#theyre organizing a protest

[mala-santa-radfem]

i'm so fucking sick to my stomach to hear how college girls (GIRLS MY AGE, GIRLS THAT LOOK LIKE ME, THAT LIVE LIKE ME, THAT HAVE THE SAME DREAMS AS ME) disappear and the next day they're found dead in their universities. i see cases like that almost every month while feminist groups in my uni are BEGGING for safety protocols every day because we're fucking scared, while those girls' families beg for justice. THIS IS FEMINICIDE.

[writterings]

honestly my state's pride was ultimately underwhelming this year for me, but i gotta say it's...somewhat nice that it can be boring? like im so accepted and validated by people in my life that pride no longer feels like (for me) an escape or outlet. i attended this specific event with my mom in 2018 and it was my first pride event. i was still in high school. i remember it literally brought me out of a deep depressive episode for a bit, because of how fun and affirming and safe it was. it was a celebration of me and people like me!

but now i kinda get that everyday in my life. so pride really only offers me a chance to hang with some friends, day drink, smoke weed in public, and pick up freebies at every tent. it's basically like any other holiday to me now. but isn't that amazing? that im so accepted and loved and celebrated as a whole queer person, that i can take something like pride for granted?

i'm super thankful for that. i'm still super thankful for pride.

and, i gotta say, it was really touching to see so many middle school and high school aged kids there, sometimes with their parents and sometimes by themselves. i hope they one day can find pride as "boring" as i do. i hope every queer person can.

[angelsaxis]

I love when people online are like "if you actually talked to some gay people in real life you'd see that I'm right 🙄" babe there's lesbians in real life saying you can't call yourself gay unless you've actually had sex with a woman and I've seen gay people act weird about a guy they ASSUMED was straight/was actually straight being willing to try anal stuff. There's elder gays that are saying the same 101 shit fifteen year olds online are. Where is this idea that there's some accessible group of older gay or any gays with the perfect opinions out there that'll change someone's mind in the span of a conversation.

[selamat-linting]

your faves' activism is going to a rich people event dressed in pink, my faves' activism is throwing dead rats at a government building, we are not the same.

[solemntitty]

probs have a fracture or just bruised rib and uhhhhh I gotta fucking move in 2 weeks. I'm not a smart man

[determinate-negation]

Will you acknowledge that a minority of neonazis and white nationalists have co-oped the encampments to spread antisemetic rhetoric or will you draw 25 cards (blame it on "zios")?

nope, they havent “co-opted the encampments” there straight up is no neo nazi presence in the campus protest movement and anyone whos organized on american college campuses will be able to confirm this. i personally can confirm from my own experience that college activism for palestine is driven by jewish and muslim students who are left wing and generally hated by neo nazis. if you actually dared to go to any of the encampments you would see that theyre often being lead by jewish students (we had a seder and shabbos at the encampment and so did other encampments)

there are plenty of neo nazis who coopt palestine on the internet especially on twitter but these people have no connection to palestine organizing, which once again is most often led by left wing queer jewish and muslim students. they primarily exist online and have been kicked out of irl activist spaces when they tried to infiltrate. you really should put down the jumblr propaganda and go outside

[phoebespenglers]

me when i go off on the school admin

[wlwinry]

108 students at my college were arrested and brutalized by police while peacefully protesting against the genocide in palestine. theyre claiming that no students were injured, but there is footage of students being thrown to the ground, punched, slammed with riot shields, etc. and several had to be taken to the hospital. there are police officers with the blood of my fellow students on their hands. there are photographs of them with blood literally on their hands.

108 students of a student body of 4k. the administration has been silent. the news is reporting no student injuries despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. there was blood on the stones of the alley where the encampment was set up, scrubbed away by our college's administration and president.

i don't often make posts like this, but if anyone has a dollar to spare, the venmo for the bail fund is @/SheriHK. i've sent what i can, but there's a lot of injured and imprisoned students.

edit for clarification: my school is tagged below and has been since i made the post. links to recent articles regarding the arrests can be found here and here. the money is going to emerson college's sjp organization.

second edit for clarification: i put this in a reblog, too, but all students have been released at the moment and jail support is no longer needed. thank you to everyone who reblogged, shared, or donated.

[visenyaism]

um. you do know that the uni protests are wildly antisemitic right? like. there are people there who are fully advocating for genocide of jewish people and the rest of the protesters are not only not kicking them out but actively cheering them on. not to mention that the actual effect of the protests has been to take attention away from the people actually suffering in gaza. like, to be clear: i actually agree that universities investing in weapons programs should divest - but the protesters are asking them to violate the civil rights amendment. (yeah, refusing to employ or work with someone because of their nationality or ethnicity is illegal, and rightfully so.). and also to be clear, i think that the universities' reaction and deployment of the police is a massive escalation, morally wrong, and a violation of the right to protest. but just because i don't think the protesters deserve to be killed or seriously physically harmed does not mean i think theyre in the right. hard to believe they care about ethnic cleansing when they support the regimes that have ethnically cleansed their jewish populations.

I don’t think it’s fair to talk about every single protest like they are a single unified entity. there are almost a hundred active encampments all over the country. i also do not think it is fair to say that every single protester is antisemetic or supports regimes that ethnically cleanse jews especially when a significant amount of campus organizing has been undertaken by chapters of jewish voices for peace and that at least in NYC jewish students have been a really big part of the protests.

I find myself alarmed by the media messaging that these protests are about jewish students’ safety versus pro-palestinian protestors organizing, because that narrative also characterizes Jewish people as a political monolith when there are non-token amounts of participation on both sides and equates Judaism with the state of Israel. That messaging is also what is doing the most to take attention off Gaza to me. Almost 35,000 Palestinians have been murdered by the IDF since October, and the American media’s handwringing about the tactics used by student protestors is the distractor here especially because a lot of the reporting out is in bad faith and right-wing agitprop.

