#but unable to change back because of the Danger with a capital D

[abluescarfonwaston]

I am a simple (trans)man. I see the reboot of Ranma 1/2 and ask- but what if he HAD to stay a girl to stay safe. Because some big bad was actively on the hunt to kill Boy!Ranma or something.

What if Ranma hadn't been caught in the bath by Akane and had gone to school with her, (refusing to wear the school uniform like normal). Watching Akane defeat the army of boy's at the gate only to swoop in and kick Kuno's ass resulting in him falling for 'the pigtailed girl' right away.

What if he'd gotten there and been so excited to have all these guy friends again (its so hard on the road) only to realize they're just trying to date him, not talk to him guy to guy like he'd hoped. (He feels no remorse ordering that fifth Ultra Brownie delight special with their wallet)

Complaining to Akane in the dojo after school as Ranma's personality just starts to peak through and Akane agreeing 'That's why men are Awful'. Ranma withdrawing that little bit back in as he realizes that - no. Akane doesn't get what he's saying- and she would hate him if she really knew him.

Ranma bellowing out for them all to back off because Akane is MY FIANCE. The awe and silence and then 'but that's not even legal' murmurs. HUH?! SAYS WHO??? 'the government...' 'Oh... Huh.'

The divide between how big and powerful Ranma acts verses the moments when he notices how short his arms are. How small he is. Shrinks into an ill fitting body in a way Akane wishes she could stop from her friend.

The horror and Relief that comes with Ryoga's appearance. An old rival who Knows. Knows and is angry and furious but treats him just like he expects to be treated. And maybe his legs Are too short and he still misjudges the distance but there is something so freeing to knowing he is being seen as he really is.

Ranma slipping out of the house early, before sunrise, so he can escape. Pour hot water over his head and just be Himself for a few minutes that day. Even if it's risky. Even if it gets him killed. Because he was willing to die to become strong, but he didn't think that meant losing his manhood first.

Akane spotting a boy training in the park, pausing because for a moment she thought- but it was a trick of the light. They just share a braid, that isn't Ranma. Her friend and 'fiance' Ranma.

Being drawn in my something. By that pigtailed braid or the force of their blows and the smoothness of his movements.

Or maybe by how he keeps kicking the target with his calf instead of his foot. That's a big one.

And she hates men. Absolutely despises the whole lot. But she offers him a correction and he looks at her in such shock.

"Y-yeah. I know. I guess I'm just not used to being tall."

Her offering a suggestion. Him doing it right this time as she nods. Offering to spar.

Didn't you say you'd hate to lose to a man? "Nah I already have a fiance." "What does that have to do with anything?" "Isn't there a thing at your school that if someone beats you they get to take you on a date?" "Oh my god other schools know about that?" "Furinkan is pretty loud." "Yeah it is..."

"Do you like her?" "Who?" "Your fiance." "Oh... I guess. She's kinda cute. But she hates me." "What'd you do?" "Why do you assume I did anything huh?" "Cause youre a boy." "... What about yours then?"

"Mine?"

"You have a fiance don't you?"

"I guess. But she's a girl."

"How'd that happen?"

"My dad's an idiot."

"Yeah. Mine too."

[alessiamalfoyzabini]

To Love You

Pairing | wanted!Jimin x princess!Reader

Word Count | 16,1k

Warnings | +18, angst, smut, Jimin is a wanted outlaw, mention of dead parents and conspiracy, the new king is a slimy being, mention of hatred, painful feelings and abandonment, many tears, Jimin is allergic to romantic feelings 💀, murders (sword, poison, torture…), attempted rape, lots of kissing and touching, breast worship, love marks, talks about having a baby, impregnation kink, sex in the woods, virginity loss, unprotected sex, vaginal sex, licking pussy, forcing orgasm, mild fantasy!AU toward the end, this is not for minors.

⤷ Summary | You have been separated from your beloved and your kingdom is under the rule of a heartless man, but all is not lost.

➢ Author's Note | I wrote this story because after Dark Moon I found it hard to part with Jimin, and at the same time I wanted to bring some sweetness to heal my heart a little, I hope you enjoy this story ❤️

ps: all images used for the banner belong exclusively to me!

Permanent Taglist: @katherine-kookie @btsuga-d @reallygenerouskoala @velvet-stardust2002, @takemeaway5402 @angelicsmilesworld @pantara @ke1k029 @btssimpjaneth

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"The multi-murderer Park Jimin here, the rebel leader who has been sowing terror in our lands for years, stealing from our families and killing our children, is sentenced to capital punishment, tomorrow at dawn the gallows will await his head."

A buzz rises in the room, all the attention of those present is focused on the commander of His Majesty's Royal Guards, the man is reading an official communiqué, with every word your heart receives a painful, deafening stinging.

Your eyes are steady on the blond-haired boy, kneeling in the middle of the hall, his mischievous gaze on the king, your uncle.

"The condemned man will be escorted immediately to his cell, where he will remain until the following morning, in the hope that he will repent of his deplorable deeds and ask God for forgiveness."

The boy’s grin deepens, in his ice-colored eyes that contributed to his fame, shines an amused spark, you know what it means… it’s that attitude of his that made you fall in love with him, your Jimin.

"Deplorable is forgetting the poor people you have killed for your own interests, mine was only justice, my lords...there should be someone else in my place, you all know that," the barb aimed directly at the king makes everyone present hold their breath. including you.

To address a tyrant ruler like your uncle in that way is simply insane, by your side you see the man in question clenching his fists and narrowing his gaze, but he dare not go on a rampage, not in front of his subjects, at least.

"Take him to his cell, that's where such a beast deserves to be," the king hisses, and when the guards badly pull Jimin to his feet, he finally looks at you-it's only an instant, but it's enough for you to notice his expression change from mischievous to wistful.

You barely hold back the tears as they take him away, unable to say or do anything, you promised him, you promised him you would do nothing foolish or dangerous, but your heart clenched in a painful grip calls out to him and longs to feel his embrace again, but yours is a secret that must be kept silent and hidden.

You feel a hand wrap itself around your shoulders and you shudder, watching your uncle's dark eyes stare at you suspiciously, the crown jewels shining wickedly on his head, as if mocking you, a princess forgotten by her people.

"Is there something you would like to say, my niece?" his words creep disgustingly down your spine, you want to spit in his face, but you hold back.

You clutch your robes in your hands, imprinting your best smile on your lips.

"No, Your Highness, I am calmer now, finally that outlaw has been caught" uttering those words kills you inside, it is before you the real outlaw, the one who plotted against your father to usurp his throne, you are alive only because you are a sweet and important pawn in your uncle's game, if you want to conquer a new country without shedding blood, you need a precious bargaining chip, no?

And in your veins runs the pure blood of a princess, an opportunity too tempting for your uncle who is already itching to give you away in marriage to who knows what spoiled, deadbeat prince.

You sense a gentler hand pulling you away, it is your wet nurse, sweet old Harun, she curtseys to your uncle and when he turns his attention to the other nobles in the room, the woman finally speaks, "Come, my lady, you must rest now" you let yourself be dragged away from her like a shattered rag doll, once this woman could patch you up, now you doubt that playing another of her games to cheer you up will have the desired effect, the love of your life will be executed tomorrow.

"It's over, Harun," you say with a sob stuck in your throat, "It's really over..." Harun stares at you with tears in her eyes.

After all, she witnessed your love; before he was an outlaw, Jimin was the son of a knight of the king, one of your father's best friends, you grew up together, you watched him practicing with his sword in the imperial gardens, hidden among the hedges as a princess should not have done, he loved practicing with you during dance lessons, you were very close and Harun had never dared to push you away, aware of the importance of a young love like yours.

After your uncle killed the king, Jimin's father rebelled by not accepting the new ruler and found death awaiting him, his family was stripped of its noble title and robbed of all wealth, throwing Jimin into a spiral of hatred and revenge.

He found ways to stir up trouble for the new king and his court by looting their homes or killing important members of their families, you on your side knew he was alive because of the whispers coming from the servants, with regret you realize that you saw his handsome face again as he was kneeling at the new king's feet and it will probably be the last time as well.

Harun gives you time to enter your bedroom, "My lady, Jimin never blamed you for what happened to him."

You smile softly, "I know, he... he is good, Harun, Jimin is good."

The elderly woman nods understandingly, it is when you sit on the bed that you notice something. Before you leave, Harun deliberately lets something slip among your things; it's a key.

"I hope you can both be happy, princess," she says before closing the door behind her.

With slow, tentative steps you reach for the key, you look around fearfully, almost expecting your uncle to pop out from somewhere, ready to accuse you of treachery, but when you grab the key to the castle dungeons nothing of what you imagined happens, you look out your window, the moon in the sky is high and motherly, almost inviting you to follow your heart, and with a salty smile you clutch the key to your chest.

Just for the thoughts invading your mind you deserve condemnation, but what do you have to lose now? If the love of your life dies tomorrow at dawn, then you will stand by his side, not among cruel people looking down on him.

Take a last look at your room, you spent a wonderful childhood within those walls; on the bed wrapped in tulle and silk you embroidered with your mother, on the carpet with your family crest you played while Harun braided your hair, good-naturedly reprimanding you if you spoke a little too loudly and smiling sweetly you remember at the window a young and cunning Jimin climbing a tree to join you in your rooms, that's how your first and only kiss happened, it was a light and chaste touch, but it was enough to leave you with your heart wrapped in joy.

Then it was all over, no more games, laughter or shy hugs at every corner of the castle. The new king ruined everything.

The night welcomes you and slips with you as you move like a shadow within the castle walls, after years of dancing your step is so light that the heels of your shoes do not make the slightest noise, you clutch the light shawl you have carried with you over your shoulders, shivering at the draught that penetrates through the draughts of the dungeons, you have found no guards as you pass, they are all focused on protecting the king and his apartments, the fear of possible revenge from Jimin's men is too vivid for them.

You descend the stone steps covering your nose with your shawl, the smell of mold is strong and makes your eyes water, drops of water whose origin is unknown to you fall from the ceiling, it is so dark that you are forced to take a torch from the wall and use it to light your way, the flame dances sinuously with your every movement and you finally access the last part of the long and winding corridor. A sickening smell of urine overtakes you as you approach the filthy cells, Jimin is locked up in such a place, another wicked way of trying to humiliate him.

There are five cells in all, in front of them you notice a wooden table with two chairs, that's where you immediately go, take the bottle of wine and swallow, you have to.

It's something you've always thought of reserving for your uncle someday, but Jimin's life is more important, so you firmly detach the thin chain you've been wearing around your neck since your father's death from your neck, you look one last time at the silver pendant with your family crest, then you open it with a small click and its contents are revealed, you throw a few pieces of the wolfsbane root into the wine, hoping that the guards will drink it before they realize what had been done, and with a shuddering breath you hide the necklace in the pockets of your dress.

Then, as if you hadn't just poisoned the bottle, you slowly make your way to the dirty rooms enclosed by old iron bars, you illuminate the cramped space of each cell by the torchlight flame, you notice beds of dirty, old straw and dark stains on the wall, you don't even want to imagine what it could be.

You notice a soft humming, it is gentle and sweet, you swallow recognizing the melody, he is there.

You approach the last cell with your heart in your throat, you haven't seen him in years, you don't know exactly how he will react to your presence, you repeat Harun's words in your head as you use the key she gave you to open the cell, the noise is creepy as you open the rusted iron door, the shadows inside are even more so.

You take a step in there, your feet meet more straw, it is so dark that you can only rely on the torch you clutch in your hand and the moonlight filtering through a tiny barred window, you try to look around but suddenly the flame goes out, the loss of light provokes in you the instinct to scream, but one hand rushes to close your mouth while another grabs you by the side, holding you to a warm body you didn't think you could touch again.

You shudder when the tip of his nose lightly brushes your neck, and you are inflamed to realize that he is inhaling your fragrance. You feel him smile against your skin before leaving a kiss on it that makes you lose several beats and your hair stand up pleasantly.

"What's a princess like you doing in a place like this... with someone like me?" he whispers in your ear as the tempting devil would, you'd be lying if you said he had no effect on you, your mind and body are hopelessly drawn to him.

His hand releases your mouth and reaches down to your neck, tightening it in a deliberately weak grip, you lick your lips before responding.

"I'm here to set you free, Jimin," you say softly, this makes him snort in amusement.

"Set me free? Oh, Y/N... I'm not afraid to die" you tremble when he says your name and turn in his arms, you try to look into his eyes but the only thing you catch is the dangerous glint in them.

"I do, I am afraid! I don't want you to die, Jimin..." you whisper in a broken voice and finally allow yourself to embrace him, rest your head on his warm chest and although he doesn't reciprocate, he does nothing to stop you.

It's a strange feeling you feel, he left you he was a skinny little boy full of rage, now he is a man facing death head on, but you are not ready to let him go one more time.

"And I don't want you to be here when the guards come back, this is high treason to the crown, Y/N," he growls looking at the open cell door and clutching your shoulders, he wants you to leave, you know.

"Do you think I care? No, Jimin... I stopped being a princess when my father and mother died, when you were forced to leave and left me alone" you say the last word bitterly, "If I die saving you, I will accept my fate."

He slowly pushes you back, each step brings you closer to the light filtering through the small window, and when you end up with your back to the wall, you can finally see clearly the face of the man he has become and your breath catches, his peculiar eyes hold a torment that does not shine through in his brazen voice, you raise a hand to his face and shyly brush the line of his jaw, his golden locks shine under the moonlight glow, it is shocking.

"You don't even know what you're saying, you're a silly princess who's read too many books and now thinks she can save an outlaw" he laughs softly shaking his head, "Go back to your room, Y/N and forget me" when he turns away from you and you lose the little hold you have on him, the world comes crashing down on you.

Forget him? He has no idea how many years you spent waiting for him, hoping he would take you away from your uncle's clutches, he never came to get you and yet you never stopped hoping, you shake your head looking at him sorrowfully. It is easy for him to say such a thing, after all, he has already left you in his past, a past he has turned his back on.

"You're probably right, I'm a silly princess who has read too many books and now wants to save an outlaw, but I won't forget you," you hiss feeling a sudden surge of anger, because if you gave in to the sadness that now clutches your heart you would find yourself crying on your knees and he doesn't deserve that, "It may have been very easy for you to make me disappear from your mind and heart, but don't think we're the same in this."

He does not answer you, you know he is gritting his teeth by the rhythmic click of his jaw, you thought you had found him and instead you are looking at a stranger.

"You've grown ... and you've changed," you whisper before turning toward the exit with a chill in your body, "The cell is open and the guards are focused on protecting the king, you pretty much have the coast clear."

Before you can leave, his voice stops you.

"What will happen to you? Every action has a repercussion, princess."

You smile without amusement; it's ridiculous how he avoids facing your feelings by pretending they don't exist.

"Don't waste your time on me and go, it's not even certain that they will find out," you sigh with one last look at the man who stole your heart and soul before freezing you, he now has his hands clasped around the bars of the window, as if he refuses to look at you. It is stupid what you are about to do, but you need one last test.

You let your shawl slide to the ground; if it is still in the straw tomorrow, you will be condemned in Jimin's place; if, on the other hand, the guards do not find it, it means the boy has taken it with him. You know you are being selfish, but you wish a part of you would stay with him, even though he would probably like not to think of you again.

"Jimin!" one of his friends notices him, and relief is immediate in the group.

They welcome him with open arms as he collapses to the ground, tired but happy to still have his head attached to his neck.

"We were already prepared to intervene during the public trial, but this changes everything! How did you escape?" Hoseok asks him with wide eyes, Jimin brings a hand to his damp and dirty hair, seriously in need of a bath after spending a night running through dirty streets and dirt.

"I was helped ... by a friend, let's say," he replies through clenched teeth, gratefully taking the water bottle Yoongi is handing him.

"A friend? Some servant girl you've had fun with in the past?" asks Taehyung smoothly, receiving a blow on the head from Namjoon.

It is Seokjin who notices the shawl that Jimin has tied around his waist, masterfully takes it before the boy can even notice and ignores the latter's protests.

"I'd say a princess," he says with a smile, spreading the fabric and displaying the royal family crest under the sunlight, "I knew it, she-"

"Stop. I know what you are going to say and I urge you to go no further," Jimin growls taking back your shawl, "She belongs in that castle."

"Kidnapping a princess is easy, so what's your problem?" in a not at all gentle way, Jungkook voices the question that has always crossed everyone's mind.

"Her place is not in that castle, everyone in the kingdom knows that ever since Cobra killed his brother and sister-in-law, he wants to use his niece as a bargaining chip with all countries provided with an heir" Namjoon looks at him sternly, but Jimin sighs.

"She is a princess, that is her duty."

He clutches your shawl tightly before getting up from the ground and heading to his tent, your place is not by his side, you are safer in that castle, whoever went against that foolish new king met his death, he will never forget the life in his father's eyes that faded away, nor the flames that burned his house and the king's guards that captured his mother and brothers, you will not end up the same way because of his selfishness, if leaving you by your uncle's side will preserve your life, then he will give up on you.

He clutches tightly at the fabric that still carries your sweet scent of vanilla and cookies, it was devastating to have had you next to him again without being able to hold you as he would have liked, for a moment the memories of childhood lulled him tenderly, but you are two different people now, he is different and must let you go, it is for your own good he thinks as he ties your shawl around his duffle bag, trying not to think back to the pain in your voice as you left the cell.

Someday, when you have a family of your own, you will understand the reason behind his every action.

The walls tremble at the king's shouts, he is furious.

Everyone in the hall looks at each other nervously, you keep your vacant and tired gaze, it has been three days since Park Jimin's escape and your uncle shows no sign of ending his fury, he has executed five guards and two nobles of his court suspected of helping Jimin with the escape. The reason is the poison found in the wine that killed the sentries who were on guard that night; it is a plant found only in the royal gardens and only the king and the nobles of his court have access to it.

"Who dared to betray the king?" is the question circulating among those in the hall as you crinkle the skirt of your gown with nervous fingers, not regretting helping Jimin, but breathing the heavy air of these days is not easy.

"Who do you think could have done it, my niece?" when your uncle whispers the question in your ear you stiffen.

"I don't have enough evidence to accuse anyone, Your Majesty, the only thing I can say is that it must have been a fool with no conscience," you reply in as firm a tone as possible, your uncle scrutinizing you from head to toe before nodding.

"Yeah, a fool..." he hisses shifting his gaze to his nobles, out of the corner of your eye you notice Harun looking at you from the front door with sadness.

She expected Jimin to take you away with him, and truthfully you had hoped for that at first too, but you can't force a person to love you, it's a good thing things turned out this way, you can finally stop chasing a ghost and wishing for something you will never have.

When that day's reunion ends, you can finally be free to wander around the castle, what you don't expect is to find the king in your safe place, your mother's private little garden.

"Sire..." you whisper strangely, the king never dared to enter there, everything about those lush plants and flowers carries the memory of your mother, a beautiful and sensitive woman, but also very strong. She did not shy away from her brother-in-law's sword when he pointed it at her chest.

"Y/N, you are doing a very good job here," he nods in the direction of the white lilies in the height of their bloom, you do nothing to approach the man, you have always discreetly driven away his presence, but it is one thing to leave his halls, another to leave a place you consider your own, this may make him too suspicious.

He, however, seems not to notice your lack of response, too busy studying the many plants in the small garden.

"Go ahead and sit down and read one of your books, nephew...I'm just here to find some peace...I confess, Park Jimin's escape troubles me," he casts you a little glance and you clear your throat.

"You are the king, he cannot harm you in here, Sire."

The man nods weakly, but still looks tense.

"Oh, I know I am the king, my dear niece, but the idea that a traitor could live within the walls of my castle does not let me sleep at night."

You grit your teeth.

His castle? The castle he forcibly wrested from you and your family?

This is another humiliation to which you cannot respond as you actually want to, you swallow the knot in your throat.

"Precisely why I'm so disappointed... in you" you squint, possible...  "Y/N, I kept you alive when I took the throne years ago, you were such a pretty and malleable child, but maybe not enough" he continues before shaking off the dark cloak and pulling out something that locks your breath in your lungs.

In his fist he clutches your necklace, the one that contained the poison and that you thought you had hidden in the sewn folds of your dress, you don't know what to say, so you try to pretend.

"Oh! You found it, I've been looking for it for days," you exclaim in the most surprised tone you can imitate, but the man doesn't seem to be playing along with you.

"Don't lie to me, Y/N, this necklace was found inside the cell where Park Jimin was locked up, I had heard rumors about your childish feelings for that outlaw, but to go that far? To go so far as to betray me? I spared your life, I never denied you and your title of princess! I raised you as if you were my own daughter!" he shouts, violently pulling off a wolfsbane root hidden among the lilies.

Something snaps inside you at his insinuations, an anger you've been hatching for years that has never found an outlet.

"Raised as a daughter? You killed my father and mother for a crown! You put power and wealth first, you deprived me of a family, you did the same to Jimin and claim to pass as a victim now! You are a vile monster!"

Your uncle is quick to draw the same sword with which he had remorselessly severed your father's head, he points it at your throat and it is so close that you feel the blade press against your skin enough to scratch it, you inhale deeply trying to block the fear that makes your heart gallop against your rib cage.

"I am the king, I don't allow a foolish girl to judge my actions, I realize I was wrong to spare you that night...but what should I do with you now? Should I kill you now or..." a mad light flashes in his eyes, "Of course... a condemned will be there, you will take the place of your beloved Jimin," he hisses in your face, a slow smile makes room on your cheeks contrary to what the man expected.

He expected you to burst into tears and fall to your knees begging him to spare you, but you will not, you will honor your mother's memory.

"You're just a coward," you whisper amused, at which the man's face turns red with fury.

"Guards! Guards!" he shouts at that point, six men enter by breaking through the glass door from which you enter to reach your mother's garden, shards of glass surround you along with the soldiers, you have no escape and so you merely chill the king with your gaze, "Lock her up in the highest and most isolated tower of the castle, I sentence the princess to death for helping the dangerous fugitive Park Jimin escape from my prisons!"

"Your day will come, too, Uncle," you hiss furiously, "And when you find him before your eyes, you will fall to your knees begging him to spare your life, but he will not be so merciful," you announce proudly, not needing to utter Jimin's name to alert your uncle, the way he suddenly whitens is already an answer for you, you keep smiling as an austere-looking man tugs you badly, forgetting that he has a princess on his hands, or maybe they don't care, it's the king who matters to them.

As you are thrown to the floor inside what will be your final chamber, darkness engulfs you once the door is closed.

You cough hard involuntarily inhaling the air thick with dust and dirt, your eyes burn and you do not know whether from tears or from the irritants in the room, the only thing you are sure of is that tomorrow your entire kingdom will know of your death sentence.

They will probably learn of that news with indifference, wondering why the king did not kill you earlier, along with the rest of your family.

You often ask yourself that too, if he had killed you then, you would have died basking in the thought that Jimin loved you and would remember you forever.

"Let's move, we need to refuel in town before we leave," says Seokjin starting to saddle his horse, Namjoon on the other hand is busy cataloging all their stuff to avoid losing anything after yet another move.

"Taehyung's not back yet?" complains Hoseok snortingly, picking up the "stupid guy's" bag, Jungkook shrugs in response.

They sent Taehyung to check the situation in town, moving in a group would have been dangerous; it's always better to check one at a time that the coast is clear.

"Strange, he should be here already," Jimin whispers as he squints, their momentary safe place in the heart of the forest is now almost completely clear, only Taehyung is missing.

"Maybe he's found something interesting," murmurs Yoongi crossing his arms and staring at an unspecified point toward the horizon, everyone staring at him in confusion before hearing Taehyung's voice.

"Jimin!" exclaimed Taehyung coming galloping in a breathless gallop, Hoseok cursing.

"I hope no one saw you running and screaming like that, you asshole," he growls, but Taehyung overtakes him with wide eyes and a paper clutched in his hand.

"Jimin, it's about the princess!" silence instantly replaces the protests of the others, Jimin stiffens as he stares guardedly at the paper Taehyung is clutching so desperately, "That fool of a king-" is interrupted by his friend who snatches the flyer from his hands to read it himself.

A boulder falls into his stomach and the ground is as if shaking beneath his feet, the king has sentenced you to death, you will end up hanging with a noose around your neck for helping him escape, he clutches the piece of paper tightly, shaking with fury.

You should not have helped him, you should not have risked your life for someone like him, when he thinks of how he treated you before you left he feels only immense shame.

"We should have kidnapped her when I proposed it," Jungkook sighs before saddling his horse as well.

