#they are correct that the government is lying to them

[cheesybadgers]

I've been sitting with 8x16 these past few days and thinking about seasons 7/8 as a whole and how misdirection/fake-outs, red herrings and bait-and-switch have been recurring themes.

There was the whole of Buck, Bothered and Bewildered where Buck spent the episode desperately trying to get Eddie’s attention only to end up kissing Tommy but really, it was about Eddie the whole time. There was Kim, who appeared to Eddie to be a Shannon doppelgänger but obviously, she was wasn’t actually Shannon. There was the whole Hotshots storyline with the 119, AKA a fictional version of the 118 and a show within a show and Brad pretending to be a real firefighter. There was Eddie saying “I’m straight”, which appears to be leading (eventually anyway, if Tim Minear stops fucking around and causing havoc for 5 minutes) towards him realising that’s not in fact true. There was Buck posing as Freddie Fakeman in order to sublet Eddie’s house. There was Buck denying even the possibility he’s in love with Eddie, when everything else suggests he is in love with him. There was the policewoman who kidnapped Maddie and was a serial killer whilst also giving the appearance of investigating the murders when she was actually trying to set up someone else to take the blame for her crimes. There was Eddie lying to Chris and his parents about still being a firefighter when he was actually an Uber driver. Then there was the Bobby of it all, of course…

I've seen a lot of people say how pointless/overly prominent the plot with the mother and baby was in 8x16 if its only purpose was for Athena to come to terms with her grief and to face up to organising Bobby’s funeral. Which is why I feel like its purpose was more than that and the ‘mother thinks dead child is actually still alive but isn’t’ vs ‘everyone thinks Bobby’s dead but he’s actually alive’ theory is possibly correct. Because Athena wasn't in denial about Bobby's death per se; yes, she was dragging her heels on the funeral arrangements because a funeral would make his death feel more real, but she wasn't going around trying to convince anyone he wasn't actually dead like the mother of the baby was. It wasn't introduced into the narrative at all that she ever doubted he was dead; she was just having difficulty processing her grief and coming to terms with him leaving her to deal with it alone.

So, I think either that whole mother and baby storyline was for the benefit of in denial viewers (which would be extremely fucking cruel and callous when it was the show that actively encouraged people to believe and theorise there was a possible fake-out death in the first place, but admittedly, not out of the question where Tim Minear's pettiness is concerned), or it was foreshadowing and is eventually going to serve as a mirror to Bobby's casket being empty but unlike the baby, he's still alive somewhere in a government science lab (especially in light of Chimney having to chase them to release Bobby's body after two weeks of nothing). That was where I assumed the storyline was going throughout the episode, BUT...I did also think it would be awful pacing to introduce all of that in the same episode in which Bobby is also revealed to still be alive. Like, don't get me wrong, this whole charade has felt pretty damn pointless and contrived in any case, but that would be especially pointless lol.

I'm not trying to defend the writing here, because the execution has been terrible...and tbh it just proves the notion I already believed existed that ideas are not the hard part of writing. Contrary to popular belief, it's extremely easy to have ideas for what you want to do with a story (I constantly have a tonne of them roaming round my brain for my own WIPs), but it's how you convey and connect those ideas in a coherent narrative that's the hard part.

Of course, I could be completely wrong and all the theorising in the world can't necessarily save us from poor writing decisions and we may just have to come to terms with that by the end of season 8, but if you take the bigger picture into account, plus the whole Wrath of Khan parallel and everything that has been going on behind the scenes and in interviews etc., I don't personally see why you would discount the possibility of a fake-out death just because you've been told Bobby is dead, given the show has gone out of its way to misdirect the audience and/or characters in multiple plots across the last two seasons to the point where it's starting to feel a bit one-note that's it's the main storytelling device the writers keep falling back on.

This is obviously not meant with any disrespect to Ravi, but Eddie - an actual army veteran - going against direct orders from a US army Colonel to save his team, given a lot of his PTSD stems from not being able to save his team in Afghanistan, would have absolutely SLAPPED.

[redheadedbrunette]

Cool so I reread the series and I noticed a lot more than I did the first two times I read it which is fun. The relationship between Ben and Erica is more explored than I remembered which is good and I can definitely see her character arc a lot clearer.

X is still my least favorite book and there’s absolutely a corner that Gibbs wrote himself into on that one unless he’s entirely giving up on the idea of having Ben and co. be secret agents.

Ben’s a lot more of a competent spy than I remember too, which is refreshing.

I also completely forgot that all 10 of these books happen in the span of like a year and a half which is hilarious.

Oh and the age gap seems like something that would be a lot more of an issue if there weren’t only like 300 people in the world they could have contact with. Even Erica and Josh had a bit of a gap since she had to have been 14/15 or so while he was 17/18. A gap of 2.5 years would be problematic for normal kids but I think different rules would apply.

I'm so glad it was clearer on a second go around! Honestly, I didn't even really see it all that clearly until I reread the series a couple years ago (SSAS came out my first week of college) and had a lot more experience with how stories work on a fundamental idea. Erica's development is very much in the background, but when you're looking for it (excluding SSPX, but that's a different rant) it's so clear and interesting and I love it.

SSPX bothers me for SO MANY REASONS the biggest of which is that Mr. Gibbs puts the message before the overarching plot of everything, and then! It's not even a relevant message! Like, what twelve year old is hardcore believing QAnon (it's pretty obviously meant to be that or something similar). I feel like something could have been achieved and a message about privacy, like Murray makes getting a video of Ben part of some TikTok knockoff challenge, because that seems like a much more likely thing kids would do, but gotta make fun of people who remember what the news said two years ago and comparing it to what they say now! Can't have people with good memories! But yeah, it does shoot the series in the foot kind of, and I understand the reasoning behind why things were done the way they were! I just don't agree with it most of the time.

It's even funnier when you realize that it's not a year and a half evenly spread out, it's one mission his first year with five months before summer, one that summer, and seven his second year. Eight if you want to count SSGS and SSBI as different missions (I go back and forth as to whether or not I do). It's so funny. Please give poor Ben a break.

And yes! Ben is actually so much more competent than people seem to give him credit for sometimes. It's just that his skill set tends to be less flashy and useful in battle scenes, but he's very much the chess master of the group. He's the one planning and strategizing, and all the karate moves in the world aren't going to do you any good if you can't actually foil the plans.

My reasoning for why I'm okay with the age gap is because the narrative treats them as equals who are more or less in the same place in life. Like, yes she's two classes ahead of him, but for all intents and purposes, they're teamed up together constantly with others in Ben's class and I think Erica is the only one we really know about in her class (can't remember Chip's age, but he might be? idk, doesn't really matter). It's never dwelt on, and it bothers me when people try to make a deal about it! Like, they're not going to be in the same place in their lives forever. It's high school. Almost no one marries the person they dated in high school. I've long held that they'd break up sometimes after Erica graduates and starts her adult life while Ben is still in school (or something similar depending on how Mr. Gibbs decides to do things moving forward).

[smytherines]

This is such an interesting like 20-30 seconds to me. We go from this wholesome Sears portrait studio setup where Cynthia asks "is that Owen??" and they both grin like lovesick fools

Then Cynthia insults Curt and praises Owen and tries to recruit him. Owen looks surprised and shuts her down immediately, but Curt is (understandably) not thrilled about it and ends the call in a hurry

Owen says "what are you, jealous? You know I'd never work for the Americans," but Curt is already getting the flask out (hello rsd spiral my old friend)

And then we have Owen seeing the flask and saying "Oh Curt, no, not until we're out of here," and Curt responding defensively by mocking his accent and his concern, and then handing him the flask

Whenever I listen to 54 Below and hear Tessa say "when these two spies are together they are gay and unstoppable" I imagine that first image, and when Lauren says "until Curt's ego gets in the way" I think of the flask

I just find it fascinating because, to me, this is the moment it all starts falling apart. When it was just the two of them, before this call, they seem pretty happy to see each other. You certainly get the sense that they're competitive, and Curt initially seems a bit annoyed or embarrassed about Owen rescuing him, but uhh. I mean just look at them:

It isn't until Cynthia sort of pits them against each other, until the outside world starts to intrude on them, that things start to get tense. Curt starts dismissing Owen's concerns and taking bigger risks to prove himself, lying to Owen to take a bigger risk than Owen agreed to (Owen saying "make it four," and Curt deciding to set the timers for three minutes instead)

Just. Something about how painful it must have been for Curt to believe that he lost Owen not to some grand fateful accident that he never could have seen coming, but over something as small and petty and ultimately temporary as his own insecurity. That he wanted so badly to save face in front of a partner he loved and respected that he ended up getting that partner killed

And how painful it must have been for Owen to love Curt and trust him, only for Curt to lie to him and leave him for dead. How Owen must have thought back to this a thousand times and believed that it happened because Curt cared more about being the best than about him (which I don't think is correct, but is understandable from his perspective)

To have the kind of relationship that seemingly survived being separated by an ocean, and being property of two different governments, and being gay in the 1950s, and they still look at each other like that, and then to lose it all because you're so used to having to maintain this stereotypically masculine role in your hypermasculine profession. That seeing the man you love is dependent on you being the best, and trying to live up to that impossible standard is what ends up destroying the both of you

There's just something so fucking... tragic and futile about it

[extremely-judgemental]

Long Post (From the Drafts)

I love patterns and recurring themes. When I was reading Crescent City, at first glance, there were a lot of parallels between Danika and Rhysand. They both lie to their loved ones, exploit them, manipulate them, take away their bodily autonomy. Danika is basically Rhysand 2.0, only she is a woman and everyone genuinely seems to love her. I didn’t finish the third book and so I’m not very sure about Bryce’s growth in the end except that she becomes the Fae Queen and she demolishes monarchy among the fae. Now that got my attention.

To preface, this isn’t a character critique on Bryce although it seems like it. It’s just SJM is too predictable in her writing and keeps recycling the same thing.

Half-bloods. Some Voldemort shit this is.

Rhysand is part High Fae and part Illyrian. Bryce is part fae, part human. This half-breed nature, however, gives them an advantage over the others belonging to the same race/species. In Bryce’s case, added to some physical perks, her morality is also rooted in her humaneness which makes her supposedly better than the fae.

Both of them hate one or both sides of their ancestry. Rhysand even refuses to rule 2/3 of his court because of this hatred. Bryce is self-righteous and this extends to some of the Vanir too.

Can’t be anything less than ‘The Most Powerful’

Rhysand self-proclaims as the most powerful High Lord to exist and considered the most reliable to unite Prythian by his friends when he can’t even rule his entire court on his own.

Bryce marginally surpasses her father in magical powers making her eligible to rule her people. She is rallied as the one to unite the fae factions in Midgard as evidenced by Cormac’s words. The prince who was raised to rule his people admitting a woman who is prejudiced against his race and took no interest in learning the ins and outs of FiRo saying she’s fit to be a queen. Sounds familiar? (Bryce may have a good heart but that’s not enough to lead. Politics is treated like a child’s play in these series that I want to murder someone.)

Ruler who won’t rule

Keir runs Hewn City. Generals like Devlon run Illyria. Morrigan runs Velaris. Rhysand creates a court that dreams for centuries.

Now, Bryce. She implements the first ever fae democracy in Midgard. It sounds very much like she handed her responsibilities over to a council while she keeps her title. (Like I said, dnf the book, so correct me if she gave up that power too.) It seems a good choice since she doesn’t have any experience in governing people but we’ll circle back to it.

Lying is the new smarts.

There is difference between being a cunning mastermind who wields their words and being an outright liar. Rhysand, Feyre, Bryce are smart because all they ever do is lie.

When Rhysand is scheming, no one is spared. Everyone is a pawn in his games. This trait is overlooked in Bryce because of her empathetic tendencies and how she throws herself into dangers for her loved ones. But she is guilty too. When everyone is looking for the human boy, Bryce makes her friends chase ghosts in order to cover her tracks. Even Fury, a reputed assassin, wants to be left out of Bryce’s plans. June never wants to be part of it either and only offers to help for the sake of the boy. Bryce manipulates them and drags them to the Meat Market all so she can meet the Viper Queen without raising suspicion. And Hunt is like a dumb puppy who just follows her around when she screws up. He could have very well been lobotomised after book 1.

And the same happens when Bryce takes her parents to Velaris. What happened to the human boy she put everyone at risk to save? I only read the bonus chapter, so let me know what this boy who’s more vulnerable than Ember and Randall and just clawed his way out of a concentration camp was doing in Midgard.

And, neither Rhysand nor Bryce take being lied to or denied lightly.

The burdens of their mighty power.

