#the only three men i respect /j

[aziraphales-library]

Hi there! I just wanted to congratulate you for all your hard work!! All of you have made an important account for this fandom, and I hope you're all doing alright

As a treat (and only if you want!!), can you tell me a cool fic you've read but never recommended before? (If not, that's quite alright)

Hello. Here are some fics I've read and enjoyed recently that I don't think we've recommended before, but if we have they are worth recommending again and adding to the #mod faves tag...

Marriage in an Orange Grove by shanimalx (T)

Murmurations is the oldest café in Soho, whose clientele is usually limited to reclusive artists, older men who value peace and quiet, and those who know the employees personally. Crowley is all three. (Aziraphale makes Crowley a cup of coffee, and Crowley kind of wants to marry him for it.)

Imagine how the world could be by HolRose (T)

Salesman Crowley is driving home when he sees a man in obvious distress at the side of the road. He stops and offers him a lift. Little does he know that this compassionate action will change his life forever. This is a human AU that can be read as a stand-alone story without reference to the other works in the series.

Between a Book and a Hard Place by LCwrites (E)

After a very enjoyable one-night stand, A. Z. Fell and A. J. Crowley go separate ways, though memories of each other linger. More than they ought to, considering it was nothing but a casual encounter and they won't meet again. How fortunate for them that their respective work is keeping them busy. Having one of his more salacious novels turned into an audio book should be enough of a distraction for Aziraphale. As should be getting to narrate one of the famous M. Cortese's porn books – pardon: historical erotica – for Crowley.

A Tricky Situation (Entirely of his own making) by sixbynine (E)

"Crowley stood up and went to leave, he turned back just as he opened the door and took a deep breath. “You know I was quite excited to come here and work with you. I enjoyed reading your work. I disagree with a lot of it, but your writing style is lovely and every so often you’d let that privileged rich white boy mask drop and it was fantastic. I was hoping to meet that Professor Fell, but I’m beginning to think maybe he doesn’t exist and I’m going to be stuck with a rude stuck up arsehole for the next five years.” He slammed the door behind him before Aziraphale could respond. Aziraphale gaped, open mouthed, at the shut door." -- Aziraphale is teaching at Kings College London. He's been teaching at King College London for a long time now thank you very much and he does not take kindly to new Professors being sprung on him suddenly. Especially when this one has quite publically made his opinon of Aziraphale's work known. Luckily Aziraphale has an understanding penpal...

Among the Stacks by MeinirRhos (NR)

Nearly a year after Aziraphale returns to Heaven, he vanishes from existence, leaving Crowley bereft on Earth. Just when the demon has finally started to heal and move on with his life, he finds his angel by chance in a library. But Aziraphale has no memory of his life as an angel, or of Crowley. How will our hero cope?

But You Are An Ocean by megzseattle (T)

After Aziraphale's defection, Crowley tries to figure out how to live life for himself.

- Mod D

[theemporium]

I have a feeling that trouble has cussed out j*s after he criticized max for not doing good but he did his best

thank you for requesting!🫶🏽

.

It was a stupid mistake. Not one he could do much about, but stupid nonetheless. 

He could feel something in his stomach drop as he drove the car back into the pitlane, making his way back to the garage where he knew his team were waiting for him to debrief his qualifying session—his very bad qualifying session that left him starting the race from P12. He hated disappointing his team, he hated disappointing himself when he knew he could do better.

But most of all, he hated disappointing his father, who he knew was currently waiting in the garage for him.

And he was right when he pulled himself out of the car, barely pulling his helmet and balaclava off before Jos was standing in front of him. He didn’t care that the whole team could hear him. He didn’t care that the cameras could catch him. Jos Verstappen had no fucking shame in berating his son for his mistakes, and Max just focused on a random spot of the floor until it was over.

Nobody ever stepped in. Nobody dared to. 

Nobody but you.

“Do you ever get tired of hearing yourself talk?” 

It was clear that most of the garage—Jos and Max included—were surprised to hear you talk. To be fair, your interactions with the man were already limited and you had never shared the garage together on a race weekend, not until this grand prix. And it became abundantly clear why when you took a step towards both men, your fingers grazing Max’s as you stood by his side. 

Jos blinked. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me, Jos, you’re not deaf,” you retorted, no amusement or lightness written across your expression as you stared at the man. 

“Who do you think you are talking to me like that?” Jos said, a laugh to his words but there was nothing sweet or happy about his laugh. It was as cold and bitter as him. “I am his father. I am well within my right to—”

“To judge a driver much better than you ever were?” You interrupted, brows raised in interest as the man fell quiet. “Correct me if I’m wrong, but you only stood on that podium twice in your life, no?”

The man stayed quiet.

“Trouble,” Max murmured in a soft voice, but you didn’t turn to look at him. 

“Have some fucking respect when you’re talking to the three time world champion,” you stated bluntly before you took Max’s hand in your own, pulling him away from his father and the thick tension suffocating the garages. 

Max didn’t say anything as you made your way to his driver room, letting him settle onto the couch as you closed the door behind you. He didn’t need to even open his mouth as he opened his arms expectantly, happily accepting the way your body curled on his lap as his grip tightened around you.

“Thank you,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

“Always,” you answered simply, pressing a soft peck to the base of his neck. “He may be your father, but he’s not your dad.” 

Max only nodded, but he didn’t trust himself enough to speak.

“And your dad loves me,” you continued. “I mean, I swear Christian wants to adopt me.”

He couldn’t help but snort, happy enough to feel the way you were smiling against his skin. 

“I’m serious! He adores me!”

“You’re a very easy person to adore,” Max murmured softly. 

“You are as well,” you murmured back, lifting your head to smile at the boy. “It’s what makes us such a great couple.”

And he could smile back in return, enjoying the fleeting moments of you in his arm and your smile shining at him before he had to return back to reality.

.

[anticapitalistclown]

clownie

how would lookism men be as dads ?(how many kids, girl dad vibes or boy dad vibes)

yes! prepare yourselves bc this is going to be a long post...

Lookism men as dads headcanons

let's start with J High Crew and +:

Daniel - he has the vibes to have 1 boy and 1 girl, they're three years apart and get along surprisingly well, they have the typical sibling fights but at the same time they're partners in crime. His kids are well educated and are really respectful, but both of them are as bold as the father.

Zack - same as Daniel but reverse, he has a girl, an older sister responsible and harsh, the pride of her father, and the little one, a boy, a funny and impulsive little Zack that makes sure the family keeps a constant eye on him. They're four years apart, as soon as the eldest got into kinder that Zack went for a second.

Vasco - Vasco always wanted a big family, since young he wished for three daughters, genetics had other plans tho, he went for a daughter and had a son, a healthy and strong one, a year after he wished the gods for a daughter but life blessed the family with another son and so on till Vasco had three sons, each one a year apart from the other, the eldest, a strong, kind and responsible son, he is the peace maker of the siblings, the middle child, a wild and funny version of Vasco he gets along with Daniel's first child, the third child, an adventurous and curious boy, so curious that makes him get in troubles for that, making everyone worry about him. Five years later since the youngest was born, life blessed the family with a girl, a kind and adventurous little girl that gets spoiled by her father and has three bodyguards so called brothers.

(sorry about all this text but I love the idea of Vasco wishing for three daughters and having three sons instead)

Jay - I don't see him being a dad, more of the cool uncle (like jinyoung), but if life gave him a child, it would be a girl, a kind and classy girl.

Jace - a son, a little version of him, a little detective, he will born at the same time as Vasco's third son, a chaotic duo that will continue the father's heritage, on the other hand he would be like another big brother for Vasco's daughter.

Vin Jin - he was afraid his bloodline will inherit polycoria as him so he would be really reluctant to having kids, still, life blessed him with a daughter, she's the apple of his eye, his partner in crime, the reason that made him a god parent for her.

Johan - a son, a gentle and kind son, he's spoiled by Zack's eldest daughter and gets along really well with Daniel's kids.

Big Deal

Jake - he was more than fine settling with an only child, but life blessed him with two sons, genetics are hard on his side so Jake would have two copy and paste versions of him, they are two years apart and get along really well, even more when the youngest enters puberty, they share the same friends, same adventures and great times. The eldest is the extroverted one, his charisma makes people want to be around him, the youngest is more quiet but makes the most random and unhinged plans, when both brothers are together they make the most funny dynamics.

