#the consequences of leaving behind someone in a different country

[cyoc49]

Put Some Clothes On!

I’ve made my thoughts about modern young people known in the past, but you must know I really do try to hold my tongue. Even if I disagree with the way today's young adults dress, that doesn't mean I have to project it onto folks who are just trying to enjoy themselves... I mean, I very much can project onto them if I wanted to, if you've read some of my other material you've seen what I'm capable of. But doing that comes with all other sorts of consequences, which are admittedly usually very fun for me, but can be a headache to deal with. So again, I hold my tongue and silently lament the state of manners and dress in the world.

But sometimes, even I reach my limit. The other day, for example, I was going for a walk by the beach, when I came across a group of summer breakers having a party. All were dressed in far too little, but I did my best to ignore them and keep walking. Until I saw this one man. He was clothed only by the loosest definition of the word. His swimsuit was more like a folded napkin, designed to cover the bare minimum. Where did he even find a swimsuit that small? Do they sell them that small nowadays? And worst of all was the cockiness. The clear pride he felt for his body and all that he was showing. It made me sick. I could see in his eyes he genuinely believed this is what a good life was about. If I looked closely, it even looked like he had applied oil to his body to maximize the appearance of his exposed features.

This was just too far, even for me. I felt my words wanting to make themselves known. And before I could quell my tongue, I burst out in anger

“Put some clothes on!”

The group looked at me, and several started jeering. But I only paid attention to the undressed man. He was staring back at me, and I could see a blank look in his eyes. Uh oh. This is what I was trying to avoid. But this young man had pushed me over the edge and now he was going to learn firsthand the effect I can have on people.

Suddenly the man stood up and started walking away from the group, paying no mind of any of them. He stared dead ahead, no sign of brain activity behind his eyes. He was walking like a man on a mission, until he reached what I presume was his car. He got in, still clad in only a speedo, and started to drive away.

Shoot. This was getting out of hand quickly. Before he got too far, I hailed my chauffeur and told him to follow the runaway vehicle. Roughly 10 minutes later we arrived at what I presume was the man’s house. He'd driven his car haphazardly up the driveway, leaving the car door open and keys still running in the ignition. I headed towards the front door, which had similarly been left wide open.

From what I could tell as I walked through his house, he lived alone. I heard noise coming from a room around the corner. I walked into what appeared to be the man’s bedroom, where I found him in the attached bathroom looking very different already.

True to my word, he had put on some clothes. But he’d done more than that: he’d gone into his closet and picked out an outfit typically reserved for more formal occasions. He was wearing a purple plaid dress shirt, a Vineyeard Vines whale emblazoned on the breast. The shirt was tucked into a pair of pressed white dress pants, cinched with a brown leather belt. He'd chosen a pair of brown loafers to wear with the ensemble, but had decided to forgo socks, giving him the air of someone more likely to spend summer afternoons at the docks or the country club than half-naked on the beach. To that same effect, he'd taken some hygiene measures to clean himself up all around. He had given himself a clean shave, now looking much more fresh faced than he did with the previous mustache. And he'd run some product through his hair, giving him an appearance that was put-together but not overly formal.

I slowly approached him, taking in the transformation he'd undergone in just a few minutes. He was intently staring in the mirror, flossing his teeth. Once he'd determined that those too were spotless, he turned to face me.

I looked him in the eyes again. The blank expression was gone, and I could again see that cockiness he'd exhibited before. Instead of pride for his body, he was now showing pride for his appearance. As I looked at him, the side of his mouth formed a smirk.

"Is this alright?" He asked me, with a tone somewhere between sarcastic remark and genuine inquiry.

He'd impressed me a lot in the past 20 minutes, but this was once again a step too far. I'd already broken my pledge to keep my words to myself, I might as well finish the job.

"On your hands and knees," I snapped, and within half a second he was on all fours on the ground. Bent with his head pointed towards my feet in reverence. That was more like it. “Now look at me” I commanded him, and his eyes turned up to meet mine. I could see a mixture of emotions in his eyes: Fear for the control I exhibited over his body, fading hints of that cockiness trying to hold on, a slight arousal at his current situation. But above all, in his eyes I saw that he now understood exactly what he was: an object. His life as he'd known it was over, from now on he existed for my pleasure. He could do his little cocky hot boy act, act like he was king of the world dressed up or down, but he would always know I totally controlled him, and with just a few words I could make him be or do anything I wanted.

I stared him back in the eyes with a hard glare.

“You’re mine now, you know that right?”

“Y-yes”

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, sir”

“Say it again”

“Yes, sir”

“Say it again”

“Yes, sir”

“Who do you belong to?”

“You, sir”

“Who do you answer to?”

“You, sir”

“Whose boy are you?”

“Yours, sir”

“You love the orders I give you”

“I love the orders you give me, sir”

“You were lost before I found you.”

“I was lost before you found me, sir”

“You were degrading yourself with nudity.”

“I was degrading myself with nudity, sir”

“You were degrading yourself with vanity.”

“I was degrading myself with vanity, sir”

“You will follow a better way.”

“I will follow a better way, sir”

“You will follow my orders.”

“I will follow your orders, sir”

“I will make you into a man.”

“You will make me into a man, sir”

“A man has class.”

“A man has class, sir”

“A man should always respect himself.”

“A man should always respect himself, sir”

“A man should always dress properly.”

“A man should always dress properly, sir”

“A man should always obey his superiors.”

“A man should always obey his superiors, sir”

“A man knows his place.”

“A man knows his place, sir.”

“Now repeat it all back to me, boy, and tell me what you are in this world.”

A last trace of fear flared up in his eyes, one dying attempt of his conscious to hold on. One last breath of his old self. And then it was gone, and there was nothing behind his eyes. Just a drone’s gaze. Then, he began to speak in a complete monotone:

“I am what you make me into, sir. I was nothing before you, now I exist entirely for you, sir. I was lost, now I see my one goal in life. I need to be a good boy. I need to dedicate every fiber of my being to becoming a good boy. To following instructions. To respecting myself and other. I need to be molded into the picture perfect image of a gentleman, and I need you to do it for me, sir.”

It was done. Just like that, he was mine. I knew it wouldn’t take long to reach this point, but I did always enjoy the process. The rebellious ones are always particularly fun to break.

Now that he’s mine, I’ll need him to take care of a few last tasks.

“Listen up. I’m going to let you stand up in a moment, but you need to listen carefully.”

“Yes, sir”

“You’ve got a few tasks you need to take care of right now. Understand?”

“Yes, sir”

“Good. First of all, all this old junk has to go. All your clothes, all your furniture, it's all vulgar and unbecoming of a man. Go through some luxury catalogs and order new clothes and furniture. Everything you wear should have at least three digits on the price tag. All your furniture should be vintage. And as for that hunk of junk outside, go to the dealership and trade it for something with an Italian name. You might drain your savings doing this, but you don't need that money anymore."

"Yes, sir"

"Next, you're going to quit your job. Your friends, any clubs you were part of, any sports, it's all going away. You're not even going to say goodbye. Take your phone and throw it away."

"Yes, sir"

"Good. Once you've done all that, you're going to pay a visit to me." I handed him a card, "This is where I live. You'll be spending a good deal of your time here from now on. You'll get the chance to meet your new colleagues, other men like you who have come under my employ through one circumstance or another. They'll make sure to give you a warm welcome, as well as explain the duties and regulations you'll be expected to obey. Does that all sound good?"

"Yes, sir" In his eyes I saw total obedience, not just a desire to follow my orders but a love for my orders. He’ll make a good boy. Particularly malleable, ready to be shaped into a fun new mold.

"Good, now stand up."

He stood up and looked at me eye-to-eye again. Any of the previous cockiness was gone. I silently admired my handiwork to myself. This was a particularly troublesome man, and I had done a good job getting him into this shape. I thought about making some clever remark to him about the change he’d undergone, but my tongue had already got me into enough trouble today. So instead, I just looked at him and smirked.

He looked down, embarrassed and aroused by the power I held over him. He walked off in an extremely rigid, formal walk, picking up trash to throw away. I walked out of his home and back towards my car, where my chauffeur was ready to take me back to my home. I’d alert my other boys that they’d be expecting a new arrival tonight, and then the fun will really begin.

[munchcorner]

Tokoyami has always admired Hawks' generosity. He thought maybe it was natural for him since he was a hero, but after seeing him donate more than half of his earnings, Tokoyami began to wonder what made him so generous.

“Where are we going?” Tokoyami asked as he trailed behind Hawks.

“To an orphanage. It’s where I used to spend my free time,” Hawks answers. Tokoyami nods and looks at the boxes behind them.

“I can help you carry them,” Tokoyami offers, but Hawks shakes his head, “my feathers are enough to lift them. Besides, you’ll need your hands when we arrive.”

A fond smile graced Hawks’ lips as he spoke. Tokoyami didn’t understand the meaning of Hawks’ words until they arrived.

The children rushed toward them after the adoption counselor announced their arrival. They flocked toward Hawks.

“Hey, now,” Hawks says, “gather yourselves. I have someone I want to introduce.”

Tokoyami silently walks towards Hawks and stands beside him.

“This is my intern, Tokoyami. Be kind to him, okay?” Hawks says. The children nodded and collectively began to ask him questions.

“What quirk do you have?”

“How old are you?”

“Can you show us your quirk?”

Those were some questions the children asked. Tokoyami looks at Hawks, silently asking if he could. Hawks give him a slight nod and lift both his fists to show encouragement. Tokoyami sighs and entertains the children while Hawks talk to the people in charge.

They spent the day playing with the children. That day, Tokoyami saw a different side of Hawks. For once, he saw his mentor act his age. He’s used to seeing Hawks be mature, responsible, and solemn. But in the closed space of an orphanage on the far side of the country, he witnessed Hawks being playful and childish, most importantly, happy.

The smile plastered on Hawks’ face that day was far more genuine than the one he constantly wore when working. Tokoyami considers it an honor to see Hawks smiling that brightly. He captures the smile and records the laughter to keep in his heart and memory.

“You seem happy today,” Tokoyami says on their way to Fukuoka.

“I’m always happy,” Hawks smiles at him.

Tokoyami opens his mouth to retort to the statement but decides against it. Instead, he asks, “why do you give the orphanage more than they need? You don’t even have enough furniture in your apartment.”

Hawks hums, “what do you want to hear? The truth? Or a lie?”

Tokoyami rolls his eyes, “I can’t believe you’re asking me that. The truth, of course.”

“But I don’t want you to pity me,” Hawks playfully says as he wraps his arm around Tokoyami’s shoulder. He pulls Tokoyami inside a restaurant and orders them a meal.

“I won’t. I promise,” Tokoyami says, making Hawks shake his head, “don’t make promises without even hearing the details. That’s a bad habit.”

“I need your answer to my question, not a lecture.”

Hawks grabs his chest in faux pain, “I didn’t know you could be this harsh to your mentor.”

“Stop stalling,” Tokoyami says, impatient.

Hawks chuckles, “I guess there’s no escaping this conversation,” he whispers and takes a sip of water.

“Well, I grew up in poverty. It was a luxury for me to get proper nutrition, much less a toy.” Hawks start. He glances at Tokoyami, gauging his reaction before continuing, “I remember my mother getting beat for buying me an Endeavor plushie on sale. It wasn’t much, but my mother still suffered the consequences of fulfilling my wants.”

Tokoyami fists his hands, ‘what a horrible father,’ he thinks.

“I grew up in a run-down house. The rain would seep through the roof, and I’d have to find a way to collect them. It was a poor attempt at stopping the house from flooding, but no matter how much effort I put in, it still flooded.” A sad smile appears on Hawks’ lips as he recounts his childhood, “At winter, I’d bear the cold. I only had a few pieces of thin clothing, so I had to find a way to keep warm. I’d curl in a corner and imagine a warm fireplace. If lucky, I’ll collect dry leaves and sticks, then light them on fire.”

