#ronnie the diplomat

[missmysterious56]

IS RONNIE OKAY ?? I NEED MY BABY RONNIE TO BE OKAY I DIDNT EVEN REALIZE HOW EMOTIONALLY ATTACHED I WAS UNTIL RIGHT NOW

[cultistsonly]

Kind of extremely funny that The Diplomat is hip enough to have a no pronouns character but not hip enough to give that character any plot relevance before they blew that character to smithereens

[diver5ion]

[blues34]

I'm never gonna like another background character again cuz why did she jsut go BOOM

[meret118]

First thoughts on The Diplomat season 2

Wow! It's terrific! I think it would have been even better with a normal length season, but it was still great. Totally worth the binge watch! :) Spoilers below.

Poor Ronnie! I figured if an american was going to die it would be the most minor character, but it's still sad. I'm very glad the impact of their death on the other characters wasn't downplayed.

So many great scenes! The Wyler's argument in the bedroom and the shoes. Stuart chewing Kate out. The fireworks and the aftermath.

Eidra is my new favorite. I hope she and Stuart don't get back together though. He asks her not to go to Cairo, even though that would be a promotion, asks her to go public with their relation, even though he knows he may be going back to DC very soon, ambushes her with personal shit at work multiple times, refuses to believe they're over, and then says she's the problem. She deserves way better.

I hope we see more Dennison next season. I can't help but wonder if a lot of his scenes were cut for time. I would have liked him to tell Kate why he's supporting Trowbridge and wants nothing to do with her anymore for example, and what he thinks about how she's handled the whole thing. They primarily focused on the plot and the Wyler's relationship this season.

The story of Debora Cahn only doing six episodes when Netflix wanted eight because she was tired seems odd to me. If she needed more time or help why not ask them for it? They love the show, and renewed season three before this one even dropped. It just feels . . . odd to me.

I still loved the new season, except for one thing - I was shocked that Kate didn't push back on burying what really happened in the meeting with the PM etc. That seems totally OOC to me. It's practically the only time she's kept her mouth closed the whole show! Later, she even tells the VP what they know about her instead of lying or just saying orders from Billie and playing dumb. Keeping quiet is not in her nature, and burying it doesn't seem like advice she would give either, at least not right then.

Allison Janney rocks! She was manipulating Trowbridge of course, and Kate too. Until Billie reacted the way she did I wondered for a second if Hal lied so Kate would take the job. Shouldn't they tell Eidra about what Roylin told Hal?

Why is Kate so easily manipulated by Penn? Is it just because she's a woman too? The only other one who was able to do it, other than Hal, was Roylin in season one after all. Penn speaks, and it's like Kate completely changes her opinion to whatever Penn says every time. I hope we learn something to explain it. It just feels like bad writing in an otherwise brilliant show at the moment to me. Maybe the explanation was cut for time this season? (When she finally does stand up to Penn, it bites her in the ass of course.)

Hal just can't take the win. He has to go behind Kate's back. Again.

WOW! That ending!!!! I did not see that coming at all!

Favorite Lines:

1."Did you fuck him?"

"No!

". . ."

"I didn't."

"Were you planning to?"

"Yeah." (Said very matter of factly.)

2. "I didn't do this to you when you, when you kept things in the vault."

"Why did you never ask me?"

"Because I trusted you."

"I don't trust you. I don't. Do you trust you?"

"Is this the part of the conversation where you get mean because you're not getting what you want?"

"It's not mean. I love you, but this is based on something other than trust. That can't be news to you?"

"I need to eat something. You're making my head hurt."

So he has food sent up so she'll eat off his plate and drop it. Plus it's not his head that's hurting. Even though he's the one that has lied repeatedly their whole marriage. Yet in this case he's actually trying to protect her. . . . And so he can get his foot in the WH too. So many layers! :)

3. (About Scottish Independence) "They're nice, sweet people. They are cold all the time. Let them make their own decisions."

[voraciousvore]

Giganterra (Final Chapter/ Epilogue)

Prologue/ TOC | Previous (61)

Content Warning: None

Word Count: 3.4k

------ Chapter 62: Diplomacy ------

King Ronny arrived at the wall. Just like his late father, he’d never been here personally. A latent anxiety bubbled up inside him as he gazed at the weathered stones stacked high, another monument to Giganterra’s oppressive influence. 

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” he questioned Leon, as he dismounted his horse. He brought his hand to his shoulder, allowing Tanya to grip his fingers for support so she wouldn’t fall off. “I’m sure they hate us. I doubt they’ll want anything to do with us.” 

“This is absolutely necessary,” Leon explained. He carried a wooden box full of diplomatic gifts. “Even if it’s difficult. They are a neighboring country, so we need to have diplomatic channels open, in case problems arise. And that’s not even addressing our ugly history with them. I’m sure there will be plenty of snags along the way.” 

Ronny sighed. “I figured you’d say something like that. Let’s get this over with. Joey?” 

“At your service, Your Majesty!” Joey chirped. Normally, he’d hop off his horse with alacrity, but he was careful not to jostle all the humans he was carrying in his hand as he cautiously dismounted. Joey was in a fantastic mood, eager to explore the human lands again, but this time with an unburdened conscience. Eren, perched on his shoulder, playfully tugged on a lock of his messy hair, making him blush. 

