#Bound for Glory 2009 | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

desnervadero · 16 days

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Hasta luego, camarón

HASTA LUEGO CAMARÓN

Carta de despedida a una cámara (la Sony EX-3 con la que se filmaron los largometrajes La sociedad del semáforo, Memorias del Calavero, Señorita María: la falda de la montaña, El valle sin sombras e inumerables cartas y rarezas), a Patrimonio Fílmico Colombiano a través de Rito Alberto Torres, parte de esta institución desde hace 25 años.

Cali, 28 de agosto de 2024.

Respetados Rito Torres y equipo de Patrimonio Fílmico Colombiano:

He recibido con emoción y alegría, a través de la voz de un muy dedicado aliado de Patrimonio, de vos, querido Rito, la noticia de que para ustedes sería valioso conservar, en el museo que están gestando, mi cámara Sony X3, compañera de trocha desde 2009. La compramos en la escalada de sueños que se nos vino encima con un hermano del alma: mi amigo y productor Daniel García, con quien firmamos socia y muchos de los trabajos que aquí nombraré por más de 20 años, casi sin darnos cuenta. Cuando era nueva le puse un nombre que ya no recuerdo. Relacionado con Erice o con Kiarostami. Hoy tal vez le diría Márta Mészáros. Lo que sí me acuerdo es que le pegué en varios lugares una calcomanía que imprimí de la foto del letrerito que el sindicalista, músico, activista, escritor y corazón Woody Guthrie tenía pegado en su guitarra: decía, o dice “This machine kills fascists” “esta máquina mata fascistas”. La máquina era la guitarra. Él el maquinista. Máquina, maquinista y letrero decían la verdad. Basta leer el hermoso libro que escribió, Bound For Glory, para entenderlo. La primera escena es escalofriante, espeluznante de hermosa.

Trato de contártela a vos que sos de Patrimonio Fílmico porque esto es patrimonio, y fílmico, y hermoso, matrimonio más bien, y es una película que te pido que guardes en tu corazón porque no la han filmado: estando en uno de sus acostumbrados trenes de carga (eran su hogar), sofocado por el hacinamiento decide subirse con su guitarra al techo del vagón. No es que haya espacio, pero sí brisa. O humo veloz que algo refresca el aliento espeso y aceitoso de dentro del vagón, donde se turnan el aire de la puerta con viejos enfermos que tienen prioridad. Donde se cuidan y enfrentan para poder llegar a pelear por el pan a grandes cultivos, o por propuestas insondables de empleo. Es un vagón atestado de humanos negros salvo por un par de excepciones. Entre esas Woody. Ya en la incomodidad de ese techo intercambian palabras y tragos con algunos compañeros de viaje. Creo que toca algo o le dicen que toque o cante. No recuerdo bien. Lo que sí recuerdo es que empieza a llover, empieza un aguacero terrible, y Woody Guthrie se quita su chaquetilla y su camisa para proteger la guitarra. Algunos se le ríen y otros lo cuestionan en un slang negro de los años 30 que transcribe hermosamente, y él responde con amor a las burlas y con la verdad: algo como que su espalda y su ropa se pueden mojar pero “su tiquete del almuerzo por nada del mundo”: cuando llama así su guitarra desaparece el slang y todo lenguaje porque el idioma del hambre lo conocen y lo vienen padeciendo todos. El cinismo da paso a la ternura y el cielo como si entendiera ese momento de humanidad llora más fuerte y más frío, y entonces uno a uno se van quitando chaquetas y camisas y le ayudan a Woody a cubrir su guitarra o máquina de alimento: su azadón… recuerdo mucho cómo narra su propia emoción. Como paga a todos dejando que un peláo negro que se acuesta en el techo, como él para que el túnel no los golpée, ponga su cabeza en el brazo de Woody y no contra la lata que martilla el cráneo.

Mí cámara. Mi camarada. Mi cámara hada. Esa también es mi azadón. Mi guitarra. Mi cordón umbilical con el mundo. Por eso tenía la calcomanía (la conserva). También en horas de lluvia fue resguardada por mí y por mis cómplices… y tal vez una de las cosas que más le agradezco a la cámara, y a esta precisamente, es a los corazones que convocó para que anduvieran conmigo un tiempo. A veces poco. A veces solo allí. A veces salimos bien de andar a sus tres patas, a veces no tan bien: seguro con muchos y algunas ya nos olvidamos.

Así que pienso en la cámara como una hoguera; una trampa de versos. Pero como pasa con los animales, si uno empieza a compartir mucho con un individuo ya no es otro de esa especie: es Ese. Ya no es un barranquero más, es Pancita (por dar un ejemplo verdadero de amistad que con un individuo animal que se dio en el rodaje de la película que estoy haciendo desde 2021). Esta no era “una Sony X3”, era “la cámara”, era “la X3”, “la cámara”. Es como cuando uno se cruza con un extraño: escasamente deja la huella de la luz de su rostro. Pero si uno para a observarse, aparecen los lunares, y cicatrices, y poros, y asimetrías: y empieza a conocerse. Y yo me sabía mi cámara sin verla, con las yemas de los dedos, como en braile, como un clarinete.

No es ni siquiera 2k en este mundo de culto a la exageración, a cosas que ya ni los ojos perciben pero sí los bolsillos. Esto que te escribo y que te escribiré es para ESTA cámara. Este amado juguete con el cual pude estar en modo de alabanza con el mundo. No he tenido los recursos ni he sido de estar cambiando los aparatos, las herramientas, ni tener las últimas siempre. Esta cámara llegó a mis manos cuando estaba con mi imaginación, suerte, magnetismo, colaboradoras, colaboradores y planetas alineados. Sentía el favor de la Vida, la misericordia de Dios (esto sigue hoy), que es algo que amo experimentar y que se facilita con la cámara. Como tantas cosas.

Pese a que juego con cámara fotográfica desde los 4 años, con cámaras de video desde los 5 (siempre prestadas hasta mis 14 que hubo la primera VHS-C en casa), vine a sofisticar con esta algunas definiciones y formas de hacer, y fue gran cómplice en el más grande de mis insumos: querer ver los corazones ajenos: de animales o gente, de paisajes o piedras… es un subrayador de la realidad (o resaltador); es la primera forma de edición pues es en el cuadro de la cámara donde se decide, se recorta, y se guarda algo de la realidad mientras se desecha el resto: algo específico, esto que grabo y no todo lo otro: como el fuego que tiene un tamaño y no lo enciende todo. Es una refiladora de la realidad. Es también un cine pequeñito al pegar el ojo al visor, un teatro, ese rectángulo en una inmensidad negra, en este caso diminuta, que no deja ver otra cosa.

En 2010 lo resumí en un texto:

CAMARADA. Cámara, camarada, camarita. / Pija camarita, te decía en el Casanare. / Guitarrita de clavijas eléctricas. / No alcanzas a ver cómo tengo los dedos ampollados de tocarte. / Por tu culo miro al frente. / Ojo de punta de lápiz. / Ya no tenemos que escribir nada, camarita. / Si no quiere que le escriba, ni leer mis cartas, / me rasgaré en trocitos la lengua para que ni me entienda las palabras. / Y la destazaremos en 24 tajadas por segundo, camarita. / A los 3 segundos no será ni la cuarentayochésima parte de lo que fue hace un rato. / Mi lapicito, mi hembra, mi flauta.

Eso lo pusimos como uno de nuestros posts de la época de promoción de La sociedad del semáforo. La cámara se compró para hacer esa película que prefería un formato dócil y guerrillero, elástico, a una cámara de formato mayor que se habría tenido que alquilar… pero nosotros necesitábamos poder desenfundar en cualquier momento. Grabar antes de decir acción y después de decir corte (esto salvó la edición incontables veces).

Dejo esta cámara de una manera muy amorosa al cuidado de ustedes. Agradecido primero porque sí quieran guardarla (dejaré alguna sorpresa indescifrable a simple vista), venderla no me suena para nada, y regalarla es un encarte casi para cualquiera. Así que la voy a dejar junto a esto que escribo como aplazando el momento o el guayabo de entregarla, después de que juntos atestiguamos tantas cosas incluidas lágrimas, embotellamientos de ambulancias, eclipses…

Las guitarras se valorizan entre más viejas sean. Músicos como Dylan (devoto de Guthrie), Niel Young, o Willie Nelson procuran instrumentos con historia: algunas pasaron por Robert Johnson, Odetta o Hank Williams, por ejemplo. Jerry García tocaba su famosa guitarra Tiger. Willie Nelson ha tocado desde siempre su amada guitarra Trigger(otra arma), que ya venía rota y así la conserva pese al chequeo anual que le hace un gurú de esos asuntos en Austin, Texas: supongo que revisa que siga abierta la herida, que siga bella la herida. Si se le llegara a perder esa guitarra, se retiraría, decía. Le dejó componentes mixtos de un anterior dueño porque le permitía evocar el sonido de su admirado Django Reinhardt. Nelson se quejaba de que con las nuevas y maravillosas guitarras sonaba a una copia de sí mismo y que “en cambio con un instrumento que es parte de mí todo es como un nuevo original”.

Eso sentía yo con la X3. Nos entendíamos perfectamente. Éramos un trío con ella y con mi trípode cuyas patas ya cumplen 23 años conmigo en todas las posiciones. Para mí siempre es mejor una herramienta que uno conozca a la supuesta “mejor herramienta”. Y si yo en la vida ya me sentía protegido, con cámara, con esta, fue una fusión de cuidado absoluta. Yo siento que la cámara ha sido como un órgano que me faltaba. Tengo más equilibrio cuando estoy con una en la mano. Aunque me defino como un torpe con buenos reflejos, con cámara la torpeza se va y se conservan los reflejos. Es como un peso que debería tener para ser equilibrado, para estar “más entero” (como diría Antonio López en hombros de Erice). Con la cámara se van o endulzan mis taras sociales o profesionales. Mi torpeza se camufla. Es como si fuera un peso que me hace falta. Camino sin resbalarme en las resbalosas piedras del río, y puedo filmar en su superficie tocando prácticamente el lente con el agua pero el agua no la toca. Cae el aguacero sin desteñirme.

Con la cámara no solo no me caigo: cuelgo tranquilo la vida de helicópteros o precipicios: se que soy un médium trabajando con las verdades y la verdad de otros, armando la mía… y la siento como una camándula, como una verdadera herramienta de oración: como si la Vida entendiera que filmar es un acto de reconocimiento y de agradecimiento, aún enfrentando a la cámara las más duras situaciones, realidades, o dolores; la cámara vuelve la amarga realidad una fiesta de máscaras: donde uno se puede tapar la cara (que es la máscara más cara) con esa máscara: la cámara: la más cámara. Uno pasa disfrazado de recolector de tajaditas del tiempo, de muestras del mundo, de la experiencia humana, de la experiencia en la Vida.

Nombrando de nuevo a La sociedad del semáforo, empiezo una lista de trabajos y asuntos que han pasado y posado frente a esta cámara, así sea ignorándonos descaradamente, mientras estuvo en mis manos o las de miembros de los equipos con que trabajamos (procuraré memoria, que es poca, y cronología). Solo 3 de los largometrajes que he hecho se hicieron con otra cámara, con cámara grande (Tierra en la lengua, Niña errante, BambúMoon, pero en todas ha rondado la X3 en desarrollo, ensayos o detrás de cámaras, aún en la última nombrada que está actualmente en edición). Estas son algunas de las cosas que hice con ella en mano y al hombro:

La sociedad del semáforo (largometraje), videoclips de Velandia en el Llano y otros parajes (hicimos en 3 días como 14 videos: haciendo el de la canción Gloria del monte, en Casanare, Velandia se tiró a un estero (acumulación de agua del invierno que dura parte del verano, y yo lo seguí y sumergí accidentalmente la cámara en el barro, como si fuera un barequero tras perlas en el barro: el lente quedó destrozado y con el zoom eléctrico inservible: aún así con el lente crujiente y carrasposo de arena seguimos rodando. Era el segundo trabajo de la cámara tras la película y solo el destino que sonríe y los caminos del cine que me protegen y curan, permitieron que la empresa que nos vendió, La Curaçao, decidiera darnos el lente de nuevo “por garantía”. Muy hermosos. El lente era lo exquisito de esa cámara, aparte de su ergonomía de cojín en el hombro y la cabeza: tan cómoda que algunos podían filmar con ella y hacer siesta al mismo tiempo.

Y aunque siempre amé hacer cámara (o serlo), en muchas ocasione trabajé con maestras y maestros tan grandes que entendían con pasión, compasión y paciencia, que era parte de mi misión y de mi gozo. Y que aunque ellas podían reinventarse en cada proyecto, varias veces al año, para quien dirige esos chances de ejercitarse son más escasos y distantes. Mucho mejores cinematografistas y camarógrafos que yo, siempre respetaron mi deseo de tener la cámara en mis manos y hombros, o turnarla, y aunque son muchos más recuerdo al vuelo de largometrajes y cortos a Sofía Oggioni, Juan Carlos Gil, Pedro Vega, Mauricio Vidal, Paulo Pérez…

De mis 10 cortos no filmé sino Montañita con la X3 (corto que hice bajo la batuta y embrujo de Abbas Kiarostami, uno de mis ídolos, como tutor). De mis 7 largometrajes terminados, 4 los hice con esta hermosura: además de La sociedad… (en orden de filmación): Memorias del Calavero, El valle sin sombras (salvo la parte del volcán), Señorita María: la falda de la montaña. Aparte infinidad de momentos y video clips, o eventos excepcionales como habiendo sido llamado por el propio amado Fernando Vallejo, filmar como un boxeador que entra al ring, su discurso de la Filbo en 2016. Tanto filmado. Tanto pescado. Desde promesas de amor, desde amor amor, desde amistad, amistad amistad, amistad amor, hasta fenómenos naturales inabarcables.

Alcancé a filmar a mis abuelas. Con esta cámara y mi hermano del alma Martín llevé a mi barbado papá a un bosque de árboles con barba a que me contara los sueños que tuvo en la cuarta cirugía de cerebro abierto. Cirugía de 12 horas de la que salió cuadrapléjico y como en las 5 veces que tuvo que operarse, volvió a andar perfectamente y jamás perdió la lucidez, el lenguaje o el humor. En esa cuarta cirugía estuvo mucho tiempo adentro del hospital y 9 días en coma. Allí soñó cosas maravillosas que algún día filmaré (cuando la inteligencia artificial me permita dictarle buenos efectos desde la luz de mis axones) y que incluían enfermeras con la quijada de madera, una competencia de mil tractomulas en una pista de mil carriles, una al lado de la otra… entre otras cosas… y la constante de muchos sueños: junto a mí, y a veces con toda la familia, íbamos a robar su cuerpo para tratar con el neurocirujano de que siguiera en esta vida así fuera como un zombie. Mi papá mismo nos ayudaba a robar su propio cuerpo pues él iba con nosotros como en un nivel espiritual. Así vio pájaros que eran iguales de cabeza y cola bajo un tapete de tierra que se despercudían a su paso y volaban… y así… cosas que este no es el espacio ni quiero aún.

El caso es que en ese bosque y con esta cámara logré que me contara todos los sueños que yo ya recordaba como míos: como con una visión subjetiva, en primera persona, como desde mis ojos mientras él los relataba. Cuando terminó, como 90 minutos después, pidió permiso para grabar sobre otro asunto y expresó su visión y voluntad para su muerte que sucedería 3 meses después.

Esta cámara filmó a mi amado y extrañado Luis Ospina y parte de su Todo. Filmó mis montañas amadas de niño. Filmó las sabanas entre Aguazul y Maní por un lado, y entre y el Dumagua y el río Unete por otro. Y al río amado. Grabé amor. Grabé amistad. Grabe enemistad. Grabé desamor. Grabé los secretos del Cucho (protagonista de Memorias del Calavero) por petición de él y para que le diera a su familia tras su muerte en 2016 (no lo he hecho). Grabé indignación. Grabé el momento en que el bazuco da una patada de mula en el bulbo raquídeo a quien la porta. La llevé aunque en caja a ver el Nevado del Ruíz con una ruana de nubes mientras se nos escurrían las lágrimas de emoción al verlo, tan blanco, tan ajeno al dolor de Armero.

