#getting the game ending with The Shadow Amnesty | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

thiswasinevitableid · 4 years ago

Note

68 from the winter prompt list seems Very sternclay and I would love to see your take on it, nsfw if it fits would be great too, thank you!!!

Here you go, it is indeed NSFW!

68. you’re obsessed with my homemade soup that I serve at my cafe and I’m too embarrassed to tell you that I’ve only been trying out new recipes to see you get excited for the soup of the day

Stern tries to avoid being rude in public, or in general, really. But right now he’s wondering if he can get away with shoving his face into this soup bowl and licking out the bottom. The food at Amnesty Lodge has always been stellar, but lately the soups are the highlight of his day.

Reluctantly, he leaves the last delicious dregs at the bottom of the blue ceramic bow and heads to the counter to pay his bill.

“How was everything?” Dani rings him up with a smile.

“Incredible. I swear, Barclay out does himself every time I come.”

“Great! I’ll tell him you said so. I know he loves getting feedback on new recipes.”

-------------------------

“You did not say that.” Barclay drags the rag down the counter top.

“Okay, so I didn’t add ‘especially from guys who he thinks are hot,’you got me.” She smirks as she clocks out.

“It’s not my fault he’s so cute when he gets excited about food.”

“Barclay, just ask him out already.”

“But he’s a customer!”

“Who you also see once a week at game night at Duck’s. He’s for sure in friend territory at this point.”

“She’s got a point. Besides, sometimes flirting with customers ends well.” Aubrey leans against the kitchen door, twirling her car keys and winking at her girlfriend, “right, honey?”

“Absolutely, firebug.” Dani loops her arm around Aubrey’s waist, then levels Barclay with the look that routinely makes people mistake her for his little sister, “ask him out, or I am going to leave your number on his check the next time he comes in.”

“Okay, okay” He holds up his hands, chuckling, “you win.”

He waves goodnight, finishes locking up once the two women are gone. Then he climbs the stairs home. Amnesty Lodge was a real lodge, once upon a time. But as the city grew and buildings were divided and repurposed, only the restaurant and the rooms above it, plus the small house next door, remained. Mama, the owner, lives in the house, and Barclay has the apartment. It’s nice; he has no commute, he can run up and change if he gauges his layers wrong, and he likes being able to hear the river running nearby and the traffic humming through his window.

Maybe Joseph would like to come up here after closing some night for coffee? Or is that too forward? Would he be interested if it was forward, or if they took it slow? Would he be interested in Barclay at all? Does he just like him for his soup?

God, the soup. He never meant for it to become a thing. His usual menu had three or four soups of the day in rotation, but then Joseph ordered a bowl of the corn cheddar chowder to go with his club sandwich and ate it so joyfully that Barclay caught him licking his spoon. Which did nothing to quash his budding crush on the guy. So he started trying out new recipes just to see Joseph get excited, and now it seems like Joseph is coming in just for the soup, and the upshot is he may be stuck forever in a soup-loop because of the way Joseph’s eyes crinkle when he’s happy.

He knows that Joseph agreeing to a date would make him happier than a fresh produce delivery. But he has no clue if he really stands a chance with a guy who’s always well-dressed and friendly, when he himself is an often quiet, scraggly looking cook.

Well, if nothing else, he has to try. Dani is not a woman of empty threats.

------------------------------------------------------

“How do you do it?” Joseph rests his chin in his hand, spoon sitting in his empty bowl. He’s at the counter seating, so he can see Barclay working at the grill.

“Do what?”

“Come up with such good recipes. And don’t try to say it’s cookbooks; you said last week that you’ve come up with a lot of them on your own.”

“It’s, uh, it’s nothing special, just a lot of tinkering.” He gets an idea, one that flashes over him so hot and fast he’s afraid the stove caught fire.

“Would, uh, would you like to help me out with the newest one? I get off in an hour since I was on the early shift today.”

“I’d love to! I have some errands to run downtown, so as much as I’d like to hang around for an hour and watch you show off, I’ll see you at seven.” He sets down the cash to cover the bill and a tip, winks, and heads out the door. Barclay really hopes he stays in the suit when he comes back.

“Uh, dude?”

“Yeah, Jake?”

“Toast’s on fire.”

“Fuck!”

-------------------------------------------------

Barclay finishes setting out his mise en place right as there’s a knock on the front door. He swings it open and finds Joseph waiting patiently, a grocery bag slung over his shoulder. He’s still in his suit; Barclay can just spot his black tie with little ufos on it peeking out of his winter coat.

“Dani said I should just come on up.” He slips off his shoes, revealing socks with Bigfoot on them, “and I brought some wine, and a fancy beer I found at Jenny Street Market, since I wasn’t sure what kind of soup it is.”

“My take on a traditional Irish stew, so let's do the beer.” Barclay grabs two pint glasses and pours as Joseph finishes hanging up his coat and joins him in the kitchen. He’s down to his dress shirt and slacks, eagerly rolling up his sleeves before taking the glass.

“Right, what do we do first?”

Barclay takes a prolonged sip to avoid blurting out his real answer, then starts explaining that they need to figure out the right ratio of vegetable to lamb and which spices work best in the stock.

They talk as they work, Joseph sharing his theories on the plausible plot twists in this season of Agent X and Barclay teasing him whenever he gets going on a tangent about the monster of the week episodes. The easy back and forth, the warmth of the apartment as the air fills with spices and butter, the way the kitchen lights plays off Joseph’s face; it feels like a home, and his stomach twists whenever he remembers that the other man will leave in an hour or two.

“Barclay, I have to ask; why the sudden zest for soup?” Joseph sets his glass down, still half full because they’re talking too much to drink more than a sip at a time.

“Uhhh, just, uhh a good fit for a winter menu.” Barclay sets the lid onto the dutch oven; it’ll take at least forty-five minutes for this batch to thicken and develop flavor. When he hazards a glance at Joseph, the man is studying him, one eyebrow raised.

“Is that all?”

He washes his hands to buy time to build up his courage, then sighs, “Nope. It started after the first time you ordered it. You just got so excited whenever I had a new soup of the day, and I liked making you feel that way, so I just kept finding or making new recipes I hoped you’d like. Heh” he rubs his wrist, anxious, “sounds hella weird when I say it out loud like that.”

Turning, he finds Joseph with his hands covering his mouth.

“Fuck, sorry, probably shouldn’t have confessed that when we’re alone-”

“What? Oh, Barclay,” Joseph steps forward, taking his hands, “I’m not upset, I’m shocked. That’s, um, that’s one of the sweetest things anyone’s done for me, going to all that trouble, you didn’t have to.” The words are a bit stuttery and jumbled, Joseph going pinker after each one.

“I wanted to. I’d make a whole new menu every day if it’d make you smile that way.”

His lower back bangs into the counter as Joseph crowds him, fingers digging into his hair so roughly that it starts coming loose from its tie. He tastes like beer and stock he kept sampling, and Barclay licks it up, pressing his tongue between his welcoming lips, desperate to bring them as close together as possible.

Joseph pulls away, resting their foreheads together, as he undoes Barclay’s shirt with ruthless efficiency, “Do you have any idea how hot that is?”

“The...doing nice things for you part?” He cups Joseph’s cheeks, trailing his thumbs over the hints of five o’ clock shadow.

“You went to all that trouble, just for me.” Joseph drags his mouth up Barclay’s neck as he continues, “just to make me happy.”

“I mean, made me happy too.” He mumbles into black hair.

“I’m trying to compliment you, big guy.” Joseph nips his bottom lip.

“Oh fuck.” He whimpers at the nickname, at the way the other man doesn’t hesitate to shove his hands up his now-bare chest, demanding and adoring, “guess all those jokes about the way to a man’s heart being through his stomach are true.”

“While the food helps, there’s so much more about you that I like. For instance” he drags his hands down to Barclay’s stomach before palming his hardening cock through his jean, “you’re the most handsome man in town.”

He whimpers louder this time, Joseph keeping up the light pressure on his cock.

“Bedroom?” It’s both an encouragement and a question, the ton letting Barclay know he’s welcome to continue but not obligated to.

“The, can’t, can’t leave the stove unattended.” He gropes Joseph’s ass through his slacks, kisses his neck as he tries to calculate if turning off the stew will mess up the recipe.

“I love how responsible you are.” It’s another compliment, a dead serious one, “and I have an idea.” He steps back, hurries over to the grocery bag, and pulls out a small, rectangular box.

“I couldn’t tell if this was a date, so I decided to be on the safe side.” He surveys the kitchen, “feel like picking a surface to bend me over?”

Barclay practically knocks a stack of cookbooks off the tiny kitchen table, dragging a laughing Joseph over to shove him across it.

“This okay?” He pants as he covers the back of his neck with kisses.

“Better than okay. Barclay please, I’ve, um, I’ve been thinking about this for weeks, and basically non-stop for the last two hours.”

“Fucking-A” He’s amazed there isn’t a cartoonish boi-oi-oing when he gets his pants and boxers down, his cock--his whole being, really--aching for the chance to fuck the man in front of him. Getting Joseph’s pants down takes two tries, and opening the condom takes three because he’s shaking so hard from excitement.

“Need a hand, big guy?”

“Nope. Just need this.”

“FUCKohfuck, shit” Joseph reaches forward, gripping the far edge of the table as Barclay sinks into him, “yes, need it too, need you so bad.”

“You got me babe” he loops one arm around Joseph’s hips, sets his free hand next to his on the table for balance, “and I got you.” He starts slow, relishing every little sound he gets in reply to his thrusts, kissing any exposed skin he can find, then rucking Joseph’s shirt up his back to find more.

Joseph’s hand moves down towards his cock, but Barclay gently guides it back onto the table, “No need to babe. Like I said, I got you.”

He doesn't mean to start railing him the instant after his fingers find his cock. It’s more that feeling him soaking and hard, all because of (and all for) him, the grateful moan he lets out at the contact, the way he grinds his hips back and forth, it sets off every part of Barclay’s brain at once, and all he wants to do is take him, make him cum, break the fucking table showing him how much he wants him.

“Ohmylord” Joseph gasps, raising his head, “oh my fucking--Barclay yes, like that, lord you don;t disappoint.” His smile is ecstatic, more than the worlds clumsiest hand-job deserves, and Barclay forces his fingers to find their professional finesse, rub and stroke in the ways that make Joseph beg for more.

He growls as he feels his orgasm building; not yet, no fucking way, he wants to feel Joseph cum around him. With Herculean effort, he stills his hips and focuses, growling again as Joseph tightens around him. When the man beneath him cums, the last of his restraint evaporates and he hammers into him, table scraping forward inch by inch in time with his grunts and Joseph’s weakening moans.

His climax doubles him over, and he spills with a muffled moan, mouthing at Joseph’s shoulder through his shirt.

Then his legs give, ten minutes of furious fucking after a ten hour shift enough for them to peace out. He lands with an “oof” on the floor, and Joseph is laughing again as he turns to stare down at him.

“Are you okay down there?”

He gives a thumbs up, “Cute guy just shorted out all my circuits, no big.”

Joseph fixes his pants and shirt, joins him on the floor and pulls him into his arms, “I’d say it was very big.”

Barclay snickers, rests his head on his shoulder, “Walked into that one. Gimme sec, then I can make us some dinner. Don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

“We’re not having soup?”

Barclay kisses his cheek, “Nah, you can have that for dinner tomorrow at the Lodge.”

Joseph’s smile is full of delicious trouble, “How about for breakfast?”

He holds him close, smiling at him, “Babe, you got yourself a deal.”

#agent stern/barclay #sternclay #winter fills #trans agent stern

18 notes · View notes

happymeishappylife · 5 years ago

Text

DC CW Shows

I finally caught up on all the DC Universe shows. Quite an accomplishment for me considering I was 2 seasons behind. It feels good to finally get caught up to speed, but some of them are starting to feel like chores getting through them, rather than fun entertainment. A concern that gets amplified by the fact that the producers want to add on 2 more shows to the line up. So I felt like it was a good idea to breakdown my thoughts on each of the shows and what I liked/didn’t like. Plus then I will break down my thoughts on Crisis, because I have a lot of them. I’ll also rank these as I go as far as which ones I liked best, beginning with least to best. So let’s begin:

#7 - The Flash

I used to love this show so much. The first two seasons were a lot of fun and I loved all the characters so much. Thanks to the writing though, I can’t honestly say I don’t like this show much at all anymore and that’s kinda sad. Part of the reason is it became soooo angsty. Like the reason The Flash was great, was it was the antithesis to the angst on Arrow which made it so refreshing to watch. Now it’s like everyone must suffer some sort of pain over the tiniest things or worse, they become entrapped in characters and situations like its been haunting them for years when it only got introduced a couple episodes ago. At this point the only characters I care about are Caitlyn/Frost, Joe and Cecile West, Wally (when he’s on, which is like never), and Ralph. And that’s painful that Hartley won’t be returning to fill that role anymore because he was the only one who still could joke and laugh around like old Team Flash.

Season 5: Overall season 5 had a pretty solid storyline despite some of the angsty writing. After a while though I got pretty sick of fighting Chicada over and over again, especially Grace’s version. My one big pet peeve with it though was the relationship of Nora to Barry and Iris. I’m sorry. I can’t honestly picture any 20-30 something meeting their adult daughter and automatically assuming the role of an actual parent and treating her like a preteen. That always felt super weird and uncomfortable. Not to mention it happened almost automatically with little to no hang ups on ‘is this really our kid? Should we trust her?’ Plus then it created angst between Barry and Iris which I’m really over at this point in the series because their relationship was never my favorite to begin with.