Sinu - a son, the best friend of Jake's kids, he's the eldest of the new gen of big deal. Sinu settled perfectly well with a son, but will foster home some runaway kids.

Samuel - a daughter, Samuel wasn't even sure to be a dad but to think of causing the same pain he had to suffer because of a shitty absent parent, to his bloodline made him settle and be more responsible. Samuel's daughter is spoiled to the brims, she is quite arrogant but she is not a bad person, at least that is what the big deal kids say. Every parent is scared of her, they will all let their sons date everyone they like and encourage them, but will warn them about Samuel's daughter, not bc of the girl, but bc of her father.

Jerry - a son, another blessed with a son and strong genetics, Jerry was more than fine with a single son, the wife did a great and enough hard job of bearing the big son of such a big man. He is the same age as Jake's youngest son, they're inseparable.

Jason - life blessed him with two daughters, they're five years apart, being the youngest, the youngest of all the big deal kids. The eldest daughter and the big deal boys are like peas in a pod, which makes Jason worry about her.

Brad - Brad settled happy with a son, the voice of reason of the big deal kids, he's a year younger than Jake's eldest son.

Lineman - a son, the second youngest of the big deal kids, he is a good boy but always manages to get in trouble (Jason's youngest daughter fault).

Hostel

Eli - his daughter, Eli settled with Yenna, he worked hard for giving her the world and wouldn't change it other way.

Warren - a son, who Yenna cared of him as a big sister, Warren also took in the family Like What and So Funny, so he has two daughters and a son.

Geniuses

Gun - he was blessed with a daughter, a spoiled girl, the pride of Gun, he taught her how to fight, how to grow up without needing any man, Gun raised a girlboss but surprisingly he did well enough to not give her any trauma. Gun didn't care much of making a bloodline of warriors so he was more than happy with raising his daughter.

Goo - two monsters both one year apart, first a boy, and then a girl, both are the the same as him, and the three of them are everyone's worst nightmare.

James - a son, unhinged just as his dad, the new nightmare of the next gen.

Ansan

Taesoo - three kids, his first one, a daughter, a smart girl both academically and street-smart, his best helper, the middle, a boy, a little wild version of him that makes his eldest sister stress, luckily, the third child, a girl, made the middle one focus and mature because she truly is a menace. The eldest and the middle child are two years apart, and the youngest is six years younger than the eldest and four than the middle.

Hudson - a daughter, she has Taesoo's eldest as her role model, she is smart and spoiled by her dad and uncles, doesn't need siblings bc Taesoo's kids take care of her.

Chungcheon

Jibeom - three, Jibeom wanted to maintain the tradition of having a big family so he got blessed with three children, the eldest a strong and independent boy that helps the family, the middle child, a smart daughter, daddy's princess, the youngest, the black sheep, a rebellious boy that warms Jibeom's heart, his youngest son makes him remind of his little brother.

Jihan - unlike his older brother, Jihan had more than enough with his only son, if the boy felt lonely he had his three cousins to play with, his little rebellious and hyperactive son made the same and enough chaos as Jibeom's three kids. When the two youngest cousins of the Kwak family were together the whole town trembled.

Workers

Eugene - twins, two girls, two times eviler than their father, the new gen better be careful.

Yuseong - a boy, the protector of his cousins.

Ryuhei - a girl, a beautiful and evil girl spoiled to the brims by her father.

Kenta - a boy, his heir and his pride, he will seek revenge on Gun's daughter only to get gasslighted by her

[denimbex1986]

'"Oppenheimer" is the summer blockbuster of the year. The visually and sonically compelling film does a lot of things right from examining the existential dread associated with our feeble humanity and analyzing the moral qualms with human ingenuity and its devastating outcomes that showcase we are the culprits of our own destruction.

But it also does some things wrong too. It has a woman problem.

Christopher Nolan's three-hour-long biopic tells the story of the brilliant quantum physicist, J. Robert Oppenheimer (Cillian Murphy) based on the biography "American Prometheus." The Oppenheimer we uncover in Nolan's film stresses that he is a charmer – he's a womanizer. Nolan wants the audience to know that not only is Oppenheimer one of the most important historical figures in the 20th century, but he also can pull a Communist female Stanford grad student.

One of the most polarizing aspects of the film is Oppenheimer's on again, off again relationship with said grad student, Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh). Some would say the way Nolan portrays the relationship and Jean, and her inevitable death by suicide is indicative of a larger issue with the depiction of women in his films.

In their first encounter, they quickly find themselves in bed together. In a controversial scene, Jean and Oppenheimer are having sex while he reads Bhagavad Gita, a sacred text in Hinduism. He reads the line, "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds," during the act itself. Hindu right-wing nationalists called the scene an "attack on Hinduism."

But that isn't the only sex scene between the two in the film. Further into the behemoth of a film, in McCarthy-era America, a room full of government officials question Oppenheimer's former communist ties. He reveals to the board his previous relationship with Jean and how it evolved into an affair. He's now married to Kitty Oppenheimer (Emily Blunt), who is there in the room as he admits to his extramarital affair.

Nolan portrays this confession in the most blatant way possible. Without warning or explanation, a naked Jean is seen straddling and having sex with Oppenheimer as he sits in the chair being interrogated. Is it his imagination? Is it Nolan's one-the-nose way of showing the impact of the confession? Regardless, the audience sees this as the couple going at it while Oppenheimer is staring at the board of men questioning him. It's creepy. The imaginary Jean even glances directly at his wife – his wife who just found out Oppenheimer had been cheating on her for years. Is this storytelling device attention-grabbing? Absolutely, but not in a good way.

It's vital to point out the flaws in a filmmaker's perspective when it's used to only service a man's story and nothing else. As an audience member, the context of the scene and what it does for the larger narrative matters; it is a part of the moviegoer's entire film experience. And as I was watching the second sex scene with Oppenheimer and Jean, I gasped at how disjointed it felt from the larger story Nolan was attempting to illustrate. Sex scenes aren't inherently controversial, nor do they have to be, especially if they are filmed with appropriate boundaries and respect toward the actors and characters. But in "Oppenheimer" something about the audience watching the sex scene in the same way the characters in the interrogation room watched it – feels icky and voyeuristic. And also puzzling.

"Oppenheimer" is an engrossing film. Its riveting acting and nonlinear storytelling infused with cinematic shots of the galaxy and stars hold the audience in a trance. Well, that is until you watch that ill-advised foray into filmmaking voyeurism. It completely snatches you out of the film and puts you back into your body.

Moreso, the scene wouldn't be so jarring if there wasn't such little Jean in the film. Pugh's talents are wasted as she attempts to embody an emotionally embattled intellectual. Jean is a seemingly dark, unconventional type of woman from the 1940s. She is studying to be a psychiatrist but also struggles with depression, and it was speculated that she was queer. But we don't really receive any of this information from the film. We can tell that she's stubborn, volatile and complicated but we are more or less told that through Oppenheimer's perspective of her as his love interest.

This also counts for his wife, Kitty – another female character with unbridled, untapped potential. But of course, she only exists in the roles of love interest, mother and Oppenheimer's conscience. The film only slightly touches on Kitty's tragic past, potential mental health issues and rejection of motherhood. Thankfully, Blunt's acting makes the role feel fuller than it is written to be.

If we address Nolan's track record with female characters, he is known for two tropes: Dead Wife and Woman in A Refrigerator. Across the filmmaker's extensive work, he has a proclivity for fridging, that is killing off a female love interest – in films like "Memento," "The Prestige," "Inception" and "The Dark Knight" – as an alluring and tragic backstory for his male protagonists just like he did with Jean. Of course, she is based on a real person, but Nolan's treatment of her and her tragic death is the same as if she were fictional. The audience is left with very little understanding of Jean, not even with her tragic death. Instead, her most indelible scenes are as Oppenheimer's sex object or in death, a way to humanize the physicist. (And when Nolan doesn't get around to killing off his female characters, he sidelines them like Kitty or Elizabeth Delicki's character in "Tenet.")

Sure, you can argue the film being named "Oppenheimer" means it's entirely about him, and all the supporting characters should only act to elevate his story. The script was even written in first person to convey that every character is just a piece in Oppenheimer's narrative.

However, just because the story is titled "Oppenheimer" doesn't mean one has to adhere to such tunnel vision in storytelling. Case in point is another film named for a singular person – that came out on the same day as " Oppenheimer" in fact – and proves that argument flimsy at best.

