#if you get upset other people didn’t vote without realizing voting rights are being rapidly worn away

[moesartblog]

I’m gonna rant in the tags and then delete this but People on this site are starting once again to put WAY too much faith in the electoral college system

[mystic-kitten-writer]

Limerence [M] ︳31

Pairing: Zuko x OC

AU: Adult-Verse

Genre: Romance, mainly fluff with smut, and if you squint hard enough - you’ll find some angst.

Rating: SFW

Words: 9200+

Notes: Greetings! I’m going to be posting a bonus chapter soon! It’s the bonus chapter I promised a bit ago; it’s didn’t fit well with the plot until now. That saying, I have another bonus chapter in the works. I reached 1k votes on Wattpad, which is crazy, and I wanted to create a bonus chapter.

Other than that, thank you for reading and leaving lovely comments. I appreciate the heart-warming support from you all. Take care~!

Masterlist ︳30 [M]  ︳ Bonus pt. 2 [M]

❤ Buy me a coffee? ❤

Limerence: (English/n.) the state of being infatuated with another person. The moment their eyes locked they knew - the flames within him twisted while the water within her turned. It was a connection, a connection that would lead to love, adventure, and drama.

“He was her warmth / she was his peace”

(English/quo.) By Even Sanders; ‘The Better Man Project.’

 ~ Ying Yue Jiang ~

            Anger? No…maybe frustration?

            A small huff flew through my lips, eyes scanning Zuko. He sat on the other side of Appa’s saddle with Aang and Sokka, discussing something. And while I knew the responsible thing would be to listen to what Toph and Suki had to say – I couldn’t.

            Curiosity had me in its grip, studying Zuko with such care, I wish I paid this much attention to my everyday life.

            It was just that…Zuko was such a puzzle, and it was maddening.

            I was observant. Naturally learning the way people spoke, move – and in a matter of seconds, I could figure someone out. But with Zuko – I couldn’t. He was secretive, and that just made my sense of inquisitiveness grow. What’s going through Zuko’s head? What was he feeling?

            Just briefly skimming Sokka, I could tell he was focused on whatever they were conversing. The way he crossed his arms, leaning forward with his head titled down – those were all tale-tell signs that he was attentive to the conversation. I even had Aang figured out! When his hands rested on his lap, it meant he was calm, but since his fingers were tightly linked, it meant he was concerned. It was little gestures like those that made me understand everyone’s mood – except Zuko.

            His lips were pressed tight, which in theory would mean he was upset, but the way he sat, leaning back with his legs propped…Lounging meant he was at ease but…why are his arms crossed?

            “Is Princess still staring at Zuko?”                   

            “You guessed it – come on! You live with the guy, what more do you want?” Suki groused, her hand shoving me jokily. My gaze broke from Zuko, a faint blush covering my cheeks as I bashfully smiled.

            “S-sorry. I must have zoned out.” Suki rolled her eyes, giving me a look that proved she knew I was lying, before speaking, “Mhmm…well, what were we talking about again?”

            “How Princess figured out Mai was the snitch.”

            My mouth opened and closed, uneasy, since, at the mere mention of Mai, the boys rapidly shifted their focus on me. “Toph has a point, we never did ask...” Sokka budded. My arms cradled my body, trying desperately to blend in with Appa’s saddle…or his fur… How about I throw myself over? How far of a drop could it possibly be?

            “It’s a long story…” I started.

            Toph snorted, “We got time. Spill.”

            “We can talk about it when we get to the kingdom, we have much to discuss once we arrive – I prefer we don’t waste our breath.” Zuko asserted, an attempt to bring the whole topic to an end. I let out a breath, our eyes aligning momentarily. He gave me a knowing nod, obliviously sensing my uneasiness and a wave of appreciation engulfed me. He’s too good for me. With that statement, Zuko shifted his gaze towards the horizon.

            The mountains and overall landscape looked insignificant being this high, and in some ways – it was humbling. Gosh. I missed riding Appa through the snowy peaks time ago…it was such a stress reliever.

            The lack of clouds provided us with a magnificent view of the Fire Nation. The endless mounds of vegetation, small towns scattered about – some greater than others. To think that Zuko ruled over all of this…my heart started pounding just thinking about it. I could barely take care of myself, let alone a damn Nation.

            “Fine, but we do have to talk about what we’re going to do with Mai when we land. Are you going to arrest her? Talk to her?” Toph insisted, not letting the topic die off. Suki huffed, pulling on the strings that lined the leather on her gloves, “Toph has a point. She may be a friend, but she’s a threat…”

            “Mai is still a friend. We speak as if arresting our friend comes without pains.” Aang protested - the first I’ve heard him speak in a while. His voice was taut, fingers digging into his mustard robes, wrinkling the material. Sokka let a hand drop over Aang’s shoulder, lips pressed.

            “But if Mai’s the snitch than she’s as guilty as Azula. Mai could be charged with attempted murder, treason, and the list goes on, Aang.” Sokka insisted and hearing that made my stomach uneasy. Attempted murder-

            The headache that I woke up with this morning seemed to be coming back, my hand trailing up my face as I grasped my head. It was pounding, and it didn’t seem to go away completely. Just a constant, dull, stabbing pain – please don’t tell me I’m getting sick…probably just stress.

            “We can decide once we land. We don’t know if Mai is aware that we know she’s the snitch. And if that is the case, it would be to our benefit to let her wander free, track her movements. Spying on the spy.” Zuko muttered and hearing his voice once again had my closed eyes fluttering open. The way his voice trailed off towards the end, I could start piecing together the emotions and thoughts running through his head.

            “I agree with Zuko; it’s the safest plan. Babe, have you told Ty Lee about what’s going on with Mai?” Sokka asked, and Suki let out another tired sigh. She shrugged her shoulders, shaking her head meekly before meeting his gaze, “No. I need to tell her in person; I know it’ll hurt her, hearing all of this. I can’t let anything distract her, she’s my second, and I need her to be at her sharpest until I come back.”

            “So we let Mai be for the time being, and how about Azula? What do we do about her.” Toph grumbled, and this time, no one spoke.

            Everyone’s eyes shifted, looking at their hands or feet, anywhere, besides Zuko.

            That’s it, how did I not realize before? Something so painfully obvious – why Aang and Sokka didn’t attack Azula that night. Realistically, Aang could’ve handled Azula with ease, but all he did was reflect her attacks, getting himself burnt in the process…it was something that bothered me, but ignored. But now that she mentioned it…

            Toph let out a grunt, her feet tapping impatiently against Appa’s saddle, and I held my breath. “Well? What’s your grand plan involving Azula – almighty Fire Lord.” Toph pestered with her arms tightly crossed over her chest. I could see the way Zuko tightened his jaw, his hands clenching.

            “We can think about it later Toph…” I babbled without much thought, anything to get Zuko out of the corner she put him in.

            Sadness – that was what was running through his mind. It was difficult for me to pinpoint that look because it wasn’t a look Zuko wore often. He was usually exasperated, livid, even irritated, but sorrow; that was new.

            To my dismay, Toph didn’t seem all too pleased with my answer, shaking her head. “I get that she may be your future sister-in-law, but that doesn’t change the fact that she’s a damn criminal.” I swallowed hard because Toph was right.

            Aang and I were looking at Azula and Mai with our hearts – not viewing the situation for what it was. Toph wasn't unreasonable – she was logical.

            “What do you propose, Toph?” Zuko shot back, his tone thick.

            Toph’s lips curved downwards, tilting her head as if to hear better. The moment I saw her thin lips beginning to move, I could feel my heart thrashing, the relentless hammering in my head emphasizing my anxiety. Toph and Zuko were similar in many ways – and their assertiveness was undeniably one of their commonalities.

            It was Aang’s airy voice that cut the growing tension for a moment, and I could allow myself to breathe. “We could capture her, get her the help she needs…help her as much as we can.” A chance to get his sister back. I knew Zuko loved Kiyi with all his heart; he viewed her as a daughter at this point, but I could still feel Zuko’s hesitation revolving Azula.

            As much as he was hated Azula, wanted her out of the picture – I saw the faint glimmer of hope in his eyes. He cared, whether or not he wanted to admit it. Zuko wasn’t heartless, and while he had everyone else fooled – I wasn’t.

            Everyone faced Zuko, waiting for his approval, but he didn’t utter a word. His long digits tapped along his thighs, golden eyes staring longingly into the distance. Silence and Zuko were two words that never went together in one sentence. Toph didn’t wait any longer to hear a response, speaking with clipped speech.

            “Mark my words Zuko; I’ll try to capture her, for you, but we both know what should be done. And if given a chance, I’ll do it without hesitation.”

            Zuko let out a bitter laugh, before glancing back at Toph, “As Fire Lord, you have my permission – kill her. It’s for the best, for not only my Nation but for the other Nations as well. But as her brother…” He flicked his fingers before letting his hands comb through his hair, “As her brother…I want the best. I want her safe. I want her home.”

            No one spoke a word.

            Everyone’s eyes shifted back down to the brown saddle we sat upon, letting the words Zuko muttered become one with the brisk air. He leaned back; arms crossed as he stared at the skyline once again. My body moved without thinking – the overwhelming urge to comfort Zuko eating me from the inside out. How I hated seeing him like this – I need to see that perfect smile of his.

            Crawling on my hands and knees, it didn’t take long for me to be by Zuko’s side, feeling everyone’s eyes over me.

            “Zuko…” I muttered under my breath, jerking Zuko from his thoughts. I was a hair away from him, but he was consumed with his feelings, he didn’t even notice. He was visibly on edge, looking at me with muddled thoughts, “What’s wrong, love?”

            I let my body drop, head falling over his lap as I curved into a tiny ball. My hands reached for his, forcing them to fall over my head, “What are-”

            “My head, it hurts…can you hold me?”

            It was like night and day.

