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fierykamuy · 5 years ago

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Acknowledgment of Contradiction And The Use of Character Foils - The Eighth Genius

Note: that this analysis will also involve speculations to nail the point that it is centered on the character introduction and that this analysis also includes the opinions of not only me but other members of the community as well.

The first things first, let’s start with the definition of the terms that will be a subject matter in this text.

By nature, contradictions are the details that by themselves prove the wrong of a system that they inhabit, thus efforts are made to avoid them like a plague, as it is strongly believed that any combination of statements, ideas or features will crumble if it consists the inconsistent details – it is considered as an antonym of “confirmation” for a reason. They also tend to make perfect counter-arguments.

Ravages of Time argues that not only everything is consistent, but also from the point of view of the ones that are trying to assert the ideas, said ideas can be built on contradictions, can consist of contradictions, and said contradictions could be used to secure the system. It is still better to hide that fact from the masses to avoid the confusion

(Strangely enough, inconsistencies within the writing of RoT actually enhance its consistency)

A foil of a character, on the other hand, is a tool of the story-telling. It is certainly similar to the “contrast” in artworks, as it is supposed to highlight character trait by placing it near the opposite character train – common usage is the calm and pragmatic sidekick next to the hotheaded protagonist.

In idea, every character can foil any character in the story, so the key part of foiling is the interactions of the concrete personalities. In this analysis, I will explain as to how Ravages’ manages to connect the threads indirectly, through the organic mirroring of the circumstances and affiliations.

Let’s get started.

From the perspective of the governorship or leadership in general, “contradiction” and it’s acknowledgment was always one of the fundamental parts of The Ravages of Time – be it either Cao Cao’s campaign with the image of corruption, which was motivated by greed, for the greater good or selfless selfishness of Sun clan that was aimed at the fundament of the corruption that is the Han dynasty (ironically, against their contradictions) or Liu Bei’s fake image of a saint or even assassin Liu Da who seeks the comforting life through the court by going against himself to the point of forgetting it – everything is chained to the rulership, because that’s exactly what affects everything else.

Full embracement of this exact idea – considering how coherent and varied it is with many sides, even when it comes to religion and politicians *cough* LOGH *cough* – is what allowed RoT to stand out among any other war and political drama. And despite the dense story-telling that spans more than 500 chapters, its brilliance is still being polished by not only showcasing the usefulness of this theme, but also the criticism through its shortcoming, which results in the cycle of never-endlessness (and, arguably, the placement of RoT above any competitor, but that’s but a mere meta-talk):

there's the floating text in 372 that appears to praise the down-to-earth approach (associated with Guo Jia) of seeing humans as being more crow-like (with its positive and negative connotations, both nurturing toward their own and vicious toward targets) rather than dragon-like (with associated images of nobility and grandeur), offering the suggestion that perhaps the thing about humans is that they aspire so much (and as it's insinuated, cause so much trouble in the process) without realizing their station and limits and how such ambition and greed are nonetheless part of how they are in the world

now it's not made completely clear how this monologue is connected to Guo Jia's stances, but perhaps one way to establish the link would be to assume that if Guo Jia doesn't have a lofty view of humans, he could embrace the path of ruthlessly carrying out the reforms one insists on (never mind if others accept them or see them as virtuous), hoping for the best that perhaps at the end of the day things could work out (and someone could pick up the pieces the morning after once he's gone and this is where Xun Yu is supposed to come in, the comfort after the chaos)

what Zhuge Liang takes exception to is the notion that the comparison of humans to crows (even if it's a useful corrective to the boastful comparison of humans to dragons) somehow justifies the brutality of the process of pacification... thus the counter retort that people are people, crows are crows (of course this too assumes that Zhuge Liang knows better about what it means to be human)

and this brings us to the 'immovable and twisted rationality' that Zhuge Liang decries (even if he concedes that some sort of peace that is to say the peace of a pacified population desperate for anyone to impose clear order and guarantee safety can be founded on ruthless subjugation as historically attested in the rise of empires and regimes)

Guo Jia (and by extension, Jia Xu and Sima Yi and others like them) wouldn't mind exploiting and perpetuating that rationality so long as there is a convenient path to quelling the unrest (which they see partly as a result of greed and ambition that form part of the human condition) and putting in place some sort of reform to help manage the chaos

on the other hand, Zhuge Liang still believes that humans can be guided and governed by virtue, that loyalty discourse can be used not simply as a cynical method to prop up the ruling order, but as a moral principle that prevents needless bloodshed (yet he finds himself in the compromised position of having to wage bloody crusades but under a righteous banner)

This basically serves as a set-up to what will RoT shift into and who will be the main actor of the following arc. So, in the same way as Zhuge serving as a foil to Guo Jia, the Eighth Genius is being introduced in his arc and the Eighth will even get focused in the following arc. In the Red Cliff arc Eighth did exactly what Zhuge was doing prior to active participation – judging the conflict and “reporting the weather” – and yet he fails to predict the seventh (well, at least, he waited longer). This dynamic will be further established at the end of the Four Commanderies arc and as of now, we need to completely dissect 8th’s introduction, to have a deeper understanding of what will their discord stand for. All in all, each and every sentence uttered by his mouth is quite worth the attention.

at this point, Zhuge Liang outweighs the 8th in terms of reputation and narrative placement (not to mention that throughout the series, Zhuge Liang has been the one guy most in touch with the rest of his classmates on the sidelines and the one guy the other classmates either admire or dread or want to compete against), though the 8th's status as a shadow counterpart to Liaoyuan Huo (because of the Zhao Yun angle) makes him parallel Zhuge Liang (who in turn serves as the mirror collaborator/nemesis to Sima Yi) in one respect in that both have strange ties to the eponymous duo of Ravages

in addition, the 8th parallels Sima Min (in being the last and shadiest on the list of 8 illustrious names) and possibly the 8th eccentric (assuming this member shows up and fits the pattern), and in terms of outlook he can be compared to Yuan Fang

Another thing that we need to pay attention to in the Red Cliff arc, though, is Eighth’s interest in mind control (as we know, character introductions In RoT reveal a lot about the characters) – as Water Mirror says, to subdue the enemy without a fight is the strongest method of war, but the eighth insists that the method, that the evil cultists are so infamous for, is actually the most productive one (probably because avoiding the war merely keeps the people safe, but is not satisfying – it is not doing anything to enhance the condition of them, as it won’t save people from themselves), but even if one won’t give in to the temptation and derail from the bright path, these techniques are leaving everlasting negative effects on person’s mind.

So, if we were to speculate, the most likely theory is that the Eighth learned said methods, which ties to another theory of him being the renowned scholar named Zhang Song (that being said, I'd rather see Zhang Song as another character altogether (whether the 8th takes that alias later on or just cooperates with him/them since I'd rather see duplicated names than merged characters)), but let’s talk about later on.

But… why and when did he betray the expectations of his teacher? The first one is rather easy to guess. It is about his ideology of individualism – instead of waging meaningless wars with tons of unrecorded blood being spilled, which would also limit everyone else’s desires and freedom (represented by Fang-er), that comes from the natural craving to the anarchy of human nature, whenever it is caged in order, why not exploit and weaponized and control vices and viciousness of a person? Instead of forming a collective mindset, why not try to understand the mind of every single individual? Instead of relying on brainwashing through moral propaganda, why not have faith in inherent human selfishness?

Him being an assassin resonates to this idea very well, because he is doing everything on his own and is not commanding a mere group, collection of people. He is doing things alongside them, understands them, and is, in fact, closer to reality than other classmates. Sure, Zhuge, too, understands the nature of his surroundings, but he is still a man of principles and his viewpoint is stuck on that – growing colder to actually personal human interactions and yet he is the one who values a human life the most (this mirror’s to 8th’s apathy, despite him acknowledging the personal desires in an individual)

To be fair, he is more of an assassin than any other character with the same profession in this story, because he actually lacks identity as nobody knows who he is if he won’t reveal everything by himself and, funnily enough, he is free to hide his identity even if he were to choose a warlord (also, he does not really HAVE TO be devoted to any of them and choose as many he wants to choose for the sake of his plans, which would mirror 7th’s “devotion until death”) and he could attach to himself whichever identity he wishes. Lack of identity was fatal in the hands of Sun clan and lethal in the hands of Sima Yi, whereas they still had some kind of connections, so now imagine how peculiarly promising is 8th’s potential, who does not seem to have any attachments.

I may as well rightfully declare that his lack of identity has a gargantuan perk to counter the cynicism of history – Whatever he does will be judged by future generation’s own assessments, yes, but if 8th’s real identity remains unknown, no one will know to whom they are supposed to connect all of his actions that he committed with the identity of others, hence the perpetual inaccuracy of historical records. Akin to Yuan Fang, who is an original character of Ravages of Time (the difference being, that if Yuan Fang has an original identity, 8th can “grab” identities of actual historical figures and get away with it)

As the last student, of course, the similarity with the first student Yuan Fang (well, his “lord” was chosen instead of him, by being a son of Yuan Shao – that selfish romantic really had no chance to CHOOSE to live for himself with his loved one, huh?) is apparent. Aside of the fact that Fang was connected to the cultist, he was also trying to practice the art of survival, (which he did not manage to perfect, thanks to his daddy) and even being able to kill people by his own hands (as much of a prodigy as he is). But ironically, (which can also be considered as a contradiction) the simplest desires are the root for the grandest ambitions and at the end of the day, Fang proves this point of 8th that self-serving desires may even seduce someone to achieve grand visions, he is delving into the corruption, rather than taking care of “his” people individually. And, after all, 8th does not really resemble to romantics.

Well, it won’t be fair if I do not mention that Zhuge (by torturing people) and Zhou Yu (by being a sparring partner of Sun Ce)… and even Xun Yu (by slapping a wolfneck)… are more than capable of doing some things by their own hands.

So far we can feel free to say, that 8th is not being seduced by desires (take a shot every time the eighth contradicts himself and yet never stops making sense) and he is a quite unemotional human being, considering that after the death of his oath brother he did not really look affected, remained perfectly calm and rational – basically took a duel out of respect and Yun’s lack of stamina. You could argue that he had his mask on, so it would have been hard to notice his emotions, but he instantly gave orders of retreat after the death of “the lord” and it was also implied that he does not really connect well with others.

He wears the mask of a caring person, while Yun wears a mask of an uncaring person.

(Honorable mention of his ability to rapidly adapt to the situation – which should be coming naturally to a person who is a good judge of double meanings (pointed out by his hand signal first and then by “he discovered the secret of various books in the world”)

It is quite fascinating to see such a person to be aware of everything and be appealing. In some mediocre stories, he would have been extremely childish and overdramatized at it, lacking any kind of human decency. On the contrary, 8th respects his enemies, is quite affable, acknowledges the contradictions within the human nature and acts according to it, and does good deeds for others (“repair your shed”), even if not unconditionally – as he is a morally grey character, and not ham-fisted at that.

This brings us to another philosophical part of his views – the value. “Feel helpless all you want, it won’t do anything for you”, every individual has their own, but to attain said value they first need to realize what their defining uniqueness is by themselves, instead of relying on either someone else or heavens and then act on it, make use of it. They must make a choice whether they will be “childbearing” tools or… weapons. To me his reaction (or lack of thereof) to this line of his oath brother “undertake its duties when called to the office; retire otherwise” felt like he (oath brother) completely lost the value in his (8th) eyes, by not only being enslaved to the whore for naught all these years, but also clinging to the brother (when he could have just let the woman infiltrate Shu). This page here can also be easily interpreted as if someone should trade their own valuable people, but it can also mean that people should see the value in whatever they have, whether they be items or loved ones, and cherish them.

So, in short, you do not need to imagine yourself (self-delusion) as a god-emperor to give yourself the value and be content to live.

Above we discussed how 8th is encouraging and guiding others towards seeking the value in themselves, but that is not quite all, is it now. Sure, you find value in yourself and the people around you, but the said value needs to be defined by something. To apply 8th’s standards, the more benefit is from someone, the more is his or her value. And even if she was merely being traded for a lovesick man, she still had some value in her.

He is acting as if he does not view people as objects, Yun is acting as if he does not view her as a loved one (material value against the emotional value)

Infiltration of Shu is quite obvious with all of these details and that freely be interpreted as if 8th is focused on Shu, but we could also take it as a hint that he has tried and may still be trying to plant some moles in other factions as well.

In addition, he usually talks whatever is necessary without much care to his actual intent, which not only results in an interest rabbit hole but is also a very intriguing character trait and a means of manipulation. Reason for that being the fact, that most of what he is saying is actually… true. Yes, his words are self-serving. Yes, his words do not reveal what his actual motives are. Yes, he is purposely aiming at your most vulnerable topic. But he is the only one telling you the truth about yourself and he is the only one giving you the freedom of choice towards what you crave.

The beauty of the 8th Genius' dialogue with Zhao Yun to me is that, despite all of his words being self-serving, they were probably the most honest words Zhao Yun had ever heard. Even Liu Bei or Sima Yi never mention the fact that Zhao Yun has essentially been a slave all these years, who has given up on his happiness to fulfill the wishes of others. And yet here comes this unknown man who manages to get to the very depth of Zhao Yun's character in a mere couple words. And to make it even more beautiful, Zhao Yun faces these words that cut him to the core head-on, and not only acknowledges them but in the face of these truths and in the face of a final chance at his own happiness, he chooses again to remain a slave for the sake of someone else's desires. And that's what makes the 8th Genius so enticing to me. If he can get to the bottom of such an enigmatic character like Zhao Yun in his very first appearance, I can only imagine what he'll do later on.

Though I have to note that the 8th isn't the only one to have confronted Liaoyuan Huo with a dilemma... Zhang Lei sort of did that in 293, Liu Da offered something similar in 384 (the difference I suppose is that whereas they challenged Huo to choose between 2 masters, the offer of the 8th, even though less genuine, is for Huo to choose between serving a master or walking away)

in another note, it's important to stress that if warmongering is the problem (especially if we consider that what usually happens when regimes wage war as a distinct form of mass conflict unlike popular uprisings and insurgencies is that pacified populations are coerced or cajoled into expending their labor and lives to feed machines of organized violence that mainly benefit a select few) it's not a matter of who wins or loses since the game itself is rotten regardless of goals and intentions

Alas, one other issue is that many cut ambitious conquerors (especially if they exhibit charisma and are on the winning side) some slack, while those motivated by ideology or principle (especially if they're losing) are selectively denounced as zealots for trying to push a program

And yet who doesn't like heroic tales…

That’s how the 8th stands out among his classmates mainly in terms of how his rhetoric focuses not so much on principles and ambitions (even Zhou Yu's attachment to the Sun clan involves sticking by some notion of continuity), but simple and personal desires and choices – which fits the narrative of the Four Commanderies and analogically makes it stand out among the other arcs. It is an arc, which highlights the how empty is the shell of people, who are getting defiled by their own egos or thorny roses, beneath the surface of their facade and how some of them stop, start listening to the voice of reason and thus develop into respectable men while maintaining their individuality. The unconventional part that elevates this arc into being a masterpiece is the fact that even protagonists may have a facade and in overall, not every facade is shallow or/and they do not serve solely the corruption.