La verdad es que he filmado innumerable cantidad de cosas con ella. Materia bella. O hace y produce materia bella al operar filmando. O transforma materia en belleza. O transforma belleza en materia. Esa cámara ha sido también reteñidor de lo que he imaginado, de mis sospechas, de mis fantasmas. Ha sido el lugar en el que sueño y materia encajan como piezas de Lego. Teoría y artesanía. Es el crisol, el molino, en el que los sueños, los textos, las ilusiones, se hacen materia cinematográfica.

He filmado, para rematar, y con lo que se fue quedando quieta cuando la fui apagando, ya por necesidad de un nuevo fierro (que ya conozco y amo desde hace casi 5 años), lo más dulce y emocionante que he podido filmar en mi vida: Amalia, mi hija, creciendo. Diciendo luces. Diciendo chispa que viene de otra parte. Diciéndome claves. En el mar. En la Sierra. En el carro. En la casa. En la misma panza de su mamá en Montañita.

Quedó registrado con la X3 cuando aprendió a nadar y a montar en bici, cuando armaba cosas durante 3 o 4 días, cuando hicimos animación, cuando planeamos los dibujos de un cuento que saldrá escrito por mí y dibujado por ella. Quedó allí el mantra que me dijo a los 3 años y medio cuando la llevé a cortarle el pelo, en Luna llena, como hago cada 3 o 4 meses desde que es una bebé y en cuanto su pelo tomó alguna forma entendible (he sido su único peluquero, he filmado todas las peluqueadas pero no he vuelto a ver aún ninguna). Ese día la recogí para ir a cortarle el pelo a mi casa. Le dije que estaba contento porque pensé que iba a ser más complejo encontrarnos en dos casas: me dijo como si supiera la respuesta o la pregunta con antelación con su voz de hilito mínima “Papá, el amor nunca es difícil”. El mantra del que he sacado tanto alimento y aguante.

En todo caso la cámara es donde toda la aventura de creación del cine que he hecho hierve por primera vez (la cámara en realidad es el punto de vista: a veces ni existe, como cuando se trabaja en computador o en ciertas formas de animación con material escaneado). En mi caso, en mis casos, todo lo que se planeó, lo que se hace y lo que se planea hacer pasa por la cámara: la cámara es el lugar de la “cita” porque casi todo en esta vida y especialmente con el cine es una cita.

Adorado fierro del siglo. Yo la amo. La entrego agradecido y sin condiciones en el fondo pero con una condición en el fondo: como la entrego perfectamente con cargador y baterías y etc., si alguna vez necesito usarla, o me sirve por su textura, o porque la extraño mucho para ir a perseguir algún pájaro o cometa o alma, les pido que tenga la potestad de sacarla de allí y dejar un letrero en su lugar que diga “Vuelve a la lucha”, y tal vez otro que prometa “ya regresamos…”

Ha sido una caminadora de este país. Ha sido leal. No ha fallado. La llevo en el alma que es el lugar donde palpita vivo el agradecimiento.

Ha sido un honor apretarte los bonotes, cámara ardiente.

Un honor entregarla a ustedes,

Rubén.

#rubén mendoza #cine colombiano #luis ospina

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ramon-balaguer · 3 months

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Based on my Belief, Faith, US Constitution and History, The United States of America 🇺🇸 Republic is an English speaking Christian✝️ Country Blessed by GOD👻 Jesus��️ through The Holy Spirit👻 of great Power 💥 Freedom 🗽 and Wealth 💰and in diversity of beliefs, cultures, ethnicities, languages, religions, and politics that both Divide US🇺🇸 internally and Unite US🇺🇸 under external attacks and ridiculous ridicule… But “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord…” Psalm 33:12

Is the United States a Christian nation? In 2009, President Barack Hussein Obama said speaking for himself and his Democratic Party, “…we do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation. We consider ourselves a nation of citizens who are bound by ideals and a set of values.”

President Obama did not echo the words of his predecessors or post POTUS (watch Pause to Pray—short video clips of former Presidents expressing their faith). However, I beg to differ and the question still remains: Is the United States a Christian nation?

To answer, this question needs to be asked. . .

What is “a Christian nation?”

First, we must state the obvious. A nation can’t be Christian because a Christian is a person. Jesus🎚️ died for individual people. He paid the penalty for mankind’s sins, and when He saves a person, He regenerates the soul. A nation doesn’t have a real soul — but people do.

Now, we must also understand that if “a Christian nation” means that everyone in the nation is a Christian, then by that definition, the United States is certainly not a “Christian nation.”

However, if “a Christian nation” means that our Founding Fathers were GOD fearing Bible-Believing Christians who practiced their Faith and laid down a government and a social order founded upon Christian ethics, morals, and values (i.e., the teachings of Jesus🎚️), then, yes, we can be considered a Christian nation — but perhaps more accurately, a nation of many Christians; actually a Majority of around 70%

Historical Support

Historical documents support the intent of our Founding Fathers in building this nation as a Republic upon a Biblically Christian foundation:

The glory of GOD👻 and the advancement of Christianity can be found in almost all of the colonial charters.

The Declaration of Independence cites:

“… the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s GOD👻 entitle them …”

“…all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator👻 with certain unalienable Rights…”

“the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge👻 of the world 🌎…”

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine👻 Providence…”

The U.S. Constitution📜, which reflects the Christian✝️ worldview, recognizes Sunday as a day set apart for Honoring GOD👻 Jesus🎚️:

“If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law.”

The Constitution of the United States of America, Article 1, Section 7

Personal Testimonies

John Adams, Letter to Thomas Jefferson, June 28, 1813

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were… the general principles of Christianity✝️ …I will avow that I then Believed, and now Believe, that those general principles of Christianity ✝️ are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of GOD👻.” –

Abraham Lincoln, Proclamation Appointing a National Fast Day, Washington, D.C., March 30, 1863

“It is the duty of nations as well as men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of GOD👻 and to recognize the sublime Truth🎚️ announced in the Holy Scriptures📖 and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose GOD👻 is the LORD🎚️.”

Grover Cleveland, The Public Papers of Grover Cleveland, Governor, 1883.

“Those who manage the affairs of government are by this means reminded that the Law of GOD👻 demands that they should be courageously True to the interests of the people, and that the Ruler👻 of the Universe🌌 will require of them a strict account of their stewardship.”

Teddy Roosevelt, address before the Long Island Bible Society in the Presbyterian church at Oyster Bay in 1901

“In taking a general survey of the concerns of our beloved country, with reference to subjects interesting to the common welfare, the first sentiment which impresses itself upon the mind is of gratitude to the Omnipotent👻 Disposer🎚️ of All Good for the continuance of the signal blessings of His🎚️ providence, and especially for that health which to an unusual extent has prevailed within our borders, and for that abundance which in the vicissitudes of the seasons has been scattered with profusion over our land.

Nor ought we less to ascribe to Him🎚️ the glory that we are permitted to enjoy the bounties of His🎚️ hand in peace and tranquillity — in peace with all the other nations of the earth 🌏, in tranquillity among ourselves🇺🇸. There has, indeed, rarely been a period in the history of civilized man in which the general condition of the Christian✝️ nations has been marked so extensively by peace and prosperity.”

Supreme Court Justice David Brewer in 1905:

In what sense can [America] be called a Christian nation? Not in the sense that Christianity is the established religion or that the people are in any manner compelled to support it. On the contrary, the Constitution specifically provides that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”

Neither is it Christian✝️ in the sense that all its citizens are either in fact or name Christians✝️. On the contrary, all religions have free scope within our borders. Numbers of our people profess other religions, and many reject all (religions). Nor is it Christian✝️ in the sense that a profession of Christianity✝️ is a condition of holding office or otherwise engaging in public service, or essential to recognition either politically or socially. In fact, the government as a legal organization is independent of all religions. Nevertheless, we constantly speak of this Republic🇺🇸 as a Christian nation – in fact, as The Leading Christian✝️ nation of the world 🌍.

President Woodrow Wilson, 1911 Presidential campaign speech

“America was Born a Christian✝️ nation.”

President Franklin Roosevelt, Christmas, 1944

“Peace on earth, goodwill toward men – America🇺🇸 must cling to that message. For it is my deep conviction that democracy cannot live without that True🎚️ religion which gives a nation a sense of justice and moral purpose.”

President Ronald Reagan was very well known for speaking boldly of his Christian✝️ Faith🎚️…

August 1, 1983, At the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association, Atlanta, Georgia

“It’s not good enough to have equal access to our law; we must also have equal access to the higher law🎚️ – The Law of GOD👻.

President George Washington warned that morality could not prevail in exclusion of religious principles. And Jefferson asked, ‘Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure, when we’ve removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of people that these liberties are the gifts of GOD👻?’ We must preserve the noble promise of the American dream for every man, woman, and child in this land. And make no mistake, we can preserve it, and we will. That promise was not created by America. It was given to America as a gift from a loving GOD👻 – a gift proudly recognized by the language of liberty in the world’s greatest charters of freedom: our Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.”

Dallas Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast, August 23, 1984, Reunion Arena, Dallas, TX

“Without GOD👻, there is no virtue, because there is no prompting of the conscience. Without GOD👻, we’re mired in the material, that flat world that tells us only what our senses can perceive. And without GOD👻, there is a coarsening of society. And without GOD👻, democracy will not and cannot long endure. If we ever forget that we’re one nation under GOD👻, then we will be a nation gone under!”

A Christian✝️ Legacy

The legacy we leave to our children will direct their future. So, we must always remember and reflect upon our blessing of freedom and the importance of protecting our freedom. Let us give thanks to the only One who offers true freedom and pray fervently for His mercy on our country. May we always be mindful of the legacy we will leave to future generations and strive to make it Godly.

We must teach our children about Jesus, tell them of our country’s biblical foundation, and share the testimonies of the “great cloud of witnesses” from the Bible📖 and history. If we don’t teach our children GOD’s👻 Truth🎚️, the world 🌎 will teach them its lies.

A Son’s Testimony

After his father’s death on June 5, 2004, Michael Reagan issued the following statement, reflecting the kind of legacy given to him by a godly father and President:

“And as I look back over Dad’s 93 years, what puts me truly at peace is knowing that my father was fully aware of Who his God is. Not only did he offer up his presidency but he offered up his life a long time ago to serve his GOD🎚️Jesus.

And so now the peace I feel is knowing that my father has gone home to be with his GOD👻 and his Lord🎚️, and that is the greatest gift that he ever gave me.” Michael Reagan, June 7, 2004

Pause to Pray

Ask yourself, “Is America a Christian✝️ nation? Is it a nation of many Christ🎚️ followers who remember, support, and defend the biblical📖 principles upon which our nation🇺🇸 was built?

Take a minute and watch testimonies from former Presidents and evangelists of our day:

https://reasonsforhopejesus.com/presidents-prayed-professed-faith/

Pause to Pray for America. <*}}}><

U.S. PRESIDENTS SPEAK JESUS🎚️:

"It would be peculiarly improper to omit, in this first official act, my fervent supplication to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States."-George Washington (1789-1797)

"It is essential, my son, in order that you may go through life with comfort to yourself, and usefulness to your fellow creatures, that you should form and adopt certain rules and principles, for the government of your own conduct and temper. It is in the Bible, you must learn them, and from the Bible how to practice them. Those duties are to God, to your fellow creatures, and to yourself."-John Adams (1797-1801)

"God who gave us life gave us liberty. And can the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with His wrath? Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever."-Thomas Jefferson (1801-1809)

"My confidence will under every difficulty be best placed, next to that which we have all been encouraged to feel in the guardianship and guidance of that Almighty Being whose power regulates the destiny of nations, whose blessings have been so conspicuously dispensed to this rising Republic, and to whom we are bound to address our devout gratitude for the past, as well as our fervent supplications and best hopes for the future."-James Madison (1809-1817)

"Voltaire spoke of the Bible as a short-lived book. He said that within a hundred years it would pass from common use. Not many people read Voltaire today, but his house has been packed with Bibles as a depot of a Bible society. The Bible rose to the place it now occupies because it deserved to rise to that place, and not because God sent anybody with a box of tricks to prove its divine authority."-James Monroe (1817-1825)

"May I never cease to be grateful for the numberless blessings received through life at His hands, never repine at what He has denied, never murmur at the dispensations of Providence, and implore His forgiveness for all the errors and delinquencies of my life!"-John Quincy Adams (1825-1829)

"We who are frequently visited by this chastening rod, have the consolation to read in the Scriptures that whomsoever He chasteneth He loveth, and does it for their good to make them mindful of their mortality and that this earth is not our abiding; and afflicts us that we may prepare for a better world, a happy mortality."-Andrew Jackson (1829-1837)

"I only look to the gracious protection of that Divine Being whose strengthening support I humbly solicit, and whom I fervently pray to look down upon us all. May it be among the dispensations of His Providence to bless our beloved country with honors and length of days; may her ways be pleasantness, and all her paths peace!"-Martin Van Buren (1837-1841

"I deem the present occasion sufficiently important and solemn to justify me in expressing to my fellow citizens a profound reverence for the Christian religion, and a thorough conviction that sound morals, religious liberty, and a just sense of religious responsibility are essentially connected with all true and lasting happiness; And to that good Being who has blessed us by the gifts of civil and religious freedom, who watched over and prospered the labors of our fathers and has hitherto preserved to us institutions far exceeding in excellence those of any other people, let us unite in fervently commending every interest of our beloved country in all future time."-William Harrison (1841-1841)

"When a Christian people feel themselves to be overtaken by a great public calamity, it becomes them to humble themselves under the dispensation of Divine Providence, to recognize His righteous government over the children of men, to acknowledge His goodness in time past, as well as their own unworthiness, and to supplicate His merciful protection for the future."-John Tyler (1841-1845)

"Under the blessings of Divine Providence and the benign influence of our free institutions, it stands before the world a spectacle of national happiness. It becomes us in humility to make our devout acknowledgements to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe for the inestimable civil and religious blessings with which we are favored."-James Polk (1845-1849)

"In conclusion I congratulate you, my fellow-citizens, upon the high state of prosperity to which the goodness of Divine Providence has conducted our common country. Let us invoke a continuance of the same protecting care which has led us from small beginnings to the eminence we this day occupy."-Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)

"I rely upon Him who holds in His hands the destinies of nations to endow me with the requisite strength for the task and to avert from our country the evils apprehended from the heavy calamity which has befallen us."-Millard Fillmore (1850-1853)

"We have to maintain inviolate the great doctrine of the inherent right of popular self-government; to reconcile the largest liberty of the individual citizen with complete security of the public order; to render cheerful obedience to the laws of the land, to unite in enforcing their execution, and to frown indignantly on all combinations to resist them; to harmonize a sincere and ardent devotion to the institutions of religious faith with the most universal religious toleration....whilst exalting the condition of the Republic, to assure to it the legitimate influence and the benign authority of a great example amongst all the powers of Christendom. Under the solemnity of these convictions the blessings of Almighty God is earnestly invoked to attend upon your deliberations and upon all the counsels and acts of the Government, to the end that, with common zeal and common efforts, we may, in humble submission to the divine will, cooperate for the promotion of the supreme good of these United States."-Franklin Pierce (1853-1857)

"We ought to cultivate peace, commerce, and friendship with all nations, and this not merely as the best means of promoting our own material interests, but in a spirit of Christian benevolence toward our fellow-men, wherever their lot may be cast. In all our acquisitions the people, under the protection of the American flag, have enjoyed civil and religious liberty. I shall now proceed to take the oath prescribed by the Constitution, whilst humbly invoking the blessing of Divine Providence on this great people."-James Buchanan (1857-1861)

