#DO NOT LET ANYONE TOUCH YOUR BALLOT!!!!!!!! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

lovecolibri · 1 year

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SaL anon here bestie, here to pour ice cubes down the back of your office mate's shirt as well as anyone getting pissy in yours or others inboxes for daring to have an opinion the screentime usage on a supposed ensemble show. Seems like a perfect time to talk about the latest LS episode, so get ready my friend, I've got some opinions. So first the 4 things I liked, in no particular order were Captain Judd, Grace and Judd, the group sending pics to Marjan, Owen showing up to dinner. Now let's

talk about the rest of the episode where my thoughts fluctuated between "I don't give a shit" and "are you fucking kidding me". Let's start with the big, glaring issues. Did this fucking show, with all it's promotion of its diverse cast, just try to make the fucking nazi's sympathetic and victims? Fuck off show, the fact that the white supremacists didn't choose violence doesn't suddenly absolve them and make them good people. Violent racism may be on the rise, but by far the common and well practiced racism is institutional. I live in fucking Texas where we have such fabulous legal decisions like abortion bounties, only have 1 place to turn in mail-in ballots per county even if that county has millions of people, and saying its NOT actually necessary for outdoor workers to take a 10 minute water break every 4 hours, even if it's summer and temperatures reach 110+ degrees. Those last two heavily effect particular demographics and if you think the groups that vote for the people that allow those things to happen, that actively encourage it and condone it, are somehow redeemable because they didn't choose violence I have some choice words for you (sorry if that sentence made no sense, i lost some of my thoughts mid raging). To then top that off with a "let's give the violent white supremacist a sob story" and I'm officially disgusted. So yeah, anything tangentially related to this plot just didn't hit for me. And then we wasted so much of the last 6 episodes on this bullshit just to end with this makes me want set Tim's hair on fire. More minor complaints. We're a third of the way through the season and Mateo has had like 5 lines, do better show. And Carlos is just back to work and fine, sure, whatever. This is minor since I didn't expect them to address this till later, but we better get a nice looong conversation between him and his parents. Okay, bitching done, on to OG spec soon!!!

Hello my friend! I got this right before dinner last night and then I was out of spoons for the day but I am vibrating on like, 2000% of my normal serotonin thanks to OG, plus the hard mango soda I had when I got home because it was A Week, so I'm READY to do ALL OF THE THINGS! Also, I finally got to go home so I'm warm now because it was another freezing day in the office. I miss working at home 😭😭😭 ANYWAY, lets talk about LS so I can get to your OG ask because I have THOUGHTS!

This week did have some good stuff, more actually than I was expecting because we got the group being at least FINALLY involved in this plot. Captain Judd is my absolute beloved and I loved seeing a bit of his dynamic with Paul again (that ice storm arc was SO GOOD for them!). More Captain Judd if Owen is going to bitch about his job being the equivalent of being "benched". 🙄🙄🙄 Grace continues to be The Best and her and Judd's relationship is everything to me. I really enjoyed the team kinda goofing off but also getting reminded that the danger is real (also that little kid DID deserve an award!) because they ARE good in the field but that's not always enough. The group making sure to send their failure pics to Marjan is so on brand for them and I'm glad we at least got a mention that they're keeping in touch as promised. I love love love that Carlos and the 126 all got to be involved in this plot finally and we got to see an exciting emergency. I also ADORE little bitty TK holding on to his little bitty backpack straps. He's so pocket-sized and baby! I also really enjoyed Owen stopping by the loft and TK and Carlos making room for him. Judd wasn't wrong, he HAS been lonely and it was good to see him choosing to reach out to his son and work on that bonding instead of moping around at home. I'm really excited for dadzilla Owen and momzilla Andrea, it's gonna be a blast!

Now, as you said, for the not so good.

No only did the show try to make the group of nazis out to be the victims they also tried to make the young guy, who got kicked out of the nazi club for being too radical about wanting to DO nazi shit instead of just talking about it, into a victim because there was someone even WORSE and yeah he wanted to DO shit but maybe not that much. I mean, come on, poor kid just wanted to harass people trying to live their lives and protest people having rights because he doesn't like them, and maybe shout at some local politicians! He didn't want HIS family to get hurt in all that so now it's like, super sad and hard for him because his family is the one affected this time! Isn't he just the most victim-y victim to ever victim? 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄 Sidebar, I just watched Bad Call, and like, THAT guy was a victim! He was picked up by bad guys, and forced to rob a bank while strapped to a bomb. You know who ISN'T a victim? Some white dude who was trying to make other people's lives miserable, and fucked around and found out! Zero sympathy.

The show wasted SO MUCH TIME on this plot and for what?! For them to make it seem like only one guy was a "bad apple" and all the other guys were victims? To kill off some rando woman that no one knew or cared about? Only to not even mention that it was Owen's fault she was in the building at all anyways because he couldn't keep his mouth shut?! For us to hear the writers say through Owen that being a fire captain is boring and they really wish they would have made this spinoff a police show instead?!?! The ONLY moderately enjoyable thing to come out of this storyline was Owen getting some funny quips and him and O'Brian being able to play off each other so well. Which, and I cannot stress this enough, could have happened around actual calls where Owen was doing his fucking job.

ANYWAY

Agreed that I'm TIRED of waiting for other characters billed and marketed as main characters to get more than a couple lines of "Yeah, Cap! On it, Cap!" so Owen can waste all the screen time doing NOT first responder work. And giving one "whole" episode to Marjan or Mateo or Paul or Carlos does NOT make up for them not having a consistent presence in every episode. Carlos had a HUGE trauma and it hasn't even come up in a background conversation for TWO EPISODES! Yes, I think it's going to come up more in depth later this season but zero follow up at all?! After he DIED?! Not even a single mention?! *Athena voice* InSANity. And it's doubly frustrating that this is still SUCH an issue so many seasons in, simply because the rest of the characters are so good that people are willing to put up with skipping Owen stuff so they can watch the rest of it. It has never made sense to me why shows talk down to/hate even slightly catering to their hardcore fanbase because those are the people that will make sure to tell EVERYONE about the show, and convince people to watch it with them, and will get the show talked about enough for journalists to write about it, and will KEEP the show going and talked about and beloved even after it's over!

Okay, I think I got it all out. Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts and coming over to be salty with me in my online living room. On a happier note, we finally have some good fucking food to talk about with OG so I'm gonna go work on that post next, and look forward to new LS being about Tommy!

#my sweet nonnie friends #sleeping at last anon #911 lone star #lone star spoilers #i swear i don't actually HATE owen i just think he could be better utalized #when he IS being captain or playing dad to everyone or being a bestie for Michelle/Tommy the scenes are SO GOOD!!#WHAT do they have against letting him just...do that!#if they wanted him to investigate shit so bad why didn't they just make this spin off about the police instead of fire?#anyway #thrilled this fucking plot is over with so i never have to think about it again #goodbye forever nazi jackasses you will not be missed nor will you get an ounce of sympathy from me #onward to the tommy storyline and hopefully more emergencies (remember when the emergency response show used to actually have those?)#and more of the 126

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michaelsenferrell40 · 1 year

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1ddiscourseoftheday · 3 years

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🗣Tues 15 Dec ‘20🙊

Anyone order their daily with EXTRA DISCOURSE today? Lucky you, I guess, I'd send it back to the kitchen if I had the option but this is more a 'you'll take what you get and like it' kind of establishment so here we are! EAT UP we got Liam and Lou Teasdale making everyone mad, Louis and Harry's teams forgetting they're supposed to be mortal enemies, and Zayn?? Getting papped?? Omg is Z3 really coming this time? I've been burned so many times before (flown too close to the sun) but what if....... So first Gigi and zaby stroller were papped, then Zayn was papped in his usual way-- 'if you can get a good picture of me in the seconds it takes me to walk from my front door to the car have at it, that's exactly all you get'-- and then a fan reported seeing Zigi and zaby at a pizza restaurant. Zayn's hair is bleached white blond and that's about all I can tell you except that Z NEVER gets papped (or spotted really) for nothing so I am excite!!

Liam's back! He did the postponed-from-last-Tues hour long live for Stand Up To Cancer (and raised $16k!) and he's got a show in two days so I'd say his extremely brief breather is probably done with, whether he got the time he needed to be happy about coming back or not. He seems in good shape for the live though, even if he does say “its been a really long day, you don't even know, REALLY long” and that what he wants most for Christmas is “to have a little bit of time to reflect.” But he says he is going to take some time out and go away and write music “for the first time in a very long time,” in the new year, nice! He mentions how he went up to Sweden for recording recently and says it ”went really well I'm really really excited” about the new music and, uhhh, “got something sent through from Mick Fleetwood while I was over in Sweden writing, some guitar stuff, which was amazing, and he was dressed like santa at the time!” I...what??? I'll just... leave that there?? About other bands, he says that he's become a big fan of the Wanted over time, that “someone Zayn-ed out,” of Little Mix but “Zayn left for pretty much the same reasons and I do feel for them,” and “are 5SOS still together? Did they pull an us I thought they pulled an us?” He said yes, it's so great about Louis' show, and “it was great, and do you know what, like listening through those lyrics, it’s really nice to hear the truth in his music because obviously I mean I know all of the full story about him, and [pause].. and uh... his relationship with his girlfriend and whatever else,” SKLDYSSKKJ.

This long live also had him responding to screen comments he would usually ignore (though thank GOD he only reads but doesn't answer 'what happened with Niall in Japan' please tell me the questioner wasn't trying to get him to comment on the 'violently masturbating' story), anyway so we got Liam on touching his hair if larry is real-- “of course that's not going to happen don't be silly,” and on whether he thinks 'larry is disrespectful' “sometimes I do... actually that's not true, all the time I do.” Well he's not wrong though I'd expand that to 'all the fans' but if I had to wade through a million “touch your nose if larry is real” comments every time I was promoting my own material, for ten years, I'd probably get tetchy too! He didn't say it was or wasn't real, as he himself pointed out he never WILL do that for REASONS; tbh I'm with Liam can people PLEASE stop being so embarrassing on main and let him live? ANYWAY, moving on, his Advent Alarm clock today is the sleep story edited down to be just Liam laughing for like 30 seconds, aka the exact edit that I suggested they should make a couple weeks ago, which I find frankly extremely alarming (ALARMing HA) are they... listening to me?? Well if Liam's management are looking for ideas BOY HAVE I GOT SOME FOR THEM hit me up fellas PLEASE.

Harry and Louis both announced further postponements of their UK and Europe tour shows, like really the same announcement and just fully back to back, I can only assume that after weeks of intensive hashing out to match up dates their teams have arrived at some kind of plan and were like cool let's announce! Louis has added some new shows, while Harry's new schedule is undisclosed as yet. Harry says “I really hope to play these shows and will have news for you in the new year on when they will take place.” Louis' new dates include previously omitted countries (Iceland! Austria!), and those tickets go on sale Friday. Harry did not respond to Rob Sheffield's awkward attempt to link Watermelon Sugar and WAP as being similar but he did like Megan Thee Stallion's post celebrating her successful year, and Vulture ranked Adore You in its top 5 videos of the year with a much better take on what Harry is all about, saying that it “highlights one of the singer’s best traits: his willingness to be delightfully weird.” Kid Harpoon said that he and Harry “wrote a song in Japan that may yet see the light of the day,” and Harry continues to roast him, disputing his songwriter of the year award-- “they found 8,000,000 opposing ballots in a bin behind his house! FRAUD!”

And last but most discourse-y-est of all, The Sun made waves today, pulling the most salacious parts of a Lou Teasdale interview with the Sex, Lies and DM Slides podcast from last week and bringing it to wider attention. In the interview she talked at length about systemic discrimination against women working in the music industry and her own work experiences, which naturally include (very briefly) touching on her highest profile job- the years she spent traveling with 1D. In this context she says “you kind of can’t sleep with them [the band]- it’s quite important to keeping your job... some people would come in and like you know assistants and stuff and I think they would really think... that it was love and obviously it’s not,” and “it’s just the quickest way to lose your job- because then they’ve got a new girlfriend and she’s there and they don’t want you in the room.” She did not sell her story to The Sun she mentioned this in passing as part of an interview about her work experiences; she herself says, “I didn’t do an interview [with] the sun. I’ve never done that. I did a podcast with friends about loads of things.”

There is nothing remotely unlikely in this story, either in the concept that members of the band slept with girls casually (we know that certain of them did and there isn't even anything wrong with that in a situation of consent, the denial of it is as bizarre as scribbling out the beer bottle in a 28 year old man's hand), or that low level members (“assistants and stuff”) of the 150 person+ crew appeared and disappeared on a regular basis. The band were, to my guess, probably simply not paying very much attention to the serious ramifications of this carelessness and the consequences rather than demanding that people be fired, but I do very much hope they've learned over the years to be responsible for the kind of power that they have over other peoples' lives (something I really doubt they understood the extent of yet as very young people being dragged from one place to another who felt powerless themselves).

#liam payne #harry styles #louis tomlinson #zayn #lou teasdale #listen: people talk about wanting the 1D tell all but I don't think you guys do want it at all tbh #you know the whole point of that is that it will destroy the 'perfect angels' front that was created around the boys?#loving and supporting someone even though you know they are imperfect and flawed is not something to be ashamed of though #so I say bring it on #Liam has SO MANY reasons to be cranky right now and coming back online to everyone clamoring for him to comment #on Louis' record breaking veeps stream... honestly think it through?? have some fucking tact #Liam also said Freddie and Bear facetime which is just such clear nonsense I have no comment he just wants to make people happy #I DON'T KNOW if the Mick Fleetwood thing is real like – he seems dead serious??? I think it's serious?#How fucking Liam is that right he is as ever the most unrealistic I'm bringing back that tag:#Liam is a Gary Sue #Zaayyyyn is Z3 coming??? listen may I suggest sir-- LIVEZTREAM??? PLEASE?#I know you won't tour and wouldn't want you to but just consider how PERFECT this would be?? PLEASE SIR #lost in the shuffle: Lou Teasdale also addressed the old quote about keeping the 1D boys from looking 'too feminine'#(assumed to be @harry) saying 'it’s taken totally out of context. A clip from male grooming interview talking about grooming men.#I have no problem with men wearing make up or looking feminine it’s my profession. I apologise it sounds like that here.'#I feel like the truth is somewhere in between but I very much doubt she- the MUA- had final say over their images #and might well have not been the only thing standing between harry and his nail art and eyebrow grooming #I don't like her but like- dislike her for better reasons!#There are plenty she's very annoying but talking about sexism in the workplace and telling her story isn't one of them #Liam said he was very drunk watching Louis' show #I have a lot of things I'd like to say to Liam's management but mostly not publicly and some of them very rude #but I will say that while I guess the acknowledgement that young girls are the real drivers of the music industry and should be courted is #cool the continued obsession with only marketing these guys to that demographic was always ridiculous #and gets worse every year and Liam's team is simply throwing away money and fans by not marketing him so hard (heh) to out gay men #long post

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falcor-thee-luck-dragon · 3 years

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Of Monsters and Men

Chapter 7- Of Banquets, Bastards, and Burials

Summary: Jaskier seems full of good ideas, one that brings you and your Witcher into the halls of a prideful Queen.

Warnings: nothing but a good time, mostly

Masterlist

Grumbling in disgust at the messy monster slaying you and Geralt had just endured at the frozen lake nearby, you hastily burst through the wooden doors of the local tavern where Jaskier and the other villagers currently are. He's trying to get the gory details from some man who insisted on accompanying you both on your hunt, resulting in him fleeing the scene covered in chunks of globby Selkiemore blood from a blow you landed onto the creatures opened eye.

Right before the beast swallowed Geralt, his silver sword cleanly slicing through the creatures stomach and finally putting an end to the tiresome hunt. Just like that, done and done. You watch as the tavern goers faces grimace at the gnarly scent protruding from yourself and Geralt, your crimson eyes catching the delighted sight of your laughing bard as he finds you two easily in the crowd.

You walk up to the table that the bard is sitting at, "What's that stench?" Questions the man by Jaskier's side, you glare at him like he's the biggest dumbfuck in the whole Continent. Your body is spotted in splayed monster guts likewise to Geralt who's almost unrecognizable by how much blood and innards coats his face. What else would cause such a scent?

"Selkiemore guts. Had to get it from the inside." Replies Geralt bluntly.

"We'll take what we're owed." You add, the man nods as he quickly reaches into his jacket to pull out the sack of coin. Jaskier taking this time to begin singing his famous Toss a coin to your Witcher ballot, the whole entirety of the tavern happily joining in as he gets out of his seat.

Not caring to join them you turn to walk away from the masses, Geralt trailing behind as you make a beeline for the wooden keg, "Fuck me I need a drink." You exclaim before filling up a mug and quickly downing it like there's no tomorrow, Geralt chuckling as he does the same. When you pull the cup from your lips does the bard make himself known.

He leans against the counter all the while rambling on about how you two owe him for making yourselves so famous now. Wordily explaining how for a single night he'll need you both to watch out for him as he and the two of you attend some princess' banquet, though you're not entirely sure what he's on about considering you're too distracted by the free beer.

Setting an empty mug upon the wooden counter you roll your eyes, done with his excessive disjointed talking, you turn to leave as Geralt follows your lead towards the stairs, Jaskier calling out something of possible interest to sway your minds.

"Food, women, and wine, Geralt!" Shouts Jaskier, stopping Geralt in his tracks as you turn around.

Jaskier looks at him hopefully as Geralt lets out a tired sigh, "I already have Y/N." Grumbles your tired Witcher as you walk over next to him, a spark of interest tugging at the inner adventurer in you.

"I haven't had a kingly meal in ages, nor have I worn a silken dress in almost a decade." You add with a humored laugh, turning your attention to Geralt, "I bet you'd love to see me in silk and jewels, now wouldn't you my love?" You purr into his ear while lightly touching his dirty arm, he looks at you with a telling half grin.

