#learning so much about india <3 (i live here)

[tiredguyswag]

was nobody gonna tell me that roti and chapati are the same thing and that north indian cuisine is less spicy than south indian or should i not take this geronimo stilton book at face value

[girlthativealwaysbeen]

sometimes i miss talking to that one person who didn't NEVER turned it into a competition about who has it worse and never told me well atleast you have [x]

[helenakwayne]

And Then There Were Three

Thoughts on Bridgerton S3 Kanthony – spoilers abound (Alt. Title: Read Me Rant)

It was never my intention to watch Bridgerton. When season 2 came out, some of my best friends told me I needed to watch season 2, specifically. So, I did, starting from season 1, because context is important to me. I watched season 1. It was all right. I watched season 2. I had a new ship. I love Kate and Anthony, and if I’m entirely honest, I may love her quite a bit more than I love him. But I do love them together. I do think they work better as a unit than apart.

As every Kanthony shipper knows, Season 2 was unsatisfying. We felt precious screentime that should have gone to our leads was wasted somewhere else—something about rubies and American mines. It differed from the book, but we have made peace with it. We have two stories with the same, if slightly different, characters—more to love, right? But if there is something we’re all terribly happy about, it is the leads we got. Jonny Bailey and Simone Ashley have chemistry up to their yang; they make that enemies-to-lovers plotline sing, and they act out the hell out of their characters. They have both stated on numerous occasions how much they love their respective characters, and they do make them come alive in a beautiful way. Our complaints about season 2 mainly were about timing—did we have to make it all the way to a doomed wedding in episode 6? By then, Si and Daff were getting it on, leaving time to resolve everything else while we were barely reaching peak angst. We had no onscreen courtship. No onscreen wedding. No onscreen honeymoon. No onscreen Kate becoming the kickass viscountess she will prove to be (but I’m getting ahead of myself). No onscreen Anthony letting go of his psychological burdens. But our leads were together, so… yey?

Bridgerton as a show is not without its MANY problems, but I choose to watch it despite those problems. I won’t dive too much into those. What is troubling, however, is when they seem to waste outstanding opportunities that require minimal effort because of what looks like mere incompetence.

So, season 3 Kanthony… By some miracle, both Simone Ashley and Jonathan Bailey can come back for a few episodes. Jonny, we learn, made an almost superhuman effort to make it happen. Simone may have passed on a role to be there. They are fan favourites. They are the heads of the household, after which the show itself is named. They are excellent actors with a lot of chemistry. Episode 1, you establish they’re happy newlyweds, recently in from an extended honeymoon (and no, I do not think they went to India—not enough time); Kate’s adapting to her new role, but they both want more time to themselves, so, extended honeymoon. Ok, we can live with that. Is it frustrating that they only have about five minutes of screen time? Sure, but we can stomach it. Those were a lovely 5 minutes. They are happy and in love; they have a purpose and a somewhat logical explanation to exit the screen for a while. We can move on. We sit tight until Part 2 of Season 3 is released. We are told Kate will be pregnant! And… nothing else. So, we wait. And here they come. She is pregnant! She’s looking a bit nauseous from the ride, bless her, but Anthony is as besotted as ever, thinking naughty thoughts about his insanely hot pregnant wife and ready to shout his praises to high heaven. And that is awesome! As shippers, we are so happy for them. Look at them in bed! Aren’t they precious? Sure, their four-legged son is cockblocking Ant, and Kate is preoccupied about when to release the news, but they are the sweetest, hottest couple. Let us bask. Let us rejoice in the new Viscountess Bridgerton, running that household, caring for Greg and Eloise, crushing that party. She’s good at it, and she KNOWS it. She gloats, and she deserves it. You go, Kathani! You were born for this! And then, they have the sweetest, most perfect moment in which she tells Anthony they should announce baby Edmund is coming (because this needs to be Neddy, guys). He’s perfect in his speech, and she loves him, and he loves her. They tell the matriarchs, showing their excitement in different but complementary ways. And we love them. So. Much. So… where do they go? Where are they? Did they … poof away? We don’t know! One minute Kate was being the perfectest new viscountess, organising, hosting, wife-ing, mothering, sistering, being the meanest, toughest bitch in the ton, and then… where’s my Kate, you monsters? Anthony is wherever she is, surely, but wasn’t he perpetually busy? Wasn’t “dutiful” his primary descriptor? Remember all that paperwork he was supposed to be completing after the original honeymoon? Remember all that work he did on seasons 1 and 2? Remember all the planning and the family overseeing? Is he doing that? Where? Is Kate there, too? Well, we’ll never know. Let’s skip to episode 7, shall we? Because we must. This is Kanthony-focused, after all…

Episode 7 is a doozy because there’s so much… nothing for us. Do they look amazing? Sure. Look at visibly pregnant Kate. My brain immediately goes into protecting the Queen mode. But where is Anthony? Look, guys, I adore besotted, Kate-obsessed Anthony as much as the next shipper, but we love that Anthony because we know there’s so much more to him. We adore him because of how he grows for her. But this guy? He’s not exactly growing because he has no plotline other than being Kate’s husband and the father of her child. And if you’re here for just that, then all power to you. I am happy for you. Have at it. But that isn’t me. I need more. I need to see him trying to be who he has always been—the dutiful son, the protective brother, the respected viscount—while he is also Kate’s loving husband and Neddy’s amazing dad. The one-dimensionality of Anthony is killing me. Because we do get slightly more of that with Kate. The convo with Colin was her using all of her powers to save her new family once again. We saw a glimpse of Viscountess Bridgerton-Sharma being perfection in episode 5. But then it was taken away! It makes no sense for her to be seen running the household if she is there intermittently. Seriously, where were they? Was there an agreement that Violet would run Bridgerton House while Kate was away? Can you… I don’t know… tell us? But to add insult to injury, the things they wrote in. Ant saying he loves weddings? Kate saying theirs was perfect? You know what would have been perfect? WATCHING IT ON SCREEN. And as great as it was to know that Eddie did not marry the prince, but some dude in India who makes her oh so happy (good for you, girlie), Anthony goes on to propose leaving for India right now? NOW? With Kate visibly pregnant? With Frannie's impending wedding? Is this proof of a doppelganger? Has Newton cockblocked him to stupidity? Is this what happens when he ain’t allowed to munch to his heart’s delight? Seriously, what sort of OOC nonsense is this? And guys… gals… pals… I LOVE Kathani Sharma-Bridgerton being from India. I would commission an entire show about her life. I want to know everything about her background—from birth mom to Papa Sharma’s death to their coming to London. I want it all. Educate me! BUT THIS MAKES NO SENSE, ANTHONY! And finally… finally… as lovely as the nose-boop was, people, THAT MAY VERY WELL BE THEIR LAST SCENE ON THE SHOW. THAT WAS THE PARTING SHOT. THAT WAS IT. THE LAST DIALOGUE. And I cannot. The waste. The absolute waste. The awful writing. The missed chances.

Many would tell me to count my blessings, and I do. I will. I thank the people who made the clipped versions of seasons 2 and 3 so I can watch just my Kanthony without the extra plot. I appreciate the happy ending. And there are amazing fic writers who give me stories that are so much more fun, satisfying, exciting and fulfilling than this shoddy attempt at using two of the best talents in the business right now. Yey, baby Neddy! Yey, Viscountess Bridgerton-Sharma! Yey besotted Kate and Anthony! But, gods above… this SHOULD have been so much more.

[laismoura-art]

Presenting the Umgadi Girls AU newest addition:

Princess Lisha Liang ❄️

Y'all didn't think I'd make a whole AU staring my girls and wouldn't bring Lisa, did you? My girl has a very special role!😌🩵

I'm changing her name to "Lisha" the Chinese Equivalent of Lisa, cause having an Americanised name here wouldn't make much sense, as she lives in Outworld! But I'll be calling her Lisa throughout the text for simplicity sake.

Now let me tell y'all about her! Starting by her design!

So, after making the A'rá people inspired by our indigenous people here in Brazil, I wanted to try and do something similar to the Cryomancers in Outworld!

So Lisa's outfit takes inspiration mainly from the Lisu people, a Tibeto-Burman ethical group who inhabit the mountainous regions of Myanmar, Southwest China, Thailand and India!

Their clothes are very detailed, filled with patterns, textures, and lots of beads!

I didn't keep the traditional headpiece though, cause Lisa's hair has always been an integral part of her design! (Female Cryomancers have blue hair due to their deeper connection to Cryomancy. Their power manifest earlier than in men and they must be trained from a very young age to prevent accidents! Women must keep themselves schooled to assure total control of their power. Needless say Lisa struggles with it.)

I took some liberties here and there to make the outfit fit Lisa's style! It coincidently ended up looking very similar to Mileena's new Empress skin, which is good cause it means my outfit is also canon accurate!🤭

About her/her people's backstory:

Before talking about Cryomancers, let's learn a bit about the Pyromancers!

There are three types of Pyromancers:

The Hellfire demons.

The Sorceresses of Argus.

The Dragonborns.

Dragonborns are one of the first people in Outworld, who lived before the sun.

Unlike the Edenians, who were gifted their light by Argus, the Dragonborns, could conjure their own light (which means they don't worship Argus or Delia, but their own dragon ancestors)

The Dragonborns may be born with either Pyromancy or Cryomancy, the later being more common (which is why Kuai Liang is a Pyromancer even though he is part of a long lineage of Cryomancers)

Whether you are born Pyromancer or Cryomancer is entirely up to fate. Genetics play no part in it, you can be a Cryomancer born from Pyromancers (Lisa's case, her mother, the Dragonborn Queen Zhi, is a Pyromancer) or a Pyromancer born from Cryomancer parents (Kuai's case)!

This is well-known knowledge among the Dragonborns, but unfortunately for Kuai, much of their knowledge was lost when his family moved to Earthrealm (why did they move is still a mystery) so Kuai grew up extremely insecure about his Pyromancy.

