#also in any case this author seems determined to pair off like everyone into mostly het ships
Text
ChengQing (lmao never realized that was their fucking ship name)
so pros of (Jiang Cheng/Wen Qing):
one of the few possible het ships available to mdzs fans like there are all of five named female characters and this is the only one not in an established het pairing. and like sure ive seen yanli w/ someone else a couple times but you CANT put her with JIANG CHENG and i cant say ive ever seen mianmian in a serious relationship in fics with anyone besides either her canon hubby or a chick (usually yanli, wen qing herself, or even sometimes both lmao).
it’s basically written itself in cql!! he has a very obv and clear crush on her, even gives her a comb and offers to help her! she seems interested but the way the storyline went it was simply not meant to be :’(
you get to pair off jiang cheng!! ngl once u finish mdzs its kinda sad for everyone not wangxian (in their generation/above) cuz theyre the only one that get a happy ending. Everyone else is forever alone / depressed / bitter or a combination thereof. so it’s nice to see jiang cheng getting a happy ending!
he... gets... kids...? like ngl as a childless person that is happy to stay that way thats not exactly a pro in my eyes but you might look at his relationship w/ jin ling and say “he’s a great father! he deserves to be a father!” which okay good news! wen qing can bear children!
Now. Cons.
for one thing the fact that you have a lack of options doesnt exactly mean every possible het pairing can have good chemistry even if you change circumstances enough. there comes to a point where certain pairings can only be really viable if one or both of them are ooc.
lets be honest im willing to bet that AT LEAST 80% of the reason cql introduced this ship was because they were not allowed to make the wangxian pair explicitly Together (and i dont even mean anything specifically sexual), and they needed SOME SORT of romance to feature in the story. xuanli doesnt count because theyre an established background ship, the jiang parents dont count as romance, we aint talkin about the villain relationships, and lbr, mianmian already had a lot more signif in cql than mdzs. so it makes sense that they took the arguably most important male chara besides wangxian and made him have a crush on the most important female character that wasnt his SISTER.
what im trying to say is that cql pulled that pairing out of a hat. if you look at canon at ALL i highly doubt there would ever have been feelings, just as there never were. we dont quite know the age dif but we know that wen qing was the older sister and wen ning might have been a bit younger? than the boys? cannot quite remember but we dont know if she was only a year or two older or if it was like. mingjue and huaisang. we dont know! and i canNOT see jiang cheng going for an older chick. also their personalities would clash So Much. she has older sis vibes and not the gentle kind like yanli. she snaps at wen ning’s mumbling and stuff a good couple times- you think she’d tolerate jiang cheng’s emotional immaturity? hah.
this also kinda segues into my main point of: as depressing as it is that jiang cheng is forever alone unless you pair him off... he would honestly put whoever you pair him off with through hell. he’s not nice. so many jiang cheng stans like to argue that he’s a traumatized kid that was raised to channel his emotions through anger (and raises bitterness under his skin like an ugly puppy) but inside he has a heart of gold, and they’re... not exactly wrong! i mean- literally every younger chara is traumatized in some way. but... that doesn’t really... excuse the shit he’s pulled? as much as jiang cheng stans like to forget: jin guangyao was RIGHT when he said that jiang cheng’s insecurities got wei ying killed. his CLOSEST ALLY.
tying back to wen qing we have their actual CANON interactions (or lack thereof). wen qing didn’t exactly protect wei ying and jiang cheng out of the goodness of her heart when lotus pier fell: she was protecting wen ning (her BROTHER) from the repercussions of his own actions by saving wei ying (and Jiang Cheng ig idk he was just there bUT YOUNG MASTER WEI-)
not QUITE sure why she agreed to doing the golden core transfer (maybe scientific curiousity? i mean she had an unproven medical theory and here was a volunteer) but it def wasnt For Jiang Cheng.
and then the next time she saw him? do you guys remember the next time she saw him? it’ was when jiang cheng came up to the burial mounds to kill wen ning’s corpse and tell wei ying to turn over the wens.
KEEP IN MIND that jiang cheng KNOWS wen ning and qing SAVED HIS FUCKING ASS after lotus pier (not How but he KNOWS THIS) and yet he still tells wei ying to hand them over.
he makes wei ying choose between what amounts to the cultivation world and his morals.
that does not a good healthy relationship make. also again their personalities would clash like so bad. i love wen qing way more but you have to admit her personality is super similar to madame yu’s. and we already agreed that jiang cheng was traumatized as a kid. im not saying fengmian didnt have a hand in it but you gotta admit a good amount was madam yu and her insecurites and accusations she piled on her son. and you wanna pair him up romantically with someone who won’t take his shit and smile? will call him out? HAH.
im not saying this because i think jiang cheng should be with a softer personalitied (guy) like lan xichen or wen ning or huaisang because god knows those pairings have their own issues. im just saying that in canon-verse all i can ship whole-heartedly is jiang cheng / therapy, but since there is not therapy in canon-verse, or even if there WAS then there’s no way he’d admit to needing it, then yeah he can stay single for all his bitter life. better that than making jiang parent relationship 2.0 like fuck.
(this of course means that in modern aus where he DOES get therapy i am Open)
also real quick but jiang cheng was NOT a good parent to jin ling and i will not take constructive criticism like sure he was better than the jiang parents and the lan parents but that is SUCH a low fuckin bar and it’s a fact that in chapter 9 jin ling literally thinks “if I can’t slice off her head with this blow, I will die here- death it is then!!” (taken gratefully from the exiled rebels scanlation) and that is NOT a healthy-minded child.
the only healthy minded children is like. jingyi. and probably sizhui. although i am not here for the way the lan sect raise children but sometimes you have to take what you can get.
also i want you to look me in the eye and tell me that wen qing could and would do anything besides throw down with someone that so much as looked at her brother wrong
because jiang cheng apparently decided to lay the blame for jin zixuan’s death at wen ning’s feet (which is incredibly ironic considering he blames wei ying for yanli’s death??? like i feel like he could stand to use his brain cells a bit more??) and repeatedly tried to kill him.
#anyway this has been my ted talk#i dunno im just getting kinda tired of a certain writer and their idealized world but eh#it happens a lot too and damn cql certainly made wen qing more waif-ey#i didnt and do not want to get into the implied xianqing either do not start#im just saying that jiang cheng has a lot of flaws that people like to ignore a lot#this is true for many other charas too tbf#jiang cheng#not the angel you like to think he is#wen qing#not exactly the forgiving type#like i said tho they do work well together in modern aus with therapy available#and also tbf this isnt exactly my only issue with this author's fic(s) either lmao but hey#jiang cheng the prat#always ranks p high in my grievances#esp considering its a post-canon fix-it type so jiang cheng still did All That#also in any case this author seems determined to pair off like everyone into mostly het ships#mdzs#this is not for jiang cheng stans lmao#sorry ive been awake for like mayn hours and just got some difficul news and had Thoughts
10 notes
·
View notes
Text
As Long as You Love Me So
aka the fake Christmas date (Ethan x f!MC)
Pairing: Dr. Ethan Ramsey x F!MC (Dr. Lilac Allende)
Word count: 2.9K
Warning: some language
Premise: She is in desperate need of a date for her cousin’s pretentious dinner.
Author’s Note: Back at it again at Krispy Kreme with the fake dating trope. This takes place during the holidays in book 1. Thank you to @aestheticartsx for pre-reading this 💖
Can you pretend to be my date tonight?
The biting Boston breeze cut into her exposed skin with an unforgiving bite, leaving her fingers numb as she sent the text. All around her, chatting and laughing couples milled about, basking in the golden lights of the city's Christmastime decorations. Those who weren't affectionately enraptured in each other or studiously deciding which of the many restaurants to pick from threw curious glances her way.
Please? It's a long story but I can tell you when you get here. I'll pay you.
Vaguely, she regretted the pale pink cocktail dress that left her shoulders, legs, and much of her chest exposed. An hour ago, it had seemed like the perfect dress to force her pretentious cousin, Griselda, into quiet envy. And while her plan had been successful for the better part of five minutes, Lilac's arrival at the restaurant without a date had been enough for her cousin to revert back to her sneering, condescending, look-at-my-successful-broker-boyfriend ways.
I'm offended, Lil. I'd do that shit for free.
Bryce's text brought Lilac back to her current desperate situation. With unfeeling, shivering fingers she texted back.
You don't need to know why? You'll do it?
Bryce's reply came in instantly which Lilac was grateful for. The sudden breeze that rustled through her hair and bare skin made her shiver uncontrollably.
No need to know why. I'd do anything for you.
Her triumphant smile lasted only second as her phone announced a second text from Bryce.
But I can't tonight. I'm assisting Dr. Tanaka and he'll murder me if I back out now. I'm so sorry, Lil.
Lilac exhaled sharply, her breath swirling into the night like fog. This was what she got for letting her anger get the best of her. Wincing, she recalled the lie that had hurled from her lips with vehement, unstoppable force.
“Not that it's any of your business but I'm dating a successful doctor from work.”
Griselda's brief shock had been vindication enough but when it slowly ebbed into a wicked, challenging sneer, Lilac felt utterly pathetic.
“Fuck her,” Lilac muttered with a sudden rush of righteous anger.
So help her God, she was going to march back into the restaurant and promptly inform her stupid cousin that her dating life was none of her business. So what if Lilac couldn't make a relationship last longer than a few months or if she dated around too much? She would be damned if she allowed her pompous, gold digging cousin to slut shame her.
“Please tell me you're not a smoker, Rookie.”
The familiar baritone sent a white hot thrill through her body before her brain registered who it belonged to.
Handsome as ever, Doctor Ethan Ramsey stood before her, eyeing her quizzically. He looked magnificently elegant in a dark suit, topped with a dark blue coat and scarf. The twinkling Christmas lights of the street sent his striking features into sharp relief, making him appear even more attractive than should be allowed.
He waited for her reply and Lilac jolted with a start. Nearby, a small group smoked as they talked and laughed.
“No smoking for me.” She grimaced and added as an afterthought, “Though if I were a smoker, I'd need a full pack right about now.”
“Rough night?”
“You've no idea.”
“Is that why you're standing out here in the freezing cold with no coat wearing…”
He trailed off, piercing blue eyes sweeping over her attire. Lilac held her breath, the heat of his gaze feeling like a gentle caress of his fingers on her skin.
“...That?”
His gaze reunited with hers and they looked at one another in the noisy street, a charged silence stretching between them.
Then, too suddenly, Ethan looked away, busying himself with removing his coat and draping it over Lilac's shoulders without much ceremony. The pleasant waft of his cologne comforted her almost as much as the welcomed warmth of his coat.
“I never took you for the type to like any of these trendy restaurants,” she commented when there was nothing else to say. “Especially during the holidays, with so many people everywhere.”
Ethan grimaced slightly. “I had to join Banner Health for dinner. It seems cozying up to them at the baseball game a few months ago was not enough to get a good deal for our patients.”
Lilac pulled his coat closer around herself but said nothing.
“What about you? Why are you so determined to die of hypothermia?” His eyes briefly swiveled to her dress again. “Is your date going that terribly?”
Ethan added the last part casually enough but Lilac sensed that he was extremely interested in the answer.
“I would take a horrible date over what's going on in there.” She gestured toward the window of the restaurant with a nod. At Ethan's evident confusion, she added, “Family dinner.”
“Aren't you close with your family?”
“My mother, father, and siblings? Yes. My cousin?” Lilac allowed a look of disgust to be her answer.
The crowd of people that moved around them on the sidewalk forced them closer together. Lilac's stomach fluttered but Ethan looked unfazed, peering down at her expectantly, waiting for her to go on.
“It's my cousin Griselda's annual Christmas dinner at this ostentatious restaurant. Mostly because she can't cook for shit.” She explained this with a sarcastic flair. “But we're all supposed to forget about that when she shoves expensive meals under our noses.”
To her surprise, Ethan chuckled. “Sounds like fresh hell. Why even attend?”
“Because it would be unspeakably rude not to show up? The family drama this would cause would be ten times worse.” Lilac glanced through the window of the dark restaurant, all tables lit by candle light. “So instead, us poor bastards who live in the East Coast are forced to hear all about how successful and beautiful she is.”
In moving her hands and arms when shit-talking her cousin, Ethan's coat began to slip off one of her shoulders.
“You're a doctor, Rookie. And a damn good one at that.”
Ethan's eyes fell to the curve of her exposed shoulder then back to her eyes. His gaze held such intensity that she was momentarily struck motionless. Very gently, gentler than she had ever seen him before, he reached over to adjust his coat around her, the sweep of his fingers against her skin leaving a trail of heat.
“And not to mention you're also quite beau—”
“So you made it after all.”
Griselda looked directly at Ethan as she emerged from the restaurant. There was no greeting, only bitter disappointment in her voice. Her cousin's dark, judgmental eyes swept the handsome doctor from head to toe, as though trying to find a flaw but finding none to her dismay.
“We all thought Lilita here was bluffing.”
Ethan stared at Griselda with brief surprise at being addressed so bluntly. His questioning gaze briefly moved to Lilac who grit her teeth in embarrassment, wishing for the ground to swallow her whole.
The longest silence in Lilac's existence passed before he spoke again.
“I arrived as fast as I could on such short notice.”
Lilac's head snapped to look at him, only belatedly remembering to hide her surprise.
“It's unspeakably rude to invite someone impromptu,” Ethan continued, matching Griselda's cool, haughty demeanor.
Lilac could have kissed him with gratitude.
“Yes, well.” For the first time in her life, Griselda Castillo had no retort.
It was all too perfect. All Lilac had to do now was make up an excuse for Ethan to go and no one would be the wiser about her stupid lie. Not even Ethan himself. It was all going to work out—
“Forgive me, we were not aware Lilac was seeing someone. Easy mistake to make.” Griselda threw a faux saccharine smile Lilac's way. “When we heard about the famous boyfriend, however, we just had to meet you.”
Fuck you, Griselda.
Lilac couldn't decide if she wanted to push her cousin onto moving traffic or if she wished to walk right into it herself.
Beside her, Ethan remained very still.
“He actually can't stay.” Lilac said, her voice hitching higher in barely controlled panic. “He has to finish some research for his next case study.”
Griselda looked between Ethan and Lilac, clearly unconvinced. Her crimson lips slowly turned up into a devilish, triumphant smile that would have put the Grinch himself to shame.
Ethan seemed to recover beside her because he cleared his throat.
Then, he moved to stand closer to Lilac and to her utter, complete shock, he wrapped an arm around her waist with enviable grace.
“My research can wait, love,” he said, leaning in to press a kiss to her temple. “If your family wants to meet your boyfriend then that's what they'll do.”
If someone had told him that morning that his day would end at the most pretentious restaurant in the city with Lilac Allende pressed close to his side, he would have recommended a brain CT scan. Yet, there he stood, being hastily introduced to people whose names he had no chance of remembering right away, not when Lilac's hand slid slightly down his chest, scorching him through the very fabric of his shirt.
He glanced down at her and immediately realized what a mistake that had been. The glittering, sinful dress she wore was entirely too distracting on its own, but the charged way her green eyes studied his face... it made the energy between them crackle like an exposed wire.
“Everyone, this is Doctor Ethan Ramsey,” Lilac said to the curious and expectant table. “My…”
She trailed off, turning a bashful glance at Ethan.
“Boyfriend,” Ethan finished without pause. He willfully ignored the thrill the juvenile word sent through him.
As they took their seats, Ethan was still unsure what possessed him to pretend for her sake. All he saw was her cousin's mocking grin and Lilac's dejected, mortified frown and suddenly, he felt the urge to be anything she needed.
“Pleasure, Doctor Ramsey,” Griselda said with as much enthusiasm as someone with a hernia.
Ethan decided right then that if anything else, at least he would enjoy free food and alcohol, all paid for by Lilac's unpleasant cousin. When he looked over at his pretend girlfriend, pale dress glittering in the candle light and looking as radiant as ever, his blood buzzed with unbridled yearning.
“Ramsey?” the blonde man sitting next to Lilac's cousin asked with interest. “Why does that sound familiar? Where do I know you from?”
“Ethan is a world famous doc—”
“Wait,” a young woman with a mountain of curly hair and a kind face interrupted, enthusiastic. “He was in your Miami pictures, wasn't he?”
Ethan blinked.
Beside him, Lilac shook her head frantically at the young woman.
“Natalia,” she hissed, but Natalia either missed this or ignored it.
“You're so photogenic, Doctor,” she commented with a broad grin. “I messaged Lilita about it. The way she talked about you, it was so obvious she was into you.”
Ethan raised an intrigued eyebrow at the lovely, blushing doctor beside him. Lilac, however, studiously avoided his eyes, suddenly very interested in her wine.