Hawks chuckles as he remembers his struggle with lighting a fire. But the look on Tokoyami’s face makes him stop, “do you want me to continue?”

Tokoyami shook his head. He couldn’t handle hearing the stories Hawks shared. It was both painful, pitying, and infuriating.

“This is why I told you not to promise me anything before,” Hawks says. He pats Tokoyami’s head. “You’re horrible at hiding your emotions, you know?” 

Tokoyami looks away, “I’m sorry.”

“There’s no need to apologize,” Hawks says.

Silence envelops them as Tokoyami takes in Hawks’ story. The food arrived, and they quietly ate until Hawks broke the silence.

“I give everything I have to that orphanage because they remind me of my younger self. Those children came from poverty and abuse. Since they’re far from the city, they don’t receive much funding.” Hawks says. Tokoyami remains silent as he lets Hawks talk. “Do you know what kept me going when I was young?”

Tokoyami shook his head, “what?”

“The Endeavor plushie. It was my light of hope, and I wanted to be that to those children. The first time I went there, their eyes seemed dead and hopeless. I didn’t like seeing that. That’s when I decided to do my best to support them.” Hawks says and proudly smiles as he continues. “Now, did you see how bright their eyes were?”

Tokoyami nodded with a smile, “they were the brightest smile I’ve ever seen.”

“Even the smallest action can bring the biggest changes,” Hawks says, “the money I spent on that orphanage is small considered to the joy they bring. The money, I can earn it again, but who knows what would have happened if I didn’t support them.”

Tokoyami’s smile grows brighter, “I’m glad I’m under your wing,” he whispers shyly.

Hawks laughs, “why are you suddenly shy?”

“I’ll make sure to continue what you started,” Tokoyami says, “I want to be other people’s hope too.”

The determination warms Hawks’ heart, “I can’t wait to see what kind of hero you’ll be in the future.” He then teases Tokoyami to lighten the mood before flying him home.

[moriartyluver]

FALSE LOVERS CHAPTER XVIII

"QUEEN TO E4."

tap tap tap

(Name) huffed, watching as William, who was sat opposite her, moved the chess piece along the checkered board. Her (eye colour) eyes scanned the board, looking  for her next move. Smirking to herself, she picked up her knight, killing off one of his rooks. "Knight to B5." 

The door swung open, revealing a worried looking Fred with Bond entering shortly behind him. "Lo-" He stopped himself, standing aside as the two geniuses finished their chess match. Bond raised an eyebrow, confused. 

"Why's nobody speaking?" He asked, sitting down on a nearby chair.

"shh.." Josephine hushed "I think (Name) might win for once.."

Moran scoffed "That's unlikely, they've done this every few months since they met and William's won every single time." 

"You've not seen how often she's been practising though.. and she has a whole exercise book full of William's techniques. She's obsessed with it, like it's her only wish to defeat William in a game of chess before either one of them dies, depending on who goes first." Albert said as William moved another piece, growing closer to..

"Checkmate!" 

(Name) threw her arms in the air, a youthful grin on her lips. "I won! My god, I won!" She laughed joyously whilst William fought back a smile, forcing a frown on his face. It wasn't like he let her win, but he did see a pretty good opening earler and may have chosen to ignore it. 

After a moment to let the victorious cheers from (Name) die down, Fred finally spoke up. "My Lord, someone's taken out the old court records.." 

(Name) sat down, the room's atmosphere turning serious. The former soldier turned to Fred, raising a brow "It isn't..That Holmes guy, he's done it at last.."

"No, it can't have been." Josephine shook her head. "It doesn't allign with the activity we've been tracking."

"It was Milverton. Charles Augustus Milverton." Fred explained. 

"The newspaper tycoon?" (Name) spoke up. 

Fred nodded "He owns and manages several newspapers and advertising companies, he's also called the number one media tycoon in the country." 

Oh god, it really was him. 

Was it because of her? Did she somehow manage to aggravate him and now William was to suffer the consequences? 

"He's a well prepared person who sent 5 different people to carry and pass on the record. I believe this was intended to learn about Lord William's past," He continued to explain whilst (Name) fidgeted in her seat, playing with the hem of her skirt. 

"Sir Milverton," Albert recalled "I think I've greeted him a handful of times..." 

Jack nodded in agreement. "I known him...he's a big businessman, not a noble. I would understand if it was Holmes but why would someone do that..?" 

"Hey," James chimed in "I don't know what story you're talking about. What the hell is Will's old court record?" 

"Ahh..my bad, I thought you already knew," Sebastian slung his arms over the armchair. "Before William and Louis were adopted by the Moriarty family, William had a trial against a nobleman.." 

"And that was before Will became the Will we know now?" James asked. "Why would you leave something like that?..no way.." 

"It was left out on purpose, as fishing bait of some sort." (Name) explained, feeling nostalgic. She remembered when she had found the court documents. If she thought about it, it was sort of the catalyst in the strange butterfly effect that lead to her  being here now. 

"Of course it wasn't a court case that was created to be bait in the first place, Bond..and as a result."  William smiled. 

"Whilst it's easy to physically erase the court record, it's impossible to erase the memories of William from that time from everyone in the orphanages and slums." Albert stated with a smug smile. "By keeping the court records of the trial which you'll come across if you talk to someone who remembers from that time...when a person who's looking into Will's past appears, we can find out their identity immediately." 

"So that's why..." Bond trailed off. "Even though Sherlock hasn't gotten there yet someone has taken the bait. Milverton, he's a threat for the time being." 

"He isn't a force to be reckoned with," (Name) said, recalling her few encounters with him. "And he has quite the clean slate. It was quite difficult to blackmail him back..." 

"Blackmail him back?" William raised a brow. Typical (Name), she never was entirely honest with him..

"Anyways, the trial..Bond is still unaware of what transpired." She smiled, changing the subject, prompting Louis to tell the story. "How about you tell him the story?" 

(Name) already knew this story of course, considering  she had already taken out the old court records when she was about 18 years old, and still under the impression that William was the original William who was rumoured to be a mean spirited boy in his youth. After first meeting him, she had distanced herself from the teenager due to her fear that he was really still awful, even if it was a few years ago. She had heard stories of his being incredibly unkind to girls who liked him romantically, or bullying foreigners even if they were of the same social class. 

Being within these wealthy circles, (Name) knew that some people were unkind and dismissive or rude to those they saw as 'less than', but William just seemed like an asshole, who just so happened to be intelligent, this prompting her rivalry with him. Finding out his true identity only made her feelings towards him more complicated. She had initially been unkind to him because she had assumed he was as bad as the rumours said, and even tried to beat him in school work to shrink his ego. A woman who just so happened to be a foreigner beating him in academics? That would shut him up. 

Unfortunately it didn't. 

And here she was, married to the man she used to hate, and even sleeping with him occasionally without a pragmatic purpose. God, her 16 year old self would hate her. 

She felt suddenly quite ill as Louis told the story of the old court case, excusing herself to the bathroom. She felt dizzy, kneeling by the lavatory and with teary eyes and a few choked out sobs, her breakfast painted the inside of the toilet bowl. She wasn't even feeling very hungry that morning either, but William had encouraged her to eat, so she did, because for some odd reason, she couldn't really say no to him anymore, even when he convinced her to attend the tea party...

She threw up again. And again. And again, until her stomach felt empty and her tears stopped flowing. 

"Oh fuck." She murmured to herself, her advanced vocabulary and elegant manner of speech out the window. "Fuck you Charles Augustus Milverton. This is all your fucking fault, you stupid bastard!" 

Internally, she thanked the lord that everyone else was downstairs, whilst she was in the bathroom on the second floor, beside her bedroom, William's bedroom of the other end of her thin walls. She had spent an awful lot of time in there as of late, and now she was certainly regretting it. At least her mother wouldn't pester her anymore..but maybe it was just a stomach bug. This was Victorian England, after all. Doctors were still trying to get the hang of washing their hands right. But when she took into account the other symptoms..

She stood up, rather abruptly, and stumbled against the basin. God she was not cut out for this. 

"If only he hadn't spread those rumours about me being infertile behind his stupid gossip magazine..it was payback for me buying his other newspaper company from him, wasn't it? It's not as if I did anything personal to him..I just wanted people to stop being suspicious about all the prostitution issues, and so what if I killed a few exploitative men? How did that affect him? I met him in person and he didn't even seem to mind selling the company over to me.." She rambled, washing her mouth out with water until she couldn't taste anything anymore.

Milverton, as discovered by (Name), had been involved in her life twice, and tried to create scandal for her both times. 

Before she worked at Durham, (Name) was mostly in charge of the important jobs that needed to be done for William, but didn't require the entire group. One of these included dismantling an extremely large sex trafficking ring, and ended up in a few deaths of noblemen who had heavy involvement in it, exploring vulnerable women and girls, whilst profiting off it. Naturally, someone like (Name) would be furious at that, and ended up killing them. 

Following the murders, one of Milverton's newspaper companies took this as an opportunity to spread fear, which was unsuccessful and tried again with the Jack the Ripper situation. 

(Name) had written to Milverton, asking him to take down the headlines, lying about her motives. When he refused, she offered to buy the company for double its worth, and surprisingly, he took it. Now, within (Name)'s investment portfolio, she had a newspaper company she didn't know what to do with. Maybe she could've handed it over to her old friend, Engels. 

Anyways, following that, she hadn't disappeared for a while from society, only making appearances when necessary, until she went to that masquerade ball, hosted by the Prince Of Wales, to find Irene Adler with Albert. Whilst she was there, she heard of rumours regarding her relationship with William, and her ability to get pregnant. Turns out, this started from a gossip magazine that (guess who?) Milverton (it was kinda obvious) owned. It was as if he had suspected something in her marriage with William, and her link to some criminal activity. So, that cunning bastard hit her where it hurts, and tried to put her in a trap. If she got pregnant, she would have to sleep with William, and if she didn't, she would prove that she was in a difficult marriage, possibly a contractual marriage. 

As a result, (Name) slept with William for the sake of providing an heir to her parents, or at least that's what she told herself. It had happened a few more times since, and after the last time, she realised she needed to stop lying to herself and that you don't need to sleep with someone that many times to get pregnant. 

And here she was.

Pregnant. 

"Josephine?" (Name) said, quietly. She was unable to continue reading, the migraine she had worsening. She had been stressed ever since she had found out of her...condition. It was far from an ideal time to be with child, but an heir is an heir, so at least she had that. Romeo purred content lay on her lap as her free hand stroked his small back. 

Everyone else was busy, and she and Josephine were in the drawing room, sipping tea or tidying up. William was with Albert at one of MP Adam Whitley's speeches, who they had been interested in the past week, so much so that William didn't even realise (Name) was having morning sickness, which was odd because she felt quite starved of affection as of late. 

God she was a sick woman. 

"Yes?" The brunette hummed. "What's the matter?" 

"Have my parents sent any mail lately?" She asked. 

Josephine thought for a moment before answering, the clock ticking louder in the silence. "It doesn't seem so, apart from that letter from your mother, where she was asking if you knew how to make an heir, because you weren't pregnant yet." 

"She won't have to ask anymore," (Name) muttered, taking a sip of tea. 

Josephine laughed absentmindedly for a moment, before snapping her head around to (name), realising what she meant. 

"What?" 

"What?" 

"You just said-" Josephine furrowed her thin eyebrows. She glanced at her lower torso, not seeing much change. "Are you..?" 

"Thank god it isn't obvious yet." (Name) rolled her eyes.  "Yes, I am. 

"Who announces news like that? Wouldn't you just say, outright, 'Hey Josephine, I, (Name) (Last Name), am pregnant.'" She groaned, sitting beside her. 

"(Name)'s pregnant?" An American accent spoke from the door way. Both girls yelped in surprise, even Romeo meowed in shock, turning to see Bond at the door. The three of them often spent time together, shopping, gossiping, etc. 

"Please stop speaking like that," (Name) frowned. "I am with child." She whispered. Pregnancy was quite taboo in such an era. "And I only found out recently. A few days ago, really." 

