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warningsine · 4 months ago

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As world leaders scramble to avert a full-scale war between Israel and Hezbollah, there is another conflict on a scale perhaps unimaginable to many they should rush to prevent as well.

It is a repeat, like Israel-Hezbollah in 2006, of a war that raged between the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda and Uganda between August 1998 and July 2003. By the time it ended, nine African countries and 20 rebel groups were involved. At least 5.4 million people died as a result of fighting, disease and malnutrition and 7 million were displaced. Africa’s World War — or the Great War of Africa, as it came to be known — was the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II.

Today, conflict between Congolese and Rwandan leaders has sharpened dangerously, peace initiatives have collapsed, an arms race is underway and deadly clashes between both sides and militias aligned to them are frequent. All the warning lights for a repeat of the 1998-2003 war are flashing.

Tensions have been simmering for years, with frequent reports of serious cross-border clashes in the eastern provinces of Congo. War talk and violence ramped up in the run-up to the Congolese election in December and have intensified over the past seven months. Weeks before the poll, Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi said Rwandan President Paul Kagame was behaving like Adolf Hitler and had ambitions to expand Rwanda into eastern Congo.

"I promise he will end up like Hitler,” Tshisekedi warned. Rwanda said the Congolese president’s words were a "loud and clear threat."

On July 9, a United Nations expert report confirmed widely circulated accusations that Uganda and Rwanda are backing the powerful M23 rebel group in eastern Congo. The report warned that the crisis "carried the risk of triggering a wider regional conflict." Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo responded that Tshisekedi had "consistently threatened to declare war on Rwanda" and that her country "will continue to defend itself."

The reasons for the fighting are decades-old and complex, yet currently boil down to various players’ bid to dominate Congo’s abundant mineral resources.

After the 1994 Rwandan genocide, in which 1 million ethnic Tutsi were killed by mainly Hutu ethnic groups, militias implicated in the murders fled into eastern Congo. The Rwandan army pursued them, arguing that it had to arrest perpetrators of the genocide and destroy their networks. This happened again in 1998, triggering the great war and spawning a web of vested interests involving neighboring nations and armed militias, mercenaries, mining companies, local and regional politicians, China, the United States and other global powers seeking a toehold in the region. Large parts of Congo have since been occupied by ruthless armed groups profiting from illegal mining.

The country produces nearly 70% of the world’s cobalt, while the Great Lakes region that Congo is a part of is rich with tin, tantalum, tungsten, lithium and gold — all of which are key components of electric vehicle batteries, cell phones, refrigerators, jewelry, airplane parts, cars and other goods. As of 2020, Chinese firms owned or had stakes in 15 of the 19 cobalt producing mines in Congo. Between 2022 and 2050, demand for nickel will double, cobalt will triple and lithium rise tenfold, according to the International Energy Agency.

A conflagration will potentially affect or draw in other countries. Apart from Congo, Rwanda, Uganda and Burundi, a plethora of armed groups is already in the region. The 11,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping mission (which goes by the French acronym MONUSCO) was supposed to leave the country by year-end, but has been asked by the Congolese government to stay on indefinitely.

South Africa, Malawi and Tanzania already have troops in Congo as part of the Southern African Development Community’s peacekeeping mission deployed there last December. Congo’s neighbors Angola, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Kenya and Zambia could be pulled into the fighting. An East African Community Regional Force exited Congo in December and may be drawn back in.

That’s not all. The Global Center for the Responsibility to Protect, a nongovernmental organization, says that there are at least 120 armed militias operating in the region, while mercenaries such as those of Russia’s Wagner Group have been contracted by various players. And worryingly, Congo has been stocking up on arms. The country’s military spending experienced the highest increase in the world last year, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Spending on armored vehicles, drones and other military equipment more than doubled in a year to $794 million.

The 1998-2003 conflict ended because strong continental leaders intervened through dialogue. In 2000, African leaders adopted the Lome Declaration that expressly outlawed coups, thus giving the African Union the authority to stand up to belligerents.

The current political climate, called "an epidemic” of coups by U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, makes it harder to intervene. Continental leadership of the type of the early 2000s is also lacking. In its last meeting on July 12, the African Union — its authority already undermined by swaggering coup leaders in Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and other nations experiencing democratic backsliding — failed to even place the Great Lakes crisis on its agenda.

Attempts to strike a new peace deal have floundered. On July 27, Tshisekedi told a meeting in Paris: "There are two processes. There was the Nairobi Process driven by Uhuru Kenyatta which, unfortunately, was subsequently managed by the new president William Ruto. He managed it very badly. The process is almost dead."

The second initiative, the Luanda Process led by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, has made little headway after a disastrous meeting in February.

What now? At the request of the U.S., the belligerents have been observing a humanitarian truce for nearly a month, but clashes have continued. This truce should be used by international leaders — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has admirably been heavily involved with Lourenco — to encourage Tshisekedi and Kagame to dial down the rhetoric and come to the table.

China, which has sold arms to both sides this year and is the dominant foreign economic player in Congo’s mining sector, should do the same. Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates (both of which have mining interests in Congo) should also be acting. Crucially, other regional leaders such as South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya should be taking a leadership role alongside Angola’s president to avert a deterioration and assert Africa’s interests.

With 7.2 million people in the region already displaced by the war — 700,000 of them in just the first three months of this year — a further escalation would spell disaster for the continent.

#Congo #Rwanda #Uganda #Burundi #politics

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djsherriff-responses · 10 months ago

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It’s a little interesting but also weird how there’s two books (comic and manga) that’s meant to expand on Dolph’s character and relationships……. And yet they conflict with each other and the show

In the show Dolph doesn’t make any remarks about having anyone note worthy in his life besides Alex and we don’t see any implication that his ex military co workers have any opinions of Dolph being a terrorist outside of “he’s a terrorist!” (besides maybe Red) , we don’t even see any family members referenced outside of a propaganda film that was made to paint Dolph in the worst light possible

Based on what I’ve found thanks to Google book previews, Dolph didn’t have any friends growing up as a military science experiment besides Lucy (who interestingly seems like the only person Dolph had contact with growing up that was around his age) and decided to try to run away from the military system not long after he became 18

But based on the comic’s description and previews , Dolph had at least one close friend , or at least an ally, in his time in the army: Mute

I don’t speak French and I’d really appreciate anyone who has read this and can speak French to shade some light onto this post

But I want to point out that Mute here is a private investigator who is visually shown to live in her own place and has had a girlfriend. Based on information from the manga, Dolph wasn’t even allowed to consider having any sort of sexuality, much less have the independence to have a sex life and live in his own place away from the military career he was raised in

Meaning Mute was not in the same “turning children into Eden’s super soldiers” program that Dolph grew up in, if Mute not being a cyborg wasn’t already an obvious clue to that

While I don’t speak French, it seems based on visuals that Mute and Dolph’s relationship was that of equals and they worked together often enough for Mute to consider Dolph “a former brother in arms”, even though the two have drastically different jobs

But the manga:

Seems a bit complicated to have a work partner who has to do exactly what his boss says, who is speaking directly into his brain and is he daughter of one of the scientists who made him to a weapon before , doesn’t it?

I want to add too is that the French comic doesn’t seem to have any mentions of Alex at all, despite Alex playing a huge role in Dolph’s life and involvement as a terrorist in Eden’s eyes

Seems a bit weird that Mute, a crime investigator, doesn’t seem to make any note about Dolph’s involvement with Alex

it’s rather disappointing that these were meant to expand Dolph’s character but just leaves more questions than answers, but also I’m totally adding this to my case that Dolph has repressed memories and general memory issues

#captain laserhawk #captain laserhawk spoilers #rambles #dolph laserhawk

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beelper-owo · 2 months ago

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I am now going to post my SCP OCs because I want to and I'm procrastinating from important thing

SCP OCs list:

Isekai'd reality-bending mad scientist looking for cure for her condition creates two test subjects that she gets way too attached to. Abandons said subjects after surprise Foundation visit. Succumbs to powers and fucking DIES (Thanks GOC). (Alice; Named for "Alison" by Elvis Costello)

Failed experiment #2 has attachment issues and is a very willing test subject. Creator/"Mother" made him functionally immortal to try and preserve experiment/not lose data/not die because of ritual to preserve Failed experiment #1/not die because of Failed experiment #1. (Jack/Jack Flash; Named for "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones; DO NOT CONFUSE WITH THE OTHER FUCKER NAMED JACK, I WROTE THIS CHARACTER IN 9TH GRADE)

Failed experiment #1 speedruns that one GOC manual thingy. Starts drawing attention to Creator/"Mother". Last straw was when someone almost hit him on a bike, to which he responds by flicking the wheel to turn in front of an oncoming car. Creator sedates him, can't bring herself to kill him, and decides to try storing his soul in his younger brother, Failed experiment #2. Failed experiment #2 is not doing too well because of it. (Jules/Julian; Named for "Hey Jude" by The Beatles)

Failed experiment #2's therapist and friend. Sweet catholic lady. Very accepting. Not anomalous. Great with kids. Friends-to-Close friends-to-Lovers relationship with Former MTF agent. (Valerie Rose; The name sounded pretty, and she is pretty. :3)

Former MTF agent is currently a security guard. Not anomalous. Mixed race Venuzualan-Italian. Parents are first-generation immigrants to America, and therefore he has triple citizenship and is tri-lingual. Will curse you out in all three languages. Nice to his friends, standoffish to others. Was a US Army Ranger before joining the Foundation as an MTF. Got an injury (still deciding what injury) and was placed on security guard duty. Overworked himself, made the injury worse, and is now permanently on security guard duty. Very bitter about it. Friends with Failed experiment #2, Failed experiment #2's therapist, Frankish vampire, and Cursed doctor. (Jean Rocco; Idk I came up with the last name and it sounded cool)

Frankish vampire born 24 years after the fall of the Western Roman empire. Averse to human blood. Survived by living out of caves, sewers, catacombs, etc. and feeding on animal blood. Born with condition, symptoms developed as he aged. Left village after killing a cat out of desperation and hunger. Speaks a mix of Frankish and Medieval Latin. Eventually learns some French as territories/places/people expand. Learns English after being captured by the Foundation in October 2009. Friends with Failed experiment #2, Former MTF agent, and Cursed doctor. (Bertric Bertram; Bert-: "Bright", -ric: "Powerful", -ram: "Active")

Cursed doctor is a medical doctor who accidently pissed off a thaumaturgist and was cursed to go into a trance-like state everyday and carry someone to a random distance away from their original position. Was picked up by the Foundation after the curse led to him getting assault and attempted kidnapping charges. Has chronic pain from being shot in the side during one of these instances. Staff have to be warned everytime he moves to a different site in order to prevent him from being murdered. Is friends with Failed experiment #2, Former MTF agent, and Frankish vampire. (David Dopravce; Dopravce is Czech for "carrier", "hauler", "forwarder", or "conveyer", according to Google Translate)

#scp oc #scp ocs #my ocs

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reyaint · 2 months ago

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history of HAIQIN | part VI: era of constant border conflict

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date: october 2, 2024

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The Age of Strife (1700s-1900s):

European Threats and Invasions:

Foreign Invasions and Border Skirmishes:

Although Haiqin successfully secured independence in the 17th century, it entered a long period of instability in the 1700s, as other European powers saw the newly independent nation as vulnerable. These nations, especially Spain, Portugal, France, and the Netherlands, were driven by expansionist ambitions and the desire to control the region's resources and strategic location. This led to a series of conflicts, border skirmishes, and attempted invasions throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. While none of these powers fully conquered Haiqin again, the constant threat of invasion kept the nation in a near-permanent state of military readiness, draining resources and shaping Haiqin's society around the need for defense.

