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elephant-in-the-pride-parade · 8 days

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20 Fic Writer Quesions

First, thank you @singeart and @mytardisisparked for tagging me!. I did a set of these last year and it was fun to see how my answers have changed since then!

How many works do you have on Ao3?

2. What’s your total Ao3 word count?

1.6 million and counting!

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Star Trek Voyager

Star Trek Prodigy

Sailor Moon

Harry Potter

Madam Secretary

Ive debated writing SwanQueen for a long time but by the time I had the energy and time to write, I'd lost interest in the show. I might rewatch and come back to it one day...

I have thought about writing Wynonna Earp or Tamora Pierce universe fanfiction but have yet to get an idea that grabs me. I like to find things i want to fix and it's hard when the source material is perfection.

4. What are your top five fics by kudos?

The Parent Trap (305)

Sailor Moon H Order of the Phoenix (289)

Sailor Moon H Half Blood Prince (222)

Eden's Deception (167)

Out of Reach (150)

5. Do you respond to comments?

I try to! although if I'm busy or feeling down it can take me a while. Sometimes I forget.

6. What is the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I still think What Even is 3 Minutes takes the cake. Or I'll be Your First if You'll be my Last

7. What’s the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

I Heard the Comm on Christmas Morn and Parent Trap

8. Do you get hate on fics?

Unfortunately I've gotten hate on fics since I started writing them... and it's become just something I expect to happen. Sometimes it's funny. Sometimes it confuses me. Sometimes it makes me sad. It really depends...

The memorable haters:

There was the delightful Fanfiction.net reviewer who got pissed i was "making everybody gay" (that was funny actually). I forget if they were the same person who flamed me when Mcgonagall and Hooch kissed under some mistletoe. I digress. They thought queering up the canon was like sinful or whatever. I was delighted to disagree and make the story even queerer.

Another person cussed me out for magically restraining Sailor Plutos time travel powers so my plot would work and for making her have feelings about it. aparently mad the senshi were not all powerful deus exmachinas who never feel feelings... That one stung. That was the reason I left FFN.

Hate because in Sailor Moon H, Harry Potter was not the main character.

Hate that I made a magic bio baby for the magical lesbians. (I can't have a biobaby with my wife irl, can't I at least let the fantasy girlies have one!)

Hate for including C/7 in a story

...I wouldn't call it hate for the fic but I have had an uncomfortable amount of commenters who hate on Chakotay any time I have him involved with Seven / don't have him grovel to Kathryn / really any time I let him advocate for how he's been hurt... at first comments like this stressed me out because i worried i had not written the character sufficiently sympathetic. But then Parent Trap breached containment and I got enough comments to be able to see I had definitely written the character fine... it was just that some people were always just rooting for a "Chakotay falls over himself to apologize to Janeway for not immediately dating her" storyline that... I'm not sorry 😅 I'm never going to write that. The older I get the more I feel like both of J/C just need therapy! They've been through so much trauma. Their feelings are valid (yes, even for other people).

Parent Trap breaching containment also meant that when I hit an irl rut and couldnt get in the writing headspace for a bit, a bunch of - sincerely, well meaning - fans got into their heads to start a commenting campaign to get me to update. I heard about it and panicked (i had bad experiences that year of getting people who only commented "update soon" and those conversely stressed me out and made me not want to write - I love fic writing for the conversations and community... so it made me feel like readers thought i was just a content vending machine). so just the thought of potentially getting an avalanche of guests, well meaning or not, begging me to update made me lock commenting until the fic was done. I wound up deciding after that that since "update soon" requests were becoming a lot more frequent that I'd consider before posting whether getting them would hurt my ability to finish. So most of the time now if I know a fic is going to reach a bigger potential community, I don't start posting it until it's almost done. That has had some upsides! (Im less dependent on positive feedback for motivation now!) and some downsides (no one comments on my fics with their theories anymore) but on a whole, a good decision.

Immediately after finishing Parent Trap I wrote Fever and got this amazing guest comment from someone who said (paraphrasing cuz i'm too busy to go find it) "Youre better than this. how dare you write this filth. J/C are better than this" that one had me laughing for days. But the comment did prompt me to create a second account later when I wrote a tentacle fic. At the time I worried i'd get a ton of similar flame comments from people who were subscribed to my main for other types of fic... but I am even feeling like that's unnecessary now. I write what I write! Yes, some of it is really dirty, weird smut. I'm not sorry.

Currently any time I post a Threshold AU fic an anon drops into my comments section in order to call me "Sick" and "Deranged"... they make me so sad I don't even make a quippy reply. I just delete them. I write that universe for my own wish fulfillment... Someday (soon, hopefully) I'm gonna have kids. And I am going to have to have conversations with them about who their biological dad is. Why they look like one mom and not the other, whether their non bio family love them even if theyre not blood related. I might have a kid who feels different from everyone else because they're queer or they're neurodivergent or they're some new alienating feeling I am totally unprepared for. and I'll need to help them navigate that.. Writing about hybrid salamander kids getting raised in a blended family is FUN. But more importantly... it helps me practice those situations. It comforts me to know that if the characters can figure this out in the AU then I can figure this out in real life! What the hell is sick and deranged about that!?

9. Do you write smut? If so, what kind?

I write all sorts of smut. I post the stuff that doesn't totally mortify me once i've gotten out of whatever mood had me writing the smut in the first place.

10. Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve written?

I have exactly two crossovers to my name: Sailor Delta and Sailor Moon H. I think on the basis of word count alone Sailor Moon H (>500,000) is definitely the craziest.

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

I consider the unlicensed use of the AO3 archive for ChatGPT and similar LLMs theft. (and there are several court cases pending that are also seeking to address whether it is legally theft as it pertains to published fiction and newspapers). The canon creators of the fandoms I write for aren't allowed to make money by using uncredited ideas pulled from my fanfiction (just like I am not allowed to make money from writing fic with their copyrighted settings and characters) and i continue to be apalled that ChatGPT and other LLMs think they can get away with using others copyrighted ideas without permission. Especially that they can take advantage of people who cant profit off their own work.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

No but i would be open to it!

13. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! Once with @magdalenejaneway, once with @jellybeansarecool and once with @trekflower and all three were fantastic!

Most of what I write for Threshold AU is also increasingly collaborated on a great deal by the AU creators and a few other folks. It's been going for over 2 years now and doing that more and more has enabled us all to drop more references to previous fics and to create a more cohesive body of fic for the AU. in general its just been so fun and fulfilling to make these stories with other people who are as invested in the characters as me and it just fills me with joy. I'm really grateful for you guys.

14. What’s your all time favorite ship?

On the one hand J/C have inspired over 50 fics, But on the other I have also been loving Sailor Moon and those ships since before I knew what fandom or shipping were. And really the only reason J/C inspire more fic is that all the sailor moon characters got a happy ending.

15. What’s a WIP you want to finish but doubt you ever will?

I never want to give up on a WIP...

but I am in knots about what all to do with Out of Reach.

