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yes-i-am-happyaspie · 4 years

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How We Got From There to Here

April is Autism Awareness Month. This is the one and only fan-fiction that I have ever written featuring Peter Parker with Autism.

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Summary: When Peter, who has Autism, tells Tony that he quit his schools FIRST robotics team because 'they didn't like him' and he didn't get to work with Ned, the man gets to work to find solution. This leads them to join a small community team that suits their needs perfectly. Together they navigate the world of robotics from build season all the way to World Chapmpionships.

Tags: Autistic Peter Parker, Tony Stark Acting as Peter Parkers Parental Figure, FIRST Robotics, Platonic Cuddling... ...

Word Count: 7015

Warnings: No Rated: G

Link To Post On AO3 [2019-5-20] How We Got From There to Here- happyaspie

When Tony first met Peter Parker he had noticed a few things. The kid was jittery, stuttered and avoided eye-contact as if it would burn. He didn't think too much of it. He was Tony Stark. People often acted nervous around him. A result of being well known, always in the face of the public and even more so since taking on the moniker, Iron Man. He didn't notice a whole lot outside of that for a long time. After all, his contact with the kid was limited to a very few interactions and most of them were brief or he was too angry to pick up on anything else other than maybe, that the boy has some serious issues with following directions.

It was later when the kid had slipped up and his aunt found out about his extracurricular activities that he started to pick up on more. Peter was spending a good bit of time with him in the lab now. As he did so, he started to notice more and more things about his new mentee. Like, the fact that he could talk circles about whatever subjects he wanted to talk about but the second Tony would change the subject the kid would revert to one-word replies. The repetitive fidgeting the kid did with his hands and fingers had also caught his attention. He definitely noticed that the boy never asked for anything. If he did it was just on the verge of frantic. Like the first time, Peter had ever had to ask where the bathroom was or when Tony lost track of time one Saturday and the boy hadn't had anything to eat or drink in hours. He eventually learned that Peter was just in general... awkward, from the way he moved to the way he talked. It was subtle but he could see it now. Not that he minded in the least, the boy was wicked smart and his smile was damn near contagious.

It was when he was sharing coffee with Peter's Aunt May, one afternoon that he learned that there was more to the kid's awkwardness than just being a bit of a nerd. He had mentioned something about the kid's constant fidgeting when May had corrected him and used the word stemming. He hadn't really known what she meant until he got home and looked it up. Then it all started to fall into place. Peter wasn't just awkward, he had Autism. When he had called her later to verify she was shocked that he hadn't already figured it out. They stayed on the phone for quite a while discussing it. After that, Tony became much more tuned-in to Peter and his idiosyncrasies.

One afternoon as they were working together in the gym, Peter was rambling on and on about robotics. Nothing specific, just robotics in general. He seemed to know an awful lot about it as the words flowed out of his mouth in rapid succession. When Tony finally felt like he could get a word in he asked him why he'd quit the robotics team at his school if it was something he was so into. Peter had grown quiet for a moment before expressing that the team didn't like him. That had Tony's attention. How could anyone not like Peter?

"I thought your best friend, whats-his-face, was on the team with you?", he asked.

"Yeah, Ned. He does the programming. I like engineering. We didn't work together.", Peter said offering Tony a rare split second of eye-contact. That was happening more and more often and he loved it because May said it meant that the kid trusted him.

"You're a natural at Robotics, the team would be lucky to have you on it." After that nothing else was said about the subject and discussion when back to Peter rambling on about pneumatics and hydraulics, something he had taken a recent liking to. Tony finally had to cut him off to ask him if he needed some water. When the boy enthusiastically downed the entire bottle in one long breath, Tony, gently reminded him where the bottles were kept and he could get one whenever he wanted it. He almost laughed when Peter gave him an indignant 'I know' because he'd never once gotten one by himself despite knowing where they were.

After Peter had gone home that evening, he made a phone call. A guy he had gone to college with had started a small community robotics team right there in Manhattan a couple of years ago. He'd been quietly sponsoring the team since it's rookie season, however, he'd never actually gone out to the shop they used to meet any of them. After talking to Rob about Peter, it became clear that this was more than likely a much better fit for the kid that his school team had been and he was excited to check it out.

The first time Tony had entered the workspace, he expected to be surrounded by a bunch of hero-worshipping teenagers but it seemed that they had been prepared for his visit and all he got was a multitude of thank you's and handshakes before being led on a tour of the facility and introduced to the robot they had built for the previous season's game. It was all very impressive. All of them were so polite and friendly that he was actually kind of sorry he hadn't brought Peter with him.

The next week, with May's blessing, when he did bring Peter to the shop he was sort of expecting the kid to see the large group of teenagers gathered in the smallest meeting room and turn on his heels. When he didn't Tony was thrilled. In fact, if the fluttering of his hands by his sides was any indication, he would say the boy was excited to be there. As they were shown around the workshop portion of the building, no one seemed bothered by Peter interrupting whatever they were saying to insert information that he already knew, nor did they seem fazed when he criticized their choice in wheel design or climbing mechanism. They thanked him for his input. By the end of the night, Peter was ready to come back and be apart of the team.

By the time January rolled around and the build season really started, Tony was starting to wonder what he'd gotten himself into. Meetings went from once a week to nearly every day. Most days Peter wanted to be there, he had become an intricate part of the team, especially during the design process. Some days he fought it saying that Patrolling was more important. Other days he was conflicted to the point that Tony or May had to pry his hands out of his hair and coach him through it. They never did find a perfect balance but by the time the six week build period was up and competitions were starting, Peter was eager to see the robot in action.

The team attended two district competitions and won both, once as the alliance captain and once as the first choice of the top team. They had also gotten an award for quality at both competitions. There was a great deal of excitement when they made it to the state competition. It was by far the best season the team had ever had. Tony wanted to believe that it had everything to do with Peter but he never said it. It was called a team for a reason.

The state competition had been iffy at best with Peter. It was much larger than the district competitions. The crowds were a little tighter and it was loud, even for Tony. He was glad he's packed the kid his sound-canceling headphones, he wished he'd packed himself some. By the end of the event, the kid was getting tense and cranky but they made it. When the team lost in the first round of the finals, Peter was in shambles. Tony had to take him outside where the boy found a place to hide and quietly cry as Tony reassured him that they'd had an awesome season and that he had two medals to show for it. Once he had the kid calmed down enough to go back inside he was pleased to see that the team greeted him pleasantly while Rob invited him to come help pack up the pit area with them.

When the announcement at the very end of the day had them listed with enough points to just make it over the threshold of making it to the world competition, everyone was shocked and Peter, despite having his ears covered firmly with his hands had a smile on his face that was so wide you would think it would have split his face in two. Once Tony managed to slip the headphones back over his ears, Peter used his now free hands to hug Tony so tight that he could barely breathe. This was followed by multiple high-fives with his teammates.

That win had led to a dilemma. The championship was held in a giant convention center in Detroit. The venue was huge, the crowds would be large and it was guaranteed to lead to overstimulation even with headphones and fidgets. Peter insisted he had to go, while May questioned whether or not it was a good idea. "Tony, it's four days of constant crowds and noise on very little sleep. He's not going to sleep well in a hotel. I'm not sure you can handle what may come out of this..."

"He's done large events with me before, granted they were only for a few hours but we managed."

"You did but think about it. What did you do when he started to get overstimulated?"

Tony didn't even have to think about it. Terms like meltdown, stemming, sensory-overload and overstimulated were everyday words for him now. "He sat outside with Happy for a bit... when that wasn't working anymore we left." Then he saw her point. There would be no going home because he was ready. If they went they were there for the duration. Of course, he could get a private plane or take his car and get them back to New York whenever they needed to go but there would be no instant gratification.

This left Tony was torn on the matter. He'd seen the kid sit on the verge of a sensory overload at the last competition and this one was bigger, longer and further away from home. But for all they knew it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity. Eventually, it was decided that if Peter wanted to go, he should get to. It would be a good experience and Tony could tag along as a chaperone, since May had to work and there was literally less than two weeks' notice.

After talking to Peter and May, it was decided that Tony would be there but in the background. Peter would have independence while on the trip. He would ride in the car with his teammates and stay with them in the hotel as well. They were meant to be set up as four boy's per room but Tony paid double to keep Peter's room at three to make it less crowded and Tony would stay in a room in the same hotel so that Peter had somewhere comfortable to escape to. They had gone over everything with Peter and he seemed more than confident that both adults were overreacting. He went out as Spider-man nearly every night with no problems. Neither adult felt the need to explain that he never left his own neighborhood and had the option to come back home whenever things got to be too much. Instead, they just agreed with him.

And all of that led up to where they were right now. Tony, standing outside of the conference center watching Peter bang his head up against a tree and cry that he wanted to go home while the rest of the team was inside cheering. He wasn't even sure what had led up to this moment. Not for certain. It had been going well, the first day went by like a breeze. The second was almost as perfect, outside of a few small anxiety-inducing moments, such as having to order off of a menu at a completely new restaurant. They had worked there way through it and his team was nothing but supportive.

Day three got a little rough towards the end. Peter was adamant that he wanted to go back to the hotel by lunch and seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown so Tony had given in. That was probably his first mistake, but the kid looked exhausted. In his head, it made sense, let Peter go back to the hotel and catch up on some sleep then the next day, the most important day, he would be more ready to go. It hadn't worked out quite that perfectly.

Peter came back to Tony's room and they both slept, curled up beside each other on the king-sized bed until dinner time. Then after eating with the team, the kid seemed to be in a much better headspace so he had encouraged him to sleep in the room with his friends for the night. They had to get up extra early to be at the venue for the final alliance selections. While they were placed towards the bottom of their field, they had a lot of things going for them and being chosen as a partner by another alliance was a possibility. He really wanted Peter to be there for that.

That might have been his second mistake because when he came down to meet the team for breakfast it didn't look like Peter had slept. Then when Peter's face scrunched up at the portable breakfast he had been handed, Tony thought they might have already hit the end of their rope for the day. However, rather than toss the bag filled with a Tampico orange juice, a cup of yogurt and granola bar on the ground he handed it to Tony telling him 'no'. Tony not wanting the day to go sour, handed him a bottle of Pepsi and promised to show up with a breakfast that he did like soon. That seemed to work and Peter followed his team out to the cars without another word. The silence should have clued Tony into just how off the day was going to be.

Tony arrived just in time for the alliance selections to start with a McDonald's Sausage McGriddle in hand. At first, when he didn't see Peter on the stands with his team he panicked. Checking his messages, there was nothing from Rob indicating that anything was wrong so he took a deep breath and climbed the ungodly amount of stairs up to where Rob and his wife, Joyce, were sitting with the other adults behind the kids. "Where's Peter?", he asked trying to sound casual. Joyce smiled and pointed a few rows over to where several teenagers from various teams were gathering on the benches around several Nintendo Switch systems. Peter was right in the middle of them. "Katie talked him into going with her to play with them.", she said proudly and rightfully so. Peter six months ago wouldn't have talked to anyone he didn't know more than a few words here and there without the mask of Spider-man. The mask seemed to open something up in him. Maybe it was the barrier of the person not knowing who he was. There was no expectation. Whatever the difference was, there was no denying the changes that had come about in maskless-Peter since joining the team. He was far less shy around new people and with the encouragement of a few select friends he was joining in on more and more social opportunities.

Hating to interrupt but also not wanting to hand the boy a cold sandwich later he slipped over towards the group and quietly handed the bag to Katie to give to Peter. When she did, Peter's eyes flickered up towards Tony and looking him right in the eyes he thanked him. "You're welcome, Buddy. I'll be right over there", he said gesturing towards the other adults. It was then that, the boy finally looked back down at the screen.

Once everyone had been told to put the games away and come sit together for the Selections to start he could see Peter's face fall. He was worried he was going to have to jump in. The kid didn't always do well with changing activities so abruptly but with Katie's help, he seemed fine. Though rather than going to sit with her, he carried his bag over and squeezed himself indirectly beside Tony. Eating his sandwich, Peter would periodically look over at Tony and just as he was starting to wonder if the boy was trying to suggest that he needed something, Thunderstruck came blaring into the room and the announcer started talking. Everyone, including Tony's, attention went to that. It was amazing how quickly he had been sucked into the whole competitive robotics culture. He certainly approved of the soundtrack... mostly. He could have done without a few of the songs. Mainly the Macarena and that mostly because once Peter had mastered the dance, it became a running joke to add said dance to every song that ever played from that day forward.

During the video explaining alliance selections, Peter started getting restless. Tony offered to take him to walk around but he declined, apparently, they had been told that they should stay in their seats for the process. Even with reassurances that it would be fine to get up, Peter stayed still. Alliance selection lasted way longer than it had at any other competition they had been to and he could feel Peter tensing up beside him. Just as he was about to try to talk the kid into going on a walk with him again, the third seed team called out their team's number as a third pick. The whole team erupted into cheers around them causing Peter to violently flinch and cover his ears before registering what all of the yellings was about. Scrambling to get his headphones out of the backpack, Tony quickly set him on his ears and watched Peter visibly relax before everything clicked. "We got picked! Oh my God, Mr. Stark! They picked us!", he laughed, hands flying wildly in the air before coming to a still around Tony's neck in a hug. It really was something.

After that, Tony let his guard down. That was mistake number three but just like the other mistakes, it wouldn't add up until later. The kid smiled through all of the matches and cheered when they won. Then as if by some miracle the little community team and it's three allied forces managed to win the field. That would mean, moving on to The Einstein Round Robins. No one had expected that and it was exciting beyond measure. Peter nearly couldn't contain himself. It was an honor to have gotten that far and much to Peter's excitement, it meant another medal to add to his growing collection.

Once things had settled down and Peter was happily playing Uno with his team Tony gently patting the boy on the shoulder, he had been reminded that he was in charge of the team's lunch that day. It was time for him to leave to go get it. Peter nodded and Tony walked out of the conference center with Joyce and one other adult to collect the multitude of sandwiches he had previously ordered.

When they returned the message was sent out that they were in the courtyard outside and everyone should join them. Tony wasn't concerned, the team had an established buddy system and Peter was good at following those kinds of rules. When more than twenty minutes had passed and there was still no Peter, Tony started to get concerned. Looking around, it appeared that the majority of the team was there already there, save for the drive team and a few mentors. Asking around, no one had seen him. Then one of the boys piped up and said that he'd seen Peter leave with another team member. When Tony questioned that kid, he said that Peter had started with him but then ended up leaving with a different group. It ended up being a wild goose chase and Tony was getting frustrated. He had already texted the kid seven times with no reply, a quick check later and he'd figured out why. The battery on Peter's phone was dead.

He wasn't panicked but he was getting there. It was an insane amount of people exiting the building at the moment. Tony knew that Peter knew where to go for lunch and figured he would show up eventually but not having a direct line to him was kind of nervewracking. Just when he was about to go try to track him down himself, Joyce grabbed him by the arm. "He's fine, Tony. Rob found him in the bleachers. Apparently, he got separated from his group and went back there since he didn't have a buddy anymore. He's in the pit area with him and the drive team. I've already sent two of the kid's to get him."

Tony thanked her and relaxed. When Peter got to the courtyard he looked a little worse for wear. He wasn't smiling anymore and he was staying at least five steps behind the two boys who had gone to collect him. "Hey, Kiddo. How was the pit?" Peter didn't answer. That was fine, he was probably stressed. "Look why don't you go get a sandwich.", Tony suggested. When Peter whispered 'no' he tried again. "Okay, I'm going to go make you a plate. If you eat it, cool. It not then that's fine too. Yeah?" Peter nodded in the affirmative and Tony took that as a win.

After some quiet debate, Peter wolfed down both of the sandwiches Tony had brought him as well as a bag of chips and two cookies. Tony hoped that was enough to perk him up a bit but it wasn't. He wanted to go back to the hotel. He asked at least seven times and Tony deflected each one. "You let me go yesterday!", the boy finally shouted, hands full of his own hair.

"Yeah, I did, Buddy. We can't do that today, though. We need to cheer for the team.", he said calmly. His good deed from the day before was now getting throw back in his face. He'd accidentally set a precedent that they could just return to the hotel on a whim.

Being told 'no' seemed to agitate Peter even more. He watched as the boy started to pace and backed off. Sometimes, Peter just needed time to process everything. He hoped that he would calm down on his own. Before he had a chance to find out, one of the mentors was grabbing Peter by the arm and tugging him towards where they were taking pictures with the new banner and handing out medals. For his part, Peter did really well keeping it together for the pictures, though he was about two steps from the rest of the group and there was no convincing him to get any closer.

As everyone else started to mill inside, Tony stayed in the yard with Peter. The kid was getting more and more worked up. After fifteen minutes of watching the kid cry, Tony really wanted to relent and take the boy back to the hotel but that would defeat the purpose of them being there. The team had made it to Einstein and it was a big deal. Peter would be so mad at himself later if he missed that, he was sure of it. "Pete, we need to stay here. Look, let's take a break, yeah? We can get some shaved ice and then see if we feel like going back inside."

"No!", Peter screamed. "No, I don't want to go back inside. I want to go to the hotel! I hate robotics, I hate this team, I hate being here. Take me home!"

Tony was at a loss. The kid was standing in front of him completely broken and crying. He found himself having to glare at people as they walked past too stare. Especially when Peter started his routine of self-harm. Tony had never seen it get this bad. He was used to the hair-pulling but seeing him scratch his arms and hit his head on things was different. May had reassured him that if it ever came to that, the best thing to do was to let it run it's course unless he was becoming a serious threat to himself or others, not that, that had ever happened. Watching the boy repeatedly hit his head less than gently on the trunk of the tree beside the path while begging to go home was heartbreaking. With his own eyes watering, he did as May had suggested and turned his back, only glancing behind him occasionally to make sure that Peter hadn't gone too far. He finally understood May's concerns. No one but him could have handled this. He loved Rob and he loved Joyce and the whole team was fantastic but they wouldn't have been able to handle this. Looking at his watch, they were already missing the first match.

Next time he turned around, Peter was no longer hurting himself had gone back to pacing. Tony casually mentioned that he was going to get in line for some shaved ice. The boy followed him at a distance. Tony would randomly point out different things for Peter to look at. Like a dog or a cloud that looked like a rabbit. Just talking to talk. Helping things go back to normal. By the time they had gotten to the front of the long line, Peter was almost calm. Tony was getting answers out of him anyway. Even so, it was clear he was still extremely tense.

Shaved ice in hand, Tony started to wander to a less populated area of the field. It was quieter. Eventually, Peter started talking more normally, yet his posture still screamed anxiety and tension. Looking at his watch again, they had now missed three matches. Sighing, Tony looked at Peter and decided to bite the bullet. "Are you ready to go back inside? This is pretty exciting stuff. Don't you want to go watch some of it?"

"No", Peter curtly answered. That seemed to be his word of choice for the day.

Tony gave it a few more minutes and tried again. "Should we go back inside?" The expected 'no' came without hesitation. Tony was starting to think that something else was off so despite the fact that they had just had lunch and the kid was still holding a small dessert in his hands. So, he started offering things. Sometimes listing out different possible solutions got the kid thinking about how he was feeling and usually, that helped sort out anything else that might wrong. "Does your head hurt?", he asked first. It wasn't unusual for Peter to get headaches when he was tired or overstimulated but he would keep quiet about it until it was unbearable if no one asked.

"No. I'm fine.", he grumbled.

"Alright. Good. Did you get enough to drink at lunch? Do you need some water?"

"No", Peter answered more calmly that he had anything else in the last hour. He was more than likely already clued in on what Tony was doing. That meant that this was helping.

"Okay... did you get enough to eat? I can buy you a slice of pizza or something.", he tried fully expecting the kid to decline that too. He'd had a big lunch.

"I need to pee!", Peter exclaimed in reply, dropping his unfinished cup of shaved ice into the grass as if the urgent need has snuck up on him. ...it probably had. He'd been so focused on fighting back the anxiety and sensory input while trying to regulate his emotions that the state of his bladder had probably been placed on the back burner. That is until he'd started to calm down and Tony had started forcing him to take inventory of his own body.

"Okay", Tony said. He hadn't been expecting that but if the boy was offering that information on his own accord it meant he needed to act fast. This was going to have to be handled delicately because the bathrooms were inside the building he was currently refusing to go in. "If you need to pee, then we need to go inside. The bathrooms are inside."

"No", Peter whined as he started to dance from foot to foot.

"Listen to me, Bud. If you need to pee, then we need to go inside. We can come back outside after if we need to. Yeah?" He held his breath as he waited for Peter to reply.

"Yeah. I need to pee. Let's go inside.", Peter pitifully decided, allowing Tony to let out the breath he'd been holding. He wasn't actually sure what his next move was going to be if the kid continued to refuse.

As they made it to the front entrance, Tony managed to skip through the bag check line. All he'd had to do was flash his media smile and gesture towards the kid behind him who was now holding himself. The security guard in all his wisdom suggested that Tony leave the backpack with him and pointed towards the closest bathroom. Peter was antsy about leaving the bag with the unknown person. Tony assured him that it was fine and getting to the bathroom was the priority at the moment.

While Peter was taking care of his business, Tony had time to go through the day and was starting to piece the events that lead up to this point. He was pretty sure he had it nailed down. He already knew that the kid was tired. After napping all afternoon he probably didn't sleep much that night and they'd left really early. When lunch came around, Peter was going leave with one group but had then changed his mind to go with another. Probably because the second group was going to stop by a bathroom. Then he'd gotten lost and he was all of the sudden out of compliance, with he buddy system rule, so he hurried back to the bleacher rather than trying to catch up to the other boys, even though he knew where they were going. That had more than likely been a panic move, especially if he knew his phone was dead. Then when Rob found him, he had taken him back to the pit where everyone was probably in a hurry trying to get things packed up to be moved to the assigned alliance pit area. It was probably close quarters and a little chaotic. Both of those things would be enough to raise Peter's already triggered anxiety. After lunch, while trying to process and internally deal with all of that, he'd been pulled into pictures and still needed to use the bathroom. At some point, it all became too much to deal with at once and holding back the tantrum had been a lot of work. Meaning that when the coast was clear and everyone else was back inside, he'd lost it.

Tony was just thinking that if anything he should be slightly proud that the kid had held it together as long as he had. Then Peter rapidly exited the restroom and was bouncing in front of him. "The bag. Mr. Stark, we need to get the bag. My things are in it."

"Yeah, alright, let's go get it.", he said swinging an arm over the boy's shoulders. "Since we're inside, why don't we go see how the team is doing."

"Okay, but we have to get my bag first. I need to get my things."

"Of course, first your bag first, then we can go see the team", Tony reassured.

Bag in hand and headphones in place, Peter was more relaxed then Tony had seemed him all day. When they joined the group in the VIP area with the team. Peter sat beside Tony and rested his head on his shoulder. Tony didn't mind. The kid was already tired and he knew an emotional outburst of that caliber had to be draining all on its own. As the weight on his shoulder became heavier and heavier he turned his head to check on the overextended child. While he wasn't asleep, he did have his eyes closed and was taking deep even breaths. His eyes would periodically crack open when the crowd got particularly loud to see what all of the fuss was about.

When all was said and done, their alliance hadn't made it to the highly coveted honor of getting to play on the Einstien Field but it had been an amazing season. To have gotten as far as they had something to be so proud of. He thought Peter would be disappointed but he seemed fine. "You did good, Kid. Look at that. You're part of an Einstien team now. How about that?"

"Mm-hmm", Peter hummed tiredly. "Can we go to the hotel now, Mr. Stark?"

"No, Pete. We're going to go to Ford Field to watch the final match." When Peter whined, Tony continued. "I know you're tired. So here's the deal. First, we're going to watch the finals, then we can go back to the hotel. We can eat and go to bed right after if you want. You can even stay in my room if you'd rather."

"Promise?"

"I promise. Let's see this through, alright? Part of gracious professionalism is cheering for the other teams, yeah? When Peter nodded his head Tony sighed. That had been a lot easier than he thought it was going to be. "We're fixing to walk over to the other venue Do you need a drink or a snack? Need to pee?" When Peter confirmed that he didn't need any of those things they started walking to catch up with the group. No one batted an eye at the way Peter was clinging to Tony's hand both of his. It was probably clear to the rest of the group that Peter was not having a great day.

