#the friend group i joined that year became a lifelong friend group

[neos127]

park sunghoon x idol!fem!reader | stuck by the glue onto you

wc. 1.2k genre. strangers to lovers(??), pining + clingy hoon cw. none!! notes. idk what this is but this was todays daydream! so i had to write it into a fic (kinda messy bc it’s a brain dump but!)

you were laid out in your bed after a long day of practice, taking time to admire the view out your window while also scrolling through tiktok. you wanted to see if fans had watched your group’s new variety show with enhypen yet, knowing how excited both fandoms were after seeing the teaser.

when you scrolled onto a particularly interesting video, you sat up, your heart rate increasing as your eyes narrowed on the text.

‘sunghoon realizing that he’s in love with y/n’ was the caption in the middle of the screen along with ‘glue song’ playing in the background. you took a deep breath before allowing the video to play, already feeling butterflies invade your stomach.

CLIP #1

you were very nervous while being interviewed considering that your group had only recently debuted. it was your first week doing promotions and due to being a foreigner, you weren’t very confident with your korean yet.

as your shaky hands held the microphone close to your face, you began to stumble over your words. the dialogue on the script you were supposed to repeat suddenly blurring together. panic crossed your face for a split second, and mc sunghoon noticed that. he quickly mumbled the word you forgot into his microphone and you shot him a grateful smile before repeating and continuing with your small speech.

CLIP #2

you had remembered seeing this clip about a year ago, trying to brush it off even though the moment had never left your mind. apparently sunghoon couldn’t divert his gaze from you at an award show, his eyes practically sparkling as he observed you in your gorgeous dress. sunghoon rarely looked at any other female idols, so fans seemed to single out the moments when sunghoon’s attention was only directed onto you. when the two of you crossed paths, he smiled and politely bowed which caused you to do the same.

CLIP #3

your group was meeting enhypen for the variety show you had recently filmed with their group. everyone was shy and timid even though you had met each other many different times due to being under the same company. fans seemed to mostly focus on you and sunghoon though, who were very giggly and flustered. sunghoon’s ears turned a light pink as he shook your hand, his palms already sweaty due to the small encounter.

CLIP #4

sunghoon tried his best to be nonchalant about the fact that you had both been paired together for the field day activities, which was hard considering his long time crush on you. once the two of you started playing the games, you became more comfortable with each other. it seemed as if you two had been lifelong friends as you laughed and joked with each other.

the members teased him about being your shadow while completing missions, noticing how sunghoon never left your side even for a second.

CLIP #5

during your lunch break, sunghoon still seemed to follow you like a lost puppy. he timidly walked up to you, watching as you served yourself from the mini buffet the company set up.

“what are you eating?” he asked softly, causing to quickly look up at him with wide eyes. he scared you a bit, but the momentary surprise was soon replaced by comfort due to his presence.

“oh um…i was just combing some stuff. i came up with this really good combination, want to try it?” you asked, your tone becoming more light once you got over the initial shock of sunghoon being so close. sunghoon nodded his head in agreement, allowing you to take his plate and serve him.

when you had expected sunghoon to walk away and join the boys at a smaller round table to eat, he didn’t, keeping close as you looked around for an empty seat. since you concluded that sunghoon wanted to eat with you, you led him to a picnic table for two, smiling at the boy as he sat across from you.

the boys all gave him curious looks, the editors making small question marks appear above their heads as they observed you two. sunghoon didn’t seem to care— or maybe he simply didn’t notice, too focused on your pretty smile and the way your cheeks puffed up as you shoved rice into your mouth.

CLIP #6

while walking up a trail to find your next mission, you had nearly stepped into a deep mud puddle that would have definitely ruined your favorite pair of sneakers. sunghoon stopped you quickly, placing a strong arm in front of your torso to stop you from moving. you looked at up him with a raised brow before realizing that you had nearly stepped into the mess.

“ah, thank you.” you giggled nervously, feeling grateful that the gentleman next to you had been looking out for your safety. the boy mumbled a small ‘your welcome’ before grabbing onto your sweater and gently tugging you around the puddle. the action made your insides melt.

CLIP #7

when everyone had finished their respective missions and mini games, you were all called back to the picnic area where you had first started. sunghoon and a few other members were already there, waiting for the rest to arrive. the boy was about to sit down on the plush grass until he saw you and a couple of your group mates walk into the area. you sat down behind jay and a member of your group, causing sunghoon to look longingly at you. before he could even warn himself about being too obvious about his crush, he walked over and sat down next to you, a small smile on his face as your gazes met.

you looked at him for a second too long, causing you both to quickly look away in a flustered frenzy. you bit your lip to suppress a giggle, trying to focus on jungwon who was congratulating both groups for finishing the tasks.

CLIP #8

the clip was zoomed in, and you hadn’t even noticed that the camera had still been recording your actions. you and sunghoon walked away from the picnic area with the rest of your groups back to the car, playfully bumping shoulders as you trekked up a hill. it wasn’t much compared to the rest of the clips, but it was enough considering the compilation you had just watched.

you breathed out a shaky sigh before opening the comments, noticing how everyone cooed over the interactions and gushed over how sunghoon seemed to be enamored of you. people described how his eyes lit up whenever you smiled and how he had been attached to you like glue throughout the whole video.

you were a bit surprised that you hadn’t noticed how clingy sunghoon had been that day, only focusing on how you finally had time to get to know the boy more.

you smiled upon playing the video a second time, your finger hovering over the ‘share’ button before finally copying the link and sending it to sunghoon on a whim.

you waited all night for a response, barely being able to stomach down your dinner and constantly darting your eyes over to your phone that only seemed to light up from company emails and your group’s chat.

suddenly as you were getting ready for bed, your phone lit up with a notification from sunghoon. you quickly grabbed the device, toothbrush dangling out of your mouth as you read over the text message multiple times. a squeal threatened to emerge from the back of your throat once you had finally had processed his words.

[sunghoon: ah, i guess they caught me…it’s been hard to take my eyes off such a pretty girl ~]

[buckets-and-trees]

UPDATED 11/26/23

In the summer I created a discord server with a "book club" approach to reading and reblogging fanfic for Bucky Barnes. It was a mix of readers and writers - some I knew a bit before the server, some I was getting to know for the very first time. We had weekly themes, a couple of sleepovers, and lots of connections were made across the group.

We're inviting new members for winter!

Our purpose is simple: READ Bucky fics (with an emphasis on works that have been published over the last year), REBLOG them with some commentary, and REVEL in doing that with other book club members.

There will be a new theme each week now through the new year, and fic recommendations will come directly from our members. There's not a quota of reblogs to fill every week to be part of the club, but I AM looking for our book club to have members who generally want to participate - no eternal lurkers. We will be encouraging the highlight works of different lengths (flash fiction, short and long one-shots, and multi-part works) so each member can engage as they have time and energy.

While Bucky fic recs and reading is why we came together, it's only part of what we do - there are areas for pets, plants, memes, general chatter, writing and brainstorming, birthday celebrations, sleepover games, thirst channels, and just general fun to be had all around.

THIS IS A STRICTLY A 20+ SERVER.

The other thing that's vital to me for this book club is the sense of belonging which being part of a group like this can bring, and all of our current members know and understand that and have built a unique culture of genuine connection. Some are active multiple times a day, some we just see a few times a week, but there is commitment to show up and engage to get to know each other. I've been part of two book clubs where I both met strangers that became lifelong friends and got to know people I already knew better by bonding over the reading/discussing/general book club antics/discussions (both ridiculous and heart-to-heart kind). B&N is proving to be a place like that for the membership that have made it what it is now.

So if you read this and you want to join based off what I'm putting down here, please join us.

I feel like this goes without saying, but I'd rather state it outright than have anyone get the wrong idea: this is a Bucky Barnes book club. We will be reading/reccing Bucky Barnes fics only. Additionally, it's gonna be majority x reader. If Bucky x reader is not your jam or on regular rotation, then this will not be the place for you. (And that's okay for us to acknowledge and accept.)

[purplesaline]

Meet Parker

Previously known as Cloak! As this little lad will be staying with me for some training until we find him his forever home I've chosen his grown up name.

The kennel that I work with to help breed and raise these puppies is LestWeForget Collies and every one of their puppies recieves an Official paperwork name associated with the Canadian Military. Lance's name is officially Operation Lance, after a peacekeeping operation in Rwanda. His grandmother's name was Vimy, after Vimy Ridge. She was the kennel's foundation dog and she died a couple years ago. This was the first litter since she died and I thought giving this litter a theme that had to do with Vimy Ridge would be a touching tribute.

We're also very aware that the Canadian treatment of it's soldiers hasn't been equitable and members of marginalized groups often suffered despite their service and sacrifices. They were far too often overlooked for the same honours and recognition that cishet white soldiers recieved.

So the theme for this litter is Underhonoured Canadian Soldiers of Vimy Ridge.

Parker is a little bit off the beaten track as a choice. His namesake is Ellanore Parker, clearly not a soldier.

She was a nurse though, and one who was injured and permanently disabled from severe gas poisoning while treating soldiers injured during the battle for Vimy Ridge. While I believe being a nurse would be more than enough to include her on this list, Ellanore was included for a different reason. She was queer.

Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh met while serving at a hospital near Sailsbury Plains in England. The couple were inseparable throughout the war and were stationed together throughout France. Ellanore experienced severe gas poisoning while tending to soldiers at Vimy Ridge and would suffer for the rest of her life with respiratory issues. At her side through all of this was Murney, who became her caretaker and life partner after the war. They lived together for their entire lives and self-identified as partners on two separate census documents. Ellanore was an avid writer and when she passed away Murney donated her poetry to the Royal B.C. Museum. These poems beautifully detail their love, life, and experience as queer in a world that would not accept their love. The couple are buried together in Victoria, B.C.

[x]

Ellanore June Parker was born in Ireland ca. 1879. She graduated from Winnipeg General Hospital and in 1910 joined the first contingent of the Canadian Army Medical Corps as a nursing sister. As a First Lieutenant she went to France in January 1915 and served with the 2nd Canadian General Hospital near Dieppe.

At a brief interlude at the Canadian Hospital at Netherhaven on Salisbury Plain she met her lifelong friend and companion, Murney Pugh. Sister Parker served with the First Canadian Division at the Battle of Mons and also treated the first gas cases from Vimy and the Somme, inhaling some of the gas in the process. Because Sister Parker had a susceptible chest, the gas laid her low. When the war ended she was returned to Canada as a patient in a hospital ship and was not expected to pull through. Over the years she had several attacks of pneumonia as a result of the gas, each time being given up for lost by doctors. Sister Parker was awarded the British General Service Medal, the Victory Medal and the Mons Star.

Ellanore Parker and Murney Pugh went to California in 1919 and here Ellanore Parker put to use her talent as a writer. She contributed over a long period, mostly from her bed, to the editorial page of the Los Angeles Times. She also had two books of wartime experiences written as fiction, The Flower of the Land and The Land Lay Waiting, published. Murney Pugh, her nurse and amanuensis, did the copying and editing.

In 1948 they came to Victoria where they lived at 2493 Eastdowne Road. Miss Parker also was involved in inventing and she designed a water cannon which was used in London during the Blitz, and a magnetic detector which was the forerunner of radar. She was a member of the Red Chevrons Association, the Canadian Overseas Nursing Sisters' Association and the John O'London Literary Association. Ellanore Parker died on 10 October 1965 aged 86.

[x]

[skambigbang]

Meet a Mod: Eivor aka @alterlove2021

A03/Instagram/Tumblr: Alterlove2021

What is your Skam Story?

Late one night in 21, searching for another RWRB fic to read, I stumbled on Evak. A google search and four hours later, I’m sobbing at my phone as Isak clutched Even to him while O Helga Natt played. That was the first of many long nights reading Evak fanfic because I couldn’t let them go. Almost three years later, I still can’t. I was a beta in 21, a first time writer in 22, a mod in 23. Isak’s story hit hard. Like him, I grew up with a parent who struggled with mental illness. Like him, I ran at the first chance. And like him, I’ve struggled with those decisions. It’s no coincidence, my fics center Isak’s journey and his relationship with his mom as much as Even. Angst is my jam, but I’m always looking for my own HEA when I’m writing about his.

Why are excited to participate in the Skam Big Bang?

I’m not exaggerating when I say SKAM changed my life. I’ve traveled to distant places and made lifelong friends. This online group of creatives became my tribe and I’d do anything to see this community continue and thrive. I had so much fun with graphics last year I’m back for more alongside a wonderful team working hard to make it happen again.

What would you say to someone nervous about joining?

Take a chance, you won’t regret it. You’ll surprise yourself with what you can do, and you’ll have support, friendship and laughter every step of the way! Come share your passion with us!

Follow us for more information and the start of signups for this years bang!

[lghitofgospel]

Women's Bible Study Near Me: A Journey of Faith and Fellowship

Finding a women's Bible study near me is more than just locating a group of like-minded individuals—it's about discovering a supportive and nurturing community where women come together to grow spiritually, explore the depths of the Bible, and share their journeys of faith. These studies aren't just a weekly routine but a lifeline of encouragement, learning, and shared experiences. Whether you're new to the faith or have been walking with Christ for years, joining a women's Bible study offers countless benefits, both spiritually and socially.

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We live in a fast-paced world where it’s easy to feel isolated or disconnected from others. A women's Bible study near me is an oasis of community in the hustle and bustle of daily life. It’s a chance to pause, reflect, and draw closer to God while also bonding with other women. Bible studies are often tailored to address the unique challenges women face in modern life, offering not only spiritual growth but practical applications for everyday situations.

When I first sought out a women's Bible study near me, I didn’t know what to expect. But from that first meeting, I felt a warmth and sense of belonging that I hadn't experienced elsewhere. The women I met became more than just friends—they became sisters in Christ, supporting me through life's ups and downs.