Out of Reach is a St:Prodigy S1 AU where Chakotay has amnesia and doesn't remember anything from his time on Voyager, all the while he and Kathryn are in a situationship with a baby.

There's two questions I never figured out how to answer: 1. Does he get his memories back. If so, how much and what enables it. and 2: Do he and Kathryn stay together?

On the memories front. saying he never recovers seems unfair to the character. But saying he magically does thanks to 24th century science feels cheap and disrespectful - to the reality of real memory loss and to the plot that built up so much tension around this. Saying he gets back some or more over time is more realistic, but left me uncertain of where exactly to end the story. Tying his retrieval of memories to Kathryn also tied me up in knots. On the one hand they're in love and thats romantic. on the other hand the optics of his recovery totally dependent on one person is icky.

I also found the baby really annoying to have there by the end - I still think he's cuteeee i really do!!! - it's just... he makes the "we should stay together and try to figure this out" answer a bit too convenient 😅. and he complicates Kathryns reluctance to restart their relationship. The more she resists, the more callous she seems (deliberately not trying to patch things up with her kid's father) when i really just want to focus on her fears that Chakotay would be happier without her and that even if they restart their romance, she might lose him again on a future mission. It's ironic because i originally created the baby to ensure she wouldnt just run away from her fears. And now hes contributing to my difficulty ending the fic...

Actually the more I think on it, my real problem is I could write my way out of this, but I cant do it in only one or two chapters and that makes me feel tired. i was sorta hoping to wrap that fic up. 😅🙈

16. What are your writing strengths?

Imagery has always been a strength for me. But i think I'm also getting really good at action scenes too.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

Oneshots.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language in fic?

Only if it was information i wanted the reader to understand but not the POV character.

19. First fandom you wrote for?

W.I.T.C.H way back when I was 15.

20. Favorite fic you’ve written?

Universe to Mend - I even have a few sequel or companion novel ideas to come after it.

This has gone on a while... 😅 - thank you for tagging me and letting me ramble! i'll tag anyone else who wants to answer! have at it.

#writing asks #elephantwrites

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everlastingfable · 1 year

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Who even is Mark Smeaton? *runs*

omg anon are you sure you wanna ask this?

short answer: he's a bard from the 1530s who was in king henry viii's court and at the age of 24-ish confessed to committing adultery with queen anne boleyn, leading to his execution as well as the execution of anne and four other lords in her circle. but he most likely lied

long answer: mark smeaton (last name probably originally smet or smedt) was from flanders and later moved to england. he was a commoner, and the people in the royal court did not let him forget that. he originally worked under cardinal wolsey teaching choir boys, but was later transferred to king henry's court in the early 1530s when henry was doing his church of england thing. mark was quoted to be a "very handsome young man", "one of the prettiest monochord players", and "the deftest dancer in the land"

very little is actually known about him, except that he was getting paid very well by the king and queen. in less than two years his yearly salary nearly doubled (going from modern day £750 to £1250), and that doesn't even include the bonuses he received from them. to the point where he was able to afford expensive horses, clothes, liveries, etc. the horses alone were worth more than three times his yearly salary. he supposedly also had land and servants of his own. he was the court's sugar baby and some lords hated his attempt to social climb

we know he received a manuscript of two poems from viscount rochford. inside is inscribed "this book is mine, george boleyn 1526" and underneath "a moy, m. marc sn" which directly translates "to me" but basically "mine"

he was a favorite of anne boleyn and was probably in love with her. his downfall started when he was standing outside of anne's apartment window looking sad. anne asked him what was wrong and he replied that it was "no matter" she then chastised him for wanting her to speak to him as if he's a nobleman. he's a commoner and he should be glad she's speaking to him at all. he replied "no, no, madam. a look sufficeth, thus fare you well."

this conversation was reported to thomas cromwell (the king's secretary) who invited mark to his house for "entertainment" but it was a ruse. no one knows exactly what happened that night. most sources say he was tortured. but the next day mark confessed to sleeping with the queen along with four other men, all of whom were part of her circle. mark was the only one of the five men to confess and plead guilty.

he probably lied as the dates he gave didn't match up. the days he said he slept with the queen, she was somewhere else entirely.

he and the four men were executed in tower hill. despite being a commoner, he was beheaded (the nobleman's death) instead of hung and quartered. supposedly for his cooperation with cromwell and his crew. he was the last of the men to get beheaded and was described to have stumbled back when he saw the bloody scaffold and said "masters, I pray you all pray for me, for I have deserved the death"

he was buried in the tower of london in either where the building for the crown jewels are being displayed or behind the chapel royal of st peter ad vincula

I think he's the most fascinating person to have ever existed and is the definition of "I'm here for a good time not a long time"

#help I'm so obsessed about him #asks #anonymous #long post #this doesn't even get into the wolf hall depiction of him and joey batey #wolf hall #tudor history #mark smeaton

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nordleuchten · 11 months

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what is the best source for information on georges lafayette?

Dear Anon,

that is a wonderful question! You will shoot me a message, if you found the answer, yes? :-)

But all jokes aside, it is a little tricky to find information on Georges due to several reasons. He never wrote his own Memoirs, he has always very gladly occupied his fathers shadow and no historian has yet decided to dedicate their professional life to Georges. If you just search for the term “Georges Lafayette” most results will deal with the relation between George Washington and La Fayette. Still, there are some resources I can recommend if you want to do some research.

Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825, Volume 1 and Lafayette in America in 1824 and 1825, Volume 2. Both books were written by La Fayette’s secretary Auguste Levasseur and give great insight into La Fayette’s Tour of 1824/25 – including Georges, who accompanied his father.

Recollections of the Private Life of General Lafayette by Jules Germain Cloquet. Cloquet was the family’s physician and a friend. The focus of this books lies once again with the older La Fayette but nonetheless offers a view of Georges and his position within the family.

Life of Madame de Lafayette by Virginie, Marquise de Lasteyrie du Sallant is primarily concerned with Adrienne but, for example, details Georges’ whereabouts and “journeys” during Adrienne’s imprisonment in France.

The best thing there is, are letters. Sadly, Georges’ letters have never been compiled and published but that does not have to stop us! Founders Online has a number of letters about and by Georges (here and here). The letters that are written about Georges are mainly between Alexander Hamilton and George Washington during the early 1790’s when Georges was in America and later between La Fayette and Thomas Jeffersons (but also James Madison and others) when they updated each other regularly about their families. The Library of Congress has a few handwritten letters by Georges to George Washington (and a few others). Georges Washington’s Mount Vernon also had a few letters from Georges to members of the Washington-Parke-Custis-family, but as far as I knew they are only partially digitalized.

The University of Chicago has a number of letters by Georges La Fayette – quite the treasure chest. Same goes for the Archives départementales de Seine-et-Marne. The family’s manor La Grange is located in this department and the archives have a webpage and a great PDF-file on the family. Again, La Fayette is placed in the spotlight but there are also a few but highly interesting tidbits about Georges.