Sure, I talk a lot about the comparison with Zhuge, but these details were brought from this exact arc that is not even focused Zhuge, but aside of masterfully crafted indirect hints, Four Commanderies put on a table way more than just that. The obvious one being the personal conflict with Zhao Yun, which I already mentioned:

There 8th “asked” Yun to choose what’s his actual happiness, his own life or someone else’s path (that is burdened with failure) – little did 8th know that from Yun’s perspective it did not really matter what he would have chosen, because of how both of these choices are important for Yun as a person, how both of them are what he is craving for and how both of them are going to enslave. And he can’t even choose to not choose, because he would be going against himself in ANY case. As cold-blooded as he is, Zhao Yun got numb by making the best possible choice – “Three days. More than enough”. Truly, 8th failed at psychological warfare (and even if had an upper-hand in a duel, it did not really matter), but admitted that Yun made a right choice, without explaining himself – I think the existence of Zhao Tong made the choice correct. When a father and a son met, both of them found their “pieces of jade ornament that can be traded for cities” (note how Yun compared his son to Sun Ce – that was rather delightful for Tong, considering that no one was taking him seriously whenever he was comparing himself to Sun Ce). That was quite well symbolized by the lively tree near Yun. Usually, whenever a life-changing event happens in his life, he is near a dead tree.

After all, Zhao Yun is already used to selling.

So many lives that he cared about are no more, what’s one more.

(And if I were to fanboy over him more – “Huo” did not really return after the warrior’s duel (named as “a path of no return”))

Briefly to come back to Zhuge, the one who basically pulls some strings behind Yun – when 8th mentioned the facade of the “greater good”, I was suddenly reminded of a saying by melancholy 7th about “benevolent realists” when he was talking about how people like to shield themselves with “FOR THE GREATER GOOD”, while in actuality they are masked egomaniacs. But if Zhuge says that people use “greater good” as a mere excuse (as he always dislikes the certain type of people), 8th remarks that these self-proclaimed paragons of virtue (such as 7th) are merely deluding themselves and the concept of “greater good” does not even exist.

In short, lying to others that you are a savior vs. lying to yourself that you are a savior

If you think that the introduction of this character is already great enough, you need to get prepared, because the revelation, that completely recontextualizes these events into something even more meaningful and profound, is yet to come.

When Yun remembered the bits of 8th’s backstory from his memory, 8th pointed his finger to the sky, a call-back to that scene when Huo was named as Zhao Yun and that, as far as we know, cemented him as the perfect foil to Zhao Yun and now demands from us to re-analyze this precious arc of his as the mirrored life of Liaoyuan Huo from two respective points of view. Considering the fact that Ravages of Time is exploring the history and human condition as a theme, then it won’t really be a surprise if I would define “mirrored life” as if they were the alternative versions of how would Huo’s life continue if he were to choose different paths of life.

1) Zhao Fan’s case is rather easy to elaborate on. He represents the “pretentiousness” (by compensating his lack of masculinity and love from his loved one, through the pretense of just babbling hollow words (merely citing others), as he is not capable of doing anything else) against the “reality” of Zhao Yun (less talk, more action attitude of his and plus the playfulness that is hiding the coldblooded nature beneath the surface).

That pretentiousness would define Zhao Yun as well if he was not so hardened by the high amount of struggle he lived through and later be polished by Liu Bei. Huo would have been in his place if he were to come to his loved one instead of Xiao Meng. But that would come with its own negative consequence, as he would not have been loved.

2) 8th’s case is a bit complicated. They do share the path, but with the polar opposite approach. “Sharing the path” is amusing on its own right, though. Huo took the name “Zhao Yun” and will get recorded in history with someone else’s name, but the guy who was born with the name “Zhao Yun” won’t be recorded in history with his own name as well. Still, his name will exist in history, but it is going to be a guy, who’s completely different from the original Zhao Yun. Talk about an identity crisis.

“observing the passing of time and waiting for its coming, cannot compare to dealing with time and making use of it” – This throws us back in time, as far as the early chapters go, when Yun had an internal monologue about waiting for someone who would change and save the world. Around that time, 8th was persuading Huo’s loved one about how meaningless it is to just wait for something. Perhaps Huo would have undergone 8th’s path if he were to study as a genius to save the world instead of waiting for someone else to do it, but at the end of the day, he managed to understand where he belongs to.

Huo was waiting because he did not see himself as someone who could really make a difference in the world (“if martial arts would have made a difference, then the key positions in the world would already be dominated by various schools”). Meaning, that only “grander” things affect the world (such as Jesus and Dragon). but 8th begs to differ, with an argument that the delusions of grandeur should be broken for people and that even “books”, as tiny as they are, can affect the masses (for example, how Sun clan was hiding the true Art of War for themselves)

“what we need to learn now is observation and patience” – still paid off in Huo’s case and so it did for another Yun as well, as he was busy all these years, observing not only the human nature but the hidden meanings and uses of certain things, such as the literature as a tool of lying (“you won’t understand history without knowing how to lie”). This also foils how Zhuge was “waiting” and cultivating the illusions about Liu Bei for all these eleven years.

It is quite ironic and contradictory when 8th is talking about how important it is to know “where one stands” and yet he lacks identity and that helps him to stand (“infiltrate”) in any faction, at the same time. But us not knowing the identity of 8th further empowers my approach. Matches well with Huo trying to suppress his emotions and forget himself, thus becoming numb and losing his identity, as he won’t even get credit for his heroic deeds.

Basically Zhao brothers can be seen as the Yun’s identity crisis, a conflict between his duality of nature (Fan – wanting a normal life with his loved one. 8th – wanting to go with Liu Bei). And Huo killed Fan by his own hand, so killing the “longing for a personal happiness” also took a life of his loved one at the same time, by 8th mirroring his hand.

(8th casually hinting that both of them are named Zhao Yun)

The point of mirrored life is that he was always suffering, is currently suffering, will continue suffering, and would have suffered even if he were to make different life-changing choices in the past. But he will continue to live and will carry all the weight, as he already accepted it. It is as realistic as it gets – no matter what you are going to choose, the history is going to fix itself.

As to how similar 8th is to Liu Bei, we can talk about that right now. Meanwhile, 8th was judging the character of an assassin, Liu Bei was also being busy by judging the character of another Zhao and that, you guessed it, allows US to judge 8th as the mirror of our Chinese Jesus as well. To begin with, it is implied that both of them have two oath brothers so that comparison is not really far-fetched.

On the surface, both of them are good at judging the characters and while they are at that, none of them are using their real identities, but the substantial difference between them is that – Liu Bei is using the identity of being the cult of a personality, while 8th is not using any identity at all; Liu Bei is giving away a sincere brotherly love, thus gaining help from them on their own accord and that is something 8th is alien to (Zhao Fan was enslaved to his desire, rather than the aspiration of his brotherhood).

Now it should be noted that even if Liu Bei is getting a warm love and help from his oath brothers is a good thing, of course, Chen Mou has not forgotten that even such kind and heartfelt intent/actions can be harmful to the lofty aspirations. I also daresay that there is a great potential of showing the enormous flaws behind saving the world as a cult of a personality.

The first is directly connected to the relationship between the “savior” and the masses – there will be a part of people, who will have an urge to completely become reliant to the “shelter” that was provided to them and not only lose the sense of individuality in the process, but also get so soft in the process that they won’t be able to stand on their own again so easily.

The second problem comes exactly from that and both of these could be depicted in RoT through Liu Shan’s character arc – for the world to be shaped as in the eyes’ of Liu Bei, he has to alienate himself from the garden of earthly delights and the human beings themselves, thus he himself will become a tool, who will only be able to care about his comrades-in-arm. After all, he values them more than his own son.

Right in the queue is standing a dragon (aka, not human) Zhuge Liang, who will also drag Liu Bei’s son to the moon. Moon of course represents the principles of Zhuge Liang and he is going to nail them in Liu Shan’s mind so much, that there will be no one to take the child on earthly adventures to gain necessary experience about the reality and human interactions. After all, Liu Shan is neglected to the point of being used in schemes even as a child. Although the role of Sun Shu in this ordeal is still a mystery.

One thing is clear – without Sun Shu, Liu Shan is going to become an anti-thesis of 8th’s ideology.

To have a clear idea and understanding of what I am talking about, you could always watch that Ghibli movie named “The Tale of the Princess Kaguya”. The Emperor there is so out of touch, he is not even aware that he should not touch women without their consent.

8th’s ideology won’t result in such degradation, but Liu Bei has his own arguments against that world-view. If 8th blames people for having the delusions of their own grandeur, Liu Bei says that people have delusions not about their own selves, but about the world itself, as to how it is “structured”. So, people are not defiled, they are just following the wrong path and guidance could fix that. Zhao Tong depicted as someone who is not being as educated and well-read as Liu Bei further nails the point.

(Thanks to the translator Merc, who told us that this idea was conveyed through the wordplay that was lost in translation)

Surely, they won’t settle about the definition of the right path so easily. If 8th thinks that people should start valuing whatever they have and whatever they are able to do. Basically, the idea of saving the world won’t ever be fulfilled, because the world will only be saved after people save themselves – Liu Bei answers that one does not have to choose necessarily a mediocrity (in 8th’s case, broken people that he chose, such as Xiao Fan) and give it a value, just because the world in their eyes is ruined. Basically, gems still can be found in every corner, but they won’t polish themselves, so the world is still worth saving and could be saved if only we showcase what they can value.

In short, 8th thinks that everyone could have their own things to find value in, but Liu Bei wants to create one general “shelter” that everyone will find value and solution in (and our boy Huo got both)

What makes the feud between 8th and the Shu compelling could be summarized in two features

1) When Cao camp is full of elite soldiers who were trained for what they are doing and Sun clan is fully family oriented and thus chains the family members, Liu camp is full of opportunistic individuals that choose their path on their own. On face value, 8th should be quite fond of them, but divergence comes when the said individuals view someone else’s path as something grand and enslave themselves, forgetting to why even they want a better world and are sacrificing themselves just for someone else. Despite that, they still remain as somewhat respectable in the 8th’s eyes.

2) The inherent duality of men, as both of these approaches find their justification within the human nature and, at the same time, it also serves as a counter-argument to each other – in times of order, people are going to seek disorder and in times of disorder, people are going to seek disorder, hence comes the pivotal point in the dynamic between 8th and 7th – If one wants to make use of human’s longing for peace through crafting the fake cult of personality, which will achieve stalemate and turn into status quo, another one wants to make use of human’s craving for desire through the dispersion of their delusions of grandeur first, by which people would lose interest in waging meaningless wars over meaningless lands and reputations.

After all, “winner takes all” is but a surface level aspect of how Ravages of Time deals with its roots - Poetic tragedies, with proper emotional baggage to convey the horrors of war and an exploration of the inevitability of history and the meaninglessness of our struggles when confronted with it.

Of course, we are not finished here, because aside from Shu, 8th has enough potential to foil Sima clan as well.

Let us start with Sima Yi himself. I'd argue both are exceptional men from powerful clans destroyed by forces beyond their control. Sima Yi being set up by Pang Tong and Sima's destruction changing him irreparably into a darker man. Like Hamlet the main driving force of the story is his revenge and just like Hamlet his actions unknowingly cause a similar tragedy to his own occurring. Sima Yis actions destroyed the Zhao Clam just like Pang Tong eventually destroyed the Sima as a scapegoat. Both attempt to gain revenge and return their clan to greatness. Yet while Sima Yi joins a future kingdom the eight opposes one and fails with his oath brother being forfeit. The irony being that Sima Yis entire life changed by one tragedy yet he doomed another man like him to the same fate unwittingly at the very start of the series. One was Zhao Yuns best friend while the other is arguably his most dangerous enemy now. I think there's a surprising amount of similarities and parallels between the two even this early. Oh, and both killed a woman Zhao Yun loved. Sima Yi by inaction and the eight in a moment of direct revenge. I'm perhaps not articulating this the best but the aptest dramatic comparison I can think of is he's the Leartes to Sima Yis Hamlet. Whether they will end up having the same conclusion as those two characters is up in the air though.

And meanwhile, 8th was concluding his not-so-grand spectacle, another member of Sima clan was introduced in the story – Sima Min, who is also an eighth member, rather polite and even was detached from other seven for quite a while and are considering as some kind of anomalies. After a line “seven out of the eighth aim high. One sticks to the low road”, even comes a hat of the 8th, whom we, in fact, described as someone who stands out by sticking to the low road. If I were to speculate, Min is going to be the one defending his own brothers, but 8th is going to be the one attacking his own brothers.

Both of them also serve as the premises for the next arc, even if they are not participated much in it, as of now: “Breaking the tradition” and the lies behind the books about warfare.

Now let’s come back to the long-postponed theory-crafting of mine.

-In the 468th chapter was revealed a dungeon that was used for torturing people. It belonged to the 8th who was gathering information about the routes of Shu. Then in 483 was revealed that Zhuge Liang had the exact same dungeon.

-In the 480th chapter on the other hand was revealed that Zhang Song was brought a fake map and thus Zhuge, who thought that Song was aiding Cao Cao, set a trap for him. There was someone special near Liu Zhang who was manipulating the information as if Liu Zhang was incompetent. That was a trap for Shu.

-Now in 483th Zhuge started a discussion about Zhang Song and 8th at the same time. After all, in the 468th chapter was also found a map, which was most likely made by the 8th. Key point was, that both of them were made in the same style, thus were made by the same person. The difference was, that the map made for Shu was fake, and the map made for 8th – was legitimate.

-At the start of the 483 chapter, Zhuge mentions how hard it is to track 8th and unless he announces his name, no one will know and yet, as a result of what was mentioned above, Zhuge deduced that 8th indeed graduated. Meaning, he has actively participated in the ravages of time already.

-In 483 Zhuge also did deduce that this man was merely “named” as Zhang Song. Meaning, his actual name is different. Now, how did 8th managed to convince him to not reveal that even after the torture session is a mystery. I can only think of “eccentric magic” (which I think is exactly what 8th needs for his plans, but it is also something that he wants the least) or heavy psychological pressure (considering that one guy with the damaged psyche in his chamber, chapter 468)

-Even more interesting came into the play after several chapters. It was revealed that there is another Zhang Song, who was aiding Ma Chao (who was also getting help from the Sun clan) and whose face was not revealed suspiciously. Why would there be several people with the same name? That’s rather CLOUDED (excuse the pun). One thing is certain, 8th is behind Song tricks, whether he is the one using that name, is actually named that or is cooperating with original Zhang Song – is another mystery. Zhuge did ruin his plans AGAIN (was it the third time?), but he still is cultivating his influence.

To conclude the analysis, let’s get back to the titular topic with a little hierarchy.

On the first level, there are stories with a black and white morality. Usually, black side is cartoony cynical, with no redeeming qualities and white side is cartoony idealistic, with irrelevant flaws (being hot-blooded and etc) – and the Ravages of Time even features such “stories” in deceptive schemes and labels them as “propaganda” (social commentary)

These “black” sides sometimes tend to be “justified” as if they were realistic (for example, for some reason, it is ok to have such characters if the setting is in the middle ages). Such explanations completely ignore the fact that no fiction is realistic and that every “realistic” being has redeeming qualities.

