#MoSCoW prioritization

[happytalepanda]

A beginner's guide for MoSCoW prioritization

In this infographic, we will get to know about MoSCoW prioritization. The acronym MoSCoW represents four categories of initiatives: must-have, should-have, could-have, and won't-have, or will not have right now……

[gabaviggiano]

Agile tip: Prioritizing Your Way to Agile Success

A Guide to MoSCoW and RICE In the fast-paced world of Agile development, effective prioritization is crucial. It helps teams focus on the most valuable work and deliver maximum value to customers. Two popular techniques for prioritizing product backlog items are MoSCoW and RICE. MoSCoW Method MoSCoW is a simple yet powerful technique that categorizes requirements into four groups:…

[banggobs]

Prioritization: MoSCoW

There are many frameworks we can use to sort out our priorities, each with their pros and cons. However, I only utilize two of them as far as I remember; The MoSCoW framework and The Eisenhower framework. The later will be for my next post.

Let me share the MoSCoW for now...

Depends on the subject and the context we have on the table, there are several approaches to the framework.

For the projects I work on, I use the following approach:

Everything in the contract is an M, everything that could be a stopper of a bizpro unless there is a workaround shoud be an S, all nice to haves will be a C, and everything else must be a W. We hardly can make everybody happy in a project. But as long as it is communicated well, it shouldn't be a big problem.

To help me with a criteria checklist, I use this:

Maybe you need an approach which is simpler and applicable quickly for your personal goals/tasks prioritization? I use this:

There you go... I hope this helps.

[metamorphesque]

On March 1, 1984, a short article titled "Imprisoned Armenian Dies" appeared in the New York Times: “Gourgen Migirdic Yanikian, an Armenian author and engineer who killed two Turkish consular officials in California in 1973, died Monday in prison of natural causes. He was 88 years old. He was sentenced to life in prison in July 1973 for first-degree murder."

But who was this man? And why did he commit this "crime"?

Gourgen Yanikyan was born on December 24, 1895, in the city of Karin, Western Armenia, into a traditional Armenian family. Gourgen was six months old when the hamidian massacres began, claiming the lives of approximately 300,000 Armenians. His father had good relations with the Persian consul in Karin, and with the consul's help, the Yanikyan family found refuge in the Persian consulate, escaping the massacres. After two weeks of safety, they were transferred by a mountain road to the village of Kyotah near Kars on the consul’s orders. Suddenly, it was discovered that Gourgen was missing. He had fallen on the road from his mother’s arms that were numbed from the cold. Despite the danger, his mother and brother Hakob went back and, after walking about six kilometers, found Gourgen nearly lifeless. They revived him with the warmth of their bodies.

Six years later, the mother returned to Erzurum with Gourgen and Hakob, intending to take back the money and documents hidden in their barn back. While digging, two turks arrived, captured Hakob, beheaded him, and took the iron chest. The mother and Gourgen witnessed everything from their hiding place. A terrified Gourgen tried to scream, but his mother held his mouth shut. Gourgen never forgot this tragedy throughout his life. For political reasons, he became a Persian citizen and later moved to Switzerland with his family, where he continued his education, which he later pursued in Tbilisi and Moscow.

Like many Armenians of his time, he experienced the devastating effects of the massacres committed by the turks against Armenians. He lost 26 family members to the Armenian Genocide of 1915, as well as his homeland—Western Armenia.

Although Gourgen was far from his homeland, the injustice of the genocide never left him. He had exhausted all peaceful means to inform the world about the genocide and hold turkey accountable for the atrocities they committed.

He chose cinema as the means to achieve his goal: “Our plan was very simple. With our personal funds, we secretly planned to make a film showing the world the sufferings of our people and the barbaric turkish massacres, not forgetting the Armenian genocide and the conspiracy of so-called civilized nations against our rights."

Yanikian's factual book "Paradise" (originally in English), which his wife Shushanik had titled, became the basis for a screenplay. Several foreigners joined the film project, and they shot 20 hours of material depicting turkish atrocities with striking authenticity.

"The film was to be shown simultaneously in the capitals of three different countries, free of charge. Flyers explaining the purpose and our demands were to be distributed with the tickets… The goal was to return the land stolen from the Armenian people to its rightful owners and provide compensation for our two million victims. Many individuals were to join the cause once the film was ready."

Despite the strong dedication to completing "Paradise," the endeavor was unsuccessful because U.S.-Turkey alliances and strategic interests were prioritized, and the US government hindered the production of the film.

Yanikyan, by then old but not despairing, had spent decades using every peaceful means to punish the perpetrators of the Armenian Genocide and avenge his compatriots, but he ultimately felt compelled to choose an alternative.

"In all my writings, I always defended the belief that violence should disappear from our lives. But when all of this happened and humanity and the world remained silent about the Armenian Question, I made the decision to take action in order to bring the Armenian cause to the attention of humanity and world governments."

On January 27, 1973, at the age of 78, Gourgen Yanikyan, without hesitation, fired 13 bullets at the turkish consul and vice-consul in Santa Barbara in his room at the "Baltimore" hotel. Following a highly publicized trial, Yanikyan was sentenced to life imprisonment, and in 1984, with a clear conscience, he passed away into eternity.

But his sacrifice was not in vain: the Armenian Question was finally brought back from the dusty archives of history. By sacrificing his freedom, Yanikyan ignited a movement. His act became the catalyst for a wave of Armenian activism, inspiring the creation of ASALA, who would go on to fight for the recognition of the genocide.

Everyone condemns violence but, alas, it is the only language the world understands.

[agent-grey-fics]

Breaking Point | Part 2 of ‘You don’t belong here’

Who: Denver x reader

Wordcount: 3400

Summary: After a chaotic heist at the Royal Mint, you find yourself shot and fighting for your life. Denver, determined to prioritize saving you over the heist, resorts to extreme measures to ensure your safety. Will you survive this?

Warnings: Violence, sexual tension, injury, trauma, language

Part 2 of You don’t belong here, you can read it here: X

A loud bang echoed through the Royal Mint. Denver and Tokyo exchanged a confused look. ‘Was that a gunshot?’ Without wasting time, they ran toward the entrance hall where they had gathered the hostages. Taking two steps at a time as they ran down the stairs. ‘What the fuck is going on?’ Tokyo yelled towards Berlin when she saw Rio on his knees, hunched over your body. Oslo and Moscow held the hostages at gunpoint, here and there a cry sounded in disbelief. A smug grin hung on Berlin’s lips, a young woman stood trembling on her legs behind him. He was disgusting, using fear to fulfil his own needs. ‘I told her to stay in line, she should not meddle in other people’s business.’ Denver could not grasp the image before his eyes. 