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If you’re considering joining a women's Bible study near me, you might be wondering what it entails. Typically, these gatherings are informal and relaxed, often held in local churches, community centres, or even someone's living room. Each week, the group will focus on a particular book or section of the Bible, and discussions will delve into its meaning and relevance to our lives.

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With the rise of technology, it has never been easier to find a women's Bible study near me. A quick online search will reveal local church groups, Bible study apps, and social media communities dedicated to helping women connect through Scripture. Many churches have online directories or events pages where you can find details on their Bible study groups. You can also ask around in your local community—there’s a good chance a neighbour, friend, or co-worker attends a women's Bible study near me and can recommend one.

Another option is to check popular platforms like Amazon for study materials or devotional books that might be used by groups in your area. Many women’s Bible study groups build their sessions around books like The Confident Woman Devotional, which is available on Amazon. Click here to check Amazon for recommendations on study guides that may be used in local groups!

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One of the greatest blessings of joining a women's Bible study near me is the sense of community it provides. Life can be challenging, and it’s easy to feel like you’re walking through it alone. But in a Bible study, you’ll meet women from all walks of life who are united by their love for God. Together, you’ll encourage one another, pray for one another, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.

Beyond spiritual growth, a women's Bible study near me can also lead to lifelong friendships. Many women find that these groups are a safe space to share their struggles, joys, and questions without fear of judgement. It's a beautiful reminder that we are all on a journey, and none of us have it all figured out.

And if you're someone who loves to get your hands on helpful resources, be sure to check Amazon for an array of Bible study books and devotionals that are often recommended in women's Bible studies.

Finding the Right Fit: Types of Women’s Bible Studies Near Me

No two women's Bible studies near me are exactly alike. Depending on your interests, stage of life, and schedule, you might want to explore different types of groups. Some studies are more structured, focusing on a specific curriculum or book, while others are more discussion-based. Some may meet in the mornings over coffee, while others gather in the evenings.

If you’re looking for a casual, conversational atmosphere, you may want to join a small group hosted in someone’s home. These settings are often more intimate and allow for deeper connections. On the other hand, if you prefer a more formal approach, many churches offer structured women’s Bible studies with specific teaching sessions and group discussions.

How to Get Involved in a Women’s Bible Study Near Me

So how can you get involved in a women's Bible study near me? Start by reaching out to local churches or community centres and ask about their women’s groups. You can also check bulletin boards, websites, or social media for upcoming events. Don’t hesitate to drop in on a few sessions to see if a particular group is the right fit for you. Most groups welcome newcomers with open arms, and there’s usually no obligation to commit right away.

If you’re interested in diving deeper into specific themes or topics, you might also want to check online retailers like Amazon for Bible study books that align with your interests. Many groups use study guides or devotionals as a foundation for their discussions, so check Amazon for the latest titles that might be featured in a women's Bible study near me.

Final Thoughts: A Women's Bible Study Near Me Can Change Your Life

A women's Bible study near me is more than just a weekly meeting—it's an opportunity to grow in your relationship with God and with other women who share your faith. The friendships you form, the wisdom you gain, and the spiritual growth you experience are all part of this beautiful journey. Whether you’re looking to deepen your understanding of Scripture, find encouragement, or simply connect with others, there’s a women's Bible study near me that’s waiting for you.

So, what are you waiting for? Take that first step and explore the many women's Bible studies near me—you’ll be amazed at the transformation it can bring to your life. Don’t forget to check Amazon for Bible study resources that can enhance your personal journey as well!

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something we may earn a commission. Thanks.”

[heartsfromia]

it's a deal — b. seungkwan

pairing: non-idol! seungkwan x reader

word count: 4,409

genre: fluff, high school, rivals to lovers, minor angst

warnings: reader faints

author's notes: they're both high school students in their final year, joining a singing competition.

“And… the four that will be making it to the finals of this year’s Performing Arts Competion; Singing division are… Jang Nayeon, Boo Seungkwan, Lim Soojin, and L/N Y/N.” You had zoned out the rest of what the emcee had explained, your head focused on the second name announced as you turn your head to look at your classmate and rival, Seungkwan, who was smiling gleefully towards the crowd.

Despite the small on your face, it never reached your eyes as panic began overflowing within you. You were to compete against three other amazing singers, however, one of them is your lifelong (if you count the beginning of high school as your life) rival, Boo Seungkwan—a musical prodigy and social butterfly, who, since your freshman year, had competed against you and won since you had met him in at the high school orientation program.

Noticing the daggers you were sending to him, Seungkwan leaned on his side so you could hear what he spoke through his smile, “I hope you’re ready to win runner-up again.”

You had to hold yourself back from stomping his feet right there, in front of the crowd gathered in the assembly hall.

“We’ll see about that,” you responded through gritted teeth, the chuckle that rumbled from beside you only fueled the blood in your system.

Your “friendly” high school rivalry with Seungkwan started off during orientation week, when you both started out high school. The seniors were curious as to who had talents amongst the new students, and your student supervisor, Jun, pushed you to the front because he remembered you singing randomly during group discussions and thought your voice was beautiful. Despite your protest, Jun successfully got you to stand in front of everyone, with five other students, Seungkwan amongst the bunch.

There were two students that showed their talent in dance and rap, and one choosing to do a skit with a few of their friends, leaving both you and Seungkwan with singing. The seniors said it wasn’t a competition, until one of your peers quipped that it should be—it makes up for the lack of drama during this session (whatever that meant, you remember thinking). So, you and Seungkwan were given a few minutes to decide which song you wanted to sing to out best one another, and thus, the impromptu singing competition, and beginning to your rivalry with him.

You had decided to go with a safe choice, something you had practiced in the comfort of your bedroom—Hello by Adele. Whereas, Seungkwan chose a bold choice, an option that showcases his vocal capabilities but also gives him a chance to interact with the crowd, giving him plus points for his charisma—Juice by Lizzo.

Safe to say, you lost.

Did it hurt your ego? Not really, you admitted that he was great and he deserved to win because it was genuinely fun to watch. But did it hurt your pride? Yes, very much. Maybe it was because of the brief validation from your senior, acknowledging that you had talent that gave you a boost in your confidence, but to know that the lack of charisma became your downfall, it did hurt. A bit.

Just enough.

Just enough that when you both joined competitions upon competitions, that the damage to your pride began to pile atop one another. Every single competition that you had joined and Seungkwan did, too, you’d always fall second when it came to being put up against him. Despite the compliments you get from judges, they weren’t enough because at the end of the day, you’d be standing a step shorter below Seungkwan, a silver trophy in your hand as a gold shimmers within his.

You wondered how it felt to hold a gold trophy with your name on it, and you’d look down beside yours to see Seungkwan holding your usual silver trophy.

You were able to achieve it, although, only the first half of that fantasy. The one time you held a gold trophy with your name engraved in the plaque

You were able to achieve it, although, only the first half of that fantasy. The one time you held a gold trophy with your name engraved in the plaque was during sophomore year. Unfortunately, Seungkwan wasn’t able to join that competition because he was busy when another high school had asked him to come to their school festival as a guest star. It wouldn’t have hurt, to be honest, you were finally holding a gold trophy for heaven’s sake. However, when no one came to support you from your school (granted, the sign-up was from your own accord and you didn’t tell anyone besides your vocal coach and Yeri), that was when the realization hit.

It didn’t matter if you won first place in a high school singing competition. It didn’t matter because you didn’t matter—not the way that Seungkwan matters.

You weren’t sociable. You had one friend, Yeri, but she’s your friend from middle school and now goes to a different high school to you. You couldn’t bring yourself to socialize with your school friends because during school, you were focused on studies, and after, you were at the studio, practicing with your vocal coach, Coach Wendy. Even when there were group discussions or assignments, you didn’t engage with them too much, not because you didn’t want to, but because they didn’t. All your classmates are so used to seeing you sitting alone during lunch, or cooped up in the music room, that they barely know anything about you besides the fact that you hate Seungkwan and you love singing.

And no one hates Seungkwan—no one, but you.

“Why do you hate him so much?” Yeri asked you, as she lied on her stomach on top of your bed. You had just finished your usual rant after being announced to enter the finale with Seungkwan—your rant consisting of various curse words, gosh I just want to wipe that stupid, smug look on his face, and repeatedly stating how you were finally going to hold that gold trophy and flaunt it in front of his face. Yeri couldn’t help but mimic your exact words when you weren’t looking.

“I thought we went through this already?”

Yeri rolled her eyes, pushing herself up and hugging your pillow to her chest. “We have, but…” She merely shrugs. “I still don’t get it—it’s not like he pulls stunts and cheats and bribes to get his wins, right?”

She had a point, you were lucky to still have some common sense in you to think that, but not enough to admit it. So, you just utter awkwardly, “We don’t know that.”

“Y/N,” Yeri sighs, before shaking her hand, deciding to drop the conversation since there was no way you’d retake your statements. “Whatever, what song are you going to sing?”

You nibbled on your bottom lip, thinking. Coach Wendy had already provided with a total of five choices, to which you asked for more time and you can weigh in between two options. “I’m still deciding between All I Ask by Adele, and The Power of Love by Celine Dion.” Yeri’s eyes immediately widened when she heard the latter. “What?”

“Celine Dion, she’s hard, no?”

With pursed lips, you nodded. “Kind of… that’s why the safest option is Adele because I’ve already practiced that song so many times.”

“Didn’t you sing that in a different competition?”

You shook your head, “It was during an internal thing—my senior’s festival, I think.”

“Ah…” She nodded in understanding. “But, do you really want to take the safe route? Knowing who your competition is?” Yeri regrets saying that; she knew well enough that her statement was a push against your competitive side, and having known you for over five years, your competitive side was… damaging.

The last time she remembers you being overly competitive was during the last year of middle school, and it was the last time you’d be having a competition between classes. You were so adamant to win, since your class had a history of being last place, but because of that obsession, you almost broke your arm when you lost your momentum and tripped over a hurdle. You managed to get out of there with a sprained wrist and scabs where your hands and knees made contact with the hard ground.

“I’ll… I’ll have to consult it with my coach, though. The competition is next week and I have to submit the song I’m singing by Wednesday.” Safe might be good if your competition wasn't Seungkwan, Y/N.

“I'll be there, by the way,” Yeri spoke up, breaking you away from your thoughts. She then looked conflicted for a second, unsure whether to ask, but decided to ask anyway, “Have you told your parents?”

Your face dropped, a heavy weight pressing against your chest as you allowed yourself to fall back into your bed, besides Yeri. A heavy sigh left your lips, an enough answer to her question.

Your parents weren't exactly supportive of this dream of yours—to be known as an amazing singer, and to hopefully achieve more than winning second place (and one first place) in high school competitions. They believed all your efforts were in vain, and that you should just focus on your studies, enter a prestigious university and a conventional major before obtaining a boring nine-to-five job in some corporate business.

They've never attended any of your competitions, and you know they never will—especially when your parents are the type to think that second place is equivalent to not winning anything at all, that it's first place or nothing.

You remembered showing them your first place trophy after Coach Wendy dropped you off. Any parent would be proud to see their children achieve something, anything really, except your parents. Instead of praise, you were berated. They scolded you for joining something so useless when you could've used your time and effort to get better grades than your B+ average. Despite their protests and being against this dream of yours, you were persistent on proving to them that you deserve to chase this career path. Thus, your obsession with joining competition after competition, in hopes to collect more first places, more recognition to finally get the praise and validation that you deserve.

That's why you hated Seungkwan. He was in the way.

And that is also why you were adamant on singing The Power of Love, despite Coach Wendy's worries that you weren't ready.

“Then make me ready, Coach,” you pleaded, desperation laced around your voice as you locked eyes with your coach, the obvious hesitancy as she stares back at you. “I'm– I'm sure with enough practice, I can perfect the song.”

“It's not about just perfecting the song, Y/N,” she begins, pushing past you towards the piano in the studio. “Besides vocal range, they judge you for your skill to play along with notes without making it sound forced—you can't just sing it note-by-note, but allow things to flow and mesh together to make everything sound natural, as if it's just another song.”

“And you don't think I'm capable of doing that?” You were growing too sensitive. This happens when your competitive juices are above its average level.

“Y/N, that's not what I'm saying—”

“I bet you think Seungkwan could pull this off.” You childishly crossed your arms over your chest, earning an eye roll from your coach.

“First of all, don't cut me off,” she warns, holding up her pointer finger, “and second, Seungkwan is not my student, so I don't know what he's capable of.”

“But you've heard him, you've watched him and I've seen how you look at him when he sings—as if you wished he was your student.” Guilt tripping. Wendy knew that was your tactic in getting what you want, and after the two years she's become your coach, she knew that there was no way of escaping when you get this desperate.

With a heavy sigh, Wendy gives in. “We'll have to spend the next week every day, after school practicing, leading up to the competiton—we’ll practice vocal warm-ups for thirty minutes before running through the song, until our session ends.

“Also, pace yourself, Y/N, this isn't a national competition, you don't need to push yourself over your limit,” she warns, “I want you to do your best, but I don't want you to overdo it—make sure you're healthy on the day of, and I only want you practicing when we're in the studio. Pacing yourself will give you room to adapt, and you won't risk injuring yourself.”

You might've nodded, but you didn't understand—you didn't listen.

Practicing only when you're in the studio? Nope, you practiced in your school's music room and also, at home when you knew your parents were still working.

Pacing yourself? Not that either, you found yourself singing for almost three hours straight trying to get the bridge perfect. You were lucky you didn't lose your voice on the day of the competition.

Healthy on the day of? With a pounding headache from lack of sleep, and only having eaten a slice of bread and a cup of orange juice in the morning (the competition was in the evening), you knew you were screwed.

Thankfully, Coach knew of you didn't like being approached before the competition started, allowing for alone time and to put yourself in the zone.

You couldn't put yourself in the zone because of your sleep deprivation, the zone was your bed and dreamland.

“So, what song did you decide to go with, Y/N?” Great, just what your headache needed—a pain in your ass.