Sitting in the chairs at Ford Feild was interesting. It was almost comedic to see the robotics playing field set in the corner of a huge arena. While everyone was finding their seats music started playing. It was all of the usual dance songs they used at every competition they had been to. Tony smiled at the screen as dozens upon dozens of teenagers and did the Cupid Shuffle and YMCA. Then that god-forsaken Macarena song came on and rather being annoyed, Tony was elated to see Peter perk up and join some of his friends in the ridiculously repetitive motions. He took a quick video and sent it off to May. He was sure she was worried. He's sent her several messages that day and hardly any of them had been great.

Once the speeches and awards started the arena grew somewhat quiet and Peter ended up asleep slumped down in his chair, still holding Tony's hand. Just before the actual match was about to start Tony reached in his pocket with his free hand and got out his wallet and handed a fifty-dollar bill to the kid beside him. "Think you could go get me one of those large popcorns and two bottles of water? You can even keep the change.", he smiled.

"Of course, Mr. Stark!", The boy beamed.

"Hey, hey! Take a buddy with you. I don't want to get in trouble for this!", he called after the kid who then quickly grabbed a buddy.

Once he had the goods he woke Peter up. "Hey, Kiddo. Wake up time. I got you some popcorn and a drink." Peter groaned but accepted the snack. Tony was sure he would, it was way past the time they would normally eat dinner. By the time the match actually started Peter was wide awake and in a good mood. They cheered for the Red Alliance because that was Peter's favorite color and when they won he was ecstatic.

The night was set to end with fireworks but he didn't know how Peter felt about that so he gave him the choice. "Do you want to stay for fireworks or do you want to go to the hotel now?" He was surprised when the answer was 'stay'. He was even more surprised when he stood there face all aglow from the sparkling lights, with a smile. Not the wide grin Tony was used to seeing, it was more of a relaxed, contented smile. He took several pictures of that too.

Peter ended up riding back to the hotel with Tony rather than the team but that was okay. Once they got there, everyone was already outside by the public grill fixing hotdogs and grabbing chips. Peter casually joined the group and held out a plate to receive his dinner and Tony just sat back and watched.

"Are you going to eat too, Mr. Stark?", Peter asked through the hotdog being stuffed in his mouth.

"Yep, just waiting for all of the ravenous teenagers to get their's first."

Peter just nodded and continued to eat his way through his plate. Tony eventually made it into the line at the grill and got an extra hotdog for Peter before rejoining the boy at the picnic table. "Thank you, sir.", Peter said when Tony added the new hotdog to the plate. "I can still stay with you tonight right?"

"Of course, wouldn't have it any other way, Kid. It's our last night here. We get to go home tomorrow."

Peter smiled as he wiped some stray mustard off his chin. "This was fun but I'm ready to go home.", he admitted.

"Me too, Bud." Then as soon as their plates were cleaned up they were both excusing themselves to their room. It was a little after ten but Tony was pretty sure he could sleep for an entire week at this stage. Peter had collected all of his things from the other room and was in the bathroom getting ready for bed while Tony texted May with their travel plans. As soon as he came out, Tony went in and got himself ready.

Soon they were both in the bed and rather than curling up beside him like he had the day before, Peter rested his head right on Tony's shoulder. When Tony looked down at him, Peter looked up and their eyes met. It was the second time that day, that Peter had looked at him so directly for such a long stretch. "What are you thinking about, Buddy?", the man whispered. He could see the wheels turning in the boy's head.

"That you helped me today.", Peter said with no real context.

"Yeah?", Tony answered, not really sure what to say to that.

"Yeah. I like it when you help me.", he yawned.

"I like helping you.", Tony said in earnest because he did. He hated to see the kid struggle and watching him fall apart today had been one of the hardest things he'd ever witnessed. He didn't know how May did it all the time. Sighing a contented sigh, he continued, "I like it when you help me too." Peter just smiled at him and yawned again. "You should go to sleep, Kiddo."

Peter readjusted himself on the bed before he answered. His head was still on Tony's shoulder but now his arm was stretched out across the man's middle and one of his knees were bent over Tony's outstretched legs. "May says that People who love you want to help you. Do you love me?"

The question made Tony stiffen a bit. He'd never thought about it before. When they had met it was out of necessity. When he had started hanging out with the kid it had been out of duty. At some point, the feeling of responsibility to keep the kid safe had started to tightly intertwine with a completely new feeling. One that wanted him to be more than safe, but also happy and successful. He wanted to see him thrive. He had to take a deep breath to keep these new emotions at bay. "Yeah, Kid. I love you a whole lot.", he finally managed to get out.

"I love you too... a whole lot.", the boy sleepily replied as he pulled himself in a little more closely. "Ned stays at his dad's house every other weekend. Can I stay with you every other weekend?"

Tony couldn't help but smile because it sounded like the kid had basically just asked him if he would be his father. "Yeah, Buddy. I would love that.", he whispered.

"Me too. Good night... Dad."

Tony picked his head up off the pillow and looked down at the head pressed tightly into his collarbone and stared for a moment. He and Peter's relationship had been evolving for some time now. They had been slowly building up mutual trust and Tony knew that they had gotten close enough that the boy would meet his eye sometimes when they spoke or would occasionally ask him for things and share secrets. Their world's had slowly collided into one and this trip must have proven to solidify everything they had been working towards. Peter loved him... and he loved Peter in return. He'd called him dad. The idea was breathtaking. Leaning in to kiss the top of the boy's head he smiled to himself before whispering to the boy, "Good night, son."

#marvel fanfiction #irondad and spiderson #tony stark & peter parker #peter parker #Tony Stark #autism #autism acceptance #inclusion #first robotics #frc robotics #all inclusive #autism awareness month #aspergers #cross-posted #ao3fic #mcu fanfiction #fanfiction #peter parker & tony stark fanfic #dad!tony

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yandere-musings · 5 years

Note

Hey! Can I get some Yandere Bakugou headcanons please? Thanks!

I love this blonde lil bastard. He's such a unique character with a lot of depth and different sides to him. This was a lot of fun to write!

Yandere Katsuki Bakugo

Yandere Type: Possessive, Protective, Clingy

• Bakugo might be an asshole, but he's not heartless. He's had a few crushes throughout his life but nothing worth pursuing. You however, were different. You were just an extra he met at school all those years ago... Until you weren't anymore. Something about you, as plain as you were, stood out to him. He wasn't sure what it was, but it pissed him off how badly he wanted to find out. Katsuki can be own worst enemy at times. His pride will either prevent him from doing things or push him to do things he's not comfortable with. Its the same when it comes to romance. Even if he feels strongly about someone, Katsuki won't bother pursuing them unless he knows its gonna work out. Otherwise he doesn't wanna waste his time and end up looking like a fool. He's not gonna let anyone make him feel weak,even a potential love interest. So when you showed signs of possibly liking him back, he was ecstatic.

• He puts up a bit of a front in public, toning it down for your sake. His tantrums and screaming are dialed back in hopes of looking better in your eyes. Of course, he knows he has a reputation. But that makes it all the more special when you stick around despite that. He wants you to see him as potential boyfriend material so he puts on his... better behavior. His tsundere side comes out when people notice how obvious his crush is. He warns everybody that if someone so much as breathes a word of it to you, they would end up as a pile of ashes.

• Katsuki can't help but stare at you during lessons and follow you around even before he asks you out. He's a constant presence, like an intimidating guard dog. You could be hanging out with your friends and he would be tagging along and hovering right behind you. Your friends might give him side eyes and question why you let him always follow you around. But you just laugh and tell them to pay no mind. He might not be directly interacting with you, but he's always a nearby. Watching and waiting until he needs to jump in to help or defend you. If you try to get him to join in with whatever you're doing, his heart will soar. You're talking to him, including him... Caring about him. It makes his feelings for you grow tenfold.

•When he finally works up the courage to ask you out, he acts like it was you who had made the embarrassing confession. If you reject him, that'll be the end of that. His yandere side isn't at full volition just yet, so despite how heartbroken he will be, it won't end with murder or revenge. It will however, result in him never being able to open up his heart anymore. One heartbreak was bad enough and he refuses to let someone hurt him that badly ever again. But on the other hand, if you accept his confession- you'd better be ready for a love that grows and grows until it becomes suffocating.

"I don't half ass anything! D-dating included. So you better not look at anyone else, got it? If you do, I'll kick their ass!" he declared, face turning red.

• Although he would tag along with you before, now he escorts you literally everywhere. He will even walk you to the bathroom and wait outside until you're done. He walks you both to and from school, to every class, takes you on dates whenever you want and spends even more time in your dorm than his own. (Aizawa has had to chase him away many times when it was lights out)

•Possessive. Everybody is aware of your relationship because he's either always hovering over your shoulder or touching you in some way. Everyone is surprised by how doting of a boyfriend he can be and how unafarid he is at showing his love for you in public. Spoon feeding you, opening doors, holding your hand and giving you kisses whenever he gets the chance. It's a wonder how someone as nice as you could manage to tame such a beast. If anyone comments on your relationship or how you could do better, be ready to hear an ear full of death threats blasted at them. Best believe that he sits right next to you in class now. Even if someone was assigned to sit there, its his spot now.

"Um Bakugo, that's my seat?"

"BEAT IT LOSER!"

• Despite his tendency for angry violent outbursts, he will never lay a hand on you. He knows that his personality and quirk make for a scary combo and although he normally enjoys people being intimidated by him, he is terrified of scaring you away. When it comes to his darling s/o, he is always gentle. Katsuki is also an absolute sucker for touching. His family wasn't very affectionate with him growing up, so any attention you give him will turn him into putty. He could be having the mother of all meltdowns and be ready to absolutely obliterate someone, but if you snake your arms around him and coo into his ear, he will instantly melt at your touch and calm down. Run your fingers through his blonde hair and he can't help but let out a moan. Please pet him. Touch him anyway you want. (He's too embarrassed to ask for it)

•Having such a strong will and protective nature will make him a serious threat to any bullies or romantic rivals. He will shut that shit right down real quick if he even suspects anything. You should only be looking at him. You are his whole life, so its only natural that he is yours too right? Lord help anyone who tries to make a pass at you. The second you are out of ear shot, his hand will clamp down painfully hard on their shoulder and he will ask to talk with them privately. If they know you personally, he threatens them that if they ever try that shit again, it will end with violence. But if they are an extra who has no business in your life, Bakugo will stalk them later and blast them until they are nothing but scattered bits and pieces. If you bring up his blatant envy, he will get flustered and deny it.

"Jealous? N-No you idiot! I just don't like people touching what's mine. There's a difference!"

•Years pass and for the most part, he's an amazing boyfriend. He's your bodyguard, a tutor, personal trainer and anything else you might need. Even after you graduate and he debuts as a pro hero, he will always make time for his beloved. Because he's always working now, any time he has is spent with you. And if you're busy, he will be in a bad mood until you give him attention.

•If you try to break up with him, he will go into a frenzy and barricade himself in a room with you until you talk it out. Even if you're firm, Bakugo won't budge until you apologize (even if its a lie). He's guarded his heart his whole life so to have the one he trusted most try to abandon him is not acceptable. This is NOT happening.

"What kind of sick joke is this to you Y/N? You think I'm just gonna let you walk away from me? From us? The life we built together?!"

He won't use violence to keep you but he's not letting you get away that easy. Katsuki is a lot smarter than people give him credit for. He knows that if he ties to kidnap you (as much as he wants to) that people will eventually notice your absence.

•So instead, he will use his authority over you as a hero and blackmail to keep you at his side. He didn't open up and give you his heart only to have you rip it out and stomp on it. He's on his way to being the number one hero after all. You'll come around eventually when you see the kind of life he can provide for you. He makes you quit your job so you can be his stay at home sweetheart. You don't need to go outside without him. He will do all the chores and errands so you never get hurt or need to go anywhere. You don't have permission to leave the house without him. So if you break that rule, he will lock inside. Katsuki will act like its a normal relationship and nothing has changed. He's still as affectionate and doting as ever, if anything even more so now because he feels a bit guilty. But he's not letting up. He warns you that if you ever tried to leave him again, he would track you down and blast anyone who tried to interfere.

"You're mine y/n. I won't ever let you go. If you even look at anyone else- I'll kill them. I'm the only one who can keep you safe. So just be good and wait for me at home."

#yandere bakugo #yandere katsuki #yandere x reader #yandere #yandere bnha #yandere mha #male yandere #bakugo x reader

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loyalflutist · 5 years

Text

I’m Yours (F!Byleth x Edelgard) *R-18+

Challenge: Edeleth Twitter Week (09/29/2019 - 10/05/2019) Day 6: I’m Yours

A/N: I was busy on 10/04 the entire day, so the fictions are starting to be backed up by a day or two. Also, since I’m not sure why Tumblr is hiding my lemons... (I wrote one for Dorothea and there was an older one with Edeleth that somehow disappeared from the search results...) Hence, I’ll begin to tag them as “LEMON THE LEMONADE” rather than the usual tag.

Also, beware of minor implications of nonconsensual activity and massive spoilers about Byleth’s origin and the following characters: Sothis, Rhea, Seteth, Flayn, Jeralt.

---

People sometimes think the world revolves around them. A singular entity in a vast space that shines the brightest. It was their life, and it was their life alone. No one has any control over it. Not their family. Not their friends. Not their enemies. No one. Absolutely no one. They were who they were. No one can define their existence.

Yet fate is sometimes cruel. That singular entity— that person, can be manipulated and placed under a hold from their oppressors. Brutal methods were enforced to brainwash the individual. Terrorize them. Drag them down with metallic chains fit for wild beasts. Mouths muffled by hands tainted with their very own blood. Blindfolds concealing the truth from them. False beliefs instilled into them. Obedience a necessity to survive the next day. And when a savior appears, they are taken away just as quickly as they appear. Oh, how terrifying it must be to open up to their significant other! Everything can go south so quickly… as for Byleth Eisner.

‘ I don’t want to be used. ‘

A shudder ran down her spine amidst her violent trembles. The teal-haired can be spotted in her private quarter, seated on her royal mattress in her loungewear. Legs pulled close to her chest, Byleth’s fingers tangled with her locks, her nails digging into the sensitive scalp. The weak heart that finally came back to life thumped heavily upon her chest; its pounding reaching her eardrums. These symptoms were becoming more and more frequent as the days crawled by… She gritted her teeth and felt her respiration hastened.

‘ I’m scared. ‘

How out of character, one may ask! She stands strong in adversary with features relating her to the infamous nickname, “Ashen Demon.” She commands the armies and battalions with ease. She commends those with their valiant efforts. She becomes a sly fox when teasing her alumni. She pridefully married an emperor of the Adrestian Empire. Hark, is this the Byleth everyone has come to respect and love?

The aftermath of the war was over, but the physical and emotional scars remain. Upon learning the truth about her origin from Rhea, Seteth, Flayn, and Jeralt, she wanted nothing more than to crawl under a hole and stay put. A rush of emotions that she had been bottling up over the years was becoming to rear its head from the corner— That wasn’t right… It came crashing into her fragile mental state like a tsunami. War had kept her emotions in check, but now that the main conflict was finally over with the staggering defeat of Rhea, nothing was keeping them back. Accompanied by poor coping mechanisms, it was inevitable PTSD would terrorize the ex-mercenary every night.

“I’m sorry to leave you behind like this, Byleth...”

No…

“We’re like family!”

No…!

“It is my duty to protect you.”

No!

“Mother, you have returned.”

“NO!!!”

“Byleth?!”

“?!”

She instinctively lashed out to the speaker with her hand. It stopped mid-air by a powerful grip. Dread overwhelmed the older woman as she tugged away from its captor. A couple of attempts failed, their hold was overpowering. Fear clenched her throat and choked her as whimpers trickled out. Why can’t she get away?! Through her blurred vision in the dark room, she began to cry; tears flowed down her cheeks like a waterfall.

The figure holding her was none other than Rhea. She had that holy smile, that holy aura, and that holy title glued to her physical existence. Yet the maiden stared directly into her shivering soul. Those same loving eyes that she once possessed similarities to. The one that she could easily call her “daughter.” Byleth quivered as she used her other hand to weakly push away from the female.

“Don’t call me Mother!”

“BYLETH!”

Rhea instantly disappeared in a blink of an eye. At that same moment, warmth immediately enveloped her entire body and blackened her sight. It was like a protective bubble… a blanket that someone had draped over her physical and spiritual body. Scarlet carnation’s aroma fluttered to her nose from the person’s bosoms. Their arms tightened its hold on the professor as said-person whispered,

“Byleth, it’s me.”

Now it wasn’t the voice of Rhea that vibrated her eardrums. It was the voice of her wife; Edelgard von Hresvelg had pulled her into a firm embrace.

Acknowledging her presence froze Byleth in place. She tried to peel away from her chest only to find it a futile try, the emperor resting a hand on the back of her head. The professor deeply inhaled her scent. Then, she exhaled her shaky hot breaths into Edelgard. This was embarrassing. Her meltdowns were meant for private eyes only, and those private eyes belong to herself. The fact that her wife just witnessed her disastrous distress might color her in a different light. She is her professor, she is older than her, and she has more experience in life than the white-haired. She wasn’t supposed to act this way.

“Byleth…”

“…”

Silence ensued afterward. Not a peep came out of Byleth’s mouth. The noble softly exhaled and pressed her lips upon her wife’s head. Fingers eventually ran through the teal hair, her nails gently scratching Byleth’s scalp. Small bursts of euphoria washed over her scrambled mind from Edelgard’s heavenly motions; drowsiness nearly making its way forward. Byleth adjusted the position of her head as a melancholic tune filled the quiet atmosphere.

“The footsteps of the lost child cease to be heard

Replaced only by that song of prayer

The song soon becomes that burning lamp

Guiding on that wandering traveler…”

It was rare to hear Edelgard sing. Whenever she participated in the fine arts, she would never dare express her interest with them to the public. Not even to her own wife out of embarrassment. However, tonight was an exception. The sorrow that dripped from the lyrics, yet there was a sense of consolation from those words showered to the listener.

Footsteps from the lost child…

That would be Edelgard.

Replaced only by a song of prayer…

That would be Edelgard.

The song that soon becomes a burning lamp…

That would be Edelgard.

Guiding on the wandering traveler…

That would be Byleth.

The two shifted their posture so Edelgard would easily hug Byleth on the bed. They laid down with Byleth holding onto her wife for dear life. Their legs tangled and a blanket providing additional warmth to the solemn night. Peering through the windows was the moonlight basking their resting figures. Despite the height difference, it appears Edelgard was the tall one in the relationship at this moment. She continued to scratch her wife’s head as she sang.

“If you feel afraid, just shout it all out loud

And you will know that I am right by your side

Holding you close with this trembling body of mine

To let you know that you are not alone

It’s alright if we can’t smile like before

For one day we will reach that place for you and me, that place… for you… and me.”

“…you should sing more often,” Byleth mumbled into her lover’s chest. She nuzzled into Edelgard and added, “But I think you should sing something happier.”

“Happier? You must be feeling better if you’re able to suggest something to me.”

“…”

Edelgard had to stifle her chuckle when the older woman reburied her face into her bosoms.

Oh, how the role has been reversed. She remembered the nightmares that had plagued her when she was a student. Numerous visions and hallucinations of her deceased siblings and classmates came to visit her from their grave. Their cold hands pulled her into the darkest abyss. She eventually finds herself strapped onto the wooden chair, the scalpels and needles jabbed into her exposed flesh from multiple non-consensual surgeries. Flaming aches throbbed from her hidden scars. They were unbearable to sleep through. It was always a surprise to Edelgard whenever she was able to function like a fully conscious person during her time as a student and as an emperor. Perhaps it was due to Byleth’s presence.

Byleth had always showered her with more love than she had expected. She would always sneak away from her own dormitory to sleep with her girlfriend. This was not merely an act of romanticism. This was an act to retain Edelgard’s sanity. This was furthered emphasized when Byleth went missing for five years. Nightmares that were shooed away had returned to haunt her. Lysithea and Caspar were unable to kick them to the curb despite their best efforts. Not even Hubert was able to quell those internal demons. She needed Byleth so badly. Byleth is her anchor. Without an anchor, the ship would float mindlessly from its path.

The emperor kissed the top of her head again. Now it was her turn to care for Byleth.

“Can you tell me… how long you’ve been having these breakdowns?”

“…”

“Are you scared of telling me?”

A hesitant nod. Then, Byleth rose until their face was on an equal level. The moonlight shone over their features, and the professor’s were mixed with fear and shame. Edelgard instantly brought her hand up to cup one side of her face. Her thumb rubbed among the cheekbone as she said,

“Don’t be afraid. Whatever you tell me, I won’t judge you.”

“…promise?”

“I promise.”

She deeply breathed.

“I’ve had them since the war ended. It first started when I was in the infirmary, recovering from my wounds.” Byleth’s lips firmed into a thin line. “I… I remember the way they looked at me.”

“They?”

“Lady Rhea… Flayn… and Seteth.”

Those names… How long has it been since Edelgard last heard of them? Though Flayn and Seteth had escaped from the war, Rhea was long gone. Still, those three played an important part in Byleth’s life. She knew that for sure. Their importance wasn’t subtle anymore the moment Byleth had merged with Sothis in order to combat their adversities. All three of those individuals began to bow down to the professor as if she were a holy being. Their words were articulated with precision in hopes of proving their devotion to her. It was as if Byleth Eisner was the goddess; her humanity long gone after the fusion. Edelgard always found it baffling. Byleth is Byleth. There is nothing different about her, save it for her insane strength growth. Just what made them so keen with her girlfriend?

“They used me.”

Indeed, they did. That was for certain. Sweet nectar stained their statement the moment Jeralt and Byleth stepped foot into Garreg Mach. Soldiers from the monastery were oblivious and blind to the manipulative threads that dangled overhead. Everyone was dancing to the beat of the Church and Those Who Slither in the Dark. The worst one of them all had to be Byleth, an outsider with little knowledge of politics, who was forced to join the mass. Not even Jeralt could save his daughter from their hands.

“I’ve killed so many innocent lives…”

But that was not her fault. She was simply following orders from Rhea during their time at the monastery. The same fault could lie upon her students too. They were the ones who delivered the final blow to every mortal foe that stand against the Church of Seiros. Villagers from various parts of Fodlan begged for forgiveness as Byleth slaughtered every one of them. Their crimes? Abstaining in the religious teachings of the Goddess Seiros. Regret gnawed at the ex-mercenary each time she received praised from Rhea and Seteth.

“Lady Rhea told me I’m her Mother…!” Byleth curled her fingers inward, unintentionally digging her nails into Edelgard’s back. The young lord bit back a yelp as her wife blubbered, “Can you believe that? I’m her Mother! She told me it was destiny— It was my fate that she be my daughter!”

She began to shed another round of tears and bit the bottom of her lip. Memories began to seep into her mind once more as she confessed her terrors. A child of a mother born of the progenitor god’s Crest Stone and a father who carried Rhea’s blood… She was literally related to Rhea, Seteth, and Flayn. She tried to reject the notion. She objected against Rhea of the ridiculous blood connection they had. She fought against the idea that Rhea is her daughter.

Obsession was something Rhea had to cope with her mourning. The lingering desire for a love Rhea desperately seeks for after the death of her mother extended out towards Byleth. Wet sensation overwhelmed her body, the revolting shudders that pulsed throughout her figure, the fingers that dared made her sing broken melodies unfit for the apparent goddess squeezed nausea into Byleth. It was all in the name of forcing the projected image and mentality into her. It was all there to say that Byleth was hers.

“She did so many things to me, I—I don’t know anymore!”

Disgusting.

“She told me I was hers! I was hers alone!”

Absolutely revolting.

“Byleth—”

“El,” Byleth sharply inhaled and eased her bruising hold. The abrupt pacification was alarming. Though her tears were now long gone, her intonation was grave. “I don’t want to be used by her. I’m not her Mother… and I don’t want to be used by anybody anymore… I’m scared of losing myself.”

“Rhea is long gone.” Edelgard kissed her weeping wife’s forehead. “No one will use you ever again. If anyone does, I’ll cut them out before they can do anything to you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

From Edelgard’s perspective, it was heartbreaking to hear all of this from her professor. She had known about it. She didn’t know the extent of the details, but she knew these experiences were bad. What she did not gauge was how BAD Byleth had it during her time at the monastery. The façade was well-kempt and hid her inner turmoil well. Whenever the topic was brought up, Byleth would brush it aside with an “another time” excuse. When they did have the scarce time to become lethargic, Edelgard would always forget or hold back on the matter, the fear of ruining the positive energy that surrounds their dates.

