#illegal search warrants

[terengineer]

https://youtu.be/oHsy6BPdzvE New 2nd channel chick the link video!

@terengineer

[benandstevesposts]

The Police Entered An Apartment Without A Search Warrant, Shot A Lady's Dog, and Removed The Apartments Occupants To A Patrol Car. And Never Filed Charges.

The county offered to pay the veterinary bill for the dead dog, but only if Umana agreed not to speak out about the shooting or sue the police department. She declined the offer.

"This case is an outrage. It is disgusting, disgraceful, and despicable," said William Murphy, the attorney representing the roommates. "These officers outright abused and mistreated our clients lied to unlawfully break into their house, manhandled them illegally, and shot their dog. And in utter disregard for the severity of their intolerable behavior, they laughed about it."

At a press conference announcing the lawsuit, attorneys for the roommates were joined by representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland, the NAACP Maryland State Conference, and several other local activist groups, who all said that the incident was part of a long history of civil rights violations by the police department.

"Without a badge, these officers would be trespassers. Without a badge, these officers would be called burglars. Without a badge, these officers would be called assailants," the Maryland NAACP's NaShona Kess said at the press conference. "With a badge and without a warrant, they are trespassers. With a badge and without a warrant, they are burglars and assailants."

After an internal affairs investigation, Ball and Officer Joseph Miranda were found guilty of violating charges of "conduct unbecoming an officer." The department referred the case to the local state attorney's office for possible criminal prosecution, but the office declined to prosecute.

Officers are rarely disciplined for shooting dogs; supervisors almost always find that shootings are justified by departments' loose policies, which usually only require that an officer feel threatened by a dog to deploy deadly force.

For example, a Reason investigation into a string of dog shootings by Detroit police discovered one officer who had killed more than 80 dogs throughout his career. In fact, there's a whole category on Reason's website called "puppycide" documenting cases of police wantonly shooting dogs—shooting toy breeds, including a vicious Pomeranian, shooting dogs at children's birthday parties, dumping dead pets in ditches and trash cans, and more.

The report in its entirety can be found by

Clicking Here!

[soon-palestine]

as an american citizen, you have the right to assemble. the police and other governmental agencies violate this right through mass arrests, illegal use of force, criminalization of protest and other means that threaten our right to free expression.

DO NOT TALK TO THE POLICE:

they are not your friends. they are not there to protect you, regardless of your race. their presence there is to protect the interests of the state.

what to do if you are detained or stopped by the police:

do not resist, even if you think they are violating your rights.

calmly ask someone to record.

ask if you’re free to leave. if you are, walk away.

how to stay safe during a protest:

write phone/legal aid numbers on your body. bring a sharpie for others to do this.

ALWAYS use the buddy system. don��t be selfish & stick to your own friend group. if you see someone alone, invite them into your circle.

don’t know where to seek legal aid?

before attending/during a protest, visit http://nlg.org/chapters/#massdefense.

NLG chapters are organized into regions. find. your region and write their number on your body.

encourage others around you to write that same number on their body.

4. if you are threatened with or under arrest:

you have the right to know why you’re being arrested. calmly ask. if they refuse to provide a reason, stay quiet and ask for legal representation immediately.

do not give any information or sign anything without a lawyer present.

what to do with your phone during a protest:

put your phone on airplane mode

disable face ID/touch, replace with 6-digit passcode instead

spreading awareness is great but avoid posting photos of people that include identifying features.

police want everyone to leave the area, what should that look like:

shutting down a protect through a dispersal order must be the last resort for police.

a clear danger must be present.

police must give adequate time for protesters to disperse and an exit route.

what are your rights if you’re being stopped or detained by police:

you do not have to consent to you or your belongings being searched. if you consent, anything can be used against you in court.

police can conduct a “pat down” if they suspect you have a weapon.

if you see someone being detained, what should you do:

record the interaction. police can not demand to view or delete any footage without a warrant.

use calming affirmations towards the person being detained. they are likely scared. be there for them.

use whatever privilege you have to protect others.

if you see a disabled person struggling, offer to help. find medics to assist people experiencing anxiety or having a panic attack. if you see a BIPOC being harassed, surround them.

personal note on using your privilege: i have seen white people, countless times, place themselves in front of BIPOC when police draw weapons/approach protests. it often works.

do not be a person that just acknowledges their privilege, use it for good.

10. remember that we protect us. ignite this chant as a reminder to everyone present if you have to. communities are supposed to help one another. don’t be a sell out, offer support, share resources, food and water. be a kind soul.

if you can not participate in a protest for whatever reason, you can still help! drop-off supplies! (water bottles, allergy-friendly foods/snacks with ingredients labels on them, sharpies, cards with legal aid numbers on them, masks, makeup remover wipes, hand sanitizer, etc)

sources/disclaimer: main source:

@ACLU and my own opinions. this is not legal advice. consult legal representation if you are in need of assistance.

stay safe, be on the right side of history. black lives matter, no one is illegal, we protect us, land back, all oppression is connected and free palestine. 🇵🇸

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Dean Obeidallah at The Dean's Report:

On August 20, a little before dawn, 87 year-old Lidia Martinez was abruptly jarred awake by an unexpected knock on her door. The longtime activist who for over 35 years has worked to expand voter registration among seniors and veterans in south Texas, cautiously peered out the door. Standing on her doorstep were nine police officers dressed in tactical gear and carrying firearms. After showing her a search warrant, Martinez’s home was searched as she was forced to stand outside in her nightgown in her driveway in full view of her neighbors. Martinez was later questioned for three hours after which the police seized her phone, computer, personal calendar and more.

[...]

These bad faith searches orchestrated by Paxton were predicated on the claim that the people being investigated were registering non-citizens to vote—despite zero evidence presented of wrongdoing. Very alarmingly, if Donald Trump and House GOP have their way, these types of raids would be happening nationwide with federal law enforcement under a GOP President.  That is why GOP House Speaker Johnson is now demanding the proposed SAVE Act be included in any deal to provide funding to keep the government open.

To be clear, federal and state law already makes it a crime for non-citizens to vote. But this new federal legislation would establish criminal penalties for registering an applicant to vote in a federal election who fails to present documentation proving U.S. citizenship.  That means that what we are seeing in Texas is coming attractions of what the GOP wants to do nationally.

Keep in mind despite Texas AG Paxton’s two year investigation, no charges  have been filed against any of the people whose homes were searched.  Indeed, there may never be charges because even Paxton’s basis for the search is BS. In his press release announcing the investigation, the Texas AG presents no evidence of wrongdoing. Instead, Paxton makes baseless claims like these organizations have set up voter registration booths outside state agencies where people could register inside. Paxton’s press release literally includes this question with no answer: “Why would they need a second opportunity to register with a booth outside?” But nowhere in his press release does he even allege any criminal conduct—only questions.

And Paxton—a close ally of convicted felon Trump—showed his bad faith earlier in August on a radio show when he peddled lies about non-citizens voting. Paxton declared, “There’s a reason Joe Biden brought people here illegally. I’m convinced that that’s how they’re going to do it this time, they’re going to use the illegal vote. Why were they brought in, why did he bring in 14 million people?” adding, “He brought them here to vote.”   That is nothing more than the type of BS you hear on Fox News. But now Paxton has weaponized government by targeting people registering those he believes will vote for Democrats. The backlash to Paxton’s actions have been swift. LULAC requested that the Department of  Justice investigate Paxton's office for Voting Rights Act violations. LULAC CEO Juan Proaño and the group's national president, Roman Palomares, summed up well what is really going in their letter to the DOJ: "These actions echo a troubling history of voter suppression and intimidation that has long targeted both Black and Latino communities, particularly in states like Texas, where demographic changes have increasingly shifted the political landscape.”

The Texas GOPs voter intimidation tactics are based on the faux outrage campaign against noncitizen voting.

[graciereadshannigram]

hey fam, welcome to the October round up of all my favorite fics i read this month!!

as a reminder: the ingredients for a five star rating typically (but not always!!) include some combination of a.) believable characterizations of both Hannibal and Will, b.) compelling plot and/or character arcs, and c.) high quality smut.

that being said, my judgment of the aforementioned ingredients is powered almost exclusively by vibes and as such, is incredibly subjective.

you can find past recs below:

February March April May June July August September

and if you have any recs of your own for me, PLEASE SHARE.

without further ado, let's go!

Mine to Touch by piginapoketuesday

Word Count: 14193 Summary: "You respond so well to hand feeding," Hannibal said, watching Will's hips squirm. "I'm considering binding you for every meal."Will's neck flushed with fear. Never being allowed to feed himself again. Learning to associate food with a swollen, untouched cock. Swallowing prettily and on command. His body betrayed him, and he moaned around the fork in his mouth.~Lots of constant stimulation, feeding kink, and orgasm denial. Also lots of love and care.

So I might have a handfeeding kink. Possibly. Who's to say?

A Game for Two by sourweather

Word Count: 7710 Summary: One Long Game. That's what their relationship has always been. And the game never seems to end, which suits them just fine.Some unhinged murder husband content for the soul

Pretty much anything from this author ends up getting a five star rating, and this one was no exception.

Focus and Curiosity by hesterbyrde

Word Count: 7029 Summary: If someone had told Will two months ago that he would wind up regularly sleeping with his psychiatrist, he would have laughed in their face. Not just once, but twice. First for the absurdity of the idea in general. Just the thought of someone carrying on a sexual relationship with their therapist was ridiculous. Never mind that it would also be wildly unethical and illegal. But then he would also laugh at the sheer thought of having a psychiatrist in the first place. He'd avoided them like the plague all his adult life, and largely succeeded save the required eval after he'd been stabbed in the line of duty back when he was a cop. Needless to say that hadn't gone well.But this arrangement with Hannibal Lecter was going very well, strangely enough. Hannibal seemed content to let Will steer the course of his therapy. When Will didn't feel like talking, Hannibal would keep the conversation superficial. Or they would talk about whatever case Will was currently working on for Jack. And when Will did feel like talking, he had to admit some of Hannibal's insights into the quandary of his personality were actually enlightening. And it didn't hurt that the sex was amazing.

THIS BETTER NOT AWAKEN ANYTHING IN ME. Deadass, this inspired me to upgrade my own nipple clamps, so. Do with that information what you will.

Quiet Asphodel by FKAHerSweetness

Word Count: 174475 Summary: Once upon a time, there was a great and just king. This king, long ago, adopted a son and groomed the young prince to hunt monsters that roamed the kingdom. One day, the prince comes upon a monster of wild proportions, both fierce and courteous. The prince vows to the monster: 'I will capture you, as my father bids me.' The monster makes his own vow to the prince: 'I will wed you, as my heart bids me.'

Holy fucking shit. Once again, a deeply uncomfortable and awesome read. Again, nobody is good in this fic. But with my whole chest, FUCK Jack Crawford.

Much Ado About Knotting by l3moncoffee

Word Count: 3352 Summary: “We have a warrant to search the premises!”“Surely you could have knocked,” Hannibal Lecter said, wrapping a protective arm around his Omega.—————————————————— The FBI & Baltimore City Homicide have their sights on the Lecters, a bonded Alpha-Omega pair suspected of torturing and cannibalizing their victims.A strike team is assembled to catch them red-handed, but they run into some unexpected knots along the way.

I need more of this. STAT.

