#thank u for this prompt and also check out this poem

[simmyfrobby]

post for a hockey of your choice, please! i just want to see a nice poem 🫶🏻

— War of the Foxes, Richard Siken

[blossom-hwa]

(IM GOING TO EAT MY TOES THIS IS MY THIRD ATTEMPT TO SEND AN ASK PLS DISREGARD THE FRUSTRATION)

anw 5 years of slaying and EVEN JOINING A WRITING CAMP IM SO HAPPY AND PROUD FOR YOU YOU ABSOLUTE DEVIL (teary-eyed emoji but the one with a fond smile) !!!!!!

i'm gonna have to ask for some skater san and writer mc shenanigans please :'))) preferably with their cat please please love u lina please never stop giving me excuses to enable you 💖

CHAIIIIIIIIII FIRST OF ALL PLEASE DON’T EAT YOUR TOES IT WILL ALL BE OKAY SKDJH BUT ALSO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS LIKE LEGITIMATELY HALF THE SHIT ON THIS BLOG WOULDN’T EXIST WITHOUT YOU BEING MY ENABLER/RUBBER-DUCK-THAT-I-SCREAM-ABOUT-IDEAS-WITH SO. I ADORE YOU I LOVE YOU THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

5 year anniversary drabble game: send me a Stray Kids/TXT/Golden Child/Ateez/The Boyz member + a prompt (check out the post for ideas) and I’ll write a drabble for you!

(not as much cat antics as I’d like in here chai I'm so sorry but it came out like this and... well. I’ll leave you to read it for yourself :D)

REQUESTS OPEN!!

~

Title: Words For You

Pairing: San x gender neutral!reader

Word count: 1.3k

Warnings: n/a

~

One of San’s favorite things to do is watch you read. Not the whole time, because it can get quite boring (akin to the time he watched paint dry on a wall for over an hour), but the air seems to... shift, somehow, when you get to a climax or a twist. If he’s awake in the room, he’ll automatically turn to find you fixated on the book in your hand, eyes burning wide with a ferocious intensity that both scares him, slightly, and lures him in. 

He doesn’t interrupt you, of course. That would be signing his death warrant. But when he starts to pick up on it, he starts reading your books himself, trying to figure out what exactly has captured your attention so readily. Sometimes he finds what he’s looking for. Other times he has no idea what the fuck he’s reading. But as he flips page after page of the many volumes on your crowded bookshelves, he finds he doesn’t mind all that much. Because these books are a window, of sorts, into your beautiful mind. 

Three nights after the fight, two nights after you made up, you’re dishing up dinner in the kitchen while San sets two places at the table (”No, San, the cats don’t count as kids, you shouldn’t let them around when we eat, and you absolutely should not set places for them either -”). He helps you bring over the few plates and bowls, and when they’re safely settled on the table, you begin to eat. 

There’s silence for a while, but it’s comfortable. Unstrained, devoid of tension. San busies himself with the noodles in his bowl - he’s hungry - until he looks up to see you staring at him. 

Suddenly self-conscious, he swallows a last noodle. “Do I have something on my face?”

You shake your head. “No.”

San blinks. “Then... what?”

For a moment, uncertainty passes through your eyes. A thin line of tension threads through the silence as San waits for you to say something, anything to explain your stare and the reason you, usually so confident and bright and bold in your language, now look so unsure of your words. 

Then Trash Bag hops onto one of the unused chairs. She noses at the table, coming dangerously close to one of the dishes, and you snap out of whatever daze you were in to put her back down. When you come back up, your eyes look warm again. Certain. Or at the very least determined.

“I didn’t know you liked Anne Carson.”

Anne Carson? San furrows his eyebrows. The name sounds familiar, but he’s not quite sure where he remembers it from...

“I’ll take care of you,” you quote quietly.

Oh. Oh. 

“It’s rotten work,” he replies, just as quiet. 

Your eyes don’t leave his as you complete the line. 

“Not to me. Not if it’s you.”

He remembers, now. The translations of the Greek poems and plays that sat on your shelves, books you held with such care despite their well-worn covers, pages you marked with script-like annotations and coded with multicolored tabs. He remembers picking up If Not, Winter a month or so ago and feeling so transfixed by the softness Caron injected into Sappho’s poetry that when he was finished, he pulled Euripides from your shelf to read on the flight to his next skating competition, where he found your quote. 

The same quote he finished for you when you were a crying, laughing haze on the couch two nights ago, the quote that dispersed the smoke clouding your eyes and made you whole in his arms once more. 

“I saw you reading If Not, Winter a while back,” he admits, pushing his empty bowl away. “The title was interesting and you looked so transfixed by it that I thought I should try it. I liked it, so I read Euripides next.”

You lean forward, eyes shining. “How did you like that?”

“Not as much as Sappho,” he admits, which makes you laugh. “But one or two quotes stuck with me.”

You’re both finished eating so you push the dishes away, letting Byeol climb onto your lap. A short silence follows his words as you idly scratch between her ears. 

“I don’t care much for Greek plays,” you eventually say. “For a long time, I only liked Sappho. But one of my mentors in college recommended that I come back to them at some point and see if I could find something new.” You shrug. “And I did. I found that.”

San watches you put Byeol carefully down on the floor, then walk around the table towards him. He knows you well enough to stand, to hold open his arms just before you crash into him, your own arms wrapping around his waist. 

“Thank you,” you murmur into his shirt. “Thank you for dealing with me.”

His hand automatically finds its way to your head, patting softly as you breathe into his chest. “It’s not dealing with you,” he murmurs. “It’s loving you for your strengths and your flaws, for the human being you are to me.”

(When San’s birthday rolls around, after the requisite party where Wooyoung sets of three confetti poppers and San bemoans the mess he’ll have to clean up afterwards, you present him with a small rectangular package. 

He looks at the cheerful wrapping paper printed with smiling cats. “You already gave me a gift.” He’s wearing it now, a designer shirt he’d been eyeing for months but could never find an excuse to actually buy. 

“It’s another one.” You take a deep breath, almost like you’re nervous, but your eyes sparkle. “If anything, it’s like a gift for both you and me.”

Slowly, he unwraps the paper, taking care not to tear it as he picks apart the tape. Two books emerge from the wrappings. The top one he recognizes immediately. The cover is the same as one on your shelf, though this one looks brand new. 

Well, almost brand new. San frowns. A small pencil mark has smudged the corner of the white cover, and the pages...

San sneaks a glance at you. Well, there must be a reason you decided to gift him another copy of If Not, Winter, if you already own one. 

He leafs through the book, and immediately it becomes clear that it is not, in fact, brand new. 

Because - you’ve annotated it. Filled the margins with your crisp handwriting, underlined phrases in light pencil. Things you already loved, things you just noticed, things that reminded you of him...

He looks at the next book before he can start to cry. This is one he doesn’t recognize - Plainwater: Essays and Poetry. But he does recognize the author. 

Anne Carson. 

“I haven’t read it yet,” you say quietly. San looks up to see you holding out a second copy of the very same book. “Sappho was... it was for you. I know she loved women, but I love you, and some of the things she writes... I wanted you to know that they made me think of you.” You swallow. “But I thought we could read Plainwater together, since I haven’t read it and I don’t think you have either, and you said before you wanted to read some more so -”

San hugs you to him, cutting off your rambling speech. Your copy of Plainwater is stuck between you and his books are probably pressing into your back, but he can’t find it in him to let go.

“... San?”

This time, he can’t stop the tears. But he doesn’t try, really, just as he doesn’t try to slow the smile curving across his lips. 

“Thank you,” he whispers, feeling you finally melt into his touch. “Thank you so, so much.”)

[underthewingsofthblackeagle]

“Panorama Helsinki / Finland - Dom und Parlamentsplatz“ by  tap5a  

“We only do this for Fergus!” is a short Outlander Fan Fiction story and my contribution to the Outlander Prompt Exchange (Prompt 3: Fake Relationship AU: Jamie Fraser wants to formally adopt his foster son Fergus, but his application will probably not be approved… unless he is married and/or in a committed relationship. Enter one Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp (Randall?) to this story) @outlanderpromptexchange

Chapter 6: Absence. The state of not being physically present (2)

           When Claire turned around, she looked into the face of Mrs. Curtius.

           "Claire, I understand that you are queasy about this task. I know how much Mr. Fraser loves his son and ... now you have the responsibility for Fergus. It's not easy. But I assure you, we will support you in everything."

           The housekeeper gently put her arms around Claire and huged her.

           When they had disengaged from each other again, Claire replied:

           "You're right. It's like he put a 100-carat-diamond in my arm and said, 'Take good care of it!" However, this little diamond is very much alive and not always controllable ..."

           Mrs. Curtius smiled.

           "That's very much to the point. Believe me, the last time I had to watch him, I didn't breathe a sigh of relief either until Mr. Fraser came back."

           The two women looked at each other for a moment, smiling. Then Mrs. Curtius continued:

           "Will you come with me to the kitchen? I have to prepare breakfast for the security people, and if you'd like, you can join me for a cup of coffee?"

“Kitchen” by shadowfirearts

           Claire nodded and followed the housekeeper. She had been living in the house for a few months, but until now she had never had a chance to talk to the housekeeper in a quiet and detailed way. Shortly thereafter, she sat on one of the raised counter stools at the kitchen counter in front of a steaming cup of coffee, watching Mrs. Curtius prepare huge portions of scrambled eggs and fried ham in large cast-iron pans. It looked as if the housekeeper had never done anything else, so easy seemed her work. She was a joy to watch and Claire suddenly wished she had similar skills. She followed the individual steps with interest, noting also how easy it seemed for the housekeeper to carry on a conversation on the side.

           Claire had already emptied her second cup of coffee when, at 6:40 am, the alarm on her smartphone reminded her that she had to wake Fergus in twenty minutes. She thanked Mrs. Curtius, then set the dining room table for Fergus and herself.

           The day went almost exactly as she had expected. After breakfast, she took Fergus to school, accompanied by two bodyguards. Afterwards, she lay down again to catch up on some lost sleep. Around noon, she picked up the boy from school, again accompanied by two bodyguards.

           At lunch with Fergus, she watched him closely. But the little curly-haired boy was bright and chipper as ever. After a short break, they set about doing his homework together. An hour later, Claire noticed his concentration waning. She suggested they take a nap now. When they got to Fraser's apartment, she showed the boy that she had set up in the guest room for herself and that if he woke up during the night, he would find her there.

           "Where's Papa today?" asked Fergus, to Claire's surprise.

           "Today and tomorrow your Papa is in Iceland. He should have arrived by now, he may even be in his first meeting. But we'll find out when he calls us tonight."

“Island - Green Rush” by KarinKarin

           "Are you taking a nap too, Claire?"

           "No, or I won't be able to sleep tonight. I'm going to sit here in the living room and read some more. And when I wake you up, we can play a game together."

           "What kind of game?"

           "It's a surprise."

           Fergus gave her a slightly annoyed look and rolled his eyes.

           "Ooch Claire!"

           "No way! There are two surprises today. But not until there's time."

           A little reluctantly, Fergus crawled into his bed. Claire handed him the little beige bear that Jamie had purchased at a Swedish furniture store and brought back for the boy from his last business trip. Clearly, "Stuffy" had become Fergus's favorite stuffed animal. Claire closed the window blinds. Then she stroked Fergus's hair once more.

          "Sleep now. You still have a lot of growing to do. That's sometimes exhausting and you need time to rest every now and then. I'll wake you up later and after tea we'll play. I promise."

          Quietly she closed the door of Fergus' room. When she reached the hallway, she stood indecisive for a moment. Then she checked the door to the stairs again. It was locked. Good, she wouldn't have to worry about that anymore. Claire decided to take a little tour of the rooms on Fraser's floor. To the right of Fergus' room was the library, which also served as Fraser's study. From Fergu's room and from the library, one could access a narrow balcony on the south side of the house. But this balcony was very rarely used. A window also led out to the garden from the side of the room used as a library.

“Library” by moritz320

          Claire closed the door behind her. On the left side of the hallway now followed the door to the stairs and then an open space  - open to the hallway with a window facing the west side of the house. She stopped for a moment and looked at it. I wonder what it was for? What reason had there been for not providing another room here? She took a few steps to the window. From there she could look down to the street in front of the house. Once again she looked around. What sense this free space should have, she did not understand, but she took it upon herself to ask Jamie about it. On the right side now followed Fraser's private living room, which was also called the 'fireplace room'. She passed it and reached the door to the guest room on the left, where she had made herself comfortable for the time of Fraser's absence.           Then she stood in front of Fraser's bedroom. She looked for the matching key on the key ring he had given her, opened the door and turned on the light. What Claire saw next amazed her. While most of the rest of the house was modern and decorated in bright colors, she now had the impression of having entered a museum. The focal point of the room was a four-poster bed made of dark wood. The bed was the size of a marriage bed and clearly came from another century. She estimated that it dated from the beginning or middle of the 18th century. Two antique chairs stood in front of a large window whose view led out into the garden. To the right, Claire spotted a table with a mirror that was clearly the forerunner of what was called a 'dressing table' in the present time. On the opposite wall was a narrow, tall chest of drawers, richly carved. At the foot of the bed had been placed a chest whose iron fittings indicated that it was much older than any of the other pieces of furniture. Claire ran her hands over the wood and over the hardware. From its shape and texture, the chest appeared to be at least one hundred years older than everything elese in this room. All of the furnishings were crafted of dark wood. The only other color in the room was blue. This was the color of the wallpaper, as well as the bedding. As Claire looked more closely at the wallpaper, she realized that it only gave the impression of being as old as the furniture. A layman would certainly not have noticed the difference, but Claire had spent too much time at her Uncle Lambert's side, and as the niece of the noted Oxford historian, she noticed the difference immediately. This wallpaper was a very accurate reproduction of a wall painting that was at least two to three centuries old. But why did a man of Fraser's age have wallpaper made that showed such a wall painting? Was he desperate for wallpaper that matched the antique furniture in his bedroom? And why had he furnished his bedroom with furniture of this type in the first place? Slowly, she walked around the large bed until she came to a stop in front of the nightstand on the side where Fraser was obviously sleeping. Next to a bedside lamp, which was of more recent date but also in antique style, was a book. On the dark blue cover was written in white letters "The Complete Poems of John Donne." Without thinking further, she reached for the book and was about to open it. Then she saw that there was a bookmark sticking out of the top of the book. She opened the book at that point and read:

That Time and Absence proves Rather helps than hurts to loves

ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation            

   Against thy strength,            

   Distance and length:            

Do what thou canst for alteration,        

   For hearts of truest mettle          

   Absence doth join and Time doth settle.    

Who loves a mistress of such quality,            

   His mind hath found            

   Affection's ground    

Beyond time, place, and all mortality.  

   To hearts that cannot vary  

   Absence is present, Time doth tarry.          

My senses want their outward motion            

   Which now within    

   Reason doth win,      

Redoubled by her secret notion:        

   Like rich men that take pleasure    

   In hiding more than handling treasure.        

By Absence this good means I gain,  

   That I can catch her              

   Where none can watch her,            

In some close corner of my brain:      

   There I embrace and kiss her,        

   And so enjoy her and none miss her.

 That Time and Absence proves

Rather helps than hurts to loves

ABSENCE, hear thou my protestation            

   Against thy strength,            

   Distance and length:            

Do what thou canst for alteration,        

   For hearts of truest mettle          

   Absence doth join and Time doth settle.    

Who loves a mistress of such quality,            

   His mind hath found            

   Affection's ground    

Beyond time, place, and all mortality.  

   To hearts that cannot vary  

   Absence is present, Time doth tarry.          