Leon edged away from the humans, avoiding eye contact. He still felt terrible guilt for his role in enslaving the tiny folk during King Richard’s reign. However, he was heartened to see that the new king sought to undo the wrongs of his father. He held hope for a brighter future, and he understood he had a very important role to play in building that future, since King Ronny couldn’t possibly pull it off by himself. Despite his internal misgivings, he followed the king and Joey, the new royal guard, through the gate. The guard shack was empty, as Ronny had dismissed the guards from their duty permanently. 

“Whoa.” Ronny stopped in his tracks as he entered Minimaterra, staring in wonder at the forest of tiny, fuzzy trees that hardly reached his ankles. With the transition into fall, the trees displayed a vibrant patchwork of red, orange, yellow, and brown puffs of leaves, laid out across the landscape like a quilt. 

“So this is what my forest looks like from a giant’s perspective,” Eren mused. “No wonder you guys are so careless, stomping all over the trees.” 

“Sorry! It’s not intentional!” Joey blubbered. Eren smirked and elbowed his neck. Ronny rolled his eyes and began carefully tiptoeing through the forest, trying his best not to carve a path of destruction underfoot. Joey traced the king’s footsteps with his own, to minimize the damage caused, but he still winced whenever he heard the snap of a tree trunk under his boot. 

“Aw, Joey, I was just kidding! Don’t feel bad,” Eren consoled him in his ear, in a softer tone. She kissed his neck, caressing it with her small hand, and he smiled tenderly. 

“Watch your step, Your Majesty!” Leon called out. “There’s a house right there!” 

“Oops,” Ronny gulped, retracting his boot. He frowned at the family of humans glaring up at him. 

“Ronny, try not to look so scary,” Tanya whispered in his ear. “I know you have a habit of masking your feelings with a frigid expression, but you need to unlearn that.” 

Ronny furrowed his brow, but dutifully thawed his features. “My apologies, subjects of Minimaterra. I meant no harm.” He gave a deferential flourish, careful not to knock Tanya off his shoulder. The humans blinked with amazement, not expecting gentlemanly behavior from the envoys of Giganterra. Ronny and the rest of the diplomatic party continued on. They passed through the forest to wider, flatter plains. 

“Don’t step on those brown grassy patches,” Joey instructed the prince, pointing to the neat squares of farmland. “Those may look like grass, but they’re actually crops. Corn and wheat, I believe.” 

“Thank you, Joey,” Ronny replied. He was happy to see that the squire—now a knight—was finally comfortable with speaking openly around him. The stiff, formal nervousness that Joey exhibited before tended to wear on his nerves. He regarded Joey not merely as a servant, and an ally, but a real friend. The change was subtle, but the genuine connection warmed his heart. 

He felt a twitch of anxiety as the small castle, surrounded by a small city, materialized in the distance. He focused on his feet to distract himself. He had to walk slower as the country roads gave way to paved streets buzzing with miniature people and horses. Minimaterra’s citizens were hasty to get out of the way, distrustful that the giants wouldn’t stomp on anybody. The buildings were cramped closer together, forcing the giants to shuffle their feet in a straight row. 

“Excuse me, sir!” a faint voice squeaked from the road. “Sir!”  

Leon glanced down, confused. “Me?” 

“Yes, you!” 

Leon cautiously crouched down, squinting as he searched for the source of the voice. Most of the humans scrambled away like mice, but one man stood unflinchingly in the giant’s path. Leon lowered his head to get a closer look. His eyes widened with surprised recognition. 

“You’re that fruit merchant!” he said. His face twisted up with embarrassment as he recalled accidentally crushing his stall. “I do apologize again-” 

“No need!” the merchant interrupted, raising a hand to stop him. “I wanted to thank you for your kindness and generosity! With the gigantic coins you gave me, my family was able to buy better equipment and seeds to expand our business! We are flourishing now!” 

“Oh! I’m very glad to hear that,” Leon responded, relieved. 

“I wasn’t expecting to see you again, otherwise I would’ve had my wife make you an apple pie or something…” The man scampered over to his stall, rummaging through his wares. He returned with his arms hugging a huge watermelon. “Bring your hand down.” 

“Are you sure? You really don’t have to give me anything…” 

“Yes.” Leon sheepishly lowered his hand to the cobblestones. With a grunt, the man hoisted the watermelon into his hand and rolled it towards the center. “Here.” 

The watermelon looked comically small in the giant’s hand, like a pill, but Leon accepted the gift with genuine gratitude. “Thank you.” He figured it would be polite to consume the offering as intended, so he popped the watermelon whole into his mouth and cracked it like a sunflower seed between his molars. A burst of sweet juice hit his tongue. “Very tasty. Thanks again.” 

 The man hadn’t expected the giant to bite into the watermelon without cutting the thick rind, so he could only stare open-mouthed. Leon flushed when he noticed. “I enjoyed that very much. I-I must be going. Thanks,” he repeated awkwardly. He slowly raised himself back to a standing position and stepped away, over a low building. An invisible weight unburdened his shoulders as he recognized that he had done some good for at least one human—and now, he had the tools to do far more.  

Joey and Ronny waited for him in the central plaza, just a few strides away, where they had more space. “Ready?” Joey asked. Leon and Ronny nodded firmly. They stepped over the palace walls into the courtyard, mindful of the miniscule gardens. Ronny fancied, with some amusement, that the courtyard vaguely resembled Giganterra’s, just on a smaller scale. 