You lay motionless on the ground, Rio pressed his hands hard on your stomach and Nairobi looked in disbelief at Berlin casually holding a revolver in his hand. ‘He fucking shot her.’ When these words reached Denver’s ears he launched himself forward, toward the older gangster. ‘I’m going to fucking kill him!’ Denver was screaming at the top of his lungs. Tokyo did her best to stop her friend, clinging to his waist. But he was too strong. With a simple shove, he pushed her off him and she fell to the ground with a thud. Berlin pointed the gun at the young robber. “I warned her.” Denver seemed unimpressed and continued to run in his direction. Before Berlin had the chance to shoot at him, Denver had worked him to the ground and his fist collided with his jaw. ‘You piece of shit.’ Berlin resisted fiercely, allowing Denver only a few good hits at his face and body. ‘Enough!’ Tokyo crawled upright again and tried to pull Denver off of him with all her strength but it had no effect. ‘Denver stop, she needs you!’ It was Rio screaming over his shoulder to the frantic man. It wasn’t until Helsinki marched towards the two and pulled Denver backwards onto the ground with little effort that the fight stopped. 

‘You need to calm down and help me carry her towards the office space where we stationed Arturo.’ The Serb remained calm and began handing out orders to the other group members. He went into his military mode. ‘You stay the fuck here because if I see you near her again I’ll fucking kill you myself, understood?’ Berlin could only nod irritably when he heard the Serb’s words. ‘Rio and Nairobi, keep a fucking eye on him and if he tries something funny shoot him in the leg.’ ‘Yes sir!’ Nairobi gave him a military salute. ‘Tolyo, Oslo, Moscow stay with the hostages.’ 

Denver quickly crawled back on his feet and ran toward you, still lying on the floor. ‘Baby, come on open your eyes.’ His hands were trembling as he gently placed them on your face. ‘You need to apply pressure where she was shot.’ Rio nodded towards your abdomen, blood flowed down his fingers. ‘Pressure.’ Denver mumbled to himself. As Denver applied pressure onto your stomach, memories of your moments together flooded his mind. The laughter, the shared glances, the intimacy you had discovered amid chaos. Denver, usually calm under pressure, found himself teetering on the edge of despair. ‘Please babe.’

Helsinki sank to his knees next to Rio, pushing his hands away so he could place a makeshift tourniquet onto the gaping hole in your abdomen. ‘Come on sweety let’s get you patched up.’ Denver gently placed you in his arms so he could carry you towards the office space which now served as a makeshift hospital. His heart raced as he carried your limp body, your blood stained his hands, and the gravity of the situation pressed down on him like a heavyweight. Berlin had jeopardised everything, he wasn’t done with him. The heist was already stressful and chaotic since Arturo got shot on the roof. But Denver couldn’t afford to lose you, he was going to do everything in his power to make sure you were going to make it.

‘Do you see the irony of it?’ Helsinki mumbled to him as they placed her body on a table next to Arturo. ‘She was supposed to patch us up, not the other way around.’ Denver gently stroked your hair; he was afraid you were going to break under his touch. ‘I swear to god that I’ll kill Berlin for this. The bastard.’ His eyes became watery and he blinked a few times so his vision was no longer blurred. Helsinki patted him on the back. ‘Come on, your girl needs you.’ A shaky sigh left his lips. ‘Okay, what do you need from me?’ Helsinki listed a series of materials he needed.  In the confined space, he sought any medical supplies he could find. Realizing quickly that they didn’t have everything they needed. Helsinki tried his best to stabilize the girl he learned to love as a sister. ‘We’re going to do everything we can bro.’ Denver just nodded, he already knew what he was going to do. 

Denver’s eyes were fixed on the makeshift hospital room, where Helsinki worked tirelessly to stabilize you. The urgency in the air was palpable, heightened by the earlier chaos of Arturo getting shot on the roof and of Berlin shooting you out of nowhere. Denver’s mind raced, a plan forming like a storm in his thoughts.

As Helsinki barked orders for supplies, Denver’s gaze shifted to the entrance of the Royal Mint. The deal with the police had brought surgeons to attend to Arturo, but Denver couldn’t let them focus solely on him. He had to make a bold move to ensure the surgeons would save you first.

Without a second thought, Denver bolted from the room, gun drawn, his heart pounding in his chest. He reached the entrance hall where the surgeons were setting up to attend to Arturo. Determination etched on his face, Denver intercepted the lead surgeon, a middle-aged man in a white coat. ‘Listen, you’re not working on Arturo first,’ Denver declared, his voice low and intense as he pressed the gun against the doctor’s temple. Nairobi gasped for air as she saw his move. ‘Denver, what the fuck are you doing?’. ‘She’s dying! I cannot let her die, I won’t let her die!’ Tears were welling up in his eyes again. The surgeon, taken aback, stammered, ‘But we’re here to help the hostages, that’s the deal with the police.’ Rio cautiously approached his friend. ‘Bro, think this through. We must be careful here, they are just aid workers doing their jobs.’ Denver shook his head. ‘No, they’re helping her first. Then they can help him.’ Rio raised his hands in surrender. ‘Okay, okay. I’ll go and get her here. Stay calm.’ Denver’s eyes bore into the surgeon’s around the table. “You’re going to help her first,” he pointed back toward the makeshift hospital. ‘She’s dying, and she doesn’t have time to wait for your bureaucratic protocols. Do you understand?!’

The surgeons hesitated, caught between the demand and their professional obligations. Denver, fueled by desperation and love, leaned in closer. ‘If you don’t help her, you’ll have a bloodbath on your hands. I’ll fucking kill them all.’ There was a tense moment of silence, and then they nodded, realizing the severity of the situation. Denver led him back to the room where Helsinki was working. The surgeon assessed the situation quickly, understanding the gravity of your condition.

‘Alright,’ the surgeon said, taking charge. "Hook her up to the monitor and prep a sterile field for the equipment. Now, someone assist me.’. Denver, feeling a mix of relief and determination, jumped in to assist. The room buzzed with urgency as the surgeon and the makeshift medical team worked together. Denver stole glances at you, hoping against hope that the medical intervention would be enough to save you.

As the surgeons worked to stabilise you, Denver couldn’t shake off the guilt and anger toward Berlin. He vowed silently to make the older gangster pay for what he had done. The heist had taken an even darker turn, and Denver was willing to break any rule, defy any expectation, to ensure the woman he loved would survive.

‘Clamp!’ The surgeon ordered his colleagues as he poked at you with tweezers. 'I can see the bullet, wait I-’ A clanging sound resounded as the bullet fell into the metal dish. Denver breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the metal ball on the table. ‘Needle and thread, I have to be quick.’. With determination, he began suturing the wound. 'Give her a bag of O- too, she’s going to need it.’ Denver watched with wide eyes as they hooked you up to an IV so you could get enough blood again. "Are you sure she can get O-? The surgeon nodded. 'Universal donor.’ ’ He muttered as he tied the last loop. ‘This is all we can do for her inside here, if you let her go outside with us we can guarantee her safety.’ Denver immediately shook his head. 'No, no if she goes out, she’ll get at least 30 years in prison. Is she stable?’ The surgeon nodded. 'Then she stays here.’