Then we have the Paris Archives, État civil reconstitué (XVIe-1859) in France. There you find documents like birth-, marriage- and death-certificates.

Last but not least, Georges’ political opinions are partially documented in the Archives Parlementaires (huge thank-you to @echo-bleu for helping me finding these.)

I hope you are able to find the information you are looking for and I hope you have/had a lovely day!

#ask me anything #anon #resources #letters #georges de la fayette #marquis de lafayette #la fayette #french history #american history #history #echo-bleu #books #founders online #library of congress #reserach

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pugzman3 · 2 years

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The Luciferian United Nations

Starting with Helena Blavatsky.

“Lucifer represents... Life... Thought... Progress... Civilization... Liberty... Independence... Lucifer is the Logos... the Serpent, the Savior.”(‘The Secret Doctrine’ by Helena Blavatsky pages. 171, 225, 255, Volume II

)“It is Satan who is God of our planet and the only God” pages 215, 216, 220, 245, 255, 533, (VI)

“The Celestial Virgin which thus becomes the Mother of Gods and Devils at one and the same time: for she is the ever-loving beneficent Deity…but in antiquity and reality Lucifer or Luciferous is the same, lucifer is divine and terrestrial Light, ‘the Holy Ghost’ and “Satan” at one and the same time.” Page 539

Blavatsky was the founder of the Theosophical Society and was a major influencer of Alice A. Bailey.

Bailey, with her husband Foster started an official NGO within the UN called World Goodwill whose goal is to “cooperate in the world of preparation for the reappearance of Christ”. Bailey claims: “Evidence of the growth of the human intellect along the needed receptive lines [for the preparation of the New Age] can be seen in the 'planning' of various nations and in the efforts of the United Nations to formulate a world plan... From the very start of this unfoldment, three occult factors have governed the development of all these plans.” SOURCE: [Alice B. Bailey, Discipleship in the New Age (Lucis Press, 1955), Vol. II, p.35.]

“Within the United Nations is the germ and seed of a great international and meditating, reflective group - a group of thinking and informed men and women in whose hands lies the destiny of humanity. This is largely under the control of many fourth ray disciples, if you could but realize it, and their point of meditative focus is the intuitional or Buddhic plane - the plane upon which all hierarchical activity is today to be found.” [Ibid. p.220.]

Robert Muller, was an international civil servant with the United Nations. Serving with the UN for 40 years and rising to the rank of Assistant Secretary-General, his ideas about world government, world peace and spirituality led to the increased representation of religions in the UN, especially of New Age Movement. He was known by some as "the philosopher of the United Nations". He created at least 29 schools around the world earning him the UNESCO Peace and Education Prize in 1989. He is also known as the “father of global education.”

“The underlying philosophy upon which the Robert muller school is based will be found in the teachings set forth in the books of Alice A. Bailey (Lucis Trust is the Publishing House which prints and disseminates United Nations (UN) material. Lucis Trust was established in 1922 as Lucifer Trust by Alice Bailey as the publishing company to disseminate the books of Bailey and Madame Blavatsky and the Theosophical Society. Due to public outrage over the creepy name of the publishing company, it was changed one year later to Lucis Trust.)…The school is now certified as a United Nations Associated School providing for international cooperation and peace.” – Muller, R. World Core Curriculum (Preface)

“A world core curriculum might seem utopian today. By the end of the year 2000 it will be a down-to-earth, daily, reality in all the schools around the world.” R. Muller, A World Core Curriculum (n.p., n.d.), p. 13.

The Muller school is the education program for the world as will be enforced by the United Nations. He created the World Core Curriculum that is being seeped into education systems around the world by UNESCO, (search ibe.unesco.org) UNESCO’s vision from their page is “develops educational tools to help people live as global citizens free of hate and intolerance”. (in other words, one world education but through in the terms “hate and intolerance” to make it sound positive).

It’s first Director was Julian Huxley. Huxley was a member of the Communistic Colonial Bureau of the British Fabian Society, signer of the Humanist Manifesto II. An Evolutionist, and member/vice-president (1937-44)/president (59-62) of the British Eugenics Society, and not only a transhumanist but coined the phrase transhumanism.

Under Huxley’s guidance the UN created a “guidebook” for teachers. Within this guidebook the teachers are reminded that the first step to educating a child to be a World Citizen, is the DESTRUCTION of a child’s love of country and patriotism. (John A Stormer, None Dare Call It Treason, Florissant, Missouri: Liberty Bell Press, 1964 p.112)

In Volume V it reads, “In the classroom children under thirteen years of age: Before the child enters school, his mind has already been profoundly marked and often INJURIOUSLY, by earlier influences…first gained, however dimly, in the home.”

Also, “the kindergarten or infant school has a significant part to play in the child’s education. Not only can it correct many errors of home training, but it can prepare the child for membership, at about age seven, in a group pd his own age and habits – the first of many such social identifications that he must achieve on his way to membership in the World Society.”

(HEY, REMEMBER THAT TIME BIDEN SAID THAT WE HAD TO START SENDING OUR KIDS TO SCHOOL AT AN EARLIER AGE?)

-“As we have pointed out, it is the family that INFECTS the child with EXTREME NATIONALISM. The school should therefore use the means described earlier to COMBAT FAMILY ATTITUDES”

.-“In our view, history and geography should be taught at this age as UNIVERSAL history and geography… The study of history… raises problems of value which are better POSTPONED UNTIL the pupil is FREED FROM THE NATIONAL PREJUDICES which at present surround the teaching of history”.

UNESCO’s Constitution was written by Archibald MacLeish, a Skull and Bones member.

One of many organizations under UNESCO is SIECUS.

Within the SIECUS positions was this, “it is the position of SIECUS that contraceptive services should be available to all- including minors who should enjoy the same rights of free and independent access to…contraceptive care as do others…It is the position of SIECUS that the use of explicit materials (sometimes referred to as pornography) can serve a variety of important needs in the lives of countless individuals”. (Chronology of Education Quotable Quotes 1994 p.37.

(YOU SEE HOW THEY STARTED WITH SEX ED, THEN EVOLVED OVER TIME INTO GAY PORN AND TRANSKIDS WITH JACKED UP SENSE OF PRONOUNS?)

Now you may think this is ALL about a SECULAR N.O.W., you would be wrong.

In 1973, the UN Secretary U Thant formed the organization Planetary Citizens with NEW Activist Donald Keys. An NGO within the UN specifically “devoted to preparing people for the coming of the new culture”.

Donald Keys was actively involved with the Findhorn Community in Scotland. He writes, “The New Age groups are focusing and enter a new stage- a world related stage. They are becoming mature enough to begin to shoulder some of the load of humanities burdens… The spread of the New Age values as a unifying “yeast” in the human loaf may be the critical ingredient for successful emergence from the 1980’s onward.”

Findhorn books are slam full of New Age occultic speech, doctrine, and symbols.

