#just stop attacking Concerned Ape

[dabihawksluvr]

If you're gonna target CA and his game Stardew Valley for being 'not inclusive enough'...

do y'all just NOT have an imagination?

[tothosewholisten]

Forever Healed | TUA insert

Chapter: 11

<<previous chapter | next chapter>>

Masterlist

…

Diego was heated, he had a vengeful look in his eyes that showed that. I was asleep for most of the ride back to his house because of how early it was in the morning but when I was up I could hear him muttering things to himself. He wanted Hazel and Cha-Cha dead and I don’t blame him.

They took away his lover, I don’t know anything about their relationship but I could tell she meant everything to him. When you lose a lover you’ll do anything to bring them back and avenge them, even if they're not sensible. There was no one to stop me from the things I did when I lost Ben, but Diego doesn't have to go through the same thing.

I'll be here for him if he needs me and if he doesn't want to kill me too.

When he noticed I was awake his grip on the steering wheel was a clear indication that he was about to burst. I readied myself for anything thrown my way while activating my powers.

But he didn't do anything to harm me, instead, he took a deep breath. “What do you know about Five’s behavior since he’s been back?” Diego asked me.

“What?” I whispered confusedly.

He scoffs. "What has he been doing? You should know, since every time you leave the academy it's with him.”

Was that true? I can’t keep track of what I do anymore. There are too many side plots in my life taking away my thoughts from the actual big thing, the apocalypse.

Instead of making eye contact with him, I look out the window as I speak. “Look, Five’s not exactly an open book. The first time I found him outside of the academy, I was trying to go into Griddy’s. And what do I find? The boy surrounded by a bunch of dead soldiers?”

Diego hung onto every word I said, trying to piece together if I was as crazy as Five was or actually telling the truth. “Then he tells me to cut this tracker thing out of his arm. He blinks us into Vanya’s house to tell us the world is ending in a couple of days. I mean can you believe that?” I rambled.

He stops the car in the middle of the busy road, and the tires let out a horrible screech. “What did you say?” He whispers, turning to me slowly. Not caring about the blasting horns from cars around us.

“The world is ending in four days?”

..

Once we reached the dojo, Diego bolted out of the car not stopping for anything, not even questions from poor Al who was just wondering if he helped Eudora or not.

“Diego, don’t do something you’re going to regret. Five isn’t the enemy here.” I cut in front of his long stride.

“Well, he sure as hell isn’t innocent either.” He pushes past me and slams open his front door.

Luther and Five were in there just where we left them last night. And Five seemed to be finally sober and he sat upright on Diego’s bed, in a conversation with the man sitting in front of him.

“Piece of shit.” Diego roared out as he tried to tackle Five. “Do you have any idea what you just did?”

I grabbed onto the back of his shirt to pull him back but he slipped out of my grasp. But instead of landing on Five, Diego was met by the solid body of Luther, who stopped him. “Nope, let me— Get your ape hands off of me!” He screams.

Luther remains calm with Diego wiggling around in the air. “I can do this as long as it takes you to calm down.”

“Fine.” Diego pants and then gets dropped onto the ground. Luther stares at me from behind all of this. He gives me a what's going on type glance but all I can do is look at Five.

“Now, you wanna tell us what you’re talkin' about?” Luther asked.

“These two have been pretty busy since Five got back.” Diego starts. “They were in the middle of the shootout at Griddy’s, and then Five was at Gimble Brothers after the guys in masks attacked the Academy; looking for him.” He pieced together information that I told him during the car ride to put me and Five at the center of blame.

“Seriously Diego?” I ask.

“None of which is any of your concern.” Five spoke up for the first time since we walked in.

“It is now, they just killed my friend.”

Luther looks at me “You’re involved with this Y/n?”

Before I get a chance to defend myself I'm cut off by Five. “No, she’s not, I just needed her for her abilities.” Who answers too quickly for that to be true.

“Yes, her perfect abilities. Y/n, you wanna tell Luther what you told me.”

“I barely know the details, Diego, this isn’t my story to tell, ask the time traveler who was there!”

We were all rapid-fire arguing with one another. And no one could hear the exact words we were saying because of how much we spoke over each other. But overall was Diego not believing me, me trying to say how lost I was and Five explaining this was still none of his business. Luther just stared blankly.

“Hey, hey, hey hey,” Luther yells.

“What!” The three of us yell back.

“Shut the hell up. Five I want answers, who are these masked people and what does Y/n mean about the end of the world? I want these answers now, the two of you wait your turn.” Probably the first time Luther has gotten anyone to be quiet, he sounds like a leader.

Five looks down “They work for my former employer. A woman called The Handler. She sent them.. to stop me. Then, as soon as Diego’s friend got in their way, well, fair game.”

“That’s cruel Five.” I cut in.

Diego takes a step closer to him and gets up in his face. “And now they’re my fair game. And I'm gonna see to it they pay.” He grits his teeth.

“That would be a mistake, Diego. They’ve killed people far more dangerous than you.”

“Oh yeah well we’ll see about that.”

Diego was ready to take action and leave but Luther held him in place for the answer to his final question. “So when is it supposed to happen? This apocalypse.”

“Well I can’t give you the exact hour, but.. from what I could gather. We have four days left.”

Luther gawks at him. “Why didn't you mention it to all of us sooner?”

“It wouldn't have mattered.” He sighs.

“Of course, it would! We could’ve banded together and helped you try and stop this thing.”

“For the record, you already tried.”

“What do you mean?” Diego asks grumpily.

Five is quiet, he tries to find the best way to say this so that his brothers don’t go crazy. “I found you guys. Your bodies.”

“We all die?” I questioned. That couldn’t have been right, in his journal someone was alive. But I couldn’t make out the name since Diego pulled all of us away to find Five.

“Horribly.” Five says, “all except for one.” He gazes at me.

My body shutters. “The one you wrote about in your book. The one who was still alive in all of the rummage, that was me?”

Why didn't my future self come back with Five to this timeline. What happened?

He answered my suspicions like he was reading my mind. “You were dying slowly Y/n, whoever ended the world did more damage to you than the regular human. We were together for a while and you aged the same as me, slowly. But when The Handler came to me, you didn’t want anything to do with it. Said you had gone through enough pain.”

“I don’t know what happened to you after.” Five said with an undertone of sadness, the best he could probably give without sobbing.

I think I have an idea what happened, I told myself I would never do it. But life has been hard ever since I was young, especially after losing Ben. In the future, I think I killed myself and forced my body to not heal.

This is what Reginald feared I'd do, but even if he made my blood into a healing solution he wouldn't be there to use it on me. It’s a scary thought, but I won't bring it up to them.

Five went on to explain that we worked as a team since all of our bodies were lying in rubble. And the MeriTech eye was worn by the person we were fighting since it was in Luther’s clasped hand. And then he told us about where he worked, the commission.

He went to all kinds of different time periods and killed people who messed with the timeline, and in exchange, he would eventually get to go home. But while being sent out on a mission to kill John F. Kennedy decided that he was going to disobey. And tried to get back to us on his own, so he could save us and save the world.

That's what we saw during Reginald’s funeral. But he messed up the equations and got stuck as a kid. Luther looked on in horror at Five's actions but this only seemed to fuel Diego's rage against Hazel and Cha-Cha.

Me though, I just wanted to go hug Benny.

“So where do we go from now?” I quietly ask the group.

“I'm tracking down those lunatics,” Diego mutters while leaving the room. Luther gasps. “I gotta find Allison and tell her.” Leaving me and Five, in Diego’s room.

“I just have one more question,” I say. “Did I tell you who ends the world?”

“No, all you said was, it wasn't her fault.” he says disappointed. I rack my brain trying to understand what that meant. I know this person personally.

“I know this doesn't make sense, I wish I knew more too. The best thing we can do is keep trying to solve this.” He says.

“I can’t go back to the academy right now, Five. Diego needs someone, even if he doesn't want it to be me. I need to do something.”

He sighs. “You always feel the need to help us Y/n, and what about yourself? Diego will chase you away and make you feel small then what, you're gonna force yourself to help him anyways?”

“I know I can’t fix everything, I can't heal emotions. But I can give someone an avenue to take their feelings out. Even if that's at my own expense. I don’t care.”

Five eyes widen when he looks at me. “Y/n..”

“It’ll be fine, trust me. And if it doesn't work, I'll come back to the academy and find you okay?” I say as I try to lighten the mood.

He only nods but lets me go anyway. I give him a meaningless smile as I leave the room, knowing I shared too much information and gave away a part of myself I hoped others would never comment on.

..

I let her leave to help him, even though it's going to amount to nothing. I just couldn’t help it, her kind but harmful manner got to me, and she’s too nice for her own good. Just like she was in the apocalypse..

But they had their differences too, even though their brains only differed a couple of days from each other. That Y/n lost her spark and this one is slowly draining herself of it. Delores tells me not to think too much about her, but how can I not? I left her there to die. And it's haunted me ever since.

I remember that day when I found her in the rummage. I was young and scared since I couldn’t blink back home. It took me a while to recognize whose body lay with my siblings, but it was the newest addition to the fucked up regiment Reginald made.

She was faintly moving before she started to cough up blood and debris. She was also very malnourished and scared, so once she was able to get up we started to talk. Not about the apocalypse because every time I asked she dodged the topic.

We stayed together in the wasteland of crushed buildings and fire, eating scraps that made her throw up. Her body wasn’t retaining any food, sleep, or healing abilities but she always told me she was okay.

I caught her a few times talking to herself, about my siblings and how sorry she was that she couldn’t save them from her. It was just us, and Delores for so many years.

I aged into an old man at the same time she did. But during that, she stayed small and weak. Like she was on the brink of dying, a fact I didn't want to think about. I couldn’t survive without her, I'd go crazy.

Then The Handler arrived and offered us both a chance to get out of there. I looked at her for an answer but she looked lost. I was glad to get out of this hellhole but weary for the future with this not trustworthy company. But I had her, the two of us could get through it.

Instead of sharing my excitement, she tells me to go without her. Saying that she’s likely to die anyway and that she’s tired of chasing a perfect world that doesn't exist. I explained to her I'd go through that with her but she’s dead set on going.

“My life is over Five.” She wheezes. “And I'm okay with that, I got to live it with you and everyone else. But you, you can keep going. Avenge this world and maybe someday we can be happy again.”

I try to speak but she cuts me off. “Maybe if I'm lucky enough, I'll finally get to see Ben!”

That broke me the most and with a lot of convincing from her, I was finally ready to take The Handlers offer. After goodbyes, she hugs me. “When did you get so tall?”

It was our final laugh together.

Before I left she whispered something to me away from prying eyes. “Promise me something Five.”

“Anything you want.”

“Promise me, you’ll break out of this bullshit and go back to the past.”

“What?”

“Listen. Go back to the past, how I don’t know but you're smart enough to figure it out. And stop all of this from happening, I know that's a huge thing to ask. But at least give it a try. Get back to us, get back to me, okay?”

“Of course, I'll try.” I sniffled.

“Don’t cry, do your best, live your life and try not to think about me too much.” Even then she still found a way to laugh.

“Now go before I cry too!”

She never wanted me to see her sad, or hurting even though I knew every move she made broke another part of herself. Y/n gave me one more hug before I stepped through The Handler’s briefcase portal.

I spent years trying to forget about a woman I should’ve never met. A woman I wouldn’t meet again until fulfilling her wish of going back to the past. But that version of her barely knew me, and all the things we did together. But that didn’t stop me from including her in all I did, to track down the person who ended the world. Even if she would never know about the love I had for that woman.

I was going to save my siblings and her from the apocalypse. Because I promised her I would.

…

I tried smth different this chapter tell me what u think!

Taglist: @aloflapse @isomehowexist @elenalovestoread @miscrying @gabriella-aesthetic @solarbeanz @theoriginalone1111 @water-hemlock18 @tialovesyoutoo @dakotapaigelove

[inkmonster21]

Hearts Across the Divide

2.) A Close Call

Noa x Fem!Human!Reader

Series Masterlist

~oOo~

You hoist yourself up on the tree branch and begin the climb, going from the grip of the bark on the trees to the crumbling concrete of the fallen city. You swing from one of the overgrown buildings landing perfectly on the other side. You smile to yourself proudly. Father's words always ring in your ears as you venture out into the overgrown city. “Too small… too weak… be taken… or killed… safest for you… At home. At village.”

You climb into an old crumbling building, the archways barely holding the ceiling up. You walk in carefully walking through the endless corridors. You walk into a large open space, one, two, three floors!

You wrap your hand around a vine of ivy, sliding down until your feet meet the concrete surface of the bottom floor. You walk down the bottom floor, many many rooms. Most were filled with junk, some filled with few valuables. A shimmer of something catches your eye. You bend down in the growth, retrieving a gold shimmering chain. Dangling at the end was a blue gemstone. You gasp with a smile. Mother would love this. You go to stuff it in your bag, seeing a shuffle as you turn your head.

You freeze at the sudden sound of movement. It could be an animal. It could be an ape. It could be another human. All three alike make the nerves on your neck rise. A rock suddenly flies at your head, only missing by an inch. You gasp and waste no time running in the opposite direction. You duck behind a fallen tree, begging your heart to still.

The shuffling becomes louder, rummaging around in the ruins. You lean over slightly, just a peak, to calm your nerves. One single Ape walks in slowly. His eyes are wide as he looks in every direction.

Noa continued through the old remains, keeping an eye out for any relics that might help him understand more about the human ways. He knew from Raka that human civilization had left behind knowledge, and Ceaser was one to know of this knowledge, it was just a matter of finding it among the overgrown buildings and rubble.

As he walked, Noa occasionally paused to examine an old sign or bit of debris, hoping to uncover a clue about the past. As Noa passes by a dark entrance, he hears a soft scuffle coming from the shadows.

His ears immediately perk up, his senses on high alert. He stops, his eyes scanning the darkness in front of them. A low growl rumbles from the darkness. You sit from behind the tree with fear.

Noa tenses, his attention immediately focused on the source of the growl. He slowly moves to stand strong, his body positioned protectively. He scans the shadows, trying to see through the darkness and identify what’s hiding in the entrance.

Noa barely has time to react as a cougar pounces upon him, its weight knocking him to the ground. He hits the concrete hard, the wind momentarily knocked out of him. He tries to push the cougar off of him, but the animal is strong and fast, its claws digging into his flesh.

You watch as the young ape struggles against the wild cat attack. Noa reaches for his spear and lodges itself into the side of the cougar, causing it to yowl in pain. But the cat is not deterred, its attention is still fully focused on Noa. It continues its attack, its claws digging deeper into his flesh. Noa grits his teeth, doing his best to hold the cougar off. But the animal is strong and determined, its weight pressing down upon him.

You huff and stand quickly, sprinting at the wild animal. You run into the predator, knocking it off the ape.

Noa’s eyes widen in surprise as he watches you roll to the ground with the cougar. The cougar growls, its attention shifting towards you. It snarls and readies itself to attack.

The cougar snarls at you, its eyes narrow as it sizes you up. You smile, confident in your abilities. Noa watches from his position on the ground, a mixture of awe and concern on his face.

You don’t waste any time attacking the cougar, your movements are swift and calculated. With a well-aimed kick, you knock the cougar leg off balance, causing it to stumble. You move in, grabbing the fur on its neck and using your body weight to bring it to the ground.

The cougar struggles, its claws scratching at you. But you hold it firmly, your grip strong and secure. You quickly pull off a small knife that’s attached to your waist, your eyes focused on the cougar. You stab it into its side. It’s thrashing and struggling, it’s eyes full of anger and fear. But you don’t waver.

The cougar’s body goes slack, it’s the final struggle over.

You roll off of it, your breath coming heavy from the effort. You look down at the lifeless body of the animal, a mix of triumph and satisfaction in your gaze. Too weak, huh?

As you turn to look at Noa, you see he’s sat there eyes wide watching you with a mixture of awe, shock, and fear.

You watch him warily, not quite sure what to expect. He is not from your village, and the way he looks at you shows a clear interest.

But you can’t shake the feeling of caution. He is an outsider, after all. You don’t know his intentions or what motives he may have. Father’s warning words ringing in your head. “Any Ape outside… will hurt you… they are not fond of humans.” Your gaze flicks back to Noa, your eyes studying him carefully.

Your gaze travels down to Noa’s arm, noticing the gashes on his wrist. The cloth wrapped around his arm is bloodied and torn, clearly from the attack from the cougar. You take a step closer, your concern trumping your caution for the moment. “You’re hurt.” You raise your hands showing innocence.

He winces slightly as he looks down at his injured wrist, the gashes on his skin still bleeding. "not bad," he tries to dismiss, though the pain in his expression betrays him. Downplaying the wound. You stare at him with worry. “Can I help?”

Noa can see the concern in your eyes as you ask for help. He hesitates for a moment, reluctant to show any weakness. But the pain in his wrist is gnawing at him, and your offer seems genuine. He finally nods, a small but unmistakable acknowledgement. "Yes," he manages.

You slowly take a seat beside him, your focus shifting to the cuts on his arm. Your movements are firm yet careful as you inspect the wounds. He winces slightly as you touch the gashes, but he doesn’t move away. You then dig into your bag and pull out a proper dressing, which you begin to carefully apply to the wounds.

As you tend to his wounds, Noa can’t help but be distracted by your closeness, the way your touch sends tingles through his skin. He watches your face as you work, his gaze focused on your every movement. There’s something about you, something he found captivating and unfamiliar.

Your eyes meet Noa’s as you finish securing the bandage on his wrist. He looks at you, his gaze intense and appreciative. He can’t help but feel a sense of gratitude towards you. But there’s something else there as well, a feeling of curiosity and attraction that he can’t quite explain.

Suddenly aware of the fact that you were still holding onto his wrist, and the warmth of your touch seeping into his skin. You quickly dropped his arm, your blush deepening as you realized how long you had been holding on.

But Noa doesn’t seem to mind, his gaze focused on your face. He can see the blush on your cheeks, and it only serves to enhance your appeal.

He wanted to say something, anything…

But you both suddenly snapped out of the moment by a commotion. Noa turns in the direction of the noise, seeing Anaya and Soona bursting through the brush. Whatever moment you had been sharing was now broken. Before Noa could even turn back to you, you were gone. Disappearing into the trees.