Helsinki moved the table you were lying on to the corner of the room. Denver followed on your heels. As soon as the Serbian led the surgeons toward Arturo, he sank down on his knees. 'We should have left while we still had the chance. I knew it. He dropped the weapon beside him and grasped his hair desperately. ‘You’re going to be okay, you have to be okay. I’m not walking out of here without you’.

You could hear what Denver was saying to you but you weren’t able to respond, you were in a strange twilight zone. You weren’t awake but you weren’t unconscious either, you had felt all the pain, it was burning. It was a strange state you were in.

Denver stormed down the stairs straight to the entrance hall with an assault rifle in hand. ‘Denv-’ Tokyo tried to reason with him but it was to no avail. He put his Dali mask back on and pointed the rifle at Berlin’s face who was sitting on the ground near the hostages. ‘Get up.’ A cocky grin appeared on his lips. ‘What didn’t your girl make it?’ Denver was seeing red. ‘I’m going to ask you one more time and if you don’t listen I’ll blow your brains out.’ He raised his hands in surrender and stood up. He didn’t want to risk it to see if he was bluffing or not. ‘Towards the entrance.’ Denver pointed his gun towards the massive door that was shielding them from the outside. ‘You’re kidding?’ He shook his head. ‘Rio, go open the fucking door.’ Rio didn’t waste a second and ran towards his computer. ‘Everyone up, masks on and weapons at the ready!’ Tokyo yelled towards the hostages. They all obeyed and stood in a V-shape behind Denver, all their weapons pointed at Berlin. Nairobi casually walked toward him and pulled the Dali mask from his hands. ‘Didn’t think so.’ She took her place next to Rio at the door. ‘Rio, now!’. 

Before anyone could object, the young man opened the doors. 'Drive him out. The crowd stepped forward evenly with their weapons drawn so Berlin had no choice but to walk out of the bank.  ‘Adios bastard!’ Nairobi shouted. The police did not understand what was happening, one of them was thrown out of the bank. Without a mask. Within seconds they had his name: Andrés de Fonollosa. The special units marched forward and charged him. His hands were harshly held behind his back and they dragged him into the interrogation tent. As Berlin looked over his shoulder one last time, Denver raised his middle finger at him. One last sign of envy. 

Rio closed the doors before the police fully realized what just happened. When they were fully closed, Tokyo pulled off her mask. 'The professor is going to kill you. How are we ever supposed to get out of here alive?’ 'Calm down, we’ll find a solution to it. Besides, I don’t think I was the only one who wanted him out.’ Denver looked at the other gang members. Rio and Nairobi nodded in agreement; the others shrugged. 'He was just there to perform fear on the hostage takers, he had no real job. I’ll take over his duties. We’ll get out of here, with the money as agreed. Promise.’ Tokyo wearily stroked a hand through her hair. 'I hope you’re right Denver.’

Three days had passed and you still hadn’t awakened. The gang members had planned out a rotation so there was always someone sitting by your side. It was Denver’s turn. He held your hand and absently stroked your knuckles with his thumb. 'We haven’t discussed where we would go when we walk out of here.’ He muttered more to himself than to you. ‘I thought we were going to live on a remote island and party on the beach every night?’ Your voice was hoarse and your throat hurt from days of not speaking. ‘What happened?’ You tried to sit up but a hellish twinge of pain stopped you. Your face twisted in pain. Denver was in shock. ‘You’re awake,’ he muttered to himself, ‘you’re alive.’ He gently pushed you down so that you were back on the table. 'No, don’t move too much. Berlin shot you. Don’t worry I made him pay.’ Confusion was on your face. 'How long was I out for?’ Denver gently stroked hair out of your face. 'Three days, we leave in two hours.’ He stroked a strand of hair behind your ear. 'I’d never have left you behind, Helsinki and I made a stretcher.’ 'What happened to Berlin?’ Denver chuckled irritably, an angry expression crossed his face.  'We handed him over to the police. He crossed the line, we’re a team and he betrayed you.'  Flashes of Berlin forcing a woman into sexual acts moved before your eyes again. 'I couldn’t let him have his way,’ you muttered. 'I know sweetheart, I know.’

You had completely forgotten about the Professor, how would he have reacted? "El Professor? Denver saw the question in your eyes. 'He was angry, but he understood our reaction. We couldn’t trust him anymore.’ You nodded gently, thankfully he wasn’t the most important link you thought to yourself. How could you have been so wrong about someone, he seemed to be a strong leader type when he was just a pervert. 

'Would you like to try standing and walking around a bit?’ You bit the inside of your cheek and nodded. ‘Come on, I’ll help you.’ Denver stood up again and placed a strong arm around your shoulders to gently help you upright so you were in a sitting position. ‘Take a deep breath baby.’ He mumbled when he saw the painful grimace on your face. Air filled your lungs when you did what he said. You resisted the pain and swung your legs over the edge of the table. 'Put your arm around my shoulders so I can support you.’ Obediently, you did as he asked of you and clung to his neck. He gently wrapped one arm around your lower back and the other along the front of your hips. He was careful so he didn’t touch the gunshot wound. ‘On three, one, two, three.’ You got to your feet. It was a strange feeling, they felt very heavy but that was probably because you had been lying on an uncomfortable table for three days. Everything was a little stiff. Cautiously taking some steps, Denver did not leave your side afraid you would fall. ‘And?’ His voice was hoarse. ‘I’m a bit sore and not the good kind.’ His laughter roared through the room. 'I can take care of that in a few days when you’re feeling better.’ Blood rushed to your cheeks. 'Don’t be so vulgar.’ Before he could object, the office door flew open and Helsinki walked in. ‘You’re awake?’ A grin spread across his lips. ‘You’re awake!’ The Serb walked toward you but Denver raised his hand protectively. 'Gunshot wound and haven’t been awake for three days, be careful big boy.’ Helsinki rolled his eyes before gently wrapping his arms around your frame. 'Oh I am so glad you’re okay. I hadn’t doubted my ability for a moment but still.’ You laughed softly. ‘Thank you, I owe you my life.’ He shook his head. 'Well, I did a lot but if Denver hadn’t obliged the surgeons for Arturo to help you I don’t think we would be standing here now.’ You looked at Denver with a raised eyebrow. He had a sheepish expression on his face. ‘I might have held them at gunpoint until they agreed to operate on you,’ he admitted. Your mouth fell open in astonishment. ‘Dude, they’re EMT’s. You gotta show them some respect.’ He nodded. ‘I know, but I was panicking, and we couldn’t do everything because we didn’t have the right equipment. They were our only option. Your only option.’ You nodded. ‘Bring me to the others so we can leave here as soon as possible, please.’ The three of you walked towards the large entrance hall where everyone had gathered. ‘Havana!’ Nairobi exclaimed upon seeing you coming down the stairs. Tokyo and Rio turned around when they heard her scream. Moscow winked at his son, who couldn’t contain a grin. ‘Sorry I couldn’t help more,’ you mumbled as you stood among the others. Everyone expressed relief that you had pulled through and assured you that everything was going smoothly. ‘We’re leaving in 30 minutes.’ Helsinki announced. Everyone nodded. ‘Let’s do this.’ 