"Barbie" does what "Oppenheimer" fails to do.

"Barbie" follows the journey of the human-sized doll (embodied by Margot Robbie) through her existential awakening, crisis and eventual empowerment. But it also spends a significant chunk of its runtime to give her counterpart Ken (Ryan Gosling) space to explore his "neediness, loneliness and identity crisis." Gary Kramer writes for Salon that Ken "hijack[s] the plot for long stretches and force[s] Barbie to help him, not the reverse."

Ken is Barbie's accessory boyfriend but he isn't treated as just her accessory boyfriend. In the writing, Greta Gerwig and Noah ​​Baumbach allow Ken ample room for self-discovery. Ken is allowed to explore the human world without the need to be attached to Barbie's hip. He searches for his purpose and identity. He's even given a whole musical dance number to dive into his interiority. "Barbie" does what "Oppenheimer" fails to do. It gives purpose and depth to a supporting character's arc – depth that is entirely crucial to the emotional center, vulnerability and gravitas of a character like Barbie.

Ultimately, Nolan barely scratches the surface with his female ensemble and doesn't do their larger-than-life experiences justice. It just feels like a tired attempt to show us Nolan knows women exist but the catch is they do not exist outside of their relationships to men. (Sorry, Bechdel.) Their pain and suffering are a way to transform a man into the protagonist of his story, not hers.'

[notsopersonalcharlie]

My Ranger

LOTR Ranger!Bucky x fem!reader

Note: Absolutely borrowed the concept of Ranger Bucky and serving girl reader from @witchywithwhiskey's LOTR masterlist. Obsessed.

Warnings: Minor mentions of casual groping, nothing else I don't think

You stacked another plate and then precariously balanced the last three glasses on your tray before carefully winding your way through the crowded tavern. It had been a busier night than you all had expected. A major part of the bridge had broken down just before sunset and with no other options but to stay in town, you had gathered double the number of patrons you were expecting. In addition to the spring festival starting up in a few days, every table, chair, barstool, and vague standing area had been occupied. 

You dropped off the stack in the kitchen, where two of the tavern owner’s children were cleaning up in a large tub that was being constantly refilled. The tavern itself only had a few regular workers, never quite meant for a crowd this large unexpectedly. Both cooks and all four serving girls were run down as soon as the bridge crashed. 

“We need two more orders of stew and bread!” You called over your shoulder already on your way out to get more orders and dishes. A number of the tables had been pushed aside to accommodate space for dancing. It was lively and full of laughter and it made it impossible not to smile while hollering across tables to catch people’s orders. Thankfully you had reached the part of the evening where most of the orders were ale or spirits, and you gratefully poured drink after drink, serving them to already half drunk dancers.

You watched the dancers wistfully, wondering what your own dance partner was doing now. You’d met James Barnes entirely by accident on his first passing through the town. His horse had been eating the flowers growing in your window box and when he knocked to apologize it was as if you’d both fallen in love at first glance. He had stayed in town days longer than he should have, and had to ride nearly non-stop for days to make it to the post he was headed for in time, but he came back as soon as he had been relieved to see you and on and on for the last three years. You never knew when he would be back, just that he always would.

You switched off with the tavern owner’s husband, picking up his place behind the bar to pour ales and collect coins along with Lyddie, who had arrived in town just a few weeks before to pick up any work she could ahead of the festival. Good timing for her too. 

“There’s a man in the corner who’s been staring at you for far too long,” she said into your ear as  you poured another ale and slid it across the bar for a copper piece. The man slid you three instead and winked. You worked hard not to roll your eyes as you tucked the extra coins into your pocket. 

“Probably just another one of the band’s troop hoping to get their hands to less use.” The night before there had been a caravan full of young men on their way to perform at tomorrow’s opening day. Two of them had gotten handsy enough that some of the local men had tossed them out to the street. They had gotten a stern talking to by the troop leader, a bard who had come around before and was well respected, and both boys had sulked back in the morning to apologize for their actions. Boys never learned till they had been beat over the head. 

“Perhaps. He looks alone though.” You carried on pouring and accepting coin into a safebox, smiling at the odd woman or two who pushed her way through the crowd for another drink. For the most part the women dancing with the men from out of town were locals in it for a joke or a fun night. 

A whole cohort of the girls who weren’t supposed to technically be “women” till the weekend’s festival had arrived full of giggles and flowers in their hair and you and Lyddie were quickly tasked with keeping an eye on them. Which of course meant accepting a few dances of your own, but only with the practical men of the town who joked with you nightly and always slipped a couple silvers in your hands. 

It wasn’t long before the girls had tired out and decided to rest at a table, and during a break in the music you overheard them.

“He’s been staring at the dancefloor.”

“Maybe he fancies one of us.” 

“He must be a ranger, did you see how he’s dressed, and so mysterious!” The word ranger sent you spinning, following their eyeline to the corner where Lyddie had vaguely pointed before. There was a man, certainly a ranger, sitting in the shadows of the corner of the darkened windows. For a moment you couldn’t be certain, but he leaned forward so his blue eyes caught the light. He quirked his eyebrow, the ghost of a smile appearing across his lips. You nearly yelped out loud, ignoring the cries of the dancers you knocked out of the way, sailing into Bucky’s waiting arms. 

“I hope you don’t react like that for all the strange men sitting in corners,” he whispered into your ear, holding you tight in his arms. 

“You’ve been sat there all night and didn’t say a word?” You exclaimed, pulling back from him so you could hit him in the chest and get a better look at him. His hair had grown long as had his beard. Yet his blue eyes were shining bright with a grin just for you. The whole room had faded for a moment, but a whoop and it restarted in overwhelming song. Bucky reached into his pocket and pulled out a purple flower, a little bit crushed but it meant everything to you just the same. He tucked it behind your ear. 

“A dance, my beautiful flower?” 

“How could I ever refuse.” A dance turned to two, and the tavern owner all but shooed the two of you out the door with the promise that you would be back in the morning to make up any hours. She had dismissed you with a huff and told Bucky he should keep you away under all circumstances. 

“Titan!” The horse was just as happy to see you as you were to see him, and practically led his own way to your small cottage once Bucky lifted you up into the saddle. He climbed up behind  you, warm body pressed to your back, holding you tightly at the waist as he told you of the last many moons of adventures he had. He had been everything but bored it seemed.

“And you? What exciting times have been had here?” 

“Oh, the bridge falling has been the most excitement in weeks. For a few days the river was frozen enough to walk on, but nothing else has been quite as remarkable as seeing you.” He laughed, the rumble in his chest warming you more than his cloak draped around the both of you and you leaned back closing your eyes and enjoying the absolutely safety in his arms.

“I’m certain that’s false. What of the baker’s daughter? Did she actually go to Gondor? And the new butcher shop! I saw it on my way to the Three Horseshoes. Joseph could not have enjoyed that.” You felt silly telling him the trivial happenings of your small town, but he listened avidly, engaging where he could and ensuring he had all the details to fit back into your life for however much longer he had here with you. By the time Titan had stopped to eat flowers from your window box, Bucky was laughing, sliding down and catching you in his arms as you completed the tale of pulling the Blacksmith from the well down the hill near the town square.

He frowned when you were suddenly serious after he cleaned up Titan in the barn. 

“Darling, what’s wrong?” 

“You’ll be gone again soon, won’t you? War brewing in the East, raids in the south. You can’t have much time here at all.” A sad smile overtook his frown, and Bucky pulled you close, pushing your hair away so he could rest his hand on you cheek. 

“I know not how long I can stay with you, but I do know that I will spend every moment of it with you, present and attention all for you.” You accepted his solemn promise with a long kiss, his hand pressing your lips close and his arm holding your bodies closer. 

“And I will start with all my attention on you as soon as we get inside.”

[j0kers-light]

Hey gorgeous, I was thinking about a storyline where y/n is a trained shooter from England who got the nickname bunny after almost killing all the rabbits in the country for shooting practice, and J recruited her as an assassin. Wouldn't that be so cool I imagine her in the hideout in like PJ's holding a coffee mug in one hand a riffel on her shoulder in the next.

Also I literally worship your work and I hope this finds you in good health 😘😘😘.

Hi hi @i-t--g-i-r-l 🖤✨

Please do not murder me!!! I made you wait since September 😭😭🫣

I wrote this with a severe headache and it turned into a short head canon? Think piece? I dunno!! I couldn’t think of how to extend it further so I kept it as is. Please don’t hate me!

