#14th century mafia

[malyssmakneile]

Heck I finished the embroidery.

Now gotta wash it and then make a bag out of it

[gwarden123]

I know this is a pointless complaint. I know that they do the tapping the shoulders knighting ceremony, because it’s what medieval knights are supposed to have done. But knights did it because that was supposed to be the last time they let anyone strike them, or strike them without equal retaliation. And they don’t do the whole all-night vigil where they have to stay awake and pray in the chapel. Arguably, the vigil is the more important* part of the ceremony, since it’s the ritualistic, spiritual part. A feat of honour and control. And it’s a shame that the game doesn’t do anything to mirror that.

(I’m not actually sure how many knightly orders did the ceremony that way and how much of that is a later romantic invention. In some ways it doesn’t matter, because Star Wars is more about the pop culture idea of knights rather than the historical reality of them, but on the other hand, taking into account historical reality can be both interesting and important for a franchise so concerned with the idea of a glorious, mythical past.)

*I’m not a medievalist, I could be wrong

[flowerandblood]

The Golden Cage (2/5)

[modern! mafia boss • Aemond x female]

[warnings: angst, domination, sexual tension, fluff]

[description: Aemond works with the mob and finds a new accomplice. His attention is drawn to his daughter, trying to isolate herself as much as possible from their criminal underworld. Angst, domination kink, a lot of sexual tension.]

* English is not my first language. Please, do not repost. Enjoy! *

Previous and next chapters: Masterlist

______

Her father was furious with her, he only calmed down when she explained exactly why she had come to the club in the first place. They both quickly got into his car and drove to the hospital.

She felt her legs shaking the whole way, whoever he was, Aemond terrified her and made her shiver. She knew that he was someone very dangerous, seeing how the other guests of the club looked at him with fear.

They finally made it to the intensive care unit. The doctor told them that her grandfather's condition was stable, but would require rehabilitation. Her grandmother hugged her tightly as they entered the hospital room.

"Where have you been?!" She asked her son in pain, slapping him in the chest. "Business is more important than your family?!"

Eddard pursed his lips, looking away.

"I'm sorry. I was in a place where there was no phone service." He said quietly and humbly, clearly feeling remorse.

Her father went to the vending machine and brought them coffee and tea. They told Grandma to go home, promising to stay with Grandpa for the night.

When her grandmother left, she looked at her father with pursed lips. She saw that he was avoiding her eyes.

"What were you doing there?" She asked quietly.

Her father gave her a quick, uneasy glance, then turned back to his mug.

"I already told you. I had my business to attend to." He said, taking a sip of coffee.

"What kind of business do you have to deal with in a place like this?" She asked, annoyed that he was treating her like a stupid child.

Her father shook his head.

"The less you know, the better for you. Don't come there ever again. Got it?" He asked tensely and she looked away, angry and bitter.

She wanted to think that her father was a good, decent man, but she couldn't. She loved and cherished him, and at the same time she knew absolutely nothing about him.

After a few days, her Grandpa was able to leave the hospital. Her father used to visit them every day, helping him with his exercises. On Saturday morning, while she was eating her cereal, Eddard was getting ready to leave.

"Aemond is coming to pick up some papers, they're on the table. Give them to him if I'm not back in an hour." He said quickly and left before he could see her expression.

She swallowed loudly what was in her mouth and put down her spoon, losing all desire to eat, Harrold had the day off and she was home all alone. She didn't trust this man and she felt uncomfortable around him, so she prayed that her father would come back in time.

She was sitting on the couch in the living room, reading a book about the Polish kingdom in the 14th century, when she heard someone drive up to their driveway.

She felt a squeeze in her chest and swallowed hard hearing it, it was hot, she was wearing only an oversized T-shirt and shorts. She sighed heavily, thinking with relief that it wasn't a very inviting outfit.

She heard an impatient knock on the door and stood up, grabbing the papers her father had spoken of, walking barefoot to the door and turning the lock. She opened them wide, his eye wide open when he saw her.

His gaze quickly fled to her legs, chest and face. She pretended not to see it and extended her hand with a sheaf of papers towards him. They stared at each other in awkward silence and she wondered why he didn't just take it from her.

"Where are your manners, birdie. Won't you invite me in?" He asked dryly.

"I took you for a person who hates wasting his time." She said cautiously, looking at him expectantly, her hand still outstretched to him. He looked at her intensely, the corner of his mouth twisting into an ironic smile.

"I happen to be in the mood for coffee." He said low.

She swallowed hard and looked to the side, dropping her hand helplessly. She stepped aside, allowing him to enter and he did it without haste, slowly taking off his leather jacket.

She closed the door behind him, walked through the living room to the kitchen, placing papers on the table as she went, and opened the cupboard searching for a cup. She watched, looking across the bar, as he entered their living room, sat down on the couch, and picked up her book, opening it where she had left off.

"What kind of coffee will you drink?" She asked dispassionately and calmly, trying to sound at least a little warm.

"Black. Two teaspoons. No milk. No sugar." He said matter-of-factly.

It looked like he was actually reading her book.

She put water in the kettle, glanced at him, and sighed softly, her heart was pounding like crazy.

She prayed that her father would come by now and take over this conversation.

When the water boiled, she poured the mug and, with a heavy heart, walked back into the living room, placing it on the table in front of him.

"Thank you." He said dryly, not taking his eye off her book.

She pursed her lips as she looked at him, thinking that she couldn't just go to her room and leave him alone, so whether she wanted to or not, she had to sit with him now and watch over him. She sat down in the soft armchair next to him, drawing her legs under her buttocks, making herself comfortable, her whole body tense.

They sat in silence for a while, only the sound of him turning the pages in the room, she was surprised to see that he seemed to be drawn into what the author had written. He took a sip of his coffee once in a while, not stopping reading, and she thought that if she wouldn't bother him, maybe he'd leave her alone.