A young man sitting next to Natalia laughed. He shared many similarities with her, including the unruly curls.
“I think we all called that one, Nat.”
“Has everyone tried the calamari?” Griselda interjected sharply. Ethan got the impression she didn't appreciate any conversation that was not solely about her. “It is divine.”
As Natalia rolled her eyes and challenged that proclamation, Ethan leaned in close to Lilac, the heady scent of her perfume sending his mind to less than honorable places. She had been leaning in too and they ended almost nose to nose.
“You don't have to do this for much longer,” she whispered. “I can think of something so we can leave.”
Ethan ignored this and instead asked, “Miami pictures?”
She blushed even deeper.
“Into me?”
She was the color of her wine by now.
Ethan had never seen this timid, demure side of her. Typically, the roles were reversed where he was the object of her teasing. As he watched her lovely blush spread down to her graceful neck, Ethan found he enjoyed this dynamic.
It made him wish he could kiss her. Hard.
“Tell her, Lilita,” the curly-haired young man called from his seat, making Griselda's eyes bulge out with indignation. “Aunt Margo's tamales are the only acceptable meal for Christmas.”
“Sebastian, you are making a scene,” Griselda muttered.
“I'll let my mom know you miss her food, Sebas. She'll love you more than she already does,” Lilac laughed.
The sound, accompanied with the fact that she looked so much more at ease, made Ethan's chest glow with contentment.
Before he could stop himself, his hand moved atop hers under the table. Lilac stiffened in surprise but relaxed immediately after, keeping their hands locked.
“I'm just not convinced tamales make for an elegant Christmas dinner,” Griselda was saying.
“Bitch, you grew up in Guadalajara,” Natalia returned at once. “That's all you ate in the winter.”
The whole table laughed, much to Griselda's fury. The blonde man beside her rubbed her back soothingly to no avail. Instead, her sharp eyes zeroed in on Lilac like daggers and an air of conceit returned to her expression.
“So how long have you two been together?”
“A few months,” Ethan returned with ease.
“Ooh,” Natalia commented. “The honeymoon stage! Where you can't keep your hands off the other and all you want to do is—”
“Funny,” Griselda continued, eyes never leaving Lilac. “My cousin never really mentioned you.”
“She never really mentioned you either,” Ethan deflected.
Sebastian almost choked on his drink.
“How did you meet?”
Griselda's question came off as a challenge.
“We work together.”
“Is that allowed?”
“Yes.”
Below the table, Lilac gripped his hand. Ethan squeezed back, wishing more than anything that his lie was true.
“Was it love at first sight?” Natalia asked with genuine interest.
“Have you seen her?” the blonde man joked before Ethan could consider the question or how much he despised the phrase "love at first sight." Something coiled in his stomach at the less than innocent smile the man was sending Lilac's neckline.
His fist clenched at his side, itching to connect with the man's jaw in a swift undercut.
“Keith,” Griselda chided, also looking thoroughly displeased.
Keith did a poor job at looking abashed. This did not fly with Natalia, who Ethan liked more and more each minute, because she glared at Keith and scolded him in both English and Spanish.
“You don't have to answer Nat's question if she asks again, by the way,” Lilac said as her cousins argued.
Ethan said nothing, careful to keep his expression neutral.
If he were to answer the question, the answer would be a resounding no. His feelings for the beautiful young doctor before him did not arise from their first meeting. As a matter of fact, after the thoracotomy, Ethan had walked away thinking her arrogant and impertinent, just like any other fresh-faced intern eager to impress an attending. Except this intern had done so by flirting with him.
Instead, he thought of her hand atop his in the NICU as they watched over Dolores's baby fight for his life; of the comforting hand on his knee as he told her about Naveen; of every kind, warm smile she gifted him with when passing each other in the hallway.
It had decidedly not been love at first sight. The clichéd expression would never be enough to capture the way his heart ached for her every time he laid eyes on her, each time with much more force.
“No amount of free alcohol or expensive food should make you feel obligated to act that much,” Lilac laughed, oblivious. Sparkling green eyes met his, taking in his expression. “What?”
Ethan swallowed. He was unable to decide if he wanted to tell her he was far from acting or if he wanted to pull her close and kiss her.
“We're leaving,” Griselda announced in a harsh and dramatic whisper as a way to end the ongoing argument. She frantically collected her belongings and rose at once.
When she realized no one at the table was saddened by the announcement, she marched out of the restaurant with Keith at her heels. As soon as she was gone, Natalia cackled.
“Well, that was one of the better Grinch-elda dinners.”
Sebastian threw Ethan an appreciative smile. “It appears Doctor Ramsey is the only one who can tame her. She finally met her match.”
“That was her tame?”
The cousins laughed.
After a final round of drinks, Natalia and Sebastian announced that they too had to depart. When they were out the door, Lilac exhaled and relaxed for the first time all evening.
“Thank—”
But Ethan shook his head, interrupting. “Don't mention it, Rookie.”
Lilac gave him a single nod and when she couldn't stand the heat of their eyes on one another’s, she averted her gaze to readjust the front of her dress.
Soon they would each be going their separate ways and this brief fantasy would really be over.
With a pang, he realized he didn't want it to be.
“Lilac?”
“Hmm?”
Her eyes met his and Ethan forgot all coherence, not that he knew what exactly he planned to say anyway. Rosy, plush lips commanded his attention and Ethan leaned in, determined to feel them against his again.
Lilac moved too, until their breaths mingled together, the distance separating them as insignificant as the million reasons they deemed this a bad idea.
They were so close now, Ethan's hand moving to the dip of her waist. She whispered his name, a silent invitation, and the last remnants of restraint vanished.
“Oh shit. Sorry—”
Natalia halted at their table, slightly out of breath, nose and cheeks rosy from the cold. Lilac and Ethan sprang apart, which only made Natalia wince apologetically.
“I'm so sorry to interrupt but I can't believe I forgot to tell you. We're all spending New Year's Eve in Griselda's cabin in Vermont. It’s going to be this but ten times worse so we need all the backup we can get.”
Lilac tensed visibly next to him.
“You two should come.”
Author’s Note: If you made it this far, thank you!
I decided Lilac’s family nickname is Lilita because Latin American families do that all the time. For example, my cousin’s name is Teresa and they call her Teresita (in diminutive form with the -ita/-ito). Which is hilarious to me because they make the names longer rather than shorter. They do that with own full name too, lol. I love it.
Anyway: Hopefully, my inspiration doesn’t vanish for a part 2!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Tags: @openheart12 , @takeharryandgo , @trappedinfanfiction, @aestheticartsx, @aworldoffandoms, @paulfwesley, @myusualnerdyself, @rookie-ramsey, @ohchoices, @enmchoices, @i-bloody-love-drake-walker, @choicesfanaf, @openheartthot, @octobereighth, @nazarihoe, @utterlyinevitable, @kites-in-our-skies, @maurine07, @schnitzelbutterfingers, @doilooklikeiknow, @snesdudes, @kingliam2019, @perriewinklenerdie, @cinnamonspongecake, , @queencarb, @ethxnrxmsey, @missmiimiie, @jens-diamondchoices, @adamsdumortain, @apphia12, @kalogh, @lucy-268, @binny1985, @queenbirbs, @honeyandsunfl0wers, @newcolonies, @lilyvalentine, @rigatonireid, @interobanginyourmom, @parkerattano, @custaroonie, @nikki-2406, @lilypills, @chasingrobbie, @nooruleman, @lonely-mxxnlight, @ruinedbypixels, @shadynaturehilariouscookie, @tsrookie, @mvalentine, @professorkingslay, @drakewalkerfantasy, @casey-v, @helloblueeyedcat, @mysticaurathings, @blossomanarchy, @thegreentwin, @togetherwearerapture, @rookieoh, @rookiemarsswiftie, @natashajaniphilchoices, @mysticalgalaxysstuff, @hatescapsicum, @choices-lurker, @kiara-36, @junehiratas, @danijimenezv, @macy-ray85, @adrex04, @canigetanawwjunk, @sanchita012, @overwhelminglyaquarius , @scorpiochick8, @skylarklyon, @starrystarrytrouble, @mercury84choices, @drariellevalentine, @ethanrcmsey, @aarisa-frost, @udishaman, @a-crepusculo, @quacksonlover, @caroldxnvxrs, @ramseyandrys, @whatchique, @openheartfanfics@varikasnuori, @dimitriwife, @genevievemd, @shanzay44, @fabi-en-ciel, @trebondialanna, @lady-calypso, @ashiiknees, @dr-ramseys-rookie, @stygianflood, @bellcat2010, @iemcpbchoices, @emotionalswift2, @lion-ess24,
#open heart#ethan ramsey#ethan x mc#playchoices#fake dating#my writing#ethan ramsey fanfiction#ethan ramsey x mc#open heart fanfiction#choices fanfiction
284 notes
·
View notes
Text
Vice and Virtue in Tolkien’s Works
I’ve been rereading Dante’s Purgatorio (easily my favourite of the three sections, both for having a very satisfying structure and for its themes of repentance and reform), and the structure inspired this post. Each level of purgatory has images, words, or both, associated with the vice being reformed and its corresponding virtue (the examples being drawn both from the Bible and Greco-Roman history and mythology) and it gave me ideas for a discussion of similar themes in Tolkien’s works.
The structure is: 1) Pride/Humility; 2) Envy/Generosity of Spirit; 3) Wrath/Charity; 4) Sloth/Zeal); 5) Avarice/Simplicity; 6) Gluttony/Abstinence; 7) Lust/Romantic Love.
1) Pride/Humility
Saruman: Our time is at hand: the world of Men, which we must rule. But we must have power, power to order all things as we will, for that good which only the Wise can see.
Frodo: I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way.
This is easily the primary emphasis in Tolkien’s works. The fall of all his main villains (Morgoth, Sauron, Fëanor, the Númenoreans, Saruman) and as well as other non-villainous tragic characters (Túrin, Thingol, Turgon, Thorin, Denethor) is characterized by pride - the desire to be the one calling the shots, the desire for greatness and others’ recognition of that greatness, the refusal to listen to the advice or views of others.
It’s there in Melkor’s desire for his theme to be the only one heard in the Music; in Sauron’s desire to rule the world and arrange everything as he thinks best; in Fëanor’s determination to take any advice, correction, or disagreement as a personal attack, his desire for rulership in Middle-earth, and his attitude that the Silmarils are more important than anything anyone else has done or created; the late-stage Númenoreans’ campaign of imperialist conquest. It’s there in Túrin’s, Thingol’s, and Turgon’s rejection of good advice; in Thingol’s attitude towards other peoples, whether it’s Beren or the dwarves; in Denethor’s conviction that Gondor is the only place and people of any account in the war against Sauron.
Humility, in contrast, is mainly seen in the form of hobbits. None of them have any idea what they’re doing when they leave Rivendell (Sam and Pippin don’t even know where Mordor is), and they know they’ve got no idea. They’re not going because they see themselves as specially skilled or qualified, but because it needs to be done. And that’s the very reason Frodo can resist the Ring so long, and Sam can resist it, because they don’t have any grand ideas of themselves.
The ability to say I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’ll try to do what’s right is pretty crucial to humility; even members of the Fellowship who are far more experienced, skilled and knowledgeable than the hobbits show it. Aragorn says it, in the search for Merry and Pippin when they’re captured by orcs. Pride could easily say I need to go with the Ring-bearer, that’s the most important task or I need to go to Gondor and lead the war against Sauron as their King. But Aragorn lets himself trust in other people doing their parts, and focuses on rescuing his companions - the thing that no one else is a available to do - even as the chase seems increasingly hopeless. It’s also seen in Gandalf, who openly admitted he was scared to go when the Valar first sent him, and wandered around as an old man in a battered cloak and hat, talking with everyone, rather than setting himself up as a Respectable Dignified Authority Figure the way Saruman did.
The Silmarillion has fewer examples of humility than LOTR (perhaps why things turn out so much worse there) but there are a few in the Leithian. Lúthien is another case of saying I don’t know what I’m doing, but I’ll do it because no one else will when she sets off to rescue Beren. Finrod walks away from his crown and realm to help a friend.
2) Envy/Generosity of Spirit
Denethor: I will not step down to be the dotatd chamberlain of an upstart.
Faramir: My lord, you called me. I come. What does the king command?
Envy is akin to pride, but I’m characterizing it as being specifically the resentment of being surpassed (or even equalled) by another.
Fëanor is again a major example of this, specifically in his resentment of Fingolfin and of the descendents of Indis more generally. Peoples of Middle-earth notes that he resented the name Nolofinwë (Fingolfin’s Quenya name, roughly means ‘wise-Finwë or ‘learned-Finwë’) due to regarding himself as not only the most skilled of the Noldor at craftwork (which he was), but also the most skilled at lore/scholarship (which he wasn’t), and likewise resented the name Arafinwë (Finarfin’s Quenya name). He’s in a mental place of resenting anything positive that can be said about his brothers as if it inherently detracts from him. And he takes the same attitude towards Men (‘No other race shall oust us!’), treating their very existence as a threat to the Eldar. Losgar is the peak of this: he’s willing to sabotage his own war effort to prevent Fingolfin from participating. This is contasted with Maedhros’ attitude after being rescued by Fingon, when he willingly gives up the crown and, later, moves across Beleriand to the most exposed section of the northern border to avoid conflict. His own status isn’t his priority; peace with his family and the best interests of the war against Morgoth are his priorities.
Denethor is another major example, seeing both Aragorn’s return and Faramir’s respect for Gandalf as personal affronts to himself. (Gandalf points out that the literal job description of a steward is to be in charge until the king returns. When the king comes back, that means you’ve done your job, not that you’re being demoted. Denethor is not interested in hearing this.) He’s also mentioned in the Appendices to have resented the respect and admiration recieved by Thorongil [i.e. Aragorn in disguise] during the days of their youth. In very similar ways, Saruman resented the high regard that some (like Galadriel) had for Gandalf, and saw Gandalf as a rival. Thorongil and Gandalf were not interested in rivalry; they were more interested in what was achieved than in who was achieving it. Faramir is the contrast here - he is interested in the good of Gondor, not his own status, and has no jealousy of Aragorn.
3. Wrath/Charity
Fëanor: See, half-brother! This is sharper than thy tongue. Try but once more to usurp my place and the love of my father, and maybe it will rid the Noldor of one who seeks to be the master of thralls.
Gandalf: It was Pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand; Pity, and Mercy, not to strike without need.
I would say that this is the third-most-emphasized of the vices in Tolkien’s works, after pride and avarice. And, of course, another Fëanor example: both his threat on Fingolfin’s life and his actions during the Return of the Noldor, the latter being driven by wrath primarily against Morgoth and secondarily against everyone else in his vicinity (Valar! Teleri! Fingolfin and anyone who supports him!). It’s the spillover that’s the problem, and the self-centredness; hating Morgoth isn’t a problem in and of itself, but Fëanor’s taking the fight against evil and turning it into a personal vendetta, with disastrous consequences.
Túrin is another example, most particularly in three events: causing the death of Saeros, burning the hall of Brodda in Dor-lómin, and killing Brandir. The former two are provoked, the latter isn’t, but all of them are sudden deeds of anger that only serve to make matters worse.
The contrasting virtue is charity, mercy shown to people that you have good reason to be hostile towards. Fingon’s rescue of Maedhros. Lúthien’s sparing of Curufin when he and Celegorm attacked her and Beren. Frodo sparing Gollum and treating him with kindness and compassion.
4. Sloth/Zeal
Guard Hobbit: It won’t do no good talking that way. He’ll get to hear of it. And if you make so much noise, you’ll wake the Chief’s Big Man.
Merry: Shire-folk have been so comfortable so long they don’t know what to do. They just want a match, though, and they’ll go up in fire.
This is comparatively less of an emphasis in Tolkien’s works than some of the other pairings, but I can think of some examples. The best one is Saruman’s takeover of the Shire and the subsequent liberation. Sloth is the characteristic hobbit vice (not gluttony; I’ll get to that); they tend towards being comfortable and complacent and don’t like being bestirred. Even Frodo dawdled around for half a year after learning about the Ring, mostly because he was reluctant to go. And under first Lotho and then Saruman, everyone (except Tooks) more or less puts up with an abuses because they don’t want the trouble or danger of standing up against them. It’s the return of Merry, Pippin, Sam, and Frodo, who have experience fighting evil on a much larger scale (and who can organize things) that spurs them to stand up for themselves and their home.
5. Avarice/Simplicity
Celegorm: For the Silmarils we alone claim, until the world ends.
Gandalf: I wonder what has become of [the mithril-shirt]? Gathering dust still in Michel Delving Mathom-house, I suppose.