Rhysand respects no one and loves lording his powers over others. Nothing new here, so let’s talk about Bryce. Midgard is a very biased world where humans and any creature with little power is treated as less than, no different from Prythian on that front. Bryce hates authority as she’s subjected to this treatment as well. But she also enjoys certain perks all through her life. She is rescued from the interrogation right after Danika’s death, secures a decent life being Danika’s friend and through her allies. She has the advantage to act out because of her connections to these powerful players in the Midgard but she has a ‘might as well enjoy while it lasts’ attitude hating anyone who also does the same. Eventually many are swayed by her personality (which wasn’t personally compelling to me but whatever) although she had a strong footing in that world because of the very privileges she despises.

Book 1 Bryce was way better and a bit grounded to her reality but she changes so much after inheriting the powers from the Drop. Everyone constantly has to get a stamp of approval from her time and time again. No one is given the benefit of the doubt until they prove themselves meanwhile she lies and tricks. She has no respect for anyone’s rules. Yes, her world is fucked up and she is the rebel who breaks every notion there is that oppress innocent people but she takes it too far sometimes. She hates hierarchy. But she uses her name to ‘help’ June and later is unyielding when asked to take the responsibility that comes with it. She insults Cormac in front of everyone but gets away with it. And my favourite, when Nesta and Azriel warn her about the dangers, Bryce—knowing nothing about that world—goes on and on about her birthright and upheavals the Prison because she heard a calling. The last one was out of desperation but she can be pretty stupid and entitled. Most of the times, she is just lucky that things don’t backfire badly.

Combining all this, one thing is clear. The ones who are the least eligible to run a democracy always get to stay at the top, and not to mention they come with immense power which is one of the many reasons they are chosen in the first place. What they truly portray is an unopposed authority with unlimited resources whenever they desire.

Rhysand, Feyre, Bryce—none of them play by anyone’s rules. They have a holier-than-thou attitude and only a select few are offered their trust, that too after they have proven themselves useful in some way. They abhor anyone in power, anyone who wants power, but never hesitate to flaunt their own or pull ranks. For someone who fights for the commoners, they tend to endanger civilians at whim. Rhysand and Feyre look down on other High Lords and question their strength when they don’t play along. Bryce does the same to anyone who doesn’t want to help her and thereby don’t adhere to her moral standards.

Right now, Bryce imitates Rhysand’s rule in Night Court. She has distanced herself from the ruling by creating a council to care for FiRo. And considering the above, how will Bryce exactly handle when her council doesn’t agree with her? She is deeply prejudiced against fae and she views them as shallow and unreliable across worlds, given she has a good reason at the start to believe so. Someone who’s always broken rules to get her way, what will she do with the power she holds? Will she wait around for people to decide, or use her title, or scheme behind their backs and turn the council into a metaphorical government? Especially if it involves the humans somehow.

Basically the Court of Dreams and the Council in FiRo is just a motif to suggest that these characters are epitome of goodness and fit to be a ruler when none of them prove to be worthy. Democracy is not a principle that’s truly valued in these series but a backdrop as it is acceptable in the society.

PS Since these are self-inserts, do I dare say the ‘better than everyone hybrids’ are SJM projecting her complex about her own heritage? If any of you confirm that Aelin or one of her popular friends fit this criteria, I’m calling it because three is a pattern.

[burningembers91]

Five Star Experience - Arron Park x Fem!Reader

Synopsis: Arron Park prides himself on providing every guest at Eden Hotel with a five star experience. But with you, he goes above and beyond

A/N: I literally cannot find any usable photos of his character in Newtopia, so I had to trawl through his Instagram to find one for the banner

Arron Park loved his job as a hotel manager. It wasn’t how he’d originally seen his life panning out, but every day brought new challenges, and he thrived on the unpredictability that came with his job title. He prided himself on providing every guest with a five-star service, ensuring that during their stay, they wanted for nothing. He’d dealt with A-list celebrities, members of the government, and foreign diplomats. Every one of them had left with a smile on their face, singing Arron’s praises, and he couldn’t get enough of it. The guests loved him, his staff respected him, and in return, Arron devoted every second of his life to the Eden Hotel.

Being so dedicated to his job meant he didn’t have much of a social life, which meant he worked all the harder. Being alone in his apartment only served to remind him that his life away from the hotel was achingly empty. There was a huge void in his life, one where friends should be, but Arron hadn’t had any of those in a very long time. It wasn’t that he didn’t want friends, he’d just spent so long dedicating his life to his job, that he’d forgotten to stay in touch with the ones he used to have, and he’d never had the time to make new ones. He hadn’t had a date in years, so wrapped up in his work that he’d spent the best years of his life single. He’d forgotten to find someone special, had neglected his own heart in favour of making other people happy. Arron told himself that it didn’t matter, but deep down, he knew he was lying.

Every time a couple or a family came to stay, it was a stark reminder that Arron was alone. He did what he did best, ensuring that they had a luxurious stay with every possible desire a mere phone call away. He spent his days surrounded by people, and yet he’d never felt so lonely. He had no one to confide in, no one to ask for advice, so Arron pushed down the feelings of isolation and regret. He immersed himself in the hustle and bustle of the hotel, pouring everything he had into his job.

The day you checked in, Arron was working the front desk. They were short-staffed and Fridays were always the busiest day for guest turnover. You arrived through the revolving doors with three suitcases in tow, the sound of your heels clicking along the marble floor. He looked up as you approached, ready to give you the same greeting he gave every new guest, but then his gaze met yours. You were stunning, your eyes bright and your smile wide as you gave your name. the sunlight streaming through the windows reflected perfectly off your figure, highlighting you in an almost ethereal glow. For a split second, everything else in the world ceased to exist, except you.

It was only after you repeated your name for a third time that he snapped back to earth. “So sorry,” he laughed, coughing to cover his nerves and he typed your name into the system. “Yes, I can see you’re booked in for a long-term stay. Four weeks, is that correct?” “Perhaps longer,” you nodded, “I just moved to Seoul, and my new company have put me up here until I find somewhere more permanent.” Four weeks, four whole weeks of seeing you every day. Arron could barely keep his smile from spreading across his face. “Well, if there’s anything you need,” he told you, “Please do not hesitate to ask. I am at your service.”

Arron made it his mission to personally wait on you, hand and foot. If you ordered room service, he’d bring it to your door If you ordered a drink at the bar, he made sure to bring it to you, insisting that your wine was on the house. He greeted you each morning and evening, and every day he fell a little deeper into those beautiful eyes of yours. He wondered if you had someone special, if perhaps they would be joining you, but no one ever arrived. You seemed as dedicated to your job as he was, hunkering down in the bar with your laptop until the early hours of the morning. He kept coming up with excuses to check on you, asking if you wanted a glass of water, or snacks, checking to see if you needed your towels replenishing.

When your four-week stay was nearly up, and you hadn’t asked to extend, Arron could feel the sadness creeping in. You’d brightened his days without even knowing it, had lit a fire deep in his soul, igniting feelings he’d never felt before. He didn’t want you to leave, knowing that the moment you checked out, he’d likely never see you again. He wished he had the courage to ask you out, to show you the city he loved so much, but he’d spent so long alone, he’d forgotten how to flirt.

When you asked to extend your stay a further four weeks, Arron was only too happy to oblige. He upgraded your room at no extra cost, giving you a room with the most stunning views of the Seoul skyline and a free session at Eden’s luxury in-house spa. “Wow, I feel like royalty,” you laughed, as he handed you the keys to your new room. “Only the best for you,” he smiled.

He'd been graced with another four weeks with you, 30 more days to work up the courage to ask you out. But after spending so much of his life alone, Arron wasn’t sure if he knew how to share his life with someone. It also strictly went against company policy to fraternize with the guests, but that didn’t stop Arron spending his nights dreaming about making love to you against the crisps white sheets of your Super King bed.

He would wait until your stay came to an end, until you’d found an apartment to move in to, then he’d ask you to dinner.

The thought of asking you out scared him, but the thought of being alone forever scared him even more.

[elumish]

Sort of related to the post I just reblogged about the anti-abortion movement, but:

I think that some people have an impulse in recent times when writing antagonists and villains to shy away having them be acting based on truly held beliefs or even beliefs based on reality.

They have to be grifters or incorrect or misunderstand the world. If they truly believe in something right (correct and/or morally good by whatever standard), if they truly hold their beliefs, then they can be an anti-hero or a minor antagonist but eventually they are revealed to Have Been Right All Along and someone else is the Big Bad of the story.

And there's nothing wrong with doing that, with having the villain be someone who is taking advantage of average people or is lying about their beliefs or whose belief is based in something inaccurate. The villain can be mistaken or confused or just wrong.

But the thing is that, in real life, many people who we see as villains are acting under truly held beliefs that are based largely in reality. The things that make them villains in our view are what they want to do about it.

Part of what galvanized Stewart Rhodes to begin to take action against the U.S. government was his opposition to what he saw as unconstitutional overreaches of the surveillance and detention powers/efforts taken by the federal government in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. It galvanized a lot of people and faced a huge amount of opposition in the years following the attacks. In that sense, not only was this belief "real" but it also would considered "morally good" by many people, including probably most people here on this site.

The problem is that Stewart Rhodes founded the Oath Keepers and has since been convicted of seditious conspiracy, obstructing an official proceeding, and evidence tampering for his part in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

The leaders of Islamic State/Daesh are acting based on truly held beliefs. Bin Laden's demands were based in reality. Many anti-abortion people operate based on an internally-consistent logic and belief system--it may just not be one that makes much sense to or fits the belief of people who disagree with them.

My point here is that you don't need to shy away from villains who have extremely strong beliefs, where "proving them wrong" isn't possible or isn't relevant because they are also acting based on facts, where the problem isn't the validity of the beliefs but the actions they are taking.

In many ways, those can be the hardest villain to stop in stories, because they can't be talked out of what they're doing any more than the protagonist can.

[intothedysphoria]

He was organising a collection of 90s dance records in a shop window when Steve saw him. He looked much happier. And, most alarmingly, he was alive.

Steve had watched Billy die. He’d had to go into therapy for twenty one years after watching Billy die. If Robin hadn’t taken a few steps back, Steve would have assumed he was hallucinating.

Billy looked up and their eyes met. It was at the point where there was grey in his beard and lines around his eyes but he still looked incredible.

Much better than he had when he’d been impaled straight through the chest, blood spraying everywhere.

It might have been a level of masochism but Steve found himself running straight into the shop and almost barrelling straight into Billy.

Robin, clearly alarmed, mumbled something about needing a drink and abandoned Steve in favour of rejoining Kali on the other side of the road.

Steve made a desperate grab for her but it was too late. She was gone and Steve was staring into the bright blue irises of his not quite dead ex (?) boyfriend.

Billy was appropriately sheepish during Steve’s highly emotional confrontation. He may have cried, a lot and Billy had to flip the sign at the door over to closed.

It was some shady government shit of course but a bit of Steve still wilted at the thought of not even being sent as much of a postcard. A photograph. Anything.

After a healthy amount of crying, the ridiculousness of the situation started to hit him. Billy was 57 and owned an independent record shop. They’d both survived aliens. What the fuck.

The proposition certainly wasn’t as smooth as it had been in 1985 but they weren’t teenage boys anymore. They were middle aged men and Steve appreciated the slightly awkward “want a coffee?”

Coffee was fantastic, with just enough milk and sugar. Steve stared down a massive poster of Hot Fuzz while Billy wrangled the cats and a large husky in the kitchen. There was a calm feeling to the house, everything being in the correct place, that Steve’s place lacked. At the very least, it was making Steve want to get a cat.

They ate spaghetti off Jason Voorhees plates and Billy gently rubbed his foot under the table. Steve had never tried picking things up after a thirty nine year gap and he stupidly decided to go all in.

Assuming that they would both have the same libido that they’d held at 18 was maybe unrealistic. When Billy walked back in to see Steve lying on the couch, doing his best to emulate times gone by, Billy went scarlet and mumbled that he didn’t have any condoms in the house.

So, Steve had definitely been too forward then.

They slept together literally instead, which felt intimate in a way Steve hadn’t prepared for. Nobody had stayed with him the entire night since Billy. Steve hadn’t let them. It never felt right.

It felt right now. They managed to hold each other all night through the nightmare and it finally let Steve hope.

[everythingismadeofchaos]

Hey, non-Americans:

It's important to remember that what's happening in America isn't special or unique circumstances, it isn't happening because Americans are stupid, it isn't happening because there's something about America that's different to everywhere else. Americans are definitely more ignorant than citizens in other countries, but that's not an accident.

The rising fascism in America is due to a very long-term strategic plan intentionally enacted by malicious groups of people who are getting exactly what they want. Or maybe not exactly; there's been some pushback. We had a protest of 5.2 million people a couple of weeks ago. But they're trying their best to pull this off, and Trump and his effects are a huge win for them.

Is it happening because Americans are uneducated? Partially, yeah. But don't forget, that's part of the plan too. For decades these groups of people have been pushing the dumbing down of society, have been actively and intentionally sabotaging education. They sabotage educational standards in schools, they focus (very carefully and strategically) on school textbooks. They sabotage funding and strip resources from schools. And after college age, right-wing news intentionally misinforms people in order to accomplish this same end.