He turned the book over suddenly, placing his finger where he had left off, apparently he was checking the author of the entire publication.

"I'll borrow it." He announced calmly. She looked at him surprised, her mouth parted slightly.

"I… I need it for the exam." She said looking at him uncertainly, she didn't know if it was a good idea to say no to a man like him, but she wasn't about to fail the semester because of him.

He looked at her intensely for a moment.

"And the exam is when?" He asked, as if he wanted her to finish his sentence. She looked down on her knees.

"On Monday." She said softly. He rocked the book slightly left and right as he looked at her.

"Then I'll come pick it up on Tuesday." He said throwing the book on the table. "I used to study history myself."

He said indifferently, taking a sip of coffee, looking at the book absently. She pursed her lips, wondering if she should investigate further. There was silence between them.

"And what happened then?" She finally asked, unable to contain herself, she saw him smirk at her question as he pulled cigarettes and a lighter from his pocket.

"Many things." He grunted as he took the cigarette to his lips, intending to light it with his lighter. She stood up at once and reached out to take the cigarette from his mouth, but he gripped her wrist tightly, glaring at her warningly.

"Careful, little birdie." He said low and dark. She felt her heart pounding wildly, her chest tightening. She thought she wouldn't be intimidated by a stranger in her own home.

"No smoking inside our house. Where are your manners?" She asked, looking at him with a frown, mimicking what he said in a way. He looked at her intensely, his face completely frozen.

He finally took the cigarette out of his mouth with his free hand, the other still holding her wrist. Seeing this she wanted to go back to her seat, but he wouldn't let her, holding her tighter. He looked at her expectantly.

"Apologize."

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Excuse me?"

His lips pressed into a thin line.

"Apologize."

She felt the tension between them could be cut with a knife. She looked at him defiantly.

"No."

She jumped in fear as he stood up suddenly, his hand gripping her jaw tightly, his other hand tightening around her wrist. He looked at her as if he wanted to kill her, towering her, their faces millimeters apart.

"What you did was impolite. I am your guest. Apologize." He hissed through clenched teeth.

She stared at him in horror and figured out that she didn't care. Maybe if he did something to her, her father would finally end his businesses with him.

"What you are doing is impolite. You barge into my house uninvited, want to take my book without my permission, and try to smoke without asking if you can." She said, breaking free from his grip, her chest was heaving fast.

He blinked at her, his jaw clenched tight, running his tongue over his mouth, looking at her thoughtfully.

"May I ask you for this huge favor, to lend me your book after your exam?" He asked ironically, articulating each word slowly and carefully. She knew that he was furious.

"No." She said right away. "You don't deserve it." She said angrily, grabbing her book and walking towards the stairs, leaving him alone, not caring what he do with it.

As soon as she entered her room, she heard a loud slam of the front door, and after a moment the sound of the engine starting, the screech of tires.

She lay in her room, continuing to read her book, enraged. She thought that he was a brutal, ironic, shameless man, who thought he could do anything to anyone. She didn't know who he was and she didn't care.

She had no intention of serving him or allowing herself to be humiliated in her own home, let him thrash herself like an animal. She thought he expected culture from her, and he had no respect for anyone or anything himself.

After a while, she heard her father enter the house. He ran up the stairs and opened the door to her room.

"What have you done to him?" He asked, looking at her incredulously. She blinked, not understanding what he meant.

"Who?" She asked innocently. Her father rolled his eyes.

"He's so pissed that he won't even talk to me on the phone." He said putting his hands on his hips. His daughter frowned.

"He was rude and insolent. He grabbed me by the jaw like some animal when I pointed it out. I don't want to see him here again." She said, going back to reading. Her father sighed heavily, running his hand over his face.

"He's not a person you can just chase away from our home." He said impatiently. His daughter looked at him angrily.

"Why? Because you're doing business with a man who will now kidnap me for revenge? Beat me? Rape me?" She asked furiously, tears of anger welling up in her eyes, her lip trembled, she turned her gaze towards the window, trying not to cry.

"Mother doesn't want me. With you are only secrets and dark deals. It's never safe. I have nowhere to run!" She almost screamed helplessly without looking at him, her breath and voice ragged and trembling.

She covered her mouth with a shaking hand, clutching her book to her. Her father wanted to approach her, but she moved as far away from him as possible.

"Leave me alone." She said in a trembling voice, without looking at him.

After a while, she heard him leave quietly and close the door behind him. Only then did she allow herself to truly cry.

____

Aemond Taglist:

(bold means I couldn't tag you)

@its-actually-minicika @notnormalthings-blog @avgdusterfan @nikstrange @zenka69 @bellaisasleep @k-y-r-a-1 @random-ocity @g-cf2020 @melsunshine @opheliaas-stuff @chainsawsangel @iiamthehybrid @tinykryptonitewerewolf @namoreno @snh96 @malfoytargaryen @qyburnsghost @aemondsdelight @persephonerinyes @fan-goddess @sweethoneyblossom1 @aemondsfavouritebastard @watercolorskyy @astral-blossoms @randomdragonfires @amirawritespoorly @apollonshootafar @bellameshipper

Others: @okfashionista @toodlesxcuddles

[ceaselessbasher]

I love putting hyperfixations in a blender so:

Dream's opinion: Tell me, Hob, what is more wonderful that a story that exists loosely between several minds, but it mostly exists in their collected subconsciousness? They put some of it into the world, but the connections they make, the images they visualize, those exist only in each of their dreamscapes. They say it doesn't exist, that that is the joke, but to me, it does exist, and it is extraordinary.

Hob's opinion: Listen, I miss the beauty of oral tradition as much as the next bloke from the 14th century and there is a shadow of that in all of this, but I gotta draw the line somewhere and this is it. This is where I'm drawing the line. Please. Have mercy on me, I am an old man and my students are inviting me to discussion forums of a movie that doesn't fucken exist.