Heart's Desire by Celinesits

Word Count: 34514 Summary: COMPLETEWhat if Hannibal Lecter was given a Love Potion that led him straight to Will Graham? Spending two weeks with your Heart’s Desire is a dream come true.Meanwhile, Will Graham is fulfilling his public duty by staying with Hannibal, but being smothered in affection forces Will to confront his increasingly confused feelings for Doctor Lecter. Thank you if you have supported this story- kudos and comments/bookmarks are so kind x ❤️Based on the characters created by Thomas Harris, and Hannibal TV show creator Bryan Fuller.

I loved how well this was executed, enough that I can forgive the very brief overlap with HP/FBWTFT. Also, very in character Hannibal.

double by YouAreMyDesign

Word Count: 3961 Summary: It took a long time before Will grew from actively fighting these gifts, to resigned acceptance, to eager anticipation. It's just one of those things that comes with dating Hannibal Lecter; gifts are a given. And Hannibal, he soon realized, loves seeing Will in things he's bought.

We see dom Will Graham and we black out.

Patience and Precision by hesterbyrde

Word Count: 6253 Summary: Will drove himself straight from the crime scene to Hannibal's house. He wasn't even halfway up the porch steps when the door cracked open to reveal Hannibal's chiseled face, his features all the sharper with lines of confusion and concern."Will, I wasn't expecting you. Is everything alright?" he asked, pulling the door open to allow Will inside.Will took in the sight for a moment, making a slow fuss of taking off his coat and brushing his shoes on the mat. Hannibal was not in a suit. Not even in casual wear. Rather he was wearing a pair of soft grey lounge pants and a cable knit red sweater. Will had the sudden urge to press his face into the fabric and see if the crimson yarn was as soft as it looked.

Nipple clamps are my kryptonite.

pick up your phone by abbymyg

Word Count: 1404 Summary: Alana calls Will at an inopportune time.

A reread!! I love this one so much.

Recognition by StratsWrote

Word Count: 3910 Summary: The video was simple, a man sat in a high-back chair with his legs spread and his hand between them. He had a magnificent cock, uncut, red, thick. Will loved that cock. He worshipped it in his mind. And watching it now, Will groaned in pleasure, sinking deeper into the bed with his own hand stroking himself.  Will has a certain porn actor he's a fan of. He's never seen his face, but he knows every breath and groan and whimper he makes. When he meets Dr. Lecter, a consultant on the Shrike case, Will doesn't find him particularly interesting until in the midst of saving a life, he hears the same sighs and hums he's pleasured himself to coming from the doctor next to him.

Oh ideal. This was so hot.

Housekeeping by FKAHerSweetness

Word Count: 96562 Summary: Marriage is a creature living separate from its components. Yet it requires attention, tolerance and care. Have you seen it? Could you recognize its deep wounds - and which one of you inflicted them? And are they ready to heal? What do you really know about this illusory animal?

Holy shit. When I say this fic got under my skin in the best way possible, I truly mean that. Will is terrible. Honestly, so is Chilton. Hannibal is also not great. This is a story about not great people, but like a car crash, I simply couldn't look away. I love erotic psychological horror and this was ticking all of the boxes for me.

The Accident by TigerPrawn

Word Count: 1369 Summary: Sharing a bed results in unexpected intimacy.

And there was only one bed!!! I love.

Moth to the Flame by hannibae

Word Count: 4324 Summary: Will breathes out a laugh, arching his back in surprise when Hannibal presses the dry pad of a finger over his hole. “Nah,” he lets out, shaky and unsure, “I’ve been high before, but I’ve never—God, everything you do is perfect, isn’t it? Are you bad at anything?” It all feels too nice, Hannibal’s body solid and perfect against his own, his hands squeezing and kneading his flesh, his hips working up against Will’s own. It’s exactly how it shouldn’t be with Hannibal.

stoned Hannigram is absolutely delightful, this was so fucking HOT.

The Strangest Thing by foggys_cupcake_girl

Word Count: 3562 Summary: Will Graham is used to coming home and seeing his husband doing odd things, but he's never come home to find him with his head in a bag of Cheetos, with his hand down the toilet, or lying bare-naked in the living room after a shower.Or, that one where Hannibal tries to do a nice thing and ends up in way, WAY over his head.

STONED HANNIGRAM IS ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL.

Remember Me, I Ask by HigherMagic

Word Count: 10795 Summary: "Part of me was worried you were dead."It's not what he expected to hear, and Will's throat goes tight. The sheath of it is slicked with honey and afterburn, and his fingers flex on the arms of the chair. "You didn't used to let fear of consequences affect you," he replies."Until you."Settled into his life with Duncan, Will is ready to leave everything behind. Until Hannibal breaks out of prison. Will knows his time is limited.

This felt very in character, and was also hot as fuck.

Healthy Curiosity by orphan_account

Word Count: 1267 Summary: Restless, Abigail sneaks off to her fathers' bedroom in the middle of the night seeking comfort. She instead puts some of her curiosities to rest.

Fuck me, I do love voyeurism.

Teach Me a Lesson (Already Learned) by whenitstarted

Word Count: 3142 Summary: Will being married to Molly and cheating on her with Hannibal.

A reread that is still fabulous.

the leather runs smooth by drpeaceandlove

Word Count: 4960 Summary: "Are you... encouraging me to sleep with Molly?" Will kept his intent gaze trained upon Hannibal's face, finding that - even through his abilities to empathise with others - he could not discern anything wrong about Hannibal's current demeanour.A feline grin unfurled upon Hannibal's lips and he let out a faint exhalation of amusement, capturing Will's lips in yet another kiss."I am merely advising you, my dear." Hannibal insisted - something Will did not at all believe - and brought his hand back, much to Will's dismay. That disappointment was short-lived, however, when Hannibal began unbuckling the leather belt looped through Will's jeans. "Now, shall we begin our session?"----Or, Hannibal and Will are interrupted by a call during one of their therapy sessions.

Anything involving being railed while on a phone call is gonna make me INCREDIBLY happy.

All the Things that Make a Sound by sourweather

Word Count: 3330 Summary: Hannibal gets an unexpected call from Will while he's in prison. They don't speak, Will just wants Hannibal to listen.

Will calling Hannibal while Hanni's in prison to make him listen while Will fucks Molly? Amazing. Wish I could give this more than one star.

I Hope You'll Feed Me by DorianThey

Word Count: 3473 Summary: Trans!Will Graham hates getting his period, but Hannibal loves taking care of him while he’s bleeding. Especially when Will needs an endorphin boost…

This was hot. That's all.

Cuisine Euphonique by thecountessolivia

Word Count: 35321 Summary: Nightmares brought on by a gruesome case lead Will to some unorthodox therapy in the form of a YouTube cooking channel.[Completed]

So this was a reread and I'm still obsessed with it.

Instinct by solarteacup

Word Count: 5329 Summary: Hannibal took another sip of wine, then reached out with both hands to cup Will’s face. He moved slowly, intentionally. His fingers caressed from the point of Will’s chin through the coarse dark hair of his beard, fanning out to his cheeks. When his fingertips reached Will’s ears, he stopped, cradling Will’s jaw in his palms while his thumbs brushed against old scars. He smiled, eyes moving from Will’s reflective gaze down to his slightly parted lips. “Instinct is nothing more than lessons learned and skills acquired over millions of years of self-preservation. Genetic patterns built to keep us alive without thinking. Legs to run or kick, arms to climb or scratch…” “And mouths to bite?” Will spoke low, eyes darting across Hannibal’s, unsure where to settle his gaze. Hannibal hummed. “The mouth serves many, many purposes." ______________ aka Hannibal gives Will anatomy lessons on what he and his mouth were built for.

Oh dear. I fear this has awoken something in me.

it’s only a matter of time before we all burn by madeofbees

Word Count: 11963 Summary: help, please voice cracking 2:13am blinking the world on and off. The flashing he couldn’t trust the time a power outage a will outage he needed to check his phone couldn’t tolerate hannibal away from his ear  what do you need will heavy with sleep composed and solid propping will up keeping him from flying apart, shattering like a fragile teacupi need you to make it stop—will has a panic attack, hannibal fixes it

THIS WAS SO FUCKING GOOD AND SO FREAKIN' HOT.

you are the shower of light i devour by madeofbees

Word Count: 26255 Summary: Will has spent his life on suppressants, living as a beta, repressing as much of his sexuality as he can. It’s easier, raises fewer questions. But suppressants only work so well for so long, and chronic overuse only makes the eventual heat worse. Still, he rests easy knowing that he’s perceived as a beta, and therefore is safe.Until his psychiatrist casually mentions it’s been a while since his last heat, and does he require any assistance?Yes, actually. He does.—Almost exclusively smut, with a dash of trauma!angst, heavily seasoned with obliviously and incorrectly assumed one-sided feels.

I do adore a good chronic overuse of suppressants leads to an intense heat trope.

looked up at the sky and it was maroon by madeofbees

Word Count: 15852 Summary: Will accidentally sends Hannibal a dick pic and Hannibal loses his shit. That’s it that’s the story.eta: now with edits!

i LOVE Hannibal nearly setting his home on fire because of a dick pic from Will. absolutely amazing, 10/10.

Doctor Lecter’s Fabulously Buff Investigator by TheSilverQueen

Word Count: 5625 Summary: Online conferences due to the quarantine are how Doctor Lecter's colleagues learn that: 1) Doctor Lecter has a beautiful home; 2) Doctor Lecter is married; and 3) Doctor Lecter's husband is fabulously buff.

This was very silly and I loved it.

I Only Have Eyes For You by sourweather

Word Count: 3827 Summary: Will gets so, so bored at Hannibal's dinner parties. But they're dating, so he can't exactly say no. So one night, he decides to have some fun, and tries to make Hannibal jealous by flirting with one of the guests. It doesn't go how Will expected.

Another re-read, another one that's still incredible.

Caught in the Act by UndeadRobby

Word Count: 2829 Summary: A collection of oneshots where Hannibal and Will get caught in... compromising positions.

Amazing.

Will Graham's Unconventional Health Care Proxy by UndeadRobby

Word Count: 3383 Summary: "It appears our dear friend Will Graham was in an accident, and is currently unconscious at Johns Hopkins. They needed someone to consent to continued treatment on his behalf, now that they have completed the actively life-saving treatment.”Frederick blinks. “And… he listed you as his healthcare proxy? Not, oh, I don’t know, his wife? Jack Crawford? Alana Bloom? A dog?”

Hannibal being Will's healthcare proxy and rubbing it in everyone else's face is hysterical and I loved it.

Like a Room Without a Roof by halotolerant

Word Count: 52881 Summary: Will is an awkward, single Submissive who has to get a temporary partner so he can pass an Alignment Health Assessment for his job. Hannibal is a Dom agreeable to low-level ‘sessions’ in which no sex or feelings will get involved.None of that works out quite to plan.

This was such a fun take on a BDSM AU!!

Make the world go quiet - sensory deprivation by Incidentsofunknownorigins

Word Count: 6071 Summary: Back in America 4th of July weekend,Will is triggered by fireworks and past trauma, Hannibal finds a way to distract him.

Trauma response mitigated by sex? Say less. Also written by a friend!

Hummingbird by sourweather

Word Count: 5416 Summary: Will and Hannibal have been seeing each other for a few months. They're keeping things pretty casual, sneaking around behind closed doors. Until Will finds out he's pregnant with Hannibal's baby.

This was fluffy goodness.

Pupping Season. by TheDarkestMindWithin

Word Count: 2377 Summary: Will's ready for pups, Hannibal remains adamant he is not.

This is exactly what I want out of a non-con scenario, holy SHIT. This was also a reread.