"Saving her is the more appropriate term," Yoongi corrects him, adjusting his leather vest before turning to Jimin, "What do you want to do now?"

Jimin lets out a laugh full of malice, his adamantine eyes shining as he observes the king's seal in the communiqué.

"Are you still convinced that leaving her in that castle is the only way to keep her safe?" asks Namjoon sarcastically, Jimin shakes his head.

"In light of the new events, I would say no," he sighs reluctantly, handing the communiqué to Hoseok.

"The execution is in two days, we have to find a way to get into the castle and find her."

"He probably locked her up in the most isolated tower, he did the same with her mother before he killed her, it's as if he enjoys seeing them wallowing in fear," the blond man forcefully clutches a twig picked from the ground before snapping it in two, wishing he had the king's neck in his hands.

"Now with all those guards circling her it will be harder to kidnap a princess, but nothing is impossible for us," sneers Jungkook, but Jimin doesn't seem thrilled at the idea of having you back by his side, filling him with unease and remorse, reminding him of all the years he was absent and didn't really care how you might feel sitting side by side with the monster who killed your parents.

Someone squeezes his shoulder in comfort, it is Jin who is looking at him with a smile, "Hey, if you explain everything to her she will understand, from what you told me, she seems like a smart and intelligent girl."

Jimin grins slightly and nods.

"She is."

You look out the small tower window with tears in your eyes, you don't know how many hours you have been crying now, what your uncle did was deplorable and cruel.

You were allowed to sleep with your sweet old Harun beside you, you had to imagine that behind that concession was the cruel promise of a snake.

‘With the princess dead, there is no need for a wet nurse anymore’ is what the king said before ordering the guards to carry Harun away to the outside, exactly in the direction of your window, before they began to slaughter her amidst the screams of both of you, you shook the bars at the window of the hope of breaking them and reaching her, but it had all been in vain, Harun died almost immediately, she preferred not to withstand the blows to spare you the suffering of watching her fight like an animal for who knows how long.

Your throat burns as you sob, her body is still there, no one has gone to cover her, they are simply waiting for the ravens to arrive.

You slowly fall to your knees letting go of your grip on the bars, your hands are encrusted with blood and your nails are broken, you clutch your hands to your chest remembering your wet nurse who apologized to you the night before for encouraging you to free Jimin, repeating numerous times that she firmly believed you would run away together.

You feel guilty, perhaps if you had not requested Harun's presence, she would not have come into the king's sights, you find yourself wishing the hours would pass quickly, you do not want to be alone with your thoughts, they are too scary, death in comparison seems like a sweet promise.

Suddenly you hear the creak of the old door opening, for a moment - your despite yourself - you brighten up, believing you'll find Jimin ready to help you, but the dream soon shatters once again, it's not Jimin, it's one of the guards, and then you frown, what is he doing here? The king has expressly ordered that no one should speak to you again.

"What do you want, sir?" you ask with a strange feeling in your stomach, the guard sneers.

"A change of room, the king has ordered it," you stare at the open door, then back at the guard, it's a boy who looks familiar to you, he has black hair and droopy eyes.

You don't ask any further questions, you get up from the floor and shaking off the dust you let him grab you by the arm, though you grit your teeth in anger you dare not say anything, it's still better than having chains on your wrists and ankles.

He takes you outside urgently, you don't see the other guards and it makes you suspicious, you remember there were at least three outside the door, what is going on?

It is when you get to the fourth flight of stairs that you feel a violent grip on your shoulder before you are forced into a small, dark room, perhaps a closet used by the servants to store items, you scream with all your might, but the man's slimy mouth immediately covers yours, it is disgusting as you try to force his tongue between your lips and with a firm conk in your throat you bite it off with all your might.

This makes him flinch away with a yelp, it's dark and you can't see anything, you can only imagine him probing his tongue with his fingers to make sure it's still attached, you spit out his blood shuddering.

"You know..." he begins panting, "I've never been with a princess, I must say you are much better than servants," he laughs like a maniac returning again to his intent, trying to lift your dress skirts, but every time he tries to sneak his hand in, he always finds a kick to hit it badly.

With your heart engaged in a mad rush, you try to defend yourself as best you can, you've never been in a situation like this, but you won't let this happen, ever.

You desperately grope for something behind you, his wine-smelling breath twisting your guts and when he comes to lick your neck you manage to hold on to something cold and spiky, you don't even need to ask for forgiveness for what you are about to do, you don't even feel a hint of guilt as you start hitting him viciously wherever you can, with a snarl he tries to block your hands but you manage to knock him unconscious with one last blow.

You open the door to the small room to escape and the man's body collapses to the floor, you finally recognize him, he is the son of the guards' captain, and a rush of satisfaction fills your chest as you think back to what they did to Harun, then you suddenly realize you are free.

You don't know exactly where you're going to go, but you have a chance to escape and you're not going to miss a golden opportunity like that.

To enter the castle they used an old and dense series of underground tunnels leading to every corner of the palace, to be on the safe side Jimin chose the one that would lead them to the kitchens populated only by servants at certain times.

"Well, we're in," Hoseok snorts, shaking cobwebs from his clothes in disgust, "Now what?"

"We should split up and check every single tower, just in case," proposes Seokjin nabbing an apple from the basket in the large kitchen, Jimin looks around wistfully, brushing against the massive old wooden table he remembers all the afternoons spent with you stealing cookies with the complicity of Harun and the cook, with the old housekeeper always at your heels repeating to you to go back to the lessons with the riding teacher.

"Be careful, the castle is swarming with soldiers," the blond warns them before going on his way, refusing to take anyone else with him.

He moves through the shadows of the palace, making sure to avoid every corner illuminated by the light of the flashlights hanging on the walls of almost every corridor, his stride is light despite the leather boots he is wearing, he is getting closer and closer to the throne room and he shouldn't, he is there to save you, but... if he kills the king you will ascend to the throne.

He tries to calm his breathing, the idea of coming face to face again with the man responsible for his downfall is too much for him, it would be delightful to sever the head from his neck and proclaim a new ruler, one man's death would be enough to end both of their nightmares.

Before he can even really realize it, he has reached the vicinity of the throne room, hidden behind a secluded corner he watches the guards lurking at each corner of the door.

Opening his palm he slowly slides a dagger down his arm to his wrist, grasps the handle foretasting the moment when he will plunge the blade into the living flesh of the two soldiers in the king's service, one of them yawns sonorously and keeps his eyes almost completely closed, receiving a shove from the other.

"Hey, I'm going for a check-up, try not to fall asleep as usual, you boar," he growls before putting his hand on the sword hilt and walking away looking around.

Jimin sneers as he licks his lower lip, drops his cloak hood and calmly approaches the displeased man.

"Why do I always have to stay on guard?" he hears him mutter, "That prick really turns my-" the words stop in the middle of his throat while Jimin is cutting it, it is such a smooth movement his that it now seems remarkably natural.

The man doesn't resist, he moans in a hushed voice as he collapses to the ground accompanied by the blond man who doesn't mind the blood smeared on his cloak, the stench of alcohol the soldier exudes, he can swear he was too drunk to try to react in any other way, everything seems to be going in his favor and he can't help but bask in the pleasure of what is about to take place.

When he enters the great throne room, he cannot help but think of the time when he found himself kneeling before the king in a humiliating position, but that night everything will be reversed.

The young man remembers the walls finished in gold and silver, but the frescoes proclaiming King Cobra as the victor are new, depicting hunting scenes and valiant battles to feed the man's narcissistic side, but they are all lies, Jimin knows and so does Cobra himself.

The king's back is turned and he is holding his hands behind his back, he is carefully watching something from the high windows of the throne room, perhaps he does not sense the presence creeping behind him or simply ignores it, the fact is that when Jimin points his sword at his back, the man does not move an inch, he remains ice cold.

"I knew you would come back for her, Jimin," there is an amused note in his voice, Jimin thins his gaze.

"For her? I came back to kill you," the boy growls, pressing the gleaming blade harder.

"Um..." the man brings a hand to his face to smooth his long beard, "So you don't care about Y/N or what might happen to her at this very moment."

A trace of insecurity quickly passes through Jimin's icy eyes, he grits his teeth before uttering the words he would not want left his lips, "Exactly, I'm just here to settle a score."

"Oh, well ... then, before you settle this unfinished score, why don't you enjoy the show with me?" the sardonic question awakens Jimin's sixth sense, as he lifts his gaze over the king's shoulder and toward the stained glass windows, just outside the garden that would later lead inside the bramble forest.

Immediately he feels the blood freeze in his veins, he rolls his eyes and tries to keep his calm demeanor, but inside he is dying.

You are there.

You're running toward the forest with a soldier behind you gaining more and more ground, you're too tired and petite to outrun him, you won't make it.

"So what? Will you take my life and satisfy your revenge or will you run to save the princess in danger?" chuckles Cobra, Jimin hisses strengthening his grip and tearing at the king's gaudy robes with the tip of his blade, he knows what he has to do, the answer is so obvious, but letting go of such a being is unthinkable for him, unbearable.

With a snarl he pushes the king away, who rolls badly to the ground, and before he can even comprehend what has just happened, Jimin puts his sword to his throat, the blade shining under the dim light of the candles and longing for the young man to go forward, to pierce the flesh of that worm and sever his head from the rest of his body, but all that does not happen.

Jimin's eyes are now as dark as darkness, he uncovers his teeth like a snarling wolf, "I will return, Your Majesty... and when you see me again, you will pray for God to save you, for I will have no mercy on your dark soul," he hisses, hurling a slash toward the king, then heading quickly and in a blind fury toward the exit of the hall.

Cobra with wide eyes grazes his own face, slowly a wound opens under his left eye and blood stains his hands.

You hiss in pain with every thorn that sticks in your legs, your dress is torn in several places and you try to catch your breath as you pray that the soldier will not find you.

You have ended up in the bramble forest so feared in your kingdom and every movement of the wild plants that inhabit it makes you tremble with terror, everything is dark and cold, you can only hear the cry of the owls that watch your silent struggle mocking you.

You manage to crawl painfully behind a large and imposing tree, lift your skirt and observe the pitiful condition of your legs, bite your lower lip with tears in your eyes, your skin is full of scratches and blood, but you can still run.

You try to pick yourself up, but noises of broken branches block your every movement, you stand with bated breath as someone wanders through the trees.

"Come here, little flower... let's go back to your room," you hear him humming with amusement, "I don't know how you got out, but you won't be punished, you're still a princess after all."

You tremble with cold and fear, it is obvious that the man is not telling the truth, you have seen your uncle's men act before and you know they know no kindness or mercy.

"Our sweet..." you frown as you follow the man's footsteps with your ears, you can't make out which direction he is coming from, "Princess..." you see something moving quickly out of the corner of your eye to your right, you spontaneously throw yourself to the left to avoid it, believing it to be the guard, but to your horror you realize it is a small fox, "... Y/N! " you scream with all your might when hands yank you away, you manage to free yourself only because the man's grip is weak, at which point you run away again.

"Run, princess, run! I'll find you again anyway!" he laughs excitedly at the idea of hunting after months locked in the castle protecting the king's life.

You are tired, your eyesight is getting more and more fatigued, you just want everything to be over as soon as possible. You don't even know where you might go in case you escape the man, you will always be hunted down by the king and his array of soldiers, the idea of giving up everything and accepting the end you will make crosses your mind, even if it means saying goodbye to Jimin for good.

Bramble bushes once again block your way, they stick to your skin and dress, they seem to be on the side of your assailant, you can no longer escape, it's over.

"Gotcha, princess" you feel his heavy breath on your neck, his arms grip you tightly before he lifts you up by weight and throws you into the shaggy, dry grass, "Look at you... actually you don't look like a princess anymore, you look like a dirty peasant girl" he chuckles, kneeling down in front of you, he touches your hair and you glower at him.

"Don't touch me, you dirty mangy dog" you growl, slapping his hand, the man's expression changes, it is no longer cheerful, now he looks resentful.

"You have such peasant language, your mother didn't live long enough to teach you manners, but I'll teach you a good lesson," he says before lifting a hand, ready to slap you in the face.

As your wide eyes stare at the man's heavy hand, your ears feel something move across the grass and stomp on it, then the sound of a slash lashing the air and suddenly you are free, the man falls to the side holding his neck but desperately reaching for the dagger hidden in his leather belt amid curses and expletives.

"Jimin..." you whisper as you see a golden flash in the darkness of the forest, the shadow falls hard on your assailant and you find yourself forcefully closing your eyes to avoid looking at that gruesome spectacle, you listen in disgust to the intense barks of the dying man.

Then everything falls silent.

You feel Jimin's presence approaching your huddled figure on the ground and you don't know how to act.

He has certainly saved your life, but he has just killed a man and you are the granddaughter of the king who took everything away from him; he is no longer the Jimin of when you were an innocent child.

"Are you all right?" he kneels at your side with a certain formality and coldness in his tone of voice, as if trying to keep his distance, hurting you.

You slowly rise up avoiding looking him in the eye, "I'm alive, so yeah... I'm fine," you whisper dimly, hissing when you try to stand up and your legs resume burning painfully, you clench your flayed fingers into small fists and when he notices them he cannot forbid himself a barely concealed dry breath.

"One moment, let me see," he offers, already grabbing a flap of your torn dress, instantly freezing when he meets your eyes wide with embarrassment.

What he was about to do is disgraceful as well as incredibly intimate.

"It's nothing, I can still walk... can you help me reach the village? I might find someone willing to let me board by ship," you ask gritting your teeth, the forest finally gains some light and you can make out the young man's surprised expression.

Your gaze falls on his black robes, although it is not very clear you understand that the darker stains correspond to the blood of the man he has just killed and to whom you dare not even cast a glance, you swallow wondering why apart from your disgust at the blood, it does not bother you at all.

"I am here to save you, princess," he murmurs decisively, "Going to the village is not safe, you can only trust me," at his words you tighten your lips into a tight line.

"If you really want to save me, then stop talking to me in that tone, we grew up together as friends, stop pulling away from me" you whisper sadly, the boy shows a flash of displeasure as your words sink into his heart, behind him several men on their horses begin to approach, one of whom is unridden.

"Jimin, more guards are coming!" exclaims a boy with hair as dark as a raven's feathers and tenacious eyes, and tossing him the reins of the riderless horse, the animal is magnificent, its coat as white as milk and its mane shining like the most precious gold.

Orobel.

With tears in your eyes you recognize the foal your father gave Jimin for his 12th birthday. He is much bigger and more majestic now, a force of nature in every way.

"You must come with us if you want to save your life, princess," says another, his shoulders broad and posture proud, he looks like the leader of the group, a large bow protrudes from his back.

You send down a knot in your throat when Jimin extends a hand toward you encouragingly, "We must go, don't be afraid of them, they are my trusted comrades, Y/N."

Your name uttered by his sweet lips shakes you to the core, he may not be aware of the effect he still has on you and you want to cry like a little girl when he helps you up from the muddy ground and hoist you onto Orobel, if he somehow notices your glazed eyes, he says nothing, probably blaming the wounds on your legs.

You really wish it were that way.

Jimin is chopping wood with an axe, he is shirtless and you watch from a distance, sitting on the grass and wrapped in a clean, heavy cloak, it is the only thing the boys have found suitable for you to protect you from the evening wind.

You notice a few drops of sweat sliding down his neck and then down to his muscular chest as he flexes his arms to strike yet another wooden stump, you swallow with a slight blush dusted on your cheeks, you didn't remember his physique being so grown up, it's all new to you as well as incredibly embarrassing.

Out of the corner of your eye you notice Yoongi picking some herbs not far from you, it makes you feel uncomfortable to have to live with so many men; when your uncle took you into custody, he didn't allow any boys to get close to you, he wanted to keep you pure for his plans. Thinking back to the man who didn't think twice about sentencing you to death paralyzes you. You have to hold on until you find your own place to stay, you doubt that Jimin will ever want you by his side; therefore, you have to think personally about your future, even if it is painful to think about.

Being with them, you get a little insight into everyone's roles within the group.

Seokjin is certainly the leader as well as an experienced archer. You have observed him several times taking aim and hitting his intended target accurately, plus he has an aura around him that inspires confidence and trust. On the other hand, Taehyung looks a bit like the jester of the situation, but you have seen him wielding daggers to catch various animals and never wished to take their place, it is clear that behind that sunny smile he hides a soul as dark as the others.

Namjoon would rather observe and devise traps than take part in an actual confrontation, but it is clear that he would never back down in the face of a real threat, just as Yoongi, who plays the role of doctor in the group, helped you bandage your fingers and legs when you arrived at their camp and was incredibly quiet, not that you felt like talking still upset after the events of the night.

Then there are Hoseok and Jungkook, both of whom are the hunters, their job is to find and kill all possible threats in the surroundings, lest their lair be found and besieged by the king's men.

Also, you found out that Jimin is a master of swords.

He masters his steel blade so lightly and sinuously that it seems to dance when he moves and lashes the air.

You are in the midst of wolves, but it doesn't scare you too much, you know they won't hurt you, or so you assume after those five days spent in their company.

You feel a figure stop behind you, you raise your head and have to squint to avoid being blinded by the sun's rays, slowly you make out the form of Yoongi who bends respectfully at your height. His feline-cut eyes seem to invite you to listen to him.

"I can see you are tired, princess, and I know you haven't slept well since you've been here," he begins with a thoughtful look, "Taehyung has managed to find suitable clothes for you and there is a safe lake nearby, I invite you to freshen up and put on something clean before resting, you will surely feel better," he says with a small reassuring smile.

You frown, undecided about what to do, the idea of a bath tantalizes you almost overbearingly, but the embarrassment if one of them were to see you naked would be too much to bear, and Yoongi seems to understand that.

"The lake is far enough away from the camp, none of us here are planning to go to that area at the moment, it is completely safe and isolated, you need not fear anything," he hastens to specify, "I will just accompany you, I will be back here immediately."

"I... thank you, Yoongi" you smile gratefully, finally trusting the boy.

"I'll go get you those clothes, wait here for a moment," you nod, sighing slightly; you turn back to Jimin, but find to your disappointment that he has disappeared.

Yoongi leaves you by the lake, the path back to the camp is not difficult; so, you assure the man that you will have no trouble. He leaves you with a shadow of doubt etched on his face, but you pay no attention to it; you walk to the lakeshore and breathe in the air at the top of your lungs, enjoying the blue sky and the fluffy clouds that sail across it like ships.

When you finally reach the lake, you feed on the sight of the crystal-clear water, the temptation to undress is very strong, but tightening your lips into a line you look around suspiciously.

Stripping off completely would be too much, so you decide to stay in your petticoat, shivering at the breeze rattling the tree foliage, you hang your clothes from the branch of an old felled log nearby.

You turn toward the shore and treading over the small stones and grass you finally slowly begin to enter the water, sighing at the almost freezing temperature.

As the water reaches your belly you hear something emerge noisily from the lake, widening your eyes you find yourself screaming and covering your chest as best you can, wordlessly you see Jimin with his eyes closed bringing back his blond, golden-strand-like hair, the movement is magnetic, and you are practically naked. No, both of you are naked.

You flinch down with the water now up to your chin and your heart in your throat, peering warily at the boy who notices you only at that moment and stares at you wordlessly at first, you notice his jaw snap rigidly and his clear eyes darken, before turning away.

"I'm done, I'm leaving right now," he says raising his voice slightly to be heard, "I just needed to get the sweat off of me," he looks uncomfortable as he tries hard not to let his eyes slide to you.

A squeeze in your stomach is all you get from his words.

"Jimin..." you call out to him as he begins to swim toward the shore, the bitter feeling like gall at seeing him move further and further away from you once again has become unbearable, "So that's it? You don't want me?" his bare shoulders tremble slightly, and you don't know whether from the cold of the water or from your words.

You don't really expect to see him coming back toward you, but that's exactly what he does by moving at an extraordinary speed, he almost looks like a water creature, then he is in front of you in his full height, water droplets glide along his perfect skin and you swallow trying not to look at his bare chest or even lower, suddenly feeling like a little girl under the icy depths of his eyes.

"You're going to get sick, Y/N... Look, your lips are already purple," he whispers, brushing your lower lip with his thumb, stroking it gently, and you feel yourself suddenly go on fire.

"Can't you just answer me to end this suffering?" you beg him with moist eyes, Jimin sighs before shaking his head, reaching up to brush your hair.

"I am not suitable for you, Y/N," he mutters it almost angrily, wishing to put an end to this.

"Or am I not suitable for you, maybe that's what you think" you smile sadly and bitterly, "I'm sorry to still be a bother to you."

"You are not a bother" he almost growls those words and you sigh shaking your head.

"Then I will be soon, you will meet a beautiful woman, marry her and have your own family, that same woman will then wonder when I will disappear from your life forever and at that point there will be no place for me even in your memories," you say shakily, "That is, if there are still memories of me in your heart."

You follow the movement of his neck as he tilts to let his eyes peer deep into your soul, his serious, thoughtful expression leaving you interjected.

He doesn't seem to want to deny but not even admit your words; it's as if he, too, is as confused as you are.

His gaze moves further down, there where your thin robe has stuck to your body because of the water, you realize with shame that it has become transparent and revealing, but you decide not to cover yourself.

You want him to look at you, to see that you are no longer a child, that you have grown up and that your body is that of a girl in her prime.

"My real problem, Y/N ... is that I'm sure I've met that woman before, but I don't feel worthy to be around her, not when I abandoned her in a castle to pursue my revenge," he whispers, the sky-blue color of his eyes seems to become more watery, "I can't forgive myself for putting her on the back burner, that's the truth," you hear the pain in his voice, the one that was missing that night in the cell when you freed him.

The need to hug him and hold him to you suddenly becomes more suffocating, with a sob you throw yourself into his arms and this time he doesn't stay stiff as marble, his arms wrap around you like a silk blanket and you find refuge in his chest.

His skin is warm against your cheek and it's a feeling you didn't think you would experience again, the boy sinks his face into your hair and leaves a kiss on your temple, before brushing the tip of his nose against you and smiling softly.

"There will never be a woman who will make me forget you," despite his words, you feel sad, still incomplete.

You sigh against his neck and close your eyes, you have gotten used to the temperature of the water and its warmth helps to relax you.

"But there will be a woman who will take you away from me" you point out in a colorless voice, when he doesn't respond you decide to loosen your sudden embrace, "I'm tired of waiting for you, Jimin" you let go of the ripples in the water, swimming back to the shore without taking your eyes off the boy who still seems to be in doubt, then a small, amused smile stretches across your face, "I'll have to find a real man who knows what it means to love a woman," you taunt him, reaching down to a shallow spot in the lake bottom, wanting to give him a taste of his own medicine.

You begin to lower the straps of your now useless robe, abandoning all symptoms of shame, you want him to react or get angry in some way, you want a reaction from him and you get it, "Maybe Yoongi? I have to admit, he's very charming and he certainly knows what he wants, he could give me-" before you can even finish speaking, Jimin pulls you toward him grabbing you by the wrist, you only have time to make a surprised sound before his lips manage to cover yours in an impetuous, possession-filled kiss.

You hear your heart beating at a rapid pace in your ears, you did not expect your second kiss to happen this way, he seems exasperated as he presses himself against your mouth for more direct and intimate contact, you open your mouth slightly when his tongue dabs roughly on your lower lip.

It is a man who is kissing you, no longer the kid of your memories, and he seems more than willing to let you know it when one of his hands comes down to tenderly squeeze your throbbing neck, he smiles against your lips when he realizes that your heart seems to want to leave your chest and he separates himself from you with one last caress of his softest petals.

"I haven't even kissed you properly and your heart is already exploding," he chuckles with a spark of mischief in his clear eyes, "And who would you like to give such purity to, Yoongi?" he shakes his head hissing those words like an angry snake ready to attack.

You clench the hand that is still wrapped around your neck and strengthen his grip, wishing that the feel of his fingers on your skin would stay with you, "I've always wanted it to be yours, Jimin," you say softly, tilting your head at the slow descent of his hand.

"I'm very different from the nobles you grew up with, Y/N.... Don't expect me to catch you with a petticoat on," he continues by caressing a thin strap, lifting the fabric just a little, "Or for me to look away while you undress," he leans down to kiss the corner of your lips, reaches down to your chin and continues along the entire line of your neck, as water you adapt to the touch of him until he reaches your breast, your nipples turgid from the temperature of the water and his attentions are raised against the transparent fabric, the man can practically see their shape and color, he cups one breast as he pushes his head against your chest, kissing the soft, tantalizing flesh.