Spanish Aggression (Mid-1700s):

Spain, one of the most aggressive colonial powers during this era, sought to dominate trade routes and establish control over Haiqin. In the mid-18th century, Spain launched several naval attacks on Haiqin's coastal cities. These attacks were devastating, with many towns burned and significant resources drained as the nation mounted a defense. Haiqin’s naval prowess, bolstered by alliances with Greece and Ireland, proved decisive in repelling these attacks, though the cost in human lives and economic stability was high. The battles with Spain forced Haiqin to develop innovative naval tactics, which would later form the backbone of its military doctrine.

Portuguese Interference (Late 1700s):

Portugal's ambitions were subtler but equally dangerous. By inciting unrest in border regions and supporting rebel groups, Portugal aimed to destabilize Haiqin from within, creating a long-running proxy war. These conflicts bled the nation dry, as resources were diverted to control uprisings. This period of constant vigilance and low-intensity warfare against Portuguese-backed forces shaped the way Haiqin approached internal security. This was also when the Silver Falcons, a covert elite force specializing in counter-insurgency, were first deployed to root out foreign influence.

French Occupation Attempt (Early 1800s):

Napoleon's conquests extended across the globe, and in the early 19th century, France briefly occupied parts of southern Haiqin. The occupation of key southern cities and ports lasted only a few years, but it was a traumatic time for the nation. Local resistance movements led by generals like Aria Othonos, a prominent female commander, were crucial in expelling the French. Her leadership and strategic use of guerrilla warfare made her a national hero. The French invasion, though short-lived, showcased the resilience of Haiqin’s people and the effectiveness of their hybrid military tactics, blending Greek phalanx formations with guerrilla strategies.

Constant Border Skirmishes (Throughout the 1800s):

Even after major invasions subsided, border skirmishes continued with colonial powers, especially France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Territorial disputes over resource-rich areas, particularly involving valuable minerals and fertile land, were common. These skirmishes were small but frequent, forcing Haiqin to remain in a state of military readiness for more than a century. The Royal Guard was expanded during this time, focusing on rapid response and fortifying key strategic points across the borders.

Haiqin's Military Evolution:

Transformation of the Army:

To resist larger and better-armed European forces, Haiqin transformed its military structure into one that emphasized flexibility, discipline, and the strategic use of terrain. The army integrated Greek-inspired phalanx formations, particularly useful in open combat, with the guerrilla tactics of the indigenous population. Soldiers were trained to operate in diverse environments, from mountain ranges to dense forests, making them adaptable to the varying geography of the nation. Similar to the training King Katalies gave to his troops against Britain.

Navy’s Ascendance:

The navy, once a secondary force, became a cornerstone of Haiqin’s defense strategy. Realizing that control of the seas was crucial to repelling foreign invasions, the monarchy invested heavily in naval development. By the 19th century, Haiqin had one of the most advanced fleets in the region, with ships designed for speed and agility. These ships, combined with cutting-edge naval tactics learned from alliances with Greece and the fledgling United States, enabled Haiqin to maintain control of its waters and safeguard vital trade routes. Notably, during the Portuguese naval incursions in the late 1700s, Haiqin's Ironclad Fleet was deployed, surprising enemies with its superior firepower and maneuverability.

Specialized Elite Units and Espionage:

The Silver Falcons, established as an elite guard and intelligence agency, became one of the most feared and respected military units of the era. These soldiers specialized in covert operations, assassination, and sabotage, often operating behind enemy lines to disrupt invasions before they reached Haiqin's shores. Their successful use of stealth and guerrilla tactics greatly influenced military strategy. Moreover, Haiqin established a vast spy network inspired by the legendary figure Sloane Tuoapizan, sending agents to gather intelligence in enemy nations, disrupt supply chains, and infiltrate foreign governments.

Diplomatic Maneuvering:

Alliances with Greece, Ireland, and Scotland:

These alliances, forged from a shared experience of resisting colonial powers, were crucial to Haiqin’s survival. Greece, Ireland, and Scotland provided vital military support, including tactical advice, supplies, and troops. Cultural and intellectual exchanges flourished, and these nations helped bolster Haiqin’s defenses against its more powerful adversaries. These alliances were also critical in ensuring that European powers were forced to fight on multiple fronts, reducing the pressure on Haiqin.

Naval Pacts with Greece and the United States:

By the mid-18th century, Haiqin had entered into naval agreements with Greece and the United States. This partnership allowed for the exchange of ship designs and naval tactics, strengthening Haiqin’s maritime defenses. These pacts also ensured that Haiqin could secure vital supplies and resources during times of conflict.

Cultural and Trade Exchanges:

Though Haiqin’s policies became more isolationist, the nation did not entirely shut itself off from the world. Controlled trade routes remained open, especially with trusted allies, allowing for an exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices. These exchanges helped foster a sense of shared identity and bolstered Haiqin's economy during the turbulent centuries of conflict.

Internal Consolidation and Isolationism:

Tightening of Trade and Travel:

By the late 1700s, the monarchy adopted an isolationist policy aimed at safeguarding Haiqin from foreign influences. Strict regulations were placed on trade, limiting foreign merchants to specific ports and requiring extensive background checks. Diplomatic relations were primarily reserved for allied nations, emphasizing the need for security and control. This protective stance sought to insulate Haiqin from espionage and subversion while consolidating the monarchy’s power.

Trade Networks:

While isolationism prevailed, Haiqin prioritized trade with trusted allies, ensuring the supply of essential goods and resources necessary for ongoing military campaigns. Trade with Greece flourished, with exchanges of olive oil, textiles, and military supplies bolstering Haiqin's economy. The government implemented policies that encouraged local production and self-sufficiency, reducing dependence on foreign imports. Agricultural innovations led to increased yields, allowing for surplus exports that contributed to national wealth.

Internal Consolidation:

Isolationist policies facilitated the centralization of power within the monarchy. The Vasilios dynasty streamlined governance, establishing a bureaucratic state that exercised control over military, economic, and educational institutions. Provincial governors, appointed by the crown, implemented policies that aligned with royal interests. Although local governance was granted some autonomy, ultimate authority remained firmly in the hands of the monarchy, fostering a stable but sometimes contentious relationship between the crown and local leaders.

Cultural Renaissance and National Identity:

Military and Technological Innovations:

To fortify its defenses, Haiqin invested heavily in military research and technology. Drawing inspiration from successful military traditions, the nation adopted new weaponry, including improved firearms and cannons, and fortified its coastal defenses. Innovations in military engineering led to the construction of impressive fortifications along key borders, which played a critical role in resisting invasions. By the mid-1800s, Haiqin’s military was recognized as one of the most technologically advanced forces in the region.

Cultural Renaissance:

Despite the strains of warfare, the period witnessed a flourishing cultural renaissance. Haiqin embraced its dual heritage, celebrating both Greek and Native traditions through education, art, and literature. Schools were established to teach the histories and languages of both cultures, while national symbols, such as the Daggered Rose Flag, emerged as powerful emblems of unity and resilience. Festivals celebrating poetry, music, and dance became integral to national identity, promoting a sense of belonging and pride.

Non-lethal Duels:

The practice of non-lethal dueling emerged as a unique cultural tradition in Haiqin, allowing individuals to resolve disputes honorably without resorting to deadly violence. These ritualized combat scenarios were characterized by strict rules and formalized conduct, reflecting Haiqin's values of strength and honor. The duels served to reinforce social bonds and demonstrate martial prowess, contributing to a sense of community amidst the backdrop of conflict. These were also used as a form of entertainment. Usually held in the Hanging Crescent Arena within Nirin

The Role of Women:

Women in Power:

Women in Haiqin held influential roles in political, military, and cultural spheres, challenging the norms of the time. Inspired by pioneering figures like Sloane Tuoapizan, women rose to prominence in espionage, diplomacy, and military leadership. They acted as regents, advisors, and cultural patrons, shaping the nation’s policies and contributing to its defense.

Female Spies and Warriors:

Haiqin’s military culture celebrated women's contributions, recognizing them as capable warriors and strategic leaders. Notable figures like General Aria Othonos emerged, leading successful campaigns against foreign invaders and inspiring future generations. Women became integral to the espionage network, providing critical intelligence that aided in thwarting invasions and securing the nation’s borders.

Cultural Contributions:

Women significantly impacted Haiqin’s cultural life, excelling in the arts and gaining recognition for their creative works. Female poets, musicians, and painters contributed to a vibrant cultural landscape, often focusing on themes of resistance, strength, and national pride. Their contributions fostered a sense of unity and identity among Haiqinian people during times of adversity.

Society Under the Monarchy:

The Growth of the Monarchy:

Throughout the 1700s and 1800s, the Vasilios dynasty became the embodiment of national pride and resilience. Monarchs personally led military campaigns and were deeply involved in state affairs. As the nation grew wealthier, however, tensions began to rise between the monarchy and the merchant and land-owning classes, who sought greater political representation.