Captive by sixtieshairdo

Word Count: 1436 Summary: “What would Franklyn do if he saw you like this?” He relishes the way he can feel Hannibal’s cock twitch inside him whenever he clenches around him just a little tighter. “What would Jack do if he saw you like this?” The thought that Jack would disapprove of his relationship with Hannibal only makes Will spread his thighs wider, fucking down onto Hannibal’s cock faster, mind-drunk on how he can hear the sounds of his ass cheeks clapping. He’s fully naked, the way Hannibal likes him to be, and Hannibal’s mostly dressed – except for his pants around his knees – the way Will likes him to be. He can’t imagine what his sweaty knees are doing to the leather under him, but he knows Hannibal wouldn’t hesitate to keep the desecrated furniture in his office as evidence of their sordid affairs.

Fake relationship? Featuring a jealous Franklyn?? Catnip.

Hanni's Boy by Ishxallxgood

Word Count: 4648 Summary: Franklyn Froideveaux falls in love at first sight with none other than our friendly neighborhood empath. The only problem is, the object of his affections already has a partner. What is a man to do? Stalk the shit out of and emulate said partner of course. And it doesn't hurt that the man's partner just so happens to be Franklyn's very own psychiatrist Doctor Hannibal Lecter.Pure crack inspired by Jessie's Girl

This was so perfect, everything I wanted.

Savor You by Murder_Cupcake

Word Count: 585 Summary: Hannibal wants to pleasure Will, who's pregnant, heavy and embarrassed.

This was so so so hot.

in the truly gruesome do we trust by sidnihoudini

Word Count: 9473 Summary: Hannibal and Will have murder husbands mind palace sex, and Alana watches obsessively. A slow, sneaky grin slides its way across Will’s face as he looks up at Hannibal and teases, “You enjoy being watched.” “Does a lion eat its prey while it is still alive?” Hannibal asks rhetorically, an amused quirk to his lips. He drags his elbows against the silk sheets, letting himself rest his weight on them so he can comfortably brush his fingers through Will’s curls. After a pause, he drops his head, and presses his open mouth to Will’s. He pulls back a fraction, and breathes, “Yes.” Fully smiling now, sharp and uncontrolled, Will arches up against Hannibal’s body, and asks, “Does that make me the lion, or the prey?” “You are simply part of the pride,” Hannibal murmurs.

This. Was. So. Hot.

aaaand that's a wrap for October!! have fun babes!!

[fatkish]

I found this post you made and idk how old it is but it was about writing stories to heal inner child to give readers someone who stepped up for them as a kid since they didn’t have someone… idk if ur still taking requests for that, but if you are, any chance you could write smthing related to saving a kid from sex trafficking? Specifically where it was perpetuated by the parents if that makes sense?? Idk. I want Aizawa to come get me outta there lol(I’m okay now). Maybe he was undercover or smthing for a bigger operation and came in contact with.. that. Thanks for reading my whole request ^^;;

Aizawa x SA Victim Child Reader

TRIGGER WARNING: please be aware that the following content contains allusions to rape, the sexual exploitation and abuse of minors as well as unwanted sexual advances. Please be warned

Aizawa goes undercover disguised as a potential buyer for an illegal quirk boosting drug that the reader’s parents are selling and finds readers parents offering reader to buyers as well.

Reader is 12 and still hasn’t developed a quirk yet. They are a late bloomer and their parents decided that their kid needed to ‘help out the family’ since they haven’t developed a quirk

Reader is forced to take lessons on ‘dancing’ in order to entertain the clients. The reader’s parents have made them believe that they are not worth saving and that heroes will treat them like a villain because what they’re doing is wrong and because their parents are ‘evil’

Aizawa was back in his underground days and came upon the house acting as a corrupt hero. He had found an actual corrupt hero who used the drugs and knew about the kid. Aizawa followed the hero and was talking to the parents when they offered the reader to him.

Aizawa, not believing this, actually went to the room and paid the parents before going in alone.

The reader’s parents don’t really care how long people are along with the reader, as long as they pay them good money. The father’s quirk allows him to distort electrical circuits and signals rendering any device that investigators might use to capture evidence of their deeds, to be useless.

Once alone with the reader, Aizawa was revolted by the way the reader was sexualized by their own parents. He talked to the reader and it took some convincing but he eventually gave the reader a phone that they could use to gather evidence from the inside.

After Aizawa left, because there wasn’t anything he could do at that exact moment that wouldn’t make things worse for the reader, he informed the police as well as the other heroes he was working with about the situation and within the next three days, they had all the information they needed in order to get a search warrant and arrest the parents

Aizawa was the one who was in charge of the kid. It was during the raid that the reader’s quirk finally manifested.

Their quirk allows them to build up and store massive amounts of electrical energy and basically turn their body into electrical energy as well as manipulate it. The reader can travel through electrical circuits like landline phones and computers. They can create a force field of electrical energy that fries anything within it as well as control electricity and shape it.

The reader was being ‘used’ by a rather violent man who was being far rougher than anyone had ever been before. It was during all the stress and anxiety that the reader finally had enough. When Aizawa busted the door down he saw the man had been electrocuted to death and had electrical burns all over him.

Aizawa realizes the severity of the situation and instead of using his quirk he decided to have the reader try to control their ability themselves. Aizawa gently removed his goggles and slowly approached the hyperventilating child. He gently talked to them, speaking in a soft voice, he told them that it was over. That their parents have been arrested and that they will never have to deal with this kind of treatment ever again.

The reader obviously wasn’t comfortable with touching others and Aizawa understood that. Aizawa had given the reader the space they needed and made sure to always be within the reader’s sight and also made sure that anyone who had to be near the reader, followed the reader’s directions.

If they didn’t want to be touched, Aizawa made sure they wouldn’t be. If the reader was uncomfortable, Aizawa made sure that whatever was causing it was dealt with. For the first time ever, the reader actually saw and believed that someone was willing to protect them and after a few months the reader was finally comfortable with sleeping in the same room as Aizawa.

The doctors and nurses were worried about the reader since they refused to be touched and would use their quirk to defend themselves. It was only after Aizawa was able to gain the reader’s trust that the doctors had Aizawa be their proxy and do the tests needed. With every test that Aizawa had to do, he would explain in detail what he would be doing, why he was doing it and made sure that the reader felt comfortable and safe, making sure that they understood that they had to give consent before anything would be done.

Eventually a therapist and counselor where provided to the reader to help them deal with the trauma from their experiences. The reader wouldn’t really talk to anyone besides Aizawa

Seeing this the courts as well as the reader’s doctors suggested that Aizawa become the reader’s legal guardian

Aizawa adopted the reader and had Hizashi introduce himself to the reader. After that, the two of them decided to take the reader shopping since this was more of Hizashi’s area of expertise rather than Aizawa’s. They bought clothes for the reader, toys, books, electronics, snacks, toiletries, bedding, furniture, etc.

Once they got to Aizawa’s house, they helped the reader get everything inside and showed the reader their own rood with an attached bathroom. The reader even had a lock on their door that they could control from their side. Aizawa even helped the reader instal one of those chain locks on their door

It took a lot of time but eventually the reader began to trust Hizashi too. Eventually one day the reader had fallen asleep on the couch next to Aizawa. Aizawa was so touched and smiled softly. He made himself, as well as the reader, a promise, he would do whatever it took to keep them safe and make sure that they were happy and felt loved and cared for

(I hope this helps you and that you enjoyed this. I hope that your inner child finds some peace with this and that this helps them heal.)

[blueiscoool]

$1 Million Worth of Gold Coins Stolen From 18th-Century Shipwrecks Found

After an extensive investigation, Florida officials recovered dozens of gold coins valued at more than $1 million that were stolen from a shipwreck recovery nine years ago.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced in a news release Tuesday it had recovered 37 gold coins that were stolen from the 1715 Fleet shipwrecks.

The fleet of Spanish ships sailed from Havana, Cuba and headed to Seville, Spain on July 24, 1715. The journey was short-lived, as a hurricane wrecked the fleet just seven days later off the coast of Eastern Florida.

The first ship was discovered in 1928 by William Beach north of Fort Pierce, Florida, about 120 miles south of Orlando. Since then, gold and silver artifacts have been recovered offshore for decades following the first discovery.

In 2015, a group of contracted salvage operators found a treasure trove of 101 gold coins from the wrecks near Florida’s Treasure Coast, about 112 miles west of Orlando. However, only half of the coins were reported correctly. The other 50 coins were not disclosed and later stolen.

The years-long investigation by the state’s fish and wildlife conservation commission and FBI “into the theft and illegal trafficking of these priceless historical artifacts” came to a head when new evidence emerged in June, the news release said.

The evidence linked Eric Schmitt to the illegal sale of multiple stolen gold coins in 2023 and 2024, officials said. Schmitt’s family had been contracted to work as salvage operators for the US District Courts’ custodian and salvaging company for the fleet, 1715 Fleet - Queens Jewels, LLC. The Schmitts had uncovered the 101 gold coins in 2015.

During their hunt for the coins, investigators executed multiple search warrants and recovered coins from private residences, safe deposit boxes and auctions, the news release said. Five stolen coins were retrieved from a Florida-based auctioneer, who unknowingly purchased them from Schmitt.

Investigators used advanced digital forensics to nail down Schmitt as a suspect in the case. In most cases, digital forensics can recover data stored electronically on devices such as a cell phone, computer system or memory module.

With the help of advanced digital forensics, investigators identified metadata and geolocation data that linked Schmitt to a photograph of the stolen coins taken at the Schmitt family condominium in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Authorities said Schmitt also took three of the stolen gold coins and put them on the ocean floor in 2016. The coins were later found by the new investors of the fleet’s court custodian and salvaging company.

Throughout the investigation, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission worked closely with historical preservation experts to authenticate and appraise the recovered coins sold by Schmitt.

Schmitt is facing charges for dealing in stolen property, the release says.

The company commissioned to salvage the shipwreck said in a statement it “was shocked and disappointed by this theft and has worked closely with law enforcement and the state of Florida regarding this matter.”

“We take our responsibilities as custodian very seriously and will always seek to enforce the laws governing these wrecks,” the statement read.

Recovered artifacts will be returned to their rightful custodians, the news release said. But the investigation is far from over: 13 coins remain missing.

[unsexynudity]

its kinda scary how many people dont know how to deal with cops so heres how to deal with cops

you get pulled over. roll down ur window, hands on the steering wheel

they'll ask for license, registration, and proof of insurance. tell them where it is before you grab it, warn them that you're going to grab it, and move slowly

if they ask "do you know why i pulled you over today" or they try to accuse you of anything, act clueless always

if you have a self defense weapon such as a pocket knife or pepper spray, inform them that you have it and tell them where it is

if the cop pulls you out of the car to arrest you, don't fight it because they'll charge you with resisting arrest. you are, however, allowed to ask WHY they are arresting you. if they tell you that asking why is resisting arrest, they are lying

when being arrested, don't say ANYTHING unless "i want a lawyer". don't answer any questions, keep your trap shut

if a cop tries to search your vehicle, you have the legal right to tell them not to.

same thing with your house. they can't search your home without a warrant, and if they don't have a warrant, you are legally allowed to send them away. be prepared for them to come back with a warrant tho, so hide ur illegal shit

don't cooperate with cops and don't give them incriminating evidence against you but don't resist arrest ever and also follow instructions (unless instructions are dangerous, such as them urging you to answer potentially incriminating questions)

don't swear at cops, they can charge you with a misdemeanor

be safe out there and remember. never trust police officers

[bitkahuna]

“Harry, the information you’ve given us, while we believe you, has to be verifiable in order to do anything about it.” Arthur explained.