Their presence required no announcement, since their lofty silhouettes had been spotted on the horizon from miles away. King Charles waited for them in the highest balcony of his tallest tower, his arms crossed defiantly over his chest. He scowled fearlessly as he glared up at the giant men. 

“What’s this about?” he questioned with a note of irritation. “Back for more tribute? So soon?” 

Ronny’s stoic gaze faltered. “No. I’ve come to inform you that King Richard of Giganterra, of the Hardon Dynasty, is deceased. I am his son. The new king. King Ronny. Also of the Hardon Dynasty.” The announcement that he had rehearsed so meticulously in his head, over and over, tripped over his tongue and spilled out in a clumsy mess. 

However, his delivery was not foremost on the human king’s mind. King Charles didn’t visibly flinch, but his dark skin showed a pallor that evinced his nervousness at the news. “What?” He paused, still shocked. “YOU’RE the new king?” 

“Yes,” Ronny confirmed. The tiny human soldiers at Ronny’s feet rippled with discomfort and pointed their spears, unsure of the giant’s intentions. 

“Never in all my years has a king of Giganterra personally graced my kingdom with his presence,” Charles uttered. 

Ronny swallowed. “R-right. Well, things are going to change under my rule.” 

“How so?” the human king asked suspiciously. 

“For the better, I hope,” Ronny clarified quickly. He straightened his posture, putting forth his best effort to appear regal. “I wish to formally apologize for the wrongs us giants have committed against your people.” 

The human king’s jaw dropped as he was rendered speechless. Ronny gestured for Leon to open the wooden box he’d been carrying. Leon pulled back the lid to reveal a cornucopia of gifts, including precious metals, jewels, exotic spices, silks, and other luxurious goods. While the stash was relatively modest for a giant king, it was a wealth of priceless treasures for the small folk. The human king couldn’t believe his eyes. 

“We’ve brought gifts.” Poor recompense, I’m sure, but what else can we do? “We’re also relinquishing the humans who wished to return to Minimaterra.” With that cue, Joey kneeled down and released the humans in his hands. They were received with joy by the soldiers below. 

“So few…” Charles mentioned forlornly. “Where are the rest? Especially the more recent tributes?” 

“Ah! Many of them have chosen to stay in Giganterra of their own free will. Including Candy, Millie, Iris, Jackie, Addison… uh, Eren…”—he pointed towards her—“And my girl Tanya.” He caressed her with his finger, and she hugged it in return. 

“Really? They chose to stay?” Charles asked, directing his attention to the human women. The hostility and skepticism dripping from his words was palpable. 

“Absolutely. King Ronny is my fiancé,” Tanya explained. Eren looked teasingly at Joey and poked his neck. He scratched his cheek and flushed. 

“I don’t believe it,” Charles mumbled. He stiffened as he seemed to recall something. “Wait! What about the men? What about… my advisor? Gio?” 

Ronny’s smile faded into sadness. “Oh… I hate to be the one to inform you, but… tragically, they did not survive the reign of the old tyrant.” 

“Oh.” A flicker of regret crossed Charles’s features, but he maintained strict control over his emotions. “I see.” 

Ronny didn’t want to dwell on this uncomfortable truth, so he hastened to move the conversation along. “I’ve dismissed the guards that watched the walls around your country. We plan to demolish the barrier entirely, so that you will no longer be prisoners within your own lands.” 

The smaller king blanched. “What? No! Then we’ll be at the mercy of any giant oaf that comes clomping along! That’s a terrible idea!” 

“Actually, no. As it turns out, this was a lie to keep you all contained. My royal scholar, Milton, has done extensive research on Minimaterra. Your country exists on enchanted lands that will shrink any giant creature, whether man or beast, that sets foot here against the will of the giant king. You are protected by the same magic that curses you into this existence.”  

“Impossible,” Charles murmured, his mouth hanging open. 

Ronny knew his words were blunt, but he felt compelled to be honest, in order to gain trust. “If it makes you feel better, I can engage one of my trusted knights, Sir Maneat—erm, Sir Martin, to patrol the border to expel any ruffians.” 

“I still don’t believe it. How could you possibly know if that’s true? Did you shrink someone yourself?” 

“No; nevertheless, it’s true. In fact, Milton dug into the archives and found records of political prisoners that were exiled to Minimaterra and shrunk, never to be heard from again. The kings of yore used this place as a dumping ground to eliminate any person they found to be… inconvenient.” 

“Why are you doing all this now? Why tell us these things? What is your motive?” Charles demanded to know, digging into the heart of the issue. 

Ronny paused to collect his words, stroking his chin. “My father was a terrible man. He committed horrific atrocities. I… I don’t want to follow in his footsteps. I want to do everything I can to right these wrongs. I want to use my birthright to carve a path forward to a new beginning for our two kingdoms. Does that make sense?” 

“I suppose it does.” 

“Will you work with me, to realize my vision? Will you trust me? I am here. I have clawed through the worst filth you can imagine to be standing before you here today. I have overcome my worst fears and slayed the beast looming over me for my entire life. I have risked everything, life and limb, sacrificed my honor and dignity, betrayed and conquered. I have opened my heart and soul and now I bare myself before you in humble acquiescence. Will you accept me?” 

Ronny dropped to his knees, careful not to squash any humans in the process, to be somewhat more level with the human king. He held out his hand, close enough for Charles to reach out and touch his finger. The smaller man stiffened.  “What do you say?” 

