#Embargoed News Letter

[freezaprime]

FAR FROM HOME PART 4 (Frieza x Reader)

*Warning: this story contains adult situations and human trafficking scenarios. Reader’s discretion is advise*

‘Frieza wasn’t lying when he said I’d be working to the bone.’ You thought as your aching body hit the bed. For the next five weeks you were either washing dishes, mopping the floors, or tidying up Frieza’s room for hours after hours since you were hardly soldier material. It was tough work but you managed to adapt. Though it would’ve been more easier if Frieza wasn’t mocking you for being an ‘earthling maggot’. You might’ve stopped from all the name calling if it wasn’t for Berriblu who acted more like a stern yet funny grandma to you. One minute she was telling you to keep up your duties and the next thing you knew she was getting you to crack a smile to relieve your stress. It helped you a lot throughout each day and you were grateful for that. And then there was Kikono, a small yellow alien with antennas similar to Piccolo’s. He was a bit on the shy side but when you started talking to him out of boredom he instantly warmed up to you.

“At least he’s not fucking me.” You mumbled looking around your room which was suppose to be the captain’s quarters however Frieza allowed you to sleep in there so that you wouldn’t be in the same room as his crewmen and it was closer to his room. Plus he didn’t have anyone who would fill in the captain’s position yet. The bed was firm but not too hard to not sleep on and a desk sat next to it. ‘Maybe I should start writing a letter to Bulma and Chi-Chi to let them know how I’m doing.’ You thought.

A knock sounded from the bedroom door.

“Yes?” You called out walking out of bed groaning a bit before opening the door to reveal Berriblu.

“Lord Frieza would like a word with you.” Berriblu said.

“Can’t he wait until tomorrow, Berriblu. I’m in need of sleep.” You moaned.

Berriblu gave you a stern look. “He’s not the type to wait until tomorrow besides it won’t take long. You just need to bear with it.”

You sighed and followed her to Frieza’s throne room. As soon as you entered the room you saw the tyrant sitting on his throne drinking red wine. He turns to face you with a cheeky grin plastered on his face.

“Did I disturbed your beauty sleep, dear?” Frieza asked in a sickly sweet tone.

“No, Lord Frieza. You didn’t quite yet.” You answered feeling irked as you addressed him.

Frieza gestures for Berriblu to leave you two alone to which she did. “You’ve done quite well with your work and I believe that deserves a reward don’t you think?”

“That does sound nice, sir.” You admitted as your mind wondered as to what kind of reward he was going to give you. If he was going to reward you that is.

“In twenty hours we shall be reaching the planet Embargo where we will stock up on supplies and possibly buy some new clothes for yourself.” Frieza said as he stares at the Frieza force attire you were wearing. “That will be your reward seeing as you have been suffering a case of cabin fever these past few weeks.”

He was right you had been really snippy lately especially towards the crewmen who were poking fun at you or were hitting on you. Even Berriblu wasn’t exempted from your temper but you were quick to apologize to her. “Thank so much, Lord Frieza.”

“Oh, and one more thing…”

A few sudden jabs to your body caught you by surprised making you let out a mixture of gasping and screaming followed by a few faint pops and cracks. By the time it was over all the aches in you were gone and you were feeling good as new.

“Wow! What did you do?” You asked in awe.

“My own version of acupressure. You should be able to sleep well tonight.” Frieza said standing next to you.

You didn’t even see him move from his throne until you saw him next to you. “Feels amazing.”

“I’m sure it does. Now go get some rest.” Frieza ordered.

You were more than happy to heed it.

~

Planet Embargo didn’t seem that different from earth except it’s inhabitants were mostly elfish like in appearance with sliverly blonde hair and silver blue eyes.

“This is pretty nice.” You commented in amazement walking with Frieza and Berriblu through the city which made you feel like you stepped into the future.

“Of course it is. The people of this planet value cleanliness above all else but they are mostly xenophobic except when I am present.” Frieza stated in a matter of fact tone.

“That explains the disgusted stares I’m getting from them.” You muttered looking at the judgmental glares the people were giving you. It was making you uncomfortable.

“Pay them no mind, Y/n. As long as you’re with Lord Frieza they won’t bother chasing you off this planet.” Berriblu assured you.

You relaxed as the three of you entered a nearby tailor store. The woman who was obviously the owner of the store spotted you and was about to say something when she saw Frieza.

“W-Welcome Lord Frieza! What do I owe the pleasure of your visit?” She said nervously as she bowed.

“My newest addition to my forces is in need of clothes and sadly I lack any diversity in that department that would suit her.” Frieza said gesturing to you.

The owner looks between you and Frieza withholding her grimace. “And what type of clothes are we looking for?”

You spoke up. “Something comfortable and distinctive.”

“Very well give me a moment.” The woman said retreating to the back of the store.

You looked around the store seeing all sorts of clothing ranging from causal to special occasions. Most of the colorful dresses looked bohemian which caught your eye as you approached them.

“Look but don’t touch. Those are my latest work.” The owner said coldly from behind you.

You looked at her in awe. “You made these yourself? That’s pretty cool. I bet they make quite a lot of money for this quality.”

The woman scoffed. “I wish. I’ve had only a few customers come in and purchase them but none of them had been flying off the shelves.”

“Why’s that?” You asked.

“These styles originated from some backwater planet and while I enjoy making clothes that fit my customers I love getting some inspiration from other cultures. However it’s difficult to get inspiration when you’re living in a xenophobic society like me.”

“Well that’s sad. Seeing these reminds me of home.” You said.

The woman’s eyes glimmers with a slight sliver of hope. “Tell me you wouldn’t happen to be from Earth would you?”

“Yeah. That’s my home planet.” You answered.

Squealing in excitement the cashier bounced up and down. “I can’t believe I’m meeting an actual earthling in person like this!”

“I’d appreciate it if you kept that information to yourself woman. For this earthling is a primary target of a few shady characters that wish to exploit her reproductive abilities for their perverse needs. Do you really want that to happen?” Frieza asked with a smirk.

“N-no! That’s horrible! I wouldn’t even wish that kind of fate on my worst enemy!” The owner exclaimed in horror.

“Good.” Frieza turned to you. “Do you like those clothes?”

You nodded.

“Then we’ll take a few of those and throw in some sleep wear while you’re at it.” Frieza told the owner .

“Excellent choice Lord Frieza!” The owner smiles before looking at you. “Do you have any specific you’d want?”

Ten minutes later you were happily walking out with bags of clothes in your arms and a frustrated Frieza was following beside you along with a giggling Berriblu.

“I said a few clothes, not ten.” Frieza muttered. “Just how many clothes does a woman need?”

“There’s a lot you need to know about women, Lord Frieza.” Berriblu smiled. “After all that young lady was generous to offer a discount for this earthling’s visit.”

“True, but is it really necessary for a woman to have so much clothes?” Frieza asked sighing.

“It is when there’s multiple occasions a woman can wear certain clothing like when she goes on a date, attend a wedding, or just wear whatever.” You said.

Frieza let out a huff. He was quite for awhile as you all walked down the street. “Just be sure to wear something appropriate for dinner tonight.”

You looked at him and smirked. “Are you asking me to have dinner with you again?”

“Do you have a problem with that, human?” Frieza glared at you.

You shook your head. “No I’m just surprised is all. It’s been a while since the last time I had dinner with you.”

“Yes. Unfortunately we were interrupted by Condu’s hell-spawn and I believe it best to have a normal dinner.”

‘Since when is having dinner with this guy ever considered normal?’ You thought sarcastically.

“Berriblu, please escort her back to the ship. I have my own business to conduct here as well.” Frieza said.

“Lord Frieza!” A group of soldiers approached your group wearing silver military uniforms. “I apologize for the interruption but I am placing one of your subordinates under arrest for suspicions of theft.” The captain in front of the military group said.

“Which one would that be?” The emperor asked curiously.

The captain points at you. “Her, sir.”

“I haven’t stolen anything! Lord Frieza could tell you that since I’m with him!” You exclaimed in defense.

“You are not from this planet so hold your tongue until I say so!” Frieza snaps at you before looking at the captain. “Are you sure she stole something? Cause if she did I shall take the responsibility of punishing her myself.”

“That’s not necessary as long as she’s on planet Embargo she shall be punished according to our law.” The captain stated firmly.

“And what law would that be?”

“Section 4: Anyone either from this planet or off planet who attempts to steal from the Ecoian people shall face severe punishments. Of course that depends if they’re found guilty of theft. Right now we’re just weeding out suspects.”

“I see. Then why don’t I join you to see if my servant had truly committed theft?” Frieza offered.

You were getting really nervous about this. Did someone accuse you of stealing just because you were from another planet?

“The king of Embargo insists that you do no such thing. Forgive me but I’m under orders to take the girl in for questioning.” The captain said approaching you while pulling out a pair of hand cuffs.

Frieza grabs the captain’s arm suddenly. “First of all anyone serving under me will be punished if they’re caught stealing from me or misuses their status for such a petty crime and I won’t tolerate such a thing. Second, the ruler of this planet has no business of disciplining one of my subjects unless I say so. And lastly, what is this red dot flashing in your pocket?” At that moment Frieza’s tail reaches into one of the captain’s leg pockets and pulls out the same radar that Dildu had which is beeping loudly enough for most of the passing people took notice. “Noise isolation pockets? How convenient for you but not enough to not raise my suspicions, Viagrin scum.”

The captain, dropping his glamour to reveal his hideous face along with the other soldiers, then draws out a gun on Frieza but the tyrant twists his arm and rips it off. Scarlet blood gushes out as the captain screams in pain, drops the gun and falls backwards into the others. The bystanders screamed in fear and ran away from the scene as Frieza then attacks the other soldiers who drew their own guns on the tyrant. It didn’t take long before they all fell dead after having their necks twisted, guts punched through, bodies torn in half, and tortured to death. You had your face covered with your hands the whole time since you witnessed Frieza tearing off the Viagrin’s arm off and hearing their screams made you realize just how terrifying Frieza could be to those that oppose him. You were just glad that he wasn’t doing that to you.

“It’s over, Y/n. He’s finished.” Berriblu told you.

You shakily and slowly moved your hands from your eyes to see the bloody, gory mess that laid before you and saw Frieza, covered in the Viagrin’s blood looking at you with a satisfying smile on his face that looked like he had a good time killing them. The scene alone was enough to make your stomach churn.

“Sorry you had to see this but at least you now know how lucky you are that I didn’t do this to you when we first met.” He said smugly.

You couldn’t hold back the vomit.

~

“What did you expect, Frieza? She’s never seen real violence and gore before!” Whis chuckled.

It hadn’t been long after you returned to the ship when Beerus and Whis visited you. You apologize for not greeting them properly as you were still feeling queasy from earlier. They both were understanding of it and gave you a letter from Bulma along with your cell phone fully charged. You thanked them profusely before heading into your room to rest. Frieza had just arrived and informed Beerus about what had happened.

“That much I knew but I didn’t expect her to puke on the street like that. Humans are so damn delicate these days.” Frieza grumbled.

“Never mind that. Let’s talk about those punks you disposed of. From what you’ve told us they seem to have a lot of bravado coming at you after you exposed them.” Beerus said staring hard at Frieza.

Frieza straightens up. “Yes and that same bravado will be the death of them if they continue like that.” He smiles to himself.

“And how has Miss Y/n been since we last saw her?” Whis asked curiously.

“I’ve put her to the task of performing some menial chores. So far she’s proven to be quite the hard worker which is pleasing to see. Hence I rewarded her with a trip to a nearby planet so she could stretch her legs and get a breath of fresh air.” Frieza answered.

“And some new clothes I see.” Beerus added. “Didn’t you have some dresses for her to wear?”

“I did Lord Beerus but those dresses are for certain occasions not for working in. The human knows that as well so she wears one of my uniforms.” Frieza said.

“Well she does look comfortable in it. But I doubt that she’ll fit into your forces especially after what you told me.” Beerus mused with a sly smile. “If anything I say she’s best suited as my own personal cook.”

“Then why not take her to your planet, your lordship? I highly doubt that these DNA trackers are able to track the human to a place that isn’t accessible to mortals such as myself.” Frieza inquired as he has been mulling on that question since the day Beerus placed him in charge of your well-being.

Beerus went silent.

“If he wanted to, he could, Frieza. But that really wouldn’t solve the problem right now and Miss Y/n will have to be confined there for a very long time. From what I heard from Bulma, Y/n is easily prone to being restless and agitated when staying at one place for a significant amount of time unless there’s something to keep her busy with.” Whis chimed in.

Frieza nodded at this. “Obviously.”

“She needed motivation and I provided it to her. Perhaps you should do the same if you want to get your hands on Condu.” Beerus said staring holes into Frieza’s.

“I suppose I should.” Frieza agreed.

~

Wearing one of your new outfits, you were smiling the whole time you were having dinner with Frieza and it did not go unnoticed to the said tyrant.

“You’re awfully cheery. Did something happen?” Frieza asked curiously.

“Whis gave me a letter from my friends back on earth saying that they’re glad that I’m safe but they’re not happy about me being with you.” You said.

“Oh? Do they know me?” He knew who you were talking about but wanted to hear you say it.

“Yeah they do. From what they said you were violent, egotistical, cold hearted, and evil. Even my friend’s hubby said that I shouldn’t let my guard down around you despite the circumstances we’re in.”

“Of course Vegeta would say that. He knows me better than anyone else.” Frieza chuckled.

You paused as your smile faded away. “How do you know his name? I haven’t even told you that.”

“You didn’t need to. Vegeta was one of my minions long ago and quite a strong one too but not as strong as I was back then. Did he mention anything else about me?” The tyrant knew how most people would react when they learned he committed genocide on certain natives of a planet. A majority of such reactions were either anger or horror. He’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it.

“He said that you were the reason his race was driven into extinction. Is that right?” You asked taking a bite of the crab meat.

Frieza nods with his ruby red eyes fixed on your face. Waiting for that expression of horror to show.

“Ok.” You turned your attention to your food.

‘Delayed reaction. That’s all it is.’ Frieza thought to himself as he waited for you to spit out your food and recoil from him in shock.

But no such thing happened. You kept on eating as usual.

“Doesn’t that upset you? I admitted that I killed off the whole Saiyan race save for Goku and Vegeta and you’re not going to respond to that?” Frieza inquired not hiding his puzzled look.

“I asked Vegeta why he couldn’t wish them back into existence with the dragonballs when I called him earlier after I read the letter Whis gave me. He told me that it had been too long since they were wiped out and most of all, he doubted that I’d like them since most of them were dicks including his father.” You explained thinking back to your earlier talk with Vegeta.