On the second level, there are stories with seemingly grey morality, through the presentation we do not actually see this moral ambiguity, so the presentation falls apart just because the characters’ words (what is talked) and actions (what is shown) contradict each other so much, that story does not seem self-aware anymore – a prime example would be a good guy, who wants to achieve a stalemate, but his actions tell otherwise and no one is actually calling him out on that hypocrisy. Also, everyone he faces is clearly inferior to him from a moral stand-point.

In such stories “black” sides may even have characters that were abused and victimized in childhood and now they are apparently pointing out the flaws in the system by blatantly indulging themselves in atrocities (for some reason). This is not only a cheap emotional manipulation but completely superficial and immature, as they are whining about the system by being worse than it and do not offer any solution to fix the system or a better alternative – they are merely amazed by the fact, that the world is imperfect and cannot accept it.

On the third level, there are stories with seemingly grey morality, but now they are doing the opposite. Characters constantly talk about the loss of humanity for the greater good, but they never commit to it and even if they were to do some questionable things (that most likely are glorified), they would still whine how bad the “greater good” is, despite not finding (or even trying to find) any better alternative. Here lies a huge contradiction in the presentation – It is preachy propaganda of “necessary evil” and, at the same time, does not want to acknowledge it, thus the story has a hypocritical point.

In such stories, “black” sides tend to be THE flaws of the system, with no redeeming qualities. They will be one-dimensionally incompetent and just abuse their power just for the main characters to have an excuse to commit “necessary evil”. In such cases, people tend to close their eyes on them being one-dimensional “as soon as they fir the narrative”. Such readers/watchers forget why it’s relevant for characters to not be one-dimensional – it is not realistic, considering you can be a flaw in a system and still have positive dynamics to something/someone else. It also lacks artistry, considering how crystal clear will the stance of the author is going to be by implementing such cartoony characters in his story. So… if the writing is so implausible… how are we supposed to trust the author on his beliefs and preferences, if he can’t implement said beliefs and preferences in an organic way even in his own world?

On the fourth level, there are stories with actual grey morality, where every character AND organization has its pros and cons properly presented. Without further complications, focuses on two sides of the conflicting ideas and naturally tells a realistic story, full of plausibility (Eureka Seven and Terra E, as examples)

On the fifth level, there is the Ravages of Time, conceptually exploring said contradictions. It not only has more than two sides with full of characters with their own agendas, but they all are making use of various “contradictions” and that is something I wanted to highlight through the Eighth Genius, who is full of contradictions externally, but fully self-aware internally.

Now it is not outright said that contradictions are bad. Quite the opposite – even if they are full of shortcomings, they are also full of benefits and if everything can be used your and someone else’s good, why would contradictions prove the exception? After all, if any effort is futile and doomed, what it all meant to you and how content you were at your death’s bed is all that matters. Which is another contradiction, because on face value, there is no objective reason to do anything if everything’s meaningless, but at the end of the day, you at least accumulated the experience for the future generation, who will also have to postpone the passive decay of the world (but the said shared experience will lead to even more bloodfest, which is unfortunately inevitable in any case)

Failure of self-loathing stories is not seeing beyond the fixed framework. Ravages’ point, on the other hand, is that – contradiction, like anything else (for instance, loyalty), is simply a method and it was set as a framework to fit someone else’s agenda. Of course, merely trying to step out of a framework is not enough, as you are going to meet others who already did that. That’s exactly what’s so alluring about this piece of art – it not only examines a single contradiction with a hopeful solution (Self-loathing Zhuge not raising Liu Shan as a hypocrite), but offers plenty of other alternatives.

#ravages of time #zhao yun #analysis #liu bei #zhuge liang

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mysmess-seol-blog · 8 years ago

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RFA Members Korean Name Meanings (will edit in the future)

Hi nonny♡

Once again, I looked through my requests to find the fastest one I can get done. This one seemed the fastest for now so I am answering this question first ^^;;;; I should stop saying I will answer these questions the order they come in.

But in all honesty, I’m really sorry for the hold up in the requests, especially to those that sent them in a long time ago but I haven’t gotten back to. A lot of them takes so much time and I currently don’t have the time to actually get them done.

But this one seems really fun. I can finally put the 한자 (Chinese Characters) I learned from like preschool to high school to use ^^

You are definitely right when you say that names do have meanings. They all derive from the 한자 that I mentioned above! Depending on the character, the meaning to one’s name could be completely different! Currently, the only precise 한자 name I know from MysMess is Jumin’s because his was on his business card. I can guess what Yoosung and V’s are, but for now I’ll tell you guys what I think.

So, let’s start with mine since anon would like to know~

Seol Ryu (류설)

My name is very unique in the sense that my name itself is only one character long (외자). Most people in Korea tend to have two characters in their name.

I was wondering if I should reveal which Ryu I am, but I decided not to because it doesn’t really have a meaning? It is just a family name so I will just go on to explain my first name.

偰 맑을 설

My name means pure, clean, clear, things like that! I…seriously don’t live up to that LOL. Sometimes I wonder what my parents were thinking when they named me ^^;;; I still think about this. My brother always says that my name is so misleading.

Well, so is his. Jk I love you.

I’ll explain because while I also thought about this for a while. I wanted to share this fun fact a long time ago, but I decided not to. Now, I have a reason to lol and that is, my brother actually dead ass has the same name as Zen.

Yep, my little bro is also Hyun Ryu. Except he’s 20, two centimeters taller than Zen, and a medical major not a musical actor =w=

ZEN/Hyun Ryu (류현)

Well, I don’t exactly know what his 한자 name is. But I can definitely share my brother’s. I’m not sure if it would be the same but let’s see lol.

炫 밝을 현

My brother’s name means, bright. If Zen also shares the same 한자 character then hey, that’s what his name would mean! I’m not sure which “Ryu” Zen is, but I think in my imagination all the time that we have the same character =w=

Sorry, Hyunnie. I didn’t mean to expose you but lol, too bad. He doesn’t even have a tumblr, what am I sorry about lols. Noona still loves you♡

Jumin Han (한주민)

So, Jumin has his name in 한자 if you see his business card in either the calling menu or the VIP package~

韓 한국 한, 나라 한 (우리 나라의 성의 하나)

主 임금 주, 주인 주

旻 하늘 민

Let’s start with Han! If I remember correctly there is only one Han for family name. Which is the same character for 대한민국 (South Korea). Correct me if I’m wrong. I’m an uneducated little walnut.

Next is his name, Ju Min.

임금 means wage (Ju) or 주인 means owner

하늘 means sky (Min)

I will be honest, I knew what the characters meant separately but lol, I don’t know what they are supposed to mean together. Am I just stupid? I think I have issues. Maybe it is related to how he is the company director of C&R. I don’t know. I’m pretty sure it means something like that ^3^

Yoosung Kim (김유성)

Same with the family name, I do not know which Kim he is, but I can definitely predict which Yoosung he is, and he gives it away when he refers to himself as a shooting star ^^

�� 흐를 유

星 별 성

Exactly as it is written, 흐를 유 means, falling and 별 성 means star. His name is so pretty ;3; I remember this name a lot because my first crush’s name was 유성 with this exact 한자 don’t tell Hyun.

Jaehee Kang (강제희)

I wish Jaehee’s business card had her 한자 characters on it. I am curious to know because a friend of mine has the same name and I will just assume that she might have the same meaning? Who knows =w=

帝 임금 제

喜 기쁠 희

We see 임금 again for the “Jae” part of her name! (The same meaning in Jumin’s name meaning wages).The “hee” part of her name is 기쁠 희 which means happiness.

I feel like this would make sense since she works for C&R in the game.

V/Jihyun Kim (김지현)

This one I made a guess judging by V’s personality lolol.

至 이를 지

賢 어질 현

His name (that I just made up just from his personality in the game) virtually means 매우 어질고 착함. 더할 수 없이 어질고 슬기로움.

Orrr, in English, very gentle benevolent, wise.

As you can see, even though both Zen (and my bro lol) and V have the “hyun” character, they could have different meanings.

Lol, I had to bring my 한자 book from my shelf to try and make this and I think it worked out well. I really hope that this is the 한자 for his name because it fits him so well.

Okay, for 707 and Saeran….I am actually on a blank T3T I’m not sure how to go about their names. I’m sure if I look around enough I can make a name but it is a lot harder than I thought. I wish everyone was given their names just like Jumin =w= if I have enough time maaaaybe I will go through my 한자 textbook and try to assemble a name that I can base from their personality, but I tried thinking for now and nothing is coming…

Saeyoung and Saeran fans, Seol is sorry ㅠㅠ

I will come back in the future and edit this post. 세영 and 세란 is kinda hard for me…if there are other people out their who have some sort of 한자 assembled for their names, please let me know. I would love to know because I am at a loss TwT

For now, I’ll go bye bye~

See you next post!

- 류설♡

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happy-meo · 8 years ago

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Out of the Egg. (Jungkook x Reader) Part 5

“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world.” – Demian by Hermann Hesse

Jungkook x Reader; (with the rest of the BTS members here and there)

Fluff, Suspense, Angst; mentions of violence, death, sexual harassment (briefly), and warfare

War/ Rebellion Au

Summary: The world you had once known is now bare and rotting with evil. Families were torn, houses were burned, and businesses were shattered by the Oppressors. In your world, there were only two possibilities – if you weren’t working with them, you were owned by them. However, a new faction arises that sings of hope and taking back the world that was once for the people, calling themselves “The Changers”. Although you tried to go unnoticed by either of them, out of fear of being killed or captured, you soon find yourself deep in the middle of the rebellion after an unexpected encounter.

Parts: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 (Finale)

A/N: Sorry for keeping you all in suspense for so long! Here’s the next part of the series :)

"I figured it would be my unit being sent out." Yoongi waved his hand nonchalantly. "So can we dismiss everyone now?"

Namjoon nodded, and the other 2 Council Members stepped outside of the room. You stood up to follow them when Yoongi grabbed your wrist.

"So, why did you invite her along to the meeting?" Yoongi pulled you back down into your seat roughly.

Namjoon exhaled and stared at you intently. "She knows why."

You averted your eyes. Of course you did.

"I'm still going on this mission." You stated defiantly.

Namjoon exhaled, "Y/N. I really must insist you don't go on this mission. It could endanger more than one life if you're there."

You furrowed your brows, trying to think of a comeback. Being the quick-witted person he was, Yoongi caught on. But he remained silent, letting you and Namjoon argue.

"It's for the same exact reason you're telling me not to go that I HAVE to go. Namjoon, please."

He shook his head. "No, I can't allow it. I know Jungkook wouldn't allow it either. You can't go on this mission."

"I HAVE to! No matter the outcome, I need to be where he is." You exhaled desperately.

"Y/N..." Namjoon frowned.

Yoongi sighed audibly, making you and Namjoon glance over at him curiously.

"I don't think that's your call to make Namjoon." he explained with a shrug.

"Yoongi, you have to cut her out of your unit." Namjoon pleaded.

"I can't do this mission without my best soldier." Yoongi stated and your heart welled up at his sincere compliment. "This is a war, Namjoon. And we're already few in soldiers."

Namjoon shut his eyes, knowing he was fighting a losing battle with the two of you joining forces.

"Yoongi. Jungkook wouldn't --"

"I don't give a rat's ass about Jungkook. He's not here right now is he?" Yoongi drummed his fingers on the table. "If anyone is going to go save him, it has to be her."

You smiled gratefully at Yoongi.

"I know for sure he's not gonna want to see my face first thing out of confinement." Yoongi chuckled.

Namjoon exhaled. "He would kill himself if anything happened to her, Yoongi."

"She's not dying on my watch." Yoongi smirked confidently. "I'm a genius Strategist, remember?"

Yoongi then stood up and stared directly at Namjoon, with a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I'm thankful every day I got to see B one last time on that mission, and I know Jungkook is too with his brother. I'm not going to take that opportunity from her, should it come to that."

Your heart clenched at the thought, but Yoongi was right. Even if it would end up being his final moments or yours, you wanted to be where Jungkook was.

"Y/N." Namjoon turned to you, a pleading look on his face. "Do you agree with him?"

You smiled sadly and stood up too, facing him determinedly. "If I'm to give birth to this child, I want it to be in the midst of the New World, with his father by my side. This mission isn't just about me and Jungkook reuniting; it's about my child's future and everyone else's. I'm not going to stay behind in fear and let everyone else do what I can do better."

Yoongi chuckled at your confidence while Namjoon smiled, amused.

"You and Jungkook really are a troublesome pair."

Your lips curled up, knowing that nothing was going to stop you from completing the mission at hand.

"Women in love are nothing to trifle with." You grinned cheekily.

Namjoon sighed, "I guess it's only logical not to trifle. But I'm not letting you all go into the Capitol without the upper hand. Meet in my office with your unit Lieutenant, when the sun falls, stealthily and quietly."

Yoongi nodded understandably and swiftly disappeared from the room. You bowed to Namjoon and was about to follow Yoongi, when he chucked something at you. You fumbled to catch it and found that they were pills. Glancing up at him, you furrowed your brows in confusion.

"They're for your pregnancy symptoms, but they also have vitamins infused into it for the baby." He smiled. "I've been making it for you just in case you really did intend to see this through."

Your eyes watered and you leapt into his arms thankfully. You were extremely touched. He was always looking out for you and you were sure he always had for Jungkook too. Namjoon, in his own way, cared for each and every person in the City.

He chuckled as he stroked your head comfortingly.

"Make sure you bring him back, okay?"

You nodded into his chest.

"Y/N. Are you sure?" Tae frowned as you two pulled on your black uniforms.

You smiled and nodded. "I'm sure, Tae."

"This is so dangerous and your baby..."

"Tae." You cupped his face lovingly. "This is our last stand. Our entire army is out there fighting and if the Capitol doesn't fall, their sacrifice and their hard work will have been futile."

Tae covered your hands with his as he smiled understandably.

"I'm going to bring my family back together." You grinned as you clipped your helmet on.

"It's my duty to help my family's family then." Tae chuckled as he finished strapping his uniform on.

"Alright men...and Y/N!" Yoongi waltzed in.

Everyone straightened up and clicked their heels together respectfully. There was a now noticeable air of tension in the room. The atmosphere was suffocating and drenched with uncertainties and fears. It was your first legitimate battle as a unit, and most likely, many of your lasts. You all had had successful short missions with Scavengers as part of your training and a lot of training through simulations, but nothing was going to prepare you all for the realities of the battlefield.

"Before we head to Namjoon's office to pick up new weapons he's gifting us, I'm going to go over the battle plans. Relax and listen up. You all need to have this ingrained into your mind. One mistake could throw off the entire plan." Yoongi growled roughly.

Everyone sat down but you all were too on edge to actually relax. You caught Yoongi's eye and he gave you a curt nod. You smiled and nodded in return.

"We have something that the Oppressors don't have, and I plan on taking advantage of it."

"Why do you think we have to sneak into HQ?" Tae whispered as you all crouched down and crawled on the ground to make your way to Namjoon's office.

"Maybe he's not supposed to give us the new weapons?" Jimin replied.

"Shut it, you two." Yoongi hissed and they fell silent. "Enter the office as we planned. Go."

In pairs, everyone lightly slipped into Namjoon's dimly lit office, which to everyone's surprise was fairly spacious and was able to fit the entire unit.

"Welcome." Namjoon emerged from a hidden door in the wall.