Formation of Provinces:

To better manage its territories, Haiqin established ten provinces, each with distinct regional identities. While these provinces were initially under direct royal control, they gradually gained autonomy over local trade and governance. However, the monarchy retained ultimate authority over national security, ensuring a centralized approach to defense against foreign threats.

#reality shifter #reality shifting #shiftblr #shifting community #shifting #shifting motivation #shifting reality #dr scrapbook #dr world #reyaint #anti shifters dni

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noahsbookhoard · 2 months ago

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📚April 2024 Book Review (Part 2/3)📚

Lots of "first" this month: there are so many classic authors I had never read before! But they were all really enjoyable, it is another good batch.

Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett

To save her family's pub, Polly Perks has to find her brother, a Missing in Action soldier of the Borogravian army. She disguises herself as a man and enlist in the army under the name Oliver. A brilliant idea she might not have been the only one to have.

This one I was impatient to read, the concept was such a classic of fantasy novel that I had high hopes Terry Pratchett would make something awesome out of it.

I love the characters in every Discworld novel but this one especially: all the soldiers have different reasons to be here but they all stay together and care for one another. And I love the clown car effect of "surely this one isn't a woman too!" I couldn't get enough of it.

The story in itself is a bit blury in my memory, sorry. It's probably because I listen to the audiobook and I sometimes lose sight of the plot, on top of it being 5 months behind me. I remember most of all the Nuggan's ever expanding list of Abominations (religious taboos which includes the color blue, people under 3ft tall and sneezing) and the question of The Duchess (deified ruler of Borogravia) being alive or dead.

The message of the novel isn't subtle but if you need to be told that war is bad, religious bigotry and jingoism are bad and misogyny is bad you might be beyond subtlety. I love that Terry Pratchett is definite in his position, razor-like in his satire but always entertaining and funny. Fantasy is a political tool and he proves it everytime.

And (because I am still a fangirl inside) I had my little Vimes cameo as the cherry on top. 10/10 no notes.

Murder at the Vicarage (L'affaire Protheroe) by Agatha Christie

The Colonel Propheroe is widely disliked in the village of St Mary Mead, even his wife is cheating on him. So when he is found shot dead and with a strange half written note, there is no shortage of suspects, not even the Vicar with his very unkind words a few hours before. Miss Jane Marple, the Vicarage's neighbour, decides to solve the mystery.

My first Miss Marple novel! I have absolutely no reading order, this is a bit disjointed so I thought it was my first Christie but I remembered that technically I read And Then They Were None some time ago, it just completely slipped my mind. At that point I hadn't read any Hercule Poirot either so I was quite fresh to Christie's writing and ready for the challenge.

I made the questionable decision to read her novels in french because I wanted to give myself the best chance to solve the mystery. I thought reading in my native language would be easier. Well, apparently the most common translation is old and really not that great so I might rethink that! But for the foreseeable future (at least september) I will have read them in french. And completely failed at solving the crimes but that's another issue.

I don't want to say too much about the plot because that's the whole point of a whodunit but Agatha Christie always has the art of making an asshole the victim of the murder and you still want to know who did it just for the thrill of the chase.

But what I love with Christie is her detectives. The characters are usually quite flat and archetypal, but Poirot and Marple are a delight. Where Hercule Poirot is well established and respected in his craft, Miss Marple is just the nosy neighbour with a sharp mind and an even sharper tongue. The narrator is just so done with her putting her nose in this case which makes it even funnier. I love Miss Marple so much, I want to be her when I grow up.

I was absolutely lost in all the clues, so I did not deduce any part of the revelation but even if I had I would not have seen the murdered coming, I was floored. Everything is there, you know it is, and the culprit still takes you by surprise. Great job Mrs Christie, you did it again.

I, Robot (Robots #1) by Isaac Asimov

In the 2050's Dr. Susan Calvin, famous robopsychologist, answer a reporter's interview and tells him several stories about robot intelligence and their interaction with humans.

Asimov is a legend in SciFi so it was a prerequisite in my discovery of the genre. I read very few short stories anthology so I was a scared I wouldn't enjoy it but as always good books prove me wrong.

I don't remember all the short stories, the one who stuck to me are Robbie, Reason and Catch that Rabbit! but they were all good. Some more compelling than others (Catch the Rabbit! stayed in my memory because I STILL don't understand it) but I'll try to give an overall review rather than story by story.

The play on the Three Laws is at the heart of almost all of them: either it is a source of conflict or it helps in the resolution but it is endlessly creative.

Susan Calvin is an interesting character: a woman, pioneer in her field, a respected authority and she represents a more serious and scientific approach. The stories in which she appears are very murder mystery-like: there is a problem, some set of rules; how do you use the rules to solve the problem? Boom, done.

On the other hand you have the more comicsl stories with my goats: Mike Donovan and Gregory Powell! They approach each assignment as if it was some punishment in a hell design specifically for them (mood) and their first step to solving any problem is always to complain about it and bucket with the other. They are such and old couple together, please give me 10 more shorts stories with Donovan and Powell!

House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski

While rummaging in a dead man's appartment, Johnny Truant found a stack of paper, disorganised, written on scraps of paper, some half destroyed. Johnny will lose himself trying to organise the notes, which turn out to be an essay on a documentary film called The Navidson Record. In this film Navidson, a famous photographer, records the exploration of the house he moved in with his family and the strange dark hallway that appeared in the living room.

I've heard about House of Leaves A LOT and had no idea what it was about, I thought it was some dark academia novel and since Fourth Wimg I am weary of social media's popular book rec. A booktube account I follow talked about it and although its reviews was very lukewarm, I was intrigued. The dedication sets the tone: "this is not for you" and that finished piquing my curiosity.

I loved the actual House on Ash Lane subplot the most: it's the heart of the book, the most mysterious and the spookiest. I loved the mise en abyme, and how it saltoed back to be a book in the book's universe. The academic paper language and scientific description of the events contrast with the uncomprehensible nature of the house and the format growing more and more indecipherable as the exploration of the house progresses. It was creepy, I felt pulled in the story, I deeply enjoyed that.

I was more lukewarm toward Johnny's subplot. Watching him slowly lost himself in Zampano's work and lose his grip with reality was chilling but there came a moment where I was lost in references. It was mostly the part with her mother where you can't say what is dementia and what is real. Some theories online are interesting but some or batshit insane and made sense of a small element of the book at the expense of all the rest. At least the Labyrinth under the house doesn't make sense in a somewhat linear matter. I can deal with linear nonsense. The fact that some part of the book (some of his mother's letters and poems) are still undecyphered (That's not just a matter of turning the book upside down) was just frustrating to me: there's content here and I just can't read it? Why?

I read it while oscillating from the french paperback (there's no way you can read it on an e-reader) and a pdf of the original I found in the subreddit for the book. Sadly there's a lot that's lost in translation but also some translating choice I am still pulling my hair about. (September 19, 1988, in which the words aren't translated literally, the name of Parisian streets and landmark aren't the same... either they were throwing things at the wall trying to see what sticks (unlikely) or they knew something us reader don't...)

Overall it is an interesting book, I understand the craze. However I am not obsessed enough to spend much of my free time trying to decypher it. I lurk sometimes in the subreddit trying to see if someone came up with an interesting theory but not much more.

#book review #bookblr #books #terry pratchett #discworld #monstrous regiment #agatha christie #murder at the vicarage #murder mystery #i robot #isaac asimov #sci fi #house of leaves #mark z danielewski #miss marple

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vennyvenadito · 1 year ago

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I've had this miraculous au idea for a while, and I think I'm ready to talk about it. So, pretty much the idea is that instead of they miraculous heroes going up against evil miraculous holders instead they fight against supernatural beings. Full on magic vs. magic. We could see the heroes fight things like a necromancer creating a ghost/skeleton army using the skeletons in the Paris Catacombs, a pack of evil werewolves, a colony of vampires trying to create a hivemind Salem's Lot style, a black night with a corrupted excalibur, a kelpie, a water monster luring in the local pool, the fae, the faewild, or (playing of French mythology) the Beast of Gévaudan (or it's ghost), Gargouille (a sea serpent that terrorized the French countryside before being killed by a Saint and then being turned into the first gargoyle) that got resurrected and is bring gargoyles to life to living to attack Paris. Maybe the miraculous could be the reason why all these creatures are in Paris (assuming this could also be an idea for what could happen after Hawkmoth is defeated, since I'm really not into of the show’s villain being another butterfly user after five seasons of it (which was already too long)(plus I don't care enough about Lila and her shitty writing and dumbing down all the people around her to make her work to really care about her as a villain). Maybe all the magic from the miraculous has drawn all these creatures in, turning Paris into a magical beacon, going off the idea that magic attracts magic.

Honestly, sounds cool

Is pretty much what I want to do in my rewrite of the series, instead just one villain, there is more, like magic creatures, monsters and even foundations, just to expand the world instead of having one enemy the all series

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glitterpensupremacy · 1 year ago

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Hey, so I've this au idea for a little while (and have shared it with others on Tumblr, though anonymously), and I wanted to get your opinion on it. I've had this miraculous au idea for a while, and I think I'm ready to talk about it. So, the idea is that instead of the miraculous heroes going up against evil miraculous holders instead they fight against supernatural beings. Full on magic vs. magic. We could see the heroes fight things like a necromancer creating a ghost/skeleton army using the skeletons in the Paris Catacombs, a pack of evil werewolves, a colony of vampires trying to create a hivemind Salem's Lot style, a black knight with a corrupted excalibur, a kelpie, a water monster luring in the local pool, the fae, the feywild, (playing of French mythology) the Beast of Gévaudan (or it's ghost), or Gargouille (a sea serpent that terrorized the French countryside before being killed by a Saint and then being turned into the first gargoyle) that got resurrected and is bring gargoyles to life to living to attack Paris. Maybe the miraculous could be the reason why all these creatures are in Paris (assuming this could also be an idea for what could happen after Hawkmoth is defeated, since I'm really not into the idea of the show’s next villain being another butterfly user after five seasons of it (which was already too long) (plus I don't care enough about Lila and her shitty writing and the writers dumbing down all the people around her to make her work to really care about her as a villain). Maybe all the magic from the miraculous has drawn all these creatures in, turning Paris into a magical beacon/hotspot, going off the idea that magic attracts magic.

