#the idea that they were going to skip over the President’s loyal black woman vice president for no clear or tangible reason never made any

[abigailspinach]

Thunderdomism’s Last Stand

But the idea that the ‘establishment’ anointed Kamala Harris and locked the nomination down for her turns the whole matter pretty much on its head. What locked in Harris was the overwhelming resistance of Democratic voters and activists to anyone else. It was national columnists and a significant number of Democratic elites who were pushing for the thunderdome primary.

A good bit of this was support for Harris herself. A lot of it was the fact that with the incumbent president and presumed nominee out and no time to run anything other than a fake primary Harris had democratic legitimacy on her side. Eighty million voters literally chose her in 2020 to be the person who took over for Joe Biden if he couldn’t serve. Democratic primary voters in effect reconfirmed that this Spring since Biden and Harris were again running as a package deal. Few things are more embedded in American political culture than the idea that vice presidents succeed presidents.

Democratic legitimacy in this context isn’t some political science concept. It is what makes her the one person who most or all party stakeholders could rally behind even if she wasn’t necessarily their personal choice. That was never going to be possible with any other potential nominee. If the pick was somehow Gretchen Whitmer, on what basis would Shapiro or Newsom supporters – or Harris supporters, for that matter – ever think that was fair? Most people who actually operate in politics realized this from the first moments people began to suggest Joe Biden should leave the race almost a month ago. It applied even more to the millions of Biden loyalists who had to be dragged kicking and screaming to accept Biden’s withdrawal from the race. For most of them Harris was the only acceptable alternative since she was his loyal deputy.

Finally, the Democratic Party is defined by the support of women and African-Americans, and especially African-American women. The idea that in an unprecedented electoral emergency situation they were going to skip over the President’s loyal black woman vice president for no clear or tangible reason but the opposition of elite columnists and consultants never made any sense if you’re familiar with the Democrats’ voting coalition. It would be the equivalent of deciding to toss a few sticks of dynamite into the Democratic coalition at a moment of unprecedented crisis.

The thunderdome primary and convention idea was always the fantasy of the DC chattering class. From its very beginnings early this year it was premised on the need to shunt Harris aside. One New York Times columnist referred to it, in a gentle but awkward tone assuming immediate recognition, as “the Kamala Harris problem.” What shut it down was the rush of support for Harris from people across the Democratic Party, high and low, who understand its inner workings and the points made above. You only imagine those are the actions of “the establishment” if what you understand as the Democratic Party is only what you see in Washington, DC. The Thunderdome primary crowd was always either oblivious to or at war with the actual mass of the party itself. They were simply invisible. If you can’t see those people, you’ll think the DC power players are acting on their own. But they weren’t. But they were very clearly reacting to what the mass of the party would allow.

There is one exception that proves the rule: one endorsement that was key to Harris’ rapid ascent to the nomination, that of Joe Biden. From one perspective who is more the establishment, who more wields its powers than an incumbent Democratic president? But that’s the point. What finally made Biden’s departure from the race inevitable is that he had been abandoned by almost every elected official and power broker in the Democratic world, either explicitly or by silence. Biden had been abandoned by every part of what passes for the Democratic establishment and had lost his ability to control it. It was his tweet endorsing Harris that did not cause but triggered the rush toward Harris, resulting in something like a million individuals contributing roughly $100 million in 36 hours.

Harris’ key role in this has hidden in plain sight. A crisis at the pinnacle of leadership is always a most dangerous moment for any heir apparent. She had to prepare herself for the task of taking over for Biden in all its details (not to do so would have been the height of irresponsibility) while simultaneously not allowing even the hint or glimmer that she was taking even the slightest steps to hasten or encourage openness to his fall. For all the stories about Harris’ office drama she appears to have managed this flawlessly, with not so much as a single leak or even speculation about her actions. Once Biden made his announcement she moved rapidly to channel and direct support for herself in a way that all potential challengers threw their support to her within 24 hours. The “establishment” didn’t shut down the Thunderdome contested convention that columnists and reporters were demanding. The convention remains wholly open. Once Biden ended his campaign all the delegates had a total free choice. What killed Thunderdome was the mass of the party making it impossible for anyone to challenge Harris.