It also didn't help his case that, both male and female Pyromancers struggle to keep their power under control.

Sympathised by his brother's tough situation, Bi-Han often engaged in Kuai's constant self-control exercises, he would also keep himself schooled, even though there was no need for him to do so. This helped Kuai feel he wasn't so lonely <3

Back to the Dragonborns, they live in a tundra forest known as Hùnhé lín (the mixed forest) it has this name because within it there are plenty of warm and green oasis, where most Pyromancers reside. No one know how these oasis exist within the tundra, legends say it was the Dragon deities gift for their Pyromancers!

The Dragonborns heve been living in the Hùnhé lín long before Queen Mimh even considered become queen!

They have harvested and cared from these lands, built their homes and culture around these lands, and yet, they struggle with the expansion of the empires around them trying to occupy their territories or bringing their own conflicts to them!

They used to have a good commercial trade with a group of Edenian merchants, but these merchants were "infected" with Tarkat and had to be replaced. The new group however, were not nearly as co-operative or respectful, which prompted plenty of conflicts.

Meeting Li Mei's Umgadi:

Of course this sort of conflict wasn't supposed to be of Li Mei and her apprentices' concerns, but as soon as Harumi heard of the situation she insisted the Edenians were in the wrong and they had to put a stop to this conflict before it escalated!

The reason Harumi took these matters so personally was because ages ago, the Shirai were almost forced out of their own lands under the accusation of witchcraft (when in reality their attackers' goal was only to take control of their prosperous lands), Cetrion intervene in their behalf, and thus came their eternal gratitude. Preventing illegal occupations is something the Order of Cetrion takes as priority.

Harumi's aid and support to the Dragonborns granted her Lisa's trust and affection.

Now, just to clarify, this little brainstorming also granted my AU a tiny tiny little change:

I absolutely ADORE Lisa and Harumi as a couple! They are my handmade OTP, the ones who started it all, and the idea of exploring their relationship outside the "Sub-Zero meets Scorpion" scenario is just too tempting to let it slide!

Soooo, yeah, bottom line: FrozenBlossom is now Harumi's endgame for this AU! I hope it doesn't become a deal breaker to anyone (which I doubt will be cause y'all have always been supportive gems, and I love y'all for it🩷🩵)!

Meanwhile, Netherrealmer!Hanzo and Scorpion!Kuai will remain a thing, but, you know, just the two of them!

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Hey! You made it to the end! Have some close-ups:

Cute Lisha and angry Lisha:

Lisha after being kissed by a cute girl:

Lisha gifting a warm coat to said cute girl (cute girls can't get colds, can they?) + height difference:

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

@mikka-minns @thedragonholder @rasta-bot @madamealtruist @orbitinytheworld @running-with-the-feels y'all want some Cryomancer lore?👀💕

[hobiebrownismygod]

PAVITR, i need more hcs, analysis… whatever you like tbh, i just love the way you write about Spider-Verse characters

Aww, thank you!

I love writing about Pavitr, I wish he was real so bad

I can write headcanons, but for the analysis part, I think I've gone over most of what I can think of 😭 If anyone has any ideas for scenes or anything you want me to research about him, let me know and I'll fs cook up some posts, but for now the creativity is on a down low :/.

Anyway here are some Pavitr headcanons that I absolutely adore!

Pavitr Prabhakar/Spider-man India Headcanons!:

I always headcanon him as of South Indian descent

Basically, I like to think he was a small town boy from either Andrapradesh (no I'm not projecting) or Tamil Nadu

And he moved to Mumbattan after his parents died when he was young to live with his Auntie Maya and Uncle Bhim (this is canon btw)

I like to think that he speaks one of the South Indian languages, either Telugu/Tamil/Malayalam and sometimes accidentally mixes it in when he speaks Hindi

He loves going to temple with his Aunt Maya

He also loves wearing traditional wear even though most his age don't because it just makes him feel very connected to his culture

Considering the fact that he got his powers from an ancient yogi, he's probably a fairly strict Hindu

He's probably vegetarian like a lot of Hindus in India are

His favorite street food is pani puri (still not projecting) especially the traditional kind but he likes the sweeter versions as well

Loves coconuts and coconut water, hes constantly drinking it while on patrol or during missions cuz its good for you and it gives him energy healthily

hes a good cook and he makes his auntie teach him how to make different snacks so he can show off to Gayatri

He learned how to make Sarson Ka Saag, a traditional Punjabi dish (at least thats what my research says) just for Gayatri

I headcanon Gayatri as punjabi sikh cuz her dad wears a turban

Indian schools are very strict on being late and stuff

So I think Pav probably came to school late once cuz of Spider-man stuff and he got severely punished so he never came late again

Like hes always early cuz he'd rather do that than be stuck outside the school waiting for an hour or being forced to run laps as punishment

yes they do that, idk if they do it anymore but I know some schools used to do that 💀

He probably has a really nice voice, like he sings Carnatic music and practices it

This also connects with him being from South India cuz Carnatic music originated in South India <3

He watched the Indian serials with his auntie all the time

like the really long ones our grandmothers watch with the weird sound effects and zero plot

theyre like telenovelas but worse and he loves them

These are the only ones I have rn but if I think of more I'll post them lol

I love him so much 😭

[darkwing-katy]

My raw, initial reactions to the Netflix adaptation of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (contains possible spoilers):

Episode 1

This isn’t as graphic as I thought (about the guy being burned alive)

AANG IS SO CUTE

Episode 2

Yo Kyoshi is a vicious lady

Episode 3

Azula needs to be more vicious. I need her to roast some people alive here.

Is that jet? Is THAT JET? THAT’S GOTTA BE JET.

I need Katara to be a bit more of a badass here.

“Who are you people?” “we’re the good guys.” *meaningful look with raise eyebrows at my husband*

ZUTARA MOMENT WITH THE SCARF. I NEED MORE OF THAT.

Episode 4

Loving how Earth Kingdom is based on India

Oh, I really hope the guy playing Zuko is in his 20s or else me crushing on him is gonna be really weird

Oh thank goodness he’s 22 (husband: “yeah, an 8-year age gap. Good for you.”)

Episode 5

*after Ozai praises Zuko and upsets Azula intentionally to feud their rivalry* Wow. Jin has learned from Benjamin Linus.

Oh look, Aang’s a force ghost.

Oh they’re all force ghosts.

Koh is fuuuucked up man

Episode 6

My favorite line: “Do you think we would’ve been friends?”

Episode 7

Look, if I don’t see a fight between Pakku and Katara, imma be pissed

Yue’s hair is amazing but it is soooo obviously a wig

Yue is a waterbender????

I KNEW I saw something on that Fox tail!

YAAAAS MY FAVORITE WATERBENDING MOVES

Episode 8

YAAAASSSSS GET THE EOMEN THIS IS A CHANGE I 1000% APPROVE OF

“Yes, Master Katara” omg this is everything I didn’t know I needed this is like honestly so much better than the animated show

“Go easy. Enough people have been hurt.” “I wasn’t talking to you.” *looks at Katara*

“You found a master, didn’t you?!” “Yes. You’re looking at her.” SNAPSSSSS

I think it’s ironic that Zhao has this spiritual thing considering the guy playing him was a guy who talked to dead people in LOST

Wait. How was she able to freeze him in place? Is it because she’s got the moon in her?

I hope they have the ocean spirit music—that’s my favorite score in the whole show

Oh, they don’t have the same music laaaaame

Meeeehhh I liked it better when the ocean spirit killed Zhao

Ope, there goes Bumi

Oooooohhh here’s where they do the Sozin’s Comet thingy

I need season two with a blind Toph now. This better get a season two.

So there you have it. I honestly enjoyed the frick outta this show. It’s very different, there are a lot of changes (some I don’t like but can live with and others that I love), and if you’re only gonna watch it to compare it to the original series and not as a completely different thing, then you’re probably gonna hate it. And that’s okay, just don’t hate on those of us who enjoyed it. Let us enjoy it!

[eatmangoesnekkid]

Per my previous post, while searching on Facebook for every post I had written about Grandmother “Zora Neale Hurston” I stumbled upon this picture captioned:

‘circa 1945 Here was peace. She pulled in her horizon like a great fish-net. Pulled it from around the waist of the world and draped it over her shoulder. So much of life in its meshes! She called in her soul to come and see.― Zora Neale Hurston’

--------

In other words, let yourself be rooted, opened and expanded into conscious and deliberate manifestation. I have found over the years that when you begin to listen, you actually start to align yourself and life begins to favorably work out. But being too wrapped up in modernity distracts us from deep listening. At this time, I was spending more long hours in the nature--purifying my cells off the beaten path in the rain forest and listening for instructions from the tree guardians on how to breathe slower sustainably! Elevating my breath before breathwork became popular. I used to ask myself nearly daily “what is the most purest part of me?” Every answer pointed me back to my breath in some way. So when I moved to Puerto Rico near El Yunque Rainforest, I took myself on a journey into nature to observe how tropical nature instinctively operated and thereby learned more about who and what I really was beyond my scarcity thought forms and shallow breathing indoctrination. That’s why in this picture I was wearing  Wellies rain boots in heat of Summer! They protected me from the snakes.

We have been programmed and conditioned on how to direct our life force or divine energy. The greater our life force, also known as prana or chi, the deeper we start inhaling (receiving) and exhaling (releasing) throughout life. In other words, the greater the life force, the easier it is to release the karma and traumas and receive the subtle and large blessings. A beautiful inquiry to ask yourself is ‘How will I direct my life force today in new ways that will brighten my tomorrow?’ How am I sensing beyond what is right in front of me in my day-to-day life and accessing greater consciousness?’

