmm?  What about me?

SCP-XXXX shifts forward in her chair, shifting her weight to either side in a semi-regular rhythm.

SCP-XXXX: Well, obviously you like learning about science, but did you always want to study animals and cells and stuff?

Dr. Young taps her pen against her notepad.  3 seconds of silence elapse.  SCP-XXXX leans back and flushes.

SCP-XXXX: Sorry, you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.

Dr. Young smiles at SCP-XXXX.

Dr. Young: Given all the questions we expect you to answer, it’s more than fair for you to ask some in return.  I apologize for my absentmindedness.

SCP-XXXX: Oh, no worries.  It’s chill.

Dr. Young: To answer your question, no.  For a long time, I didn’t want to pursue a career in science at all.  I was always fascinated by it, but I never even considered earning a degree in it until I entered university.

SCP-XXXX leans forward again.

SCP-XXXX: What did you think you wanted to do?

Dr. Young: Don’t laugh when I tell you.  It seems quite strange in retrospect.

SCP-XXXX: Wouldn’t dream of it.

Dr. Young: Well… I actually wanted to study religion, and eventually join the church.  I was raised Catholic, and my family was very devout.

SCP-XXXX: Are they doctors too?  Or… religion-studiers or whatever?

Dr. Young chuckles.

Dr. Young: The term you want is theologian.  But no, they were politicians, diplomats.  When I showed less than zero interest in politics, they pushed me to study theology as the only suitable alternative.  They never neglected my education, so I knew that I enjoyed science before but… I also thought that a life devoted to faith would be good for me.

SCP-XXXX: Until?

Dr. Young: Until it came time for me to choose my classes for the first term, and I chose a biology elective.  I took it for fun, I never thought it would cause me to change anything about my path in life.

SCP-XXXX: But it did.

Dr. Young: But it did.  It didn’t happen all at once.  Actually, in hindsight, it was quite slow.  One class turned into more, but I continued to pursue my theology degree well into my third year.  At first, I thought that studying both would give me a richer understanding of my faith, and in many ways it did.

SCP-XXXX: Meaning?

Dr. Young shrugs.

Dr. Young: I believe that there are higher powers out there in the universe.  But what shape those powers take, I have no idea.  God may look nothing like I always imagined Him, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

SCP-XXXX: …But he could be a weird tentacle guy.

Dr. Young laughs.

Dr. Young: He could be.  But there’s a kind of freedom in not knowing, don’t you think?  When you’re certain you know how the world works, you become limited within its perceived rules.  It’s only when you open yourself up to the possibility of being wrong that you can recognize how little you actually know about anything.  It’s a frightening revelation, but an exciting one too.  The rules you thought you were rigid and clearly defined fall away, and a universe of new potential opens up in their wake.  There’s something divine about that, I think.  A single moment of seeing the world as He must.

Approximately 2 seconds of elapse.

SCP-XXXX: So you’re, like, smart smart, huh?

Dr. Young laughs.

Dr. Young: What do you mean by that?

SCP-XXXX flushes and wiggles in her seat.

SCP-XXXX: I mean, like, you know stuff, but you also know stuff about stuff.  Shit, that sounds so stupid.  Forget I said anything.

Dr. Young: I understand what you meant.  It’s not stupid, Ava, and neither are you.

SCP-XXXX: Yeah, sure…

Dr. Young leans forward and rests her hand flat on the table.

Dr. Young: You’re not stupid, Ava.  Uneducated, perhaps, but that isn’t your fault.  And we’re going to fix that now, aren’t we?

SCP-XXXX looks away and bites her bottom lip, and then grins at Dr. Young, who grins back.

SCP-XXXX: Yeah, I guess we are.

[diocletianscabbagefarm]

Dominique De Villepin, former Prime Minister of France (who also led France's opposition to the Iraq war and advocated for the Palestinians in 2014) who's had a significant diplomatic career gave a pretty good interview (source for translation) that touches on many of the reasons why the Palestine-Israel conflict is so insoluble and how the use of force is a cyclical dead end. Interview beneath the cut

"Hamas has set a trap for us, and this trap is one of maximum horror, of maximum cruelty. And so there's a risk of an escalation in militarism, of more military interventions, as if we could with armies solve a problem as serious as the Palestinian question.