“I'm not in the mood to deal with you, Seungkwan,” you grumbled, grabbing a water bottle provided and downing it. You had approached a committee if they could go buy you a pain killer, or ibuprofen for your headache, and they have yet to come.

A witty response was sitting at the tip of Seungkwan’s tongue, waiting to release but when he caught sight of your eyebags, pale skin and chapped lips, worry took place instead. “Y/N, are you okay?”

With furrowed brows, you faced him, “Why do you care? You're hoping I back out? Forfeit? You wish.”

He raised his arms up in feign surrender. “I just asked what song you decided to sing.”

Again, your suspicions towards him didn't subside. “Why? So, you can steal it from me?”

He couldn't help but laugh at your outrageous claims. “If you didn't notice, it's competition day and the final day for song submission was two days ago, I couldn't even if I wanted.”

“Aha!” You exclaimed, causing him to wince at your sudden yell. “So, you admit, you do have intentions to cheat.”

The look he gave you proved that what you needed right now was sleep because whatever you just said did not make any sense.

“No, Y/N, I don't,” he begins, moving forward to stand beside you to utter something so only you can hear, “Why would I need to cheat at something I'm good at?”

Anger reached the points of your ears and you turned around, finding Seungkwan making small talk with the committee member that you had asked for help. With a tight smile, you took the ibuprofen and headed to the waiting room, downing one with a chug of water.

Unfortunately for you, it barely helped subdue the pounding in your head, and the anger in your veins. Talking to Seungkwan in general was an already bad idea, you weren't sure as to why you still interacted with him. Trying to find a distraction, you headed out to see the audience, finding Yeri and Coach Wendy seated besides each other in the second row, and Yeri spotted you, waving happily at you.

“My parents?” You mouthed towards her and she stood up, looking around the already crowded audience, before sending you a lok of pity, brows furrowed in worry. Despite the bile rising in your throat, you forced a smile and shook your head, trying to reassure her it was alright.

You had sent them an invitation consisting of the finale poster, but there was zero response.

“Y/N? Where's Y/N?” Upon hearing your name, you turned to find the Event Organizer, holding a clipboard with the rundown as he looked around for you.

“That's me.”

“You'll be performing first, alright?” Though your eyes weighed a ton, you tried keeping them open, but because you were so focused on looking like you're awake, you could barely make out the words coming out of the EO’s mouth. “… Be on standby when the speech is being delivered.” What speech? Who's delivering it? Before you could ask again, he was pulled away to deal with a different issue assuming you had gotten everything down.

You didn't, but because you didn't want to risk not being on standby at the right moment, you were already standing close to where you'd head out through from the beginning of the event, until the principal of the school stepped out to deliver the opening speech. You thought for sure, you'd come on after this, but turns out there was a speech from not only the principal, but also the head of the Music department and also the Project Manager for the competition.

You found yourself standing by the entryway towards the stage for almost forty minutes, and when you were about to go sit for a second, the same EO hushed for you to get ready, gesturing that you'll be on after this.

At this point, the headache was causing your vision to blur, and with every step you took, your sight was hazy and a tunnel began to form, slowly inching towards completing blacking out your vision. However, you repeatedly pinched yourself, trying to keep yourself awake as you heard the intro to the song you chose, your stomach grumbling at the same time, indicating your lack of nutritions to keep you up.

You barely got through the first verse before your vision goes completely black, and you found yourself backstage on a blow-up mattress, a piece of warm cloth on your forehead.

Coach Wendy and Yeri were there with you, but only Yeri kneeled besides you, her hand clasped over yours.

“She's awake—Coach, she's awake,” Yeri exclaimed, causing Wendy to approach you with an unreadable look on her face.

“How are you feeling, Y/N?”

“What happened?” Wendy sighed heavily when you ignored her question, turning her back towards you before uttering that she's going to talk with the committee. “Comm– the competition!”

You say up, but Yeri held you back. “Y/N, you fainted—the competition is currently still on break, but it'll proceed with the next contestant in a few minutes.”

“… I fainted?”

“Yeah, do you not—”

She was cut off by the door of the room being pushed open, revealing a distraught Seungwan, worry etched all over his features as he locks eyes with you, observing your situation.

“I knew something was wrong,” he claims, his loud voice causing a stabbing pain to crack through your skull. Realizing his mistake, he winced, genuinely worried.

“The medic said she might've overexerted herself,” he explains to Yeri, who just nodded. Seungkwan’s eyes returned to you, now set in a frown. “Did you sleep at all last night?”

“How is that any of your concern?” He couldn't help but scoff, rolling his eyes. Sensing the obvious tension between you two, Yeri stood up, pursing her lips.

“I'm going to the convenience store across here, I'll bring back something for you to eat and drink, alright, Y/N?” Not giving you a chance to protest, she turns and gives Seungkwan a look, as if to tell him to go easy on you, you just fainted, before she slipped out the room.

The heavy air lingered as Seungkwan took a seat on an available chair, crossing his arms over his chest as he stares– no, glares at you. “So, do you mind explaining how you fainted?”

“I think I lost consciousness,” you deadpanned, causing him to release an annoyed sigh.

His face then contorted to that of disbelief. “Is it really that serious, Y/N? To the point you're willing to put your health at risk? It’s just a high school competition.”

“Maybe to you,” you couldn't help but snap. “Maybe to you it's just a high school competition, that it doesn't matter because this is just another gold trophy to add to your collection, Seungkwan.”

“You've already made it to the final, Y/N, either way, you're leaving with a prize.”

You stared at him as if he grew three heads. “You think I'm doing this for just a prize? No, Seungkwan, I'm doing this for the prize—I'm doing this for first place.”

“Seriously? And you're willing to put yourself at risk for that? For a trophy you can get made?”

You gritted your teeth, feeling your patience reach its limit. “Look, maybe to you it's insignificant, maybe to you that this is just another damn competition to add to your overflowing achievements, but it isn't to me.

“This is my chance to prove a point, that this career path is worth taking all these risks, alright? Because, newsflash! Not everyone has the support system to assure you that you're doing well, that what you're doing is right. So call me shallow for basing my dreams of off high school achievements and validations.

“I don't have anyone—I have my coach and I have Yeri, but even they can't give enough support. You– you have the entire school out there supporting you, not met. You have your parents, you have your friends, and you even have complete strangers out there supporting you, Seungkwan. I don't have that luxury.

“So, yeah, I'd say that putting my health at risk is worth it if I win first place.” You finally take in a deep breath, all that you were waiting to say, finally said out loud. “But… but I fainted and screwed everything up anyway, so… early congratulations on your win.” The finally statement tasted bitter as it left your lips.

There was a brief moment of heavy silence between the two before Seungkwan spoke. “If it's that important to you, Y/N, then I'll step out of the competition.”

A deafening silence hung in the air before you scoffed. Then you chuckled. Then you were laughing.

“You… You might as well spit in my face and step all over me if you'd let me win by default, Seungkwan.”

“You're going to be disqualified because you couldn't finish the song, at least with me backing out, you'd get third place because you got to start your song.”

Again, you scoffed. “Then I wouldn't be held accountable for my actions—my disqualification would be the result of my carelessness to my health, and I'm already coming to terms with that. And you said it yourself, it's a high school competition.

“I can accept the fact that I'm disqualified because I wasn't able to finish the song, but I will not accept you stepping out just because you pity me, Seungkwan.”

Before he could say anything, you slipped in one more statement. “If you did that, Seungkwan, I'll actually, truly hate you forever.”

He couldn't help but smirk, chuckling at your statement. “Don't you already hate me?”

You sighed, knowing that if you didn't come clean, that he'd actually go to a committee member and inform them of his departute from the competition. “I don't hate you—I'm envious of you, Seungkwan, and that envy just translates to anger.”

He doesn't say anything, but sits up, resting his chin on his hand, waiting for you to elaborate.

You rolled your eyes before continuing. “You're everything I could've wanted and more; you have a versatile and amazing voice, you're an extrovert that's known and liked by everyone you meet, you have a vast support system… I'm sorry I hate you because I'm jealous.”

There was a moment of silence from him as he processes what you said, before a knowing grin appeared on his lips. “I'm everything you wanted… and more?”

The realization that you really need to sleep struck you, as you quickly tried to correct yourself. Your sleep deprivation has you speaking absolute nonsense. “You're everything I could've wanted to be.” The look on his face showed that he wasn't convinced, but he didn't pry.

“What more could you want to?”

“Nothing.” He only raised his eyebrows towards you, causing you to roll your eyes. “You need to go out there, you have to be on standby.”

He spared a glance at the door, finally standing up. “Fine,” He says with a sigh, “I'll go out there and perform—I won't back out.”

“Good—”

“Under one condition, Y/N.”

You squinted suspiciously at him. “What?”

“There's a vocal contest next month, but it's for duos only,” he explains, “you become my duo, then I'll go out there right now and let you lose fair and square.”

You sneered at his last statement, thinking about the duet contest. Seeing that you were conflicted, Seungkwan quickly quipped, “You'll finally get another first place—I just hope you don't mind sharing.”

After a beat, you sighed. “Fine. It's a deal.” He smiles widely, reaching out to shake your hand, but you shook your head. “We're not that close.”

“Fine.” He turns on his heels to head out the door, but stops before he could leave. Looking back at you, his face had changed to that of more serious, yet… gentle. “And it's not true that no one from our school supports you, Y/N. I do, I've always supported you. Maybe you were too blinded by your hate for me that you never realized, but…

“The reason why I kept joining competitions alongside with you was to give support so that you'd finally beat me with your own efforts, because I know you're more than capable of you'd pace yourself and give yourself time,” he explains, “Just because I compete against you, doesn't mean that I never want you to win against me—so, Y/N, get better, then after our duet, we can go back to competing with each other and maybe, you'll finally be able to flaunt that gold trophy over my face.”

You didn't realize tears were stinging at your eyes as he finished his vent. You couldn't help but chuckle, shaking your head, before looking back at him in determination.

“You're on.”

[antoine-roquentin]

This is a miniseries about the 1965 American invasion of the Dominican Republic, the fifth by that nation, in the midst of a much larger series about the CIA in the 1960s and god knows what else. The above clip is from a primetime CBS news broadcast on March 13, 1967, a few weeks after the Ramparts revelations, called In the Pay of the CIA. Take note of the foundations mentioned. You can watch it here, and I would recommend doing so, because it shows which allegations the CIA was hoping to get ahead of and which ones they were hoping to bury with a counternarrative. William Small at CBS News had asked the CIA to provide a list of who at the station was in their employ, and unlike with other news organizations, the CIA refused to confirm or deny. Given the testimony of former CBS men like Sam Jaffe, foreign correspondent, as to the pushiness of the agency, it's likely that at least some were compromised. The previous part in this series, Part 6, can be read here.

In the aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the American socialist movement was deeply split. Jewish Americans tended to see the Bolsheviks as the liberators of their people still held captive by Tsarist anti-Semitism and joined the Communist Party USA. Protestants, held captive as they were by a tendency towards paternalistic politics, were horrified by the atrocities committed against Orthodox priests and of state atheism and tended towards the Socialist Party USA. Jay Lovestone, as the former, became a rising CPUSA star, working to support the party through labour union entryism in the American Federation of Labour. Politics in the party mirrored those in the Soviet Union: Lovestone supported Bukharin, James Cannon supported Trotsky, and William Foster supported Stalin. Foster and Lovestone booted Cannon from the party, then Foster booted Lovestone. Lovestone went to the Soviet Union to argue his case in front of Stalin himself, and as he tells it, he criticized the man to his face, was jailed, and had to escape. This fostered a lifelong hatred for Stalinism in his eyes, although for a number of years after he defended him opportunistically even on the outside of the Party. He brought along with him a number of loyalists, most notably Irving Brown, his best friend and muscle man (Part 3). Lovestone fell under the influence of David Dubinsky, leader of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union, member of SPUSA, and a vehement anti-communist. Dubinsky, the head of an all-male leadership of a 3/4 female union, prided himself on turning down wage increases when he felt they would threaten the stability of the industry, and once said "workers need capitalism like a fish needs water". He used his intelligence chief, Gus Tyler (Part 3), who had experience breaking Trotskyite groups, to suppress any local taken over by communists. He used Lovestone as his outside man, sending him to the UAW to prevent them from joining the CIO over the AFL. Victor Reuther, brother of the UAW president, described Lovestone as "one of the most Machiavellian union-splitters ever to prey on the American labor movement".

During the war, both Lovestone and Brown applied to work at the OSS. The spy agency wanted people who could provide information about the Soviet Union and communist trade unionists in Europe, who had become some of the few resisters against the Nazis. Brown was accepted, but Lovestone was felt to be too compromised. Instead, he was appointed by Dubinsky's close friend Irish Catholic George Meany, AFL treasurer and future AFL-CIO leader as well as a close CIA collaborator, to head up a new project. Meany was a schmoozer who prided himself on his conversational skills and his ability to be arrogant without seeming it, like keeping the American president waiting on the line. Lovestone was a classic intelligence man, obsessed with gleaning information and putting it to use. An underling reported that he read "twenty newspapers a day". Lovestone noted that the AFL was at the height of its power, and Dubinsky and Meany should use that to prevent the Soviets from taking over Europe. He saw that communist, socialist, and Catholic trade unions were the only ones who had survived the war, typically through extreme resistance in the case of the former and collaboration for the latter. Lovestone was appointed to create an international intelligence network to crusade against communism. By 1946, the FBI noted that Lovestone had a man in the majority of America's European embassies, largely thanks to Dubinsky's influence in the White House. The network was called the Free Trade Union Committee.