*flashback*

“Frieza destroyed your planet along with the other Saiyans?!” You exclaimed as anger boiled in your blood. “Then why not bring them back with the dragonballs?”

After reading the letter you decided to give Bulma a call only to hear Vegeta on the phone. Vegeta wasn’t the conversationalist type nor was he as friendly as Goku but he respected your friendship with his wife enough to acknowledge you. You asked him where Bulma was and he told you that she was working on a project. The Saiyan prince decided to talk to you about how you were doing aboard Frieza’s ship expressing his obvious disdain for that ‘cum-stained lizard’ as he calls the tyrant. When you asked him why he hated Frieza so much he told you about what he did to planet Vegeta and it’s inhabitants.

“It’s not that simple, Y/n. The dragonballs can’t revive an entire population and planet at the same time since that type of power is beyond Dende’s.” Vegeta explained.

“Then what about those super dragonballs that 17 used to wish all the other universes back into existence? Couldn’t you find those and wish your race back with them?” You asked.

Sighing with frustration, Vegeta spoke. “Even if I could I doubt you’d make any friends with them. Saiyans are mostly dicks and wouldn’t hesitate to kill someone like you on the spot. Besides you’ve seen us go super Saiyan and Super Saiyan blue. What do you think would happen if a Saiyan other than Kakarot and I were to use those powers to harm others? As much as I hate Frieza, I would hate it even more if someone was as strong as I and decided to use that power to harm my wife and children. Is that what you’d want?”

A long silent pause deafened your room as you processed what Vegeta told you. Sure it would be nice to see more Saiyans other than Goku and Vegeta but it’s no guarantee that they’ll be as nice as those two are. If anything if they obtained the power of a god the whole universe would be destroyed within a year.

“No. I wouldn’t want that at all.” You muttered.

*end of flashback*

“Besides they may prove to cause more havoc on a ton of planets if they were as strong as Vegeta and Goku.” You said.

Frieza just stared at you with awe. “I honestly didn’t think of it that way. You’re quite the insightful one aren’t you?”

You smirked softly. “Yeah.”

“Though I find it rather odd that you know those two but they haven’t told you a single thing about me. Why is that?” Asked Frieza curiously.

“I asked Vegeta about that and he said that you weren’t worth mentioning. Even after that last tournament you took part in.”

‘Of course he would say that! That ungrateful monkey will never change I swear!’ The emperor thought in agitation. He looks at you biting down on some bird like meat leg with your hands. Frieza immediately stands up, walks up to you and smacks your hands forcing you to drop the drumstick onto your plate. “Use the utensils to eat! Like this! Watch!” He takes the fork into his left hand and the knife into his right as he holds the drumstick with fork while cutting into the meat with the knife. After cutting the meat off he hands you back the fork and the knife. “Now you try. Remember; fork in your left hand and knife in your right hand.”

You imitated Frieza’s method. “I know how to use them. I just didn’t feel like it.”

“That’s no excuse to eat like a Saiyan, girl.” Frieza scolded you before returning to his seat. “As long as you’re here with me I’m going to make sure you remember how to eat properly.”

“Okay.” You shrugged taking a bite of the meat you cut off. Thinking back to when that group of Viagrins charged at Frieza without fear you couldn’t help but feel unease at the idea of the same thing happening again. Sure Frieza proved to be strong and deadly to his enemies and those beneath him, but those men acted like it didn’t matter if they lived or died. They were trying to get to you at all costs for their ‘father’.

“What’s with that face you’re making?” Asked Frieza bringing you back from your thoughts.

You sighed. “Doesn’t it bother you that those guys from the city weren’t concerned about their lives. If Condu told them about you then shouldn’t they have run away from you instead of attacking you?”

Frieza huffs with a smile curling up. “They’re just fools who believe they can take me on is all. No need to concern yourself over that. The only one you should be concerned about is me. Or do I need to remind you again?”

Shaking your head left and right you said, “No, Lord Frieza. I understand.”

“Sadly I don’t think you do.”

Before you could ask him what he meant you suddenly found yourself pulled out of your chair and found yourself laying on your back on Frieza’s bed with the said ivory emperor straddling you with a predatory look in his crimson eyes.

“What are you doing?” You attempted to wiggle out but his tail wrapped around both of your legs keeping you in place.

“I’m about to remind you who you should fear right now.” Frieza chuckled darkly.

To be continued……

[kingwuko]

Alternate Universe:

San and Naoki are saved (the how I left it to their liking) and decide that Republic City is not a safe place to raise their children. So they pack their bags and go to live in Ba Sing Se. There, San makes the pass with his family and introduces them to his wife and children. Which are loved from the first moment. The fact of not growing up on the streets makes Mako's personality develop in a somewhat different way. She's still a bit of a curmudgeon to begin with, though she's not quite as suspicious as she was in season 1. Instead, he's more shy and has a bit of a hard time making friends. Unknowingly, (and in circumstances left to his imagination by great mental effort), he becomes best friends with Prince Wu, after a clumsy and troubled start. (This brings great happiness to Grandma Yin). When adolescence begins, Mako will live the conflict that involves being in love with Wu, being the prince of a conservative country, which is prejudiced against both homosexuals and firebenders. Not to mention, that he is the great-nephew of a tyrannical ruler. Amid all the confusion, Mako receives a scholarship to study in the Fire Nation, so he has to say goodbye to Wu. There he meets Princess Ursa and they become friends. He meets Zuko, learns some firebending, and writes lots of letters to Wu. When he learns of the fall of the queen and the riots in Ba Sing Se, Mako fears that Wu is dead. Luckily, he finds out that he is still alive and is in Republic City. His family has also managed to escape. Mako then decides to study the last months of his studies in Republic City and says goodbye to Ursa and the royal family. In Republic City, Mako is reunited with Bolin, his parents, his relatives, and Wu. After a great reunion, Wu tells the story of how they managed to escape and that now he was the new heir to the throne. He also tells her that he needs someone who is a combination of bodyguard-friend-secretary. Mako who had studied economics, was a good fighter and was friends with Wu offered. And Wu accepts. The time that Kuvira spends reuniting the Earth Kingdom is long enough, not only for Wu and Mako to reopen their friendship, but to leave Mako wondering whether or not her feelings are reciprocated. When Kuvira proclaims herself emperor, Mako comforts Wu and tells him what he thinks about the monarchy. And together they begin to make a plan to regain the throne. In the battle, Mako and Bolin, join the Avatar and destroy the colossus, with a bolt from Mako. While they recover, it is Wu who takes care of him. They are invited to Varriclk's wedding (even though neither of them knows him) and, once the ceremony is over, Mako gathers his courage and tells Wu, once and for all, that he has been in love with him for a long time. weather. Wu at first does not react and Mako thinks he has ruined things, then he realizes that Wu is crying, but before she could say anything Wu takes him by the bag and kisses him. Mako gets carried away and kisses him back. Wu confesses that she was in love with him since she met him, and that she always believed that he did not feel the same. Mako answers the confession by giving him another kiss, which he interrupts, to ask if he was sure he wanted to do this. (Recall that the Earth Kingdom is still conservative.) To which Wu replies that he does want to and that after what happened, he no longer cares about the risks. They kiss again.

Se que esto es muy largo, y hay varias inconsistencias/vacíos. Sin embargo, si alguien quiere usar alguna de estas ideas, siéntase libre de hacerlo.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Deforestation embargoes in Brazilian Amazon not followed in over 85% area, says report

Embargoes helped revive only 13% forest area

Forested areas recovered in only 13.1 per cent of land parcels in the Brazilian Amazon where embargoes on use were imposed, according to a new study. This has indicated that landowners were not following environmental legislations in a majority of the embargoed areas. 

Many embargoes were imposed on the use of deforested land in the region between 2008 and 2017 for enabling forest recovery. Agriculture and pasture activities were maintained in 86.9 per cent of embargoed land holdings, according to an assessment published in Environmental Research Letters April 29, 2022. 

The unwillingness to follow rules can be attributed to limited / lack of monitoring of embargoed areas by the concerned authorities, the report mentioned.

The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources is chiefly responsible for applying environmental legislation in Brazil. On confirmation of illegal deforestation, IBAMA can fine the landowner or embargo the deforested area. 

Continue reading.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Cuba is a vaccine powerhouse

When Oxford University began work on its covid vaccine, it promised that the resulting work would be patent-free, with an active tech-transfer assistance program so that developing nations could manufacture their own supplies.

That promise was broken. The Gates Foundation pushed the racist lie that poor people can't make safe vaccines - despite world-leading production facilities in the Global South - and convinced the university to sell exclusive rights to Astrazeneca.

https://khn.org/news/rather-than-give-away-its-covid-vaccine-oxford-makes-a-deal-with-drugmaker/

Astrazeneca got the vaccine rights without having to make any promises not to gouge poor countries for access to the vaccine. Of course they didn't. Gates's ideology is that markets channel greed to positive ends, a sentiment echoed by Boris Johnson:

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson-gr-idUSKBN2BF307

It's a lethal doctrine. 85 of the world's poorest countries are unlikely to get widespread access to vaccines until 2023: that's two more years for the virus to mutate into deadlier variations and re-infect people whose vaccinations have worn off.

https://www.eiu.com/n/85-poor-countries-will-not-have-access-to-coronavirus-vaccines/

Market-based health care is a dead letter. Big Pharma turns publicly funded research into profits by holding us to ransom. Pfizer is demanding that poor countries stake their sovereign assets to settle any claims from their products.

https://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2021-02-23/held-to-ransom-pfizer-demands-governments-gamble-with-state-assets-to-secure-vaccine-deal

If you have any doubt, consider the counterexample posed by Cuba, a poor, isolated country that has been starved for 60 years under a US embargo (partially eased for a few years under Obama, now back in force).

Despite its dire straits, Cuba is a global leader in all forms of vaccine production. Of the 11 vaccines that all Cubans receive, eight are produced domestically. The country leads the world in vaccines for tropical diseases and has entirely eliminated six of them.

It's part of Cuba's incredible health system, which trains docs from all over the world, including many of America's best students - largely PoCs - who opt for a free education rather than abandoning medicine as a luxury good only available to the 1%.

https://www.wired.com/2016/03/students-ditching-america-medical-school-cuba/

Cuba has handled the covid crisis brilliantly, with only 408 deaths (0.59%, compared to the UK's 2.9%). It has sent 57 medical brigades abroad, treating 1.26m people in 40 countries.

https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/03/30/cuba-libre-to-be-covid-libre-five-vaccines-and-counting/

Given all this, it's no surprise that Cuba is also a covid vaccine powerhouse. Two of the world's 23 covid vaccines in Phase III trials come from Cuba; three more are in earlier stage trials. They are the product of a nonprofit, state-owned biotech sector.

Rather than competing with one another and treating their research as trade secrets, Cuban biotech researchers collaborate. They are able to build on made-in-Cuba vaccines like the "conjugate vaccine" Quimi-Hib that is effective against meningitis and pneumonia.

It's this collaboration that has pushed Cuban mortality from all infectious diseases below 1%. The Phase III trials for Cuba's covid vaccines - Soberana 2 and Abdala - are scheduled to complete in Jun.

Given the country's excellent, community-based healthcare system, the rollout will be fast and efficient, completing in Aug 2021, putting Cuba on track to be one of the first countries in the world to vaccinate its entire population.

Cuban vaccines represents a powerful antidote to the vaccine apartheid being practiced by the Big Pharma monopolists of the rich world. For more on this, check out the This Machine Kills episode:

https://soundcloud.com/thismachinekillspod/52-pharma-profiteers-vaccine-apartheid

One of China's leading vaccine production facilities, Yongzhou Joint Biotechnology Innovation Centre, was built during the crisis under Cuban supervision and is ramping production on Pan-Corona, which was designed to attack covid variants.

Cuban vaccines are in Phase III trials in Iran, and there are talks underway with the 55 countries in the African Union, as well as Mexico, Jamaica, Vietnam, Pakistan, and India.

As Helen Yaffe writes for Counterpunch, "Cuba is a leader in biotech because it has a socialist state with a centrally planned economy, that invested in science and puts human welfare before profit; with the absence of capitalism and greed that Boris Johnson celebrates."

[lochnessies]

I think we kind of have to acknowledge the fact that the game itself has some shitty imperialist leanings.

we sure do

“United Fodlan” is the world state at the end of every route, and it is painted as a good thing. When Byleth is primed to take over the continent, their students congratulate them. When Dimitri becomes king of Fodlan, he is hailed for his rule.

Gaining control of another country is treated as the prize at the end of a story arc. Even when the protagonist in that particular situation (Byleth, Dimitri) did not actively seek to take over a country, they still wind up in charge of a new country (see: Claude just handing Dimitri the Alliance for No Reason).

very true. you could tell the devs were stretching on how the blue lions would get the alliance territory for their ‘united fodlan’ ending when claude could have easily given his bow and position to holst. hell, even dimitri is confused when this happens lmao

And part of this is just the nature of tactics games and war games in general. There is an aspect of pro-war and pro-imperialism baked into the genre that can’t really be lampshaded away with the characters lamenting how much they wish for peace.

When people ask how Edelgard fans can justify her imperialism, all I can say is, we can’t. I can’t. It’s not justifiable. It’s abhorrent.

i’m glad she isn’t going to try and justify it. i’ve seen so many try and it always falls flat.

But I would also say, how can you justify any other Lord’s ending, in that case? Is it justifiable if the character themselves were not written as seeking domination, but magically gained that domination anyway? Is it fine if they just tripped over a country and it landed under their rule? Did the Alliance just follow Dimitri home like a lost cat?

ok i’m going to have to disagree a bit here. here’s the definition of imperialism:

dimitri doesn’t advocate for it or try extending his land or power at all. it’s just kind of happens. yes it is contrived and didn’t need to happen but there was no intent from dimitri towards unification. no occupation, no political or social control, or conquest of any kind. he shows up to the alliance to help them keep their autonomy from an actual imperialist force. it was the round table that came to an agreement and decided for themselves without any kingdom intervention to fold into faerghast.

let me clarify: yes, the themes that intsys is trying to promote are bad and it does shine a bit in azure moon, silver snow, and verdant wind, but no it’s not imperialism in these cases. just lazy writing with bad thematics when looked at as a whole w the other routes.

the only route with actual imperialism is crimson flower since it’s an empire on a war of conquest.