Some of the encampments need way better message discipline and organization in terms of who is allowed on board because some of the things i have seen individuals saying and cheering for are genuinely repugnant and antisemetic. But the idea that they are all actively welcoming and cheering on genocidal rhetoric is an overgeneralization that has been used to justify these crackdowns and shut down any criticism of the state of Israel as antisemitic.

the police are not brutalizing students and faculty and journalists and protestors to combat antisemitism or allow jewish students to feel safe on campus, they are doing it to repress dissent. Jewish students deserve to feel safe on campuses. Sending in thousands of military police to beat up students and faculty endangers everyone on campus. I worry that using combatting antisemitism as an excuse for cops to unlawfully arrest and brutalize thousands of people in defense of a foreign country that has murdered 14,000 children in seven months is going to make Jewish students less safe, not more.

[fairuzfan]

It's not rewarding it's showing him that no matter what he does people will still support him. You don't know me and what I'm doing irl and on the internet about this. Im an academic, i participate within academic spheres to make changes. I expect people in different spheres to make changes as well, even if theyre smaller. Organize a social media campaign. Make donation runs. Hold seminars about topics you care about. I'm asking you to participate more in local politics, get involved in movements, do something to let Biden know this shit is not gonna slide.

The first few weeks of the genocide I came to the realization that absolutely no one in power is on my and my peoples side and actively want us dead or gone. Or just straight up ignore us. They fire us, expell us, silence us, fine us, even shoot us all for asking them NOT to kill our family and friends.

Your worst case scenario has already happened to me and my family and friends. It happened before in other movements. We literally BEG and PROTEST and do everything people say are the right forms of resistance and we still get drowned out by "FOUR MORE YEARS!" chants showing us they literally do not care about us.

I'm angry yelling yes, but because no one cares. Like no one. You guys are so afraid of worst case that for many people (not just palestinians) worst case is already here.

[theinfinitemoo]

could i get some platonic ranchers fluff? im so obsessed with them theyre so Silly

The following was written by Moo 🐮

Jimmy looked up as the last rays of sunlight began to dip below the mountainous skyline.

He’d spent the morning building a new barn for their new animals and the afternoon was spent painstakingly moving the disobedient creatures inside. 

Now looking up and stretching properly for the first time in hours Jimmy noticed how cold and tired he was. He’d only really had a break at midday after finishing the barn and it was at least 7pm now. 

He stretched again and after making sure there weren’t any holes in the new barn by which anything could escape he wandered back towards the ranch.

As he approached he could hear Tango humming and clattering around inside. He smiled softly and opened the door.

Tango was in the process of making dinner when he heard Jimmy come in. 

“Hey Rancher” Jimmy rubs his boots on the mat before entering. “Hello” Tango replies walking over and placing a kiss on Jimmys cheek “I haven’t seen you all day, what have you been doing?”.

Jimmy flushes slightly at the kiss and goes to sit down on the worn sofa. “I’ve replaced the old barn” Tango moved over to the avian, handing him a bowl of pasta as he sat down.

“Well done, you must be exhausted” The blaze smiled softly at his soulmate, whose nose and hands were pink from the sudden warmth of the Ranch. 

Jimmy nodded too hungry to answer as he ate his pasta, Tango was possibly one of the best cooks he'd ever met. 

In no time at all they’d finished their pasta and Tango collected up the bowls and began washing up despite Jimmy's protests.

“You’ve been working hard all day and I enjoy the washing up” 

The avian sat back down on the sofa and shivered “Are you cold, songbird?” 

Jimmy blushed again at the nickname “A bit, it's alright though I'll warm up soon” he answered as he began rubbing his hands on his jeans to try and get some feeling in them.

Tango wandered over, leant down and picked Jimmy up, an impressive feat as he was a good deal shorter than the brown eyed male, Jimmy squealed and wiggled “What are you doing!?” and then he stopped as he felt warmth spread through his body.

“Is that better, songbird?” the shorter smirked down at Jimmy who had closed his eyes. 

“Mhm, how are you doing that?” Jimmy asked softly, eyes still closed. 

Tango laughed “I’m a blaze hybrid, it's one of my many talents” he began to carry Jimmy upstairs.

Before long Jimmy was being gently lowered into their shared bed, his eyes flickered open as Tango's arms moved away. 

Sleepily he reached out for his soulmate who chuckled “In a minute songbird, I’m getting our pajamas”.

Tango returned in a few minutes with both of their pajamas as well as a toothbrush and glass of water. After changing and brushing his teeth, Jimmy grabbed Tango's hand and pulled him down onto the bed. 

Tango smiled and flushed as Jimmy wrapped his hands around his waist and buried his head beneath his neck. 

“G’night Rancher” Jimmy muttered sleepily. “Night Night Songbird”. And they both fell into a peaceful sleep wrapped in each other's arms. 

[the-pan-ace-writings]

El Sin Nombre

A/N> low key struggled on this one but i actually ended up really liking it and I didnt have to combined missions so it shouldnt throw of title names lol

tw> smoking (i have fascination with shotgunning so theyre gunna do it at some point in this series just not today )

First Next Last Masterlist AO3

Two trucks rumbled to a stop in some forgotten spot in the Mexican desert, their only light was the yellow tinge from the headlights, and distantly the scraping and howling of wild dogs filled the night air. 

    Soap and Alejandro roughly handled Hassan as they pulled him from the truck, he struggled blindly against them angry sounds of protest escaped him 

   “On yer knees” Soap shoved him to the ground and Alejandro ripped the bag from his head. Badger mirrored Ghost, both standing on opposite sides of the truck watching as Graves set up a computer camera to point towards Hassan. 