This would be a really cool addition to the world building of Miraculous! I’ve always thought that if the Kwami exist, other magical beings should as well.

It also sounds like this new show/continuation of the previous show would be more episodic with occasional arcs rather than a fully serialized story with the villains and such, which going off of the idea that this is post HM defeat and LS reveal and etc would make a lot of sense since most of the major interpersonal conflicts have been resolved. Obviously that doesn’t mean this show can’t have ANY plot or depth, character growth and multi-episode arcs could definitely still work with this storyline. It would also be very fascinating to explore how to react to all of these new threats, especially since some of their old powers don’t work anymore (which opens up the gateway to potential upgrades or new powers to replace the old ones).

I also wonder if the other hero characters would still be featured in this story. They don’t get all that fleshed out in the show, so most of them may not seem all that compelling, but that could be another thing this new plot does, give some characters other than the MCs time to shine as individuals. (Especially since Ladybug is no longer required in every fight due to not needing to purify akumas anymore, not to mention the idea of LB and CN resolving most of their issues, so taking the spotlight off of them every now and then isn’t bad idea. Don’t get me wrong, I love those guys, I just wish we could see more of the other characters outside it being plot devices or eye candy.)

All in all, this is an excellent and intriguing idea and I would love to see it expanded upon. 10/10 concept, no doubt.

#miraculous ladybug #ml ladybug #miraculous au #miraculous kwamis

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triviareads · 9 months ago

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Any recs where the heroine is just badass? She knows what she wants and goes after it (hopefully a man/woman) I want to read more than just a wallflower sort of heroine.

The Viper by Monica McCarty: You'll never get more badass than Bella MacDuff, who defies her husband and his political views and escapes him to crown Robert the Bruce, and survives torture and imprisonment because of it (and she's also a real person!). There are other Highland Guard books with badass heroines (The Arrow and The Ghost come to mind) but Bella is honestly on her own level.

The Conquering of Tate the Pious by Sierra Simone: Two strong heroines; Adelais is a Norman warlord who takes over from her late husband during the Invasion, and Tate is the abbess of Far Hope Abbey which Adelais is trying to take over, and Tate basically offers herself up to Adelais to prevent this.

The Black Hawk by Joanna Bourne: Justine was raised to be a child soldier/agent for the French Secret Service in Napoleonic France, and she and the hero Adrian play this decades-long cat-and-mouse game as they switch between enemies and allies, and they eventually become lovers as well.

Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase: Jessica is super self-possessed and has no qualms about shooting the hero after he publicly ruins and rejects her, and then indirectly threatening to spill his simpy behavior in a court of law for public record.

An Island Princess Starts a Scandal by Adriana Herrera: Honestly both the heroines are badass in this one, and in different ways; Cora is a business mogul who wants to expand railways in South America, and Manuela is super into Cora from the start and chases after her right from the start. There's a very hot scene where Manuela finally breaks Cora via reverse psychology and Cora storms into a party and demands Manuela be fetched and brought into her carriage for imminent seduction.

Cutthroat Countess by Minerva Spencer: Jo is a strong, silent type and is great with knives which comes in handy when she takes down half a private army in Napoleonic France; definitely a gal with a particular set of skills. She also has a pet raven!

Grace Callaway's Lady Charlotte's Society of Angels series has all kickass heroines who work as investigators and are generally very forward when it comes to expressing desire to their love interests. I'd specifically recommend Charlotte and the Seductive Spymaster because Charlie is this hypercompetent lead investigator who does so much good work for women who have nowhere else to turn.

Sarah MacLean's Hell's Belles series generally has strong feminist heroines, all of whom are operating outside the law to help women and kick ass. Heartbreaker is a personal favorite of mine; the heroine has criminal origins and uses her social invisibility to break off unwanted matches for women.

If we're talking about heroines who unabashedly chase after their love interests, then I can recommend no better than When a Girl Loves an Earl by Elisa Braden. Viola is obsessed with James to the point where the entire ton refers to her pursual of him as the “Tannenbrook Hunt”. And Olivia and the Masked Duke by Grace Callaway (from the aforementioned Lady Charlotte series) also has similar vibes except with an age gap and a hero who feels suuuuuper guilty about his attraction to Livy. At first.

#book recs #elisa braden #grace callaway #sarah maclean #minerva spencer #adriana herrera #sierra simone #loretta chase #joanna bourne #monica mccarty #historical romance #romance novels #ask

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beevean · 1 year ago

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ooh, are we making fun of NFCV again? i wanna add to the pile re: how all the so-called "diversity" and "representation" it gets praised for goes overwhelmingly, if not entirely to the bad guys - and half of them don't even have a speaking role or even names, or at least we don't learn about them anywhere else besides the supplementary material, like in the case of drac's vampire generals (except godbrand, of course). even the two PoC good guys i can think of, zamfir and greta, aren't that great considering zamfir is portrayed as hopelessly and delusionally devoted to the deceased targoviste royalty, to the point of forsaking the wellbeing of both the underground and aboveground survivors, and then dies anyway in service of that delusion. and greta's just a last-minute newcomer to allegedly address grant's conspicuous absence that fans were complaining about from the start.

We never stop making fun of NFCV lol, there's always something new to point out 🥰

I can see how fans would respond to this that representation doesn't need to be relegated to heroes only, and you can have minority villains as long as they're not stereotyped. But yeah, the representation in NFCV is shallow at best and offensive at worst.

Most Generals in Dracula's army don't have a speaking role. Cho, the Japanese vampire who goes down in less than a minute in S2, gets a flashback after she died, because storytelling.mp4, and even then she doesn't talk. I only remember Raman's name because Carmilla says something like "there are only 4 women in this castle" nope it's just 3 of them lmao

Sumi and Taka look identical despite not being related according to Word of God, which is hysterical to me because you know they said that to divert the accusations of incest. my pal. you really think your GoT-inspired show is above twin siblings having a threesome? Also, you know, they immediately jump to rape by deception without a hint that they'd do that through all season, and then their corpses get graphically mutilated and pissed on (contrast this with the white, most likely French Lenore who gets to flirt and be cute with her victim)

Isaac is gay! How do we know that? He "jokes" out of nowhere about kissing Hector, a guy he has zero respect for. This line has no follow-up and is OOC with how serious the character is always portrayed. And that's not counting his declaration of love made to his abusive master when he was a boy.

I don't know enough about Islam to have a solid opinion on how it was treated in Isaac's case, and in a vacuum having a "complex" Muslim anti-villain is more original than usual. But I don't like how his self-flagellating habit was first treated as a result of his traumatic past, then as a religious practice, then completely dropped. Using Mohammed's own words about Hell being emptied, which from what I've read mean that in Islam hell is transitory, and twisting them to justify his necromancy is... certainly a delicate choice, but again, he doesn't really reflect on this in S4, he just jumps to "wow I sure love having agency!"

Also, in retrospect, it would have been much better if Isaac hailed from the Emirate of Granada instead of being a slave, a backstory more befitting for N!Annette for her origins and time period. In his case, it would have been more original, and expanded the world a little more. What's that? He wouldn't have a reason to hate humankind? Then how come game!Isaac can do it just fine? :) You know, since he was persecuted (maybe even by the Spanish Inquisition!) for his cursed powers? :) maybe you can have more reasons to hate humans than "former slave"? maybe black people can be depicted as something different than slaves? :)

Striga and Morana are cute together, but are non-entities who begin and end with each other. Also, funny how Morana, the lesbian of color (triple minority!), is literally the most useless and wasted of the four :) and even then the most characterization she gets is "she loves to torture people". nice

Alucard was made bi by Word of God and I don't need to repeat how appalling it is. I hate that most "antis" have a problem with him being attracted to men in the first place, and not that the declaration was made to downplay his sexual assault.

(meanwhile Carmilla, inspired by the literal archetype of the lesbian vampire, to the point that you can even see her game version as being a lesbian thanks to Laura, gets reduced to joke that she'd only sleep with Godbrand if all the men, half of the women and some of the animals died. but hey, she's a radfem, I guess that's enough)

Apparently I have... controversial opinions on the choice of darkening Hector's skin and the ethnicity he is in this version. But I will say that there is something weird in deliberately giving him bronze skin, I suppose to emphasize his Greek heritage, and then spending two seasons literally dehumanizing him and lowering him to the level of a dog and pet.

Also something about the Speakers, nomadic people whose oral traditions get made fun of, by Sypha in particular who calls them idiots, is... hm. The wiki even points out: "They are also similar to the Jews (especially due to their reverence for knowledge and their tradition of oral history) and, to a lesser extent, to the Romani."

I skipped Zamfir's plotline because by S4 I had burnout, but yeah, Greta is probably the best character of color and even then she's little more than a generic badass woman with attitude. Also she's even more ambiguously brown than Hector, I would say on the same level as Casca from Berserk - you can tell she's not white, but she's not really anything else.

(btw no, she has no relation with Grant :) )

tl;dr: the only good representation in nfcv are the tunisi people isaac speaks to and this is why i do not trust them with black annette, and i hate the fucking discourse on twitter from people who just don't like the design change

#anti netflixvania #something something this show is bad even as its own product

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deathmetalunicorn1 · 2 years ago

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If you had to create a roster for the Einherjar (without using those already on the list) who would you pick from history?

For a more fun one let’s play which Isekai characters would you pick to be an Einherjar?

This was quite fun to do!

1. Alexander the Great, educated, a strong warrior before he was king, responsible for sacking the Persian Empire, but even when the Persian King fled, he left the coward king’s family unharmed, showing that he was also compassionate. He died young and his heirs were assassinated shortly after and the empire promptly fell apart without his guidance.

2. Genghis Khan, one of history’s most infamous leaders, conquered the Mongol Empire plus most of Asia and Europe during his reign. A strong warrior and brilliant tactician who ruled his massive army, and had so many children with various women that his descendants could form their own army today. I love the mystery that nobody knows how he died or where his body is.

3. William Wallace, famous for leading Scotland to its freedom from the English, he may have not been the one to actually do it, but his actions as a warrior and a leader set in motion to the Scots rising up against King Edwards I following his death. His death was tragic, being betrayed and then executed in horrible ways and having his severed body parts displayed around England.

