#or if they have some sort of chairwoman he's the chairman

[finemealprompt]

DP x DC Prompt #72

Jason has traveled all throughout Unova, defeating other trainer’s and gym leaders to prove that Bruce’s belief in him wasn’t misplaced. But now, he’s off to face the most difficult gym leader before facing the Elite Four. He knows Danny is gonna be a tough leader to face, but he knows he has what it takes.

[danganronpasurvivoraskblog]

Out-of-luck Lockdown: Part 1.

Wow...More units are here than I thought there would be.

They just need time to prepare. Then they’ll do a huge sweep of the lab until they find what they’re looking for.

Yo, Kaede! Shuichi!

Huh?

*Some familiar voices are heard nearby, which Kaede and Shuichi turn to see.

How’s that new upgraded spear treatin’ ya?

We came to help!

Yeah!

Oh great, you guys are here! That’ll make things a lot easier.

We still helping soldiers get ready. Once they done, we go into lab.

Your friends seemed pretty insistent upon helping out. I appreciate that bond, so I decided to let them tag along.

...If it’s all the same to you, Mrs Chairwoman...I was actually hoping that we could get a head start on the investigation by ourselves.

Yes, myself and my two allies here are of the same mind. We’ve already set up our individual forces at each lab exit, and were hoping to explore inside as soon as possible.

Is that so?

Yeah. We kinda got a feel of the layout and we’re currently the only three with the map. I’m not expecting we’ll find much, but we need to get this place sorted out as much as possible. Before Zetsubou arrive.

It’s true that we’re on a time budget. I guess we’d better let them go.

Yeah, I trust Kuripa to stay on top of this sort of thing. Daffy as he may be, he knows when to switch into work mode.

Psh...Thanks Boss...

Just one more thing before we depart. What happened with Hikaru Ando?

I can answer that.

*Setsuka joins the group.

Doc has been detained in one of the nearby camps we set up. We’ve actually brought down Doctor Kimura to take a look at him.

Seiko’s here?

We might not be able to communicate with her, but we know we can trust her with this sort of thing. She’ll find a way to get that parasite out of his system safely and soundly.

Despite our insistence that she should step back, Ms Eden Owari has decided to accompany her.

Eden can stay. Like I said, Ando would have gotten away if it wasn’t for her.

I suppose that’s all I needed to know. Try and get the doctor fixed up as soon as you can so we can get as much information out of him as possible.

Will do, second Chairman.

Catch you guys later.

*Munakata and Kaede head off, but before they can leave, Shuichi grabs Kuripa and whispers to him.

You three seem to be getting along well.

I’m just as surprised as you. Turns out we make a pretty good team.

...

Kuripa, listen...Something doesn’t feel totally right about this whole situation. I get the feeling bad things are gonna happen soon.

Why, because we’re winning? Makes sense. Every time we win lately, it comes at some kind of cost.

Look, Kaede trusts you. They aren’t as much of a threat on their own, but the Monokubs still may have some tricks up their sleeve, and they’re still in there. Not to mention, Zetsubou are probably on their way.

Please...Promise me that my and my girlfriend’s trust in you isn’t misplaced, ok? Please, make sure she stays safe.

Of course, of course. I get why you’re saying this. I haven’t given you much reason to believe in me lately.

But I promise I’ll protect her.

*Kuripa waggles his finger, then pursues his allies.

[Zetsubou HQ, shortly afterwards]

YOU IMBECILE!

...

*In the main lobby of the base, Akira Tsuchiya sits lazily on the sofa, as Mikihiko barks angrily in his face. Yukari, Celeste and Tsumugi stand nearby, baring witness to this interaction.

I think you fail to realize just how important that facility was to Zetsubou’s goals, and now the Future Foundation are clearing it out! We’ve even lost Ando, our one source of producing more parasites!

Because of your laziness, the Future Foundation got into the lab, and our plan to brainwash the cities has gone kaput! What do you have to say for yourself!?

...Yes...!

Huh...!? Wait...

*Mikihiko suddenly notices something, reaching over to Akira’s ear and yanking out an earpiece. He listens to it and hears the sounds of Japanese horse racing through it.

That’s it! I’m killing him! Lady Shirogane, permission to kill!

*Mikihiko grabs an ice pick from the table and thrusts it towards Akira’s eye, who doesn’t even flinch.

Denied! *sigh* Mikihiko, I appreciate it, but let me take care of this.

*Tsumugi goes and stands over Akira.

You mad at me too, lady?

Not as mad at you as I usually would be.

Let the Future Foundation have this victory. They haven’t stopped us. They’ve only delayed the inevitable.

What do you mean?

I had figured it would take a fair few more years to set up the game for Survivor. We’re going to move towards the final phase soon enough anyway.

Once that happens, we’ll have plenty of time on our hands. All we’ll have to do is repeat our process. Capture Ando and brainwash him again.

Besides, I’m sure the Doctor will cooperate once he finds out we have his darling daughter with us. We aren’t done and dusted just yet.

I agree. This victory is a trifle compared to our successes over the Future Foundation.

Still, don’t you think we’re getting a little cocky? We lost Emilia Feng and our weapon supply not too long ago. Even if we can replicate Feng’s procedure, don’t you think the numerous victory’s the Future Foundation have over us is concerning?

I joined this group and betrayed them because I believed you had the potential to give me exactly what I want. Now there’s no going back. So don’t you go letting me down, Shirogane.

Your feistiness is appreciated, Celeste. And believe me, I intend to reward you for it.

For now though, Akira, keep an eye on that lab. If anything big comes up, you know what to do.

Sure. I’ll take a look now.

OW!

*Akira lazily gets up, steps on Mikihiko’s foot on his way past, and checks the large monitor in the corner.

Hm...Now THIS is juicy~

What is it Akira?

Looks like the FF went back inside the lab to scout, see if they could find any parasites left over.

Then just tell the Monokuma’s to tear them apart!

I can’t. They already destroyed all our units in the lab. According to the vital signs, only the little one’s are left.

The Monokubs?

Yeah, those guys. Not much they can do on their own without those exisals up and running right? And that’s gonna take some time.

Ooh...Akamatsu’s really taking this seriously. She just dipped her hand in a whole box of sludge!

...!?

What did you just say...?

Huh? Wh-What’s with the scary face?

*Everyone looks towards Tsumugi, concerned.

Akira...who is in that lab? Some soldiers?

No, not many people actually. Just three targets. Kuripa Kurafto, Kyosuke Munakata and Kaede Akamatsu.

...!

*Tsumugi suddenly turns her back and starts pacing back and forth, her body slightly trembling.

M-Mugi-chan? What’s wrong?

Lady Shirogane, are you alright? You don’t feel well?

Akira...

*Tsumugi raises her head.

Activate the complete shutdown of the lab, enable all defense mechanisms and the plating on the large doors. Now.

What...!?

*Tsumugi’s request surprises even the stoic hacker. Everyone looks towards her with surprise.

Wh-Why?

Just do it...! Now...!

Lady Shirogane, if you’re hoping to trap the Future Foundation inside, wouldn’t it be best to wait until a few more soldiers step in?

Yeah, none of the people Akira mentioned are even targets. We should wait until Kirigiri and Saihara go back inside or-

I SAID DO IIIIIIIIIIT! DOOO ITT NOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWW!!!

!!!??

!!!??

!!!??

!!!??

*Everyone panics as Tsumugi suddenly screams out her command. Akira frantically goes to his monitor and types something in...However...none of the operatives realize they are being subtly watched.

...Oh no...

You find anything?

Ah!? Uh...no, no, nothing here...

...You alright?

Yeah, I’m fine just...Just a little jumpy is all.

It’s true that danger could be lurking around every corner. We shouldn’t let our guards down.

♪ *Hirari hirari mekuri mekuru! Sutoorii sutoorii! Kidoairaku sewashii!* ♪

Uuuh I think that’s mine.

*Kuripa picks up his phone.

‘Ello ello? What’s the situtation?

Uchui: KURIPA! GET OUT OF THE LAB!

Uchui!?

“Uchui!?”

Kamukura is calling you...!?

Shirogane is activating a shutdown on the lab! Get out of there NOW or you’ll be trapped in!

*He hangs up.

What the fresh hell?

*BLARE!* *BLARE!* *BLARE!*

!!!??

!!!??

!!!??

*As soon as the call ends, a loud alarm suddenly sounds out, and all of a sudden, heavy shielding shuts over the lab doors.

...That’s not good...!

We’re in trouble, aren’t we?

LET’S MOVE!

[arpov-blog-blog]

GOP 2024 Is Weak, Struggling, A Raging Dumpster Fire - Top Trump advisor Steven Bannon is headed to jail, joining two other Trump advisors, Allan Weisselberg and Peter Navarro who recently reported to prison. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan said he isn’t supporting Trump, joining a growing list of prominent Republicans working against the GOP nominee. Trump’s struggles in keeping his coalition together showed up again in Indiana Tuesday night where long gone Nikki Haley got 22% of the vote. MAGA Rs tried to take down their own Speaker, again. A porn star talked of her adulterous affair with Trump in court this week, as he watched, silently, from a few feet away.

This morning the Washington Post published a remarkable story about the financial and organizational struggles of the Trump campaign and RNC. I literally laughed out loud a few times reading it. There is Olympian levels of GOP bullshit in here and all sorts of signs of serious dysfunction. Some excerpts:

Strategists for both major parties expect Democrats to raise and spend more than Republicans over the coming months, a dynamic that has been magnified by the significant legal costs Trump’s fundraising apparatus has absorbed to defend him in state and federal courts. The situation has alarmed GOP officials in key states like Arizona, Georgia and Michigan, who have yet to receive promised funding, staff or even briefings on the new plans since the Trump team took control of the Republican National Committee in March. An earlier party blueprint for a general election build-out has been discarded, party officials say. Plans to open new offices have been scuttled. Hiring has been slowed. “In order to win close elections in Georgia, you have to have a ground game that emphasizes turning out early votes and absentee votes,” said Cody Hall, a senior adviser to Gov. Brian Kemp (R). “I have seen no evidence of them having any of that. The Trump campaign has a consultant in Georgia, but there is nothing else that I can see. … Everyone is generally concerned.”

and…..

Arizona GOP chairwoman Gina Swoboda called RNC Chairman Michael Whatley on Monday to raise concerns that Arizona was not getting enough resources, according to three people familiar with the call, who like others for this article, spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions…. “There is no sign of life,” said Kim Owens, a Republican operative and public relations professional in Arizona. “Especially in a state that Trump lost so closely last time, you’d expect to have more of a presence. I would think, ‘Let’s step it up.’ I think it’s a terrible mistake.” In Michigan, some of the state’s operatives and Republican lawmakers have grown concerned about a lack of an operation there, according to four people familiar with the matter…

and a reminder that the idiocy remains very very strong with Trump:

Trump himself has echoed that view in conversations with multiple top advisers, according to people familiar with the conversations. He has told people in charge of the RNC to focus on election security more than field programs, because he believes he will be able to personally motivate his voters to the polls in the fall, these people said. In private conversations with both Whatley and McDaniel, Trump told them to not worry about getting out the vote since he could do it himself. He told them to “focus on the cheating.” Party leaders say they are planning a massive operation around “election integrity,” with tens of thousands of volunteers who will monitor precincts and vote-counting across the country.

and……

But in the meantime, the complaints have continued. One person who works on battleground issues for the Trump campaign said there has been a lack of strategy articulated to workers in the field. “What they are totally missing is a rank-and-file army,” a Republican involved in Trump’s efforts said. Another key Republican familiar with the national GOP’s operation in Arizona bemoaned the lack of money, staffing and direction from Trump’s team in the sprawling battleground state. In 2020, he lost the state by 10,457 votes and its 11 electoral votes went to Biden. “They haven’t even sent a data person,” the Republican said. “I said to someone yesterday, ‘No one’s coming — it’s just us.’”