Season 6: A hot mess. Granted, because of Crisis and Covid-19, the season probably didn’t get a fair chance to play out to it’s full potential. But cutting the season into two arcs didn’t do it any justice. Especially because instead of having character growth, I felt like a lot of the characters regressed. Take Barry for instance. The whole first part of the season is him prepping/training the team to take over for him after Crisis since he believes he is going to die. Only when he doesn’t, he assumes the role of leader still without actually leading. He stops telling his team members key details and putting aside the fact he killed the speed force, he stopped being a hero. The whole fight scene with Mirror-Iris, was so bizarre to watch. Yes, Barry would never hurt the real Iris, but she’s not and instead he just stands there and gets stabbed over and over, crying at the end that she’s not there. It’s really hard to watch.

#6 - Arrow

Arrow used to be in my top 3 slots as last I left it. The storylines were still on point. But leading up to Crisis and the show ending, there were some things that worked for me and some that didn’t. Still, kudos to the team for standing their ground and saying that we’ve told all we can tell, let’s put this show to bed and give it a close it deserves. It made the ending super emotional, but at the same time satisfying despite, Oliver’s death in the universe. My only complaint is the fact that the producers can’t put it fully to bed and now want to reboot Arrow all over again with Mia and the canaries. Don’t get me wrong watching strong women take more of the leading roles is awesome, but not to tell and retell the same storylines.

Season 7: The first half of the season when Oliver was in Iron Heights was not my favorite. Mainly because as it continues to develop it was like all the reasons he got put in Iron Heights to begin with no longer mattered. Diaz is still on the lose, he’s still playing his games in prison, and really what was the point? Now the second half of the season where we focus on his rehabilitation into society and working with the SCPD to track and take down his sister Emiko, was actually good. Too bad it got horribly overshadowed by a time travel flash-forward storyline to introduce and make us care about Mia.

Season 8: Obviously this season was the closeout season and the season leading up to Crisis. But I liked the way they treated it. They gave cameo spots and guest starring spots to former faces like Thea (she’s still freaking awesome), Tommy, Moira, and even Merlyn came back. My only complaint was that all of sudden we did have another time travel situation on our hands to meet our future kids. Thankfully I felt Arrow overall took that development better than the Flash, which since that was only a couple episodes and not a season, says something about the writing. Plus the post-Crisis pilot for the Green Arrow and Canaries felt a little out of place given everything that happened and a little insulting.

#5 - Supergirl

There’s parts of Supergirl I still absolutely love to pieces and the writing that are still doing it the justice that started the show by telling storylines of not only heroism, but commentary on today’s events to help push for progress. I love the whole cast of characters and think the acting has been great. My only complaint is with Season 5 and the fact that the show is beginning to find its tipping point of being less than stellar. I mean, I still enjoy it, but it’s beginning to show its where and tear so I’m worried what’s going to happen as it continues forward. Especially as it gets hyperfixated on Lex Luthor, who don’t get me wrong is a fabulous villain, but isn’t that Superman’s arch nemesis, not Supergirl’s?

Season 4: What a great commentary to tell throughout the season that parallels the feelings and conversations being had about immigration in our own world. I thought the idea of the Alien Amnesty Act squaring off against Ben Lockwood and his Agents of Liberty was not only great commentary but great story telling. I also loved that we got to introduce Nia Nall into the series because she’s fantastic and has become one of my favorite characters. I even love the twist reveal of how Ben Lockwood isn’t the enemy, it’s really Lex Luthor and his communist Supergirl clone. Plus Jon Crier plays an amazing Lex Luthor.

Season 5: Don’t get me wrong, the stakes and the storylines with Leviathan and Obsidian North, I do think are important and worth telling, but they detracted from the main storyline that developed at the end of last season which was Lena and Kara’s new relationship. Yes, it was still hit on and explored, but by far that was the storyline I was interested in seeing the most, not Ramah Khan or Virtual Reality horror stories. Also, while I like Lex, thanks to his antics during Crisis, the second half of the season felt hijacked and became this witch hunt. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see what he and Lillian are doing, but I wish it played out more in the shadows and less of the actual screen time. I’m also glad Lena is back on Kara’s side again. But Brainy better not be dead! He’s one of my favorites even if his motives during this season were hard to watch.

#4 - Batwoman

I actually really, really, really liked Batwoman’s first season. Getting to know the badass that is Kate Kane and watch the horror’s of Gotham play out week to week was such a refreshing change of pace. After all, The Flash and Supergirl are undeniably heroes and must carry those burdens(?) as they fight for truth and justice. And Oliver was a vigilante, but while he took down drug lords, weapons dealers, etc. the stakes of being a vigilante in Star City is nothing compared to wearing the cape in Gotham. I loved the cast and seeing the stories play out of their past and how they connect to each other and also how some of them discover who Batwoman is, was fantastic. Even as creepy as Alice is, I enjoyed seeing the performance of the completely unhinged and psychotic villain take the stage to play out her twisted fantasies. I also appreciate the openness that Kate brought to being an out and proud lesbian, even revealing her super identity to a teenager to prove that it does get better and lesbians can be awesome is super freaking powerful. I even like that with the shortened season, it didn’t feel like we got robbed of an awesome storyline, but now we get to why this ranks fourth on my list instead of higher: Ruby Rose left the show and we get a whole new Batwoman. I get that this is out of the hands of the producers and the writers and I am super sad to see her go. But its hard not to feel like we lost a whole season of introduction and development to just reset and begin again. I’m not sure how they will handle it, but I do hope that a lot of the cast stays and stays in their roles. Especially Luke and Mary who are a great team. Mary is also like my all time, instant-favorite character because not only is she super wicked smart, but she has so much humanity in her so I hope she still continues on the show.

#3 - Stargirl

Yes, yes, this show is still airing which is why I can’t speak to the overall season arc in finality yet, but I absolutely have been loving this first season. Again, what a refreshing new reality to step into and what a great new storyline to pursue. This rag-tag group of teenagers becoming the new Justice Society of America is a fun telling and already, the stakes of the Injustice Society are so high! Like I was expecting that it was going to be like the other shows where slowly by slowly we meet all the bad guys in different seasons, but instead it feels a little flipped since we don’t have all our new heroes on the stage yet. Still I love Courtney and her relationship with Pat as she discovers these secrets of his past and their new home of Blue Valley. I love her recruiting reasoning to bring Yolanda and Rick into this crazy plan and even her acceptance of Beth becoming the new Doctor Midnight. Plus, the show keeps surprising me because on one hand, giving these teenagers these powers to help them redeem their self esteem is a great storyline, which is why I was expecting them to force us to like Cindy since the beginning of that episode was leading up to maybe becoming friends with her, but no. Turns out she is the super bitch and super villain of the show and that’s kinda awesome. Also I like how because their teenagers, their secret identities aren’t really that secret, which makes it’s kinda fun, but also dangerous. We’ll see how the last 3 episodes play out, but I can’t wait.

#2 - Black Lightening

Talk about real gritty, dark, and powerful storytelling. I enjoyed the first season, but these last two have been a real punch in the gut in good ways and the writers have been outdoing themselves to provide heartfelt, real, honest emotions and discussions to the world of superheroes, compared to the other shows. And it’s hard, but the gruesome nature of the show also highlights some of the real struggles going on in the Freeland Community which of course highlights the issues in our own world around the Black Community. The whole spinal chord ripping scene will haunt me forever and not only because they keep replaying it, but because of how insane that was. The cast is also great and I love that at the end of Season 3, it’s not just a family of super heroes, but a group of powerful metas squaring off against the government and the most dangerous threat of all so far: Gravedigger. Gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.

Season 2: Now that the whole family knows the stakes of what they have gotten themselves into with Tobias and revealing the girls have power, I love the way we got introduced to the ASA and the pod kids as a menial threat while still struggling to take down the perceived ‘bigger threat’ that is Tobias. Jennifer also having trouble coming to terms with her powers and how to use them I think was a great way to explore that not everyone wants to be a superhero, especially in antithesis to Nyssa who is a full on badass as Thunder and Blackbird. Watching Khalil’s story in this go from obedient lap dog to a runaway and finally a victim of Tobias’ violence was hard, but I felt was justified throughout and made him that character you want to root for, even when not everything he’s done has been great.

Season 3: What a harsh turn of direction. A full on occupation of Freeland, house arrest, killings on the street, and an underground railroad of metas or suspected metas completely changed the tune of this show. Watching each of the Peirces struggle to find out who the ASA is, what their doing, if their actions are justified and if the Marcovian threat was real was really fascinating to watch. The showdown with the Marcovians too with a whole team behind them was also a nice change of pace, even if their mission didn’t end the way they expected. I think the amplified stakes though of what happened and what’s to come will continue to develop into an incredible show, minus one now big problem I have, but I will detail that out below when we talk about Crisis.

#1 - Legends of Tomorrow

You can fight me, but Legends of Tomorrow is the best goddamn shown on this network for one simple fact: They don’t take themselves seriously. There is no real angst and because of that it makes the adventures so fun and so hilarious that its such a great break from all of the other shows. Plus, because they keep swapping new and old cast members into the show, it always feels new. Kinda that Doctor Who spirit, which I love. That and because there are hardly any rules to a time travelling group of heroes who don’t really want to be heroes, you get ridiculously themed episodes like Bollywood Musical or TV Crossovers. It is what makes the show a total blast.

Season 4: As the team gears up to track down magical creatures throughout history, you get the introduction of permanent team member, John Constantine who I freaking love for his cool, aloof character and yet sarcastic and sassy contrast to the sunshine and bro-squad that is Ray and Nate. I also love that the season not only was about capturing these magical creatures, but fully rehabilitating Norah Dhark into a good guy now accidentally turned fairy godmother. To be honest, I definitely did not see that one coming. I like that fighting the demon lord also helped transition the show from Season 4 to 5 to fight hell spawn creatures. Quite a leap from the original Legends concept, but again that’s what makes this show so fresh.

Season 5: Part of the other fun of Legends is getting to see old characters get reinvented. I loved the storyline with Charlie and her reveal to be Clothos, one of the 3 fate sisters and the reason the ancient loom got destroyed. I also loved Tala Ashe’s portrayal of Zari in a different timeline because the difference between tech-geek, super smart Zari and social influencer extraordinaire Zari were well done. Plus we got another awesome bro-squad member in Behrad who I hope sticks around for a while. The only bummer was saying goodbye to Ray Palmer. Ray has been one of my favorite characters in the Arrow-verse and seeing his exit was sad and partly because I think it could have been handled better. Like don’t get me wrong, seeing him have to get approval from Damian Dhark to marry Nora was entertaining and I’m glad he isn’t dead like Dr. Stein or Leonard Snart, but I just feel like the exit was a bit rushed. The good news is, it opens the door for Ray to return and I hope we get to seem in the future.

Alright...... To end this long spiel, let’s talk about Crisis on Infinite Earths and what that now means for all these shows. Because unfortunately.... it can’t be ignored. And I’m sorry to sound pessimistic, but to be honest, Crisis wasn’t my favorite story and was too hyped for the end result.

The only show who came out better for Crisis, in my opinion, was Arrow. Mainly because the story of Oliver’s last sacrifice to reboot the universe was the only one that made complete sense and doesn’t complicate the show after it happens. Granted it could be because it was used as the show’s exit, but still. I used to love crossover episodes and getting the whole team together, but now because there is soooo much going on in each show and such a large cast, these big multi-night and multi-universe shows just feel scattered because you are constantly hopping around and between each of the characters and all the individual storylines don’t matter. Like remember when Barry and Oliver would actually talk about what they were up against? Miss that. That and Oliver, Barry, and Kara stole the show even when it was other shows turn to shine. Like Kate was hardly in it, even in her own episode and the Legends weren’t in it at all. It was just Sara and Ray which was disappointing because as Crisis was their season opener, you missed a real chance to have the Legends save the day. Don’t get my wrong, there were some great moments during crisis and I liked the nod to past versions of the DC characters, including Brandon Routh getting to play Superman again, but overall it just made chaos for things that don’t make sense post-crisis.

Like yay, all our favorite heroes are in one place and created the justice league to help each other, but once Crisis is over, nope sorry, no one can be bothered to borrow a hero friend. Like that makes sense for some shows, Batwoman for instance isn’t that close to everyone and her storyline is so rooted in her own family drama, that ignoring the other supers made sense. The Flash’s stakes weren’t high enough to involve anyone else, so fine. And Legends of course travel through time and so aren’t around, fine. But Supergirl’s takedown of a longstanding secret group of people capable of bending Earth’s elements to create catastrophic events, isn’t enough to at least reach out to Cisco or Luke for help tracking them? That seems underwhelming. Plus where are the aliens in all the other cities now? Or the metas in National City? That’s a pet peeve, but more so because of the biggest twist in Crisis:

Pulling Black Lightening into the Arrowverse. Like the shows writers and producers, I think Black Lightening works better outside the Arrowverse which was the intent and goal from the get go. Pulling Jefferson Pierce’s family and world into the same Earth as all the other shows, no longer makes the shows storytelling as strong and maybe it was because this was a last minute decision, but there is just no justification post Crisis as to why they had to come in. I mean, The Flash and Black Lightening have metas related issues, you would think that alone would be a prime source of teaming up. Especially when Cisco goes out on a worldwide quest to document metas, you’re telling me skipped over Freeland? And where’s our favorite Kyrptonian to fight for truth, justice, and the American way as Freeland is being occupied by the ASA? Oh, what too busy going after Lex Luthor? Sorry, I’m not buying that Kara Danvers ignores racial injustice. Like I get that maybe it was a way to be able to use Black Lightening later in cross-over events, but the fallout from bringing them in this season with everything going on is a huge mistake in my opinion. And heck, having shows exist outside each other is probably a good thing. Too many and these crossover events don’t feel fun anymore, they just feel chaotic. I think I’m with the Legends on this one: the crossovers aren’t worth it anymore.