"Whattt!" Hoseok squeaked excitedly.

"That was so cool!" Tae gasped.

Namjoon chuckled as he stood beside Yoongi in front of everyone.

"First, I want to apologize." He looked down. "I'm aware this large scale of a mission is something that may be overwhelming to unranked soldiers. And I never had intended to include you all into the battle...but as you can see, I am out of options to protect you all from the perils of the war we've waged. But I want to tell you all that you're all extraordinary to have survived the teachings and trainings of Min Yoongi. I'm sure many of you have felt victimized and mercilessly punished."

There was a collective nodding that had Yoongi glaring at everyone.

"But know that there has not been a better person to cultivate and train new soldiers to survive in the battlefield. Almost all of the soldiers on this mission have come from the very place you all have treaded on, have done the same exercises, gone through the same training, have all cursed yet persevered until they were able to step foot into the very soil of battle. and they have always come back from each of their battles well-prepared and thankful for Yoongi's rigorous training."

Yoongi blushed and huffed. "Just get on with the point, Namjoon."

Namjoon smiled and stated. "In the battlefield, there is no such thing as 'novice' and 'experienced'. The ranks are simply an indication of one's length of service in the army, and it does not truly determine the skills of the individual, much less highlight the value of the unit. I have watched over you all as a team and as your own unique persons for some time. I know Lieutenant Yoongi will agree with me that you are by far the most skilled and cohesive unit he has trained. The level of camaraderie I have witnessed and the lack of greed for power and notice is rare and to be applauded. It may be the plan of the Heavens that you, as the last able unit of the Changers, should march to finish the long battle that our predecessors have fought for. That you all should become the hope, the heroes, and the pioneers of the New World."

You, Tae, Jin, Jimin, and Hoseok grinned at each other widely.

Namjoon pressed a button on his desk and his walls flipped over to reveal lines of various weapons. Everyone mumbled and stared at them in awe.

"I know my inventions will be in good hands with each and every one of you." Namjoon walked over to the case with guns and pulled one out.

Immediately, another replaced the empty spot in the display.

"There are a great many who wish to manipulate knowledge and weaponry for their selfish desires, which is why I am entrusting these to you. For I have seen first-hand that none of you, have such intentions. For you all have come from humble and respectable upbringings." He handed the large gun to Jin. "And I know you will not let the Changers and everyone in the City down."

Namjoon lifted the glass case of the gun display. "Please arm yourselves. These guns have silencers for swift kills, less recoil impact, and more storage for ammunition. The bullets inside are also resistant to wind to improve accuracy."

"Y/N. Taehyung. Seokjin. Jimin. Hoseok." Yoongi called out.

The five of you turned towards the Lieutenant.

Namjoon walked over and smiled.

"I have something extra for each of you, according to your specialties."

Once everyone was armed, they began filing out, but you stayed behind to be with Yoongi and Namjoon for longer.

"You said the one-armed Council member was going to meet up with us at the entrance with whatever was left with his unit right?" Yoongi questioned.

"He's not one-armed! He just has a sling, Yoongi. At least remember people's names." Namjoon rolled his eyes. "But yeah. I gave them pills that should stop the feeling of pain due to their wounds, but it doesn't heal them. They're aware that the repercussions of taking the pill often and that straining their bodies will have dire consequences."

"You are seriously creepy, you know." Yoongi snorted.

"I think brilliant is the adjective you're looking for."

"No, brilliant is what describes MY plan." Yoongi puffed out his chest confidently.

"Jungkook is going to kill you for this plan." Namjoon chuckled.

Yoongi grinned. "Well he shouldn't have screwed up my original plan in the first place and gotten compromised! If I'm going to save his ass AND win the battle he should've when I gave him the chance to, I'm going to do it my way."

"Oh? YOU gave up your chance to be the National Hero of the New World so Jungkook could take it? After all the time you tried to beat him and climb to the top? How sweettt." Namjoon cooed as Yoongi swatted his hands away.

You watched them speak fondly; they really did get along well. You had never seen all three of them interact at the same time. But you assumed that it would be endearingly amusing.

Namjoon noticed that you remained in the room, unmoving.

"Y/N?" he turned to you.

You took off your dog tags and outstretched your hand.

"Would you mind keep these safe?" You smiled. "I can't exactly keep them on... with my role."

You stared at yours and Jungkooks names before gently placing the silver accessories into his palm. He closed his hand tightly and placed it against his heart.

"I'd be honored."

Your lips curled up gratefully.

Namjoon then turned to Yoongi teasingly.

"What about you, Yoongi? Can I be your special keeper?"

Yoongi shook his head and protected his chest. "Don't touch me! I'm keeping my dog tags! Stay away!"

You and Namjoon giggled as he flitted out of the room hastily.

"Be careful out there, Y/N." Namjoon warned. "Be quick on your feet, both figuratively and literally."

You nodded firmly. "I know."

"Oh." Namjoon hesitated as you were about to turn around to leave.

"Hm?"

He blushed and moved his feet around awkwardly. "Well...Jungkook asked me...he asked me to do something...if it ever came to a scenario like this..."

"What was it?" You raised an eyebrow.

Namjoon's cheeks turned a shade of red as he stepped forward, towering over you, and pressed his lips onto your forehead.

"He told me to tell you that he loved you and to keep kicking ass."

Namjoon murmured as he stepped back shyly. You blushed and nodded, your words getting stuck inside your throat from the surprising event that had just occurred.

"Th-thanks Namjoon."

He averted his eyes. "You're welcome..."

"I'll drag him back in no time." You smiled, regaining your composure.

"I'll be waiting." Namjoon's lips curled up, but you noticed that his eyes held unspoken sadness.

You turned to leave before you started crying from the realization. Both of you knew that it would be uncertain whether you would actually return at all. Namjoon was trying to stay strong and keep the morale high, but his eyes exposed you to the truth of his emotions.

Just like everyone, just like you, he was terrified. The outcome and the sacrifices of this last battle was something even he, the Genius Scholar of the City, couldn't predict.

"Lieutenant Yoongi." The one-armed Council member approached him at the entrance.

You glanced from behind the front line of the unit to watch them exchanging words seriously.

"I can't believe he's still going out with a broken arm." Jimin frowned.

"I heard he insisted to join our ranks, because he would rather die on the battlefield than grow old in fear." Hoseok shrugged.

"Wow." Jin nodded in approval. "Bold."

"Well he is a Council member. It would be shameful if all the other Council members took part in the last battle and he didn't..." Tae pondered. "But I wonder if he'll be able to do anything like that."

"If he stays behind, and helps the sniper team, I think he'll be helpful." Jin stated. "But that's up to the Lieutenant I guess."

Hurriedly, Yoongi's unit was being led out of the entrance by the other Council member's. Yoongi walked on the outskirts of the ranks, his eyes vigilant and fiery. His actions made you recall that Yoongi was notorious for being paranoid and skeptic, and as a result, predicted almost all of the Oppressor's plots and plans. You turned your head forward confidently.

It was time to get serious.

After all, you were all venturing to the very heart and core of the Oppressors -- the Capitol.

"You!"

Jungkook froze as he was about to enter his quarters.

"Yes, sir!" he replied hastily.

"You're being transferred to new quarters soon." one of the higher rank Oppressors stated. "Alert your comrades."

"Yes sir!" Jungkook stood up straight.

"Oh, and just between us two..." his commanding officer chuckled. "I hear they're planning to torture the Changers who tried to sneak into our army soon. They're just trying to starve and dehydrate them first so the pain will sting more and they'll be less resistant to betraying their comrades."

Jungkook grinded his teeth together then forced out a laugh. "Why wait? Shouldn't it be better to torture them and then continue with the starvation?"

The officer cracked up and smacked Jungkook's shoulder. "I like how you think! What a wonderful idea."

Jungkook smiled and bowed, "Well then, I should prepare to transfer rooms so there's no time wasted when the order is issued."

"Very well."

He stepped into his room and exhaled, punching the wall angrily.

It had been a day or two --he had lost count-- since his entire unit had been taken captive. He wasn't sure about the details of their capture, but he had gathered enough information to know where they were being held. But until the reinforcements came, he couldn't act rashly. He was sorely outnumbered and joining his unit in captivity would only serve to crush their hopes. He needed to continue his facade and gain the trust of the Oppressors around him. That was the only way he could continue to collect information for the benefit of the plan, for the downfall of the Oppressors.

Thanks to the hard work of the Scavengers and Farmers, an underground passage had been formed that led into the town that was within the Capitol city. So the units remained safe and out of danger until the point where you all had to climb to the surface. Once you did, everyone would split up according to Yoongi's plans and carry out their own missions.

Jin had been chosen to lead the Sniper unit to take out the assigned Oppressor officials. Jimin and Hoseok, with their prowess in combat, were in charge of the Prevention group. Their mission was to work with the Sniper unit and prevent Oppressors from leaving the city and carrying out their plan to mass murder the innocent captives in the prison camps. Yoongi, Taehyung, the other Council member, and a few of your unit's skilled members formed the Rescue Team, whose mission was to infiltrate the Oppressors Capitol, kill D, and save their comrades. But regardless of the intensity of the mission, the numbers of the Rescue Team were small due to the very nature of it. It would be difficult to move about in masses, so most of the soldiers had been assigned to the Prevention group.

But you...you belonged to none of the groups. You had a special individual mission. Something only you could do.

"Be careful." You frowned as you hugged each one of your comrades.

Hoseok chuckled. "You're the one that needs to be the most careful, silly."

You smiled. "I guess you're right."

"We'll back you up as always." Jin ruffled your hair.

"We believe in you." Jimin buried his head into your shoulder as he squeezed you tightly.

"I believe in you guys too."

You stepped in front of Taehyung and he grinned at you brightly as he spread out his arms. You rushed in to hug him, always finding comfort in his embrace.

"I knew you'd be the key to the New World." he hummed into your hair and you tried to fight back tears.

He pinched your cheeks and scrunched his face cutely.

"Go kick some Oppressor butt!"

You chuckled and nodded, then turned to Yoongi, who was waiting by the ladder that everyone had to take to ascend. Smiling, you approached him and wrapped your arms around his neck. He huffed and lightly patted your back, as if he didn't want to touch you, but you continued to hold onto him.

"Thank you for everything." You whispered. "And I won't let you down."

Yoongi nodded. "I know you won't."

You exhaled to compose yourself and began climbing up the rungs of the ladder. With one last deep breath, you pushed the lid up and felt the cool air hit your face as you emerged up to the surface.

Hurriedly, you covered up the tunnel path once again and adjusted your outfit. You grabbed dirt and covered your tattered dress and face with it. Long gone was your uniform since Yoongi had divulged his plan.

Your role was the key to the entire operation; Jungkook's life depended on your success.

Bravely, you marched to the Capitol gates, thankful for the blanket of darkness that hid how much you were shivering from the thin fabric of your outfit and from fear. You knocked firmly and a guard appeared, studying you up and down.

"What do ya want woman? Everyone should be indoors right now."

"I-I..." You acted the part, weak and timid.

"Speak up woman!"

"I-I wish to sell my body to the Capitol for food, shelter, and a comfortable life..." You stated, looking at the ground, like it had been a difficult choice.

The guard grinned widely as he opened the door to rake his eyes over your body, judging whether you would be a worthy catch to take in. You continued to look down submissively and let him lift your chin up to examine your face. You shivered as he swiped his thumb across your lip and licked his own hungrily. Tenderly, his fingers traced down your bare arm and you shivered.

"Very well." he grinned. "I'll have to try you out first before I hand you over to the higher ranks. See if you're good enough."

You gulped as he pulled you flush against him.

"Soldier! What're you doing?" A rough voice echoed and immediately, the guard stumbled back away from you.

"I-I--" he stammered. "A woman asked to be one of our Oppressor whores so I was making sure she fit the criteria."

"Heh." the rough voice chuckled. "Sounds like you just wanted her for yourself."

"N-no...of course not." The guard bowed his head. "I would never take someone for myself when there are so many officials who deserve the pleasure more."

"I thought so."

You felt a strong grip on your arm and in no time, you were being dragged further inside the gates, away from the guard.

"Come here, soldier."

Jungkook flinched as he was roughly pulled to his Commanding Officer's side.

"So I told the Head about your comment, and he was greatly pleased by your idea."

"W-was he?" Jungkook chuckled nervously.

"Yes. And he wanted you to join in on the fun, since he found you to be most loyal. So come with me."

"What do you mean? I am but a lowly-ranked soldier. I cannot possibly..."

"No, no. You are welcomed and revered here, young man. All who the Head admires and respects shall be rewarded in his New World. He has taken a liking to you and would like you to do the honors of torturing the captives yourself. Do this and he shall grant you a title."

Jungkook's eyes widened as he found himself inside the Chamber of Captives, staring at his unit.

"Come." His Commanding Officer gestured and he looked away and followed, not wanting his stare to linger. But he saw the fear and confusion in his comrade's eyes when they spotted him. "We'll start off with a simple punishment."

He handed Jungkook a metal stick with the Oppressor symbol at the end of it. Carefully, he guided Jungkook's arm into the nearby furnace to heat up the metal.

"We're going to brand their skin with our symbol, so they won't forget who's truly in power here." he smirked. "Once you see the metal mark turn orange, press it onto any part of their body."

"Shouldn't we ask them questions first?" Jungkook questioned.

"I'll ask that while you're branding them. They won't speak otherwise." The Officer laughed. "They're doing something so worthless. Protecting such a tiny organization of misfits, of impurities, of convicts. And look what that blasted Leader of theirs did. Shove them into enemy territory to DIE."

Jungkook tightened his grip on the metal.

"Brand us. We won't talk!" one of his comrades yelled angrily. "You'll never capture our Leader!"

Jungkook knew he was telling him to keep up the charade and go along with what the Officer wanted, to save himself. The Officer grabbed his comrade's head and bashed it against the wall roughly.

"You'll be tortured first." he chuckled. "Soldier, come here."

Jungkook gulped as he marched towards his friend with a steaming iron branding stick. As he passed, his comrades nodded firmly to encourage him. He needed to do this. They were willing to die to protect him. He clenched his fist tighter in frustration as his Officer positioned the iron by his comrade's cheek. Even though, it wasn't directly on his skin, the heat it was emanating still had him screaming in pain. Jungkook gritted his teeth as he watched the iron being pulled closer to his friend's cheek.

"Who is your Leader?" The Officer questioned closely.

"You, you asshole." his comrade spit into his face and chuckled.

Immediately, Jungkook felt the Officer grab the pole, about to push it forward to burn his unit member. He knew he had to let it happen, but he couldn't.

Swiftly, he redirected the flaming end of the stick and jabbed it onto the Officer's face. The large, muscular man shrieked in pain and stumbled back. Jungkook knew he had limited time so he pulled out his gun and lodged a bullet into the Officer writhing in pain in front of him. Hurriedly, he moved from his spot to avoid getting his comrades involved in the crossfire and began shooting at the guards and soldiers in the Chambers.

If he was going to be inevitably captured, he was at least going to decrease their numbers as much as he could beforehand.

In the meanwhile, you were being taken deep inside the Capitol's walls as well.

"You came at a good time." the soldier gripping your arm smirked. "One of our officials has been greatly needy for a good whore to fuck."