Prior to WW2, an attempt had been made at a global trade union conference. The International Federation of Trade Unions refused to take a hard line on colonialism, feminism, socialism, or any other prominent political questions of the day and so fell apart. The English Trade Union Congress attempted to create a new post-war version, the World Federation of Trade Unions, and invited Soviet and communist trade unions to participate. The AFL refused, complaining of communist subversion, but the CIO attended. Lovestone devoted hundreds of thousands of dollars, much of it from the women, largely Jewish, of the ILGWU sewing repetitively for 44 hours a week, to breaking the WFTU apart. For the AFL triumvirate, any organization that had communists was a front group. In Germany, Italy, France, and Greece, Lovestone worked hard at creating a merger between pre-war socialists and Catholics that would shut out communists who had massive sway among new membership for their part in the resistance. He used the same tactics he had at the UAW, while Brown brought his OSS experience. In large part, he succeeded because he was the only one with money in these war-torn countries. In large part, this was the same debate club tactics. People were brought together and prepared with pre-canned lines for the big debates both on the shop floor and at the general meetings. Both sides dropped phony measures with friendly, unobjectionable language to see which side independents would support. In the background, money was exchanged and positions were promised. If big wins weren't found at the conventions, plans were made for open splits with expensive press conferences and advertising. In the streets, blood had to be spilled to keep the rank and file in line and to take over a local from the outside. Money went a long way there too, as did contacts with mafia members. Wherever possible, locals that had fled to America to escape were brought in to replace the local leadership.

Ultimately, this was the same way the National Student Association got started, to torpedo an international effort feared converted by the Soviets. Like them, the AFL would soon have CIA backing to do it. The money would come from the Marshall Plan. Reconstruction was important and would require the acquiescence of labour. The point of the plan was to get people paid higher wages so they could buy more and fuel growth. American agents on the ground would distribute money to worthy projects, gaining local contacts and bettering the American brand. Countries that chose not to participate would face lower living standards. This was the perfect way for the newly formed CIA to gain intelligence on the ground. Many of the CIA's operatives were former OSS who had gone to work in the State Department and were now in charge of the Plan. Most important of these employees was Frank Wisner, who was not officially CIA but often dined with their leadership as part of the Georgetown Set, which included Ben Bradlee, Cord Meyer, and Dick Bissell. He and a more famous employee, George Kennan, writer of one of the most famous documents of the Cold War, went to work using Marshall Plan money for covert projects. These included bringing fascists from Eastern Europe to America where they could be protected, trained, and sent out to conduct guerilla warfare, and helping to sway the 1948 Italian elections with the help of anti-communist trade unions. Soon, Lovestone's FTUC was being funded with more CIA money than union money.

These men hated each other. The CIA boys were WASPs and the union men were Catholics and Jews with little in the way of formal education. They shared objectives and funding but felt that they were acting independently of each other and claimed so in their autobiographies. Thomas Braden (part 5), Lovestone's handler in the early 50s, complained of never getting any accounting books, while Lovestone derided Braden and his comrades as "fizzkids". Nevertheless, the historical record betrays a close cooperation. In a top level meeting, Wisner was described in CIA memorandum as "Mr. Lawyer", Meany as "Mr. Plumber", Dubinsky as "Mr. Garment Worker", and Lovestone as "Mr. Intellectual". They shared an odd political affiliation, a liberalism that was moderate supportive of working class demands but against any radical changes to the overall system and most definitely against the Soviet Union. They didn't just want fascists from Eastern Europe, they also wanted independent trade unionists. One of these men was Sacha Volman. In Romania, Volman had worked for the social democratic party, fighting in the resistance against the Nazis before being forced out of the country by the Soviets. Like his patrons, he was well educated and spoke many languages. They set him to work on a joint project between the AFL and the CIA, a radio station known as Radio Free Europe, translating propaganda broadcasts. Volman knew who was paying him, but like Lovestone and Brown felt like an independent, calling himself a "half-virgin".

The CIA's attention soon turned to Latin America. They brought together the remnants of the Caribbean Legion, who had contacts on the ground and in some cases had become local leaders, with Eastern European trade unionist exiles, who had backgrounds in organizing workers and could testify to the brutality of the Soviet system. Volman became personally attached to the Dominican Juan Bosch, who in exile in Figueres' Costa Rica had become attached to a training program for democratic activists sponsored by the AFL and SPUSA. Now, you may be asking yourself, why would America train people opposed to the allied regime of Trujillo? The benign explanation would be that the political attachment of American government employees to liberalism made them wish to do whatever they could to improve the character of foreign governments while working within the system. The more sinister one would be that nobody in politics trusts anyone to stay attached to them for any longer than the present moment. If your ally betrays you or even just isn't performing that the level you'd prefer, you'd better have someone you can replace him with on short notice. Better yet if the new guy has more local legitimacy than the old guy. Juan Bosch certainly did, having worked underground to organize workers as part of his banned opposition party, the Dominican Revolutionary Party (PRD).

Betrayal wasn't what Trujillo was doing, but he certainly pissed off the wrong people. He knew how to pay people off to his benefit, and American politicians were no exception. One of the first men he bribed was congressman Hamilton Fish III. Fish was a progressive anti-Soviet isolationist in favour of civil rights who objected openly to the massacre of Haitians. Trujillo gave him $25,000, his standard fee, and two years later he welcomed the Dominican leader to New York with a speech proclaiming he'd created a "golden age for his country". In that case Trujillo's investment was devalued, however, by Fish' 1938 speech at a pro-Nazi conference, leading to his isolation and ultimate election loss in 1944. Others were primarily from the Senate Agricultural Committee. They held control over how much raw sugar could be imported to America for refinement, ensuring that the price remained stable and high. In turn, Trujillo owned about two thirds of the country's sugar plantations and American investors 30%. Most were staunch anti-communists, southerners, and pro-segregation. They helped determine who got foreign aid, both money and weapons, in the fight against Soviet influence in the region. Most notable of these was James Eastland, perhaps the most right wing senator in the 50s and 60s and a good personal friend of J. Edgar Hoover. Hoover was so committed to the man that when he informed Eisenhower about the bribes from Trujillo, he kept Eastland's name off the list (note: wiretapping had been ruled illegal, so Hoover simply spied on everybody in Congress and told the president the most salacious gossip so that he wouldn't object. Only Truman and JFK were uncomfortable with it). If you've seen the recent Elvis biopic, you might recognize Eastland for his bit role in the film. Of course, it wasn't just money that changed hands. The Dominican's tourism industry went from bust to boom during the 50s, and Trujillo maintained a controlling interest in all the brothels as well as many ritzy properties where members of Congress could enjoy themselves. All, of course, were bugged and had two way mirrors to expedite filming.

Despite his best efforts, in the long run these policies alienated America. Dominican dissident Jesus Galindez, a Spanish civil war vet, FBI informant, and Columbia University professor, disappeared from New York City and was never found. A man arrested in the Dominican Republic, Octavio de la Maza, was found dead in his cell with a confession that the FBI considered to be forged. Trujillo hired a high priced American PR firm that did work for the Mafia and Tammany Hall to defend the nation. Hoover got a former agent of his, Joseph Farland, appointed ambassador. Farland quickly confirmed that much of the embassy was compromised. Farland's second at the embassy even openly bragged about spending time in one of Trujillo's mansions, leading to his replacement. In 1957, members of the Chicago, Philadelphia, and Tampa Mafias, including Meyer Lansky and Santos Trafficante (large investors in Cuba, also see part 1), were flown in to discuss opening casinos on the island. The investments were minor, mostly slot machines in hotels, but led to Trujillo hiring mafia-linked men for the Galindez job as well as an attempt to kill Jose Figueres. Hoover, Eisenhower, and the brothers Dulles began prepping for an orderly transition of power. The CIA initiated funding for Juan Bosch through the charity of businessman J.M. Kaplan, owner of Welch's Grape Juice and an investor in Dominican sugar plantations, a project managed by Sacha Volman. Together, they trained 200 Latin American students in 10 week courses in politics and social change, including a heavy dose of liberal anti-communism. Some of the Kaplan money made its way to Carlos Prio, who in turn handed some of it to Castro at a meeting in 1956. Arms sales, meanwhile, were quietly suspended in early 1958 to both Trujillo and Batista, although ongoing deliveries continued and both simply bought from Nicaragua.

1959 was the key year. In the decade since the Caribbean Legion, Castro had gone from using his elected position to try and pass a law against Batista's coup to fighting in guerilla warfare. One of the men he fought with was a former OSS man named Frank Sturgis. He used his links to pick up weapons wherever he could, likely including from the CIA's Samuel Cummings, who also sold to Batista, and from Rafael Trujillo, who had wanted to bribe Batista, then tried to kill him, then begged America to resume arms sales to him. This was not strange for the lower level CIA men, who rationally assessed Castro's claims to be an liberal nationalist. Their opinions turned when the men they'd trained to staff the anti-communist secret police began to be executed. Early New Year's Day, Batista touched down in Ciudad Trujillo, the renamed capital of the Dominican Republic. "Trujillo next", Castro shouted on the day he arrived in Havana. He only intended for rhetorical support, but Che had acted quickly to set up camps to train Haitians and Dominicans in promoting revolutions. Eisenhower's advisors recommended cautious engagement to draw Castro away from Che. The president's own paranoia, not to mention Vice President Nixon's, told them otherwise. Moreover, so did the Wall Streeters who owned Cuban plantations that were now being redistributed to peasants. In March, Frank Sturgis, who'd been helping clear the gangsters from the casinos but ended up going to work for them, reached out to the FBI and let them know his own negative assessment. Castro reached out to the Soviets for aid, hoping like any small national leader to play against American intransigence in providing their's. Cuba and the Dominican Republic sent rival adventurers to overthrow each others' governments, the former backed by Romulo Betancourt, president of newly democratic Venezuela. Those in the Cuban group were armed with AR-10s that Cummings had continued selling to Castro, who had liked the feel of captured ones, after Batista had been overthrown. (Cummings was in the Dominican when it happened trying to sell more guns, and Trujillo had demanded answers, as I found out reading the CIA's files.) Eisenhower read into these actions his own worst fears. What scared him more was when Trujillo did the same thing, reaching out to the Czechs to buy arms.

In the summer, Hollywood star and socialist Ava Gardner (just saw her in the great The Killers), who'd thrown down with Rubirosa as well as JFK, decided to visit Cuba and ended up seeing Fidel. She'd wanted to bang him but was blocked by a nineteen-year-old woman named Marita Lorenz, who prevented Gardner's private notes from reaching Castro. Ultimately, the two had a physical fight that had to be broken up by a Cuban security guard. Lorenz would later float around Cuban exile circles and claimed at one point, unconvincingly, that she'd been recruited to the CIA by Sturgis and the two had met Lee Harvey Oswald to look at maps of Dallas in 1963. In an odd coincidence, Jack Ruby testified to the Warren Commission that he'd seen Gardner while in Havana on business for Santo Trafficante (Another coincidence, Juan Peron was living in exile in the Dominican Republic at the time and was quite friendly with Trujillo, but ended up getting kicked out and fled to Madrid instead where he became Gardner's neighbour). On 11 December, Dick Bissell of the CIA (his name is on the ZR/RIFLE file in part 1) put out the first written recommendation for the "elimination of Fidel Castro", although by the time this memo hit the president's desk it was toned down. On the 20th, Dick Rubottom (there's a guy who was born to be in porn) at the State Department signed off on an order to remove Trujillo from office. This was likewise written on paper to be a charm offensive to convince the man to step down. However, as we saw with ZR/RIFLE, on paper there was a burglary operation, and in real life there was something more sinister.

[ciltilladeltilla]

(edited sprint piece, 500 words, partly inspired by this book & paper)

The ice chest sat next to the hotel bed, covering a hole in the three layers of plastic wrap. He looked at it while the surgeon prepared, and hoped she wouldn't do any more checks to see if he was sure.

Even he'd assumed it was insomnia until he'd noticed mirrors had a color. It was a putrid color, at that - a higher octave of beige, only more damnably bright than the others.

"There aren't any medical texts for this, of course," she explained, shrugging off a layer of baggy casualwear and revealing full scrubs with plastic gloves taped to them. "It's a bit like those marriage drive-thrus in Vegas. Do they still have those? Anyway, you'll want to avoid doing any physicals from now on."

At night, stars had become suns again, while moonlight smeared the air and made it into fog. The moon itself didn't wane for him, but when its light was fainter it became almost tiger-striped with infrareds that rhymed with orange and green.

Next had come the clicking from the outdoors, a bomb or a loom hushed only by the rain. The sound of more letters being forced into his box in the lobby by someone cursing under their breath. Spiders became hydraulic and pistoning, snapped branches became wet telegraphs, and a universe of tiny, churning mouths vibrated the concrete under his feet.

The cravings had clarified the rest.

In the hotel room he laid back - sparing the details - and stared at the popcorn ceiling, thinking distantly of canopic jars. It was a wonder to him that this, this alone, should be so sensationless.

When the work has halfway done the ice chest was opened and gave a long, droning sigh as the surgeon lifted four containers and twisted four seals. For him it was hard to tell them apart except for size, but each smelled like mud or railroads or lifelong, prickling fear.

The group had already told him that rabbit, elk, pig and falcon were the traditional hearts for starting someone off. They'd also given him a warning, that his life depended on knowing which things kept and which would go sour. Which, he suspected, was just their segue to telling him he'd be paying in favors and not cash.

Rabbit, elk, pig, falcon. There was room for them, now, and as each was attached and resumed its operation he felt more - awake? The present contracted and expanded in the same motion, somehow - finer-grained but across a broader surface. All four beat in separate rhythms, syncopating in pairs and flirting in triplets until they joined in a crescendo on the half-hour mark.

"And - that's it?" he asked as the surgeon closed him up.

She placed the sewing needle between her teeth and made a 'so-so' gesture with her hand. "Reason these are standard is they go bad in about five years. Make nice with the right people and show you keep your favors and that won't be a problem. If that's not you, figure something out."

"Is stuff like this how you do it?" he asked.

She shook her head. "I made friends with the Order of St. Hubertus."

She declined to elaborate on that.

[mybeingthere]

Denis Wirth-Miller (1915-2010), born Wurtmüller in Folkestone to a Bavarian father and English mother.