Harry furrowed his eyebrows. “To do something, what, legally?” He blinked. “Like, getting the Ministry involved?"

“Frankly, yes.” Arthur nodded. “If we can bring Crouch Jr. in on something serious enough to warrant the use of a truth serum, we could get everything we need to make arrests and search the Crouch residence."

-----

“What do you think of a sleepover?”

“A sleepover? In Grimmauld Place?” Ron grinned.

“Yea.”

“Mate, this place is like a fucking legend for us. You don’t just get invited to Grimmauld Place, home of the most noble and ancient House of Black.” He said the last part in a somewhat mocking tone of how House Black used to refer to themselves.

“Now home to Sirius Black, a werewolf, and me.”

“I think it’d be awesome. Who would you invite?”

“Us, obviously. Maybe ‘Mione and Luna. She and I need to go buy formalwear together anyway. If we’re inviting them, then we ought to invite Ginny, cause I think it would be weird if Luna was the only person younger than us. But then we might as well ask Neville, Dean, and Seamus."

-----

“You want me to use dark arts.” It wasn’t a question. It was a statement. A tired one.

‘To make him known is to delve into the very essence of his being.’

With that, Ianthe interjected, “I’ve had many powerful masters. Last I remember such magics were theoretical.”

‘The foundations of which are proven. ’ Those illusory eyes turned to Harry. ‘Recently proven.’

The boy tensed, looking between the two. “What have I done?”

-----

First, he was denied knowledge for fear he would become a dark wizard. Now he has to in order to hunt Horcruxes. Was he becoming a monster? He got Professor Quirrell killed, killed the basilisk, encouraged Sirius to kill Peter. But the good killing, killing the Horcruxes, he outsourced. Moaning Myrtle destroyed the diary and Kreacher destroyed the locket. Why had he only done the bad killing? Sure, Sirius was the one to actually kill Peter, but Harry still encouraged it. Harry insisted on staying. He saw Peter’s dead body.

Maybe this was it, then.

Maybe he was made for the scars. Maybe he was made for the evil. Harry Potter was a vessel for all the darkness required to end this war, so everyone else could stay in the light. He could eat it, swallow it whole, and become it. Become the darkness to bring the dawn.

-----

Harry sighed, sitting back down. He thought back to when Ashterah said she didn’t want to train the next Dark Lord. He remembered everything she said afterward; the thin line between miracles and horrors, would he take everything he wanted if he could, that he should be afraid. “You’ve been debating this for a while, haven’t you?”

‘I’ve thought it necessary since summer but never wanted it to come to this.’

“Dark magic is corrupting.” He spoke in a feeble argument. “It turns people weak and hideous.” He’d been taught on several occasions the effects the dark arts can have on people. Some argued those were just rumors, but he knew it was true. He’d seen two separate books in the Restricted Section on how to reverse the physical deterioration that comes from dark magic use. He’s also heard plenty of complaints on Knockturn Alley, where there was a flowering counterfeit beauty potions market.

“Evil turns them weak and hideous.” Ianthe corrected. “Weak will turn inquiring minds to greed and hate; this malice leads to evil.”

“It’s illegal.” Harry muttered.

‘Only if you use it for evil, Harry. I cannot promise you will not kill, but you will find law and morals are oft cast aside in war.’

Harry sighed, feeling a tear fall from his eye as he came to a decision. “They have to be, don’t they?”

-----

Just posted!! Things went a bit differently at the Triwizard Tournament, allowing Harry and his allies a shot at getting Barty Crouch Jr. arrested before the 3rd task. Now, during Yule break, Harry grapples with the fact that he''ll have to do something drastic to survive whatever has been planned for that final task.

Also, Yule is coming up and Harry is 1000% going to kiss Draco again because I can't physically stop

[shikariiin]

×Cough-cough×, this is going to be a lot of text, but it's vital that I get answers to these questions(even if it's in a short format, I really need to know that urgently and just now, I'm not kidding). I beg you to answer, your art makes me live, the main AU is absolutely beautiful, please that's all I need 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Questions about the system and the war: Who and where did Spencer work during the war? Do his epaulettes indicate any rank? If so, what opportunities did their ranks give engines? Does he now know that Alice has had a sex change, does he wish her and the baby back? After all, legally Edward still belongs to the duke or his old road if Alice illegally escaped…or how does that work? What would happen if Edward was once again owned by Spencer and the duke?

Questions about Spencer and Alice: Was the decision to have a child a mutual decision, or did Spencer insist on it? Or did they both not want to, but were forced by military department? Did Spencer beat Alice during her pregnancy? Was there any reason for Alice(last straw) to finally decide to run away? What made Spencer so evil/aggressive and why did he beat Alice at all, why? What motivated him? So because person can't just beat up another person just because him feel like it 🤔 Also, did/still does Spencer drink alcohol? Why? How did the duke himself feel about Alice's escape? Did he not even try to look for the steam train he paid money for? Was punishment or double work awaiting Spencer afterwards? After all these accidents, did Spencer ever go to Sodor and did he see Thomas? What is his relationship with the duke? And does the duke have a wife as well?

Questions about Thomas and Topham: Did Charles Hat have any problems with acquiring Edward and the authorities(since rowdy Eddie could do all sorts of illegal shit)? What kind of person was Thomas brought up to be? How would Spencer raise Thomas if he got him? And does Spencer still need a Thomas if he was glad to have an heir?

This many questions is very cheeky of me, however I can't handle the desire and necessity to know more about your main AU 😭😭😭😭💕💕💕 (And yes, how does James know Russian???? That's so cute! I'm from Russia, and I know russian, but why did he learn that language? o^O)

OH WOW THE DEDICATION AHAHA, Sure I'll answer them all numerically 🩵

1. They're not necessarily soldiers, but also tools of war, Spencer was the engine that pulls high ranking officers, used for his speed, while Alice is both a transport engine that doubles as a medic. What role they're given also has it benefits, Spencer was given a special treatment while Alice is treated like everyone else.

2. He doesn't know Alice had a sex change, he does wish deep down under that layer of Arrogance his baby and wife would be back, but mostly Alice running away from him made him the laughing stock of the gresleys, it fueled his desperation more.

3. Since Alice illegally escaped, they still own her, but that's a story for another day, that has it whole arc I'm planning to make 😄, if Edward is owned again by the duke, then he'll have to leave the railway and become a private engine.

4. Spencer insists, a-lot of forcing too from her old railway, yes Spencer beats and emotionally manipulated her, he wasn't even present in Thomas's birth.

5. The last straw for her is when Spencer agreed for them to be bought by the Duke without her consent.

6. Spencer picked her because she was the most beautiful, but quickly saw her as a nuisance, she was shy and quiet, he didn't like how she wouldn't listen to him sometimes, what started as Spencer dragging her into things became a manipulative and abusive cycle, and it became a customary thing for Spencer, he thinks that's the only way he should treat Alice.

7. The Duke in this era felt angered, he deemed the engine was rebellious (this was in the era where women doesn't really have rights yet) there were a search warrant for her for months to no avail, and he chose to leave with Spencer, there's not extra work for him, but to be able to withstand his current work, the Duke upgraded his class through an experiment.

8. He did come to sodor, I do have an arc awaiting for that :3, his relationship with the current duke is like in the show, neutral, and yes the duke has a wife.

9. Sir Charles treated him with specialty, always excusing his antics like a father excusing his child for hitting someone, "they're just kids" mentality, He never had to face the Authorities because Edward never gets caught.

10. They raised Thomas as someone responsible and Diligent, although he is cheeky, if Spencer raised him he would laze around and be snobby, He doesn't need an heir, but he would want Thomas to be back just to save his family reputation.

11. James learned many languages because Indonesia at the time was a network of spice trading, alot of foreigners and people with different backgrounds (although there were an era of colonizations), I do feel like he would learn different languages just so he can know more about them. :D

Awwww thank you so much for the Questions! I'm happy someone liked my AU🩵🥰

[waterfrontcomplex]

CYCRANE KILLER - A YANQING SERIAL KILLER AU

TW/CW FOR MURDER, VIOLENCE, DISMEMBERMENT, GENERAL MENTAL INSTABILITY, MENTIONS OF ABUSE

AU INFO ↓

after the disastrous battle at dragonprayer terrace, yanqing is left disheartened, confused, and alone. he was just defeated by 2 criminals, and the one person he trusted with his whole being left him there with no explanation.

he gets healed at the alchemy commission, and returns home. jing yuan eventually recovers, and... everything returns to some sense of normalcy. no 'i'm sorry', no 'are you okay?', no nothing. he receives assignments as usual, and goes through with them with ease.

during an assignment in cloudford, he encounters a man who was on the run and had a warrant out for his arrest for domestic abuse. yanqing pursued the man until he accidentally cornered him with some particularly violent mara-struck, and was killed before he could stop them.

that night, he couldn't stop thinking about the man. he had let a civilian die. but... that man was a terrible person. he had a family that loved him, and he hurt them in return. yanqing felt an unexplainable burst of 'satisfaction' or even 'happiness'. that man would never hurt anybody again.

a terrible idea appeared in his head. what if he purposely killed people like those?

it's extremely illegal and goes against his duty as a cloud knight, but they would deserve it and he's just so, so frustrated. so, he looks into a couple cases and finds one he takes interest in. if he wants to go through with this, he can't use yanzhuo or his ice swords; it would make his identity too obvious. he grabs a blade he's been itching to test out, dons a cloak and leaves during the night.

the break-in and murder is easy enough. most people on the luofu stand no chance against him. adrenaline is rushing through his veins, and now there's a body on the floor and his dagger is covered in blood.

the cleanup is simple; he has the knowledge and resources available to make it look as if his target had just vanished during the night. he dismembers and disposes of the body and returns home. he had just killed another civilian... but they were a terrible person— no, they're not even a person. they're just vermin, unworthy of the title of 'human' and waiting to be eliminated. he feels static in his head.

in the following weeks, he does his best to avoid searching up information about his target. yanqing listens in to gossip instead, and gathers that they had been reported missing but no traces were found. he had gotten away with murder.

and he was going to do it again.

the next few nights, he claims more lives; lives of those unworthy of them. after the murders, the static in his head clears, but comes back later. they disappear during the night without a trace.

while disposing of a body, yanqing encounters a partially broken down cycrane with sentience, like his swords. he fixes it up, and it says it doesn't want to 'return to a mundane life of endless deliveries', so he takes it home and hides it. after a bit of searching, he gives it a name: rosebane.

the cases are starting to catch the attention of the higher-ups. the public now knows about the 'mysterious disappearances', and rumors start spreading like wildfire. some claim it's a monster, other say it's a stalker, and some are claiming that it's a whole group of people. nobody suspects him a bit. tensions are high.

yanqing doesn't want the public to worry too much. rumors of a monster could put the cloud knights on high alert. if he let any witnesses see him, they would know it was a human. and if he brings rosebane, they would know it's the same person, and not a group of people. rosebane wouldn't reveal anything about his real identity, and would be particularly useful for tracking down targets. a monster would be extremely concerning, but a person would be... hopefully less concerning. and with a cycrane, it would lead the investigators away from him.

during his next murder, he chooses a time where there would be a witness, and commits the crime, leaving the body. word gets out, and news of the 'cycrane killer' is everywhere. yanqing masks his nervousness as worry for jing yuan, but he doesn't fully buy it.

he's not crazy, he's not insane at all. he doesn't kill for the adrenaline rush, or to clear the static in his head, or for whatever other reason.

he's just... doing the luofu a favor.