Their spokesman was once David Spangler, (I say once because Spangler seems to be scrubbed from their works along with ties to the UN, and he wasn’t the only on I found like this).David Spangler is quoted, “The true light of Lucifer cannot be seen though sorrow, through darkness, through rejection. The true light of this great being can only be recognized when one’s own eye in the inner sun. Lucifer works within each of us to bring us wholeness, and as we move into a New Age, which is the age of man’s wholeness, each of us in some way is brought to that point which I term the LUCIFERIAN INITIATION, the particular doorway, through which the individual must pass if he is to come “fully” into the presence of light and his wholeness…Lucifer comes to give us the final gift of wholeness”. David Spangler, Reflections on the Christ (Scotland, Findhorn Publications 1977 p.43-44). (THAT SOUNDS A LOT LIKE ALBERT PIKE AND MANLY P HALL)

This was almost a week worth of research, just in order to whittle it down to this short post. The amount of info, ties, and connections between occultism, nations, Rome, and politics, secret societies, and more was exhausting. There is so much more, going on for so long, and nothing is going to stop this. So wherever you are when it comes to God, this is where we are being led. Wherever you are when it comes to a political candidate, remember these things next time you hear them going on about the “issues Americans care about”. Because the whole time they have distracted us with borders, taxes, inflation, scandals, the size of a candidates hands, and on and on, this shit right here...has kept growing and growing like cancer. No one side talks about it because they all know. They are all a part of it, playing a role to distract each of us.

#united nations #lucifer #donald trump #joe biden #new world order #new age #spiritualism #jesussaves #jesus christ #freemasons #secret society #american politics #politics

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pedanther · 1 year

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Two moments from Mme Danglars’ reflections upon her daughter, in which I invite you to consider the difference between “not only because” (in the older translation) and “not because” (in the newer):

Or, Mme Danglars redoutait la perspicacité d’Eugénie et les conseils de Mlle d’Armilly, elle avait surpris certains regards dédaigneux lancés par sa fille à Debray, regards qui semblaient signifier que sa fille connaissait tout le mystère de ses relations amoureuses et pécuniaires avec le secrétaire intime, tandis qu’une interprétation plus sagace et plus approfondie eût, au contraire, démontré à la baronne qu’Eugénie détestait Debray, non point parce qu’il était dans la maison paternelle une pierre d’achoppement et de scandale, mais parce qu’elle le rangeait tout bonnement dans la catégorie de ces bipèdes que Diagène essayait de ne plus appeler des hommes, et que Platon désignait par la périphrase d’animaux à deux pieds et sans plumes.

Now, Madame Danglars feared Eugenie’s sagacity and the influence of Mademoiselle d’Armilly; she had frequently observed the contemptuous expression with which her daughter looked upon Debray,—an expression which seemed to imply that she understood all her mother’s amorous and pecuniary relationships with the intimate secretary; moreover, she saw that Eugenie detested Debray,—not only because he was a source of dissension and scandal under the paternal roof, but because she had at once classed him in that catalogue of bipeds whom Plato endeavors to withdraw from the appellation of men, and whom Diogenes designated as animals upon two legs without feathers.

Now Madame Danglars was in awe of Eugénie’s perspicacity and the advice of Mlle d’Armilly. She had intercepted certain contemptuous looks cast by her daughter in the direction of Debray – looks which seemed to indicate that Eugénie knew all about her amorous and financial relations with the private secretary. In fact, a better-informed and closer examination would have told her that Eugénie detested Debray, not as a cause of disruption and scandal in her father’s house, but quite simply because she classed him among those bipeds whom Diogenes tried to avoid describing as ‘men’ and Plato designated under the circumlocution ‘two-footed animals without feathers’.

Mme Danglars, à son point de vue, et malheureusement dans ce monde chacun a son point de vue à soi qui l’empêche de voir le point de vue des autres, Mme Danglars, à son point de vue, disons-nous, regrettait donc infiniment que le mariage d’Eugénie fût manqué, non point parce que ce mariage était convenable, bien assorti et devait faire le bonheur de sa fille, mais parce que ce mariage lui rendait sa liberté.

Unfortunately, in this world of ours, each person views things through a certain medium, and so is prevented from seeing in the same light as others, and Madame Danglars, therefore, very much regretted that the marriage of Eugenie had not taken place, not only because the match was good, and likely to insure the happiness of her child, but because it would also set her at liberty.

From her own point of view – and unfortunately in this world everyone has his or her own point of view which obscures that of others – from her point of view, then, Mme Danglars regretted infinitely that Eugénie’s marriage had been broken off, not because the match was suitable, compatible and destined to make her daughter happy, but because it would have given her back her own freedom.

And a moment from later where the older translation plays it safe:

Debray se défendait en homme qui ne demande pas mieux que d’être vaincu; car souvent cette idée s’était présentée d’elle-même à son esprit, puis, comme il connaissait Eugénie, son caractère indépendant et altier, il reprenait de temps en temps une attitude complètement défensive, disant que cette union était impossible, en se laissant toutefois sourdement chatouiller par l’idée mauvaise qui, au dire de tous les moralistes, préoccupe incessamment l’homme le plus probe, et le plus pur, veillant au fond de son âme comme Satan veille derrière la croix.

Debray did not defend himself very warmly, for the idea had sometimes crossed his mind; still, when he recollected the independent, proud spirit of Eugenie, he positively rejected it as utterly impossible, though the same thought again continually recurred and found a resting–place in his heart.

Debray was defending himself like a man who asks nothing better than to be defeated. The idea had often occurred to him of its own accord. But then from time to time, knowing Eugénie, with her independent and haughty character, he would adopt a completely defensive attitude, saying that the match was impossible; yet meanwhile allowing himself to be secretly titillated by the wicked thought that (if moralists are to be believed) incessantly worries at the most honest and the purest of man, lurking in the depth of his soul like Satan behind the Cross.

#the cristo account #the count of monte cristo #chapter 99 #lost in translation

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anotherhumaninthisworld · 2 years

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Stanislas Fréron hitting on Lucile Desmoulins compilation

”I was very happy there, but one thing troubled me, Fréron. Every day I saw new developments and didn't know what to do about it. I consulted Maman, she approved of my plan to take it lightly and joke about it, which was the wisest course. What else could I do? Forbid him to come? Camille and he had business together every day, we would meet. Telling him to be more cautious would be to admit that I knew everything and didn't disapprove; it would have required an explanation. I thought myself very prudent then to receive him with friendly reserve as usual and I see now that I was right. Soon he left on mission. I was very glad, I thought things would change. […] Fréron has returned. He appears to still be the same, but I don't care, let him go crazy if he wants.” Lucile in her diary December 12 1792

”I beg Madame Desmoulins to be pleased to accept the homage of my respect. I have the honour to inform her that my destination is changed, that I shall not go to the National Assembly because I am setting out for the country with MM Danton and Saturne. Will she have the goodness to present herself at the assembly, before ten o’clock, in the hall of deputations; that she is to send for M. La Source, the secretary, who will come to her, and she will find a place for her by means of the commissary of the tribunes. I renew the assurence of my respectful devotion to Madame Desmoulins.” Fréron to Lucile January 7 1793

I beg the chaste Diana to accept the homage of a quarter of a deer killed in her domains. Adieu. Stanislas Lapin. Fréron to Lucile January 21 1793. In her diary entry from the same day, Lucile simply remarks ”F sent us deer.”

