#Forbearance Explained

[leadmeastraylittlefairy]

i wish that my student loan people would stop changing my shit for no reason with no warning or at least make sure your employees understand what’s happening enough to be able to explain why…

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Paying consumer debts is basically optional in the United States

The vast majority of America's debt collection targets $500-2,000 credit card debts. It is a filthy business, operated by lawless firms who hire unskilled workers drawn from the same economic background as their targets, who routinely and grotesquely flout the law, but only when it comes to the people with the least ability to pay.

America has fairly robust laws to protect debtors from sleazy debt-collection practices, notably the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which has been on the books since 1978. The FDCPA puts strict limits on the conduct of debt collectors, and offers real remedies to debtors when they are abused.

But for FDPCA provisions to be honored, they must be understood. The people who collect these debts are almost entirely untrained. The people they collected the debts from are likewise in the dark. The only specialized expertise debt-collection firms concern themselves with are a series of gotcha tricks and semi-automated legal shenanigans that let them take money they don't deserve from people who can't afford to pay it.

There's no better person to explain this dynamic than Patrick McKenzie, a finance and technology expert whose Bits About Money newsletter is absolutely essential reading. No one breaks down the internal operations of the finance sector like McKenzie. His latest edition, "Credit card debt collection," is a fantastic read:

https://www.bitsaboutmoney.com/archive/the-waste-stream-of-consumer-finance/

McKenzie describes how a debt collector who mistook him for a different PJ McKenzie and tried to shake him down for a couple hundred bucks, and how this launched him into a life as a volunteer advocate for debtors who were less equipped to defend themselves from collectors than he was.

McKenzie's conclusion is that "paying consumer debts is basically optional in the United States." If you stand on your rights (which requires that you know your rights), then you will quickly discover that debt collectors don't have – and can't get – the documentation needed to collect on whatever debts they think you owe (even if you really owe them).

The credit card companies are fully aware of this, and bank (literally) on the fact that "the vast majority of consumers, including those with the socioeconomic wherewithal to walk away from their debts, feel themselves morally bound and pay as agreed."

If you find yourself on the business end of a debt collector's harassment campaign, you can generally make it end simply by "carefully sending a series of letters invoking [your] rights under the FDCPA." The debt collector who receives these letters will have bought your debt at five cents on the dollar, and will simply write it off.

By contrast, the mere act of paying anything marks you out as substantially more likely to pay than nearly everyone else on their hit-list. Paying anything doesn't trigger forbearance, it invites a flood of harassing calls and letters, because you've demonstrated that you can be coerced into paying.

But while learning FDCPA rules isn't overly difficult, it's also beyond the wherewithal of the most distressed debtors (and people falsely accused of being debtors). McKenzie recounts that many of the people he helped were living under chaotic circumstances that put seemingly simple things "like writing letters and counting to 30 days" beyond their needs.

This means that the people best able to defend themselves against illegal shakedowns are less likely to be targeted. Instead, debt collectors husband their resources so they can use them "to do abusive and frequently illegal shakedowns of the people the legislation was meant to benefit."

Here's how this debt market works. If you become delinquent in meeting your credit card payments ("delinquent" has a flexible meaning that varies with each issuer), then your debt will be sold to a collector. It is packaged in part of a large spreadsheet – a CSV file – and likely sold to one of 10 large firms that control 75% of the industry.

The "mom and pops" who have the other quarter of the industry might also get your debt, but it's more likely that they'll buy it as a kind of tailings from one of the big guys, who package up the debts they couldn't collect on and sell them at even deeper discounts.

The people who make the calls are often barely better off than the people they're calling. They're minimally trained and required to work at a breakneck pace. Employee turnover is 75-100% annually: imagine the worst call center job in the world, and then make it worse, and make "success" into a moral injury, and you've got the debt-collector rank-and-file.

To improve the yield on this awful process, debt collection companies start by purging these spreadsheets of likely duds: dead people, people with very low credit-scores, and people who appear on a list of debtors who know their rights and are likely to stand on them (that's right, merely insisting on your rights can ensure that the entire debt-collection industry leaves you alone, forever).

The FDPCA gives you rights: for example, you have the right to verify the debt and see the contract you signed when you took it on. The debt collector who calls you almost certainly does not have that contract and can't get it. Your original lender might, but they stopped caring about your debt the minute they sold it to a debt-collector. Their own IT systems are baling-wire-and-spit Rube Goldberg machines that glue together the wheezing computers of all the companies they've bought over the last 25 years. Retrieving your paperwork is a nontrivial task, and the lender doesn't have any reason to perform it.

Debt collectors are bottom feeders. They are buying delinquent debts at 5 cents on the dollar and hoping to recover 8 percent of them; at 7 percent, they're losing money. They aren't "large, nationally scaled, hypercompetent operators" – they're shoestring operations that can only be viable if they hire unskilled workers and fail to train them.

They are subject to automatic damages for illegal behavior, but they still break the law all the time. As McKenzie writes, a debt collector will "commit three federal torts in a few minutes of talking to a debtor then follow up with a confirmation of the same in writing." A statement like "if you don’t pay me I will sue you and then Immigration will take notice of that and yank your green card" makes the requisite three violations: a false threat of legal action, a false statement of affiliation with a federal agency, and "a false alleged consequence for debt nonpayment not provided for in law."

If you know this, you can likely end the process right there. If you don't, buckle in. The one area that debt collectors invest heavily in is the automation that allows them to engage in high-intensity harassment. They use "predictive dialers" to make multiple calls at once, only connecting the collector to the calls that pick up. They will call you repeatedly. They'll call your family, something they're legally prohibited from doing except to get your contact info, but they'll do it anyway, betting that you'll scrape up $250 to keep them from harassing your mother.

These dialing systems are far better organized than any of the company's record keeping about what you owe. A company may sell your debt on and fail to keep track of it, with the effect that multiple collectors will call you about the same debt, and even paying off one of them will not stop the other.

Talking to these people is a bad idea, because the one area where collectors get sophisticated training is in emptying your bank account. If you consent to a "payment plan," they will use your account and routing info to start whacking your bank account, and your bank will let them do it, because the one part of your conversation they reliably record is this payment plan rigamarole. Sending a check won't help – they'll use the account info on the front of your check to undertake "demand debits" from your account, and backstop it with that recorded call.

Any agreement on your part to get on a payment plan transforms the old, low-value debt you incurred with your credit card into a brand new, high value debt that you owe to the bill collector. There's a good chance they'll sell this debt to another collector and take the lump sum – and then the new collector will commence a fresh round of harassment.

McKenzie says you should never talk to a debt collector. Make them put everything in writing. They are almost certain to lie to you and violate your rights, and a written record will help you prove it later. What's more, debt collection agencies just don't have the capacity or competence to engage in written correspondence. Tell them to put it in writing and there's a good chance they'll just give up and move on, hunting softer targets.

One other thing debt collectors due is robo-sue their targets, bulk-filing boilerplate suits against debtors, real and imaginary. If you don't show up for court (which is what usually happens), they'll get a default judgment, and with it, the legal right to raid your bank account and your paycheck. That, in turn, is an asset that, once again, the debt collector can sell to an even scummier bottom-feeder, pocketing a lump sum.

McKenzie doesn't know what will fix this. But Michael Hudson, a renowned scholar of the debt practices of antiquity, has some ideas. Hudson has written eloquently and persuasively about the longstanding practice of jubilee, in which all debts were periodically wiped clean (say, whenever a new king took the throne, or once per generation):

https://pluralistic.net/2020/03/24/grandparents-optional-party/#jubilee

Hudson's core maxim is that "debt's that can't be paid won't be paid." The productive economy will have need for credit to secure the inputs to their processes. Farmers need to borrow every year for labor, seed and fertilizer. If all goes according to plan, the producer pays off the lender after the production is done and the goods are sold.

But even the most competent producer will eventually find themselves unable to pay. The best-prepared farmer can't save every harvest from blight, hailstorms or fire. When the producer can't pay the creditor, they go a little deeper into debt. That debt accumulates, getting worse with interest and with each bad beat.

Run this process long enough and the entire productive economy will be captive to lenders, who will be able to direct production for follies and fripperies. Farmers stop producing the food the people need so they can devote their land to ornamental flowers for creditors' tables. Left to themselves, credit markets produce hereditary castes of lenders and debtors, with lenders exercising ever-more power over debtors.