Imperialism is bad. Let’s acknowledge that.

it isn’t imperialism by default when countries decide to unify. it is when there was political/social control involved and force.

for example: the united states. 13 separate british colonies in north america effectively became separate independent nations on july 4, 1776. although they coordinated their war and foreign policies through the continental congress, disputes between the states (mostly regarding land claims) prevented the formation of a national government. when maryland, finally ratified the articles of confederation and perpetual union in 1781 it paved the way for the legal creation of the united states. even then, the articles did not call the usa a "nation" or even a "government" but instead refers to "a firm league of friendship". the individual states independently negotiated directly with foreign countries, enacted trade embargoes, and raised armies, all violating the letter and the spirit of the articles. the weaknesses of the articles were later corrected when the constitution went into effect in 1789, forming a much stronger national government.

made that small bc nobody cares about my history lessons.

Then let’s go back to this work of fiction and enjoy the things that we can enjoy about it, because it’s a video game where we can have tea parties with the cute girls and I think that’s neat.

yeah :)

[yourreddancer]

Heather Cox RIchardson

April 29, 2022 (Friday)

The “Ghost of Kyiv,” an ace pilot who heartened the Ukrainian resistance by shooting down a number of Russian aircraft on the first day of Russia’s invasion, was real after all. According to The Times of London, he was Major Stepan Tarabalka, 29 years old, and was killed in action on March 13. 

That extraordinary Ukrainian resistance, reinforced as we now know it was by U.S. intelligence and the unified support of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and other allies and partners, thwarted Russian president Vladimir Putin’s plans for a quick annexation of Ukrainian land. Continuing pressure, combined with Putin’s refusal to stop his attack, means that Russia has thrown away decades of economic development and its global standing. 

Today, Russia avoided defaulting on its debt by making a last-minute payment in dollars from reserves outside Russia, a move forced on it by economic sanctions. This will speed the draining of the country’s financial resources. The country has been able to continue to function and to fund its military in part because of about $800 million a day in revenue it pulls in from selling oil and gas to Europe. It appears this is about to change.

 On Wednesday, Germany dropped its opposition to a European Union ban on oil and gas imports, enabling the 27 nations in the European Union to hammer out an agreement that adopts a phased end to shipments of Russian oil and gas. E.U. ambassadors expect to sign the agreement next week. “More important than the oil embargo is the signal that Europe is united and taking back the initiative,” Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at Eurasia Group, told New York Times reporters Matina Stevis-Gridneff and Thomas Gibbons-Neff.

Meanwhile, the House passed legislation to update the March 1941 Lend-Lease Act, passed to enable the U.S. to loan or lease military supplies to any country whose defense the president believed was vital to the defense of the United States. The original law enabled the U.S. to send supplies to Britain’s defense without joining the war directly. Yesterday’s update allows the government to skip some rules and move weapons more quickly. It will increase pressure on Putin by demonstrating that the U.S. is going to continue supporting Ukraine. 

The Senate passed the measure by a voice vote, and there was overwhelming bipartisan support for it in the House, with only 10 Representatives, all Republicans, voting against it. Those ten included Representatives Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Dan Bishop (R-NC), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and others who also voted against last week’s House resolution “expressing support for Moldova’s democracy, independence, and territorial integrity” in the face of Russian threats.

  Today, Ukrainian defense reporter Illia Ponomarenko tweeted: “What America is doing now in terms of sending weapons to Ukraine is a masterpiece of logistics. In all regards, starting from bureaucratic hurdles.”President Joe Biden yesterday asked Congress for $33 billion for Ukraine—on top of the $13.6 billion authorized so far—to last until September 30, the end of the fiscal year. In his letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) requesting the funds, Biden noted that the administration expects NATO allies and E.U. partners jointly to be sending even greater sums to the support of Ukraine but said Russian aggression would “require a substantial additional investment on our part.” 

Biden added, “What I want to make clear to the Congress and the American people is this: the cost of failing to stand up to violent aggression in Europe has always been higher than the cost of standing firm against such attacks. That is as it always has been, and as it always will be.” He was referring to the misguided attempt to appease Adolf Hitler by accepting Germany’s 1938 annexation of the Sudetenland rather than resisting. Appeasing dictators never stops them; it simply emboldens them to increase their demands. And by the time the European war broke out in 1939, Hitler had significantly strengthened Germany’s forces. 

Other countries are also continuing their support for Ukraine. About 8000 troops from the British army are deploying to eastern Europe over the summer to join in exercises with NATO troops and those from the Joint Expeditionary Force, which includes Finland and Sweden. Those two countries are currently not members of NATO but are considering joining because of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Finland and Russia share a border of more than 800 miles. Yesterday, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said that, should they ask to join, they “will be warmly welcomed and I expect the process to go quickly.”

Spain this week shipped to Ukraine hundreds of tons of heavy transport vehicles and ammunition. An unconfirmed report says that Ukrainian soldiers opening the shipment found Spanish sausages among the grenade launchers with a card from the queen that read: “I wish you victory! With love, Leti[z]ia.”

Countries supporting Ukraine have begun to talk not just of defending Ukraine, but seeing Ukraine “win,” and weakening Russia’s ability to meddle in the affairs of other countries.

[laannie0803]

Lady Laena Velaryon era la hija mayor y la única hija de Lord Corlys Velaryon y la Princesa Rhaenys Targaryen. Fue la segunda esposa del príncipe Daemon Targaryen y dio a luz a sus hijas gemelas, Rhaena y Baela Targaryen.

Laena tenía una gran melena de rizos plateados y dorados que le caían hasta la cintura.

A la edad de doce años, Laena había florecido recientemente y se la consideraba una joven ardiente. Se decía que había heredado la belleza de su madre, Rhaenys Targaryen, y el espíritu atrevido y aventurero de su padre, Corlys Velaryon. A los veintidós años, Laena se había convertido en una mujer alta, esbelta y hermosa. Según Mushroom, ella "era casi tan bonita como su hermano".

A Laena le encantaba volar y, según el maestre de Driftmark, mostró "mucho más interés en volar que en los niños".

El padre de la princesa Rhaenys, el príncipe Aemon Targaryen, el hijo mayor y heredero del rey Jaehaerys I, murió poco después de que Rhaenys se enterara de que estaba embarazada. Aunque Rhaenys era el heredero de Aemon, Jaehaerys I nombró a su segundo hijo, el príncipe Baelon, como su nuevo heredero, pasando por encima de Rhaenys y su potencial hijo por nacer. El Laena por nacer, también conocido como "el niño en el vientre", fue objeto de mucho debate sobre la sucesión hasta su nacimiento.

En 101 AC, el reclamo de Laena al Trono de Hierro se presentó una vez más durante el Gran Consejo, pero fue pasada por alto, junto con su madre, debido a su sexo.

Hacia el 105 d.C., Laena se había convertido en una jinete de dragones al reclamar al dragón Targaryen más grande que quedaba con vida, Vhagar. Tras la muerte de la reina Aemma Arryn a finales del 105 d.C., el gran maestre Runciter instó al rey Viserys I Targaryen a que se volviera a casar y sugirió a Laena, de doce años, como esposa, para que Viserys pudiera curar la brecha entre la Casa Targaryen y la Casa Velaryon. Viserys se casó con otra mujer noble, sin embargo, y aunque esto enfureció al padre de Laena, Laena misma no estaba preocupada. Según una carta que el maestre de High Tide le escribió a la Ciudadela, Laena estaba más interesada en volar que en los niños. A la edad de doce años, Laena estaba comprometida con un hijo del Sealord de Braavos. Cuando el rey Viserys I se casó con Alicent Hightower en 106 d. C., la Casa Velaryon estuvo notablemente ausente de la boda.

Cuando murió el Sealord, el prometido de Laena derrochó el dinero y el poder de su padre y llegó a Driftmark. Allí, durante casi diez años, el padre de Laena encontró repetidamente formas de posponer su boda, no estaba dispuesto a dejarlo pasar pero no podía romper con gracia el compromiso. Cuando el Príncipe Daemon Targaryen llegó a Driftmark en 115 d. C., los cantantes afirman que se enamoró de Laena, aunque otros creen que la vio como un medio para promover su ambición. Insultó al prometido de Laena hasta que el niño lo desafió a un duelo, en el que fue asesinado por Daemon con Hermana Oscura. Laena se casó con Daemon quince días después.

Conscientes de que el rey y la corte no estarían contentos con su matrimonio, Laena y Daemon volaron en sus dragones a Pentos, donde fueron alojados por el Príncipe de la ciudad. Desde Pentos, Daemon y Laena viajaron a Volantis, subieron por el Rhoyne hasta Qohor y Norvos. Finalmente regresaron a Pentos, donde Laena descubrió que estaba embarazada. Laena y Daemon permanecieron en Pentos durante el resto de su embarazo. En 116 d.C., en Pentos, Laena dio a luz a sus hijas gemelas, Rhaena y Baela. Cuando los niños tenían medio año, Laena navegó con ellos hasta Driftmark, mientras Daemon voló con sus dragones a casa.

Laena se hizo buena amiga de su buena hermana, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Laena y Daemon solían visitar a Rhaenyra en Dragonstone, y Rhaenyra los visitaba a menudo en Driftmark. En 118 DC, los gemelos de dos años de Laena se comprometieron con los dos hijos mayores de Rhaenyra, con la bendición del rey Viserys I. En 119 d. C., Laena quedó embarazada de nuevo. Durante los primeros días de 120 d. C., Laena se puso de parto. Después de un día y una noche de trabajo de parto, dio a luz a un hijo retorcido y deforme, que murió una hora después del nacimiento. Con todas sus fuerzas abandonadas por su trabajo y debilitada aún más por el dolor por la pérdida de su hijo, la fiebre del parto se apoderó de ella. Ni el maestre de Driftmark ni el maestre Gerardys de Dragonstone pudieron curarla. Después de tres días de enfermedad, Laena murió. Se dice que intentó volar a Vhagar una vez más antes de morir, pero se derrumbó en los escalones de la torre, donde murió. Daemon la llevó de regreso a la cama, donde se sentó a vigilar el cuerpo de Laena junto con Rhaenyra.

Cuando la hija de Laena, Baela, quedó embarazada en 133 d.C., le juró a su esposo, Lord Alyn Velaryon, que llamaría a su primer hijo Laena si el niño era una niña. En el nacimiento de la niña al año siguiente, Baela nombró a su hija Laena, en honor a su madre.

Lady Laena Velaryon was the eldest child and only daughter of Lord Corlys Velaryon and Princess Rhaenys Targaryen. She was the second wife of Prince Daemon Targaryen and gave birth to his twin daughters, Rhaena and Baela Targaryen.

Laena had a great mane of silver-gold ringlets that fell down past her waist.

By the age of twelve, Laena had freshly flowered, and was considered a fiery young girl. It was said she had inherited the beauty of her mother, Rhaenys Targaryen, and the bold, adventurous spirit from her father, Corlys Velaryon. By two-and-twenty, Laena had grown into a tall, slender, and beautiful woman. According to Mushroom, she "was almost as pretty as her brother".

Laena loved to fly, and according to the maester of Driftmark, showed "far more interest in flying than in boys".

Princess Rhaenys's father, Prince Aemon Targaryen, the eldest son and heir of King Jaehaerys I, died shortly after Rhaenys learned she was pregnant. Although Rhaenys was Aemon's heir, Jaehaerys I named his second son, Prince Baelon, as his new heir, passing over Rhaenys and her potential unborn son. The unborn Laena, also referred to as "the boy in the belly", was subject of much debate on the succession until her birth.

In 101 AC, Laena's claim to the Iron Throne was put forward once more during the Great Council, but she was passed over, together with her mother, on account of her sex.

By 105 AC, Laena had become a dragonrider by claiming the largest Targaryen dragon left alive, Vhagar. Following the death of Queen Aemma Arryn in late 105 AC, Grand Maester Runciter urged King Viserys I Targaryen to remarry and suggested the twelve-year-old Laena as a bride, so Viserys could heal the rift between House Targaryen and House Velaryon. Viserys married another noblewoman, however, and although this angered Laena's father, Laena herself was untroubled. According to a letter the maester of High Tide wrote to the Citadel, Laena was interested more in flying than boys. At the age of twelve, Laena was betrothed to a son of the Sealord of Braavos. When King Viserys I married Alicent Hightower in 106 AC, House Velaryon was noticeably absent from the wedding.

When the Sealord died, Laena's betrothed squandered his father's money and power and came to Driftmark. There, for nearly ten years, Laena's father repeatedly found ways to postpone their wedding, unwilling to let it go through but unable to gracefully break the betrothal. When Prince Daemon Targaryen arrived on Driftmark in 115 AC, the singers claim he fell in love with Laena, although others believe he saw her as a means to further his ambition. He insulted Laena's betrothed until the boy challenged him to a duel, in which he was killed by Daemon with Dark Sister. Laena wed Daemon a fortnight later.

Aware that the king and court would not be pleased with their marriage, Laena and Daemon flew on their dragons to Pentos, where they were hosted by the Prince of the city. From Pentos, Daemon and Laena traveled to Volantis, up the Rhoyne to Qohor and Norvos. They eventually returned to Pentos, where Laena discovered she was pregnant. Laena and Daemon remained in Pentos for the remainder of her pregnancy. In 116 AC, in Pentos, Laena gave birth to their twin daughters, Rhaena and Baela. When the children were half a year old, Laena sailed with them to Driftmark, while Daemon flew their dragons home.

Laena became good friends with her good-sister, Rhaenyra Targaryen. Laena and Daemon would often visit Rhaenyra on Dragonstone, and Rhaenyra would often visit them on Driftmark. In 118 AC, Laena's two-year-old twins were betrothed to Rhaenyra's two eldest sons, with the blessing of King Viserys I. In 119 AC, Laena became pregnant again. During the first few days of 120 AC, Laena went into labor. Following a day and night of labor, she gave birth to a twisted and malformed son, who died within an hour of birth. With all her strength gone from her labor and weakened further from grief over her lost child, childbed fever set in. Neither Driftmark's maester nor Maester Gerardys from Dragonstone could heal her. After three days of sickness, Laena died. It is said that she attempted to fly Vhagar one more time before she died, but collapsed on the tower steps, where she died. Daemon carried her back to bed, where he sat vigil over Laena's body together with Rhaenyra.

When Laena's daughter Baela became pregnant in 133 AC, she swore to her husband, Lord Alyn Velaryon, to name their first born child Laena if the child was a girl. At the child's birth the following year, Baela named her daughter Laena, in her mother's honor.

[ingek73]

Duchess Kate’s big new project is a keen research center for buttons & Early Years

June 18, 2021

By Kaiser

One week ago was the start of the hype for the Duchess of Cambridge’s big new keen project. She used the Instagram post about her (dreadful, embarrassing) event with Dr. Jill Biden last Friday to announce that she would be announcing something special in the coming week. The first promise was that Kate would share “a major announcement about how she is working to elevate the importance of early childhood and continue the conversation on this vital issue.” Then Kensington Palace’s campaign began in earnest over the weekend, with a promise that Kate would, at long last, “step up” her campaign with the launch of an “ambitious and hugely significant” new initiative, something which would be Kate’s version of William’s Earthshot Prize or Diana’s campaign to end landmines.