This story confirms something I’ve been writing about here for weeks - Trump is very behind Biden financially and organizationally, and simply is not going to be able to catch up this year. It’s all very Trumpian - all hat, no cattle. And it is a very very big problem for the Republican Party up and down the ballot in the battlegrounds and across the country."

[cringywhitedragon]

I’ve recently discovered a little lesser known thing about the song Urotander Underhanded Rangers and that there’s a whole fan-lore for this song (Heck even Microsoft Sam is on the Wiki.

I’ve kinda decided to adapt my own version of this for my fanverse/Synth-Verse (as I’m gonna call it for simplicity sake)

Note: I don’t own the original concept, all credit goes to the orginial Producer and the wonderful vocaloid/Urotander fandom for inspiring my take on this

Here’s some links to some Urotander Lore (It’s all in Japanese so please use a translator):

- -

The premise follows a sort of bad ending/alternate universe of sorts to the main lore regarding a major conflict of this universe, known as the Natural Wars.

Naturals is a term used to refer to Synths who have been infected by a virus that turns them into powerful killing machines. The virus was created by a half-Synth who goes by the name of NEO and has some major lore connections in a way to Anna. The virus only effects Normal Synths but lead to a series of off-world conflicts between the ROFL-Fleet/Federation and NEO’s Army and his ultimate defeat by the hands of Samuel Andrew Microsoft and the crew of the famed Aero-class starship, the MSS Whistler, as well as the few times he manages to revive himself.

In this timeline, however NEI decides to go with a full-fledged attempted invasion on Earth 2/Synthia. The Whistler and Sam manage to stop the invasion and kill NEO for good but not without a cost. The starship is destroyed, Sam is gravely injured (Manly losing an eye and a leg), and a good friend (Microsoft David) gives up his life to save the rest of the crew.

The crew are heralded has heroes and things return to relative peace as Earth 2 starts to rebuild (what little damage was taken) after the conflict.

Yet not long after does a strange outbreak begin to occur of what is believed have been a mutated strain of the Natural Virus that managed to survive. Many Synths, both Regular and Vocal, grow ill. The largest area hit is the planet’s capital, Neo Cyber City and it’s surrounding suburbs.

One of these victims would be Lady Solstice, aka Solaria, the current leader/chairwoman of the planet’s government and a beloved figure. Micheal Oliver Microsoft would do everything he could to try and save her yet she would not make it.

This event, and her last words assuring him that he had done all he could, would stick with Mike and lead to him to a mental downward spiral, blaming himself and some of the public looking down upon him even if he would go on to aid in ending the pandemic as he had done with finding a cure and preventive for the Natural Virus during the start of NEO’s terror.

Solaria’s death would become a national holiday due to her impact on the people of the planet and the Earth 2 government would undergo a reshuffling with many of the Whistler’s crew taking high ranking positions as Sam is voted Chairman.

This would lead up to the prequel events of what I’m going to call Synth Solider M/Mike’s story.

Mike, whom now is once again working as a doctor on planet, disobeying an order from his brother (Sam) who is concerned for his mental health, sneaks off the planet following rumors of a plot against the planet and as part of a promise to find Solaria’s child, Saros, to inform them of her fate. During his journey, he runs into Anna (The two are married at this point and no, Anna in this AU is not related to the Microsoft Triplets (Sam, Mike, Mary)) on Purbella 7 (Homeworld of the Purble Race and the planet Anna Blackcomb/Microsoft Anna grew up on) who had left Earth 2 following an incident on Purbella 7 to be there for her “people”.

The two disembark together to locate Saros, all while battling the Natural Remnants lead by the Natural Clones of the Microsoft Triplets and an enigmatic mysterious force. Saros returns to the homeworld, Mike finally makes peace with what happened to Solaria and he and Anna go about their usual lives. The Natural Clones are slain and the mysterious figure (implied to be David but left open-ended since Mike is knocked out towards the end of the battle) mentions they will return someday.

And a promise they kept…

The group, now calling themselves the Apostles of NEO, return and attack but are successfully repelled but aside from that, Earth 2 was also was going through a crisis of political instability and corruption as evil organizations took advantage of Earth 2 council’s incompetence and distractions of fending off the Naturals, resulting in a civil war of such between power hungry groups.

As a result, vigilante organizations rose up to combat the chaos, some with government funding. One in particular known as Justice would be one of the larger ones, even after the conflicts on-world ended, leaving a power vacuum.

A new conflict arises not long after between Earth 2’s government and the now huge conglomerate over disagreements of interest. Chairman Sam is disposed and to flee and Commander Scottovinch Gerald “Radar Overseer Scotty” Bartholomew taking his place to hold things together.

In an attempt to fight back, a ragtag group of Synth renegades rises to the challenge (With heavily implied government backing) to take down Justice for good using dirty and cowardly tactics (And some other threats that won’t be brought up).

A group they call Urotander

Yet even in this frozen era of chaos and corruption, life still goes on.

Memories from the past, old flames from many years ago, and a rebellious teenage daughter, a new flagship vessel, and many more are a few other things some others struggle with

..

…

…

[???]

[worldofwardcraft]

The clown wars.

December 15, 2022

With the predicted "red wave" failing to materialize, civil war has broken out amongst Republicans, pitting GOPer against GOPer and MAGA against MAGA. Even now, some Republicans are openly blaming disgraced former president Donald Trump for the Party's humiliating losses in the midterms, as well as for his brazen hobnobbing with antisemites. “I don't think anybody should be spending any time with [leading Jew hater] Nick Fuentes,” harrumphed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.

Former UN ambassador Nikki Haley (who apparently can't decide whether to support him or not) criticized Trump last year for stoking the US Capitol riot. Declared Haley to Politico, “I think he’s going to find himself further and further isolated.” And "he’s lost any sort of political viability he was going to have.” Trump, naturally, lashed back at Haley, but has reserved his worst insults for Florida's wannabe emperor Ron DeSantis ever since polls started showing him overtaking Trump as the preferred 2024 GOP presidential candidate.

Sniping has also broken out in the US Senate. The Wall Street Journal recently detailed the poisonous relationship between Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and senatorial campaign chief Rick Scott, each blaming the other for the GOP not regaining control of the upper body. Scott has been joined by the likes of Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and Marco Rubio in calling for a change in the Party's Senate leadership.

Meanwhile, over in the House, the zanies of the MAGA-crazed Freedom Caucus are clamoring for McCarthy's head on a pike and vowing to deny him the Speakership. It will require 218 votes for him to be elected, but a spokesman for Freedom Caucus chairman Andy Biggs told Faux News, "McCarthy doesn't have 218 and there will be an alternative challenger."

Yet, even that appalling collection of fruitcakes is divided, with the odious Marjorie Taylor Greene breaking ranks and (having apparently been offered a juicy committee assignment) supporting McCarthy. MAGA hero Roger Stone thereupon announced himself "very disappointed" with Greene. And Noel Fritsch, publisher of the right-wing National File echoed, “I’m obviously off the Marjorie train.”

Hostilities have even reached into the Republican National Committee itself. Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel — who dropped her maiden name Romney to show her fealty to Trump — is running for reelection. But she's also being criticized for the Party's lackluster showing in November and faces challenges for the committee chair position from a conservative California committeewoman and deranged pillow pusher Mike Lindell.

So stand back, stand by and grab your popcorn. The GOP’s buffoonish free-for-all is under way. And just think how entertaining the infighting will be if Trump is denied the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

[stingslikeabee]

‘ wow. you look amazing. ’

fake dating prompts . accepting

The 65th birthday of the Dojima matriarch had been an occasion that Melissa had been helping prepare for quite some time now. As the sole daughter-in-law to the once interim chairwoman of the Tojo Clan, Yayoi had not really requested any sort of lavish ceremony or extended guest list – but it was also a very important milestone to be celebrated.

Once someone who had terrified Melissa in a way none of the scariest yakuza of the clan had been able to, Yayoi had warmed considerably to the foreign woman over the course of the years, particularly after her wedding to Daigo when she had sponsored and guided the ex-hostess with perfection. It had been a very traditional ceremony – and Yayoi personally ensured Melissa knew exactly how to dress, speak and behave. The success of her Japanese wedding was owed in no small amount to Daigo’s mother, and the club owner felt like her birthday was a proper occasion to return some of that kindness.

The relationship between both women was currently at its best – with the recent addition to Kazuya to the Dojima family, Yayoi had transformed in a way as grandmother that Melissa had frankly not anticipated. There were a softness to her voice and a gentleness to her eyes that had been seemingly unlocked by her grandson – a healthy, lovely boy that had filled the matriarch with pride and joy.

Kazuya was with Daigo while she dressed for the actual party – Okamura’s help had been enlisted and the ex-chairman had said nothing of it; he had confidence in his wife’s ability to look beautiful (as he continuously said, Melissa would make a potato sack look stunning, even if it was hardly an adequate outfit for his mother’s birthday celebration), but he also knew how sometimes girls preferred to have company for such occasions. He was more than content to look after Kazuya while the newly-turned mother dressed in their room, the baby quiet and behaved as he traditionally was – but Melissa was sure that the boundless love that father and son already shared did wonders to keep the child soothed and happy.

At the sound of the door to the bedroom being opened, the former hostess slipped out and went over to the living room, seeking Daigo to gauge his approval. She was confident on the choice made – but she wanted to see it on his face. Okamura trailed behind with a curious yet mischievous expression, obviously taking pride in her work with her friend, and stood a few steps behind Melissa when they found father and son playing on the floor.

“Anata,” the ex-hostess called to her husband softly, her face turning gentle even before he looked at her given the cutest display of her growing family on the living room, “How do I look?”

Her question was entirely rhetorical – the moment the ex-chairman turned and gazed at his wife, he immediately recognized the clothes and went still for a full minute, eyes roaming over the figure that the woman cut in the yukata he had once commissioned for Melissa and gifted to her during their honeymoon. Until that day – there had not been an occasion fitting of the beautiful traditional piece of clothing that had been part of a wardrobe created under the hopes (or even expectations) that they would have married during his tenure as chairman.

But now – Yayoi’s 65th birthday called for the observation of certain preferences, and Melissa thought it would be the perfect opportunity to wear the exquisitely manufactured yukata, with the beautiful blooming petals covering the expanse of fabric and favoring the purple shade that was Daigo’s favorite. The golden details, particularly at the obi, had been paired with some of her jewelry (also gifted by the ex-yakuza at different points of her life), and the make-up was elegant but tailored to the color pattern of her choice of attire. Okamura had been responsible for the obi and the knot – Melissa would have never made it correctly alone, and her friend’s assistance and advice with the rest of the accessories had been invaluable.