"That the Almighty does make use of human agencies, and directly intervenes in human affairs, is one of the plainest statements of the Bible. I have had so many evidences of His direction, so many instances when I have been controlled by some other power than my own will, that I cannot doubt that this power comes from above."-Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)

"Let us look forward to the time when we can take the flag of our country and nail it below the Cross, and there let it wave as it waved in the olden times, and let us gather around it and inscribe for our motto: 'Liberty and Union, one and inseparable, now and forever", and exclaim: Christ first, our country next!"-Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)

"I believe in the Holy Scriptures, and whoso lives by them will be benefitted thereby. Men may differ as to the interpretation, which is human, but the Scriptures are man's best guide. Yes, I know, and I feel very grateful to the Christian people of the land for their prayers in my behalf. There is no sect or religion, as shown in the Old or New Testament, to which this does not apply."-Ulysses Grant (1869-1877)

"I am a firm believer in the Divine teachings, perfect example, and atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. I believe also in the Holy Scriptures as the revealed word of God to the world for its enlightenment and salvation."-Rutherford Hayes (1877-1881)

"My countrymen, we do not now differ in our judgement concerning the controversies of past generations, and fifty years hence our children will not be divided in their opinions concerning our controversies. They will surely bless their fathers and their fathers' God that the Union was preserved, that slavery was overthrown, and that both races were made equal before the law. Above all, upon our efforts to promote the welfare of this great people and their Government I reverently invoke the support and blessings of Almighty God."-James Garfield (1881-1881)

"It has long been the pious custom of our people, with the closing of the year, to look back upon the blessings brought to them in the changing course of the seasons and to return solemn thanks to the All-Giving Source from whom they flow."-Chester Arthur (1881-1885)

"All must admit that the reception of the teachings of Christ results in the purest patriotism, in the most scrupulous fidelity to public trust, and in the best type of citizenship. Those who manage the affairs of government are by this means reminded that the law of God demands that they should be courageously true to the interests of the people, and that the Ruler of the Universe will require of them a strict account of their stewardship. The teachings of both human and Divine law thus merging into one word, duty, form the only union of Church and state that a civil and religious government can recognize."-Grover Cleveland (1885-1889, 1893-1897)

"The importance for man and beast of the prescribed weekly rest, the sacred rights of Christian soldiers and sailors, a becoming deference to the best sentiment of a Christian people, and a due regard for the divine will demand that Sunday labor in the Army and Navy be reduced to the measure of strict necessity."-Benjamin Harrison (1889-1893)

"There is no currency in this world that passes at such a premium anywhere as good Christian character. The time has gone by when the young man or the young woman in the United States has to apologize for being a follower of Christ. No cause but one could have brought together so many people, and that is the cause of our Master."-William McKinley (1897-1901)

"Every thinking man, when he thinks, realizes that the teachings of the Bible are so interwoven and entwined with our whole civic and social life that it would be literally impossible for us to figure ourselves what that life would be if these standards were removed. We would lose almost all the standards by which we now judge both public and private morals; all the standards towards which we, with more or less resolution, strive to raise ourselves."-Theodore Roosevelt (1901-1909)

"No man can study the movement of modern civilization from an impartial standpoint, and not realize that Christianity and the spread of Christianity are the basis of hope of modern civilization in the growth of popular self government. The spirit of Christianity is pure democracy. It is equality of man before God - the equality of man before the law, which is, as I understand it, the most God-like manifestation that man has been able to make."-William Taft (1909-1913)

"A nation which does not remember what it was yesterday, does not know what it is today, nor what it is trying to do. We are trying to do a futile thing if we do not know where we came from or what we have been about.....The Bible is the one supreme source of revelation of the meaning of life, the nature of God, and spiritual nature and needs of men. It is the only guide of life which really leads the spirit in the way of peace and salvation. America was born a Christian nation. America was born to exemplify that devotion to the elements of righteousness which are derived from the revelations of Holy Scripture." -Woodrow Wilson (1913-1921)

"What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"-Warren Harding (1921-1923)

"The strength of our country is the strength of its religious convictions. The foundations of our society and our government rest so much on the teachings of the Bible that it would be difficult to support them if faith in these teachings would cease to be practically universal in our country."-Calvin Coolidge (1923-1929)

"Menaced by collectivist trends, we must seek revival of our strength in the spiritual foundations which are the bedrock of our republic. Democracy is the outgrowth of the religious conviction of the sacredness of every human life. On the religious side, its highest embodiment is the Bible; on the political side, the Constitution."-Herbert Hoover (1929-1933)

"We cannot read the history of our rise and development as a nation, without reckoning with the place the Bible has occupied in shaping the advances of the Republic. Where we have been the truest and most consistent in obeying its precepts, we have attained the greatest measure of contentment and prosperity." -Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945)

"The fundamental basis of this nation's laws was given to Moses on the Mount. The fundamental basis of our Bill of Rights comes from the teachings we get from Exodus and Saint Matthew, from Isaiah and Saint Paul. I don't think we emphasize that enough these days. If we don't have a proper fundamental moral background, we will finally end up with a totalitarian government which does not believe in rights for anybody except the State!"-Harry Truman (1945-1953)

"The spirit of man is more important than mere physical strength, and the spiritual fiber of a nation than its wealth. The Bible is endorsed by the ages. Our civilization is built upon its words. In no other book is there such a collection of inspired wisdom, reality, and hope."-Dwight Eisenhower (1953-1961)

"We in this country, in this generation are, by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of peace on earth, goodwill toward men. That must always be our goal. For as was written long ago, 'Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.'."-John Kennedy (1961-1963)

"If we fail now, we will have forgotten that democracy rests on faith....For myself, I ask only in the words of an ancient leader: 'Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people'....Come now, let us reason together." -Lyndon Johnson (1963-1969)

"Today, I ask your prayers that in the years ahead I may have God's help in making decisions that are right for America, and I pray for your help so that together we may be worthy of our challenge. Let us go forward from here confident in hope, strong in our faith in one another, sustained by our faith in God who created us, and striving always to serve His purpose."-Richard Nixon (1969-1974)

"Without God there could be no American form of government, nor an American way of life. Recognition of the Supreme Being is the first - the most basic - expression of Americanism. Thus, the founding fathers of America saw it, and thus with God's help, it will continue to be."-Gerald Ford (1974-1977)

"Here before me is the Bible used in the inauguration of our first President in 1789, and I have just taken the oath of office on the Bible my mother gave me just a few years ago, opened to the timeless admonition from the ancient prophet Micah: 'He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God"-Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

"Let us, young and old, join together, as did the First Continental Congress, in the first step, humble heartfelt prayer. Let us do so for the love of God and His great goodness, in search of His guidance, and the grace of repentance, in seeking His blessings, His peace, and the resting of His kind and holy hands on ourselves, our nation, our friends in the defense of freedom, and all mankind, now and always."-Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

"The great faith that led our nation's founding fathers to pursue this bold experience in self-government has sustained us in uncertain and perilous times; it has given us strength and inspiration to this very day. Like them, we do very well to recall our 'firm reliance on the protection of divine providence' to give thanks for the freedom and prosperity this nation enjoys, and to pray for continued help and guidance from our wise and loving Creator."-George Bush (1989-1993)

"When our Founders boldly declared America's Independence to the world and our purposes to the Almighty, they knew that America, to endure, would have to change....And so, my fellow Americans, at the edge of the 21st century, let us begin with energy and hope, with faith and discipline, and let us work until our work is done. The Scripture says, "And let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not." From this joyful mountaintop of celebration, we hear a call to service in the valley. We have heard the trumpets. We have changed the guard. And now, each in our way, and with God's help, we must answer the call." Bill Clinton (1993-2001)

++++++++++++

Inauguration Speech  Saturday, January 20, 2001

This peaceful transfer of authority is rare in history, yet common in our country. With a simple oath, we affirm old traditions, and make new beginnings. As I begin, I thank President Clinton for his service to our nation. And I thank Vice President Gore for a contest conducted with spirit, and ended with grace. I am honored and humbled to stand here, where so many of America's leaders have come before me, and so many will follow.

We have a place, all of us, in a long story; a story we continue, but whose end we will not see. It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old. The story of a slave-holding society that became a servant of freedom. The story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer. It is the American story; a story of flawed and fallible people, united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals.

The grandest of these ideals is an unfolding American promise: that everyone belongs, that everyone deserves a chance, that no insignificant person was ever born. Americans are called to enact this promise in our lives and in our laws. And though our nation has sometimes halted, and sometimes delayed, we must follow no other course.

Through much of the last century, America's faith in freedom and democracy was a rock in a raging sea. Now it is a seed upon the wind, taking root in many nations. Our democratic faith is more than the creed of our country, it is the inborn hope of our humanity; an ideal we carry but do not own, a trust we bear and pass along. And even after nearly 225 years, we have a long way yet to travel.

While many of our citizens prosper, others doubt the promise — even the justice — of our own country. The ambitions of some Americans are limited by failing schools, and hidden prejudice, and the circumstances of their birth. And sometimes our differences run so deep, it seems we share a continent, but not a country.

We do not accept this, and will not allow it. Our unity, our union, is the serious work of leaders and citizens in every generation. And this is my solemn pledge: I will work to build a single nation of justice and opportunity.

I know this is within our reach, because we are guided by a power larger than ourselves, Who creates us equal in His image. And we are confident in principles that unite and lead us onward.

America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests, and teach us what it means to be citizens. Every child must be taught these principles. Every citizen must uphold them. And every immigrant, by embracing these ideals, makes our country more, not less, American.

Today we affirm a new commitment to live out our nation's promise through civility, courage, compassion and character. America, at its best, matches a commitment to principle with a concern for civility. A civil society demands from each of us good will and respect, fair dealing and forgiveness.

Some seem to believe that our politics can afford to be petty because, in a time of peace, the stakes of our debates appear small. But the stakes, for America, are never small. If our country does not lead the cause of freedom, it will not be led. If we do not turn the hearts of children toward knowledge and character, we will lose their gifts and undermine their idealism. If we permit our economy to drift and decline, the vulnerable will suffer most.

We must live up to the calling we share. Civility is not a tactic or a sentiment. It is the determined choice of trust over cynicism, of community over chaos. And this commitment, if keep it, is a way to shared accomplishment.

America, at its best, is also courageous. Our national courage has been clear in times of depression and war, when defending common dangers defined our common good. Now we must chose if the example of our fathers and mothers will inspire us or condemn us. We must show courage in a time of blessing, by confronting problems instead of passing them on to future generations.

Together, we will reclaim America's schools, before ignorance and apathy claim more young lives. We will reform Social Security and Medicare, sparing our children from struggles we have the power to prevent. We will reduce taxes, to recover the momentum of our economy and reward the effort and enterprise of working Americans. We will build our defenses beyond challenge, lest weakness invite challenge. We will confront weapons of mass destruction, so that a new century is spared new horrors.

The enemies of liberty and our country should make no mistake, American remains engaged in the world, by history and by choice, shaping a balance of power that favors freedom. We will defend our allies and our interests. We will show purpose without arrogance. We will meet aggression and bad faith with resolve and strength. And to all nations, we will speak for the values that gave our nation birth.

America, at its best, is compassionate. In the quiet of American conscience, we know that deep, persistent poverty is unworthy of our nation's promise. And whatever our views of its cause, we can agree that children at risk are not at fault. Abandonment and abuse are not acts of GOD👻, they are failures of love. And the proliferation of prisons, however necessary, is no substitute for hope and order in our souls. Where there is suffering, there is duty. Americans in need are not strangers, they are citizens; not problems, but priorities; and all of us are diminished when any are hopeless.

Government has great responsibilities, for public safety and public health, for civil rights and common schools. Yet compassion is the work of a nation, not just a government. And some needs and hurts are so deep they will only respond to a mentor's touch or a pastor's prayer. Church and charity, synagogue and mosque, lend our communities their humanity, and they will have an honored place in our plans and laws.

Many in our country do not know the pain of poverty. But we can listen to those who do. And I can pledge our nation to a goal: When we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side.

America, at its best, is a place where personal responsibility is valued and expected. Encouraging responsibility is not a search for scapegoats, it is a call to conscience. And though it requires sacrifice, it brings a deeper fulfillment. We find the fullness of life, not only in options, but in commitments. And we find that children and community are the commitments that set us free. Our public interest depends on private character; on civic duty and family bonds and basic fairness; on uncounted, unhonored acts of decency which give direction to our freedom.

Sometimes in life we are called to do great things. But as a saint of our times has said, every day we are called to do small things with great love. The most important tasks of a democracy are done by everyone. I will live and lead by these principles: to advance my convictions with civility; to pursue the public interest with courage; to speak for greater justice and compassion; to call for responsibility, and try to live it as well. In all these ways, I will bring the values of our history to the care of our times.

What you do is as important as anything government does. I ask you to seek a common good beyond your comfort; to defend needed reforms against easy attacks; to serve your nation, beginning with your neighbor. I ask you to be citizens. Citizens, not spectators. Citizens, not subjects. Responsible citizens, building communities of service and a nation of character.

Americans are generous and strong and decent, not because we believe in ourselves, but because we hold beliefs beyond ourselves. When this spirit of citizenship is missing, no government program can replace it. When this spirit is present, no wrong can stand against it.

After the Declaration of Independence was signed, Virginia statesman John Page wrote to Thomas Jefferson: "We know the Race is not to the swift nor the Battle to the Strong. Do you not think an Angel rides in the Whirlwind and directs this Storm?" Much time has passed since Jefferson arrived for his inaugural. The years and changes accumulate. But the themes of this day he would know: our nation's grand story of courage, and its simple dream of dignity.

We are not this story's author, who fills time and eternity with His purpose. Yet His purpose is achieved in our duty; and our duty is fulfilled in service to one another. Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today: to make our country more just and generous; to affirm the dignity of our lives and every life.

This work continues. This story goes on. And an angel still rides in the whirlwind and directs this storm. God bless you, and God bless our country.

-George W. Bush (2001-?)

Inauguration Speech  Saturday, January 20, 2001

https://youtu.be/3welTDYEfW0?si=XoKt8pz7kfQ2WmdQ

Pause to Pray for America. <*}}}>< 🙌🎚️🥰🇺🇸🙏🌎#REBTD😇

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wrestlinghistorywithkay · 5 months

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AJ Styles TNA Bound For Glory , 2009

#aj styles #tna wrestling #impact wrestling

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emilynerdsout · 1 year

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New Details On IMPACT Hall Of Fame 2023 Ceremony

Don West, Mike Tenay, and Traci Brooks have already been confirmed as being inducted into the IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame this year. IMPACT has now revealed who will be inducting them.

As announced on September 28, Mike Tenay and Don West, the broadcast duo most synonymous with the early days of TNA Wrestling, will be inducted by a fellow TNA Wrestling legend, Scott D’Amore. Meanwhile, Traci Brooks will be inducted by Gail Kim.

West and Tenay called TNA Wrestling for several years before Taz joined the organization in 2009. Unfortunately, West passed away from lymphoma and will be inducted posthumously.

Traci Brooks retired from full-time wrestling in 2015. She returned to in-ring competition at IMPACT 1000, where her Hall of Fame induction was announced after she and her husband, Frankie Kazarian, defeated Alisha and Eddie Edwards.

The induction ceremony will be place on October 21 during the Bound for Glory countdown.

SEE MORE: Updated Card For IMPACT Bound For Glory 2023

Source

https://sportsworldinfo.com/new-details-on-impact-hall-of-fame-2023-ceremony/">

Spread the love

#sports news #sports #football news

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sageoftheuniverse · 1 year

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New Details On IMPACT Hall Of Fame 2023 Ceremony

Don West, Mike Tenay, and Traci Brooks have already been confirmed as being inducted into the IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Fame this year. IMPACT has now revealed who will be inducting them.