There's also a second major trap, which is that of Occidentalism. We find ourselves trapped, with Israel, in this western bloc which today is being challenged by most of the international community.

[Presenter: What is Occidentalism?]

Occidentalism is the idea that the West, which for 5 centuries managed the world's affairs, will be able to quietly continue to do so. And we can clearly see, even in the debates of the French political class, that there is the idea that, faced with what is currently happening in the Middle East, we must continue the fight even more, towards what might resemble a religious or a civilizational war. That is to say, to isolate ourselves even more on the international stage.

This is not the way, especially since there's a third trap, which is that of moralism. And here we have in a way the proof, through what is happening in Ukraine and what is happening in the Middle East, of this double standard that is denounced everywhere in the world, including in recent weeks when I travel to Africa, the Middle East, or Latin America. The criticism is always the same: look at how civilian populations are treated in Gaza, you denounce what happened in Ukraine, and you are very timid in the face of the tragedy unfolding in Gaza.

Consider international law, the second criticism that is made by the global south. We sanction Russia when it aggresses Ukraine, we sanction Russia when it doesn't respect the resolutions of the United Nations, and it's been 70 years that the resolutions of the United Nations have been voted in vain and that Israel doesn't respect them.

[Presenter: Do you believe that the Westerners are currently guilty of hubris?]

Westerners must open their eyes to the extent of the historical drama unfolding before us to find the right answers.

[Presenter: What is the historical drama? I mean, we're talking about the tragedy of October 7th first and foremost, right?]

Of course, there are these horrors happening, but the way to respond to them is crucial. Are we going to kill the future by finding the wrong answers…

[Presenter: Kill the future?]

Kill the future, yes! Why?

[Presenter: But who is killing whom?]

You are in a game of causes and effects. Faced with the tragedy of history, one cannot take this 'chain of causality' analytical grid, simply because if you do you can't escape from it. Once we understand that there is a trap, once we realize that behind this trap there has also been a change in the Middle East regarding the Palestinian issue… The situation today is profoundly different [from what it was in the past]. The Palestinian cause was a political and secular cause. Today we are faced with an Islamist cause, led by Hamas. Obviously, this kind of cause is absolute and allows no form of negotiation. On the Israeli side, there has also been a development. Zionism was secular and political, championed by Theodor Herzl in the late 19th century. It has largely become messianic, biblical today. This means that they too do not want to compromise, and everything that the far-right Israeli government does, continuing to encourage colonization, obviously makes things worse, including since October 7th. So in this context, understand that we are already in this region facing a problem that seems profoundly insoluble.

Added to this is the hardening of states. Diplomatically, look at the statements of the King of Jordan, they are not the same as six months ago. Look at the statements of Erdogan in Turkey.

[Presenter: Precisely, these are extremely harsh statements…]

Extremely worrying. Why? Because if the Palestinian cause, the Palestinian issue, hasn't been brought to the forefront, hasn't been put on stage [for a while], and if most of the youth today in Europe have often never even heard of it, it remains for the Arab peoples the mother of all battles. All the progress made towards an attempt to stabilize the Middle East, where one could believe…

[Presenter: Yes, but whose fault is it? I have a hard time following you, is it Hamas's fault?]

But Ms. Malherbe, I am trained as a diplomat. The question of fault will be addressed by historians and philosophers.

[Presenter: But you can't remain neutral, it's difficult, it's complicated, isn't it?]

I am not neutral, I am in action. I am simply telling you that every day that passes, we can ensure that this horrific cycle stops… that's why I speak of a trap and that's why it's so important to know what response we are going to give. We stand alone before history today. And we do not treat this new world the way we currently do, knowing that today we are no longer in a position of strength, we are not able to manage on our own, as the world's policemen.

[Presenter: So what do we do?]

Exactly, what should we do? This is where it is essential not to cut off anyone on the international stage.

[Presenter: Including the Russians?]

Everyone.