"Is it William's?" Josephine asked as James sat with them. 

(Name) glared at her slightly. "Of course..what do you take me for?" 

"There's a lot to unravel with that statement but first of all, we know how you're like," Josephine pointed out. "The only reason the ton doesn't call you a whore is because most of the men you've slept with are dead, usually your fault." 

"Touché." 

"And second of all, if I may," James chimed in, keeping his voice low. "You slept with William?" 

"Yes." (Name) nodded "You can't blame me. I haven't slept with anyone since I went on that trip to (home country).." 

"How many times?" Josephine asked, a serious face on her usually cute and cheerful face. 

(Name) started counting on her fingers, losing count a couple of times before the other two just groaned, realising she was possibly a lost cause. 

"Was it at least good?" The blond asked "I mean, I never took Will for the type to..you know.." 

She paused for a moment, trying her best to remember each individual time to the best of her ability. "Well.." she trailed off as Josephine and James curiously leaned in. "Okay, so the first time was after that ball, the one we went to in order to recruit you," She gestured to James "And the ton kept gossiping about me not being pregnant yet after 2 years of marriage, so, after I returned, I saw William, we kissed and the rest is history." 

"I suppose history really does repeat itself," Josephine joked "I thought you despised William..surely once would suffice." 

(Name) narrowed her eyes at the joke, not appreciating the comedy of such a stressful moment. "I wanted to..make sure..? And besides, I've slept with worse men." 

"So," James cleared his throat. "Are you going to tell him?" 

"Tell him what?" (Name) questioned. "He knows how many men I've slept with. At least someone in that room was experienced.." 

Bond almost choked on his tea at that. 

"He meant to ask if you were going to tell William you're pre-" Josephine stopped herself "With child."

"At some point..but you know how things have been recently..I talked to William about plans recently and he..well, let's just say that if something goes wrong, we might have to undergo extreme measures soon." (Name) bit her lip, trying not to think too much about it. "But I will, when the moment's right. Then I won't have to sleep with him again."

"You say that as if you don't want to." James teased "You never told us how many times..~" 

"When has it ever been acceptable to ask a lady such a question?" She stammered, embarrassed. 

"Bet you did it after the tea party a couple of weeks ago," Josephine teased with him. "I couldn't find you or William the whole evening." 

"I don't need to tell you that..!" (Name) exclaimed, heat rising to her cheeks as she stood up, walking out of the room. 

"I bet he calculates things whilst they're doing it." James whispered, imitating William's voice  "the formula for the curves of your body is y equals-" 

"I can hear you!" (Name) yelled.

"...A message?" Albert muttered. 

"Yes," Fred nodded, holding up the telegram. "It's addressed to the head of the family. The man who delivered it said he was given a pound by a man who hid his face. Inside of the envelope  was a memo with the adress of  a cemetery in chiswick written on it, along with a hankerchief with a 'W' embroidered on it."

"A 'W'..?" (Name) repeated, recognising the fabric. 

William stood up from beside her. "Let's go."

Once the group had arrived to the cemetrey in the adress, they got out of the carriage. The moon shone brightly amongst the stars and the late winter air enveloped them in an eerie chill. Sensing (Name)'s discomfort or possibly his own, William reached out for her gloved hand, rubbing his thumb against the back of her palm reassuringly. 

"I'm glad you came, Earl Moriarty." A hooded man spoke as they approached him. They all turned to face him as he revealed his face from the shadows. 

"MP Whitely..?" Albert stood in front of him as he sat on a bench. "So it was you who called me here."

"Yes, that's right." He nodded, removing the hood. 

"What's the reason for this meeting?" The earl asked. "I'm sure it's for something confidential." 

"I sent the memo secretly, as not to bother you," the politician explained. "I'm sorry I didn't write my name. This is the evidence of the house of lord's corruption that you gave me." (Name)'s eyes darted to the document on the bench, then back to Albert. She had known of this, but as a foreign diplomat, she really had no place to speak on the issue. "I thought it would be best if I handed it over directly.." 

"..why are you giving it back?" Albert asks abruptly, narrowing his emerald eyes. 

"...." Adam Whitely sighed, a moments silence in the air. "Please try to remain calm when I tell you." He breathed again, holding up his right hand. "I just killed a man's with my own hands. 

'This must be his first kill.' 

The first kill is always the most difficult. For (Name) it was Theodore Arden, well, actually it was one of his siblings, which she often regretted, even if she didn't think of it in the moment. 

For William, Albert and Louis, she always assumed it was the Moriarty family, more accurately Albert's brother, the original William. He was a young boy, barely 13. (Name) couldn't imagine killing someone so young. When she killed Theodore's 18 year old brother, she always felt horrible. He was the youngest person she had ever killed, and she was grateful for that in a sick and twisted way. But she wasn't superior to the Moriarty brothers, just because she killed older people. It wasn't something to brag about nor compare. Lives were taken, they were all equally accountable. And besides, not to boast, but she did have a higher murder count than the three of them combined. 

"My family was killed by one of the yard's officers who I trusted. I-I killed him...There was no way I could forgive him...the officer who killed them had his wife and child kidnapped and killed if he didn't do it..but now, I'm not even sure it was true." Whitely stated at his hands as he spoke, unable to make eye contact with anyone whilst his voice grew shaky and eyes wet with tears. "And now..I don't have the confidence to turn myself in." 

"I've killed a person," he continued. "Since he was an officer, it'll be easy for political opponents to use his death to block not just the bill, but the rose to equality itself...this problem isn't just mine anymore." 

He was right. This was more complex, like it had been set up like this. 

'Milverton, you bastard.' 

"What are you going to do?" Albert asked. 

"I can't keep living without being brought to justice." Whitely said, his voice cracking as he looked at his hands. "If possible, I would like to repay for my sin with my life." 

"I see.." William spoke from beside her, a few feet away. 

"..you are..?" Whitely turned his attention to the mastermind. 

"Albert's younger brother, William." He introduced himself. 

"Younger brother.." Adam muttered, a soft smile on his face. One of defeat. "you also have a younger brother. Mine used to talk to me when things got hard.." 

(Name)'s eyes softened at that. Sibling bonds were special, she knew that. Even if she only had one for 9 years of her life, she wished each day that she could trade her life for his. She would never be able to fill the shoes he could, even if, when alive, he never thought he could. God she missed him. 

"If everything you said is true, then it's clear that you were targeted by someone. That person tried to prevent equality from entering this country by driving you to madness." William spoke. 

"William." She said, frowning at his choice of words. She saw herself in Adam. In a weird sort of way. She too had driven herself insane for the sake of avenging her brother. It was like looking in the mirror. 

She remembered the night she came him after killing the Viscount Arden, and all his family. She remembered sitting on her bed, her university work on her desk, and falling back against the sheets, as if she had just had a tiring day at school, and hadn't killed about 10 people and exploded their family home. She remembered peeling her blood soaked clothes off, trying to forget the images of a mangled Theodore from her head whilst his father screamed and sobbed as he watched. She remembered soaking her body in warm water, staring at her reflection and seeing a blurred vision of herself, like she had changed. She remembered sitting in her bed, and picking up the book beside her that she had ripped right from William's hands, after realising it was the only one in the library. She remembered his cute little frown, almost a pout as she snagged it, rushing over to the librarian to check it out, god she couldn't even remember what book it was. 

And somehow, after a few months of nightmares and paranoia and finally arrest, things returned to normal, even if her hands were permanently stained with blood. Eventually, by the time she had her debutante ball, she had learned to forget. She became so good at forgetting that she had permanently blocked out all those horrid memories, even when she killed Ashfordshire, and even when she married William. If he had never gotten himself kidnapped, she would never have remembered. She didn't know if she wanted that or not. 

"Essentially, you were taken advantage of," William said. Was he thinking of Milverton too? 

"Ha..I guess you could say that." Whitely chuckled nervously. "I was the one who chose to kill him...I'm sure there are other ways I could have dealt with him..." 

"When the people we love are hurt, all reason disappears and we are left with a mere desire for revenge if pushed hard enough." (Name) reassured him. He looked up at her, recognising who she was. 

"Regardless," he said "It's over for me." 

"It's not over yet.." William whispered. "If you still wish to pay for the sin that you've committed with your life.." He held out his hand, a determined expression on his face. "I want it, that life of yours."

 

"It's seem's Adam's taken the apple," (Name) Said, opening the door to William's office. He was alone, as usual. "I always found it odd that the bible blamed it on Eve." 

"You aren't the only one." William spoke, eye's glued to a paper on his desk. "It's very like you to make jokes like this." 

"Is it now?" She chuckled, shutting the door behind them. Before they left after seeing Adam, Josephine pulled her to the side and convinced her to tell William about her recent issue. One she had still not absorbed. "I..actually came here to talk to you.." 

"Mhm.." William hummed, "You always do that, come into my office or bedroom, and talk. Your younger self would be appalled. But, please tell, what is it?" 

A lump formed in her throat, finding it difficult to say. Would she outright say she was pregnant, or ease into a conversation about it. She glanced at his desk, opting for the second option. Her eyes widened as she saw the book he was reading.

"I was just thinking..about that book." She pointed to it, picking it up. It was Homer's Iliad, an old copy, but relatively new in comparison to when it was originally written in Ancient Greece, before the philosophers and thinkers. "Do you remember..? Us in the library..." 

William paused for a moment "oh, I do..You practically stole it out of my hands because it was the only copy at the time. What prestigious university doesn't have more than one Illiad." 

(Name) smiled fondly at the memory. It was always William who remembered little things like that. One of her married friends would complain about her husband not even knowing her favourite colours, or foods..William was never that kind of man. "Oh, I'm sure some others else took out the other ones when we had our little.."

"Blatant robbery?" He raised a brow, prompting her to giggle and sit on his desk where there was space. "Sweetheart, you practically ripped it out of my hands, and very forcefully might I add. I remember being quite upset, even Albert would remember how much I complained to him. He was very familiar with you, even though you didn't meet until much later." 

Her (eye colour) eyes softened at his words, placing the book back down. "Was I really mean to you..?" 

"I didn't mind..it was worse when you ignored me.." He whispered, seeming quite vulnerable. 

"Yes, well..a lot can change in 8 years.." she hummed, still contemplating on telling him the truth. Now would be the perfect time to do so, but..he looked so sad, like a puppy who didn't have a home. 

"Mhm.." he hummed again, all the memories of them in university together merging as one. 

"I mean..you'd never expect us to be married, even if it's contractual. And we have an even more complex relationship than we did back then," she spotted a smile form on his lips, deciding to keep trying to cheer him up. "And even back then when we both didn't really have many friends, but now, we have people we can trust and rely on.." (name) took his hand in hers, squeezing reassuringly. 

William nodded "I suppose you're right...I just hope things change positively from now on, even if the circumstances aren't the best.." 

She brought his face closer to hers, kissing him tenderly as she leaned down. His arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her onto his lap with a little squeal, his lips still with hers. After a few times kissing her, he had certainly gotten the hang of it, even if it was difficult to concentrate with her unbuttoning his shirt, sliding her palms against his chest. 

"I thought you said you had something to talk to me about.." William breathed against her lips, pulling away slightly. 

(Name) shook her head, then leaned in for another breathless kiss "It's not important right now..besides, we don't have much time, so you better be quick." 

"Mm.." he laughed in between groans, his hand resting on the small of her back, his other hand caressing her thigh. "Give me five minutes..I won't take too long..I've learnt from the best after all." 

"You flatter me, darling," She chuckled "But I agree..I've shaped you into quite the man, haven't I?" 

"Take it all..It's all yours, my love." He offered, tugging at her dress to reveal more of her soft skin. “I lied, Angel. I’m going to need at least 15 minutes..”

"Looks like it might rain soon..." 

The clouds were grey over the Houses of Parliament. People crowded around from all different walks of life. Nobles, doctors, factory workers...even killers. 

"It's already time for the meeting to start..." 