——

You watch as Jaskier paces in front of the two of you with a small cloth draped casually over the side of his shoulder while he contemplates how tonight should go for him, that is if everything goes well and no lords try and kill him. Since you took a much needed bath earlier, you get the privilege of cleaning off Geralt as your talkative bard continues his ramblings about the party tonight. Grasping the small bucket in your hands you crouch behind Geralt, dumping a warm bucket of water onto your grumpy Witcher's gut smeared head, you hold in your giggles as he sputters and wipes his face from the sudden tiny waterfall to his head and face.

"Now now, stop your boorish grunts of protest, you should be grateful to have Y/N as your willing washer." Quips Jaskier as he walks around Geralt's tub and you who's seated behind him with your hands in his dirty hair, "It is one night of you two bodyguarding your very best friend in the whole wide world. How hard could it be?"

You flick some stray pieces of Selkiemore guts out of Geralt's tangled mane while Jaskier walks around you once again, "Every lord, knight and twopenny king worth his salt will be at this betrothal." He explains as he picks up some bath salts on the nearby cabinet, "The Lioness of Cintra herself will sing the praises of Jaskier's triumphant performance!" You snort when he throws the salt into the bathtub, tiny crystals landing around and on Geralt as he watches the bard, unfazed and rather quite annoyed.

Taking a cloth from the side of the tube you gently rub the dirt and blood from Geralt's tense shoulders, "How many want your head on a spike?" You wonder with a small chuckle as the bard looks elsewhere trying to think for a second.

"Hard to say. One stops keeping count after a while. Wives, concubines, mothers sometimes." He replies as Geralt lets out an annoyed huff, suddenly Jaskier stops and sits on the edge of the tub, "Ooh, yeah, that face! Ooh! Scary face!" He looks up at you, "Ah and Y/N, those ruby sparkling eyes of yours paired with your own dangerous royal status. No lord in his right mind will come close if either one of you is standing next to me with a puss like that." Geralt reaches for his cup, just as Jaskier grabs it out of his hand, "Ooh, on second thought...might want to lay off the Cintran ale. A clear head would be best."

Chuckling in amusement you rest your arms on either side of Geralt's muscular shoulders as he huffs in frustration, "I will not suffer tonight sober just because you hid your sausage in the wrong royal pantry." He grumbles while you try to untangle his wintery mess, "We're not killing anyone. Not over the petty squabbles of men."

"Yes, yes, yes. You two never get involved. Except you actually do, all of the time." Notes Jaskier as he walks to the front of the tub, you simply shrug your shoulders in reply, he does have a compelling point, "Ugh. Is this what happens when you get old? You get unbearably crotchety and cantankerous."

"Only if your a moody Witcher." You jest, causing Jaskier to snicker as Geralt rolls his golden eyes.

"Actually, I've always wanted to know, do Witchers ever retire?" Questions Jaskier thoughtfully.

Geralt looks up at him, a frustrated expression dancing across his features, "Yeah. When they slow and get killed." You watch as the bards eyebrows raise at his dismally bleak answer before his lips turn into a mischievous grin, Geralt looking much the opposite as he suddenly turns his head in an attempt at finding his missing clothes, "Jaskier where the fuck are my clothes!"

You squint at the smirking bard, wondering what's brewing in his inquisitive noggin, "I know that look. Jask what the fuck are you planning?"

He throws a casual hand upon his slender hip, "Oh don't fret about the clothing, I sent them away to get washed like Y/N's." Says Jaskier before turning to Geralt, "Anyways, you're not going tonight as a Witcher."

——

You stroll into the large bustling banquet hall, your darkly colored dress flowing as you walk. The material is comfortable and beautiful, it hugs your torso and back as it crawls up to your neck, leaving your arms bare except for the lacy fingerless gloves adorning your hands and partial forearm. The lower half of your gown free of any restraints as it swishes elegantly with each step, easier done with the two slits running up to your separate thighs. A ribbon and jeweled necklace gently hugging your neck as a creasant moon and sun hangs from the material. Your feet are covered by two comfortable black boots laced in a thin mesh that rides slightly above your knees. It appears that Jaskier may indeed shine with good taste with his clothing choices for yourself, Geralt on the other hand, less so.

Your crimson eyes scan over the other party attendees, some of them giving you double takes as you saunter through the room, your whole pose practically screaming royalty. With a small tug at the corner of your lips you walk next to Geralt's left side while Jaskier restlessly glances around the party goers on his right. You can tell how excited he is to be playing tonight, plus very nervous for the possible angry lords trying to seek him out from his past shenanigans.

"Right, so stick to me, look mean and pretend you're mute. Y/N, just don't make anyone piss themselves. Can't have anyone finding out who you two are." Whispers Jaskier right as a short bearded mage wearing green finds you three in the crowd, you recognize him instantly.

His face lights up at the sight of you and your Witcher, "Geralt of Rivia, the mighty Witcher! And of course, Princess Y/N of Alkatraz, the fearsome dhampir!" He beams with a hearty raise of his silver mug, many banquet attendees turning to stare at you two. You can't help but internally cringe after he loudly announces who and what you are, great now half the banquet knows your business.

"Shit." Whispers Jaskier softly, you nervously smile at some ladies who have turned their done up faces towards you, in turn you make sure to keep your fangy grin hidden as you give them a small friendly half grin.

The bearded mage walks over to you both, a smile upon his face and a drink still in his hand, "I haven't seen you since the plague." He jests at Geralt before turning to you, "And the Vampire Queens only heir, it's an honor, haven't seen the likes of since..."

"Good times, Mousesack." You interrupt with a quick flash of a smile, your eyes darkening for only a second, he shakes his head as a laugh departs from his lips.

"I've missed your strikingly unprecedented temperament my dear princess, and Geralt, how I've longed for that famously sour complexion. I feared this would be a dull affair, but not the White Wolf and Lady Dhampir are here, perhaps all is not lost." Declares Mousesack as he eyes up Geralt's formal attire, his brows furrowing in thought, "Why are you dressed like a sad silk trader?" You could have laughed if not for the watchful wary gazes around you.

Geralt turns to glare at a fidgety Jaskier, who looks at him like a scared puppy. You watch as Mousesack puts a hand to Geralt's broad shoulder, guiding him away to gossip about the royal attendees in line for princess Pavetta's hand. You decide to keep away from their speaking and instead vouch to wander about on your own. Your eyes scanning the crowd as you eavesdrop in on their conversation across the room.

Minding your business by a flaming warm torch, you suddenly hear what sounds to be a very pissed off older lord who's cornering your retreating bard. Without skipping a beat you look up and lock knowing eyes with Geralt who immediately excuses himself from Mousesack to intervene before Jaskier gets his parts snipped off.

With a snicker you watch as Geralt humorously calms the situation, explaining that Jaskier had his balls kicked in by an ox as a child, the lord suddenly going sympathetic and in turn giving the bard a single golden coin. You smoothly bring yourself over to your boys, your dress flowing beautifully as you walk. But as soon as you rest your lace covered hand upon Geralt's forearm does the sound of trumpets pierce through your sensitive eardrums, the familiar scent of blood flowing into your nostrils.

"All rise for Her Majesty, the Lioness, Queen Calanthe of Cintra!" Shouts a nobleman, you turn your sights upon a blood spattered golden armored woman who practically swaggers into the great banquet hall, a smirk upon her blood spattered face.

Leaning a careless arm against a short marble guard wall, Geralt doing the same to your immediate right, the both of you watch with interest as Queen Calanthe saunters past some tables where she snatches a beer in delight. Your bard gone from you once again as he swiftly walks near the Queen, he places himself near a stone pillar as more musicians follow behind him, his favorite lute in hand and a beaming smile upon his face.

Queen Calanthe continues her walking as she boasts of how close-by townships needed reminding of who really is Queen, her people cheer in pride and gratitude, then to your utter amusement she sasses for Jaskier to play a jig as she struts over to the royal table, where a very anxious looking princess Pavetta quietly sits, tears rising to her enchanted blue eyes.

Nonchalantly you reach over and with a cheeky smile take the beer from out of Geralt's firm grasp, he simply lets go as a humored grin falls onto his handsomely clean face. Then to your usual unvexed temperament, you raise an eyebrow as a rowdy lord begins snapping at another about who's actually managed to slay a manticore or not. In the heat of the moment your ears prick to the whispered gossip being spilt by a woman who's just outed yourself and Geralt as her lips brush past the Queen's ear. So much is happening all at once and those fucking lords won't shut the fuck up.

"Enough!" Shouts the Queen, the lords instantly snapping their heated attentions in her direction, just as everyone else does so and now you're dreading what she's about to say next as she eyes your direction, "We have two renowned guests here tonight." The lot of the banquet hall turning in their chairs to face you and your equally as annoyed Witcher, "Perhaps one of them can declare which esteemed lord is telling the truth?" She challenges, a smirk forming onto her lips.

Pursing your lips together in irritation, you watch as the displeased lords turn back to the two of you, "Neither." Answers Geralt bluntly, you cringe inside as the first lord accuses him of calling himself a liar. Great start Geralt, really great start.

The lords face grows in aggravation as he throws a disapproving hand in your direction, "Eh, The Butchers of Blaviken, ha, he bleats utter nonsense." Laughs the lord and the other nobleman around him. You keep your mouth shut as a calm aurora keeps about you, tonight you will not cut anyone's head off, or at least you'll try.

Tension sits high on the air as you wait for Geralt's two cents on the matter, "Perhaps the lords encountered...rare subspecies of manticore." He replies, Jaskier sighing in relief, you doing the same.

The lords nod in agreement as you decide to add something to the matter, "I do not doubt it, those fuckers can be ruthless and tricky in their nature...any dead one is better off then alive." You reply, the lords all nodding in agreement once again as the Queen breaks out into an amused smile.

"Perhaps our esteemed guests would like to entertain us with how they slayed the elves at the edge of the world?" She exclaims with bravado, raising her beer into the air, oh right she hates elves with a burning passion, fucking racist.

"There was no slaying." You deadpan loud enough for the hall to hear, turning your glare to the disappointed lords to save the Queen from your displeasured gaze.

Geralt sensing your resentment comes to your rescue, "I had my arse kicked by a ragged band of elves. My lady Y/N here had to reason with Filavandrel, saving me from a sured demise lest I have had my throat cut." He replies with a nod, the Queen grins as the lords cheer on, wondering about the song considering it tells a different story.

You roll your eyes at their jests, "At least when my blade clashed with Filavandrel's silver, I didn't shit myself." You quip with satisfied smirk upon your lips as their faces fall in embarrassment and irritation, "Which is all I can hope for you, good lords. At your final breath, a shitless death." You conclude with a raise of Geralt's mug, "But I doubt it." You mutter quickly before downing the rest of it. Geralt holding in a chuckle at your side as the lords burst with laughter.

"It would have been your blade at Filavandrel's throat had you been there, Your Majesty." Speaks a man as the crowd cheers, "Not that any elven bastard would crawl from their lair to meet you on the field." The Queen smiles at his boastful words, he looks like an important lord to the Queen, wonder who he is?

"Any man willing to paint himself in the shadow of his failures will make for far more interesting conversation this night. Same goes for any lady fierce enough to wield a blade like myself. Come, Witcher and princess Y/N. Take a seat by my side while I change." She smirks with a tilt of her head as you bite the inside of your cheek in growing discontent. This is not how you had anticipated for this evening to go, but honestly when does it ever go your way?

——

Sitting at the high table, Geralt by your side and the Cintran royalty to your farther right past Geralt. You sit in silence as you watch the lords and ladies converse and feast at their tables, your ears listening as Calanthe complains about her dress, probably the only thing you could agree upon. She then speaks of how she's pleasantly grateful for yours and Geralt's company tonight as this way you both are granted permission to remove any irritants from the crowd who may disturb the peace. Your Witcher refusing her just as you do the same when the first of Pavetta's royally dull suitors comes to speak his status and point.

The first eligible contender being a smiling Lord Peregrine of Nilfgaard, he steps into the large center of the room with a smackable cheerful face, his long black hair pulled back into a low pony tail. The little man boasting of his heritage right before Queen Calanthe practically shits all over his name and kingdom. She turns down a couple more as the party continues to carry on for another good twenty minutes. Until Jaskier starts playing The Fishmonger's Daughter very loudly for the whole entirety of the hall to hear. At least the music dulls the million conversations happening amongst the bustling chatty crowd.

You lean into the plush cushion on the back of your seat as the lot of the banquet begins clapping blissfully along. Calathe sighs, "How much more of this peacocking must I endure? This...All this because male tradition demands it. If I were a man, I could simply tell the whole lot of them to fuck off, declare outright who Pavetta should marry and have done with it." She scoffs, "Or, better yet, let the poor girl decide her own fate."

Geralt turns his attention to the bored Queen, "Something tells me this isn't the first time you've navigated the vagaries of male tradition. In fact, I'd wage you thrive on it."

She gifts him a bemused grin, "Spoken as one who has navigated his own share of fools."

"Hm."

"Tell me, Witcher, why are there so few of you left?"

You side eye him as he takes a long pause to think on the depressing matter, both Calanthe and Pavetta listening in on Geralt's slow reply. He sighs, just the breath leaving his mouth enough to speak on his behalf, "It is no longer possible to create more of us, since the sacking of Kaer Morhen." He pauses again, eyes set to the marble floor below, "Tell me, Your Majesty, why do you risk your life on the battlefield when you can rest on your throne?"

"Because there is a simplicity in killing monsters, is there not? Seems we are quite the pair, Geralt of Rivia."

His golden eyes trail from Calanthe to the rest of the party goers, "Hm."

"Now you, princess Y/N, how is it that you have found yourself in the company of a Witcher and his bard? That is a story I would indeed love to hear." Says the Queen as you frown, talking to her is not what you wanted, there's a reason you made Geralt sit in between you both.

"I found them wandering the road like a lost puppy. It would have felt like a crime to leave them there all alone, so here we are." She chuckles at your reply.

"Very well. But I must ask, how is it that you came into my court with malevolent origins infused in your creation, did you not think you'd strike fear into the hearts of my honored guests?"

You turn your focus to the curious Queen who no doubt is testing you, "I am what I am, that I cannot alter nor change as there is no cure. Not that I need one...And your guests, well, if I wanted to gift them with the kiss of death. They would have never made it to your front gates."

She raises a brow, face shifting into a satisfied grin, "I could use someone like yourself in my court, it's too bad, if I had a son. Perhaps our houses could have formed an alliance, now that would secure Cintra with all of the north."

"Too bad indeed." You could have thrown up at the idea of such a ghastly concept, you throw on a fake grin instead, "He'd be a little young for me."

"Would he now?"

Geralt holds back a smile as you look at the Queen from across him, "I am almost five hundred years old after all."

She raises a brow, "I didn't realize dhampirs never aged, I was under the assumption that was just elves and powerful mages."

"It is understandable to be unacquainted with the concept, after all, my kind is incredibly rare."

She leans back in her seat, "Fascinating."

Your scarlet eyes scan the large room as you hope she refrains from asking anymore further questions. When all of a sudden you can hear the clashing of chain mail and swords behind the wooden doors right as they burst open, a lone knight breaking forth into the banquet hall. He calls for everyone to calm down as he hastily walks to the center of the stone mosaic floor, you can tell something is most definitely up with this mystery knight in shining black armor, who's quite literally made a royal welcome.

The black knight stands in the center of the cavernous hall, "Please, I need but one moment of your time." He respectfully kneels before the throne, I am Lord Urcheon of Erlenwald, and I have come to claim your daughter's hand in marriage." Proclaims the armored man Lord Urcheon, voice loud and true.

The room fills with delicate whispers as the Queens heartrate speeds up with growing tension, "Knight..of no reown...from a backwater hamlet, dares to enter my court without revealing his face?"

"I apologize, Your Majesty. A knight's oath prevents me from revealing my face until the sounding of the twelfth bell."

"Bollocks to that." Says the Queens favorite lord before briskly walking up to him and forcefully pulling off his helmet to reveal the cursed face of a man resembling that of a hedgehog. Oh yes, tonight is about to get very interesting. You share a quick look with Geralt as your scarlet irises trail all over the knights dark grey colored skin, whiskers, sharp teeth, and pointy spikes protruding out of his head in place of where a full head of hair should be.

The Queens dark eyes go wide in shock, "Witcher, kill it." Urges the Queen breathlessly as fearful tears whell up in her dark eyes.

"No." He replies as she glances over to you, your eyes still locked onto the strange looking knight.

"Y/N, whatever the price."

You shake your head in refusal, "This is no monster."

"I order you." She demands, her voice trembling.

You snap your shinning eyes over to her, "This knight has been cursed. Have you not a heart to hear him out?" You challenge.

Calanthe shares a glare with you before facing Lord Urcheon, "You're both bloody useless." She sneers, pointing at the knight, "Guards! Kill him!" In seconds you watch as Lord Hedgehog or Urcheon, fights off the approaching guardsmen, bringing them down easily as he then faces the Queen once again.

"Lioness of Cintra, I have come to claim what is rightfully mine! Pavetta. By the Law of Surprise." He exclaims just as more lords and guards unsheathe their swords as they race over to attack the cursed knight. You watch in astonishment as Lord Urcheon clashes blades with numerous men, all going quite well for him until he's punched in the face, where he abruptly falls to the floor as a trail of blood seeps out from his lips and nose. The furious guard standing at the ready raises his axen spear into the air as he prepares to kill the bested knight.

In a blur of red you're at the cursed knights defense, swinging your stolen sword into the air as your blade cuts the wooden staff in two, the weaponized part conveniently landing into the hands of Lord Urcheon. You growl at the surprised guard, listening to the sound of flesh being cut as Geralt slashes down a man from behind you, who'd just as soon seen you dead. A second later the three of you freeze and glance around the room as everyone stares on in stunned silence, the tension in the room at an all time high.

"Kill them all!" Demands Queen Calanthe as she points to you, Geralt, and Lord Urcheon who's now rising up from the floor. An instant later sounds great battle cries emitting from either side of the room as all hell breaks loose.