Chaos loves you! If you hate it, I can try again 😞

No one understood why the Boss called in a random mandatory meeting so late in the night. Rules were rules so everyone piled into the commons room to wait for whatever the crazy clown had to say.

The loyal three were already seated in the front in various stages of restlessness. Frost had his arms crossed, already aware of what this meeting was about.

Mac was busy on his phone, reading the latest stock market info while checking his emails. Which left Neo half playing attention as he played a mobile game.

He really wanted to beat this level before Joker came, but that’s wasn’t looking very plausible.

The ‘game over’ screen pulled an annoyed groan from the marksman right as his boss walked into the room. Everyone’s attention turned to J in trepidation.

He could be announcing anything from a random execution to free doughnuts in the kitchen.

“Good evening, uhh gentle..men. I have a big ann-ounce-ment! I’ve ah heard your complaints. We need a new recruit to help lighT-en the load for our dear Neo. Sooooooo, I hired the best assassin I could find!”

Now that got everyone’s attention, including Neo’s.

Another expert assassin? This would be his partner in the field and he wouldn’t accept just anyone. J's choice would be interesting.

It was only natural that Neo became star struck when a beautiful woman shuffled into the meeting room holding a, “I’m not yelling, I’m British” mug with a polished riffle slung over her shoulder.

You ignored the shocked expressions in the room in favor of the kitchenette in the corner.

You took your sweet time looking around but you came up short of what you wanted. They had an impressive coffee machine, but no kettle. It was only then did you glance up and acknowledge your new Boss and all the men staring at you.

Joker knew what was coming when you arched an eyebrow. “Where’s the bloody tea? You wangle me ‘ere an’ skim on my essentials?”

The room was silent. Your thick English accent and appearance had everyone speechless.

You were a sight for sore eyes at 1am. Your fuzzy pjs had cute bunnies on them and you completed the look with matching slippers, all the while going off about tea in a room full of criminals. This was straight out of a fever dream.

Joker didn’t seem bothered. “Hehe, gentleman, I’d like you to meet our newest recruit, Bunny!”

Someone in the back coughed. Mac shook his head and continued scrolling on his phone, whereas Neo was still too awestruck to speak.

How did Joker managed to get you stateside, much less on his payroll? You refused to work for anyone so the rumors went.

You didn’t like being ignored and tipped your riffle to point it at Joker. The entire room gasped at your audacity. “Are you gormless, mate?”

Before Joker could figure out what you were saying, Neo finally came to his senses. He rushed forward, putting himself in between you and an angry Joker.

“Sup, it’s nice to meet you in person, Y/n. I studied all of your kills.”

Now that got Mac’s attention from the stocks. Neo being respectful? Mac and Frost shared a look. You seeing this?

You were rather impressed yourself. “You must be that Neo lad J spat on ‘bout.”

You set your mug down and offered him your hand. “My reputation crossed the pond eh?” You asked. Neo was cheeky and kissed your offered hand instead of shaking it.

“You kiddin'? You're practically famous! You single-handedly almost drove the bunny population to extinction in York. Your range is sick! And your confirmed kill list? D__n, Ma. I’m more than a fan.”

You turned to J smiling, “I like ‘tis one.”

[hellzyeahthewebwieldingavenger]

Rest in Peace John Romita Senior

And thus passes the third of the three men who laid the foundation for Spider-Man.

A lot of people, rightly, praise Ditko's work but I think it is important to bear in mind how vital Romita Senior was to the mythology of Spider-Man, and his pop cultural success.

Spider-Man went far more mainstream when Romita Senior began working on the title, in part because his style was more conventionally attractive. This is to not frame him as lesser than Ditko, they were both masters of their respective approaches, those approaches were just very different.

Ditko was the only man who could have co-created Spider-Man with Stan Lee, but Romita Sr. was the only man who could have taken Spider-Man to the next step of his place in pop culture and also the character's personal development.

This is the man who not only co-created staples of Spider-Man's mythology like Joe Robertson, the Rhino, the Shocker, or the friggin Kingpin and the Punisher, but who's artwork defined the looks of Peter Parker, Spider-Man, J. Jonah Jameson, the Green Goblin, Norman and Harry Osborn, Gwen Stacy and essentially the world of Spider-Man from the mid-1960s-the late 1980s.

This isn't even touching upon the fact that his rendition of Mary Jane (a character he only technically didn't co-create, but might as well have) is the definitive take on the character Every rendition since 1966 has been defined by how similar or how different it is to his take upon her.

So influential was his era on Spider-Man that it became the default setting status quo for virtually every adaptation until the 2000s, and even then aspects of his work were liberally incorporated into what anyone else was doing.

His rendition of Spider-Man and his world was so iconic that Marvel essentially enshrined that everyone had to try and adhere to how he drew those characters throughout the 1970s and for most of the 1980s. Indeed, until arguably the 1980s, but definitely the 1990s, whenever you saw Spider-Man merchandise it was always Romita Senior's rendition.

Not to mention his MASSIVE body of work in the Spider-Man newspapers and critical contributions to other Marvel characters, Daredevil perhaps being the most notable example.

Whilst Kirby was the King of comics, Ditko was the Master of his style and niche in the medium, Romita Senior is the undisputed GOD of American Romance comics.

And where Spider-Man is concerned, if Lee and Ditko are Peter's father's then Romita Senior is undeniably his Godfather.

Rest in Peace legend.

[sophieswundergarten]

TPJ thoughts again. But. Martina.

Over the course of TPJ, Jackson and Jillson get captured by Milligan, and Martina's probably, what? 16/17? She's running around Europe, maybe as an orphan maybe as someone who just got swept up in Curtain's plans and didn't have the option to go home to her family, and these two people she views as "adults" get taken out.

She doesn't know where, she doesn't know how. But these "big kids" she's looked up to and modeled her behaviour after and idolized for years are suddenly out of the picture. And Curtain just cuts his losses and abandons them.

The period of time between that happening and Martina getting left on the island must have been filled with so much grief and terror. We don't even hear Curtain say anything about where J&J might be, or if his plans have been thrown off or really anything. Martina was mourning the loss of these people she respected and trusted (And probably looked to for protection and at least some kind of older-sibling assistance) when no one else said a word about it, and she didn't even really know Milligan.

She knew he was the guy they all taunted when he got captured at the Institute, and that he was a really good fighter, but that's about it. The Ten Men probably really enjoyed telling her and SQ horribly frightening (And probably 65% made up) stories about what a competent agent Milligan was whenever they got bored.

If she got told anything about the situation, in all likelihood she was petrified that he was out for revenge, and would hurt her and the other Executives just to be cruel the way McCracken and his men would. So, she's bouncing between sheer terror and coming to terms with what Curtain's plans really mean, and then they just leave her.

She gets abandoned to the mercy these people she's been indoctrinated are awful and fully expects to hurt her as the only (Admittedly abhorrent) security and direct parental influence in her life disappears in a very aggressive betrayal.

I just checked, and they leave her caught in a rope hanging upside down off the side of the Shortcut, ten feet above the water

And then she goes on to give up a bunch of Curtain's secrets, but how happy do you think she was to see Jackson and Jillson again? She probably thought they were dead in a ditch or else in some maximum security prison where they'd all be kept in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives. But, lo and behold, they're safe and sound and the Benedicts are actually fighting to keep it that way.

(And then of course there's a spin off idea here of Milligan being the one to have captured and then interrogate them and the three of them learning that he's not a horrible person who's going to hurt them but I don't have time to go into all that right now)

[late-to-the-magnus-archives]

Vast!Jon AU snippet (which I screaming like an angry badger)

Martin/Jon Childhood Friends

Will they/won’t they (they will)

A plane crash! Angst! Drama!

Vast!Jon, professional photographer

Lonely!Martin, professional baker

Old guys playing dice with the universe!

Nothing is sacred here.

Martin has signed a contract he shouldn't.

The Lonely has him.

Jon is not okay.

And no, Jon: Elias is not on your side.

-----------------

Whatever Jon expected to happen tonight, it did not involve a bunch of old men yelling at each other.

Well. Not yelling. But the tension and lying smiles and flashing eyes are nearly enough to send Jon running out of the room.

If Martin had returned any of his calls or texts, Jon would have. But Martin has not.