Lucienne's opinion: *while holding the books that have appeared in the Dreaming because of our collective hallucination* What do you mean it doesn't exist, I have several scripts and fanfiction right here.

Matthew's opinion: FUCK YEAH MAFIA SHOOTING BLOOD KILLING SMOKING

Rose's opinion: [could not be reached for an opinion, too busy writing her own script]

[mermaidsirennikita]

Share some stalking heroes 👀

HAPPY TO.

Historical:

Obviously, Valentine Napier from Elizabeth Hoyt's Duke of Sin, He Who Lives in Walls.

Mick Trewlove does a bit of stalking when he's staking out how to steal Aslyn (in order to ruin his half-brother's life) in Beyond Scandal and Desire by Lorraine Heath.

Magnus literally hunts Melissa down like a dog in S.M. LaViolette's Melissa and The Vicar (after she leaves him).

Shadowheart by Laura Kinsale has an EXTREMELY stalkery, villainous hero and I love the degree to which he's just a creep lol. Like, the heroine is all "... how does he know these things" and the answer is "baby girl, he's been watching you sleep probably". TW: the first encounter is noncon (forced marriage consummation). Kinsale is very true to 14th century approaches to consent, but Elena does very much take the reins in the rest of it.

In a different way, the preceding novel (set 10 years before) For My Lady's Heart is also a stalkery hero book. The hero is a knight whose wife left him to join a convent (lmao) and when he's dropping her off there he sees this beautiful (married) princess who notices that he's attracted to her and calls him out... but when he unexpectedly has to give up ALL his money in order to commit his wife to the order--a thing he doesn't want to do!--the princess does him a solid and gives him some cash to get on his feet. And as a result, he becomes obsessed with her, pledges himself to her, and serves from afar in her name for like. 13 years. Then they finally meet again and it turns out she's kind of a bitch! (In the best way.)

Pippa and the Prince of Secrets by Grace Callaway, of course, has Cull, who watches Pippa while she's out doing her vigilante shit and is like, ready to run interference and who knows maybe smell her hair.

Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt of course has the truly insane and stalkery Maximus. Like Valentine, he refuses to call his heroine by her actual name lmao.

The Wolf and The Widlflower by Stacy Reid. Wolf Duke Duke of Wolverton is obviously a duke who lived with wolves for years, and after he realizes that his new shrink, a young man, is actually a woman in disguise (a fact he realizes when he SMELLS. HER. WOMANLY. SCENT. IYKWIM.) he's determined to catch her out lol.

Hotel of Secrets by Diana Biller has a hero who's admittedly a literal spy, but he does start lowkey stalking the heroine because he feels CRIME MAY BE AFOOT. And then he walks in on her... doing things alone.... and he goes "don't stop" and I lost my mind.

Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas gives me this vibe because McKenna is so focused on revenge against Aline that it basically turns into this obsession with everything about her and what it takes to break her down. Like, McKenna gives strong murder vibes and I do find it hot.

The Dragon and The Pearl by Jeannie Lin gives me this vibe because he's like... keeping her captive for political reasons but you can literally see on the page when it starts to shift from politics to obsession lol.

Contemporary-ish:

Mafia Madman by Mila Finelli. I mean, Enzo watches Gia through security cameras while keeping her in a cage after setting up a faked death by bombing a bar after he buys in an Aperol spritz. Peak stalking.

Mafia Target--the book after Mafia Madman, m/m assassin/target... Alessio is literally stalking Giulio for months before they actually meet and he's obsessed with him and it's AMAZING.

All of Kresley Cole's Gamemaker books involve stalking but The Player is maybe the most intensely stalkery book of all time. I can't even tell you how. That would give it away. Trust and believe. This is a STALKER.

Sierra Simone writes some very possessive heroes. Mark from her Lyonesse series, though (starting with Salt in the Wound) gives strong stalker vibes. Partly because he clearly knows way more about Tristan and Isolde than either of them realize and has known it for a while lol. Also, he literally skulks around ruining people's lives, so. That's just WHO HE IS. And I do love it.

Paranormal:

Just shouting out the fact that every single IAD hero is a stalker, but special notes for Lothaire of Lothaire (on EVERY LEVEL, follows Ellie around for years before the book even begins, turns invisible to follow her around in his apartment, watches her from the shadows, has to carry her lingerie around in his pocket so he can deeply inhale it to cope); Cade from Dark Desires after Dusk (followed Holly around for years before the book began... again lmao); Trehan from Shadow's Claim (the MISTS!!!!).

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison has a heroine who steals a penny from a dragon shifter's lair, and he literally hunts her down like a dog lmao.

[deadpresidents]

Latest books you have been reading?

Apparently I haven't shared the books I've been recently reading since the beginning of November. Usually someone reminds me to share my reading list every few weeks, so I think someone should be fired for dereliction of duty.

•Life After Power: Seven Presidents and Their Search for Purpose Beyond the White House (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Jared Cohen -- Just released on February 13th, this is the follow-up to Cohen's excellent 2019 book, Accidental Presidents: Eight Men Who Changed America (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO).

•Borgata: Rise of Empire: A History of the American Mafia (BOOK | KINDLE) by Louis Ferrante.

•Soldier of Destiny: Slavery, Secession, and the Redemption of Ulysses S. Grant (BOOK | KINDLE) by John Reeves.

•The Border: A Journey Around Russia Through North Korea, China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, and the Northeast Passage (BOOK | KINDLE) by Erika Fatland -- A couple of months ago, I mentioned how much I enjoyed reading Erika Fatland's Sovietistan, and I was equally pleased with The Border, which has a subtitle nearly as long as the Russian border that she wrote about traveling around.

•Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by David Mitchell.

•The Fall of Eagles: The Death of the Great European Dynasties by C.L. Sulzberger.

•George V: Never a Dull Moment (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Jane Ridley.

•Adams and Calhoun: From Shared Vision to Irreconcilable Conflict (BOOK | KINDLE) by William F. Hartford.

•God Save Benedict Arnold: The True Story of America's Most Hated Man (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Jack Kelly.

•Justinian: Emperor, Soldier, Saint (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Peter Sarris.

•Magic: The Life of Earvin "Magic" Johnson (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Roland Lazenby.

•Oracle of Lost Causes: John Newman Edwards and His Never-Ending Civil War (BOOK | KINDLE) by Matthew Christopher Hulbert.

•Mirrors of Greatness: Churchill and the Leaders Who Shaped Him (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by David Reynolds.

•Mansfield and Dirksen: Bipartisan Giants of the Senate (BOOK | KINDLE) by Marc C. Johnson.

•The World That Wasn't: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century (BOOK | KINDLE | AUDIO) by Benn Steil.

•Wide Awake: The Forgotten Force That Elected Lincoln and Spurred the Civil War (BOOK | KINDLE) by Jon Grinspan -- Available for pre-order now and will be published on May 14th.

[calabria-mediterranea]

Calabria, Italy among the World's Greatest Places 2022 - TIME Magazine

Hike across the boot

Calabria is one of the most overlooked Italian destinations—­underdeveloped and unfairly dogged by a louche reputation. (Easy Jet was forced to apologize after a 2020 ad cheekily promoted it as a land of “Mafia activity.”) The province, spanning the toe of the Italian boot, is home to breathtaking beaches, stunning mountain vistas, ancient hilltop villages, and unique, spicy cuisine.

Last year a group of enterprising and passionate hiking guides knitted the landscape into a three-day cross-­country trek, starting in the beach paradise of Soverato on the Ionian coast and ending about 34 miles west, in the 14th century fortress town of Pizzo on the Tyrrhenian Sea.

The meandering Kalabria Coast-to-Coast trail takes hikers through olive groves, mountain pastures, deep forests, and small villages, with stops in towns famous for their wine, smoked ricotta cheese, and a spicy spreadable sausage known locally as ’nduja. The trek is well signed and self-guided, but ­hikers—who should be reasonably fit—who have paid the 5-euro registration fee can access help, advice, and encouragement via a WhatsApp business account run by the organizers.

The website includes a list of local hotels and B&Bs to stay along the route. Participants receive a certificate of completion once they reach Pizzo’s Murat Castle. The best way to celebrate? Tucking into Pizzo’s iconic tartufo ice cream, another Calabrian specialty.

Written by Aryn Baker

JULY 12, 2022 7:10 AM

Follow us on Instagram, @calabria_mediterranea

[donfadrique]

For the fanfic ask meme: J, M, Z :-)

J: Write or describe an alternative ending to [insert fic].

Hehe, it was in the Zorro fandom for the first  time that I wrote an alternate ending to my fanfic :) A reader asked me 'what would happen if...'—and I wrote an alternate ending. But if the original fanfic, my main Zorro fanfic, 'The Curse of Monterrey', is supposed to be long (it's in progress), then 'The Whip' is short. In fact, this is an etude. I'm very happy when readers understand why I wrote this whipping scene without sex, why Zorro lost his temper—I always liked to read (and write) psychology genre (and liked passion, emotions). And in the original, this little fanfic is written in a rather poetic style, I usually don’t write like that now.

And I think this is not the first such experiment ;)

M: Got any premises on the back burner that you’d care to share?

I'm not sure I've understood the question correctly, so please correct me if I'm saying something wrong. If I'm not mistaken, I should talk about my stories/drafts/ideas that I don't write now because I write Zorro fanfics.

So, I have 4 long unfinished stories, three original ones (the first one is partly inspired by the Hornblower TV series, but it mostly about our time and the time of William Shakespeare, the second tells about the events of the Napoleonic wars in France, Europe and the Russian Empire, and the third, in the genre of mystical realism, at the beginning is similar to  'Dangerous Summer' by Hemingway, that is, in its first part there is a lot about bullfighting, but this story goes back to the time of the plague pandemic in Italy in the 14th century, and I was inspired by the French fairy tale 'The Raven King' for my major character) and one AU-crossover (Mikhail Bulgakov's novel 'The Master and Margarita' about an alternative image of the devil + the film 'Van Helsing' with Hugh Jackman + angels, demons, gods, historical figures).

I also have plots for the story about America in 1931 (mafia, arms trade, love triangle), the post-apocalyptic one a bit in the style of Stephen King's 'Dark Tower' and the plot of AU fanfic about Vlad Dracula, in which all parts of the franchise, including Van Helsing (2004) are mixed.

Oh, and I also have an unfinished fantasy story that is a gift to a friend of mine, but I have not published it anywhere *facepalm*

Z: Major character death–do you ever write/read it? Is there a character whose death you can’t tolerate?

Yes, I definitely read about it and one of my major characters will die when I finish my original historical novel. (When I wrote short stories or fan stories in medium size, I always had only one story in progress and I always finished it. But when I began to write long stories... :)

For now I can't tolerate the death of Captain Monastario, perhaps :) And Diego's death too, of course.

[ahagia-sophia]

Sophie's Notes on Balkan Bandits, Communism, and the Mob

Over a thousand years later the role of the bandit inside and outside of medieval society is something of a debate amongst scholars. Bandits, like Robin Hood, were often heroic figures in medieval folklore, across europe and into the middle east the bandit is portrayed in ballad and song as someone who fights oppression, resists unjust rule, and protects his own community. This has led scholars like Eric Hobsbawn to apply a marxist lens to the medieval bandit. Within this ‘social bandit’ model bandits, brigands, and highwaymen are beloved and protected by their community. Hobsbawn argues that bandits were viewed as a sort of armed social protest against the state by their contemporaries. This model of banditry uses epic accounts, stories, and legends to demonstrate that the common people viewed bandits in a positive and somewhat protective light. This ‘social bandit’ model comes as a direct rebuttal to the (now-antiquated) ‘spontaneous banditry’ theory that was dominant in the early 19th Century, which argued that banditry was a random and primitive form of rebellion.  