Deciding to be a little chaotic for the hell of it, as a man swings his dagger at your head do you immediately shift into a hoard of angry black bats. You can see, hear, and smell everything all at once in a perfect mix of dangerous unison. The men below you have no chance as you storm your way through them, leaving a war path in your wake of blood and broken bones while Geralt fights valiantly through the fearsome angry guards.

Shifting back into your original form, you grab the throat of a young lord who was about to plunge his sword into your side, his eyes going wide before you sucker punch him in the nose, breaking it instantly as he then passes out due to overwhelming pain. Another swings his sword at your arm, missing by an inch as you whip around to throw him across the room and into a marble pillar, his arm breaking in two with a dreadful crack.

"Stop!" Shouts the Queen, in an instant you turn your attention over to Calanthe and Geralt who stand, facing one another defiantly.

The room goes silent as everyone remains at ease with themselves, everyone unsure as to where this is all headed. A second later Pavetta runs down the small stairs as she pulls Lord Urcheon into a tight embrace, okay that is indeed strange. They tightly hug as she scolds him for coming here and not staying away, concluding that there is something most definitely going on here between this odd Lord Urcheon and the princess of Cintra. They soon release one another, sharing one lasting heartfelt look before Urcheon breaks away to cautiously take a step towards the Queen, he then falls to one knee, bowing with respect.

"Your Majesty, the dhampir speaks the truth." He slowly rises, "I was cursed as a young boy. My whole life a living misery until the day that I saved your husband, King Roegner, from certain death. By tradition, I chose the Law of Surprise as payment. Whatever windfall he came home to find...would be mine."

Calanthe sneers, "Oh, the stupid bastard. Better you had let him die!"

"You knew he'd come," Says Geralt, "and you pushed me to kill him."

Eyes of the Queen, Pavetta, Lord Urcheon, Geralt and yourself glance between one another at this revelation for her urgency earlier. Her dark gaze falls onto her daughter, "You...carousing with the beast that swindled your stupid father!"

"Tis' no swindle." Says her favorite lord, "Asking for payment with the Law of Surprise is as old as mankind itself."

"Don't lecture me, Eist."

"It's an honest gamble. As likely to be rewarded with a bumper crop as a newborn pup Or...a child of surprise." Nods Eist as Pavetta and Urcheon hold hands, "He could not have known. Destiny has determined the surprise be Pavetta."

"When I heard King Roegner had returned to find a child on the way, I abandoned all thought of claiming the Law of Surprise. I knew, I knew no woman would ever accept me like this. So I waited. I waited until the twelfth bell when the curse breaks. I never intended to meet her." He explains to the Queen honestly, dark eyes now focused on Pavetta, "Just from afar."

Pavetta smiles up at Urcheon, "Until destiny intervened and our hearts collided."

"And at dawn, I awoke with her in my arms and me..like this." He says soflty.

Sir Eist steps closer to the deeply conflicted Queen, "Who are we to challenge destiny? Life was saved, debt must be paid, or the whole order of the world falls apart."

Mouseack steps into the spread about circle of the six of you, "Honor destiny's wish, or unleash its wrath upon us." Queen Calanthe looks rather dismal as she glances between all of you standing before her.

"There is no us! I bow to no law made by men who never bore a child! Is there no man amongst you who does not cower before destiny?" Tests the Queen as she turns to Geralt, "You, Witcher...who has known monsters of every fang and claw, are you afraid too?" She smirks.

"No. I've seen mothers lash themselves raw over the death of a child, believing they crossed destiny, ignoring the stench of the 50 other children in the plague cart outside. Destiny....helps people believe there's an order to this horseshit. There isn't." He concludes with a half smirk, "But a promise made must be honored. As true for a commoner as it is for a queen." Calanthe's eyes whell up with fearful tears as she turns to Pavetta who's eyes fall from her mother to the man by her side.

She looks into the knights dark eyes while resting a comforting hand upon his prickly cheek, "I love Duny, mother." She looks at Calanthe, "I will marry him." Enchanted gaze set back to her cursed lover as she smiles brightly, "I will finally be free."

Everyone looks to the Queen expectantly in this sweet rare moment, she slowly hands over her sword with sad eyes as a single hopeless tear falls onto the floor. She shifts her attention back to Duny as she reluctantly reaches her hand out for him to take her blessing, although you're nervous something more sinister may arise at this interaction.

Your inner thoughts remaining correct as Calanthe pulls away from Duny, a fake smile upon her tearful face as she reveals a sharp hidden dagger from her right hand, time stills as she thrusts it towards his throat in one calculated motion. Your ears suddenly pounding in pain as Pavetta let's out a blood curdling scream that magically launches everyone back in a violent burst of wind, you included. You're quickly airborne, but before you hit the hard back wall you suspend yourself in mid-air, floating above the ground as gusts of wind blows your hair and dress every which way.

Lowering yourself closer to Geralt you watch in bewildered surprise as Pavetta and Duny raise into the air, a cyclone of wind surrounding them as she chants something incomprehensible in elfish.

"The fuck do we do now?" You scream over the loud noise, Geralt purses his lips together before pulling out a tiny glass bottle and downing the potion as he forces his way into the circle where he's able to stop Pavetta. The swirling cyclone of chaos and the two lovers falling to the ground in an instant, the room finally going calm once again.

Still casually levitating next to Geralt, you watch a cautious Calanthe slowly walk over to Pavetta and Duny, he leaves her side as the Queen and princess have a moment together while everyone else in this giant hall gather themselves from off of the ground.

You set your feet to the marble floor, gaze trailing around the destroyed area and all the disheveled guests until you land your sights onto the back of Geralt. A concerned hand lays against his forearm that draws his attention to the left, "Are you alright?"

He gifts you a small grin, "I am fine Y/N."

"You hit the marble pillar pretty hard."

He takes your hand to place a gentle kiss against your knuckles, "Don't worry for me, I am uninjured." You can't help the concerned expression crossing your features, you open your mouth to speak when Calanthe pulls everyones focus yet again.

"Destiny has spoken..and I have listened. The Law of Surprise will be honored." Breaths the Queen, heaviness in her words, "Pavetta will marry Lord Urcheon." She concludes, the room whispering amongst themselves.

"React poorly and you won't just face the Lioness, you will be facing the sea hounds of Skellige. Because Queen Calanthe has agreed to my proposal of marriage." Exclaims lord Eist, the three of them holding hands as they stand side by side.

"There will be two vows tonight! I assume that's agreeable." She shouts, everyone silently giving their nods of agreement, "Delightful." She whispers.

——

Standing around in a large circle, you watch as Calanthe blesses and marries Pavetta and Duny, they kiss and a moment later Duny begins convulsing like he's about to vomit. He falls to the floor with a pained grunt before he suddenly looks up once again, this time appearing rather more human like, the curse seemingly broken.

Him and Pavetta immediately embrace each other once again as she looks at him in confusion, "The twelfth bell has not yet rung." She whispers in astonishment, puzzlement clear on Calanthe's face.

"What has happened?" She wonders.

Mousesack steps forward, "I think your blessing of this marriage has fulfilled destiny...The curse has been lifted." He concludes with a grateful smile at the positive turn of events.

"Whew! I think this has the makings of my greatest ballad yet." Beams Jaskier as a high lady of the court touches his arm, her hands all around him.

You let out an amused snort, "If you're alive in the morning." You mutter before turning to leave, not caring enough to stay for any more action.

Geralt gains the bards attention before existing with you, "Don't...grope for trout in any peculiar rivers until dawn." He advises, taking a couple steps as he trails behind you.

"No, wait! Wait!" Announces Duny as he stands up to look at you and Geralt, "You've both saved my life. I must repay it." He says with a hopeful smile as you walk over closer to Geralt's side.

"You've proven yourself to be the kind of man who would do the same." Shrugs Geralt, "I want nothing."

You nod, "As do I."

"No, please. Please Geralt of Rivia, my Lady Y/N, do not feel like you're doing me a service. I cannot start a new life in the shadow of a life debt." He says with pleading eyes, perhaps he makes a compelling point.

Letting out an irritated huff of air you shrug, "A single prized weapon will suffice as payment, Lord Urcheon...nothing more is needed." His face breaks out into a satisfied smile as he turns his expectant attention back to your Witcher.

Geralt sighs, "Fine. I...um...claim the tradition as you have, the Law of Surprise." The Queens dark eyes go wide as yours do the same, what the fuck is he doing? "Give me that which you already have but do not know." He ends with before turning his back to the newlyweds and the Queen.

"No! What have you done, Witcher?" Snaps Calanthe as he turns a calm face towards her.

"Fear not, Your Majesty, if I am seen in your kingdom again, it'll be to kill a real monster, not lay claim to a crop or a new pup. Destiny can go fu.." Pavetta lets out her dinner onto the floor as she abruptly cuts him off, you shut your eyes tight, knowing exactly what that means.

"Fuck." He mutters as everyone stares at him knowingly, you then nod to the royal family, swiftly turning to make a quick exit, Geralt following your lead as the two of you hastily walk out the wooden doors and into the messy hallway. Mousesack close behind, "Clearly the girl has access to immense primal power." He concludes, causing yourself and Geralt to stop and face him.

"Obviously, and she has no fucking clue how to control it." You deadpan as Mousesack gives a tiny grin.

"I will stay. Guide her." He assures, meaning every word.

Geralt nods, "You're a good man, Mousesack."

The old mage grins, "You both should stay too." He quickly advises, his efforts falling flat, you've already made up your mind.

"This has been enough partying for the two of us. We're getting out of here. Alone." Answers Geralt, the mage wanders closer, a telling look upon his bearded face.

"You're bound to this now, Geralt. Whether you like it or not." Shaking your head you touch Geralt's arm, your crimson eyes finding the old mage's.

"This isn't our problem, we're not here to stay or help anyone....you know us better than that." You add, irritation clear in your voice.

"Yes, I do, but you can't outrun destiny just because you're terrified of it. It's coming either way. Not believing won't change that." Argues Mousesack, he's beginning to grow on your nerves by the second, though he means well you'd rather get your hand smashed by a boulder then stick around for this unborn child of surprise.

Shaking your head, you scoff, "Bullshit. This was just a girl using her magic to stop her mother from killing her lover. Nothing more for us to be concerned about. This is the Continent, weird shit happens all the time." You muse with a shrug.

Mousesack hums, "So you say my dear princess, but the bond that will come into being between Geralt and this child...when it is born, will be extraordinary. If you dismiss it, leave without claiming this...child surprise, you will surly unleash true calamity upon us all." You let go of Geralt's arm as he walks closer to the mage.

"We'll take that chance. Mind yourself. True words are rare birds in courts like this. Watch for daggers in your back. Or, more likely, poison." Warns Geralt as he puts a friendly hand on Mousesack's shoulder, "Be careful, old friend." Sincerity clear in his gravely voice.

Mousesack looks down in disappointment before giving Geralt a downcast farewell, your Witcher handing him a curt nod before turning and walking towards the doors past you. Standing your ground you purse your lips together as you frown at the old mage.

"Y/N, you're both making a mistake....this will not end well for you dear princess, and you of all people should understand that." Urges Mousesack knowingly, further pressing on your buttons at his admittedly truthful words.

Scoffing you frown, "Do not lecture me on the ways of destiny and all that fun magical shit...I know it's cost Mousesack, destiny has never done anything for me in all my four hundred and eighty some years on this fucking Continent." You growl, glaring at the wall before finding his troubled gaze once again.

He gives you a small smile, "I believe destiny has intervened more then you'd know, in ways that you do not understand yet...even for as old as you are." You simply roll your eyes at him.

"God all you mages and wizards are all the same, believing in the first signs of anything enchanting and going with it." You argue, stepping in closer to the breaded man, "I've dealt with your people in the past and have suffered for it..."

"I know of your troubles and trials that have given you a bad taste with them, us, but listen, sometimes you must forget the past and move on for a better future." He softly urges.

Shaking your head you find his pleading eyes again, "May you be the only sensible one then...truth be told you're one of the only mages I could ever stand, but that's not important anymore...I do hope you live long and die on your own accord, but one would be a wise fool to think that my old friend, watch for tricksters in the shadows lest you face a grim end. So long Mousesack, friend from.." You pause, not sure what else to say.

He reaches out to clasp your hands with his, "I know Y/N, although I'm wary we may never see one another again."

Letting out a small laugh you smile, "Maybe you're fucking destiny will say otherwise, farewell, and uh....watch out for your kingdom." He lets go of your hands, with a tiny nod do you turn your back on the greying mage, swiftly exiting through the doors where you find Geralt on the other side waiting patiently for you.

The two of you walk in time with one another, "If we're lucky we'll never see this fucking kingdom again. From fun banquet to child of surprise, Geralt you're really on a roll...gods the both of us. Jaskier's right, we do get involved in everything."

He glances at you, "We should really stop doing that."

"We could live as recluses in the woods and hunt bears for sport, or become pirates", Geralt chuckles at your words, a smile coming to your once frowning face, "Or not, you're not really the pirate type..."

"We could live in Alkatraz, your homeland? I'd give money to see your mothers face the second you brought me home."

You nudge his arm playfully, "My mother? The actual Vampire Queen, meeting a Witcher of all people. You'd maybe make it across the stone bridge leading into the castle before she'd be sending death hounds after you. And my love, they are not cute and cuddly by any means, annoying slobbery bastards more like." He pushes open another door as you walk through after him, "We'll find somewhere, or not...if I'm being honest, I quite enjoy traveling with you. Keeps my life interesting, never know what's going to happen next, and best of all. I have you all to myself."

"Except when Jaskier decides to join us. Some nights I contemplate strangling him in his sleep." You laugh at Geralt's blunt comment, "I've thought about doing that too, although I'd miss fucking around with him too much, he's just so easy to scare. I'll probably end up being the cause of his first grey hair." You muse with a smile, Geralt leading the way out the door and into the cool night air.

You turn to him as you keep pace, "And don't you dare make a jest about you and your white hair."

Geralt smiles down at you, "I wasn't."

"You were thinking it."

He hums, "I'm actually thinking something else, and I would like to tell you when we get back to the tavern." His tone is lower this time, the implications obvious as you gasp and smack his arm.

"Geralt!" He chuckles at how he's already got you flustered, the cheeky little shit, "Well, perhaps I may take you up on that offer. It does sound rather intriguing, then you could finally get me out of these silks and jewels...I bet you'd love that." He raises a brow as you practically purr into his ear.

Though this night may not have ended pleasantly at the banquet, you'd be damned if it didn't end pleasurably on your own terms.

Tagged: @notahappytree @ashleyforeverareject @sokkasdarling @kmuir1@haleypearce @diegos-butt (@auds24 sorry idk why ur name won’t work)

#the witcher #the witcher x reader #the witcher x you #geralt of rivia #geralt x reader #geralt x you #geralt of rivia x reader #geralt of rivia x you #of monsters and men fic

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dreamteamfanblog · 3 years

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Obligatory I haven't kept up with Season Three at all and everything I talk about is pre Tommy dying, pre Niki joining the syndicate, pre Red Banquet, pre Los Navadas, pre Wilbur Revival, and pre Tommy/Ranboo marriage. To the point where I don't actually know functionally anything about any of the events I just mentioned except that they are the names of things that have gone down that y'all may know about so you can figure out when I stopped watching and what the most recent events at the time were. Pretty much everything I bring up in any of my posts will be primarily based in season one or season two discourse/events and I cannot promise anything is accounted for past the season two finale.

SO ONTO THE ACTUAL POST.

Hey why is it that the Techno Apologists never latch onto any examples of L'manburg actually being fucked up?

Like, it's always whining about how Techno was Betrayed when Pogtopia did literally exactly what they had been openly planning to do since the beginning, or about how The Butcher Army was supposedly so Mean and Bad for trying to execute Techno, or about how....idk man, L'manburg being awful solely because they were involved in so much conflict?

Which I mean not only are all of these arguments very weirdly untrue.

They're also super hypocritical.

Like it's so consistently argued that Techno didn't betray Pogtopia since he made his intentions clear from the start, but that also debunks their point that Techno was betrayed on account of the fact that Pogtopia made their intentions clear from the start too. People cheered and loudly passionately agreed and supported Techno's "And those that treat me with injustice — that use me, that hunt me down, that hurt my friends — I shall repay that injustice a thousand times over!" thing and yet this adamant support of such brutal retribution during a conflict in which Techno himself had landed the first blow....actively contradicts the narrative that the Butcher Army are bad and evil and had no right to do what they did? I mean Techno literally canonically both hunted Quackity down and hurt his friends and the case that Techno was used at all is only about as strong as the case that he used the others so either both of em' were or neither were, and in either case, there's no leg to stand on when Techno apologists happily support Techno destroying an entire nation including the lives and homes of people who had nothing to do with The Butcher Army yet also scoff at the very idea that executing a war criminal for murder and terrorism against them could possibly be anything other than horrifically evil and corrupt! Not to mention that again, "L'manburg are filled with such Violent Troublemakers who cause so much Chaos and Conflict", is a really weird and hypocritical thing to claim when you're defending mister Blood For The Blood God over here who literally jumped in the second he heard the word Revolution because he was just that fucking ready to fight then canonically took the lives of multiple members of L'manburg and blew up their whole city while explicitly talking about his desire for Chaos in a "Dog Eat Dog World"????

Like not only is it pretty easy to argue all these points on a "that's like factually incorrect?" basis alone but even completely refusing to touch that angle, literally nothing L'manburg did that's brought up by Techno Apologists as a gotcha can stand as an actual argument in his favour because every single fucking bit of it is stuff that Techno himself holds as part of his Oh So Righteous Ideology and it really doesn't work to say "Retribution is bad, but Retribution For Retribution! THAT I can get behind!" or "Conflict is bad, except when the bloodshed is For The Blood God of course" or "Pogtopia still Used and Betrayed him even though they were upfront from the start and the alliance was a mutual agreement initiated by Techno actually but Techno didn't use or betray anyone, he was upfront from the start and the alliance was a mutual agreement, how could he have betrayed them?"