            Zuko’s body relaxed, his hands combing through my hair. His shaky hands soon steadied, his warm breath even and no longer deep exhales of frustration. My hands hugged his legs, letting my head snuggle into his waist. The throbbing that resided along my forehead slowly began to ease with his warm touches, a small moan of relief escapes me.

            Amidst my need to squeeze myself closer to Zuko, our eyes lined up for a short moment. A lovely look of freedom washed over his face. His lips moved ever so slowly, not a sound escaping him. With or without sound, I could still make out the heartwarming message he whispered to me, ‘Thank you.’

            Just as fast as he mouthed the words, a faint smile on his face, he leaned back against the saddle, his fingers combing through my hair. A soft smile painted my face, unable to control the pleasing hum that radiated from my chest. My head hurt – yes, and while getting Zuko to caress my head was amazing, that wasn’t the reason I crawled over here.

            Zuko needed comfort, whether or not he wanted to admit it.

            Getting Zuko to snuggle me wasn’t for my own selfish needs; it was because I knew better than anyone that what Zuko needed at the moment was a good hug. I may not have Zuko as figured out as I wish, but I did know him. The man I loved was a damn sucker for cuddles, had a weird fascination with my hair, but more importantly – he needed constant reassurance and attention. Things I could, and would, gladly do in a heartbeat.

            My eyes fluttered shut, melting under his touches, like a kitten. I knew it was only a matter of time we arrived at the Kingdom, I could vaguely recall seeing the crimson rooftops, but I couldn’t help but let my breathing even out.

            Home.

            We were almost there, and I found myself beaming at the thought of seeing Kiyi again. Oh, I can already hear her squeals of excitement! Ursa more than likely annoying Zuko with the idea of marriage, while Noren tried to save Zuko from his mother's dreams.

            Then Iroh…what would he not say? Probably asking us if we managed to bring any teas for his tea shop…that’s right, he should be leaving back to the Earth Nation in another week or so. I’m going to miss Iroh-

            “Hold tight; we’re landing.” Aang chirped, causing me to grumble under my breath. Just when my headache was starting to ease. Zuko’s grip shifted to my arms, staring down at me with concern, “You’re pale, love.”

            “I don’t feel good…” I muttered, letting Zuko help me sit up. The moment my back straightened, I could feel a wave of nausea wash over me for a second, shuddering under my breath. I'm totally getting sick.

            “Sokka, when did you say Katara is coming?” Suki asked, concern laced in her voice. A hand rested on my thigh; Suki’s to be exact, the leather giving it away. She was crouched down, and even with her makeup, I could see the look of worry on her face.

            “Next week, maybe?”

            “Aang, could we send Appa to fetch Katara? Yue doesn’t look too hot...”

            “I’m fine, just a little bit under the weather.” I dismissed, trying hard to force a lively smile. Zuko kissed his teeth, the grip he had on my back tight, “As soon as we land, you’re going to bed. You’re sick. You probably caught something during that beach walk.” Zuko complained under his breath, and I coloured.

            He had a point.

            I may…or may not…had convinced Zuko to go on a walk along the beach far past midnight. I couldn’t help it! What a shame would it be to say we went to the beach and hadn’t gotten to see or spend time at the beach? It’s like going to a bakery and walking out with a piece of deli – it just doesn’t make sense.

            The chilly air of that night and wet feet, because I was insistent on getting my toes into the water, most likely didn’t help in the matter. “I’ll be fine; I just need a nap-”

            “You need a nurse, love. And so be it, I’ll tie you to the bed if it means you’re getting some rest and I SWEAR SOKKA. Wipe that stupid grin off your face!” Zuko snapped, glaring harshly at the only person who could tick off Zuko and somehow not feel his wrath.

            Sokka laughed, waving his hands innocently, “I didn’t say or do anything! Trust me, buddy, the last thing I want is to imagine the nasty things you do to my little sister.”

            “You need to tell us about those fresh hickies you failed to cover up on your neck, Princess. It seems like someone got some action.” Suki giggled, and in a flash, chaos.

            Sokka choked on air, and Zuko shot a dirty look at Suki.     

            “Holy shit – you’re telling me those screams I heard that morning wasn’t a dream!” Sokka shrieked, and before anything else could be spoken, Aang pulled on Appa’s reins, causing us to nosedive to an open space in the Kingdom.

            All we could hear was the vague screams of Sokka cursing in languages yet to be discovered, while Toph and Suki laughed hysterically to themselves. Aang shot us a cheeky grin with a thumbs up, my hands gripping onto Zuko’s shirt for dear life. As much as I loved riding Appa, the feeling of weightlessness as we landed or took off had me shutting my eyes tightly. Between Sokka’s screaming and this icky feeling – my headache was in no way going away anytime soon.

            Only when I heard Appa groan loudly, signalling that we had landed did my eyes open. Appa’s feet stomped on the stone walkway, dust flying off into different directions. The guards that stood, waiting for us, had to hold their helmets in place.

            “Shit Zuko – when we sort all of this fuckery out I’m giving you and Yue a damn talk!” Sokka snarled towards us, and Zuko grinned, “I don’t think we need a talk – I think I do a pretty good job at making Yue feel good, right, love?”

            Sokka and my cheeks were a flaming red – both for different reasons.

            Toph choked in a laugh, and before Sokka could explode, the sounds of the guards approaching, and people calling our names, had Zuko and I shifting personas.

            Zuko cleared his throat, standing tall as he helped me stand. “Fire Lord Zuko, Imperial Consort Ying Yue, a beautiful vacation we assume?” a guard spoke, hand outstretched towards me. With his guidance, I found myself getting off Appa’s back, and I smiled. “It was splendid; I would love to go back sometime soon.”

            The guard smiled at my words, genuinely happy to hear that I had a great time, despite all the chaos that happened. Zuko jumped off Appa, the rest following suit.

            I turned on my heel, gazing about at the small crowd around us. We landed directly at the kingdom, meaning we avoided the unnecessary crowds we would have bumped into at the pier. But despite it all, I found my gaze wandering about, watching as everyone politely bowed, addressing me formally.

            What a change…

            I was used to the informality from the maids and workers at the house, and being back here reminded me of my position. The tall walls, the perfectly tended foliage around us – it felt weird being here, although another part of me was happy. The urge to jump into bed with Zuko, cuddling and falling asleep…

            “Excuse me – move aside, you’re in our way.” A voice grumbled through the guards. My brows pinched together hearing the persons’ tone, low and unquestionably rude. I looked over my shoulder, Zuko was busy conversing with soldiers with the others, not noting or in earshot of what I was hearing.

            The guards that surrounded us, one by one, moved aside, and the more I observed, the more I learned. Four figures weaved themselves in and out of the disorder around us, pushing the guards without care or respect. How rude of them. Who do they think they are? I found myself stepping forward, eager to see the faces of such inconsiderate people, only to notice the clothing they wore.

            Each person wore striking red garments; robes that skimmed the floor and littered with decorations and embellishments. While they were not as extravagant or lavish as the clothing Zuko and I wore on a daily – they were, undeniably, people of high status.

            My eyes studied the man leading the bunch, an older gentleman, followed by two others and a woman. The moment their eyes fell upon me, they stilled in their tracks, staring as if I was the living embodiment of garbage itself. As I opened my mouth, ready to introduce myself, I froze, spotting the sparkling emblems that decorated their arms.

            “Greetings council – pleasure seeing you here,” I spoke, forcing a smile onto my face as I politely bowed.  

“There are twelve councilmen – and out of those twelve, four voted against you. The rest approved, the majority won.” Zuko whispered into my ear. I flipped onto my side, facing him as I listened to the words he muttered into my ear.

Despite the darkness that flooded the room, I could still make out the faint frown on his face. His hand caressed my face, letting his fingers draw my features, “Why did they vote against me? Those four people…” I muttered under my breath.

Unexpectedly, Zuko pinched my nose, a playful smile dancing upon his lips, “Because they don’t realize how utterly adorable my baby is.” Zuko cooed. My heart swelled hearing those words, smushing my face against his chest with glowing cheeks.

            It didn’t take a genius to put two and two together – these four people were unarguably the people who voted against me. The scowls that painted their faces, lips pressed tight, hands balled into fists. It was like four Mai’s – just older and, somehow, grumpier.

            “Imperial Consort Ying Yue.” The man, in front, sneered while bowing.

            My eyes narrowed. While they did bow, it was by no means a respectable one. I wasn’t fussy on customs, but when someone so obliviously detested me, it was adding salt to a wound. “What may I do for you?” I asked, forcing my voice to sound as sweet as possible. The headache that I tried to ignore wasn’t helping; I think they’re making my head worse.

            “Nothing at all – we are here to see Fire Lord Zuko, we have a meeting scheduled.”

            I frowned; meeting?

            “Fire Lord Zuko never spoke of a meeting for today-” I started, but the man interrupted me, heckling under his breath, “It was unplanned, and hopefully after today, you will no longer have to worry about such matters.”

            “What?” I gasped, noticing the hostility in his tone.

            “What is going on?” A voice spoke from behind me, the deepness causing me to jump slightly. A heated hand rested on my lower back, feeling Zuko’s touch, as he studied me and the others. The way the four councilmembers bowed lowly at the mere presence of Zuko had me biting my lip. Assholes. It was clear they were trying to disrespect me, and Zuko seemed to notice because he didn’t return the formality.

            “We have a meeting planned, Fire Lord Zuko.”

            “I didn’t approve of any meeting today.”

            “It was a meeting proposed by us, the council.”

            “Everyone, or just the four of you?” Zuko interrogated.

            I could feel his fingers digging into my back, exasperation lingering with every word Zuko spoke. At this point, the rest of the gang awkwardly stood, off to the side. Suki pointed at the elders, looking at me with a look that screamed ‘what’s going on?’ I shrugged swiftly, looking at Zuko and the elders once again.