The primary critic of the ‘social bandit’ model is the Dutch anthropologist Anton Blok who is best known for his studies on the Sicilian Mafia. Blok argues that bandits often oppress and terrorize the very societies that they rose from. In addition to this violence Blok also argues that Hobsbawn takes too narrow of a view and willfully ignores the greater society that existed outside of peasant communities, specifically that of the local nobility (which were little better than bandits themselves). The life of a bandit was often brutal and short, Blok says, and the primary motivation for a man to take up such a life is to move himself up the social ladder. In a medieval context this can really only be done with the blessing of the elite. As a consequence bandits were often in the direct employ of the local nobility. 

These two ideas can, however, coexist. The people did sing songs and tell stories about noble bandits who stole from the rich and gave to the poor, this is a fact. Another fact is that bandits were men who turned to violence in order to escape a life of poverty. So, what did banditry look like and what conditions caused it within the Byzantine empire?    To chart the rise of the bandit we must first examine the land itself. The vast majority of bandits arose from within rural farming communities, which means that we as historians should examine why these men turned to banditry. From the 7th to 9th Century land in the Byzantine Balkans was populated by free peasant communities. Due to the famine and strife caused by repeated invasions [e.g. the Byzantine-Bulgar wars of the ninth and tenth centuries, the Pecheneg invasions in the eleventh century, the passage of the Crusader armies and the revolt of Peter and Asen in the 1180s and 90s, the Mongol and Tatar attacks in the thirteenth century, as well as the Serbo-Bulgarian conflicts and the Ottoman advance in the mid and late 1400s] the dominant towns and cities of antiquity were largely replaced by the village and the hamlet. In the village peasants paid taxes in common, with each member of the community having his own private land for farming and access to communal land for grazing and wood collection. From the 9th Century onward massive estates owned by the Church, the State, and wealthy nobles, began to consume these independent peasants and replace them with rent-paying serfs. This led to an increased burden on the common people and many went into hiding to avoid rents and taxation. By the 14th Century the independent peasant was a rarity in the Byzantine Thrace and Macedonia.

[laraxfitzgerald]

Name: Lara Siobhan Fitzgerald  Nicknames: L. Gender/Pronouns: Cis-Woman, Her/Hers  Age: 40  Birthday: August 14th, 1982  Zodiac: Leo Sun, Leo Rising, Scorpio Moon  Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas  Neighborhood: Moonbeam Gardens  Occupation: Lawyer at the Fitzgerald Law Firm // Leader of the Westies gang Sexuality: Hetero.

It was Lara’s great-grandfather who established The Westies gang back in Corpus Christi, Texas in the beginning of the last century upon his arrival from Ireland. Ever since then the well-known gang has ruled Texas with its members being infiltrated in police, government, universities, hospitals.. you name it. Some called Westies mafia, some called Westies family.. to Lara the gang was certainly the latter. However, despite the fact that it’s always been Lara’s path to take over the role of the gang’s leader, she didn’t like the idea very much in her teenage years so she focused on her studies, getting herself into the Yale Law School. She was successful, graduating with summa cum laude, but the gang life was in her blood. It was hard to ignore her family, their way of living when it was the only thing Lara has ever known.. it was hard to resist her true calling.

Lara had to become the boss at the age of being only twenty-seven years old upon the untimely and tragic death of her father.. the revenge is still to be executed. It was that happening that made Lara into what she is today.. a charming, yet very dangerous and fearless head of the family, as she calls it. The young boss realized how strong she could be, how the girl that lived a protected life, could, if she wanted, fight her own battles and protect herself when it came down to it. Lara realized with time, how much more like her father she really is when pushed to the limits.

The boss values family and tradition and leads her empire like her father. Or perhaps some would say she’s more manipulative and dominating, always keeping you in the darkness about her next move. She doesn’t have many rules for you as a member of her team, only to follow her exact directions and your alliance is expected; after all, you wouldn’t last without around her. Lara can come off a bit cold and ruthless to those who do not know her, especially to those that cross her. Nevertheless, if you are in her family, you get to see the kind woman Lara Fitzgerald truly is.. the one who’s lifetime dream was to help people. However, she does help them still, just in a different way, no? But make no mistake, Lara Fitzgerald will always be on the lookout for her family first and if there came a time when someone would try to cross her or ruin her family — well, you know exactly what Lara would do, without hesitation.

Today, life brought her to Roswell, New Mexico. It was time to expand her law firm and to open a branch here. However, the real reason behind the move was that the Westies had to expand their territory.. Texas isn’t enough anymore. Secondly, some of the former members are already here.. just as some are already waiting to be called in by their leader to fight in a war that would bring Roswell into the hands of the Westies.

[bristolvinylguy]

Saviours - Green Day (Joint Review)

By Joe & Leon Guatieri

The following is a review on the latest Green Day album Saviours by myself and my brother Leon. Each description and will include both my opinion and Leon’s and will be indicated whose is what with their name above it.

Green Day come out of the woodwork with their 14th studio album Saviours. The Pop-Punk legends have faced much criticism over the past decade from both critics and fans alike, will this release see any change in the band’s fortunes?

Song Mentions

Track 1: The American Dream Is Killing Me

Joe: The opener is very much the tone setter for the album as Green Day present an a song that would be pleasing to fans of their American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown eras, highlighted by the rousing sing-along worthy chorus with a Classic Rock feel. Despite hooks aplenty this song suffers from some weird lyrical choices by Billie Joe Armstrong, “We’re pedophiles for” is a particular head scratcher, what sort of simile is that?