Which is actually Painful lately because THERE ARE ACTUAL POINTS YA'LL COULD BE MAKING THAT AREN'T COMPLETELY FALSE OR HYPOCRITICAL ACTUALLY!

I don't support c!Techno by any means, in large part because I don't think he believes what he says and even if he did he hurts the people in his attempts to 'help'. But i'd like to point out very easy arguments to make in favour of the ideology and stance many Techno apologists seem keen on arguing he has.

For example, what about the L'manburg election? Two of the parties committed voter fraud which actively put the liberty/freedom of the people at risk. There was literally One decent party who's entire reason for joining was literally "Hey that's really fucked up that you just tried to ensure your own governmental power through unfair means at the expense of the people's agency?" with a side point of "Also while we're at it maybe you shouldn't ban a whole group of people from your country entirely all because like Two people who happen to be part of that group hurt you, that's kinda messed up too" and then there was a fourth party who literally Opened their campaign by swinging at other people and manically declaring their power. In the end the guys who literally tried to rig the election and honestly should have been banned outright from running because of the blatant act of corruption still won popular vote and in a desperate attempt to mediate how Bad of a decision the people had made there the one halfway decent candidate pooled votes with the only dude who didn't commit voter fraud but then the people still suffered because the coalition was quickly completely overpowered by the more corrupt/violent party and literally no amount of attempts to make things better through begging him to listen or going behind his back to free people who'd been unfairly imprisoned or anything else along those lines could change the fact that "I'm the president here, not you~". This situation was really fucked up. Behind door number one we've got the Hamilton Cosplay Tyrants who keep talking about the Glory Days or the War Effort or whatever and won't let anyone who doesn't have a similar enough accent to them into the country. Door number two are the Baked Goods Tyrants who are using this election to promote their cookies and stick it to the candidates dad that he's cooler than him or whatever, they literally hack the voter count and are Known for dragging other people into petty conflict (and not like "fighting your oppressors is so unnecessary" anti-l'manburg bad take levels of supposed "petty conflict", i mean like, actual petty conflict, case in point the damn pet wars). Then with door number three there's the Alcoholism-Is-Cool Tyrant man who at least didn't fudge any votes but also has never not been drunk and literally hunted the other candidates for sport when he first showed up so I mean in what world is this guy a stable candidate for anything at all, much less for a position of authority over people as influential as president. Now, behind door number four, there's actually a...pretty decent option? The entire reason he joined to begin with is because he was absolutely enraged by the corrupt bs the others were pulling with their little "run a single party election" stunt. The other party's spread blatantly false quotes supposedly from him to make him look bad. The other parties go out of their way to burn down his builds. He's honestly relatively cordial in comparison but still hits hard during debates, mainly because he's got some points. "There's good in everyone", i've been told he'd insisted, trying his best to talk to one of the other candidates and get to know him only to be shut down entirely. There were three AWFUL candidates and one honestly good one. And yet the way the system was set up meant there was pretty much no chance of winning. Meant the people were screwed no matter what. The people trying to commit ballot fraud and slandering the competition were the ones who set the terms of the election, two complete randos who didn't bother signing up initially showed up drunk or trying to prove something to their dad and also just all around being Awful and they were still allowed to enter. Which all kinda fucked Quackity over, actually. And then he was forced to either let Wilbur have full control knowing how corrupt and manipulative he was or pool votes with the violent drunk and maybe swerve their shared administration into something good. The entire setup from the word go completely fucked over Quackity and that

completely fucked over the innocent people of L'manburg. And even going into their shared administration, Quackity was so powerless! Schlatt did horrible corrupt things to everyone and Quackity was there at every juncture trying his absolute best to mediate that. But there was so little he could do from his position that he had to resort to very non legal methods like breaking Niki out of jail behind Schlatt's back, standing in the blast radius while he tried to convince Schlatt not to go through with Tubbo's execution because they can't just take the shot with him standing in the line of fire trying to talk them out of it surely, and even eventually firing an arrow into Schlatt and being the only person to canonically have the guts to not only walk out of Manburg of their own free will openly spiting Schlatt, but the only person who had the guts to purposefully take a life from him as well. And. Well. THIS IS ALL A HUGE FUCKING ISSUE. There was no good reason someone corrupt had to win that election, there was even a decent candidate running! And genuinely for no other reason than because the alternatives were Really Fucked Up as well! Then the fact that Quackity, even as vice president, had so little say in anything that he wasn't even legally allowed to protect good people from wrongful imprisonment or stop Schlatt from tearing down priceless monuments that meant a LOT to people? That's so much worse. Corrupt people designing the system specifically to facilitate their corruption and lend an unreasonable amount of power to a select few people to the extent where the goddamn vice president, another member of the government, can't do anything legally to stop the president from doing horrific things. That's bad. That is actually really bad. And even beyond the bullshit of the election and how little Quackity could do about any of this despite literally doing everything he was supposed to and was legally capable of doing, there's the added layer of how little agency the people of L'manburg had in all of this! Schlatt's main political rivals were immediately exiled- and not even for the corruption scandal, literally just because they were Schlatt's political rivals- and he literally threw his dissenters in jail not to mention executing a kid and tearing down important history. I mean, he had an approval rate of Literally Nobody and was actively hurting/oppressing his people. And there seemed to be literally no impeachment process at all in place and when the people he was meant to lead unanimously took up arms against him THEY were criticized and labeled as villainous usurpers as the vague ideal of ~Legality~ was placed as more important than actual real life people. trying to live without a dictator hanging constantly over them! Schlatt's technical legal position is regularly cited as a mark against the Pogtopia revolution, because apparently Schlatt's right to sit upon a blood coated throne drinking his life away ruling a ghost town where nobody felt they could safely live was somehow more important than the rights of every single person who lived in and loved that nation to stay alive and feel secure in their own homes! In this case the government did fail. In this case corrupt people set up a corrupt system that boosted other corrupt people with no reasonable way for any single good politician to negate nor any way for the people themselves to change this. Not without going outside of the law and being deemed immoral for impeding on the rule of their rightful leader. This IS a situation in which the government systematically hurt and failed the people in ways that were near impossible to change or escape. THIS IS L'MANBURG HAVING A CORRUPT GOVERNMENT.

Look no further than mister Dreamwastaken for more examples of governmental corruption! I mean, sure, Dream never technically held an office, but his lack of title does nothing to change his position as the ruler of the Smp. Dream is the one who names and dethrones kings, Dream is the one who chooses which nations to legitimize and which to destroy, Dream is the decider of the laws of this land and he can add or remove them as he pleases down to exerting his permission to break even the most sacred laws of the server such as killing within the holy lands. It doesn't matter if Dream had a specific title, he was, by definition, Government. Government is "the governing body of a nation, state, or community", a governing body is the person/people with authority to conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of a state, organization, or people. Dream. Was. Government. Corrupt government! From the very beginning of the server exerting his supreme god given control over people who didn't want it! Lying, cheating, stealing, killing, forcing his will onto others, hurting the people constantly. Dream was an honest to god tyrant, even moreso than any other villain on the server had ever been! And if you look back at every other awful thing that happened in the series it links back almost without fail to him. To his control. I mean need I remind everyone that one of the primary reasons Schlatt wasn't forcefully overthrown sooner was because Dream was standing in support of his rule? Need I remind everyone that the entire reason L'manburg ever had to exist anyway was because unionizing and protesting and standing as a united front was the only way the people of the server could hope to escape Dream's unwanted and oppressive government? Dream stood behind the actions of damn near every terrible government official we ever saw as well with the one exception being maybe Badboyhalo. Dream was government and he was extremely corrupt. Like. BLATANTLY so.

And god, i'm still shocked by how little I saw Techno apologists talk about the fucking exile. I mean dear god. That was the accumulation of like Every shitty government problem in the whole server. I mean first off enter Dream being unreasonable and Awful again, obviously, I mean Tommy burned a few blocks, who cares, it was fixed in like five seconds and George didn't even care that much. But Dream used his position as, y'know, the governing body of the Smp, to blow it out of proportion and demand Tommy be unfairly and disproportionately punished. Not only did Dream's governing position enable him to do this, he took advantage of George's and Tommy's own positions as a means to twist the narrative in his favour. Dream blatantly exploited his government position, George's government position, Tommy's government position, and then worst of all Tubbo's. Quackity and Fundy desperately urged Tubbo not to go through with the exile, Ranboo swiftly snapped to Tommy's defense and called out that this whole thing was completely unfair, Tommy himself was completely dismayed and insisted this wasn't right. And it wasn't! Anyone could see that, this whole situation was a blatant abuse of government power in like ten different ways from Dream and the only thing to do was to shut him down! It would be a betrayal to everything they stood for, to their personal relationships, to the duty they had to protect innocent people, to general morality and basic principles, to go through with the exile, and the majority of people felt this very strongly. Wanted to protect Tommy and themselves from Dream's governmental abuse. But Tubbo did it anyway. This was the decision of two people and two people alone. Dreamwastaken and Tubbounderscore. But their opinions were the only ones that mattered, because they're the leaders. They're the heads of government. And if they spoke the command, to see that Tommyinnit were out of their territories where he would be tortured and abused for months? Then so be it. Then their word is law. Fundy and Quackity were struck with complete horror, they screamed, they pushed, they were in complete and utter disarray, and there was nothing they could do as long as Tubbo held to his decision because as we established back during Schlatt's reign, not even a good politician desperate for things to be better holds a candle to the decision of the president, and there's nothing that can be done, because he's president and they're not. Within much of the fandom Quackity and Fundy were criticized for "disrespecting" Tubbo's choice. Because what right did they have to speak out against the choice of the president? Tubbo was in charge, and it was their job to shut up and facilitate his decisions. That was an implication I saw often at the time. That because Tubbo was president, because of his title, his governmental position, his opinion was inherently more important and was absolutely not subject to scrutiny from those 'below' him. That the anger and hurt and fear of Quackity and Fundy, of real people, for their livelihoods and their safety and their friend, were less important than Tubbo's decision. This placement of Tubbo as 'above' the others and the implication that they are obligated to bite their tongues for the sake of 'respect' towards their president and his authority? It was complete and total bullshit. And I fully expected the Techno apologists to come out of the woodwork to affirm this! I fully expected to be able to agree with the Techno apologists for once, maybe not on every level, but at the very least on the level that this situation oozed governmental abuse from every pore and the idea that real people who felt hurt and scared and betrayed and angry because of Tubbo and Dream's little political nightmare were somehow out of line in their intense feelings because Tubbo's word is law and they need to show some respect to their government? I thought immediately that there was NO way in HELL this wouldn't be picked up immediately by the anti government Techno apologists!

But the thing is. It wasn't.

None of these were.

Techno apologists rarely acknowledge any of these actual examples of the government being really fucked up in favour of exhaustingly see through and hypocritical non examples to justify Techno's anti-government stance.

And, well, I highly suspect the reason for this is exactly the reason I can't support the perspective of c!Techno to begin with despite how I just went on my own rant about government corruption.

And that reason is because Techno, and by association the people who argue for his world view, don't actually care.

I mean, let me ask you a question. Just really, truly, honestly. In all of these examples of real honest to god government corruption issues from Wilbur to Schlatt to Dream.....who were the victims?

The people.

The people of L'manburg.

Tubbo, Niki, Fundy, Tommyinnit, Quackity. I mean they Kinda played parts in Some of these issues but usually under direst distress/manipulation from Wilbur or Schlatt or Dream.

The people who suffered, the people who's lives were effected, the people who were disproportionally hurt by all of the real governmental issues on the server are the people of L'manburg. The people who suffered under Schlatt's leadership, the child executed unfairly, the woman thrown in prison, the one politician who fought to make things right but was overpowered at every step, the people who lost their homes, the people who lost their friends, the other child exiled and abused for months for no good reason, the two who begged and pleaded and did everything to stop it only to be left powerless to protect him, even the young president himself cornered into this decision by fear and trauma and threats from somebody intent on exploiting the governmental dynamics to hurt people. Those are the fucking victims!

And nobody defending a Techno perspective can afford to acknowledge a situation in which the people of L'manburg are the victims!

It's a question nobody seems to know how to answer, really. The argument is made and even taken for granted as true that Techno things governments are corrupt and oppressive, he did what he did to protect the people this oppression would hurt. But who exactly are these people Techno protected? Where are these livelihoods defended? These lives saved? These homes maintained? These happy people Techno saved from the oppressive government?

The truth is that they're not real.

And the only people Techno ever managed to hurt were the victims he claims to be defending from the corruption of governments.

Now, the sources of corruption were Wilbur, Schlatt, Dream, and their policies. The way the elections were set up, the unfair power dynamic established by the corrupt first two presidents of the nation, and the control/abuse Dream exerted from his own governmental position. So naturally anybody who wants to actually tackle government corruption in the Smp needs to take care of them first and foremost. Get Wilbur and Schlatt out of power at least, get rid of Dream period, and then start reforming and limiting governmental controls. If not completely dismantling the government at least establishing things within L'manburg like actually effective checks and balances within the governmental body, setting up an impeachment process, putting harder vigilance onto what a president can or can't do, upheaving and adding more restrictions/rules/protections within the election system, etc. Outside of L'manburg would be trickier, however it likely wouldn't be too difficult to at least significantly alter/water-down the roles of Eret or George or whoever the king is at this point, again, if not entirely abolishing the role. The Badlands are a weird situation and honestly especially with the whole egg thing they'd for sure still be an Issue and a lot harder to reform but I mean to be fair their whole schtick is literally just being a corrupt government and trying to take as much land as possible and rule the world so what you wanna do there is use the same force you used with Wilbur, Schlatt, and Dream to disband The Badlands.

"Woah Woah Woah, you talk about that like it's so easy, that wouldn't be possib-"

yes it would be.

Schlatt died of alcohol poisoning before we could even touch him, Wilbur threw himself onto a sword with gusto, and Dream for all his bravado literally did not put up any fight once people got off their asses for two seconds to take care of him, okay? And again, The Badlands are a more worrying situation with The Egg and the amount of land they own and Sam's jurisdiction over the prison and all, but I mean from what i've heard via word of mouth pretty much everyone's canonically sick of their shit and are fairing pretty well thus far all things considered.

"Okay, fine, Beating People Up is easy enough, but what about the real work of government reforms?!? All these people are so Greedy and Powerhungry they'd neve-"

That's the whole thing, though, isn't it? They're NOT. Quackity spent literally the first two seasons at least as an active part of the government and he did fuck all for himself, he spent the whole time trying to stop Wilbur's corruption after finding out about his voter fraud or trying to stop Schlatt's corruption from hurting people or trying to stop Dream's corruption or trying to make sure his friends aren't abused/killed/jailed for no good reason or trying to keep their homes from being blown up again and the only reason he even got involved in politics at all was literally specifically because Wilbur was trying to run a one party election and SOMEONE had to put their foot down there, Quackity's always been very about Power To The People and preserving the rights/history of the people generally and has a history of stepping back into a less commanding role when he's secure in the knowledge that he doesn't Need to be taking charge or everyone might suffer/die/lose-their-homes-again. Tommy outright refused to be president when he was given the chance and has really consistently moreso cheered for the people he loves when they land in some sort of office rather than persuing leadership himself, and while he's been very willing to take up a leadership role when it's needed and people are in danger/in need of someone to step up and rally them, Tommy would really rather just listen to his music discs and spend time with his friends and pull a few relatively harmless pranks here and there and make big ugly (/lh/pos) cobble towers that he's so proud of anyway and doesn't seem to get why everyone else exasperatedly roll their eyes at them because he just thinks they're so neat! Tubbo is much the same, he took on a leadership position when it didn't seem there was any other choice but to do so but he's been content to play support for the most part other than that and really truly just wants to live a peaceful life with his bees and his best friend. Fundy and Niki actively chased the presidency at one point, of course, and I used their campaign as an example of corrupt bs as well, but honestly they were just dumb rebellious teens who didn't seem to get the weight of the election and just kinda like handed out pastries then lost miserably, so I mean, more than forgivable on their part, really, and for the large majority of L'manburg's history they followed in everyone else's pattern of stepping in when people need to be protected but otherwise just trying to live happy peaceful normal lives. This little group spent the large majority of their time in L'manburg just trying to defend themselves and their homes and each other from corruption and oppression so that maybe just maybe they could finally get to rest knowing that nobody's in any danger. If the danger went away, so would their need to step in. Quackity would go do some dumb (/lh/pos) bit where he puts on a ridiculous skin and sings even more ridiculous songs, Niki would be baking cookies and sharing them with her best buddy Fundy and anyone else who wanted to drop by, Tubbo and Tommy would be in a field somewhere watching the bees and listening to Mellohi while they giggle to themselves waiting for someone to find the big goofy posters they put up everywhere as a prank. That's who they were for the large majority of their arcs throughout L'manburg's existence. On the other side of things neither George nor Eret really care too deeply about the crown either. George only ever wanted a crown after he lost it, not because of the power, but because he was hurt by Dream's lack of regard for him. Eret on the other hand has a precedent of putting aside his crown for the wellbeing of other people and has long since resolved himself to be better than the person he used to be. None of them would be opposed to heavy reformation or even absolution of government powers. The entire reason L'manburg even exists is because of the fear and trauma and pain that came from the oppressive government force that is Dream and the people's desire to cling together for a chance at personal

freedom, with the threats gone they don't need to hold on quite so hard. These were never powerhungry monsters, these were victims of oppression and abuse and violence that spent their entire lives trying to defend themselves and their homes so they could just be happy and free.

These are the measures Techno SHOULD have taken! These are the people he SHOULD have been protecting! If he stands by his ideology that governments are oppressive and hurt people and if he truly did want to protect people from that oppression then why DIDN'T he?!?