You swallowed back your curses at his degrading language and bowed. "I am honored to have such an opportunity. When will I be given food?"

The soldier cackled, "He'll eat you first before you get to eat, sweetie."

"But sh-shouldn't I eat to get more energy?"

"Oh don't worry." the soldier shook his head. "He'll do all the work. You just need to lay there like a good little woman and let him beat into your pussy."

You clenched your fist tightly, trying to fight down the urge to push your knuckles into his face. However, all thoughts in your head were immediately erased when you spotted someone coming through the hallway. Your eyes widened as you noticed him struggling and squirming, also being held onto tightly by a soldier. He was battered and beaten, cuts and bruises tainted his once smooth skin. A deep cut was freshly bleeding on his left cheek.

It was Jungkook.

Your heart fluttered with relief that he was alive but sank as it dawned on you that he was being taken somewhere as a captive.

Jungkook's body froze and tensed up as his eyes landed on you. At first, he thought he was hallucinating from the immense pain and aches that he felt throughout his body. But as you two made your way closer to each other, he knew his eyes weren't playing tricks on him. It was really you. You were in front of him.

But why?

His eyes glanced down at your outfit and he realized that you had infiltrated the Capitol by pretending to be one of its poor townswomen who were willing to sleep with officials for food and shelter. His stomach dropped and a sense of rage bubbled inside of him at the thought of someone else touching you sensually, of kissing you in places where they shouldn't be. But he was helpless and it frustrated him beyond belief.

On the other hand, you were upset that you couldn't break your cover and save him right then and there. You had your own mission that you couldn't blow and the realization that he was going to get hurt before you could do it disheartened you.

"Where are you taking me?!" Jungkook growled as he pretended to struggle.

He realized quickly what Yoongi's plan was and wanted to subtly give you the information you needed.

"To the torture chambers of course. Just down this hall, so don't walk too slowly. You're going be dragged their eventually." the soldier smiled. "Someone who killed so many of our soldiers and one of our Commanding Officers needs to be punished...severely."

You swallowed at hearing that statement.

"Oh!" Jungkook's soldier noticed the soldier holding you. "What have you got there?"

"Pretty, right?" the soldier raised your arm and wiggled it. "She wants food and water in exchange for her body. I know exactly which higher rank to take her to."

"Of course. There's only one higher rank who likes to fuck daily."

Jungkook took advantage of them being distracted in conversation to brush his hand against yours gently. You fought back a sob at the feeling of his skin against yours. You had missed him so much. You wanted to embrace him, to kiss him, but it wasn't time yet.

You opened your hand up and let your fingers glide over his palm softly as you both continued to be dragged away.

"Wait for me." You whispered as the guards continued bellowing to each other.

"Always." Jungkook replied before your hands slipped out of each other's reach, and you could no longer turn back to take another glimpse of his face.

You had no idea where either of you were being taken and where you two would end up.

"Official, I've brought you a wonderful present." The soldier pushed you forward into a dimly lit quarter.

"Hmm...?" A tall, burly man wearing a coat of fur stood up from his table.

His eyes happened upon your figure and he grinned widely, his eyes gleaming with lust immediately.

"And here I thought I'd have to take care of myself tonight." he hummed as he circled you, studying you like a piece of meat.

You swallowed as your heart thumped against your chest.

"Leave us." he directed to the soldier as his hand tilted your chin up to take a good look at your face. "You're beautiful. It's a shame to be rough with such a beautiful flower. But I've been craving for a release. My last whore...well...you won't have to worry about her anymore."

You shivered at the thought.

"There seems to be a lot of ruckus outside. Will they not hear us in here?" You meekly spoke.

He snorted. "It's just our Head going about his business as usual. Apparently they're setting out to massacre the people who don't fit into his standards tonight, so the armies are mobilizing. But everyone knows what's happening inside my quarters if it gets loud. Don't be shy. It's an honor to be chosen as one of my whores. If you please me, I will give you an infinite amount of food and riches. A fair trade, don't you think?"

He traced your face gently then tightly gripped at your cheeks.

"Are they mobilizing near here?" You asked.

"No. They usually mobilize near his quarters. That selfish bastard keeps the best guards close to him."

"But you seem much more..." You fluttered your eyes. "...powerful than he is."

The official grinned widely and pushed you down onto his bed.

"Yes. How about I show you just how strong I am?" he growled as he climbed on top of you.

"And how would you do things differently than your Leader?" You crawled your fingers up his arm sensually.

His eyes twinkled that you thought him superior to the Leader.

"Instead of going through the Entrance with a large army, I'd probably set out a few people at a time to make it less obvious." he explained. "Since he's paranoid about the Changers and all."

"The Changers?" You questioned innocently.

"Oh they're a group of rebels essentially. I heard they captured a few of them that infiltrated the Capitol. Threw them in the Chambers of Captives at the center of the Capitol. That's the room that doubles as a lab because they experiment on captives there." he grinned. "Nothing like treating those worthless bastards like the lab rats and livestock they truly are. They've been trashing this world for too long."

"On my way here, I spotted them taking one of the captives elsewhere." You spoke quickly because his hands were running up your thighs needily.

"Oh? The torture chamber probably. They drown and electrocute people there to punish them." he smiled as he kissed your shoulder. "You're so soft, so young."

You swallowed.

"How does everyone know where everyone is? Like why don't you just kill the Leader in his sleep?"

His lips traveled to your neck and you tried to lean away so he wouldn't make contact with you. But he pushed his head forward and lapped at your neck. You winced at the disgusting feeling.

"The main computer uses thermal energy readings and combines them with the map to show where everyone who's in the system is. But someone needs to know exactly who he wants to keep an eye on for the computer to track them. It can't pinpoint everyone for everyone at a given time."

You smirked as you relaxed to let him work his way around your neck.

"And how do you access that?"

"There's a black box next to everyone's door that links to the main computer. We could access it that way..." Then he lifts his head up. "Why're you asking these questions?"

"Because..." you reached down your bare leg and glided your hand up while he watched you hungrily.

He licked his lips as you flashed your panties. But as soon as he realized what was on your hip, you had already pulled out your knife and dug it into him.

"I'm one of the livestock." You scoffed as you hurriedly pushed his heavy body off of you.

He choked as he clutched his heart where you had impaled him. You towered over him, steadily holding out your gun.

"And women aren't your plaything, asshole." You whispered as you pulled the trigger and silently finished him off.

You lifted your wrist up and tapped on your plain looking bracelet three times. "I've got the information. Like we thought, they are making their move tonight at the entrance of the Capitol city. They're moving a large army through there to head to the prison camps. I also found that I can hack into the main computer to give you guys their locations."

"Perfect." Namjoon's voice came out excitedly. "Use the gadget I gave you and I'll extract the names on the Hit List. Oh wait...what's this?"

"Hm?" You blinked.

"Y/N. You already have information on the Hit List's whereabouts and certain routes we can take on your bracelet."

"What?"

"Y/N." Namjoon inhaled. "Did you have contact with Jungkook?"

"We passed by each other in the hallway." You frowned. "He's been captured."

"That's why I lost contact..." Namjoon breathed. "But it looks like he transferred what information he and his unit had gathered to your bracelet from his for me."

Of course Jungkook, even in the height of emotions and captivity, would still be thinking ahead. You were both amazed and grateful about his quick call.

"Y/N. I need you to plug in my gadget and connect it to your bracelet so I can hack the main computer. We need to get Yoongi, D's location and an updated thermal map of the Capitol building. Can you do that?" Namjoon worried.

"I'll do it before they find out what I did." You stated.

"What?"

"I took care of one of the officials on the Hit List. Luckily, they took me to him." You glanced down at the corpse below you.

"Wow." Yoongi's nonchalant voice drawled into the conversation. "Impressive."

"You go, Y/N." Jin breathed. "You're not hurt right?"

"I'm okay. I'll need to step out of his quarters to get D's information though."

"Alright. I'll send the rest of the information to the Prevention and Sniper teams so they can get started." You heard Namjoon frantically typing. "Be careful Y/N. It's only a matter of time before someone goes to check on the official or sees you suspiciously walking around."

"I got a plan to buy time. Don't worry." You glanced over at the official's closet. "I'll hack it for sure."

"We're counting on you pipsqueak." Yoongi stated.

You chuckled and tapped the bracelet to turn off the communication. Hurriedly, you threw on clothes, adjusting them so they weren't big on you, and then you grabbed as many of his weapons as you could find. You placed your gun and knife secretly back into your undergarments, just in case, thankful that Namjoon had really thought ahead with your costume. He had the Textiles sew it with pockets to conceal your weapons. But you also made sure you had easy access to the other weapons you had acquired, now that you were in imminent danger.

With a deep breath, you stepped out of his room and quickly made your way to the black box next to his door. You ripped the cover and pulled off your necklace, pushing it into plug. Then you leaned your wrist forward and it magnetized to the pendant of the necklace, which was Namjoon's hidden hacking device. You watched as the device came to life, transforming into what looked like a spider or tick as it dug its legs into the wires.

Looking around, you tapped onto your bracelet three times and whispered, "How long Namjoon?"

"Gimme a few seconds. I got D's location and the map already, but I'm trying to give them your thermal reading and Jungkook's too so they can find you afterwards."

"Oh--"

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" a soldier growled in your direction.

"Don't worry about it Namjoon." You hissed. "Just send what you have right now. D is the most important! They're coming for me!"

"Y/N! But--"

"Transfer it NOW!" You yelled as you pulled out your gun and shot the soldier approaching you.

Namjoon exhaled and you heard the clicking of his keyboard frantically.

Other soldiers witnessed your murder and began crowding around you, but you had to stay in place until Namjoon completed the transfer.

"Done!"

"Bye Namjoon." You whispered as you turned off the bracelet and threw the pendant onto the ground violently, shattering it into pieces so it would be rendered useless.

You sprinted to an empty hallway as you evaded the shots being fired your way. You took out a few of the soldiers during your escape, but you knew you had to find a hiding place.

"That girl killed an official!!"

You heard someone yell and you pinned yourself into a tiny space between the wall as they ran around in disarray. The official's wardrobe you had stolen served as camouflage with the darkness of your hiding spot.

"She killed an official!"

"Contact the higher ups!"

You breathed, trying to figure out where to go from there. You had done your job with getting the Hit List and the locations of each of them to the others. But you couldn't just sit around and hide while waiting for the Rescue team to kill D. Who knew what tortures they were being put through in the meantime?

You bit your lip, knowing exactly what you had to do. Taking out your blow dart from your bra, you shot people who passed by silently, before they could call for help or say anything. You needed to dwindle down as many of the Oppressor forces as you could.

"Target locked." Jin peered through his new gun easily.

Namjoon upgraded the sniper guns so that they were able adjust the distance and clarity in order to better pinpoint their targets.

"Target locked here too, sir." one of his comrades spoke.

"Here as well."

"We're going to take three officials out in 3...2...1!"

Quiet bullets pierced through the darkness into the official's heads. They couldn't risk aiming for their chests in case they had protective gear underneath. They needed to make a clean shot and cross off their list as fast as possible.

"Jimin." Jin spoke into his bracelet.

"Ditto." Jimin pulled out a small button that Namjoon had given him and pressed it with a grin.

"Jimin, this is important." Namjoon gave it to him. "Pressing this button will intercept the Oppressor signals so they can't communicate to the inside of the Capitol building. This is going to cut them off from each other, so they won't be able to call for reinforcements. This will hopefully increase your chances."

"But what about our signals?" Jimin questioned.

Namjoon grinned. "I designed your bracelets to work at different frequencies on purpose. You'll able to still talk to each other, but they can't."

"Take that, Oppressors." Jimin smirked and punched his fists together.

"Let's go take their army down." Hoseok patted his friend's back.

"Let's."

"I got your back guys." Jin grinned as he clipped wires from a bomb. "Though, my men are finding a lot of bombs in the proximity. They're probably being used as a defense if anything. Contact me immediately if you see one. I'll go defuse it."

"Sounds good." Hoseok groaned as he battled an Oppressor soldier.

"Is there something we could do to block off the entrance?" Jimin huffed as he took out another soldier. "It's a bit difficult trying to survive, trying to kill the enemy, and trying to keep an eye out on anyone that escaped through the entrance."

Jin glanced down at the bombs he was defusing in front of him curiously.

"I think I have an idea."

"Y/N. Y/N." Tae called worriedly.

But he received only silence as an answer.

"She turned off her bracelet." Yoongi frowned. "She knows it's dangerous if they find out there's more of us."

"Sorry I couldn't act fast enough." Namjoon exhaled.

"It's fine. You did it faster than anyone else would've." Yoongi comforted. "We'll find them no matter what afterwards. At least for now, we have D's location."

He pressed his bracelet and the Capitol building map with a blinking red dot was projected from it.

"We'll find him and get rid of him first and foremost."

Suddenly, there was a loud explosion from the direction of the entrance, where the other teams were.

Yoongi hurriedly contacted them. "Jin! Hoseok! Jimin! Report!"

"We're okay." Jin coughed. "That was my plan to seal off the entrance."

Yoongi groaned. "I don't know if that was smart or idiotic."

"Why?"

"Now the inside of the Capitol building will know we're here."

"But on the up-side, they can't go anywhere!" Tae grinned.

Yoongi growled. "Stay on your toes men. We're going inside. Hopefully we can kill D and his main army before he sends out reinforcements to you guys."

Jin hesitated and sounded disheartened. "We'll hold down the fort here then."

"Good call, soldier." Yoongi smiled, sensing Jin's doubt at his call. "You saved the captives beyond the wall of the Capitol city."

"Thank you. Stay safe Rescue Team." Jin's voice quickly turned brighter at the reassurance.

"Namjoon, we're going in."

"Good luck, Yoongi."

In the meanwhile, you had successfully killed a good amount of soldiers as you fled and hid tactfully, but you weren’t able to evade their forces for long. You were thrown onto the ground roughly by two muscular soldiers. You coughed at the impact and glared up at them, but your breath stopped short when you found yourself in front of Jungkook and his unit.

You had been taken to the Chamber of Captives.

Taking advantage of your surprise, they pulled you off the ground by grabbing the roots of your hair. You winced in pain. They slammed you into a chair and automatically, chains clicked around your ankles and wrists, pinning you down to it. You struggled as the chair evened out and become a stretcher of sorts. You were now staring face to face with a higher ranked soldier with a scar across one of his eyes.

"Who sent you? What's your objective?" he roughly questioned.

You spit at him defiantly, and he gripped his hand around your neck, crushing your throat.

Jungkook felt his eyes water as he watched you being violently handled. He and his unit knew that they couldn't react or else they would give away that you were one of them. And who knew if you would be subjected to immediate death or worst tortures, being a woman. He clenched his fists angrily. What was so good about all his training and his power when he couldn't even protect you right now?

The high-ranked soldier loosened his grip and ripped the Oppressor clothes off of you easily. You were now once again scantily clothed in your tattered dress and at the mercy of someone else's will. But Jungkook and the others were so close. You had found where they were. You were in the same room at the same time. And somewhere in the building were Yoongi and the Rescue Team. You simply had to wait for them to find you all.

But for how long?

You felt a stinging pain on your arm as he carved into your skin with a knife. You screamed loudly as tears streamed down your face.