He adores you with his mouth and your sighs make him feel like a lion in a cage, his golden hair captures the last light of dawn as he pushes you against the shore and gets between your legs, studding you with kisses and caresses, returns to your mouth and finally with his tongue captures yours, inviting you to follow him.

You encircle his neck with your arms, trembling with excitement at the way he lets you touch him and the way he touches you, takes you by the hips and holds you against his massive, secure body.

"Jimin" you whisper in his ear as you feel something heavy and stiff against your inviolate intimacy, he mumbles something unintelligible, he seems lost in his bubble continuing to lick and kiss your neck, you tremble feeling incredibly hot, an unknown force urges you to rock against him and cling to his back with your fingernails, groaning suddenly.

This seems to awaken him and the spell is broken.

He flinches away, staring at you with agitation, in his gaze remorse is the one thing you don't want to read, but it's there.

"You need to get dressed," he warns you dangerously and with difficulty before pulling away from you completely, hurting you.

"H-Have I done something I shouldn't have done?" you ask bewildered, still with chills in your body from what his hands were capable of doing to you, this version of Jimin completely opposite from the boy who was kissing you only seconds ago is like a punch to the stomach.

"I said get dressed, Y/N! " he abruptly blurts out, "And stay away from Yoongi, I don't want to see you flirting with him, you're not a village woman," he runs a hand through his damp hair nervously, before stepping out of the water without caring about his nakedness, you turn your head away from him, the feeling of shame has returned to invade your limbs, and with a stone in your heart you bring your arms to your chest, stepping out of the water and groping for the dry clothes that Taehyung and Yoongi kindly gave you.

You don't see Jimin move away from you, clenching his fists and hitting the trunk of a tree until his knuckles are mangled, finding himself staring at the blood rushing to the grass with resentment, trying hard to forget your mouth begging his to be taken or the softness of your body that has enslaved him at an embarrassing speed.

You are worse than a circle of hell for him.

When you return to camp with your face pulled into an indecipherable expression, the boys study you in confusion noting also the strange attitude of Jimin who walks a few steps ahead of you.

The two of you seem farther apart than before and this certainly does not go unnoticed by the others, Yoongi tightens his lips as he reaches for the blond man who is walking back into the forest in search of more wood.

"Hey!" he exclaims behind his friend, "What happened at the lake?" he asks, Jimin snaps an eyebrow up.

"So you knew I was there?" he curls his upper lip over his teeth appearing menacing, but Yoongi's hard gaze doesn't lower.

"She's crazy about you, so it's clear that the fight stemmed from you, am I right?"

This simply rattles the blond more, "I didn't do anything at all, don't play cupid, man, because it won't stick with me."

"Or maybe it was a one-way conversation and you didn't even give her a chance to talk, you're such an asshole! She doesn't deserve a bastard like you, a guy who doesn't grab a chance like that when he has it at his fingertips," Yoongi blurts out, starting to turn back, but those words turn on a red flag in the younger boy who grabs the older one by the leather vest.

"And what would you like to do, Yoongi? Seize the opportunity yourself? I've seen how you watch her pretend to gather herbs for your infusions," at which point Yoongi chuckles wryly, his black eyes twinkling.

"I won't lie, I like her. But I also know to whom her heart belongs, and as a doctor I can well say that if you continue to keep her on the edge like you're doing now, that heart will get sick," he sighs, flinching, "Don't make me punch you, Jimin... you're no fool."

"I'm a criminal and she's a princess," he says without emotion on his handsome face, Yoongi snorts as he rolls his eyes.

"You are her hero, the crown wants her dead and you saved her, now she's a woman like any other and nothing forbids you to be with her," clarifies the older man with a raised eyebrow, as he walks away Jimin remains frozen in place.

‘She's a woman like any other.’

No, you are not like all the others, you are his princess and will remain so forever, which is precisely why he cannot allow another man to lay his hands on you.

Abandoning himself against the bark of an old tree he wonders if being with you would be worth it as a form of protection, he would never hurt you and would ensure you protection for life, the very idea of giving you his love has always terrified him, anyone who ever loved him is dead and he wouldn't want anything horrible to happen to you because of him, but now things have changed, you need him and he... needs you.

He finds you sitting in front of the fire, you're focused on the crackling flames, and if you notice his presence, you don't show it at all, you pull the blanket tighter over your shoulders.

Your thoughtful, melancholy expression suggests to him that you are still remembering the events of a few hours ago, recognizing that he was a real jerk for the way he treated you earlier, kissing you like a lover and then rejecting you like a cheap whore. He still feels ashamed and makes sure that each of his friends is asleep in their own tent before sitting silently next to you.

He hears you wince a little and out of the corner of his eye notices you turn your head away, refusing to acknowledge his presence. He smiles slightly, even as a child when you were offended by something you would puff up your cheeks and turn your head to the side, just as you are doing now.

Yes, you are still his lovely princess.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs, moving a few millimeters closer to you, "I shouldn't have spoken to you and I especially shouldn't have touched you like that."

You frown in annoyance, snorting slightly through your nose.

"I don't object to the way you touched me, but you should keep quiet a little more," you mutter venomously, "You have the hands of an angel, but the tongue of a devil," you say casting a glance at his hands, you see the wounds and your heart sinks, you want to kiss them and curse that thought.

Those words trigger two completely different reactions in Jimin, on the one hand they help make him feel guilty, on the other he finds himself smiling internally, because you really don't know how devilish his tongue can be, if used in the right way.

"And you a mermaid's lips," he says taking your chin between two fingers, staring at you with such intensity that you feel naked.

He mirrors himself in your glossy irises and sighs, "Forgive me, after so many years of believing I'm not right for you, I forgot the most important thing."

"The most important thing?"

"Yes, you."

You gasp in surprise, registering his words only after a few moments of unbearable silence.

"You're saying that..."

"I am saying that I want to stay by your side, to be your protector and also your lover, if you will still allow me to be, Y/N."

His irises as clear as the waters of the lake gently brush against you, you feel your eyes tingling, and before he can see the tears streaming down your face you rush toward him, embracing him as if your life depended on it.

In a way it does, because without Jimin, your last piece of happiness that endures from childhood and which you have finally found again, you would have wandered in the void of loneliness for who knows how long.

You think back to your parents, to Harun, to all that you have lost and come to the conclusion that you were not yet ready to lose Jimin too, but he is here. You smile, pulling up with your nose before resting your lips on the boy's soft ones, who more than willingly accepts to surrender himself in your arms that are as small as they are warm and that scream familiarity.

"So you haven't forgotten me," you whisper, pulling away slightly, the blond shakes his head, snorting.

"Never, I tried to protect you by keeping you away from me, the king wants me dangling on a rope ... or at least it was until you made the mistake of saving me" he utters the last words with a note of reproach in his voice, staring at you sternly for the way you put yourself in danger.

But you don't lower your gaze, you won't feel guilty for saving the man you love.

"Now the two of us are here, together, do you want to blame me so much?" you murmur softly and his heart melts like snow in the sun.

He shakes his head, no, he cannot blame you. He, too, for love has made foolish and terrible decisions, and he will not let go of the chance to make up for all the pain he has caused you.

"I could never," he hisses almost painfully, closing his eyes as your fingers graze his hair and his lips reach for you, snapping another kiss.

You let him embrace you and he hold the back of your neck with one hand as he tries to deepen your contact, making it more intimate and slower than the more feverish kisses the two of you exchanged at the lake.

Your heart vibrates like the wings of a hummingbird, happy to give yourself in that way to the one man you have always loved and whom you know for certain you will love all your life. You would never have agreed to an arranged marriage; you hoped with all your heart that your uncle would never find a suitable suitor for you, and fortunately it did.

A commotion from one of the seven tents surprises you both suddenly, you separate slightly and cast a glance toward Namjoon's tent.

"He must have dropped one of his swords," Jimin mutters irritably, you, on the other hand, are traveling with your imagination, imagining sharing the tent with Jimin for the first time and blushing, since you were rescued the boys have taken turns to stand guard and let you have their little station, although strangely enough Jimin's guard duty was lasting for too many days, and as a result you have always used his bed made of furs and straw. Not quite like the one in your room at the palace, but by now you were well used to it,  considering the tower where your uncle locked you up.

"Come with me," he offers you his hand and you stare at it for a few moments, before extending yours and linking your fingers in a secure grip, "I know a place a little more... peaceful" the word slips between his teeth persuasively, you don't know what will happen tonight, but if he asked you to throw yourself off a mountain, you would do it as long as he stayed by your side at all times.

"Is it far?" you ask raising your skirt slightly, trying not to trip over tree roots and stones.

The blond looks ahead without letting go of your hand, "Just a little bit" he turns to you with his laughing eyes and you are enchanted at their color, he is lighter and more affectionate, he almost looks like that child Jimin you have missed so much.

You walk just enough to reach the thick, lumpy roots of a large tree, its branches entirely covering the night sky that until moments before was towering over you with its stars.

"Jimin... is ..." you try to say, but there is really no doubt.

The man nods.

"We are inside the lovers' forest, Y/N... this is the tree where according to legend their marriage was celebrated."

You look around, almost hoping to see the blooming arch where the first king and queen of your kingdom were married, eventually giving birth to your dynasty, but you see none of it, disappointed to realize that it is just a clearing of grass and flowers that seems to bow its head to the great tree that towers above it all.

"That's not how the stories described the place," you mumble slightly, your mother and Harun's stories spoke of magical creatures as spectators, flowers of every color and every shade decorating the lawn and the guests' walnut chairs, not to mention precisely the large archway on which roses and climbing plants had grown in honor of the two newlyweds.

You hear Jimin chuckle behind you, his hands encircle your hips and your back rests against his chest, you feel his warm breath on your neck, and goose bumps cause you to shiver.

"I never believed those stories and you know it," he says in a clear, amused tone, "But as I grew older I realized that something really happened here," he whispers in your ear.

With an elegant hand he lifts your chin slightly, bringing your gaze to the trunk of the large tree, you sharpen your vision and finally notice them.

"Runes?"

"Runes," the boy confirms, "This is the Lignum Vitae, the tree of life according to the legends, little princess," he chuckles as he turns away, his leather boots hardly audible among the uncultivated grass and damp earth.

"You don't believe that either?" you snort with a smile, you know you've always been the one to believe in everything your country's legends have handed down, but you would expect some cooperation from him, after all, he was the one who brought you here.

"I don't believe in magic, but I believe that lovers gathered here to bring offspring into the world, relying precisely on this tree," he explains with a shrug.

In fact, talking about a marriage in the stories was much easier if you wanted to tell something about the origin of the royal family to innocent children.

"They succeeded, didn't they? Look at me!" you laugh, pointing with a little bow, and Jimin does, looking at you with an affection and love that until morning he jealously kept to himself.

He walks to the tree and touches the runic symbols gently, in his mind an idea takes an increasingly clear and tantalizing shape.

"If magic really existed and we strengthened our ties to the tree, would everything fall back into place?" he wonders softly with furrowed brows, not wincing when you hug him from behind, as if expecting your closeness.

"We cannot get back what was taken from us, Jimin... even magic is useless in the face of death," your hands are intertwined over his heart, you feel it beating hard and fast, like a free and powerful horse.

"Life is what interests me," he admits, turning toward you.

He takes a few steps forward and you are forced to take as many steps backward, you don't see one of the raised roots of the tree and fall back with a little yelp, Jimin is quick to catch you before you can hit your head, and you both square off with wide-eyed stares.

"If I asked you to give me the gift of a child, here and now, what would your answer be?" he asks seriously.

You don't think about it for a single moment.

"I would answer that it is one of the desires that bind me to you, Jimin."

Another kiss comes, followed by another and another, his mouth demanding yours with such need that it seems almost savage, as if he wants to feed on you after all the years spent lusting after you in the shadows, fleeing like a wanted man of the worst kind.

He accompanies you on the damp grass and reacquaints himself with your neck, using the softness of his rosy lips to tease your tender skin, with the tips of his pearly teeth biting it lightly, and this causes an outcropping of dark, purple stains along the column of your throat, amused at imagining how others might react the next day once they set their gaze on you.

You don't even care, his attentions are a novelty, you welcome his mouth and tongue on your body as a blessing, you wouldn't turn him away from you for anything in the world, let them accuse you of being a prostitute, you and Jimin know the truth, which is that your body and soul have always belonged to the blond and no one has ever touched you as he is doing.

When he gets to the modest bodice of your dress you do something that must be strange to him, or at least you sense this from his gaze when you lift your skirt and stand helpless in his hands, like one of the wooden logs he cuts daily.

"What are you doing?" he asks with a furrowed brow.

Agitation clouds your cheeks, what's wrong?

"You said you want a baby," you say almost shyly, perhaps you misunderstood? But no, he had made it clear earlier....

"I did say that, but I don't understand why you just lifted up your skirt without responding to my caresses and now you stand still" his doubtful expression embarrasses you, that's how educators told you to do it, "Forgive me, my request was too bold."

"No!" you immediately exclaim, "I want to, only I was told to do it this way."

You see his nostrils flare to snort with irritation.

"Right...you've been locked in a castle full of soulless puppets" he shakes his head, "But that's not how I want to take you, Y/N, I prefer you receptive" he whispers persuasively, "Just like today at the lake" he continues, stroking the bare skin of your legs, pushing into your soft inner thighs, you feel your belly tighten heatedly.

"Let's leave certain unnecessary distances to those old nobles," he goes on, kissing you behind your ear, a tremor shakes you when his lips wrap around your earlobe, licking it with the tip of his tongue, "Take off your bodice, love, show me what a good girl you are, hmm?"

You nod without a drop of saliva in your mouth, Jimin's tongue hisses like a snake and you are drawn to his drawling words, you are his forbidden fruit and he can't wait to bite you and find out how sweet you can be and how deliciously you can bleed.

Each button that leaves a buttonhole is a soft kiss from him over the light blouse that still holds your breasts, mentally moaning the blond curses himself for not enjoying your eager body sooner and perfect for his fingers.

He would like to tear off your clothes instantly, but he restrains himself, how would you return to others without instigating some desire in them?. No, he is gentle when even the last garment leaves you and he can finally quiver at the sight of your naked body shivering under the icy night air, or perhaps it is his eyes that make you tremble?

He lifts himself off your body and tosses his tunic to the side, your eyes drink in the sight of his hard chest and the slight hair that descends to his private parts, which you did not see that morning, but you distinctly felt on your warm intimacy, and the air escapes your lungs when you notice something that in the sunlight has strangely escaped you, perhaps because you have tried not to stare at him too much, his chest is studded with small, shiny white lines, they are thin and almost intangible, but they are there.

You brush those lines with a tentative finger, feeling the reliefs with a question mark in mind, and in doing so his skin twitches, "What are these?" you ask gently, Jimin gives a small smile and kisses the knuckles of your hand.

"Every day spent without you," he pronounces solemnly, the wind rattles the leaves of the large tree and for a few moments it is as if you feel it voice whispering over the blond man's words. You chase away the feeling and embrace the boy once more with a tear running down your cheek. You were a fool to believe that he had abandoned you when all he had done was think about you.

You have a feeling that the air is warmer now that his head is buried in the hollow of your breasts, his moist tongue playing with the tip of a nipple initially causing a strange tickle in the center of your chest before a glowing sensation slips between your legs, making you blaze with desire, it's all more direct without your petticoat and you love every second of it.

You bite your lower lip, holding back a moan louder than your sighs, you don't want it to go away again, but it's stronger than you when the delicious sting of a bite makes your thighs tremble around his bare hips, you feel the length of his cock twitch against your skin, it's heavy and it arouses you to know that you have that effect on him, at that thought the wetness descends between your thighs against your will and you try to hide, but Jimin can read a woman's body and you are still too inexperienced to go unnoticed by a hunter like him.

"It's normal" he breathes on your lips imparting another deep kiss, "It means you like it" the tip of his nose rubs against yours trying to soothe you, your eyes fly to his cock when he lifts a little to settle himself better and all the blood rushes to your head, you don't know whether from the shame of seeing a naked man or from the incredible wave of pleasure that washes over you at noticing how thick and needy he looks, there is white liquid at the tip, dripping thickly down his veiny length that seems to contract under your curious and hungry eyes.

Then a thought alarms you, "Does it all have to go in there?" you point to your intimacy, though you don't know for sure, your educators had been vague and you never touched yourself, sometimes you felt the need as you imagined what an adult Jimin might look like, but you never dared to break the imposed rules.

A princess does not do such things as a street woman.

Yet, that's exactly where Jimin caresses you, his fingers dance over your moist folds with mastery and you block the instinct to close your legs, as you might when with his thumb he rolls over a spot that gives you particularly intense and wonderful sensations, "Jimin!" you grab his wrist trying to slow down his devilish circles, but your pelvis continues to chase pleasure against your will, you throw your head back and Jimin kisses the line of your jaw as if it is impossible for him to stop kissing you in any way.

"This is called the clit, love," you hear him smile, "And this is where I'm going to go all in...my cock will go into your sweet little pussy, Y/N," he hums moving his fingers to your needy slit, entering lightly with his light fingertips, you gasp at his sudden dirty language but find that you like it, it makes you feel desired.

You feel his fingers move inside you as his thumb continues to caress your clit, your lower abdomen trembles and stutters in despair with each jolt of pleasure, your teary eyes are lost in the immensity of the tree that seems to silently observe what is happening.

Jimin never goes beyond the elastic barrier he senses beyond your entrance, he merely teases you within inches of your entrance and it is amazing how liquid and copious your pleasure flows past his wrist until it drips onto the grass. His instincts are stronger than he is, he must have a taste of your sweetness and you abruptly hold your breath when his tongue catches another wave of your honeyed essence, you are devastating to his taste buds and he wants more, you find yourself crying and contracting your hips as you try to escape his mouth, he devours you by insisting on your scarlet pearl and when more drops of pleasure come he runs to lick them away from your slit, he seems to be going crazy or maybe he is.

"Stop, Jimin... Stop-oh!" you stiffen instantly when a firmer lick shakes your body and makes you explode in such pleasure that you squint and cry.

"Ssssh, princess" you feel Jimin's lips gathering your tears before placing a kiss at the corner of your stammering mouth; his lips are wet and glossy; he is the embodiment of sin.

He is still breathing down your neck as the thickness of his cock begins to furrow your folds to gather as much moisture as possible, the thick, shiny tip of his cock swirls around your slit and you reflexively contract your pussy muscles, it is almost funny how despite the pleasure that has shocked you, your pussy still tries to invite him inside her.

"It's going to hurt, my love" he warns you with a sharp breath, you nod immediately, this part has been repeated to you many times by those women whose job it was to instruct you in your duties as a wife, though none of them had ever told you that you could experience such pleasure that you would be left gasping for breath.

"I know," you smile, but Jimin seems a little anxious.

"It will be short-lived, I'll be gentle and-" you caress his face affectionately, you know that too, he would never intentionally hurt you.

"And I will have your baby," your heart warms every time you think about it, a baby with the same cheeks and eyes as Jimin? You would love him infinitely, Jimin melts into a real smile.

"Ours."

He intertwines a hand with yours as he prepares to enter and the next thrust makes your eyes widen, he is incredibly slow and gentle, but you have never had anything inside you before and you feel all too clearly his length piercing and widening your inner walls at his will, Jimin is breathing shallowly with sweat beading on his forehead in an attempt to keep calm, you hold him deliciously and you are extraordinarily beautiful as you stare at him with your eyes lost and your lips half-closed and swollen from his kisses.

"I-It doesn't hurt, don't worry, my love," you manage to murmur with a smile, that's right, it doesn't hurt.

It's just a strange sensation, the stretch stings and tingles, but it's nothing unbearable or terrible as you've been led to believe all your life.

Or maybe Jimin is a very good lover, whispers a little voice in your head.

Even so, you feel something warm dripping from your slit after a more direct lunge, running down one of your thighs and ending up on the damp grass; it is your blood, but you pay no attention to it, just as you pay no attention to the quick absorption of the earth near the tree roots.

The blond man nods, but he reaches down again to take a nipple in your mouth, massaging your breast as if he expects milk to come out of it already, your clitoris twitching pleasantly and his cock sliding more sinuously, now you can feel it tapping deeper and deeper, you can almost feel it in your belly and you accompany his thrusts by moving against him, you cling to his back with your fingernails, you hear him moan loudly and that sound excites you, you wonder if...

Before you even think, your hand slides over his chest and you rotate your thumb around one of his smaller, darker nipples, he stiffens with a hoarse sound in his throat and the intensity of his thrusts increases, he clings desperately to you as you tease him again, encircling his hips with your legs.

In the clearing the obscene sounds of your relationship are lost in the wind, the leaves of the tree moving gently almost as if blessing your union.

You kiss him once more and let his tongue take over your mouth, abandoning his deep sighs in you, your walls begin to vibrate ecstatically each time his cock repeatedly plows through them, your belly heats up and you squeeze his swollen length into your pussy, preventing him from leaving at all, Jimin increases his jet speed, now sure of the pleasure that envelops you like a bubble and crushes you against his body, he rides the waves of lust like a stallion, your lungs run out of breath and the world swirls around you.

"We're going to have a baby," he growls decisively, his once ice-blue eyes now a deep electric blue, "And I'm going to bring your uncle's head to you, love," he announces, repeatedly pounding into you at a more assertive and rough pace, his pleasure is snaking incandescently, he can't wait to cum inside you and fill you to the last drop, you will surely accept him as a good wife should.

You tremble with panting and his fierce lunges, praying that he will never leave you, your core is on fire, your walls wrap around him with desperation, and your clit is ready again to let you go in a spiral of enjoyment. You want it all, you yearn for it, you need it, you would kill for it all.

Making love with Jimin.

Yes.

Carrying his child.

Yes.

Having your uncle's head on a silver platter.

Yes.

You hold him in your arms as the first hot jet is shot inside you, he is still buried between your legs as he continues to come, you whimper and at yet another strand of his seed you stiffen, you open your mouth wide in a mute sound as you come with no more strength.

Your body is shaken, unable to recover and you don't understand why, you try to escape when Jimin comes out of your sweet depths, but he blocks you with his weight.

You stare at him shocked when he returns with his hand to your pussy, repeatedly rubbing your perky, still rigid pearl, you shake your head.

"No, it's too much!" you cry clutching your legs, but he continues fearlessly, "I can't do it," you gasp pleadingly.

"It's what you need, honey" he murmurs in your ear, "You're so sensitive you don't realize you need another orgasm to soothe your body, I should have fed you earlier like this, sweet little thing" he sighs with his wrist locked between your thighs, bliss finally comes in little spurts of pleasure that make you gasp and Jimin's thumb stops torturing you, you sag against him without strength, feeling nothing but the vibrations of your intimacy still reliving the intensity and strength of his presence.

"Thank you," you say turning a little toward him, who stares at you with all the love he has for you, "For everything."

But the blond man shakes his head, "You did it all, my princess, I just waited for you" you hear regret in his tone of voice and you're sorry, you don't want him to think back to all the time that kept you apart, now you're together and that's all that matters.

"We will be fine now," you nod.

"When I regain the kingdom" a kiss, "Our baby will be born" another kiss, "And I'll have the king's head to make you a gift" he snaps an even more intense kiss, "We'll be even better, to love you this and more, Y/N" he stares at you with devotion and you lose a beat.

"And I want it, I want it all, Jimin" you let yourself be cradled in your love's embrace and you notice a flash of lightning in passing, you widen your eyes and turn toward the big tree.

It was only an instant, but you swear you saw the runic symbols glow gold.

You kiss Jimin's neck with a smile, foretasting a flood of sweet happenings for both of you, you feel your lap throb gently and you know, a new dynasty is about to be brought into the world.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

© 𝐀𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐚𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐟𝐨𝐲𝐙𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐢 - ��𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐝. || 𝐔𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝/𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐡𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝.

[vamonumentlandscape]

Colonial Williamsburg

As one of the largest living history museums in the country, Colonial Williamsburg is a place where many families from all over plan their summer vacations. With the financial support of John D. Rockefeller Jr., Reverend Dr. William Archer Rutherfoord Goodwin decided to restore the former colonial capital of Virginia in 1926. 88 buildings at the site are preserved originals with the others being fully restored. There are trade shops, homes, and other businesses with ongoing interpretation and activities led by staff in the clothing of the time before the American Revolution. Though it is an effective site that shows an idealistic version of life for residents of the coastal town, it has not been without its problems within the stories told or the types of visitors that befall the area. Colonial Williamsburg must be one of the leaders in discussing the hard truths of the past. We can then work together for equity and justice for all in the present. It may make a world of difference for future generations to hear the complicated story of our nation’s founding. This would not inspire hate for the United States, but it would motivate visitors to the aspiration of a more perfect union.