My senses want their outward motion            

   Which now within    

   Reason doth win,      

Redoubled by her secret notion:        

   Like rich men that take pleasure    

   In hiding more than handling treasure.        

By Absence this good means I gain,  

   That I can catch her              

   Where none can watch her,            

In some close corner of my brain:      

   There I embrace and kiss her,        

   And so enjoy her and none miss her.

           In the second paragraph, all the lines had been underlined with a pencil. Once again, she quietly read the entire poem. It was not unfamiliar to her. Her uncle had owned a complete edition of John Donne's works. But it did surprise her a little to find such a book on James Fraser's bedside table. And why had he underlined that verse? Was there a woman in Fraser's life after all? Claire took a deep breath, then closed the book and put it back the way she had found it. Once again she looked over the bed. Then she carefully stroked the covers and looked around. A door contrary to the bed led from Fraser's bedroom into his bathroom. Claire looked through the open door, but did not enter. This room too, was held in blue and withe. She left the room, locking the door behind her.

           When it was time for tea and she went to wake Fergus, she found the boy playing in his bed.

           "Do I get my surprise now?" asked Fergus firmly.

           "Now first there's cocoa for you, tea me, and fresh sandwiches for both of us."

           "Oh yes!"

           A moment later, when hunger and thirst were satisfied, Claire removed a box from a burlap bag.

“A game of Settlers of Catan” by Yonghokim - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=77327301

           "What's this?"

           "It's a game, it's called 'The Settlers of Catan' and there are many versions of it. This is the edition that fits your age and look what this is on the box."

           "It's a parrot. He's wearing a pirate tricorn and he's got a map in his claws."

           "You did a good job of recognizing that," Claire praised the bright boy.

           "Yes, I know parrots from the zoo. In Dresden. I've been there with Papa. The zoo is huuuuuuge!"

           Fergus stretched his little arms as far apart as he could - to make it clear to Claire that the zoo was really ‘huuuuge’.

           Claire nodded with a smile. Then she unpacked the game and explained the rules to Fergus.

           After 40 minutes, they had finished the first round of the game.

           "Well, shall we play another round?"

           "Do we have that much time? When is Papa going to call?"

           "Yes, we still have quite a bit of time. Your Papa can't call until after dinner, and before that there's another surprise for you."

           "Another surprise?"

           "Yes, but not until after dinner."

           Fergus rolled his eyes while Claire rearranged the game pieces.

           When they finished the second round as well, Claire let the boy play with his train set some more while she went into the kitchen to help Mrs. Curtius set the dinner table.

           After dinner and a shower afterwards, Claire took Fergus to his room.

           "Do I get my second surprise now?"

           "Yes, you little rascal, but you'll have to move aside to get it."

           Fergus made room and Claire sat down next to him on the bed. Together they sat leaning against the wall of the room when Claire pulled out her tablet and asked:

           "Do you know 'The Show with the Mouse,' Fergus?"

           "No, what is it?"

           "The mouse is a cartoon character and there are shows with the mouse for kids on TV."

           "No, I haven't seen that yet. Papa doesn't like me to watch too much TV. Are we going to watch a show like that now?"

“Children and The Mouse at the WDR broadcasting studio” at the launch of the first podcast episode -  Von Superbass - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84390983 Source: Von Superbass - Eigenes Werk, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84390983

           "No, but the mouse also has a podcast for some time, a kind of radio show, and that's where the mouse tells goodnight stories."

           "Oh really?"

           "Yes, and tonight and every night as long as your Papa is on his business trip, we'll listen to one of those good night stories."

           "Aren't you going to read to me from our book?"

           "No, we'll do that when your Papa gets back. Otherwise he'll miss so much, won't he?"

           Fergus nodded in agreement, then asked:

           "What story are we going to hear tonight?"

           Claire tapped on her tablet and the page 'Goodnight with the Mouse' came up. She pointed to it and read aloud:

           "Today we're going to listen to a program about trees - with forest workers at work, a tree in the rainforest, and, of course, the mouse. Are you ready?"

           Fergus nodded and Claire pressed the button.

             The last chords of the podcast's closing music had just faded away when that familiar sound announcing an incoming video call was heard.

           "Papa! It's Papa for sure!" exclaimed Fergus excitedly.

           Claire opened the app and moments later Jamie appeared on the screen. He too smiled when he saw Fergus and Claire. Fergus waved enthusiastically and Jamie waved back.

           "How are you, Papa," Fergus asked.

           "I'm fine and how are you?"

           A stream of information immediately poured out of Fergus' mouth, starting with today's experiences at school, to the new game he had tried with Claire, to of course listening to 'The Show with the Mouse' together, from which he had learned many new things about trees.

           Jamie followed his son's report with great interest. He wanted to ask something, but before he could, he was bombarded with questions by the boy. Witty, but at the same time careful and descriptive, Fraser tried to answer his son's questions.

           Twenty minutes later they said goodbye to each other and Fraser promised, if he had the chance, to call again the next evening.

           Claire wrapped Fergus in his bedclothes, stroked his hair, and gave him a light kiss on the forehead.

           "Sleep well, Fergus. If anything is, you know I'll either be in your father's living room or the guest room. There's a bottle of water next to your bed and I'll leave that little string of lights on."

           "Hmmm."

           "Good; I'll see you in the morning then."

           Claire turned to go.

           "See you in the morning. ... Claire?"

           "Yes, Fergus?"

           "Thank you for the nice day."

           Once again, Claire walked back. Smiling, she looked at the child and stroked his head once more.

           "I was happy to do that for you."

           Then she left, closing the door behind her. She stood listening for a moment longer, but all remained quiet in Fergus' room. Claire looked down the hall, considering for a moment how to spend the rest of the evening. Then she made the decision to sit and read in Fraser's living room for a while longer. When she entered the room, it was still warm, although there were only embers glowing in the fireplace. Claire glanced at the small round side table that stood near the small seating area in front of the fireplace and held a selection of Fraser's whiskeys. It was tempting to help herself to it, and Fraser wouldn't have minded, she knew. But the responsibility she bore for Fraser's son held her back. Claire had just sat down in one of the armchairs in front of the fireplace when the tablet she was still holding reported the arrival of another skype call. She opened the app, and to her surprise, Jamie appeared on the screen.

[littleteatimestories]

writing prompt 101 with MTMTE Megatron please? Bonus if the reader is the one saying "you're tolerable". Thank u!

(Image Source: TF Wiki)

Prompt: @ourwritingprompts’s #101 “I love you.” “You’re tolerable.” || Pairing: With MTMTE Megatron ||| As requested by a mysterious Anon

A/N: Hey, guyths!!! Long time no see, right? I’m so sorry for not being able to update anything. I got really busy with work and I always ended up watching TV series during my free time. But, here it is! Another request fulfilled and updated! Finally, I’ve actually done something! So, as you can all read, this is a drabble prompt about MTMTE Megsy and I really hope that the dear anon (whoever you are, if you’re still out there) will be able to like this. I’m proud to say that the poem y’all going to encounter was inspired by William Shakespeare’s Sonnet 29. Anyone familiar about this will probably recognize that I borrowed one of the playwright’s lines in there. Anyway, enjoy this one and if you want a prompt request, make sure to check this 🔖 first before making any attempts. Godspeed!

-

Budget meeting… How boring… You yawned practically for the fourth time now, trying to focus your attention on the different graphs displayed on the screen. The words were Cybetronian, but thanks to Brainstorm, you were given hi-tech glasses where the foreign words were automatically translated to your native language.

Ultra Magnus was still blabbering. You already wanted to end this, but knowing him, he can get pretty long. You already saw Rodimus playing with his datapad since you can see his tongue (whatever the Cybertronian equivalent term for that is) sticking out to which your TIC was completely ignoring. You turned your attention to your SIC, Megatron, who was diligently listening to the report. Well, good for him because as the selected liaison of Earth, you were tasked to keep an eye on him (and the rest of the Lost Light crew as well). You were like keeping the diplomatic relations between the ex-warlord and the crew (and also making sure that he’s not going to plan on invading Earth again). So far, it seemed everything’s fine.

You puffed out a breath and kept on wishing that this meeting would be over soon.

***

Megatron kept shifting his attention between Ultra Magnus’s report and to you. Actually, he mostly focuses on you when you were not looking at him. It had been six months since you came on board of the Lost Light. To admit that it was love at first sight that pulled his attentiveness towards you was an understatement; too cliché even. But, that was the truth. His brain module was like malfunctioning crazily just the thought of you.

If you think he was taking notes of Ultra Magnus’s report in his datapad, believe it or not, he was actually composing a poem; a love poem, to be exact. He had been arranging this for a while now and edited and repeated it many times. At first, he wanted to constitute the idea of your beauty. However, it turned foreboding that he had to entirely make another one. He tried again and it was still perturbing. He can’t seem to shake the fact that he was and will always be the mass murderer who everyone would associate with.

That’s why he always had this feeling that he didn’t deserve to be loved; that he didn’t deserve to have your love especially because he tried to kill your planet.

***

I long for a different path or route

Though it seems that I can’t have that at all

For I look at myself, I curse my fate

For how I wish I can have your love–

‘No, no! Don’t ever put that!’ Megatron mused. He was once again back to square one. His previous poem was a disaster. It was like he was pining over you on it and it frustrated him. He didn’t want to long over you because he knew couldn’t have you. It was impossible, after all.

After the meeting, he went back to his habsuite quickly. He had to find more inspiration on how he could express his adoration without looking like he actually wanted you in his life (though he really wanted that). He grumbled. He didn’t even know why he had to stress over this when he can always tend to other things.

‘You know what, forget about this. It won’t matter-‘ His thoughts were interrupted when his habsuite doorbells rang. He knew immediately who it was since that doorbell was designed only for you so that they could open their large doors for you.

He ex-vented anxiously and tried to remain calm.

‘Everything’s going to be fine, Megatron,’ he told himself and pushed a button to open his door.

***

You waved at him with a smile. After the meeting, you thought he went to the bar. You searched for him, but didn’t catch sight of him. You were delayed a bit when Tailgate scooped you up in an embrace and cooed you to hang out with him and Cyclonus. You told him that you needed to check on Megatron, which you were returned with an, “Awww! But, (Y/n)…!” It was a good thing that Cyclonus saved you and dragged Tailgate away from you. You sighed in relief at that time.

“I didn’t see you at the bar so I came in here,” you said. “Just wanted to check up on you. Are you okay? I feel like you’re being a little distant or something.”

***

That surprised him. “No, no! Not at all! I was just…” He was looking for an excuse. “I… needed to summarize Ultra Magnus’s report. It was rather long and Rodimus needs a more simplistic explanation of it.” Finally, he found one.

Just gazing at your innocent expression, his brain module was being frantic again. How he come to love any expressions you give to him was out of context and yet, he came to adore those.

He waited for your answer.

***

You nodded your head slowly. “I see. So, I guess you’re busy then. But, do drop by at Swerve’s once you’re done. It’s not like everybody hates you now. They already know you’ve completely changed. And if some of them don’t, I’ll have to remind them.”

Megatron smiled sheepishly. “That’s very nice of you, (Y/n). Yes, I am aware that everyone, if not all, doesn’t hate me that much anymore. I’m just… busy at the moment.” He loathed to lie like this, but for some reasons, he had to.

He saw you beamed. “Okay. I’ll see you then.” He longingly watched you walk away from him. Unconsciously, his lip plate was reaching upwards even more.

‘I think I just found my inspiration.’

***

I long for a different path or route,

Though it seems that I can’t have that at all,

For I look at myself, I curse my fate,

Wishing to myself that there could be hope,

To desire to be everybody else,

Desiring this to have done something good,

With my past, I enjoy contented least;

Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,

I see your smile almost so radiating,

Like those clichéd romantic comedies,

Just thinking of you is enough for me

You amaze me every day of my life,

For your sweet love remembered such wealth brings,

That I scorn to think who I was before.

You read the poem over and over. It actually surprised you that he would do you a sonnet and that just warmed your heart. He didn’t say outright that “I love you”, but you got the idea that he couldn’t say it because he was afraid to say it. He feared his past as a murderer of billions of lives and thought he didn’t earn to have such caring feelings to anyone except for redemption. You knew he had come a long way and he proved to have really changed for the better.

You can’t say for certain if you could return his feelings, but, what the hell. He needs this and you’ll give it to him.

***

You were in an another meeting, this time, accident reports. Ultra Magnus is taking the lead again (because he couldn’t persuade Rodimus to do the reporting, for the life of him). As the boring reporting went on, you sent a message to Megatron.

***

Megatron’s datapad vibrated.

You have (1) message(s) from (Y/n).

As he was about to open it, another vibration occurred.

You have (2) message(s) from (Y/n).

He finally opened it.

(Y/n):

Thanks for that poem. You really didn’t have to do that. :)

“You’re tolerable” by the way

He replied,

What does that mean?

Not mere seconds later, there was an instant response.

(Y/n):

Uh… It means what it means. I felt the same

And from that moment, you were able to gaze at one another with huge smiles on your faces.

[millennial-star-gazer]

Grey Days( reuploadfrom dragon-shield-maiden account)

Grey Days

Vera's May Prompt Challenge 2018 Prompt(s)9when on dragon-shieldmaiden): "Don't leave me! (Sort of implied in an angsty sense of the word) Genres: Romance, Fantasy, Friendship/Family, Angst/Drama Hurt/Comfort, Tragedy(due to this being from Natsu's/E.N.D's Perspective), Gothic fiction, and Poetry

Characters: Natsu/E.N.D, Lucy , Gray, Diamara, Igneel and Zeref Pairing: Nalu/Endlu (Natsu x Lucy/ E.n.d Natsu x Lucy)

Rating: K+-T for some violence, references to death, mature and dark themes. Reader Discretion is advised for those younger than 12 or 13 years and/or anyone who may not at the level of development (maturity) to handle such heavy subject matter . Side note: Please use your own judgement and proceed with caution before deciding to read If uncertain as to whether you're comfortable with such themes.

Summary: Without his most precious star and father's light, the demon of hellfire is lost—all days perpetually gray. For the loss of his beloved really does drive the heart mad. A retelling of the events surrounding Natsu's/E.n.d's transformation (chapters 503-505) from his perspective in poem form. Title taken from the song of the same name by Chelsea Wolfe. Originally  For Vera's May Prompt Challenge and  Nalu angst week 2018 on previous accounts . Nalu/Endlu

A/N: Hey guys, it's your girl Millennial Stargazer (formerly known as twishadowhunter/ comsicdragonqizard/dragon-shield-maiden/star-crossed-dragon! I'm finally back under a new name (on fanfiction and tumblr as millennial-star-gazer) after months of forced hiatus due to personal extenuating circumstances (which can be explained via private message for those who already don't know why) This time it's an reupload of an installment in the wonderful universe of Fairytail—an angsty gothic little ditty retelling the events of chapters 503-505 and other related chapters mostly from Natsu/E.n.d's perspective which was originally as an entry for Vera's May Prompt Challenge and for Nalu angst week 2018 on my previous dragon-shield-maiden account (tumblr). As you may know, the title is taken from the evocative song of the same name by the lovely Chelsea Wolfe which has heavily inspired the poem.