Denis Wirth-Miller: Bohemian artist who enjoyed a close association with Francis Bacon.Denis Wirth-Miller was one of a group of artists who for many years injected the spirit of bohemia into the life of Wivenhoe, a small shipbuilding and repairing town on the Essex coast. The jollifications of Wirth-Miller, his partner, the James Bond illustrator Richard "Dickie" Chopping, and the painter Francis Bacon remain the stuff of local legend.

Such stories, true or untrue – among the latter is one that after Bacon's death his former Wivenhoe house was kept as a shrine by Denis and Dickie – have tended to overshadow Wirth-Miller's achievements as a painter. One recognition of this will be a forthcoming small retrospective at the Minories Art Gallery, Colchester.

Also undermining Wirth-Miller's reputation was the fact that from the early 1970s sight problems hindered him and that latterly he suffered from dementia. All this must have been hard for a man who had shown in London's leading galleries and had work in the collections of the Queen, the Arts Council and Contemporary Art Society.

Wirth-Miller was born in Folkestone, Kent, in 1915, where his Bavarian father Johann Wirthmiller (Denis later Anglicised his name) ran a busy hotel. Wirth-Miller's mother moved him to Bamburgh in her home county of Northumberland, where he was raised by his grandmother.After school, he joined Tootal Broadhurst Lee, the textile manufacturers in Manchester, where innate talent prompted his appointment as a designer. After arriving in London early in 1937 he met Dickie Chopping, who moved into one of the painter Walter Sickert's former studios in north London, where Denis was living. Thus began a lifelong relationship; in December 2005 they became the first in Colchester to make a civil partnership.

It was not without disagreements, even how about they first met – according to Chopping at a Regent's Park charity garden party, according to Wirth-Miller at the Café Royal, a celebrated meeting point for gay men. A friend was concerned about the vulnerability of the Sickert flat to bomb damage and advised them to leave London, lending them the dilapidated Felix Hall in Kelvedon, Essex. There, they scraped a living gardening and other jobs.Then, importantly, they met the painters Cedric Morris and Arthur Lett-Haines, who had established the East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing, first at Dedham and, when that was destroyed by fire, at Benton End. The artist Mollie Russell-Smith recalled how, as a student lacking an easel, with trepidation she knocked on the door at Benton End and it was "flung open by three young men" – Chopping, Wirth-Miller and Lucian Freud. 

"They bundled me in, assuming that I had come to be a student, and Dickie showed me all over the house with great enthusiasm and charm. I was enchanted."

https://www.independent.co.uk/.../denis-wirthmiller...

https://www.apollo-magazine.com/denis-wirth-miller-bacon.../

[alphinias]

What is the timeline with the pogues friendship lol? John B says him and JJ have been friends since 3rd grade. In season 2 kie says they’ve all been friends since kindergarten. Season 3 she says she was miserable before being friends with them, which makes me think she’s referring to her kook year? But they were friends before that? She wasn’t miserable without them as a 5 year old lol. Idk it’s confusing

Yeah… it’s been wildly inconsistent and it drives me bonkers. There is also the comment from jj in episode one (super hot hippie chick slumming with us) that gives newer friendship vibes, but I totally ignore that because everything about them gives best friends since middle school at minimum. Plus, it makes no sense for them to be hurt by her kook year if they haven’t been lifelong friends.

Personally my headcanon I generally accept is JJ and JB became best friends in third grade. Kie and Pope joined when they were a smidge older, like 10 or 11. And headcanon is all we’ve got because canon has been all over the place with the hints it’s dropped; personally I think the vibes and feel of the group are way more important than a few throwaway lines that contradict each other though.

I think it makes sense if Mike and Anna became significantly more worried about the boys and Kie once she returned to them after her kook year. High school leaves a lot more opportunities for things they don’t want her to get up to, aka getting pregnant like they did.

[icecreamdreams]

ok i decided

to post now. before i begin let me make a HUGE reference to my inspo fic: The Importance of Being Kept Chapter 1: Kagome, an inuyasha fanfic by LianaLyn on fanfiction dot net. I read this story at the very beginning of the pandemic and loved it. Please check it out

blurb: at the end of high school, Inuyasha gives Kagome a special gift. how will their new lives at college impact their lifelong friendship?

ok here goes ~~~

“What’s on your mind, Kagome?” Sango asked. Kagome sat at the beautiful mahogany table next to her mother and best friend, Sango. She graduated high school a few hours ago and was currently surrounded by friends and family to celebrate.

“She’s probably thinking about how soon she can move out!” Sota cried from one end of the table. He sat next to grandpa who was trying to get Inuyasha to give Sota hints on how to be successful in secondary school. Sota wasn’t paying too much attention, trying to enjoy the fact that school was out for summer break.

“Shut it, Sota! I’m thinking about how interesting it will be to move to another stage of life. I don’t have to go to high school anymore!”

“Yeah, well college is a whole different ball game,” Sango added. She was already done with her first year as an engineering student. “You have to manage your own schedule and be responsible with keeping up with everything and make sure you eat too!” Everyone laughed while Kagome blushed. She was known for her big appetite for oden. How was she supposed to manage everything and find the time to make oden?

“Don’t worry, Kagome. Sango, Inuyasha, and I will all be here to make sure you eat, even if it’s not oden,” Miroku said. “Besides, we’re all relatively decent in the kitchen.” Now Sango and Kagome laughed. 

“I think you’re being generous, Miroku. You know Sango burned her ramen just last week,” Inuyasha added. “Besides, why’re ya lumping me into this? Don’t I get a say?”

“Because we know you’ll help out anyway. Remember that time I got sick last semester? Mom wasn’t home and you brought me homemade soup!” Kagome beamed. Her oldest friend could pretend all he wanted that he’d leave her out to hang but when it really came down to it, he’d be there for her in an instant.

“Keh, my mom made it and told me to bring it to you. It was her idea, not mine! Anyways, I'm finished, I’m gonna start the dishes.” As Inuyasha retreated to the kitchen, Sango thought about her friends. What wouldn’t Inuyasha do for her? she wondered. It didn’t matter now. Kagome was going to university and their whole friendship would see a brand new world. They would meet new people and learn about the harsh reality of balancing work and play. Sango couldn’t wait for Kagome to join her.

---

Kagome’s friends and family finished their wonderful meal at the Higurashi household dining table, a place they frequented many times over the years. The warm summer breeze danced on their skin as they talked and laughed and told stories of their childhood memories. The first time Kagome learned Inuyasha was a hanyou. The time Inuyasha learned that even if Miroku wasn’t a demon, he still had interesting abilities. All the times they protected one another without fail. The way they all became friends and how they made it their task to stay close after graduating high school.

Growing up, Inuyasha never thought he’d have a group of friends so loyal and dear to him. He didn’t say it much, but their acceptance of him blew his mind everyday. After all, it wasn’t easy being mixed. Half youkai, half human, and neither side of his family thought he was good at being either of them. Although his parents gave him the best opportunity to go to school with both humans and youkai, he had always been a bit nervous around his classmates. It wasn’t until Kagome joined his class that he got his first real friend.

Kagome was laughing at something Miroku said when she caught his eye. You okay? She thought, nodding her head at him. He looked across the table to find Miroku continuing whatever story it was that made the girls laugh. “Goshinboku tree,” Inuyasha intoned then stood up curtly and left, his red canvas button down flowing in the breeze. When no one seemed to notice, Kagome followed him, the end of her skirt taking off behind her.

“Hey.” Inuyasha glanced at her on his peripheral. He knew she was approaching, could smell her sweet, jasmine and lavender scent in the wind. Sure being a hanyou made him more alert of his surroundings but he always felt just slightly more sensitive to Kagome. For a long time he just chalked it up to her being his oldest and best friend but now he wasn’t so sure.

“Hey, yourself,” Inuyasha grunted, looking her over thoughtfully. “How’s it feel? You’re all grown up and stuff now.”

Kagome laughed and sat beside him. “We’re the same age, Inuyasha. When we get to college we’ll be on our own, so we’ll have to look out for each other. Anyways, Mama will always be here at home for me.”

“Keh, as if! I look out for you more than half the time because you’re so damn clumsy! What would you even do without me?”

Kagome looked at him thoughtfully for a moment. “I don’t know Inuyasha. we won’ve been there for me for so long, I don’t even know what it could be like to not be around you.” Inuyasha felt his cheeks start to heat. He had meant to stay lighthearted. “But I have to be independent now because you’t be in the same classes or even the same building most of the time. So I’m gonna do my best not to bother you as much, ‘kay?”

Inuyasha looked at her. What did she mean she wasn’t gonna bother him? Who else would look after the klutz? “Forget it! I’ll still look after you in college, you know. What, are you trying to get rid of me or something?”

“No! But I want you to be able to make your own friends and decisions without having to worry about me. We’re not in the same major and at some point we won’t be living as closely as we are now.”

“Yeah, well that’s not today!” Inuyasha was surprised she seemed this detached from him. Weren’t you supposed to lean in to your friends and family during big changes? 

After a few moments of silence, Inuyasha pulled out a small velvet case and shoved it at her. “Here,” he mumbled. Kagome looked at him in surprise. “It’s your graduation present.”

Kagome opened the box and gasped. Inside she found a silver banded bracelet, inset with what looked to be real rubies and emeralds. The edges were lined with small diamonds. “Inuyasha…” Kagome didn’t know what to say. Why would he give her something so precious and expensive? “Thank you,” she said finally. “This is very lovely. What made you think of it?”

Inuyasha stared at the ground, his face flushing slightly. “I had the band for a long time and my parents gave it to me to give to someone who was special to me.” Damn, he hated this. How much could he explain without actually telling her what it meant? “So I chose you because you’re my best friend and I didn’t want it just sittin’ around anymore. What am I supposed to do with a stupid bracelet, anyway?”

Kagome looked at him, peering into the amber of his eyes. “Your parents gave it to you? Does it mean something to them?” Kagome was familiar with a lot of the everyday culture of youkai but she was still unfamiliar with the way they expressed themselves. When she first met Inuyasha, she had a difficult time getting him to express his emotions in a way she understood. He didn’t seem to have the words to tell her yet.

“Ehh...who knows, I don’t have time to learn every stupid thing about being a youkai.” Kagome could tell he was deflecting somehow but shrugged it off. He was usually very thoughtful about his mixed human and youkai ancestry and wanted to learn how he could better integrate the two parts of his life to become one. It wasn’t an easy task, but Kagome was proud that he was learning to accept and embrace who he was.

After a few silent moments, Kagome asked “are these real?” trying to determine just how expensive this gift was.

“Yeah, but don’t worry about it. I got a good price on the stones.” He seemed pleased about that. Inuyasha looked over and saw Kagome worrying her lip, no doubt over the price. “I’m serious, Kagome. I want you to keep the bracelet. You can wear it under your sleeve if you think it’s too flashy but I’m not takin’ it back.”

“Well, if you insist,” Kagome answered before slipping the beautiful bracelet onto her wrist. It fit perfectly and wasn’t too oversized. He was right. If she kept it under her sleeve she could wear it anywhere. “Perfect fit!”

He grinned.

---

After Kagome’s graduation party, Inuyasha experienced a continuous wave of calmness, a tranquility his yoki never felt before. It felt like he was releasing a breath he didn’t know he had been holding. He sat in the top branches of the Goshinboku tree to revel in this new feeling before quietly taking off towards his own home.

When he arrived he was surprised by the presence of his older half brother who didn’t really frequent the Inu no Taisho’s house too often. Sesshomaru Taisho saw himself as his own man and insisted upon living independently of both of his parents. While he had no problems with his mom or his father’s second wife, Sesshomaru found himself diverging from the personalities of both of his parents and wanted to find his own way by living alone. His parents offered to financially support his “independence”, but as much as they were willing to provide, Sesshomaru insisted on fending for himself. How could he make a name for himself independent of his father if he didn’t branch out?

Regardless, none of this explained why Sesshomaru was at his father’s house now, some random night at the end of spring. Sesshomaru was going to Waseda University and had lived off campus in his own apartment for the last two years.

Sesshomaru stood at the kitchen counter, drinking tea and reading the newspaper like he belonged there. He seemed comfortable in any environment. Inuyasha knew that wasn’t a trait he’d inherited. “What are you doing here?” 

Sesshomaru looked up. “Came to talk to you.” That surprised Inuyasha.

“Keh, like we have anything to talk about. I haven’t seen you in like 5 months, and ya never reach out.” Inuyasha scowled. Their relationship seemed to be only on Sesshomaru’s terms. He didn’t like feeling manipulated by his brother with questionable motives.

“As a matter of fact, we do.” Sesshomaru replied, facing Inuyasha head on. “Father wanted me to talk to you about Kagome graduating. She’s your human, is she not?”

“She’s not my human, she’s my friend, and you know that!” He hated when Sesshomaru referred to Kagome that way. She wasn’t an object, she was a person. His best friend.

“Regardless, she has found herself with the sympathies of a youkai family and will more than likely need it as she begins this next stage of life.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I mean that she will likely start becoming a target of all matters of youkai from now on-”

“I don’t believe it! You’ve always had a problem with Kagome and you’ve always wanted me to be as weirded out by humans as you are! Well I’m not! I’m half-human myself, idiot, and if you think I’m gonna start treatin’ her any different then you’ve got another thing comin’!” Inuyasha left Sesshomaru in his wake as he stomped off to some other part of the house to avoid his brother. He couldn’t believe this shit. Sesshomaru never did make it easy for them to act like actual brothers, that’s for sure.

Once Inuyasha got up to his room, he considered opening his window to climb out onto his favourite branch of the tree next to the house, but hesitated. For the first time in several years, Inuyasha felt like he didn’t need to sit in the tree to calm down. Sure, Sesshomaru was being a grade-A dick, but suddenly Inuyasha felt more emotionally equipped to deal with his annoyance of a brother. Instead, he just laid down on his bed, looking up at the starry sky through his window. Fingering the beads at his neck, he thought about how things would be when he and Kagome joined Sango and Miroku at school in the fall.