When you begin to root your body into a higher level of consciousness, you naturally breathe slower, more calmly, taking less breaths per minute, and your body stops having to work so hard just to sustain you every day. When the body stops working so hard, then life is inspired to be less hard. Trauma teaches us to breathe fast, to over-stress our organs by unconsciously locking ourselves into “fight or flight” states. These bodies our souls live inside of must begin to feel more “love” and “ease” than “fight” and “ruthlessness.” And from there, we feel more love and ease in our lives. Everything in life moves from the internal (beliefs, thoughts, conditioning, programming, expectations, etc.) to the external (the external body and the external world), from the feminine (internal) to the masculine (external).

Me, Living 3 Months in Puerto Rico in 2012-ish .....

Ok loves, I freely gave away a lot of heart opening intelligence in this post. I don’t know if I will keep it up forever, but I hope it inspires who and what you are becoming. Until we meet again!! One loveliness, India

[highwaytothedangerzone502]

Foxtrot Alpha Alpha - Chapter 3

Pairing: Hangman x Female OC

Word Count: 1694

Warnings:

Summary: Hangman learned his lesson a long time ago to never show his true feelings when someone's words or actions hurt him. To do so showed weakness that could be exploited, and Seresin men couldn't show weakness. Of course, there was an exception to every rule, and Jake's always came in the form of women, three in particular: his mom, Juliette Kazansky, and the girl whose name he could no longer bring himself to speak. She was the girl that got away; she was his biggest 'what if' and his biggest regret; she would forever be the ghost that haunted his dreams. Jake believed that's where she'd stay, for he would surely never see her again after what he did.

Or so he thought.

Notes: This is the sequel to India Lima Yankee; I'm using the same callsign for the Female OC as in Ghost Story because I just really like it, but they are different characters; chapters in italics are flashbacks.

Chapter Songs: Don't Stop Believin' Half of My Heart

****

Juliette

As the night continued, the tension in Hangman became more and more prominent. Juliette noticed the tightness in his posture compared to his usual relaxed stance, the well-hidden wariness in his green eyes, and the way he avoided Ghost by standing opposite wherever she did. His gaze rarely left her, but he watched her more like prey waiting for the hunter to strike. That, in particular, unnerved Juliette. Nothing rattled Hangman, so who exactly was Ghost to him to make him react like that?

He stuck to playing pool, and although he laughed and joked with the Daggers, his smile never reached all the way across his face like it usually did. Juliette fought back the urge to drag him away from the group and force the truth out of her friend but now wasn't the time. He would tell her when he was ready.

"I heard some of y'all went on a hell of a mission," Ghost remarked, taking a sip of her beer. 

"And some-" Juliette eyed her fiancé- "decided a death-defying mission wasn't enough and decided to steal an enemy jet with his dad."

"Says the girl who helped my dad steal a different jet to prove a point to an admiral and escaped punishment without so much as a slap on the wrist," Rooster countered, wrapping his arms around Juliette's waist and kissing her cheek.

"I still want to know what kind of favors people owe you," Payback said, pointing at her with his empty bottle, "and who all owes you favors."

Juliette grinned. "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you, and I like having you around."

"What about you, Blackwood? What have you been up to?" The question, surprisingly, came from Hangman. All eyes flicked between him and Ghost, and despite the cacophony of the crowd surrounding them, a deathly silence settled in, causing Juliette to think: Seriously, what the hell is going on here? 

Ghost took the pool stick from Payback and lined up to take a shot. "Mostly black ops, but that's what ghosts are good at. Doing things without being seen and disappearing when needed," Ghost replied, nailing the shot. She set her sights on another solid, which missed going into the pocket by a hair's breadth. "You? Lead anyone else to their watery grave?"

Hangman's playful grin shifted into a fake and guarded smile, easily mistaken as a genuine one for those who didn't know him, but Juliette did.

"He stopped Mav and me from crashing into ours, so I guess you could say he saved our lives," Rooster said casually, coming to the shocking defense of Hangman. Then, apparently unable to resist, he joked, "But you'll never get me to admit that again."

"It's okay. I have witnesses to corroborate the statement. I'm going to get more drinks. Want anything?" Hangman said, striding up to them and stopping next to Ghost. Juliette requested a lemonade while the others asked for another round of beers. Hangman faced Ghost, his chest nearly touching hers they stood so close. "I'd ask you what you want, but I already know."

Winking at her, he backed off and disappeared through the crowd. Ghost stared after him with an infuriated glare. Juliette craned her head up and whispered in Rooster's ear, "Are they going to fight or fuck?"

"Depends on which one you ask," he responded, his hands moving to cradle her stomach. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm good. Thankfully the nausea has disappeared for now."

"Well, if anything changes-"

"I'll let you know." Juliette pecked him on the cheek. "I do, however, need the bathroom. I'll be back."

Sliding off the stool, she hurried to her intended destination. On her way, Juliette noticed Hangman standing outside on the phone. Figuring he must've received a call on his way to the bar, she ignored it, rushing inside the bathroom before her bladder burst. While she washed her hands, a wave of dizziness hit her. Juliette gripped the counter and ran one of her wrists under the cold water, attributing the dizzy spell to the fact that she might melt in a puddle it was so warm in the Hard Deck. It took a few minutes, but the dizziness passed, and Juliette felt safe enough to move. She'd keep this quiet from Rooster. He worried about her enough.

Juliette stepped out of the bathroom and began heading to the Daggers when she noticed Hangman still standing outside, but instead of talking on the phone, he stared at the device in his hand. After his earlier interactions with Ghost, Juliette's concern for him diverted her path toward Hangman. Stepping outside into the cool air, a welcome sensation compared to the stifling heat of the Hard Deck, she shuffled quietly to his side. 

"I'm pretty sure you order drinks inside," Juliette joked lightly, causing Hangman's head to snap up. 

A genuine smile spread across his face. "What are you doing out here?"

"Needed some air. I also noticed you hadn't joined the Daggers yet, so I thought I'd check on you."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm good. Got an unexpected phone call."

Juliette raised a brow at him. "I can't tell if it's good or bad."

His smile finally faltered. "It's a family thing. Long story."

"As long as your story with Ghost?"

Hangman sighed, shoving his phone into his pocket. "I was wondering how long it'd take you to interrogate me about that."

"If you don't want to talk about it, I won't push, but her comment earlier about you leading another person to their watery grave... it seemed out of line."

"Maybe, but it's not a lie. Hell, it's practically the same thing Rooster said to me when we met at the Hard Deck the first night we arrived for the training detachment. But hey, nothing I can't handle. Still doesn't equate to the verbal beatdown you gave me after I antagonized Rooster that one day."

Juliette chuckled, sitting on the bench when another bout of dizziness hit her. "That feels like forever ago."

"It certainly does," he agreed, sitting beside her. Hangman slipped off his jacket and placed it around her shoulders when he noticed her shiver. "How are you doing? Where's your shadow?"

"Don't call him that," she said, laughing and lightly kicking Hangman's leg. "Rooster's inside, although I'm sure he'll come looking for me if I'm not back soon."

"Why has he become so... so..."

"Worried? Protective?"

"Yeah. He's always been protective of those he loved, but it's gotten ten times worse since you announced you were pregnant."

"Rooster doesn't trust doctors. Their misdiagnosis of his mom's illness has made him question every diagnosis the doctors have given me regarding my pregnancy."

"What have they been diagnosing?"

"When I fainted on Christmas, it was because my blood pressure dropped too low. It almost happened again about a month later because my iron levels were deficient, so I just had to up my intake since my prenatal vitamins weren't providing enough."

Hangman's brow furrowed. "I didn't know you passed out a second time."

"Outside of Mom and Mav, we didn't say anything to anyone else. Didn't see the point, to be honest. It was an easy fix."

"It got rid of it completely? No more fainting? Not getting dizzy?" Juliette hesitated for a second before she said "no," but Hangman caught it and prodded gently yet sternly, "Princess, is it still happening?"

She clutched his jacket tightly around her shoulders, her shaking having no correlation to the cold air. "Yes. Not much, but enough for me to notice. I'm keeping an eye on it, and if it gets worse, I'll go to the doctor. For now, though, I'm staying quiet."

"So I'm correct in assuming Bradshaw doesn't know?"

"Yes... I don't want to worry him about something that might not be a problem. Rooster's going to kill himself stressing over me before he ever meets his kids if he's not careful. I know this is a lot to ask, but please don't say anything to him about this."

"Since you think it's nothing serious, and since I'm not seeing anything super concerning, I'll stay quiet for now, but if it gets worse and you refuse to tell him, I will say something."

"I know you will. It's why I trusted to tell you," Juliette admitted, smiling appreciatively at her friend. As much as she loved and adored the other Daggers, she couldn't help but believe that when it came to this particular situation, their loyalty to Rooster would override their promise to keep her secret, and they would tell him anyway. Coyote's loyalty may not have, but he also wouldn't want to endure Rooster's wrath if Rooster found out Coyote had been keeping such a secret. Hangman was different. He wasn't afraid of Rooster, and he respected Juliette's decision and trusted her enough to speak up when she believed something might truly be wrong. Juliette trusted Jake Seresin implicitly, and some, if not most, people probably questioned that judgment call, but she ignored them.

"We should probably head back inside before people come looking for us," she mused, peering over her shoulder into the Hard Deck when she recognized Rooster's piano skills at work. Sure enough, he sat the musical instrument, singing along to 'Don't Stop Believin' with the Daggers and Ghost, but his gaze roamed the room. She knew why.

Hangman stood and helped Juliette up. The pair reentered the building and went to the bar, grabbing a round of drinks for everyone. Then, carefully, they navigated over to the Daggers. Juliette slid onto the stool with Rooster, who leaned over and kissed her while still skillfully playing the piano. A cheer rose up around them, making them both laugh. She sang along with him to all different songs until her voice went hoarse, but Juliette kept a careful eye on Hangman. Instinct told her something wasn't right, that the appearance of Ghost and the 'family thing' phone call he received earlier afflicted him on a much deeper level than he let on, both now and in the past.

If only she'd known how much.