"Is MP Whitely even going to come..?" 

"All of his family members and the officer guarding them were killed?" On man asked, taking a cigarette out of his mouth. 

"Yeah..the culprit is still unknown and at large as well." Another man beside him replied. "Perhaps the actual target was the MP himself. If he shows up they might try to kill him again."

"Ah!" Heads turned to an incoming carriage, watching as Adam Whitely arrived. 

"He's here!" 

"Move out of the way!" 

"It's the MP's carriage!" 

Journalists and members of the public crowded around the carriage as the politician tries to leave the carriage, asking questions about the reason murder of his family members. 

"...My dearest family," Whitely spoke, silencing the crowd. "Along with the officer guarding them, were killed...but! No matter what happens in the future, I will continue to fight for this country's equality!" He beamed, hand on his chest "That's just who I am!!!" 

The people cheered, chanting his name and praising his resolve. 

"The white Knight of our country, Whitely!" They cheered, whilst he smiled and waved. Before he could enter parliaments, someone, a masked stranger, charged toward him with a knife in hand, piercing through his chest.  Adam Whitely fell to the ground as everyone gasped in shock. 

"Wha-?" 

The man tipped his hat, using a robe to fly to the top of the Houses of Parliament. 

"The MP! He's been stabbed!! C-Catch that man!” Someone yelled, urging the police officers from the yard, but he was too out of reach. They couldn’t get him in time. 

“Ha..” The silouhette, now amongst the grey clouds, spoke. “The MP, his family, the officer…all of them were killed by me. Everything was orchestrated by me: The Lord Of Crime..” 

“T-The Lord of crime?!” They had all assumed he was just a myth. 

“I’m the one who will drag London down to the depths of hell!” He yelled from the top of the building, holding his hand out dramatically. “Now, catch me if you can!” 

And with that he was gone.

A/N: finally got this long ass chapter out before second year of college starts tomorrow!! I’m doing to shoot myself!! 😀😀 jk jk. Anyways yes I used the accidental pregnancy trope, yes it works with the plot. Deal with it. I can’t lie I cracked up when I was writing about fl josie and bond. When she started counting on her fingers 💀 personally don’t blame her. Also next R U mine chapter coming out soon. Bye bye!!!

[saintsaensreads]

The growing TBR Pile : 2024 edition

I'm not a fast reader. Case in point : Storygraph has me pinned as someone reading a book in... 2 months. I say this is slander. I think. I'm not sure. There might be some truth somewhere. But I consume a lot of content either via YouTube or Tumblr about books.

The consequences are dire : my TBR pile grows and grows! So here are some of my 2024 discoveries that I want to read (at some point, I don't know when exactly, it's difficult to say - but it will happen?).

First stop : Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian literature.

At the beginning of the year, I happened on a very short article (in an otherwise very dense newspaper) listing some of the latest translations by a single translator of BCS language. She mentioned the similarities and differences between all those languages, leading me to read more and more about her work and those languages. It made me quite curious about translated literature from that region and ended up compiling a few of them.

Source : interview in French of Chloe Billon, the translator in question, in Pages Sauvages.

Na Drini ćuprija - The Bridge over the Drina -, Ivo Andrić (1945)

The town of Visegrad was long caught between the warring Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian Empires, but its sixteenth-century bridge survived unscathed--until 1914 when tensions in the Balkans triggered the first World War. Spanning generations, nationalities, and creeds, The Bridge on the Drina brilliantly illuminates a succession of lives that swirl around the majestic stone arches. Among them is that of the bridge's builder, a Serb kidnapped as a boy by the Ottomans; years later, as the empire's Grand Vezir, he decides to construct a bridge at the spot where he was parted from his mother. A workman named Radisav tries to hinder the construction, with horrific consequences. Later, the beautiful young Fata climbs the bridge's parapet to escape an arranged marriage, and, later still, an inveterate gambler named Milan risks everything on it in one final game with the devil.

Adios, Comboy, Olja Savičević Ivančević (2011)

Dada’s life is at a standstill in Zagreb—she’s sleeping with a married man, working a dead-end job, and even the parties have started to feel exhausting. So when her sister calls her back home to help with their aging mother, she doesn’t hesitate to leave the city behind. But she arrives to find her mother hoarding pills, her sister chain-smoking, her long-dead father’s shoes still lined up on the steps, and the cowboy posters of her younger brother Daniel (who threw himself under a train four years ago) still on the walls.Hoping to free her family from the grip of the past, Dada vows to unravel the mystery of Daniel’s final days.

Second Stop : Polish literature

I learned a lot this past year about Poland (for personal reasons). I started reading about the history of the country, the language, its culture etc. I was at first quite ashamed to be so oblivious to another country from which quite a few of my friends's family come from, and with which French history is so closely linked. Obviously, I started piling up some polish writers in my TBR as a result.

Bezrobotny Lucyfer - Lucifer Unemployed -, Aleksander Wat (1927)

In these nine stories the Polish writer Aleksander Wat consistently turns history on its ear in comic reversals reverberating with futurist rhythms and the gently mocking humor of despair. Wat inverts the conventions of religion, politics, and culture to fantastic effect, illuminating the anarchic conditions of existence in interwar Europe. The title story finds a superbly ironic Lucifer wandering the Europe of the late 1920s in search of a mission: what impact can a devil have in a godless time? What is his sorcery in a society far more diablical than the devil himself? Too idealistic for a world full of modern cruelties, the unemployable Lucifer finally finds the only means of guaranteed immortality. In "The Eternally Wandering Jew," steady Jewish conversion to Christianity results in Nathan the Talmudist reigning as Pope Urban IX. The hilarious satire on power, "Kings in Exile," unfolds with the dethroned monarchs of Europe meeting to found their own republic in an uninhabited island in the Indian Ocean.

Third and Final Stop : under the Influence

I used to watch TikTok at some point, and most of the content left me frustrated, with a hint of dissatisfaction. But sometimes, sometimes, I happened on a great content creator, full of enthusiasm, or a very very avid reader sharing their love for one book. This, unfortunately, doesn't leave me unbothered. And I do admit, witnessing the passion of someone else about a book, made me want to dive into the novels myself !

Memórias Póstumas de Brás Cubas - The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas -, Machado de Assis (1881)

Machado de Assis is not only Brazil's most celebrated writer but also a writer of world stature. In his masterpiece, the 1881 novel The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas (also translated as Epitaph of a Small Winner), the ghost of a decadent and disagreeable aristocrat decides to write his memoir. He dedicates it to the worms gnawing at his corpse and tells of his failed romances and half-hearted political ambitions, serves up hare-brained philosophies and complains with gusto from the depths of his grave. Wildly imaginative, wickedly witty and ahead of its time, the novel has been compared to works by Cervantes, Sterne, Joyce, Nabokov, Borges and Calvino, and has influenced generations of writers around the world.

The Safekeep, Yael van der Wouden (2024)

It is 1961 and the rural Dutch province of Overijssel is quiet. Bomb craters have been filled, buildings reconstructed, and the war is truly over. Living alone in her late mother’s country home, Isabel knows her life is as it should be—led by routine and discipline. But all is upended when her brother Louis brings his graceless new girlfriend Eva, leaving her at Isabel’s doorstep as a guest, to stay for the season. Eva is Isabel’s antithesis: she sleeps late, walks loudly through the house, and touches things she shouldn’t. In response, Isabel develops a fury-fueled obsession, and when things start disappearing around the house—a spoon, a knife, a bowl—Isabel’s suspicions begin to spiral. In the sweltering peak of summer, Isabel’s paranoia gives way to infatuation—leading to a discovery that unravels all Isabel has ever known. The war might not be well and truly over after all, and neither Eva—nor the house in which they live—are what they seem.

[shortfictionweeklychallenge]

Short Fiction Weekly Challenge

Time for a new prompt from the Short Fiction Weekly Challenge, tumblr edition. Let it spark your imagination. Any character, any fandom, any original world. Reblogs welcome!

Post your story to your blog and send the link to Short Fiction Weekly Challenge! We’ll send the link out to all our followers to enjoy.

This week’s SFWC prompt:

Week of October 4, 2024

Re-Entry: Hitting atmosphere in preparation for landing on a planet...or another interpretation? Going back to a job your character thought they left behind? A friend group or formal club they’ve long been away from? An educational course they abandoned (or had to leave) before finishing? A relationship they thought was over but might not be? Re-entry requires your character closing some things off and preparing for a different experience. They might have stumbled into the situation before they realized what was happening--now they need to adjust and quickly. Maybe they’ve seen it coming and prepared for every contingency. How does your character approach re-entry, and do they make it?

Feel free to continue submitting stories for any prompt.  A masterpiece missed the deadline?  Don’t let it gather electronic dust.  Submit it anyway and Short Fiction Weekly Challenge will publish it.  

This week’s featured previous prompts are: 

Good Intentions: It's said the road to hell is paved with them. Most characters, outside of the truly villainous, want to help and to make things better. Usually we let them. Good intentions can backfire or have unintended consequences, some of which might be worse than the original situation. They can also be far better! It's our story; we do what we want, and things need not always be bad. This week, begin with your character's good intentions and tell us what happens.

Smuggler's Blues: Has your character trafficked in less-than-legal items? Even by accident? What was it? Drugs? Stolen merchandise? Banned books? People? Translated media that isn't officially available in that language? Fruit, vegetables, plants, or animals that aren't allowed to leave their country of origin, or aren't allowed into the destination? Cheese? Maybe your character purchased smuggled items. Maybe they're the smuggler. There are plenty of reasons for someone to circumvent import restrictions here on Earth and at least as many elsewhere and when. Surely there's a story in it.

Got an idea for a prompt?  Submit it here.

[cursed-princess-club]

I wonder your opinion regarding CPC ships, at least woth the pre-existing 6 couples in CPC wiki (https://cursed-princess.fandom.com/wiki/Category:Relationship) a.k.a Maria/Blaine, Lance/Lorena, Frederick/Gwendolyn, Jolie/Nell, Jack/Lilyth (Leelathae). Thank you for seeing my message and sorry for asking too many at once!!!

ohhhh i find all these relationships interesting! Lots to unpack probably. this is all probably known stuff but uhh uh uh Yes

maria/blaine: you know when older sibling dilemmas. People Who get each other kind of but not really but also a little bit maybe . similarities but also really strong differences. yes, the pressure of being the eldest, but relations to those siblings greatly varying, and the contrasts in their support systems. Trying to put this idea into words raughh. HOW DO I SAY. well uh... idk idk something about the two most dedicated to the marriage the role they play for their families. Something about that relationship becoming what it is with the obsession and idolization then the heartbreak then the understanding and such- and i say this as someone who wasnt really invested in maria and blaine!!! The DRAMA dude

lance/lorena: good people! who seemed to vibe the best at first! Not the right place or the right time??? maybe ?? In another life they wouldve been gym bros yk. they adored each other but were also completely set up to feel bitter once the whole arrangement was revealed to be... Yeah.

gwen/fred: it's like if the two most open hearted doe eyed maybe maybe not insecure and self deprecating friends accidentally hurt each others feelings a lot/keep scaring each other. And stuff. u know how it is. I enjoy them and their development a lot! They need to catch a break so bad

jolie/nell: There is so much to explore with this relationship but it happens of screen so shout out the wonderful fan content of them out there! i like their dynamic :) haha wouldnt it be funny is jolie became an optometrist. That sounds like some shit lambcat would pull actually

lilyth/jack: veryvery VERY interesting. leelathae's story in general, what she gave up for jack?? the consequences?? Very compelling. The story of an immigrant woman marrying a foreigner and following him back to his country, and being looked down upon and his parents locked in the mindset that you dont belong here and you're tainting our bloodline- and how now she can no longer belong to her home island ever again, because of tradition and how she chose to leave it all behind. and yet she still loves him, and she gave up everything to be with him, because it's what made her happy. Ohhh and how that's been passed onto gwen. Mmmmm.

jamie/leopold: dareisay pygmalion and galatea type beat. Artist and muse. Muse and artist. the gwenfred situation speedrun, because their communication skills are better. people who create and put their passion into it all. and recognize that in each other perhaps. oooooo..