#cw dc universe #thoughts #reactions #legends of tomorrow #black lightening #stargirl #batwoman #supergirl #arrow #the flash #crisis on infinite earths

19 notes · View notes

chocoluckchipz · 5 years ago

Text

A Bride for the Prince - 4

A03 ~ < Previous ~ Next >

“I hate this thing,” Nino grumbled, shifting the mask on his face. “I really, really despise it. And why am I the only one who is uncomfortable with it?”

Adrien chuckled and took a stance, ready to attack. “I’ll check if they have a different style that’ll fit you better.”

“You know, you could’ve offered me amnesty and allow me to drop the whole thing altogether,” Nino scoffed halfheartedly. “I mean, I am your best friend. That should come with privileges.”

Adrien laughed, raising his sword. “If I have to wear it everywhere apart from my private quarters, don’t you think it’s only fair that you, as my best friend, should support me and do the same?”

“As if I have a choice.” Nino lifted his sword, taking a stance as well. “Remind me to strangle the person who came up with this ridiculous idea.”

Adrien smirked. “Sure. That’ll be you, Alya and I. Who would you prefer to unleash your revenge upon first?”

“Seeing as we are baring swords at each other at this very moment...” Nino returned Adrien’s smug look. “Get ready, Your Highness, because I’m about to kick your royal butt.”

“I’d like to see that happen.” Adrien lunged forward with a chuckle. Nino blocked his attack effortlessly and immediately pounced forward with a return assault.

“I see you’re more pissed about it than I realized,” Adrien said, diving away.

“You have no idea,” Nino replied, determination firing up in his eyes as he leaped back to avoid Adrien’s swing. “I’ve been saving it all day.”

“Good.” Adrien smirked. "This whole ‘choose a bride’ thing is exhausting. A good battle is just what I need now to relax."

Swords crossing, blocking and dodging, avoiding and attacking, they spared on par for some time before Nino, not stopping their battle, asked, “So, did anyone catch your fancy yet?”

“Nope.” Adrien hindered Nino’s attack with his sword.

“Why not? So many pretty ladies around.”

“Pretty—” Adrien launched another attack, “—isn’t everything I’m looking for in a wife, and you know it.”

“That’s why—” Nino retaliated, not losing his concentration. Raising his sword, he prepared for the next assault, “—I keep telling you: start talking to them. Observing from afar will only get you so far.”

Adrien quickly ducked away and attacked from a different angle. “Soon. The ball is coming. The Prince will have to attend in person.”

“Oh, right.” Nino deflected Adrien’s sword, turned around and plunged forward from the side. “Without the mask, I assume? The rumours about your unearthly ugliness will be put to rest as soon as you walk in the room, you know that, right? And I don’t think you’ll justify your perfectly handsome face by claiming to take plenty of beauty rest. What was the point of starting the rumours?”

Laughing, Adrien took advantage of Nino’s momentary pause and lightly poked his chest with his weapon. “Sorry to disappoint, but the prince will arrive in a mask. Just not a black one - it won’t go with my white outfit.”

“Of course,” Nino smirked, taking a step back. “How could one of the most fashionable princes around appear in a mismatched getup? Speaking of the rumours,” he added, preparing for another round. “There is one lady who refuses to believe anything bad we, mere servants, say about you. Quite passionately as well, if I may say so.”

“Oh really?” Adrien quirked an eyebrow. “Do tell.”

“Actually—” Nino relaunched an attack, “—it’s your little commoner lady friend. She almost made a scene today, scolding Lady Bourgeois for saying you were an idiot for making your guards wear masks.”

“She did?” Adrien froze for a second too long, just enough time for Nino to put his sword to Adrien’s chest.

“Yup.” Nino smirked. “Said the prince must have a good reason to do what he did, and no one should judge anyone for anything until learning of their intentions and motives.”

“Interesting.” Adrien stepped back, lifting his sword and pointing it to Nino. “What did Lady Bourgeois reply?”

“She said she knew the reason perfectly,” Nino chuckled. “And proceeded to repeat the exact words I whispered to Kim today about your hideousness after a supposed accident you were in.”

Adrien leaned into a stance. “Somehow, I’m not surprised in the slightest that Lady Bourgeois believed that so easily even if she’s the one who knows me here the best. On garde.”

“You speaketh the truth, my friend,” Nino chuckled, reflecting Adrien’s attack.

“So how did it end? Did Marinette say anything back?”

“Hm. Well, your little lady replied that beauty is in the eye of the beholder and told Lady Bourgeois to stop measuring people’s worth by their looks. Apparently, it speaks volumes of her character.”

Adrien paused again, a dopey smile threatening to surface on his lips.

“She also said that the true value of a person is in their soul, and she would never believe any rumours until seeing you by herself.” Seizing the opportunity of Adrien pausing once more, Nino lunged forward, stopping his blade short of Adrien’s throat. “You are off your game, Your Highness. Is something distracting you?”

“Um, not really.” Adrien rolled his eyes and shifted Nino’s blade to the side. “I’m just surprised Marinette is still the same girl I knew back in the day. Just as fierce, fair, and kind. Haven’t changed a bit, which is quite rare.”

“Oh, really?” Nino quirked an eyebrow. “Well, you’re lucky we use wooden swords for this, or you'll be dead by now.” Suddenly, he frowned, looking past Adrien’s shoulder. “Speak of the devil. What are they doing?”

“Huh?” Adrien turned around and groaned. On one of the further paths, Alya and Marinette were obviously trying to sneak out of the castle because, seeing as he frequently sneaked out to the city himself, Adrien knew quite well that that particular trail led nowhere the pair of women would be needing to go at the time when other ladies were preparing for their sleep. And it’s not like Alya was a stranger to sneaking out, but Marinette’s commoner outfit spoke volumes on its own to betray their intentions.

“Don’t tell me they’re trying to sneak out,” Nino echoed his thoughts. “And using our route for that. What the- Why is she walking backwards?”

“Don’t know but—” Adrien pointed to the further left corner, “—those guys will catch them in a few. Alya either forgot that Father ordered more guards around while this whole ‘Pick a Bride’ thing is going on or she didn’t know about it in the first place.”

“I doubt there is anything in this castle Alya doesn’t know. That woman,” Nino groaned. “I’m sorry, Adrien, but I have to step in and rescue her. Again. I’ll be back soon.”

“I’ll give you a hand,” Adrien chuckled. “You take care of Alya. Leave Marinette to me.”

Shielded by the darkness and trees, they were able to get close to the girls undetected, and just in time, because for whatever reason Alya decided to run backwards, it didn’t end well. His skills polished by years of practice, Nino caught his girlfriend right before she splattered on the ground.

Adrien followed suit, soon finding himself holding Marinette against his chest. The guards they saw earlier were about to pass them from around the corner, so uttering the first thing that came to mind, Adrien quickly picked Marinette up in his arms and headed into the shadows behind the trees to where Nino had already pulled in Alya. As if on a command both men put their hands over the mouths of the ladies to silence them, quietly motioning to the guards that were already in view. All four froze.

“I see you’re an incorrigible flirt, Chat Noir,” Marinette whispered when he removed his hand from her lips. “I was just falling. I wasn’t falling for you. You weren’t even supposed to be there.”

Chat chuckled with an amused smile. “Neither were you, Lady Bug. And certainly not in such a pretty, commoner dress. Makes me wonder as to what you two were up to.”

Her face downcast, Marinette glanced over at Alya who was glaring at Nino with her arms crossed over her chest. Adrien could practically see something snapping in place on Nino’s face.

“Alya, no,” his friend groaned. “Is this festival so important that you have to risk not only yourself but the lady over there? You’ve been to dozens of festivals—”

“It is important,” Alya retorted, putting her hands on her hips. “May I remind you that since it’s Prince’s twentieth birthday soon, this festival was promised to be exceptionally good. Mme Chamack heard that Nightingale and Stone troubadours will perform and that Couffaine Troop will put on their new musical. How often does that happen? Not to mention that there will be more games and dances than usual, and something called the light show at the end. Mme Mendeleiev said it will blow people’s minds. Also, the beauty competition which you know I wanted to enter; and you, Nino, promised to take me there! But no! Apparently, guarding a dozen lazy ladies is more important to you than the promise you made to your girlfriend a few months ago. So, don’t blame me for taking someone who cares about me and wanting to go out and have fun!”

Nino frowned, crossing his arms over his chest, “You wanted to enter that beauty pageant even though you knew I wouldn’t be there? You do realize the winner will have to kiss the knight who wins the joust?”

“So?” Alya quirked an eyebrow. “Is there something wrong with that?”

“You’ll have to kiss some random stranger if I’m not there to win!”

“So, what?” Alya puffed. “The rules don’t specify how I am to kiss him. A cheek kiss should suffice.”

“Alya,” Nino groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Alya, please, you know that’s not how it works. Why do you even insist on entering? It’s not like you care about winning in the first place—”

“Well, not for the beauty queen title,” Alya shrugged. “But I do need to forge new connections in the city—”

“Should we step aside,” Adrien whispered to Marinette, nudging her elbow. “Let them argue in peace.”

Marinette nodded and followed him a little deeper into the forested area to remain away from the trails where they could be spotted. “Are they always like this?”

“Nope,” Adrien chuckled, leaning on a tree trunk. “Usually they’re disgustingly sweet... unless Nino touches Alya’s dream. Then she’ll eat even him alive.”

“Oh.” Marinette blinked, leaning on a neighbouring tree. “I guess I should be more careful then. Would you enlighten me as to what not to touch to stay alive?”

“She wants to become a royal messenger,” Adrien explained. “And as you know, it’s practically impossible for a woman—and a commoner at that. So, she’s taking every step possible to get noticed, even if it means entering a contest she’d be absolutely ignoring if one of the judges hadn’t had a family connection to one of the King’s scribes.”

“Oh, wow,” Marinette breathed out. “That’s some serious determination.”

“You don’t know Alya yet,” Adrien chuckled. “She’ll stop at nothing if she really wants something. She even taught herself to read and write a few years back. Most commoners don’t bother with such a thing, but she insisted that she had to be literate.”

“That’s amazing,” Marinette gushed. “To be honest, after knowing her for a few days, even I could tell she is quite ambitious but to aim for such a prestigious position? Admirable.”

“I’m not surprised.” Adrien smirked, cocking his head to the side. “It takes an ambitious person to recognize one.”

“What do you mean?” Marinette’s eyebrows knitted in a frown.

“Well, coming to the castle to play a lady when you knew you’re lacking in skills and would be under constant surveillance is quite ambitious, no?”

“More like reckless, but thank you,” Marinette giggled, then paused. “If you meant it as a compliment because sometimes—”

“It was certainly a compliment, my Lady.” Adrien smiled at her. “Not everyone would be brave enough to do that, and I hope one day when we’ll have more time, you’ll tell me the whole story.”

“Thanks,” Marinette replied, a light blush descending on her cheeks. “I can certainly tell you the story one day, but for now, just so you know, not all commoners as illiterate as you think. I can read and write too. One of my friends had taught me.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yes,” Marinette gave him a nostalgic smile. "He would visit my town during summers and bring the most interesting books with him. At first, he just read them to me, but the last year he visited, he taught me how to read and even left me my favourite book of his. I reread it probably a thousand times since then."

“Is that so?” Adrien couldn’t help but grin. “A good friend, I assume.”

“The best,” Marinette sighed wistfully. “He was an amazing friend, so kind and happy all the time, silly, carefree and made the most annoying, poorly-timed puns. Still, we had so much fun. I’ll never forget that…” Her voice getting quieter with every word, Marinette suddenly found the hem of her sleeve to be really fascinating as she started to fiddle with it. “I just wish I knew why he stopped coming. He promised to bring me more books on his next visit, but he never came back. I kept waiting for him for years. Sometimes, I think I still am…”

Adrien looked away. “Maybe he didn’t know he wouldn’t be able to return when he promised you that?”

“That’s what I assume as well.” Marinette gave him a bittersweet smile. “I just hope he’s alright and happy somewhere.”

“I’m sure he is.” They stood in silence for a few more moments until it got so awkward, he blurted the first thing that came to his mind.

“You are doing much better with being a lady. If I didn’t know otherwise, I’d say you a legitimate noble.”

Inwardly, Adrien cringed. What was wrong with him? Why couldn’t he filter his words around her? Marinette would probably slap him for being such a jerk. Instead, she laughed.

“Thank you, Chat Noir. Alya’s been a tremendous help with that.”

“Ah, Alya. Yes.” Chat chuckled. “She’ll spend days of helping you to stay undetected only to risk it all because she wants to go to that festival. You know, you could’ve refused and stayed in, instead of succumbing to her wishes.”

“Um...” Marinette looked to the side, then shifted her eyes to the ground. “You see… I wanted to go too.”

“You did?”

“Yeah,” Marinette whispered, her voice nervous. “It’s rather boring here?”

“Boring?” Adrien quirked an eyebrow.

Marinette sighed. “I mean, don’t get me wrong: the castle is beautiful, and gardens are amazing, and Alya's doing everything possible for my stay here to be enjoyable, but… all those lessons and rules and schedules and even some of those ladies… and especially Mme Nathalie. It’s all just—ugh! I’m exhausted, Chat. I just want to take a break and have some fun without having to watch my every word and move. Plus, Alya promised we won’t be risking anything because she sneaks out all the time and has never been caught, and dressing me as a commoner was supposed to help so no one would suspect who I am or who I pretend to be. By the way, thank you for not blowing my cover, Chat. I really owe you, and—” She paused, noticing an amused smile on Chat’s lips and a spark in his eyes, “—and I’m rambling. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” Chat chuckled. “I find it refreshing for someone to think it’s boring here. However, while I do understand your reasons, do you really think in your specific situation the risk you are taking is worth it?”

Marinette’s eyes snapped to his, then dropped down, her face saddening.