[ddaengsopemin]

All That Was Lost

1 - The Beginning

Pairing: Reader x Taehyung x Namjoon x Jimin

Genre: Vampire!AU (Angst, Violence & blood mention)

Word Count: 3.2k

A/N: This is just setting up the backstories, and the characters. I apologize if it is a little slow. This chapter is mostly dealing with the relationship between OC, Taehyung, and Jimin. Joonie will have a bigger role in future chapters. I have more planned for it if you all want me to continue! Let me know! (:

You giggle as you skip down the long corridor of the skyscraper you have called home for the past decade of your life; more appropriately, your afterlife. You moved to Seoul after you, unfortunately, bumped into Kim Taehyung your senior year in college. Your feet lightly tapped along the glossy floors as your nails glided along the cemented wall. Any more force applied by your delicate fingers would cause lines along the walls with chips of cement on the floor in their path. That would surely piss his majesty off... You mused with a sinister smile.

Living with the famous Taehyung did have its upsides. He was a wealthy CEO of a gaming company that he had built from the ground up. He had spent tons of years pining over his company, working himself to the bone until he was in his mid 100s when it finally took off. Now at the ripe age of 190, he doesn’t have to lift a finger aside from signing papers that his many secretaries, in awfully short skirts who were annoying always trying to impress him you might add, whisk in and out of his office all day. He owned the entire building you lived in, you even had a whole floor to yourself. From the lowest floor in the basement to the penthouse suite was all his.

The lobby to the 25th floor was all office space. Filled with workers thinking up the next big game, kids pulled off the streets to test out those games in comfortable plush gaming chairs that consumed their senses, casting them into the atmosphere of whatever world Taehyung wanted them to be in. Taehyung’s office was in the middle of all the chaos on the 15th floor. When you questioned him on why he didn’t have his office on a more luxurious floor, “Because I need to be in the middle of it all.” He answered. After that, he turned to his computer as if that would suffice. You questioned him about the whos, whats, whys, and hows for another 30 minutes before he lost his patience and kicked you out of his office. Hollering about how he can’t get any work done with you there. That was the first time you realized exactly how much strength you had acquired and nearly tore the door off the hinges. It took Jimin, Taehyung’s best friend and partner in crime, almost two hours to get you to calm down and stop breaking things. The 26th floor and up were for tenants. Some of you were there due to special, unbreakable connections, and some wealthy CEOs that liked the convenience of living downtown in the middle of everything. You wondered if they knew about you, and the rest of the clan. If they did know, they hid it rather well.

You took the elevator down to the 15th floor, two rights and a left, you pass by three offices. Yoongi’s, Jungkook and Jin’s, and Jimin’s, AKA Taehyung’s arms and legs. Jungkook and Jin were brothers, and both had their degrees in computer graphics. It creeped you out how two brothers could be so close, and spend all their time together. They were the newest members of the team, so you didn’t know much about them. From what you did know, they were absolute children. Roughhousing all day and night, their office had every wall space possible filled with posters and figures from their favorite animes and games. Taehyung had plucked them out of a gaming center where they were spinning their tires trying to get things done for a company that was only running itself into the ground. Yoongi was found in a club downtown, desperately trying to sell his tracks that he had made in his small apartment that he could barely afford. Taehyung purchased one off of him out of pity but ended up returning to the man to offer him a job as the music coordinator and producer after listening to the first track. Yoongi has been here ever since, remaining completely loyal to Taehyung. He was rather quiet and standoff-ish. You had tried to make conversation with him at the last staff party, only to be met with grunts of ‘yes’ and ‘no’. You left him alone in the dark corner once you got bored and knew you were getting nowhere fast. Jimin has been at Taehyung’s side ever since they were kids, so it is no surprise that he earned the title of Vice President and the second biggest office to go along with that. Jimin was fun to play with, he was extremely flirty and knew how to press all the right buttons. It was like a game to you to get him all riled up only to leave him high and dry, but you knew he didn’t mind. After all, he did live on the floor above yours and was able to get his revenge in more than one way. You poked your head into Jimin’s office to offer him a hello, and a wriggle of your eyebrows. You leaned over just enough through the doorway to offer him a little peek into your tight-fitting black dress, his head popped up from the piles of paperwork in front of him to offer you a wicked smile. As soon as he began to push back from his desk you closed his door and flitted down the hallway earning a loud “Hey!” From the other side of his door. You laughed loudly as you made your way to Taehyung’s office. You knocked lightly and opened the door. Finding him exactly where you knew you would, sitting in front of his computer screen, glasses hanging halfway down his nose, 30 pages deep into the proposal for his next game.

There was no flaw on Taehyung. His golden brown hair hung lightly over his forehead, his red turtleneck and tight fitting slacks made every muscle in his body stand out as if he were flexing at all times. Even you were amazed at how he could look so good, and you cursed yourself for thinking that. He acted as if you were the gum stuck to the bottom of his Gucci shoes, but that didn’t change the fact that he was breathtaking.