“Wow,” Daigo said at some point, and his voice was low, heavy with emotion. Kazuya had been temporarily placed on the ground, his hands ensuring that the child remained safe while he looked at the woman he so fiercely adored enveloped by the fabric and colors he had chosen for her so long ago. It had been a love letter from the then chairman to the civilian he had chosen to be his partner – and now replied by Melissa in the first occasion she had selected to wear it, honoring his family and legacy, “You look amazing.”

“Please, Daigo-san. Monaka looks amazing on a daily basis - today she looks like a queen, if I say so myself,” the former aide to the chairman smiled, pressing a kiss to her friend’s cheek affectionately while adjusting the strap of her bag over a shoulder. Okamura was ready to leave, her work clearly done – and fantastically so given how Daigo was still visibly struggling to speak anything more coherent, “You three have a lovely time – I’ll be expecting pictures.”

The couple exchanged greetings with the blonde heiress as she left, and then Melissa went over to Daigo, kneeling by his side. The intensity of the emotions he was experiencing were visible in his eyes – they were dark, but full of light right then. The molten, rich brown that colored his gaze under the right type of illumination was warm and looked like home – and he embraced her from their position on the floor, surrounding Kazuya and bestowing a kiss over her forehead. A traditional, loving gesture of his – and one that was also strategic to preserve her fresh make-up.

“I love you,” he said eventually, words now coming easier to him in the absence of any third parties but for his family. His hand moved to her face, a thumb caressing Melissa’s left cheek fondly while Kazuya was then gently passed on his mother’s arms. “Can you two keep me company in the bedroom? I’ll have to change into something else for the party,” a small smile broke through his façade, the depth of his feelings now reverting to more normal levels but with tenderness lingering at any rate, “I have just the thing to match your yukata.”

[creepingsharia]

Biden stacking hi-level positions in admin with Muslims & terrorist-apologists (updated)

Scroll to end for updates.

If you have more to add to the list please leave a comment here or on our Gab post. Maher Bitar - Sr. Director for Intelligence on the NSC

'Palestinian' Muslim deeply involved in Trump’s first impeachment

As Rep. Adam Schiff’s top legal adviser, he was deeply involved in the first impeachment of then-US President Donald Trump.

Maher Bitar, one of the executive board members of Students for Justice in Palestine, was one of the principal organizers of the 2006 conference which was being hosted by Georgetown University’s SJP hate group.

Reema Dodin - Deputy Director of White House Office of Legislative Affairs

'Palestinian' Muslim who justified suicide bombings

During the Second Intifada, in 2002, Dodin spoke about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict with residents of Lodi, California, saying that “suicide bombers were the last resort of a desperate people,” according to the Lodi News-Sentinel.

...as one of two deputy directors of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs, she will be in a position to keep track of proposed or impending or about-to-be-voted on legislation about Israel, Palestinian Authority, Hamas, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the whole Middle Eastern works. She will know which Congressmen are “on our [Palestinian] side,” who can be persuaded to move toward the Palestinian position, who supports Israel and cannot be moved; she’s in the perfect place to inform or warn her allies in the pro-Palestinian camp of what’s to come, and how best to promote or stop it.

Sameera Fazili - Deputy Director at the US National Economic Council ('Kashmiri' Muslim) Source 1 + Bio

Update 1:

via: Biden’s Terror-Tied Appointee Sameera Fazili is a Threat to U.S.

via: Top Biden Economic Policy [Fazili] Adviser Linked to Kashmiri Extremists

Currently, Fazili is listed as Committee Chair of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network's (IMAN) Atlanta office, and she was previously listed as a director of IMAN's Chicago branch. Notably, two of IMAN's top 20 donors include the Barzinji Family Foundation and Mirza Family Foundation. These two organizations, in particular, are apparent successors to individuals and organizations associated with the SAAR Network, a web of businesses and charities accused of harboring numerous financial connections to entities involved with Al Qaeda, Hamas, and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Aisha Shah - partnership Manager at the White House Office of Digital Strategy ('Kashmiri' Muslim) Source

Uzra Zeya - Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights (Zeya was a key Obama advisor during Arab Sprint/Muslim Brotherhood uprising) + Source

More on Zeya:

Biden Pick for Human Rights Undersecretary Worked for Group That Claimed Jews Were Behind 9/11

Sean Durns, a research analyst at the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, called the Washington Report a "fringe organization" that has "published content with anti-Semitic themes," including claims that the Mossad was behind the JFK assassination and the Sept. 11 attacks...

And on Zeya’s previous work:

"Ms. Zeya, a Muslim, will seek out Islamic groups seeking to work effectively within the American political system, and non-Muslim groups looking for authoritative speakers on Islam," reported the outlet. She published several book reviews in the Washington Report and was listed as "program coordinator for the American Educational Trust specializing in Islamic affairs" in March 1990.

Ali Zaidi - Deputy National Climate Advisor (Pakistani) Source 1 + Source 2

Zayn Siddique - White House Deputy Chief of Staff (Bangladeshi) Source

Paul Abbate - Deputy Director of the FBI

9/11 mosque visiting, terror-imam praising FBI flack

…[as] the FBI’s #3 man, Associate Deputy Director Paul Abate, participated in a “love-fest” of sorts with Hamas/Muslim Brotherhood jihad Imam Johari Abdul-Malik at Hamas’ Dar al Hijra Islamic Center in Falls Church, Virginia.  See the UTT video HERE.

Denis McDonough - Secretary of Dept of Veterans Affairs (VA)

Islamic terror supporter

McDonough has a long history of openly supporting terrorists/jihadis while in public office.  

The counter-terrorism policies and strategies created under his watch as Deputy National Security Advisor and Chief of Staff under President Obama demonstrate his overt support for individuals and entities who openly call for the overthrow of the U.S. government and the destruction of liberty and innocent life.

McDonough’s seditious and unlawful actions are unprecedented in their brazenness and blatant violation of his oath and the law.

For instance, as the Deputy National Security Advisor to President Obama, McDonough went to the Muslim Brotherhood’s mosque, the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Sterling, Virginia with senior U.S. leaders including FBI, DHS, NSC, etc to PRAISE its Imam.

The ADAMS Center Imam is Mohamed Magid, a Muslim Brotherhood leader.

See the video of McDonough’s speech at ADAMS HERE.  (By the way, Denis McDonough lied when he said Thomas Jefferson held “the first Iftar dinner at the White House”)

McDonough with imam from terror-linked, Muslim Brotherhood mosque

Robert Malley - special envoy for Iran (Hamas supporter & Obama's Iran deal negotiator & failed ISIS czar)

... in 2008, when he was an informal foreign policy adviser for Obama's presidential campaign. He was forced to sever ties with the campaign when news outlets reported he had met with members of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that the State Department classifies as a terrorist organization.

President Bill Clinton, left, meets with, from left to right, Palestinian negotiator Nabi Abu Rudineh, Rob Malley and Palestinian Chairman Yasser Arafat on July 17, 2000 at the Middle East peace summit at Camp David in Maryland.

Neera Tanden - Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Clinton and Obama retread

Head of anti-American, Bloomberg-funded, pro-Sharia law think tank Center for American Progress that created an “Islamophobia” hit list and targeted those who warn about the dangers of sharia in the U.S. 

Update: Tanden has withdrawn

Hady Amr - Deputy Asst Secretary of State for Israel-Palestine

Biden’s New Asst Sec of State Worked for Islamic Terror State That Funds Hamas

One year after 9/11 Amr stated “I was inspired by the Palestinian intifada” & called for engagement with Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood

... Over the past few years, Amr has repeatedly urged negotiations with Hamas. When the Trump administration unveiled its proposed peace deal, Amr co-wrote an article declaring that it should be scrapped in favor of focusing on a deal with Hamas. The article provides some insight into the policies that Amr may advance as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Israel-Palestine.

Matt Duss - State Dept

Associate of Linda Sarsour & Islamophobia conspiracist at left-wing think-tank Center for American Progress

Update 2:

Ilhan Omar - vice chairwoman Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations

The anti-American, 9/11 victim-mocking, brother-marrying, fraud-committing, ISIS terrorist-supporting Muslim said she is excited to:

“play a leadership role in overseeing our international aid and foreign policy on the continent."  Source

In other words, Americans can expect more taxation for Islamization...at least it will be outside the U.S.

Update 3:

Ramin Taheri, Chief of Staff, Office for Civil Rights - Source

Tariq Habash, Special Assistant, Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development - Source

  Vanessa  Harmoush, Special Assistant, Office of Communications and Outreach - Source

She started her professional career as a journalist at the Washington, D.C., bureau for Al Jazeera America, where she worked primarily as a feature reporter.

For Harmoush, Al Jazeera America’s Qatar-based sister news organization, Al Jazeera, was always on when she was growing up in Lebanon. After her time at the D.C. bureau, she took an internship with then-Senator Mark Udall.

Today, she works as the communications director at Rocky Mountain Values, a progressive advocacy organization.

Al Jazeera is Qatar-funded jihadi propaganda outlet.

Many more far-left appointees at the source links above and via multiple U.S. Department of Education Announcements https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases.

Just the beginning & the Muslim Brotherhood, HAMAS, Hizbollah, ISIS, al-Qaeda, CAIR, MAS, MPAC, MSA, Emgage, et al know that America will one day be theirs

[phroyd]

WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California announced on Sunday that she would call the House back from its annual summer recess for a vote this week on legislation to block changes at the Postal Service that voting advocates warn could disenfranchise Americans casting ballots by mail during the pandemic.

The announcement came after the White House chief of staff on Sunday signaled openness to providing emergency funding to help the agency handle a surge in mail-in ballots, and as Democratic state attorneys general said that they were exploring legal action against cutbacks and changes at the Postal Service.

The moves underscored rising concern across the country over the integrity of the November election and how the Postal Service will handle as many as 80 million ballots cast by Americans worried about venturing to polling stations because of the coronavirus. President Trump has repeatedly derided mail voting as vulnerable to fraud, without evidence, and the issue had become a prominent sticking point in negotiations over the next round of coronavirus relief.

The House was not scheduled to return for votes until Sept. 14, but is now expected to consider a Postal Service bill as soon as Saturday, according to a senior Democratic aide familiar with the plans. Representative Steny H. Hoyer of Maryland, the majority leader, is expected to announce the final schedule on Monday.

“Lives, livelihoods and the life of our American democracy are under threat from the president,” Ms. Pelosi said in a letter to Democratic lawmakers. “That is why I am calling upon the House to return to session later this week.”

The abrupt return to Washington was announced just hours after Democrats called on top Postal Service officials to testify on Capitol Hill this month about recent policies that they warned pose “a grave threat to the integrity of the election.” It also demonstrates the growing alarm over changes the Postal Service is enforcing under its leader, Louis DeJoy, the postmaster general and a Trump megadonor, less than three months before a general election. Some of the changes, which Mr. DeJoy describes as cost-cutting measures, include ending overtime pay and the removal or transfer of some sorting machines.