“I apologize for the intrusion,” Nino suddenly appeared by their side before Marinette could respond. “But do you mind if I accompany Alya to the damn festival? She is a stubborn one.”

Chat chuckled. “How can I keep a jealous man from protecting his lady’s modesty.”

“I’m not jealous,” Nino grumbled. “She just doesn’t realize what she’s getting herself into. Someone has to be there to protect her.”

“Of course,” Adrien nodded, shifting his gaze to Marinette. “Should I escort you back to your room, then?”

“Why can she go with us?” Alya asked, coming up from behind Nino. “Give her a break. She’s suffered through enough the last few days.”

“That’s fine, Alya,” Marinette said, her voice quiet. “Chat Noir is right. I shouldn’t risk it considering the situation I’m in. That’s fine, really. I’ll go back and…um, work some more on my curtsies and... such.” Marinette tried and miserably failed to give them a smile.

“Now see what you’ve done?” Alya frowned at Adrien. “You made her sad. As if she hadn’t had enough on her plate already.”

“You know,” Adrien protested. “Even if we forget that she needs to keep a low profile, do you think third-wheeling you two is fun? Take it from someone who’s done it countless times.”

“Better than sitting alone in her room doing nothing!” Alya glared at Adrien, who didn’t give in, glaring back at her.

“Which is better than being caught and sent to prison. You've got to put your priorities straight, Alya. Do you want her to make it safely to the end or not?”

“You are no fun,” Alya puffed, turning away a few moments later. “In fact, you are so stuffed and boring that I won’t be surprised if you end up alone and bitter at the end of your safe life.”

“I am fun.” Adrien straightened up.

“Not in the slightest.” Alya glared back at him. “Marinette was excited to go to this festival until you and your boring ways came across. Now, look at her! You don’t even know the definition of fun, and you certainly have no idea how to have it! All you do all day—”

“I know how to have fun,” Adrien interrupted, his face flushed. “And I’ll prove it! And since you are clearly failing to make sure that Marinette is safe taking her out, I’ll escort her to the festival myself, and we’ll have tons of fun. More so than you!”

“What?” Nino yelped, taking his attention away from the satisfied smirk on Alya’s lips. “I thought you said no sneak outs while this thing with the Prince and his brides is on?”

Adrien inwardly groaned. He could’ve sworn he got better about playing right into Alya’s hands. But then again, it was Alya Cèsaire, and she has been improving her skills every day for the past few years, shamelessly practicing on everyone, especially Nino and him. She really did deserve to become the royal messenger she wanted so much; their kingdom’s external relationships would greatly benefit from it.

But what he was to do now? Take his words back? He didn't want Marinette to risk so much, but then her hopeful expression as she looked at him, her big blue eyes sparkling with excitement and worry at the same time made it impossible for him to refuse.

“I can make an exception once.” Adrien pouted with a frown. “I know the guards’ new schedule better than Alya, anyway, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

He walked over to Marinette and offered her his hand. “Should we, my Lady?”

Bright crimson, Marinette stared at everyone for a few moments without replying until Alya prompted her.

“Let’s go, Marinette. You'll love it. Our festivals are way better than anything in DuPont in the first place, and this one is promising to be spectacular."

Marinette shifted her eyes to Adrien, who was still holding his hand out to her. “Um- I don’t know- I shouldn’t- You said it yourself—”

“You’ll be fine with me.” Adrien smiled at her. “I promise.”

Marinette blinked, her mouth slightly ajar. Adrien lifted his hand a little closer, and she couldn't keep a smile off her lips as her cheeks turned crimson again.

“Okay. I trust you.”

* * *

The festival did look absolutely amazing. Not that he was allowed to attend many, but there were a few he’d sneaked out to in the last few years. This one, however, put all of those to shame. The lights, performers, music, multitudes of people and aromas… oh, the smell of food that flowed around… Adrien could taste it already. The tenderness and sweetness as it would melt in his mouth…

“So,” Alya intruded in his reverie. “I have about an hour before the beauty competition starts. What do you want to do until then?”

Adrien glanced at the direction of the food stalls, but when he looked at Marinette, her eyes were on fire as she watched the games on their right.

“Games,” he stated without hesitation. They could always do food later, preferably when Alya would leave for her beauty pageant and leave them alone to enjoy the deliciousness in peace.

“Excellent.” A sly grin split Alya’s lips. “Ready to lose to me again, Chat Noir?”

“In your dreams!” he retorted.

“Girls, girls relax,” Nino suddenly added. “Cause we all know who’s the real champion here.”

“Who?” Alya quirked an eyebrow.

Nino suddenly wasn’t as confident as before. “Me?”

“We’ll see about that.” Adrien smirked and, taking Marinette by her hand, pulled her towards the first game: an easy enough for everyone “put a ball into a basket” game. Even Marinette should be able to play this.

Ten different games later, Adrien was ready to eat his thoughts and bow down to the Queen of All Games Marinette Dupain-Cheng as she completely and utterly obliterated the three of them in all the games they’ve tried, except the brutal strength ones, but even there, she scored decently enough. Accurate, smart, skilled; there were no bounds to how amazing Marinette showed herself to be. Adrien smiled a nostalgic, heartwarming smile. There was a reason Adrien had chosen to spend all of his time with Marinette above the other kids he could have played with back in the days: Marinette was amazing and beautiful in every conceivable sense of those words.

“Yay!” The girl on his mind jumped after knocking all six jugs with a ball from her first try.

“No fair,” Nino pouted. “Is there anything you can’t do?”

“Plenty,” Marinette responded with a smirk. “But most of them have to do with grace and patience.”

Alya snorted a laugh. “Sounds just about right. You did amazingly, girl! I’m so proud.”

“Yes,” Adrien added. “You did awesomely.”

“Thank you,” Marinette replied with a curtsy and turned to Alya. “What prize do you want?”

“Huh? Me?”

“Yes, you,” Marinette said. “I already have plenty. Plus, I need to thank you for helping me out with the whole ladyship debacle. So, choose whatever you want.”

Alya’s eyes lit up as she lunged forward and gave Marinette a tight hug. “Thank you, Marinette! You are the best!”

“No problem.” The girl giggled.

“Chat,” Nino suddenly whined, rubbing the skin under the edge of his mask. “Can I take this thing off? I bet I can do much better when it isn’t bothering me. It’s not like we are at the castle, so we don’t really have to wear them, right?”

“Yeah,” Alya chuckled. “You should take it off, Nino. Maybe then my knight can win something for me too.”

Adrien stilled. The thought to remove the mask didn’t even occur to him, seeing as Marinette was with them and because they didn’t really stand out in the festive crowd with quite a few people from multiple troops and circuses wearing their own masks. But Nino famously hated his mask, and to be honest, Adrien couldn’t see a reason for him to still wear it. He, on the other hand, was a different case…

Or was he?

The only purpose of the whole mask idea was to prevent the ladies who knew his face from recognizing him. Marinette, as far as he knew, had never seen “the Prince” and had always thought that Adrien she played with as a child was the son of Mme Bustier, the late Queen's personal maid. That was the only condition his mother gave him when allowing him to play with commoners: they were to never find out his actual social status. Claiming Mme Bustier as his mother was perfect. Being a son of the Queen's personal maid could explain why he was always coming to visit when the Queen did and why he had such easy access to her private quarters. Furthermore, there was a huge chance that Marinette wouldn’t recognize him. It’s been ages since they’ve last seen each other, and it wasn’t like his blond hair and green eyes were as unique as Marinette’s beautiful features. He had a legitimate excuse to recognize her right away; there weren't many girls he'd met who was as pretty as Marinette was. She didn’t have that excuse. Plenty of men had blond hair, green eyes, and a fit figure.

“Ah, why not?” Adrien shrugged and reached for his mask. “Just promise not to faint, ladies, when you behold our unearthly beauty.”

Alya puffed. “As if.”

“Finally,” Nino sighed with relief, his mask already discarded.

Marinette curiously looked at his face.

“Isn’t he handsome?” Alya cooked, immediately looping her arm around Nino and giving him a lovesick, playful grin. “My fair knight Nino.”

“He is quite handsome indeed,” Marinette chuckled and curtsied. “Nice to meet you out of your mask, Sir Nino.”

Feeling a little left out, Adrien pouted. Back in DuPont, Marinette had always used to tell him how pretty he was, and considering their conversation about her childhood friend at the garden, Adrien was sure she’d like to see how he grew up. Perhaps, she’d even like what she saw… even if she wouldn't recognize him. Somehow the thought of that made him sad, but brushing it away, Adrien leaned closer to Marinette and purred, “What about me? Do I tickle your fancy as much as Nino does?”

The moment Marinette shifted her eyes to Adrien her smile dropped. With her lips slightly ajar, she carefully looked at his face, her hand reaching forward on its own before she stopped and pulled back.

“Marinette?” Adrien frowned. “Is everything alright?”

Her eyes instantly blew wide as she squeaked, “Adrien?!”

#miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #A Bride for the Prince #fluff #reveal #marichat #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #adrien agreste #Marinette Dupain-Cheng

99 notes · View notes

planetsam · 6 years ago

Note

Prompt: Malex as Avengers... with romantic scenes and great action or detective work...

“He’s supposed to be dead.”

“Uh huh.”

“I sent you in to kill the world’s greatest assassin. So do you want to tell me why he’s sitting in my break room?”

Michael shrugs. He actually doesn’t want to explain himself. It’s been a long couple of months. And an especially long couple of days. And one very long flight from Budapest. Michael really just wants to shower and go to bed, maybe stretch out a bit after days of playing cat and mouse across some very tall buildings. Really he’d like to clean out his ears. But Nick Fury is peering at his ear canals like he’s checking to make sure the damn things are in and on and Michael doesn’t want to have this debate again.

“I offered him a deal.”

“You offered him what?!” Nick demands, “You don’t offer amnesty to someone whose killed that many people. You kill him like I tell you to.”

“He’d be a great asset,” Michael says, “he knows everything about our enemy and he’s willing to talk. He’d like to help.”

“Do I want to know how you got him to do that?”

Michael shrugs.

Nick goes into the room and Michael walks over to the window. The sound’s off and Nick’s good enough to turn his back to it, but Alex angles himself so Michael’s got a pretty good view of what he’s saying. He repeats things too. Michael likes him more and more as they spend time together. Of course he liked him already when he was chasing him across rooftops and they were enemies. Alex was always a great fighter. Always kept things interesting and had his own sense of fairness Michael appreciates. He’ll take fairness from enemies. There’s so little of it in the world, he’s not really picky about it. He watches as Alex accepts the offer, whatever that means, and rises up, almost saluting Nick Fury before he shakes his hand instead.

Michael’s sure Alex will blend in fine, but actually feeling comfortable here might take some work.

“I’ll take him to get settled,” Michael says.

“No you won’t,” Nick starts, “did you—“

“Battery’s dead,” Michael tells him, “I’ll just take him.”

He steers Alex out with a hand on the back of his neck.

“My battery’s not dead,” he stage whispers to him as the doors close.

“I heard that!” Nick shouts after them.

Even in the elevator with just the two of them Alex assumes a parade rest. Michael leans back against the wall and folds his arms as the elevator brings them up towards the higher floor. He’s calling it his crash pad for the moment. He’s been focused on the mission for the past year or so, no time really to find a more permanent place. Life’s funny like that. He’s spent years planning to kill a guy and now he’s gotten him a whole new life and is taking him back to his crash pad. Alex looks over at the laugh that leaves his lips and Michael grins.

“I’m just thinking this is gonna be a great inside joke between us,” he says.

“Assuming your boss doesn’t try to kill me in my sleep,” Alex replies.

“Nick’s not like that,” Michael says, “besides, I’ll be there. I’m hard to kill.”

Alex can’t disagree with that.

He even almost smiles.

They get into the bare walled apartment. Michael pretends to check his mail as Alex walks the place. He counts everything with military precision and in about ten minutes Michael’s sure he could fight in any corner of it without the lights. Alex peers out the window, looking for possible escape routes. MIchael shakes his head.

“Sorry about that,” he says, ‘windows don’t even open this high up. There’s a fire escape down the hall.”

“Don’t be,” Alex says.

“Don’t be?”

“Sorry,” Alex tells him, turning to look at him, “I know you prefer heights.”

Michael goes red around the eartips, but reminds himself there’s a reason their cat and mouse game went on for as long as it did. He’s not a fan of people knowing too much about him unless he wants them to. There’s just too much in his past for them to dig through. But once they know it, well, they know it. He can’t do much about it. Alex cares less. It only matters if he’s trying to pass as someone else. Generally speaking, Alex views his past as he views everything else. There’s no bright spots of joy to guard. It simply is. Michael’s pretty sure he thinks he’s going to be killed by either that past or Michael’s boss in the next few hours. Michael’s determined to not let that happen.

“Can I ask you something?” Alex says.

Michael nods.

“Why didn’t you kill me?”

It’s the first time he’s asked it. They discussed a lot on the plane but that didn’t come up. It takes a bit for Michael to realize that Alex thinks he’s going to do just that. After everything they did, he can’t blame him. It’s only a slight bit of an ego blow that Alex thinks his former bosses are better than Michael. They clearly aren’t since Alex is in his apartment with a pulse. But Michael guesses that a few heroics on his part can’t really stack up to a lifetime of mental and physical conditioning. Alex is the one who broke free of that. Michael just decides he’s going to have to be a hell of a lot more heroic.

“I guess I got used to you,” he says approaching him, “it’d be kind of boring out there, not looking over my shoulder for you. I’d rather have you where I can see you.”

“I’m a spy,” Alex reminds him as Michael comes to stand next to him, “I’m hard to spot.”

“I have good eyes,” Michael says.

“Hawk like,” Alex teases and Michael presses a hand to his chest.