I waited all week to see what this big dumb project would be. I even made suggestions, like they should do the Keenshot Prize and give away money to low-income families. Then KP posted a dumb video of a copier printing out “Big Change Starts Small” and we were like “…huh?” On Thursday, KP once again did a preview of the big announcement with this:

Just so we’re clear, Kate and her palace handlers are showing us exactly what this is all about: Kate. Not kids. Not early years. Not child development. It’s about Kate, beauty shots of Kate, and putting some kind of keen gloss on Kate’s decade-long laziness to make it sound like she’s been hyper-focused on kids this whole time. So with that preview in place, Kensington Palace did the big launch… at midnight in Britain. Guess what it was? The Keenwell Centre for Buttons and Book Learnin’. No, I jest. But just barely.

Today, Duchess Kate is taking her work in the field of early childhood to the next level by announcing The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood—a hub within the Cambridges’ charitable vehicle that will help push for increased awareness of and new research into the impact of the early years.

Alongside the announcement, Kate also launched the center’s first inaugural report, titled Big Change Starts Small, which has brought together research from across the sector and highlights six areas with opportunities to make a difference, including “building a mentally healthier and more nurturing society,” “creating communities of support,” and helping strengthen the early years workforce. It was written in collaboration with Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child and the London School of Economics, and also reveals the huge amount currently spent on addressing issues that exist in British society that could be avoided through early intervention—$22.45 billion (£16.13 billion).

“Our first five years lay important foundations for our future selves,” Kate writes in a letter in the report. “This period is when we first learn to manage our emotions and impulses, to care and to empathize, and thus ultimately to establish healthy relationships with ourselves and others.”

She continues, “It is a time when our experience of the world around us, and the way that moulds our development, can have a lifelong impact on our future mental and physical wellbeing. Indeed, what shapes our childhood shapes the adults and the parents we become.”

Kate—who will appear at an embargoed royal engagement on June 18 to mark the announcement and also share a personal video message on social media—is also launching a new website to help raise awareness of the importance of early childhood and serve as a base for the center’s latest activities, which will include research into increasing knowledge; working with people across the private, public, and voluntary sectors to collaborate on new solutions; and developing campaigns to also raise awareness.

[From Harper’s Bazaar]

After all that and after a decade of marriage, Kate’s big project is a “research center” within Kensington Palace, folded into The Royal Foundation. Not just a research center – she’ll also do a new website which will “help raise awareness of the importance of early childhood and serve as a base for the center’s latest activities, which will include research into increasing knowledge.” A website devoted to being keen about Early Years, with no tangible goals beyond “being keen about Early Years” and “vaguely encouraging others to be keen through pie charts.” Yep. Sounds about right.

I mean, obviously, this is a complete mess and a waste of time and resources. The narcissism and short-sightedness to believe that Kate should have her own “center” for buttons and keenness is a f–king joke. Especially when you consider how many existing programs and projects are out there already to benefit kids! Kate could literally become royal patron to any of those programs and accomplish a lot more with fundraising and awareness-raising. But no, she just has to put her own keen stink on everything. It would be like Diana seeing the HALO Trust’s work and deciding to start her own little research facility to show how keen she was to raise awareness of how keen she is about anti-landmine work.

[soraavalon]

Tark: Tark's gonna ask about Tiriana. Like specifically what she's like now and then compare to his memories of her before he left.

DM: You remember her being a little bossy, but usually pretty easy-going, always looking for solutions to problems, making sure that if you guys did get into trouble she'd be the first to go, "Okay, here's our story."

Tark: Yeah.

DM: She was the one who would get you into trouble, but she'd also get you out of it and she was always kind of boistrous and fun.

Telmaris: She's brilliant as she always was, she's got a really good head for business, she's been working a lot with the company to make sure she's worthy of taking over eventually. She really enjoys the work, she's very shrewd, always sort of figuring out how we can save money and cut costs and she's really helped actually. So she is here in Thel, I think she's hoping to find a match actually, you know, she's of age and...

Tark: If Tark's holding a cup it breaks in his hand.

Telmaris: Are you okay? I mean, she's like 110 now or something like that. She's over a century, Tark, it's time for her to find a spouse, so that's what she's doing. Some point it'll be my turn.

Tark: You know you don't have to.

Telmaris: I guess. Think it might be nice. I mean, one of us is gonna have to marry into nobility since you didn't.

Tark: You don't have to.

Telmaris: I guess. It's easier if I don't think about that sort of thing and just do what I do have to do and make them think that I'm not good at what I don't want to do.

Tark: Oh don't I know it.

Telmaris: I'm very bad at math, you see. That's what I can't be trusted with the company.

Tark: "You're the worst at math." And Tark remembers giving Telmaris all of his math homework to do.

DM: He's like, 'I hate it.'

Telmaris: She's good. Excited about whatever she's going to find, that's why she went to Queensrest, was to find a spouse so... And to talk to the Queen's nephew, the regeant, her heir, 'cause he's in charge of trade so she figured, you know, and if you can get to talk to him about the embargos and new tax laws and things, so it worked out that she could get into the Court.

Tark: Hmm

Eudora (OOC): [in chat] Is the queen's nephew married?

Tark (OOC): No.

DM: [in chat] :3

Tark (OOC): No, the queen's nephew is not. (IC): Cool.

Moriarty (OOC): [in chat] oh fuck. capitalism takes over

Tark: I'm gonna do something very dumb and very reckless.

DM: Oh god, okay.

Tark (OOC): I'm about to throw a wrench into everything.

DM: God damn, okay.

Tark: I'm gonna message Tiriana.

DM: Great. Great.

Tark: And I'm very loudly, all I'm going to say is, "Don't you dare fuck the queen's nephew!" and that's it.

Tiriana: Nice to hear from you too.

DM: That's it.

Tark: Second message is gonna be; "I can't believe you didn't tell Telmaris about the letter. I love you too."

Tiriana: He didn't need to know. It's none of his business, it's ours. You have what you want, so do I.

Tark (OOC): Uh-huh. Yep. My girl! (IC): Very last message. The very last 3rd level spell that I have. "Telmaris is with me right now."

DM: There's a long pause.

Tark (OOC): Uh-huh, yeah.

Tiriana: Tell him to keep his mouth shut and send him back.

Tark: Uh-huh. I'm gonna look at Telmaris and be like, "Our sister wants me to tell you to keep your mouth shut and send you back.

Telmaris: I don't even know why I came here in the first place, so you know just seeing the sights of the city. It's a brief stay.

Tark: If you wanna stay, you know you can.

Telmaris: I probably shouldn't 'cause then it will get back that I'm not where I'm supposed to be and people will come looking for me and they might find you. So I should probably go. Tomorrow, not gonna go until tomorrow, I just got here.

Tark: Obviously. I don't care if people will know where I'm at. I just didn't wanna be where I was. I, if you want to come back, for any reason for any length of time, you always can.

Moriarty: [in chat] Moriarty, two hours later: "I didn't even give a sales pitch"

Telmaris: Okay. I'll keep that in mind and you can always reach out to us if you need anything. We can try and make it happen, but I think Tiriana would be happier if no one knew where you were.

Tark: Oh, I know.

Telmaris: Just keep things as they are.

Tark: Tiriana likes the power she has now.

Telmaris: Yes, she does.

Tark: Can you try and make sure she doesn't fuck the queen's nephew?

Telmaris: I cannot do that. You know I cannot do that.

[banditthewriter]

Trust Is Earned - Charles Vane - 5

And here we have part five which means we’re half way through! As always, thank you to the readers!

Warning: Violence against the reader. Also fake dating trope but like, is that a warning a promise?

*gif not mine*

Enjoy!

------

Vane’s tent hadn’t moved but it felt like it was such a long walk. It also felt like everyone was staring at you, although you were sure that was just in your imagination. You smiled and nodded in greeting to a few people as you passed them, but most people paid you no mind. It was getting dark, although still a while before the sun was down completely, so people were preparing for whatever they had planned for the night.

It didn’t occur to you that Vane might not be alone until you got to the opening of his tent. It was pulled open so you could see inside and thankfully not see anyone in there besides the captain. 

You weren’t sure your plan would work if he had someone in his bed.

He turned when you cleared your throat, obviously startled to see you there.

“Are you–”

“Just, uh, one moment,” you said before you entered into the tent so that you could release the cord that held the covering. It closed over the doorway to alert people not to intrude or disturb unless it was life or death.

You turned back to him and took a few steps further inside. And then a few more until you were closer to where he was sitting with some papers in front of him. 

“There’s something we need to talk about I think.”

His hand twitched on the table as if he wanted nothing more than to reach over for the bottle of rum next to him, but instead he turned to face you. He waved one hand for you to go on.

Now if only you had thought about how to word this on your way here.

“I had a talk with Eleanor Guthrie a little while ago. It seems she saw the two of us sneak off the beach in the same direction and she’s… come up with her own ideas as to why.”

He sat up, his hands pressed onto his knees as he stared at you.

“Does she suspect we’re working together?”

You hoped that you didn’t wince as you said this next part.

“She thinks we’re seeing each other. Or at least sleeping together.” You let him reel from that one for a second before you continued, “She said that your hauls have gotten less impressive and, well, she intimated about a worry about your ability to lead and that she wouldn’t be surprised if a vote was called to replace you.”

There, you’d gotten it all out in one go. Now you just needed to broach the reason you came here now instead of telling him this in a letter or through a third party like Rackham.

“The crew doesn’t care that we’re splitting the haul as long as they get paid. And since we started this partnership, they are making more than they ever did with Eleanor. They aren’t looking to vote me out. My question is what she can do about my ability to lead.”

This was not the direction you had planned for, but it made sense that this was his worry. You put your own thoughts to the back so that you could help him plan for this.

“She’s not supposed to have any pull over the crews, but I guess if she loses faith in your abilities as captain she can try to depose you.”

He shook his head, but you didn’t think he was turning down what you had said. It seemed he was thinking ahead as well.

“The crew wouldn’t go for that. Like I said, I’m the reason they are making as much as they are right now.”

Part of the reason, but you weren’t about to point that out. He had a point though.

“What about an embargo? She could withhold sale of your goods, encouraging merchants to do the same unless the crew turns against you.”

He stood up and started to pace away from you.

“She could. The bitch would,” he admitted venomously as he turned back towards you. “And then she’d want to know why the crew still wouldn’t turn against me. If it comes to that, it’ll come out that I’m selling to you as well.”

Which would put a nice little target on your front door. You’d been working with your contacts to come up with a protection plan for yourself, but it wasn’t easy. They needed to get men to you but they needed ones that they could trust. Loyalty wasn’t exactly for sale.

“If it comes to that, I’ll deal with the consequences on my end,” you said with a wave of your hand. Might as well throw out the reason you came here. “The reason I’m here is regarding the first part of what she told me.”

He tilted his head as he looked at you.

“She thinks we’re fucking. And this upsets you.”

After your reaction the night of the storm, you understood why he thought that way. You weren’t about to get into the intricacies of it. Instead you put your hands on the table to offer your newest proposition.

“I suggest we let her think that, actually. Instead of secret meetings and codes, we become a little more… obvious. Make her think that we’re sleeping together so that she won’t suspect the truth. That should gain us a little more time before she figures out what’s really going on.”

You weren’t sure that Vane could look more shocked if you had told him that he was going to have to make The Ranger fly instead of sail. It didn’t take long for him to have that cocky look on his face once more.

“If she believes that, others will too. The whole of Nassau will think we’re fucking.”

Yes, you were aware of that. Which of course meant some uncomfortable conversations with Billy were in your future, but you didn’t want to think about that right then.

“We’ll have to play into the part a bit. We can have these kinds of discussions at the shop and I’ll lock up for the time. People can think what they want then.”

He moved over to the comfortable looking pallet that was obviously where he slept. He looked from you to it and then back to you again.

“If I were taking you to bed, what do you think we’d be doing if you came to my tent like this?”

The shop gave you privacy where no one could hear anything. You knew for a fact that people in these tents could be heard from people outside. You drew the line at faking sex and the other option… wasn’t an option.

“Don’t you know Vane? Ladies prefer to make love in their own beds.” You gave him a smile and turned back towards the opening of the tent. “I’ll send for you when I have your next lead. If this plan displeases you, send Rackham and Bonny like usual. I will continue to work on my own safety contingencies.”

You slipped through the opening and out of the tent. There were a few people that saw your departure, but none of them said anything to you.

Whether your presence there would reach Eleanor Guthrie or not, at least you had done what you had come to the beach to do. The plan wasn’t foolproof of course, there were plenty of things that could cause a problem, but you were juggling a lot at the moment.

You were doing the best you could with what you had.

------

The tavern was more packed than you had seen it in a long time. The sun was still up so you had stopped by for a quick meal with some of your friends and other merchants. While the alcohol flowed freely, you stuck to water. Most of the patrons remembered the last time you had freely drank at the tavern and how quickly you had gotten drunk.

You were a little ashamed to say that you had slept with someone but you weren’t sure who it was. You’d woken up at the inn feeling well and truly fucked, happily so, but no sign of your partner. No one could remember who you had gone to the inn with but since Mr. Noonan only employed female whores and you could vaguely remember a male body from that night, you could rest assured that you hadn’t paid for it.

Since that night you hadn’t had another drink. While you didn’t mind anonymous sex, especially anonymous sex that made you feel as good as that had, you didn’t like the feeling of not knowing what had happened. 

The conversations flowed as freely as anything else. You had been involved in a lively debate about the price of sugarcane for half the meal. It gave you a good distraction from your new reality. 

As more men started to flow into the tavern, you started to feel like you were being watched. 

It wasn’t an uncommon feeling in Nassau, but you had learned to trust your instincts. Everything in you right then was telling you to leave.

You finished your meal and paid, making excuses to the friends you had joined for the meal. Their night was just beginning but you were ready to head home for the night. It wasn’t very adventurous but you had enough adventure in your days working with Vane under everyone’s noses. 

As you turned to leave, you nearly ran straight into Jack Rackham with Anne Bonny at his side. He smiled at you the moment he saw who it was, his face almost breaking at the force.

“If it isn’t the lovely Y/N herself. I was just telling Anne that I feel like I haven’t seen you in ages. Our captain has been monopolizing your time, hasn’t he?”

That’s what the exaggerated smile and loud voice was for. He was giving you Vane’s response in public, ensuring that tongues would be wagging before you even made it to the street. It’d only been a day since you had given him the proposition but he didn’t seem to want to wait for you to reach out to him.