Yes, I know there's been a lot of poems on my profiles, though I do also write other kinds of non-poetry works if my ongoing fics Tantric Flames and the Draconic Demon -soon to be reuploaded by the way- among others are anything to go by). Also partially by Within Temptation's The Heart of Everything plus the musical body of works from Peter Grundy (Bury My Heart) Brunuhville (River of Tears), Nights Amore (This Dreadful Emptiness , That Which is Called Void, Twisted Goa: Lone Deranger , and A Billion Stars Will Die Today) and Adrian Von Ziegler (Ashes, Twisted, Heaven's Touch, One, My Everything, Ethello-iel and Even in Death) who are all incredibly talented composers in their own right that you should check out! (The songs can be found by by clicking on the song titles or via google. Also see below for "Grey Days" if on Tumblr)

Anyway, I don't think y'all need me warning you that spoilers are present when it's already pretty apparent. Without further ado, here's the poem. Don't forget to let me know what you think by leaving a leaving comment/review. (Links to everything below, sidebar and bio if on tumblr plus Fanfiction profile). Enjoy!

Disclaimer: As you all know by now Fairytail does not belong to me, but the most honourable Hiro-sensei instead, for whom without this labour of love wouldn't be possible.

Read More Here:

1. Grey Days

A. Tumblr Version

B. Fanfiction (Click Here:) (or here:https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13112482/1/Grey-Days-Reupload-from-dragon-shield-maiden)

2.  The Rest  Of My Writing 

A.  Master Fic Rec Post(Click Here:) (or herehttps://millennial-star-gazer.tumblr.com/post/179665258923/master-fic-rec-post:) 

B.  Fanfiction  Profile (Click Here): (or here: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/11384058/)

More to follow.  Links can also be found in bio and  top blog parts (if on desktop)

"Grey and holy You said it was the first time Like the morphine You take it all away Pretend it's okay The grey days" (Chelsea Wolfe: Grey Days)

“A lifeless lover was the high mountains” Where we tried to reach the stars The moon, the ways beyond It was the purest love of all”

(Draconian: Pale Tortured Blue)

“If all else perished, 

and he remained, 

I should still continue to be;

 and if all else remained, 

and he were annihilated,

 the universe would turn to a mighty stranger

(Heathcliff: Wuthering Heights)

"Natsu!" The screams of his celestial maiden Oh how, they call to the dragon of fire through the darkness piercing the shadows of his subconscious Severing the ties that bind

His eyes open The Gods of Time themselves defied Damaria decimated in the blast Scorch and crimson stains through tattered remnants of fabric on skin All within the blink of an eye

Natsu's attempts to rouse the motionless angel in his arms fail when she does not stir Scarlet tears a ghastly sight No single heartbeat , nor breath of life he can hear Vital signs so pined for falls on deaf ears The perceived second loss of the brilliant star in his universe drives him over the edge enough to fully awaken the infernal power within

Flashes of the two's life together before the demon's very eyes River of tears flowing like cascading rain A grief-stricken kiss of on the zodiac wielder's forehead of farewell A piece of his soul here now dying right along with her Oh how the agony of her absence cuts right down to to the bone Soulmates , would-be lovers torn asunder The great divide all together just too much for the demon of black flames’ unholy, forlorn, heart to bear How could it not be when the iridescent light of a billion stars was blotted out from the midnight sky? Never to shine again

Oh, how the cursed fates are cruel

"Zeref, where is Zeref?" The name of the fire demon's accursed brother spilling from his lips over and like a non-nonsensical mantra as if he's a deranged mad man Onward the song of Igneel trudges Any with prying eyes from afar

may just see infernal darkness incarnate annihilate all

those who block his path fall at his feet in firey wake Driven by bloodthirsty instinct to obliterate the creator

Forward E.N.D marches on the hunt in search of his so-called dear brother Eye for an eye Tooth for tooth Raging thirst for the other's blood All in all vengeance apparent

The thought of meeting his inevitable demise just barely crosses the prince of hell's mind yet he cares not For without his the light of his father and  most dear  com he is lost, all days perpetually gray No tomorrow in sight Totality of his desolate existence an infinite void Devoid of meaning just the same

Reunited they all will at least be in the the golden fields of Avalon after his spirit departs

Just Lucy wait, Natsu tells himself in his arms she soon will be on the other side when he crosses the threshold Watching over those so precious together Instead of her buried along with his heart six feet underground Side by side at last Apart nevermore

A figure, there standing in the distance the son of Igneel finally catches a glimpse Is it the one he's been searching for? No, just the ice devil slayer himself Former brothers in arms , comrades in life Mortal foes now, team mates no longer Infernal hellfire and ice will clash A rift far too vast to mend Shattered remnants of a fraternal bond beyond repair All for naught Natsu's goal of sanguinary retribution clear Purging the world of the one who started it all Even it means cutting down almost any who stand in his way The loss of etherious's beloved really does drive the heart mad Delerium not overcome

Oh, but little does the demon know that his most

precious star lives

If only he could see how she still breathes Alive and well

Alas he does not

All is not lost

In the end, who alone will stop the volatile discord? Who alone will be brave enough to be up to the task? Oh, who alone will stop the clash?

Fic tag squad: @writer-appreciation  @nunnatheinsanegerbil @mautrino @rougescribe @goddesofimortality  @phoenix-before-the-flame  @nalufever  @petri808 @thecelestialchick  @nalu-natic

A/N: Hope you all enjoyed! Just a few housekeeping notes in terms of clarification and reminders.

1. "Scarlet Tears" is one of the literary metaphors used in poem alluding to the blood stains under Lucy's eyes after Diarma attempted to scratch them out-unsuccessfully I might add (Thank God lol). The whole bit about regarding the stars being blotted out overall symbolizes Natsu's/E.N'D grief who feels that the world—or his world at least— has become that much less brighter without one of his best friend's light. Not to mention his existence ceasing to have meaning in the wake of so much loss—especially just one year after Igneel's death. Yes, he loves and cares for his other friends a great deal—especially Happy-, but losing them (with a few exceptions like said cat ) isn't quite the same as losing Lucy to death— at least not to the point as being as soulcrushing. I am by no means trying to downplay how much he values others in life—just offering my take since naturally the loss of someone is only futher magnified based on the nature of the relationship and how close you were which is no different for our favourite dragonslayer. In the end, Natsu/e.n.d ultimately would much rather be with Lucy and Igneel in the afterlife watching over their other friends in the afterlife than be without the former in the realm of the living—once he's had a chance to destroy Zeref with his bare hands (most likely using fire and whatever else he has at his disposal—Natsu I mean.) Just so you know ?.

2. To anyone who were following my other works on previous accounts , The Draconic Demon Within is a semi-au Nalu/Endlu fic in which it follows the original timeline of events from the manga and anime up until chapter 478 or so where Natsu saves Lucy from certain death by intercepting Jacob's attack just in the nick of time. After his brutal defeat is where the plot of TDDW deviates. In this fic, the original Team Natsu(Natsu, Lucy, Happy) soon gets word that the Tartaros has remerged with resurrected members and forged an alliance with the Alvarez empire they've (save a few such as Brandish)— all while overthrowing Zeref in the process now that they've gained total independence.

Natsu and Lucy are then lured to Tartaro's new base of operations (in part because said dragonslayer wasn't about to let his girl go barging in alone what with her being one of the people he's most protective of for obvious reasons and all) where they subsequently learn from Tempester that his (Natsu's) life is no longer tied to his brothers —which comes as a shock to you know who that it was mind you—; all this before an incantation is recited from a particular tome to fully awaken the demonic aspect of Natsu's identity from within now that the seal is broken. Pretty sure you guys know the rest for which the rest of the plot unfold as more chapters are posted. Just thought you guys should know in case anyone had any questions about the original timeline of the Fairytail series fits in with TDDW. I'll be sure to post this within the bottom A/N notes in the one chapters in the process of revison of said fic. Side note: I hope to start reposting while also uploading new chapters for both this fic, Tantric Flames and others in the works ASAP.

All right y'all, that's it for now. Be sure to let me you know what you think by leaving a review/comment and don't forget to give the rest of my writing a read once posted/. (Corresponding links above in this post, in sidebar and bio if on tumblr. Also on my Fanfiction profile)! Many thanks once again to all who've been supporting me thus far (including my friends/mutuals, followers and readers)! Until next time—take care!

[rbtlvr]

a start to that johavi fic?

taz anon, i am not deserving of your ideas but i hope it’s ok if write about them! here’s a snippet i just wrote up on that johavi prompt that yes did make me tear up a little darn you taz anon. also this is not finished so it ends abruptly and the formatting is really weird sorry:

Time lost meaning when you were dead, it seemed. Coffee with Julia and Magnus every, what, six months? Or was it six days? Johann would always ask Kravitz the time when he passed through, watching the reaper flick through a few watches (each for a different plane) before he got the time, the date.. the decade. Lup sometimes showed up with new battle scars and crazy stories about Taako’s new business gigs, which always seemed to be changing, never stable. And she’d always return to her lich form, never staying too long. So most of Johann’s time was spent understanding these changes, composing pieces based on the world he watched below, through a blurry yet reflective sea of water. He saw Angus growing up, he saw Magnus growing old. He saw Magnus die some years ago, and as much as it hurt.. he was happy now. And Johann had a small house near Magnus and Julia’s place, so that was a plus. But the one change Johann the Bard never prepared himself to face was an 80 year wait. It was a wait so long that the knock and the news shook his pale, thin frame to the ground. The words from Kravitz’s own mouth as he passed through the plane, skeletal and dark, the news that Avi had passed on. That Avi, his Avi, was coming back to him. The past two minutes were a blur of tears, and of quick movement. Befofe the astral pool even opened, Johann was booking it. His violin was tucked under his left arm, and he could feel his heart pounding even in his right wrist. His legs never did move that fast in life, he never felt this alive when he was. But the water began to ripple, and his eyes sprouted new tears just the same. Halted in his tracks, the bard watched the portal start to glow as it once had for him, and for Magnus too. And there.. there he was. How simple it seemed. Avi, no longer old and brittle but as the man he once knew. Tumbling dark curls, thick eyebrows, his dark skin just as soft and freckled and.. he looked just as perfect. Johanns body moved without hesitation or meaning, but he ran forward and grabbed onto Avi for dear life, something so fragile yet beautiful. He cradled himself in the mechanic’s arms, sobbing out his name, and for once not trying to stop the floodgates. He felt those arms grip him back, felt tears that weren’t his own, heard his own name muttered like a prayer in Avi’s quiet voice. The two stood like that for what seemed like hours, no, months, until Johann finally spoke with his low and shaky voice: “Thank the gods you humans have short lives. I just..” He swallowed, wiping his eyes. “I just couldn’t wait any longer to see you again.” “Me either, me either.” Avi leaned down and caressed Johann’s cheek, his soft hand running circles into the bards back. “You’re so beautiful, Johann. God, babe, I.. I love you so much, I missed you so much, I-“ the mechanic began to list just as quickly as his tears fell. Yet he was was cut off by shaky hands and a firm tug, two pale and nimble hands pulling him down into an equally firm kiss. Johann began to run his hands up through Avi’s hair, while a pair of tanned hands found their way to the bard’s slender shoulders. The sound of a rosewood violin clattering to the floor rang barely audible, as they grabbed one another like a life raft, lips and tongues intertwining in some dance that seemed to never end. Each time one stopped to breath, another few words of love would fill in the gap. By the time they seemed done, by the time Avi was rocking with Johann gently in the embrace, another form came running up to them, much taller than both and with two dogs in tow. “Magnus..!” Avi began to cry again, not daring to let go of Johanns tender hand as he hugged his long lost friend. Magnus seemed to be tearing up too.. it always seemed that way at reunions. “Avi, it’s so good to see you again.” Magnus rested his calloused hands on the shorter man’s shoulders, his tired eyes sincere. “I told my wife all about-“ “You have a wife?” “Yeah.” Magnus smiled proudly. “My wife, Julia. I told her about you when I told her everything. And I’m still finding things to tell her. Avi, you made such an impression on everyone who came to the HQ, and- and Johann?” He turned “I’m so happy for you. Avi.. I can say for sure that since I got here, Johann hasn’t stopped loving you for a minute. He wrote songs and, and poems, and hymns.” Burnsides turned to the bard, smiling. “Johann kept your memory clear as day for me.” “That’s.. god, I..” Avi clasped a hand over his mouth, eyes tearing up as Johann nodded and slowly picked up the rosewood violin. His hands naturally formed a chord, he breathed deep. Avi watched his love play a few note tune that seemed familiar, far too familiar, and a wave seemed to crash as he remembered why. This song, this progression of chords had been in Avi’s dreams for decades. Without images, without words, just the singing of a violin that awoke him each time with tears. This song was a message that never left him- that Johann had never left him. As Johann pulled away the bow, he gazed at Magnus and whispered a quiet, shaky ‘thank you’ through a sincere, inspired gaze. Avi repeated those same words, as he sobbed and ran towards Johann. His body wracked with sympathy and empathy and sheer thanks, it felt as though these floodgates were no longer gates, but a door that would never lock again; he was broken but useful. It seemed now, even now, that they were all that way. Magnus turned with a full heart during this exchange and began the quiet walk back to his house. Julia was already gazing out the window, waving a cloth in her right hand and laughing with pure joy. Avi saw this figure in the window, and gazing at the two houses, he spoke quietly: “What’s this?” “Magnus is calling it Refuge II. He.. he built me that smaller house. With his bare hands.” Johann smiled. “He built us a house, and he’s making a room in his own for well.. for Angus, when the time comes. He’s making a place for everyone.” “How is that even allowed? So many different kinds of people in one plane- isn’t there a place we each go?” “Yeah, I thought that too. But the Raven Queen’s in a tough spot here; she’s got three people she knows who saved the world and she owes them a little something.” Johann took Avi’s hand and began the walk back to his humble home, before one word nearly stopped him then and there: “Four.” A voice came from behind, cockney in accent and deep in tone. Kravitz, coming by to close the portal. “What?” “Four. She has four people who saved the world. Lup, Barry, myself, and you, Johann.” Kravitz smiled, his scythe disappearing into thin astral air. “Without your music- no, without you- no one would’ve been able to carry on the fight.” “I guess.” “No, there’s no guessing.” Avi pulled him forward, kissing his cheek. “No guessing at all.” At that point, a voice far too recognizable yelled from the barely opened portal. Taako, of course. Who else would it be, yelling at Kravitz through a planar rift which it was probably dangerous as hell to be near. “I told you they were into each other! You owe me ten bucks, bubeleh! And tell Maggie I say hello!” The voice laughed, before Kravitz groaned and ripped the portal once more, going skeletal as he passed through with wallet in tow.

hey thanks im crying??? this is really fucking good like. holy shit thank u for writing this??? and sending it to me??? holy fuck

also so ppl can see, bc submissions are weird like that, this is by @astronomutual, who... for some reason its not letting me @ but. yeah. go check em out

[mrs-hongs-blog]

Took Away The Pain

m e m b e r : Joshua Hong!!! g e n r e : fLUFFY!!11!!!1 w o r d c o u n t : 2k

i n t r o : SEVENTEEN has been busy preparing for their latest world tour Diamond Edge, and it’s starting to take a toll on your boyfriend’s body.

“Good job everyone, that’s all for today! Please go home and get ample rest before the next stop.” The 13 boys that were sweating profusely slowly dispersed from the practice to collect their luggage, they waved each other good bye and proceeded to go their own way, majority heading to the dorm while some returned to meet their family and Joshua was no exception.

Jeonghan and Joshua walked down the hallway of Pledis building and down to the basement carpark in silence. Ever since they landed 5 hours ago, they have been practicing non-stop and were exhausted out of their own minds. Joshua then broke the silence, “Need me to drop you off Han?” He said while fumbling to unlock his car. Jeonghan laughed at the clumsy boy and shook his head. “Thanks man, but my parents are coming with my little sister!” He said with a hint of excite. Joshua nodded his head gently.