“Sarcasm too? You might fit in here after all,” he says.

A flicker of doubt echoes on Alex’s face before he stubbornly pushes it away. But Michael’s caught it. He leans closer to Alex so they’re nearly toe to toe.

“You’re gonna be good for the team,” he says, “and the team’s gonna be good for you,” he looks at him seriously, “better than where you were.”

“Anything’s better than that,” Alex says.

“But this will be good,” Michael reiterates, “we’ll be good, working on the same side. The right side.”

Alex is soft right up until the last thing.

“Is there a right side in this?” He says.

“Yeah,” Michael tells him, “ours.”

“Ours,” Alex repeats.

MIchael nods and kisses him.

He’s held off, trying to kill each other and then trying not to get killed hasn’t left much room for anything else. Any quiet moments have been put to better things like eating and sleeping. Necessities. But they’re safe, safer than they’ve been in a while. The gesture takes Alex by surprise and Michael pulls back, searching his face. Alex stares at him in surprise for a moment before he steps forward, pulling Michael back and kissing him. It’s hot and raw and much less practiced than Michael expects, but god if that isn’t what he wants from the spy. Not the practiced or guarded stuff, he wants to see what’s underneath that and can only hope that Alex will let him. For now though, he just kisses him back as the lights of the city come on below them.

He brings Alex to the mattress he’s got on the floor and Alex pulls off his layers and layers of black to reveal the tanned skin underneath. Michael covers his body with his own, dragging calloused hands over perfect flesh. They’re not allowed to have scars where Alex comes from, but defiant Alex has several. Michael brushes his lips to each and every one. The mark on his forehead, on his torso and most of all end of his leg, where flesh meets metal. The tracker’s gone, Michael took it out himself and it’s left an ugly hole in the metal, but everything works. Alex is just that good. Even an organization that prefers bodies without marks on them sees how perfect he is. Alex turns their position and lays him down on the mattress and Michael lets him. If this is Alex’s first night of freedom, he’s willing to give up control for it.

It still takes months after before they can sleep through the nigh and not just in shifts. Alex is still in the shadows, but Michael always manages to keep an eye on him. They manage to keep eyes on each other. Until one day in the middle of an interrogation that Alex thinks is actually kind of laughable in it’s incompetence, the goon hands him the phone.

“What is it? These guys are giving me everything I need,” he says.

“Agent Guerin’s been compromised,” the voice comes through the other end.

Something cold settles in Alex’s stomach.

“I’m on my way.”

#michael guerin #alex manes #malex #malex fic #roswell new mexico #roswell nm fanfic #malex fanfic #prompts #yup malex is clintasha now #because i said so

107 notes · View notes

josuembuyi03 · 3 years ago

Text

What does the knee of Colin Kaepernick, the American footballer who is betting for denouncing racism, mean?

American Colin Kaepernick, a former player in the NFL, the North American professional football league, has come out of silence after the death of George Floyd. The former Star of the San Francisco 49ers initiated in 2016 a protest movement against police violence against blacks, kneeling during the American anthem. Since then, it has been active in the shadows.

The much-maligned gesture

During a preseason game for the 2016 NFL season, Colin Kaepernick made the decision to sit down during the American anthem, which was played before each game. He wants to denounce several cases of police violence, which led to the death, including Eric Garner, Michael Brown, and Trayvon Martin. The controversy swells. Anxious not to offend American soldiers with his gesture, he decided, on the advice of Nate Boyer, a veteran and former US football player, to kneel while The Star-Spangled Banner resonates, to get his message across.

With this gesture, he wants to denounce several cases of police violence. (Photo: USA Today Sports)

In front of the cameras, he is much more talkative than usual to explain: "I would like to make people aware of what is happening in this country. There is a lot of unfair things going on there without anyone being held accountable. That must change. This country stands for freedom and justice for all, but it makes exceptions. »

Civil Rights icon

His gesture will not leave anyone indifferent. Gradually imitated and supported by other athletes, Colin Kaepernick initiated a movement that was gaining momentum throughout the country. An American football player who takes a stand? This is unprecedented. He is becoming an icon of the civil rights struggle. But it will also be the target of many criticisms. Even presidential candidate Trump is getting involved. The man who would become president of the United States calls on NFL franchise owners to "fire" him. At the end of the 2016-2017 season, he prematurely terminated his contract with the San Francisco 49ers. Now free, he is looking for a new club in the summer of 2017. But no team recruits him. It's simple: he seems to be boycotted by the owners of the franchises, whom he suspects of having agreed against him.

2017, the year of all the distinctions

Now an NFL pariah, Colin Kaepernick is far from being decried by all. He even received several distinctions to reward his strong commitment. GQ magazine crowned him for example "Citizen of the Year" in 2017. "Colin Kaepernick's determined position places him in rare company in the history of the sport, among athletes who have risked everything to make a difference," the magazine said in its announcement statement.

GQ magazine crowned him for example "Citizen of the Year" in 2017. (Photo: GQ) Another American magazine distinguished him that same year: Sports Illustrated. Colin Kaepernick receives the "Muhammad Ali" award, rewarding the athlete who best embodies the ideals of sportsmanship, leadership, and philanthropy. He then explains: "I accept this prize not for myself but for the people. Because if it wasn't for the love of these people, I would never have started my protest”.

Lonnie Ali, the boxer's widow, says she is "proud" to present the award to Kaepernick. The quarterback is also ranked among the 10 most influential people on the planet in 2017, according to Time. "He is the Muhammad Ali of this generation," according to the magazine.

The quarterback is also ranked among the 10 most influential people on the planet in 2017, according to Time. (Photo: AFP)

2018, "Ambassador of Conscience"

In 2018, Colin Kaepernick became Amnesty International's "Ambassador of Conscience". Eric Reid, Colin Kaepernick's former teammate, presented him with the award on April 21 at a ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Salil Shetty, Amnesty International's Secretary General, said: "The Ambassador of Conscience Award honor’s the exceptional spirit and courage embodied by Colin Kaepernick. He is an athlete now widely recognized for his activism, as he refuses to ignore or accept racial discrimination. Colin Kaepernick chooses to express himself and inspire others by ignoring occupational and personal risks. [...] Colin Kaepernick's commitment is even more remarkable because he has attracted the wrath of the powerful. »

2020, he returns to the fight

After the death of George Floyd on May 25, the quarterback spoke on social media. He tweeted: "When civility leads to death, revolt is the only logical reaction. Calls for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will fall on deaf ears, because your violence has provoked this resistance. We have the right to fight back! Rest in peace, George Floyd. »

The First Amendment guarantees freedoms concerning religion, expression, assembly, and the right to petition. It forbids Congress from both promoting one religion over others and restricting an individual’s religious practices.

I think that the 1st command must be reviewed to play its role in the lives of athletes. The reaction of NFL and Trump after Colin's knee proves how the word of athletes in general is not respected. Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right set out in article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Like freedom of information and freedom of the press, freedom of expression is the basis for all other rights. Freedom of expression and information are the pillars of a healthy and democratic society on which social and economic growth is based: they allow the free flow of ideas – necessary for innovation – and strengthen accountability and transparency.

Colin Kaepernick tweets. (Twitter Colin Kaepernick).

https://www.gq.com/story/colin-kaepernick-will-not-be-silenced.

https://www.flynoco.com.

0 notes

socialattractionuk · 4 years ago

Text

As curfews and lockdowns loom, cuffing season will be ‘curfing season’ for 2020

Do you actually want to be together, or are you just lonely? (Picture: Getty)

Every year the same tweets and Facebook posts start around this time: ‘Need a cuddle partner now the weather’s cold’ or ‘Who wants a partner for Winter Wonderland?’

Like the first leaves dropping in the autumn, these thirsty posts signal a season; cuffing season.

It’s the time of year where people are done flirting with Wayne Lineker at Ocean Beach Ibiza and spending every weekend in a beer garden and want the metaphorical cosy thermal PJs of a stable relationship.

Expect this year to see cuffing season to go into overdrive since – as we all know – things are up in the air more than they’ve ever been in our lifetimes.

We’re calling it ‘curfing season’, with reports of curfews and lockdowns prompting people to step up their cuffing game and ensure they don’t spend the festive season lonely as well as indoors.

According to figures from dating app Happn, 54% of singles are eager to find a new partner in the near future, so much so that two thirds said they’d change their lifestyle and download more apps to push things forward.

The difference between curfing season and standard old cuffing season is that you’ll probably smell a lot more desperation in the air – and those you’re talking to will likely want to fast-forward on the early stages and make things official much quicker.

Dating app comparison site Datingroo have seen a 91% surge in Google searches for ‘dating app reviews’, which they believe shows that people are keen to give themselves the best chance to find someone to share the lockdown blues with.

Do you actually like each other or just hate being lonely? (Picture: Ella Byworth for Metro.co.uk)

Alexander Patall, Dating Expert at Datingroo calls it catalyst dating, saying: ‘Since talks of a second wave, we’ve seen a huge surge in catalyst dating – as no one wants to do another quarantine solo!

‘Serial dating app users are on it all day, every day making sure they’re giving themselves the best chance to find a lockdown buddy to cling onto ahead of time.

‘It’s not human nature to spend extensive periods of time alone, and this only gets worse through uncertain times such as the current pandemic. Having a companion through isolation will provide comfort and more importantly a bit of fun!’

The only danger of this is that things will go so fast that you could end up locked down with someone new without really knowing (or truly liking) them.

Because we’ve heard so many stories come out of the first lockdown of couples who’d moved in after a short time or made things official with great results, it’s easy to assume this will be the same for everyone.

More: News

Three in hospital after 'outrageously violent' shooting

Dogs and cats can catch coronavirus, new study shows

Big Bang Theory's Kunal Nayyar gives viewers chills as sinister killer in Criminal

However, without proper boundaries and communication, things might not be so rosy.

As yourself if you really want to be with this person and if this person wants to be with you before entering into anything serious. Are you both just looking for comfort and companionship in a difficult time, or is there a genuine connection that could grow?

Try, too, to have something of a ‘truth-telling amnesty’ early on. Perhaps there are major parts of their personality or lifestyle that don’t align with yours, so getting together and getting all baggage out in the open can ensure no skeletons are left in the closet.

There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make you reassess your priorities and decide that love is all you need.

Just make sure that it’s actual love you’re looking for, and not a replacement for that hoarded toilet roll in the corner to keep you company over winter.

Dating terms and trends, defined

Blue-stalling: When two people are dating and acting like a couple, but one person in the partnership states they're unready for any sort of label or commitment (despite acting in a different manner).

Breadcrumbing: Leaving ‘breadcrumbs’ of interest – random noncommittal messages and notifications that seem to lead on forever, but don’t actually end up taking you anywhere worthwhile Breadcrumbing is all about piquing someone’s interest without the payoff of a date or a relationship.

Caspering: Being a friendly ghost - meaning yes, you ghost, but you offer an explanation beforehand. Caspering is all about being a nice human being with common decency. A novel idea.

Catfish: Someone who uses a fake identity to lure dates online.

Clearing: Clearing season happens in January. It’s when we’re so miserable thanks to Christmas being over, the cold weather, and general seasonal dreariness, that we will hook up with anyone just so we don’t feel completely unattractive. You might bang an ex, or give that creepy guy who you don’t really fancy a chance, or put up with truly awful sex just so you can feel human touch. It’s a tough time. Stay strong.

Cloutlighting: Cloutlighting is the combo of gaslighting and chasing social media clout. Someone will bait the person they’re dating on camera with the intention of getting them upset or angry, or making them look stupid, then share the video for everyone to laugh at.

Cockfishing: Also known as catcocking. When someone sending dick pics uses photo editing software or other methods to change the look of their penis, usually making it look bigger than it really is.

Cuffing season: The chilly autumn and winter months when you are struck by a desire to be coupled up, or cuffed.

Firedooring: Being firedoored is when the access is entirely on one side, so you're always waiting for them to call or text and your efforts are shot down.

Fishing: When someone will send out messages to a bunch of people to see who’d be interested in hooking up, wait to see who responds, then take their pick of who they want to get with. It’s called fishing because the fisher loads up on bait, waits for one fish to bite, then ignores all the others.

Flashpanner: Someone who’s addicted to that warm, fuzzy, and exciting start bit of a relationship, but can’t handle the hard bits that might come after – such as having to make a firm commitment, or meeting their parents, or posting an Instagram photo with them captioned as ‘this one’.

Freckling: Freckling is when someone pops into your dating life when the weather’s nice… and then vanishes once it’s a little chillier.

Gatsbying: To post a video, picture or selfie to public social media purely for a love interest to see it.

Ghosting: Cutting off all communication without explanation.

Grande-ing: Being grateful, rather than resentful, for your exes, just like Ariana Grande.

Hatfishing: When someone who looks better when wearing a hat has pics on their dating profile that exclusively show them wearing hats.

Kittenfishing: Using images that are of you, but are flattering to a point that it might be deceptive. So using really old or heavily edited photos, for example. Kittenfishes can also wildly exaggerate their height, age, interests, or accomplishments.

Lovebombing: Showering someone with attention, gifts, gestures of affection, and promises for your future relationship, only to distract them from your not-so-great bits. In extreme cases this can form the basis for an abusive relationship.

Microcheating: Cheating without physically crossing the line. So stuff like emotional cheating, sexting, confiding in someone other than your partner, that sort of thing.

Mountaineering: Reaching for people who might be out of your league, or reaching for the absolute top of the mountain.

Obligaswiping: The act of endlessly swiping on dating apps and flirt-chatting away with no legitimate intention of meeting up, so you can tell yourself you're doing *something* to put yourself out there.

Orbiting: The act of watching someone's Instagram stories or liking their tweets or generally staying in their 'orbit' after a breakup.