[Presenter: Everyone? Should we ask the Russians for help?]

I'm not saying we should ask the Russians for help. I'm saying: if the Russians can contribute by calming some factions in this region, then it will be a step in the right direction.

[Presenter: How can we proportionally respond to barbarism? It's no longer army against army.]

But listen, Appolline de Malherbe, the civilian populations that are dying in Gaza, don't they exist? So because horror was committed on one side, horror must be committed on the other?

[Presenter: Do we indeed need to equate the two?]

No, it's you who are doing that. I'm not saying I equate the faults. I try to take into account what a large part of humanity thinks. There is certainly a realistic objective to pursue, which is to eradicate the Hamas leaders who committed this horror. And not to confuse the Palestinians with Hamas, that's a realistic goal.

The second thing is a targeted response. Let's define realistic political objectives. And the third thing is a combined response. Because there is no effective use of force without a political strategy. We are not in 1973 or in 1967. There are things no army in the world knows how to do, which is to win in an asymmetrical battle against terrorists. The war on terror has never been won anywhere. And it instead triggers extremely dramatic misdeeds, cycles, and escalations. If America lost in Afghanistan, if America lost in Iraq, if we lost in the Sahel, it's because it's a battle that can't be won simply, it's not like you have a hammer that strikes a nail and the problem is solved. So we need to mobilize the international community, get out of this Western entrapment in which we are.

[Presenter: But when Emmanuel Macron talks about an international coalition…]

Yes, and what was the response?

[Presenter: None.]

Exactly. We need a political perspective, and this is challenging because the two-state solution has been removed from the Israeli political and diplomatic program. Israel needs to understand that for a country with a territory of 20,000 square kilometers, a population of 9 million inhabitants, facing 1.5 billion people… Peoples have never forgotten that the Palestinian cause and the injustice done to the Palestinians was a significant source of mobilization. We must consider this situation, and I believe it is essential to help Israel, to guide… some say impose, but I think it's better to convince, to move in this direction. The challenge is that there is no interlocutor today, neither on the Israeli side nor the Palestinian side. We need to bring out interlocutors.

[Presenter: It's not for us to choose who will be the leaders of Palestine.]

The Israeli policy over recent years did not necessarily want to cultivate a Palestinian leadership… Many are in prison, and Israel's interest - because I repeat: it was not in their program or in Israel's interest at the time, or so they thought - was instead to divide the Palestinians and ensure that the Palestinian question fades. This Palestinian question will not fade. And so we must address it and find an answer. This is where we need courage. The use of force is a dead end. The moral condemnation of what Hamas did - and there's no "but" in my words regarding the moral condemnation of this horror - must not prevent us from moving forward politically and diplomatically in an enlightened manner. The law of retaliation is a never-ending cycle.

[Presenter: The "eye for an eye, tooth for tooth".]

Yes. That's why the political response must be defended by us. Israel has a right to self-defense, but this right cannot be indiscriminate vengeance. And there cannot be collective responsibility of the Palestinian people for the actions of a terrorist minority from Hamas.

When you get into this cycle of finding faults, one side's memories clash with the other's. Some will juxtapose Israel's memories with the memories of the Nakba, the 1948 catastrophe, which is a disaster that the Palestinians still experience every day. So you can't break these cycles. We must have the strength, of course, to understand and denounce what happened, and from this standpoint, there's no doubt about our position. But we must also have the courage, and that's what diplomacy is… diplomacy is about being able to believe that there is light at the end of the tunnel. And that's the cunning of history; when you're at the bottom, something can happen that gives hope. After the 1973 war, who would have thought that before the end of the decade, Egypt would sign a peace treaty with Israel?

The debate shouldn't be about rhetoric or word choice. The debate today is about action; we must act. And when you think about action, there are two options. Either it's war, war, war. Or it's about trying to move towards peace, and I'll say it again, it's in Israel's interest. It's in Israel's interest!"