West and Tenay called TNA Wrestling for several years before Taz joined the organization in 2009. Unfortunately, West passed away from lymphoma and will be inducted posthumously.

The induction ceremony will be place on October 21 during the Bound for Glory countdown.

SEE MORE: Updated Card For IMPACT Bound For Glory 2023

Source

https://sportsworldinfo.com/new-details-on-impact-hall-of-fame-2023-ceremony/">

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#nba news

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piouscatholic · 1 year

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[Novena for Families]

💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

#Day6: (Aug20)

St. Joseph teaches us to trust

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

<Prayer of Leo XIII: To you, O Blessed Joseph,

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family>

“To you, O blessed Joseph,

do we come in our tribulation, and having implored the help of your Most Holy Spouse,

we confidently invoke your patronage also.

Through that charity which bound you to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God

and through the paternal love with which you embraced the Child Jesus,

we humbly beg you graciously

to regard the inheritance which Jesus Christ has purchased by his Blood,

and with your power and strength to aid us in our necessities.

O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family - defend the chosen children of Jesus Christ;

O most loving Father,

ward off from us every contagion of error and corrupting influence;

O our most mighty protector,

be kind to us and from heaven assist us in our struggle with the power of darkness.

As once you rescued the Child Jesus from deadly peril,

so now protect God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity;

shield, too, each one of us by your constant protection,

so that, supported by your example and your aid, we may be able to live piously,

to die in holiness,

and to obtain eternal happiness in heaven. Amen. "

[Meditation]

“Joseph trusts God when he hears his messenger, the Angel,

say to him:

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.

For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her”

(Mt 1:20).

Throughout all of history, Joseph is the man who gives God the greatest display of trust,

even in the face of such astonishing news. (...)

As you see, we always ask the Lord to protect the Church – and he does! –

Just as Joseph protected his family and kept watch over the child Jesus during his early years.”

(Benedict XVI, sermon of 19 March 2009)

“Tonight,

we pray together, entrusting ourselves to the intercession of St. Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, guardian of our families.

Even the carpenter from Nazareth knew uncertainty and disappointment,

concern about the future,

but he also knew how to walk in the dark of certain moments

letting himself be guided, without reservation, by God’s will.”

(Pope Francis, March 19, 2020)

Saint Joseph, mirror of patience,

pray for us

Saint Joseph, protector of the Holy Church,

pray for us.

Recite:

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be to the Father

[Pope Francis prayer]

“Protect, O Holy Guardian,

this our nation.

Enlighten those responsible for the common good,

so that they might know — like you do —how to care for those entrusted to their responsibility.

Grant intelligence of knowledge

to those seeking adequate means for the health and physical well-being of their brothers.

Sustain those who are spending themselves for those in need,

even at the cost of their own safety: volunteers, nurses, doctors who are on the front lines in curing the sick.

Bless, O St Joseph,

the Church: beginning with her ministers, make her the sign and instrument of your light and your goodness.

Accompany,

O St Joseph, our families: with your prayerful silence,

create harmony between parents and their children, in a special way with the youngest.

Preserve the elderly from loneliness: grant that no one might be left in desperation from abandonment and discouragement.

Comfort those who are the frailest, encourage those who falter, intercede for the poor.

With the Virgin Mother, beg the Lord to liberate the world from every form of pandemic.

Amen."

[Quote]

“By accepting himself according to God’s design, Joseph fully finds himself, beyond himself.

His freedom to renounce even what is his,

the possession of his very life, and his full interior availability to the will of God

challenge us and show us the way"

(Pope Francis).

Association Marie de Nazareth 75 rue de Lourmel 75015 Paris – France

0 notes

jedivoodoochile · 2 years

Text

El 8 de diciembre de 1936, nacía en Los Ángeles (California, Estados Unidos) John Arthur Carradine, mejor conocido en el cine como David Carradine. Ha sido reconocido mundialmente por su célebre trabajo en la serie de televisión "Kung fu" y la película "Kill Bill" de Quentin Tarantino.

David Carradine apareció en más de 100 películas en una carrera de más de seis décadas. Recibió nominaciones para los Golden Globe Award (Globo de Oro) y los Emmy Award por su trabajo en Kung Fu, además recibió tres nominaciones adicionales de los Golden Globe por su interpretación de Woody Guthrie en la biopic "Bound for Glory"(Esta tierra es mi tierra - 1976), la mini serie de televisión "North and South" (1985) y la película "Kill Bill: Volume 2" por el cual ganó el Saturn Award como mejor actor de reparto.

Fue hallado muerto en una habitación del hotel Park Nai Lert en Bangkok (Tailandia) el 4 de junio de 2009. Las circunstancias de su muerte aun son desconocidas, pese a que trascendieron versiones escandalosas sobre una muerte accidental por asfixia auto-infligida.

#david carradine

0 notes

g4zdtechtv · 5 years

Video

youtube

WrestleClipz - AJ Styles vs. Sting (Bound for Glory - 10.18.09)

The Final Curtain?

#WrestleClipz #wrestling #TNA #Bound for Glory 2009 #AJ Styles #Sting

1 note · View note

mickie-maniaedits · 2 years

Photo

Happy Birthday to the Legend Mickie James!

10x Champ

20 notes · View notes

orange-catsidy · 3 years

Note

What are some good (and easy to find) motor city machine guns matches to watch to get into them?

*cracks knuckles* just sticking to matches that are on youtube bc they're easily accessible -

from tna/impact (more theatrical and high flying):

vs the bucks - bound for glory 2010 (link)

vs beer money (ultimate x) - tna impact 2010 (link)

vs the bucks (empty arena) - tna impact 2010 (link)

vs the bucks (full metal mayhem) - final resolution 2010 (link)

vs lethal consequences (ultimate x) - tna impact 2009 (link)

sabin vs shelley - genesis 2009 (link)

from ring of honor (more technical):

vs bryan danielson & austin aries - fueling the fire 2008 (link)

vs kevin steen & el generico - death before dishonor 2008 (link)

vs the briscoes - good times great memories 2007 (link)

vs the bucks vs the addiction (3 way tag) - conquest tour 2016 (link)

#asks #mcmg #empty arena match is recommended viewing #not that the bucks are ever not high flying but it's all relative

22 notes · View notes

backslashdelta · 3 years

Text

Glee Soundtrack Rating Project Results: oohbabycupcakes

@oohbabycupcakes

Favourite character: Kurt Hummel

Least favourite character: Brittany S. Pierce

Favourite season: Season 2

Least favourite season: Season 3

Mean song rating: 6

Mean song rating for favourite character's songs: 6.59

Mean song rating for favourite character's solos: 7.43

Mean song rating season 1: 5.83

Mean song rating season 2: 6.35

Mean song rating season 3: 5.67

Mean song rating season 4: 6.25

Mean song rating season 5: 6.13

Mean song rating season 6: 5.58

Songs rated: 702

[ID: A bar chart titled Number of songs assigned each rating by oohbabycupcakes , illustrating the number of times each score was assigned to a song by oohbabycupcakes . 10 was assigned 38 times, 9 was assigned 36 times, 8 was assigned 83 times, 7 was assigned 84 times, 6 was assigned 81 times, 5 was assigned 337 times, 4 was assigned 10 times, 3 was assigned 5 times, 2 was assigned 4 times, 1 was assigned 24 times, and 0 songs were not rated.]

About the Project | Results Masterpost

Ranking:

1. (10) - S1x07 - Hate On Me

2. (10) - S1x13 - And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going

3. (10) - S1x15 - 4 Minutes

4. (10) - S1x18 - Rose's Turn

5. (10) - S1x20 - Bad Romance

6. (10) - S2x03 - I Want to Hold Your Hand

7. (10) - S2x04 - River Deep, Mountain High

8. (10) - S2x06 - Teenage Dream

9. (10) - S2x06 - Stop! In the Name of Love/Free Your Mind

10. (10) - S2x08 - Just the Way You Are

11. (10) - S2x10 - Baby, It's Cold Outside

12. (10) - S2x11 - Thriller/Heads Will Roll

13. (10) - S2x13 - Take Me or Leave Me

14. (10) - S2x14 - Don't You Want Me

15. (10) - S2x16 - Misery

16. (10) - S2x18 - Somewhere Only We Know

17. (10) - S2x18 - As If We Never Said Goodbye

18. (10) - S2x21 - My Man

19. (10) - S2x21 - Back to Black

20. (10) - S3x01 - It's Not Unusual

21. (10) - S3x13 - Love Shack

22. (10) - S3x13 - I Will Always Love You

23. (10) - S3x14 - Cough Syrup

24. (10) - S3x18 - Not the Boy Next Door

25. (10) - S4x04 - Teenage Dream (Acoustic)

26. (10) - S4x04 - Don't Speak

27. (10) - S4x04 - The Scientist

28. (10) - S4x09 - Being Alive

29. (10) - S4x15 - Come What May

30. (10) - S4x17 - Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go

31. (10) - S5x04 - Marry the Night

32. (10) - S5x04 - Wide Awake

33. (10) - S5x04 - Applause

34. (10) - S5x07 - Nasty/Rhythm Nation

35. (10) - S5x09 - I Believe in a Thing Called Love

36. (10) - S5x14 - Rockstar

37. (10) - S5x15 - Colorblind

38. (10) - S6x07 - Somebody Loves You

39. (9) - S1x03 - Bust Your Windows

40. (9) - S1x06 - It's My Life/Confessions Part II

41. (9) - S1x14 - Hello, I Love You

42. (9) - S2x04 - Le Jazz Hot

43. (9) - S2x05 - Sweet Transvestite

44. (9) - S2x05 - Time Warp

45. (9) - S2x06 - Start Me Up/Livin' on a Prayer

46. (9) - S2x08 - Marry You

47. (9) - S2x09 - Dog Days Are Over

48. (9) - S2x09 - Valerie

49. (9) - S2x12 - When I Get You Alone

50. (9) - S2x14 - Blame It (On the Alcohol)

51. (9) - S2x16 - Loser Like Me

52. (9) - S2x17 - I Follow Rivers

53. (9) - S2x19 - Songbird

54. (9) - S3x01 - Ding-Dong! The Witch Is Dead

55. (9) - S3x01 - You Can't Stop the Beat

56. (9) - S3x06 - Rumour Has It/Someone Like You

57. (9) - S3x18 - Shake It Out

58. (9) - S3x21 - Paradise By the Dashboard Light

59. (9) - S3x21 - Tongue Tied

60. (9) - S4x01 - It's Time

61. (9) - S4x01 - Chasing Pavements

62. (9) - S4x01 - New York State of Mind

63. (9) - S4x04 - Mine

64. (9) - S4x05 - Blow Me (One Last Kiss)

65. (9) - S4x08 - Home/Homeward Bound

66. (9) - S4x09 - All That Jazz

67. (9) - S4x11 - No Scrubs

68. (9) - S4x13 - Hung Up

69. (9) - S4x16 - Closer

70. (9) - S4x16 - Cold Hearted

71. (9) - S5x03 - If I Die Young

72. (9) - S5x06 - Just the Way You Are

73. (9) - S5x12 - Defying Gravity

74. (9) - S6x11 - Take Me to Church

75. (8) - S1x01 - Don't Stop Believing (Pilot)

76. (8) - S1x02 - Push It

77. (8) - S1x02 - Take a Bow

78. (8) - S1x06 - Halo/Walking On Sunshine

79. (8) - S1x10 - Lean On Me

80. (8) - S1x13 - Don't Rain on My Parade

81. (8) - S1x17 - Run Joey Run

82. (8) - S1x18 - Jessie's Girl

83. (8) - S1x20 - Shout It Out Loud

84. (8) - S1x22 - To Sir, With Love

85. (8) - S1x22 - Faithfully

86. (8) - S1x22 - Any Way You Want It/Lovin' Touchin' Squeezin'

87. (8) - S2x06 - One Love (People Get Ready)

88. (8) - S2x07 - Forget You

89. (8) - S2x07 - Singing In the Rain/Umbrella

90. (8) - S2x07 - Conjunction Junction

91. (8) - S2x11 - Bills, Bills, Bills

92. (8) - S2x11 - She's Not There

93. (8) - S2x11 - Need You Now

94. (8) - S2x15 - Animal

95. (8) - S2x16 - Blackbird

96. (8) - S2x16 - Hell to the No

97. (8) - S2x18 - Born This Way

98. (8) - S2x18 - I Feel Pretty/Unpretty

99. (8) - S2x19 - Go Your Own Way

100. (8) - S2x21 - Try a Little Tenderness

101. (8) - S2x22 - Light Up the World

102. (8) - S3x04 - Candyman

103. (8) - S3x07 - Perfect

104. (8) - S3x08 - Survivor/I Will Survive

105. (8) - S3x08 - ABC

106. (8) - S3x09 - Let It Snow

107. (8) - S3x11 - Bad

108. (8) - S3x11 - Smooth Criminal

109. (8) - S3x11 - I Want You Back

110. (8) - S3x13 - Let Me Love You

111. (8) - S3x14 - Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)

112. (8) - S3x15 - Fighter

113. (8) - S3x15 - Rio/Hungry Like the Wolf

114. (8) - S3x17 - It's Not Right But It's Okay

115. (8) - S3x17 - I Have Nothing

116. (8) - S3x17 - So Emotional

117. (8) - S3x18 - Cell Block Tango

118. (8) - S3x21 - Edge of Glory

119. (8) - S4x07 - Holding Out for a Hero

120. (8) - S4x08 - Live While We're Young

121. (8) - S4x09 - Don't Dream It's Over

122. (8) - S4x11 - Locked Out of Heaven

123. (8) - S4x13 - Don't Stop Me Now

124. (8) - S4x13 - Bring Him Home

125. (8) - S4x13 - Nutbush City Limits

126. (8) - S4x13 - Girl On Fire

127. (8) - S4x14 - Anything Could Happen

128. (8) - S4x15 - Old Time Rock & Roll/Danger Zone

129. (8) - S4x16 - How to Be a Heartbreaker

130. (8) - S4x17 - Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)

131. (8) - S4x21 - Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours

132. (8) - S4x21 - Superstition

133. (8) - S5x01 - All You Need Is Love

134. (8) - S5x01 - Got to Get You Into My Life

135. (8) - S5x03 - I'll Stand By You

136. (8) - S5x03 - Seasons of Love

137. (8) - S5x04 - Roar

138. (8) - S5x05 - On Our Way

139. (8) - S5x07 - You're My Best Friend

140. (8) - S5x09 - Every Breath You Take

141. (8) - S5x13 - Be Okay

142. (8) - S5x14 - Downtown

143. (8) - S5x15 - I'm Still Here

144. (8) - S5x15 - Broadway Baby

145. (8) - S5x16 - Addicted to Love

146. (8) - S5x16 - I Want to Know What Love Is

147. (8) - S5x17 - Lovefool

148. (8) - S5x19 - Take Me Home Tonight

149. (8) - S5x20 - All of Me

150. (8) - S5x20 - Pompeii

151. (8) - S6x02 - Tightrope

152. (8) - S6x02 - Home

153. (8) - S6x03 - Hand in My Pocket/I Feel the Earth Move

154. (8) - S6x07 - All About That Bass

155. (8) - S6x11 - Chandelier

156. (8) - S6x12 - Don't Stop Believing (Pilot/2009)

157. (8) - S6x13 - The Winner Takes It All

158. (7) - S1x05 - Somebody to Love

159. (7) - S1x07 - Keep Holding On

160. (7) - S1x09 - Dancing With Myself

161. (7) - S1x09 - Proud Mary

162. (7) - S1x09 - Defying Gravity

163. (7) - S1x12 - Jump

164. (7) - S1x14 - Highway to Hell

165. (7) - S1x14 - Gives You Hell

166. (7) - S1x17 - Ice Ice Baby

167. (7) - S1x18 - The Boy Is Mine

168. (7) - S1x18 - Lady Is a Tramp

169. (7) - S1x21 - Give Up the Funk

170. (7) - S1x22 - Don't Stop Believing (Regionals)