It was her fault for having it reach to this level. Everyone has the possibility of hiding something behind their smiles. It just so happens that Byleth was one of them. If only she had noticed it earlier… If only she had suspected it sooner… All these times they spent together, Byleth was afraid to succumb to the lowest point of her emotional health before her wife. Edelgard may have recovered and rightfully moved on from her past after a year from the war… but that was not the same for Byleth. Edelgard lowered her hands to her sides.

“I’m sorry it got so bad for you, my teacher… I won’t ever let it happen again.”

“…it’s not your fault.”

“But it is.”

The blanket began to move in place as the Adrestian Empire’s emperor shifted her position. She eventually sat upright and straddled the older female; both of her hands pressed upon Byleth’s abdomen. From all the times they’ve spent together, Byleth knew where this was going. This kicked up the temperature within her head and caused her heart to beat faster— and for a different reason too.

“Please, let me make it up to you.”

“You… don’t have to.”

“I do. The fact that the archbishop dares call you hers infuriates— doesn’t sit right with me. I want you to be mine, and I want to be yours. Besides…” she cupped her chin and hummed. “I heard that sex is a good way to increase one’s mood.”

“?!”

So, it really was going down that route. It had been some time since they’ve last conducted this passionate activity. After all, they were both important individuals leading the united Fodlan and the Adrestian Empire. One acts as a war hero, and one acts as an emperor. Both always ran about their businesses. Various occasions forced them apart from each other. Whenever they had time to spend, they were either too tired or weren’t in the mood. They might as well diagnose themselves with TBD, also known as the “Too Busy Disorder”!

Edelgard blinked a couple of times when Byleth appears thunderstruck.

“…why are you giving me that bizarre look?”

“I’m confused. Who told you that?”

“Dorothea.”

“…”

“Byleth?”

“…”

“…I’m going to kill Dorothea when she returns from Brigid.”

“Please don’t.”

Imaginary fumes puffed out of the noble’s head as beads of sweat flew out of the professor. It was followed up with chuckles and giggles from the pair. The heavy atmosphere that hung over their shoulders began to lighten up. That was the first step towards recovery. Postures still the same, Byleth reached up to pat her wife’s arm. Red discoloration continued to thrive on her cheeks as she murmured,

“I’m yours.”

It may have been soft, but low and urgent. Edelgard felt her core tightened from the intonation. She leaned down and kissed her spouse’s lips. It was brief and simple; an act of consensual agreement for the upcoming event.

“Very well. I’ll make sure to chase your fears away.”

The white-haired fumbled to strip Byleth’s dark shirt. It was a slow and excruciating process as the tactician would lift her upper body every now and then to rid of the attire. Shirt tossed to the side, Byleth urged Edelgard to do the same.

“It would be unfair if it’s just me.”

“Are you sure you aren’t saying that just to see me naked?”

“There’s… that too.”

How bold of Byleth! Then again, wasn’t she always this bold? She had always teased her students of silly remarks. When it came to Edelgard, those teasing were more in line of flirting and outright full of suggestive innuendos.

No— it might have been more so with her underlying desire to indulge in her beautiful wife’s figure. Scars and sutures did not matter to Byleth. She loved Edelgard no matter what she looks like; her love for the lord transcends beyond physical affections and wants. Edelgard heeded to her words and took off her tanktop. It was thrown to the floor without a second thought.

Now, the two bore themselves half-naked to each other. As they were wearing their sleeping attires, there was one less hassle with regards to their bras.

“Breathtaking…” Edelgard commented, her hands sliding up to Byleth’s peaks. “I will never understand how I can make mine as big as yours.”

“Don’t say that. Yours has a charm of its own.”

“Maybe if I drink more milk…”

“El.”

Byleth pulled the young woman down with a single tug on her arms. Their lips crashed together. The way they kissed contrasted greatly from their previous one. Their tongues danced with one another as Byleth held the back of Edelgard’s head. Edelgard whimpered into her mouth the instant Byleth began to sweetly suck on her tongue.

“Mmm…”

In retaliation, when they parted for oxygen, Edelgard leaned forward to litter suckles and kisses onto the woman’s neck. She pushed her hips into Byleth, their neither region softly pulsating from the friction. A quiet groan slipped out of her wife’s mouth. That tickled Edelgard’s raw instincts as she retracted from the abdomen. Then, she pressed against it again. Not too gentle to be considered an annoyance, but not too harsh to elicit a full-blown euphoric trip. Just enough to justify the occasional moans from the older woman. The back and forth motion continued as Edelgard tenderly sucked and nibbled on Byleth’s smooth neck.

“Hah— Y-You’re… good at this as always— Hah…”

She closed her eyes and basked herself in the feeling of Edelgard’s hot mouth. To gain further access, Edelgard pressed her thumbs unto Byleth’s jaw, lifting it up so she could continue to explore the new premise. Byleth shivered from her profound action. The grinding against their private regions wasn’t helping either. She would softly gasp whenever pressure was applied to the soft nub. That turned on Edelgard and encouraged the continuation of her ministrations.

“I’ve learned it— Nngh… from the best teacher.”

“And w-who… who would that be?”

She concluded the hickey spree with one last smooch and raised her head. Sweat began to formulate on their forehead from the ensuing assault as Edelgard smiled. Though she did not offer an answer in return, the teasing question had a predictable response. They knew all too well who it was. In lieu of the lack of verbiage, Edelgard slowed her hips. Byleth had to resist the whine that nearly slipped from her throat.

The white-haired could tell she was frustrated. This was mildly amusing for the noble. How the mighty hero of Fodlan yearns for touches to satisfy her sexual hunger! And Edelgard would be the only person to ever deliver the salivating content to her front door. They exchanged another fleeting kiss, though more so to ease the impatient teacher.

“You’re so cute.”

Their roles were completely reversed in this case. Normally, those were the words whispered into the alumni’s ears while the professor’s fingers were buried deep into Edelgard’s flower. They would thrust in and out of the moist region. Heartful cries were proclaimed to the whole world as the bed creaked and rocked. Tonight, it was different; it was Edegard’s turn to make her wife tremble under her magical spells.

Edelgard proceeded to straighten her back and conduct adjustments to her straddling. Both her hands were kept busy by roaming Byleth’s bare figure. Pleasure zipped like electrical currents through the teal-haired thanks to the sensitive touches of her wife’s fingertips. They brushed, smoothed, and tapped on the elongated scars. Compared to Edelgard, they were not as numerous. Yet they were more haphazard and susceptible to touch.

She traced Byleth’s side.

This blotched scar came from a bandit’s brass knuckles. It derived from protecting Bernadetta. His vicious fist dug so hard into the ex-mercenary’s side, it managed to shatter a small portion of her ribcage. Crimson substances leaked from the corner of her mouth as Dedue and Felix avenged their fallen instructor. A miracle must have been in place to survive the aftermath. Had it not been for Linhardt’s and Marianne’s healing specialties, she would have been long gone.

She traced Byleth’s stomach.

This horizontal scar came from Dimitri. His dagger jammed into the teacher’s already-bruised tissue, breaking through the epidermis and slamming the hilt against it. Tears streamed down his face as he tore through her muscles. Blood splattered among the dirt road with a single flick of his wrist. Hubert and Ferdinand had tag-teamed to exterminate the dangerous noble. This time, Lysithea and Mercedes used plenty of white magic to keep their professor from walking over to the afterlife.

She traced Byleth’s chest.

This burnt scar came from Rhea. It was during the first revolt against the Church of Seiros at Garreg Mach. The archbishop conducted electricity through her open palm. Its incredible voltage charge nearly destroyed the Crest of Flames that kept the tactician conscious after stillbirth. Edelgard and Sylvain went in a frenzied state when the archbishop knocked Byleth into the abyss with another strike of her potent spell. Sothis was likely the one who assisted in the healing process during the five-year coma Byleth succumbed to. Without the female, Byleth would have never woken up from the rubble.

Each of these scars told terrifying tales. Close encounters with deaths were all too common for the students and teachers at the monastery, and their odds increased drastically after the war’s initiation. Edelgard’s scars mostly consist of her surgical implantations, but none ever met drastic battle scars like Byleth; the most she ever had were nicks and small lacerations from arrows and lances. (The army would never let harm fall upon their emperor!) She shook her head and settled her hands onto Byleth’s breasts.

Edelgard’s thumbs glossed over the brown nub, her fingers started to work on the mounds. A gentle squeeze emitted a burst of air from Byleth. She gazed downward and saw the woman furiously blushing from the said-action. The professor raised an arm up to conceal her lower facial features, her navy hues silently staring at her wife. Another squeeze caused a muffle this time. Then, she massaged the pair at a consistent pace. Every now and then, she would pinch the nipples between her thumb and index finger. A pinch would elicit a stronger reaction from the 26-year-old.

“Nngh— Y-You’re getting rough— Hah!”

“You think that’s rough?”

That remark was eventually joined by the returning gyrate of Edelgard’s hips. Byleth’s arm retracted as an uncontrollable moan erupted. A combination of the two activities were driving her insane!

“Hah..! Can you— Can you let me— Haah! Let me take off my pant! P-Please!”

Edelgard nearly laughed. Now her professor was begging for more? This never gets old. She adheres to her request and removed her hands. Another pause took place as they transitioned to the next phase. The blanket over her shoulders threatened to slip off as she yanked on their casual pants. After pulling it off, she tossed it carelessly aside like the other attires. Now it was time to move onto the main course. Edelgard’s predatory eyes darkened. She can’t wait to get her mouth all over Byleth and drive her to the edge of the cliff.

Previous sessions normally had Byleth lead the intercourse. This time, Edelgard took control. It had been so long since she acted as a ruler in their sex life. Another kiss was in a tall order for her lover. Hot bated breaths puffed at their faces upon departure. Edelgard flushed her body with Byleth, the blanket shifted to move alongside with the royal, and planted kisses over every inch of her wife’s alluring body.

“Hah…”

She licked the brown nub.

“Hah—!”

She swirled her tongue around the nub.

“Ha—AAH!”

She bit the nub.

“NNGH—AH!”

She used her teeth to rub the nub.

Byleth’s outcries were escalating in volume. It would be to no one’s surprise if they would earn a few dubious and flustered expression from fellow allies and soldiers. (The worst one of them all would be Hubert. He would hunt after Byleth and skewer her if he could!) But she didn’t care, and she’s certain her wife didn’t care either. Her licks, bites, and roaming hands continued almost as if she were making up the days they hadn’t showered in love. She would occasionally kiss as if to replace the traumatic events with their blissful memories. All in the name of making Byleth forget about those individuals… even if it is a temporary solution.

Edelgard lifted her mouth from Byleth’s breast.

“I’m going to move down,” she said. “Can I?”

“Why are you asking me that?” came a hoarse whisper. “You already know the answer.”

“Just making sure, my teacher. Can’t forget about consent, can we?”

The teal-haired would have playfully knocked on the female’s shoulder had they not been in the middle of having sex. Edelgard was always the careful one in the relationship.

“A-Ah…”

It felt good. Way too good. Byleth’s consciousness was starting to float into Cloud Nine as Edelgard made her way slowly down the writhing body. Pauses were made to plant fluttering kisses and strokes on the curves of Byleth’s belly, her hipbones, and silken skin on the inside of her thighs. Whatever negativity that strangled the professor had dissipated completely. Her body was engulfed in a fiery need of quenching as her walls were slick with arousal. Now all she could focus on was the pleasure.

“AH?!”

She unconsciously pressed her hips into Edelgard’s first stroke of her tongue. Byleth knew Edelgard was eventually going to descend to her neither region, but it had been so long since she had someone relieve her of the pent-up tension through oral means.

“Nngh—!”

God, it felt so GOOD. The strokes from her tongue were slow and steady, yet it managed to drag out the best sensation. Up and down her tongue went, Edelgard tasted as much as she could from the blossoming pink region. Byleth groaned and shuddered when her spouse tried to keep her thighs apart.

“A-AH! E-El—!!”

Byleth bucked from the powerful sensation. Her clitoris— Her clitoris! Edelgard became drunk from its scent as her mouth worked wonders upon the sensitive head and greedy lips. Had it not been for Edelgard’s strong arms keeping her hips down, she would have tossed the other female out of the mattress by accident! A faint grunt came from the busy white-haired. Enough blood had pooled into Byleth’s abdomen to cause a feminine erection of the pink nub.

“I’m not holding back.”

“Hnngh?!”

An index finger greeted the entranceway in the midst of her lavishing. First, its fingertip lightly brushed upon its surface. Vertical strokes croaked immodest sounds from the older woman. Eventually, the lord dug not one, but two fingers into the wet region.

“D-Deep!”

That was the remark after Edelgard wiggled the two body parts into her body. It was a foreign sensation for Byleth since someone other than herself is feeling the inner walls. They naturally clenched around the slender fingers. Its squeeze and release intervals were synched with her core’s reactions. Byleth’s hands immediately flung to the bedsheets. She trembled when Edelgard curled her fingers.

“AH! That— Hnngh!”

Words were discombobulated; sentence structures fractured. The state of her verbal speech was similar to the state of her mind. They were clearly in another plane of existence. Byleth lifted her head as her hips moved on its own.

SLICK, SLICK, SLICK

The sound effects were not helping. In this dead night, the steamy room amplified the wet motion coming from Edelgard’s fingers. Paired with their fast, hot breaths, bliss clouded their mentality and overwhelmed their hearing.

“S—So good— Haaaah!”

Byleth wasn’t the only one to be pleasured. Edelgard felt herself become wet; wanton desires starting to override her sense of self. Unlike Byleth, she had close to zero self-restraint when it came to achieving the climactic finale.

Thank goodness multi-tasking was her forte. A quick prayer to a godless entity sprung forth as she removed her remaining hand on Byleth’s thigh. It went down to her dripping nether region. She grimaced in Byleth’s hypersensitive labia, her fingers making quick work of her own clitoris. If there’s something she wanted to do, it was to be shoved off the edge alongside with her teacher.

“Nngh...!”

“E-El!”

A glance at her spouse drastically sky-rocketed the pleasure by tenfold. Byleth squeezed her eyes shut and found it impossible to remove the burnt image of Edelgard masturbating during their hot intercourse.

“I— Something… it’s coming— AH!”

The way the teal-haired’s face twisted… her looks were becoming desperate as Edelgard relentless tortured her with the thrust of her fingers and flick of her tongue on the clit. She was occupied with three matters at once, but Edelgard had always kept her lilac hues pointed at her significant other. There was so much to take in. She had to record them and burn them to memory. The amount of beauty that glistened from her wife… A dictionary would not be able to fully convey the radiant perfection of a being that is called “Byleth.”

Another groan burst from Edelgard, her fingers rushing to the finish line. The intensity was burning into her core and gathered enough aroused energy to strongly throb her rubbed nub.

“El… EL!”

“Byleth—!”

She was close, and so was Byleth. In an effort, to reach the mountain’s peak, Edelgard pulled back her fingers. They were pulled enough just enough to leave the remaining tips inside of the pulsating walls. A few rough rubs on the outer flesh were made. Then, she slammed it right back inside, curving at the most sensitive and erogenous area of the vagina: the G-spot. This was immediately followed up with her lips closing around the clitoris and sucking hard on it.

“A-AH—!!!”

“!!!”

Byleth’s muscles began to jerk, her figure stiffened, and her knuckles white as a huge explosion implored upon her body. As for Edelgard, she felt her body quiver from a sudden flow of euphoria throughout her figure. She retracted from her own area. Yet it wasn’t over for her teacher. She made sure to drag out Byleth’s climatic experience for as long as humanly possible, her tongue taking in the fluids, licking the moist premise, and swiftly rocking her curved fingers in and out.

“W—Why is it—! No— It’s coming again— NNNNGH!”

Right when she came down from her high, her professor bounced right back up to another orgasm. Though it was not as powerful as the first one, it still sent her spiraling upward to the clouds once more, pleasure rippling through her body until it faded into nothingness.

Their figures finally plopped back down on the mattress. A whimper came from Byleth’s direction once Edelgard removed her soaked fingers. All forms of heat excluding her spouse’s body evaporated instantly; the drug they undertook began to wear off. Now, they were basked with pleasant aftermath. Eyelids half-closed and head fuzzy, Byleth arms were extended outward on the bed to stare at the noble.

Edelgard crawled up as the blanket (with great wonder) continued to cling onto her shoulders. Upper body raised in a cobra position, not long afterward, she inserted the wet fingers into her mouth. Byleth’s eyes widened at the sight.

“T-That’s dirty!”

“Not if it’s from you,” she smirked. “You’re always a dessert I never tire from.”

“…”

Geez, when did Edelgard learn how to talk like that? Did she learn it from Dorothea…? No, it had to be Sylvain, right? No… that can’t be it… Just who and/or where did she learn that from? (Silly Byleth, it was from you!) The professor’s features became bright red, an embarrassed chuckle heard.

“I… I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t need to say anything, my dear teacher.” She leaned down to tenderly kiss Byleth. Strands of her white locks fell upon Byleth’s rising chest as she proclaimed, “I will always be yours, and I won’t let anyone ever take that away.”

“El…”

That’s right… Though her PTSD is not easy to overcome, she must remember that she has Edelgard von Hresvelg. The woman whom she first protected, the woman whom she first taught, the woman whom she opened up to, the woman who became her wife. Past trauma may be ebbed into her history book, but the future can be built on top of them.

Their fingers intertwined. Then, Byleth closed her eyes and beamed.

“I will always be yours too.”

#lemon the lemonade #loyalflutist #edeleth #fire emblem #fire emblem three houses #edelgard #Edelgard von Hresvelg #byleth #f!byleth #f!byleth x edelgard #byleth eisner #fan fiction #fanfic #fan fic #fanfiction #one shot #os #edeleth week (twitter)#day 6: i'm yours

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wolfpawn · 5 years

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Life is a Game of Risks, Chapter 21

Chapter Summary - Tom drops Alexianna and Lily home after their weekend with him, but someone arrives soon after to shatter Alexianna's happiness with a dilemma for her.

TRIGGERS - Past domestic abuse, Past emotional abuse, Past sexual abuse.

Previous Chapter

Tags: @damalseer @hiddlesbitch1

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Lily was inconsolable as her mother put her in the bedroom to calm down. She was crying when Diana went to stay with Emma for a night and when Tom dropped them home to have the boiler looked at, and she realised they were not going back to his house, Lily went into full meltdown mode. Something Tom had never fully witnessed in a child before.

‘If you run off, I don’t blame you.’ Alexianna looked at him sadly. ‘This is the flip side to smaller kids.’

‘She is...what’s a good word for this, expressive?’

‘She is, on occasion, the most horrible brat you could ever bear witness to.’

Tom pulled her to him and kissed her head. ‘I am not going to run because your daughter loved being at my home so much she is sad to be away from it.’ Tom stated factually. ‘I am not going to run.’ She looked at him in doubt. ‘Lily is human, she has a good and bad side, everyone does.’

‘Do you remember the time you yelled at the house that you were going to go live with your dad because your mum would not let you go to that concert with your friends.’

‘I was a moody teenager.’ Tom stated, only half as an answer, half as a statement to himself.

‘What are your downsides now?’

‘I do still have a temper when I am really angry, I have, on occasion, been known to be selfish.’

‘Everyone can be selfish.’

‘I have been by myself so long, I think I can be overly so.’ Tom warned. ‘What about you?’

‘You want me to list faults, really?’

‘Real faults, not ones he made you think you have.’

Alexianna thought to herself for a second before answering. ‘I am too non-confrontational, I allow myself to be taken for a fool. I am not assertive and I second guess myself.’

‘That is an accurate analysis.’ Tom nodded. ‘I need to take that into account, that you need me to remember to think of you in everything. But so too do you need to start saying “Tom, don’t forget us”.’

‘“Us”?’

‘You and Lily.’

There was silence in the bedroom again. ‘Lily?’

She came to the door of the bedroom, her face red and blotchy. ‘I have to go now darling, so I have to say goodbye.’ She started to cry again and held onto him. ‘I know, I have had such fun with you too, I cannot wait to spend time with you again soon.’

‘I don’t want you to go.’ She sniffed against him.

‘I know, I don’t want to go either.�� Tom cuddled her before handing her to her mother. Tom leant over and gave Alexianna a kiss. ‘I will see you both soon.’ he promised. Alexianna nodded before giving him a small smile, she believed him. ‘Goodbye.’

‘Stay safe and have a great rehearsal.’ she commented as he walked out the door and back to his car, waving to them both before driving off.

Alexianna went back to organising things after their few days out of the house, saddened to not be with Tom any longer, but elated to have been with him for the weekend and for their two nights which told her all of Jonathan's comments regarding her being impossible to pleasure were dismissed in mere moments with Tom’s actions leaving her very happy as she thought over their escapades once more. She was pulled back to reality by Lily standing in front of her looking at her expectantly. ‘I said, there’s a man at the door,’ the youngster piped up.

‘Oh, thank you, sweetheart,’ Alexianna walked to the door, expecting it to be Tom having forgotten something. ‘Did you for…’ The smile on face fell as soon as she realised who was standing in front of her.

‘Hello, Alexianna.’

‘What are you doing here?’ She closed the door over so Lily could not see the man on their doorstep.

‘Is that any way to treat family?’ He grinned coldly.

‘We are not family.’

You’re still married.’

‘He left.’ She hissed. ‘You’re not welcome here.’

‘I don’t care if I am welcome or not, if you want a divorce, you better let me in.’

‘I don’t need him to get the divorce; if he won’t sign, then the judge can permit it anyway.’

‘It’s simple, you sign his piece of paper, he signs yours.’ Edward grinned smugly.

‘Leave it and I will read it, if it is fair, I will do it.’

‘No, here and now, or he will make life difficult for you.’

‘The only way he could do that is for him to return and I am not taking him back.’

‘He would not want you anyway after what you did.’

‘And, pray tell, what did I do?’

‘You’re kidding? You and your little stunt with that kid.’

‘“Stunt?” What stunt?’

‘He touches you, for the first time in ages from what he says, and you magically get pregnant.’

‘I remember that saying from sex ed, “it only takes once”. Trust me, no one feels more cheated by that than me.’

‘He was excited for the baby, he was the happiest he had been in years, buying everything you and it everything it could want, and for you to do that.’

‘Do what, I know Law is your thing, not biology, but here’s a lesson for you, men choose a baby’s gender, not women, if he wants someone to blame, he can blame himself.’ Alexianna was shaking with anger. ‘He is the reason she is a girl, not me.’

‘What are you talking about? You’re mad, you are. This isn’t about her being a girl, he knew she wasn’t his, and the whole world saw her on your little excursion to the zoo. Funny how close she looks to that actor when he was younger, blonde, curly-haired, some would even say it is obvious to see. He found those photos you had hidden of him and his family. You are out now, showing her to the world, my brother forced to look at your indiscretions.’

‘Indis...are you insane? I never did anything out of line when I was married, I did everything asked of me, and look where it got me.’ she felt her heart pounding in her ears. ‘Get out away from my door, how dare you come here, to my home and say these things to me. I am finally getting on with my life. I am finally realising I am not the pathetic mess he made me think I was, I have someone who cares for me, who cares for…’ she paused, not wanting her former brother-in-law to know Lily’s name. ‘I am happy with my life, tell that bastard, sign the papers or not, I don’t care, I am going to be free, and that I genuinely hope to never hear his name again. She is not Tom’s daughter, but you have no idea how much I wish she was. She loves him, he loves her, he is more of a man than Jonathan could ever wish to be.’ she turned and walked back inside, going to close the door, only for Edward to push in after her. ‘Get out.’

‘Sign these papers and I...Jesus Christ.’ He looked around the house, disgusted at it. ‘You live in a hovel.’

‘Thank you for your unwarranted opinion, now get out.’

‘Sign these and I will never bother you again, trust me, and you will have your divorce papers by Friday.’ He held an envelope out to her.

Alexianna looked at the envelope, unsure as to what could possibly be inside, but she knew the only way she was going to get rid of Edward was to at the very least attempt to act as though she was considering what was being offered. Taking it, she took it out and read it, her eyes going wide. ‘You think I am going to sign this?’ She threw them back at him.