This is socially destabilizing; you can feel it in McKenzie's eloquent, barely controlled rage at the hopeless structural knot that produces the abusive and predatory debt industry. Hudson's claim is that the rulers of antiquity knew this – and that we forgot it. Jubilee was key to producing long term political stability. Take away Jubilee and civilizations collapse:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/07/08/jubilant/#construire-des-passerelles

Debts that can't be paid won't be paid. Debt collectors know this. It's irrefutable. The point of debt markets isn't to ensure that debts are discharged – it's to ensure that every penny the hereditary debtor class has is transferred to the creditor class, at the hands of their fellow debtors.

In her 2021 Paris Review article "America's Dead Souls," Molly McGhee gives a haunting, wrenching account of the debts her parents incurred and the harassment they endured:

https://www.theparisreview.org/blog/2021/05/17/americas-dead-souls/

After I published on it, many readers wrote in disbelief, insisting that the debt collection practices McGhee described were illegal:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/05/19/zombie-debt/#damnation

And they are illegal. But debt collection is a trade founded on lawlessness, and its core competence is to identify and target people who can't invoke the law in their own defense.

Going to Defcon this weekend? I’m giving a keynote, “An Audacious Plan to Halt the Internet’s Enshittification and Throw it Into Reverse,” today (Aug 12) at 12:30pm, followed by a book signing at the No Starch Press booth at 2:30pm!

https://info.defcon.org/event/?id=50826

I’m kickstarting the audiobook for “The Internet Con: How To Seize the Means of Computation,” a Big Tech disassembly manual to disenshittify the web and bring back the old, good internet. It’s a DRM-free book, which means Audible won’t carry it, so this crowdfunder is essential. Back now to get the audio, Verso hardcover and ebook:

http://seizethemeansofcomputation.org

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/08/12/do-not-pay/#fair-debt-collection-practices-act

[ominouspuff]

Kote’s House

Kote’s first house is a pathetic thing, and he is incurably proud of it. The twi’lek he purchased it from very evidently could not make up his mind what to do with a man that grinned while he haggled, but it was the first time Kote had haggled over a purchase of his very own. He had thoroughly enjoyed it.

The house is built for one being, and a compact being at that, but Kote doesn’t have much. Moving in is quick, and most of his efforts during the next few days after go into attempting ambitious repairs for things he doesn’t know the first thing about. 

His plumbing is an issue, he knows. Something is getting blocked up. Somehow while trying to fix the kitchen tumbler, his fresher spout explodes.

He hadn’t kept his new house a secret from anyone by any means, but it is still surprising when Fox barges in through his jamming front door. He finds Kote on the floor in his cramped kitchen while the fresher rains water in the adjacent room, laughing so hard and so crippled with delight that he can’t get up.

He tries to explain how wonderful it is —

“I-I have to fix my plumbing on my own, vod—”

—but judging by Fox’s single raised eyebrow he knows it doesn’t translate.

Fox, it turns out, is moving into the neighborhood. Kote doesn’t ask about the house Fox already has — the house he has visited, which is very nice and fancy — or point out that Fox’s contract there cannot possibly be up, which begs the question of why he’s here in Kote’s neighborhood — except that Kote already knows the answer to that question. So he doesn’t ask.

Fox doesn’t show him any grace or forbearance, though.

“Don’t even know how to fix a damn pipe, front lining show-off—” His brother snarls, but it is muffled; his top half had to go down beneath the floor they’d pried up to get at the plumbing issue.

“So that’s what they had you doing all these years.” Kote says, because he really is in a criminally good mood. He barely ducks the foot-long pipe Fox throws at his head, feeling giddy.

He makes dinner that night in thanks. Fox stays, ostensibly because now that he’s fixed the fresher he intends to use it, because his new house isn’t hooked up properly yet to all the supply lines and power grids. 

They choke on homemade tiingilar (vode-style; Kote can’t pretend at the real thing yet) so heavily spiced it’s got grit to it that sticks between the teeth. It’s disgusting, but Cody had bought fifteen different spices and while usually he likes to keep his approach to the unknown more cautious, more methodical, he couldn’t think of anything he wanted to do more than use them all at once for the first time. 

Wolffe joins them not long after; brings a few others along by recommending the apartment he picks out, so that soon most of the complex is taken up by vode, Kote hears, but he doesn’t visit yet. Everyone’s too busy coming over to his house, it seems; filling up his kitchen and asking why he hasn’t fixed the trash disposal yet, why he doesn’t have a couch, doesn’t he know they’re all the rage among civilized folk?

Kote fixes the trash disposal with Rex, who is better at it than he is but says it’s only due to Skywalker’s influence on managing all things mechanical. 

“How is Skywalker?” Kote asks, and gets more than he bargained for over the next hour. At first he’s a bit off-put, because he’s trying to get dinner sorted again and he’s not been very fond of Skywalker at the best of times, but Rex is snorting out a story and laughing and it’s contagious, so Kote just resigns himself and settles in to enjoy.

Skywalker has little ones, now. Obi-Wan is the only one that can get them to sleep. Ahsoka is distressed; she knows better, but every instinct in her is apparently in agony over the little ones’ inability to eat meat yet. She obsesses over nutrients in their diet — which, given what tiny natborn humans primarily ingest in the early stages, makes for some slightly awkward conversations.

Rex helps with dinner afterward, and they take turns being incredulous over natborn baby facts, shoving around one another in the tiny, uncomfortable kitchen.

“What’s your next project?” Rex asks at one point, glancing sidelong with a cheeky look, and Kote levels his vegetable knife at him (he’s got a vegetable knife. Specifically for vegetables. It’s a very new concept). 

“I make everyone’s dinner on Tuangsdays.” He says. “I’m productive.”

Rex’s sharp-toothed grin turns thoughtful. “Yeah” He says. “Everyone loves coming here, you know. You could be the new 79’s.”

Kote knows. He plans and plots, and puts more work into researching recipes than he’s put into any research whatsoever in months. It feels a bit like coming out of a shore leave; his thoughts quicken and his excitement grows. He hunts down a market. He brings a bag. He shops, bargains, and returns victorious.

He sends out a few comms., and can’t help but shake his head and grin at how different the responses are. 

What a marvelous idea, Cody. His general — ex-general — says.

Yus pls, Ahsoka sends back, with some sort of strange tooka vidclip that dances with wiggly gyrations Kote can only assume indicate excitement.

Where is your house, Anakin says, blunt and to the point, and Kote can appreciate that. 

He sends the address. He cooks all day. The sun sets, and Fox and Wolffe arrive, already bickering, Rex trailing behind with a long-suffering look sent to Kote, begging commiseration.

“Ugh, don’t you ever stop smiling, now?” He gripes when Kote just grins at him. 

“Nope,” Kote says, unrepentantly.

He leaves the soup on the stove, simmering, and takes his cup of caf to the window. He leans on it, breathing in cool air, and just listens — listens to the squabbling as Wolffe gets on Fox’s case for not washing Kote’s dishes correctly the last time they visited. Hears the soft thumps of Rex sneaking into the cramped room Kote has set aside for plants and the sole pet he has; a pastel goullian, fins swaying ever so gently, permanent scowl in place. Thinks he catches, distantly, the sound of his remaining three guests (Padme couldn’t attend, and had made him feel very awkward by how thoughtfully she apologized for it) plodding up the hill. 

“Cody!” Ahsoka cries, coming into view and waving. 

Kote’s cheeks have stopped aching from all the smiling he’s gotten used to, so it’s easy to let another through.

[justanotherhyperfixation]

Being patient with your raised-conservative lover is true love

Simon being gentle with Wille when it comes to share opinions is the biggest proof of love to me. He has strong political knowledge, and values and believes. He always speaks his mind with conviction, he never betrays himself. But when it comes to Wille he's forbearing and never raises his voice at him, even when Wille shares ideas or concerns that might be exasperating and border dumb to him. His privilege are making him painfully ignorant at times. And yet, Simon is soft when Wille says being scared of Hillerska shutting down, even if it doesn't seem like the worse idea and the school and its traditions are embodying everything that Simon despises. He calmly tries to explain to Wille that going to Royal summer camp isn’t the same has having a minimum paid summer job. He comes back to Wille during the absurd Hillerska demonstration. He listens and cares when Wille tells him about Erik participating to homophobic initiation traditions without judgment. And he tries to have honest and peaceful conversations about what the monarchy means to Wille.