            The knots in my stomach grew in size; something wasn’t right. The way they addressed me and how they were speaking to Zuko…

            “Yes, the four of us. It has been brought to our attention that not everyone is pleased with the idea of the future Fire Nation Queen being a Waterbender.” The man spoke bitterly, and at that moment, I could feel my stomach in my throat. They couldn’t be-

            The grip on my back loosened, Zuko moving in front of me with a vengeance.

            Zuko’s shoulders squared, his back straight as he looked down at the four individuals in front of us. “Who I decide to be my consort is not up for discussion. Ying Yue Jiang is my partner and the future Fire Nation Queen. Meeting over.” Zuko snarled, stepping dangerously close to the councilmembers.

            The silence that flooded the area at which we stood was painful.

            Not even the sound of Appa’s heavy breathing could be heard. Aang and Sokka were glaring, cautiously stepping forward as the guards around us watched the scene unfold. The guard's posture changed from a defensive position to an offensive, their hands deliberately hovering in front of them, ready to protect Zuko.

            “We are politely asking for you to reconsider your decision-” The man stubbornly pushed, and the vein in Zuko’s neck bulged. This is bad, really bad.

            “My stance is firm.”

            “Well, if you follow us, we have brought suitable candidates. Individuals who come from royalty with strong bloodlines of Firebenders, and…” The man snorted, chinning to my direction with a glare, “far more pleasing to the eye.”

            “You what?” I hissed.

            Red.

            All I saw was red.

            My shoulder brushed passed Zuko, rage pumping in my veins, the headache festering in my mind growing in intensity the more I thought. “You brought other women, to our home?”

            The man’s eyes widen, stepping back as I inched forward.

            The looks in their eyes proved that they were not expecting my outburst – eyes feverishly flickering between Zuko and I. To think, that with a flick of my wrist I could- I swallowed hard, pushing the dangerous thought away before I finished it.

            “Are you not aware of my position, who I am to you?”

            While the other individuals wisely stepped back, the evident leader of the bunch didn’t. He puffed out his chest, matching his step towards mine, and in a second, I felt Zuko’s hands falling over my arms, “Yue – leave it to me-” He whispered, and I frowned.

            “No. It seems like people are abusing my niceness.” I spoke stridently. The man scoffed, crossing his arms, “There isn’t a single thing about you worth abusing. You have no name, title; you’re nothing.”

            “Is that so? How humiliating it’ll be for you to get dismissed by a person who is supposedly nothing.” I taunted, hands on my hips as I stepped forward.

            “You don’t have the power of such-”

            “But I do. You see, while I do enjoy spending time with my future husbands family, and getting to know the people who serve this kingdom; I also spend my time learning about Fire Nation politics.” I started.

            While this imprudent man may be taller than me in stature, he was the one cowering away in an instance. My finger jammed those silky red robes that covered his chest, my nail digging into his clothes.

            “Should Fire Lord Zuko fall ill, power temporarily falls onto my hands. And I can say with utmost certainty, the very first thing I’ll do is dispose of your mere existence.” I hissed, leaning carefully to his face, making sure he heard every word that I uttered.

            The colour from the man’s face left, standing there with his mouth open, wide enough to catch flies. “Are you threatening me?” The man whispered, and I snickered, “It’s not a threat. Consider it an early notice of termination.”

            I could feel Zuko’s hands fall over my shoulders gently, his fingers massaging. Goosebumps rose on my skin, no expecting such a romantic gesture, but he didn’t stop. His chest pushed against my back, his lips brushing my ear before letting out a dangerous purr.

            “Now that we have arrived, love, I do feel unwell. Maybe it would be best for me to rest – would you be a sweetheart and take over, Imperial Consort Ying Yue?”

            “My pleasure, Fire Lord Zuko.” I tutted, “And - you’re dismissed.”

            If it weren’t for the guards, the man would’ve most definitely put up a fight. They held his upper arms, pulling him away from us, and in the process, stripping him of the glistening badge that was mockingly strapped to his arm. “I’ll get rid of you - you, bitch. And I swear, you’ll regret this.” He shouted, fingers pointing at my direction.

            I could hear Zuko growl under his breath, ready to unleash his wrath, but I spun on my heel, letting my hands rest on his chest. “It’s not worth it Zuko…” I mumbled, and in a flash, Zuko’s focus shifted to me.

            For the first time since the whole ordeal, I breathed.

            My hands were shaking, body trembling with rage.

            I can’t believe it. They actually sought out other women for Zuko. Am I that bad? Am I that-

            “Love - you alright?” Zuko whispered, his hands brushing up my neck and cupping my face. Am I alright…? I nodded meekly, shooting Zuko a weak smile, “Y-yeah. I’m tired…I-I think I should go to bed.” I mumbled, biting my lower lip.

            His gaze softened, a frown painting his face, “No, you aren’t. I’m sorry, if I knew they were going to do this I would’ve intervened-”

            “D-don’t worry about it Zuko; it’s not your fault. My head is hurting, and you’re right. I need to rest…” I spoke with a muted voice, and Zuko’s grip on my face tightened, “I’ll go with you, make sure you’re tucked in-”

            “Zuko.” I huffed, cutting him off. He tensed at my tone, and I didn’t blame him one bit, as I surprised myself. I sound weak - tired. “I’m fine Zuko, you and the gang have so many things to do. I’m not in shape to help out, no matter how much I want to. We know that…”

            Zuko’s forehead pressed into mine, his eyes closing as he breathes out.

            “…I’m sorry.”

            “Don’t be. But…” I trailed off, earning a curious look from Zuko.

            I let out a small laugh under my breath, smiling light-heartedly, “Please kick those women out. It’s going to be impossible for me to sleep, knowing there is a herd of women trying to steal you from me.”

            “Don’t be; you know you’re the only one.” Zuko cooed, and I shined against his soft touches. “I know…but for their safety; I advise you move them.” And at those words, Zuko grinned, “Is someone jealous, love?”

            “I don’t get jealous; I’m territorial.” I teased, reciting the famous line Zuko muttered to me that one time. And the mischievous statement didn’t go unnoticed. He roughly pulled me forward, planting a chaste kiss on my nose as Zuko chuckled.

            “Fuck, I love you.”

            “I love you too Zuko, now go. I’ll be fine.” I hummed, pulling away from his sweet embrace. His touches weakened, letting me walk out of his grasp before I turned on my heel. The gang watched on the sidelines, unsure of what to say at this point, so I spoke first, “I’m going to rest, I’m ill, and it’ll probably be for the best…”

            Sokka glowered, walking forward as he grasped my arms, “You sure Princess? That man said some pretty rude things…”

            “I’ve dealt with worse, Sokka, the world is a cruel place after all.”

            “And that’s why you always wear the sweetest smile – because you know,” Sokka muttered under his breath. A statement that would have gone unnoticed if I wasn’t paying as much attention as I was. “Feel better Princess. Love you.” Sokka sighed, pecking my forehead quick before stepping back.

            I bid a quick goodnight to the others while walking towards a pair of guards – two individuals who I knew all too well.

            “I didn’t think you two would be here.” I laughed, staring at the two young gentlemen. Even with their helmets on, I could see the way their pink lips curved upwards. They had beautiful smiles, their pearly white teeth beaming back at me. “It’s weird seeing you anywhere besides my bedroom doors,” I mentioned, earning light laughs from them.

            “It’s nice to have you back, Imperial Consort, we missed you.” They spoke, and I blushed at their encouraging words. I love the staff.

            We walked side by side, them pulling open the doors to the Kingdom. The hues of red, the rich scent of firewood and spice, all things I’ve learned to call home – despite the rough welcoming. People who spotted me waved gleefully, bowing before dashing off to whatever task they had.

            While I smiled back, waving happily, my mind was elsewhere.

            I would never question Zuko’s love for me – it was evident. The way he gazed at me or the sweet love confessions he whispered late at night…he loved me. But- My fingers twirled around each other the further we walked, bottom lip trembling.

            I questioned my self worth at times...

            All the insecurities I’ve long thought I had in check were suddenly hitting me full force. It was frustrating, continually feeling like I’m not good enough. But maybe I’m not? He said that many people had issues with me and if that’s true…

            “Imperial Consort?”

            My eyes widen, sniffling and wiping my cherry red nose. I’m crying.

            “S-sorry, my head hurts, please, don’t worry about me.” I forced, smiling through my tears as convincingly as I could. But the two men looked at me, stopping their movements. I stilled, viewing them with confusion, “What’s wrong? I said I’m fine. I’m just tired-”

            “He’s wrong…” The guards mumbled under their breath, and I puckered. “He said that people had an issue with you being Fire Lord Zuko’s consort, but that isn’t true…” I let out a sigh, waving away their words, “Don’t worry about that, really. It doesn’t bother me at all.”

            “But it bothers us.” My voice fell silent, surprised to hear them talking as much as they did. No matter how many times I tried to speak to them, they were often quick and short discussion, as if they were afraid to talk. But now…they were speaking freely.

            “You know, you’re the first royal ever to greet us? Acknowledge our existence? You know maids and guards by their names, their family stories, and what they enjoy. You make us feel human.” I was speechless. Made them feel human? Was it strange for me to greet the staff? It was common etiquette. To think that people disregarded them.

            “You may not score high with the royals, but you do with the people. And Fire Lord Zuko knows that is far more important than a silly hierarchy system.” A quiet pause fell between us, letting their words sink in.

            The world was cruel to me.

            I lost everything and had people walk all over me. Sokka was right; I smiled as brightly as I did because I knew first-hand how wicked people could be. And if a single smile could brighten someone’s day, I’ll smile all day.

            “…you really think that?” I whispered, and they grinned.

            “The day we call you Queen will be the greatest honour bestowed upon us.”

 ~ Fire Lord Zuko ~

            Deep breaths Zuko.

            One more woman. That’s it. You can do this.

            Just politely tell her to leave and-

            Her snake-like hands slithered its way up my arm, nails scratching my skin, the abrupt gesture catching me off guard. My skin rose, a chill running up my spine at the vile touch. It felt like poison, skin burning at the unwanted contact. There wasn’t a single ounce of decency in this woman’s behaviour, forcing my arm between her chest, trying desperately to show off her cleavage.