[mercy-mercie-mercymorn]

TAVS.

bg3 spoilers ahead!

aurora (gold dragonborn cleric of mielikki) grew up in the woods, far away from the city. she likes animals and once spent three days chasing a unicorn, just to see what it did. on a diplomatic trip to stop logging that was infringing on a grove once considered sacred to mielikki, she got abducted. pokey sticks and fire breath quickly proved to be the best way to make her way through her new life. on the way she fell head over heels for the two dumbasses who got fucked by the Hells. so they decided to start saving people, hunting things. and now it's wyll and wyll's wife aurora and aurora's wife karlach's family business. yay hell polycule!

(aurora is the reason i call wyll my wife. he's just. my wife <3)

kassandra (seladrine drow warlock) has never been to the underdark. she has a cousin there, on her mom's side, maybe? she grew up in baldur's gate and made a career for herself as a shrewd businesswoman (she makes jewelry; that's how she got warlockéd). using people's impressions of drow against them is like her primary skill and it works surprisingly often despite the fact that she is 5'3" on a good day and has the face of a disney princess. she also has the animal skills of one. aurora is steve irwin, kassandra is cinderella. karlach and kassandra were instant besties, which evolved in the sapphic tradition of "surely she doesn't mean it like that haha" until kassandra just straight up said she wanted to make out with karlach.

(i haven't finished her playthrough yet because i'm afraid teehee)

winter (avariel [mod, winged elf] bard) is your manic pixie dream girl. i stole her name and most of her appearance from Winter The Lunar Chronicles because i am a silly little criminal. winter has never met a problem she could not make marvel-esque quips at, much to shadowheart's eternal chagrin. desperately wants karlach to teach her that silly tiktok dance she's always doin So Bad. her adventure is a very strange change of pace for her because she was previously a tavern waitress/occasional entertainer when there was literally no other option. as such, she does not know how to use weapons really at all and makes everyone else protect her (insert pleading face emoji). anyways, she's the golden retriever gf to shart's black cat gf.

(her wings get in the way of every cutscene but i still love her)

marie (human durge paladin) is like if tinkaton was a person. she hates the murderhobo ps5 in her brain and loves weird little guys (gale). voted most likely to cry at dog food commercials. i really haven't played much of her, so i haven't decided on much backstory for her.

(i just think she's a little funny)

the one that only sort of counts.

cynthia (tiefling wild magic sorcerer) is literally just my OC who got isekaid to faerun. the only people who know this are the """dream guardian""", the gods, and the three dipshits and their lame goddess. she's there to cause problems and live up to her old nickname: Godkiller. her fake persona, Lady Cynthia Tav, is from a little town on the coast and enjoys the finer things in life. her most fervent desire is to have a spray bottle so she can get astarion to stop that (at any given moment, "that" ranges from mild horniness to wanting to violently murder people). she is beginning to understand what it was like for her brother to raise her.

(don't have many pics of her, but she's the most frequent subject of my drawings)

there's a bunch of more in my notebook that i doodle in while playing

[disneymbti]

Joey Tribbiani and Rachel Green from the sitcom "Friends"?

Hi there, sweetie! I really hope you like this a lot!

Joey Tribbiani's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ESFP [The Entertainer]

ESFPs are very outgoing and lively people. They thrive in groups and prefer not to spend too much time alone.

They are very observant, focusing closely on the details rather than the grand scheme. They think in terms of the present.

Entertainers tend to prioritize emotion when making decisions, concerning themselves more with how their decisions will affect others. They are empathetic and diplomatic.

They rely more on opportunity than rigid scheduling. They are spontaneous and playful people, with a passion for finding new adventures.

Big Three: Leo Sun, Leo Moon and Leo Rising

Leo Sun: The Sun rules the sign Leo, which is why Leo Suns all about ego, will, and character. They’re known to be creative, playful, and bold.

Leo Moon: Possessing a wellspring of inner warmth, Leo Moons are beyond generous. As an act of love, they’ll shine their light onto those they care about.

Leo Rising: Leo ascendants bask in the glow of sunlight, radiating positivity and charm. Performers through and through, those with this friendly, radiant, and outgoing placement exude confidence and strength.