171. (7) - S2x01 - Empire State of Mind

172. (7) - S2x02 - Stronger

173. (7) - S2x02 - I'm a Slave 4 U

174. (7) - S2x02 - Me Against the Music

175. (7) - S2x02 - Toxic

176. (7) - S2x03 - Only the Good Die Young

177. (7) - S2x04 - Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy

178. (7) - S2x12 - Silly Love Songs

179. (7) - S2x13 - Somebody to Love

180. (7) - S2x13 - Sing

181. (7) - S2x19 - I Don't Want to Know

182. (7) - S2x20 - I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance with You

183. (7) - S2x20 - Rolling in the Deep

184. (7) - S2x21 - Some People

185. (7) - S2x21 - Pure Imagination

186. (7) - S2x22 - I Love New York/New York, New York

187. (7) - S3x01 - We Got the Beat

188. (7) - S3x06 - I Can't Go for That/You Make My Dreams Come True

189. (7) - S3x06 - Hit Me with Your Best Shot/One Way or Another

190. (7) - S3x07 - Constant Craving

191. (7) - S3x08 - Control

192. (7) - S3x08 - Man in the Mirror

193. (7) - S3x08 - We Are Young

194. (7) - S3x10 - Summer Nights

195. (7) - S3x12 - La Isla Bonita

196. (7) - S3x13 - Stereo Hearts

197. (7) - S3x14 - Here's to Us

198. (7) - S3x15 - Somebody That I Used to Know

199. (7) - S3x17 - I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)

200. (7) - S3x21 - We Are the Champions

201. (7) - S3x21 - Starships

202. (7) - S3x22 - Roots Before Branches

203. (7) - S4x01 - Call Me Maybe

204. (7) - S4x01 - Americano/Dance Again

205. (7) - S4x03 - Everybody Wants to Rule the World

206. (7) - S4x05 - Everybody Talks

207. (7) - S4x07 - My Dark Side

208. (7) - S4x07 - Some Nights

209. (7) - S4x08 - Let's Have a Kiki/Turkey Lurkey Time

210. (7) - S4x09 - O Holy Night

211. (7) - S4x10 - White Christmas

212. (7) - S4x12 - Torn

213. (7) - S4x15 - Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend/Material Girl

214. (7) - S4x16 - I Still Believe/Super Bass

215. (7) - S4x16 - The Bitch Is Back/Dress You Up

216. (7) - S4x16 - Bye Bye Bye/I Want It That Way

217. (7) - S4x17 - Copacabana

218. (7) - S4x21 - You Are the Sunshine of My Life

219. (7) - S4x22 - Clarity

220. (7) - S4x22 - Wings

221. (7) - S5x01 - A Hard Day's Night

222. (7) - S5x02 - Here Comes the Sun

223. (7) - S5x02 - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

224. (7) - S5x02 - Hey Jude

225. (7) - S5x02 - Let It Be

226. (7) - S5x09 - Brave

227. (7) - S5x09 - Breakaway

228. (7) - S5x10 - Gloria

229. (7) - S5x11 - I Love LA

230. (7) - S5x13 - Loser Like Me

231. (7) - S5x14 - You Make Me Feel So Young

232. (7) - S5x16 - Love Is a Battlefield

233. (7) - S5x17 - Pumpin Blood

234. (7) - S5x20 - American Boy

235. (7) - S5x20 - Shakin' My Head

236. (7) - S6x01 - Sing

237. (7) - S6x02 - Problem

238. (7) - S6x12 - Popular

239. (7) - S6x13 - Daydream Believer

240. (7) - S6x13 - I Lived

241. (7) - S6x13 - This Time

242. (6) - S1x01 - You're the One That I Want (ver. 1)

243. (6) - S1x01 - Rehab

244. (6) - S1x07 - Ride Wit Me

245. (6) - S1x07 - You Keep Me Hanging On

246. (6) - S1x08 - Sweet Caroline

247. (6) - S1x11 - Hair/Crazy In Love

248. (6) - S1x11 - Imagine

249. (6) - S1x11 - True Colors

250. (6) - S1x12 - Smile (Charlie Chaplin)

251. (6) - S1x15 - Express Yourself

252. (6) - S1x15 - Vogue

253. (6) - S1x16 - A House Is Not a Home

254. (6) - S1x17 - U Can't Touch This

255. (6) - S1x17 - Total Eclipse of the Heart

256. (6) - S1x21 - Good Vibrations

257. (6) - S1x22 - Bohemian Rhapsody

258. (6) - S2x04 - Sing!

259. (6) - S2x05 - Whatever Happened to Saturday Night?

260. (6) - S2x05 - Damn It, Janet

261. (6) - S2x07 - Make 'Em Laugh

262. (6) - S2x09 - Don't Cry for Me Argentina

263. (6) - S2x10 - Last Christmas

264. (6) - S2x13 - This Little Light of Mine

265. (6) - S2x16 - Raise Your Glass

266. (6) - S2x16 - Get It Right

267. (6) - S2x20 - Dancing Queen

268. (6) - S2x20 - Isn't She Lovely

269. (6) - S3x04 - Last Friday Night

270. (6) - S3x09 - All I Want for Christmas Is You

271. (6) - S3x09 - Extraordinary Merry Christmas

272. (6) - S3x10 - Moves Like Jagger/Jumpin' Jack Flash

273. (6) - S3x10 - We Found Love

274. (6) - S3x13 - L-O-V-E

275. (6) - S3x14 - Fly/I Believe I Can Fly

276. (6) - S3x14 - Stand

277. (6) - S3x15 - I'm Still Standing

278. (6) - S3x18 - The Rain in Spain

279. (6) - S3x19 - Big Girls Don't Cry

280. (6) - S4x02 - Boys/Boyfriend

281. (6) - S4x02 - Hold It Against Me

282. (6) - S4x02 - Crazy/U Drive Me Crazy

283. (6) - S4x02 - 3

284. (6) - S4x02 - Womanizer

285. (6) - S4x03 - The Way You Look Tonight/You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile

286. (6) - S4x04 - Give Your Heart a Break

287. (6) - S4x06 - You're the One That I Want

288. (6) - S4x08 - Whistle

289. (6) - S4x12 - A Thousand Years

290. (6) - S4x12 - This Is the New Year

291. (6) - S4x13 - Diva

292. (6) - S4x14 - Getting Married Today

293. (6) - S4x14 - You're All I Need to Get By

294. (6) - S4x17 - Wannabe

295. (6) - S4x17 - My Prerogative

296. (6) - S4x17 - Creep

297. (6) - S4x17 - Mamma Mia

298. (6) - S4x22 - Hall of Fame

299. (6) - S4x22 - I Love It

300. (6) - S5x01 - Help!

301. (6) - S5x05 - Wrecking Ball

302. (6) - S5x06 - Piano Man

303. (6) - S5x06 - You May Be Right

304. (6) - S5x09 - My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)

305. (6) - S5x09 - Don't Rain On My Parade

306. (6) - S5x10 - The Happening

307. (6) - S5x10 - Barracuda

308. (6) - S5x11 - America

309. (6) - S5x11 - More Than a Feeling

310. (6) - S5x11 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For

311. (6) - S5x11 - Mr. Roboto/Counting Stars

312. (6) - S5x14 - Best Day of My Life

313. (6) - S5x15 - Not While I'm Around

314. (6) - S5x15 - No One Is Alone

315. (6) - S6x01 - Let It Go

316. (6) - S6x03 - It's Too Late

317. (6) - S6x05 - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)

318. (6) - S6x06 - They Long to Be Close to You

319. (6) - S6x07 - You Give Love a Bad Name

320. (6) - S6x09 - Uptown Funk

321. (6) - S6x12 - Pony

322. (6) - S6x13 - Teach Your Children

323. (5) - S1x01 - Can't Fight This Feeling

324. (5) - S1x01 - Respect

325. (5) - S1x01 - On My Own

326. (5) - S1x01 - Leaving On a Jet Plane

327. (5) - S1x02 - Gold Digger

328. (5) - S1x04 - Taking Chances

329. (5) - S1x04 - Tonight

330. (5) - S1x05 - Last Name

331. (5) - S1x05 - Alone

332. (5) - S1x05 - Maybe This Time

333. (5) - S1x08 - I Could Have Danced All Night

334. (5) - S1x08 - What A Girl Wants

335. (5) - S1x10 - I'll Stand By You

336. (5) - S1x10 - Endless Love

337. (5) - S1x10 - Don't Stand So Close to Me/Young Girl

338. (5) - S1x10 - Crush

339. (5) - S1x11 - Bootylicious

340. (5) - S1x11 - Papa Don't Preach

341. (5) - S1x11 - Don't Make Me Over

342. (5) - S1x12 - Smile (Lily Allen)

343. (5) - S1x13 - You Can't Always Get What You Want

344. (5) - S1x13 - My Life Would Suck Without You

345. (5) - S1x14 - Hello, Goodbye

346. (5) - S1x14 - Hello

347. (5) - S1x14 - Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love

348. (5) - S1x15 - What It Feels Like for a Girl

349. (5) - S1x15 - Like a Virgin

350. (5) - S1x15 - Like a Prayer

351. (5) - S1x15 - Borderline/Open Your Heart

352. (5) - S1x15 - Burning Up

353. (5) - S1x16 - Home

354. (5) - S1x16 - One Less Bell to Answer/A House Is Not a Home

355. (5) - S1x16 - Fire

356. (5) - S1x16 - Beautiful

357. (5) - S1x17 - Physical

358. (5) - S1x18 - Pink Houses

359. (5) - S1x18 - One

360. (5) - S1x19 - Safety Dance

361. (5) - S1x19 - Dream a Little Dream

362. (5) - S1x19 - Dream On

363. (5) - S1x19 - I Dreamed a Dream

364. (5) - S1x20 - Beth

365. (5) - S1x20 - Poker Face

366. (5) - S1x20 - Funny Girl

367. (5) - S1x21 - Another One Bites the Dust

368. (5) - S1x21 - Loser

369. (5) - S1x21 - It's a Man's Man's Man's World

370. (5) - S1x21 - Tell Me Something Good

371. (5) - S1x22 - Over the Rainbow

372. (5) - S2x01 - What I Did for Love

373. (5) - S2x01 - Telephone

374. (5) - S2x01 - Listen

375. (5) - S2x01 - Every Rose Has Its Thorn

376. (5) - S2x01 - Getting to Know You

377. (5) - S2x02 - Baby One More Time

378. (5) - S2x02 - The Only Exception

379. (5) - S2x03 - Losing My Religion

380. (5) - S2x03 - I Look to You

381. (5) - S2x03 - Bridge Over Troubled Water

382. (5) - S2x03 - Papa, Can You Hear Me?

383. (5) - S2x03 - One of Us

384. (5) - S2x04 - Don't Go Breaking My Heart

385. (5) - S2x04 - With You I'm Born Again

386. (5) - S2x04 - Lucky

387. (5) - S2x05 - Touch a Touch a Touch a Touch Me

388. (5) - S2x05 - There's a Light (Over at the Frankenstein Place)

389. (5) - S2x05 - Science Fiction Double Feature

390. (5) - S2x05 - Planet, Schmanet, Janet

391. (5) - S2x07 - Nowadays/Hot Honey rag

392. (5) - S2x08 - Sway

393. (5) - S2x09 - The Living Years

394. (5) - S2x09 - (I've Had) The Time of My Life

395. (5) - S2x10 - You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch

396. (5) - S2x10 - We Need a Little Christmas

397. (5) - S2x10 - The Most Wonderful Day of the Year

398. (5) - S2x10 - Welcome Christmas

399. (5) - S2x10 - Merry Christmas, Darling

400. (5) - S2x12 - P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)

401. (5) - S2x12 - Fat Bottomed Girls

402. (5) - S2x12 - Firework

403. (5) - S2x12 - My Funny Valentine

404. (5) - S2x13 - Baby

405. (5) - S2x14 - Tik Tok

406. (5) - S2x14 - My Headband

407. (5) - S2x15 - Afternoon Delight

408. (5) - S2x15 - Do You Wanna Touch Me (Oh Yeah)

409. (5) - S2x15 - Landslide

410. (5) - S2x15 - Kiss

411. (5) - S2x16 - Jesus Is My Friend

412. (5) - S2x16 - Big Ass Heart

413. (5) - S2x16 - Only Child

414. (5) - S2x17 - Turning Tables

415. (5) - S2x17 - Ain't No Way

416. (5) - S2x17 - All By Myself

417. (5) - S2x18 - I've Gotta Be Me

418. (5) - S2x19 - Dreams

419. (5) - S2x19 - Never Going Back Again

420. (5) - S2x19 - Don't Stop

421. (5) - S2x19 - Nice to Meet You, Have I Slept with You?

422. (5) - S2x20 - Friday

423. (5) - S2x20 - Jar of Hearts

424. (5) - S2x22 - Yeah!

425. (5) - S2x22 - My Cup

426. (5) - S2x22 - Pretending

427. (5) - S2x22 - As Long as You're There

428. (5) - S2x22 - Still Got Tonight

429. (5) - S3x01 - Anything Goes/Anything You Can Do

430. (5) - S3x02 - Something's Coming

431. (5) - S3x02 - I'm the Greatest Star

432. (5) - S3x02 - Somewhere

433. (5) - S3x03 - Run the World (Girls)

434. (5) - S3x03 - Spotlight

435. (5) - S3x03 - Cool

436. (5) - S3x03 - It's All Over

437. (5) - S3x03 - Out Here On My Own

438. (5) - S3x03 - Fix You

439. (5) - S3x04 - Waiting for a Girl Like You

440. (5) - S3x04 - Bein' Green

441. (5) - S3x04 - Take Care of Yourself

442. (5) - S3x05 - Tonight

443. (5) - S3x05 - One Hand, One Heart

444. (5) - S3x05 - America

445. (5) - S3x05 - A Boy Like That/I Have a Love

446. (5) - S3x05 - Uptown Girl

447. (5) - S3x06 - Hot for Teacher

448. (5) - S3x06 - You and I/You and I

449. (5) - S3x07 - I'm the Only One

450. (5) - S3x07 - I Kissed a Girl

451. (5) - S3x08 - Buenos Aires

452. (5) - S3x08 - Red Solo Cup

453. (5) - S3x09 - Christmas Wrapping

454. (5) - S3x09 - Do They Know It's Christmas?