   “Y’all got a clear picture?” Graves was messing with the computer screen a little longer before Badger heard an affirmative from who he presumed was the American general Shepard and Laswell. “Alright, we are live, folks” he swaggered over to where Hassan was kneeling, who looked surprisingly arrogant for being the one about to be interrogated, Badger caught the look of annoyance flash across Graves face. 

   Hassan was the first to speak, leading up towards Graves as he neared. “Do you speak Arabic?” 

   “No.”

   He didn't look surprised, “Farsi?” 

   Graves looked down at him, he had his hands gripping his vest and he stood in a way that declared bored confidence, he pressed his lips in a thin line before responding. 

   “No.”

   “Course not” he smirked “Then I'll speak your bastardized medieval English because you are all uneducated street dogs.” he looked around him as he spoke before returning to watch Graves as he took a step forwards

   “Ahh, see… were getting of to a bad start here, Hassan”

   “You are talking to a Quds Force Officer” 

   “You’re the commander of a foreign terror organization”

   “I can say the same to you.” 

   Graves took another step forwards and leered at Hassan “What’s your target. ‘Major '’' the title sounded mocking as it fell from his mouth, Hassan's face twisted slightly at the insult. 

   “What was your target when they sent missiles to my land?” 

   “Oh well, wild guess…To nail your ass”

    “So insolent and foul-mouthed. You will learn to respect me when your nation sees fire.”

   Badger was certain Hassan could feel Graves' breath as he spoke with how close he had gotten, the previous humor slipping from him to be replaced with stone. 

   “You are in bed with the cartel, Hassan. If you disappeared, no one would know where to look for the fuckin’ stain.”

   Hassan turned from him and laughed before leaning ever closer. 

   “I have no doubt you’ll take pleasure in torturing me”

   “Who’d you get American missiles from?” Soap stepped forwards towards them, a look of frustration evident. Shepherd’s voice cut in roughly from the computer screen interrupting any reply Hassan might have given. 

   “I don't care who they’re from, I wanna know where they’re going” They all looked over to the screen as he spoke. Badger thought it was odd that the General wouldn't have wanted to know where they came from, He met Ghost eyes as the general spoke trying to see if he had the same suspicion as he did. 

   The dogs started again around them, and they sounded closer than then they first pulled up. Badger looked towards the middle again, and watched Alejandro who had kept his hand firmly on Hassan shake him a little with the sounds of the dogs, he saw Soap smirk at Alejandro's movement. 

   Graves took a step back from Hassan and raised his hands up to gesture to the area around them, still plunged in darkness from cloudy night. 

   “Take a look around, Hassan.” another dog howled “now you can either become part of the food chain or you can start talking” he stepped forwards and crouched down to Hassan's level, a sarcastic smile on his face.

   “I’m a hostage here, this is illegal” Hassan spoke simply.

   Alejandro pulled him back slightly so that he could speak down to him. 

   “You’re a prisoner of war” 

   “Iran is not at war with Mexico. I've broken no laws,” he tossed his head again towards graves and looked towards where Ghost was standing besides the headlights of the truck “These men and their commanders are the law breakers”  he dropped his sight to the laptop propped up as he spoke.

   Soap stepped forwards again “You and your beloved General Ghorbrani broke every--”

   “Do not speak his name!” Hassan spit the words like venom and  moved to get up, nearly launching himself towards Soap, Alejandro roughly shoving him back into place. “You executed him and you will pay for your crimes” he reared forwards again towards Graves this time.  “Only God can help you know!” 

   Badger started to step forwards from his spot against the truck as General Shepherd's angry voice came through the laptop. 

   “I want this bastard in permanent custody or looking up at the goddamn grass” 

   “General, killing Hassan is an act of war, keeping him is illegal. Right now, he is too hot to hold.” Laswell interrupted him. 

   “Tell me you're getting something actionable, Laswell”

   “Working on it. Stand by”

   Graves snatched the laptop up from the ground, placing it on the hood of the truck, Alejandro and Soap kept Hassan in place. 

   “Actual, let me finish this.” Grave spoke slowly into the computer, Ghost turned to watch him. 

   “There is nothing I would like more.” Shepherd sounded disappointed “but Laswell’s right, without proof we need to turn him loose. See where he leads us”

   Badger barely kept his anger in control as he turned sharply to watch the laptop, stepping behind Graves to look down at the General. Soap stepped over from Hassan upon hearing, and voiced the anger that Badger felt.

   “He's right here. You can't be serious.” he growled the words out, and the look of anger worsened as Shepherd spoke again.

   “I'm afraid I am, son” Badger didn't know what it was with Americans and calling everyone son but it angered him deeply he stepped forwards to join in the protest when Ghost spoke up.

   “Did we get anything from his phone?” voice ever calm and confident, that too grated on Badgers nerves. He knew logically that they were right but after all the hell they had gone through to capture Hassan, it was almost crushing to let him go and let that all be for naught. 

   “Affirmative. We got a hit.” Laswell’s voice sounded detached from the situation. 

   “Good, Now take him back and let him go.” They all shared a look of anger before nodding towards Alejandro and Hassan. 

   Hassan was roughly treated as he was tossed back into the truck, head covered and cuffed tightly once again. Any ramblings from him were cut off fast as Badger pushed him forwards pressing his face into his knees in the truck, his hand on the back of his head tightened as he leaned down to whisper threats of violence if he spoke again. He pushed his head forwards again before letting go and settling into his seat again keeping an eye on Hassan as the long drive started once again. 

   Ghost reported that Laswell Gaz and Price were doing a recon by fire mission based on the hit that they had gotten from Hassan's phone. They could only wait for the results of their mission before they could take any more action here, or even learn if they had to continue here. 

   Badger had found his way to the rooftop of Alejandro's base. He had graciously given the visiting task force quarters in the base to clean up and rest from the chaos that was then day. Badger knew he probably should be taking this time to sleep, but he found himself unable so when he finally exhausted all the tasks to keep himself busy he found himself on the roof. 