King Charles hesitated tor a long moment, thinking hard. Finally, he extended his arm and laid his hand on the tip of Ronny’s middle finger. “I accept.” 

------ Epilogue ------

Under Leon’s guiding hand, Giganterra prospered. King Ronny was beloved by the people for his just and open rule. He rolled back his father’s more oppressive and draconian laws and reduced the heavy burden of taxation from his citizens. He hired scribes and scholars to make public the knowledge that had been locked away in the royal library, including the true history of Minimaterra. While Ronny was lamentably ignorant on leadership, he was willing to learn, and Leon was more than willing to use his knowledge to aid the new king. 

Ronny promoted Milton to be his chief royal scholar. Milton was eager to take the position and pursue research projects that would benefit the kingdom, as well as enrich his personal knowledge. Millie chose to stay with the kind giant who had saved her. They helped each other heal from their past losses, and soon became romantically involved. Milton treasured Millie and uplifted her, while Millie admired Milton for his compassion, gentleness, and intelligence. He made her feel safe, despite being a giant. 

Iris stayed with Milton as well, slowly recovering from her traumas. Over time, she became less afraid of Milton, and to a lesser extent Martin, though she still felt deeply uncomfortable around other giants. She started to speak more and show more energy. She liked to work out in the garden and enjoy the warm sunshine. She became good friends with Millie and Candy. Though she was uncertain what she wanted to do moving forward, she was grateful to have a comforting environment where she could finally rest and have peace, where she wouldn’t be eaten constantly. 

Ronny fired Bucky from the head chef position and put Chef Cruor in charge of the kitchen. Cruor was ecstatic to finally be able to cook and refine his art as he saw fit, without the boss pushing him around. The quality of the food dramatically improved. Addison, who had become attached to the chef, chose to stay with him rather than return to Minimaterra. She assisted him when he cooked in the little ways that she could. She was very happy in her new role. He guarded her jealously, not allowing anyone to touch or hold her without his direct supervision. He lost some of the weight that Bucky had packed on him, but he no longer resembled a scraggly wolf. He experienced euphoria through his art and his special connection with Addison. 

Ronny retired Ajax, removing the magical stone from his head and destroying it. The guard was given a proper burial and mourning. At Milton’s urging, Ronny also freed the unicorn from the basement. He wasn’t sure what to do with Hunter, as he didn’t entirely trust him, but Hunter was content to be left alone and continue his experiments—albeit only the ones that Ronny deemed ethical. 

Initially, Jackie planned to return to Minimaterra, but she decided to stay to support her friend Iris. Milton gladly accepted her into his home, just as he had with the other tiny women. Chester couldn’t resist stopping by to visit her. Despite his gluttonous nature, she had to admit she had developed a basic respect for him that was turning into fondness, especially with his good deeds of saving Iris and helping Ronny kill the evil king. He showed restraint for his urges and had provided her some comfort during her confinement, after all. To her surprise, she got along very well with Chester, and he treated her with the upmost care. She found herself wanting to stay in Giganterra even after Iris recovered. She wanted to spend more time with Chester, a desire he was more than happy to indulge. 

Joey was promoted to knighthood and won the esteemed position of the king’s personal guard. Eren chose to stay with him; she found him fascinating, endearing, and attractive, and she enjoyed the adventures she could have everyday in the giant country. Joey was amazed by Eren’s boldness. They fell hard for each other and experienced a very fiery and passionate romance. 

Sir Maneater was welcomed back at the castle and restored to his original post. Candy got to experience the fairytale romance of her dreams with the handsome knight, who treated her like a priceless treasure. He was tasked with patrolling the border of Minimaterra where the wall used to be, not to keep the humans inside but to protect them from any disreputable giants seeking a pet or snack. At first, the humans feared him, but the more intrepid explorers learned how sweet and friendly he was and spread the word. With time, the humans regarded him as just another feature of the landscape, or even as an ally or friend. 

The citizens of Minimaterra were glad to finally have the walls removed, though many chose to stay within the miniaturized country. The braver humans explored the surrounding lands, usually under Martin’s watchful eye. They could also request giant escorts if needed. They prospered greatly with plentiful aid and resources from Giganterra. Though many humans continued to distrust the giants, relationships between the two countries improved significantly. 

Ronny didn’t quite understand why his late father had considered relations with King Ivan’s kingdom to be so critical, until Leon explained to him that Hardon had lusted after Ivan’s daughter. With that knowledge, Ronny dissolved Bianca’s marriage to Ray, since they obviously weren’t a good match. Bianca was broken inside after everything that had happened, and she mourned the loss of her small men, particularly Cesar. Although they didn’t leave behind any physical remains, she made small graves for them in the palace garden, where she would often sit and mourn. She made a gravestone for her unborn baby as well and placed it alongside Cesar's grave. Even so, she set her sights on moving forward and helping Ronny build a better life for the rest of the humans. It was the only way she could think of to atone for her transgressions and honor the lives of those lost to her father’s brutality. 

Tanya stayed with Ronny, of course, and became his queen, cementing the alliance between the two peoples. Even though Ronny had to deal with the stresses and responsibilities of ruling a kingdom, he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. Tanya was his light; she made him feel whole. He loved her with his entire heart, and he was thankful to her for freeing him, and indeed the whole kingdom, from the yoke of his tyrannical father. 