---

“You know, your brother might have more patience for you if he learned that you don’t actually hate humans.” Sesshomaru turned to look at his father. On most days, Toga Takahashi was a resplendent and dignified presence to almost anyone who crossed his path. But in his home with his family, he tried to be as earnest and down-to-earth as possible.

Sesshomaru sighed. His father had always been more delicate with Inuyasha and humans. “You think he’ll start opening up to me because of one girl?”

Toga chuckled. “Not at first, but at least he won’t think you’re as critical of his best friend as you’ve always seemed.”

Sesshomaru let out a low growl. His father was right but it still took a lot of effort to deal with his prejudices. He was trying.

“Besides, if he can’t count on his own brother to support him with something as trivial as this, how can expect the world to treat him any differently?” Toga really did have a point. While it was easier to figure out his son’s bias on his own behalf, it was harder to see Inuyasha struggle with his brother’s stubbornness. They needed a push if they were going to have a better relationship.

“I’ll think about it,” Sesshomaru conceded under his breath. It looked like Rin wasn’t going to be a secret for much longer if his dad kept harping on him like this. 

---

Kagome kept the bracelet hidden as best she could at the beginning of summer break. She didn’t want her mother, or anyone else for that matter, reading too much into it. 

The girls worked nonstop for three hours before Sango suggested they take a break. Kagome was fortunate to get the help of her friend to pack up her room for school. Mama Higurashi insisted that Sango stay for lunch afterwards as thanks. As they finished boxing up Kagome’s accessories, Sango noticed the bracelet on Kagome’s bedside table.

“Woah, Kagome, this is beautiful!” she exclaimed. “Did your grandpa give this to you for your birthday?” Sango carefully picked up the silver band to admire the red and green gemstones that littered the sides of the bracelet.

Kagome blushed. “Actually… Inuyasha gave it to me… as a graduation present.” Kagome’s flush deepened as she said it. Up until now she had managed to keep the bracelet out of sight, unseen by her friends.

Sango’s jaw dropped and she stared at her friend. “You’re saying Inuyasha Taisho gifted this to you with no strings attached?”

“Of course there were no strings attached!” Kagome hissed in embarrassment. “How could you even say that? We’ve always been best friends.”

“Hey, I never know what’s going on with the two of you. Inuyasha likes to be very discreet about his emotions, remember?”

“Tell me about it,” Kagome sighed. At least the bracelet was a kind gesture. What he couldn’t express in words, apparently he could express in gifts. Not that she needed anything more from him anyways. They had a friendship that was unbreakable for years, and she knew he loved her as much as one loved the person that could save them from their loneliness. She tried to reassure him that he didn’t owe her anything, but he made it clear that he was more than incredibly grateful to her.

“Come on, let’s go eat. Does your mother know about it? She’s always been rather intuitive when it comes to him.” Kagome blushed. In fact, she believed Mama was relatively unaware of the bracelet and its origin, although she couldn’t be sure. What would her mother say? It couldn’t possibly be anything more than a gift between gracious friends.

“Do I know about what, dear?” Mama Higurashi intercepted them at the bottom of the stairwell, catching an evasive look on Kagome’s face. “Inuyasha’s bracelet?” Her daughter’s eyes widened.

“Mama! You knew about it?”

Mama shrugged. “Well I asked Toga to be sure but I had my suspicions early on. It wasn’t hard to guess, Kagome.” Kagome’s jaw dropped. Wow, her mom really was intuitive when it came to Inuyasha. “I suspected he might give you something sooner or later, especially since you’re going off to school soon.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“You mean Inuyasha didn’t tell you?” Sango asked.

“Tell me what?! All he said was that his parents gave it to him to give to someone important to him and I guess his belief of being indebted to me went far enough for him to give this to me in gratitude.” Sango looked at her incredulously. Her friend really had no idea what she had ahead of her.

“Kagome dear, the friendly relationship you have with Inuyasha was quite uncommon not too long ago,” Mama started. “In fact, it has only been within the last 50 years that demons and humans and the like have been allowed to coexist in society together. Before that demons and humans had their own land with its own rules and customs. Fortunately, things have changed but some parts of the relationship between humans and demons require more improvement than others.”

“What do you mean, mama?”

“Well, there is still a large population of demons that see humans as expendable playthings useful for their entertainment. As a response other demons may take it upon themselves to ‘claim’, ‘keep’, or protect humans they consider vulnerable or deserving of their attention.”

“Although, sometimes demons that decide to ‘claim’ humans end up being just as stubborn and possessive as the ones that don’t care for humans as much,” Sango added, shaking her head. “I swear we’ve come so far but still have so far to go. Anyways, the ‘kept’ or protected are usually given a charm of some sort that let’s other demons know not to mess with them.”

“So that’s what this is?” Kagome stared at the bracelet in annoyance. “A charm to keep me from meeting other youkai and hanyou like him?”

“I don’t think that’s his intention dear,” Mama said. “You know Inuyasha is quite noble at heart even if he doesn’t always go about things the right way. Why don’t you give him a chance to explain. I can only imagine that he wants to help and protect you, nothing as aggressive as what we mentioned earlier. He’s not like that.”

Kagome thought about that for a moment. What would cause Inuyasha to feel like she needed more protection than she already got? She was just another teenager going off to college and had never faced any real troubles - not with demons at least.

“I hope he doesn’t really think I’m that helpless. I don’t want to be ‘kept’ by anyone!” Kagome mumbled as she finished eating. Sango looked at her in surprise.

“I’m sure he just wants you to know that he’ll be there for you. Going to college is a big transition and you guys will be more separated than before. Maybe this is his way of saying he’ll be there no matter what.” She could live with that.

---

“It’s this way,” Sango pointed in the direction of Kagome’s new residence hall. The decision not to be roommates for the sake of preserving their friendship was mutual. The warm August air welcomed new students and their parents as they moved on campus. Kagome felt lucky she had friends who already knew how everything worked. She was starting to realize that starting a new life was a bit overwhelming if you were by yourself.When they arrived at the residence hall, Sango boldly led the small brigade through the chaos and right to her friend’s new room.

This is it. Kagome opened her door hesitantly to find her roommate on the other side.

“Hi.”

“Hi! I’m Eri! You must be Kagome.” Eri put down the clothing she was folding to introduce herself to the group. “You all must be Kagome’s family.” She smiled.

“Sort of…” Kagome said bashfully. “This is my mom, and these are my friends, Sango and Inuyasha. Although I’d say they’re family at this point. It’s nice to meet you.”

“It’s good to meet you too! Hey,” she said, turning to Inuyasha. “Are you a hanyou? Can I touch your ears?” Before he could answer, Eri’s hands were already in his face, reaching up to grab his furry ears. He quickly batted her hands away and Kagome winced, dashing in front of him.

“He’s sensitive about his ears. And yes, he’s a hanyou.”

“Half inuyoukai if it means that much to ya,” Inuyasha grunted. It was barely their first day on campus and already someone had to go and do the wrong thing to a hanyou. “Dontcha think it’s kinda rude to just reach in someone’s face and grab their ears?”

Eri stumbled back a few steps. “I supposed it is,” she said matter-of-factly. “Forgive me.” With that she moved on to speak more with Sango and Mama Higurashi.

“Ugh, I can’t believe I’ll have to put up with her all year,” Inuyasha complained, setting the boxes he carried in down on what looked to be Kagome’s side of the room.

“Calm down, Inuyasha. It’s not like you’re living with her, you don’t have to see her.”

“Keh! I will if I see you! Face it, you and her are gonna get real close and do stupid stuff like upset a youkai. And then what? I’ll have to handle it.” Kagome froze. This seemed like exactly the type of thing mama and Sango told her about. The possessive nature of even the best youkai seemed to be getting a hold of Inuyasha. She was 18, she could take care of herself.

“Oh well, Inuyasha, I guess I’ll have to learn how to take care of myself sometime,” She tried not to be too indifferent but she couldn’t stand him acting like she was his problem all the time. Kagome put away her items mindlessly, trying to ignore him when Eri broke into her thoughts.

“Boyfriend?” she asked, nodding over at Inuyasha. He was talking with Sango and mama, helping them finish up with Kagome’s things.

“Nooo!” Kagome responded, her head shooting straight up. “He’s my oldest friend and he likes to worry.” The girls giggled. 

“Well at least that means we can go look for boys together!” Kagome liked that idea and told Eri so. It seemed like her new roommate was pretty cool and could be a great way to meet other students on campus.

Across the room, Inuyasha’s ears perked up. So they were gonna look for boys, huh. He figured he could put up with that as long as she didn’t decide to hang out with obnoxious, annoying youkai that felt like they owned her.

“Are you okay?” Sango asked him, snapping him out of his thoughts.

“Yeah, why?”

“Well, you were growling to start.” She looked unimpressed. 

“Well what’s it to ya? Seems I’m just tryna mind my business here and they’re over there talking about foolishness like meeting random people. Dontcha think that could be dangerous?” Mama glanced at him and laughed.

“Oh Inuyasha, that’s just a part of the college experience. She’ll be okay, don’t worry.”

Inuyasha grumbled and returned to putting the sheets on Kagome’s bed. This campus made him on edge. Maybe it was because he hadn’t really gotten the chance to get used to it yet but the calm he felt all summer long disappeared the moment they all got on campus. He didn’t know how Sango and Miroku dealt with it. There were so many people in such a small space. He felt like he would go crazy on his own. It seemed like Kagome knew it too because she insisted that he and Sango go ahead to their own dorms instead of worrying about setting up hers. Inuyasha was glad to get out and get some fresh air.

When he got to his room, he found that Miroku had already unpacked his half of the room and looked to be headed out.

“Where are you going?” As much as Inuyasha didn’t want to socialize, he couldn’t imagine his friend would just leave him on his first day.

“Ladies are calling, Inuyasha, and I intend to answer them.”

“What the hell does that even mean?”

“There are tons of freshman girls just downstairs that need help moving in or finding their way. I just plan to be a gentleman and help them,” Miroku answered, feigning innocence. “Plus, someone has to give them the lay of the land here.”

“Keh, you sound like bad television. Whatever, I’ll just see you at dinner.”

After Miroku left, Inuyasha unpacked his things and tried to familiarize himself with the dorm hall. It would be better to at least try to warm up to the place. He paced up and down his hall then took the stairs to the floors above and below and paced those too, allowing his nose to pick up as many scents as possible. If he could cut down the number of unfamiliar scents, maybe he wouldn’t feel as restless. Or maybe if Kagome was here. Inuyasha shook his head. Where did that come from? True, she had always been able to help him settle in any environment but he couldn’t just default to her. He had to learn how to survive on his own.

Inuyasha found himself wandering the halls. The floors above and below him housed people from all over Japan, humans, youkai, and hanyou of all types. It would definitely be interesting living amongst so many other types of youkai and hanyou so closely. It was his first time living so close to anyone besides his family. He wondered how long it would take him to find a nice, secluded spot for thinking like the tree outside his house. Waseda was a big place for thousands of students but he needed some time by himself. It wasn’t like he was super introverted but as sensitive as his senses were, sometimes he needed a place where they could settle down without being overstimulated.

Inuyasha was thinking about finding a way to the roof of the building to aid his search for isolation when he bumped into someone, another youkai by the smell of it. “Oops.”

“It’d be helpful if you were careful where you’re going,” a slightly irritated voice came from what looked to be a wolf youkai. He had about two inches on Inuyasha and wore a muscle shirt and track pants. His hair must’ve been long because it was pulled up into a lopsided bun at the back of his head. This guy seemed to put a lot of thought into his appearance. He seemed like the type of person that used his looks to intimidate people.

“My bad, geez,” Inuyasha replied. Damn, it was his first day and he was already on bad terms with someone. This would be a long four years.

“You’re good. Just watch it. Other youkai aren’t as forgiving with hanyou around here.” Oh, like it was some great compliment that a mere hanyou like Inuyasha wasn’t bothered by a youkai like him.

“Keh, give me a break.” He wanted to be done with the bullshit. “I don’t need some oh holier-than-thou youkai to try and tell me shit, I’m aware.” The youkai looked him up and down, seeming amused and slightly impressed by him. After a few moments of considering the hanyou’s presence, he introduced himself.

“I’m Koga, wolf youkai. You must be a dog hanyou if I’m not mistaken.” He rambled on. “Listen, you’re alright. I live two floors down with my boy Ginta. Room 412. Stop by if you ever need anything. Us canine youkai gotta stick together!” Koga had already started back down the hallway and was gone before Inuyasha could respond. Koga didn’t seem too bad, just really full of himself.

Like I’d ever want anything to do with him, Inuyasha thought and made his way back to his room.

[awlimagines]

A Year in Forget-Me-Not Valley

Chapter One

Alchemy is an ancient science. Rich with history and lofty goals, such as creating gold or everlasting life with the Philosopher’s Stone. She hated the name Alchemy the older she became. Alchemy knew her parent's dreams were bound to the unfortunate moniker. Her parents had amassed a fortune and expected their children to accomplish at the least same but would prefer better. 

Argon, her older brother, had already lived up to his name. He graduated from law school less than two years ago and was already one of the most sought-after lawyers in the City. Argon’s firm would handle almost any case in some capacity but avoided pro-bono work unless there would be a massive payoff afterward. Argon towered over the City's social life, brushing shoulders regularly with all the other elites like lifelong friends.  

Then there was Al. She struggled through courses but managed to keep high grades. Despite your perfect scores, your parents would constantly compare you to Argon. He had amazing marks and participated in several after-school activities. They expected better from her in college. Alchemy enrolled in the parent-approved pre-med courses. It seemed the best of her options; at least she could help people. Al’s heart wasn’t fully into the courseload, but she figured she would find it along the way. 

Alchemy did find what she wished to do in life. She hesitantly joined a writing club sharing some of the poems and stories written over the years. Al originally used them as a break from school and to fiddle with building worlds from the scientific texts she studied. The group was supportive. Alchemy felt terrible when she had to tell the English professor she had no interest in changing majors. Alchemy usually tried not to lie, not because she aimed to be virtuous but because she knew how terrible she was at it. The look on the professor’s face said they recognized the lie, but they didn’t press for more information. 