Enneagram Type: 7w6 [The Pathfinder]

Basic Fear: Sevens with a six wing have a deeply-rooted fear of missing out. They want to be trustworthy and honor commitments, but they also want to leave room to allow for last-minute opportunities.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to feel fulfilled and happy. They express this by searching for joy in every small thing that comes their way.

Pathfinders defend themselves by rationalizing away negative feelings. They unconsciously convince themselves that they are happy, even when they are not.

Rachel Greene's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ESFP [The Entertainer]

ESFPs are very outgoing and lively people. They thrive in groups and prefer not to spend too much time alone.

They are very observant, focusing closely on the details rather than the grand scheme. They think in terms of the present.

Entertainers tend to prioritize emotion when making decisions, concerning themselves more with how their decisions will affect others. They are empathetic and diplomatic.

They rely more on opportunity than rigid scheduling. They are spontaneous and playful people, with a passion for finding new adventures.

Big Three: Taurus Sun, Sagittarius Moon and Libra Rising

Taurus Sun: The Bull tends to be drawn to a creative, indulgent lifestyle — and we wouldn’t expect anything less from a Venus ruled sign. They're also thought to have a stubborn, loyal and grounded personality.

Sagittarius Moon: The Moon is considered to be lucky in Sagittarius, as it brings excitement, adventure, and abundance. However, those with Sagittarius Moons can be defensive at times.

Libra Rising: Finding balance in life is essential for Libra risings, who prefer things to be even-keeled and civil.

Enneagram Type: 3w4 [The Expert]

Basic Fear: Enneagram type threes with a four wing are afraid of failure. They tend to throw themselves into their careers and do anything it takes to succeed.

Basic Desire: Their most basic desire is to succeed and feel valued. They may show this by seeking validation of their hard work and successes.

Experts defend themselves by adapting or changing their personalities to fit their environment. This makes them great communicators, but may also lead them to being misunderstood or feeling fraudulent.  

[seventeenlovesthree]

Since I’ve been in rambly mode recently, I wanted to pick up some of the points I thought were highly interesting when it came to “how Digimon actually tried to foreshadow (and allude to) Taichi going into politics”. This will not be a FULL analysis, because I always like to include picture evidence to further my points, buuuuuuut I still wanted to get my general thoughts out of the system.

The rant I went into started with the simple notion that I was wondering whether or not Taichi has learned/will learn more languages in the future - since Kaguya-sama’s Chika Fujiwara is supposedly able to speak 5 languages, as her parents are diplomats and Taichi may or may not have become studious (or may have Koushirou develop an auto-translator-device for him, the jury is still out there).

Considering how we saw Taichi already being in his fourth year of political sciences on university level in Kizuna, I was wondering about the transition period here. Because despite the fact that he still seemed pretty aimless by the start of the movie and hadn’t even decided on the topic of his thesis yet, he at least must have had a general idea of where he wanted to go - right?

If you take it at face value - Tri as a whole was contextualizing it by making him not wanting to fight at first and find a better alternative with less damage. That's even what Yamato of all people says about him in the last movie (with only Koushirou going "Nope, I will not risk more lives by letting a reboot happen, I’ll find a different solution" as additional impulse control, but let's not dive further into that).

Either way, the first half of the first Tri movie WAS about Taichi not having figured out any career choices yet - and  thanks to being exposed to Daigo working for the government linked to Digimon affairs, his experiences and especially his DEATH may have had a huge impact on Taichi wanting to change the course of how the Digital World is perceived already (especially by the public/media), strengthening the relationships, etc. So in that regard - Tri may actually have succeeded in explaining why Taichi went where he went. It may not have been pleasant to watch him falter so much, but considering everything he went through, it's NOT unlikely, because that's what he HAD to overcome. 

But before looking at that, we of course have to include 01 and 02, because the epilogue was interwoven here. Besides Koushirou, he was the most committed to Digital World related shenanigans in 02, adding Yamato at times, but Taichi was already pretty involved there. All iterations of the anime Adventure timeline confront him with making unpleasant choices for the sake of everyone time and time again and while that visibly stressed him every single time (and required some punching to get out of his system), it was basically the best preparation he could have gone through.