Simon is so patient with him. There is so much love and hope in those interactions. Wille saying that he does learn things from Simon might mean more to him than it can seems. I love them. And this season. 

[literaryvein-reblogs]

just a few more "troublesome" words

fable, parable, allegory, myth

Fables and parables - stories intended to have instructional value.

They differ in that parables are always concerned with religious or ethical themes, while

fables are usually concerned with more practical considerations (and frequently have animals as the characters).

Allegory - an extended metaphor—that is, a narrative in which the principal characters represent things that are not explicitly stated.

Orwell’s Animal Farm is an allegory.

Myths - originally were stories designed to explain some belief or phenomenon, usually the exploits of superhuman beings.

Today, the word can signify any popular misconception or invented story.

florescent, fluorescent

Florescent - in flower

Fluorescent - radiating light

forbear, forebear

Forbear - (verb) to cease or refrain from

Forebear - (noun) ancestor

forceful, forcible, forced

Forcible - indicates the use of brute force (“forcible entry”).

Forceful - suggests a potential for force (“forceful argument,” “forceful personality”).

Forced - can be used for forcible (as in “forced entry”)

but more often is reserved for actions that are involuntary (“forced march”)

or that occur under strain (“forced laughter,” “forced landing”).

forego, forgo

Commonly confused, as here:

“The independents must destroy all documents obtained during the case and agree to forego any further litigation against the chains for three years” (International Herald Tribune).

Forego - means to go before, to precede.

To do without is to forgo.

former, latter

Former - properly used, should refer only to the 1st of 2 things

Latter - refers to the 2nd of 2 things

Both words, since they require the reader to hark back to an earlier reference, should be used sparingly and only when what they refer to is immediately evident.

fusion, fission

Both describe ways of producing nuclear energy:

Fusion - by fusing 2 light nuclei into a single, heavier nucleus

Fission - by splitting the nucleus of an atom

gabardine, gaberdine

Gabardine - a type of worsted cloth

Gaberdine - a long cloak

grisly, gristly, grizzly

Grisly - horrifying or gruesome

Gristly - applies to meat that is full of gristle

Grizzly - gray, especially gray-haired, and is a cliché when applied to old men

hanged

”It was disclosed that a young white official had been found hanged to death in his cell” (New York Times).

“Hanged to death” is a tautology.

So too, for that matter, are “starved to death” and “strangled to death.”

The writer was correct, however, in saying that the official had been found hanged and not hung.

People are hanged;

pictures and the like are hung.

harangue, tirade

A tirade - is always abusive and can be directed at one person or at several.

A harangue - need not be vituperative but may merely be prolonged and tedious.

It does, however, require at least two listeners.

One person cannot, properly speaking, harangue another.

heir apparent, heir presumptive

Heir apparent - inherits no matter what

Heir presumptive - inherits only if a nearer relation is not born first

impractical, impracticable, unpractical

If a thing could be done but isn’t worth doing, it is impractical or unpractical (the words mean the same).

If it can’t be done at all, it’s impracticable (the word means “incapable of being put into practice”).

in, into, in to

Generally, in indicates a fixed position (“she was in the house”)

while into indicates movement toward a fixed position (“she went into the house”).

There are, however, many exceptions (e.g., “she put the money in her pocket”).

As so often with idiom, there is no describable pattern to these exceptions; it is just the way it is.

Whether to write into as one word or two also sometimes causes problems.

The simple rule is that in to is correct when in is an adverb.

The distinction can perhaps best be seen in paired examples:

“He turned himself into [one word] an accomplished artist” but

“The criminal turned himself in to [two words] the police.”

Source ⚜ On Grammar & Vocabulary ⚜ Writing Basics & Refreshers

[twoidiotwriters1]

Chapter 3. Faux Pas

Summary: "If it's not much trouble, Lady Danbury, I have an individual in mind I'm particularly interested in meeting..." Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Words: 1,759 Listen to: Risk -by Gracie Abrams A/N: I love paranoid Benedict -Danny

Once it's clear the man you met at Hyde Park has recognised you too, you hope he'll come and introduce himself, but there is no luck. You're left to enjoy the ball, that is to say, you sit on your arse and pretend to listen to the Prince's rambling about his many travels.

Now that everyone has seen your face and satiated their curiosity, you wish to return to your chamber and change into your nightgown. Marie makes no effort to keep you company, she is enjoying her prince far more than you are, perhaps because she's always loved meeting new people. You sigh and slouch, losing yourself to whatever story you can concoct on a whim. 

A dark-skinned lady makes a 'Tsk!' sound at you and you turn your head, surprised that anyone would dare address you in such a way. She looks like someone worth talking to, so you excuse yourself, stepping on your dress as you stand too quickly. The servant, placed there by your cautious mother, steadies you.

"Thank you," you flash an awkward smile at him before walking away.

"Having a nice evening, Your Royal Highness?" The woman holds back a grin.

You hesitate, not wanting to lie to her. "Surely my face says it all?"

She chuckles. "Lady Danbury, at your service."

"You may call me Y/N," you retort giving a curtsy. "The formalities are fraying my nerves."

"I see that," she accentuates the middle word. "I can't blame you for loathing the spotlight, my dear. The best ones always do. On nights like this one, you should cling to your privilege if you're to deal with every daunting task, too."

"I'm not so sure," you show a shy smile. "My Queen and King were far too pampering and as a to-be monarch, I cannot defer the spotlight any longer. I regret waiting this long."

Lady Danbury steps an inch closer, minding not to stab your foot with her cane. "I'm sorry you're stuck here having no one to talk to but the Queen's brats. Although your sister and brothers don't mind it much, do they?"

"Marie's far more patient and open-hearted than I could ever be. Forbearance runs thin within me, I need people with layers to them."

"Layers?" Lady Danbury asks.

"People that have lived many lives," you explain, unable to hold back your poetics, "I can work with a thoughtful talker, but I detest mindless rambling."

She hums. "If it's a character you seek, I might be useful to you. I could help you find some real layered individuals."

"Could you?" You beam, then pause. "Am I allowed to mingle like that?"

Lady Danbury glances over your shoulder. "Well, everyone in your group is paired up and entertained. I'm obliged to find you a worthy companion so you don't go home with a lowly opinion of our balls." 

"Splendid." You take the liberty to reach for her hand and lean closer to speak. "If it's not much trouble, Lady Danbury, I have an individual in mind I'm particularly interested in meeting..."

Benedict scolds himself for not paying attention to his siblings' depictions of Genovians. If he had, he would've recalled Colin's statement about the women in your country being no strangers to dressing in men's clothes. What a massive arse he'd been, teasing and calling... dear god, he'd called you an ill-bred critter.

He wants to drown himself in whiskey, maybe if he's lucky he'll escape before the night's over and claim victory at one of his lover's beds. That might alleviate the sting in his gut. He might come out of this unscathed, just an hour or so and he will be the first to walk out the door.

He stays away from where the royals are, searching for witless conversation while also paying mind not to humour any debutants too much. He dances with one, but as soon as it ends he forgets all about her and the worries come flooding back. 

Benedict doesn't wish to be executed for disrespecting a princess! Yes, she teased, too. She'd called him names, but she was a princess, not his equal, and perhaps she was enjoying the way Benedict was digging a deeper grave for himself.

"You!" Lady Danbury comes through like a bullet and the crowd opens despite everyone's interest in taking a closer look at the princess. To Benedict's horror, Lady Danbury and her companion are coming his way. "Don't look at me like that, boy, I'm doing you a favour! You always lament and protest the dullness of these events. Allow me to make introductions."

He takes a single step forward, hesitant and unlike him, incapable of looking at the princess in the eye. "Lady Danbury..." his voice comes out sounding ridiculous.

The woman clicks her tongue and grabs a glass of lemonade from a passing platter, almost shoving it into his hand. "Now, don't make me look bad in front of the princess, I was just telling her what a gifted talker you are!"

"I'm impertinent, really," he hurries to say. "Out of all I do for society, my inability to hold my tongue should be excluded from the list."

"Witty and humble," the princess says with amusement. "Lady Danbury, Mr. Bridgerton might be what I'm looking for."

"Looking for?" He questions anxiously.

Lady Danbury laughs. "You act as if we were choosing you as our next supper!"

That is more or less his worry. Benedict pushes through his remorse to greet the princess. "My apologies, Your Royal Highness, I'm extremely rude. Benedict Bridgerton, at your service."