The move also increases political pressure on Republican senators facing competitive re-election in rural states like Montana and Alaska that are heavily mail dependent, some of which have already expressed unease with delays in mail delivery. (Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, called on the Senate to return and act on a coronavirus relief package that included funding for the agency.) It is unclear whether the Senate will take up the legislation, which would require the agency to maintain current service standards until Jan. 1, 2021, or until after the pandemic is over.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the minority leader, demanded on Sunday that Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, bring senators back to Capitol Hill to take up the House measure that he said in a statement “will undo the extensive damage Mr. DeJoy has done at the Postal Service.”

Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, claimed on Sunday that no mail-sorting machines would be dismantled before Election Day and insisted that the notion that they would be was a false “political narrative by my Democrat colleagues.”

“The president of the United States is not going to interfere with anybody casting their votes in a legitimate way, whether it’s the post office or anything else,” he said, speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

But Democrats point to the Postal Service’s decision to tell states last month that it may not be able to meet their deadlines for delivering last-minute mail-in ballots.

“The postmaster general and top Postal Service leadership must answer to the Congress and the American people as to why they are pushing these dangerous new policies that threaten to silence the voices of millions, just months before the election,” top Democrats said in a joint statement on Sunday. Mr. DeJoy had been scheduled to appear before the House Oversight Committee in late September, and lawmakers have already requested information about the changes.

But Ms. Pelosi and Representative Carolyn B. Maloney of New York, the chairwoman of the House Oversight Committee, pressed for Mr. DeJoy and Robert M. Duncan, the chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, to testify on Aug. 24. Mr. Schumer and Senator Gary Peters of Michigan, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security Committee, said Senate Democrats had begun investigating the slowdown in mail deliveries. Mr. Peters urged his Republican counterpart, Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, to hold a similar hearing.

A coalition of Democratic attorneys general are also considering suing the administration over the implications of recent policy changes at the Postal Service for the November election. Washington State is expected to be the first to file this week, and Pennsylvania and New York are likely to follow, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

“We are going to make sure that every American’s vote counts this fall, whether cast by mail or in person,” said Mark R. Herring, the attorney general of Virginia, one of the states considering legal action. “My colleagues and I are working as we speak to determine what Trump and DeJoy are doing, whether they have already violated or are likely to violate any laws, and what tools we have at our disposal to put a stop to President Trump’s ongoing attack on our Postal Service and our democracy.”

The changes under Mr. DeJoy, who has significant financial interests in the Postal Service’s rivals and contractors, in addition to Mr. Trump’s frequent attacks on the agency, have prompted concerns about its politicization. Since his appointment in May, Mr. DeJoy has put in place cost-cutting measures that he says are intended to overhaul an agency beleaguered by billion-dollar losses.

Mr. Trump, for his part, has assailed the service near daily, baselessly claiming that the election could be riddled with fraud if voting by mail is widely used. (He also requested an absentee ballot in Florida, public records show.) He has made clear that he opposes providing additional relief to the agency, though he said he would not veto an economic stimulus package over such funding.

Protesters in Washington called over the weekend for the resignation of the postmaster general, saying changes under his purview had jeopardized people’s ability to vote.

About 100 people gathered outside Mr. DeJoy’s apartment complex on Saturday, according to videos posted on social media. Banging spoons on pots, blaring horns and chanting “resign” in the wealthy residential neighborhood of Kalorama, many in the group were wearing masks and maintaining social distance.

Posts on social media also showed protesters delivering fake absentee ballots to the entrance of Mr. DeJoy’s building, cluttering the glass front doors with folded sheets of paper that read: “Save the post office. Save our democracy.”

Phroyd

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs, “Tag”

As always, feel free to contact me with questions and ideas, I always love hearing from you guys. 

The Humans were in meeting with the Galactic assembly again. It was the seventh peace talk that they had had in the last few months. This time an entire human envoy had come from Earth to participate. The chairman of the UN had been joined by at least seven other representatives, and the resulting military forces. To say that the planet was on edge would have been a massive understatement. The night was falling and the blue and red moons shared the sky above with their green moon having sunk below the horizon. Human troops and alien troops stood across from each other in front of the conference chambers staring each other down with nervous fidgeting.

Some of the humans seemed rather relaxed under the alien sky, but the newer humans glanced around in worry and awe. The alien troops, standing across from them, looked on in worry at the strange predatory creatures, lines in lines of them in perfect geometric rows, moving only occasionally to take a deep breath and a drink of water. The alien soldiers watched in horror as the poisonous dihydrogen monoxide dripped down their chins and onto their skin. New medical information having been posted to the soldiers told them that the humans were an upwards of 60+% water, required it to live, and even shed it when they were hot for a cooling affect.

It would be dangerous for certain species to touch them, it would be even more dangerous for certain species to be around them when they breathed. Moisture came out in their breath, collected on their skin, and moistened their mouths noses and eyes. It was everywhere, and everyone knew it. Their officers were trying to keep them appraised of the situation. The humans couldn’t help their poison breath or their poison skin….. But that didn’t mean they weren’t scary. Scary humans with their front facing eyes and their sharp pointed teeth and their sharp nails, and heir predatory instincts.

The way their eyes darted around tracking movement, it was just…. Unnatural

The hours pressed on like that, with the humans on one side and the other soldiers on the other sitting and staring at each other in tense silence, than boredom... great amounts of boredom.

Humans grew restless easily.

And then one of the humans piped up.

“Hey, anyone want to play a game.” The aliens were aware of this human by now. He was lightly pigmented in color with a light yellow hair and green eyes. This human was particularly friendly to aliens, though no one was really sure what to make of it. Some of the species thought it was oddly charming, and others were very paranoid, maybe it was another tactic to get close to them, make them feel at ease before he struck.

At the mention of a game, even the most gruff of the humans raised their grey heads in response. The younger, light human almost skipped into the space between the two groups. The older humans watched in amusement eyes rolling occasionally at the younger humans odd antics. Like they were watching a young animal bounce around.

“What kind of game?” One of the older humans asked.

The young human shrugged his shoulders, “I don’t know, tag, sharks and guppies, red rover, anything to stretch my legs, I’m dying.”

One of the humans sorted, “Come on LT, what are you, Five.”

“I would rather be five and occupied than twenty and bored out of my mind. So you can sit there like a fat lump of dirt, or you can come and we can play a game.”

The human glanced over at the aliens and grinned, “You can play if you want…. I don’t know if you guys get bored, but…. Still.”

The aliens glanced at each other, not really sure what to do. The meaning of the word…. Play was a bit alien to them, just like the humans. The idea of boredom was also rather abstract. Some of the aliens understood the meaning better than others, but all of them declined for the moment ok with watching the humans at first.

The younger human took a little longer trying to convince the other humans to play. Many of them were much older, some of them with silver in their hair. Odd that, how humans turns silver when they grow old.

But one by one, all of them, older and younger caved in to the young human some with shakes of their head, but most with growing enthusiasm. They lined up their bags in neat rows just outside the square and then huddled together arguing about which game they should play.

Arguably a simple game of tag seemed good enough for the group of them, the older group argued that since the younger one came up with the insane idea in the first place that he should be the one to start out. All the aliens looked on in confusion as the younger human stood at the center of the field. He looked up at the sky and began to count backwards from ten.

The other humans moved from their original positions and began circling around the open space. The alien ranks turned to watch some of the humans who conveniently moved to stand behind them as if hiding.

Finally, the young human raised his head, and the entire group of aliens stepped back in unison. The pupils had widened considerably, his body hunched low hands out knees slightly bent. Those same wide and primed eyes searched around the clearing locking onto the nearest other human, and then…. Suddenly, charged.

The aliens scattered back towards the perimeter of the yard as the human charged towards one of his companions, on the instant and without warning. The human being chased reacted almost immediately, supernaturally fast ducking out of the way as the young human spilled onto the ground. But he was up as soon as he was down pursuing like with his predatory gate.

They faced against each other shoulders hunched chins down knees bent dodging back and forth, pouncing and racing until, the young human leaped into the air, and slammed into another’s back throwing both of them to the ground in a chorus of Oooos by the other humans. The young human rolled onto his back panting. The other human gave him an eye and lunged.

“NO TAG BACKS.” The younger human yelled leaving the older human with a grudging frown crouching over him.

Then he turned to the crowd, and then the aliens screamed as the human charged towards them.  They tried to run, and only the Rundi were able to make it, but even then the human ignored them skidding through their ranks weaving and ducking with lightning reflexes that should have had him skidding into a wall.

Another human ducked out of the way, but a quick strike form the human caught her a glancing brush just across the back. They continued like that for some time growing more aggressive as they went, their hunting instincts too much to fight down, and they hunted each other with vigor, a single predator among an agile prey. The unspoken rules seemed to indicate that harassing someone not of their species was against the rules, but that didn’t stop the humans using the Rudi soldiers like shields putting them between the hunter and the hunted running in circles around the confused and scared creature to avoid being tagged by the other human.

Rundi soldiers and their other nonhuman counterparts pressed themselves up against the walls and perimeter of the square as the humans continued with their antics, charging, tackling, and chasing each other.

An older human raced after his younger green-eyed counterpart. The young one was faster, but the older human was wily chasing him straight towards the Assembly Chamber doors in order to trap him. They had almost reached the stairway when the doors were thrown open. In surprise, the young human lost his footing and went careening right into the steps. There was an audible crack, and the entire square went dead silent.

The Galactic Assembly chairman stood at the head of a column of delegates frozen in the doorway next to the UN representative and Admiral for the UNSC deep space division. The other humans quickly charged backwards forming up into their ranks, standing as still as possible.

The older human had crouched down to help the younger human, who was rubbing his head in pain.

The chairwoman of the Galactic Assembly took an uncertain step back staring out at her confused and terrified soldiers pressed up against the perimeter of the square.

The UN chairwoman didn’t seem to know what to make of the scene either, so the Admiral took over stepping down the steps with his eyes on the older human, “Sargent!” He barked raising his voice to levels only humans were capable of. His powerful voice sent tremors through the air. The GA soldiers stepped back heads down. At the bottom of the stairs, the older human looked up from where he was examining the younger human, “Yes, Sir?”

“What in the HELL are you doing!”

The Sargent, still having a hand on the younger man’s shoulder responded, “Playing tag, Sir.”

The Admiral seemed taken aback by the answer, “Aren’t you supposed to be protecting the assembly chambers.”

“With all due respect, Sir.” He motioned towards the perimeter of the square, “Our presence here seems to be doing a good job against nonhuman invaders if, indeed there are any.”

A set of steel-grey eyes swept over the square taking note of cowering nonhuman soldiers, “And which one of you yahoos started this mess?”

There was a long silence before the young man at the front raised his hand, “It was me…. Sir.”

The admiral looked down his nose at the young man who had a hand against his head. He wobbled to his feet with the help of the older man.

“I know you…… Lieutenant Vir, isn’t it. The first contact kid.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Do you want to explain to me why my men are playing tag instead of fulfilling their duty like they should be?”

Lieutenant Vir lifted his head though his eyes remained lowered guiltily to the floor, “It was my fault sir, I was bored, and I coerced the others into it.”

Over their heads, the red moon was beginning to sink towards the horizon, as the Admiral was shaking his head, “Lieutenant how old are you?”

“Twenty, Sir.”

The admiral sighed, “I suppose this is what we get for hiring children. Back to your ranks men.”