We were very fortunate to meet with a long time employee of Colonial Williamsburg who detailed experiences of themselves and their colleagues. Without a doubt in any institution, there are things that are forced behind a curtain to save face. Colonial Williamsburg is not innocent and has its skeletons in the closet. We learned of the problematic beginnings of the outdoor museum. In the beginning of restoration to the historic town center, many residents resisted the changes. The community that resided in what is now Colonial Williamsburg was 54% African American. The area was impoverished when Goodwin and Rockefeller began their journey to gain land. One reason why the foundation was able to have so many original homes was due to families passing them down generation to generation. Goodwin would actually buy the land under the homes because technically most of the residents would only own the house itself, not the land. Even when they resisted, they had no choice but to move. The employee told us this important story, but made it known that this is not a history that Colonial Williamsburg readily shares. The foundation would rather cover up their sins, rather than face them. The employee continued by telling us that it was wonderful the museum had finally opened up and interpreted about enslavement during colonial times, but it was not all it was cracked up to be. The Randolph House is the only area that you will hear about enslaved people at Colonial Williamsburg. In any other tour of the over 50 building campus, you will not hear about the enslaved. You may get a guide who is open and progressive enough to toe the line of the hard, yet important, topic of slavery, but most will not and the foundation doesn’t really want them to. “A Republican Disneyland'' is what the employee called the idealistic Colonial museum. You can directly avoid the hard history of African Americans, the realities for women of the Colonial period, and other tough histories. While the replica of the small town is beautiful and correctly shares the history it chooses to tell, it uplifts a certain narrative. The employee talked of African American men and women being called out to with racial slurs when they are dressed in Colonial garb. “African Americans are more in danger in Colonial dress rather than street clothes,” they said. The employee also commented that young women are victims. Some guests go too far and think that it is alright to touch the young women when dressed in the Colonial style. “Mostly it is male guests who feel as if they can take advantage of those who were oppressed in Colonial times (women, African Americans) when visiting.” This sadly did not come as a surprise when we heard speakers announce on the shuttle ride over to the museum: “ … We do not tolerate racist or sexist jokes, comments, or harassment from our guests or employees. Please do not touch the interpreters.” It was shocking to hear on the intercom, but not so shocking to us once we heard the true stories. We are not saying Colonial Williamsburg is the only museum with harsh realities such as these. Most likely, every other place that we have been to this summer has similar instances, but we got a behind the scenes here. We share this story in hopes for those attending in the future to ask more questions when around the interpreters. We encourage all to understand that the idealized Colonial Williamsburg is not a full narrative.

The arrival of the colonists may have led to the rise of Williamsburg as Virginia’s capital city, but the English were certainly not the original inhabitants of the land. At its peak before 1607, the Powhatan Confederacy controlled more than 30 tribes throughout Tidewater Virginia, and some portions of the Eastern Shore. The original tribes under Wahunsenacawh (Chief Powhatan) included the Powhatan (proper), the Arrohateck, the Appamattuck, the Pamunkey, the Mattaponi, and the Chiskiack. We were able to meet with Kody Grant, an American Indian interpreter at Colonial Williamsburg who is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta. Kody also has family ties to the Eastern Band of the Cherokee. It only took one question for Kody to give us a complete narrative of what life was like in Williamsburg for the Powhatan, as well as the sovereign tribes that sent political delegations to the city. He told us about the young men that attended the Brafferton Indian School at William and Mary before it closed during the American Revolution. Of course, there was the mention of conflicts between local tribes and the colonists, but Kody also mentioned periods of peace and trade between the factions. There was one treaty between the Pamunkey, the Mattaponi, and the colonial governor in the late 1600s. For about 343 years, there has been a tradition of presenting deer and gifts to the Virginia government the day before Thanksgiving. Governor Northam has continued this centuries-old practice with the deer meat being donated to local food shelters. In knowing what has been perpetuated by the United States government against indigenous groups to this day, this custom shows the importance of keeping to one's word and respecting all cultures. In talking with Kody, we were conveyed the truth of Native Americans not being a monolithic civilization. Their interests, languages, and cultures are unique. We are unable to remedy the great horrors of the past, but the one thing we should be doing is listening. Kody is just one interpreter out there who can share his story, as well as others. There should be a mutual commitment to remember, memorialize, and commemorate the ever-present people whose cultures are alive and well. American Indian interpreters at Colonial Williamsburg are a perfect example of such a commitment.

After taking a lunch and caffeine break, we went back into the large outdoor museum to attend the Freedom’s Paradox tour. The only advertisement or description of the tour we saw was in the Guest Experience print out sheet. On this tour, one is able to “explore the paradox of the institution of slavery.” We were all curious about it as this is the only tour that discusses the enslaved people of Colonial Williamsburg. We were joined by only one another group on the tour, so we got to interact with our knowledgeable guide frequently. He was a younger man who was quiet, yet so intelligent on the subject. Not all guides have to be so exuberant, and he did a great job of being informative and enthralling. He told us all about the enslaved people at the Randolph House in great detail by name. We continued on the tour for him to tell us about how the enslaved people were the ones at Colonial Williamsburg to cultivate the currency of Virginia: tobacco. He explained that the crop was the main source of revenue for the young colony, but none of those who worked the land reaped those benefits. He explained that the tobacco industry should be discussed as it is and has always been: a drug business. He did not make any excuses and told us the true stories of the enslaved. Once we arrived at the courthouse, he explained that if you were any race other than white, you would be tried to be punished or killed regardless of innocence or guilt. The color of your skin usually dictated your verdict. This honest and open tour that was constantly open for conversation showed us all that Colonial Williamsburg is slowly beginning to change for the better.

[divanquotes]

Salaberry, History of the Ottoman Empire v3, 1813

Page 8: The Divan nevertheless assumed the defensive system on the seas, after an intrepid sailor came to fight against this faint-hearted party, and promised to take the island of Cyprus from the Venetians, if only he were entrusted with four caravels and eight galleys. The members of the Divan hesitated; Mustapha, the invisible witness of this discussion, listened from behind the window which, under Amurath III, had saved the life of the murderous shapes of the grand vizier Mehemet; he raised the curtain to order that Mezzomorto leave immediately. 

Page 168: Patrona softened then, and went so far as to apologize because no one had wronged him: “it is not enough,” he shouted. “If you are a janissary, be a submissive janissary; do not meddle in the affairs of the state; that Mouslu, your comrade, no longer speaks as minister of the empire; that he does not appear every day at the door of the Divan with the pomp and insolence of the last kiaia. Do you think the sultan and his grand vizier ned your lights to behave?”

“But,” said Patrona, with moderation, “if I stop for a moment to watch over the sultan and the Divan, you will soon see again such odious ministers as those whom we have punished. I have no other goal than the public happiness or welfare.” 

Page 170: Patrona Calil, Ali and Mouslu were invited to go to the Divan for a matter of great importance. They went there, and left in the first courtyard of the seraglio the escort of thirty men who always accompanied them. Solitude and silenced reigned upon their entrance there: no apparent clue of danger or snare aroused their mistrust.

Page 171: The grand vizier opened the Divan, announcing that Patrona Calil was named Beglierbey of Romelie, and Mouslu the Beglierbey of Natolie; Sanjincats were also given to the two effendis who served as advisors to the three chiefs, and who never left them; for to put them to death without having violated the rights of the ulema, of which these effendis were members, it was necessary to appoint them to employments which made them again part of the subjects who were submitted to the Sultan.

Page 195: Such was the existence of this famous adventurer at the Ottoman Porte in 1736, the time of the quarrel of Augustus II and King Stanislaus. Count de Bonneval had crossed the plans of the Marquis de Villeneuve, and advised the Divan not to act hostilely, that France had solemnly promise not to make a separate peace, and to concert all the operations of the war with the grand vizier.

Page 225: On the day when the case was judged, as soon as the mullah had pronounced the sentence condemning the protege of the Kislar-AGa, a choadar, or footman sent by him, raised the whip which these domestic officers wear on their belt; and not content with threatening the judge in front of the Divan, pushed his insolence to the point of striking him. The outrage was without precedent: the mullah demanded justice for the insult made to his person, the laws and the religion; he continued to pursue his solemn vengeance. The mufti sent him back to the grand vizier. 

Page 259: Raghib, lacking open force, had skillfully made use of corruption; but h had divided his enemies without destroying them; his own life was not safe in Cairo, and even in his own Divan, a pistol shot had been fired at him in 1706. Mahmoud I recalled Raghib from such a dangerous position, and he had since been successively the Pasha of Aidin and then of Aleppo, when Osman III appointed him grand vizier. 

Page 297: Encouraged by him, Crim-Guérai had gathered an army, had invaded and ravaged in seven days all of Moldavia, brought the herds, the horses and thirty thousand slaves, and thrown Constantinople into such a fright, that he had obtained his own confirmation while the formal destitution of the khan had taken place. Immediately after showing the Divan that he was formidable, Crim-Guérai was quick to show that he was right. He had set free all that he could gather of Moldavian slaves, and all the herds, camels, and horses which his severe orders were able to wrest from the rapacity of the Tartars. This prince breathed or thought only about combats. Taking advantage of the great ascendancy he had created at the Ottoman Porte, which spars only those whom it fears, he joined his efforts with those of the King of Prussia to determine the Divan for war.

But the sultan was, amongst all his council, the only one who was not afraid of having to give the signal for fighting. All the efforts, all the intrigues, had not persuaded the powerful ulema, or the elderly, timid and voluptuous viziers who sat in the Divan, to anything beyond the tacit permission of an invasion of Russian territory by the Tartars. All of a sudden the death of the Empress Elizabeth and the accusation of Peter III to the throne of Russia changed, in 1762, the warlike system of which Frederick II had been the driving secret.

Page 299: Peter III was dethroned; an assassination had ended his days; the princess of Anhalt-Zerbst, his wife, succeeded him under the name of Catherine II. Russian troops retraced their steps; the khan of the Tartars stopped the irruption of his hordes; the Divan cease preparations for war, and fell back into its lethargic drowsiness, contenting itself with learning what had become of Poland.

Page 303: He limited himself, according to the advice of the French Ambassador and the Prussian Minister, to giving a formal exclusion to Count Poniatowski; yet this creature of the empress was unanimously elected in the diet of 1764. Catherine, whose choice was the order and the work, showed herself to be indifferent; Mustapha saw only an insult and was indignant. “I will be able to reduce these infidels,” he cried, learning of Poniatowski’s election. It seemed that the angry sultan was going to do what the interest, the glory, and the dignity of his empire had long demanded; but far from advising him on the war, the ministers of the Divan, and the ambassador of France himself, saw that he was unable to provoke her. 

Page 304: Egypt was not tranquil: the Wechabites threatened Mecca; almost all the provinces are infested by bandits; so the entire Divan preferred an apparent reparation to disarm the sultan’s anger rather than to see the repose of the compromised empire. Captious assurances and scandalous promises cost the Empress nothing; she assured that the new king would not marry a foreign princess, that all the noble Poles would be reinstated in their dignities, and that her troops would leave Constantinople immediately. On the strength of this engagement, Mustapha allowed Catherine II to continue the work of pretended reformation which she had established, and he saw it thus, without anxiety, plunging the republic into the chaos; let us add that the Divan, receding in its foreign policy as well as in its military tactics, still feared at that time that, if Poland recovered the strength and integrity which it had under Sobieski, its efforts would not be favorable to the Crescent Empire. 

Page 305: More uncertain than convinced, the sultan dared not declare war; he even dismissed the Khan of Crimea. The ebullient and brave Crim-Gueray, who did not conceal his desire to enter Poland at the head of his Tartars, whether or not the Divan would acknowledge him or not, was attracted to Constantinople; and on the road, ten thousand shapes carried him off, and forced the Tartars, whom he had accompanied, to turn back. Mustapha, who had consented to his exile, did not welcome him with less kindness. The Khan, in passing, tried to persuade the Sultan to adopt the noble and vigorous resolutions of which he was animated. 

Page 307: The Russians made use of false colors to cover the march of their ambition; however arbitrary was their usurpation in Poland, the Divan always thought that the sultan should not be an aggressor, and that religion did not allow him to declare war until the borders of the empire had been violated. It was therefore a matter of the Russians having insult the Ottoman territory; it must be said that one man forced the Ottomans and the Russians to measure themselves together; and how, finally, he gave birth to the terrible war of six years which began in 1768 between these two formidable nations. 

Page 315: They flocked from Asia to Europe by the Bosphorus, crossing Constantinople, which they pillaged, while their chiefs were dealing with the Divan, less about the subsidies of the country than about the ransom of the capital; for it was only with gold in hand that the government obtained the departure of those guests who had become more inconvenient for themselves than their enemies. Milestones did not mark their military brought through Romelie and Bulgaria, until the general rendezvous indicated under Bender. 

Page 322: It was he who had given Poniatowski the exclusion. From that moment he was the oracle of the Divan, and the intimate counselor of Mustafa. Equally an enemy of the Russians and the Poles, whom he confounded in his fanatical contempt, he had expressed his preference for favoring the Confederates of Poland, although not taking an active part in their quarrel, and he wanted the Porte, quiet spectator of the fights of the infidels, to watch them destroy each other. 

Page 323: Mustapha III, defiant and severe, bringing back alone the authority, retained in his seraglio by the representations of the Divan, pretended to direct the operations of the war, although the care of his weak health and a fear of increased expenses prevented him from leading his own soldiers into battle. Thus the military stores, either in Bulgaria or Wallachia, were assume to be supplied, because the sultan had ordered them; and yet most of these stores were empty. The most well-founded alarms already preoccupied Mehemet-Emin as to the provisions necessary for the 300,000 men he had to fed before lading them to victory. Already, before leaving Adrianople, he had put to death three Greeks who were trying to poison the flour of the army. 

Page 339: But the most sinister visits that this precarious sovereign could receive were those of the Capidgis-bachis, who only came to depose him or to ask for his head. For only eighty years Wallachia and Moldavia had had more than sixty hospodars deposed, and another twenty-five decapitated, drowned, hanged, murdered, poisoned by order of the Divan; for the capidgis-bachis, these messengers of death carry out their mission as they can, always running the risk of being won over by the one they are in charge of undoing. 

Page 354: Certain opinions had been sent to Constantinople; the Divan owned them to the fidelity or political foresight of the Prince of Wallachia; h had ben surprised in Bucharest, and taken away by the Russians during the last campaign. Catherine II had not concealed her plans from this Greek, whose advice she had judged useful, and united her cause to his. The Ottomans expected an attack by sea; but it was from the northern shores of the Black Sea that they believed the armed party would emerge. The sultan’s ministers were still so ignorant, as to ask derisively what was the Sund. A vizier had asked at the Venice ball, ten years earlier, whether the lands of his republic were close to the Russian empire. The Divan refrained from believing that the Russians were not attacking, and sent seven liners and a few warships into the Black Sea. It did not take less than the appearance of the Russian fleet in the Archipelago, and its landing in Morea, to fix the uncertainties of the Ottoman ministry. 

[floreal79]

Review of David Sainsbury’s “The Race to the Top”

In the Summer 2020 issue of the journal “Innovation Policy”, David Sainsbury, who among other distinctions, served as a minister for science and innovation in Tony Blair’s government from 1998 to 2006, has written an article (pp81-6) entitled “The Race to The Top”, examining the relationship between economic growth and technical innovation.

I have written some informal comments on this from a broadly Marxist perspective.

Comment #1 - is David Sainsbury a Marxist?

We talked about this, but I'd like to go over it again.

On "p82", near the top, we find:

"The value-added per person of a firm is the

selling price of the products produced per person less the

total material purchases used. It is an important measure

of the performance of a firm because the value-added

per capita of a firm is the money that is available to pay

the wages and salaries of employees and the dividends of

shareholders."

Let us say:

Selling price                                 =    "p" (per person employed)

Total material                               =     "m" (per person employed)

Wages and salaries                        =     "w" (per person employed)

Dividends                                    =     "d" (per person employed)

Then, what he is saying is:                                     p = m + w + d   "Equation 1"

Now, he uses the concept "value-added". Let's call this "v", and he defines it as:

                                      v = w + d                                             "Equation 2"

I think it's better to look at this differently, as "w" has much in common with "m", and important differences from "d": unlike a "dividend", but like "material", "wages" can never have a zero value (using "value" here in a mathematical rather than economic sense). Dividends can. The precise value of "w" is of course negotiable - but the same is true for "m", whereas the value of  "d" is usually (if I understand these things), "discretionary". It is possible for "d" to have a value of zero - neither "m" nor "w" can usually ever have this.

(Incidentally, is there not a further quantity that he has missed from Eq 1 - a sum put aside for maintenance and investment [including R&D?], and which would reduce "d").

So, I think it would be better to look at "w" as having two component elements, one the "bare essential" required to keep the workforce capable of staying alive and fit to work, and the second a "discretionary" element that gives the workers some "disposable income"; so, let's say:

"Bare essentials" work payment       =     "w1" per person employed

"Discretionary" work payment         =     " w2" per person employed

and:                               w =  w1 +  w2                                                      "Equation 3"

I think this is important, because "Equation 1" is now expandable to:

                                     p = p = m + w1 +  w2+ d                       "Equation 4"

BUT now "Equation 2" becomes:

                                     v = w2+ d                                             "Equation 5"

This is pretty much the Marxist concept of "surplus value", so important to everything else in Marxist theory. The employer ("capitalist") generally strives to reduce the value of " w2" in order to increase that of "d"; the worker ("proletarian") strives for the opposite. The "discretionary" nature of  " w2" makes it subject to negotiation, industrial action, etc. This is the essence of the "class struggle" inherent to capitalist society.

The manufacturing capitalism of the mid-twentieth century appreciated the need for a good degree of accord with its workers, and was prepared to allow " w2" to take a larger share of "v"; this clearly means some diminution of "d". In the modern neoliberal capitalism, maximizing "d", and doing so in the shortest possible time, takes precedence over everything else, and a weakened "proletariat" has been unable to resist, and to maintain the level of " w2".

(The "post-industrial" economy has removed the mass work force of "old fashioned" industry, which in turn led to the falling power of collective bargaining. I also think that the collapse of Soviet Communism facilitated this weakening of the position of the proletariat)

Comment #2

Near the start of the second page ("p82") we find:

"But almost all these new jobs (26.7 million) were created in the

low-value-added service, or nontradeable, sector, including

6.3 million jobs in health care and 4.1 million jobs in

government service."

Further down that page:

"The United Kingdom’s economy over the period 1999–

2015 shows a very similar picture, with manufacturing

gradually becoming a smaller part of the economy and

low-value-added services becoming a larger part. And

because in 2016 the value-added of manufacturing was

£49 (roughly $66) per hour and that of low-value-added

services was £23 (roughly $33) per hour, the impact of

this shift on the UK’s economic rate of growth was very

considerable."

I'm confused! Where does the figure of £23 per hour come from when so many "low-value-added" jobs are in health care and government service? (I'm sure there's a good explanation, but I'd like an outline of it).

Comment #3

Bottom of p82: what is "spillover of knowledge in clusters"?

Comment #4

Also p84, second column:

"The third institutional failure leading to an erosion

of the ability of US firms to innovate and move into new

higher-valued technological sectors is the increasingly

short-term horizons of the nation’s financial institutions.

This has forced firms to concentrate on short-term profits

and financial engineering."

I certainly agree with this; in fact, I think this problem is probably also the cause of the first two problems he identifies, and this goes back to the comment above ("Second Problem", discussion of "d" versus "w2")

Comment #5

p85:

"No country that has gone from poverty to wealth has

done it through market forces alone. At the other end of

the spectrum, most economists who have studied national

economic growth policies would agree that countries that

have depended on picking specific firms, technologies,

or products have not been successful. Picking products

that are likely to be commercially successful, or picking

companies that are going to be profitable, requires deep

insights into market dynamics, competitive conditions,

and customer needs. These are capabilities that even the

best civil servants do not have. And once such decisions

are in the hands of government, they become subject to

the distortions of the political process, including pressures

from special interest groups and political constituencies".

I think this is what Deng Xiaoping was saying. But Deng, as a Marxist, could see the dangers of allowing the entrepreneurs to take control of the overall direction, which is what they have done, and created the problems that Sainsbury alludes to below. Deng's "Leninist" policies (vanguard party as the surrogate agency of the proletariat) has so far dealt with this quite well. My concern though is contained in that word "surrogate": how is continuity of this "surrogacy" to be maintained? There is always the risk that the "vanguard" will simply merge with the entrepreneurs and "neoclassical economics" will then take over. I am worried that no mechanisms can be seen to safeguard against this in China.

Comment #6

p. 86, penultimate paragraph:

"...policy-makers in these countries have to find

a way of remunerating the managers of their firms so that

they are incentivized to compete over the long haul. If

they are rewarded only for short-term movements in the

share prices of their companies, it should not be surprising

if they spend time manipulating those share prices with

share buybacks, rather than making long-term investments

in research and innovation."

The Marxist response to this is that for these rational arguments to hold sway, a change in the power balance of the class struggle will be needed. The "neoclassical economists" (if I have understood the term correctly) represent the interests of the modern "rentier" class of capitalists (hedge fund managers, etc). These people favour Brexit. The more traditional, manufacturing, capitalists find their viewpoint more closely expressed by the FT, and were opposed to Brexit. They are the old "one-nation" branch of the Tory Party that were so effectively vanquished by Johnson/Cummings in 2019[1]. The working class is now, in post-industrial, "gig economy" Britain, lacking any effective organisation, and negotiating power, and is being seduced by the sirens of populism, nationalism and worse.

Comment #7

(Referring to the same text as Comment #8) Sainsbury draws attention to the "manipulation of share prices .... rather than investments in research and innovation". In Comment #2, I referred to the omission of such "true" investment from Equations 1 and 4. Equation 4 (my preference) should be further expanded to:

     p = m + w1 +  w2+ d + r    (where "r" is investment in R&D etc)  "Equation 6"

Obviously, to increase "r", "d" must fall, and vice versa, leading to the situation that Sainsbury abhors in this text

[1]"One-nation Tories", the political expression of manufacturing capitalism, had learned that it was wise to allow "w2" to expand, to some extent, at the expense of "d". The reasons for this are complex, but the power of unionized workers was certainly part of it (see "Comment #2)

[kinderproject-blog]

This project explores the politics of food in the United States specifically looking at the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act. Furthermore, I will be using the Kinder Surprise Egg as a demonstration as a way to show the impact of lobbying on American food selection. I will then explore the M&M and how its existence is a staple to American culture. While these are both milk chocolate products, the fact that the Kinder Surprise Egg is from a company based outside the United States has been a key reason that the product has remained banned and thus not infiltrated traditional American culture. This will further lead into my discussion of desire, fandom and exceptionalism as ways that these two products have battled over the last fifty years.

In order to comprehensively research this topic, I have decided to dig deep into the legislation and lobbying associated with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act and the direct impact on the Kinder Surprise Egg. I will look at how the Mars Company has tried to keep this particular product banned, if such existence of any evidence exists. I will also examine the current variant of the Kinder Surprise Egg to see if the current legislation is relevant and how the idea of its illegality has changed over the last few years. I am using Tumblr to help visualize this project because I believe there are very valuable images that need to be shown in order to have the complete effect intended.

The Kinder Surprise egg was first introduced by Ferrero, an Italian chocolate company, since 1974. The creator of the egg, William Salice, wanted kids to have a “surprise” every time they opened one of these eggs, essentially like a daily Easter. [1]Ferrero, at the time, had a great reputation as a leading European chocolate maker, but they did not offer a product that was solely designed for kids. Because the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic act had banned any objects inside of any edible product, the Kinder Surprise Egg was never able to reach United States consumers. However, whenever Americans go to Europe, these products are very popular, which have brought somewhat of a cult following with Kinder Surprise Egg lovers. For example, when I went to Ireland, I brought a few of these eggs back to the United States (this was and still is illegal at the time). This is quite different than the history of the M&M. The M&M was designed by Forrest E Mars in Newark, New Jersey and introduced in 1941. In the 1950s, due to their immense popularity, they had to stamp each individual M&M with the iconic “m” in order to stop imitators. [2]In other words, the M&M had over 25 years with the American market and immediately became a staple of American culture. In fact, doctors would even “prescribe” M&Ms because Americans were getting too addicted to the chocolatey treat. The fandom that it received was crazy in the United States, and even today, it is the most popular chocolate in the United States with over 400 Million M&Ms made daily by the Mars Company. [3]For the Kinder Surprise Egg, this fandom in the United States came much later, and is still growing quickly today. There is about 1.5 billion Kinder Surprise Eggs made yearly[4], which is obviously dramatically lower than the amount M&Ms are made in a week. There are may reasons for this, but the most common is the price. These aren’t meant to be cheap like an M&M is. They are sold solo and for around $3, when converted to the Dollar. M&Ms, on the other hand, are sold by the pack, and can cost as little as a $1.