Noa watches for a moment, his gaze following your form as you disappear into the foliage. He can’t help but feel a pang of disappointment, the moment between you and him now broken by the sudden arrival of Anaya and Soona.

Anaya and Soona approach Noa, and their eyes are immediately drawn to his injured arm and the dead animal on the ground. Anaya, the more outspoken one, grins at Noa. "Looks like you got…into some trouble," he teases.

Noa can't help but stare off into the distance, his heart yearning to follow you. The sight of you rushing away is still fresh in his mind, and the feeling of your touch on his skin still lingers. “Echo helped… Echo saved… me.”

Anaya and Soona's eyes widen in surprise at Noa's words. "Echo?" Anaya echoes, a mix of disbelief and intrigue in his voice. Noa looks down the path again. “she ran… heard you coming.”

Noa couldn’t explain what was happening. There was something about you, something that drew him in, that made him want more. The memory of your touch, the feel of your hands on his fur, was burned into his mind and left him yearning for more.

You finally slow your pace, stopping to catch your breath. You were now a safe distance away from the ape and his companions, far enough that you doubted they’d be able to find you.

You think back on the encounter, your mind racing with conflicted thoughts. The young ape didn’t seem malicious, he had even allowed you to help him when he was hurt. But you knew how Apes behaved around humans. They were protective, they were dangerous. You lean against a tree, your heart still racing from the adrenaline.

“You are far… from the river's edge, sister.” You jump slightly at the voice of your brother. Loui hangs upside down from a tree branch. He wears a sly smile on his face, seeming amused. You release a shaky breath. “don’t tell father, please.”

Loui gets down and stands in front of you. He sees the scratches from the wild cat. “Trouble?” You shake your head. “Just a cougar.” Loui rolls his eyes at your words. “Don’t let mother see.”

You and Loui make your way back to the village, the setting sun casting a warm, golden glow over the surrounding landscape. As you walk, you notice the other apes going about their evening routines, making dinner, tending to their young, and sharing stories around a fire.

You keep walking, the conversation between you and Loui light and teasing.

“Children.” You and Loui look up as your father’s deep voice rings out, the leader of your village standing tall. Loui immediately straightens up, knowing that when your father spoke, it was best to listen. Your father nods at Loui, acknowledging his efforts for the day. Then, he turns his gaze to you. His expression is stern, his eyes sharp.

Your father's eyes narrow as he takes in the sight of the scratches on your skin. He steps forward, examining the injuries on your arms with a frown. It's clear that he's not happy to see you hurt. “What happened?” His tone was gruff but filled with care. You hesitate for a moment, knowing that your father wouldn’t be happy with the truth. "I… I slipped," you say, avoiding his gaze.

Loui chimes in, helping to back up your lie, “At the river… rocks get slippery… hard for her to balance.” Your father looks at Loui, then back at you, his expression still stern. He doesn’t seem completely convinced by your story. Your father sighs, still not completely satisfied but deciding to drop it. "What matters is that you're both home," he says, his voice gruff.

You and Loui watch as your father walks away, his broad shoulders stiff and tense. Once he's out of earshot, you nudge Loui playfully. "Close one.” He rolls his eyes before pushing you, “You need to stop… getting me into trouble.” You laugh as Loui rolls his eyes at you, playfully pushing you in response.

"Me? Getting you into trouble?" you retort. “Yes… you, my dear.” Your mother’s calm voice rings out as you near the fire. You and Loui both turn at the sound of your mother’s calm voice. She sits by the fire, a soft smile on her lips.

"Oh," she says, shaking her head at your appearance. "What you… gotten into…this time?" Your mother stands, concern etched on her face as she moves to examine the scratches on your skin. She gently takes your arms in her hands tenderly as she inspects your injuries.

“Nothing. It’s not that bad.” You pull your arm away. Your mother tsk-tsks at you as she inspects your arm.

"You say nothing. But it looks… painful…" she says, her tone scolding but gentle. You try to pull your arm away, but your mother firmly holds on, continuing her inspection. Your mother continues to examine your arm, her expression growing more and more disapproving.

"Looks like… claw marks," she mutters, her eyes narrowing. "Where did this come from?" You look away from her gaze. Your mother’s eyes narrow as she leans in, her voice dropping lower. “Are you going into the overgrown?” she asks, her tone serious.

You feel a pang of guilt, knowing that you had indeed been sneaking into the overgrown areas, which was strictly prohibited for you specifically. You look away not wanting to lie. “Nothing happened.” Your mother's expression softens slightly at your words, but there's still a hint of admonishment in her gaze. She understands your desire to explore, but she worries for your safety.

"Maybe not this time… but could the next time… you sneak off… You know it’s dangerous…" she starts to say, her tone a mix of concern and reprimand. You roll your eyes “I can handle myself. I did just fine today.” Your mother frowns at your response, her eyes narrowing again.

"Just fine, hmm?" she asks, her tone now disapproving as she holds your arms. "You come home… scratch marks all over your arms…and say you were ‘just fine’?” You let out a sigh, knowing that this was a discussion you and your family had had many times before.

They didn’t understand your need to explore, they didn't understand your thirst for adventure. And every time you tried to explain, it ended in the same argument.

You feel the familiar mix of frustration and loneliness well up inside you. You would always be an outsider, a lost cause.

Your mother sighs, her expression a mix of worry and resignation as she watches you turn and move away. "Bandage it up," she says sternly. "And stay away… from the overgrown." But you’re already walking away, her words falling on deaf ears.

You enter your small hut, a sense of weary resignation settling over you. You place your bag on the small table, the sound of it hitting the wood echoing in the silence. The space is cozy, yet feels empty, lacking the warmth and comfort that should come with a home. You sit on your makeshift bed, piled with pelts and handmade pillows, feeling the weariness from the day's events settling into your bones.

As you sit on your bed, your mind drifts to the events of the day, specifically the ape you had rescued from the wild cat. You remember his eyes, the way he had looked at you with both caution and curiosity. The image of him burned in your mind.

Your mind fills with questions as you consider the ape. You wonder if he was nearby, if he was part of a different tribe, were they friendly, would see him again? The endless cycle of questions swirls in your mind, mingling with confusion and a hint of longing.

Miles away Noa lay in his nest, his mind consumed by the thought of you. His fingers traced the cloth you had tied around his arm, the touch of the fabric sending a shiver down his spine. His thoughts were filled with your face, your voice, everything about your brief encounter playing over and over in his mind.

In the silence of the night, he wondered about you. Who were you? Where did you come from? Why had you helped him? The questions swirled in his head, adding to the whirlwind of confusion and curiosity that had gripped him since your encounter.

As Noa lay there, the thoughts of you continued to swirl in his mind, until finally, exhaustion took over. His eyes began to grow heavy, his mind slowly drifting off into the realm of sleep. But even in dreams, he dreamt of you.

[vashtijoy]

on forgiveness: best girl haru okumura

OKAY LET’S TALK ABOUT how most people’s idea of Haru (besides her being axe crazy or some shit) begins and ends with the first half of this line to Akechi. And also babble about how everyone reacts in the engine room for a bit:

Just to be clear here: Akechi murders Haru’s father. Not only that, he murders him after his change of heart, at the point he has a chance to turn around and do better and stop being, y’know, kind of a tremendous asshole. Would it have worked? Haru will never know. Akechi stole that from her.

However. Haru is also not a tremendous asshole. I know, I know, y’all want her to go crazy ape batshit with vengeance and her axe. However, Haru doesn’t believe in vengeance (that’s Akechi’s gig, and maybe Ann’s). She does believe in redemption and giving people chances, and she (besides Joker, who like, doesn’t have lines) is the Phantom Thief who embodies this most in regard to Akechi.

so let’s take a look

Let’s start with the second half of that line. “I sympathize with you”. And let’s put it together with the next line:

Haru understands why Akechi might have acted as he did. And when Cognitive Akechi arrives, she’s the one who tells Akechi it isn’t too late:

Because, make no mistake, Haru is also a child of a terrible father. A father who used her to advance himself. Haru relates to Akechi. She sees what she could have become in him—someone just like her father.

This becomes clearer later on in the scene, when the bulkhead door comes up—and let’s just take a moment here to see what “unforgivable” looks like.

Here’s Ryuji banging on the door as it comes up:

Here’s Yusuke:

And Makoto:

Now note that Haru and Futaba (and Morgana and Ann) have not come forward at this point. But what’s Akechi’s response, by the way, when you tell him you’ll hang on to the glove and keep your promise?

He fucking smiles. Tiny little smile. Sad, barely there, but a real smile, behind the bulkhead where nobody can see it. I swear, people are like “oh, he only dies to save you because it’s the only way left he can get revenge, it’s all part of the manipulation” no, get out of my hair with that shit, I will literally eat you all. He passes up his revenge. He starts his arc as someone who has nothing but revenge to live for, and he ends it (for now) passing up that revenge for someone who matters to him. That’s important.

And that’s level 10: incidentally this is when he gets Endure, “survive an otherwise fatal attack with 1hp remaining”

After this Cogkechi and Akechi face off, and that is when Haru comes forward:

And Ann:

... and then the gunshots, not quite in unison. Bye, kids, we’ll miss you. But note that it is Futaba who only speaks up now—to do her job, not to express any concern for Akechi. It’s Futaba who gives him a far harder ride in Mementos later in the third semester than Haru does. And yet I feel like I see Futaba easily forgiving Akechi all the time and Haru almost not at all?? idk.

so what happens next?

Well, here’s Haru when they resolve to leave:

She’s sad they couldn’t save him. Like her father, Akechi will never have a chance to do better.

what about the third semester?

So in the third semester Akechi comes out as an axe crazy killer and also kind of an interpersonal asshole, but he does seem to have laid off the hired killings, so that’s, uh, good?

This understandably impacts the way the engine room fell out: nobody wants to admit what went on there. Akechi doesn’t; Akechi wants to keep all of them at an emotional radius of ten thousand kilometres, for reasons of his own. The PTs certainly don’t, because third semester Akechi is an immense pain in the ass. and about as friendly as a porcupine on PCP.

Still, he comes back on the team for reasons, and Haru and Futaba understandably have feelings about this. Here are Haru’s:

But this isn’t all that goes on. What about all those Mementos chats?

Akechi doesn’t talk to the other Phantom Thieves—if they say anything, he doesn’t respond. (Sumire also doesn’t, which gives me an image of her, Akechi and Joker stuck next to each other speaking only in Royal Trio in-jokes.) But he’s not saying anything unless he chooses to say something—when the others respond.

And who responds how? Well, there are moments of connection—more than a few. But responses to Akechi often range from passive-aggressive through mocking to outright aggressive. And this is perfectly fair: make no mistake, these guys are not friends.

How does the count stack up?

Yusuke has the lowest number of responses to Akechi—he has five. Ann and Makoto each have seven. Futaba, Morgana and Ryuji each have eight. And Haru?

Haru has nine chats in response to Akechi. She has more than anyone else. And the reason she has more chats than anyone else is that there is one chat that only she responds to:

Yeah. Akechi is not someone who enjoys being cooped up in the back of a catbus. And when he complains about it, it’s Haru who’s the only one to reply. The Japanese is not that patronising, by the way

Haru is trying. She doesn’t want to sit down and hang out with him—she won’t join him in the Thieves’ Den, for instance. But her responses to him range from passive-aggressive through conversational. They are hard to interpret—she’s not comfortable with him; she’s keeping up her mask. She’s not necessarily concerned for him or welcoming—she’s saying the “right things”, making conversation; she joins in when they all laugh at him for bouldering. Haru’s mask has a lot in common with Akechi’s many masks. But she also has that one chat that only she replies to.

Here are her nine responses to various things Akechi says:

Haru: I think this [outfit] fits you better, after seeing how you fight. Haru: I've heard you don't actually need to be that strong to boulder. Maybe I should give it a shot. Haru: It's pretty hard to imagine a group of phantom thieves successfully getting around on bicycles. Haru: Well, the car does have ears and a tail, so I wouldn't say it's impossible to tell... Haru: Well, no one gives them orders, so it appears they just wander around. Haru: As long as you're fighting alongside us, we're happy to have you. Haru: Thanks for the concern. You should stay mindful of your health, too. Haru: I wonder... You can't underestimate the Tokyo subway system, though. It's pretty long. Haru: Then what say we take a little break when we reach the next rest area?

and what’s the takeaway here?

Pretty much this: forgiveness in P5 is complicated. The story is all about responsibility and redemption and the harm you do others. Even if you can’t forgive someone, that doesn’t mean you can’t work with them. It doesn’t make them not part of your group. It doesn’t mean you can’t take an interest in them. The Phantom Thieves have a bond with Akechi regardless of what he’s done. Regardless of whether they’re “friends” or “forgiven” or whether they will ever be close. That bond doesn’t have to be pretty, or fun, or even something most of them want too much to do with, but it is there. He is, in the end, as close to being one of them as you get.

And Haru does take an interest in Akechi: more than any of the others bar Joker, Haru is the one who seems to relate to him. Haru doesn’t model judgement (that’s Futaba)—Haru is modelling understanding, and reparative justice. She doesn’t want to be Akechi’s friend; they’re hugely unlikely to ever be friends. Any relationship they have is likely to be distant, based primarily on mutual obligation. But she understands him, to a degree.

Let Haru be the wonderful human being she is. #theend

[queersatanic]

Carl Grant, a Vietnam veteran with dementia, wandered out of a hospital room to charge a cellphone he imagined he had. When he wouldn’t sit still, the police officer escorting Grant body-slammed him, ricocheting the patient’s head off the floor. Taylor Ware, a former Marine and aspiring college student, walked the grassy grounds of an interstate rest stop trying to shake the voices in his head. After Ware ran from an officer, he was attacked by a police dog, jolted by a stun gun, pinned on the ground and injected with a sedative. And Donald Ivy Jr., a former three-sport athlete, left an ATM alone one night when officers sized him up as suspicious and tried to detain him. Ivy took off, and police tackled and shocked him with a stun gun, belted him with batons and held him facedown. Each man was unarmed. Each was not a threat to public safety. And despite that, each died after police used a kind of force that is not supposed to be deadly — and can be much easier to hide than the blast of an officer’s gun.

...

Over a decade, more than 1,000 people died after police subdued them through means not intended to be lethal, an investigation led by The Associated Press found.... These sorts of deadly encounters happened just about everywhere, according to an analysis of a database AP created. Big cities, suburbs and rural America. Red states and blue states. Restaurants, assisted-living centers and, most commonly, in or near the homes of those who died. The deceased came from all walks of life — a poet, a nurse, a saxophone player in a mariachi band, a truck driver, a sales director, a rodeo clown and even a few off-duty law enforcement officers. The toll, however, disproportionately fell on Black Americans like Grant and Ivy. Black people made up a third of those who died despite representing only 12% of the U.S. population. Others feeling the brunt were impaired by a medical, mental health or drug emergency, a group particularly susceptible to force even when lightly applied.

...

Reporters filed nearly 7,000 requests for government documents and body-camera footage, receiving more than 700 autopsy reports or death certificates, and uncovering video in at least four dozen cases that has never been published or widely distributed. Medical officials cited law enforcement as causing or contributing to about half of the deaths. In many others, significant police force went unmentioned and drugs or preexisting health conditions were blamed instead. Video in a few dozen cases showed some officers mocked people as they died, laughing or making comments such as “sweaty little hog,” “screaming like a little girl” and “lazy f---.” In other cases, officers expressed clear concern for the people they were subduing.

[caddyheron]

every aaron headcanon ever. go

Oh anon, what you have unlocked… sorry for whoever reads all of these. (These are mostly bway but l can be generalised to 2024 / 2004 I think, but usually, 2024 Aaron is a different person to me.)

• He’s an older brother to a younger sister, middle school aged when he’s a senior. He tries to have a good relationship with her, but she’s very much a pre-teen girl who doesn’t really like to listen to him and his parents make him drive her around a lot.

• Weird relationship with his parents. His mom wanted him to get an amazing education at Northshore and is devastated and furious when she founds out that the school found out she lied about their address. His mom claims she wants the best for him, but really she just wants him to Be Good at something. His dad is just… a typical dad. He pushes Aaron for sport, says stuff things like “good job bud” and then sort of leaves him to his mom.

• Deeply, deeply mediocre at everything. He’s never gotten above a A in a class before, even if he works at it, his standard grades are Bs and always have been. He doesn’t have a class that’s “his” in the same way Cady has AP calc, for example; he just takes classes and does okay in them. It fucks with his self esteem so much because he’s never going to be anything other than average.

• Four season athlete to try and make up for his crippling mediocrity but he’s just… average at that too. Coach Carr sort of hates him and benches him a lot.

• He does genuinely enjoy soccer though, and is friends with a lot of the people on the team. When he was younger, that was his main activity, he really enjoys it, even if he’s just okay at it.

• A very, very long list of allergies: pollen, animal fur, peanuts, tree nuts, penicillin, dust and Regina’s hand cream. He doesn’t talk about any of them to Cady when they first start dating because he can’t handle being “flawed”.

• His entire time with Regina was spent being her trophy, a prize, the caricature of a perfect person, so he doesn’t know how to be anything else for a long time. If he isn’t perfect for her, a perfect boyfriend, then he is truly nothing at all.

• Post-Regina, he starts having panic attacks. He was a sort of anxious person before and during, but after Regina, he starts having panic attacks he can’t control even a little and he is so embarrassed by them because he can’t stop it. And he can’t reach out for help.

• Ms Norbury has taught him every year of high school and she’s such a comfort teacher for him; after he breaks up with Regina for the second time, he comes to class looking dazed and pale and tired, so she makes him sit down with her afterwards and talk to her about exactly what happened.

• Neurotypical but has many, many food aversions. For a while, he eats only soup and crackers because he’s so anxious and neither are too strong tasting and don’t upset his stomach.

• Speaking of soup, he and Cady frequent Olive Garden for their dates because of the free soup refills and Cady is obsessed with their breadsticks. There’s a week where they go every single day after school, no one knows why, but they do know they’re concerned for Aaron and Cady.

• Gets frequent nose bleeds and announces them with “oh. nosebleed”.