   He was freshly showered, redid Soaps handiwork on his forehead, and neaten his braided hair back into its bun. He had a lit cigarette hanging loosely from his lips, the remaining pack of cigarettes tucked into his pants pocket, they surprisingly survived the plunge into the river to his pleasure. 

   He heard the door drop against the rock he had propped in the doorway to keep it from locking him out, looking over his shoulder he saw Soap peeking out of the frame before he settled his searching gaze on him, a small smile and he was out from the door and settling himself next to Badger as he leaded against the railing looking over the landscape. He had a mug with him. 

   “Get lost wandering have you?” Badger spoke over his shoulder as Soap approached, he got a simple chuckle from the man 

   “Haven't you heard those are bad for you?” Soap joked with him, he leaned heavily against the railing and looked slightly up to speak to Badger, he just shook his head and took another drag of the cigarette. 

   “Barkin’ like my sister huh?” Badger grumbled at him when he saw Soap staring at the cigarette, “whatcha got in there?” He nodded to the mug held loosely in Soap's hand. 

   “Coffee, seems like you're not the only one unable to rest tonight”  Badger watched as he took a sip of the coffee, he turned to look back out to the landscape again exhaling the smoke away from Soap. “How's your head?” 

   Badger hummed nonchalantly, “nothing too bad, you patched me up well”

   “That's good, ye came up from the water looking absolutely deadly, looked like blood pourin’ down yer face.” He took another sip from his mug and continued to chat, filling the silence of the night as Badger followed along loosely, occasionally taking another drag from his cigarette watching as he spoke. 

   He must have missed a question because now Soap had stepped a bit closer to him and was holding out his hand asking for something unknown. Badger looked down at his hand as he shook it again, “are you out?” 

   “Out of what?” Badger asked dumbly, looking back up at Soap.

   “Smokes?” He didn't seem offended that Badger had missed the question, he seemed amused actually. 

   “Right” he tried to cover his slight embarrassment with a chuckle and grabbed the pack from his pocket, and offered it to Soap who looked at the badly water damaged box and the slightly ruined cigarettes inside, his fingers brushing against his momentarily as he grabbed one out of the pack. Badger shoved them back into his pocket and looked back out off the roof, bringing his own cigarette back to his lips. 

   Soap hummed to grab his attention, and when he turned to look back over at Soap with an unlit cigarette on his lips significantly closer, he almost took a step back but was stopped by the railing. 

   “A light?” Right. He hasn't given him the lighter. 

   He went to grab his lighter from his other pocket when Soap confidently took another step into his space and touched his unlit cigarette to the nearly gone one that Badger still had between his lips. Soap had stepped into the space between his legs to do so and gripped the railing that Badger was leaning on.  He stood stock still and watched as Soap lit his cigarette, he took a step back and took a drag from it, his hand brush his hip as it fell from the spot he grabbed the railing to lean on to reach Badger. 

   Badger coughed and flushed and did his best to look unaffected from what had happened and finished his cigarette as Soap just went back to chatting like nothing had happened. After a while Soap finished his and stubbed it out on the railing before winking at him with a smile, bidding him a good rest of his night and went back into the building to presumably catch up on rest, harassing Badger being enough to tire him out. 

   He shook his head before turning in himself. 

   They stood on a rooftop a little distant from a large adobe mansion, three stories tall, a gorgeous pool and windows and arches to the nines. The sky was darkening with nightfall, lights from the neighboring homes starting to go out as the families inside started night routines. 

   “La casa de Sin Nombre?” Soap asked as he lowered his binoculars to speak with

   Alejandro, Badger was impressed with how fast Soap was learning Spanish here even though his accent did make him sound clumsy. 

   “No. One of his Lugartenientes” 

   “A cartel Lieutenant” Soap repeated with confidence, which earned him a small pat on the shoulder from Alejandro before he turned back to look at the mansion again. Graves was looking at the mansion with his own telescope as Alejandro spoke

   “My sources tell me all the VIPs in Las Almas will be there tonight, some are invited, others are, umm…”

   “Volun-told?” Graves finished for him. 

   “yes “ 

   “What's the meet about?”

   “Us. Las Almas is burning and they want to know who lit the fire” Alejandro took a step back before looking over their group again, Badger stood next to Soap overlooking the edge, Graves had stepped closer to Alejandro so that he wasn't shouting his conversation, and per usual Ghost stood back a little distant keeping an eye on the entirety of the group. He stepped forwards. 

   “Sin Nombre will be there, yeah?” 

   “No guarantees but this is our best shot” Alejandro beckoned him closer to the rest of the group, pulling them away from the ledge and into a circle.

   “Then we take it, I got enough Shadows here to take over the whole damn country” Badger looked over at Graves sharply as he spoke, something about the man Badger found unsettling, whether it was the way he insisted on business casual under his gear or the too confident way that he spoke he wouldn't be able to tell you but it set his skin crawling. 

   “I’d prefer if you didn't” Alejandro leaned forwards as he spoke clearly miffed by Graves as well. 

   “I'm Just sayin’... one house shouldn't be a problem” humor lilted his voice. 

   “We need Sin Nombre alive” Ghost reminded 

   “Well…” Graves pulled a face and looked back over at the mansion, he might have enough shadows to take the country but he's got to keep this target alive, something that maybe his band of shadows might not be great at if the hesitation meant anything. “Then we need to meet him.”

   “How?” Soap perted up at the suggestion of action, Badger looked over to the mansion again as Graves started divulging his plan.

   “Give ‘em what they want, intel.” He smirked “they wanna know who’s here. Let’s tell ‘em”

   “In person-?” Alejandro started to object

     “Correcto '' Graves' voice took on that stomach churning confidence again “get one of us inside, find the boss” shit this was a bad plan. “Roll him up.” a really bad plan. 