When Tanya suggested that Ronny create a new crest to represent his rule, the new giant king agreed with alacrity. He disposed of the sable wolf with silver and purple, and adopted a new emblem, a gold phoenix upon an azure background. Like a phoenix, Giganterra had risen from the ashes of destruction to be reborn into something new, something noble and beautiful. A new age had begun. 

Writing Masterpost

Tag List: @maybeiamdownbad @tinycoded360 @yummynomms

[thejakeformerlyknownasprince]

I saw something in your review for, I think it was book 54, where you said that you’ve previously compared Cassie to an anti-Susan Pevensie. Where was the post where you made that comparison?

Not on this blog! It was actually a conference presentation I did 10+ years ago. I can summarize what I remember from that paper.

Becoming an adult is a process that's almost uniformly positive for boys becoming men, but a lot more fraught for girls becoming women. Men often have more status than boys; women often have less status than girls. Boys are lauded for developing (hetero)sexuality; girls are both pressured to and derogated for developing any sexuality. Man-ness is a sign of strength; many signals of woman-ness are also those of weakness or immorality.

Point 1 means that a fair percent of coming-of-age stories, including SF classics, struggle with girls' coming of age. Wendy (Peter Pan) resists growing up just as much as her male costars, but ultimately acts as an adult-ifying force on the Lost Boys. Lyra (His Dark Materials) becomes an adult through becoming sexual, even as her male friend Will becomes an adult through becoming independent. Same goes for Bev (It) — her male friends become adults through facing their fears; she becomes an adult through sex.  So on.

Susan Pevensie (The Last Battle) is the example of this problem that's received far and away the most attention. Everyone from J.K. Rowling to Lev Grossman to Margaret Atwood has specifically called out the line where Susan's brother implies that her interest in "lipstick and nylons" has to do with her denial of Narnia. This criticism ignores the leadership roles Susan takes on in Narnia books 2 - 4, fighting in battles and leading diplomatic missions. But I do agree that "feminine adulthood = no more adventures" is an awful thing to convey to kids.

There are a bunch of attempted "fixes" of this moment, from the ham-fisted (Philip Pullman) to the nuanced (Tamora Pierce) to the blandly inoffensive (Neil Gaiman). [I’ll skip most of this part of the paper.]

And then there's Animorphs, and Cassie. I have no idea if K.A. Applegate or her ghosts were influenced by Narnia — I haven't found any direct commentary — but what I love about Cassie's story is that it's almost the same as Susan's, but framed in a different (feminist) way. Both are female heroes who enter an adventure story, wrap up the adventure, and take on adult identities. Both get one last call to action (Tirian using Susan's horn, Jake telling Cassie that Ax is missing) and both refuse that finalmost call, in the process refusing an early and glorious death in battle. Only the two arcs are framed completely differently.

Instead of Peter complaining that Susan has "lost Narnia," Jake tells Cassie she's "a one-woman army" who is "doing what you need to do and were born to do. Part of what we won was freedom for the Hork-Bajir... your job is to protect it" (#54). He and Cassie discuss that she now has the difficult task of living to maintain the legacy that Rachel and Jara and Arbron died for. Cassie isn't punished by not dying gloriously; she's just taking on a different heroic role that comes with no glory at all.

It's also notable that adult Cassie has become more fashion-conscious ("pestered by Patagonia" for endorsements) and more romantic with Ronnie than she was with Jake. But the fashion thing is neutral and bittersweet because Rachel's not there to tease her, while the romance is a sign she's healthy and adult now. It's the boys who run back toward adventure who are portrayed as wrong (Ax getting his crew killed, Marco's false shallowness, Jake and Tobias's implied suicidality). The girl brave and adaptive enough to become a woman is portrayed in a positive light. Similar story to Susan, but with a very different frame. And in many ways more effectively feminist than having Cassie take on the masculine "glory through death in battle" role would be.

There are a bunch of moments where Animorphs pulls similar framing tricks. "Tom joined the Sharing for a simple, silly reason: a pretty girl" (#6) would, in a majority of 20th century SF stories, have been phrased as the girl having seduced him; Applegate instead keeps the agency where it belongs through showing that it's silly to join a cult over a crush. Rachel responds to a boy in her class cat-calling her with "Of course I look good... I almost always do" (#32). When he calls her "stuck-up", she says "That's right, I am. Now you know the difference between good looks and a good personality." She's not denying her beauty or the work she puts into it; she's owning it and also not letting a boy own it.

In conclusion: Animorphs is great.

[lies]

in defense of hal wyler

season-ending spoilers for the netflix show "the diplomat" below the cut. if you haven't watched it and you think it's the kind of thing you might like, you should watch it before reading any of this.

kate's wrong about hal. I mean, she's also right about him. but in her reaction to the chatham house speech and hal's willingness to talk to grove, she's wrong. he didn't do that for himself, for his own ambition. he didn't do it to help him replace ganon as secretary of state, and he wasn't selling access. he did it for her.

hal loves kate. "you can't think about it too hard — it'll break your heart." that was hal talking about kate's love for him, but it was also hal talking about his own love for kate. hal has decided that the best thing he could possibly do is to make kate president. and maybe he'd be happy to be secretary of state as part of that. but it's not the goal. the goal is putting her in charge of unfucking things. and giving that speech, and sending it to billie, was part of that agenda.

twelve-year-old ronnie is dead. hal and stuart are both alive, but badly injured in the explosion. kate's face in the wordless final minute is as desperate and distraught as it is not because she's been told hal (and stuart) are dead, but because ronnie is dead, and hal and stuart are both hurt, and she's lost and afraid, and also: she knows it was her fault. because she's the one who told roylin about grove.

kate thinks of herself as so savvy, experienced in trouble spots around the world, but she's the one who told the wrong person the wrong thing, who let her own blinders about hal cause her to miss the pieces in front of her, and an innocent young person who probably reminds her a lot of herself died as a result.

i'm really looking forward to seeing how debora cahn picks up all these pieces in season 2. but one thing i'm fairly sure of: hal is not the bad guy.