            “Are you sure you don’t want to spend some time with me?” The lady droned, batting her eyelashes obnoxiously while licking her lips. “I bet I can change your mind if you give me a few minutes. I know how to please a man.” She whirred, trying, but failing miserably, to sound seductive.

            “Oh, do you? That’s great; you can start by getting the fuck out of my office.” I snarled, ripping my arm out of her grasp. Her face reddened at my response, stomping forward with her hands on her hips. “Do you know who I am?” She screeched, whipping her hair behind her ear for extra emphasis on her current discontentment.

            “Yes, you’re a spoiled royal who is leaving!” I shouted, temper flaring as I gripped her shoulders, shoving her towards the door. Just a few more steps-

            “How dare you! You should be honoured. I’m a gift!”

            A manic laugh escaped my lips, rolling my eyes at her response, “Sorry, I don’t accept cheap gifts.” My hand hastily ripped the door open. She turned on her heel, mouth wide, ready to hurl another insult. But before she could, I slammed the office door shut; her dreadful voice muffled by the heavy door.

            I let my body crash.

            Fuck.

            Me.

            My eyes shut closed, running my hands exasperatingly through my tangled locks. Never, in my whole life, have I ever so desperately wanted to take a bath, and scrub my body to the bone. I could still feel her lingering touch on my skin, and I shivered - I could vomit.

            I shoved myself off the door with much effort, the muscles that I so proudly worked on seemed useless at the moment. There was a reason why the gang left me, “Don’t worry Zuko, we’ll figure things out while you deal with the mess here. We got you.”

             ‘Got me’ my ass.

            They didn’t want the pleasure of kicking out desperate women who would jump at the chance of being the future Fire Nation Queen. I knew I should’ve let the guards handle it, but I didn’t. I had to go and try to be a nobleman, be gentle and sensitive, and break the news to them that I am in no need of a ‘new consort.’ Since when do I care and acknowledge such feelings?

            I swore, I already knew the answer.

            Damnit Yue, before you, I didn’t care a single bit about emotions, and suddenly I’m a damn expert about them. Without thinking twice, I strolled to the corner of my study, seeing the various bottles that lined the glass shelf.

            Whisky, where is it?

            My fingertips grazed the array of selection; blended, bourbon, rye…

            My eyes lit up, scotch.

            I snatched the bottle, letting the dark liquid pour into a glass, the strong scent of alcohol flooding my nostrils. The bitter liquid touched my lips, and a groan escaped me – smooth. A faint burn carried down my throat, as I drank, and for the first time today, I felt like I could breathe.

            The sun was setting, casting strange shadows along the walls. The room looked like a tropical haze under the setting sun, more than half the day gone in a flash – and the only productive thing that happened was me kicking out a bunch of women from my office. I stole another sip from my cup, walking towards my study.

            Stacks of paperwork piled on the wooden desk, and I let out another grunt.

            My body dropped onto my cushioned scarlet chair, finding an odd sense of comfort sitting behind this desk, with my pens and inks ready for use. And the moment the feeling of coziness hit me, I chuckled under my breath. Yue is right – I’m a workaholic.

            I slid my glass off to the far corner, after stealing one last sip, letting my tired eyes scan the documents that flooded my desk — approval of new policies, revision of Fire Nation citizenship requirements, taxes, civil dispute cases.

            “Paperwork. How I missed you.” I grumbled, before re-organizing the documents.

            I knew I had to finish some of this work tonight, but the urge to leave to check up on Yue was eating me alive. She looked sick; I could tell just by her eyes. The way she struggled to stay focused, skin pale and cold to touch. But more importantly – she looked hurt.

            The fucking rage I’m going to unleash on the council tomorrow. My fingers wrinkled the flimsy document in my hand, annoyance getting the best of me — complete idiots. The papers slipped through my hands, forming another mountain to be tackled tomorrow.

            Tossing paper after paper into pointless piles, I couldn’t help but look for that one specific document. I asked Iroh to deliver it…did he forget? I huffed, not seeing the report at all. Maybe I do not see it; it has to be-

            “Fire Lord Zuko?” A soft voice spoke, catching my attention.

            My head snapped upwards, noticing a maid politely bowing, peeping out of the study door. “Yes?”

            The maid glanced over her shoulder before facing me once again. “There are some people who wish to speak to you…” She whispered, and I frowned, “Who?”

            “I think it’ll be better if you see them for yourself, Fire Lord Zuko.” I nodded tentatively, standing straight and fixing my appearance. The door shut briefly before creaking open once again. What in the world-

            Six figures dashed inside, wearing red gowns, the badges they wore on their arms, reflecting whatever sun was left. My eyes narrowed, they have some fucking nerve-

            “And what reason do you have to be in my office, council?” I hissed.

            My arms crossed over my chest, staring at the six individuals who humbly bowed in front of me. Their hands laid over their upper body as they greeted, voices merciful. “We mean no disrespect with our presence-” An elderly woman spoke, standing at the front of the small crowd that had gathered in the study.

            “You sure? Since it appears, the basic concept of respect is not found within the council anymore. Insulting the Imperial Consort, making us appear as fools.” I shouted. They slowly rose from their deep bows, grimaces painting their faces as they listened to the lecture that was about to rain down upon them.

            “Fire Lord Zuko – we had no part in that-” She attempted to reason, and I scoffed. “No part? Then what brings you all here? I’m in no mood to deal with you all - not after that superb performance.”

            “This.”

            The elder reached into her robe, a brown file in her grasp.

            “Where did you get this?” I snarled, eyes furiously scanning the paper. Her arm outstretched towards me, letting the document fall into my hands. Iroh was supposed to drop this off to me-

            ‘Lifting of traitor status – General Axe.’

            “She’s just like him, you know…sympathetic…generous…” She spoke, voice trailing off. They knew – they knew who Yue was all this time. Mihir was right about people recognizing Yue; I should’ve taken his warning seriously.

             “Fire Lord Zuko, you need six signatures from the council to lift a traitor status, which you’ll find inside that folder. Eight, signatures, in fact.”

            I couldn’t form words, opening the file hastily.

            She’s telling the truth.

            Eight unique signatures, written with fresh black ink, dated.

            It was done, Axe’s traitor status was lifted. A process that should have taken weeks to complete was done in a single day. Should Yue’s father be alive, if we find him, I could protect him. I could bring her father back, with no consequences.

            “Why?” I whispered, shutting the document in a single motion, staring at the six individuals who stood in front of me. I had eight signatures, two people are missing- “I knew Axe, personally, just like the destruction your father unleashed.” She started, everyone sighing heavily, remembering the war.

            Fire Lord Ozai – a monster. He viewed his soldiers as disposable and people of other Nations as a waste of space. She was one of the few people who worked under his rule and continued working into my term. Who would’ve thought she knew who Axe was? Clearly, Yue’s father was popular amongst the royals.

            “I think you’re well aware of who, on this council, still reason with his philosophy.”

            She rose a brow at me, and I nodded. “We dismissed one of them today,” I muttered, and she chuckled under her breath, the wrinkles around her eyes becoming prominent. “That feistiness you saw today – that was from her mother’s side.”

            “If you knew who Ying Yue was, why didn’t you speak up earlier? You knew from the start that she was a Waterbender-”

            “That is untrue, Fire Lord Zuko. Majority of us were unaware of Ying Yue’s history. If it weren’t for two council members and your Uncle, no one wouldn’t have known.” A man spoke up from behind, his hands interlocked together in front of him.

            I’m a fucking idiot.

            I swore under my breath, turning on my heel as I let my hands slam the desk. Of course, Uncle Iroh would’ve known who Ying Yue’s father was. He served in the military, knew the ins and outs like the back of his hands. Why haven’t I thought of that before? So focused on the mess that was unfolding before my eyes, I missed the obvious.

            “Fire Lord Zuko, you may have dismissed one troubled soul, but there are others who are itching to find an excuse to get rid of Ying Yue, and potentially, you.” She spoke, her extremely calm tone carrying throughout the study.

            “By signing these papers, you’re trying to prove where your alliances stand, I can assume?” I questioned.

            They all looked at each other before nodding slowly. “We can’t go back to those dark ages. Those false followers of yours are trying every means to impeach you. The moment Iroh told us you were submitting a change of status regarding Axe, we knew it was time for us to intervene.” I nodded, tempted to steal another drink at this point. It was one less thing to worry about on my list, and I found my fingers tracing the document – Axe.

            “If there is anything more we can do for you Fire Lord Zuko; we will do so without hesitation.”

            “Thank you. It is much appreciated, and I respect your loyalty.” I hummed, turning to face the bunch. They all wore sheepish smiles, gazing at each other before stepping back. “We will show ourselves out. Have a pleasant evening, Fire Lord Zuko.” They muttered under their breath before bowing deeply.

            One by one, they left, everyone heading into a different direction the moment they stepped outside. As if the impromptu meeting had not happened. The eldest lady of them all, the one who spoke the most gave me a warm smile. Her hand rested along the door frame, looking over her shoulder, brown eyes scanning the document on the desk.

            “Are you going to retire early, Fire Lord Zuko? Deliver our Impending Queen the good news regarding her father?” I let a small smile sneak up on my face, “Not yet, I have a few things to settle first before I deliver the news.”

            “If the rumours are true, Mihir will find him.”

            My eyes widen at her comment, and she let out a sad sigh, “I couldn’t tell you if Axe is indeed alive. If I could, I would. But if there is one person who could find him, it’s Mihir.”

            “Did you know her mother too?” I questioned, leaning against my study with crossed arms. She let her wrinkled hands brush some grey hairs behind her ear, strands that escaped her tight bun.