[trixibebe]

Introducing: Ishin! Kori (or Cornelia), one of the bath ladies at Harima

Because of course I gotta make an Ishin counterpart to my OC, turning the reader insert of Godless into my chara (just like the last time). Below is basically a summary :)

Cornelia's story begins in France where she was born and where lived with her middle- class family running a business, even dipping their toes into Asian territory. She had always been quite reckless, albeit a little timid, following her heart. Some may even call her selfish for that. That is because one day she fell for the son of a business partner of the family, someone who promised to marry her one day. With promises like these she didn't think about the consequences of sleeping with him before marriage. A big mistake. The family eventually found out and since she was now impure she wouldn't find a diligent man that would marry her. So she got disowned. But wouldn't it be alright if she got married to the man she thought she loved? He promised her, didn't he? What none of them knew was that there was arranged marriage for the man in place. Later did she realize that leaving him behind didn't bother her as much as she thought it would.

And just like that she was left with nothing. Well, not quite. Her family was generous enough to give her some money and bode her farewell. Wanting to go as far as possible she chose to go Japan. Yokohama was her first stop since the settlement of the Westerners was located there. But she wanted to go somewhere with more opportunities so she went to Kyo almost immediately. Another mistake.

As she stepped foot into the city she got robbed for everything she had. In a fateful turn of events she met the owner of the bath house Harima (he didn't get a name in-game right? so gotta call him Kitahara). Kitahara was generally rather sympathetic towards foreigners and had previously lost his daughter a few years prior. Taking pity on Cornelia he took her in, let her work in the bath house and was an immense help for her to learn the language. His wife helped her to get her dressed and did her hair until she learned to do it on her own. So she quite looked the part at least until you got a closer look at her. She got more than enough verbal harassment over her looks but she was trying not let it get to her as she was just grateful to be somewhere that is not back at home and not on the streets. She kept her head low, she walked through town with a hat on. It also made her job at the bath house a little different, she mostly was just a backup if any other lady was occupied. Normally on each given afternoon and evening she just tended to everything else, fixing baskets, washing uniforms etc. In the morning she helped around the house, cleaned and cooked with Mrs. Kitahara. Besides the married couple, Cornelia's support system also included Tom! So it was not all bad. Talking to the wannabe-samurai always brightened her days, but it was nothing more than that. He had his head full with his aspirations after all.

Her life changed again when on one fateful day the captain of the 8th division of the Shinsengumi, Todo Heisuke decided to get cleaned up at Harima. And she would be the one attending to him, the other bath ladies being occupied. Cori didn't have much of an opinion on the Shinsengumi, she wasn't really involved in the matters of the country in general, she'd only hear conflicting opinions about them. The bath house owner wasn't thrilled about seeing the captain but business is business, so she attended to him.

Much to her surprise he wasn't mean to her as she would've expected him to as most guests weren't too happy if they got the foreign girl. They got along rather easily. Little did she know that there was method to the kind behavior of the captain. He kept coming back to the bath, they kept bumping into each other on the street with Todo even saving her from a group of thugs. And before she realized she started to look forward to seeing him. He was one of the few people who gave her the time of the day and it made her immensely happy. One night the city was livelier than usual, streets filled with Shinsengumi troopers. Word of mouth was that they raided an inn. It wasn't exactly safe to walk around.

When Cori was on her way home she had another encounter with Todo. Trying to wrap her head around the man was no easy feat as he seemingly waited for her only to tell her to go home. And to get a kiss from her. Without much else he left, leaving her completely flabbergasted.

She didn't have much time to wonder as the next day the samurai showed up again at the bathhouse. She felt a little awkward about it but as they kept talking that feeling was gone, replaced once again with feeling content... As she was about to leave after finishing her duties, he stopped her in her tracks, asking if she would want to meet up later in an inn. Todo told her he wanted to ask something. Another odd thing she couldn't quite understand. But maybe it was just an excuse, not wanting to straight up what he wants. Still she had a hunch where this was going and once again she didn't care about the consequences, she deeply admired him for his assumed skill, for his confidence. He made her feel accepted and wanted, not just tolerated. He had her wrapped around his finger. So she agreed.

The meeting was almost what she expected. They drank a little, played strip-rock-paper-scissors and then he left her more satisfied than she ever was. But it wasn't the end of it. There was indeed a question he wanted to ask her. He asked her to be a spy for him, letting him know about any loyalist plans she may happen to overhear. Here he revealed that making her like him was a deliberate choice on his side, he wanted to have a spy after all. But he also actually liked and wanted her, he liked that she didn't care about him being part of the Shinsengumi, she showed him her true face from the get-go, not being afraid of him, not being fake-polite either. She felt conflicted about the request, sleeping on it first, but eventually agreed. She'd do it for him.

So the months passed, they spent a lot of nights together whenever he had time to spare, they talked, played, got to first name basis, fell in love. But she never dared staying until morning. She always told old-man Kitahara that she was out with Tom. She knew he wouldn't be a fan of Heisuke, and even less of a fan of the idea of her seeing the captain. But eventually the cat was outta the bag and Cori and Kitahara had a fight. He pleaded with her to be sensible as being with Heisuke could get her killed a lot faster. But she was serious about him, and so was the captain. So reluctantly Kitahara backed off. What else could he do? He couldn't put her on the street and she was a grown woman who can make her own decisions. But the peace wouldn't last long as one day Heisuke came to the bathhouse for a talk. He took Cori outside and confided in her that the city would burn that night. He wanted to alert her, hoping that she'd be safe. Turns out being near water during a fire would be quite beneficial and Cori got away without much of a scratch, she was rather busy with helping the people who sought refuge at the bathhouse. Much to her relief Heisuke was safe and sound too, but he told her he would be busy in the coming days. "Restructuring in the Shinsengumi" he said.

Nothing prepared her for a samurai with an eye-patch storming in Harima a few days later, grabbing her impatiently, dragging her along because Heisuke had called for her. The panic that rose in her hearing that was very nothing compared to the helplessness she felt when fining her beloved bleeding out on the floor of the inn Teradaya. One of his last requests was seeing her for a final time, wishing that they maybe meet again. Maybe in another life.

Bonus round: soulmates/reincarnation AU thing The OG story of Godless ends there but talking with @ariesfaeries I cooked up an idea linking Cori with Kori (who's based on my fic LYLMM ofc). Since Okita was the one who grabbed her on the night Heisuke passed and was also very close to him, he started visiting Harima, checking in on her. Sharing grief, sharing stories. Slowly healing. Starting to care for each other. Maybe even falling a little in love in due time, who knows. But it's not the same. Cori lost part of her soul that night and nothing is going to change that. Nothing and no one is ever going to make her feel like Heisuke did. So cut to the (relative) present (and the events of LYLMM). Kori is together with Majima, until he supposedly dies. It hits her hard, she's completely out of it for a long while but eventually gets over it. Life has to go on after all. Then she meets Zhao and something in her clicks. There is familiarity she cannot pinpoint exactly but she feels a pull towards him instantly. Unbeknownst to her he feels the same curiosity, some form of recognition. Finding your other half. And maybe this (in addition to everything else) is also a big reason why Kori is so afraid for Zhao's life. Something inside her tells her that she wouldn't get over it if she'd lose him.

[sansloii]

META + legacy // for Dakota

Dakota, whose younger sister is Dead, who doesn't even speak to the rest of her family, and who isn't even sure she wants kids—much less if she'd be a good mother or if she wants to raise a kid in a world that where her child has a target on their back...

I think I'll split it into two parts. First we'll address legacy as it pertains to family. I think the above explains it pretty well. Dakota is not considering leaving behind a legacy in the form of a child. At all. Like….if she meets someone that really makes her want that, it'd probably be a long discussion that spans months. Or maybe even years. It's not something she's going to spontaneously decide to pivot to because it'll take time. She'll need to start preparing a cushion years before this kid is born and make sure that she and her partner are like fully prepared for her to either completely step away or get used to a new normal. they'd need new names, new identities, would probably need to leave the country, and so much more.

There's also the question of "will my kid want to do what I do — despite me not wishing that for them — or can I provide enough of a buffer for them to genuinely live a normal life" because it's not like Dakota or her partner having a child will be taken lightly. No matter how respected or feared she is, people will target her kids — maybe even harder than they do Dakota—because it'll hurt her more and it's an opportunity to take something from her. All of that makes Dakota less willing to put herself in a position to be that vulnerable and that uncertain about her future. It's a risk with too hefty a consequence if something goes wrong at any point… so no.

She likely won't be with someone who desperately wants a kid, either, because no matter what happens, that kid will have a legacy of blood. She's fine with having it but that's because she's living it and chose that. It's a big reason why she was very strict about her younger sister not having anything to do with what she did— because it was a choice and she doesn't want her family to suffer that choice if they don't have to. It's a little different with Joseph, who she wholeheartedly considers to be her brother, but he too chose this and has shown her that time and time again.

family shit aside, Dakota wants to be known as "The Bitch". whether or not the title is ascribed to fear, anger, some mix of the two—Dakota just wants to be known as just that. Because while she does demand respect and god forbid you actually call her a bitch to her face, she's also like "people are going to be rude, disrespectful, and straight up nasty regardless of how much power or influence i wield because of how i look or who i am so i might as well be known as The Bitch. In Caps." because The Bitch gets stuff done. The Bitch has survived assassination attempts and wrested power from her former superior to get to where she is. The Bitch has held onto power ( because that's the most important part ) and hasn't been challenged for her spot. The Bitch also has an organization that, under her, is thriving.

The Bitch has done everything she said she would and will continue to do so.

and for all those that, of course, will roll their eyes and be like "of course she chooses that." or think that she's playing up this… persona of "I'm a bad bitch, you you can't kill me. I'll kill you first" or whatever…. yes. that's the point. it's very purposeful because, again, it's not like she's wildly aggressive all the time and doesn't want to hear anything from anyone. most times, Dakota is very amicable. however she cannot control what people say behind closed doors or how they truly feel about her when she elects to not be nice in the face of some bullshit. it's going to happen, so she has made the executive decision to just run with it and get ahead of it. It's so much her reclaiming it, either, as much as it is her saying "I am not the one. And I will never be the one, so tread carefully."

she has a lot of resources, money to burn through, and the time to do it.

@nezumivc103221 | send META + a word, name, or phrase for a headcanon

[biancatronic]

I noticed something that made me 🤯😥

One thing I stopped to think about is to notice something, I found out why I don't like the Hofnarr x Jebidiah or Jebus if you prefer ship so much, there are factors that led to not liking him so much.

I know I'm going to be judged with this and you point me out as boring and ugly things but that's ok, it's my opinion and already people disagree with some ships that I like on deviantart like those shipps card with colors to point your favorite otp and ship less favorite and the like, calm fan of hofnarr x Jebidiah is my opinion and point of view, also if there are things that I said wrong I'm sorry and correct me in the comments some information that I left there and here.