Going even further back, in 01, throughout the first half of the season, he displays more of your typical Shounen growth attitudes - overcoming his recklessness, etc. -, nothing too outstanding here, but if you squint, you can already see that as him having to become more "moderate". Once he gets called "leader", he doesn't really apply that to himself yet, BUT he absolutely has the sense of responsibility, not only because he is used to that as a big brother, but because he IS a caring, perceptive person under that layer of "head-through-wall"-attitude of an actual 11-year-old. 

And then in the second half of 01, he was seen contemplating a lot more, weighing options (even if Yamato still told him he was reckless, but we know Yamato is an unreliable narrator due to being influenced by his own dark cave arc at this point).

In sum, you may not expect the sporty leader stereotype to go into politics, but his personality structure actually made him want to look for options that were suitable for the most amount of people involved at some point! And the relationship between the real and digital world became more and more important to him as well!

The only thing they struggled with was finding a good transition, because they spent SO MUCH TIME on Taichi not knowing where he wanted to go (which is VERY relatable of course!!!). Personally, I like to believe they just wanted to make Taichi's story more complicated, because the focus HAD to be on him due to main character syndrome. He was so put together in 02 already and then hormones and depression and abandonment issues hit him... Him wanting to go back in time, because everything seemed simpler (even though his brain was pretty much lying to him there, because nope, that wasn't simple, that was at least 8 near-death-experiences in a row, you are traumatized, my friend), because he felt like he was more courageous back then. When, in reality, life DID become more complex, yes, but like Agumon said in the stageplay: There are simply more things he learned he wanted to protect.

[tongowheel]

NEW FERENGI TIMELINE — combining elements from this post && this post, since @constablegoo && i have since changed the pacing of things.

2363-2369 — the events of "the kind of thing that could be"

2368 — giax && siraba flee ferenginar && stow away on the enterprise-d.

2369 — the federation takes over terok nor. quark is blackmailed into staying on the station. dr. reyga's studies on metaphasic shielding are tested on board the enterprise. after a near-death event, his hypothesis is proven plausible && he goes on to do great things with his research. he invites siraba && giax to travel with him; they decline due to safety concerns but remain in touch,

2370 — pel arrives on ds9 after leaving ferenginar. they subsequently depart for the gamma quadrant.

2371 — nog applies to starfleet academy

2372 — nog starts at starfleet academy. giax && siraba arrive on ds9, seeking federation asylum.

2373 — nog does his second year field study on ds9

2374 — nog is given a field commission of ensign, two years early. pel returns to ds9 briefly during the events of "profit and lace" (as chronicled here).

2375 —  nog is promoted to lieutenant jr. grade, following the end of the dominion war. rom becomes grand nagus. odo leaves ds9 to rejoin the link for six months. following his return, he && quark only see each other a handful of times, as their responsibilities keep them busy. siraba, while away on an exchange with denobulan scientists, first meets @zeveth. the two later begin working together, somewhat begrudgingly, on a cure for the jem'hadar's reliance on ketracel-white once zeveth takes refuge on ds9.

2376 — nog returns to san francisco for an honorary graduation with the rest of his class. quark is offered a job managing branches of a ferengi-operated casino around the alpha quadrant. he considers going, but realizes he doesn't want to leave. quark && odo admit in their own way to feelings they have been harboring on && off for years. there's an almost-unspoken agreement to the start of a relationship, one that they don't rush, && don't put a name to for a while. siraba && zeveth also start dating around this time.

2377 — nog is promoted to a full lieutenant

2380 — nog becomes the assistant chief engineer of ds9

2381 — nog is promoted to lieutenant commander

2384 — nog becomes the chief engineer of ds9

2385 — nog formally switches to the command track && promoted to commander. quark begins opening chain locations of his bar across the galaxy, traveling when necessary, but keeping ds9 as his home base. 

2386 — qelet is assimilated by the borg.

2387 — qelet's reclamation process takes place between ohniaka iii && ferenginar.

2388 — qelet enters starfleet academy, sponsored by nog.