• Develops a friendship with Janis post canon because they can bond over Regina trauma. Janis teases Aaron for every single thing he does, but is also fiercely protective of him and helpful when he needs it. But she does call him a “wet cat” and “the lost puppy dog who follows Cady around” on a daily basis.

• Wears his letterman jacket so often Cady wonders if he owns any other clothes.

• He has super warm hands unless he’s anxious, then they’re freezing cold. This is how Cady knows he needs help, because he usually overheats really easily and his hands are so hot, but if they’re cold, he knows somethings wrong.

• Gets sunstroke like it’s nobody’s business. He bypasses sun burn and goes straight to heat stroke almost every single time the group go out somewhere in the summer, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it.

• Barely drinks alcohol unless he feels like there’s social pressure to do it. He doesn’t voluntarily drink very much, but at parties he likes to especially because it makes him feel “normal”. When he was dating Regina, he drank a lot more but Regina never let him drink enough he was a mess.

• Can’t drink soda because the bubbles hurt his mouth and make him so uncomfortable. He drinks the occasional coke if he’s feeling really brave.

• He frequently feels more like an object than a person. Especially when he was dating Regina - he almost had to gain her permission to feel because he couldn’t be too much, he was a side prize and she was the centre of it all. He spent a lot of his time forcibly numbing himself until he felt like a shell. So, so easily manipulated when he was like that.

• Lactose intolerant but doesn’t tell Cady because he doesn’t want to have flaws. Cady finds out after they go on a date and then they get ice cream afterwards. [Which Aaron only ever eats from a tub.]

• After a zoo date goes wrong (petting zoo + his allergies… bad), Cady suggests they go to an aquarium next time, and they both have such an amazing time. Cady buys him a little fish plush because he bought her a cat plush when they were at the zoo. Iykyk, but that’s where the ship name catfish comes from!

• Terrified of spiders, which Cady finds so confusing because she loves all animals!

[Cady, smiling: it doesn’t bite!!!

Aaron, shaking: idontcareidontcare

Cady: AWW LOOK IT MOVES!!!

Aaron, hyperventilating: pleasetakeitawayplease]

• He once broke his arm but never realised because he just assumed it was sprained and he was in a normal amount of pain. His mom didn’t listen to him so he assumed it was fine, until several weeks later, the pain is so severe he’s holding it so limply that Ms Norbury points it out and he explains it and she sends him to the nurse immediately who phones his mom and he eventually needs to get it rebroken. He’s out of sport for ages.

• Hates the sea so much, Cady has to forcibly drag him in. Does not love it when he’s in the sea either:

• Is painfully aware of his own normalcy. He’s, overall, a plot device in every iteration and therefore a plot device in his own life. He’s exactly how he’s interpreted to be and exactly what people want. He’s on the outside of every single event, until he’s brought to the middle and needed immediately. I can expand on this point at some point because I feel so strongly about analytical interpretations of Aaron that go beyond hc post.

Bonus 😭

• 2024 Aaron specifically but he hates fairground rides and anything that is too high or spins too fast. He gets dizzy so easily and I once described him as a “feeble victorian women stuck in a 17 year old boys body.”

Thank you <3 im sure I can add more to these eventually, but it’s just off the top of my head. Feel free to send thoughts / own aaron hcs too!!’

[theonevoice]

Sorry if this is a little foggy and poorly worded, but I have been sitting on this thought all day, after working on a scene from Mamoru Hosoda's Wolf Children, and might as well put it here. The scene in question is the one where little wolf-boy Ame, sweet child who loves stories and picture books and who struggles to come to terms with his hybrid identity, one day while out in the woods with his sister and his mother on a sort of wolf-training excursion suddenly starts crying. And the reason why is crying is that, in all the picture books, he keeps seeing the wolf depicted as the bad guy that ends up shooed away or killed. And because of such representations, now he wants to repress his wolf identity, that has always been a lively and funny, although hard to figure out, part of his life. He is terrified of being what he is because the narrow representations that he has access to tell him that the world does not like people like him. It's a powerful little moment in a beautiful movie, that always makes me tear up, and if you missed it I highly recommend you watch it. If you are not into anime movie and just curious of the scene, I found a clip on YouTube:

Anyway, this scene made my lonely braincel twitch, and I was thinking, now that we are approaching the end of this glorious - as far as the mediascape is concerned - year 2023, that many people underestimate the enormous power of fantasy narratives in expanding the borders of gender (and minority in general) representation. Having an author canonically establish that certain fixed categories do not apply to one or more characters for in-universe reasons takes away that nasty oblique excuse that some people use to deny and disparage diversity in media (where I live they usually sound like "they only made this character a person of color to please the woke liberalsTM even if the historical context doesn't allow it", or even, comically, "it is narratively implausible that this character is or shows to be queer but they were forced to do it by THE GAY LOBBY" - yes, this is an actual conspiracy theory loudly promoted by Italian journalists and politicians, and yes, I am personally deeply ashamed by it). Obviously, almost none of said people has the faintest actual interest in narrative aspects, but they still use the excuse to pollute the public discourse and attack minorities. And I am aware that there is a possible dark pitfall here: in the best possible world, we should not need to take the route of fantasy settings to have something that should never have been denied in the first place, but from a pragmatical standpoint it does work. Having authors saying "nope, sorry not sorry, they are wolf-children / angels and demons / weird vampires / anachronistic pirates in a fantasy context so your self-proclaimed laws of plausibility do not apply and you can shove them where the sun does not shine while we enjoy the show and put this beautiful, funny, delicate, deep and sad things on screen", is like having a cultural picklock which is also a cultural battering ram thrusting the representation-door open. Shows like Good Omens, Our Flag Means Death, What We Do in the Shadows (and their fandoms with their massive collective creative endeavour), by offering the symbolic shield of a fantasy setting can establish a safe space where 1. queer people (especially young people but not only) can finally recognize themselves and stop feeling like they are alone and don't have the words and images they need to describe themselves; 2. not queer people can get used to a larger set of possible identities and not only realise that 100% of said idenities are in fact - hold on to your butts - still people with thoughts and feelings and needs, but also, through the power of mimesis, acquire a deeper understanding of forms of life that they don't directly experience. Including, hopefully, understanding how similar we all are when it comes to us being ultimately a bunch of naked apes who walk on this spinning rock trying to be as little miserable as possible.

Again, sorry if this sounds clumsy and blunt, given how delicate and complex this subject is (one does not simply walk into Mordor talk about the lives and needs of other people like that), but I had this thought stuck in my shallow brain wrinkles and I wanted to try and put it into words.

[beardedmrbean]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar got a prominent Democratic primary challenger Sunday when former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels announced he’ll try once again to unseat her after coming close in 2022.

Omar, a charter member of “the squad” of progressive House Democrats, won reelection twice despite making comments in her first term that were widely criticized for invoking antisemitic tropes and suggesting Jewish Americans have divided loyalties. But Omar — a Somali American and Muslim — has come under renewed fire for condemning the Israeli government’s handling of its war against Hamas.

“Our congresswoman has a predilection to divisiveness and conflict,” Samuels said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of his official announcement Sunday morning on WCCO Radio.

The Jamaican-born Samuels still maintains that his narrow primary loss in 2022 showed Omar was beatable, and that he could have won if they had competed later in the general election, where Omar won 74% of the vote over a little-known Republican.

The big issue in 2022 was the future of policing in the city where George Floyd was murdered in 2020 by a former Minneapolis police officer, which touched off protests around the world and riots in Minnesota. Omar was among the progressives who slammed former President Barack Obama for criticizing the “defund the police” movement as just a “snappy slogan.”

“It’s not a slogan but a policy demand,” she posted on Twitter, now known as X.

In contrast, the centrist Samuels helped lead the opposition that defeated a proposal on the city ballot in 2021 that arose from the “defund” movement and would have replaced the police force with a revamped public safety agency. Samuels thinks safety will be a top issue again.

“The long tails of the George Floyd and COVID issues continue, with empty storefronts and empty strip malls because people don’t want to invest anymore. They don’t think it’s safe,” Samuels said.

Omar issued a written statement Sunday touting her work in Congress and for her district, including fighting to combat climate change and codify abortion rights. She also noted her part in securing an affordable housing facility for veterans in Minnesota and a public safety measure that provides mental health support and services for victims of gun violence.

“Right-wing donors have targeted me since I first entered public life,” Omar said in the statement, which also accused Samuels of taking hundreds of thousands in contributions from far-right donors and political action committees. “If we’re going to stop Donald Trump, we need record turnout, and I am confident in our ability to drive turnout, particularly in a presidential election year.”

The war in the Middle East has already divided Democrats and upended the dynamics of some House primaries. Omar has been critical of Hamas for attacking Israel and taking hostages — but even more so of Israel’s military response. Her focus has been the plight of civilians in the Gaza Strip. She has also condemned the surge of intimidation and violence against both Muslim and Jewish targets in the U.S.

It remains to be seen how potent an issue the war will be in an overwhelmingly Democratic district that includes Minneapolis and some suburbs. The district also has a large Somali Muslim population. And it includes St. Louis Park, which historically has been a center of Jewish life in Minnesota.

Samuels said he believes the war will be a big concern. He criticized Omar for voting against placing sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine but supporting sanctions against Israel, and for boycotting Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s speech to Congress in July.

“She has frightened the Jewish community,” Samuels said, adding that the community “understands that there is a latent and lurking antisemitic sentiment that always needs discouragement, and always in times of national crisis raises its ugly head.”

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has been actively trying to recruit a credible challenger to Omar. That drew pushback from a strong supporter of Israel, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who issued a public show of support for Omar this summer. A super PAC affiliated with AIPAC spent about $350,000 against Omar in 2022. But Samuels said AIPAC didn’t try to recruit him.

Omar’s fellow House Democrats have portrayed her as a serious legislator who in the past four years has earned admiration for giving voice to marginalized groups often forgotten on Capitol Hill.

But Samuels said people sometimes “mistake her oppositional nature and divisive nature for someone who’s speaking truth to power when in fact she is misusing her power, or not using her power, to make change.”

The other declared candidates are relatively unknown. One Democrat is Sarah Gad, a Minneapolis attorney and daughter of Egyptian immigrants who is Muslim. The other is military veteran Tim Peterson. The only Republican currently running is Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American journalist and self-described secular Muslim who calls Omar pro-Hamas and a terrorist sympathizer.

[grits-galraisedinthesouth]

Put down your shovel Ron DeSantis! 🤦‍♂️

Thank God for John James. I wish I had a twatter account just so I could HIGH 5 him. I've actually written 2 Tumblr Draft Posts venting about this online insanity. I still might share my thoughts here, but for now John James of Michigan nailed it.

From JohnJamesMI to RonDeSantis:

#1: slavery was not CTE! Nothing about that 400 years of evil was a “net benefit” to my ancestors. #2: there are only five black Republicans in Congress and you’re attacking two of them. My brother in Christ… if you find yourself in a deep hole put the shovel down. You are now so far from the Party of Lincoln that your Ed. board is re-writing history and you’re personally attacking conservatives like VoteTimScott and ByronDonalds on the topic of slavery. You’ve gone too far. Stop.

https://twitter.com/JohnJamesMI/status/1685020441692225536?s=20

Ron DeSantis Slams GOP Rival Tim Scott for Criticism of Florida Black History Curriculum

Scott is the second Black Republican DeSantis has attacked on the issue as siding with Democrats

Published 07/28/23 Marc Caputo

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused a Republican presidential campaign rival, Sen. Tim Scott, of laundering Democratic talking points by suggesting that the Sunshine State wanted to teach kids there was a “silver lining” to slavery.”

“Part of the reason our country has struggled is that all too often D.C. Republicans accept false narratives, accept lies that are perpetrated by the left," DeSantis said Friday while campaigning in Iowa. "And to accept the lie that Kamala Harris has been perpetrating even when that has been debunked, that's not the way you do it. The way you do it, the way you lead, is to fight back against the lies. So I'm here defending my state of Florida against false accusations and lies."

DeSantis’s counter marked the second day in a row of responding to a Black Republican criticizing him over the education standards by comparing them Harris, the first Black vice president, who traveled last week to Florida and bashed DeSantis. 

On Thursday, he similarly swiped at Florida Republican Rep. Byron Donalds, a supporter of Donald Trump in the presidential primary who called for a slight adjustment in the education standards that say slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

DeSantis pointed out that Harris and other Black Democrats had embraced an AP African American history course that they backed —and that he opposed — had substantially similar language about slaves learning “specialized trades” but “nobody said anything about that.”But Scott, the only Black Republican senator, later that evening took DeSantis to task. 

“The truth is that anything you can learn, any benefits that people suggest you had during slavery, you would have had as a free person,” Scott told reporters. “What slavery was really about was separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives. It was just devastating.” 

DeSantis has repeatedly pointed out the state standards clearly teach the evils of history and racism

Lost in the discussion over the slavery issue is another major controversy concerning the standards that indicates kids should learn about violence “by African Americans” before they were massacred by rampaging white people. 

DeSantis's feud with Black lawmakers from both parties who don’t support himerupted as his campaign struggled to regain its footing after financial troubles and struggles in the polls. Trump leads DeSantis by wide margins with Scott in third in many surveys. 

DeSantis advisers say he won’t back down in the face of criticism, even as the controversy has raged into its second week and, according to critics, helped undercut his message that he will be a better general election candidate to defeat Joe Biden because he can get more independent and swing voters. 

DeSantis Attacks GOP Rep. Donalds Over Criticism of Florida Black History Curriculum

The Republican presidential candidate and Florida governor also took aim at Vice President Kamala Harris 07/27/23

Marc Caputo

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis swiped at a reporter and accused a fellow home state Republican congressman Thursday of siding with Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris for saying that a controversial state curriculum provision about slavery should be changed.

DeSantis said Rep. Byron Donalds —who endorsed Donald Trump in the presidential primary over the governor — was wrong to say that the new Florida standards suggested suggested that slavery was beneficial to some slaves.

After those standards passed last week, Harris flew to Florida and accused DeSantis of trying to whitewash history.

But DeSantis stuck back, noting that Harris and other Democratic critics had endorsed an Advanced Placement Black history studies course that had a similar point.At the end of the day, you gotta choose: Are you gonna side with Kamala Harris and liberal media outlets? Are you going to side with the state of Florida? And I think it’s very clear these guys these guys did a good job on those standards,” DeSantis told reporters.

The standards in question say that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

DeSantis mispronounced Harris's first name (which sounds like “comma-lah”) but later sounded it out properly.

“Don’t side with Kam-a-la on that. Stand up for your state,” DeSantis told Donalds.

The row came at a low point for DeSantis’s presidential campaign as he reels from financial woes, layoffs and bad poll numbers vs. Trump. When Donald spoke up via Twitter with a mild suggestion DeSantis amend the language, the governor’s campaign and executive office both criticized him.

After the blowback, Donalds took to Twitter to say that “What's crazy to me is I expressed support for the vast majority of the new African American history standards and happened to oppose one sentence that seemed to dignify the skills gained by slaves as a result of their enslavement.

“Anyone who can't accurately interpret what I said is disingenuous and is desperately attempting to score political points,” Donalds wrote. “Just another reason why l'm proud to have endorsed President Donald J. Trump!”

DeSantis also had a testy exchange with a reporter who asked “were there benefits to slavery?”

“That’s not what the curriculum says,” DeSantis shot back.

“What do you think?” the reporter asked.

“The curriculum is very clear. I think it’s like 200-plus pages of all kinds of stuff that —you can’t read that. Have you read it?” DeSantis responded.

When the reporter didn’t answer the governor’s question, he asked again “Have you read it?”What’s your opinion?” the reporter repeated.

“But you haven’t read it,” DeSantis said. “So I’m just making that clear. That makes it very clear about the injustices of slavery in vivid detail. So anyone that actually read that and then listens to Kamala would know that she’s lying. And that particular provision about the skills, that was in spite of slavery not because of it.”

“The AP course has made that same point,” DeSantis continued. “Other courses have made that same point. Nobody said anything about that.”

The fight over Florida's new African American history curriculum that suggests slaves derived "personal benefit" from slavery has turned into a war among conservatives as Gov. Ron DeSantis aides are attacking Black Republican Rep. Byron Donalds.

"We will not back down from teaching our nation’s true history at the behest of a woke @WhiteHouse, nor at the behest of a supposedly conservative congressman," Education Commissioner Manny Diaz, Jr., tweeted abut Donalds.

Diaz slammed the representative after Donalds said that he supported almost the entirety of the new standards, calling them "robust" and "accurate," however it was line about slavery that needed to be change.

"What's crazy to me is I expressed support for the vast majority of the new African American history standards and happened to oppose one sentence that seemed to dignify the skills gained by slaves as a result of their enslavement," Donalds tweeted. "Anyone who can't accurately interpret what I said is disingenuous and is desperately attempting to score political points."

Just another reason why l'm proud to have endorsed President Donald J. Trump!" Donalds added.

Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Trump tweeted out a statement in defense of Donalds calling him a "conservative hero." Miller lambasted the DeSantis team for their attempts to "smear" the congressman.

"Ron DeSantis needs to look in the mirror and recognize that at his current trajectory, it's not just 2024 that is dead for him, but 2028 as well," Miller's statement read. "DeSantis' misguided attacks are only helping Joe Biden, and if that's his goal, DeSantis should just get out of the race."

Christina Pushnaw, who works as DeSantis' Director of Rapid Response, has compared Donalds criticisms of the curriculum to those voiced by Vice President Kamala Harris.

Pushnaw responded to both Miller and Donalds' tweets with a Harris gifs.

[sortofanobsession]

Will o’ the Wisp - Ch. 6 (Umbrella Academy WIP)

Author's note: Another chapter. Events of Episode 1x05 Number Five. A reminder I am not of Latin heritage and I haven't taken a Spanish course since 2008. So please forgive that aspect. I'm not trying to disrespect anyone, but it was requested. I don't focus on that aspect of the original request often, but I do remember it is there. Rough translations are at the end of the chapter. (I checked multiple translation websites not just google translate, ReversoDictionary is slowly becoming a favorite, I like their examples set up.)