Avarice is, I would say, the second-most-emphasized vice in Tolkien’s works, after pride. The central conflicts in both The Silmarillion and The Lord of the Rings are objects (they’re in the titles!): the Silmarils and the Ring. The Oath is almost the strongest possible expression of avarice, the most extreme statement of this is mine that a person can make; The Ring is an even more extreme expression, as Sauron makes an object that is literally part of himself. And both conflicts are resolved through the renunciation of claim on these objects, in Eärendil’s journey to Valinor (and the Silmaril becoming a star that is seen by everyone and owned by no one) and Frodo and Sam’s mission to destroy the Ring.
The Silmarils themselves are not evil; they are good and hallowed objects, and fights between elves, dwarves, and men are the result of the Oath (the kinslayings) and the connection with the dragon-contaminated and Mîm-cursed treasure of Nargothrond (Thingol and the dwarves of Nogrod). The Ring is evil, and inducing avarice is its most basic power, even among people like Sméagol and Déagol who could never actually wield it; letting it go is incredibly difficult, and Bilbo and Sam are the only people in the history of the Ring ever to do it.
Avarice is also a central theme in The Hobbit, and dragon-treasure is specifically noted as provoking avarice in people who are in any way inclined towards that vice. Smaug is practically a physical manifestation of avarice in his rage over losing one small cup that he has no use for from an immense hoard, and both Thorin and the master of Lake-town fall prey to the dragon-sickness.
I’ve given ‘simplicity’ as the antonym, and I thought of ‘generosity’ as well, but neither of those is quite right. The opposite of avarice is holding lightly to things, and it’s a particular virtue of hobbits. This is seen both in their birthday parties (the tradition of giving away possessions) and the Michel Delving Mathom-house, a museum for old heirlooms that people feel they don’t need to have around. The most beautiful example is Bilbo’s mithril-shirt (worth more than the entire Shire!) spending some time sitting around there.
It’s worth nothing that the vice of avarice in Tolkien’s works isn’t associated with having stuff, just with holding to stuff. Bag End being comfortable isn’t a problem. The Noldor having piles of jewels isn’t a problem provided that they’re sharing them and letting them go, as in the Noontide of Valinor (gemstones scattered on the seashore!) or Finrod giving them away in Middle-earth. The issue comes when the owning becomes what a person values; the signal that Fëanor is becoming too tied to the Silmarils is when he prefers to lock them away so no one else can see them.
6. Gluttony/Abstinence
Gollum: He’ll eat us all, if he gets it, eat all the world!
The lembas had a virtue without which they would long ago have laid down to die. It did not satisfy desire...and yet this waybread of the Elves had a potency that increased as travellers relied on it alone and did not mingle it with other foods. It fed the will, and gave strength to endure...
Gluttony is distinguished from avarice as the desire to consume things, not merely accumulate them. This is an interesting one, because Tolkien has no issue with the consuption of large amounts of food for enjoyment (which hobbits do frequently and enthusiastically!). As with possessions, enjoyment of physical things isn’t seen as problematic. The enjoyment of everyday pleasures is specifically discussed as morally desirable in a way that contrasts with avaricious accumulation (“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”)
However, there is one large (very, very large) example of the concept of gluttony as unlimited consumption and appetite: Ungoliant. Ungoliant represents not the hoarding of things, but their destruction, and is continually described with very physical terms of appetite and devouring. Shelob and the spiders of Mirkwood are lesser versions of the same concept. There are other mosters in the same vein: Sauron’s werewolves and Carcharoth. On of the names for Carcharoth is Anfauglir, the Jaws of Thirst, specifically invoking the idea of insatiable consumption.
And gluttony can be described more broadly as an form of overconsumption which uses up or destroys things; pollution could be a modern-day example. Looked at in that way, gluttony can be considered the end-stage of all evil in Tolkien, in the same way that pride is its beginning-stage. The ruin of the Anfauglith, the Desolation of the Morannon, the trees of Fangorn used to feed the fires of Isengard or hacked down for no purpose (and even Losgar, if you like) are all its work. Gollum (heavily driven by mundane hunger) grasps this when he fears Sauron regaining the Ring: “He’ll eat us all, if he gets it, eat all the world!” Ungoliant is the final stage of all evil.
In the same way that hobbits enjoying ample meals isn’t treated as a moral flaw, abstinence isn’t particularly notable as a virtue. However, it does come up in forms like Sam noting that lembas provides more endurance as the hobbits rely on it solely in their final journey to Mordor. This indicates that Tolkien regards the ability to go without physical pleasures when necessary as a virtue (also symbolized by Sam’s heartrending decision to give up his cooking gear!) but doesn’t place value on ascetism for its own sake.
If we want to expand on the metaphorical idea of gluttony as overconsumption/destruction, then we can also see healing/restoration as its opposing virtue, in forms like the box of soil that Galadriel gives Sam, which he uses to restore the trees of the Shire.
7. Lust/Romantic Love
Celegorm became enamoured of [Lúthien]...they purposed to let the King perish, and to keep Lúthien, and force Thingol to give her hand to Celegorm.
Beren: Though all to ruin fell the world, and were dissolved and backward hurled, unmade into the old abyss, yet were its making good, for this - the dusk, the dawn, the earth, the sea - that Lúthien for a time should be.
Lust is often regarded simply as a term for physical attraction, and its condemnation as a type of prudishness, but I’m going to present a different take, one that draws on its connection with the two preceding vices (the three are consistently grouped together by Dante). Lust is when the two previous desires, of ownership and consumption/use, are applied not to objects but to a person.
It’s an extremely rare vice among elves, with only a few examples in Elvish history: Celegorm, Eöl, Maeglin. In all cases, there is sexual desire combined with the desire for control, turning to violence when that control is thwarted: Celegorm’s imprisonment of Lúthien in the attempt to force her to marry him, and the later assault on her and Beren; Eöl’s restrictions on Aredhel and murder of her when she leaves him; Maeglin’s attempt to kidnap Idril during the Fall of Gondolin.
In contrast, the examples of romantic love, which are primarily the elf-human couples and especially Beren and Lúthien, combine desire with value for the freedom and identity of the beloved, and with self-sacrifice (or willingness to take on risks) for their sake. Beren’s song before setting out for Angband is a celebration of Lúthien’s existence, irrespective of what may happen to him. Lúthien counters with the expression that she does not want to exist apart from him, and purpose of lovers is to act together and to guard and support each other. Elwing runs through the waves to Eärendil on the shores of Valinor because she would rather face the same risks he does than be safe apart from him. Eärendil accepts immortality for love of Elwing. Arwen accepts death for love of Aragorn.
#tolkien#the silmarillion#the lord of the rings#christianity#ethics#moral philosophy#fëanor#frodo#gandalf#sauron#beren#lúthien#ëarendil#elwing#celegorm#sam gamgee#denethor#faramir#saruman
155 notes
·
View notes
Text
Written in the Stars - Chapter 3
Word Count: 3,755/AO3
Pairing: Kristanna
Love During Lockdown Series: Serendipity (Prologue) | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2
Summary: Figuring out how to go on an in-person date during a time of social distancing would be a challenge for anyone. Luckily, it comes easy to Anna and Kristoff, who find a creative way to spend some time with each other amidst a pandemic.
Author’s Note: Hi everyone, I’m back at it again. After a long week of feeling like I couldn’t see or think straight, I’ve somehow managed to write another chapter of this. It’s trash, just like me, so don’t read it lol. As a random side note that nobody even cares about - I haven’t eaten at a McDonald’s or a Dairy Queen in so long. Like, years - and not because of the pandemic, or because I’m a health nut, but just because XD. I don’t even know what this chapter is tbh. I hope you like it! (Also, I hope you like my little joke about Kristoff’s taste in music :P)
Kristoff turned around and looked through the rear windshield as he reversed out of the spot. As soon as they were back in drive, he asked “So, what are your friends like?”
“They’re really great,” Anna answered, simply. “We balance each other out.”
“What does that mean?”
“You called me brave, earlier - they’d call me bold. Let’s just say I’ve made some...questionable decisions in the past, and they’ve always been there to help me get through it.”
“They sound like good friends.”
She raised one of her hands up to cover her mouth as she realized what she’d just said. “Oh god, I just realized how terrible that sounded. I haven’t, like, gone to jail or murdered anyone. College is the prime time for making mistakes, and I’m not exempt from that. Just a lot of drinking and partying.”
“I just want you to know that I wasn’t assuming that you murdered someone,” he laughed.
“Well, I don’t know! I phrased it so horribly, a lot of assumptions could be made.”
“Don’t worry, you’re totally fine,” he insisted.
“Anyway, I met my best friend, Diana, in freshman year English and we had a lot of fun together. I haven’t spoken to her in awhile, though.”
“Because of quarantine?”
“No,” she sighed. “We had a falling out. I don’t know. I mean, I know, but it’s complicated and neither of us want to suck it up and talk about it.”
“I totally get that. I’ve never really had a best friend, but there’s always been some type of drama within my friend groups. I’m just the guy who tries not to take sides or get involved.”
“The problem is that Diana and I are both equally guilty in this case. I hurt her, and she hurt me, and we’re both being babies about it.”
“Maybe you should be the bigger person, then? If she’s really your best friend, then you want her in your life, right?”
“I know, it’s just hard,” she whined. “I know that it would be the right thing to do, but I’m just not ready to have that talk yet. My friend Amanda - she’s the one who I mentioned you to - is the mediator right now. Diana isn’t ready, yet, either, according to her.”
“I’m not really qualified to give you advice here, but hopefully it all works out for both of you.”
“Something that you’ll come to learn about me, if we continue to see each other, is that I’m very stubborn and very strong-willed. Diana has a similar personality, so we tend to clash.”
“Strong-willed, huh? I guess that sounds like you - I am driving to Dairy Queen, after all.”
She reached over and playfully shoved his arm. “Shut up!”
He momentarily took both of his hands off of the steering wheel to raise them in surrender. “Sorry, I was just teasing.”
“I know,” she smirked. “I was, too. Anyway, I trust my instincts, and I know that we’ll make up someday.”
“That’s good. Friends are important.”
“What are your friends like?”
“They’re just...very relaxed. Easy to hang out with - just meet up at the bar and talk for a while. I don’t really have a best friend, like I said, but I hang out with Ryder the most, probably because I live with him. And I’m pretty good friends with his sister, too. They’re good people.”
“We could always use good people in our lives. Your roommate seems to look after you, from what you’ve told me.”
“Usually I’m the one looking after him,” he corrected. “He’s only nineteen, but he’s a good kid. He was working his ass off when all of this started - two jobs and in school full time.”
“Wow, that’s pretty impressive. I could barely manage one job and school.”
“I give him a lot of credit. Just don’t tell him that I told you that.”
“Hey, if it wasn’t for him we probably wouldn’t be sitting here right now,” she pointed out. “Give credit where it’s due.”
“You’ll have to remind me to thank him.”
“I’d also like to thank him, someday.”
“You can come over whenever you want; he literally doesn’t care. I wasn’t kidding earlier when I said he was chill. I mean, he’s been taking this very seriously, but he always preferred to hang out with his friends while playing video games, so it’s a win-win situation for him.”
“I wish I had that type of freedom in my own apartment,” she practically growled, crossing her arms over her chest. “But, I will definitely take you up on that offer.”
“And I can fulfill my promise to cook you dinner. You can even invite your sister, if you wanted to.”
“Ha, you’re cute, but she isn’t stepping foot outside of that apartment until the coast is totally clear. If she doesn’t want me to leave, she definitely isn’t leaving.”
“I thought you said the only reason you were able to come today was because she was sleeping and couldn’t stop you. She isn’t always going to be asleep.”
“Yeah, but I can sneak out,” she shrugged. “I’ve done it before and I can do it again.”
“Are you talking about rappelling down the side of the building or something?”
“I’m not a superhero,” she laughed. “My sister has a very strict weekday routine. She works all day in her room and doesn’t come out until it’s time for us to start dinner.”
“Wouldn’t she hear the front door close?”
“She also happens to wear noise-cancelling headphones so she can go to her zoom meetings without distractions. I just have to leave before she finishes her work for the day.”
“You really weren’t joking about being strong-willed, huh?”
“Nope,” she shook her head. “I’m very determined. So, what type of music do you like to listen to?”
“Hmm,” he hummed, trying to think of an answer. “I listen to a bunch of different stuff. I guess I really like rock music, but a lot of rock music is also considered pop music? I listen to a lot of older stuff, too, like Queen.”
“I guess that was kind of an unfair question, because I don’t have a straight answer for it, either. I like Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande. I mostly listen to pop, but I also have an affinity for music from the ‘80s. Girls Just Wanna Have Fun is my jam.”
He laughed. “That’s a good one.”
“Can’t take life too seriously, you know?” She giggled. “Anyway, next question.”
“Is this a test?”
She playfully rolled her eyes. “No. I just want to know more about you, and the only way to do that is if we keep asking each other questions.”
“Okay,” he nodded. “Um...favorite color?”
“Ooh, I really like jewel tones!”
He glanced over at her. “....am I supposed to know what that is?”
“Really rich colors, like emerald green and sapphire blue - named after different jewels.”
“Aha,” he remarked triumphantly. “See, I wasn’t expecting an answer like that.”
“What’s your favorite color?”
“I’m fond of blue. And gray. Kind of boring compared to your favorite colors, but those are the colors I wear the most.” He took one hand off the wheel, and motioned to his gray t-shirt as proof of his statement.
“It’s not boring,” she assured him. “I don’t know why I expected you to know what jewel tones were. And I guess I made a good decision when I chose to wear blue today.”
“I guess you’re a mind reader.”
“Alright, so,” she started, clapping her hands together. “What is your favorite food?”
“Easy, pizza.”
“Mine is chocolate.”
“Does that count as a food?”
“I don’t see why not,” she shrugged. “I like chocolate everything. Chocolate bars, chocolate cake, hot chocolate. Ooh, and I’m definitely going to get some type of chocolate ice cream at Dairy Queen.”
“That’s why I asked if it counted as a food,” he laughed. “There are so many different chocolate things that it seems more like a flavor than a food.”
“Fine,” she groaned. “You win. Uhh...I’ll pick pizza, too, I guess. Or sandwiches. Or sushi - see, you should’ve just left it at chocolate. I love food too much.”
“You don’t have to listen to me. What do I know?”
“It’s fine, it’s not your fault that I like everything.”
“Do you have any foods that you dislike?”
“I’m not a fan of brussels sprouts,” she shrugged. “But I’m willing to try anything once.”
“Even something like escargot or sardines?”
“Yeah, why not?”
“How about liver?”
“Okay,” she answered, scrunching up her nose. “Probably not liver.”
“I figured, liver just seems gross. But, you’re definitely more adventurous with food than I am. I’m not picky, but I don’t think I’d be willing to try sardines or anything.”
“To each his own,” she responded, simply.
“Once we pass this light we’re going to be at Dairy Queen,” he pointed out. “How about instead of eating in the car, we drive over to the park we just passed? So we can stretch our legs for a bit?”
“What a great idea!” She exclaimed. “What are you going to get?”
“I have no idea. I haven’t been to a Dairy Queen in forever. Probably one of those things they turn upside down to show you how cold it is or something?”
“Blizzards!” She yelled. “I love those! I’m going to get one, too.”
“I feel like that’s the whole point of going,” he chuckled. “You can’t go there and not get a Blizzard. It’s like going to Burger King and then not getting a Whopper.”
“You make an excellent point,” she said, as the car pulled into the strip mall parking lot. The lot was mostly empty, save for a few cars, and so Kristoff was able to park right in front of the entrance.
“I guess we have to put the masks back on, right?” He asked, as he cut the engine and pulled his keys out of the ignition.
“Yeah,” she sighed, picking her mask up from where it rested and looping it over her ears. “I don’t mind wearing a mask, but I really can’t wait until we don’t have to wear them anymore.”
“We’ll get there, someday,” he stated, putting his own mask on, but for good measure, he added, “Hopefully.”
“I feel really awful for the people who have to wear these all day, everyday with no breaks. I’ve seen so many pictures online and I can’t even imagine what all of those essential workers are going through.”
“Tell me about it,” he remarked, reaching for the door handle and pulling it open. He motioned for her to go inside and then quickly followed behind her. The restaurant was completely deserted, with the exception of the two employees standing behind the counter.
“Can I help you?” One of the employees spoke up, as they approached; they kept a considerable distance in spite of the tape marks on the floor.
“Just a second,” Anna answered, squinting up at the menu. Her eyes darted around the illuminated sign for a moment before she looked over at Kristoff. “I know what I want, are you ready?”