You are not immune to propaganda. If you live in a liberal democracy, with freedom of thought and happy people and strong labor and so forth, a government that works for its people, find the people among you that are pushing back about this. These people are intentionally trying to sabotage your society, whether they understand that personally or not. The people who want homeschooling or religious education. The people who want to put religion in schools. The people or networks or groups on television or in the media generally who want to blame the problems in your country on immigrants and poor people and unions.

You are not immune to propaganda. Find these people, call them out, and point out that they are aiding everything that attacks what free human beings stand for. Learn about totalitarian regimes, but more than that, learn about totalitarian takeovers. Understand how the mechanism works.

You are not immune to propaganda. I don't know if there's a "fascism for dummies," but a good start would be the book On Tyranny, by Timothy Snyder. This is a tiny and very inexpensive book which anybody can read in probably less than an hour. Learn to recognize where fascism is coming from and nip it in the bud, as early as possible.

It may sound like a joke. I remember watching Rick Mayall on The Young Ones 20 years ago, playing a college revolutionary, and thinking he was quite a ridiculous character, and the thing is, he was ridiculous; he was riddled with comedic failings and hilariously acted and written by professionals who worked very hard. But the problem with seeing that character that way, the most surface interpretation of that kind of archetypal character, is that he made it hard to see that he wasn't wrong. For all Rick's narcissism and need for attention, he had a correct read on the situation. Maybe not in every way -- total communism is pretty stupid too -- but he was right about fascists and the encroachment of fascists.

Take what's happening in America as a warning to yourself in your own country. The Canadians showed yesterday that they figured it out. What is happening here can happen there too. We're going to continue to fight, but the future is uncertain. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't profoundly worried.

It's a lot easier to pull weeds when they're small.

[kickingitwithkirk]

Winchester's Folly

Summary: When Dean gets into trouble John decides to hide the truth for his family

Pairing: Alpha!Dean x Omega!Reader x Alpha!Sam

WC: 2007

Dark! Fic-don't continue if you are disturbed by the subject matter.

Warnings: A/B/O, dystopian au, canon elements, non/con, dub/con, incest, subjugation, pandemic, mentions of nudity, physical/mental abuse, mention of collaring/leashed, sexual/slavery, rut/heat, physical altercation, death/murder conviction, show level violence, parental dominance, trafficking, branding

*Additional warnings will be added

Square filled: @spnabobingo -Arranged Matings

A/N: Still working on reigning myself in, keeping each part reader-friendly length, and have no clue how many parts this will end up being.

*This is combined/edited together with part VII

A/N II: a few notes about designations in A/O sub-genders for this story.

Alphas-Dominant (head of the pack/family) Subordinate (obey Dominant) Breeders (rare & highly coveted by the government. Can challenge Dominant for pack/family leadership)

Omegas -Domestic (mostly wiped out by plague, few natural born left) Feral (government-supplied breeders sold commonly called O's) House O’s (3rd generation+ Feral/Dominant breed. Used as servants/sex workers) Pack (rare & highly coveted by the government)

*Divider by @firefly-graphics

*No Beta-all mistakes are mine

Part VI

John walks down the hallway and is met by his eldest's concerned expression, “Dad, what’s wrong? You were gone for a long time.” Looking at the young, almost grown men he’d raised affirms his gut-wrenching decision was correct. “Nothing but the usual bureaucratic BS that needed sorting. Grab the O, we’re leaving.”

John’s nostrils flared at Sam’s ‘they’re not going to let us go yet’ response. “And why n..?” His sharp inquiry was interrupted by the sound of wheels squeaking down the hallway and they all turned to see a male Beta pushing a cart with various metal implements lying on top. “Hi, I’m here to do your O’s branding.” John appeared confused, and Sam piped up again.

“That’s what we’ve been trying to tell you. This state mandates to prove ownership bought O’s have a brand burned into them like livestock.” John looks at Dean, demanding an explanation, and repeats what the register told him. 

John turns his attention back to the brander and asks how he would do it. Nervously, he details creating a mark out of the aluminum and applying it on the O. “If you’re not sure what you want, I can sketch an idea. Most people like to incorporate the first letter of their surname.” 

The brander quickly works. “Ignore my freehand. The brand will be clean.” John barely glanced as he held it up and nodded in acquiescence.

“Great. Let me administer the numbing agent; it needs a few minutes to kick in.” He picked up a vial of clear liquid, drew it up and walked towards the O when a deep growl reverberated off the walls making him freeze. Sam, instinctively flanked by Dean, placed themselves between the brander and the unconscious O. “Dean, take your brother out of this building now!” John commands in his Alpha voice, making Dean flinch.

Dean’s instincts tell him to follow Sam’s lead and stay with the O, but his designation forces his wolf to submit to follow their Alphas’ orders and wrestles his agitated brother outside.

“I apologize for my youngest; he’s recently presented and hasn’t yet learned to control his wolf.” The brander accepts, and John watches as the O’s rolled onto her side and injected the numbing agent into several places to deaden the area. Then, with deft precision, he bent the aluminum into shape and lit a propane torch, heating it before asking John, “Could you lay across its thighs? Sometimes, they still feel this. Don't want it moving and messing up the brand.” 

Sam was chewing on his thumb cuticle, the tell-tale sign of his wolf's nervousness getting to him, when it yelped, spotting John emerging through the clinic door carrying the O. Handing her back to Dean, they resumed their previous positions in the car as John drove back to the rental. 

Sam followed Dean down the hallway when their Alpha ordered, “Dean, take her to my room, set up an O sleeping mat, then move your stuff in. I’ll take the couch.” The brothers shared a look before Sam asked why, and John said, “I saw your reaction to her back at the warehouse.” Sam’s eyes flashed and John growled, “Right there is why. That O is here for your brother's use, not yours.  So, until its suppressant implant kicks in, you’re staying well away from it. I have an errand to run,” John picked up his truck's keys and walked towards the door. “Don’t forget to resalt the door.”

Sam spit out, “What’s so damn important you have to go back out at this hour?” John didn’t acknowledge his youngest sass, “Dean, I expect you to ensure your brother doesn’t go near that O.”

“Nothing changes. Heading to the nearest bar to get loaded as usual.” Sam snarled after John left and Dean gave him a look. “Can you stow the attitude for one night?” Sam peered at his brother with chagrin. “Sorry. I’ll leave that bedding for her by the door and pack your bag.” He proceeded towards their bedroom when Dean called out…

“Don’t touch my porn, you freak!”

John parked his truck in the darkest shadow he could find, flipped open a burner phone he’d bought, and dialed the number he’d gotten from Bobby. 

“I’m here.” The voice on the other end instructed him he'd have five minutes to accomplish his task. When he got the all-clear, John got out and began counting down as he entered the building's back door. 

Reaching the doctor's office, he sat at a computer and, following the voice’s instructions, found the pertinent file and opened it. In a blink, the previous information was deleted and replaced. John then clicked print, and as the new pages printed, he found the original physical file and began swapping them. 

Pocketing the originals, he stuck the file back in place and walked out. The voice instructed him to go out to the middle of nowhere, drive over the phone until it was in smithereens, burn it along with paper paperwork, and then hung up.

John destroyed the phone and was ready to flick his Zippo to incinerate the papers, but something told him not to. Instead, he opened his weapons catch and retrieved an unfinished curse box.

***

The sun had barely risen when John let himself into the rental carrying coffee and donuts. He found his sons already up: Dean was cooking breakfast while Sam sat at the kitchen table, slumped over open schoolbooks, catching up on his homework. 

“That smells good,” John says, placing the items on the counter. Dean pulls out a couple of the to-go cups, sipping on one, and hands the other to Sam, who immediately pops the lid off, adds milk and sugar, and asks suspiciously, “You take care of that errand?”

“Yes, I did. I’m going to grab a shower, and then we’re,” John paused, staring directly at Sam, “Going to discuss the ground rules concerning that O.”

Monday

Sam poked his head out of his doorway and, hearing his Alpha’s snoring, snuck down the hallway and let himself into Dean's room to find him kneeling next to the seated O. “Sam! What the hell? If Dad catches you…”

“He’s still passed out,” Sam frowned when the O cringed as Dean smeared the healing agent swapped from the clinic onto her brand. “Almost done, sweetheart,” Dean reassured her; she continued flinching until he finished. “Done. Okay, let’s get you dressed.” 

Dean slid his most worn flannel on her, and the O hissed when the super-soft material touched her raw skin, eliciting a viscous-sounding growl from Sam, causing Dean to shoot a look that said shut up or get out. Chastised, Sam comments, “Jeezus Dean, your clothes swamp her,” instantly regretting the thoughtless remark as a brief flash of shame crosses Dean's features. “Had those jail fines, and what was left barely fueled up my car.” Sam commented back, “My spare jeans should fit better since I’m closer to her size.” Dean rolled his eyes, “Sammy, remember what dad told us. The pamphlet clearly states that we shouldn’t confuse her by mixing-up our scents.”

“Oh, for fucks sake! We practically live on top of each other! She’s been exposed to our mixed-up scents for nearly two days! And who’s the one she’s skittering around? Dad!” Sam pointed towards the door, “He needs to stop trying to brainwash you into believing the bullshit in that pamphlet the clinic gave you. It's ridiculous nonsense! She’s not some dumb animal. You’ve seen it yourself!”

“Sam, just because she knows how to blink once for yes-two for no doesn’t mean she comprehends things like we do!” 

“Wow, could you sound any more like Dad?” Sam shot back loudly when a grunt echoed through the thin walls and they all froze. Dean slowly cracked the bedroom open, whispering, “Shit, that woke Dad up.” He exhaled and relaxed, “Good, he’s going to the kitchen. I’ll distract him ‘cause you need to get ready for school, I gotta drop you off early. Gonna meet with the lawyer before my hearing this morning.” 

“You need to make a good impression on the judge today.” Sam reached into his jeans pocket and pulled out some folded bills. “It’s not much, but it should be enough to get you something more presentable from Goodwill.”

“Thanks, Sammy, but I can’t take that. It’s not your responsibility to take care of me or her; that’s my job, always has been.” Dean reopened the door and almost stumbled upon hearing his brother's words.

“Dean, you’re not taking care of her. You own her.” 

Deans Hearing 

10:07

The judge slammed their gavel down. “John Winchester, if you do not control yourself, I’ll have the bailiff not only put you in restraints but also gag you!” The Alpha ignored the judge and continued arguing with the prosecuting attorney. “What the hell is this about Dean having to claim her?” 

“Your honor, I request a fifteen-minute recess to confer..,” The judge interrupted the public defender. “Councilor, you have five minutes to remind your client’s Alpha that he accepted this plea agreement. And make sure he also understands the consequences of outbursts in my court!” 

John was still fuming when the lawyer slammed the conference room door shut. “Your stupid, domineering Alpha crap is what got Dean into this situation!” Taking several deep breaths, the lawyer began explaining. 

“It’s the standard procedure in this state to include the claiming statute in cases like Deans. However, in ninety-nine percent, the presiding judge will not enforce it and instead accept the branding as the claim. If the prosecutor had pressed for it, I was prepared to show precedent that it wasn’t applicable since you're not a state resident.” They pointed a finger in John’s face, “If the judge doesn’t kick it, you have only yourself to thank!”

John quickly strategized. “What if I do a mea culpa? Say my wolf has been under extreme duress, and I reacted badly to the possibility of being unable to choose Dean's mate?” The lawyer shrugged, “It’s worth a shot because there’s nothing I can do now since you agreed to the plea deal without consulting me first for the record.”

“The court accepts your apology, Alpha Winchester.” The judge sat back. “As per the rules of the claiming statute, I have to consider the factors that led to your son ending up before this court. I have reviewed your family history obtained during the investigation of this case and, to be honest found your parenting skills atrocious.” The judge began reading a file out loud.

“Since the death of your mate, you’ve denied your sons a stable home life, constantly moving; the only paper trail of their existence is from the numerous state schools they’ve attended. Then there’s a multitude of notifications to CYF of suspected abuse, neglect, and exposure to unsavory elements in our society that, unfortunately, has led your eldest sitting before me, awaiting my decision on his future.” The judge stared at both Winchesters briefly before gesturing to Dean to stand. “This court finds that Subordinate Alpha Dean Winchester has complied with all but one of the requirements of his plea agreement within the time frame stated.”

“Because of the previously cited circumstances and, being unmated Alpha going into a rut, resulted in the death of another, I am obligated, per the state of North Dakota law, to ensure the defendant is not in a situation to commit such a heinous act again. Therefore, I order the claiming statute to be carried out immediately.” They bang their gavel and left.

Dean stood there in shock, half listening as John conversed with the lawyer about the logistics(?) of what this forced mating entails. The bailiff gripped his arm and led him out the prisoner entrance, down the short hallway, stopping in front of a door painted with an A/O symbol. When the bailiff opened the door, what Dean saw returned him to reality, and yelled...