I don't have a lot of good memory and my English is not my native language and I depend on someone to translate and translator, but when some YouTubers from my country played (actually only 1 who played and didn't even realize to translate some plot points what I want very much that someone in my country can translate all the dialogues of Madness Project Nexus 2 even though the fanbase is not that big I still appreciate everyone's effort), anyway, getting back to the subject, a point that led me to see that I think some and many you know Jebidiah is not the hero, so much so that I'm going to show some points and maybe it's partly his fault for the things he did

-In MPNC and MPN2 in the game and in the memory scenes of thirty years ago at the time that Nexus was active, Jebidiah wanted Phobos dead and with that his friend Hofnarr helped him on the day that everything happened, he took the artifact the halo and obtained their powers (which has a consequence if he puts the fragmented stone in his possession), after he killed Phobos which caused the downfall of Nexus came something that left a flea behind the ear, when Nexus fell he made Nevada even worse ( Krinkels spoke in his Curious Cat about this) and this has another point where the halo distorted his mind because he has dissonance and even Hofnarr was dissonant and had the antitutes but as Nexus fell the material to leave Hofnarr state his sanity has deteriorated even more and another Jebidiah in the years now has NOT visited his old friend at any time to see how he is doing well or whether he is still alive (which showed his surprise in MPN 2 when he went to the sleepwalking asylum when he saw his friend), calm down it will get worse

-Even though Jebus didn't visit Hoffnar for a mere moment of time and only focused on "cleaning up" Nevada which due to the effects of the halo and also that "promise" that being the leader of the citizens of Nexus and that inflamed his ego, he got so focused on that what it gave to understand that Jebus kind of '' '' ''abandoned'''' ''(don't take it as fact) Hofnarr or left him aside to fulfill his goals and when he goes with Hank to find him Hofnarr has now turned into a psychoactive zed, and that surprised Jeb what happened to his poor friend, I'll be honest, if he was in Nexus nearby, because he didn't give himself plenty of time to visit Hofnarr and helps keep his sanity in the state normally things would be different but as it is Madness things don't have to be overcome, overcome something in Nevada will make things worse.

Okay, I can be a party pooper and I "hate" the ship, no. I don't hate the shipp, you know sometimes we need to remember that not every Shipp is a sea of flowers as some describe I'm not here to cause a fuss with this post it's just a point I wanted to share but tell me some things I missed and didn't detail, I don't have many memories of the game's dialogues but any critical comment with points helps a lot.

If you were offended by this, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.

[euro-industry-org]

How can the labor market in Europe and the United States be changed?

It took sixteen years after the great financial crisis for the U.S. unemployment rate to return to its pre-war low of 3.5%. Even at that rate, however, millions of people were still unable to find decent paying jobs. Losing a job is not just a personal tragedy; it affects different groups of people in different ways. We are told that economic growth promotes prosperity for all, but for several decades now, a slow recovery without meaningful increases in employment has become commonplace. Moreover, work is increasingly extremely low paid.

When one considers who benefits from economic growth, the answer is alarming. After World War II, when the economy recovered after each recession, the vast majority of income went to the poorest 90% of families. Since the 1980s, however, this has changed, with the richest 10% settling for the lion's share of profits during the last four periods of growth. After the Great Recession, this trend was exacerbated, with real incomes for the poorest 90% of families continuing to decline during the first three years of recovery.

The aftermath of the Great Recession

Today, millions of people are still struggling to find any kind of gainful employment, and many of those who are working are earning wages barely above the poverty line. The median real income of the poorest 90% of Americans in 2017 was $34,580, down 2.2% from twenty years ago. Behind the dry numbers of unemployment and inequality are millions of stories of people facing job loss and unfair wages.

Maybe you or someone close to you has experienced this first hand. Perhaps you lost your job during the Great Recession or you graduated from high school but because of the cost of tuition decided to delay enrollment to save up. Maybe your children are grown and have left home and you want to get back into the job market after a long hiatus but don't know where to start. Maybe you've sent out hundreds of resumes, but even in a growing economy, you can't find a stable, well-paying job.

The reasons may vary: age, gender, skin color, or criminal record. Or maybe you are a person with a disability who is ready to work, but there are no suitable jobs available or offer humiliatingly low pay. For example, current law allows employers to pay such people as little as $1 an hour.

Today's economy continues to create inequality, leaving many on the margins - those who are looking for a chance to change their lives but face barriers that seem impossible to overcome.

Labor exchanges welcome you with open arms as you take additional courses, improve your resume, and practice interviewing. You give your best, but success remains somewhere over the horizon. Or perhaps you do manage to find a job, but it's again a low-paying position with no perks. You can barely manage your day-to-day expenses, and after much searching and stress, you have to decide what's more important: making it home in time for dinner or helping your kids with their homework. You're ready to work your hardest, but it seems that the work itself isn't ready to reciprocate.

Now imagine that you are lucky. Take your mind back to 2009: lines at the job boards, desperate unemployed people, and ads telling you not to even try to send in your resume. But maybe you're not the kind of person who fought for every penny. You have a job, albeit not an ideal one. The pay is modest, but the company promises a raise, you can support your family and finally afford a two-week vacation. True, there is one “but” - your boss is a real despot, but you tolerate, because there are few options.

The impact of technology and globalization

Such stories are not uncommon. In the US, EU countries and around the world, hundreds of millions of people are facing the loss of their jobs and livelihoods. This is not just a consequence of crises or “God's Providence” - it has become commonplace. The modern economy is accelerating this process: technological change and outsourcing are causing jobs to disappear permanently.

Although new jobs are created, there are never enough to meet demand, even in times of economic recovery. Many end up in precarious, low-paying positions. For example, in 2018, 6.9 million workers in the U.S. earned less than a living wage. For millions of Americans and Europeans, one job is simply not enough to move beyond survival.

What might a fairer system look like?

What if we revised our approach to economic goals and made sure that every job seeker had access to a decent job paying at least a living wage? How would this impact on people's lives, local communities and the wider economy?

Imagine that employment services offer not only the usual resources, but also create a database of state and municipal job openings where the minimum wage is, for example, $15 an hour. The job also comes with access to health care and quality childcare. You can choose to work full-time or part-time, and you can take advantage of additional services for personal and professional growth: training, certification, secondary education assistance, transportation benefits, counseling, and family-friendly programs.

We are talking about creating jobs at the local level - in self-governments or non-profit organizations - but the funding for such positions comes from the federal budget. This would reduce the time it takes to find a job while providing people with stability and support.

Job security offices not only help people find suitable jobs, but also offer higher paying job options in the private or public sector. As the economy grows, new job openings with opportunities for career advancement, flexible schedules, or telecommuting become available. As you learn new skills and experience, you choose a few interesting offers, leave your guaranteed position, and move on to more promising opportunities.

Conclusion

Guaranteed employment is not just a tool to fight unemployment, but a chance for society to rethink its priorities and create a fairer economy. This approach can not only improve the quality of life for millions of people, but also strengthen the resilience of local communities by reducing social inequalities and increasing economic stability.

When everyone is given the opportunity to work under decent conditions, with adequate pay and support, it lays the foundation for long-term prosperity. Ultimately, investing in secure jobs is an investment in a future where success is measured not only by economic performance, but also by the quality of life of each individual.

[etruatcaelum]

HENRIETTA PINE

PHYSICAL

Tall. Reedy. Skin heavily freckled. Lots of red-brown curls. Protuberant brown eyes. Face bony, gaunt even, with prominent cheekbones, a long round chin, a large, jutting nose. Hands callused. Quick, precise movements.

She's a faunus; her most visible trait is her dentition, as she has only an impressive set of incisors and back molars, but her whole digestive tract is leporine and she has accordingly very unusual dietary needs. Henrietta cannot eat meat; she can, and does, with great enthusiasm, eat grass.

STYLE

Simple and to the point. Worn-out work jeans and black or white A-shirts, plus beaten-up solid-color flannels and fleeces for colder weather. Many of her clothes are made by hand.

Henrietta does not have an emblem. She doesn't hold with that kind of thing.

Her weapon, insofar as she has one, is a hand-axe. Of the "wood-chopping tool" variety. She's a fair hand with most basic weapons, and agricultural implements, and in particular weapons that evolved from agricultural implements—but best with an axe.

AURA

Not quite black—look close, and it's a pitchy brown. She has no formal training and indeed, like most folk where she's from, doesn't know what aura is; as far as Henrietta cares, she's just some sort of hedge-witch.

SEMBLANCE

She wouldn't identify it as such—this terminology isn't widely known in her neck of the woods—but Henrietta's semblance first emerged as lucid dreaming before developing into, first, the ability to cast her conscious out of herself while she sleeps to roam the night as a spectral black rabbit, and later the ability to enter the dreams of other people in this form.

While dream-walking in this way, she has a material form—someone awake could hold the rabbit in their hands, if she let them—but a shadowy, protean one. Try to catch her when she doesn't want to be caught, and the rabbit will flow loose like water, then reform just out of reach. She can't move through solid objects, but the thinnest gap is enough for her to slip through.

Grimm do not show any aggression toward her in this form. The rabbit is an avatar of Henrietta's identity, her self-knowledge, and to the grimm this looks... not all that different from a grimm, in fact, if a peculiarly silent one. So they let her alone. Consequently, Henrietta is not much inclined to think of the grimm as soulless abominations, and the notion that there's more to them than that is one she has no trouble accepting.

She is responsible for a significant number of ghost stories.

PRINCIPAL ALLUSIONS

The Little Prince –> She's the Rose to Oscar's Little Prince, reversed as the caretaker he reluctantly leaves behind, who follows him into the world.

Watership Down –> The Black Rabbit of Inlé is an inspiration.

OTHER NOTES

Henrietta was born and raised in the Palash region of southern Anima. The region is not a part of Mistral, although its western margins do spill into the hinterlands of Kuchinashi and the exact location of the border is a matter of ongoing dispute.

Despite being some of the most fertile country in Anima, the Palash region has not been annexed by any larger neighboring state since late antiquity; the danger posed by Mount Atrox, one of the largest and most active volcanoes in the world, and the grimm-infested jungles surrounding it, imposes serious operational and logistical problems that make large-scale administration of the region prohibitively difficult.

Most of the region’s population lives in a constellation of interdependent free towns and villages, although a significant minority of mainly faunus are pastoral nomads. Henrietta was born into one such nomadic group, orphaned by grimm at the age of ten, and taken in by then-childless farmers afterwards. She now lives in a village called Radicar, near the contested border with Mistral, on the farm she inherited from her adoptive parents.

Henrietta is, by the standards of the region, fairly wealthy—which is to say, she owns a horse: a cobby bay mare named Feray. She runs the farm together with her younger brother, Emre Solsen, his partner Glencoe, and their children, Alon, Lina, and Talha, the youngest of whom is twelve years Oscar’s senior. Although she of course takes to the fields during all-hands-on-deck times of year—plantings and harvest—Henrietta herself is an indifferent farmer and spends most of her days at the Radicarian guardhouse, where she organizes the village’s branch of the regional militia.

She is not a huntress—but she does know how to fight grimm, a necessity for people living outside the kingdoms.

(Oscar’s assertion that he never had combat training before means something different than it would mean to someone who grew up in one of the kingdoms: the regional militia comprises volunteers between the ages of nineteen and sixty, and Oscar—being fourteen—had never drilled with them before, but he was raised knowing how to fight and defend himself as a matter of course.)

The militia is organized around a system of watchtowers, signal lamps, and horse-drawn trolleys which run on tracks running between every settlement in the region. If one town or village is attacked—whether by grimm or bandits—the combined forces of the entire region can be swiftly mobilized to its defense.

Palashian nomads do not directly participate in this system, but most groups have a few riders acting as message-runners and scouts on behalf of the farmers full-time, in exchange for the promise of shelter, supply, and protection should the nomads suffer any calamity.

[gusgus373]

Forever My Girl

"Sometimes you have to let yourself go, take a walk on the wild side, trust that everything will work out".

Spanish title: Hasta que te encontré.

Year: 2018

Length: 1h 48min

Score (IMDb): 6.6/10

Synopsis:

Country music superstar, Liam Page returns to his hometown to attend the funeral of his high school best friend, Mason Belmont and runs into his ex-girlfriend Josie, who has a daughter, named Billy Ann, after Liam's mother. Liam didn't know he had a daughter as he got nervous on his wedding day, causing him to leave Josie before the wedding took place.

"She's the one"

Opinion:

Although I don't like it I am a die hard romantic, and that I loved this romcom is proof, the movie is based on a book which I haven't read, but after watching it made me want to read it.

There are a couple of things I didn't like a lot, the first one is that for a 7 year old girl she seems very intelligent, she seems to know more than adults, which is weird in my opinion and she also shouts a lot, most of her dialogues are shouting.