4. Miyamoto Musashi, a ronin samurai who killed his first person at age 13. He traveled alone with no affiliations to train his skills with a sword, which resulted in nito ichi-ryu, better known as kensai, battling with two swords. His most well-known fight was against Sasaki Kojiro, which he won, but then retired to train others with swords and retired with an undefeated record of 61 duels.

5. Spartacus, warrior turned slave turned gladiator turned rebellion leader, courageous but compassionate, a ruthless warrior who offered his enemies both mercy and respect, and led an army of rebels against their oppressors, the Roman Empire.

6. Achilles, who led the Greek army against Troy, killing Hector at the gates, a proud and strong warrior and leader, but he needs to make sure to wear iron boots that are impenetrable as everyone knows his weak spot.

7. Ching Shih, a female pirate who commanded 300 ships and was able to go toe-to-toe with the Chinese Imperial Navy. If you disobeyed you were immediately executed, but the same went for if her men raped captives, she had a no tolerance policy. She ended up getting to retire with all her wealth after the Imperial Government offered both her and her crew amnesty after they were defeated under the agreement that they would stop.

8. ‘Mad Jack’ Churchill, a British solider in WWII that charged into combat with weapons that were not common for the time, such as a sword and long bow. He was disappointed the war ended with the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as he wanted to keep fighting. He once stormed a German held down in Italy with just one other man and captured a mortar position and 42 men with just his sword, long bow and his bagpipes.

9. Amanirenas, one eyed ancient queen of Kush, now modern day Sudan, who fought back against the Roman Empire, after the death of Cleopatra, when they decided to try to expand past Egypt, so viciously that Rome and Augustus were quick declare peace between the two empires after they couldn’t win due to the unbearable heat and the pissed off queen. A fierce tactician who used supposedly used war elephants, fed captors to her pet lion, and defaced Augustus’ statues and kept the head of one statue under the feet of the throne of Kush.

10. Lyudmila Pavlichenko, deadliest female sniper in the world; sniper for the Soviet Union in the Red Army during WWII; nicknamed Lady Death and claimed, during her time as a sniper, to have killed 309 soldiers. Became an advocate for peace and toured the world.

11. Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin a French watchmaker, illusionist, magician and regarded as the father of the modern style of conjuring, having brought magic from something only seen at circuses or similar places like that for the poor, to something of grand entertainment for the wealthy.

12. Richard I of England, a bad king but a brilliant warrior, having spent most of his time in the Crusades, rather than running his own kingdom, or fighting against France

13. Ragnar Lothbrok, Swedish and Danish king, legendary Viking warrior leader who raid both the British Isles and the Holy Roman Empire in the 9th century

As for Isekai~

1. Ainz Ooal Gown- Overlord

2. Rimuru Tempest- That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime

3. Canya- In the Land of Leadale

4. Azusa Aizawa- I’ve Been Killing Slimes for 300 Years and Maxed out my Level

5. Yuna- Kuma-Kuma-Kuma Bear

6. Albedo- Overlord

7. Diablo- That Time I got Reincarnated as a Slime

8. Shiraori- So I’m a Spider, So What?

9. Seiya Ryuguin- Cautious Hero: The Hero is Overpowered but Overly Cautious

10. Mamako Oosuki- Do You Love your Mom and Her Two-Hit Multi-Target Attacks?

11. Diablo- How Not to Summon a Demon Lord

12. Hajime Nagumo- Arifureta: From Commonplace to World’s Strongest

13. Teacher and Fran- Reincarnated as a Sword

#record of ragnarok

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mrssimply · 2 years ago

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Prompt: All I need is some panam/male!v other than that have fun with it

There’s just not enough for those two

Hello Dear anon who prompted this! First of all, thank you! I'm very happy someone prompted a Panam/Male V fic because, I agree with you, there is too few of them out there in my opinion. I'm very happy to contribute.

Technically, in my head this is the follow up of Le Vent l'emportera (don't mind the french title, the fic is in english), but I didn't list it as a second part because it can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

The prompt was: "All I need is some panam/male!v other than that have fun with it. There’s just not enough for those two"

To be honest, it took me a while to get an idea of what I might want to do, but I had just finished the Netflix show, and although I didn't like it, I loved knowing more about cyberpsychosis so... it will be the general theme.

9th: Edge

From the Atlantic to the Pacific, everyone knows about the Aldecaldos, the first of the nomad’s family, that grew to be considered a Nation through the former NUSA. Over five hundred people claim to be part of it though several tribes and twice as many clans.

Each clan can be subdivided into several families, which is what V found when he met Panam. The family grew in the last five years due to its success, and with its numbers, so did its fame.

Everyone knows the Bright Family is powerful as a group, but there is one name in particular, whispered across the desert, which everyone knows even better. It’s just a letter, really, but it brings admiration into their ranks, and fear into the ranks of their enemies.

The legend grew, shifted and expanded to the point V spends more time trying to reestablish the truth than telling new stories each time they gather with other families. Mitch absolutely loves watching him try to minimize his exploits to a crowd that rightly believes he fell Arasaka on his own.

He did, in a way, even though none of them understand the sacrifice, and the regrets he has over that. He plunged the world into even more chaos than before, just for a chance at saving himself — that didn’t even work — and to bring closure to a man he sort of considers as his soulmate. Johnny is gone, free beyond the Black Wall now, but sometimes V thinks he gets glimpses of him as the army of rogue AIs roams through their net. The nomads don’t really care about that: they already had a parallele society and in a way, they’re the best equipped to deal with this new collapse. What they care about is that V killed Smasher and destroyed an empire with his bare hands, or so the legend says.

With his renown comes responsibilities, as he discovered. People count on him, and he regularly is part of the negotiations with other clans. That doesn’t mean he sits at the negotiation table, though he does, that means he is what the negotiation is about; his skills, his strength, his connections or just the lore surrounding him. Everything is of interest to the Seven Nations.

V doesn’t mind that: helping is what he likes to do best. It makes him feel useful, and it assuages the guilt he feels over some of his actions. He hates his fame, but not what it allows him to do for his family. There is only one person who hates it even more than him, and that’s Panam. She doesn’t understand it, but the more reluctant she is to lend V to her allies, the more valuable it makes him in their eyes. They think she is playing hard to get, whereas she is just trying to protect V from harm. The Wild She-Wolf, that’s how they’re starting to call her.

When the mission allows it, she tags along, and it’s true that together, they are invincible, or so they think.

So how exactly did they end up in this situation where V is chained to a chair in the basement of an abandoned facility in the middle of the mexican desert, while Panam is being tortured upstairs by a group of local Wraith? They don’t call themselves that, but no matter the language of the moniker, they are Raffen Shivs at heart.

They came into the night, surrounded their camp silently, and attacked in the deep of the night. They killed the rest of the party, but recognised Panam as the leader of the rising Aldecaldo Family, and then deduced who was V. It wasn’t even planned apparently, they just seized an opportunity, while Panam and V were helping another clan transport merch across the border to Night-City.

It’s bad luck, or Karma, and V is pissed.

---

Panam screams again, short and anguished, before it transforms into a snarl. She is too far away for V to understand anything she says beyond her screams of agony, but he knows her enough to know she not keeping silent between two rounds of torture.

Not for the first time, V wishes she had better preservation instincts, and less pride. Every time she cries out in pain, he feels a little bit of his humanity disappear. On the outside, he looks calm, and the two guards tasked with keeping an eye on him are too relaxed. V knows it won’t be long before they get confident enough and stop paying attention to him.

Another scream, this one high pitched and lingering in the following silence, and V has to force himself not to tense. It’s all a matter of timing: soon enough, they are gonna try something else with her. V knows the type: once they understand pain won’t make her cooperate, they will switch to humiliation. He won’t let them come to that.

They must know about him enough because they put a dampener on his deck as soon as they had him docile, under the threat of slicing Panam’s throat. He won’t be able to rely on his hacking skills, but that’s fine, he wasn’t planning on doing this quietly anyway.

Before he comes up with an escape plan, he hears boots in the stairs. The two guards straighten and try to look like they weren’t bored by their too compliant prisoner, a disappointment after all the legends.

“Untie him,” the newcomer orders. He is some sort of second in command in this group, from what V gathered. The leader is a woman no taller than Wakako, but twice as dangerous.

They hesitate, clearly wary of getting close to his mantis blades. Then again, they were well informed because they also blocked the mechanism, so in reality, they have nothing to fear. But he has a reputation. A reputation that says he has killed three people with a pencil.

It was five, and it wasn’t sharpenned, but whatever.

V takes deep slow breaths and tries to keep the trepidation from his gaze. One guard starts to release him while the second in command and the other guy cock their guns his way. V doesn’t move, he waits. Once he’s entirely free, he stays seated until the leader tells him to get up.

“Your chick ain’t talking, we hope she will be more cooperative once she sees what we plan on doing to ya. Walk.” the second in command orders. “Hands in the air where I can see them.”

V obeys, and slowly walks up the stairs. The moment they reach the first bend, V slams his elbow back, smashing the guy’s face, and then lunging at the second guy before he can react. They slide down the stairs, crashing into the second guard closing the rear. V recovers first and profits from the surprise effect to commandeer a knife he saw at the belt of one of his captors while he was chained to the chair. He slams the blade into his throat, twists and jerks it out. A spray of blood splatter over his face before the flow of warm liquid gurgles out of the man. But V is already on the second one, plunging the blood knife into his opponent's left eye. V only has time to hide behind the door frame leading back to his cell to avoid the bullets the second in command fires at him.

“Fuck! Ayuda me!” He calls for backup.

V’s situation is not ideal, but his determination will make up for the bad position. Besides, he’s beaten worse odds. He waits for a lull in the firing to cross the corridor. He slides into another room he spotted when they brought him in. He thinks they use it as an armory, and he’s right. Jackpot.

Now is the easy part.

---

Five minutes later, V hikes over the bodies of the ten men that were sent in help of the second in command. Upstairs, everything is calm, which means they are preparing for his assault, or they fled when they understood their forces were being slaughtered.

“Drop your weapons, or I kill her,” says a voice as he rounds the corner. The leader has Panam on her knees in front of her, holding a gun to her head. Behind them are twenty more guys, spread over the room, guns at the ready.