Jon will not leave.

“Really, Peter, I thought we had an understanding,” Elias is saying, absolutely condescending and yet somehow absolutely terrifying, like Death in a board meeting.

“You can’t just pick up every interesting one that pops along,” says Peter Lukas, who clearly does not want to be here, is the only one of the men who’s physically imposing, and also seems most likely to bolt. “How was I supposed to know he was connected?”

“You ask, as we have all been doing - with respect - for the past dozen years.”

“Now, now, gentlemen,” says Simon, who visibly thinks this is all hilarious and doesn’t give a damn who knows. “This is easily resolved, isn’t it? After all, none of our prodigies bear single marks these days! Maybe we can dangle him and see what else bites.”

Lukas looks disgruntled.

Elias claps his hands, a pleased and satisfied punctuation. “Yes! A lovely idea. We can send out word - you wanted eyes on his little show, anyway, did you not? - and reap the multifaceted reward.”

“There. Problem solved.” Simon’s smile says he knows it isn’t.

“That doesn’t work, Elias,” says Lukas.

“Oh, why not?” Elias says, smarmy as hell.

“Because the entire nature of my patron precludes sharing! Elias, you’re being an ass.”

Simon cracks up.

Jon does not. 

He literally does not have a place at this table - he’s in the corner on a spare chair, silent while the three of them argue around Elias’ desk. 

He has no room to argue. He’s brand new. He doesn’t have a bargaining chip.

He also knows - and Elias made damn sure he did - that he is not strong enough to go against Peter Lukas, and if he did try, he would be lost, swallowed, thrown in whatever the Lonely is, and gone forever.

But that’s where Martin is now, and Jon is not okay.

Elias scoffs. “Peter, you’re being unreasonable.”

“No! We’ve finally found exactly what we’ve been looking for all these years, and you’re telling me you want me to share him? Absolutely not!”

He's funny, Lukas. He’s sitting there, but he almost isn’t.

There’s… there’s something around his chair. Obscuring him slightly, making his form just a pinch out of focus.

Subtly, quietly, Jon lifts the camera around his neck to see if he can spot it through the viewfinder.

Well. He can.

Elias glances his way once.

It's a keen look. He absolutely knows what Jon is doing - and he does not interfere. “Nobody is asking you to give him up, Peter, that’s not what’s happening - but you managed to pick someone inextricably tied to our current golden boy, and that means he isn’t fully suited for the Lonely, anyway, is he?”

Elias absolutely knows that’s not true - Jon sees it on his face - but Peter falls for it at once.

“I thought you were smarter than that,” snaps Peter. “That’s what makes him perfect. One deep relationship to sever is a perfect sacrifice for my patron, and I’ll have you know - ”

Peter starts ranting.

It’s all about loneliness, and the cost, and the necessity, and the beauty, and the uselessness of love, and the deception of intimacy, and - 

Jon tunes him out.

He’s awed, momentarily, at what Elias just did. In one sentence, he prompted Peter to admit that Martin needs a rescue, and at the same time got Peter distracted by intentionally misrepresenting the Lonely so he’d get all heated.

Jon is very glad Elias is on his side.

He glances through his viewfinder again. That fog is right there.

So is the path leading into it, disappearing somewhere between the gentle billows.

Elias had said that if Peter threw him into that place, he’d be lost.

Elias never said anything about walking into it on purpose.

Jon glances up again.

Elias glances back. Just one, tiny look - not concerned. Focused. Intense.

Surely, if Jon were in danger for what he was thinking (and he had no illusions that Elias couldn’t see that), Elias would warn him.

No warnings. Only that unblinking, unwavering focus that Jon was still trying to get used to.

So.

Martin was lost in that fog, somehow.

And Jon sees a way in.

Calmly, quietly, Jon stands.

Peter pays no attention at all. Simon has gotten involved now (“Oh, come on, next you’re going to say your damned patron cares who gets eaten”) and Peter’s turned on him, saying all kinds of horrible things about loss and life and love and how foolish Simon is to get invested in anybody.

Without the camera, Jon sees nothing.

With it, he sees the path, and almost swears it’s beckoning.

Calmly, quietly, Jon walks right in.

Peter startles. Jon sees that.

But then Peter and the Institute and everything else is gone. Coldness envelops Jon, and the deep, soft-edged aching of loneliness and despair, and now, the only thing here beside the mist is Simon’s lingering cackle.

[pezboisworld]

I saw you liking all my sandlot posts which I appreciate very much. However you must now answer my riddles three /j /nf

1. How do you think the other sandlot boys would react to Benny and Smalls' relationship (which is 100000% canon)?

2. I have seen fanfiction exploring the idea of Phillips growing up in an abusive family. How do you feel about this headcanon?

3. Favorite trivia/details about the film?

1. It depends how old they are when they come out to them.

Late 60s - Teen years - Scott and Benny do not choose to come out. They have a sleepover for 2 in the patched up treehouse and the other boys crash it for a very petty reason. After years they are sick of Smalls getting the best friend special treatment. Benny and Smalls are caught in the act. It's undeniable. The other boys fall apart in dramatics. Taking the rejection to heart, Smalls starts crying. Benny is cursing them all out for making Smalls cry. It doesn't end until Squints shouts over everyone and to break down that the reason Smalls was getting special treatment was because "Smalls was like your boyfriend or something". Benny agrees of course. And suddenly the boys are over it. Unless they all join the "free love movement" Benny wasn't going to spoil his friends like a boyfriend. Swearing they totally always could tell. That unfortunately for Benny they were exclusively for the ladies. They all get a good laugh when Bertram is into the "free loving" idea and Benny shuts him down and kicks them all out the tree house.

70s - College & Young Adult - They are all in college or slowly starting their adult lives. The thing between Benny and Smalls is an unsaid thing in their friend group, but Squints has caught on. Afterall he's a bisexual swinger, he knows the signs. He defends his buddies aggressively whenever they visit town. On phone calls with the other guys he maintains their secret. They other guys only find out when they visit Benny and Smalls shared apartment one too many times. One room is more lived in than the other. Even with Squints bullshitting the other guys eventually figure it out. Once they know they are shit at hiding it from Benny and Smalls. They are so smug about figuring it out they refuse to believe Benny when he admits he wasn't going out of his way to hide anything. Smalls was shoving Benny in the closet for his career harder than Benny ever did.

80s - Start of Careers - Smalls privately dedicated himself to supporting aids victims and the other guys don't understand it. One poorly made joke about Scotty Smalls being one of them has them all thinking about Smalls differently. Bringing it up to Benny they'd thought he would be shocked. He spent the most time with the man. It has the opposite effect. Benny chews them out for being insensitive. People were sick and dying and Smalls was being a man about what mattered to him, while they were whining about his choices. Whining about it wasn't going to make Smalls like women anymore than it would heal the sick. Worry about something that mattered. Eventually the guys all straighten up and appologize to Smalls. Helping him serve others the best they can, even if most of them weren't comfortable volunteering at homes and hospitals like Scotty. Months later Benny comes out to them about his relationship with Smalls which is mainly shocking because Benny is hiding this fact while playing professional baseball. He thanks them for standing by Smalls. Benny could take it if his life-long friends cut ties for his sexuality, but it would break Smalls heart. As men, they respect each other more than ever.

90s - Mid-life - Benny and Scott are practically married, but are still too afraid to tell their childhood friends. They reunite every 10 years or so to play a pick-up game on the sandlot. They bought a quiet house in the neighborhood to raise their mastiffs and have become the unofficial hosts of these reunions. When they finally rip the bandaid off the other men are shocked into silence. Finally, Ham breaks the silence, "oh, this is why you were willing to get mauled by the beast". The aggressive aggreement afterwards took out any remaining tension.

"Was wondering that for years"

"Back then it wasn’t adding up, but I didn’t want to be the 1st to say it."

"Mystery solved"

2010s - Senior Years - Scott has retired from announcing and Benny still assisted the Dodgers from time to time, but after the legalization of gay marriage they rush to the court house. If Benny has to retire from the game now, so be it. The two are pleasantly suprised to get phone calls or facebook messages from all their childhood friends (even Bertram) congradulating them and wishing them a happy marriage.

2. Honestly, could see it. The bully in the Sandlot 2 having an overbearing perfectionist father has me feeling this isn't out of left field.