You sauntered into his office and looked over his shoulder at what he was reading. You rolled your eyes when he hadn’t even made the attempt you acknowledge your presence. You weren’t sure if he hadn’t noticed you come in, or if he were doing it on purpose. You pulled his chair away from the desk and plopped yourself into his lap, crossing your legs over the armrest and leaning your back against his forearm. He took a deep breath through his nose and closed his eyes as you carded your hand through his hair, moving to graze your long nails along his jawline when you were done.

“Spare a little bit of time for me?” You said, looking up at him as innocently as you could.

“No.” He said curtly, fire forming in his irises.

“Well then,” you said as you swung your legs over to place them on the floor between his feet. Making a spectacle of the way your dress perfectly formed to your curves as you rolled yourself off of his lap. “You don’t have to be such a jerk. It’s not like I haven’t seen you in a week or anything. I guess I’ll just go play with Jimin.” You said as you made your way to the door of his office.

“Yeah, yeah.” He dismissed. Returning to his place in front of his computer screen.

You rolled your eyes and huffed as you slammed the door behind you. You had no idea why Taehyung had chosen to turn you all those years ago. He was an asshole then, and he is an asshole now. But for some reason, you were drawn to him as if there were bungee chords tied around your wrists to his. Every time you tried to run, they would snap you back into place at his side. You don’t remember much about that night, or your life before it. Bits and pieces flash along your sight when you’re in your room late at night, with your knees pulled to your chest. Crying yourself to sleep had become a nightly thing. During the day, you portrayed yourself to be strong and confident in your new life, but at night you felt like the world was crashing down around you. You tried so hard to remember your parents, your friends, your classes, daily life, anything! But no matter how hard you tried you were only greeted with the night you met Taehyung, and scenes of your life that made no sense. You were the only woman Taehyung had ever turned, and the question as to why remains a mystery even to Jimin.

The events of that night rolled through your conscious. You were sitting at a bar by yourself, no, were you by yourself? Did you have any friends there with you? You pound your palms on your head as if that would help you remember who you were with that night. The next thing you remember was firm hands wrapped around your center, dragging you out of the back exit of the club. You were thrown against a wall, your head cracking against the bricks. You winced as you remembered the feeling blood trickling down your forehead and into your eyes.

“Do you know how good you smell?” The man in front of you, who you now know as Taehyung, inhaled deeply next to the shell of your ear. Slamming his hands into the wall behind you, trapping you between his body and the wall. You whimpered in response and that is when everything went black.

You woke up, what felt like, months later dirty and on the ground. Taehyung had left you for dead in some deserted alleyway far away from the place you had originally called home. Your head was pounding and all the sounds and lights were overwhelming your senses. You could hear people from 5 blocks away laughing and going about their daily lives. Your nose could pick up even the slightest of smells, but overall you were thirsty. It felt like there was a fire burning in your throat and lungs, but you couldn’t do anything to quench it.

“What did he do to me?!” You screeched, but no one heard you. You felt alone and lost. Jimin found you days later, on the verge of death, curled up on the ground shivering and crying. Your fingernails were filled with the dirt that you had been clawing at, digging a deep hole in the ground in the shape of your hand.

“Goddamnit. What has he done?” Jimin mumbled as he picked you up, and whisked you to the place you now call home. Now that you think about it, Jimin has been the only one to show you any kindness in this hell hole.

You leaned up against his closed door, holding your head in your hands. Taking deep breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth. Attempting to stop the oncoming anxiety attack. It was the click of a door that had you standing faster than any human eye could pick up, and dragged you away from your helpless thoughts. You shot your sights in the direction of the sound, only to see Jimin coming from his office and turning to walk down the hall.

You were at his side in the blink of an eye and turned on your heel to stop him in his tracks. With your hands behind your back, you bent over to catch his gaze taking his attention off the floor and onto you.

“Just the person I was looking for.” You grinned, your fangs on full display for him to see. “Would you like to join me in taking a trip to the basement?”

Jimin looked at you and mused before checking his watch. “Yeah, I guess it is time for some lunch. After you.” He held out his hand, gesturing for you to link your arm with his as you made your way down to the basement.

The trip to the third floor of the basement was filled with you and Jimin laughing and picking on each other. You listened to the muffled comments of employees walking down the hallway, giggling to each other about how cute Jimin was. How jealous they were of you because you got to spend so much time with him and Taehyung. You giggled and rolled your eyes, and Jimin mimicked your sentiment. 