So as it goes, Y/N = your name. Y/N/N = your nickname.  Reader pronouns She/Her.

Tag Requests are Open just message me.

Primary Pairing: Diego Hargreeves x Female!Reader (Slow Burn)

Series/TUA Masterlist

Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5, Chapter 7

Word count: 4k+

Content Warning: Shooting, Gun Violence, Gunshot Wounds, Mentions of Death, Blood, Knives, Arguing, Sibling Rivalry, Guilt, Cussing/Swearing, Canon Typical Neglect, Manipulation, Violence, Angst, Drinking, Bar Fight

Chapter 6: Serious Discussions and Stakeouts 

“Piece of shit,” Diego spits out as he and Y/N get back to the boiler room.

Luther can tell something is very wrong by just looking at his siblings as they return. Diego seems livid, and the glow around their sister was basically broadcasting that something horrible had happened. Anxiety and sadness rolled off her in deep blue shades. So when Diego showed no sign of stopping. Luther knew he needed to step in.

“Do you have any idea what you just did?” Diego says just before Luther intercepts him in what is essentially a violent bear hug and lifts Diego off the ground. “No! Let me-” Diego fights in vain. Luther looks at his sister, a million questions in his head. She shakes her head, and it answers the most important ones. No, Klaus. Nothing good happened. Nothing helpful. Diego keeps fighting. “Get your ape hands off me!” The light around her pulses in intensity as it happens, but she knows stepping in might make things worse. 

“I can do this as long as it takes you to calm down,” Luther states.

“Diego…” she starts.

“Fine,” Diego relents.

“Now, wanna tell us what you’re talking about?”

“Our brother’s been pretty busy since he got back. He was in the middle of that shootout at Griddy’s, and then at Gimble Brothers, after the guys in masks attacked the Academy, looking for him,” Diego explains. 

“None of which is any of your concern,” Five says.

“Is now,” she says. 

“They just killed my friend,” Diego states. She knew that was an understatement, but he clearly didn’t want them to know more than that. He’s hurting, and she knows it. So she moves forward and puts a hand on his arm. Not sure if she is more trying to calm him or reassure herself that he is even somewhere near okay. 

“What did you bring back with you?” she says as she looks at Five.

“Who are they, Five?”

“They work for my former employer,” Five explains. “A woman called The Handler. She sent them to stop me. Then soon as Diego’s friend got in their way, well, fair game.” 

She is quick to put herself between Diego and their brothers. Her hand goes to his chest to get him to look at her. “I know,” she whispers to Diego. Then she does something she rarely does but knows it usually works with him. She uses the one thing they both have in common. Something he always saw at theirs. Their language. “Su culpa o no. Mantente enfocado.” He glances at her, a bit shocked, but he nods. He looks at her only for a second before his focus is back on Five.

“Now they’re my fair game,” Diego tells Five. “And I’m gonna see to it they pay.”

“That would be a mistake, Diego,” Five tells him. “They’ve killed people far more dangerous than you.” She feels him tense up under her hand, but neither moves. He glances at her again.

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” Diego storms out. She thinks about following him but decides to give him a minute to himself. She looks from the door to Luther and Five. Luther looks at her with an odd look before he sighs and turns back to Five. 

“Former employer?” Luther asks. “What's this really about? And don't give me any of this ‘It's none of your business’ crap, all right?”

“Well, it's a long story.”

“You said you’d explain it all to me,” she insists. “I’ve done everything you asked of me. Long story or not, you owe me.”

“They turned me into the perfect instrument for the rehabilitation of the time continuum,” Five begins to explain. “Or ‘corrections,’ as they called them. I wasn't the only one. There are others like me. Beings out of time, fractured, extracted from the lives that they knew. I don't know how they got there. But I do know that none of them were as good as me. They didn't realize it, but I was biding my time, trying to figure out the right equation so I could get back. If I could just get back, I knew I could stop the apocalypse. Save the world. So I broke my contract.”

“So…you were a hitman?” Luther asks.

“Yes.” Five’s answer was simple and somewhat world-shattering to his siblings. 

“Wow,” she says. “You know they shot me, right?”

Five looks at her. He could vaguely remember one of them mentioning that while he was drunk.

She pulls her arm out of her jacket and angrily strips off the bandage, despite Luther trying to stop her. 

“Look at it!” she yells at Five. The skin around the neat row of stitches is angry and bruised. It’s unhealed and looks painful. “The only reason I’m not as dead as Detective Patch is that I shoved the barrel of the gun with a superheated fist, and it jammed after that shot because I damaged it.”

Luther sighs and takes the bandages that had been gripped tight in her hand, and rewraps her wound. “You need new bandages.”

“I’ll deal with it at the house.” She looks at Five. “You might think you are protecting us by not telling us these things, that they don't matter, but it just means we have no idea what we are up against, and someone else is going to end up dead. Klaus is missing. Patch is dead. Grace is gone. So you want to keep us from whatever fate you saw, then get your shit together and do what you asked me to do, trust each other. Trust me. Trust us. Now I’m going to find our angry vigilante brother before someone gets stabbed, and then I’m going to look for Klaus, my way.” She leaves, letting the door slam as she does. 

Luther finally asks the question that he has been wanting to ask. “A hitman, uh…I mean, you had a code, right?” You didn’t kill just anybody.”

“No code. We took out anyone who messed with the timeline.”

“What about innocent people?” 

“It was the only way I could get back here.”

“But that’s murder.”

“Jesus, Luther, grow up. We’re not kids anymore. There’s no such thing as good guys or bad guys. There’s just people goin’ about their lives. But when the world ends all those people die, including our family. Time changes everything.”

When she catches up with Diego as he staking out the donut shop. He doesn’t miss the way the Wisp seems to take on an intense energy beyond even its usual glow. He knew it was because Klaus was still nowhere to be found, even for her little lights. But the Wisp was crackling and buzzing, mirroring the way she can't seem to settle for long. Something he hadn't seen her do much of since they were kids, and Five failed to show back up for dinner. And the next dinner. Every dinner until a couple nights ago. Reginald had scolded her for making her anxieties so obvious for anyone to see. It was a weakness. One that Diego had wanted to stab the man for pointing out. How was pointing out she was scared or anxious going to help her be anything but more scared or anxious? Back then, he'd just tried to help the others distract her. When he was a dumb kid, sometimes that was done by pushing her buttons to piss her off. Make her less weak and more intimidating. In hindsight, that was absolutely the opposite of what she needed. 

“He’ll show up,” Diego assures her. “This is Klaus. He always comes crawling back to you.”

“This is different,” she admits. “You saw that motel room, and I can usually at least find him.”

“We’ll find him,” he insists. “We find the people that took him, that shot you, and we’ll get answers.” He doesn’t really want to think too hard about the fact that he had come close to losing her and Eudora in less than a day. Professional hitmen shot two of the only people he cares about, and Eudora is dead. He’s lucky to still have his sister with him. And she doesn’t even seem phased by it. She’s more worried about Klaus. He reaches over and finds her hand and squeezes it. “We will. You’ll see.”

They get back to the Academy, and Diego helps her change her bandages. They hear voices near their rooms. She checks it out with the Wisp.

“Klaus!” She shouts and runs to his room. She nearly tackles him in a hug. 

Klaus hugs her back and says to someone or something she couldn't see, "See, I knew Sunshine would care.”

“We were kind of in the middle of something, Y/N,” Five says. She glares at him but looks back to Klaus."I searched the whole damn city TWICE! When we found Patch and that awful room…I didn’t- What happened? Where were you?" A look of absolute confusion covers her face as she takes in his appearance. He looks different. She tries to find every little difference. "What- are you wearing?” She looks at the dog tags. “Who? Where-whatever," she waved all that off and hugs him again. "Don't scare me like that. I didn't think I'd ever see you again." 

"For a while, I wasn't sure you would either," Klaus states.

"Oh, Klaus," she hugs him tighter. 

“Klaus, where’s the briefcase?” 

“What briefcase?” she asks.

“Gone,” Klaus answers. “I destroyed it. Poof.”

“What the hell were you thinking?” Five gets angry.

“What do you care?” Klaus asks.

“What do I care? I needed it, you moron, so I could get back. I could start over.”

“Whoa, hey,” she tries but is ignored again.

“Just Just - Where you going?” 

“Interrogation's over. Just leave.”

“What a dick,” she mutters and looks back at Klaus. “I don’t know what he’s mad about, but you-”

“Don’t worry about it,” Klaus says, with a smile that is barely there and doesn’t reach his eyes. “I missed you, Sunshine.”

“Klaus,” her brows furrow in concern at his words, earning a sad chuckle from him.

“Not much light or good where I was, especially after…” his eyes get this far-off look to them, but he seems to shake himself. He gives her a kiss on the forehead. An action she genuinely is confused by. Unbeknownst to her, it was more Ben pushing Klaus not to scare her that made him do it. She stays with Klaus but uses the Wisp to check on Diego. When she notices he is leaving she goes after him. Klaus follows her.

“You look like shit,” Diego tells him. She rolls her eyes.

“Why, thank you,” Klaus replies.

“Where are you going?” she asks. 

“Yeah, where you going?” Klaus repeats. 

“Nope,” Diego says.

“What?” Klaus asks. 

“Diego,” she starts. 

“You need sleep,” he points at her and then at Klaus. “And I’m not giving you a ride.”

“Oh, come on, man,” Klaus says.

“I’m fine, and I barely even used my powers to find him. I’m going with you,” she says.

“He can drive himself,” Diego argues.

“He can’t drive,” she answers. “Please, Diego.”

Diego looks between the two, and of course, Diego caves. Klaus wonders when exactly that became a thing as he goes to get his things. Sure, the two weren’t trying to kill each other before, but he wasn’t gone that long for them. Diego knows it's not even worth arguing now. Not with the sad and desperate look on his sister’s face. She made him worry more about Klaus than he usually did. So he agrees. 

Both Y/N and Diego were weirded out by how quiet their brother was. She keeps sending them both worried looks. 

"You okay?" Diego asks their unusually silent brother. He doesn't get an answer. 

"Klaus?" She asks. He just shakes his head. 

"Wow, this is a first. Our brother Klaus is silent."

"Diego," she chides him. 

"Last time you were this quiet, we were 12."

She punches Diego in the arm, but it didn't deter him.

"Ran down the stairs wearing Grace's heels, tripped over, and broke your jaw. How long was it wired shut for?"

"Eight weeks," Klaus answers.

"Eight glorious weeks of bliss," Diego says.

"That's enough, Diego." She glares at him.

"Hey, just…just drop me off here."

"Klaus…" she starts.

"You sure you’re okay, man?" Diego asks him. Klaus just gets out of the car. 

"Was that necessary,” she says, her annoyance obvious in her tone. “Bringing that up? He is clearly in a bad state, and you just-"

"Are you going to keep lecturing, or are we going to go after him?" 

"You're an asshole," she says and gets out of the car and goes into the VFW after Klaus.

“Just go away, please,” Klaus tells them.

“You know I’m not going to do that,” she says.

“Not until you talk to us,” Diego states. 

“Is that a threat? You threatening me?” 

“Hey, guys. This bar? It's for vets only.”

“I am a vet,” Klaus says. 

“Really?” the guy chuckles. “Where'd you serve?”

“None of your business,” Klaus replies.

“You got balls comin' in here, pretendin' you're one of us.” The guy says.

“Oh, I have every right to be here, just like you.”

“Asshole.”

Diego steps in to try and prevent a fight. “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.”

“Klaus, I need you to talk to me,” his sister says. “Tell me what’s going on.”

“I did serve, Sunshine,” Klaus shows her the dog tags, and despite her confusion, she nods. 

“Okay, that’s-” She starts to say they’d talk about that in the car, but she sees Diego trying to keep things from completely going to shit. 

Klaus goes to drink more. 

“Klaus,” she grabs his arm.

“Slow down, Marine.” Diego tries to help defuse the situation with one of the bar’s patrons. “Alright, my brother's just had a few too many. Let's just call it a day; all go our own way.”

“Sure thing,” the guy says.

“Thank you,” Diego says. “Klaus-”

“As long as you apologize,” the guy says. 

Klaus giggles. Y/N physically winces. 

“Fine.”

“I'm sorry,” Diego says. “He's sorry. We're all sorry.” She nods. “So, are we good?”

“I wanna hear him say it,” the guy says, gesturing to Klaus.

“Hey, man, I'm just trying to -” Diego starts, but Klaus cuts him off. 

“No, no,” Klaus says. He pulls his sister’s hand off of his arm and walks towards the man. “He's right, Diego.”

“Oh, no,” she murmurs to herself. She knows that tone. She could feel everything was about to go sideways.

“He's right,” Klaus repeats. “He's right.” Y/N looks at Diego, her eyes wide as Klaus adds, “I'd like to apologize that you are depriving some village of their idiot!”

Diego shouts as a fight breaks out. 

“Don’t even think about it!” Diego shouts at her, but she ignores him and joins the scuffle. A guy goes to grab her, and without hesitation, Diego throws a knife. “Touch her, and I’ll end you.” She rolls her eyes but doesn’t argue. 

It ends with all of them being thrown out.  Klaus laughs when they finally get back in the car and head to where Diego had wanted to go in the first place. To stake out the Donut shop. 

“You got a big mouth. You know that?” Diego tells Klaus. 

“Oh, wow. What a truly shocking revelation, Diego.”

“Everything's a big joke to you, right?” Diego says. “Will you-stop it-” Diego takes the rest of Klaus’ stash from him. “Why are you putting this shit in your body?"

Klaus blows a raspberry at him. “Hey, Sunshine, what do you think?” he shows her his newest tattoo, a military one.

“Klaus…” she starts.

“Check this out.” Diego pulls up his shirt and pats his own abs. “My body is a temple.” Y/N can’t help but snort out a laugh. Diego glares at her but continues. 

“All that shit you do,” Diego says, “it's just weakness.”

“Oh, wow,” Klaus replies, “Well, weakness feels so good.”

“What's goin' on with you? Huh?” Diego asks, starting to really lose his patience.

“Diego,” She cautions. The glimmer that always surrounds her seems to hum along with its usual melancholic hue. Both her brothers know it means she’s worried if either one was paying attention. “Please don’t-” 

“Don't hit me, asshole!”

“Guys!” she shouts, but they ignore her. 

“Don't tell me everything is all right because I saw you in there. You were crying like a baby!”

“DIEGO!” she wants to slap him. A spark of red light flashes, but it settles almost as fast. It turns deep blue, as Klaus explains.  

“Because I lost someone!” Klaus sighs. “I lost someone. The only…” he sighs again. “The only person I've ever truly loved more than myself. Cheers.” He puts a pill in his mouth.

“Well, you're luckier than most,” Diego tells him. “When you lose someone, at least you can see them whenever you want.” 

“I know it hurts, Klaus,” she says. “But you can talk to us. You can talk to me. You know I’m always going to have your back.”

“You really were going to fight that guy, not even with your powers,” Klaus says. “Just going to jump right in.”

“If someone hadn’t stopped me,” she says, glaring at Diego. 

“He was twice your size, you weren’t using your powers, and you're still injured,” Diego states.

“You’d still be mad if I had used them,” she argues. “And I’m fine, Diego.”

Earning a chuckle from Klaus. “She’s right. You’d be pissed either way.”

“Because you started a bar fight in a room of guys that fought for a living.”

"Fine, I'll ask," Klaus mumbles. His sister and brother share a confused glance before Klaus looks over at her. "You're injured?"

"Yeah, she got shot by those psychos that took you."

"They shot you?" Something in Klaus's tone and the way he starts moving closer and reaching out for her has Diego on edge. And she looks between the two, alarm clear in her eyes and the glow around her. Klaus grips her arm a bit too tight in the process. "Where? Is it-" 

"Whoa, Klaus, buddy," Diego goes to stop him, but their sister shakes her head. She manages to pry his hand off her and cups them between her own.

"Diego has been exaggerating the whole thing since it happened." She ignores the grunt of protest from said man. "I needed a few stitches, but it's nothing major." She pulled her jacket off and her shirt sleeve up. Ignoring a glare from Diego as she undid the bandage to show Klaus she really was fine. It looked as bad as it had before, but it was taken care of and on the way to healing. Or it would be if she left it wrapped. Something in her broke at the way Klaus seemed to study her carefully before finally relaxing. 

"You really went through some shit, didn't you?” Diego asks his brother before rolling his eyes and swatting Y/N's hand away from where she was trying to keep her sleeve up and replace the bandage single-handedly. 

"You wouldn't believe it if I told you," Klaus states. "Try not to get shot again. Okay, Sunshine? I don't need any more ghosts."

"Going to take a lot more than some loony toons in masks to end us, Klaus," she assures him.

"Good."

"And next time I see them, I'm putting Wisp's fist through an eye socket and will boil their brains inside their own skulls," she states. "What?" She asks when Diego stares at her with abject horror on his face. 

"That's dark," Klaus chuckles, "Especially for you, Sunshine."

"Well, they tried to take not one but two brothers from me, shot up the academy, scared V, and dropped a chandelier on Luther."

"And shot you," Diego adds.

"That too. So I will not hesitate next time."

"You are scary now,” Klaus smirks. “And I kinda love that for you."

"Seriously?" Diego glares at Klaus. 

"What? You always thought she needed to be a better brawler. Well, here she is."

"Yeah, well,” Diego shook his head. “You didn't have to see it."

"I would pay to," Klaus admits.

"Klaus!" Diego glares at him

"What?” Klaus looks at him like her boiling someone's brain is the most logical action possible in their situation. “She'd kill for me. Am I not supposed to find that sweet?"

"Sometimes I forget how insane this family is, even for like half a second."

“That's our man,” Diego says as they see Hazel getting into his car.

“Hey, I know that guy,” Klaus states.

“What?” Y/N stares at him.

“How could you possibly know that?” Diego asks.

“He and a really angry lady tortured me,” Klaus informs them. “I barely got out with my life.”

Diego starts the car and follows him.

“We gotta get this guy.”

“Stay in the car,” Diego tells them once they get to the motel.

“What are you talking about,” Klaus argues. “This guy tortured me!”

“I have a plan,” Diego says and gets out of the car.

“Well, that plan better include me,” she tells him as she gets out.