   “I’ll do it” He is so fucking stupid, Badger could almost scream at that stupid Scots man. He stayed silent. 

   “You go in there, and they'll kill you, hermano” 

   “I’ll take my chances.” Badger looked over to Ghost trying to see if he'd object to Soap going in. “We came here to stop a missile, let's stop it” Ghost turned from looking at Badger to focus on Soap, It only slightly settled his nerves. “I’ll offer intel for a meeting with Sin Nombre, and if he’s there, we pounce.”  He shone with confidence. 

   “Hell yeah- you've got balls, you son of a bitch” Alejandro smiled deviously and gripped Soap’s shoulder lightly. “You make it in, you'll need eyes and ears. I'll go too”

   “I'll take overwatch” Ghost broke in, "Badger you too” He nodded silently in agreement “Shadow circles the target in a helo”

   “Roger that” Graves looked over to Soap “they are going to want poof…” he ripped a badge off of his vest and handed it to Soap. “Show ‘em this” it was the shadows insignia, They bumped fist, and Graves stepped away from the group a confident ‘call me when you need me’ tossed over his shoulder as he went to collect his part of the mission.

   The rest of the team started moving and Badger paused before following, Soap noticed his unspoken hesitation and waved back for him before lightly gripping the front of his vest and tugging him along to join the rest of the team. 

   “Stones don't worry that much” Soap jokingly whispered to him before they joined and Badger grunted before brushing him off half heartedly. 

   The lights of the city filled in the night sky and dimly lit the mountains that surrounded the city of Las Almas. Badger laid prone stiffly next to Ghost who was focused on adjusting his scope in silence. 

   “Shadows on station” Graves' voice leaked from their comm units. Ghost looked over briefly to where Badger was setting himself up with the comms and binoculars, his rifle in hand reach, and nodded before speaking into the comms. 

   “Copy. All set here.” 

   “Seein’ room to set down on the roof” Graves called out, Badger looked over the roof before whispering an affirmative over the comms to Graves, looking over the building it seemed to be chalk full of armed men peering out over every possible look out. It was extremely important that none of them were caught, the likelihood of Alejandro and Soap even combined trying to fight their way out of there successfully was slim. 

   “Eyes on two, armed at the front door” Ghost whispered into the comms, the sound rumbled through Badger. 

   “Alejandro, how you doin’?” 

   “Un Vaquero, inside…” Alejandro was whispering into the comms as well, but apparently made it inside safely.

   “Goddamn, how’d you do that?” Graves sounded mildly surprised at the speed that he had gotten in.

   “Violently” humor laced his whisper. 

   Badger looked down from the Mansion towards the driveway that led up to it, he caught Soap waking up slowly, arms raised and stripped of his normal tactical gear.

   “Eyes on Soap” Badger whispered almost too quietly, he watched as he approached closer to the armed men at the gate, watched as they shot towards his feet, watched as he flinched back before stopping.

   “Visual on Soap, confirmed” Ghost spoke into his comms, Badger must have been too quiet for the comms to pick up. 

   "Moment o’ truth” The way Graves spoke smugly in his relative safety while Soap was facing a literal loaded gun made Badger's blood simmer. 

   “They see him?” Alejandro questioned as the two men patted Soap down.

   “They do now” Ghost whisper was rough, Badger almost thought he might be as miffed as he was. 

   They watched with bated breath as they held him on his knees, weapons pointed at his head as they spoke into their radio. It only took another moment before one of the gunmen took a sack from somewhere in their pockets and covered Soap's head, and roughly dragged him back to his feet, kicking them wider so that they could pat him down further.

   It looked like the cartel took the bait.

   “They’re taking him in”

   “Kid’s got sand” Graves quipped back

   “Let's hope he keeps it, yeah?” Badger let go of the breath he had be holding in a slow controlled manner, trying to settle the simmering under his skin. 

   “I hope he makes it…” Alejandro whispered back to them, that did nothing to help settle Badger. 

   They both watched as he entered the compound and passed where they could keep and eye on him, or at least until he made it to the upper levels. 

   “Alejandro, he's all yours” Badger sat up from his prone position slowly to look around them again. 

   They were tucked into a small outcropping of trees, and rough boulders similar to the ones that littered the cliffside that they sprinted down less than two days ago. Very faintly Badger could hear the clipping of the Shadows helicopter hidden among the clouds. A storm was brewing behind the mountains, and it was sure to rain here soon. 

   He settled back down to his spotter position, and went back to searching through the upper levels of the mansion and peering into any window that he could, he could feel himself fidgeting silently. 

   The minutes crawled by, ever so slowly, and no sign of Soap, and Alejandro was silent, 

   “Where the fuck are they?” Badger growled lowly, he hated with all his heart missions like this, he wasn't made for recon, and barely possessed the patients to be a spotter he was one to go into the fight and tonight there wasn't supposed to be a fight, and if there was going to be one he wasn't going to be able to join. The simmering of his blood itched his skin and a grimace started growing on his face. 

   “Be patient.” Ghost snapped at him. “Sit fuckin’ still.” Badger hadn't noticed that he was messing with his binoculars again. He looked over at Ghost after settling back down. He looked like stone, not moving in the slightest, it barely looked like he was breathing only occasionally could Badger catch the slight expand of his shoulders. He flinched slightly when Ghost turned his head suddenly to look at him. “Spottin’ or starin’ Badger?” 

   Shit. 

   “Spottin’” Badger flushed slightly as he turned back to what he was suppose to be doing. Fortunately he caught a glimpse of Soap in a large window. 

   “Ghost,” Badger whispered to the specific window that he glanced Soap in. A guard pressed him against glass on the opposite side from the window they were looking into and seemed to be patting him down once again. The guard handed him a mask and he pulled it on. 

   “Ghost, we’re in” Alejandro broke the long radio silence, Badger relaxed slightly 

   “What’ve you got?”