‘You say you don’t want anything from him, just a clean divorce.’

‘That is not clean, that is me accepting responsibility for the breakdown of the marriage, something I am not too bothered by, but the reason...I did not cheat on him, I did a damn good job as his wife, I kept my wedding vows, to the point of stupidity on my behalf. I am not going to lie, she is his and there is no way I am saying otherwise, so get that filth out of my home and rewrite it, acknowledging the truth and I will consider it, if not, the courts can deal with it.’

‘Do you really want to go there, Alexianna? Think about your lovely boyfriend, what will he say when it is public knowledge you opened your married legs for him and he got you pregnant, you trying to pin it on your husband, have him work to pay for another man’s child. How will that affect him in work, do you think, hmm?’ Alexianna swallowed in fear. ‘Face it Alexianna, you have no choice, you know that.’

‘I am not signing it.’ she reiterated.

‘I’ll give you twenty-four hours to reconsider, but come tomorrow evening, if you haven’t, Jonathan will apply for a DNA test on Lily, she will have to get blood samples taken, you know that right, needles, and when it is shown she is not his, he will have you shamed in a court for it.’

‘And were they to prove she is his, which is indeed fact. I can get him for four years of child support payments and I’ll add spousal support payments because clearly, this is only about money for all of you, so I will have him paying for her the rest of her childhood and teenage years, just remember that.’ Alexianna retorted. She shoved the papers at him, ‘Now get out.’

‘If she is his,’ The look on Edward’s face told her he very much doubted Lily was Jonathan’s. ‘Then you know what that means, don’t you? Access, every second Christmas, weekends, everything, he’ll go for it all.’ Alexianna could not hide her terror at that prospect, Edward realised that she seemed more scared of that than any other threat. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow.’ he promised, turning to the door again.

‘You know her name.’ He turned to look at Alexianna again, ‘How do you know her name?’ He did not answer. ‘How do you know her name?’ Alexianna repeated, walking towards him. ‘Or where we live?’ Edward said nothing. ‘Have you actually sent a private investigator on us?’ She remembered back to the many times she had sat to dinners with Jonathan’s family and his brother, Edward was without scruples, he would do whatever was needed to win a case, private investigators were something he used with notable frequency. ‘You have had some asshole follow me and my daughter around?’ her anger grew once more. ‘If you don’t get out of my house right now, I will call the police.’

‘And say what exactly?’ Edward smiled smugly.

‘I am not an aficionado at all things law-based, but I can tell you, you being in my home without my wanting you here is not legal.’ She warned. Edward’s smile fell a little. ‘I was in Oxford before everything with Jonathan, I think you forget that, though it must be hard for you to since that is where you wanted to study, but you didn’t get in.’ She snarled, Edward’s upper lip curled up in contempt at that. ‘Get out of my house and if you ever so much as mention my daughter’s name again, I will come after Jonathan for everything.’ She swore, “Every copper penny he owes me and Lily.’

Edward kissed his teeth before walking out of the house, not saying anything else as he did, but leaving the papers by the front door. As soon as she heard the door click closed, Alexianna’s composure fell and she crashed to the floor sobbing. Lily came out of the bedroom and rushed over to her mother. ‘Mommy?’

Alexianna tried to stop the tears and crying, but she couldn’t, the anxiety, fear, anger and terror that filled her during her confrontation with her brother-in-law continued to pour out of her as she tried to deal with just happened. Instead, she pulled Lily in close to her and hugged her tight.

‘Who was that man, Mommy?’

‘It doesn’t matter, sweetheart.’

‘He made you sad.’

‘It doesn’t matter.’ she reiterated, holding her daughter close.

Alexianna did not fall asleep that night, instead, she stared at the ceiling until morning, Lily curled up against her. Part of her wanted to talk to Daniel, another wanted her to talk to Tom. Daniel because of his knowing Edward, Jonathan and indeed the rest of his family, and of their treatment of her, and Tom because this would affect him. Part of her wanted to just sign the papers, say Lily was not Jonathan’s, get her divorce and never hear from Jonathan and his family again, it was so easy, but her pride hurt because of it. She had been faithful when so many women would not have been, and in her opinion, she could not blame them. But she had been faithful, to a fault, she had respected her vows. It was petty in some respects, but it had been a large part of her getting over everything, knowing it was not her fault, that she had done nothing to deserve that. To sign that piece of paper, she felt she would be taking the blame, allowing Jonathan to have another victory as they finally parted ways. She did not want anything from him, no money or acknowledgement of him as Lily’s father, in fact, she wanted the exact opposite, she wanted to be free of him. Alexianna felt trapped and that she had no one to talk to.

#Life is a Game of Risks #chapter 21 #tom hiddleston #tom hiddleston fic

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spockandawe · 7 years

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So you’ve heard Spock is the actual literal devil

Have you heard that I’m a terrible person? A plagiarist? Have you been told that I’m only into transformers at all because I wanted to make this one random guy unhappy? If you’ve been told that, you’ve probably also been told that a year and a half later, I’m still making fanworks just to upset him. You might have even heard that shhhh, don’t disagree with Spock on anything, or they’ll hunt you down and harass you.

Right, okay. This is one hell of a saga that I will attempt to tell in as compressed a form as possible. It’s a lot. Years ago, back in HS, there was this one guy who policed the hell out of one of the character tags. I’m going to call him C. He’d pressure people not to make the content they were making, decry the hateful people reading with a malicious eye who thought the character would ever do anything bad (the character was a creep). And because being obnoxious wasn’t bad enough, if you didn’t cave to his demands, he just might do things like start whisper campaigns about how you support rape, casually out you as a survivor, cute little things like that.

This is not a story about that guy.

This is a story about C’s one-time attack dog, eventual boyfriend, and current ex. We’ll go ahead and call him R. I’ve tried real hard to avoid namedropping on my blog before, but could people find him from this? Probably. Have I stopped caring? Absolutely.

TL;DR, unsubstantiated accusations of serial harassment are a little questionable when they’re coming from someone with a years-long, extensively documented history of serial harassment and a personal grudge against me.

Cut for length.

Edit 7/2/2017: R has posted that he regrets making these posts about me, and admits that he said things that were out of line. And he’s stated that he’s going to try to do better in the future. I genuinely, truly appreciate that. I’m leaving this post up because there have been lies about me floating around for a while and I reserve the right to defend myself, but I really do appreciate that.

Oh balls, none of this makes sense without backstory (I’m so sorry)

If you think I suck or my work sucks, that’s fine! You do you, go enjoy the things that make you happy.

If you think I’m the devil because this one guy told you about my evil, evil past and all my terrible misdeeds, without anything at all to back up his words? You can ask me. I don’t bite, and oh lordy do I have receipts.

To be clear, R is totally allowed to hate me! I don't care. I don't care if he hates my writing, I don't care if he hates me as a person. But now he's escalated to spreading lies about me, and people are believing him, and I’m not enough of a doormat to let that just stand.

And I’m going to cheat a little. Here’s a memo with the cliffs notes version (not the original memo, I made a copy with C’s urls cropped out since he hasn’t attacked anyone in a long while). Warning, digging any distance into this turns up violent fantasies, violent sexual fantasies, creepy interactions with a minor, and lots more, it’s all really, really unpleasant. Evidence is thoroughly documented, please tread with care.

You would not believe how truncated that is compared to the reality.

Now, the worst of this came via C. Who has calmed down a lot these days, and I’m really happy that’s the case. Good for him. I hope his life continues in a direction where he doesn’t find it necessary to do this stuff.

Lucky for me, R was standing by to pick up the slack.

It doesn’t show up as much in the memo, which is mostly C-focused, but R was standing by C this whole time, defending his right to spread around private information about someone’s abuse history, sending nasty messages on the other guy’s behalf, and much,much more. it’s long, it’s awful, it’s unpleasant. R personally hurt people in some significant ways that I don’t want to link directly, for their sake. He expressed deep remorse a few times, but it never stuck.

Here’s my personal favorite quote from R. He’s speaking to the CSA survivor that C casually outed (with information given to him in confidence), and who they’d been running a long, long whisper campaign against, and who was understandably a bit upset over the whole thing:

oh go wank to your own tears [name]

#and get your sympathizers to help #nasty fucking people #maybe if you cry enough youll be able to go into second grade in the fall #ooc

Said, again, to a CSA survivor they outed and harassed. That person is such a sweetheart, and this screencap still infuriates me.

The first time I saw C pick a fight he had lots of friends. Shockingly, as he did things like loudly fantasize about how he wants to mutilate people and rant about how autistic people should die, those friends mostly drifted away. I know one person had a friend even help them stage a faux relationship-ending fight, so they could be sure they’d be able to completely cut and run from C. R stuck with him, though. Eventually they even started dating.

‘Spock followed R into transformers to harass him and stalks his favorite characters just to harass him more’

Then, transformers. Here, let me show you the first post (by R) that ever brought MTMTE to my attention. I spent years being aggressively uninterested in transformers, but this caught my eye

and honestly, ppl (adults too!!!) shipping someone who has the mentality of a child and is quite glaringly lacking a world of experiences and general understanding of things outside of ‘good’ and ‘bad’, with an adult, is just. very alarming and gross to me.

and honestly, the fact that there is a large portion of people who want him to become romantically (and sexually!!!) involved with either one of two fucking adults in canon, and hell, esp those defending it with ‘hes an adult too tho!!’ is really gross.

you can pretend all you want that hes ‘an adult’ because his body is, but theres no way jro didnt intent to code him as a child. stop fetishizing children lmao,

#pedophilia -/-/- #cygate -/-/- #if someone comes at me screaming ‘rule 38′ im gonna shove them in a locker

I didn’t know transformers, but I was pretty sure this was some straight-up bullshit.

(but don’t worry, he ships it now! no hypocrisy here, no sir)

It’s “really gross” to ship this adult with other adults. Mm. Given the reasonableness of the claims these guys have made in the past, and given their extensive history of harassing people over those claims, I hopped to the wiki to check it out. I read a bit about the comic and the plot, and all of it sounded so fascinating that I just had to give the comic a try.

Reader, I married it.

I shotgunned MTMTE 1-47 in two days, started doing fanworks right out of the gate, and I’ve never looked back. A lot of my art was cygate, because come on, the comic wants you to ship it so bad, my first readthrough ended with issue 47, and that was the first ship I’d ever read about for the series, even before I dove in.

Now, both these characters punch me right in the heart, in some painfully personal ways. Tailgate’s the more relevant one here, but I don’t even know if I could do justice to the emotions both of them give me.

I’m still not a fan of how R’s lies about me have edged me into needing to say this in public, but okay. I’m developmentally delayed. It’s been a rough ride. And Tailgate hits me in some of those spots so hard it just takes my breath away. I’ve got a lot of baggage over not being a real adult, and not in the funny oh-no-how-do-taxes-work way, more like an extended months-long meltdown my first year of college because I can tell that my friends are years ahead of me and I don’t know how to even start catching up, and just existing, as myself, is humiliating.

All of my relationship milestones have come painfully, painfully late. The whole thing is still one awful emotional bruise. I hate it, and I hate how easy it is to convince myself that yeah, of course you don’t actually deserve to be treated as an adult and you never will. Just look at you. So then it is unbelievably important to me that I can see someone someone who is like me, being treated as a legitimate adult, and being able to have an adult relationship.

Hearing that shipping someone like me is essentially pedophilia is the opposite of that.

But he ships it now, so everything is fine :)

Yeah, you know what? Another fucking receipt.

uGHGH im so tired of all the rabid cy// /gat// //e fans like even cy’s giving em a look like ‘leave my fucking child alone’

#i just #im hoping jro has some taste tho and doesnt make an adult date a child #and if not im hoping the outcome blows over soon bc im so tired of seeing people defend pedophilia #pedophilia -/-/-

Parental.

This continued even after JRO explicitly confirmed Tailgate was an adult.

Bonus ableism: shipping Whirl (another character who hits me way too hard) isn’t okay either. Even though there isn’t the excuse of ‘but he only lived three years--’ No, at that point, you’re saying that an adult who fails to adult correctly does not count, and isn’t allowed to have romantic relationships. It makes my skin crawl, and it is an issue which is very personally and directly important to me.

So some of my cygate was porn from the start (it’s what I write. it’s what I draw.), and some of the porn was made because I was upset over discourse that says someone like me needs to be treated as a child. I played with cywhirlgate too, because omg how could I not, and some of that was porn as well. It was ages ago, so I don’t remember the details for every little thing I made. But when I saw someone saying that Cyclonus and Tailgate had a parental relationship, I’m sure that helped nudge me in that direction. Maybe R thinks I should have channeled my emotions by starting a whisper campaign to exclude him from fandom spaces. But I think my way of working through bad emotions might have been a little healthier than that.

So when R accuses me of making cygate content to spite him? Half true. Just true enough to be real fucking dishonest. R spent a nice long time insisting that cygate was pedophilia. I channeled my outrage over that ableism into fan creations.

I didn’t attack him. I talked about him some – on a private forum, with people who’d already been aware of him and had been watching him and C hurt people for years, plural. I haven’t told people on tumblr any real details about him until now. And R still is happy to talk about how it was his toxic ex’s right to post torture/rape/murder porn vent fic about actual people.

Tell me, how exactly am I in the wrong?

Bonus pettiness: I posted some cywhirlgate porn. The next day, R vaguely whined about robot pedophilia and turned around and wrote some obviously-a-response cywhirlgate. Where it was super platonic and the text explicitly said it was super platonic and it even had platonic thigh nuzzling. With two “children” involved. Of course I turned around and wrote more fic of my own, because jesus h christ that made my skin crawl. You want to play this game? I guarantee I can write faster than you, let’s do this. (he did not follow through on that)

I’d also like to say that forgetting inconvenient little details like this is a thing with R. Hard to call me terrible for writing spitefic when you write it yourself.

A history of Spock’s personal involvement

Let’s backtrack a tiny bit. You may notice I am up to my elbows in this nonsense for no clear reason.

I was friends with some of the people C was taking shots at, and I was unfortunate enough to believe his original smear campaign about that one artist (I’m still ashamed about that). I cared about a number of people C was trying to hurt. I think one or two fanworks of mine upset him, but he already had loads of targets. I kept tabs on him and R, because anxiety is the gift that just keeps giving.

Eventually, C fantasized about wanting to put my former datemate’s hand through a meat grinder (ey wrote a fic that portrayed his fave in a negative light). And R defended his right to do that.

The person he posted about is still feeling the effects of that incident. I’m still feeling the effects of that. And it wasn’t even directed at me, just someone I care deeply about.

R has recently posted that ‘oh my goodness, C sure was awful, remember when he posted this thing about a meat grinder and how unreasonable it was?’ Thanks buddy, glad you noticed, now just go ahead and keep on blaming me for the aftereffects of what your boyfriend did, and what you defended.

After that, it was months before I could properly look away from either of their blogs.

C posted extensively about trying to track down the street address of his ~enemies~ (including the one whose genitals he fantasized about mutilating). He posted about how autistics should die. He had skype chats about wanting to do amateur brain surgery on people. All while posting very often about finding real addresses.

Yeah, it’s more than a year later, and every so often I get a stab of anxiety and have to head off to double check on what these two are up to.

I will repeat that C has been pretty chill lately. He’s got a career he’s aiming for. Good for him, go find success, please don’t slip back into being an internet bully. It’s sad and upsetting to see R echoing some of the early patterns of his ex, and it’s so strange to see me labeled as his own personal enemy.

‘Spock will totally come harass you too’ and/or various accusations of ableism

So there are some things I did in the mix in this history that I regret. Occasionally, I went out and flipped through the blogs of C and R’s friends, seeing if maybe they’d had said something in their notes, did they have any vagueblogs C liked, did they post about— It got unreasonable. I admit that. Anxiety was at the root of it, but it absolutely got unreasonable. And also it is a massive time sink, and I can’t remember the last time I bothered with it. I enjoy life much more when anxiety and paranoia issues don’t have their claws in me. This hasn’t been an issue in a very long time.

I came down hard on some of the kinfeels and system stuff too, which I do walk back a bit. C’s approach was… hahaha. It was something. And he was my intro to the kin and system paradigms. I saw R talking about C’s approach being unreasonable too, pretty recently. So that was an unfortunate bit of poison in how I processed the next people I met who did that sort of thing. I don’t do kin stuff, but I get it. And DID may not strictly apply to all systems, by the formal diagnostic criteria, but I’ve learned there are plenty of other dissociative disorders out there. And I met people who were multiples and who did kin things that weren’t these two guys. Which helped a LOT.

But the big one, hmmm. C wrote a fic. The idea was interesting, but the execution frustrated me. Everyone but the main lead felt so… flat. Everyone was constantly cruel to the main, for no reason. I saw a way to riff on the original text while staying true to its shape, and writing my bad emotions out is also a major, major thing I do to cope. Now, my big thing is that I should have asked before I remixed. I’d been thinking in terms of, y’know, transformative fanworks. Even with authors like Anne McCaffrey and Anne Rice, who fought against fandom, people have still felt that it should be allowed, even against their wishes. So I wrote the remix. I gave full credit on ao3 in the ‘inspired by’ box, linked to the original with positive words, the whole shebang.

The guy was still furious, and… that’s fair. I thought I’d written a thing on self-sabotage that was pretty sympathetic and compelling, and the self-sabotage actually drew a lot on my own personal history. But I gave the main flaws he strongly disagreed with, and I didn’t ask for permission. I get why he was/is angry over it.

I’ve been a fixture on their shitlists ever since :P

It’s remarkable, even while R posts now about ‘oh my god, remember how C wrote the creepiest things?’, I’m still the one who’s the the actual worst, for being skeeved out by the creepy things and finding a constructive way to deal with it. R’s controlling ex gets full freedom when it comes to vent fic, even when it’s about wallowing in torturing, raping, and murdering an avatar for a real person (the original one they harassed!), or punching someone in the face until they agree to be your friend (another artist these guys targeted). But R’s position seems to be that only C is allowed to vent (even if it’s genital mutilation fantasies), and I’m definitely not.

Oh, and R has now expanded this remix into me totally having a consistent pattern of stealing ideas and plagiarism and so many remixes that are obviously done as revenge on anyone who pisses me off. So that’s nice.

So R hates your writing. Is that seriously why this post exists?

Ha, no. Let’s look at the concrete things R is saying. Here, let me post a little sampling of evidence.

These aren’t just things he’s shouting into the void, people have responded saying wow, I never knew that! These are lies that people are believing about me. And then yesterday, June 30, 2017, he warned a friend not to disagree with my meta, or I’d come harass them. A friend I’m aggressively leaving out of this, just as I’m leaving out other responses, because these people don’t deserve to be dragged into R’s bullshit.

Let’s have bullet points. Some of these are the silly spock-is-bad-at-writing complaints. Those are here because this whole mess is pretty fucking depressing and the ridiculous claims make me laugh, but these are all things he says.

Spock is evil – You know what, he’s not calling people pedophiles, which is a step up. I’ll take it.

Spock is a plagiarist – I remixed one fic with full credit, said only good things about the original, and linked to it in extra places so that people would have extra opportunities to click through and check it out. I arguably remixed inappropriately, but that’s not the same thing. Words have definitions. If I’m a plagiarist, so is everyone who’s ever written a fanfic.

Spock is something something mean when people disagree – I don’t even know, man. I’m actually shockingly conflict-averse. Is this because I make walls of text and explain why I hold opinions at great length? I enjoy talking about a thing I love. I’m autistic, I’m hyperverbal, and this is my special interest, so is it that I talk a lot? That’s the best I can do. I’ve talked about things I disagree with on a private forum, in which case mister pot has had a lot of fun in public on twitter, not only talking shit, but also spreading outright untruths. Maybe he wants to rethink this one.

Spock will come harass you if you disagree – You need to back the heck down, pal.

Spock’s meta/fic/characterization is bad and they should feel bad – Hahaha, fite me. He won’t, because I can articulately defend myself at significant length, and his criticisms seem to stop at ‘spock sucks’, but hey.

Spock used ableist language about Whirl - I... what? This one confuses me and makes me laugh so it stays here. Also, holy double standards, batman.

Spock is only into transformers to harass R – I checked out transformers because I was pretty sure R was being disgustingly ableist (he was). I stayed in transformers because I adore it. I had to adore it a lot to make me willing to share fandom space with these two. My god, I have better things to do with my life than spend all my time on something that bores me just to annoy one asshole on the other side of the internet. I’d ask if he thinks I spent dozens of painstaking hours cross-stitching Starscream just to bother him, but….. yep, pretty sure he does.

Spock goes after all of R’s favorite characters to upset him – R latches on to just about every interesting and/or sympathetic character that shows up. When he was dating C, they covered most of the cast between them. I don’t care who R likes best because I don’t agree with his opinions. I tend to stay away from his opinions because I don’t like reading things that bother me. This is asnine. I’m only allowed to like the characters R despises, I guess.

Spock makes fanworks for things R likes just to make him see them – Oh my god, I don’t caaaaaare. I write about things that interest me, unless I’m venting. Say, venting about the way R and his ex have deliberately hurt a shockingly high number of people I care about. ‘Spock made rodistar because I liked it--’ I made it because I wrote a thing about their parallels, and shipping was the obvious next step. R isn’t that important to me. Promise.

This is just exhausting, man. The anxiety bugs had been dying down, and it had been ages since I checked out this guy’s anything. C, who drove the whole initial blowup that led to this, has been quiet and chill on tumblr. But R has learned from his ex’s old example and has been having fun spreading lies about me.

In conclusion

Some fun history.

R was 18 when he told a CSA survivor upset about being outed and harassed to wank using their tears for lube.

He was older than that when he defended C’s right to post about wanting to mutilate someone’s genitals (for the crime of saying C’s logic didn’t make sense).

He was older than that when he complained about that person’s spouse being ‘vicious’ for reacting badly to C’s genital mutilation fantasy.

He was older than that when he nodded along as C called autistic people retards and said they should die.

He was older than that when he talked about being happy that someone he disliked was triggered, and nodded along when C fantasized about that person drinking bleach.

And he was older than that when he defended C, his twenty-something boyfriend, against the thirteen-year-old that C had been having incredibly inappropriate conversations with, despite skype log proof and everything.

And despite all this, I’m still the bad guy, because I didn’t think what they were doing was okay. I’m the bad guy for being upset by C's actions, even though... R is now upset by C’s actions. The ways I responded to C were inexcusable. My only motivation is to hurt people. Every thing I did that ever upset them still means I’m terrible, even though R is saying this while he’s busy posting about how awful C is. And this all means that he needs to warn his friends not to catch my attention, or I’ll come harass them.

So, I’m tired.

I’m very tired.

I’m glad he’s trying to grow past that history. Good. Maybe he can do that without making up a story about how I’m unrepentant villain who lives for villainy and who only takes joy in causing him pain. I’m sure it helps him, because it’s a story that brushes aside the shit he did that he regrets, and makes his past less painful to think about. But that doesn’t mean I’m okay with him telling lies about me.

I don’t know why I’m the one boogeyman he has left (I kid, it’s because I’m in transformers, and because he thinks I’m popular. he harps on it a lot, and it’s weird for everyone). I mean, whatever. I’ve aggressively avoided publishing drama details on here for a very long time. But there are two blog tags, miscellaneous other untagged blog content, three forum threads, and hundreds of pages of skype logs with hard evidence of this bullshit.

I’m pretty sure that if he tries to defend himself, one, he’ll place some blame on his ex. That’s fair. C was pretty darn controlling and demanding. But R is still absolutely responsible for his own actions, and is especially responsible for the harm he personally caused. He’ll talk about how it’s bullshit to pull up all these receipts from so very long ago. In that case, his receipts for me (whatever he even has) are equally old, so aren’t they null and void? No, because Spock is the devil. And it’s not so much bullshit if he’s clearly learned nothing, and has gone back to spreading outright falsehoods about people.

To be clear, a lot of the lies he told about me were told a while back. Weeks to a few months to a year. I was letting it sit, because I’d really, really hoped this was over. Yesterday, June 30, 2017, he warned a friend not to publicly disagree with my meta or I’d come and harass them.

It’s been three years since I first saw him doing this. I’ve watched him hurt a lot of people, and I’ve watched him admit, multiple times, that he has hurt people. I thought he’d learned to stop following these toxic patterns. Apparently he has not.