“Wait.” The voice broke quietly over the square, and to the surprise of the humans, the assembly woman stepped forward on her long, skinny legs, and dark robes. Her rather insectoid face looked unblinking at the group of them as she did so. Despite that, she had an air of command about her. Both the Sargent and the Lieutenant saluted her quickly. She turned to look at the admiral, “I think we deserve to understand the antics of your troops. From what I see, my soldiers appear threatened.” She turned her insectoid head back to the Lieutenant, “I would like to be assured that is not the case.”

The two humans were shaking their heads vigorously, and she jabbed a hand at the younger of the two, “You, the instigator, explain yourself.”

The lieutenant stammered for a moment before, “Of course madam charwoman …. I…. well what do you want me to explain, we were just playing a game.”

“My race is not familiar with this terminology.”

“Oh….” He rubbed the back of his head, “that’s kind of sad…. Um.  So I Guess, you play a game, and a game is an activity with a specific set of rules that everyone who plays has to follow. We were playing Tag, and the rules of tag are there is one person who is “it” and their job is to touch someone, anyone to make that other person “it”. If you get touched by the “it” person than you are “it” and you have to pass it on to someone else, but you can’t tag the person who just tagged you…..”

The chairwoman eyed the young human skeptically as the last light of their red moon dipped before the horizon. The nonhuman troops were only now beginning to filter back to their position, “And what is the point of this?”

The young human floundered around for a moment mouth opening and closing with uncertainty, but the chairwoman waited until finally, “Well, ma’am humans need a couple of things that game playing fulfils. The first is stimulation, humans don’t like to be doing nothing, we weren’t built for that. We always have to have something for our brain to do, or all of our energy is translated into restlessness which makes us want to do something. Furthermore play results in social bonding with other members of our species. Children generally tend to use it to make friends and foster group cohesion. Adults tend to play differently than children, but the idea is the same….. Social cohesion. It helps us to get along.”

“And why are my troops cowering in fear?”

The young man shrugged, “Can’t say I know ma’am…. I suppose some evolutionary scientists theorize that games like that are a way for young humans to practice predatory hunting behaviors, but….. well we don’t hunt like that anymore and haven’t for millions of years…… so….. it doesn’t really apply.”

 The galactic assembly would remain unconvinced of this last assumption. Weather humans were willing to recognize it or not, they are predators, and they will never be able to shake their predatory nature. Humans love chasing things, tracking things with their eyes, and attempting to dominate each other. Take a look at human behavior the next time you see one, everything they do is shaped by their predatory nature, and the entire galaxy fears what it could mean.

[talesofsonicasura]

Stone and Dove

Hello folks and happy pride month! I was scanning through my Google Docs and had forgotten I written this story...or that it was perfectly suited for this particular monthly event.

My first story doing Male X Male pairing! This tale involves my first PlayStation 4 Game Knack and Jojo's Bizarre Adventure. Particularly, a Jojo OC on my @sonicasura account, Jodari Jonah so check that out when you can! No information about Knack is required! The story will explain some of it.

They say the dove is a symbol of rebirth. For when one life passes, it is reborn anew in a different form. A clean slate just like a pure white dove. Yet, sometimes, rebirth can be a chance to fix something before it could be broken. And to connect two hearts of two different worlds.

Doctor's Laboratory

"I walk a lonely road, the only one that I have ever known. Don't know where it goes. But it's home to me and I walk alone. I walk this empty street on the boulevard of broken dreams. Where the city sleeps, and I'm the only one and I walk alone." A voice sang through the halls, rough, slightly rugged but rich with smoothness, balance of husk and baritone.

Walking the halls of the facility belonging to one Doctor Vargas, world renowned inventor for his research on relic fueled devices, was a strange man. He was bulky which was balanced by his frightening height of 7'4. Curly, messy black hair tied at the back with a large white bow of sorts resembling broken wings, one side with an aqua green stripe and the other a bubbly blue.

Heterochromatic eyes with the right blue and the left a verdant green but a line going down the optic starting from the eyelid to the bottom. A bisected line birthmark at the center of his face even going down his nose and lips. He wore a mismatched long coat, the right half a pure white with no sleeve revealing his ripen with muscle arm, black pocket, and featherlike ends, the left being pure black with a long sleeve, white pocket and flat end.

A gray shirt with a large V neck revealing large abs, hot rod leather pants and black boots. The biggest oddity was the nails of his right arm, they were of a stone. The ones on his left were normal as he was carrying what looked like a liquor bottle, which he was currently downing the contents merrily.

He was baffling as he walked through the humble abode like halls unaware of being on camera. The unknown man was wandering in a battle site, while the people on the other side of the glass walls were just baffled. "Um… Doctor, is he another one of your assistants?" "Who is he?" That guy wasn't in the meeting! I'm sure as hell would remember someone dressed like that! Is he literally singing Green Day while drinking vodka?!"

One of the onlookers, a large slightly portly man with a gray frohawk paired with a goatee, chocolate brown eyes and wore a white lab coat was more attentive on the stranger's hand. This man was Doctor Vargas himself, owner of this very facility. "His nails… they are pure red relics! Astounding." The man said while examining the stranger.

Mechanical clanking had the stranger look up from his bottle. Standing at the end of the hall were white and black humanoid robots with red visors for eyes but also wielding swords made out of pure plasma. Doctor Vargas quickly ran to his control console for the robots. "Oh no! I got to shut down before that young man ends up getting hurt!" Vargas exclaimed, ready to pull down the lever.

The lever controlled the battle site which would shut off both robots and obstacles meant for his greatest creation to power through, not an innocent human. Three words was the only thing that stopped him. "Don't underestimate me." Followed by the loud screech of shredding metal. His eyes widened upon the sight before him.

The robot that was ready to slice the stranger in half was laying on the ground. A large hole in its chest dripping out what looked to be alcohol from the damaged circuits. The man had the bottle of alcohol pointing at where the machine once stood, fizz foaming from the entrance of the vodka. "Wow! He...just busted a hole through the robot with a shot of alcohol!!!?"

It wasn't a lie either. Vargas had rewinded the footage on the small monitor of the control panel to the moment before his robot was shot. The stranger pointed the bottle of liquor before yellow electricity began to crackle around his hand. Next thing that happened was a small bullet of the liquor shot sparking with this same energy but it was also spinning!

The spinning orb tearing a hole through the metal circuitry by compressing it with pure rotation into the liquid itself. Sure enough, there was a little ball of metal at the center of the whole, circuits, wiring and liquor compressed into the tiny marble sized orb. "Black Hole Overdrive." Were the words that left the odd man's lips.

Black Hole Overdrive… Vargas didn't know how the young man manipulated the liquid to perform such a feat but it proved the stranger was very skilled if this was an actual technique. "A golem made out of relics?" The stranger said looking at the oddity that greeted him from down the hallway.

This oddity was a humanoid made out of pure relics. Ones acting as the main body were light tan to mimic skin color but also position to form the main body: tipless cone and flat cylinder for the head, cube relics stacked together to form arms, legs, hands and rounder ones to mimic muscles, the gold forming the gumdrop nose, large tusks, small teeth, tips of the ears, and joints from the sphere and triangular pieces located in the shoulder, knee, thigh and ankle areas. Red stone relics forming small wild hair, claws, front and back toes, even fuzz around the chin and on the arms and legs.

The main piece was the large dark gold orb at the center with an aqua blue core. From the two oval obsidian eyes and the red rectangular pieces forming the squinting eyebrows, it was clear the 5'11 golem was surprised by the stranger's appearance. "For something so strange, you are really adorable." The odd man said while giving the subject of his attention a subtle wink.

Vargas, who noticed the wink, almost burst out laughing from seeing Knack, the golem he created jaw nearly dropping to the floor. "This must be a battle site designed for you? Oh dear, looks like I ended up getting lost. Can you please escort me to the exit? I'll follow behind you without any interference." The odd raven asked politely.

Knack merely nodded to the man's request. The relic bound golem could easily protect the stranger from the Doctor's test drones. "Thank you. You're such a gentleman. My name is Jodari, Jodari Jonah. Time to move out, Red~" Knack's core immediately heated up by the raven Jodari's subtle greeting.

Jodari Jonah wasn't exactly normal was a simple thing for everyone to understand. The odd man sidestepped and easily avoided every obstacle that was designated for his golem escort. Leaping across electrified panels in a single step, walking past fast blowing vents undeterred and even dodging the attacks of various machines while drinking from his vodka bottle.

He kept his word of not interfering with Knack's progress while the golem ran the deadly gauntlet. Honestly, Knack was impressed on just how agile this human male was. The raven's presence was bizarrely soothing to him. Sunbathing on the beach or listening to the sound of nature type of soothing.

It didn't take long to go through the last obstacle and escort Jodari back to the human officials alongside the Doctor. One of the women, the chairwoman easily recognized by her well kept silver hair stepped up. "Most impressive Doctor. You call it 'Knack' is that right?" She asked.

A husky, smooth and a touch rough male voice joined in the banter. "Actually, I call myself Knack." Came from the golem, Knack sounding awfully cheeky. "So your name is Knack? Cute, suits a cheeky fellow like ya. 'Knack' for mischief, huh?" Jodari said, voice filled with merry. 'Is he really flirting with a being made of living stone?!' Being the thought of every guest in the facility. "Young man, how did you even get into this meeting?" Heterochromatic eyes bore into the woman as she flinched.

"Goblins didn't just destroy a high tech military base, miss Chairman. They flattened my village first as a mere test run." Any rebound died from Jodari's words. "My dear god. I'm so sorry." Vargas said only for the raven to wave him off. Jodari taking a swig of his liquor before pulling something out of his pocket.

"Don't apologize. You didn't do the deed, Doctor Vargas. For why I'm here is simple. I came to deliver schematics on the few weapons I stole from them bastards but I want to join the expedition." The young man said, handing the man a few pieces of paper. These pages detailed a few weapons from a blaster, mechanized spear and even a small tank.

"And how did you get these schematics?" Questioned a tan skinned man with combed brown hair, trimmed beard, brown eyes and expensive purple suit. "From their corpses, Viktor. Sketched down every single detail of the spoils once I put them in the dirt. Got a problem?" Jodari towering over the man with a heavy glare.

"You wish to join the expedition? Heh. All I see is a drunkard and as for Knack, he seems a little too delicate to me." Viktor said, walking back with nonchalance. "What are you getting at, Viktor?" Vargas questioned eyeing the billionaire industrialist with suspicion. "I brought a few security robots with me. If Knack can get by those, then he'll have a place on the expedition. Jonah can try too."

The golem in question walking up to one of the bots in question. It was cycloptic and humanoid from the built silver armor over the black exoskeleton. "Huh!" Knack barked, the robot flinching in defense from the hostility. Jodari let out a bark of laughter before downing the remaining liquor in his bottle. The raven immediately crushed the bottle with his bare hands before tossing a shard into the eye of Viktor's guard bot.

The shard spinning in velocity before drilling a hole through the green optic and back out hitting the wall behind it. Metal crashed onto the floor as the machine fell dead. Knack inspecting the damage and glass shard in awe. The golem let out a whistle in admiration. "Like that big red~? Call it the Drill Technique. A bit of rotation can turn even a fragile piece of glass into a drill capable of piercing tank armor." Jodari said, grinning at the stone ginger.