    “El Sin Nombre is in the penthouse. Third Floor.” Soap's voice lit up the comms,  Badger caught the slight exhale from Ghost and watched as his shoulders seemed to ease some of the tension. 

   “Elevator is a straight shot. We just need Diego’s keycard” Alejandro and Soap moved off through the mansion and they lost sight of them again. 

   “Where’s Diego?” Ghost urged them

   “The Ofrenda. Second floor”

   “You seein’ anything, Lt?” 

   “If you can scout a way to the rood, there is access to the penthouse” Ghost turned with his rifle slowly to presumably look over to the penthouse access, Badger hadn't caught the access point. 

   “I’m headed upstairs either way”

   “Cuidado, hermano. Guards find you up there- or in the garage- they’ll shoot on sight.” Alejandro warned 

   “What's in the garage?” Badger and Soap spoke at the same time. 

   “No idea, but it’s important to Diego”

   “Find El Sin Nombre and let's get this done. Out here” Ghost closed the open comms on their side and sunk deeper into his position with his rifle cradled carefully in his grip, Badger pulled his own rifle closer to him, rechecking that it was alright where it rested. 

   Soap and Alejandro moved to the complete opposite side of the roof so Badger only caught a small glimpse of either of them. Soap was wandering as inconspicuous as he could while trying to quickly find his way to the second floor. Badger caught him slinking back into the building and off of the open roof area. Soap occasionally reported when he found something particularly helpful and it was mildly comforting to hear him report when he found weapons, he wasn't unarmed anymore. 

   “I'm on the second floor.” 

   “Diego is in the Ofrenda. Its somewhere on this floor”

   They watched him dodge the sight of guards, passing slowly between windows visible to them from their outlook. He came out to a balcony tucked in a corner just barely in Badger's line of sight. He paused before ducking back into whatever room that led to the balcony.

   “Alejandro- Found Diego” he sounded slightly breathless

   “Roger that”

   There was the sound of mild scuffling coming from the comms after Soap disappeared deeper into the mansion again, but no alarms sounded and no one seemed to be alerted to whatever commotion he was causing. Badger paused as he watched Soap reappear on the balcony, he looked a little roughed up but he now had a pistol in hand, and while he couldn't see his face Badger would be money that he had the stupid lopsided grin that he'd taken to when he was about to cause problems. 

   “Things are bout ta get hot here” Soap sounded like he was grinning that's for damn sure. Badger put the binoculars down to grab purchase on his rifle, its scope was smaller and made it harder to keep an eye on Soap, Ghost Huffed alongside him as he focused on what Soap was doing.

   “A la verga! Guess we’re doing this.” 

   A single shot rang out, and for a moment nothing happened. Another breath of air and the whole compound broke into chaos. A siren sounded and men started rushing towards where Soap had launched himself through a window towards wherever he had shot. 

   “Ghost, we’re compromised!” Badger swore he heard a short burst of what could have been a chuckle from Ghost before he started firing towards any of the armed men that he could reach. 

   “Copy, covering exterior!” he paused his fire for a moment, “Badger, keep an ear out” 

   Badger made an affirmative and looked around them quickly before going back to help take out men along the roofs, Soap and Alejandro were unseen again but they could hear their clamor over the comms. 

   “Alejandro, Diego's dead” Soap emerged back into sight on the balcony, and he flashed the key card before tucking it into a pocket

   “A huevo. That's my carnal. Meet at the elevator!” Soap took off like a bat out of hell towards the insides of the building again. 

   Quickly there were no more targets for them to shoot, and they were still clear, no one had found their way up to them if they were looking. Badger had a sneaking suspicion that they might be too busy with the deadly duo that they had trapped to look out for the deadly hillside sniper. 

   The elevator seemed to interfere with the comms, their link went dead for a moment, almost long enough for Badger to call out over it to them until the clamor returned and it sounded like they breached into a room.

   “Snake cam is set, time to get PID on El Sin Nombre” Alejandro whispered over the comms

   “Lets put a face to the nameless” a pause “no fucking way” breathless. 

   “What is it?” 

   “The Sicaria I met downstairs. Valeria- Shes El Sin Nombre”

   “Valeria? Are you sure, hermano?” Badger was surprised to hear anger reaching into Alejandro's voice. 

   “Yes.” Soap confirmed again, he heard a curse over the comms and he couldn't tell who it was from, 

   “Graves, Sin Nombre is posing as a female sicaria. We’re moving in. You set?” 

   “Check” 

   “Ghost? Badger?”

   “Ready.” “we’re here” they spoke at the same time. 

   “Take her alive”

   A crashing came over the comms and then yelling as they presumably burst through a door, constant fire filled over the comms and they tracked the flashing of fire through windows keeping an eye out for anyone that burst from the penthouse. 

   “She ran out the back!” Alejandro was shouting “Don't let her escape!”

     Graves' helicopter became visible coming out from cloud cover and lowering close to the more open spaces of the roof, A door crashed open and a smaller figure rushed forwards. Fuck. it had to be her. 

   “Down! Get down. Now!” They could faintly hear the PA system from the Helicopter from their location; they were fortunate that she ran towards their side of the mansion so that they could keep and eye on the situation. “A bullet will make you kneel.” ��‘atta girl” 

   “Ground team you're clear to move in'' They could hear graves speaking from Soaps comm as he approached the now kneeling woman to take her into custody.

   “El Sin Nombre” Soap was pulling her to her feet.

   “My name is Valeria” she sounded angry, clearly. 

   “Hiding in plain sight?” 

   “Hiding?” She sounded confident for the situation that she was in. “I’m everywhere..soldier” 

   Graves stepped down from where he was perched in the Helicopter to meet the woman, Valeria. 

   “That's good. So are we. let's go” Badger could hear the smirk in his voice, one of the shadows took her from Soap and pushed her into the helicopter, she seems to pause looking back at Alejandro. 