"Y/N Devereaux," you curtsy with a smile. "Don't worry, I do not think you rude. Or a critter, for that matter." Benedict's entire face flushes.

"Mr. Bridgerton is the second son of the Bridgerton family, charming though he relies a bit too much on his looks and too little on his brain," Lady Danbury resumes. "Princess Y/N wishes to meet you, my boy. Can I trust you to take good care of her?"

The princess smiles, but Benedict feels it like a wolfish smirk. He tries his best to slip out of the situation. "I'm not half-witty to keep a lady such as the princess entertained, Lady Danbury, do not trust me."

"Well, seeing you're so eager to reject the offer I'm inclined to agree," Benedict has a fraction of a second to feel relieved before the grown woman continues. "However, Your Royal Highness wishes to speak to you tonight. So gather your wits and do your best."

Her eyes remain on him, playful and knowing. He narrows his. "May I ask what's so enjoyable about me?"

The woman pats his arm once before leaving. "I rarely see you so unsteady on your feet— quite an entertaining view." Lady Danbury looks at the princess and tilts her head down. "Your Royal Highness. I'll be right over there if you need me."

"Thank you," Princess Y/N smiles at her. Benedict is about to undo himself in apologies when the princess speaks, eyeing the decorations in the ballroom like she's not very interested in him. "Responding to my questions in a yes or no fashion will do just fine. Are you having fun?"

"No." He replies, glaring at a passing guest who smiles in a congratulatory manner at him.

"Would you like to?"

"Yes." His hands fidget with the untouched glass of lemonade Lady Danbury placed in them.

"Have you danced?"

"Yes."

"Breathed fresh air?"

"No. And I very much yearn for an ample spot where to faint," he keeps his eyes on her profile and watches as the smile on her face grows an inch.

"Garden it is, then," Y/N takes the lemonade and holds onto the crook of his elbow.

Outside, you take your time to address your companion, having too much fun watching someone else squirm in discomfort for a change. "If you wish to say something, now would be—"

"I am so dreadfully sorry," he untangles his arm from you and speaks, trying to keep eye contact while also bowing apologetically. "You must've thought me the most uncultured idiot when we spoke at the park. I didn't know who you were but I should've known—"

"Mr. Bridgerton," you interrupt him surprised. "Do I look angry?"

He examines your expression. "You're smiling, but that could mean anything."

"I believe that means I'm content."

"You could be smiling at my expense."

"Now, that does insult me. Do I give you the impression of being cruel?"

"Princess, I beg you not to ask me what I think of you," he closes his eyes in mortification for a moment. "My brain isn't working, I've drank too much."

You lift his chin to the light, pretending to examine him. "Yet your words do not drag and you don't smell. Do I make you nervous?"

Benedict feels his face heat up again at the statement and steps out from your reach. "See if you'd like to be given the responsibility to entertain the pope and not have your nerves frayed entirely by the end of it."

You laugh, amused by his struggle between remembering his manners and wanting to reply to your teasing in kind. "I hold no resentment towards the way you treated me prior to this night, Mr. Bridgerton. In fact, that is exactly why I asked Lady Danbury to introduce us."

Benedict frowns. "May I ask you to elaborate?"

"Well, I had fun," you admit, looking at the beautiful garden ahead. "And Lady Danbury told me a bit about you and your family. I wanted to meet interesting people, and your last name was mentioned almost right away. Would you consider that a compliment?"

"Most definitely," he replies, a hesitant little smile finally showing up.

"Then take it as such and forget about yesterday, but I won't. I rarely get treated the way you treated me. I was clumsy and rude, but you weren't heartless, that is quite rare in a man."

"Is it?" Benedict tilts his head. "If you think me a rare find, you will think my brothers are figments of your imagination."

"You talk kindly of your siblings, that says a lot of your family as a whole," you point out, and your words make him warm up to you with ease. "Mother says one cannot hide who they are when asked about family."

You place your hands on the stone bannister and lean forward to peek at the bushes beneath you, making Benedict's heart shrink as his hand hovers near your lower back, looking after you.

"Careful, Princess," he says tersely.

"I've slipped from taller places," you grin. "And as I recall, you are well aware of how good my bum is at softening my falls."

That pulls an involuntary laugh from him that you easily match. Away from the hundreds of gazes in the ballroom, he finds himself wanting to keep you close, if only for one evening.

Taglist.

Next Chapter –>

@babypink224221 @Booknerdlife @djsporks @lght-roastcoffee @marii-ren @mythical-goth @omgsuperstarg @creepytoes88 @sarahskywalker-amidala @23victoria @shadowolf993 @squirreljoe @syxtiramishuui

[calliesrph]

TURN: WASHINGTON’S SPIES

CHANGE gendered words and in-universe phrases as needed.

SPECIFY receiving muse for multimuses.

❛ When a mind is broken and a man is stripped down to his basic nature, then you can see who he truly is. ❜

❛ This war will soon be concluded in our favor. ❜

❛ This is about more than just you. ❜

❛ I take it you're not a religious man. ❜

❛ Have you forgotten we’re at war? ❜

❛ It's so good to see you. ❜

❛ The word of a traitor means nothing. ❜

❛ I do wish to speak with you alone for a moment. ❜

❛ Those bastards know I'm here and they're tracking me down like a wild animal. ❜

❛ One can't be too careful when dealing with spies. ❜

❛ Let's be married straight away. ❜

❛ It's always the quiet ones that have the darkest secrets, don't they? ❜

❛ Have you forgotten who our enemy is? ❜

❛ To yield is to show weakness. ❜

❛ There’s something corrupt in this town. ❜

❛ Maybe if we... if we both work together, we can... we can do this. ❜

❛ Abuse of any kind is abhorrent to me. ❜

❛ There’s something I've been meaning to discuss with you. ❜

❛ One thing I have learned from the classics is tactics. ❜

❛ I knew this day was coming and I am ready, my old friend. ❜

❛ I've learned that patience and forbearance are much preferred to anger and rash action. ❜

❛ I don’t have to take your orders. ❜

❛ Delighted to make your acquaintance again. ❜

❛ The cause needs me here. ❜

❛ I know this is difficult, waiting, but try not to worry. ❜

❛ Nothing you can do can cause me to feel shame. ❜

❛ This... this isn't what... let me... let me explain. ❜

❛ Somewhat selfishly, I suppose, I can't imagine my life going on without you. ❜

❛ Turn from your evil ways. ❜

❛ You have bloomed, and become a vision. ❜

❛ I never minded fighting for a just cause, or speaking out against an unjust one. ❜

❛ This malady is real, and I'm not going to let it beat me. ❜

❛ I’m just one man trying to do the right thing, that’s all. ❜

❛ A moral conflict occurs when one's most deeply held convictions do not match one's actions. ❜

❛ I'm gonna tell you something that you can't repeat to anyone else, and I mean it this time. ❜

❛ We may not be allies, but we share a common enemy. ❜

❛ The people are against this. ❜

❛ You tame a colony not through battle, but through winning their hearts and minds. ❜

❛ I'm trying to fight back. I'm trying to change things. ❜

❛ Your defenses are lacking. ❜

❛ The war is already here, can’t you see that? ❜

❛ Insubordination is your best quality. ❜

❛ I never had the luxury of growing up in a home like this. ❜

❛ What are you doing here? This is my home! ❜

❛ The more we stick by the rules, the better it will be for all of us. ❜

❛ The devil may sound reasonable at first, but it's always a trick. ❜

❛ These poor souls have never had to provide for themselves. ❜

❛ What do you intend to do when this war is over? ❜

❛ You've been out for a few days, my friend. ❜

❛ I know that you're upset with your father, but think of his pain. ❜

❛ Looking in the wrong direction is what got you here. ❜

❛ If you cannot trust me, then I cannot trust you. ❜

❛ If you have something to tell, tell it. There should be no secrets between us. ❜