"Nice. Hope you can teach me later. Now let's take this to the garden, there's a bit more room. Would you like another escort, Jodari, so you won't get lost?" Knack asked the raven offering his hand. "You are such a gentleman! I would love an escort, Knack!" The odd raven said taking the golem's hand, but after giving him a teasing smack to the ass.

'So bold!!!' Everyone who just witnessed the scene couldn't help but think. Knack's chest orb was scorching hot after the smack. They thought the man was merely poor ass drunk after downing an entire bottle of pure Vodka but to Vargas and to some extent Knack, Jodari was as sober as if he was drinking water. No flush cheeks or slurs, the man was bold and had a thing for gingers. Male gingers because no one knew that Jodari Jonah, was a purely gay male.

The golem and odd man were alone at the moment. Their trial would be held through the maze-like garden, a maze that will soon be littered with machines belonging to Viktor. "Hey Jodari, are those nails of yours pure relics? My chest orb has been picking up on some for a while." Knack asked, the raven looking at said object of attention.

"Yep. I think I was born with them? I honestly don't remember anything past 5 months ago when pops found me, naked and no name." Jodari responded nonchalantly. "You have amnesia? I'm sorry for bringing that up." The relic golem was flustered from being carelessly rude. The raven merely waved it off.

"Oh don't frown, Red~! You didn't know, plus my amnesia never really bothered me. Why focus on the past when you have a future in front of ya? Pops did tell a nice 'wive's tale' once. He said that the nails of your right hand matches the one of your Soulmate. If you don't know, a Soulmate is the person you meant to bond with for eternity. A 'true spiritual marriage' to be appropriate." The golem's jaw dropped immediately.

"M-m-m-arriage?! Soulmate?! NO WAY CAN I BE YOUR SOULMATE! I'M NOT EVEN HUMAN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!" Knack would continue if Jodari didn't put a finger to the golem's mouth, lips if you count the gold area around the opening of the two stone pieces that make up his head.

"Species doesn't matter to me. I wouldn't even care if my significant other was a goblin. Plus, even if you aren't my soulmate, you are a sweet gentleman and whoever gets ya is very lucky. Handsome face, your ears are cute, the nose makes ya adorable, and the teeth and claws just add the perfect amount of fierce to the incredible mix. Plus, I love strong gingers." Knack felt like his orb was going to explode from this sudden new emotion, felt like deep admiration but way different.

"Thank you. You look nice too. I, uh, like your eyes, they're pretty. And your bow is very nice, Jojo." It was Jodari's turn to slightly blush. "Jojo?" He asked, refusing to stutter like a schoolgirl. The raven wanted to put Knack through the hardcore school of flirting. Nicknames was step one.

"I took the first Jo of your name and put it together with the second one. Hence, Jojo, I figure you didn't want me to continue calling you Jodari since this... Soulmate thing." The redhead explained with sincerity. "How sweet~ You may call me Jojo then, Red. So Knack, before everyone else arrives, why don't we get to know each other's abilities first? Teamwork is a good key to winning battles." That the golem could easily agree on.

It wasn't much longer to reach their destination or everyone to arrive in order to spectate. The two males were starting to see why they seemed likely paired from that wive's tale. Their abilities were very similar. While Knack could channel Sunstone, Jodari had Hamon.

Hamon was a breathing technique that allowed someone to use their lungs to create an energy akin to sunlight, which was what Sunstones were, crystalized sunlight. With Hamon, he can supercharge any water like elements or good conductors like metal to unleash powerful and devastating attacks.

Knack could manipulate his parts to a large extent, shrinking by removing his parts, form a barrier around him, and even expel in a spray fashion or large clusters. Jodari had Spin, a technique that uses the state of perfect or near perfect rotation to produce energy with a lot of applications.

He could bound this energy to any object and fire them with destructive properties. It was how he could make that glass shard drill right through Viktor's robot that easily. Sphere shaped objects can produce more energy than any other one.

Jodari had one more ability but he wouldn't say anything about it. 'If we have cars thrown at us here, then I won't mind showing my ace in the hole in front of everyone.' Was the raven's response while blowing a kiss at the golem. It just made Knack really curious on what this hidden ace was but he wouldn't press on it.

The duo's goal was simple, defeat all the robots while making their way to the end. Apparently the industrialist had two different types of his guard robots which Jodari personally dubbed Goliaths. The thin human size versions which would wield rods, toss boxes or punch at them from what he glimpsed while he was lost in the lab.

He only saw one of the large models which reminded him of a walking fridge. They were very bulky from what the raven could glance, but it wouldn't make Jodari drop his guard carelessly. Apparently it was two bots from the first category that were their first opponents. One had no weapons while the other held a large black bat cops often used.

"Hey Knack, I'll take care of the stick on the machine. Will you be kind to deal with the other one?" Jodari asked before taking something out of his pocket. It was red plastic yoyo with a star on each side, the string was pure metal wire from the golem saw. "You got it." Knack said before reading himself for combat.

The rod wielding robot was the first to attack, leaping at Jodari with the intent of caving his skull in. With a flick of his wrist, Jodari launched the toy part of yoyo at the offender. The string wrapping around the rod tightly and with a gentle tug, sliced the black metal to pieces. "Hup!" And the raven delivered a spin kick to the machine, his right leg glowing a bright yellow aura.

"Shining Sunlight Overdrive!" Jodari's kick sending the robot flying back, his Hamon frying its circuits upon contact. "Raah!" Knack roared lunging forward at his respective opponent. His left arm reared back and claws open for a swipe. The bare handed Goliath went to respond for a punch, but Knack was quicker.

The golem quickly moved the relics of his body to the other side of his opponent's attack, then he brought down his claws on the machine's side. Metal tearing to shreds from red ancient stone piercing its surface, yet he wasn't done. His left arm which was cocked back into a fist upon reforming, Knack delivered a brutal punch to the same place.

The added pressure of his attack to the robot's damaged side was enough to tear it completely in half. Both halves crumpling onto the ground lifeless. "Nice job. Come on, Red~ Let's wreak some true havoc." Jodari said before rolling down his yoyo. He was performing the 'Walk the Dog' trick as they continued onward.

In all his life, Viktor had never felt so humiliated. He had gotten everything he ever wanted without a fuss. The best business dealer in robotics, from advanced airships to robots capable of eliminating any threat. Immense wealth and rich heritage from his noble lineage. But yet…

Here he was, watching his robots getting destroyed. Torn to pieces by the Doctor's pet project and a drunken man fighting with a damn yoyo! A child's plaything was smashing through thousands of dollars of advanced circuitry! However he couldn't deny that, they had his interest.

It was the man that interested him the most between the two. Jodari Jonah, he seemed capable of manipulating pure Sunstone energy without a care in the world. It was an easy feat as Sunstone energy was the same as electricity, conducting would end up in pure electrocution. However the odd man didn't seem affected. He needed more information.

"Black Hole Overdrive!" Jodari tossed a handful of water from his hand at the robot across the stream. Apparently the machines decided to use a blocked off path to chuck empty crates at the checkered pair. Despite it being cheap, it was a good tactic he had to admit. However the crunching sound of metal being compacted into a small marble was enough to explain the results.

Or the large cluster sunstone charged relics that decapitated the other opponent. The head landing in the water separating them with a nice splash. Taking a few steps back after reclaiming his parts, Knack leapt over the guards rail to the other side. "Woohoo!" As Jodari followed the golem with a large jump. The raven easily made it across the opposite rail while Knack grabbed onto the wall.

"Here you go!" Jodari said, helping Knack over the rail. "Thanks." The golem thanked, earning a smile from the young man. Following Knack since he knew the way, the duo encountered three more robots. Only one had a weapon which was another baton rod. Not so hard for the two males to destroy.

"Vibrant Drill Overdrive!" Jodari spun his yoyo into the chest with a bare fisted robot. The toy being charged with Hamon and a mixture transformed it into a spiral drill. This drill tore through the circuitry and metal plating with ease. He wasn't finished though. The yoyo ran a loop around the dead machine through the hole in its chest before effectively wrapping around. "Clutch!"

Jodari then turned at Knack. The relic golem was busy fighting the mechanical staff user but was unaware of the other robot to strike him in the back. "Crimson Revenge Overdrive!" Yelled the raven haired male before tossing the lifeless robotic shell at its former comrade. Mechanical junk began to spiral in vicious red into makeshift top, drilling into Knack's sneak attacker much to the golem's surprise.

"Be careful Red~ You're enemies won't play fair and square. Rather not have my new friend get hurt." Jodari responded softly with a small flirtatious tone. Knack merely gave him a smile and a thumbs up. Cheering could be heard from outside the garden. Apparently the Doctor's guests were enjoying watching the two gladiators wipe out their opponents in style.

Jodari wasn't just enjoying the destruction but he was enjoying the show the golem was putting. Seeing the golem bulk up with relics to increase his size was an incredible sight. He wouldn't lie that he liked guys who were bigger than him. After all, they give the best hugs and cuddles. And Jodari was just ready to give the now 9'7 golem a big ol' hug.

It wasn't long to reach the car lot. The car lot was the halfway point to the end of the garden. Knack had already trashed the robot there with a nice drop kick to the face. However, it seemed a bit too easy for the raven's liking. His suspicion was answered when two of those walking fridge Goliaths he spotted jump down in front of them.

Their hands were way too big to be a normal function, or the fact they were eyeing the cars parked here. "Son of a bitch! Guess I have no choice. Yo Knack, get behind me. I rather not accidentally hit you." Jodari warned. The golem was about to question the raven only to notice how different he seemed.

His eyes were hardened instead of the carefree brightness he saw earlier. A bright reddish violet aura burning around him. Knack didn't question Jodari's words and walked behind the man. "Everyone's got a fighting spirit. Some are weak while some are strong. However, for those whose spirit burns than the sun, it can take a physical form." The raven started.

Raising his right hand to his head and clutched it with his claws. A mad grin tearing across his face as the aura around him exploded in a large burning haze. "The Star! The 17th card of the Tarot Deck's Major Arcana. It symbolizes hope, optitism, and faith for those it blesses and despair to those who oppose it!"

"Take form, the spirit that burns brightly from my starlit soul! Roar to the heavens and show the light that survived absolute disaster! This is my true power! Behold my Stand: Star Platinum Ruin!!!" With a raise of his left hand to the sky, the world around Jodari exploded in a blast of light as a pillar of light shot skyward.

No one expected what would happen next. The violet aura around Jodari separated from bed taking an actual physical form. This aura soon took the shape as what you can describe as an ancient Aztec warrior. Skin a bright violet with a lavender inner tone across his large bulky frame decorated by golden wavy lines spanning down the chest, arms and legs.

Large mane of smoky black hair that waved constantly as if it was pure fire. Bright burning blue eye, a white loincloth but the biggest focal point was what the rest of his body and clothing were made of. They were crafted from pure relics and Sunstones. The left eye was black oval stone amongst the remaining white, ears were just like Knack's but attached to the head, two large gold tusks on the side of his plump lips, red string stone eyebrows paired with a gold circlet and a blue jewel to it but another on his forehead.

Gold and blue jewel necklace that made up part of the neck, two triangular blue jewels on the upper top of his abs, shoulder pads made of pure flat carved Sunstone with red and violet spikes jagged out of it, the center of the arms made out of block stone and gold relics, the outer sides having small wings made out of 6 purple, gold and red relic pieces before ending with yellow Sunstone knife like shards.