Vane really did nothing by halves, did he?

“Always a pleasure Jack. Miss Bonny,” you said to Anne, showing her a bit more respect since you were more frightened of her than of the quartermaster. 

But your friendly nature and the informal way you addressed Rackham, uncommon for you to interact with any pirate that way except Billy, would definitely throw gunpowder on the fire.

Rackham’s smile softened to something a little more honest. Even Anne gave you a bit of a smile as you passed them. If your informal greeting to Jack didn’t set tongues wagging, Anne’s variable bear hug of a smile would do so.

It would seem that for all intents and purposes, you were Charles Vane’s new mistress.

------

Footsteps. As you walked to your shop up the long, winding road, you heard footsteps behind you. You hadn’t turned to look, not wanting to let the person know that you heard them, but you made sure that your steps were a little longer and faster.

With your shop in view, you almost broke into a run, but it was too late. A hand went around your throat at the same time that someone rushed in front of you to cut off your escape. It meant at least two attackers, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t more.

You didn’t have your pistol on you. Not even a knife. The only thing you had were your fists and your wits. You swung back with all of your strength and landed your elbow against the jaw of the man who held you. He swore vehemently and then wrapped his arms around you, your arms pinned to your sides as he lifted you up like that. It gave you leverage to kick out at the other man that approached, catching him in the face with your left heel.

The sound of a broken nose echoed in your ears but you didn’t care. All you cared about was not letting this progress any further.

“Stop fucking fighting or I’ll slit your throat.”

You felt a blade against your throat and immediately stopped squirming in case the blade cut into you. The man whose face you had kicked looked like he wanted to kill you, blood running down his face and shirt. Instead he pointed his own knife at you.

“You should gut the bitch,” he growled to the man that held you.

“It’s not off the table,” the one that held you spat as he squeezed you with the arm not holding the knife. “She wouldn’t be able to give Vane our message like that though.”

“It’d send a message sure enough.”

You were about to scream. Not even ten minutes after Jack Rackham had proved to the whole of the tavern that you were Vane’s woman, you were attacked in the woods on your way to your home. If this is what Eleanor had been warning you about, you might just take your pistol with you to the tavern next time. 

“You tell Charles Vane that he’s to step down as captain of The Ranger. He hasn’t brought shit to Nassau in months and it’s not to be tolerated. If he doesn’t, we’re going to come to your little shop and set it on fire while you sleep.”

“We know you live there too,” the man in front of you spat, blood spraying onto your face.

If they were giving you a message for Vane, that meant they weren’t going to kill you. You just needed to keep from pissing them off any further and they’d let you go.

The one holding you ran a hand up your side until he got to the top of your bodice, pulling as if he wanted to rip it off of you. Your fight or flight instincts kicked in and you started to squirm, the knife cutting into your throat a bit as you did.

A fist crashed into your face. Then again. Next was a boot to your stomach when you fell to the ground. A boot to your back followed as you curled in to protect your stomach. You couldn’t breathe, the pain too much, but nothing else came. When you peeked out from where your face was almost squashed into the dirt, you saw the backs of the two men as they went back through the woods.

You quickly stood up, your legs shaking and barely holding your weight. All you needed was to get to your shop and then you’d be safe. Relatively. It felt like a journey across a continent rather than just a few yards, but finally you were there. Hands shaking and covered in dirt, you fished out your keys and let yourself into the shop.

Tonight you’d see to your injuries. Tomorrow you’d have a word with Vane. This… was not going to happen again.

------

“What the fuck happened to you?”

You looked up from where you were trying to load your pistol. One eye was swollen but not completely closed at least. You had a busted lip as well. To round that out, it hurt to breathe, your back felt like hell, and you had to tie a cloth around your neck because the cut there was deeper than you had thought.

If you looked like you felt, you didn’t blame Rackham for his shock.

“I’m to be a messenger for your captain,” you said with a wince as you sat up in the chair a bit more. Normally you didn’t sit when you were in the shop, but right then you weren’t sure you could stand. “Do you mind loading this pistol for me? I can’t seem to stop shaking long enough and I’d hate for it to accidentally go off on me.”

He said something to Anne Bonny who you hadn’t even noticed. She turned and made her way out of the shop, leaving just you and Jack.

If you were going to be pretending to fuck his captain, you might as well actually refer to him by his first name.

Jack took the pistol from you and went through the motions of loading it for you. You leaned back into the chair and let out a whimper as it stretched out the muscles of your back.

“Again, the fuck happened to you? What do you mean you’re to be a messenger for Charles?”

You reached up and gingerly touched the skin under your eye. You hadn’t looked in the mirror this morning, not wanting to see just how bad the damage was.

“Last night on my way back here, I was set upon by two… men. I didn’t recognize either of them, but they knew me. And they wanted me to pass a message to Vane.”

“What message is that?”

You swallowed thickly as you accepted the pistol back from Jack.

“He’s to step down as captain of The Ranger.”

Jack swore a colorful amount. Then he looked back at you.

“And if he doesn’t?”

You laughed, wincing and pressing a hand to your side as you did so.

“They’ll come and set fire to my shop while I’m sleeping.”

Had you thought that Jack’s first swears were colorful? This put a whole new meaning to the term. There might have even been a few new swear words created this go around.

You watched him as he paced through your shop. You wanted to ask why he was still there, but you had a feeling you knew. Just like you had a feeling that you knew where Anne had disappeared to.

Sure enough not long after she had disappeared did she return, one fuming captain with her. The shop seemed to grow smaller as Vane stalked forward.

“What the fuck happened here?”

You wanted to laugh but you were worried if you did, it might turn into tears. Instead you gestured at Jack.

“As I was just telling your quartermaster, I’m to be a messenger for you. You’re to step down as captain of The Ranger due to you not bringing in as much to Nassau anymore. If you don’t, they’ll come back and set my shop on fire.”

“While she’s in it,” Jack added when it seemed like you weren’t going to. 

Vane swore simply, but it was efficient.

“What I don’t get is that we’re bringing in probably more to Nassau. Why would someone want him to step down for that?”

You looked over at Anne and shook your head.

“It wasn’t one of your crew, not that I recognized at least. I think it might have been someone working for Eleanor Guthrie.”

That… was not a name you should have mentioned around the three of them. Suddenly your store became a cacophony of noise as the three of them all yelled back and forth. You didn’t even try to follow but you did put a stop to it by slamming your hand against the counter you were sat at.

“Enough. Fuck, my head is killing me already, I don’t need this shit. Listen,” you added a little softer because your head was pounding, “Eleanor said something when she talked to me that day. It was after she said that she wouldn’t be surprised if they called a vote on you. She said that she didn’t want something to happen to me because I was tangled up with you.”

Vane took a few steps towards you.

“You think she had someone go after you to get to me?”

You shook your head. Although you wouldn’t normally put that past Eleanor, right then it didn’t feel right.

“I think she genuinely doesn’t want anything to happen to me because while she doesn’t exactly like me, I’m a necessary evil in her eyes. I think she hired some men to pass a message on to you and they decided to deviate and go after me. Maybe they thought I was an easier target than Captain Vane himself.”

“That… makes sense, I’m sorry to say,” Jack said with a frown as he looked over at his captain. “Some of the crew had mentioned that some people on the beach had been asking why you’re still captain if we aren’t bringing in bigger hauls. Since the men are getting paid, they are keeping their mouths shut. Maybe if they weren’t able to incite a vote, they decided to demand one instead.”

Vane spun around and slammed his fist into the wall of the shop.

“Oi, there’s been enough damage to my shop by The Ranger crew without you adding to it,” you said as you stood up and went around the counter. “What’s done is done, now we need to figure out what we’re going to do about it. If anyone has any plans, please speak up. As long as it doesn’t end up with me burning alive in my sleep.”

Vane spun back to face you. He marched to clear the short distance between the two of you, Anne and Jack both stepping back to give him the space. In spite of the fury on his face, his hand was gentle as he raised your chin to look at the damage.

“What did they look like?”

His voice was so soft, another difference to the rage in his eyes. You reached up and tugged self consciously at the cloth on your neck. It drew his eyes there and he moved your hand so that he could tug it down a bit to see what it was hiding.

If you’d thought he’d been furious before. Seeing the slit across your neck and the knowledge of how close you had come to dying had apparently reignited that fire.

“What. Did they. Look like.”

It wasn’t a question. It was a demand.

You quietly gave the description as best you could. The problem was that most of the men on the island were fairly similar looking.

“I kicked one in the face, broke his nose. There was blood everywhere. If you can find someone with a recently broken nose, you’ll probably find his partner with him. Stray dogs tend to roam in packs,” you said lowly as you pulled away from Vane and went back to the counter.

He said something to Jack and Anne that you didn’t hear, but they both nodded their head before they turned to leave the shop. Alone with Vane, you found yourself curiously nervous.

Why was it that you always felt this way when he was around? 

“Did anything else happen?”

Anything else? You wondered what he thought you were leaving out but then you saw the look on his face. Uncomfortable but earnest.

It clicked into place.

“No, nothing else. There’d be more damage than a broken nose if they had done that.”

Vane nodded his approval of that. He looked at the pistol that you had placed on the counter and then back to you. He bent down and pulled something from the top of his boot before he held it out to you.

Hilt first, he held a long dagger in hand. You looked up at him and then back to the dagger.

“Take it. You need to be able to protect yourself. A dagger doesn’t need to be reloaded.”

No, just thrust into its target.

You accepted the dagger from him. The weight of it was strange in your hand, but not unknown. You’d held daggers before, used to carry them when you did your deliveries. You had become complacent in Nassau, had gotten too comfortable and felt too safe. You wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“What happens now?”

Vane approached until he was right in front of you.

“We’ll find them and I’ll kill them.”

You’d know that from the moment you saw his face. No one could go off and make a move against any captain like they had done, much less against Captain Vane.

“And if they are working for Eleanor?”

His face changed at that. So many emotions crossed his face that you barely had the chance to catch them before they were gone.

“I’ll handle it.”

He started to leave but you reached out and grabbed his wrist.

“Charles,” you started, not even realizing that you’d used his first name for the first time, “you can’t go against her like that. She’ll–”

He turned back to you, his hand going up to grab your chin to stop you from speaking. The touch and the closeness was so intimate that for a brief moment you thought he might lean in to kiss you. Instead he let his hand go up to brush your hair back from your face.

“I’ll handle it.”

It wasn’t a clarification, but you realized what he was really saying.

Trust. You had to trust him to handle it. So you closed your eyes and gave a quick nod. When you opened your eyes, it was to see him disappear out of the shop.

Now you just had to wait to see what happened next.

X

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[rjzimmerman]

Mexico is probably in a tough position because I bet that the Chinese government has an “arrangement” with the cartel to conduct fishing operations for the totoaba so the dumb asses in China can eat the totoaba bladder, because said dumb asses are convinced that if they dine on the bladders, they get boners. In the process of catching totoaba (which is itself endangered), the gillnets used snatch up the vaquita, which drown.

Excerpt from this press release from the Center for Biological Diversity:

In a series of letters delivered today, conservation groups urged the United States and international authorities to use sanctions to pressure Mexico to save the vaquita, whose population has dwindled to just 10 remaining animals. Despite repeated promises for decades, the Mexican government has failed to stop the use of deadly gillnets that are entangling, drowning and killing these porpoises — driving them to extinction.

“Only the strongest international pressure will force Mexico to get lethal fishing nets out of the water before these little porpoises disappear forever,” said Sarah Uhlemann, international program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. “For years, scientists, conservationists and local fishermen have asked the Mexican government to stop illegal fishing and finally save the vaquita. When the U.S. government finally embargoed seafood from the vaquita’s habitat, Mexico responded but still hasn’t stepped up enforcement. Time for real action is running out.”

In a letter sent to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) today, the groups urged authorities to suspend trade of hundreds of Mexican wildlife and plant species and products each year, including reptiles, orchids, spiders, sea cucumbers and certain shark species, worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Mexico continues to violate CITES by allowing the trafficking of totoaba, a large, endangered fish. Illegal nets used to catch totoaba can drown the vaquita.

“The Mexican government has had ample notice and time to heed CITES’s warnings and recommendations but has failed to remedy its CITES violations regarding the totoaba and vaquita. Time is running out for the vaquita and there is no reason for CITES not to act now with the strongest measures possible,” said Clare Perry, ocean campaign leader of the Environmental Investigation Agency.

The groups also asked the U.S. government to continue its ban on Mexican seafood, including highly lucrative trawl-caught shrimp, imported from the vaquita’s habitat in the Upper Gulf of California. The third letter requests that the UNESCO World Heritage Committee maintain the vaquita’s habitat — part of a designated World Heritage site — as “in danger,” along with requiring the Mexican government to submit a detailed management plan.

[libertariantaoist]

News Roundup 2/23/21

by Kyle Anzalone

US News

Texas police arrested a man for walking in the street during the Texas freeze. [Link]

The Los Angeles school district will cut the number of police officers in schools by a third. The cuts will allow $25 million to be redirected towards support services. [Link]

An independent investigative report finds the police officers who stopped Elijah McClain had no right to stop him. Police killed McClain after having him injected with Ketamine. [Link]

Two Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to cable providers asking why they still allow Fox News and Newsmax to air. [Link]

Great Power

Politico reports the US is planning new sanctions against Russia. [Link]

China called for an effort to reset relations with the US. The US said it was a Chinese effort to avert blame. [Link]

Afghanistan

Afghan government and Taliban negotiators met for the first time in a month. [Link]

Israel

Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed his commitment to the ‘two-state solution’ in a call with Israeli officials. [Link]

Israel will debate the US on Iran policy “below the radar.” [Link]

An Israeli court ruled the corruption trial of Prime Minister Netanyahu will not resume until after the election in March. [Link]

Middle East

Bliken said the US is looking to “lengthen and strengthen” the Iran Nuclear Deal. [Link]

Iran’s Supreme Leader said Iran would enrich uranium up to 60%. [Link]

A rocket attack in Iraq landed inside Baghdad’s Green Zone. The US condemned the attack. [Link]

Sources from the Saudi-backed government in Yemen say hundreds of fighters have died in the Houthi weeks-long assault on Marib. [Link]

Africa

A UN report says Erik Prince violated the UN arms embargo of Libya by shipping gun boats and attack craft to eastern military leader Hafter. [Link]

Libya’s Interior Minister escaped an assassination attempt unharmed. [Link]

The Italian Ambassador to the Congo was killed when armed men attacked his convoy. His bodyguard and WFP driver were also killed. It is unclear who is behind the attack, but the Congo interior minister said it was a Hutu militia. [Link]

Read More

[karajaynetoday]

everybody's got their demons, even wide awake or dreaming | part two

Photo credit: Jess Gleeson

Hello friends! Hope you’re having a lovely day. It’s time for part two of this series! Lizzie takes her opportunity to interview Calum one-on-one in this part. If you need to catch up on Part One, you can do that here. Onwards! 