2 months later 

The two of you lay side by side on the sun-soaked sands of the deserted island, the rhythmic sound of gentle waves providing a soothing backdrop. With the golden sun kissing your skin, you took turns applying sunscreen, laughter dancing in the air as you playfully teased each other. ‘Give me a kiss.’ It wasn’t a question, he ordered you but you didn’t mind. You crawled towards him and straddled his lap, one knee on each side of him. ‘Told you we would end up on an island.’ You mumbled before you pressed your lips softly on his. He hummed in agreement. You placed your arms loosely around his neck and his hands slowly crept up. First over your thighs until they found a spot above the edge of your bikini bottoms. You leaned back a little so you could look at him. 'I could do this forever. Just the two of us on a deserted island.’ He nodded in agreement. ‘I assumed this was forever from now.’ He had that boyish grin on his face that you loved so much. ‘If we’re really going to do this, then-’ You didn’t finish your sentence and kissed him again, more intensely than before. You fought for dominance as your tongues swirled around each other. He didn’t just give in. His hands moved a little higher and he played with the string of your bikini top. Tired of his wait-and-see attitude, you untied the string yourself, followed by the string at your neck, causing the top to fall between you. 'I thought you promised me I was going to be sore? Or am I remembering that wrong?’ He didn’t wait a second and pushed you back into the sand. His lips found the pulse point on your neck. He sucked it gently until the stinging sensation earned a moan from you, then soothed it with his tongue. 'Havana you drive me crazy.’ he mumbled against your neck. ‘Call me y/n, please call me y/n.’ He was stunned for a few seconds and pushed himself up on his arms so he could look at you. ‘Y/n’ he mumbled, a grin appearing on his face. ‘My actual name is Daniel, but everyone calls me Dani.’ You smiled back as you repeated his name. ‘That’s easier to scream when I’m fucking you.’ You laughed out loud. ‘I hope that’s a promise.’  Instead of answering, he pressed his lips hungrily to yours again.

[mariacallous]

With Donald Trump set to return to the White House in the coming weeks, speculation is mounting that Ukraine and Russia may soon begin serious peace negotiations. However, there is very little sign that Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to abandon his goal of subjugating Ukraine. Instead, the peace formula currently being promoted by Kremlin officials would be more likely to pave the way for the next stage in Putin’s campaign to erase Ukrainian independence entirely.

Ever since the abortive peace talks of spring 2022 during the initial phase of the full-scale invasion, Russia has insisted that any peace deal must include territorial concessions from Kyiv along with Ukrainian neutrality and the country’s comprehensive demilitarization. Putin himself spelled out Russia’s territorial expectations in June 2024, demanding that Kyiv cede four partially occupied Ukrainian provinces, none of which are fully under Russian control. This would mean handing over large amounts of unoccupied Ukrainian territory including the city of Zaporizhzhia with a population of around three quarters of a million people.

On numerous other occasions, Putin and his Kremlin colleagues have reaffirmed their conditions. These include Ukraine officially giving up its pursuit of NATO membership and agreeing not to enter into any military alliances with Western powers. Kyiv is also expected to accept extensive limitations on the size of its armed forces and on the kinds of weapons systems it is allowed to possess.

These proposals are not a recipe for a sustainable settlement. On the contrary, Putin’s peace plan is in fact a call for Kyiv’s complete capitulation. Moscow’s demands are deliberately designed to leave Ukraine internationally isolated and unable to defend itself. If these terms are imposed on the Ukrainian authorities, there can be little doubt that Putin would use any subsequent pause in hostilities to rearm before renewing the war in the coming years.

Russia’s true intentions can be seen in its insistence that Ukraine abandon efforts to join NATO and accept permanent geopolitical neutrality. Moscow claims this is essential in order to safeguard Russian national security, but Putin’s own actions suggest otherwise.

When neighboring Finland announced plans to join NATO in 2022, Putin made no effort to block the process and announced that Russia had “no problems” with Finnish accession. He then went even further, withdrawing most Russian troops from the border with Finland. Clearly, Putin does not view NATO as a security threat to Russia itself. Instead, he sees the alliance as a potential obstacle to his own expansionist ambitions in Ukraine.

Russian demands for a neutral and demilitarized Ukraine should be equally unacceptable in Kyiv and among Ukraine’s Western partners. Agreeing to the Kremlin’s conditions would mean leaving millions of Ukrainians at Putin’s mercy, while also emboldening Moscow and inviting more Russian aggression. From Chechnya and Georgia to Crimea and Syria, there is ample evidence from the past two decades that each successive failure to hold Russia accountable only encourages fresh escalations.

The West’s misguided efforts to appease Putin have already led to the largest and bloodiest European war since World War II. Any further attempts at appeasement will have similarly disastrous consequences for the future stability and security of Europe. Indeed, senior European officials are now warning that a military confrontation with Moscow is becoming more likely, with German spy chief Bruno Kahl recently predicting that Russia may seek to test NATO before the end of the current decade.

While Russia is pushing for a disarmed and neutral Ukraine, Ukrainian officials are preparing for possible peace talks by prioritizing the need for credible security guarantees. In recent months, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signaled the country’s readiness to temporarily compromise on territorial integrity in order to move forward toward a viable peace. At the same time, officials in Kyiv have underlined that there is no room for any similar compromises on the issue of security guarantees.

Ukraine’s objective remains NATO membership, which is seen in Kyiv as the only credible long-term guarantee of the country’s security and sovereignty. However, key members of the alliance including the United States and Germany remain deeply reluctant to embrace Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.

With their country’s pathway to NATO accession likely to be extremely politically challenging, Ukrainian officials are also exploring the possibility of bilateral security guarantees. In a recent interview with US podcaster Lex Fridman, Zelenskyy said security guarantees for Kyiv to end Russia’s war would only be effective if the United States provides them. He was also scathing of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which saw Ukraine surrender the world’s third-largest nuclear arsenal in exchange for security assurances from Russia, the US, and the UK that ultimately proved worthless.

Given the diametrically opposed positions of Russia and Ukraine on the issue of NATO membership, it seems certain that security guarantees will be the most problematic point during any forthcoming negotiations to end the war. Can Western leaders come up with a credible security formula that will safeguard Ukrainian statehood and deter further Russian aggression? Unless they do so, Ukraine’s prospects will be grim and the rest of Europe will face years of costly confrontation with a resurgent Russia.