“I CAN’T DO THIS!”

Part VII

SPN TAGS: @donnaintx @lyarr24 @flamencodiva @lassie-bird @nancymcl @spnbaby-67 @leigh70

Dean/Jensen: @thoughts-and-funnies @stoneyggirl2 @beabutterfly987 @smoothdogsgirl

Sam/Jared: @idreamofplaid

WF: @slamminmine @ladysparkles78 @deans-spinster-witch @ilovetaquitosmmmm @strawblueberrys @mishkatelwarriorgoddess @kazsrm67

[xclowniex]

How interesting that you fail to speak on the fact that they disguised IDF members as humanitarian workers and proceeded to massacre 200+ Palestinians, but of course not you don’t ever talk about the wrongs of the IDF or Israel you simply are not capable of talking down on either and simply just hide behind the whole “oh the hostages” excuse when each ceasefire deal that would GUARANTEE the hostages to be returned is rejected,

I have said multiple times that i do not like the Israeli government and do not agree with their actions or the IDFs actions. If you want someone to go more in depth with that type of stuff, go to someone else blog. You are not entitled to every thought from my brain about the war. Just because I focus on one thing does not mean I endorse another thing.

Hamas is the one who has rejected most ceasefire deals. Hamas is also the one who breaks ceasefire deals. if you are going to come into my inbox, at least have correct information

The IDF being dressed in humanitarian aid uniforms is tik tok fannon and has no basis in real life. The most i could fine is Al Jazeera talking about how they used trucks, kinda in a trojan horse situation, however you should take Al Jazeera with a grain of salt considering they lie all the time. Throw back to the post I made sharing a video about them lying which started my blog getting attention. Also no other news agency has reported such claims besides using Al Jazeera as a source which also speaks to the lack of probability of it being true. Happy to eat my words if it is verrified by reputable news orgs but until then, its likely to be a false claim. Again, at least have all the information correct before coming into my inbox.

I will not let you silence my joy that 4 hostages have been brought home.

[makeitmingi]

Cause Baby You're My Muse [Chapter 20]

Genre: Romance, Idol!AU, Music, Slight angst

Pairing: Mingi x Reader (y/n)

Characters: Producer!Reader, IdolLyricist!Mingi, IdolProducer!Hongjoong, Idol!Seonghwa, Idol!Yunho, Idol!Wooyoung, Idol!San, Idol!Yeosang, Idol!Jongho, cameo(s) by other celebrities

Summary: You always preferred producing underground, having an unknown face and governed by your own rules. But when you start freelancing for idol groups, you say goodbye to your lone wolf lifestyle as you learn to work with idol producers and lyricists.

Word count: 3.2K

So what was this now? You couldn't just sit still anymore. Your foot tapped against the floor as you tried to make yourself focus on the screen in front of you but your brain just wasn't corporating. There was a weird feeling in your stomach.

"Ugh." You slammed your forehead down onto your desk, your arms tiredly hanging down. There could be a few reasons why you were productively producing anything now. One, it was 4 am. Two-

"What are you doing up?" There was reason two and possibly the biggest reason.

"Couldn't sleep so I thought I could get some work done." You replied, head still pressed against the surface of your desk.

"It's 4 am..." You felt fingers on your chin, gently lifting your head up from your desk. Despite the sleep evident on his face, Mingi still maintained a soft smile as he met your eyes.

"Go back to sleep. You have a schedule tomorrow and you need to go back to the dorm before that." You held his hand.

"We should both go back to sleep." Mingi corrected.

Mingi raised his hand to cup your cheek, leaning down to give you a peck. He tugged your body upwards and out of your chair so that you fell into his arms. You scoffed at how he was using his strength to move you, making him chuckle. His deep voice, ridden with sleep was even deeper, making you shiver.

"Can we go back to bed, please?" He rested his head on top of yours, his cheek pressed to your crown. When he felt you nod, he led you back to your room.

"You need to wake up in two hours." You told him as Mingi laid his head on your chest, his arms around your torso.

"That's fine." He mumbled, closing his eyes.

"Do I make you uncomfortable?" He asked out of the blue.

"Not at all." You denied. You weren't lying because it's not that he made you uncomfortable. There was just a lot of other emotions and feelings that made you feel overwhelmed now.

"I'm glad you're here." You raised a hand to stroke his head, your fingers running through his hair.

"I promise, we'll talk about this later." Mingi removed one of his hands from your waist to lace fingers with your free hand. He just wanted to be as close to you as he could now. You let out a hum of acknowledgement, grateful that he said that.

"Just sleep now. You need the rest." You spoke softly. The continuous running of your fingers through his hair put Mingi to sleep in no time. His warmth and scent also sent you back to dream land quickly.

When you woke up, Mingi was gone. You realised that it was close to 9, which meant he was probably at his schedule now.

'Hey, I didn't want to wake you up when I was leaving. Thanks for having me over. We'll talk about whatever this is when you're ready. Have a nice day! - Mingi'

'I just woke up. And yes, we'll definitely talk. Have a great day, stay safe at your schedule. - Indigo'

'See you later at KQ? - Mingi'

'Of course. - Indigo'

After that short text conversation with Mingi, you got ready to go back to work. You brushed your teeth and went to pack up the equipment you needed. Only when things were packed, you went to shower. You decided to forgo breakfast and took a cab to KQ with all your things.

"Glad to have you back, Indigo." The other producers welcomed you back with hugs and smiles. You still wore your mask around them so they couldn't see you return their smile.

"Thank you for accommodating and sorry for any inconvenience." You bowed to them.

"Nonsense. Family always comes first. And you were still working anyway, doesn't matter whether you're here or at home." Eden patted your shoulder.

"Agreed." Maddox smiled.

"So regarding the meeting I had with the executives yesterday, I would like to share the updates that concern us as the production team. Is everyone able to meet later in the afternoon?" Eden asked.

"Sure." You all agreed after checking your respective calendars. You went to your studio to unpack your equipment.

"Feels good to be back." You sat back in your seat. With all your monitors working, you put your headphones on and got into the zone of working. In your studio, there was a different type of flow and energy for your work compared to your home.

'Updated guide recording. - Eden'

'Thanks. - Indigo'

You opened the file that he sent you. Now that you were back in the studio, you could start recording for the tracks that needed guide vocals or actual song recordings.

'Congratualations, Prod. Indigo! Your track was chosen for CJ E&M's upcoming drama OST. The production team will be contacting you soon!'

"Drama OST?" You were intrigued. Your works have never been used as a drama OST before. You wondered if it would be different.

*KNOCK KNOCK*

You went to open the door and saw Seonghwa and San there. Seonghwa had a box of cupcakes in his hands, holding it out to you with a big smile.

"Welcome back!" The two of them grinned. You chuckled, stepping aside to let them in. Once you shut the door, you pulled down your mask, inviting them to sit down on the couch. Even if you were not expecting anything, trust the boys to be kind enough to do something to properly welcome you back.

"I was still working, you know? Just remotely." You laughed as you went to your desk to get your coffee and to wheel your work chair over to the seating area.

"Still, you like the surprise, don't you?" San teased. You had to admit, you did like it.

"Don't you guys have a schedule?" You folded your arms, taking a cookies and cream cupcake to eat.

"Nope. Oh, I like the red velvet." Seonghwa pointed. But instead of taking the cupcake for the older, San broke out into song, singing and dancing to a popular Red Velvet song.

"Just give me the damn cupcake." Seonghwa slapped San's arm in annoyance, making you and San burst out laughing.

"Looks like there's a lot of work." Yunho noted, nodding to your computer monitors.

"Actually, it's not much. It's mainly things that I couldn't do at home. And since Hongjoong was able to come over to work with me, it helped a lot. Or else I might actually be swimming in work now just trying to catch up." You explained.

"Could these tracks be in our next album?" Seonghwa asked.

"Maybe... I'm deciding which ones I will present to the judging panel. But we're meeting Eden later to discuss what the higher ups told him for your next comeback." You informed.

"Ooh, that sounds fun, yet intimidating." San said with a conflicted look and you nodded with a giggle.

"I agree. I honestly haven't done this in real life before. Usually if companies want to use my song, they would approach me. I've not had to present my song before." You scratched your head.

"You'll do fine, Indigo. Have more faith and trust in your ability." Seonghwa smiled.

"I'll propose the track we worked on for song camp. Since it was a group effort, the company might be more inclined to promote it, knowing fans would like it... But it also depends if the songs fit the concept that the company wants for your comeback. In that sense, it's out of our hands." You said.

"Agreed. But it would be nice to promote a song as one that we all wrote together. You know, it has our own personal touch to it." San said and Seonghwa nodded.

"I think you guys add your own personal touches to anything you do. Even if you aren't a part of the producing team, you still record, you still dance. That's adding your own touch." You defended.

"How smart." Seonghwa patted your head. You blushed, chewing on your bottom lip.

"Aww, look at you get all embarrassed by Seonghwa hyung?" San cupped your cheeks, cooing cutely at you.

"Stop it!" You slapped his hands away.

When the recording called for a break, Mingi excused himself to the bathroom. He emerged from the stall to see his best friend there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. Mingi shot him a quizzical look.

"Where were you last night?" Yunho asked.

"Uh... Sorry, I didn't know I had curfew, appa." Mingi rolled his eyes with a scoff, wondering why Yunho was suddenly asking him this. He walked to the sink to wash his hands.

"You were at Indigo's place yesterday, weren't you?" Yunho let out a sigh and locked the main door.

"What's up with you?" Mingi was now genuinely confused.

"No, I should be asking you that. What's up with you? Or rather, what's up with you and Indigo?" Yunho asked, raising an eyebrow. Mingi blinked, hiding his surprised with more confusion.

"What are you talking about? Me and Indigo? There's nothing going on with us." Mingi lied.

"Liar."

"I don't know what you want me to tell you, Yunho ah." Mingi sighed. But his brain was scrambling on what to reply next, wanting to keep up this facade. Mingi only just made his move last night, how could Yunho already catch up to something so quickly? Plus, Mingi didn't even have any chance to give anything away.

"Mingi, we've been friends for years, we grew up together. I don't know why you're still trying to lie to me when I can see through you. I know you more than you know yourself." Yunho said.

"I kissed her last night, okay?" Mingi gave up easily, knowing he can't hide from his best friend.

"You WHAT?!" Yunho's eyes widened as he yelled. Mingi leapt forward, wrapping his hand around the other male's mouth.

"Shhh, do you want the whole broadcast to hear you?!" Mingi hissed. Yunho was still so frozen from shock as he processed what Mingi just told him. He lightly slapped his cheek.

"So you're together?" Yunho asked.

"No... Yes... I don't know. I kissed her, stayed the night then left in the morning. We were supposed to talk about it when we have the time to." Mingi explained.

"Wow, that sounds cruel, Mingi ah." Yunho clicked his tongue in disapproval. Mingi punched his arm.

"Get your head out of the gutter. We didn't do anything except sleep, that's all. And it's not like I'm not going to contact her again..." Mingi glared. Yunho nodded his head, rubbing his chin as if he was in deep thought about this whole thing.

"Stop that. There's nothing for you to think about. It's a kiss, that's all. She may not even like me back." Mingi rolled his eyes. Then it dawned on him now that he said it out loud.

He likes you.

"Oh my god..." Mingi face palmed. So that's what he has been feeling around you... Mingi has feelings for you.

"Did you actually just realise that you like her?" Yunho snickered, knowing the look on Mingi's face. Mingi nodded slowly as he was still stunned. How could it take him so long to notice his own feelings?

"I so knew before you even realised. I knew you liked her." Yunho smirked proudly.

"Wow, I'm dense." Mingi slapped his own forehead. Yunho hummed in agreement, unlocking the door to walk out. But Mingi grasped his arm.

"Don't mention this to anyone, just act like you don't know anything. I don't even know what this is. I haven't even got a chance to really speak to her on what we are and what's going to happen going forward from last night. The last thing I want to do is pressure her." Mingi said, almost pleadingly.

"I'm offended that you think I would mention it to anyone. But Mingi, you need to be careful, okay? You and I both know how relationships crumble in our industry." Yunho cautioned.

"What do you mean? I'm sure I can protect her."

"I know you can protect her. Just... take care of yourselves." Yunho said.

After filming, Yunho, Mingi, Wooyoung and Hongjoong headed back to KQ. Hongjoong was sitting in the passenger seat, on his phone.

"Aww, look. Seonghwa and San brought cupcakes to welcome Indigo back to the studio." Hongjoong said, lifting his phone to show the photo that Seonghwa sent.

"Ask them to leave some for us!" Wooyoung yelled from the backseat. Yunho shot Mingi a side glance but Mingi didn't react to the news at all, continuing to focus on the game that he was playing on his phone. He did clear his throat, knowing Yunho would look at him.

"I didn't know she was coming back to the studio today." Yunho said. Hongjoong nodded, humming in agreement.