The other bad thing I see is that they could have added in that 12 minutes for the 2 hours that people relate more, like for example a scene of Mason and Liam being friends, so we would see that he really cared enough to leave everything behind and go back to his town or why he was so shocked by the news of the death of someone he hasn't seen for 8 years.

Or a scene of Liam recounting the trauma of his mother's death and reliving it with Billy.

Or when Liam's dad went to find him to tell him about his daughter.

Or a deep conversation on the date Josie and Liam had.

Or how fame swept through young Liam to turn him into the person at the beginning of the film.

Or a conversation with his sober father, maybe talking about the trauma he has.

Notes:

I love that the film starts with the first song we hear of Liam saying many times "Don't throw my whisky" as showing how he is at that moment, frivolous, disinterested, in my opinion with some absurd lyrics (almost reaching the absurdity of many currently popular songs) and ends with a song that talks about coming home, that the song tells you, no, rather it conveys a nice feeling like that, coming home.

Another thing I notice that also has to do with the songs is that the second song that Liam plays right after the one I named in the first point, shows us the real Liam, that is inside him or the shadow of what he was, a man in love, who has a wound that he can't heal.

Something nice also is that there are two occasions in which Liam does not show up to concerts, the first is when without caring about anything he goes back to his friend's funeral, but he is disinterested in leaving his fans behind and does not seem to measure the consequences of his actions, and the second is when he abandons everything back but to return to his family, and we see how he did the first to run away from his responsibilities and the second to run to them, which makes us realise how he evolved.

One question I have that I hope is resolved in the book is how Liam changed in such a short time to be unrecognizable to his father, it's like one day he was one way and a week later he becomes someone totally different, although later I remember that my fantasies as a child (15 years old) were something like that too, going away, not talking to anyone, not even my friends, and coming back years later changed, and taking into account that they are 27, at that time and subtracting Liam's 8 years outside they were going to get married at 18/19 which means that Liam fulfilled my teenage fantasy.

A nice thing is that while Billy somehow teaches Liam to be responsible and careful, he teaches her to let go, they teach each other opposite concepts.

I think who would make Jake look like an antagonist, when he makes the rant to Liam, because from our point of view that we saw Liam's memory, we know that he didn't stand by and do nothing because he didn't care, but because he was reliving his mother's death, but for Jake, who was practically a father to Billy, he saw the man who abandoned his sister at the altar standing next to him watching his daughter drown with a poker face, He doesn't know why he stayed like that, but he doesn't care either, and his resentment may be justified, because you can forgive what was done to you (Josie) but it's harder to forgive someone who hurt a person you love (Jake) because you were there when he cried, when he maybe blamed himself and through the whole grieving process and you don't want it to happen again.

[ritik2]

Niche blog on political affair, flight, gossip, humor book

Welcome to the Political Circus, a vibrant blog where we delve into the captivating world of politics! We understand that the political landscape can be a complex and often frustrating spectacle. Between the heated debates, policy gridlock, and occasional absurdity, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. But fear not, fellow citizens! Here, we aim to navigate this intricate terrain with you, offering:

In-the-Know News: We cut through the noise and deliver the latest political fights, keeping you informed about the issues that shape our world. Niche blog on political affair From upcoming elections to legislative battles, we will provide clear summaries and analyses, empowering you to understand the motivations and consequences behind the headlines.

Political Punditry (with a Wink): We bring you insightful commentary from a variety of perspectives. Our team of writers, with their diverse backgrounds and experiences, will dissect hot-button topics, offering unique angles and thought-provoking analysis. Do not expect dry, academic jargon – we keep things engaging and accessible, even adding a healthy dose of humor when appropriate.

The Lighter Side of Politics: Let us face it, politics can be downright hilarious (sometimes unintentionally). We will explore the world of political satire, highlighting cartoons, memes, and witty one-liners that perfectly capture the absurdity of political situations. We'll also dive into the hilarious world of political humor books, recommending titles that will have you chuckling while keeping your finger on the pulse of current affairs.

Unveiling the Political Landscape:

Whether you're a seasoned political junkie or a curious newcomer, the Political Circus offers something for everyone. Let's delve into the diverse content we offer:

Breaking Down the Battles: The political arena is a constant battleground, with parties locked horns over everything from healthcare to foreign policy. We'll unpack these fights, explaining the key issues, the underlying stances, and the potential impacts on our lives.

For example, we might explore the ongoing debate on environmental regulations. We'll detail the arguments of environmentalists advocating for stricter regulations to combat climate change, and then delve into the concerns raised by industries that fear economic hardship. Presenting both sides of the argument allows you to form your own informed opinions.

Beyond the Headlines: News outlets often focus on soundbites and sensationalized details. We'll go deeper, providing context and background information to help you understand the bigger picture. Did a new policy proposal spark outrage? We'll trace its history, highlighting previous attempts or similar policies in other countries. This deeper understanding empowers you to engage in meaningful conversations and avoid getting swayed by quick headlines.

Expert Insights: We'll occasionally feature guest posts from political scientists, policy analysts, and even former politicians. These experts will offer their unique perspectives, shedding light on the complexities of policy decisions and the intricate workings of governments.

Engaging with the Audience: We believe in open discussions and healthy debate. Feel free to leave comments on our articles, share your thoughts, and respectfully engage with other readers. Who knows, you might spark a lively conversation or even convince someone to see an issue from a different perspective!

Laughter is the Best Medicine (Even in Politics):

Politics doesn't have to be a constant source of stress. Sometimes, laughter is the best way to deal with the absurdity of it all. Here's how we'll inject some humor into your political awareness:

[rurusayshi]

it starts with his heart

minsung | lee know / han jisung | 9,6k | rated: e | completed tags: alternate universe - cyberpunk, cyborg lee minho | lee know, pirate han jisung | han, angst, porn with feelings, but it's actually a farewell because one of them is dying, a lot of kissing, body worship, to say goodbye, breathplay, dead dove: do not eat, blood and violence, hurt no comfort, sex worker lee minho | lee know, established relationship, guilt, alternate ending, bittersweet, anal sex, unhealthy coping mechanisms playlist

main idea & inspiration

this was a labor of love, born from my current obsession for baldur’s gate 3 and anything with sci fi / dystopia <3 and some heart wrenching angst <3 the hurt was intentional and i don’t feel any guilt heh

baldur’s gate’s is a dnd game iteration, which sets in a medieval fantasy world. in other words, quite different than what i have with ‘it starts with his heart’. however, the concept behind the absolute cult was such a good food that given the opportunity, i didn’t want to let it go. so you get tadpoled? you will be turned into a mindflayer? your previous identity? there is none of that, you are someone completely new with different goals, different anatomy controlled by a netherbrain. it’s better not to delve further into it as i might spoil bg3, but that was the concept behind the chip implanted in minho's brain and our couple’s dilemma with actual death and identity death.

which then brings us the topic of lovers from different statuses. it usually implies power imbalances, for example royalty/commonfolk, employer/employee, etc. freedom is the keyword here: your power is determined by the extent of your freedom. and in this case it is explored in how minho is bound to the land due to his heart implant whereas as a space pirate, jisung is as free as a bird. hence their relation is fated to encounter difficulties right from the start, with numerous unfavourable circumstances working against them.

to my enjoyment, the 'star-crossed lovers' stirs up such intense, raw emotions in the characters. sprinkle your characters with right amount of that and angst, they will suffer yet they will adapt, in a way, in their way. any more than that? well it often leads to a series of unfortunate choices, which in turn finds them even more trapped than they were in the first place. this is what happened with ‘it starts with his heart’.

inevitable death minho knows he will face a form of demise, perhaps not in the physical sense, but his memories, personality, emotions—everything except his appearance—will vanish, leaving behind something he abhors. nevertheless, he retains the power to choose: death by complete erasure or the death of the identity known as "minho.".

guilt & helplessness jisung is consumed by guilt and helplessness, two emotions he is unaccustomed to dealing with. consequently, he finds himself quick to anger, lashing out repeatedly throughout the story because he believes he's at fault. the chaos and confusion surrounding everything stem from jisung's uncertainty, as he grapples with the overwhelming question: what would anyone do upon learning that their beloved will be taken away and replaced by something they've vehemently opposed? 

freedom city gives, city takes. jisung is free to leave, minho’s not. he would die otherwise. his choices are always limited, he can only say goodbye to jisung.

lore & worldbuilding

so, what about the world? why does minho have implants? wtf is a sentinel? what does pirates do? rough notes:

the timeline would be around roughly 200 years later than now, where instead of countries there are different alliances in different scales.

people are not bound to land. there are floating cities with their own ecologies and artificially adapted climate systems. these are newer, and have the advantages and disadvantages of mobility compared to those who have lands in their hands.

usually alliances try to have both land and floating cities because each give different opportunities.

within the alliance system, each country or city has its own set of regulations, which are governed by a broader rulebook.

some alliances are born from power dynamics, some from shared history and some from similar cultures.

minho resides in the largest earth bound city within its respective alliance. it’s a very power hungry one, often resorting to aggressive means to achieve its goals. it heavily invests in scientific advancements and maintains a strong military presence. the city's teachings are rooted in a form of indoctrination aimed at preserving harmony and order among its inhabitants. however, these ideals are inherently flawed, as not all citizens are born into the same social standing. the city is encircled by three walls, each with distinct security requirements for entry. the capital, reserved for the elite, remains out of reach for the common populace, while the outermost ring, known as paletown, conceals a multitude of dark secrets.

so in a way, within a society that places great emphasis on harmony, organization, and power, there exists a pervasive undercurrent of paranoia. this is exemplified by the introduction of heart implants as the initial step, followed by the deployment of brain implants.

nightdancers: i imagined the nightdancers to share similarities with strippers, but they are frequently anticipated to provide pleasure to their clientele, often involving sexual services. these nightdancers are prevalent in the city and are highly sought after for a pleasurable experience. even tourists prefer spending their time with them.

heart implants: not every citizen is equipped with a heart implant. it is typically allocated based on one's lineage or social standing. the recipients are predominantly drawn from the population of paletown residents, criminals, military personnel, orphans, the homeless, and the infirm. this implant effectively binds its host to the city, rendering departure impossible without authorization. the implant's operation relies on the transmission of signals; in the absence of successful signal reception and transmission, it can cease the host's heart within a matter of minutes.

brain implants: brain implants, a more recent innovation, are employed to establish a segment of the population that directly heeds the government, or rather, the city. these individuals are referred to as 'hosts' or 'sentinel of janus' and are devoid of free will. hosts readily conform to the government's directives, adapting to their assigned roles. at times, they maintain their pre-existing personas to covertly spy on the unsuspecting populace, while on other occasions, they serve as sentinels guarding specific locations. the transformation into a sentinel typically occurs within a span of 6 hours to a day, as the implant necessitates this time to acquaint itself with the host's usual bodily functions and gather sufficient data about their identity, occupation, personality, and more, to convincingly assume their role.

sentinel of janus: janus is the roman god of beginnings, gates, transitions, time, duality, doorways, passages, frames, and endings; often depicted with two faces. i thought the name would be fitting because janus is embodiment of duality. when an individual undergoes the brain implant procedure, their former identity ceases to exist, marking an ending. within hours, they are reborn as an entirely new person, akin to a newborn, signifying a new beginning. these people are part of the society, yet they are not entirely themselves.

station fortuna: another name derived from roman mythology. but i love it! anyways, station fortuna holds more political significance than a religious one. it's akin to a museum, much like the british museum, housing relics and trophies from the city's conquests. it serves as one of the gateways to access the capital. why fortuna? well, fortuna is the roman goddess of fortune and luck. although this society isn't primarily religious, they still hold on to the belief that preserving their good fortune will help them grow in power.

interestingly, jisung originally hails from an earth-bound city, but his early years were a nomadic existence, divided between land and sky, thanks to his parents' deep-rooted religious convictions. their lives were dedicated to appeasing the gods, which led them on a journey through various places in communion with nature. tragedy struck when a devastating flood ravaged a town, claiming his parents' lives. however, jisung's uncle, who happened to be a pirate at the time, stepped in and adopted him, setting the stage for the person he would become.