Right hand a full trapezoid tan relic with claws made out of red, violet and small gold pieces, left hand fingernails made out of red relics with a gold studded black fingerless glove. A kilt made out of jagged purple and red relics with pieces on the back floating separately, knees made out of tan and gold relics with an aquamarine jewel in the center, floating red back spikes, gold trapezoid shaped feet with three purple and red front claws and one back claw.

The spirit or Star Platinum was large, almost as big as Knack but a foot shorter but the golem could feel it. Immense power pouring from this entity but also some sort of connection. Almost if he was part of Knack himself. Then the entity spoke or to be precise, roared.

"OOORRRRAAAAAAA!!!!!" Star Platinum Ruin howled voice sounding like a mixture of both Knack and Jodari with a bit of static like distortion to it. Feeling threatened, both robots went to grab a car. Too bad they didn't realize how fast this new being was. One second, the left Goliath was fine, then the next it had a large hole in it with Star's arm through it. Knack pitied the second robot for what happened next.

"ORAORAORAORAORA!!" Came an onslaught of punches from the Stand. The bulky machine was form to pieces with every brutal punch, metal scraps flying everywhere until the machine dropped dead. The Goliath was reduced to nothing but few pieces of scrap metal. "Ora!" Star roared in triumph.

"Holy shit." Was all Knack could say at the sight. Jodari and his Stand looked at Knack, the raven had a smile while the hybrid had a look of curiosity on his face. "Come on, Red~ We still have halfway to go. Star Platinum Ruin will be fighting in my place for the rest. Wouldn't be fair to pull him back just for two robots, right, Star?" Jodari said looking at the spirit in question.

"Ora!" The purple goliath chirped with a nod. He seemed very pleased from the odd man's consideration. Regaining his voice from the huge surprise, the golem finally spoke. "Sure. You got it partner. I'll do my best to help out." Knack answered, earning a smile from Jodari.

Making it to the end of the garden wasn't hard with the inclusion of Star Platinum Ruin. The Stand, Knack believes is what Jodari called him, was insanely powerful. Star was fast, tearing apart Viktor's machines left and right with either his fists or claws. Not even one of Viktor's mechanical menaces could so much as touch much less hurt the violet skinned berserker.

He was kind to leave enemies for Knack to fight on his own while keeping the rest from sneak attacking him. Jodari was being his odd self… taking out a flask of alcohol (where did he even get that Knack would never know) and chugging it down while singing Camptown Races.

Finding the end of the garden didn't really take long. The key mark to it is the stone statue of a beautiful woman. A memorial crafted by the Doctor for someone he cared about the most but lost a long time ago. Knack had grown around 13 ft in size at the moment before looking at his strange human companion.

Jodari had stopped singing and drinking. The man merely looked at the statue with honest empathy before walking up to it, Star Platinum Ruin following. The raven stood in front of it before closing his eyes and placing his hands together, Star following suit. Knack knew what he was doing, Jodari was giving a silent prayer, a respect to the fallen.

It was a sincere and beautiful moment, however it became one that would soon rot. One of Viktor's robots had emerged in the garden and aimed its gun at them. It started shooting medium balls of green plasma with no hesitation. Quick to act, Knack ran over to Jodari and pulled him out of the way. A stray shot hitting the base of the statue.

Looks of horror spread on both the Doctor and Jodari, a loud cry of 'No' echoing from outside the garden. A cry came out of Jodari's throat, a phrase Knack didn't recognize. "Za Warudo Riwaindo(The World Rewind/Rewind The World)!!!" Everything around them suddenly greyed out before everything just stopped in place.

Yet, Knack, Star Platinum and Jodari were unaffected. Jodari was immediately shocked at what was going on but Star didn't seem to be. It's almost if the Stand knew...no he was doing this. Next thing other of them knew, their bodies began moving to previous positions, alongside everything else. 'We're...going back in time!!!' The golem thought in pure astonishment.

They then found themselves in their previous spots, 30 seconds before Viktor's robot appeared and attacked. Knack was stunned beyond belief but immediately shook it off hearing the familiar hum of circuitry. Without a thought, the golem spun around and delivered a Falcon Punch into the robot that would've attacked in the past.

The fist decapitating the attacker while it's head went flying to the opposite side of the garden. Jodari spun onto his feet looking up to see more of the drones, ready to drop down on them from the sky. Aiming the small flask of liquor and giving Star three metal ball droppings. "Blackhole Overdrive!!" A shot of spiralling alcohol came out of the flask like a rocket.

Star Platinum Ruin flicked one of the metal droppings with his finger, the item went airborne at the speed of a bullet despite the little movement used. The liquor shot tearing through the chest plate of one Goliath while the metal ball pulverized the head of the other. Both bodies of lifeless dropping down to the ground with a heavy thud.

Two more Goliaths, both with installed cannons came flying from the garden over to their current spot. This was the last wave of machines. "One more push, Star Platinum Ruin! Time to shine bright as the stars above! Knack!" The golem looked at the raven. "Toss me into the air!" Knack looked at Jodari for a moment before nodding.

Picking up the raven, Knack threw Jodari right at the two airborne machines. "Raise your graceful wings, my precious star!" The relic wings on the Stand's arms immediately spread forth, Sunstone energy began to channel between the pieces. What came from it was a large glowing pair of golden Phoenix Wings.

"Saki Spiral!" Channeling Spin into his flask, the raven sent it forward, Star Platinum following by tossing the two remaining metal bearings. The clear liquid created multiple spirals of Saki in two groups from the bearings that grew in the air and with a spark of Jodari's Hamon, they ignited into twin tunnels of fire. Star Platinum Ruin grabbed onto Jodari's arms as the young man shifted into a kicking position with a quickly growing rotation, the Stand sinking into his body with the wings now spread across his host's body.

"Ultimate Technique: Rising Phoenix Overdrive!!!" Jodari roared, now an angelic drill fire and burning rings, with all his might. The raven drilled through the robot in his range and tore a massive hole into it, however it wasn't what finished the machines off. The spirals of fire he created had grown in a viciously large vortex as they travelled, swallowing the remaining robots within its maw.

Using the wings of his Stand, the amnesiac raven descended down like an angel that flew out of battle in triumph, a large explosion of golden fire exploding in the sky. He stood up as the rest of his Stand dissipated before looking at Knack, with the biggest grin on his face. "That was a blast! Looks like we're in!" Knack couldn't help but laugh.

This adventure was going to be very interesting and very bizarre.

This is Knack if you haven't seen him.

[askthefaeling]

Homecoming (5/7)

Everybody was staring at him. Vellner kept his eyes on Chairwoman Niels, simply because he didn’t really want to look around and see anybody else’s expression. She looked shocked enough for all of them. “You have been a captive of humans since you were a child?” she repeated, a horrified sort of incredulity in her voice. Her pen was held above her paper, forgotten.

Vellner nodded. He couldn’t figure out why he felt so embarrassed about this; usually he talked about it all rather flippantly. Maybe it was because these people actually cared. “Yeah,” he agreed. “For most of my life. I mean I had a couple of years between the first one and the second one, and a few months between some of the others… this last go I was on my own for nearly a year before… well.” They all knew what had happened then. He stopped there, the terrified looks on everybody’s faces keeping any other details from springing forth.

Chairman Christner was eventually the one to speak up. “Vellner, I think I speak for all of us when I say this is quite disturbing to hear about,” he quietly said, not unkindly. “Our hearts go out to you. Please know that you are safe here. No human has ever found the village, nor will they ever. Our enchantments are extremely powerful.”

Vellner nodded again, if only to buy himself enough time to think of a response. “Um, thanks,” he said. He didn’t say how hard that was for him to believe- that would probably be rude. He didn’t want to be rude to the first people that had actually shown him compassion.

“Vellner,” Chairwoman Niels began tentatively, “if you don’t mind, would you tell us what your situation was like before Lyra rescued you? It’s just that, if there is a possibility that humans will be looking for one of our citizens, we need to know.”

“I don’t mind,” Vellner honestly replied. His big secret was out. Might as well give them a summary. “A few months ago - at least, as far as I can tell - the Rayvellian army marched into the town that I was living in. I was captured and given to one of the princes. Kiran.” Vellner’s lips curled up in a slight sneer just saying his name in such an innocent place as this. “I’ve been in his possession until, well, today.” He shot a fleeting but deeply grateful look at Lyra and Brisel, who smiled at him. “Um, I did have chains on that dogs could track, but Brisel got rid of them. I don’t think any humans will come this deep into the forest looking for me.” Though, he couldn’t be certain.

Chairwoman Niels shook her head as she jotted down the last few details. “Gods above, the horrors of the outside world never cease,” she muttered to herself. Obviously Vellner’s situation - which to him had seemed about par for the course - was nearly inconceivable to the fairies of this hidden village.

[fiscal-clit]

Best Lawyers In Canada

Alice Woolley

Professor and associate dean-academic, University of Calgary Faculty of Law, Calgary, Alta. Woolley is a true changemaker in the region of law and technology as well as law regulation.  She's been a valuable member of the Canadian Bar Association's integrity and professional responsibility committee.  Her work with the CBA Futures job as an ethics and regulatory issues staff member is really making a mark at the legal community.  Woolley is responsible for sweeping educational modifications as chairwoman of the committee that developed and embraced significant curricular changes at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Law, which concentrate on the practical elements of legal instruction and will come into effect in September. What voters had to say: Leading expert on legal profession and ethics; when she talks, people listen.   Alice is a pragmatic visionary.  Educating law students in a way that will prepare them for a 21st century clinic is of crucial importance to the future of the profession.

Justice Murray Sinclair

Chairman, Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Winnipeg, Man.  A rare write-in candidate winner for  this season 's Top 25, Sinclair was on the list last year, making headlines in June with the release of the overview of the report of the TRC along with 94 recommendations to redress the cultural genocide of Canada's residential college program.   Over six decades, Sinclair directed the TRC hearing the tales of over 7,000 survivors of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse.  Sinclair, that was the first aboriginal judge in Manitoba, was first appointed to the provincial court where he became associate leader in 1988 and then elevated to the Court of Queen's Bench at 2001.  He had been co-commissioner of Manitoba's Aboriginal Justice Inquiry in 1988 and presided over a 2000 inquest into the deaths of 12 infants at Winnipeg's Health Sciences Centre.  Sinclair expects to finish the commission's complete report in the near future, after which he will choose whether to return to retire or court and advocate for indigenous rights fulltime.

Marie Henein

Old spouse, Henein Hutchison LLP, Toronto, Ont. Considered one of Canada's best criminal defence lawyers, Henein is known for representing high-profile clients such as former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi -- charged with seven counts of sexual assault, of which two have been dropped -- former Ontario attorney general Michael Bryant, and junior hockey trainer David Frost.  Most recently Henein has taken on the event of defence counsel colleague Leora Shemesh, that had been charged with perjury and obstruction of justice by Peel Police.  Henein is well-known in the profession as a go-to lawyer for all high-profile criminal matters.  She has an excellent history of wins versus losses and has been a part of the team that recently was successful in having John Salmon's conviction in a 1970s murder . What Republicans needed to say: Most observable leader of [the] criminal defence bar.