"We've got some guide recordings to catch up on. Those were the things we couldn't work on while I went to her place to work." Hongjoong explained.

"Mingi ah, maybe tomorrow we should schedule studio time with Indigo." Hongjoong suggested.

"Sure, hyung. Our dance schedule only starts at 4." Mingi replied.

"Speaking of." Hongjoong's phone rang. It was you.

"Oh, Indi ah. We were just talking about you... Nothing bad, don't worry. Unless you did something bad?" Hongjoong laughed as he teased you.

Yunho and Mingi, who were only in the second row, heard your outraged yelling through the phone. Mingi did adjust himself to sit up and hopefully hear the conversation more.

"Producer meeting with Edenary? I'm still on the way back though... Sure, you guys start first. I'll just join you guys when I arrive. We're not too far... Yes, Mingi is with me... Okay, I'll bring him if he doesn't have any schedule after this." Hongjoong spoke. Mingi perked up at the sound of his name being mentioned.

"We'll see you soon. Bye." Hongjoong hung up.

"Indigo said Eden hyung called for a meeting with the production team to talk about comeback concepts. So we'll join them when we arrive." He said to Mingi.

"Yes, captain." Mingi lazily saluted. He knew he was going to see you again but just the thought of it now made him feel giddy.

"Hyung, could you drop us downstairs? It'll be easier for us to run up." Hongjoong turned to their manager.

"Sure." He said. When the van stopped at the front door, Mingi and Hongjoong ran into the building. They took the lift up to the producing floor. Hongjoong hushed Mingi as they entered.

"We're looking to submit 3 songs per producer and they are hoping to maybe push for sub unit pieces." Eden was speaking. Hongjoong and Mingi came to sit beside you. Mingi sat next to you but you were too focused on Eden to greet him.

"Should we push for the group produced song?" You raised your hand and questioned.

"We can... How far along are you with that?" Eden asked.

"The final revisions and edits were done with Hongjoong last week. I'll try to do the guide recording some time this week. If Jongho can come into the studio." You replied.

"Alright, keep me updated on the progress." Eden said and continued on while you wrote the info down.

"What are we doing for the b-sides?" Maddox brought up.

"If we are going with the third installation of The World, I would think they're looking for more techno, EDM type of songs." Hongjoong voiced out.

"It would be nice to have or two ballads in there though."

"Those who have ballads ready can submit ballads for the song pick. If the higher ups like it then they'll pick it. At most, they'll add 1 inside. Because like Hongjoong said, they want more upbeat, heavier beats in this album with the concepts from the first two parts of the collection." Eden proposed.

"If there are any questions, just ask. Meeting dismissed." Eden adjourned the producers meeting. Mingi heard you let out a long sigh at the end.

"You okay?" He asked.

"Mhmm." You nodded. As Mingi opened his mouth to talk to you, your phone rang and you stepped aside to answer it.

"Indi, busy?" Hongjoong came over to where you and Mingi were after talking to Eden. Mingi nodded his head, watching you speak with some production company.

"Let's wait for her by her studio." Hongjoong suggested and the two left the meeting room.

"Sorry, guys. What's up? Come in." You ran over after seeing the two rappers waiting outside your studio. You opened the door for them. They let themselves in while you went to sit by your desk.

"Busy day?"

"I would say it's normal, just catching up. I'm sure you heard Seonghwa and San dropped by with cupcakes to welcome me back." You chuckled, not taking your eyes off the screen as you typed away to reply to a message.

"Yes, we heard. Glad you like the cupcakes. We won't take up too much of your time though. Just wondering if you have time to work tomorrow for studio time with Mingi and I." Hongjoong asked.

"Tomorrow?... What time are we looking at?" You finally turned to them, pulling your phone calendar up.

"We have a schedule at 4." Mingi said.

"Meet for lunch? Then we'll work until 4?" You asked. The two nodded, taking their own phones out to input the timing into their schedules for tomorrow.

"Actually, Hongjoong, do you have time now? I just want to ask you something real quick about another project." You suddenly said. Hongjoong nodded, taking a stool to sit beside you.

"Mingi ah, if you have another schedule, you can go first. Don't wait for me. Or you can stay." Hongjoong said.

"I-I'll stay." Mingi sat down.

"I got a message this morning saying my beat was chosen for some drama OST. I have no clue how an OST is edited and made. Do I have to make it in line with the genre of the drama? The producers just called me and said they'll be sending me the info pack soon to work on the instrumental." You said.

"Wow, Indigo. Unfamiliar territory, huh?" Hongjoong laughed at your completely lose expression.

"Like a fish out of water." You sighed.

"Hmm, I know you can't tell me much but maybe just the genre of the series? And send me the track they chose. I'll work on it and get back to you tomorrow." Hongjoong said.

"Ah, Yeosang is calling me. I'll see you upstairs, Mingi. Bye, Indi." Hongjoong jogged out of the studio.

"You alright?" Mingi towered over you. You looked up from your seat, eyes growing soft at the sight and feeling of him being near you.

"I'll be okay. I'm sorry, I know we're supposed to talk about stuff but I just... All the work came rushing in and I feel like there's so much to do." You said guiltily.

"Don't worry about that. We have all the time in the world. Don't stress yourself out too much, hmm? With both work and us." He smiled, resting a hand on the top of your head.

"Thanks, Mings." You said. Seeing that the door was still closed, Mingi leaned down to quickly kiss your forehead.

"I'll call you tonight." He whispered.

"Okay." You hummed and he withdrew his hand slowly as you watched him exit your studio.

~

Series Masterlist

[kaithesillygoose]

i absolutely hate misunderstanding angst fics (because i either get so angry or just cry without fail) but here i am writing one

haikyuu fic where tanaka and noya forgot something in the gym after practice (probs a waterbottle but could be anything cmon) but they overhear suga and daichi talking in another room.

daichi’s talking about how he ‘needs to tell them’ and ‘feels like i’m lying to them’ but he ‘doesn’t want them to see me any different’, and he sounds really upset, which is new to the two of them because they’ve never heard daichi sad before, let alone on the verge of tears.

they can hear suga comforting him and all, but theyve heard enough. it’s clear to them exactly what’s going on.

daichi’s an undercover government agent.

of course, they want to tell everyone, but after some logical thinking - they decide not to. who knows what stuff daichi could do to them if he finds out his secret is out? he’s a secret government spy!

but, noya being noya, he blabs to asahi about it, and asahi tries so hard to correct noya without outing daichi, but that’s a lot harder than it’s sounds so asahi really isn’t much help dissuading them both

but daichi then walks in, and chaos ensues. noya yells that he ‘knows daichi isnt what he says he is’, dai looks at asahi and looks genuinely betrayed, and then there’s some sort of argument between noya+tanaka and daichi, and tanaka confronts daichi about ‘lying to them all this whole time’ and ‘how could you?’ ‘the team deserves to know’ then Daichi returns with some sort of ‘that’s none of their buisness’ and finally the bombshell is dropped. Noya yells ‘but you’re a fucking secret agent.’

and daichi just stops. absolutely stunned and confused. he asks what they both mean and noya and tanaka explain everything. daichi finally ‘confesses’ what i guess would be the truth, saying something like “I’m trans.”

but it’s at the worst fucking timing. as basically the whole team is just walking in.

yada yada yada stuff happens

but they support him 👍

idk i havnt planned that far yet

[stargareed]

Embrace the Gray: Why Jon Snow's Bastardy Won't Be Black and White in the Books

Vault Vol. X

I’ve seen many folks claim that even if Jon is the son of Rhaegar and Lyanna, he will still unequivocally be a bastard. And I don’t buy it. Rather, it seems GRRM has laid the groundwork for a messy succession, both in the North and for the Iron Throne, and Jon Snow very well could be in the middle of it all. Or, at the very least, Jon’s parentage and potential claim could create some juicy inner angst with a dash of “human heart in conflict with itself.”

Ultimately, ASOIAF is not a math exam--with a correct answer to every question. Instead, it’s a law school exam--full of ambiguity, where the best answer is “it depends.” And Jon’s ultimate legitimacy is a prime example of this feature of GRRM’s writing.

(1) ASOIAF succession laws are ambiguous and contradictory.

GRRM has explained that succession laws in asoiaf are vague, ambiguous, and often contradictory. This includes the rules regarding bastards. And due to conflicting precedents, succession is often decided based on political considerations.

Well, the short answer is that the laws of inheritance in the Seven Kingdoms are modelled on those in real medieval history... which is to say, they were vague, uncodified, subject to varying interpretations, and often contradictory. . . . Do bastards have any rights? What about bastards who have been legitimized, do they go in at the end after the trueborn kids, or according to birth order? What about widows? And what about the will of the deceased? Can a lord disinherit one son, and name a younger son as heir? Or even a bastard? There are no clear cut answers, either in Westeros or in real medieval history. Things were often decided on a case by case basis. A case might set a precedent for later cases... but as often as not, the precedents conflicted as much as the claims. . . . The medieval world was governed by men, not by laws. You could even make a case that the lords preferred the laws to be vague and contradictory, since that gave them more power. In a tangle like the Hornwood case, ultimately the lord would decide... and if some of the more powerful claimants did not like the decision, it might come down to force of arms. The bottom line, I suppose, is that inheritance was decided as much by politics as by laws. In Westeros and in medieval Europe both.

(So Spake Martin ("SSM"), 1999.)

2) There is circumstantial evidence that Jon is trueborn.

(2.1) Honest Ned avoids calling Jon a bastard.

"He cannot stay here," Catelyn said, cutting him off. "He is your son, not mine. I will not have him." It was hard, she knew, but no less the truth. Ned would do the boy no kindness by leaving him here at Winterfell. The look Ned gave her was anguished. "You know I cannot take him south. There will be no place for him at court. A boy with a bastard's name … you know what they will say of him. He will be shunned."

(Catelyn II, AGOT).

“A boy with a bastard’s name” is a convoluted way of saying “bastard.” Unless that was another example of Ned being sneakily honest. Remember this gem:

That was the only time in all their years that Ned had ever frightened her. "Never ask me about Jon," he said, cold as ice. "He is my blood, and that is all you need to know. And now I will learn where you heard that name, my lady." She had pledged to obey; she told him; and from that day on, the whispering had stopped, and Ashara Dayne's name was never heard in Winterfell again.

(Catelyn II, AGOT)

It’s almost like honorable Ned hates lying and will avoid it whenever possible.

(2.2) Ned seems to dwell on a "broken promise" to Lyanna regarding Jon

Ned made multiple promises to Lyanna while she was lying in a bed of blood, and later dreamed of "blood and broken promises."

"I will," Ned had promised her. That was his curse. Robert would swear undying love and forget them before evenfall, but Ned Stark kept his vows. He thought of the promises he'd made Lyanna as she lay dying, and the price he'd paid to keep them.

(Eddard IX, AGOT)

Promise me, Ned, his sister had whispered from her bed of blood. She had loved the scent of winter roses.

(Eddard XV, AGOT)

He slept and woke and slept again. He did not know which was more painful, the waking or the sleeping. When he slept, he dreamed: dark disturbing dreams of blood and broken promises.

(Eddard XV, AGOT)

Thinking of Jon filled Ned with shame, and Ned desired to speak with Jon, perhaps about the subject of Ned's broken promise to Lyanna which may've involved telling Jon about his parentage or claim?

The thought of Jon filled Ned with a sense of shame, and a sorrow too deep for words. If only he could see the boy again, sit and talk with him … pain shot through his broken leg, beneath the filthy grey plaster of his cast.

(Eddard XV, AGOT)

(2.3) The Kingsguard at the Tower of Joy seemed to think Jon was trueborn.

It's so strange that Lord Commander Gerold Hightower, Ser Oswell Whent, and Ser Arthur Dayne gave up their lives for some bastard babe when King Aerys’s true heir, Viserys, was on Dragonstone. In fact, they admit to Ned that they know (1) Rhaegar is dead; (2) Aerys is dead; and (3) Queen Rhaella and Viserys have fled to Dragonstone. Yet they insist that their duty is to stay at the Tower of Joy because they "swore a vow," despite the fact that their actions seem to violate the first duty of being a kingsguard: to defend the king. The only reasonable explanation is that the kingsguard were defending the king: the trueborn son of Rhaegar and Lyanna.

"I looked for you on the Trident," Ned said to them. "We were not there," Ser Gerold answered. "Woe to the Usurper if we had been," said Ser Oswell. "When King's Landing fell, Ser Jaime slew your king with a golden sword, and I wondered where you were." "Far away," Ser Gerold said, "or Aerys would yet sit the Iron Throne, and our false brother would burn in seven hells." "I came down on Storm's End to lift the siege," Ned told them, "and the Lords Tyrell and Redwyne dipped their banners, and all their knights bent the knee to pledge us fealty. I was certain you would be among them." "Our knees do not bend easily," said Ser Arthur Dayne. "Ser Willem Darry is fled to Dragonstone, with your queen and Prince Viserys. I thought you might have sailed with him." "Ser Willem is a good man and true," said Ser Oswell. "But not of the Kingsguard," Ser Gerold pointed out. "The Kingsguard does not flee." "Then or now," said Ser Arthur. He donned his helm. "We swore a vow," explained old Ser Gerold. Ned's wraiths moved up beside him, with shadow swords in hand. They were seven against three. "And now it begins," said Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning. He unsheathed Dawn and held it with both hands. The blade was pale as milkglass, alive with light. "No," Ned said with sadness in his voice. "Now it ends."