****

Tags: @lgg5989 @shanimallina87 @polikszena @summ3rlotus @icemansgirl1999 @supernaturaldawning @thedarkinmansfield @lyannaforpresident @lapilark @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth @simpofthecentury @shadeops21 @pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy @double-j @bradshawsandbridgetons @majdoline @catsandgeekyandnerd @peachiicherries @multifandomcnova @fandomsstolemylife00 @bookloverhorses @mak-32 @midnightmagpiemama

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3

If you're on the tag list, it's because I copied from the India Lima Yankee tag list. If you don't wish to be tagged for this story, just let me know! If you're not on the tag list and want to be, comment below :)

[atlantablack]

hiii<3 for the siken ask game, 12. you were drinking sangria and i was throwing oranges at you.

Prompt 12 - you were drinking sangria and i was throwing oranges at you. (which is from I Had a Dream About You, if anyone was wondering)

Heyyy bestieee, pls enjoy this, quite frankly, strangely soft fic my brain gave me for you <3 for the song lyric additions, this is also on Ao3

•

The first year is the worst. Steve had expected that though, so it’s okay. Of course, the first year would be the worst. How could it not be when Bucky had spent so long in Hydra’s grasp, unable to even remember that he’d once had his own life.

Unable to remember Steve. 

This is of course the part that stings the most, even if, in the grand scheme of things, it is the least important part. 

•

The second year Bucky disappears, again, and Steve punches a hole in the wall of Tony’s gym. He doesn’t follow, as much as he wishes to. He knows Bucky, even if Bucky doesn’t know him. Which means, that he knows Bucky needs the space even if kills Steve to give it to him. 

So, instead of following, he fixes the hole in the wall, goes on missions with Natasha, lets Tony teach him how to, properly, navigate the internet, and goes running with Sam. He breathes in, breathes through, receives a postcard from India seven months later, breathes deep, and breathes out. 

•

The third year, Bucky comes back, and for the first time since 1945, Steve and Bucky hug. It goes on for far longer than they ever used to allow themselves to indulge. But Steve’s hands have forgotten how to unclench and Bucky is shaking apart underneath his fingertips. 

The sky could collapse and he thinks he would stay standing right here, content to die if it meant forever in Bucky’s arms. 

They let go eventually. Of course. But Bucky stays close and Steve does his best to stay steady. 

•

The third year is hard. Easier than the first, but a challenge in and of itself. 

For all that he’d thought to himself, I know him, he does in fact, know very little about this new version of Bucky. And as it turns out, Bucky knows very little of Steve, even with a large portion of his memories once again intact. 

They’d both lived and died and lived again, their personalities shifting, mercurial things that no longer match up quite the same. 

It doesn’t stop them from clinging to each other but it forces them to, in a way, start again. It feels a little like a curse and a lot like a second chance. A fresh sheet of paper, free of charcoal smudges and dirty fingerprints, just waiting for a masterpiece to be painted in bright, vivid watercolors. 

•

The fourth year is the easiest so far, both of them settled into their skin and more confident of where they stand, both, with each other, and in this new time. 

Steve had woken up in 2012 and had thought, I will never belong to this era, I will never learn to enjoy this. He’d also thought that he was alone, and maybe the absence of that loneliness is what makes all the difference. Or maybe it is simply that he’s finally accepted that he’s here to stay. 

What is the point of being miserable when he can build a home and finally live? What is the point of courting tragedy when some higher power allowed Bucky to find his way back to Steve? 

He thinks life is offering him a gift. He would be a fool to not grab it with both hands. 

•

The fifth year they leave Stark Tower and return to their roots. A three bedroom brownstone in the heart of Brooklyn, the cobblestone signing beneath their feet, welcome home, welcome home. 

Bucky kisses him in the archway and he smiles into it, throws his keys at Natasha when she snickers, and throws rice over them, making a mess all over their brand new floor. He can’t stop smiling, and thinks maybe one day, she’ll have a chance to throw the rice for real. Somewhere green, somewhere warm, both of them endlessly tired of the cold. 

They turn their home into an oasis of warmth. A burgundy couch and sunset pillows. A rug shaded like the sunrise and kitchen walls like sunshine. The plants take up every window and Bucky spends hours tending to them, talking in a low voice to them as if they can drag the darkness from him. Maybe they can, he always seems lighter afterward, flushed bright with life. 

There’s fresh fruit on the counter and warm bread in the oven. Coffee in the cupboard despite how little it does for either of them. 

Bucky takes to making sangria, despite alcohol doing nothing at all for him. Says, I like the taste, I like the colors, what other reason do I need? 

Steve bites into an orange, the taste bursting across his tongue, and watches a drop of sangria roll bright red down the column of Bucky’s throat. He throws a second orange across the table, laughs when Bucky catches it too hard and ends up with orange juice sticky in his hair. 

“I’ll help you wash it out,” he says, like that hadn’t been his plan from the start. 

Bucky grumbles about it, but he still leans in when Steve leans across the table to kiss him. He tastes like sunshine and the ocean and a thousand nights of longing. Which is to say, he tastes like the only religion that Steve has never lost faith in. 

fin.

[southernageless]

Blog Post 6 - Who Am I?

Happy Monday!

I have always considered myself intertwined into art. Whether it’s been painting, drawing, photography, writing, or performing, I have always felt at home in the arts.

When I started my path to being a teacher, I had to take elementary education classes and in one, we studied Eric Carle. I fell in love with his collage-art style and started making my own collages. My favorite is an eye (below) I made using construction paper scraps from my students arts and crafts.

For class this week, we made our personal history collage, and it made me think, “who am I?”

Here is my personal collage:

I want to start by explaining the photos.

Top left and middle right- I love music. My boyfriend and I have our own love languages, but music is something we share. I make a point to go to at least 2 concerts a year, if not more. Music is my escape. When the world is crumbling or my life is excelling, music magnified my emotions or becomes my escape.

Top middle and middle left- I am adopted, but I lived with my biological family for 8 years and still talk to some of them today. A big part of my biological family is our heritage. My family is “Cheromanian.” That is the fun word we made for our culturally blended family. My moms family is a part of the Eastern Band of Cherokees. My maternal grandparents met on the reservation and lived there until my mom came along and then they moved to Wyoming. When I was on the way, they moved back and had me outside of the reservation because my fathers beliefs and culture was different and some other chaos and what not. My dads family is Romanian. I have fallen in love with the culture and have tried to learn more about it since my dad passed last year. Interesting fact - most people assume “Romani” is the same as Romanian, and assume “gypsies” (please don’t use this term) are from Romania. However, Romani came from India mostly, and only 8% of the Romanian population is Romani.

Top Right - I have learned to love myself. I am okay with who I am today, however, I know that I am a better person when my better half, my best friend, my partner, my love is by my side. I love being Austin’s partner and I love when I get to take care of him or cook for him. Not every person likes that, and there is no right or wrong way to love, but I show my love by acts of kindness, and I absolutely love getting to love him.

Middle - I am a survivor and as a teacher, I try to advocate for any of my students who feel like they are unsafe, in dangerous relationships, or have no choice. It is an extremely gray area and is not talked about enough, but when I was in school, I did not have teachers who were open with their students. When I was assaulted, everyone pointed fingers and victim blamed. My voice was taken and I was not given the choice to press charges or stand up for myself. If even one teacher had told me they could in some way relate to what I was feeling, so much would have been different. Because of the choices that were taken from me, I never want my students to suffer that way. I try to always be honest with them. They know when I am at a low. They know when my life is soaring. They know that I have trauma and I will never not tell my story. My choices were taken, but I want to live in a world where “My body, my choice” means something. I want my kids to be raised where they feel safe.

Bottom left - I love art. I began pour painting about 3 years ago and it is such a rush of serotonin for me. There is something calming and thrilling about the process and I want very much to get back into it soon!!

Bottom right - I believe everyone is entitled to their beliefs. I respect the beliefs of others, even if I do not necessarily agree with them. I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains and fell in love with nature. Both of my cultures have faith deeply rooted in nature and the more I dove into the histories of my family, the closer I became to nature. I am pagan and I know that my faith is considered taboo. I know the slander that is associated and the rumors that circulate. We are called demon worshippers, satanists, evil, etc., however, what many don’t understand is that a lot of us believe in God. We use our beliefs and faith in positive ways l, so don’t let a few bad seeds define us all.

[juniordsindia]

10 FUN WAYS TO SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDS

With school out for the summer, it can be hard to know how to keep your kids busy. But don't worry, we've got you covered! Here are 10 fun ways to keep your kids entertained all summer long.

1. Plan a family fun day.

When you plan a family fun day, be sure to include plenty of activities that everyone can enjoy. One great option is to go to a theme park or amusement park. This will give you and your family the opportunity to ride rides, play games, and explore exhibits together. If you don't live near a theme park, you can always plan a fun day at home. Activities could include playing games, going for a hike, watching a movie, or cooking a meal together. Whatever you choose, be sure to have fun and create memories that your family will cherish for years to come. Looking For a Best Playschool In India

2. Visit a nearby amusement park or zoo.

The best way to enjoy a summer day is by visiting a nearby amusement park or zoo. These places are always filled with fun activities and interesting animals to see. You're sure to have a blast spending the day there with your family or friends.

3. Go for a nature walk.

The fresh air and natural surroundings can do wonders for the mind and body. Go for a nature walk and take in the sights and sounds of the outdoors. Feel the sun on your skin and the breeze in your hair. Notice the different colors and textures of the plants and trees. allow yourself to be completely absorbed in the experience.

4. Have a picnic in the park.

Mary was excited for the picnic. She had been looking forward to it for weeks. She packed her favorite food and drinks and headed to the park. When she got there, she set up her blanket and started to eat. She enjoyed the food and the company. It was a perfect day for a picnic.

5. Play games together indoors or outdoors.

Playing games together is a great way to spend time with your family. Whether you play indoors or outdoors, there are plenty of games that everyone can enjoy. Indoor games include board games, card games, and puzzles. Outdoor games include tag, hide and seek, and basketball. No matter what game you choose, you're sure to have a good time.