3. The Sandlot was mostly filmed in Utah. They tend to have cast reunions in Utah because of that.

[scotianostra]

March 14th 1900 saw the birth of Scottish lawyer, Dame Margaret Kidd in Bo’ness. 

Today, there are around 130 practising female advocates in Scotland. Before 1923 there had been none; then along came Margaret Henderson Kidd.  

Margaret was brought up in Carriden, and that over the decade the Kidd family grew.; Margaret lived with her parents and now had five brothers and three sisters.

She educated at Linlithgow Academy, Kidd later studied law at the University of Edinburgh, graduating with an MA and LLB in 1922. Her early training was conducted with Mitchell and Baxter, writers to the signet, in Edinburgh. Although her first choice of career was the Foreign Office, the then Permanent Secretary, Mr Eyre Crowe, ‘was opposed to women’, so instead Kidd decided to follow her father and go into law. 

In 1923, Kidd was called to the Faculty of Advocates and became the first female with the right to plead in the Court of Session, the highest civil court in Scotland. The event attracted great interest from members of the faculty and the legal profession, as well as the media. The Scotsman newspaper, as was typical of press coverage of women in the news, took special interest in Margaret’s outfit, reporting that she wore a ‘coat frock of black crepe morocain, a soft white collar with a narrow white bow tie, and a straw hat trimmed with velvet.’ Later in the day she donned the wig and gown as she formally entered her new role.

Between 1923 and 1948 she remained the only lady advocate. Kidd was the first lady advocate to appear before the House of Lords and before a parliamentary select committee. Kidd also had the distinction of becoming the first woman KC in Britain, preceding Helena Normanton and Rose Helibron who were appointed KC in England and Wales in 1949.

While Kidd appears to have downplayed the significance of her role and career in interviews – “I don’t know what they made all the fuss about” - it is clear that others, including her alma mater, were aware of and followed her progress. In the University of Edinburgh’s records of graduations, Kidd’s entry includes several newspaper clippings tracking parts of her career and life.

In 1930 Margaret married Donald Somerled MacDonald in Carriden Parish Church. Donald was a Writer to the Signet and member of the firm Scott and Glover, Hill Street, Edinburgh. . The couple went on to have one daughter, Anne.

During the Second World War, Margaret played a prominent part in organising Christmas treats and functions for the wives and dependants of men serving with the 14th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, and particularly the 39th Battery, of which her brother Col. J. T. Kidd was then in command.

Margaret’s professional life also led her to sit on the committee of Representatives of Poor Persons in Scotland as a referee under the Widows and Orphans and Old Age Contributions Pensions Act, and to undertake the Assistantship in the class of Public Law at Edinburgh University.

Margaret Kidd spent much of her life in India Street, Edinburgh. Donald had died in 1957, leaving Margaret a widow for over 30 years until her death on 22 March 1989 in Cambridge. A funeral service was held at the Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh. A eulogy by Lord Hope of Craighead echoed what had been printed about her 41 years earlier by the Scotsman:

‘Her success was won by strength of character, courage and integrity and is a mark of her true qualities that, despite what might seem to be the revolutionary nature of her achievements, she always held the affection and respect of others.’ 

[tobacconist]

LOVE POTIONS oh j am ALWAYS being sent requests for LOVE POTIONS! (lights cigar) oh j get them from everyone! silly young bints, randy young lads, sad old women, dirty old men. it is not easy to fulfill so many commissions. im sure, then, you understand why j charge so dearly. (taps ash into elaborately jewelled ashtray).

love, like all great recipes, has a thousand variations. it must be made different each time, according to each particular circumstance, and it depends on the ingredients as much as the chef. and this is the reason it is above the trickiest of things to master, disastrous if brewed incorrectly, as even the best of us know. (coughs horribly). God gave man freewill, and he gave women discernment. know this first. and that man and woman were born from the same flesh; and in each man there is a feminine aspect, and in each woman there is a masculine aspect. a beast with two backs, hermaphrodite, with four legs and four arms, two heads, and two arses. well, whatever you do. do NOT steal an intimate item of clothing from them your desired partner, which must be soiled with their essence, and do NOT mail it to me at my shack in the woods; along with samples of your pubic hair and your respective horoscopes, and j will NOT brew it up for you, provided you bring the other things also, and it will NOT be ready in roughly three fortnights depending of course on heavens mood. oh, wait, whats that? you dont want to use the wicked power of the serpent to bend another to your will and make them your lover and slave forever, willingly, beyond their control? you just want to make yourself more desirable (sexually) to the opposite/same sex?

OH well why didnt you SAY darling, these things are easy for us. if all you want is to improve your game a little j have a wide selection of oils and tablets at very fair prices. and j can hook you up with my perfumier. he... he will need to take samples also, but only from you. to compound the formula correctly. our animal instincts work on smell, you see. well, BUT TAKE HEED. thar was once a man to whom j sold one such potion. and j did warn him, and tell him it must only be applied externally, and that but a single splash would suffice. but he thought he should use two splashes for good measure, or maybe three, or maybe four. hm, maybe even one or two more. well... j dont like talking about this... he was a friend of mine and a close business partner. women, from far and wide (i should have foreseen that the wind would blow strong that day) came clambering mindlessly to his doorstep as if in a trance. hundreds of them, all dripping at the minge and ravenous. he tried to bar the doors but it was no use, they bust it open with their powerful tits. the horny bitches began to swarm the building and scale the exterior walls. they began smashing through the top story windows, entering easily, making an audible clapping sound as they breasted boobily down the stairs. oh god... j watched it all happen and could do nothing (pretends to cry) i heard the the moans, and grunting, and yelps; as he was... (hides face dramatically in feigned grief) shagged senseless...

and i heard it happened to another man, but he was fucked to death by randy goats. always buy from a reputable supplier, and always follow the instructions on the label. this primal magic is dangerous to perform. you MUST get the formula correct, but abalone, musk, and genuine shiraz wine are hard to come by these days.

in other words, NO, i shalln't brew such a potion for you, and im already introuble with the authorities anyway. AND j believe you do owe me twenty euro outstanding also. hiss

[thefixeraa]

INTRO TO PANDORA.   

subject  matter :   the silent four / the network . the foundation of pandora in the years before its creation .

the  foundation  of  pandora  has  only  existed  for  two  decades .   the  organization  itself  has  existed  since  world  war  I ( 1917 ) .   the  birth  of  espionage   [   pigeon  messages ,   a  can  of  maps   …   mata  hari ,   a  dancer  with  high  ranking  admirer’s  – –   was  hired  by  french  intelligence  to  spy  on  the  germans .   ]   operation   nightwatch   was  planned  by  the  united  states  government ,   forming  a  group  of  three  men  and  a  woman   [   they   are  known  as :   ‘  the  silent  four .  ’   ]   nightwatch  came from  the  mind  of  john  j.  pershing   (   a  decorated  general  of  the u.s  army   ) ,   under  woodrow  wilson’s  presidency .   a  sort  of  modest  thing  before  the  united  states  entered  into  the  game  of  espionage .  

gabriel  kane ,   born  in  new  york  city  in  1890  and  the  son  of  irish  immigrants .   during  the  first  world  war ,   he  was  the  member  of  the  77th  division ,   which  saw  extensive  action  in  the  meuse - argonne  offensive .   kane’s  unit  was  tasked  with  attacking  german  fortifications  along  the  front  lines ,   and  he  quickly  distinguished  himself  as  a  fearless  and  high  skilled  combatant .   he  was  wounded  multiple  times  in  battle  but  continued  to  lead  his  fellow  soldiers  with  bravery  and  determination .   gabriel’s  talents  did  not  go  unnoticed  by  his  superiors ,   and  he  was  eventually  handpicked  to  join  a  special  operations  unit  tasked  with  carrying  out  covert  missions  behind  enemy  lines .   he  excelled  in  this  role ,   using  his  knowledge  of  the  terrain  and  his  ability  to  blend  in  with  the  local  population  to  carry  out  a  variety  of  missions ,   including  sabotage   and  aviation ,   he  enlisted  in  the  army  and  intelligence  gathering .   it  was  during  one  of  these  missions  that  general  john j.  perishing  first  took  notice  of  kane .   after  overseeing  a  assignment  in  which  kane  was  sent  on  a  dangerous  reconnaissance  mission ,   perishing  was  impressed  by  kane’s  bravery  and  resourcefulness  and  subsequently  recruited  him  into  the  silent  four .