He slowly lowers his weapons to the ground: the autogun, and the lexington. As he does so, he looks at Panam: her face is tumefied, part of her hair looks burned and there is blood coming from her nose and right ear. She is slouching over her left side, and he can’t see her hand but he would bet at least one of them has been broken, finger by finger. They share a look, and it’s enough.

“Kneel,” the leader orders, so V does it. “Take the weapons away, secure him.”

Two of her gang members shift, but they aren’t really keen on getting closer. Smart people.

“Now!” their chief insists, so the two closer to her obey. The moment they are in range, V knocks the guy back toward the gang leader at the same time Panam headbutt her. In the confusion, the shot the ring leader fires goes off mark, and instead kills the stumbling guard. During this, V grabbed the other one by her long hair and slammed her back before crushing her jaw with his booted heels.

It all happens so fast, the others don’t have time to react, plus in the confusion they are more preoccupied with making sure their leader is safe. It gives Panam time to find shelter behind a pillar, and V to grab back his weapons. He is already firing by the time they find their bearings.

After that, it’s not a fight, it’s an execution.

The gang members try to help their leader escape, but it soon appears their loyalty is to their own skin first and foremost. As a result, V has no trouble shooting the commander in the back and she falls with a strangled yelp, pathetic in her death.

It could stop here, because now that the tides have turned, the wannabe wraiths are on the run, but they hurt Panam and killed the rest of their party. For that, they will die.

Distantly, V recognises that he wasn’t always like this, but the rage that inhabits him at that moment feels exactly like what Johnny felt when he armed a bomb in the Arasaka Tower.

He keeps firing, watches them fall one after the other with cold eyes. He stands still in the middle of the room, and they run away from him, screaming for their mothers. V picks them one after the other, he doesn’t miss, none escape.

Silence rings in the warehouse they brought their captives in. His rage is still burning in his veins, he could kill a hundred more and wouldn’t be satisfied. V wipes around when he feels a hand on his shoulder and before he has time to process it, his gun is pressed against Panam’s forehead. It’s only the sight of her wide eyes, so familiar and so cherished, that stalls his finger on the trigger. She doesn’t move, only raises her hands in a placating gesture.

Heaving, suddenly overwhelmed by nausea, V lowers his gun, drops it even, and grabs her tight. Panam grunt in pain, but her arms still hold him just as hard.

“I’m sorry,” he stresses out against her hair. “I’m so sorry.”

She doesn’t reply, only steps back, face closed, and grips him by the arm. He doesn’t feel totally human yet, his senses are still highenned, he’s still on the lookout for threats. He watches her hijack one of the gonk’s cars in a dissociative state, and since she can’t drive with her injuries, she pushes him to the driver seat.

V starts the engine on autopilot while his mind is still cut in two. It’s not just Johnny’s leftovers, it’s him, the beast was always inside of him. He shouldn’t have let it out, he tells himself that each time.

---

The drive is silent, both of them looking straight ahead, both worried of what they would find in the other’s gaze. After about half an hour of tense silence, Panam moves and uses the car’s radio to tune to the family’s frequency. The relief in their voices is another jolt of guilt inside V’s mind: they care for him where they shouldn’t, he is a monster, a wolf in their midst.

He listens distractedly as Panam updates them about their position, discusses with Carol and Cassidy about the possibility of coming back at the earliest convenience to retrieve the goods, and to bury their people who’d been left baking under the Mexican sun.

For a second, a hot and burning rage fills V, before he forces himself to relax. The thought remains: he would love to kill them again, more slowly. In silence again, he drives them to the small town where they had initially intended to stop on their way to delivery. He kills the engine in front of the motel where five rooms were booked to their name for the convoy, and waits.

Panam sighs softly and exits the car, he watches her limp to the motel and tightens his hands over the wheel. When she is inside, he gets out, and goes to the convenience store he spotted when they came into town, before walking back.

V leans against his car again and pulls a pack of smokes out of the bag. He quit after Johnny, just to be sure he was indeed himself again, plus the smell used to make him tear up because of how much he missed the engram. As the nicotine reaches his lungs, it feels like the man is back with him, leaning next to him on the hood of the car.

“Shut up,” V tells him out loud.

The void doesn’t answer, but he can feel Johnny’s gaze on him so physically that, for a moment, he has trouble distinguishing dream from reality.

Fuck, he curses in his mind. I get it, I get it now, I would have burned the whole world to the ground if they had killed her.

It’s not the same, Johnny replies, I used Alt as an excuse, I was ready to burn the world just because I couldn’t stand to live one more minute inside my own mind. You did this out of love.

I’m falling over the edge, Johnny.

You’re not going cyberpsycho, V.

How can you know? The fact I’m having a convo with you is just one more proof.

Talk to her. Don’t be like me. Talk to her. She is scared and alone, she needs you. Don’t pull the plug, that’s all.

She is scared of me, yeah.

Scared for you.

Johnny vanishes as the smoke comes to an end, and V lowers his eyes. It’s all in his head, but it helped nonetheless. He throws the butt to the ground and goes to join her.

He finds Panam in her underwear, looking at her bruises in the mirror. She washed herself at the sink, wisely not getting into the dirty shower. She looks at him through the reflection, and V can tell Johnny was right: she is worried for him.

“I brought some supplies,” he says after a moment of weighted silence. She turns to lean against the sink and crosses her arms with a wince.

“Are you alright?” She asks and he lets out a laugh.

“I should be the one asking that,” he chides gently, taking her injured hand in his. He stabs her palm with the first maxdoc he brought and she sighs in relief. Gently, he lets his fingers trail along her arm, around her shoulder and back down to her ribs, counting them and waiting for her to tell him where it hurts more. A grimace is his indication. He pushes the needle of the container into her, releasing the nanobots. Finally, he gives her an inhaler that she takes gratefully. As the pain evaporates from her body, V strokes over her busted lip, thumb around her eyes softly, noting how the skin is already coloring.

“I’m fine,” she says. “Are you?”

“I don’t know,” he admits, expression haunted.

Panam nods and pushes him toward the sink gently.

“Wash up a bit, then come and join me.”

He obeys, glances up at his reflection in the mirror, half expecting to see Johnny, but there is only him in the mirror. He looks rough, and exhausted, like when he was still dying, before Panam brought him to The Witch, deep in the mountains of Wyoming. He washes his face, his hands, and the sweat from his nape. Lastly, he takes the inhaler and breath in the last dose before throwing it in the sink.

Panam is lying down on the bed, over the covers that look more or less clean. They’ve slept in worse. V removes his shoes and his shirt before joining her, lying on his side to look at her. Panam gives him a little, tentative smile and brush his cheek with her good hand.

“What happened?”

“I snapped,” he breathes out, and it’s like admitting it opens a damn. “I heard them torture your for hours, or what felt like hours, and everytime I… It burned inside of me so I waited and when they made a mistake I… I…”

She nods, sparring him the need to say the rest.

“I’m sorry,” he says again, voice trembling.

“What are you sorry about, V?” she asks with a frown. “You got us free.”

“It’s not just that and you know it. I was… I was… For a moment I didn’t recognize you.”

Her eyes betray her, a flash of fear passing in her gaze. He turns on his back, can’t look at her and discover she really is afraid of him.

Panam shifts on the bed and straddles him, bracketing him between her legs and arms.

“Yes, it was frightening, because for a second it was like you weren’t there. But V, you didn’t shoot me. You’re not… I don’t know what you think happened, but… I think we’re all capable of the worst when people we love are in danger.”

“Yeah but me, when I freak out, a lot of people die.”

“Our enemies die!”

“What if one day I can’t tell friends from foes anymore? I’ve seen it before. I’ve… I’ve dealt with them. Very few come back from over the edge.”

She pauses, and frowns.

“You think you’re going cyberpsycho?”

“What if I am?” he whispers, expression stricken.

Panam, to his surprise, smiles down at him.

“You’re not, I promise you.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“I know it here,” she replies, putting his hand over her left breast. He feels her beating heart under his palm, and opens his mouth to tell her it’s not a foolproof method when she stops him with a finger over his lips.

“Just… Not tonight. Tonight I just want to feel you. We’re both alive, thanks to you. For a moment I really didn’t know how we were gonna get out but you pulled another miracle and I… I just… I was scared this was the end and now I… I…”

Her eyes fill with emotion as she loses her words and V feels the same tide rise inside of him. He surges up, kissing her harshly. She whines and cocks her head to the side, opening her lips to welcome him, enticing him into her mouth. V doesn’t need more. One large hand comes to cover her neck as he licks into her mouth and bites teasingly on her bottom lip. Panam lets out an encouraging moan, circling his shoulder with her arms. He pulls her tight against him, but releases her when she grunts in pain.

“Sorry,” he mumbles against her lips but she doesn’t let him get away, kissing him back and slowly grinding down against him. He sighs, lets out an appreciative noise before stilling her hips.

“You should rest, you’re injured.”

“I wanna feel you. Want you to hold me tight. Wanna come around your cock.”

“Shit,” he breathes out, hiding his face in her breasts and she laughs again, before forcing his head up to kiss him again.

His hands roam over her body, pinching her nipples over her bodysuit and pulling a keen out of her throat as she arches back just a bit, mindful of her injuries. Their hands move downward, his to the clips of her bodice, hers to his belt.

V thumbs over her clit gently once before getting his fingers into her mouth to wet them. Meanwhile, she plunges into his jeans, stroking teasingly over his hardening cock. He matches her rhythm, guiding his fingers, now comfortably wet, against her folds while his thumb goes back to circling her clit.

She tilts her hips forward, and her eyes flutter shut as another moan rises from deep within her. V is mesmerized, like always, and watches her with a slightly parted mouth, ignoring his own pleasure for the moment.

Panam sits on his fingers, pushing them inside of her like she wants them: too dry, too fast, but V knows she loves the stretch. She stills once they’re knuckles deep, and V starts to move them, pressing on her clit from the inside as well as on the outside.

She bites her lip, closes her eyes, pants out a curse. Slowly, V forgets about this hellish day, taken by the way her body slithers on top of him. She tightens her grip over his cock, reminding him she has him, and strokes him in tandem with the way she rides his fingers. Her movements on his hard-on are not careful, not regular enough to bring any real pleasure, but he can’t help bucking into her hand. She laughs, and he surges to kiss her again, pushing deeper against and inside her. Suddenly he wants to take her roughly, make her feel his strength, how dangerous he could be, but never with her.