pirates: defining pirates is a bit of a slippery slope, as it largely depends on the specific alliance's regulations and definitions. generally, they earn the title 'pirates' due to their involvement in activities such as trafficking people between cities, dealing in illegal information, or pilfering valuable items. motives behind their actions can vary – some are driven by a cause, some chase wealth, and others seek revenge or their alliance's interests.

deleted scenes

With one swift move, Jisung manhandles him like his muscles weight nothing, and they turn around, trade their positions, the pirate’s back against the moss covered wall, Minho half up half kneeling but right above the younger’s face. Minho hisses as Jisung's hands pull apart his ass cheeks and then moans, no, *wails* aloud as the pirate’s tongue breaches him. Beyond the unfiltered moans fall from the older's mouth, filling up the alleyway with obscene sounds are the scrabbling of fingernails on the wall, tearing up the posters as he goes.  He drops his forehead against the wall. He is panting, breathing harshly, and his legs tremble underneath his weight. Jisung tastes him like he is a treat, like he is something worthy of being worshipped. His tongue slides up and down, in and around his hole, licking every inch of it with feverish strokes.

some of my favourite lines

“Why does it matter?” In his eyes, this is the merciful way. “There may be a place where you will welcome me for everything I am, yet there will always be me who is this, *this monster*, that our very lives battle against. I can’t let you see that, I can’t let you look at me and grow with bitterness, Jisung. I don’t want that.”

for minho, the idea of living devoid of his own will, essentially perpetuating a massive deception, is unacceptable. in his view, death is preferable if it means rendering himself useless to the government and to their manipulations. he refuses to become an obstacle for jisung; his greatest fear is transforming into someone jisung detests, and inflict pain upon him. we saw how that plated out in ending 1.

“There was never an ending,” It is a confession, him scraping it out of his heart and laying it bare at the nightdancer’s feet. *Forever*, he doesn’t say but Minho hears it very well. His breath catches on the next inhale. *But this is the ending*, Minho thinks and says, “Jisung, can you…*Can you kiss me more?*”

jisung stubbornly clings to denial of the truth, and there's minho, whose resolve to stay away from jisung crumbles entirely. after all he is human too, he desires to be with jisung as much as he can.

“Slap me,” is what leaves his parted mouth, lifting Minho up, pressing their bodies together, gazing upon his eyes, not daring to look away even for a second. “Bite my skin, dig your nails till I bleed, *claw my eyes out*,” It is his prayer to the hollow ache in his core roaring with anger, with sorrow. “If I can’t be buried in you, then leave something of you within me.”

this is his guilt talking, and some unhealthy coping mechanism. yet isn’t there something oddly romantic about it? he wants minho to leave scars behind because then he can still have a piece of minho within him.

“*Fuck if I know!*” Jisung is a jar, he can’t contain it all and it breaks. “I have no idea what the fucking hell I’m doing!”

this is the idea lol he longs to put an eternity into mere minutes, and this is the result.

‘’You think you are worthy of my time, pirate boy? Better leave and run back to your little ship.’’ The nightdancer nibbles a bright red apple, its juice covering his fingers. A kaleidoscope of confetti under their shoes digs deeper into pavement cavities, each step giving out the same noises over and over. ‘’Oh I know I am, that’s why I will wait.’’ Comes a cocky reply from the younger. Dark strands falling on his forehead have grown longer, almost touching the brown of his eyes. They are a mess but Jisung is content when Minho’s fingers caress them. Minho, though, laughs. ‘’You will wither and die.’’ He reaches for the tin flask of expensive mead the pirate got for him but never offers a sip because he is just like that. ‘’You are a good cause to die for.’’ When he is done eating the apple, they stop at the entrance of the pier, Jisung a step behind. “I will play with your heart.” The nightdancer says. “I’ll give it to you on a silver tray.” The pirate answers. “I will cut it into little pieces.” The nightdancer warns. “Make sure they have nice shapes.” The pirate suggests. “And feed them to the fish.” The nightdancer decides. “Then I’ll be the ocean that’s in love with you.” The pirate claims. “Jisung,” Minho turns his face to him, lips pressed into a taut, thin line. “nothing good comes from loving a whore.” “They say the same for pirates. But you love me anyway.” Jisung smiles and takes Minho’s hand between his own to run a thumb across his palm. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” “So you want me to spell it for you? I guess it starts with—“

this entire part of jisung being stubborn and in love af and not letting minho give him excuses. i think this is my favourite part in the fic.

What the hell am I going to do without you, he wants to ask. Why are you not upset with me, he wonders. How are you so forgiving, he questions.

because he loves you idiot, and because he knows you did everything for him. but i understand. not everyday you learn your actions might cause your lover’s inevitable death and ofc you would expect some resentment, some anger. anything but not this. yet minho is very selfless when it comes to jisung soooo

*And I want to live*, Minho wants to say. *With you*,

minho never wanted to die. maybe before he met jisung, he was less hopeful about his life but he always wanted to live.

“Yet you did before, many many times before Jisungie…” There is no accusation, no bite in Minho’s tone. “You chased kisses after kisses, and when it was time, you left for where you belong. It doesn’t have to be any different.” “*Where I belong?!*” Anger fires in Jisung like a lighter, like a paper cut, quick and growing, roots tangled in despair. “I wanted to be with *you*! Where I belong is with you!” The edge of hurt in Jisung’s voice leaves sparks on his skin. But he absorbs, letting everything sink in. “But would you have stayed if I had asked?” Something flickers in Jisung’s eyes, for a brief moment. The nightdancer sees his hesitation, his doubt. Before he can find his words, Minho’s voice follows. "You shouldn't have, Jisungie. If I ever asked, you should have never said yes." It feels like a threshold, what he says that is. “You wished to give me freedom, how could I possibly have asked the opposite? A cage remains a cage, even if it is as vast as a city.”

another long one but this one is important to me. in minho's shoes, they had bid each other farewell countless times before. however, it was always minho who grappled with nagging worries, haunted by 'what ifs.' he fretted over jisung's safety, pondering the possibility of injuries, or even worse, jisung's untimely demise. this is precisely why jisung gifted him the earpiece, a small but meaningful gesture to provide minho with the comfort of knowing he was safe. all the while, minho never wished the same fate upon jisung, acutely aware of the burden of being trapped in an unlikely prison, one that appeared to be a vast void of opportunities, but was anything but.

Jisung bites down on his tongue until there's blood in his mouth, bitter and coppery. “Would you forgive me if I tried?" He asks, voice thick and hoarse, the sound is wound into his words. Minho’s gaze lingers on Jisung's gun, forgotten on the ground. “Would that make any difference?” Then eyes his right hand, right arm. Remembers what he is to become once again. “You’ve already decided.”

jisung is a stubborn one, even from the beginning this never changed. he plans to come back and take minho with him, this time without the heart and the brain implant.

Jisung expects the worst, his eyes are running all over his lover’s body. “What’s wrong?” He retreats to Minho’s side. ”Are you hurt hyung?”

what’s wrong indeed.

final thoughts

oh boy, i spend most of my days writing this piece and it took sooooooooo much of my time so now we have love/hate relationship. kidding, i love this baby so much. not really sure about the amount of angst i put together but yeah. this was supposed to hurt, and i believed it hurt? especially after the second aka alternate ending. even that is not a happy ending ik ik. it was actually tiff’s idea WHO prefers to read fluff > angst but here we are lol

but yeah, there were so many gun references in the fic and following chekhov it should have been fired at one point. my main dilemma was whether it should be jisung and his stubbornness or minho and his determination. now we have both versions.

i guess this is all? if you made it till here, tysm! have a cookie <3

[hunnothyun]

Stunning Conversations

I decided to document these passing conversations I encountered at my destination.

The travel destination was filled with diverse conversations.

I embarked on a trip to Belgium with my friends from Turkey. Brussels had a beautiful square. Upon entering, the sound of vibrant bells filled the air. The weather was exceptionally pleasant. During my previous winter trips to Europe, I often encountered cloudy skies, so it was refreshing to see the square basked in sunlight after a long time. The square was bustling with people. In a few days, 2021 would come to an end, and I wondered how I would feel about the new year in this place.

Entering a café, I heard someone say, "Bonjour!" in French. Belgium is a place where French is commonly spoken. My friend from France effortlessly placed an order. I, on the other hand, ordered in English. I opted for a sandwich. Through the café window, I observed the streets of Brussels. The weather soon turned cloudy again. It seemed that sunny days in Europe didn't last long. Conversations began to unfold, and I thought of capturing these passing exchanges at my destination.

One of my Turkish friends brought up a topic. "Is your country's currency stable?" He mentioned how the Turkish exchange rate fluctuated. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the political leadership, stating that the consequences of poor economic management by the country's leaders could be catastrophic. It intrigued me. The difference in currency value was something I had only experienced when exchanging money, but for my friends, it directly affected their lives. I heard stories of the hardships caused by fluctuations in currency value.

Over the next few days, the value of the Turkish currency sharply declined, throwing the national economy into turmoil. My friends even suggested that now is the best time to visit Turkey. With the devaluation of the Turkish currency, one could travel relatively well with the same amount of money. Indeed, the euro had much higher purchasing power in Turkey compared to Germany. Similar products could be bought for about half the price.

The travel destination offered various conversations. I engaged in a discussion with my friend, who was an exchange student in Spain. We talked about people's indifference towards COVID-19 quarantine policies. "South Korea has very strict measures, and everyone is vigilant about it," he remarked. The conversations I encountered during my travels made me reminisce about Korea. As the sun set, night approached swiftly. The last day of 2021 in Belgium passed by in this manner.

The Grand Place Square, situated in the heart of the city, showcased a dazzling light performance. Excited for the New Year's countdown, we patiently waited in the square. However, it appeared that the New Year's event had been canceled due to the pandemic. Leaving behind a sense of disappointment, we made our way back to our accommodations, and the light performance commenced. The unexpected encounter with the illuminating spectacle at Brussels Square on New Year's Day was truly magnificent.

[walkingscottst]

PERSONAL PHILOSOPHY OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM

We are always told how much of a difference that one person can make. One person can change the world, every person counts, every little thing can come together to make the world a better place. But what about when that one person decides to do something bad? What about the negative impact that just one person can make?

As tourists and as people, we have a responsibility to each other and to our world to do what is best. When we lose sight of that, it becomes easy to rationalize negative behaviors. If just one person overfishes, or spills oil, or litters, or disrespects... there is no end to the things that can be explained away. Unfortunately, explaining something away does not take away the negative impact on the people, the planet, or the culture that is left behind as a result of these negative choices.

Looking at the Fyre Festival disaster, we can see how the careless decisions of one horrible man with a god-complex had the power to negatively impact the thousands of individuals he swindled, the lives of hundreds of workers he treated inhumanely and never compensated, and the devastating blow to the landscape and reputation of an entire island in the Bahamas.

We see also how the decisions of one greedy executive (though likely many more from where he came from) caused the absolute disaster on Deepwater Horizon. The world is vast, and sometimes it can make us as individuals feel insignificant. No matter how small we may feel in the big world, every person has the power to change it. Even small ways can feel like big changes for some people. It may not be a big deal for commercial fishing boats to cross borders and steal fish from other smaller countries, but that decision may mean that someone there goes without dinner or a roof over their head.

Through the case studies I read and watched this semester, I became very aware of how every action causes a reaction. There will always be a consequence, be it positive or negative, whether or not the one initiating it sticks around for the fallout. I will think twice before I order the fish, and I won't just assume that something seemingly accessible truly is. There are a lot of horrible people in the world who don't have any regard for the consequences of their actions. Going forward, I feel better equipped to be a force for positive change and make active decisions against unsustainable practices in hopes that if we all work together, we can leave our world a little better than we found it.