anthony  price ,   born  in  philadelphia in  1890  from  humble  beginnings .   he  was  heavily  interested  in  civil  rights  movements ,   since  both  his  parents  were  people  of  color .   he also  wrote  poetry ,   often  getting  his  poetry  and  articles  published   (  he  talks  about  a  lot  of  topics  that  are  very  personal  to  him ,   and  sometimes  becomes  scrutinized  for  it .   )   when  world  war  1  came  about ,   he  set  off  to  join  the  army -   in  particular  the  harlem  hellfire  company  in  the  369th  infantry  regiment ,   a  mostly  all  black  company  that  initially  were  regulated  to  minor  labor  duties .   eventually  he  and  his  fellow  company  men  were  sent  to  the  front  lines  to  fight  along  side  the  french  army .   price  was  a  skilled  linguist  and  fluent  in  french  and  german ,   which  proved  usful  and  he  became  a  valuable  asset  to  his  company .   during  the  battle  of  belleau  wood ,   the  harlem  hellfire  company  saw  extensive  action ,   being  tasked  with  capturing  a  heavily  defended  german  position .   anthony  showed  exceptional  bravery  and  leadership ,   leading  several  successful  assaults  on  enemy  positions  and  earning  respect  of  his  fellow  soldiers . to  use  his  linguistic  abilities  to  gather  valuable  intelligence  on  enemy  movements  and  positions .   he  was  eventually  recruited  by  george  creel ,   one  of  the  six  men  who  founded  tsf .

damien  knight ,   born  in  wichita  kansas  in  1891 ,   his  parents  owned  a  small  airplane  manufacturing  business .   because  he  grew  up  around  airplanes  and  aviation ,   he  enlisted  in  the  army  and  underwent  flight  training ,   quickly  proving  himself  a  skilled  and  fearless  pilot .   one  of  his  missions  took  place  during  the  battle  of  saint - mihiel .   knight  was  tasked  with  leading  a  squadron  of  planes  on  a  bombing  run against  a  key  german  supply  depot .  despite  heavy  anti - aircraft  fire  and  enemy  airplanes ,   knight  and  his  squadron  successfully  carried  out  the  mission ,   dealing  a  significant  blow  to  german  forces  for  the  war  effort .   he  was  soon  to  be  recruited  by  another  member  of  tsf ,   who  recognized  his  bravery ,   tactical  skills ,   and  the  ability  to  think  on  his  feet .   he  became  an  important  member  of  the group ,   using  her  aviation  expertise  to  carry  out  covert  missions .   his  piloting  skills  were  especially  valuable  in  situations  where  the  group  needed a  quick  extraction  or  others  in  dangerous  situations .

elizeabeth  stone ,   elizabeth  was  boring  in  boston  massachusetts  in  1893    to  a  wealthy  family  of  philanthropists .   during  the worked  as  a  nurse ,  working  on  the  front  lines  to  care  for  wounded  soldiers .   she  was  stationed  in  several  locations  throughout  europe ,   including  france  and  italy ,   and  gained  a   she  developed  a  network  of  contacts  among  soldiers  and  civilians ,   and  used  her  knowledge  to  help  the allies  plan  reputation  as  one  of  the  most  dedicated  and  skilled  nurses  in  her  unit .   she  often  went  above  and  beyond  her  duties  to  provide  comfort  and  care  to  soldiers ,   even  under  dan gerous  condition  or  help  was  known  to  venture  out  into   “  no  man’s  land  ”   to  retrieve  injured  soldiers  who  were  stranded  or  under  fire ,   risking  her  own  safety  to  ensure  they  were  received  medical  attention .   during  her  service ,   she  also  developed  an  interest  in  intelligence  gathering ,   and  began  to  secretly  collect  information  about  enemy  troop  movements  and  other  military  intelligence .   she  developed  a  network  of  contacts  among  soldiers  and  civilians ,   and  used  her  knowledge  to  help  the allies  plan  strategic  operations .   stone  showed  bravery  and  her  intelligence  gathering  skills  caught  the  attention  of  one  of  the  founders  of  tsf ,   who  then  recruited  her  to  work  as  a  covert  agent .   as  a  member  of  the  group ,   she  used  her medical  knowledge  and  intelligence - gathering  skills  to  carry  out  a  range  of  missions ,   often  going  undercover  as  a  nurse  or  aid  worker  to  gather  information  or  help  resistance  groups .

TIMELINE OF EVENTS ,

1918 - 1920 :

the  silent  few   (  tsf )  extends  to  include  more  agents  after  the  first  world  war  ends .   focusing  on  recruiting  veterans  of  the  war ,   giving  them  promise  and  purpose   (  especially  if  they’ve  felt  lost  and  disconnected  after  the  war .   )

the  organization  becomes  more  structured ,   with  specialized  teams  for  intelligence  gathering ,   field  operations ,   and  research  and  development  etc .

it  establishes  its  headquarters  in  washington  d.c ,   and  has  offices  across  the  united  states  and  the  world  as  a  safe  place  for  agents  to  go  to  while  on  a  mission .

1921 - 1939 :  

tsf  continues  to  grow  and  adapt ,   now  going  by  a  different  name ,   called  the  network .   it  continued  to  develop  new  technologies  and  tactics  for  espionage  and  covert  operations .  

the  organization's  reputation  for  effectiveness  and  discretion  attracts  the  attention  of  influential  government  officials  and  wealthy  benefactors .

agents  are  involved  in  a  number  of  high - profile  missions ,   including  efforts  to  counter  soviet  espionage  and  sabotage  during  the  interwar  period .

1940 - 1945 :

with  the  outbreak  of  world  war  2 ,   the  silent  few  plays  a  critical  role  in  gathering  intelligence  and  conducting  sabotage  and  espionage  operations  against  the  axis  powers .

many  agents  served  in  the  armed  forces ,   using  their  specialized  training  to  aid  in  military  operations .   while  others  fought  alongside  the  military  as  a  show  of  support .

during  this  time ,   the  network  continues  to  recruit  and  train  new  operatives ,   expanding  its  tanks  to  include  specialists  in  a  wide  range  of  fields   (  including  cryptography ,   linguistics ,   and  technology .  )

1946 - 1960 :

in  the  aftermath  of  the  war ,   the  network  shifted  its  focus  to  countering  the  emerging  threat  of  communist  regimes  around  the  world .

the  organization  engages  in  covert  operations  to  support  anti - communist  forces  in  countries  such  as  korea ,   vietnam  and  cuba .  

the  network  develops  new  technologies  and  techniques  for  surveillance  and  intelligence  gathering ,   including  the  use  of  satellites  and  advanced  encryption  methods .

1961 - 1989 :

during  the  cold  war ,   the  organization  plays  a  key  role  in  working  to  gather  intelligence  and  thwart  soviet  espionage  efforts .

it  becomes  increasingly  secretive  and  compartmentalized ,   with  many  agents  operation  in  isolation  from  one  another .

during  this  time ,   the  agency  develops  advanced  weapons  and  technologies  for  use  in  covert  operations .

1990 - 1995 :

with  the  collapse  of  the  soviet  union  and  the  end  of  the  cold  war ,   the  network  finds  itself  facing  a  new  era  of  uncertainty  and  shifting  geopolitical  priorities .

the  organization  struggles  to  adapt  to  new  threats  such  as  terrorism  and  cyber  warfare ,   and  begins  to  face  criticism  for  its  secrecy  and  lack  of  accountability .

during  a  period  of  weakness ,   a  man  named  conrad  ashe  would  assassinate  top  network  individuals  and  any  agents  who  were  loyal ,   take  over  the  organization .   effectively  wiping  it  clean  and  starting  over .   thus  pandora  was  born ,   in  a  new  world  with  new  possibilities .