“It does not, so you stay here.”

“It’s cute you think that will even remotely work,” Klaus says from the car. “Especially on Sunshine.”

He doesn’t even bother with a response, just walks toward the motel stairs.

“How long should we let him think he’s getting his way?”

“15 more seconds? Yeah?” She says.

“Works for me,” Klaus nods and gets out of the car.

“So what exactly is the plan here, big guy?” Klaus says as he walks up behind Diego, just as Diego moves to rush the noisy motel room.

“I told you to wait in the car,” Diego complains, not even bothering to look back. He shakes his head when he hears his sister laugh.

“Yeah,” Klaus states. “But you also told me that licking a nine-volt battery would give me pubes.”

“We were eight,” Diego counters. 

“You believed him, even when I told you he was being a jerk,” Y/N shakes her head. Diego glares at them.

“What?” Klaus says. “Come on.”

“For once, I need you to listen to me, okay?”

“Yeah, right,” she shakes her head. 

Diego continues. “Now, go back to the car. If I don't come out in two minutes, that means I'm probably dead.”

“Not happening,” she states.

“That happens. Go get help,” Diego says.

She stands in front of him. “Hi, I’m help and I’m already here.”

“Then stay here,” he says.

“Just let me-” he is already heading into the motel room before she can offer to do it her way.

A car speeds past and gunshots ring out. Diego shouts. Klaus pulls Diego back almost on instinct, but a bullet pierces Diego's arm. 

“Oh man,” Klaus says as Diego attempts to catch his breath. “See? You used to think I was an idiot.”

“I still think you’re an idiot,” Diego replies.

“You’re both idiots.” She uses the Wisp to make sure the coast is clear, including the motel room, and ushers them both to the car. But the car is useless. 

“Was this all part of your master plan?” Klaus snarks.

“Shut up,” Diego glares. 

She curses their luck in multiple languages before turning back to Diego to get a better look at his arm. Part of her wants to find them and follow them with the Wisp. She wants to make good on the threat of boiling their brains. But she needs to prioritize. She can find them later. Now, she needs to take care of her brother’s bleeding arm. 

"Oh yay, now we have matching gunshot wounds," she grumbles. She takes one of his knives, and despite his protest, she cuts his sleeve. He won't admit it out loud, but that distracted him for a moment longer than it should have, especially as he watches her flex her fingers. Her eyes glow as she heats her hand, and he shakes his head and focuses. 

“Get it over with,” he grits out. 

“Don’t rush me,” she says. “Gonna have my pretty li’l handprint forever on your arm soon enough. Just give me a second.” She looks up from his wound to meet his eyes. “You might want to bite down on something.” When he doesn’t, she rolls her glowing eyes. “Fine, but don’t blame me if you crack a tooth.” She clamps her hand down on the wound, her fingers curling around to make sure it covers. Her unheated hand moves to his neck to keep him from moving too much. She can feel his muscles go tight and the way his body fights her. Klaus helps hold him still. She shakes the heat out of her hand when its done. 

“Breathe,” she tells him. Her now cooled hand moved to the side of his face, brushing away tears she knows are there because of how much it hurt when she does that. “Stay with me. Okay? We need you.” He nods, dropping his forehead to hers.   

 Y/N cannot believe she let them talk her into this. She braces herself as Klaus drives the ice cream truck faster than it is most likely supposed to go. She tries not to think about the fact she is literally sitting in an injured Diego’s lap. His uninjured arm grips her tight. She just keeps mentally repeating that she loves her brothers and this is for the best. She superheats her grip and digs her fingers into the panel in front of them as she braces as they hit Hazel and Cha-Cha’s car. She is on her feet and pulling Diego after her as soon as the vehicle stops. 

“Five!” Luther calls out for Five. 

“You still with me?” She asks Diego as they stumble out of the truck.

“My shoes hurt,” he answers. She looks up and meets Klaus’ gaze. Luther rushes over to them to try and get them out of harm's way. 

“What the hell are you guys doing here?” Luther asks.

She scans the area with the Wisp as they hurry to the car. “Five isn’t here. We need to go, now!” she shouts to them.   

“Luther, go!” Klaus shouts. “Go!” They make as quick a getaway as the old car can handle. 

In the car, she looks at Diego. “You still with me?”

“Claro que sí,” he says.

“Siga siendo así.” She grins.

Translations:

"Su culpa o no. Mantente enfocado" His fault (or guilt) or not. Stay focused.

“Claro que sí." Yes, of course.

“Siga siendo así.” Keep it that way.

[mikasimaginairyworld]

The Umbrella Academy: Firecracker - Number Five (5/30)

Umbrella Academy Masterlist

warnings: substances (drugs and mentioning of alcohol), mentioned death

word count: 3480

"When's it supposed to happen? This... apocalypse", Luther asked after Five had explained to him and Nailah everything about the apocalypse. Nailah was sitting on one of Diego's uncomfortable chairs anxiously chewing on her nails.

"I can't give you the exact hour, but from what I. could gather we have about four days left.", Five announced and both Nailah and Lither exhaled sharply. 

"Why didn't you say something sooner?", Nailah asked running a hand through he messy curls.

"It wouldn't have mattered.", Five dismissed the question.

"Of course it would. We could've banded together and tried to stop this thing.", Luther raised his voice. Five sighed heavily looking down: "For the record, you already tried."

"What do you mean?"

"I found all of you. Your bodies.", Five admitted silently.

"We die?", Luther asked disturbed.

"Horribly."  Luther looked at Nailah who was staring at Five in shock.

"You were together. Trying to stop whatever it was that ends the world.", Five continued.

"Wait, how do you know that?", Luther asked putting a hand on Nailah shoulder, ripping her out of her trance.

Five pulled out the glass eye from his pocket: "This was clutched in your dead hand when I found you. Must've ripped it out off their head right before you went down."

"Whose head?"

"Like I said, I don't know."

"Wait, there's a serial number on the back. Think maybe you could try...", Luther suggested.

"No, that's a dead end. The company was burned down. It's just another hunk of glass."

At this moment Diego burst through the door aggressively approaching Five. "Piece of shit. Do you have any idea what you just did?", he screamed at Five and would have hit him right in the head if it wasn't for Luther who caught him and lifted him off the ground.

"Get your ape hands off me!", Diego grunted struggling to get back to the floor. "I can do this as long as it takes you to calm down.", Luther announced and Diego let himself hang limply in Luther's grip.

"Wanna tell. us what you're talking about?", Nailah asked.

"Our brother's been pretty busy since he got back. He was in the middle of that shootout at Griddy's, and then Bible brothers after. the guys in masks attacked the academy, looking for him. And I assume you were not far away.", Diego directed the last part at Nailah who raised her hands defensively.

"None of which is your concern. And leave her out of it.", Five snapped back.

"It is now. They've just killed my friend.", Diego spat at him.

"Who are they, Five?", Luther asked.

"They work for my former employer. A woman called The Handler. She sent them to stop me. Then, soon as Diego's friend got in the way, well fair game.", Five gave in. 

"And now they're my fair game. And I'm gonna see to it they pay.", Diego hissed

"That would be a mistake, Diego. They've killed people far more dangerous than you."

"Yeah, we'll see about that." , Diego slammed the door and Luther quickly followed him to stop him.

Five got up from the bed and began roaming the kitchen in the search for something edible. "How come you're not back in the pod?", he asked Nailah.

"Needs to recharge. And it takes a lot longer when I'm woken by emergency.", she explained 

Five hummed:"Did you mean what you said yesterday?"

"What exactly do you mean?"

"About aging me up."

"I said that?"

"Come on, Nai. We both know you're never drunk enough to lose memory.", Five was getting visibly annoyed. 

"You've been gone an awfully long time. You might not know me as well as you think you do.", Nailah hissed at him rising from the chair. She was taller than Five and rather pissed. Nailah hated when people pretended they knew her. Her eyes send an ominous glow. 

"Fine. I guess that is a lost hope then, too. Nice to see you've got your powers back, by the way.", Five went back to. searching the kitchen.

Nailah sighed. As much as she hated Five she love a challenge: "Fine. I'll se what I can do."

​​​​​​​"Great. Thanks."

Luther came back and began questioning Five about how he met the Handler and Five told him and Nailah everything. Staring from him having to search for food for years until one day The Handler appeared offering him a position at the Commission.

 

Walking back to her apartment Nailah passed a popular breakfast stop. She contemplated getting some food but right before she could enter she spotted Vanya sitting next to a pretty handsome guy. They were laughing and clearly flirting with each other. Interesting. 

Nailah decided to get some necessary stuff from the supermarket and when she finally arrived at her apartment she craved going back into the pod and surrender to the eternal blissful nothingness of sleep. Instead she just stuffed her face with cinnamon buns and made some tea. Then she gathered all of her notebooks she had taken from the house as well as those that were safely stored in her lab and sat down on the floor. She sighed heavily asking herself why on earth she agreed to modify her pod to help Five. Biting into the sweet bread she took a pen and started adjusting the equations and parameters to fit the needed model.

Five walked up the stairs. An anxious feeling was spreading through his stomach and he hated it. He knew perfectly well where this was coming from. One, he put himself under pressure to save the world. Two, he had hope that Nailah could speed up his aging process so he could go back to his old self. Passing. Klaus' room he sighed heavily to which he heard Klaus' muffled groaning. Peeking into the room Five spotted his brother frantically scratching his whole body. Upon further inspection Five even spotted some new tattoos. Slowly he stood in the doorway. "You okay?", he asked knocking.

​​​​​​​"Yeah, I just... long night.", Klaus brushed it off to which Five hummed sceptically. 

"More than one from the looks of it. ​​​​​​​Don't remember the dog tags.", Five said.

​​​​​​​"Yeah, they belonged to a friend."

"How about that new tattoo?"

​​​​​​​"You know, I don't totally remember getting it. As I said. A long night.", Klaus tried to wave Five off. Five only grinned widely knowing exactly what was going on.

"You did it, didn't you?", he stated more than asked.

"What are you talking about?", Klaus asked putting on some barely wearable converse.

​​​​​​​"You know, I can recognise the symptoms, Klaus."

"Symptoms of what?"

"The jet lag. Full body itch. The headache that feels like someone shoved a box of cotton up your nose and through your brain. You gonna tell me about it?"

Klaus looked up with slight anger in his tired eyes: ​​​​​​​"Your pals, when they. broke into the house and couldn't find you, they took me hostage instead."

​​​​​​​"And in return you stole their briefcase."

"Yeah. I thought there was money in it. Or. I could pawn it or whatever. And then I opened it...", Klaus' gaze turned empty and horrified. It was clear he had lived through something whenever he had gone.

Five didn't seem to care: "And the next thing you knew you were where? Or should I ask when? How long were you gone?"

"Almost a year."

"A year? Do you know what this means?"

"Yeah. I'm ten months older than you all now."

"No, this isn't some joke, Klaus. Hazel and Cha-Cha will do anything they can to get the briefcase. Where is it now?"

"Gone. I destroyed it. Poof.", Klaus mimicked an explosion with his hand.

"What the hell were you thinking? I needed it you moron so I could get back!", Five screamed in anger. 

Klaus. just shook his head in tired disappointment and swiftly left the room. Five scoffed angrily but grabbed a pen and a piece of paper and began writing a note to Cha-Cha and Hazel.

Allison rushed along the street to Nailah's apartment. Or at least the last address she knew Nailah had lived under. She scanned the names next to the doorbells of the building. 5th floor. Apartment 5c. N. Hargreeves. Allison pressed the doorbell and after a few seconds she heard a low buzz allowing her to enter. She took the elevator up and knocked on Nailah's apartment door. The door opened and she was greeted by Nailah with her hair in the messiest formation ever in sweats and a hoodie and very tired eyes. Nailah took off her black headphones and scanned Allison unimpressed.

"Oh, it's you. Thought it was my pizza.", she said clearly disappointed. 

​​​​​​​"Hey. Can I come in?", Allison asked. Nailah shrugged and let her into the apartments stepping away from the door. Allison entered a wasteland of open books, notebooks, pens, calculations and Nailah's shabby laptop whirring loudly clearly overloaded.

"Is there anything specific you need or have you just come to criticise my apartment?", Nailah said pouring Allison a glass of water.

"Yes, it's about Vanya.", Allison took the glass with a small smile. 

"Oh? It wouldn't have anything to do with that date she was on this morning?", Nailah asked.

"How do you know about that?", Allison asked surprised and Nailah just shrugged.

"Yes. I'm worried. He does not seem like a genuine person.", Allison admitted.

"So you've met him."

"Not on purpose. I've met him once when I went to get Vanya for the meeting about mom. And then again when I ran by Vanya's apartment to apologise after the attack. He was there. It was really suspicious.", Allison explained.

"So you don't trust him?"

Allison sighed: ​​​​​​​"I don't know. He's just... weird. I have a bad feeling about him."

"Alright. So what are we doing about it?", Nailah asked.

"You're gonna help me? Just like that?"

​​​​​​​"Yeah, of course. Vanya's my sister too. Besides, I really need a distraction. Those equations are killing me.", Nailah said exchanging the sweats for black cargo pants.

"What are you planning on doing?", Nailah asked taking off the hoodie and replacing it with a brown flannel to throw over the brown crop top she had on which allowed her wound to heal better without the unnecessary constraint of clothing.

​​​​​​​"I thought library. We can do some research on him. His name is Leonard Peabody.", Allison said grabbing Nailah's jacket.

"Sounds great.", Nailah approved tying black converse to her feet.

The sisters left the apartment. "What are you trying to figure out anyways?", Allison asked referring to Nailah's work.

"I'm going to modify my pod to age Five up."

"Really? You think it's gonna work?"

Nailah sighed:"I honestly don't know. It should, at least in theory. The biological limits of the human body are respected for this but the equations are not making any sense. I must've done a mistake this morning or it's damaging on a molecular level."

Upon seeing Allison's confused face she giggled and quickly Allison joined.

​​​​​​​"Last time you were this quiet was when we were twelve. Ran down the stairs in Grace's heels, tripped over and broke your jaw. How long was it wired shut again?", Diego commented on Klaus' silence next to him.

"8 weeks.", Klaus sighed.

"8 glorious weeks of bliss."

"Hey, just drop me off here.", Klaus asked when they passed a veterans bar. Diego gave Klaus a weird look but listened and as soon as Klaus disappeared in the bar Diego contemplated everything that could go wrong. Of course there were way too many possibilities that countable and Diego promptly decided it would be better if he followed Klaus.

He entered the bar and spotted Klaus in front of the board with pictures, clearly crying. Diego placed a hand on Klaus' shoulder.

​​​​​​​"Go away, please.", Klaus mumbled. "Not until you talk to me."

"You threatening me?"

"Hey, guys. This bar? It's for vets only.", an old guy said, clearly displeased with Klaus crying in front of the fallen.

"I am a vet.", Klaus announced not looking away from the picture of young soldiers. The guy only laughed at him.

​​​​​​​"You've got balls coming in here, pretending like you're one of us.", the buy spat at them.

​​​​​​​"Oh, I have every right to be here, just like you. Asshole.", Klaus said with anger in his voice turning around. The guy made a step forward, ready to beat Klaus up but Diego stepped in front of him: "Whoa. Hey, slow down, Marine. All right? My brother's just had a few too many. Let's just call it a day, go our own way."

The guy seemingly agreed but suddenly demanded and apology from Klaus who, being Klaus, turned it into a massive insult which ensued a fight. Klaus and Diego quickly finished it off and returned to the car. 

"You got a big mouth, you know that?", Diego asked chuckling with Klaus back in the car.

​​​​​​​"Oh, wow. What a truly shocking revelation, Diego.", Klaus responded fumbling with a small plastic bag with pills.

"Everything's just a big joke to you, right? Would you stop it? Why are you putting this shit in your body? This is weakness.", Diego knocked the pills out of Klaus' hand.

"Well, weakness feels so good.", Klaus said pulling another packet of pills from his coat. Diego hit him in the back of his head, knocking the pills away again. "What's going' on with you?"

"Don't hit me, asshole!"

​​​​​​​"Don't tell me everything is alright because I saw you in there. You were crying like a baby!", Diego shouted at his brother.

​​​​​​​"Because I lost someone!", Klaus screamed.

"I lost someone. The only... The only person I've ever truly loved more than myself. Cheers.", Klaus admitted and popped a pill into his mouth.

"Well, you're luckier than most. When you lose someone... at least you can... see them whenever you want.", Diego said with an empty expression in his eyes.

Right then, Diego spotted something in the car mirror. "That's our man.", he said.

​​​​​​​"Hey, I know that guy. He and a really angry lady tortured me. I barely got out with my life.", Klaus said.

Diego send him a side glance seeing a glimpse of what Klaus must have gone through in the last day. He then started the car and followed Hazel's light blue car up until they arrived at a shabby motel.

Allison knocked at Vanya's door. The beautiful music stopped immediately and the door opened.

"Oh, hey.", Vanya said surprised.

"Hey, can I come in?", Allison asked and Vanya stepped aside. ​​​​​​​"Sorry, I really need to rehearse."

​​​​​​​"Look, I know you're not gonna want to hear this, but I was just in the library looking up Leonard. And...", Allison said closing the door.

"What? Why would you do that?", Vanya interrupted.

"Vanya, there are records of literally everything. I mean, you look me up, there are miles..."

"You're one of the most famous people in the world.", Vanya commented still clearly upset.

"Okay. Bad example. You look up Nailah and there is still miles of information on her.", Allison tried again and Vanya scoffed.

​​​​​​​"My point is, there should be some kind of record of him, but all I could find is a photo and his name in the phone book. It's like he didn't exist..."

"You are unbelievable.", Vanya said shaking her head. "You're trying to dig up dirt on a guy I like. Who does that?"

​​​​​​​"Look, I've had my fair share of stalkers and creeps. I don't trust him.", Allison countered.

"You mean you don't trust me.", Vanya began packing up her violin.

"What? No. That's not...", Allison began but was cut off again:​​​​​​​ "This is not about you. And for the first time someone thinks I'm special."

Allison sighed:"I'm just worried about you."

"Well, you're not my mother. Worry about your own daughter."

"That's not fair.", Allison's voice sounded weak.