Edit 7/2/2017: To repeat the edit up above, R has said he regrets posting these things about me, and that he's going to try to avoid slipping into this in the future. I very much appreciate that.

#drama tag #abusaa tag #tw: all #i can't list them all it's too many #just tread with care

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throwawayblog-blog1 · 7 years

Text

Dirk @prettyboypng or mod jas @gbptboys is a pedophile and manipulative

@prettyboypng other URLs he’s used include aroacehawkeye, planet-eater, dyscalculiacdonnie, officialbrobot, ocpdmaxie, bipolardirk, deadglitchkid, circuitsbreaker, swordself, deadmettaton, soulrxsonance, chipotanakni, and shadeslayer

i’ve included specific warnings in front of paragraphs and receipts, but global cws for suicide baiting, emotional abuse, csa, pedophilia, and child porn solicitation.

whether you read this or not, i would strongly recommend blocking and staying far away from dirk if you’re a minor.

uhh, i’ve never made one of these things before. i am writing this post because he’s continually managed to brush his actions off and manipulate how people perceive him so he just seems like a victim of unfortunate friend drama, and with the content of his actual actions, i find this frankly really fucking disturbing and i don’t want other people to be hurt or taken advantage of by him. I’m tired of him escaping accountability.

i’ll split this into two parts. the account concerning csa will be first, and then i’ll be adding mine and other’s experiences with him below.

#child porn cw #pedophilia cw #csa cw this section will address csa and child porn solicitation

so this doesnt come from me, but from a minor who had been friends with dirk for a while and recently began suspecting they’d been sexually abused by him. i’ve been asked to rewrite what they told me in my own words and keep it totally anonymous in the interest of their comfort and safety, so i’ll be replacing any mentions of their name with lark.

lark mentioned that when they first met dirk they admired and idolized him and made that very apparent to him, and also that they dont ever remember being excessively complimented and praised by him like most everyone else was (i describe this happening below), which they believe is evidence of emotional manipulation and not just a coincidence.

lark confided in me that, despite how immediately beforehand dirk would ask lark if they were a minor and they would say yes, he talked to them about intensely personal nsfw subjects, such as masturbation, and his sexual desires. he would also express frustration when lark would mention having a crush on anyone but dirk, even though dirk shouldn’t have any reason to want a minor to be interested in him, even jokingly. he did this after he had turned 18, and while knowing that lark was a minor having literally just asked them himself, as if that absolves him of any fucking responsibility.

lark also recalled another incident where they and a friend (who was an older minor at the time) got onto the subject of drugs, alcohol, and nudes and other sexual pictures while in a conversation with dirk. their friend sent a suggestive picture of themself, and dirk sent one that he’d accidentally taken while taking photos for his nsfw blog (which lark stressed they and their friend ended up having access to, something that dirk brushed off because it was a ‘cool URL’). it eventually culminated in lark feeling pressured to send a suggestive photo of their own, which dirk did nothing to stop beyond reverse-psychological platitudes like “dont feel pressured to just because we’re doing it”. dirk did nothing to tell lark or their friend “hey maybe dont send sexual pictures of your bodies to me, because theres no reason that i would want to encourage that sort of thing as an 18 year old adult man, unless i’m a fucking predator.”

i understand this is a very serious thing to be presenting especially without receipts, but i’m an adult and wouldn’t feel comfortable handling receipts of that nature because it concerns sexual events with a minor, and warning people about dirk while maintaining anonymity is really important to lark.

this section will address emotional manipulation and bullying, specifically concerning me and my wife @gendfleur

i should start by saying that i don’t have many receipts for my own claims about him because i don’t have access to all of his old blogs where some of the worst of the posts were, and i’ve also changed computers so i can’t grab any of our old Skype logs. i’m conscious of how this might make people even more critical of my claims, and so i’ve taken care to remember as much as i can and to be as detailed as possible with the receipts i do have.

some brief background about my friendship with him: we met in september 2014 through a homestuck fictionkin skype group, and were close until june 2015, when i cut off our friendship. rose had been qpps with him since before the network was made, and they broke up in december 2015.

towards the latter half of our friendship he started flipping between showering me in positive attention and then ignoring me cold shoulder, which was kind of a red flag for what was about to happen.

dirk has a habit of giving people excessive praise and admiration often in public tumblr posts, making them feel special and wanted, and then making extreme emotional demands and using passive-aggressive bullying tactics, such as deliberate ignoring and vagueposting, to manipulate his friends into complying with them. he’s done this in private with almost everyone i know who has experience with him, and he’s also done this publicly with his mutuals in the past.

example posts of this from his old blog @circuitsbreaker, plus transcripts:

http://archive.is/qnrRl

[sorry i know you guys don’’t care i'l geta round to replying to the nice replies i got earlier later okay]

http://archive.is/fD6F3

[*keeps refreshign to see if someone wil lsay “no i care!”* *nothing* okay]

http://archive.is/3znpI

[mkay yall will get Up in Arms when i make a joke abt a dairy product but when i have my posts tagged #like/reply if u read# or im asking for help or posting about something thats important to me yall drop off the face of the blogosphere……. alright]

http://archive.is/hqHC5

[nobody cares about me and nobody cares about what i say and nobody cares about things that are important to me and nobody listens to me anyway and nobody cares about me !! haha nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

http://archive.is/0ronD

[i really am leaving i was jsut saying gn to rose but js Proof most everonye deosnt actually cae: really big difference on notes on my post saying no one cares and then on all my other posts. yall just dont want me to be Sad well heres a thing u can prevent it by Liking my Posts if you Read them like i have In the Tags now! conveicneit right. whatever]

and because these posts are a little old (the most recent of those was january 27 2015) here’s an example from a more recent blog of his, @soulrxsonance, proving that even half a year later (this was posted august 25 2015) with less frequent guilt-trip posts, he hadn’t actually changed his behaviour

#self harm cw http://archive.is/XECIx

[thanks like, the one personwho said anything to glaceon (note: a system member of his) when she asked for thanks for stopping me from self hamring,thaks everyone else for not,caring,atall,thanks,the intrents abotut o be turned off so bye]

wrt me specifically, i’m schizophrenic and autistic so social interaction is really exhausting. this is something i made very obvious by talking about it casually around him and in tumblr posts that he could see, but despite that he went out of his way to make me feel shitty for not being able to live up to his demands (they were random and hard to discern because he would never be straightforward about it but usually if i failed to be present for his breakdowns, like all his posts, tell him frequently that i loved him, talk to him whenever i had free time, or other exhausting bullshit then he would start the guilt-tripping), and often in a very roundabout way through vagueposting and ignoring me, which he would also get increasingly frustrated at me for not understanding... despite the fact that i’m...... schizo and autistic, so i’m shit at understanding social subtleties and hidden messages in peoples behaviour. i have no doubts that he understood this about me also, and yet he did nothing to de-escalate his behaviour.

one clear example of this that i can remember but can’t find a receipt for is when he was having a meltdown on tumblr and was asking for people to tell him they loved him, but after it was over he confessed it was just because he was trying to get someone specific to say it, who he was afraid didnt like him as a friend anymore. this was really obviously about me, because it was around the end of our friendship when he was already namedropping me when he thought i wasnt online like ‘i dont think cerb cares about me anymore’ (which is relatively innocuous but when aggregated with everything else he did, really goddamn bothered me)

another example i remember is when i came out as a nonbinary lesbian after id’ng as a trans guy for the entirety of my friendship with him up to that point. i came out through a post on my blog and stated that i’d had to contest with internalized trauma and abuse to get to a point where i could admit i was lesbian, and he vagued about this later on, saying roughly ”a lot of my friends who used to be trans dudes have been coming out as nonbinary girls lately and it makes me feel like my boyness might be fake too”. i understand that he’s also trans and so i can imagine the thought process behind making a post like that, but i still found that incredibly insensitive and maybe even borderline misogynistic of him.

being friends with dirk was making me suicidal because of the stress of his manipulation (and at this point, trying to interact with him when i was able seemed to be fruitless because he would usually ignore me anyway). so, one night in june 2015 i sent a very diplomatic message to him saying, in essence, “i love you but this isnt healthy for the both of us, and im sorry if im misreading but i think this is for the best”, and then deleted him and unfollowed him.

this is where i remember things getting really, really scummy and panick-inducing for me, because he started vagueing and namedropping me even more frequently, on his public blog for all his friends and my friends to see. i dont know the real extent of this because it seems he deleted certain posts at some point and i was never interested in checking his blog to see for myself back then, but i had mutual mutuals coming to me for months, telling me that he was running his shit off saying something vicious about me.

an example of this (i know this is kin drama lol, and i want to emphasize that i’m aware dragging petty kin drama into posts like these is usually frowned upon, but what i’m focusing on here is how wildly he blows me just fucking finding a kintype out of proportion and the fact that i only talked about this on my blog after i cut him off, strongly implying that 1) he was stalking my blog 2) he was getting someone else to stalk my blog or 3) someone following me was relaying info about me to him for kicks)

http://archive.is/0s9QJ

[tfw someone who told you you couldnt be friends with them anymore is now kin of yourere favorite fucking pokemon thats also incredibly personallyyl important to you because it reminds you of good parts of your childhood and of good memories of your family an firneds and its just a really personal thing and now it FUCKGGKKNGNG RIUIIENEND OFOOFOOFREVVVVVVVVVVVEER]

here’s a statement by @comorbird, a good friend of mine who was also mutuals with dirk and had access to his vent blog after i deleted him

#death wish cw #stalking cw

it kind of speaks for itself. this also proves my suspicions that he stalked my blog.

like, i get being upset over losing a friend. i’d understand it if, instead he vented about it in private.

but the fact that i knew he berated me openly, on his public blog for all our friends and mutuals to see, was fucking humiliating, triggered my paranoia very badly, and kept me on edge for months. i’m still appalled that he would do that instead of at the very least keeping it to private conversations, especially since he knew that i’m schizophrenic and that i struggle with paranoid delusions and that sort of shit. and even then, wishing someone who very politely distanced themselves from you was dead and stalking their blog is a ridiculous, extreme reaction to have.

rose was part of our friend group, and shie had been dirk’s qpp since before i knew them both. in the latter half of dirk and i’s friendship, hyr and i became pretty close, at some point even admitting we’d developed crushes on each other. in our talk about this (probably sometime in april or march 2015?) rose told me, roughly in hyr words “i’d totally be down for romantic dating but dirk gets jealous really easily so i’m afraid of broaching the subject with him. maybe sometime in the future though.” eventually rose came to realize that this was evidence that shie felt like dirk was controlling hyr romantic life despite them only being platonic partners, and we said fuck it and started dating in august 2015, after i stopped being friends wtih him just to clarify.

dirk noticed that we stayed close after i cut him off, and he unapologetically guilted rose for being friends with me and then eventually for dating me, bringing up how much he hated me in front of hyr and expecting hyr to go along with it, and getting very frustrated when shie would defend me or shy away from the topic. this had a really negative affect on hyr for a long time, forcing hyr into meltdowns and making hyr suicidal to the point of being institutionalized involuntarily around july or august 2015, and he did nothing to stop himself or tend to hyr hurt feelings. shie felt like shie couldn’t publicly talk about me lest shie would make him upset, while i was genuinely suffering panic attacks whenever i saw him on my dash.

so like i mentioned, rose was institutionalized against hyr will, and as this was happening dirk decided it would be a great time to contact me in an effort to... reconcile for rose’s sake, i guess. i don’t doubt he only decided to do so at that point to escape possible accountability for allowing the situation to boil over like that, and so he could safely make me feel like shit in a situation where i was under tremendous pressure to just smooth things over, especially since he brought in a friend of his to 'mediate’ or whatever (not their fault, i totally blame him for that). for the whole time he just told me how shitty he felt for me to “cut him off so suddenly”, how it “fucked him up”, that “he couldn’t really trust anyone after that” - and when i asked if i could also unload, he refused on the grounds that it would “just make him angry again and ruin his mood”.

rose has also confided in me countless times about the endless emotional demands he made on hyr, and the vicious guilt-tripping he would subject hyr to when shie couldn’t meet them. shie is also very mentally ill and was struggling a lot at this point in hyr life with being homeless and going in and out of inpatient care.

it’s also important to mention that dirk called both rose and i his “dependeds” (a term for people with dpd to refer to specific people they tend to rely on emotionally more than others), and he used that as a tactic to turn us into objects with no needs of our own, and to force us to feel morally responsible for him. this was something he dropped on me with no warning a couple months before i cut things off, and to be forced into that kind of responsibility without even asking me if it was okay made me very uncomfortable. i’m not blaming him for having dpd or saying all people with dpd are like that, but it was just another thing he specifically did.

i do have some receipts for what i described above.

these are some examples of him vagueing about rose on tumblr, which i feel demonstrate some of the guilt-tripping tactics he used, making sure that rose would come back to his blog and see how badly he was doing when shie couldn’t be there.

http://archive.is/IKY2k

[nattt (note: a nickname dirk had for rose) isn t onlune i skyed fleur (note: old pronouns rose used to use) when i s=woke up and fleur hasnt responded pelase goet back online so i ew can wtchsomething]

http://archive.is/75VVb

[lms if yo u like me more than you like horizon (note: an alternate name that rose uses) edit.// and dontnn fucking lie to make me feel better]

http://archive.is/Lar3j

[“hm wow my depended isnt here and idk when fleurs coming back so i guess i better throw myself into listening to aesthetic and/or angsty indie bands and only caring about that” - me, apparenalty,]

http://archive.is/po2Cn

[i know im fukkincg pathetic i know im a huge fucking loser for not doing anyhting like this earlier and i know im gonna be in the club with people who have been fucking doing this since like middle shcool or some shit!!!! jsut tell me if i should go to the meeting or not ffuckkginf my dpended is unreachable ust fukcing tell me what to do please thankss]

this chain of posts is specifically about times when rose was in the hospital, which goes to show how goddamn classy he is for using hyr suicide attempts to make hyr feel like shit

#overdose cw http://archive.is/nMGV4

[the last tiem the ac went out rose fucking ovserdosed so im (:]

#suicide cw http://archive.is/duyCL

[LIk e last time fleur was ther e for fuckkkign 2 weeks or a month o r something and we called each other nearly every day and i stil lwanted to fucking kms adn now its been like a week minus the weekend and i havent heard a fucking wor d and idk if fleurs okay or if fleurs staying longer or if fleur thinks im mad or if fleurs mad at me or fi fleur doesnt want to talk to me or hates me or is leaving me o r if fleurs calling someoen elese nstead of me or if fleur s even fc uk kign A l i v e anymore and its tearing me up. thats meant to be tering like tearing paper not taering like crying]

http://archive.is/jKwGV

[i keep having dreams that fleur will just pop up in the group chat im in with fleur, replying to smth, with no explanation, no hello, no hey im back, and ill be like “woah woah woah,, are you back? is that u?” and fleurs like yeah ofc and im like “ur really here right, its not a Dream,” and fleurs like “no im really back!!!” and im like “im not gona wake up and u wont be htere right” an d fleurs like no dw omf but. here we fucking are.]

http://archive.is/1pPmq

[i bet rose hmfucking hates me and doesnt ever want to talk to me again or doesnt care about me at all its either that or fkeurs Afuckign DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!]

these posts are from after they broke up, but also show how guilt-trippy he was

http://archive.is/61QZf

[fleur didnt “see me in fleur life anymore really :/” and then when i shut down and fleur asked to break up and i said fine fleur was all relieved bc fleur was worried abt my reaction like 1. i guess im that fucking pathetic and predicatlbe and fucjckkdfnknlsd fscc d tht fleur just knows im gonna flip out and was already scared to talk to me bc of it Lol 2. ii fucking was already broken up w fleur ever since fleur said fleur didnt see me in fleur life anymore but didnt want to brekau p uwu like what the fuck does that mean who says that everyone i lvoe is just going t o fuckingn tlel me they dont see me in their life none of them really do rn anyywaso]

#gore text cw #neck trauma cw http://archive.is/ilXdx

[idk i just idk fleur cares so much for hym and i cant do it it makes me want to cut my throat open and i dont even care about fleur anymore but im still upset about it i just cant do it im gonna take out my contacts and have a big cryfest]

these are examples of him playing the victim wrt to me cutting him off

http://archive.is/L9VFF

[no wonder he cut me off i deserved it i deserve all bad thigns i m such an annoying piece of shit im surprised he was even friends with me in the first place no wonder he cut me off im horrivle and annoying and more work than im worth no wonder they left me im not worth it im not worth anything no wonder fleur didnt fight for me or take my side or care at all im not worth it i dont deserve anything]

http://archive.is/uRTlR

[i thought i was one of hys closest friends but he cut me off like i was nothing and no one even fucking knew he did it until i told them he did. also fleur fucking knew that he was planning on doing it and didnt say a word to me this entire time until months after when i was having yet another massive breakdown about it so glad to know i mean absolutely nothing to the people who i see as literally the most important people in my life and that my not being in their life doesnt effect them at all and they dont even care to tell me when theyre talking about me behind my back about how annoying i am and how one of them is going to leave me in the dust]

http://archive.is/yKvpZ (it’s pretty long so i’ll just paste some choice bits)

[because of one of my past close friendships im fucking terrified everyone whos important to me is actually just planning on and thinking about how/if they should abandon me.] [mm fuffkkcinng iim so sfucked up over this honestly it was suppsoed to be ““““““““the best dcisisiong uuwuuwuwu” or sommemthing and its fucking ruining my life i cant thin k and i cant talk to anyone and i cant not talk to anynoen] [and i dont ahve any sort of reason to know or think or beleive that this wont happen because that ther person was thinking about it for fucking weeks and weeks] [fucking weeks and weeks of planning on leaving me and pretending everyhting was fine, of me thinking we were friends! of me trusting that person! of caring! i cant fucking trust anyone and that person doing that literally just prved it]

http://archive.is/QEIH2

[i dont even remember how long ago that happened honestly . its just kind of melting into “last month” the same way missioui is just “last year” #adn im fucking reliving it over constantly just like missouri how great! the 'clean break' systme really fucking works doesnt it! really fuc]

#suicide baiting cw for this last paragraph. eventually rose and dirk broke up around december 2015 (idr exactly) and then he blocked hyr unceremoniously, and it was at this point that rose went to his vent blog to unfollow it and saw a post that said, roughly “i hope cerb fucking kills hymself and that rose is devastated about it”. i don’t have a receipt for this because he’s since changed the url of the blog or deleted it altogether. it’s not all that surprising to me anymore anyway, with what i learned from sid telling me that he wished death on me pretty frequently.

that’s the end, i guess. if you have any questions i can try to answer to the best of my ability, i’m doing my best to be honest and transparent about this so i’m happy to clear up any confusion. please block dirk for your own safety, especially if you’re a minor.

#ok to reblog

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theconservativebrief · 5 years

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A white man on a Ryanair fight was caught on video last week berating a black woman passenger sitting next to him. After he called her a “stupid, ugly cow” and an “ugly black bastard,” and asking her to not speak a foreign language (although she was speaking English), flight attendants intervened, moving the elderly woman, not the man who was verbally abusing her, to a different seat.

Incidents like these are extremely common, and even have an official name: “air rage.” Every few weeks, a new story makes headlines, whether it’s men yelling at flight attendants or women yelling at babies. Of course, flying is a notoriously frustrating process, but so is going to the DMV or registering for internet service. Yet air travel seems to elicit a unique rage.

According to the International Air Transport Association, from 2007 to 2016 there were 58,000 unruly passenger incidents reported. And while some sources say air rage incidents have increased, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, the prevalence has decreased steadily since 2012 (as of October 1, there have only been 77; in 2012, there were 183). Thanks to social media, a meltdown on a plane can now reach millions of people in minutes, which Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight Attendants says may actually scare people into behaving better.

So what is it about flying that leads to such video-worthy confrontations? Talking with Nelson and a psychologist, I found that it has a lot to do with how stress and physical restrictions affect a person’s psyche.

Air travel is stressful even under the best of circumstances, and a large part of that comes from having to relinquish control, which happens long before you reach the plane seat.

Upon entering an airport, you are sifted through a regimented, mandatory, and inconvenient set of steps.

If you’re checking in luggage, it must be under a certain weight; if you’re carrying on, you have to worry about there being enough overhead bin space. While waiting in line at security, you are hollered at to “please have your ID out,” so a guard can evaluate you like a bouncer at a club. Once you get through that, you must efficiently remove your shoes, belt, jacket, etc., along with liquids and electronics from your bag, and put them in plastic bins to be properly examined. After posing with your hands above your head in a mysterious machine, you are then rushed out and have to simultaneously put on your shoes and reassemble your luggage.

And that’s just “security.” You still have to find your gate, probably buy some overpriced sandwich, and then wait for your group number to be called (assuming, that is, there are no flight delays or other snafus).

So once you reach your seat, the stressors on a plane are that much more potent. And Sally Augustin of Design With Science, a company that offers consultations on how to build spaces with positive psychological outcomes, says the whole concept of airplanes is terrible from a psychological perspective. “We’re in a tube where we can’t leave and where all sorts of stressful things happen to us, so it’s not surprising with all the mental energy that is diverted to dealing with that stress, we snap at each other,” she says.

Augustin says a violation of personal space is basically built into airplanes’ design. The simple act of sitting next to someone feels intrusive, which is even truer in today’s age of shrinking plane seats. ”You’ve got people who are way too close to you,” she says. “They are imposing on your personal space, and that makes us feel stressed, which is a short step to becoming irritable.”

The separation between first class and economy can exacerbate this: A study on how airplane design affects air rage found that the mere existence of a first-class section on a plane led to a nearly fourfold increase in the possibility of an air rage incident in economy; the study authors theorized it may have been due to a sense of deprivation and frustration.

Air travel is full of other stressors that you must comply with, like restricted mobility. The average person also doesn’t understand avionics, which can make turbulence or noises from the plane that much more anxiety-inducing (though statistically, flying is much safer than driving).

To alleviate stress, many passengers turn to alcohol and/or drugs, which Augustin says is a risky method. According to IATA, alcohol or drugs were a factor in 33 percent of unruly passenger incidents, and were definitely a factor in a June incident when a plane en route from Dublin to Ibiza had to make an emergency landing in Paris to remove three drunk passengers who were getting too rowdy. Drinking or taking sleeping pills on flights can lead to unpredictable behaviors, especially because your body may react to those differently given the atypical altitude and pressurization of an airplane cabin.

Air pressure and dehydration on a plane can also lead people to irrational action. Augustin says that when the air pressure is low, your problem-solving skills aren’t as acute, and on a plane, you can’t simply remove yourself from a situation. “When your cognitive performance begins to degrade, you don’t get to more sophisticated thought processes,” she says. Insert: yelling at a baby.

When flyers’ erratic behavior goes viral, everyone is put under a microscope, including those trying to help. One of the biggest problems people had with the Ryanair video was how the victim of verbal assault was asked to move seats.

Nelson has been a flight attendant for 23 years, and has been dealing with air rage before viral videos were a thing. “If someone is acting out toward someone else, you may see flight attendant placating them, but this is not because they condone it,” she says. “We take the least amount of steps to relieve the situation, and in that case, it may seem discriminatory, but we do the same thing with sexual assault victims: We’ll move the victim rather than the perpetrator.” (The logic: The person who isn’t in a rage is likely to be more compliant and thus easier to move.)

Flight attendants are trained to deescalate volatile incidents, which, Nelson says, teaches methods like using a “schoolteacher voice” or attempting to “cajole, calm, and soothe the situation.” The IATA published an entire guide on unruly passenger prevention and management and lists “incident motivators and triggers,” such as alcohol, mental breakdowns, and emotional triggers off-board (like losing a job).

Other triggers could be irritation with another passenger’s action or personality differences among travelers, two things that are harder to avoid on airplanes. In a private car, you don’t have to talk to anyone, and on public transportation, you can simply move. But on a plane, you have to abide by a set of rules that puts you into very close quarters with others — including people whom you might avoid pretty much everywhere else. Add to that the higher price tag of a plane ticket and people may feel entitled to lash out against people who infringe on their comfort. “When people feel out of control, they are going to act out against people who are closest to them, and in that plane, it is only a matter of inches,” Nelson says.

Even flight attendants aren’t immune to this stress — as was the case in 2017 when a man who refused to vacate his seat on a United Airlines flight was violently dragged down the plane aisle, bloodying his face. And last year on an American Airlines flight, a flight attendant was accused of violently taking a stroller from a woman, upsetting her to the point of tears and almost harming the infant she was carrying. When another passenger intervened, the flight attendant yelled at him too.