❛ All I've done is take a difficult task and made it impossible. ❜

❛ You cannot reason with someone irrational. ❜

❛ If you forge ahead with this, you may as well dig your own grave. ❜

❛ Perhaps it's the Lord's grace. ❜

❛ What the hell happened to you? ❜

❛ If you know what's good for you, you'll leave this town. ❜

❛ Don’t throw your life away. ❜

❛ Before you protest, acknowledge the facts. ❜

❛ I've been careful to avoid success. ❜

❛ I told you he was going to be a problem. ❜

❛ Look, the safest place to stay out of trouble is right here, isn't it? ❜

❛ No one knows what the future may bring. ❜

❛ I thank you for all the sacrifices you have made in the name of our cause. ❜

❛ I wouldn't worry yourself for my safety. ❜

❛ That’s not bad. Try again. ❜

❛ Why do you suppose that trysts are always held under a tree? ❜

❛ I have a special job for you. ❜

❛ We will never see each other again. ❜

❛ Forgive me if my sympathy is lacking. ❜

❛ Despite your pretense of control, you can only contain your inner beast for so long. ❜

❛ We're going to resolve this matter tonight. ❜

❛ You are nothing but a coward. ❜

❛ I won't allow my shame to become yours. ❜

❛ You have made a grievous error. ❜

❛ Confess your crimes before God and salvation will be yours. ❜

❛ Give me some reason for hope. ❜

❛ You’ve strayed from the path. ❜

❛ A weak constitution is an excellent cover for a devious mind. ❜

❛ The innocent must be protected at all costs. ❜

❛ You can’t blackmail your way out of this. ❜

❛ I'm trying to be more inconspicuous. ❜

❛ I thought they had abandoned us. ❜

❛ I'm sorry that you don't trust me. ❜

❛ I swear you have the luck of the devil. ❜

❛ You always do the right thing. ❜

❛ Thank you for your hospitality. ❜

❛ He seems to treat violence like a game. ❜

❛ I’ll do my best to protect you, I promise. ❜

❛ Who is the coward behind this? ❜

❛ Do you suppose pain will rob me of reason? ❜

❛ I think I can manage to make it home by myself. ❜

❛ The risk of inaction can outweigh that of defeat. ❜

[ironmaidenhead]

A key moment comes almost halfway through Gone with the Wind, book and movie, when Rhett abruptly abandons Scarlett on the road to Tara to join the Confederate army. His desertion follows hard upon one of their tenderest scenes together, when, finding her exhausted and terrified after Melanie’s agonizing delivery and determined to get back to Tara, he holds and comforts her in the manner of the mother she longs to return to—or the mother she never had.

In attempting to explain Rhett’s change of heart, which had a bevy of screenwriters gnashing their teeth, Sidney Howard et al decided to translate their bafflement into Rhett’s, having him puzzle over his own motives. “I always had a weakness for lost causes once they’re really lost,” he offers, or alternatively, “maybe I’m just ashamed of myself.” In some ways it’s the inexplicability of the act that marks it as deeply personal, springing from some demons of the unconscious on Mitchell’s part, a prompting of the past rather than a rational plot calculation. [...]

Rhett’s withdrawal of those protective arms, and the chasm that suddenly opens up, reaches back to the turning point of Margaret Mitchell’s own young life. “Stunned, nauseated” by Rhett’s abandonment, the book’s Scarlett compares it to a moment of terror when as a child of six she fell out of a tree and endured the frightening near-death sensation of having the wind knocked out of her. This was precisely the age when Margaret had her own expulsion from Paradise. It was September 1907; Margaret had begun school and hated it. Unpopular, resistant to anything “academic,” and forced to exchange her boy’s pants for a dress, she pleaded with her mother to let her quit. May Belle said not a word, but she had the carriage brought round and took the would-be truant for a ride north of Atlanta, in the open country on the famous road to Jonesboro. Here on land that still lay fallow years after the war stood many grand old mansions now derelict, tenanted by impoverished widows and spinsters. Margaret imagined these antebellum ghosts peering through cob-webbed windowpanes, Miss Havershams haunting the present day. This is what can happen, Mrs. Mitchell admonished her daughter, if you don’t prepare. The world can go mad in an instant, crumble around you overnight. “For God’s sake, go to school and learn something that will stay with you,” Margaret later quoted her mother as saying. “The strength of women’s hands isn’t worth anything, but what they’ve got in their heads will carry them as far as they need to go.” This is the conversion narrative of Margaret’s life, her Saul on the Road to Damascus peripeteia, only instead of finding Christianity on the road to Jonesboro, she learned a lesson in brute survival. Gumption would be her byword, not the grace of the Lord. And for Scarlett, not Christian forbearance but action and self-interest.

Frankly, My Dear: Gone with the Wind Revisited by Molly Haskell

[olderthannetfic]

Vent ask: Someone in one of my fandoms has recently started posting her big colour coded spreadsheet that compares her fic stats. She uses it as an illustration of the ratio of comment threads to hits on her giant multichap fic. Then she complains that the ratio is unfair to her because she made this big fic and gets a lot of hits and people aren't lavishing her with enough praise. Then she says that her readers owe her, saying things like it's "paying the piper." (She's not very good at metaphor.)

Obviously, I did the normal thing and just blocked her but I feel like people who see this kind of behaviour in fandom and politely ignore it should get a little treat sometimes, for all our unnoticed forbearance. For about one second I was beset by the urge to leave her a comment explaining that I had actually read several chapters of her fic and that it was not very compelling to me.

--

[spectral-musette]

I'm running a few days behind on Satine Week, but I finally finished a very short fic (just under 600 words) set during the Manadalore Mission (pre-Episode I) for the prompt "Jewel".

...

            Satine let out an exasperated huff as she set her data reader aside with more vehemence than necessary.

            “What?” Obi-Wan prompted. He also set aside the archaeology periodical he was browsing on his own reader, knowing from prior experience that if he ignored such displays she’d only sulk. After all, if the ruins of the temple uncovered by Master Cordova had waited centuries for discovery, his study on the topic could wait until Satine had vented her ire a little.

            She picked up the reader again, showing him the headline that had so offended her. He squinted at the thin, spiky Mandalorian runes, deciphering and translating as fast as he could before she grew impatient.

            “’The Jewel of Kalevala’,” he read aloud, demonstrating his growing fluency in Mando’a. She didn’t correct him, so he assumed he’d translated correctly. She was evidently too annoyed to be impressed with his intellect just then, and he tried not to be overly put out at the wasted effort. “That’s you?” he concluded, uncertain.

            “Oh, indeed,” she repeated, voice falsely smooth, the expression on her beautiful face deeply indignant.

            “That’s…bad?” Truthfully, he was perplexed. It didn’t seem like such a negative epithet. In fact, he thought it rather fitting, though he knew better than to say as much when she was making that face.

            “Of course it is,” she said, tossing the reader back onto the table.

            He crossed his arms across his chest, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his robe. “Then I suppose it doesn’t mean that you are… treasured, beautiful?”

            “In Basic perhaps,” she conceded a bit more calmly, showing forbearance with his ignorance of her culture despite her peevishness. “To a Mandalorian, the implication is…” She paused to gesture, her hand graceful even as she waved it about in frustration. “A sparkling bauble. Something frivolous, merely decorative, without strength or purpose.”

            “All that in one word?”

            She shrugged. “If Mandalorians excel at something besides pointless destruction, it’s insulting each other with economy.”

            He reached to unclip his lightsaber from his belt and set it on the table in front of him.

            She cocked her head, fair brows furrowing in a charmingly perplexed expression. “Are you going to fight the data reader on my behalf?” she asked with a soft snort of a laugh.

            He spared her a half-smile before he turned back to the saber, deactivating the power cell and starting to unfasten the casing. “Obviously not. I want to show you something.”

            Her intent gaze did distract him a little as he went through the familiar motions of disassembling his lightsaber. He slowed a little lest he fumble a critical component in self conscious clumsiness. Still, it only took a few moments to reveal the kyber crystal. He turned it a little, letting it catch the light. It sparkled, clear as ice, and seemed to glow from within.

            “When you say ‘jewel’, this is what I think of,” he explained. “That’s why I thought the word suited you,” he added, glancing at her quickly. He bit his tongue before he waxed poetic about the color of her eyes. She was clearly in no mood for flattery about her looks, even if it was genuine.

            “It is beautiful,” she breathed.

            “It is, but it’s more than that as well. It channels energy, amplifies the Light. It’s incredibly precious, remarkably powerful.”

            “I wish that’s what they meant,” she said sadly.

            “You will show them what kind of jewel you are,” he promised.

            “I will certainly try,” she agreed, reaching out to take his hand.

[mashriqiyyah]

What’s your favourite thing/story about Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ?

It's like asking a mother who's her favourite child 😅 Can there be anything in him, RasulAllah ﷺ that cannot be our favourite?

But for the sake of answering this ...