(Eddard X, AGOT)

(2.3.1) GRRM's explanation that the Kingsguard were just following Rhaegar's orders is an obvious red herring and is not inconsistent with Jon being trueborn.

Shaw: Can you explain why the King's Guard chose to stand and fight Ned at the Tower of the Joy instead of protecting the remaining royal family members? Martin: The King's Guards don't get to make up their own orders. They serve the king, they protect the king and the royal family, but they're also bound to obey their orders, and if Prince Rhaegar gave them a certain order, they would do that. They can't say, "No we don't like that order, we'll do something else."

(SSM, 2005.)

I've seen folks be like, "Aha! The only reason the Kingsguard were still at the Tower of Joy was because Rhaegar ordered them, and they couldn't disobey an order from the prince even if it meant abandoning the new king (Viserys) and queen regent (Rhaella) and violating the first duty of being a kingsguard: to protect the king." Come own, now!

The reality is GRRM was put on the spot and had to come up with something that explained why three important Kingsguard stayed behind at the Tower of Joy. GRRM couldn't just say, "Well, they were protecting the new king," because that would ruin the big parentage reveal. Indeed, even once everyone and their brother figured out who Jon's parents were, GRRM still refused to discuss it for the longest time because it hadn't been revealed in the books.

Ultimately, the Kingsguard justified their remaining at the Tower of Joy with "we swore a vow." Not a vow to obey the orders of a dead member of the royal family, at the expense of all reason and common sense (like unfortunate members of the Japanese military fighting to defend Pacific Islands decades after World War II ended), but a vow to defend the king.

I'll leave you with GRRM's other words regarding the Tower of Joy:

Q: Also, the the Kingsguard know what was in the Tower? GRRM: Certainly.

(SSM, 2002.)

Q: Will there by any further explanation of the skirmish at the "Tower of Joy," by Howland Reed or whomever? GRRM: Yes, in later volumes.

(SSM, 1998.)

GRRM: We will meet Howland Reed, but not in the next book. He [Howland] knows just too much about the central mystery of the book.

(SSM, 2000.)

(2.4) There is plenty of evidence that Rhaegar and Lyanna were in love and thus more likely to ensure that the product of their love, Jon, would not grow up a bastard.

There's the recent calendar art showing Rhaegar gazing lovingly at Lyanna as she balanced on a root in the forest.

There's GRRM's own words:

Q: Why do you think the political institutions in the Seven Kingdoms are so weak? A: The Kingdom was unified with dragons, so the Targaryen's flaw was to create an absolute monarchy highly dependent on them, with the small council not designed to be a real check and balance. So, without dragons it took a sneeze, a wildly incompetent and megalomaniac king, a love struck prince, a brutal civil war, a dissolute king that didn't really know what to do with the throne and then chaos.

(GRRM, 2016)

And then there's the books:

"I was with her when she died," Ned reminded the king. "She wanted to come home, to rest beside Brandon and Father." He could hear her still at times. Promise me, she had cried, in a room that smelled of blood and roses. Promise me, Ned. The fever had taken her strength and her voice had been faint as a whisper, but when he gave her his word, the fear had gone out of his sister's eyes. Ned remembered the way she had smiled then, how tightly her fingers had clutched his as she gave up her hold on life, the rose petals spilling from her palm, dead and black.

(Eddard I, AGOT.)

Ned had pulled the tower down afterward, and used its bloody stones to build eight cairns upon the ridge. It was said that Rhaegar had named that place the tower of joy, but for Ned it was a bitter memory.

(Eddard X, AGOT)

Ned remembered the moment when all the smiles died, when Prince Rhaegar Targaryen urged his horse past his own wife, the Dornish princess Elia Martell, to lay the queen of beauty's laurel in Lyanna's lap. He could see it still: a crown of winter roses, blue as frost.

(Eddard XV, AGOT)

Rubies flew like drops of blood from the chest of a dying prince, and he sank to his knees in the water and with his last breath murmured a woman's name. . . . mother of dragons, daughter of death

(Daenerys IV, ACOK) (confirmed to be Lyanna's name)

Better for Daenerys, and for Westeros. Daenerys Targaryen loved her captain, but that was the girl in her, not the queen. Prince Rhaegar loved his Lady Lyanna, and thousands died for it.

(The King Breaker, ADWD)

(2.5) The books are filled with foreshadowing of Jon being king.

(Note, while some foreshadowing is consistent with Jon being King in the North, perhaps as a result of being legitimized by Robb's Will, other foreshadowing seems to envision Jon sitting on the Iron Throne.)

“Kings are a rare sight in the North.” Robert snorted. “More likely they were hiding under the snow. Snow, Ned!”

(Eddard I, AGOT)

"Why aren't you down in the yard?" Arya asked him. He gave her a half smile. "Bastards are not allowed to damage young princes," he said. "Any bruises they take in the practice yard must come from trueborn swords."

(Arya I, AGOT)

all but this one, this one-eared black devil of a tomcat. "That's the real king of this castle right there," one of the gold cloaks had told her. "Older than sin and twice as mean. One time, the king was feasting the queen's father, and that black bastard hopped up on the table and snatched a roast quail right out of Lord Tywin's fingers. Robert laughed so hard he like to burst. You stay away from that one, child." But they were all dead now, even Arya, everyone but her half-brother, Jon. Some nights she heard talk of him, in the taverns and brothels of the Ragman's Harbor. The Black Bastard of the Wall, one man had called him. Even Jon would never know Blind Beth, I bet. That made her sad.

(Arya III, AGOT; The Blind Girl, ADWD.)

“King,” croaked the raven. The bird flapped across the solar to land on Mormont’s shoulder. “King,” it said again, strutting back and forth. He likes that word,” Jon said, smiling. “An easy word to say. An easy word to like.” “King,” the bird said again. “I think he means for you to have a crown, my lord.” “The realm has three kings already, and that’s two too many for my liking.” Mormont stroked the raven under the beak with a finger, but all the while his eyes never left Jon Snow. It made him feel odd.

(Jon I, ACOK)

"Pyp should learn to hold his tongue. I have heard the same from others. King's blood, to wake a dragon. Where Melisandre thinks to find a sleeping dragon, no one is quite sure. It's nonsense. Mance's blood is no more royal than mine own. He has never worn a crown nor sat a throne. He's a brigand, nothing more. There's no power in brigand's blood."

(Samwell I, AFFC)

At the Wall, a dozen lords commander came and went during his years of service, but he was always there to counsel them. He counseled kings as well. He could have been a king himself, but when they offered him the crown he told them they should give it to his younger brother. How many men would do that?" Sam felt the tears welling in his eyes, and knew he could not go on much longer. "He was the blood of the dragon, but now his fire has gone out. He was Aemon Targaryen. And now his watch is ended." "Allow me to give my lord one last piece of counsel," the old man had said, "the same counsel that I once gave my brother when we parted for the last time. He was three-and-thirty when the Great Council chose him to mount the Iron Throne. A man grown with sons of his own, yet in some ways still a boy. Egg had an innocence to him, a sweetness we all loved. Kill the boy within you, I told him the day I took ship for the Wall. It takes a man to rule. An Aegon, not an Egg. Kill the boy and let the man be born." The old man felt Jon's face. "You are half the age that Egg was, and your own burden is a crueler one, I fear. You will have little joy of your command, but I think you have the strength in you to do the things that must be done. Kill the boy, Jon Snow. Winter is almost upon us. Kill the boy and let the man be born."

(Samwell IV, AFFC; Jon II, ADWD.)

He had known what Snow was the moment he saw that great white direwolf stalking silent at his side. One skinchanger can always sense another. Mance should have let me take the direwolf. There would be a second life worthy of a king.

(Prologue, ADWD)

When Gilly entered, she went at once to her knees. Jon came around the table and drew her to her feet. “You don’t need to take a knee for me. That’s just for kings.”

(Jon II, ADWD)

"My uncle declared for Stannis, in hopes it might provoke the Lannisters to take poor Harry's head. Should my brother die, Karhold should pass to me, but my uncles want my birthright for their own. Once Cregan gets a child by me they won't need me anymore. He's buried two wives already." She rubbed away a tear angrily, the way Arya might have done it. "Will you help me?"

"Marriages and inheritance are matters for the king, my lady. I will write to Stannis on your behalf, but—" “Shortly,” Sigorn might take it as a slight if he did not appear. And this marriage is mine own work, after all.

(Jon IX, X, ADWD.)

He rose and dressed in darkness, as Mormont's raven muttered across the room. "Corn," the bird said, and, "King," and, "Snow, Jon Snow, Jon Snow." That was queer. The bird had never said his full name before, as best Jon could recall.

(Jon XII, ADWD)

(2.6) There is evidence that Jon could be Azor Ahai aka The Prince That Was Promised

But to be TPTWP, Jon needs to be a prince, which means he needs to be trueborn.

Burning shafts hissed upward, trailing tongues of fire. Scarecrow brothers tumbled down, black cloaks ablaze. “Snow,” an eagle cried, as foemen scuttled up the ice like spiders. Jon was armored in black ice, but his blade burned red in his fist. As the dead men reached the top of the Wall he sent them down to die again.

(Jon XII, ADWD.)

Yet now she could not even seem to find her king. I pray for a glimpse of Azor Ahai, and R'hllor shows me only Snow.

(Melisandre I, ADWD.)

Also, arguing that Jon can’t possibly be Azor Ahai because there’s little book evidence—when Jon hasn’t even been reborn yet and there are still at least two more books to go—is like reading half of AGOT and concluding there is no book evidence to support Dany being Azor Ahai.

(3) There are several ways Jon could potentially be trueborn.

(3.1) Annulment

So this is the route the show went, and I agree it might not happen this way in the books. But that doesn't mean an annulment is impossible by any stretch.

First, a few important facts. We know that Rhaegar wanted a third child.

"He has a song," the man replied. "He is the prince that was promised, and his is the song of ice and fire." He looked up when he said it and his eyes met Dany's, and it seemed as if he saw her standing there beyond the door. "There must be one more," he said, though whether he was speaking to her or the woman in the bed she could not say. "The dragon has three heads." He went to the window seat, picked up a harp, and ran his fingers lightly over its silvery strings. Sweet sadness filled the room as man and wife and babe faded like the morning mist, only the music lingering behind to speed her on her way.

(Dany IV, ACOK.)

And we know that Elia couldn't give Rhaegar a third child.

A bride for our bright prince. Jon Connington remembered Prince Rhaegar's wedding all too well. Elia was never worthy of him. She was frail and sickly from the first, and childbirth only left her weaker. After the birth of Princess Rhaenys, her mother had been bedridden for half a year, and Prince Aegon's birth had almost been the death of her. She would bear no more children, the maesters told Prince Rhaegar afterward.

(The Griffin Reborn, ADWD.)

And we know that Rhaegar was planning to depose his father, that Aerys was paranoid about this, and that Aerys wasn't fond of Rhaegar's children with Elia.

Rhaegar had put his hand on Jaime's shoulder. "When this battle's done I mean to call a council. Changes will be made. I meant to do it long ago, but . . . well, it does no good to speak of roads not taken. We shall talk when I return."

(Jaime I, AFFC)

Rhaegar and his new bride decided to take up residence on Dragonstone, instead of remaining in King's Landing, which led some to mutter that Rhaegar planned on deposing his father and seizing the throne. Others claimed that Aerys II meant to disinherit Rhaegar and name his younger son, Prince Viserys, the new heir. The birth of Princess Rhaenys, Aerys first grandchild, did not unite the estranged father and son. When Rhaegar presented the girl at court, Queen Rhaella embraced her grandchild warmly, but Aerys refused to touch her, stating that "she smelled Dornish." ------ With Lord Tywin now gone from court, the new focus of Aerys' mistrust was his own son and heir Prince Rhaegar, who had become wary of his father's behavior. At court, there was growing tension between the factions loyal to the king and those loyal to his heir Prince Rhaegar. ------- It fell to Grand Maester Pycelle and the Hand of the King, Lord Owen Merryweather the unenviable task of trying to keep the peace between the factions, Pycelle even dispatched a letter to the Citadel writing that tensions and division at court strongly resembled those before the Dance of the Dragons, Pycelle was fearful of a civil war between those loyal to the king and those who supported the prince would break out unless some accord could be reached that would satisfy both factions. Lord Walter Whent announced a tourney would be held at Harrenhal in 280 AC to rival any previous tournament. The tourney was to be held in 281 AC. It is believed by some that the tournament was secretly arranged and financed by Prince Rhaegar, as a pretext, so Rhaegar could meet up with the great lords of the realm to discuss arranging a Great Council and the removal of his father. The tournament was announced by Lord Whent shortly after his brother Ser Oswell, of the Kingsguard, visited his older brother. ------- After the Battle of the Trident, in which Prince Rhaegar was slain and the royal army defeated, a rebel victory was all but certain. Aerys sent Queen Rhaella (then newly pregnant with Princess Daenerys) and Prince Viserys to Dragonstone to escape the coming Sack of King's Landing. However, he kept Princess Elia and her young children Rhaenys and Aegon with him at the Red Keep, believing they were necessary as hostages to ensure the loyalty of House Martell and Dorne. This decision would ultimately lead to their brutal deaths at the hands of Ser Amory Lorch and Ser Gregor Clegane.