When an incident on an airplane happens, passengers are split up, or in extreme incidents, the plane must land, as was the case on a Qatar Airways flight last year. A woman used her husband’s thumb to unlock his phone while he was sleeping and discovered he had been cheating on her. Apparently, she caused such a ruckus that the plane had to make an emergency landing. Reports said she had also been drinking.

In all cases, Nelson says air rage is a federal offense and an FBI case can be opened on those who behave badly on flights. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, passengers who exhibit unruly behavior can be fined up to $25,000 and prosecuted on criminal charges. Reporting air rage incidents is up to the discretion of the flight crew.

Nelson says flight attendants are lobbying to raise the jail time penalty and civil penalty for air rage incidents, but while in the air, there’s only so much you can do. “It’s very hard to get justice on a plane,” she says. “You have limited options when you are in a metal tube.”

Original Source -> Why there are so many viral confrontations on airplanes

via The Conservative Brief

#IFTTT #The Conservative Brief

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amitku92 · 6 years

Quote

21-09-2018 (Important News Clippings) To Download Click Here. Date:21-09-18 Markets Too Big To Fail? Ten years after the Great Recession, central bankers may have planted the seeds for the next crisis Ruchir Sharma is chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. After the fall of Lehman Brothers ten years ago, there was a heated public debate about how the leading American banks had grown “too big to fail.” But it overlooked the larger story, about how global markets had grown too big to fail. By the eve of the 2008 crisis, the markets for stocks, bonds and other financial assets had tripled over the previous three decades to 347% of the world’s economic output, driven up by easy money pouring out of central banks. The scale of the markets is one major reason that, when Lehman fell, the ripple effects were large enough to cause the worst downturn since the Great Depression. Today the markets are even larger, 360% of global GDP, a record high. And financial authorities – trained to focus more on how markets respond to economic risk than on the risks markets pose to the economy – have been inadvertently fuelling this new threat. Over the past decade, the world’s largest central banks – in the United States, Europe, China and Japan – have expanded their balance sheets from less than $5 trillion to more than $17 trillion in an effort to promote the recovery. Much of that newly printed money found its way into financial markets, where it often follows the path of least regulation. Authorities largely succeeded in containing the risk that caused the disaster in 2008: mortgage lending by big banks. But with $290 trillion now sloshing around in global markets, new risks were bound to emerge – in places regulators aren’t watching as closely. Among the most worrisome: corporate borrowers and so-called non-bank lenders – mainly money managers such as bond and pension funds – all over the world. Among corporations listed on the benchmark US stock market index the S&P 500, debt has tripled since 2010 to one and a half times annual earnings – near the historic peaks reached during the recessions of the early 1990s and 2000s. And in parts of the bond markets, debt loads are much higher. Many of the US companies that were publicly traded in 2008 have since gone private, often purchased by private equity firms, in deals that leave the companies saddled with huge debts. Right now the typical American company owned by a private equity firm has debt six times higher than its annual earnings – or twice the level that a public ratings agency would consider high-risk or “junk.” At a time when central banks are holding interest rates at record lows, investors are more willing to buy junk, for the higher yields. And this hunt for higher returns has been playing out worldwide, whether in US private equity or in the burgeoning bond markets of Europe and emerging economies like Argentina and Turkey. The biggest risks outside the United States are in China, which since 2008 has printed more money and issued more debt than any other country, and where regulators have had less success reining in borrowers and lenders. If and when China reaches the point where it can’t print any more money, the bottom could fall out of the economy. More broadly, the trigger to watch is the United States Federal Reserve, since many other central banks tend to follow its lead in setting interest rates. Over the last 50 years, every time the Fed has reined in easy money by raising interest rates, a downturn in the markets or the economy has followed eventually. The latest tightening began two years ago, and it is already rattling emerging markets. When it hits the United States, it is likely to play out differently from 2008, leading to corporate meltdowns rather than mortgage defaults, and striking first in bond or pension funds rather than big investment banks. If a downturn follows, it is more likely to be a normal recession than another 100-year storm, like 2008. Most economists put the probability of such a recession hitting before the end of 2020 at less than 20%. But they are more often wrong than right. Professional forecasters have missed every recession since their track record begins in 1968, in part because they tend to base models on past crises. They see, for example, that big US banks are less vulnerable than in 2008, and so downplay the likelihood of another recession. To have any chance of anticipating the next downturn regulators in particular need to look for the new threats that have emerged since 2008. They need to recognise that attempts to micromanage bloated financial markets have only shifted the risks from big American banks to new lenders outside the banking system, particularly in the United States and China. Markets have grown so large in part because every time they stumbled, central bankers rescued them with easy money. When markets rose sharply – as they have in recent years – the authorities stood pat saying they are not in the business of popping bubbles. Now, the markets are so large it is hard to see how policy makers can lower the risks they pose without precipitating a sharp decline, which is bound to damage the economy. It’s a familiar dilemma: like big banks in 2008, global markets have grown “too big to fail.” Date:21-09-18 Work on a legal ecosystem for 5G How others make use of it to decide 5G’s fate ET Editorials India will not lag the rest of the world when it comes to launching fifth-generation telecommunication services, 5G. The ministry of telecommunications and the telecom industry are working to get the sector ready. Yet, that is not enough. The success of 5G will depend on how other parts of the economy make use of it. For the most part, they have no clue. Further, they have no clarity on how the legal ecosystem would support their use of 5G. The government must start work now to create the enabling legal and financial environment industry would need to take advantage of 5G. 5G is not faster mobile data than happens in 4G. There are two other parts to it. Ultra-reliable, low-latency communications form one part; massive machine-type communications, the other. These two set a new paradigm. Latency, in computing jargon, is the gap between instruction and commencement of communication. Zero, or near-zero, latency communications rendered in a very reliable fashion would allow things like remote surgery by robots in rural areas, carried out by doctors in towns. That would spell a big advance in healthcare. This is a use-case that is widely recognised. But if something goes wrong with the surgery, how would insurance apportion blame amongst the parties involved in surgery execution, the robot and its sensors, software, communications and the doctor? Unless the answer to the question is clear by the time 5G is rolled out, no remote surgeries would take place. How would the huge data generated by the Internet of Things, along with the rest, be carried, stored and processed securely? Should sharing of fibre-optic infrastructure be mandated and not just left to commercial contract? How can Indian industry be incentivised to show the ambition to manufacture 5G gear? The government has already moved on some of these things. But it needs to move on all, for 5G to be a viable reality. Countries that get their 5G act together will develop commercial and strategic advantage, especially with artificial intelligence. India cannot afford to lag. Date:21-09-18 Cleaning Up India With Gandhiji chaitanya kalbag, (Chaitanya Kalbag is an award-winning journalist and has worked in several countries over more than 44 years. He was Editor, Asia with Reuters News Agency, Editor-in-Chief of Hindustan Times, and Editor at Business Today.) The smartest thing Prime Minister Narendra Modi did was to hitch the Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) to the aura of Mahatma Gandhi. From its official launch at Raj Ghat on Gandhi Jayanti 2014, the Clean India message has been omnipresent and relentless. Like Gandhi’s mantra of swarajya, Modi has turned Swachh Bharat into a mass movement, a jan andolan that you cannot quarrel with whatever your political stripe. Gandhi spoke and wrote prolifically, using his magazines Navajivan, Harijan and Young India, postcards, letters and telegrams. Modi has also been a constant communicator about Swachh Bharat in his speeches, but he also has the power of social media, and a Swachh Bharat app so you can take pictures of dirt and garbage that are geo-spatially tagged and hopefully cleaned up. As is typical of this government’s social-sector projects, the bells and whistles are bright and loud. The SBM-Gramin dashboard has whirring numbers — 85.28 million toilets built until Wednesday, 453,211opendefecation free (ODF) villages (that means about 150,000 to go), and 21 states and Union territories (out of 36) certified to be ODF. SBM marketing has permeated our lives. Gandhi’s wire-rimmed glasses, the SBM logo, are printed on every banknote, and Modi loses no opportunity to repeat the message. He has vowed to make India ODF by October 2, 2019, Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary. In April, Modi travelled to Champaran to mark the 101st anniversary of Gandhiji’s first noncooperation movement in India. He addressed 20,000 swachhagrahis, who had spent a week in training and sharing experiences and best practices. An army of 450,000 swachhagrahis across the country, paid for by state governments, are the foot-soldiers of the campaign. Local inhabitants, they are trained for a few days before they head into the villages. Their aim is to spread participation and behavioural change. These village motivators are evaluated on their success in transformation: have they accomplished the ‘triggering’ in a village that fires up the community? How many toilets have been built, and used, in that village? And has that village remained ODF? There are other fighters in the field. The Tata Trusts funded about 450 young professionals who signed up for a year’s fieldwork, assisting district collectors in the cleanliness campaign. In addition, between May and July this year, about 200,000 Swachh Bharat summer interns put in a hundred hours each in villages close to where they live, earning two credits from the University Grants Commission. Everybody is made part of the movement: schoolchildren who last year produced 30 million paintings on cleanliness; a March 2019 target for the Railways to switch to clean train toilets; a new sanitation line item in every ministry’s annual budget; the India Sanitation Coalition which brought together about 400 companies; the Swachh Bharat Kosh (fund) which has scooped up Rs860 crore in CSR (corporate social responsibility) funds; and the Rs 100 crore donated by Mata Amritanandamayi. Modi has also enlisted a long line of celebrities to propagate Swachh Bharat and perform symbolic acts like Swachhata Hi Seva clean-ups or even shovel out human compost from twinpit toilets. Amitabh Bachchan did a Darwaza Band infomercial where the actor himself sings the campaign anthem. Akshay Kumar, whose Toilet: Ek Prem Katha was a box-office success, has announced a sequel. Kumar has also made television spots pushing the twin-pit technology. Making India clean, leave alone keeping it clean, is a Sisyphean task. We are a naturally littering people, an ‘effluent nation’ — did you see that picture of garbage deposited by floodwater on a Kerala bridge? Building toilets is not enough — is ODF sustainable, and will our villages learn solid and liquid waste management? Three surveys over the past three years have kept track of Swachh Bharat claims. The latest, the National Annual Rural Sanitation Survey 2017-18, was conducted by an independent verification agency under World Bank supervision in 6,136 villages across India. It checked toilets and usage in households, schools, Anganwadis and community latrines. It found that 77% of households had toilets, 93.4% of those who had toilets used them, and 95.6% of claimed ODF villages were confirmed.Starting September 29, delegates from 65 countries will gather in Delhi at the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention, and on October 2, the final day, UN Secretary General António Guterres will join Modi to signal support for Swachh Bharat. The drive to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6.2 — access to equitable sanitation and hygiene for all — has been impressive, but India is still doing poorly on the first part of SDG 6 (every household with a tap and access to drinking water). Water supply is vital for sanitation. Currently, about 78% of habitations get at least 40 litres of water per capita per day — but most of this comes from a common tap, hand-pump or well. Common taps, called public standposts, supply 56% of rural households; only 17% of homes have their own taps. Most of the supply is from groundwater which is rapidly depleting. When Modi launched Swachh Bharat, India was estimated to have 600 million people, nearly half its population, defecating in the open. That number is down sharply, but still around 150 million. India ranks 112th among 156 on the SDG Index for 2018. Date:21-09-18 अध्यादेश के माध्यम से न्याय और सुधार का रास् संपादकीय तीन तलाक को अध्यादेश के माध्यम से दंडनीय बनाकर केंद्र ने थोड़ी जल्दबाजी का परिचय दिया है। संविधान यही कहता है कि किसी मामले में अध्यादेश तभी लाना चाहिए जब मामला जल्दी का हो। इसीलिए उस अध्यादेश को भी छह महीने में संसद से पारित करवाना जरूरी है। यह प्रक्रिया तब अपनाई जाती है जब संसद सत्र में न हो। यह संसदीय प्रक्रिया की कमी को भरने का तरीका भी है और उसे बाइपास करने का भी। यहां लग रहा है कि सरकार दूसरा तरीका अपनाया है वरना जिस मामले पर इतने लंबे समय से बहस चल रही है उसे थोड़े दिन और इंतजार करके संसद से पारित करवाना चाहिए था। यही वजह है कि सरकार के इसका विरोध हो रहा है और इसे न्याय और समाज सुधार के कदम से ज्यादा राजनीतिक कदम के रूप में देखा जा रहा है। माना जा रहा है कि इसका लक्ष्य आगामी राज्यों के विधानसभा चुनावों और उसके बाद लोकसभा चुनाव को प्रभावित करना है। दुनिया के कई मुस्लिम देशों में प्रतिबंधित तलाक-ए-बिद्दत को सुप्रीम कोर्ट अवैध घोषित कर चुका है और उसने सरकार को इस बारे में कानून बनाने का भी सुझाव दिया था। सरकार ने कानून बनाया और उसे लोकसभा से पारित भी किया, लेकिन वह विधेयक राज्यसभा में अटक गया। अब मामला सुधार की उस प्रक्रिया के लिए समाज को तैयार करने का है। इस मामले पर मुस्लिम समाज विभाजित है। अगर महिलाओं का बड़ा और पुरुषों का छोटा तबका सुप्रीम कोर्ट के आदेश के पक्ष में है तो उस समाज के ज्यादातर लोग कानून बनाने और तीन तलाक को दंडनीय बनाए जाने के विरोधी हैं। सरकार ने इसी विरोध को देखते हुए नरम अध्यादेश पारित किया है और उसमें शिकायत करने का अधिकार या तो पत्नी को दिया है या फिर रक्तसंबंधी को। पहले के बिल में यह अधिकार किसी को भी दे दिया गया था। समाज में सुधार करने की प्रक्रिया उसके भीतर से शुरू होनी चाहिए और उस प्रक्रिया को मजबूती देने के लिए संवैधानिक संस्थाओं को सहयोग करना चाहिए। इसलिए अगर सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने शाहबानो से सायरा बानो तक महिलाओं के हक की कमजोर पड़ती लड़ाई को ताकत देने के लिए मूल अधिकारों का प्रयोग किया तो अब राजनीतिक दलों और समाज का यह फर्ज बनता है कि वे इस पर आमसहमति बनाकर इस कदम को उसके अंजाम तक पहुंचाएं। Date:21-09-18 मुसलमानों का बैरी नहीं है संघ जफर इरशाद, (लेखक वरिष्ठ पत्रकार हैं) राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के सरसंघचालक मोहन भागवत का यह कथन महत्वपूर्ण है कि जिस दिन हम कहेंगे कि मुसलमान नहीं चाहिए, उस दिन हिंदुत्व भी नही रहेगा। इस कथन की गहराई को अगर देश का आम मुसलमान समझ जाए तो शायद उन विपक्षी दलों की राजनीतिक दुकानें बंद हो जाएं, जो धर्म-मजहब के नाम पर राजनीति करते रहते हैं। नि:संदेह, इससे उन मुस्लिम नेताओं की भी राजनीति खत्म हो जाएगी, जो लगातार मुसलमानों को संघ के नाम पर डराते रहते हैं। वास्तव में राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ क्या है, इसके बारे में देश का आम मुसलमान आज भी कुछ जानता नहीं है। तथाकथित सेक्युलर नेताओं ने संघ को लेकर गरीब और अनपढ़ मुसलमानों के दिमाग में इतना खौफ और जहर भर दिया है कि उन्हें लगता है कि संघ तो बस उनका जानी दुश्मन है और वह मुसलमानों को खत्म करना चाहता है या फिर उन्हें इस देश से बाहर निकालना चाहता है। आम मुसलमानों के बीच ऐसी भी धारणा है कि संघ का मीडिया तंत्र बहुत मजबूत है और वह जो चाहे खबर फैला सकता है, लेकिन एक प��्रकार की हैसियत से मैं यह समझता हूं कि मुस्लिम नेताओं का मीडिया तंत्र इतना ��जबूत है कि शिक्षित मुसलमान भी उनके इस झूठ के कुचक्र में फंस जाते हैं कि संघ मुसलमानों के लिए खतरा है। इन पढ़े-लिखे मुसलमानों ने भी कभी इस पर विचार करने-जानने की कोशिश नहीं की कि क्या वाकई संघ मुसलमानों को देश से बाहर करना चाहता है? संघ प्रमुख के ताजा बयान के बाद शायद मुसलमानों के बीच व्याप्त गलतफहमी कुछ दूर हो। कुछ इसलिए, क्योंकि आम मुसलमानों के दिमाग में संघ के प्रति इतनी नफरत भर दी गई है कि उसे दूर होने में वक्त तो लगेगा ही। मेरी समझ से यह गलती संघ की भी है, उसने मुसलमानों के दिमाग में घर कर गईं भ्रांतियों को दूर करने का प्रयास नहीं किया। इसमें कोई दोराय नहीं कि संघ प्रमुख की ताजा पहल स्वागतयोग्य है, लेकिन कथित सेक्युलर नेता अब यह भ्रम फैलाने में जुट सकते हैं कि संघ मुसलमानों की बढ़ती ताकत से डर गया है और इसीलिए वह ऐसे बयान दे रहा है कि मुसलमानों को आकर यह देखना-समझना चाहिए कि संघ क्या है? अब यह भी प्रचार हो सकता है कि संघ की सहयोगी भाजपा को मुसलमानों के वोट चाहिए, इसलिए संघ प्रमुख की ओर से यह बयान आया कि गुरु गोलवलकर जी की पुस्तक ‘बंच अॅाफ थॅाट की सभी बातों पर मत जाइए। मेरा मानना है कि न तो संघ ने और न ही भाजपा ने ऐसा कोई ठोस प्रयास किया, जिससे देश के मुसलमानों के बीच फैली भ्रांतियां दूर हो सकें। मैं संघ के ही एक संगठन मुस्लिम राष्ट्रीय मंच के कई कार्यक्रमों में गया हूं। वहां जो मुसलमान मुझे मिले, उन्हें देखकर लगा कि वे जबरन बुलाए गए हैं। इन मुसलमानों की न तो मुस्लिम समाज में कोई पैठ है और न ही उनकी बात कोई सुनता है। वास्तव में मुस्लिम राष्ट्रीय मंच को भी यह समझना होगा कि चंद दाढ़ी-टोपी वाले लोग ही मुस्लिम समाज का प्रतिनिधित्व नहीं करते। मैंने राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के कार्यक्रम कई बार कवर किए हैं। इन कार्यक्रमों में मेरी पहचान कोई नहीं जानता था। इन कार्यक्रमों में मैंने संघ के नेताओं को मुसलमानों के खिलाफ कुछ बोलते हुए नहीं देखा-सुना। कुछ लोग यह तर्क दे सकते है कि संघ तो दरअसल मुसलमानों के खिलाफ अपनी योजनाएं बंद कमरों में बनाता है और उसे मीडिया के सामने उजागर नहीं करता। चलिए एकबारगी यह मान लेते हैं कि बंद कमरे में संघ के सौ कार्यकर्ताओं से मुसलमानों के खिलाफ कुछ बातें कही गईं, लेकिन उन्हें अपने हजारों-लाखों कार्यकर्ताओं को भी ये बातें बतानी होंगी, क्योंकि कथित साजिशों पर तो तभी अमल हो सकेगा। मैंने संघ के स्वयंसेवकों को संबोधित करते हुए सरसंघचालक को भी कई बार सुना है, लेकिन उसमें भी कभी मुसलमानों के खिलाफ कुछ बोलते नहीं सुना। मेरा सवाल मुस्लिम नेताओं से है कि आखिर उन्होंने संघ की कौन-सी गुप्त बैठक में हिस्सा लिया, जिसमें मुसलमानों के बारे में गलत बातें कही गईं? कभी-कभी मुझे लगता है कि संघ के बारे में मुस्लिम समाज ‘कौआ कान ले गया वाली उक्ति चरितार्थ कर रहा है। जिस तरह संघ ने कभी मुसलमानों की गलतफहमी दूर करने का प्रयास नहीं किया, उसी तरह भारतीय जनता पार्टी ने भी नहीं किया। भाजपा ने कुछ मुसलमान नेताओं को तो अपने साथ जोड़ लिया, लेकिन यह पता नहीं किया कि इन नेताओं ने मुस्लिम समाज में भाजपा को लेकर व्याप्त गलतफहमी दूर करने के लिए क्या प्रयास किए? उत्तर प्रदेश में भाजपा के एक मुस्लिम नेता मुसलमानों के बीच गलतफहमी दूर करने के बजाय मंदिरों में जाकर पूजा करते हैं, जबकि एक अन्य गाय को राखी बांधकर गोरक्षा का संकल्प लेते दिखते हैं। मुझे नहीं लगता कि इससे मुसलमान भाजपा के करीब आ जाएंगे। मै संघ की वकालत नहीं कर रहा हूं, लेकिन इस बात से सहमत हूं कि संघ के करीब जाकर उसे समझने की जरूरत है। बतौर पत्रकार मैैंने संघ के नि:स्वार्थ भाव से किए जाने वाले समाज सेवा के कार्यों को काफी नजदीक से देखा है। एक प्रसंग जुलाई, 2011 का है। दोपहर करीब एक बजे दिल्ली से मेरे कार्यालय से सूचना आई कि फतेहपुर के पास एक बड़ा ट्रेन हादसा हो गया है, तुरंत घटनास्थल जाने की तैयारी करो। करीब एक घंटे बाद मैं कानपुर से घटनास्थल पर पहुंचा, जो एक वीरान-सा इलाका था। वहां पहुंचने के लिए मुझे खेतों के बीच से होते हुए पैदल जाना