Leon: This song for me gets better upon repeated listens, personally I love how it’s a sendup to American Idiot but proceeds in its own direction.

Track 3: Bobby Sox

Joe: This for me is Green Day attempting a type of song that Weezer would do, complete with the Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies and talking about that feeling when you don’t have a girlfriend. Although the lyrics again don’t go over well, the instrumental more than makes for that with a Power Pop edge.

Leon: I for one love the riff and Billie’s vocals just ties everything up in a neat bow. It’s very reminiscent to me of Uno from the fabled trilogy, this is what I’ve been hoping for years now.

Track 4: One Eyed Bastard

Joe: Ever wanted a song that sounds like both Holiday by Green and So What by Pink, we’ll then here you go? It’s catchy enough in that old Green Day way to keep me engaged, the riff and chorus are decent but again just uninspired lyrics, it’s like pouring out alphabet spaghetti onto a plate and seeing what semblance of words that it can form. “Bada bing, bada bing, bada boom”, honestly I’m just stunned. Come on Green Day, you’re better then that, only 20 years to late too the party when media done nothing but TV shows and movies about the Mafia.

Leon: Without a doubt my favourite song on the album, the riff just makes me want to get up and dance with a memorable chorus to boot.

Track 5: Dilemma

Joe: For me this is the best song on the album and in-turn one of the best songs that Green Day have made in years! The theming of this track is particularly striking directly referencing Billie Joe Armstrong’s previous alcoholism and how he wants to live without hurting himself, his family or his friends. It feels very much like a cousin to the song Bobby Sox as Green Day bring in a Hard Rock feel to the riffs and also memorable bridges.

Leon: Another amazing track and it really does hit home with how personal it is, Green Day have never been afraid to show people their deepest feelings, they always have their hearts on their sleeves and that is genuinely one of the best things about them.

Track 8: Coma City

Joe: I really like the pacing of the track and by the end of it, it really improves upon itself within the direction taking the song up to another level with a good solo and a phenomenal performance on the drums by Tre Cool.

Leon: The production of this song is on another level in terms of how it colours the song, especially within the drums, highlighting a standout performance by Tre Cool, showing off what the man does best!

Track 13: Father to a Son

Joe: This song shows Saviours at its emotional high point, with every member of Green Day having a son this is something that they could all put their input into and that clearly shows. Father to a Son is accompanied by wonderful orchestration that really hits home the emotional potency of what this track is all about.

Leon: The emotion of this track hit me like a tone of bricks as Billie in songs admits that as both a father and a man he has made mistakes but will never do anything to hurt his song. This Green Day song for me marks a statement of change for the band as there is no hate involved neither anger being directed at anyone, it’s only built on love and care for one’s children.

Track 14: Saviours

Joe: For me this is by far the worst song on this record, something about the melody seems very stretched out in-turn feeling very forced. The song just doesn’t progress in a way that I enjoy and the solo feels completely out of place.

Leon: Regardless of the meanings that people obtain from listening to this record, this song pertains to “saviours” of anything and everything wether that be politics, rock music or somewhere else in-between. It is ambiguous in every positive sense of the word.

Conclusion

Joe: Taking everything into account, I think that Saviours is at its very best at the mid-point of the album having its best run of songs there but in-turn it makes it lopsided. It is inconsistent in that regard but when the highs are there, they really do standout. Green day can still write great hooks and songs that have a lot of emotional weight but more often then not, the lyrics feel misguided and misplaced. I think that Billie Joe Armstrong has put himself in a similar lyric writing facility as Rivers Cuomo of Weezer at this point in his career where it feels like that he is trying too hard to match the lyrics up to the instrumental in hopes for them to connect. Lay off the modern references and stick to how you really feel, that’s what I say. Overall, any record would of been better than their last effort “Father Of All Mother Fuckers” but this does mark a return to form for Green Day. This I really do think is their best album since American Idiot and they can only get better from here.

Favourite Song: Dilemma

Worst Song: Saviours

6/10

Leon: Let’s be honest, any album that Green Day would of put out after “Father Of All Mother Fuckers” would of been better but Saviours goes light years ahead to put out another classic! Saviours is neither too short nor too long and is in-fact the perfect length to make sure that people are having a good time, all the time. I’ll look forward to listening too it more and I am so glad that Green Day are back to their best!

Favourite Song: One Eyed Bastard

Worst Song: Corvette Summer

10/10

[kellysbookblog]

BITTER PRINCE BY EVA WINNERS

My GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5742876632?book_show_action=false

My Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/review/R1MNYNSNL36Z27/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

My Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/3088675546

Genre/Tropes: Mafia / Coming of Age / Second chance / Forced Proximity / Triangle

📚✨ Bitter Prince by Eva Winners is NOW LIVE 🤴👑 

Once upon a time, a lion saved a girl. His little cinnamon girl.

Start the Stolen Empire Series today. Get ready to lose yourself in a world of mafia, second chance, forced proximity, and suspense romance that will leave you craving more!

🔥📖 Swipe through the pages of passion and betrayal as a young prince navigates the treacherous waters of power. Will love conquer all, or will ambition tear them apart? Join the adventure now and experience a story that will steal your heart! 💔💫

Grab your copy today

Add to your TBR

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157716954-bitter-prince

BOOK 2: UNFORGIVING QUEEN

Preorder today

Coming September 14th

Add to your TBR https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157717026-unforgiving-queen

BOOK 3: WRATHFUL KING

Preorder today

Coming October 5th

Add to your TBR https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/157720630-wrathful-king

BITTER PRINCE’S BLURB

Once upon a time, a lion saved a girl. His little cinnamon girl.