            “I did. Kasa Jiang. You know, you would’ve thought she was the Firebender and Axe was the Waterbender.” The lady laughed. Her eyes shinnied brightly, remembering all the fond memories she must have shared with them. But, if she knew them as well as she did…

            “Axe, he was an only child, I couldn’t find any relatives besides his parents. But what about Kasa? Did she have any sisters or brothers…” I inquired. The lady nodded, letting a finger rest on her chin as she pondered.

            “She did, a younger brother. Poor thing, he was a child when Kasa left the Northern tribe,” My heart pounded hearing her words.

            Kasa had a brother.

            Yue had an Uncle.

            “Kasa loved him dearly, but with the war, and her skills in healing, she had to leave him behind. Axe told me they built another room in their house so Kasa could bring him to the Earth Nation…poor thing most likely doesn’t even know what happened to his sister.”

            Did Yue know this – that she had an Uncle, somewhere in the Northern tribe? I frowned, scratching my head. Fuck, if it were anyone else, I would’ve assumed no, but Yue was a family person. Knowing her, she would’ve asked her parents about their family – that was just how she was.

            “Fire Lord Zuko…is everything alright?”

            Her shaky voice caught me off guard, nodding my head like a madman. “Y-yes. My apologies. I think some rest would do me some good.” I muttered under my breath, and she nodded despite studying me with anxious eyes. “I agree…I’ll let myself out. Have a pleasant evening, Fire Lord Zuko, give my regards to our Impending Queen.”

            The doors shut, and I found myself locking the documents into my desk, briskly blowing the candles. The room dimmed, as I rubbed my eyes tiredly, walking out with heavy steps. The sun was almost hidden at this point, the Moon making its presence known. The door shut behind me, bidding my goodnights to the guards as I walked down the hallways.

            My mind was buzzing – and not because of the damn whisky. Although the urge to go back and finish the glass was tempting at the moment. Yue has an Uncle, and the thought made me tense. Could their relation explain Yue’s peculiar bending skills?

            The way she healed was strange, and it’s evident there was some secret regarding that aspect of her bending, especially since Aang threaten me if I tried to dig any further. Even Yue’s affinity of ice. The way she manipulated water – it was something I have yet to witness.

            Beautiful – but chilling.  

            Nothing about this seemed right. And the more I thought, the more I remembered. Azula’s words were on replay in my mind, haunting my thoughts; the mother’s side is far more interesting…Everything was too coincidental, and something I learned during my reign was that there were no such things as happy accidents.

            What are the chances that Azula comes back alongside Yakone? A man who we’ve been aimlessly searching for with a vengeance? Azula wouldn’t work with someone else; unless they had power and something to gain. Yakone had power – but what was she gaining from this? And then there’s Mai-

            I groaned to myself, realizing where I was heading to without much thought. I need to speak with Uncle Iroh, what else was that damn tea-loving senior hiding from me? But what about the gang? Another grunt escaped me. Fuck.

            My feet stopped moving, ready to turn on my heel. They said they had everything under control – that Suki and Toph will figure out Mai while Aang and Sokka talk with the military officials - fuck it.

            All sense of duty and responsibility left the fucking premise, my feet moving with one goal in mind. My eyes spotted the two guards out front, shooting me smiles and bowing, “Evening Fire Lord Zuko.”

            “Evening, is Imperial Consort Ying Yue inside?”

            “Indeed, she’s resting. The nurses looked after her; nothing more than a cold.” I nodded at their words before pushing the doors open. The addictive smell of flowers and vanilla danced in the air, a stupid smile appearing on my face.

            Home sweet home.

            There she was – blankets messily wrapped around Yue’s body, teddy bear tucked under her chin. A deep chuckle rumbled from my chest as I stepped closer, taking in the magnificent sight in front of me. “Why am I not surprised?” I mused, taking note of the fact that she stole, yet another, shirt of mine.

            My fingers ran along her silky legs, pulling the blankets and covering her. “Even in your sleep, you tempt me,” I mumbled, letting the sheets fall over her waist. She fell asleep on my side of the bed, a first I believe, but I was by no means complaining.

            I flicked my fingers, lighting the candles on our nightstands, illuminating the room. And as I lazily rolled up my sleeves, unbuttoning the front of my robe, I found myself staring.

            She’s beautiful.

            Sitting on the edge of the bed, I grasped her hand tightly with mine, thumb rubbing her palm. The feeling of her skin against mine left me breathless at times. But it was more than just that – I could spend hours relishing, admiring, every detail about her down to the last beauty mark.

            The feeling of her lips against mine, or the way her hair tangled between my fingers.

            The sweet vanilla scent that always lingered on her skin, or the soft giggles that sounded like music.

            I rose her hand against my lips, letting a content sigh escape. “I love you…” I mumbled against her skin, planting soft, delicate kisses. Her mere presence had me relaxing, ready to take a bath and sleep. I can worry about everything tomorrow. For now…I want her.

            “Zuko?”

            My eyes opened, noticing Yue pouting. Her golden eyes fluttered open as she let out a whine. Fuck she’s adorable.

            “I-I thought you’ll still be working- what time is it?” She hummed with a sweet smile on her face. Her eyes were no longer hazy, her natural glow shining through. She looks ten times better than this morning. “I let the gang handle it. I wanted to be here, love.” I muttered, letting my lips press against her hand, basking in her touch.

            She nodded, watching me intently as I relaxed, “Zuko…can I ask you a question?”

            I opened an eye, nodding slowly. Her mouth opened and closed, her cheeks flushing, and I grinned. “What’s got you so flustered, love?” I teased. There was something about seeing Yue squirming, to shy to speak, but unable to contain herself. She bit her lip bashfully, staring up at me with those big innocent eyes of her. “You’re going to laugh.” And at that statement, I did.

            “Come on; love. Tell me.” I cooed, planting another kiss on her finger. The pink on her cheeks turned to a red, and with a rushed voice, she blurted.

            “Why did you kiss my hand when we first met?”

            My eyes widen at her question – something I was most certainly not expecting. I let our hands fall onto the bed, staring at her face. “W-well? I know kissing the hand isn’t a Fire Nation custom, so…” She integrated.

            “You want the truth?” I mumbled.

            Yue nodded.

            “I don’t know, but fuck - it felt right.”

            “Did you ever regret it?” She asked, curiosity dripping from every word she spoke. I smirked, leaning forward, letting my breath tickle her lips. “The only thing I regret is kissing you on the hand when it should’ve been your lips.”

            Yue purred under her breath, lacing her hands in my hair, “You could make up for it now, by kissing me.”

            I chuckled darkly, letting a lone finger trail under her chin, “But here’s the problem, love.” I groaned, tilting her head, just enough for her lips to press against mine, “if I kiss you now, I won’t be able to stop.”

            “Who said I wanted you to stop?”

            Her lips pressed against mine, and I let myself drown.

            If love is madness – fuck sanity.

Copyright © 2019 Mystic-Kitten, inc. all rights reserved. No reposting, modifying, or translations of any kind allowed. Thank you for your cooperation.

Disclaimer: I do not own any Avatar characters portrayed in this story besides Ying Yue Jiang, Lia, Kima, and any future creations.