"Will you talk now? Or should I continue to write my name into your arm?"

You silently thanked the Heavens that he was leaving your stomach alone. No matter what happened to the outside of your body, you didn't want them to touch the life that was growing inside of you.

You remained silent to his questions, yet couldn't help but screech whenever he dug his knife into your arm. The pain was unbearable and your vision was slowly getting hazy because of its overwhelming sensation. You knew that Jungkook was on edge and any time now, he would jump in to sacrifice himself in your stead. You couldn't have that. You didn't want that. The Changers needed their Leader safe to lead them into the New World.

All of a sudden the stretcher was flipped upside down and your head was forcibly dunked into a tank full of water. You wriggled to pull your head out but to no avail. You were lifted back up and you gasped for air.

"Still not talking?"

Your mind was struck with a brilliant idea from your train of thoughts.

You were sure that Yoongi was somewhere in the building at the moment, trailing after D. They had his thermal readings, but not the coordinates of the Chamber of Captives.

You smirked.

"Bring D in here."

"And why should we do that?" The high ranked soldier squinted.

"I believe he and I have a lot to talk about." You bluffed.

"Why is that?"

"I'm the Leader of the Changers."

Jungkook's eyes widened in shock and he wriggled in his chains frantically.

"What're you--"

"Tell him to come here and face me himself instead of being a coward." You scoffed. "Shouldn't he be ashamed that a woman is giving him a run for his money?"

"Don't talk about our Leader like that! How dare you call him by such a name!"

You were pulled out of the seat and hung beside one of your comrades on the wall. They pulled your arms above you and laced your wrists together with chains, much like the other Changers. The high ranked soldier left swiftly, and you smiled triumphantly.

If Yoongi couldn't find you himself, you would lure his target to you.

"Gather my main army!" D bellowed as he threw on his uniform. "We must dispose of the ruckus at the entrance. Did they set off one of the bomb traps by accident? Those buffoons!"

"Your Greatness!" the high rank soldier barged into his room.

"What is it? This better be good!" he snapped. "I'm busy!"

"We've captured the Leader of the Changers." he breathed.

D's eyes widened and he grabbed his gun hurriedly. "Change course. The main army and I will head to the Chamber of Captives."

"The dot is moving!" Tae whispered. "Where is he going?"

Yoongi squinted his eyes. "Doesn't matter. We still need to trail him until we can get a clear shot of him. Let's go."

"It looks like he's heading to the Chamber of Captives." the broken-armed Council member pointed out. "And at a quick pace too."

Yoongi furrowed his brow and turned off his bracelet. "We have to go. Quickly, silently."

They easily scurried through the empty hallways, thanks to Jin's explosion forcing the armies to mobilize, following the way to the Chamber of Captives.

"Nice thinking, squirt." Yoongi smirked, having a faint feeling that you were behind this change in plans. "Killing two birds with one stone, huh?"

"Well, well, well..."

The doors slid open to the Chamber and D stepped inside, smirking widely.

"Who knew the Leader would come to the Capitol herself? How valiant."

You glared at him and lifted your chin up confidently. "How can I stay behind while my men fight?"

"Spoken like a true Leader." D chuckled as he stood in front of you. "I heard you also took out one of my officials and several of my soldiers. I'm impressed by your skill."

"You'll be more impressed when I kill you myself." You snarled and he cackled.

"Oh yeah. And how do you plan to kill me? We've stripped you of all your weapons and frankly, you're not in a position to move."

He reached out to touch your face. "Such a waste though, truly. I would've liked someone of insurmountable talent and potential like you by my side. But it's such a waste that you were born a woman."

"So you're going to kill me?" You smugly spat.

"Oh no." D took out his gun and stroked it. "You're going to watch me kill every one of these captives, your precious soldiers. One by one. Isn't that worse than death itself? Watching helplessly as your loved ones die? Because you dared to defy my nation. Because you led them to their very deaths."

"You're wrong!" You howled, trying to keep him distracted nervously. "A woman founded the Changers. They've been stopping you for years now and you still think we aren't capable of winning? Hah!"

D scoffed. "A woman...yes."

He placed his gun on your cheek.

"The woman who found your petty organization was my sister."

Your eyes widened in astonishment.

"I believe she went simply by the name 'B' to strip any evidence of her relations with me." He walked around the chamber, waving his gun nonchalantly. "She tried to stop me from stepping into office, but obviously, it was too late. I had been planting officials into the government secretly for years before she caught on, so that I could easily rise to power when the time came. I accumulated money to manipulate people and businesses to my side. I made empty promises and spoke of taking back a nation from its impurities. Impurities only I could see and judge."

"You make me sick." You hissed.

"Do I? I'm honored." He chuckled. "But my terribly delusional sister always talked about hope and the goodness of humanity. How those differences make people 'unique'. How it's a sign of ‘progression’, not regression. She wanted to 'understand' others instead of hating what we couldn't understand because it was puzzling. She said we should 'love' and not judge and assume. But look where that got her."

He shook his head, but looked quite amused.

"It's sad thinking that you've taken over as the Leader. You'd think the Changers learned by now not to put a woman at the top. I mean with how easily my sister believed in the information I WANTED her to discover and all. She fell into my trap so stupidly. She begged me to release her unit. She treated them as equals and as family. She's my own blood, my own kin, but she tainted herself by associating with those people."

You gritted your teeth at his story.

"So I killed her." he shrugged. "I thought I'd be a bit sad, but I felt nothing."

He spun around and pointed the gun at the soldier beside you from a distance.

"Which is why I'm not going to feel anything killing any of you."

Jungkook closed his eyes and dug his nails into his palm angrily.

"You're wrong!" Jungkook yelled at him, trying to prolong him pulling the trigger. "B gave us hope. And she gave us all a family, showed everyone how to love even in times of darkness. Every one of us came from different backgrounds and social classes, but we were able to work together and become friends. We aren't impurities!"

"What are you then?" D hissed.

"The future." Jungkook smirked as he glanced up.

"Now." Yoongi whispered as he and his soldiers pushed down at the holes they had been silently drilling into the ceiling.

"Incoming!" Tae chuckled as he threw one of Namjoon's inventions onto the ground.

The ball spun wildly and emitted large clouds of smoke.

"Not my kind of bomb but eh." Tae shrugged as he and the other soldiers slid down to the ground using rope, and pulled goggles over their eyes to help them maneuver through the smoke screen.

Sounds of bodies falling to the ground were heard and aimless shooting commenced from the Oppressors. Fighting had broken out inside the Chamber, but it was unclear as to who was winning or losing, due to vision being completely blocked by Tae's bomb.

Suddenly, you felt a pair of hands unlocking your chains and you fell into their arms limply.

"Gotcha." Tae grinned happily as he pulled another set of goggles over your eyes.

You smiled, seeing him clearly through the fog now, and hugged him. "I knew you would."

"Wow. Looks like you need saving." Yoongi teased cheekily as he stood in front of Jungkook.

"It seems you'll never let me live this down, hyung." Jungkook chuckled.

"Nope." Yoongi unlocked his chains and they bumped fists.

"I need to get to Y/N." Jungkook pulled the goggles over his eyes. "They think she's the Leader. She's in danger."

"I'll have your back as usual." Yoongi glanced around to scan the area, taking in the battle happening around him. They were scraping down the Oppressor numbers easily without many casualties, thanks to Namjoon's smoke screen idea.

But suddenly, Yoongi gasped as he caught glimpse of the Council member in his team moving his "broken" arm out of its sling. He was smirking mischievously and aiming his gun at Jungkook.

In the meanwhile, Jungkook was too focused on hurrying towards you frantically. D had stolen goggles from one of the fallen Changers and was aiming his gun straight at your back from a distance.

"Jungkook!" Yoongi yelled and sprinted forward.

"Y/N!"

Loud shots were fired one after another and the sound reverberated throughout the chamber. Everyone froze, waiting for the fog to clear, wondering who had fired and who was hit.

Jungkook inhaled sharply as he watched Yoongi's body fall to the ground in front of him. Yoongi had leapt in front of him without hesitation, taking the bullet, all while shooting the Council member in return.

"Yoongi!" Jungkook breathed as he knelt down in panic. "We need cover!"

His unit surrounded them as he shook his friend's body.

"Yoongi!" he yelled.

Yoongi coughed and looked up at Jungkook weakly. "Take her. Take her dog tag so she can be reunited with your brother."

"Take who?"

"B." he exhaled as he pointed to his chest.

Jungkook furrowed his brow as he pried open Yoongi's clothes.

"Yoongi..."

"If you tell me you love me, I swear I'm going to haunt you." Yoongi chuckled.

"No, Yoongi..." Jungkook smiled as he lifted the dog tag up in front of his face. The bullet had formed a dent into the metal, but it miraculously didn't pierce through it. "B saved you, you overdramatic git."

Yoongi blinked as Jungkook handed him B's dog tag.

"What?"

"You're not bleeding. The bullet didn't touch you. You probably just felt the blow of the impact." Jungkook chuckled as he wiped his tears. "You're an asshole for scaring me like that."

Yoongi sat up and felt around his body, overwhelmed and surprised by the fact that he was in fact unscathed and alive.

"But I felt it...I thought I was..." His voice faltered and he opened his hand, tears immediately staining the dog tag. He wept into his palm. "Stupid B. Keeping me alive still. You're so selfish."

Jungkook sniffled as he patted his hyung's shoulder gratefully. He then intently glared over at the contorted, unmoving figure of the Council member Yoongi had shot down.

"TAEHYUNG!"

Jungkook was suddenly brought out of his thoughts by your piercing shriek. He and Yoongi whipped their head around to your direction.

The fog was beginning to thin out, and they were able to make out your figure, clutching a limp body on your lap. Jungkook's eyes scanned your area and found D's corpse, graced with multiple bullet holes, lying on the ground with other Oppressors.

When Tae had pushed you out of the way just a few seconds before, you instinctively pulled out the gun hidden in your undergarment and continuously pressed the trigger, lodging a barrage of bullets into D's body. But although, you had taken down D, it was too late.

Hurriedly, you placed your gun on the ground, and pressed down on Tae's wound. You couldn't see straight as your eyes filled up with tears.

"Why? Why did you jump in front of me, Tae?"

"Intuition?"

You glared at him, irritated that he was being cheeky at a time like this.

Tae chuckled and his hand landed on your stomach. "Well, there's two of you...and only one of me."

You began sobbing at his statement.

"You guys are family. You came here to be a family. I couldn't stand by and watch that disappear."

"But...but..."

"Y/N." Tae smiled brightly. "It's over now, right?"

You nodded as you glanced over at the lifeless body of D.

"It is. I shot him. We won...thanks to you."

Tae closed his eyes. "Good."

"No, stay with me! Keep your eyes open!" You panicked and held him closer, as if to prepare yourself to drag his soul back into his body if it tried to leave.

He violently coughed out blood and shook his head slowly. "It's been fun, Y/N. Every day was so fun with you, with everyone. But now I have to go see my family again. They're calling for me."

You wailed. "No, Tae. No. Please."

"Y/N." He beamed at you weakly, but his grin was still warm and affectionate. "Thank you for being my family...my best friend..."

"No! We were -- we were going to..."

Tae grinned. "I want to live with the other guys, and you and Jungkook can be our neighbors. We'll have a bunch of dogs. Jimin and I can farm!"

"I want sunshine, butterflies, and flowers. I want the skies to be blue again and the ground filled with green pastures and hints of vibrant red, yellow, purple, pink, and white. I want to hear laughter and eat good food. I want the world to stop enforcing shoes and socks so I could run around barefoot."

"I want it to be so full of love that people would be ashamed for hating someone else."

You leaned your forehead onto your best friend's as he took his last few ragged breaths. His contagious smile soon faded from his face, as the rest of his body grew cold and limp in your arms. Your tears streamed down your face and stained his cheeks, as your heart broke into a million pieces.

"We were going to see the New World together, Tae."

. . . .

PART 6: FINALE

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garudabluffs · 8 years ago

Video

youtube

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Science Deniers In Power Are A Profound Threat To Democracy

“You don’t have the option to say you don’t believe E=mc2. It’s true whether or not you believe it.”

“And Tyson warns that every minute someone is in denial of a scientific truth delays the “political solution that should have been established years ago.” READ MORE http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/degrasse-tyson-science-deniers_us_58f99e89e4b06b9cb91572a1

enlightenment = the misery of suffering dukkha x the constant of delusions** compounded by cultural conditioning and self-sustaining eghost “I” “me” “mine” habitual sensibilities...

“Decay is inherent in all compound things. Strive on with mindfulness.” - Sidhartha Gautama. These are attributed to be the final words of Gautama

ALL DHARMAS are marked by EMPTINESS = all dharmas are impermanent, impersonal,multiple~&~mutually~formed arisings : multi~dualistic~expialidocious

** duality : what is / what is not.

time for meditation,but no money for food,lodging,instruction. Can’t afford to go on or even travel to retreat centers. Working has giving me the money, but no time-off... I’d rather be unemployed and working than meditating in my leisure time, when i should be earning money instead to pay for my living expenses. Having either/or and not what is/ what ought to be... as the situation incident event circumstance i happen to be in... interferes with my meditation, as my mind is pre-occupied with thoughts about how a sedentary occupation like meditation has no human social value. Dharma Zen teacher once interrupted sesshin to say out loud “ is this self-indulgence,or real zazen?” We all spoke afterward how we all thought he was talking about us, or admonishing us, or inspiring us. Years later i asked him about this highly unusual,unexpected, & unprecedented outburst, and he said he was thinking to himself, - - just so happened to be outspoken this one time.. when silence & stillness the ideal...

containers of Silly Putty i have that can’t be recycled and discursive thinking that the human mind generates continuously & continually are forms of matter all dharmas mark with emptiness- which- “Emptiness is not a mere emptiness, but rather fullness in which the distinctiveness of everything is thoroughly realized.” -MASAO ABE, Zen and the Modern World

EMPTINESS & DEPENDENT ORIGINATION READ MORE

http://www.advayavada.com/the-philosophy-of-emptiness/

“emptiness is a room with no room in it for the likes of its contents” j.f.

will only take credit if equally to blame; & if not forgiven then best forgotten . . . “IT is better to do nothing than to waste your time.” Steven Armstrong’s suggestion for entryway above Insight Meditation Center main hall,Barre,MA. <>guess it wasn’t what was in mind when inscription selected...<>

p.18 “...in E=mc2, “E’ stands for energy, “M” for mass,”C” for speed of light. As mass is not lost,it is turned into energy. E=mc2 gives the exchange rate. p. 68 It takes light from the Sun about 8 minutes & 20 seconds to travel the 93 million miles that separate the Sun from the Earth. That means if the Sun were to stop shining now,we’d know about that (rather big) problem in 8 min.&20 sec. It also means that,from the Earth,you will always see the Sun as it was 8 min.& 20 sec. ago. Never as it is NOW. The Sun that shines in the sky on a sunny day never really is as you see it when you see it.It isn’t even where you see it anymore. During the 8 min. & 20 sec. its light takes to reach your skin, the Sun moves by about 73,000 miles on its orbit around the centre of our galaxy. / Now, the furthest light that we have managed to detect in our universe has travelled for as much as 13.8 billion years before hitting our telescopes,straight from when the universe became transparent.” p. 67 Anytime a star shines,its light carries an image of itself. (at186,282.397 miles per second) p.76 “... the actual distance between faraway galaxies and us is growing all the time. It means that space stretches,and therefore grows on its own./ / It is the very emptiness of space that is being stretched. /// They call it the expansion of the universe.”p.81 In other words, it is the fabric of the universe that is expanding.” - from “The Universe In Your Hand: A Journey Through space,Time,and Beyond” , _Christophe Galfard, N.Y. Flatiron Press,2015,2016

youtube

Rachael Leigh Cook was behind the original "your brain on drugs" ad. Her update shows how far we—and she—have come. April 21, 2017

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/remake-classic-your-brain-drugs-ad-slams-disastrous-drug-war

21 comments “It is a conundrum. Stop instigating and fighting wars in other countries and you get unemployed soldiers looking for jobs. Stop fighting the senseless war on drugs and you get maybe even more unemployed enforcement people, lawyers, court staff and prison personnel looking for work. From an unemployment perspective alone there is no way they will stop either of the war games.”

the WAR on DRUGS? “The refuge of the morally, intellectually, artistically and economically bankrupt is war.” ~Martin H. Fischer (1879–1962)

"Philosophy is at once the most sublime and the most trivial of human pursuits." - Willie James

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1363/why-did-william-sidis-the-worlds-2nd-smartest-human-achieve-so-little-in-life

“Robert M. Pirsig, author of the cult classic Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, who wrote about Sidis in his book Lila: An Inquiry Into Morals. He's now solidly ensconced in the pantheon of beings Too Smart for Their Own Good. Lord knows I've been there myself.” — Cecil Adams ]

The Moral Equivalent of War, the last public utterance of William James, is significant as expressing the opinions of a practical psychologist on a question of growing popular interest.