I think, the way RasulAllah ﷺ was perfect in every aspect of his life. How he played every role and responsibility very honestly with pure ihsan. Best slave of Allah subhanhuwata'ala, Best husband, best father, best friend, best leader, best at every single thing. And despite being so occupied and busy... He made sure everyone around him felt important, heard and attended to. He was soft and considerate. The way he was so concerned about the Ummah, he had nothing but love and mercy for the people of his Ummah. We talk a lot about high value men...this and that, but he was the epitome of graceful masculinity, gentlest yet the fierce against the enemies of Islam. Once one of his wives becomes jealous over the other wife, and overthrows the bowl of food presented to him, but nobody sees any trace of anger on his face, he picks up the dropped food, eats it. SubhanAllah. When he could pray against the people of Taif, he prays *for* their guidance and chooses to forgive. Where do we see such forbearance upon insult and humiliation from the whole city? If I could use all my life to explain how do I feel about RasulAllah ﷺ and his life and the events from his life, each one... It wouldn't be sufficient for me. Even if I live a hundred years talking. SubhanAllah. But Jazakallahu khayran katheerah for this ask. This is probably the first ask I've answered with immense awe in my heart...this made me miss RasulAllah ﷺ more. Alhamdulillah. May Allah grant us his close companionship in Jannah. Aameen.

Also, next month we will be starting the Seerah course in Urdu. Allahu Aalam if this ask is one more sign for me 😅

[dr-futbol-blog]

The Siege I, Pt. 1

The Siege is a three-part story containing the two-part finale of the first season, the resolution of which takes place in the first episode of the second season. But it's actually the second and third episodes that make a double episode where the first is really a self-contained story that is still just preparation for the culmination of the A-plot of the season. And in this episode, of course, McKay and Sheppard are once again separated because they have to come up with ever more flimsy excuses as to why the two of them need to be kept from being alone together on screen. Only this time there's a reason for it.

The episode begins, like so many do, with a meeting in the conference room. The room is filled to the brim with both scientists and military, they've brought in a screen for show-and-tell, and it seems like this is McKay's show. He is giving a presentation on their current situation to all gathered, all eyes naturally on him. Teyla is not attending the meeting and it is interesting that McKay, who was absent for the events of the latter part of the previous episode with no explanation, mentions her by name right off the bat as though he has at the very least been filled in on everything that happened when he wasn't there. In fact, he begins by referring the very last thing Teyla said when Sheppard, Weir and Beckett were present by her hospital bed, so either McKay has heard all of this from Teyla herself later on, or from one of the people that were present:

McKay: Not only has Teyla been able to ascertain that the wraith are more interested in Earth than Atlantis, which is... you know, terrifying, she realized that the hive ships will go right past the only surviving LaGrange point satellite. Zelenka: The last of what we assume were dozens of defense satellites destroyed during the Ancients' last stand with the wraith. McKay: Yes, yes, yes--the point is, we think we can use it to our advantage. Sheppard: I thought you said it was dead.

Sheppard seems to remember what McKay told him months ago. Not for the first time, not for the last time. Perhaps he just found what McKay said in The Defiant One (S01E11) important enough to file into memory. Or he just has a really good memory. Or he just really cares about things McKay says. Also, this is an inside reference. He is referring to something only the two of them would know. He is bringing up a memory shared by the two of them. His comment is also pretty pointless so it seems like it's intended purpose was just to get McKay's attention back to himself because he had wandered too far into the room and away from him for Sheppard's comfort. But let's put a pin on the first thing he says in this episode because it is relevant for the final scene.

And again we may note that Sheppard is not resting his arm on the table where it would make a barrier between himself and McKay (in fact, and this sounds really saccharine, but like a flower turning toward the sun he juts out his face toward McKay as the moves). Sheppard isn't really resting his chin on his fist, he is once more rubbing the corner of his jaw in this auto-erotic fashion. And as soon as McKay starts moving, is gaze follows him. He's not looking at Zelenka, who is talking. He is watching McKay.

Also notice how McKay is impatient with Zelenka, they've clearly been spending so much time together in the lab that he is just done and has no forbearance to listen to him even though Zelenka is just trying to explain things that McKay left unexplained to the audience at large. He does not appreciate being interrupted by what he sees as inane comments. Whereas while Sheppard's comment had no purpose other than to connect with McKay by reminding him of the thing he said back when, McKay answers him in a completely different tone, a hint of excitement in his voice. He also leaves what he says open, giving Sheppard a clear space to say something back to him, perhaps even expected and wanted to hear what Sheppard had to say about what he said (because the two of them have this on-going conversation that may jump from topic to topic but is only ever on pause), but he is again interrupted by Zelenka.

Now, where McKay was standing while giving his presentation, Sheppard had clearly chosen the spot to sit that is closest to him and from where he could not even see the screen (it's possible that the smaller screens in front of everyone is showing the same thing as the main screen but what even is the point of the big screen that being the case?). He did have a really good view of McKay's backside from that vantage point, however.

Sheppard is not in his fatigues but is wearing a black shirt, less formal than his uniform. In the previous episode, we saw him wearing the shirt when he was practicing the Athosian martial art with Teyla so it's possible that he attended this meeting straight from doing something else. All the other military personnel are in their uniforms. It's also notable that he wears this black shirt for most of the episode so either we are meant to start thinking about him as "the man in black" (having just seen the Johnny Cash poster in the previous episode) because of what he does there at the end, or there is some other reason for which he eschews wearing the full uniform at this time. Sheppard also seemed to be lost in thought when we joined the meeting, distracted or zoned out, and it wasn't until McKay had walked further away to stand in front of Zelenka that he reacts to what McKay originally said.

Zelenka also manages to keep Sheppard and McKay from devolving into discussing the topic just between themselves, also clarifying to the audience points that McKay didn't deem worth explaining:

McKay: It is, but we think we've learned enough about how it works to bring it back. Zelenka: If we are right about what is wrong with it. McKay: Yes, of course if we're right about what's wrong with it! But if we're right, and it's just out of power, the Wraith have simply been ignoring it. Zelenka: Our preliminary estimates indicate a single naqahdah generator would be enough to bring it back online.

McKay walks back toward the screen and Sheppard seems to have a hard time drawing his eyes away from him. He is also doing this nervous motion with his fist, tightening and loosening it. Ford starts talking next to him and it takes him a moment to do the polite thing and turn his head to follow the conversation happening to his side. And even when it seems like Sheppard was asking Zelenka a question (who, again, was the one doing the talking), he looks up at McKay half-way through the question indicating that it was meant for him and not Zelenka. Or, he asked Zelenka the question but actually wanted the answer from McKay. His attention is on McKay.

Zelenka: Because those systems were designed to be powered by the Zero Point Module and the satellite isn't. Sheppard: And you think it's powerful enough to take out a Wraith hive ship? McKay: According to the Ancient database, it should be able to take out all three when fully charged.

McKay is looking hella good up there in his tight T-shirt showing off his biceps, though. Can't really blame the man for wanting to keep his eyes on this. Even Doctor Beefcake in the background is watching McKay. Whether it is because it seems like they finally have something to combat the wraith with, but McKay also sounds rather pleased as he is talking about the satellite to Sheppard. And so, in spite of Zelenka's valiant efforts, it does not take long at all for McKay and Sheppard to fall into their bubble and start talking to just each other even with the whole host of people present around them like they just suddenly shut all of them out. And even though they do this frequently, usually it is in smaller, more intimate meetings among people they both know very well. Here they are, doing the same song and dance, surrounded by all manner of people:

McKay: Keep in mind that the Ancient technology was far superior -- they only lost the war because they were vastly outnumbered. Sheppard: Well, we're vastly outnumbered!

Now, the episode seems to call back to The Defiant One in more ways than just the Ancient defensive satellite introduced in it now being one of the main features. While Sheppard was teaching McKay how to fly a jumper, "this baby," McKay made a reference to 'space pilot parlance'. Here, he makes a similar reference: "In military parlance, surprise… is an element on our side."

It's cute in that he is so obviously trying to impress Sheppard finishing his presentation with this saying but he realizes half-way through that he messed it up. What he says makes perfect sense but it is obviously not a known saying. Given that McKay has been thinking about leadership lately, it is of course possible that he has tried to brush up on military parlance and tactics, and we certainly see him improve in the use of weapons and to try to e.g., learn the tactical hand-signs--try being the operative word.