पड़ा। दुर्घटनास्थल का मंजर दर्दनाक था। क्षतिग्रस्त बोगियों से शव निकाले जा रहे थे और घायलों को अस्पताल पहुंचाया जा रहा था। तभी मैंने देखा कि कुछ लोग आए और ट्रेन से निकाले गए शवों पर सफेद कपड़ा डालने लगे। उनमें से कुछ बच गए यात्रियों को चाय, पानी और बिस्किट देने लगे। यह देखकर मेरे मन में यह जिज्ञासा जगी कि आखिर ये लोग कौन हैं? मैंने एक व्यक्ति को रोककर पूछा- भाईसाहब, आप यह किसकी तरफ से बांट रहे हैं? वह सज्जन बस इतना बोले- जब आपको और चाय चाहिए तो वहां पीपल के पेड़ के नीचे आ जाइएगा। कुछ वक्त के बाद मैं वहां गया। वहां करीब दो दर्जन महिलाएं सब्जी काट रही थीं और आटा गूंध रही थीं। एक बड़े से चूल्हे पर चाय चढ़ी थी और एक ड्रम में पानी भरा रखा था। वहां बिस्किट के तमाम पैकेट भी रखे थे। एक सज्जन सभी महिलाओं और पुरुषों को जल्दी-जल्दी काम करने के निर्देश दे रहे थे। रात करीब 12 बज गए थे और ट्रेन से शव निकालने का काम जारी था। अचानक वही चाय देने वाले सज्जन मेरे पास आए और एक पैकेट पकड़ा दिया। उसमें खाने की सामग्री थी। मैंने कहा- भाई मैं खाऊंगा, लेकिन पहले आप अपना परिचय दो। उन्होंने इस वादे के साथ अपना परिचय दिया कि उनके बारे में कुछ लिखेंगे नहीं। उन्होंने बताया कि वे राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के कार्यकर्ता हैं और ट्रेन हादसे में पीड़ित लोगों और उनके परिजनों के लिए खाने-पीने की व्यवस्था कर रहे हैं। अगले दिन मैंने सारे अखबार देखे, किसी में उनका नाम नहीं था। Date:21-09-18 संघ का व्‍यापक संदेश संपादकीय राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ ने भारत के भविष्य को लेकर अपना दृष्टिकोण प्रस्तुत करने के साथ ही अपनी नीतियों, अपने क्रियाकलापों और उद्देश्यों के बारे में जिस तरह विस्तार से प्रकाश डाला, उसके बाद कम से कम उन लोगों की उसके प्रति सोच बदलनी चाहिए, जो उसे बिना जाने-समझे एक खास खांचे में फिट करके देखते रहते हैं। एक सामाजिक-सांस्कृतिक संगठन के रूप में संघ किस तरह बदलते समय के साथ खुद को बदल रहा है, इसका एक प्रमाण तो यही है कि उसने औरों और यहां तक कि अपने विरोधियों और आलोचकों को अपने ढंग के एक अनूठे कार्यक्रम में आमंत्रित किया। देश और शायद दुनिया के इस सबसे विशाल संगठन के नेतृत्व ने इन आमंत्रित लोगों के सवालों के जवाब भी दिए। भाजपा विरोध की राजनीति करने वाले अधिकतर दलों के नेताओं ने राष्ट्रीय स्वयंसेवक संघ के तीन दिवसीय कार्यक्रम का जिस तरह बहिष्कार करते हुए उसे सगर्व सार्वजनिक भी किया, उससे यही स्पष्ट हुआ कि जब संघ खुद में बदलाव लाने की सामर्थ्य दिखा रहा है, तब उसके आलोचक और विरोधी जहां के तहां खड़े रहने में ही खुद की भलाई देख रहे हैं। वे इसके लिए स्वतंत्र हैं, लेकिन समझदार तो वही होता है जो खुद को देश, काल और परिस्थितियों के हिसाब से बदलता है। नि:संदेह संघ को जानने-समझने का यह मतलब नहीं कि उसका अनुसरण किया जाए, लेकिन इसका भी कोई मतलब नहीं कि उसकी नीतियों को समाज एवं राष्ट्रविरोधी करार देकर उसे अवांछित संगठन की तरह से देखा जाए या फिर उसका हौवा खड़ा किया जाए। संघ प्रमुख मोहन भागवत ने राष्ट्रीयता, भारतीयता के साथ समाज एवं राष्ट्र निर्माण की आवश्यकता पर जिस तरह अपने विचार व्यक्त किए, उससे यह स्पष्ट है कि इस संगठन की दिलचस्पी राजनीति में कम और राष्ट्रनीति में अधिक है। उन्होंने समाज निर्माण को अपना एकमात्र लक्ष्य बताया। इस क्रम में उन्होंने हिंदू और हिंदुत्व पर जोर देने के कारणों का भी उल्लेख किया। इससे संघ और हिंदुत्व को लेकर व्याप्त तमाम भ्रांतियां दूर हई होंगी, लेकिन यह भी स्पष्ट है कि कुछ संदेह बरकरार होंगे। यह सही है कि संघ के इस कार्यक्रम का प्रयोजन लोगों को अपनी बातों से सहमत करना नहीं ,बल्कि अपने बारे में जानकारी देना था, लेकिन उचित यही होगा कि वह इस तरह के आयोजन आगे भी करता रहे। सतत संवाद-संपर्क तमाम समस्याओं के समाधान की राह दिखाता है। जब संघ हिंदुत्व को भारतीयता का पर्याय मानकर यह कह रहा है कि वह अन्य मत-पंथ के अनुयायियों को साथ लेकर चलना चाहता है, तब कोशिश यही होनी चाहिए कि इस अभीष्ट की प्राप्ति यथाशीघ्र कैसे हो। इस कोशिश में अन्य भी भागीदार बनें तो बेहतर। इससे बेहतर अवसर और क्या हो सकता है कि संघ सभी को आमंत्रित कर रहा है? जब संघ राष्ट्र निर्माण के लक्ष्य की ओर तेजी से बढ़ना चाहता है तो उसकी कोशिश यह होनी चाहिए कि समाज का हर वर्ग उसके साथ जुड़े, क्योंकि सबल और समरस समाज के जरिये राष्ट्र निर्माण का काम अधिक आसानी से किया जा सकता है। Date:21-09-18 ‘आशा’ से आस संपादकीय किसानों को उनकी उपज के लिए मिल��े वाले न्यूनतम समर्थन मूल्य (एमएसपी) में भारी इजाफे की बात करने वाली केंद्र सरकार की त्रिआयामी योजना को लेकर किसानों और राज्यों ने बहुत ठंडी प्रतिक्रिया दी है। भले ही सरकार ने कल्पनाशीलता का प्रयोग करते हुए इसे प्रधानमंत्री अन्नदाता आय संरक्षण अभियान (पीएम-आशा) का नाम दिया है लेकिन उक्त प्रतिक्रिया में चकित करने वाली कोई बात नहीं है। कृषि विपणन के इस पैकेज में तीन तरीके शामिल करने की बात कही गई है: मूल्य समर्थन योजना, मूल्य कमी भुगतान योजना और निजी खरीद एवं भंडारण योजना। इनमें से शुरुआती दो योजनाएं तो कुछ राज्यों में पहले से चल रही हैं लेकिन उनसे किसानों के केवल एक धड़े को ही राहत मिल पा रही है। तीसरी योजना का लक्ष्य है सरकारी खरीद की प्रक्रिया में निजी क्षेत्र को शामिल करना। यह एक नया और समझदारी भरा विचार है जिसे केवल परीक्षण स्तर पर ही लागू किया जाना है। ध्यान देने वाली बात यह है कि ये योजनाएं कृषि उपज विपणन समितियों द्वारा संचालित मौजूदा मंडियों के जरिये ही संचालित की जाएंगी। यानी इनमें भी पुरानी कमियों और व्यापारिक गड़बडिय़ों के जारी रहने की पूरी आशंका है। ऐसे में एक ओर जहां किसान पीएम-आशा को नई बोतल में पुरानी शराब की तरह देख रहे हैं वहीं राज्य सरकारें इसे वित्तीय बोझ के रूप में ले रही हैं। पीएम-आशा के लिए केवल 1,500 करोड़ रुपये का अतिरिक्त बजट आवंटित किया गया है। यह राशि इस काम के विशाल आकार की तुलना में बहुत सीमित है। खासतौर पर तब जबकि एमएसपी के लिए अधिसूचित फसलों का समूचा बाजार अधिशेष इसमें शामिल किया जाना हो। राज्यों को मौजूदा खरीफ विपणन सत्र से इसे लागू करने में परेशानी हो सकती है क्योंकि वह कुछ सप्ताह में शुरू होने वाला है। पीएम-आशा मौजूदा चावल-गेहूं, कपास तथा कुछ अन्य ऐसी उपज की सरकारी खरीद प्रक्रिया के अलावा है जिसमें राज्य सरकार की एजेंसियां संलिप्त रहती हैं। पीएम-आशा का पहला घटक, मूल्य समर्थन योजना भारतीय राष्ट्रीय कृषि सहकारी विपणन संघ लिमिटेड (नेफेड) और दाल, तिलहन एवं अन्य विशिष्ट फसलों के लिए बने राज्य विपणन संघों की बदौलत दशकों से देश के कई इलाकों में संचालित है। इसकी राह में सबसे बड़ी अड़चन है संसाधनों की सीमित उपलब्धता और केंद्र सरकार की ओर से घाटे के पुनर्भुगतान में देरी। हालांकि पीएम-आशा में नेफेड को प्रत्यक्ष और अप्रत्यक्ष फंडिंग समर्थन 4500 करोड़ रुपये तक बढ़ाने की बात कही गई है लेकिन कवरेज के दायरे को देखते हुए इतनी राशि भी अपर्याप्त प्रतीत होती है। दूसरी व्यवस्था यानी मूल्य कमी भुगतान योजना में भी कई तरह की कमियां सामने आ चुकी हैं जिनका फायदा व्यापारी अपने हित में उठा रहे हैं। इसके अलावा किसान इस व्यवस्था से इसलिए भी नाखुश हैं क्योंकि भाव में अंतर होने से देरी होती है। बहरहाल ये परिचालन से जुड़ी अनिवार्य खामियां हैं जिन्हें हल किया जाना चाहिए। उसी स्थिति में इस योजना को सफल बनाया जा सकेगा। पीएम-आशा का तीसरा घटक निजी भागीदारी से जुड़ा है। यह इरादा तो नेक है लेकिन यह भी गड़बडिय़ों से मुक्त नहीं है। इसके तहत पंजीकृत निजी संस्थानों से अपेक्षा है कि वे चुनिंदा जिंस एमएसपी पर खरीदेंगी और उसके बाद उसके भंडारण और निपटान आदि का काम करेंगी। इसके लिए उनको सेवा शुल्क दिया जाएगा जो हर फसल के लिए एमएसपी के 15 फीसदी तक सीमित है। यह राशि निजी कारोबारियों को आकर्षित करने की दृष्टि से काफी कम है। जब तक इन मुद्दों से ठीक से नहीं निपटा जाता है और जरूरी बुनियादी ढांचा एवं वित्तीय सुविधाएं नहीं जुटाई जाती हैं तब तक पीएम-आशा से सफलता की उम्मीद करना बेमानी है। Date:21-09-18 भूमि एवं श्रम सुधारों में केंद्र पर भारी पड़ते राज्य ए के भट्टाचार्य भारत में 1991 के सुधारों के बाद से आर्थिक नीति पर विमर्श काफी हद तक भूमि एवं श्रम नीतियों की जड़ता को दूर करने की जरूरत पर केंद्रित रहा है। जहां अन्य क्षेत्रों में लागू सुधारों ने अर्थव्यवस्था को काफी लाभ पहुंचाए हैं, वहीं विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि सकल घरेलू उत्पाद (जीडीपी) में विनिर्माण क्षेत्र के अंशदान को 25 फीसदी के स्तर तक पहुंचाने के लिए विनिर्माण में नई जान फूंकना जरूरी है। लेकिन ऐसा हो पाना एक स्वप्न ही होगा जब तक देश के भूमि एवं श्रम कानूनों को नरम करने वाले सुधार नहीं किए जाते हैं। मई 2014 में बनी नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार ने यह उम्मीद जगाई थी कि वह 2013 के भूमि अधिग्रहण एवं पुनर्वास कानून में सुधार के लिए जरूरी साहस दिखाएगी ताकि उद्योग जगत के लिए कारखाने एवं सड़कें बनाने के मकसद से जमीन खरीदना आसान हो सके। इसी के साथ एक समग्र श्रम संहिता लाकर श्रम कानून में बदलाव की भी उम्मीद की गई थी। इस श्रम संहिता के लागू होने पर कामगारों की छंटनी के पहले मुआवजा पैकेज के मसले पर सरकार की मंजूरी लेने की बाध्यता भी खत्म हो जाती। सच तो यह है कि मोदी सरकार ने भूमि अधिग्रहण कानून में संशोधन की कोशिश की थी। इसके लिए वह एक अध्यादेश भी लेकर आई थी लेकिन इस संशोधित नियम का इतना तीव्र राजनीतिक विरोध हुआ था कि सरकार को संसद में इसे पारित कराने पर अपने कदम पीछे खींचने के लिए मजबूर होना पड़ा था। इसी तरह सरकार को श्रम कानूनों को शिथिल करने के मामले में भी श्रम संगठनों के विरोध का सामना करना पड़ा था। आज जिस श्रम कानून का मसौदा पेश किया जा रहा है वह मूल योजना से काफी अलग है। इसमें 100 से कम कर्मचारियों वाले संगठनों में छंटनी के पहले सरकार की मंजूरी लेने की अनिवार्यता को बरकरार रखा गया है। इसके अलावा कर्मचारियों को दिए जाने वाले राहत पैकेज के मामले में भी कोई प्रगति नहीं दिख रही है। हालांकि सरकार ने राज्यसभा में राजनीतिक विरोध और सत्तारूढ़ भाजपा से जुड़े श्रम संगठनों के प्रतिरोध को देखते हुए एक बीच का रास्ता निकालने की कोशिश की। उसने राज्य सरकारों से अपने स्तर पर भूमि एवं श्रम कानून बनाने को कहा ताकि इन कानूनों की सख्ती दूर की जा सके। सरकार ने राज्यों को यह आश्वासन भी दिया कि राज्यों के ऐसे कानूनों को राष्ट्रपति की तरफ से किसी विलंब या समस्या के बगैर अनुमति मिल जाएगी। सवाल है कि क्या राज्यों खासकर भाजपा-शासित राज्यों ने केंद्र सरकार के इस प्रस्ताव पर पहल की है? फौरी आकलन से देश में भूमि एवं श्रम कानूनों में सुधार के संदर्भ में एक रोचक जानकारी मिलती है। सेंटर फॉर पॉलिसी रिसर्च के कांची कोहली और देबायन गुप्ता का एक अध्ययन बताता है कि तमाम बड़े राज्यों ने अपने भूमि अधिग्रहण कानूनों में बदलाव किए हैं और केंद्र के बनाए कानून को एक तरह से नरम कर देने वाले नियम बनाए हैं। गुजरात का ही उदाहरण लेते हैं। गुजरात ने भूमि अधिग्रहण करारों को सामाजिक प्रभाव आकलन से छूट दे दी है। इसके अलावा तमाम तरह की परियोजनाओं के लिए जमीन के मालिक की सहमति लेने की बाध्यता भी नहीं रह गई है। महाराष्ट्र में भूमि अधिग्रहण के दौरान सामाजिक प्रभाव आकलन और भू-स्वामियों की सहमति के प्रावधान केवल निजी परियोजनाओं के लिए ही जरूरी रह गए हैं जबकि सार्वजनिक-निजी भागीदारी (पीपीपी) की परियोजनाओं को इससे छूट दी गई है। तमिलनाडु ने भी औद्योगिक उद्देश्य या राजमार्ग निर्माण के लिए होने वाले अधिग्रहण में सामाजिक प्रभाव आकलन और सहमति से छूट दी है। तेलंगाना ने भी कई परियोजनाओं के लिए भूमि अधिग्रहण संबंधी प्रावधान ढीले किए हैं। कुछ राज्यों ने भूमि अधिग्रहण कानून 2013 से संबंधित ऐसे नियम बनाने शुरू किए हैं कि उनसे प्रशासन को काफी गुंजाइश मिल जाती है। इनमें उत्तर प्रदेश, झारखंड, ओडिशा और तमिलनाडु शामिल हैं। हरियाणा, छत्तीसगढ़ और त्रिपुरा जैसे राज्यों ने तो अधि��्रहीत जमीन के ��िए दिए जाने मुआवजे की राशि में भी कटौती कर दी है। जहां तक श्रम कानूनों को नरम करने का सवाल है तो अभी तक नौ राज्य अपने औद्योगिक विवाद निपटान कानूनों में बदलाव कर चुके हैं। इन संशोधनों के बाद मध्य प्रदेश, राजस्थान, गुजरात, झारखंड, उत्तर प्रदेश, हरियाणा, महाराष्ट्र, असम और आंध्र प्रदेश में अब कर्मचारियों को नौकरी से हटा पाना अधिक आसान हो गया है। इनमें से आंध्र को छोड़कर बाकी सभी राज्य भाजपा-शासित हैं। गुजरात, राजस्थान और मध्य प्रदेश ने तो नौकरी से हटाए जाने पर दिए जाने वाले मुआवजे के बारे में तगड़े प्रावधान किए हैं। निश्चित रूप से केंद्र ने भी सभी क्षेत्रों में सीमित अवधि वाले अनुबंधपरक नियुक्तियों को मंजूरी दी हुई है। हालांकि अनुबंध पर रखे जाने वाले कर्मचारियों को भी नियमित कर्मचारियों के बराबर वेतन एवं भत्ते ही दिए जाते हैं। भूमि अधिग्रहण कानून के संदर्भ में भूतल परिवहन मंत्री नितिन गडकरी का मानना है कि अगर आप कीमत देने को तैयार हैं तो भूमि अधिग्रहण कोई समस्या नहीं है। गडकरी अधिग्रहण में अपनी जमीन गंवाने वाले लोगों को आकर्षक मुआवजा पैकेज सुनिश्चित कर सड़क निर्माण की रफ्तार में तेजी लेकर आए हैं। हालांकि श्रम एवं भूमि कानूनों में किए गए सुधार से अर्थव्यवस्था को होने वाले लाभ अभी पूरी तरह नजर नहीं आ रहे हैं। लेकिन अगर इतने राज्यों ने इन कानूनों में दो वर्षों के लिए ही ढील दी है तो संभवत: समय आ गया है कि भारतीय अर्थव्यवस्था के भुला दिए गए बाजार सुधारों पर विमर्श को बदला जाए। पुराने आख्यानों के उलट चुनावी दबावों एवं आग्रहों के लिहाज से अधिक संवेदनशील राज्यों ने भूमि एवं श्रम कानूनों में सुधार की दिशा में अधिक काम किए हैं। इसके विपरीत केंद्र अपेक्षाकृत पीछे ही रहा है। खास बात है कि विनिर्माण क्षेत्र में स्थायी वृद्धि को अगर हासिल किया जाना बाकी है तो फिर गलती कहीं और ही है। Date:21-09-18 रूस-चीन दोस्ती और हमारी चिंताएं हर्ष वी पंत, किंग्स कॉलेज लंदन, ब्रिटेन पिछले हफ्ते रूस ने चीन के साथ मिलकर सोवियत युग के बाद का अपना सबसे बड़ा सैन्य अभ्यास किया। उन दिनों चीन के राष्ट्रपति शी जिनपिंग भी व्लादिवोस्तोक में आयोजित पूर्वी आर्थिक मंच की बैठक में शामिल होने के लिए रूस में ही थे। वहां उन्होंने रूसी राष्ट्रपति व्लादिमीर पुतिन के साथ कैवीआर (मछली के अंडों से बना व्यंजन) और पैन्केक के साथ वोदका का लुत्फ भी उठाया। ऐसा कर वे कई संदेश दे रहे थे। एक पैगाम तो रूस और चीन के लोगों के लिए था। ये दोनों नेता सैन्य राष्ट्रवाद का इस्तेमाल कर अपने-अपने मुल्क में अपनी हैसियत मजबूत बना रहे थे। और दूसरा संदेश पश्चिम, खासकर अमेरिका के लिए था कि अब ये दोनों बड़ी ताकतें एक-दूसरे का हाथ थामने जा रही हैं। रूसी रक्षा मंत्रालय ने दावा किया है कि इस युद्धाभ्यास में करीब तीन लाख सैनिकों ने हिस्सा लिया। हालांकि रूस और चीन की सेनाएं पहले भी साझा बहुराष्ट्रीय अभ्यासों में एक साथ शामिल हो चुकी हैं, मगर ‘वोस्तोक- 2018’ में 30 विमानों के साथ चीन के 3,200 सैनिकों की हिस्सेदारी से इसे एक नया आयाम मिला है। रूस ने पिछले साल का युद्धाभ्यास ‘जापाद- 2017’ नाटो के साथ मिलकर पश्चिमी सीमा पर किया था, मगर ‘वोस्तोक- 2018’ युद्धाभ्यास उस इलाके में किया गया, जहां से कुछ ही दूरी पर तत्कालीन सोवियत संघ और चीन ने 1969 में एक वास्तविक जंग लड़ी थी। जाहिर है, यह बदलते समय का संकेत देता है। स्वाभाविक ही है कि इस सैन्य कवायद पर अमेरिका की नजर रही। दरअसल, टं्रप प्रशासन ने हाल ही में अपनी नई राष्ट्रीय सुरक्षा नीति की घोषणा की है। इस नीति में रूस और चीन के साथ ‘सामरिक प्रतिस्पद्र्धा’ की बात कही गई है। फिर, अमेरिका के रिश्ते इन दोनों देशों के साथ बढ़ते प्रतिबंधों के कारण भी बिगड़े हुए हैं। हालांकि, अमेरिकी रक्षा सचिव जिम मैटिस ने इस युद्धाभ्यास को महत्वहीन बताते हुए लंबे समय तक रूस और चीन की दोस्ती कायम रहने पर शंका जाहिर की है। रूसी राष्ट्रपति व्लादिमीर पुतिन ने कहा है कि रूस ‘एक शांतिप्रिय देश’ है, मगर युद्धाभ्यास को उचित ठहाराते हुए उन्होंने इसे अपनी रक्षा में उठाया गया कदम बताया। एक संबोधन में उन्होंने कहा, ‘हमारे देश, हमारी मातृभूमि के प्रति हमारा यह कर्तव्य है कि हम इसकी संप्रभुता, सुरक्षा और राष्ट्रीय हितों की रक्षा के लिए हमेशा तैयार रहें। और यदि जरूरत पडे़, तो अपने मित्र देशों की भी हरसंभव मदद करें’। यह दिलचस्प है कि कुछ क्षेत्रों में मतभेद होने के बावजूद चीन आज रूस का एक महत्वपूर्ण साझीदार बनकर उभरा है। चूंकि पश्चिमी मुल्कों के साथ रूस के रिश्ते बिगड़ गए हैं, इसलिए व्यापार और सैन्य सहयोग में वह चीन के काफी करीब आ गया है। कुछ साल पहले तक यह सोचा भी नहीं जा सकता था। इतना ही नहीं, रूस में चीन का निवेश लगातार बढ़ रहा है। चीन सबसे ज्यादा तेल अब रूस से ही मंगवाने लगा है, और अगले कुछ वर्षों में वह चीन के प्राकृतिक गैस का सबसे बड़ा स्रोत भी बन जाएगा। ऐसे वक्त में, जब ज्यादातर देशों के साथ रूस के कारोबारी रिश्ते लुढ़क रहे हैं, चीन उसके लिए एक बहुमूल्य ठिकाना साबित हो रहा है। जहां तक चीन का मामला है, तो रूस का युद्ध-कौशल सीखना उसके लिए काफी काम का है। हालांकि आधुनिकीकरण के मामले में उसकी सेना रूस को काफी पीछे छोड़ रही है, मगर असली जंग का उसका अनुभव सीमित है। सीरियाई संघर्ष में जिस तरह से रूस ने जंग में इस्तेमाल होने वाले सूचना व प्रौद्योगिकी तंत्र और संयुक्त सशस्त्र युद्ध तकनीक (नौसेना, वायु सेना और थल सेना की संयुक्त भागीदारी) को निखारा है, उसमें चीन के सैन्य जनरलों की काफी रुचि है। चीन को अपने साथ युद्धाभ्यास में शामिल करके रूस ने यह संकेत दिया है कि वह उसे आने वाले कुछ वर्षों में खतरे के रूप में नहीं देख रहा, जबकि कुछ साल पहले तक ऐसा नहीं था। बेशक दोनों अब तक घनिष्ठ दोस्त नहीं बन सके हैं, लेकिन उनका रिश्ता इस हद तक जरूर आगे बढ़ा है कि ‘वोस्तोक- 2018’ जैसे साझा युद्धाभ्यास संभव हुए। अब दोनों मिलकर अमेरिका से मोर्चा लेने के लिए आगे बढ़ सकते हैं। हालांकि इस रिश्ते की अपनी सीमाएं भी हैं। रूस और चीन, दोनों अपने तईं ट्रंप प्रशासन को जवाब देने में जुटे हुए हैं। चीन की प्राथमिकता जहां अमेरिका के साथ अपने आर्थिक संबंधों को स्थिर बनाने में है, क्योंकि उसकी अर्थव्यवस्था को प्रतिबंधों के प्रतिकूल प्रभाव का सामना करना पड़ रहा है। वहीं रूस भी अपनी ताकत की हद समझता है। इस चीन-रूस मैत्री का वह जूनियर पार्टनर है और दक्षिण चीन सागर विवाद में उसकी ज्यादा रुचि भी नहीं है। हालांकि चीन-रूस संबंध को इसकी सीमाओं के चश्मे से देखना उस सच से आंखें मूंदना होगा, जो इन्हें एक-दूसरे के करीब लाता है। सच यह है कि अमेरिकी नेतृत्व वाली वैश्विक व्यवस्था को चुनौती देने के लिए अब ये दोनों देश पहले से कहीं अधिक एक हुए हैं। देखा जाए, तो भारत के लिए यही असली चुनौती है। नई दिल्ली लंबे समय से मॉस्को के साथ करीबी रिश्ते का आग्रही रहा है। मगर रूस और चीन के संबंध जिस तेजी से बढ़ रहे हैं, उससे लगता है कि मॉस्को पर नई दिल्ली उतनी प्रभावी साबित नहीं हो सकी है। भारत के ऐतराज के बावजूद पाकिस्तान के साथ रूस के रिश्ते परवान चढ़ रहे हैं और मॉस्को अफगानिस्तान के मसले पर अपने सुर बदल रहा है। वह अब तालिबान के साथ बातचीत का मजबूत पक्षधर बन गया है। इतना ही नहीं, रूस ने भारत को यह सलाह भी दी है कि वह चीन की महत्वाकांक्षी परियोजना ‘बेल्ट ऐंड रोड इनीशिएटिव’ को चुनौती न दे। जिस तरह से विभिन्न मोर्चों पर चीन ने भारत के लिए चुनौतियां खड़ी की हैं, उन्हें देखते हुए अगले महीने जब रूस�� राष्ट्रपति भारत में होंगे, तब चीन और रूस की बढ़ती नजदीकियों का मसला उनके साथ बातचीत के एजेंडे में सबसे ऊपर होना चाहिए। Date:20-09-18 तीन तलाक के खिलाफ संपादकीय तीन तलाक पर अध्यादेश तो आना ही था। पिछले साल अगस्त में जब सुप्रीम कोर्ट की पांच सदस्यीय बेंच ने इस प्रथा को कानूनी रूप से अवैध घोषित कर दिया, तो इसके बाद ही इस चलन को रोकने के लिए कानूनी प्रावधान बनाना जरूरी हो गया था। सरकार ने इसके लिए पिछले साल शरद सत्र के दौरान संसद में विधेयक भी पेश कर दिया था, जो लोकसभा से पारित भी हो गया, लेकिन राज्यसभा में वह अटक गया। राज्यसभा में इसे लेकर विरोधी दलों ने दो तरह की आपत्तियां जताई थीं। एक तो तीन तलाक देने वाले पर आपराधिक मामला चलाए जाने को लेकर थी और दूसरी, इस मामले में तुरंत जमानत न मिलने पर थी। राज्यसभा में विधेयक के अटकते ही यह तय हो गया था कि इस मामले में सरकार को अध्यादेश लाना ही पड़ेगा। केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने इस अध्यादेश को हरी झंडी दिखाने के साथ ही विरोधी दलों के सामने एक चुनौती भी पेश कर दी है। कुछ ही समय में पांच राज्यों के विधानसभा चुनाव होने हैं और अगला आम चुनाव भी बहुत दूर नहीं है, इसलिए इस अध्यादेश को राजनीतिक नजरिये से भी देखा जाएगा। कांग्रेस ने अपनी प्रतिक्रिया में इसे राजनीतिक कदम ही बताया है। केंद्रीय मंत्रिमंडल ने जिस अध्यादेश को स्वीकृति दी है, उसमें तीन तलाक को आपराधिक मामला ही ठहराया गया है। इस मामले को पीड़िता या उसके नजदीकी रिश्तेदार दर्ज करा सकते हैं। तीन तलाक के आरोपी थाने में जाकर जमानत नहीं ले सकता, उसे अदालत से ही जमानत मिल सकेगी। जाहिर है, ऐसे में मामला दर्ज होने का अर्थ होगा, तुरंत गिरफ्तारी। इससे कोई भी राहत बाद में ही मिल सकेगी। कुछ लोगों को यह प्रावधान जरूरत से ज्यादा सख्त लग सकता है, लेकिन किसी सामाजिक बुराई को दूर करने के लिए कितनी सख्ती और कितनी नरमी की जरूरत होती है, यह हमेशा ही विवाद का विषय रहा है। इस मामले में भी यह विवाद संसद में विधेयक पेश किए जाने के समय से ही चल रहा है। विपक्षी दलों ने इसी सख्ती पर अपनी आपत्ति जताते हुए इस प्रावधान का विरोध किया था। मूल रूप से तीन तलाक विधेयक का विरोध उन्होंने भी नहीं किया था। वैसे यह सरकार को भी पता है कि इस अध्यादेश को अंत में संसद से पारित तो कराना ही होगा। जो बाधा पिछली बार आई थी, वह अगली बार नहीं आएगी, यह नहीं कहा जा सकता। दरअसल, राज्यसभा का अभी जो अंकगणित है, वह शायद अगली बार भी इसका रास्ता आसान नहीं रहने देगा। मामला ज्यादा लटका, तो अगली लोकसभा में इस विधेयक को नए सिरे से पेश करना होगा। हो सकता है कि यह मामला विभिन्न राजनीतिक दलों को अलग-अलग ढंग से कुछ चुनावी लाभ भी दे जाए, लेकिन बात अगर अटकती है, तो देश में लैंगिक न्याय के लिए यह कोई अच्छी खबर नहीं होगी। महिलाओं को संसद और विधानसभाओं में 33 फीसदी आरक्षण देने का मसला भी इसी तरह बरसों से अटका हुआ है। यहां यह सवाल भी हो सकता है कि महिलाओं की तरक्की और उन्नति के मामले ही हमारे सदनों में क्यों अटक जाते हैं? वह भी तब, जब आधारभूत स्तर पर सभी दल इसकी भावना से सहमति जता रहे होते हैं। हमारे लोकतंत्र को यह भी सोचना चाहिए कि जब आधारभूत स्तर पर सहमति हो और मतभेद सिर्फ प्रावधानों और लागू करने के तरीकों पर हो, तो ऐसे मसलों पर किस तरह आगे बढ़ा जाए? Date:20-09-18 स्त्री के हक में संपादकीय एक साथ तीन तलाक यानी तलाक-ए-बिद्दत अब दंडनीय अपराध होगा। इसके लिए सरकार ने अध्यादेश को मंजूरी दे दी है। सरकार को यह कड़ा कदम इसलिए उठाना पड़ा कि पिछले साल सुप्रीम कोर्ट के रोक लगाने के बाद भी तीन तलाक की घटनाएं थम नहीं रही हैं, बल्कि आए दिन ऐसी घटनाएं सामने आ रही हैं जिनमें मामूली-सी बात पर तीन बार तलाक कह कर पत्नी से छुटकारा पा लिया गया। इसलिए इस कुप्रथा पर अंकुश लगाने के लिए सख्त कदम उठाना जरूरी हो गया। अध्यादेश में साफ कहा गया है कि अगर फौरी तीन तलाक की कोई घटना होती है तो पीड़िता या उसका कोई भी रिश्तेदार इसकी सूचना पुलिस थाने को दे सकता है, ताकि मामला दर्ज किया जा सके। अभी हालत यह है कि तीन तलाक के ज्यादातर मामले थाने तक इसलिए नहीं पहुंच पाते कि उन्हें दबा दिया जाता है और पीड़िता हिम्मत नहीं जुटा पाती है। हालांकि सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने जब से इस कुप्रथा पर पाबंदी लगाई है तब से इतना तो जरूर हुआ है कि भले ही कम संख्या में, लेकिन पीड़ित महिलाओं ने हिम्मत दिखानी शुरू की है। यह इसी का परिणाम है कि जो मामले अब सामने आ रहे हैं, उसकी बड़ी वजह सुप्रीम कोर्ट के फैसले से मुसलिम महिलाओं में जागरूकता का आना है। सर्वोच्च अदालत के आदेश के बावजूद तीन तलाक की घटनाओं से एक बात तो साफ है कि ऐसा करने वालों को शायद कानून का कोई भय नहीं है। इसलिए ऐसा कदम उठाते वक्त तलाक बोलने वाला यह नहीं सोचता है कि वह सामाजिक रूप से तो गलत कर ही रहा है, कानून का भी उल्लंघन कर रहा है। लेकिन अब अध्यादेश लागू होते ही तीन बार तलाक बोल कर पत्नी को छोड़ देने वालों पर कड़ी कार्रवाई होगी। जो पति फौरी तीन तलाक कह कर पत्नी को तलाक देगा, उसे