“Greek history is a panorama of jingoism and imperialism — war for war's sake, all the citizen's being warriors. It is horrible reading — because of the irrationality of it all — save for the purpose of making "history" — and the history is that of the utter ruin of a civilization in intellectual respects perhaps the highest the earth has ever seen.Those wars were purely piratical. Pride, gold, women, slaves excitement were their only motives. In the Peloponesian war, for example, the Athenians ask the inhabitants of Melos (the island where the "Venus de Milo" was found), hitherto neutral, to own their lordship. The envoys meet, and hold a debate which Thucydides gives in full, and which, for sweet reasonableness of form, would have satisfied Matthew Arnold. "The powerful exact what they can," said the Athenians, "and the weak grant what they must." When the Meleans say that sooner than be slaves they will appeal to the gods, the Athenians reply, "Of the gods we believe and of men we know that, by a law of their nature, wherever they can rule they will. This law was not made by us, and we are not the first to have acted upon it; we did but inherit it, and we know that you and all mankind, if you were as strong as we are, would do as we do. So much for the gods; we have told you why we expect to stand as high in their good opinion as you." Well, the Meleans still refused, and their town was taken. "The Athenians," Thucydides quietly says, "thereupon put to death all who were of military age and made slaves of the women and children. They then colonized the island, sending thither five hundred settlers of their own.Alexander's career was piracy pure and simple, nothing but an orgy of power and plunder, made romantic by the character of the hero. There was no rational purpose in it, and the moment he died his generals and governors attacked one another. The cruelty of those times is incredible. When Rome finally conquered Greece, Paulus Aemilius, was told by the Roman Senate, to reward his soldiers for their toil by "giving" them the old kingdom of Epirus. they sacked seventy cities and carried off one hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants as slaves. How many they killed I know not; but in Etolia they killed all the senators, five hundred and fifty in number. Brutus was "the noblest Roman of them all," but to reanimate his soldiers on the eve of Philippi he similarly promises to give them the cities of Sparta and Thessalonica to ravage, if they win the fight.” READ MORE http://www.constitution.org/wj/meow.htm

“when the last ammunition has been used in the fireworks that celebrate the final peace”

crime pays the wages of war crime pays the wages of war crime pays the title is derived from an American anti-war slogan from the hippie subculture during the Vietnam War era, popularized by Charlotte E. Keyes in her 1966 article for McCall's magazine titled "Suppose They Gave a War and No One Came".[2][3] a 1969 feature film.

“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.” George Orwell

“My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.” – George Washington

“War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.” –THOMAS MANN

“To establish any mode to abolish war, however advantageous it might be to Nations, would be to take from such Government the most lucrative of its branches”.~~~~~~~~~~~~~Thomas Paine (1737-1809) English intellectual. “If you insist upon fighting to protect me, or ''our'' country, let it be understood soberly and rationally between us that you are fighting to gratify a sex instinct which I cannot share; to procure benefits which I have not shared and probably will not share.” Virginia Woolf (1882-1941) British novelist and essayist. “There are two things which will always be very difficult for a democratic nation: to start a war and to end it. “ Alexis de Tocqueville (1805-1889) French social philosopher. Anton Chekhov : “Artists and intellectuals must deal with politics insofar as is necessary to put up a defense against politics.” + “Writers and artists should should engage themselves in politics only to protect themselves from politics.” + + “The personal life of every individual is based on secrecy, and perhaps it is partly for that reason that civilized man is so anxious that personal privacy should be respected.”

#science #deniers #Your Brain On Drugs update

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laurelkrugerr · 5 years ago

Text

This Company Is Making Texting With Your Doctor the New Normal

Vermont-based startup OhMD is making HIPAA-compliant texting free for medical practices across America and accelerating the ubiquity of telemedicine.

March 26, 2020 6 min read

Sometimes, the stats just speak for themselves. “We know that 98 percent of patients will read a text message, and 90 percent of those patients will see that text message within three minutes,” says Ethan Bechtel, founder of telehealth startup OhMD. “When you compare that to email, which is read 20 percent of the time, or a patient portal message, which is read 7 percent of the time, you quickly realize there is literally no other way to do this at scale.”

When Bechtel says “this,” he’s referring to the desperate battle that healthcare workers across the globe are waging against the unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. One of the most essential ways that doctors can slow the pandemic is by communicating with patients from afar, so this is a moment tailor-made for OhMD. The Vermont-based company offers medical providers a HIPAA-compliant communication platform, centered around texting, which they’re now making free to hospitals and medical practices across the nation.

A time to text

“Texting is such an important technology to leverage right now, because it doesn’t require that two people be on the phone at the exact same time to share information,” Bechtel says. “You can send a message out to 10,000 patients at the same time and be sure that 90 percent of them are going to read it. You can say, ‘Hey, if you have X, Y and Z symptoms, this is where you need to go for the testing facility. Do not go to the ER. Do not go to your family practitioner.’ We have clients in all 50 states, and the number of text messages being sent through the platform has tripled in the last week. Everything changed overnight.”

Until now, telehealth companies have been relative newbies in the glacially evolving landscape of healthcare, and their biggest challenge has been getting covered by insurance companies. But on March 17, Medicare announced it would be covering telehealth services for an unspecified time period. “Medicare just set the bar for reimbursement for telehealth in a massive way,” Bechtel says. “It would have taken a decade. Before this I believe the estimates were that telemedicine was going to be a $64 billion industry by 2025, but I would assume that number is no longer relevant because everything has changed. This is going to be the primary means of communicating and conducting a visit in the coming months, and I don’t think that genie gets put back in the bottle.”

Related: Why Increased Telemedicine Practice is the Need of the Hour for a …

Bittersweet boost for business

Like many people working in industries unexpectedly benefited by the crisis, Bechtel says he has mixed feelings about this being a take-off moment for OhMD. “What I feel is an internal struggle over the world being on fire and us being here, solving an important problem. It’s a good thing for our company and it’s a good thing for patients, and we’re helping doctors save lives, end of story. But it’s just hard to reconcile that with, I guess, the sheer size of this catastrophe.”

In a sense, Bechtel has been preparing for this his whole life. Healthtech might not be the first industry that comes to mind when someone says, “My family has been in the business for generations” — but as a kid growing up in Burlington, Vt., in the ’90s, Bechtel spent weekends helping out at his mom’s company. She was an orthopedic nurse practitioner turned X-ray tech who got her MBA and then started a business that provided financial services software to medical practices.

After college he began working for the family business and honed in on electronic medical records. He quickly understood that one of the greatest challenges for online medical portals was communicating with patients, and that’s how the idea for OhMD was born. In 2014 Bechtel took OhMD to the NYC healthtech accelerator Blueprint Health, and in 2016 he got funding from Burlington-based healthtech company IDX Solutions, which helped him make the decision to headquarter his business back home.

Related: Is Boom in Digital Healthcare is the Best Opportunity to Build Global …

Tracking a virus and fast-tracking telehealth adoption

Bechtel says that OhMD was closely following the coronavirus spread in China in early January, and his team began working overtime to fast-track a video function they’d planned to release later this year. In early March they began to hear from physicians in different states that OhMD was being used to triage patients before bringing them into the office. At that point, they realized how useful their services could be for this moment and decided to make the platform free or subsidized for as many practices as they had the bandwidth to help.

“Offering free features has always been part of our DNA, but right now stakes are much higher than they’ve ever been,” Bechtel says. “So while there’s a cost to offering free texting features for practices, we believe it’s our responsibility to bear as many of those costs as possible.”

Bechtel hopes that the distant blue sky in this storm will be the ubiquitous adoption of telehealth services, which he believes will play into the evolution toward a healthcare system that is ultimately more sustainable and effective. “As time goes on, more and more doctors will be reimbursed based on how healthy their patients are, versus how many patients they see. Because at the end of the day, this is all about outcomes,” Bechtel says. “How do we make you healthier? Healthcare is a very slow-moving system with many different stakeholders. But this is an inflection point for a number of us in this space. And I think if there’s a silver lining at the end of all of this, it’s that in 12 months, we’re going to look back and wonder why it took a pandemic to force us to use technology that actually improves patient care and access.”

Related: COVID-19 Will Fuel the Next Wave of Innovation

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Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/this-company-is-making-texting-with-your-doctor-the-new-normal/ source https://scpie1.blogspot.com/2020/03/this-company-is-making-texting-with.html

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riichardwilson · 5 years ago

Text

This Company Is Making Texting With Your Doctor the New Normal

Vermont-based startup OhMD is making HIPAA-compliant texting free for medical practices across America and accelerating the ubiquity of telemedicine.

March 26, 2020 6 min read

A time to text

Related: Why Increased Telemedicine Practice is the Need of the Hour for a …

Bittersweet boost for business

Related: Is Boom in Digital Healthcare is the Best Opportunity to Build Global …

Tracking a virus and fast-tracking telehealth adoption

Related: COVID-19 Will Fuel the Next Wave of Innovation

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/this-company-is-making-texting-with-your-doctor-the-new-normal/ source https://scpie.tumblr.com/post/613676160289767424

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scpie · 5 years ago

Text

This Company Is Making Texting With Your Doctor the New Normal

Vermont-based startup OhMD is making HIPAA-compliant texting free for medical practices across America and accelerating the ubiquity of telemedicine.

March 26, 2020 6 min read

A time to text

Related: Why Increased Telemedicine Practice is the Need of the Hour for a …

Bittersweet boost for business

Related: Is Boom in Digital Healthcare is the Best Opportunity to Build Global …

Tracking a virus and fast-tracking telehealth adoption

Related: COVID-19 Will Fuel the Next Wave of Innovation

Website Design & SEO Delray Beach by DBL07.co

Delray Beach SEO

source http://www.scpie.org/this-company-is-making-texting-with-your-doctor-the-new-normal/

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super-theelites-club-stuff · 5 years ago

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The Top 10 Reasons You Required A Computer Factor of Sale System For Your Company