[hagbrigade]

the diplomat s2 spoilers…

I don’t even want to watch anymore why did they do that to Ronnie … This is a hard time of year for me i should go to sleep 🚶🏿 like actually distraught

[tomorrowusa]

Vivek Ramaswamy and other Republicans are trying to rehabilitate the memory of Richard Nixon. I will concede that Nixon is at least a step up from Donald Trump; Nixon wrote his own books and probably even read them.

In the current GOP, Dwight Eisenhower and Gerald Ford are nonpersons; the integrity and honesty of Ike and Jerry are too high a standard for today's cesspool-dwelling Republicans.

Current Republicans are Reaganites In Name Only. If he somehow returned, Uncle Ronnie would castigate the Kremlin-friendly Trumpsters who play footsie with the Evil Empire which is now led by a onetime KGB (secret police) colonel.

The Bush clan has never been on great terms with the Trump crew. Jeb's kid, George P. Bush, had tried to save his own political skin by pandering to MAGA – but to no avail.

So Richard "Tricky Dick" Nixon enters into the revisionist GOP pantheon.

In late August, Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy took a break from his typical campaign events to make a pit stop at an unusual venue for mainstream Republicans: The Richard Nixon Presidential Library. Speaking before a packed house, Ramaswamy was slated to deliver a speech on foreign policy. But his opening remarks served the more provocative purpose of challenging Nixon’s much-maligned status in the annals of conservative history. “He is by and away the most underappreciated president of our modern history in this country — probably in all of American history,” said Ramaswamy, without a hint of irony. Ramaswamy’s homage to America’s most disgraced ex-president perplexed some liberal commentators, for whom Nixon remains the ultimate symbol of conservative criminality. But Ramaswamy is far from alone in rethinking Nixon’s divisive legacy. Among a small but influential group of young conservative activists and intellectuals, “Tricky Dick” is making a quiet — but notable — comeback. Long condemned by both Democrats and Republicans as the “ crook” that he infamously swore not to be, Nixon is reemerging in some conservative circles as a paragon of populist power, a noble warrior who was unjustly consigned to the black list of American history. Across the right-of-center media sphere, examples of Nixonmania abound. Online, popular conservative activists are studying the history of Nixon’s presidency as a “ blueprint for counter-revolution” in the 21st century. In the pages of small conservative magazines, readers can meet the “ New Nixonians” who are studying up on Nixon’s foreign policy prowess. On TikTok, users can scroll through meme-ified homages to Nixon. And in the weirdest (and most irony laden) corners of the internet, Nixon stans are even swooning over the former president’s swarthy good looks.

I can understand them loving Nixon for his attempts to improve ties with Putin's old Soviet Union. But Nixon as a sex symbol requires a strong imagination. He's hot only when compared to Donald Trump or Rudy Giuliani.

“No man is perfect — Richard Nixon definitely wasn’t — but one element of his legacy that I respect is reviving realism in our foreign policy,” said Ramaswamy in an interview from the campaign trail, pointing specifically to Nixon’s successful efforts to reestablish diplomatic relations with China during the 1970s. “Pulling Mao out of the hands of the USSR was one of the great victories that allowed us to come to the end of the Cold War … and it took an independent thinker like Nixon to lead us out of that.”

What Ramaswamy ignores is that Nixon escalated the Vietnam War after promising "peace with honor" in his 1968 campaign. After Nixon invaded Cambodia in 1970, large protests broke out across the US which led to the killings of unarmed students by National Guard troops at Kent State University in Ohio and Jackson State University in Mississippi.

And Nixon certainly did not pull "Mao out of the hands of the USSR" the way Vivek claimed. The China-Soviet split pre-dates the Nixon administration by over a decade. The USSR and China even fought a small border war against each other in 1969.

Ramaswamy has a pitiful understanding of the world. Like Elon Musk, most of his knowledge of geopolitical history seems to come from memes and dubious social media posts. Tech billionaires are among the most ignorant people on the planet outside of their narrow fields.

[cultistsonly]

if the one trans person in The Diplomat got exploded I’m gonna be so pissed

[brostateexam]

The Biggest Winner of the Gas Stove Fight Is Induction Ranges

Just weeks before, Richard Trumka Jr., one of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s five members, ignited a national frenzy with his stark warning to a Bloomberg News reporter that the humble gas stove—a central feature of some 40% of US kitchens—poses a serious health risk, especially to children, and might therefore be a candidate for government regulation. “Any option is on the table,” he declared. “Products that can’t be made safe can be banned.”

Within hours of the interview’s publication, a new culture war was under way. Republican Representative Ronny Jackson of Texas dared someone to pry his stove from his “cold dead hands,” while fellow Republican Representative Jim Jordan of Ohio found traction with the pithier “God. Guns. Gas stoves.” Even as some liberals were laughing off the right-wing panic about jackbooted “gastapo,” others no doubt quietly fretted that their gleaming culinary flamethrower from Viking or Wolf was about to become next year’s bloated monument to conspicuous consumption.