तीन साल की सजा होगी, साथ ही यह तलाक अवैध माना जाएगा। ऐसे मामले में आरोपी को थाने से जमानत नहीं मिल पाएगी, बल्कि आरोपी की पत्नी का पक्ष सुनने के बाद ही मजिस्ट्रेट को जमानत देने का अधिकार होगा। मजिस्ट्रेट को सुनिश्चित करना होगा कि जमानत तभी दी जाए जब पति पत्नी को मुआवजा देने पर सहमत हो जाए। मुआवजे की राशि मजिस्ट्रेट तय करेंगे। हालांकि एक संशोधन के मुताबिक मजिस्ट्रेट के सामने पति-पत्नी में समझौते का विकल्प भी खुला रहेगा। इस तरह के प्रावधानों से यह उम्मीद बंधती है कि अब फौरी तौर पर तीन तलाक के सहारे पत्नी को छोड़ देने के मामलों पर विराम लग सकेगा। दरअसल, शिक्षा, जागरूकता और सुविधाओं के अभाव में किसी कुप्रथा को बिना सोचे मानते जाना किसी भी समाज की मजबूरी भी हो सकती है। परंपराओं के प्रति सख्त आग्रह कई बार उसके मानवीय पहलू पर विचार करने और उसमें बदलाव के लिए प्रोत्साहित नहीं कर पाते हैं। ऐसे में अगर कोई पुरुष महज रोटी जल जाने पर पत्नी को एक साथ तीन तलाक बोल देता है, तो यह हैरानी की बात नहीं है। ऐसी घटनाएं सामने आती रहती हैं, जिनमें सिर्फ पत्नी से छुटकारा पाने के लिए छोटी-छोटी बातों को कारण बना दिया जाता है। ऐसे में दुर्गति सिर्फ उस महिला की होती है जो इस पीड़ा को झेलती है। सरकार और सर्वोच्च अदालत ने मुसलिम महिलाओं को इस कुप्रथा से मुक्ति दिलाने के लिए जो कदम बढ़ाए हैं, उन्हें महिला सशक्तीकरण की दिशा में भी एक पहल माना जा सकता है। लेकिन सच यह है कि मुसलिम समाज को जागरूक और शिक्षित बनाने की दिशा में सरकार को ठोस और जमीनी जरूरतों के मुताबिक कदम उठाने होंगे, तभी ऐसी कुप्रथाओं पर वास्तव में रोक लगाई जा सकेगी। Date:20-09-18 Preparing for the floods Kerala has a unique opportunity to put in place climate-resilient water management G. Anand, A.J. James,(A.J. James is an environmental and natural resource economist based in Delhi. G. Anand is a consultant on sanitation and wastewater management) The recent floods in Kerala saw heroic rescues from raging rivers swollen by unprecedented rains — and the opening of shutters of major dams. There were allegations of ‘human blunders’ while the government said it could have done little else. The truth is that India has not learnt its lessons from recent floods, in Assam, Bihar and Tamil Nadu, and without addressing the underlying causes, history will repeat itself; if not in Kerala, elsewhere. Three factors stand out. Reluctant dam managers In Kerala, as elsewhere, more flooding was caused by emergency releases from dams that were full. Despite forecasts of more rain, there were no controlled releases. World Bank analysis while preparing the National Hydrology Project (NHP) in 2015 showed that although weather forecasts are more accurate now, dam managers (especially bureaucrats) are reluctant to authorise advance controlled releases. This is partly because operating schedules are not based on predicted rainfall. These usually specify that dams must be filled up as soon as possible (because rain is not guaranteed later in the season) and must be full by the end of the monsoon (for the summer). But the world has moved to dynamic reservoir operations based on weather forecasts. While Bhakra dam’s managers switched to this after much persuasion, others in India have not because of the memory of notoriously inaccurate weather forecasts. The political leadership and the bureaucracy too do not tolerate mistakes. Therefore, dam managers are reluctant to risk their careers and order controlled releases in advance. The NHP is improving hydro-meteorological and weather forecasting systems across India but unless dam managers feel free to take credible risks, these will not be used for dynamic reservoir operations. A ‘plan B’ is also needed for water scarcities such as basin-scale water modelling and analysis supporting contingency planning (inter-basin transfers, linking canals to intermediate storage structures, and water re-allocation to higher-priority uses). None of these exist in India today. Blocked waterways In the badly-affected Tiruvanvandoor area of Chengannur in Kerala, none of the 23 small streams (Pravinkoodu to Tiruvanvandoor area) and a larger stream (thodu) called Madanthodu exist today, having been filled-in and encroached. This caused the Pamba river to flow on the roads and wreak havoc. This is the story across Kerala: roads, railway lines and housing colonies being laid and built without regard for natural water ways, but with formal planning permission. The State Department of Inland Waterways focusses on large waterways while district and local panchayats have no mandate or interest in maintaining these to reduce flood risk. The State Disaster Management Agency also ignores them. River-basin specific flood inundation modelling with climate change simulations is a necessary first step to understand the full impact of potential unprecedented flooding. This includes worst-case scenarios such as twice the maximum historical rainfall, as was recently done by a Department for International Development, U.K.-supported project for the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh. The second is for the local community to co-manage water resources with the government (by planning intermediate storage, drainage and emergency responses). The government cannot do this on its own, being an enormous task, as a seven-year European Union-funded project in Rajasthan on local integrated water resource management found. There must be massive awareness generation, to ensure that airports are not extended into river floodplains (an example being Chennai airport and the Adyar river), that road culverts let storm water through without hindrance, and that excess water is not blocked but allowed to saturate the soil strata (especially of sloping land) so that it does not cause mudslides (including the urul pottal that devastated hillsides in upland Kerala). Unprepared populations Despite India being a signatory to the UN’s Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, little has changed on the ground. Disaster management has improved and heroic efforts were made in Kerala to reduce human/animal casualties. Information was also shared through social and other media such as precautions to be taken after the flood. But most people were caught unawares by the ferocity of the flooding. Had such information been disseminated and absorbed earlier, disaster risks could have been greatly reduced, and everyone may well have coped better. Most modern cities have elaborate flood management plans (underground flood basins and spare riverbeds in the Netherlands). But India cannot even protect known flood-plains, tank foreshores and lakes peripheries from encroachment and illegal construction. Addressing these and other issues mentioned such as deforestation, encroachment and unplanned construction are self-evident priorities when development is viewed using the lens of climate-resilient water management (CRWM). A 2018 paper on an operational CRWM framework for South Asia defines three criteria for this. We need to use the best-available information for decision-making. This means improved hydromet systems and weather forecasts, robust modelling of catchment water flows with simulations of different climate-related scenarios, international norms for safety factors and building codes. We must prioritise buffers, flexibility and adaptability. This includes reviewing safety criteria of dams and canals, re-building these with higher safety factors, creating new intermediate storages, and introducing dynamic reservoir management. Finally, we must reduce the vulnerability of the poor who pay a disproportionately higher cost in calamities. Kerala has a unique opportunity to plan its future with a renewed awareness of the potential impact of climate-linked events. With more such extreme climate events likely in the future, it is better to be prepared than to be caught unawares — again. Date:20-09-18 Impatient move Lack of consensus in the Rajya Sabha is no reason to issue an ordinance on triple talaq Editorial The Union Cabinet’s decision to take the ordinance route to enact a diluted version of its law making instant triple talaq a criminal offence is a sign of undue impatience. This is a matter that required deliberation, especially after serious objections were raised to some provisions of the Bill passed by the Lok Sabha; also, there is an ongoing debate on the desirability of criminalising instant triple talaq. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, as approved by the Lok Sabha, sought to give statutory form to the Supreme Court ruling of 2017 that declared talaq-e-biddat as illegal. The Bill made this form of divorce punishable by a three-year prison term and a fine. In the face of Opposition concerns, the government proposed significant changes to water down the provisions relating to the treatment of talaq-e-biddat as a criminal offence. Despite a notice for these amendments being given, the matter was not taken up in the Rajya Sabha in the last session due to a lack of consensus. When the Bill has been deferred to the next session of Parliament, it is not clear what exigency impelled the government to take recourse to the extraordinary power of promulgating an ordinance. Could it be the elections to some State Assemblies this year? Clearly, the Centre wants to demonstrate that it is espousing the cause of Muslim women. But the mere lack of consensus in the House is not a good enough reason to promulgate an ordinance. It could even amount to subversion of the parliamentary process, as the Bill has been passed in one House and the other is likely to consider it in an amended form. However, the changes to be introduced through the ordinance do address some of the reservations about the original Bill. The first makes the offence cognisable only if the woman, or one related to her by blood or marriage, against whom triple talaq has been pronounced, files a police complaint. Second, the offence has been made compoundable, that is, the parties can settle the matter between themselves. And third, it provides that a magistrate may grant bail to the husband after hearing the wife. These amendments will not only restrict the scope for misuse by preventing third parties from setting the criminal law in motion against a man pronouncing instant triple talaq against his wife; they will also leave open the possibility of the marriage continuing by allowing bail and settlement. But the core issue that arises from the proposed law remains: whether a marital wrong, essentially a civil matter, should lead to prosecutions and jail terms. Also, when the law declares instant triple talaq to be invalid, it only means the marriage continues to subsist, and it is somewhat self-contradictory for a law to both allow a marriage to continue and propose a jail term for the offending husband. Date:20-09-18 For The Farmer’s Future It is important to evaluate the consequences of the Centre’s agriculture policy. Ajay Vir Jakhar, (The writer is chairman, Bharat Krishak Samaj) With elections around the corner, it’s too late for a course correction of the farm sector, but it’s an opportune time to document the unintended consequences of half-baked policies for the next five years. Otherwise, the momentum of existing policies will continue to feed rural economic misery. Agriculture GDP growth plummeted just as India’s agricultural trade surplus, which had recorded a 10x increase between 1991-92 and 2013-14, fell by 70 per cent, mainly due to depressed international commodity prices and back-to-back droughts. The GDP time-series data clearly indicates growth was already declining when UPA II passed the baton to the present regime. Therefore, not all the blame can be heaped on this government. But it’s equally true that the response of those directing the agriculture policy to the dire circumstances not only created a credibility crisis for the government, but aggravated the problem on every farm. As a consequence, farmer suicides continue unabated. UPA II basically lost the support of the people as it was unable to control inflation, while this regime faces a backlash for artificially deflating the economy. The MSP increase was a knee-jerk reaction to the deflation. The government excelled in politically attractive slogans like “doubling farmer incomes”. But problems were bound to arise when it tried to implement the impractical message through schemes like Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY). Even BJP-ruled states aren’t receptive to the Centre’s polices. Haryana is a good example. Every positive step like GST has a cost, especially if not thought through properly. Similarly, the architecture of PMFBY is flawed. Haryana insured the crops of 6,40,000 farmers. But only 1,053 farmers (0.16 per cent) voluntarily opted for crop insurance. In 2016-17 the premium collected was Rs 368 crore and even though the corresponding claim pay-out was Rs 280 crore, the premium for the next year rose to Rs 460 crore. Closer to my village, in Sirsa district, crop premiums per hectare increased manifold; for cotton from Rs 1,320 to Rs 5,936 and for maize from Rs 1,000 to Rs 6,225. Surprisingly, there are crops like gram (Rs 9,837/ha) where the premium is more than the actual cost of sowing. Even though the crop automatically gets insured (without consent) when farmers avail of a crop loan, across India, the number of farmers insured has dropped. BJP-ruled states like Rajasthan and Maharashtra have found ways to circumvent implementing the scheme by issuing notifications only two days in advance of the expiry date of enrolment, thus limiting the fiscal damage. If Rajasthan was to notify PMFBY in time, the premium pay-out may be more than the state’s agriculture budget. We would rather not guess the reasons for the latest order to stop the export of all livestock indefinitely, impacting the livelihood of millions. The government shouldn’t even pretend that the vigilantes are the voice of a trivial minority. The leadership is busy being in-charge, while it is supposed to be responsible for those in their charge. In these moments of despair, farmers could find solace in the words of J R R Tolkien in The Lord of the Rings: “But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow; even darkness must pass.” Academicians supportive of the government and respective ministries may hawk PMFBY, demonetisation, food parks, soil health cards, eNAM and job creation as great successes. But by misrepresenting facts and keeping the leader in the dark, they deceive him. Despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, I remain an infinite optimist. Farmers are wondering why the Union minister for agriculture & farmer welfare is conspicuous by his absence every time significant farmer-related decisions are announced. I am still deeply intrigued at the question posed at a recent meeting in the North Block by one who left for greener pastures: “Why does not someone tell the PM?” Date:20-09-18 Towards a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat Neerja Chowdhury, (The writer is a senior journalist) The best thing in the prime minister’s Independence Day speech this year was committing his government to a Kuposhan (malnutrition) Mukt Bharat. The way he articulated it — “main bechain hoon, main besabr hoon, main vyakul hoon”— it was like making a vow and the country will hold him to that commitment in the months and years to come. Even better was his “samvad” with grass roots functionaries last week — aanganwadi workers, Ashas, ANMs — and it was the first time a PM had spoken directly to them, appreciating the work they did to save the lives of women and children, and announcing an increase in their emoluments. You could not miss the political implication of that outreach. Though he spoke to 3,000 frontline workers — addressing their leaders by their first name, his connect was something that is worth a study — it is bound to have a ripple effect. There are 34 lakh frontline workers, and each impacts, on an average, 250 families. That one event was geared to reach out to 340 million people. Politics aside, for the first time, Narendra Modi has put his political weight behind combating malnutrition. With two out of five children in the country stunted, and given that irreversible damage can be done in the first two years of life, there is no future-India unless an all-out effort is made to address the problem. Given his experience in Gujarat as CM, Modi knows this is no easy task. With the PM backing the POSHAN (Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme For Holistic Nourishment) Abhiyan, launched in March from Jhunjhunu, the usually elusive “convergence” of effort by relevant ministries becomes somewhat easier. The turf battles between the Health and Women and Child Development departments have been legendary. The chief ministers, at least of the BJP-ruled states, have been called to order — and these are the states in the Hindi heartland where a bulk of the problem lies. The otherwise toothless Niti Aayog must be commended for the speed with which it readied the just rolled-out action plan for “September Maah”, to focus on poshan, mobilising different sectors, developing and standardising advocacy materials, targeting the service providers, roping in all those agencies which have been working on the issue for decades — be it Unicef, Tata Trust, IFPRI or others. The idea is to create a “buzz” around poshan. While the government has set yearly targets for itself, like a 2 per cent reduction in stunting and underweight children, or a 3 per cent reduction in anaemia (7 out of 10 children in India are anaemic), it will need to track progress closely, and consider a yearly survey instead of the six-yearly National Family Health Survey (NFHS). Given the district level data now available (in the NFHS 4), it should also be possible to get a nutrition profile of every Lok Sabha and assembly constituency, and this might enable poshan to become a poll issue. I had once asked a UN expert why the malnutrition figures in India were worse than those of sub-Saharan Africa when we are a democratic country and a fast-growing economy. His answer was simple: “More underweight babies born to more underweight mothers.” Mothers are underweight because there is a high level of anaemia among women (55 per cent). They are married early, they produce children at an early age, there is not enough spacing between children, they get “bacha-khucha khana” at home, there is a high dropout rate from school. Viewing nutrition as an issue concerning only “food” is one reason why we — including Modi in Gujarat — had not made the headway we hoped for, even though the ICDS has been in existence since 1975. All this is now known, and the prime minister’s words made this amply clear. There is another reason why the problem has persisted. Child malnutrition does not disturb us as it should. This is despite 115 million children in India — almost double the population of UK, or France, or Italy — being anaemic and malnourished and susceptible to cognitive problems, something that is bound to affect their productivity as adults. The government appears to be stirring itself. But it cannot be left to it alone. Some years ago, Aamir Khan had made a film called Tare Zameen Par. It brought about an attitudinal change towards dyslexic and special children, and what they were capable of doing. A film on this dream, called a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat, is now waiting to be made. So is an anthem on poshan, waiting to be sung by all the aanganwadis, in fact, hummed by the whole country. Three assembly elections — Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh — are around the corner. Some headway has been made in these states, but will the BJP and the Congress include in their manifestos the promise to create a “kuposhan mukt” Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh? More important, to prepare a detailed action plan on how they will go about it if they come to power? This is for you, Sachin Pilot and Vasundhara Raje Scindia, and for Messrs Shivraj Chouhan, Kamal Nath, Raman Singh and Bhupesh Baghel. Could the President persuade the Governors to be more proactive in putting their weight to get a new deal, for, particularly, the Dalit and tribal children, who are at the bottom of the heap? Governors are anyway supposed to report regularly to the President under Schedule Five (covering tribal-dominated western and central states) and Schedule Six (for the north-eastern states) of the Constitution about the progress being made for tribals in their areas. We now know “what” is to be done. The challenge is to do it on a scale not attempted before. There are moments in the life of a nation which, if seized, can result in a quantum leap. If missed, they do not come again, at least not for a long time. Email * The post 21-09-2018 (Important News Clippings) appeared first on AFEIAS. from AFEIAS https://afeias.com/knowledge-centre/newspaper-clips/21-09-2018-important-news-clippings/

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