“Yeah,” he responded, and they stepped up to the line.
“May I have a small Choco Brownie Extreme Blizzard?”
The cashier nodded and pushed a few buttons on the register before looking expectantly at Kristoff.
“Uh, may I please have a Royal Rocky Road Trip Blizzard? Also small.”
The cashier nodded once again before gruffly asking, “Is that it?”
“Yes,” Anna said, digging through her purse to find her wallet. The cashier read her the total, while the other employee began making the frozen concoctions.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to pay?”
“Don’t be silly!” She insisted, sticking her credit card into the chip reader. “You paid for dinner, I’m paying for dessert.”
The cashier muttered something under her breath, and Anna glanced up and was met with narrowed eyes. She pulled her card out, and as soon as the receipt printed, the cashier hastily thrust it at her before stepping away. She glanced back at Kristoff, who was reading a sign taped to the wall, and most likely hadn’t noticed the odd exchange.
A moment later, the other employee returned with a white paper bag. Anna took it, and thanked her before walking over to Kristoff.
“Ready?”
“Yup,” he answered. “Do you want me to carry that?”
“No, I got it.”
He reached out and held the door open for her again, and they stepped out into the hot, humid air.
“It kind of feels nice out there after sitting in the car for so long,” he remarked, as they climbed into the car. “You still wanna go to the park, right?”
“Yeah,” she said, simply, staring out the window as he backed out of the spot and drove away. Her mind was in another place; she was replaying the moment with the cashier over and over again.
“You know, I was thinking,” he started, glancing over at her. “What a crazy name Royal Rocky Road is. It’s a tongue twister - try saying that three times fast.”
She let out a small laugh in response, but continued to look at the passing cars and trees. The rest of the short drive was quiet, and they arrived at the park within a few minutes. Just like Dairy Queen, it was practically deserted, with the exception of one other car in the entire lot.
“Do you want to walk around or do you want me to pop open the trunk so we can sit outside but not have to worry about finding a bench?”
“We could just sit outside for a while,” she answered, finally looking over at him. She hadn’t even realized that she left her mask on until she saw that he had taken his off. She quickly reached back behind her ears to pull the loops free, and placed the mask on the center console.
She opened the door and stepped out of the SUV, clutching the bag in her hands. She walked around to the rear of the car, where Kristoff was opening the trunk. She placed the bag onto the flat surface and started to open it.
“Should we sanitize our hands again?”
“Oh. Yeah.” She dropped her hands away and walked back to the front of the car and retrieved her purse, before returning to him.
“Sorry, I wouldn’t have brought it up if I had realized your bag was in the front.”
“No, it’s fine, it just slipped my mind. Can’t be too safe, right?”
She dug through her purse in search of the tiny bottle, and when she found it, she squeezed a dollop into his waiting hands before taking some for herself and placing the bottle on the floor of the trunk, next to the bag.
“Thank you, again,” he said, as he rubbed his hands together. “I’ll have to get a couple of bottles to keep in the car. Normally they smell like alcohol, but yours smells really nice.”
“I got this one from Bath and Body Works - they have tons of different scents. You can keep it if you want, I have a bunch at home.”
“Thank you, but that’s okay. I’m sure stuff like that is in short supply right now, and I never really go anywhere.”
She nodded, deciding that she was going to leave it in his cup holder anyway; it would make her feel better knowing that he had some if he needed it. She reached back and opened the bag, taking out the two identical cups. The employee was kind enough to write the initials of the flavors they got, so they were easily distinguishable. She handed him his ice cream and spoon before taking her own.
“This is going to sound so ridiculous, but I wish they could’ve turned them upside down,” he remarked as he took the lid off of his cup. “Obviously they couldn’t, but it’s part of the experience. Or, it used to be.”
“Yeah,” she agreed, staring at the cup in her hands. The interaction with the cashier was still heavy on her mind; there was an insurmountable feeling of guilt that was bubbling up inside of her, threatening to spill over at the slightest provocation.
For a few moments, they quietly ate their ice cream, partly because it was sure to melt quickly in the blazing heat.
“Hey, Anna?” He asked, finally breaking the silence.
She blinked and looked up at him. “Hmm?”
“Did I do something wrong?”
“No! Not at all! You’re great.”
“You’ve been awfully quiet since we left Dairy Queen, and if I said or did something -”
“No, you didn’t,” she cut him off mid-sentence. “I swear.”
“Is something bothering you?”
It seemed unavoidable now; she wished that she wasn’t so obvious with her emotions, but it was better to let it out than hold it in, right? “It’s just...that girl who helped us at Dairy Queen seemed upset or angry or something. She said something under her breath and gave me the dirtiest look and practically threw the receipt at me. I don’t know why, but I’m assuming because she’s working at an ice cream parlor, serving people like me, during a crisis.”
He looked slightly bewildered at her revelation. “You can’t make that assumption,” he assured her. “She could be angry for a million reasons.”
“I know, but that’s the assumption that my brain keeps going back to. In what world is ice cream essential?”
“It’s not, but you’re not the one making those calls.”
“It doesn’t help that she’s probably only making ten dollars an hour while everyone on unemployment is getting an extra six hundred dollars a week,” she pointed out, her eyebrows furrowing together.
“I agree, it’s not fair to anyone working right now. You didn’t implement that rule, though.”
“This whole situation isn’t fair. People had to cancel their weddings - that’s absolutely insane to me. Could you imagine spending months or years planning the happiest day of your life only for a virus to come and ruin it?”
He shook his head. “I can’t. But I guess if the love is there then the date doesn’t really matter? I don’t know.”
“Or what about the people who have kids? Could you imagine living with a kid, right now? I hated being home as a kid - I needed to go to school and see people, or go to my activities, or I would’ve gone crazy. How are people coping?”
“They have technology on their side, at least. We didn’t have tablets or anything when we were kids, you know?”
“I keep wondering - and this has nothing to do with you - if it’s bad or wrong to feel happy right now. Like, so much of the world is suffering, and I’m privileged enough to not be suffering, and feeling content with my own life makes me feel so…” she trailed off, her eyes downcast.
“Guilty?” He guessed.
“Yeah, exactly. Whatever this is could be a really good thing, and I want that - I want good things. We’re both healthy, but we’re breaking the rules to spend time together, and as great and wonderful as this has been, I can’t help but think about the people who haven’t been so lucky in this situation.”
“I don’t think you should think like that,” he said, simply. “I completely understand where you’re coming from, but you can’t blame yourself for what happens to other people. Some parts of life can’t be stopped or controlled no matter how hard we try.”
“I know,” she frowned.
“Besides, it isn’t like you’re one of those people who’s pretending that it’s over, or didn’t even exist to begin with. We’ve been following the rules - wearing masks, and cleaning our hands. There isn’t much else we can do; we can’t completely stop living. This pandemic is messing with everyone, even if we don’t realize it.”
“I guess it scares me more than I thought it did,” she admitted, biting her lip. “I have a lot of hope that this will all end, someday, but at the same time, I just don’t know.”
“I feel the same way.”
“And then, in all of this mess, I can’t help but think that we might not have met each other if it weren’t for this stupid pandemic - and despite my ranting, I’m happy that we did. I know we were joking about it before, but I keep thinking back to when I promised to shake your hand - or even when I tried to hug you, earlier. The only reason why I’m scared of doing those things is because of what’s happening,” she explained. “Everything feels wrong.”
“It may be socially unacceptable at the moment, but I’m personally okay with it because it’s such a small, calculated risk. We each live with one other person, and neither of us has even been in public in so long, you know?”
She didn’t answer. He seemed so rational and level-headed and calm, and quite frankly, she felt like a mess. There was a considerable amount of undeniable tension building up between the two of them, and although they were still standing side-by-side, she found herself staring at him. How easy it would be to wrap her arms around him, lean up, and press a kiss to his lips.
And even though he just expressly said that he was okay with being touched, she pushed the thought back down. It was absurd, almost - how natural it felt to be around someone she hardly knew, and yet be wracked with an asinine amount of guilt over the state of the world.
She shook her head, snapping herself out of the trance that she was in. “Sorry for rambling, I do that a lot. But I really appreciate that you were willing to listen to my rant and I hope you don’t think that I regret coming out with you, or something.”
“Don’t be sorry,” he looked down at her and gave her a small smile. “We’re all bound to...feel things after being trapped inside for two months.”
“Thanks for understanding,” she smiled back, appreciative of his sincerity. She quickly realized that continually pushing her thoughts away was certainly going to be a struggle, especially when he looked at her with such kindness. And for some reason she didn’t quite understand, she tore her focus away from him and placed it back on the cup in her hands.
#kristanna#kristanna fanfic#anna#kristoff bjorgman#frozen#frozen fic#it's garbage please don't read it#also you have no idea what i would do for a cookie dough blizzard rn#but alas i have no way to get dairy queen#my writing
17 notes
·
View notes
Text
~ ~ b r a v e n e w w o r l d ~ ~ ((dispassionate contentment))
I shall divide my thoughts on this book into four main categories: “I didn’t like it”, “is it actually a utopia?”, “Eugenics” and “oh god hyperconsumerism”. I will be informal, tangential, judgemental, but hopefully entirely factual.
I didn’t like it
The first 100 pages feel completely separate from the rest and are just the most blatant exposition loosely framed in the device of “they were on a tour”. I think there are more engaging ways to start a novel. For example: it can start by introducing the main character as well as the world by having it be about his specific experience, or you can start with a shorter, even dryer text that would be in an in-world pamphlet or something. This way the audience can immediately be immersed in the world and figure things out for themselves, reading outright state propaganda as something unquestionable. But, obviously it isn’t like the book is going to be edited to my preferences after all these years and I don't think mr. Huxley will do anything with the advice either, since he died of laryngeal cancer in 1963.
I also didn’t think any of the characters were sympathetic, either because the pov clearly looked down on them as was with the people who strongly identified with their communities (mostly the mother and Bernard's girlfriend). And the people that were supposed to be taken seriously (i think) were these intellectual men who thought themselves outsiders who could objectively judge the world around them and decide what’s best for everyone (Bernard, John, Galaxy Brian). This is not a type of person I am particularly fond of in the real world and that dislike also extends to the brave new world.
At first, I thought the main character (Bernard) would change and become more chill at some point, but no. He had social anxiety throughout and his coping mechanism was arrogance. I also liked John before he decided to use his life and position to be a raving lunatic by the woods - an understandable, attractive life path, but the implications of it are hopeless. Are you saying the answer to living in a horrifying, dystopian hellscape is to be a thespian recluse, Aldous? Is that really the most productive course of action, Al?
Is it actually a utopia?
As opposed to most “future: bad”-science fiction, most people in the world of Brave New World see their society as a utopia. Only the ragtag gang of angsty male protagonists think of it as being dystopian, which the figures of authority view as a fault of the system. If they have any negative opinion of their society, then clearly the system of indoctrination has failed them. If only society were more tightly controlled, then it really would be a utopia. But we as the audience of course don’t see it as a utopia at all. The industrialization of human bodies makes that everybody only exists for the sake of the Economy. There are no individuals, only society as a whole, serving itself.
But if the average happiness of a member of a society is not the factor by which we determine how desirable a society is, then what is?
Diversity? Brave New World has a diverse range of citizens, though they do look the same for the most part, because they exist in large groups of twins. The different groups are bred to be in different social classes and they are discouraged from identifying with each other. So maybe diversity among social groups is important...
Technological progress? If I remember correctly, Brave New World puts a lot of resources into the advancement of science and technology.
Freedom? The big dystopian science fiction thing that Brave New World gleefully indulges in is *ominous music* TOTALITARIAN GOVERNMENT. In this world, you lose any ability to choose for yourself as you are being produced. Your moral framework, your priorities, your aesthetic taste are decided during your infancy. You do not learn about things you are curious about, but only the things the factory prescribes. Any decision you make after you leave the factory is so heavily decided by the way you’ve been programmed, that it can't be of your own free will however much you think it is. As Huxley himself said: “A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which [leaders] control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.”
So, is the purpose of humanity freedom? Idk sure.
Eugenics
Lets start this off by saying that Aldous Huxley was a eugenicist. Here’s a few quotes to support this claim:
“About 99,5% of the entire population of the planet are as stupid and philistine … as the great masses of the English. The important thing, it seems to me, is not to attack the 99,5% ... but to try to see that the 0,5% survives, keeps it’s quality up to the highest possible level, and, if possible, dominates the rest. The imbecility of the 99,5% is appalling - but after all what else can you expect?” - in a letter to J. Glyn Roberts in 1933
“Birth control depends on the co-operation of an entire people. It must be practiced by countless individuals, from whom it demands more intelligence and will power than most of the world's teeming illiterates possess, and (where chemical or mechanical methods of contraception are used) an expenditure of more money than most of these millions can now afford.” - excerpt from Brave New World Revisited in 1958, in a chapter all about how overpopulation is destroying average living conditions. The looming threat of overpopulation is one of the biggest arguments used in favour of eugenic policies, while the most of the problems attributed to overpopulation are actually symptoms of late stage capitalism… am I getting off topic? Anyway, Aldous had shit politics.
I think the premise of the book is largely about taking the best case scenario of full blown population control to its logical conclusion. “Best case scenario” means that he’s leaving the bigotry and enthnic cleansing out of it (yay?). So, the best case scenario is one in which humans have played god so much that individuality is no longer a thing and neither is passion. Because children are no longer created through copulation, people are discouraged from forming long lasting pair bonds. This form of eugenics eradicates the tedious variable of ♥love♥.
Consumerism
And even with everyone being conditioned to be content all the time, they still need to B U Y S T U F F. So, as a means of further pacifying the people, trinkets, sports and spiritual practices are offered as commodities (this doesn’t sound familiar at all). People are not supposed to use things for long amounts of time, so nothing is made to be durable and people are encouraged to use anything once before throwing it away (again, not familiar at all).
The main thing that stuck in my mind after reading this book is that children are conditioned not to enjoy nature. The baby factory puts a lot of effort in overriding our natural instinct of thinking flowers are pretty, because they aren’t profitable enough. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it being in capitalism's favour to distance people from nature as much as possible. This goes along with the fact that it's in capitalism's favour not to think of people as organic beings who are part of a larger ecosystem, because that would mean in hurting nature we also hurt ourselves.
Honestly, the consumerism aspect of this book is too real and I get a bit too despondent thinking about it for a long amount of time. Like, we live in a society where all of our base needs/desires are targeted with advertising for unfulfilling and addictive products to turn a profit for one of, like a few people who also happen to own every flat on kalverstraat and who don’t give a shit the people they’re mooching off of.
6 notes
·
View notes
Text
Not Paid Enough for this Shripnal
They got the call two hours before their upcycle was finished, of course. Their first shift with the rookie partner, of course. They were being called to respond to a quarantine situation on a ship in the outer docking area of course.
The outer docking area was where ships stopped before reaching the station, awaiting approach instructions or a tug. A cargo ship had alerted security procedures when they mentioned their captain was unable to on-screen due to illness. As per protocol, they were ordered to remain at anchor 36x5t until further instructed. Apparently the Second Officer was quite annoyed at the presumption he couldn’t bring the ship in himself. After a short time deliberating it was determined this was not a security risk, but a possible quarantine one. As per H+S protocol two medical personnel and two security detail were to board and determine the extent of risk.
Caretaker was thoroughly annoyed at the timing. Staring out the window at the looming ship, they sighed and turned to Rookie who was looking excited and nervous and trying to hide both. “Look these things happen all the time. We’ll go on, and no doubt it will be food poisoning or watch, their hydrator won’t have been cleaned for cycles and it’ll be a small miracle the rest of the crew hasn’t gotten sick either. They said only the captain is down, and captains being older are…?”
Rookie straightened in his chair “Xur! at increased risk for disease pathologies partly due to decrease in physical activity, increase in ability to over indulge risk factor food and drink, and age.” They relaxed a little “so you think it’s just like, the flu maybe?”
Caretaker shook their head but shrugged “no one else is sick so probably more likely a personal illness or medical problem. No need for the ‘Xur’ we’re not military, and I’m not that old yet.”
Rookie nodded and started to rattle off possible outcomes in his attempt to lower his nerves “like stroke, heart attack, blood clot, allergic reaction, respiratory disease, acute -”
Waving their hand Caretaker nodded “it’s good to keep an open mind but let’s not look for zebras either, yea?” They mused at Rookie looking up ‘Zebra’ on their HUD, remembering the confusion at the phrase themself. Relics of the past kept alive through language somehow.