455. (5) - S3x09 - Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

456. (5) - S3x09 - River

457. (5) - S3x09 - Blue Christmas

458. (5) - S3x10 - Wedding Bell Blues (Bill)

459. (5) - S3x10 - Without You

460. (5) - S3x10 - The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

461. (5) - S3x11 - Scream

462. (5) - S3x11 - Black or White

463. (5) - S3x11 - Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'

464. (5) - S3x11 - Ben

465. (5) - S3x11 - Never Can Say Goodbye

466. (5) - S3x11 - I Just Can't Stop Loving You

467. (5) - S3x11 - Human Nature

468. (5) - S3x12 - Don't Wanna Lose You

469. (5) - S3x12 - Sexy and I Know It

470. (5) - S3x13 - Cherish/Cherish

471. (5) - S3x13 - You're the Top

472. (5) - S3x13 - Chapel of Love

473. (5) - S3x13 - Home

474. (5) - S3x14 - Glad You Came

475. (5) - S3x15 - Up Up Up

476. (5) - S3x17 - Saving All My Love For You

477. (5) - S3x17 - My Love Is Your Love

478. (5) - S3x17 - How Will I Know

479. (5) - S3x18 - The Music of the Night

480. (5) - S3x18 - School's Out

481. (5) - S3x18 - Cry

482. (5) - S3x19 - What Makes You Beautiful

483. (5) - S3x19 - Take My Breath Away

484. (5) - S3x19 - Love You Like a Love Song

485. (5) - S3x20 - Mean

486. (5) - S3x20 - I Won't Give Up

487. (5) - S3x20 - Flashdance...What a Feeling

488. (5) - S3x20 - Because You Loved Me

489. (5) - S3x21 - It's All Coming Back to Me Now

490. (5) - S3x21 - Pinball Wizard

491. (5) - S3x22 - I'll Remember

492. (5) - S3x22 - You Get What You Give

493. (5) - S3x22 - In My Life

494. (5) - S3x22 - Glory Days

495. (5) - S3x22 - Forever Young

496. (5) - S4x01 - Sister Christian

497. (5) - S4x01 - Never Say Never

498. (5) - S4x02 - Gimme More

499. (5) - S4x02 - Everytime

500. (5) - S4x02 - Oops!...I Did It Again

501. (5) - S4x03 - Celebrity Skin

502. (5) - S4x03 - A Change Would Do You Good

503. (5) - S4x04 - Barely Breathing

504. (5) - S4x05 - Hopelessly Devoted to You

505. (5) - S4x05 - Born to Hand Jive

506. (5) - S4x05 - Juke Box Hero

507. (5) - S4x06 - Beauty School Dropout

508. (5) - S4x06 - Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee

509. (5) - S4x06 - Look At Me I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)

510. (5) - S4x06 - Greased Lightning

511. (5) - S4x06 - There Are Worse Things I Could Do

512. (5) - S4x07 - Heroes

513. (5) - S4x07 - Superman

514. (5) - S4x08 - Come See About Me

515. (5) - S4x09 - Something Stupid

516. (5) - S4x09 - Being Good Isn't Good Enough

517. (5) - S4x10 - Feliz Navidad

518. (5) - S4x10 - Hanukkah, Oh Hanukkah

519. (5) - S4x10 - The First Noel

520. (5) - S4x10 - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

521. (5) - S4x10 - Jingle Bell Rock

522. (5) - S4x11 - Tell Him

523. (5) - S4x11 - I Only Have Eyes for You

524. (5) - S4x11 - I Don't Know How to Love Him

525. (5) - S4x12 - Centerfold/Hot in Herre

526. (5) - S4x12 - Let Me Love You (Until You Learn to Love Yourself)

527. (5) - S4x12 - Love Song

528. (5) - S4x13 - Make No Mistake (She's Mine)

529. (5) - S4x14 - Just Can't Get Enough

530. (5) - S4x14 - We've Got Tonite

531. (5) - S4x15 - Shout

532. (5) - S4x15 - You're All the World to Me

533. (5) - S4x15 - Unchained Melody

534. (5) - S4x15 - Footloose

535. (5) - S4x15 - In Your Eyes

536. (5) - S4x18 - Say

537. (5) - S4x18 - Your Song

538. (5) - S4x18 - More Than Words

539. (5) - S4x19 - Fight for Your Right (to Party)

540. (5) - S4x19 - You Have More Friends Than You Know

541. (5) - S4x19 - Outcast

542. (5) - S4x19 - Don't Stop Believin' (Rachel)

543. (5) - S4x19 - Next to Me

544. (5) - S4x20 - We Will Rock You

545. (5) - S4x20 - Longest Time

546. (5) - S4x20 - Everybody Hurts

547. (5) - S4x20 - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'

548. (5) - S4x20 - At the Ballet

549. (5) - S4x20 - Little Girls

550. (5) - S4x21 - For Once in My Life

551. (5) - S4x21 - Uptight (Everything's Alright)

552. (5) - S4x21 - I Wish

553. (5) - S4x21 - Higher Ground

554. (5) - S4x22 - All or Nothing

555. (5) - S4x22 - To Love You More

556. (5) - S4x22 - Rainbow Connection

557. (5) - S5x01 - Drive My Car

558. (5) - S5x01 - You've Got to Hide Your Love Away

559. (5) - S5x01 - Yesterday

560. (5) - S5x01 - I Saw Her Standing There

561. (5) - S5x02 - Get Back

562. (5) - S5x02 - Something

563. (5) - S5x02 - Revolution

564. (5) - S5x03 - Fire and Rain

565. (5) - S5x03 - No Surrender

566. (5) - S5x03 - Make You Feel My Love

567. (5) - S5x05 - You Are Woman, I Am Man

568. (5) - S5x05 - If I Were a Boy

569. (5) - S5x06 - Honesty

570. (5) - S5x06 - My Life

571. (5) - S5x06 - An Innocent Man

572. (5) - S5x06 - Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)

573. (5) - S5x07 - Into the Groove

574. (5) - S5x07 - Cheek to Cheek

575. (5) - S5x08 - Here Comes Santa Claus (Down Santa Claus Lane)

576. (5) - S5x08 - Mary's Little Boy Child

577. (5) - S5x08 - Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree

578. (5) - S5x08 - Away in a Manger

579. (5) - S5x08 - Love Child

580. (5) - S5x08 - O Christmas Tree

581. (5) - S5x09 - Whenever I Call You Friend

582. (5) - S5x10 - Hold On

583. (5) - S5x10 - Jumpin' Jumpin'

584. (5) - S5x10 - Don't You (Forget About Me)

585. (5) - S5x10 - Danny's Song

586. (5) - S5x11 - Vacation

587. (5) - S5x12 - Raise Your Glass

588. (5) - S5x12 - Happy

589. (5) - S5x12 - Keep Holding On

590. (5) - S5x12 - Toxic

591. (5) - S5x12 - Valerie

592. (5) - S5x13 - Party All the Time

593. (5) - S5x13 - I Am Changing

594. (5) - S5x13 - Don't Stop Believin' (Season Five)

595. (5) - S5x13 - Just Give Me a Reason

596. (5) - S5x14 - Don't Sleep in the Subway

597. (5) - S5x14 - People

598. (5) - S5x15 - You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman

599. (5) - S5x16 - Let's Wait Awhile

600. (5) - S5x17 - I'm the Greatest Star

601. (5) - S5x17 - Who Are You Now

602. (5) - S5x17 - NYC

603. (5) - S5x18 - Story of My Life

604. (5) - S5x18 - Piece of My Heart

605. (5) - S5x18 - Wake Me Up

606. (5) - S5x18 - The Rose

607. (5) - S5x18 - Doo Wop (That Thing)

608. (5) - S5x19 - Werewolves of London

609. (5) - S5x19 - Memory

610. (5) - S5x19 - Lucky Star

611. (5) - S5x19 - I Melt with You

612. (5) - S5x20 - No Time At All

613. (5) - S5x20 - Glitter in the Air

614. (5) - S5x20 - Girls on Film

615. (5) - S6x01 - Dance the Night Away

616. (5) - S6x01 - Uninvited

617. (5) - S6x01 - Suddenly Seymour

618. (5) - S6x02 - Take On Me

619. (5) - S6x02 - Mustang Sally

620. (5) - S6x02 - Viva Voce

621. (5) - S6x03 - Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow/Head Over Feet

622. (5) - S6x03 - You Learn/You've Got a Friend

623. (5) - S6x03 - So Far Away

624. (5) - S6x04 - Thousand Miles

625. (5) - S6x04 - Bitch

626. (5) - S6x05 - It Must Have Been Love

627. (5) - S6x05 - All Out of Love

628. (5) - S6x05 - Father Figure

629. (5) - S6x06 - Arthur's Theme

630. (5) - S6x06 - Wishin' And Hoping

631. (5) - S6x06 - Baby It's You

632. (5) - S6x06 - What the World Needs Now

633. (5) - S6x06 - Promises, Promises

634. (5) - S6x06 - I'll Never Fall in Love Again

635. (5) - S6x06 - Alfie

636. (5) - S6x07 - Time After Time

637. (5) - S6x07 - I Know Where I've Been

638. (5) - S6x07 - Same Love

639. (5) - S6x08 - Hey Ya!

640. (5) - S6x08 - Our Day Will Come

641. (5) - S6x08 - I'm So Excited

642. (5) - S6x08 - At Last

643. (5) - S6x09 - I Want to Break Free

644. (5) - S6x09 - Break Free

645. (5) - S6x09 - Lose My Breath

646. (5) - S6x09 - Cool Kids

647. (5) - S6x09 - Friday I'm in Love

648. (5) - S6x10 - Far From Over

649. (5) - S6x10 - Rather Be

650. (5) - S6x10 - Rise

651. (5) - S6x10 - The Trolley Song

652. (5) - S6x10 - The Final Countdown

653. (5) - S6x11 - We Built This City

654. (5) - S6x11 - Mickey

655. (5) - S6x11 - Come Sail Away

656. (5) - S6x11 - Listen to Your Heart

657. (5) - S6x12 - I'm His Child

658. (5) - S6x12 - I Kissed a Girl

659. (5) - S6x13 - Someday We'll Be Together

660. (4) - S1x01 - Mr. Cellophane

661. (4) - S1x01 - I Kissed a Girl

662. (4) - S1x03 - Mercy

663. (4) - S1x05 - Cabaret

664. (4) - S1x08 - Bust A Move

665. (4) - S1x10 - (You're Having My Baby)

666. (4) - S2x22 - For Good

667. (4) - S3x07 - Jolene

668. (4) - S3x12 - Bamboleo/Hero

669. (4) - S6x05 - My Sharona

670. (3) - S1x01 - Sit Down You're Rockin the Boat

671. (3) - S2x01 - Billionaire

672. (3) - S2x09 - Hey, Soul Sister

673. (3) - S2x14 - One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

674. (3) - S3x09 - My Favorite Things

675. (2) - S2x13 - I Know What Boys Like

676. (2) - S2x16 - Candles

677. (2) - S3x12 - A Little Less Conversation

678. (2) - S4x11 - Baby Got Back

679. (1) - S1x02 - I Say a Little Prayer

680. (1) - S1x03 - I Wanna Sex You Up

681. (1) - S1x07 - No Air

682. (1) - S1x08 - Thong Song

683. (1) - S2x08 - Ohio

684. (1) - S2x16 - Trouty Mouth

685. (1) - S2x22 - Bella Notte

686. (1) - S3x01 - Big Spender

687. (1) - S3x07 - Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

688. (1) - S3x16 - You Should Be Dancing

689. (1) - S3x16 - More Than a Woman

690. (1) - S3x16 - Stayin' Alive

691. (1) - S3x16 - Disco Inferno

692. (1) - S3x16 - How Deep Is Your Love

693. (1) - S3x16 - If I Can't Have You

694. (1) - S3x16 - Boogie Shoes

695. (1) - S3x16 - Night Fever

696. (1) - S3x19 - Dinosaur

697. (1) - S4x08 - Gangnam Style

698. (1) - S5x05 - Blurred Lines

699. (1) - S5x07 - The Fox

700. (1) - S5x08 - The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)

701. (1) - S6x04 - Rock Lobster

702. (1) - S6x04 - Whip It

#oohbabycupcakes #glee #glee stats #glee soundtrack rating project #glee soundtrack rating project results

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ladydaedra · 3 years

Text

Whiterun

Part: 10/?

Pairings: Ulfric x Dragonborn; Brynjolf x OC; Cicero x OC; Ondolemar x OC

Warnings: Descriptions of violence and gore; Skyrim takes on a bit of 'Game of Thrones' feeling; may contain controversial themes.