“You should hurry home, your soulmate must be dying to see you.” Joshua’s eyes immediately smiled at the mention of you. How your eyes would light up whenever you saw him, how the corners of your beautiful lips was always up whenever he was around, even in your sleep, and how your cheeks would always be a tint of red whenever he was home from schedules.

And that’s why Joshua came to fall in love with you. You were so happy and optimistic and there was nothing that could ruin your day. You were his happy pill after a long day of schedule and training. You guys have been dating for a year after he arrived in Korea, back when you were working under Pledis as a Korean teacher and translator for new trainees who couldn’t speak Korean.

Joshua spoke Korean back in the US, but not that fluent. So he still took lessons with you, be it an excuse to see you or to actually learn. He was a fast learner and picked up the language fast, which is why he was put into SEVENTEEN early in his trainee days. He was also really fast in winning your heart over with his dad jokes, puns and acrostic poems. But what made you fall crazy in love with him was his kindness to anyone and everyone and his determination. You never ever saw him get angry, was always polite and gave his 120% during his training, even when he didn’t know if he could debut.

It’s been a little over 3 years since you guys started dating, but due to his visit to America, you guys couldn’t celebrate the 3rd Anniversary. In particular, it’s been 3 weeks since you last saw him and you only had him for 3 days. It was tough but nothing beats your love for him. Joshua felt bad missing the anniversary no matter how much you said it was okay so he kept sending you gifts, even from America. Today was no different, and he was about to surprise you again.

He alighted from his car in a small alleyway with lots of side shops and walked into the florist. “Sojung nuna! Jisoo here to pick up the flowers I ordered last week!” Her head popped out from a bunch of flowers and she smiled, “Hold on a minute! I’ll go get your flowers!” Sojung was his cousin from America that moved over to be a florist and he was his reliable source of surprising what he likes to call you, the most beautiful flower in his life.

“Here you go.” She passed him the huge bouquet of peonies and baby breaths, and as he was taking his wallet out, she stopped him. “On the house, you’ve worked hard the past 3 weeks. Go surprise her.” He nodded and thanked her, slipping a $100 note into the tip jar, knowing she would later reprimand him over the phone. He walked to his car and placed the bouquet of flowers next to him before he drove to the apartment you guys shared.

He pulled up infront of the loft that you two lovingly shared with your two golden retrievers and he took a good look at the house, grabbed the bouquet and unlocked the door. He opened the door to two excited pups begging for his love, “Hi there Bean and Dubbs!!!” He cooed before looking around for your presence. He spotted you in the kitchen cooking something, listening to your earpiece.

He smiled and put the flowers on the kitchen counter before back-hugging you, removing one side of the earpiece. “How’s my favourite girl doing?” You stood there frozen for a second when you heard his voice, before regaining consciousness and jumping on him. “Babe! When did you arrive? I MISSED YOU!” You did a little cheer while your two dogs barked at you two, making a ruckus.

Joshua smiled at your shining eyes and red cheeks, “A little while ago. I have a surprise for you.” Joshua moved aside to reveal the huge bouquet of your favourite flowers and you screamed again. “SHU! You shouldn’t have!” You said as you hugged the huge bouquet and squashed your face in it. He smiled widely, “I should’ve. It was worth it.” You turned to him to give him a long, loving kiss before pulling apart, forehead together, giggling.

“Where’s your luggage, I’ll go get it! I’ll run a bath for you! I’ll finish cooking dinner!” Joshua laughed at how you were trying to multi-task with your little body, running around with two huge pups following you around. He sure loves his little family of four. You then promptly ran out to bring his luggage in, dumping the laundry in the washing machine. Joshua watched as you ran around the house getting things done.

You ran into the bathroom to run the warm bath for him and fetched him a towel, pushing him into the bathroom. “I love you baby, thank you for this.” He said at the doorway of the toilet, kissing your cheek lightly. You smiled before shoving him in the bathroom, “I love you too, but you stink!” You laughed as he said a loud ‘HEY!” and you continue to prepare dinner.

After you guys were done with dinner, you guys collapsed on your bed in matching puppy pajamas, your two dogs flopping down on the floor next to you. “Good night baby, no more good night texts.” Joshua whispered, as he kissed your temple gently before snuggling you, You smiled lightly and said quietly under your breath, “Good night love.” before falling into a deep slumber.

Next morning, you were awakened by Joshua groaning loudly and your eyes shot open. He was clutching his arm before groaning again. “SHU! What’s wrong?” He moaned out, “My arm and back really hurts..” You checked the time, 9am. The clinic nearby was open and you immediately got dressed and brought Joshua to the car, driving him to the clinic.

The doctors couldn’t identify what was wrong with Joshua, so they prescribed him with painkillers and told him to check back again in a few days. You guys drove home and Joshua was groaning in pain on the couch. The dogs sat by him on the sofa, ears dropped down as though they knew he was in pain. You were saddened by the event and how it made Joshua so weak. He couldn’t stand or lay down properly because it would just hurt.

You brewed him some porridge and fed him his medicine, and he fell asleep shortly after. You called the members and their manager to inform them about the incident. The members and managers dropped by to visit while Joshua was asleep but none of them wanted to wake him up, even in his sleep, he looked like he was in so much pain.

You served the guests some snacks and tea before they left, leaving well wishes. Pledis called you and did say that if it gets worse, Joshua can get treatment at the hospital and not attend the next tour stop. But knowing Joshua, he would hate to do so. Joshua hated disappointing his fans, and would push himself to the limit. That’s how he always was, giving his 120%.

He woke up later in the evening to eat some food and take his painkillers again, before falling back into sleep, this time on the bed. You sat next to him after washing up and feeding the pups, you looked at his angelic face, eyebrows furrowed probably due to the pain and face scrunched. You looked at him with so much worry, and tears started to spill.

“Have you ever met someone you loved so much, that when they were in pain, you just wanted to take the pain away from them, even if it means that you will be in pain. Or just want to share a bit of the pain so that person can at least rest a bit better?”

You were crying, sobbing and in a load of tears. You hated it, how you couldn’t do anything to make Joshua’s pain lesser, or make him feel even a slight bit better. He was probably the most kind-hearted and nicest person you ever know, why did he have to suffer? You just cried and cried and cried, hoping something would make his pain lesser.

You sat next to him all night, and fell asleep on the bedside table. Joshua then woke up because Bean jumped on the bed to lick his face. He searched around for you before finding you, fast asleep on the floor, head propped on the bed, looking at him. He caressed your cheek before kissing your temple with all the strength he had.

It woke you up, and he got a shock. “I’m sorry, did I wake you up?” He looked at you, eyebrows furrowed, face obviously still in pain. You stared at him before breaking down again. He was confused but comforted you with all the strength he had left. “What’s wrong baby.. Please don’t cry, you know I hate seeing you like this.”

“I just feel, bad. I can’t do anything to help you feel at least a bit better and you’re suffering alone. I hate it. How I can’t share even a bit of pain with you. I’m sorry babe. You’re the most amazing boyfriend yet I can’t do even a single thing for you.” Joshua smiled at how pure your heart was. He was lucky to call you his.

“Hey.. Don’t cry. It’s not your fault, and I’m fine. You being here makes me feel better. You did do a lot for me love. You cooked food for me, fed me my meds, carried me around and even took care of the guests. You’re the amazing one.” Joshua whispered, probably because he was exhausted. You smiled at his words and jumped on top of him, hugging him tightly.

“Thank you for everything Jisoo ah.” The way you called him made his heart flutter, even after 3 years. “I love you babe.” You said before spamming kisses all over his face and neck. “I love you too babygirl.” He said with you squishing his cheeks, kissing him all over. He sat up, pinning you under him and now it was his turn to spam kisses all over you. Bean and Dubbs joined shortly after, rolling around the bed.

“Babe? Does it not hurt anymore?” You remembered, asking Joshua. He looked at his arm, and then cracking his neck. “I.. feel better. All of a sudden.” Joshua looked at himself in shock and you jumped on him. “MY BABY’S OKAY!” Joshua smiled and hugged you tightly. He was happy with where his life has come too, his small family of four and his amazing other half. He stopped you, pulled you apart to face him.

“It’s the power of your love. You did it babe. You took my pain away.” He said, smiling widely, his cat eyes prominent. You smiled and mumbled softly only he could hear, “It’s a power of OUR love.” You two then shared a sweet kiss before it was ruined by Dubbs putting his butt to Joshua’s face.

[eddiospaghettio]

Hey I saw ur post about writing some stenbrough and was wondering if I could give in a prompt? Can u do a one shot where bill is upset over georgie, and stan comforts him. But this is sort of on the anniversary of georgie’s death or something so they can be a bit older (maybe 16? idk) love ur blog btw :)

Hi Anon! I hope this is ok and my writing is alright… I made it so that they’re 11 when the whole ‘It’ fiasco occurs, like the book (but i did set it in the era of the movie). Then it can be 5 years since Georgie died now they can be 16 :) This kinda ended up more sad than romantic and stuff, but what do you expect when Georgie’s death is mentioned :(( also sorry i kinda went off on my own whim haha

Sorry for any grammar/spelling mistakes that I didn’t discover.

——————————————————————————————-

Whenever Bill wasn’t around, Stan noticed.

Instead of spending the day at school ferociously taking notes and striving for the best grades, he was worrying about his best friend. He spent lunchtime biting at his nails, ignoring his food. Even Richie, who usually spent his lunchtimes constantly moving and yelling with his mouth full, was quiet. They all knew what today was.

The anniversary of Georgie’s death.

Every year on this day Bill went to the clubhouse and spent the day there instead of at school. No one knew what he did all day, but Stan had seen the drawings, poems and stories that Bill tried to hide underneath his bed.

Every year everyone in the group offered to skip school as well and stay with Bill, and every year Bill told them to go and forget about him for the day.

No one ever could.

However, this year was especially hard for Bill. It had been 5 years since Georgie had died and they’d all had the most terrifying summer of their lives. Stan had noticed in the last few weeks how unlike himself Bill had been acting.

‘I’m going to visit him,’ Stan said, already grabbing his lunch tray, ready to get up.

‘What? No!’ Eddie looked up from his home-made sandwich. ‘Bill specifically said to not visit him!’

‘I don’t care,’ Stan said, getting up.

‘Are you sure about this?’ Ben asked. ‘He did say-

‘Go comfort him, lover boy!’ Richie interrupted.

‘Piss off Richie,’ Stan rolled his eyes and walked off, but not before giving his tater tots to Mike, who had been eyeing them all lunch.

**

Stan rode away from school as fast as he could, heading in the direction of the clubhouse. He wasn’t sure what would happen when he arrived; if Bill would kick him out or let him stay. His nervousness built to a tipping point until he stood in front of the clubhouse, listening to Bill faintly hum a David Bowie tune he didn’t know the name of. Stan smiled as he walked closer, until he could see inside.

Bill was lying on his stomach, feet in the air, and bopping his head along to the song that was playing through his walkman. He had a packet of watercolour pencils laying next to him, and was currently colouring in the bright green top he had drawn on a sketch of a small grinning boy. Georgie.

Stan took a deep breath and knocked politely. Bill snapped his head up, instantly covering his drawing with his arm.

’S-s-stan?’ confusion laced Bill’s face. ‘W-what are you d-d-doing here?’

‘I came to see you,’ Stan said, walking inside as confidently as he could, and sat down next to Bill.

‘B-but,’ Bill frantically collected the paper around him and placed it behind him. ‘What about c-c-class?’

‘Screw class,’ Stan said. ‘I wanted to come check on you.’

‘Oh,’ Bill looked down at his hands, which were stained an array of different colours from his pencils. Stan thought it was quite beautiful.

‘How are you holding up?’ Stan asked quietly.

‘I’m fine,’ Bill mumbled.

‘Bill, you know you don’t have to act brave for me,’ Stan moved closer to Bill, placing his hand on Bill’s knee. Bill stared at it, before pushing Stan’s hand off.

‘Y-you should g-go,’ Bill turned his body away.

‘Bill, please-‘

‘Go away Stan!’ Bill spat.

Stan didn’t move, and instead watched Bill’s back, tears coming to his own eyes when he recognised the shaking of Bill’s shoulders. He shifted closer, ignoring Bill’s previous request for him to leave, and wrapped his arms around Bill’s waist.

Bill shook as he cried, leaning back into the support of Stan and covering his face with his hands. Stan rested his head in the crook of Bill’s neck, waiting for the other boy to calm down. They sat there for what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, until Bill had stopped sobbing, and he turned to face Stan.

‘I’m s-s-sorry,’ Bill wiped his red-rimmed eyes with the backs of his hands and Stan used his thumb to wipe a tear off Bill’s chin. ‘It’s b-been years and I s-s-still miss h-him so m-m-much.’ Bill let out a shuddering breath.

‘I know,’ Stan sighed, wrapping his arms around Bill and pulling the other boy in for a hug. ‘I know how much you miss Georgie, I know.’

’T-thanks for coming to c-check on m-me,’ Bill whispered, pulling away.

‘No problem,’ Stan smiled, and Bill smiled sadly back.

‘So, what are you drawing?’ Stan asked, hoping to cheer up his best friend.

‘Um,’ Bill looked behind him at the pile of drawings. ’N-nothing, it’s n-not v-very good’.

‘Can I see?’ Stan asked, and Bill’s face softened.

‘Yeah, o-ok,’ He picked up the pile and turned to face Stan, sitting knee to knee with him, placing the paper into Stan’s lap. Stan laughed at the nervous excitement obvious on Bill’s face as he picked up the first drawing and held it up for Stan.

‘So, this is Georgie,’ Bill handed the paper over and Stan admired the drawing he had seen Bill colouring in when he first arrived.

‘This is,’ Stan looked up at Bill’s hopeful face over the paper, ‘amazing’.

‘Really?’ Bill’s face lit up and Stan grinned.

‘Really! You could enter this in a competition!’ Stan placed his hand on Bill’s shoulder. ‘You’re really talented Bill’.

Bill blushed, and picked up the next piece of art for Stan to admire, taking back the picture of Georgie.

Stan stared at the picture in astonishment, eyes flickering over the detail in the picture of all his friends. Beverly, her bright red hair standing out as she sat, arm outstretched, handing a reeses peanut butter cup to Ben. Mike, with Richie up on his shoulders, laughing as a terrified Eddie stood next to them, his mouth open in a yell, and Stan, his binoculars fixed on the sky, ignoring his friends’ banter.

‘Wow,’ Stan had no other words to describe how he felt. ‘Do you have more?’

‘Oh n-n-no, you d-don’t want to s-s-see the others,’ Bill blushed again, picking up his pile suddenly.

‘Yes I do!’ Stan said, grabbing the pile, ignoring the way his hands overlapped Bill’s.

’N-no h-honestly-‘ Bill never finished his sentence, as he fumbled with the paper and dropped it, back into Stan’s lap. Stan took the opportunity and grabbed the top paper of the pile, grinning as he picked it up and looked down at the drawing.

His breath caught in his throat.

The drawing was beautiful, there was no doubt about it. But Stan stared hopelessly at the detailed drawing of his own face. He picked up the next drawing, finding it to be himself again, this time a sketch of him hanging over a log, focusing his binoculars on a nearby bird. Stan picked up another, and another, finding them all to be of him.

‘What?’ Stan looked up at Bill, to find the other boy’s face had gone completely red and was staring straight back at Stan.

‘I’m s-sorry,’ Bill said, covering his face with his hands. ‘P-please don’t t-think I’m a c-c-creep’.