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[lakinda5654]

~~~~A Girl and A God~~~~ Chapter 12- Safe

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A Girl and A God is a RATED M Loki Fanfic with an original character, Alexa, who is taken in by Tony Stark after the revelation of abilities of her own. There’s sex, romance, heartbreak, action, fluff, angst, all that good stuff. Full description in blog, and a jump-to-chapter list if you just want the smut or the cuteness bits. Enjoy <3 

Chapter Summary: The decision to release Loki from his cell for meals comes down to a vote, and someone forces Loki into a heartbreaking situation...

Contains: Some violence, a tad of cuteness at the beginning, mostly plot development

Word Count: 1,716

~Previous Chapter~~Next Chapter~

~~Beginning of Story~~

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Alexa opened her eyes to the sound of her musical alarm. She was always a light sleeper, so she didn’t need her alarm to be obnoxiously loud or annoying. It was very early morning, the sky just barely beginning to fade from dark to light.

Loki was still sound asleep. When Alexa sat up, he stirred and opened his eyes. He saw her and seemed to be flooded with the memories of the night before. A small smile spread on his waking face. “Good morning Petal”

That nickname never failed to make her heart soar. “Good morning Loki.” Alexa stretched and let out a sigh. “it’s time to go.”

“Ugh. Must you break the moment that quickly?” He complained as he sat up.

“I’m sorry. I don’t want you in trouble. Or me.”

“You know... if someone ever did see us, I could protect you. I could convince them.” He said with a tone of over-confidence, but then his tone softened. “You are safe with me, Petal.”

Alexa rolled her eyes. “Well, I’d rather prevent the need for that altogether. Let's go.” 

They walked to the cell quietly. Passing all the other doors was always the worst part, knowing them getting caught was as simple as someone waking up a bit earlier than normal, or hearing their footsteps.

Once they reached the cell and she punched in the code, he stepped inside once more.

“Maybe I’ll see you at breakfast…”Alexa hated locking him up, and he knew it. Before she shut the door, he reached out and gently ran his fingers along the side of her face. The corners of his mouth formed a small smile, but his eyes were heavy. He didn’t need to say anything. She knew what he was feeling.

As his arm fell back to his side, she shut the door.

A couple people were already at breakfast when she arrived, which made her feel as if they could have been easily caught. She made a mental note to leave earlier next time.

Alexa looked for Thor, hoping to ask him if he’d gotten the chance to speak with Tony.

After about 15 minutes, they walked in together, following the rest of the group. Before she could get Thor’s attention, Tony stood at the head of the table.

“Ok…” he said, clapping his hands together to get everyone’s attention. “So something has been brought to me and I want to know what you all think. We are thinking about allowing Loki to join us for meals. Who’s in?”

Alexa wilted. Why. Why did he only say that? He wants this to fail.

“Why would we do that?” “Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Several members said, looking at Tony as if he were stupid.

Before he could answer, Alexa got brave. She stood up. The room fell silent. “He saved my life. He deserves a chance to continue to prove himself.” Her words were as confident and strong as she could make them, but inside she was filled with anxiety and trying to hold back her tears. This was the only chance she’d get for a long time before she could try again. She couldn’t fail. She couldn’t fail him.

The group was quiet and looked at Tony, who motioned for her to sit. She did. After a moment, Tony sighed. “All in favor?”

There was a moment of no movement. Then to her relief, Thor raised his hand. She shot her up as well. Then Banner, then Peter, then Scott.

But that was all. Alexa realized she’d failed, and looked at Tony. Her stare was begging, as tears welled in her eyes. He looked at her curiously, then looked away as if he were thinking.

“Well it’s my cell and my vote counts for infinity so we’re gonna let him out. Just for meals, completely supervised.”

Protests rang out at the table, but Alexa couldn’t even hear them. She was overjoyed. Tony shut them up with, “if he does anything wrong we can put him back.”

“Unless he escapes” Clint was livid. He was heavily against Tony’s choice.

Tony replied, “he won’t. I’m going to put on a tracking bracelet that’s bound to his skin. I’ll be able to know where he is at all times, even if he shape-shifts or teleports or whatever in hell”

Oh. Alexa swallowed hard. He’d be able to see where Loki was during the night. Unless he didn’t check it… but there would always be a chance.

Clint was still pissed. He got up and left the table only after slamming his fists on it. It was awkwardly quiet as the door shut behind him. “Time to eat,” Tony said cheerily as if nothing was wrong. Alexa tried to catch his attention to mouth him a thank you, but he never looked her way.

He headed for the door, and she hoped it would be to collect Loki. During the next several minutes, she was looking at the door every 5 seconds. She could hardly eat. What was taking so long? Finally, she saw him walk in, next to Stark. She looked at him, but quickly realized…

Something was very, very wrong.

Loki looked upset, no, hurt. No… angry? But he was trying to hide it. He dished up some food and sat far away from her. His eyes stayed on his plate, and nothing else. He ate very little, and quietly. The whole room was quiet. People were glaring at him between their bites, but his eyes never were up to see them.

Fuck. What happened, what did Tony say to him? Or was he just acting, staying stoic to avoid the suspicion of others?

Alexa quickly finished her meal and headed back to her room to get ready for Lab time with Stark. She had some questions for him.

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Earlier That Morning

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Loki was waiting in his cell, hoping for the glorious sound of the keypad. He hoped Alexa would be allowed to retrieve him, but he knew the odds of that were low. Who was he kidding, he knew the odds of anyone even considering his release were low. Alexa was smart, but innocent to the way Stark operated. He wouldn’t release him, and even thinking he would be entertaining a fantasy.

His thoughts were interrupted by the keypad. As Stark walked in, Loki hid his surprise and raised his eyebrows at him with a look of disbelief.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Loki said smugly.

Tony looked down at him and leaned against the wall to his right. “Whatever you’ve been saying to the girl is stopping now. We all know you are using her to try to escape. That much is obvious. But she’s never had to deal with you before so she’s clearly falling hard for whatever shit you’re pulling.”

Loki looked at him. “As much as that sounds like me I’m actually not trying to trick the…”

“Sure Antlers” he cut him off. “So here’s what’s gonna happen…” He knelt down and locked a bracelet around Loki’s wrist before he could attempt to dodge him. It hurt like hell as it dug into his skin, but he didn’t show it. “You’re not going to speak to the girl. If you do, I’ll receive a happy little notification on here, and I’ll immediately be able to listen in.” Stark said, holding up his phone. “If you are anything but sarcastic, cold, and cruel, you’ll get a nice reminder of where you stand and who you are to this girl. It will feel something like this.”

A shock took over Loki’s body, radiating from his wrist. It was quick but extremely painful. His veins were on fire. It caused him to fall to the floor and curl up. He heard himself let out a yell and was covered in sweat immediately. He glared up at Stark, who continued, “Your scheme was actually working pretty well. The girl campaigned around for you to be allowed to eat with us. Unfortunately, I think not allowing it at this point would cause her to distance from us more than she already has. She’s valuable and I honestly believe she’ll grow into something great as long as we can keep helping her. But that requires her cooperation. If she thinks we are the meanies that locked her god friend in a cage and won’t let him out, that won’t go over so well.” Tony continued. “So, you are going to come to eat with us. Quietly and silently. You will meet any of her friendly advances with sarcasm and harshness. That shouldn’t be too hard, right?” He motioned for him to follow to breakfast. “Oh and honestly she’s a good kid. If you keep this up somehow I’ll just send her to a different facility in Japan or something anyways. Where she will be safe.”

The thought of Alexa being sent away sent Loki into a rage. “She is more safe with me then she would ever be with you in your entire lifetime!” Loki spat his venomous words at him. He couldn’t contain himself. Without looking back, Stark gave him another shock. Loki fell to his knees, breathing rapidly. The shocks were like hot nails digging into his skin. His wrist was red around the bracelet where it held its grip. He tried to remove it, but that was another type of pain entirely... as if he were trying to rip out his own muscle. Suddenly, Tony saw him clawing at the device and double-clicked the button. 2 shocks shook him to his core. It was one of the worst pains he had ever felt in his life. He almost passed out and heard himself scream.

 Tony kneeled down and looked at Loki as he panted and held back tears. “I would have gone less harsh but…” Tony shrugged. “Considering you’re literally trying to manipulate young girls I thought this would be fine.”

“I will rip out your eyes you bloody…” Loki spat at him between his panting.

 “Ah ah ah…” Stark interrupted him, holding up the button for Loki to see. Loki fell silent, glaring at him viciously.

“Better” Stark said, and roughly brought Loki to his feet and the two headed to the meal room.

[vaner93-blog]

Audiences, everywhere we go we’re a part of them

There are so many different types of audiences that many people often don’t even realize they’re a part of one. Pretty much anytime you experience any activity or event, whether as a participant or merely as an observer, you’re a part of the mass audience. Over the course of my life I’ve experienced flash mobs, protests, rallies, various outcomes of sporting events, fights, crimes and tragedies. Some of which I witnessed firsthand, and others I was a part of the global audience watching things unfold before me through a cellphone, computer or television screen. The ways in which we become audience members has changed greatly over the years. In the 19th century, audiences (or crowds) were thought of as people who came together at specific times and places to experience some form of routinized behaviour (Sullivan, 2013). This notion differs greatly from what we consider them to be now, but still resembles what many people consider to be the limitations of the term “audience”. When I mention being an audience member to someone I know, they’re likely going to assume that I was watching a show, newscast or movie, or that I attended a concert or other type of performance event. The difference being that many people don’t realize that everything they experience amongst their peers or in any type of mass or crowd is an audience experience.

I’d like to begin by discussing something that occurred the other day when I was taking the Go Train into Toronto to visit my good friend that I found heart wrenching for a great many reasons. Being the type of person that I am, it’s no surprise to anyone that knows me that I found myself sprinting out of the parking garage down and under the tracks to barely make it onto the train before the doors closed and as a result of this, I found myself on the rail car deemed to be accessible for those with disabilities. Now because it was morning rush hour, the train was completely filled mainly by morning commuters rather than those who require the assistances offered on that particular car. Where an issue arose was when the conductor requested that a group of students give up their seats to an elderly couple that boarded a few stops down the road. Within 10 seconds, a confrontation between the conductor and the students had quickly turned into upwards of 10 people screaming at them along with the conductor, while the rest of us sat there watching all of this occur. All of us made a conscious choice not to intervene in any way and some people even had their phones out recording the incident to either share it with their friends or online. At that moment, we made a collective decision to behave passively in response to the clear wrongs that were going on in front of us and none of us made any attempt to mitigate the issue by offering to give up our own seats on the train or speaking up in any way. We simply sat there taking in what was happening directly in front of us, a captive audience within the lower level of a train car travelling rapidly toward downtown Toronto. The decisions people made that morning are an example of uses and gratifications theory in action. Various people were presented with the same situation in front of them and had the same options available to them. Some chose to sit there quietly and enjoy a little unplanned excitement on their morning commute, others seized the opportunity to do their good deed for the day by standing up for two people who weren’t in a position to stand up for themselves, some might have simply been having a bad morning and saw the student behaviour as an outlet for them to unload their built up stress before heading to work, and others sat there texting their friends or taking videos so they would have something to discuss when they’re on break or out for lunch later that afternoon. Regardless of how we chose to behave in that scenario, people inevitably will choose the outcome which they feel will benefit them the most either through feeling good about themselves or gaining something from the experience which they can take with them when they reach their destinations.