Next, I am going to explore the history of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the role it has in the banned status of the Kinder Surprise Egg. The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act was signed in 1938 as a way to protect consumers with the introduction of food standards. This covered three categories: Standards of Identify, Standards of Quality, and Standards regulating the fill of container.[5] In particular, the Kinder Egg violates the part of the Act, Section 402(d)(1), which states that “that confectionery having partially, or completely imbedded therein, any non-nutritive object is adulterated unless FDA has issued a regulation recognizing that the non-nutritive object is of practical functional value to the confectionery product and would not render the product injurious or hazardous to health”[6]. The reason this Act was introduced was actually due to a drug accident in 1937, called the Elixir Sulfanilamide Incident. Essentially, a manufacturer mixed a perfectly safe antibiotic, sulfanilamide, with a highly poisonous toxin known as diethylene glycol. This killed over 100 people, and forced Congress to ensure quality of both food and drugs. The reason that the part of the Act that the Kinder Egg infringes on is in the Act is due to the prevention of gross negligent manufactures, not necessarily the intentional use of any object in food as the Kinder Egg does. Nevertheless, there has been exemptions to this rule, such as a stick in a lollipop. The reason is the government believes these eggs are a major choking hazard to kids under three years old. There has only been one confirmed death due to choking on the toys in the egg; this happened to a three-year-old girl in France and died of brain damage. Given that over a billion of these eggs are produced annually, one death does not seem to be too much, and did not result in a ban in France.

This section of the Act was challenged in 1997, by Nestle. Nestle is another major chocolate maker in the United States, however itself is a Swiss company, so they wanted to move forward with a product that would closely resemble a Kinder Egg. This product was called the Nestle Magic Ball. As this product was about to reach the United States market, the Food and Drug Administration actually told Nestle that their product was illegal to sell due to the Act.[7] This is actually where things got really interesting, for both the Kinder Surprise Egg, and for the food lobbying industry.

There’s nothing more American than lobbying and food, so what does the intersection of the two bring? It’s actually quite remarkable. Nestle had much more money than Ferrero at the time, and still does today. Nestle is actually the biggest food company in the world, with a market capitalization of $281 billion dollars.[8] Ferrero, a privately-owned company, is worth a modest 22 billion dollars. Therefore, unlike Ferrero, Nestle had the war chests for a lengthy fight with the Food and Drug Administration. They went ahead and started selling the Magic Ball in the United States, claiming they “feel it is legal and is was simply a technical issue”, according to the Vice President for Corporate and Brand Affairs for Nestle at the time.[9] Nestle decided to try to start lobbying to try to ensure that their product would be legal; they first tried with the Agricultural Appropriations Bills.[10] They went to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which showed in their tests that the product was not actually a choking hazard. The FDA was not amused, with the associate commissioner for policy saying “This product is illegal under our act”. According to Rosa DeLauro, a former House Representative for the State of Connecticut, Nestle lobbyists tried to have special language placed in the Agricultural Appropriations Bill that would have forced the FDA to back off and explicitly allow the Magic Ball. The sole Representative to support the language actually lived in a district that had a Nestle plant. This effort eventually failed, so Nestle was unable to use legislation to allow their product. One story that I want to bring up is Mars’ role in this. As I talked about earlier, Mars’ was the leader of the chocolate industry at the time so obviously they would not want this product, which would inevitably bring the Kinder Surprise egg too, in the United States. Although Mars’ never officially put out a statement condemning the product, they did a majority of their work under the disguise as consumer protection groups. Mars’ legal counsel stated that they were the one who were paying for the large effort against Nestle, although he initially denied that claim. In order to keep the desire of the American People, Mars’ had to resort to getting the public opinion against the Nestle Magic Ball. This all goes back into American Exceptionalism, with Mars’ believing that they had to be the best chocolate in the United States with the highest possible public opinion. In fact, they argued that the toys in both the Magic Ball and the Kinder Surprise Egg used cheap Chinese toys designed to “barely pass the choke tube test” that the CPSC used to say the product was not a choking hazard. They wanted the American People to distrust foreign food companies, marking them as unsafe and dangerous, so that the people would turn to the companies they have loved for generations before. In the United States, there is this idea that only the products produced in the United States is of the highest quality, even though it is pretty well known that the chocolate industry was created and thrives the most from European manufacturers. It was a way to protect the American identity with the idea of “Americanness” being someone who eats an M&M. In large part, they were very successful; both the Kinder Surprise Egg and the Magic Ball are still illegal today.

Due to the unsuccessful legal battles, Kinder was forced to rethink their strategy and created a new product: Kinder Joy Egg. [11]This product is quite different than the original Surprise Egg, as one half of the egg is the toy with the other half being a chocolate treat. Due to the influence by Mars’, Kinder was forced to adapt to fit in with American Culture. Even now, avid fans of the original Kinder Surprise Egg were disappointed when the Kinder Joy was available in the United States, even opting to wait until their next trips to Canada or Europe for their fix of a Kinder Surprise Egg.[12] The reason that the Kinder Surprise Egg is still illegal today is not due to lack of interest; many Americans crave this unique product, but rather the looming threat of the Mar’s Company willing to take down any threat of change. Therefore, Kinder succumbed to the pressure to release a product that Mar’s is acceptable with. While an abstract idea of assimilation, I believe this is what Kinder has done in order so they can achieve some market share with the American People.

In conclusion, the Kinder Egg has faced numerous legal hurdles in coming to the United States as a direct result of the Mar’s Company. Due to the threat of interfering with American Exceptionalism, Mar’s has made it a priority to diminish the reputation of Ferrero (along with Nestle with regards to the Nestle Magic Ball). They have used both legislative means and brainwashing the public opinion in order to achieve this goal, which have both been extremely successful. While both the Kinder Surprise Egg and the M&M have very active fan bases, the simple matter is that since Mar’s has aggressively made it nearly impossible to try a Kinder Surprise Egg in the United States, thus the desire has not reached a point where it can become mainstream. While I would love to create the change to bring the Kinder Surprise Egg to the United States, it currently is too hard and too expensive, even for a multibillion-dollar company such as Ferrero, to be willing to take on at his threat. For Mars, it simply is protecting what it believes to be an ideal American Lifestyle with the delicious chocolate product known at the M&M.

                 Bibliography:

“Chocolate Toy Withdrawn.” The New York Times. The New York Times, October 2, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/02/us/chocolate-toy-withdrawn.html.

 “Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.” Food And Drug Administration. FDA, n.d. https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/whatwedo/history/productregulation/ucm132818.htm.

 “Import Alert 34-02.” accessdata.fda.gov. Accessed December 6, 2019. https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_107.html.

 Lewis, Neil A. “Giants in Candy Waging Battle Over a Tiny Toy.” The New York Times. The New York Times, September 28, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/us/giants-in-candy-waging-battle-over-a-tiny-toy.html.

 “M&M's Candy.” CDs, Super Glue, and Salsa: How Everyday Products Are Made: Series 3. Encyclopedia.com, December 5, 2019. https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/culture-magazines/mms-candy.

 “M&M'S History.” M&M'S History. Accessed December 6, 2019. https://www.mms.com/history.

 Marcelis, David. “Americans Can Finally Buy Kinder Eggs-Just Not the Ones They Want.” The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company, March 21, 2018. https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-can-finally-buy-kinder-eggsjust-not-the-ones-they-want-1521642505.

 “Nestlé on the Forbes World's Best Employers List.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine. Accessed December 6, 2019. https://www.forbes.com/companies/nestle/#157ec44b5512.

 Sanna, Cristiano. “Addio Al Papà Dell'Ovetto Kinder, in Tutto Il Mondo Ne Sono Stati Venduti 30 Miliardi.” Tiscali Notizie. Accessed December 6, 2019. https://notizie.tiscali.it/cronaca/articoli/ovetto-kinder-inventore-morto/.

 [1] https://notizie.tiscali.it/cronaca/articoli/ovetto-kinder-inventore-morto/

[2] https://www.mms.com/history

[3] https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/culture-magazines/mms-candy

[4] http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2017/08/kinder-surprise-eggs-banned-united-states/

[5] https://www.fda.gov/aboutfda/whatwedo/history/productregulation/ucm132818.htm

[6] https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cms_ia/importalert_107.html

[7] https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/02/us/chocolate-toy-withdrawn.html

[8] https://www.forbes.com/companies/nestle/#157ec44b5512

[9] https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/us/giants-in-candy-waging-battle-over-a-tiny-toy.html

[10] https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/28/us/giants-in-candy-waging-battle-over-a-tiny-toy.html

[11] https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-can-finally-buy-kinder-eggsjust-not-the-ones-they-want-1521642505

[12] https://www.wsj.com/articles/americans-can-finally-buy-kinder-eggsjust-not-the-ones-they-want-1521642505

[filosofablogger]

Good morning, friends!  It’s Monday again … yay.  Oh, no, of course I’m happy to see you!  This is often the highlight of my week … I’m just not quite ready to face another week just yet … I was enjoying the more laid-back-ed-ness of the weekend.  But, a new week it is, and that means we need to kick it off with some fun and funnies, right?  … … What’s that noise???  JOE … wake up … you’re snoring!!!  Go grab a cuppa coffee, for Pete’s sake!

So, how was your weekend?  Mine was quiet with a capital Q!  Daughter Chris had four separate band performances on Saturday and two on Sunday, so she was largely either gone, or napping on the sofa, for she was marching outdoors in a wool kilt, wool socks, and the temps were in the 90s!  Needless to say, she was t-i-r-e-d!  So, Miss Goose and I did our own thing and few words were spoken, except for Saturday evening when we collaborated on a Chinese supper … she made the Chow Mein, I made the cream-cheese Rangoon, and we had Pandora frozen Eggrolls.  It was both fun and tasty!

Well, I know you all have places to go, people to see, and all that, so let’s get this show on the road and find some fun stuff to start the week off right.  Snacks over on the table … help yourself!

Benjamin’s Juice Box!

Benjamin’s Donut

    Gem’s cream

Larry’s celery

Roomba with a ‘tude …

You know those self-driving little disc-shaped vacuums called ‘Roomba’?  I don’t have one because I can only imagine what it would do to the hearts of our poor little already traumatized fur babies.  Well, back in May, a young man named Michael Reeves, a techie sort of guy, decided to have some fun and do a bit of back-door programming on a Roomba.  What he did … he taught it to scream obscenities!  Now, maybe I’m getting interested in a Roomba after all!He took the modified Roomba to the Target store where he originally bought it for what he refers to as a bit of “market research” and turned it loose.

The store manager, however, failed to see the humour, and ultimately Michael concluded that the general public is not ready for his invention.

“It appears as though our invention is simply too far ahead of its time. The world isn’t ready for the Roomba that screams when it bumps into things and I’m okay with that.”

Oops!

Lindsey and Mark Lashley recently had a baby … well, Lindsey had it, Mark stood by and watched.  They named the baby Cason Knox (yes, really), and Mark’s mother got down to the business of letting everybody in the family know.  She must have thought the easiest way was to send a text message to everyone on her contact list, but one of those people had changed their phone number.  The old number for the cousin had been re-assigned, and a stranger named Dennis Williams received the text message.

Imagine his puzzlement, but nonetheless, he and his brother, Deorick, decided to pay a hospital visit to the new parents, and they even brought gifts!  This, folks, is something you don’t see everyday … just a random act of kindness that started as a wrong number!

Little things …

It’s a little thing, and some might think it’s a waste of time, or not very important, but … I think it’s a sign of hope in more ways than one.

This tortoise, dubbed Helix, was born with a congenital deformity, whereby the bottom of his shell is twisted upside down. Its front half was perfectly normal there was no deformity in his face or front legs. He was able to properly eat, and he could scoot itself around using its front legs, though at times he struggled.

Enter Randy Betz, a medical sales consultant with a side business of … helping people hatch tortoises!  Who knew?  Betz said Helix was in danger of being euthanized, as he was unable to walk. Betz was inspired by a mini skateboard to come up with a unique solution.

“I took some glue, some superglue, and I glued it right on the back end of it.  Very heartwarming to see him as happy as he was able to move around.”

Take a look for yourself …

Lightning strikes again … and again … and again …

I found this picture over at Phil’s Phun, and I have no idea where this was or when, but isn’t this an amazing display of lightning?

Funnies …

How about a few funnies?

And, I must stop here, but one last bit of fun … I cannot conclude Jolly Monday without a cute animal video!  I disappointed young Benjamin again on Saturday, and promised to make this extra special for him, so … let’s watch some baby polar bears take their first steps …

And that wraps up yet another Jolly Monday, my friends!  Please … share those gorgeous smiles with everyone you see this week … we all could use a kindly smile, a touch on the shoulder, a hug.  Keep safe and have a wonderful week!  Love ‘n hugs from Filosofa and Jolly!

Jolly Monday Awaits!!! Good morning, friends!  It’s Monday again … yay.  Oh, no, of course I’m happy to see you! 

[courtneytincher]

Deported to Death: What It Means to ‘Go Back’ to Somalia

GettyMOGADISHU, Somalia—Ahmed Salah Hassan walked across Africa and Latin America to get to the United States. He traversed nearly 20 national borders, hiked the Darién Gap—a 60-mile patch of untamable jungle and swamp—and braved the checks at the U.S. southern border. But Hassan, looking for freedom and safety, never found it in the United States. When he finally, legally, crossed into Brownsville, Texas, in the spring of 2015, he was detained immediately. That set off a two-year odyssey through immigration detention centers—first at the LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Louisiana, then at Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, before he was deported back to Somalia, the country he’d fled nearly a decade earlier.Hassan’s story started well before Donald Trump claimed that Somali-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and other women of color in Congress should “go back” to the countries they came from. But that is what Hassan was forced to do.His time in America ended in late January 2017, less than a week after Trump’s inauguration, when he was put on a chartered flight full of deportees to Somalia. And in March of this year, Hassan died in a restaurant bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killed in the sort of violence from which he’d fled in the first place. * * *The Paper Trail* * *The Daily Beast obtained Hassan’s temporary travel document issued by the Embassy of Somalia in Washington, D.C. It says he was 29 years old when he was deported. Hassan’s death certificate, issued by the Somali Sudanese Specialized Hospital, says he was 30 when he was killed. It also says he died on his way to the hospital. He was married to a woman named Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed. His daughter, Amran Ahmed Saalah, is 6 years old. Friends and family said Hassan believed there could be no life for him in Somalia, and he was right. But he was wrong about another country: There could be no life for him in the United States, either. “My country is burning, he would say,” recalls a friend and co-worker who knew Hassan in South Africa, before he decided to keep moving to the States.The policies that left Hassan imprisoned for two years, denied asylum and detained under the Obama administration, and finally deported, have accelerated at lightning speed since Trump took office. Today, more people are being held and then returned to deadly environments from which they fled than ever before, and the administration is making moves to deny asylum claims almost entirely. “I think there are numerous variables that contribute to an individual being unable to prevail with an asylum claim,” says Priscilla Olivarez, a managing attorney for immigration legal service provider American Gateways. “However, we have seen changes in policy and practice under the current administration that have made it significantly more difficult for asylum seekers (including Somalis) to win their asylum claim.”  In an interview with The Daily Beast, Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, said she thought that sending someone back to Somalia was like sentencing them to death. There is little doubt, certainly, that Somalia is a dangerous place to live.On Thursday the mayor of Mogadishu died from wounds received when a suicide bomber walked into his compound on July 24 in the midst of a high-level meeting, detonating bombs that killed 11 people in all. Two days before that, a car bomb killed at least 17 people at a busy checkpoint in the city. Ten days before that, 26 people were killed, and approximately 50 injured, in the southern port city of Kismayo after a complex attack on a popular hotel. Al Shabaab, the Islamist group that has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for all of these attacks. * * *State of Denials* * *Five days after Trump was inaugurated, he issued mandates related to immigration. One called “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” would have the most impact on people like Hassan because it almost entirely ended the opportunity for migrants to leave detention after they arrived in the U.S. Experts and activists say this change sentenced most asylum seekers to deportation before they even went before a judge. “Asylum seekers who are denied parole and remain in detention have a much harder time finding attorneys, which asylum seekers are not guaranteed or given for free, but are crucial to winning an asylum case,” Yael Schacher, a senior advocate at Refugees International, told The Daily Beast. Before the order, migrants and asylum seekers who came to the border as "arriving aliens" would always be locked up, but would be eligible for a parole hearing that would allow them to be released (sometimes on bond) as their case proceeded. The new order said, "The Secretary shall immediately take all appropriate action to ensure that the parole and asylum provisions of Federal immigration law are not illegally exploited to prevent the removal of otherwise removable aliens.”  What that meant in practice was revealed in a memo from then-Chief of Staff John Kelly issued to the Department of Homeland Security less than a month later. “The President has determined,” he said, that “the lawful detention of aliens” deemed unfit for parole was the most sensible way  to “enforce immigration laws at our borders.” Essentially, anyone who was not paroled would be detained for the duration of the court proceedings. Parole, the memo said, should be used "sparingly.”  With these new rules, those seeking freedom via parole would need to make much stronger cases for release, furthering their chances of staying locked up even if they met parole criteria, researchers and activists contend.Since Kelly’s mandate was issued the number of people detained by ICE continues to break records. In March, The Daily Beast reported over 50,000 people were detained, an apparent all-time high. The number hasn’t gone down; as of today ICE has the current population at 52,100. Here’s How Some Africans Joined the Migrant Caravan Heading for the U.S.ICE presents reasons for denying parole as a checklist. According to documents shared with The Daily Beast, Hassan was denied parole because, as per the checklist, any documentation he submitted to prove his identity was deemed insufficient and he couldn’t prove that he was not a flight risk.  On May 30, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU filed a joint suit against the Trump administration claiming it is “categorically denying release” to detained immigrants. * * *The ICE Odyssey* * *After a short detention in Texas, Hassan was held in La Salle Detention Center in the middle of Louisiana, then after his asylum claim was denied he was moved to Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden in northeast Alabama, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  He was in each facility for about 300 days, according to ICE.  Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed,  said they spoke “many times” while he was in detention in the States and she in Somalia. Asked if he seemed stressed, she said, “He didn’t want to share his emotions with me, he was hiding [them].” In Gadsden, Alabama, Hassan ran into his friend Qeys Bare, a fellow Somali. Hassan and Qeys had worked together in the same mall in South Africa, before xenophobic violence there motivated them to try their luck in the States. Qeys doesn’t describe Etowah Country as a holding cell, he describes it as a “jail.”Indeed, Etowah is part-detention center, part-prison, with about 350 beds for people detained by ICE and about 500 for people in jail, says Resha Swanson, the policy and communications coordinator for Adelante Alabama Worker Center, an organization does two to four visits a month to Etowah. Swanson says inmates told her that they sometimes received a half a tomato and a slice of bread for a meal, and that there aren’t enough refrigerators so food often spoils.  “Etowah is where people are sent to be broken and to sign their deportation papers as quickly as possible,” Swanson told The Daily Beast.* * *Lawyering Down* * *As Europe slams its gates to newcomers via new policies to stop people from leaving Libya, record numbers of African refugees, migrants and asylum seekers have been attempting to come to the United States instead. According to Mexican authorities, from January to July in 2016 almost 8,000 people from Africa and Asia presented themselves at Mexican immigration checkpoints, compared to 4,261 in all of 2015 and 1,831 in 2014. A Reuters report last month with data from Mexico’s interior ministry suggests that migration from Africa this year will break records.Libya’s Migrant ‘Holding Areas’ Have Become Death CampsBesides the shift making indefinite detention extremely probable, it is now also becoming more likely that once the case is processed, the asylum claim will be denied.“It has always been very difficult to win an asylum claim,” says Carl Bon Tempo, a professor of history at the State University of New York-Albany and author of Americans at the Gate: The United States and Refugees During the Cold War. “Asylum is a very hard legal status to achieve.” To win an asylum case an applicant has to put together extensive documentation, which is often difficult to marshal when fleeing a war zone and usually requires the assistance of an immigration lawyer, who may be expensive and hard to access when one is detained. “It is especially hard for asylum seekers to find pro bono or low cost attorneys if they are transferred to detention facilities in remote areas,” says Schacher of Refugees International.  “These transfers also take them to jurisdictions of immigration judges with low asylum grant rates. Prolonged detention is isolating, traumatic and demoralizing—the food and medical care are poor, there is no education and little recreation, making phone calls is expensive. African asylum seekers have also faced discrimination and worse conditions than others. Under these circumstances, many would ‘choose’ to give up their claims.” * * *Un-Appealing* * *Hassan did not have an immigration lawyer. His case for asylum was denied in Oakdale Immigration Court in Louisiana in August 2016. The presiding judge, Agnelis Reese, has rejected every single asylum claim that has crossed her desk—over 200 hearings in five years. Hassan did not appeal the decision but Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, said he was surprised by the outcome: who would send someone back to Somalia? We will never know exactly why Hassan did not appeal his decision. Qeys expects that Hassan’s reasons were much the same as his. “I didn’t take the appeal,” he said in a WhatsApp message, “because I was tired in prison. I wanted to be free somewhere.” But Hassan’s wife said he didn’t feel that way. Hassan was upset to leave detention. He would rather have stayed there than come back to Somalia. Key members of the Trump administration including Stephen Miller and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions have re-ignited a long-standing argument that says many people fleeing their homes are not legitimate victims of persecution, they are economic migrants looking to optimize their situation. Sessions has long said asylum seekers are “gaming” the system.“The credible fear process was intended to be a lifeline for persons facing serious persecution. But it has become an easy ticket to illegal entry into the United States,” Sessions said in his comments to the Executive Office for Immigration Review in October, 2017, a few months after Hassan was deported.  “This argument has been going on since the 1930s,” Bon Tempo said. “You saw it in opposition to European refugees,” when many Jews were turned away from American shores. “You have people saying they're not victims of Nazi persecution, they're people trying to get out and have a better life.” As with detentions, asylum denials hit a record high under Trump, with 65 percent denied last year according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).This increase could be due to a backlog of cases of people that have been sitting in detention that are now getting more quickly processed because quotas have been raised for immigration judges. More than 42,000 asylum cases were decided in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, the most since TRAC began compiling this data in 2001.Denials climbed after former Attorney General Sessions announced women fleeing gang and domestic violence would not be granted asylum. Like detention and denials, physical deportations back to war zones have peaked under Trump, with Somalis being one of the most targeted groups. There has been a greater than 135 percent increase in the number of Somalis deported under Trump compared to the Obama administration (750 in FY 2017/2018 compared to 318 in FY 2015/2016) according to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security show. * * *Un-Safe at Home* * *Back in Somalia, Hassan looked for work, but the country’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the world—67 percent for people under 30, according to the United Nations—and he couldn’t find anything. His wife says he especially wanted to work for a travel agency.  Even though the decision to deny Hassan asylum was made under the Obama administration, and Trump was less than a week in office when he was loaded onto a charter plane for deportation, Hassan’s wife said he still blamed Trump. Hassan was convinced he was deported because of this president who campaigned with a promise he would ban virtually all Muslims from entering the United States.Hassan’s wife saw him for the last time at 8:00 on the morning of Thursday, March 28. They talked three times that day, she recalled. Their house was undergoing some renovations, so they’d gone back and forth about that over the course of the day. Then Hassan’s cousin called her around evening prayers to say he’d been in the attack, and she rushed to the hospital. He’d already died in the ambulance. He had wounds from shrapnel in his side and in his head, she recalled. Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, now a widow, has heard about Trump telling Ihhan Omar to go back to Somalia, and she said that his willingness to level such language at a sitting official shows how much he hates refugees, Muslims and black people in general. Still, she told us if she could say anything directly to Trump, she would tell him, “We are helpless, me and my daughter.” She would want Trump to give them a new life in the United States.“I don’t think he will hear me,” she said. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