(This is a fem!OC story)

Word count: 3.2k

Warnings: none? i don’t think? 

More writing here | send thoughts/feedback/suggestions here | if you’d like to be on my taglist go here

The day or so leading up to Lizzie’s one on one interview with Calum was a blur, as Lizzie tried to fix her body clock and orientate herself with how to get around LA. Her boss had offered her the opportunity to hire a rental car, but the idea of driving on the wrong side of the road was too much for Lizzie to stomach, so Ubers were the go. 

Her body sometimes overslept, sometimes woke her up at 4am, so Lizzie had downloaded a yoga and meditation app to try and sort herself out. She might’ve almost given herself a concussion after toppling over while trying to do a particularly tricky pose, but no one needed to hear about that. The bruises on her elbow were embarrassing enough. 

Danielle had sent Lizzie a text the morning of her lunchtime interview with Calum, confirming the time and place as they’d discussed. Lizzie had handwritten some notes for her questions, trying to contemplate what she could ask Calum that would differ to the others. Or maybe she should ask them all the same questions, and then in the piece she could compare and contrast responses? It was so hard to know what would make the best piece, especially with interviewing Calum in particular. Lizzie knew from watching other interviews, and in her group interview with all of the band the other day (and from back in their school days) that Calum was a man of few words. When he did speak, it was usually with purpose and thought, and made for some great content, but he wasn’t always particularly forthcoming. Which is why it had surprised Lizzie that Calum had volunteered for the first solo interview, but given Michael’s behaviour, she was glad to be continuing with the profile piece at all. 

It was a really warm day, so Lizzie had to forego her usual blazer and jeans in favour of a long green dress with blue and white flowers on it. Her hands were sweaty as the Uber pulled up to the café Calum had suggested, and something in the back of Lizzie’s mind suggested it wasn’t just from the weather. She’d always been an anxious person, but she’d gotten a handle on it recently; this whole LA debacle had brought it back with a vengeance. 

Calum was waiting for her just in front of the café, dark wayfarer sunglasses covering his eyes and his phone in his hand as he leant up against the brick wall beside the café door. He was wearing a grey hoodie and jeans, and nobody coming in or out of the café seemed to pay him any attention; but then again maybe people of Calum’s level of fame were just part of the furniture around here. It was near to Hollywood, after all.

“Hey, thanks for agreeing to meet me.” Lizzie’s voice wasn’t overly loud, but it still made Calum jump as he looked up from his phone at her.

“Of course, of course. I know I sound like a broken record, but we really are excited for you to do this piece. The new album era is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while, and - “ Calum began, smiling warmly at Lizzie, who cut him off by pulling open the café door.

“Before you start getting all meaningful and quotable on me, shall we get a coffee and take a seat?” 

“A woman after my own heart. Let’s do it. Pro-tip, the brownies here are to die for.”

The café was bustling, but most of the patrons seemed to be lining up for takeaway orders. Calum stepped ahead of Lizzie and slipped into a booth towards the back, near a frosted window, greeting the wait staff by name as he went. Lizzie scurried after him, apologising as she accidentally bumped into a tall man with her shoulder bag in her haste and he glared at her. Guess not everyone was as friendly as Calum, then. She slid into the booth opposite Calum, pulling out her notebook and phone as she went. 

“Is it okay if I record this? I’m not very good at taking notes.” 

“Straight into it, LL? At least let a man have his coffee first.” Calum deadpanned, and Lizzie felt her face fall before she realised he was joking with her.

“Of course, sorry. Let’s order. The brownies, you said? How big are they?” Lizzie pasted a smile onto her face, grabbing for the menu on the table in front of her.

“I have it on good authority that they’re perfectly Lizzie-sized. Calum-sized, too - a real multipurpose snack.” Calum was teasing her now, but also being completely serious, as he got the attention of a waitperson who came over to welcome them and take their orders. A skinny latté for Lizzie, an iced coffee for Calum, and a warmed up chocolate brownie with a side of coconut yogurt for them each. They fell into easy conversation, about the weather, and Calum’s neighbourhood, and the other pieces Lizzie had written, almost forgetting why they were there in the first place. When their order of coffees and brownies arrived, Lizzie suddenly snapped out of her feeling of ease when she had to push her notebook and phone over on the table and remember that she was supposed to be interviewing Calum Hood, 5SOS bassist, not catching up with Calum Hood, her Year 9 science lab partner. 

“Now that you’ve got your coffee, can I start recording?” Lizzie asked timidly, as she took a bite out of her brownie and audibly groaned at how heavenly it tasted.

“Depends. Will your brownie orgasm be mentioned in the article?” Could Calum say anything that wasn’t teasing her? Damn it.

“Maybe. Perhaps I’ll do a twitter thread of my trip food highlights, given that the profile piece will be under embargo until the album comes out.” Lizzie deadpanned right back, earning a smile and a small chuckle from Calum.

Lizzie hit record on her phone’s voicenote app, sliding the phone into the centre of the table. She flipped open her notebook to the page marked “Calum”, and she could see Calum trying to read her writing upside down.

“No spoilers, mate. I’ve got a strategy here.” Lizzie mused, angling her notebook so it was harder for Calum to see as he raised his hands in mock surrender.

“Well then, Ms Lawson from Junkee Australia, do your worst.” He flashed her a grin, before taking a sip of his coffee followed by a bite of his brownie (sans any groaning… that must only be a first-time brownie thing).

“So, in our chat yesterday, it was mentioned that this next album is, in some ways, a letter to your homeland, and a reflection on your journeys so far as individual artists as well as being 5SOS collectively. For you, as Calum Hood, what’s the main contribution or perspective that you feel you’ve brought to this album, and the band?” Lizzie saw a flicker of something in Calum’s eyes as she shifted into journalist mode easily, but he only paused for another sip of coffee before answering.

“I think at this point, my main contribution is balancing the collective contributions in the room. I have a lot to say, and I do a lot of songwriting, but I also think the others would agree that I’m also quite observant, so I can read a lot into things they’re saying, or not saying, and bring it out of them into the music. We’ve known each other for almost half our lives at this point, so we know each other better than anyone else, but when we work with other co writers and things like that it can be hard to feel entirely comfortable with the vulnerability you need to bring into writing a song or telling a particular story that day. I’ve got the rep as the strong, silent, shy type, I know - “ Calum paused and returned the soft smile Lizzie was giving him, as she nodded encouragingly. 

“But in interviews, when I’m being asked to explain myself and validate my artistic choices, I’m immediately more defensive and protective of it, because there’s something magical about the writing room, and the vulnerability that can only exist in that context when we’re songwriting, and creating that art. The end product, which is the song or the album or whatever, conveys the emotions in a way that I could never say them with words, and the beautiful thing is that so many people can listen to it and relate to it in ways that I’d never considered before. But that’s the power of it, you know? We make these songs to express ourselves, and fulfil our creative outlets, but it extends beyond that, and that’s the part that gets me.” Calum finished speaking and reached for another sip of his coffee.

“Right. The magic exists in the studio, and on the stage, and in individual people’s lives when they listen to the music wherever they are in the world, and it’s the connecting thread that brings you together with your fans, a moment that you can share even if you never meet.”

“Exactly, it’s the universal experience, and everyone has their own interpretation of what it means to them. Pisses me off when people try and dig to find out who we wrote a certain song about, or whatever. Sometimes it is a specific person or a moment, other times I make shit up to suit the vibe of a chord progression or a concept someone’s brought to the table. It’s a juicier headline if we name and shame, but it’s not fair to the person I’m writing about, especially if they don’t have a similar outlet for a right of reply, and it’s also irrelevant, because my meaning behind a song could be completely different to yours, but that doesn’t make it less valid.” Calum shrugs as he speaks, his tone calm and nonchalant. 

“Makes sense. The music can exist as art, and be open to interpretation, like everything in life. And with this album, and reflecting on your homeland… what does that mean, for you? Because 5SOS have lived almost their entire adult lives overseas, so I know it must be hard to self-determine a cultural identity that’s so strongly linked to somewhere you haven’t lived for so long.” Lizzie asks, munching down another bite of brownie.

Calum cocks his head to the side and rolls his bottom lip into his mouth, and Lizzie feels a lump rise in her throat. Had she phrased the question wrong? Was he mad? Had she struck a nerve? Fuck. 

“Sorry, we don’t have to - I mean, we can keep discussing the album in a different way if you’d prefer -” Lizzie started babbling, and she froze when Calum reached across the table and rested on hers reassuringly. 

“Breathe, Lawson. I just need a minute to think about a deep and meaningful response to your question. You’re fine.” Calum was speaking softly, and there was an apology of sorts in his eyes when Lizzie glanced over at him. She was about to ask him something else, when a waitress came over to check on how everything was going with their orders and offered a second round of coffees and Calum withdrew his hand from the table as he ordered another iced coffee to go, times two. 

“If you could have it ready to go in about an hour, that’d be great.” Calum flashed the waitress a smile, and she shot him a wink as she headed back to the counter to update his order.

“A whole ‘nother hour? You spoil me, Mr Hood.” Lizzie joked, downing the last of her coffee and desperately hoping to avoid any awkwardness in her remaining interview time with Calum. 

“Anything for a fellow Australian, mate. To answer your question, it’s strange, because yes I’ve never lived there full time as an adult, but there’s something about your home country and your hometown that stays with you, no matter where you go or how long you’re gone. Obviously, for me, my sister lives overseas, and neither of my parents were raised in Australia, but it still means a lot to me, because it’s home, you know? The industry there is… interesting, but I still think that if we didn’t have the background we all have as individuals and the band, there’s certainly a lot of decisions we’ve made and ways we’ve gone about things in our careers that are heavily influenced by our upbringings and the mindsets we all have from that experience.” 

“Home is where the heart is, right?” Lizzie offers, thumbing her notebook absently. 

“It’s true. But it’s also refreshing to go back and escape it all a bit, you know? None of my friends at home really give a shit about Calum from 5SOS. They just like hanging out with Cal, which is nice.” Calum shrugs, clasping his hands together on the table in front of him.

“Just Cal? Not cool guy Cal? C Dizzle Swizzle?” Lizzie bit back a grin, remembering the multitude of nicknames Cal had garnered over the years.

“Look, cool guy Cal is just my constant state of being. C Dizzle might make an appearance if I’ve had one too many, but either way, they’re just happy to see me. Or happy to tell me some home truths that I haven’t heard, or wanted to hear, so that’s important too. You can’t live in LA for as long as we have without having a good support crew to keep us grounded, you know? Even if some of the ones who mean the most to us are on the other side of the planet.” There was something in Calum’s eyes again as Lizzie looked at him, and she could tell it was more than what he was trying to say for the sake of the profile interview. 

She swallowed down one final bite of the heavenly brownie, and turned the page to find her next question. Lizzie couldn’t entertain the idea of asking Calum why Michael was mad at her, because it would break the air of professionalism she was desperate to maintain; also, she wasn’t entirely sure he’d even tell her. Calum and Michael had been inseparable in their school days, and Lizzie knew that their bond and sense of loyalty no doubt ran even deeper now than then, given all of their shared experiences, trials and tribulations to date. But Calum had always been so kind and patient with her, whether she’d accidentally ruined their Year 9 science experiment, or she’d nearly thrown up on his shoes at the Year 11 formal after party, or when Michael had stormed out of the studio a few days ago and he offered her his time for the first solo interview. Lizzie brushed off the train of thought, and continued with her interview questions for Calum.

The conversation flowed easily, and Lizzie could already feel the profile starting to come together in her mind. She jotted down a handful of notes on how to adapt her questions for Luke and Ashton based on Calum’s responses, and before they realised how long they’d been chatting, the waitress returned with Calum’s two takeaway iced coffees. 

Lizzie asked the waitress for the bill, but Calum waved her off. 

“I’ve got it, Lizzie. Don’t stress.” 

“But I can expense it! I have a receipts app, and everything!” Calum laughed at how excited Lizzie seemed at the concept of submitting a work expense claim.

“Okay, fine. You win this round.” 

Lizzie pressed stop on her phone recording, and reached for her bag to slide her notebook in. The waitress returned with the bill, and Lizzie handed her travel bank card over, drumming her hands absentmindedly on the table while she waited for the waitress to come back with her card and the receipt. 

“Lizzie?” Her head snapped up as Calum spoke. 

“He’s not… I know it seems like he’s really mad at you, but he’s not.” It took a moment for Lizzie to register what Calum was saying.

“He’s not mad at me? He refused to speak to me and stormed out of the room the first chance he got, but he’s not mad? Right.” Lizzie couldn’t help but sound bitter as she spoke.

“I can’t speak for him, but I know him. He’s not mad, he’s just hurt about everything.” Lizzie could tell Calum was being very careful with his choice of words, and she eyed him curiously across the table.

“What does he possibly have to be hurt about? He’s the one that -” Lizzie catches herself halfway through her sentence, and squeezes her eyes shut as she inhales deeply.

“Here’s your receipt and your card back, miss. Thanks so much for visiting us today, have a lovely day!” Lizzie blinks and squints up at the waitress, who hands back her card and a paper receipt. Lizzie mumbles her thanks, and goes to stand up and slide out of the booth, and Calum follows her out of the café.

“Lizzie, I didn’t mean to upset you -” Calum’s apologetic tone had Lizzie spinning on her heel to face him once they’re through the doors of the café. 

“You didn’t, Calum. It’s fine. I’m here to do a job, and I appreciate your time today, I really do. Michael and I… I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it, okay? I know it won’t be easy, but for now, I just want to focus on getting the best interview content I can from you all. That’s why I’m here.” Lizzie wrings her hands nervously, and she can feel how sweaty her palms are.

“Is that the only reason you’re here?” Calum’s tone isn’t teasing, or harsh. It’s genuine, curious, soft. He’s not moving as he stands in front of Lizzie and gazes down at her from his full height. 

Before Lizzie can answer, Calum’s phone starts to ring, and he casts her another glance before stepping away to answer it. While he’s chatting to whoever’s on the other end of the line, Lizzie decides to order herself an Uber and make her way back to the hotel so she can make a start on transcribing the interview with Calum. Because that was why she was here, Lizzie told herself in her head, stubbornly. Didn’t matter about the feelings in her stomach, and the tightness of her chest. She was there to write a profile about a band, nothing more, nothing less. 

“I’ve got to go and meet Ash at the studio, are you all good from here?” Calum’s question broke Lizzie out of her internal dialogue. 