‘What? No!’ Stan dropped the drawings and leaned closer to Bill, removing his hands from his face.

‘It’s n-not w-what you-‘ Bill started, and Stan decided to interrupt him, instead placing the lightest of kisses to Bill’s lips.

‘Oh,’ Bill sighed when Stan pulled away.

‘I like you too you dumb idiot,’ Stan smiled, kissing Bill’s forehead. The latter leaned into Stan’s kiss, a smile forming.

‘Oh,’ Was all Bill could say again. And it was enough.

They spent the rest of the day together, Bill drawing and Stan just watching. Occasionally Bill got upset, and that was ok, as long as Stan held him until he felt better.

And when they parted Stan left him with a short goodbye kiss and a promise that tomorrow would be better.

[sicklylittlesnowflake]

I saw your post that ya don't have many prompts and I thought I'd try??? So Like I love love love sick betty and honestly I just want all of her precious friends worrying over her and my heart just melts omg..

(I love me some Betty Cooper anon, she’s my princess and pride and joy thanks for the prompt!! Also sorry my Beronica shipping ass can’t stop whoops!!)

Betty Cooper was the girl who did everything for everyone, and never herself.

She was a giver, and was the ray of sunshine in everyone’s lives. She was the friend who was always there for others, and it was practically impossible for anyone to dislike her.

Betty Cooper was there for Archie Andrews his whole life, supporting him with his music career and listening to his songs always. She gave him feedback, lifting his spirits.

Betty Cooper was there for Kevin Keller when he felt frustrated or upset, and was always there to reassure him that there was nothing wrong with him and made him feel safe.

Betty Cooper was there for Jughead Jones in his lowest days, offering him love and kindness when he clearly needed it. She defended him from the whole town when he was ostracised for matters out of his control, his shining light that made him feel like he belonged.

Betty Cooper was there for Veronica Lodge every day. She was destined to be with her, souls intertwined by some greater force. Betty supported Veronica and served as a light when all things in her life seemed to go dark. The bit of purity when all things seemed to become corrupt with filth.

And of course, her friends loved her back.

So when Betty was in need, it was only natural for all her friends to give back.

Jughead was first to take action when Betty walked into the Blue and Gold’s offices, pale, all colour drained from her face besides fevered cheeks and dark circles.

She had come in about forty five minutes before school, feeling bad she hadn’t had much progress done on an article so decided to get a head start. Luckily, Jughead had already been there about 10 minutes prior, due to Archie dragging his reluctant ass over to school because of early football practice.

“Betts!” Jughead exclaimed, rushing towards her and feeling her cheek with the back of his hand.

“You shouldn’t be here!”

Betty smiled at him reassuringly, “Im fine, Juggy, just didn’t get a lot of sleep..”

“Didn’t get a lot of sleep?! It looks like you haven’t slept in days!” Jughead exclaimed, watching as she began to walk shakily.

“Jug, I need to finish this article for Cheryl..she really needs it,” Betty rasped. Following Cheryl’s suicide attempt, she needed the support of her friends more than anything. Her and Jughead had decided to get all the people who cared about her to write a little something for her, and Jughead had done more than he should’ve for the article already. She needed to finish this.

“Then I’ll do it, Betty!” Jughead insisted, rushing to her side as he watched as a wave of nausea hit her, wrapping an arm around her waist to support her. He lead her to the couch and dropped her gently there.

“No, Jug! You’ve done way too much already, Jug. It’s not fair on you–with all you’ve been going through..” Betty attempted to sit back up but Jughead gently pushed her down so she was lying down.

“No way, Betty. Let me take care of you for once,” Jughead pleaded.

“Jughead, you’re a great caretaker, really, but you’re going to get sick! You know your immune systems awful!”

Jughead shrugged, pulling his phone out and shooting a text.

Fuckhead Jones III: Yo Betty’s sick meet me at the blue and gold

“Well, I won’t be your only caretaker,” Jughead smirked.

Justin Gingerlake: Omw lemme get reg out of my way

Kill me Keller: What?!?!?!?! Coming!!!

Ronnie Weasley: I can’t believe jughead jones is saying “Yo”…anyway I’m coming

Betty groaned, “Jughead!”

“What?” Jughead said sheepishly.

She softened, curling up and snuggling herself, “Jug, you got your computer? ”

“Hmm, yes, why?”

“..Can you please read out one of your poems to me? They’re very relaxing.”

“Hmm..they are a peer into my melancholy emo soul, completely exposing my vulnerable, despairing being contemplating our very existence..” Jughead joked.

“But for you Betty Cooper, of course.”

Jughead opened up his laptop and opened up a file, clearing his throat as he recited a hopeful poem, a complete different take than he usually took in his art, in his clarion, dramatic tenor voice.

Betty closed her eyes and immersed herself in his art.

Archie arrived first, a glass of water and his guitar bag in his hands.

“I brought you some water, Betty,” Archie grinned, drenched in sweat.

Jughead fake gagged, “Ugh, Arch, you reek! Clean up, will you?”

“I would have used perfume, Jughead, but you’re severely allergic, remember? Do I need to remind you of the Andrews Construction Dinner incident of 2016?”

Jughead groaned, “Don’t.”

Betty laughed hoarsely, “You’re a saviour, Archie Andrews. Also, I don’t smell a thing, Jughead’s just being a dick.”

Archie laughed then pulled a chair towards the couch and helped her sit up, far too weak to do it herself. He propped up a pillow so she was comfortable, sitting next to her and rubbing her back comfortingly as he helps her drink up the glass of water.

Betty winced as her head began to ache intensely, her head throbbing and pounding.

“Archie, you’re really a star,” Betty thanked quietly, as to not strain her voice.

“A star that’s going to be big one day,” Jughead said softly.

“In fact..Archibald over here’s written a new song, would you do the honours and play it for Elizabeth here?” Jughead grinned.

“Oh..it might make the headache worse,” Archie said.

“No, Arch, please..I love your songs.”

Jughead raised his eyebrow and smiled, watching as Archie unpacked the guitar and started to pluck melodically at the strings.

Kevin came in on the last chorus of Archie’s song, holding a damp towel.

“Oh, Kev!” Betty cooed.

“The moment I heard my best pal was in need I came as quickly as I could,” Kevin smiled and squinted at Archie.

“Not quick enough,” Archie teased.

“Fuck you, Andrews, and your annoyingly toned body,” Kevin hissed.

Archie laughed, packing away his guitar and sat down on the table with Jughead, typing away on the computer.

“Betty, have you been overworking yourself?” Kevin cooed softly, helping her lie back down on the cushion and gently draping the damp, cool towel over her forehead.

“No–”

“Yes she has,” Archie and Jughead said in unison.

Betty released a soft sigh of relief at the cooling touch of the towel, some of the discomforting heat slowly melting away.

“Kevin, you’re the very best..”

“No Betts, you are. You’re always working for others, but you gotta give back to yourself sometime. But don’t fret, we’re right by your side,” Kevin smiled kindly, as he dragged a chair next to the couch.

He cracked his knuckles to which Betty let out a noise of delight.

“Kevin, are you about to give me one of the infamous Keller Massages?”

“You bet I am, for my best gal,” Kevin grinned, as he softly massaged Betty’s temples, circulating them so that the intensity of her headaches slowly subsided. He rubbed slowly and gently, easing away her troubles and sorrows so she was only surrounded by love and support.

Veronica was the last, but the moment she burst through the doors of the Blue and Gold, in complete sweats, all their questions regarding her tardiness was answered.

Veronica was carrying a multitude of items, a luxurious furry blanket, a packet of medicine, a thermos of soup, tea bags and a box of chocolates.

“Well, that was not expected,” Archie blinked.

Jughead smirked, “That was the only thing that was destined to happen, Archie.”

“I’m so sorry I’m so late, Betty! The moment I heard you weren’t feeling well I tried to get everything ready ASAP and I ran all the way here!”

Veronica set down all her items onto a table and approached Betty, kneeling down so she could be in eye-to-eye level. She frowned at seeing her so ill and weak. Betty Cooper did not deserve to be sick. She was too good to be sick.

Betty chuckled fondly, “Ronnie..you didn’t have to..”

“Oh Betty! My poor angel,” Veronica frowned as she ran over to the table and draped the luxurious blanket over her entire frame, tucking her in to the blankets protectively.

“Are you warm enough? You must feel awful,” Veronica doted.

“Ronnie..I’m fine,” Betty giggled, feeling a lot better by Veronica just being there.

“I even got you these chocolates from Belgium, trust me, you’ll feel a lot better..”

Betty could only giggle, “Ronnie..”

She cleared her throat, “..but we are going to be late..”

“What?! No, Betty, you’re going home!” Veronica insisted.

“Can’t–my mom is away on a reporter story and my dad is out of town on a different story,” Betty explained.

“Then just stay here and I’ll give you a ride home later!” Kevin butted in.

“I can’t stay here!” Betty protested.

“We’ll tell the nurse you’re comfortable here, and don’t feel up to moving up there,” Archie suggested.

“She won’t listen to you, Arch!” Betty chuckled.

“I’ll tell her,” Jughead piped up, the gang knowing full well how soft the old nurse was on Jughead, seeing as how often he ended up in her office.

“I’ll even get us all excuses to look after you!” Jughead offered.

“No way! You can’t all look after me!” Betty protested.

“Well, at least Veronica,” Archie butted in.

Betty and Veronica blushed.

“U-uh, w-what?” Veronica stammered.

Kevin laughed, “Oh my god, let’s all stop this hetero bullshit, we all know that Veronica here is the best option here.”

“Agreed,” Jughead and Archie nodded.

“Well, we’ll leave you guys to it! I’ll drive you home later today and we’ll all check up on you later, yeah?” Kevin beamed, heading out the door as Jughead and Archie said their goodbyes as the two headed over to the Nurse before class.

Veronica chuckled as they left, and gave her a warm smile.

“Have you eaten anything today?”

Betty shook her head, “..I kinda forgot..I was in a huge haze this morning.”

“Well, I’m here to the rescue,” Veronica said kindly, her voice so warm and loving Betty swore her chills were abating.

Veronica began to boil some water in the kettle Betty had brought in for Jughead’s coffee addiction, and when it was done used it to make her a nice peppermint tea.

She opened up the soup in the thermos and passed it to Betty, who had managed to sit up while she had done so.

Betty sipped at the soup with delight, the flavours absolutely delicious and creamy, “Veronica, this is great..”

“Anything for my best girl,” Veronica cooed, watching in satisfaction as Betty ate up the soup.

Once Betty had finished, Veronica began to pop open one of the medicine packets and passed her the pill along with the peppermint tea, to which Betty obliged. Betty sighed in contentment, eyes closed in satisfaction as the aroma and tastefully sweet tangs hit her.

“Veronica..you really didn’t have to do this all for me..You’re the best,” Betty whispered softly.

Veronica blushed lightly, “..Of course..Betty, you know I…really care about you.”

“You know, you’re like this..oh jesus..this is really stupid..but you’re like the best thing in my life right now, this absolutely perfect light..”

“..Ronnie, I’m not perfect,” Betty whispered weakly.

Veronica softened, “Of course. That’s not what I meant, but in my eyes..all of your faults and little things..they add up into this beautiful beautiful person who feels like perfect. Someone so..wonderfully crafted, yet flawed..but always striving for the good.”

Betty smiled softly, “Veronica..”

“You give all the time Betty..I’m just..so glad I can give back for once. To thank you for blessing me with your company,” Veronica said softly.

“I like being with you too, Ronnie..it all feels so nice..just me and you here..” Betty whispered.

Veronica felt her heart soar and insides melt, completely warm and tingly. She couldn’t help but begin to stroke her hair softly, brushing each strand of luscious blonde hair carefully and tenderly, like she was made of magic. To Veronica at least, she was made of magic.

Veronica fondled with her hair for a little bit, taking in all of the wonder that was Betty Cooper in this beautifully silent moment. This was all a reality, and she wasn’t just some princess from a fairytale, she was real.

Betty broke the silence, a smile coming to her lips, “..Veronica..come here..”

Veronica hesitated, stunned, but was pulled in by Betty who began to cuddle her lovingly, a little influenced by the fever but genuine all the same.

“Sing to me, please?” Betty mumbled.

Veronica blushed, but finally controlled herself enough to lightly sing.

“If you be my star, I’ll be your sky,you can hide underneath me and come out at night..when I turn jet black and you show off your lightI live to let you shine..I live to let you shine..But you can skyrocket away from meAnd never come back if you find another galaxyFar from here, with more room to fly,but leave me your stardust to remember you by…”

“That’s sweet,” Kevin whispered by lunch time as he walked in, Archie and Jughead right behind him, smiling along as they admired the sight.

A sight of two sweet girls intertwined with each other, holding each other close, never to let go.

[newstwitter-blog]

New Post has been published on News Twitter

New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/29/la-times-trumps-ban-on-some-u-s-entries-sparks-confusion-and-protest-worldwide-and-legal-rebukes-at-home-5/

La Times: Trump's ban on some U.S. entries sparks confusion and protest worldwide, and legal rebukes at home

President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee arrivals and banning entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries spawned chaos and consternation across the globe Saturday, stranding unwitting travelers, prompting passionate debate over American values and igniting a fierce legal pushback that yielded early court victories for the president’s opponents.

The abrupt ban ensnared people from all walks of life who were caught in transit or expecting to soon return to the U.S. — not only refugees but students on a break from studies, business travelers and scientists, tourists and concert musicians, even the bereaved who had gone home for funerals.

Of all the directives issued during a first jolting week of Trump’s presidency, it was this one that reverberated most powerfully in the outside world. Trump and his team insisted the order was not intended to target Islam and its followers, but the hashtag #muslimban trended, and many Muslims both in America and abroad said they viewed the measure as a broadly conceived and stinging exclusion.

Capping a day of high-stakes drama, a federal judge in New York, Ann M. Donnelly, ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S., saying that sending them back to the affected countries could cause them “irreparable harm.” But she did not rule on the legality of the executive order, nor did she say that others who have not yet arrived in the U.S. can be allowed to proceed.

Opponents of the president’s directive vowed to seek a wider court win. Lawyers from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union said they intended to press ahead with efforts to overturn the president’s overall order on constitutional grounds. And they rejoiced at their early victory.

“Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court.”

In a separate and more limited ruling, a federal judge in Virginia ordered a weeklong stay against removing people with permanent U.S. residency who had been detained under the presidential order at Washington Dulles International Airport.

As the directive’s effects spread, thousands staged spontaneous protests against refugee detention at airports across the country, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, demonstrators waved signs and read from the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

At more than a dozen airports, including Los Angeles, Newark, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, immigration attorneys stepped up in droves to offer free services to those detained. “A lot of tears and emotion here,” said Hassan Ahmad, a lawyer from northern Virginia who hustled to Dulles airport.

The New York order appeared to affect the 100 to 200 people who were detained in transit to the United States. While the order will prevent them from being sent home, it was less clear whether they will have to remain in detention while their asylum cases are being decided.

One of the two detained Iraqis named in the case, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was an interpreter who had worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Freed after 19 hours in custody, he wept as he spoke to reporters, thanking supporters and calling America “the land of freedom, the land of rights.”

The groups bringing the legal challenge, who also included the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigration Law Center, said a separate motion sets the stage for a larger action involving other would-be refugees, visitors and immigrants stopped at other ports of entry.

Arab American advocacy groups also were reacting to the new order, warning that it was disrupting travel all over the world.

“We see complete chaos in the way this has been implemented,” Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said in a conference call with reporters.

The directive, he said, had caught up not only desperate refugees who had thought themselves within a hairsbreadth of safety, but many more with already established lives, homes and families in the United States. “This order needs to be rescinded,” he said.