☆⋆⋅───────

RELATIONSHIPS

YANQING -> ROSEBANE

friendly. they are extremely close, but can't talk much since yanqing shouldn't bring them out during the day. they're partners in crime, bound to their secret. he finds their sentience interesting.

YANQING -> JING YUAN

tense. yanqing partly blames jing yuan for his... new hobby. he still cares and would never hurt him on purpose, but he's extremely frustrated and confused. he mainly wants an explanation but feels as if he has no right to ask for one. yanqing also has to tread lightly around jing yuan to avoid him figuring out about his murders.

YANQING -> FU XUAN

cautious. if fu xuan suspects him of anything, she could easily rat him out with the matrix of prescience. he's been keeping his distance.

JING YUAN -> YANQING

worry. jing yuan knows yanqing's upset and has been acting strangely ever since he recovered. he also knows that his retainer is hiding something, but doesn't know what.

[gretahayes]

soo obviously tim would never kill, but what crimes do you think he *would* commit

I think he’s committed or would commit (under the right circumstances) a lot. Here's a list;

Assault with a Deadly Weapon

Assaulting or Killing Federal Officer

Assisting or Instigating Escape

Aggravated Assault/Battery

Aggravated Identity Theft

Bankruptcy Fraud/Embezzlement

Blackmail

Coercion

Concealing Escaped Prisoner

Concealing Person from Arrest

Conspiracy to Impede or Injure an Officer

Conveying False Information

Credit/Debit Card Fraud

Cyber Crimes

Damage to Religious Property

Destruction of Records in Federal Investigations and Bankruptcy

Destruction of Corporate Audit Records

Disclosure of Confidential Information

Domestic Terrorism

Embezzlement

Extortion

False Information and Hoaxes

False Pretenses

False Statements Relating to Health Care Matters

Falsely Claiming Citizenship

False Declarations before Grand Jury or Court

Fraud Against the Government

Hacking Crimes

Harboring Terrorists

Hostage Taking

Identity Theft

Illegal Possession of Firearms

Impersonator Making Arrest or Search

Injuring Officer

Insurance Fraud

Interference with the Operation of a Satellite

International Terrorism

Larceny

Mailing Threatening Communications

Motor Vehicle Theft

Narcotics Violations

Obstructing Examination of Financial Institution

Obstruction of Court Orders

Obstruction of Federal audit

Obstruction of Justice

Obstruction of Criminal Investigations

Perjury

Pirating

Possession of Narcotics

Private Correspondence with Foreign Government

Racketeering

Receiving the Proceeds of Extortion

Recording or Listening to Grand or Petit Juries While Deliberating

Retaliating Against a Federal Judge by False Claim or Slander of Title

Retaliating Against a Witness, Victim, or an Informant

Robbery

Sabotage

Sale of Stolen Vehicles

Searches Without Warrant

Shoplifting

Smuggling

Stalking (In Violation of Restraining Order)

Stolen Property; Buying, Receiving, or Possessing

Tampering with a Witness, Victim, or Informant

Tampering with Vessels

Torture

Transportation of Stolen Vehicles

Transportation of Terrorists

Trespassing

Treason

Unauthorized Removal of Classified Documents

Use of Fire or Explosives to Destroy Property

Use of Weapons of Mass Destruction

Vandalism

Violence at International airports

Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity

And possibly more! Hope this helps

[ohsalome]

(story taken and machine-translated from the official twitter account of the Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea)

Today's story is about a woman who was detained by the occupiers in the spring of 2022 and illegally sentenced to almost 7 years in prison. Iryna Danylovych is a nurse and citizen journalist.

She was threatened, blackmailed and forced to confess to things she did not do. Now Irina is in a Russian colony, her health is deteriorating due to the lack of quality and timely medical care.

Iryna Danylovych worked as a nurse at the Malachite rehabilitation center in Koktebel, maintained a social media page and several blog columns on the rights of healthcare workers and healthcare issues in the occupied Crimea.

The occupation forces abducted Iryna Danylovych in April 2022. She was returning from a night shift at the hospital when the occupiers searched her house and seized all her appliances, several books and documents.

There was no contact with Irina for more than a week. She was illegally detained by the FSB: she was subjected to psychological pressure, beaten, threatened with death, interrogated on a polygraph, threatened to be "taken to the forest" (ed. - meaning killed and buried in the forest) or "to Mariupol" (once again, killed), fed once a day, and not allowed to go to the restroom.

Eventually, the occupiers informed her relatives that a decision had been made to place her under "administrative arrest", allegedly because "she had transferred unclassified materials to another country". Later, they fabricated a "case" against Irina accusing her of "illegal actions with explosives."

The "proof" was the "discovery" of 200 grams of explosives in Irina's bag. And only on May 11, the lawyer managed to establish that she was in the occupation pre-trial detention center in Simferopol.

The "arrest warrant" was issued by the occupation "court" during a closed court session - without the participation of listeners, journalists, or Irina's relatives.

But the real reason for the detention is different. For covering the problems of the healthcare system, the crimes of the occupiers, as well as for protecting and promoting the rights of healthcare workers in the occupied Crimea.

Iryna was one of the first correspondents of the Crimean Process; she supported Crimean Tatar activists in the "courts"; prepared materials for the editorial office of Inzhyr Media; supported medical activists, recorded violations of rights under occupation.

According to Irina, she was kidnapped, taken to Simferopol and illegally detained in a basement, tortured and starved, and forced to sign a confession under threat of death, having been viciously planted with explosives after the "confession" had been forcibly extracted.

Complete hearing loss in the left ear, deprivation of necessary medications, suffering from headaches and earaches. This is what Iryna is going through now.

Irina was transferred to the Krasnodar Women's Correctional Colony No. 7 in Zelenokumsk. Every day, Irina's health condition deteriorated: in the occupation prisons, she gradually lost hearing in her left ear, developed otitis media, constant headaches and dizziness.

Back in July 2022, the political prisoner reported being beaten by an FSB convoy and psychological pressure exerted on her by Russian security forces. The occupiers also took away the opportunity to read, not returning the collection of poems.

To get medical help, she went on a hunger strike, but stopped it after 10 days, believing the promises of the SIZO administration, but no one has treated her and is not going to, watching the prisoner's health deteriorate.

According to her father, the colony allocates 90 minutes for the distribution of medicines twice a week: on Tuesday and Thursday. During this time, only 20-30 people out of a queue of several hundred prisoners manage to receive them.

"There are periodic fights among the patients for the opportunity to be in the front of the line and receive medicines. Iryna does not participate in this and has been deprived of access to the medicines prescribed by doctors, which we regularly send in parcels, for several months now," her father said.

Despite the illegal actions, torture and pressure, the occupiers failed to break the Ukrainian journalist, she continues to support Ukraine and believe that she will soon return home. "Only in such a strong Ukraine could such a strong you be born," said Iryna's father Bronislav.

Even behind bars, Iryna Danylovych continues to resist the occupiers and support Ukraine. The song "I am free!" performed by her is a symbol of disobedience and struggle, which the occupiers do not like, and the tattoo on her body that reads "Freedom is our religion" is her life's credo.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Bolsonaro administration spied on 1,800 opponents

Feds identified more than 30,000 instances of illegal use of FirstMile, an Israeli software that tracks cellphone geolocation data. Purchased in 2018 by the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin), it was used to monitor at least 1,800 opponents of the Jair Bolsonaro administration, such as politicians, journalists, and lawyers. The names of the victims were not revealed yet.

Two Abin officials have been arrested, five were temporarily removed from office, and USD 171,800 in cash was seized from the home of one of the Abin top officials on Friday.

Twenty-five search warrants were carried out in five Brazilian states. With the operation, one of the Abin buildings in Brasília was sealed while the Feds searched every room for evidence. The agents arrested were on disciplinary leave and used information gathered through FirstMile to blackmail other officials and avoid being fired.

Continue reading.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Matt Keeley at NCRM:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton threatened to sue two large, Democratic-leaning counties should they proceed with their plan to mail voter registration forms to eligible voters who are currently unregistered. Bexar and Harris counties have proposed using third-party vendors to mail the forms. Though the plan is to only send them to people who are eligible to be registered, Paxton said that the forms could fall in the hands of those who are ineligible to vote, which would “encourage” them to register illegally, according to KSAT-TV. “At worst, it may induce the commission of a crime by encourage individuals who are ineligible to vote to provide false information on the form,” Paxton said, according to KENS-TV. “Either way, it is illegal, and if you move forward with this proposal, I will use all available legal means to stop you.”

Bexar and Harris counties both have high Latino populations, with nearly 20% of all Texan Latinos living in Harris County, according to The Hill. Paxton has faced accusations of specifically trying to suppress the Latino vote. Following raids on the homes of Latino voting activists, the League of United Latin American Citizens called for an inquiry into alleged civil rights violations, according to USA Today. At least six LULAC volunteers had their homes raided by police, and had voter registration materials seized, along with phones, computers and other electronic devices, USA Today reported. Paxton said the search warrants were “part of an ongoing election integrity investigation” into “allegations of election fraud and vote harvesting that occurred during the 2022 elections.” LULAC says one of the people raided was Lidia Martinez, an 87-year-old member of the organization. On August 20, her home was raided, and she was interrogated for hours, according to LULAC. There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2022 elections in Texas or elsewhere in the United States. Paxton’s most recent probe, despite the raids, has led to no charges thus far, according to the Texas Tribune.

Texas AG Ken Paxton (R) is a jackboot fascist disgrace to the Lone Star State and America.

[sebbypowell]

Hunt - Oneshot Bucky

Summary: Ever since Steve gave Bucky his book and going back in time to be with Peggy, Bucky’s been using the book like Steve did. Bucky started using the book after he was pardoned by the government. The only difference was that Bucky researched Hydra associates and wrote them down in the book. He would hunt them down and get them arrested by following these three rules that his required therapist Christina Raynor gave him. 1. Don’t do anything illegal. 2. Don’t hurt anyone. & 3. Make sure people know he's James Bucky Barnes, not the Winter Soldier. Someone does also return in Bucky's life.

Words: 7.3k

Warnings: arresting, fluff, bad memories as the winter soldier, mentions of killing, mentions of being controlled, mentions of being brainwashed, and swearing

Bucky is wearing a leather jacket with a white t-shirt along with jeans and combat boots. He's standing at the entrance to a concert, leaning against the wall, waiting. He's here on a mission. One of his targets was reported to be here.

He scans the crowd of people, looking for his target. All the noise and bright lights are a bit overwhelming, but Bucky doesn't let it bother him. He's been in worse situations before. He keeps searching for his target. His targets name was Phillip Mccann.

After a few minutes of searching, he finally spots Phillip. The man is casually standing near the stage with a beer in his hand, enjoying the concert. Bucky pushes himself off the wall and slowly makes his way over to him.

When Bucky is close enough, he taps on Phillip's shoulder. The man turns around and sees Bucky standing behind him. A flicker of recognition crosses his face, and he puts on a cocky smirk.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Winter Soldier," Phillip says, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Bucky doesn't respond. He just continues to stare down at the man.

Phillip takes a step closer to Bucky, his smirk growing wider. "What brings you here, Frosty? Decided to join the 21st century and become a fan of Taylor Swift?"

Bucky's expression remains emotionless, but his jaw clenches involuntarily at the man's words. "I'm not here for the concert," he replies coldly. "I'm here for you."

Phillip raises an eyebrow, a hint of nervousness in his eyes now. "Oh yeah? And what do you want with me?"

Bucky takes a step closer to Phillip, towering over the man. "You're under arrest," he says, his voice firm. "I have a warrant for your arrest on several counts of conspiracy and attempted murder."