That lion grew up into a prince. Dark, bitter, and so beautiful that it hurt to look at him.

But underneath it all, the girl saw the man. I saw his hunger for love and affection, and I had plenty to give.

I fell in love, even though he told me not to. I gave him everything, because that was who I was.

I was determined to show him the light in this world, and his smiles were what I lived for. He was my art, my melody, my muse. We were beautiful together.

So I gave and gave, all to my bitter prince. Until I had nothing left to give.

Until he left me empty.

No one warned me love would push me into darkness so cold, it’d tear me apart.

To survive, I’d have to kill the cinnamon girl and become someone else.

Someone I didn’t recognize.

MEET EVA WINNERS:

Eva Winners released her first novel Second Chance At Love in 2020 and has been writing feverishly ever since. She writes about everlasting romance for every century focusing on characters emotional development and always guarantees an HEA.

She loves yoga, wine and her kiddos. In her spare time, she seeks adventures either hiking through trails, yoga or exploring the beaches.

Writing books has always been her passion and she brings real life to the forefront in everything she writes about.

Deeply passionate characters and stories will draw you in and you'll never want to leave.

Follow her on social media to stay up to date with all her new releases!

CONNECT WITH EVA WINNERS:

FB group: https://bit.ly/3gHEe0e

FB page: https://bit.ly/30DzP8Q

Insta: http://Instagram.com/evawinners

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/eva-winners

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/evawinners

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/evawinners

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EvaWinners

TikTok: https://bit.ly/40IPbpM

Pinterest: https://pin.it/1vq7GIf

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3HCeoJF

Newsletter sign up www.evawinners.com

[malyssmakneile]

ah that feeling when you haven’t forgotten as much as you thought you had, and you can pick up a bit more based on your prior understanding...

context: i’m writing a letter to the baron of the barony-next-door asking him to let me try for courtier of the barony. the letter has to be persona-appropriate. given that it’s currently *checks watch* Anno Domini 1315 for my persona, i figured i can’t do worse than use the Declaration of Arbroath (Apr. 6, 1320) for an exemplar. reasons: a) it’s a court letter, b) petitioning someone of great status, c) originating in scotland (admittedly, ~160 miles away from tain, but at this close of an exemplar who am i to complain), and d) within a decade of my persona’s current date. however. it’s in latin. so i wrote up a letter in english, and then did a translation because reasons.

and then i had a friend (who’s a legit latinist) look it over, and he had one major comment on my translation of the name of the barony, but other than that didn’t have any criticisms to offer - and while “i understood what you were saying” isn’t the highest of praise, it does mean i got the vocab and the grammar correct enough.

plus, bad translations are period...!

so i guess thanks dad for making us do latin when we were kids (and - coincidentally - living in scotland at the time!) because i wouldn’t have had a snowball’s chance to get it that close that quickly otherwise.

the only thing now is to practice the hand so i can write it all pretty!

[thaliademaccuswell]

A few of my favorite badass ladies - Duchess Mary Grace, Queen Helene, and Juniper. Pictures taken opening day of Pennsic 2017 by Her Grace.

[whorefordazai]

you said there’s so much to say about dazai and his relationship with women...care to share? I’d love to hear your thoughts 👀

dazai and his relationship with women

warnings: mentions of sexual assault and sexualization

// note: a few of you wanted to hear my thoughts on it, which is surprising 😅 but sure! I’d love to talk about it, especially since it’s been on my mind for a while <3

TABLE OF CONTENTS

// scenes in the anime/manga

// port mafia backstory

// sexualization/hyper sexuality

// yozo in no longer human

// conclusion

ps. I’m sorry if this seems messy and all over the place. I have a lot of thoughts on this topic and it’s really interesting to me. If you have anything to say, I’d love to hear it !!

scenes in the anime/manga

In the manga and anime, Dazai is portrayed as a womanizer and big flirt who uses his good looks and charms to manipulate women into getting what he wants. This can be seen in multiple different occasions—such as with Higuchi, the cafe barista (although it doesn’t really work 😅) and most importantly, the nurse.

It wasn’t shown in the anime, but in the manga it’s pretty clear that the author was hinting of some sort of sexual contact between Dazai and the nurse. My guess is that he seduced the nurse into giving him his phone.

“Perhaps if I’m in the mood”—I don’t think he was in the mood again lol.

Now, this is a pretty popular trait of his—using things to his advantage. Especially when it comes to flirting and sexualizing himself. He never attempts to get close with any of these women, or commits to relationships with them. Maybe he feels it wouldn’t be meaningful enough. Dazai doesn’t really do things if he finds no value in them.

port mafia backstory

As we know, Mori used Dazai’s intelligence and talents to get want he wanted and help the mafia in numerous ways. This involved killing, torturing, and other things. Dazai was taught to be strategic, efficient, and use opportunities to his advantage (just like Mori). But I feel like, along the way, there was also some sort of sexualization hidden there.

For example, when Atsushi and Kyouka started her first task at the agency to deliver this envelope, it gets delayed due to security stopping them. Kyouka’s first thought is to use her “womanly charms” and seduce the security guard to distract him and get past. She says that she learned these tactics from the Mafia.

She’s fourteen? Womanly charms?

I’m not saying it’s the most popular tactic in the Mafia besides torture/killing, but the Mafia does use its opportunities. There’s nothing morally right about the place, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Kyouka was taught about such things.

Since Dazai was Mori’s prodigy, I wouldn’t be surprised either if he learned a few tricks from him. However, Dazai does observe his surroundings so maybe he decided to utilize his good looks as advantage all on his own.

Chuuya describes Dazai as an “enemy to all women” and when they first partner up after years of not seeing each other, Chuuya threatens to give Dazai’s address to all the women’s hearts he’s left broken.