6. Make a homemade pizza or other dish together.

Making a pizza or other dish together can be a fun bonding experience for you and your partner. It can also be a fun way to get to know each other better. Plus, cooking together can be a great way to save money on your meals. There are many different recipes that you can try when cooking together. For pizza, you can either use a pre-made pizza crust or make your own dough. You can also choose from a variety of different toppings. For other dishes, you can choose a recipe that is new to both of you or one that you are both familiar with.

cooking together can be a fun way to get to know each other better.  Also Read About The  Top 10 playschool in Delhi .

7. Read stories together.

One of the best ways to bond with your child is by reading stories together. Not only does it provide a special bonding experience, but it can also help your child learn to read. Here are a few tips for reading stories with your child:

1. Choose stories that are appropriate for your child's age.

2. Make sure you have enough time to read the story in its entirety.

3. Get into the story and make it interactive.

4. Ask your child questions about the story.

5. Encourage your child to read stories on their own.

8. Take a trip to a nearby town or city.

I highly recommend taking a trip to a nearby town or city. There's so much to see and do, and you can always find a great place to eat. Plus, it's a great way to get out of the house and explore new places.

9. Make a scrapbook or photo album together.

Making a scrapbook or photo album together can be a fun project for couples. You can use photos, clippings, and other memorabilia to create a unique and sentimental keepsake. You can work on it together, or take turns creating pages. Either way, it will be a cherished item for years to come.

10. Watch movies or TV shows together.

Watching movies or TV shows together is a great way to spend time with your loved ones. It can also be a great way to bond with new friends. There are many different types of movies and TV shows to choose from, so there is something for everyone. Watching movies or TV shows together is a great way to spend time with your loved ones. It can also be a great way to bond with new friends. There are many different types of movies and TV shows to choose from, so there is something for everyone.  Top 5 School For Children

[igniakino]

ROADKILL

Makeup Artist

I was very excited to be asked to join the team of Roadkill as a their makeup artist! This isn't something I had had much experience of in the past, just doing bruises and SFX type makeup at Halloween, but it is always something I have been interested in. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to hone the few skills I had and do something semi-professionally.

My main task was to make they look exhausted and depressed to emphasis the toll not only this situation is having on both the characters, but their whole lives. They have been living in this turbulent relationship together, near breaking point before the accident even happened, and their faces have gone gaunt and haggard from stress. The accident has just bough this on tenfold!

Below I have linked the Pinterest board I used for references during the shoot:

I was on set for all 3 shoot days, helping out here and there. Keeping on top of the makeup was fun but stressed me out quite a lot as I kept trying to recreate the same look everyday for continuity. Eventually I had to accept that I couldn’t make it 100% accurate and some scenes called for less makeup with if there was more intense lighting, so I had to constantly make changes.

It was really interesting to learn more about colour theory through this shoot, and to see how lighting effected the look of the makeup through shadows or bright lights etc.

It was a really really fun shoot and I hope I can get involved with makeup again! I really enjoyed doing it.

Some pictures from the first day, mostly eye bags and red rims. I constructed this look with eye shadow, as it’s a really simple medium to work with. My method was a very light red base to imply the area is swollen, a darker red with some brown to add shadows and depth to the eye, a touch of purple directly under the eyeliner to look as sleepless as possible, a red/purple/brown mix following the shape of the face to create pronounced eyebags and a brighter red in the corners of the eye to create the illusion they are irritated as if the characters have been rubbing at them (either to dry tears or to drive away exhaustion). I repeated this each day and added more/took away as required.

I was also in charge of the dirt under Louis’ fingers, to imply to the audience that he did the burying. I did this with makeup too, black and brown under the nails (although I did cover Louis’ hands in soil for one of the more intensely lit shots)

Some BTS pictures!

[floraedines]

HI LOVE !! MY GORGEOUS AND COOL MAN :3 I miss you so much.

how are you doing now? eum i'm sorry what has happened to you right now :( i understand what it's like to survive that unwanted illness. i'm sad when i hear you're sick, i'm always worried about your condition and health. i'm afraid something has happened there :(( babe, i'm sorry if i haven't cared about you lately, i don't have time for you because i'm busy studying, but believe me here i don't stop to always pray for health and blessings for you. although you think i'm uncaring and indifferent to you, i miss you so much, i really miss you. i'm always tormented by this longing when i'm studying, it's so annoying and also addictive hahaha.I'm always tormented by this longing when I'm studying, it's very annoying and also addictive hahaha because I get excited by thinking about you. you do matter in my life, live a long life... live for the little things to survive for the happiness that you have been waiting for. I know you're sick of hearing words of encouragement from me, but I'm saying this sincerely from my heart, not falsely. I'm a human being who wants to see you successful and happy on your own efforts dear. I don't care about the tsunami storms that hit you, I will accompany you to the point of success. You want to cry, get angry, upset, disappointed it doesn't matter baby. let out all those feelings to me, I'm always ready to be a backrest for you, I don't care about your shortcomings, you're still perfect in my eyes, even though the world is cruel I don't care about that. I will always be focused on you Nishant...

babe, please hang in there? I really believe you are strong and you can. I believe you will also recover and have cool hair like normal again. I believe God answered our prayers, you will recover 🫂 don't stress don't think about what's in your mind, it's just an illusion that makes you afraid and disappointed, look ahead focus on your happiness, you will forget about that scary thing. let me accompany you huh? I want to accompany you until you reach your success point. I will not go away, I will not leave you alone here, no matter what others say, I will always be with you under any circumstances. I want my best man to be happy. I will always pray and support you for success. I want my man to succeed and succeed in his path. I will be proud of you dear, and also your parents they are very proud to have raised a child as great and as strong as you. don't feel alone, dear? I'm here, please look at this tiny me, I'll give you comfort in this house, come home if you're tired, come home to my arms don't go home to God. because I'm not ready to be abandoned by you:(( I'll be with who if my future husband leaves me??? I want to always be with you baby. I love you you, I can't stop thinking about you, whatever you want to scold me haha, I really enjoy this activity (thinking about you all the time) is very addictive and makes me excited to learn wowowowowowwowowo can't wait to buy you a PS5 and your dream shoes, I will immediately buy it when I become president nuh uh very long, I will immediately buy it when I steal money from the bank then go to India to bring you the gift HEHEHEHE (just pray that it will materialize).

so babe, if you want to cry, just cry on my shoulder, I will always be with you, I will never leave you. I am always here for you.

thank you nishant, thank you for still being here, thank you for still being able to survive even though I know you are half-dead to survive. BUT DON'T WORRY ULTRAGIRL HERE WILL PROTECT YOU FROM HURT, I WILL BASH ANYONE WHO TRYS TO DESTROY YOU. I don't want my man to get hurt, so I will destroy those who dare to hurt you 🤬🤬🤬 BARK BARK BARK BARK 🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

now you don't have to worry dear

you still have your parents, me and yourself and also God. no need to be afraid, we face it together huh? come on, I want to see you happy and successful. i'm 100% sure my man will succeed and get well🩷🩷🩷

I love you baby, I love you.

YOU MUST KNOW I REALLY LOVE YOU NISHANT 🫵🏻🫵🏻🫵🏻

You are precious

You are strong

You are smart

You are good

You are great

You are cool

You are handsome

You are healthy

You are loving

You are caring

You are gentle

You are unique

You are interesting

You are sweet

You are successful

You are rich

AND YOU ARE PERFECT!! ❤️❤️❤️

I am proud of you Nishant for all the efforts you have made. I am always grateful, if you today can still breathe, smile, laugh and sleep well tonight. I am very grateful. I always pray that you will always be given smoothness in all affairs and blessings and also health for you. don't hesitate and be ashamed to tell me your problems, who am I? someone else? just tell me, no matter if you are a man. men also have feelings, and it is not shameful if a man complains and tells his problems. no one is perfect in this life except God. every human being is given their own uniqueness.

you are unique in the way you talk, clothes, walk, even when you smile. uhh I miss your smile :(( I don't even remember how you smile. come on babe promise me, to always smile not for happiness but for yourself, even if you have a bad day it doesn't mean your life is ruined. Your life is always good I'm sure. you have to get rid of those ugly thoughts in your brain, they are just illusions and only you can destroy them! let's show your strength to destroy the overthinking, fear, disappointment in you. or should I destroy them by kissing your lips??? OK I WANT you to at least think less about bad things. hmm I hope after you read this your feelings start to improve :D I know I'm your first woman who first got into a relationship with you, forgive me if I failed to be your good partner.. calm down, I'll try to be better than yesterday 😉😉😉

may you always be happy, may you always be healthy, may all your work and college affairs run smoothly, may you be surrounded by good people who love you, including me hihi, may your sustenance always run smoothly. don't forget to worship, plss don't stayin worship ya!!!

I love you you Nishant, always love you. haha no closing sentence huh? yes because I will not stop loving you, allow me to continue loving you HEHEHEHEHEHEHEH LOVE YOU PRETTY BOY

I'm proud of you, babe

good boy

good man

good daddy aww hahaha

be happy

be careful

beloved 😋😋😋

i love you moree babe

I'll say it again, I'm proud of you 🫂❤️‍🩹

[egyptkeytoursblog]

An Exciting Trip To Egypt From India In 2023 - Myth Vs Reality

You probably think of mummies, pyramids, and pharaohs when you think of Egypt. There is so much more that visitors may experience in ancient Egypt. You will undoubtedly develop a fondness for this nation. The lovely queen Cleopatra was not an Egyptian, nor did they create mummification or utilise slaves to build the pyramids.

If you are looking to visit Egypt in the next few weeks or days and booked an Egypt trip package, you might have come across different myths related to Egypt and its related elements like people, markets, monuments, and others. I faced the same when I decided to tour Egypt. But when I went there, I came to know the truth. So, I decided to reveal the same through this post. Here, you can get to know everything about Egypt holidays packages and trip information.so, let’s get to know the common myths related to Egypt travel and their truth.