   “Hermano…what's up?” Soap had moved next to Alejandro who seemed to still be starting into the helicopter. 

   “Valeria…I know her.”

   They both climbed into the helicopter and Ghost and Badger watched it take off towards Alejandro's base. 

   Ghost was on his feet and collected the remainder of his gear before taking off down the hill towards the transport vehicle they had to drive to here. Badger followed closely in silence, and when they got to the transport he dumped his gear settling into the passenger seat, Ghost slipped into the drivers and they started rumbling down the road. Badger took out his pack of cigarettes. 

   He brought one to his lips and lit it, taking a deep drag of it before he looked over at Ghost, who to his surprise was staring at him, or rather at the cigarette. Badger grinned sheepishly and took it from his lips to offer to Ghost, and he was just a tad more surprised when Ghost gently took it from him. Badger turned away from Ghost so that he could smoke without eyes upon his face. 

   “Thank you”

   Badger nodded silently and lit another one and closed his eyes as they drove. It was going to be another long night no doubt.

First Next Last Masterlist AO3

[depressedgarbages-stuff]

All posts of the situation of 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸 I saw today (Mon, Apr 01.):

https://www.tumblr.com/blackpearlblast/745954018283700224/id-a-graphic-with-a-picture-of-a-destroyed?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746510419308560384/bring-relief-to-my-family-in-the-gaza-strip?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745972784165978112/urgent-save-baby-rima-from-gaza-organized-by?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/vadergf/744672764647129088/also-seriously-can-everyone-stop-playing-the?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/captainwaffles/746470667914985472/its-easter-the-people-in-gaza-are-still-in?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/violottie/744592307278479360/palestinians-gather-around-the-al-aqsa-mosque?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/tikkunolamresistance/745257367172710400/israel-are-currently-attacking-al-shifa-medical?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/jloisse/745558639930163200/reality-of-mothers-in-palestine?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745217591229939712?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/totallynotcensorship/746092996123131904?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/i-am-aprl/744512825652838401/denmarks-prime-minister-her-ministers-got?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/tiktoks-for-tired-tots/746108978884444160/very-important?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/longlivepalestina/744630436702060544/if-someone-says-israel-palestine-conflict-or?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/kafi-farigh-yusra/744034829038960640/dear-world-you-suck?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/funkyliloboist/743339709341761536/just-a-small-sample-of-videos-and-pictures-live?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/tomi4i/744233687084826624/guys-who-lives-in-new-york-go-and-support?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/lasttarrasque/742080931714744320/israel-has-already-begun-to-bomb-rafah-now-and?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/kawaiilawyercowboyathlete/744959355507687424?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/fairuzfan/731137270669885440/there-is-still-hope-say-it-out-loud-palestine?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/notyourtoday/746249656657395712?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/workersolidarity/746381487043166208?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746417367424401408/that-ap-headline-is-from-february-12th-the-number?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/leletosu/744317669276270593/before-the-night-is-dyed-with-light?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/workersolidarity/746563225599000576?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746416749918945280?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/ibr860/744006004097892352/free-palestine-from-zionists-free-palestine-from?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/ibr860/745892863609602048?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746416932633395200/help-salwa-exit-gaza-through-the-rafah-border?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746415540102447104?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/4de2ssy0/744028545891942400?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745396855468441600?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745389310409342976/theyre-stealing-money-from-a-hospital-theyve?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745780894011408384?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745695379669057536?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/i-am-aprl/745977053772431360/huge-protests-in-amman-jordan-calling-on-israels?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/27-moons/744419110035849216/young-revolutionary-in-yemen-leads-the-chant-for?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746332590669250560?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/746244218652131328/us-pushes-to-shape-israels-rafah-operation-not?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/sayruq/745942415974825984/the-palestinian-resistance-has-said-this-multiple?source=share

https://www.tumblr.com/i-am-aprl/745338806064070656/the-occupation-army-arrests-the-entire-al-jazeera?source=share

[faithinchances]

Boy do I have information you're going to hate!

Up until 2011, they also probably spoke about the U-16 players this way. At that point, the EFL went through with the Elite Player Performance Plan, which abolished transfer fees for kids who haven't yet signed professional contracts (which they typically do at 16, called a schoolboy or scholar contract).

It's pretty common for that 16 year old to sign with a club other than the one he'd previously played at, typically moving to a bigger name club with better programs/facilities, etc.

The new club has to compensate the old club for the cost of training that player (determined by how long the player was there, how good the academy was, and any first team appearances). This tops out at a base fee of ~170k, which is way lower than a transfer fee is likely to be, especially for players who show a lot of talent young, like Jude Bellingham (he signed with his childhood club, Birmingham City, at 16; they received a 15mil transfer fee when he went to Borussia Dortmund a year later. In contrast, the fee on a 16 year old keeper City recently signed was just 200k, and a club record fee for an academy player for his previous club).

Source

Oh man. Financially interesting it may be, the way they talk about the players in this sport is fucking brutal.

[determinate-negation]

I have more than enough problems with anarchists but leftists have got to stop scapegoating them for their failures. The protest failed because the organisers weren’t prepared to do what was necessary, not because of ‘adventurist anarchists.’

yes i agree. and honestly the urge to militancy and action is one of the better aspects of anarchism in terms of moving struggle forward. i think that maoists share this with them too and its why im more particular to maoism. the left in the us in general would probably benefit from taking this on. i generally dislike the way anarchists theoretically conceive of their actions and the results, its also crazy how every anarchist communique sounds the same, but still theyre pointing out correctly that the action was a failure. i was looking at the comments on that anarchists groups post and its all this stuff about adventurists potentially endangering people but the organizers clearly didnt seem to think through the actual aims or format of the action. and on the issue of endangering, i think we all will have to grapple with the fact that there is no way for some of this to not be dangerous. not everyone will be able to participate and thats fine because its not the only thing to do but theres no way to actually remove danger if youre really going up against american imperialism. people have genuinely given their lives for this

[yourbookcouldbegayer]

heya! i'm planning to write my characters (queers and allies) going to a pride parade, but i have never been to one so i'm wondering if you can help me describe the atmosphere and how people interact with each other during the parade? or are there any resources i can look into about pride parades?

tysm!