Panam tuts in his mouth, and pushes him to lie back on the bed. He goes with a whiny growls, muscles tense and ready for more action. She dismounts his hand and bends over him, wincing a bit but that doesn’t stop her as she slither down his chest, kissing the new bruises he got during his escape, and reaching the hem of his pants. By reflex, V lifts his hips and allows her to pull the pants to his knees. She doesn’t bother with more before putting her mouth around his shaft.

“Fuck,” he lets out, gripping the sheets, and then tentatively putting a hand on her hair, her neck, her shoulder. He grips it every time she takes him deeper and sucks harder. Soon she has him wet from her saliva and precum. He feels like he is fourteen when she goes down on him like that, because having such a wild woman pleasure him like that is a kick to his ego as well as his libido. Panam knows it and enjoys her power over him, enjoys testing his resolve and to watch him lose it. V’s hand spasm against her shoulder, the other gripping the sheet by his head, and he bucks up between her lips. She nearly gags, and leans back for breath before going back.

“Panam, fuck, please,” he begs, trembling beneath her, but for what, he can only guess. “Don’t stop Panam,” he says, her name burning his lips again and again.

As he tenses, she stops and he pants out, relaxing again. His output moves back on top of him and she brings one of his hands between her wet folds, making him feel her own enjoyment at sucking him. He rubs her, uses her slick to caress her clit again, teases her as much as she teased him. She rips her bodysuit off, and plays with her breasts, pinching her nipples as he continues to play with her, rough fingertips running inside her.

V sits up and brings her close again, slapping her hands away from her tits to kiss them. He licks in between, rubs his beard against them, kisses her neck before he puts his mouth around one and sucks.

Panam moans, whines and bucks against his fingers. Her hips are wild, the pain of broken ribs forgotten for the moment. Gripping his wrist, she stops him, straddles him and before he is ready, sinks over him. V shouts, arches back against the bed. The woman follows him, slowly stretching over him so that she can rub her clit against his pelvis as she moves left and right, circling on his cock. Her breasts are just over him and to try and distract himself, he sucks them again, one then the other, hard.

Her noises rise, she clenches around him and he growls, bites her harder than he should but she just encourages him even more, hips gyrating over him. Her cunt is so warm and tight around his cock, and she is so wet and V realizes he is babbling because Panam laughs. She kisses his brow, the top of his head and nuzzles against him before she continues her mad dance.

He helps her by lifting her hips and bringing her down, still mouthing at her tits. It drives her mad, he knows it, just like he knows she is close, even if she didn’t tell him, he would know. But she always tells him, and when they’re away from camp, she always lets him hear her shout out loud.

Panam calls his name as she comes and he feels her cunt flutter around his cock. He tries not to move, let her savor it as she sags against him. But soon, his impatience wins and he starts moving again. She huffs, laughs, keens at the oversensitivity.

“I’m close,” he begs and she nods, helping him out by moving again, but he’s doing most of the work, lifting her up and down with his enhanced strength, using her as she arches back and cries out in pleasure-pain.

A choked groan followed by a long moan announces his climax, Panam teasingly clamps around him and moves once, twice before he forcefully stills her, bucking up into her, deep as he can to fill her up.

Panam kisses him as he pants, soft brushes of lips over his brow, his eyelids, his chin.

“I love you,” she murmurs and he gives her a tired smile.

V feels calmer now. It’s not just the orgasm, he realizes as the rush travels through his veins, it’s also feeling her close, warm, alive, laughing as they made love.

He keeps his eyes closed, though, even when she shifts to lie next to him with a pained grunt. They stay in silence, her hands tracing patterns on his chest and playing with the hairs he has here.

“V?” she calls after a moment.

He opens his eyes and turns to her. Her face softens from the worry that was creeping in. He still feels haunted by what he’s done earlier, but a part of him is already accepting that. She still loves him.

“If you’re worried, we can detour by NC, see your friend Vik? Get a second opinion?” she offers. He takes her hand in his, the bruised one, and kisses her healing knuckles.

“Maybe.”

She scoots closer.

“You’re alright, V. Trust me, you’re fine.”

He nods, trusting her just a little bit more now. He turns and buries his face in her neck, taking comfort in her scent and warmth.

The edge feels so far away when he is in her arms.

#Panam v V #Panam x Male V #panam palmer #cyberpunk 2077 #fic advent calendar #my writing #cp2077

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empress-hancock · 2 years ago

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So a while back I was at an art museum and I saw a piece by a Pakistani woman, Naiza Khan, from this collection and I wrote down her name so I could look her up later and I really wanted to share what I found because her works are really cool. The museum I went to wrote about the piece that it was ambiguous whether the sculpture was meant to be viewed as restrictive or protective, and I liked that angle a lot. This page I posted the link to expands upon that even further and I wanted to share some of my favorite passages:

“In writing about her installation piece The Crossing in which suits of armor created around the female shape set sail in a wooden boat, Naiza drew attention to the year in which she made the installation—1429 Zil-Hajj, an Islamic echo of the Christian calendar’s year 1429 in which Joan of Arc led the French army to victory in the Battle of Orleans. In Pakistan, 1429 Zil-Hajj started during the 40 day mourning period for Benazir Bhutto—like Joan of Arc, a female leader who polarized opinion and died brutally, reviled by some, sanctified by others. The empty suits of armor speak to the history of both women, and force us to ask in which calendar we’re living—15th century or 21st?” (Page 8, Kamila Shamsie)

“… the fact remains that many of the armored pieces are, as Naiza puts it ‘designed to fit the imagination rather than the body.” (Page 10, Kamila Shamsie)

“Those gilded wings might be armored, but the real threat to them comes not from outward attack but from their own forgetful nature. When dreams or imagination descend, or cross over, into another space they are in danger of losing part of themselves.” (Page 10, Kamila Shamsie)

“Her turn to the hard and unyielding metal bodily implements, which include charged objects such as chastity belts, metal corsets, and lingerie made with steel, suggests that the tension between the demands of the social order, and the intractability of the body has sharpened considerably in her recent work.” (Page 12, Iftikhar Dadi)

“What is the possible relationship between obsolete European implements that seek to shape and control the female body, and modern Islamic legal, social, and ethical injunctions for women? Is modern, scripturalist Islam simply being equated with medieval European repression, torture, or confinement? Or, as the reuse of such devices by S & M, bondage and other subcultures in the west suggests, have these devices today primarily acquired the aura of a transgressive fetish?” (Page 12, Iftikhar Dadi)

“Naiza’s work demonstrates that freedom for women is not a simple matter of transgressing or overthrowing repressive social mores, as the very delineation of what is possible to accomplish as an agent emerges within the discursive constraints of the social order.” (Page 19, Iftikhar Dadi)

“Naiza’s work insistently reminds us of this paradox of subjectivation. In order for the voice and the body of the woman to emerge into public space from a condition of invisibility and subalternaity, its presence must be recognized and shaped by discursive norms.” (Page 20, Iftikhar Dadi)

A quote from Naiza herself reads: “I made some images in my little book in July last year [2006]. These were drawings of “bullet proof vests.” I was intrigued by them, and felt they needed to be made in metal. At the same time they felt like something very soft, close to the body, like fabric… The idea of trapping and protection comes together in these pieces. An ambiguous thought, not sure where one idea stops and the other begins… something so prevalent in our society.” (Page 21, Naiza Khan)

“The welding points on the metal armatures are further allegorized as Heavenly Ornaments, suggesting that the terrible beauty of the violent forging of the metal joint is a necessary accomplice for subjective expression. The works in metal do appear to offer a choice—the ability to wear them or discard them at will. But this choice is essentially an impossible one, in that it is situated between the inarticulate, excessive, and private body, and the normative female body that is increasingly public and visible but forged by discursive norms that allow it to speak only by simultaneously working both violence and protection upon its bodily excess.” (Page 23, Iftikhar Dadi)

I encourage you to read the whole thing, because there’s a lot more discussion of the politics of her pieces, both in terms of feminism and Islam, and about how the artistic choice of her refusal to showcase head coverings (and, to a lesser extent, western beauty standards as well) in her physical works (while addressing them in written works instead) is symbolic. I really like the idea of the clothing being stuck between protecting you and harming you, showing you off but in a consumable way, and how she touches on the false perception of the choice that we have in the matter. She also has some other really cool works shown elsewhere on her website that aren’t part of this set (lots of watercolor!), some of which seem to be inspired by living conditions of people in Pakistan, the ocean, or South Asian history. She also has an instagram if anyone is still using that and wants to check out more of her work.

#women #women in art #women’s art #pakistan #islam #muslim women #muslim artists #radfem #radical feminism #south asia #south asian women #pakistani art #naiza khan

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lvvender-fields · 2 years ago

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Your Fave is Lesbian: Joan of Arc and an Argument for the Lesbian Continuum

dropping this here bc i put an unreasonable amount of time into it. it's 7 pages long not counting the works cited and it took me three weeks. please. read it.

Introduction of Jeanne d'Arc

Let us start with an introduction in case you miraculously don’t know who Joan of Arc is: Joan of Arc- or Jeanne D’Arc in her native tongue- was born a French peasant in 1412, in Domrémy, Bar, France. She believed herself to have direct communication with the Saints Michael, Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch. The voices of these saints led her to seek the dauphin Charles VII and swear to help oust the British from French land and crown him king. Upon arriving at Chinon, where Charles was positioned, she was tested by the dauphin and his officials to determine whether or not she actually had divine guidance, and she passed. She was granted an army, which led to numerous successful battles against the British. Her successes in battle led to the coronation of now King Charles VII, and also her subsequent burning at the stake. (Joan of Arc Archive) She was sainted after her death and is now the patron saint of soldiers, France, and lesbians. Okay– not that last one– officially anyway.