"I want you to leave.", Vanya announced.

Allison sighed heavily but listened and closed the door silently behind her. She walked down the stairs and found Nailah just as. she had left her sitting on the curb, playing with a pocket knife.

"Went that well, huh?", Nailah commented as both started to walk towards the suburban part of the city. Allison only sighed not looking at her sister.

​​​​​​​"So. Plan B I take it?", Nailah asked.

"Plan B it is.", Allison confirmed. ​​​​​​​"And just for the record, I'm not enjoying this.", she assured.

Nailah just shrugged next to her: "I am. It's the most excitement I've had since I got woken up."

"Really? Getting nearly murdered was not exciting for you?"

Nailah shrugged again:"That's different. That's physically exciting. And draining actually. Stalking, breaking and entering is mentally exciting."

"You are so weird.", Allison shook her head in disbelief.

"Yeah, I love you too."

Nailah and Allison arrived at Leonard's house not soon after. They claimed inside through an unlocked window and began searching the house.

"Seems pretty normal to me.", Nailah said scanning the kitchentable with opened and unopened letters.

​​​​​​​"I know. I doesn't make sense."

"Or we're just way too paranoid and he's actually harmless like Vanya says."

"How do you explain the missing records then?"

​​​​​​​"I don't know. Maybe he's just a really private person or something.", Nailah shrugged.

"Don't look at me like that. I'm guessing just as much as you are.", Nailah raised her hands in defeat.

The sisters went up the stairs where they split up.

"Nailah!", Allison called from the corridor rushing her to come out of the bedroom.

"I think I've found something.", Allison motioned at the ceiling.

Right as Nailah was about to join Allison she heard a car pull up to the driveway.

"Shit.", she cursed.

"Allison! We need to get out of here! He's back.", Nailah whisper-shouted and worry was immediately painted on Allison's face.

They slowly walked down the stairs careful to not make a sound. They heard the door open and keys jangle. Allison stepped into. a corridor that provided a view from the kitchen but got immediately pulled back by Nailah who motioned at Leonard taking off his coat in the kitchen.

Seeing a backdoor Nailah motioned to Allison to try to open it. In the meantime Nailah balled her hands into fits and concentrated her thoughts on the little rest of heat the fireplace still had from the night before. She called for the warmth, commanded it to spread, to form a gush of wind that would distract Leonard.

The heat was hesitant at first and only when Nailah increased her concentration it began to move. Slowly, very slowly it jumped up, forming a see-through cloud of warmth that slowly danced towards Leonard. As soon as it reached him, it tickled his neck and then completely swooped over his head causing him to look into the direction of the fireplace with a worried expression. 

As soon as he was out of sight Nailah let go of the heat and let Allison pull her out of  the house. 

"What did you do?  How did you get him to leave the room?", Allison asked as soon as they far enough.

"I got the rest of the fire from the day before to form a temperature blanket and send it his way. He was probably worried the fireplace was still lit.", Nailah said.

Vanya had played without her medication. Vanya felt absolutely glorious. Vanya had kissed Leonard. Vanya had loved  it.

What Vanya hadn't realised is that energy had oozed from her body when she did that. That energy was now set free, wondering around the city.

It played with Luther's shoe laces.

It disturbed Diego's knife collection.

It messed up Allison's perfect blonde curls in her sleep.

It ripped a few of Klaus' drawings from the walls of his room.

It ruffled Dolores' blouse next to Five.

It messed up Nailah's notes that were scattered all over the floor.

I caressed Vanya's bare shoulders, wondering why it had been set free. 

-> Umbrella Academy Masterlist

[auxiliarydetective]

Kassandra Hargreeves' Scenes, S01E05: Number Five (Part 1)

This episode features a lot of grief that Kassandra goes through with her siblings

Diego's Grief

Kassandra’s muscles tensed up. She could feel a whirl of emotions headed their way. Anger, grief, despair. Suddenly, the door flew open. It slammed into the wall behind it with a loud, metallic clang. With the noise, Diego came in, looking ready to commit murder.

“Piece of shit”, he growled.

He was headed straight towards Five. Immediately, both Kassandra and Luther got up and stood in front of him.

“Do you have any idea what you just did?!”

It took Luther’s super strength to hold him back. He struggled and wriggled like a wild animal.

“Let me get- No- Get your ape hands off of me!”

“I can do this for as long as it takes you to calm down”, Luther remarked.

Kassandra wanted to say something. She really did. But the onslaught of emotions she felt from Diego left little to be said. What could she say that he would want to hear or even accept hearing? Slowly, Diego stopped struggling. He scoffed.

“... Fine.”

Luther let him go, then said: “Wanna tell us what you’re talking about?”

“Our brother’s been pretty busy since he got back”, Diego hissed, struggling to keep his voice from breaking. “He was in the middle of that shootout at Griddy’s and then at Gimble Brothers after the guys in masks attacked the Academy looking for him.”

“None of which is any of your concern”, Five commented in a bored fashion.

Diego’s eyes were widened with the horrors he had seen. “It is now”, he said between shaky breaths. “They just killed my friend.”

She had been more than just a friend. Kassandra felt it yelled at her, everything Diego had felt for Eudora Patch, every ounce of love turned to pain. As Luther’s eyes went demandingly to Five, Kassandra’s were caught on Diego. She hoped that they spoke everything she failed to say.

“Who are they, Five?” Luther demanded to know.

Kassandra wished she could tell them. She wanted to spit everything out, but she knew the words would get stuck in her throat because Five kept everything a secret.

“... They work for my former employer”, he finally confessed. “A woman called The Handler. She sent them. To stop me. Then, soon as Diego’s friend got in the way, well, fair game.”

Horrified, Kassandra looked at Five. Fair game?! How could he say something like that?

“And now they’re my fair game”, Diego growled. “And I’m gonna see to that they pay.”

“That would be a mistake, Diego, they’ve killed people far more dangerous than you.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

With those words, he was out of the door. That was when Kassandra’s frozen state thawed. She sprinted up the little staircase to the door two steps at a time and followed him. Her heartbeat hurting her chest, she looked around the room to find him, only to see him go outside. So, she went after him. In the alley next to the house, she finally caught up to him.

“Diego!”

He stopped with his hand on the door to his car. It was shaking.

“Go away, Kassandra.”

His voice was nothing more than a whisper. The pain spoke louder than he still could. Kassandra felt like she was in a hurricane of grief, screaming at her from every cell of Diego’s heart.

“I’m not leaving you like this”, Kassandra said, firmly yet softly at the same time.

“Are you gonna try and stop me from getting these bastards?” Diego asked, still not looking at her.

“No. I know I can’t do that. I just…” she sighed.

Carefully, she got closer to Diego and put a hand on his shoulder. She could hear his breathing now, shallow and shaky. If she could see his face, she was sure of it, her heart would finally shatter.

“I want you to know that I’m still here. You’re not alone with your feelings. Whatever you need, if you want to talk or if you don’t want to talk and just-”

Suddenly, Diego turned around and pulled her against him as if his life depended on it. He started sobbing, finally breaking. Kassandra swallowed her own tears and held him close, rubbing her hands across his back. From her mind to his, she sent him all the comfort she could gather, all the love in her heart, hoping that it would make his pain better even in the slightest.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄✼▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Klaus's Return

Kassandra had just finished reading the last word of the paragraph when she felt a change in the voices coming to her head. It was like a rain cloud had moved over her brain. She closed her book and put it down. Immediately, she was reminded of something Diego had said about her once: She sniffed out negative emotions like a dog. It was true. But was that so bad? All she wanted to do was help. That was when it hit her who these emotions belonged to, this grief and pain: Klaus. Kassandra immediately pulled off her gloves and rushed out into the hallway. There he was. Her breath got stuck in her throat.

“Hey, Kass…

“Klaus… Oh, god…”

Klaus was wearing a torn-up military uniform in green. It was missing its sleeves, revealing a tattoo of a skull and a banner on his left arm. Dirt was smudged all over his skin. But most horrifyingly of all, his hands were covered in blood.

“I don’t wanna talk about it”, Klaus said weakly.

“That’s alright”, Kassandra whispered, her voice having escaped her. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up.”

Klaus nodded, though only slightly and very jerkily.

Gently, Kassandra put a hand on his back and led him to the bathroom. There, she prepared a bath for him while he peeled himself out of his clothes. She helped him into the bathtub. His bloody hands left stains on the sides of the tub and on her skin. Carefully, she dipped a towel into the bathwater and started rubbing the blood off. As she held his hand, she learned everything. About the man and the woman who had kidnapped him, about the torture, about the briefcase. About Vietnam, about Dave, about the love, about his death. The story made Kassandra want to scream and cry but she swallowed it all down. Through the pain constantly flowing into her from Klaus’s hands, she held them gently and through the blood and the dirt she saw her brother who had been hurt. He needed her. Every once in a while, she could hear shots echoing inside his mind, helicopters, yelling, Klaus’s own voice calling Dave’s name. Tirelessly, Kassandra sent comfort, love and affection to Klaus’s head, a small bit of relief against the horrors that were lurking all across his brain. When all the dirt and blood was cleaned off, Kassandra washed Klaus’s hair with his favourite shampoo. Then, she helped him out of the bathtub and dried his hair for him. As Klaus sat there on the stool, wrapped in a towel, he looked at least a little bit better. All this time, they had not spoken a word. But now, he was the first to break the silence.

“Thanks, Kass”, he said quietly before clearing his throat.

“Anytime.”

“You probably know everything that happened by now.”

“I do.”

“Could you not tell anyone?”

“I won’t say a word. Not until you’re ready to talk about it.

“Thanks. You’re a good sister.”

Kassandra smiled. “If there’s ever anything else I can do… please, come to me, okay?”

“Alright.”

Kassandra squeezed his hands one last time, then headed back to her room. She tried to pick her book back up, but what she had seen in Klaus’s mind haunted her too much to read even a single word. Absent-mindedly, she put her gloves back on and resorted to staring out the window.

▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄✼▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄

Veteran

A while later - Kassandra couldn’t tell how long it had been - there was a knock at her door.

“Come in!” she called.

The door opened only a bit and Klaus peeked his head through, into the room. He still looked tired, his mind like darkened skies.

“Hey, Kass”, he mumbled. “Do you wanna go on a road trip?”

“A road trip?” Kassandra echoed. “Where to?”

“Well, it’s not really a road trip. I just wanna go somewhere and I thought you might wanna tag along. Y’know, emotional support.”

That was all he needed to say. If he needed emotional support, Kassandra was going, no matter where to.

“Sure”, she said. “Are we going right now?”

“Yeah, Diego’s already waiting.”

“Do I need anything?”

“No, nothing.”

“Alright.”

Swiftly, Kassandra got up and met Klaus at the door. He was wearing his black coat with the fluffy collar but she could see the green uniform underneath.

“Can I… Can I hold your hand?” Klaus asked carefully.

“Of course”, Kassandra replied.

She took off her gloves and put them in her pocket, then she linked her fingers with Klaus’s. The noises were there again. Gunshots, helicopters, shouting…

Hand in hand, they walked out of the Academy. Diego was already waiting in the car outside. It surprised Kassandra that he had waited at all.

“Kass, what are you doing here?” he asked.

“It’s called having a good relationship with your sister”, Klaus cut in tiredly before Kassandra could say anything. “You should try it too sometime.”

Diego’s eyes looked upon Kassandra and Klaus’s intertwined hands. Then, he looked up into Kassandra’s eyes, looking for answers. But she couldn’t give him any. She and Klaus climbed in the backseat. Then, Klaus named Diego a place to drive to and off they went. As the car started moving and taking turns, Klaus pulled a bottle of vodka from his coat, opened it and started drinking. Kassandra did nothing to stop it. She knew this was how he coped, as awful as it was. Maybe it did actually help just a little against the voices in his brain. At least that was what he always claimed. Every now and then, Diego shot them a look through the mirror, clearly wanting to know what was going on.

“Wow”, he remarked. “My brother Klaus is silent. Last time you were this quiet we were twelve. Ran down the stairs wearing Grace’s heels, tripped over and broke your jaw. How long was it wired shut again?”

Klaus didn’t respond.

“Eight weeks, I think?” Kassandra said.

“Eight glorious weeks of bliss.”

“Hey just… just drop me off here”, Klaus mumbled.

They had reached a large building with an Army logo on it. It looked sad and cold. Diego steered the car into the parking spot in front of it. As soon as they were standing, Klaus pulled himself free of Kassandra’s grasp, pushed the door open and tumbled out.

“You sure you’re okay, man?” Diego called after him.

But there was no response. Klaus just slid the vodka bottle in his coat and walked off to the entrance. Each step of the way, Kassandra’s eyes followed him. It was only when the door to what she learned was a bar closed behind him that she snapped out of her trance-like state. She sighed heavily and started kneading her hands. As she did, she could feel Diego staring at her.

“You mind telling me what’s going on with Klaus?” he asked.

With another sigh, Kassandra looked up at him. What could she tell him? “He… he’s been through a lot”, she finally said.

“With the military?”

She nodded. Diego sighed and removed his seatbelt.

“Come on”, he said curtly. “I don’t like that he’s alone in there.”

A smile spread across Kassandra’s face as she got out of the car with him. That was the Diego she knew. He could pretend not to care for as long as he wanted to, but he did care, more than he’d like to admit.

The two of them entered the dimly lit bar. The bar itself was close to the door, with nobody behind it. Klaus’s coat lay on it, right next to taps filled with what might just be liquor and an emptied shot glass. Careful not to have the bottle in it fall out, Kassandra picked the coat up and hung it over her arm. She could feel Klaus behind her. The rainshower of a broken heart sent shivers down her spine. His thoughts were spinning with happy moments turned sad and the moment of Dave’s death playing over and over. Meanwhile, Diego walked over to Klaus. Kassandra followed him. Klaus was standing in front of a display cabinet. It was filled with pictures and items related to the Vietnam War. One of them was a badge. Kassandra recognized it immediately. Sky Soldiers. 173rd Airborne Brigade. The tattoo on Klaus’s arm. The unit he had landed in during his time travel adventure. Klaus just stood there staring at a picture with adoration and grief. The picture showed the unit. From the right corner, a tiny Klaus looked back at Kassandra and next to him was who Klaus’s world was spinning around. That was Dave. Gently, Diego put a hand on Klaus’s shoulder. This sent a small, weak spark through Klaus’s mind. Still, it was enough to pull him back into reality.

“Just… just go away, please”, he sighed.

That was when Kassandra felt a sense of hostility behind her.

“Hey, guys”, an old man said sharply. “This bar? It’s for vets only.”

“I am a vet”, Klaus mumbled in soft sadness.

“Really?” the man chuckled. “Where’d you serve?”

Kassandra bit her tongue and bound her hands from pointing at the picture in front of her and telling this man to open his eyes.

“None of your business”, Klaus sneered.

“You got balls coming in here pretending to be one of us.”

“Oh, I have every right to be here, just like you”, Klaus growled as he turned around. “Asshole!”

“Let him be, Klaus”, Kassandra whispered, taking his hand. “Let him be ignorant and high-and-mighty, don’t make this worse for yourself.”

But he didn’t listen. Of course, he didn’t. He just scoffed. But he left her hand where it was. If this was a blessing or a curse was to be determined because Kassandra could feel his emotions boiling up. She tried to calm them but the alcohol made getting through hard. Luckily, Diego was there to de-escalate the situation. He stepped between Klaus and the man and held the veteran back.

“Slow down, Marine”, he said. “All right? My brother’s just had a few too many. Let’s just call it a day, all go our own way.”

“Sure thing.”

“Thank you. Klaus-”

“As long as you apologize.”

Klaus just giggled. Kassandra could feel the hostility in the room grow. This would not end well.

“Fine”, Diego said. “I’m sorry. He’s sorry. We’re all sorry. Right, Kass?”

“Yes”, Kassandra said quickly. “We won’t bother you again.”

“I wanna hear him say it”, the veteran said in a tone that made Kassandra’s toes curl.

She could hear it in his thoughts: He was well aware that Klaus couldn’t say it. All of this was done on purpose. This man was out for trouble. Kassandra pressed her lips together and swallowed her anger.

“... Klaus?”

“No, no, no, he’s right”, Klaus said, but it was so insincere. Not in his tone, in his tone only slightly, but in his mind. So much so that it made Kassandra start to worry about his safety. “He’s right. He’s right. I’d like to apologize… that you… are depriving some village of their idiot!”

Now it was over. The veteran swung his fist for Klaus. Somehow, miraculously, Klaus’s reaction time was still fast enough for him to dodge. From there, the situation escalated. Klaus attacked back and Diego was immediately in on the fight too, jumping at another veteran that had come. Kassandra stepped back, shaken. Why did everything have to end in violence? Why were some people just out for confrontation for fun? Suddenly, she felt someone grab her arm. Their grip was firm and she could feel aggression writhe against her senses from behind. Quickly, she pulled herself free, staring into the eyes of another veteran. What had she done to be pulled into this? Swiftly, she dodged a swing of the attacker’s fist. Well, there was no way around it now. With all her strength, she kicked the man in the stomach, making him double over. Then, she slammed her knee into his face. Luckily, the bar had not been very full. While Kassandra had been contemplating the situation, Diego and Klaus had taken care of the other guests. The three sibling rushed for the door together. They scrambled into the car and drove off. Diego had a grin on his face and Klaus finally looked alive again, chuckling at the situation. Both had cut lips and some other minor injuries. After driving a few blocks, Diego stopped the car again. They were close to Griddy’s Donuts now.

“You got a big mouth, you know that?” Diego remarked.

“Oh wow, what a truly shocking revelation, Diego”, Klaus chuckled.

“Everything’s a big joke to you, right?”

That was when Kassandra spotted Klaus pulling a small packet of pills from his coat. Without a word, she took them from his hands and put them in her own pocket, away from him. Diego had noticed too.

“Why are you putting that shit in your body?” he asked, turning around and bending to face the backseat. “Look. My body is a temple. What you’re doing is just weakness.”

“Oh, but weakness feels so good”, Klaus sighed, pulling out another packet.

Kassandra was quick to confiscate it again.

“Stop it!” Diego shouted. His emotions were coming together again. “What���s going on with you?!”