[thoughtlessarse]

In 1937, the Year of Terror, Stalin ordered the arrest of those responsible for the Soviet Union’s census because the population data did not align with his propaganda. Today, almost 90 years later, birth rates in Russia have plummeted to levels not seen since the late 18th century, according to some experts, and the Russian statistics agency Rosstat has stopped publishing much of its data. Russia’s declining population of concern to the Kremlin, which has launched all kinds of measures to try to counter the issue: from offering family checks to severely restricting abortion and fining women who publicly defend their decision not to have children. Now, the latest initiative from the Ministry of Culture is to ban TV series and films where women prioritize their careers over having children. The list of works affected by this ban is expected to be published after the summer. The official bulletin of the Russian Parliament has hinted that among them might be series such as House of Cards, Sex and the City, or Game of Thrones, but later the Russian regulatory agency Roskomnadzor clarified it does not plan to block these specific works.

continue reading

[darkmaga-returns]

In recent months, some media outlets and analysts have been suggesting that Russia would prioritize detente with the Trump administration over strengthening ties with its allies in the multipolar world (primarily BRICS and SCO). Some of the more pessimistic prognoses even suggested that Moscow would supposedly ditch countries like Iran entirely just to appease Washington DC. However, the Kremlin continues to dispel such rumors through very concrete moves. Namely, while the Russian leadership certainly welcomes any peace initiatives with the Trump administration, it won’t do so at the expense of the country’s basic national interests. Dialogue between Russia and the United States is always an infinitely better alternative to the edge of planetary self-destruction that the previous American administration espoused.

On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that Moscow will agree to (let alone support) other aspects of US foreign policy. In addition, the new American administration has proven to be rather inconsistent, with Trump going from “pacifist” promises of ending the NATO-orchestrated Ukrainian conflict “in 24 hours” to direct threats of bombing Iran. It seems he’s quite accustomed to narrative control and pure bluffing, “qualities” that he surely acquired after decades of being involved in America’s ruthless real estate business. Although this experience can certainly give Trump some negotiating advantages, geopolitics is based on far more realistic capabilities, meaning that bluffing is much less usable (also, shuttle diplomacy doesn’t work as well as during the 1970s). All this limits the ability of the US to preserve unipolarity.

However, this certainly doesn’t mean that Washington DC has given up on “Pax Americana”. On the contrary, the Trump administration is still trying to sustain it, although it’s clear that using only arm-twisting and coercion is far less optimal nowadays than it was just a few years ago. Trump’s global trade war (albeit largely aimed against China, the world’s premier economic superpower) is a prime example of this, showing that he still believes bluffing can work to America’s advantage. The good thing is that he at least understands that avoiding direct confrontation between nuclear-armed states is a no-brainer. On the other hand, the Trump administration is still determined to target other multipolar powers that it sees as a “weak link” – namely Iran, which is why tensions keep escalating across the Middle East.

[humanrightsupdates]

US-Russia Engagement Should Address Rights Abuses

Moscow Should Release Unlawfully Held Ukrainians, Political Prisoners

(Washington, DC, March 18, 2025) – The Trump administration’s engagement with Russian President Vladimir Putin should prioritize the release of detained Ukrainian civilians and Russians unjustly held for exercising their rights to freedom of expression and religion, Human Rights Watch said today in a letter to US President Donald Trump.

“Any discussions about ending the war in Ukraine should address releasing detained civilians and opening pathways to securing justice for war crimes,” said Sarah Yager, Washington director at Human Rights Watch. “Unfortunately, there has been no indication so far that the discussion of ongoing abuses will be on the table.”

Trump and Putin are expected to speak by telephone on March 18, 2025, following a meeting between the US special envoy Steve Witkoff with Putin on March 14, and a meeting in Jeddah on March 11 between US and Ukrainian officials.

In its letter, Human Rights Watch urged Trump to prioritize the immediate and unconditional release of all Ukrainian civilians in Russian custody as a first step in any negotiations concerning Ukraine. Any agreement should also address justice for serious crimes by Russian authorities, including torture of detained civilians and prisoners-of-war; summary executions; the forced transfer or deportation of civilians, including children; and the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of civilians and civilian infrastructure.

Trump should press the Russian government to cease violations of international humanitarian law in areas of Ukraine that Russian forces are occupying, Human Rights Watch said. According to Ukrainian government data, at least six million civilians live in areas of Ukraine currently occupied by Russian forces.

[warsofasoiaf]

Why is 'Russia is an extraordinarily racist society'?

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the subsequent Yeltsin-era economic crisis, Russia turned to extreme nationalist revanchism as a means to unite their society and prevent further civic deterioration.

However, even under the Soviet Union, Russian nationality was promoted extensively, with a great deal of importing Russians into territories and breaking up minority enclaves (such as the Crimean Tatars) to eliminate rival nationalist sentiments which might prevent loyalty to Moscow. In many ways, the Soviet Union was continuing the practice of Russian imperialism as a means of enforcing control over their massive holdings. Bolshevism had lip service toward nationalities, but that was mostly rhetorical (much like their commitment towards anti-colonialism), in practice Russians were highly prioritized over non-Russians.

Thanks for the question, Anon.

SomethingLikeALawyer, Hand of the King

[nationalpolitic]

Saudi Arabia's Oil Gambit: A Potential Blow to Putin's War Chest

The global oil market faces potential upheaval as Saudi Arabia contemplates a strategic shift that could significantly impact the Russian war economy. Experts suggest that Riyadh's frustration with uncoordinated production cuts among oil-producing nations may lead to a dramatic increase in Saudi crude output. This move aims to secure market share and profits, even at the cost of lower oil prices. The ramifications of such a decision could prove detrimental to Moscow's financial stability. For the past decade, oil and gas revenues have been the primary source of income for the Russian state, accounting for up to half of its budget. The Russian war economy heavily relies on these funds to sustain its military operations in Ukraine. Energy analyst Mikhail Krutikhin warns of the "enormous risk" this poses to Russia's state budget. He emphasizes the unpredictability of various factors, including the upcoming U.S. presidential election, that could further complicate the situation for Moscow.

Oil market experts have little doubt that Saudi Arabia has the enormous production and export capacity to change tactics and gun for market domination through volume instead. | Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images Economist Alexandra Prokopenko projects that a $20 drop in oil prices could result in a substantial loss of revenue for Russia, equivalent to approximately 1% of its GDP. This financial squeeze would force the Kremlin to make difficult choices between reducing expenditures – an unlikely option during wartime – or accepting inflationary pressures and high interest rates. The potential Saudi strategy shift comes in response to persistent quota violations by some OPEC+ members, including Russia. Despite agreeing to production limits, Moscow has consistently exceeded its allocated quota, currently set at 8.98 million barrels per day. This overproduction has contributed to keeping oil prices well below the $100 per barrel target sought by Saudi Arabia and other producers. Ajay Parmar, an oil markets expert at ICIS, explains that Saudi Arabia's move could serve as a warning to other producers. By prioritizing market share over high prices, Riyadh aims to compel compliance with agreed-upon production limits. Despite Western sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine conflict, Russia's fossil fuel profits have increased by 41% in the first half of this year. The country has employed various tactics to circumvent restrictions, including the use of a "shadow fleet" of aging vessels to transport crude oil and exploiting loopholes that allow for the sale of refined products. While a drop in oil prices would undoubtedly strain Russia's finances, experts like Heli Simola from the Bank of Finland caution that it may not immediately halt the country's military operations. The Russian war economy has demonstrated resilience, and the Kremlin appears determined to continue its campaign in Ukraine despite growing economic challenges. As the situation unfolds, the global community watches closely to see how Saudi Arabia's potential oil strategy shift will reshape the energy market and impact Russia's ability to finance its ongoing military activities.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Read the full article

[vabroapp]

5 Ways to Be a Successful Product Owner

Being a successful Product Owner requires a strategic approach and effective collaboration. Here are five key strategies to excel in this role:

Understand the Product and Market: Deep knowledge of your product and market trends is essential. This understanding enables you to make informed decisions that align with user needs and business goals.