“Yep, all good. Thanks again for your time, Cal. I really appreciate it. I think it’s going to be a great piece, and I’m intrigued to see what comes out of the other interviews. All of them.” Lizzie’s pointed tone isn’t lost on Calum, and he grimaces slightly at the fire he seems to have ignited. Ah well. Lizzie and Michael had to sort their shit out sooner or later, right?

Right? 

Calum was trying to convince himself as he strolled down the street towards his car, pondering if he’d made things better or worse between Michael, his best mate through almost his entire life, and Lizzie, the girl that he’d been sure Michael would love forever, but had walked away from in a shadow of hurt, betrayal, and disbelief. The girl that apparently had no idea Michael felt that way, or that if he did, it wasn’t justified. Someone’s side of the story just wasn’t adding up, but Calum wasn’t sure whose it was. Not anymore.

Taglist: If there’s a line through your name, I couldn’t tag you, so please message me to let me know your new URL or what the go is!  @suchalonelysunflower @blackbutterfliescal @redrattlers @loveroflrh @spicycal @notinthesameguey @metalandboybands @cheekysos @ashton-trash  @another-lonely-heart @queenalienscherrypie  @becihadshawn  @allthestarsandthemoon​ @wheniminouterspace​

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

April 25, 2021

Heather Cox Richardson

On Thursday and Friday of last week, April 22 and 23, President Biden convened a virtual meeting of 40 world leaders to discuss addressing climate change. It is no longer possible to ignore changes in the world’s climate: the last decade was the hottest in recorded history, and the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has reached record levels. Arctic ice is melting; last summer’s fires in Australia, California, and Colorado were catastrophic.

In 2015, representatives of more than 190 countries, including the U.S., gathered in Paris and hammered out an agreement on mitigating climate change, adapting to it, and financing those changes. Former president Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement. On his first day in office, Biden took the U.S. back into the international agreement.

But Biden seems not simply to be trying to adjust the nation’s energy production. With the Leaders Summit on Climate, Biden is taking what his Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm called “our generation’s moonshot,” a reference to the American determination to reach the moon in the 1960s, a goal that spurred previously unimaginable developments in technology, computers, and science.

In the past, refusal to address the issue of climate change has centered around the idea that cutting back on fossil fuels would take jobs from coal miners and those in related fossil fuel industries. That focus was always about more than jobs: the hardworking white man in a hardhat was a cultural symbol for a certain political stance more than it was about reality. Walmart, for example, employs about 28 times the number of people as does coal, even including executives, office workers, and so on. Still, it’s a trope that worked in 2016: Trump won West Virginia by 42 points.

But a lot has changed in the last four years.

For one thing, the market for coal has slid, illustrating that old blue-collar jobs are not coming back. Trump promised to make coal great again and seemed to think that slashing environmental regulations would do the trick, but even combined with an infusion of up to $1 billion, slashing regulations could not stop Trump’s administration from overseeing the fastest decline of coal-fuel capacity in U.S. history. The U.S. lost 10% of coal-mining jobs—5300 of them—between 2016 and 2020. Low natural gas prices and the rise of wind and solar alternatives pushed coal aside. At the same time, mechanization across blue collar industries means the recovery of old manufacturing jobs is not in the cards.

On April 19, the United Mine Workers of America, the largest coal miners’ union, backed Biden’s plan to move away from coal, so long as miners get government support to transition into similar jobs. In a plan endorsed by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia (who is well known for delivering for his constituents), the union asked for funding to plug abandoned oil and gas wells, clean up mining sites, and train workers for new jobs in new energy technologies.

The sentiments of business leaders have shifted, too, as they recognize that climate change is a financial disruptor. Earlier this month, leaders of more than 400 businesses that collectively employ more than 7 million Americans signed a letter asking Biden to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% below 2005 levels by 2030. “To restore the standing of the U.S. as a global leader, we need to address the climate crisis at the pace and scale it demands,” they wrote. “New investment in clean energy, energy efficiency, and clean transportation can build a strong, more equitable, and more inclusive American economy.” Signatories included Etsy, Facebook, Nike, Microsoft, Verizon, and Walmart.

Biden has already embraced the idea that addressing climate change is not a loss but an opportunity. It will, he insists, bring good jobs to ordinary Americans. “When people talk about climate, I think jobs,” Biden said on Thursday. “Within our climate response lies an extraordinary engine of job creation and economic opportunity ready to be fired up.”

Indeed, Biden’s American Jobs Plan already calls for $16 billion to clean up abandoned mining sites and more for the training in new infrastructure jobs coal miners want. It also addresses job losses in rural areas in an obvious but novel way: by supporting the caregiver economy. Caregiving jobs cannot ever be mechanized, and there are caregivers—and people who need care— in every single community in this country. Supporting those positions will bring money into towns left behind by the loss of jobs like mining.

Biden’s emphasis on new energy jobs is part domestic politics, but it is also a major play for redefining future world power. It was no accident that the overarching political theme of last week’s conference was “America is back.”

As the White House fact sheet on the conference stated: “Over the course of two days and eight sessions, President Biden convened heads of state and government, as well as leaders and representatives from international organizations, businesses, subnational governments, and indigenous communities, to rally the world in tackling the climate crisis, demonstrate the economic opportunities of the future, and affirm the need for unprecedented global cooperation and ambition to meet the moment.”

America is back, indeed.

But what does that mean, in this context? At the summit, Biden announced that by 2030 the U.S. would reduce emissions by 50–52% from the levels of 2005, more than doubling our commitment under the Paris Agreement. He called for other countries, which make up 85% of emissions, to “step up” to “tackle the climate crisis and support the most vulnerable.” (The U.S., which has 4% of the world’s population, emits 15% of the world’s greenhouse gases). This is all pretty standard for U.S. climate statements. Biden went farther, though, calling for changing the American economy over to renewables, including wind, solar, nuclear, and so on, to make the country carbon-free by 2035.

Still, what jumps out from the rest of the Biden proposal is what sure looks like a major reworking of the world economy and thus its political tensions.

While the U.S. focused on fossil fuels and refused to jump wholeheartedly into research and development of alternative energies, China did. That nation is still dependent on fossil fuels and expects not to reach its highest pollution levels until sometime before 2030, but it has heavily subsidized solar power and now has 8 of the top 10 solar companies in the world. America has one; Europe has none. Chinese dominance of the technology and supply chains for the solar industry threatens to sideline American technology and national security, as even American solar manufacturers depend on Chinese materials.

Dominating the world of alternative energy would give China a powerful geopolitical tool. Remember how hard the supply chain failures in China during the early days of the coronavirus hit the U.S.? Now, think energy. A recent piece by Emerging Markets journalist Kenneth Rapoza in Forbes is titled: “How China’s Solar Industry Is Set Up To Be The New Green OPEC,” a reference to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, whose oil embargo to the U.S. in 1973 slammed the U.S. economy.

Countries, especially weaker countries, would need to turn toward China if that’s where they get their energy technology. And even stronger countries would be dependent on China for one of their most vital needs. To forestall that scenario, Biden has stepped in to reclaim leadership on new energy technologies for the United States, enabling other countries to work toward an energy future that is not dominated by China. On April 22, North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg signed onto the idea of NATO cooperation on climate change and other security challenges.

After four years in which our leaders saw the height of American strength as standing alone, our leadership is now focusing on the idea of international teamwork. Biden’s climate plan is about saving the planet, but it also seems to be about saving global alliances, binding countries together with a new climate agreement to retain their power over their own energy in the future.

—-

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[yeonchi]

Kisekae Insights #20: Sea Princesses Part 4 (Answering the Barracuda Kingdom saga and more post-mortem updates)

“Sea Princesses… Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.” – in response to a Brazilian Twitter meme

This is the first time I’ve revisited a completed segment to add more content to it. Back in #13, I teased a storyline for Soulbound Series 4 that answers the mysteries of the Barracuda Kingdom saga and Duante from Sea Princesses. At the time, I was taking a break from writing the story due to the coronavirus lockdown, but a couple of months ago, I was finally able to finish it and continue writing new stories. The embargo date I set for the story’s premiere has passed, so I want to take the first opportunity I can to share it with you all. Also, I want to address a few Sea Princesses-related things that have come up, but that will come later. Let’s get right into it.

Prerequisite requirements

Even though this is a Soulbound story, the characters from that series have very little involvement in the two-parter – in fact, only three minor characters show up and they mostly help the others in the fighting (I’m not good at working with large casts lel). That is why I’m able to tell this story to you without spoiling anything else.

The following Sea Princesses episodes are required viewing in order to understand this story:

The Lost Kingdom

The New Princess

The Guardians

The Healer

Reviewing the previous instalments of Kisekae Insights covering Sea Princesses (#11, #12 and #13 linked above) is recommended, but not required. The only main assumption made is that the Dryland girl (Windy) and her mother from The New Princess are descendants of the lost Barracuda Royal Family.

Lorah’s backstory

In #11, I wrote that Lorah wasn’t known to be a part of any royal family, but before continuing with the writing of the story, I found some introductory material I wrote in 2018 that stated that Lorah was the Barracuda Prince. I almost couldn’t remember writing it, but instead of making plans to change it later, I decided to utilise that plotline I forgot for three years (because I forgot to mention it in Decade, but I’ll fix it eventually).

Years ago, when the Barracuda Palace was destroyed in an earthquake, Lorah and a few of the royal family’s servants were thought to have died when they were forced to flee. Unbeknownst to them however, Lorah and the servants were saved by their fellow barracuda who had arrived to see what was going on. Lorah was taken to the Farlands, where he was raised by his family’s servants before he returned to Salacia some time after the end of the Time War. The kings and queens recognised him and allowed him to become a general in the Salacian Army, granting him a castle in the Turtle Kingdom to use as a base along with an army of Oni Riders. Nobody brought anything up about his family because they had no clue where they were.

Windy’s backstory

As I stated in #13, the name of the “new princess” is Windy Adams, a tribute to the namesake character of the third Sea Princesses main series book, The Windy Letters. Windy is 24 years old during her appearance in the two-parter, meaning that she would have been 7 years old during The New Princess. You could argue that she looks older, but then you could say the same for Polvina, Ester and Tubarina who are noted to be 7 years old in the official sources.

Fast forward to The Lost Kingdom, where the barracuda learnt that if they helped rebuild the destroyed Barracuda Palace, then there might be a chance that their royal family would return. They were happy for a bit, but then they became grumpy again because their royal family never returned… or so they thought.

Fast forward to The New Princess, where Polvina, Ester and Tubarina were left with more questions than answers after testing Windy, who had already left the island with her marine archaeologist mother by then, to see whether she really was the Barracuda Princess. Many questions are raised; how could a Drylander have read a book written in Salacian? Could someone else have gone onto the island and left “Goodbye friends” in the sand? No, Windy and her mother were the only ones on the island. They had the bracelet from the Barracuda Kingdom with them, so they might have been able to use that to read the book that Polvina had left on the island, but even then, how would they have been able to do it? Assuming that all this is true, then why were the barracuda being happy around Windy?

In 2018, Windy’s family was killed by Dai-Shocker when they attacked Santos. Though Yuki Yamaki and Marcela managed to confirm their links to the Barracuda Royal Family, Windy’s body was never found. The answer to all these questions can be explained with a simple explanation combining numerous elements. Speaking of which…

Duante’s backstory

In The Guardians, we learn that the goddess Salacia appointed the blowfish to be the guardians of Salacia, then covered it up by making each royal family’s history books say that their respective families were the guardians and tearing the respective pages out of the only public version in the Great Library of Salacia. As a result, the blowfish can speak to anyone they wish and be understood by them. Though the blowfish request Polvina, Ester and Tubarina to keep their discovery a secret, Hiroki and Duante are privy to this due to their contact with the goddess Salacia – this is referred to when Ester subtly reacts to them mentioning this secret.

In The Healer, Ester meets Duante, but he only allows her to ask one question and he disappears as fast as he appears. Ester’s only solution is to trick Duante into coming out and when he does, he becomes saddened because he didn’t want to meet Polvina and Tubarina through a trick. Though Duante told Ester that they could never be friends, he never said that it would be forever and as consolation, he gives her his name. So why did Duante seem like a wandering asshole back then?

Orphaned soon after his birth, Duante was found by the goddess Salacia, who raised him to be a guardian of Salacia and a healer of sick and injured sea creatures. Like the blowfish before him, Duante was given the ability to understand and communicate with every creature in the sea. He spent his life travelling around Salacia and the many other oceanic realms, doing what he can to help any sick or injured creature. In the 17 years after The Healer, Duante rarely ever showed up in Salacia.

The Aqua Conspiracy and the Poseidon Myth

The two statements are the titles of each episode in the two-parter.

In 2018, Salacia gave Duante the Aqua Driver and the mission of searching for the lost descendant of the Barracuda Royal Family on Dryland, namely Windy Adams. He managed to track her down to Santos, but he was caught up in a Dai-Shocker attack and was defeated.

Meanwhile, the Kougami Foundation were working on some new Core Medals (based on the new medals of the CSM OOO Driver) in the midst of a black hole paradox swallowing up the Riders and eventually, the world. Though they only made one of each medal to prevent Greeeds from forming, a Greeed still manages to form within the Same, Kujira and Ookami Core Medals before disappearing. The medals reappear in Windy’s house and possess her, transforming her into Kamen Rider Poseidon before she defeated the monsters. Windy’s body was never found that day because Poseidon saved her life.

By the time Duante got to Windy’s house, he was too late to save her family, but then, another supernatural force takes control of the Ebi, Kani and Sasori Core Medals and uses them to possess Duante. The supernatural force was Iemanja, the goddess of the ocean (more like the river according to Salacia) who was disgusted that a lowly Greeed had taken on the mighty name of Poseidon, the god of the oceans.

For the next three years, Poseidon went in search of worthy opponents to fight, but Aqua would constantly get in his way. Salacia’s concern for her two lost children led her to ask Hiroki for help searching for them, while the Kougami Foundation sent out OOO to help find the missing Core Medals.

After helping OOO and his friends fight Poseidon to no avail, Hiroki gets on the beers at the pub with Ester and Lorah. Some exposition dumps are shared and Hiroki gets frustrated at the dead ends and unsolvable mysteries until OOO’s group alerts him to a Greeed nearby.

Polvina and Tubarina encounter Jeopardy, Terumi and Minoru (the three characters from Soulbound) and challenge them to battle, but it is interrupted by Windy, wearing the bracelet and asking if they have seen Iemanja. When everyone arrives and points out that Windy is actually the Greeed, Poseidon takes control of her and begins fighting the Riders. Poseidon’s transformation sequence involves swinging the Deepest Harpoon in a cross, evoking elements of Kamen Rider Durendal’s transformation sequence. After everyone is defeated, Duante/Iemanja arrives and fights Poseidon, defeating him with the Oceanic Break and allowing Windy to regain control of herself.