Once their pod was attached to the auxiliary airlock of the ship the security personnel went first and did an initial sweep of the ship. The protocol was just in case of mutiny, though Caretaker didn’t think a cargo ship would warrant such an act, so wasn’t worried. It only took a few minutes before they had decided all was fine and gave the two medics clearance to come aboard. Caretaker took point despite their usual habit of letting rookies take the lead, there was just too many technical protocols to follow exactly to add to the kid’s stress. The pair was met by the Second Officer and the scowl that he wore, clearly annoyed at the delay and the ridiculous protocol. Caretaker had to agree, though they wouldn’t voice it.
En route to the Captain’s quarters they passed the security detail returning to wait in the pod. Caretaker spoke up, “so can you tell us what happened.”
The S.O grumbled back, “isn’t that a question you ask your patients?”
Undeterred and definitely not up for taking any shit, they fired back “I’m asking you right now.” The S.O deflected the question again and Caretaker pushed “are you saying you don’t know what happened to your Captain?” The S.O stopped and turned, looking Caretaker in the eyes in a challenge. ‘Jokes on him, I’m outside his rank’ they thought to themselves as they returned the glare.
“I didn’t say anything of the like.” He turned sideways a moment, a neutral end to the challenge that Caretaker would have found amusing if they weren’t already on overtime. “He failed to report to the bridge on time for our final approach. A crew member found him unwell and so we left him in his quarters.” He carried on walking through the ship, “there is no need to wake First Officer Shyker as I also hold my docking tickets and she is on her down cycle.”
Something wasn’t making sense, but this story was third hand account so that was probably the reason. Still….”Where are the rest of the crew?” Caretaker thought the ship was too quiet for normal operations.
The S.O rolled his eyes and sighed audibly, clearly annoyed “do you not have more appropriate concerns at this time?”
‘Ok he wants war? I will make war. Listen you piece of shripnal, this is my call and my patient and you don’t get to run - ‘ Caretaker smiled warmly “the health and safety of your entire crew is my concern. Have you accounted for everyone’s wellness? There are normally more crew on a ship this size and as you are awaiting docking instructions, should they not be hands on deck to prepare for orders? Do you have full command of this ship or do we need to bring aboard an Auxiliary ShipMaster to take it for you, if your crew is not following your orders?” They could feel Rookie stiffen behind them at the growing tension but he smartly kept quiet - technically nothing Caretaker was saying was false. There were always an Auxiliary ShipMaster personnel on call to guide a ship in for various reasons; it was a popular captain’s retirement position.
The S.O stopped and glared at them, practically shaking with rage and contempt. “Need I remind you of your duty? Just fix our captain or get him off our ship, we have a schedule to keep and cargo to offload.”
Something was definitely not right, but whether it was just the S.O’s shitty attitude or something more nefarious, Caretaker didn’t want to have to find out. “Don’t make me remind you of your rank and station, Officer. I will do what’s right for the patient and your crew WHEN it is right to do it. Now, let me speak with your ship’s medical officer.” This caused the man’s eye to twitch and a short inquiry to escape his lips; another challenge. “Because I need to know the Captain’s medical history, last known time well, what he ate and his baseline set of functionality and vitals.” On a hunch, Caretaker added the authority challenge “don’t make me ask again.”
Something snapped in the S.O’s face but he kept quiet, and quickly marched to the mess hall that was just down the hall, “wait here, I will fetch her.” He left the pair in the care of another shipmate that they had not been introduced to, and at this point didn’t care to. Waiting in silence for a few minutes, they saw S.O return with a nervous looking woman. This was not what Caretaker was expecting. “Answer their questions and be quick about it, we don’t have time for this.”
Caretaker asked the usual questions to the woman in a calm gentle manner. Maybe she was just new. A rock began forming in their gut as the woman competently answered their questions; the captain had been totally fine prior to going to his quarters for his downcycle. He was in good physical health and on the outlying age of heart and other older age diseases (not unheard of, but not of high risk yet). Everyone had eaten at the same time and no other crew were experiencing illness at this time.
“The Captain was not feeling great just before he retired” the S.O said with such authority that the medic visibly winced but didn’t dare turn to look at him. She seemed to use all her courage to object by clarifying she had seen him at his door just before he entered. Her voice so quiet Caretaker almost missed it.
Before S.O could jump down her throat, Caretaker held their hand up and interjected “well heart attacks often see someone come and go with symptoms. It’s not uncommon for them to have symptoms, get better and then get unwell again, you know how it is.” They hoped that convenient mostly-lie would placate the S.O and get him off the Medic’s back. Turning to Rookie, Caretaker said plainly “sounds like we’ll need extra equipment. Go back to the pod and have station send up another one with a #2 kit….and a #3 stretcher I suppose.” Turning to the medic, Caretaker continued “it will take time for that to get here. Carry on making sure the ship is safe for docking while we wait.”
The S.O bristled at the outsider giving his crew orders but the medic’s eyes held steady with Caretaker’s as they nodded, quickly ducked and turned to scurry out of the room as fast as she could. Rookie had stood but hesitated, looking to Caretaker who sighed, “it’s alright. Go tell one of the Security Officers what you need and they’ll handle the comms. I know you’re not trained on those yet.” Rookie slowly nodded, looking pensive. Standing and somehow managing to juggle the two bags and the oxygen tank that were standard equipment, Caretaker prayed to any of the dead deities that Rookie caught their drift about a Level 2 security breach, or that the Security detail that had come with them would clue in and act accordingly. Hopefully, they’d disconnect the pod and keep Rookie safe in accordance with a Code 3 - mutiny. Meanwhile, Caretaker tried to console themself with the thought that if they died here, they’d at least finally get some sleep.
Wordlessly following the S.O the rest of the way to the Captain’s quarters almost felt like an execution march. Caretaker knew they were going to be chewed out for this if they survived, it went against everything they were taught. Be neutral, your safety first then your patient’s and bystanders, etc. They should have gone with Rookie but something just didn’t sit right with them doing that…the look on their fellow medic’s face told them that the crew was also in danger and, even though they weren’t military, Caretaker had never really felt fully like a civilian either. Too much time around Security, military, mercenary and high rank they supposed, but they felt responsible to bystanders more than they should.
When they reached the Captain’s quarters they squared their shoulders in anticipation of how things would go down. Running through several scenarios, Caretaker regretted not signing up for even a basic hand to hand combat class, but here they were. Best to act quick before Rookie set things off and alerted the Mutinous crew that plans had changed.
“Captain the medic is here to assist you.” The S.O knocked and then opened the door, letting Caretaker inside and standing in the doorway. Caretaker did not like that one bit, but decided since their exit strategy was to wait for backup, they wouldn’t be trying to leave the room anyway. In fact, they’d prefer to lock themselves in.
“Alright officer, thank you. I’ll handle it from here until my partner arrives with the bags, if you could please escort him in?” They knelt down to open one of the bags and looked up to see him still standing there. “Xur, in accordance with patient confidentiality I must ask you to - “
“That’s right, ask. Not demand, not order, this is my ship. Understand?”
‘Well that’s not another point for suspicion or anything’ they pulled out some vitals machines and acknowledged the officer “yes Xur understood. Thank you for escorting myself and my partner in a timely manner, I’ll begin assessment while I wait.” They stood and saw that he wasn’t moving.
The officer folded his arms “I’ll make sure you don’t do anything to harm the Captain, and - “ his face scrunched as an emergency tone blared on the tone system.
“Captain Lekrownski! Captain Lekrownski! The medic pod has disengaged and -”
Caretaker took the opportunity to surge forward and with both hands hit the S.O square in the chest, unable to defend himself in time as he tried to uncross his arms. He stumbled backwards across the hallway and Caretaker quickly stepped back into the room and closed the door, hitting the lock button in the no-override function. Now, at last, they could actually assess their patient. “Ok Xur I’m the medic from Omlustan station and I”m here to assist. What’s happening today?” Nothing back, but that wasn’t unexpected. Caretaker pinched the man’s trapezius muscle and he groaned, raising a shoulder and turning his head towards it “alright Xur I see you’re really not feeling well but don’t worry. Help is on the way for your crew too, we’ve started our security protocol and while we wait for the mercenaries to take command you and I are going to hole up here.” They prattled on as they checked blood gases, levels and pressure, pulse and reflex assessments trying to find the source of the status change. Routine and protocols helped them concentrate over the sound of the door being pummeled from the hallway and obscenities being thrown at them.
“Captain Lekrownski! We have a situation on deck 4! The loyal side of the crew is holed up and fighting back! Somehow they’ve gathered together and the Medic is stating she speaks for all of them and that they are awaiting the security breach!” The person on the other end of the PA was frantic now.
Caretaker heard Lekrownski reply back “ready the ship to jump out of here, we can fight them later or they can starve.”
“Xur, that’s the problem, they’ve taken cover in the warp drive room and disabled the drive.”
Lekrownski stormed off shouting orders about getting weapons. Caretaker sent thoughts of safety and support to the crew, hoping that help would arrive in time.
They found the captain to be in poor shape, vital wise, but nothing was initially coming up in the blood tests; more were needed back on the station with full lab facilities. Now all they had to do was wait. Looking around for something to use for defense all they could muster was a fire extinguisher. Heavy and metal, but small enough to swing in the close quarters, they stood at the ready, off to one side of the door and waiting to swing it in the face of whoever would intrude.
It felt like 3 full cycles, but was probably only 45 minutes when the gunshots began, soft pops echoing through the hull and getting louder as they grew closer. Caretaker wasn’t sure, they’d never been in battle before, but they thought they heard some return fire as well. They focused on their breathing as the thunder of boots and gunshots, bangs of grenades and cries of wounded grew louder and closer to their door. Suddenly, despite all their bravado, they jumped at the pounding of the door. Their heart tried to mimick it by beating against their ribcage and they tried to take slow deep breaths to steady their hand, fire extinguisher raised as tears threatened in the corners of their eyes.
The door flew open and Caretaker swung at approximately head height as someone charged in; there was a loud clang as it hit the opposite wall. Caretaker had released it at the last second as the mercenary ducked, they had recognized the uniform mid swing and panicked. Both sets of eyes grew wide in recognition before Caretaker quickly turned to scrub at their face before anyone could notice; the merc turned his back to observe the Captain, pretending not to notice the tears. “Well, guess I’ve returned the favor.” He said.
“You’re on the job, it doesn’t count, you still owe me breakfast.” Caretaker quickly packed their medical kits, handing IV bags to the mercenary “where’s my litter?” They were surprised the man remembered them since he was so low on blood sugar at the time.
The man took the bags with amusement, not used to being ordered around “should be here any minute, your partner has been right with the rearguard the whole time. They seem pretty competent.”
Sure enough, Rookie appeared with the litter to carry the captain to their pod, “Xur, I brought the litter and a resus kit. Did you need anything else?” He really was competent after all.
The Captain made a full recovery and the loyal crewmembers sustained only minor injuries during the mutiny. Caretaker was relieved, but also annoyed: now they would have to go to trial. Probably on a day off. Definitely unpaid.
#no prompts for this one i just wanted to do a little something self indulgent#i dunno where the idea came from but meh#caretaker#caretakerfic#not really whump
1 note
·
View note
Text
A Tale of Two Jeffreys: How the Virgin Islands Welcomed a Rich Sex Offender—and Punished a Poor One
https://news.yahoo.com/tale-two-jeffreys-virgin-islands-100129832.html
A Tale of Two Jeffreys: How the Virgin Islands Welcomed a Rich Sex Offender—and Punished a Poor One
By Michael Daly, Special Correspondent | Published 07.28.19, 6:01AM ET | Daily Beast | Posted July 28, 2019 |
From the Virgin Islands comes a tale of two Jeffreys, and the difference great wealth can make when it comes to sex crimes—until it doesn't.
Both Jeffreys were convicted of shameful crimes that required them to register as sex offenders in whatever state or jurisdiction they resided.
Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty in Florida to engaging a minor in prostitution in a 2007 plea deal only a super-rich guy could have swung. He did 18 months locked up, mostly in a private wing of the Palm Beach County jail, where he only stayed at night, returning each morning to “work release.”
He then proceeded to prove that a registered sex offender with enough money in the Virgin Islands can just continue to come and go from a private island off the coast of St. Thomas, with an ever-changing entourage of girls who appeared to be barely in their teens. He would announce his periodic return by raising the American flag over the opulent hideaway identified on the maps as Little Saint James Island, but known to locals as “pedophile island.”
Jeffrey No. 2—Jeffery Cole—was convicted in Ohio of a misdemeanor charge of voyeurism in 2009. He was a schlub of modest means, but his offense was relatively minor (if creepy) and he needed neither wealth nor influence to receive just a suspended sentence of 90 days and two years probation.
“The underlying conviction, which requires Mr. Cole to register as a sex offender, did not involve a minor, physical violence, or physical touching of any kind,” his present attorney, Melanie Turnbull, noted in court.
We Found Red Flags All Over Jeffrey Epstein’s Jail Records
Once he successfully completed probation, Cole moved to Georgia, where he registered as a sex offender. He moved to the Virgin Islands in 2018 and has not been charged with engaging in further voyeurism or any other crimes.
The problem for this Jeffrey was that he failed to register promptly in his new home as a sex offender. The U.S. Attorney for the Virgin Islands, Gretchen Shappert, did not miss an opportunity to convey through the media how seriously her office takes such matters.
“USVI resident indicted for not registering as sex offender,” the headline in a local news outlet read.
That February 28th article was accompanied by a photo illustration that showed a parked auto with a driver-side front door emblazoned with the words “SEX OFFENDER In This Car.” It also pictured a house with a sign out front reading, ”SEX OFFENDER LIVES HERE.”
On April 12, Cole entered into a plea deal where he faces a sentence of no more than a year.
“St. Thomas Resident Pleaded Guilty to Failing to Register as a Sex Offender,” the U.S. Attorney’s press release announced.
In the meantime, on March 15, the other Jeffrey flew into St. Thomas aboard his private jet. He made his annual check-in at the local sex registry office, a gesture that can now be seen as a kind of mockery, as it’s been revealed that he had been seen still bringing young girls to his private island.
“Everybody was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s pedophile island,’” remembers a Wall Street numbers cruncher turned pizzeria owner who arrived in the Virgin Islands from New York in 2009.
Where were the authorities when it came to this Jeffrey?
Epstein’s Coney Island Days: From Math Nerd to ‘Arrogant’ Prick
At least four members of the local legislature accepted significant campaign contributions from Southern Trust Company, Inc., one of a host of business entities Epstein founded in the Virgin Islands. Those companies began with L.S.J, LLC, through which he bought his private island for $7.95 million in 1998.
Epstein had hired Cecile de Jongh, wife of former Virgin Islands Gov. John de Jongh, as the office manager for Southern Trust, which was granted income tax breaks of up to 90 percent by the U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority. The former first lady also managed the Epstein VI Foundation, which supported everything from brain research at Harvard to the girls’ volleyball team at St. Croix Central High School in the Virgin Islands.
After Epstein was arrested in Florida for a sex crime involving a minor, a Virgin Islands newspaper called The Avis ran an article suggesting that Cecile de Jongh’s connections with Epstein might muddy her husband’s political prospects. The Avis also noted that the arrest called into question whether the girls’ volleyball team should have jerseys bearing the name Epstein.
A purported grassroots movement collected 5,000 signatures on a petition accusing The Avis of yellow journalism. Epstein attorney Gerald Lefcourt issued a statement saying, “The grand jury and the prosecutor's office... determined that no serious offense had occurred.”
Really.
Epstein kept partying on Pedophile Island. He is said to have met some resistance when he sought to buy the nearby, larger island of Great St James. The blue-blood Danish family that owned it is said to have been reluctant to sell to someone with Epstein’s unsavory reputation. But he appears to have managed to acquire it anyway in 2016 by cloaking the buyer’s identity with a company called Great St. Jim LLC. He is said to have paid $18 million.
Epstein immediately applied for a permit to erect two 80-foot flag poles, arguing that the 45-foot limit on the books should not apply to his property. No doubt at least one of the poles would be used to fly an American flag and announce for everyone to see when the owner of Pedophile Island was back.
But construction of a compound on the bigger island was delayed by environmental concerns that even somebody as well-connected as Epstein could not just circumvent.
And there was far greater trouble brewing for Epstein as the result of a determined reporter, Julie Brown of the Miami Herald.
Brown revealed and documented the unconscionable plea deal Epstein had been granted. The Manhattan U.S. Attorney launched a new investigation.
In reviewing the 2007 Florida case, the FBI noted a court document reporting an incident that when agents served Epstein’s personal assistant Lesley Groff with a grand jury subpoena, she excused herself, purportedly to check on her child. She is said by the court document to have used the moment to telephone Epstein, who was headed in his private plane from Palm Beach to Teterboro Airport in New Jersey across the Hudson River from New York. He was in the company of another assistant, Nadia Marcinkova, who has been accused of complicity in his sex trafficking.