Fréron came. He always seems to sigh but how bearish are these manners! Poor devil. What hope do you hold? Extinguish in your heart a senseless …r! (sic) What can I do for you? I pity you... No, no, my friend, my dear Camille. Never will this friendship, this love so pure, exist for anyone else but you, and those I see will only be dear to me through the friendship they have for you. Lucile in her diary January 22 1793

”You know since long that I love your wife madly, I write to her about it, it's the least consolation that can be produced for an unhappy rabbit, absent since eight months. […] Goodbye, think sometimes of the best of your friends both of you, answer me, as well as Rouleau. Fréron to Camille October 18 1793

”The communications between the southern departments and Paris have been closed for more than three months. Since they’ve been re-established, I’ve wanted to write to you. A hundred times I’ve taken up my quill, and a hundred times it’s fallen from my hand. May this letter convince you, Lucile, that you have always been in my thoughts! Let Camille murmur, let him say whatever he likes about it, he’ll just be acting like any proprietor; but surely he can’t insult you by thinking he’s the only one in the world who finds you loveable and has the right to tell you so. He knows it, that wretch of Bouli-Boula, because he said in your presence "I love Rabbit because he loves Lucile.” This poor rabbit has had a great deal of adventures. […] He has often missed the thyme and the serpolet that your lovely hands enjoyed taking care of in your garden at Bourg de l’Égalité[…] Do you know what sustained him, what he always had before his eyes? First, the patrie, then you. He did not and does not want anything but to be worthy of you two… You will find this romantic rabbit and he is not bad at it. He remembers your idylls, your willows, your gravestones and your bursts of laughter. He sees you trotting about your room, running across the floor, seated one moment at your piano, hours together in your armchair dreaming, letting your imagination wander; then he sees you making coffee, slaving away and swearing like a cat, showing your teeth. He enters your bedroom; he stealthily casts a longing eye on a certain blue bed, he watches you, he listens to you, and he keeps quiet. Isn't that you! Isn't that me! When will these happy moments return? I don’t know, I’m here to hurry by any means the destruction of that execrable Toulon. I’m determined either to die on its ramparts or to scale them, torch in hand. Death will be sweet and glorious, provided you can spare a tear for me. [...] I embrace you, devine Rouleau, more dear than all rouleax made of gold and crowns that one can offer me. I embrace you in hope, and I will only date my happiness from the day I next see you. Remember me to your dear maman and Citizen Duplessis. Will you answer me? "Oh! no, Stanislas." […] Show my letter to Camille, because I don’t want to make a mystery of anything. Fréron to Lucile October 18 1793

”The day before yesterday I received, read, re-read, and devoured your letter, and the quill doesn’t fall from my hand in acknowledging receipt. How happy it made me!… More happiness than I dared to hope. Think then, of this poor rabbit who, exiled far from your heather, your cabbage, your thyme and my fathers house, is consumed by sorrow in seeing the most constant efforts for the glory and strengthening of the republic lost. […] Don’t come here, lovable and dear Lucile, it’s a frightful land, whatever they say, a barbaric land, when you have lived in Paris. I have no caverne to offer you, but a lot of cypress. It grows here naturally. Tell your glutton of a husband that the snipes and thrushes here are better than the habitants. if it weren't so far from here in Paris, I would send him some, but you will receive some olives and oil. […] Goodbye once more, mad-woman, a hundred times mad, beloved Rouleau, bouli-boula of my heart; here is a long letter but I gave myself over to the pleasure of chatting with you and took the night for it. Tell then your loup-loup to write to me, he’s a lazy one. When it comes to your reply to this letter, it will probably take a year to arrive. What does it matter to me? On the contrary. It’s clear as day. I remember these inintelligibles phrases, I remember this piano, these head tunes, and your melancholy, abruptly interupted by big bursts of laugther. Indefinable being!…Farewell. I embrace the whole warren and you, Lucile, with tenderness and all my soul. Fréron to Lucile December 11 1793

You haven't answered me, dearest Lucile, and my accuracy has stunned you so much that your astonishment still lasts. You had postponed my answer to eight months, you see if you are a good prophetess. […] Answer me then, lazy girl that you are, and ingrate which is worse. One breaks silence after a year, after centuries, and one gets by grace a few words written in distraction. Bouli-Boula, what does it mean to me? The rabbit is desolate; he thinks of you without end; he thought of you in the midst of bombs and bullets, and he would have gladly said like that old gallant: Ah! if my lady saw me! […] Goodbye, Lucile, evil devil. Has your thyme been harvested? I can't wait, despite all my offenses, to beg the favor of nibbling it from your hand. […] You'll have neither olives nor oil if I don't get a response from you. You can tell me whatever you like but I love you and embrace you, right under the nose of your jealous Loup-loup. Goodbye once more. […] Goodbye again, loveliest of rouleux. My respects to your good and beautiful mother. Fréron to Lucile January 5 1794

Feel free to tell me if there’s any translator fails in here, it’s sometimes pretty hard for me to make out what that creep actually means.

#wtf stanislaus #A she’s married B she obviously doesn’t want you #hands up who’s happy they’re not a woman in the 18th century #lucile desmoulins #camille desmoulins #desmoulins #stanislaus fréron #frev #frev compilation

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kanerallels · 2 years

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Costis: Permission to ask an impertinent question? Eugenides: Well you did save my life that one time, so sure

#the queen's thief #the queen's thief incorrect quotes #incorrect the queen's thief #costis ormentiedes #eugenides #source: madam secretary

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edgysaintjust · 2 years

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Hey! On anon because I always feel kinda stupid for asking about Frev things that I feel like everyone assumes I should already know about, but can you tell me about Fabré, Hérault, and/or Herbois? I really don't know much about any of them and you seem pretty knowledgeable. Thanks!

Nothing to feel stupid about, we are all constantly learning sth new there! I’m glad if I can help with some revolutionaries and if you find them interesting enough to know sth more. Hope I don’t mansplain this ;)

Hérault de Séchelles was a former noble and a member of the Committee of Public Safety. One of the five people assigned to work on the Constitution of 1793, elected twice as a president of the National Convention, cousin of madame de Polignac and, apart from being a charming and light-hearted gentleman, an over all devoted revolutionary. We had mentions of Hérault participating in the storming of Bastille, but as I was recently informed it is not clear what he did there (and we don’t have any direct/more reliable sources). Just like most 1760s babies he was fascinated by Rousseau, paid 20k livres for an exclusive copy of Nouvelle Heloise, and travelled around France, being even invited to Buffon’s residence and discussing things with him. He wrote shorter, theoretical books, in which some of his thoughts were written down, both in prose, not genius in terms of expressing any idea that would turn the world upside down, but well showing his intellectual and observant nature. As a noble, he received a good education and showed much eloquence and sarcasm in a conversation, and his looks, intelligence and charm attracted many ladies and men. Well, he was also known as the hottest man of the century, after all.