In another legal challenge, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the order. The suit, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional because of its apparent aim of singling out Muslims.

“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” the group’s national litigation director, Lena F. Masri, said in a statement. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”

The order, signed Friday by Trump during a visit to the Pentagon, suspends all refugee entries for 120 days. In addition, it indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Prominent Muslim figures raised their voices in opposition to the temporary refugee ban, saying children would be among those suffering the most from it.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” that Trump was closing the door on “children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war.”

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the travel ban also covered holders of green cards, who are authorized to live and work in the U.S. Some reports have put the number of such permanent residents from the affected countries as high as half a million.

An administration official said that current green card holders from the affected countries would be allowed to remain in the U.S. — but that those caught outside the country at the time of the ban’s imposition would have to be allowed back in on a case-by-case basis. Those with business overseas will have to meet beforehand with a consular official.

The measure’s scope was also widened by a State Department announcement that dual nationals from the seven affected countries who also held passports from third countries such as Britain or Canada could be blocked — in effect denying U.S. entry to citizens of closely allied nations.

As the measure’s far-reaching impact became clear, and the airport chaos mounted throughout the day, Trump denied it was a “Muslim ban” and said the process was going smoothly. “We were totally prepared,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”

The move has hit the technology industry, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers, many from Muslim-majority countries. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday slammed Trump’s executive order in a memo to employees, saying about 100 employees were affected, and advising those traveling abroad to reach out to the company’s immigration teams for assistance.

Investors and start-up employees are worried as well. Tech workers from countries such as Egypt and Jordan fear the list could soon expand to include their countries.

The entertainment world felt repercussions, too. It’s uncertain whether Iranian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi will be able to attend next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, though there are artistic waivers to the ban.

Relatives wondered when they would see loved ones again. Iranian American Milad Sharifpour, a physician at Emory University in Atlanta, was worried for his brother, Ali Reza, a green card holder who was in Tehran visiting family when the directive took effect. “I am sad, I’m upset, and I feel very frustrated,” Sharifpour said.

Many feared that what they intended as temporary trips abroad could become prolonged ordeals. A Syrian clarinetist who lives in New York and holds permanent U.S. residency was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a concert when the order took effect.

It left him unsure whether he would be able to go back to his Brooklyn apartment, he said, “let alone all the concerts and residencies I have in the U.S. in the coming few months.”

He asked not to be identified, because he will soon be trying to return to the U.S.

 “I am not sure how to describe how I feel,” he said. “It is certainly not about me; it is about so many individuals whose lives were deeply affected.”

Are you an immigrant? We want to hear your story »

The United Nations human rights agency issued a statement calling the long-standing U.S. refugee resettlement program “one of the most important in the world.” It called on the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. “will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.”

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race,” the group said.

Across the United States, refugee advocates scrambled to ascertain the status of those who were already en route or about to leave when the order came down. A total of 30 refugees were scheduled to arrive in Atlanta next week from Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All had gone through months of security checks.

“This is unprecedented,” said J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Atlanta office. “I’m not familiar with anything like this ever happening on such a mass scale in the entire history of this program. Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is deeply un-American.”

In Congress, reaction to the immigration chaos tended to break down along party lines, with vociferous criticism from Democrats while Republicans largely remained silent.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Trump had chosen a “dark path,” while both Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said the Statue of Liberty would have wept.

One of the few Republicans to speak out against the directive was Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who said the order could play into the hands of jihadist groups by being excessively sweeping in nature.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Airports overseas and in the U.S. found themselves at ground zero for the spreading chaos. Five members of one Iraqi family, along with a Yemeni, were prevented from boarding flights in Cairo.

At the Frankfurt airport in Germany, a major hub for travel from the Middle East and onward to Europe and the U.S., more were stranded. A German radio network quoted federal police as saying that 20 people from all seven countries on the list were stuck in the airport’s transit zone, unable to board flights for the U.S.

In Atlanta, a growing cluster of family members and lawyers gathered Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after at least five permanent U.S. residents who had traveled to Iran on vacation were detained by federal immigration officials.

Mansour Kenareh, 55, an Iranian software engineer who lives in Suwanee, Ga., said his brother-in law, his wife and their 10-year-old child had been detained after returning from a vacation in Tehran to visit family.

“They have green cards, they have bank accounts, they have a house here,” Kenareh said as he paced the arrivals hall of the international terminal after an unfruitful visit to a Customs and Border Protection office. Officials, he said, had detained the family for more than five hours, even though they had lived legally in the U.S. for more than a year. 

Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney, said that she had not been allowed to meet with the detained immigrants at the Atlanta airport. 

“These are people who live here; they have houses, they have dogs, cars,” Owings said. “This should not be happening. They can’t send back a permanent resident without a hearing.”

Late Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that all 11 people who were detained at the airport had been cleared and released.

In Europe, there was blowback from U.S. allies, who have absorbed a wave of refugees over the last two years and are already deeply unhappy with Trump for disparaging the NATO alliance and predicting the breakup of the European Union.

“When he rejects the arrival of refugees while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him,” said French President Francois Hollande.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, well aware of Trump’s evangelical Christian base of support, said pointedly, “‘Love thy neighbor’ is part of this tradition, the act of helping others.”

On social media, users bemoaned what they said was a blow to what remained of the world’s respect for American ideals.

“Fascism USA 2017,” tweeted Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian American author and activist.

The prospect of reciprocal measures was raised almost immediately — a factor that could potentially affect Americans including aid workers, tourists and business travelers. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, condemning Trump’s order, said Saturday that Iran “reserves the right of reciprocity,” official outlets reported.

Trump’s move could also dampen hopes for negotiating the release of U.S. citizens held in any of the affected countries. Several Americans of Iranian descent are imprisoned in Iran on spy charges.

King reported from Washington, Demick from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Houston. Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Melissa Etehad and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles, Tracy Lien in San Francisco, Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, and special correspondents Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Nabih Bulos in Beirut and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin contributed to this report.

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

ALSO 

Unknown number of U.S. permanent residents stuck overseas as a result of Trump’s immigration ban 

Outpouring of criticism over Trump’s refugee ban from Democrats in Congress as GOP stays silent 

As Trump bans Syrian refugees, a look back at when California welcomed 50,000 displaced people

  UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Atlanta airport.

9:00 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details about the stay and another court ruling.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with a federal judge issuing an emergency stay.

3:18 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from affected families and communities.

12:30 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from officials and family members of those prevented from boarding flights.

10:25 a.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the Department of Homeland Security, and reaction from the high-tech industry and the government in Iran.

9:30 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from Arab American groups.

This story was originally published at 9:10 a.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/29/la-times-trumps-ban-on-some-u-s-entries-sparks-confusion-and-protest-worldwide-and-legal-rebukes-at-home-4/

La Times: Trump's ban on some U.S. entries sparks confusion and protest worldwide, and legal rebukes at home

President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee arrivals and banning entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries spawned chaos and consternation across the globe Saturday, stranding unwitting travelers, prompting passionate debate over American values and igniting a fierce legal pushback that yielded early court victories for the president’s opponents.

The abrupt ban ensnared people from all walks of life who were caught in transit or expecting to soon return to the U.S. — not only refugees but students on a break from studies, business travelers and scientists, tourists and concert musicians, even the bereaved who had gone home for funerals.

Of all the directives issued during a first jolting week of Trump’s presidency, it was this one that reverberated most powerfully in the outside world. Trump and his team insisted the order was not intended to target Islam and its followers, but the hashtag #muslimban trended, and many Muslims both in America and abroad said they viewed the measure as a broadly conceived and stinging exclusion.

Capping a day of high-stakes drama, a federal judge in New York, Ann M. Donnelly, ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S., saying that sending them back to the affected countries could cause them “irreparable harm.” But she did not rule on the legality of the executive order, nor did she say that others who have not yet arrived in the U.S. can be allowed to proceed.

Opponents of the president’s directive vowed to seek a wider court win. Lawyers from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union said they intended to press ahead with efforts to overturn the president’s overall order on constitutional grounds. And they rejoiced at their early victory.

“Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court.”

In a separate and more limited ruling, a federal judge in Virginia ordered a weeklong stay against removing people with permanent U.S. residency who had been detained under the presidential order at Washington Dulles International Airport.

As the directive’s effects spread, thousands staged spontaneous protests against refugee detention at airports across the country, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, demonstrators waved signs and read from the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

At more than a dozen airports, including Los Angeles, Newark, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, immigration attorneys stepped up in droves to offer free services to those detained. “A lot of tears and emotion here,” said Hassan Ahmad, a lawyer from northern Virginia who hustled to Dulles airport.

The New York order appeared to affect the 100 to 200 people who were detained in transit to the United States. While the order will prevent them from being sent home, it was less clear whether they will have to remain in detention while their asylum cases are being decided.

One of the two detained Iraqis named in the case, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was an interpreter who had worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Freed after 19 hours in custody, he wept as he spoke to reporters, thanking supporters and calling America “the land of freedom, the land of rights.”

The groups bringing the legal challenge, who also included the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigration Law Center, said a separate motion sets the stage for a larger action involving other would-be refugees, visitors and immigrants stopped at other ports of entry.

Arab American advocacy groups also were reacting to the new order, warning that it was disrupting travel all over the world.

“We see complete chaos in the way this has been implemented,” Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said in a conference call with reporters.

The directive, he said, had caught up not only desperate refugees who had thought themselves within a hairsbreadth of safety, but many more with already established lives, homes and families in the United States. “This order needs to be rescinded,” he said.

In another legal challenge, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the order. The suit, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional because of its apparent aim of singling out Muslims.

“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” the group’s national litigation director, Lena F. Masri, said in a statement. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”

The order, signed Friday by Trump during a visit to the Pentagon, suspends all refugee entries for 120 days. In addition, it indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Prominent Muslim figures raised their voices in opposition to the temporary refugee ban, saying children would be among those suffering the most from it.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” that Trump was closing the door on “children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war.”

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the travel ban also covered holders of green cards, who are authorized to live and work in the U.S. Some reports have put the number of such permanent residents from the affected countries as high as half a million.

An administration official said that current green card holders from the affected countries would be allowed to remain in the U.S. — but that those caught outside the country at the time of the ban’s imposition would have to be allowed back in on a case-by-case basis. Those with business overseas will have to meet beforehand with a consular official.

The measure’s scope was also widened by a State Department announcement that dual nationals from the seven affected countries who also held passports from third countries such as Britain or Canada could be blocked — in effect denying U.S. entry to citizens of closely allied nations.

As the measure’s far-reaching impact became clear, and the airport chaos mounted throughout the day, Trump denied it was a “Muslim ban” and said the process was going smoothly. “We were totally prepared,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”

The move has hit the technology industry, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers, many from Muslim-majority countries. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday slammed Trump’s executive order in a memo to employees, saying about 100 employees were affected, and advising those traveling abroad to reach out to the company’s immigration teams for assistance.

Investors and start-up employees are worried as well. Tech workers from countries such as Egypt and Jordan fear the list could soon expand to include their countries.

The entertainment world felt repercussions, too. It’s uncertain whether Iranian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi will be able to attend next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, though there are artistic waivers to the ban.

Relatives wondered when they would see loved ones again. Iranian American Milad Sharifpour, a physician at Emory University in Atlanta, was worried for his brother, Ali Reza, a green card holder who was in Tehran visiting family when the directive took effect. “I am sad, I’m upset, and I feel very frustrated,” Sharifpour said.

Many feared that what they intended as temporary trips abroad could become prolonged ordeals. A Syrian clarinetist who lives in New York and holds permanent U.S. residency was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a concert when the order took effect.

It left him unsure whether he would be able to go back to his Brooklyn apartment, he said, “let alone all the concerts and residencies I have in the U.S. in the coming few months.”

He asked not to be identified, because he will soon be trying to return to the U.S.

 “I am not sure how to describe how I feel,” he said. “It is certainly not about me; it is about so many individuals whose lives were deeply affected.”

Are you an immigrant? We want to hear your story »

The United Nations human rights agency issued a statement calling the long-standing U.S. refugee resettlement program “one of the most important in the world.” It called on the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. “will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.”

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race,” the group said.

Across the United States, refugee advocates scrambled to ascertain the status of those who were already en route or about to leave when the order came down. A total of 30 refugees were scheduled to arrive in Atlanta next week from Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All had gone through months of security checks.

“This is unprecedented,” said J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Atlanta office. “I’m not familiar with anything like this ever happening on such a mass scale in the entire history of this program. Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is deeply un-American.”

In Congress, reaction to the immigration chaos tended to break down along party lines, with vociferous criticism from Democrats while Republicans largely remained silent.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Trump had chosen a “dark path,” while both Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said the Statue of Liberty would have wept.

One of the few Republicans to speak out against the directive was Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who said the order could play into the hands of jihadist groups by being excessively sweeping in nature.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Airports overseas and in the U.S. found themselves at ground zero for the spreading chaos. Five members of one Iraqi family, along with a Yemeni, were prevented from boarding flights in Cairo.

At the Frankfurt airport in Germany, a major hub for travel from the Middle East and onward to Europe and the U.S., more were stranded. A German radio network quoted federal police as saying that 20 people from all seven countries on the list were stuck in the airport’s transit zone, unable to board flights for the U.S.

In Atlanta, a growing cluster of family members and lawyers gathered Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after at least five permanent U.S. residents who had traveled to Iran on vacation were detained by federal immigration officials.

Mansour Kenareh, 55, an Iranian software engineer who lives in Suwanee, Ga., said his brother-in law, his wife and their 10-year-old child had been detained after returning from a vacation in Tehran to visit family.

“They have green cards, they have bank accounts, they have a house here,” Kenareh said as he paced the arrivals hall of the international terminal after an unfruitful visit to a Customs and Border Protection office. Officials, he said, had detained the family for more than five hours, even though they had lived legally in the U.S. for more than a year. 

Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney, said that she had not been allowed to meet with the detained immigrants at the Atlanta airport. 

“These are people who live here; they have houses, they have dogs, cars,” Owings said. “This should not be happening. They can’t send back a permanent resident without a hearing.”

Late Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that all 11 people who were detained at the airport had been cleared and released.

In Europe, there was blowback from U.S. allies, who have absorbed a wave of refugees over the last two years and are already deeply unhappy with Trump for disparaging the NATO alliance and predicting the breakup of the European Union.

“When he rejects the arrival of refugees while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him,” said French President Francois Hollande.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, well aware of Trump’s evangelical Christian base of support, said pointedly, “‘Love thy neighbor’ is part of this tradition, the act of helping others.”

On social media, users bemoaned what they said was a blow to what remained of the world’s respect for American ideals.

“Fascism USA 2017,” tweeted Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian American author and activist.

The prospect of reciprocal measures was raised almost immediately — a factor that could potentially affect Americans including aid workers, tourists and business travelers. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, condemning Trump’s order, said Saturday that Iran “reserves the right of reciprocity,” official outlets reported.

Trump’s move could also dampen hopes for negotiating the release of U.S. citizens held in any of the affected countries. Several Americans of Iranian descent are imprisoned in Iran on spy charges.

King reported from Washington, Demick from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Houston. Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Melissa Etehad and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles, Tracy Lien in San Francisco, Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, and special correspondents Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Nabih Bulos in Beirut and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin contributed to this report.

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

ALSO 

Unknown number of U.S. permanent residents stuck overseas as a result of Trump’s immigration ban 

Outpouring of criticism over Trump’s refugee ban from Democrats in Congress as GOP stays silent 

As Trump bans Syrian refugees, a look back at when California welcomed 50,000 displaced people

  UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Atlanta airport.