Why didn't his morals and principals and desire to take down oppressors kick in during the festival when he was ordered by a tyrant to kill a child and did it instead of standing up and protecting the victims of tyranny?!? Why didn't he take Wilbur down when he realized how full of greed envy Wilbur was and that he planned to hurt people?!? Why did he, multiple times, work with Dream, the epitome of government oppression on the server?!? Why is it that the only people Techno consistently targets are the VICTIMS of the actual governmental oppression that Techno largely ignores?!?

And THAT is exactly why you don't see Techno apologists going on and on about how unfair the election was because of Wilbur or how the presidency in L'manburg was set up to where despite people trying desperately to push back Schlatt could not be opposed legally or how Dream is literally the most horrifically oppressive tyrant who is a prime example of how governments can be extremely corrupt. You never see Techno apologists going on about any of these ACTUAL issues because when you talk about Wilbur and Schlatt and Dream a bit too in detail a little bit of focus ends up on who exactly their victims were and there doesn't seem to be a good explanation regarding Techno's extreme actions only extending to victims of governmental abuse often in only minor roles of power if even that out of necessity to protect against the real oppressors. Why Techno's extreme actions frequently involved working alongside these actual oppressive forces against a group of people who literally want to be left alone and are only part of/live under a government like the one they do because they're in constant danger and this is the only way to maybe protect yourself and others against someone like Dream.

Tommy, Tubbo, Quackity, Fundy, and Niki shouldn't have been Techno's enemies. They shouldn't have been his targets! THEY hate oppressive government just as much as he does! They don't want anything to do with this bullshit anymore than he does! The side you see Techno Apologists claim he's on is literally THEIR SIDE. If he truly believes what he says and wants to fight tyranny then these are his allies! These are the victims he's so invested in looking out for! And yet these are the people he's slaughtering and bombing and aiding in the oppression of!

Techno apologism, by its very nature, requires you to see these citizens of L'manburg as oppressive. Requires you to see at least Tommy and Quackity as powergrabbing foolish tyrants who care more about the government then people. I heavily suspect this is the primary reason most Techno apologists aren't keen on looking at actual examples of this government corruption Techno talks so much about.

I mean, if you bring up the election in too much detail as an example, stressful little details like Wilbur's voter fraud and the fact that Quackity's entire motive for ever running for an office was to prevent government corruption. Which is a sticky scenario because Techno helps Wilbur in the end and seriously hurt Quackity in specific a Lot throughout this arc. Techno apologism relies a biiitttt too much at speeding by Wilbur real quick and hoping nobody points out that Wilbur wasn't motivated by a desire to get rid of governments but rather by a sense of envy and entitlement that if he can't have it noone can as well as relying on the ability to swiftly and decisively assert Quackity's motives as powergrabbing from the election onwards. Examining the corruption in the election itself throws that off. A Lot. When you have to look head on at Wilbur's corruption the fact that his "If I can't have it noone can" thing was a corrupt government official hurting the people out of envy and pride, and Wilbur's main source of contention being Quackity very quickly comes into focus as everyone suddenly remembers that hey, wasn't Quackity the only one who didn't commit fraud, and didn't he run in the first place to fight government corruption? And then Techno's role in all of this looks significantly odder and less in line with the claims that he's heroically opposing corruption. Furthermore examining the power dynamics of the tyranny within Schlatt's reign, you see a president with too much power enabled by Wilbur's shotty election system and Dream's vocal support, something outwardly opposed by the people beneath them; Tommy, Tubbo, Niki, Fundy, Quackity, who are all hurt by this abuse of government power more than anybody else is. Similarly the exile decision. Examining Dream as a tyrant is in of itself a sore spot on account of Techno's fairly frequent alliances with him. But even worse is what happens when you acknowledge the extent of Tubbo's power as president and the idea that his decision is inherently more important than the feeling of his people who he hurt, which is a good point towards the corruption of the government, but intensely highlights Fundy and Quackity's responses as valid or even correct, something that Techno apologists really can't do for obvious reasons.

Techno's perspective and actually defending it relies heavily on the villainization of victims and the understatement of real sources of corruption. It's a trade off, it seems. There are many points that can be made to form a very strong case against the government dynamics on the smp, something that would do wonders in strengthening the Techno Apologist claim that Government Bad, Anarchy Right, however this comes at the tradeoff of making it clear that the oppressive government forces come from people like Dream or Wilbur and not people like Quackity or Tommy who are the victims of said oppressive government, something that you REALLY cannot afford to imply if you're trying to argue that Techno was right and was working from a desire to prevent oppression when he worked with Dream and Wilbur to hurt Quackity and Tommy. I doubt this is intentional obviously because who the fuck takes a stance in discourse that they Know For A Fact Is False, lol, but if you believe Techno's right then you also have to believe the people of L'manburg are power hungry or tyrannical which means doing these mental gymnastics often without realizing it.

So we see these debates stick to examples like The Butcher Army, things that are significantly flimsier but also aren't liable to literally cripple their claim if examined too closely.

But the truth continues to be that Techno has irreparably hurt and traumatized the victims of the very kind of governmental abuse that it's so often claimed he's protecting people from. When he should have been fighting people like Dream, Wilbur, and Schlatt, and helping the people of L'manburg recover and reform their community, he instead attacked and destroyed and killed these people, often fighting alongside real tyrants in doing so.

I mean, hell, if Techno really was super against oppressive governments and wanted to fight/destroy them and help the victims? He and Quackity would be best friends. Quackity stood up against Wilbur's corruption at every turn and was the first person to do so, and if Techno actually fought corruption half as much as he claims to, he would have been right there with Quack rather than colluding with Wilbur to destroy innocent people's land. During the festival execution Quackity was trying his absolute best to put a stop to it and even stood in the blast radius while doing so, if Techno had cared half as much as he claims he does about tyranny then he wouldn't have taken the fucking shot, not with Quackity in the line of fire, not at Tubbo to begin with. Quackity realized that they needed to shake Dream off once and for all or they'd never truly be free from abuse of power from those above them, and if Techno really truly had a vested interest in freeing victims from governments that hurt them then he would have been right there at Quackity's side throughout season two. And yet not once, through the two seasons I watched of screentime with them, not once was there a moment in which they were working towards the same thing. At the festival, Techno had the chance to run or refuse or realign his shot to take out Schlatt instead and very likely would have made it out alright, meanwhile Quackity was actively putting his life at risk by standing where he was and making the attempts he was to make Schlatt see reason even though Quackity was pretty much unarmed, had a rocket pointed near him, and his entire life was in L'manburg, it was Quackity who had more to lose and Techno who had the chance to run, and yet it was Quackity alone who stood against the orders of a tyrant and voiced that this shouldn't be happening, and it was Techno who took not only Quackity's life but the life of a child as well when he took the shot anyway. As soon as he'd joined Pogtopia, Quackity was opposing Wilbur, standing besides Tommy in the button room and putting his own life on the line as well while they tried desperately to convince Wilbur not to ruin innocent people's lives, and yet Techno not only never put himself at risk to stop Wilbur, he actively collaborated with Wilbur, with a corrupt politician, as he planned to selfishly steal the happiness of the people just because he lost his own power. That's not even to speak of Doomsday, in which Techno, with actual corrupt politicians all around him, aimed weapons of mass destruction towards their victims, towards Quackity and everyone he loved. And of course, Techno wasn't there to help fight Dream, the L'manburg cabinet even suspected he may help, he's meant to be against tyranny after all, but of course, Techno wasn't there, and in fact allied himself with Dream yet again throughout the season. If Techno ACTUALLY followed through with his supposed principals, the people of L'manburg would have loved him, especially Quackity, who is very much similar to what Techno claims to be (someone who's fierce in his defense against corruption and who will fight almost without fail for victims of oppression and against harmful systems even if he's not always particularly palatable and nice and malleable in his regard towards tyrants), and the fact that they specifically have been played against each other at literally every single turn to the point where Techno, after having associated himself with helping fuckers like Schlatt, Wilbur, or Dream for so long, joined them on Quackity's list of people who've treated him with injustice, hunted him down, hurt his friends, and needs to be repaid- oh huh sounds familiar. Like Quackity is in a lot of ways what Techno would be if his ideology actually lined up with the heroic freedom fighter against tyranny ideology that's subscribed to him way too often despite the fact that he's either so weirdly out of touch he completely misread ALL the dynamics on this server or he genuinely honest to god doesn't actually believe in or care about his whole I Fight The

Immorality Of Government Corruption thing.

Hell, beyond literally Quackity actually, just look to Puffy for the actually honest and good aligned alternatives for people who say they want to fiercely fight against corruption and actually do it.

Idk man, it's just weird to me. I didn't even plan the ending of this post like at all, the premise was just supposed to be pointing out the actual government corruption and asking why Techno Apologists weren't on that but then the whole 'okay but if you pay attention to all that then techno's literally been targeting the victims of the corruption he claims to hate instead of helping them fight it' realization hit and I was like, Yep, His Whole Anti Government Ideology Still Doesn't Check Out.

#dream smp #dream smp discourse

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returnsandreturns · 3 years

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(I requested an early ballot from my state and dropped it in the ballot box at the local library. Also helped my SO get his absentee ballot sent to his home state.)

Could I possibly trouble you for a college!fic where Foggy has a phobia he’s embarrassed about and Matt tries to give him coping techniques?

It took a few days for Matt to realize that Foggy always sleeps with his desk lamp on, that the low electric buzz wasn’t coming from the next room over, but he never brought it up until tonight. They’ve been living together for almost a full year and Matt’s told Foggy more about himself than almost anyone, stopping short of his senses, the training.

When he says that he thinks Foggy knows him better than he knows Foggy, Foggy makes a soft curious noise before he climbs onto Matt’s bed to sit next to him and say, “Ask me anything, Murdock.”

Foggy tells him funny family stories and about his terrible first date and how he lost his virginity in a closet at theater camp the summer after his Junior year. They’re sitting close, shoulders pressed together, when he says, “Okay, I think I’ve told you most of my backstory. Anything else?”

“Do you sleep with your light on?” Matt asks, remembering it suddenly.

“Oh,” Foggy says, after a long moment, heart speeding up more than it has all night. “I didn’t think you’d notice.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Matt says, smiling cautiously. “I can--hear it, kind of? I was just curious.”

Foggy’s worryingly quiet.

“I’m sorry, maybe I shouldn’t have. . .” Matt starts.

“No,” Foggy says, huffing out a laugh, nudging Matt with his elbow. “I’m just trying to. . .Iike, there’s not a non-embarrassing way to tell someone that you’re a full adult and you’re still scared of the dark, y’know?”

“That’s not embarrassing,” Matt says, immediately. He can tell that Foggy’s blushing and he wants to--touch him somehow but he’s not as good at that as Foggy is. “I mean, I didn’t like the dark when I was a kid and--when I first lost my sight, it was. . .”

He draws off, not really sure how to talk about it because it wasn’t just dark but he still remembers being really young, before the accident, looking out into his room at night feeling his heart race over what felt like nothing and everything.

“Oh, Christ, I didn’t even think about that,” Foggy says. “I’m sorry, I really don’t have a place to talk.”

“Shut up,” Matt says, laughing and taking a chance, slipping his arm around Foggy’s shoulder to tug him a little closer. “I’m just saying that it’s scary. It doesn’t matter why.”

Foggy leans against him heavily.

“I have a very. . .active brain,” he says. “Which is good because, I mean, it obviously makes me very brilliant and charming and witty.”

“Obviously,” Matt echoes.

“But also I can’t shut it up,” Foggy says. “So the dark just. . .becomes something I can’t get away from because I can’t stop thinking about it. That probably sounds dumb.”

“No,” Matt says, firmly. “It doesn’t.”

He lets his arm move to Foggy’s waist experimentally and Foggy’s heart picks up again.

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Matt asks. “Other than being the perfect roommate for this situation?”

“Perfect roommate in general,” Foggy says, sighing. “Other than cuddling with me like this at night, I don’t really think so.”

Matt should probably think about this before he says anything. But he doesn’t.

“Let’s try tonight,” he says, squeezing Foggy gently.

“. . .seriously?” Foggy asks.

#HELLO IT'S ME AN ADULT WHO'S AFRAID OF THE DARK #mattfoggy #my fic #daredevil #i was just talking about this #i sleep with my lamp on but also with an eye mask and the blanket over my head #because brains don't make sense #Anonymous

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pandoraborn · 3 years

Text

Throw me to the ground (and watch me fly).

Also found on AO3!

Chapter one

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

It’s the day of the election. Wilbur is nervous, standing on the stage as they await the ballots being counted. He’s wearing his L’Manburg uniform proudly, standing tall. His youngest brother, Tommy, is standing by his side with a matching uniform. Tommy’s wings are folded around his shoulders, and he’s twiddling his fingers nervously, trying to stand up straight. He may only be sixteen years of age, but Tommy has done more for L’Manburg than anyone realizes. Wilbur knows Tommy wants to make everyone proud; it’s written all over the boy’s face. Tommy wants the position of Vice President more than even Wilbur realizes.

Wilbur’s own wings are outstretched as he stands proudly, trying to represent his country as best as he can. He’s staring out at the crowd, trying to ignore the podium on the other side of the stage. His closest friend and opponent, Schlatt, is standing at that podium. Schlatt doesn’t have a running mate, but he had cited not needing one, since he had been confident in his abilities to run L’Manburg on his own. With the aura he radiates, no one had cast him any doubts.

Wilbur especially believes in him. Schlatt had always been loud and commanding. With his sense of humor, sharp sense of fashion, and tall demeanor, people had been willing to bend at the knee for the goat hybrid. Hell, there were a few times that Wilbur himself wouldn’t have minded stepping down to give Schlatt the leadership he probably deserved.

This election had been the solution to that. Wilbur’s confident in his own leadership skills. People respect him and his innate ability to rule fairly, and that respect had risen since he announced an election. Schlatt had been the only one to step up to run against him. They’d kept it friendly, not delving too deep into the toxicity that normally came with politics. They’d agreed that they’d compete against each other with the friendliest of banters, and it had worked wonders. Thus far, the voters seem to be split down the middle.

Now they all stand at their respective podiums, awaiting the results. George is the one counting the ballots, with Niki to help him with anything he might’ve missed. Wilbur can’t tell how close the election is, but he hopes he and Tommy are winning. This is, after all, their country.

After what feels like hours, George moves to the front to stand in front of the microphone. Niki hangs around backstage to lean up, and Wilbur sneaks a glance over his shoulder to smile at her. She doesn’t see him, too caught up in her own job. She disappears behind a door, and Wilbur faces front again to tune in to George’s words.

Next to him, Tommy finally spreads his wings, clearly trying to look as proud as Wilbur. In his peripheral vision, he can see Tommy glancing up at him, so Wilbur places a hand on his brother’s shoulder, silently reassuring him. The gentle touch and unspoken command are heard; Tommy’s exhaling slowly, and straightening his spine, facing out toward the crowd, much like Wilbur is doing now.

“Nihachu and I counted,” George states, waving a small envelope in his hands. “We have tallied all the ballots and counted them a few times to double-check, but we have a very clear winner. The people knew exactly who they wanted.”

George pauses in his speech to grin first at the current president and vice president, then turning to grin at their opponent. Schlatt clears his throat and adjusts his tie before placing his hands on the podium. Wilbur can see Schlatt’s fingers are trembling. Wilbur wishes he could call out a reassurance, but George is speaking again.

“The new president of L’Manburg,” George begins, pulling a notecard out of the envelope, “Is Jonathan Schlatt!”

There’s a cheer that raises up from the crowd, with a few people even jumping from their seats, as if that would help them cheer louder. Wilbur doesn’t let himself wilt, though he’s sure his expression reveals his disappointment. Next to him, Tommy’s wings lower in visible disappointment, nearly dragging on the ground. The boy’s head is bowed, and even amid the cheering, Wilbur can hear ragged breathing.

Keeping his hand on Tommy’s shoulder, he takes a step back. This drags Tommy back as well. Tommy doesn’t resist the tug, letting himself be tugged off the stage completely. It’s Schlatt’s turn to speak.

“I don’t understand,” Tommy whispers. He looks up at Wilbur with watery eyes, so Wilbur pulls him into a hug, even wrapping his wings around his brother. “We should have won, this was… we built this country! We did this with our bare hands, we should have… fuck!”

“He won a fair election,” Wilbur reminds him. “This is still our country, really. We just have to trust Schlatt to run it with the same ideals we created. Trust him, Tommathy.”

Tommy grins faintly, reaching up to flick a tear away. “I hate it when you call me that. But yeah, you’re right. I trust him.”

“Good lad.” Wilbur ruffles his hair before pulling back, taking Tommy by the hand to lead him back to the crowd. Schlatt hasn’t begun his speech yet, he seems to have been waiting for this moment. Wilbur meets the new president’s gaze and nods once they find their place next to Phil and Techno. Phil wraps Tommy in his own wings to comfort the teenager, while Wilbur finds solace in leaning against Techno. Techno has enough sense to pat Wilbur on the back, before nodding back up toward the stage. Schlatt is taking his place before the microphone, wearing a nervous smile.

In spite of his disappointment, Wilbur is proud of his closest friend. He reaches around Phil to ruffle Tommy’s hair, trying to get the boy’s attention.

“L’Manburg,” Schlatt says. “Man, I don’t even know how to start, except to say thank you. I’m so glad all of you participated in this election, casting your votes wisely. I also want to say that even though he lost, this country is still every bit of Wilbur’s as it is mine. He helped found the country we all live and believe in, and I’m still beyond honored to call him a friend. Because that’s what he is, a friend. Not just for me, but for all of us!”

Schlatt pauses to clear his throat, gaze sweeping over the crowd. Wilbur feels his eyes tear up, but he holds them back. He’s not going to weep in front of thousands of people. He re-focuses his attention on Schlatt, who’s speaking again.

“I’m going to run this nation fairly, living up to the ideals Wilbur set up for us. We’re a nation, we stand proud and we’re going to continue fighting for what we believe in. L’Manburg was founded on revolution and a desire for peace, and we’re going to continue pushing for independence, for unity, and become even better than we started off as!”