The next thing I’d like to discuss is one which many of us have grown extremely tired of hearing about over the past two years, though we’ve all become so drawn in to the global audience that reacts and responds to every crazy thing that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth or through his tweets which many people often find so ridiculous that they can’t help but to think about them and discuss them with others. When I think of the phenomena that is the rise of Donald Trump, the first question that comes into my mind is “why and how did we let this happen?”. I say “we” in this context because, though I made a choice I now regret by not exercising my right to vote, I am a legal citizen of the United States of America and could have gone across the border to exercise my right to vote in the election. The answer I always come up with when I think about this is that we as a global audience, gave him exactly what he needed to achieve his goals. By constantly talking about him and so much exposure in the public eye, he was actually able to gain the attention of so many people that he almost became a running joke. What absurdity would come out of his mouth next? Who would he attack on social media for reasons we will never be able to understand? By placing these questions in our head, and continually discussing them, we became his most valuable asset in the election. It reached a point where he truthfully could’ve sat there silently during debates and there still would’ve been millions of people watching with their phones in their hands waiting for what’s to come. His very active global audience, even though many members off it hated him and everything he stood for, were spreading his message and his name throughout the country without him having to do so much as get out of bed. The results of the election showcase exactly what Plato was referring to when he stated that the common people hold all the power to make very important decisions within a democracy but often lack the wisdom to make the decisions that are in their own best interest or that will lead to the creation of a morally sound state (Sullivan, 2013). The press also, by presenting stories about Hillary Clinton’s possible wrongdoings, made the public aware of state issues that they would have had no other way of knowing. This did so much damage to her campaign that even retracting the story days later had still led to the whole thing being a huge boost for Trump’s campaign. It was a perfect storm, that led to a prime example of the fact that giving the people the power to make such crucial decisions can often lead to unfathomable circumstances. We now have a president who’s offending more people daily, and will potentially have to make decisions about how to proceed with serious world issues where a misstep could lead to war. The saga will only continue as more people continue to protest the anthem and we’ve only begun to see the havoc the president can wreak on social media, as he will soon have twice as many characters at his disposal.

Another topic that must be looked at when evaluating Trump’s election from an audience studies perspective is how shocked everyone who makes their living from tabulating public opinion could’ve misjudged the results so blatantly. Now forgetting about the various conspiracy theories about rigged polls and so on that we’ll never be able to prove or disprove through any amount of discussion, there are several explicable factors that could have contributed to this. The first of which is the notion of the Spiral of Silence, which proposes that many people feel oppressed or ashamed to speak about their views, beliefs or opinions when their opinions clash with what they perceive to be the public opinion on the topic. When pollsters acquire their data, they ask people for their opinion on various topics and where they stand overall, it could quite simply be that many of the people surveyed didn’t reveal who they truly supported because they were ashamed to be a member of the “minority” and didn’t want others to look down on them or have confrontations due to their opposing views on something as controversial as an election involving Donald Trump. Most of the people out there want nothing more than to fit in, and after hearing nothing but negative opinions and publicity about him on most of the mainstream media, they may have felt more comfortable lying about their position and simply expressing it on their ballot and only on their ballot. Another issue with the polls may simply have been that they failed to acquire a proper sample of the opinion of the American people by failing to incorporate enough people from the various demographics, or that a much higher percentage of people from certain demographics showed up at the voting booths than others. Regardless of the cause for this, the U.S. election is a prime example of how difficult it is to properly gauge public opinion, and that even once we feel we understand what the general consensus is, it can change just as quickly through the influence of the media.

The last thing I wanted to discuss was the amount to which people, including myself, now use social media as their primary source of relevant information about anything that’s going on in the world or for important news relating to just about anything. Now while this is quite convenient in many cases such as last night, when we switched our TV over to the channel showing the NBA opener and we couldn’t figure out why all the players appeared so visibly upset and found the answer in various twitter posts from the past two minutes detailing the gruesome injury Gordon Hayward had just suffered. There are also many cases where fake news, not Donald Trump’s version but actual fake news, is spread over social media and countless people take it at face value and contribute to its spread throughout the realm of the internet. For example, I’m sure every single one of us can recall at least one example of the internet proclaiming the death of a famous actor or singer only to have them step in and inform us that they are in fact alive and well. Social media platforms are a great asset with so many potential benefits to society and so many great uses, for example JJ Watt’s social media campaign that raised millions to help repair the city of Houston after it was decimated by hurricanes. Journalists, or those perceived to be journalists that post stories online, are expected by the public to be objective in how they present their stories. However, the stories we end up reading are anything but objective as it is incredibly difficult for a journalist to avoid adding their slant, or their network or newspapers ideologies and agendas, into their writings. Therefore, we as an audience must read things for the information within them while filtering out the biases or opinions that are in there with it. By doing so, we’re able to limit the influence of the media and be fully certain that we’re forming our own opinions and not allowing other to shape them for us. We live in a world where the media still has some control over what we know, but will you allow them to tell you how to think?

Works Cited:

Sullivan, J. L. (2013). Media Audiences: effects, users, institutions, and power. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.

[oldguardaudio]

Rush Limbaugh on the Obama Shadow Government vs. Trump

rush obama shadow government against trump at HoaxAndChange.com

Rush USA Flag at HoaxAndChange.com

45th President of The United States Donald Trump wins HoaxAndChange.com

Feb 21, 2017

  RUSH: We have two pieces today, one by Victor Davis Hanson, the other by Michael Walsh, both of which confirm and agree with my contention that there is a shadow government made up of many different types of people in different places in the government that are actually trying to sabotage the Trump presidency and get rid of him. Now, both these guys document this. Victor Davis Hanson goes further and explains why he thinks it’s happening. And it’s interesting to me because I have said something similar.

Now, don’t misunderstand. I’m not bragging. I just I love finding out that things that I think are shared or being thought of in the same way by other people I have profound respect for. And Victor is certainly one of those, as is Walsh. Let’s do Walsh’s piece first. Walsh is writing in PJ Media. I’m just gonna give you excerpts of these. Victor’s piece is long. Victor’s piece, without the editing that I did, would print out to like eight pages. So I can’t, obviously, share all of it with you. Folks, hang on here just a second. (silence) I had to turn on the cough switch there.

The title of Michael Walsh’s piece at PJ Media — and his stuff as appeared at National Review; it’s appeared at the New York Post, any number of places — is “Enough with T.his ‘Spy Game‘” And his thrust here is on the intel community and who, what, where, why regarding Trump. “With the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn in the face of a howling media mob, the knives are now out not only for other administration officials, but for President Trump himself. Make no mistake about what’s happening here.”

His piece is headlined, by the way, “The Empire Strikes Back.” That’s the actual title of his piece. “Make no mistake about what’s happening here: this is a rolling coup attempt, organized by elements of the intelligence community, particularly CIA and NSA, abetted by Obama-era holdovers in the understaffed Justice Department (Sally Yates, take a bow) and the lickspittles of the leftist media, all of whom have signed on with the ‘Resistance’ in order to overturn the results of the November election.” Walsh, I think, is a spook, former spook, in addition to everything else he is.

So right up front he’s admitting that this is “a rolling coup” made up of various players here in order to overturn the results of the November election. He goes on to talk about Mike Flynn as “a good man who saw the enemy clearly, and had the courage to name it, saw Russia not as an enemy but a geopolitical adversary with whom we could make common cause against Islam…” That upsets the apple cart in the intelligence community who want Russia designated as an enemy with whom we have nothing in common.

“As for the media, having previously failed to take down Trump aides Steve Bannon and Kellyanne Conway, Flynn was the next best thing; their joy today is unbounded” at getting his scalp. “Is this what you thought you voted for in November? Is this how you thought American democracy worked? Is this the country you want to live in? Welcome to the Deep State, the democracy-sapping embeds at the heart of our democracy who have not taken the expulsion of the Permanent Bipartisan Fusion Party lightly.”

That is a key point.

He’s asserting here that what really exists in Washington is an establishment made up of people who say they’re Republicans and say they’re Democrats, but they’re actually one party, a fusion of all the other political parties, both parties and stragglers who have a singular purpose, which is self-preservation and the growth of the establishment. “They realize that the Trump administration poses a mortal threat … and so have enlisted an army of Democrats, some Republicans, the ‘neverTrumpumpkin’ conservative die-hards, leftist thugs, Black Lives Matter and anybody else they can blackmail, browbeat or enlist. They mean business.

“We’ve come to a pretty pass when Wikileaks now makes more sense than the New York Times, the Washington Post and other Democrat mouthpieces and house organs. Or when fugitive Julian Assange, holed up in London … appears to have more insight, integrity and curiosity than the entire Beltway media. … We are in the midst,” writes Michael Walsh, “of a rapidly moving spy game here, adrift in the famous Wilderness of Mirrors, and with the major players switching — or appearing to switch — sides in a flash.” Now, get this next line.

Look at me here. “The CIA has never forgiven Ronald Reagan for taking down the Soviets and spoiling its extremely cozy relationship with the KGB.” Now, before you huff and puff and say, “Wuh? W-w-w-what was that all about? What was that?” Remember that it wasn’t just CIA… When was the first time you learned that the State Department was not the patriotic bunch of people you thought? I can tell you where I was when I figured it out, that the State Department really — in terms of solving problems of the world — felt, no, we’d rather have the problem so we have a reason to exist.

The CIA, the KGB “had long since worked out a modus vivendi, under which rules they both did their best to keep the Berlin Wall standing, Eastern Europe locked away, and the postwar status quo in operation; it was only when one side or the other broke protocol that civilians ever heard” of a problem. “So let’s cut to Main Narrative, as retailed by the MSM, with timely encouragement from the CIA and Democrat operatives masquerading as journalists: Trump is unfit to be president.

“Plus, Hillary is unbeatable, so give up already.” This is the timeline. This is the mindset. This is what was planned. “Oops — Trump wins. The Russians stole the election. Trump is too cozy with the Russians. Trump’s people are too cozy with the Russians. No wonder the Russians stole the election for Trump. Flynn called the Russian ambassador — and lied about it! The coverup is always worse than the crime! Flynn must go! Flynn’s gone — but here comes the ghost of Howard Baker — ‘What did the president know and when did he know it?’