Following another exposition dump back in the pub, Poseidon takes control of Windy’s body again and disappears to find more worthy opponents to fight in the sea and destroy Windy’s legacy. Tubarina realises that she is heading for the Barracuda Palace, but they can’t get everyone to Salacia by road in time. It is then that Hiroki and Polvina get an idea; the Riders (along with Jeopardy, Terumi and Minoru) use Mirror World to get to Salacia, where they alert the Shark King and all the other Riders. It is there that we get some amazing intercut transformation scenes based off the intercut transformation scene with Z and Geed in episode 15 of Ultraman Z.

Poseidon’s first opponent on the border between Salacia and the Farlands is Saula, the Salmon Princess (Alternative Zero, aka Bebe’s new owner from The Doll) and the Alternative Army. Poseidon defeats everyone one by one as she makes her way to the rebuilt Barracuda Palace in the Valley of Dusk. Aqua and OOO are Poseidon’s final opponents; Aqua has OOO use the Bikaso Combo to hold back Poseidon while he takes his medals, then gives them to OOO who uses the Saramiuo Combo to perform the Saramiuo Break Scanning Charge. After an Aqua Vortex from Aqua, Poseidon is purged from Windy’s body and destroyed as she lands on the throne.

Once everyone gathers at the Barracuda Palace, Windy reveals that her grandmother would always tell stories of how she came from the sea and was the princess of some kingdom until it was destroyed and they had to flee to Dryland. She also passed down her knowledge of the Salacian language in case they ever decided to find it one day. It is then that schools of barracuda begin gathering around the palace, cheering for the return of their prince and the arrival of their new princess. In case you didn’t get it by now, Windy is the lost descendant of the Barracuda Royal Family and therefore, the new Barracuda Princess.

Duante explains to Ester that he didn’t want to be friends with her back in The Healer because he had to keep his role as the guardian of Salacia a secret, but he eventually realised that his attitude back then made him seem impolite. He decides to stay and chat with Ester and her friends to make up for it. Lorah offers to take care of the Barracuda Kingdom in Windy’s absence while Miss Marla tells Windy that in Salacia’s absence, she can answer any questions she may have about the world of Salacia (the book series alluded to the fact that Miss Marla was more important than she actually seemed and in this project, that was because she was the messenger of the goddess Salacia).

With this, the Barracuda Kingdom saga has been resolved and a lot of loose ends in Sea Princesses have been tied up. To be honest, this storyline wouldn’t have existed if it weren’t for Kamen Rider Zi-O; given that Aqua is featured towards the end of the series, my decision to adapt the series in my project meant that I was obligated to introduce him along with any other Rider that was important to the story or original footage. Otherwise, I would have been happy with just saying that Windy and her family were dead and leaving it at that.

In regards to Iemanja’s inclusion in the two-parter – in the Afro-Brazilian Candomblé religion (which combines traditional West African religions with Catholicism), Iemanja is the goddess of the sea and their counterpart of the Virgin Mary. Originally, in the Nigerian Yoruba religion, Yemoja (her original name) is the patron saint of rivers. This conflicts with Salacia, who is Roman goddess of the sea, which is why she makes a snarky remark at Iemanja in the story. Of course, this isn’t how I got inspired to include her in the story; it was from a Candomblé hymn named Mamãe Maria (Mother Mary) which had the words “princesas do mar” in the lyrics. I wonder if it would be sacrilege to turn that hymn into a fast-paced techno theme song for Kamen Rider Poseidon?

Post-mortem updates

Since I have covered everything in this series, I don’t want to dwell on it any more than I have because it’s beating a dead horse at this point (unless Fabio Yabu decides to make something new for it). So I want to take this opportunity to address some things before it becomes awkward when I make an update post out of nowhere with no new material to provide.

In the epilogue of the book reviews, I mentioned that Dan Wyllie (who voices Marcello and possibly Sirilo and Veto) had pleaded not guilty to assaulting his wife, Shannon Murphy (who voices Tata), in March 2020. The way I wrote that paragraph made it seem like Wyllie was the villain, but it turns out that everything wasn’t what it seemed. In February this year, Wyllie was found not guilty of assaulting his wife thanks to some selfies he took after Murphy poured yogurt on him. The magistrate stated that Murphy “was not an impressive witness” and that “she had tailored her evidence to suit a scenario in which she had been the original aggressor”. I’m going to leave it at that.

I’ve noticed that the episodes in the Portuguese and Latin American Spanish dubs on Amazon Prime are shorter than the English dubs by 2-3 minutes. While watching a couple of episodes and following along on my transcripts, I discovered that some scenes were cut from the episodes. I have no idea why this is the case, but this seems to confirm my suspicion that the English dub is the original dub.

For some time now, I have been wondering why Sea Princesses got very little exposure over the years. Some of my speculative reasons include the relative novelty of Brazilian animation at the time of production, not exporting the series to Japan, the US or the UK, not getting the books published internationally (or at least in English) until 2020, the just-about-average writing in the series and the lack of focus on other characters besides the main five.

Recently though, I remembered going on the official Sea Princesses website on UOL over a decade ago and having to wade through all the Portuguese in order to get the (low-medium quality) images of the characters. I asked Fabio Yabu if it didn’t cross his mind to make an English website for Sea Princesses or if contractual obligations with Southern Star prevented him from doing so; he told me that Southern Star were apparently supposed to translate the website, but they never ended up doing so. In my opinion, I don’t think he had an excuse not to make an English website, or at the very least, put translated descriptions of the characters on any of his social media or art sharing platforms like Facebook, Flickr, DeviantArt or Tumblr.

It’s been over a year now since my first correspondence with Yabu and while we did discuss publishing the translated versions of the main series books on Amazon Kindle, nothing much has come from that, the two remaining literacy series books to be translated or the mistake in the second main series book on Kindle that is still yet to be corrected. When I reached out to Yabu recently in regards to this, he told me that he is currently busy with projects and the coronavirus has made things much more complicated in Brazil, so things are on hold for now. To be honest, I’ve been iffy over sending him anything this past year because I’m afraid that I might be annoying him, but he’s been pretty cool about it, so I won’t worry so much about it if I decide to send him another email in a few months’ time or whatever.

Anyway, that’s it for Sea Princesses (again) for the time being. The next time I mention something new about it will probably be when Fabio Yabu finally decides to do something or when I talk about it in my adaptation of Kamen Rider Zi-O. I hope you enjoyed reading my theories.

[super-famicom-star-inactive]

Friday Special #4

November 20th, 2020

Welcome back to another Friday Special!

For this week, we’ll be looking into a console that many of you have probably never heard of, or thought about.

That’s right, this week is about the Nintendo Famicom, Nintendo’s first major home console!

Okay so for a lot of you, 9 times out of 10 you probably don’t really know what a Famicom is and some of you may have never even seen one.

They’re actually really cool!

So for starters, the original Nintendo Famicom was released in Japan back in 1983 (the same year as the North American Video Game Crash, but that’s for a future episode) and it was Nintendo’s first major step into the international home console market.

But we have to step back in time for a bit first.

When video games started popping up in the early 1970s (with Pong being the first commercially successful arcade game in 1972), Nintendo decided to join in on the craze by releasing their very first “video game” known as the Laser Clay Shooting System in 1973, which was described as a “light gun shooting simulation” much like in the way of a traditional shooting gallery but with electronics. Nintendo would famously insert the game in deserted bowling alleys after the bowling craze had died out some time before. Although the game was commercially successful, the famous 1973 oil crisis (the one where the Arab nations put an embargo on oil would caused prices to skyrocket for countries that helped out Israel during the Yom Kipper War) that same year forced Nintendo to reconsider the design and instead create a smaller, cheaper version of the game, renamed Mini Laser Clay. Arcades across the country took up the game, which helped the company survive for the rest of the decade after it had acquired 5 billion yen in debt from the oil crisis. 

After seeing this success, Nintendo wanted to dive deeper into the growing video game market that was expanding at the time. So later in 1974, they released another hit Wild Gunman, which was a skeet shooter type of game similar to the Mini Laser Clay game. They both were exported to the United States and Europe, where the games went on to become massive successful.

Despite these winnings, they were still struggling behind the likes of Bandai and Tomy in terms of production and soon they would discontinue the light gun products. However, they didn’t give up and not wanting to miss an opportunity, bought the Japanese distribution rights to the Magnavox Odyssey in 1974 and signed a three-year deal with Mitsubishi Electric to create products for the company, which included but limited to the first modern microprocessor for video game programming. As part of this deal, the first of the Color TV Game home consoles were released to great success, which would be Nintendo’s first step in the home console market and Nintendo’s first major home console ever released. Even Shigeru Miyamoto (yes, that Shigeru Miyamoto) was brought on the team in 1977 to help with the planning of the console. 

The late 1970s/ early 1980s was when things really began to kick off. Between the American subsidiary of Nintendo opening up in New York City in 1979 and the release of the ultra-successful Mr. Game and Watch franchise (the first handheld video game system) in 1980 allowed Nintendo to firmly take root in the video game industry and even create a separate division in the company for arcade game development, which resulted in the release of Donkey Kong in 1981 (one of the first video games that allowed the playable character to jump).

This is where the Famicom comes in.

Wanting to try their hand in creating cartridge-based consoles, conceptual plans for the eventual Famicom were made after witnessing the success of Coleco’s Colecovision, which at the time was one of the best selling home consoles on the American video game market. Originally the plan was to include a keyboard and floppy disk drive but then-President Hiroshi Yamauchi rejected the idea (It’s worth noting that the Famicom did eventually get a floppy disk drive peripheral where you could play games on the Famicom Disk System, more on that later). The name “Famicom” actually came from the wife of Famicom designer Masayuki Uemura after the development team proposed the name “GameCom” and his wife suggested “Famicom” by saying "In Japan, 'pasokon' is used to mean a personal computer, but it is neither a home or personal computer. Perhaps we could say it is a family computer."

Testing began in 1982 to test the functionality. For the famous colors of red and white, it was reported that Yamauchi was inspired by the color scheme of the Japanese antenna company DX Antenna. It was originally released on July 15, 1983 and originally sold for ¥14,800 ($54.50 in 1983 US Dollars, $180.25 in 2020 US Dollars) but it was slow to gain sales as a bad chip in the console would cause it to crash. After it was recalled and patched, sales skyrocketed for the console and became the best-selling console in the country by the end of 1984.

Here are some of the first commercials from the time period:

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Nintendo originally had plans to team up with Atari for marketing but after the latter company discover Coleco illegally demonstrating Donkey Kong on their Coleco Adam system at the 1983 Consumer Electronics Show, the plan fell through after Nintendo delayed their contract for game console marketing as well as Atari CEO Ray Kassar getting fired from the company the following month.

Then the infamous 1983 Video Game Crash happened and that era would shake the video game industry and change it forever. 

Although the incident would be featured in-depth in a future Friday Special, what had happened as was that, put simply, too many low-quality, third party gaming consoles oversaturated the market as various companies had wanted to cash in on the booming video game craze. Many of the consoles that were created were met with mixed to low success. 

As a result, Nintendo held off on releasing the console to the United States for fear of catching the stigma that video games were getting at the time because of the crash. So for the next year or so, Nintendo went into development for creating a different kind of Famicom system for the American market, one that didn’t explicitly play video games, but was going to be marketed as an “Entertainment System” with the cartridges called “Game Paks”. They changed the hardware design so that the “Game Pak” would be inserted in the front instead of the top like one was playing a cassette and it had “zero insertion force” for the cartridge slot. The color scheme was changed to gray with red lettering and the controllers were also removeable, something that wasn’t possible with the Famicom. 

At the 1985 Consumer Electronics Show, Nintendo would unveil the product to the American masses.

That “product” was the original Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)

The NES would not only restore faith in the American video game market but it would also reframe it into the regulated industry it is today. One of the biggest changes from years before was that now there was a bigger push for having the soundboard and graphics to be on par with one another equally instead of one system receiving better treatment over another, which was common practice at the time to weed out competitors. Other changes included changing the cartridge art so that it actually represents the game being presented as a common problem was that the graphics on the cartridge sticker didn’t accurately portray in-game graphics, and also establishing a strict approval system for future games to ensure that no low-quality video games would taint the system and make Nintendo lose credibility, which was where the “Official Nintendo Seal of Approval” comes from. 

The NES originally sold for $180 ($428 in 2020 US Dollars) and it not only revived the American video game industry, it became one of the best-selling consoles that year and eventually of the decade. 

So while the NES was making waves in the United States, the Famicom continued to make sales soar over the next few years in Japan. The first major peripheral for the console came in the form of the Famicom Disk System, released on February 21, 1986.

Remember when Yamauchi said no floppy disks because he was concerned that the extra additions to the Famicom would scare off the non-tech-savvy people? Yeah, this was the Disk System mentioned earlier. It was made to enhance some of the best aspects of the original Famicom system such as sound and graphics, despite the high selling price and lower reliability. The release of the peripheral sparked a new era of gaming with the increasing accessibility of massive, writable storage led to the creation of legendary franchises such as Legend of Zelda and Metroid, both in 1986 respectively.

Although the Famicom Disk System was well received, it would eventually fall into obscurity by the early 1990s due to the rise of cartridge-based games. The last game released for the Disk System was in 1992 called Janken Disk Jō. The peripheral would be taken off the market in 1990 and support was discontinued in 2003.

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The other notable peripheral for the console was the Famicom 3D System, released on October 21, 1987. It was a pair of active-shutter glasses that would connect into the third-party port of the Famicom console (the third-party port made an appearance in the last issue, being referenced in the trial against Atari regarding the copyright of Tetris. You can read that article here). It was a commercial failure and quickly shelved, causing the peripheral to never be seen outside of Japan.

All good things must come to an end at some point, where on September 25, 2003, the console was finally discontinued for the Famicom console after almost 20 years of being in the industry. Support was discontinued in 2007 due to increasing difficulty finding parts for console repairs. 

Thoughts from the Head

The Famicom will be celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023 so that will be quite the celebration. If you’re new here, or don’t know me personally, I actually have an original Famicom in my possession! At this moment I have 12 cartridges total with Tetris being my latest as I just got it today as of this post. Some of the games featured range from classics like the first Super Mario Bros, to the most obscure game called Erika to Satoru no Yume Bōken (Guru Larry did a segment on the game in his Developer Rants: Japan Edition video a while back which is how I heard about the game). 

It’s a wonderful console and a really cool piece of gaming history. Have some photos!