There’s a cheer that rises up in the air. Wilbur hears himself cheering alongside them, and he doesn’t realize he’s moving forward until he’s up on stage, leaning against Schlatt with a laugh. His wings wrap around his friend, gold shimmering in the sunlight. This isn’t supposed to happen, but sometimes, Wilbur really can’t help himself.

“Not meaning to interrupt,” Wilbur says with a laugh. He pats Schlatt on the back. “But I’m going to hand the keys to the nation over to someone I trust as much as my own family. I may have founded this country with my brother, but Schlatt’s the one in charge.” There are no physical keys to hand over; the pair behind the microphone understand the symbolism behind this entire event. “Schlatt, I know you will uphold and perfect our ideals and beliefs, and push this country forward into an even better tomorrow.”

There’s more cheering, and it rises in volume when the pair hug it out. This is unorthodox, normally a former president and president-elect would not be hugging, but Wilbur loves and trusts Schlatt, and he’s glad that things are turning out this way after all. He hopes Tommy understands as well.

The event is over. People are dismissing themselves, wandering back to whatever they do with their lives. The streets are filled with chatter and an excited buzz, but Wilbur is more focused on his approaching family. Phil is wearing a proud smile on his face, and Tommy’s eyes are red.

Schlatt reaches over to ruffle Tommy’s hair. “Chin up kid, it’s not over for you.”

Tommy juts his chin out in defiance, trying to look tough. “Shut the fuck up, big man. You’re not so tough, I could still take you on.” Tommy uses his sleeve and uses the cloth to dry his eyes. “In all seriousness Schlatt, I’m proud of you. You’re gonna do us proud, aren’t you?”

Schlatt nods. “I want to. I’m more scared of letting you two down than I am being a leader.” He offers a small smile, gaze flicking toward Wilbur’s wings, then Tommy’s. “Man, I just don’t want to let either of you down.”

“You could never,” Wilbur reassures him. “Schlatt, you’ve got charisma. You’ve got finesse. You’ve got-”

“Wilbur, Wilbur, please. Shut, and I mean this nicely, but shut the fuck up,” Tommy cuts in. “No one wants to hear you two flirt.” He’s leaning against Techno again, with Techno’s wings wrapping around the teen. In between words, it’s easy to tell that Tommy is still disappointed, and is hiding it behind his usual facade.

“Are you sure?” Schlatt asks, rolling his eyes at Tommy. Not out of irritation, but more to keep the conversation rolling. “I’m a little worried if I can be honest with you. Your entire family has wings, Wil. I have goat horns. What if that means people don’t take me seriously? Wouldn’t it be better if I had wings too?”

“Oh.” Wilbur laughs a little too loudly. He’s always hated having this conversation with Schlatt, it comes up more often than he wants to entertain. Schlatt has always been jealous of not being able to fly as Wilbur can. “You don’t need wings to rule, bro. You’re good, people adore you.” He motions around them with his fist. “We should go back home, for dinner. I’m sure Phil would love to prepare a celebratory meal for our president.”

Phil snorts but complies with the unspoken request to head back home. He moves forward, nudging both Techno and Tommy, though he keeps his head turned, watching Wilbur and Schlatt. “Schlatt, I’d be honored if you could join us tonight,” Phil says. “It’d be just like old times.”

“Nah.” Schlatt’s smiling, remaining in place. “I have other things to tend to. I’ll join you another night though, alright? And hey, Tommy?” He reaches out, pressing a palm to Tommy’s shoulder. Tommy stops walking, turning back to look at him. “I heard you cheering the loudest, kid. I know this election meant a lot to you, I know this country means a lot to you, so I’m going to do right by you.”

A pink tinge covers the teen’s cheeks, eyes lighting up in glee. He’s no longer crying, but there is still an air of disappointment surrounding him. Wilbur tries to let his shoulders relax; Tommy had always looked up to the ram hybrid. Schlatt had always gotten along well with Tommy, even delving into the same kind of teasing the other three dished out. There was never a moment where Tommy would feel unsafe, and he hopes, in spite of the event and differing emotions, that Tommy knows that now.

“There’s no way I cheered for you at all,” Tommy snarks. “You were too busy preening your suit during your whole speech. You were so preoccupied with Wilbur you didn’t hear me booing you.”

“He’s lying,” Techno comments. “Tommy was crying crocodile tears the whole time.” He’s standing a little ways from the group, looking a little uncomfortable. Wilbur’s certain he’s growing uneasy with this much activity and social interaction. Wilbur smiles at him, even laughing a little at his comment as he tugs Techno closer to them.

“Shut up Techno.” Tommy shoots his older brother a glare. “Jokes aside, don’t worry about me, I can handle anything life throws at me. You won the election fair and square, now we’ll just have to see how long it takes before you run it to the ground.”

“Me, destroying a whole country?” Schlatt places a hand to his chest in mock dismay. “I would never!”

Tommy lets out a snort as he steps away from the group, wings finally picking up off the ground. He seems to be cheering up now, which Wilbur is glad for. “I had a dream about you, Schlatt. I dreamt that you took over the country and immediately turned it into a dictatorship and made everyone betray you. Also-” Tommy rushes to continue before anyone can interrupt him, because Phil is trying to shush him. “Also, you banished me and Wilbur from the country, and we formed a rebellion. It was a cool dream, wish it came true.”

“Please.” Schlatt’s grin is now a little too forced. “You know me Tommy, I wouldn’t do anything like that. Wilbur and I are good friends, and you’re as good as my little brother!”

“Never say that again,” Tommy says, trying to appear serious and intimidating. “I don’t need no older brothers, I’m already my own big brother.”

“Alrighty,” Techno jokes. “Guess we can just leave Tommy behind. Everyone else, let’s go home. We don’t have a brother anymore, yup.”

“Of course, of course,” Wilbur continues. He turns to walk along with Techno, with Phil cracking up behind them. “I guess we’ll see you later, Schlatt. The three of us have to get home before it’s too late.”

“Wait.” The realization of being abandoned clearly sets in, because Tommy’s wings are wilting again. “Guys, wait, don’t leave me behind!”

“Why are we walking, when we can just fly?” Techno asks, with an abrupt subject change. Wilbur’s glad for it, because Tommy’s already upset enough, he doesn’t want to give Tommy another reason to cry. Techno waves goodbye to Schlatt before spreading his pink and white wings out, giving them a single shake. “I’m not walking anywhere.”

The rest of the family follows suit. There’s an array of colorful feathers floating in the air; a mix of black, pink, gold, blue, white, all shimmering with every other color of the rainbow. Schlatt stands and watches as the four members of this particular family disappear into the air and out of sight.

He can’t say he’s not disappointed. He’s always envied their ability to fly, and the beautiful wings they possess. He turns to head back toward his new life though, because up ahead, Niki is waiting for him. She’s wearing a bright smile and is holding a stack of paperwork in her arms.

She doesn’t have wings either, so Schlatt wonders if that’s okay. He doesn’t need wings to be a decent person, he’s sure. He approaches her, patting her on the shoulder. Niki is offering her own quieter congratulations, and they head for the office.

What Schlatt doesn’t notice is off in the distance, another winged being is watching. A faceless, endless green void, with matching green and black and white wings, facing the new president. When the crowd finally disperses, the figure too disappears, evidently having seen enough to satisfy him.

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writerscarlet · 3 years

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Story time, because I think this is important and I want to share it.

It happened last month, at the beginning of February. Back in December, the place I work at had gone through a renovation. During the renovation, the place was closed (obviously). In January we were ready to get back to running the place. The day before business could resume, my boss, me, and a lot of other people came in to clean up the place, stock shelves, etc. etc. in order to get thiggs ready for customers. A lot of people from other places came to help. Suffice to say, there was a crowd of people. So. Many. People. It was overwhelming, but I ignored my feelings on the matter.

About a week later I remember coming home from work that day. I remember turning on CSPAN's YouTube channel so that I could watch the joint session. Just as the first debate on the legitimacy of the ballots was beginning, I laid down for a nap. I left my computer on, knowing that the joint session wouldn't be over by the time I woke up.

It wasn't.

I woke up to a crowd of people breaking into the captiol building. And I wasn't okay. I constantly checked my phone, then my laptop, then my phone. I was worried. I was terrified. But I stayed in my room and didn't let anyone see that.

Biden was sworn in, weeks later. Looking back, it was my own naiveté that led me to believe that Biden being elected wouldn't affect me. When I think of the day he was sworn in, I think of the relief I felt. The feeling of, "oh, things were bad before and I knew it but I didn't think about it because it stressed me out but Biden is saying and doing things that sound... logical? Sane? He could be good for this country." Once again, I ignored the overwhelming emotions I had.

February 4th is a normal day. I go to work. I do my job. Then I get home. I take a nap, because work was busy and I didn't go to bed when I should have the night before. I wake up, start to clean my room and suddenly, I have a tight feeling in my chest. I feel tears in my eyes. I spend a solid five, maybe ten, minutes buried under my blankets, unable to understand why I'm crying but crying all the same.For several days, this event freaked me out. I ignored that it happened.

This year, I made a committment to my wellbeing. 2020 taught me that I need to stop ignoring it. I forced myself to think about why I suddenly started crying. I talked to a friend. And I finally understood what happened to me. I was overstimulated. I was emotionally overwhelmed, and I was shoving those feeling down. I was telling myself that I was no big deal ("I just had a bad dream that I couldn't remember," I told my friend.) that it was over and I'm okay.

Last month, I went into the doctor for my annual checkup and we reviewed a few things because I hadn't seen a family doctor since 2019 and the doctor I had seen before quit. I finally, finally had gathered up the courage to admit that I was having troubles related to ADHD. I told her it was affecting me and I needed help. I started to research ADHD, what it mean and what affects it has. I realize some things:

It's not normal to hyper fixate on certain things for days at a time while ignoring everything else.

It's not normal to feel sensitive to touch, to crowds.

Normal is seeing an open door and closing it so that the dogs don't get out or that the wildlife doesn't get in. Normal isn't freaking out that someone left the door open closing it could mean being wrong and getting embrassed and never being able to do anything right

It's not just "I can't concentrate" because while that is a factor, it's not the only one and just boiling down your symptoms to "I can't concentrate" does yourself a disservice.

Your sleeping habits are just as much affected by your mind as they are your body. Once again, hiding your problem isn't helping.

It's not normal to want to hide your "petty" problems from people

I've done a lot of thinking about this over the past month. I know I have a long way to go, especially in understanding how ADHD affects me. I was diagnosed as a child but stopped medicating, and talking to doctors about it, around age 10. As an adult, I realized what a terrible choice that was for my parents to make for me. I talked wiuh them about it and they said they thought I was "acting like a normal kid" and so I didn't need the pills or the extra help with school. I just needed be yelled at whenever I lost track of time and forgot to do something. I just needed to be punished whenever I forgot to do homework because I thought that reading this book until I finished it was more interesting. Maybe then I would get it instead of ignoring my hurt feelings and reading another book.

What I'm saying is: please look out for yourself. I know you think it'll be a bother to others to talk about this. You're probably thinking it right now. I can tell you it's not true but will you believe me? Probably not. I wouldn't. But just... talk to someone. Seriously. Just do it. Do it, get it over with. Because it can led to a better understanding and a better outlook.

#adhd #story time #true story

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richincolor · 4 years

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Voting and YA Lit

The November election is getting closer and closer. If you're eligible to vote and need more information, Vote.org is an excellent place to start. The League of Women Voters also has a First Time Voter Checklist that may be helpful. This year there may be additional challenges to voting, but if you are able, please let your voice be heard through your vote.

In the final two months before the election, you may enjoy some related reading. First, a few YA novels featuring elections or voting:

Yes No Maybe So by Becky Albertalli and Aisha Saeed Balzer + Bray [Group Discussion]

YES Jamie Goldberg is cool with volunteering for his local state senate candidate—as long as he’s behind the scenes. When it comes to speaking to strangers (or, let’s face it, speaking at all to almost anyone), Jamie’s a choke artist. There’s no way he’d ever knock on doors to ask people for their votes…until he meets Maya.

NO Maya Rehman’s having the worst Ramadan ever. Her best friend is too busy to hang out, her summer trip is canceled, and now her parents are separating. Why her mother thinks the solution to her problems is political canvassing—with some awkward dude she hardly knows—is beyond her.

MAYBE SO Going door to door isn’t exactly glamorous, but maybe it’s not the worst thing in the world. After all, the polls are getting closer—and so are Maya and Jamie. Mastering local activism is one thing. Navigating the cross-cultural romance of the century is another thing entirely.

The Voting Booth by Brandy Colbert Disney-Hyperion [Crystal's Review]

Marva Sheridan was born ready for this day. She’s always been driven to make a difference in the world, and what better way than to vote in her first election?

Duke Crenshaw is so done with this election. He just wants to get voting over with so he can prepare for his band’s first paying gig tonight.

Only problem? Duke can’t vote.

When Marva sees Duke turned away from their polling place, she takes it upon herself to make sure his vote is counted. She hasn’t spent months doorbelling and registering voters just to see someone denied their right. And that’s how their whirlwind day begins, rushing from precinct to precinct, cutting school, waiting in endless lines, turned away time and again, trying to do one simple thing: vote. They may have started out as strangers, but as Duke and Marva team up to beat a rigged system (and find Marva’s missing cat), it’s clear that there’s more to their connection than a shared mission for democracy.

Romantic and triumphant, The Voting Booth is proof that you can’t sit around waiting for the world to change, but some things are just meant to be.

Running by Natalia Sylvester Clarion Books

When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Mariana Ruiz’s father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero—while the whole country is watching.

In this thoughtful, authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter’s vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father’s political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.

But how do you find your voice when everyone’s watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What do you do when your dad stops being your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it?

There are also a few YA nonfiction books that deal with activism and voting rights:

How I Resist edited by Maureen Johnson Wednesday Books

Now, more than ever, young people are motivated to make a difference in a world they're bound to inherit. They're ready to stand up and be heard - but with much to shout about, where they do they begin? What can I do? How can I help?

How I Resist is the response, and a way to start the conversation. To show readers that they are not helpless, and that anyone can be the change. A collection of essays, songs, illustrations, and interviews about activism and hope, How I Resist features an all-star group of contributors, including John Paul Brammer, Libba Bray, Lauren Duca, Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson and his husband Justin Mikita, Alex Gino, Hebh Jamal, Malinda Lo, Dylan Marron, Hamilton star Javier Muñoz, Rosie O'Donnell, Junauda Petrus, Jodi Picoult, Jason Reynolds, Karuna Riazi, Maya Rupert, Dana Schwartz, Dan Sinker, Ali Stroker, Jonny Sun (aka @jonnysun), Sabaa Tahir, Shaina Taub, Daniel Watts, Jennifer Weiner, Jacqueline Woodson, and more, all edited and compiled by New York Times bestselling author Maureen Johnson.

In How I Resist, readers will find hope and support through voices that are at turns personal, funny, irreverent, and instructive. Not just for a young adult audience, this incredibly impactful collection will appeal to readers of all ages who are feeling adrift and looking for guidance.

How I Resist is the kind of book people will be discussing for years to come and a staple on bookshelves for generations.

The March Trilogy by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell Top Shelf Productions

A graphic novel memoir in three parts. It tells of the Civil Rights movement through the eyes of John Lewis. Readers see Lewis and other activists launching campaigns such as the Freedom Vote and Mississippi Freedom Summer. The books lead all the way through to the Selma March.

And finally, picture books aren't just for children. Here are two picture books young adults would likely appreciate:

The Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes Candlewick Press

A stirring collection of poems and spirituals, accompanied by stunning collage illustrations, recollects the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a champion of equal voting rights.

"I am sick and tired of being sick and tired."

Despite fierce prejudice and abuse, even being beaten to within an inch of her life, Fannie Lou Hamer was a champion of civil rights from the 1950s until her death in 1977. Integral to the Freedom Summer of 1964, Ms. Hamer gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention that, despite President Johnson’s interference, aired on national TV news and spurred the nation to support the Freedom Democrats. Featuring luminous mixed-media art both vibrant and full of intricate detail, Singing for Freedom celebrates Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and legacy with an inspiring message of hope, determination, and strength.

Granddaddy's Turn: A Journey to the Ballot Box by Michael S. Bandy & Eric Stein, illustrated by James Ransome Candlewick Press

Based on the true story of one family’s struggle for voting rights in the Civil Rights–era South, this moving tale shines an emotional spotlight on a dark facet of U.S. history.

Life on the farm with Granddaddy is full of hard work, but despite all the chores, Granddaddy always makes time for play, especially fishing trips. Even when there isn’t a bite to catch, he reminds young Michael that it takes patience to get what’s coming to you. One morning, when Granddaddy heads into town in his fancy suit, Michael knows that something very special must be happening—and sure enough, everyone is lined up at the town hall! For the very first time, Granddaddy is allowed to vote, and he couldn’t be more proud. But can Michael be patient when it seems that justice just can’t come soon enough? This powerful and touching true-life story shares one boy’s perspective of growing up in the segregated South, while beautiful illustrations depict the rural setting in tender detail.

#voting #election #YA Lit

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uncloseted · 3 years

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my mom keeps badgering me about the capital event bc i really hated it but i support the blm protests and she says it’s hypocritical of me bc the protests were just as “violent” as the capital and “caused lots of deaths”. i never really have anything to say back to justify what went down, do you have any info i could use to explain myself? i know they were for completely different causes and one actually matters, but i don’t know how to justify the “violence” (i personally don’t think a majority of them were violent, all the ones where i lived were routinely peaceful and i think the extreme ones were sensationalized for the news). anyway sorry if it’s dumb i’m 14 and just trying to get into politics and stuff so i’m not super well informed and just trying to learn.