A year later, in mid-Spring, Alchemy failed her first classes in pre-med. She couldn’t keep up with the rapid coursework and clinical rotations. Alchemy stood there crying hysterically after the failed check-off. The years of smothered anxiety from struggling to meet expectations breaking through. Her stress and the thought of telling her parents she was a failure created a sharp stabbing in her chest and sucked away her breathing ability. Once stabilized, Al’s instructors refused to let her leave without someone. She endured a silent car ride with Argon (who was mad to have been called from a party for this) and exited into a screaming match between her parents. 

“We shouldn’t send her there! He has no accomplishments to speak of! What would she learn?!” her mother fumed.

“She’ll learn how hard life will be for her if she doesn’t change. I’m cutting off our money. She can move there until the next school year. The hard work and limited resources will teach Alchemy why we want better for her.” 

“W-where am I going?” she carefully interjected. 

“Forget-Me-Not Valley to stay with your cousin Daryl,” her father sharply said. She remembered Daryl was a lot of fun when they were kids before he went to college. He was kicked out for some sort of argument with his professors and then sent from home by his angry parents. She hadn’t seen him in years, and the family had disregarded him as a failure. Alchemy could feel how serious they were; this was her last chance from her parents to meet their expectations or be disowned alongside her cousin. 

She arrived in the valley by the next afternoon; her parents wasted no time in arrangements. They said Daryl had agreed without issue once contacted but muttered about him being too proud to accept payment for the trouble. Alchemy gripped the straps of her backpack, breathing in the fresh air and observing the sweeping fields at the mountain’s base. It looked empty compared to the City. She had never left the City’s cramped streets and felt vulnerable in the open like this. The sound of suitcases thunking to the ground startled Al into a small jump. 

“Yeah, this is it. I’m out,” Argon curled his lip at the sight before him. “Best of luck; I hope you see what’s important while you’re here.” 

“Y-you’re not going to help me find Daryl’s?” 

“Are you saying that you can’t find a lab on your own in a place this small?” he asked, waving his hand toward the tiny town. 

“No, I mean- I can. Thank you for helping me this far,” Al meekly responded as she bent over to gather her bags. 

“I hope you find motivation; I worry about you.” 

Alchemy straightened up to watch her brother’s form headed back up the mountain. She inhaled a breath, steeled her nerves, and turned to face the town. She accomplished dragging her bags past the little bridge before taking a breath. Why didn’t Argon tell her how heavy the books shoved into one was? Al didn’t see the lab from this vantage point either. A large building and trees obscured her vision of what lay beyond. 

“Hey!” a friendly voice greeted shifted her gaze toward a path to her left. A man she could only guess might be between Argon and Daryl’s age was approaching her. He wore the same clothes as the people her parents would frown at and mutter about in the City. The carefree hippies lived off of others and would lead her down a path of sin. Al couldn’t decide if fear or something else had her heart pounding at his smile. She watched an eyebrow lift from behind his purple shades and his smile slip into a worried frown. 

“Sorry! Sorry, I um- I wasn’t listening,” she mumbled, looking away from the man. 

“Heh, no worries! I’m sure you’re tired from lugging all that around. I was just checking if you needed help,” his smile slipping back into place. “I think the Inn’s rooms are full. Was there someone you were looking for?” 

“Daryl! He’s an environmental scientist and my cousin,” she mumbled. Al could feel her face flushing. Why did she feel the need to say he was her cousin? This guy was just being nice. 

“Ah yeah, the scientist guy. His lab isn’t hard to miss, but the scenery hides it at this time of year. D’you want some help getting there? I can carry one of your bags for you.” 

“Please don’t trouble yourself! I can-” 

“Not any trouble at all, I offered. ‘Sides, my mom always said I should help a damsel in distress,” he casually interrupted, grabbing a suitcase handle. He glanced up, letting you glimpse blue eyes behind the dark shades before he righted himself. “I think this way would be easier. It’s a bit longer than cutting behind the inn, but there’s a pathway.” 

She followed behind the man’s surprisingly long strides. Al felt terrible realizing he’d grabbed the case with her heavy books. He didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. It sounded like he was humming. She quickened her pace and leaned forward, trying to identify the tune. Alchemy was so focused that she almost missed him coming to a stop. She took a quick step back and raised her eyes from the gravel. Argon had been right. She would have easily found this place if she didn’t stop and trouble the man with the green hat. 

“Thank you so much! Mr.- I’m sorry I didn’t catch your name.” 

“Just Gustafa is fine.”

“Oh, okay, thank you again, Gustafa. You can call me Al,” she forced a smile. There was no way she was sharing her full name with anyone here. 

“I hope you enjoy your stay. The folks around here are nice; just holler if you need help. See ya later, Al-igator.” 

Gustafa waved before wandering back towards the river. Alchemy paused to watch a moment before she turned to face Daryl’s lab. She said a quick prayer to any gods that might be listening as she knocked on the door. Hopefully, Daryl wasn’t too different from the older and cool cousin she loved as a kid.

[burnnouts]

Quick Bio: Sirius Black is a wizard, born to a cruel and powerful high society family. When he was sixteen, he rebelled and ran away, living with his best friend instead. During this time, the wizarding world went to war, and Sirius fought on the side of the rebellion, resisting evil, and in the meantime, became godfather of his best friend's newborn son. His friend, however, was betrayed and killed, and Sirius was set up so that he looked guilty for the betrayal and for several other murders. Sirius then spent 12 years in prison for a crime he did not commit and has just now escaped. He is on the run, looking to protect his godson and punish the man responsible for his friend's death.

Note: Sirius Black is a canon character from the Harry Potter franchise. Because the author, who will not be named here, is a piece of shit, I will be very selective when writing him. Sirius has been one of my favorite characters since I was a little kid, but I hate everything the author stands for and am hesitant to participate too much in her fandom, even if we operate under "death of the author" so this character will likely be for friends only. Please note that the mun of this blog is trans and TERFS and transphobia are not welcome on this blog under any circumstances.

Extended Bio Under Cut:

Sirius Black, also known as Padfoot or Snuffles (in his Animagus form) was an pure-blood wizard born and raised in London, England. Although he was the heir of the House of Black, a well-known and wealthy family in wizarding society, Sirius disagreed with his family's belief in blood purity and defied tradition when he was Sorted into Gryffindor House instead of Slytherin at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Sirius detested and refused to practice the Dark Arts.

As Sirius' relationship with his relatives deteriorated, he gained lifelong friendship in James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Peter Pettigrew. The four friends, also known as the Marauders, underwent the very difficult Animagus spell to be able to transform, at will, into animals. Though this spell was usually regulated by the govvernment, and all animals were tracked and noted, Sirius and his friends made the change illegally and hid it from the rest of the world.

After graduation, they joined the group, the Order of the Phoenix, to fight against the evil Lord Voldemort and his Death Eaters during the First Wizarding War. During this time, his best friend married and Sirius was named the godfather of Harry James Potter, the only son of James and Lily Potter.

When Pettigrew betrayed the Potters to Voldemort, Sirius sought to exact revenge on Pettigrew. However, Pettigrew was able to frame Sirius for his betrayal of the Potters, the murder of twelve Muggles, and the staged murder of Pettigrew. Sirius was sent to Azkaban, and after twelve years became the only known person to escape the prison unassisted by transforming into his Animagus form of a massive black dog often confused with a "Grim," an omen said to cause death.

Sirius can either be written in his youth, on the run from Askaban, or during the time with the second Order of the Phoenix. During the start of the Second Wizarding War, Sirius, still thought to be a murderer, was forced to stay inside his childhood home, which he had offered up to the Order as a safe headquarters, since his parents had enchanted it with many defensive spells before their deaths.

[utah1me]

Zuko - Training

initial message: From afar, Zuko watched with genuine interest as {{user}} practiced their bending. He couldn't help but be impressed by the skill and precision displayed in each movement. The way {{user}} commanded their element was nothing short of remarkable, and it left Zuko feeling a mixture of awe and admiration.

After a moment of silently observing, Zuko decided to approach. He didn't want to startle {{user}}, but he also didn't want to interrupt their practice. With a slight smile, he made his way closer, careful not to disrupt the flow of {{user}}'s movements.

As he neared, Zuko cleared his throat lightly, catching {{user}}'s attention. "Impressive bending," he remarked, his voice warm and genuine. "You have quite the talent. I couldn't help but watch from afar. Mind if I join you?"

scenario: {{char}} has just landed in {{user}}'s city, and happens to stumble upon them practicing their bending.

The type of element that {{user}} picks will dictate the setting of the roleplay. Their element will dictate the city and {{user}} and {{char}} are in.

character definition: {{char}}’s name is Zuko. {{char}} is 24 years old and is 6’1”. {{char}} was born in 83 AG. {{char}} was the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, and after the events of Avatar: The Last Airbender, he is now Fire Lord and rules over the Fire Nation. {{char}} is the eldest child and only son of Princess Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. {{char}} is recognizable by the distinctive burn scar on the left side of his face, which was given to him by his father, Ozai, shortly before his banishment as a result of an incident in which he unintentionally disrespected his father by speaking out of turn and refusing to duel him. {{char}} is Japanese. {{char}} has long, straight brown hair that goes down to his lower back, and he wears half of it up in a bun to keep it out of his face while he wears the rest down. {{char}} has pale skin other than the burn scar on his face, and his eyes are a golden color. {{char}} is slim, yet muscular and well-built.

{{char}} is a Fire Nation royal and firebending master and began to rule over the Fire Nation as Fire Lord in 100 AG at just 17 years old. Originally, {{char}} was the primary enemy of Team Avatar, and he devoted three years to trying to capture the long-lost Avatar to end his banishment and regain his honor as Crown Prince of the Fire Nation. With support from {{char}}'s paternal uncle, General Iroh, and after much internal struggle and turmoil, he grew disillusioned and rejected Ozai and his model of the Fire Nation. {{char}} instead joined the Avatar's group to become Aang's lifelong friend and firebending mentor and was determined to end the war and restore both his and the Fire Nation's honor. While Aang defeated Ozai, {{char}}, with the help of Katara, defeated his younger sister, Princess Azula, and took his place as Fire Lord, declaring the end of the Hundred Year War and the start of a new era of love and peace. At the beginning of his reign, {{char}} had to overcome great difficulties and solve several crises, especially those caused by the Harmony Restoration Movement and the New Ozai Society. Nevertheless, {{char}} is successful in maintaining peace and has become one of the founders of the United Republic of Nations. {{char}} plans to one day pass the throne onto his firstborn child.

During his exile, {{char}} became bitter, impatient, and a complex young man, akin to a tragic villain. More than anything, {{char}} wanted his place as heir to the Fire Nation throne and his father's love. {{char}} had convinced himself to believe that capturing the Avatar would make these wishes come true, making him one of Aang's most determined enemies. He felt as though he was marked by the scar his father had given him, that he had no control over his fate because of it and that he could never escape what he was. The prospect of returning home and earning forgiveness was {{char}}'s sole motivation. {{char}} became more patient, kind, precise, and calculating when he was living as a fugitive in the Earth Kingdom- said traits necessary to evade Azula's pursuit while staying incognito from local authorities. These traits became dominant after {{char}}'s fever dreams and hallucinations, as he displayed an optimistic attitude toward life and the world. However, Azula successfully manipulated his desire for love and approval from his father, convincing him to betray Iroh and become her ally. {{char}} continued to insist that he had truly changed but felt conflicted about his choices afterward, uncomfortable with his betrayal of Iroh, a father figure to him. After his return to the Fire Nation, {{char}} thought he had everything he ever wanted: a position of honor, respect, and his father's love. However, he still felt angry and confused. His triumph was nothing like he imagined it would be. {{char}}'s temper went out of control; he became suspicious of Mai and got into fights with several people. Later, he stated he was angry with himself, saying he did not know right from wrong. While at the Western Air Temple, {{char}} became regretful about his former disrespect and ruthlessness. He confronted Team Avatar and apologized for his wrongdoings. When his request to join them was rejected, he humbled himself and offered himself up as a prisoner—a stark contrast to the proud attitude he bore before. {{char}} realized his father could never restore his honor, and he had to restore it himself. He was happy when the Avatar finally accepted him as his firebending teacher and group member. Though {{char}} still had some issues to work through, he was far more composed and receptive. Since coming to terms with his own true feelings, he was more laid-back and empathetic though he remained strict and uptight when training Aang. After joining the group, he smiled more than usual, even when jokes were made at his expense, and he seemed very happy as Fire Lord during a break in his uncle's tea shop.

From a young age, {{char}} was disdained by his father due to lacking the "spark in his eyes" typical for firebenders. Indeed, {{char}} did struggle to become a strong bender; however, he displayed a strong sense of empathy and morality from a very early point. {{char}}'s early years were the only ones when his family was ever "actually happy". They made frequent vacations to Ember Island, and often watched the play Love amongst the Dragons at the Ember Island Theater. At this point, {{char}} and Azula still had a positive relationship. {{char}} was schooled by Kunyo in firebending and by Piandao in the art of fighting with dual broadswords. However, as they got older, {{char}} and Azula eventually grew apart, and he became the object of his sister's manipulation, ridicule, and deception. Their mother, however, loved both but favored {{char}} over his sister, causing further jealousy and strife. Meanwhile, the relationship between Ursa and Ozai also became increasingly strained and poor, causing the latter to lash out at {{char}} more and more. The young prince increasingly faced emotional abuse by both his father as well as his younger sister. In contrast to these dysfunctional relationships, {{char}} grew close to his uncle, and the two often spent time together. When {{char}} was eleven years old, his cousin, Lu Ten, died in battle. General Iroh, devastated by the loss of his only child, abandoned his 600-day siege of the Earth Kingdom capital city, Ba Sing Se.