(ASOIAF Wiki, "Aerys II Targaryen")

Viserys was only a young boy at the time of Robert's Rebellion, and Queen Rhaella sheltered him from King Aerys's madness as much as she could. When his brother Rhaegar was killed at the Battle of the Trident, Viserys was named his father's heir, passing over Rhaegar's infant son Aegon. Viserys was sent with the pregnant Rhaella to the fortified island of Dragonstone. After news of Aerys's death and the deaths of Rhaegar's children in the Sack of King's Landing reached Dragonstone, Viserys was declared king.

(ASOIAF Wiki, "Viserys Targaryen")

Per the asoiaf wiki, marriages in ASOIAF can be set aside by the High Septon or a Council of Faith. Neither party needs to be present, but one party needs to request it. Obviously, a marriage that has not been consummated can be set aside. But even a marriage that has been consummated can be annulled (e.g. Tyrion/Tysha) or annulled in theory (e.g. Duncan/Jenny). There's even precedent for annulling a marriage which has produced children (e.g. Garland II).

There's also real world precedent for annulling a marriage with children and maintaining the legitimacy of the children by agreement of both parties (e.g. Eleanor of Aquitaine). So the argument that Elia would never agree to an annulment because it would automatically turn Rhaenys and Aegon into bastards is simply not true and GRRM has not clarified either way. See also Section 1 supra (discussing ambiguity of Westerosi succession laws).

Ultimately, it's not hard to imagine a scenario where an annulment would be feasible. Rhaegar corresponds with the High Septon in secret, explaining that Elia cannot bare any more children, and that after the Dance of the Dragons, Tragedy at Summerhall, and Aerys and Rhaella's troubles having children, House Targaryen desperately needed more male heirs, at the very least a "spare" after Aegon. Rhaegar would likely be motivated by prophecy, but it's doubtful he would mention this rationale to the High Septon. There's also a good chance the High Septon would be troubled by the Mad King's erratic (and ungodly) behavior, and if Rhaegar senses this, he would also likely hint that an annulment would allow him to gain additional allies through marriage who would support his plan to call a Great Council.

Elia would also have incentive to support an annulment, assuming there was an agreement that Rhaenys and Aegon would not be disinherited. There were rumors that the Mad King would disinherit Rhaegar in favor of Viserys, which would also lead to Aegon losing his claim. And the Mad King had already expressed his disgust with Elia's children, saying Rhaenys "smelled Dornish" and refusing to hold her. Elia and Dorne would no doubt support Rhaegar's bid to overthrow his father, but they likely knew he needed additional allies beyond Dorne. House Stark would be a reasonable choice. They were a powerful house with other allies (e.g. the Riverlands and Vale), but they weren't known for being too "ambitious" like Houses Hightower or Lannister. (This is why, even if Rhaegar wasn't already smitten with Lyanna after the Tourney of Harrenhal, she would be a far better choice for a second wife, from Elia's perspective, than Cersei Lannister or even Lynesse Hightower (had she been a bit older).)

Two other indications that Elia may've reluctantly favored an annulment (as the lesser of two evils) is (1) the location of the Tower of Joy was in Dorne, and not far from the main road, yet it was never harassed by Dornish forces; and (2) the Dornish were also some of Rhaegar's strongest supporters against his father, and so Rhaegar would likely do whatever it took to keep them on his side.

Rhaegar's supporters were young Lord Jon Connington, Ser Myles Mooton, Ser Richard Lonmouth, and the Dornishmen who accompanied him at court, including Princess Elia's uncle, Prince Lewyn Martell of the Kingsguard and Ser Arthur Dayne, the Sword of the Morning also of the Kingsguard and who was Rhaegar's dearest friend.

(ASOIAF Wiki, "Aerys II Targaryen")

Ultimately, an annulment is not out of the question, especially considering the Mad King had created an environment where "desperate times call for desperate measures."

(3.2) Divorce

I'm surprised more people haven't suggested this. All GRRM has said is that "divorce simply isn't common" in the Seven Kingdoms (So Spake Martin, 2012), which doesn't mean that divorce is impossible, only that it is rare. But the factual scenario discussed in Section 3.1 supra would also lend itself to justifying a divorce, which would have the benefit of not calling into doubt the legitimacy of Aegon and Rhaenys.

(3.3) Polygamy

Perhaps the most likely avenue for Jon being trueborn is Rhaegar simply taking Lyanna as a second wife. This would ensure Aegon's place in the line of succession, and might be the least "disrespectful" option for Elia, understanding that Rhaegar wanted to keep Dorne's loyalty for his upcoming attempt to depose his father, and was also "very fond" of Elia. (Daenerys IV, ADWD.)

Like annulment, there is precedent for polygamy, particularly as to House Targaryen. Lord Aenar Targaryen took multiple wives with him when he left Valyria for Dragonstone. King Aegon I married both his sisters, Visenya and Rhaenys. And Aegon I's youngest son, Maegor, took multiple wives, both as a prince, and as king.

To be sure, polygamy is frowned upon by the Faith. However, as GRRM said, with sufficient force and/or influence, House Targaryen can defy the Faith.

Maegor the Cruel has multiple wives, from lines outside his own, so there was and is precedent. However, the extent to which the Targaryen kings could defy convention, the Faith, and the opinions of the other lords decreased markedly after they no longer had dragons. If you have a dragon, you can have as many wives as you want, and people are less likely to object. ----- If you have some huge fire-breathing dragons, you can get people to accept a lot of things that they might otherwise have problems with.

(SSM, Apr. 15 and July 27, 2008.)

Admittedly, Rhaegar didn't have a dragon. But, again, desperate times call for desperate measures. And surely a dragon isn't the only compelling reason why lords or the Faith would be willing to tolerate a break in tradition.

In addition, polygamy has still been considered within House Targaryen even after Maegor. It is possible that King Aegon IV promised Daemon Blackfyre he could marry both Rohanne of Tyrosh and Princess Daenerys. And, more recently, Queen Daenerys raised the idea of taking a second husband when she discussed the matter with Quentyn Martell shortly after marrying Hizdahr zo Loraq.

Ultimately, there is a decent chance Rhaegar took Lyanna as his second wife. Of course, whether the lords would have viewed such marriage as valid is a separate matter, which brings us to the next section.

(3.4) The validity of any potential annulment, divorce, or second marriage is a legal conclusion on which reasonable minds could differ.

I'm totally fine with folks questioning whether an annulment or second marriage would be seen as valid by the Westerosi lords or the Faith. I question it myself. But what makes me roll my eyes is when people say an annulment or second marriage would absolutely, 100% be invalid, as if it were a fact. It is not a fact. It is a legal conclusion, and one on which reasonable minds could differ, especially considering we don't know most of the facts involved (GRRM has been tight lipped about Howland Reed, the Tower of Joy, etc.), not to mention the ambiguity regarding succession in general according to GRRM.

In other words, a fact is whether Rhaegar and Lyanna had a marriage ceremony. A legal conclusion is whether that marriage ceremony was valid considering Elia was still alive. And, like other legal conclusions (e.g. whether a cop used "excessive force" on a suspect, a driver was "negligent," one trademark created a "likelihood of confusion" with another, etc.), the answer is often unclear.

(4) Even if Jon wasn't trueborn, there are other paths to the throne

(4.1) Jon could be legitimized by Robb's Will

Most would agree that Robb legitimized Jon in his Will, and that this will play a role in Jon potentially becoming King in the North. However, a more interesting question, to me at least, is whether Robb's Will could legitimize Jon as a Targaryen. In other words, Robb's Will could have been worded in such a way so that it doesn't only legitimize Jon as a Stark but legitimizes him in a general sense. This would create an interesting scenario where Jon could be viewed as legitimized within Robb Stark's jurisdiction (i.e. the North and Riverlands), but not other parts of the Seven Kingdoms. (While Stannis's offer of legitimization would likely hold sway across the Seven Kingdoms, it would also likely be more limited in its application, as no one would reasonably believe Stannis would legitimize a rival claimant.)

(4.2) The circumstances of Jon's birth don't fall within many of the rationales for excluding bastards from inheriting.

Legal scholar Karl Llewellyn wrote that “the rule follows where its reason leads; where the reason stops, there stops the rule.”

There are many rationales for why bastards are typically precluded from inheriting. One such rationale is that they typically aren't "planned" and are instead the product of a lustful encounter. Contrast this with a husband and wife, especially in asoiaf, whose couplings are typically for the express purpose of conceiving heirs.

But we know that Rhaegar and Lyanna deliberately created Jon. He was both planned and very much wanted by both of them, both for prophetic and romantic reasons. So why should he be excluded from inheritance? The arbitrariness of such an exclusion is even more evident when juxtaposed with the circumstances of many trueborn births. For example, Daenerys was conceived when her father had become sexually aroused after burning Qarlton Chelsted to death, and then raped her mother.

We see similar rationale-defying circumstances in House of the Dragon, where Rhaenyra's first three sons were sired by a man who was not her husband with her husband's full blessing and permission because her husband was unable or unwilling to fulfill his marital duties. It makes zero sense for the rules regarding bastardy to preclude Jacaerys (aka "Proto Jon") from inheriting.

5. The argument that "Jon being a secret trueborn prince is boring" misses the mark.

Look, I could understand this argument if GRRM planned to have Jon become Aragorn and "rule wisely until the end of his days." But we know GRRM ain't gonna do that. Bran, not Jon, will wind up on the throne in the end. Most of Westeros likely won't know Jon's true parentage. Of those that do, many won't accept him as trueborn, regardless of the facts. But there's so much potential for inner conflict there! For example, a big part of Jon's identity is being Ned Stark's son. Jon practically worships his "father." But when Jon finds out that not only did Ned refuse to tell Jon about his true parents, or that Jon is a secret prince, Ned allowed Jon to swear his life away in a penal colony to protect the rule of the drunken oaf who killed Jon's real father . . . damn! And remember, Ned feels guilty as shit about not telling Jon certain things (as he should).

The point is GRRM is subverting the "hidden prince" trope with Jon. Jon is a "classic hero" and the character GRRM would "most want to be". (So Spake Martin 2014, 2017.) Jon is also a hidden prince, but unlike most heroic hidden princes, he doesn't actually become king in the end like Aragorn. Rather, he is more like Frodo:

Question: By the way, I hope Jon Snow isn't ASOIAF's Frodo. Jon's my favorite character, and I wouldn't want him to end up like Frodo, sick and scarred inside from his burden. GRRM: He's taller than Frodo.

(SSM, 2001.)

But, again, how can GRRM subvert the hidden prince trope if Jon isn't actually a hidden prince? Come own, now!

Moreover, Jon actually being a hidden prince is a great contrast to other characters who act as "foils" to Jon. For example, Joffrey is a bastard raised as a prince, whereas Jon is a prince raised as a bastard. And Young Griff is someone who thinks he's a secret prince even though he's not, whereas Jon is actually a secret prince but has no idea.

And look, even if Jon is trueborn, and some lords actually believed it, he by no means has a slam dunk claim should a Great Council choose the next ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. I'm sure the Council would be skeptical that Jon was "conveniently" claiming he was released from his Night's Watch vows through death and resurrection, just as they'd be skeptical that Dany is trying to become Queen through a claim she inherited from her brother who her husband "conveniently" killed, or that (f)Aegon is "conveniently" claiming to be the real Aegon now that the Realm is in turmoil and "up for grabs," or that Tommen is really Robert's, or that Stannis is actually likeable.

[yourtoradorasextendedwarranty]

If Democrats in the government knew how to take advantage of USAID wouldn't that mean Republicans knew about it and never stopped them?

Have I ever once said it was not the case? I DID say Neocons get up to that type stuff. Because they do.

Something some of you fail to see or understand is that while I hate the Dems, I know that not all of them are bottom feeding scum. Same with the Reps. Except I don't believe that most Reps are corrupt. I believe quite a lot of them are. McConnel comes to mind. Dan Crenshaw is a snake in the grass and we mostly know that. Liz Cheney is a scumbag that's basically a RINO. But most of USAID was weaponized by Dems and ActBlue if records are correct.