1.      Egyptian people are not friendly

I came to know that Egyptians are among the world's kindest and most friendly people. People are really friendly and welcoming. They would definitely stop by to assist you, whether they were a general store owner or a person crossing the street. You're less likely to fall victim to fraud in Egypt since the locals there are likewise quite trustworthy.

2.      Shopping in local markets is not good

Egypt's regional bazaars and souks are where you may find the genuine heart and fun of shopping. If you haven't been to one of its lively retail districts filled to the brim with the most genuine Middle Eastern items and handicrafts, you haven't really experienced this city. We had heard that the proprietors in these neighbourhood markets set absurdly high prices, forbade haggling, and provided inferior goods. That is all untrue.

In Egypt's marketplaces and souks, you can discover people selling genuine goods who are highly amenable to haggling. In addition, it is their sole source of income, which explains why the prices are typically higher than those found elsewhere. You may buy handmade crafts, clothing, purses, food, home décor, and souvenirs here. But you'll discover that everything was worthwhile.

3.      Conservative dressing is preferred

Many tourists were seen wandering the streets in hot pants and sleeveless blouses, and no one in the community seemed to complain to visitors who weren't fully clothed. In some Middle Eastern countries today, people are quite free to dress whatever they like without fear of scorn or public judgement. However, one must cover their legs, arms, and heads before going into any place of worship, such as a mosque.

4.      Choose a hotel near tourist attractions

On the other hand, one must always reserve a hotel inside the municipal borders. By doing this, you'll be nearer to a number of services that might be helpful to you in an emergency, such restaurants, grocery shops, and pharmacies. It won't help you in an emergency if you stay in a hotel in the midst of the desert that only offers stunning views of the pyramids and the Sphinx. Additionally, they are rather pricey!

5.      Egypt has only deserts

There is a lot more to this nation than first appears. Due to its guests' access to a wealth of knowledge and insight, academics and history buffs will like being here. You will be astonished by how much you end up learning here, from the Light and Sound Show at the Sphinx and the Giza pyramids to the educational and guided tour of the Egyptian Museum.

The history, museums, and even the mummies of Egypt captivated my kid. Throughout our trip to Egypt, he was always taking notes.

6.      It is hard to get vegetarian food

On our travel from India to Egypt, we also discovered that Egyptian cuisine is remarkably similar to Indian cuisine. So, even vegetarian travellers from India shouldn't be concerned. Additionally, the spices are essentially the same. In actuality, Egypt is where the majority of India's unusual spices come from. Two of Egypt's most well-known foods that have since become my favourites are Shawarmas and Falafels, and you can find excellent shops and sellers preparing them practically anywhere!

The Conclusion

Overall, our tour to Egypt was a wonderful one and would recommend others to explore the magnificence of Egypt. Egypt Key Tours is a reputed travel agency and offers a wide range of Egypt holidays packages at affordable rates. Whether you want to enjoy a Nile Cruise Luxor Aswan or a Dahabiya Nile Cruise, they have it all.

Disclaimer- The information provided in this content is just for educational purposes and is written by a professional writer. Consult us to know about how to choose the best travel agents in Egypt.  

[atlanticcanada]

Priest, neighbours issue plea for help for struggling international students in Cape Breton

It’s not everyday you see a plea from a Catholic priest in the local paper asking people to take in homeless university students.

"Recently, I learned that some of these students are sleeping in cars while they look for a place to live. That is simply not acceptable," writes Reverend Dr. Albert Maroun.

"As Cape Bretoners, we know that something must be done to ensure it stops."

Father Maroun knows the needs of international students at Cape Breton University well, because he meets them during lunch. Hundreds depend on the local community kitchen, Loaves and Fishes, for food.

It’s a community-run kitchen, primarily funded by churches around Cape Breton. The facility was overwhelmed when the university recruited thousands of newcomers in just a few years. They offer up to 250 free meals a day, the majority of them go to foreign students.

Sign up for The Informant for insider-only information on W5 investigations

Cape Breton University has aggressively ramped up enrollment in the past five years for international students, most of whom are from India.

That’s because students from abroad often pay double what most Canadians do, which has been a saving grace for university budgets across the country.

Today, CBU has 7,300 students on campus, more than 70 per cent of them are international. That’s the highest percentage of international students from the 30 public universities W5 surveyed across the country (see chart below).

In his letter to the editor, Maroun alleges that the university wants to make money but doesn’t take responsibility for these students.

"When the steel plant was setting up here over a century ago, they built housing first… maybe CBU should look to the past to see how it is done right."

NEWCOMERS STRUGGLING

W5 spoke with dozens of international students, both on the phone and on the ground in Cape Breton.

Many are frustrated by the lack of affordable housing, buses that don’t have enough room for students to get to school, and the challenges of finding part time jobs. But most students were too scared to speak on camera out of fear they would be penalized by the school.

"I wanted to grab the landing gear and fly back," one student tells us, when we agreed to hide her identity.  "My mind just shut down for about a week after I landed here. It’s so desolate and there's nothing here."

This student had studied abroad before, where a transition team at her first university had helped her find accommodations. CBU currently has apartment listings in the community on its website and a dedicated off campus housing coordinator, but this student claims, she was not told anything like that existed and it was difficult to find a place when she arrived.

"I often wake up at midnight, 3 a.m, 4 a.m… I just know my hair is turning grey," she says about the pressure to succeed in Canada.

Before the influx of students, Cape Breton was already facing a severe affordable housing shortage. While there are dorms available on campus, there are no kitchens, so students can’t cook and must purchase a meal plan costing roughly $3,000 a semester.

Damanpreet Singh is CBU’s Student Union President and also an international student who came to Canada in 2021.

"They should have built kitchens so students could cook, but they didn’t," he said. "They don’t want students cooking in their rooms."

He says most students can’t afford to live on campus because many have already taken out personal loans and it’s much cheaper to live in the community. But he also thinks students need to do more research about housing and jobs before coming to Cape Breton.

Another student, who asked to remain anonymous, says he has poured his life savings into this degree, but has struggled to find a place to live. His first rental had rusted out sinks and bathtubs, and mice running around.

"It’s the most disgusting place I’ve ever been," he says. He temporarily moved in with a friend. He says he has lost 20 pounds from all the stress and hasn’t video-called his family since arriving in Canada in early 2023. "I'm really afraid to Facetime my family because I don’t want them to figure out how terrible I'm looking," he said.

He also shows us the snow-filled, isolated road he was waiting on to take a bus to school.

"I was waiting for the bus for one hour," he tells us. "All my shoes, my socks, my pants were all damp."

Others tell us, at the beginning of the semester, there weren’t enough seats when the bus arrived. Many said they missed classes because of those delays. In response, CBU has purchased two city buses and added shuttles to help students get to class. But those buses continue to be crowded.

The university largely touts its growth as a success, though it acknowledges there are some growing pains. David Dingwall, the president of CBU, says the university plans to add 240 more beds on campus and is working with the private sector to generate more options in the community.

"But let's not kid ourselves, housing in every community across the country has grave difficulties and we're no exception," Dingwall says.

In 2019, CBU purchased land to develop affordable housing in the community, but no ground has been broken yet. It’s also expanding the dorms to accommodate families coming from abroad and capped certain programs for enrollment.

For a complete list of improvements made by CBU, click here.

Open Letter to the Cape Breton Community

Forever CBU Campaign

CBU Newsroom: Cape Breton University Will Do More

'CANADIAN MAMA' HELPING STUDENTS

Community members are coming to the aid of students. Brenda Matheson from Sydney is one of them. Last year, she started noticing international students, mostly from India, everywhere.

"My community has become the nicest shade of brown," she laughs.

The 61-year-old grandmother is as Cape Breton as they come. You can hear her beautiful laugh and accent a mile away.

That warmth is what drew an international student to her doorstep, begging for a place to live. She says she couldn’t turn him away in the cold. A year later, he still lives with her, rent-free, with another student planning to move in April. From these newcomers, she started to see what was really going on in her community.

"Kids are sleeping in cars. Kids are sleeping on floors, in people's living rooms, kids are sleeping in laundromats," she claims. She says she’s ashamed that so many students pay tens of thousands of dollars to come to Canada to live like this.

Her home has since become a hub for struggling students. Many of her neighbours are also now housing foreign students because of the influx.

"I think that if you are going to invite thousands of people to any community anywhere on the planet, that maybe you would have lodgings for them, maybe there would be accommodations available, maybe there would be a job for them," Brenda says.

"These kids aren't kids. They're a commodity. They're a cash figure. They're a bottom line."

Can't see the chart of international students by university below? Click here

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Watch the documentary 'Cash Cows' on CTV W5, Saturday at 7 p.m.

from CTV News - Atlantic https://ift.tt/7puUckX

[tehuti88-art]

3/17/23: r/SketchDaily theme, "India." Ganges, with an unintentionally creepy person.

...

This week's character from my anthro WWII storyline is Edelgard (no last name ever given). She's a newer character who never appears in the main story but plays a big role in the history of one of the major characters. There'll be more about her later in my art Tumblr and Toyhou.se.

TUMBLR EDIT: Aside from one brief mention in Godfrey Klemper's updated entry, you'd have to go to my Toyhou.se to see whose name Edelgard's resembles, another character given only a first name and whose last name is never given. He's developed quite a backstory--and a future story--since I last described him, and Edelgard here plays a massive role in it, despite being long gone and presumably dead by the time the main plot takes place. Her character, despite existing only a brief time so far, has already undergone massive changes--including a sex change. (No, not within the story--originally her character was male, then I wondered how different the plot would go if she were female, and it abruptly happened.) It's yet another disturbing tale in a plot full of them, I realize, but yet again, here we go.