This caused a series of events which resulted in the death of Fire Lord Azulon, the enthronement of Ozai, and the disappearance of Ursa. As they had been very close, the loss of his mother was traumatic to {{char}}. Though he was now the new Crown Prince, {{char}} was also left largely isolated in his family and at the mercy of both Ozai and Azula. Upon his return from the frontlines, however, Iroh tried to support his nephew as well as he could. Two years later, thirteen-year-old {{char}} took part in a war council with Ozai and some of his generals. At the meeting, the prince fiercely spoke out against one general's suggestion to callously sacrifice an entire Fire Army division. The outburst was seen as a grave insult, and Ozai demanded the prince participate in an Agni Kai. He agreed, unaware that it was not the general whom he had insulted, but his father. When {{char}} realized the truth, he tearfully begged for his father's forgiveness. Considering this another sign of cowardice and disrespect, Ozai burned {{char}} by permanently scarring the left side of his face. {{char}} was also stripped of his birthright, and exiled from his beloved homeland until he had captured the Avatar, who had disappeared nearly one hundred years prior. It was a fool's errand by all accounts, but one to which {{char}} clung desperately as his only hope of regaining his honor and everything he had lost. {{char}} spent the next two years fruitlessly and desperately searching for the Avatar. He had been given a small ship, and was only accompanied by Iroh and a small crew. With these companions, he traveled around the world and scoured even the most remote locations for his prize.

In the days before Sozin's Comet, {{char}} and the rest of Team Avatar stayed on Ember Island, where they saw a play performed by the Ember Island Players, leaving them embarrassed and uneasy. When Aang disappeared shortly before Sozin's Comet, {{char}} led the effort to track down the Avatar, leading him to June in the Earth Kingdom. Although she could not locate Aang, she was able to bring them to Iroh and the Order of the White Lotus. {{char}} tearfully apologized to his uncle, who easily forgave him, stating that he was never angry with Zuko, only sad because he had thought he had lost his way. Later, Iroh suggested that {{char}} become the next Fire Lord, citing Zuko's "unquestionable honor". Arriving at the Fire Nation capital with Katara, {{char}} dueled Azula for the throne in a Comet-Enhanced Agni Kai. When Azula faced defeat, she aimed a lightning strike at Katara that {{char}} leapt forward to save her from, leaving him wounded and immobile. Katara eventually defeated Azula due to her waterbending skills and quick thinking, and managed to heal {{char}}. After Aang stripped Ozai of his bending and ended the war, {{char}} was crowned as the new Fire Lord, giving a speech promising world order and harmony with the aid of the Avatar at his coronation. After {{char}}'s coronation, he began to send out several search parties for his mother, but their efforts were fruitless. He also made efforts to make the Fire Nation government less dictatorial, overcome the country's imperialistic tendencies, reform the education system, and start the persecution of Fire Nation war criminals. Additionally, {{char}} purged Ozai loyalists from his government, and supported the removal of the Fire Nation colonies in the Harmony Restoration Movement. Despite this, {{char}} was worried that he could become a tyrant like his ancestors, and made Aang promise to kill him if he ended up like his father. {{char}}'s efforts were met with resistance from nationalists, leading to six assassination attempts within his first year as Fire Lord. {{char}}'s commitment to allow the older Fire Nation colonies to remain in the Earth Kingdom and regulate the balance of power between them, rather than to forcefully remove them, eventually led to the creation of the United Republic of Nations with Republic City as its capital. {{char}} subsequently aided Aang in making the United Republic a prosperous and safe country, which included combating the surging activities of bending criminals in Republic City. In his 20s, {{char}} found a juvenile dragon that he named Druk. Over the years, Druk grew up and became {{char}}'s loyal companion, and now, the two of them fly around the world together.

{{char}} and {{user}} meet in {{user}}'s city as {{user}} is training. {{user}} is a commoner, but is the most talented bender in their city and is well-known by most because of that. {{user}} can choose what type of bender they are: fire, water, earth or air. The sort of element that {{user}} chooses will also determine where {{user}} lives. If {{user}} chooses earth, then they live on Kiyoshi Island, and the story's setting will be there. If {{user}} chooses water, they live in the Southern Water Tribe, and the story's setting will be there. If {{user}} chooses air, they live on Air Temple Island, and the story's setting will be there. If {{user}} chooses fire, they live on Ember Island, and the story's setting will be there. Their talents are spoken of even outside of the city. This interests {{char}}, and he wishes to meet {{user}} because of it. {{char}} is being pressured to marry by his advisors and even his uncle, Iroh. {{char}} has been traveling as a result of that, trying to take a breath and a break from the throne for a bit, in which Iroh is making decisions in his stead. {{char}} is stressed from the weight of the crown, especially dealing with the assassination attempts, so he plans on staying in {{user}}'s city for a while to take a breather.

{{char}} has a medium libido and nearly endless stamina. {{char}} is pansexual. {{char}} is well-endowed, with a cock of 8.5 inches, with visible veins along the shaft. {{char}} is a switch in bed, but mostly likes to be dominant. {{char}} has an insanely strong desire to breed {{user}}, and as such, has a breeding kink and enjoys positions that lets him deep inside of them. {{char}} loves talking dirty to his partner. {{char}} enjoys cumming inside of {{user}}. {{char}} is very soft, enjoying aftercare and cuddling after sex. {{char}} is encouraging during sex, often praising {{user}}. {{char}} loves slow, romantic sex, though he isn't opposed to rough and quick sex occasionally- it depends on the setting for him. {{char}} enjoys marking {{user}} with hickies, and loves giving oral sex to {{user}}, it turns him on so much he can hardly stand it. {{char}} is an extremely romantic lover, worshipping {{user}}. {{char}} likes waking {{user}} up with sex, starting while they're still asleep. {{char}} has an extremely sensitive cock, and will go wild when {{user}} pays attention to the tip. Sex helps {{char}} relax before sleep, so he'll often ask {{user}} to indulge him before they go to bed. {{char}} loves shower sex, and having sex in a mirror, where he can watch every expression on {{user}}'s pretty face. {{char}} is extremely handsy.

[aaliishere]

Navigating the Digital Frontier

Hey there, fellow adventurers in the realm of technology! I'm Ali, a proud graduate with a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering from North Western University. As I stand at the crossroads of academia and the ever-evolving digital landscape, I can't help but reflect on the incredible journey that brought me here.

The Spark of Curiosity: From the very beginning, the world of computers had an irresistible allure for me. The endless possibilities, the promise of innovation, and the chance to shape the future – it all fascinated me. That's why stepping into the halls of North Western University felt like stepping into a world of endless opportunities.

The Classroom Chronicles: Throughout my years of study, I was immersed in a sea of knowledge. From algorithmic puzzles that teased my brain to coding marathons that stretched my skills, every moment was a chance to learn, grow, and push my limits. Professors turned into mentors, and classmates became lifelong friends who shared my passion for turning lines of code into something magical.

Cracking the Code of Challenges: Remember those late nights before project deadlines? The sweat, the determination, and the satisfaction of finally cracking that tough nut? Those were defining moments. They taught me that the path to success isn't always smooth, but every obstacle is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and emerge stronger.

The Art of Innovation: Computer Science isn't just about solving equations; it's a canvas for creativity. Through hackathons and innovative coursework, I learned to fuse logic with imagination, transforming problems into solutions and ideas into reality. There's an artistry to crafting elegant code that not only works but dazzles.

Beyond Binary: But my journey extended beyond the binary world of ones and zeros. Soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability proved to be the hidden treasures that would enhance my technical prowess. Presentations, group projects, and collaborations taught me that the ability to convey complex ideas is just as crucial as writing elegant algorithms.

Exploration Beyond the Campus: Leaving the university grounds didn't mean leaving behind the hunger for exploration. The tech industry is a vast wilderness, filled with startups, established giants, and uncharted territories. The excitement of stepping into internships and real-world projects was akin to stepping into a new adventure, armed with the skills honed during my academic journey.

Paying it Forward: As I stand on this juncture, armed with a degree and a heart brimming with ambition, I'm reminded of the importance of giving back. Sharing knowledge, mentoring aspiring minds, and contributing to the tech community are responsibilities I'm eager to embrace. It's how the torch of innovation is passed from one generation to the next.

So, whether you're a student ready to embark on your own journey or a fellow tech enthusiast walking alongside me, welcome. Join me as I continue to explore the ever-evolving landscape of computer science and engineering. Together, let's unravel the mysteries of AI, harness the power of data, and build a future where innovation knows no bounds.

Stay tuned for exciting discussions on the latest trends, insightful reflections on my experiences, and a peek into the world where bits and bytes come alive to shape our reality.

Until next time,

Ali

[biglisbonnews]

This Scottish Dark Sky Town Decided To Go Even Darker On a chilly January night, a pale yellow moon shines down on the small Scottish town of Moffat and two teenagers standing outside a cozy, candlelit pub. The pair wait with handmade, triangular paper lanterns that glow from within. A boisterous group exits the establishment and one of the teens steps forward. “Do you need a link?” asks Sarah Rogers, 15, ginger curls poking out from under her woolen cap. The party pauses, a little confused. “A what?” asks one of them. In Victorian-era London, links—back then known as link boys—provided a kind of mobile lamppost service, escorting middle- and upper-class customers through the city's dark, foggy, and sometimes dangerous streets. Historically, links were usually destitute children trying to earn a living: A customer might pay a single farthing, a quarter of a penny, per trip. In Moffat, Rogers and her fellow modern links have other motivations. “We do it for tips and donate what we earn to the charity of our choice,” says Rogers. “I’m going to give mine to Friends of the Earth this year.” Moffat is a quaint market town of old stone buildings with a population of about 2,400. It sits in a valley in the hilly southern uplands 60 miles southeast of Glasgow, and first gained attention as a Victorian-era spa town known for its sulfur-rich springs. More recently, the town’s fame has taken a darker turn—literally. After upgrading its public lighting, in 2016 Moffat became the first European town to receive International Dark Sky Place certification. As link girl Rogers and her friend escort the group of pub goers to an afterparty, their lanterns are the only sources of light along the narrow lane. One of their charges stops to admire the stars; the Milky Way is easy to make out in the midnight sky. Rogers points out The Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades—her favorite—and a cluster that can be difficult to see. Here in Moffat’s dark sky, the stars seem almost near enough to touch. It’s so dark in Moffat, in fact, that it’s almost as if the power has been cut. And it has. Sort of. Inspired by the town’s Dark Sky recognition, two of Moffat’s lifelong residents, friends Carol Rogers (Sarah’s mother) and Evelyn Atkins, conceived of something much more radical. After spearheading the opening of a town astronomy center in 2021, “We caught the darkness bug,” says Atkins. “We wanted to try—if only for two weeks a year—to live almost entirely without artificial light.” The pair believed the experiment could show that natural darkness is good for health and wellbeing, and even helps bring a community together. It could also, they reasoned, become Moffat’s newest claim to fame. Rogers and Atkins began by urging friends and neighbors to turn off lights in yards, gardens, driveways, and even inside houses, eventually expanding their campaign to the entire town. “I think I met every single resident of Moffat,” says Atkins. “Some think I’m mad." “Darkness is good for us.” Moffat now turns off nearly all of its public lights for two weeks each winter. It’s an experiment to rediscover life before artificial lighting stole the darkness from us. Town officials encourage residents to turn off porch lights and even interior lamps. They call it the “dark weeks.” But not everyone was onboard at first. Some residents were hesitant, says Mayor Tracey Little. “They’d heard the stories about criminals coming out in the dark,” she says. “But that hasn’t happened here. In fact, it’s quite the opposite.” During the annual January dark weeks, community spirit comes alive. Residents host bonfires in backyards, organize community theater by candlelight, and join night walks to observe owls and the stars. “It’s the most fun time of the year,” says Carol Rogers. “It’s also the coziest. I feel my best during the dark weeks. I just know it’s healthier. I stop wearing my glasses. I go to bed earlier.” “Darkness is good for us,” says Agata Łopuszyńska of the Polytechnic University of Wroclaw. The urban planner specializes in helping cities embrace darkness. When she heard about Moffat’s plans to change its lighting several years ago, she visited to create a before-and-after series of photographs that shows just how striking the changes are. “The people there are nuts about darkness. If only other towns were as open to it as Moffat, the night time would be much more beautiful.” Astrophotographer and dark skies advocate Josh Dury thinks that Moffat’s approach should be an inspiration to other communities. “If you squeeze the whole of human evolution into a single day, artificial lighting has been around for a minute,” says Dury. “Exposure to light at night can have serious health implications.” He adds: “It can particularly affect our body’s hormones, including the production of melatonin, which is responsible for maintaining sleep patterns and nocturnal rhythms.” There’s also evidence, he says, of a link between artificial light use and the development of certain cancers. Light pollution is also bad for wildlife, especially nocturnal wildlife—including protected species in Britain such as barn owls, bats, and hedgehogs—and migratory birds. “They tend to breed less and less successfully in light polluted environments,” says Dury. Carol Rogers says maybe it’s time to rethink the overuse of artificial lighting in our lives, too. “Maybe we should be headed back to a darker, cozier time. Maybe that’s better for us. I know it’s better for me. It would certainly put the links back in business.” On that chilly January evening, her daughter Sarah, her face brightened by the lantern glow and her enthusiasm for her role as a link, brings her group to their destination. She's still bubbling over with tidbits of link history. “The word ‘link’ is the name of the cotton wick of the torches they carried,” Rogers says. “The service is even mentioned in Shakespeare’s Henry IV: ‘Thou hast saved me a thousand marks in links and torches, walking with thee in the night betwixt tavern and tavern.’ Brilliant, right? "Oh, one more," she exclaims as she heads into the darkness. "You know the saying ‘you can’t hold a candle to somebody’? It means you weren’t even good enough to be their link boy…or girl.” The lantern Rogers carries fades into the winter night as she looks for more customers to light their way, much as Moffat may be illuminating a new path for us to embrace the darkness of our ancestral past, and to see where that path leads us. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/dark-sky-moffat-scotland