Wordcount: 2009

~~~~~

"This is it, men! " Galmar yells at the Stormcloak soldiers as Whiterun is bombarded with trebuchet attacks, "They say that our cause is false and that we are nothing more than thieves, thugs, and murderers! But no! We are farmers! We are craftsmen! We are sons and daughters of shopkeepers, maidservants and soldiers! We are the sons and daughters of Skyrim!" Ayla looks back at the large army from where she stands on a rock, observing the city. Her own army stands amongst the Stormcloaks and they too cheer at Galmar's speech.

"And we have come this far because our cause is true. Because we fight as one. And because our hearts are bursting with anger!" Galmar continues, his voice loud and strong, "What we do here today, we do for our country! For all the true Nords of Skyrim!" both armies cheer at his words and Ayla tightens her grip on her bow, an arrow knocked with the tip on fire as a way to signal Aaryah when to attack.

"Whiterun's walls are tall, but they are old and crumbling, like the Empire whose Legion lines them," Galmar informs the armies, glancing over at the city before looking back at the soldiers, "They've barricades to block us, but we'll tear through them and the Imperials behind them! Our objective is the drawbridge. If we can find a way to drop it, the city will be ours! Everyone on me. Let's show these Imperial milk drinkers what true Nords look like!"

Ayla hears the armies give a battle cry as they charge towards the city. She watches as the Imperials fire arrows on the advancing soldiers, their focus on what is on the ground but not what is in the sky. Ayla raises her bow and pulls the string back as a gust of wind blows. She aims for the broken tower behind the Imperial's barricades and fires.

The arrow whistles as it flies through the air but Ayla soon loses it and assumes it hit correctly as a dragon descends from the sky, landing on the tower and lighting a few Imperials on fire. With a smile, Ayla jumps off the rock and hurries around the walls and climbs the walls behind the barricade. She lands behind an Imperial, whose arrow is aimed at Galmar, and slits his throat. He spasms as he grasps at his open throat before falling to the floor, dead within a few seconds.

"Odahviing,"

"It's the Dragonborn!" an Imperial yells, alerting the rest of his comrades, "she's with the Stormcloaks," he adds and draws his sword, hesitating to attack her. An arrow takes him down and that is when the Imperials break out of their shock and charge at her. She sidesteps the first attack and sends one of her swords into the chest of another. She pulls the blade out just in time to block an attack as she slices the throat of another soldier with her second sword.

"Fus Ro Dah!" she Shouts when a large cluster of Imperials charge at her, sending them flying into walls or over them while some soldiers are lucky to just slide across the ground. She barely misses being hit by an arrow as she runs over towards the raised drawbridge. She quickly runs into the tower and fights her way to the top and onto the bridge where the drawbridge controls are.

She lowers the drawbridge and turns around in time to see Odahviing land and set an entire group of the opposing side, both Imperial and Whiterun city guards, on fire before flying off again, this time over the walls and into the city. Ayla hurries down the ladder and into the city, where most of their enemies have been defeated thanks to the dragons.

"Hurry! To Dragonsreach!" Galmar yells as he runs past her, several Stormcloak soldiers following him. Ayla turns to see some of her soldiers there.

"Go through the city, kill any attacker you face," she orders them as she takes a few steps in the direction of the market, "help any and all civilians injured because of the fighting and protect them with your lives," she adds before turning and running towards Dragonsreach. She hears one of the dragons set something on fire nearby but she doesn't look to see who.

Instead, she cuts down any enemy on her way to Dragonsreach, stopping only when she sees Athena and Vilkas in front of Jorrvaskr, "what's wrong?" she asks the female, who smiles.

"Nothing," she replies, "just making sure the rest of the Companions are safe. We'll be back in the fight soon," she promises and Ayla nods her head.

"Odah and Aaryah did most of the fighting inside the city for us," she explains before glancing over her shoulder at the deserted streets of Whiterun, littered with Imperial and Guard bodies. What a waste of life, she thinks before turning back to her friend, "go through the city and find and aid any civilians," she adds and runs off before Athena can reply.

Ayla runs up the steps and is soon standing in front of the door. She places her hand on the wood and sighs, remembering when she first entered the hall so long ago and how welcoming Balgruuf was. Now she is here, attacking his city. She can only imagine what will happen when she enters the hall.

"Enough, I surrender!" she hears Balgruff yell from above the stairs, "I surrender. Peace! Everyone stand down," Ayla walks up the steps and stops at the top, seeing Galmar and a few Stormcloak soldiers standing between her and Balgruuf, "that's an order! Stand down,"

Ayla looks over to see an elderly man walk past her and stand next to Galmar. She walks forward a few steps but stays in the background, "Vignar Grey-Mane," Balgruuf says with an irritated tone, "your family was noticeably absent from the walls. Now I know why. Wouldn't a dagger in the back have sufficed?"

"You think this is personal?" Vignar asks, anger in his tone as he puts his hands on his hips, "the Empire has no place in Skyrim...not anymore. And you?" Vignar pauses for effect, "you have no place in Whiterun anymore," Ayla stares at the old man's back, raising an eyebrow at the man's gloating tone.

"A convenient position to hold now. But mark my word's old man, in the days to come, Ulfric will spread his rebellion thin. And what then?" Balgruuf asks the group, his arms crossed across his chest as he glares at them.

Galmar chuckles, "you couldn't have possibly seen the attacking dragons while locked in here," he says as he steps aside, revealing Ayla to the former Jarl, "let this answer your question," Galmar adds and Ayla slowly looks at Balgruuf to see him shaking his head in disappointment.

"You too?" he asks her and Ayla looks away, unable to handle his words, "you, Thane of Whiterun, attacked this city for what? For glory? Money?"

"I did it for Skyrim," she snaps angrily, turning to face his wrath head-on. She can feel her voice start to waver but she stays strong. Balgruuf stares at her for a few seconds before scoffing at her words.

"That's what they all say,"

"I didn't do it to destroy the Empire, I am doing this to end the Thalmor, who are my true enemies," Ayla says firmly, taking a few steps towards him and keeping her head held high, "believe me I wish it wouldn't end this way but it must. The Thalmor's claim on this land will be destroyed, even if I must die to do so,"

She watches in silence as Balgruuf processes her words, his eyes burning holes in her skin. Ayla purses her lips to keep her emotions from showing, "Why should I trust a woman who betrayed my trust," he says with no emotion before looking away from her.

Ayla scoffs, shaking her head and sighing, "you will be going to my base as a prisoner of war," she informs the Jarl, who whips his head to stare at her, "my soldiers will transport you under lock and key and bound by chains. Your children will be staying at my base, taken in by a family where they will be taught manners,"

"You can't!" Balgruuf says in disbelief, "they're my children, they need their father!" Ayla almost caved but she clears her throat and meets his gaze with a cold one of her own.

"You should have thought about that before you sided with the Empire," she says before turning and leaving the building, passing a large group of her soldiers as she goes. Once the door shuts she hurried off to behind the palace, where she recollects herself.

She leans against the stone walls of the city, eyes closed and biting her lip to keep herself from breaking down in sobs. She just destroyed a family and betrayed one of the few people she trusted with her life. She feels disgusted with herself. As someone who knows what it is like to grow up without any parents, she shouldn't be the one to do that to other kids.

War is a nasty thing and she can't imagine that ruling a country will be any different. She wipes her eyes, which had shed a few tears, before returning to her soldiers.

"You'll regret this, Dragonborn," Irileth snarls at Ayla as she is led past, her red eyes glaring at her. Ayla looks away from the Dunmer woman, refusing to give the woman the satisfaction of seeing her reaction.

"I brought you into my home. I made you my Thane. I trusted you," Balgruuf seethes as he stops in front of Ayla. She looks up at him with an emotionless gaze. She wasn't going to break. She wasn't. She refused to, "and you repay me by burning my town,"

Something shifts behind Ayla and she glances over her shoulder to see Odahviing there, his red eyes locked on the Jarl as a growl emits from his throat, "with the dragon I helped you trap, no less," Balgruuf adds and Ayla turns to look back at him, "the dragon I risked my city to trap," he continues and Ayla raises an eyebrow.

"Guilt tripping me won't work, Balgruuf, you know that," she reminds him as she crosses her arms, "believe me when I say that I wish things turned out differently, I really do. But you chose your side and I can't make you change your mind,"

Balgruuf stares down at her in silence for a few seconds, studying her features before scoffing, "you're right, you can't," he agrees, "but tell me where my children will be going since they're practically orphans now,"

"You're not dying, Balgruuf," Ayla explains as Odahviing huffs behind her, "Ulfric wanted to, but I convinced him to spare you and your family as a repayment for how much you helped me in the past," she pauses as she watches Balgruuf's children follow her soldiers out of Whiterun, "as I told you before, your children will be taken in by a family at my base where they will work in the farms, not as slaves, but as free children, able to run and play to their hearts content,"

Balgruuf remains silent, watching his young son and daughter leave their home, "I suppose I must thank you for not throwing them into a cell," he mutters begrudgingly as he looks back at the Dragonborn, his anger calming, "and I wish you luck in your attempt to rid Skyrim of the elves without the Empire's help," he adds before he is led away again.

"Things are going to get worse," she says softly and Odah hums in response.

"Do you think you did the right thing?"

Ayla shrugs, taking a deep breath, "we shall see in the months to come," she replies as she looks over at the red-scaled dragon, "tonight has changed the course of this war, for better or for worse,"

#Skyrim #Skyrim fanfiction #Dragonborn #Dovahkiin #Ulfric Stormcloak #Brynjolf #Cicero #Ulfric x Dragonborn #Brynjolf x OC #Cicero x Listener #Fanfic

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neutron-stars-collision · 4 years

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I’m bored and deep in F1 related feelings thanks to my dad putting on ‘Rush’ OST in the morning so I thought I’ll spend my energy on writing a little essay on how it began... Feel free to ignore if you couldn’t care less about men racing fast cars. I love you anyways 💕

As a not-so patriotic Polish citizen, one my most prominent memories from early childhood days is waking up on the weekend to the sound of F1 cars courtesy of my dad watching Robert Kubica on the little tv set in my bedroom. I suppose it must’ve been sometime between 2007-2009. And the rest is history, as those interested surely know.

Then I got lured to the cinema to see ‘Rush’ (2013) and well... let’s just say that it’s bound to mean something if one starts crying during the opening scenes without having an ounce of knowledge about the story told. I fell in love with Niki Lauda then. His courage, bravery and strength became ideals I wanted to aspire to. I also fell in love with Formula 1 in its essence. There was something so captivating in those beautiful cars and fascinating men, desperate enough to die trying in order to achieve greatness. For me, aged 14, with probably too many issues, it was more than an inspiration.

On 29th of December 2013, Michael Schumacher had the terrible accident. For me it will always be the memory of sitting in front of the tv watching evening news and crying so hard that I could not see the screen because I could not believe it. A hero, a champion surely could not be defeated like that by stupid skiis, right? Well we all know how that went... And I’m still hoping but...

In 2014, I went to the first Grand Prix. I was happier than ever, excitedly watching the driver’s parade, stood on the plastic chairs. Snooping with my binoculars through the people on the grid. My heart stumbled when I spotted Niki, in the flesh, being a Merc executive. It was all too amazing to be real.

The first time that dream crashed was on 5th October 2014, and the aftermath of the Suzuka GP. It was the first time that I understood the reality of the sport and the stakes. It only got worse a year later when we were forced to say goodbye to Jules.

After that, I had my worse and better years, sometimes not caring about a single race just because I lost my passion along the way. But recently, last three seasons, it all came back. And now I think I get it. It’s not just charismatic men driving fast cars. It’s not just the technological innovations or the money involved. For me, it will always be the history. The spirit and bravery. The foolish and yet inspiring ability to put everything on the line for the promise of glory. It’s not always worth it. Everyone who knows me can tell that I was not fine when Bahrain unfolded a little over a month ago. And that it took me a while to recover even though it could’ve been so much worse... But no matter what happens. No matter who wins the race. No matter who I’m supporting, it always boils down to the same feeling. The goosebumps when the lights start going out one by one. The nervous knot in my stomach and hands shaking. The thrill when unexpected victory comes. It’s more than a distraction from daily life. Sometimes it’s everything that there is.

This is long and probably boring but I had to... because I feel like crying and I don’t even know why. Because I’ll never forget Suzuka, Spa or the day in May 2019 when Niki passed away. Because I like to hope that maybe one day this can be my world in practice too.

#formula 1 #f1 #just a little something to give my brain an outlet #I admit i teared up when I was writing it #no clue what that says about me #but yeah I just miss the boys already #and I wish I can go to the GP this year #because I really need it

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mediaeval-muse · 4 years

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Book Review

Warbreaker. By Brandon Sanderson. New York: Tor, 2009.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Genre: fantasy

Part of a Series? Yes, Warbreaker #1

Summary: Warbreaker is the story of two sisters, who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can only be collected one unit at a time from individual people. By using breath and drawing upon the color in everyday objects, all manner of miracles and mischief can be accomplished. It will take considerable quantities of each to resolve all the challenges facing Vivenna and Siri, princesses of Idris; Susebron the God King; Lightsong, reluctant god of bravery, and mysterious Vasher, the Warbreaker.

***Full review under the cut.***

Overview: I’ll come clean here... despite Sanderson being a pillar in the fantasy genre, I haven’t read one of his books until now. A friend, who is a big Sanderson fan, suggested I start with Warbreaker, so my review is going to be based on no other knowledge of Sanderson’s work. Overall, I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would; Sanderson has a talent for creating complex worlds and an imagination which makes his setting memorable. I also think there were a lot of good ideas built into the structure of the narrative, as well as infused in the character archetypes. The main reason why I didn’t give this book a higher rating, however, is personal preference: I don’t think the main action of the novel kicked off soon enough, and I personally didn’t feel invested in the war plot or the personal arcs of some of the characters. That being said, I do look forward to checking out more of Sanderson’s work. There was enough in this book to intrigue me, and though I didn’t love everything about Warbreaker, I can definitely see why Sanderson’s books are so beloved by fans.

Writing: Sanderson’s prose is fairly straightforward. It doesn’t contain a lot of rhetorical flourishes or figural language, but it doesn’t leave the reader in the lurch, either. I never had a difficult time picturing the world Sanderson creates or wondering what characters were thinking or feeling - everything was described well, and I never had to go back and read something multiple times in order to understand it. In that sense, Sanderson’s prose is simple, yet effective. It’s easy to get through, which helps the story move quicker.

There were a couple of info dumps (the two I can think of off the top of my head include the scene when Siri learns of Hallandran history from a storyteller and the scene where Vivenna learns about the theories of Awakening), but other than that, I think most of the worldbuilding was shown well through descriptions of the scenery, the actions of the characters, etc. I really did have the experience of being immersed in the world, and I think Sanderson knows how to craft a complex setting without overwhelming his readers with pages and pages of exposition.

Plot: The plot of this novel follows four main “threads,” centered on four prominent characters: 1. Siri, the youngest daughter of the king of Idris, who is sent to the kingdom (?) of Hallandren to marry their God King as part of a peace treaty; 2. Vivenna, Siri’s older sister, who was supposed to be sent to the God King, but was held back because of favoritism. She follows her sister in part to rescue her and also to prevent war between her kingdom and Hallandren; 3. Lightsong, one of the gods in Hallandren’s pantheon, who finds himself reluctantly drawn into the politics between the gods; 4. Vasher, a mysterious figure who wields a sentient sword named Nightblood.

Each of these “threads” were bound by the looming threat of war, but I personally didn’t find the war aspect suspenseful, in part because 3 of the 4 characters were “upper class” (and thus, war would impact them differently), and partly because we don’t spend much time with Idrians, who have the most to lose. I also think that the main action of each of these threads didn’t really take off until halfway through the book, and while I appreciate a slow pace to become familiar with the worldbuilding, I think the plot could have moved a bit quicker.

In terms of the individual threads, each had their ups and downs. I first found Siri’s storyline to be a little icky - she’s only 17, yet much of her plot involves discussions of sex and fertility. On the one hand, I get it - she’s sent to the God King as a bride, and her job is to produce an heir. On the other hand, I felt uncomfortable when reading about how often she was naked and how everyone calls her “vessel” rather than something proper, like “my queen.” I didn’t find her story particularly interesting until she finally begins to interact with the God King; for the first couple hundred pages, most of her time is spent getting used to Hallandren and palace life while her husband ignores her. Only when the God King begins to form a relationship with her did I feel invested, in part because Siri finally had a meaningful connection with another person, and thus personal stakes in the war.

Vivenna’s plot seemed interesting on the surface, but I ultimately found her to be too passive for my liking. Vivenna spends most of her time inciting then stifling a rebellion amongst her people, many of whom live as second-class citizens in Hallandren’s capital. It seems like that would be an active role for her, but most of the time, she’s acting under orders/guidance from other characters around her. I personally didn’t care for scene after scene of her meeting with people to convince them to do something, or scenes of her failing and being helpless. She often had to rely on male characters to get around, and while I don’t think she had to be perfect at everything, I do think she could have made use of her extensive training to be a bit more active. I did like, however, that her plot challenged a lot of her biases and supposed values of her religious teachings, shedding light on how we can’t judge people who are living in desperate conditions.

Lightsong’s plot started slow but picked up steam. As a god who is not convinced that his divinity is earned, he copes by indulging in a decadent lifestyle and putting up a jovial façade. At first, he tries to stay out of the debates about war, but once he’s dragged into the politics of the pantheon’s court, things get a little more interesting. I liked the moments when his story was less about war and more about discovering who he was before he became a god. They felt a little more personal, whereas the war didn’t seem to threaten his well being one way or the other.

Vasher’s POV chapters are less frequent, and when they appear, he’s doing something sneaky for reasons we don’t understand until some 2/3 through the novel. While I found his interactions with Nighblood amusing, I was frustrated by the lack of a clear motivation until the point where we learn what he’s up to. After that, I found him more fun to watch.