Now, the US Army Field Manual (which someone must have had with them) does refer to surprise, "Surprise can decisively shift the balance of combat power." McKay could be trying to refer to this. He might be referring to Sun Tzu's Art of War where he wrote: "Surprise will lead to victory. Those who are skilled in producing surprises will win." But most of all, what he says sounds a lot like what the character Zapp Branigan, the dashing captain that is a parody of James T. Kirk from the show Futurama (a "sister show" or companion series to The Simpsons, which was frequently referenced in SG-1) says: "The key to victory is the element of surprise." The line was used in the episode War is the H Word, which is a parody of several war in space stories and hence would be a fitting reference.

Regardless, McKay is embarrassed by botching up the quote. We don't see Sheppard's reaction to this, albeit he undoubtedly had one, where Weir decides to save him by sticking to business:

Weir: What do you need? McKay: The satellite's fifteen hours away by Puddle Jumper. I recommend that we put together a small crew--say myself, Grodin and a pilot. Sheppard: I'll go. Weir: No, Miller can handle it. Major, I need you to keep searching for alternate Alpha sites, just in case this fails.

Sheppard feigns a sigh like he's begrudgingly willing to go on this mission, twist his arm if you must, which might have had a better effect if he hadn't started talking before McKay had even finished saying he needed a pilot. McKay had also just pointed out that the trip takes 15 hours by puddle jumper so it appears as though he did not find the previous 15 hours he spent with McKay going both ways tedious. Sheppard really wanted to go and as Weir tells him no, he looks really upset about this. His face falls immediately. His first expression was feigned, the second one is visceral.

Clearly, he has decided that starting a civil strife in the middle of war preparations is a counter-productive thing to do and hence he defers to Weir's leadership when it really should be the other way around at this point. So he accepts her decision but you can see it on his face that letting McKay go on this quest alone bothers him. Make no mistake, he wanted to go with him. He did not volunteer because he has nothing better to do or because he's hankering for some action or because he might as well go.

There's an actual shadow that passes over him as he's having to think this over.

Weir also reminds him that this mission McKay is taking on is far from safe and Sheppard is clearly having thoughts relating to this. And notice that he does not respond to Weir. He doesn't say anything to Weir "expressing her need" which seemed to be like an order but still not an actual order. He's not acknowledging it, not even with an expression. He looks away from her. He seems to be seriously thinking over whether he actually will go along with this and whether he wants to be taking any orders from her at all at this point. Sure, finding another Alpha Site is important but for him everything that isn't McKay is a side quest.

Now, when people start filing out of the room, Sheppard hangs back. He draws the corners of his mouth back but it is not a smile so much as a grimace; he seems to be gritting his teeth, still unsure of what he should do here.* Weir also stays back to say some private words to McKay when everyone else has gone, and Sheppard waits for even her to leave before he gets up to go. He clearly waited to have a private moment with McKay, brief and stolen though it is. He also walks really close to him as he passes.

Weir: Well, Rodney, I don't mean to put any undue pressure, but at this moment, that satellite is the only thing standing between the Wraith and Atlantis. Sheppard: No undue pressure...

While all he does is repeat Weir's words to McKay, they still say so much more. He is not saying it to be flippant, he actually means the words that Weir just used as a platitude. The sarcastic tone he uses communicates that the two of them are a team that just got screwed by her. He reminds McKay that he really wanted to be there for him, to go there with him. That he knows there is much too much put on McKay's shoulders and he had wanted to carry some of it for him but now won't be able. That they both have heavy responsibilities but they are ultimately doing all of this for each other.

McKay files out of the room seeming to follow Sheppard. He is also not happy to be leaving without him. He just told all of them that they have so little time that they need to make every moment count but he didn't know that this, and what ever took place once they left the meeting room, would be all the time he has with Sheppard. They don't meet again for the rest of the episode.

Continued in Pt. 2

-* This could also be an expression of of pain as we have seen him display signs of something smarting him on two other occasions when he has had to get up from a seating position (Before I Sleep, The Brotherhood). The reason why this might be I leave for your imagination but I'll also draw attention to Sheppard's body-language with regards to McKay's line about "really slamming into it" in The Gift. Something like this could well be the natural result of one being well-endowed and the other in a perpetual state of hurry, but there may also be a number of reasons why he needs it to hurt, even beyond "you torture yourself every day, John." It makes you feel alive, tests the limits of pleasure, allows you to remember and carry the memory of them in your body through the lingering ache.

[thelampisaflashlight]

Everything Goes On Pt. 6

[Ritual night preparations. Not suitable for younger audiences. Previous part here.] Below the cut.

The shift in the air is palpable as the raging sun of summer draws ever closer to the cloudy gloom of fall.

Not yet here, though already on the minds of so many.

Mountain can feel the shift in his bones, bonded to the Earth as he is, but as he looks to the heavens, he cannot but feel a great sense of unease.

The sky is overcast, heavy storm clouds move at a snail's pace overhead.

An ill omen for a night already destined to be touched by the light of a rare blue moon.

Worse yet...

Mountain watches as the siblings gather for mass, their usual uniforms or casual clothes cast aside in favor of the traditional robes of their forbearers.

...there is to be a summoning tonight.

Turning his gaze to the lake, barely a puddle in his vision, he can already see the groundskeepers placing the lanterns to mark the path to the sunken chapel.

Three ghouls stand guard as they work, wearing the silver masks of a now bygone era, sentinels sent by Sister Imperator to ensure no ill business takes place on this most sacred of occasions.

The guards eye him from a distance, one of them, a smaller, slighter figure than the rest, swishes their tail -a threatening crackle of green energy sparking from the spade- at him irritably, and all Mountain can do is hold up his hands and return to his own duties to show he isn't a threat.

"Everyone's so worked up today..." Swiss comments, striding out of the courtyard holding a rake and a compost bag full of dead leaves, "What do I do with these, big guy?"

Mountain gestures towards a small pile between the greenhouses.

"It's because of the summoning tonight."

"I almost forgot about that." Swiss hums, tossing the bag, "I guess since Sunny's summoning was the only one I've ever gone to, I didn't think, ya know, it was a big deal?"

"Sunny's summoning was kind of an outlier, since it was not safe for the clergy to attend en masse." Mountain says, "Tonight's summoning is also special, because we not only have to contend with the weather, but the moon as well... Papa has already ordered several members of the clergy into seclusion to avoid, uh, unwanted side effects."

"What's the moon got to do with it?" Swiss asks, coming back to stand beside Mountain, looking out over the valley.

"You can't feel it?" Mountain questions, placing a hand over the middle of his chest, "Here?"

"Nope, aside from how warm your hand is." Swiss shakes his head, "I mean, I am half human, so it's probably another one of those things that doesn't affect me the same way it does you guys."

"I suppose so." Mountain nods, "But, to explain it a bit, the moon tugs."

"Tugs?"

"It pulls at us like the tides. Water ghouls are especially effected by it, hence why they make themselves scarce during the full moon, as do members of the clergy afflicted with moon based curses such as lycanthropy." he says, "Hence why Rain isn't able to attend the summoning tonight."

"Cause he'll go feral or something?" Swiss asks.

Mountain thinks back to earlier this morning when he'd encountered the ghoul in question rolling around in a pile of spilled laundry when he came to retrieve his clothes from the dryer, thoroughly out of his gourd, tail slapping on the ground like a pleased puppy.

"...Yes... feral..."

Swiss blinks at him.

"What about Dew? Since he's a hybrid?"

"Dew has a remarkably firm grasp on his water side, so he'll still be in attendance." Mountain says, "He'd likely have to attend in some capacity regardless though."

"Why's that?"

Mountain stares down at Swiss.

"What? What, is there something on my face?" the multi-ghoul questions, patting his cheeks.

"...You really don't know?"

"Know what??"

"Satanas... Well, I won't ruin the surprise."

.

.

.

"Ugh, these robes are so fucking heavy..." Dew grimaces, readjusting his vestments for a third time, "This is such a pain in the ass..."

"You do not get to complain." Copia sighs, coating his face in powder, "Mine are twice as heavy, and I don't have any of your unnatural ghoulish strength to help carry the weight."

Dew's tail swishes trapped between two layers of fabric.

"If I knew becoming a bishop would mean wearing so much clothing, I wouldn't have studied so hard."

"You had your entire deaconship and stint as a priest to consider that, now didn't you?" Copia points out, "Having to dress the part of your role only happens once in a..."