“You know, I really do not see how they find you so cute.” You teased as you elbowed Jimin’s side. 

“Listen, kid, I’m 50 years older than you and if you think I am going to stand to be talked down to like this you’ve got Another. Thing. Coming.” Jimin giggled as he poked your nose as if to emphasize each word.

You stuck your tongue out at him as you entered the elevator and rapidly pressed the button so the doors would close before Jimin could enter. Unfortunately for you, he was much faster and was standing behind you before you could get the doors closed. He laughed as he reached over your shoulder to press the button of the appropriate floor.

Your mouth started watering, and that all too familiar flame started spreading through your chest at the scent that you could already feel consuming your being. Jimin placed a hand on your lower back to keep you grounded. While you had been a vampire for a decade already, that is still considered a newborn in their books. It would be awhile before you could learn to fully control yourself when you are thirsty.

The elevator chimed signaling your arrival, and you latched onto Jimin’s hand. Already feeling the tingling in your legs to bolt down the hallway and latch onto the first unfortunate being to cross your path. If Jimin hadn’t been immortal, you would have broken every bone in his hand by now.

As you both walked hand in hand down the corridors that lead to a wide and grand ballroom, your sensitive ears picked up on the hushed voices coming from the middle of the room. You could feel their emotions; fear, excitement, but overall anxiety.

While Taehyung basked in the rush that was hunting and killing his prey as they screamed for him to let them go; You, Jimin, and Yoongi were the exact opposite. The three of you never dared to get in Taehyung’s way or object to his style, preferring to set up this space for those willing to part with the precious liquid flowing through their veins. They were paid handsomely as long as they performed their duties as expected, and didn’t die of course. If an accident like that were to happen, their families were paid a sum of money and given an excuse as to why their loved one was sent to their early grave.

All of your guests in the ballroom were bickering amongst themselves at who they thought would be lucky enough to be chosen by the infamous vampires. Their eyes practically bugged out of their heads, and their mouths hung open at the sight of yours and Jimin’s arrival. While Jimin could sense your anxiety, and you knew he did by the way he lightly rubbed his thumb over the back of your hand, all they saw was how regal you both looked.

You took your seats at the top of the stairs, overlooking the line of people below. You took in each and every one of their features, going from person to person. Men, women, all varying in age. As you honed in on one, the emotions and scents of the others almost disappeared. It was when your attention turned to the next person in line that the blood ran cold in your veins, and you froze still as marble when your eyes came across one man you seemed to recognize. You didn’t know where, you didn’t know how, but every fiber in your being told you; you were connected to his man. Your hairs stood on edge as you leaned forward in your seat to get a better look at him.

Jimin looked towards you, clasping a firm grip on your shoulder. “Hey, Y/N, are you okay? What is wrong?” You brushed his hand off your shoulder as you began to stand. “I know him...” You whispered as you took a trembling step towards him.

“Y/N! No!” Jimin yelled, but it was too late. You bolted into the line of prospective donors, slamming the man into the wall with your forearm on his neck. He clawed at your arm as his eyes danced trying to come to terms with what was happening.

“Who are you?!” You defeningly yelled. The rest of the group ran for the doors to make their escape before the same thing could happen to them, but you paid them no attention as you could only focus on the man before you.

“Y/N..” The man croaked, his eyes wide with the realization of who you were. “Y/N...It’s me....”

“If I knew who you were, I wouldn’t be asking you now would I?” You snarled.

Jimin sighed as he stood up making his way towards you. Prying you from the man before you strangled him to death.

“It’s me, it’s me,” You scoffed, mimicking the man now crumpled on the ground. “Tell me who you are, now. Before I drain every drop of blood from your body.” You demanded with a finger pointed towards his face as Jimin rubbed your shoulders, knowing full and well by now how to calm you down.

“I’m Namjoon, Y/N, Namjoon. Your fiance.”

You stood frozen and shocked. “No, no. I don’t believe you. Stop lying to me!” You sobbed as you turned into Jimin’s open arms.

“Please.” Namjoon pleaded as he got to his feet. “Please Y/N. Believe me. You have no idea how long and how hard I have been searching for you.” He took a step toward you with outstretched arms. Retracting immediately when Jimin shook his head at him.

“Tell me, then. Tell me what you know about me. Tell me about my past. ” You said. Still snuggled into the protective barrier that was Jimin. “Make me believe that you know me.”

“I can do that.” Namjoon nodded.