9:00 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details about the stay and another court ruling.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with a federal judge issuing an emergency stay.

3:18 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from affected families and communities.

12:30 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from officials and family members of those prevented from boarding flights.

10:25 a.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the Department of Homeland Security, and reaction from the high-tech industry and the government in Iran.

9:30 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from Arab American groups.

This story was originally published at 9:10 a.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/29/la-times-trumps-ban-on-some-u-s-entries-sparks-confusion-and-protest-worldwide-and-legal-rebukes-at-home-3/

La Times: Trump's ban on some U.S. entries sparks confusion and protest worldwide, and legal rebukes at home

President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee arrivals and banning entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries spawned chaos and consternation across the globe Saturday, stranding unwitting travelers, prompting passionate debate over American values and igniting a fierce legal pushback that yielded early court victories for the president’s opponents.

The abrupt ban ensnared people from all walks of life who were caught in transit or expecting to soon return to the U.S. — not only refugees but students on a break from studies, business travelers and scientists, tourists and concert musicians, even the bereaved who had gone home for funerals.

Of all the directives issued during a first jolting week of Trump’s presidency, it was this one that reverberated most powerfully in the outside world. Trump and his team insisted the order was not intended to target Islam and its followers, but the hashtag #muslimban trended, and many Muslims both in America and abroad said they viewed the measure as a broadly conceived and stinging exclusion.

Capping a day of high-stakes drama, a federal judge in New York, Ann M. Donnelly, ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S., saying that sending them back to the affected countries could cause them “irreparable harm.” But she did not rule on the legality of the executive order, nor did she say that others who have not yet arrived in the U.S. can be allowed to proceed.

Opponents of the president’s directive vowed to seek a wider court win. Lawyers from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union said they intended to press ahead with efforts to overturn the president’s overall order on constitutional grounds. And they rejoiced at their early victory.

“Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court.”

In a separate and more limited ruling, a federal judge in Virginia ordered a weeklong stay against removing people with permanent U.S. residency who had been detained under the presidential order at Washington Dulles International Airport.

As the directive’s effects spread, thousands staged spontaneous protests against refugee detention at airports across the country, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, demonstrators waved signs and read from the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

At more than a dozen airports, including Los Angeles, Newark, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, immigration attorneys stepped up in droves to offer free services to those detained. “A lot of tears and emotion here,” said Hassan Ahmad, a lawyer from northern Virginia who hustled to Dulles airport.

The New York order appeared to affect the 100 to 200 people who were detained in transit to the United States. While the order will prevent them from being sent home, it was less clear whether they will have to remain in detention while their asylum cases are being decided.

One of the two detained Iraqis named in the case, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was an interpreter who had worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Freed after 19 hours in custody, he wept as he spoke to reporters, thanking supporters and calling America “the land of freedom, the land of rights.”

The groups bringing the legal challenge, who also included the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigration Law Center, said a separate motion sets the stage for a larger action involving other would-be refugees, visitors and immigrants stopped at other ports of entry.

Arab American advocacy groups also were reacting to the new order, warning that it was disrupting travel all over the world.

“We see complete chaos in the way this has been implemented,” Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said in a conference call with reporters.

The directive, he said, had caught up not only desperate refugees who had thought themselves within a hairsbreadth of safety, but many more with already established lives, homes and families in the United States. “This order needs to be rescinded,” he said.

In another legal challenge, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the order. The suit, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional because of its apparent aim of singling out Muslims.

“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” the group’s national litigation director, Lena F. Masri, said in a statement. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”

The order, signed Friday by Trump during a visit to the Pentagon, suspends all refugee entries for 120 days. In addition, it indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Prominent Muslim figures raised their voices in opposition to the temporary refugee ban, saying children would be among those suffering the most from it.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” that Trump was closing the door on “children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war.”

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the travel ban also covered holders of green cards, who are authorized to live and work in the U.S. Some reports have put the number of such permanent residents from the affected countries as high as half a million.

An administration official said that current green card holders from the affected countries would be allowed to remain in the U.S. — but that those caught outside the country at the time of the ban’s imposition would have to be allowed back in on a case-by-case basis. Those with business overseas will have to meet beforehand with a consular official.

The measure’s scope was also widened by a State Department announcement that dual nationals from the seven affected countries who also held passports from third countries such as Britain or Canada could be blocked — in effect denying U.S. entry to citizens of closely allied nations.

As the measure’s far-reaching impact became clear, and the airport chaos mounted throughout the day, Trump denied it was a “Muslim ban” and said the process was going smoothly. “We were totally prepared,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”

The move has hit the technology industry, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers, many from Muslim-majority countries. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday slammed Trump’s executive order in a memo to employees, saying about 100 employees were affected, and advising those traveling abroad to reach out to the company’s immigration teams for assistance.

Investors and start-up employees are worried as well. Tech workers from countries such as Egypt and Jordan fear the list could soon expand to include their countries.

The entertainment world felt repercussions, too. It’s uncertain whether Iranian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi will be able to attend next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, though there are artistic waivers to the ban.

Relatives wondered when they would see loved ones again. Iranian American Milad Sharifpour, a physician at Emory University in Atlanta, was worried for his brother, Ali Reza, a green card holder who was in Tehran visiting family when the directive took effect. “I am sad, I’m upset, and I feel very frustrated,” Sharifpour said.

Many feared that what they intended as temporary trips abroad could become prolonged ordeals. A Syrian clarinetist who lives in New York and holds permanent U.S. residency was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a concert when the order took effect.

It left him unsure whether he would be able to go back to his Brooklyn apartment, he said, “let alone all the concerts and residencies I have in the U.S. in the coming few months.”

He asked not to be identified, because he will soon be trying to return to the U.S.

 “I am not sure how to describe how I feel,” he said. “It is certainly not about me; it is about so many individuals whose lives were deeply affected.”

Are you an immigrant? We want to hear your story »

The United Nations human rights agency issued a statement calling the long-standing U.S. refugee resettlement program “one of the most important in the world.” It called on the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. “will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.”

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race,” the group said.

Across the United States, refugee advocates scrambled to ascertain the status of those who were already en route or about to leave when the order came down. A total of 30 refugees were scheduled to arrive in Atlanta next week from Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All had gone through months of security checks.

“This is unprecedented,” said J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Atlanta office. “I’m not familiar with anything like this ever happening on such a mass scale in the entire history of this program. Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is deeply un-American.”

In Congress, reaction to the immigration chaos tended to break down along party lines, with vociferous criticism from Democrats while Republicans largely remained silent.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Trump had chosen a “dark path,” while both Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said the Statue of Liberty would have wept.

One of the few Republicans to speak out against the directive was Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who said the order could play into the hands of jihadist groups by being excessively sweeping in nature.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Airports overseas and in the U.S. found themselves at ground zero for the spreading chaos. Five members of one Iraqi family, along with a Yemeni, were prevented from boarding flights in Cairo.

At the Frankfurt airport in Germany, a major hub for travel from the Middle East and onward to Europe and the U.S., more were stranded. A German radio network quoted federal police as saying that 20 people from all seven countries on the list were stuck in the airport’s transit zone, unable to board flights for the U.S.

In Atlanta, a growing cluster of family members and lawyers gathered Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after at least five permanent U.S. residents who had traveled to Iran on vacation were detained by federal immigration officials.

Mansour Kenareh, 55, an Iranian software engineer who lives in Suwanee, Ga., said his brother-in law, his wife and their 10-year-old child had been detained after returning from a vacation in Tehran to visit family.

“They have green cards, they have bank accounts, they have a house here,” Kenareh said as he paced the arrivals hall of the international terminal after an unfruitful visit to a Customs and Border Protection office. Officials, he said, had detained the family for more than five hours, even though they had lived legally in the U.S. for more than a year. 

Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney, said that she had not been allowed to meet with the detained immigrants at the Atlanta airport. 

“These are people who live here; they have houses, they have dogs, cars,” Owings said. “This should not be happening. They can’t send back a permanent resident without a hearing.”

Late Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that all 11 people who were detained at the airport had been cleared and released.

In Europe, there was blowback from U.S. allies, who have absorbed a wave of refugees over the last two years and are already deeply unhappy with Trump for disparaging the NATO alliance and predicting the breakup of the European Union.

“When he rejects the arrival of refugees while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him,” said French President Francois Hollande.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, well aware of Trump’s evangelical Christian base of support, said pointedly, “‘Love thy neighbor’ is part of this tradition, the act of helping others.”

On social media, users bemoaned what they said was a blow to what remained of the world’s respect for American ideals.

“Fascism USA 2017,” tweeted Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian American author and activist.

The prospect of reciprocal measures was raised almost immediately — a factor that could potentially affect Americans including aid workers, tourists and business travelers. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, condemning Trump’s order, said Saturday that Iran “reserves the right of reciprocity,” official outlets reported.

Trump’s move could also dampen hopes for negotiating the release of U.S. citizens held in any of the affected countries. Several Americans of Iranian descent are imprisoned in Iran on spy charges.

King reported from Washington, Demick from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Houston. Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Melissa Etehad and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles, Tracy Lien in San Francisco, Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, and special correspondents Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Nabih Bulos in Beirut and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin contributed to this report.

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

ALSO 

Unknown number of U.S. permanent residents stuck overseas as a result of Trump’s immigration ban 

Outpouring of criticism over Trump’s refugee ban from Democrats in Congress as GOP stays silent 

As Trump bans Syrian refugees, a look back at when California welcomed 50,000 displaced people

  UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Atlanta airport.

9:00 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details about the stay and another court ruling.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with a federal judge issuing an emergency stay.

3:18 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from affected families and communities.

12:30 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from officials and family members of those prevented from boarding flights.

10:25 a.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the Department of Homeland Security, and reaction from the high-tech industry and the government in Iran.

9:30 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from Arab American groups.

This story was originally published at 9:10 a.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

[newstwitter-blog]

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/29/la-times-trumps-ban-on-some-u-s-entries-sparks-confusion-and-protest-worldwide-and-legal-rebukes-at-home-2/

La Times: Trump's ban on some U.S. entries sparks confusion and protest worldwide, and legal rebukes at home

President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee arrivals and banning entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries spawned chaos and consternation across the globe Saturday, stranding unwitting travelers, prompting passionate debate over American values and igniting a fierce legal pushback that yielded early court victories for the president’s opponents.

The abrupt ban ensnared people from all walks of life who were caught in transit or expecting to soon return to the U.S. — not only refugees but students on a break from studies, business travelers and scientists, tourists and concert musicians, even the bereaved who had gone home for funerals.

Of all the directives issued during a first jolting week of Trump’s presidency, it was this one that reverberated most powerfully in the outside world. Trump and his team insisted the order was not intended to target Islam and its followers, but the hashtag #muslimban trended, and many Muslims both in America and abroad said they viewed the measure as a broadly conceived and stinging exclusion.

Capping a day of high-stakes drama, a federal judge in New York, Ann M. Donnelly, ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S., saying that sending them back to the affected countries could cause them “irreparable harm.” But she did not rule on the legality of the executive order, nor did she say that others who have not yet arrived in the U.S. can be allowed to proceed.

Opponents of the president’s directive vowed to seek a wider court win. Lawyers from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union said they intended to press ahead with efforts to overturn the president’s overall order on constitutional grounds. And they rejoiced at their early victory.

“Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court.”

In a separate and more limited ruling, a federal judge in Virginia ordered a weeklong stay against removing people with permanent U.S. residency who had been detained under the presidential order at Washington Dulles International Airport.

As the directive’s effects spread, thousands staged spontaneous protests against refugee detention at airports across the country, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, demonstrators waved signs and read from the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

At more than a dozen airports, including Los Angeles, Newark, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, immigration attorneys stepped up in droves to offer free services to those detained. “A lot of tears and emotion here,” said Hassan Ahmad, a lawyer from northern Virginia who hustled to Dulles airport.

The New York order appeared to affect the 100 to 200 people who were detained in transit to the United States. While the order will prevent them from being sent home, it was less clear whether they will have to remain in detention while their asylum cases are being decided.

One of the two detained Iraqis named in the case, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was an interpreter who had worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Freed after 19 hours in custody, he wept as he spoke to reporters, thanking supporters and calling America “the land of freedom, the land of rights.”

The groups bringing the legal challenge, who also included the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigration Law Center, said a separate motion sets the stage for a larger action involving other would-be refugees, visitors and immigrants stopped at other ports of entry.

Arab American advocacy groups also were reacting to the new order, warning that it was disrupting travel all over the world.

“We see complete chaos in the way this has been implemented,” Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said in a conference call with reporters.

The directive, he said, had caught up not only desperate refugees who had thought themselves within a hairsbreadth of safety, but many more with already established lives, homes and families in the United States. “This order needs to be rescinded,” he said.

In another legal challenge, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the order. The suit, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional because of its apparent aim of singling out Muslims.

“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” the group’s national litigation director, Lena F. Masri, said in a statement. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”

The order, signed Friday by Trump during a visit to the Pentagon, suspends all refugee entries for 120 days. In addition, it indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Prominent Muslim figures raised their voices in opposition to the temporary refugee ban, saying children would be among those suffering the most from it.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” that Trump was closing the door on “children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war.”

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the travel ban also covered holders of green cards, who are authorized to live and work in the U.S. Some reports have put the number of such permanent residents from the affected countries as high as half a million.

An administration official said that current green card holders from the affected countries would be allowed to remain in the U.S. — but that those caught outside the country at the time of the ban’s imposition would have to be allowed back in on a case-by-case basis. Those with business overseas will have to meet beforehand with a consular official.

The measure’s scope was also widened by a State Department announcement that dual nationals from the seven affected countries who also held passports from third countries such as Britain or Canada could be blocked — in effect denying U.S. entry to citizens of closely allied nations.

As the measure’s far-reaching impact became clear, and the airport chaos mounted throughout the day, Trump denied it was a “Muslim ban” and said the process was going smoothly. “We were totally prepared,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”

The move has hit the technology industry, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers, many from Muslim-majority countries. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday slammed Trump’s executive order in a memo to employees, saying about 100 employees were affected, and advising those traveling abroad to reach out to the company’s immigration teams for assistance.

Investors and start-up employees are worried as well. Tech workers from countries such as Egypt and Jordan fear the list could soon expand to include their countries.

The entertainment world felt repercussions, too. It’s uncertain whether Iranian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi will be able to attend next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, though there are artistic waivers to the ban.

Relatives wondered when they would see loved ones again. Iranian American Milad Sharifpour, a physician at Emory University in Atlanta, was worried for his brother, Ali Reza, a green card holder who was in Tehran visiting family when the directive took effect. “I am sad, I’m upset, and I feel very frustrated,” Sharifpour said.

Many feared that what they intended as temporary trips abroad could become prolonged ordeals. A Syrian clarinetist who lives in New York and holds permanent U.S. residency was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a concert when the order took effect.

It left him unsure whether he would be able to go back to his Brooklyn apartment, he said, “let alone all the concerts and residencies I have in the U.S. in the coming few months.”

He asked not to be identified, because he will soon be trying to return to the U.S.

 “I am not sure how to describe how I feel,” he said. “It is certainly not about me; it is about so many individuals whose lives were deeply affected.”

Are you an immigrant? We want to hear your story »

The United Nations human rights agency issued a statement calling the long-standing U.S. refugee resettlement program “one of the most important in the world.” It called on the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. “will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.”

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race,” the group said.

Across the United States, refugee advocates scrambled to ascertain the status of those who were already en route or about to leave when the order came down. A total of 30 refugees were scheduled to arrive in Atlanta next week from Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All had gone through months of security checks.