“Mr. Epstein became concerned that the FBI would try to serve his traveling companion, Nadia Marcinkova, with a similar grand jury subpoena,” the document reports. “In fact, the agents were preparing to serve Ms. Marcinkova with a target letter when the flight landed in Teterboro. Mr. Epstein then redirected his airplane, making the pilot file a new flight plan to travel to the US Virgin Islands instead.”
The American flag no doubt again went up over Pedophile Island as the FBI stood thwarted at Teterboro.
A dozen years later, the FBI took great care that Epstein received no warning. He flew unsuspecting on July 6 from Paris to Teterboro and a waiting pair of handcuffs.
On July 8, Epstein was arraigned in Manhattan federal court on charges of trafficking in underage girls. He was remanded as a flight risk and a danger to the community. He was consigned to the Metropolitan Correctional Center, briefly in general population but within hours assigned to the Special Housing Unit due to threats from inmates who apparently take a dim view of “short eyes,” as child molesters are known behind bars.
Epstein must have considered the arrest a possibility, for some time ago he commissioned an artist to paint a mural in his Manhattan mansion of him in a prison yard. Neither he nor the artist seem to have foreseen that he would find himself locked up 23 hours a day in an eight-by-eight foot cell infested with cockroaches and rodents. A thickly screened single narrow window faces a brick wall and lets in only enough light to tell night from day. Mold is said to grow on the walls. Water seeps in under the door from a shower to which he has access only once every three days.
For two weeks, Epstein’s cellmate was an ex-cop named Nicholas Tartaglione, who is accused of a quadruple murder. Tartaglione says the two became “friends,” whereby he joined a list that once included two presidents, Donald Trump and Bill Clinton. A realtor who asked not to be identified recently told The Daily Beast that Trump exclaimed at a business gathering at Tavern on the Green some years ago that Epstein was “my best friend.”
Tartaglione has reportedly told authorities that he saved Epstein from a suicide attempt. But Trump may not be the only liar on Epstein's list of pals. Tartaglione ended up in the Special Housing Unit after he was caught with a cellphone that he insisted had just been given to him by another inmate. Tartaglione then moved to keep the government from inspecting the phone’s contents on the grounds it may have privileged communications with his lawyer and with his wife. Never mind it was supposedly not his.
Epstein is now said to be on suicide watch. He is 66 and, if convicted, he stands a good chance of dying in prison even if he takes the best possible care of himself. He may have finally landed in a situation where all his money cannot save him from suffering the consequences of his actions.
Also behind bars is the other Jeffrey, having been remanded when he entered his guilty plea in April.
Cole had been free on his own recognizance since his arraignment, the court having deemed him to be neither a flight risk nor a danger to the community. His attorney petitioned for him to remain at liberty pending sentencing, which is set for August 15.
The attorney noted that Cole is a 57-year-old graduate of Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in landscape architecture, had been steadily employed for more than 30 years and was presently a fleet manager at a car rental company. He would be able to continue working there until his day of reckoning.
The judge remanded Cole nonetheless. Cole was shipped off to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. His attorney has since filed a motion to expedite matters.
“The current sentencing date inevitably results in a period of incarceration of four months,” the petition noted, adding that Cole was eligible to receive probation and no time at all.
As of Saturday, the sentencing was still set for August 15. Cole remains behind bars in Guaynabo. But he will almost certainly be free within the next few months.
And you can bet that this Jeffrey would not trade places with the other one for all the money in the world
#politics#u.s. news#politics and government#president donald trump#us: news#international news#must reads#legal issues#trump scandals#racism#world news#democracy#sex crimes#criminal-justice#corruption#u.s. department of justice#activism#united states department of justice#jeffrey epstein#impeachtrump#impeachthemf#sex trafficking#justice department#justice#justicedept
2 notes
·
View notes
Text
Okay, so I said for 1,500 followers I would rant about my ship opinions. Want to make clear from the start that if you disagree with me, you are still totally cool and valid. Got it? Okay, let’s go.
This is a pretty long post so I’ll put some of it under a cut.
Analogical Okay, so obviously “My Negative Thinking” sparked the interest in this one, and Moving On only strengthened it. I can see this one being romantic or platonic, and I like both, but prefer platonic mostly because I see logan as a bit paternal. This is a relationship that could be a two-way street. We’ve seen Logan be a bit protective of Virgil (”Virgil, are you okay?” in Moving On GETS me), and I think Virgil would also be very protective of Logan. The biggest calming thing for anxiety is always logic, but sometimes logic needs to learn to trust gut feelings. Whether romantic or platonic (or even paternal), I see Virgil going to Logan when he needs a clearer perspective, and I think Logan has a great amount of respect for Virgil - Patton and Roman are impulsive and removed from reality, while Virgil seems like he could understand Logan’s point of view. Overall, a loPlatonic 9/10, Romantic 7.5/10.vely pair.
Platonic 9/10; they understand each other; somehow both are the protective Mom friend at the same time.
Romantic 7.5/10; both would have trouble expressing their “feelings” but if they both learned to communicate it would be beautiful.
Logicality I’ve liked these two together since the beginning. Unfortunately, I think that lately we’ve seen that these two have some problems they need to work through first, especially on Logan’s end. I think that logic and morality/emotion are much more essential to the human mind than anxiety and creativity, and I think that Logan and Patton reflect that. A lot of people write pining/flirtatious Logicality, but I prefer that “old married couple” domestic aesthetic. I think Logan and Patton are incredibly protective of each other, but that leads to some barriers they need to break down. Logan is scared to be silly in front of Patton because Patton needs reigning in by somebody who is 100% logical, but sometimes Logan takes his authority and logic so seriously that he isn’t considerate of Patton. Meanwhile. Patton is lovingly pressuring Logan to admit that sometimes being silly is fun and important, because he wants Logan to be honest and unabashed about enjoying things. Unfortunately, they’re pushing each other in opposite directions.
Platonic 8/10; this is probably the most romantic-leaning ship I have, so I’m biased.
Romantic 9/10; damn I love them so much but they have some communication issues to work out to be healthy.
Logince Never seen these guys as a romantic ship. That said, I think the potential for a partnership is incredible. They’re a classic brains/brawn pair and I see them in an amazing fraternal/platonic relationship. Rather than enemies to lovers, these two are rivals to partners. If I was going to call any two sides each others’ “bros,” it would be these two. Logan is very lawful while Roman is very chaotic, but I think we see in “Fitting In” and “Why Do We Get Out of Bed in the Morning?” that these two have a lot in common: both are short-tempered, determined, resourceful, ambitious, strong leaders (maybe even a little self-righteous, arrogant, and stubborn). These two are both very dominant compared to Patton and Virgil - they both want to be in charge, and I think that would be detrimental in a romantic relationship. However, I think that as friends this would be friendly competition, pushing each other to be better. It’s another classic dynamic to see two characters who see each other as “the one to beat” but then realize that they could beat EVERYONE if they would just work together.
Platonic 8/10; still some stuff they need to work out, but once they do they’ll be unstoppable.
Romantic 3/10; I just don’t see it, and I think their personalities wouldn’t be good for a romantic relationship because the communication isn’t there.
Moxiety Like Logince, this has never been a romantic ship for me. Patton is just obviously coded as “Dad” or “Best Friend” in every interaction BUT the thing that really gets me is that Virgil is just as protective of Patton as Patton is of him, which makes sense. Our Anxiety is in place not just to protect our physical body, but also our feelings, and Patton is Thomas’ heart. I feel like Patton and Virgil have each others’ full trust, and “Can Lying be Good?” really made this evident. When “Patton” acted strange, Virgil didn’t think “my friend is doing a bad thing,” he thought “this isn’t my friend.” He knows Patton that well. With Patton learning to accept his feelings, I think he and Virgil are huge supports for each other. I honestly think that while Roman and Logan were having drama for the last two videos, Patton and Virgil have just been having Best Friend time. Heck, is anything softer than these two? Villain-coding a character and then revealing their vulnerability by having them befriend the softest of puffballs is adorable.
Platonic 10/10; they’re BEST FRIENDS you guys, look at them. Wouldja just LOOK at it?
Romantic 4/10; they have the communication and trust, but I think they’re so much better for each other as best friends.
Prinxiety Ah, classic enemies to friends to lovers. I’ve never been a huge stan for this ship, but heck if it isn’t cute. It’s Tumblr goth bf and Instagram prep bf. I think their love languages would be very different, but if they could learn to communicate and respect their differences, the potential is there. I think that lately we’ve seen effort on both sides for these guys to include each other. Roman’s been kinder about his nicknames, which is a good start. Also, let’s face it: Virgil’s face when Roman changes in to his 2.0 outfit screams “I am gay.” I think no matter what, these two will bicker a bit, but it could range from something that’s an actual problem all the way to something more endearing; imagine an hour on the couch going back and forth about which Pixar movie is the best because neither will relent. Also, there’s something to be said for anxiety both encouraging and stifling creativity, and creativity both causing and relieving anxiety. There’s delicate balances there to be explored, especially when creativity, in Roman’s case, is loud and presentational. Romantic elements aside, I also like seeing these two as annoying brothers who deeply love each other but simultaneously piss each other off.
Platonic 6/10; not my favorite, but bickering brothers or friends is still a very nice possibility.
Romantic 7/10; come on, guys, it’s a fandom classic, and the enemies to lovers dynamic is just so fun.
Royality Excuse me but this is the most under-appreciated ship in this whole fandom. Two honest good boys who are filled to the brim with love? Two dudes who would 100% have compatible love languages? Two guys who would spoil each other with affection and tiny gifts? Hell yes hell yes hell yes. Romance and emotion go together, guys. These two would have more PDA than any other pairing because embarrassment? How dare anyone be embarrassed by TRUE LOVE? The only possible concern I can think of is that Patton is very giving while Roman is very egoistic, but I think we’ve seen that both of them would be very giving to a romantic partner. These two would be all about dramatic displays of affection, but they also would have their peaceful moments when they need them. Mostly I just see them creating things for each other and never letting anybody forget how much they love each other.
Platonic 8/10; good stuff, but this ship is very romantic-leaning in my eyes. However, a brotherly relationship is also an incredible idea.
Romantic 9/10; as long as Patton takes care of himself and Roman learns to care about others, these two would be adorable.
LAMP (I’m assuming a LAMP where all four are in a relationship with the other three, but I know that there are other versions as well) I’ll be up front and admit that I prefer pairings to poly relationships in my ships, but let’s face it: LAMP is adorable. It has all the benefits of the other ships, but with third and fourth parties to balance out some of the cons. These guys are famILY and they are, in canon, the only “people” in each others’ lives. I don’t have much to say because this ship is essentially everything I’ve said before about the other ships.
Platonic 10/10; famILY
Romantic 6/10; good stuff, but I have a personal preference for pairings; still great because they all complete each other.
Deceit Ships I’m not putting down people who like these ships; that’s your business. However, I’ve seen too many people get hurt, REALLY hurt, by dishonesty in their relationships to support these. Even if Deceit isn’t 100% a villain, which I can see, it still isn’t healthy to put a character who is all about lying into a relationship. The most important things in any relationship are honest communication and trust, and those are both things that aren’t compatible with Deceit. That said, I’ve seen some morally grey fics and headcanons about Deceit where he has some interactions with the other sides I quite like. Let’s face it, one way or another the other sides are stuck with Deceit, and I think he at least has the potential to be something other than an evil being. Whether canon will support these depictions of Deceit is TBD (totally believable, dude? No, to be determined).
Platonic 2/10; I’ve seen some good stuff, but we have little canon material for Deceit; the other sides should be cautious while interacting with him.
Romantic 0/10; I have a personal relationship with dishonesty and manipulation that means I just can’t get behind these ships.
#sanders sides#thomas sanders#royality#logicality#analogical#moxiety#prinxiety#logince#LAMP#deceit#ts deceit#tw deceit#logan#Patton#roman#virgil#studysaysstuff#studystuff
378 notes
·
View notes
Text
Outward Honour for Inward Toil
This is my fic for the @safeklancewriters MiniBang. I was paired with the artists @cheritsundere and @cimderslla , so please go check out their pieces as well!
Pairings: Keith/Lance
Rating: G
Warnings: Graphic Depictions of Violence
Word Count: 28k
As the rival nations of Márea and Altea form an alliance after years of tension and border issues, Prince Lance is forced to deal with a treaty that is far too involved in his personal life, an infuriating Altean knight surrounded by shady rumours, and the rising threat of the Galra empire closing in on Lance’s kingdom.
Sample:
Lance is undeniably eager when he peeks through his bedroom window and sees the dark smudge against the horizon line that is a team of Máreaan horses, pulling a gleaming carriage in tow. This signals his sister’s arrival from her foreign affairs, and he’s undeniably eager to hear the news.
“Hunk,” he says excitedly, and prods at his best friend who sits, curled on a low-lying couch, nose buried in a gilded book of fairy tales. “Unless, I’m mistaken, Ramira’s returned.”
Hunk looks up and peers out of the window next to Lance. “Unless I’m mistaken, I think you’re right. Should we head down to greet her, or let her speak about the private matters in private?” Hunk raises a single eyebrow, and it’s clear to Lance what Hunk believes is the better idea.
“Oh, dear friend.” Lance claps Hunk on the shoulder and grins. “You’re an admirable advisor, but you need to loosen up! Come, we must try and meet her as soon as possible .” Lance ends the sentence with pointed emphasis, though he doesn’t pretend that his words carry any true command; Hunk is far too familiar and far too flippant with him for that to work anymore.
“Yes, my Prince,” Hunk says dryly. He closes the book neatly, placing one of the bookmarks that Lance never bothers to use in between the pages, and sets it delicately on the window sill. “When have ever I denied your request.”
“Hurry,” Lance urges. He doesn’t bother to put on a jacket or coat and settles for buttoning up his shirt. Hunk takes no such leisure and securely fastens the laces of his sunny yellow coat before following along as Lance marches resolutely out the door.
The reason he makes such haste to catch his sister before anyone else is simply because her special meeting is meant to be kept quiet. Ramira, the second child of the royal family, is the official foreign ambassador of Márea, and just days ago, she left the kingdom to travel to a location that wasn’t disclosed to Lance, who is apparently unqualified to know such top level matters while he’s still in training.
But no matter.
He knows where Ramira has been: their neighboring kingdom, Altea. This hasn’t been the first time he’s eavesdropped to find out classified information, and it almost definitely won’t be the last.
In recent months, as threats from other kingdoms have increased, Márea has nurtured the idea of forming an alliance with their closest neighbors. This is a difficult concept to put into motion, mostly due to the tense history between the two kingdoms from petty skirmishes and trade disagreements. Unfortunately, the current atmosphere seems to be enough for Márea to reach out to Altea.
Lance figures that Ramira was there to discuss a possible meeting, maybe even something unassuming like inviting the leaders of Altea for dinner and castle festivities. He speeds up his pace as he and Hunk wind through the castle halls, determined to be included in the discussions.
They arrive at the front doors just as Ramira is stepping out of the carriage, dressed in her plain, dark travel clothes. Lance’s mother, Queen Reina, stands at the edge of the marble stairs, watching quietly as Ramira is escorted by the guards up the steps and towards the doors. Lance’s eldest sister, Juliana, stands next to her.
“Welcome back,” his mother says warmly, taking a single step forward to greet Ramira. His mother puts her hand to Ramira’s shoulder and Ramira puts her hand to their mother’s waist, and they embrace with minimal contact and a simple cheek-to-cheek kiss. Ramira does the same with Juliana. Their proper, affectionate exchange will have to wait until later, in the privacy of their rooms- right now, they keep up appearances in front of the guards.
“Hello, Lance.” Ramira floats past their mother and sister and greets Lance the same way. Out of courtesy, Lance gives her a slight bow, and takes satisfaction in the way her lips quirk up from amusement.
“Princess,” Hunk says politely, though not unkindly, and he bows much lower than Lance, an indication of her authority.
Ramira smiles properly and reaches out a hand to tousle Hunk’s well-styled hair. If he were anyone else, their mother and Juliana would look scandalized, but Hunk is well-known amongst everyone in the castle as practically the fourth child of the royal family.
“Your father is in the meeting room,” Lance’s mother says, walking so that she stands level with Ramira. “Perhaps we should…” Her eyes slide over Hunk, then Lance, and Lance feels the familiar flash of irritation when he knows that she’s about to order him to leave.
“Let me stay for the meeting,” he says insistently.
The Queen hesitates. “Lance…”
“Please.” He stiffens his back, posture and face straight. “Let me be included.”