Let's set the scene, which is still heavily in development so may still change. In the current story, various units of the Wehrmacht which patrol the countryside often stop to rummage through abandoned houses for goods since the supply chain is frequently fractured. One of these units is PFC Klemper's, under the command of 2nd Lt. Frieder Dasch. Klemper is a child soldier who grew up dirt poor, working early on on a farm, and was orphaned young as well; he knows how to scrounge and provide for himself. So he knows, from a quick peek inside, which houses have the good stuff. Dasch often sends him in first to see if the effort is worth it. One day, the unit crests a rise and is surprised to see below them at the edge of a vast clearing near the woods not a house, but a castle--a veritable castle. Sure it's short and boxy and nothing like the castles in picture books, but still, aside from Castle Schavitz it's the first castle they've come across, right in the middle of nowhere, too. They know of no castles supposed to be in this area yet here one is! After a few moments of puzzled speculation, during which they observe it through binoculars and conclude it must be abandoned, they decide to go down and check it out. Maybe there's something good inside.

Accompanying the unit is 1st Lt. Ratdog, a sniper whom Klemper has been assigned to watch; when not busy sniping ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ he sometimes travels with them, since he and Klemper, who've grown close, are often separated for weeks on end. He's as surprised to see the castle as they are, but seems strangely dismayed as well; Klemper notices his reluctance to approach it although he goes along. No smoke rises from the chimneys, plus, oddly, the windows and doors have all been left open. Result, the elements have gotten to the place, with the interior being quite worn, damp, and unsuitable for longterm habitation. Ratdog sits on a mouldering couch in the main hall while Klemper ventures up the great staircase and the others mill around curiously. Dasch notices a large portrait of a couple in Prussian noble dress over the fireplace, but the faces have been damaged. There's an engraving in the wood above the mantel and he brushes off the dust; he reads aloud, "'Herr Herzog und Frau Herzogin von...'" but the surname is gouged out and unreadable. All he can tell is the castle once belonged to a Herzog and Herzogin--a duke and a duchess. Whoever they were, their name is now lost to history.

Upstairs, Klemper rummages through the living quarters; he finds nothing much worth salvaging aside from a child's toy--a carved wooden horse, which he tucks into his coat--but is quite curious about a pile of portraits he finds at the end of a hallway. Just dumped there after being pulled from the walls. He looks through them in the hopes of learning about who once lived here. Some of them are what appear to be family portraits--a mother, a father, two children--but, creepily, the faces of the parents are all destroyed. The children are a younger boy and an older girl with long straight hair, both of them unsmiling. Klemper tries to push down his unease though it's difficult the more he looks. As he browses, the children in the portraits get older, until finally he digs out one where the girl looks almost grown, the boy perhaps in his mid teens. And Klemper drops the portrait, eyes wide, and pushes himself to his feet. He runs back up the hall and down the great staircase to the ground level where everyone else is milling around.

Klemper stumbles into the main hall so abruptly that everyone looks at him. Dasch asks if he found anything useful; he says no, he didn't. Dasch decides that they'll sleep the night there, since at least it provides adequate shelter on a dry mild night, and they'll head out again in the morning. Everyone gets out their bedrolls and they start a fire in the fireplace, settling down to eat and talk a bit before turning in. The next day, as planned, they head out again, leaving the castle behind.

Ratdog notices Klemper giving him a furtive look now and then, but neither says anything.

It isn't until later on, when they're alone, that Klemper pulls out the little toy horse and shows it to Ratdog. Ratdog blinks and actually flinches back a bit. Klemper hesitates before venturing, "It used to be yours...?"

An aside, now. When they were still getting to know each other, and on rather poor terms yet improving, Klemper had asked Ratdog his real name. Ratdog had replied, "It doesn't matter. I'm the last, it dies with me." Implying it must be some kind of old, rare name. Klemper said, "What's your first name, then?" to which Ratdog paused but then said, "Adel." Klemper henceforth refers to him by his real name, Adel, and is the only one to do so until after the war (when most of the characters drop his wartime pseudonym and refer to him as Herr Adel).

Now...when I chose a real name for Ratdog, I don't believe I put much thought into it aside from it being German, and sounding good. I likely looked up the meaning and thought that was cool too, but it wasn't why I chose this particular name. This is my way of saying I had NO idea about this future plot point when I named him...but it worked out in an odd way.

"Adel" isn't just a name. In combination, Deutscher Adel, it refers to the old German noble class: The barons, the counts, the dukes. (Adelina Dobermann's name is from the same root word.) "Herzog," duke, is almost as high a noble rank as somebody can get without being a literal prince. The name and faces of the duke and duchess of the old castle were wiped out, but the portraits of their children, the young Herzog and Herzogin, survived. Klemper has no idea who the girl is, but despite being only a teenager in the image, Ratdog was easily recognized. Ratdog isn't just a Junker, he's the last of a long, ancient line of dukes, and that was his castle.

In one part of the story, a Nazi official offers to put together Klemper's family tree; he manages to do so from the names of Klemper's late parents and gleefully proclaims that Klemper is of pure Aryan blood and comes from "a long, proud line of peasant farmers." Klemper isn't impressed either way. Ratdog turns down the same offer. Klemper now wonders if this is why; he doesn't want anyone to know he's a duke? Ratdog asks if this changes anything between them--he's the exact opposite of Klemper, and maybe a hundred or so years ago, somebody just like Klemper would've worked his fingers to the bone on Ratdog's estate. Klemper says it doesn't matter. He's curious why Ratdog would want to hide such information, though, and why he apparently abandoned that life. Because as long as Klemper's known him, he's lived alone in the woods in a tiny stone cottage he built himself. Why would he give up a castle? What happened to all the portraits and the family name? And most of all, what became of Ratdog's older sister? For that's obviously who the unknown girl in the portraits must have been.

Ratdog is just as obviously quite reluctant to share his story with Klemper, but the two of them are learning to be honest with each other, and this is a pretty big thing to not be honest about. In bits and pieces he tells Klemper his story.

His family of dukes and duchesses had lived in the castle for generations, hundreds of years. The farmland around the estate, and the number of people working for them, dwindled more and more over the years so that by the time of his grandparents, it was pretty much just them and their son and daughter. One winter day the older duke and duchess went off hunting in the woods near the castle and didn't return by evening. A snowstorm passed through, so it wasn't until the next day that the younger duke could finally go out searching for them. He returned home emptyhanded. The only thing he and the younger duchess could assume was that they'd been caught in and succumbed to the storm. Later in the following year, he would indeed find two scattered sets of bones inside a cave in the woods where they must have tried to seek shelter, but most likely froze to death in the cold.

Now it was just the younger duke and duchess living in the castle. Although there was a distant neighbor here and there which they could trade with when necessary, aside from that they were on their own; the duke knew how to hunt, so he could provide for them, though it was quite a lonely, isolated existence. They eventually had a daughter--a new young duchess--but from an early age it was obvious something was wrong with her. She was prone to extreme violent fits which her mother couldn't handle, ending up locking her in her room for extended periods. Her father tried to get through to her when he could, but didn't do much better. He disagreed with the duchess's decision to lock their daughter away, but without anyone else to help calm her down, there was little they could do.

After several years they had another child, a son. He didn't share his older sister's violent temperament, seeming every bit a normal, healthy child, and his mother doted on him. One day when wandering the castle unattended, he discovered a locked door and managed to get inside. By the time the older duchess realized he was missing, and tracked him down to the room where his sister had been confined, the girl already had a scissor blade pointed at the boy's neck.

The duchess's screams brought her husband running and they both stood and stared at their daughter, holding their young son with the weapon at his throat. No amount of begging and cajoling would convince her to let him go, until the boy looked up at her. Unlike his parents, he was too young to understand the seriousness of the situation, and so wasn't afraid. Seeing him looking up at her, the girl let him go. The duchess grabbed her son and pulled him away and the tense standoff ended.

The duke asked for the scissor blade and held out his hand, the girl lashing out and gouging it open; when he held out his other hand, however, instead of getting angry with her, she finally relinquished the weapon. He refused to lock their daughter away again--the way she'd reacted to her brother proved, in his mind, that she wasn't entirely broken. Surely they could help her. The duchess didn't want anything to do with her for threatening their son, so he took it on himself, finding her some decent clothes, washing her up, brushing and fixing her tangled hair; before long, she looked like any noble child any family would be proud of. He tried to spoil her and pay her all the attention he could, but it didn't seem to get through to her much; a few times she would hold her arms out to her mother and make noises indicating she wanted to be picked up, but the duchess refused. A chill fell between them and they never grew close, though she did grow close to her younger brother, who would often keep her company and play with and read to her. He didn't seem terrified of her like their parents were.

Klemper stops the story and asks the question that has to be obvious by now: The only people who had been living in the castle were the old duke and duchess, and their son and daughter. The older couple had disappeared into the storm. Now, there's a new duke and duchess, and their son and daughter. "This girl and this boy, this is your sister?--and you?" When Ratdog confirms it--these two children are himself, Adel, and his sister, Edelgard--Klemper then furrows his brow and says, "Then, your mother and your father...they were...?" Ratdog confirms this, as well: His mother and his father were brother and sister, the children of his grandparents. It's never stated outright, but the implication is that his grandparents were also siblings, and who knows how far back this particular arrangement goes.

Klemper then has to gingerly ask: "You and your sister...?" Ratdog shakes his head--no, the two of them were never a couple; although they were likely expected to be, they weren't interested in each other that way. It's obvious now why he didn't want his family tree made out; he again asks Klemper if this changes anything between them. Klemper replies, "It's...odd...but odd things happen out in the country." He would know. Ratdog theorizes that this long family tradition may have contributed to his sister's fractured mental state, though he isn't sure why the same didn't happen to him. Does Klemper want to know the rest of the story? He nods, so Ratdog continues.

Despite their father's, and his, best efforts, his sister was never quite right, and the resentment between her and her mother only seemed to grow over time. Whenever Adel and his father left the castle to go hunting, his father teaching him everything he'd need to know when it was time for him to take over, this left Edelgard at home alone with their mother. The two simply tried to avoid each other as much as possible. Privately, Edelgard would confide in Adel her feelings about their mother, and they were dark ones; he tried to reassure her, but wasn't sure how. The older the two of them grew, the more strained the situation became.