“Stop yelling!” Klaus whined back. “Why are you yelling at me?”

“Don’t act like everything is alright because I saw you in there”, Diego barked. “You were crying like a baby!”

“Wh- Because I lost someone!” Klaus cried out.

Now, the car was silent. That was Diego. He never knew how to express his feelings well. It was good he cared, but maybe he could have worded it differently. Then again, would Klaus have told the truth if he had been pressured less? Carefully, Kassandra wrapped her hand around Klaus’s and squeezed it lightly. This emotional rollercoaster was really wearing him down. He let his head fall onto her shoulder, his entire body collapsing on itself and leaning against her.

“I lost someone. The only… the only person I’ve ever truly loved more than myself. - Cheers.”

This time, Kassandra didn’t stop him. The pill went down his throat. Soon, it would reach his brain. But it was no use trying to hold him back. Not now.

“Well, you’re luckier than most”, Diego mumbled. “When you lose someone… at least you can… see them whenever you want.”

To this, Klaus said nothing. Silently Kassandra suffered with him. She knew why he couldn’t do it. It was the drugs, she knew, but to convince him to stop taking them… Meanwhile, Diego spotted something through the window. He had turned to alert mode again. His aura was shaken by his hunting instinct kicking in, his thirst for revenge. Back at Griddy’s Donuts, he had spotted one of the attackers from the Academy.

“That’s our man.”

Now, Klaus turned around too. “Hey, I know that guy.”

“How could you possibly know that-”

“He and a really angry lady tortured me. I barely got out with my life.”

Suddenly, Kassandra realized she too was struck with a thirst for revenge. Now, she understood Diego’s obsession. The things Hazel and Cha-Cha had done to her family, to Diego, to Klaus… she wanted justice.

“We gotta get this guy”, Diego murmured. “Kass, this is gonna get violent, if you wanna hop out-”

“No, I’m coming along”, Kassandra said firmly.

A slight smirk spread across Diego’s face. “I like this new you.”

[systemtek]

How did the pagers and hand held radios explode in Lebanon

In a major security breach, thousands of pagers and walkie-talkie radios used by Hezbollah members exploded simultaneously across Lebanon on Tuesday 17th September 2024 and Wednesday 18th September 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people and injuring thousands more.  In this post we will take a look at the pagers and walkie talkies used in this attack.  Rugged Pager AR-924 – Pager’s - (Tuesday 17th September 2024) To start with many people are asking why are pagers been used as they are technically old technology, the answer is simple.  Hezbollah members prefer using pagers over phones due to concerns that Israel could track and monitor them through mobile devices, which is a logical reason.  To maximize the impact, Mossad allegedly sent a message alert to the pagers less than a minute before issuing the "explode" command, ensuring that as many Hezbollah commanders as possible would be looking at their pagers at the critical moment. According to a Hezbollah operative speaking to AP, the pagers that exploded on Tuesday were from a new brand the group had not previously used. A Lebanese security official informed Reuters that approximately 5,000 of these Rugged Pager AR-924 pagers were imported into the country around five months ago.  These pagers are manufactured by a Taiwanese manufacturer called Gold Apollo.  The founder, Hsu Ching-Kuang, stated that his company had entered into an agreement with a Hungarian-based firm, BAC, to produce the devices under his company's name. BAC's CEO, Cristiana Bársony-Arcidiacono, told NBC she was unaware of the explosions, saying, "I don’t manufacture the pagers. I’m just the intermediary. I believe there’s been a misunderstanding."   The Hungarian government clarified that the company had "no manufacturing or operational site" within the country. Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs announced on Wednesday that Gold Apollo had exported 260,000 pagers between 2022 and August 2024, mainly to European and American markets. In a statement, the ministry noted that there had been no reported incidents of explosions involving these products, and there were no records indicating the company had directly exported pagers to Lebanon. Some experts speculate that the radio system used by the pagers may have been hacked, possibly through altered code. This could have caused the pagers' batteries to overheat, triggering a thermal runaway process that led to the explosions. Other analysts, such as Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former British army officer and chemical weapons expert, suggest the pagers might have been tampered with during the supply chain, potentially being wired to detonate remotely.   Pagers like the mobile phone network have good coverage and can be used almost anywhere and still obtain a signal.  However, Brussels-based military and political analyst Elijah Magnier told Al Jazeera that his sources in Lebanon, citing initial Hezbollah investigations of pagers that didn't explode, indicate that Israel may have placed 1 to 3 grams (0.04 to 0.11 oz) of pentaerythritol tetranitrate (PETN), a powerful explosive, inside each device. The question remains how could thousands of pagers which were widely dispersed across Lebanon and nearby countries, be detonated simultaneously by a single coded signal.  Icom IC-V82 - Hand held radio’s - (Wednesday 18th September 2024) Just one day after the pagers exploded we got reports that hand held radios had exploded also.  Icom the Japanese company which makes the walkie-talkies that exploded said it stopped producing that specific model (IC-V82) around 10 years ago.  The manufacturing of the batteries has also stopped, it says.  The Icom IC-V82 and similar models could be known by different names, depending on its use and where you are located. Some may call it a walkie-talkie or hand held radio, others may say its a ham radio or transceiver, essentially all are correct ways to describe this radio. The thing to remember about the Icom IC-V82  is the signal range is very short.  They have a maximum power output of around 7 watts and in built up areas coverage can range from 10 to 20 miles maximum, the same applies for receive signal.  So IF for example they were somehow rigged to explode when they received a specific signal the range would be very limited and the sender of the signal would have to be close by or using a high power transmitter some distance away.  It is also interesting to note that Icom said the radio used in the explosion was not carrying an anti-counterfeit hologram sticker that all Icom devices should be carrying, so the radios used maybe counterfeit models. At this point it is still unclear at which point in the supply chain these devices were compromised and how. We will update this page once we obtain any new confirmed news regarding the pager and walkie talkie attacks. Image shows the pagers and radios used in this attack. Read the full article

[inkmonster21]

Hearts Across the Divide

10.) Caught

Noa x Fem!Human!Reader

Series Masterlist

~oOo~

Wuka's worried call for Loui echoes through the area. The older ape is growing anxious, concerned for your whereabouts and safety. Loui, meanwhile, is on high alert, searching desperately for any sign of you. As he approaches Wuka, Loui shakes his head in frustration and worry. "I could not find her," he mutters, his voice filled with a mixture of urgency and concern.

Gemm's tears threaten to fall as her worry for you intensifies. Her mind conjures up all the worst-case scenarios, fueling her growing fear. Wuka's voice cuts through the chaos, issuing directions to the others. "I will search the west end," he declares. "Loui, you head down to the river's edge. She might have gotten lost across the river."

Loui moves swiftly towards the waterfall, his heart heavy with worry and dread. The entire village has been searching frantically since you did not return by the time the sun set yesterday. Loui's mind is filled with the worst possible scenarios, the worry gnawing at his insides with each passing moment.

Loui's breath hitches as he scans the empty space on the rocks, the realization slowly dawning on him that something is amiss. He peers over the edge, his eyes falling on the scene below. There, in the distance, he spots the horse, securely tethered to a tree. It's the same horse he had chased away previously.

Loui follows the scent of the outsider ape, the trail growing stronger the closer he gets to the waterfall. He climbs down the rocks, his senses heightened, his mind focused on the task at hand. As he reaches the base, he notices an opening behind the falls, the scent of the stranger wafting from the dark hollow. Loui moves stealthily, carefully entering the cavern behind the waterfall. His body tenses, his hands clenching into fists, as his eyes adjust to the dim lighting. What he sees before him is enough to make his blood boil.

He lays eyes on you, wrapped in the embrace of another ape, both of you fast asleep, blissfully unaware of the chaos you've caused. His jaw clenches, anger bubbling up inside him at seeing you so close to the outsider.

Loui wastes no time, his expression hostile as he towers over Noa. His teeth are bared in a fearsome snarl, a guttural growl rumbling from deep within his chest. The hostility and anger are palpable, the sight of you in Noa's arms fueling his rage even further.

Loui's strong grip jerks Noa upright, jolting both you and him awake. The sudden movement leaves you disoriented, still half-asleep, and struggling to understand what's happening. Noa, too, is caught off guard, disoriented, and alarmed by the unexpected awakening.

Loui tackles Noa, using his weight and strength to force him to the ground. His anger takes over, and he begins beating Noa mercilessly, his fists pounding against his body, releasing the pent-up frustration from the frantic search for you. Your screams fill the cave, echoing off the stone walls as you watch Noa struggle against Loui’s assault. Despite the surprise attack, Noa fights back fiercely, his fists swinging in a desperate attempt to defend himself. He's clearly at a disadvantage, though, the surprise element having given Loui the upper hand.

Your quick reflexes kick in, and you rush forward, grabbing onto Loui's arms and tugging them back. It's just enough of a distraction to give Noa the chance to scramble to his feet, managing to put some distance between himself and Loui. Your voice echoes through the cave as you scream for them to stop. You position yourself in front of Noa, shielding him as you desperately try to halt the altercation. The anger in Loui's eyes clashes with your pleading ones, the tension thick in the air.

Loui's voice booms throughout the cave as he glares at Noa, his anger barely contained. He turns his focus to you, demanding answers. "Who is he?" he bellows, his tone filled with accusation and frustration. Loui leans in close, his nostrils flared as he takes in your scent. There's a distinct air of Noa's scent all over you. His expression darkens further, the realization of Noa's intimate proximity to you evident on his face.

Loui's voice echoes through the cave once more, “WHO IS HE?” His frustration reached its peak. He looms over you, his towering figure casting a shadow over you as he demands an answer. "Who is he!" he repeats, his tone sharp and urgent, his gaze fixated on yours, searching for an explanation.

Your hand finds Loui's chest, pushing firmly against him, urging him to give you some space. You speak calmly, attempting to diffuse the tense situation. "His name is Noa," you answer honestly. "He's the leader of the Eagle Clan, a clan that lives west of here."

Loui continues to glare daggers at Noa, his voice laced with disdain. "A clan leader?" he repeats, his words dripping with contempt. He turns his gaze to you, his eyes narrowing. "And what are you doing with him?" he growls, his tone sharp and accusatory. Your voice trembles as you confess, "He's... my mate." The words leave your lips, hanging heavy in the air. There's a mix of fear and trepidation in your eyes, the weight of the revelation palpable in the tense silence that follows.

Loui's voice is low and firm, his disapproval clear as he replies, "No." His expression hardens as he fixates his gaze firmly on Noa. There's an air of possessiveness in his demeanor, a territorial stance that signals his disapproval of your choice.

Your voice rises in anger, your frustration and helplessness boiling over. "You can’t tell me what to do! You can’t tell me who I can love!" you scream, your words echoing off the stone walls. "This is my life! MY LIFE!"

Loui flinches slightly at your outburst, taken aback by the intensity of your words, but he stands his ground, his body rigid and unyielding.

Loui leans down, his voice thick with suppressed anger, as he directs Noa, "Leave." There's no room for negotiation in his tone, the demand is clear and adamant. He maintains eye contact with Noa, challenging him to resist or argue.

You try to move towards Noa, wanting to comfort him, but Loui snatches your arm and roughly tosses you behind him, standing between you and Noa. Noa bristles at Loui's physical action, his teeth bared in a warning display. Loui turns his gaze back to you, his words cold and threatening. "Tell him to go... or I kill him in this cave... and his clan rots with him." The ultimatum hangs in the air, the implications clear to both you and Noa. You know deep down that Loui is capable of following through on his threat, should Noa refuse to leave.

Noa's eyes flick to you, a mixture of confusion and fear in his gaze. He's uncertain about what to do, unsure if he should stand and fight or heed Loui's command and leave. The decision hangs heavily on his mind, and he waits for your response, needing guidance, needing a sign from you, his mate.

Loui takes a step forward, preparing to launch himself at Noa, but your scream pierces the air, stopping him in his tracks. "STOP! STOP!"

You turn your tear-filled eyes towards Noa, your heart heavy with the weight of the situation. "Noa… just go… for me."

Each word leaves your lips like a plea, a desperate cry for him to listen and comply.

Noa reaches out to you, desperate to comfort you, to stay by your side, but Loui's strong arms shove him away.

"I will kill you... if I see you again." Loui's threat echoes through the cave, a warning that he means business. It's clear that he'll go to whatever lengths necessary to keep Noa away from you, even if it means resorting to violence.

Noa casts one final glance in your direction, his expression pleading, silently begging you to follow him, to run away together. It's a split-second moment, but the intensity in his eyes reveals the depth of his feelings, the strength of his desire to escape this precarious situation with you by his side.

Your heart aches with his departure, a sense of loss and helplessness washing over you. You're stuck in this position, unable to follow Noa even though you yearn to. You're a prisoner to your own circumstances, and the choice to leave has been torn away from you.

Loui's gaze remains fixed on you, his expression firm and disapproving. "What were you thinking?"

The question hangs in the air, his voice dripping with irritation. The implication is clear – he thinks you've been foolish, reckless even, in your involvement with Noa.

Loui's face reflects his anger and frustration as he admonishes you. "Leading a clan leader into our territory. Reckless. Stupid!" he grits out through clenched teeth.

"I should tell father." The mention of involving your father only ratchets up the tension, adding another layer of complexity to the already precarious situation.

You shake your head, the thought of your father's reaction sending a chill down your spine. "No," you plead. "Do not tell father."

The gravity of the situation weighs heavy on you, the thought of what might happen if your father finds out about Noa's presence sending a shiver through your body. The possibility of a targeted hunt scares you, and you know deep down that this secret must be kept from him at all costs.

Loui continues to voice his disapproval. "You can not see that ape... EVER AGAIN!" His words are firm, leaving no room for argument. It's clear he believes you should never have interacted with Noa in the first place, and now that he knows the extent of your involvement, he's determined to ensure it never happens again.

Loui doesn't give you time to react, forcefully grabbing your arm and pulling you up from the cave. He begins to drag you roughly, determination etched on his face.

"You're coming home." His words are laced with finality, leaving no room for negotiation or resistance.

You step out into the sunlight, a mixture of fear and anxiety coursing through your veins. You look up to see Noa on his horse, his gaze meeting yours. In that instant, a silent plea passes between you, a desperate hope for rescue from this chaotic situation.

Loui emerges behind you, his tone firm as he addresses Noa. "Go back to your Clan, Eagle Leader... never return." His words are laced with a warning, a clear message for Noa to steer clear of your territory and your clan.

Loui guides you forward, his grip firm on your arm as he steers you in the direction of the village. The journey back becomes a silent one, the air around you filled with heavy tension. You can feel the weight of Loui's disapproval and disappointment, palpable in his silence.

You rush to your hut, tears streaming down your face, each drop a testament to the emotional turmoil you're experiencing. As you pass by the villagers, their well-meaning words of concern and support fill the air, but you're unable to respond. The weight of the situation has rendered you speechless, overwhelmed by the emotional whirlwind inside you.

You enter your hut, your body heavy with grief and sorrow. You collapse onto your bed, the sobs wracking your body as tears stream down your face. The sound of your anguish fills the quiet space, the pain of the recent events consuming you whole.

Your Mother rushes into the hut, concern etched on her face as she takes in your tear-streaked face. She steps closer, her voice filled with worry. "What happened?" she asks softly, her eyes searching yours for an explanation.

You struggle to articulate the events through your sobs, your words coming out in fragmented, tearful gasps. "Noa... Loui... fought..." You take a shaky breath, trying to steady yourself. "He told... Noa he... could never come back..." Another sob wracks your body, your words trailing off as you wipe away the tears, only for more to replace them. "Or he'd... kill him."

Your mother holds you closely, a comforting presence amid your emotional turmoil. She waits until your sobs subside, soothing you with her gentle touch. She understands the depth of your love for Noa and the joy he brought to your life.

Once you're somewhat calmer, she rises to go in search of her son. She has words for him, words of disapproval and disappointment, determined to make him understand the depth of his actions.

Your mother whispers her gentle command, "Stay calm. I will speak to him." Her words are a soothing balm to your distraught state, and you slowly nod in response. She then rises and disappears from the hut, leaving you alone in your solitude. The only sound is the faint rustling of the wind outside and the occasional sniffs as you try to regain your composure.

The sound of your mother's voice echoes through the village, piercing the air like a shrill alarm. "Loui!" It bellows out, loud and clear. Loui halts in his tracks, turning to face her direction. He knows he's in trouble, especially now that she's found him.

Loui swallows thickly, his expression shifting from surprise to a mix of guilt and defensiveness. He glances around, noticing the stares and whispers that follow his mother's approach. "I... I was just..." he begins, his voice trailing off under the weight of her glare.

Loui stands his ground, his voice betraying a sense of defensiveness and justification. "She's delusional!" he retorts, his tone resolute. "If we let him stay, he'll take over our clan within months. I am doing my duty. That is what I am doing." His words carry a weight of authority and determination as if he truly believes he is doing what is best for the village.

Loui falters for a moment, his determination wavering as her words sink in. A flicker of guilt and self-doubt crosses his face before he hardens his expression once again.

"Maybe... maybe it hurts her." he concedes, his voice softer, but still determined. "But it's for the good of the village. The safety of the clan... that's my priority."

In a different scenario, she would have been proud of her son, admiring his dedication and protective nature. But right now, all she can feel is a mixture of worry and disappointment.

She looks at her son, her heart heavy with conflict.

Her voice drops to a hushed whisper as she implores him. "Do not tell your father."

A flicker of surprise crosses Loui's face, but he quickly recovers, nodding in understanding.

Noa sat quietly in his nest, the fire crackling softly in front of him. His thoughts wandered to you, his mind racing with the events of the day. The memory of Loui's rough handling and harsh words towards you fuelled a fire within his chest. He clenched his fists, his determination growing. No one would ever hurt you, he silently vowed. He wouldn't allow it.

Noa was familiar with the boundaries that governed your life. He knew of the limits imposed upon you, the lines that you were not allowed to cross. He was aware that you both had already violated one of those boundaries - the falls.

The thoughts raced through his mind like a relentless tide. Were you safe? Were you imprisoned? Were you being punished for what you'd done? Noa couldn't shake the constant barrage of worst-case scenarios that played out in his head.