The Lesbian Continuum and Assigning Labels to Historical Figures

Now, some quick lampshading: There will always be issues when it comes to identifying queer historical figures since the language around us is constantly changing and evolving. As mentioned in the introduction to the wonderfully helpful Lesbian Lists by Dell Richards, “How should I define lesbian? Should I use a contemporary, 20th-century definition? And if so, which one? Women who are sexually attracted to women, or women who became lesbians through feminism? Or should I use a much broader definition, one that includes the romantic friends movement– women who were woman identified, who had affectionate and loving relationships with other women but may not have actually had sex due to the repressive nature of the era? Should I include sworn sisters and berdaches? Should I include transvestites? Should I include spinsters?” (Cvetkovich) While the language is outdated as we now use it, this itself poses a wonderful example of how identities grow and change.

People will identify themselves in ways that are convenient to them in the time period, which will line up with the language and experiences of the time, which are bound to change. The “contemporary 20th-century definitions” offered by Richards are already somewhat obsolete- not that they aren’t used anymore, but they are by no means the most popular definitions. The definition of lesbianism most used today, and the one I use to describe myself is women and nonbinary people who are exclusively attracted to other women and non-binary people in a romantic or sexual manner.

Then there’s the lesbian continuum. The term was coined and developed by Adrienne Rich in her 1981 essay “Compulsory Heterosexuality and the Lesbian Existence”, she writes: “I mean the term lesbian continuum to include a range--through each woman's life and throughout history--of woman-identified experience; not simply the fact that a woman has had or consciously desired genital sexual experience with another woman. If we expand it to embrace many more forms of primary intensity between and among women, including the sharing of a rich inner life, the bonding against male tyranny, the giving and receiving of practical and political support; if we can also hear in it such associations as marriage resistance and the ‘haggard’ behavior identified by Mary Daly (obsolete meanings ‘intractable,’ ‘willful,’ ‘wanton," and ‘unchaste’ ‘a woman reluctant to yield to wooing’)45--we begin to grasp breadths of female history and psychology that have lain out of reach as a consequence of limited, mostly clinical, definitions of ‘lesbianism.’” (Rich)

This concept and the way it defines lesbianism within the continuum– as something not intrinsically linked to genital sex, as something more nebulous, based on experiences– is something wonderfully freeing to use as a tool within queer history, and speaks to the nebulousness, the experiences within being a lesbian in any time period– including today. With that context, I am going to move forward by relating what we know for certain about Jeanne d’Arc with the current (2020’s) lesbian experience (as within the continuum), as what she actually was or identified as is unknown, and most likely inapplicable to how we understand lesbianism today.

Why is Jeanne so Queer?

So, why is Jeanne d’Arc so queer? What about her makes lesbians look at her and go, “Yeah, she’s one of ours”? When looking at the narrative of Joan of Arc, it’s surprisingly easy to project onto her experiences as a lesbian. Lesbianism is primarily defined by its lack of attraction to men- and using faith as a more societally acceptable vessel to escape heterosexual ideals than same-sex attraction isn’t anything new. Taking a closer look at the saints that Joan was said to receive visions from: Both saints Catherine of Alexandria and Margaret of Antioch were both virginal saints who refused to be wed to men and dedicated their lives to god instead. In fact, I chose Catherine of Alexandria as my confirmation saint because of her scholarly ties, and her refusal to wed a man.

As a queer girl, I knew from a young age that I was not interested in men, nor could I pretend to be in any convincing manner. I did not understand what lesbianism was, or that love between women was even an option for me. Instead, I vowed instead never to marry, and in an extension of that, never fall in love. If I had been raised any more religiously and had my connection to God been stronger, I could see myself wanting to walk in the shoes of a Virgin Saint who consecrated herself to God, or Jesus. Not to mention the long and complicated history of lesbian nuns- women who escaped the patriarchal expectation/requirement to get straight married by joining a convent. Notable lesbian nuns are Benedetta (plagued by visions) and saint Hildegard of Bingen (known for her pining lesbian letters). (“Strange”)

Then there’s the relation of finally understanding yourself, living the life you were born to live, with finding God. In a guest article entitled “Growing up Southern as a Lesbian Late Bloomer” for Offbeat Home and Life, Heather Sexton describes the transition between not knowing herself to knowing herself: “For so long I had been thinking that this is all there was. I really thought I just was not going to ever be satisfied and always searching for something. I had never in a million years thought my sexuality was the reason for my restlessness. I didn’t know sexuality really even mattered. Now I know it’s the difference between living a numb and passionless existence and being deliriously happy.” (Guest) The difference between living a numb and passionless existence and being deliriously happy. Where have I heard that sentiment before? Definitely, in the way myself and the lesbian friends I have had over the years mirror the thought in describing how we finally realized we were lesbians, but also street preachers and devout family members trying to sell me on Christianity. One can extrapolate that finding yourself in your sexuality feels just as cathartic and divine as finding yourself in your faith. There is something so special, so impalpable about this feeling, and the way it exists within both contexts allows for parallels to be drawn between being secure in your faith and secure in your sexuality.

With this in mind, the story of Jeanne d’Arc can be almost a metaphor, a vessel for lesbians to project onto and see themselves in. She prioritized living true to her faith and what it told her to do, just as we today prioritize living true to ourselves. The adversary she faces is a reflection of modern challenges to a queer existence, as well as how even those within her community of the French army don’t seem to fully understand her.

Acknowledging the Genderqueer Elephant in the Room

I have refrained from touching on the topic of gender until now because, quite frankly, it is a beast– a beast I am not thoroughly equipped to handle– but I will try my best. Gender nonconformity is a large part of Jeanne’s story, being the reason that she was executed, but also just as important in the lesbian community. By extension, Jeanne’s gender nonconformity would be another way she fits into the lesbian continuum. Note that because this is the most overtly queer thing about her story, it is often the part that most people latch onto, and thus nonbinary and transgender people who are not necessarily lesbians may see this and (rightly) relate to her. She is not exclusively a lesbian icon, although that is the focus of this essay.

Gender in the lesbian community is a complicated thing: because womanhood as we have historically understood it is so tied to men, since lesbians detach themselves completely from men, we lose this part of womanhood. Then, are we still women? Some of us aren’t. Some of us are and have redefined womanhood to exclude men. This gender grey area allows for experimentation and a variety of gender presentations. The most obvious example of this would be butch-femme identities. Butch lesbians subvert expectations of what it means to be a woman by dressing masculinely and often take on traditionally male careers and roles. Femme lesbians present in a more traditionally feminine way, and often take on traditionally female careers and roles. That’s not to say that femmes aren’t gender nonconforming, as they perform femininity in a way that is not centered around men. Both identities have a long history within the community, and before we had the terminology for being nonbinary, many gender-nonconforming lesbians didn’t refer to themselves as women, but simply as butches. Some still do. There’s a whole lot more to the lesbian gender identity and expression iceberg than I can feasibly cover in an essay about a different topic, so I’ll leave it here, with some recommended reading in the footnotes. For now, we just need to understand that being a lesbian is quite closely intertwined with gender non-conformity. As the author of GRIT, Silas Denver Melvin so eloquently puts it, “transsexuality & lesbianism compliment each other very well & often, complete the other.” (Melvin)

Now, a look at Jeanne d’Arc’s execution. She was captured by the British and put on trial for heresy: claiming to act in the interest of god when in reality she was not, and cross-dressing. They were unable to mark her on the first charge, as she expertly answered the (often trick) questions they asked of her. They ended up settling on cross-dressing as her main crime, but she insisted it was only for practicality in battle. They accepted this at first, on the condition that she cease the practice with no remissions. The typical practice for female prisoners of the Inquisition was for them to be guarded by nuns, so the risk of rape was lowered– this was not a practice extended to Jeanne. She was imprisoned in an isolated cell guarded by male soldiers. She returned to wearing men’s clothing almost immediately, as a lord had attempted to take her by force, and she was able to tie her soldier’s outfit together to offer more protection from such advances than was available in a dress. Some versions of the story claim that in addition to this, the guards responsible for her confiscated her women’s clothing, leaving her with only men’s clothes. While it is unclear whether or not Jeanne was cross-dressing with the intent of defying feminine expectations, that is the effect that she had. That hand-in-hand with her leading an army, a traditionally very male role leads to a credible genderqueer reading of her story.

Conclusion

Using the concepts in the ideology behind the lesbian continuum– lesbianism not being inherently linked to sex, but instead a more vague experience to be related to– we can build a greater understanding of Jeanne d’Arc’s story in relation to modern lesbianism, and analyze why exactly she’s the lesbian icon she is today. This doesn’t mean projecting a modern understanding of lesbianism onto her, we are not claiming that she is a lesbian in the way we understand it now, but rather using the context of her time to relate in an intangible, universal way.

Works Cited

Cvetkovich, Ann. An Archive of Feelings: Trauma, Sexuality, and Lesbian Public Cultures. Duke University Press, 2019.

Guest Post By: Heather Sexton Heather is a running mom and wife who has found her love of blogging. She has led a different kind of life and wants to share so maybe someone can relate, et al. “Growing up Southern as a Lesbian Late Bloomer • Offbeat Home & Life.” Offbeat Home & Life, 14 Nov. 2017, https://offbeathome.com/lesbian-late-bloomer/.

“Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc) Archive.” Joan of Arc (Jeanne D'Arc) Archive, http://www.archive.joan-of-arc.org/.

Melvin, Silas Denver. “That Which Stains.” Tumblr, 1 June 2022, https://sweatermuppet.tumblr.com/post/685819429255299072/transsexuality-lesbianism-compliment-each-other.

Rich, Adrienne. “Compulsory Heterosexuality and Lesbian Existence.” Wayback Machine, https://web.archive.org/web/20160213095421/http://people.terry.uga.edu/dawndba/4500compulsoryhet.htm.

Richards, Dell. Lesbian Lists: A Look at Lesbian Culture, History, and Personalities. Alyson Publications, 1990.

Singer, Bennet L. “Growing up Gay/Growing up Lesbian : A Literary Anthology : Singer, Bennett L.” Internet Archive, New York : New Press : Distributed by W.W. Norton, 1 Jan. 1994, https://archive.org/details/growingupgaygrow00sing.

“St. Joan of Arc.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Joan-of-Arc.

“The Story of Joan of Arc the Witch-Saint.” The Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/unk83007879/?loclr=bloglaw. "Strange", Teya. “The Wild Stories of Historical Gay Nuns.” YouTube, YouTube, 4 Aug. 2022, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzyuYjIsYFE.

#lav ramblings #jeanne d'arc #joan of arc #essay #lesbian #lesbian continuum

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