I’m sorry this has taken me a few days to get to. What happened at the Capitol is complicated, and I want to make sure I give you as full of an answer as possible. I also want to just quickly say that it’s awesome you’re getting involved in politics at such a young age and trying to help your parents understand these issues. I would love to answer any questions you have about politics or social issues (or just kind of anything in general, I’m not picky). Last thing and then I’ll get into the meat of this post- I’m a huge supporter of the BLM and police abolition movements and was a protestor over the summer, so I’m maybe a little bit biased. This situation makes me really angry on a personal level, but I’ll try to stick to just the facts as much as possible in this post and let you know when I’m showing my own opinions.

So the first thing I want to talk about is language. The Black Lives Matter protests were protests- a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards a political idea or action, usually with the intention of influencing government policy. In the US, protesting is a constitutional right protected by the First Amendment. The storming of the Capitol was not a protest, and it wasn’t intended to be. It was planned several weeks in advance with the explicit intention of disrupting the counting of Electoral College ballots. Their stated goal was to overturn Donald Trump’s defeat in the presidential election, an election that is widely considered to be the freest, fairest, and safest election in US history (ironically, in part due to Trump’s insistence that there was voter fraud in the 2016 election). Storming a public building is not a form of protest protected by the US Constitution. Further, an attempt to overturn a democratic election is an attempt to carry out a coup. The Capitol rioters will likely be charged with sedition (conduct that incites rebellion against the established order) and/or insurrection (a violent uprising against an authority or government). The Black Lives Matter protestors were not attempting to carry out a coup against the US government, and none have been charged with offenses as big as those.

Next, I want to touch on motivation. The Black Lives Matter protesters were protesting against police brutality towards minorities, particularly Black people. There has long been a documented history of police misconduct and fatal use of force by law enforcement officers against Black people in the US. Many protests in the past have been a response to police violence, including the 1965 Watts riots, the 1992 Los Angeles riots, and the 2014 and 2015 Black Lives Matter protests in response to the murders of Michael Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray. By contrast, the Capitol rioters were not motivated by fact. They were called to action by the President of the United States, Donald Trump. They were told that the election had been “stolen” from Trump, and were encouraged to march over to the Capitol to “take back our country”. The idea that the election was stolen from the president is demonstrably false. They weren’t motivated by a social issue, a concern for their own lives, facts, or even really principle. “Our president wants us here...we wait to take orders from our president,” was what motivated them. The affiliations of those rioters are varied, but many of them are affiliated with either the far-right, anti-government Boogaloo Boys, the explicitly neofascist Proud Boys, the self-proclaimed militia The Oath Keepers, or the far-right militia group Three Percenters. Many are also on the record as being QAnon followers (followers of a disproven far-right conspiracy that started off as a 4chan troll, which states that an anonymous government official, “Q”, is providing information about a cabal of Satan-worshiping, cannibalistic pedophiles in the Democratic party who are running a child sex trafficking ring and plotting against Trump. Yes, really).

The intentions of BLM were largely peaceful. BLM protest documents encouraged protesters to be peaceful even in the face of police violence, because the BLM protesters knew what the price of being violent would be. We were encouraged not to bring weapons or anything that could be misconstrued as a weapon. Even non-violent protests were met with tear gas, rubber bullets, and riot gear. A reported 96.3% of 7,305 BLM protests were entirely peaceful (no injuries, no property damage). The 292 “violent incidents” in question were mainly the toppling of statues of “colonial figures, slave owners, and Confederate leaders”. There were also several instances of right wing, paramilitary style militia movements discharging firearms into crowds of protesters, and 136 confirmed incidences of right-wing participation at the protests (including members of the aforementioned Boogaloo Boys, Three Percenters, Oath Keepers, and Proud Boys). It was also rumored that off-duty police were inciting violence (although to my knowledge, that is unconfirmed). There is no evidence that “antifa” (a decentralized, left-wing, anti-racist and anti-fascist group) played a role in instigating the protests or violence, or even that they had a significant role in the protests at all. People who were involved in crimes were not ideologically organized, and were largely opportunists taking advantage of the chaos for personal gain.

By contrast, the “Storm the Capitol” documents were largely violent; messages like, “pack a crowbar,” and “does anyone know if the windows on the second floor are reinforced” were common on far-right social media platforms. One message on 8kun (formerly 8chan, a website linked to white supremacy, neo-Nazism, the alt-right, etc) stated, "you can go to Washington on Jan 6 and help storm the Capitol....As many Patriots as can be. We will storm the government buildings, kill cops, kill security guards, kill federal employees and agents, and demand a recount." The speakers at the Trump rally encouraged attendees to see themselves as foot soldiers fighting to save the country, and to be ready to “bleed for freedom”. The Capitol rioters were mostly armed; rioters were reportedly seen firing pepper spray at police officers, and pipe bombs, molotov cocktails, and guns (including illegal assault rifles) were found on the protesters. One protester was filmed saying, “believe me, we are well armed if we need to be.” Some protesters arrived in paramilitary regalia, including camo and Kevlar vests.

I quickly want to touch on scale. The George Floyd BLM protests are thought to be the largest protests in US history, with between 15 and 26 million (largely young, sometimes children, minority) people attending a protest in over 2000 cities in 60 countries. There were around 14,000 arrests, most being low-level offenses such as violating curfews or blocking roadways. 19 deaths have been reported, largely at the hands of police. Only one death is known to have been a law enforcement officer. The number of people who stormed the Capitol is still somewhat unclear, but it seems to be between 2,000 and 8,000 (largely older white, cis, straight, Christian men) people. 80+ people have been arrested for federal crimes, including 25+ who are being charged with domestic terrorism (something nobody associated with BLM is being accused of). There have been five deaths reported. One was a police officer, and the other four were rioters. Of those deaths, one was a police related shooting (a female Air Force veteran). The other three died of unrelated medical emergencies. One reportedly had a history of high blood pressure and suffered a heart attack from the excitement.

Now I want to look at government response. During the BLM protests, there was a huge response from law enforcement. 200 cities imposed curfews, 30 states and Washington DC activated over 96,000 National Guard, State Guard, 82nd Airborne, and 3rd Infantry Regiment service members. The deployment was the largest military operation other than war in US history, and it was in response to protests concerning, in part, the militarization of police forces. The police were outfitted in riot gear. They used physical force against BLM protesters, including batons, tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets, “often without warning or seemingly unprovoked,” per the New York Times. Anecdotally, everyone I know now knows how to neutralize pepper spray, treat rubber bullet wounds, build shields out of household items, how to prevent cellphones from being tracked, and how to confuse facial recognition technology to prevent being identified (as six men connected to the Ferguson protests mysteriously turned up dead afterwards, and the police were using cellphone tracking technology). Amnesty International issued a press release calling for police to end excessive militarized response to the protests. There were 66 incidents of vehicles being driven into crowds of protesters, 7 of which explicitly involved police officers, the rest of which were by far-right groups. Over 20 people were partially blinded after being struck with police projectiles. When the BLM protests were happening, Trump said that, “when the looting starts, the shooting starts.”

In contrast, the response to the Capitol protesters was relatively tame, especially given that the US Capitol’s last breach was over 200 years ago (when British troops set fire to the building during the war of 1812) and the rioters weren’t being shy about their aspirations to conduct an armed insurrection incited by the sitting president. There was (widely available, able to be found through a Google search, everyone saw it) prior intelligence that far-right, extremist groups were planning on (violently) Storming the Capitol on January 6th, with the intention of interrupting the Electoral College ballot counting and holding lawmakers hostage. However, the US Capitol Police insisted that a National Guard presence would not be necessary for the protests, and Pentagon officials reportedly restricted DC guard troop from being deployed except as a measure of last resort, and restricted them from receiving ammunition or riot gear. They were instructed to engage with rioters only in self-defense, and were banned from using surveillance equipment. Despite prior knowledge of the “protests”, Capitol Police staffing levels mirrored that of a normal day, and no riot control equipment was prepared. The Capitol Police weren’t in paramilitary gear the way they were for the BLM protests. The mob walked in to the Capitol with little resistance. Some scaled walls, some broke down barricades, some smashed windows, and one video even seems to show Capitol Police opening a gate for the mob. Rioters traipsed around the Capitol (one of the most important government buildings in the country) with little resistance, looting and vandalizing offices of Congress members. Some rioters felt safe enough to give their names to media outlets, livestream their exploits, and take selfies with police officers. One man was (ironically) carrying a Confederate flag, a symbol of a secession attempt on the part of the South (and of racism). It took 50 minutes for FBI tactical teams to arrive at the scene, and the National Guard were initially directed by Trump not to intervene. Pence later overturned that ruling and approved the National Guard. Police used finally used riot gear, shields, smoke grenades, and batons to retake control of the Capitol, but notably no tear gas or rubber bullets. Video showed rioters being escorted away without handcuffs. Trump’s response to the riot was, "we love you. You're very special ... but you have to go home."

This is where I’m going to get a little editorial, but I think it’s important to say. If the people storming the Capitol Building were Black, they would have been met with a large, pre-coordinated military presence, violent restraint, arrests, and quite possibly would have been shot. They wouldn’t have made it inside the Capitol, much less been given free rein to wander around without immediate consequence. Hundreds of people during the George Floyd protests were arrested for just being present- 127 protesters were arrested for violating curfew on June 2nd in Detroit alone, twice the number of arrests made during the storming of the US Capitol. It turns out that the police do know how to use restraint, after all. What an absolute shock. It’s almost like they’re a corrupt and racist institution we should get rid off...

The last big thing I want to talk about is the outcome. The BLM protests were meaningful, but the outcome from them has been tame. Nobody has been accused of domestic terrorism. State and local governments evaluated their police department policies and made some changes, like banning chokeholds, partially defunding some departments, and passing regulations that departments must recruit in part from the communities they patrol. Only one city, Minneapolis, pledged to dismantle their police force. The response has largely been localized. I think the biggest impact it’s had is introducing people to the concept of police abolition and getting more people involved in the movement. By contrast, the Capitol riots have resulted in over 25 people being accused of domestic terrorism and the second attempt to impeach Donald Trump, something that has never happened before in the history of the US.

But what really concerns me is the precedent this sets. Donald Trump is an idiot, and he’s gotten this far. We can’t count on the guy who takes his place to be an idiot, too. The next guy could be clever, strategic, well-spoken, well-mannered... not to invoke Godwin’s law here, but people liked Hitler. He was a persuasive speaker and capitalized on conspiracy theories about World War 1 to gain support. His 1923 attempt to overthrow the Bavarian government failed, but sympathy for his aims grew. He painted himself as a good, moral man who loved dogs and children and was trying to do right by his country (by, among other things, arresting communists and leftists, and then eventually all minorities). Trump isn’t Hitler. He’s not even a Hitler analogue. But Trump has already done this much damage to the fabric of our society. He’s worn down our relationship with the media, with one another, with democracy, with morality, and with truth itself. We have to be prepared for the idea that the next guy might be a much better politician. Getting rid of Trump isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of a fight against fascism that’s only going to grow from here.

There are other differences you could point to. BLM protesters wore masks to prevent the spread of COVID (and indeed, researchers have reported that the protests did not drive an increase in virus transmission), for example, while the rioters were largely unmasked. But I think the bottom line is that the millions of BLM protesters were doing their best to be responsible citizens fighting peacefully for an evidence-based, human rights cause, even though they knew that as a primarily minority group of people, they would be met with violence. The thousands of far-right, white, Capitol insurrectionists were doing their best to overturn a free, fair, safe, and democratic election because of a call to action by Trump and a stringent belief in disproven conspiracy theories, which they knew would be met with minimal resistance despite the severity of their actions. The insurrectionists are fascists, full stop, and we should call them what they are. The BLM protesters were by and large just people, of all different political views and motivations, who wanted to fight against something they saw as unjust.

I’m sorry that this is such a long post. This topic has been on my mind all week, and I wanted to give it the nuance it deserves. All we can do from here is to keep fighting- for justice, for truth, and, hopefully, for peace.

#Anonymous #effys-closet #effys closet

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lesbianologist · 3 years

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Hi love, I reread some of your work just to be able to give you concrete feedback on it, so here goes. Let me start by saying that I absolutely adore your writing and I check for updates daily. The first piece I read was A Touch of Sunlight on AO3 (Farah x Reader). I loved it so much the first time I read it that I still go back to it sometimes. (It might also have something to do with Eve Best... Just saying). It just feels like you know the characters really well, the plot is very well-structured and your actual writing has me feeling everything all at once (in a good way).

Regarding The Predicament and A Ballot of Affection as a whole, I’m really into the idea and plot of it! It has been a while since I saw Homeland, so sometimes the plot part can be a little dense, especially with all the minor characters involved. However, it is 100% clear that the stakes of their relationship are high and the reader is unsure of her trust in Keane and what Keane will do with that. As a lover of angst, I was so keen to read the last chapter and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Idk, I feel like I’m rambling, but just to finish this up: please don’t feel insecure about your writing. It is so wonderful and you should be proud of how well you write these characters and how you portray their feelings and inner thoughts in such a subtle way.

Sending you love and a hug! 🥰🌸 (Also really hoping this ask will go through normally because Tumblr’s been glitching lol)

for some reason it works on desktop, not mobile, smh.

anyway hiya back atcha love. this is gonna be under a readmore bc length obv

i appreciate that so much and i suuuper appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback, especially as lengthy as this one is. ATOS will eventually get an update. i've had a lot of eager folks message me about it and i promise it's one that i'm still going to update. i'm just mostly struggling with where to go with it. also wow omg, that makes me genuinely tear up knowing it was good enough that anyone goes back to it.

re: characterization: i definitely try my best to get a grasp on any/all characters before writing them, hence why it can take awhile for me to publish anything as i want it to fit cohesively into the timeline/canon as possible, or, if an AU, at least make sense with the character re their choices/words/mannerisms. and i'm suuuuuper grateful to hear the plot is very well-structured makes you feel everything all at once and in a good way!!!

yeah, gah, that's the worst part about homeland. it's why i've tried to condense each minor interaction, though important, into a somewhat relevant conversation with yn given that yn will eventually be chief of staff. yes, that was another intention of mine; to continue a similar dynamic of unease between the two, at least perceptable on yn's end, and then abandon canon once shit hits the fan, as you probably vaguely remember. yn (carrie in canon) isn't exactly treated kindly by keane post-BS, and things quickly go to hell in a hand basket for carrie. i wanted to abandon that altogether and go for something different while still keeping that palpable angst and keep the stakes high.

i totally enjoy rambling, so no worries, and—

i'm going to try moving forward... tHANK YOU. this made me legitimately tear up so much.

sending you love/a hug right back atcha and thank you sooooooooooo much. and yes, it went through, i just had to answer on desktop instead of mobile kdjslgfkajl.

#answered #rosiewritesagain

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thechoir-roomhq · 3 years

Text

WELCOME TO DAY ONE OF THE 2041 SHOW CHOIR MIDWEST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS!

today’s program includes:

THE NEW DIRECTIONS

Your Song, Moulin Rogue ( Featured: Julien Schuester, Molly Pearce.) Heaven is a Place on Earth, Belinda Carlisle ( Featured: Candy Motta. ) Closing Time, Semisonic ( Featured: Miles Pearce, Jaz Evans. )

THE CRAWFORD CANARIES

Here You Come Again, Dolly Parton, DJ Ricky Luna ( Featured: Gianna Stone. ) Girl in the Movies, Dolly Parton ( Featured: Margot Stanley. ) 9 to 5, Dolly Parton ( Featured: Aubrey O’Leary. )

AND THE HOOSIERDADDIES!

LET’S SEE WHAT THE JUDGES HAVE TO SAY. . .

[ Post Regionals Day 1, Sue, Wendy, and David S. Pumpkins are sat around a conference table. Time to get down to business! ]

SUE: [arms crossed, against a wall] That was the most horrendous performance I have ever witnessed in my 35 years of living, and that's coming from someone who was one of the original members of Milli Vanilli.

DAVID: I'm David Pumpkins!

WENDY: I for one loved those bird girls. Clap if you think the cardinals should win!

DAVID: I'm David Pumpkins, man!

WENDY: no? nobody? alright well, i'm just saying what everyone is thinking...how about those new directions? they were fun! wholesome! real star quality!

SUE: Wendy Williams, it is a disgrace you are touching Ohio soil at this very moment. I think we all know who needs to win and it's not the private school lesbians or the public school cesspool of cretins that so happen to refer to themselves as New Directions.

WENDY: What was the other team? I don't even remember! [laughing at herself, she snorts] Between the girls and the New Directions, I think I liked the New Directions more. The Chickadees were cute, they were real cute, but the New Directions were fun! I wanted to get out and join that flash mob, but I don't think anyone would have wanted to see that...Just like nobody wants to see you in that track suit, Sue.

SUE: These track suits have been in my family since we were on the Cherokee reservations in 1881, Wendy Williams. I know you know absolutely nothing about music because your brittle bones wouldn't allow you to hold a microphone, but I once performed with Oliva Newton-John and I think we can all recognize that you and Pappy Van Winkle over here are the saddest and laziest excuses of a celebrity judge. So that makes me the perfect person to choose today's winner, which should be the Hoosierdaddies. A terrible play on words, but at least they have a smidgen of talent.

WENDY: I'll have you know, Sue Sylvester, I was on the masked singer as the lips and I did NUMBERS on tiktok. okay? alright? yeah, that's what i thought. I say we just go ahead and vote and let the ballots do the talking...

SUE: I couldn't have said it better, Wendy Williams. [she sits down and writes on her ballot. New Directions, first. You win this time William Schuester and Wendy Williams, no relation involved. The Hoosierdaddies, second. The Canaries, third.]

WENDY: Mhm. [She fills out her ballot, New Directions first, Canaries Second, Hoosierwhatsits Third.]

DAVID: [Freezes in his seat with finger guns pointed at Wendy and Sue while his back-up skeleton dancers fill out his ballot for him. New Directions, first. Canaries, second. The Hoozierdaddies, third.] Any questions?!

WENDY: Where did they come from? Oh, they're cute! But no, no questions.