“This is unprecedented,” said J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Atlanta office. “I’m not familiar with anything like this ever happening on such a mass scale in the entire history of this program. Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is deeply un-American.”

In Congress, reaction to the immigration chaos tended to break down along party lines, with vociferous criticism from Democrats while Republicans largely remained silent.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Trump had chosen a “dark path,” while both Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said the Statue of Liberty would have wept.

One of the few Republicans to speak out against the directive was Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who said the order could play into the hands of jihadist groups by being excessively sweeping in nature.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Airports overseas and in the U.S. found themselves at ground zero for the spreading chaos. Five members of one Iraqi family, along with a Yemeni, were prevented from boarding flights in Cairo.

At the Frankfurt airport in Germany, a major hub for travel from the Middle East and onward to Europe and the U.S., more were stranded. A German radio network quoted federal police as saying that 20 people from all seven countries on the list were stuck in the airport’s transit zone, unable to board flights for the U.S.

In Atlanta, a growing cluster of family members and lawyers gathered Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after at least five permanent U.S. residents who had traveled to Iran on vacation were detained by federal immigration officials.

Mansour Kenareh, 55, an Iranian software engineer who lives in Suwanee, Ga., said his brother-in law, his wife and their 10-year-old child had been detained after returning from a vacation in Tehran to visit family.

“They have green cards, they have bank accounts, they have a house here,” Kenareh said as he paced the arrivals hall of the international terminal after an unfruitful visit to a Customs and Border Protection office. Officials, he said, had detained the family for more than five hours, even though they had lived legally in the U.S. for more than a year. 

Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney, said that she had not been allowed to meet with the detained immigrants at the Atlanta airport. 

“These are people who live here; they have houses, they have dogs, cars,” Owings said. “This should not be happening. They can’t send back a permanent resident without a hearing.”

Late Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that all 11 people who were detained at the airport had been cleared and released.

In Europe, there was blowback from U.S. allies, who have absorbed a wave of refugees over the last two years and are already deeply unhappy with Trump for disparaging the NATO alliance and predicting the breakup of the European Union.

“When he rejects the arrival of refugees while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him,” said French President Francois Hollande.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, well aware of Trump’s evangelical Christian base of support, said pointedly, “‘Love thy neighbor’ is part of this tradition, the act of helping others.”

On social media, users bemoaned what they said was a blow to what remained of the world’s respect for American ideals.

“Fascism USA 2017,” tweeted Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian American author and activist.

The prospect of reciprocal measures was raised almost immediately — a factor that could potentially affect Americans including aid workers, tourists and business travelers. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, condemning Trump’s order, said Saturday that Iran “reserves the right of reciprocity,” official outlets reported.

Trump’s move could also dampen hopes for negotiating the release of U.S. citizens held in any of the affected countries. Several Americans of Iranian descent are imprisoned in Iran on spy charges.

King reported from Washington, Demick from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Houston. Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Melissa Etehad and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles, Tracy Lien in San Francisco, Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, and special correspondents Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Nabih Bulos in Beirut and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin contributed to this report.

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

ALSO 

Unknown number of U.S. permanent residents stuck overseas as a result of Trump’s immigration ban 

Outpouring of criticism over Trump’s refugee ban from Democrats in Congress as GOP stays silent 

As Trump bans Syrian refugees, a look back at when California welcomed 50,000 displaced people

  UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Atlanta airport.

9:00 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details about the stay and another court ruling.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with a federal judge issuing an emergency stay.

3:18 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from affected families and communities.

12:30 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from officials and family members of those prevented from boarding flights.

10:25 a.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the Department of Homeland Security, and reaction from the high-tech industry and the government in Iran.

9:30 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from Arab American groups.

This story was originally published at 9:10 a.m.

This post has been harvested from the source link, and News-Twitter has no responsibility on its content. Source link

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New Post has been published on http://www.news-twitter.com/2017/01/29/la-times-trumps-ban-on-some-u-s-entries-sparks-confusion-and-protest-worldwide-and-legal-rebukes-at-home/

La Times: Trump's ban on some U.S. entries sparks confusion and protest worldwide, and legal rebukes at home

President Trump’s executive order suspending refugee arrivals and banning entry to the U.S. from seven Muslim-majority countries spawned chaos and consternation across the globe Saturday, stranding unwitting travelers, prompting passionate debate over American values and igniting a fierce legal pushback that yielded early court victories for the president’s opponents.

The abrupt ban ensnared people from all walks of life who were caught in transit or expecting to soon return to the U.S. — not only refugees but students on a break from studies, business travelers and scientists, tourists and concert musicians, even the bereaved who had gone home for funerals.

Of all the directives issued during a first jolting week of Trump’s presidency, it was this one that reverberated most powerfully in the outside world. Trump and his team insisted the order was not intended to target Islam and its followers, but the hashtag #muslimban trended, and many Muslims both in America and abroad said they viewed the measure as a broadly conceived and stinging exclusion.

Capping a day of high-stakes drama, a federal judge in New York, Ann M. Donnelly, ordered a halt to deportations of travelers who arrived at airports with valid visas to enter the U.S., saying that sending them back to the affected countries could cause them “irreparable harm.” But she did not rule on the legality of the executive order, nor did she say that others who have not yet arrived in the U.S. can be allowed to proceed.

Opponents of the president’s directive vowed to seek a wider court win. Lawyers from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union said they intended to press ahead with efforts to overturn the president’s overall order on constitutional grounds. And they rejoiced at their early victory.

“Clearly the judge understood the possibility for irreparable harm to hundreds of immigrants and lawful visitors to this country,” said ACLU Executive Director Anthony Romero. “On week one, Donald Trump suffered his first loss in court.”

In a separate and more limited ruling, a federal judge in Virginia ordered a weeklong stay against removing people with permanent U.S. residency who had been detained under the presidential order at Washington Dulles International Airport.

As the directive’s effects spread, thousands staged spontaneous protests against refugee detention at airports across the country, including in Los Angeles and San Francisco. At New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, demonstrators waved signs and read from the famous Emma Lazarus poem inscribed in the Statue of Liberty.

At more than a dozen airports, including Los Angeles, Newark, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta, immigration attorneys stepped up in droves to offer free services to those detained. “A lot of tears and emotion here,” said Hassan Ahmad, a lawyer from northern Virginia who hustled to Dulles airport.

The New York order appeared to affect the 100 to 200 people who were detained in transit to the United States. While the order will prevent them from being sent home, it was less clear whether they will have to remain in detention while their asylum cases are being decided.

One of the two detained Iraqis named in the case, Hameed Khalid Darweesh, was an interpreter who had worked on behalf of the U.S. government. Freed after 19 hours in custody, he wept as he spoke to reporters, thanking supporters and calling America “the land of freedom, the land of rights.”

The groups bringing the legal challenge, who also included the International Refugee Assistance Project and the National Immigration Law Center, said a separate motion sets the stage for a larger action involving other would-be refugees, visitors and immigrants stopped at other ports of entry.

Arab American advocacy groups also were reacting to the new order, warning that it was disrupting travel all over the world.

“We see complete chaos in the way this has been implemented,” Abed A. Ayoub, legal and policy director for the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, said in a conference call with reporters.

The directive, he said, had caught up not only desperate refugees who had thought themselves within a hairsbreadth of safety, but many more with already established lives, homes and families in the United States. “This order needs to be rescinded,” he said.

In another legal challenge, the Council on American-Islamic Relations said it would file a federal lawsuit on behalf of more than 20 individuals challenging the order. The suit, to be filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Virginia, argues that the executive order is unconstitutional because of its apparent aim of singling out Muslims.

“There is no evidence that refugees — the most thoroughly vetted of all people entering our nation — are a threat to national security,” the group’s national litigation director, Lena F. Masri, said in a statement. “This is an order that is based on bigotry, not reality.”

The order, signed Friday by Trump during a visit to the Pentagon, suspends all refugee entries for 120 days. In addition, it indefinitely blocks Syrian refugees and bars entry to the U.S. for 90 days for those traveling from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.

Prominent Muslim figures raised their voices in opposition to the temporary refugee ban, saying children would be among those suffering the most from it.

Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot by the Taliban, said in a statement that she was “heartbroken” that Trump was closing the door on “children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war.”

On Saturday, the Department of Homeland Security said the travel ban also covered holders of green cards, who are authorized to live and work in the U.S. Some reports have put the number of such permanent residents from the affected countries as high as half a million.

An administration official said that current green card holders from the affected countries would be allowed to remain in the U.S. — but that those caught outside the country at the time of the ban’s imposition would have to be allowed back in on a case-by-case basis. Those with business overseas will have to meet beforehand with a consular official.

The measure’s scope was also widened by a State Department announcement that dual nationals from the seven affected countries who also held passports from third countries such as Britain or Canada could be blocked — in effect denying U.S. entry to citizens of closely allied nations.

As the measure’s far-reaching impact became clear, and the airport chaos mounted throughout the day, Trump denied it was a “Muslim ban” and said the process was going smoothly. “We were totally prepared,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “It’s working out very nicely, and we’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”

The move has hit the technology industry, which employs thousands of foreign-born workers, many from Muslim-majority countries. Google Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday slammed Trump’s executive order in a memo to employees, saying about 100 employees were affected, and advising those traveling abroad to reach out to the company’s immigration teams for assistance.

Investors and start-up employees are worried as well. Tech workers from countries such as Egypt and Jordan fear the list could soon expand to include their countries.

The entertainment world felt repercussions, too. It’s uncertain whether Iranian filmmaker and Oscar nominee Asghar Farhadi will be able to attend next month’s Academy Awards ceremony, though there are artistic waivers to the ban.

Relatives wondered when they would see loved ones again. Iranian American Milad Sharifpour, a physician at Emory University in Atlanta, was worried for his brother, Ali Reza, a green card holder who was in Tehran visiting family when the directive took effect. “I am sad, I’m upset, and I feel very frustrated,” Sharifpour said.

Many feared that what they intended as temporary trips abroad could become prolonged ordeals. A Syrian clarinetist who lives in New York and holds permanent U.S. residency was in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, for a concert when the order took effect.

It left him unsure whether he would be able to go back to his Brooklyn apartment, he said, “let alone all the concerts and residencies I have in the U.S. in the coming few months.”

He asked not to be identified, because he will soon be trying to return to the U.S.

 “I am not sure how to describe how I feel,” he said. “It is certainly not about me; it is about so many individuals whose lives were deeply affected.”

Are you an immigrant? We want to hear your story »

The United Nations human rights agency issued a statement calling the long-standing U.S. refugee resettlement program “one of the most important in the world.” It called on the Trump administration to ensure the U.S. “will continue its strong leadership role and long tradition of protecting those who are fleeing conflict and persecution.”

“We strongly believe that refugees should receive equal treatment for protection and assistance, and opportunities for resettlement, regardless of their religion, nationality or race,” the group said.

Across the United States, refugee advocates scrambled to ascertain the status of those who were already en route or about to leave when the order came down. A total of 30 refugees were scheduled to arrive in Atlanta next week from Somalia, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All had gone through months of security checks.

“This is unprecedented,” said J.D. McCrary, executive director of the International Rescue Committee’s Atlanta office. “I’m not familiar with anything like this ever happening on such a mass scale in the entire history of this program. Slamming the door on those fleeing persecution is deeply un-American.”

In Congress, reaction to the immigration chaos tended to break down along party lines, with vociferous criticism from Democrats while Republicans largely remained silent.

California Sen. Dianne Feinstein said Trump had chosen a “dark path,” while both Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer of New York and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco said the Statue of Liberty would have wept.

One of the few Republicans to speak out against the directive was Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, who said the order could play into the hands of jihadist groups by being excessively sweeping in nature.

“While not technically a Muslim ban, this order is too broad,” Sasse said in a statement.

Airports overseas and in the U.S. found themselves at ground zero for the spreading chaos. Five members of one Iraqi family, along with a Yemeni, were prevented from boarding flights in Cairo.

At the Frankfurt airport in Germany, a major hub for travel from the Middle East and onward to Europe and the U.S., more were stranded. A German radio network quoted federal police as saying that 20 people from all seven countries on the list were stuck in the airport’s transit zone, unable to board flights for the U.S.

In Atlanta, a growing cluster of family members and lawyers gathered Saturday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport after at least five permanent U.S. residents who had traveled to Iran on vacation were detained by federal immigration officials.

Mansour Kenareh, 55, an Iranian software engineer who lives in Suwanee, Ga., said his brother-in law, his wife and their 10-year-old child had been detained after returning from a vacation in Tehran to visit family.

“They have green cards, they have bank accounts, they have a house here,” Kenareh said as he paced the arrivals hall of the international terminal after an unfruitful visit to a Customs and Border Protection office. Officials, he said, had detained the family for more than five hours, even though they had lived legally in the U.S. for more than a year. 

Sarah Owings, an immigration attorney, said that she had not been allowed to meet with the detained immigrants at the Atlanta airport. 

“These are people who live here; they have houses, they have dogs, cars,” Owings said. “This should not be happening. They can’t send back a permanent resident without a hearing.”

Late Saturday, Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed said that all 11 people who were detained at the airport had been cleared and released.

In Europe, there was blowback from U.S. allies, who have absorbed a wave of refugees over the last two years and are already deeply unhappy with Trump for disparaging the NATO alliance and predicting the breakup of the European Union.

“When he rejects the arrival of refugees while Europe has done its duty, we should respond to him,” said French President Francois Hollande.

German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, well aware of Trump’s evangelical Christian base of support, said pointedly, “‘Love thy neighbor’ is part of this tradition, the act of helping others.”

On social media, users bemoaned what they said was a blow to what remained of the world’s respect for American ideals.

“Fascism USA 2017,” tweeted Mona Eltahawy, an Egyptian American author and activist.

The prospect of reciprocal measures was raised almost immediately — a factor that could potentially affect Americans including aid workers, tourists and business travelers. Iran’s Foreign Ministry, condemning Trump’s order, said Saturday that Iran “reserves the right of reciprocity,” official outlets reported.

Trump’s move could also dampen hopes for negotiating the release of U.S. citizens held in any of the affected countries. Several Americans of Iranian descent are imprisoned in Iran on spy charges.

King reported from Washington, Demick from New York and Hennessy-Fiske from Houston. Times staff writers Brian Bennett and Lisa Mascaro in Washington, Melissa Etehad and Kurtis Lee in Los Angeles, Tracy Lien in San Francisco, Shashank Bengali in Mumbai, India, and special correspondents Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran, Nabih Bulos in Beirut and Erik Kirschbaum in Berlin contributed to this report.

laura.king@latimes.com

Twitter: @laurakingLAT

barbara.demick@latimes.com

Twitter: @BarbaraDemick

molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com

Twitter: @mollyhf

ALSO 

Unknown number of U.S. permanent residents stuck overseas as a result of Trump’s immigration ban 

Outpouring of criticism over Trump’s refugee ban from Democrats in Congress as GOP stays silent 

As Trump bans Syrian refugees, a look back at when California welcomed 50,000 displaced people

UPDATES:

10:35 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the Atlanta airport.

9:00 p.m.: This story was updated with additional details about the stay and another court ruling.

7:35 p.m.: This story was updated with a federal judge issuing an emergency stay.

3:18 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from affected families and communities.

12:30 p.m.: This story was updated with additional reaction from officials and family members of those prevented from boarding flights.

10:25 a.m.: This story was updated with additional information from the Department of Homeland Security, and reaction from the high-tech industry and the government in Iran.

9:30 a.m.: This story was updated with additional comments from Arab American groups.

This story was originally published at 9:10 a.m.

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