One day Adel went out hunting alone--he was old enough now--while his father remained behind to tend to their mother, who wasn't feeling well. Edelgard of course remained home as well. It was late by the time he returned, puzzled by how silent the place was; sure it had never been noisy what with only the four of them there, but there should have been voices at least, or dinner on the table. He grew uneasier the longer he looked around, but there was nobody on the ground floor; so he went upstairs where the living quarters were. When he reached his parents' room, he finally found his mother, still in bed, but now drenched in blood; his father was slumped on the floor beside the bed with blood pooled around him as well. He panicked at first, trying to wake them, then realizing they were both gone--then breaking down sobbing--then gasping and cringing back when something moved in the corner of the room. Edelgard was there, her own clothes soaked red, though she wasn't hurt. She still held a long, dripping hairpin in her hand.

When he asked her what she'd done, she hadn't much answer, aside from the ever-present enmity between her mother and herself. What about their father, though?--he'd never rejected her, he'd only ever been kind. Why would she kill him, too? Edelgard's eyes grew dark when she described how he'd reacted upon coming into the room in response to his wife's screams. "He called me 'monster,'" Edelgard said quietly, and that was bad enough.

For a few moments it looked as if she would turn the hairpin on him as well, but when he didn't turn on her the way their father had, she faltered. Instead, she advised him to take what he needed, and leave the castle--"Before I hurt you, too. It's only a matter of time, anyway." Despite the horror of the situation he was reluctant to leave her, but had to do so when she started screaming at him in a rage; he hurriedly rifled through the family's belongings, fetched a few things, and fled. Over the next day or so he visited a distant neighbor who was willing to help him settle some monetary issues and trade him a few things he needed; he intended to return to the castle, but a heavy snow fell, delaying him from doing so. When he did return, he found the castle almost exactly the way Dasch's unit found it, with the doors and windows cast open, snow drifting inside and piled into corners and dusted upon furniture. His parents' bodies were gone, as well as Edelgard. After searching the castle from top to bottom he ventured into the woods, calling for her, but there were no prints to follow, nobody to be found. He lingered nearby for a bit, but nobody ever returned to the castle, and so he finally left it, and his name, behind for good.

"You never found her?" Klemper asks. "Alive or dead?" No, Ratdog isn't even sure if Edelgard is dead, though he assumes that, like the grandparents they never met, she simply wandered off into the snow. He himself wandered around a bit before picking a secluded spot to build his own home, where he's lived ever since, when he's not staying in the city. Klemper, who had previously mocked the tiny stone house more than once, refrains from doing so again--now that he knows why Ratdog built it and what he left behind--and instead asks, "Why do you think she ran away? You never hurt her, she never hurt you." Ratdog shrugs and says, "I think maybe she felt she was just too broken and didn't deserve to stay with me. Or that maybe it was just inevitable I'd end up hurting her, too."

Klemper says nothing this time. He's had a very rough life, has been chewed up and spat out more times than he can count, and although he's only around eighteen when he and Ratdog first meet, he's lived through way more awful experiences than anyone should, and it's left him bitter and dysfunctional. Although he wants more than anything to matter to someone else, all he ever seems to end up as is a victim, and by now he just assumes he's too broken to be fixed, he doesn't deserve love, and everyone, Ratdog included, will just hurt him anyway. Ratdog's proven he means it when he promises Klemper he'll be there for him, repeatedly, but Klemper's just been through SO much he can never entirely believe him. Ratdog's description of his sister suddenly hits home hard and he realizes why her story resonated with him. Although their circumstances were quite different, some of the fundamentals are the same. Ratdog's patience dealing with him and his mental instability is because he's already dealt with such a thing, in his own family. Ratdog can tell from the way Klemper falls silent and looks away that this has just struck him, yet he too says nothing.

I believe at some point later in the story Ratdog's true status somehow comes out--it's almost guaranteed for example that the SS, which keeps detailed records on everyone, has a lengthy file on him, especially since he's investigated and even briefly detained when authorities learn he didn't earn his rank in the Wehrmacht and is more of an "honorary" member than anything--and of course Dasch and his unit are surprised by this revelation. Far from it becoming a source of ridicule as he'd expected, Dasch's men seem to respect him somewhat more--he isn't quite the dilettante playing soldier whom they'd assumed he is, although not from a fighting family he's still from old German blood--much like Klemper, despite their vast difference in status--and after learning the ropes he knows how to look after himself. Dasch does take a poke at him here and there referring to him as "Herr Herzog" but it isn't intended maliciously, he grows to grudgingly respect Ratdog since Klemper does. This revelation about Ratdog's personal background might end up benefiting him or the unit at some point though I have yet to determine how.

The rest of Ratdog's plot has developed somewhat since I last wrote about him. It's complex and extended, I've likely gone over parts of it already, so I'll avoid going into minute detail and will summarize best I can. He and Klemper make plans to retire to his little stone house and live there together, away from everyone else but happy; not long after the war has ended, however, while there are still random skirmishes here and there, another German sniper takes a shot at Ratdog but Klemper, hearing it first, shoves him to the ground and is wounded instead. Ratdog brings him home and removes the bullet; they fall asleep in each other's arms after going over their future plans again, with Klemper reiterating that all he'd ever wanted was to know that he mattered to someone else: "I have everything I want." He dies in his sleep, bleeding out from the second bullet that both of them missed; overwhelmed by grief, Ratdog buries him next to the grave of his son Hans, who was killed when only a toddler. He himself is then shot while traveling in the open; his assailant this time is Didrika, a former resistance leader he and Klemper had alternated between fighting against and assisting throughout the war. The three of them had technically been enemies, but more often acted like rivals, with Didrika and Klemper tossing mocking nicknames at each other while Didrika and Ratdog admired each other's shooting skills. Earlier, Ratdog had come across Didrika's lover, Boris, mortally wounded in a ditch; he gave Boris his gun, with one bullet, so he didn't have to bleed out slowly and painfully. Didrika found his body and Ratdog's pistol, and has tracked him down to finish the job. After some back and forth, Ratdog finally snaps at her to kill him: "Go ahead, then! I have nothing left." Instead, Didrika breaks down weeping; she's mourning just the same as he is. Ratdog passes out from blood loss, comes to back in his own cottage, his wound bandaged up; Didrika saved him, unable to bear losing yet another person she knows. Technically they were enemies, but now they're all each other has left. In the absence of the ones they intended to spend their lives with, they become each other's lifeline in the years following the war.

Ratdog and Didrika aren't in love with each other--those feelings they keep for Klemper, and Boris--and they never marry. They do live together as partners, though, filling the void for each other, and have a son and a daughter, Godfrey and Tatiana (named after Klemper, and Boris's deceased sister). Ratdog's family line doesn't die out with him after all. Shortly after both children reach adulthood, Didrika falls ill, and after a time succumbs. Ratdog is finally left alone, and after so many losses--his parents, his sister, his son, his lover, and now his partner--he's barely holding on; the hurt is overwhelming. However, Tatiana tentatively informs him, on a visit, that she's pregnant; she was worried he would be disappointed in her, as she's not married herself, but Godfrey had insisted she tell their father, believing he'd understand, and that the news might help him. Indeed, Ratdog isn't disappointed in her (he'd been a single father himself), and Godfrey promises to help his sister with the baby when it arrives, so everything is well. After the birth Ratdog goes to visit at her bedside and meets his new grandson; he asks what she'll name him. Tatiana peers up at him and murmurs, "I wondered...would it be all right, would you mind, if I named him Hans...?"

Ratdog gives his blessing for his grandson to be named after his deceased son, Tatiana's and Godfrey's half-brother whom they never met. He thinks he hid his feelings well enough, breaking down only after reaching home; Tatiana's decision hits him hard, and he can't handle it. A knock at the door, however, makes him straighten himself out long enough to answer; he's surprised to see Godfrey. Godfrey is sensitive to others' emotions, in some ways much like his namesake, and he knows his father isn't doing well. They talk briefly, Ratdog assuring him he's all right, and Godfrey prepares to leave; at the door, though, he suddenly hugs his father, hard. "I want you to know," he whispers in Ratdog's ear, "I'll always love you. No matter what happens."

His words make it clear: He knows what's been on Ratdog's mind since Didrika's death, during their whole relationship in fact. It was why he urged Tatiana to tell him about her pregnancy while she had the chance. He knows Ratdog's held on as long as he was able, and this is likely the last time they'll talk. And he tells his father, in his own way, that he understands. It's all right to let go now.

Ratdog tells him he loves him and Tatiana and Hans in return. Godfrey promises to let them know, and leaves. Ratdog waits until he's sure he's gone before breaking down sobbing. His heart feels like it's been sucked out of his chest. It's felt that way since Klemper's death. He gets up and digs around in his cupboards, pulls out a large bottle. He gave up drinking years ago, as it reminded Klemper too much of his drunken father. He starts drinking anyway even though it just makes him cry harder at first--"I'm sorry, Godfrey," he sobs repeatedly, hating to break his promise to Klemper. His crying slowly lessens a little the longer he drinks, though, and he pulls himself together enough to write a short note--"I'm sorry, I tried"--which he leaves on the table, setting a glass atop it. He gets up, opens the window and leans out into the snowy air, taking a breath--it makes him shiver, but a few more drinks warm him up again, and he finally starts to feel drowsy and numb.

He opens the other windows, the door, lets the gusting icy air fill the tiny house, snow flitting in, piling into corners, dusting upon furniture. He takes the toy horse Klemper stole from the castle so long ago and holds it close. Then he lies down in his bed, shuts his eyes, and drifts away.

[Edelgard von NN 2023 [‎Friday, ‎March ‎17, ‎2023, ��‎4:00:23 AM]]