I highly encourage you to go to one if you are able, but I know it's not something everyone can just do. My experience under the cut

First, it's my impression that they vary vased on how accepting the setting is. I live in the US in a very liberal area, and that influences my experience a lot, given that a) it's 80% either organizations or buisnesses of some kind showing support, and b) I don't encounter a smidgen of hate/counterprotest.

So my Pride starts as a parade down the street and into the park, where it settles and becomes a festival. I personally enjoy the festival far more.

Most people going , who aren't part of the parade, wear something with a flag on it, the rainbow being the most common. But more and more you'll see flags you don't recognize. People give out stickers-- either rainbow flags in different iterations or hearts with several of the most common flags. Wearing pride flags is very common.

There are usually a couple people with shopping carts so full of flags, boards displaying stuffed animals, large pins, and other things for sale. They start going around the parade area early on. This if good is you want a flag before the parade, but I usually avoid them-- usually these are not queer sellers, and are simply reselling products they bought elsewhere. That said, it was the only place last year I found a 7 stripe sunset lesbian flag.

People there are generally freindly, complimenting pride themed outfits and stuff. There are families with kids there as well as young adults.

The parade, for me, is mainly organizations supporting us-- the grocery store, churches, local politicians, the police (🙄🙄🙄 I went stony silent for them), ect. Groups that I loved tto see though was the local POC Queer group, Planned Parenthood, and my absolute favorite, a local social liberation group. I loved that last one so much because someone was shouting protest chants and there were signs calling for change in trans rights and stuff-- 90% of pride is a parade, not a protest, and feeling the protest energy made me so so happy.

Most people marching are in tshirts associated with theor organization that say something about pride. But you also see a lot of people with pride flags, rainbow butterfly wings. There is usually at least 1 float full of, plus a few other, drag queens. There's the gay bar's float with mostly men dressed in very little. There's giant bubbles or bubble guns. People in the parade will toss out candy, flags, support bracelets, ect to the audience-- also condoms, but I didn’t see any this year. But that might've been because I was near a lot of kids.

At the festival you have:

All those organizations have a booth. There is usually free stuff and sometimes spin to win (pay to spin)

However, you also have local small businesses! There's a good amount that make queer stuff, usually a metaphysical booth, jewelry, pins (fun pronoun pins), flags, umbrellas, fans, pretty much anything you can think of that can have a pride flag, including homemade stuff

The shopping carts are around still

There's a whole bunch of food, like food trucks and stuff. Usually these have nothing to do with pride, theyre just not actually homophobic, and are there to sell food. But there was a local cafe these 6 trans owned and operated that I was super happy to see bc I've been meaning to go.

STD testing somewhere

A stage with a band. I think a drag queen from ru paul came to ours (I go to a big one in a state capital). It's very loud so I don't usually linger here but a lot of people go and enjoy the music and whatever else performance happens.

Ours had rides! A swing ride (so popular I skipped it even though that's one of my favorites) and a carousel. Also face painting. We didn't even have those at the biggest local festival of the year

Free Mom Hugs! I learned recently that this is a group and not just shorrts that are worn, but mother+ aged women wear tshirts saying Free Mom Hugs (or Dad hugs, therre are men too).

As for the people... my pride is crowded. People are usually drressed pretty lightly-- gentials are covered but that's about the only rule. Think rave rules-- boobs usually have their nipple covered. Being covered up is just as common though. No matter what the no-kink-at-pride people claim, this largely isn't sexual. It's queer, it's body positivity and acceptance, it's just being yourself. Also it's usually hot out. People are generally freindly, will compliment especially rarer sexuality representation or cool slogans on shorts. You'll see people in drag, a lot of androgeny, mixing feminine and masculine, ect. And there are plenty of people dressed more normally, too.

People don't necessarily act like everyone there is family or are that much more freindly/familiar with each otther than anywhere else. But mostt people there will respond positively to compliments, most people know far more flags than the average person. People assume pronouns slightly less, definitely still do (my enby gf, wearing all trans colors, no pronoun pin, was misgendered a few times) but it's a much safer environment to correct or ask for one's pronouns or respect ones they see.

Only other pride I've been to is in Provincetown, an extremely gay place. From what I remember, this was much more the common folk, much more an assortment of people marching and cheering and not as directly associated with an organization wanting support. I also went to a leather march there, also basically pride, except mainly... y'know. Leather.

There's a post on heere somewhere of someone watching someone on the bus after pride (idk if ot was a freind or stranger) who lookeed so happy and like themselves, theen having to peel off the stickers, hide the rainbows, ect., as they returned home. This will be an experience that still happens for likely a very long time.

That's about all I can think of. I welcome anyone else to share their experiences! I feel like I talked more about the festival than the parade but I like the festival better.

Unlike what people claim, there is no gatekeeping. The idea of people feeling like they aren't allowed is so weird to me because like. There's so many straight people giving support. There's so many people who you don't know theor sexuality. No one is at pride judging anyone for not belonging. If you look like a bunch of straight people there to party, maybe people will think that and move on. But for the most part no one would notice. You don't know someone's sexuality unless they have a flag, or if someone is there with a same-gender partner or not unless you see them kissing. And no one is performing sex scenes, that picture used in the no-kink-at-pride discourse wasn't at pride, no one does that. Did a freind once tie a bdsm knot on a ripe over my shirt at pride once? Yeah. So what? People there show some pride for their sexaulity, that's different.

Good luck with your story!

Mod Emma