Characters: There are a lot of characters in this book, so I’m going to cover the main ones and a couple prominent supporting roles. Overall, I can say that each character archetype was interesting, and I often liked the idea of a character on its own as opposed to how the archetype was used in the narrative.

Siri is an impulsive, rebellious princess who has trouble respecting authority. While I’ve seen this archetype before, I think Sanderson avoided the “not like other girls” trope and instead wrote Siri as one who uses her impulses against the authorities that are restricting her. I was actually pleasantly surprised that Siri went from a fish out of water (because she doesn’t have the training her sister has about Hallandren society) to someone who is better equipped to spearhead a resistance within the God King’s own palace, all because resistance requires the guts to take risks and stand up to authority. In that sense, I liked her story a lot.

The God King, her husband, was also likeable, in part because he seemed to genuinely want to be a good ruler. I admired his affection for Siri, as well as his desire to use his power for good.

Vivenna, on the other hand, seemed like a good character at first, but I quickly started to dislike her. All her life, she was raised to be the God King’s bride, so she has extensive training and education. She’s also poised and confident, up until she is out of her element and has to find a way to operate on the streets of T’Telir. I thought Vivenna would use her training in a more meaningful way; knowing about Hallandren so thoroughly, I thought she would do more to apply that knowledge when concocting a plot to save her sister. Instead, Vivenna always seemed to be passive, letting the people around her make decisions and tell her what to do. She also doesn’t seem that interested in saving her sister after some time, despite being protective of Siri when they were younger. As an older sister myself, I found the easy abandonment of her sibling a little hard to believe, and I wish the desire to save her family was more of a driving force than Vivenna’s sense of duty to her people. While she does manage to do things on her own towards the end, I also found that to be undercut by her deference to Vasher. While it might be realistic to let characters with more skill/experience take care of stuff, it made me wonder why we were following Vivenna at all (in other words, why is Vivenna a main character and not Vasher, if all Vivenna is going to do is get in the way?). I also found Vivenna to be a little stuck-up and judgmental, which, granted, she learns to overcome, but for the majority of the book, she just seemed holier-than-thou, and I didn’t find her fun to watch.

Within Vivenna’s chapters (or sections), we see a number of side characters, the most prominent being the band of mercenaries that help her meet with influential people. At first, I liked these mercenaries; Denth seemed to be a good friend, while Jewels challenged Vivenna’s assumptions about Hallandrens in a way I found productive and enlightening. In all, it seemed like these characters were written in a way that broke stereotypes, and I was wishing they could have formed a little found family. However, after the twist, I didn’t quite like how the mercenaries were handled. They seemed to disappear from view, and we only heard of their actions by word of mouth (so everything they did seemed to happen “off screen,” then relayed by another character later). Because of that, I didn’t ultimately feel like they were much of a threat. I did like that their beef with Vasher was seeded early, so that when they finally come into contact, it felt like we were getting a payoff.

Lightsong is full of charisma, so even though his plot was slow, I enjoyed following him. He has some nice banter with Blushweaver (another goddess in the pantheon) and his high priest, Llarimar. I particularly found his relationship with Llarimar rather sweet, and I liked that Lightsong was curious about his past life without letting it distract from the threat at hand. The end of his arc felt a little unfair, as did Blushweaver’s - I was hoping he would get to do a little more.

But speaking of Blushweaver, I found her to be complicated. I liked that she seemed to genuinely care about whether or not Hallandren went to war, and wasn’t just playing a power game for power’s sake. However, I hated how she was written as a sexpot, using her body to distract (or try to distract) the other gods and to get what she wanted. I have no problem with a female character being sexual, but I do hate female characters who use sexuality as a manipulative tool. It’s just a tired trope, and I don’t enjoy it. Also, can we talk about how she calls Siri a slut at one point?

Vasher at first didn’t seem that interesting to me until we learn of his true motivations. After that, I enjoyed his character archetype immensely. He seems like a gruff badass at first, which I am also tired of reading about, but after a while, he’s shown to be something of a softy with terrible interpersonal skills. I probably enjoyed his conversations with Nighblood the most. Nightblood jokes and pouts and talks about killing in an almost childlike way, which was quite amusing. I wish we had gotten more of those interactions.

Other: The thing I appreciated most about this book was the worldbuilding. Sanderson creates a world that feels unique - instead being set in the gritty faux-Middle Ages where everything is violent and dirty, the narrative takes place in Hallandren, a kingdom full of joy and color. I particularly liked how color was important not just to Hallandren culture, but to the magic system. In Sanderson’s world, everyone has a life force or aura called “Breath” or “BioChroma,” which can be used in a variety of ways. BioChroma allow users to enchant objects (so to speak) or sustain life, and I liked that possessing and using BioChroma affected things like sound and color. It was a refreshing change from the dull worlds of grimdark fantasy.

I also liked the tension between the polytheistic religion of T’Telir and the monotheistic religion of Idris. Hallandrens worship “gods” that they can see and speak to, whereas Idrians worship a single god who is unseen. It posed some interesting theological debates, as well as a subtle, yet critical, examination of things like the hypocrisy of priests, the superiority complex of conservatives, etc.

Overall, I did enjoy this book, even if there were things that I wish were different. I hear there is supposed to be a sequel coming out at some point, and when it is out, I will pick it up.

#book reviews

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iloveyouthree-thousand · 5 years

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Stark: An American Musical

So this is an idea I dreamed up a while ago: a series of loosely connected one-shots based on the songs from Hamilton. I have no explanation for it other than, like, it sounded fun? And I kinda want to rip your hearts out with It's Quiet Uptown. Pre-Endgame. Post CACW.

Track #1 // Anthony Stark

"Holy mother of—you bastard, orphan, son of a—good God that hurts," Rhodes hissed through through his teeth as Tony tightened the metal device around his leg.

"I thought cripples weren't supposed to feel pain," Tony said, feeling Rhodey's nails sink into his skin, "and didn't you go through special ops training? Shouldn't this feel like nothing to you?"

"You want to try it on and see how it feels?"

"If it means I get to be the one digging my ridiculously long fingernails into your arm, then maybe. Seriously buddy, when's the last time you trimmed these talons?"

Rhodes dug his nails in deeper.

"Fu—okay, that was uncalled for," he winced as he rubbed his arm, "and you know what else was uncalled for? The orphan comment. Little soon, don't you think?"

"It's been over thirty years."

Tony frowned, now working on tightening the device on the other leg.

"God I'm old. Which means you're even older. FRIDAY, remind me to look at nursing homes for my geriatric pal here later this week." He grinned as Rhodey narrowed his eyes and smacked him across the chest.

"Just because I'm a paraplegic doesn't mean I won't kick your ass Tony."

He just laughed. "Alright buddy, all done. How does that feel?"

His friend stood up and took a hesitant walk down the hallway.

"You know, I feel like I should write down the date, maybe put it in a scrapbook. Rhodey's first steps. This is such a proud father moment for me. It's exciting for you, too, of course, but mostly for me."

Rhodes rolled his eyes. The injury was still fresh, and he was still coming to terms with his decreased mobility. It was hard, for both of them, but they had hope.

Tony had been working on the contraption, forgetting to sleep at times, designing and creating in a guilt-ridden, coffee-driven haze. A smirk never failed to light up Tony's eyes, but Rhodey would never not notice the dark circles drooping just below. He knew better.

He also knew better than to try and tear Tony away from a project, especially one driven by the overwhelming sense of responsibility he never seemed to shake.

"Save the proud father moments for your protégé. Don't think I haven't seen the new models of his suit lying all over this complex while mine, I might add, is still parachute-less. Traitorous bastard."

Rhodes had slid carefully onto the floor, the act of walking taking a lot more energy now that his limbs were rather uncooperative. It killed Tony a little bit, to see his best friend drained from a task that had once been so menial. At least it was progress.

He wordlessly joined him on the ground.

"Actually, I think it was bastard, orphan, son-of-a-bitch," he corrected. "I think that'd be a good title for my autobiography. Maybe I'll write it on my headstone... actually, that's definitely what I want. Make a note of that for my funeral plans. And as long as we're making plans, I want you to give the eulogy."

If there was a look for 'you've finally crossed the threshold to insanity', it was emanating off of Rhodes right now.

"You must be out of your damn mind."

Tony feigned hurt, pressing his hand over the spot where his arc reactor used to rest.

"Why? Because you think you'll die first? Come on, I've got a death wish and, like, zero regard for danger. You live ten years longer than I do, minimum."

"I don't have a parachute."

"Exactly! You didn't even have a parachute and you're still a living, whining, pain in the ass."

He clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "Can't Pepper give the damn eulogy?"

Tony's face twisted exaggeratedly, like that was the most absurd comment he'd heard in his entire life.

"What, and put her through even more than she'd already have gone through? We both know I'm going to go out in spectacular, gut-wrenching fashion, don't tell me you'd actually make her get up there and give a whole speech after that. She'll have enough on her plate."

"Oh, so she'll be too emotionally vulnerable but, sure, let's make your best friend get up there and do it instead."

Tony's mouth pulled to the side of his face. "Careful, pal. I never fully committed to you being my best friend. I do live with Pepper, tell her all my dark, dirty secrets. You're easily a close second, though."

His eyes narrowed in a glare.

"You say something stupid like that again and I'll be the reason you're having a funeral."

"Rhodey, you know I love you both—just in different ways." A smirk was practically eating his face, but his friend was having none of it.

"Oh yeah? Who'd you give a suit to, Tony? I don't see Pepper up there kicking ass next to you."

"One—if I recall correctly, you stole the suit. Two—I'm pretty sure Pepper has killed at least half of the guys I've gone up against. And three—if we're basing friendships off of suits, as you mentioned earlier, then Peter Parker is my best friend... speaking of, he should be here any minute."

Tony lifted his watch to his face, the screen lighting up as he checked the time.

"Remind me again why the fifteen-year-old is always over here now?"

"He's helpful. He helped me design that," he pointed at the metal device Tony had been painfully tightening onto Rhodey's leg a few minutes earlier. "It's much more ergonomic than the last one."

Rhodes raised an eyebrow. "The kid helped you design this?"

"Don't doubt him, he's practically a genius—probably smarter than you."

He punched Tony in the arm.

"I went to M.I.T. too, remember? Degree in Aerospace Engineering? Give me some credit, man."

"Huh. See, I have vague memories of that, but I was busy having fun in college—,"

"You were busy destroying your liver."

"I was living out my glory days."

"Oh, trust me, there was nothing glorious about puking all over our bathroom every other weekend."

Tony pressed his lips together. "Yea... let's maybe not bring that up in front of Pete."

A look that Tony couldn't decipher passed Rhodey's face. "What exactly is the deal with you and this kid? Did some of that fun in college have some permanent, teenaged consequences?"

His friend had noticed several different trials of red and blue Spider-Man suits lying around for a few weeks now, but he hadn't questioned it because Tony had always outfitted the team and, well, the team was pretty sparse as of late.

Of course, Tony still had a new prototype for Captain America's shield in the works and some upgraded arrows for Clint lying around on a workbench somewhere, among other things.

He could only work on them for so long, though, before the gadgets just became glaring reminders of the faces that were now absent from the Compound.

Making suits for Spider-Man kept Tony busy. It made him feel productive. Worthwhile. He wasn't left with such an empty feeling in his chest.

Tony scoffed. "Jesus, Rhodey, he isn't mine. Thank God. I've already screwed with his life enough." He took his tinted glasses off and fiddled with them in his hands. "I just found the kid online, but no one was going to take him seriously in his homemade Halloween costume, so I gave him a little upgrade."

Rhodey might've believed that, if it weren't for the Midtown High sweatshirt draped across one of the couches or the newspaper clippings of the spandex-wearing superhero clandestinely taped to Tony's desk.

"That still doesn't explain why he's over here all the time."

"I was just going to give him the suit and let him go back to doing his own thing... but he managed to break all the security locks I set in a little over a week and then decided to single-handedly take on Sam Wilson's evil alter-ego."

"You gave a child genius a million-dollar toy and you didn't think he'd play with it?"

Tony turned to face him before deadpanning, "I don't have a lot of experience with teenagers, okay? It was stupid, I know, but I'm trying to make up for that by having him over here—letting him have a say in the design process and actually teaching him how to use it—because he has little regard for my built-in training protocols. And he's good help."

Rhodey was about to ask if Peter's more frequent visits had anything to do with the quiet silence that now haunted the compound whenever he or Pepper were out, but he was interrupted by one-hundred and forty-one pounds of pure excitement practically bounding out of the elevator.

"Mr. Stark! So there was this guy on the subway today who tried to swipe a phone from this other guy, and I saw the whole thing happen but I couldn't do anything about it because he was too far away and I couldn't squeeze through all the people, but—oh, h-hey Mr.—Mr. Col. Rhodes, Sir."

Tony looked amused.

"Pete, I'd like you to my best pal Mr. Col. Rhodes, also known as Rhodey, also known as War Machine... it is War Machine, right? We're officially over the Iron Patriot thing?"

He ignored Tony, pushing against his shoulder to stand up, before reaching out to shake Peter's hand.

"It's nice to meet you, Peter." He shot his attention over to the other man in the room. "And what happened to 'Pepper's my best friend', huh, Tony?"

Tony held out a hand to Peter, who obligingly helped him up to his feet, while maintaining eye contact with Rhodes.

"I mean, you are the one giving my eulogy."

"Am not."

"Rhodey, come on, you give the best speeches. Remember that one you gave in like 2009? At the White House? FRIDAY, play the speech."

"No. FRI—,"

"Playing Colonel Rhodes' Presidential Medal of Honor Introduction Speech."

Peter stood awkwardly in front of the two men, terribly confused, as a familiar voice rang out over the speakers in the compound.

"I've been asked over and over again if I ever suspected my best friend was a superhero. The answer to that is—I've always known that he was different, and not just because he's a hell of a lot smarter than the rest of us. He grew up in the legacy of Howard Stark. No one was surprised when he turned out to be a genius—at fifteen, they placed him in advanced classes at M.I.T-,"

"FRIDAY, mute."

"FRIDAY, override."

"...but there's more to Tony than just brilliance. He's a self-starter. The only thing standing between him and what he wants is himself. When he saw his future dripping down the drain in Afghanistan, brought to his knees by weapons his company he'd created, left with nothing but ruined pride—something new inside broke through. Anyone else might've been dead in a week but Tony—he wouldn't let himself go out like that."

"FRIDAY, stop."

"FRIDAY, don't even think about it."

"...he put a pencil to paper and with nothing more than some scrap metal and the help of a new friend he plotted his way out of hell. He overcame certain death in a cave, but he didn't stop with self-preservation. He rewrote the game in the defense private sector. He saved his own life and then he saved countless others, and because of him, the world will never be the same."

"FRIDAY—," Rhodes threatened.

Tony cut him off. "Oh, come on, this is the best part." The recording kept playing.

"I know you already know his name, but it is my honor to present the medal of honor to my best friend, Tony Stark... Or, as many of you may know him: Iron Man."

"FRIDAY, off," Rhodes said, and Tony finally didn't protest. "Tell me you don't keep that around just to boost your ego. You know I only did that because the President asked me to. It wasn't for you."

"You keep telling yourself that."

The two men kept bantering, but throughout it all, Peter was eerily quiet. It only took a few seconds of his silence for Tony to realize something was up.

"Hey Pete, you look like you swallowed a frog. Everything all right up there?" he asked, raising his hand to gently pat him on the head.

The kid shook as if coming out of a trance. "Yea—yea, everything... everything's fine, it's just... aren't eulogies, like, the things you say at funerals?"

Rhodey answered, "Yes, they are. See, Tony, he thinks it's weird too."

Peter still looked like he had gotten kicked in the shins.

"No... I mean yeah, kinda, but that's not—Mr. Stark... are you dying?"

Tony looked confused for a second before... oh.

"God, kid, no—I'm not dying. I was just trying to mess with Rhodey here, I didn't mean to—."

"Oh thank God," Peter said, visibly relaxing, "don't scare me like that."

Then, he did something that made Rhodey nearly slide to the floor. Again.

His deceptively small arms wrapped around Tony's torso, and Tony hesitated for half of a second before tentatively and quickly returning the gesture.

For a second, it was a picture-worthy moment. But the second passed and the moment came to an end as both parties seemed to realize instantaneously that they were crossing boundaries.

"Right," Tony coughed, "Peter, why don't you show Rhodey some of the new features you dreamed up. I'm going to go get... some coffee. Try not to talk his ear off, he's the only one who still sometimes listens to me around here."

James Rhodes had known Tony for what felt like an eternity. He fought with him. Trusted him. And if the situation ever arose, he would die for the damn fool.

But the man who exited the room as if the soles of his shoes had caught fire, a wisp of crimson warmth on his cheeks, looked like a new man entirely.

There were a million things he suddenly wanted to ask Tony, a million places to prod, and he couldn't wait to do exactly that after the boy returned to his apartment in Queens for the night.

Right now, though, the kid was showing him the new thrusters Tony had built into the heels of the devices.

"...and if you do this, then the repulsors activate—,"

Peter pressed a button, and the chorus of T.N.T. came blaring through the room as the repulsors sent Rhodey crashing into the wall behind him.

Tony sauntered back into the room, a cup of coffee in hand and a snort on his face as he surveyed the scene. A flustered Peter Parker tried to hold back a laugh as he attempted to help a cussing, high-ranking military official up from a muddled heap on the floor.

"Oh yea. There's a bit of a learning curve. You'll figure it out," he garbled, mouth stuffed with a muffin that he had hidden in his other hand, "For now... consider this recompense for the orphan comment." He clapped a hand on the boy's shoulder, ushering him toward the shop, his friend still lying in an annoyed mess on the ground.

He'd help him later, of course, but the look on Rhodey's face gave him a pure, childlike joy that few things could. If Rhodes kicked his ass later—paraplegia and all—it would have been worth it a hundred times over.

So he led a mildly concerned Peter Parker away, chuckling as his best friend's voice faded into the background.

"Don't you even think about walking away without teaching me how to use these things. Tony... Tony Stark you better not be walking away from me. Don't be a dick. Come back here, you heartless, pompous, snowflake... I know you know I'll get you back for this... quit acting like a teenaged punk... Anthony Stark!"

Tony laughed under his breath and kept walking. Rhodes always came up with the nicest things to call him.

#irondad #tony stark #peter parker #james rhodes #hamilton

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