Hérault was executed along with the Dantonists, but unlike them, he was suspected for being involved in spying, having connections with emgigrees and possibly leaking the files of the CPS. Despite having little ties with the rest of the Dantonists, they died on the same day. The accusations of Hérault participating in any foreign conspiracy were most likely far from the truth. Also, he had an orgy grotto.

Fabre was a travelling actor and dramatist, who later in his life decided to participate in politics and the Revolution, joining the Jacobin club and siding with some of the key figures, like Danton and Camille Desmoulins, with whom he also worked in the ministry of justice as a secretary. He wasn’t the embodiment of all virtues, and not necessarily representing any specific ideology with passion, speaking rather rarely at both the Convention and Jacobins, and not expressing his full talent and charisma in the short speeches which proves he wasn’t extremely devoted to politics and preferred to watch the meetings with his opera lorgnette. An opportunist willing to cause trouble and make shady deals. He was, however, expressing some of his stronger views (ex. against the Gironde) and was often assigned with important tasks.

He’s mostly known for coming up with the names for months and days in the French Republican Calendar, which was used as a revolutionary replacement of the gregorian calendar, and, unfortunately, his participation in falsifying a certain decree and illegally profiting from liquidating French East India Company, one of his many crazy intrigues. His opportunism, greed and love for intrigue led him to be accused of falsification and malversation, and guillotined on the same day as Hérault. But besides all the politics, he was a very romantic and messy mischievous man, and an excellent and sadly underappreciated poet. He didn’t have an orgy cave, but after his death a jar of pickles and three dried plums were found in his apartment so guess it’s even. We don’t know how, but just like Hérault he was a ladies man, (although a womanizer is a better word in his case). Most importantly, he has a bunch of hilarious and totally crazy youthful adventures to entertain us with.

His theatrical career doesn't belong to the most succesfull ones, but his skills and ease with the pen are certainly more admirable than the 18c public judged. After all, even his name has its roots here - d'Eglantine was added by him to the last name as a poetical particle taken from the contest he won with a sonnet in his youth. The golden eglantine was an award for prose, and not poetry, which was rewarded with a silver lily, but Fabre chose to go with the other one as it was more original and perhaps thought "du Lys", associated with the family of Jeanne d'Arc, was a little too much.

Collot d’Herbois shared the profession with Fabre, just like the previous man he was making a living as an actor for a few years, later to become a dramatist and a director. He was way more successful than Fabre back in the day, and his play, Lucie, has even been staged abroad. The two men met before the Revolution in Lyon, an unfortunate city in which Collot will later be assigned with a pacifying mission along with Fouché and three other men, together responsible for massacres occurring there. As an actor, Collot has been most often a leader of his troupes and showed much talent even at the beginning of his career, but he was known to have quite a fiery temper, intimidating audiences with his villain performances and taking a lot of pride in his profession. In the Committee of Public Safety, he represented a radical hébertist wing with his boyf buddy Billaud-Varenne, clashed with Robespierre a lot (almost throwing him out of a window), and, long story short, once almost ended up being assassinated, mistaken for him, which caused more quarrels in case politics wasn’t enough. Together with Billaud, Collot will take a huge part in plotting the Thermidorian Reaction, and be banished to French Guyana for the radicalism represented. The tropical holidays were not the happiest for the former CPS members, as both came down with yellow fever, which, in Collot's case, resulted in his death in 1795.

#i should also mention that hérault and fabre dated the same lady for a while #but yes the disproportion in those paragraohs is already oops #in case sth more is needed feel free to send more asks ;)#ask #fabre d'eglantine #hérault de séchelles #collot d'hérbois

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diana-prince-ww · 29 days

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Elizabeth: If I fall… Henry: I’ll be there to catch you. Jay: *looks at Abby* What if I fall? Abby: Then I’ll fall with you, never leaving your side. Matt: *watches these two interactions* Matt, to Daisy: And if I fall? Daisy: I’ll be the one who pushed you.

#source: tumblr #incorrect quotes #mine #madam secretary #madam secretary incorrect quotes

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inc-madam-secretary · 2 years

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Alison: What’s a nine-letter word for terrific?

Elizabeth: That’s easy: Elizabeth.

#incorrect madam secretary #madam secretary #elizabeth mccord #alison mccord #submitted by gillians leoni #source: the fresh prince of bel air

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ryqoshay · 1 year

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Unstable World: Setsuna Scarlet Storm

Flagship: YuuAyuSetsu Vanguard Ship: AiRina Rating: T Words: ~2.4k AU: A war-torn dimension other than our own Time Frame: Sometime before the main story Event: Femslash February 2023 Event Source: @femslashfeb Prompt: Storm Content Warning: Mentions of war

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Author’s Note: Woo! It’s February again! And that means it’s time for another Femslash Feb event! ♡ ＼(≧▽≦)／ ♡

I’m a whole three days earlier to the party this year. And I have some good ideas for what I could write for some prompts. But will I be able to match or exceed the 16 entries I managed to write last year? I’d like to say yes, but we’ll see how my work/life balance goes this month.

Summary: Ayumu and Yuu search for Setsuna after she misses a commendation ceremony.

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“That was a wonderful presentation, Madam President,” the aide said as soon as the door closed behind them. However, her voice could still barely be heard as the door did little to muffle the cheers of those outside. “The troops clearly appreciate your commendations.”

“Thank you, Nishikawa-san,” Ayumu replied, “I only wish I could do more.” And I wasn’t able to award one because she wasn’t there… She added silently.

“Shall we go find her?” Yuu asked, seeming to read Ayumu’s mind as she leaned in, far too close for comfort, especially in what was supposed to be a professional situation.

Well, it wasn’t like it was any big secret that they were married, or how openly affectionate Yuu was, but it still occasionally bothered Ayumu how casually Yuu usually behaved. Heck, she couldn’t even be bothered to wear her suit jacket correctly, leaving her arms out of the sleeves and treating it more like a cape. Then again, such traits were often a source of comfort on which Ayumu relied when the stresses of leading a nation wore on her.

“Yes, that is a good idea, Takasaki-san.” Ayumu replied, making a conscious effort to avoid becoming flustered in front of so many of her staff. “Let us go find our absent Brigadier General.”

Yuu grinned widely. “Alright everyone,” she addressed those gathered around them, “you’ve all done good work today. Why don’t you all take the rest of the day off? I can ensure the President’s safety until we find the Brigadier General.” She slipped an arm through Ayumu’s. “She’ll be in good hands with us.” She winked.

“Y-Yuu-chan…” Ayumu murmured before ducking her head in a vain attempt to hide the blush she knew was forming.