from Yahoo News - Latest News & Headlines

GettyMOGADISHU, Somalia—Ahmed Salah Hassan walked across Africa and Latin America to get to the United States. He traversed nearly 20 national borders, hiked the Darién Gap—a 60-mile patch of untamable jungle and swamp—and braved the checks at the U.S. southern border. But Hassan, looking for freedom and safety, never found it in the United States. When he finally, legally, crossed into Brownsville, Texas, in the spring of 2015, he was detained immediately. That set off a two-year odyssey through immigration detention centers—first at the LaSalle ICE Processing Center in Louisiana, then at Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden, Alabama, before he was deported back to Somalia, the country he’d fled nearly a decade earlier.Hassan’s story started well before Donald Trump claimed that Somali-born U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and other women of color in Congress should “go back” to the countries they came from. But that is what Hassan was forced to do.His time in America ended in late January 2017, less than a week after Trump’s inauguration, when he was put on a chartered flight full of deportees to Somalia. And in March of this year, Hassan died in a restaurant bombing in the Somali capital Mogadishu, killed in the sort of violence from which he’d fled in the first place. * * *The Paper Trail* * *The Daily Beast obtained Hassan’s temporary travel document issued by the Embassy of Somalia in Washington, D.C. It says he was 29 years old when he was deported. Hassan’s death certificate, issued by the Somali Sudanese Specialized Hospital, says he was 30 when he was killed. It also says he died on his way to the hospital. He was married to a woman named Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed. His daughter, Amran Ahmed Saalah, is 6 years old. Friends and family said Hassan believed there could be no life for him in Somalia, and he was right. But he was wrong about another country: There could be no life for him in the United States, either. “My country is burning, he would say,” recalls a friend and co-worker who knew Hassan in South Africa, before he decided to keep moving to the States.The policies that left Hassan imprisoned for two years, denied asylum and detained under the Obama administration, and finally deported, have accelerated at lightning speed since Trump took office. Today, more people are being held and then returned to deadly environments from which they fled than ever before, and the administration is making moves to deny asylum claims almost entirely. “I think there are numerous variables that contribute to an individual being unable to prevail with an asylum claim,” says Priscilla Olivarez, a managing attorney for immigration legal service provider American Gateways. “However, we have seen changes in policy and practice under the current administration that have made it significantly more difficult for asylum seekers (including Somalis) to win their asylum claim.”  In an interview with The Daily Beast, Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, said she thought that sending someone back to Somalia was like sentencing them to death. There is little doubt, certainly, that Somalia is a dangerous place to live.On Thursday the mayor of Mogadishu died from wounds received when a suicide bomber walked into his compound on July 24 in the midst of a high-level meeting, detonating bombs that killed 11 people in all. Two days before that, a car bomb killed at least 17 people at a busy checkpoint in the city. Ten days before that, 26 people were killed, and approximately 50 injured, in the southern port city of Kismayo after a complex attack on a popular hotel. Al Shabaab, the Islamist group that has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for all of these attacks. * * *State of Denials* * *Five days after Trump was inaugurated, he issued mandates related to immigration. One called “Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements” would have the most impact on people like Hassan because it almost entirely ended the opportunity for migrants to leave detention after they arrived in the U.S. Experts and activists say this change sentenced most asylum seekers to deportation before they even went before a judge. “Asylum seekers who are denied parole and remain in detention have a much harder time finding attorneys, which asylum seekers are not guaranteed or given for free, but are crucial to winning an asylum case,” Yael Schacher, a senior advocate at Refugees International, told The Daily Beast. Before the order, migrants and asylum seekers who came to the border as "arriving aliens" would always be locked up, but would be eligible for a parole hearing that would allow them to be released (sometimes on bond) as their case proceeded. The new order said, "The Secretary shall immediately take all appropriate action to ensure that the parole and asylum provisions of Federal immigration law are not illegally exploited to prevent the removal of otherwise removable aliens.”  What that meant in practice was revealed in a memo from then-Chief of Staff John Kelly issued to the Department of Homeland Security less than a month later. “The President has determined,” he said, that “the lawful detention of aliens” deemed unfit for parole was the most sensible way  to “enforce immigration laws at our borders.” Essentially, anyone who was not paroled would be detained for the duration of the court proceedings. Parole, the memo said, should be used "sparingly.”  With these new rules, those seeking freedom via parole would need to make much stronger cases for release, furthering their chances of staying locked up even if they met parole criteria, researchers and activists contend.Since Kelly’s mandate was issued the number of people detained by ICE continues to break records. In March, The Daily Beast reported over 50,000 people were detained, an apparent all-time high. The number hasn’t gone down; as of today ICE has the current population at 52,100. Here’s How Some Africans Joined the Migrant Caravan Heading for the U.S.ICE presents reasons for denying parole as a checklist. According to documents shared with The Daily Beast, Hassan was denied parole because, as per the checklist, any documentation he submitted to prove his identity was deemed insufficient and he couldn’t prove that he was not a flight risk.  On May 30, the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU filed a joint suit against the Trump administration claiming it is “categorically denying release” to detained immigrants. * * *The ICE Odyssey* * *After a short detention in Texas, Hassan was held in La Salle Detention Center in the middle of Louisiana, then after his asylum claim was denied he was moved to Etowah County Detention Center in Gadsden in northeast Alabama, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.  He was in each facility for about 300 days, according to ICE.  Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed,  said they spoke “many times” while he was in detention in the States and she in Somalia. Asked if he seemed stressed, she said, “He didn’t want to share his emotions with me, he was hiding [them].” In Gadsden, Alabama, Hassan ran into his friend Qeys Bare, a fellow Somali. Hassan and Qeys had worked together in the same mall in South Africa, before xenophobic violence there motivated them to try their luck in the States. Qeys doesn’t describe Etowah Country as a holding cell, he describes it as a “jail.”Indeed, Etowah is part-detention center, part-prison, with about 350 beds for people detained by ICE and about 500 for people in jail, says Resha Swanson, the policy and communications coordinator for Adelante Alabama Worker Center, an organization does two to four visits a month to Etowah. Swanson says inmates told her that they sometimes received a half a tomato and a slice of bread for a meal, and that there aren’t enough refrigerators so food often spoils.  “Etowah is where people are sent to be broken and to sign their deportation papers as quickly as possible,” Swanson told The Daily Beast.* * *Lawyering Down* * *As Europe slams its gates to newcomers via new policies to stop people from leaving Libya, record numbers of African refugees, migrants and asylum seekers have been attempting to come to the United States instead. According to Mexican authorities, from January to July in 2016 almost 8,000 people from Africa and Asia presented themselves at Mexican immigration checkpoints, compared to 4,261 in all of 2015 and 1,831 in 2014. A Reuters report last month with data from Mexico’s interior ministry suggests that migration from Africa this year will break records.Libya’s Migrant ‘Holding Areas’ Have Become Death CampsBesides the shift making indefinite detention extremely probable, it is now also becoming more likely that once the case is processed, the asylum claim will be denied.“It has always been very difficult to win an asylum claim,” says Carl Bon Tempo, a professor of history at the State University of New York-Albany and author of Americans at the Gate: The United States and Refugees During the Cold War. “Asylum is a very hard legal status to achieve.” To win an asylum case an applicant has to put together extensive documentation, which is often difficult to marshal when fleeing a war zone and usually requires the assistance of an immigration lawyer, who may be expensive and hard to access when one is detained. “It is especially hard for asylum seekers to find pro bono or low cost attorneys if they are transferred to detention facilities in remote areas,” says Schacher of Refugees International.  “These transfers also take them to jurisdictions of immigration judges with low asylum grant rates. Prolonged detention is isolating, traumatic and demoralizing—the food and medical care are poor, there is no education and little recreation, making phone calls is expensive. African asylum seekers have also faced discrimination and worse conditions than others. Under these circumstances, many would ‘choose’ to give up their claims.” * * *Un-Appealing* * *Hassan did not have an immigration lawyer. His case for asylum was denied in Oakdale Immigration Court in Louisiana in August 2016. The presiding judge, Agnelis Reese, has rejected every single asylum claim that has crossed her desk—over 200 hearings in five years. Hassan did not appeal the decision but Hassan’s wife, Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, said he was surprised by the outcome: who would send someone back to Somalia? We will never know exactly why Hassan did not appeal his decision. Qeys expects that Hassan’s reasons were much the same as his. “I didn’t take the appeal,” he said in a WhatsApp message, “because I was tired in prison. I wanted to be free somewhere.” But Hassan’s wife said he didn’t feel that way. Hassan was upset to leave detention. He would rather have stayed there than come back to Somalia. Key members of the Trump administration including Stephen Miller and former Attorney General Jeff Sessions have re-ignited a long-standing argument that says many people fleeing their homes are not legitimate victims of persecution, they are economic migrants looking to optimize their situation. Sessions has long said asylum seekers are “gaming” the system.“The credible fear process was intended to be a lifeline for persons facing serious persecution. But it has become an easy ticket to illegal entry into the United States,” Sessions said in his comments to the Executive Office for Immigration Review in October, 2017, a few months after Hassan was deported.  “This argument has been going on since the 1930s,” Bon Tempo said. “You saw it in opposition to European refugees,” when many Jews were turned away from American shores. “You have people saying they're not victims of Nazi persecution, they're people trying to get out and have a better life.” As with detentions, asylum denials hit a record high under Trump, with 65 percent denied last year according to Syracuse University's Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC).This increase could be due to a backlog of cases of people that have been sitting in detention that are now getting more quickly processed because quotas have been raised for immigration judges. More than 42,000 asylum cases were decided in the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, the most since TRAC began compiling this data in 2001.Denials climbed after former Attorney General Sessions announced women fleeing gang and domestic violence would not be granted asylum. Like detention and denials, physical deportations back to war zones have peaked under Trump, with Somalis being one of the most targeted groups. There has been a greater than 135 percent increase in the number of Somalis deported under Trump compared to the Obama administration (750 in FY 2017/2018 compared to 318 in FY 2015/2016) according to statistics from the Department of Homeland Security show. * * *Un-Safe at Home* * *Back in Somalia, Hassan looked for work, but the country’s unemployment rate is among the highest in the world—67 percent for people under 30, according to the United Nations—and he couldn’t find anything. His wife says he especially wanted to work for a travel agency.  Even though the decision to deny Hassan asylum was made under the Obama administration, and Trump was less than a week in office when he was loaded onto a charter plane for deportation, Hassan’s wife said he still blamed Trump. Hassan was convinced he was deported because of this president who campaigned with a promise he would ban virtually all Muslims from entering the United States.Hassan’s wife saw him for the last time at 8:00 on the morning of Thursday, March 28. They talked three times that day, she recalled. Their house was undergoing some renovations, so they’d gone back and forth about that over the course of the day. Then Hassan’s cousin called her around evening prayers to say he’d been in the attack, and she rushed to the hospital. He’d already died in the ambulance. He had wounds from shrapnel in his side and in his head, she recalled. Kaafiya Ibrahim Mohamed, now a widow, has heard about Trump telling Ihhan Omar to go back to Somalia, and she said that his willingness to level such language at a sitting official shows how much he hates refugees, Muslims and black people in general. Still, she told us if she could say anything directly to Trump, she would tell him, “We are helpless, me and my daughter.” She would want Trump to give them a new life in the United States.“I don’t think he will hear me,” she said. Read more at The Daily Beast.Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more.

August 09, 2019 at 09:42AM via IFTTT

[pokemonruby]

40-50 for the birthday child!!!

40: What would be your character’s favorite school subject?

recess 

.... okay, in all seriousness, xavier isn’t the uh... academic type, to say the least. considering the fact they’ve never attended school, i’m not sure what their favorite subject would be... or if they’d even have one at all. i suppose art class would be fun for them, though. 

41: Would your character want to have any children?

one would assume that xavier is much too irresponsible for such a great undertaking; however, you’d be surprised to know that xavier actually wants to be a parent some day! i mean, xavier takes it upon themself to visit the local orphanage to play with the children there every weekend -- and even goes out of their way to assure that they’re adopted by good families. xavier wholeheartedly cares for the welfare of children and would do anything to ensure a bright future for them... after all, the last thing they’d ever want is for another, innocent child to experience the same pain they have.

 although xavier isn’t prepared for the responsibility quite yet, i can say with 100% certainty that they’ll ultimately become a great caretaker. 

42: What would be your character’s dream career?

president 

.... to be honest, xavier doesn’t have a dream job. they’ve never thought much of the future, after all. a go-with-the-flow type of person, if you will... i mean, ever since xavier was a mere child, they’ve only possessed a single wish: to create a better world for the children of the future. and while i can’t say what they’re doing at this moment is xavier’s impression of a “dream” career; that is, their work as a vigilante -- it’s a step toward that ultimate goal of peace.

43: What is your character insecure about?

their insecurities are often masked with a fake confidence; xavier, after all, has been under the impression that a self-proclaimed superhero like themself wasn’t allowed to show weakness. in truth, xavier is exceptionally insecure about themself; from their shortcomings, to their appearance, to their lifestyle... every single aspect about their identity xavier has grown to loathe over the years, and yet... they’re unable to tell a single soul about their true feelings. all because of the stubborn belief that they’re not allowed to show vulnerability; that it’d be easier to bottle everything up, lest it ultimately destroys them. 

xavier can only continue to wear a plastic smile and feign happiness. 

44: What is your character proud of?

well, i’d have to say that xavier is rather proud of the progress they’ve made in the few, short years since their organization was initially established. after all, xavier first tackled their goal with merely the clothes on their back-- a poorly made costume, that is, like something you’d find on ebay for cheap, and their guts... but not a single other person to rely on other than themself. however, their repute flourished tremendously in due time; xavier hadn’t wished to involve their friends at first, as it was a rather dangerous undertaking... but once they provided assistance in this ridiculous battle against fate, xavier managed to become quite the illustrious vigilante. 

oh, and xavier’s also proud of the fact they’ve successfully completed the “nyan cat 10 hours” challenge. 

45: What would your character change about themselves?

i already went into detail about xavier and their insecurities, so... if xavier had the ability, they’d probably change every single facet about themself. xavier just outright does not like themself whatsoever and wants to become a different person more than anything... 

though some (apollo) would argue that xavier is perfect the way they are.

46: Would you want to trade places with your character?

oh, absolutely. i’d love to be surrounded by people who all love and support me; that’s the dream, honestly.... oh, and who wouldn’t want to be a vigilante who beats up terrible people on a daily basis? 

47: What fandoms would your character be in?

aside from the obvious fact that xavier would be heavily immersed in meme culture, they’d probably be in a bunch of gaming fandoms. i.e. pokemon, animal crossing, earthbound... they’re particularly fond of cutesy nintendo franchises like that (and yes, they’ve been doing rituals for the new ac game for a long time, now). oh, and they’re a big fan of d&d too! 

48: How would your character type?

xavier, like any gay person, would keysmash every single sentence. as well as use a ton of exclamation points and never, ever, capitalizes (much to lawrence’s dismay; he’s always scolding xavier about their lack of proper grammar, but they could hardly care less). 

49: How does your character stand politically?

here is their stance on politics with a quote taken direcly from xavier’s mouth: 

“fuck the system! be gay! do crimes!” 

but what can i say? they’re considered a delinquent by society for a reason, after all. xavier is the literal embodiment of anarchy; they'd take pleasure in defying authority and breaking the law. 

50: What is your favorite thing about your character?

oh man, i don’t even know where to begin... i mean, i pretty much love everything about xavier? from their cheerful, yet mischievous personality; their colorful design, their surprisingly complex background, their overall motive to do good, even if it means dirtying their own hands in the process... they’ve progressed remarkably as a character since their initial conception two years ago, and they were supposed to be a joke. but now i can easily state that xavier has become one of my most interesting characters to date. 

and i just guilty of loving any character whose entire personality is the :3c emoji 

[oneworldwc]

Warrior’s Crown: A Block: Day Seven: Hiromu Takahashi vs Draven Taylor

The action starts off fast as Draven charges, wanting to get the early advantage, but Hiromu catches him and throws him overhead, and Draven CRASHES into the turnbuckle padding. He rolls to the apron, using the ropes to pull himself up. Hiromu instantly runs the ropes and jumps over Draven, landing on the floor and hooking his opponent by the waist, intending to slam him down with a powerbomb, but the self named King of Darkness holds firm. Draven slips out of the grasp and backflips off the apron, and nails an enzuigiri! Hiromu wobbles before being thrown back into the ring. Meanwhile, Draven gets back to the apron, and springs off top rope with a gorgeous 450 splash! - but Hiromu gets the knees up! Draven’s grasping for breath as the wind’s knocked out of him, but Hiromu looks to cut off all oxygen supply as he locks Draven into the D! The move that propelled Hiromu into winning the B Block of last year’s Best of the Super Juniors could earn him a win tonight, and maybe spell victory for him later down the line. The early submission win won’t be happening, not yet at least, as Draven’s standing up, pulling Hiromu with him, and DUMPS HIM ON HIS HEAD! What a brutal move! Draven’s smirk is subtle but vicious as Hiromu winces and writhes in pain. Draven slides on his hands and knees until he’s sitting on top of Hiromu. A hand slides into his long dark hair, a firm grip that turns into yanking as Draven tries to break his jaw with a series of vicious forearms. One after another until Draven says it’s enough and relents, releasing Takahashi’s hair but still straddling him.

A hand wraps around Hiromu’s throat, light at first before beginning to squeeze, and Draven’s trying to choke him out! The referee steps in to pull him off, threatening to disqualify him, when Draven suddenly stops, and smacks his forehead off Hiromu’s in a vicious headbutt! Draven finally gets off of Hiromu, satisfied with the damage he’s done already. So satisfied, in fact, that Draven priest him off the canvas and sets up for a Canadian Destroyer, the move that helped him and Crazzy Steve knock off misnamed The Kiwis. But he can’t get the flip because Hiromu’s tightening his legs, and eventually gets enough momentum in his legs built up that he pushes them all the way back to the corner. Draven winces as his back collides with the turnbuckles, and that moment is all Hiromu needs to lift Draven to the top. Hiromu climbs up with him, hitting a few forearms fo keep Draven where he is, before twisting and connecting with an avalanche victory roll!

One…

Two…

Kickout!

Both took damage from that fall and take an extra moment to get up and continue the action- and Draven lands a beautiful Spanish Fly out of nowhere! Hiromu’s so stunned by the sudden impact that he sits back up. Draven runs the ropes, and the Ticking Time Bomb eats a basement dropkick to the jaw! Draven wants to bring the action back to the high rent district as he drags Hiromu over to the corner, hooking his tights to pull him up and seat him on the top. Draven climbs up as well and hooks the tights again, looking to compete a superplex, but Hiromu holds on and blocks it. Closed fists to the midsection loosens Draven’s grip, and forearms sends him back down to the mat. Hiromu shifts his footing so he’s perched on the top, and soars off with a diving senton! The King of Darkness rolls to the apron, wanting to catch a breather, but Hiromu won’t let him have it as he runs the ropes and, this time, connects with the sunset flip powerbomb! They both crash to the floor, with Draven taking the worst of the impact. Hiromu leans against the apron with a wide, dangerous smile on his face. He gets up, skipping as he draws Draven up and rolls them back into the ring. Hiromu charges once Draven’s found his way back up, looking to dropkick Draven into the turnbuckles, but the Minnesotan gets incredible height as he leaps up, driving both feet into Hiromu’s chest and DRIVING him into the canvas! Hiromu’s gasping, sputtering, sharp inhales for air as the wind was forcefully and mercilessly driven out of him. He won’t have any time to recover as Draven whips him across the ring, and leap frogs over him on the rebound - but Hiromu catches him in a fireman’s carry! Hiromu spins him out, looking for the Time Bomb. But Draven flips out of the hold, lands on his feet, and twists to land an enzuigiri! Hiromu may be out cold as Draven goes for the pin!

One…

Two…

Kickout!

Draven looks torn between frustration and joy that Hiromu kicked out. One hand, Draven hoped to put this one to bed and move onto the next challenger. But on the other, he gets to keep inflicting damage to someone who enjoys it almost as much as he does. Nevertheless, Draven moves on from it, and already has his next move lined up. He springboards off the ropes - but gets caught in a German suplex! And he shrugs it right off! Hiromu’s eyes are wide as he realizes that Draven’s already back up, and nails him with a forearm. Draven sends one right back his way. Hiromu with another one, and Draven lets out a loud, sadistic laugh as his head’s sent the other direction. He powers back with a forearm that nearly knocks Hiromu off his feet, but the Time Bomb is smiling and laughing back at him, and peppers in a loud CHOP to the chest. Draven sticks to his forearms. The crowd alternates between boos and cheers, their support fully behind the Japanese native, with each shot. Until Hiromu ends the slugfest by shoving Draven forward so his chest hits the ropes with enough momentum to send him somersaulting back and settling in a seated position. As this happens, Hiromu runs the opposite set of ropes, and lands a low dropkick to the back of his head! Draven’s stunned at the sudden change of pace, and is unable to defend himself as Hiromu lifts him in an upside down inverted half nelson, and plants him with a PILEDRIVER! The entire arena cringes at that possibly fatal, definitely devastating move! This may be the turning point of the match!

Unfortunately the fatigue of the match leaves Hiromu unable to capitalize, the two laying on the mat for a moment before willing themselves to their feet. Draven starts to fight back with an impactful shotgun dropkick that sends Hiromu hurtling back into the corner. Draven follows hot on his tail, and switches their positions, going for Sliced Bread #2 - but as he goes for the bend, Hiromu catches him on his shoulders! Draven struggles, trying to fight out of it, but Hiromu’s too strong and sprints to the adjacent corner, planting Draven into the turnbuckles with a Death Valley Driver! Hiromu pops back up with a battle cry, the fans showering him with love. He lifts Draven back to his shoulders and spins him out, planting him with the Time Bomb! Lateral press for the pin.

One…

Two…

Three!

“Your winner of this match, HIROMU TAKAHASHI!”

[sidhewrites]

Corianer Outline of Events

All is subject to change without warning. But this is how it goes more or less. Feel free to send messages either in ask box or IMs about the plot if you have questions.

Knittelnau

Coriander meets Jasper, a travelling Wright in Knittelnau in April.

Coriander’s hometown in the wilds of Cresce, population <300, surrounded by farms and fields of wildflowers

Wright: One capable of magic. Not extremely rare, but uncommon. Denoted by specifically shaded green eyes with gold flecks. Limited to one element or aspect of magic per wight.

Jasper helps her with chores and errands.

Coriander helps her mother prepare dinner for the party with mother’s friends

Jasper joins Annie in the fields around Knittelnau the next day

Jasper invites himself to dinner that night. It’s very awkward.

Jasper gets Annie to Ride a horse -- and then gets that horse to race out into the wilds outside of Knittelnau before getting it to take her back. And then he says hey why don’t you come with me as a travelling companion, i’m lonely and besides you can buy your mom a dress from the town nearby that has a river running thru it so you can get fancy imports. Bestina very reluctantly agrees.

anyway i don't know hwo to go about that i think he chose her a) bc she's in an abusive space and wanted to get her out and b) he’s impulsive and doesn’t think things through. I don’t know if he knows ahead of time about the pure of heart thing.

The Wilds

Maybe two weeks of camping. Coriander learns to cook. She loves it.

Wolves attack, but Jasper bravely defends her with magic, getting wounded in the process. Coriander knows basic medical aid and gets a few herbs for a poultice and bandages his wounds.

They’re at the next town over, and he gets them rooms at an inn where a party is going on to celebrate the engagement of the innkeep’s daughter. It’s a party and she gets roped into dancing but she panics and starts to cry and runs out. Jasper who was nowhere near her was still keeping a close eye on her and follows her out and apologizes and offers to escort her up to her room. Coriander blushing furiously like, propriety man cmon, but she does wanna go to bed. Also she relishes getting the chance to bathe again.

He tells her about how he came from threston, not ninoom, which is a northwest trading port and he could only go from threston to a port in ninoom since it’s forbidden to go to berall without an invitation. Hints at a bad life but doesn’t elaborate, instead avoiding it with talk of stories and fairy tales, and eventually admits he’s planning on stealing the Hollow Ring from Berall

A magical artifact made by the Sylph to grant immortality if wielded by a pure soul (Actyually the wielder needs to give up their soul for the other but hey. U know. He doesn’t know that)

It belongs to the high elves in Sterea, the capital of the country to the north. Jasper wants to return the ring to the elves.

Berall: The queen’s city and capital of Cresce, no-one enters without an invitation

They are about to turn back while he;s scrounging for a way to keep her going w him so there’s a circus coming by!! Fancy that! And he lies and says they’re travelling west so coriander is like Fine, we’ll go w them.