“It’s fine,” Ramira says. She shrugs her black jacket off, revealing the gray waistcoat she wears underneath. The Queen’s eyes cut to her, but she says nothing. “Let Lance stay, it’ll give him experience. He can’t learn these things if he isn’t exposed to him.”
Lance gives Ramira a grateful look as his mother sighs and says, “Very well. Let’s hurry to the meeting room.”
The meeting room they go to is not the large, high-ceilinged one that Lance’s parents use to discuss matters with all their top generals and advisors. Instead, they go to a place that’s more like a lounge, with comfortable seats placed around and oblong table, and silver platters of biscuits placed in the center.
Lance reaches for a sugared biscuit without second thought. Hunk gives him a reproachful look that screams “ behave like a Prince ” before Lance hands him a biscuit and Hunk rolls his eyes, giving in.
At the very head of the table sits Lance’s father: King Julio II, King of Márea. He’s broad-shouldered and gruff looking, with an impressive moustache and coal black hair. If Lance hadn’t known him since childhood, he would be intimidated.
Lance’s mother appears kinder, with soft brown hair and deep blue eyes like Lance’s, and she certainly is kind, but Lance knows to be alert around her. She’s the Queen, but more so she’s his mother, and that means she’s perceptive enough to pick up the slightest bit of mischief. She takes a seat to the King’s right, sharp eyes sweeping over the table. Juliana takes the seat to their father’s left, and Ramira sits next to her.
Nobody questions Hunk when he sits next to Lance, at the farthest end of the table. There are only a handful of others who are not part of the family, and none of them seem to be under the age of 50- all royal advisors and veterans of the Court or military.
“Lance and Hunk will be joining the meeting,” Lance’s mother whispers to the King. He gives a short nod and then leans forward, folding his hands together on the table.
“Very well,” he says. His voice, although quiet, is steady, and his words command respect no matter how brief they are. “As you all know- or may not know,” he amends, addressing Lance and Hunk. “Ramira has returned from her meeting in Altea.”
Lance exchanged a triumphant glance with Hunk.
“I’ll try to keep this talk short, so we can move forward with our plans.” He nods at Ramira. “You may give your report.”
Ramira takes a deep breath and smiles. Her shoulders are straight, confident, not betraying a hint of nerves. “As you all know, tensions have been running high, with the rising of the Galra kingdom.” She pauses, as many of the council members frown. “Fortunately for us, this seems to be a similar case in Altea.”
“They are rather private with their kingdom’s state, naturally, but from what I could glean from the conversations, the Galra are their main concerns. They seemed to be willing to do whatever it takes to stop the enemy forces from pressing closer to their borders. Including-” Ramira takes a pause, likely for a dramatic effect. “-cooperating with us.”
Juliana leans forward. “Meaning.”
Ramira smiles, and it’s sharp, victorious. “I persuaded them to attend treaty talks.”
Lance’s jaw drops. Altea has never been opposed to forming alliances, but Márea is the kingdom that they have had disputes with for long before Lance was even a thought in his parents’ minds. After the last, rather brutal skirmish over a piece of river territory a few years ago- which Márea won, to everyone’s surprise- Altea has been stubbornly resistant to any sort of peacemaking between the kingdoms. For Altea to give in after a single meeting with a single ambassador, they must be desperate.
Lance briefly wonders if the situation with the Galra is worse than it seems.
“Have they said when they would like to host the talks?” the Queen asks, her voice careful and considering.
“They didn’t specify,” Ramira answers, “They mentioned shortly that they would have it sooner rather than later, but there were no demands of specific timing.”
“Good,” the King’s personal advisor speaks up. “This means that we can set the terms of the meeting ourselves.”
“Preferably, we should have it in Márea,” Juliana cuts in. “A show of strength would benefit us.”
They turn, through some unanimous decision, to the King, watching as he strokes his chin thoughtfully. “We need a few weeks to properly decide our terms for the treaty,” he says after a pause. “We should also arrange festivities of a sort, to show off our kingdom as a whole, not just military. However, we should not push it for too long, or we risk them setting the terms of our meeting, or, worse, the Galra attacking before there is any sort of external support.” Another pause. “Expect to meet with the Alteans in a month’s time.”
The council murmurs assent.
The King sends a sweeping gaze over them. “This meeting has concluded. You are dismissed.”
Everyone except the King and Queen rise (no doubt they are planning to have further discussions). Lance considers offering to walk Ramira to her room, as a gesture of kindness and maybe to question her further and see if she divulges any details, but he dismisses that idea in favour of turning towards Hunk and gesturing excitedly.
“That was interesting!” he exclaims. “I would never have believed that we would meet with Altea, of all kingdoms, for a treaty. Do you think that trade compromise will be brought up?”
“Are you sure you’re meant to be talking about all this in public?” Hunk asks with amusement, as they walk through an empty hallway (really, a guard should be stationed here, but Lance won’t be the one to snitch). “I hope it will. Although I’m not sure if Altea would agree, they’ve always been stingy about that route. Do you think Altea will have a show of arms?” Hunk is silent for a moment. “Do you think they’ll show us any of their technology? Or do you think they’d be willing to share even a slice of information?”
“I don’t think a show of arms on foreign soil is very proper,” Lance muses, “And aren’t they very secretive about all that stuff?”
When Hunk deflates, he adds, “They would probably willing to show you something in the name of bolstering their reputation. Although I wonder if they will send anyone who’s willing to teach you. Do you think we could visit the stables? I haven’t gone riding in far too long.”
“Let’s go,” Hunk agrees. “Even I can’t return to my studies so soon, ugh. My tutor has been impossibly harsh of late.”
“Don’t even mention tutors,” Lance cries dramatically, throwing his arm over his eyes. “I need fresh air.”
Hunk snorts in amusement, and says , “Let’s hurry before the sun goes down.”
[Continue reading on AO3]
11 notes
·
View notes
Text
I Care a Lot: Can Professional Guardians and Conservatorships Really Get THAT Bad?
https://ift.tt/3qCWe0N
This article contains I Care a Lot spoilers. You can read our spoiler-free review here.
How odd that in the span of a couple days it seems like everyone is debating the virtues of professional guardianships and what it means to become a legal conservator. Only a week ago, Hulu and The New York Times debuted its social media lightning rod of a documentary, Framing Britney Spears, and now barely more than seven days later, Netflix is debuting J Blakeson’s I Care a Lot, a baroque comedy (or tragedy?) in which Rosamund Pike plays a professional legal guardian who cares. She cares a lot. Just not about her wards.
As becomes queasily apparent early on in I Care a Lot, the things that keep Pike’s Marla Grayson up at night are not the dozens of wards she has a legal responsibility toward, nor necessarily the employees in her company. Rather it’s her clients’ bank accounts where Marla’s interests lie; and she uses them to bill herself hourly rates and underwrites any expenses she incurs while raiding their homes for valuables.
Within the movie’s first 15 minutes, we even see Grayson’s nightmarish con in a nutshell when she has a little old lady named Jennier (Dianne Wiest) declared incompetent because of dementia. Marla shows up on Jennifer’s doorstep with the cops and a court order to lock Jennifer away forever in a nursing home, even though Wiest’s senior has never even seen the inside of a courtroom.
Can something this scandalous and awful actually happen in America? The short answer is yes.
“These stories were horrifying and not uncommon,” Blakeson told The Moveable Fest last September. “So I fell down a bit of a rabbit hole in reading about these various stories happening in various places and thought there was something almost Kafkaesque about somebody knocking on your door and just taking you away for a reason you didn’t think was valid.”
And as has become increasingly publicized in recent weeks, once you get in the system of guardianships/conservatorships, it’s very hard to get out.
Guardianships of course play a pivotal role in modern society. As a legal responsibility created to protect those deemed vulnerable due to a diminished capacity that’s left them “incapacitated” or “incompetent,” guardianship is usually taken up by family members or professionals (mostly lawyers) who agree to manage a vulnerable party’s assets, caring for their estate and possibly their day-to-day person and body. This means a guardian is in charge of their wards’ assets and finances, what doctors they see, what medications they take, where they live, and potentially who they interact with and how they lead their daily lives. One woman in this situation told The New York Times, “It’s worse than incarceration. At least in prison you have rights.”
It’s an arrangement most often used to protect elderly people who cannot care for themselves, but problems can occur when one must decide how to determine someone is “incapacitated” or “incompetent,” and whether a ward needs a guardian in perpetuity. Additionally, just how vulnerable is the position of being a professional guardian itself vulnerable to profit motive?
Most legal guardianships or conservatorships are not egregiously corrupt like Marla Grayson’s racket in I Care a Lot, and many professional guardians will note how difficult it is to manage the affairs of low income individuals who need daily assistance—or how professional guardians are required to step in by the courts when the children of elderly parents enter lawsuits against each other.
However, the details are frustratingly hard to track. The National Center for State Courts estimates the number of people in guardianships is between one and three million in the U.S., but it’s impossible to accurately measure when legal records of guardianships are often sealed and there is no standardized recordkeeping; The Times reported guardianship records are kept separately by each of New York’s individual 62 counties, with no standardized reporting on state or even city totals; and a Government Accountability Office report from 2010 revealed that “we could not locate a single Web site, federal agency, state or local entity, or any other organization that compiles comprehensive information on the issue.”
Rather state by state, and case by case, courts appear to be left to their own devices on how to handle situations—and also uncomfortably relying on what amounts to an honor system regarding professional guardians. As per The Times, the state of New York requires any aspiring professional guardian to only complete a one-day certification course, and according to the aforementioned GAO report, courts require no background checks for aspiring legal guardians. Instead they trust applicants to disclose any previous criminal convictions or recent bankruptcies.
This can create a recipe for abuse and cases as extreme as Pike’s wolfish Marla Grayson showing up at your door with a court order. Famously in New York, Judge John Phillips built a real estate empire in Brooklyn worth $20 million during the 1980s and ‘90s, which included movie theaters that became neighborhood landmarks. Yet after he was diagnosed with dementia and considered incompetent in the early 2000s, he went through a series of legal guardians and somehow was “left to freeze to death in 2008” in a facility unlicensed to treat dementia. While he declined, his guardians had been selling off theaters and various other assets to the tune of millions of dollars.
More recently, and more reminiscent of Marla Grayson, is the case of April Parks, a former Nevada legal guardian who pled guilty in 2018 to six felony charges, including two counts of elder exploitation. The full extent of her abuse, however, was laid bare in 2017 by Rachel Aviv’s harrowing reporting in The New Yorker’s “How the Elderly Lose Their Rights.”
In that piece, Aviv chronicled how Parks amassed more than 400 wards for her guardianship business over 12 years in the state of Nevada—and how each of her wards lost “nearly all of their civil rights.” This is primarily highlighted through the experiences of Rudy and Rennie North, a couple in their 70s who on a fateful Friday morning were greeted at their front door by April Parks and three unnamed associates. Parks was the owner of a company called A Private Professional Guardian—a fact she was so proud about she had her license plate read “CRTGRDN” (court guardian)—and she arrived that day with an order from the Clark County Family Court, which demanded the Norths be removed from their homes immediately.
Unbeknownst to the Norths, Parks had filed an emergency ex-parte petition in the court, which allowed her to claim the Norths posed a “substantial risk for mismanagement of medications, financial loss, and physical harm” without their presence in the court. Indeed, they weren’t even notified the hearing was happening. Parks told the court the elderly couple was at risk due to a rapid decline caused by dementia, as based on a letter from a physician’s assistant Rennie had seen once. Rudy and Rennie had never undergone a single cognitive assessment when the court agreed Parks should move the pair into a nursing home.
It was more than three days before the Norths’ adult daughter Julie Belsche even discovered where they were, with her parents’ home being left empty, causing the daughter to tell her husband she thought “someone kidnapped my parents.”
As soon as the Norths were gone, Parks went through their house with the owner of a company called Caring Transitions, which specialized in estate sales of the assets and belongings of relocated seniors. Raiding the couple’s closets and drawers, in search of paperwork and valuables, had become routine for Parks. Within a month, Parks hired Even Tide Life Transitions to sell off most of the belongings, including two Renoir lithographs valued at $38,000.
The Norths’ case was not unique. As their daughter Julie and The New Yorker eventually unraveled, Parks had wards in nursing homes throughout the county, including 10 in the one that the Norths were relocated to. Many of these seniors were declared in need of legal guardianship in hearings that lasted less than two minutes. Prosecutor Jaclyn O’Malley would later piece together for a grand jury that Parks allegedly built a network of “hospital social workers and medical staff” who helped generate client leads for Parks’ company. In one instance in 2010, the state’s attorney said Parks was “cold-calling” rehabilitation centers in search of a 79-year-old woman who had nearly $700,000 in the bank and no children.
Read more
Culture
Why The Truth About Britney Spears Is So Elusive
By Tony Sokol
Movies
Judas and the Black Messiah Ending Shows Horrific Legacy of COINTELPRO
By David Crow
But all of this was unspooled after years of hardship for the Norths. As per the American Bar Association, guardianship is generally “permanent, leaving no way out… until death do us part,’” and the Norths seemed to face that truth when they couldn’t even hire a lawyer to argue their case.
Their daughter also reported they were “overmedicated to the point where they weren’t really there” in their nursing home.
All these seeming horrors were committed by a sophisticated engine of care that makes I Care a Lot’s Marla Grayson appear like small potatoes. Yet the legal authority of professional guardians is so protected under the cloud of sealed documents that it wasn’t stories of glassy-eyed medication or the lack of due process that actually brought Parks down. The narrowly defined felonies she pled guilty to involved perjury under oath and double dealing in her accounting—like charging her wards $100 each for the hour it took to deliver unsolicited Christmas “gifts” of cheap socks purchased from the nearby department store.
It got Parks a sentence of 16 to 40 years in prison. Still, the most egregious cases are far from the only ones to care about, and in reality there isn’t a Peter Dinklage there to bargain for each senior who may think they don’t need a professional guardian.
cnx.cmd.push(function() { cnx({ playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530", }).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796"); });
The post I Care a Lot: Can Professional Guardians and Conservatorships Really Get THAT Bad? appeared first on Den of Geek.
from Den of Geek https://ift.tt/3ufAF8A
0 notes
Text
Seeing Clearly-Part 6
A/N: Seems like forever since I updated this! It’s mostly backstory for the reader, as well as a little bit of rising action. Also, the rest of the story will be told from the reader’s point of view unless otherwise stated-now that her character is established, I feel that it’s not really necessary to have multiple points of view.
Warnings: mentions of suicide, blood and gore, mentions of death
Pairing: ?? x Reader
Word Count: 1,737
After the Winchesters left, you closed the study door and sank to a sitting position against it. Everything in your life had been turned upside down in the space of just a few hours. Your mind raced with everything the guys had told you. Everything you had ever seen in a horror movie came floating through your mind-ghosts, monsters, witches, vampires, werewolves...you made a mental note to ask Sam later about Frankenstein. No way were you about to be able to sleep at night knowing that monstrosity was out there.
Maybe you were crazy, but you believed everything Sam and Dean had told you. It explained a lot actually...
18 years ago, a little girl skips home from school, her dark pigtails flying. She remembers that her mother promised her cookies for after school and she grins, picking up her speed. She reaches the front door to find it ajar. Puzzled, she wanders through the living room.
"Mommy? Daddy?"
She sees a man standing in the kitchen, his back turned to her. She rushes over and hugs him around the waist.
"Daddy!" she squeals happily.
He turns around slowly to face her. The little girl stiffens and backs away.
"You're-you're not my daddy."
The man's black eyes fasten on hers'.
"No," he says, a smile creeping across his face. "But he is."
He gestures to her father, laying on the ground next to her mother. Blood is streaked on their arms, their legs, their torsos, making it impossible to locate the source of the bleeding. The little girl rushes to kneel next to them, tears streaming down her face as she shakes her mother.
"Mommy! Mommy wake up! Daddy please!"
The man watches all of this in amusement. "I would finish you off too," he says longingly. "But we have other plans for you."
He squats next to the crying girl and tilts her chin up, forcing her to raise her distraught eyes to his. "See you soon."
He smiles widely and disappeared, leaving the sobbing girl in a heap on the floor.
You caught your breath from the intensity of the memory. Sliding your hand up to cover your face, you found it wet. You hadn't even realized you were crying. You let the sorrow consume you, steadily growing until you were just a heaping mess of hiccuping sobs. You hadn't thought of your parents' death since-well, since forever. Your tales of a black-eyed, teleporting man were quickly brushed off by authorities as a result of trauma. You learned pretty quickly to keep your mouth shut if you didn't want to spend endless months in therapy with a creepy, over-analyzing shrink. So you packed the memory up and put it in a box, never to be opened again. Until tonight at least...