“Thank you, Madam Secretary.” One of the Service members replied before reached up to his ear to activate his comm device and relay Yuu’s orders to the others.

With that, the Secretary of Defense began to lead the President of the United Rainbow States down the hall to begin their search for the one who had been absent for the ceremony. The one they both had wanted to see most during their visit to Prism. An officer in their nation’s Air Force and the leader of a special detachment known as the Firestorm Chasers, Brigadier General Yuki Setsuna.

In truth, the woman’s name was Nakagawa Nana, but she had enlisted in the military under as Yuki Setsuna for reasons she had never revealed, not even to her wives. As they rose in rank and position, Yuu and Ayumu had become privy to birth name of the woman they were dating and would eventually marry. They had asked her once, years ago, about the name and she declined to answer, so they decided not to bring it up again.

“I hope Setsuna-chan’s not sulking somewhere because she believes she failed to protect Prism.” Yuu commented as she and Ayumu left yet another facility where the staff did not know their wife’s whereabouts.

“Mm…” Ayumu hummed her agreement before sighing.

Setsuna was the type to take failure to heart, even perceived failure that only she believed. This was a large reason why she was still a Brigadier General, despite having previously risen to the rank of Lieutenant General. However, shortly before she was to be promoted to General, the forces under her command were nearly wiped out. They were ultimately victorious due to her tactical leadership, but she struggled to accept sheer number of casualties of those under her. She declined the promotion and requested a demotion. Those above her refused to let her rank drop any lower than Colonel, but she later refused to be promoted any higher than Brigadier General.

At her current rank, Setsuna by rights should be commanding a significantly larger force than she did. Instead, the her superiors had approved the formation her own small squadron of hand-picked, specially trained sky fighters. They used the latest, cutting edge and experimental military technology, often reverse engineered from the enemy, like the Rapid Dimensional Deployment packs that allowed them to respond to invading forces anywhere around the globe.

Most recently, the Firestorm Chasers were, as usual, were the first on the scene when reports came in about a mounting attack on Prism City. The military’s newly built headquarters for research and development had been in production barely a month before it became the target of the Paragon.

The Paragon, as this world had come to call them, were invaders from another dimension and the greatest threat they had ever faced. And this time, the Paragon brought new weapons, giant insects that they had augmented and enslaved as tanks and artillery. Their carapaces were reinforced with some new technique and the Chasers found it significantly difficult to penetrate with their weapons.

Despite the challenges of the battle against a new type of enemy, the Chasers succeeded in holding off the invaders until reinforcements arrived. The Evergreen Battalion, led by Emma’s monstrous tank, the Montagna and its lava-blasting Vesuvius canon made short work of the Paragon forces.

The next day, just as the Chasers and Battalion were about to leave, a second wave of Paragon arrived. This one larger than the last. And another came the next day. And the next. And the next. Each time, the invading forces increased in size. Prism was under siege for over a week.

The reports Yuu and Ayumu received told of the waves being successfully repelled each time. However, Setsuna was clearly becoming increasingly frustrated with what she believed to be a lack of ability for her and her squad to fully pull their weight, compared to the likes of Emma’s tank brigade. Both Yuu and Ayumu tried to assure her that the other commanders all spoke highly of the Chasers’ contributions to Prism’s defense. But, in typical Setsuna fashion, she continued to insist that she should be doing more.

That was the perceived failure Yuu and Ayumu were currently worried that Setsuna was suffering, and thus, possibly sulking somewhere that she would not be easily found.

“Ayu-pyon! Yuyu!” A voice suddenly called from above.

“Ai-chan!” Yuu welcomed the blonde woman that swooped down from the sky to land near them.

“Mi…” Ayumu cut herself off and gave a quick glance around, only noticing an eye roll from Yuu. “Hi, Ai-chan. Good to see you.” She said, despite having just seen Ai at the ceremony not half an… wait… had it really been over an hour already?

Ai’s grin could be seen through the faceplate of her armored suit even before she popped it open. “You two looking for Setsu?”

“Yup.” Yuu confirmed. “Have you seen her?”

Ai shook her head. “No, but Rinari just contacted me saying she and Setsu were working on some super-secret project.” She chuckled. “Ai was wondering why Setsu didn’t show up at the ceremony. I mean I know when Rinari doesn’t respond to my messages that she’s lost in research. Again. And you know she’s not big on such pomp and circumstance anyway. But Setsu…” Ai held up her hands in an exaggerated shrug. “Ai figured she’d be thrilled to accept an award from her beloved Ayu-pyon.”

Yuu snickered. Ayumu blushed.

“Anyway, apparently Setsu wanted to practice more with whatever new thing Rinari made.” Ai continued. “Ai was on my way to pick up Rinari, literally,” she levitated her suit a bit off the ground and motioned with her arms for emphasis, “for dinner, when I saw you two. So, Ai can take you to Setsu, since I’m heading there anyway.”

“Thanks, Ai-chan.” Yuu smiled as well. “Lead the way.”

Yuu and Ayumu followed Ai into an unmarked building, through a maze of research areas crammed with what they could only assume to be salvaged parts from the recent siege forces, and down several flights of stairs.

“Setsuna Scarlet Storm!” An excited cry echoed through a long hallway at the lowest level.

“Well, at least it doesn’t sound…” Yuu was cut off by a brilliant flash from wherever the hallway led, followed by the sound of a roaring explosion, “like she’s sulking…” She finished as a hot air washed past them.

The joyous sound of Setsuna’s laughter proved Yuu’s point.

“Rina-san! That was amazing!” Setsuna’s enthusiasm felt contagious even without being able to see her directly. “Those new carapace shields don’t stand a chance! How many more pieces do we have? I want to try that again!”

“One moment, Setsuna-san.” Rina’s voice could now be heard from the room ahead. “I believe we have guests.”

“Oh?”

A door slid open near the end of the hall and a head of pink hair poked out.

“Ai-san.” Rina greeted in what most would assume to be a monotone voice, but those familiar with her knew she was happy to see her girlfriend. “Welcome.”

“Rinari!” Ai jetted forward to embrace the lead developer in Prism.

“Ai-san?” Setsuna repeated. “Ne, Ai-san! Rina-san made one for you as well! Come try it… Geh?!” She uttered as Ayumu and Yuu stepped into the cavernous experiment area. “M-M-Madam President!” She sputtered. “S-Secretary!? Wh-Wha… When… uhm… What are… Why are… You’re here?”

Setsuna dove down from where she had been hovering, botched her landing, stumbled, and nearly knocked into Ayumu in the process. “I’m sorry, Ay… Pres… uhm…” She got out as she righted herself and snapped to attention.

“It’s just Rina-chan, Ai-chan and us here.” Yuu laughed. “No need to be so formal, Setsuna-chan.”

“Actually, it’s just you three.” Ai’s voice came from the direction of the stairs. “As Ai said, Ai’m taking Rinari to dinner.” And she was gone.