Phillip's eyes widen in surprise, but then he quickly composes himself, trying to maintain his cocky demeanor. "You've gotta be kiddin' me. You're here to arrest me at a damn concert?"

Bucky ignores the man's words and instead, he reaches into his pocket to pull out a pair of handcuffs. "Turn around and put your hands behind your back," he instructs, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Phillip looks around nervously, seeing people starting to turn their attention towards them. He hesitates for a moment before reluctantly complying, turning around and putting his hands behind his back.

Bucky swiftly secures the handcuffs around Phillip's wrists, making sure they're tight enough that the man can't escape. He then grabs ahold of Phillip's arm and begins leading him towards the exit of the venue. "I’m no longer the Winter Soldier. I’m James "Bucky" Barnes and you’re apart of my efforts to make amends."

As they make their way through the crowd, people stare and whisper amongst themselves, obviously recognizing Bucky. But he ignores them, keeping his focus on Phillip. They finally reach the exit, and Bucky leads the man outside, where a police car is waiting.

Two police officers exit the car and approach Bucky, ready to take over from here. "We got it from here, Sergeant Barnes," one of them says.

Bucky nods, reluctantly letting go of Phillip and watching as the police officers put him into the back of the car.

As the car drives away, Bucky takes a deep breath and runs a hand through his hair. He can’t help but feel a little bit of satisfaction at bringing in another Hydra associate, but the mission is complete. He takes the book out of his pocket and crosses off Phillip Mccann.

Just as Bucky is about to leave, he notices a young woman standing nearby, watching him. She looks to be in her early twenties, with long red hair and green eyes. She seems familiar.

Bucky studies her face, trying to place where he’s seen her before. The noise and lights of the concert venue fade away as he focuses his attention on her.

"Do I know you?" he asks, finally breaking the silence.

The girl takes a step closer to him, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "I’m someone who’s supposed to be dead," she says, her voice soft.

Bucky’s eyebrows furrow, confusion etched on his face. "What do you mean?" he asks, taking a small step towards her.

The girl looks around, making sure no one is listening. She then takes another step closer to Bucky, now standing inches away from him. "Sacrificed myself on Vormir for Clint to get the soul stone."

Bucky’s eyes widen in surprise, suddenly realizing who she was. Natasha Romanoff, his old teammate.

"Natasha?" he says, his voice barely above a whisper. He can’t believe it. She’s supposed to be dead.

Natasha nods, a sad smile on her face. "Yeah, it’s me."

Bucky just stares at her, trying to process the information. "But how? You were dead."

Natasha sighs, leaning against the wall. "It’s a long story," she says. "But the short version is, Steve returned the soul stone to red skull, red skull returned me to life and Steve gave me a Pym Particle to travel back here."

Bucky nods, finally understanding. He takes a deep breath, still trying to wrap his head around the fact that Natasha is standing before him, alive.

"So you’re here now," he says, more as a statement than a question. He began to walk. "Did Steve tell you about Stark before you came back to this time?"

Natasha falls into step beside him, nodding. "Yeah, he told me everything. The time heist, Tony’s death, the snap, Thanos coming back. I know it all."

Bucky nods, shoving his hands in his pockets as they walk. "Tony died before we could even make amends," he says, his voice low.

Natasha gives him a sympathetic look. "I know, I’m sorry," she says. "But Steve mentioned that you’re making amends now, by targeting Hydra associates."

"Yeah, it’s something my therapist suggested," Bucky replies, shrugging. "It's been a good way for me to deal with… everything."

Natasha nods. "I can understand that," she says. "But I gotta say, when I saw you in the venue arrest that guy, I almost didn’t recognize you."

Bucky glances over at her, raising an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"You’ve changed," Natasha says. "You seem more… human, I guess. Less like a soldier and more like a person."

Bucky is quiet for a moment, processing her words. He can’t deny that the past few years have changed him. "Wakanda changed that."

Natasha nods again. "Your long hair is gone."

Bucky lets out a small chuckle, running a hand through his short hair. "Yeah, I cut it a few months ago. Felt like it was time for a change."

"It looks good on you," Natasha says with a small smile.

They continue walking in silence for a few moments, both lost in their thoughts. Then Bucky speaks up. "So, what now?"

Natasha shrugs. "I’m not sure," she says. "I haven’t really thought that far ahead yet. I just knew I had to come find you."

Bucky looks over at her, surprised. "Why?" he asks.

"Because I wanted to know if you remembered everything between us in the red room," Natasha replied, her voice soft. "I couldn't ask you in Wakanda because when me, Steve, Sam, Rhodey, Bruce, Wanda and Vision arrived, we basically kinda went straight into battle."

Bucky’s mind flashes back to his past with his time as the Winter Soldier, and more specifically, his time in the Red Room. He swallows thickly, memories of the mission he had with Natasha flooding back to him.

"Yeah," he finally says, his voice quiet. "I remember. I mean, I was the one who trained you."

Natasha nods, a flicker of pain flashing across her face before she masks it. "Yeah, you did."

Bucky notices the pain in her expression and feels a pang of guilt. "Nat, I-" he starts, but he doesn’t know what to say.

"It's okay," Natasha says, cutting him off. "I know it wasn't your fault."

Bucky looks at her, surprised by her understanding. He had expected her to be angry or resentful, but instead, she’s forgiving him. He doesn’t deserve her kindness.

"Hey, you want me to help you hunt down the other associates?" Natasha asked.

Bucky is caught off guard by the offer, but he doesn’t hesitate to accept. Having Natasha by his side again feels nice, and he knows that her skills would be helpful in bringing down the Hydra affiliates.

"Yeah, that’d be great," he says, a small smile forming on his face. "I’ve got a pretty long list."

"Well then, let’s get started," Natasha says briskly, pushing off the wall and standing up straight. "Where to first?"

Bucky motions for her to follow him, leading her to his motorcycle parked nearby. "We're going to back to my apartment in Brooklyn," he says, straddling the bike.

Natasha nods, climbing onto the motorcycle behind Bucky. She wraps her arms around his waist as he starts the engine and they take off into the night.

As they ride through the city, Natasha can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia. Memories of similar nights spent on motorcycles with Steve and Bucky come flooding back to her.

Bucky glances back at her, feeling her arms around him. It's a familiar feeling, and a part of him wonders if she feels it too.

They arrive at his apartment complex in Brooklyn quickly and park the motorcycle in the underground parking garage. Bucky leads her to his apartment on the top floor.

As they walk into the apartment, Natasha looks around, taking in the simple but cozy space. There’s a small kitchen, a living room with a worn leather couch and an armchair, a hallway leading to what she assumes is the bedroom and bathroom, and a stack of boxes in one corner that look like they’re unpacked.

Bucky notices her looking at the boxes. "I moved here a few months ago," he says by way of explanation.

"It's nice," Natasha says with a nod, setting her backpack down on the couch. "Cozy."

Bucky heads towards the kitchen. "You want anything to drink?" he calls over his shoulder.

"Sure," Natasha replies. "Water is fine."

She takes a seat on the couch, looking around the room again. Despite the simplicity of the space, she can sense Bucky's personality in every corner. The place feels like him.

Bucky emerges from the kitchen a moment later, holding two bottles of water. He hands one to Natasha and sits down in the armchair.

"So," he says, breaking the silence, "how long do you plan on staying?"

Natasha shrugs, taking a sip of water. "I don’t know," she says. "Indefinitely, I guess."

Bucky's eyes widen a bit at her answer. "Indefinitely?" he repeats, trying to keep his expression neutral.

Natasha nods. "Yeah, I don't really have anywhere else to go," she says, swirling her water around in its bottle. "All my old safe houses were burned in Budapest, and I haven't got anywhere else. Figured I could crash here for a while if you don't mind."

Bucky is silent for a moment, not sure how to respond. On one hand, he doesn't mind the idea of Natasha staying with him. In fact, a part of him warms at the thought of having her around. But on the other hand, he’s worried about old feelings that he thought he'd buried coming back to life, especially after he just started to move on.

"Yeah, sure," he says finally. "You can stay as long as you need to."

Natasha notices the conflicted look on Bucky's face, but she doesn’t press the issue. Instead, she changes the subject. "So, who's next on your list?"

Bucky shakes his head slightly, clearing his thoughts, and reaches into his pocket to pull out the notebook. He flips through the pages, skimming over the list of names. He stops on one name in particular and frowns. "Grant Ward."

"Who's Grant Ward?" Natasha asks, leaning forward in her seat.

"He’s a former agent for SHIELD," Bucky replies, his grip on the notebook tightening slightly. "But he was secretly working for Hydra undercover. He killed dozens of SHIELD agents, and he’s responsible for Victoria Hand's death."

Natasha nods, recognizing the name Victoria Hand. She had known her briefly during the short time she was a SHIELD agent. "I remember her," she says. "She was a tough lady.”

She notices the tightness in Bucky’s jaw and the set of his shoulders. It’s clear that this Grant Ward is someone Bucky has a personal grudge against.

A white cat who had blue eyes came out of Bucky's bedroom.

Bucky looks up as the cat jumps into his lap, meowing loudly. He scratches behind its ears.

"This is Alpine," he says, gesturing to the cat. "I found her in a dumpster a few months ago."

He looks back down at the notebook. "Coulson and his team have been helping me try and track Ward down."

"Coulson?" Natasha raises an eyebrow in surprise. "Phil Coulson is alive?" She had assumed that he died in the Battle of New York.

Bucky nods. "Yeah, but it's a long story," he says. "Short version is, Fury knew he was alive but kept it a secret. It was part of his resurrection.”

Natasha is quiet for a moment, mulling over this information. She had always liked Phil Coulson and respected him. The thought of him being alive and working at SHIELD again was reassuring.

"How's he doing?" She asks, genuinely curious.

Bucky gives a small smile. "He's doing good," he says. "Running things at what's left of SHIELD and training a new group of agents. He seems happy."

Natasha nods. "That's good," she says, a small smile on her face.

There's a comfortable silence in the room for a few minutes, broken only by Alpine's purring. It's a silence that feels familiar, like they’ve done this countless times before.

Natasha then glanced at a black cat outside of Bucky's window.

Bucky notices her looking out the window and follows her gaze. "What are you looking at?" he asks, his hand still on Alpine's head.

"There's a cat outside your window," Natasha says, standing up and walking over to the window.

Bucky furrows his brow and gets up as well, walking over to stand beside her. Sure enough, there's a black cat on the fire escape outside, staring at them through the window. Bucky decided to open the window to see if the cat wants in.

The black cat cautiously approaches the open window, its tail flicking back and forth. It looks up at Bucky and Natasha, its green eyes wide and curious.

Natasha holds out her hand cautiously, beckoning the cat closer. The cat sniffs her hand for a moment before deciding to trust her and nuzzles its head against her fingers. Natasha picked the cat up to check its genitals,

"Looks like a female to me." Natasha said.

Bucky watches as Natasha picks up the cat, a small smile on his face at the sight of her holding an animal. It's a side of her he doesn't often see.

“She looks like a stray,” he says, eyeing the cat. “No collar, and she seems pretty thin.”

"Yeah," Natasha agrees, running her fingers through the cat's fur. "She probably is. Poor thing."

Natasha can't help but feel a rush of protectiveness towards the cat. There's something about animals, especially strays, that always tugs at her heartstrings.

"I'm calling her Liho," Natasha said, putting the cat down.

Bucky raises an eyebrow. "Liho?" he asks, amusement in his voice. "That means misfortune in Russian."

Natasha shrugs, a small smirk on her face. "Yeah, I thought it was fitting," she says. "It suits her."