This can hint that he’s had multiple relations with women back in his Mafia days—meaning he’s been using these tactics since he was a young teen.

sexualization/hyper sexuality

Sexualization: a person’s value comes only from his or her sexual appeal or behavior, to the exclusion of other characteristics;

Sexualization is linked to sexual objectification. Obviously there are countless other ways to put this and definitions—but I think using the word “object” really fits Dazai. Early sexualization can lead to dehumanizing thoughts, which can be seen in Dazai.

Dehumanizing thoughts can lead to not caring about your well being or using your body however you’d like with barely any concern (either drugs, sex, etc). At one point in being in the Mafia, he lacked so much empathy for others and that definitely tied into having empathy for himself. To be kind to himself.

Him being manipulated into using these advantages is possible. Even though moments like these are played off as jokes, Dazai and Kyouka could’ve been exploited in such ways.

I do wanna mention hyper sexuality (that I saw in the irl Osamu Dazai when I read the book) but I’ll bring that up later.

yozo in no longer human

As I was reading the book, I noticed a lot about Yozo’s character. It is heavily implied that at a young age, he was sexually assaulted by the maids (men and women) in his house (I was unsure about that, but found out it was canon in the manga adaption by Junji Ito)

“Already by that time I had been taught a lamentable thing by the maids and menservants; I was being corrupted. I now think that to perpetrate such a thing on a small child is the ugliest, vilest, cruelest crime a human being can commit.”

“But I endured it. I even felt as if it enabled me to see one more particular aspect of human beings. I smiled in my weakness.”

— page 35

The first time I read it and processed it, I got chills. Now I’m not saying this has anything to do with bsd Dazai, but it does explain a lot of things.

“Women found me in a man who could keep a love secret.”

Due to the sexual abuse in his childhood, Yozo grew up to be a huge “lady’s man.” This caused him to be hyper sexual, practically using his charms to get whatever he wanted from women. He formed many different relationships with them (that he found no value in) just for all of them to never work out. He made the same mistakes with women over and over again (it was pretty painful watching him get hurt and hurt others so much).

It was an endless cycle of seducing women, using them for either drugs or sex, forming some kind of meaningless relationship, getting hurt, and then doing it all over again. He was stuck.

He was afraid of women.

But maybe breaking their hearts has something to do with his past trauma. In some way, it’s taking back the control and innocence he was stripped of from his childhood.

In the manga adaptation, I was able to clearly see how he treated women. Sometimes even throwing himself onto them, randomly initiating sexual contact, etc.

Yozo’s relationship with women is so incredibly sad and heartbreaking.

conclusion

It was said in this post that Dazai would never be faithful or form a real relationship with a woman unless it was someone like Oda. And I agree. Women, to Dazai, aren’t necessarily objects but they really aren’t something he needs or wants in life.

He can be nice to them, make them feel good, form relationships, but at the end of the day it’s like there’s this huge avoid of empty space between him and the “female species.” So much uncertainty and words that will never be spoken because he cannot form a bond with another human being.

All I can say, fictional or not—he was just a child who was stuck in a terrible situation.

tag list: @uwu-monster101 @14th-century-homosexual-spirit @dai-tsukki-desu @i4gumi @cross-crye @starglow-xx @ranposlover @bsdwhore @arimakii @shadyteacup @smadhuman @knjksj0301 @asthepetalsdance @rirk-ke @mushroomplantasia @pickleisrandom @3-am-depression @its-chuuya-bitch @mars-bakery-shop @dazais-belladona @ijustwantfreenetflix @fashionablyfailing12 @dazailiones @atsushisgf @coveringthebiconissue @the-wholesome-ranpo @missshrek @todorokichills

[sonder-paradise]

Dazai Osamu as a Lover

For those I wounded this morning 🥲

Dating Dazai is not going to be easy lemme tell you

He comes with strings and attachments

But he loves you regardless of whatever flaws or whatever issues that you may have

First off let’s get the cute shit outta the way

He hordes bandages

LIKE THEY’RE EVERYWHERE

He’s always asking you to buy more even if he just got some yesterday

Skipping work comes often with him but it starts turning into more of just him annoying you instead of working

Of course, he’ll constantly ask you to commit double suicide

This is Dazai we’re talking people

Clingy and pouty when he’s jealous or feels like you aren’t paying enough attention to him

Hold his hand

DO IT

He’s not one for giving a lot of lavish gifts so touch and words of affirmation are his love languages

Will literally sing praises in your ear and tease you until you turn red

It’s hard to actually get him flustered in return though

It’s rare but when he does get flustered he’s adorable with a blushy face

He loves when you wear his coat or something that belongs to him

It means you’re his and that’s all he could ask for

But like I said Dazai comes with his own problems

Don’t mention his past casually

The port mafia or any of it

Especially Oda

He’s still very much fragile and broken when it comes to those things

He doesn’t believe he’s worthy of you nor like he can make you genuinely happy

Dazai will be quiet about some things and you have to respect that

Take care of him because he can’t do it himself

Help him out of those nights when he’s spiraling and drinking away all his feelings

Get him more bandages but wait for him to let you change his bandages for him

The scars are just as visible on the outside than the inside

All the suicidal thoughts he has will be more than he can handle some days

He’s terrified of letting you find out about the things inside him that terrorize him

Nightmares are frequent with him so let him know you’re here for him

Dazai is someone you need to be patient with

He’ll ask you random things sometimes about the future or the past

Just answer them and let him smile genuinely at your voice

He’s more than happy that you’ve filled the empty parts of his heart

Taglist: @jessbeinme15 @alittlesimp @14th-century-homosexual-spirit @greenshirtimagines @jadegreenimmortality @requiem626k @whorefordazai @todorokichills @missrown @paradise-creator @rirk-ke @kiyokoxd @internetkilledtheroxstar @pompompurin1028