“Trump is doomed.” That’s the thinking in the deep state. That’s how they’re looking at this, and all of this is upsetting their applecart. “Enter now the usual sycophants [men such as] John McCain, his lovely sidekick Lindsey Graham and various other useful idiots, adding their capon voices to the leftist choir: let freedom ring! “So what must Trump do now” in response to this rolling coup? “First, complete his cabinet. Second, fire every fireable federal employee in the leak-prone agencies, including the Central Intelligence Agency. Third, start taking operational security seriously.

“Fourth, assume everything you say will leak to the media and be spun as malevolently as possible. Fifth, trust nobody. Finally, fight back, with all the powers of the presidency. And take every friend you can get … Because, if you don’t, you’re going to get a lot more of this,” and there’s a picture of rioters and protests and so forth. That’s just an edited version, but the point of his piece is that there is an absolute provable rolling coup made up of spooks, intel people, Republicans and Democrats, inside this one organism called the establishment — “Fusion Party,” if you will — and their entire world has been turned upside down by Trump winning.

And they’re not comfortable with it, they don’t want to get behind it, they stand too much to lose because Trump said what he was gonna do and it’s nothing they want done and so they’re taking it upon themselves to sabotage him and undermine him.

Now to Victor Davis Hanson. And I’m picking this up at the conclusion where he details current circumstances and the reasons why all this is happening. Under the subhead: “What has the often boisterous Trump done in his first month to earn calls for his death, forced removal, or resignation?”

And, by the way, on the reference here to his death, Mr. Hanson cites the three or four published articles on how to assassinate Trump, the beauty of assassinating Trump, the necessity to assassinate Trump, and the morality of doing it. Documents it. Quotes the people saying so. Quotes others with their own ideas for forced removal or making Trump resign. So after documenting all of what Walsh has just pointed out here, what’s Trump done to earn all this?

Well, first let’s look at current circumstances. “The stock market is reaching all-time highs. Polls show business optimism rising. The Rasmussen poll puts Trump’s approval rating at 55 percent. Compared with Obama in 2009, at the same point in his young administration, Trump has issued about the same number of executive orders.

“For all his war on the press, Trump has so far not ordered wiretaps on any reporter on the grounds that he is a criminal co-conspirator,” as he did James Rosen at Fox News, “nor has he gone after the phone records of the Associated Press,” as Obama’s Justice Department did. To little notice, people in the media. They didn’t care that James Rosen was wiretapped; he’s at Fox. And gone after the phone records of the AP, the AP said, “Well, he must need ’em, he’s Obama.”

“Trump’s edicts are mostly common-sense and non-controversial: green-lighting the Keystone and Dakota pipelines, freezing federal hiring, resuming work on a previously approved wall along the Mexican border, prohibiting retiring federal officials from lobbying activity for five years, and pruning away regulations.” All these things he said he was gonna do.

“His promises to deport illegal aliens with past records of criminal activity or gang affiliation have, by design, sidestepped so-called DREAMers and the illegal aliens who are currently working, without criminal backgrounds.” He’s not deporting everybody, is the point.

“In his executive order to temporarily suspend immigration from seven war-torn Middle East states, Trump channeled Barack Obama’s prior targeting of immigration trouble spots.” Same states, same countries that Obama targeted. Nobody had a cow over it.

“On more substantive reforms, such as repealing Obamacare, reforming the tax code, and rebuilding infrastructure, Trump awaits proposed legislation from the Republican congressional majority. By all accounts, Trump’s initial meetings or phone calls with British, Israeli, Japanese, and Russian heads of states have gone well.”

But many of those phone calls have been illegally leaked and lied about. Every phone call, the Japanese phone call, the Australian phone call, every one of these phone calls, the people in the deep state reported that people hung up on Trump, that Trump was this or that. None of it was true! And the media didn’t even care. The media didn’t check whether it was. They just eagerly reported these things.

“Trump has had fewer Cabinet appointees bow out than did Barack Obama. Most believe that the vast majority of his selections are inspired.” Conservatives who will be honest with you will tell you that they can’t believe how good Trump’s nominees are.

“Clearly in empirical terms, nothing that Trump in his first month in office has done seems to have justified calls for violence against his person or his removal from office. What then accounts for the unprecedented venom?”

Victor Davis Hanson identifies four things.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: Now, I mentioned that Victor Davis Hanson has four reasons to explain this unhinged effort to take down Trump. And, folks, you know, we’re having a mixed program today — some of it jocular and lighthearted — but I opened with a serious assertion. There is a serious effort to get Donald Trump out of office. As Michael Walsh calls it, “a rolling coup.” You are familiar with how it’s happening because you see the media reporting. It’s all about Russia and how Russia hacked the election and Trump and these people were talking to the Russians during the campaign.

And all of this is to undermine legitimacy of Trump and at best get him out of office, and at worse, stymie and stall his agenda. Victor Davis Hanson documents all of these things and sources them and then offers four reasons why. Reason number one: “Trump’s unconventional bluster … fuels the animosity of elites who seek to delegitimize him and fear that their reputations and careers can be rendered irrelevant by” Trump’s success. “He also has reminded the country that some of the mainstream media and Washington-New York elite are often mediocre and boring.”

Now, this business about them “fear[ing] their reputations and careers could be rendered irrelevant,” I’ve made that point from the get-go, and a lot of people have pooh-poohed it, and a lot of people have been offended by it. The way I’ve put it, these people derive a very good standard of living as members of good standing in the establishment. They have permanent employment. They make much, much more than most people. Their kids go to great schools. They are close to power. The whole networking thing.

It’s a position for life.

You’re there because it really isn’t determined by party. The hierarchy is, but membership isn’t. The establishment, this group has Republicans and Democrats and all kinds of people in it. And their agenda is not what the agenda of the people in this country is. These people have gotten fat, dumb, and happy in the last 15 years while most people’s incomes have stagnated, while a lot of towns have been overrun with illegal immigrants, while the federal government’s gotten bloated with more and more handouts to people who aren’t working in hopes they’ll become Democrat voters.

We have situations where the health care system’s in an absolute mess. But none of that’s true for any of these people. Their health care is provided for them. With they don’t live where illegal immigrants are running roughshod. They don’t have any of the concerns. And therefore, as far as they’re concerned, they’re happy and everything’s fine. And Trump, with his nationalism and populism, threatens them. If he comes in and succeeds, guess what replaces the establishment? Trump does! And they’re out. And it really is no more complicated than that. It certainly…

Look, it’s not just this. Some of these people are very concerned about policy and ideology, but a lot of it is personal. A lot of it is just selfish personal. They live off donors. They live off lobbying. They live off all of these things where the money is flowing and all you gotta do is grab your share of it now and then. And if that money flow is cut off, if the ability to grab that money is prevented, well, it’s panic time! And that is clearly a large part of the threat Trump poses, and I’ve always thought that.

The second reason it’s happening is because the Democrat Party has bombed out. “The Democratic [P]arty has been absorbed by its left wing and is beginning to resemble the impotent British Labour party. Certainly it no longer is a national party. Mostly it’s a local and municipal coastal force, galvanized to promote a race and gender agenda and opposed to conservatism,” but they have no “vision.” They have nothing that they can win elections on. The establishment is really worried. Their primary vehicle for remaining in power, the Democrat Party, is floundering!

The Democrat Party proved ineffective in stopping Trump.

The Republican Party proved unable to stop Trump.

And so the establishment has to get in gear now that Trump has won and try to get rid of him for the self-preservation of everybody else.

And it’s a key element here that they can’t depend on the Democrats to win elections. I mean, everybody can look out to 2018 and see that the Democrats are gonna lose even more seats in the Senate, particularly if Trump gets a lot of his agenda moving and in action. They’re gonna be in heap big trouble, and there’s panic over that. Reason number three: “Usually conservative pundits and journalists would push back against” these activities from the shadow government and the deep state “to delegitimize a Republican president.” Normally conservative media would be up in arms over what’s happening to Trump.

“But due to a year of Never Trump politicking and opposition, and Trump’s own in-your-face, unorthodox style and grating temperament, hundreds of Republican intellectuals and journalists, former officeholders and current politicians … find themselves without influence in either the White House or indeed in their own party, over 90% of which voted for Trump. In other words, the Right ruling class is still in a civil war of sorts.” This is unmistakably true. This is true from the beginning words of this paragraph: “Usually conservative pundits and journalists would push back against” whatever is happening to Trump because he’s a Republican. But they’re joining in it because those who oppose Trump are “find[ing] themselves without influence.”

They never thought Trump would win, they didn’t want Trump to win, and now Trump won’t hire ’em and they’re fit to be tied. And so now they’re members of a party that won, but they have no place in it. Conservative journalists, conservative pundits, former Republican Party appointees, bureaucrats and so forth. This is right on the money, too. And folks, it all goes back to power and money. The loss of power and the threat to the standard of living. And, man, when you say that, some of them just go batty with anger, which must mean it hit the nail on the head.

And then Victor Davis Hanson writes this. “It is no accident that many of those calling for his resignation or removal are frustrated that, for the first time in a generation, they will have no influence in a Republican administration or indeed among most Republicans.” That’s a pull quote. That’s one to highlight. For some of these wayward Republicans, “the best pathway to redemption is apparently to criticize Trump to such an extent that their prior prophecies of his preordained failure in the election will be partially redeemed by an imploding presidency.”

Meaning, all of these Never Trumpers who lost their minds during the campaign, who have had it jammed down their throats now, their redemption is to join this chorus of criticism of Trump so that their prediction that he would never be elected would actually come to pass in the form of him being ineffective. So these Republicans Victor Davis Hanson’s talking about, in the interests of self-preservation, are oriented to joining the deep state and Trump critics.

They’ve got no place in the Trump administration. The best thing they can do is to help get rid of him so that they can then hearken back to their original prediction and say, “See? We told you the guy was never gonna amount to anything. You should have listened to us all along.”

“In private, they accept that Trump’s actual appointments, executive orders, and announced policies are mostly orthodox conservative — a fact that was supposed to have been impossible.” These Never Trumpers are out there saying, “Trump, he’s not a conservative. You people on the conservative side are falling for this Trump stuff, you’re betraying conservatism, you’re committing a great sin against what you’ve always believed in.” And yet you look at Trump’s appointments, such as Judge Gorsuch and others, and they’re as good, if not better than what any great Republican conservative would have nominated, and these people are beside themselves.

“For now, ending Trump one way or another is apparently the tortured pathway his critics are taking to exit their self-created labyrinth of irrelevance. … Chic Trump hatred and sick talks of coups … hinge on economic growth. If Trump’s agenda hits 3 percent GDP growth or above by 2018, then his critics … will either shift strategies or face prolonged irrelevance.”

So they must do what they can to keep that from happening. This is straight up right on the money. Victor Davis Hanson at National Review.

Rush Limbaugh on the Obama Shadow Government vs. Trump Rush Limbaugh on the Obama Shadow Government vs. Trump Feb 21, 2017 RUSH: We have two pieces today, one by Victor Davis Hanson, the other by Michael Walsh, both of which confirm and agree with my contention that there is a…