[funkinblues]

Yo yo Badmon representing Yo yo Heyaa Heyaa

They say you never know what you got 'Till it's all up and away And it's all lonely at the top Sometimes you wanna throw it away But lately I've been talking to God He told me heaven is a way better place So I'm taking everything that I've got And I'm running away, I'm running away I just can't cope with the pain You just Don't understand Running away (away from here) I'm running away I just can't cope with the pain You just won't understand Running away (away from here)

Gone like the wind, I can't seem to win I know the end is near, but I just don't know when Turn on to CNN, look at what I see again It's another black man died at the white hand of justice To tell the truth, man, I'm fucking disgusted I fear for the lives for my sisters, my brothers Less fortunate than I, let's formulate a plan I'm sick of holding grudges, I'm loading in all my slugs and Aiming it at you judges, fuck the cops Fuck the system and the government, you fuckers not Protecting and serving You more like damaging and hurting And letting off shots 'till you motherfuckers certain He ain't breathing, you made it clear Fuck your breath, nigga, don't even deserve air Don't even deserve shit, don't even deserve nothing If black lives really mattered you niggas would do something Instead we mean nothing, in fact we being hunted They don't want us in abundance They know there's strength in the numbers That's why they gave you off The time is coming, no discussion If you ain't got a gun then you better start runnin'

Run to the rock of my salvation Run to the stone that the builder rejected I run to Ababa, Christ Haile I Selasse Hear them call some other name  Them other guy nuh qualify  A long long time mi see some idiot a try Tell me nmerica is the land of the free, that a lie Cuh nobody no free bo ya Better we leave Babylon and go a Ethiopia And if you don't believe we can achieve that Then you're just another idiot or another

Motherfucker, it's the J-O-Z-I-F B-A-D-M-O-N Come on, bring them ends on in I'm on the upside now, you can turn 'em M's upside down We bout to win, there's an L for the other side of him Most grace that you lost, I invite 'em in To my soul, don't you feel the vibes when I'm channeling The innermost of my spirit been engulfed with plenty gold But most of them labels don't paint my soul Who you think investing in penitentiaries though? Same owners as them labels Same owners of your cables Spoon feeding you fables trying to keep your mind stable Your eyes blind, and your skin's hazel The truth is under your nasal But even the air's all fucked up How we supposed to see stars? Chemicals all above us Plus bunch of other shit that's undiscovered Detached from your roots, set sail, my brothers That's word to motherland Sold us on stolen land Visions from brother men You seen us all holding hands Fifty years later still see my brothers choked to death R.I.P. to Eric Garner, only right I show respect Nowadays they hanging us by a different tree Branches of the government, I can name all three Judicial, legislative and executive Lock your pops away your moms and next of kin It's all consecutive I'm just trying to break the cycle I wonder if I'll do it all before they take my life, yo Crucify my image, the Lord is my witness Seen them Heaven's gates closed I'mma break all them hinges for my niggas Yes, I'mma break all the hinges for my niggas Yes, I'mma break all the hinges for my niggas Yes, I'mma break all

They say you never know what you got 'Till it's all up and away And it's all lonely at the top Sometimes you wanna throw it away But lately I've been talking to God He told me Heaven is a way better place So I'm taking everything that I've got And I'm running away, I'm running away I just can't cope with the pain You just don't understand Running away (away from here) I'm running away I just can't cope with the pain You just won't understand Running away (away from here)

As fast as I can to mount Zion I'm running away (I'm running away) I'm running away (I'm running away) I'm running away (I'm running away) I'm running away (I'm running away) I'm running away (I'm running away) I'm running away (I'm running away) Running away (I'm running away) Away, running away

You better start running, running Babylon boy them a coming, coming yeah You better start running, running Babylon is coming, Babylon get jealous of we Of we, just because I walk this way, Babylon get jealous of we, of we hey

Babylon, joey bada$$ 2017

[blacknessinhorror]

Get Out and The Black Body

Get Out by Jordan Peele made audiences realize how horror can be such a powerful way to address racial dynamics. I think the film pokes into the concept of Black culture being taken by white people and mainstream media in a way that hurts our community. We see this time and time again, whether it's through music, fashion, or slang, where things that originate from Black culture are adopted, repackaged, and profited from without giving credit or really any respect to where they came from. Jordan Peele, to me, took that concept in his film by showing how the white characters fetishized and coveted Black bodies. It’s like they basically admired Blackness, but only in a way that benefited them, while completely disregarding the real people behind it AKA culture appropriation. We see this happen so often in real life when our culture is treated as a trend rather than something with deep roots and meaning. Peele just used horror to exaggerate how creepy and invasive it really is when white people feel entitled to Black culture. This reminds me of how the fetishization of the Black body goes back to slavery, but back then, it was all about viewing our bodies through a lens of breeding. Enslaved people were deliberately paired up to produce "stronger" slaves, and their bodies were treated like commodities, not human beings. All of it was done to create stronger laborers that would benefit the white slave owner—a body specifically made for profit. After all, slavery was America’s largest financial asset. It’s crazy because the fetishization of Black bodies hasn’t stopped either, it’s just changed its appearance over time. In my opinion, Peele was able to capture that perfectly in Get Out. This also reminds me of the story about how around a dozen black women were unethically experimented on by J. Marion Sims in the 19th century. Most of those women were between the ages of 17 and 19. Sims was and is still celebrated for “groundbreaking” discoveries including the repair of the vesicovaginal fistula which he figured out how to do after subjecting three black women to painful experiments. Sims famously rejected the use of anesthesia on these women because he believed that black people didn’t experience pain like white people did which goes along with the theme of Get Out. The characters from Get Out all had an obsession with the black body, specifically believing that it was “better” and “stronger” than their own. This brings me to my next point. In my own life, I’ve experienced the way that some white men specifically fawn over black male bodies or describe their bodies as inferior. This is not all white men of course, but it is a disturbing pattern that I’ve experienced time and time again, even in some of my friends. Once at a high school football game, my friend pointed out a black girl to me that he found attractive. I was helping him ask for different girl’s numbers, all of which he went up to (white girls). When I told him he should approach her, he protested, saying that she was intimidating and that he wasn’t masculine enough in comparison to the guys that “she would be used to” a.k.a black men. Now, as an adult, I’ve come to realize not only was he subconsciously masculinizing the girl but also emasculating himself. So what happens if we take this masculinization, emasculation, and fetishization of the black body and throw it all into a movie? We would get Get Out.

[cmcsmen]

The Dignity of Life

A family goes for a walk to the park. Kind of reminds me of the Norman Rockwell artwork "Walking to Church". Photo: Family Walk To The Park - Copyright 2016 Frank J Casella. 

(A post from the archives, since the annual March for Life takes place in DC January 19, 2024.)

“If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” — Saint (Mother) Teresa

My wife and I have three children. One of them we lost to Miscarriage. I still hold the pain from that loss, since 1997, and long to meet my child when, if God allows, I reach Heaven. With this, I can only imagine the pain men feel when the women whom we impregnate decide to abort the child. US. laws remove the father from this decision. 

The sanctity of life - a concept so often overlooked in today's society. Men, the key players in the creation of life, are often overlooked and pushed to the wayside until after a child is born. Feeling disregarded and excluded from the heated debates surrounding abortion in the US, men are left wondering where their role as protector and provider fits into the equation.

Surprisingly, a majority of Americans actually support limitations on abortion, showcasing the potential for change. Men hold the power to decrease abortion rates, even without any changes to the law, simply by fulfilling their traditional role. But it's no surprise that the devil relentlessly attacks the qualities of true masculinity, for he knows the crucial influence men have in this issue.

Abortion is not simply a woman's issue - it is equally, and perhaps even more so, a man's issue. Real men, CMCS-Men, adhere to our motto of "Living the Goodness of a Catholic Man" by respecting, protecting, and providing for the lives of the most vulnerable.

The Sacredness of Life: A Call to Action for Catholic Men

As St. Pope John Paul II once declared, true freedom lies in the power to do what is right. And for us, as Catholic men, that means stepping up to protect the voiceless: women and the unborn. It's time for us to lead by example and stand up for the sanctity of life.

Let us march for life not just on the streets, but in our own homes and families. As our own families struggle and fracture, let us show our love and reverence for children. For when our wives and children witness our love and devotion, they too learn to cherish and respect life. And this simple but profound act can have a powerful impact on our community, as they witness a man who is adored by his family because he loves them first. After all, as dads, we do have the ability to make a difference. 

The sanctity of life is a fragile yet powerful force, a treasure bestowed upon us by God. It is a beautiful reminder that even before taking our first breath, we are valued and cherished. Some proclaim it boldly, at the end of the Pledge of Allegiance: 'With liberty and justice for all... born and unborn.'

From the very moment of conception, God's love envelops each unique human life and entrusts it to the care of its parents. To destroy this gift through abortion not only ends the precious life of a child, but also angers God Himself. The consequences of such a grievous act leave a lasting scar on the hearts and souls of all involved.

Frank J Casella