[About an hour later, Sue walks onto stage, the other two celebrity hooligans behind her]

SUE: Thank you all for coming. I know all of you are here because your kid is on stage because I can not imagine anyone wanting to be here willingly except for [she points to a decrepit Will and Emma Schuester], Justin Timberfake and Eva over there and I'm sure you all want to get out of here to take the good ole winners to the Olive Garden in Westerville so let's get this started. Second runner up, [she rolls her eyes at her favorite team losing], the Hoosierdaddies! And for first runner up, the Canaries from Crawford Country Day! [she hands their captain, some blonde girl who looks like she's pushing thirty the trophy, and just as Aubrey tries to talk to her, Sue pushes her face away], back over that way Pitch Perfect. [in a monotone voice] And that leaves the New Directions with first place. Congrats.

#crhq:regionals

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sithsecrets · 4 years

Text

Empress ⁂ Part 3

Engaged by her father to Supreme Leader Kylo Ren, a princess navigates the dynamics of her new marriage while discovering her own power as a member of the Order.

—

3.9k words

Mentions: sex, swearing

—

As soon as you wake up, you know immediately that it’s far too early for anyone to be even remotely conscious. And yet, there Kylo Ren stands, fully dressed and fiddling with something on his belt as if it’s a reasonable hour of the day.

“Do you always wake up this early?” You don’t mean for it to come out that way, but for fuck’s sake.

Standing at the foot of the bed, Kylo jumps at the sound of your voice, obviously not expecting you to be awake. “Did I wake you?” he asks, and you think you hear a bit of genuine concern in your husband’s voice.

Sitting up in bed, you shrug, rubbing at your bleary eyes. “No, not really. I was already half awake, and then I heard you move.” Whisking little wisps of hair out of your face, you stretch, shivering as the covers slip down your chest. You can feel Kylo watching you, and he has that same flustered look on his face, the one from last night after you’d gotten out of the bathtub.

“I train in the mornings,” Kylo says quickly, turning away from you to grab something off the dresser he’d been facing before. “It clears my head.”

“Your collar’s crooked,” you announce suddenly, because it is, folded down in the back where Kylo can’t see. The floor is cold on your feet, but you walk over to your husband anyway.

When you reach behind him to fix his shirt, Kylo flinches, almost as if you were reaching up to slap him instead. You hadn’t caught him off-guard, that much you know, and it takes you just one second of looking at the mild panic in Kylo’s eyes to realize that maybe there’s a reason he makes himself so mean and scary in front of other people all the time.

“When was the last time someone touched you without meaning to harm you?” You know it’s a rather personal question, but it’s also an important one.

Kylo pauses for a beat, swallows heavily, and then, “Before you came here?” He says this quietly, like a secret, and that’s enough to give you your answer. But still you nod, waiting.

“I don’t remember.” And then Kylo’s walking off, striding out of the room and away from you as quickly as he can. You sigh as you watch him go.

Your one regret is that his collar is still out of place.

----

You and Kylo don’t speak of your little incident after it happens. Thankfully, though, it doesn’t seem like the whole thing did any damage, because Kylo remains cordial you, even friendly.

The next few days are spent reading about Valdera, studying its leadership, making notes about which customs you should follow— and which ones you should strategically ignore. You’re fitted for a few new dresses, garments in the style of your home planet sewn in the colors of the Order, and you think that they’ll be a nice fit for the negotiations. In those sessions with the tailor, you also have a few new nightgowns made, ones that fit you a little better, ones with some pretty things sewn onto them. You think you look rather striking in them, and you can’t help but hope that your husband thinks so too.

The fact that Kylo has made no moves to consummate the marriage bothers you more than you’d like to admit. You were nervous in the beginning, unsure of how your husband would be with you. You’d been picturing a tyrant with whores, a powerful man who takes a different woman to bed with him every night, and you feared the idea of such a person focusing their sexual desires on you. But Kylo is nothing like that, not even remotely, and you think now that you would be comfortable giving yourself to him.

After more than a week, though, he’s not so much as expressed interest in holding your hand, let alone fucking you, and you’re starting to get concerned he never will. You wish he would just tell you what the problem is if there is one, or just flat out admit that he’s not interested. You could live with that— honestly, you could— and not having to think about sex anymore would take some pressure off of you.

However, you know that Kylo is attracted to you, you can see it in his eyes sometimes. He flushes when you walk around in your nightgown, sneaks glances at you while you brush your hair or put on your moisturizer at night. Deep down, you know it’s just something about him; there’s something in Kylo that makes him afraid of being intimate, and it’s clear every time he pulls away from your touch.

And it’s not even about the sex, really. Even though Kylo Ren is known as a tyrant throughout most of the galaxy, it makes you sad to think that someone beat the desire to be touched out of him at some point in his short life. You know part of his story, know that his parents sent him away to train as a Jedi. Then there was that awful attack on the other trainees, and it doesn’t take a genius to understand that Ben Solo died with those other children that night, too. But something else happened, something that came after the destruction of the Jedi that’s made Kylo Ren the person he is today— and that something is why he flinches like he’s about to be hit whenever you touch him.

----

The arrival of the Valderan ambassadors is fast approaching, and you’ve finally settled on how you’re going to handle them.

Valdera as a planet is mineral-rich and well-developed, with sprawling cities and a large population. From the outside looking in, one could think that the Valderans are an advanced people living in a progressive society with cutting-edge technology and strong leadership. But if, one bothered to look closer, however, they would see that not all is right on the planet.

Most of the grunt work on the planet is done by slaves, people stolen from smaller, weaker planets that share a solar system with Valdera. Valderan culture is patriarchal, which in and of itself is not inherently bad. However, Valderan men tend to take advantage of their power in society, subjugating the women around them in varying degrees. While the country does have a democratically elected leader, women are not allowed to cast their own ballots, and slaves can’t vote at all, regardless of their sex.

And that’s just the planet’s overall culture. The men who are coming to meet with you and Kylo, the ambassadors, they’re real pieces of work. They’re your garden-variety spoiled assholes, born into mineral money and raised in the elite. You know everything about them because of the Order’s connections, know that they both like to hide their money from taxation, know that they don’t put any of their immense wealth into charity.

Last Valderan spring, one of them married a seventeen-year-old girl. He’s in his thirties. You intend to fuck with him most of all.

In short, your goals are to dismantle the more oppressive aspects of the Valderan power structure, emancipate the planet’s slave, and secure the vote for all Valderan citizens, regardless of sex or societal station. You also intend to offer support to the smaller planets that Valdera has been leeching off of for years, and all freed slaves will be given the option to return home with the Order’s help, should they choose to do so. That’s really all you want to give them: a choice.

Naturally, these ambassadors are two men who will probably not take kindly to dealing with a powerful woman such as yourself. So, naturally, you’re going to you’re going to be an unmitigated bitch to them the entire time they’re on the ship. You will not show submission to anyone in their presence, you will not allow them to talk over you, and you certainly will not allow them to behave as if they have any real power. By the time you’re finished with them, they’ll be drowning in humility and falling all over themselves to do anything the Order says.

But to do all of this, to handle the ambassadors the way they need to be handled, you’ll need Kylo’s help. You’ll also need to keep him calm through all of this; you have a feeling that he won’t get along with these men easily, and how could he? These men have been handed all that they have. From what you understand, Kylo’s had to fight tooth and nail for everything he’s ever even had a chance at having.

Now, all that’s left is to brief your husband and work out the minor details where he’s concerned. Or, at least you hope it’ll be simple to iron out the details that still seem a little wrinkled in your mind.

You approach the subject with Kylo over dinner.

“I know what I’m going to do with the Valderans,” you announce, applying a bit of savory spread to a piece of bread with your knife.

Kylo swallows the food in his mouth, looks at you across the table. “Tell me,” he says, listening intently.

“It’s a rather simple plan, really,” you begin, talking around a small bite of bread. “I’m going to treat them like the spoiled children they are.”

Brow arched, Kylo asks, “You’re going to be unkind to them?”

“Oh yes,” you answer, “the entire time. They deserve nothing less, and they won’t cooperate otherwise. They both seem to be arrogant, proud people, and not in the way that’s sometimes beneficial for men in their position. By the time I’m done with them, we’ll be able to do anything we want with that planet.” Looking up from where you’d been cutting into your food, you eye your husband up and down shortly. “If I have you figured right, you’ll hate them.”

You can tell that Kylo’s mulling over everything you’ve said in your mind, can tell that he’s a little confused. “They’re just ambassadors,” he states, “they don’t really control anything. How do you know that the president of Valderan will cooperate with us?”

“The president of Valderan as it stands now is little more than a figurehead. He’s inhibited by all of the greedy men in his parliament, and that’s making it difficult for him to get anything done. In reality, he’s very progressive. He’s been trying to pass a mandate to end slavery on the planet for years, but all of the people who are allowed to vote don’t like the idea of that. However, if we come in and say that the Order has decreed that slavery on the planet come to an end, he doesn’t have to keep trying, and the matter solves itself.”

You go on to tell Kylo about all of your plans and ideas for the planet of Valdera, how you think the enfranchisement of women and the newly freed slaves will boost the planet’s economy, as well as garner support for the Order. Kylo listens with rapt attention as you explain how expanding the voter base will clean up Parliament during the next midterm election, nodding along as you go.

“That’s more or less what I was thinking,” Kylo tells you, “but that bit about offering the freed slaves passage back to their home planets at their discretion is genius.”

It’s so validating to hear him say that, to be praised for your plans. Back home, you’d only been used as a negotiation tool, a go-between for your parents and foreign dignitaries— you were never actually allowed to dictate policy or throw around ideas.

“That way, they feel like they have autonomy over the new path of their lives. Which, they do, of course,” you say, and it’s your finishing thought.

There’s a pause, just you and Kylo looking at each other in silence for a moment, and then he sinks back in his chair. “What do you need from me?”

“To lead the negotiations, obviously,” you answer, “but not in a way that undermines me. It’s very important that these men view me as a person with power.”

“But you are a person with power,” Kylo says, brows knitted together.

“I know, but these aren’t men who are accustomed to taking women seriously. It’s paramount that you treat me as your equal at all times. If it even appears like I’m just there as an accessory, the whole things ruined.”

You set down your silverware, finished with your food now. Swiping a napkin on the corners of your mouth, you pause, thinking of how to phrase this next bit. “But at the same time,” you begin, “you and I have to seem… familiar with one another. It’s important that they think we’re more than just allies, but lovers as well.”

The gears turn in Kylo head, and then everything seems to click. “Oh,” he sighs, flushing a deep shade of red, and you almost want to laugh. It’s always a bit comical to watch the Supreme Leader of the First Order squirm, especially over matters like these.

(Also, a private part of you thinks that Kylo looks quite sweet when he blushes.)

“I understand,” Kylo announces, and you can tell he’s trying to paint on an air of confidence. “Of course. Treat you as my equal and act like we’re… familiar. I can do all of that.” He punctuates his statement with a firm nod, and you lean on the table a little, truly nervous to broach this final aspect of your plan with Kylo.

“Yes,” you say slowly, “but there’s something else.” Kylo nods, cuing you to go on, and you swallow heavily. “Your ability to read minds… how does it work?”

Your husband flinches just the slightest bit. “You want me to read their minds?” he asks quickly, and you shake your head, waving your hand in front of you dismissively.

“No, no” you say slowly, “I… I want you to read mine.”

This only seems to shock Kylo more, causing him to gape at you openly. “For what reason?”

Just a sliver of agitation prods its way into your voice, because really, is he going to act like he doesn’t do this sort of thing every day? “I know you can, Kylo.” His name is strange on your tongue, and you realize not without a little bit of surprise that you’ve never addressed him this way before. “I felt it that first night we went to bed together. I asked you to be gentle with me when I thought we were going to have sex, and I could feel you in my mind.”

He’s blushing again, and the look in his eyes reflects something akin to shame. You reach for his hand on the table, breathe deeply, force yourself to dial it back a notch. “It’s fine. I wanted you to hear me then,” you tell Kylo, and the way he glances down at your hand on his isn’t lost on you. “But I need to know if it’s always that easy.”

A beat, and then, “Only if you make it so. Otherwise, I have to dig my way in, and… and that would be very painful for you.”

Sitting back, you nod and withdraw your hand. “So I just have to let you in. I just have to be open to it.”

“Yes,” Kylo affirms. The hand you’d been touching curls slowly into a fist, and then Kylo puts it in his lap.

“Is it possible for us to communicate that way?”

This is the most important part, the whole reason you brought up the mind reading thing in the first place.

Kylo nods. “If you’re open to me hearing your thoughts, you’re also open to me projecting my own into your mind. You’ll feel it, certainly, but it shouldn’t hurt.”

“Can we try it now?” you ask, quirking an eyebrow. Kylo nods once more, setting his shoulders and sitting up a bit.

Doing the same in your own chair, you suddenly find yourself slightly nervous. You begin thinking of what you could “say,” so to speak, and as you look at Kylo, at the cut of his nose and the waves in his hair, you can only think one thing: You’re handsome.

You know at once that he’s heard you, because your husband turns an almost inhuman shade of red, flushed from his hairline down past his collar. And then you feel it in your mind, like an affectionate touch, like the caress of a lover: You’re beautiful.

And now it’s your turn to blush.

Once again, some sort of tension’s broken between the two of you, just the way that it did the night Kylo told you about your purpose in the Order. But this is a different sort of tension, one that releases something intimate as it dissipates.

“Do you not like it when I touch you?” you ask Kylo softly, voice low.

He swallows thickly, not quite meeting your eye. He’s almost whispering. “I… I like it too much.”

Shaking your head, you chide him gently. “It’s okay to like being touched, Kylo,” you tell him. “Everybody deserves affection.”

Still unable to look you in the eye, your husband looks instead down on his lap. His hands are fidgeting there, you can tell by the twitching of his arms.

“Give me your hand.” The command is a gentle one, but something in your tone implies that you’d rather not ask twice.

Kylo had taken his gloves off to eat beforehand, so his hand is bare when he lays it back on the table. You reach for it, gently clasping his fingers with your own, and you can’t help but notice the way that he tenses up. The skin on his palms is rough, calloused, but you decide you don’t mind. Rubbing your thumb over his knuckles sweetly, gently, you hope that he’ll relax.

The tension doesn’t leave Kylo’s body, but he does make eye contact with you. It’s a start, you think to yourself. And then, just as you begin to smile at your husband, you feel his fingers squeeze yours just the slightest bit.

----

Kylo leaves shortly after he lets you hold his hand, still beet red as he stumbles over a string of words regarding a briefing with the Knights. You let him go, glad to have made some more progress with him.

You spend the rest of the evening in the bathtub as you so often do, thinking about your plans for the Valderans and about what’s just transpired between you and your husband. It’s not lost on you how strange it is, this attraction you have towards one another. You can’t help but marvel at how quickly you’ve developed feelings for this man, feelings that run a bit deeper than just physical attraction, as you’re beginning to realize.

Maybe it’s the marriage and the tone that it set for how you and Kylo began interacting. You came into this prepared to be a wife to a powerful man, and that’s certainly what you are—just not in the way you thought you would be. Maybe that’s what you’re attracted to, the power Kylo’s given you simply by agreeing to be your husband. But it feels less shallow than that, and you definitely see him as more than a rung in the ladder to the top. You know that you don’t care deeply enough for Kylo to call what you feel love, but you feel defensive of him nonetheless. If someone said something negative about him in your presence, you would give them a tongue lashing. If he were to become injured, it would upset you.

And of course, you feel a genuine desire to help him rule; you want people to bend to his will, you want Kylo to have the respect he deserves. He’s so smart, so capable. You know that he wants good things for the galaxy, you can see it in the things he wants to accomplish.

The feelings stirring inside you are strange enough to give you chills, and you can’t help but think back to what Kylo said about the Force choosing you.

You’re dressed for bed when your husband returns, soft skin swathed in one of your new nightgowns, and you greet him with a smile. The smile he gives you in return isn’t a real smile, but it’s a smile by Kylo’s standards— just a quirking of the corners of his mouth. You find it endearing anyway.

As per his usual routine, Kylo goes to take a shower after greeting you, coming to bed in comfortable clothes and with wet hair. He goes about organizing his things for the next day, and you watch, unable to stop yourself from admiring the lines of his body. He must be strong, you think, observing how his shirt stretches taunt over his shoulders, how his biceps fill out the sleeves. You know you should be ashamed of yourself from ogling him so openly, but you can’t bring yourself to care as you imagine what your husband must look like without all those garments on his body.

He’s got to have scars, you think, because how could he not? It was impossible when you met him not to notice the one that splits his face, and you’re sure that training alone has marked him with a few others, not to mention all of the combat he’s seen. You’ve always been intrigued by scars, always liked knowing how their owners came to possess them. Maybe it’s because you yourself have only one to display, a mark on your thigh you earned from a fall in your teenage years. It’s healed well, but it’s still there, still pulls a little when you move your leg a certain way, a permanent reminder of the past. You wonder what Kylo’s scars remind him of, certain that it’s nothing good.

----

In the space between sleep and wakefulness, you hear Kylo speaking to you, voice soft in the darkness of your bedroom. You aren’t quite awake, aren’t quite coherent, so you move closer to him, willing your heavy eyes to stay open.

“What was that?” you ask, reaching out to cup his cheek, brush his hair back from his face. All you care about is the warmth of his skin against your palm, how you can still smell his soap on his damp hair. You just want to curl into him, and part of you wonders what Kylo would do if you just did.

“Can I hold your hand?” Kylo must be repeating himself, eyes shining in the darkness as he speaks soft, soft, soft. It’s taken all of his courage to ask, you can tell.

“Mmhm,” is about all you can come up with as a reply, withdrawing your hand from his cheek so you can fit your fingers together. Eyes so heavy, you let yourself enjoy the warmth of his palm on yours as you begin to drift off again.

“Goodnight,” Kylo whispers, and you’re too sleepy to answer him.

----

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