Prioritize Ruthlessly: Focus on high-value features that will deliver the most impact. Use prioritization frameworks like MoSCoW to regularly reassess and adjust priorities, ensuring resources are allocated effectively.

Communicate Effectively: Clear communication is crucial. Articulate your vision and goals to both the team and stakeholders, providing regular updates to keep everyone aligned and informed.

Collaborate with the Team: Build strong relationships with the Development Team. Be accessible and supportive, fostering an environment of trust and teamwork to drive project success.

Maintain a Long-Term Vision: Balance short-term tasks with a long-term strategy. Continuously evolve the product to meet future needs, ensuring it remains relevant and competitive in the market.

Implementing these strategies will help you lead your product to success, delivering value and achieving your business objectives.

🔗 Visit www.vabro.com to know more.

[paulinawoodpecker]

The coverlet family!

Featuring: Joe coverlet, Christopher coverlet, Mika coverlet, and Jackie coverlet

Christopher:

Age: 17

Likes: drama, plays, music, snowy, his parents, Mika and costumes

Dislikes: tryouts, Sam pickles, sports

Personality: dramatic, funny, supportive

Love interest: snowy Moscow

Mika:

Age: 9

Likes: her parents, Christopher, snowy, drawing, playing dolls, Anne (she’s her babysitter) Riley

Dislikes: spiders, losing Christopher, being impatient

Personality: sweet, caring, loving

Best friend: Riley

Jackie:

Age: 48

Likes: being the school counselor, Joe, Mika, Christopher, snowy, Anne, her son’s performances

Dislikes: stink bugs, losing Christopher and/or mika, traffic

Personality: helpful, intelligent, caring

Joe:

Age: 52

Likes: his own home renovation company, his job, Christopher, Mika, Jackie

Dislikes: people rejecting his ideas, greedy people, losing Christopher and/or Mika

Personality: helpful, intelligent, caring

Backstory:

(How it all started)

How Jackie Met Joe:

Jackie and Joe first met at a mutual friend’s birthday party. Jackie had just started her job as a school counselor, and Joe was busy establishing his home renovation business. They were both initially reluctant to attend the party due to their busy schedules, but once there, they struck up a conversation over a game of charades. Jackie was impressed by Joe’s quick wit and friendly nature, while Joe was captivated by Jackie’s intelligence and warmth.

Their conversation flowed naturally, filled with laughter and shared stories. Joe admired Jackie’s dedication to her new role, and Jackie found Joe’s enthusiasm for his work refreshing and inspiring. By the end of the night, they had exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up again.

First Date:

Their first date was at a cozy diner known for its homemade pies. Joe suggested the spot, knowing Jackie loved trying new desserts. They spent the evening chatting over comfort food, with Joe sharing funny anecdotes from his renovation projects and Jackie talking about her passion for helping students. The date was relaxed and enjoyable, with both feeling a strong connection that seemed to promise more. They quickly realized they had found something special, and their relationship blossomed from there.

Engagement and Wedding:

Joe proposed to Jackie during a spontaneous day trip to a nearby lake, where they enjoyed a picnic by the water. He had planned the proposal as a surprise, hiding the ring in a small box inside the picnic basket. As they sat watching the sunset, Joe nervously pulled out the box and asked Jackie to marry him. Touched by his heartfelt words and the simplicity of the moment, Jackie tearfully said yes.

Their wedding was a joyful, intimate celebration held in a charming garden setting, surrounded by close family and friends. The ceremony reflected their personalities—simple, fun, and filled with love. They wrote their own vows, promising to support and cherish each other through all of life’s adventures. The day was filled with laughter, dancing, and the warmth of loved ones coming together to celebrate their union.

Parenthood and Raising Christopher and Mika:

Jackie and Joe were thrilled to become parents when they welcomed their first child, Christopher. From a young age, Christopher displayed a love for storytelling and performing, often putting on little shows for his family. Jackie and Joe nurtured his passion, enrolling him in drama classes and encouraging his creativity. They were proud to see Christopher’s confidence grow as he took on roles in school plays and community theater.

When Mika was born, the family felt complete. Jackie and Joe made sure to balance their time between Christopher’s theater pursuits and Mika’s interests, creating a supportive and loving environment for both children. They encouraged Mika to explore her own passions while also enjoying the camaraderie and fun that came with being Christopher’s little sister.

As parents, Jackie and Joe prioritized family time, often going on weekend outings, attending Christopher’s performances, and cheering Mika on at her own activities. They worked together as a team, with Jackie providing emotional support and guidance, while Joe handled the practical side of things, like set construction for Christopher’s plays.

Present Day:

Today, Christopher continues to pursue his passion for drama, participating in school productions and dreaming of a future on the stage. He remains close to Mika, who enjoys being his biggest fan and occasional co-star. Jackie continues her work as a school counselor, finding fulfillment in helping students navigate their own paths. Joe’s business is thriving, and he takes pride in seeing the tangible results of his hard work in the homes he renovates.

The Coverlet family remains close-knit, with Jackie and Joe supporting their children’s dreams while enjoying the journey of parenthood. They cherish the memories they’ve created and look forward to the future with optimism, knowing that their bond as a family will continue to grow stronger with time.

[braveclementine]

An Unknown Enhanced

Warnings: None, angst

Copyright: I do not own any Marvel characters or locations. However, I do own my OCs, which consist of Penny Fury, Elizabeth Nelson, Elijah Chan, Katya Venice, Violetta Moscow, Lan Le, Josh, Trang Tien, Ahni Jallow, Mai Ito, and Ghaida Kashual as well as other OCs that will come up throughout the story.

Violetta, Elizabeth, and Katya at Violetta's 14th birthday party (the first birthday party she had after moving to Ohio from the red room). 

🐈👨‍⚕️ şŤ𝓸ⓡ𝕐 🏺🐈‍⬛

Penny didn't have to wait long in the cell before she could hear the sounds of fighting ensue throughout the building. She knew they would find her quickly with Ghaida's help and they wouldn't waste any time.

The only other visitor that Penny had had, was when the fighting first started. He was a tall man with blue eyes, wearing a strange helmet and suit. He even had a red cape to go with it. He had come in front of her, raising a hand. The bars of her cage had smashed together, the lock so destroyed that it didn't feel it could ever be broken or opened.