Hell the CIA weaponized USAID as well more than likely. Which is a Uniparty establishment agency. And I've said the term UNIPARTY a lot in my time on this site. Meaning, "Unified Party". IE: Dems and Reps together fucking over the US and its people. However, now a days it's more often than not the Reps that are pro free speech than anything else. Are all of them? No. They are not. And this is why I hate debate on this site. I tend to mention my disdain for Reps, especially 80's-90's Reps pretty often. I also blame Christians from those decades for royally fucking up by being super karens and allowing Bible Thumpers to gain a foothold in our culture.

IE: The reason why Christianity is the only allowable punching bag in the world. Which I DON'T like. However, USAID from what we know, was weaponized more by agencies like ActBlue. And proof of that is in the names and "mission statements" of the companies/orgs it sent money to. Like funding "Inclusive language in journalism in Cuba" I think it was Cuba or Vietnam. But that's not a fucking program that Reps would fund. And it seems the only people actually mad about the funding cuts through USAID are Dems. That's kinda fucking fishy to me. Does it mean the Reps were not involved? No. Does it mean that the participants in it were fewer? Quite probably. Especially given what we are now seeing with fewer protests given the funding dry up. Which are almost uniquely "leftists" protests. And with the recent, "Start up time at exactly X time and leaving at exactly X time, all with printed signs and "merch" to support the cause" there's definitely money being poured into it.

My point is. Reps are not clean in this. And I have never ONCE said "All Reps are good" or "All Dems are bad". I have made generalized statements that most Dems are bad and a LOT of Reps are bad. After all. Bush was a Rep. And what did that get us? A war in 1-2 countries. Obama? The "Peace and Change" candidate? Add 3+ new countries to that list. And if people wonder WHY I rag on Dems, maybe it's because MOST of them are scumbags. Maybe it's because all most of them ever do is lie. MAYBE it's because people on the left tend to NOT be able to criticize their own side ever and have to defend them at all costs.

It's why many in the middle, and on the right call you fuckers a cult. During Trump's first term people who voted for him were VERY critical of some of the stuff he did. Sadly they didn't have a desire to be vocal about it for long because people were lying about him non stop. Why would you openly and often flame your own guy when the other side can't even stand to give him ONE WIN?! Leftists and Dems created their own monster. And even having done that, if pressed even slightly Reps and Moderates would STILL tell you face to face or online that they took issues with certain things Trump has done. NONE of you could criticize Bidens clear corruption. His war on SCOTUS. His backroom dealings with Ukraine. His failing mental health. NONE OF IT. You would literally double down and defend at all costs.

"UHHUR WELL UHM ACKCHEWALLY CONSERVATIVES DID~" No.

The amount of Conservatives that would not be willing to talk bad about their guy was probably closer to an 20/80 split. With the people willing to be honest about how they felt and all the things they wished he did differently being the 80%.

The amount of Liberals that were not, and still are not willing to talk bad about any member of their own party is something like 90/10. The 90% here being the amount that go by the logic of, "If you talk about the bad things your side is doing then you lose". I LIVE mostly around conservatives. I've watched them bad mouth Trump. Almost every one of you fuckers couldn't be bothered on this site or others to say ONE bad thing about any Dems. And if you ever to it always comes with a "But". Every single time. And often that "But" isn't related to the prior statement. At all.

[starswornoaths]

3. Tempest

Post 6.0, things are changing for the Scions.

They just haven't told all of them yet. So naturally, that becomes an issue.

word count: 1,313

-

“Big things ahead for us, I should think,” Alphinaud chimed happily without looking up from the letter he had brought in to work on. 

“Hmm. Bigger than what we just finished?” Serella asked, her own focus deterred from goldsmithing between his comment and the ache in her ban.

“Oh heavens, I should hope not! Many changes loom on the horizon, but much will feel familiar. It will be nice to go to ground again, so to speak. Not that we should hasten to our next task, of course, but having a plan is preferable.”

There was a peculiar pause there—only a few moments, but long enough that Serella caught the way he flitted his eyes toward her with as little movement as possible. Had she not stopped fiddling with her project, she might have missed it entirely…which she suspected he had been hoping for.

“What do you mean,” she asked slowly, “when you say we will go to ground again?”

That got him to set his pen down, though he kept his eyes on the paper in front of him. 

“We Scions have been talking—”

“—Without me?” she asked with care.

“Oh!” Alphinaud was startled into actually looking at her when he seemed to realize how horrible it sounded when put like that. “No, not with the intent to leave you out of the discussion, of a certainty, but we thought to bring it up when you were perhaps a bit further along in recovery—”

“What are you lot talking about, then? What’s this plan I’ll find out about later?” she pressed, already thin on patience.

Silence stretched for another few heartbeats, drawn out further by Alphinaud’s resumed refusal to look at her.

“I— well, ‘tis hardly a plan just yet, but…given all that we have accomplished, and how far the Alliance has come—”

“The Grand Company of Eorzea.” Serella corrected him.

“Yes, yes, the Grand Company,” Alphinaud hastily corrected, adding, “though even that name change proves how far they have come. Far enough along that I believe it time for the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to slip back into the shadows. We aim to announce our disbandment upon your medical clearance—”

“Disbandment?” Serella gawked. 

“Not in truth! Only insofar as the official story will tell!” Alphinaud reassured, at last turning to her fully.

Serella wanted to laugh at the absurdity of the conversation, at the way he looked surprised that she might take umbrage with the notion.

“We are an organization that has always worked in shadow in service to the star—”

“Oh come off it,” she cut him off waspishly, “Minfilia called us the worst kept secret in Eorzea before we had even moved to the Rising Stones. If you think for one second we were ever fully hidden—”

“I am under no such delusion.” Alphinaud huffed. “Even if only in principal, however, we were not outwardly acknowledged.”

“Until Minfilia specifically declared that we would be a public institution. To be open and honest with the people we fight to save. And you would undermine that, Alphinaud?”

“The world has changed, Serella,” he sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose, “to even begin to speculate on what Minfilia would do after all of this is a disservice to her memory.”

“And the choice to lie to our friends isn’t? To our allies? After fighting alongside them in the name of truth and unity? When we have only barely started pulling back as arbiters for advanced technologies and mediators between peoples post-Calamity? For what purpose, even? So you won’t be pestered by the things they don’t ask of us anymore?” she asked.

“Not—not lying—well, alright, ‘tis a lie, but one that we feel—”

“We?”

“—is necessary. The city-states will continue to grow independent on their own—”

“You know they only asked us for help when they couldn’t do what we did, yes? That such needs were why the Scions were even founded to begin with?” she pressed him. “I don’t even particularly like the governments we’ve worked with, and even I would not be so uncharitable as to consider them demanding.”

“They did ask much of us—” he began.

She was having none of it, however, citing, “Eorzea was losing to Garlemald when I joined the Scions. Do you even remember that? It was a lifetime ago, aye, but they didn’t even ask us at first—do you not recall how close they came to surrendering? Now that they have the means to combat primals without the Echo and a cure for tempering, you cannot even trust them to restrain themselves from asking needless favors?”

“‘Tis not only up to me—” he sidestepped.

“But you suggested it, I’d wager.” She countered.

When the silence re-entered the room, it was incredulous. Stifling. 

“That…is a cruel assumption,” Alphinaud said slowly, eyes averted.

Unfazed, Serella blanched, “Am I wrong?”

Silence chimed in to answer on his behalf: of course he did.

“I think it more than fair for us to step back from—” he tried to pivot.

“So do that. Assign other Scions to Eorzea’s care if you feel you’ve done your part. Disbanding would displace dozens of our colleagues. How many of us have rooms in the Rising Stones with nowhere else to go? For how long was I one of those colleagues?”

“Everyone would remain on the payroll—”

“But disbandment would require us to scatter. To “keep up appearances” and give credence to the lie. Have you factored in where our colleagues will go? How long will we be scattered? What will happen to the Rising Stones and the Waking Sands?”

“We’re barely starting the talks for this now, I know not what we will do to address these things—” he tried to argue.

“Have you told Estinien?” she asked pointedly. “Does he get a vote?”

Silence once more interjected—of course Estinien doesn’t know yet.

Nor was he an Archon.

“Well…” Alphinaud meandered.

“After all the effort the lot of you used to cajole him into joining, finally reassuring him he’s got a steady place to rest his lance outside of Ishgard, this is his thanks not even six moons on?! And what of the others?!”

“As I said, we’re still working it out—”

“So you’re bringing this to the table with no logistics, no plan, and nothing to act as a safety net for those of us that aren’t Archons?” Serella pressed.

“Were our deaths not enough?” Alphinaud asked, tired. “I care for our comrades’ well being. You know I do. But I haven’t the answers yet.”

“Were any of mine?” she countered. “You got to come along for the full ride once, and that was enough, was it?”

“I know not why this is an argument,” he huffed, throwing his hands up in the air as he added, “I still want to work to help Garlemald—your betrothed leads the charge in that—”

“Which makes it all the more insulting you would have me lie to him. You would leave no organization behind the lot of you, nothing to help future generations, no “guiding light” like Loui—”

“I know,” Alphinaud said in a low voice, “what my grandfather wanted. And I know what we want.”

“And who is we, Alphinaud?” Serella asked again in a matching tone.

Silence’s presence made itself known in the room again. It hummed in her ears, it buzzed in his blood. 

“I think…I should go.” Alphinaud murmured, easing himself down from his chair. “Mayhap we can revisit this once you are better. You’re talking like you did years ago when you thought yourself alone.”

“And little wonder. You talk like you did when you thought to form the Braves. You’ve never seemed younger.” Serella quipped, already leaning back into her pillows.

If his flinch was any indication, Alphinaud understood it as the furthest thing from a compliment, yet silence saw him out of her room.

[gatheringbones]

[“It was not apparent to many Americans, but the coincidence between the Confucian and Communist ideas of the state intrigued many non-Communist Vietnamese intellectuals. Communism held a peculiar fascination for the Catholic Ngo brothers: the attraction of opposites, perhaps, but opposites within a single class.

For a Communist as for a Confucian plus royaliste que le roi, the state was monolithic. It did not represent the people, it was the people in symbolic form. For Communists and Confucians the society was embarked upon a way that never ended but that led towards a condition of social harmony so perfect that the state did not have to function at all: for the Taoist mystics, the “emperor who rules by non-doing,” for the Marxists, the “withering away of the state.”

Confucianism, like Marxism, focused not on the individual, but on the society as a whole. Because there was no separation between religion and state — “religion” in the sense of a private search for the absolute, “state” in the sense of a social order — there was no liberal tradition in Vietnam. As Confucians, the Vietnamese had never been interested in diversity or originality for its own sake. From their intellectuals they required only what was “morally enlightening,” or in Communist language, “socially useful.” The writing of lyric poetry, along with gambling and worshiping of Taoist goddesses, they consigned to an area of free play outside the moral and intellectual world. The duty of the intellectual was to keep society on the correct path. (This tradition did not necessarily imply in the twentieth century the banning of all criticism, or the construction of art and science to the corridors indicated by Stalin. The Confucian sovereign had never subscribed to such restrictions any more than did Lenin.)

Like Confucianism, Marxism was a social morality. Like Confucianism, it was also a science that described the progress of society through history. In blaming the demise of the early nationalist parties on their failure to perceive and follow the “objective” laws of social development, Ho’s theorist, Truong Chinh, was saying something quite similar to the Emperor Ly Thai To when the emperor blamed the three-year drought on his neglect of the rituals. As far as the authors were concerned, their statements were true, and that truth lent an absolute authority to their own political systems. Because the system was “true” or “natural,” it could, if properly handled, guarantee success to the state that employed it correctly.

The mandarins studied the Confucian texts in order to learn how to govern; similarly, the Communist Party cadres studied Marxism-Leninism, not merely because it was more important than technical knowledge, but because in their minds it permitted the state to function. The proof of the system was that it worked inside history. If at a certain point it ceased to work — as had been the case with Confucianism — then, as they saw it, it should be abandoned without further ado.

The legitimacy of a Confucian or a Marxist government rested directly on its faithfulness to a science. It rested indirectly, but nonetheless absolutely, on the will of the people. As to what the community was and how its will ought to be expressed, there Confucianism and Marxism diverged sharply. In the Confucian world the ancestors constituted the source of all wisdom and power. The state was the interpreter of the wishes of the people, and the people were consulted only in exceptional moments when the state dissolved and left them as the only transmitters of tradition. According to Marxism-Leninism, however, power and wisdom lay with the people of present and future generations. As Truong Chinh put it, “The people’s intelligence and experience are infinitely rich and their force immensely great.” The people had to be consulted by the state at all times because “every policy we put forward has direct repercussions on the people’s interests.”]

frances fitzgerald, from fire in the lake: the vietnamese and the americans in vietnam, 1972