"Don't."

"Once in a blue moon." he chuckles, eliciting a groan from the already agitated ghoul, "Ah, lighten up, once the ceremony is over, you can go back to wearing what you want or nothing at all. Hell, you could even strip naked as soon as the rites are done, but, for now, you need to look presentable for the clergy."

"Half the siblings have seen my bare ass-"

"Sister will be in attendance tonight." Copia says, eyeing him from the mirror, laughing once more seeing the ghoul's conflicted expression.

"-which I will keep covered at all times this evening."

"Very good."

Copia stands back to admire his handiwork, checking his make-up for imperfections, "...Ghoul?"

"Yes, Papa?"

"I've been meaning to ask... How have you been since your packmates' departures?"

Dew clicks his tongue.

"I miss Sunny, it was fun having her around while it lasted." he says, "But I know you're not really asking about her."

"Things are still... complicated." he continues, "But Aether is the furthest thing from my mind tonight."

"That is... good." Copia says, "There's a high likelihood that something may go array during tonight's ritual, so I need you focused to ensure that if things do get out of hand, we can put a stop to it as quickly as possible."

"Yes, Papa."

.

.

.

Cirrus sits in her room getting ready for the evening, she doesn't really need to get too dressed up for the event, after all she'll be sitting amongst the siblings along with the rest of the ghouls.

...Save for Cumulus and Dewdrop that is.

And maybe that's why she's putting the extra effort in to look nice even though it will be impossible to really pick her out of the crowd, it's more so for after the rites are spoken.

After Cumulus is freed of her obligations as a sister of sin and they can fuck off while the actual summoning takes place to have a little fun.

At least, that had been the plan...

"Since Aether left, I have to stay as a witness." the smaller ghoulette had informed Cirrus earlier during breakfast, "You know how it is..."

"I don't, actually." Cirrus had grumbled around her pancakes, "You don't tell me anything about your duties as a sister, or why it's so different from being, I dunno, like the rest of us."

"I have though, Cir, I explained what my role is when I took my oath." Cumulus had frowned, patting her hand, "This is one of my duties as a sister, to attend these summonings and bless the new ghouls in the name of the lord below."

"Yeah, but why does it have to be you?" Cirrus groused, letting her fork drop onto her plate.

"I was requested personally, and you have to understand what an honor it is to be chosen for something like this..." Cumulus said, "I'll be standing beside Papa..."

"We hang out with Copia all the time, Lus, it's not that special."

"...Well it is to me." Cumulus whispered, "Plus, Dew could use the support right now. You know him and Aeth-"

"Oh, so it was Dew who asked." she'd scoffed, "Of course it was."

"Cir... what's that supposed to mean?"

"Ever since Aether left, you've been babying Dew." Cirrus hissed, "You even disagreed with me when I said our relationship wasn't like theirs, but it's not. You and I have been together since the pit, those two were just fucking around the way humans do, it wasn't even serious!"

"Wasn't even... Cir, they were engaged!"

"Engaged, but not bonded!"

"Cir..."

Cirrus looks at herself in the small vanity atop her dresser and frowns.

"It's not the same." she tells herself, "Our relationship isn't..."

"Dew could use the support right now."

Cirrus grabs her mascara and uncaps it.

"I hope he fucking trips and falls in his stupid robes tonight..."

[tiger-moran]

So the essay I was reading was Problems with 'The Final Problem' by James Chase

"So we seem forced to the second, seemingly bizarre, explanation: Moriarty has a code of honour, and it forbids him from hurting innocent third parties. There are, in fact, indications of a related code of honour in which he plays fair against Holmes - he riskily visits Holmes to give him a chance, before assassination, to cease the pursuit; he consents to hand-to-hand combat at Reichenbach instead of simply shooting his foe or letting Moran have a go at him; he expresses his genuine admiration at Holmes's work (an admiration Holmes seems to doubt). We might be able to include in this code a prohibition on hurting other parties except by way of business, and thus explain both his forbearance in killing Holmes before the interview, and the interview itself. But this is somewhat disappointing."

Why is that "bizarre"? Moriarty's a gentleman and he clearly does at the very least take care of those who are loyal to him (money being found for the bail or defence of anyone who gets caught; also that Moran is protected from not only arrest but also suspicion) which strongly suggests he has a code of honour (people often seem to get very caught up on the 'death is the only punishment in his code' thing and ignore anything else). Also that Holmes has so much respect for Moriarty further suggests this (particularly when contrasted with how Holmes acts towards abusers like Roylott or Sir Eustace Brackenstall). Also surely it would be sensible to not just ruthlessly kill people (or threaten to do so), and cleverer - the more people he harms or kills the more his risk of being detected goes up, and threatening or killing people isn't clever; even if it's not really a moral issue, it's sensible to not commit more crimes than absolutely necessary, and also Moriarty isn't just a 'common thug' who kills indiscriminately or throws threats around.

And why is that "somewhat disappointing" also, doesn't that make him more complex and interesting, if he's so dangerous but also does have a code of honour and he isn't just some one-dimensional 'evil villain'? Moriarty knows what's right and wrong, that just doesn't always align with what society says is right and wrong. That's partly why he is so interesting to me.

"If he intends to make anything explicit, it would surely be a threat to blow up an orphanage, or something of that kind."

Why do people keep wanting Moriarty to kill babies.

"A Napoleon of Crime ought be rational if anyone is, and a threat to innocent third parties at this stage of the contest is hardly gratuitous: it seems to be the only way he can make Holmes have second thoughts about his pursuit."

But that is rational, not just resorting to killing/threatening others as soon as something doesn't quite go his way. And I don't think he is threatening Holmes. He's warning Holmes what will happen if he carries on - that if he persists with this then they're going to come into conflict again and maybe they won't both survive that. I don't buy the whole 'Moriarty is obsessed with Holmes' thing at all but he clearly does admire him, he clearly is intrigued by him, he may even like him. That Holmes is not already dead, killed by an actually competent assassin (like Moran, or even by Moriarty himself there and then) and all he's had to contend with is someone chucking a brick off a roof or whatever shows that Moriarty doesn't want to kill Holmes and he never has.

I mean this is something they did change in AGoS - Moriarty there does kill Adler in part to get at Holmes (though it's not the sole reason he kills her) and he explicitly threatens both John and Mary Watson. I don't think it's out of character for Moriarty to do this but it's also not exactly canonical either. But they did still keep the element of 'Moriarty could have killed Holmes a long time ago and didn't and only finally does try to kill him when Holmes becomes more irritant than interesting'.

"it seems fair to conclude that Gregson has been killed by Moriarty while working with Holmes on this case, and that this motivates Holmes to give such basic information to Paterson at such a late stage."

Nooo Toby my boy. People are also always trying to kill Gregson off. (This is funnier though when you remember I've shipped Gregson with Moran before)

I'm kind of losing it though at the part about Holmes referring to an actual pigeonhole as in inside a pigeon loft, and a carrier pigeon carrying the envelope full of evidence about.

[ummhazim]

What’s your favourite thing/story about Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ?

I think, the way RasulAllah ﷺ was perfect in every aspect of his life. How he played every role and responsibility very honestly with pure ihsan. Best slave of Allah subhanhuwata'ala, Best husband, best father, best friend, best leader, best at every single thing. And despite being so occupied and busy... He made sure everyone around him felt important, heard and attended to. He was soft and considerate. The way he was so concerned about the Ummah, he had nothing but love and mercy for the people of his Ummah. We talk a lot about high value men...this and that, but he was the epitome of graceful masculinity, gentlest yet the fierce against the enemies of Islam. Once one of his wives becomes jealous over the other wife, and overthrows the bowl of food presented to him, but nobody sees any trace of anger on his face, he picks up the dropped food, eats it. SubhanAllah. When he could pray against the people of Taif, he prays *for* their guidance and chooses to forgive. Where do we see such forbearance upon insult and humiliation from the whole city? If I could use all my life to explain how do I feel about RasulAllah ﷺ and his life and the events from his life, each one... It wouldn't be sufficient for me. Even if I live a hundred years talking. SubhanAllah. But Jazakallahu khayran katheerah for this ask. This is probably the first ask I've answered with immense awe in my heart...this made me miss RasulAllah ﷺ more. Alhamdulillah. May Allah grant us his close companionship in Jannah. Aameen.

@mashriqiyyah

Whenever I read seerah i literally cry .