And then he had gone, metal flying after him in his wake. Clearly, he was some sort of enhanced that could control metal. But how dangerous would he be to the others?

To dangerous, Penny decided. If he could control metal, or at least manipulate it, then he could send Steve's shield back at him. He could damage Sam's wings while he was flying. He could hurt Trang, Tony, and Rhodey in their metal flying suits. Even Bucky- what could the man do to Bucky's Vibranium arm?

It scared Penny and she waited on edge for the others to come and find her.

It didn't take long, she could hear the sounds of Steve, Bucky, Loki, and Stephen fighting against the army that Lucinda had.

Finally, they arrived in front of her cell. She was already standing, looking at them. They were covered with blood, flecks of it on their faces, and it was all over their suits.

"Penny, are you alright?" Loki asked immediately while Steve started to bring his shield down on the lock over and over again.

"There is an enhanced here." Penny shouted over Steve clanging the shield and lock. Stephen grabbed Steve's shoulder, creating a portal to get her out.

"What?" Loki asked again.

"There's an enhanced here, someone that can control metal." Penny said, pointing back to the cells, "He's the one who did that. I- If he can manipulate metal, what can he do to Tony, Trang, Rhodey, Katya, and Sam?" She asked fearfully.

"Did you guys copy that?" Steve asked into the coms, "Get out of your suits. Tony get back to the ship."

Bucky handed Penny a com and a pistol and she put the com in her ear just in time to hear Trang say, "Copy, I'm dropping in through the window now. I'm joining Violetta on the stairs."

"I'm circling one more time." Tony warned them.

"Don't you dare." Loki growled, "I will spank your ass so hard when we get home."

A minute of silence and then, "I'm heading back to the Quinjet."

"I'll send Redwing out when I get somewhere safe." Sam said, panting like he was running.

"We have Penny, we're heading back to the Quinjet. Nat, Thor, anything in the file rooms?" Steve asked, "Everyone regroup through the main room on the first floor."

"There are a lot of files here." Natasha answered quickly. "Like a lot, a lot. They were smart. They were expecting raids so everything is in paper files. There isn't enough time to grab everything. There isn't even enough time to try and prioritize. Nothing is labelled properly. Whatever the system is, it's unknown to me."

"Describe the room to me." Elizabeth shouted, metal clanging on the side of her coms.

"Circular surprisingly." Nat said. "File cabinets on every wall-"

"Alphabetically by the last name of the author." Elizabeth snapped and the sounds of a man gurgling in pain. "In this case, alphabetically by the amount of numbers a word will have. What do you want to look up first?"

"Your own mother perhaps?"

"Thirteen letters, somewhere in the direct middle, probably on the right hand side." Elizabeth said, her voice strained. She grunted and her coms fell silent again as she let go.

"Are you all heading towards the main lobby?" Steve asked as they headed down the stairs now. None of the Ohioans answered but they got Thor who said, "Yes, we're heading down the stairs on the side opposite of you."

"Your two groups are the only ones in the building." Ghaida informed them. "The Ohioans are already in the lobby room. Careful there are a lot of hostiles. I also have-"

Ghaida cut out as there was a scream in the background that sounded like it came from Katya.

"Hurry." Bucky said in a stressed voice.

They broke out into a run. Loki and Steve leading with Penny behind them and Stephen and Bucky taking up the rear.

"How many hostiles are we talking?" Steve asked as they neared the doors that would lead them into the room. It sounded quiet though.

"Redwing isn't scanning many. Almost none, actually." Sam sounded confused in the coms. "I'm flanking back to the Quinjet now. Maybe I can see what Ghaida knows."

"Thor and I are almost the lobby on the other side." Nat said, "We have barricaded doors though. I can hear shooting behind them."

Steve burst in through the doors and skidded to a stop. The others came in and stopped with them.

Penny felt her heart constrict as she saw the entire room, doused with blood.

The Ohioans were dead.

[x-ceirios-x]

count your blessings before they're gone

the council decided that aric ashfair's talents were best used in moscow, near wrangel island, where the words had recently broken rather than continuing the search for jensen and jace in new york, but rowan isn't ready to let their father go.

cw: angst

Rowan was in the library when the doors creaked open. For years, they’d been in the habit of plugging earbuds in and ignoring the world around them while Church purred in their lap, but in recent weeks, they learned they missed things if they did that. There was always something interesting going on. Maryse poked her head in the door, scanning the room, when her eyes landed on them. Her walk over was silent, save for the sound of her heels clicking on the tile floor. When she got within arms reach of them, Church meowed and scurried away. 

“Damned cat,” she muttered, rolling her eyes. She turned her attention back to Rowan, who had stuffed the bookmark back in their book. “Your father is leaving soon,” she said carefully. “Would you like to go say goodbye?”

They weren’t ready to face the fact that he was leaving. This time, it wasn’t willingly or just heading back to Idris after a week-long visit, but he was being ripped away to New York for Moscow to help the team on Wrangel Island figure out what happened that the wards broke. He’d told them the day of the Council meeting that he wasn’t going to stop looking for Jensen but he had to look from somewhere else. They’d been angry at the Clave before, but never like this. 

For once, they were around their father and didn’t feel like tearing his head off or screaming at him. They were not only getting to know him but they were able to work with him to do something productive, even if they felt like they were getting nowhere with the search. 

They remembered the sinking feeling in their stomach when Jensen didn’t pick up his phone that night. Jace was missing, as was Sebastian’s body The three of them—Magnus, Alec, and Rowan—Portaled back and tore the Institute apart looking for him. Rowan, desparate for any sign of him, took a second look in his room. The window was closed, sure, but just outside it was a, now cut, rope of old blankets and sheets. There was a fire message on his bed, still untouched, as it hadn’t actually arrived to him, and when they looked to the ground, there was some blood on the torn blankets. 

They shrieked. Alec came running, barely catching them before they fell to the floor. They’d been so worried about saving Simon that they weren’t thinking about their brother, who was home entirely by himself. He was twelve, it was fine for him to be home alone for a few hours with all the wards around the building, but they didn’t protect him anymore if he snuck out. They remembered how they held onto Alec like he was their lifeline, unable to catch their breath, feeling his hand cradling their head until they were calm enough to say anything. Magnus came in soon after and checked the window, just as they did, and came to the same conclusion. It took some of his magic to knock them out before they had a heart attack—it certainly felt like that’s where they were headed. This wasn’t one of those nights where they couldn’t find Jensen until he suddenly appeared in his room twenty minutes after he was supposed to come down for dinner, but he was gone. 

After a few days, they’d come to the conclusion that wherever Jace was, wherever Sebastian had taken him, Jensen had to be there, too. The biggest issue with that was they still had no idea where the hell any of them were. They were untrackable. Magnus was working tirelessly, they’d called in the Silent Brothers for help, and Council-appointed Shadowhunters came to New York in droves to assist with the search. They were convinced from the beginning that they weren’t in New York anymore and there was no point in looking, but no one wanted to take the chance. 