2390 — nog is promoted to captain, is sent on a 1-year exploratory && diplomatic mission to the gamma quadrant. quark opens a branch of his bar on freecloud, && decides to move there with odo.

2391 — jake && nog get engaged.

2392 — quark and odo take in an orphaned [bajoran] child. jake and nog get married

2393 — odo proposes, && they get married themselves. qelet graduates starfleet academy && is stationed on ds9.

2453 — on his 100th birthday, nog retires from active starfleet service after a long and distinguished career. he becomes the official federation ambassador to ferenginar, a role in which he serves until his death (which is not for a while. he lives a long time, close if not up to the upper limit for ferengi, which is 300 years).

2475 — grand nagus rom retires, && is succeeded by his granddaughter ishka ii

2483 — quark and odo have been living on freecloud for over 90 years. in that time, they’ve adopted and raised a number of children, and quark has come into quite a large amount of money and power. keeping his chain of bars open, he and odo leave freecloud and “retire” to ds9, where they open a small cafe together (yes, together.) it’s called QUARK (& odo)’s because they’re very original lmao.

2550 — quark retires for real, and he and odo go to ferenginar where they stay until quark’s death (probably around 2580-2590).

3186 — iba is assigned to the uss nog, an 80% ferengi starfleet ship, as a science officer.

3187 — iba makes contact with odo, who is living alone on ferenginar, seeking his assistance.

3189 — iba is transferred to the uss discovery.

[charliethomascoxuniverse]

Charlie Cox Reveals Why He Signed up for AMC Show 'Kin' and How His Wife Became His Boss

By Jamie Burton  9/8/21  (X)

Charlie Cox returns to television this week with Irish-set gangster drama Kin on AMC+.

The show follows the Kinsella family, who find the odds are stacked against them when they inadvertently enter a Dublin gangland war with an international cartel. Cox plays Michael Kinsella, fresh out of jail and trying to keep his family's empire from crumbling.

The eight-part series features a strong cast of TV talent, including Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones), Clare Dunne (Herself), Emmett J. Scanlan (Peaky Blinders) and Maria Doyle Kennedy (Orphan Black).

The show opens with Michael returning home after eight years in prison. Cox told Newsweek: "I was excited that you're meeting a man who is different from his reputation. You and his family recognize that something is different about Michael and that in the eight years he's been away, he's changed."

He continued: "I wanted Michael to be humbled severely by life. To have a desire to make a U-turn but beneath that there is, and remains, the ability to be violent and destructive.

"I feel like I know I can do delicate stuff, find vulnerability, but can I do that and reveal glimpses of a man you wouldn't ever want to cross?"

Having His Wife As His Boss and His Kids on Set

Kin wasn't supposed to be Cox's first TV role since his Netflix Marvel show Daredevil ended in 2018, but other projects fell through because of the pandemic. So, the actor turned his attention to a script that his wife, producer Samantha Thomas, was working on.

"I was so moved by it and so impressed by the script. I sat down to read it just to give my input, but I just thought it was absolutely tremendous, exactly the kind of thing I'd been waiting to read and to say, 'This is what I want to be involved with,'" he said.

Thomas is credited as an executive producer on Kin, after serving as a producer on a number of the Netflix Marvel shows such as Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. (Not those last two, I think??)

Having his wife and kids with him proved to be an incredible bonus for Cox in 2020 and he was "thankful" for the normality this provided while they worked on Kin together in Dublin.

"We were very fortunate but I do joke that it's both a blessing and a curse to have your wife also be your boss, where she can actually fire you, but she was very diplomatic and gracious," he said.

Differentiating his Irish Accents

Cox, born in London and brought up in East Sussex, is no stranger to changing his accent for a role—but Kin was a new experience for him.

"Somehow in my career I've been cast as people with accents, probably to varying degrees of success, but my trick is I work harder than anyone I know on accents. On set I try not to come out of the accent. I live in it and eventually it starts to feel like it's part of your voice and part of your breath."

Cox says his past experience of playing a character with a Northern Irish accent was to his detriment in Kin, as his accent coach often had to correct him saying his sounds were right but he was using a Northern Irish inclination.