The outrage cycle was sufficient to prompt an immediate diplomatic walk-back by the head of the CPSC and another by the White House. Over the following weeks, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis leaped into the fray, proposing a permanent tax deduction for gas appliances. (Never mind that the vast majority of Floridians don’t have access to residential gas.) And on the same day, Republican Senator Ted Cruz of Texas and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia introduced a bill called the Gas Stove Protection and Freedom Act, which aims to bar the CPSC from implementing any rule that would so much as “substantially increase the average price” of a gas stove.

If the move to exempt a single category of home appliances from federal safety oversight seems drastic, it nonetheless carries a certain visceral appeal. “There’s this kind of understandable knee-jerk reaction, like ‘Oh, what now?’ ” concedes Matt Casale, director of environment campaigns for US Public Interest Research Group (US PIRG).

[disneymbti]

Have you done big three for the loud house if you haven’t can I see one with Lincoln Ronnie Anne and Clyde

Hi there, sweetie! I really hope you like this a lot!

Lincoln Loud's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: INFJ [The Advocate]

Introverted INFJs exhaust quickly around people and recharge by spending time by themselves.

They tend to overlook small details and instead focus on the entire perspective. They love to see how everything connects together.

Advocates prioritize their emotions. They tend to base decisions on what they feel is right rather than what might be logically sound, making them very empathetic.

They are also very structured and organized. INFJs like to plan ahead and follow processes and schedules.

Big Three: Cancer Sun, Virgo Moon and Gemini Rising

Cancer Sun: Ruled by the Moon, Cancers are emotionally mature, intuitive, sensitive, and artistic. They are guided by their tender, loving, and protective hearts.

Virgo Moon: Virgo Moons use their calm nature to gain deep clarity on matters, filtering questions through their kind, but reasonable, lens.

Gemini Rising: Gemini risings are quick-witted and fast communicators, always looking for unique ways to express themselves. 

Enneagram Type: 1w2 [The Activist]

Basic Fear: People who are type one with a two wing generally have a basic fear of being immoral and making impure choices. They avoid this by making a conscious effort to make ethical choices.

Basic Desire: They also have a natural desire to be upstanding and humane. They try to fight for the rights of those less fortunate and love being hands-on in making a difference by volunteering in their community.

Activists tend to respond to negativity by redirecting their emotions in order to gain a sense of control. In type ones with two wings, this may lead to sudden outbursts or breaking points, as they work through their emotions more externally.

Ronnie Anne Santiago's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ISFP [The Adventurer]

ISFP types need plenty of personal space. Though they enjoy building connections with people, they need alone time to think and recharge.

They are very observant, especially focusing on the details more than the overall view. They live in the present and tend to base decisions on what they can see right now.

Adventurers also prioritize emotion when making decisions. They prefer to follow what feels right.

They don’t like schedules, but instead prefer to keep their options open. They are adaptable, spontaneous, and like to challenge the need for strict rules.

Big Three: Aries Sun, Scorpio Moon and Cancer Rising

Aries Sun: The first sign of the zodiac, Aries is ruled by action planet Mars. When placed as the sun sign, the ram can motivate themselves to face on fears and blow past hesitation.

Scorpio Moon: Scorpio Moons are known for their brooding nature that exudes passion. Once you win them over, they are loyal and unconditional in matters of love.

Cancer Rising: Cancer ascendants tend to wear their hearts on their sleeves and take care of those they love.

Enneagram Type: 8w9 [The Diplomat]

Basic Fear: Eights with a nine wing fear being hurt by others. They avoid situations in which they have less control, generally preferring to be in positions of leadership.

Basic Desire: Their basic desire is to guard themselves against threats and control their own destiny. They may express this by asserting independence at a young age.

Diplomats defend themselves by building emotional walls and denying vulnerability. They seek to appear strong, subconsciously believing that being too emotional will make them seem weak.

Clyde McBride's MBTI Type, Big Three and Enneagram Type

MBTI Type: ISFJ [The Defender]

ISFJ types need time alone to re-energize. They are self-sufficient and independent thinkers.

They are very observant and prefer to focus on the details of every situation. They listen to and follow past experience and present understandings.

Defenders prioritize the emotional needs of others. They make decisions based on what feels right, rather than what might make most logical sense.

They also prefer structure and organization, tending to follow rules and processes to an end goal. They are responsible and have a strong work ethic.

Big Three: Gemini Sun, Pisces Moon and Virgo Rising

Gemini Sun: Geminis are chatty and talkative, priding themselves on being in-the-know when it comes to news and gossip. Their dualistic nature allows them to see situations from a number of perspectives.

Pisces Moon: Pisces Moons are hyper-attuned to the needs and emotions of others. They're likely to predict what's on your mind before you even say it.

Virgo Rising: Virgo ascendants are the fact-finders and checkers of the zodiac. They are fair-minded and slow to anger.

Enneagram Type: 6w5 [The Guardian]

Basic Fear: Sixes with five wings are afraid of losing their guidance and stability. This is often expressed through their skepticism of the world.

Basic Desire: They have a strong desire for security, which they tend to show by protecting themselves and others. They seek close and stable relationships.

Guardians tend to defend themselves by projecting their own feelings onto others, which can often enhance their distrust of the world.