Paperclipping: When someone sporadically pops up to remind you of their existence, to prevent you from ever fully moving on.

Preating: Pre-cheating - laying the groundwork and putting out feelers for cheating, by sending flirty messages or getting closer to a work crush.

Prowling: Going hot and cold when it comes to expressing romantic interest.

R-bombing: Not responding to your messages but reading them all, so you see the 'delivered' and 'read' signs and feel like throwing your phone across the room.

Scroogeing: Dumping someone right before Christmas so you don't have to buy them a present.

Shadowing: Posing with a hot friend in all your dating app photos, knowing people will assume you're the attractive one and will be too polite to ask.

Shaveducking: Feeling deeply confused over whether you're really attracted to a person or if they just have great facial hair.

Sneating:When you go on dates just for a free meal.

Stashing: The act of hiding someone you're dating from your friends, family, and social media.

Submarineing: When someone ghosts, then suddenly returns and acts like nothing happened.

V-lationshipping:When someone you used to date reappears just around Valentine's Day, usually out of loneliness and desperation.

You-turning: Falling head over heels for someone, only to suddenly change your mind and dip.

Zombieing: Ghosting then returning from the dead. Different from submarineing because at least a zombie will acknowledge their distance.

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch at [email protected].

MORE: Woman who spent £10,000 on plastic surgery claims she has the ‘biggest breasts in Britain’

MORE: These are the most scenic airports for take-offs and landings for 2020

0 notes

kavehtaheriworld-blog · 6 years ago

Text

My latest- A False Resignation from Iranian Power, While the Regime Still Flirts with EU

The Khomeinist regime’s Foreign Minister, Mr. Javad Zarif, oddly posted a dubious resignation on his Instagram account before midnight local time, February 25, 2019. But it turns out that this phony resignation from power in the Islamic Republic of Iran was effectively legitimizing the regime, rather than weakening it, as appeared. In fact, an IRGC General still backs Zarif.

Not long after Zarif’s social media circus, foreign pundits and officials commented positively on the event, although they were as wrong as the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, who responded, “Zarif is gone. Good riddance.”

The sinister minister Zarif reminds Iranians of the Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels.

“We do not jail people for their opinions," said the liar-in-chief, Mr. Zarif, in an interview with the American television program host Charlie Rose, as aired on April 27, 2015.

The propagandist FM calls himself a “human rights professor.” Meanwhile, more than 7,000 protesters, students, journalists, environmentalists, workers, and human rights defenders, including lawyers, women’s rights activists, minority rights activists, and trade unionists, were arrested in Iran in 2018, as reported by Amnesty International.

The dissimulating FM said that wearing hijab is part of Iranian culture, while the Girls of Enghelab Street (Persian: دختران خیابان انقلاب) along with a few sympathetic men began a series of protests against compulsory hijab in their Persian homeland. The #GirlsOfRevolutionStreet made their iconic protest image widely known by bravely standing on top of utility boxes above the busy sidewalks of Enghelab (Revolution) Street in the center of Tehran, from which they defiantly waved their white head scarf on the end of a stick.

The Trump administration is willing to reach a good deal if the terrorist regime changes its aggressive regional behavior. However, the smug FM responded, “You'll never get a better deal”.

Mr. Zarif remains the chief of the Islamic regime's foreign affairs. He has always been supported and favored by Islamic Republic of Iran senior officials, especially the Supreme Leader, as Persian Euronews quoted IRGC’s Quds chief, Maj. Gen Qassem Soleimani. But in the West, "The Shadow Commander" is a wanted man, who has been formally labeled a supporter of terrorism by the United States since 2007.

The clever FM is as much akin to a wolf in sheep’s clothing as is the so-called moderate, Hassan Rouhani. The charmer-in-chief Zarif plays to the media like a “display window” in his role as an “echo chamber” of what the media wants to hear, as he covers for the regime’s mistreatment of Iranian people under its harsh rule.

Zarif's ostensible resignation was presumably a strategic move to divert attention from the JCPOA nuclear deal fiasco. Most certainly, he was aware of the coming rejection of his resignation by Khamenei and Rouhani which followed. And it is likely that he wanted to recover his lost credibility and also to deflect pressure from Rouhani's administration.

I believe it showed us the failure of the Iranian regime’s negotiations with the United States. The bottom line is that this whole public relations game was no shock to the regime, said the Iranian socio-political activist, Sina Nahavandi.

To make a long story short, basically, this attempt at rebranding by Zarif of Rouhani's government and his pathetic administration is to resell it to the Europeans. So basically, it is just a sham by the same liars, who are pushing the same fakeries as before, with the same baseless claims. For the next four years, they want to resell the same sham to the west again. So it's just a rebranding of the earlier empty promises, as simple as that, says EU correspondent and Iran analyst, Mohsen Behzad Karimi. It is absurd and a coverup, commented Ali, an Iranian citizen from inside the country.

In the world’s democratic countries, which have legitimate governments, an act of resignation is genuine and is done with dignity, replacing a failed official with the right person as needed to advance the country’s national or subnational politics. But in Iran’s Islamic Republic regime, the formula is quite the opposite. In contrast to the democratic governments, IRI officials are placed in governmental positions due to their personal relations with power centers, the regime leaders’ trust in them, and in a word, their rants.

In such a regime as the IRI, there has been a pack of individuals who are always, in any circumstances, entrenched in power. It really does not matter what changes appear to take place in the regime’s national politics or plans; or if the officials are fit for such jobs or not. One way or another, they stay on their jobs, because the regime’s Islamic system of tight control trusts only them. To allow for a new specialized person in the job would be to let in an uncertain element, a risky move not wanted by the regime. And so in such controlled countries as the IRI, the purported act of resignation is nonsense, and absurd.

Javad Zarif’s feigned resignation exactly follows this pattern. Now that the behind-the-scenes stories have come to light, it is clear that his “resignation” move was a kind of objection to his being kept unaware of Bashar al-Assad’s visit to Tehran. His resignation announcement was a sudden and emotional act, which indicates his lack of a big heart. But, he used his resignation as his national-scale sacrifice to bring back credibility to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. To paraphrase Shakespeare, he will roar like a lion.

Anyway, whether it came from personal anger or desire for sacrifice, whatever his reason was, by definition, a claim of “resignation” from power by an official in the Islamic Republic is meaningless. Whatever Mr. Zarif intended to achieve, his resignation show was tiresome to witness, and absurd in effect. But certainly, his tumultuous act turned all eyes away from covering the news of the regime's continuing acts against Iran’s national interests, and its clandestine meeting with the arrival from Damascus.

By Kaveh Taheri (Twitter: @TaheriKaveh), co-founder and chairman of the ICBHR.Com, is a Turkey-based Iranian Human Rights researcher and journalist who has worked exclusively on Middle East. Kaveh, who was a former political prisoner in Shiraz, had been sent to prison for his writings and statements on his Websites and Weblogs, in Iran and fled the country through Turkey to save his life. It was first published on World View Weekend.

#Iran #Zarif #the Girls of Enghelab Street

0 notes

softplacepod · 5 years ago

Text

Episode 4: Mistakes and Monsters

Show notes & transcript below the cut.

SHOW NOTES:

Seventy Years of Sleep - https://cardiamachina.co.vu/tagged/seventy%20years%20of%20sleep

Critical Role - https://critrole.com/

“No One is Alone” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xaxP_kErTU

TRANSCRIPT:

EP 4: MISTAKES AND MONSTERS

Hello, bees. It's me, Sara, sending you light and love, and also a bunch of things I've been super into lately that I think might be your jam. Welcome to A Soft Place to Land.

Item the first: We deserve a soft epilogue, my love

Or, my Bucky Barnes problem

Everyone who knows me just groaned a little bit at that subtitle. If I’ve talked to you too much about anything, ever, it’s probably either Leverage or Bucky Barnes slash the Winter Soldier from the Marvel universe. Some of you may assume it springs from my decade-long angry crush on Sebastian Stan, who plays him in the movies, and that certainly didn’t help. But the real problem is that Bucky Barnes fits into the mold almost perfectly of “fictional characters to whom Sara will get overly attached very quickly.” Naomi Nagata from The Expanse. Donna Noble from Doctor Who. Duck Newton from The Adventure Zone: Amnesty. Bigwig from Watership Down. A million others.

For me, there is something very meaningful about a character with whom you initially click. You start a piece of fiction and something in you just resonates. It also, to be honest, sometimes makes engaging with fiction difficult. I want Bucky to be happy. I want Donna to be happy. I want my precious babies to be happy and I don’t want anyone or anything to hurt them ever again. I haven’t rewatched Captain America: Civil War in a long time, because I don’t want to watch what that movie show what it knows about Bucky, and I don’t want to watch what it chooses to do about it, and it’s not even that I’m mad about as that I don’t want to see it again.

There’s a poem that makes the rounds on Tumblr and in fandom circles often. That it comes from Seventy Years of Sleep, a fan-written poetry cycle about Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes is, I think, less well known, but makes it mean more, honestly, to me. The bit I’m thinking of goes,

I think we deserve

A soft epilogue, my love.

We are good people

And we’ve suffered enough.

And that’s what I want for my faves: a soft epilogue, loosed from their suffering. A time and a place to heal, to learn to live with the pain they have caused, and the harm they have done, and to find the next right thing to do.

Item the second: Venom in your veins

Or, I promise I’m not going to talk about Critical Role too much

It’s just that I have been rewatching the show during this time, and it’s been hitting me especially hard. It’s voice actors who play D&D together, basically. If you are an anime, video game, or internet person, you’ve almost certainly heard one or more of these voice actors in things. And if you’re a tabletop role-playing game person, you’ve almost certainly heard of the D&D game they play on the internet. And that’s all great, I’m happy to hit you up to explain the appeal, or to advise you where in the first campaign to start watching (it’s later than you think!). But lately I’ve been stuck on a line, a particular line, spoken in a particular way by a particular character. I’m struggling to give a little context without spoiling anything, so I’ll say: this speech, which I’m about to read to you, is by a character who has done horrible, horrible things in their past. They were manipulated into the choosing, but they still chose, and they believe without question that the choices they made have doomed them. They will never be forgiven, and they will never deserve forgiveness. Or at least, that’s what they believe - their friends have different beliefs. But anyway, this character is talking to another, who has recently come to light as having also made choices that, in the choosing, may have damned them forever to be unforgivable. And here’s the speech. It’s short, I promise, and I’ve cut out one instance where the speaker says the listener’s name. Okay.

You listen to me. I know what you are talking about. I know. And the difference between you and I, is thinner than a razor. I know what it means to have other people complicate your desires and wishes. And I was like you, was. I know what a fool I have been for years. And I am looking at him as if I am looking in a mirror. You didn’t account for us–good. That is life. Shit hits you sideways in life, and no one is prepared, no one is ready. These people…changed me. These people can change you. You were not born with venom in your veins. You learned it. You learned it. You have a rare opportunity here. One chance–to save yourself. And we are offering it. And I am pleading with you. To find your better self–he is still there. Maybe you and I are both damned. But we can choose to do something, and leave it better than it was before.

It’s important, I think, to note that “you were not born with venom in your veins” is in iambic pentameter, which always tickles the back of my mind when I hear it even if I don’t know why, thanks, theater. And it’s important to note, too, that this is an improvised show by voice actors, and that the character speaking is played by someone with a heavy background in theater, and that when the actor said that line as the character I personally burst into tears and then yelled about it for like fifteen minutes to a friend who’s also a big Critical Role fan and was also crying.

Item the third: it was learned

Or, all my faves are the same person for a reason

So, okay. This is getting a little heavier than I expected, but we’ve got one more place to look before we step back out into the sunlight. Me.

Hi, I’m Sara. Once upon a time, I was a person with a set of core, sturdy beliefs. They made me who I was. Every decision I made was based on them. Every action I took, every ripple I made, came from this core set of beliefs. And acting off of those beliefs, in the ways I was taught and shown, hurt people. I hurt people.

I was condescending and cruel, vicious, self-righteous. I insisted everyone live up to an example, and when they didn’t, I wrote them off as failures. I believed so hard and so loud and so much that everyone who didn’t believe the same rang as a liar or a bad person to me. I spent, let’s say, fifteen or sixteen years soaked in and taught and shown that belief, and then, in the space of about a year, it was ripped out of me.

Over the next couple of years, I began to collapse, slow but sure, as the cornerstone and entirety of the person I was dissolved away. When you are built around a belief, and then you don’t believe it anymore, and it’s gone - who the hell are you? Who do you become?

When you realize, as you’re terrified and grieving, as you’re brokenly trying to assemble shards into something like a person, that you hurt people before, when you were acting out of your belief, what do you do? How do you make amends? How to reckon with the pain you caused, and your at the time sincere belief that the pain was right and good, justified, that you were doing the right thing? That you did something terrible, many terrible somethings, out of intentions that were sincere and deeply held? That the people who taught you those beliefs, that the people who encouraged them, still hold those beliefs, and may or may not ever realize how deeply you held them, too, and how the damage you have done sprang so strongly from that core? How do you make friends now? How do you deserve them? How do you live with the things you’ve done and said, the chances you were given and ignored, the thousands of ways you could have seen the pain you were causing and just…stopped? And you didn’t?

There’s a reason Bucky Barnes is my favorite fictional character.