The cat, now named Liho, walks over to Bucky and rubs against his leg, purring softly.

Bucky bends down to pet Liho, a small smile on his face. “You’re a little troublemaker, aren’t you?” he says to the cat, scratching under her chin. She leans into his touch, purring louder.

Alpine got jealous, hopped off the couch, walked over to Bucky and rubbed against Bucky's other leg.

Bucky chuckled, reaching down to pet Alpine too. "Don't worry, you're still my favorite," he says, scratching behind Alpine's ears.

Natasha watches the scene, a smile playing at the corners of her mouth. There's something sweet about seeing Bucky being gentle with the two cats.

Bucky looks up at Natasha and sees her watching him with a smile. He feels his face warm, suddenly feeling a bit self-conscious. He stands up and clears his throat. "Anyway," he says, changing the subject. "We should probably get some rest. Tomorrow we start planning for Ward."

Natasha nods in agreement, trying to hide her own blush. "Yeah, you're right," she says. "We'll need to be in top form if we're going to take him down."

She picked up Liho before making her way to the guest room. "Goodnight, Bucky," she says, giving him a small smile.

Bucky watches her go, feeling a pang of something in his chest as she closes the door behind her. He can't quite put his finger on what it is, but it's a feeling he hasn't felt in a long time.

He turns off the light and heads to his own room. "Come on, Alpine."

Alpine follows Bucky into the bedroom and hops onto the bed, curling up on the pillow as Bucky gets under the covers. "You got a little friend now, huh?" he says to Alpine.

Alpine lets out a soft meow in response, her eyes half-closed as she starts to doze off. Bucky watches her for a moment, then rolls over onto his side and closes his eyes, drifting off to sleep.

The next day

Bucky woke up early the next morning, the pale light of dawn filtering through the window. He sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes and stretching his arms over his head. He glances over at Alpine, who is still fast asleep on the pillow next to him, and smiles faintly.

He climbs out of bed and walks into the kitchen to make some coffee. As he waits for the coffee machine to finish brewing, he hears the sound of the guest room door opening and footsteps approaching.

"I'm thinking that we should take Liho to the vet today and to the store for a collar." Natasha said.

Bucky looks over his shoulder at Natasha, somewhat surprised that she's already up. He nods in agreement. "Yeah, good idea," he says, pouring himself a cup of coffee. "She definitely needs a collar, and a checkup would be good too."

Natasha grabs a mug and pours herself a cup of coffee as well. She takes a sip and leans against the counter, watching Bucky. "How'd you sleep?" she asks, studying his face.

"Not bad," Bucky replies, taking a sip of his coffee. "I slept pretty well. You?"

He glances over at her, catching the way her hair falls across her face slightly and the way the light from the window illuminates her features.

"Same," Natasha says, setting her mug down on the counter. "I slept better than I have in a while, actually."

There's a moment of comfortable silence between them as they drink their coffee. Bucky can't shake the feeling that there's something more to these quiet mornings with Natasha.

Bucky clears his throat. "So, um, about today," he says, breaking the silence. "I was thinking we could do some research on Grant Ward before heading to the vet."

"Sounds like a plan," Natasha nods, taking another sip of her coffee. "I can take Liho to the vet and pick up a collar while you start looking into Ward. I'll bring back lunch, too."

Bucky nods, feeling a little relieved that Natasha will be taking care of Liho. "Alright, that works for me," he says. "I'll get started on Ward."

He takes another drink of his coffee, then sets the mug down and heads towards the living room to grab his laptop. He looked at the date. It was December 16th.

"Oh, shit… maybe I shouldn't," Bucky said, closing his laptop.

Natasha, who had been washing her mug, looks over at Bucky questioningly. "What's wrong?" she asks, drying her hands on a towel.

Bucky ran a hand through his hair, feeling a pang of guilt. "I forgot it's December 16th," he said, avoiding Natasha's gaze. "It's been 33 years since-" he cut himself off.

Natasha puts down the towel and walked over to Bucky. She knows what he's referring to; how could she forget after all they'd been through?

"James…" she says softly, her voice filled with understanding. "None of that was your fault."

Bucky clenches his jaw, still avoiding her gaze. The memories of that day are still as fresh and painful as they ever were.

"Maybe not," he says, his voice quiet. "But that doesn't change the fact that I was the one who killed Tony's parents."

Natasha places a gentle hand on his arm, trying to get him to look at her. "You were brainwashed, James. You didn’t know what you were doing," she says firmly. "It wasn't your fault."

Bucky finally looks up at her, his eyes filled with pain and regret. "I still have to live with it, Natasha," he says. "Every day, I have to live with the weight of what I did, whether I was in control or not. And today… today is especially hard."

He looks down at his metal hand clenched into a fist, the guilt and shame written across his face. "I'm just not gonna research on Ward today. Just go take Liho to the vet."

Natasha hesitates, not wanting to leave Bucky to wallow in his guilt and pain. But she knows that sometimes he needs space to work through things on his own.

"Okay," she says finally, squeezing his arm. "I'll take Liho to the vet and grab some lunch. You take the time you need."

Bucky nods, appreciating her understanding. He watches as she grabs her jacket and scoops up Liho, who had been rubbing against his legs.

"Be careful," he says, his voice gruff. "And be back soon."

Natasha nods, her heart twisting at the pain in his voice. "I will," she says. "Take care, Bucky."

With one last glance at him, she heads out the door, Liho in her arms.

Once Natasha is gone, Bucky lets out a heavy sigh and collapses onto the nearest chair. He leans his head back, closing his eyes and trying to push down the memories and guilt that are threatening to overwhelm him.

He sits in silence for a few minutes, lost in his own thoughts, before he's interrupted by Alpine jumping onto his lap.

Bucky looks down at Alpine in surprise, then lets out a small chuckle as she headbutts his hand, seeking attention. He scratches her head, smiling faintly at her antics.

"You always know how to cheer me up, don't you, Alpine?" he says, his voice fond.

Alpine purrs contentedly, rubbing her head against his hand. Bucky continues to pet her, his mind beginning to wander again. He knows he should be looking into Grant Ward, but the events of 33 years ago are weighing heavily on his mind.

He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a worn photograph. It's a picture of him and Steve from their days in the war, smiling and young. Bucky can't help but feel a pang of nostalgia and heartache as he looks at it.

"We really thought we could change the world, didn't we, pal?” he mutters to himself, tracing his finger over Steve's face in the photo.

Suddenly, he's interrupted by the sound of his cell phone ringing. He looks down at the caller ID and sees that it's Sam. He sighs and answers the call, bracing himself for whatever conversation awaits.

"Hey, Sam," Bucky says, his voice gruff.

"Hey, man," Sam says, his voice warm but tinged with concern. "Natasha called me. She said you're having a tough time today."

Bucky huffs out a humorless laugh. "She told you that, huh?" he says, leaning back in his chair. "Yeah, it's not exactly my favorite day of the year."

"I figured something like that," Sam says, his voice sympathetic. "Look, man, I know it's hard, but you can't blame yourself for what happened. You were being controlled by the Hydra. It wasn't your fault.”

Bucky feels a pang of annoyance at Sam's words, even though he knows they come from a place of caring. "It doesn't matter if I was being controlled or not," he says, his voice hard. "The fact remains that I killed Tony's parents. I don't deserve forgiveness for that."

"That's bullshit, man," Sam says firmly. "You can't keep carrying that around with you. It'll eat you up from the inside, trust me. You gotta find a way to forgive yourself."

Bucky lets out a bitter laugh. "How am I supposed to do that, Sam?" he asks, running a hand through his hair. "How am I supposed to forgive myself for killing two innocent people? How can I just move on from that? I killed Howard. Someone I knew in the 40s!"

"Listen," Sam says, his voice softening. "I'm not saying it's easy, okay? I know it's not. But you gotta start somewhere. You gotta start with forgiving yourself. You're not the Winter Soldier anymore, Bucky. You're James Buchanan Barnes, superhero, Avenger, and good person."

Bucky is silent for a moment, absorbing Sam's words. A part of him wants to dismiss them as empty platitudes, but another part knows that there's some truth to what he's saying. He sighs, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and resignation.

"What if… what if I can't forgive myself, Sam? What then?" he says, his voice barely above a whisper.

Sam's voice is gentle but firm when he responds. "Then you keep trying, man. You keep waking up every morning, and you keep trying to forgive yourself. You keep fighting, and you keep being the good person I know you are. You don't have to do it alone, either. You've got Natasha, me, hell, even Steve. We're all here for you. Your cat has even been helping with your nightmares."

Bucky can't help but let out a small smile at Sam's last comment. Alpine, who is still in his lap, purrs loudly as if to acknowledge that she is, in fact, helping.

"Alpine's a good cat," Bucky says, scratching her behind the ears. "She makes me… feel less alone, I guess. Like maybe there's a chance I'm not as broken as I feel."

"See, man? There you go," Sam says, his voice warm. "You're taking the first step. You're recognizing that you're not alone and you're not broken. Just keep going."

Bucky takes a deep breath, letting Sam's words sink in. Maybe he's right. Maybe it's time to start accepting the idea that he deserves forgiveness, even if he doesn't believe it yet.

"Thanks, Sam," he says, genuinely grateful for his friend's insight. "Tell your sister that I said hi."

"Will do," Sam says. "And remember, I'm here for you anytime, man. You just have to reach out, okay?"

"I will," Bucky says, his voice gruff but sincere. "Thanks, Sam."

He hangs up the phone and sits in silence for a moment, absorbing the conversation. He glances down at Alpine, who is still purring happily in his lap.

"We're not so bad, are we, girl?" he says to Alpine, scratching her head gently. She leans into his touch, her purring growing louder. Bucky can't help but smile at her, feeling a small sense of comfort in her presence.

Just then, the sound of the front door opening and closing echoes through the apartment. Bucky looks up to see Natasha walking back into the apartment, Liho in her arms and a brown paper package in her other hand.

"Hey," Natasha says, noting the slightly dazed expression on Bucky's face. "Everything okay?"

Bucky nods, not quite meeting her gaze. "Yeah, I just got off the phone with Sam," he says, scratching Alpine behind the ear. "He was just checking in, that's all."

Natasha can sense that there's more to it than that, but she decides not to push. Instead, she holds up the package in her hand.

"I got Liho a collar," she says, placing the brown paper package on the coffee table. "Want to see it?"

Bucky nods, grateful for the change in topic. He sets Alpine aside and walks over to Natasha and Liho, who is still in her arms.

"Let's see it," he says, managing a faint smile as he looks down at Liho.

Natasha reaches into the package and pulls out a red leather collar with a small metal tag attached to it. She straps it onto Liho, who seems unbotried by the new accessory.

"There," Natasha says, stepping back so that Bucky can see Liho. "Doesn't she look cute?"

Bucky studies the collar for a moment, amused by how unbothered Liho seems by it. He has to admit, the red leather looks good against her black fur.

"Yeah, she does," he says, giving Liho a small pat on the head. "You did good."

Natasha smiles, pleased by Bucky's approval. "I also got Alpine one too." she said, placing Liho down on the floor. "It's a matching one, but the color is light blue."

Bucky raises an eyebrow, surprised by Natasha's thoughtfulness. "You got Alpine a collar too?" he says, a hint of surprise in his voice. "You didn't have to do that."

Natasha shrugs, as if it's no big deal. "I thought it would be cute to have them match," she says, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips. "Plus, I couldn't resist. The pet store was having a sale. Buy one collar, get one half off."