[vxctorx]

@ronmanmob

"Margaret, our guest Mr. Kray informed me last night that he was to leave on an urgent matter. Have you seen to his rooms yet?" Such is how, whilst preparing himself with his morning cup of tea for another day of socialising with his guests, Lord Trevor diplomatically inquires whether Ronnie Kray has left his premises as they had agreed after their late night argument. "Yes, Sir, I tidied them early this morning." The maid in question answers, and the master of the manor murmurs his satisfied approval.

"Good morning, father! Have you seen Victor?" Annabelle chirps delightfully as she all but capers into her father's office.

The maid's glance flits from the young lady of the house back towards her master, and her mannerisms grow all the more hesitant with unease. "That's what I wanted to tell you, Sir. When I went to bring the young master his morning cup of tea, I noticed that he wasn't in his rooms, and his bed hadn't been slept in, which was highly unusual, and...when I looked around, I noticed that...his belongings were gone."

"What?" Lord Trevor all but sputters after a moment's shock, and Annabelle's smile begins to wane. "Father? Where is Victor?"

As seconds slip by in silence and a scenario of imminent doom is built within Lord Trevor's mind, the atmosphere of the room grows deadly. "I'll tell you where he is. He's at that blasted inn with his gangster." He finally seethes from between gritted teeth, and springs onto his feet in an ungovernable explosion of rage seldom displayed. "Thieves and scoundrels! Thieves and scoundrels!" His voice, which had hitherto never been raised, now reverberates through the hallways as he marches out of his office and down the grand stairway, leaving Annabelle in a stupified daze.

"Father? Father, what is going on?" She demands as she comes to her senses and begins to trail after the other in hurried steps. Lord Trevor calls for his driver to get his car ready in a sharp tone, before turning towards his daughter with an expression which she does not recognise upon his face; she had never known her father's normally restrained features were capable of being this animated. "You knew about this, didn't you? I know the two of you talk!"

"I don't know anything, I swear!" The young girl pleads as the other walks away from her once more, and it is in that chilling moment that she realises he is headed directly for the gun room.

Her panicked steps echo across the wooden floorboards as she all but runs towards her mother's rooms. "Mother, please do something! He's gone quite mad!" It is with this statement that she manages to convince Evelyn to go with her.

When she enters the gun room, her husband is busy loading a hunting rifle with somewhat wild motions. "Finally, there's the man I used to love." She dryly quips.

"You have just as much of a hand in this, you know." He readily retorts in a bitter voice that tastes of resentment.

"He is your son, too."

"Well, I wasn't the one to teach him the virtues of promiscuity."

"How dare you? I have half a mind to leave you here in your self-made misery." Her tiredly cold tone resembles one that would be best reserved for an impretinent child. "Let him go. So long as he is happy, what else matters?"

Seemingly done with preparing his weapon, Lord Trevor finally turns to face her. "Oh, yes! A great deal of happiness will a dishonourable life bring him!"

"Were we ever happy, Alastair? What has a respectable life gotten us?" Perhaps it is her oddly soothing voice amidst his maddened outburst, or the tang of sympathy in her jade-coloured eyes, which causes him to crumble. His shoulders grow limp with defeat, and as his gun-wielding arm is lowered, for the first time since he was a child, Alastair falls into tears.

"Oh, darling." Evelyn's bejeweled hands bring her husband into her estranged yet somehow still familiar embrace, and together they mourn.

[ladyaislinn]

The Diplomat Season 2 Updates: Cast, Story & Everything We Know

The Diplomat update #5

Keri Russell stars in the Netflix political thriller The Diplomat and the end of the premiere season sets up a season 2. Will it happen?

The finale of The Diplomat ends with a car explosion and a few possible victims. This moment is the only time any characters in the show have been in danger of being removed from the cast. Hal, Stuart Heyford the Deputy chief of mission (Ato Essandoh), and Ronnie (Jess Chanliau) are caught in the explosion before the credits role. Hal and Stuart are probably too important to the story for their characters to be removed, particularly Hal for his turbulent marriage with Kate, and so should return in season 2.

Debora Cahn knew that Keri Russell would punch Rufus Sewell in the face. Russell and Sewell knew they didn’t need stunt doubles to pull it off. Sewell remembers his costar asking him, “Should I just punch the fucking living shit out of you?” And Russell fondly recalls director Andrew Bernstein’s seal of approval: “Yeah, let’s do this.”

How Keri Russell Decided to “Punch the Living Shit” Out of Rufus Sewell | Vanity Fair

“With certain people, you don’t have to try or figure anything out, and I don’t have to figure anything out with Rufus,” Russell says. As Sewell remembers the filming of the scene, “We did it from scratch over and over and over again, so many times, and every time it was a living and slightly dangerous thing.” Sewell calls it a “scary scene,” meanwhile—one in which he played Hal’s fighting for Kate’s continued belief in him, for their ability to move forward together amid the great dysfunction around them. (As the scene consistently shows, security guards loom on the other side of the garden, uncomfortably watching this very private moment.) Kate slowly winds him up, goading him into confessing his deception, which he tries helplessly to explain. “That’s his position,” Sewell says. “That’s what’s hilarious about it, because he fucking means it. He does!”

[koi-is-a-lovefish]

Know what I acquired along Ronnie's raw closing this wasn't an overnight nation not impatient for their parliamentary bullshit from last week close at all

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