Item the final: No one is alone

Or, one another’s terrible mistakes

Into the Woods has been an odd sort of touchstone in my life. In high school speech class, reading through a huge filing cabinet full of scripts to chop into monologues and duets, I stumbled over it. I don’t know why it was in there, it’s a musical, and there wasn’t, at the time, a musical theatre program in my school. It didn’t, I don’t think, have the musical notation in with it, not that I can read music well enough to have done anything if it was there. But I, having grown up with fractured fairy tales, kept reading, and got to the lyrics for the song “No One is Alone.” It comes towards the end: two adults talking to two children about loss, and grief, and the ways they can shape our vision. In this little song, there are so many connected ideas about how fear and sadness and hurt can make us forget who we are. That everyone makes mistakes, that no single person has a handle on what’s right or good. That every choice has a consequence, and that every consequence leads to another choice. That our moralities are constructed around our histories and our choices. That most people are, most of the time, just trying to get through the world with the people they love. Witches and giants aren’t the enemy: the pain we cause out of our own pain is the enemy. It can be, in these times, in our interconnected world, so hard to choose. So hard to choose kindness over retaliation, so hard to choose justice over comfort, so hard to choose action over silence. And it can feel so alone. You, standing under a giant’s shadow, choosing to listen to what the giant is saying before you strike it down. You, staring a witch in the face, choosing to understand the decisions she made that led her here. You, looking into your own heart, seeing how every mistake you’ve made and hurt you’ve endured has built you. Your pain, our pain, makes us, in some ways. It tries to tell us what’s right and what’s wrong, but we still get to decide if we agree. No one is alone - not us, not you, not the people who are not on your side. And so, the song insists, since none of us are alone, we can shape the effects of our mistakes. We can make better mistakes. We decide what’s right. We decide what’s good.

[music]

Theme music for A Soft Place to Land is “Repose,” by Chase Miller, off his album Burnout. Chase’s music can be found at chasemiller.bandcamp.com. Show notes and episode transcripts are at softplacepod.tumblr.com. You can find me on Twitter @cyranoh_ and you can listen to me jabber on as the foil to my very good friend Anna on our parenting podcast, The Parent Rap, at parentrap.net.

I love you very much. Take care of yourselves. See you soon.

0 notes

metaspherica · 6 years ago

Text

"...Donald Trump Has Caused the Shadow Government to Come Out of Hiding..."

[The following is an email from Walter J. Burien's newsletter list received today. It is without a link so we decided to re-post it here because it is relevant to current affairs such as the unfolding exposure of the DeepState Conspiracy. So just to keep the momentum going... Walter has done a great service to the cause by revealing that the DeepState is taking over all the wealth in the world through the mechanism of all-level-of-governments investment funds. Walter has a WordPress account, but have not yet looked to see if he published it there. His website is cafr1.com -Frieda Freedom Frogs, KOEPM] >>Begin quote-->> >>Begin quote-->> CAFR1 NATIONAL POST ____________________ Think about this - from a member of Academia, no less Hopefully a deadly Civil War doesn’t happen. Dr. Jack Minzey on Civil War in U.S. Today …. Jack passed away Sunday, 8 April 2018. Professionally, Jack was head of the Department of Education at Eastern Michigan University as well as a prolific author of numerous books, most of which were on the topic of Education and the Government role therein. This is the last of his works: Civil War How do civil wars happen? Two or more sides disagree on who runs the country. And they can't settle the question through elections because they don't even agree that elections are how you decide who's in charge. That's the basic issue here. Who decides who runs the country? When you hate each other but accept the election results, you have a country. When you stop accepting election results, you have a countdown to a civil war. The Mueller investigation is about removing President Trump from office and overturning the results of an election. We all know that. But it's not the first time they've done this. The first time a Republican president was elected this century, they said he didn't really win. The Supreme Court gave him the election. There's a pattern here. What do sure odds of the Democrats rejecting the next Republican president really mean? It means they don't accept the results of any election that they don't win It means they don't believe that transfers of power in this country are determined by elections. That's a civil war. There's no shooting. At least not unless you count the attempt to kill a bunch of Republicans at a charity baseball game practice. But the Democrats have rejected our system of government. This isn't dissent. It's not disagreement. You can hate the other party. You can think they're the worst thing that ever happened to the country. But then you work harder to win the next election. When you consistently reject the results of elections that you don't win, what you want is a dictatorship. Your very own dictatorship . The only legitimate exercise of power in this country, according to Democrats, is its own. Whenever Republicans exercise power, it's inherently illegitimate. The Democrats lost Congress. They lost the White House. So what did they do? They began trying to run the country through Federal judges and bureaucrats. Every time that a Federal judge issues an order saying that the President of the United States can't scratch his own back without his say so, that's the civil war. Our system of government is based on the constitution, but that's not the system that runs this country. The Democrat's system is that any part of government that it runs gets total and unlimited power over the country. If the Democrats are in the White House, then the president can do anything. And I mean anything. He can have his own amnesty for illegal aliens. He can fine you for not having health insurance. His power is unlimited. He's a dictator. But when Republicans get into the White House, suddenly the President can't do anything. He isn't even allowed to undo the illegal alien amnesty that his predecessor illegally invented. A Democrat in the White House has 'discretion' to completely decide every aspect of immigration policy. A Republican doesn't even have the 'discretion' to reverse him. That's how the game is played That's how our country is run. Sad but true, although the left hasn't yet won that particular fight. When a Democrat is in the White House, states aren't even allowed to enforce immigration law. But when a Republican is in the White House, states can create their own immigration laws. Under Obama, a state wasn't allowed to go to the bathroom without asking permission But under Trump, Jerry Brown can go around saying that California is an independent republic and sign treaties with other countries. The Constitution has something to say about that. Whether it's Federal or State, Executive, Legislative or Judiciary, the left moves power around to run the country. If it controls an institution, then that institution is suddenly the supreme power in the land. This is what I call a moving dictatorship. Donald Trump has caused the Shadow Government to come out of hiding: Professional government is a guild. Like medieval guilds. You can't serve in if you're not a member. If you haven't been indoctrinated into its arcane rituals. If you aren't in the club. And Trump isn't in the club. He brought in a bunch of people who aren't in the club with him. Now we're seeing what the pros do when amateurs try to walk in on them. They spy on them, they investigate them and they send them to jail. They use the tools of power to bring them down. That's not a free country. It's not a free country when FBI agents who support Hillary take out an 'insurance policy' against Trump winning the election. It's not a free country when Obama officials engage in massive unmasking of the opposition. It's not a free country when the media responds to the other guy winning by trying to ban the conservative media that supported him from social media. It's not a free country when all of the above collude together to overturn an election because the guy who wasn't supposed to win did. Have no doubt, we're in a civil war between conservative volunteer government and a leftist Democrat professional government. [end quote from cafr1 email list] G>T?

0 notes

benrleeusa · 6 years ago

Text

The ICC and National Justice: Pressure Point or Tipping Point?

Marieke Wierda joins us for this fifth installation in our ongoing joint symposium with EJIL:Talk! on the ICC and its impacts on national prosecutions. Marieke is a PhD candidate at Leiden University and is an expert on transitional justice working at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In this piece, Marieke Wierda asks whether the ICC’s impact on national justice is a “pressure point” or a “tipping point”. (Illustration: iStock)

The Human Rights Watch report Pressure Point: The ICC’s Impact on National Justice describes an aspiration that many of the supporters of the International Criminal Court continue to harbor 20 years after the Rome Statute came into force. The report could be renamed “Tipping Point”: the aspiration of Human Rights Watch and others is that the existence, and actions of the ICC will decisively tip the scales of justice in favor of accountability for the world’s worst crimes at the international or domestic level.

Increasingly, the focus of advocates of the ICC has been fixed on the ICC’s impact at the domestic level. Long after its creation, the courtrooms in The Hague remain dramatically underutilized. As of 2018, the ICC had issued only four convictions: Thomas Lubanga Diyolo, convicted on 14 March 2012; Germain Katanga, convicted on 7 March 2014; Jean-Pierre Bemba, convicted on 21 March 2016; and Ahmed al-Farqi al-Mahdi, convicted on 27 September 2016 (pursuant to a guilty plea).

The Court faced many problems during these trials. In a major setback to the Office of the Prosecutor, on 8 June 2018 the Appeals Chamber acquitted Jean-Pierre Bemba. With only three convictions since 2002 (including a guilty plea), comparisons are inevitably made with the ICTY, which concluded proceedings against roughly 140 accused in 20 years with 18 were acquitted. In the age of austerity, where questions about cost versus impact of international interventions abound, this raises questions about the 1.5 billion Euro investment in the Court, and whether it really is the only road to the noble intentions that prevailed in Rome.

Hence the focus by HRW and others on the domestic level: “positive” complementarity through strengthening domestic legal systems gradually assumed such prominence amongst the ASP and supporters of the ICC that it was retroactively coined as perhaps the main impact of the Rome Statute. In the words of Burke-White: “encouraging national prosecutions within the “Rome System of Justice” and shifting burdens back to national governments offers the best and perhaps the only way for the ICC to meet its mandate and help end impunity.”

The question is what is the impact of the ICC, and how can it be measured? Is the existence of the ICC a game-changer in prompting domestic investigations and prosecutions? However, as this carefully researched report indicates, hope burns eternal. In fact, pressure exerted from the Office of the Prosecutor has yet to lead to significantly more prosecutions in the countries highlighted in the report. It appears that the existence of the ICC alone is not the magic bullet that advocates for the fight against impunity had imagined.

This is for several reasons. Crimes of the magnitude to fit the definitions of the Rome Statute are often committed in complex political conflicts in countries that suffer from a breakdown in the rule of law. The Court alone is not well placed to address these broader rule of law challenges, and with its current resources and the many situations under its purview, the Court is not even particularly well placed to analyze and decisively influence the political context.

Additionally, the Court’s current policies on case selection and prioritization mean that its focus will rest on a limited number of cases. In situations where national authorities lack political will, they can play a careful game of complicating admissibility of specific cases, rather than pursuing genuine accountability. Investigations of these crimes can be highly complex, and creating a game of fog and mirrors, at which some national authorities excel. This is particularly the case where state agents may be involved, as is the case in Colombia, Georgia and the UK. The Court’s interactions with national authorities have been more adversarial than amicable.

The Court’s quest is further complicated by the fact that it lacks enforcement powers, thus it is ultimately dependent on those very national authorities for matters such as security, witness protection, and enforcement of arrest warrants if inside their territory. Rather than complementarity, as I have argued in my doctoral thesis – The Local Impact of a Global Court – this leads to parallelism.Because of its dependency on national authorities, the Court is hampered by the same weaknesses that manifest in those authorities. If national authorities cannot (or will not) effectively protect witnesses, as in Kenya, neither can the Court. If they cannot enforce arrest warrants, as was the case with Uganda and the LRA, the Court faces similar difficulties. Where political will is lacking, the Court is hamstrung. All of these are significant barriers to the positive complementarity that HRW seeks to promote.

Of course, pressure from the Court may be a contributing factor to incentivizing investigations by national authorities, but is not likely in and of itselfto result in more prosecutions. Much more is needed. HRW recognizes this when it concludes that “it is unlikely that the OTP, on its own, can fundamentally alter political dynamics.” The Court is not set up for that.

Nonetheless, the Human Rights Watch report is full of wisdoms on possible OTP strategies to further advance domestic investigations and prosecutions, including building strategic alliances with domestic counterparts in civil society and the media, and in identifying clear benchmarks for progress.

At the same time, the OTP should certainly not rush to open many new investigations. Much as the invasion of Iraq in 2003 demonstrated the real limitations of US military prowess, investigations by the ICC often demonstrate the limitations of the Court’s reach by touching on only a handful of individuals. The shadow cast by preliminary examinations is a longer one, and pressure during that phase can perhaps yield more results, as has arguably been the case in Colombia. The Court’s own track record on its investigations is poor, and it should certainly not embark on too many situations at the same time, further stretching its limited resources and credibility.

Preliminary examinations are a Catch-22 for the Court. On the one hand, lengthy preliminary examinations can cause national authorities to “grow less concerned about an ICC intervention”, as observed by HRW. On the other hand, opening investigations has the potential to result in noncooperation, which also undermine concern about an ICC intervention, and further erode its authority. More transparency, as called for by HRW, means that the OTP has to share more information on its own targets, which can lead to more willful obstruction.

Certainly the OTP’s involvement does result in more domestic pressure for accountability. But the HRW report lacks insight into the priorities of victims in these situations. In the case of Georgia, HRW was told that “victims, especially those who were displaced, were more concerned with returning home.” In Colombia, victims participated directly the peace negotiations at Havana and the comprehensive transitional justice measures included in the agreement include their rights to truth and reparations. Certainly the needs and interests of victims should remain central to any actions taken by the Prosecutor.

A singular focus on criminal investigations or prosecutions can distract from, or complicate, other measures that can improve the lives of victims and that provide forms of redress, as can be seen in situations such as in Kenya. In the words of the (former) High Commissioner for Peace in Colombia, Sergio Jaramillo: “Impunity is necessarily measured according to the degree to which the rights of the victims are satisfied.” Aggressive lobbying for criminal investigations and prosecutions raises security concerns for local NGO’s, victim organizations and potential witnesses. In Afghanistan, lobbying for prosecutions of warlords by HRW and others even led to the passage of a new amnesty law in 2007. The risks of a singular focus on criminal justice become starkly apparent in the Bemba acquittal. Acquittals are inherently part of the criminal process, but what recourse will there be for the victims of sexual violence in the CAR? Will they get their redress from the Trust Fund for Victims even if there will be no reparations? It would be useful if HRW would extend its analysis to include the interests of victims.

0 notes

foursproutwealth-blog · 7 years ago

Text

Daniel Greenfield: "Guns Are How A Civil War Ends... Politics Is How It Starts"

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/wealth/daniel-greenfield-guns-are-how-a-civil-war-ends-politics-is-how-it-starts/

Daniel Greenfield: "Guns Are How A Civil War Ends... Politics Is How It Starts"

youtube

Authored by Daniel Greenfield via Sultan Knish blog,

(The following is the speech that I delivered this Sunday at the South Carolina Tea Party Coalition Convention in Myrtle Beach. My appreciation to Joe Dugan and everyone involved in organizing it and making it a reality once again. And to Don Neuen and Donna Fiducia of Cowboy Logic Radio for the introduction. And to anyone and everyone still fighting the good fight.)