“Ayumu-san… Yuu-san…” Setsuna broke the moment of silence. “I’m happy to see you two, but… uhm… Why are you here? The next wave of the siege could come at any time now. It’s not safe.”

“Given the present company, I think this is where I’m actually safest.” Ayumu said gently, stepping forward to pull her wife into an embrace. She silently wished there wasn’t armor separating her from Setsuna and her warmth, but she could address that later.

“Couldn’t have said it better myself.” Yuu added as she joined the group hug. “Besides, the Paragon have left Prism alone for almost a week now. Perhaps they’ve lost interest.”

“For now…” Setsuna sighed, letting herself relax a little into her wives’ embrace.

“A respite is a respite.” Yuu reminded. “No matter how temporary.”

“Mm…” Setsuna hummed a neutral agreement before finally returning the hug.

Yuu’s comment was an unfortunately common sentiment expressed by many in this world that seemed to be forever at war. The Paragon poked and prodded around the globe, searching for weak points, and stealing any resources they could. Thus, the nations of the world were perpetually on high alert and their populace always at least a little on edge. It was exhausting, to say the least. And moments of respite, no matter how small, had to be treasured.

“We missed you at the ceremony.” Ayumu said.

“The ceremony?” Setsuna blinked.

“Yuu-chan and I came to commend the valiant efforts of the Firestorm Chasers and the Evergreen Brigade in defense of Prism City.”

“Especially their leaders.” Yuu added as she pulled a small medal out of her pocket.

“If that’s the case, Ai-sa…” Setsuna was cut off by Ayumu’s lips pressing against hers.

“We already gave Ai-chan hers.” Ayumu said as she pulled back.

“Oh…” Setsuna uttered. “Still, I…” She stopped again as this time Yuu placed a finger on her lips.

“You did more than you realize. As usual.” Yuu said. “Reports mentioned enough Paragon infantry to outnumber the Chasers by an order of magnitude, even with the first wave. And yet there’s not a mark on the wall out there.” She motioned in the general direction of Prism’s perimeter. “No gates were breached either. You guys did well. Exceptionally well.”

“And you absolutely earned this.” Ayumu took the medal from Yuu and was about to reach up to place it around Setsuna’s neck when she paused. “Would wearing this hinder your ability to give us a demonstration of what you and Rina-chan were working on so diligently?”

“Hrm… I’m not sure.” Setsuna touched the padding near her neck. “Maybe there’s enough room to tuck it in under here? Or I can just keep it in here for now?” She popped open one of her suit’s auxiliary storage areas near her hip.

Ayumu nodded and placed the medallion where Setsuna indicated before stepping back. “We heard you already have a name for your new maneuver.” She smiled.

“It’s a working title,” Setsuna admitted. “I like it, but I may still come up with something better. Or maybe Ayumu-san or Yuu-san could rename it?” A hint of her earlier excitement was already starting to affect her tone.

“Well, we’ll have to see it first, won’t we?” Yuu grinned.

“Right!” Setsuna agreed happily. “Let me quick set up another carapace fragment.” She snapped down her faceplate, leaped into the air and flew over to a pile of broken exoskeletons. “You two can watch from the observation room where Rina-san was earlier.”

Yuu and Ayumu obeyed the instructions and made their way into the protected room. There, they watched through a thick pane of translucent armor as Setsuna mounted the piece of carapace on a tall pole.

Setsuna hovered back a meter or two from the fragment before jutting out an arm to her side. “Setsuna” she curled her arm back in “Scarlet” then shoved it straight up “Storm!”

A sphere of energy blasted out from Setsuna’s armored suit. Layers of the carapace began to slough off before the pole holding it up melted. What remained of the shard shattered when it hit the floor, completely destroyed.

“That was amazing, Setsuna-chan!” Yuu cheered. “That got my heart racing!”

“I know, right?” Setsuna’s voice filled the observation room through the wall-mounted speakers. “Rina-san is a genius! I can’t wait to try this against the Paragon! But first I want to see if we can make the plasma red because that would make it look cooler and be more intimidating. And…”

Ayumu laughed lightly to herself as she watched Setsuna set up another fragment and listened as the ramblings began to dive into the technical details of the new weapon, well beyond her level of understanding. She loved when Setsuna was like this and was more than happy to let her continue her demonstration as long as she wanted.

The Paragon would undoubtedly target Prism again someday, as its strategic importance was obviously known to them. But at least for today, its people were safe.

Setsuna was safe. Yuu was safe. And perhaps Ayumu could have an uninterrupted night together with them for a change. Wouldn’t that be nice? Setsuna’s demonstration continued. Yuu continued to cheer her on. And Ayumu let herself have a moment to forget what tomorrow might bring.

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Author’s Note Continued: Yes, you read the beginning correctly. In this AU, Ayumu was elected as the President of the United Rainbow States.

No, she is not 16 like her canon counterpart. She’s in her mid-twenties; 26 in fact, as compared to the age I set for Yohane back when I wrote the core story for this AU, and assuming I am recalling that correctly. How does someone so young rise to such a high rank in society? The overly simplistic answer is war. A century and a half of nigh perpetual invasion from an unrelenting enemy with seemingly unlimited resources has left many vacancies that need to be filled quickly with whoever happens to be available and is at least halfway competent. The longer answer is what I hope to explore as well as I continue to write more for this AU.

Mild spoilers for any new readers of this AU, but I also made Yohane an emperor and Nico a queen. Pretty much all of the LL girls are in high positions unlikely to be reached by anyone their age in our world.

Also, yes, my Niji flagship is already married at this point in the AU. Whether or not they were married before Ayumu was elected President and appointed Yuu as Secretary of Defense, I’m not honestly sure yet. Either way, yes, there is plenty of room for arguments over impropriety or nepotism or whatever, but as mentioned above, this is a world perpetually at war. The populace has far more important things to worry about, like whether or not they’ll be alive tomorrow, than who is sleeping with who and who is married to who. What’s that? The President is occasionally able to have a few moments of respite and find some comfort in the arms of two other women? Good for her. And that’s the excuse I’m sticking with for this AU.

Also also, the URS is loosely, very loosely, based on the USA of our world. I’ve no idea if it’s possible for someone to ask to be demoted or not to be promoted in any of the armed forces here in the States. But it is in this AU. And who knows what else I’ll have to handwave away or author fiat in when it comes to any sort of realistic representation of the nation or its militaries as I continue to write this story.

And finally, I really need to come up with name for the collection where I intend to eventually put all of these chapters I keep writing that take place outside the main story. I’d like to avoid confusion about what is and isn’t the core story, as said core story was originally written for an event with rules that it was supposed to be a one-shot. And while I’m having fun exploring more of this world that I’ve created, I would like to only supplement that first story and allow it to continue to stand on its own as a complete story with a definitive beginning and end. I have a couple ideas, but none that really hit the way I want them to.

#YuuAyuSetsu #Takasaki Yuu #Yuki Setsuna #Uehara Ayumu #Unstable World #femslashfeb2023 #Love Live Nijigasaki #fanfic

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