Bucky can't help but chuckle at her reasoning. "You know, you don't always have to buy things just because they're on sale," he says, shaking his head in fond amusement. He grabs the collar from the bag and walks over to the couch to Alpine.

Natasha follows him and watches as he puts the collar on Alpine, who seems equally as unbothered by the new accessory as Liho. The light blue leather looks good against Alpine's white fur.

"There," Bucky says, stepping back to admire his handiwork. Alpine shakes her head a few times, adjusting to the feel of the new collar. "Now they really match."

As if on cue, Liho and Alpine start to chase each other around the apartment, their new collars jingling with their movements.

Natasha smiles at the scene, clearly amused. "I think they like their collars." she says, watching them play.

Bucky watches as the two cats dart back and forth, their energy levels suddenly skyrocketing. "Yeah," he says, his voice dry. "What happens if they bond really well and then they'll be separated because you moved?"

Natasha rolls her eyes at Bucky's attempt to ruin the mood. "I'm not moving, Bucky," she says, crossing her arms. "And I certainly don't plan on separating them. They're a package deal now."

Bucky can't help but feel a pang of relief at her words. He's not sure what he would have done without her if she had moved out. He'd gotten used to having her around, to the point where he didn't want her to leave.

"Good," he says gruffly, trying to mask the emotions that he was feeling. "I'd hate to have to deal with a heartbroken Alpine."

Natasha smiles faintly, seeing through his gruff exterior. "You know, I think you'd miss me a little too." she teases, her eyes sparkling.

Bucky rolls his eyes, trying to brush off her comment. "Oh, don't flatter yourself," he says, leaning back against the armrest. "I'd be just fine without you, thank you very much."

Natasha rolls her eyes right back at him. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm, walking over and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You'd be lost without me… like I was lost without you when they put your brain back in the blender and I had to watch…"

Bucky stiffens at her touch and the mention of the incident in Lagos. He knows she's just teasing, but the memory of what happened still haunts him.

He sighs, gently pulling her arms away from his neck. "Nat…" he says, his voice gruff. "Don't…"

Natasha immediately regrets her decision to tease him about something that clearly still haunts him. She should've known better than to make light of it.

"I'm sorry," she says, her voice soft. "I shouldn't have brought that up, I just…" Her voice trails off, unsure of how to continue.

Bucky shakes his head, his expression weary. "No, it's okay," he says, even though it's not really okay. "I just… I don't like remembering that stuff. It brings back a lot of… unpleasant memories."

Natasha reaches up and gently cups his cheek, her touch is incredibly soft. "I know," she says, her voice gentle. "And I'm sorry for bringing it up. I wasn't thinking. That day sucked for me when I had to watch all because we had an affair."

Bucky's expression softens at her touch, her tenderness breaking through his gruff exterior. "It wasn't your fault," he says, leaning into her touch against his better judgment. "You weren't the one who had a mental break."

"But I shouldn't have been careless," Natasha says, her voice soft but tinged with regret. "I should've been paying more attention, instead of being distracted by… us. I should've noticed there was something off about you. I should've… done something more."

Bucky gently grabs her wrists, pulling her hands down from his face. "Natasha, stop," he says, his voice firm but gentle. "You can't put that all on yourself. I was the one who lost it. It was my fault, not yours."

Natasha shakes her head, her stubbornness kicking in. "I could've stopped it," she insists. "If I had just been paying attention, If I hadn't been so damn distracted-" She was cut off by a kiss.

Bucky interrupts her self-deprecating tirade with a kiss. It's chaste and gentle, barely grazing her lips, but it's enough to silence her. He pulls back, just enough to look her in the eyes.

"Don't blame yourself," he says firmly. "You're not to blame. I was the one who lost control."

Natasha stares at him for a long moment, her eyes searching for any hint of blame or anger. But all she sees is his familiar mixture of weariness, care, and something else she can't quite place.

"But…" she starts to protest, still unable to shake the feeling that it was partly her fault.

Then there was a hiss

Bucky and Natasha both stop and look over at the source of the noise. They see Liho and Alpine hissing and swatting at each other, their tails thrashing. It seems like their playing has taken a turn.

Bucky sighs, shaking his head. "Of course they start fighting the moment we're in a serious conversation," he mutters, stepping forward to break up the cat fight.

Natasha watches as Bucky breaks up the scuffle between Alpine and Liho, scolding them gently as he separates them. She can't help but feel a small pang of affection watching him as he deals with the cats.

Bucky manages to separate the cats, holding Alpine in one arm and Liho in the other. Liho is still hissing, while Alpine looks decidedly unimpressed.

"Looks like they're going to have to sit in timeout for a while," Bucky says, looking over at Natasha with a weary smile.

Natasha can't help but chuckle at the sight of Bucky holding two disgruntled cats, their new collars jingling.

"They're quite the pair, aren't they?" she says, amused by their antics.

"That's one way to put it," Bucky mutters, setting Liho down on the floor and releasing Alpine. The two cats immediately dart off to opposite sides of the room, still shooting each other grumpy looks.

"Well," Natasha says, watching as the cats skulk away to their separate corners. "We need to deal with this Grant Ward thing now."

Bucky's expression darkens at the mention of Grant Ward. "Right. That's probably more important than preventing our cats from killing each other," he says, a touch of sarcasm in his voice. He walked over to the laptop. "I need him crossed off my list ASAP!"

Natasha crosses her arms and leans against the armrest of the couch, watching Bucky intently. "What's the plan then?" she says, curious to know what he has in mind.

Bucky types something into the laptop for a moment before turning back to Natasha. "Well, I've already got his last known coordinates," he says with a slight grin. "Thought we could pay him a little visit."

Natasha raises an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "A little visit, hm?" she says, a smirk tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I like where this is going. We could go undercover as intruders and pretend to have sex in his bed."

Bucky's eyes widen at her suggestion, clearly taken aback. "What?" he sputters, his face turning red. "We're not… I mean…" He fumbles for words, completely caught off guard by her bold suggestion. "Nat, is that really necessary?"

Natasha laughs at his reaction, clearly enjoying his flustered state. "It'll work. Trust me."

Bucky lets out a sigh, realizing that arguing with Natasha is futile. "Fine. Let's do it. But if this blows up in our faces, I'm blaming you."

. . .

They broke into Ward's house while Ward ain't home and they immediately go to Ward's bedroom.

The room is spacious and well-furnished, with a queen-sized bed and tastefully appointed furniture.

Natasha looks around the room, assessing their surroundings. "Nice digs he's got here," she says, running a hand over the bedspread.

Bucky grimaces, feeling a pang of revulsion at being in Grant Ward's personal space. "Yeah, it's all very… beige," he says, peering into a closet. "Can we hurry this up?"

Natasha rolls her eyes at his impatience but nods. "He's about to be here anyways so get on the bed."

Bucky lets out a sigh, resigned to what they're about to do. He climbs onto the bed reluctantly, flopping down onto his back with a thump. "I can't believe we're doing this," he mutters under his breath

Natasha chuckles at his grumbling and climbs onto the bed after him, straddling his waist. She leans over him, her hands on either side of his head, pinning him down onto the bed. She then pulls the covers under them. "Just make noises."

Bucky's ears turn red at the close proximity of her body pressed against his and her weight on top of him. "Fine." he grumbles, his voice suddenly gruff.

"Good," Natasha smirks, seeing the flush in his cheeks. She leans forward, her face just millimeters from his, her breath caressing his skin. "Now act like you're enjoying it."

Bucky's heart pounds in his chest at her proximity, but he forces himself to play along. "Okay, okay," he mutters, closing his eyes tightly. He let out a low, guttural moan, pretending to be caught up in the moment.

they could hear keys jiggling

The sound of keys jiggling in the lock snaps them both out of their act. They freeze, their bodies still locked together. "He's home," Natasha whispers, her face mere inches from Bucky's. "Continue."

Bucky's heart rate quickens at her words, but he forces himself to continue the act. He lets out another guttural moan, this time louder than the first. His hands instinctively move to Natasha's hips, holding her in place.

Natasha leans down, pressing her body against his and letting out a small moan of her own, for effect. She can feel the tension in his body, the way his grip on her hips tightens, and she can't help but be slightly affected herself.

"Alright, who's doing it in my bed?" a voice asked.

Bucky's eyes snap open at the sound of Ward's voice, realizing that they have been caught. He looks up at Natasha, their faces still so close that he can feel her breath on his skin. She gives him a subtle nod, a silent order to arrest him.

In a split second, Bucky pushes Natasha off him and springs into action, grabbing Ward from behind. He pushes him up against the wall, his vibranium arm holding him firmly in place.

Ward attempts to struggle, but Bucky's grip is like an immovable vice.

Natasha jumps up off the bed, her movements quick and graceful. She walks over to them, her demeanor calm and collected.

"Well, hello Grant," she says casually, as if she hadn't just been caught making out with Bucky on his bed. "Nice place you've got here."

Ward glares at her, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. "What the hell are you two doing in my house?" he growls, struggling against Bucky's grip, to no avail.

Bucky tightens his hold on Ward's shoulder, his vibranium hand pressing on a nerve. Ward lets out a pained hiss, his eyes meeting Bucky's cold gaze. "For me to get you arrested and for me to also tell you this." Bucky grumbles, his voice low and dangerous. "I’m no longer the Winter Soldier. I’m James "Bucky" Barnes and you’re apart of my efforts to make amends."

Ward snarls, his body still restrained by Bucky's grip. "You think I care who you are now?" he spits out, his eyes narrowing. "You're still a traitor either way."

Bucky's eyes darken at Ward's words, his grip on Ward's shoulder tightening even further. He leans in closer, his face just inches from Ward's. "Well, I'm not a traitor. I escaped, but Coulson is waiting for you outside." he growls, a hint of menace in his voice.

Natasha watches the exchange silently, her own expression steely. She can sense the tension in the air, the anger and tension between the two men.

"You've got nowhere to go, Ward," she says coolly, her eyes scanning the room. "You're outnumbered."

Ward's eyes dart between Bucky and Natasha, searching for a way out of this situation. But he knows he's outnumbered and outmatched. He lets out a defeated sigh, his shoulders slumping in surrender.

"Fine," he grits out, his voice dripping with bitterness. "Take me in."

Bucky eases up his grip slightly, but keeps a firm hold on Ward's shoulder. "Let's go," he mutters, pushing Ward towards the door.

Natasha follows behind, her steps silent and vigilant. They lead Ward outside, where Coulson and his team are waiting. The sight of the familiar SHIELD agents seems to make Ward's expression darken even more.

Coulson steps forward, his expression as serious as ever. "Well, well," he says, eyeing Ward with satisfaction. "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."

Ward glanced at Daisy. "Skye…"

"Not Skye anymore." Daisy said.

Bucky pushes Ward forward towards Coulson, not taking any chances with the former SHIELD agent. "He's all yours," he mutters, his voice still gruff.

Coulson's team quickly takes charge of Ward, handcuffing him and leading him towards a waiting vehicle. Ward doesn't resist, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

Coulson nods at Bucky and Natasha, his expression slightly softer. "Thank you for bringing him in."

Bucky nods curtly in response, his eyes still fixed on Ward's retreating figure. "No problem," he mutters. He takes out his notebook from his pocket and he crosses Ward's name. "List is finally complete."

Natasha glances sidelong at Bucky, noticing the satisfied look on his face. She reaches over and gently touches his arm. "Finally done with your list, then?" she says, her voice soft.

Bucky nods, a mixture of relief and exhaustion evident on his face. "Yeah," he sighs. "Finally finished."

He closes his notebook and slips it back into his pocket. "It's over."