Noa, his mind made up, resolved to disregard Loui's warning. With determination etched deep in his heart, he prepared to return. He was ready to see you again, to claim you as his own. He was ready to demand your life, your love, to make you his mate.

As Noa prepares to start on his journey, Anaya suddenly appears, inquisitive about his late-night venture. He stands in front of him with a puzzled expression. “Where are you going?” Anaya asks

Noa pauses, looking at Anaya with a mixture of surprise and disappointment. He glances back in the direction he was heading before responding. "I am going to her village."

Anaya could see the determination in Noa’s eyes. As well as the blemishes bruised that Loui left. “I will come with you.” Anaya offers his support to his friend. “Noa can not go see Echo… without protection from Anaya.” He says smugly with a joking smile.

A slight smile tugs at the corners of Noa's lips as Anaya pledges to accompany him. He glances at his friend, appreciating the show of support, and lets out a huff of laughter at the joke.

Noa's mind was singularly focused. His immediate priority was you. He wanted to see you, to witness the absence of worry and tears in your eyes. Everything else paled in comparison to this one need.

Noa and Anaya tread carefully as they step into your father's territory, and a chill seems to sweep through the air. The atmosphere feels different as if the very land is warning them to turn back. As their horses navigate through the brush, a clearing comes into view. A large fire burns at the center of the structures, and the familiar sight of your village stands before them.

Noa leaps off his horse, turning to give Anaya a firm command. "Stay here." He whispers, gesturing for his friend to remain hidden. Then, Noa stealthily makes his way along the dark perimeter of the village, hoping to find you without being discovered.

He observes as the villagers go about their nightly routines, nothing out of the ordinary. However, one thing catches his eye - Loui silhouetted against the large fire, his expression filled with a brooding glare.

Noa's heart skips a beat as a figure steps forward, revealing itself to be your mother. She leans down, her gaze meeting his directly.

"You are here... for her?"

Noa's pulse quickens at the sound of her words, knowing she's referring to you.

Noa nods, confirming her suspicions. His gaze darts towards Loui briefly, noticing him distracted by the fire, blissfully unaware of their silent exchange. “Come.” He follows your mother silently and obediently, his steps quiet and his body concealed in the shadows. At the entrance of the hut, your mother stops and turns to him. "Stay," she whispers, urging him to wait in the darkness outside while she enters your hut.

And there you lay, unmoving in your nest, your cheeks tear-soaked and eyes puffy from crying. The sight of you in such a state sends a pang of pain through Noa's heart.

Your mother's voice, soft and gentle, breaks the silence of the hut. "My dear," she says, her words infused with tenderness. She reaches out to stroke your hair, her touch light and comforting.

Your words escape, broken and pain-filled. "Leave me alone." The raw emotion in your voice sends a shockwave through the air, each syllable a testament to the depth of your despair.

Your mother's voice lowers to a whisper, her tone filled with significance. "He is here." The words hang in the air, a statement that carries a world of meaning. You slowly lift your head, your teary eyes locking onto hers. The sight of you like this, so weakened by sorrow, tugs at her heartstrings. “Noa?”

You rise from your bed with a suddenness, your eyes wide with anticipation. "Where?" your voice trembles, as if the answer to that question is the only thing anchoring you in this moment.

Your mother exits the hut, gesturing for him to come closer. He emerges from the shadows, his gaze fixed on you as he steps into the dim light. The moment you leap forward, he instinctively envelops you in his arms, holding you tightly against his chest. A shuddering breath escapes him as you cry out his name, and he whispers yours in response. "Oh, Noa." His heart aches at the sound of your voice, filled with a mix of relief and desperation.

Your mother stands by, her eyes filled with tenderness as she witnesses the emotional reunion between you and Noa. She observes the way he holds you tightly, the way you nuzzle into his chest, the way his arms encircle you like a shield of comfort.

His hands tenderly cradle your face, his gaze fixated on your eyes. "You are... safe?" he asks, his voice laced with a mixture of concern and relief. He studies your face, his thumbs gently tracing your cheeks, as if committing the sight before him to memory.

You nod in reassurance, your fingers wrapping around his wrists affectionately. You bring his palms to your lips, gently kissing each one, a silent gesture of gratitude and affection.

“Noa, this is my mother.” You gesture to Gemm staring at the two of you with adoration. Noa glances over at Gemm, his eyes meeting hers for a moment. With you gesturing towards your mother, he offers her a respectful nod.

“Thank you for letting me see her,” Noa remarks, his tone filled with gratitude. He understands the significance of your mother’s trust in allowing him access to you, and he doesn’t take it lightly.

Gemm responds with a gentle nod, her eyes filled with a mix of compassion and understanding. "I could not refuse such a bond," she admits her words carrying a weight of recognition for the connection between you and Noa.

Your words escape in a passionate plea, desperation lacing each syllable. "Mother, there has to be something I can do. Some way I can convince Loui? Convince Father? I can not live without him. I will not." Your voice cracks slightly, the weight of your emotions palpable as you urgently seek a solution, any way to break free from the constraints imposed upon you.

A low, commanding voice breaks the silence, coming from the entrance of the hut. The curtain slightly parted, revealing your father standing in the shadows. “It is not you who must convince me,” he states firmly.

[newstfionline]

Saturday, July 13, 2024

How to raise the world’s IQ (Economist) Small investments in nutrition could make the world brainier. Many pregnant women and babies are malnourished—and not just in poor countries. Just as muscles need food and exercise to grow strong, the brain needs good food and stimulation to develop properly. The first 1,000 days after conception, known as the “golden window”, are crucial. From the third trimester to the second birthday, a million synapses a second are formed in a well-nourished brain, creating the foundation on which “all learning, behaviour and health depend”, notes Meera Shekar of the World Bank. In a malnourished one, fewer connections are created. And if the brain is chronically deprived during this period, the damage is irreversible. So a better diet for pregnant mothers and infants would eventually make humanity more intelligent. Alas, child malnutrition is far from being eradicated—and not just in poor, war-charred places like Congo. Many middle-income countries also have shockingly high rates. How much of a cognitive boost would the world get from feeding babies better? Precision is tricky, but scientists agree it would be huge.

Bold Experiment or Safety Risk? Canada Is Divided on How to Stop Drug Deaths. (NYT) The mood was cautiously optimistic and the message was simple: Drug decriminalization saves lives. People who used or carried small quantities of illegal drugs in plain sight would no longer face arrest in British Columbia, the nexus of Canada’s opioid crisis, officials announced two years ago. So bold was the experiment, even in a province known for pioneering addiction policies, that its public health officer said she was in disbelief the day had actually come. But decriminalization, a policy introduced as a way of alleviating the opioid crisis, has instead been blamed for deepening it. Scenes of people openly using drugs on city streets have led several elected leaders, other critics and even some supporters to say that decriminalization is contributing to a sense of public disorder. “Our goal was to save lives,” British Columbia’s premier, David Eby, said at a recent news conference. “But that compassion, that concern for people who are struggling, does not mean that anything goes. We still have expectations around safety.��� In May, the federal government approved a provincial request to reverse the policy and again make public drug use and possession in British Columbia a crime.

At least 200 crocodiles crawl into cities as heavy rains hit northern Mexico (AP) Heavy rains associated with Hurricane Beryl and the earlier Tropical Storm Alberto have led at least 200 crocodiles to enter urban areas in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas, across from Texas, state and federal authorities said this week. So far, authorities say they have captured and relocated around 200 of the big reptiles since Alberto pelted the region with rain in June. Beryl brushed the same area before making landfall in south Texas earlier this week. Authorities said the heavy rains raised water levels in coastal lagoons, leading the animals to crawl into cities like Tampico and the nearby cities of Ciudad Madero and Altamira.

Kenyan police begin patrols, but Haiti’s gangs are unperturbed (Washington Post) For Irvika François, navigating life in this gang-plagued city requires a series of precautions: She has moved her family. She never travels more than a mile from home. Several hundred Kenyan police officers have deployed to this Caribbean nation, the first members of a U.N.-backed security mission to beat back the heavily armed paramilitaries that control 80 percent of the capital, allow new elections and give Haitians like François a chance to breathe. The Kenyans, better armed and equipped than Haitian police, have joined their hosts on street patrols. The gangs, who warned they would resist the deployment, appear unperturbed. They’re still setting homes ablaze, attacking police stations and killing with impunity. “I don’t feel the effect of the Kenyans’ presence,” François, whose cousin was kidnapped by a gang last year, said. “Nothing has changed in my life, and I don’t have increased confidence in my security. … I don’t understand why the Kenyans are here.” Haitians say the deployment has had no discernible effect on security. Police officers say they haven’t been looped into a plan to restore order.

After French Election, Voters Are Resigned to Cost-of-Living Crisis (NYT) Celine Gallois is more careful these days about what she puts in her shopping basket. Prices at French supermarkets have jumped by nearly a third in the last couple of years, and two bags, filled mainly with basics including pasta, milk, meat and fruit, now cost her about 80 euros—the most she can afford to spend each week. The cost to fill up the gas tank of her small car jumped to €90 a week from €60. And Ms. Gallois’s electricity bills, which President Emmanuel Macron’s government had capped during an energy crisis last year, shot up again last month after the subsidy ended. All of this led her to cast a vote for Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party for the first time during France’s parliamentary elections this weekend. “People are struggling, and there seems to be no relief in sight,” said Ms. Gallois, her frustration clear as she wandered through an artisanal market in the northern French city of Beauvais with her fiancé, but refrained from buying. “The government says they’ve addressed it, but we keep falling behind.” As the dust settles from France’s elections, one thing has not changed: anger over a cost-of-living crisis that continues to affect households across the country.

US cruise missiles to return to Germany, angering Moscow (BBC) American long-range cruise missiles are being sent to Germany for the first time since the Cold War. The decision, announced at NATO's 75th-anniversary summit in the U.S., is part of NATO’s deterrence strategy—the Western alliance hopes that the missiles will scare Russia off from further aggression towards Europe. The missiles will be deployed temporarily starting in 2026, but they might become permanent fixtures in the country after that date. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov reacted with the threat of violence. In an official response to NATO’s announcement, he said that Russia would respond to the missile deployment with a “military response to the new threat,” adding that the decision is “just a link in the chain of a course of escalation”—Russia has long accused NATO of encroaching on its territory, which it claims is one of the reasons for its invasion of Ukraine.

NATO sets its sights on China (Washington Post) In Washington, as NATO’s leaders commemorated the 75th anniversary of the alliance, China readied its troops along a member state’s border. Alongside their Belarusian counterparts, Chinese forces participated in 11-day joint military exercises not far from Polish territory. The exercises, reportedly involving a mixture of hostage rescue drills and counterterrorism training, are conspicuously timed. Speaking in a briefing last week, a senior Belarusian commander framed the maneuvers as a reaction to the “West’s aggressive foreign policy toward Belarus”—a key Russian vassal—and the strengthening of NATO’s presence in neighboring Poland. The moment reflects the growing place that China inhabits in NATO’s strategic outlook. At this week’s summit, NATO leaders issued a joint communiqué that claimed China’s “stated ambitions and coercive policies continue to challenge our interests, security and values” and said the “deepening” Russo-Chinese alliance was working “to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order.” Beijing reacted angrily. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said that the United States should “not come stir up trouble in the Asia-Pacific after messing up Europe.”

The $11 Billion Service in Cambodia Enabling the Crypto Scam Economy (Wired) A scam in which a scammer finds and then coerces or tricks a target into making payments into a fake crypto scheme is known as “pig butchering,” and they’re operated on an industrial scale, with some estimations putting the overall haul at $75 billion since 2020. Compounds containing people forced to work on pig-butchering scams have been found in Myanmar, the Philippines and Cambodia, but a big element of the infrastructure of pig butchering is how exactly they get the money from the victims. A new report from Elliptic identified a platform linked to the Cambodian ruling family, a deposit and escrow service called Huione Guarantee, as a key link and tool of the scammers, tracing $11 billion in total transactions over the past three years and $3.4 billion so far this year alone.

The One-Child Policy Supercharged China’s Economic Miracle. Now It’s Paying the Price (WSJ) When China launched its one-child policy more than four decades ago, it sped up an evolution toward smaller family sizes that would have happened more gradually. The policy supercharged the country’s workforce: By caring for fewer children, young people could be more productive and put aside more money. For years, just as China was opening its economy, the share of working-age Chinese grew faster than the parts of the population that didn’t work. That was a big factor in China’s economic miracle. There was a price and China is now paying it. Limiting births then means fewer workers now, and fewer women to give birth. A United Nations forecast published Thursday shows how quickly China is aging, a demographic crunch that the U.N. predicts will cut China’s population by more than half by the end of the century.

For Gazans, Egypt Is Safe, but It’s Not Home (NYT) In Gaza, they owned olive trees, flower gardens, factories, stores and homes they had built and tended for decades. They had memories bound up in family photos, in knickknacks, in embroidered shawls. They had cars to drive, classes to attend, the beach minutes away. Now, in the Egyptian capital of Cairo, where tens of thousands of Palestinians have fled, they find themselves in rented apartments overlooking concrete. They have few job prospects, dwindling savings and no schools for the children—a new world they know is safe, but hardly feels like a future. Without legal status in Egypt or clarity about when Gaza might again offer a semblance of normal life, most are stuck: unable to build lives, try their luck in a third country or plan on returning home. “We want our real lives back,” said Nahla al-Bashti, 60. “I feel suffocated.”

Palestinians return to utter destruction in Gaza City after Israeli withdrawal (AP) Palestinians returned to breathtaking scenes of destruction in the Gaza City district of Shijaiyah after Israeli troops withdrew, ending a two-week offensive there. Civil defense workers said Thursday that so far, they had found the bodies of 60 people in the rubble. Families who fled the assault ventured back into Shijaiyah to see the condition of their homes or salvage whatever they could. Nearly every building was flattened to rubble for block after block, leaving giant piles of concrete and twisted rebar. Here and there, grey gutted concrete frames still stood a few stories high. The ever-present buzzing sound of Israeli military drones hung in the hot summer air as people on bicycles or horse-drawn carts made their way over dirt paths where the streets had apparently been bulldozed away. Sharif Abu Shanab found his family’s four-story building collapsed. “I can’t enter it. I can’t take anything out of it, not even a can of tuna. We have nothing, no food or drink,” he said. Where do we go and to whom? … We have no home or anything,” he said in despair. “There’s only one solution, hit us with a nuclear bomb and relieve us of this life.”

Politics and protests in Kenya (Washington Post) Kenyan President William Ruto fired almost his entire cabinet on Thursday, after weeks of deadly protests around the country over proposed tax hikes and government corruption. Even after the tax hikes were abandoned, the protests by young people in the capital and around the country have continued, focusing increasingly on what they describe as a corrupt political class.

[drsonnet]

The Rohde to Srebrenica

The Rohde to Srebrenica

Stage 1 - Investigates Photo August 10-13, 1995

Video: david and faye tell their story

Articles: "Piecing Together the Massacres"

On Aug. 10, 1995, the Clinton administration released photographs taken by U.S. spy planes of a field near Srebrenica, Bosnia, showing disturbed earth that suggested mass grave sites.

Citing alleged war crimes as justification for intensifying NATO intervention in the Bosnian conflict, U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright introduced the photos in a meeting of the U.N. Security Council.

Before the war, Srebrenica (pronounced sreh-BREH-nih-tsah) was known only as a quaint mining town of 9,000 people that took its name from the Serbo-Croatian word for silver, srebro. But it had been a subject of concern since July 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces took the area. Rumors of mass executions of Muslims from a "safe area" guarded by UN peacekeeping forces had been circulating for weeks. As more time passed, evidence of the crime would disappear. Getting the story was not a race against the competition, but a race against Serb forces who did whatever they could to cover it up.

Satellite photo used by David Rohde to track down suspected mass graves. Photo: AP

The Christian Science Monitor takes on the story Journalists from all the major U.S. newspapers noted the mounting evidence of mass killings, but only David Rohde of The Christian Science Monitor decided to go to the area to investigate the story. Rohde was in daily contact with his editor, Faye Bowers, to discuss his plans. Rohde credits Bowers for having played an equally important role in the story. It was Rohde's first war as a reporter. It was not Bowers' first war as an editor. A native of Maine and 1990 graduate of Brown University, Rohde worked from Belgrade, Sarajevo and Zagreb where he had covered East Europe for The Monitor since November 1994. Tipped off first by a wire report of atrocities against Muslims, Rohde hired a translator and a driver and entered Bosnian Serb-controlled territory on August 12 to investigate the alleged mass killings. En route, a Serbian soldier inadvertently confessed to committing executions. "We just talk to them and then shoot them," Rohde reported one soldier to say.

David Rohde discusses how he reported the series of stories about suspected mass graves in Bosnia during Prof. Anne Nelson's International Reporting Class at Columbia University. Photo: Ian Wilhelm

Rohde investigated the area thoroughly. He walked acres of territory and drove hundreds of kilometers. He interviewed civilians and combatants and talked to intelligence experts in Belgrade to find and collect the first on-the-ground evidence of mass executions. In an abandoned building at the Bratunac soccer stadium, Rohde found graphic evidence that prisoners were confined, possibly tortured, and killed. But, he did not find the graves. He needed more. Rohde returned to Belgrade to obtain a copy of the CIA satellite photo.

PIECING TOGETHER THE MASSACRES

Aug. 18, 1995: The Monitor reports on an Aug. 16 visit to mass graves near the Bosnian Serb-held village of Nova Kasaba. A human leg and documents from Srebrenica are found.

Oct. 2: Nine credable survivors of mass executions interviewed say at least 2,000 Muslim prisoners were executed by Bosnian Serb forces after the fall of Srebrenica. Survivors say they saw Bosnian Serb commander Gen. Ratko Mladic at four of the sites.

Oct. 24: In interviews, UN officials and Western diplomats say Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic probably knew of the Srebrenica massacres, but failed to stop them. Muslims report that officers from Serbia participated in the attack on Srebrenica.

Nov. 16: On an Oct. 29 visit to two mass graves and an execution site near Sahanici, human remains, civilian clothing, and documents from Srebrenica with Muslim names on them are found.