10. If you have employees, you need a point of sale system. If you have employees you are open to theft, sweet-hearting and also negligent blunders. You need a point of sale system to manage your employees, enforce your policies and also insure that your cash gets to you. Of all upsetting situations that can take place in an office, none is as likely to cause emotions a lot more constantly than an incident of burglary, fraud or embezzlement. The 2003 National Retail Security Survey uncovered that virtually half of all losses can be attributed to worker burglary, amounting to billions of bucks each year. Some local business proprietors concern the pilfering of note pads, pens, paperclips, and also coworker lunches as minor occurrences, not worthy of disciplinary action. As a result, if a staff member really feels invincible, they may elevate the risks as well as steal something of greater worth, believing they will not be threatened with discontinuation or prosecution. The most effective protection is careful guidance as well as safety options that remove very easy possibilities. Human resource specialists suggest having greater than someone doing supply as well as accounting so no single staff member has excessive authority. Changing duties from someone to an additional, i.e., turning opening and also closing, allows workers to check each various other's work for precision and also suspicious activities. It additionally makes collusion between workers, or in between a worker and an outdoors resource, such as a distributor, significantly much less likely Small business owners need to highlight that there is no such point as an "acceptable quantity" of worker crime, and that none in any way will be tolerated. The Local business Management recommends that all violators be disciplined, no matter exactly how crucial the individual or just how tiny the violation. Though employee burglary is a real hazard, the National Federation of Independent Companies discourages becoming hyper-vigilant - that might annoy your truthful employees and lower morale. Proper security procedures and also a set of common sense procedures are the best ways to protect your local business. Examples of worker theft include: Building invoices: Salesmans can bill a consumer one amount, ring up a receipt for much less, and also pocket the difference. Concealing invoices: When accounting has little supervision, workers can keep cash as well as receipts without elevating an eyebrow. Taking merchandise: Bought items might never ever also make it to the racks. Scams: Employees can proclaim themselves providers of missing items, and also ultimately reimburse themselves handsomely. 9. To minimize or get rid of rates and math errors, you require a point of sale system. It is still incredible how many companies still make use of a calculator and also hand written tickets. According to studies done by different establishments you are open to math and also rates errors completing over of 1% of your yearly quantity. In a service doing as little as $1,300 each day that would amount to $4,700 annually. To remove rates and mathematics errors you need a factor of sale system. 8. If you want to regulate your pay-roll, you require a factor of sale system. Staff member payroll is just one of one of the most neglected as well as many easily handled parts of your revenue and also loss statement. If you have 12 staff members and each of them appear 5 minutes early a day, that relates to 1 hr each day of extra pay-roll. Even with minimum wage plus benefits this can add up to $6 - $8 per day or over $2,900 per year. This number doesn't think about the overall man-hours it takes to calculate time cards and after that report on the hours worked for each employee. This is time that you could be investing somewhere else. If you have a couple of as 5 employees you need a point of sale system. The majority of factor of sale systems have actually an integrated in time clock function. A long time clocks are particularly developed for details market needs. Functions created to control your employees as well as comply with the strict laws imposed upon your business. For example, restaurants have much more constraints positioned on them than a retail procedure. Handling employees and also a time clock can be difficult with some systems. When taking a look at various factor of sale systems make certain the one you chose has actually the attributes required by your specific market requirements. Making the most of the integrated time clock attribute can bring large outcomes. Additional revenues can quickly be the outcome of this very easy to use feature. 7. If you want to reduce worker burglary in your business, you require a factor of sale system. This is the original reason for the creation of the cash register back in the late 1800's. Even when most of the businesses were family had and also run there was a requirement for a sales register to decrease theft. In today's world of hiring staff members to help staff as well as manage your store there is even higher requirement for this kind of control. For years we have actually understood about the propensities of people with regard to burglary. 10% of individuals wouldn't take if offering the chance. 10 % of individuals are mosting likely to take no matter what safeguards are in area. 80% of the people will certainly swipe if given the possibility. Point of sale systems are implemented to defend against the 80% as well as make it more difficult for them to swipe from you. Regularly utilized systems Having an elementary understanding of the more typical forms of worker theft can assist local business owner develop a method for subverting them. Swiping pocket money. Little amounts of cash, such as costs or petty money, may not be missed out on at all. Knowing how much a thing is with tax obligation and making modification from an open drawer without ringing up the thing. Approving promo codes for products not called. This is referred to as discount coupon stuffing. Make believe pay-roll. Workers supervisors license wage for make believe workers, then maintain it on their own. 6. If you intend to accelerate solution, you need a factor of sale system. In a dining establishment there is just 1 thing we can think of that will drive clients away quicker than poor food which is slow-moving service. When a customer positions their order their very own internal clock is running in overdrive. No matter how long they took to look into the food selection and also to put their order, once they have actually offered your server or cashier their order their cravings clock is speeding up along faster than a fan above! You need a fast, trustworthy method to obtain orders right into your system. This should mean an incurable that is quickly, understandable as well as quick to respond to the touch of the web server, cashier or bar tender. The system must also disperse the order correctly to the kitchen prep terminal or bar. Your factor of sale system need to additionally gauge your rate of service and record on just how you are doing. Minimizing the moment it takes to get your consumer's their food is vital and also can also offset much less high quality. For proof I give you some of the major convenience food chains. Is their appeal based upon the very best tasting, finest dressed as well as best offered hamburger or speed of service? Speed of service is critical to every service, not just restaurants. If you want to quicken your client service you need a factor of sale system. 5. If you want to know even more about your company with enhanced reporting, you need a point of sale system. What is making use of having a computer and not making the most of the power? If all you require is to have a total amount of cash in the cabinet that in some cases matches for sales shown you probably do not require a factor of sale system. However, if you desire more detail and information to help manage your procedure and also make it extra lucrative then you require a point of sale system. It made use of to be that having an excellent product sufficed to get you by. Now it takes a lot even more info in order to compete with all the other restaurants in your market that are all seeking the exact same consumer you have seated in your restaurant. You require to comprehend the buying behaviors of your clients. What are they ordering? When are they ordering it? What is your most rewarding thing? The amount of it did you offer? What products on your food selection are not marketing? If you can not answer all of these concerns with total confidence in your answers after that you require a factor of sale system. If you wait to properly respond to (without guessing) any one of these inquiries you require a point of sale system. 4. If you intend to share data with other software application systems, you need a point of sale system. Also most small businesses today have some form of digital bookkeeping in position either in their operation or through an accountancy service. Furthermore, a lot of businesses have an electronic pay-roll solution or software program that develops payroll. Point of sale systems capture vital information for you and afterwards export this data in styles that instantly placed this info into bookkeeping and also pay-roll plans, getting rid of hours of laborious hands-on input that commonly results in mistakes as well as human error. If you have an electronic audit or payroll service/software and even if you intend to track your sales in Excel, you require a factor of sale system. 3. If you want to firmly take credit/debit cards as forms of settlement you require a factor of sale system. If you are not presently taking credit cards as a type of settlement you require to begin today. Don't bother the fees. The loss of company that you are experiencing in today's plastic minded economy will certainly more than make up for the fees charged. If you are presently taking credit cards via a stand-alone terminal you can be being charged excessively high costs for the incurable when you could be processing via your point of sale system. In many cases, the elimination of the terminal leasing will certainly pay for the credit card interface in much less than a year. With integrated credit card processing you are ensured that the quantity of the sale will match the quantity billed on the charge card, removing the need to return and also match specific sales when the credit card batch does not match bank card sales. When high-speed Net links are used to process charge card we receive approvals in much less than 2 secs. No more is slower rate of service a reason not to take credit cards. If you intend to quickly, precisely and smoothly procedure bank card you require a point of sale system. 2. If you intend to better as well as extra competitively market your business you require a factor of sale system. Regular Restaurant Modules. That are your customers? What do they purchase? How frequently do they see? Of your frequent visitors, who hasn't remained in to see you during the past month? Of your frequent visitors, that has a big day turning up this month? These are inquiries that you should have the answer to. All the significant chains as well as all of your rivals want the people that involve your restaurant. They want to take them on their own. Just how are you mosting likely to take on the billions of dollars being spent to draw your consumer away? By marketing your procedure and also your menu. Your point of sale system need to be able to manage your consumer base, stay up to date with their acquiring habits, just how typically they check out, when was their last visit and what unique events they have showing up. Your factor of sale system then need to be able to sort these into teams that ought to be sent out mailers, promo codes, invitations to special occasions or just informed that they are valued and asked to visit you again. If you have competition you need a factor of sale system. Present cards have ended up being the norm for numerous organisations today. An entire industry has actually been developed around the old concept of offering a paper present certification. Today, you will find gift cards at many significant check out lines. A factor of sale system ought to be able to offer, redeem as well as regulate equilibriums for your very own gift card program. No longer do you need a book of certifications that are maintained in the risk-free. Today, all you require is a stack of empty plastic cards with your colorful logo design on them. These cards carry no equilibrium and have no cash money value till marketed and a balance put on account. As an owner you should maintain a few of these cards with you. Each of these cards might have a tiny equilibrium on them for you to hand out to draw customers to your restaurant or to give up case of a bad experience to help bring somebody back. Consider these cards as your personal marketing tool. When the client looks in their handbag or purse as well as sees your logo they will be advised to find visit you. If you utilize present certificates or present cards you require a factor of sale system. 1. Since you don't require any more 'Partners', you need a factor of sale system. Sure you need gift cards. Yes you require to better understand your consumer's acquiring routines. You definitely require to have actually charge card incorporated with your point of sale system. You require boosted coverage as well as export of these reports to electronic accounting and pay-roll solutions. You require to get rid of errors, decrease errors as well as monitor your pay-roll. Yet greater than any of these you do not require any more partners. Specifically the ones that take their part of the revenues prior to you get your own. We are speaking about the servers, waitresses, bartenders as well as cashiers who: Undercharge clients in order to improve their own ideas. Program a $5 tab and also a $50 idea. (Yes, I have seen this!). Intentionally gap or delete a product after it has been paid for. Things coupons into the cash money cabinet in exchange for money. Don't charge customers for soft drinks to enhance their pointers. Phone a reduced valued thing (well brand name) as well as offer a greater priced item (premium brand name). Offer price cuts to their good friends. In a buffet line, ring up a buffet and also a tea. Reprint this ticket 10 times and also offer and gather for themselves these reprinted receipts rather than calling new clients. If you intend to remain in organisation, you need a point of sale system.

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salecheapggdb-blog · 6 years ago

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Golden Goose Site Officiel Declare 100 % Financial liberation Today!

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nubsmusings · 6 years ago

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How to Save the World?

I know pretty hefty topic to tackle especially while high, and even worse than that I'm not qualified in the slightest in any way shape or form. But it also seems arrogant to assume that my thoughts couldn't help at all. Especially if my questions bring about someone who is qualified to come and talk about the pros and cons of said idea or, if even the idea in a whole is mostly wrong while having a single grain of flour to the cake that is utopia then isn't it worth it? Hmmmm Conundrum for another time perhaps. Where to start.... I suppose we can start with getting the numbers needed to change the world. It's rather daunting isn't it? The amount of people that support one side or another of the political line of division? But what if their numbers aren't actually that large they're just out there stating their points more frequently and much much louder. I'd say the real divide is between the people that think they're right (for clarification these are the out spoken followers of politics) and the people that are silently struggling minding their own business most probably agreeing that the problems that are most prevalent aren't even problems to worry about in this point in time. So what would happen if all of those people started from one side of their content and went to the other gathering in the largest protest in human history. Could that have the desired solution? All politicians would be in quite the bind at that point, wouldn't they? How hard would the worlds economy crash if let's say half of our estimated 7 billion humans stopped working and stood in front of government buildings in peaceful protest. Protest. When this topic is brought up you get a lot of dejected people saying it doesn't work. But why protesting has plenty of evidence to point to it having at the least some success rate. What if the problem isn't they're not working but that they have kept up with he size of population. If the size of the population increases then that would mean that what's missing isn't that their being done but that there aren't large enough numbers. If this is the case then we just need to convince more people to take the plunge. Media. This is a tough one. I'd say the biggest problem here is our gullibility as humans. It's so easy to not worry yourself on the issues out of your control and focus on your wealth, health, attractiveness, whether you're neighbors are suspicious or not, who the real cause of your problems are but being sure that you aren't looking at the top but the bottom. One of my favorite things to do in high school was mental guessing games. The easiest way to win is before you even start lead the conversation in a specific direction. Like talk about tacos if it's Tuesday then 30 mins later say hey let me guess what you're thinking about, ponder real hard for a second then say tacos odds are really high that that's going to be the case because you put the thought there. So what would the results be if your news station of choice started talking about an act of violence in a poor neighborhood and then later said that parents or concerned people should check for suspicious behavior? Would it perhaps be that they would consider poorer people being the problem to be suspicious about and then that would lead you down the train of thought thinking about what all poor people have in common. Would it then be safe to say that we've put too much trust in people that don't really need training in all of the possible issues that they would be reporting on. How if the world is united into a single unified species would we establish a working economy especially since each's countries money is worth something different? Maybe the solution is in the destruction of "Money." Before we had coins or bills we made trades between things that we owned obviously this is a flawed system now because each thing has a different value between whom you're trading with. Put simply supply and demand. Perhaps our economies are already broken? I found it really interesting that I never once had to take an economy class in high school in fact I didn't even get a real government class. That's rather weird isn't it that my mandatory level of education needed to enter the work force and become a gear in the giant machine that is society. Does this mean that I don't need to know about how the "Most Important Thing" in the world is made? How about the fact that the vast majority of people were highly encouraged and even offered incentives to switch to having their check quick deposited to their bank accounts. Maybe the Economy is already broken and their only solution was to change the tracking of money to digital. (an easily falsified way of transmitting data) But if that's the case what could have killed the economy we ask? My theory is that the top one percent has accumulated so much wealth through hording and just average business profits increase. But why do these people need and make more money than they could spend in 5 lifetimes of heavy spending? Maybe for the utopias economy we can use the digital system for the benefit of all not just for politicians to launder money under the nose of the IRS. What if all basic survival is given to all humans no matter what? And if you want more than just the basics (let's assume the Food, Clothing, and Shelter) then you provide something to society either getting jobs making selling whatever will give you I don't know what to call it but let's say credits. Doesn't seem to bad if all humans are one than all products made are made for all. Shelter is easy we could utilize the land we do have much better than we do, need proof Skyscrapers. Food is another easy one. Did you know in america the government pays farmers to dump product. Bet if the homeless and unemployed get the stuff we throw away they might actually be able to get a job and they won't be that poor again. Clothes are super easy basic clothes just need to be able to keep you warm for the weather you're in, so it should be more than fine to give them clothes that meet those requirements. They don't even have to look that good if you need your ego stroked. Medicine is a super easy solution if we assume all humans deserve to live if we can save them, then we save them. We assign money values based on people making profits and how effective the medicine is. This means if we keep going down the road we're going and do discover a cure to something like the cold or cancer than the only people that will be cured are those that can afford it and you damn well better believe that means everyone would be willing to give everything they own if they're dying. Racism is something that I really don't understand, how it's able to exist in this generation in the first place. I can hop on skype discord team speak and millions of other apps to call up people on the other side of the world. And yet we refuse to see how this can bring peace. We are connected to the entire world and yet we still believe all the Hatedia. (Hate Media) There's also another excellent point to be made about this, Children Don't hate race Fuck they don't even see it. So if we're not born with hate than I bet you we can cure it. I'm sure most of you have heard of the term first world problems or the Elderly Eloquently put it as "The problem with Kids Today." Makes it sound like your problems aren't even worthy of being considered problems. But why should we be ashamed of the problems we're facing today that we aren't facing like in olden times? Are we weaker than we were back then? Should our problems not even be considered problems because the people who came before use can't understand them. If we went back in time to when our grandparents were kids would their grandparents say that their problems aren't as bad. Isn't it a good thing that we've solved the elders' problems from their youth? Don't we, as living and Dying creatures create offspring so that the world and problems from before can be solved and therefore allow human life to continue? So what's really the problem? Could it be that the generations that came before us also flawed and outdated as if they're an older version of the Iphone? If that's the case why are we letting them decide their voice is only a fraction. How about the fact that our systems haven't evolved with the times? Could that be the biggest problem to face? Religion is a tough topic for me, I'm really conflicted you see. Organized religion has the bad tendencies to fall victim to a single voice being the voice of the mob. But at the same time religion is a good way to bring calmness and clarity to the mind so that we as humans can find the right path to walk on for the good of humanity as a whole. Religion is also a large contributor and cause of war, either because one side hates the religion and wage ware to end it, Hitler is the example here. However the Christian church was the reason for so much devastation on the holy land with their crusades to steal wealth these should also be consider as terrible and devastating as what Hitler did but they're not which is weird. I'd say in a perfect society there wouldn't be the need for religion other than as ideas and theory about the afterlife not really needing anymore since all people are already doing their best to make the world better for all. But what if our lives as they are right now aren't just a test? What if we go through experiencing different kinds of life every time and each one is heaven or hell to the last. How do we go about life at that point? And if that's the case is life worth living? Maybe we shouldn't question why we're here but spend our lives living as a declaration of our existence and therefore finding the meaning in our lives? So how do we get all of these things solved or even tackle them? I wish I knew the exact answer. But I bet if we took the time to Understand people as people, we might come close. Now understandings a tricky thing if you truly follow this path than that means that you wouldn't seek revenge if someone murdered your family. You would seek justice and in order to find it you'd need to not be mad long enough to find our and put yourself in the thought process of feeling the same emotions they just said they felt. Rather hard isn't it? But if somethings easy is it really worth doing? Could we come together as a people and say Fuck the past all our ancestors did shit we frown upon now that we're "better" people than they are. But if we're better why are we holding their grudges? If me as a white male had Ancestors that had slaves and it so happened that a person I met and tried to befriend had ancestors that were slaves to my ancestors.... Am I allowed to be their friend? Are they allowed to be mine? Is it fair to abandon all of that prior info and judge each other based on each others character? I'd say so I'd rather now about them and their tendencies than the shame I'd feel from my family. So what sides going to be the first to bend and wave all prior transgressions and focus on what's happening now? Who's the bigger person and who's not a person at all? What's the point of life and why live it? How do you live in a world that's littered the ground beneath your feet with eggshells? Do we continue to live as if we are the center of our universe? Or are we each our own independent planets rotating in unison with the other one's floating around us to create a universe larger and more beautiful than anything that could be made as a singular unit? What if we are as insignificant as the ants underneath our boots, resulting in the universe being it's own living life form that needs us as a part for balance like the blood cells in our own body? What if God and the Universe are one and we're actually just a piece of God?

#preachy #world peace #high thoughts #insomnia #philopsophy

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sparklyeaglepoetry-blog · 6 years ago

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