And then there was Ava. Your supporter, your protector, your best friend. While you made an active effort to never think about your parents, she was on your mind constantly. How you had walked in that house to see her lying on the floor, gun askance next to her lifeless body, finger curled around the trigger. You had felt so guilty, wondering if you should have inquired about her mental health more, or made more time for her from your busy work schedule. The Winchesters' explanation had at least somewhat assuaged your guilt. Maybe that's why you were so desperate to believe it. Or maybe you were just insane.
Either way, it was clear that you'd be working with them for the next few days. You picked yourself off the floor and went to lock up, your tears gradually waning to a dull ache behind your eyes. After you had finished your nightly routine, you went up to your room and slumped on the bed. Thankfully, sleep overcame you quickly.
The next morning, you awoke early to meet the boys at Ava’s house. You weren’t exactly sure why they insisted upon going there at all; you could have gotten the same information from the police report your officers had filled out. You supposed it was a different type of search, but you half wished that you had stayed out of it all, like Dean had suggested. You hadn’t been in her house since the night she died, and you didn’t know how you’d be able to face it, seeing those pictures of her and Roger she had hung up around the room, looking at those dumb throw pillows she had insisted on picking out, knowing that these were the last things she had seen just before she...
God, you couldn’t think about this. You would break down before you even started, and despite your hesitancy, you wanted to do this. For Ava. For everyone else who could be potentially be harmed by whatever had killed her. And for yourself. You would never have closure if you didn’t see this thing through. So you slapped on some mascara, threw an outfit on, and rushed out the door before you could change your mind.
You arrived a few moments earlier than the time you had agreed upon with Sam and Dean. Usually, you liked being early. But today, sitting in Ava’s driveway, with nothing and no one to distract you, you decided that being early wasn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It only gave you time to think, about Ava, about how excited she was to buy this house. She had so many plans, so many dreams for the little place. And now, nothing.
Luckily, the Impala pulled up behind you before you could spiral even deeper into grief. You swung your legs out of the cruiser to greet them. They were both dressed in black suits, Sam’s messy locks combed behind his ears. In the light of the day, you realized how young he actually was. He looked as if he should still be in college, or fresh out. Much too young to be mixed up in any of this. Yet he and Dean moved with a kind of assured familiarity, as if they had been doing this together for years and years. From what they had told you, though, this was probably the truth.
You were going to offer some sort of greeting, maybe a ‘good morning’ or a ‘how’d you sleep?’, but Dean spoke before you had the chance.
"Shouldn't you be wearing a police uniform?" he blurted, looking you up and down.
You also looked down. You hadn’t really been paying attention to what you had put on this morning, but apparently in your auto-pilot mode you had chosen dark-wash jeans with a polka-dot blouse, layered with your leather jacket. It suddenly occurred to you that you probably looked silly next to the two of them.
You shrugged, playing off your sudden self-consciousness.
"Insanely uncomfortable. I avoid wearing it whenever I can. Plus, I'm technically off the clock. Everyone agreed that I should take a few days off after...
You trailed off, not wanting to think about Ava any more than you had to today.
Dean looked a little guilty for even bringing up the subject. "Well, we look kinda stupid now, huh Sammy?" he joked, trying to direct your thoughts away from your friend.
You smiled a little at him, appreciating his effort. He really was sweet. They both were. Not only were they helping you investigate this case, they seemed to actually care about you as they did it. You decided to play along. "You guys look cute, though. Very official."
Dean’s eyes narrowed playfully, and Sam gave you a bemused look.
"Don't patronize me," Dean muttered under his breath.
You smirk grew before you nodded toward the house, getting back to the business at hand. "We going in?"
Dean huffed and looked at Sam, who nodded. Thy headed towards the small house, climbing up the stairs to the wrap around porch, you following close behind. Police tape criss-crossed the door. You were about to pull out the key for Ava’s house from your pocket when Sam bent down to look at the lock, pulling out a thin package from his suit pocket. He opened it, revealing a collection of small, thin tools. Is that... a lock pick set? You weren’t given time to stop him before he grabbed one of the thin tools and inserted it into the lock. You smirked, deciding to let him suffer a little. Lock pick sets like that wouldn’t help him here. You had made Ava install a chain lock as soon as she moved in, knowing that it was much more difficult for thieves to break in. You were a little curious to see if it actually worked. Sam twisted the tool around a few times, trying to drive it deeper into the lock. He grunted, picking up another tool and inserting it into the lock. Again, it only went in about halfway before stopping.
"What the-"
You slapped your hand over your mouth, trying to contain your sniggering. A noise must have escaped, because both Sam and Dean whirled around, eyes wide. You pulled out the key and twirled it around in your hand, your eyes still sparkling with amusement.
"Exactly how often do you guys do this kinda thing?" you asked, raising an eyebrow bemusedly. They seemed to find it very easy to forget that you was a police officer at all.
Sam and Dean looked at each other, as if trying to determine how to answer that question.
"You know what, never mind," you said, eyeing the two of them. "The less I know, the less I am of an accessory."
They both chuckled a little, and Dean took the key from you. He held it up, its chain link piece swaying a little from the black key ring. He shot you a bewildered look.
"It's a chain key."
"A what?" Sam's brow furrowed as he tried to understand.
"A chain key. The lock is curvy-makes it harder for people like you," you looked pointedly at Sam, "to pick the lock."
"Huh," said Sam. I guess he was a still a little upset about not being able to break in.
Dean positioned the key's chain at the entrance to the lock and threaded it through the lock system. Turning it with a click, he opened the door and stepped through. When neither Sam nor you moved to follow him, he swiveled his head back to you.
"Well? Let's go."
Tags: @strawberryjuiceboxxx
#sam winchester#dean winchester#supernatural x reader#spn#sam winchester x reader#dean winchester x reader#spn fanfic#supernatural fanfic
3 notes
·
View notes
Text
Fic rec list for @maternalcube
I avoided everything explicit and most of the things that haven’t updated since feb (unless I really liked it) which makes this list about 300% shorter (and also means there are very few soulmate aus, people do not like to finish those)
it’s still long though, so under the cut
Finished:
Unwritten (T)
Every Victor Nikiforov fan has three things in common.
1. They have unrealistic expectations for romance.
2. They mark their calendars with the dates of his newest book releases and the premieres of his latest movie adaptations.
3. They either passionately hate or love his greatest rival, a mysterious author whose pseudonym is only two letters: “KY.”
High flying, adored (G)
Being a superhero is hard. It's even harder when you're desperately in love with the most famous figure skater in the world, who never seems to notice you. Of course it doesn't help that he's a superhero too--and he's head over heels for your alter-ego.
Enjoy the awkward fumblings of these two erstwhile masked men as they dance the terrifying tango of young love and secret identities.
Starstruck (T)
(in which yuuri is a simple barista, viktor is a famous movie star, and yuri is an 8 year old kid stuck in the middle of it.)
Autumn in detroit (M but i think that’s for violence)
In a world where Viktor Nikiforov was forced to retire early due to a leg injury, he sought work instead as a police detective in Detroit. Now a young skater with a poster of him on his bedroom door has gone missing and Viktor knows beyond a doubt it's the work of a man who's been brutally murdering professional dancers for years. It's impossible not to take this case personally. Viktor will find Yuuri Katsuki.
Entwinning fates (T)
Imagine if Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, after the demise of you-know-who, started accepting foreign students in an effort for greater unity among wizarding communities around the world. Imagine that, in this changing climate of diversity and social acceptance, Hogwarts also decided to host an exchange programme with select students from Durmstrang Institute and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic for a semester.
Imagine, then, if a young Japanese wizard by the name of Yuuri Katsuki had transferred to Hogwarts to escape his past, just in time to meet a Russian Quidditch player who would blow open the very doors he was trying so desperately to close.
A story of love, magic, and teenagers trying to find themselves.
Dear mama (T)
In which Victor writes letters to his mother, who is fifty percent of his rationality and self-control.
Like your french girls (T)
in which Victor is an artist, Yuuri is his figure skating muse, and Yuri is so done hearing about their stupid love story through Instagram
Unwritten (T)
Soulmates AU where whatever you write on your own skin appears on your soulmate, but when there is a language barrier, meeting becomes just a little more difficult than it should be.
I love you, my dear (T)
Musician au where famous YouTube singer Victor is practically in love with a famous singer/lyricist named Lilith (who has never revealed his true identity to the public). Victor feels compelled to go to Lilith's first show of his world tour (even though he's never met him) and on the flight there, he sits next to this guy named Yuri, completely oblivious to the fact that Yuri is his idol, Lilith.
or, the one where Yuri/Lilith accidentally says "I love you, my dear" to a man he has never met before.
Unfinished:
The power of love (T)
“The two Japanese singles medalists make a beautiful pair! Here, at the 2009 Tokyo GPF, we have the start of this power couple’s reign!”
Yuuko and Yuuri dominate the singles skating competition as Japan’s power couple—except they aren’t a couple, and when their old skating idol stumbles into their personal life, everything rapidly goes downhill.
The ice prince’s rose garden (T)
Light political struggle and mystery all spun up with master/servant Viktuuri.
bear your soul on the ice (M but it’s mostly in passing)
At age fourteen, Katsuki Yuuri had been determined to be Japan's next great figure skating hope, but with no coach that would never happen, so his ballet instructor packs him up off to Russia to train with Yakov Feltsman. The Yakov Feltsman, otherwise known as the coach to rising figure skating star -- and Yuuri's idol -- Viktor Nikiforov.
Dancing daffodils (M but I think it’s for violence? idk)
A god falls for a man.
Expomise (T)
Expomise: a transformation spell that bonds two objects together.
/ Yuuri is at Hogwarts. So is everyone else./
Nuclear hearts club (T)
Being seventeen and chronically confused isn't always a walk in the park - especially when you've been crushing on your brother's best friend since you were nine. You'd be crazy not to. Victor's the best thing to happen to the world since sliced bread.
(Join Yuuri Katsuki on this pine-fueled adventure full of teen angst and astronomical fuckery.)
A thread of silver (T)
Once upon a time, there was a boy who got lost in the woods... AU. Inspired by various fairy tales and mythologies.
That old-time religion (T)
Yuuri is pretty sure that when an impossible stranger turns up and tells you he’s the god of victory, it doesn’t matter how good-looking he is. The moment he asks you to abandon your mortal life and come back to his mountain kingdom with him, you turn around and walk away.
An AU based loosely around the Greco-Roman pantheon. Very loosely.
Death or glory (T)
aka 'The Hunger Games AU that happened by accident'. May the odds be ever in your favour.
I’d rather be skating (M for some reason idk)
Sometimes, when a muggle child gets an acceptance letter from a wizarding school, they say no.
Victor Nikiforov would rather be skating. Yuuri Katsuki would rather be normal.
The rules for lovers (T)
Prince Yuuri Katsuki has a duty to his country, above all else (his desires, his dreams, and his happiness included), and he knows this alliance will help to ensure the safety of his people. That’s the only reason he accepts Prince Nikiforov’s hand in marriage. The pleasant surprise, of course, is the part where they fall in love along the way. The unpleasant one, well…
That’s a long story.
Like a fairytale (T)
In which Prince Victor gets swept off his feet at a royal banquet and will go to any length to find his 'Cinderella' Yuuri.
(And Phichit is the fairy godmother who has no idea what he's doing).
not gold like in your dreams (T)
in which Victor and Yuuri are roommates and Yuuri has a secret
taking the long way home (T)
In which Vicchan never died, Yuuri won bronze at the Grand Prix Final, didn't get drunk at the banquet, and never made Victor fall in love with him./
Aria: Stammi Vicino, Non Te Ne Andare (T)
The tale of a lonely traveler, Victor Nikiforov, and his encounter with an equally lonely immortal man.
Alternatively: the tale of Yuuri Katsuki, who never ages and never dies and has lived frozen in time for centuries, and his attempts to keep his adopted son from killing the new guest.
Destiny may ride with us (T)
Viktor Nikiforov spent the first twenty seven years of his life waiting for something exciting to happen. And then, it did.
AU in which Yuuri is a little bit more than human, someone seems to be stealing all of Viktor's spoons, and Yurio is the only person who thinks this is all rather strange.
Lost and found (T)
AU in which:
Yuuri is a cop who works at the Hasetsu policebox, and Victor is the new skate instructor in town who almost always ends up on the steps of the aforementioned policebox to flirt with him.
The Castle Atop the Hill (T)
In a cursed land covered in unforgiving ice, Yuuri becomes a knight so that he and his family can survive. In the castle is where he finds Viktor, a prince with a magical gift, whom Yuuri believed could save anyone. But maybe Viktor needs saving too.
One Shots:
Drunk on you (T)
A one-shot collection of soulmate AUs.
What you should know about dating a man with children (G)
"AU scenario where the skaters mistake the triplets for Yuuri's kids when they first meet him, possibly when he brings them to the skater-only area as a b-day treat, or something? (Kudos if you can work in jealous!Victor somehow, but the skaters having a fun reaction would be A+, tbh. Would be lovely if you could include Chris and/or Yurio :D )"
I’m just going to the store (T)
Accidental masked vigilante Victor Nikiforov.
Or: how Victor's impulsiveness backfires and creates one of the greatest living internet memes to ever come out of Russia.
hood and glove (T)
"I don't mess with the fae," Otabek says.
"I'm not asking you to mess with them," JJ flat-out lies.
"The Adventures of Sparkly Elf and Soft Hobbit, Endured With Great Patience by The Bright And Powerful, Best In The Land, Yuri Plisetsky." (T)
Critics have always considered "The Adventures of Sparkly Elf and Soft Hobbit, Endured With Great Patience by The Bright And Powerful, Best In The Land, Yuri Plisetsky." one of the most faithful descriptions of Legend Victor Nikiforov, the greatest elven fighter for more than eight centuries. Although it is narrated by Plisetsky as an adolescent, and thus contains strong language and spends more time ridiculizing his travelling companions than giving thoughtful insight into Nikiforov's psyche, it still remains as an essential reading in every scholar that decides to study Nikiforov [...] //
Day 95: Caught Nikiforov writing love poems. Am appalled at bad writing more than anything else. Example: “I really like your dark eyes / and all the other parts of your face. Your butt is the perfect size / and I would love to see you in lace.” Hope the Hobbit cannot read, or am afraid this love story will not have a pleasant ending.
Never tasted rubies (T)
in which Yuuri is an unwilling radio host and Victor won't stop calling in to chat with him
love me do: a victuuri week compilation (t)
Every chapter is a short fic based on one of the Victuuri Week prompts.
The Goddamn Tie Has Got To Go (T)
Dear God. Yuuri was wearing the tie again.
The powdery blue monstrosity was not only unfashionable (and where did Yuuri even manage to acquire such a tie?), it also reminded Viktor, with shocking clarity, of a sweaty, half naked, pole dancing Yuuri. It reminded him of a night of joy, a night of passion. The night where he was finally, and without warning, lifted from the fog that had crept up on him in his last few years of skating.
Understandably, it elicited quite the unfavorable reaction in him when they were out in public.
For the sake of his remaining dignity, Viktor needed to improvise a plan to dispose of it as soon as possible.
Welcome Aboard Eros, Commander (T)
Commander Nikiforov is frustrated. For years, he has been chasing Eros, the most elusive pirate ship to ever sail the Seven Seas, and its even more elusive captain, whom it appears no one has ever been able to lay their eyes on. With the threat of every royal treasury in the whole of the Caribbean soon being emptied down to the last coin, the commander sets sail again, determined to track down Eros and its captain once and for all.
That is, if the mysterious Captain Katsuki doesn't find him first.
Victuuriweek day 2: Traveling
AU: Historical
Winter Solitude (T)
Victor was cursed by a fellow competitor many years ago, jealous of his skills on the ice. The curse limited Victor to a lake in Hasetsu, Japan, where he appears to others as a blue-tinted human.
He can't age. He can't leave. And he can't let himself feel emotions for the pain it causes.
But a skater comes to the frozen lake one day and ignites a fire in his heart that he hadn't felt in years.
Series:
Cubicle gods
Flourist and wedding planner au
stop, erase, rewind
Haven (okay this series is E and kind of messed up maybe? but i love it)
have you heard there's a rumour in st. petersburg
A Real Life Cinnamon Roll
Even Ice Gods Can Melt
warm-up hogwash
must love dogs
#I've got like 10 more pages of history i could go through but it's late#yoi#fic recs#i did promise you a lot
13 notes
·
View notes
Last Seen Blogs
inart
octaveleap's inactive art blog
dianellarara
dianella_rara
sonic-adventure-2-dx
oh baby i love video game
partylost-blog1
FUCK YOU!
veiledbyart
Nanashi's Art