Full Transcript below:

This is a civil war.

There aren’t any soldiers marching on Charleston… or Myrtle Beach. Nobody’s getting shot in the streets. Except in Chicago… and Baltimore, Detroit and Washington D.C.

But that’s not a civil war. It’s just what happens when Democrats run a city into the ground. And then they dig a hole in the ground so they can bury it even deeper.

If you look deep enough into that great big Democrat hole, you might even see where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.

But it’s not guns that make a civil war. It’s politics.

Guns are how a civil war ends. Politics is how it begins.

How do civil wars happen?

Two or more sides disagree on who runs the country. And they can’t settle the question through elections because they don’t even agree that elections are how you decide who’s in charge.

That’s the basic issue here. Who decides who runs the country? When you hate each other but accept the election results, you have a country. When you stop accepting election results, you have a countdown to a civil war.

I know you’re all thinking about President Trump.

He won and the establishment, the media, the democrats, rejected the results. They came up with a whole bunch of conspiracy theories to explain why he didn’t really win. It was the Russians. And the FBI. And sexism, Obama, Bernie Sanders and white people.

It’s easier to make a list of the things that Hillary Clinton doesn’t blame for losing the election. It’s going to be a short list.

A really short list. Herself.

The Mueller investigation is about removing President Trump from office and overturning the results of an election. We all know that. But it’s not the first time they’ve done this.

The first time a Republican president was elected this century, they said he didn’t really win. The Supreme Court gave him the election. There’s a pattern here.

Trump didn’t really win the election. Bush didn’t really win the election. Every time a Republican president won an election this century, the Democrats insist he didn’t really win.

Now say a third Republican president wins an election in say, 2024.

What are the odds that they’ll say that he didn’t really win? Right now, it looks like 100 percent.

What do sure odds of the Dems rejecting the next Republican president really mean? It means they don’t accept the results of any election that they don’t win.

It means they don’t believe that transfers of power in this country are determined by elections.

That’s a civil war.

There’s no shooting. At least not unless you count the attempt to kill a bunch of Republicans at a charity baseball game practice. But the Democrats have rejected our system of government.

This isn’t dissent. It’s not disagreement.

You can hate the other party. You can think they’re the worst thing that ever happened to the country. But then you work harder to win the next election. When you consistently reject the results of elections that you don’t win, what you want is a dictatorship.

Your very own dictatorship.

The only legitimate exercise of power in this country, according to the left, is its own. Whenever Republicans exercise power, it’s inherently illegitimate.

The attacks on Trump show that elections don’t matter to the left.

Republicans can win an election, but they have a major flaw. They’re not leftists.

That’s what the leftist dictatorship looks like.

The left lost Congress. They lost the White House. So what did they do? They began trying to run the country through Federal judges and bureaucrats.

Every time that a Federal judge issues an order saying that the President of the United States can’t scratch his own back without his say so, that’s the civil war.

Our system of government is based on the constitution, but that’s not the system that runs this country.

The left’s system is that any part of government that it runs gets total and unlimited power over the country.

If it’s in the White House, then the president can do anything. And I mean anything. He can have his own amnesty for illegal aliens. He can fine you for not having health insurance. His power is unlimited.

He’s a dictator.

But when Republicans get into the White House, suddenly the President can’t do anything. He isn’t even allowed to undo the illegal alien amnesty that his predecessor illegally invented.

A Democrat in the White House has “discretion” to completely decide every aspect of immigration policy. A Republican doesn’t even have the “discretion” to reverse him.

That’s how the game is played. That’s how our country is run.

When Democrats control the Senate, then Harry Reid and his boys and girls are the sane, wise heads that keep the crazy guys in the House in check.

But when Republicans control the Senate, then it’s an outmoded body inspired by racism.

When Democrats run the Supreme Court, then it has the power to decide everything in the country. But when Republicans control the Supreme Court, it’s a dangerous body that no one should pay attention to.

When a Democrat is in the White House, states aren’t even allowed to enforce immigration law. But when a Republican is in the White House, states can create their own immigration laws.

Under Obama, a state wasn’t allowed to go to the bathroom without asking permission. But under Trump, Jerry Brown can go around saying that California is an independent republic and sign treaties with other countries.

The Constitution has something to say about that.

Whether it’s Federal or State, Executive, Legislative or Judiciary, the left moves power around to run the country. If it controls an institution, then that institution is suddenly the supreme power in the land.

This is what I call a moving dictatorship.

There isn’t one guy in a room somewhere issuing the orders. Instead there’s a network of them. And the network moves around.

If the guys and girls in the network win elections, they can do it from the White House. If they lose the White House, they’ll do it from Congress. If they don’t have either one, they’ll use the Supreme Court.

If they don’t have either the White House, Congress or the Supreme Court, they’re screwed. Right?

Nope.

They just go on issuing them through circuit courts and the bureaucracy. State governments announce that they’re independent republics. Corporations begin threatening and suing the government.

There’s no consistent legal standard. Only a political one.

Under Obama, states weren’t allowed to enforce immigration laws. That was the job of the Federal government. And the states weren’t allowed to interfere with the job that the Feds weren’t doing.

Okay.

Now Trump comes into office and starts enforcing immigration laws again. And California announces it’s a sanctuary state and passes a law punishing businesses that cooperate with Federal immigration enforcement.

So what do we have here?

It’s illegal for states to enforce immigration law because that’s the province of the Federal government. But it’s legal for states to ban the Federal government from enforcing immigration law.

The only consistent pattern here is that the left decided to make it illegal to enforce immigration law.

It may do that sometimes under the guise of Federal power or states rights. But those are just fronts. The only consistent thing is that leftist policies are mandatory and opposing them is illegal.

Everything else is just a song and dance routine.

That’s how it works. It’s the moving dictatorship. It’s the tyranny of the network.

You can’t pin it down. There’s no one office or one guy. It’s a network of them. It’s an ideological dictatorship. Some people call it the deep state. But that doesn’t even begin to capture what it is.

To understand it, you have to think about things like the Cold War and Communist infiltration.

A better term than Deep State is Shadow Government.

Parts of the Shadow Government aren’t even in the government. They are wherever the left holds power. It can be in the non-profit sector and among major corporations. Power gets moved around like a New York City shell game. Where’s the quarter? Nope, it’s not there anymore.

The shadow government is an ideological network. These days it calls itself by a hashtag #Resistance. Under any name, it runs the country. Most of the time we don’t realize that. When things are normal, when there’s a Democrat in the White House or a bunch of Democrats in Congress, it’s business as usual.

Even with most Republican presidents, you didn’t notice anything too out of the ordinary. Sure, the Democrats got their way most of the time. But that’s how the game is usually played.

It’s only when someone came on the scene who didn’t play the game by the same rules, that the network exposed itself. The shadow government emerged out of hiding and came for Trump.

And that’s the civil war.

This is a war over who runs the country. Do the people who vote run the country or does this network that can lose an election, but still get its agenda through, run the country?

We’ve been having this fight for a while. But this century things have escalated.

They escalated a whole lot after Trump’s win because the network isn’t pretending anymore. It sees the opportunity to delegitimize the whole idea of elections.

Now the network isn’t running the country from cover. It’s actually out here trying to overturn the results of an election and remove the president from office.

It’s rejected the victories of two Republican presidents this century.

And if we don’t stand up and confront it, and expose it for what it is, it’s going to go on doing it in every election. And eventually Federal judges are going to gain enough power that they really will overturn elections.

It happens in other countries. If you think it can’t happen here, you haven’t been paying attention to the left.

Right now, Federal judges are declaring that President Trump isn’t allowed to govern because his Tweets show he’s a racist. How long until they say that a president isn’t even allowed to take office because they don’t like his views?

That’s where we’re headed.

Civil wars swing around a very basic question. The most basic question of them all. Who runs the country?

Is it me? Is it you? Is it Grandma? Or is it bunch of people who made running the government into their career?

America was founded on getting away from professional government. The British monarchy was a professional government. Like all professional governments, it was hereditary. Professional classes eventually decide to pass down their privileges to their kids.

America was different. We had a volunteer government. That’s what the Founding Fathers built.

This is a civil war between volunteer governments elected by the people and professional governments elected by… well… uh… themselves.

Of the establishment, by the establishment and for the establishment.

You know, the people who always say they know better, no matter how many times they screw up, because they’re the professionals. They’ve been in Washington D.C. politics since they were in diapers.

Freedom can only exist under a volunteer government. Because everyone is in charge. Power belongs to the people.

A professional government is going to have to stamp out freedom sooner or later. Freedom under a professional government can only be a fiction. Whenever the people disagree with the professionals, they’re going to have to get put down. That’s just how it is. No matter how it’s disguised, a professional government is tyranny.

Ours is really well disguised, but if it walks like a duck and locks you up like a duck, it’s a tyranny.

Now what’s the left.

Forget all the deep answers. The left is a professional government.

It’s whole idea is that everything needs to be controlled by a big central government to make society just. That means everything from your soda sizes to whether you can mow your lawn needs to be decided in Washington D.C.

Volunteer governments are unjust. Professional governments are fair. That’s the credo of the left.

Its network, the one we were just discussing, it takes over professional governments because it shares their basic ideas. Professional governments, no matter who runs them, are convinced that everything should run through the professionals. And the professionals are usually lefties. If they aren’t, they will be.

Just ask Mueller and establishment guys like him.

What infuriates professional government more than anything else? An amateur, someone like President Trump who didn’t spend his entire adult life practicing to be president, taking over the job.

President Trump is what volunteer government is all about.

When you’re a government professional, you’re invested in keeping the system going. But when you’re a volunteer, you can do all the things that the experts tell you can’t be done. You can look at the mess we’re in with fresh eyes and do the common sense things that President Trump is doing.

And common sense is the enemy of government professionals. It’s why Trump is such a threat.

A Republican government professional would be bad enough. But a Republican government volunteer does that thing you’re not supposed to do in government… think differently.

Professional government is a guild. Like medieval guilds. You can’t serve in if you’re not a member. If you haven’t been indoctrinated into its arcane rituals. If you aren’t in the club.

And Trump isn’t in the club. He brought in a bunch of people who aren’t in the club with him.

Now we’re seeing what the pros do when amateurs try to walk in on them. They spy on them, they investigate them and they send them to jail. They use the tools of power to bring them down.

That’s not a free country.

It’s not a free country when FBI agents who support Hillary take out an “insurance policy” against Trump winning the election. It’s not a free country when Obama officials engage in massive unmasking of the opposition. It’s not a free country when the media responds to the other guy winning by trying to ban the conservative media that supported him from social media. It’s not a free country when all of the above collude together to overturn an election because the guy who wasn’t supposed to win, won.

We’re in a civil war between conservative volunteer government and leftist professional government.

The pros have made it clear that they’re not going to accept election results anymore. They’re just going to make us do whatever they want. They’re in charge and we better do what they say.

That’s the war we’re in. And it’s important that we understand that.

Because this isn’t a shooting war yet. And I don’t want to see it become one.

And before the shooting starts, civil wars are fought with arguments. To win, you have to understand what the big picture argument is. It’s easy to get bogged down in arguments that don’t matter or won’t really change anything.

This is the argument that changes everything.

Do we have a government of the people and by the people? Or do we have a tyranny of the professionals?

The Democrats try to dress up this argument in leftist social justice babble. Those fights are worth having. But sometimes we need to pull back the curtain on what this is really about.

They’ve tried to rig the system. They’ve done it by gerrymandering, by changing the demographics of entire states through immigration, by abusing the judiciary and by a thousand different tricks.

But civil wars come down to an easy question. Who runs the country?

They’ve given us their answer and we need to give them our answer.

Both sides talk about taking back the country. But who are they taking it back for?

The left uses identity politics. It puts supposed representatives of entire identity groups up front. We’re taking the country back for women and for black people, and so on and so forth…

But nobody elected their representatives.

Identity groups don’t vote for leaders. All the black people in the country never voted to make Shaun King al Al Sharpton their representative. And women sure as hell didn’t vote for Hillary Clinton.

What we have in America is a representative government. A representative government makes freedom possible because it actually represents people, instead of representing ideas.

The left’s identity politics only represents ideas. Nobody gets to vote on them.

Instead the left puts out representatives from different identity politics groups, there’s your gay guy, there’s three women, there’s a black man, as fronts for their professional government system.

When they’re taking back the country, it’s always for professional government. It’s never for the people.

When conservatives fight to take back the country, it’s for the people. It’s for volunteer government the way that the Founding Fathers wanted it to be.

This is a civil war over whether the American people are going to govern themselves. Or are they going to be governed.

Are we going to have a government of the people, by the people and for the people… or are we going to have a government.

The kind of government that most countries have where a few special people decide what’s best for everyone.

We tried that kind of government under the British monarchy. And we had a revolution because we didn’t like it.

But that revolution was met with a counterrevolution by the left. The left wants a monarchy. It wants King Obama or Queen Oprah.

It wants to end government of the people, by the people and for the people. That’s what they’re fighting for. That’s what we’re fighting against. The stakes are as big as they’re ever going to get. Do elections matter anymore?

I live in the state of Ronald Reagan. I can go visit the Ronald Reagan Library any time I want to. But today California has one party elections. There are lots of elections and propositions. There’s all the theater of democracy, but none of the substance. Its political system is as free and open as the Soviet Union.

And that can be America.

The Trump years are going to decide if America survives. When his time in office is done, we’re either going to be California or a free nation once again.

The civil war is out in the open now and we need to fight the good fight. And we must fight to win.

#Wealth

0 notes

foursprout-blog · 7 years ago