Justice Ian Nordheimer

Judge, Ontario Supreme Court, Toronto, Ont.  Nordheimer's name is becoming synonymous with class actions suits mostly due to his judgment, which overturned Justice Edward Belobaba's conclusion in a high-profile case on carriage at the Barrick Gold class action suit.  Nordheimer given the losing coalition of law firms leave to appeal Belobaba's decision at the Divisional Court.  He is likely the strongest Superior Court degree judge in the country using a decade on the seat and generates perhaps the greatest number of thorough judgments every year compared to some trial level estimate.  He is known for his quick wit and sharp decisions.  In the last year, Nordheimer has made quite a splash in the legal community by upholding a professional field punishment for present LSUC bencher Joe Groia and releasing information that revealed Rob Ford was the topic of a police investigation.What that the panel had to say: He is the sort of judge that should be on the Court of Appeal... or greater.  A judge of complete integrity.

Jean-Pierre Blais

Chairman, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, Ottawa-Gatineau Blais is not afraid of criticism and is willing to go above and beyond in the name of consumer rights.  A recent CRTC decision will give users more freedom to select TV channels of their liking as part of their cable and satellite subscriptions despite bitter opposition from Canada's cable businesses.  Blais called out former Bell Media president Kevin Crull, without naming names, over reports Crull told CTV news personnel not to interview him after that choice.  Crull ended up apologizing for interfering in the news gathering process and later stepped down.  From telemarketers to telcos, Blais consistently aims to encourage the rights and demands of customers. What Republicans needed to say: Reaching big shift with consumer-minded focus.  About time!

[hostingnewsfeed]

The House Science Committee May Soon Become... Pro-Science

New Post has been published on http://brummy80.com/the-house-science-committee-may-soon-become-pro-science/

The House Science Committee May Soon Become... Pro-Science

For the past eight years, climate science has been under a sort of spell in the House of Representatives. Instead of trying to understand it better or even acknowledging some of the field’s current uncertainties, House Science Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) used his position to harass federal climate scientists with subpoenas while holding hearings on “Making the EPA Great Again” or whether “global warming theories are alarmist” and researchers are pursuing a “personal agenda.”

But Smith retired this year and Democrats won control of the House on Tuesday. Now some on Capitol Hill say that the anti-climate science spell may be broken.

“Hopefully we will no longer see the science committee used as a messaging tool for the fossil fuel industry,” says Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat and science committee member. “I look forward to hearings with a balance of witnesses that reflect mainstream scientific hearings instead of a small group of industry players.”

Foster, who was a particle physicist before being elected to Congress in 2008, said he also wants to see more appearances from cabinet members like Energy Secretary Rick Perry or EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to explain both their budget and their rulemaking on environmental and science issues. Neither agency head was called before Smith’s committee during his tenure, Foster says.

Ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) issued a statement after the election results Tuesday night stating that, if elected chairwoman, she wants to restore the credibility of the science committee “as a place where science is respected and recognized as a crucial input to good policymaking.” Johnson said that includes acknowledging that climate change is real, “seeking to understand what climate science is telling us, and working to understand the ways we can mitigate it.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is in line to become Speaker of the House, hinted recently that she may push her members to form a new select committee on climate and renewable energy issues similar to one that operated from 2007 to 2011.

Capitol Hill observers and advocacy groups, however, say it’s not clear that a more science-friendly House will result in any new legislation getting passed or in stopping Cabinet heads that report to President Trump. “The attempt to embarrass the Trump White House isn’t going to work,” says Jeff Ruch, director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy group representing federal workers in several scientific and environmental agencies. PEER has been litigating the EPA over the enforcement of pollution rules as well as the disclosure of ethics violations during the tenure of former administrator Scott Pruitt.

Ruck says environmental and science policies need to be changed with votes, not hearings. He foresees some Democratic House members introducing what he calls “green riders,” climate- or energy-related amendments to larger, unrelated pieces of legislation that might be able to pass both the House and a Republican-controlled Senate.

Others predict greater congressional oversight as well over issues including pollution enforcement, vehicle emissions standards, and the localized effects of climate change. “Too many people are seeing the impact of climate change in their communities, whether it’s wildfires or drought or storms,” says Andrew Rosenberg, director of the center for science and democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based advocacy group. “So at some point members have to respond to their constituents.”

If nothing else, there will be a greater representation of scientists and members with STEM degrees in the next session of Congress. Of the 14 House and Senate members endorsed and backed by the pro-science group 314 Action, eight won their general election race on Tuesday, while one, Seattle-area pediatrician Kim Schrier, holds a 52-48 percentage point lead with absentee ballots still to be counted.

This mini-wave of STEM-trained politicians might result in more evidence-based policymaking, according to Shaughnessy Naughton, the founder and president of 314 Action. “They have a lot of credibility, whether it’s on the environment or health care, and it resonates with voters,” she says.

Of course, climate deniers might still have a home on the north side of the Capitol, where the Senate meets and where Texas’ Ted Cruz is expected to keep his gavel as chairman of the Senate Science Committee.

More Great WIRED Stories

[mettywiththenotes]

Anyway until canon proves me wrong, Mera is the next temporary chairman

He’s filling in for the Chairwoman, but he’s incredibly tired. There’s so much paperwork to do and he needs to get it done. Things just ain’t going ol’ Mera Yokumiru’s way

While looking through paperwork, he sees an unfair rule for students and Heroes in training and he’s like “Huh... No, I shouldn’t change it. Best to just keep things the way they are”

But then he hears of the news that a young girl at UA made a great impression on the civilians. Apparently, she told them that Heroes were people too, and that Heroes need saving and protecting just as much as any civilian

On top of that, Izuku Midoriya, that kid from the PL exam, became some sort of Vigilante. Or, well, that’s what he hears. He’s heard a lot of different rumors, that Midoriya is like AFO, that Midoriya is a subordinate of AFO and has come to do damage on the remaining shreds of hope in society.

But, he can’t believe that. Not with how that kid fought in the exam, not with how he went back for those Todoroki and Inasa kids. Sure, Midoriya was a little rocky at first, but he sees the child’s potential. He saw the spark of good in him.

So no, he can’t agree to those negative rumors.

Then again, he thinks as he sits back in his chair, looking at how society is now, he wouldn’t blame the kid for losing hope. It’s hard for Heroes these days. He doesn’t know much about the kid, but still. He would like to think he was as courageous and brave as he was in the exam, so instead, he thinks about the other rumors.

About the Midoriya kid walking around, covered in scars, blood and mud. About how the child doesn’t stop. How fearsome he looks, yet how he saves everyone he comes across. How tirelessly he treads that thorny path. Mera wonders how someone so young can just do that. He can barely handle work, nevermind the multiple quirks or whatever is going on inside that kid

And that young girl from UA, apparently, was yelling those things to the civilians BECAUSE of Midoriya. She must have been inspired to act, because of that child’s stubborn heroics

These children, striving for a better society... honestly, Mera can’t see why. The system is as tough as it is, unfair too, but that’s just life, right? That’s just how it is...

Then he’s struck with the thought of how they are kids. Teenagers, even. Fighting this war, being robbed of a childhood. Isn’t that like everyone, though?

But they stood up. Despite being fledgling Heroes, they stood up and acted for what was right. He doesn’t know why, why they would think it was worth it, but...

He glances at the paperwork, the one with the unfair rule on it

He’s always felt powerless to stop the influx of work, helpless to the papers that get slammed on his desk, he never stopped to think he could change it. That he could change things...

But he has the power now, doesn’t he? He’s not being shoved around. Those who were above him now look to him for help, look to him for insight despite being a temporary chairman.

...They wouldn’t notice if he just shredded one rule, right?

Cautiously, as if he can feel eyes on him, he picks up the paperwork and feeds it through the shredder.

Nobody will notice. Not in the chaos of society right now.

[smartwebhostingblog]

The House Science Committee May Soon Become... Pro-Science

New Post has been published on http://brummy80.com/the-house-science-committee-may-soon-become-pro-science/

The House Science Committee May Soon Become... Pro-Science

For the past eight years, climate science has been under a sort of spell in the House of Representatives. Instead of trying to understand it better or even acknowledging some of the field’s current uncertainties, House Science Committee Chairman Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) used his position to harass federal climate scientists with subpoenas while holding hearings on “Making the EPA Great Again” or whether “global warming theories are alarmist” and researchers are pursuing a “personal agenda.”

But Smith retired this year and Democrats won control of the House on Tuesday. Now some on Capitol Hill say that the anti-climate science spell may be broken.

“Hopefully we will no longer see the science committee used as a messaging tool for the fossil fuel industry,” says Rep. Bill Foster, an Illinois Democrat and science committee member. “I look forward to hearings with a balance of witnesses that reflect mainstream scientific hearings instead of a small group of industry players.”

Foster, who was a particle physicist before being elected to Congress in 2008, said he also wants to see more appearances from cabinet members like Energy Secretary Rick Perry or EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler to explain both their budget and their rulemaking on environmental and science issues. Neither agency head was called before Smith’s committee during his tenure, Foster says.

Ranking member Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-Texas) issued a statement after the election results Tuesday night stating that, if elected chairwoman, she wants to restore the credibility of the science committee “as a place where science is respected and recognized as a crucial input to good policymaking.” Johnson said that includes acknowledging that climate change is real, “seeking to understand what climate science is telling us, and working to understand the ways we can mitigate it.”

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who is in line to become Speaker of the House, hinted recently that she may push her members to form a new select committee on climate and renewable energy issues similar to one that operated from 2007 to 2011.

Capitol Hill observers and advocacy groups, however, say it’s not clear that a more science-friendly House will result in any new legislation getting passed or in stopping Cabinet heads that report to President Trump. “The attempt to embarrass the Trump White House isn’t going to work,” says Jeff Ruch, director of the Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, an advocacy group representing federal workers in several scientific and environmental agencies. PEER has been litigating the EPA over the enforcement of pollution rules as well as the disclosure of ethics violations during the tenure of former administrator Scott Pruitt.

Ruck says environmental and science policies need to be changed with votes, not hearings. He foresees some Democratic House members introducing what he calls “green riders,” climate- or energy-related amendments to larger, unrelated pieces of legislation that might be able to pass both the House and a Republican-controlled Senate.

Others predict greater congressional oversight as well over issues including pollution enforcement, vehicle emissions standards, and the localized effects of climate change. “Too many people are seeing the impact of climate change in their communities, whether it’s wildfires or drought or storms,” says Andrew Rosenberg, director of the center for science and democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based advocacy group. “So at some point members have to respond to their constituents.”

If nothing else, there will be a greater representation of scientists and members with STEM degrees in the next session of Congress. Of the 14 House and Senate members endorsed and backed by the pro-science group 314 Action, eight won their general election race on Tuesday, while one, Seattle-area pediatrician Kim Schrier, holds a 52-48 percentage point lead with absentee ballots still to be counted.

This mini-wave of STEM-trained politicians might result in more evidence-based policymaking, according to Shaughnessy Naughton, the founder and president of 314 Action. “They have a lot of credibility, whether it’s on the environment or health care, and it resonates with voters,” she says.

Of course, climate deniers might still have a home on the north side of the Capitol, where the Senate meets and where Texas’ Ted Cruz is expected to keep his gavel as chairman of the Senate Science Committee.

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