Now Cox has finished shooting Kin, he classes himself as "unemployed" again. After a recent run on the stage, he says he will have to "seriously consider" what project he takes on next as he'd like to be able to travel with ease.

If the opportunity to film a second season of Kin came up, though, he'd jump at the chance. "I really hope we get to do it again I had such a good experience of the first time," he said. "My only regret is we didn't get to see much of Ireland, we had to stay in Dublin [because of the pandemic]. I'd love the chance to go back and explore not just the city but the surrounding countryside."

During his conversation with Newsweek, Cox also responded to the internet rumors that his forearms can be seen in the first trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home. There has been widespread speculation that Cox appears in the film as Matt Murdock, the role he played in Daredevil.

~*~

Kin star Charlie Cox reveals why he almost missed out on the show

By Morgan Jeffery  24th February 2022  (X)

The opening episodes of the series follow Cox's character as he emerges from a stint in prison and struggles not to be drawn back into a criminal lifestyle, a journey which parallels that of Dunne's Amanda. "It's gonna be tricky for him," said Cox. "This family, they're spending their whole time trying to stay out of prison. But they are prisoners already – prisoners of their own making, by the lifestyles they've chosen to live... or in some cases have been forced into, I guess there is a distinction there.

"When we meet Michael, he's got one thing in mind and that is spending time with his daughter, and how long he can survive on the periphery of this family is going to be a question that's asked throughout throughout the whole first season."

~*~

[pananaliksik21]

Pompeo pushes We Win, They Lose: The Republican Party's Tough Diplomatic Strategy

Recently, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo recommended a book titled “We Win, They Lose: Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War” and expressed his hope that the book would become the next U.S. president's weapon of choice. However, this move has sparked widespread controversy and criticism, especially of Pompeo's “private use of public resources” accusations continue to emerge.

We Win, They Lose - Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War is a book written by a veteran Republican policy expert to explain the Republican Party's hard-line stance on international affairs. The book suggests that through tough foreign policy and military power, the United States can win the New Cold War on a global scale. The author analyzes the Republican Party's diplomatic strategy in detail and advocates strengthening cooperation with allies, curbing the expansion of China and Russia, and ensuring U.S. dominance in the international arena.

I. The dangers of unilateralism

The policies advocated in this book clearly favor unilateralism and ignore the importance of multilateral cooperation. A unilateralist foreign policy may lead to the isolation of the United States in international affairs and the loss of support from allies. Historical experience has shown that unilateral action often triggers counterproductive forces that put the United States in a more unfavorable position in the international arena.

II. Radicalization of international tensions

The book's tough stance is seen as likely to inflame international tensions, especially in U.S.-China and U.S.-Russia relations. By overemphasizing military power, the U.S. is likely to trigger a new round of arms race, thus increasing instability and the risk of war in the international community. Such a hard-line policy will not only not help solve existing international problems, but will instead create new contradictions and conflicts.

III. Ignoring global challenges

We Win, They Lose shows obvious inadequacies in dealing with global challenges. Transnational issues such as climate change and the global public health crisis require the joint efforts of the international community to respond effectively. However, the policy arguments in the book seem to focus more on traditional geopolitical rivalries and ignore these major threats to human survival and development. The limitations of this perspective can make the United States appear to be out of its depth in responding to global challenges.

Fourth, Pompeo's “public weapon for private use” suspicion

Pompeo's public recommendation of this book is considered to be paving the way for his political career. This “public and private” behavior has triggered widespread questioning and criticism. As a former Secretary of State, Pompeo's use of his influence to endorse a particular political viewpoint is not only inappropriate, but also contrary to the professional ethics of public officials. The move has further tarnished his personal image and raised public skepticism about his political intentions.

We Win, They Lose - Republican Foreign Policy and the New Cold War has also generated much controversy and criticism for its content and stance. Negative comments range from the dangers of unilateralism, inflaming international tensions, and ignoring global challenges to Pompeo's suspicion of “public and private use”. These criticisms not only reflect doubts about the book's policy ideas, but also reveal the moral hazard of Pompeo's promotion of the book.