Join the circus which is travelling to Berall under the guise of a Performing Wight and his servant

It’s 2 weeks past and coriander is excited seeing them perform and bonds w laureline, but she’s constantly worried about getting home

They see a deep red, opalescent dragon shot out of the sky in the distance by a massive arrow, far far to the north over the mountains of Nashoth

They celebrate beltane with the circus and a farming town just a few days travel from berall. Coriander helps with the preparations and jasper wows everyone with his magic, and Coriander dances with Laureline, a dancer from Ninoom, the southern middle-east coded country

Berall -- May.

Arriving at Berall, where they see a procession for Queen Lillian pass by

Queen Lillian recently ascended the throne a year ago, after her mother’s death. She is barely 18, young and intelligent and wants to see the world, but has never been allowed outside of the Queen’s city.

Lillian has magic that allows her to see people’s True Hearts, which is why she is trusted with the throne at such a young age. 

Coriander is allowed to wander freely and get food and supplies while Jasper works on his plan and figures out the guard’s schedules. Preparations for midsummer are going on, and Coriander is thrilled to see the excitement, even if it’s over a month away.

She meets a disguised Queen Lillian, who is excited to hear an adventurer’s stories, invites her to the palace for a bath, proper food, and tea.

Coriander tells Lillian about what little of the world she’s seen so far, and promises to write every chance she gets on her adventure.

That night, the circus performs. Coriander watches from the sidelines in awe, wishing she could do something spectacular herself

Next day spent mostly watching the ocean and ships because she’s never seen it before.

That night -- stealing the Hollow Ring. Coriander is used as bait. The guards find her, and Jasper is unable to save her before she’s dragged off to the dungeons.

The punishment for breaking into the queen’s treasury ofc is beheading.

Next day spent in prison. Jasper visits and promises to save her. 

Two days with no word from jasper, dragged off to the execution block. At the last minute, Jasper makes a daring rescue. He breaks into a small house, which turns out to be the Queen’s Townhouse, and Annie weeps with relief.

Lillian senses the hollow ring has a certain wretched aura about it and while she doesn’t like it, jasper has managed to steal the ring from under her nose and leave a fake in return. Maybe has to send someone after them to catch them and bring the ring back ???????? Maybe she like, helps them escape with it but also has to make it seem like idk man i need to rework this part

The Wilds Again to Nashoth, the Dwarven city.

Jasper reveals to Coriander he did steal the ring on the way to Nashoth. They get two days into the two week trip to nashoth, before guards arrive and jasper needs to cloak them with magic. The guards (what guards as i even thinking of here) are sensing magic however so they have to hide and travel only by night.

The mountains are too dangerous to cross on foot, but the Dwarves have always granted safe passage underneath to those who pay for it.

Queen Mor who needs a new name greets them all and is a v motherly figure to coriander. She has a glorious beard.

Except now there’s a dragon in their main hall/treasury, so nobody’s passing through.

Solomon the dragon, a white, opalescent firedrake from the northwest was in the wrong place at the wrong time

Dragon eggs are extremely rare, and his sister had lain a supposedly dead egg a century ago, but it’s finally starting to hatch and he needs to visit her.

If they can convince the dragon to leave, they can pass through freely and be outfitted with gear. Jasper, ofc, throws Coriander to the wolves aka “She can talk to the dragon and make him leave!”

Coriander convinces Solomon to talk with her because she smells like flowers and isn’t rude, and winds up helping him by removing the 6ft arrow in his wing and healing the wound. They become friends, and she talks him down from the idea of getting revenge against the elf who shot him. “Fine he promises. I won’t hunt down my attacker.” 

I think solomon comments that coriander has green in her eyes. It’s the first time she learns and she tudies her reflection a bit. (Jasper knew from the start but assumed she knew and didn’t say so himself)

This takes almost a month, turning it to July.

Solomon leaves to complete his trip south, then go home.

The wilds (again)

July To August, travelling the last month into the Elf kingdom of Gaelgallah.

Arrival in Gaelgallah

The most direct path to Sterea is through a few large cities but they don’t want to risk it with a few wanted posters around the country looking for Jasper and Annie. So they take side roads and wilds

They stop in a small farming village similar to Knittelnau that reminds Coriander of home. There, they celebrate the Harvest Season with a festival and a tourney that Jasper participates in

Just before reaching Sterea, they have the first snowfall.

??? stuff happens??maybe a few smaller character building moments, and/or forshadowing for the rest of the story ie: why Jasper took her or the Hollow?

Sterea!

They are escorted by the kingsguard to the capital city, which is GORGEOUS and snow filled. Jasper is almost unable to enter since that’s what he’s been trying to do for years. And now it’s here.

They’re received with celebration and reverence because Coriander’s new reputation as the Dragon Healer precedes her, even above the berall news.

At the feast, Coriander meets Iriral, known Dragonslayer, pursues Coriander romantically despite her lack of interest. (she’s ace!!) he’s not put off by her uncertainty, but he’s polite and does value her friendship. just doesn’t pick up on things whoops.

Mylene, captain of the queen’s royal guard, offers to teach annie to wield a sword and while she agrees, she has difficulty with it and doesn’t enjoy it.

???? something? Maybe something with the Dragonslayer? 

Jasper returns the ring to the king and queen, and offer immortality and all eyes are on Annie

Jasper explains to her that you need a pure soul to wield it. The elves correct him -- not just to wield it, but to give up the years they have left so Jasper could take hers and achieve a longer life span. Not pure immortality -- he has to keep doing it every 80-100 years or so to get more years. He didn’t know that and doesn’t want to hurt annie but he also doesn’t know how to give up on his dream so he looks to her at lets her decide.

She’s incredibly hurt, and doesn’t much feel like celebrating anymore, knowing it isn’t inconcievable to him for her to sacrifice herself and that he’d even ask her to do it, indrectly or not. Spends the rest of her time training with Mylene, the other champion knight, and learning to ride horses and use a shield.

ALSO TO QUESTION: Is that why the elves gave it to the humans, who couldn’t wield it, and they didn’t want people to be killed? Or was it just stolen from the elves hundreds of years ago? [[if it was stolen away has anyone used it to gain immortality? Is there any threat if someone has? Could the elves reverse that?]]

After the celebrations, Coriander refuses a permanent place in Sterea and wants to return home before the winter hits the village. So she’s given a horse and rides home with a single guard, stopping to greet the Dwarves

Queen Mor  who needs a new name of the dwarves welcomes her with a feast, new clothes, and jewels for her hair. She rejects the jewels, in favor of flowers, and learns a dwarven dance in her two day visit and an old song, and becomes a proper friend to the dwarves. She’s given a wrist brace at least, made of dwarven silver (some version of mitrhil tbh) and one of solomon’s shed scales that can deflect any blow. -

Back in Knittelnau - Late October into November.

Bestina, who genuinely mourned her daughter, very quickly falls into old habits and it becomes stifling and difficult

Coriander only barely stops Ma from cutting her hair off, facing a wall of verbal abuse and invalidation for it but now she can stand up for herself.

OR DOES SHE GET IT CUT OFF and hates it and realizes how much she loved how long her hair had grown. (The length of her entire arm in less than a year! Maybe there is some magic in her after all.)

(there is. Surprise. Just not a lot. Never a lot)

Helps with the winter preparations, but feels stifled.

Irial Shows up to tell her that a dragon is attacking Sterea and burning the forests and they need her to help. He puts her on his horse, who can travel faster than the wind and they get to Sterea in a matter of days. She stops them to pick some wild chervil. It’s important even if he doesn’t believe her. 

Sterea (Again)

Gaelgallah is burning. People have been displaced. Farms destroyed. A great opalescent drake flies above Sterea, burning everything.

Annie is given a sword and shield by Mylene, but she rejects it, and instead climbs to the tallest tower, and raises the flowers high in the air

Solomon stops, and goes to find her. She points out all the people he’s hurting, all the death he’s causing. He says elves can’t die, but doesn’t realize all the humans around the country instead, and all the flowers he’s killed, and the two dragon eggs being incubated in the Sterea Palace

He agrees to leave, and makes to fly away but the wind made by his wings destroys the already crumbling tower and annie falls to her death. Last thing she sees is solomon trying to save her.

ooh or does she fall before he agrees to leave

Hyla Lea.

A floating island of permanent late spring between Life and Death where the Sylph Lives. Sylph is basically the top god in the pantheon

Coriander wakes up under a sea of stars in a field of flowers. It isn’t the middle of winter, but late spring. It’s warm and pleasant and a breeze is blowing.

The sylph appears and tells her all that’s transpired

All who touch the hollow ring have their fates hidden from Fate after they touch it, and since she remembered fate’s flower in Knittelnau, he took a liking to her and followed her maybe? 

Solomon retreated to his home thinking he killed Annie

Jasper has been crying and hasn’t left Annie’s side since he found her in the rubble

Irial is mourning privately, and has vowed to slay Solomon

The Dwarven Queen finally leaves Nashoth for the first time in centuries to aid the elves in repairing Sterea

The city mourns for coriander.

She is taken around Hyla Lea to see the goldstone palace, the (Castle in the Sky Robots) Guardians, etc, and tells Coriander the choice she has

Stay in Hyla Lea as the Sylph’s companion (something few mortals have ever been offered) or return to the world of the living. If she leaves, however, she can’t return and will be sent to the Hollow if she dies. A few mortals have accepted the offer before and greet her but it’s mostly sylph and annie

Hollow: A pale, misty reflection of the world of the living, but no wind blows, nothing grows and you can’t see more than 20-40 feet away. There are other wanderers but it’s unlikely to find anyone as you wander eternity.

Coriander chooses to return, because she hasn’t seen nearly enouhg of the world to be done with it yet.

Back in Sterea

She awakens to find Jasper at her bedside. He begs her for forgiveness, and vows to do everything he can to make ammends

She doesn’t forgive Jasper, but gives him the chance to atone over time. She has to go to find solomon.

Before she goes, the Elf Queen says that Solomon can MAYBE return, if he comes with her only and comes in peace, and find a way to make repairs for the damage on both ends

So she takes Jasper and Irial, who wants to keep her safe as well, and they start off into the Dragon Lands to find solomon together the end.

[foursprouthappiness-blog]

How Your Daily Routine Can Turn Into Your Biggest Enemy

New Post has been published on http://foursprout.com/happiness/how-your-daily-routine-can-turn-into-your-biggest-enemy/

How Your Daily Routine Can Turn Into Your Biggest Enemy

Ryan Holiday Instagram

Routine and ritual are everything, including, if you’re not careful, a dangerous weakness.

A few weeks ago, I got a letter—yes, an actual letter—from an NCAA player who will probably go pro. His question was a simple one: Like many basketball players he was big on pregame rituals and routines, but he was worried that these patterns made him vulnerable to being disrupted. What if the team plane was late and he had to rush his usual warmup? What if his headphones were dead or he forgot to pack his gameday socks?

Would his competitive edge—the comfort and confidence he took from these practices—suddenly turn into a liability?

This is a perfectly reasonable concern. Because while rituals can be a source of strength to an athlete or a writer, they can also be a form of fragility. Take Russell Westbrook, who is famous for his pregame routine, which begins three hours before a game. It starts with him warming up exactly three hours before tipoff. Then one hour before the game, Westbrook visits the arena chapel. Then he eats the same peanut butter and jelly sandwich (buttered wheat bread, toasted, strawberry jelly, Skippy peanut butter, cut diagonally). At exactly 6 minutes and 17 seconds before the game starts, he begins the team’s final warm up drill. He has a particular pair of shoes for games, for practice, for road games. Since high school, he’s done the same thing after shooting a free throw, walking backwards past the three point line and then walking back to take the next shot. At the practice facility, he has a specific parking space, and he likes to shoot on Practice Court 3. He calls his parents at the same time every day. And on and on.

The point is, while this process is likely very calming and reassuring in an entirely chaotic and emotional game, it also reads like a recipe for how one might throw someone off their game. A teammate vying for Westbrook’s playing time, a competitor who will stop at nothing, or just Murphy’s Law could all wreak havoc on that system and get inside his head. All it takes is “accidentally” parking in the wrong spot, or the right insult right before a free throw to send the whole thing sideways. And what if the trainer is sick and can’t make the sandwich? Or what if the arena chapel is closed due to a leaky ceiling?

Any routine junkie can tell you what happens when your routine gets messed up: Your thoughts race. You get frustrated. You feel what is almost like withdrawals. I can’t do this. This isn’t right. Something bad is going to happen. You doubt yourself. Then all of a sudden you aren’t getting warmed up or falling into the zone as easily as you usually do.

This problem is compounded the more successful you get or the more you specialize in a certain feild, because you get used to and feel entitled to have things your way. People enable this dependence because they want you to be your best, which makes it all the more frustrating and surprising if the script is suddenly deviated from.

I came face to face with this reality with the birth of my son in 2016. A few months before he was born I was profiled for the New York Times, and as part of the article, the reporter had me walk her through my fairly extensive set of morning and daily routines (what time I got up, how I journaled, where I sat, what my workout was, etc). She remarked that it would be interesting to see how this would all hold up with a newborn. Confidently, I told her nothing would change.

Ugh.

But of course she was right—because kids are, if anything—wrecking balls for the carefully built order of our lives.

The first couple months of his life, I struggled. It actually wasn’t the lack of sleep that was the problem. It was the unpredictability of that lack of sleep. Some mornings I was up at 5am. Some at 10am. Sometimes there was a baby I was supposed to quietly take care of while my wife slept, other times we were all up, other times it was just me while they slept. Was he napping at 2pm or not at all? Did I need to get home early for his dinner and bath or was the whole schedule blown apart by something that happened earlier in the day?

All of a sudden quiet time every morning, not checking email, going for a long run or swim in the afternoon, writing from 8-12am every day—this was not possible. At least not possible to do in the same way in the same order each day.

I experienced something similar years before when my career took off. I was used to working at home and then suddenly I was on the road a lot. Lot of flights. Living out of suitcases. Meetings and events that I had to go to. But early on I could compensate for this by spacing the trips out, setting up camp in each city for a few days and approximating some version of my normal routine there. As the trips increased and I got older, this became less tenable (even more so after accumulating a wife and a kid), and my reliance on my capital-R Routine became a weakness. A couple days on the road would completely set me back. It would also make me frustrated—even though I had chosen to say yes to these opportunities.

In both cases, my cherished routines either crumbled or were blown apart. But I still had to do my job (writing) and if anything, the stakes were higher than before. Which meant I’ve spent a lot of time thinking routine ever since.

What I’ve come up with might not seem that profound but the impact has been enormous for me: It’s not about having a routine. It’s about having routines.

I no longer have a writing routine or a morning routine. I have several. I have a routine when I get up early on the farm (We go for a walk, then I write until breakfast, and then resume writing). I have a routine for when I am on the road (run or exercise early, slot writing/work in as the top priority between whatever the scheduled events for the day are). I don’t have one shirt I wear each time I give a talk, I have a set of 3-4 that I choose from. Depending on what city I am in and what time of year, I have different mornings and plans that I’ll do. When I fly, I either read, answer old emails from starred folder, or sleep. I don’t eat before I perform, but if I do, I eat the same thing. If I get interrupted and can’t journal the way I want for a morning or two, so be it—but I’ll make sure I quickly resume my old habit. And on and on.

Depending on circumstances, I have strategic flexibility. I’m not winging it, but I am not such a creature of habit that I am flustered when disrupted (or can I really even be disrupted since I am indifferent to Plan A, B, C, D, E). Think about musical scales—the notes themselves are fixed but they can be played in a limitless amount of combination. This allows the musician to improvise while still maintaining a base they can return to and derive confidence and comfort in. That’s how you want to be with your routine. Not so rigid that you can’t respond to the moment, not so free that you can do everything in the moment.

There is a line from the Super Bowl-winning coach Bill Walsh about how most individuals are like water, they naturally seek out lower ground. By that he meant that without discipline or order, we are not our best selves. Ultimately, this is what routine is about: creating practices and habits and rules that force us to be better.

Without a routine of any kind, Resistance is given too much room to operate. Doubt, chaos, laziness—if you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile. Routines are essential in that battle.

In creative or athletic or entrepreneurial fields, the uncertainty and stress of the endeavor makes us crave simplicity and dependability. When Russell Westbrook was asked the reasons behind his many specific, very detailed practices, he replied, “No particular reason. I just do it.” Actually there is a reason. The reason is reassurance. As a player, Westbrook is emotional, chaotic, intense. The game he plays is random, difficult and overwhelming. Doing the same things the same way at the same time, creates comfort and order as well as superior performance.

We can get addicted to that. In fact, it may actually take more discipline to be moderate in your discipline than to be insane about it. There is an interesting Michael Lewis article about the NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri who actually works at making sure he doesn’t wear the same socks twice or having too many rituals because of how easily this can descend into superstition and thus psyching oneself off. But without this work, we end up beating on ourselves for falling short.

It’s better to remember Marcus Aurelius’s line…

“When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstance, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a better group of harmony if you keep ongoing back to it.”

In a way, this is what I’ve worked on most with my routines lately. Can I purposely disrupt them? What happens if I change things up? Am I still me? Am I still able to do what I do well? I want to be sure that the tail is not wagging the dog, that I am in control of the routine and not the other way around. Because the last thing you want to do is become ossified and unable to handle change.

Because life is change. Murphy’s Law is real, and you will drive yourself insane thinking you can simply outwill or white knuckle your way through the inevitable tendency for things to go exactly the way you’d rather they not go.

Discipline is a form of freedom, but left unchecked becomes a form of tyranny. So the key is the ability to rotate from routine to routine, discipline to discipline, according to the needs of the day and the moment.

Otherwise you’re not only going to be miserable…you’re an easy opponent to defeat.

Like to Read? I’ve created a list of 15 books you’ve never heard of that will alter your worldview and help you excel at your career. Get the secret book list here!  

[victoryliononline]

Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe?

A few capital cities acquire political identities of their own , not ever winsome ones. Donald Trump led against “Washington” as much as he did against Hillary Clinton. For countless people in Europe, “Brussels” is a government character–a bureaucrat planning an ever-closer European union. That parody has just staged a convalescence that they are able to placed Lazarus to shame.

On the eve of the Brexit poll in June 2016, countless parties smelt that Brussels’ pulsation was fading. Two of the European Union’s great projects from the 1990 s–the euro and the Schengen Area of free movement–were in different forms of chaos, even as the third, the single sell, was still imperfect. Businesspeople, especially from the Anglo-Saxon world, fumed at the EU’s inscrutable administration. Mismanagement had left the continent with a sluggish economy, too many insolvent banks, and no major tech companionships. Politically, the Franco-German alliance that had driven the union send had crumbled. Even Angela Merkel, who’d fought so hard to keep Europe together, made it clear her success was in spite of the homunculi in Brussels.

Featured in, July 17, 2017. Subscribe now.

Illustration: 731 Nobody from the EU had been publicly admitted near the Remain campaign in Britain for fear of fating it; naturalnes from Brussels was the mobilizing bawl of the leavers. And the day after they triumphed, many Brexiteers jubilantly predicted that other countries would follow. The EU was ” a government assignment in denial ,” trumpeted Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party.

Now Brussels is reborn. Two affairs have changed everything. The first, ironically, was Brexit. Far from killing the EU, Brexit has helped reunite it. The second was the election of the members of Emmanuel Macron in May this year, which has given the European projection a purpose–or the promise of one.

For all the public talk of weep, Brussels can barely contain its laughter at Britain’s spectacular reversal of fortune. The nation that had been Brussels’ central connoisseur and the most adept earner of opt-outs from EU campaigns hasn’t so much filmed itself in the hoof as machine-gunned both legs repeatedly. Farage’s rejoicing discussion gapes as premature as George W. Bush’s” Mission Accomplished” flag after the invasion of Iraq. Far from acting as a lighthouse for other leavers, the chaos the Little Englanders generated scared voters in the Netherlands and France into preferring pro-European leads, while Theresa May’s mistaken desire to recommend a hard Brexit married the officers of the EU against her. She called an election in June to consolidate that mandate but lost her majority in Parliament and her credibility–and recreated talk of Britain eventually staying in.

Last month, with Britain’s economy souring downward and banks looking at other European funds, Prime Minister May’s Brexit negotiators arrived in Brussels for an encounter with what Monty Python would have described as the bleedin’ obvious. The rules for leaving the EU all favor the association rather than the quitter. Meanwhile, for all May’s bluster about” no batch being better than a bad deal ,” Britain relies on Europe for some 44 percentage of its exports; for Europe, Britain represents simply 9.5 percent. No cope would be a disaster. May’s promise of a frictionless Brexit is impossible, as the central European negotiator has rightly pointed out. Some Britons are already trying to reopen the idea of remaining in the customs union.

Watching the haughty British move, pontificate, and gradually succumb on concern after publication will impede Brussels happy for months–all the more so because May has sided the job of negotiating with the EU to three Brexiteers: Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, and David Davis. But Brussels is also feeling more self-confident in its dealings with the rest of the Anglo-Saxon world.

Americans who used to chortle at the spate of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker representing Europe, alongside Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping , now expend their age defending for Donald Trump. Rather than feelings against the EU’s protectionism, U.S. business leaders now have to explain steel excises from Washington. The EU recently reached a preliminary free-trade deal with Japan while Trump has told Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership founder. The euro-area economy is projected to grow 1.9 percentage this year, faster than the U.K.’s( 1.6 percent) and within collection of the U.S.’s( 2.2 percent ). The EU has begun to fix the banking crisis in Southern Europe–with Banco Santander SA buying Banco Popular SA in Spain and Italy setting bailouts of its three most troubled lenders. There’s even some approval in financier roundabouts for Europe having the intestines to rein in Google Inc. over its search monopoly.

However, the person who’s really conjured flavours in Brussels is Macron, who’s brought the prospect of France adopting economic reform. The Franco-German engine has sputtered back into life–and with it hope of incorporation in the euro area. Even the most misty Eurocrats are well aware that institutional change is hopeless in the broader EU, because it would require referendums in too many countries. But the core euro area doesn’t need that. Hence the hope of a slew: As Macron reconstructs France, Merkel will allow increased integration of the diverse monetary and economic conservatories in the euro zone. She’s already mentioned a euro-area finance minister.

Most economists agree that it’s very hard for a currency union to survive without a deeper banking solidarity and some risk-sharing through seam indebtednes sales or a movement solidarity( the U.S. has both ). Germans dislike the idea of having to threw their taxpayers on the hook to carry others, but the alternative are a number of catastrophes of confidence in least productive economies that are unable to let their currencies depreciate.

A more integrated euro area would commit an much clearer multitrack Europe, but that more might suit the union: The outer resound of non-euro countries could perhaps eventually include a penitent Britain, the Western Balkans, and( close your eyes and illusion) maybe even Turkey. The comeback by Brussels could augur a future with a more cohesive and regulated single market.

This is the sort of thing that obliges elderly Eurocrats start to vibrate on their bidets. But getting back on your feet is still a long way from rallying forwards. There are lots of ” ifs” in the EU’s renaissance. They begin with Macron. Talking about reform is a long way from ordaining it. He’s already lost a couple of cabinet ministers. The real test of his resolve will come in the National Assembly and then in the street: France has a huge public area that exhausts more than half gross national product and which will fight against reform.

There’s a bigger problem than France: Italy’s debt is 133 percentage of GDP, its economy is basically unreformed, and it faces an electoral next year that is able acquired by a bloc of Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party and the anti-immigrant Northern League or even the anti-euro Five Star Movement. Merkel known to be German voters won’t be pleased with future prospects of salvaging such an Italy. Rather than exulting in their capacity as the euro’s principal beneficiaries, let alone impression guilty to the charges the austerity they’ve obligation on the rest of the continent, some Germans check themselves as long-suffering philanthropists who’ve bailed out the sleepy parties of Southern Europe repeatedly.

Indeed, both the politics and the economics of the EU look good mainly in the sense that they’re no longer ruinous. Across Europe more voters “d rather” Brussels recall strength to the member states than increase its own. The EU hasn’t solved the problem of refugees: Its southern territories are still far more porous, with Italy urgently trying help from its partners. The economy is still reliant on the European Central bank reproducing fund. The single busines stands pathetically unfinished. The continent has nothing close to a Pan-European bank. Europe evaluates the tempo of improvement against its own sluggish historic standards. Inspected at globally, it not only appears to be far behind America, but it’s also in danger of being caught by developing economies. And the primary enthusiast of structural reform, the British, are leaving.