Now, the search for them was de-prioritized and Aric was going to Moscow, across the world from them, only able to communicate through fire messages. Even then, he was going to be busy, so those would be few and far between. To say they were angry would be an understatement, but for once, it wasn’t at Aric. 

“I should,” they said with a sigh and sat up. They swung their legs over the edge of the window seat, but something stopped them. They couldn’t get up. Maybe, just maybe, if they stayed there, they could procrastinate the inevitable and he could stay longer. 

“Rowan,” she said in a much softer tone than they were used to hearing from Maryse. That was new, too—when their dad started calling them that, they assumed he convinced Maryse to do the same. “I know things are…tense right now, but please be polite.”

“Actually,” they said, swinging their legs. They stared at the checkerboard pattern in the tile on the floor. “Things are better than they have been in a while. I don’t want him to go.”

Maryse paused for a moment, as if unsure how to respond to that. She hummed in acknowledgement, though, and held her hand out for them to help them up. “Then that makes it harder, doesn’t it?”

They didn’t say anything but took her hand to stand. 

The walk to the foyer felt longer than any other they’d taken. Every step they took felt heavier like there was some invisible chain attached to their ankles as they made their way towards the front door. As they grew closer, they saw out of the corner of their eye, a very familiar pair of worn Converse and a suitcase. 

“Hey,” Aric said to the two of them, but Maryse was the only one to respond. She walked forward and hugged him, something that took them off guard. Maryse wasn’t exactly the touchy-feely type, but they could tell she was upset he was leaving. They stayed there for a moment, muttering something back and forth, things they could only make out pieces of. Maryse thanked him for all the help, and he said something about writing. It was nice that they were going to keep in touch, after all. They didn’t think Maryse would have survived Max’s death and Jace and Jensen’s disappearance without him. 

Teary-eyed, they noticed, Maryse stepped back. Her hand lingered in his and she said, “why does this feel like goodbye?”

“It’s not, Maryse. I’ll be back as soon as the wards are fixed.”

“You’re coming back?” she asked quietly. 

He nodded. “If you’ll have me.”

A small, saddened smile spread across Maryse’s face, and with a final squeeze of his hand, she stepped away. “You’re always welcome.” She stepped back, and upon realizing that Rowan was trying to disappear into the wall, shoved them forward by the arm. They shot her a look out of the corner of their eye, but turned to face their father. 

“I’m sorry that I couldn’t do more while I was here,” he said in a gentle tone they were still getting used to. “Jia sends her love, too. She’s apologized every time she’s written to me.”

“I don’t blame her,” they said, their voice tight, “or you. The Council is full of a bunch of stuck-up pricks if you ask me. Not a care in the world for one of their own. Either of them.”

He cracked a smile and bit back a laugh. “I would say that a little quieter next time, but–” he leaned in a little closer and muttered— “me too.”

Rowan smiled up at him. They wondered when they got tall enough that they could almost look him in the eye, and if Jensen was up to his chin yet. It had been a while since they’d been around him long enough to notice these things. There was more gray in his hair than there had been the last time they saw each other, but compared to when he first arrived, he looked more relaxed. 

Aric placed a hand awkwardly on their shoulder. Neither were the sentimental type and the last time they’d been in any kind of emotional conversation like this was…well, the night Jensen went missing. Before that, it had been years. Three months ago, they might have shoved him off and called him something mean but now it didn’t bother them. “I promise to be back as soon as I can,” he said, his eyes flickering to Maryse a few steps behind them. “But whatever you need, if you call me, I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, alright? Fire messages, whatever you want. I can’t guarantee the cell service on Wrangel Island is too great.”

Rowan laughed something that sounded more like a sob. Were they crying? They barely noticed, they were so used to the tight feeling in their throat and chest when they spoke lately. Anything had them choked up like this, even when it was anger they felt instead of sadness. “I’m holding you to that.”

And with that, he turned towards the door, a suitcase in one hand and his other arm holding his backpack, which he swung over his shoulder. They sniffled and tried to cover it with a cough to little avail. He had his hand on the door when they barely forced out, “Dad?”

He barely turned before they leaped for him. They didn’t think about what they were doing, just moved—Maryse was right, it did feel like a goodbye, and they didn’t trust that something wouldn’t happen and he’d get stuck on Wrangel Island or the Moscow trip would extend further than it was supposed to, or that the universe wouldn’t let them be happy for five minutes and had to rip him away the second things were better. They hugged him, squeezing him tight, their face buried in his shoulder. 

He froze, tense for a moment, before his hand fell on their shoulder. They couldn’t remember the last time their father held them like that, like they were eight years old again and in the picture Magnus showed them, with muddy shoes and pigtails and without a care in the world. Because at that age, their dad was probably the only thing that mattered to them, and at the moment, he was all that mattered. 

“I’ll be home soon,” he muttered, laying his chin on top of their head. They didn’t respond, only focused on their breathing which shook more as time passed. 

They didn’t know how long they stood there–seconds, minutes, hours, maybe. However long it was, it wasn’t enough. He pulled away begrudgingly, and they could tell when they looked up at him he didn’t want to say goodbye either. 

“Hey,” he said, leaning down just slightly, down to their height. They’d seen him do the same thing to Jensen when he had to say something serious but he had to lean down much further. “I meant it when I said I want what’s best for you kids. And I think that’s staying here and doing whatever you can to bring Jace and Jensen home, alright?”

They nodded and took a deep breath. They felt like crying again, but not in front of him or Maryse. They forced a brave face forward, but despite their best efforts, a tear ran down the side of their face. He wiped it away for them. 

“I love you, kid,” he said. “Even though I’ve been pretty terrible at showing it. I mean it.”

Rowan knew if they spoke, they were going to break into tears, so silently nodded instead. He smiled at them and stood up straight again. “I’ll let you know when I get settled in,” he said, mostly directed at Maryse, but turned his attention back to them. “I’ll be back,” he said, then turned for the door.

This time, they stood there, watching him drag his suitcase behind him. A sinking feeling settled on them again, one that started a pit in their stomach. Never, in the Institute, had they been entirely alone. Jensen and Jace were gone, kidnapped by a homicidal maniac that killed Max and they had no way of knowing either of them was still alive. Alec, Isabelle, and Clary were out in various different places, and they figured Simon was probably with one of them. And now, their father was leaving, and they felt worse than they had after confronting Sebastian with Isabelle. 

They buried their hands in their face, pushing their glasses into their hair. They stood there like that for a moment, trying to pull themselves together, when Maryse stepped forward and wrapped her arm around their shoulders. She ran her hand over their upper arm comfortingly and sighed. “He’ll be back,” she said, but neither of them believed her words. 

[gnatswatting]

• Russia has repeatedly achieved its objectives by exploiting the fact that Western states have prioritized ending conflict over achieving a satisfactory outcome in it. —Keir Giles

"What deters Russia: Enduring principles for responding to Moscow" Chatham House "What deters Russia: Enduring principles for responding to Moscow" Research Gate