That ties into a deeper possibility in dealing with Britain. Some European masters demand the British to tolerate to put off other potential renegades and to sell the British to reconsider leaving. There’s a fundamental danger of going too far, nonetheless. Ask a Eurocrat what the Union should do if Britain, having spent more humble pasty, begged, respond, for the Norway option–that is , nonmember customs-free access to the EU and allowing for the free circulation of people–and the immediate reaction in Brussels is to roster all the additional punishing circumstances the British should accept that the Norwegians haven’t. This seems counterproductive on many levels. Inducing an economic crisis in a market of 65 million people( which will still mansion much of the EU’s financial organisation) would scarcely cure European professions. The one unarguable achievement of the EU has been a most peaceful continent. An sour Britain, where even those who never wanted it to leave in the first place belief Brussels is discussing them unfairly, is in nobody’s interest. There is a big difference between a sullen participate and a deep alienated neighbor.

The truth is that Brussels is a bit like individual patients that’s had a mettle graft. It shouldn’t assume that its new rental on life is an endorsement of its most recent life-style. If it doesn’t improvement its dress, then it will be back on the operating table.

The post Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe? appeared first on Victory Lion.

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[victoryliononline]

Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe?

A few capital cities acquire political identities of their own , not ever winsome ones. Donald Trump led against “Washington” as much as he did against Hillary Clinton. For countless people in Europe, “Brussels” is a government character–a bureaucrat planning an ever-closer European union. That parody has just staged a convalescence that they are able to placed Lazarus to shame.

On the eve of the Brexit poll in June 2016, countless parties smelt that Brussels’ pulsation was fading. Two of the European Union’s great projects from the 1990 s–the euro and the Schengen Area of free movement–were in different forms of chaos, even as the third, the single sell, was still imperfect. Businesspeople, especially from the Anglo-Saxon world, fumed at the EU’s inscrutable administration. Mismanagement had left the continent with a sluggish economy, too many insolvent banks, and no major tech companionships. Politically, the Franco-German alliance that had driven the union send had crumbled. Even Angela Merkel, who’d fought so hard to keep Europe together, made it clear her success was in spite of the homunculi in Brussels.

Featured in, July 17, 2017. Subscribe now.

Illustration: 731 Nobody from the EU had been publicly admitted near the Remain campaign in Britain for fear of fating it; naturalnes from Brussels was the mobilizing bawl of the leavers. And the day after they triumphed, many Brexiteers jubilantly predicted that other countries would follow. The EU was ” a government assignment in denial ,” trumpeted Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party.

Now Brussels is reborn. Two affairs have changed everything. The first, ironically, was Brexit. Far from killing the EU, Brexit has helped reunite it. The second was the election of the members of Emmanuel Macron in May this year, which has given the European projection a purpose–or the promise of one.

For all the public talk of weep, Brussels can barely contain its laughter at Britain’s spectacular reversal of fortune. The nation that had been Brussels’ central connoisseur and the most adept earner of opt-outs from EU campaigns hasn’t so much filmed itself in the hoof as machine-gunned both legs repeatedly. Farage’s rejoicing discussion gapes as premature as George W. Bush’s” Mission Accomplished” flag after the invasion of Iraq. Far from acting as a lighthouse for other leavers, the chaos the Little Englanders generated scared voters in the Netherlands and France into preferring pro-European leads, while Theresa May’s mistaken desire to recommend a hard Brexit married the officers of the EU against her. She called an election in June to consolidate that mandate but lost her majority in Parliament and her credibility–and recreated talk of Britain eventually staying in.

Last month, with Britain’s economy souring downward and banks looking at other European funds, Prime Minister May’s Brexit negotiators arrived in Brussels for an encounter with what Monty Python would have described as the bleedin’ obvious. The rules for leaving the EU all favor the association rather than the quitter. Meanwhile, for all May’s bluster about” no batch being better than a bad deal ,” Britain relies on Europe for some 44 percentage of its exports; for Europe, Britain represents simply 9.5 percent. No cope would be a disaster. May’s promise of a frictionless Brexit is impossible, as the central European negotiator has rightly pointed out. Some Britons are already trying to reopen the idea of remaining in the customs union.

Watching the haughty British move, pontificate, and gradually succumb on concern after publication will impede Brussels happy for months–all the more so because May has sided the job of negotiating with the EU to three Brexiteers: Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, and David Davis. But Brussels is also feeling more self-confident in its dealings with the rest of the Anglo-Saxon world.

Americans who used to chortle at the spate of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker representing Europe, alongside Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping , now expend their age defending for Donald Trump. Rather than feelings against the EU’s protectionism, U.S. business leaders now have to explain steel excises from Washington. The EU recently reached a preliminary free-trade deal with Japan while Trump has told Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership founder. The euro-area economy is projected to grow 1.9 percentage this year, faster than the U.K.’s( 1.6 percent) and within collection of the U.S.’s( 2.2 percent ). The EU has begun to fix the banking crisis in Southern Europe–with Banco Santander SA buying Banco Popular SA in Spain and Italy setting bailouts of its three most troubled lenders. There’s even some approval in financier roundabouts for Europe having the intestines to rein in Google Inc. over its search monopoly.

However, the person who’s really conjured flavours in Brussels is Macron, who’s brought the prospect of France adopting economic reform. The Franco-German engine has sputtered back into life–and with it hope of incorporation in the euro area. Even the most misty Eurocrats are well aware that institutional change is hopeless in the broader EU, because it would require referendums in too many countries. But the core euro area doesn’t need that. Hence the hope of a slew: As Macron reconstructs France, Merkel will allow increased integration of the diverse monetary and economic conservatories in the euro zone. She’s already mentioned a euro-area finance minister.

Most economists agree that it’s very hard for a currency union to survive without a deeper banking solidarity and some risk-sharing through seam indebtednes sales or a movement solidarity( the U.S. has both ). Germans dislike the idea of having to threw their taxpayers on the hook to carry others, but the alternative are a number of catastrophes of confidence in least productive economies that are unable to let their currencies depreciate.

A more integrated euro area would commit an much clearer multitrack Europe, but that more might suit the union: The outer resound of non-euro countries could perhaps eventually include a penitent Britain, the Western Balkans, and( close your eyes and illusion) maybe even Turkey. The comeback by Brussels could augur a future with a more cohesive and regulated single market.

This is the sort of thing that obliges elderly Eurocrats start to vibrate on their bidets. But getting back on your feet is still a long way from rallying forwards. There are lots of ” ifs” in the EU’s renaissance. They begin with Macron. Talking about reform is a long way from ordaining it. He’s already lost a couple of cabinet ministers. The real test of his resolve will come in the National Assembly and then in the street: France has a huge public area that exhausts more than half gross national product and which will fight against reform.

There’s a bigger problem than France: Italy’s debt is 133 percentage of GDP, its economy is basically unreformed, and it faces an electoral next year that is able acquired by a bloc of Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party and the anti-immigrant Northern League or even the anti-euro Five Star Movement. Merkel known to be German voters won’t be pleased with future prospects of salvaging such an Italy. Rather than exulting in their capacity as the euro’s principal beneficiaries, let alone impression guilty to the charges the austerity they’ve obligation on the rest of the continent, some Germans check themselves as long-suffering philanthropists who’ve bailed out the sleepy parties of Southern Europe repeatedly.

Indeed, both the politics and the economics of the EU look good mainly in the sense that they’re no longer ruinous. Across Europe more voters “d rather” Brussels recall strength to the member states than increase its own. The EU hasn’t solved the problem of refugees: Its southern territories are still far more porous, with Italy urgently trying help from its partners. The economy is still reliant on the European Central bank reproducing fund. The single busines stands pathetically unfinished. The continent has nothing close to a Pan-European bank. Europe evaluates the tempo of improvement against its own sluggish historic standards. Inspected at globally, it not only appears to be far behind America, but it’s also in danger of being caught by developing economies. And the primary enthusiast of structural reform, the British, are leaving.

That ties into a deeper possibility in dealing with Britain. Some European masters demand the British to tolerate to put off other potential renegades and to sell the British to reconsider leaving. There’s a fundamental danger of going too far, nonetheless. Ask a Eurocrat what the Union should do if Britain, having spent more humble pasty, begged, respond, for the Norway option–that is , nonmember customs-free access to the EU and allowing for the free circulation of people–and the immediate reaction in Brussels is to roster all the additional punishing circumstances the British should accept that the Norwegians haven’t. This seems counterproductive on many levels. Inducing an economic crisis in a market of 65 million people( which will still mansion much of the EU’s financial organisation) would scarcely cure European professions. The one unarguable achievement of the EU has been a most peaceful continent. An sour Britain, where even those who never wanted it to leave in the first place belief Brussels is discussing them unfairly, is in nobody’s interest. There is a big difference between a sullen participate and a deep alienated neighbor.

The truth is that Brussels is a bit like individual patients that’s had a mettle graft. It shouldn’t assume that its new rental on life is an endorsement of its most recent life-style. If it doesn’t improvement its dress, then it will be back on the operating table.

The post Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe? appeared first on Victory Lion.

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The post Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe? appeared first on Victory Lion.

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[victoryliononline]

Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe?

A few capital cities acquire political identities of their own , not ever winsome ones. Donald Trump led against “Washington” as much as he did against Hillary Clinton. For countless people in Europe, “Brussels” is a government character–a bureaucrat planning an ever-closer European union. That parody has just staged a convalescence that they are able to placed Lazarus to shame.

On the eve of the Brexit poll in June 2016, countless parties smelt that Brussels’ pulsation was fading. Two of the European Union’s great projects from the 1990 s–the euro and the Schengen Area of free movement–were in different forms of chaos, even as the third, the single sell, was still imperfect. Businesspeople, especially from the Anglo-Saxon world, fumed at the EU’s inscrutable administration. Mismanagement had left the continent with a sluggish economy, too many insolvent banks, and no major tech companionships. Politically, the Franco-German alliance that had driven the union send had crumbled. Even Angela Merkel, who’d fought so hard to keep Europe together, made it clear her success was in spite of the homunculi in Brussels.

Featured in, July 17, 2017. Subscribe now. Illustration: 731 Nobody from the EU had been publicly admitted near the Remain campaign in Britain for fear of fating it; naturalnes from Brussels was the mobilizing bawl of the leavers. And the day after they triumphed, many Brexiteers jubilantly predicted that other countries would follow. The EU was ” a government assignment in denial ,” trumpeted Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party.

Now Brussels is reborn. Two affairs have changed everything. The first, ironically, was Brexit. Far from killing the EU, Brexit has helped reunite it. The second was the election of the members of Emmanuel Macron in May this year, which has given the European projection a purpose–or the promise of one.

For all the public talk of weep, Brussels can barely contain its laughter at Britain’s spectacular reversal of fortune. The nation that had been Brussels’ central connoisseur and the most adept earner of opt-outs from EU campaigns hasn’t so much filmed itself in the hoof as machine-gunned both legs repeatedly. Farage’s rejoicing discussion gapes as premature as George W. Bush’s” Mission Accomplished” flag after the invasion of Iraq. Far from acting as a lighthouse for other leavers, the chaos the Little Englanders generated scared voters in the Netherlands and France into preferring pro-European leads, while Theresa May’s mistaken desire to recommend a hard Brexit married the officers of the EU against her. She called an election in June to consolidate that mandate but lost her majority in Parliament and her credibility–and recreated talk of Britain eventually staying in.

Last month, with Britain’s economy souring downward and banks looking at other European funds, Prime Minister May’s Brexit negotiators arrived in Brussels for an encounter with what Monty Python would have described as the bleedin’ obvious. The rules for leaving the EU all favor the association rather than the quitter. Meanwhile, for all May’s bluster about” no batch being better than a bad deal ,” Britain relies on Europe for some 44 percentage of its exports; for Europe, Britain represents simply 9.5 percent. No cope would be a disaster. May’s promise of a frictionless Brexit is impossible, as the central European negotiator has rightly pointed out. Some Britons are already trying to reopen the idea of remaining in the customs union.

Watching the haughty British move, pontificate, and gradually succumb on concern after publication will impede Brussels happy for months–all the more so because May has sided the job of negotiating with the EU to three Brexiteers: Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, and David Davis. But Brussels is also feeling more self-confident in its dealings with the rest of the Anglo-Saxon world.

Americans who used to chortle at the spate of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker representing Europe, alongside Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping , now expend their age defending for Donald Trump. Rather than feelings against the EU’s protectionism, U.S. business leaders now have to explain steel excises from Washington. The EU recently reached a preliminary free-trade deal with Japan while Trump has told Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership founder. The euro-area economy is projected to grow 1.9 percentage this year, faster than the U.K.’s( 1.6 percent) and within collection of the U.S.’s( 2.2 percent ). The EU has begun to fix the banking crisis in Southern Europe–with Banco Santander SA buying Banco Popular SA in Spain and Italy setting bailouts of its three most troubled lenders. There’s even some approval in financier roundabouts for Europe having the intestines to rein in Google Inc. over its search monopoly.

However, the person who’s really conjured flavours in Brussels is Macron, who’s brought the prospect of France adopting economic reform. The Franco-German engine has sputtered back into life–and with it hope of incorporation in the euro area. Even the most misty Eurocrats are well aware that institutional change is hopeless in the broader EU, because it would require referendums in too many countries. But the core euro area doesn’t need that. Hence the hope of a slew: As Macron reconstructs France, Merkel will allow increased integration of the diverse monetary and economic conservatories in the euro zone. She’s already mentioned a euro-area finance minister.

Most economists agree that it’s very hard for a currency union to survive without a deeper banking solidarity and some risk-sharing through seam indebtednes sales or a movement solidarity( the U.S. has both ). Germans dislike the idea of having to threw their taxpayers on the hook to carry others, but the alternative are a number of catastrophes of confidence in least productive economies that are unable to let their currencies depreciate.

A more integrated euro area would commit an much clearer multitrack Europe, but that more might suit the union: The outer resound of non-euro countries could perhaps eventually include a penitent Britain, the Western Balkans, and( close your eyes and illusion) maybe even Turkey. The comeback by Brussels could augur a future with a more cohesive and regulated single market.

This is the sort of thing that obliges elderly Eurocrats start to vibrate on their bidets. But getting back on your feet is still a long way from rallying forwards. There are lots of ” ifs” in the EU’s renaissance. They begin with Macron. Talking about reform is a long way from ordaining it. He’s already lost a couple of cabinet ministers. The real test of his resolve will come in the National Assembly and then in the street: France has a huge public area that exhausts more than half gross national product and which will fight against reform.

There’s a bigger problem than France: Italy’s debt is 133 percentage of GDP, its economy is basically unreformed, and it faces an electoral next year that is able acquired by a bloc of Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party and the anti-immigrant Northern League or even the anti-euro Five Star Movement. Merkel known to be German voters won’t be pleased with future prospects of salvaging such an Italy. Rather than exulting in their capacity as the euro’s principal beneficiaries, let alone impression guilty to the charges the austerity they’ve obligation on the rest of the continent, some Germans check themselves as long-suffering philanthropists who’ve bailed out the sleepy parties of Southern Europe repeatedly.

Indeed, both the politics and the economics of the EU look good mainly in the sense that they’re no longer ruinous. Across Europe more voters “d rather” Brussels recall strength to the member states than increase its own. The EU hasn’t solved the problem of refugees: Its southern territories are still far more porous, with Italy urgently trying help from its partners. The economy is still reliant on the European Central bank reproducing fund. The single busines stands pathetically unfinished. The continent has nothing close to a Pan-European bank. Europe evaluates the tempo of improvement against its own sluggish historic standards. Inspected at globally, it not only appears to be far behind America, but it’s also in danger of being caught by developing economies. And the primary enthusiast of structural reform, the British, are leaving.

That ties into a deeper possibility in dealing with Britain. Some European masters demand the British to tolerate to put off other potential renegades and to sell the British to reconsider leaving. There’s a fundamental danger of going too far, nonetheless. Ask a Eurocrat what the Union should do if Britain, having spent more humble pasty, begged, respond, for the Norway option–that is , nonmember customs-free access to the EU and allowing for the free circulation of people–and the immediate reaction in Brussels is to roster all the additional punishing circumstances the British should accept that the Norwegians haven’t. This seems counterproductive on many levels. Inducing an economic crisis in a market of 65 million people( which will still mansion much of the EU’s financial organisation) would scarcely cure European professions. The one unarguable achievement of the EU has been a most peaceful continent. An sour Britain, where even those who never wanted it to leave in the first place belief Brussels is discussing them unfairly, is in nobody’s interest. There is a big difference between a sullen participate and a deep alienated neighbor.

The truth is that Brussels is a bit like individual patients that’s had a mettle graft. It shouldn’t assume that its new rental on life is an endorsement of its most recent life-style. If it doesn’t improvement its dress, then it will be back on the operating table.

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Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe?

A few capital cities acquire political identities of their own , not ever winsome ones. Donald Trump led against “Washington” as much as he did against Hillary Clinton. For countless people in Europe, “Brussels” is a government character–a bureaucrat planning an ever-closer European union. That parody has just staged a convalescence that they are able to placed Lazarus to shame.

On the eve of the Brexit poll in June 2016, countless parties smelt that Brussels’ pulsation was fading. Two of the European Union’s great projects from the 1990 s–the euro and the Schengen Area of free movement–were in different forms of chaos, even as the third, the single sell, was still imperfect. Businesspeople, especially from the Anglo-Saxon world, fumed at the EU’s inscrutable administration. Mismanagement had left the continent with a sluggish economy, too many insolvent banks, and no major tech companionships. Politically, the Franco-German alliance that had driven the union send had crumbled. Even Angela Merkel, who’d fought so hard to keep Europe together, made it clear her success was in spite of the homunculi in Brussels.

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Nobody from the EU had been publicly admitted near the Remain campaign in Britain for fear of fating it; naturalnes from Brussels was the mobilizing bawl of the leavers. And the day after they triumphed, many Brexiteers jubilantly predicted that other countries would follow. The EU was ” a government assignment in denial ,” trumpeted Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party.

Now Brussels is reborn. Two affairs have changed everything. The first, ironically, was Brexit. Far from killing the EU, Brexit has helped reunite it. The second was the election of the members of Emmanuel Macron in May this year, which has given the European projection a purpose–or the promise of one.

For all the public talk of weep, Brussels can barely contain its laughter at Britain’s spectacular reversal of fortune. The nation that had been Brussels’ central connoisseur and the most adept earner of opt-outs from EU campaigns hasn’t so much filmed itself in the hoof as machine-gunned both legs repeatedly. Farage’s rejoicing discussion gapes as premature as George W. Bush’s” Mission Accomplished” flag after the invasion of Iraq. Far from acting as a lighthouse for other leavers, the chaos the Little Englanders generated scared voters in the Netherlands and France into preferring pro-European leads, while Theresa May’s mistaken desire to recommend a hard Brexit married the officers of the EU against her. She called an election in June to consolidate that mandate but lost her majority in Parliament and her credibility–and recreated talk of Britain eventually staying in.

Last month, with Britain’s economy souring downward and banks looking at other European funds, Prime Minister May’s Brexit negotiators arrived in Brussels for an encounter with what Monty Python would have described as the bleedin’ obvious. The rules for leaving the EU all favor the association rather than the quitter. Meanwhile, for all May’s bluster about” no batch being better than a bad deal ,” Britain relies on Europe for some 44 percentage of its exports; for Europe, Britain represents simply 9.5 percent. No cope would be a disaster. May’s promise of a frictionless Brexit is impossible, as the central European negotiator has rightly pointed out. Some Britons are already trying to reopen the idea of remaining in the customs union.

Watching the haughty British move, pontificate, and gradually succumb on concern after publication will impede Brussels happy for months–all the more so because May has sided the job of negotiating with the EU to three Brexiteers: Boris Johnson, Liam Fox, and David Davis. But Brussels is also feeling more self-confident in its dealings with the rest of the Anglo-Saxon world.

Americans who used to chortle at the spate of European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker representing Europe, alongside Barack Obama and China’s President Xi Jinping , now expend their age defending for Donald Trump. Rather than feelings against the EU’s protectionism, U.S. business leaders now have to explain steel excises from Washington. The EU recently reached a preliminary free-trade deal with Japan while Trump has told Obama’s Trans-Pacific Partnership founder. The euro-area economy is projected to grow 1.9 percentage this year, faster than the U.K.’s( 1.6 percent) and within collection of the U.S.’s( 2.2 percent ). The EU has begun to fix the banking crisis in Southern Europe–with Banco Santander SA buying Banco Popular SA in Spain and Italy setting bailouts of its three most troubled lenders. There’s even some approval in financier roundabouts for Europe having the intestines to rein in Google Inc. over its search monopoly.

However, the person who’s really conjured flavours in Brussels is Macron, who’s brought the prospect of France adopting economic reform. The Franco-German engine has sputtered back into life–and with it hope of incorporation in the euro area. Even the most misty Eurocrats are well aware that institutional change is hopeless in the broader EU, because it would require referendums in too many countries. But the core euro area doesn’t need that. Hence the hope of a slew: As Macron reconstructs France, Merkel will allow increased integration of the diverse monetary and economic conservatories in the euro zone. She’s already mentioned a euro-area finance minister.

Most economists agree that it’s very hard for a currency union to survive without a deeper banking solidarity and some risk-sharing through seam indebtednes sales or a movement solidarity( the U.S. has both ). Germans dislike the idea of having to threw their taxpayers on the hook to carry others, but the alternative are a number of catastrophes of confidence in least productive economies that are unable to let their currencies depreciate.

A more integrated euro area would commit an much clearer multitrack Europe, but that more might suit the union: The outer resound of non-euro countries could perhaps eventually include a penitent Britain, the Western Balkans, and( close your eyes and illusion) maybe even Turkey. The comeback by Brussels could augur a future with a more cohesive and regulated single market.

This is the sort of thing that obliges elderly Eurocrats start to vibrate on their bidets. But getting back on your feet is still a long way from rallying forwards. There are lots of ” ifs” in the EU’s renaissance. They begin with Macron. Talking about reform is a long way from ordaining it. He’s already lost a couple of cabinet ministers. The real test of his resolve will come in the National Assembly and then in the street: France has a huge public area that exhausts more than half gross national product and which will fight against reform.

There’s a bigger problem than France: Italy’s debt is 133 percentage of GDP, its economy is basically unreformed, and it faces an electoral next year that is able acquired by a bloc of Silvio Berlusconi’s center-right party and the anti-immigrant Northern League or even the anti-euro Five Star Movement. Merkel known to be German voters won’t be pleased with future prospects of salvaging such an Italy. Rather than exulting in their capacity as the euro’s principal beneficiaries, let alone impression guilty to the charges the austerity they’ve obligation on the rest of the continent, some Germans check themselves as long-suffering philanthropists who’ve bailed out the sleepy parties of Southern Europe repeatedly.

Indeed, both the politics and the economics of the EU look good mainly in the sense that they’re no longer ruinous. Across Europe more voters “d rather” Brussels recall strength to the member states than increase its own. The EU hasn’t solved the problem of refugees: Its southern territories are still far more porous, with Italy urgently trying help from its partners. The economy is still reliant on the European Central bank reproducing fund. The single busines stands pathetically unfinished. The continent has nothing close to a Pan-European bank. Europe evaluates the tempo of improvement against its own sluggish historic standards. Inspected at globally, it not only appears to be far behind America, but it’s also in danger of being caught by developing economies. And the primary enthusiast of structural reform, the British, are leaving.

That ties into a deeper possibility in dealing with Britain. Some European masters demand the British to tolerate to put off other potential renegades and to sell the British to reconsider leaving. There’s a fundamental danger of going too far, nonetheless. Ask a Eurocrat what the Union should do if Britain, having spent more humble pasty, begged, respond, for the Norway option–that is , nonmember customs-free access to the EU and allowing for the free circulation of people–and the immediate reaction in Brussels is to roster all the additional punishing circumstances the British should accept that the Norwegians haven’t. This seems counterproductive on many levels. Inducing an economic crisis in a market of 65 million people( which will still mansion much of the EU’s financial organisation) would scarcely cure European professions. The one unarguable achievement of the EU has been a most peaceful continent. An sour Britain, where even those who never wanted it to leave in the first place belief Brussels is discussing them unfairly, is in nobody’s interest. There is a big difference between a sullen participate and a deep alienated neighbor.

The truth is that Brussels is a bit like individual patients that’s had a mettle graft. It shouldn’t assume that its new rental on life is an endorsement of its most recent life-style. If it doesn’t improvement its dress, then it will be back on the operating table.

The post Britain Is Shamed and Brussels Triumphant. But Is That Good for Europe? appeared first on Victory Lion.

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